Time keeps moving forward as I keep falling back. Both my feet are planted; my foundation's cracked…The worst thing I can think of, of all there is, is losing your affection 'cause of my stubbornness…I get so frustrated, 'cause I hate being wrong. Energy gets wasted, 'cause my head's far too strong. But in my defense...I know that I wasn't right.

Allen Stone

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Graduation came faster than Hermione and Draco were ready for. With immense pride, Draco watched his little girl walk across the stage set up in the Great Hall to approach Hermione and accept her degree.

"Sophia Granger!" Hermione beamed as she called out her little girl's name.

The sea of Gryffindors went wild with clapping and roars. It sounded as though they had just won a Quidditch game, or the House Cup.

Sophia's smile was so big that it showed her teeth. With her head held high, and Landen's engagement ring twinkling with pride on her finger, she accepted the degree from her mother's hand.

Hermione pulled her daughter into a hug and gave her an adoring kiss on the cheek. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart. I know how difficult those N.E.W.T. level classes are, but I always knew you could do it."

There were happy tears glinting in Hermione's eyes. She gave Sophia another kiss and watched her exit the stage then took a quick moment for herself before calling out the next student onto the stage.

/

A graduation party was held for Sophia at The Burrow. The entire Weasley clan was present, with the exception of Ron. Harry and Ginny were the only ones who knew the truth of why he wasn't there. The rest of the family was led to believe that he was home sick with an egregious= illness.

Sophia was showing her degree off to Mrs. Weasley when Landen swopped in behind her, lifted her off her feet and twirled her around in his arms. Unabashedly, he entrapped her in a kiss in front of everyone. "I'm so proud of you baby," he pressed into her lips, kissing her again and again.

Sophia smiled into his mouth and wrapped her arms unapologetically around his neck.

A few spectators saw their public display of affections and began to clap and whoop in approval, including Mrs. Weasley.

"Now, now kids, there'll be plenty of time for that later," teased Mr. Weasley as he passed by them to be near his wife.

"Oh hush, Arthur, don't you remember what it's like to be young and in love?"

Arthur stole kiss from Molly, "I still am, dear."

Molly blushed. "Oh you…"

Draco sat at the table next to Hermione watching the scene unfold.

"He really does love her, doesn't it?" he observed in surrender.

"He really does. They've been close all their lives," admitted Hermione.

"They're going to get married no matter what we think of it, aren't they?" He turned to look at the beautiful woman beside him, who was still watching their daughter smiling happily in Landen's embrace.

"I think so," she confirmed with a gentle nod.

"Maybe we should just surrender to the inevitable?" he suggested.

"Perhaps," she looked back at Draco who had been staring at her attentively. The shocking vividness of his silver eyes caught her off-guard for a moment, causing her heart to flutter for a few beats.

Draco could tell she had swooned for a moment and broke out in a smile.

"I love you too," he told her as he fixated his gaze more intently on her.

Hermione's cheeks flushed pink as though she had been caught staring at a stranger.

"Sophia asked about meeting my parents again," mentioned Draco, re-directing the conversation.

Hermione made a weak sound of hesitation.

"I know," he related. "I'm not sure about it being a good idea either. She's been asking since the Anniversary. All this time the Weasleys have been her family, true, but she has another family too She's rightfully curious to want to meet them."

"I understand, but Draco, your family is…they're dangerous," she justifiably fretted.

"I'd never let any harm come to her…or you, for that matter," assured Draco.

"I don't think it'd be fair for me to say no, but I would want to be there when they meet," insisted Hermione, worry etched across her face.

Draco shook his head in disagreement. "If you come with, I'll just have to worry about both of you. You remember what happened the last time my parents found out I was dating you."

Lucius had sent Hermione a cursed necklace that would have killed her, had she put it on. Luckily they had woken up in bed together that morning and Draco had be there to interfere with the murder attempt. That was the same night they had conceived Sophia.

Lucius had been able to tear them apart then, and he wouldn't be given the chance to hurt her again.

"Yes, I remember. That's exactly why I want to be there." Hermione insisted, once again.

Chewing on his bottom lip, he thought about the risks. It wasn't his mother he was worried about, it had always been his father. At the same time, the man was elderly now. He wasn't nearly the threat he used to be. Just a bitter, grumpy, old man that was full of the hatred of the past.

"Let me go alone, at first. I'll talk to both of them and if things go well…as well as they could possibly go anyway, then I'll come back for you. You'll have to be willing to stay behind, though, if I tell you it's only safe for Sophia. Agreed?"

"I don't know about that-,"

"I can protect our little girl Hermione. Besides, it'll be easier for me to only have to worry about one of you at a time."

He had a point.

Reluctantly, she agreed. "Okay fine. That's how we'll do it. Just promise me you'll be cautious. I don't trust either of your parents."

"I get that. They'll be different about Sophia. I promise you. She's their bloodline."

"I don't know if they're going to acknowledge that knowing that she's my kid."

"I might not tell them that much if it doesn't seem to be going well. That's why I want you to be willing to stay behind if I tell you it's not safe."

"I'm not going to ask Sophia to lie."

"She's an adult now. She's going to have to understand that this is the way things are. If she wants to meet her grandparents, there unfortunately will be stipulations," he explained regretfully.

/

The manor hadn't changed a bit. It never did. It was a constant, cold, stone landmark that appeared as cruel and heartless as its inhabitants.

One of the house elves greeted Draco at the door, flinging it wide open.

"Master Malfoy!" The elf bowed so low its nose touched the ground. Draco thought that Hermione would have hated to see that and was once again glad he had decided to come alone first.

"Tell mother I've arrived," he commanded the elf.

"Yes Master Malfoy, right away sir, Link will go quickly sir! Right away for his Master." The elf vanished with a pop.

Draco let himself into the parlor and made himself comfortable as he helped himself to a glass of one his father's finer scotches that was presented on the fireplace mantle.

To his surprise, his father walked into the room before his mother could arrive.

"Draco." Lucius eyed the glass in his son's hand with a disapproving glance, but Draco couldn't be bothered by his Father's disapproval and sipped his drink unapologetically.

"Father," he acknowledged in return.

"You've come to bring us more disappointment, I presume?" drawled the aged man Draco begrudgingly accepted as his father.

Draco squinted at Lucius with distaste and met his response with a provoking smile. "As usual."

His blood always boiled when he saw the man. Ever since he had made an attempt on Hermione's life, he hardly considered him an acknowledgeable relative.

"Is mother on her way down?" he asked testily. He was eager to not have a conversation with his father if he could avoid one.

"I'd imagine so. I've tried to explain to her that we no longer have a son but you know how old women can be…" he drawled.

"Why did you come down? What is it that you want from me?"

"I just wanted to observe the joke of a man you've become. You had a legacy to carry on and you threw it all away."

"I'd burn my legacy to the ground, gladly, for her." Draco stood proud.

"So you are still fucking that mudblood whore?" Lucius shook his head regretfully and tsk'ed his teeth in shame. "Well, I suppose that's exactly the kind of behavior I've learned to expect from you…unfortunately. It's a pity, Draco, truly…"

"Watch your tongue with me, father. I'm no longer a child. You can't just presume it's safe to speak to me that way, anymore," warned Draco.

"Or else what? Don't you forgot that you're in my house, boy!"

"This estate won't belong to you much longer. It belongs to the Malfoy estate. As soon you so do the world a favor and die, this all becomes mine. You have no other heirs to pass it along to and you hate that I'm going to bring my 'mudblood whore' in here one day and muddy your pathetic legacy."

Lucius began to draw out his wand out, but Draco was faster. "I wouldn't if I were you old man. You're going to die soon, but we can expedite that process if you'd like or you can live out the rest of your miserable life in bitter peace," warned Draco.

Narcissa made her entrance at that moment. She saw the state her husband and son were in, wands drawn and ready, and sighed with boredom. "Stop it. Both of you."

Draco slowly put his wand away but only once his father drew his hand away from his first.

"Sorry mother."

Narcissa put her hands on her son's face affectionately and gave him a loving kiss. "My boy, it's so good to see you. You don't visit your mother enough."

Draco glared over her shoulder at his father. "There are reasons for that."

"Hush. There's no excuse for not seeing your mother. Lucius," she turned around to face her husband. "If you're not going to get along with Draco then you can excuse yourself now. I'm not going to allow you to continue scaring off my boy with your intimidation tactics."

"I mean no ill will Narcissa. I just came to see the joke of man he'd become."

"Leave," she demanded. "Now," her tone was venomous in a way only a Malfoy could muster.

Lucius rolled his eyes and excused himself from the room. Draco waited until he was sure he was gone before helping his mother take a seat.

"Don't worry. He's going to die soon," she said a bit too casually

Draco was surprised to hear his mother speak so calmly about his father's demise, but was also relieved at her turn of feelings towards him.

"You're not getting along with father?" he inquired.

"What does it matter? He's old enough now that I don't really care. We had our time. He's sick and it's only made him meaner through the years."

Draco didn't pity the man. He deserved to suffer until the end.

"How are you? Are you well?" Draco asked with genuine concern for the woman who raised him.

"I'm well son," she assured him with a warm smile. "As well as to be expected for my age. Better than your father, don't you worry."

Her eyes welled with pride as she looked over her son. "You look strong Draco. Much better than the last time we got together."

The last time Draco had seen his mother, he had been fresh out of Azkaban. A withered shell of his actual self.

"I have news to share with you," explained Draco as he set his scotch on the side table.

"Is everything okay? You're not in trouble, are you?" Narcissa couldn't bear the idea of her son going away to Azkaban again. She worried about him a great deal when he was away.

"No. Everything is wonderful, mother. I'm just hoping you'll see it that way too."

"What do you mean?"

Draco took a moment to collect himself. He was nervous in a way he hadn't expected. He loved Hermione and Sophia more than life itself and he wasn't ashamed, but that didn't make it any easier to disappoint the woman he had loved first in this world.

"While I was away in Azkaban…" he began, but lost his gusto in the concerned look residing in his mother's eye. Narcissa leaned in attentively and took hold of his hand. She could tell that her son was distressed.

"I found out shortly after I was released from Azkaban," he started again, "that I have a child."

Narcissa gasped and dropped Draco's hands as she took in what he'd just told her.

"I know," he related. "I was shocked too."

"Draco…" her eyes were welling with tears. He couldn't tell if she was happy or sad yet.

"I know that she's mine. I confirmed it myself," he defended, but she had a chance to doubt the validity of his claim.

"She? I have a granddaughter?" asked Narcissa in awe.

"Yes. Her name is Sophia."

Narcissa glanced around the room as though she must be hiding behind one of the sofas. "Where is she? You must have brought her here with you."

"That's just it. I wanted to speak with you first mother."

"Draco, this is wonderful news!" she took hold of his hand again. "Let me go get your father back here. He's going to be ecstatic to hear that you've passed on the Malfoy line. You have an heir!"

"No, mother. That's not a good idea," he quickly slowed his mother's excitement.

She looked to him with a puzzled expression. "What is the matter? The girl is healthy, isn't she?"

"Yes, she's healthy, beautiful, and smart. That's not the issue. I was hesitant to come here, honestly Mother, because I love her more than the world. I love you too, and I always will."

Narcissa smiled at him dearly.

"You're my mother. Of course I love you. I don't want to lose you over this but I'm going to stand by my child no matter what. You have to know that."

"What's the matter, Draco? Please, say what you mean."

"Her mother is Hermione Granger," he hurriedly blurted out

"The mudblood?" Narcissa asked in shock.

Draco clamped his eyes shut and refrained from getting up. "Please, don't call her that."

"That's who you're talking about though? The woman who had you put away in Azkaban and nearly ruined your entire life?!"

"She didn't ruin my life mother. She saved my life."

Narcissa scoffed.

"It's the truth!" he raised his voice at first but quickly calmed himself. "Mother, I need you to be understanding. I love you dearly but the way you brought me up is what nearly ruined my life. I know that it was strongly due to father's influence and I don't blame you now, but I hurt a lot of people."

"I wouldn't necessarily classify them as people…" she muttered.

"People," he emphasized, "that never did me any wrong. I was on a destructive path and I allowed Blaise to murder Hermione's parents. I deserved the time I got. Despite that, Hermione has been there for me and loved me past all of my terrible choices and mistakes."

"Don't tell me that you love the girl." Narcissa pleaded with a look of disgust.

"I love her more than any woman I have ever known," he claimed, proudly. "I'm never going to apologize for that mother. You can accept it and move on or you can continue hating her, but know that it won't change a thing."

As he spoke he realized that he sounded a lot like Sophia trying to explain her relationship with Landen…

"Sophia is engaged…she's going to be marrying into the Weasley family." It felt surreal for him to admit those words aloud. "

It was difficult to read Narcissa. The look on her face was perturbed to say the least.

"That's been difficult for me to accept, I'll be honest, but it is reality. I'm going to love her regardless. Plus, the guy, he's not the worst and he's crazy about my little girl."

He felt like he was speaking to himself more than anything and refocused himself. "My point, Mother, is that Sophia and Hermione, if you can't accept them then you can't accept me because they're my family mother. They are my everything"

Narcissa drew in a long, slow breath as she processed this.

"I know that I made mistakes with the way I raised you," she softly spoke. "I knew that at an undeniable level when I thought I was going to lose you during the war. Nothing was worth that. No amount of hatred or opinion was worth jeopardizing you. I was blinded and it nearly cost me you. It's hard to change though, Draco. You must understand. This is how I know to live. Our pride is our greatest currency in this family."

"I know how much the Malfoy name means to you mother, but it's already changed. Sophia has every right to the Malfoy name. She's made her decision and she's not going to carry on our legacy the way we've known it. I've already made a child with a muggle born woman. It's done. There's no going back from that. I wouldn't want to change a thing about it, even if I could."

"There's nothing I love in this entire world more than I love you, Draco. You know that, don't you?"

"Of course, Mother."

"Whatever you need from me…I promise that I'll try my best. I don't have much time left. I've lost so many precious years with you already."

Listening to his mother speak was like listening to his own soul. He'd never felt more connected to her than he did in that moment.

"Of course Sophia is a Malfoy. I'm going to welcome her in this home with open arms. We adjust, we adapt, and we continue on in this family."

"What about Father?"

She made a dismissive motion with her hand. "Let him be miserable. I'm not going to let a grumpy old man keep me from my son and granddaughter."

"He's never going to want to meet her."

"Probably not, but you could always ask him. I know that he wasn't expecting you to show up with news like this."

Draco sighed and stood up slowly, he leaned in and gave his mother a tender kiss on the cheek. "I'll let you tell him on your own time. If it's alright with you, I'm going to go get Sophia and Hermione and bring them back here to meet you."

"The mudblo-," she caught herself. "Her mother is coming with?"

"She's understandably nervous about Sophia coming here. She insisted on coming with. Please try your best to be civil, mother."

"I suppose." Narcissa was anxiously excited to meet her kin but Hermione was another story. Blood status aside, she'd never been very fond of the know it all, but if Draco was love-struck with her she'd have to swallow her pride and do her best to play nicely.

/

Draco side along apparated his family to the entrance of Malfoy Manor, one on each side.

Hermione released a tense moan as she looked up at the overwhelming structure before her and rubbed her arm anxiously. The memory of having 'mudblood' carved in her skin while she struggled for survival on the floors of the giant manor would never leave her.

Draco noticed her getting squeamish and placed an assuring hand on her shoulder. "Are you going to be alright, love?"

Sophia took her mother's hand. "It's fine, Mom. We don't have to do this today if you don't want to."

"No, I'm fine," insisted Hermione, but her face was going steadily turning pale.

Before they could change their minds, the house elf opened the door for them.
"Master Malfoy-," he began again but chocked on his words when he saw Hermione. He clearly recognized her by the scowl he was wearing. He averted his eyes to the floor and silently moved away from the door so that they could pass though.

"You grew up with house elves?" asked Sophia.

"Yes, your father is abundantly wealthy," answered Hermione sounding as though she was going to be sick.

"Your mother hates the idea of house elves," explained Draco.

"I know, she tried to free all the house elves at Hogwarts once but the house elves panicked so drastically she was forced to drop it," said Sophia.

Draco pulled Hermione close to his side. "It's alright love. I'm right here. No harm will come to you here. Not anymore."

Hermione squeezed his hand for assurance and he led them into the parlor where his mother was waiting for them.

"Excuse me for sitting," pleaded Narcissa politely. "My old bones aren't what they used to be."

"You're absolutely fine…grandma?" It felt odd for Sophia so call someone other than Mrs. Weasley grandmother.

Narcissa burst into happy tears and held out her arms. "Come here!" she demanded. Sophia leaned down and returned Narcissa's tight embrace.

"Look at you," said Narcissa in fascination as she traced Sophia's hand with her frail fingers. "You're beautiful. Absolutely perfect."

"Thank you."

"Sophia, is it?"

"Yes. Sophia Granger."

"I'm your grandmother, Narcissa. You can call me Grandma Cissy though."

"Alright, Grandma Cissy."

Narcissa clapped with childish glee. "You have no idea how many decades I've waited to be called that, young lady."

Her heart with glowing with joy. Draco couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his mother looking so happy.

"Where's grandpa…uh..."Sophia wasn't sure what to call him.

"Lucius," Narcissa finished her sentence. "It doesn't matter. He'll be stuck in his ways until the day he dies, and with the way he's heading that day will hopefully be soon," she brushed off.

It was still odd to hear his mother being so disrespectful of his father, but rightfully deserved. He no longer held admiration for the man who had done so much to damage his life and his family.

"Link!" Narcissa called out and with a pop the house elf returned. She leaned over and whispered something in its ear and it vanished again.

"Sit, sit!" she prompted Sophia to sit next to her. "I have something I want to give to you."

Link returned back within moments with a jewelry box in hand. He handed it to his mistress, bowed and disappeared from the room.

"Uh…," Draco almost intervened as she began to hand the box to his daughter. The last time his family tried to give away a piece of jewelry it almost killed the beautiful woman standing by his side.

"Relax Draco," Narcissa remembered the incident well. "It's not cursed, and even if it were the kind of necklace you're thinking of, she would be fine find if she truly is your bloodline anyway."

Narcissa finished placing the box in Sophia's hand. Draco and Hermione were still mildly tense, but Draco knew he had to give his mother a chance and trust her. After all, it had been his father who had tried to give away the malicious curse in the first place.

"I know that you're going to jumping from being a Granger to a Weasley pretty soon," it wasn't lost on Narcissa that Sophia had introduced herself as 'Sophia Granger' and not 'Sophia Malfoy' like she would have preferred, " but I want to you to remember that no matter what, you'll always be a Malfoy."

Sophia opened the box to reveal a beautiful gemmed necklace with a pendant of the Malfoy family crest.

"For your wedding," Narcissa clarified. "Consider it an early gift."

"Thank you so much Grandma Cissy! It's beautiful!" Sophia wrapped her grandmother in a sincere hug. It wasn't the necklace that she was most grateful for, it was the immediate acceptance and unconditional love that meant the most.

"As a Malfoy, we'll of course be covering all the wedding expenses. Not that the Weasley's ever had any money to pay for a wedding to begin with," stated Narcissa with a slight roll of her eyes.

Sophia let the rude side comment slide. She was too happy at the idea that her wedding was going to happen. She and Landen had assumed they were going to be restricted to a modest wedding down at the Ministry with a small get together at The Burrow for the reception. With this offer, she'd be able to have the wedding of her dreams, and Narcissa would be able to flaunt her wealth in front of the Weasleys for one last time before she would be forced to play nice with her former foes.

"Do you think father will allow us to do that?" asked Draco with concern. He didn't want to make his daughter promises that couldn't be followed through. He had one more year left of his probation before he'd regain full access to the family vault.

"I'll put him down myself if he tries to come between me and my granddaughter, Draco. I have far more sway than you give me credit for. You see Draco, I may not have always made the right decisions in my life, but I've always known what my priorities are."

Narcissa gently caressed Sophia's face with the back of her hand and smiled. "Family. Family is always most important."

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A/N: I'm trying to get the final chapters edited while starting on a new fic. I wish there were more hours in a day!

Thanks for your reviews, they mean alot! I had hoped this fic would reach 1,000 but by the time it's done, I at least think it'll be close. Thanks!