Three Wizards and a Little Lady

December 2015

Hermione worried her bottom lip and twirled a curl around her finger as she paced their bedroom. Draco watched her with a slight smile on his face. A little over six years of marriage to one another and he knew her tells like the back of his hand. She was worried. Her anxiety was rising and of course, he knew why. Tomorrow was Lyra’s eleventh birthday. Everyone was on edge, no one more than Hermione. Their little girl had grown up faster than they had anticipated. Tomorrow would be the day she received her Hogwarts letter. 

“Love,” Draco said standing up and making his way over to her. He gently pulled her bottom lip out from her bite before taking her hands. “Nothing is going to change what happens tomorrow. She is still going to turn eleven and there will still be a letter delivery.”

“What if the letter doesn’t come?” Hermione asked, looking into his eyes.

“What? Of course, it’s going to come,” Draco chuckled, kissing her forehead.

“She’s so excited. It is all she has been able to talk about for days. It’s all she can talk about,” Hermione said as she laid her head against his chest. Her little baby was growing up and would be leaving them soon. The moment had come much faster than she had been prepared for. How was she supposed to let her baby go? Then again what if the letter never came? Lyra would be heartbroken.

“The letter will come,” Draco said softly. “It will come and you will cry and I will get to play the supportive husband and comfort you.”

“Oh please,” Hermione scoffed and pulled back to look at him. “Don’t pretend you aren’t going to cry as well. Our little girl will be going to Hogwarts… she will be leaving us.”

“Shhh I’d rather not think about that,” Draco said and she laughed a bit, standing on her tiptoes and kissing him gently.

“You’re a good father,” the curly-haired witch said, running her fingers through his hair. “I’m not sure how I got so lucky…”

“It’s that thing you do,” Draco smirked and winked. “You know the thing with your tongue.”

“You are the worst,” she groaned, pushing away from him. Draco laughed, falling onto the bed.

“Sweetheart, come to bed,” Draco chuckled. “Pacing isn’t going to change anything.”

With a grumble, Hermione slipped off her robe and went and crawled in beside her husband.

&&&

“Always such a winter wonderland when it comes to Lyra’s birthday,” Andromeda said, smiling wistfully as she watched all the children running around and playing in the snow. As per tradition, the party was being at Nott Manor. Pansy and Theo had once again taken control of the planning. Hermione didn’t argue, knowing that she needed to be focused on Lyra and her ever-changing emotional state of mind. 

“It is. But this year is special, Hermione and Draco wanted to make it special for her,” Narcissa said as she helped Leo eat his snacks.

“Did her letter come yet?” her older sister asked, watching the little girl who was giggling and building a snowman with James and Teddy.

“Not yet,” the blonde witch shook her head. “The poor girl has been nervous and waiting all day.”

“It will come. It always does.”

Across the room, Hermione sat with Pansy and Ginny sipping wine while watching their youngest children chasing around the fairies. How Pansy had convinced Lyra to overcome her fear of fairies, she would never know. The raven-haired Slytherin insisted that it was a secret between her and her goddaughter. “So… don’t leave us in suspense Hermione,” Pansy said, a classic Pansy Parkinson smile resting on her lips. “How did it go when Lyra got her letter this morning?”

“She didn’t,” Hermione sighed.

“What do you mean? You haven’t given it to her yet?” Ginny asked. “Lily! Let the fairy go now!”

“I mean it didn’t come this morning,” Hermoine said quietly.

“WHAT?” Pansy and Ginny shouted at the same time, causing everyone in the room to look over at them.

“Could you two keep it down?” Hermione bit out and shook her head. She waited until everyone around them went back to whatever they were doing before continuing. “No… the letter hasn’t come up. She’s gotten herself so worked up over it.”

“But I don’t understand. She’s a witch,” Ginny said.

“Of course she is. We’ve seen all of the accidental magic,” Pansy said nodding her head. 

“I know… but it didn’t come.”

“It will,” Ginny said, trying to reassure her friend. Everyone knew how stressful of a time it had been over the last month. Lyra knew what turning eleven meant and her emotions were all the place. Draco and Blaise had to take her flying at least once a day. “I’m sure it will show up tonight.”

“I really hope it does,” Hermione said. “Or I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

The rest of the party went off without a hitch, just as Theo and Pansy promised it would. Lyra had been showered with more gifts than necessary, most of them having to do with her impending departure to Hogwarts. After the last guests had left and the Malfoy family was back home, Draco and Hermione sat in the library with the family, reading the tale of the Three Brothers. They were about halfway through when the sound of the floo interrupted Hermione. They all looked up, the two adults in the room breath catching in their throats as they saw their old professor brushing off the embers from her robes. 

“Now this is the kind of scene one would hope to see from her two brightest students,” Professor McGonagall said, a lovely smile playing on her lips as she took in the scene before her. While the romance between Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy might have come as a shock to others, to Minerva McGonagall it didn’t. There had always been something between her two students. She had seen it brighter than ever during their final year at Hogwarts, especially when she watched Hermione come into her own person.

“Professor McGonagall-” Hermione began but stopped as the elder witch held up a hand.

“Minerva dear,” she said and Hermione smiled.

“Minerva… I didn’t realize you would be dropping by. Would you like tea?”

“We have cake!” young Theodora smiled and Minerva melted at the sight of a blend of Hermione and Draco looking right at her.

“I’m alright, thank you,” she said, waving off the offers. “I do believe today is a special day for someone.”

“It’s my birthday Miss Minnie,” Lyra said smiling, petting Hercules who rested in her lap.

“Your eleventh birthday if I am correct.”

“Yes mam,” she said nodding.

“I have something special for you, my dear,” Minerva said approaching her. The room fell silent aside from the babbling of Leo as the headmistress pulled a letter out from a pocket in her robes. “I believe you will find this addressed to you.” With a small hand, Lyra took the letter from her hand and opened it.

Dear Misses Lyra Elizabeth Malfoy,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Please find enclosed a list of all the necessary books and equipment.

Term begins September 1, 2016. We await your owl by no later than July 31, 2016.  

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress .

“Hogwarts,” Lyra breathed out, Hermione and Draco both sighing in relief.

“Severus thought it would be fitting to give her the letter in person,” Minerva explained, a small chuckle falling from her lips as she watched out of the corner of her eye as Lyra read the letter over and over. “He remembers her mother’s appreciation of proper text and not just some bound together parchment with notes scribbled in the margins. He also told me to inform Draco that he can’t wait to see Lyra excel father in potions because he knows the undoubtedly will.”

Draco couldn’t help the laugh that expelled from his throat at her message. Of course, Severus would have some snarky comments to send their way, seeing as how his own daughter seemed to charm even the likes of Severus Snape. 

“Thank you, Minerva,” Hermione smiled, standing up to lead her former professor out of the room to talk privately with her.

“Can I go and tell Papa? Please!” Lyra squealed as she stood up and hugged her father tightly.

“Soon little dragon. Give us a few minutes and either your mum or I will take you to tell them. I promise,” Draco said as he got distracted wrangling his three youngest children and putting them to bed. 

As soon as her father was out of her line of sight, Lyra walked over to the floo, grabbed a handful of powder, and called out, “Malfoy Manor!”

At the sound of the floo, Lucius looked up and smiled as his favorite person stepped out of the floo with a bright smile on her face.

“Papa! Papa!” Lyra squealed as she ran over to where he and Narcissa were sitting. “Nana!”

“Hello little love,” Narcissa smiled softly. “This is quite the surprise. Do your mum and dad know that you are here?”

“Yes nana,” Lyra nodded, practically bouncing in her heels. “I had to come. I had to show you.”

“Had to show us what little star?” Lucius asked, setting his book aside, giving her all of his attention. When his granddaughter held up the letter in her hand, a sense of pride filled his body. He knew that letter well.

“It came,” Lyra smiled, waving the letter in her hands. She handed it to Narcissa, going and tucking into the side of Lucius, watching with him as Narciss began to read the letter.

“Dear Misses Lyra Elizabeth Malfoy… we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…” Narcissa smiled and looked up at the little girl who was beaming brightly. “I knew that you would be my beautiful, brilliant little witch.”

“We are so proud of you little star,” Lucius said, kissing the top of her head causing Lyra to giggle. All three looked over as the floo roared to life again. Draco And the squirming child in his arms stepped through. “Lyra I thought you said your dad knew you were here hmm?”

“Oh, I knew. I also told her to wait for me or her mum but she was apparently too excited to hear that part,” Draco chuckled as his mother came and retrieved her grandchild from him. Lyra giggled not even looking the least bit sorry. 

“Well it is a big day,” Lucius chuckled. “She can hardly be blamed.”

“Sorry, daddy.”

“It’s alright little dragon,” Draco chuckled. “I knew exactly where you were going. All she kept talking about was coming and telling her Grandfather after the letter arrived.”

“I had to show him!” Lyra smiled. 

“I know,” Draco chuckled. “Now come on home before your mum realizes that I brought your brother along.”

May 2016

“You seem distracted today,” Harry said watching Hermione pick at her food. Having lunch together at least once a week was something they made sure to happen. It had become a promise that they had made to one another after their lives had become so busy with work and children. Of course, they saw each other at every activity or brunch, but time with just one another was rare and they both craved it. “Is everything alright?”

“Just a lot on my mind,” Hermione said, smiling a little. “I can’t believe my little Lyra will be going off to Hogwarts in four months.”

“I know,” he replied, smiling wistfully. “You know, I remember when you told me you were pregnant with her. I was terrified.”

“You were? You seemed so… calm.”

“Of course I was scared. My best friend was going through one of the hardest moments in her life.”

“You were the rock I needed you know.”

“Of course, I was,” Harry chuckled. “Hermione you were always by my side. No matter what. I may have been daft and unappreciative at school but I noticed. You never faltered once. You are the best friend I have ever had. I was going to be that for you.”

“Harry…”

“As much as Theo and I argue about who the better friend is, I’m grateful for him you know. I’m grateful for all of them. They saw you for who you really are…someone worth knowing and loving. You’re the best of us.”

“You can be really sappy when you want to be,” Hermione said as she blushed, wiping a tear from her eye. Taking a deep breath, she sat back and ran her fingers through her hair. “We are going to have to sit Lyra down and tell her everything.”

“I thought Lyra knew she was adopted?” he asked, taking a sip of his butterbeer. “You said you already had that conversation and told her everything.”

“Not that,” she said slowly, looking into his green eyes. “We are going to have to tell her about Voldemort and his death eaters…”

“Oh…”

“I don’t want her finding out at school when some foul, loathsome child comes up and disparages her or the other kids look at her weird.”

“When you say everything…”

“Everything.”

&&&

“There she is,” Lucius smiled and Lyra bounded over to him hugging him tightly. After Hermione and Draco spoke about the conversation they needed to have with Lyra, Draco came to his father. He knew that if anyone could help them explain all while keeping Lyra calm, it would be him. Draco wasn’t blind to the fact that his father wanted to make sure that Lyra knew that he was a different person now, that he wasn’t evil. Lucius had agreed that the conversation needed to take place and that they should have it at the manor that way Narcissa could watch the little ones. 

“Papa,” Lyra smiled. “Mum didn’t tell me we were coming to see you! Where’s Nana?”

“She’s with your brothers and sister,” Hermione chuckled. “We thought we could have a conversation. Just the four of us.”

“So many conversations,” Lyra grumbled, holding her grandfather’s hand. Lucius couldn’t help but laugh at her stubbornness. She was just like her father and himself if he were honest.

“Come on little star,” Lucius spoke, leading her over to the couch. It was at that moment that the floo went off again. Out walked Harry, Ginny, and James Potter. Hermione looked at them curiously.

“Jamie!” Lyra squealed.

“Private party Potter,” Draco sighed. “What are you doing here?”

“I do believe I can help with this conversation,” Harry said, brushing the embers off of his cloak.

“Besides,” Ginny said, leading James over to the couch with her and Harry. “Jamie should hear this too.”

“That too,” Harry pointed out.

“Wow Mr. Malfoy… how Hermione doesn’t live in this library, I will never know,” Ginny said looking around in awe.

“She says this like she hasn’t seen the manor before,” Harry said rolling her eyes.

“Because you Harry Potter haven’t given me a tour,” Ginny said glaring at him. 

“Well Gin, that is because I haven’t really seen the entire place on the inside,” Harry pointed out.

“He’s only seen the dungeons technically,” Draco pointed out jokingly.

“Well, I’m sure the dungeon is better than what Grimmauld looked like. That place was a disaster. It took forever to clean it up,” Ginny groaned. “Narcissa has impeccable taste.”

“Whatever Weaslette,” Draco groaned and motioned for them all to take their seats. Jamie and Lyra sat close together, across from Hermione and Draco who were sitting on the couch. Lucius was standing close by. Harry and Ginny had just taken seats when another noise came out of the fireplace. “Bloody hell what now?”

“Charlie just relax,” Theo said rolling his eyes. 

“I can not believe you dragged me back here. We weren’t even invited,” Charlie grumbled and sat Athena on the ground. She immediately ran over and took a seat beside Jamie and Lyra. 

“Move over,” Pansy said, shoving past Theo and Charlie as she came out of the floo right behind the couple. “I am her godmother, I am to be here for all of these types of conversations.”

“Can someone explain to me how you all were able to get through my wards?” Lucius asked crossing his arms.

“Well, technically Lucius… Pansy and I are keyed into the wards,” Theo said shrugging his shoulders. “That just leaves Potter. So we tweaked it.”

“You did what?” Lucius said narrowing his eyes.

“How the bloody hell did you tweak blood wards?” Draco said confused. He knew Theo was smart but no one could tweak blood wards except someone with the same bloodline. 

“Technically it was Potter,” Theo pointed out, sitting on the edge of the couch beside Hermione. 

“How did you manage that?” Hermione asked in amazement.

“I saved the wizarding world from Voldemort,” Harry snorted. “I work for the Ministry. I literally just asked for someone to add me and they immediately jumped. I’m the chosen one remember?”

“Shut up Potter,” Draco said rolling his eyes. “Can we all just… be quiet and have this conversation.”

Hermione smiled softly at Draco, taking his hand and squeezing it while everyone around them took a seat. It wasn’t going to be an easy conversation. She knew that Draco was uncomfortable talking about his past deeds. He was worried that his daughter was going to look at him differently, no matter how many times she had promised Lyra wouldn’t. Hermione was nervous for a multitude of reasons. The horrors of their past weren’t something that she never wanted to touch their children. Draco was right though. She needed to know these things before she stepped into that school and other children told her.

“Sweetheart, we want to talk to you three about… well about…” Hermione started, unsure of how to continue.

“Little dragon, when you get to school… there might be some things said,” Draco said.

“Like what daddy?” Lyra asked, cocking her head to the side.

“I’m going to tell you three a story. A story that has all of us in it. It might be a bit scary and confusing but the most important is that we are all here and we are ok,” Hermione said softly and the three children nodded. With a deep breath, she dived into the story, the most watered-down child-friendly version she could tell that still was the truth. If she didn’t tell them everything, someone else would, not to mention the textbooks. By the time she was done, the children sat in silence, staring at them with wide eyes.

“So… no one is going to like me?” Lyra asked quietly and immediately Draco felt his heart clench in his chest.

“I love you,” James said squeezing her hand. “You’re my best friend.”

“I promise you, people will love you, sweetheart,” Hermione said softly. “We just want you to be prepared for the ones that are not as kind.”

“Don’t worry I’ll hex anyone that says anything mean about Lyra Aunt Mione,” James said, sitting up tall and puffing out his chest. Hermione couldn’t help the small giggle that came out of her mouth as she watched him. James and Lyra had been practically inseparable their entire lives. Of course, he would stick up for her, just like she would do for Harry. 

“Jamie, honey,” Ginny started.

“Mum it’s James,” James groaned. “Only Lyra can call me Jamie.”

“Ok James,” she continued rolling her eyes. “That’s very sweet that you want to protect and defend Lyra but… you aren’t going to Hogwarts with her this year. You’re not old enough yet.”

“Wait… she’s going without me?” James said gasping. “You’re separating us?!”

“You’ll be there in a few years bud,” Harry said, trying to soothe his son’s worries.

“You’re stuck with me a little longer,” Theo winked.

“This is the worst day of my life!” the young boy exclaimed, throwing his hands over his eyes and flopping back on the couch.

“That’s a bit overdramatic sweetheart,” Ginny said rolling her eyes.

“He’s definitely a Potter,” Draco snickered and Hermione smacked him in the chest as he laughed. “What? It was funny.”

“This coming from the man who thought he was dying because a Hippogriff scratched him,” Harry said narrowing his eyes and crossing his arms,

“We are getting off-topic here,” Hermione said. “If anyone gives you any trouble you can always go to-”

“Neville- I mean Professor Longbottom,” Lyra said nodding her head.

“Exactly love,” the curly-haired witch smiled gently.

“Little star you can just owl me the names of anyone that gives you trouble and I’ll take it up with the Ministry,” Lucius said with a slight smirk on his face. “I’ll make sure they never think twice about slandering a Malfoy again.”

“No,” Hermione said slowly. “You can go to Professor Longbottom or even Professor McGonagal and they can help you.”

“Or,” Ginny butted in. “I can teach you a wicked bat bogey hex that I promised will take care of all of your problems. How do you think I kept six brothers in line growing up?”

“No, no no,” Hermione said shaking her head.

“That is an excellent suggestion,” Pansy smiled. “I can teach you things that will make grown witches and wizards cry. Ask your mum, I gave her beaver teeth once.”

“That’s not a necessary conversation Pansy,” Hermione glared.

“I’m just making sure my goddaughter has all the tools she needs to thrive at Hogwarts,” Pansy winked.

“How are you all friends?” Charlie asked shaking his head. 

“Love and hate is a fine line darling,” Theo winked, kissing his cheek. “Besides, we are all damaged emotionally and mentally from the war. Who else would understand our need to thrive in chaos?”

“I for one think we have found a well-balanced group,” Blaise smirked. “Besides, look at us. We are all completely fucked up.”

“Language Blaise!” Hermione snapped.

“Don’t worry little star, just tell me and I’ll take care of everything,” Lucius murmured to Lyra and Draco sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“No one will be doing anything to anyone,” Draco groaned. As much as he wanted to choke the life out of anyone who disparaged his daughter, he knew his wife would have his head if he agreed with anyone else. “No hexes, no letters to your grandfather. If anything happens just go and talk to Professor Longbottom. I promise everything will be ok.”

"Thank you, love," Hermione said, smiling with complete adoration at her husband.

"Someone separate them before we have another infant. That look always means another baby is coming," Blaise smirked.

"I'm not saying anything," Theo grumbled, shaking his head.

"Everyone is going to love you," Hermione smiled softly at her daughter. "You'll be the most beautiful little lioness that Hogwarts has ever seen."

"Lioness? You mean the Slytherin Princess," Draco said smirking. "Don't worry love, it was just a slip up."

"She's a lion for sure," Ginny pointed out. "Just like her mum."

"Let me remind you all that the sorting hat almost put Hermione in Slytherin," Theo said and every Gryffindor in the room other than Hermione gasped.

"Whatever house you're in little star," Lucius pointed out. interrupting the lot of them, "you will be brilliant and you will be loved."