Author's Note: I do not own Harry Potter. Any new characters introduced however are my own please do not steal them. This story is set 10 years after they graduate from Hogwarts. Disregard the Prologue in DH. Speaking of Deathly Hallows, Part 2 was AMAZING! I went to the midnight showing in 3D! It was great because there are parts that are, literally, word for word from the book. Hope you all like it as much as I did!

Happy reading!
AliceLupin

Chapter 1 – Life As I Knew It

On the outside, life as Draco Malfoy was perfect. Owner of a multi-million dollar, world-wide company called DM International. Owner of Malfoy Mansion, a penthouse suite in Paris, a small estate in Italy, and a good sized cottage on the Isle of Man. Along with several houses in London and the surrounding area that I rent out. Pure-blood, blonde hair, blue eyes, with enough galleons in Gringotts to let me live quite comfortably, with several kids, for at least ten lifetimes. So what was wrong with my life? Why am I currently sitting here with a very potent brew of Belladonna tea?

Let me tell you what the inside of my life is like. At almost 30 years old, I haven't had a serious relationship in years. Most of the bimbo's I 'dated' were only after my money. Everyone around me is married, most of them with children. Even mum remarried after dad died shortly after the war. My business partner, and childhood friend, Blaise Zabini just got married last month and it made me realize how very behind I am. Even Potter and Weasley were married. My secretary and my accountant, most of my servants, over half of the hundreds of people that work for me are married.

Not only that, my dad died shortly after the war and my mum died almost six months ago. Despite what everyone thought about my family, I loved my parents. Sure, dad was busy a lot when I was younger, and til the day he died, but he had been a good father. He had always loved his family. Mum's death was the hardest thing I'd ever gone through. I loved my mother dearly. If it weren't for my best mate Blaise, I'd probably still be in the depression that had kept me at home for three months after Mum's death. The only 'family' I have is my step-father Nigel and a second cousin, Teddy, that I've never met.

In short, my life was an extremely lonely one. And quite frankly I don't like it anymore. I rose from my chair and headed towards my bedroom, slippers swishing against the marble floors. I kicked my slippers off and hung up my bath robe, then set my tea on the night stand and got steeled in my bed. The size always reminded me of how empty my life was. The bed was made for two people. Not one. Picking up my tea, I took a sniff of it. It could be worse. I just hoped the sugar and cream I added would retract from the 'effects'. I took my tea cup in both hands, trying to warm them in the cold house. I suppose it wouldn't matter if my hands were cold and it seemed silly that I was even thinking about it.

What would it be like? Being dead. The only person that would mourn me was Blaise. And maybe Nigel but we had never got along. I glanced over at the very detailed will and two sealed envelopes sitting on my nightstand. As the last of the Malfoy's, I had a lot to take care of. I felt a slight pang of guilt, knowing that Blaise will probably find me tomorrow when I don't show up at lunch. And more than likely he would be taking care of everything. I had left full ownership of the company and all it's profits to him, along with which ever property he wanted. The envelopes were addressed to Blaise One and Blaise Two but they weren't both for him.

Blaise One, which I hope he has the sense to open first, is a letter for him. The envelope addressed to Blaise Two has a letter in another envelope addressed to Hermione Granger. It had taken me over a year to write it. That's right, I've been planning this for over a year. And it all started with Hermione. Now, I'm not blaming her for my suicide, not at all. It is completely my choice. But it was her that made me realize that I would never have the life I wanted.

I've been in love with Hermione Granger for most of my life. I've always thought myself not good enough for her though. After Hogwarts and the war, I was employed by the Ministry as an Auror along with Hermione, Weasley and Potter. We were the best in the department and were always grouped up in assignments. We created a sort of friendship. It was the night our class reunion. We were both pretty drunk, and I finally got my chance with Hermione. And the next morning she made it very clear that I was not to go near her again.

I didn't mention any of this to her in the letter. I would never put her through that guilt. I simply told her that I loved her, and had for a while. I wished her luck in life and told her I hoped to see her in the afterlife. But not anytime soon.

Blaise's letter was a bit lengthy. I reminisced in the beginning, reminding him of times when we were younger, we got older as the stories continued. I wrote about the war, about the fear I had of Hermione dying. I finally told him that I was in love with her. I finished with telling him what a great friend he had been and that I was sorry for putting him through this.

I wished him happiness with his new wife and several kids and that I wouldn't be against him naming his first son after me. I also told him that I was joking about the name. I asked him to deliver the letter to Hermione and to keep my death, and will contents, as quiet as possible. I didn't really think the wizarding world needed to know that I was giving Hermione any property she wanted and a large portion of my Gringotts account. My other properties would go to Nigel and Teddy, and any houses I owned that were being rented would be given to the people that were renting them. Blaise would get first choice of course, Hermione got second, Nigel third and Teddy got the one that was left. Or, I suppose Potter would get it for now.

As for the remainder of the Malfoy fortune, half of what is left is going to Hogwarts and the other half will be split equally between St. Mungo's, a few charities, and a few of my favorite shops. There are a few personal possessions that I've willed to a few people but mostly whatever is in the houses can go to whoever chooses the house to do whatever they want with.

I quickly realized that it was almost midnight. I had been staring into my thoughts for over half an hour. I was content with my decisions. I had chosen this day for a reason, a reason no one would ever guess. In less than ten minutes, I will have known I'm in love with Hermione for exactly 14 years. I realized I loved her in third year. On June 16th of 1994. Exactly a week after the day she punched me in the face. I was angry at first, very angry. Angrier than I should have been. And then I realized that I wasn't really angry anymore. I was hurt. It took me a week and a three hour conversation with mum for me to realize that I was in love with her.

I don't want to go another year knowing that I love her and knowing that I'll never be good enough for her. The clock changed to 12:01am and I lifted my tea cup to my lips.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Came a voice from my door way. I looked up quickly to see a figure standing in the door.

"Blaise?" I called. "Is that you?"

"No." The figure stepped closer and into the light from my window. She looked to be in her early twenties with hair as black as a ravens and strangely purple eyes. She was dressed in a light blue, thick strapped, tank top dress that came to just below her knees. A dark blue sash was tied around her waist.

"Who the bloody hell are you? How'd you get in the house?" I yelled jumping out of bed.

"My name is Anna. I'm your protector. Kind of like what muggles think of as an angel." She replied.

"I have my own angel?" I asked. She nodded. "But why are you here? I'm not dead yet."

"I've come to convince you not to end your own life." She replied, matter-of-factly.

"Excuse me?" I said, lifting an eyebrow.

"You heard what I said. I'm going to show you the three most important people in your life. I will show you the day of your funeral and I will show you what life will be like for each of those people." She explained.

"And what if I don't want to see it?" I asked.

"You have no choice." She replied, walking towards him. "People that end their own lives die too soon. It's not planned for anyone to commit suicide. It throws everything off balance. Ultimately, it's your choice whether you want to do it or not. But everyone gets a glimpse of the future to decide if they really want that for the people most dear to them."

"But you can't actually stop me?" I clarified. She shook her head. "How long will it take?"

"It will seem much longer but here only a few minutes will have passed." I nodded. It couldn't hurt I suppose…

Author's Note: Hope you guys liked this first chapter. Let me know what you think!

Reviews make me happy!

AliceLupin