Tutoring A Dragon

Epilogue

After the Halloween Ball, Hermione and Draco moved into Head's quarters. Dumbledore had, most interestingly, changed the traditional quarters from two floors below Professor Trelawney's classroom to the Astronomy Tower.

So, after they'd packed everything, they were extremely dismayed to find that they weren't going anywhere!

Dumbledore had come into the common room, to be met a great many cardboard boxes ("What are these things?" Draco had asked, never having seen one) and the overworked Hermione and Draco.

"Why, Ms. Granger, I did not know you had already packed," said Dumbledore, his eye twinkling like firecrackers.

"Yes," said Draco, extremely disgruntled. Hermione disdained the idea of "overworking the already poor overworked House-Elves," and had awoken him at five-thirty after her run, and told him to "get up and start packing." He, in turn, had mistaken her for someone else and said something that made her whack him with a pillow.

"So, I suppose," continued Dumbledore, somehow knowing this, "you'll be very disappointed to hear that I've changed the quarters?"

"What?" cried Hermione. She wiped some sweat off her forehead. "You can't have done that!"

"Well," said Dumbledore, still cheerful, "you'll have to stay in your House dormitories for a week or two, but unfortunately you'll be staying here in this very set of rooms. It will, of course, take sometime for the Castle to move around, but it shall be done."

"But sir, what can you mean by it will 'take sometime for the Castle to move around'?" asked Hermione.

"Just what I said," replied Dumbledore, very vague. And that was that.

~*~

True to form, a week after they'd left their rooms; they were informed that their rooms were ready again.

Making the short (well, not really) trip to the Astronomy Tower from the Gryffindor Common room, Hermione stood outside the portrait of the dragon and the lion, and blinked at it.

It swung open, and Hermione walked through the passage into a lovely meeting room. In the center there was large oaken table with lovely matching chairs.

The ceiling was vaulted, and at its peak, must've been at least twenty feet high. Around the bottom four feet of the room, there was mahogany paneling with rectangles carved into the paneling. The rest of the walls were painted a very pale gold-ish sort of color.

Also, there were paintings on the wall of all four Founders. Salazar Slytherin was making a horrible face at Godric Gryffindor when Hermione came in. Noticing her House patch, he stuck his tongue out at her, which made Godric Gryffindor yell an extremely rude string of phrases at Salazar.

"Boys, boys!" yelled Hermione, over the curses. "No arguing! This is to be a meeting room for all four Houses! You'll have to pretend to get along; otherwise meetings will go very ill, indeed." They frowned, but shut up.

"Oi! Hermione!" called Draco's voice coming from behind a portrait of a red- haired woman writing a letter. "C'mere! You've got to see this!"

Hermione walked over to the portrait. The woman, who had pearls littered through her hair, looked up and put her quill down. "Name?" she asked, imperiously.

"Who're you?" asked Hermione. She liked to know who guarded her rooms.

The woman sniffed. "My name is Elizabeth. Now, what is yours?"

"Hermione Granger." The portrait swung open, revealing the rooms and the changes that had been made.

Since they were Head Boy and Girl, their chambers had to be House-neutral, so there was a lot of gold and scarlet, green and silver, silver and blue, and yellow and black.

Draco was seated on a green and silver couch that had embroideries of dragons on it. "I think Dumbledore outdid himself," he remarked cheerfully.

~*~

At Christmas vacation, Draco reluctantly agreed to go home with Hermione and meet her parents.

Needless to say, after two days of being rather suspicious of their daughter's new boyfriend, the Granger's ended up liking Draco.

They got along splendidly, until something rather unexpected happened.

His mum showed up.

"DRACO XAIVER MALFOY WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" shouted Narcissa, upon entering the Granger household.

"Visiting Hermione's parents, Mum," he said. He reached into his bag and pulled out a flask. "Here," he said, tossing it to her, "have a sip. You know you need one."

Narcissa drank a few swallows without ceasing to glare at her son. "And what do you think you're doing, visiting your girlfriend's parents without informing you mum?" She glared at him. "Or your father," she said as an afterthought.

Draco held up a finger. "For one thing, you were in New York with cousin Linda." Another finger went up as he went on. "For another thing, I wouldn't tell Lucius or Orion what I was doing for a million Galleons." A third finger went up. "And for thirds, Hermione's the only one who's been showing me any amount of support lately, if you haven't noticed, Miss-My- Clothes-Are-About-To-Be-Optioned-By-Two-Seventeen-Year-Olds-Thanks-To-My- Son's-Girlfriend!"

"Wait a second," said Narcissa, turning to Hermione. "You have something to do with my clothes being optioned?"

Hermione shrugged. "Pav and Lav are two of my best mates. They were thinking of someone else, but I... convinced them to take you instead. But, your clothes had better be good sellers; otherwise it's my butt on the line."

After that, the visit went very well.

~*~

During Easter, the Castle was attack by Voldemort.

Hermione would have been unable to be with Ron and Harry on the battlefield, if it hadn't been for Draco.

Dumbledore had told them to make sure the third years and under were in a safe place.

They had orders to stay with their charges until it was all over, but Draco told Hermione to go.

"Look, Hermione," he told her, by the portrait to their meeting room, "you've got to go! Ron and Harry are going to need your support before the end of the battle."

Hermione smiled weakly. "But what if I don't come back?" she asked softly.

Draco grinned. "You're coming back. Mrs. Weasley is out there, and no one would dare kill an Honorary Weasley while she's within hearing. Even Lucius wouldn't. Now, go!" And he pushed Hermione out the door. "I love you," he whispered, as he watched her run to her friends.

While Hermione was helping Harry and Ron, Draco was dealing with his once-father. Somehow, the anti-Apparating ward had been disabled, and Lucius had Apparated right into Draco and Hermione's rooms.

"Well, well, well," said Lucius. "What've we here?"

"You will not hurt them, Lucius," said Draco threateningly.

"And why not?" asked Lucius, laughing.

"Because I'm going to kill you if you do." Draco pulled out his wand.

Unfortunately, he was too slow. Lucius performed the Crustatious Curse on him.

While Draco writhed on the floor in pain, there was a loud crack by the fireplace.

"Lucius, you never did appreciate what you had going for you," said a softy venomous voice.

Few people knew that other than the Dark Lord, Lucius Malfoy feared but one person: his older brother, Orion. No one knew why Orion posed such a threat to Lucius, but they didn't want to.

"O-Orion," said Lucius, trembling slightly. "What do you want?"

Orion stood. In his outstretched hand was his wand. "What's rightfully mine, brother. Give me back my son." He flicked his wand, and an illusion of Lucius being tortured appeared next to the real one. "Or I'll have to take serious measures," he said, his voice deadly.

"He has to die!" screamed Lucius, his wand point straying from Draco, lifting the curse on the youngest Malfoy. "He's robbed me of what's rightfully mine!"

"Oh, do shut up, Dad," said Draco, waving his wand, a silencing spell wafting out of the tip. "No one likes you anyway." He glared at Orion. "Mobilious corpus!" he hissed at Lucius's form. He turned back to Orion. "Watch these kids, Orion," he said. "If one of them even has a scratch, I'll know who to exact my vengeance on."

And then Draco levitated his once-father out of the room, down to the dungeon that Dumbledore had turned into a designated prison.

After dropping off Lucius, Draco ran to find Hermione.

~*~

Hermione was in the midst of the battle, standing next to Harry, fending off Death Eaters as he battled Voldemort.

She was dueling Avery when a curse made its way past her defenses, and she fell over. Before her eyes closed, she saw a blinding white light.

"Ah," she murmured, "he's done it."

~*~

Draco fell to the ground, arms over his eyes as the light flashed and then was gone.

Spots dancing in his eyes, he made his way towards the small bundle of light that remained.

He saw Hermione lying on the ground, and ran to her.

'Oh no,' he thought. 'She's dead!'

But, when he touched her hand, it was warm. She was only unconscious.

He picked her up, and carried her through the throng that surrounded Harry and Ron, who were being cheered.

Making his way to the infirmary, he smiled at Hermione and told her about all the things that had happened. At one point her eyes fluttered open, but she remained asleep.

~*~

Two Weeks Later

Two weeks had gone by and Draco sat by Hermione's bed, watching her sleep, hoping that she would wake up.

The one half-hour that he was gone to use the bathroom was when she woke.

"Where's Harry?" she yelled, as the nurse bustled in. "Is he all right? What about Ron?"

Even though Draco was two corridors and a classroom away, there was no way he couldn't hear Hermione. I'd like to put because love knows no bounds, but it's really because she was really, really loud.

He rushed to her side, and smiled so wide he thought his face would break.

"Hermione!" he said, pulling her to him. "You're awake!"

"Well, that is obvious," she said, muffled against his chest. "Could you be so kind as to loosen your grip? I can't breathe."

Draco loosened his grip, and smiled down at her. "I'm so glad you're awake," he said simply, before kissing her like there was no tomorrow.

Even Madam Pomfrey couldn't separate them. She had to call for Dumbledore, who smiled, and said, "Oh, Poppy, let them enjoy each other. It has been a while, after all."

The nurse sniffed her assent, and she and Dumbledore left the infirmary.

"I didn't think you'd ever wake up," said Draco, a bit amazed. "Madam Pomfrey didn't know either."

Hermione smiled. "Well, I'm glad I did. Where are Harry and Ron?"

Draco grinned nastily. "Professor Snape, knowing how much one can love someone, has granted me a reprieve from classes until my lady love is fully healed."

Hermione cocked an eyebrow. "How would Snape know how much one could love someone?" Her eyes widened. "Oh, no-"

Draco grinned wider. "That's right. Ol' Snape has a girlfriend. Unfortunately, she was knocked out in the battle, but he's been beside her every second of the waking day."

"Who?" breathed Hermione.

Draco drew the curtain surrounding her bed aside to reveal Prof. Snape sitting beside Sybill Trelawney's bed.

"Oh, my," giggled Hermione.

"Indeed," replied Draco, sagely.

~*~

Leaving Day

Hermione was, of course, the valedictorian for her class. She gave a charming speech on how much they'd learned and experienced and how they'd made life-long friends. Then she yelled, "WOOHOO!!! We did it!" And all her composure was ruined.

Draco was in his stark black robes, leaning in the doorway to the Entrance Hall, watching Hermione mingle. She glanced over at him, and made her excuses to the person she happened to be talking to, which was Orion.

"What?" she asked, seeing Draco playful expression.

"Come with me," he said, taking her hand and leading her out to by the lake.

"What?" she asked again, wondering harder now.

"Now," said Draco, pacing, "I know you might say no, but I've got to try." He came to stand in front of her, got down on one knee and pulled out a small black velvet box. "Hermione Granger, will you be my wife?" And he opened the box revealing a platinum ring with a large, square-cut diamond on a bed of black velvet. "We've been through a lot together, and I've fallen in love with you. But if you'd rather not..." he trailed off, taking her silence as a refusal. "Well, I tried." And he started to walk away.

"No, Draco," said Hermione, grabbing his sleeve. "I was just a bit shell- shocked. Of course I want to marry you!"

Draco's face split into a large grin. He pulled Hermione to him and kissed the living daylights out of her. Almost.

~*~

Back at the Castle

Ron and Harry were watching this and had gotten a bit sullen.

"Aw, crap," said Ron. "Now our girlfriends will want us to propose, too."

"Yeah, I love Ginny, but I don't want to marry her," said Harry.

Ron's eyes narrowed. "What're you saying, Potter? You won't buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?"

Harry backed off, eyeing Ron. "No, just that I'm not ready for marriage yet."

Ron squinted at him. "Right then, but if you hurt my sister, I swear that I'll..."

"I know Ron," said Harry, patting his shoulder. "I know."

~*~

May 14, Outside Draco and Hermione's rooms

Draco had already gone down to breakfast, as he had beaten Hermione into the shower. So, she was a little late.

She stepped out of the portrait passage, and into the corridor outside the Meeting Room, and ran into Ewan McAlpin.

She hadn't seen him on account of playing with her engagement ring, the sun making it sparkle.

"Oof," she said, pushing herself off him. "Ewan! What're you doing here?"

Ewan took her hand, and looked pleadingly into her eyes. "Please, Hermione, you've got to give me a second chance, please..."

"Now, what did I say at the ball, McAlpin?" asked a cold, drawling voice. They turned to see Draco leaning against a pillar, looking at Ewan. "Didn't I tell you that if you bothered Hermione again I'd have to beat the crap out of you?"

"Yeah, and he promised for us, too," said two other voices. From behind Draco stepped Harry and Ron.

"You might want to go down to breakfast, 'Mione," suggested Draco, rolling up his sleeves, and shedding his cloak.

"Right love," she said, flashing her ring in Ewan's face, she went over and kissed Draco good morning. "See you down there..."

And then, Draco, Harry, and Ron got to business fighting Ewan.

~*~

June 31st, Malfoy Manor

Hermione stood outside of the ballroom in her white gown, fidgeting.

"Oh, Lav," she said, turning to her friend, "am I doing the right thing?"

Lavender, who had heard this eight times already that day, sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yes, dear. You love him, he loves you, get married, have kids, and live happily ever after." This didn't assure Hermione. Lavender sighed again, and took Hermione's hands. "Look. You two are so lovey-dovey with each other it makes the rest of us sick. So, in conclusion, you are doing the exact right thing." She glared at the nervous bride. "In fact, if you don't, I will personally hunt you down and force you to marry him, you hear me?"

"Really?" said Hermione, sniffing.

"Really," said Lavender, smiling. "Now, the march is starting, I've got to go."

Hermione's father, David, came over. "Well, love, you ready?" he said, hugging his little girl one last time.

"Yeah, Dad, I am," she said, slipping her arm through his.

The doors opened, and Hermione stepped through them.

The walk down the aisle seemed an age. She didn't even look at her feet; she was so caught up in Draco's eyes, as he beamed at her.

'We've changed so much since the beginning of seventh year,' thought Hermione. 'Hard to believe we're even in love. But, we are.'

David lifted the veil and kissed her cheek, handing her over to Draco. Smiling at his soon-to-be son-in-law, he said, "If you hurt my daughter, magic or no, I'll kill you."

"Sir, I would never hurt Hermione," said Draco, honesty filling his eyes. "Never."

There was a loud sob from the audience. Hermione saw Narcissa crying on Remus Lupin's shoulder, and smiled.

They turned to the minister, and the ceremony begun.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God," said the minister. "To join Draco Xavier Malfoy and Hermione Anne Granger together." He looked at Draco. "Draco Xavier Malfoy, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do you part?"

"I do," said Draco, slipping a platinum band with tiny diamonds imbedded onto Hermione's left-hand ring finger.

The minister looked at Hermione. "And do you, Hermione Anne Granger take this man to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do you part?"

"I do," said Hermione, slipping a matching platinum band--minus the diamonds, Draco thought they were too feminine--onto Draco's left-hand ring- finger.

"Then, by the power vested in me by the Church of England and the Ministry of Magic, I pronounce you to be man and wife." He paused for a moment. "Well, go on, kiss the bride, then!"

Draco kissed Hermione very sweetly. When he broke off, he smiled at her. "I love you, you know that?"

"Of course, love," she said, and kissed him fiercely.

~*~

March 14th, St. Mungo's Hospital

"Push!" said the Mediwizard.

"C'mon, love, push!" said Draco, holding Hermione's hand.

She pulled him closer to her face. "You get pregnant and then go into labor and then you may tell me when to- Aaaah!" Clearly, the hormones were driving Hermione batty.

"One more push should do it," said the Mediwizard, glancing up at Hermione. "Mrs. Malfoy, come on!"

Hermione gritted her teeth and pushed. A squealing cry split the air. A second later, another one did, too.

"Well, paint me blue and call me Merlin," said the Mediwizard, mopping his brow with a sponge. "Twins!"

"What?" said Hermione and Draco at the same time. Hermione glared at Draco. "This is all your fault, you know!"

"That's right, dear," said Draco, patting her arm absently. He was looking at his son and daughter. "Twins, imagine that." He looked at Hermione. "How 'bout you name the middle name of the boy and the first of the girl, and I'll name the first of the boy and the middle of the girl?"

"Ok." Hermione glared at the Mediwitches and wizards. "Now, you give me my babies, or else!" The Mediwizards handed the babies over hurriedly.

Hermione smiled at their babies. Draco picked up the bay and grinned. "I think you should be Alexander," he said, tickling the chin of his son lightly. The tiny form gurgled. He grinned.

Hermione laughed at her husband. "Well, if he's Alexander," she told her daughter, "then you shall be Abigail, my dear."

They traded babies.

"Well, Abigail," said her father, "your middle name shall be Rose." He smiled down at her. "After, all we should keep up the tradition of females being named after flowers, shouldn't we?"

Hermione smiled at Alex. "Well, Alex, dear. What should Mummy name you? What about Rupert? I rather like that. Alexander Rupert Malfoy." She looked over at Draco. "Oh, my. We've just given them the same initials!" And laughed.

"Well, who cares?" said Draco.

~*~

March 21st, Malfoy Manor

Draco and Hermione stood in the doorway of their children's nursery. They smiled at their children, who truly were a miracle, after six and a quarter years of hating one another.

Turning, they went back to their room, and went to bed. They didn't know what would happen in the next eleven years, but it would surely be fun.

"I love you," said Hermione, turning off her lamp.

Draco rolled over to her, and put his arms around her middle. "And, I love you, too." He flicked his lamp off with a wave of his wand, because what he had planned didn't need any light.