Work Text:
This was inspired by You and Me by Lifehouse (I’m also aware the song comes out after I have set this one-shot but we will just glaze over that part).
I'm going to be writing a few different one-shots all slightly strange pairings around different muggle songs. Here is the first enjoy!
2002: First Annual Ministry Karaoke Drinks of the year
They hire out the Leaky Cauldron again, Hermione inwardly curses; every single year is the same, actually, every single week is the same. The entire Ministry hire out the Leaky Cauldron in hopes of building bridges from the left over unhealed scraps of the war, it is a “team building exercise” as Kingsley calls it and all across different departments people are paired to sing blasted karaoke.
Hermione over the past four years has had her fair share of karaoke singing from people she hates, likes, or feels completely indifferent about. She cringes at whoever is currently singing before she looks up from her butterbeer: it’s Pansy Parkinson and Luna Lovegood, it’s dreadful and they’re definitely destroying an old muggle song.
The pair are both extremely intoxicated and seem to be enjoying themselves, she gazes out over the many different tables from the different sectors of the ministry, in the left-hand corner are the Aurors all looking slightly amused, over to the right of them are the Transportation section who just look uncomfortable to the other side of them is the Muggle Relations department cheering them on (the karaoke is their entire idea so that makes sense). Human Relations are somewhere she can only just about see in the distance; they are all nursing something or another (everyone always is, anything to dull the embarrassment). Hermione often wonders if people actually enjoy this particular activity but apparently they do because they all look quite happy all over the room.
She’s forgotten sports and games and all the other departments who are here, but the truth is she is bored, she always is.
This stupid Friday thing is compulsory, they all finish early and have to head over to the Leaky where they are then given a number, your number than might get called for the evening or it may not, chances are in your favour considering how many people actually work at the Ministry (poor Hannah and Tom always have to put an expansion charm on the place just to fit all the departments inside) but, for some reason, Hermione’s numbers have been called out bloody often. She wonders if she will get by without having to try and attempt to hold a tune or two tonight.
“Give it up for Miss. Pansy Parkinson and Miss. Luna Lovegood,” Cormac bellows over the magically enhanced microphone (a perfect example of why muggleborns are important within their world, muggle inventions can be used to suit a wizard's needs too).
Hermione still despises Cormac even after all these years he makes her skin crawl, he’s eyeing the pair of girls as they exit the stage, and Pansy gives him the middle finger as he dares to try and look up her skirt. Ginny jumps up in a flash to aid her girlfriend’s side, Pansy heads over to her giving her a reassuring squeeze of the arm and a kiss to the cheek, whispering something before Ginny sits back down and Pansy scurries back over to her own department.
They really don’t need a repeat of when Cormac had done this before, Ginny had hexed him so badly he could barely walk, that was how everyone had found out Ginny and Pansy were even dating.
Strange couple those two are but they actually re-met at one of these stupid Friday nights, so, it isn’t all that bad Hermione summarises as she takes another gulp of butterbeer.
Cormac is over by his weird bingo-type machine they use for numbers again, he takes two numbers out, “NUMBER 42 AND 84,” he calls as Hermione glances at her numbers, she sighs thinking thank Christ they’ve missed me again. She stares out into the audience and she sees Blaise Zabini standing up grumbling as he does and heads over to the stage.
“Buggering fuck,” Hermione turns her head to see Daphne Greengrass rise, she works in the Transportation department and is clearly seething to have to sing but it’s probably more about her partner being Blaise.She gets up pushes through the crowd and heads to the stage.
Blaise seems amused as she enters the stage and they bicker over a song choice, they have got an on again off again dating thing going on but, then again Blaise has a thing going on with every other witch or wizard within a twelve-mile radius, so Daphne isn’t all that special although in Hermione’s opinion, she’s better looking than Blaise. He tries to put a hand on her leg and she pushes it off looking disgusted at it. So they are VERY clearly off again at the moment then.
Blaise just smirks his usual bloody grin but tries again, she hexes him non-verbally smirking at him in return and he stops, they then pick a song and start singing, neither of them has bad voices and at least it isn’t ‘The Wizard Brothers’ that everyone seems to be picking lately, Hermione will gauge her eyes out if she has to hear “My Witch” one more time, it was a firm favourite at the end of last year.
Hermione scans the room again, Theo and Harry are flirting with one another across the Auror table, playing footsie it seems and Harry is turning bright red. That isn’t surprising either, they’ve been together for a little over a year and Theo always seems to make Harry blush. Ron looks as uncomfortable as ever between the two, he looks over at her then and flashes her a smile and rolls his eyes, Hermione smiles back rolling her eyes in return.
Hot breath fans her ear and when she looks to where the source is coming from she finds out it's none other than Jeffery Coolick in her department, Hermione scoots further from her seat. He’s trying again apparently because knocking him back for the past six months hasn’t been long enough for him to get the message.
“Hermione,” he practically purrs in her ear, he’s extremely intoxicated he always is at these things.
Hermione rolls her eyes, “never going to happen Jeff so please stop wasting your breath and my time,” he slumps back in his seat and turns his head back starting to talk to another colleague. This amuses Hermione it has taken him hardly any time to give up; usually, it takes around three rounds of her saying no, still the night is young and he might forget later in the night and try again.
“A big round of applause for Miss. Greengrass and Mr. Zabini,” Cormac announces again erupting cheers and whistles from all around the room as the pair exit. Daphne and Blaise are arguing, barely waiting for the song to finish before going at it with one another, she’s red in the face and he is probably denying that he’s had an orgy with his department (Dark Artefacts), one of the latest rumours and probably why they are in fact off again.
“NUMBER 12 AND 21,” Cormac shouts again and low and behold blast it all she is twelve, she rises to her feet with a massive sigh and gulps down her butterbeer in one final swoop and heads over to the stage. She passes Harry and Ron who grin at her giving her a thumbs up as she walks past, Ginny gives her a supportive shoulder squeeze and Pansy gives her a smirk in usual Pansy fashion.
She hasn’t realised who her singing partner is yet but as she bumps into him on stage she curses internally at what fate has dealt her tonight: Draco Malfoy. She stomps her foot and he smirks in response. It’s not because she doesn’t like Malfoy it’s simply because he is rather good at singing and she sounds like a dying cat.
“Now, now Granger that is no way to greet your singing partner for the evening,” he adds in good jest.
“Oh let’s just get this over with you prat,” she replies folding her arms, there’s no real heat in her words the pair have long gotten over their turbulent past as he is Harry’s Auror partner and they have had to spend a lot of time together over the past four years, (five if you count the year hunting horcruxes) he had, had a sudden epiphany and helped bring down the demise of Voldemort, he was their informant for the year and helped them escape snatches the entire time.
She knows they are friends, rather good friends if she’s being completely honest but it's just the kind of relationship they have.
“Put the claws away kitten,” he smirks and starts flicking through the long lists of songs they have.
“Now what shall we sing,” he adds after flicking through an array of pages.
“You pick Malfoy, I really don’t care just hurry up,” she replies waving her hand about as two microphones drop seemingly out of nowhere for the pair to sing with.
He nods, seeming both happy and expectant of her answer and taps his wand picking the song for them. They both set themselves up in front of their perspective microphones and the backing track begins.
Hermione recognises it almost instantly, it’s only about a year old, a muggle song and one of her favourites, her Dad loves it too and she often plays it in her office whilst she’s working. She’s always humming it in the hallways at the Ministry but, it's the sort of thing that she didn’t think anyone would notice.
She opens and closes her mouth a few times seemingly dumbfounded by this and Malfoy doesn’t smirk instead he grins at her. The kind of grin that suggests he knew this would be her reaction and is rather pleased with himself.
The first line of ‘You and Me’ by Lifehouse begins and the pair start singing, but, she’s not bothered about that, she’s bothered about the man to the left of her who seems to know this is one of her favourite songs. She’s not even sure she knows Harry and Ron know about it, she’s sure no one else does but, it seems Malfoy does and he’s not looking at the lyrics above them, no instead he’s looking right at her. Her. Grey orbs are barrelling into her and all she can do is stare right back at him, reciting the lyrics she knows word for word from her own memory.
He’s grinning at her, his grin is so big it crinkles his eyes in both corners, she forgets the entire Ministry is watching them, it’s like it’s only the pair of them right now. It quite literally feels like ‘You and Me’ as the song connotes.
It’s the bridge that leaves her breathless to the point where she can barely recall the lyrics she knows so well:
‘There's something about you now
That I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right’
Because there were two things that Hermione notices at this point particularly, one: Draco Malfoy can sing very, very well even better than when she recalls from when his number has been called at previous karaoke nights and two: he’s starring into her soul as he sings the lyrics with an absolute confidence and practised ease that must be birthed into Malfoys. He’s singing the song to her, no one else.
Her.
Once, the song finishes and the crowd cheers, she still isn’t managing to fall out of this trance she is currently trapped in she stares up at him her mouth agape considering what to say, how to move forward. But, most of all she thinks this is all strange and must be part of one of his and George Weasley’s jokes they do every so often. They are rather good friends, she can’t remember how that even came about and right now she certainly doesn’t care either.
“You’ll catch flies Granger,” is all he says as he saunters off stage with that infuriating smirk of his and glides back to his seat. She’s practically ushered off stage by Cormac because two other individuals are being called up for their song.
She keeps starring at Malfoy even as she plops back in her seat, colleagues are trying to chat with her and she isn’t playing a blind bit of notice, they are all asking if she and Draco are together and how long it’s been going on for, she can barely even answer any of them far too focused on the man in question.
She’s not sure what makes her do it, it could be the song, the amount of alcohol that is in her system (not that there really is that much) or the fact that Draco Malfoy, pays attention to Hermione Granger when she is sure no one else does (aside from Jeff and that’s only because they work in the same department and are the closest in age) but she stands up and heads over to his department table.
He’s currently having an animated conversation with Theo and someone else Hermione doesn’t know or perhaps she’s forgotten his name. She gets to his chair and is standing in front of him before her voice finally works in tandem with her mouth once more.
“How did you know?” it’s barely above a whisper.
He turns to her his grey eyes sparkling, “You are simply impossible to ignore Granger. I couldn’t not notice things about you even if I tried,” his reply is gentle; it’s a tone she’s never ever heard from him before. She plants a kiss on his lips before she can second-guess herself before she can back out of it and think better of it.
She hears the distant whooping from Theo who is shouting, “I told him this would work!” and an exchange of galleons across the table but she’s not interested in that, she’s interested in the extremely soft lips of this man she is currently kissing. He pulls her into his lap and kisses her again, large hands pressing her as close to him as humanly possible and they stay like that for a while. Forgetting where they are, what they are doing and putting on quite a show, the Auror department head Robards clears his throat after a while and they finally break apart.
“You’ll have to fill in one of those forms, Ministry relationship one,” Robards says when they finally break apart.
Draco nods, “sorry sir I’ve wanted to do that,” he stops and stares back at her, “for longer than I even want to admit,” he’s smiling again and it looks so lovely on him and she’s so happy it’s because of her.
She whispers in his ear, “what else have you noticed about me Malfoy? What else do you know?”
She doesn’t expect him to answer but he does, he lounges back in his chair and blows a piece of hair out of his eyes before he begins.
“You take your coffee black in the morning but with milk and a sweetener at lunchtime. After, that you switch to tea: black with a wedge of lemon and honey. You bring in leftovers for lunch every single day, you always work past five o’clock but, you always make sure you leave the office before seven. You run three times a week even though you hate it but you feel you should anyway to try and stay active and healthy. You’re extremely organised everything is colour coded; you live by a schedule and are never really late to anything. When you’re stressed you scrunch your eyebrows up and when you’re deep in thought you bite your lip or chew a quill or that muggle thing you write with.” He waves one of his arms around at this point.
“When you’ve come up with something brilliant you have to stand when telling someone about it. You get low lights in your hair every few months and treat yourself to manicures every month, you don’t bother with make-up unless it’s a special occasion and your favourite chocolate bar is the muggle one: Cadbury fruit and nut. You go to your parents every other Sunday alternating between their house and the Burrow. Your assistant annoys you although you’ll never admit it aloud, you think Jeffery whatever his face is in your department is the only guy that fancies you but that’s absolute shite you could have any guy you want and not because you’re Hermione Granger but because you’re absolutely brilliant all on your own merit and it has nothing to do with your name. You are the best in your department by far and it’s because of how hard you work and how much you believe in your work. You hate heels, you miss Crookshanks and brought another cat but, could never replace the ginger beast.”
He pauses for breath here and he’s still looking into her eyes as he speaks, there are two track lines of tears coming from either side of her eyes, and he thumbs them away before he continues.
“But, what is probably the most important thing that you should know Hermione Jean Granger is that even though you’re brilliant you are still completely unaware you fascinate me more than anyone I’ve ever encountered, you have no idea how much I look forward to our meetings whenever our departments work together because I can finally spend some time with you. Our debates are often the highlight of my week because you challenge me, and always have done even back in school. You’re the most infuriating know-it-all beautiful bookworm and I notice everything and anything about you because you are simply impossible to ignore.”
Hermione is stunned into absolute silence over what she’s just heard from him, how had she possibly missed it?.
She kisses him again for good measure and the pair leave shortly after that hand in hand and looking forward to the next shitty karaoke evening.
2003: New Year's Day
“Are you sure you have everything Granger?” Draco calls from the kitchen in her tiny flat that is no longer her tiny flat but the next person who will be renting it.
“Yes, I’m sure Draco,” she calls back sounding slightly whimsical, she had gotten this flat straight after the war it had seen her through some really hard times, seen some of her worst nightmares and had always welcomed her back home with strong arms after a particularly bad day at work. She was so grateful for this little one-bedroom flat that was hers and hers alone.
She is standing in the middle of her bedroom when he comes in, smiling at her and wrapping his arms around her. She melts into his embrace and she can feel the familiar white tail of Audrey looping around her legs.
“How do you feel about leaving this place?” he asks as he places a kiss on the top of her crown on her head.
“Weird, a little sad but mostly excited,” she replies honestly.
“I told you we could have kept it we cou-“
“I know, I know but it’s not the same thing is it, I didn’t want that, another door closes a new one opens Draco. This is a new chapter of a book.” She replies smiling.
“Our book,” he adds.
They both head back into the kitchen where the final item needs to be packed: Hermione’s radio. It is slightly strange she had left it out even after packing everything else but doesn’t question it too much; the radio is always on when Draco is around. He just loves muggle music, especially that one song: their song.
“Let’s dance shall we?” he asks.
Hermione looks at him strangely but agrees and with a simple button press, the radio turns on.
“Hello, ladies and gentlemen this is HeavenSent FM, playing songs that are simply heavenly. It’s your pick hour and up next we have ‘You and Me’ by Lifehouse sent in by one Draco Malfoy who is moving into a shared flat with his girlfriend today, this is their song and how could we deny such an anthem on the show. Without further ado, please enjoy.” The radio presenter states as Draco holds out his hand for Hermione to take.
“When did you arrange that?” Hermione asks as she slips her hand into his much larger one.
“Potter helped me sort it, that’s all I’m going to say on the matter,” Draco grumbles jokingly as they settle into a slow sway in Hermione’s now old kitchen.
“Well I love it Draco thank you,” Hermione replies with tears in her eyes. She always seems to have tears in her eyes when it comes to Draco and this bloody song but they were never the bad kind always the happy ones because the sap had done something to set her off again. Just another happy memory to associate with the tune, there were too many to count in their year that they’d been together thus far.
“I love you, Hermione,”
“I love you too Draco.”
August 2003: ‘Lifehouse’ concert London 02
“Happy Birthday Dad,” Hermione coos to her Father on her left-hand side, Draco has only managed to get tickets to their favourite band for her Dad’s Birthday. The best-seated tickets money could buy too a typical Malfoy move.
“Best gift I could ever possibly want, just spending the evening with you.” He replies giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“I don’t know how Draco managed to get them, they sold out almost instantly,”
“A man will do a lot for the woman he loves.” Her Dad looks far away as he says it probably thinking of his wife, who is currently being looked after by Draco for the evening. Hermione’s Mother has just recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and the chemotherapy is doing a number on her.
“She’ll be alright with Draco Dad,” Hermione gives his hand a reassuring squeeze; he hasn’t been out much since her diagnosis.
“I know Herms, I know,” he grabs both her hands, “your Mother and I are so happy you found someone, so happy you found your person. I know I was sceptical at first and put him through the wringer but he’s a good man Hermione.” He seems so sure of himself as he speaks.
“Thanks, Dad it means a lot and I’m so glad we have you two on board, with Draco’s parents,” she pauses before she continues, “they’ve cut him off completely.” That is the latest update in the Malfoy family saga, Lucius has officially cut Draco off completely, Narcissa has allegedly tried to make her husband see reason but he wouldn’t budge. He has never been happy with their relationship but now they are officially living together and the prospect of him marrying Astoria Greengrass is a no-go he has gone a little mad over it all.
The funny part is although Draco has been cut off from the Malfoy vaults he hasn’t been cut off from the Blacks' so the pair still have plenty of money both from Draco’s inheritance and also from their respective jobs. The whole denouncing Draco from the Malfoy family only really hurts him. He’s officially been scorched off of the Malfoy tapestry that hangs somewhere in one of the hallways near the library in that God-forsaken Manor, Draco had laughed when he had felt the tell, tell tingle of being cut off.
“He’ll come around eventually,” is her Dad’s reply, she wants to believe it she really does but after knowing he’s been burned off the tapestry she’s not so sure.
“I truly hope so,” she whispers in response, she doesn’t like to hope too much when it comes to Draco’s parents. She feels sorry for Narcissa, she tries she does but it is difficult, who do you pick your husband or your son?
“She’ll convince him that wife of his,” her Dad adds with a wiggle of his finger, he is smiling today and it is so nice to see, he hadn’t been doing that a lot recently because of her Mum.
The concert begins soon after and Hermione and her Dad sing along to all the songs they knew from ‘Hanging by a moment’ to ‘whatever it takes’. She is waiting for ‘You and Me’ which was once just hers and her Dad’s song, which is now hers and Draco’s too. So many memories rush through her whenever they play it or hear it on the radio from that fateful karaoke night, dancing around the kitchen together, requesting it at work events, requesting it at clubs and always, always playing it at a moment’s notice just because they want to.
Lifehouse plays on with torchlights being used by the crowd to sway along to slower parts and jumping is used when the music grows louder. Hermione hasn’t realised how long they have been there until the music starts winding down and there is the threat of just one song left, the crowd is booing, begging for just one more.
Jason Wade cuts the music as he speaks into the microphone, “before we sing our final song of the evening, we have an announcement to make. It is for one Hermione Jean Granger who we believe is either sitting in row A2 or A3 with her Dad!” the crowd cheers as his American accent rings around the stadium. “Could she stand up please,” Hermione glances at her Dad with a confused look and he just smiles up at her and gestures for her to stand, so he knows then, he is on it. She feels her colour rush to her cheeks she hates attention like this.
“Her boyfriend says, that she will hate this but, apparently this next song is their song and he was rather persistent with our publicist so we couldn’t deny him.” The crowd laugh at him then and he continues on, “he just wanted to let you know that he loves you and he has rather an important question to ask,” she feels her heartbeat triple its speed as Draco makes his way through the crowd and over to her allocated seat, he is down on one knee before she can even process what is happening.
Jason Wade stops speaking now and the whole crowd are silent as Draco coughs slightly and pulls out a box from his right-hand pocket.
“Hermione Granger you are quite literally the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are my sun and moon and all that other mushy stuff too, you make me happier than I ever thought possible or even deserve.” She wants to protest but he puts his hand out halting her speech, “don’t bloody argue it’s true but, I’m selfish anyway because I want you forever. So will you do me the greatest honour of becoming my wife?”
Hermione is speechless for a moment and she feels tears trickle down her two cheeks. She just nods after a minute or two, still speechless over how this entire evening is panning out.
“Thank Merlin I thought this might have been a little too much,” she just keeps nodding and smiling as he slides her ring onto her finger: a beautiful ruby with emeralds set all around it, the perfect combination of their two Hogwarts houses.
Hermione’s Dad shakes Draco’s hand as he stands to his feet and Hermione kisses him as the crowd cheer and so do the band.
“Congratulations to Draco and Hermione,” Jason speaks as the band finally starts playing ‘You and Me’.
“Ever one for the dramatics,” she whispers in his ear as their favourite song envelops their eardrums in a warm hug.
“Granger you wouldn’t have me any other way, plus I couldn’t miss this song now could I.”
“Your Mum will be ecstatic,” Bob Granger shouts over the loud percussion of drums and guitar. Hermione kisses her Dad’s cheek and tosses her arms over both of
her favourite men as they sway to the rest of the song.
“She will Dad, she will.” Comes Hermione’s reply.
Early April 2004:
Jean Louise Granger doesn’t have long left, what starts as breast cancer and has all the doctors extremely hopeful, a simple mammogram and she would be as good as new is something completely different now.
The Grangers were practically guaranteed a speedy recovery at the beginning of all of this.
The cancer has spread far more than what they had originally believed and now it is spread throughout her entire body. The past few months have been an awful nightmare of constant hospital visits with never-ending bad news after bad news.
Her only dying wish is that she gets to see her only daughter get married before she leaves this world and moves on to the next, whatever that may be.
The wedding is in exactly two weeks: on 28th April 2004, Hermione Jean Granger will officially be Hermione Jean Granger-Malfoy. What was meant to be the happiest months of planning a wedding has been quite the opposite, they have, had to rush every aspect of the prospective nuptials because they just want to be sure that Jean will be there at the front of the aisle to see her beautiful daughter marry the love of her life.
Hermione inspects her dress in the mirror, her final fitting before the big day. Pansy, Ginny and Luna are sitting watching her all gushing about how wonderful she looks. The dress is truly breath taking it was a backless dress that leads in a V towards her bottom with long sleeves. The middle is lace alongside the sleeves whilst the rest of the dress is sheath in a beautiful ivory colour that flows down at the bottom. It is utterly perfect but Hermione is crying and it isn’t because of what she looks like it is because her Mum hasn’t been able to attend any of these fittings apart from when she originally picked out the dress. She can’t help but think this isn’t fair, what has she ever done to deserve this?
All three girls stop speaking and head around her to give her a hug, even Pansy does which is a little strange and makes her crack a small smile.
“I’m sorry girls,” Hermione chokes out.
“Why on earth are you sorry Granger?” Pansy asks with her face scrunched up in confusion.
"I just want my Mum,” Hermione replies.
Ginny bits her lip, “she’ll be there on the day Hermione,”
“I know but it’s not the same, these past few months have been awful and I god, I just can’t help but think that when I look back on my engagement party and everything in between. I’ll just think of cancer and how it’s ruined all this.”
“It’s not ruined anything of the sort.” Luna chimes in, in her dreamy tone as usual.
“It will be a lovely day Hermione, the weather is meant to be beautiful,” Ginny adds and all four girls start laughing, using weather to try and ease Hermione’s aching
heart is somewhat funny. People always tend to mention the weather when trying to change an uncomfortable subject.
“You look absolute knock out though Granger,” Pansy adds again, giving her a squeeze once more for good measure as all four girls separate and Hermione stares at her reflection once again. She does look lovely and she loves her dress and most importantly she knows her Mum did too.
The speaker in the background is playing a radio station and ‘You and Me’ starts to play softly in the background, she feels her heart settle a little at that, the song always seems to be at her fingertips right when she needs it.
________________________________________
The 28th April 2004 is indeed a wonderfully bright and warm spring day, the sun shines from morning till night and there is hardly a chill in the air.
Hermione’s Mum sits at the front in her best dress and smiles wonderfully upon seeing her daughter marry a good man. Her nurse even dresses up for the occasion.
Her Dad walks her down the aisle of the church where they are marrying muggle style as Draco and her have already had their magical bonding ceremony a week before, it was just the two of them there when they tied their souls together forever and that was exactly how they wanted it.
But, today they marry in front of an entire church of people both magical and muggle.
Theo is Draco’s best man and Ginny is Hermione’s chief bridesmaid as Harry and Ron gush from their prospective places at the front of the church. If you search the crowd hard enough you can even spot Narcissa Malfoy tucked away at the back wearing a huge hat she is crying silent tears as she watches her only son marry the woman of his dreams.
They hold the reception at the Notts estate, which is secured to ensure that all magical items are hidden from muggle eyes and magical guests have to hide their wands away until 8 o’clock when all muggle guests will be leaving and the reception will just be witches and wizards.
Hermione was never been the type of girl to plan her wedding as a little girl but if she had it would have been exactly this.
“When Draco asked me to be his best man, I agreed obviously I was the better choice between me and him,” he gestures to Blaise who rolls his eyes as the guests laugh. Theo waits for the guests to stop chuckling before he continues,“I knew when I was tasked with being best man I would have to come up with a bloody speech and it was something I wasn’t looking forward to.”He sighs before smiling at them all and continuing once more, “Draco has always been there for me through all of it: the good, the bad and the ugly.”
He pauses for a minute before he continues on, shoving away his speech notes into his front pocket, “When I told Draco I was gay he just shrugged, like he’d been waiting for me to tell him forever, I did the same thing when he finally admitted to me that he was mad for this brunette with curly hair right over here,” he gestures along the table to where Hermione is sat, “that got me thinking, I didn’t grow up with brothers or sisters but I think that instinct says enough, knowing things before even they do, a brotherly bond of sorts. You never needed my permission or approval Draco but I honestly couldn’t have picked a better wit- person, for you.”
Draco and Hermione both have tears in their eyes by this point, as do most of the head table.
“We may not be family by blood Draco but I don’t think that matters when we meet the right people they can be family by default.” He stares at Harry as he says this, “enough of the emotional crap anyway, please raise a toast to the new Mrs & Mr Malfoy, good luck Hermione you’re gonna need it.” The guests cheer as he finishes.
Once, the muggle guests including Hermione’s parents leave because her Mother is now too tired and needs to be back to the hospice to rest. Her Dad pulls her into a huge hug and gives Draco one too, he encourages them both to enjoy the rest of their evening without the muggles, Hermione breathes a sigh of relief they’ve done it, they’ve gotten married and her Mum has seen it.
“Mrs.Malfoy please can I have this dance?” her now husband asks as they made their way over to the dance floor.
“You may indeed Mr.Malfoy but it is Granger-Malfoy my dear,” she teases in his ear.
“That is part of the rules Granger, I get to call you Mrs.Malfoy whenever I fancy it.”
Hermione just smirks as they settle into a slow spin around the room, the music quickly changes once the pair are comfortable in their dancing positions. Their song is playing in the background and Hermione lays her head on her husband's chest, as they gently spin around the floor, both humming and singing along to the words as they echo around the room.
“I’ve truly had a wonderful day Draco, thank you for everything over these last few months I don’t know-“ she has to suck in a sharp breath as she feels tears prick at the back of her eyes.
Draco looks down at her and stops her mid-sentence with a kiss; “don’t ever thank me for being your partner. We’re a team Hermione I’ll be there through the good and the bad, whatever life throws at us, I’ll welcome with open arms.”
“Forever?” she asked.
“Forever indeed.” He hums in reply as they keep spinning around the floor with their favourite song softly playing in the background.
Jean Louise Granger passes away peacefully on May 1st 2004, she got to see her daughter's wedding and even made sure they were back from their quick two-day honeymoon before her eyelids fluttered shut never to re-open.
June 28th 2007:
The sun shines high in the sky, as Scorpius Archer Malfoy arrives screaming into the world. He is ushered to Hermione’s healer before he is cleaned and swaddled and handed back to the exhausted new Mother.
“He’s so tiny Draco,” she coos as she grabs his tiny hand, which wraps around her finger, he peers up at his parents his grey eyes the exact replica of his Father’s.
Draco sits by her side on her bed, looking down at the tiny baby that is theirs, a by-product of the life they have created together.
“He’s perfect,” he replies as Draco tenderly strokes his head where small wisps of sandy blonde hair are sprouting.
“He looks just like you,” she adds and her husband smirks.
She passes the small bundle of joy over to her husband who picks him up and shows him the window where the entire world is. His wife watches in awe as he fusses over his newborn son.
“Hello buddy, I love you so much, you can do whatever you want, be whoever you want I’ll always love you. I’ll always support you,” he whispers to him even though Draco knows he has no idea what he is talking about. Ever since he found out his wife was pregnant he had been both ridiculously excited and dreadfully nervous because he was sure he would be an utterly shit Dad just like his own was.
But, as he stared down into his little boy, who was no longer taking residency in his wife’s stomach, he knew, he knew he would do anything to protect him no matter the cost.
Draco tenderly sings to his son:
'What day is it
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up, and I can't back down
I've been losing so much time.’
“That’s mine and your Mother’s song but now it’s yours too.” He whispers as he presses a kiss to the sleeping baby's head, as he turns back around he sees his wife is asleep too.
He smiles.
November 18th 2011:
“Make a wish Cass,” Draco whispers to his now two-year-old daughter as his wife hurries over to them both, carrying a triple chocolate cake firmly between her hands. Theo had made it for his ‘wonderful Goddaughter’, who apparently deserves the best and his baking is the most superior in the whole wide world (this is Theo’s current hobby) Draco hates to admit it but it is one of his best he really does have a flair for baking.
His other hobbies, which include: candle stick making, archery, rowing and not forgetting fishing (he was awful at) so the baking was a welcomed break. Ever since he had left his job as an Auror, as his partner had left and he ‘couldn’t settle with anyone else’ he had tried hobby after hobby. He had spent thousands of both galleons and pounds on ‘random crap’ as Potter calls it.
Scorpius is on his Mother’s heels trying to blow out the candles before said cake even reaches his little sister.
“Scorp,” Hermione warns as she finally reaches her destination of their dining room where an abundance of friends and her daughter is eagerly waiting for them.
Scorpius huffs and heads over to his Godfather Harry who always, ALWAYS lets him do whatever he wants. Harry picks him up and puts him in his lap, laughing as his best friend rolls her eyes at her own sons' dramatics, like Father, like son she thinks.
“Now blow out the candles Cass,” Hermione encourages as she holds the cake in front of her daughter's face, she smiles showing her little white baby teeth and blows out her candles with the help of her Dad who ensures they are all blown out before the cake is placed back onto the table.
“BIRTHDAY, BIRTHDAY” Cassiopeia cheers clapping her hands together as her cake is cut up by her Father and is dished out amongst guests.
“This cake Theo,” a very heavily pregnant Ginny moans as she shoves mouthful after mouthful into her mouth, humming her approval. Theo beams at her nodding, he’s been sending her cake after cake to try due to her current condition and she’s never had one complaint.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASS, CASS,” a very loud voice comes from Sophia Weasley Parkinson as she shouts across the table. She is the spitting image of her Mother from her dark hair to her bright green eyes. The two girls were only born three months apart and are the best of friends.
Cassiopeia wiggles in her Father’s arms, a sign for him to put her down, he places her on the floor and watches her scurry over to her friend who has also jumped down from her chair.
“Just think they’ll be more around this table next year,” Hermione whispers in her husband's ear.
“Hmmm,” he replies, she grabs his hand and places it on her abdomen where there is currently a tiny fetus growing. He hasn’t quite caught onto what his wife was getting at, he simply nods and peers around the table to the many guests seated around it.
So many friends are crowded in their dining room but only three are family members: Bob Granger, Andromeda Tonks and Teddy Lupin are the only blood family members their children have met.
Draco tries to ignore the bitterness that lingers on his tongue as he thinks of that, Hermione’s Mum had passed away but both his parents were both alive and had nothing to do with them. Every Christmas and Birthday an abundance of gifts appear for his two children, there has never been a label but he always knows they are from his Mother. Just like he knows Hermione sends her photographs of her two half-blooded Grandchildren, it happens year after year but nobody ever discusses it.
His own Mother defied Voldemort but her old codger of a husband, she won't dare disagree with he doesn’t care too much that he hasn’t seen or spoken to his Father in years but his Mother, well he misses her.
Besides, his children don’t deserve that and they would welcome them with open arms and big hugs because they don’t understand what any of this means. They would never know that his Father is an angry old bigot, they would just see him as another person to love.
“You’re miles away love,” his wife whispers into his ear and draws him out of his reprieve.
He nods, “I was just thinking about, all they’ve missed.”
“You should write to your Mother,” Hermione replies, they’ve had this argument countless times and he never relented.
“Hermione I’ve told you she’s made her bed, she’s sided with him.” He replies and that is the end of the discussion.
“I do hope Luna is alright,” Hermione replies trying to change the subject.
“Weasel is there isn’t he?”
“Draco,” she says with a roll of her eyes, “but last time she was in birth for forty-eight hours I dread to think how that felt.”
The pair had been awoken in the early hours of the morning by Ron’s patronus that his wife had gone into early labour and that they wouldn’t be able to attend today.
Draco kisses the top of his wife’s worrying head, “Luna is,” Draco pauses before continuing, “an interesting woman and she takes it all in her stride.”
“OI! I want some cake,” Blaise shouts as he appears through the Floo with his now wife Daphne Zabini nee Greengrass trailing behind him.
________________________________________
Later, once all the guests have left and husband and wife are tucked up in bed, Draco creeps out of bed and heads over to the study, he flicks on the record player as he enters and listens to whatever was last placed into it.
He starts to pen his Mother and Father a letter.
The Lifehouse band play softly in the background.
His letter is short and sweet:
Mother & Lucius,
You’ve missed so much.
It was Cassiopeia’s Birthday today, she turned two, she looks just like you Mother there is so many Black genetics in her. She has Hermione’s big brown eyes though.
Scorpius is a spit of me and obviously because of that you too Lucius.
I’ve attached a photo from today, it’s a shame you missed it, a shame you miss everything.
Don’t be strangers forever.
Draco
He sends the letter with his trusty eagle: Arico and heads back to bed, but not before listening to ‘You & Me’ a couple of times, it is their song after all.
He wakes his wife with a start when he returns to their room.
“Granger are you pregnant?”
In the early hours of the next morning, Draco and Hermione receive news that Luna and Ron have welcomed a baby boy named Dusk into the world. Draco refrains from commenting on the name.
December 20th 2014:
“Please tell the story again Daddy, please,” Cassiopeia begs from her bed as Draco reaches the doorway thinking he has finally put her down for the night.
“No more Cass, I’ve already told you tonight.” She sticks her bottom lip out and stares up at him with those bloody puppy dog eyes.
Scorpius had crawled out of his own bed at some point and is standing behind his Dad, Hermione is there too with Lyra on balanced on her hip.
“Please Dad,” he hears from behind.
Draco sighs as he hears his son begging from behind him, he ducks under Draco’s arm and heads into his little sister's room where she eagerly makes room for him on her bed.
His youngest then starts gurgling and pushing out her little arms, wanting to be put down so that she can join the other two in her sister’s bed.
Draco sighs again as he, Lyra and Hermione make their way over to his eldest daughter's bed.
“One more time so everyone hears,” Cassiopeia practically shouts and Draco finally relents nodding, he slowly heads over to join the rest of his family.
“It all started in 2002, long before any of you were born,” Draco speaks as his three children tuck themselves into bed as himself and his wife sit on the far end of the bed.
“Your Mum used to sing this one song all around the Ministry and she thought no one noticed.”
“But you did, you did!” Lyra chirps as she bounces happily on the bed.
“Yes, Lyra,” her Father replies with a smile.
“Shh Lyra, Daddy is telling it,” Cass sounds so much like her Mother as she crosses her little arms.
Scorpius rolls his eyes at both his sisters but encourages his Dad to continue on with the story.
“I investigated the song and after many hours-,”
“Many, many hours,” his wife adds leaning on his shoulder.
“Many, many hours indeed,” he kisses the top of her head as he grins at them all, “I actually spent a whole month of weekends in HMV until I found it,” Draco adds. He feels his wife laughing so he continues on, “Once I found it I brought a CD player and that particular CD and I just listened and waited. I waited until we were finally, FINALLY pulled out of the karaoke together. I knew there was a low chance of it happening but it was my only hope.” He speaks gently to his children whose eyes are slowly closing.
“I finally got my chance in 2002, where lady luck was on my side and we were both pulled out of that machine,” his wife nudges him an indication that all three of their children are indeed asleep. They gingerly get up and each kiss their children’s foreheads while they all sleep together, this is a rare sight, usually, the three of them are bickering over something or another. It's a small win for them both but, they’ll take it.
They feel Audrey’s tail brush past their legs on the way out, Audrey always sleeps in Cass’s room, she is rarely seen unless she is with their daughter.
They actually thought they'd lost her at one point, they hadn't seen her for so long but it turned out the feline just preferred the company of Cass to anyone else.
They both tiptoe out of the room and head downstairs, a bottle of wine is calling them this evening. It is only five days till Christmas and it seems their children are producing more energy than usual in the run-up to the holiday.
“Where are we heading for Christmas eve this year?” Hermione asks when her bum finally hit the sofa.
“Well it’s either the Burrow or George and Angelia’s newest place, I think there has been some fighting between Molly and George.”
Hermione groans, “it’s the same argument every year,”
“But it’s usually settled by now,” Draco adds.
“True, let’s see who finally relents this year.” It will be George, it is always George who finally gives up and agrees to let his Mum host.
As they both settle into their sofa and turn on the T.V. they cant help but smile as MTV is playing the greatest hits of 2000 and their song is currently playing.
“It seems to follow us everywhere doesn’t it?” Hermione asks as she pours them both a rather large glass of red wine.
Draco smiles, “yes it does and I wouldn’t have it any other way though.”
“Agreed,” Hermione smirks and hands him a glass, they clink their glasses together and give one another a chase kiss before resettling on the sofa, snuggling up against one another.
August 31st 2030:
Scorpius Malfoy elegantly dances with his new wife around the dance floor, smiling at their guests as they do. As the song winds down and the pair take back their perspective places on the main table, a very familiar tune echoes around the dancehall.
Draco rises to his feet and gestures for his wife’s hand, she rises and eagerly takes it and they head across the dance floor to enjoy their song. Well, it is a family song now too, everyone knows it and enjoys it if you are part of the Malfoy clan.
Hermione rests her head on her husband's chest as they twirl around the floor, “I’m so glad your Mother came,” she tells him as they sway in time with the beat.
Draco hums, “as am I."
“Draco have you noticed no one else is dancing with us,” Hermione speaks as her gaze looks across the dance floor.
Draco snaps out of his reprieve, “it appears that way indeed,” Scorpius has done this; he knows it's their song. He knows they still danced around the kitchen to it, as they used to when he was a child, spending Saturdays baking and replaying it over and over again so much so that he knew all the lyrics by the time he was six.
The song continues as the couple dances around the floor, barely paying anyone else a blind bit of notice. Lost in their own memories over the years of what this song means for them.
That dreadful karaoke night that started the inevitable, playing it on lazy Saturday mornings before they started their weekend, moving into their first shared flat together, their proposal. Their engagement party, their first dance as husband and wife.
Draco learning to drive and buying the most ridiculously over-the-top car Hermione had ever seen, requesting it at every function they attended whilst their friends and family moaned. Endless radio requests and only sometimes hearing it play, dancing with their children around the living room, Hermione’s last dance with her Father before he passed away.
Narcissa appearing at their house one Sunday lunchtime with sweets and tears in her eyes, as Lyra put it on in the background because she’d just learnt how to use the record player and she wanted to show her new Grandma too.
An endless amount of memories that can be spun and unravelled at the drop of sound. Such a beautiful and wonderful life that neither ever expected but neither would change for the world.
“It will always be you and me Granger,” Draco speaks as the song starts to wind down to its end.
“You and me.” Hermione replies as she smiles up at her husband.