Epilogue

Grimmauld Place was quiet, almost eerie. Hermione walked through the brightly lit lounge on the second floor. She walked around it, looking at each photograph lining the walls, and mantle of the fireplace.

The day they got married. A small church on the outskirts of town. Her parents, all of the Weasley's, and Potters. George, and James (Harry's toddler son) made a face, Angelina's hand rubbed her growing belly, Mrs. Weasley held a cloth to the corner of a tearful eye, Ron was looking interestingly down at his shoes, and Draco was snogging Hermione deeply, her simple white dress blowing in the breeze.

Draco playfully chasing a six year-old James around in the lounge of the Burrow. Albus (another son) was giggling in the background in Ginny's arms.

George, and Angelina's infant boy Fred tugging on Hermione's hair. Their son was like George's twin brother in many ways, pulling off pranks at every turn, and she was very glad that George was getting a taste of his own medicine.

The day Macbeth, and Julian were born. In St. Mungo's Hermione held one, and Draco the other as Harry snapped a picture of the new family. It was the best day of her life for many reasons. Her babies were finally born after being two weeks late. She had never seen Draco so flustered before, he choked on the soot while flooing. Harry, and Ginny were named godparents. Ron held Macbeth in his arms, and sighed saying, "your father's the biggest prat, little one, but you have your Uncle Ron, so whenever you want to curse him, come to me, just remember, you're half Granger, there's hope." Hermione remembered scolding him half heartedly for that. Ron never came fully around to Draco, but they could be trusted to be in the same room without hexes, or fists flying.

Their children's first birthday. White frosting over their faces, Hermione trying to clean them up while Draco took a hunk of cake dabbing it on Julian's nose who giggled happily.

The day they received their acceptance letters to Hogwarts. Julian had his mother's wild chocolate hair, but his father's gray eyes, pale complexion, and sneer. Macbeth had her father's hair, but her mother's eyes, and the crooked teeth that her grandparents insisted needed braces. Secretly, Hermione corrected them magically; she couldn't have her daughter teased for metal contractions in her mouth. In the picture, with their letters they were jumping up, and down. No one would have guessed they were twins, even by personality. Julian had Hermione's love of books, and Macbeth shared Draco's love of playing the bully.

There was another picture of them with her parents sitting on their lap last Christmas. It made Draco a little sad to see how happy their children were to visit them, when they could never know their other grandparents. Anytime that Hermione suggested it, he firmly told her no, that even if his parents wanted a second chance it would never be given. They gave up the right to know their grandchildren the day they disowned their son. Lucius, and Narcissa were not even aware that Macbeth, and Julian existed, and Draco was right, it was for the best. Who knew what they would do if they knew that their grandchildren were half-bloods.

Hermione clutched the letters from her children, and went over to where Draco laid on the sofa. He watched her seriously until she curled up next to him, his arm snaking around her waist.

"It's lonely," she said.

"I'm here. We have the house to ourselves again, be glad."

Hermione should be glad. They could do anything they wanted again. They had the whole house to themselves. "It turned out for the best. We both got what we wanted. Macbeth's in Slytherin, and Julian's in Gryffindor."

Draco grimaced as though in pain. "My own son... It's a smudge on the family name."

"I think you smudged that long ago, Mr. Malfoy." She honestly didn't like Macbeth in Slytherin. No one did, the moment she owled the family she could have sworn she heard the Weasley's scream in terror. At least there's hope for Julian, she jest to herself.

"Our first day in the house without children. What should we do?"

Hermione raised a brow. "I think the twins softened you, Draco."

He laughed, nibbling her neck. "Not quite."

There were no words to describe the odd couple. After all those years they didn't have any secrets to a happy marriage, or how to raise proper children. They took it in stride. They lived, loved, and fought. They weren't perfect by any means, but perhaps that's what it was. When you stop trying to be perfect, and stop second-guessing you'll find the sweetest surprises.

A/N: The story is over. It's considerably shorter than its companion, but I hope you have liked reading it as much as I have writing it. Thank you for all of the reviews; I appreciate the time you took to let me know your thoughts (appreciation goes to future reviewers as well).