A Feeling like Emptiness
Disclaimer: I will only state this once so listen up. Harry Potter and anything affiliated does not belong to me.
Chapter One: Five years ago
Draco Malfoy had only once admitted being wrong. One time, and he hadn't even said it out loud. To him, saying you were wrong was no better than being a compulsive liar; what you believe is up to you and there's no right or wrong about it. But as spells were thrown chaotically, back and forth between the sides of "good and evil," Draco stood caught between them, unsure of which side to choose. Both sides had their advantages and both believed that they were right. And ever since he was a child he had known which side he was expected to be on but no one ever gave him a choice.
His father had pressured him to be a Death Eater and the Dark Lord had threatened him with it, so he didn't really have a choice, but he would have liked to think that his parents had one many years ago. Technically speaking he wasn't even a Death Eater, but just a lackey boy. Since joining them he had been responsible for two things: letting the others in the castle and killing Professor Dumbledore, and he hadn't even done the latter correctly.
The spells around him increased dramatically, each witch or wizard's performance level at top capacity to bring down the other side. Now he was hanging on a thread, morality speaking. He could continue to be this person that he's molded into after years of being heavily influenced, or he could turn around and fight for what he was starting to believe was right. He clutched the wand in his hand even tighter and threw a jinx at someone. Draco didn't know who it was so he used the identity to find out who he was fighting for. It was a Death Eater. His or her mask was still on so Draco had no clue who he had hit. It didn't matter really and he didn't want to risk being hit by someone so he continued to curse other nameless Voldemort lackeys. Not caring what the others around him thought for the first time and taking the lives of those who had murdered innocent people.
His newfound courage shocked him and the other witches and wizards who witnessed his change of heart. It was so sudden that no one had time to question it; they only kept fighting until word had come through of the Dark Lord's demise. As Draco attacked and cursed and hexed. He found that he was shedding small tears. He ignored them, letting them drop gracefully down his cheeks and hit the ground. He couldn't say that he felt like his own person, but he was following his own rules. After a while he started using the Killing Curse on Death Eaters that wouldn't give up. He was completely surprised at himself and let a smirk befall his lips.
That was when he saw her. Her hair was pinned up in a messy and falling bun and her skin was glistening with the sweat on her forehead. She was concentrated solely on defeating her opponent and she used everything she had to do so. She was using everything but Avada Kedavra and Draco couldn't figure out why. Did this girl honestly think that a few hundred Stupifys and Expelliarmus's were going to bring the other down? Did she just suppose that the Death Eater would get tired and give up? A few seconds was all it took to take someone out permanently, why didn't the girl just do it already? He pulled his wand again and pointed it in the battle's direction. It would go on forever if he didn't do anything and he might have done it already if there weren't so many meanings behind this person's death. If Draco did this favor for her then the dynamic in their relationship would be utterly ruined. But then again, it might not change anything. Based on the path that she'd chosen, Draco might not ever see this girl again. He also felt he owed it to her to kill her opponent. After all the years of torment and torture, all those horrid names he'd called her, he knew he had to fix it, but he wasn't sure just this would do it.
A flash of green flew from his wand and he watched as it brought down Bellatrix Lestrange. Hermione looked over at him with eyes so pure and so confused. The sorrow evident in her expression, he walked over to her and held out his hand. When she shook it with her own hand his eyes widened. Draco half expected her to punch him in the face again.
She still said nothing to him but he leaned close to her face and whispered in her ear, "I hope this will change something."
She didn't know what to say to him so she only nodded her head. It was enough of an apology for her. The fight continued and as the war waged on, others began to see the goodness in Draco Malfoy.
….
But that was five years ago. The memory was still as fresh as a new book off the shelf.
And now that the war was well over, people were beginning to feel safe again. Structures and businesses were rebuilt and the magical population had increased slightly, although it still did not make up for those that were lost in the war. They were buried properly and were mourned appropriately, and it was time for the living to move on.
Draco was ready to move on more than anyone but knew it would be hard for people to accept him. For the first four years after the war he resided in a muggle town in New England, laying low until he figured it safe to return to the magical world he loved.
The transition wasn't hard, per se, but it was challenging. All the luxury he was used to was gone but he didn't mind. Because his parents were now deceased he could do what he wanted to with their house and their money. First he set the elves free and emptied Malfoy Manor, closing it down while he went on an extended holiday.
Once in the muggle town he changed his name and stopped using magic. He got a job as a freelance photographer, and his job took him everywhere. He'd taken pictures of beautiful sceneries and for a local newspaper; he'd even shot a few models once his reputation went up. It was a simple life that he could never get going back to magical London. All this he accomplished in his first two years in New England.
He was coming up on his third year in America and his boss was hosting a New Year's Eve Banquet. It was supposed to be the most epic even of the year and it was there he met a girl. No, not a girl, but a woman. It was the first time he had made a connection with anyone since the war was over. Not many people knew about him in America and he was also grateful for that, but it did get lonely.
This woman he met changed all of that. Her skin was smooth yet pale, her hair was dark like a raven in the night, her lips looked teasingly soft but he kept his distance respectfully. This woman was just a vision of utter loveliness that could change any man's way of life. Their meeting was just as mysterious as she was:
The banquet was a large yet quiet event. Draco had only shown up because his boss had offered him overtime to take pictures of those who attended. With his expensive camera hanging around his neck, he had a small plate of various cheeses as he sat at his table. There were only two seats at his table and the other was empty, but he didn't mind the solitude. His plate had gone untouched and just as he was about to pick up a cube of provolone the woman sat down. The first thing he noticed about her was her dress. It was elegant and flattering to her curves. She had makeup on but only enough to compliment her. Her lips were painted red and her eyes shined a teasing light blue. There was something about the way she had looked at him, it seemed like she was challenging him silently but he let that slide.
"Well hello there," he said politely, another of his famous smirks making its way to his face. He took his camera off of his neck and placed it on the table next to him.
She raised an eyebrow at him and greeted him back, but not in so many words.
"Enjoying the event?" he asked, hoping he might spark conversation with her.
"I am," she replied. "Although I had hoped there would be less people." She stood and held out her hand to him. She didn't have an American accent, but a very nice French one.
Draco stood and took her hand, raising it to his mouth to kiss it gently. "Draco Malfoy." He felt obligated to tell her his real name, that and "Charlie Tang" was not a name that women liked to sleep with.
"Angel Du Berri," she said back to him. "You are the photographer?"
"Yes, I work for that man there," he said pointing to his boss. "I'm in charge of shooting beautiful things and gorgeous people like yourself." His line seemed to work on her because she melted at it.
"Why, Mr. Malfoy, if I didn't know better I would say that was a come on."
"Perhaps it was. But that's for you to decide."
They spoke in depth for the next forty-five minutes, talking about everything they could think of. Before the night was over Draco knew everything about this woman and he still had to know more. When it was time to leave he offered to escort her to her ride but she insisted otherwise.
"I'm not quite ready to retire for the evening. Maybe we could stop by your place instead."
By the way she said it Draco knew he would get more than lucky tonight. She spoke calmly but her intention was still clear. He was happy he had brought some of his fortune with him to America and exchanged it for muggle money because he could afford the nice suit he donned and the Upper East Side apartment in which he resided.
He and Angel left together and went to his place, sharing a night of heat and passion. His tongue had ventured every portion of her skin and he was pleased to find out he was the first man to have her. Her squeals made this evident. This made him question her motives slightly, losing her virginity to a man she didn't know but he only chalked it up to his good looks and irresistible demeanor. Her body was amazing and he enjoyed taking it. There was something about being a woman's first that made Draco's member harder than usual in a situation like this one. It was the way he had an unofficial claim on her by them making love and how, if they never saw each other again, would always remember him. She had a fit figure and breasts he could barely fit his hands around. During their lovemaking she screamed and shouted so loud in pleasure that it lifted his ego above and beyond cloud nine. She was a true goddess and he didn't want to let her go.
Lucky for him it was more than a one night stand. They dated for a good two years, tallying up the romantic evenings and lust-filled love-makings.
One night he decided that she was the only one he needed and proposed to her. He made reservations to the most exquisite restaurant in New York and he ordered a bottle of her favorite wine. "Angel," he started. "I'm not giving you up you know."
"And what do you mean by that my prince?" she asked as she sipped a generous amount of wine from her glass. She had taken to calling him that after he told her of his days as the Slytherin Prince at Hogwarts. Apparently she was the same at Beauxbatons, coming from a wealthy and influential family as well."
It was then that he slipped the wooden felted box on the table from his pocket and watched as her eyes grew three sizes larger. Her excitement was heard by the entire restaurant.
"Marry me, Angel."
"Draco," she said. "You are the sweetest man, and you are too good to me. The way you treat me to nice things and expensive gifts makes me feel like a princess. I love you Draco Malfoy and of course I'll marry you."
When she said this it had only lifted his spirits more. He got out of his chair and ran over to kiss her, the small applause from the rest of the restaurant they didn't hear. All Draco could focus on was his soon to be bride and they then worked on moving back to England as soon as possible to get married there.
Less than a month later Draco found himself at the alter in a black silk tux, patiently waiting for Angel to walk to him. Angel and Draco's wedding was a large affair, with many of his mother and father's associates and all of her family in attendance. The news that Draco Malfoy was marrying a French witch did not go unnoticed by the rest of magical London. He had disappeared for five years and came back with a beautiful woman on his side. The Daily Prophet covered their wedding and Angel moved in with him immediately. It was only on their wedding day did he realize that their wedding was on the Five year anniversary of the Great Wizard War's end. The night he had said I do was the same night he had made amends to be a better person, starting with Hermione. He had sent the Golden Trio invitations to his wedding and he was astounded when they actually showed up. His happiness was only exceeded by his bride's beauty as she walked down the aisle. A veil covering her face and a train following her dutifully, all his attention was immediately directed towards her. That moment was the one where he devoted his life to his loving wife who he wouldn't have met if it wasn't for Hermione.
