Chapter Text
Five Years Later….
On a late summers afternoon, in a wheat field, high with summer grain Hermione Granger-Malfoy-Snape lounges taking in the warmth of the sun. She was thinking back over the last few years, and what years they have been!
The three of them, Severus, Lucius and Hermione had decided to stay in the crofter’s cottage that first night after the twins birth, Poppy had stayed in the room Hermione had been held captive in, just in case of an emergency. Tippy had been dismissed back to the Manor to prepare the nursery for the twins.
They’d decided to stay in order to allow Hermione time to rest and regain her strength. It was a bit awkward when it came to sleeping arrangements, but it had been settled by unvoiced vote, Hermione would sleep in the middle of the bed and Lucius and Severus would take up positions on her left and right side, respectively. This also allowed all of them to get used to juggling two demanding babies. Both Severus and Lucius had stepped up to the plate and did everything, except for feeding. They’d both put a kibosh on the idea of them lactating and left that to Hermione.
That first nights feeding had fallen into a easy pattern. First, it was Magdalene that would fuss and then as soon as she was burped, Madelene would make her demands known. Hermione still smiles at the remembrance of watching Lucius change his first dirty nappy. The look of absolute revulsion was priceless, and she’d wished she had a camera to capture the moment. Severus had seen to bathing the twins in a tiny slip bath he’d conjured and set on the table that was in the eating nook.
The look of absolute adoration on his face as he gently cupped water over their tiny heads, had made Hermione’s soul warm. That first night passed with nary a worry. It was when they’d returned to the Manor that things began to look complicated.
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They’d decided that port-key was the best way to get back to the Manor with two new infants. Hermione was so thankful that Severus and Lucius each had a twin, just in case her landing was similar to the one she’d had when going to the Quidditch World Cup. She needn’t have worried, apparently it all had to do with the power of the one who makes the port-key. And Severus made sure that their landing was as gentle as could be.
They walked into the blue drawing room expecting calm, but found chaos instead. No, there weren’t any hexes being thrown or screaming. It was a quiet kind of chaos, one fraught with tension, which was odd to begin with. They saw Draco standing near the fireplace, the flames had just turned from green to the usual orange. In his hand was a tightly rolled scroll with the Ministry insignia on it.
Astoria, Ginny and Harry were on various sofas and settees looking between Severus, Hermione and Lucius to Draco as he opened the scroll. Hermione was just about to break the silence and introduce Madelene and Magdalene to everyone when Draco’s shout wrenched everyone’s attention to him, “Bloody Fucking Hell! You’re MARRIED?! When were you going to tell me that you were getting married, father? And to Hermione and Uncle Severus?! What the HELL is going on?!”
“First of all, Draco; I would appreciate it if you’d stop shouting. We have two sleeping infants with us and I would be most displeased if their schedule were disturbed,” Lucius spoke softly to his heir. Draco, for his part looked contrite. Lucius then went on to say, “Let me see the scroll, if you please?”
Draco handed the scroll over to his father and went to go sit by his fiancee. Astoria grasped his hand and brushed a kiss along his knuckles. He flashed a brief smile at her. Ginny and Harry Potter had remained silent and watchful.
Lucius read through the scroll and then walked over and collapsed into a wing-back chair. He ran his hand over his face and through his hair leaving it mussed. He then looked at both Severus and Hermione who were still standing near the doorway, “You might want to come sit down,” he said and gestured to another settee that was unoccupied.
Hermione and Severus each took up a moses basket and sank down onto the settee, “What is it, Lucius? What does the scroll say?” Hermione asked worriedly.
“Exactly, what Draco had shouted. According to our venerable Ministry when we shared our magic to help you give birth it bound us in a magical marriage. It is irrevocable. The twins Magical DNA, if you will, has combined with all of us. They are as much mine as they are Severus’. It doesn’t seem to matter that it was Severus who’s contribution had fertilized the egg at conception.” Lucius said quietly, as if bracing himself for Severus’ explosion. As he knew that Severus was quite possessive. He was shocked when the anticipated explosion never materialized.
Hermione turned to Severus, looked at him. He was sitting back and his index finger was running along his lips, he appeared to be deep in thought. She grew impatient the longer he was silent. So she prodded him, “Severus? Your thoughts?”
He remained silent for a few more moments before saying, “I suspected that this might occur. The amount of magic needed to make sure all three of you made it through safely was tremendous. So, I’m not at all surprised that it has bound us magically,” he then turned to look at Hermione and grasped her chin, dragging her close for a passionate kiss. He then continued, “I love you Hermione Jean Granger-Malfoy-Snape, and I would do anything to make you and our girls happy… Even if it means putting up with the strutting peacock over there” his dark grey eyes sparked with deeply hidden amusement when Lucius let out a squawk similar to the birds that roamed the Malfoy property.
~~**~~**~~*~~*~~**~~**~~
Hermione’s recollection was interrupted by the arrival of not one but two hyper five-year olds, “Mummy!” they both called out excitedly. They landed in graceless piles next to their lounging mother. The girls were identical in every way, except for subtle differences that people had to look hard to notice.
They both had wildly curling midnight-black hair, except for a pale blonde forelock. Though Maddie’s lay to the left and Maggie’s lay to the right. Both had Hermione’s button nose and Severus’ cupid-bow lips, though Severus was quick to deny it. They were tall and willowy for their age, with long elegant fingers. But it was their eyes that were the most striking.
They each sported three distinct rings to their iris’. Maggie’s was dark grey, followed by, stormy pale grey and the innermost ring of burnished copper like her mother’s, but little lines, like lightning bled through the two rings of grey. Maddie’s eyes were similar to Maggie’s, except the rings of grey were switched. Pale, followed by dark and then the bleeding burnished copper. Hermione knew that her girls would be heartbreakers when they got older. And she sighed at thinking of them growing up and leaving to start their own lives.
“Mummy? Me and Maggie want to know why we are having a picnic in a wheat field? It’s boring. Daddy is looking at and gathering leaves and bugs and all sorts of icky things. And Castor and Pollux are following him about, they don’t want to play tag with us,” Maddie whinged as she plucked at a blade of grass by her knee. Her sister Maggie nodding in agreement.
“Well, my darlings. The reason we are having our picnic here is because when you were in Mummy’s tummy, your Daddy dreamt of a place just like this and he wanted to keep that memory alive,” Hermione said and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
“But, why? Can’t Daddy just put the mem’ry in his mem’ry bowl and look at it anytime he wanted?” Maggie asked.
“Yes, I suppose he could put his memories in his pensieve , but he also wants to share this special place with you. You don’t remember, but it was you and your sister that gave Daddy his dreams. So, he-” Hermione was interrupted by Maddie.
“But, why?! Dreams and just dreams. Mummy, you’ve said yourself that divination is silly and not at all like real magic. And aren’t dreams just like divination?” Maddie looked at Hermione with her too keen eyes and Hermione found herself at a loss for words. The real reason much to difficult to explain to two five-year olds. Thankfully, she didn’t have to come up with an answer, because she saw that there were others about to join them.
“Hello!!” Someone suddenly hailed Hermione and the girls. Hermione had to shade her eyes to see exactly who it was. Harry and Ginny Potter were followed closely, by James and little Albus. Harry was helping a very pregnant Ginny up the slight incline towards where Hermione lay.
Following closely behind the Potter’s were Draco and Astoria, with two-year old Scorpius riding his Grandfather’s shoulders and using his long hair like horses reins. Astoria’s six-month pregnant belly leading the way. Lucius lifted Scorpius off of his shoulders and went over and brushed a tender kiss over Hermione’s lips. All of the children grimaced at the display of affection.
Lucius then dropped down and brought Hermione up against him, she rested between his spread legs, similarly to how they were situated when Hermione had given birth to the girls. He caressed the slight mound of Hermione’s belly and kissed her neck. It had taken a lot of adjustments, but the relationship between Hermione, Severus and Lucius was stronger than ever.
Astoria dropped as gracefully as she could onto the large picnic blankets that were spread about. She sighed as Draco promptly took up one of her feet and began to rub it, “I don’t know how you do it, Hermione. Here you are pregnant with your fifth child and as relaxed as can be. I’m only six months gone with my second and I want it to be over,” Astoria sighed and rubbed at her belly.
“Have you finally decided on a name, Astoria?” Ginny asked as she leaned against her husband and watching the children chase a slow moving snitch.
“Yes, we’re going to name her; Asteria Iona Malfoy. Asteria after the mother of Hecate and Iona after my grandmother.” Astoria said and laid with her head on Draco’s thigh after he’d finished rubbing her feet, “Where’s Severus and the boys?”
Hermione smiled and said, “Castor and Pollux are studying different barks and mosses with Daddy Severus. Those two may look like Lucius, but their interest and aptitude in potions is all Severus, even though they’re only three,” Hermione intertwined her fingers with Lucius’ as they lay on her belly.
“And this one? What are you hoping for?” Harry asked indicating where Hermione and Lucius’ finger were intertwined.
“Well, Harry. I’m hoping for another girl. That way we have three of each and then I’m calling it quits.” Hermione said. As much as she loved her children, being pregnant really did suck.
“Three of each? I think your pregnancy has made your maths skills a bit wonky, Granger. Two girls, plus two boys, plus one unknown makes five, not six,” Draco sneered teasingly.
“Well, Mr. Smartypants, I happen to include you in that count. So my maths skills are just fine. I may not have given birth to you, which is scary to even contemplate, by the way. But you’re my husband’s son and I care for you just as much as I do my own children,” Hermione then stuck her tongue out at Draco and blew a loud raspberry.
Draco flushed and looked down, staring intently at the plaid blanket he was sitting on.
“So you don’t know what you’re having, Mia?” Ginny asked.
“Nope, the scans that Poppy have run won’t reveal the sex and Tippy says that the baby wants it to be a surprise. Really, as long as he or she is healthy, I couldn’t care less.” Hermione sighed before changing the subject, “How’re things in the MLE, Head Auror Potter?”
Harry began by expounding on all the changes he was making to the department, but it soon fell into the background as Hermione once again began to reminisce.
Gawain Robards hadn’t lasted two years after the whole Lily kidnapping fiasco. It was found that he’d been taking bribes from several seedy Knockturn Alley brothels in order to keep the working ladies health records out of public notice. It wasn’t until a particularly virulent strain of the Wizard’s Clap had hit some pretty high profile individuals, and Robards being one such individual that his bribe network was uncovered. Last, Hermione heard he was mucking out Thestral and Hippogryph manure to be used as fertilizer. Kingsley had been quick to appoint Harry in Robards place and he had worked hard to turn the Aurory around.
No one had heard from or missed Rita Skeeter in years, either. It was assumed that she got some cushy job writing lies for some other Wizarding newspaper in some far off country. Lucius, Severus nor Draco, would dispute this story and only Lucius really knew what had happened to the odious insect.
And as for Lily Evans, formally Potter? Well, she survived being thrown through a window, but whatever power that was in the magic, she’d been hit with caused something to snap in her mind. She wasn’t a blithering idiot by any means, but she wasn’t able to look after herself properly. It had been determined that she wasn’t fit to stand trial for her crimes. And so, Harry had moved his mother to a small seaside cottage with two house elves to look after her day and night. He made a point to visit her often.
Harry also, didn’t blame Hermione for what had happened to his mother, he knew that it’d been a desperate act of self defence that’d caused Hermione to act as she did, and it was still up for debate as to if she had done it knowingly or not or if she’d some divine help.
Hermione’s thoughts were once again interrupted when she was unceremoniously hauled out of Lucius’ lap and into the arms of one Severus Tobias Snape and kissed quite soundly. She moaned and opened her mouth to accept his tongue, the disgusted cries of the children ignored. Yes, Hermione was happy, she’d found where she belonged. She had the love of two wonderful men and her children were her everything. She wouldn’t change any of it for the world, or so rumour has it.