EPILOGUE: FOREVER AND EVER, AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWED

Hermione pouted and tried to ease the ring off her finger once more, but the thing wouldn't budge, almost clinging to her skin like it didn't want to let go. She sighed and glanced over at Draco, who was lying next to her on the grassy hill, his eyes closed, a small, relaxed smile on his face.

It had been a month since everything had happened, and things had started to calm down now. Of course, upon seeing either of them in the streets, people would go crazy and hassle them, so they tended to apparate to their little hill in Scotland to get away from it all. It had become their place and they often spent hours, just lying next to each other, staring at the clouds and talking.

He'd asked her about finding her parents, her adopted parents again, but she didn't want to look for them. This world wasn't one where they belonged, and though the crisis with the murders were over, she couldn't guarantee their safety if something alike happened again. She had no ill feeling towards them, but her heart was still wounded and they just weren't a part of her life any longer.

Draco seemed to understand and had let to topic go. He was perceptive about things like that, he knew when to question things and when not to, and it was one of the many things she loved about him.

Hermione rolled to her side so that she was looking at him directly and narrowed her eyes, wondering how to approach this subject without making it weird. But no matter how many ways she tried to word it in her head it always sounded weird. Plus, subtly wasn't her strong point, and matters like this had to be handled with subtly, right?

"Draco?" she began, before trailing off when he opened one eye to look at her in question.

"Is it time to go home already?" he asked, yawning and rolling to his side so that he was face to face with her, leaning his head on his hand as he waited for her reply. His grey eyes were a lot less stormy now, brighter too, and deep enough that I she stared into them long enough, she felt like she was falling into their depths.

Hermione licked her lips, his eyes followed the movement in interest, wondering if this time, she would be able to say it out loud.

"Well, I was thinking...um...seeing as how..." she trailed off once more.

Damn it, why was it so hard to word this properly?

Draco narrowed his eyes as she flushed slightly red, before sighing. It looked like he had to be the one to say it after all, it was too bad, he'd been looking forward to hearing it from her.

"Granger, wanna get married?"

.*.

"Well then...what if he doesn't show up?" Hermione asked Ginny, biting her bottom lip worriedly.

Ginny sighed for the hundredth time that day, wondering if this was what she'd been like back then too. All the drama and overthinking, and with Hermione, it seemed to be twice as bad too. The girl had an overactive imagination.

"What if he gets kidnapped, or he gets lost? What if he changed his mind and realised that I'm far too crazy for him to handle?" she gaped in horror, "what if he fell in love with a catering lady and ran away with her to France? What if-"

"For Merlin's sake, Hermione. Shut up and sit still! If you don't stop moving around so much, I swear I'm going to hex you to next Tuesday, and then you'll be the one who didn't turn up!" Ginny roared, grabbing a safety pin and holding it up threateningly.

Hermione froze in place, pouting once more as she took small sip of water in hopes that it would calm her down. But her mind continued to race with a thousand different scenarios where things could go wrong...mostly which involved him changing his mind. That was stupid of course, this had been is idea in the first place!

Ginny grabbed the long garment and pinned it into Hermione styled hair, making sure not to prick her in the process, as tempting as that was.

Pansy walked in wearing her assigned dress looking like she'd had another argument with Ron. "Ginny, I swear to all the gods in the world, I'm going to lock your brother up in a coffin again!" She cried, huffing and crossing her arms in irritation.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Ginny, "what does she mean, again?" she whispered, watching as the black-haired woman grabbed a chocolate dipped strawberry off the place and shoved it into her mouth in angst.

Ginny rolled her eyes, grabbing the tiara and placing it carefully on top of Hermione's head, using more pins to hold it in place, "she locked him up in a coffin last week and mailed him home after they had a fight about whether coffee or tea was better tasting...or something. Gave mum a right good heart attack too! I don't know the details. I've stopped paying attention to those love-birds."

"We are not love birds!" Pansy defended, standing up and raising a hand like she was about to start a war, before she glanced at Hermione and walked over to fix the woman's lipstick once more, "we're not dating or anything. He's just very irritating, that's all." She muttered as an afterthought.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. There is enough drama going on in the real world without you adding to it, Pansy. Put him in a coffin some other time, right now, we're going to be late for the entrance!" Ginny muttered, shooing the girl out.

"We're not love birds!" Pansy called out once more before grabbing the bouquet and heading out with a complacent smile on her face like nothing was wrong.

Ginny shook her head after the girl and placed her hands on her hips, assessing Hermione with her eyes before nodding to herself, "okay, you're ready. Are you ready?" Ginny asked.

Hermione gulped, and took a deep breath in and letting it go. "Yes!" she announced, like she was going to war, before smiling sheepishly, "I mean, yeah, I am. Now if he's exactly where he's supposed to be, I'll be happy," she added.

Ginny rolled her eyes again, "yeah, well, just try not to run down the aisle okay? He's not going anywhere without you. And watch your veil, you don't want to trip either, just follow ten seconds after me, and Hermione," Ginny smiled, "congratulations." and with that Ginny grabbed her bouquet of narcissus' flowers and walked out of the room.

Hermione flushed slightly and counted slowly to ten in her head, though she lost count around five and panicked for a second, wondering if she'd ruined it all, but then she heard the music begin and calmed down.

She walked out and smiled at Mr. Weasley, who'd promised to stand in as her dad for the day. He smiled down at her, wiping the tears from the corner of his eye as he held onto her arms as they glided down to the pathway.

When Draco Malfoy saw his to-be-wife, he forgot how to breathe, until Harry nudged him in the back carefully, grinning at the love-struck look on Draco's face.

She looked beautiful, like one of those fairy-tale princesses, her dress fell around her like a waterfall, hugging her curves, and her smile broadened when she saw him, and he felt his mouth curve up automatically. He resisted the urge to run down the aisle and snatch her away, reminding himself that that wouldn't be the best course of action.

Especially with the way Ginny was glaring at him like she knew what he was thinking. Damn, that She-Weasel was scary.

"He is so whipped!" he heard Ron tell Blaise, but even that didn't stop his smile.

Mr. Weasley handed over Hermione's hand to Draco, who held it tightly in his own, nodding at the man in respect and thanks.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls," Blaise winked at them both, clearing his throat proudly as he began to read out all the official stuff.

Blaise had begged them to let him be the minister at their marriage, promising to learn everything do it properly. Eventually, even Astoria had asked the couple quietly to let him do it, since all he did at home now was mope around depressed and bored.

Draco grasped her hands tightly, squeezing them in excitement. Hermione blushed slightly, and he grinned wider, forgetting the fact that they were in front of a large audience.

"Right then, now that all that boring stuff is out of the way, if there is anyone here who would oppose this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace...although I wouldn't recommend speaking now either, you don't want to piss Draco off." Blaise stated with a straight face, observing the crowd.

Draco's eye twitched in irritation and Hermione struggled to hide her smile.

"No one? Good choice! Hermione would've probably punched you in the face if you stood up too."

This time Hermione scowled.

Blaise, noticing the fact that the bride and groom were starting to get irritated at him, squeaked in fear before coughing to hide it up, "um...your vows to each other...please?"

They glared at him for a second more before looking back at each other and smiling. "I love you, forever and ever," they both said as the same time, smiling broadly, before leaning in and kissing each other.

Blaise gaped at them, "wait, those aren't vows! You're-" Harry jumped in to cover his mouth before Draco actually got physical.

"Don't even try, mate." He whispered.

Blaise pouted, "fine! Then by the power vested in me by the course I took in preparation for this, I now name you man and wife...." he sighed, "you may continue kissing your bride!"

Everyone clapped as Draco and Hermione paid no attention and continued kissing anyway.

.*.

Draco woke up when he wanted to wake up.

His wife was in his arms, hugging him tightly like he was the only guy in the world for her and this made him smile. He carefully got out of bed, careful not to disturb her, and freshened up.

It had taken a few weeks of convincing, but Hermione had agreed to live in the Malfoy Manor with him, but only if she got to decorate. That had been her condition and he'd agreed happily.

He went downstairs to the kitchen that she'd redesigned, now with more muggle machines that magical and something called "elect the city" or something that he wasn't allowed to touch, but it was their six-month anniversary today, and he wanted to surprise her with his cooking.

To impress her even more, he'd decided to do it using the muggle machine, but he ended up setting the pancakes on fire, getting all the eggs burned and the toast looked like it had been on a holiday to hell.

Hermione woke up in time to hear the fire alarm go off; and sighed. She knew this was going to happen eventually, after all, telling Draco to stay away from electricity was never actually going to work. He was like a little kid.

She hurried downstairs and within moments, managed to contain the situation before the fire spread. "Draco, what are you trying to do? Kill us?" she cried out, massaging her head before raising an eyebrow at him for an explanation.

Draco pouted and kicked the ground like it was its fault this had happened and not because he didn't know how to use muggle machines. "

"I was attempting to make you breakfast, muggle style! Hmph! I'm never cooking again!" he crossed his arms and raised his head in pride.

He really was a child, maybe now wasn't the time to tell him after all?

Hermione softened at his attempt at making her happy, however, smiling and walking over to him, "aw, sweetie, you didn't have to! But thank you for trying, it's the thought that counts!" she leaned in to hug him.

He didn't look happy, and she found herself grinning, "I love you," she said kissing his nose.

He sniffed and then smiled, "I know."

No, she had to tell him. He had every right to know. Things were going to change soon, and if she didn't at least let him know, it wouldn't be fair on him at all!

They stood there, holding each other for a few minutes before Hermione, took a deep breath in and broke the silence, gathering all the courage she had.

"Hey Malfoy?" she began

"Yes, Malfoy?" he grinned, she rolled her eyes.

"Have you...ever...considered getting ourselves a...pet?" she asked, leaning against the kitchen counter to gauge his reaction, her expression filled with anxiety. Damn it, subtlety really wasn't her strong point at all. Wasn't that a bit too abrupt, what if he freaked out?

Draco looked surprised, glancing at her before contemplating it, "no, that thought hasn't crossed my mind. Why? You want one?"

Hermione nodded slowly, a fretful look on her face, wringing her hands together in worry.

"Okay, then a pet we shall have! What do you want? Dog? Cat? Oh, how about a snake? As long as it's not a Hippogriff, you can have anything you want." He said, nodding along at the idea of getting a pet.

Hermione frowned, "I was thinking something more domestic," she trailed off at the look on her husband's face.

Draco bit his lips and rubbed his temples, gazing at her through his long lashes, "a dog then? A horse? A cow? Exactly how domestic where you thinking?"

Hermione sighed in exasperation. Seriously? Did she have to spell it out for him?

"A ferret! I WANT A FERRET! I want a baby ferret. Can I have one?" she cried out, her anger bubbling.

Draco blinked and tilted his head to the right as if he was actually contemplating it. Hermione threw her hands into the air and growled in frustration.

She'd married an idiot.

"For Merlin's sake, Draco, I don't actually want a ferret! You know what; stuff the pet thing that was a bad metaphor. I was talking about a baby Draco! Not a bloody cow!" she explained, annoyed.

Draco froze, "you were asking me if I want a baby?" he stated slowly, watching her carefully.

"No! Well yes. But I'm afraid we're a little bit late on the whole asking thing." Hermione blushed sheepishly as she poked at her stomach awkwardly.

Draco just looked more confused.

"Oh, for gods' sake Draco, how stupid can you get? I give up! I'm pregnant! We're having a baby; you're going to be a father!" Hermione cried out, crossing her arms and waiting for it click in his head.

It took a second.

And then he gaped at her, his mouth handing open in shock as Hermione turned bright red.

And then he swept her up, carried her right back to bed and proceeded to show her exactly how he felt about the whole conversation.

.*.

Hermione woke up in the middle of the night and sighed heavily. "Draco," she whispered, hating to wake him up.

Draco woke up instantly, and sitting up, he turned to face her in alarm, "is it time!?" he asked, reaching the bag they'd already prepared, only stopping when she smiled at him gently.

"No, calm down. I want ice cream." She told him, watching as he nodded in relief and turned the night light on, "cravings again? I thought they were supposed to stop so close to the due date?" he muttered, stumbling into his slippers.

Hermione pouted, "I want vanilla ice cream and Doritos. The super spicy ones. And pickles. And chocolate ice cream too."

Draco paused to stare at her in worry, "all of that? In a bowl? Are you sure, Granger?"

"Shhh...just go get it." She watched him run a hand through his hair and walk off downstairs to get her what she wanted, grinning after him. He always called her Granger when he was woken up in the middle of the night, or when he was irritated with her, or when he was being cute.

He was taking this very well, being woken up in the middle of night to get her ice cream and pickles and various other treats she would suddenly want. She remembered the time she'd wanted a mars bar, and he'd floo'd to Harry's house to understand what that was.

As much as he was idiotic, he was kind of cute too.

She could hear him trudging back up, so she made to sit up, struggling and finding it difficult to breath as her stomach got in the way. She patted her little pet affectionately, not bothered by the size.

"Right then, my lady, your midnight snack is served." He handed her a large bowl and a spoon and watched her eat in amusement as she used her stomach as a table.

She took a bite of the vanilla ice cream and made a face at him as he watched her eat. "Stop watching me eat. I'm going to get self-conscious," she warned him, scooping the chocolate ice cream with a Dorito and shoving it in her mouth.

Draco smirked, "there's no need for you to get self-conscious, Granger."

"But I'm fat." She stated, knowing full well what he was going to say in response. They had this conversation every day.

"Nah, you're pretty."

Hermione smiled brightly, flicking her hair away from her shoulder, "I know I am." She muttered, taking another bite of her ice cream.

Draco sighed in contentment. If anyone had told him, at any point in his life time, that he was going to be this happy, he would have laughed in their face and probably cursed them to hell for even suggesting such a thing. But now, really, he'd never been happier.

She was this ball of sunshine that never went out. He could tell that sometimes she was in incredible pain, but she never complained. And even though her taste in food recently was a bit...inhuman, she never stopped smiling at him.

"Draco."

Draco glanced at her and panicked suddenly. She wasn't smiling anymore.

"Draco!"

She wasn't smiling anymore. Did that mean...was it?

"DRACO!"

He didn't move, his mouth hanging open as she glared at him and his frozen form.

"DRACO! You idiot! My water just broke!"

.*.

"MALFOY, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Hermione screamed, Draco gulped and patted her hand awkwardly, wishing he knew what he could do to stop the pain.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?" she screamed again, tears filling her eyes. Draco felt his heart break and looked around desperately at the Healers who smiled at his discomfort.

"Don't worry," one of them said kindly, "they all say this, but it's just the pain. We'll be ready in a moment, you can leave us now, or would you rather stay?" she asked, glancing at the couple's interlocked fingers.

Draco didn't get the opportunity to reply, as Hermione grabbed his hand tightly, and pulled him in close, gasping out loudly for all of them to hear, "if you leave me, I swear I'll run away and never ever sleep with you again!" she said dramatically.

Draco gaped at her, then at the Healers present in the room. How could she say that with so many people present?

The Healers grinned, "guess you're going to stay then? You just stand there and hold her hand tightly. We're ready, Mrs. Malfoy. I want you to relax, we're professionals, and you're in good hands."

Hermione growled at all of them and screamed again. Draco held her hand tightly.

.*.

He was gorgeous.

Little wisps of blonde hair, not unruly, yet not tamed. His eyes were chocolate brown, and he was beautiful.

She was beautiful too, wisps of golden brown hair atop her head, sterling silver-blue eyes.

They both had little button noses and high arched eyebrows, truly their parents' children.

Hermione and Draco looked down at their twins.

They hadn't been expecting twins. Even the Healers were confused too, none of their scans had shown twins, even the muggle doctor that Hermione had insisted on going to had told them that they were having a baby, but Hermione honestly couldn't care less.

She'd never been happier. She'd always wanted twins, ever since she was young, and she supposed it was the ring's doing, giving her her heart's desire once again.

Draco helped her sit up, handing her both, one by one. She didn't stop the tears from flowing, holding them close to her, her own little pets. Her own little ferrets.

"Draco, aren't they the cutest little babies ever? They put Harry kids to shame, oh yes you do!" Hermione kissed them both on the head and stared at them lovingly, never wanting to let them go from her grasp.

Draco sighed, good lord she was competitive.

"Oh, and Draco, about what I was screaming at you before, I didn't mean any of it! You know that, right? I don't think I'm capable of killing you, and I love these two, so I don't care that you made me go through nine months of absolute pain, cause these two are so worth it. as for sleeping with you, well, even if I did run away, I would have run home. I don't think I can survive without you." She leaned in and kissed him lightly, smiling at him in apology.

The babies cooed happily, their lips pulling into angelic little smiles in their mother's arms.

Draco sighed in contentment; there was a moment of peace before everyone else rushed in to coo over the new member of the Malfoy family, only to be met with two children and an over protective Draco keeping an eye on whoever was holding his pets. After five minutes of being handled by the clan of Weaselys and Potters, and Blaise and Astoria, he kicked them out.

"So Malfoy," Ron asked as Draco was closing the door, shoving him out, "what're you going to call them?"

Draco shut the door in his face as Pansy grabbed Ron by the ear and dragged him away, telling him off for asking questions so suddenly.

Draco turned to face Hermione, and raised an eyebrow, asking the same question to her.

"You choose the girl name and I'll choose the boy name, okay?" Hermione proposed as Draco nodded, leaning in to kiss her once again, before thinking it through.

A name befitting a Malfoy.

The babies giggled.

.*.

"This child shall henceforth be named Lyra Narcissa Malfoy. May all love and cherish you. May you be protected from harm and may you live a long and happily life."

Blaise watched on jealousy as the official minister added Lyra's name on the list of names. He'd begged to be the one to do it, but this time, both Hermione and Draco had refused, afraid that he would change the names they chose and name them something ridiculous himself.

The minister poured water over Lyra's head, an official welcome to the community of magic, but the young baby shook off the water and gave the minister a deadly glare, just asking him to try and pour water over her head again.

Blaise smirked, see, even the kids had wanted their uncle Blaise to officially name them! Astoria sighed, rubbing her stomach as her baby kicked, as if she too knew knowing exactly what her idiotic father was thinking.

The minster coughed slightly in shock at the threat behind those sterling grey-blue eyes, but moved onto the boy. "This child shall henceforth be named Scorpius Lucius Malfoy. May all love and cherish you. May you be protected from harm and may you live a long and happily life."

The minister poured the water over Scorpius' head; he too shook off the water, and chose to stick his tongue out at the older man, copying his sister and adding a glare too.

Shaking his head, the minister congratulated the couple, and gathering his things, went home to wonder how kids only two months old were capable of such behaviour. How on earth were the parents raising them that already the children had such awareness of self and surroundings?

Hermione watched the minister leave and groaned in embarrassment, "Lyra, Scorpius! I can't believe you two did that! Your father is the worst influence on you I swear!"

Ginny walked over and grinned at Hermione who was now making faces at her two kids. "Right and you blame Draco?" she asked, jokingly.

"Well, that glare was definitely Draco's, but Scorpius is completely your fault, look you're sticking your tongue out at me now! And where do you think he's learning that from?" Pansy asked as she made her way over to them.

Draco joined Hermione just in time to hear Pansy's comment, he smirked. "Oh please, it's not our fault that that minister guy drones on forever! Blaise would've done it better,"

"I told you so! I would have given them cool names too! Like Velma and Scooby!" Blaise jumped in, nodding.

Hermione opened her mouth and then shook head, not even wanting to know.

Astoria sighed, "I'm sorry, he's been watching some kind of entertainment for kids non-stop for a week now on that television thing he and Draco bought for the house." she explained, scowling at him, he pouted at her, "no, we're not naming our daughter something ridiculous like that!" Astoria added, holding her stomach protectively.

Draco took Lyra from Hermione and placed a kiss on her forehead, "bugger off all of you. Blaise, take Astoria home, Weasel-Potter, your husband is stuffing himself with all the scones he can fit into his mouth, and Pansy, your boyfriend is obviously lost! Go away!" he shooed them off, settling next to Hermione.

Pansy rolled her eyes, "Ron isn't my boyfriend!" she muttered angrily before going to the red-haired man and yelling at him for being stupid. Ron just nodded along as they floo'd back to their place, used to being told off by her. Ginny sighed and walked away too, waving goodbye to Hermione as she dragged Harry away from the food and floo'd home from the Manor. Astoria waved bye too, as she and Blaise left together, still arguing about naming their child Velma as they were apparating back home.

Finally, in the silence of their home, Draco turned to Hermione and smiled widely, "I love you," he began, whispering in Hermione's ear.

She grinned she leaned against him, "forever and ever," she finished

Scorpius and Lyra giggled.

The End (P.S. They Lived Happily Ever After)