October

This is always the most difficult night of the year for my husband. The anniversary of the night he almost lost everything. What is a day of celebration for the rest of our community, is a day of grieving for Draco. The night so many of his friends were killed. By the husband of my best friend. It should cause friction. It should make the relationship she and I have impossible.

It only makes us stronger. No, Draco and Mr. Potter will never be able to stand being in the same room together, but being the good husbands that they are, they put aside their differences once a year for Ginny and I. Even the fact that they were, essentially, on the same side of the war, they never could see eye to eye. Halloween is the only day that they will come together peacefully. It's a tradition that started many years ago.

We wandered through the silent cemetery hand in hand, reading the names of the fallen. The number of names that I could match with faces was overwhelming. Hand in hand, we followed the path, saying silent prayers for the forgotten. People who had been our friends, teenagers, really. Students. Study partners, those who would pass a rainy Sunday in the Hogwarts common rooms with us. Brothers. Sisters. Friends.

"They deserved better than this," I heard my husband say. "They deserved more. He was wrong, about everything, and they would still be here if…"

"No ifs, Draco. Pray for them. Grieve for them. But the ifs will take over your life if you let them, and then you're no better off that they are."

"Someone needs to remember them."

"And that's why we're here. We will remember them."

He shook his head. "More than just one night a year. By more than just you and me."

"You seem to have an idea about something," I say, squeezing his hand.

"Maybe." He falls silent and we continue to walk.

The names on the stones are familiar. Patil. Nott. Weasley. Sinistra. Wood. And those are just a few. In just one memorial park. There are hundreds more across the country and abroad.

"We need a…memorial…of some sort. A national day of remembrance."

"For once we agree, Malfoy," came a voice from behind us. We both jumped at the sound, and Draco pulled his wand at once, training it on the newcomer.

"Potter. What are you doing here?" he sneers.

"Same as you, from the look of it. Seeing that they're not forgotten." The other man looks weary. His limp is barely noticeable, but I can see he is still in pain. "Put your wand away. I'm not armed. And I'm not about to attack you and your wife over the graves of war heroes." A grunt from his partner causes him to grin. That is the first time I notice Ginny there, and we share a smile. "I'm not about to attack you at all," he amends.

Draco surprises me when he sheaths his wand completely. It is unlike him to do so.

"What is it that we agree on?" he asks, his voice disbelieving.

"A memorial. And I'll see that the credit goes to the Malfoy family. I think you could use the positive press," he smirks.

"Harry," Ginny snaps.

"Sorry, old habits and all."

"Of course. Besides, I got all of the good press I need when Lila married me last summer. I'm sure you couldn't have missed the write ups on the wedding."

"No," he admitted. "I'm not sure whether to congratulate you, Mrs. Malfoy, or offer you a CT scan."

I smile, un-offended by his comment. "Most likely, both. Ginny, we should get together again soon. In the daylight."

"I'll owl you. Mum would love to see your honeymoon pictures, maybe you could come by the house?"

"I would love to."


"Come along with her when she does, Malfoy. We'll settle the details for the Day of Remembrance. Arthur will be there, and he'll be able to square everything with the Minister, I'm sure." Harry's voice was bitter when he made the suggestion, as if working on anything with Draco would be torturous.

My husband's reply was just as uneasy. "I'll be there."

Twelve months later there was a National Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Phoenix Wars, and every year after, the four of us somehow make our way together to that same cemetery. It's cold tonight. Even snow and rain wouldn't keep us away. I pull my cape tighter around me. Up ahead we can see the Potter's standing on the bluff. Draco growls at the sight of them, but by now Ginny and I are both quite aware that it is merely a front. On both Draco and Harry's parts. They may not be friends, but they are no longer adversaries, either.

We join them on the bluff.

"Potter," my husband sneers.

"Malfoy," comes the reply. Then more gently, "Lila. Are you sure you should be out here tonight?" he asks with a smile.

"I'm alright. It may be an early evening for me, though."

"Then lets do what we came here to do, shall we?" he asks with a smile.

I nod, and we all remove our wands. With an unspoken agreement, we all begin to cast spells. Before long, all of the stones are laden with flowers. It takes several minutes for us to complete our self appointed task, and when we are through it resembles early spring, instead of late fall, but we are satisfied.

Regrouping at the bluff, we silently observe our wand work critically. Our friends would have approved, I think.

Draco looks at Harry. "Whisky?" he asks.

"Not strong enough. Firewhisky. Our place or yours?"

"Ours. Lila needs to get home."

Ginny smiles at me. "You sure you're taking good care of the newest generation, there? I still can't believe you're the first of our friends to have a baby."

"I'll show you the nursery when we get back. And the list of baby names. It grows daily. Along with my waistline."

With that, we all aparate back to the manor, the sad task complete, at least for another year.