Chapter Text
"No." Draco growled, his eyes flashing. "It has to work."
He whipped his head towards Hermione. "You said your magic had been patchy, right?"
"Yes." She whispered. It hurt too much to move her head.
"So we try the spell again. We'll help you." Stubbornly, Draco moved to her right, gesturing for Theo to do the same on her opposite side.
"Yes." Theo breathed as he hurried over. "It must be that you're so ill the magic didn’t work."
"I don’t know…" Hermione sniffed, her heart breaking.
Draco reached over to clasp her wand hand. "Please, Hermione. My lioness. We can do this, please just try again." For a second, his defences dropped and she saw the terror on his face. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he spoke again, he was more composed. "Please." He said softly.
"Okay." Hermione's lips lifted in a sad smile. She could indulge him one last time.
"What do we do?" Marcus asked, his movements gentle as he shifted Hermione, curving his arm around hers to rest his hand on top of Draco's.
"We cast the spell again. Together." Draco nodded decisively as Theo placed his hand on theirs. All four of them were now holding the wand.
Theo lifted the scrap of parchment so it was visible.
"Animarum Nectere," they recited together, Hermione's voice a bare whisper.
The wand tip glowed a soft pink, and Hermione drew in a sharp breath as a faint string of pink light emitted from the wand.
"It’s working." Marcus breathed in awe.
Frozen in their positions, hands clasped together, they watched as the solitary string of light multiplied into a constellation of beams. In shades of pink, red and orange, they shot out and curved around them, growing in number and brightness until Hermione had to squeeze her eyes tightly and curl into Marcus.
She felt a soft pressure on her chest. Squinting through her eyes, she saw some of the beams had diverted and were hitting her. Instead of pain, she felt her lungs fill with fresh, energising air. The pain and fatigue that had plagued her faded away, and Hermione sobbed in relief.
The lights swelled into a radiant, blinding sphere, and Hermione found herself sheltered under three sets of arms as the wizards bent over her.
Then, as suddenly as a candle being blown out, there was darkness.
Hermione was acutely aware of the softness of Marcus' shirt pressed against her cheek, and the heavy breaths of the wizards in the stillness.
"Is everyone alright?" She ventured to ask.
They shifted so they could see one another.
"Are you alright?" Theo countered, shoving the table out of the way so he could kneel in front of her. His hands cradled her face with anxious intensity. "Please tell me you’re ok," he pleaded.
She smiled up at him. "I’m ok," Hermione pushed herself up off Marcus. "I’m more than ok…I feel great." Her tone was filled with wonder.
Overcome with relief and emotion, Theo responded by crashing his lips down on hers. The kiss was a torrent of pent-up worry and fear, laced with overwhelming relief and gratitude.
All too soon they broke apart, and Hermione found herself spun around and enveloped in Marcus' strong arms. She tilted her head back, and their lips met. Marcus moved against hers passionately, as if trying to convey all the words he couldn't express. Hermione responded in kind, her hands coming up to grip his shoulders, pulling him closer as she kissed him back fervently.
Marcus trailed kisses along her jaw towards her neck. "I love you," he whispered in her ear before releasing her.
"I love you too," she smiled back at him, wiping away her tears.
She looked for Draco and felt a spike of anxiety when she didn’t immediately see him.
"He’s over there," Theo said gently, pointing behind her. Turning, she saw Draco had stumbled off the gazebo platform and was leaning against a pillar, his back to her.
Hermione stood and walked timidly over until they stood side by side, staring into the night.
"You were right," she said softly.
Draco was silent.
She turned until she could see his face, and gasped when she saw the tears rolling down his cheeks.
Hermione threw her arms around him, drawing him into her tightly. "We’re ok. I’m ok. You were right. It worked," she murmured again and again as Draco buried his face into her neck.
Draco pulled gently away from her so he could cup her face. "Please, please, don’t get cursed again," he implored.
Hermione huffed a laugh. "I’ll try not to."
Marcus and Theo joined them. Hermione reached out to hold Marcus' hand, while Theo threw his arm around Draco. The group stared at the swans meandering about in front of them.
"So, now what?" Hermione asked lightly.
"We’d better return those things first," Marcus gestured at the swans.
"Why are they here again?" Hermione laughed.
Marcus shrugged, looking sheepish. "Swans mate for life - we wanted that energy in the circle."
Hermione smiled. "For life. I like the sound of that." She rested her head on Marcus’ shoulder.
Draco turned to her with a sparkle in his eye, looking the happiest she’d seen him in months. "First we get rid of those birds, and then, my wife -"
"Our wife-" corrected Theo.
"Our wife," Draco laughed. "And then, we get on with enjoying our life together."
*
Epilogue One
Hermione rushed around the upper floors of the Burrow, her wand waving around, a constant stream of spells tumbling from her mouth. Her hair streamed behind her, a riot of curls threatening to explode into a puff of frizz.
"Love, the flowers are all done and they look great, if I may say so," Theo called ahead as he ambled up the stairs towards her.
"Ok, good," Hermione nodded, her mind already racing ahead. "And the hydrangeas are on the altar and peonies down the aisle, right?"
Theo furrowed his brow. "No, the diagram you drew had the hydrangeas on the aisle and peonies on the altar."
Hermione stopped in her tracks and stared at him in panic. "No, no, it should be the other way…oh, no, wait, you’re right." Her shoulders slumped as she remembered the correct placements.
A second set of steps sounded behind Theo as Draco appeared. Both men were dressed impeccably in formal wizarding robes. The wizards exchanged a knowing glance.
"Everything is in hand, Hermione," Draco's tone was calm and assured. "Guests are arriving shortly. Marcus is down there ready to make small talk. The only thing you need to do now is get yourself ready."
She looked down and squeaked in dismay to see herself in a dressing gown. "Draco!" She cried. "I’m not even dressed yet!"
"Yes, we noticed, dear," Draco said dryly. "Don’t worry, you have plenty of time, they’re probably waiting for you in the room." He gestured behind her.
"Right! Yes, you’re right." Disoriented, she spun around until she found the correct door. "I’ll see you down there." She disappeared into the bedroom with an absent wave behind her.
The two men let out a sigh as she left.
"Is it just me or is she acting a little odd lately?" Theo queried.
"Yeah, she’s scattered and all over the place - definitely not our usual Hermione," Draco agreed as they trudged back downstairs. "This wedding has her in a state."
"Thank Merlin we didn’t go ahead with a second big ceremony for ourselves," Theo said with feeling.
"Well if we did she wouldn’t have had to lift a finger - but no, what we had was perfect."
The two men joined Marcus at the bar.
"How’s she?" Marcus asked, pushing tumblers of drinks towards them.
"Still the same," Theo frowned. "She took on far too much with organising this wedding, even with Molly helping."
Marcus shook his head and sipped his firewhisky, the ring on his left hand glinting in the sunlight. "It was important for her to do this for Harry and Ginny. But let’s take her on a holiday soon. She needs a break or she’s going to make herself sick."
The guests arrived and the men dispersed to make small talk until a bell chimed, indicating the ceremony was about to start.
Seated together, the men lightheartedly joked about how pale Harry looked standing at the front. Ron, standing beside him, stared pointedly over the seated guests' heads. Theo guessed he was avoiding the suggestive looks that Parvati was giving him.
"10 galleons that Weasley and Patil will be next down the aisle," he whispered to Draco, who stifled a snort in response.
The wizarding string trio began playing, and the men stood as Hermione made her way down the aisle.
"She looks beautiful," Marcus murmured. The other men agreed, taking in her elegant floor-length sapphire blue gown. It featured a demure v-neck at the front, countered by a deeper v at the back, with a fitted waist and cap sleeves. Hermione wore her hair loose with a dainty flower crown and held a bouquet of mixed white hydrangeas, peonies, and greenery.
The men only had eyes for Hermione, despite Ginny looking radiant in her wedding gown.
Halfway through the ceremony, Draco leaned forward slightly with a frown.
"Is it just me or does she look a bit green?" he muttered.
"Yeah. She doesn’t look well," Theo agreed, worry lacing his voice.
"She looks like she’s going to be sick," Marcus growled. "I knew planning this wedding was too much."
"Maybe it’s not from overworking," Draco turned pale. "You don’t think..."
"What?" Theo snapped in a hushed whisper.
"You don’t think the curse is back?"
"Fuck. No. It can’t be," Theo sat back in shock.
Marcus transfigured a programme into a bucket. "Let’s hope not," he said grimly.
The wizards kept a close eye on Hermione for the rest of the ceremony. As soon as the procession back down the aisle started, they pushed their way through the crowd until they were directly behind her.
Theo wrapped his arm gently around her waist.
"Are you okay, love?" he said quietly in her ear.
Hermione looked up at him, white as a sheet, and shook her head.
Quick as a flash, the men steered her away from the crowd and behind the reception tent. As soon as they were hidden from sight, Marcus produced the bucket and Hermione was promptly sick into it.
The men exchanged worried looks. Draco's hand edged towards his wand.
"I’ll find Reginald. Drag him here by his ears and get him to explain why the curse isn’t broken," he swore, anger radiating from his tense body.
"Hey there," a cheerful voice interrupted them. The men turned to see Morag popping her head around the corner. "I noticed Hermione looked a bit off, did you need anything?"
"We think the curse is back," Marcus said shortly.
Hermione retched again into the bucket, and Theo rubbed her back.
"The curse?" Morag blinked at them doubtfully. "After more than a year?"
"What else could it be?" Draco asked helplessly.
"A bug?" she suggested.
"Magical beings don’t just pick up common illnesses. Besides, we’ve all been in excellent health since we became soulbound," Draco dismissed.
"Well then, how about something more obvious?" Morag raised an eyebrow as she stared at Hermione's stomach.
"What?" Hermione looked up, confused as Theo handed her his handkerchief.
"We’re obviously not following, Morag," Marcus snapped.
The dark-haired witch sighed and lifted the hem of her dark purple gown as she stepped closer.
"She could be pregnant, you muppets."
The quartet stared at her in shock.
“You don’t mean…” Draco's voice trailed off.
“W-What?” Marcus stammered.
“Do you think…?” Theo's words hung in the air.
“Do you know the spell to check?” Hermione asked, leaning against Theo in shock.
“Sure.” Morag paused in front of her. She raised her wand and asked, “Ready?”
Hermione nodded affirmatively while the wizards struggled to form coherent words.
Morag waved her wand and muttered the spell. A white glow washed over Hermione's midsection, flickered slightly, and then transformed into a pale green color.
Morag ended the spell. “Congratulations,” she said with a grin.
*
Epilogue Two
"Not so fast!" Hermione yelled after the three figures dashing ahead: one small, and two even smaller.
"I don't know why I bother," she grumbled to herself. She continued down the pathway and paused as she turned a bend, her breath catching as Hogwarts came into view. Majestic on a typical day, it was picture-perfect this summer's day, with a clear blue sky framing its turrets and a warm breeze stirring the masses of greenery on the grounds.
A warm, calloused hand slipped into hers. "This place brings back memories," Draco paused beside her, the pair staring solemnly at the castle.
"Yeah. Not all good ones, either," Hermione bit her lip and turned to Draco. "Do you think Scorpius will be okay?"
"That's what we're here to find out," he replied seriously.
Footsteps sounded behind them as Marcus and Theo caught up.
"Where have the little menaces gotten to?" Theo glanced around them.
"They raced ahead," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Oh no," Marcus groaned. "That won't be a good first impression."
The quartet steeled themselves as they neared the castle, and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief to find her three children staring up in awe at Hagrid.
"Hey there, 'Ermione!" The large man called out as he spotted her. "These three 'ere say they belong to you."
"They do," Hermione confirmed with a smile. "This is Scorpius, and the twins are Rose and Ava."
Scorpius was a slender child with sleek dark brown hair and brown eyes that appeared wiser than his nine years. His pale complexion had Hermione constantly casting sun repellent spells over him. His sharp features were softened by his expressiveness - he was a chatterbox, quick to smile and laugh, with an undeniable charm that helped him get out of many scrapes.
The four-year-old twins were his little shadows. They had inherited their mother's curls, much to Hermione's chagrin, with Ava’s curls a platinum blonde, and Rose’ a light brown. They had boundless energy, loved sports and were fearless, which led to their fathers' constant stress. Their other difference was their eyes: Rose had grey eyes, and Ava brown.
After their initial inspection, the children had decided that they liked Hagrid. The girls were clamouring for him to pick them up.
"Shouldy ride!" Ava called, hopping on one leg.
"No, me first!" Rose cried.
"You're supposed to say please!" Scolded Scorpius.
"Now, what do we have here?" An authoritative voice rang out. The children paused and looked around, cowering slightly at the sight of Professor McGonagall striding towards them from the castle.
"Oh, Professor, it's so lovely to see you again," Hermione stepped forward and the pair embraced warmly.
"Minerva, please," McGonagall smiled. "Nott, Flint, Malfoy, it's good to see you again too," she nodded at the men.
"Up! Up!"
"No, me up!"
"Girls-!" Marcus attempted to control the twins, before Hagrid interrupted.
"S'alright, you can both come up!" He boomed, and scooped the girls up onto his broad shoulders, laughing at their delighted squeals. Scorpius ran underfoot, giggling and attempting to jump up and catch a twin.
"Hmm," Minerva examined the chaos in front of her. "Perhaps this meeting would be better conducted outdoors."
"I'm happy to offer my hut, Professor!" Hagrid called.
"Lead the way," Minerva sighed.
Minerva and Hermione walked side by side as the group made their way across the grounds. The professor chatted about the castle and how the ghosts were enjoying the peace and quiet of students being away over the summer.
In turn, Hermione updated Minerva on what the quartet had been up to: Hermione had recently received yet another promotion within the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and was now considered Agnes' protégé and successor; Theo was making headway in his quest to transform the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes into a more efficient organisation; Draco had fully taken over the reins of the Malfoy business empire, making use of the contacts he had carefully cultivated during his years at the Ministry. Marcus had his hands full with raising their three children. He had also started a junior Quidditch league - initially a way of keeping his own kids entertained, the league had taken off, and he now worked with assistant coaches to train throngs of magical children, aged from toddlers to ten-year-olds.
They arrived at Hagrid's hut and opted to sit outside in the sunshine. Hagrid made everyone tea then joined Marcus as he took the twins a small distance away. With the run of the Hogwarts grounds to themselves, Marcus opened the bag he had brought with him, revealing equipment for a miniature Quidditch game. The girls immediately jumped on toy broomsticks and squealed with excitement as the game began.
Draco rested his hand on Scorpius' shoulder as the child eyed his sisters enviously. "Stay and have a chat with Professor McGonagall first before you go and play," he implored.
Scorpius fidgeted as Minerva eyed him over her spectacles.
"How old are you, Granger?"
"Nine, ma'am."
"Tell me about your magic."
"Uhm, it just comes out." Scorpius glanced at his mother nervously. Hermione nodded at him in encouragement.
"So, accidental magic?" Minerva frowned at him.
"No, I do it on purpose, not by accident." Scorpius argued.
Minerva raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you have a wand?"
"No, ma'am."
"Hmm...and can you do magic for me now?"
"Yes, ma'am." Scorpius glanced at the plate of rock cakes Hagrid had produced. A single cake floated off the pile, hung suspended in the air for a few seconds, then floated gently back down.
Minerva looked around suspiciously as though one of the adults had cast the spell. "I see," she said, her tone pinched. "Come a bit closer, Granger."
Scorpius took a few steps closer. Minerva waved her wand over his head and muttered a spell too quietly for Hermione to hear. A bright glow appeared around Scorpius, visible even in the bright sunlight.
"Ouch, too bright." The child complained. He squinted his eyes and swatted at the light with his hand. The glow disappeared.
Minerva gaped at him. "Oh my. You. Oh." She cleared her throat and composed herself. "You may go play with your sisters now." She ordered, once again sounding like the firm headmistress that she was.
"Okay, bye!" Scorpius chirped and ran off.
Minerva turned to face Hermione, Draco and Theo. "That child is exceptionally gifted." Her tone was almost scolding.
"Hence the reason why we've been trying to bring him to you for the past year." Draco responded dryly.
"I assumed you were like all other parents thinking their children were prodigies. My apologies." Minerva smiled gently. "Please, I'm listening now." She waved her hand for them to talk.
"When we bonded, we didn't do a traditional bonding. We soul-bound." Hermione began.
"I'd heard rumours." Minerva confessed. "Why did you choose to do that? And how did you even find the spell?"
"It's a long story." Theo deferred. Thinking back was still painful for them.
"Anyway, one of the supposed side effects was that our own magic would become more powerful." Hermione continued. "That obviously didn't happen, and we just continued on as normal."
"Until Scorpius came along." Draco smiled fondly.
"He had accidental bursts of magic like all magical children, but as he got older and gained more control over his emotions, instead of the magical bursts going away, he seemed to be able to control them too - purposely making things happen." Hermione paused to drink her tea.
"He cancelled out my spell without the use of a wand - that's something a trained wizard would struggle with." Minerva commented.
Theo nodded. "He's a natural with magic - he doesn't seem to need a wand or even spells."
"So, we think that the magical amplification from the soul bonding has gone to the children." Hermione concluded.
"Interesting." Minerva tapped her chin thoughtfully. She observed the children at play: Hagrid was standing in the middle, hitting foam Bludgers at the children as they zoomed around at knee height. Scorpius screeched with laughter as he narrowly dodged one.
"I wouldn't recommend starting him earlier at Hogwarts." Minerva advised. "He is still a child and should be encouraged to build normal friendships with his peers. I also wouldn't accelerate his getting a wand for that same reason."
Hermione nodded slowly in agreement.
"What would you advise then for the next two years?" Draco frowned.
"Independent tutors." Minerva said firmly. "Specialists in non-verbal magic. Perhaps a potions tutor. But allow him to test his limits alongside just being a child."
"Mama! Come play!" Rose broke off from her game to tug at her mother's arm.
Hermione glanced at Theo who winked at her, communicating in that one gesture that he and Draco had everything under control with Minerva. Smiling back at him, Hermione excused herself and let an excited Rose pull her into the game.
The kids zipped around at knee height while Hermione raced them to the Bludgers, laughing at their excited squeals each time they managed to hit a Bludger with their bats.
One particularly strong hit by Ava knocked a Bludger into the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
"I'll get it." Hermione called as the game continued with the remaining Bludger. She jogged along the springy grass and stepped over the tree line.
All of a sudden, she was aware of a stillness in the air. She paused mid-step and took stock of her surroundings; the shadows were long under the trees and there were no signs of any wildlife.
Hermione flicked her wand and sent the Bludger back towards Marcus. Turning her back to the forest, she stood just within the forest boundaries and faced towards the castle.
A slight rustle in the undergrowth sounded behind her.
"Magorian." Hermione's voice was cold and biting. "Have you come to finally apologise?"
The centaur snorted as he stepped up alongside her. "We will not apologise for doing what had to be done."
Hermione frowned. "What do you mean?"
With a long silence, Magorian observed the ongoing Quidditch game. Hermione was about to walk away when he finally deigned to answer. "We Centaurs care not for trivial human matters. Only in rare occurrences would we seek to influence the course of events."
Studying him intently, Hermione deduced: "You intervened by purposely shooting me with an arrow." Her tone was accusing.
"If we had not, you would not have broken the curse."
Hermione cast her mind back to that awful time over a decade ago. Shooting her with the arrow had caused the curse to speed up, which in turn spurred her wizards into a panic, with Marcus stumbling into a pub in despair after yet another dead end. It was at that pub he had run into Reginald, who held the answer.
"And why do you care that the curse was broken? Is my life that important to you?"
Magorian reared back with impatience. "Your life means nothing to us."
Hermione bit back a retort as she tried to work out the Centaurs' motive. She couldn’t understand why they would orchestrate a series of events to save her if her life was not important to them.
Unless…maybe it was not her life that was important to him, but something that she did, or made…
She narrowed her eyes and looked from Magorian to what held his attention: the Quidditch game. Or more precisely - who was playing the Quidditch game.
"Leave my children out of any schemes you have." Hermione's voice was a near growl.
The centaur huffed. "We will not interfere with what is destined." He replied ambiguously.
Hermione's tone hardened. "I mean it." She stepped closer, her eyes glinting and her wand arm half-raised.
Gazing thoughtfully at Hermione, Magorian conceded, "Your child is destined for many great things. One of which is the salvation of my herd. I do not offer this lightly, but I will ensure that child has my protection and that of my herd."
"Fine." Hermione bit out, understanding the significance of what had been offered. She turned back to watch the children. "And what of his siblings?"
Silence met her question. She swirled around to see the centaur had vanished, swallowed by the forest.
"For goodness sake." Hermione muttered under her breath.
"Mama! Where are you? Come back to play!" Ava yelled.
Shaking her head fondly, Hermione stepped out into the sunshine and back to her family. Magorian's words followed her like a dark shadow until the children's laughter chased it away.
"You were in the forest for a while, is everything okay?" Marcus murmured to her.
"Yes." Hermione smiled, knowing in her heart she spoke the truth. Her children were always going to grow to carve their own path, regardless of Magorian's words. Instead, Hermione reflected on her family, their future, and their happiness, and she knew that they were worth all the trials she and her wizards had faced.
The End