I looked at myself once more in the full length mirror. I readjusted my long, dark curls that were cascading down my back, almost reaching my waist. My hands glided down the fabric of my silk dress, the material felt sleek beneath my fingers. I caught a glimpse of my sleeping angel in the mirror and I smiled. Oliver's mother beamed back at me as she rocked her gently. Iris came through the bedroom door holding a modest bouquet of yellow lilies in her hands, her eyes shined as she stared at me, she had never seen me look more beautiful.

"Thank you Iris."

Iris nodded but her awe quickly turned to worry, she had been so worried about me lately. She stood close to me as she spoke, not wanting Oliver's mother Evelyn to hear her but I knew Evelyn's attention was completely focused on my daughter.

"Mel, there's still time to change your mind if this isn't what you want."

I shook my head at Iris's worries because I had never felt more confident. "I'm certain Iris. This is the only way to keep her safe."

Iris smiled weakly as she handed me my flowers, she was unbelievably nervous for me but I grasped her hand reassuringly. I knew this was the only way to keep my daughter safe, my beautiful and perfect daughter. I held back the joyful tears as I reflected on the day my daughter was born, the most amazing day of my life.

I brushed the hair from my eyes as I continued to stare at the miracle I held in my arms, her petite hand grasped my finger tightly. She gazed back at me with the most beautiful bright blue eyes, they were identical to Draco's. The purest happiness was radiating from her little fingertips. I kissed her forehead lightly as Oliver and Iris peeked through the hospital room door. I waved them in enthusiastically, they both smiled radiantly as they gazed at my perfect daughter. Oliver set down another vase of lilies beside the one he had brought yesterday, he kissed my forehead and sat in the chair across from me while Iris sat at my bedside.

"How's Eliza doing?" Oliver asked sincerely. "I didn't realize you loved 'Pride and Prejudice' so much, to name your daughter after a character." Oliver teased gently.

"Not just any character Oliver. Elizabeth Bennet is one of the strongest female characters I've ever read about, my Eliza should only hope to be as strong willed as her. And Jane Austen was one of the most talented writers in existence. My daughter's name was a given." I sneered jokingly.

"Oliver, you can't deny that Elizabeth Austen Everard sounds beautiful and it seems to suit her already." Iris cooed as she touched Eliza's head. "I'm so happy she came a week late, I love being able to share my birthday with her."

I snorted and rolled my eyes. "You can shove off Iris, carrying her a week late was unbearable."

Iris and I laughed quietly, careful not to disturb Eliza who had fallen asleep. Suddenly Oliver gave Iris a serious look, it made her very nervous. I gazed bewildered at their silent conversation, their thoughts were distracted. Iris looked to me and touched Eliza's cheek.

"I better get going, I have work soon." Iris kissed mine and Eliza's head before leaving my hospital room.

I sighed as I stared at the door. It saddened me that Iris couldn't return to Hogwarts either for her sixth year, but it was far too dangerous now. Hogwarts may have become compulsory to all students this term but it wasn't the same place it had been while Dumbledore was Headmaster. The entire school and Ministry of Magic had been overtaken by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Hogwarts could no longer be considered the safest place in the Wizarding World. With Harry, Hermione and Ron gone searching for Horcruxes, I couldn't risk Iris's safety by allowing her to go back. Even Oliver had turned down the hefty position Madame Hooch had offered him because he wouldn't leave me unprotected, it was too dangerous. I knew he was scared too, we all were.

After much deliberation, Iris and I decided we would all remain home this term. Even though she didn't want to be away from her boyfriend Bradley who had returned to Hogwarts because he had nowhere else to go, she didn't argue with me too much. I easily sensed how frightened she was of the Death Eaters. She seemed to accept her new life without Hogwarts very quickly, especially after finding a part-time job at a cafe beneath our apartment building. We had decided to live as muggle as possible to remain under the Death Eaters' radar, they had been snatching countless people to prove their bloodlines. I loved Iris so much for making such a large sacrifice, even though she hadn't been completely against the idea anyways.

Oliver continued to gaze at me, his hands trembled slightly as he held mine. He was sure not think directly about why he was so nervous, he knew exactly how to avoid my ability, I immediately became suspicious of his behavior. My heart sank when I pondered the possibility of him leaving us, that's something he wouldn't want me to know about until he was ready, and certainly something to be nervous about.

"You're not leaving, are you Oliver?"

Oliver's eyes widened and he shook his head rapidly. His grip became tighter on my hands and wasn't shaking as much anymore. He was relieved to know I would be distressed if he left us. I nodded in complete agreement to his thoughts, I would feel absolutely vulnerable without Oliver.

"Things have been good between us right? We've had a great summer despite everything else going on, right?"

"Yes Oliver, of course. I couldn't have done all this without your help. I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough. Is that what's bothering you? You're worried about our friendship?"

Oliver released my hands and wiped his palms on the leg of his pants, he was really nervous, I didn't understand why.

"I love you Mel, I haven't tried to hide that." He said in a rush.

I sighed and took a deep breath before answering. "Yes Oliver, I am aware. But you need to realize-"

"Marry me Mel." Oliver stated firmly.

"What? Are you mad Oliver? Marry you? Why would-"

"This isn't some harebrained idea that I've come up with Mel. This is something I have thought nonstop about since we left Hogwarts. I love Eliza more than I ever imagined. Experiencing the end of your pregnancy and supporting you through her birth has been the most exhilarating whirlwind of my life. I can't stand the thought of any harm coming to this amazing girl, and that's why we should get married. It's the only way to keep her completely safe."

My heart sank into my stomach as I listened to Oliver speak such passionate words about Eliza. He clearly adored her the moment he laid eyes on her. But I still loved Draco; despite his colossal mistakes and our complete lack of communication this entire summer, I wanted to believe that our hearts still belonged to each other. I held Oliver's hand firmly as I attempted to respond to him, this was going to shatter his heart. He sensed my hesitation and spoke before I could.

"You can't just overlook what Malfoy has done or who he has clearly aligned himself with. You haven't heard a single word from him all summer. And don't think for one second that those horrid people wouldn't use your daughter as leverage against him if they were to ever find out about her. I know you have considered that Mel. So in order to protect her entirely, marry me. We'll call her my daughter and then we'll be certain of her safety."

I sat in pure shock for a few moments as I processed Oliver's words, I couldn't believe how thoroughly he had thought about this. And I couldn't believe I hadn't known at all, I was supposed to be a telepath, but I had been oblivious to his plan. I gazed at my daughter, who was still sleeping soundly in my arms, and couldn't fathom any danger coming to her. I would have easily laid down my life to protect her but I didn't want it to come to that. I had been so worried about our safety during the school year, I needed to be even more worried now after Dumbledore being murdered. I needed to keep her relation to Draco a complete secret until I was absolutely certain she would be safe. I knew the Death Eaters would strike at any known weaknesses. Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of any harm coming to her, I was determined to keep her safe, at all costs. Even if meant completely sacrificing a potential future with Draco. I couldn't hold onto something that may never happen and jeopardize my daughter's life because of it.

I looked into Oliver's optimistic eyes and smiled, I knew he had never been more certain of anything in his entire life. He loved me and Eliza. He relaxed immediately as I leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. "Okay Oliver, I will, I'll marry you."

After returning home from the hospital, Oliver and I began arranging our wedding. We planned it for October 23rd, it was an anniversary we would share with his parents. I knew that wasn't a coincidence, it seemed meant to be. I couldn't denounce that I still loved Draco, because I did. I knew part of me always would. But I also couldn't threaten Eliza's safety for anything. I hoped he would understand my decision some day, if I ever decided to tell him the truth.

I often pondered Professor Trelawney's prophecy: "You will bear the fruit of a poisonous tree, but change the roots within." Her prophecy had indeed come true; but I had also come to the conclusion that she never stated whether or not we had a future together. I had given birth to Draco's daughter and in our short time together he had changed, his whole life and reasonings for all his decisions had completely changed. I realized that maybe that's where our relationship would end, I had done what I had hoped to do: Draco didn't murder Dumbledore, his soul was safe for now. Maybe I was supposed to move on from here, maybe we both were. But I couldn't deny that the thought of solidifying the ending of mine and Draco's relationship by marrying Oliver, made my heart ache. The only thing I was absolutely certain of was protecting Eliza and I knew this marriage could accomplish that.

It became even more confusing for me as the weeks passed because in the short time between Oliver's proposal and our wedding, I had truly fallen in love with him again. We had been so unbelievably happy in our relationship before. Oliver quickly made me realize why I had loved him in the first place. I finally wasn't dreading marrying someone that wasn't Draco. The only reason Oliver and I had broken up at all was because he started his professional Quidditch career, I knew we would still be together if he hadn't abandoned me. But with Oliver's proposal, he had concretely proven to me that he would never leave me again. I'd have been a complete fool not to love him. He had gone above and beyond for me and my family.

I glanced down at my right hand, my future mother-in-law's wedding ring glittered delicately on my finger. Oliver would soon be moving it to my left hand during our small ceremony, where it would remain for the rest of my life. Iris and Oliver's parents Jeremiah and Evelyn were our only guests. I longed for my three best friends Harry, Hermione and Ron to witness our wedding, but I knew it was impossible. I wasn't even sure of where they were at this moment, I could only hope they were safe. I had told Oliver I didn't want to make a big spectacle of our wedding and he of course agreed to my wishes, I knew he would do anything to make me happy. So I wore a simple ivory silk gown that reached my knees and Oliver wore a black suit. An officiant his parents had hired would marry us in the backyard of Oliver's parents' house and we'd have a quiet celebratory dinner afterwards.

Iris cleared her throat and interrupted my reverie, it was time for the ceremony to start. I hadn't even realized that Evelyn had already gone with Eliza. Iris linked her arm with mine as we walked down the quaint aisle of flowers we had made earlier. When I saw Oliver waiting for me at the end of the aisle, all the apprehension I felt about this wedding disappeared completely. He was radiating absolute euphoria as he gazed at me approaching him, his smile widened as I extended my hand towards his.

I tried to force Draco's face to the back of my mind as the officiant started our ceremony. I couldn't stop thinking about him. I knew I loved him so differently than I loved Oliver, it had been hard to choose between them. But Oliver had really asserted his love for me while Draco had been completely absent the whole summer. I loved Oliver enough to spend my life with him, I knew he would protect my daughter and make us both happy. Draco was now devoted to serving Voldemort, he was a Death Eater and wanted by the Order. I couldn't risk my daughter's life so I could be with Draco simply because I loved him more. I was confident about choosing Oliver, I loved him welled in my eyes immediately when I saw how Oliver was beaming at me, he had never been happier than he was right now. He murmured I love you in his mind and I grinned. Knowing that he loved me was all I needed to be happy. He loved me enough to marry me and raise a daughter that wasn't biologically connected to him, I couldn't imagine anything more selfless. Oliver was perfect. I didn't hesitate for a single moment when I stated the words: I do for everyone to hear.