Home at Last
The late afternoon sun streamed through the grand windows of Malfoy Manor, casting golden light across the polished marble floors. Once a house of silence and shadows, it was now filled with warmth, movement, and—most unexpectedly—laughter.
A peal of giggles echoed through the hall, followed by an exasperated sigh.
“Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, you put that wand down this instant!”
Draco Malfoy leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with an amused smirk. “He’s three, Hermione. What’s the worst he could do?”
Hermione shot him a look. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe accidentally set something on fire? Or summon a rogue magical creature?” She gestured to their blonde-haired toddler, who was waving a toy wand excitedly. Tiny golden sparks fizzled at the tip.
“I did magic, Daddy!” Scorpius beamed.
Draco ruffled his son’s curls. “I saw, little snake. Very impressive.”
Hermione crossed her arms. “Encouraging accidental magic. Brilliant parenting, Malfoy.”
Draco grinned. “Oh, come on, love. It’s harmless.”
“Harmless?” Hermione repeated. “Right. Just like it was harmless when our eldest conjured a snake in the middle of Hogwarts last spring?”
Draco let out a low groan. “Are we really still talking about that?”
A loud crack of Apparition echoed from the foyer.
“Speaking of the little serpent herself,” Draco muttered.
Moments later, Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy arrived, their nine-year-old granddaughter, Cassiopeia Malfoy, walking confidently between them. She was the perfect mix of her parents—her mother’s sharp mind, her father’s mischievous streak, and a level of composure eerily reminiscent of Narcissa.
She wore a proud smirk, completely unbothered by the chaos she had caused months ago.
“I do hope you’re not still lecturing our granddaughter about that harmless little spell,” Lucius drawled, resting a hand on his cane.
“Harmless?” Hermione’s voice rose. “Lucius, she conjured a six-foot-long snake in the middle of a packed Great Hall without a wand!”
Cassie smirked. “It wasn’t that big, Mum.”
Draco coughed into his fist. “More like eight feet, actually.”
Hermione turned to him. “Not. Helping.”
Lucius chuckled, clearly entertained. “It was an impressive display of raw magical talent. You should be proud.”
“Proud?” Hermione huffed. “McGonagall nearly had a stroke!”
Cassie grinned. “The best part was Professor Flitwick, though.”
Draco smirked. “Ah, yes. Flitwick and the chandelier.”
Cassie clapped her hands together. “One second, he was sitting at the staff table. The next, he shrieked and cast Wingardium Leviosa on himself so fast that he shot straight up and grabbed onto the chandelier!”
Lucius let out an amused hum. “The poor man always did startle easily.”
Hermione sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “He probably thought he was about to be eaten.”
Cassie grinned. “To be fair, the snake did hiss at him.”
Draco chuckled. “If you had been a student, they might’ve crowned you Slytherin’s honorary champion on the spot.”
Cassie shrugged. “Too bad I’m not at Hogwarts yet.”
Lucius sighed dramatically. “Indeed, a shame. The Malfoy legacy must wait another two years before gracing the halls of Hogwarts once more.”
Hermione gave him a look. “The Malfoy legacy nearly gave Headmistress McGonagall an early retirement.”
Cassie looked far too pleased with herself.
Scorpius, who had been quietly listening, suddenly perked up. “Grandma, Grandpapa, I did magic today!”
Narcissa’s expression softened as she took his small hand. “Did you, darling?”
Lucius raised an eyebrow. “What kind of magic?”
“Sparks!” Scorpius beamed. “Look!” He waved his toy wand again, and tiny golden sparks fizzled in the air.
Lucius nodded approvingly. “A promising sign. Magic runs deep in our blood.”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “It runs deep in Mum’s blood too, Grandfather. She’s the best witch in the family.”
Lucius looked mildly scandalized, but Narcissa smirked in amusement.
Hermione smiled down at her daughter, squeezing her hand. “Thank you, love.”
Cassie shrugged. “It’s just the truth.”
Draco smirked. “At least she got your brains and not just my rebellious streak.”
Hermione snorted, nudging him playfully.
Lucius, watching the affectionate exchange, sighed dramatically. “I never thought I’d see the day when this was my family.”
Draco smirked. “Neither did I.”
Hermione glanced around—the warmth in Narcissa’s eyes as she listened to Scorpius’ excited chatter, the way Cassie was confidently debating magical theory with her grandfather, the steady presence of Draco beside her.
This was their family.
This was home.
Later That Night
The house had quieted. Scorpius was fast asleep in his nursery, and Cassie had been sent to bed—though Hermione suspected she was still awake, sneaking a book under her covers.
Draco and Hermione sat on the balcony outside their bedroom, overlooking the vast Malfoy estate. A cool breeze rustled through the trees, and the sky stretched above them, glittering with stars.
Draco handed Hermione a glass of wine, watching her with quiet amusement. “You’re going to have to accept that Cassie is a prodigy.”
Hermione took a sip before responding. “I have accepted it.”
Draco raised a brow.
Hermione sighed, setting her glass down. “I just… I want her to have a childhood. I don’t want people to expect too much from her too soon.”
Draco’s expression softened. He reached out, brushing a stray curl from her face. “She’s got you to guide her. She’ll be fine.”
Hermione leaned into his touch. “And what about you?” she murmured. “How are you handling all this?”
Draco smirked. “Well, considering my nine-year-old already outperformed my entire third year at Hogwarts? I’d say I’m holding up remarkably well.”
Hermione laughed, a deep, genuine sound that made Draco’s chest tighten.
She reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together. “I love you, you know.”
Draco exhaled, his gaze softening. “Yeah, Granger. I know.”
She rolled her eyes. “Say it back, you arrogant—”
He silenced her with a kiss, slow and steady, the kind that made her toes curl.
When they finally pulled apart, he whispered against her lips, “I love you, too.”
And with the stars above them and their children safe within the walls of their home, they knew—this was exactly where they were meant to be.
The end.