The Request

"Relax, Granger. Everything's going to be all right."

She threw Draco a withering glare as she brushed off another invisible lint off her crisp business robe. Hermione ignored how her daughter giggled over something Draco whispered at her, as both of them were now looking at her with amusement in their eyes.

Instead, she checked herself on her full length mirror once more and glared at the stubborn curl on her forehead. Brandishing out her wand, she summoned a hair tie from her drawer and gathered her voluminous curls to keep them into a ponytail.

Hermione couldn't afford to look nowhere near impeccable today. It was Rodolphus Lestrange's trial and she would do whatever she could to finally put that bastard behind bars. Although his list of offense was abundant, Hermione still felt uneasy at how things were going to end today. It didn't help that this man both killed her husband and kidnapped her daughter; it would take all of her willpower to rein in her emotions and not make a fool out of herself in front of the Wizengamot.

"Rosie," she heard Draco say, "why don't you prepare for our Diagon Alley trip later?"

She saw her daughter look at her worriedly through the mirror and it somehow marginally made her calm down. "Do what Draco says, love," Hermione said, craning her neck to give her at least a reassuring smile. "We'll be going soon."

"Okay, Mama." Rose then ran back to her room to start gathering her things.

Once she was gone, Hermione belatedly regretted her decision and letting Rose leave. Now, she realized that she was alone with Draco Malfoy in her bedroom. It didn't help her nerves one bit.

"Why are you so nervous about today?" he asked, sidling up beside her in front of the mirror. Hermione secretly marvelled (and envied) how not a single strand of hair was out of place on his head. It wasn't really fair, she thought, tugging petulantly at an aberrant curl that escaped from her hair tie.

"I don't know," she scowled when he lifted an eyebrow, obviously catching her staring at him for a little too long. "I've just wanted this day to arrive so much and I'm afraid that something's going to happen."

"Nothing's going to happen," he retorted with an eye roll. "Blimey, Granger, have you forgotten this is Rodolphus Lestrange we are talking about? His track record would undoubtedly send him straight to hell if skipping Azkaban was an option."

Despite her nerves, she cracked a smile at his attempt to lighten her mood with his humor. "You have no idea how much I've wanted to finally stare Lestrange in the eyes, knowing that he had nowhere else to go but in Azkaban for all the things he had done to my family and the Wizarding World," she said, disgust and vehemence in her voice at the Death Eater that made her life miserable for the past few years.

"That's the spirit," Draco replied with a wide grin on his face. "Channel that energy in your testimony later. I think the Wizengamot won't fault you if you've said a bad word or two. Don't worry, Rose won't be there after all. It won't break her poor heart when she discovered that the mother she loved and respected is able to utter such despicable words to other people."

Her smile morphed into a wide, disbelieving grin. "Thank you, Draco," she said in jest. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Also..." He reached out and removed her hair tie. She squeaked in protest, but the noise died down from her lips when Draco gingerly ran a hand through her hair and successfully tucked the annoying curl behind her ear. His eyes were glinting with an emotion that caught her breath. "Wear your hair down. It makes you look like a ferocious lioness. Show Lestrange that he shouldn't have messed with Hermione Granger in the first place."

Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment, still very much aware that his fingers were almost touching her cheek. Her eyes met his mercurial ones and all her worry for today's trial were suddenly thrown out the window. All that she could think about was how stupidly handsome he was and how she really, truly, undoubtedly wanted to kiss him again.

"Are you okay now, Granger?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as a slow, handsome smirk grew on his face.

Hermione scowled, cheeks still inflamed. He knew how his small gestures were making her feel, that git. However, she wouldn't be mad if he chose that opportunity to give her a kiss, really.

"I'm ready!" Rose exclaimed, announcing her return.

She bit her bottom lip, concealing her disappointment at their ruined moment once more, and turned to her daughter instead. Rose was carrying her cute backpack and had her hair tied into messy pigtails, prompting Hermione to chuckle and crouch down.

"Your hair's a disaster, sweetheart," she said, shaking her head in amusement. "Come here. Mama will fix it."

Rose obliged and ran towards her mother. "Mama, are you okay?" she then asked while Hermione went on and fixed her pigtails. "You don't look good."

Her heart swelled at her daughter's concern. "Yes, darling, I'm okay," she replied. "Now, go and have fun in Diagon Alley with Draco, okay? As soon as my work is done, I'll meet you both and we can eat ice cream in Florean's."

"Yay, okay!" Rose exclaimed, giving her mother a big hug. "I love you, Mama. See you later."

"I love you too, Rosie," she said, bending down to drop a kiss on the crown of her red head. Then, to Draco, she added, "I best be going now. I still have to meet with Harry to discuss some matters before the start of the trial."

Draco smiled and nodded his head. "Good luck, Hermione," he bid in farewell, before ushering Rose out of her mother's bedroom.

Hermione gave her reflection another full-minute glance. Satisfied, she took a deep breath, pulled out her wand, and disapparated.

__________

"Isn't it weird?" Theo asked, turning to look on Draco. "How four months ago, you were freaking out over taking care of Mini Granger?" He then gestured at Rose, who stopped perusing over a display of the magnificent Lightning 2005, the latest brand of broomsticks in the Wizarding World, to give a few, eager waves at him and Draco.

"It's already been four months?" Draco asked, eyes bulging out in surprise. It felt like it wasn't too long ago during that stormy, Sunday night when Granger entrusted Rose to him.

"Yeah, mate. Four months."

A disbelieving laugh escaped from his lips, eyes once again following Rose as she bounded from one Quidditch product to another. Funny, he had thought, how he could not remember how his life was before Rose came into his life. "Four months," he repeated, silently thanking all the celestial beings above for bringing the child into his life – and by extension, her mother.

Theo was looking at him weirdly, but didn't comment on it. Instead, he asked, "So, now that you've resigned from the DIMC, what are you planning to do now?"

A soft sigh escaped from his lips whilst shrugging. "I honestly don't know," he confessed. "I don't really want to go back to primarily managing the Malfoy business and doing paperwork. Zabini is honestly doing a better job at it than I am."

"Then, does that mean you plan on applying to the DMLE as a Curse Breaker?" his best friend asked, looking mildly surprised.

"Nott, I said I don't know," he grounded out with a roll of his eyes. "I'm still trying to sort out my life and choose whatever the hell I want."

"Blimey, Draco, no need to get your knickers in a twist," Theo replied with an amused smirk on his face, pointedly ignoring Draco's withering glare. "I'm just asking as your concerned best friend, you know. You've been lounging around Granger's house for quite a long time already and babysitting Rose. Not that I have anything against that, but I still think it isn't what you only wanted to do with your life."

Draco sighed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "After the conclusion of Lestrange's case, I'm going to start deciding about a lot of things soon," he supplemented.

"Mmhmm, does that include a particular pretty, bushy-haired witch and asking her out?" Theo asked with a grin, wagging his eyebrows suggestively.

He rolled his eyes once again and scowled, unable to prevent his cheeks from reddening. "That is none of your bloody business," he spat. "Just because you and Lovegood have gotten together splendidly doesn't mean everybody has to start pairing up, too."

"Damn it, Draco, you're so slow," Theo said with a sigh. "Even slower than Gudgeon – yes, all right, I bloody admit. Granger's not always going to be single and available, you know. She is, after all, quite a great catch and wizards will be swarming soon. You just wait."

'Not if I got to her first,' he thought to himself, unwilling to voice it aloud to his best friend. Instead of answering him, however, he pointed his hand at the fuming shop owner of the Quidditch supplies. "I think we should get her out of this shop before the owner gets an aneurysm."

Draco jogged towards a madly giggling Rose and scooped her into his arms. "Nooo," Rose whined, her hands outstretched towards the model Quidditch players displayed. "Tornados!"

"I have plenty of those figurines at home," he tutted. "We should get going now. Your mother is about to meet us soon."

Rose's eyes brightened at the mention of her mother and happily let him carry her out of the Quidditch store without any tantrums.

"It's scary seeing you switch on parent mode effortlessly, mate," Theo teased, sidling up beside him as they walked through the busy streets of Diagon Alley.

"Shut up, Theo," Draco warned with a growl, cheeks reddening once more. "Don't you have to meet Lovegood or something."

Theo's eyes lit up as he looked at his magical watch. "Right, I better get going. My moon is about to arrive," he announced.

The blond made gagging noises, prompting Rose to giggle at his actions. "My moon? Seriously?" he sputtered out, followed by a boisterous guffaw. "You've really changed, Theo."

"Shut up," his best friend said, playfully punching him on his arm. He was smiling, albeit with red cheeks. "You're just jealous because I finally snagged the girl of my dreams."

Before Draco could retort something in return, Theo laughingly bid his goodbye and disappeared into the crowd.

"Will Theo see Luna again?" Rose quipped in question as they started to walk towards Florean's. Draco smiled since Rose started calling the eccentric witch by her real name. He still couldn't help but laugh at the story of how they came up with their made-up names. "I miss Luna."

"Yes, he'll be seeing her again," he then replied. "You can always ask Theo to bring her over when he visits next time, yes?"

Rose vigorously nodded her head, her hair bouncing wildly around her shoulders. "Okay," she happily chirped. She then proceeded to tell him all the wonderful things she saw back in the Quidditch store, with promises that she'd be a great Chaser like Captain Birch once she becomes a Hogwarts student.

Draco smiled. He secretly wished she would be Sorted in the Slytherin House.

They finally arrived in Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, which was, thankfully still scarce with people. Eating ice cream during the cold weather of January still wasn't a popular idea for most wizards and witches alike. Draco was just thankful there wouldn't be much ogling again.

"Hello, Florean!" Rose greeted, waving her hand towards the kind, old owner. Draco placed her back on the floor so she could approach the old wizard closer and give him a bear hug.

"Hello, Rose," he greeted in return, patting her back. "Back so soon?"

Rose eagerly nodded her head, before running towards their normal booth to wait for her mother.

With the child away, Florean's eyes settled onto him and Draco felt a little uneasy. To his surprise, however, the old wizard gave him a small, tentative smile. "Is Hermione away at work?" he casually asked.

Draco slowly nodded, not used to small talks, especially with people he knew didn't really like him at all. "Today is Lestrange's trial," he explained. "Hermione has to testify, but she will drop by here soon."

"Oh, yes, I read that in the Prophet this morning," Florean replied. "It is good to know that good-for-nothing man is finally getting what he deserves."

The blond weakly smiled, completely agreeing with him. He couldn't wait for his uncle to finally land in Azkaban and forever rot inside it. It was still a shame that the dementors were banned from the said wizarding prison. Lestrange deserved to be given the Dementors Kiss after all. But then, he thought, his soul was already sucked away by Voldemort during his reign of terror. It would be terribly redundant if this creature did it to him, too.

"Are you coming with them later?" Florean continued, apparently still not done talking with him.

Draco knitted his eyebrows, confused with his question. "Pardon?"

He looked at him curiously, before shrugging and continuing, "Today is Ronald Weasley's death anniversary, lad. I thought Hermione and Rose might be visiting his grave after the ceremony since... well." Florean sadly looked at him and sighed. "It still breaks my heart how Molly blamed her for everything."

"Oh," Draco said, eyes widening in surprise. He had forgotten that today was Weasley's third death anniversary. It perfectly explained why Hermione was extra nervous today, wanting everything to turn out all right. Slightly smiling, he thought it was fitting to condemn Lestrange to eternal incarceration on that day he killed one of the heroes of the Wizarding World.

"I think you should best get going," Florean said, jutting a thumb towards Rose. "That little girl gets terribly impatient when it comes to her favorite dessert."

Draco shot a glance at Rose, who now was sporting a humongous pout. Chuckling, he looked back at Florean. "I'll take a vanilla ice cream and blueberry cheesecake flavored one," he said.

Florean looked at him with amusement in his eyes. "Smart choice," he said. "I was afraid you'd order a peanut butter flavored one."

He shot a humored smirk at the kind, old man. "Never again," he promised.

Florean chuckled and shooed him away, promising to bring over their order soon.

"What's taking you so long?" Rose whined when Draco finally sidled on the booth beside her.

"Very impatient," Draco tutted, prompting Rose to stick out her tongue at him. Thankfully, Florean quickly arrived with their orders, then returned back to his counter.

Draco allowed Rose to scoop a few spoonful of ice cream first before inquiring, "Do you have another field trip with your mother later?"

Rose happily nodded her head and turned to him. "Mama said we will be visiting Papa later, after Florean's," she explained.

He frowned. "And you didn't think of inviting me?" he asked.

The girl placed her spoon down and mirrored Draco's frown. "I tried to tell Mama to invite you so that you can finally meet my Papa," she started, "But Mama said we can't bother you because you're busy and you'll get grumpy."

He bit his tongue, so as not to retort that he already met her father before (quite unfortunately). He also did not want to tell her that he's not bloody busy, that he resigned from his job for Merlin's sake. What he did not really understand was why Hermione didn't want him to come with them. He knew that even if she had planned to divorce him before his untimely death, Ron's death still broke her heart. He wanted to come with her, knowing how today was particularly difficult for her, even if he wasn't really close with the Weasel.

"Mama, you're here!" Rose suddenly exclaimed, jumping down from her seat to give Hermione a hug.

Draco quickly looked at the brunette, who was obviously exhausted from the trial. But the way her eyes lit up when they connected with his made him believe that everything went well.

"He pleaded guilty," Hermione gushed, plopping down on the seat opposite him. "He's..." She paused, took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and continued, "He's finally being locked up in Azkaban." She was brimming with happiness and started to lightly shiver. "Merlin, I'm shaking."

Hermione laughed, her eyes shining a tad brightly, and confessed, "I may have said a bad word or two."

Smirking, he leaned his chin against his upturned palm. "And?"

"You were right," she said with a nod. "The Wizengamot didn't fault me for it. I think... well, I know it had helped on with their decision more, if that even made sense."

He felt relieved that his deranged uncle finally got the punishment he deserved. He actually planned on marching to the Wizengamot if by some chance they decided that this bastard wouldn't be thrown to Azkaban.

With a grin, he pointed at his half-finished dessert and asked, "Celebratory ice cream?"

"Bloody hell yes," she replied with an equally wide grin.

Rose released a tiny gasp and stared at her mother with wide-eyes. "No bad words, Mama!" she exclaimed, looking at Hermione as if she was a different person.

"Right, of course. Sorry, love," Hermione said, but her grin only widened.

Seeing her so pumped and happy, Draco didn't have the heart to confront her about her secret trip with Rose. He made a mental note to ask her about it later. For now, he just watched her eat her ice cream in contentment.

__________

Hermione excused herself to purchase some last minute materials for Rose's bedroom renovation. After finishing her latest project – which was surprisingly the vast Nott library – Luna volunteered her services so that they could finally do something about Rose's blinding, nauseating bedroom decoration.

Now, Draco and Rose were in Flourish and Blotts to kill the time. Hermione didn't want them to tag along, seeing that her daughter was already tired from their trip, and promised to be as quick as possible. Surprisingly, Rose didn't throw a fit and instead dragged Draco to the bookstore.

"You have a pile of books unread, Rose," Draco tutted when he saw the child eyeing a few colorful, children books.

"Mama said I can read as many as I like," Rose protested, her tiny hands already grasping a book, bearing a cover of a princess with a sword. "She said it's food for the mind."

He rolled his eyes. "Of course she'd say that," he said with a sigh.

Draco let her get a few more books without commenting any further. He only rescued her shaking arms when she grabbed her tenth book, amused at the amount of books the girl would love to read. Not that he had any complaints about her obvious love for books. He just hoped she wouldn't grow up as a swot like her mother.

"Draco, I have a question."

He shot a look at the surprisingly pensive child and lifted an eyebrow in curiosity. "Ask away, menace," he said, shifting the books in his arms for a comfortable position.

"Can you be my new Daddy?"

All ten books came tumbling down from his arms in shock with her question. The bookstore owner peered from his counter to look at the commotion he made, but Draco made frantic, dismissive hand gestures to know that he got this. He went down on all fours and hastily gathered the books, scowling when he noticed that his hands weren't obeying his orders.

"Draco," Rose said with a pout, pulling onto his jumper to get his attention. "Why aren't you answering my question?"

The blond snarled and plopped down on the floor, thinking that this conversation mattered more than gathering the haphazard books. Leaning against one of the bookshelves, he lightly glared down at the crouching child. "Where the hell did you get that idea from?" he spat, positively sure that his cheeks were as red as her wild hair. Thankfully, there were less people in the store right now. He only got at least three weird stares from strangers.

"Aunt Ginny told me all about Papa," Rose said, falling on all fours and crawling towards the panicking wizard. She curled up beside him and frowned. "Mama doesn't say much, but Aunt Ginny answered all of my questions."

Despite his nerves, he smirked. "All of it?" he asked, hazarding a guess that her questions were, quite frankly, a lot.

Rose bobbed her head. "All of it," she repeated. "She also told me that my Papa loves me very much and he's looking down at me wherever he is. Aunt Ginny also told me that I shouldn't worry because there might still be a chance I may have a new father."

Draco sneered, mentally cursing the conniving witch. "Did she now?" he spat, recalling all the times her eyes always sparkled and plotted every time he and Hermione were interacting.

"Yes, and I asked her how I would have a new father," she continued.

"And what did she say?" Somehow, he was dreading the answer to her question.

She shrugged her shoulders and leant her head against his arm. "She said that if I politely ask someone I really love, I may have a new father," she simply said, craning her head to look up at him. "I thought of you, Draco. I can't call you 'Papa', though, because I already have one. So I decided to call you 'Daddy' instead, if you'll become one."

His throat was closing up at how big and hopeful her eyes were. "Who said I'd agree to that?" he lamely asked.

She shrugged once more and pouted. "I thought of Theo too, but I think he is too busy with Luna now," she said with a sigh. "Aunt Ginny said I can't have Uncle Harry too because he's already reserved for her future babies" – he snorted in amusement – "so I thought of you. You're always taking care of Mama and me, so I love you the most."

He didn't know it was possible for his hardened, cold heart to be swayed by a six-year-old. Admittedly, he always imagined himself as part of their family – him, Hermione, and Rose – doing what he thought a family should do. He never really had any experience of having a 'normal' family, and for a six-year-old he truly cared about to offer it to him without any reservations... well, damn it all, but this haughty man's heart had completely melted.

"What are you two doing there?"

Both of their eyes snapped up to look at an amused Hermione. Numerous bags were perched on her arm, mostly containing the supplies needed for Rose's bedroom renovation, but she still managed to fist her hands against her hips.

Instead of answering her question, Rose scrambled onto her feet and excitedly peered through the materials her mother bought. Hermione shot Draco a questioning look but the blond merely shook his head and finally gathered all of Rose's books.

"You're a prat if you think you're still going to pay for those," Hermione said with a disapproving gaze at Rose's ten books.

"And you're foolish if you think I'd let you pay these," he answered with a smirk, showing her all the ten books. His smirk turned into a grin, taking Rose's distraction as an opportunity to pay them all. Rose had slowed her down and by the time Hermione reached the counter, all of Rose's books were placed in a bag.

"Draco," she warned, bordering whiny. "Let me pay you in the future, please."

"Fat chance, Granger," he smirked, swivelling around and strolling out of the bookstore.

He heard Hermione release a huge sigh of frustration and defeat, prompting him to fondly smile.

As they journeyed back to the Apparition point, Draco was thankful that Rose seemed to have forgotten their conversation back in Flourish and Blotts. He still had no idea what to reply to her request and was afraid he'd say something and forever ruin his chance of asking Granger out.

Once Hermione disapparated, however, Rose looked him in the eye and gripped his arm. "I think Mama loves you the most, too," she seriously said. "So, you're going to think about my request, Draco?"

It was a bloody miracle he wasn't able to splinch himself or Rose when they disapparated on the spot.

__________

"I know where you're going, Granger."

Hermione flinched and sheepishly turned around, wrapping the eccentric, but cute scarf Luna gave her for Christmas around her neck. Draco was sitting on her couch – his couch, really, as he had claimed that furniture ever since he started crashing in her flat. His arms were tightly crossed against his chest and there was a disappointed scowl on his face.

She knew it wasn't the right thing to do, but she just couldn't help but heartily laugh. He was acting like every bit of a father catching his daughter in the act of sneaking out. Shaking her head in apology, especially when Draco's scowl darkened at her reaction, she still stood by her belief that parenting came too naturally to him. It was eerie.

"I'm sorry, Father. I didn't mean for you to catch me," she said once her laughter died down. Then, craning her head, "Rosie, come out now. Draco still caught us."

Rose sneaked her head from the door, madly giggling with excitement. "I told you, Mama," she exclaimed, quickly running towards her mother. "We should ask him to come with us."

All the laughter died down from her lips, now sadly looking at her daughter. Wordlessly then, she shifted her eyes on Draco once more. He wasn't scowling anymore, but he looked deeply hurt at being left out. Hermione almost felt sorry she didn't ask him, but had guessed he wouldn't come with them anyway.

"So... you remembered," Hermione started, placing both of her hands on top of her daughter's shoulders.

"Of course I remember," he snarled back, slowly rising up from the couch. His brows were furrowed into an angry frown as he stalked closer to the mother-daughter pair. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Her gaze landed on the floor and sighed. "I thought... well, we can't really bother you with our family matters," she muttered quickly under her breath. She wasn't quite sure if Draco heard her, so she continued, "Besides, I didn't think this day matters to you."

She always knew about the bad blood between her late husband and the wizard standing in front of her. Ron had made it a point to rant about Malfoy and his privileges when they were still in Hogwarts, painfully envious of his riches. Sighing quietly, she wished Ron knew now that he was far richer in all other aspects besides money compared to Draco, and he was the privileged one, really.

"Of course it matters to me, Hermione," he grumbled, a tinge of hurt in the tone of his voice. Hermione's eyes shot back up in surprise. He didn't meet her gaze, though, and instead petulantly glared at her carpeted floor. "I know how this day means to you and I... I don't want you to be alone."

Emotions burst in her heart, but she still managed to jokingly reply, "Well, Rose is with me. So technically, I'm not alone."

He wasn't amused with her attempt for humor. "You know what I mean, Granger," he griped, once again crossing his arms against his chest.

Hermione smiled at him and extended her hand. Draco eyed her fingers in distrust, before finally slumping and giving in. "Fine, you can come with us," she said with a fond smile. "Only if you stop being such a baby."

He scowled at her, but the way he squeezed her hand in comfort meant he wasn't completely annoyed with her. He then let go and stepped aside, and Hermione had to curl her hand into a fist so as not to reach out for him again.

"Up, up, Draco!" Rose chirped, happy that he was going with them after all.

Hermione watched, amused, as the blond rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I think it's finally time break it to you, Rose, seeing that your mother is too much of a chicken to tell you." Hermione threw a playful glare at him, prompting him to smirk. "But you should know that you are growing up, quite too fast actually, and our poor arms cannot handle your weight anymore."

Wide-eyed, Rose gazed at her mother. "Mama, is it true?" she gasped. "Am I growing very fast?"

Her mother chuckled and ran a hand through her red curls. "Yes, sweetheart," she said. "And before you know it, you'll be in Hogwarts soon and studying in the library."

"Or, trying out for the Slytherin Quidditch team," Draco helpful added.

"Gryffindor!" both Hermione and Rose said at the same time.

Draco made a face but didn't retort anything back. He then settled with holding onto Rose's hand instead.

"Anyway, I think we should go now," Hermione said, looking at her watch. "I want to be back before dinner." Then, to Draco, she asked, "Do you know where we are going?"

He sheepishly shrugged, making her laugh.

"Okay, I'll side-along Apparate you both," she said. "Hold on tight."

Grasping both of Draco and Rose's arms, Hermione disapparated with a pop. Mere seconds only passed, but they finally reappeared in a familiar field. Looking around, her eyes slightly watered at the sight of the rickety Burrow a few meters away from them.

"Isn't that - ?"

Hermione craned her neck and nodded. "Yeah," she said. "Ron wanted to be buried near his home."

Worry clouded his mercurial eyes. "But the Weasleys..."

She sighed and shook her head. "Don't worry," she reassured him. "They already moved out after the Second War." Her eyes turned sad once more, reminiscing all of her happy childhood memories in this place. "After some of them died... Molly couldn't take living in here."

Draco touched her elbow for comfort, prompting her to smile once more. "Come," she said, pulling him and Rose. "I have a husband to visit."

Ron's grave was located under a huge oak tree near the Burrow. It was his favorite tree, having lounged under it during his summer days. Hermione could almost imagine him sitting underneath it, waving his hand enthusiastically, and smiling widely at her.

There was an uncomfortable lump in her throat upon staring down at Ron's grave. There were remnants of the ceremony conducted a while ago, even spying a knitted sweater Molly most likely had made for her deceased son. Messages of gratitude, 'I miss you's', and fond memories decorated his grave, complete with fresh flowers charmed to never wilt.

Hermione shakily grasped a picture frame enclosing an image of her, Harry, and Ron, all laughingly waving at the camera.

"Hello, Ron," she said, a tear slowly rolling down from her eye. "I miss you."

She pulled out her wand and conjured a small sunflower before carefully placing it on his grave. She felt Draco's warm, comforting presence behind her and could hear her daughter sniffing loudly beside her.

Smiling, she pulled Rose closer and gave her a hug.

"I finally caught your murderer," she continued, absentmindedly brushing away Rose's tears. "I think you will be happy to hear Lestrange is sentenced for a lifetime in Azkaban."

She sighed and placed the picture frame back on his grave. "It's still odd, knowing that I'll never be able to see your face anymore," she said. Hermione lovingly ran a hand through his name and smiled. "I... didn't love you the way you deserved to be as my husband, Ron, but I loved you so much as a friend. It still kills me how things ended up between us."

She wiped away some of the tears from her face. Draco immediately offered his handkerchief and Hermione accepted it. Instead of using it on her face, however, she opted to wipe Rose's tears instead.

It saddened her how her daughter looked devastated. Rose never really had a clear memory about her father, seeing that she was barely three when he died, but to see her being affected so much... It pained her heart how she never really had the chance to grow up with a father.

"Come, Rosie, say hi to your Papa," she whispered.

Rose sniffed and plopped down on the grass, and proceeded to talk to Ron about her day, her new friends, and even Draco. Hermione hid a smile, imagining her ex-husband scowling down at her from the sky since she allowed their daughter to get attached to Draco Malfoy.

"You okay?" She turned her head to look at the said blond, but then he scowled and shook his head. "Of course not, it was a stupid question."

"Shockingly, I am okay," she reassured, standing up from her position to stretch her legs.

Draco still worriedly peered at her, not entirely buying her claim. But then, he might have seen something in her eyes for his worried gaze melted into sad relief.

"Thank you for being here," she said, reaching out to grasp his hand in gratitude. "You were right; I shouldn't be alone today."

Instead of answering, he merely gave her hand a comforting squeeze. Smiling gently at her, Hermione swallowed down her emotions and gazed heavenward.

'Ron,' she thought, closing her eyes in silent prayer. 'I think I might be in love with Draco Malfoy. Please forgive me.'

As a gentle breeze caressed her cheek, Hermione slightly smiled. She wanted to believe it was Ron's way of accepting her feelings.

Somewhere, in her heart, she believed this was finally the closure she needed.

Now, she could finally start anew.