Aroura

Official

The morning after the ball, the soft light of early afternoon poured through the windows of Granger Cottage, casting a warm glow on the kitchen. Hermione was bustling around, preparing a light lunch for herself, Draco, and her old friends—Harry, Ginny, and Ron. She had invited them over, hoping to continue the rekindled friendships from the night before, but also knowing there was more to discuss, more to understand about the path they were now walking together.

Draco had agreed to join, albeit with a little reluctance. It wasn't easy for him to open up, especially to people who had known him in his darker days, but Hermione could see how much he was trying for the sake of her and the kids. There had been moments last night—subtle glances, quiet conversations—that told her Draco was willing to embrace this new life. It wasn't going to be easy, but it was a start.

As Hermione placed the plates of food on the table, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. She wiped her hands on a towel and walked to the door, her heart quickening as she opened it.

"Hello!" Ginny greeted her with a wide smile, holding a bottle of wine in her hand. "I hope we're not too early."

"No, you're just in time," Hermione said, returning the smile. "Come in, come in. It's so good to see you again."G

inny walked in, giving Hermione a warm hug before handing her the wine. "It's good to be here. It's been too long, Hermione."

Behind Ginny, Harry and Ron stepped into the cottage, both looking around in admiration. "This place is lovely," Harry commented, his eyes scanning the cozy space.

"It's perfect for you, Hermione," Ron said, his tone softer than usual. "Looks like you've really settled in."

Hermione smiled, a little shy at the compliment. "Thanks, Ron. It's a work in progress, but I love it here. It's home."

Draco, who had been standing by the window, watching the exchange, finally stepped forward. He was dressed casually in a black sweater and jeans, looking more relaxed than he had the night before. There was a calm in his demeanor now, and as he extended a hand to Harry, Ginny, and Ron, his voice was steady. "It's good to see you all again. Thanks for coming."

The three of them exchanged cautious but polite greetings with Draco, a few moments of awkwardness hanging in the air before Harry gave Draco a small nod. "It's been a long time. But... it's good to see you again."

"Yeah, well," Draco said with a slight smirk, "I'm still trying to figure out what's going on here."

Hermione rolled her eyes affectionately. "We all are."

As everyone settled at the table, the tension from the past seemed to melt away slowly. The conversation flowed, from casual banter about the children to talk of old Hogwarts days, and the wine helped loosen everyone up. Draco and Hermione sat side by side, their fingers brushing occasionally as they passed the dishes around the table. It wasn't a formal moment, but to Hermione, it felt intimate, like they were starting to carve out something new and real.

The kids were at the far end of the garden, playing together, leaving the adults to their own devices for now. It was quiet in the house, and the sounds of laughter from outside were a nice contrast to the relaxed, almost nostalgic atmosphere at the table.After a few more moments of chatter, Ginny turned to Hermione, a teasing smile on her face. 

"So, tell us. How long has this been going on?" She gestured between Draco and Hermione. "You two... finally got your act together, huh?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed slightly, and she glanced at Draco, who had been listening intently to the conversation. He met her gaze and gave her a small, reassuring smile, though there was a slight mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "I suppose we have," he said, his voice smooth.Hermione took a deep breath, her heart thumping slightly. There was no more dancing around it. They were here, with her friends, and it was time for her to say the words that had been forming in her mind for so long.

"We've been through a lot," Hermione said slowly, her gaze moving from Draco to her friends. "I never thought... I never thought we'd be here. But sometimes life has a way of bringing people back together when you least expect it."

Ron looked at her, his brow furrowing. "You mean... back together with Malfoy?"

Ginny shot Ron a pointed look. "Yes, Ron. That's exactly what she means." She grinned. "I think it's a great thing. It's about time you two figured it out."

"Thanks, Ginny," Hermione said, feeling a little relieved at her friend's straightforwardness. She glanced at Draco again, her heart lifting when she saw the sincerity in his eyes. 

She reached over and placed her hand on his, intertwining their fingers. "We've been through a lot separately and together, but we're making it work."

Draco squeezed her hand, his gaze softening. "I've never been one for easy solutions, but with Hermione... it feels right." His voice dropped slightly, as though sharing something private between them. "I think I've always known, but now I'm... finally ready to really be here. With her. With the kids."

The room fell quiet for a moment, everyone processing what Draco had just said. Ginny and Harry exchanged glances, then smiled in mutual understanding, while Ron remained quiet, though his expression softened.

Ginny leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand. "Well, it sounds like you've made up your mind, Draco. And I think that's all we can ask for. You've always been difficult to read, but I'm glad you're here now."

Hermione smiled, relieved by Ginny's words. "We're both glad. It's not easy, but we're doing it together."

The conversation turned lighter as they continued to enjoy their lunch, but for Hermione, the weight of what they had just said lingered in the air. For the first time in years, she felt like everything was finally coming together.

As the afternoon wore on, the kids returned to the house, their faces flushed with excitement. Lyra ran straight to Draco, her eyes gleaming as she jumped into his arms. "We built a huge fort, Dad!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with pride.

Draco laughed, lifting her high into the air. "A fort, huh? Well, I guess I'll have to check it out."Sorpious, as usual, took a quieter approach, walking over to Hermione and Draco. "Mum, I think we need to talk about the ball," he said in his usual serious tone. "What do we wear for the next one?"

Hermione chuckled. "I think we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

As the afternoon sun began to set, Draco and Hermione found themselves outside on the porch, watching the kids play. It was quiet again, but it was a comfortable silence. Draco stood behind Hermione, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her close.

"You're incredible, you know that?" Draco said softly, his voice low and full of admiration.

Hermione leaned back into him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. "I think we're both pretty incredible," she murmured, her hand reaching up to touch his cheek. "But we're in this together now. And that means everything."

He leaned down to kiss her, his lips warm and familiar, like a promise—a promise of things yet to come. The kiss deepened, slow and tender, as if the moment held all the words they hadn't yet spoken. The past was behind them, and the future—whatever it held—was something they would face side by side.

When they finally broke apart, Draco's eyes sparkled. "Official, then?" he asked, his lips curling into a grin.

Hermione smiled, her heart racing. "Official."

And with that, the world seemed to settle into a new rhythm, one where they could finally be who they were meant to be—not just as parents or friends, but as something more. Something that felt right. Something that had been waiting for them, all along.As the sun dipped below the horizon, Hermione knew that whatever came next, she and Draco were ready to face it together.