Sorry for the long wait!

………………………………………………

Making Amends

………………………………………………

In the wee hours of the morning, Hermione opened her eyes and nearly regretted it when they almost crossed. Staring at her nose to nose, were a pair of dark gray eyes surrounded by nearly black lashes. She smiled and leaned forward to kiss Lysander's nose.

"Morning, mummy," he said, smiling and stretching.

"Good morning, love. Ready for a new day of school?" she asked.

Her son nodded. "I like school. I've made lots of friends!" he said excitedly.

Hermione felt Lysander's happiness in her heart; if he was happy then she was too. "Should we wake Uncle Harry?" Hermione asked with a grin.

Lysander nodded and turned to shake Harry awake. "Wake up Uncle Harry!" he said before standing up and jumping on the bed.

Harry was sleeping half off the bed and at Lysander's voice, rolled right off and hit the carpeted floor with a hard thump. Hermione and Lysander burst into peals of laughter as Harry stood and groggily scratched his head.

"What's the big idea?" he grumbled.

"Can you go to school with us today, Uncle Harry?" Lysander asked excitedly.

"Sure," Harry said. "But did you have to push me off the bed to wake me up?"

Lysander giggled. "We didn't push you!"

"You were already sleeping half off the bed," Hermione put in.

Harry chuckled and nodded in defeat. "How was your date last night?"

Hermione's mood changed drastically and she sat up, turning her back to him. "I don't want to talk about it in front of Sonny here," she said before standing and walking to Lysander's closet to pick out his clothes for the day.

"That bad, huh?" he asked as he followed her, noting vaguely that the bed was larger than it had been last night. They did that often, sleeping in a warm pile together. This small ritual had started a few months after Lysander had been born and happened frequently nowadays.

Both he and Hermione had needed the warmth of another person in the midst of their loneliness after the war. Hermione and Lysander had been his solace. Without them Harry reckoned he would've been lost.

"What happened?" he asked as he slid his arm around her shoulders, noticing that she looked gloomy.

Hermione let out a slow breath and looked at her brother, because he simply wasn't her best friend. Harry was her brother. "I told Cormac who Lysander's father was."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "And?" he asked in an eerily calm voice.

She bit her lip and stared at him. "He flipped out completely. He couldn't believe I had kept something so important from him. His problem with it all is that Lysander is Lucius Malfoy's grandson; therefore Malfoy blood runs through my son's veins. He was beyond angry." Hermione narrowed her eyes when she noticed that the paintings and photos on the wall were rattling. She was just surprised that he hadn't broken the windows of the entire flat in his anger.

"Don't do anything rash, Harry. I gave Cormac a piece of my mind and ended things on the spot," she said as she cupped Harry's cheek.

Lysander watched them from his bed as he petted his blue cat. "Mummy?"

Hermione turned to look at him. "Yes, love?"

"Why don't you and uncle Harry get married?" he asked.

She turned to look at Harry and both promptly erupted in laughter. The boy's comment serving as a distraction from what could have been an explosive argument. It took Hermione a few minutes to reply to her son's question.

"Because sweetie, Harry is my brother. Brothers and sisters don't get married."

The child nodded but still didn't grasp the entire idea. "Why?" he asked.

Hermione frowned. The dread "why" questions of children Lysander's age were now starting and she didn't know how she would handle it. "How about we start getting ready for school? We don't want to be late," she said slowly, ignoring Harry's snickering.

Lysander grinned and jumped off the bed excitedly, forgetting all about his question. He ran into the bathroom to wash his face and teeth while Harry and Hermione went to their respective rooms to shower and get ready.

…………………

That same evening, after tucking Lysander into bed and lecturing Harry over his lack of hygiene when it came to his closet, Hermione sat down at the kitchen table and sorted through her mail. She found a small parcel with her name written in elegant script and wondered who it was from.

She took out her wand and scanned the box carefully. Though there weren't any more death eaters left in freedom, she wasn't too convinced that Harry, her son, and herself were out of danger from Voldemort supporters. When the box turned up clean, she opened it carefully and was surprised to see a beautiful white box that looked as if it was holding jewelry.

She opened a small card that was on top and smiled when she saw who it was from. She read:

'I took the liberty of sending you a small gift to make you feel better after the spat you had with McLaggen. And let me reiterate that meeting you has been the single best experience I have had in a very long time, no exaggeration. I hope you are well my beautiful lady, and until we can see each other again you will be on my mind.

Kyle Delaney

P.S.

When you take out your gift, place it on a flat surface where it will not fall. Goodbye.'

Hermione smiled to herself as she looked inside the box and found another, a white box that was expensive in its packaging. She opened the box and found a small bottle of wine about three inches tall. She removed it and then placed it on the table. Almost instantaneously the miniature bottle sparkled and grew to its original size. Hermione examined it for a long moment, taking in the fancy brand name and the design of the bottle itself. She summoned a glass flask and popped the cork with her wand before she poured herself a small amount.

The taste was exquisite and it relaxed Hermione by slow degrees, making her eyelids feel heavy. With a tap of her wand, a scroll of parchment sprung out and she unfurled it, reading each name closely. It was a list of survivors of the war five years ago. Almost everyone had confirmed their attendance to the memorial that would take place in a few days time, and their names were glowing in red. There were about ten who would not come either because they were out of the country, or had refused to attend completely.

The memorial was being organized just in time for the fifth anniversary of the war where they would honor their fallen before and during the war. Harry had withdrawn from her the same way he had done the past years whenever this day had been approaching. He was quiet and somber and barely talked to her at all. But Hermione understood him. Harry had lost everyone he loved to the war, just as she had, but life moved on and those loved ones were remembered fondly.

Her thoughts took her to the last days of Draco's life, when he had saved her and their unborn son. There were so many things that had been left incomplete. She had fallen in love with a man who had saved her but she had never really gotten to know. As she took another sip of her wine, Hermione felt tears trail down her face; she hadn't even been aware that she had been crying.

Everyday it was her job to be a stronghold for her son and for Harry. They needed her, but there was only so much she could take. Harry didn't work, mostly because money was not an issue, but he didn't have the desire or the motivation for it either.

Harry spent his days visiting childhood places, spending his time at the cemetery where Ginny and Ron were buried, and Hermione had a sneaking suspicion that he spent a lot of time at Hogwarts. Not teaching—no, Harry would never become a professor—but just roaming the halls like one of the many ghosts that took home there. He needed help; help that only a woman could give him, not a sister like her, but a woman to suit his needs.

Hermione swiped at her tears with the back of her hand and stood. She couldn't really point fingers because she was just in the same situation as Harry. The only exception was that she had a part time job at one of the largest bookstores in the wizarding world, and she did it because she loved books so very much.

She had met Cormac again on her twenty-first birthday, when Lysander had been two years old and she had just gotten that job. His ego had just as big as when she had first met him at school, but he no longer spoke about himself every single minute. The things they had been through had made them grow up faster than normal.

When he had seen Lysander for the first time, he had assumed that Ron had been the father, but she had told him half of the truth, just withholding her son's paternity. She hadn't seen him much after that, but every time she did see him he showed interest in her. Hermione couldn't deny that she liked him, but she often wondered if he felt more than admiration for her involvement in the war.

Cormac had told her that he was attracted to her, but he gave no indication of wanting to take their relationship to the next level. Hermione sighed to herself as she crawled into bed and reached for her dreamless potion which was sitting on her nightstand. She wasn't interested on getting to the next level with anyone either.

She took a measured sip of her potion and then lay back in bed. She had been taking the potion every other day in order to stop the nightmares from keeping her up all night. She had tried to stop taking the potion a few times, but the dreams always returned and were of the worst sort imaginable.

She had dreamt of the people she had taken out in the name of justice, of her imprisonment time with Voldemort and his death eaters, and of those first moments when the war had begun. The worst of them were the ones when she was seeing her parents' death in the pensieve, hearing them scream in pain as their home burned down.

Hermione wiped her face as more tears came. She had to take that potion. Otherwise she would go mad. She sighed heavily. She needed to let go of her past and her pain. The only problem was that she didn't really know how to do it. There was no use in dwelling over the past. Her parents weren't coming back. Ron and Ginny weren't coming back. Draco was never coming back. She needed to move on.

With another heavy sigh she closed her eyes and resolved that if Kyle Delaney asked her out again, she would accept.

…………………………………

The bell on the door jingled as it opened and Draco sat straighter when he spotted Hermione walk into the restaurant. He'd been waiting to see her up close again and every time that bell had jingled, his eyes had raced to the door to see if it was her.

Snow was still falling outside and he watched on as Hermione brushed off snow from their son's covered head and shoulders. She pulled off her own hat and looked around until she spotted Tonks' plum colored hair. Draco had a good view of her from where he was sitting, but he doubted she had seen him yet.

"You look like Rudolph the red nose reindeer," Hermione told Lysander as they approached the table.

The child grinned and touched his face with his gloved hand. "My nose is cold," said Lysander.

"We'll warm it up with some hot chocolate. Now look, there is auntie Tonks," she said with a smile. Lysander ran over and gave his aunt a big hug. "Good morning," Hermione said cheerily.

"Very good morning," said Draco, smirking when her eyes met his and widened. Her eyes darted to Tonks in confusion before she sat Lysander in a chair next to his little cousin and herself.

Tonks smiled and handed them the menus. "Hermione I would like you to meet my cousin. Kyle Delaney," she said, trying to swallow a laugh at the look on Hermione's face.

"He's your cousin?" she asked. "From what side of the family?"

Tonks smiled; Hermione's brain had always been two steps ahead from anyone else's. "He's been out of town for a couple of years. Now he's establishing his business here too. He's a cousin on my father's side, though it is strange that he inherited magical abilities," she said with a slight frown. Merlin, she hated having to lie to Hermione, but Draco had nearly pleaded for her to help him in his quest to make Hermione fall in love with him.

Draco took a sip of his juice and tried very hard not to look nervous as Hermione stared at him. He looked over at her and her eyes quickly darted to her menu. He looked at his son, who was also looking at him curiously and smiled.

"This must be the son I have heard so much about," he said in a polite tone. "What's your name?"

"Lysander. Pleased to meet you," said the boy, shaking Draco's hand.

Hermione smiled proudly at his manners and ran a hand through his hair.

"What is your name?" Lysander asked him.

Draco looked at Hermione before turning to his son. "I'm Kyle Delaney, and it's a pleasure to meet you too. I hear from my cousin here that you like to read and fly. I like those things too," he said. "I happen to have a really cool broom that I know you would like."

Lysander's eyes brightened. "Uncle Harry takes me flying with him sometimes, but he's been really sad this week. Mummy won't tell me why," the child said.

Draco raised his gaze to Hermione, who at the moment was looking very uncomfortable and refused to say anything.

"Why don't we just order breakfast and then we'll take the kids to the zoo?" Tonks asked, breaking the silence.

"It's snowing, Tonks," Hermione said matter-of-factly.

"We'll take them to some other zoo, where it isn't snowing," she said as the children cheered and talked excitedly about all the animals they wanted to see.

Hermione just nodded and tried to avoid Kyle's gaze as much as she could. He was so unnerving; she didn't know whether it was his gaze or simply the fact that his eyes reminded her of Draco. The point was that he was making her nervous. Draco for his part couldn't stop looking at her the entire meal and then as they took the children to a zoo located in another part of the country completely were it wasn't raining or snowing.

As Tonks took the kids off to buy them a stuffed animal as a reminder of their trip, Draco treated Hermione to a cotton candy. "Thank you," said as they walked slowly towards the tiger exhibit.

"No problem," Draco said. He sighed and looked at her. "If you don't mind me asking, how have you managed to raise him on your own?"

Hermione looked at him closely and shrugged slightly. "It's been hard. I have tried my best to be a good mother to him, but I didn't have much help. Harry tries but he's not my son's father."

"Where is his father?" asked Draco in a whisper.

"He died during the war," Hermione replied hollowly.

"I'm sorry for bringing it up."

She shook her head. "It happened nearly five years ago. It's time for me to move on and stop dwelling in the past. Lysander, well he's my life but there are times when I don't even what I'm doing. My parents are gone, and the closest friend who raised her children to become wonderful adults has been sick for a long time. I have no one I can ask for advice."

"What about Tonks?" asked Draco.

"She helps all she can, but we're under the same circumstances. We're both learning to raise our kids as they grow. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if I'll be able to bring him up correctly when I don't even know what I'm doing," she admitted quietly.

Draco had to force down the urge to hug her and tell her the truth then and there. He couldn't. He needed a little more time. "I don't know much about parenting, myself, but I know in my gut that you will be a great mother, something you are right now. Your son will grow up and look back and he will appreciate all the love and dedication you gave him. All you have to do is love him and let him know that you will always be there for him," he told her seriously.

Hermione smiled genuinely. For some reason, his words made her think that what he said would all be true. "I hope you're right. What about you? Do you have any children? A wife? A girlfriend?" she asked nonchalantly.

Draco shook his head. "I am a free agent," he said with a chuckle, staring at her intently until she started to fidget under his gaze. He cleared his throat and smiled broadly when he saw his son, his cousin, and his little niece approach them.

"They grow up quickly, don't they?" Draco asked softly, remembering the first time he had ever laid eyes on his son at the cemetery. He had been a baby then. Now he was almost five years old and such a big kid. Independent was the word he was looking for.

"That they do," Hermione agreed, frowning slightly at the tone in his voice. That eerie feeling about this man was back again and this time Hermione didn't quash it down into the pile of her farfetched and exaggerated group of thoughts.

Maybe she wasn't imagining things. Maybe this was Draco under some spell or in some sort of disguise. She would have been able to even consider it had she not seen—felt—Draco die in her arms. That was the main reason she refused to believe that Draco could be alive. She had seen the last breath leave his body.

But there was another reason aside from that very important first one. She knew deep in her heart that she would never forgive him if he were alive and hadn't shown himself to her.

…………………………………

"Five years ago on this very day. A war was fought for the survival and safety of every person in this world as well as the muggle world. Family and friends were lost," Hermione took a deep breath and forced her voice to continue steady. "And though they are no longer with us, we conserve their memories and keep them in our hearts. That is why we are gathered here today, on the site where the last war was fought and won."

She fisted her hands in order to make them stop shaking. She had to continue. "Here we will honor those we lost with a memorial park where our children will play and learn the history of the ground they thread on. They will learn of the many people who gave their lives so that future generations could grow up safe and in a world that accepts change," she said, taking a deep breath, her eyes meeting Harry's. He gave her a nod of encouragement.

Hermione continued. "This memorial has been made possible through various donations from organizations as well as individuals who lost relatives on this very ground. To everyone who helped, on behalf of Harry Potter and myself, we thank you," she said before stepping away from the podium to the sound of thunderous applause so that a few select people could continue with their own speeches.

Harry had refused to speak in front of large crowd from the get go and Hermione hadn't pressed him. She had instead opted to say a few words on their behalf, which had resulted in the committee setting her up as the opener of the ceremony. Hermione could see Tonks sitting at the very front row with her cousin. Behind her stretched many rows of people which had fit inside of the magical tent.

Lysander and Isadora had stayed with a babysitter while she and Tonks attended the ceremony, but Hermione still worried for her son because he had been sad when she had left him behind. But he would understand soon enough.

Hermione crossed her legs and entwined her arm with Harry's, squeezing his hand in hers. "Okay?" she questioned softly.

Harry nodded and offered a small smile. "I'm okay. I couldn't have said those things better myself," he murmured.

"We're going to have to bring Lysander here one day. We'll show him Ron and Ginny's monument," she said.

That had been Harry's request just for getting him to attend. A personal memorial for Ron and Ginny Weasley, and the power he yielded in the wizarding world after the war was immense. The committee in charge of the memorial park had been more than happy to reply and accommodate his request.

Hermione on the other hand had done something just as meaningful but less obvious for Draco. There was a beautiful cherry tree with a silver plaque on its side standing across the field from Ginny and Ron's monument. The plaque had his facial profile and name engraved in a beautiful green calligraphy showing his name and birth to death dates.

She pushed her voluminous hair over her shoulder and looked up and over the faces that were watching her and Harry more than listening to what the other speakers were saying. She spotted Cormac towards the edge of the front second row. He was watching her thoughtfully but she was sorry to say that she wasn't interested. Hermione looked away and in the process met Kyle Delaney's eyes.

Draco for his part had been watching her from the moment she had arrived with Potter. The familiarity in which they moved and touched each other made him wonder. His sources hadn't said anything about the two being an item, but they were too comfortable with each other. He bit down hard on the side of his mouth and forced the feelings of jealousy down. He was being irrational without proof that there was anything going on between Hermione and Potter. So he continued to admire her.

Though she had worn the respectful colors of mourning, in a knee-length velvet skirt with a stretch turtle neck with a broad collar, she had included a wide red belt that circled a small waist. He had to admit that during their younger years she had had a nice body, especially for a teenage girl who hadn't cared much for her looks. But now, all he could think of was 'wow.' She had the body of a goddess. He couldn't not stare at her.

Draco winked at her and saw her look away before she started to talk to Potter again. His source had told him that she and McLaggen were over and done with. He had honestly felt relieved that they were over. But Draco knew McLaggen's type, and he knew that the other man wouldn't give up so easily until he got Hermione back.

When the ceremony was over, she stepped out of the tent with Potter and Draco decided to follow. "Miss Granger?" he called, going for politeness. She and Potter turned to look at him in question.

She smiled. "Please, call me Hermione. How can I help you Kyle?" she asked.

Harry looked from the stranger to Hermione. "I'll let you two speak. I'll be by Ron and Ginny's place," he said before he sized Draco up and then walked away without a word.

Hermione gave him an embarrassed smile. "I'm sorry about his impolite attitude. But he's my brother and he's suspicious of every man who speaks to me."

"It is good that he is so protective of you. That means that he watches over you constantly and can sense all the bad men who surround you," said Draco quietly. She smiled again and he was floored. She was so beautiful. "I know that it is highly inappropriate to do this now, but I was wondering if you would allow me to take you out for a cup of coffee tonight?"

Hermione had to stop to admire his suaveness. Had he asked her out for drinks, she would've shot him down immediately, but he had gone for a coffee date and she had to admit that she liked that. She also remembered that she had resolved not to shoot him down the next time he asked her out.

She shook her head. "Not tonight. I want to spend the day with my son and Harry. But… I'll take your offer tomorrow," she said as she spotted Cormac walking towards them.

Draco smiled charmingly and nodded. "Shall I pick you up then?"

"Yes, just let me give you my address," she said, her eyes on Cormac.

Draco turned to look at the other man. "I'll get it from Tonks," he said, taking her hand and kissing it gently. "Until tomorrow, beautiful lady."

Hermione watched him go with a slight smile on her face, a smile that vanished when Cormac reached her. "We need to talk," he said quietly.

She sighed. "I can't be with someone who still holds grudges about blood. What makes it worse is the fact that you insulted my child and I will never forget that. It's not his fault whose blood runs through his veins," she told him darkly.

"Look, I'm sorry for what I said about your son, but you must understand that it came as a shock to me to find out that Draco Malfoy was the father of your kid!" he said in a pleading tone.

Hermione shook her head. "The things you said were hurtful. My son is my life and he is above everything. That is why you and I are over," she said as she turned to go.

Cormac grabbed her arm and turned her around. "Please Hermione, I'm sorry. Just give me another chance," he pleaded.

Hermione twisted her arm out of his grip. "I don't think so Cormac. You ruined the trust I had in you and it's not something that is so easily fixed. My son is my life. If you can't accept us, you and I will never have a future. Be it as friends or something more," she said before walking away.

"My condolences," said Draco from behind Cormac.

McLaggen gave him an unfriendly look. "What business do you have with Hermione?" he asked.

"I don't think that's any of your business, but I'll humor you. I think she's an amazing person. She raised a child in the aftermath of a war, and she did it alone. Regardless of who sired the boy, he's a part of her that no one will ever erase. If you can't value her for what she it, who she is, then I'm sorry for you, but I will," Draco said seriously.

Cormac's gaze hardened. "You'll have to fight me for her then."

The Ex-Slytherin wanted to laugh in his face, but refrained. This wasn't the place or time for a fist fight. Instead he attacked with words. "I'll tell you now that I don't fight clean. I will do anything and everything to be with her and I won't care who I have to destroy to get what I want," Draco said with a smirk and a salute before he walked away.

Cormac growled to himself. There was no way in hell he was going to let some pretty boy take Hermione away from him. He didn't care what he had to do either.

……………………………

"Cornelius, have a seat. We have much to discuss."

The one time Minister of Magic sat down in front of the man who had held office after him but had lost his job after a few wrong decisions he had made. "Rufous, what can I help you with?" asked Fudge.

"I want to discuss Potter and the Granger girl. He still holds great power amongst the people and the Ministry. But there are many of our old acquaintances who do not like it," said Rufous.

Fudge swallowed nervously. "We can't hurt them. They're too public for us to attempt anything," he said.

The other man leaned back in his chair. "Accidents happen, Fudge. These children aren't untouchable. If the Wizengamot turns down our bill to charge these people for the murders they committed in the name of justice, I know of a few people who will make them pay."

Fudge's eyes were wide. "Who are you working for? Because I cannot believe that a personal vendetta will go so far."

Scrimgour sneered. "Potter cost me my place in the Ministry. Now he is going to pay and what better way than through his precious Hermione and her little bastard?"

"You would harm the child?" Fudge asked, looking sick.

"To extract my revenge will do anything. But before I plan anything against the Granger girl and her child, I want to find out who the father of the boy is. He had nothing of the Weasley characteristics, but he does in fact look a bit like Potter. I am curious as to whom sired the boy. If Potter is really the father, then this would put the icing on the cake," said Scrimgour.

Fudge nodded nervously and just wished fervently that this bill they were trying to pass wouldn't come back and bite them in the arse. He knew Potter and Granger were the most powerful and influential people in their society and if the dung hit the fan he would do anything to save his own behind. He wouldn't care who went down as long as he saved himself.

………………………………

Harry watched his little nephew from the park bench he was sitting on as the child climbed a tall slide and slid down over and over. Hermione had asked him to take care of Lysander for the rest of the afternoon because she needed to clean the flat and then get ready for some date she was going on.

He wondered who the guy was and hoped that this one turned out better than McLaggen, though he just knew that no man would ever be good enough for her. The sky was getting dark and he had heard on the TV that a snow storm was approaching, so he wouldn't be out for too long with Lysander.

"Uncle Harry! Look at how high I am!" Lysander called from the top of the tallest slide.

"Careful Sonny. I don't want you breaking an arm off! Your mum would have my head," he replied with a smile.

Lysander just nodded and moved on to the monkey bars and other playground toys. All the mother's with their kids were leaving, since it appeared that the temperature was dropping.

"Hey kid, we have to go!" Harry called.

"Five more minutes Uncle Harry, please?" Lysander asked as he ran over and clung to his leg.

"Yes, what's five more minutes Potter?" asked a snide voice from behind them.

Harry whirled around at the sound of the voice and thought that maybe he had finally lost his bloody mind. "Malfoy?" he nearly choked out. Malfoy was dead and this was an imposter or someone who was up to something. Harry pushed Lysander behind him. "Malfoy is dead. Who are you really?" he nearly snarled.

"It's me, Potter. I'm not dead," Draco stated dryly.

Harry shook his head incredulously. "Then why is there a grave with your name on it? How is that you died in the arms of my friend?"

Draco sighed in annoyance. Why couldn't the fool just believe him? "Send the boy away and I will tell you."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "Lysander, go play for another five minutes and then we'll go. And remember, don't talk to strangers," he said sternly. The child nodded obediently and ran over to play, but he was still curious as to who that man was.

"I did die, but there was one healer who at the request of Tonks tried all he could to bring me back," Draco said. And it was the truth. Tonks had only told him this a few months ago. She had been the one to find his body as Hermione clung to him after his and Weasley's death.

"Prove it," Harry said suspiciously. He couldn't believe this. Malfoy was dead. There was no way that this could be the real Draco Malfoy.

Draco nodded. "That boy there is my son. He was conceived during Hermione's captivity, when the war hadn't yet started. She saved me from my father, from my foolish ideals. She showed me that I didn't have to follow in my father's footsteps."

Harry stared at him. "Where have you been all these years? Why are you back now?"

"Before I tell you anything, I need to request something of you," Draco said seriously.

"What makes you think that I would ever do anything for you, Malfoy? last I remember, you were the one responsible for Dumbledore's death, the one who healed Hermione so that she could be hurt even more. The one person who can still bring her to tears at the thought of your name on a tombstone. What makes you think that I will help you in any way possible?" Harry snarled.

Draco nearly flinched. Potter was absolutely right. "I want to make things right, Potter. You have to believe me. But Hermione can't know that I'm alive. That is all I am asking you. Do not tell her that I'm alive. At least not yet," he said.

Harry's expressive green eyes narrowed. "You're asking me to lie to the most important person in my life? Why would I do such a thing?"

"Because I need her to get to know the real me first. I can't just show up at her door and tell her that I have been alive all of this time. She doesn't know me and I don't know her. I don't even know if she wants to be with me. I need time, but in order to accomplish this I—I need… bloody hell, I need your help!"

"For how long? Lying to Hermione isn't something that I want to do."

"Just while Hermione and I get to know each other and while Lysander gets used to me. I need this Potter, I need you to help me with this. Please," he said softly.

Harry sighed heavily. "Fine. I will help you. I will do this for them, not for you. I don't trust you, Malfoy. And I never will until you prove to me that you have changed. But if you prove that you can make them happy, I will help you anyway I can," he said seriously.

Draco nodded and squashed down the urge to smile. "Thank you Potter. Just know that I don't use that word very often."

Harry nodded as well. "How are you planning on getting close to Hermione?" he asked as he looked over at his little nephew.

"We're going out on a date tonight. By the way, I'm Kyle Delaney," Draco said, holding out his hand.

Harry looked at it for a second and wondered if he was making the right choice by helping this man. Then an image of Hermione's sad eyes flashed in his mind and he made a choice that would change the course of her and Lysander's lives.

Harry Potter took Draco Malfoy's hand and shook it.

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

Yay! I finally updated! I can't believe that I am finally moving on. I must say that the reviews for the first chapter were amazing. Thank you everyone for showing interest in this fic and interest in having me update. I hope everyone enjoyed it and you like where I'm going with it. Up next is Draco's explanation to Harry as to where he has been and Hermione and Draco's date. There are so many things going on, could Lysander and Hermione be in danger from people they haven't even thought about?

I hope to update this soon and sorry about those typos and possible misspelled words. Let me know what you thought!

!Joey!