A Hogwarts Reunion

Chapter Four

The Malfoy house was abuzz with excitement about the reunion that night. While Draco and Hermione were more anxious than enthusiastic, the children were overjoyed to be able to finally see Hogwarts outside of a book.

Upstairs, Cassiopeia studied her gown options for the night. She had agonized over the outfit decision for the last week, and still hadn't a clue which dress she wore better. Her teenage fretting was interrupted, however, when she heard her brother's voice sound from outside her bedroom.

"Cassie?" Caelum said softly, knocking lightly on the ajar door.

"What?" the girl asked, knowing full well that her brothers only bothered her when they wanted something.

"Do I need an excuse to come talk to my favorite sister?" he asked innocently, popping his head in.

"I know you too well for that, Caelum," Cassiopeia responded as she splashed a curling potion in her hair.

He sighed in defeat and plopped onto the clothing-covered bed.

"Please, come right in," his sister muttered sarcastically, watching as he pinched clothes between his index finger and thumb and dropped them onto the oak floor below.

"So, you know that friend of yours from Beauxbatons? Jan or Jasmine..." He asked sheepishly, tapping his chin in mock thought. 

The blonde raised her eyebrows at his rubbish acting. "Jill?" she asked in a flat tone.

"That's the one. So...I have this thing-"

"No," Cassiopeia said, cutting him off and returning to her untamable hair. 

"But-"

"No. Absolutely not. Under no circumstances will I allow you near any of my friends, let alone hook up with one of them," she stated, glaring at her hair in frustration. 

He sighed, exasperated. "It's not like that with her, I swear. You know I've fancied her for ages," he protested. He made his best puppy-dog eyes at her, the ones she couldn't bring herself to say no too. Caelum had never been as confident with girls as Scorpius had, and even though he was her older brother, Cassie felt the urge to protect him. 

"Alright! I'll ask her tomorrow," she replied, rolling her grey eyes defeatedly. "But you won't be able to date Jill if I hex you for being in my room." She shot him the signature Malfoy sneer, reaching toward her wand. 

"I'm leaving! Thank you!" He slipped out the door, his footsteps pounding up the stairs to his room on the third floor. 

His sister chuckled and turned her attention back to her brunette curls. 

***

Hermione watched proudly as Draco, Scorpius, and Caelum came down the oak stairs in their new, satin suits. 

"So handsome," she teased, kissing her sons' cheeks as they groaned in embarrassment. 

The twins wore simple, matching black suits. In the interest of reflecting house unity, Scorpius wore his father's old Slytherin tie while Caelum wore Hermione's Gryffindor tie. 

Draco wore a forest-green, Italian suit. His blonde hair held little gel, at least compared to the amount he used in his school days. 

"You're absolutely breath-taking, 'Mione," Draco looked his wife up and down, before kissing her softly. 

Hermion wore a Crimson red dress, complete with golden heels and ruby earrings to match. Her hair was done in a low bun with curled strands framing her face. Trying her best to stay true to her old house, she also donned Draco's fifth anniversary gift, a dainty necklace with a golden lion charm surrounding a ruby. 

Draco was wearing a green and silver tie his wife had bought him. 

"We're waiting girls!" Draco called, finally letting his nerves show. 

Lyra came dancing down the stairs in a crimson dress that matched her mother's and silver shoes that represented her father's old house. Her brunette bob was done in a simple braid to one side, revealing the silver clip-on earrings Cassiopeia had given her last Christmas. She hopped into her father's arms happily, her cheeks as rosy as her dress. 

Finally, a mildly annoyed Cassiopeia pranced down the stairs in a deep emerald-colored gown. Her dark hair was in a curly half updo, Hermione realized with pride how similar her daughter looked to herself at that age. Upon the insistence of her parents, Cassie also wore golden heels and golden jewelry to symbolize her mother's Gryffindor roots. 

"Mum! You look beautiful!" the young girl smiled, ignoring her father's offended look. 

Hermione's grin widened. "You too, darling."
"All of my children look beautiful," she added, pulling them into a tight embrace. She chuckled as they all let out squeals of embarrassment. 

The brightest witch of her age finally pulled back, willing herself to hold back the tears that had begun to form in her honey-brown eyes. As the family prepared to apparate, Hermione felt her emotions overwhelm her.  

The twins were the first to disapparate, followed by Cassiopeia, and finally Draco grabbed Lyra and left. Hermione hung back for a moment, focusing on a series of moving family portraits taken over the years. 

The first consisted of only the newborn twins, Scorpius shooting a gummy sneer at the photographer while Caelum cuddled shyly in his father's arms. 

The next showed a two-year-old Cassiopeia rolling her eyes as her four-year-old brothers chased Crookshanks around a tired Draco and Hermione.  

Her eyes scanned across a few others until her gaze fell upon the last one. It was taken just before Lyra was due, and Hermione was showing quite a bit. The twins were around eleven, Cassie couldn't have been older than 9, and the family was posing in the English countryside. The twins were grinning, Cassiopeia smirking, Lyra kicking, Hermione and Draco kissing.