The Marriage Law

Epilogue

"Hermione love, we really do need to get up now," Draco whispered softly.

"Mmph!" Was the response from her side of the bed as she rolled over and buried her head in her pillow.

"Come on 'Mione, time to get up! The children are depending on us. Do you think Dianna would forgive us if we caused her to miss the train on her first day!?"

Sighing, Hermione rolled out of bed and stood staring at him morosely. It was then that he was able to see her bloodshot, red-rimmed eyes. Crossing over to her side of the bed, he gathered her into his arms and rubbed her back soothingly.

"Oh love, it's going to be okay. We're still going to see them during holidays and we'll write to them all the time."

"I know Draco, but I just feel like I'm not a mother anymore, at least not in the day to day happenings. The three children are all going to be gone! Maybe we should have another one!" She cried out before launching onto him and kissing him passionately.

Disentangling himself as gently as he could, he chuckled lightly and said, "Love, much as I would enjoy the stuff leading up to the pregnancy, you know that those are just your emotions speaking. We can't have another kid now. I promise that we're going to be okay this year. Think of all the books you can read. Hell, you could even write one in all the spare time you're going to have!"

Sighing, she replied, "As usual, I know you're right. This is just really difficult for me."

"For me as well," he assured her tenderly. "Now, let's go fulfill our day-to-day parental roles!

xxxxx

"Come on, Dianna!" Leo, now in his final year, said as he took hold of her hand. "You've done this loads of times before. You're an old pro!"

Hermione smiled with pride as she watched her eldest and youngest run hand-in-hand through the barrier of platform 9 ¾.

"Your turn Stel!" Draco said to Stella, their middle child who was going into her fourth year.

"Coming dad!" She replied before turning and engulfing Hermione in a vice-like hug. "You'll be right behind me right?"

"Of course my love," Hermione assured her, her heart contracting with love for her most sensitive child. While Draco and Hermione were both close to all of their children, Hermione and Stella had always shared a special bond due to their many similarities.

"We really have to go through now Stella-bella," Draco prodded gently.

Giving Hermione one last reaffirming glance, Stella squared her shoulders and walked resolutely through the platform.

"Just like her mother," Draco chuckled giving Hermione a quick peck on the cheek before loping gracefully through the barrier. Hermione quickly followed suite.

Once on the magical platform, they were quickly swept up in its hectic and exciting nature. The crowds, cacophony of pet noises, shouts of excitement and tears quickly brought Hermione back to her own days, though her reminiscing was quickly cut short as she dashed after her children, trying to keep them all together while also keeping a hand on their luggage.

When she finally caught up she was met with the sight of Leo talking to Lucy, Hannah and Neville's daughter who was also going into her seventh year. The two had been great friends since childhood and Hermione had often wondered if they might end up together. As if he had read her mind (as he often seemed to do,) Draco spoke up as soon as Lucy had drifted off to say her final goodbyes to her parents. "Son, I expect you to marry her."

"Daaaad!" Leo blushed.

"Ya Dad, I mean much as we'd all love for them to wind up together, you shouldn't force him to get with anyone, those kind of relationships are bound to end in disaster!" Stella spoke up in her factual way.

"Wanna bet?" Draco replied slyly, giving Hermione a sideways grin that still managed to turn her legs to jelly and cause a familiar eruption of butterflies in her stomach even after years. Yes, arranged marriages were wrong. Yes, the marriage law had been draconian and completely out of line. And yes, this couple was completely in love and utterly happy. Perfect match indeed.