Chapter Text
~Epilogue~
The lab had changed.
Not dramatically. Not overnight. But in the quiet, consistent way that love—and safety—tended to settle in. The floors were still polished stone, the walls still glass, and the shelves still bowed with potion vials and parchment rolls.
But laughter had become part of the architecture.
Padma kept bringing pastries shaped like magical creatures. Susan had added a chalkboard near the entrance where everyone left doodles and half-sensible quotes. Robert had reluctantly allowed flowers on his worktable—though he insisted they were purely for “air purification purposes.”
Draco had returned to his usual duties with the Auror department, but now he had a permanent desk in Hermione’s office, complete with a stack of colour-coded notebooks he pretended not to notice were all labelled in her handwriting. He still trained. Still cast wards.
Every morning, they arrived together. Every evening, they left together.
On one particularly rainy Monday, Hermione arrived earlier than usual to find Harry waiting outside her office, leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed and a knowing look on his face.
“So… you’re really moving in together?” he asked.
“Hi, Harry.” She said, beaming despite herself.
He raised an eyebrow. “Well? What’s the verdict, your flat or his?” he asked standing in front of her at the end of the desk.
“New house,” she said simply. “To fit all our books. We like our flats, but we want a garden. Somewhere new, that feels like us.”
Harry smirked. “House full of kids at this rate.”
Hermione blinked, startled, cheeks blooming red. She opened her mouth—but at that moment Padma knocked lightly and stepped inside with an armful of folders.
“Hermione, these are ready for you to—she gasped, eyes wide, and dropped her quill. “Is that… a ring?”
Hermione, halfway through reaching for the files, blinked. “What?”
Harry still standing in front of her, was openly gaping. Padma pointed, stunned.
Hermione followed their eyes to her own left hand.
“Oh,” she said, a bit breathless. “That happened last night.”
There was a pause. Then shrieking.
Padma bolted back into the lab to announce the news, announcing for celebratory biscuits at the end of the day.
Harry, still staring, glanced between her face and her hand.
“Hermione…”
“I was going to tell you everything tomorrow,” she said quickly. “I—”
Harry rounded her desk and pulled her into a hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” he said into her hair, chuckling. “I really am.”
Hermione smiled, tearing up a little. “Oh Harry…”
The office door opened again with a little knock, and Draco stepped in, pausing at the sight of them.
“Hermione—are you crying?” he asked, walking toward her.
“She’s fine,” Harry said, releasing her. Stepping in front of the desk again.
“Overwhelmed,” Hermione clarified standing up, wiping at her eyes before stepping forward and pulling Draco down into a kiss. “I was just telling him the news.”
Draco glanced between them and gave Harry a slightly awkward smile. “He already knew.”
Hermione blinked. Turning to look at Harry, “Wait—what?”
Harry rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean, I thought you meant, like… next year or something.”
She turned towards Draco, eyes narrowing. “Why did he know?”
Draco didn’t flinch. He stepped closer and kissed her cheek. “I asked for his permission.”
“You did?” Her voice was quiet now. Grabbing him by his arms.
“I just came to say hello,” he said softly, brushing his thumb over her other cheek. “You left without me this morning—wanted to celebrate for the third time this morning before work.
“Oh! Please don’t say that.” Harry placed his hands covering his ears.
Draco smirked, ignoring him, while Hermione blushed red.
“I wanted to make sure you got here fine.” Then, he gently lifted her left hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I’ve got training soon.”
He turned to go, she smiled brightly at him, he returned the smile as he stepped back out into the corridor from her office. Their office.
Hermione turned slowly toward Harry, who was watching her with a grin like a child caught in a sweet shop.
“When he talked to me,” Harry said, “I genuinely thought he’d to be too nervous to ask.”
“When was this?" she asked.
“Few months ago. Right around when you told me you two kissed. I was a bit surprised—but you looked happier than I’d seen you in years.” Harry said thoughtful.
“And after that one traumatizing story where, frankly, I only needed to know you kissed and nothing else—” he said with a look of horror.
Hermione rolled her eyes, laughing a little.
“I’ve been working with him long enough to know he’s serious about you,” Harry said simply.
Hermione smiling, covered her face with her hands, “I’m serious about him too.”
Later that afternoon, before everyone left, they shared tea and biscuits at the lab.
Harry stood leaning against one of the glass walls beside Draco, both men sipping tea.
“Congratulations, mate,” Harry said, clapping Draco’s shoulder. “Though I still don’t know how she puts up with you.”
“She doesn’t. She just wears the ring to shut me up.” Draco replied dryly.
They both laughed—proper, open laughter. The kind that hadn’t existed between them when they were younger. The kind earned through time, mistakes, and unexpected friendship.
“I like her shutting me up, she’s so perfect when—” Draco started. But Harry interrupted with hands up.
“Please, don’t say more. I know more about your sex life than I should.” Harry look scandalized.
Draco chuckled, loving how Harry always gets when uncomfortable. Not knowing what to do with his glasses.
“Congratulations Malfoy. You know,” Robert added, stepping forward. “I’ve been married for twenty-three years. Best decision of my life. I wish you both the best.”
As Draco heard him, he turned to where Hermione stood at the blackboard, sketching something vaguely resembling a kneazle in sunglasses. Padma, beside her, added a top hat.
The ring on Hermione’s hand caught the light as she waved her arm in emphasis, completely unaware of how radiant she looked.
Draco smiled. He felt like the luckiest wizard—and man—in the world.
Hermione stood—brilliant, determined, slightly frazzled, and very much in love.
And it was just the beginning.