For some reason it always takes me longer to write the concluding chapter of a story. Perhaps it's because everything is so final and I don't want to mess it up. Regardless, I hope you enjoy it and I hope to read your reviews. Thank you as always for reading my stories. :)

A Malfoy History Upended

"You'll behave yourself around her, Lucius."

Lucius Malfoy looked up from his task of securing his cufflinks and scowled at his wife. She was giving him that look—the one that said not to dare cross her. In all their years of marriage, and even before they'd managed to learn to love one another, he'd never dared to cross the woman when she had that look.

"She's going to be a Malfoy, dear. You might as well start treating her as such."

His lip twisted irritably but he didn't argue. "No, as you heard over dinner when they announced their plans, she'll keep her muggle name."

Narcissa rolled her eyes at him and turned to focus on securing her earrings in her mirror.

"She'll be Draco's wife, Lucius. While I understand it's certainly unorthodox for us, I won't alienate our son. And make no mistake, he will choose her over us if pushed. I don't much care what surname she chooses. Her being his wife dictates that you be civil to the woman. She's going to bear our grandchildren one day for Merlin's sake."

He grunted in acknowledgment and moved to drape her wrap over her dress robes. "I still don't understand why if she's as logical and intelligent as Draco claims that she doesn't concede to an immediate wedding. I mean really, Narcissa. What's the point? If they're going to acknowledge each other as soulmates, why wait the six months she's requested? And Draco—our son is whipped by that witch already, conceding to her every wish and desire—living with muggles where they can't even be open with their magic…"

She tutted as she turned to face him and fixed him with her stare again. "Lucius, they weren't friends growing up. Draco bullied the poor girl, to which you should honestly be apologizing as that's partly your fault for the way we raised him."

"Have you apologized," he countered.

She gave him a smug smile. "Why yes, I have actually. She was most gracious in accepting my apology. She's very forgiving, which shouldn't be surprising considering what house she belonged to. But that's not the point. They need time to know one another as the people they are now. She needs time and for Draco to court her traditionally before they walk down the aisle." Her brow arched indignantly when he sneered openly. "This isn't going to be a bloody political marriage, Lucius! Our son is getting to marry for love and while maybe that means nothing to you, it means something to him!"

He blinked at her as her voice rose with the last bit and he had the good grace to grimace. "My apologies, dear," he spoke in a quiet tone as he bent to kiss the back of her hand gently. "I'll get used to this with time."

She sniffed and withdrew her hand gradually. "Yes, well, see that you do."

Narcissa left him to finish putting on his dress robes and took a moment to reflect on the last week. The Prophet had indeed gone mad that following Monday with an article speculating about the couple, a lovely picture snapped of her rushing to the quidditch field towards him. Narcissa had used her connections to supply the story Draco and Hermione had agreed upon—that they'd been secretly dating and only just decided they were ready to be open about it. It kept their connection as soulmates a protected secret at least.

Draco had brought her back to the Manor that same evening for dinner and she'd had her own conversation with the woman.

Narcissa noticed the reluctance her son exhibited when she asked for a moment alone with his soulmate. He lingered in the doorway of the sitting room, a frown marring his features before he finally heaved a sigh when she gave him a stern look and shooed him with her hands.

She sighed when he closed the door behind him and then turned her full attention to the young witch sitting opposite her. The woman sat with as much poise and confidence as any of the pureblood witches they'd tried to match Draco with in the past. Ever the Gryffindor, she seemed to be waiting patiently for Narcissa to speak first, not willing to show weakness under what had to feel like immense pressure. Though in truth, Narcissa couldn't honestly imagine the witch was nervous around her. Not with the way she'd stared down Lucius over dinner when he'd made a few snide remarks under his breath thinking he wouldn't be heard or noticed.

Coming back to the present, Narcissa offered her a kind smile. "I'm sorry for any unnecessary nerves me asking to speak with you privately may have caused but I wanted you to know that I'm quite pleased with the turn of events, Miss Granger."

Hermione nodded and accepted the levitating teacup when Narcissa waved her wand. "I'm glad to hear that, Mrs. Malfoy. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried."

"I can understand why. Draco's explained your feelings on the matter to me already. It's important to remember that while things don't work out the way we imagine, it doesn't mean they don't end up for the better." She smiled as she watched the young woman, still feeling very pleased with her son's good fortune in the matter. "I'll have to send Mr. Smith a lovely thank you for digging deeper into the history of our artifact collection or we likely wouldn't have discovered your and Draco's connection."

Hermione sputtered at that, nearly choking on her tea. She carefully set the cup on the small table between them and made eye contact.

"Mrs. Malfoy, you'll have to forgive me but I don't understand what you mean. Are you saying that you tipped off my boss about the specifics of your magical artifact collection? You planned all of this?"

Narcissa smirked proudly reminding Hermione so much of Draco. "Of course, I did. I was hoping that I could negotiate what I wanted from the situation and you presented the perfect opportunity. I want my son to be happy in his future marriage, Miss Granger, and only acceptable witches will do. You've made a name for yourself after Hogwarts and you have quite the reputation for your kindness and intellect. Draco admires intelligence and I've discovered the typical preening that many witches your age exhibit around him turns him off. I needed someone attractive but with the internal qualities to match. Someone who wouldn't be turned off by his past and understand that he'd been a child with little choice. Someone who would challenge him and appreciate his good qualities no matter how hard he tries to hide them. Of course, this was all before we knew just what you were to Draco. It seemed everything worked out much better than I could have imagined."

Hermione swallowed and shook her head. "Mrs. Malfoy, but I'm muggle-born. I realize you've all moved past blood supremacy and I do really believe you've learned the error of such thinking however I still have a difficult time believing your husband is going to be accepting of me."

Narcissa was unbothered and waved a dismissive hand. "Lucius is many things, Miss Granger. I'll admit that he does still prefer many traditions of our pureblood society and likely hoped that Draco would find a lovely pureblood witch so as not to have to learn new traditions or new ways of doing things. He doesn't enjoy being challenged and you no doubt will evoke many changes in Draco as one of his strengths is his undying commitment to those he loves. However, I am more concerned with the happiness of my son overall. I'll happily embrace whatever changes you should bring to our family if it means my son can have the family he wants."

"But why me? Was all that rubbish about the women here not viewing him favorably because of his name just fiction?"

"No," Narcissa shook her head, "That was quite true. I initially hoped to have a match for him with either the Greengrass' or the Parkinson's girls but I realized Draco would have been miserable with either option.

"However, I had an instinct about you. He used to rant about you growing up and how annoying he found your scholarly habits." She smiled when Hermione snorted at that. "He began to talk about you again whenever he had a run-in with you at various events after the war and he never had negative things to say. I'd ask who else he'd chatted with and he'd just shrug. I know Draco can be difficult to read but it was clear to me that you intrigued him whether he realized it or not. And it's obvious from the development of events here that there was more to it than any of us understood. Everything just worked out on its own quite beautifully."

Narcissa smiled to herself as she descended the grand staircase, her hands trailing along the carved wood of the banister as she eyed her own wedding rings. She'd not be able to stop the firestorm that the witch's engagement ring would stir—when Draco finally gave it to her that is.

And Draco was at that very moment exiting Hermione's floo. He glanced around her small, tidy flat but found no sight of her.

"Hermione?"

"Draco, almost…shit," he heard her grumble.

He took a few hesitant steps towards the direction of her voice, knowing it was near her bedroom, a place he'd not been in the small flat yet. Cautiously, as he didn't want to startle her, he peeked around the open doorway. His lips flattened into a straight line when he caught sight of her and he tried desperately not to laugh.

"Laugh and I'll murder you with a single hex, Malfoy," she warned when she caught him.

In her efforts to zip her gown for the ball, she'd somehow snagged her new bracelet he'd given her on her zipper. (When she'd been reluctant to accept the extravagant gift, he'd only been reassured that she was perfect for him.) Her arm was bent awkwardly around her back and the back of her dress was still open revealing a small portion of her back to him.

"You could have just used your wand like a normal witch," he responded.

"Muggle. Born." She ground out through gritted teeth. "Pardon me if I don't whip out magic for every bleeding thing."

He swallowed his laugher, unable to hide his smirk though as he approached and freed her hand before he finished zipping her dress. "Well," he smirked at her through the mirror, "now I know how flexible you are."

"Oh you," she turned around and smacked his shoulder roughly. "Is that all you think of?"

He grinned as he rubbed at the spot where she'd hit him. "Considering that you're making me wait for the wedding, yes it has been rather prominent in my thoughts."

"Draco," she sighed, "do you even know how long I made Ron wait? And I've only ever been with him. The fact that I've agreed to marry you, agreed to all of this insanity which is so unlike how I usually do anything, should tell you something."

His lip curled on its own before he could stop himself. "Must you remind me that you've slept with that…vermin?"

She rolled her eyes at him and made to go around him to leave but he pulled her back with an arm around her waist. Draco cupped her cheek with the other hand and leaned down to press a soft kiss to her mouth.

"Forgive me for teasing you. I'd wait years if you asked me. I know what trust it takes for you to be with someone that way and I won't betray it." He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, "You look beautiful in that dress by the way."

She felt his sincerity in the way he held her and he felt her relief as she melted into him for a moment.

Draco pulled back after a moment but drew her left hand in his. He grinned wider as she narrowed her eyes at him in question.

He slowly sank onto one knee as he asked his question. "Will you wear your ring tonight if I give it to you?"

Hermione's face softened as she watched him. Some moments he was entirely frustrating and others she just wanted to wrap her arms around him and never let him go.

He'd not given her a ring when they'd agreed on the timeline of their courtship and subsequent marriage. Honestly, he'd not known what he was going to give her—a family heirloom or something custom. After some not so gentle nudging from Potter's fiancé, he'd gone the custom route and it had taken the better part of the week with his rush order.

"Merlin, Draco," she gasped when she saw it. Her free hand pressed over her heart, the organ beating harder and faster now.

A princess cut solitaire diamond sat incased in goblin forged platinum. Simple but classic, something that would never go out of style.

She allowed him to slide the ring on her finger before she ducked down to kiss him where he knelt. "Who knew you could be this sweet," she whispered against his lips.

He grinned as she pulled back to meet his eyes. "Just wait until you see how sweet I can be on our wedding night."

Hermione rolled her eyes dramatically but smiled anyway. He was incorrigible but she found she loved it.

The realization that she was indeed in love with him in such a short period of time was disconcerting but she'd gotten over it. Especially when he'd reassured her that he understood.

She kissed him soundly and took his arm finally.

"You realize this is going to be a fiasco," she asked before they stepped foot into her floo. "Anyone of any social stature is going to be at this ball from Britain but around the world, too."

Draco lifted a challenging brow as he looked down at her. "Are you going to run and hide?"

Hermione stood taller if that were possible and drew her shoulders back. "Gryffindor, Draco." She smiled impishly at him then. "And with any luck our children will be, too."

He snorted just before she pulled him into the floo behind her.

Because the event was the official closing of the two weeks of celebration, of course the press was on hand. Draco stood tall, his hard eyes staring straight ahead as they walked in together. The flash of the cameras didn't even faze him but he could feel her anxiety spike before he ever felt her nails dig into his arm through his robes. He tightened his hold on her as they passed through the throng of onlookers and finally made their way to a table they'd share with Harry and Ginny, not far from where his parents were already seated.

Draco caught his mother's discreet smile and merely nodded in acknowledgement. His father appeared to be caught up in conversation with Hermione's boss of all people. Hermione glanced at him questioningly when she felt his tension. She followed his gaze and realized what it was.

"I don't much like your father still," she admitted, "but I highly doubt the man is daft enough to say something unsavory about me to my own boss."

"He's a prick," Draco muttered. He snorted when she glanced at him in surprise. "I'm under no delusions about his pride, Hermione. He'll never say a word against you to your face but he's still a bit resistant."

Hermione drew a calming breath and glanced at their table again. Narcissa caught her eye and lifted her glass in acknowledgement. She huffed out a breathy laugh as she turned back to Draco.

"Well, at least we don't need to concern ourselves with what your mother thinks. Do you know what she admitted to me when you had me over again?" She smiled when he shook his head. "She was the one who tipped my boss off about your collection in order to get me involved."

Draco's eyes widened comically before his lip curled irritably when she laughed. "Why would she have done that? I wasn't even really sure about what you were to me."

Hermione shrugged, "Mother's intuition, I guess. She said you'd talked about me a lot in the last few years after we'd run into each other."

Draco sat back in his chair with a grumble and crossed his arms stubbornly. "Well perhaps if you'd not been taken by that redheaded vermin then we'd have figured this out sooner."

"Stop your scowling, Malfoy," Ginny grinned as they approached. Her eyes widened suddenly and she pulled away from Harry to approach Hermione's side. "Merlin, he chose well."

Harry watched in mild confusion as the two women began chattering while Ginny inspected Hermione's new ring. He straightened his dress robes and approached the table, pulling out the seat next to the blonde.

"Well, I suppose I have one thing to say to you, Malfoy. Hurt her in any way and I'll hex you so badly you can't procreate."

Draco eyed the man's outstretched hand for a moment, a pale eyebrow lifted high, before he finally clasped his hand and squeezed a little harder than necessary.

"Agreed, Potter. But if I make her deliriously happy, I expect you to eat crow."

Harry snorted and shook his head. "Whatever you say, you git. Though I should warn you, Ron might take a bit more time to come around."

"Oh, Ron can shove off," Ginny barked. "Just look at the bloody rock he gave Hermione!"

Hermione covered her mouth with her free hand as Ginny still had her left and withheld the urge to laugh when Harry glared directly at Draco. She elbowed Ginny discreetly and the witch had the grace to blush before she finally took up her seat beside her own fiancé, ready to suck up for her momentary slip.

Truly, Hermione's ring wasn't that much bigger than Ginny's. She did smack Draco for acting so smug about it at one point later in the night.

Ron arrived, fashionably late, with his girlfriend. He looked taken aback when Ginny pointed out Hermione's engagement ring but he ultimately pursed his lips and kissed her cheek in a friendly manner as he wished her well. The mature reaction took Hermione and Harry both by surprise but each were thankful to see their friend let go.

Draco's resulting growl did not go unnoticed but Hermione distracted him when she pointed out that the Minister was preparing to make his speech. Her hand on his thigh under the table, nails biting into him threateningly helped a bit as well.

Kingsley spoke of redemption, community, and unity and the discreet glances in Hermione and Draco's direction did not go unnoticed either. Draco had the distinct impression that there'd be some sappy story in the Prophet the next morning and a photo to accompany it.

Her love for dancing was not lost on him as he well remembered how she'd looked during the Yule ball their fourth year. However, now it was his arms wrapped around her and him twirling her around the ballroom for all to see. Her smiles were in abundance and all for him. It was infectious really and he found himself grinning along with her, despite the annoying reporters still buzzing about.

He'd gone from no witch of any worth giving him the time of day to discovering that the most brilliant, gorgeous witch that he could never hope to deserve was in fact his soulmate. The tides had indeed turned and he was thanking his lucky stars for it.

Hermione settled in his arms as the band struck up a slower song and enjoyed the warmth of his hands on her. He pulled her closer and she ignored the eyes on them, particularly those of his parents.

"You know…I used to think your face was too pointy," she commented lightly, a teasing smile on her lips.

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response, given your appearance growing up."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him, "If you honestly think I'm going to let you continue to kiss me with that snarky mouth, you're—"

Draco leaned down and cut her off with a warm press of lips. He was vaguely aware of the snap of a camera but didn't care when he nipped her lower lip before pulled back again.

"I believe you'll still let me."

She glared at him playfully but allowed him to continue their gentle swaying. She rested her head against his shoulder and sighed.

Draco kissed her forehead soothingly before he glared over her head at Rita Skeeter who was furiously dictating to her quick quotes quill.

"I know she hasn't had the chance to speak with you, what with being caught up in the usual social bullshit, but my mother said you looked beautiful tonight."

"Hmm," she hummed against his shoulder and sighed. "I think she might actually like me."

He grinned as he stared down at the top of her head, "About as much as your mother seemed to like me."

"Prat," she grumbled and smacked his shoulder where her arms were wrapped around him.

"Guilty."

She lifted her head to study him for a moment. Familiar grey eyes peered back at her as her eyes roved over his face and pale blonde hair. Yes, it was rather poetic that he should be hers.

"Have you stopped to think of just how historic this is?" She removed a hand from his to gesture between them before taking up his hand again.

A slow smirk transformed his features but it was warm as he gazed down at her fondly. "Hundreds of years of Malfoy history upended by one fiery little muggle-born. I can't say I'm displeased by it."

Nor did it seem was anyone else. As Draco circled the room with her and people came to speak with Hermione, he stood quietly by her side admiring her professional decorum. Perhaps he wouldn't be marrying a pureblood socialite prepped in social skills, but he was getting a most self-sufficient, brilliant witch with comparable manners but paired with genuine kindness.

Surprisingly enough, many people shook his hand politely, some even blunt enough to comment that if Hermione Granger had given her stamp of approval on him then he must have changed. When a few even spotted her engagement ring, surprise didn't even cover it but they received what appeared to be many well wishes and congratulations anyway.

When he escorted her home for the evening, leaving an hour before the end of the event because her feet were hurting, he found himself once more marveling at his good fortune. While it was certainly a nice change of events for both himself and his parents to be social and not be constantly watched with wary eyes, he really didn't care. By the end of the evening, whispers of their engagement were circulating and he had no doubt that it would make the Daily Prophet in the morning, possibly even the front page.

She kissed him softly as he stood by her fireplace, ready to return home for the evening.

"Remember, you're meeting my parents tomorrow."

Draco groaned, his mouth pulling into a reluctant frown but he nodded. "You do realize it's not nice to use our bond to manipulate me into doing things I don't want to do, right?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at his put on dramatics. "Oh please, you're doing it of your own free will and you know it. Just admit it—you like making me happy."

His lip curled in an effort to show his disagreement but she saw through the expression and laughed as she leaned up to kiss him again.

Draco gazed down at her seriously then and brought his hands up to cup her cheeks. Her warm brown eyes peered back at him, a certain twinkle of happiness deep within that he still had trouble understanding that he was responsible for.

"You, Hermione Granger, are my savior," he told her seriously. Her eyes continued to watch him, studying his features as he brushed his thumbs over her cheekbones. "Without you I'd be enduring a lifetime of unhappiness just as history has always dictated. How will I ever thank you?"

Hermione took a breath and felt the air shudder through her lungs as she watched him. All teasing forgotten for the moment, it was clear how serious this was to him.

She remembered well over the last couple of weeks—had it really only been that long—how he looked so resigned to the idea of marrying and living as his parents and their parents before them always had. The haunted look he'd tried to hide was gone and in its place was genuine gratitude.

"Just love me, Draco. It's all I'll ever ask of you."

He kissed her then. Kissed her in a way that made her heart stop and her mind flutter away. Kissed her the way he would for the rest of their lives.