Epilogue

Had Malfoy Manor ever looked better?

Draco inhaled the cold fresh air and listened to the hushed noise of caterers and his own staff busying themselves about the place. It was impossible not to appreciate the beauty of the gardens in the morning light – a light mist hung about the hedges, giving the impression of being in front of a watercolour not yet finished.

He turned to glance at the sleeping figure on the divan behind him, and he smiled.

Today was to be a big day.

Ten years had gone by since they'd become friends; at Hogwarts, when your house still meant something, it had seemed almost dangerous. Draco looked back at the view outside his balcony. Out into the real world, everything seemed possible. More so when he had inherited his family fortune and had become the de facto master of the manor. Though he had lands and people to take care of, he had ensured their friendship continued.

And today, she would become his wife, the mistress of the house.

"Uncle! Uncle!"

A dark-haired boy crashed against his legs and latched himself on as Draco pivoted around to face the bedroom.

"I am so sorry! He couldn't wait another minute, apparently."

Draco chuckled. "Granger, it's fine," he said. "We were just about to get up."

A groan came from the bedsheets. "Speak for yourself..."

Hermione bit the inside of her cheek. "Sorry, Asteria," she said, then to Draco. "You could use with a lock on those doors."

"Uncle! Where are the rings?"

"Calm down, young man, it's not for hours yet."

The boy loosened his grip on the man's legs. "I'm ready."

"You're ready for breakfast, that's what you are," Hermione said, crossing the room and picking him up in her arms. "Again, sorry, snuggle up to your bride and we'll meet you downstairs."

Draco needn't be told twice.

After a quick visit to his ailing mother in her rooms, Draco resumed his inspection of the outdoor pavilion where the reception was to take place. The catering company had come highly recommended and he trusted they knew how to do their job, seen as he was ignorant of the proper etiquette for table setting. Mrs Malfoy couldn't be relied on anymore, not since her memory had gone the way of her health.

He'd been speaking with a waiter about the loose petals he'd found, well, everywhere, when he spotted a familiar face outside the tent.

"Your son barged into my room this morning," he said by way of greeting. "Be thankful morning sex isn't Asteria's cup of tea."

"This whole affair with the rings has made him hyper."

"I don't know, Pascal, he seems pretty hyper to me most of the time."

Blaise laughed. "I'm going to enjoy watching you go through parenthood."

Draco wrinkled up his nose. "Asteria doesn't like children."

"Oh, it'll happen," Blaise said. "She'll go from zero to baby boom and you'll be popping an heir to all this in no time."

Draco was about to argue, but he caught the twinkle in his friend's eye and they both started laughing. It was good to have his friend around, he was glad he'd asked them to spend the night.

They'd had some dark years after their last year at Hogwarts. Blaise had been hurt by Draco's actions and for his part, Draco couldn't blame him – chaining your best friend against his will is a step too far. He'd followed Hermione'd advice: he'd given his friend time and space to heal.

She had had to do the same.

The plan had worked almost to perfection, yet they'd lost much in the aftermath. After enduring a thousand year's worth of excruciating pain that nothing could assuage, Blaise hadn't wanted to have anything to do with anyone involved. He'd stayed in the room until they were all sure Hermione hadn't suffered long-term damage, and then he had proceeded to avoid them all for the rest of the term. It had been up to Draco to explain to Hermione that Blaise had been the only one to understand the vow was broken – though his screaming had suddenly stopped, they'd all failed to grasp the meaning of it. His ache for her had turned to spite well before the pain had subsided. And yet it had been the ring to clue him in: the ring Hermione's mother had given her. The lilac stone encased in it was no longer lilac. It'd gone dark when Blaise's heart had gone dark, and thus the vow was no longer in action. They'd meddled with the strongest of magic and they'd won the fight, but the cost was Blaise's love and devotion to Hermione.

Blaise had stopped screaming and explained through gritted teeth that they could wake her now. It was done.

"What are you two laughing about?"

Hermione and Asteria were arm in arm, magnificently dressed and coiffed; you almost couldn't tell one of them was not a pureblood. They had invited Hermione's parents to the ceremony, but they had declined – Hermione had no idea of course, it would've been Draco's present to her for her years of friendship. He hadn't even told Blaise. He didn't know how long it had taken for Blaise and Hermione to find each other again, though he knew her mother had not approved. None of the Ravenclaws had. But she was a Zabini now and, it seemed, that was enough.

"I could tell you," Draco said. "Or we could talk about how beautiful my wife is."

"Ah, this flattery will sound so much better when we're actually married." Asteria kissed Draco, then turned to Blaise. "But if you're both here, where is that early riser boy of yours?"

"I left him with my mother," Blaise said. "They will have taken over the kitchen by now."

"Your mother has a gift," Hermione said. "I hope it skipped my non-culinary genes and passed right on to him."

Soon, it was time for everyone to take their places; Draco managed to walk down the aisle in a mere half hour. Both him and Blaise stopped here and there, where the conversation flowed in and out of wedding preparations, married life, and the current affairs in Diagon Alley. He saw Harry Potter and his wife at the back, Millicent and Theodore waved at him from the groom's side of the room, and he could've sworn there was a cluster of ginger children running in the corridor outside. He'd almost forgotten they'd invited both Weasleys and Finnegans to the ceremony; they were going to overflow with gingerness.

All thoughts left his head, however, when a hush settled around the room and Hermione winked at him from the main doors as she took Blaise's hand and started the procession in front of Asteria.

Today was a big day.

FINIS