Chapter 16
September 28, 1998
The afterlife was everything Hermione had expected it to be; serene and blissful. It was a stark contrast to the building where she had previously spent her days.. It was open, colourful, and calm. It wasn’t a place where people went when their life ended. It was somewhere for people to start a new one.
Tonks and Remus had settled into their new home quickly as did Lucius and Narcissa. Both couples chose a modest house, which had taken Hermione by surprise when it came to the Malfoys. They were all fairly close to one another and agreed to get together at least once every two weeks.
Things were good.
Hermione had just put the final touches on her home, a small cottage on the water where every morning she woke to the gentle sound of waves crashing and birds chirping. It looked just like the one she had envisioned for her and Draco.
“I’m heading out for a visit, but I’ll be back this afternoon,” Hermione informed Hedgwig.
A few days ago, Hermione discovered yet another beautiful thing in letting go. She no longer had to sit in front of a fireplace to look over her loved ones. Instead, all she had to do was simply close her eyes, think of them, and then there she was - walking alongside them. Of course, they were none the wiser, but Hermione liked to believe that they could feel her presence.
So, as Hermione closed her eyes, she focused on the details of Draco that she had committed to memory and felt herself being gently pulled away.
When she opened her eyes, Draco rushed past her as he dragged Pansy behind him. Hermione followed them up the stairs and into Teddy’s room.
“Merlin’s beard, Draco,” Pansy scoffed. “What’s with the rush?”
“I need your help. It’s an emergency,” he said as he dragged her up the stairs and into Teddy’s room.
Hermione followed closely behind, Draco and Pansy unaware of her presence.
“Are you going to tell me what the emergency is or–oh!” Pansy’s eyes went wide as she took in the scene before her.
Hermione covered her mouth with her hand as she let out a soft giggle. Teddy was lying on the changing table with a piece of cloth wrapped around his bottom half, the fabric looking eerily similar to that of the curtains.
“Bippy usually changes his diapers but I sent her out to get some things in town. I heard him crying and when I picked him up I… well it was obvious what was wrong,” Draco explained. “So, do you think you can help?”
“You asked me to come over so that I can change Teddy’s diaper?” Pansy questioned.
“No Pans, I sent for you so that we can kick our feet up and talk about your new suitor of the week over a glass of firewhiskey,” Draco sarcastically replied. “Yes! Clearly that’s the reason I asked you to come!”
Pansy let out a sigh and guided Draco over to the changing table.
“Where are the other diapers?” she asked, to which Draco shrugged. “Men,” she groaned as she rolled her eyes. “Accio diaper.” Suddenly, a clean diaper soared through the room and into her grasp.
Hermione watched as Draco intently observed Pansy, mentally taking notes of every step. When Pansy started speaking about the wings of the diaper, Hermione could quite literally see the wheels turning in Draco’s head as he tried to figure out what in Merlin’s name she was talking about.
“It’s not as hard as it may seem,” Pansy said.
“I don’t know, Pans,” Draco sighed as he lowered himself into a chair and dropped his head into his hands. “I feel like this was all a mistake. Maybe I should just bring Teddy to my aunt and uncle’s. I’m sure they’d be happy to take care of him.”
“Stop that,” Pansy ridiculed. “Stop thinking that you aren’t capable of doing this. Tonks wanted you to take care of him, correct?”
“Yeah but-”
“No buts! She wouldn’t have said that if she didn’t believe in you. It might take some time, but eventually, everything will just fall into place.” Pansy crouched down beside Draco and placed her hand on his knee. “Look at me, Draco.”
Slowly, he lifted his head and met Pansy’s stare.
“You’re not going to damage him.”
“But what if I do?” he asked. “What if I’m no better than my father?”
“Worrying that you might ruin him in some way proves that you’re already far better than Lucius,” Pansy replied. “You’re going to get the hang of it, Draco. Just take it day by day.”
Stepping forward, Hermione placed a hand on Pansy’s shoulder and said, “Thank you for being there for him.”
October 19, 1998
“Yoo-hoo!” Blaise whistled as he stepped into the manor. “Where for out thou father Malfoy?”
“Ah! Mister Blaise Zabini,” Bippy exclaimed. “It’s so good to see you. Master Draco is-” The sudden appearance of Theo behind Blaise caused Bippy to stop mid-sentence.
“If it’s not my favourite girl,” Theo smiled. “How have you been, Bipster?”
“Oh, Mister Theodore Nott,” Bippy blushed. “Bippy has been well. Bippy has missed Mister Theodore Nott.”
“Apologies for not coming around lately, I was travelling a bit,” Theo replied. “You wouldn’t happen to know where Draco is, would you? Blaise and I are here to give him a break from diaper duty.”
“Bippy last saw Master Draco in the study.”
“Wonderful, thanks sweetheart,” Theo winked.
***
As Blaise and Theo entered the study, they both silently watched as Draco made incoherent and ridiculous noises at Teddy, who just stared back at him with a blank expression.
“Come on kid, just repeat after me,” Draco encouraged. “Bah, bah, bah.”
Theo and Blaise were able to suppress their laughter until Draco made a fart noise with his mouth. Immediately, Draco’s head whipped around and he angrily stared at his friends as they burst into laughter.
“Don’t let us interrupt,” Blaise chuckled as he waved his hand.
“Yeah, no, please keep going, maybe you should grab your death eater mask while you’re at it,” Theo added.
Draco swiped a book from a nearby table and threw it across the room. Blaise and Theo were able to dodge it but Hermione wasn’t as lucky. As soon as she materialised in the room, the book passed straight through her head.
“Hey, what the hell was that for?” Blaise and Hermione asked simultaneously, though Blaise’s was the only one Draco could hear.
“Next time it’ll be a knife,” Draco threatened.
Blaise raised his hands in surrender before walking over to Teddy and picking him up.
“So, I know I’m not a parent or anything, but care to explain what that had to do with raising a kid?” Theo questioned.
Draco dragged his hand down his face and let out a frustrated sigh. “He’s supposed to be making noises by now.”
“Says who?”
“Says the hundreds of books!” Draco exclaimed as he motioned over to the stack in the corner of the room.
After Pansy’s visit, Draco sent Bippy to collect every book she could find on parenting. He was shocked when she returned with enough material to fill an entire library. Unlike when he was a spy for the Order, there was a guide on how to navigate this part of his life.
He read every book three times. He had it all mapped out. Every milestone that Teddy was meant to hit and when. And right now, at almost six months old, he was meant to be discovering his voice and making sounds. But aside from the occasional involuntary bodily noise, Teddy was silent.
“Mate,” Theo said as he approached Draco. “He’s doing fine, you are doing fine.”
“Then why isn’t he talking?!” Draco snapped, worry consuming his eyes.
“He’s a kid who was brought into this world in the middle of a war and lost both of his parents,” Theo stated. “It seems only logical that he might be a bit behind.”
“Yeah, my mother told me that I was a slow learner,” Blaise added.
“No Blaise, you’re just a fucking moron,” Theo joked which caused all of them to laugh. “But seriously, Teddy is going to be fine.”
Draco had been struggling with his new role as Teddy’s guardian, but Hermione believed in him. She always knew he would be an excellent father ever since she first saw Draco hold him and that hadn’t changed.
If Hermione was certain about one thing, it was that Teddy couldn’t be in better hands.
October 31, 1998
As Draco stepped out onto the front steps of the manor, he felt the cool crisp air against his skin. Adjusting Teddy’s jacket to make sure that he was warm, Draco stared down at the child in his arms. He was dressed in a small lion outfit and had whiskers drawn onto his cheeks. Draco thought that it was the type of costume Hermione might’ve liked.
There was something about standing with Teddy in his arms, both of them dressed in costumes for a muggle holiday, that caused something to click. For the first time, Draco felt at ease. There was no panic, no worry, just a sense of joy as Teddy tucked his face into Draco’s chest.
“Ready for an adventure little guy?” Draco asked. Teddy gurgled happily in response, and a rush of love and belonging washed over Draco - something he hadn’t experienced since being with Hermione.
He always thought his purpose in life was to be the perfect Malfoy heir. And then, when he met Hermione, he thought that it was to love and protect her. Then he lost her and Draco felt like his life no longer had any meaning. He was terrified that he’d never be able to patch that hole in his heart. But now, as he walked out to the gate to join his friends and held Teddy, he felt that void begin to fill.
He had found his new purpose. It was this. It was taking care of Teddy.
“He’s doing excellent,” Tonks whispered, tears forming in her eyes as her lips stretched into a smile.
“Yeah, he is,” Hermione replied as they watched Draco and Teddy walk away.
April 11, 1999
“Master Draco, your guests have arrived,” Bippy announced.
“Thank you, Bippy, please let them know that I’ll be down in a moment,” Draco instructed.
It was Teddy’s first birthday and Draco had spent the last week making sure that everything was perfect. He knew that Teddy wouldn’t remember any of it but he didn’t care. Draco wanted to make sure that he made every moment special for him. He wanted to make sure that he was always prioritising his godson.
Putting the final touch on the gifts, Draco made his way downstairs to join everyone. Pansy, Blaise, and Theo were crowded around the fireplace and Harry and Ginny were on the floor with Teddy sitting between them.
He couldn’t hear what they said, but whatever it was caused Teddy to look over at Draco. The second Teddy spotted him, his eyes lit up and a glowing smile appeared on his face. Draco felt his heart pounding in his chest as he watched Teddy stumble up to his feet and slowly place one foot in front of the other. Everything dropped from Draco’s hands as he knelt and held his arms out.
“That’s it, you got it,” Draco said encouragingly. “Just a few more steps.”
The room went silent as everyone stopped what they were doing to witness Teddy walking for the first time. Even though Draco was his legal guardian, they all felt like Teddy was their child as well. Very early on they discovered that it took an entire army to raise a child, especially at their age. They all pitched in to help Draco. From taking turns changing dirty diapers, bathing, feeding, and just hanging out with him. So as they watched Teddy hold himself up and wobble his way over to Draco, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.
“One more, that’s it,” Draco smiled.
With one final stumble, Teddy reached Draco, collapsed into his grasp and giggled as Draco scooped him up into his arms and spun him around.
“Did everyone see that?!” Draco asked as he excitedly looked around the room. “He did it all on his own!” As he continued to scan the room, he realised he wasn’t going to find who he was looking for. It hurt to remember that Hermione wasn’t with him to experience these moments but he tried to remember what she told him – she was with him, even if he couldn’t see her.
Turning his attention back to Teddy, Draco whispered, “I’m so proud of you.”
Hermione stood off to the side, her clasped hands pressed to her lips as she watched with tear-filled eyes. While everyone celebrated Teddy, Draco looked up and unknowingly met Hermione’s gaze.
“I’m proud of you, Draco,” she said to him.
5 Years Later
March 13, 2004
“Uncle Draco, uncle Draco!” Teddy shouted as he rushed down the stairs.
“Teddy? What is it? What’s wrong?” Draco asked as he shot up from the couch, tossed his book aside and ran over to the bottom of the stairs. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
Teddy shook his head. “It finally happened, it fell out,” he said as he smiled, revealing his missing front tooth causing Draco’s shoulders to drop in relief.
“This means the tooth fairy will come and give me money, right?” Teddy asked.
Draco almost forgot about the stories he had told him about what happens when a kid loses their teeth. He only mentioned the tooth fairy because he remembered Hermione telling him about all of the little things her parents did for her as a child, like putting money under her pillow in exchange for a lost tooth.
“Yes, of course the tooth fairy will come,” Draco replied. “Just put the tooth under your pillow just like we talked about.”
***
“I don’t see why I have to wear this!” Harry shouted from inside the bedroom.
“Stop your whining and come out already,” Draco replied.
Reluctantly, Harry opened the door and shamefully walked out of the room. Laughter instantly escaped the back of Ginny and Draco’s throats as they took in his appearance. Harry was dressed in a sparkly, light blue fairy outfit. He had on white tights, slippers, and a small plastic crown and he had a plastic wand with a star on the end of it.
“You look so lovely,” Ginny chuckled.
“A true vision, Potter,” Draco mocked.
“Piss off the both of you,” Harry scoffed. “Why can’t I just wear my normal clothes?”
“Oh come on, this is for Teddy,” Draco replied.
“Yeah I know but I don’t see why I need to wear a damn tutu to grab his tooth.”
“Imagine if he woke up and the horror you’d cause if he saw his uncle Harry grabbing it and not the magical tooth fairy,” Ginny said.
“I think he’d be more horrified seeing me dressed like this,” Harry suggested as he motioned to his outfit.
“You’ll never let him live this down, will you?” Hermione asked Fred as they watched the three of them bicker.
“Never,” Fred smirked.
“Potter, can I ask you a question?” Draco asked.
“Sure, whatever.”
“Do you hate children?”
Harry’s jaw dropped. “What?! No!”
“Then you and your sparkly arse better march its way up to Teddy’s room, retrieve the tooth and slip a couple of galleons underneath his pillow,” Draco instructed.
“Fine,” he groaned as he held out his hand.
“What, do you want me to shake your hand or something?”
“No, I’m waiting for you to give me the money.”
“Run out of that ‘chosen one’ money already, Potter?” Draco mocked as he reached into his pocket, retrieved some money and dropped it into Harry’s hand.
“Bloody hell, Malfoy. You just carry a handful of galleons in your pocket at all times?”
“Yeah,” he replied nonchalantly. “Don’t you?”
“No, he doesn’t,” Ginny interjected. “Remind me to knock a few of my teeth out. I could use a few new pairs of shoes.”
May 2, 2004
“Do you have the flowers?” Draco asked, to which Teddy nodded and held them up in the air. “Good,” he smiled before holding out his hand. Once Teddy’s small fingers wrapped around Draco’s pointer finger, they began making their way into the graveyard.
Draco never wanted to replace Remus and Tonks, it’s one of the reasons why he had Teddy refer to him as uncle Draco. He wanted Teddy to remember his parents, so he often told him stories about them, though, he really only had ones about Tonks but every once in a while he’d recall something about Remus that was worth mentioning.
Draco and Teddy would visit their graves every year on the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. Death was something that could never be avoided in life and Draco wanted to find a way to show Teddy that, while it’s sad and hurts to lose someone, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t still with you. They’d spend most of their day there. They’d sit and Teddy would tell his parents all about the last year of his life, updating them on every big and small event.
“... and then Bippy and I put the cake in uncle Draco’s bed,” Teddy giggled. “The icing went everywhere. He had to throw his sheets out and everything.”
Tonks and Remus were sitting across from Teddy, smiling and laughing as they listened to their son’s countless stories.
As Teddy lowered his head and rubbed his hands together, Draco could tell that he wanted some privacy. Standing up, he leaned down and said, “I’ll be right over there if you need me, okay?”
“Okay,” he whispered as he slowly nodded his head.
With a bouquet of orchids in his hand, Draco made his way down the row until he reached the headstone with her name on it. Removing his wand, he slowly moved his hand through the air and cast a charm to clean all the weeds that grew around the area over the past year.
Kneeling, Draco placed the flowers on the ground and said, “Hey there, Granger.”
“Hey there, Draco,” Hermione smiled as she took a seat on the grass.
The first few times that he visited Hermione’s grave, Draco was tempted to dig up the resurrection stone. Just for a second, he’d always tell himself. All he wanted was to see her and hear her voice one last time, but he knew that if he did, he wouldn’t be able to say goodbye again. Eventually, the desire died down.
Now, he would do just as Teddy did - he’d sit and update her on his life.
“Business is going well,” Draco began. “I had a meeting with Lewis Jenkins last Tuesday. I think the bloke finally realised after two years that I’m not set out to destroy the werewolves.”
Three years ago, Draco began working on establishing a nonprofit, just like Hermione had wanted. It was his way of still having a piece of her. He ended up creating an organisation to advocate for the mistreated, starting with house elves. For the last two years, he fought for their rights and equal treatment. Many would say that he was far too aggressive but Draco argued that he was the right amount of forward and didn’t take anyone’s shit, which clearly worked considering he got the ministry to enact a law last year.
With the nonprofit gaining credibility, and Draco’s ‘The Grim’ nickname slowly fading out of the headlines and being replaced by ‘The Reformed’, he was able to start reaching out to other groups such as the werewolves - in honour of Remus and for Teddy’s sake.
While Teddy hadn’t received any backlash for his father being a werewolf, Draco knew that it was only a matter of time. He wanted to try and get a head start on it in hopes that, by the time Teddy attends Hogwarts, the prejudice towards werewolves would be at a minimum. Kids were cruel, and Draco knew that better than anyone.
“It’s going to take a lot more work with the werewolves than it did with the elves,” Draco continued. “No one ever saw the elves as a threat or capable of harming, even though that’s extremely untrue, but nevertheless, people are terrified of what they don’t understand and werewolves, unfortunately, fall under that category.”
Draco’s mouth stretched into a smile as he said, “The money I would pay to see you in one of those courtrooms, Granger,” he chuckled.
“You would destroy them.”
“I would destroy them,” they said simultaneously.
“Teddy’s doing well,” Draco continued. “He’s brilliant, just like his mother… and his father, I guess. And he’s funny, I mean actually funny. I don’t think anyone has ever made me laugh more than he has - except you, of course.”
Every day there was something that reminded Draco of Hermione. From things like Teddy reaching for one of her books, all of which Ginny and Pansy were able to fix, or something as small as seeing a fire and reminiscing on the times that he and Hermione would sit by the campfire during the Horcrux hunt.
Draco was able to push through most days and smile back at the memories, but every once in a while the same pain he felt when he lost her would creep its way back into his chest. The first time it happened it felt like he was having a heart attack. He thought he’d never be able to rid himself of the feeling, but then Teddy walked in. That’s when he decided that, no matter how painful it may be to not have her, Draco couldn’t give up. He had to remain strong for Teddy.
“Was she pretty?” Teddy asked.
Looking over his shoulder, Draco looked up at Teddy who was standing behind him.
“Hey bud, want to sit?”
Teddy shook his head, walked around and took a seat in Draco’s lap.
“To answer your question, yes, she was very pretty. The most beautiful person I had ever set my eyes on,” Draco replied.
“Did she die the same day as my mum and dad?”
“Yes,” Draco nodded, his voice cracking slightly.
“Hermione Jean Granger,” Teddy read off. “Can you tell me stories about her too, uncle Draco?”
“I’d love to,” he smiled.
Repositioning herself so that she was sitting beside Draco, Hermione rested her head on his shoulder. “Tell him about the love we shared,” she requested. “And make sure to tell Teddy that death doesn’t always have to be sad and that goodbyes aren’t forever.”
February 7, 2005
Draco entered the quiet library, the soft glow of the moon casting shadows on the shelves filled with books and picture frames. As he reached for a book, he caught sight of a small figure on the ground to his right – it was Teddy.
“It’s late Teddy, what are you–” Draco’s voice caught in the back of his throat as he stared down at Bippy in his arms. Her eyes were closed and her body was still.
Teddy looked up at Draco, tears streaming down his face, and said, “I found her like this. I-I don’t know what happened.”
Draco’s heart ached at the sight of Teddy cradling Bippy’s lifeless body. Bippy had always been there for Draco, throughout his entire childhood she was the one person he knew he could always count on being there, and now, she was gone.
Crossing the room, Draco crouched beside Teddy and wrapped his arms around him.
“It’s going to be okay, Teddy,” Draco said. “Bippy lived a full life and is at peace now.”
Teddy nodded, his chin quivering. “It’s just so hard to say goodbye,” he cried.
Draco let out a sigh and kissed the top of his head. “I know, but goodbyes aren’t forever. You’ll see her again one day.”
“Do you think that she’s with my mum and dad? Maybe even Hermione?”
The mention of her name tugged at Draco’s heart. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Yeah, I think she is.”
***
Hermione and Narcissa were meeting for their weekly tea when suddenly, a cracking sound ripped through the air. Turning, their gaze landed on the kind house elf.
“Missus Malfoy and Miss Granger!” Bippy exclaimed as she rushed towards them. “Bippy has missed you dearly,” she told Narcissa as she wrapped her tiny arms around her waist.
“I have missed you as well, Bippy,” Narcissa said with a soft laugh.
“And Miss Granger,” Bippy turned to Hermione. “Bippy is very excited to meet the woman Master Draco loves so much!”
“It’s very nice to meet you as well, Bippy,” Hermione smiled. “But wait-if you’re here, that means that you…”
Bippy lowered her head and stared down at her feet. “Bippy has been with the Malfoy family for a long time.”
“She had been around before Lucius was born,” Narcissa told Hermione.
The house elf lifted her head. “Bippy is okay, Bippy is just happy to be with Missus Malfoy and Miss Granger.”
“Well, we are happy to have you with us,” Hermione replied. “Would you like to join us for some tea?”
Bippy’s eyes lit up. “Miss Granger wants Bippy to join, as an… equal?” she asked hesitantly.
“Of course, you are an equal, Bippy.”
For the remainder of tea, Bippy joined Narcissa and Hermione. They listened intently as she shared several stories about Draco and Teddy, each warming Hermione’s heart and causing her smile to grow wider and wider.
September 1, 2009
As Draco stood on the platform with Teddy, watching as students bustled around and bid farewell to their parents, he went over their checklist one final time.
“Jumper?”
“Check,” Teddy said.
“Robes?”
“Wearing them.”
“What about socks, books, quills, parch–”
“I’ve got it all,” Teddy assured him.
“Right,” Draco nodded.
Teddy was dressed in his school robes, excitement radiating off of him as he glanced around the train station. Draco looked forward to sending Teddy off for his first year at Hogwarts for years, but now that the day had finally arrived, Draco couldn’t help but be sad.
It was a thrilling day, another milestone, but it also meant that a chapter was closing. Teddy was heading off on his own, and Draco feared that when he saw him next, he wouldn't be needed anymore.
Teddy turned to face Draco, his smile quickly fading as he took note of his expression.
“What’s wrong?”
Draco shook his head. “Nothing.”
“You’re a terrible liar,” Teddy teased. “I’m going to be okay. There’s no need to worry.”
“I know you will be,” Draco smiled as he placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“Uncle Draco?”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“I know you told me to call you uncle Draco out of respect for my parents and all but…”
Draco felt his heart rate increase. He could see that Teddy’s mouth was moving but the words were a mumbled mess in his ears. He had hoped that one day he would ask this but he never thought that he actually would.
“… is that okay?” he asked. When he got no response he said, “Hello? Uncle Draco?” Teddy waved his hand in front of Draco’s face until he finally blinked.
“Sorry, huh, what?” Draco asked.
“I was just wondering if it’s okay if I call you dad?”
Pulling him into a tight embrace, Draco said, “Yes, of course that’s okay.”
“Er–dad, you’re kind of crushing me,” Teddy choked out.
“Sorry,” Draco apologised as he loosened his hold.
The sound of a whistle coming from the train, signalling that it was almost time to depart, caught Teddy and Draco’s attention. Quickly wiping the tears from his eyes, Draco cleared his throat and said, “You better get going.” Teddy nodded before throwing his arms around Draco’s waist one last time.
“I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m going to miss you too,” Draco replied.
“I’m going to make you proud,” Teddy said as he pulled away and wiped away his own tears. “I promise you.”
“You’ve already made me proud. You’re going to do great things, I know it. I love you, son.”
“I love you too, Dad,” he smiled. ‘I’ll see you at Christmas.”
“I’ll wait to put the star on the top of the tree until you come home.”
“Until then?” Teddy asked.
“Until then,” Draco smiled.
Bending down, Teddy picked up his trunk and made his way to the train. Draco watched as Teddy boarded the train and he scanned the windows until he located Teddy again.
With a final whistle, the train slowly began exiting the station. Draco walked along the platform, keeping his sight on Teddy and waving him off until he reached the end and could no longer see him.
“Remus,” Tonks groaned. “You’re getting snot all over my jacket.”
“I’m sorry,” he said between sobs. “It’s just, Teddy looked so handsome in his robes.”
Tonks flashed Hermione a look that said, “He’s such a sap.”
Hermione let out a soft chuckle before walking over to where Draco was standing.
“You did a great job raising him, Draco,” she said.
Draco continued staring at the space where he last saw the train.
“I wish you could have been here for this, Granger,” Draco muttered to himself.
Hermione placed her hand in Draco’s. “I was,” she whispered. “I’ve always been with you, Draco.” Hermione looked around the train station. “One day, you and I will meet in a place just like this. But until then, I’ll remain right here, by your side.”
14 Years Later
February 15, 2023
“I got the job,” Teddy smiled as he clutched a bouquet and stood in front of the grave. “It was down to me and Phillip McLaggen, the prat’s arrogance finally caught up with him,” he chuckled. “I start on Tuesday. There are a lot of expectations for me as an auror. Minister Shacklebolt said that you were one of the greatest he had ever seen.”
Feeling his emotions start to get the best of him, Teddy took a moment to look around and observe the other individuals that were visiting their loved ones. This was the first time that Teddy came to visit on a day other than the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. It was far less crowded and almost serene. The warmth of the sun and the melodic sound of the birds chirping helped bring a sense of ease.
Straightening his spine and taking a deep breath, Teddy said, “Victoire and I got engaged on Sunday. You should’ve seen her face when she saw the ring. I wish you could be here with us to celebrate,” he admitted. “I miss you a lot, Dad.”
Kneeling, Teddy placed the flowers in between the two graves and cleared the weeds, just like Draco had taught him. Running his hand across the headstone, he traced over the name etched into the plaque.
Draco Lucius Malfoy.
Teddy took a deep breath and closed his eyes as memories of him and Draco flooded his mind. He remembered all of the holidays, especially the ones where Draco and Ginny would pull pranks on Harry. He remembered the lengths Draco went to whenever he’d lose a tooth, and how it was either Harry, Theo, or Blaise that he’d catch dressed as a fairy as they snuck into his room. He remembered when he got his first broom and Draco teaching him to fly, going to Hogsmeade to collect his school supplies, and his first quidditch match and looking over to see Draco proudly cheering him on.
There were so many memories with Draco that Teddy would cherish forever, but the one that held a special place in his heart was from when he was eight years old. They were walking around town to visit the markets when Teddy spotted a northern cardinal. Teddy remembered the look on Draco’s face when he pointed it out. It was the first time that he had ever seen him cry, but it was strange because even though tears were streaming down his face, he was smiling.
When Teddy asked what was wrong, Draco responded with, “Nothing, nothing at all.”
It wasn’t until later that night when he was being tucked in for bed that he finally asked what was so special about the bird. Draco had told Teddy stories about Hermione before but it wasn’t until then that Teddy realised just how important she was to his dad. He didn’t know how to explain it, but when he looked into the bird’s eyes, an intense feeling that he could only describe as warmth and love washed over him.
The bird was Hermione, Teddy had decided. She was there and she was watching over them.
Draco might not have been his biological father, but he was the best dad that Teddy could have ever asked for. There was never a day when he wasn’t reminded how much he was loved. Even when Teddy went on about how he wanted to be a groundskeeper when he got older, Draco supported him. Of course, that’s not what he ended up doing.
Just like Draco, Teddy ended up becoming an auror. Victoire was nervous about it, stating that if even a great wizard like Draco could lose his life on a mission, so could he. But Teddy didn’t want to confine himself to a desk job just because it was the safer option. All of his life, Draco told him that if he chose to be anything, he should choose to be brave and that he shouldn’t be afraid to take risks.
Along with becoming an auror, Teddy also stepped up to help oversee the operations of the nonprofit. He wanted to make sure that it always stayed within the Malfoy family - a family that Teddy was more than proud to be a part of.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I went to the Ministry yesterday and legally changed my name. I wanted to carry on your legacy,” Teddy said. “Edward Remus Lupin-Malfoy, has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? Though I’m sure most people will stick to just calling me Teddy. Also, construction on the cottage concludes next week. Victoire and I will be moving in after the wedding. I gave the designer that giant file of yours, we wanted to make sure that it was perfect, that it was just like how you and Hermione envisioned it to be.”
“You doing alright?” Theo asked as he approached Teddy.
“Yeah,” Teddy smiled.
“Okay, I’ll just be over there if you need me.” Looking down at Draco’s headstone, Theo said, “You’re such a wanker for dying first. The second I see you again, I’m punching you in the face.” As he placed his hand on the top of the stone, his lips pulled into a soft smile. “Go get your girl, mate.”
***
Draco had thought about death more times than he probably should’ve. There were several moments before and during his time as a Death Eater when he expected to lose his life. He figured it would either be at the hands of Voldemort, during the battle and sometimes when she got mad enough. He even thought that Hermione might end up being the one to end his life. But never once did he think it would be while working for the ministry as an auror. And he certainly didn’t expect his downfall to be for a random stranger.
Draco was on a protection assignment. He was meant to ensure the safe travels of a researcher who had recently received a handful of threats. Ironically, the person he died protecting wasn’t the researcher, it was a civilian. Draco was checking the perimeter of a building like usual when he heard a high-pitched scream. When he closed in on the source of the sound he spotted a young woman on the ground. As he tended to the gash on her leg and worked on stopping the bleeding, someone stabbed him from behind. Draco instantly turned around to return the favour and killed the individual.
It wasn’t the wound itself that ended up killing Draco though, it was the apparation. The young woman had fallen unconscious in the one minute that he looked away and he knew that he needed to get her to St Mungo's as quickly as possible. The second the healers wheeled the woman away, Draco collapsed onto the floor.
He could’ve fought to stay alive, he could’ve pushed through and opened his eyes. While he had lost a lot of blood and his wound was deep, it wasn’t caused by magic, so the healers were able to repair the damages rather quickly. Draco was unconscious but held on and remained stable. But then, he heard Teddy talking to him.
“It’s okay, dad,” Teddy whispered. “I’m grown now, I can take care of myself. If you want to go, you can. I’ll be okay. You can go be with her, you can go be with Hermione.”
Knowing that Teddy would be alright and remembering that he still has Ginny, Harry, Theo, Pansy, and Blaise, provided him with the reassurance and peace he needed to let go.
Now, Draco stood amid a crowd and took in his surroundings. It looked like platform 9 ¾, only far cleaner, and the people rushing around him weren’t overly excited first years dressed in school robes. It was individuals varying in ages, all reuniting with their loved ones. Draco scanned the sea of people when suddenly, he heard a voice call his name, he heard her call his name.
“Draco!”
Turning around, Draco locked onto the golden brown, almost honey-like eyes that he had been dreaming about for the last twenty-five years. She was just as he remembered her. He simply stared at her, taking in her beauty as a rush of joy, excitement, and peace washed over him.
“Get over here, Granger,” he smiled.
Immediately, Hermione started running towards him. As soon as she was close enough, she lunged forward and threw her arms around his neck. Draco buried his face in her curls as he tightly held onto her. He could feel her again. He could feel the warmth of her body pressed against his and the rhythm of her heart syncing with his.
Draco felt tears prick at the corner of his eyes as he pulled away and held her face between his hands. She was real. He was with her again. He had been longing for this moment for what felt like an eternity. And now, here she was, standing before him.
“I told you that I’d find you,” he said, his voice shaking with the weight of his emotions.
“I never doubted you,” she smiled.
Leaning down, Draco pressed his lips to hers and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
“Master Draco!” Bippy exclaimed, causing Hermione and Draco to pull back and look over at her. “It’s so good to see you again. Bippy and Missus Hermione have been waiting for you!”
“It’s good to see you too, Bippy,” Draco smiled as he knelt and pulled her into a hug. Standing back up, he returned his attention to Hermione. Gently, he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and said, “I have to tell you something, Granger.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“I, unfortunately, couldn’t keep the promise that I made you.”
Hermione’s head cocked and her brows knitted together in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I promised you that I would live a full life,” he explained. “I guess it was your fault for believing me in the first place, because how could you possibly expect me to live a full life without the one person I wanted to share it with?”
Hermione smiled and tears filled her eyes as she said, “I love you, Draco.”
Four words.
It only took four simple words to completely mend the pieces within Draco that had been shattered ever since the day that he had lost Hermione.
“I love you too, Hermione.”
Holding out her hand, Hermione said, “So, what do you say? Ready to start our life together?”
“It’s all I’ve ever wanted,” he replied before taking her hand and boarding the train with her.
As they took their seats, Draco reminisced on the life that he had left behind. The truth was, he had lived a full life, to an extent. Being Teddy’s father fulfilled him in ways that he never imagined it would. It gave his life meaning, but there was always something missing. It was Hermione. But now, as he sat with her on the train that they had first met on when they were eleven, he finally felt whole again. Everything that they went through, all of the pain and heartache, was worth it because he was with her again.
He had found his way back to her.
January 22, 2024
The gentle hum of guitar strings danced through the air as every guest rose to their feet. As Victoire stepped forward, her hand gripping tightly onto Bill’s arm, a smile so bright it could outshine the sun appeared on her face as her eyes landed on Teddy.
Reaching the altar, Bill pulled Teddy into a tight embrace and kissed Victoire on the cheek before joining Fleur. Harry, who was officiating their wedding, instructed everyone to take a seat before beginning with the ceremony.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments,” Harry announced. “And to cherish the words which shall unite Theodore Remus Lupin-Malfoy and Victoire Apolline Weasley in marriage. Teddy and Victoire have prepared their own vows and will be sharing those with us now.”
Victoire handed her bouquet to one of her bridesmaids before unfolding a piece of parchment and clearing her throat.
“Teddy,” she smiled as she wiped away her tears. “Growing up, my dad always told me to never settle. He told me that I deserved a man who would not only make me laugh on the easy days, but also on the hard ones. He said that the man I marry should always fight for me and if he were to ever fight with me, he should know to surrender every time because I’m always right.”
Teddy, Victoire and all of their guests let out a collection of laughs.
“Most importantly, my dad told me that if I ever hand my heart to a man, that I should be sure he would be gentle with it and would give his life to protect it. You are everything that my dad had told me to look for and that I, as a young girl, had imagined to find one day. You are selfless, kind and give without the expectation of anything in return. You are everything that is good in this world and I am forever grateful to have spilled my drink on you that day in the pub,” Victoire giggled. “I promise to always laugh at your jokes, even when I don’t think they’re funny,” she smirked. “I promise to hold your hand on the good days and hold it even tighter on the hard ones. And I promise to love you, in this lifetime and the next. I hate to break it to you, but you’re stuck with me for eternity.”
Teddy let out a soft chuckle and mouthed the words, “I love you,” to her as he reached into his pocket and retrieved his vows.
“Victoire, just like you, my dad also told me about the kind of man I should marry,” he joked which earned laughter from everyone. “My dad was one of the lucky ones, he had experienced a once in a lifetime love that most only ever hear about in fairytales,” Teddy looked over at the row of empty seats he had requested to represent lost loved ones, unaware that Narcissa, Lucius, Tonks, Remus, Draco, and Hermione were currently occupying them.
As Teddy continued with his vows, Hermione looked up at Draco and kissed his cheek.
“What was that for?” Draco asked.
“Nothing… everything,” she replied. “Thank you for telling him about us.”
Draco smiled before placing a kiss on her forehead.
“Our story was one that deserved to be told, Granger.”
“His words were always full of so much love whenever he would talk about her,” Teddy continued. “But the thing that stuck with me the most was the look in his eyes. You could tell that every time he spoke about her, memories of them together would be playing in his mind. That look, the one of pure, genuine and raw love is what I wished for myself, and I found that with you. Victoire, I promise to always have your tea ready in the morning and let you steal the covers during the night. I promise to continue to fight for you and I promise to never let a day go by where you aren’t reminded of how much I love you. I hate to break it to you, but you are stuck with me for eternity.”
Harry proceeded with the remainder of the ceremony and as Teddy and Victoire slipped rings onto one another’s fingers, Hermione swore she saw a tear fall from Draco’s eyes.
“It wasn’t a tear,” he argued. “It was sweat, it’s hot out here.”
“Right,” Hermione playfully rolled her eyes.
“It is my honour to present to everyone, for the first time, Mr and Mrs Theodore Lupin-Malfoy and Victoire Lupin-Malfoy!” Harry announced.
Everyone shot up to their feet and clapped their hands as they cheered for the newlyweds. Flower petals were tossed into the sky as Teddy and Victoire made their way down the aisle, hand in hand and wide smiles on each of their faces.
As the guests began to trickle out, Remus, Tonks, Narcissa, and Lucius followed closely behind. Hermione went to join but Draco grabbed her by the hand to stop her.
“I don’t want to miss the bouquet toss, Draco,” she complained.
“I’m afraid you aren’t allowed to participate in that activity, Granger.”
“I know that I won’t be able to catch it, but it’s my favourite part of a wedding.”
Draco shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he knelt down on one knee.
Hermione’s eyes grew wide. “Draco, what are you-”
“Hermione,” he said as he grabbed her left hand. “I know I’ve already done this once before but it didn’t really count. So, I’m doing it again.” Reaching inside his jacket, he removed a small box and opened it, revealing the ring that used to reside on Narcissa’s finger. “As Teddy said, our love is that once in a lifetime kind that most people only hear about in fairytales. From the moment you threatened to shoot a hex through my skull, your name has been carved into my heart. You have shown me the good in myself when I believed there was none to be found. You have shown me that it’s okay to be vulnerable, to be human, and you showed me that I am capable of both loving and being loved. The love that I had for you in our past life was one I didn’t even know was humanly possible, but I promise that is nothing when compared to the love I have for you in this one. Hermione Jean Granger, will you-”
“Yes,” she blurted out.
“I didn’t even finish,” Draco laughed.
“I don’t care,” Hermione said, her cheeks stained with tears. “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.” Leaning down, she took Draco’s face between her hands and met his lips with hers.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, Draco rose to his feet and spun her around.
“I love you, Hermione,” he muttered, his face buried in the crook of her neck.
“And I love you, Draco.”
In that moment, home became the feeling of his arms around her waist and the synchronisation of their hearts beating.
And home was the love that fluttered in her chest.
Fin.