His Saving Grace

CHAPTER TWENTY: Epilogue







Four years later….







“Papa, can I go in and see Mummy yet?” Grace asked, climbing into her grandfather’s lap as the family waited in a small sitting room at St. Mungo’s Hospital.







“Not yet, Princess, your Daddy will come out and let us know.” He said, putting his arms around her and resting his chin on the top of her head. “Be patient just a little while longer.”







“She keeps yelling at Daddy, I heard her.” Grace said, covering her mouth as she yawned. “Where is Snakey? I want to see him.” She asked.







“He’s at school, Princess; you can see him this weekend.” Lucius said. “I saw him this morning and he sends his love, said to tell you he has a new potion to teach you so have your cauldron ready.”









“Oh, sweet potion, Papa! He promised to show me how to turn my veggies into sweets with a potion!” She said excitedly as she rested her head on his shoulder. She reached up and began to twirl a lock of his hair between her fingers. She yawned again and closed her eyes, drifting slowly into slumber.







It was another two hours before Draco finally made his way out of the room. He looked worn and somewhat frightened as he came to a halt in front of his father.







“It’s a boy.” Draco said softly, his voice hoarse. “Declan Abraxus.”







“Congratulations, son. When can we see him?” Lucius asked.







“Come on in.” Draco picked up Grace and cuddled her close while his father shook Narcissa gently. The Malfoys all filed into the room to see a tired yet smiling Hermione sitting in her bed staring down at a pink cheeked baby wrapped in a blue blanket.







“Hello, come meet the newest Malfoy heir.” She said softly, offering the baby into Lucius’s arms. He held the baby close and smiled, something he did often since Grace came into his life. It still had people frightened.







Grace stirred in her father’s arms and looked over at the baby in her grandfather’s arms.





“Is that the baby?” She asked sleepily.







“Yes, my heart, that is your brother Declan.” Draco said.









“He’s very small.” She said, yawning before laying her head back on Draco’s shoulder and going back to sleep. Draco chuckled and kissed her cheek, rocking her slowly back and forth and whispering in her ear.









“He is a fine son, Draco, a wonderful addition to our family.” Lucius said, passing the infant to his grandmother.







“I swear this family makes the prettiest little half-bloods.” She said tearfully as she looked down at the sandy haired little boy.





When Lucius and Narcissa left, Grace sound asleep in Lucius’s arms, Draco stood by the window rocking the baby while Hermione slept.



“You are a very lucky little boy. Not only do you have the best mother in the world, but a very large family who will love you more than you can imagine. At times you will wonder if you can bear it.” Draco kissed the baby’s head and laid him into the little bassinet. “There are four corners on my bed and four witches around my head, my dreams one reads while the other writes and two who guard me through the night. Goodnight Declan, Daddy loves you.”







With a sigh Draco looked at the chair in the corner. He could go home but he wouldn’t be able to sleep, not without her. He started towards the chair then turned back to the bed and smiled, he nudged her lower back with his hand and she immediately scooted over without waking and allowed him to crawl in behind her and nestle her close.













Another Five Years Later….







“Grace Malfoy, please step up to the dais to be sorted into your house.” Headmistress Minerva McGonagall said, looking out at the sea of students. A small child with long golden curls, bright blue eyes and deep dimples made her way to the front and climbed onto the stool.







Minerva placed the sorting hat onto her head, sure that this sweet child would be a Gryffindor like her mother.







“Hmmmmm...very interesting the way this one thinks…brave and true without a doubt, Gryffindor qualities for certain….clever little witch, powerful too…not above using her charm to get her way…excels at manipulating thing in her favor….no doubt about this one….Slytherin!” A slow smiled spread across her lips, her dimples deepening as she looked back over her shoulder at Professor Snape.







Grace hopped down from the stool and walked to the Slytherin table, pleased as she could be to have been sorted into her Uncle Snakey’s house. When the feast was over and she was settled into her dorm she slipped out and made her way through the dungeons using a copy of Uncle Harry’s map to avoid filch and Mrs. Norris.







She bounded into the potions classroom and ran into Snape’s office, shoving the door open and squealing with delight when he looked up. She kissed his cheek and climbed onto his desk.







“I knew it! I knew I was a Slytherin Snakey!” She said, laughing.







“You have to be careful, Grace, you can’t call me that here, you have to call me Professor.” Severus said.









“Professor Snakey?” She teased.







“No and why are you out of the dorm….how did you get out without being caught? Filch is right outside roaming the halls.” Severus asked, though he shouldn’t be surprised. Lucius had been teaching the child spells, some that were no doubt a bit on the shady side, since she was five.







“Oh, I got this from Uncle Harry.” She said, pulling a bundle of parchment from her robes. “I solemnly swear I am up to no good.” She said, tapping it with her carved ebony wand.





Severus’s brow furrowed when he watched the parchment open up and he could see the markers moving about the map of the castle.







“Mischief managed.” She said, and the pages went blank.







“Give me that.” Severus said, looking down at the parchment that looked so familiar. “Reveal your secrets.”







Misters Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs would like to extend their greetings to Professor Snape and advise him to perhaps remove the ring that a certain young Slytherin uses to lead him about by his abnormally large nose.







Severus frowned and looked up at the smiling young girl and shook his head. The map was right, she did lead him about by his nose along with every other male in her life and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.









“Get back to your bed, Grace, and don’t get caught. I will see you at breakfast tomorrow.” Severus said softly. She hopped down and kissed his cheek again.







“Night, Professor Snakey.” She said, grinning as she slipped from his office. Severus leaned back in his chair and sighed. The cheeky little witch was going to make the next seven years very difficult.







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I just wanted to thank everyone for reading and reviewing. I really didnt expect such a positive response and such encouragement from everyone for this fic since Draco was broken and vulnerable instead of a jerk LOL



I needed something sweet to cheer me up and this is what came of that. I thank you all so very much, your words of praise and encouragement cheered me up in a rather rough patch I found myself in and I thank you for it.





I will revisit Draco again, not sure when though as Sev, Lucius and Remus all have stories to tell LOL.....again thank you all so much. I loved writing this and I loved Gracie....she became almost like one of my own kids...