Author's Note: This takes place after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
When Draco joined his parents for breakfast, he couldn't help but notice the copy of the Daily Prophet laid out on the table. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy did not notice Draco at first, so he had time to notice what was on the front page of the newspaper.
To no surprise, there was a picture of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. There hadn't been a day since the end of the Second Wizarding War that the Golden Trio hadn't been on the front page of the Daily Prophet. It wasn't anything that Draco wasn't used to.
But it was still painful.
Before his mind could comprehend what his body was doing, Draco was touching with his finger the spot on the page that held Hermione's picture.
Why couldn't he stop thinking about her? It wasn't as if they had ever been anything between them.
Since Draco and his parents had been cleared of all charges and they no longer had to worry about being sent to Azkaban, Draco had taken the time to really think about his feelings. And Draco could no longer deny to himself that he had feelings for Hermione and that those feelings had been there since their earlier years at Hogwarts.
If only she had not been a Muggle-born.
Draco's eyes drifted towards Weasley, who had an arm wrapped around Hermione's waist.
Draco felt something catch in his throat. He had always known that Weasley had a thing for Hermione, but it was still painful to see the red-haired young man express his affection so openly.
Out of the corner of his eye, Draco noticed his parents exchanging knowing looks. The same look that his parents had always exchanged whenever Draco had complained about Hermione in the past.
It was clear now that his parents had also always known that he had feelings for her.
If only she had not been a Muggle-born. If only Draco had acted on his feelings before it had been too late.
Draco noticed that Hermione was smiling at Weasley. They looked so in love.
Draco had to look away from the picture. He sat down in the chair beside his mother with a lot more force than was necessary.
Narcissa Malfoy touched her son's arm lightly, and she gave him a slight smile. Draco returned the smile, even though he knew it was weak.
"I don't know why the Daily Prophet keeps on insisting on putting the boring news on the front page," Lucius Malfoy drawled as he opened the newspaper and laid it back down on the table. Hermione was now hidden from view.
Draco allowed himself a slight smirk. Him and his father had slowly began to grow closer since the Dark Lord's fall, and Draco was now beginning to develop a better understanding of Lucius Malfoy. Because of that, Draco knew that his father's comment was just his special, unique way of offering comfort.
Draco couldn't help but wonder, though, what his parents really thought about his feelings for Hermione. They had nearly been destroyed by the Dark Lord's presence in their manor, but their pride had not been completely broken.
Not that it really mattered. It wasn't as if Draco had any chance with Hermione anyways. He had lost any chance he might have had with her a long time ago.
He had made too many mistakes. He had hurt her too many times.
But it was still painful.