Through the Years

Dramione – Harry Potter

Summary: This is the side story of the friendship between Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy; how they met, how they got together, and what made them break apart. It follows the story line of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

They first met on the train going to Hogwarts. He was fascinated by the curly, bushy, brown hair that covered her head, how eager she was to learn and how much she loved to read. He loved how she wasn't afraid to stand up to him, but annoyed that she never let him have the last word. She liked his openness and ability to see things in different perspectives. She admired how he did what he wanted on his terms, even though his future was decided for him since birth. They slowly fell in love but the war kept them apart as well as his family's traditions and expectations. But even though they wouldn't be together they would always love each other.

Author's Note: I own nothing, the Harry Potter series and all the characters are owned by J.K. Rowling. Also what's italicized are quotes from the books. Since I've created my story to go along with the story line, I'll be quoting the chapter titles related to the story.

PROLOUGE (The Boy Who Lived)

"Is it true Lucius? ...Is he dead?" A woman whispered.

A pale skinned man with long silk blonde hair had a frustrated look on his face, struggled to get the right words out. "…The Dark Lord is not dead" he sighed, "But he is gone. I don't know how exactly. But it is for sure that the Potter boy made him 'vanish'."

Narcissa took a deep breath, stood up, and walked up the stairs. Lucius sighed and picked up a glass. He made a drink for his wife, scotch on the rocks with a twist, his wife's favorite muggle drink. He picked up another glass and filled it with firewhiskey, for he was not the biggest fan of muggle drinks, and then followed his wife upstairs.

He looked in the study, the sunroom, his office, and master bedroom before realizing where he should have gone first. He rolled his eyes, annoyed at himself and walked through the master bedroom and into the next room. There his wife stood by a crib gazing down at a little baby with white blonde hair plopped on top of his head.

"Lucius." He looked at his wife. Her eyes held a desperate longing in them and he already knew what she was going to say. "I don't want this anymore. I don't want the killing and the murdering. I don't even want the prejudice. I miss my sister and this is getting stupid and ridiculous." Lucius put down the drinks and walked over to Narcissa. He held her head and kissed her forehead before pulling her into a hug.

"I know." He whispered to her.

She pulled back and looked at the baby. He stirred a little and made a sound. Narcissa picked him to and rocked him back to sleep. Looking down at his face, Draco looked peaceful and innocent, unaware of his unfortunate future. "I don't want Draco to grow up with all of this; having the Death Eaters all around the house all the time. I don't want the Dark Mark on his skin and only knowing hate, anger, and prejudice against people who aren't like him. There's no way he's going to be influenced by this or become a Death Eater in the future. He doesn't need to grow up in something he doesn't even understand."

Lucius gave her a sad look and she began to cry. "Narcissa, I love you. I don't want you or Draco to die and honestly I don't want to die either. I agree with everything you said, but we both know I'm already too deeply involved. I don't want him to grow up like me, where he's thrown into something he has no true knowledge about. But this is unavoidable. There's no way I'm letting him or you get tortured," Narcissa gave him a look. "There's no way you two are going to be tortured physically, if I can help it." She let out a quiet sob. "I'm so, so sorry love."

She put Draco back into his crib, tucking him underneath the blankets as if to protect him from the horrors of the world. She looked up at Lucius and said, "Do what you have to. But don't do something stupid resulting in all of being punished. Being put in this position is already bad enough. Teach Draco what you have to and what is needed, but keep it balanced. While you teach him hate, I will teach him love. While he'll be taught prejudice, he'll be fully aware of potential from anyone; no matter their blood status. As for being a Death Eater, there's no bloody fucking way in hell that I'm going to let it be sooner than it has to happen. I will make sure it'll happen at the last moment acceptable."

Her eyes never left Lucius' as she gave her speech and conditions. He couldn't say anything, he could only nod in agreement. Narcissa gave him a small smile and you could see a little bit of satisfaction in her eyes. She kissed his lips and then turned to leave the room.

Just as she reached the door Lucius called out to her, "don't forget your scotch on the rocks with a twist." A small playful smile formed on her face. It brought back memories to both of them, of when Narcissa first told him and from then on he would always say it. He would never shorten it as scotch or drink; he always would say scotch on the rocks with a twist.

She walked back picked up her glass and raised it for a toast. Lucius mimicked her. "To peace and happiness until further noticed," she said. The glasses clinked and both took a long sip, as if trying to forget what the future laid ahead for them. "I'll go sort out dinner." And with that said she left the nursery.

Lucius turned back to his son. Draco was sleeping soundly, snuggled in the blankets his mothers surrounded him with. "What am I going to do?" he thought. He wanted his son's life to be different from his. He absolutely agreed with his wife's concerns about Draco possibly becoming a Death Eater and getting the same responsibilities that he has. He sighed realizing what he had to do. He decided to search for Voldemort but to do it carefully. He needed to show his loyalty enough to trust him but little as possible to keep him and his family safe. For the thousandth time he wished he listened to Narcissa more than the feeling the need to be like his father. His father of course didn't give him much of a choice but he had a bigger opportunity then than he did now.

Draco gave a little yawn and then started crying. Lucius walked over to him and smiled down. "Hey," he said softly to his son. He reached down and picked him up. Draco calmed down a little comforted by the fact that he was around someone he recognized.

Draco wouldn't know much about Voldemort and his ways until her was older. He would mention it over the years gradually but wouldn't focus on it. Lucius picked up his glass and drank the sip that was left of the firewhiskey. Took a sigh and followed his wife out of the nursery.