A/N: Ok, this story is very much AU, so please if that offends you then turn back. It takes place after Voldemort is defeated and before Rowling's future glimpse. Just a thought that got stuck in my head and would not leave me alone.

Cheers, music, and other various sounds of joy floated out into the night sky. They had won; Potter and his friends had succeeded in destroying the dark lord, freed the wizarding world from terror. And destroyed everything Draco had been taught to believe in.

Now, standing in the chilly night breeze on one of the terraces of Hogwarts, Draco felt the first fingers of despair worm beneath his skin. What would happen to him now? His home? Where would he go? Could he even STAY in England? It was the only place he had ever really known, no matter how much he had traveled. He wasn't even sure if he would still have any of his family fortune when all was said and done. Maybe I should just kill myself now. I wonder if I can cast the killing curse on myself...

A sound from behind startled Draco from his thoughts. Turning towards the sound, a flash of brown caught Draco's eye. More specifically, a flash of brown ringlets just before a cloak's hood covered the swirling mass. Dark green velvet and lined with silver colored silk, the cloak was a completely Slytherine article of clothing. However, he'd caught sight of the red and gold badge pinned to the shirt of the cloak's wearer. He know who this individual was.

"Sneaking out of the party early Granger?" mocked Draco mildly. He did not have the energy to pick a full-fledged fight. Not right then. He'd even considered letting her pass without a remark, but somehow the thought hadn't settled right with him. He was a Malfoy, even if he was soon to be broke. Malfoy's mocked.

The retreating form froze momentarily, before the woman in question spun to face him. Silence reigned for a moment as chocolate brown met silver, before Granger regained the ability to speak. "What are you doing out here Malfoy?"

Her words surprised him, not because of what she said but because of how she said it. No malice spiked her words; no hatred donned her features. She truly looked curious. Controlling his surprise, Draco shrugged casually. "Thinking. It's something we purebloods like to indulge in." He thought for sure the barb would dig in, that her face would alight with anger and the usual rush of glee and superiority would fill his wary body.

Instead, a small laugh left Granger. "Yes, of course you do. That's what you always say before you lock yourself in the study to play with your Quidditch models."

Indignation and confusion filled Draco. "I do no such thing!"

Rapidly Granger's mood shifted from teasing and slightly joyful to wistful. "No, I suppose you don't."

Draco snorted, forgetting that Malfoy's don't snort. They 'hmf!'. The small noise seemed to revive Granger's smile a little. "So why are you sneaking out early Granger? Weasel trying to back you into a corner?"

Granger sighed softly and shook her head. "I need to get home, otherwise I will not be able to." A pause echoed between them, Granger clearly debating something for a moment before looking Draco straight in the eye. "Try not to worry too much Draco. Things will get better and your life will become everything you want." The sound of a commotion inside, followed by something (probably Weasel) calling for Granger caught their attention. With a sad sigh, she turned to face Draco again. "I have to go. Goodbye Draco, until we meet again."

With that, Granger leapt down the stairs of the terrace and ran straight into the Forbidden Forest.

Draco stared at the place where Granger had disappeared for a moment, before Weasel and potter came bursting out of the castle like a small herd of elephants. They scanned the area frantically for a moment, clutching crumpled pieces of paper in their hands. It took a moment for them to notice Draco, but when they did, both boys turned as one to face their previous enemy.

"Malfoy, " greeted Potter, attempting to be semi-courteous by not spitting the name as if it were dirt. "Have you seen Hermione? We need to find her."

For a moment, Draco considered sending both boys in the direction Granger had fled. However, her words continued to echo in his head 'I must get home, otherwise I will not be able to'. Somehow, the words and her actions that night made ratting her out oddly unsatisfying. "Sorry, she hadn't been this way." Courteousness went both ways, and with the dark lord now dead, being rude to those who probably ultimately saved everyone from a very nasty future didn't seem right. At this point, even Draco could see how absolutely insane Voldemort had been.

Potter nodded in response to Draco's answer and turned, dragging a glaring Weasley back inside the castle to continue the search. With both boys and Granger gone, the silence began to pray on Draco's thoughts again. That was, until a voice wormed its way into his thoughts, certain and kind. 'You'll have the life you always wanted...' The life he always wanted...what do I want? I've never thought about that. I don't have to be anything I don't want to be any more...

Suddenly, the world seemed less daunting. Maybe Granger was right. He was a Malfoy dammit! Malfoy's never gave up! They did what they wanted to, regardless of what others said. I can do anything I want. What a concept.

Six years later...

Draco reached out to wipe a heavy brown ringlet from Marsella's pale face as soft cry's filled the room. The sound of a baby taking its first breath. A smile split his beautiful wife's face and lit up her exhausted chocolate eyes, bringing one to Draco's own lips. Both parents were tired, Marsella having been in labor for almost 18 hours, but both were beyond ecstatic.

"It's a girl," announced the midwife quietly. "Would either of you like to hold her?"

Draco nodded and released his wife so he might receive the carefully wrapped bundle that was his daughter. Beside him, Marsella shifted to a sitting position to better see her baby girl.

As Draco looked down, however, he felt his mind blank. The child he held was beautiful, not doubts there. It was his baby girl, she could have been hideous and he would have loved her all the same. Already, a few tufts of his wife's dark brown hair clung to her head and the half open eyes were chocolate brown. Set in a face that, though now pudgy and slightly deformed from the stress of labor, bore a striking resemblance to the female member of the golden trio who had disappeared six years ago. Her comments about his study and what his life would become trickled into his skull as thought became possible again, along with her parting words: 'we will meet again'. Draco could only think of two words to say.

"Bloody hell."

Yes, I know it's short. At this point, I don't plan to do a second chapter for this but if I get enough requests I will consider it. Please, review to tell me what you think. Thank you.

- Illusinia