We will go slowlt deeper with their story.

Enjoy.

II

Twenty-year-old Hermione Granger entered Azkaban unsure of what would happen to her. She had spent the last three years facing the demons of war. She was fighting the dreams that haunted her every night, the nightmares from which she woke up screaming. She was fighting the images she saw when she was closing her eyes. With a scream that froze on his lips immediately.

She had no idea why she was the one chosen. Of all the people that worked at the Ministry of Magic.

"Miss Granger." Lucius Mafoy's cool voice greeted her as soon as she stepped over the threshold.

"Mr. Malfoy," she replied, keeping a similar timbre.

"What brings you here, Miss Granger?"

She dared to look at him and all she could see were his eyes. Pale blue, slightly silver irises.

"Hermione, are you okay?"

Lucius looked at her searchingly, his wife had been acting strange for several days. He knew her well enough to predict something was for sure wrong.

Hermione looked at him hesitantly.

"I don't know Lucius."

This strange phrase made him frown. He looked at her more closely and saw a vague sparkle in her eyes. Hermione was playing with him. Now she bit her lip as she tried to contain her emotion.

"Hermione?" The woman began to sense a hint of impatience and worry in the tone of his voice.

"I'm pregnant." She croaked, and tears filled her eyes immediately. She looked away, because she knew that one more moment and she would completely fall apart.

The topic of pregnancy was difficult for them. For almost fifteen years, every time - more and more.

Lucius immediately hugged her tightly against him. Hermione started to sob and shudders shook her body.

"Darling, shhh." He hugged her and started rocking her. "You're pregnant, that's good news."

Good news.

Hermione was crying so much that she actually lamented.

Darlin..." It was one of the few times when he didn't know what to do. Despite all those years, he felt lost every time this has repeated.

A year ago, on a beautiful afternoon in July, Hermione sat in their backyard enjoying the sun. It was halfway through the holidays, and England was hit by unheard of heat. Hayden was on vacation with her parents, and she was finally able to rest. In June, she realized she was pregnant.

They slowly began to lose hope to become parents again. Lucius was no longer a teenager and she had turned thirty. Since giving birth to Hayden, she has been pregnant four times and has miscarried four times. In just nine years.

Every time she felt like her heart is broken into million pieces, hurt. She knew it was also hard for Lucius.

Hermione got up from her chair and felt the thick, sticky liquid running down her legs. She knew what that meant. At that exact moment her husband came out of the house, holding lemonade in his hands. He dropped his glasses instantly, and the rest went on like a slow motion movie.

They failed. Hermione had a miscarriage.

"Mom?" Hayden's voice was uncertain. The boy didn't like to see his mother cry. And it did happen every now and then. "Did I mess up again?" He asked hesitantly, trying to find out the truth.

Hermione shook herself instantly and looked at him, trying to smile. Lucius cut in, setting a tone that Hayden knew perfectly well.

"Son, our little investigation proves that you are extremely good today. Mom is crying with joy, unable to believe that it is true."

Lucius released his wife and walked over to his son, tugging his head.

"Mom, is that true?" Hayden was slightly confused, which made Hermione laugh weakly.

"And has Dad ever lied?" The light tone of his speech hid meaning only few could understand.

"I was assigned to a project from the Ministry. I'll be your shadow."

"Really?" The astonishment on his face was just a flash, then the mask came back."Of course, Miss Granger. As you wish."

"Mr. Malfoy, I hope our cooperation goes well and we build a relationship for the good of the Ministry ..." Hermione continued as Lucius snorted, brutally cutting her off.

"First of all, please leave that crap in the Ministry. Second, honesty. If you are to be my shadow, I can't stand lying. If something doesn't feel right for you, Miss Granger, please say it. "

The boy has looked at his parents and smiled.

"I got an owl from Draco. He said he'd visit us this week." He took a small note out of his pocket. "And before you say anything about owls, he sent her over the night. Nobody saw. " He knew this information would cause panic in parent's eyes. Parents didn't like any wizardry things happening in their ordinary lives. Which was strange and Hayden didn't understand it - magic was great. But they were parents, not always their behaviour had to make sense to him.

Lucius's face tightened. Draco only visited them when there was absolutely no choice.

"Did he specify when?" Hermione sobered up enough to ask additional question on Lucius behalf.

"Nothing, Mom. He just wrote to pass it on to you." Hayden handed her the piece of paper and grimaced, "I don't understand why he won't write to you. I'm not an owl."

"It's true, Son. But you are Draco's favourite brother." Hermione stroked his head. "Go pack, you're going to Grandma's tomorrow."

As Hayden left, Hermione took a deep breath. Lucius took the paper from her hand and read it aloud.

Hayden, tell Dad - I'll be in Oakshire in the week. DM

"You know what that means, Hermione?" Lucius's voice was soft, in a completely different tone than the last. The woman nodded and felt her stomach contract immediately.

"Everything will come back." Her voice trembled. "I'm scared Lucius." She whispered and walked over to him to cuddle. "I'm afraid it will end up like twelve years ago."

They fell silent.

"You should read Ginny's letters. I think it's time."

She knew the smell of Lucius by heart, she knew every wrinkle on his body, every dimple he had. She knew everything about every scar he had. After all these years, she would find him at the end of the world without sight.

"I love you." Her voice was almost voiceless, but it was enough. He lifted her chin and kissed her like the first time.

He loved her. Over the years.

"Why did you do this? You paid a huge price for it."

"We don't always make wise decisions from a rational point of view. You'll find out for yourself one day." Lucius wrapped the parchment and tied it with a ribbon. "Could you pass this on to Draco?" He handed her the letter, and she hesitated.

She shouldn't be doing this.

"You can read it if you have doubts about the content, Miss Granger," he added coldly, and she scared off.

"That's not what I meant." She started to speak, but stopped.

"Rule number one, Miss Granger. We're not lying to each other."