The Aftermath

A/N: I have just returned from a most relaxing trip to Ireland. Beautiful! Please forgive me for the amount of time it took to get this out. As always, RobisonRocket is my Queen.

The Aftermath

Chapter 21

Silence descended upon the room after Draco's simple but earth-shattering pronouncement.

"Draco," said Narcissa. "Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes, Mother. She can only be mine. With the evidence that is so plainly on the back on her neck, and quite literally in her eyes, there is no other man that can be Violet's father."

Just then, Violet woke and started to cry. Narcissa smiled down at her granddaughter. "You're hungry, aren't you? Harry, won't you join me for some tea while my granddaughter gets her belly full." This was not a question.

Harry was brought out of his stupor. "Yes, of course. I need to Floo call Ginny as well, so I can check on her and Abby. I told her I'd be gone a while, but I still want to look in on them."

"I understand. I hope that beautiful wife of yours won't mind that you have tea with an older woman," Narcissa teased.

Harry blushed crimson and grinned. "I guess I better tell her up front so rumors don't start swirling around."

Narcissa laughed. "I can see the headlines now: Married Boy-Who-Lived Spotted Canoodling with Fiancé of Feared Potions Master!"

Narcissa waited a beat until the three faces around her contorted into understanding. When Draco's eyes widened, Narcissa grinned. "Caught on?"

"You? You and Severus? You're getting married?" Draco was gobsmacked to say the least.

"Yes, darling, he asked me to marry him while we were still in Paris. We will make it official in a private ceremony in a few months when term is over."

Draco glared at his mother with pursed lips and then broke out into a full-fledged grin. "I think it's wonderful, Mother. You deserve happiness after all these years."

Narcissa blushed prettily and whispered, "Thank you."

Harry held out his arm. "Shall we?"

Narcissa giggled. "Yes, we shall."

After exiting the room, Draco and Hermione were once again engulfed in silence. Draco watched as Hermione pulled down her dressing gown and helped Violet get settled in for a feeding. Once Violet began her feast, Hermione looked up to catch Draco watching her. She raised one eyebrow, and he blushed at being caught.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to stare. It's just fascinating, you know, watching you do something so natural." Draco flushed again as he realized the words that had just tumbled from his mouth.

"That's okay, Draco, you don't have to apologize. It is quite fascinating, isn't it? I never thought I'd want to be a mother, and now that I have Violet, I can't think of ever wanting anything so much."

Draco gave Hermione a small nod and looked down at his shoes.

Hermione sighed and fell back into her pillow that had been propped up to make her more comfortable. "Draco, we have to talk about this. We have to talk about what we saw."

"I know that, Hermione, but I'm not sure what there is to say. I mean, it happened. I forced myself on you."

"Is that what you saw? If it is, then you and I have very different opinions of what was in that Pensieve," Hermione said, pointing at the Pensieve.

Draco scowled at the offending object that still held Hermione's memories from that monumental day.

Hermione took his lack of response as an invitation to continue. "Draco, come here and sit down."

Draco hesitated, but with Hermione's persistent patting of the spot on the bed, he walked over to her. More hesitation ensued, and finally he acquiesced.

He was there, but he'd be damned if he'd speak first. Hermione had to be the one to open the proverbial can of worms.

"Draco, look at me. You did not force yourself on me. Don't you see, all these months, I've been going crazy because I thought I was raped. Draco, I almost died because I thought I was broken on the inside. Hermione Granger, the brave little Gryffindor know-it-all, had been raped by Death-Eater extraordinaire, Lucius Malfoy. But, because of you, Draco, that didn't happen. You didn't let him curse you, and you were gentle to a fault."

Hermione let a blush creep into her cheeks before she continued. "Actually, if we had been under different circumstances, I believe I would have enjoyed it."

Draco had to fight to keep his smirk at bay. "So, you don't blame me? You're not angry with me?"

"Angry with you? Draco, you saved my life. You also left me with some dignity. Besides, as bad as things were, we were given a gift." Hermione's gaze drifted to the baby in her arms. Draco smiled down at Violet as well.

"Do you, um, still want to marry me, Hermione?" Draco asked almost absently.

Hermione was surprised by his vulnerability. She balanced Violet and moved over enough to leave room for Draco. "Here, lay next to me," she said.

Draco did as he asked and tentatively stretched out next to her, turning to his side so he was facing her. They stayed that way in silence until Violet stopped suckling and fell into a deep sleep. After burping her, Hermione bundled the baby back into her blanket and turned to her side, facing Draco. She placed Violet between them and delicately moved some of Draco's fallen hair out of his eyes. With that same hand, she cupped his cheek and whispered, "Draco, I can't wait to become your wife. You make me happy, and I love you."

Draco kissed the inside of Hermione's hand. "I love you, too, Hermione." They let the silence stretch between them until they both fell into a contented sleep.

An hour later, Narcissa opened the door just enough to peek in. She smiled at the scene before her. Hermione on her side with her hand resting on the baby's chest, and Draco with his arm stretched possessively over both of them.

She closed the door and smiled at Harry. "They are asleep. I think our work here is done, Mr. Potter."

"I hope they are going to be okay," Harry said.

"Do you? Hmm, I remember a time when you wouldn't have wanted such a thing where my son was concerned."

"I guess times have changed. People grow up. If I learned one thing from my time with my aunt, I would have to say it would be forgiveness."

Narcissa smiled at Harry and then patted his cheek. "No, darling, you learned that from your mother. If she could forgive your father for all of his transgressions, I believe she could forgive anyone. And she was able to forgive me for marrying a Death Eater."

Harry smiled sadly at Narcissa. Their tea time was mostly talk about Abby and how Severus and Narcissa rekindled their romance. They hadn't broached the subject of his mother again. But Harry wanted to make Narcissa understand that he didn't blame her for anything.

"You didn't have a choice, Narcissa."

"Didn't I? I don't know. I wasn't brave enough to stand up to my family. I was afraid I'd be chucked out on my bum. But that's all in the past now. It wasn't all horrible. I got a wonderful son out of the deal. I got a cottage in Hogsmeade that Lucius never stepped foot in. And I got to watch my son grow up, even though he didn't know it. I also got to attend his matches."

Harry's eyes grew wide. "You watched the matches? I never saw you. I could have used that information to take the mickey out of Draco."

Narcissa laughed. "I'm so sorry I didn't give you ammunition."

"Well, I'll have to find a way to work it in," Harry said while rubbing his hands together as if he was plotting.

Narcissa laughed again. "I have had a really nice afternoon, Harry. You are a terribly sweet young man."

Harry grinned. "Thank you. I had a nice time as well. Severus needs to bring you by the house some time. Ginny loves to fuss over guests, and I believe you'll take a liking to Abby."

"Oh, that would be wonderful."

"Have a good evening, Narcissa. I've got to get home to my girls."

Narcissa kissed Harry on the cheek and bid him farewell.

**********

Harry stepped out of the Floo and dusted himself off, taking care not to get ash on the floor. He looked around the empty sitting room. The house was way too quiet for his liking. He'd been part of the Weasley family since he was eleven years old. Quiet and Weasley just did not go together. Now he was married to the most spirited Weasley of the bunch, and she was not making any noise at all.

"Ginny!" Harry yelled, slightly panicked. He figured he'd always have a bit of panic in his system. But Ginny hadn't said anything about leaving, so he felt he had a right to panic a bit.

He heard the breaking of a teacup coming from the kitchen. Drawing his wand, he approached the door. Harry turned the knob and peeped into the kitchen. "Gin," he said again.

"I'm in here, Harry." He heard Ginny's quiet voice from the kitchen table. He walked in and approached her cautiously. She was sitting at the kitchen table sipping tea. Harry looked around and saw the broken teacup still on the floor. He cleaned it up with his wand and glanced at this wife.

"What's wrong?" Harry looked around the room. "Where's Abigail?"

"She's with Mum and Petunia. They took her to the zoo in Muggle London."

"That's brilliant. I'll bet she has loads of fun. Are you okay?" Harry asked, watching Ginny worrying over her cup.

"I'm fine. However, I just got the strangest news from Mum."

"What is it? Is Arthur alright? It's not one of the twins, is it?"

"No, it's not Dad. The twins are always into something, so it's not them, either. It's Ron."

Harry stilled. Ron. Something's happened to Ron. "W-what could have possibly happened to Ron?"

"He's gotten himself a new job. He's taking over for Madam Hooch. You know she got married, right?"

Harry shuddered. "Yeah, I heard. But, why is that bad? I think it's wonderful, and they couldn't have found a better person for the job. Ron knows Quidditch better than anyone."

"Yes, it's wonderful, Harry. But that put him in close proximity to one Pansy Parkinson. Mum informed me that they have been seeing each other. He hasn't said anything because he was worried about how Hermione would take it. And I dare say she won't be pleased."

Harry cringed. "I can't believe he's hooked up with her. But Ron's a smart bloke. If she's no good, he'll see it."

"That's not all, Harry. He told Mum that Pansy's been researching how to get Draco out of his binding with Hermione. He was upset at first, but she made him believe that she was only doing it because Draco was her friend and nobody should have to be forced to get married."

"Gin, there are a lot of things we just found out about Draco and Hermione. I will let Hermione go into detail with you, but it turns out that Violet is Draco's baby. Lucius tried to force him to rape Hermione, but it didn't really go that way. Voldemort used some nasty spell on Lucius and, without going into too much detail, rendered him useless."

Ginny's hand was on her mouth and her eyes wide. "Oh, dear Merlin, Harry."

"Yeah, I know. Look, I don't know much about this bond or whatever it is, but I think the fact that Violet is Draco's baby complicates things."

Ginny smiled evilly.

Harry suddenly became nervous. "What?"

"Oh, I don't know. Poor little Pansy is doing all this work for nothing. And she is probably going to fall for my brother before this is all over. He will turn on the Weasley charm, and she won't know what hit her."

Harry leaned forward. "Tell me about this Weasley charm. I don't believe I've heard of it. Anyway, I thought you said Ron was an idiot."

"Oh, he is an idiot. But, he can be a charming idiot. And, Harry, you succumbed to the Weasley charm a long time ago. And there will never be any hope for you, Mr. Potter."

Harry leaned closer and whispered, "And why is that, Mrs. Potter?"

"Because, between me and your children, you will never be able to escape the Weasley charm."

"Believe me, I can take you and Abby on any day, Ginevra."

Ginny stood up and gave Harry a kiss on his nose. Grabbing his hand and placing it on her belly, Ginny smiled and said, "I said children, Harry."

She then left the kitchen, hips swaying, before Harry ever caught on to what she said. She was at the foot of the stairs when she finally heard him yell, "Ginny!" She giggled and ran up the stairs, knowing he would find her.

*********

"Why are you staring at me?" Hermione asked with her eyes still closed.

"How did you know?" Draco asked in response.

Hermione opened her eyes and whispered, "I can feel it."

Draco grinned and rubbed her cheek. Before they could continue their conversation, Violet started to wake.

"Oh, is my pretty baby ready for some breakfast?" Hermione asked, sitting up and preparing herself to nurse.

Draco picked the baby up and handed her to Hermione. He watched, mesmerized, as Hermione began to feed Violet. He looked up at her face and noticed tears sparkling in her eyes.

"Hermione, what's wrong? Does it hurt?" Draco started searching for some way to help her.

"No, Draco, it doesn't. I was just thinking – I could have killed her, Draco." At this Hermione started to cry a little harder.

"I could have killed my own daughter – your daughter. I keep thinking that if Remus and my mum hadn't found me, we wouldn't have her."

Draco wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulder, and she sobbed into his neck while still nursing the baby. "Shh, love. It's alright. She's alive, and she's fine. Look at her. She's beautiful, she is." Draco used his free hand to tilt Hermione's chin up toward him. "And you are alright. You are alive. And you are beautiful."

Hermione smiled, and Draco gave her a soft kiss.

After Violet was finished with her feeding, Draco took her from Hermione and stood.

"Where are you going?" Hermione inquired.

"I think my little angel needs her nappy changed, so I'm going to do it."

"You? You must me be joking. This, I have to see." Hermione watched with amusement as Draco struggled with removing the nappy. Then, she giggled when she saw the face he made over the contents.

"You, child, cannot possibly be a Malfoy," Draco said to his daughter. "Malfoys would never make a mess such as this. Ah, well, you do have some of Granger's blood, I suppose."

"Hey!" Hermione yelled with mock indignation. She grabbed a pillow and pulled it back as if to launch it at him.

"You can't throw anything at me, woman! Have a baby with me." Draco gave her his trademark smirk, which rarely came out these days and Hermione sighed in exasperation.

"Draco Malfoy, I will get you."

Draco finished with the nappy and picked his daughter up. Holding her close, he turned toward Hermione and looked at her intently. "You already have me."

A/N: There is a little fluff to get me back into your good graces.