*** This is my first attempt at anything in the Harry Potter world. Hopefully you will like this! And I don't own anything… Blah, Blah, Blah!

He watched her putting her kids on the train. They both had hair that was red, bright like their father. She kissed the girl on the cheek lightly, having to raise herself on her toes slightly; she was already taller than her mother. She then had to bend over and straighten the necktie on the boy. She leaned in close, saying something intently to him. He smiled and threw his arms around her neck.

It was as she straightened herself up that she locked eyes with him across the platform. His heart seized once her chocolate orbs made contact with him, but he didn't break her gaze at all. He could see the wheels in her mind spinning, over thinking and replaying the last time they met like this. A flush spread on her cheeks, and he could feel his heartbeat quicken as she, still seemingly unnerved, flicked her tongue out to wet her lips. He fought every urge in his body to push through the crowd and grab her, yanking her hair back and capturing her mouth in a searing kiss. He blinked, and as quick as it began, their moment was broken. She looked away, back to her children who had turned to board the train.

Once they were safely on board, she turned back where he had stood even though she knew he had left since she could no longer feel the heat of his gaze on her back, She heaved a sigh of what could have been construed as relief, but her insides were still quaking.

*** 22 years prior

"Mr. Malfoy, your actions against this society were, by most standards as unforgivable as the curses that your counterparts used freely. If not for the testimony of Mr, Potter, I assure you that you would be rotting in an Azkaban cell." The judge cleared his throat and leaned closer, his gaze menacing.

"The ministry suffered great monetary damages during this war, and considering the generous offer on behalf of your family, I am going to put you on a semi-permanent parole. Both your wand and your mothers will be traced, giving us a complete list of the spells that you use. You will have to check in with an assigned officer in the department of corrections weekly, and you are not to leave England without express permission from the ministry. You will then be brought forth in front of this council in 10 years to re-evaluate your status." He banged a gavel, and just like that Draco was free, if that term could even be used to describe his situation.

The wizard assigned to monitor his parole, a Mr. Coutant, was a sour faced Muggle-born old man who never had anything positive to say to him. He scowled at him every week, dryly reading the list of spells that Draco's wand had reported, asking him in a condescending tone questions about any spell that appeared that wasn't in his daily norm. He would then stamp the scroll loudly with a rubber stamp that read "Inspected and reviewed" and file it high upon a shelf that was already heaping with scrolls. The process took about two hours every Tuesday morning. And every Tuesday morning for 10 years, he arrived promptly at 10:15 AM to the man's office. He sat there on the Tuesday he was wed to Astoria Greengrass, and again a few years later on the Tuesday his son was born. He was listening to the man's monotone voice as his father took his last breath, alone and broken in an Azkaban cell. And now, on the 10th anniversary of his trial, for the first time the old man broke his routine. Instead of just dryly stating "Same time and place next week, Mr. Malfoy." He also handed Draco a scroll sealed with the insignia of the Ministry on it.

Draco nervously unrolled the scroll, and read carefully. "Draco Malfoy, you have been scheduled to appear in front of the Wizengmot of the Ministry of magic to review your parole status. You are required to appear one week from today, on Tuesday June 19th at 10am. Please be prompt."

For 10 years he didn't complain once, or even give a snide remark. He accepted his punishment to the full extent of what was given to him, never even requested permissions to leave the country. He followed every rule, never performed any spells other than daily magic. Yet, as he sat in front of the same judge he sat in front of 10 years prior, he was still nervous. He wanted his freedom back; he wanted to accompany his son to Hogwarts for his first day without being watched like a crazed lunatic. He wanted to accompany his wife to their country home in France, but more than that he wanted to be free of his past.

"Mr. Coutant, you have been meeting with Mr. Malfoy on a weekly basis for the past 10 years, do you feel he is ready to be fully released from his parole, and in turn be fully integrated back into society as a free wizard?" The judge looked at the old wizard, who slowly rose to his feet.

"Your honor," He began, "For the past 10 years, Mr. Malfoy was never tardy and never missed a meeting. He performed not one spell that could be construed as questionable during that time either. But," he turned and locked eyes with Draco, "I feel as if Mr. Malfoy has never truly repented for his dealings with Voldemort, and should not be released as of yet from his obligations of parole. He is merely not ready. I recommend another 10 years of probation for the atrocities that he partook in as part of the 2nd wizarding war."

"And Mr. Malfoy, do you have anything to say? Have you repented?" The judge was looking directly as a gaping Draco. The shock of the situation began to be replaced quickly with anger.

" Your honor," Draco's voice came out raspy, "I have done nothing to deserve this accusation. I don't understand what I have done to make Mr. Coutant believe that I am not sorry for what I did…"

"Mr. Malfoy," Coutant interrupted him, "You are born of 2 families that have embraced dark magic for generations. Do you honestly think that you could have fooled us into thinking that is isn't integrated into your blood? You are a MALFOY and a BLACK, for Godric's sake. You can NEVER be trusted."

Draco was left speechless, for the first time on the receiving end of a deep prejudice. And just like that, his sentence was extended for another 10 grueling years.

** 5 years later **

"Damnit, Astoria!" His fist slammed down on the mahogany desk, causing the attorney and his legal assistant to jump in their seats. " I shouldn't have to deal with this! You are leaving ME! You are the one who filed for this divorce!"

She smoothed her robes, a small smile on her lips. "But, Draco, how do you expect me to survive if I am left homeless without an income? How do you expect Scorpius to react to you leaving his mother without a cent to her name?" She crossed her white-gloved hands in her lap, her eyes smug. All it took was one whisper of their son's name and he would cave. And cave he did.

He hung his head, defeated. He knew she had been sleeping around for a few years now. He had hoped that their arrangement could be beneficial to both of them, but after she bore him a son she wouldn't touch him again. He tried to be with her, but her cold disdain for him was evident. He found himself in a loveless marriage, a sham for the masses. And yet he wouldn't be unfaithful to her, he took his vows seriously, even if she would not.

He opened his eyes, to see the divorce documents in front of him. She asked too much, he knew that. He could get away with leaving her with nothing, but his wealth was vast, even after the fines he paid to the ministry for his family's hand the war and having to practically buy his way back into the good graces of every witch and wizard in society. He could afford what she asked ten times over. He evened out his breathing, clenched his jaw and finally muttered, " Fine."

He raised his eyes to meet her, "Fine", he repeated. " You can have the 5000 galleons a week, the London flat and the estate in France- But, I get my grandmother's ring back, and I get full custody of Scorpius."

She looked him straight in the eyes, without a moment's hesitation, and nodded her head. And all at once, Draco Malfoy was a single father.

Draco burst through the door, tardy to his Tuesday meeting for the first time in 15 years. The paperwork finalizing his divorce took a bit longer to complete than he had expected, and he had literally sprint from the floo to the office of corrections to keep from being obscenely late.

After the incident 5 years prior he had requested a new case officer, which, after a large donation to the newly re-built Library of Wizarding Law, was granted. He was assigned to a girl fresh out of her internship in the French Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She was a graduate of Beauxbaton, a slightly homely girl with a heavy French accent. She made it very clear on their first meeting that she was all business, and a half-blood witch whose family was far removed from the actual war. She blatantly said that she held no prejudice against him for who he was, but do not step out of line because she had no problem with putting him the same cell that his father once occupied. She was curt, and far from monotone, which suited Draco just fine. They reached a mutual understanding, and his previously 2-hour meetings were reduced to only about 15 minutes. She would quickly read his magical output report, give him the occasional pass to visit Scorpius at school, and then send him on his way with a stern nod.

Over the past 5 years he watched the pictures in her office change, from her familiar, a longhaired kneazle, to an equally homely young man and finally to a wedding photo. She was growing rounder and rounder from the baby she was expecting weekly, and yet she assured Draco that he would not be assigned another Mr. Coutant while she was on maternity leave.

It so happened that on the first Tuesday Draco was tardy was also the same day that she went into labor with her twin sons. So, instead of the very pregnant French woman he was accustomed to, he burst into an office that was occupied by none other than Hermione Granger.