January

Ice and snow cover the narrow staircase that leads to the roof. It's not a place I visit all too often, but over the years I've discovered that the roof is a great place to come when the cares of the world get to be just too much to bear. The darkness that envelopes the country this late at night is oddly comforting, but the cold is bitter.

I pull out my wand and cast several warming spells, then stow it back in the pocket of my robes. My hands are chilled and absently I rub them together before settling against the low wall, inhaling deeply. It's a good place to come after a long day at work, where people and paperwork has gotten me on edge. My shoulders are tense, and I roll them, taking another deep breath.

"Another difficult day?"

The voice behind me is melodious and soft; I open my eyes and smile as she wraps her arms around me from behind. Lila. My wife of nearly ten years.

"It's over now." Her lips feather over my neck and I turn around to greet my wife properly. There are snowflakes sticking to her cape, though she sheds it in deference to my warming charm. Lila is a beauty by any standards, though she would blush prettily if I were to voice that opinion. It's a commodity, really, a Malfoy wife who isn't vain. An oddity, really, but she's my match in every way.

"I assumed you would come inside when you came home. Imagine my surprise when the wards indicated that there was someone on the roof," she said softly.

"Did I frighten you?" I asked her, still holding her close.

"No. I trust your wards. Nobody's getting in who doesn't belong."

Letting her go, I lean against the wall again, and Lila settles herself onto my lap.

"It's quiet up here. Peaceful."

"Mmm."

"I guess it's a…sanctuary from the rat-race at work."

Her laughter bubbles up as she caresses my hands with her own. "Feeling a bit melodramatic tonight, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Sleepy, I suppose." With a smile, I add, "Mrs. Malfoy."

"Ready to head inside?"

"Not yet." She nods, understanding the need for tranquility, and conjures two champagne flutes. We sip them for several minutes as snowflakes begin to fall again outside of my warming spells; the moon is still visible through the snow clouds. It covers the trees and her gardens below with a light dust of white. Malfoy Manor never looked this pure before Lila came here. The effects of having someone innocent in residence? Or because she loves me unreservedly? In any case, I've rediscovered the ability to see simplistic beauty in just about anything. Just one of the many things I owe my wife for.

She turned on my lap slightly and I was looking into the depths of her sweet eyes. She can't hide anything with those eyes, not from me, at least.

"For the longest time, I never understood what the appeal of the roof was for you. It didn't make sense to me, being up here so far away from everyone else."

"Oh?"

"I thought you were hiding. Bu that's not the case, is it?"

I only smiled at her, kissed her forehead in reply.

"When did you discover this place?"

"I've lived here all my life. I've always known about it," I remind her.

"That's not what I meant."

"Just after the war ended, before we were married. I had just come out of the safe house…the one in muggle London?" When she nodded, I continued. "The wireless was nearly useless, it would only play one channel, and the songs were…ancient, not at all anything I would have usually listened to. But, after being virtually alone for so many weeks, I was desperate to hear the sound of another human voice, so I turned it on anyway. The song that was playing was talking about being up on the roof. Something along the lines of when people are too much to take, just go up on the roof, because you can let go of your frustrations, and they'll float away into space.

"When I finally was able to come home…you know what it was like. The nightmares, the guilt. I decided that it was worth a try, and I came up here. It works for me. I can let go of the cares and…baggage…that goes along with the job now, and I don't have to bring them into the house with me. Better for all of us that way."

Her eyes searched mine for the longest time, and I became uneasy that I had concerned her. There truly was no need for Lila to be concerned, not any longer.

"Are you okay now?" she asked softly.

"Never better, angel." I quirked her a smile. "I've got you."

Lila giggled and rolled her eyes at me. "Don't quit your day job, Malfoy. You've got no future in the greeting card industry."

"A muggle thing, right?" I checked. She nodded, then turned serious once more.

"Promise you'll come to me if you ever need to talk about anything?"

It was important to her to have this promise from me, I can tell by her posture.

"Of course."

"Because I'll listen. And, not just because it's my job as your wife. I want to hear, Draco."

"Promise," I repeat. She nods and wraps her arms around me once more, snuggling her head against my shoulder.

And we watch the snow fall.