A/N: Hello, loves.

Thank you to everyone who's read the story so far and thank you to those of you who've followed and favorited! I know the prologue was so short and vague and I'm sorry for that. Here's chapter one a little early to make up for it. Happy reading! Don't forget to rate and review. What do you think? Let me know how it is!

Chapter 1: Memories

Hermione was surrounded by screams. Screams of pain. Screams of defeat. Screams of death. Death was surrounding her. She watched as her classmates, friends, everyone, fought around her. She watched as the death eaters shrieked in laughter and rejoiced as her friends fell to their deaths. She watched as death eaters, too, joined them in their unfortunate fates. The war was overcoming her and she was stumbling back and away from it.

Overcome with fear and pain surrounding her, Hermione backed into a small alcove she had discovered in her time at Hogwarts. When Fred and George had bestowed the Marauder's Map unto Harry, the trio had used many of the secret passageways to sneak into the night when their days weren't troubled with dark wizards trying to take over their world.

She openly wept in her hidden area of secrecy, where no one could see that she wasn't as brave as everyone believed her to be. She felt fear just like any other person.

'Just cry it out and pull yourself together', she thought, 'this is war'.

She had already begun to wipe her eyes and collect herself when she heard it. A sob resounded around her. She hadn't heard it when it was mixed into her own sobs of pain, but now it was loud and clear.

Quickly she drew her wand and walked deeper into the alcove. The sounds of sobbing became louder as she got closer.

On the floor, curled into a ball, was a boy. She could recognize him anywhere. Platinum blonde hair and pale skin told her all she needed to know about him.

Suddenly, his head shot up and silver eyes pierced brown and she knew. She could see the losses he had suffered and the pain he was in through his eyes. He was broken.

This was not just a war of gains and losses of the light. The dark had lost as well. Not all Slytherins were dark and not all Gryffindors were light. Here, on the cold stone floor, was just a boy. He was not a Slytherin, not a death eater. He, too, had suffered from this war.

Decidedly, Hermione walked towards him and sat herself on the floor beside him. They locked eyes, both filled with fear of the unknown. And then she did the unexpected, she placed her hand on his. She didn't know why she did it, but she did.

Draco was confused. This was the girl he had taunted for years. She was his exact opposite. His enemy. He was supposed to hate her, despise her. However, he felt something else entirely. He was curious. She had soft chocolate brown eyes that, despite him being well… him, didn't judge him or seem to want him dead.

Her hand was soft and warm on his. She seemed to know his fear and he was ashamed. She must think him a coward, crying uncontrollably in a corridor while others fought the war.

He didn't know what he meant to do, or what he wanted to do, but he could no longer hear the ongoing war. He could no longer hear the screams of torture surrounding him as his people murdered innocent children.

He wasn't aware he was inching closer to her until his lips met hers and they collided in need. He needed her and she seemed to need him, too. The war was taking its toll on all who fought it.

Hermione felt the softness of his lips and melted into him. He tasted sweet and salty from the tears that had dried upon his face and hers. In this moment, she forgot the war. She forgot that she was a mere teenager fighting against one of the darkest wizards of all time. She simply forgot all that surrounded her and was in the moment. The moment that passed between them was undeniably strong.

They were lost in each other and the war was forgotten as Draco began to pull closer. She felt his needs and he felt hers. They needed this. All was forgotten as two became one and time stopped.

A bond was formed on that dark night. Hermione had left Draco in that alcove and rejoined her friends. She fought valiantly as she decided she had something worth fighting for. Something worth existing for. She still had those moments to experience. Moments of childishness and moments of freedom.

Draco had fought, not for the dark, but also not openly for the light. It was still too much to risk fighting for the light and against the dark, but a change had been made that night. He found his mother, just as Harry defeated the Dark Lord and the war was won by the light. They walked off the grounds of Hogwarts, joined by his father.

Hermione was pulled back from her memories as the floo burst into emerald flames and a figure stepped out. She smiled as he dusted himself off.

"You're late, Ron. Where have you been?" she asked, worriedly, "Is everything alright at the ministry?"

Ron straightened himself and walked towards the kitchen, "Everything's just fine. I just had a bloody mountain of paperwork and you know how Kingsley gets when I'm late to send it in".

He fidgeted with the tea kettle as he poured himself a cup, "Nothing to worry about".

Her brow crinkled as she examined him further, "Are you sure you're alright? You seem nervous".

"Bloody hell, Hermione, can't you relax?" he stated, angrily.

She frowned, they had been having many fights these past few years, they weren't the same. He would come home, late, and begin to argue. Their arguments would last throughout the night and she would sleep alone, hoping against all hope that things would change and they could be happy again.

"I'm sorry," she resigned, "I'll just set the table for dinner, Alice and Oliver have already eaten".

She sighed and began to set the table, things had been the same for so many years, it had become a habit. She wouldn't dare change anything. She couldn't risk the outcome if Ron were to find out the truth about their lives. She would just have to settle. This is what she deserved for lying.

Ron walked towards their bedroom and changed for dinner. He sat himself across Hermione and examined the preparations she had made.

He sighed, disgustedly, "Bloody hell, are we having peas with our dinner again? You know I hate peas. And corn, too? Honestly, Hermione, it's like you don't even care".

"I'm sorry," she repeated, "I know you don't like them, but peas are the only vegetable Alice ever touches and you know Oliver loves corn. I'll be sure to ask Molly for some tips when we floo over for Sunday dinner".

He fidgeted again, "About that, well I was thinking you could, you know, take Alice and Oliver to mum and dad's and I'd floo over after. I've got quite a bit of work on my hands and I'll be late again tomorrow".

"Ron, tomorrow's Sunday. The ministry isn't even open, it's your only day off", she tried. He was always working late, but he was usually the first to arrive at the weekly family dinners they had with the rest of the family at the Weasley's.

"Right, well," he started, nervously, "I've still got paperwork to finish, it's not like I enjoy doing it".

That seemed to end the conversation and they finished their meal in silence. As usual, Ron finished his meal and went into his home office for the rest of the night. He hated being disturbed while he was working, so Hermione never bothered to spend time with him once he was in there.

Hermione finished her dinner and looked down at the table. 'How had her life become like this?' she questioned herself.

She was once young and youthful. She would enjoy her time spent with Ron. Although they had never really been the adorable couple type, they had their time as friends to keep their relationship as lovers going.

There were so many opportunities missed. She had the chance at a different life and she turned it down, for him. Ron was never comfortable with Hermione's job. She was working for the Department of Mysteries and when Kingsley offered her the position as the Head of the Department, she had turned it down. Ron had convinced her it was best for their family if she did so.

She was no longer in the mood to clean up after Ron and magicked the dishes to clean themselves with a wave of her hand.

She walked into the living room and gently lifted Oliver and placed him on his bed followed by Alice on hers. She walked over and switched on the little light near Oliver's bed and kissed his forehead. She placed a kiss on Alice's forehead and tucked her in.

She walked towards the door and leaned against the frame. She remembered the day they had decorated this room. It was a nightmare. Ron was working late again and her two monsters were throwing fits. Oliver, although usually quiet, had decided he wanted his side of the room to be a shade of dark gray. Alice, on the other hand, wanted her room to be her favorite color, green. Their magic had begun radiating off of them and the room had ended up splattered with paint. Hermione had had enough and sent them both for a bath. She then decided she couldn't see either of them upset and, with a wave of her hand, half the room was green and the other half was gray. She giggled as she walked into the bathroom. The twins were her pride and joy, but sometimes they could be a handful.

After being washed up and dressed, the twins returned to see their rooms painted just perfectly and giggled in delight. They had spent the rest of the evening setting the rooms just as the twins liked them. Oliver's half covered in little books and coloring pages and Alice's half decorated with paint and quidditch toys.

Hermione, having tucked the twins into bed, ran herself a quick bath and readied herself into bed as well. Ron rarely went to bed with her. He would sneak into the bed late at night, long after Hermione had fallen asleep. It had become their regime. Tucked in herself, she turned out the light and settled into a deep and disturbing slumber. She had the same dream almost every night. Piercing silver eyes would haunt her until the morning sun rose.

A/N: Dun dun dunnnnnn! Did you expect it? I surely didn't when I was coming up with the story. More on Alice and Oliver next chapter! Remember to rate and review, it helps me tons and I'd love to know what you all think so far.