Note: The first line ( in bold type ) if from page 745 of the American Version of J K Rowling's 7th book - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The last line ( in bold type ) is from page 746.

I Owe You My Life - A Wizard's Debt

"Along the aisle between the tables he walked, and he spotted the three Malfoys, huddled together as though unsure whether or not they were supposed to be there, but nobody was paying them any attention."

Harry paused and then walked over to them. Taking off the Invisibility Cape, he noticed Lucius' eyes go wide and but it was Draco who put himself between Harry and his mother.

No one said anything for a long moment and then Narcissa stood and walking around Draco, put her arms out and Harry, smiling, walked into her embrace.

Stunned, Lucius and Draco could only stand there, open-mouthed.

"Thank you, Madam Malfoy . . . . "

Laughing, she pulled back and smiled at Harry. "After all we've been through, young man, I'd be honored if you would call me Narcissa."

"The honor is entirely mine . . . Narcissa. And I owe you my life."

Lucius sucked in his breath and then gasped, "What?"

"Your wife saved my life, sir, by lying to Voldemort that I was dead. She did not need to do that, but she did. Saved us both, as it turned out," Harry explained, glancing at the astonished wizard. "I owe you a Wizard's Debt, Narcissa. I intend to repay it by making sure you do not go to Azkaban. I will testify on your behalf, should there be any need."

"And I owe you a Wizard's Debt, Potter," added Draco. "You saved my life in the Room of Requirement."

"I 'm sorry we couldn't get Vincent out. . ."

"We're lucky you got us out!," acknowledged Draco. "Are Granger and the Weasel . . . . ?"

Harry nodded. "I was on my way to find them, just now, but, yeah, they're okay."

"Potter, I . . . . " Lucius Malfoy stood there, a broken man, but slowly straightened up and then offered his hand to Harry. 'Thank you for saving my son. My wife and I will be eternally grateful."

Harry shook Lucius' hand. "Take care of your family, sir." Turning, he nodded his goodbyes. "Draco. Narcissa."

Putting the Invisibility Cape back on, he walked away.

"Everywhere he looked he saw families reunited, and finally, he saw the two whose company he craved most.

I know, I know, it's awfully short, even for a one shot, but there were 2 reasons for doing this little story:

1) The epilogue in DH has ALWAYS bugged the bejeebers out of me, with Draco just nodding to Harry on the platform. COME ON GUYS! It's been 19 years, let it go. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that maybe there HAD been some sort of resolution with the Harry – Draco dynamic.

2) Those 2 sentences – one at the start and the one at the end - left me with a feeling that SOMETHING should have been said, at least to Narcissa, by Harry, right then and there. She'd gambled with her life and those of Lucius and Draco, when she lied to Voldemort, so Harry, I felt, needed to acknowledge that.

SO . . . this one shot. Hope you enjoyed it. Oh, and when you read my story 'Journal notes', you'll realize that Harry did indeed keep his word to Narcissa and that the Malfoys are still around, quietly in the background, but not gone for good. They will reclaim their place in Wizarding society slowly and hopefully, graciously.