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"Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise."
~Les Misérables, Victor Hugo
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"Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different?"
~C.S. Lewis
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"Granger?" 

Hermione instantly smiled, "Ah, Mister Malfoy."

"Mister Malfoy? Since when am I Mister Malfoy?"

"It's only fair since you still call me Granger," Hermione said, sure that there was a smirk on his face. 

"Would you like me to call you Malfoy too?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed, "No thanks."

"I was only joking," Hermione heard Draco put his bag down on the couch. He came to stand in front of her. 

"How was work?" Hermione looked up from her alchemy book. 

"Good," Draco said, peering down at Hermione's work. 

The day after Hermione and Draco had (finally) confessed their feelings to each other, Hermione had gone on her house hunt, and had found a flat in the same apartment that she used to live in before. The only difference was that now she lived a few floors down. Everything else was the same. Even the ruddy landlord.

She had started her very own apothecary. It was located beside Gringotts, a small but sufficient building where she put together cures for small maladies, and acted as a supplier to St Mungo's. It had been barely two months, and her small establishment was flourishing. Three people had already applied to her for jobs as apprentices.

"What are you up to today?" Draco asked, turning the page of the book on the table. 

"Checking if amethyst can be used to cure insomnia," Hermione said, "It's got almost all the required properties, and maybe if it's combined with-"

"Poppy."

-yes, exactly- it'll work."

Hermione yawned and shut the book after placing a pencil inside it. 

"Tired?" 

"It's nearing ten, what did you expect?"

"I thought we could go out."

Hermione glanced up at him, "Where?"

She stood, and began putting all her things back inside their case. When she bent down to retrieve a tweezer she had dropped, she felt Draco's hands on her hair. He gathered her mane up and, after summoning himself a hair tie, tied it in a sort of bun. 

Hermione released a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding in, "What was that for?"

"Nothing," Draco said with a smirk that suggested there was something, but that only he knew about it. 

"Okay, so where to?" Hermione shut her case.

"I was thinking we could get some Chi-"

"Right, let me get my coat," Hermione said, lighting up at the idea of having takeout. 

Half an hour later, they were seated once again on the stairs of the fire escape of Draco's old apartment, which had become their most frequent haunt over the past weeks. 

Draco had already given Hermione his fork, and she had accepted it. It was just a small thing they did without words, and it gave Hermione butterflies. 

"How are your parents?" Hermione asked in between a forkful of noodles. 

Lucius and Narcissa weren't exactly happy with Draco and Hermione's relationship. Although they didn't openly oppose it, Hermione could tell that the notion wasn't welcome. Hermione had gone to the Manor for lunch once, and Narcissa had made sure that Hermione should feel left out by inviting two of her pureblood friends. The elder witches had talked throughout the meal, and had kept a subtle criticism of Hermione and her work, her clothes and her friends going on throughout. 

"My father is well, as is my mother," Draco said, "Blaise and Pansy come over once a week, and mother likes having Atlas around. Apparently I was a boring child. Even Father, who isn't openly affectionate, goes on walks with Atlas. Mother asked about you the other day. I think she's hoping we call this off."

They were both swinging their legs. Hermione had noticed that Draco had picked up on her habit not long ago. 

"They'll come around soon," Draco said, reassuring Hermione as well as himself. 

Hermione didn't answer. 

"Hey, blondie!" 

Hermione turned to face the speaker at the front of the alley. After a moment of fogginess, recognition clicked in Hermione's brain. It was the sparkly woman who had nearly abducted Draco four years back. 

"You're still with her?" The woman looked so tipsy, Hermione wondered how she was still walking in her six inch heels, "Never mind, I'm not one for loyal relationships."

She ambled off, staggering precariously. 

"She actually remembered?" Draco shook his head incredulously, "Even after drinking so much, her memory seems unaffected."

Hermione laughed, "Wonder who she'll find next."

"How is Ginny?" Draco asked. He took Hermione's empty box from her hand and set it aside with his. 

"Explosive," Hermione chuckled, "I went over to Grimmauld Place last weekend. Apparently all she does is yell at Harry about how he always leaves the toilet seat up."

Draco smirked, "Poor Harry."

They left the fire escape, and decided to take a walk around the park. The grey cat, who had once hissed at Hermione most rudely, had recently had kittens, all of whom loved Hermione. The kittens were on a bench that night, and Draco and Hermione stopped to say hello to them. They were growing alarmingly fast. 

"I miss Crookshanks," Hermione sniffed when one of the kittens, a black one with a white tail, settled down in her lap for a nap. 

Crookshanks had passed away two weeks after Hermione's return to England. It had been completely natural, he had been old and had lived a good life. But Hermione did miss him. 

"Me too," Draco said, scratching the ears of the grey mother.

After staying and petting the cats for a while, they resumed their walk. 

"Have they said anything more about your promotion?" Hermione asked. She was keeping her feet on the lines that was formed by the pavement tiles. It was a game she had often played when she had been a child, and now she just had the urge to do it again. 

"Not yet, but I really don't want it anyways," Draco said, scratching the bridge of his nose, "I'm quite satisfied where I am."

Their blacks scarves were around their necks. They wore them wherever they went. Hermione had placed temperature regulating charms on them so that they could be worn in cold and warm weather.

"So, have you got the courage back yet?" Hermione asked playfully when they were walking along the edge of the lake. 

Draco glanced down at her, smirking already, "Not yet, no."

"Pity," Hermione steered them away from the flock of geese by the water. Never in her life would she go near geese again. They were crazy and dangerous birds. 

"It's not that I don't feel it," Draco said, looking apprehensively over his shoulder to check if they had been followed by any of the birds, "I do feel it. I just don't keep saying it out loud all the time."

"I know, I know," Hermione waved his concern away, "I was only teasing."

"I wasn't."

Hermione was surprised to find that he had stopped walking a few paces back. 

"Do you ever think that I don't feel for you?" He looked strangely worried. 

"Of course not," Hermione said, unable to understand his change of attitude, "Draco, I was just joking-"

"Yes, but I'm not," he cut across her, "Look, I know I don't keep saying it all the time, or that I don't- I don't give you morning kisses or anything like that, but I still do feel for you."

Hermione nodded, "I know. I don't doubt it."

"If you ever do doubt it, then let me know, and I'll try to be better," Draco said, looking surprised at the words that he had spoken. 

"I'll let you know," Hermione affirmed, "And then I'll move on to any other blond, ridiculously handsome man that there is."

Draco snorted, slinging an arm around her waist, "How reassuring."

~~~~

Draco looked at the object in front of him with some hesitance. Beside him, Ginny and Harry were already talking about colour themes, flowers and food. A baby boy rested peacefully in Ginny's arms.

"She'll like it?" Draco questioned the pair. 

"I assure you she will," Ginny said. The boy in her arms stirred and reached his tiny hands up to place on Ginny's chest, "You're awake, James. Let's feed you, come on."

Draco looked away when Ginny put the child to her breast. He had no problem with feeding babies in public. He just didn't know what to do when that happened. Some people who walked past Ginny sniffed in a displeased manner. Harry sent a withering glare their way, and they hastened away. 

"So, should I buy it or-?"

"For fu-"

"Ginny, no swearing in front of James!" Harry interrupted, scandalised, then turned to Draco, "Buy it, or we're leaving because I'm not spending another hour trying to convince you that it's good."

Draco released a nervous breath through his nose, then asked the witch who was waiting behind the counter (who had dozed off ages ago in her wait for Draco to make a pick) to pack up his purchase. 

~~~~

"Granger."

Hermione had fallen asleep over the coffee table. Her book lay below her, and her hair was sprawled all over the table. Recently, she had been rather busy with her apothecary. People liked ordering from her because of the unique and efficient nature of her cures, and a partnership had been struck between her apothecary and the main apothecary at Diagon Alley. 

Draco brushed some hair from her face and sighed, then realised how far gone he was that he was actually sighing and mooning over her. 

Pathetic. 

But he didn't mind, honestly. 

"Granger," he was careful not to startle her. 

Her eyes fluttered open, and when they landed on Draco they brightened, "Hello."

"Weren't you supposed to be at Ginny and Harry's for dinner?" Draco glanced at the clock to confirm the time. 

Hermione shot to her feet , "Why wouldn't you wake me up earlier?"

"I only just got back from work," Draco said, laughing. She flurried around, and disappeared into her bedroom, then reappeared again shortly. 

"I honestly can't bother with my hair right now," Hermione declared, "Come on, hurry along."

They flooed to Grimmauld Place, where Harry was reading the paper in front of the fireplace. 

"Ah, finally got here," Harry said, folding his paper up, "Come along."

Ginny was in the kitchen, sitting at the table and trying to get James to have some baby food that looked disgusting, and that was putting it kindly. 

"'Mione, you feed him," Ginny said, thrusting the spoon into Hermione's hands. 

"She's a little...hormonal…" Harry said in a low voice to Draco so that Ginny wouldn't hear. Draco nodded, concealing his amused smile. 

"He doesn't like this food, and it's no surprise," Ginny said. She was dishing out the plates for dinner, "But I can't scold him, he's too adorable. Look at his eyes-"

"As green as a fresh pickled toad," Harry said loudly, already running away to the kitchen door. 

Ginny hurled a loaf of bread after him. 

~~~~

"Are Ron and Elena going to be back soon?" Hermione and Ginny were sitting in the Burrow's kitchen, holding warm cups of tea. Molly had taken James for a while so that Ginny could have some time to herself. 

"Ron said they're coming back next month," Ginny said, "They got pulled into a tour of Europe, that's why they took so long."

Hermione chuckled, "Right, he had mentioned it in his letters."

"So, has Draco been acting...different lately?" Ginny asked suddenly, lifting the cup to her lips and looking sideways at Hermione. 

Hermione furrowed her brows, "No...not really, why?" 

"No reason," Ginny said quickly. 

~~~~

They were sitting face to face, glaring daggers at each other. 

"'Kwtch' isn't a word," Draco said, shifting his accusatory gaze on the word Hermione had formed with the letters of Scrabble.

"Yes it is, look it up," Hermione said wisely, summoning a dictionary to herself and flipping through the pages.

"Fine, you don't have to read it out of a dictionary," Draco snatched the book away, tutting, "But it's hardly fair that you know so many muggle things while I don't, Hermione."

Hermione had gone very still, and she was looking at Draco intently while her hand hovered over the word 'Ring', which had been formed by Draco, on the Scrabble board, "What did you call me?"

Draco's heart rate began increasing, and blood rushed to his ears. He had spent the entire game forming words such as 'Engagement', 'weddings', 'ceremony' and 'bride', trying to give her a hint. She had blatantly ignored all the bloody hints he had thrown at her.

There was no going back. This was it. 

"I called you Hermione."

She furrowed her brows, for even though they had been together for nearly a year, he still called her Granger. Not condescendingly of course, it was more of an affectionate address meant just for her. But still, he had never called her 'Hermione'.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Hermione asked, beginning to arrange her letters.

"Because I'm practising for when I can't call you 'Granger' anymore."

"Why can't you call me 'Granger' anymore?"

"Because I'm hoping you'll become Malfoy."

"What? That's ridiculous, my surname is perfectly fine, I can't see why you would want to change it."

Draco resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. She was smart, yes, but awfully oblivious. He shook his head, "I just proposed, you idiot."

Hermione blinked at him, "You did what?"

"I just proposed to you!"

"No you didn't, you just said that my name would become Malf- oh."

Draco waited with a hopeful smile on his face while his heart tap-danced in his chest. Hermione looked like she had taken a bludger to the head.

"You're serious?" She asked finally, her voice breathy.

"No, I'm joking, I didn't even buy you a ring," Draco answered sardonically. 

"You brought me a ring?" She sounded lovestruck. She looked over all the words he had formed, and realisation dawned on her face 

"Merlin, you're going to give me a stroke," Draco leaned across the Scrabble board, placed a hand on the side of her face, and placed his lips on hers. It was their best kiss yet. She tasted of oranges, because they had just had orange juice some time back.

"Now, your answer?" Draco asked, smirking into the kiss. 

"You're such an arrogant toerag," Hermione said affectionately, her fingers playing in the strands of Draco's hair at the nape of his neck. She smiled, "I accept your proposition."

~~~~

"It's bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony!" 

Pansy pushed and shoved and kicked Draco out of the room, while Hermione hid behind the cupboard, laughing.

"Stay out, or I'll have Blaise Stun you until the ceremony! And don't forget to check on Atlas, he likes to get his hands on the sweets."

"'Mione, if you ruin your hair, I won't do it again," Ginny said sternly. She was fixing some Baby's-Breath flowers into Hermione's hair with a look of extreme concentration on her face. 

"Would you like to wear the shell bracelet?" Luna asked, lifting the said bracelet up, "They're said to ward off evil spirits on good occasions."

Hermione nodded, "I'll wear it."

Luna, looking pleased, came over to put the bracelet on Hermione's wrist. 

Hermione had been fussed over by Luna, Pansy, Ginny, Molly, and Fleur all throughout the morning. Fleur and Molly had left just some time ago to help with the preparation of the marquee. They had done Hermione's hair, helped her into an extravagant dress which had been gifted to her by Narcissa (apparently, the dress had been worn by Narcissa's grandmother on her own wedding day), and used all sorts of makeup products on Hermione's face while she tried not to complain about how unnaturally sparkly her face looked. 

Atlas and James, who were nearly the same age with the difference of only a year and a half, were running all over the house, popping into rooms, stealing candy, and trying to break into the dishes to get a taste of all of Molly's wondrous cookery. Blaise had spent some time running behind them, and had then given up hope and left them.

"Luna, darling?"

Hermione, Ginny and Pansy exchanged sly glances. Theodore flushed, "Do you mind coming downstairs?"

"I'll be along," Luna said, "See you later, Hermione."

In the next fifteen minutes, Ginny and Pansy declared that Hermione was finished. They had helped her into some heels, ruffled her dress and asked her to turn every which way so that they could survey her. 

"There, now you can come down," Pansy said, "I'll go shoo everyone out, then we can go outside."

Pansy left, and Ginny stayed behind. 

"Nervous?" Ginny asked. She was looking rather pretty herself. James hinself had declared that his mother looked 'as beautiful as a Chinese Fireball'. 

"A little," Hermione's heart seemed to be shooting around in every direction inside her chest. 

"Don't worry, I felt like throwing up as well," Ginny said, "It's normal."

Hermione squeezed Ginny's hand gratefully. 

"By the way," Ginny said suddenly, "Seamus and Dean are here, and they're dating!"

Hermione, although surprised, had always had an inkling of a suspicion about Dean and Seamus, "Great."

"Come on down," Pansy popped her head through the door. 

With her legs feeling like Licorice Wands, Hermione followed Pansy and Ginny downstairs and out onto the sunlit garden where the marquee was set up. On Narcissa's insistence, a flower arrangement had been set up outside the entrance that looked positively baroque, but Hermione hadn't opposed it because she knew how glad Narcissa was about being involved with the preparations.

When Draco had broken the news of his proposal to his parents, at first, neither had reacted. Then Narcissa had clasped Hermione's hands happily, and said that she was happy that Hermione would soon be a part of the family. Lucius hadn't been open about his emotions, but he had sent Hermione a basket full of new alchemy supplies, so Hermione had assumed he didn't oppose the marriage either. 

Surprising, but Hermione wasn't about to complain.

Luna was already waiting at the entrance, "You look stunning, Hermione. Draco is sure to faint."

Hermione laughed, "Oh, no."

After taking in several deep breaths, Hermione walked in. 

Everyone watched her with awe written plainly on their faces. Somewhere, a camera flashed. There were Victoire and Bill, there was Fleur with Molly and Arthur, there was George playing the violin (a new interest of his), Dean and Seamus, Lavender and Zacharias Smith, Ron comforting a sobbing Elena (they were expecting a child; according to Ron, they had had too much to drink one night while at Sicily, and that had resulted in the child), Neville and Hannah Abott. 

At the altar stood Draco with Blaise, Harry and Theo, dressed in formal dress robes, a bunch of Baby's-Breath in his pocket. Was Hermione imagining things, or was Draco crying?

Hermione managed to reach the altar without tripping or falling. She turned to face Draco. 

"Granger," he whispered, so only she could hear, smirking. 

"Malfoy," Hermione whispered back, unable to keep a huge grin from her face. 

"Ahem."

Hermione blushed furiously, "Sorry Kingsley." Some people laughed politely. 

Kingsley cleared his throat again, "Witches and Wizards, we have gathered here today to celebrate the matrimony…."

Hermione barely paid any attention to what Kingsley was saying. She couldn't keep her eyes off Draco. He was smiling, really smiling. Kingsley asked them to join hands, and Hermione and Draco held onto each other's hands with utmost eagerness. 

Then they were kissing each other, and everyone in the crowd was clapping, Theo shouted "Drinks for everyone!", and Molly had begun sobbing with joy. Hermione would never forget that moment, when she had been so happy, when Draco mumbled promises over her lips and told her that she was beautiful. 

"Hermione," he said, breaking the kiss at last, and lowering his voice, "I love you."

A thrill ran through Hermione and her heart accelerated even more, "Finally found the courage?"

Draco 'tched', "I had expected an 'I love you too'."

Everyone was standing up, and merry music began playing, with George's violin leading it. Draco and Hermione had the first dance. 

"Don't trip!" Draco shouted over the music, and they both struggled to keep up to the fast beats, "That was my toe!"

"Sorry!" Hermione breathed out, laughing more than she had ever laughed before. Their feet were out of sync with the music, she tripped several times, but nobody sent a single jibe her way. Little James and Atlas had decided to join in the fun, and were frolicking about near Hermione and Draco. Narcissa and Lucius, who were observing the proceedings, were having a conversation amongst themselves. 

"Who would have thought?" Narcissa asked, smiling when Hermione tripped again and Draco steadied her with an arm around her waist.

Lucius didn't say anything for a while, then lifted his chin a little, "Do you think she'll keep him happy?"

The newly married couple whirled past Narcissa and Lucius at that moment, and Hermione's "I love you too" was not something that was missed by the people around them. 

Narcissa nodded, "Yes, she will."

~~~~

"Get off the fucking couch!"

"Draco, no swearing in front of children!"

"Atlas, get down!" 

Draco pounced on the couch at the same time that Atlas leapt off it. Somewhere, a baby was wailing loudly, seeking attention. 

"Get Hugo," Draco said, "Bloody fucking he-"

"Draco!"

Draco blandly ignored Hermione's reprimands. Atlas had just disappeared behind the bookshelf, effectively trapping himself. 

"Atlas, come out, you little punk!" Draco peered around the bookshelf to find Atlas pressed up against the wall, laughing happily. 

"Uncle Draaaacoooooooo."

Draco could feel a headache building up at the base of his skull, "What is it, James?"

Finally grabbing onto Atlas' hand, Draco pulled the four year old boy out from behind the bookshelf and lifted him up onto his shoulders, to keep from running away again if for nothing else. On looking over his shoulder at James, Draco found him sitting on the floor, in tears, looking at his Quidditch figurines that were engaged in a brawl on the carpet. 

"They won't stop fighting," James rubbed a fat tear from his face, "Make them stop."

Draco sighed and picked up the figurine of the Wasps captain by his cloak and lifted it to eye level, "Shut it, will you? You're making the kid cry. Ask your team to shut up, or I'll shove you all in an unwashed sock for the rest of the week."

That made all the tiny figurines shut up. James sniffed and began rearranging the small goal hoops. 

"Draco, will you get Hugo's story book?" 

Draco groaned, casting an accusatory glare at the cover of Pinocchio. He put Atlas down on the couch, thrust a picture book and a small bar of chocolate in his hands, and went to the bedroom with Pinochio held between his index finger and thumb. 

It was a revolting story.

Who gets swallowed by a whale and survives?

That, and the fact that whales never even think about eating people. 

It was codswallop.

"How can he listen to the same thing over and over again?" Draco handed the book to Hermione. She was laying on her side next to the six month old Hugo Weasley, who had thankfully inherited Elena's dark hair and not Ron's mop of red. Hermione opened the book, and smoothed the page out, while Hugo continued to wail as if the world was ending. 

"Once upon a time…"

Draco pressed his fingers into his forehead. Atlas had finally settled down, James wasn't crying anymore, and Hugo's incessant wailing had stopped. 

When Hugo fell asleep again, Hermione stood, and motioned for Draco to quietly follow her out of the room. Draco shut the door softly behind him. 

"Remind me why we let them leave their kids with us?" Draco asked in a low voice so that Atlas wouldnt hear. Despite his young age, he was quick to pick up on things, and had a sensitive heart. Draco loved the boy to pieces, but he did want some peace and quiet. 

"Because neither of them had had alone time in much too long," Hermione said. She rearranged the books on the shelf where Atlas had rummaged through them to pick something out with pictures. 

"What about our date night?" Draco grumbled, gripping onto the back of her shirt and pulling her so that she tripped backwards into him. 

"We have date nights every weekend, one of them missed is completely not an issue," Hermione said, turning around to face him while he kept his hands around her waist. 

"Are you going to kiss?"

Atlas was looking gleefully over the top of the couch, grinning, "Should I cover my eyes?"

Hermione laughed, "Why do you want to close your eyes?" 

"Mum and dad always ask me to," Atlas said wisely, "They like some piracy."

Draco turned his laughter into a cough, "Yes, I'm sure they do."

"I'll close my eyes," Atlas said, placing his two chubby hands over his face. He cracked a slit between two fingers. 

"Atlas," Draco said, lightly admonishing. Atlas giggled and sank back into the couch. 

"He's such a dear," Hermione said. 

"But he gives me a reason never to want kids of my own," Draco said, replacing his arms around Hermione's waist, "You're only properly around on weekends, and if we had kids, they would always be around. I'd never be able to do anything."

"Always so dramatic," Hermione said, reaching up to place her lips on Draco's, "Do you not like that I'm away every day?"

Hermione's apothecary services had expanded. In fact, there were branches set up in almost all wizarding villages and districts. Hermione had offered Lucius to take over the position of finance manager, which Lucius had gladly accepted. Hermione spent all her work days visiting each and every one of her apothecaries, which had been named The Pestle and The Mortar II in honor of Mr. Blak who had passed away a few months ago. Hermione travelled, worked tirelessly to ensure that medication reached all the remote wizarding areas, and still made sure to have enough time for everyone. 

Draco himself was rather busy, but his night shifts had been changed to day shifts. He had finally accepted his promotion. His shift ended at two in the afternoon, after which time he stayed at home, or visited his parents at the Manor. 

"No, I don't," Draco said after giving it a bit of thought, "I'm proud of you."

Hermione's smile widened, and Draco didn't even know when exactly they began kissing each other again. Hermione pulled back briefly, "Merlin, I really do love you." 

Draco's satisfied heart fluttered its wings, "And I love you."