She always knew that her secret couldn't last forever.

Hermione Granger was smarter than that, she knew that the truth would always prevail. But she wasn't Hermione Granger anymore, was she. Still, as she stared into a pair of reflective grey eyes, she found that she could not mask the horror that covered her face.

It had been four years.

Four years since the end, the end of all that she knew. Although, the running and the hiding had all come to an end Hermione had never quite felt 'normal'. No, she couldn't. Now every shadow was a threat to her life and every noise the last she would hear.

A shriek from nearby caused all the muscles in her body to tighten. Realizing the situation she was in Hermione tugged the hood of her cloak down to cover her eyes. She made an effort to shuffle past the blond man that she was doing her best to ignore. Yet, before she could get far a cold hand wrapped itself around her tiny wrist. Turning to face him Hermione tried to disguise her fear.

"Miss Granger, there is something that we need to talk about it." He whispered his tone nearing venomous. "It might be best for both of us if we do not discuss it in the middle of Knockturn Alley."

Masking the terror that she felt Hermione forced him to release his grasp on her wrist.

"I'm sorry Mr. Malfoy, but unfortunately I don't see that we would have anything to discuss." Stalking off with the hood of her cloak pulled low to hide her face Hermione stalked away from the awful man.

"It's about my son–Draco." His voice was strong, yet Hermione heard the sadness in his voice as he spoke.

Whirling around once more Hermione found that she had frozen in place.

Draco

She tried to feel her surroundings. She felt the softness of the damp grass beneath her. She felt the cold of the gravestone as she traced its lifeless words. Most of all she felt a numbness, but that came from her. She gazed upon the grave all which were far too familiar to her as she stared upon the grave of the late Draco Malfoy.

But, this time was different. This time she wasn't alone. She refused to allow the tears that were welling up to spill down her cheeks. Like she would have done if she had been alone.

She forced herself to stare at the wilting flowers which she had brought not too long ago. It had been about a month, she believed.

"Lucius I hope you are not under the impression that I do not visit him. In fact, I had thought that I was the only one who visited him anymore."

She bit her cheek to contain the anger and the pain that consumed her. Hermione closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe.

"I had thought you were smarter than that, or at least Draco had always told me so."

His tone was taunting and cruel, and it reminded her of how Draco had once been. But she knew now was not the time to dwell upon old memories.

"Well thank you for this lovely little trip Lucius." She brushed herself off as she stood, her voice thick with sarcasm. "But I ought to be going."

"Ms. Granger,or should I say Weasley? I did not go through all the effort of following you through Knocturn Alley, an interesting location for someone like you I might add, just to bring you to the grave of my son whom I know you visit. Often." His voice took on a more serious tone. "Mrs. Weasley, don't you see that there is something different about this particular gravestone?"

Hermione's irritation gave way to curiosity and disbelief. She couldn't believe that there would be anything unusual about this gravestone. She had never noticed anything before. Her eyes scanned the familiar words searching for something, anything at all.

It was then that she saw.

Draco Lucius Malfoy 5th June 1980 - 2nd May 1998. He Will Always Remain With Us.

Gasping Hermione turned to face Lucius waiting for him to confirm what she could only hope to be true.

"As you may know it is customary for the gravestone of a Malfoy to read Vincere est totum. Which as I am sure you already know means To win is everything," his cold eyes pierced her soul. "Mrs. Granger I do hope that it does not take you another four years to realize that this particular gravestone does not bear that phrase."

A thought came to her from the darkest corner of her mind. A dangerous thought.

Draco Malfoy is alive.

But would she be able to get to him in time. She didn't have long. It hadn't bothered her before now, but everything was different then.

He was gone then.