A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters/locations related to the franchise. That all belongs to J.K. Rowling. I hope you enjoy the only thing I do own...the plot. Also M rating for language and possible sexually explicit scenes (really just wanted to be safe with the rating).

Draco owled in sick the next morning. It was the first time in the five years he had worked in the Auror department that he had done so, but he felt it necessary. He could not bring himself to see Hermione again. He knew he was being a coward, but any time the nagging wolf tried to convince him to go forward and finish what he started, he snapped a muzzle on the annoying furball and closed his eyes.

He had snuck into Spinner's End earlier that morning, and had finished the wolfsbane potion. Once he had added the powdered wolfsbane he watched in pleased fascination as the potion turned from pale blue to a shimmering midnight black. No matter how many times he had completed the potion, he was still filled with child-like wonder once it was finished.

Every time he disturbed the potion, pale blue wisps escaped the brew and reached towards the ceiling. Ironically, even though the potion tasted like a mixture of burnt rubber and grape juice, it smelled wonderful. Draco leaned over and inhaled the smell of moss and damp earth. It reminded him of his daily hikes with his father back when he was younger. Back before muggle-borns, marks, and Dark Lords.

As much as Draco was thankful that he no longer had to live up to the unrealistic expectations that Lucius had set before him, there were days-like today-that he missed the simple things he used to do with his father. Learning to catch his first snitch, and how to properly tie a windsor knot. Being educated in the secret tunnels that ran through the walls of the Manor on one of their many quests to sneak biscuits right before bed time.

But, his father had changed. Azkaban had changed him. Tom Riddle had changed him. And by the time the Dementor had administered the Kiss after the war, Lucius Malfoy was already a shell of the man he had been. To Draco, he had no longer been the man who had played hide and seek in the garden. The Malfoy heir had mourned the loss of his father long before the aged man had died alone and cold in Azkaban.

Pulling himself out of his reverie, Malfoy bottled up the potion and had Twiden bring Hermione the finished product. He wrote down the last few steps on a piece of parchment-so she would have it for her notes-and placed it between the bottles as they clinked against each other in their carrying crate. He had then returned to his cabin and laid back down for another long sleep.

Hours later Draco laid with his head on a pillow that smelled vaguely of a dog and tried to get the feel of her soft lips out of his head. It was futile. Once he got the caress of her lips out of his head, the sound of her soft pants and moans filled his ears. It was a vicious cycle that left Draco convinced he had pissed off a god in a former life.

He stayed in that cycle until the next day. He was able to catch a few hours of sleep right before dawn, but those dreams had been plagued with dark bushy hair, and a swotty attitude. In the end he had pulled himself from the incorporeal goddess so he could shower, and begin another day of trying to keep her out of his head.

House elves brought him the occasional meal, but he had commanded them not to tell his mother that he was there. He sat alone among the knick knacks and old pictures. He had grabbed an old picture of Vincent and watched as the boy, who was about fourteen in the picture, grabbed Draco in a headlock on repeat, smiling broadly at the camera. Draco laughed lightly at the picture before placing it back on the shelf.

No one mourned those that were lost on his side of the war. Not that Draco ever really considered the dark side his, but at moments like this it was easy to feel it. No one mentioned Vincent at the memorial balls. They didn't mention Goyles older sister, Sophia, who had returned to Hogwarts during the battle and had killed her father, before being cut down herself by Mulciber. No one mentioned how Montigue had lost his life saving a group of young students who had gotten lost trying to escape. He had been able to get them through the secret tunnels to safety before being hit by a stray curse. According to Zabini, who had found him, he had died asking if the kids were alright.

No one remembered them. No one gave moving speeches about what they had done to save others. The sacrifices they had made for the greater good. No one cared. No one, but people like him. Ex-Slytherins, and reformed Death Eaters. It was easy to feel like the world was a better place now that the war was over, but at moments like this Draco wondered if they had traded one prejudice for another.

Everytime he walked down the street and heard insults spewed out of vicious mouths. Everytime he walked down the cobbled path of Diagon and heard a child beg their parents to make sure they were not placed in Slytherin. Draco felt a fear in his bones, knowing that if he did have children one day, which was extremely unlikely, that he would have to explain to them that Slytherin was more than just its tainted past. He would have to tell them that being cunning and ambitious were not things to be ashamed of.

"Malfoy, you fucking git open the door." Draco was jolted out of his thoughts, and promptly groaned at the familiar sound. Bill fucking Weasley. Draco cursed under his breath before moving away from the door and towards the kitchen. "You got one chance before I blast it down. Cissa gave me permission, and I would love to be able to blow something up of yours!" Now that was surprising. He walked towards the door and yanked it open before Weasley got the chance to reduce it to splinters, giving the redhead his best sneer while he was at it.

"Not a chance, ginger." Draco scoffed before turning around and slumping back on his settee. "Like I would allow you to destroy something of mine." The mid-morning light floated down around the room, illuminating dust as it danced around the room. Draco watched it in fascination as the uninvited guest moved into the open space, tossing his forest-green cloak on one of the hooks next to the door.

"Got you to open the door," The redhead beamed before dropping a bottle of Fire Whiskey in Draco's lap. "Drink up, blondie." Draco opened the cap before rolling his eyes, and taking a long drink.

"So, what happened that poor Cissa is convinced you're going to die out here alone?" Bill asked, taking the bottle from Draco.

"I'm in hiding." Draco shrugged.

Bll chuckled, slumping down in a spot next to Draco after brushing away some of the dark wolf fur that lined the poor cushions. "Hiding? Most people don't hide in lavish cabins."

"No, poor people don't hide in lavious cabins." Draco snorted, before realizing what he said, "Sorry."

"You know Malfoy? You put your foot in your mouth an awful lot for someone so eloquent." Bill raised his head up in mock superiority before staring back at him. They were quiet for a moment, enjoying the thick silence that always seemed to exist in the cabin. Malfoy watched as Bill ran his gaze across the many gouges in the wood floor from his claws

"Seriously, what's up, Malfoy?" Bill prompted quietly, his arms resting on his knees where he sat next to Draco.

"I kissed her." Draco breathed into the room around them.

"And?"

"She kissed me back." Draco couldn't stop the slight quirk of his lips at the memory. A small smile that was quickly washed away as he realized what he was doing. All too soon the memory played out, ending as always in the heart wrenching final scenes. "And then Potter showed up, and she was ashamed of what she had done." Draco ran a hand through his blond hair, "She was ashamed and I was so stupid to think even for a second that she wouldn't be. She-" He turned his grey eyes on the man next to him and forced the words out through the growing tightness in his throat, "She kissed me because I kissed her, and I should have been stronger than that. I have to be so she can have a chance to be happy. Don't you see Bill, if she even thinks for a moment that she should choose me she's choosing to suffer. And I cannot let her do that." Bill nodded. Placing a gentle hand on Draco's shoulder, Bill gave him a comforting squeeze before standing slowly.

"I think I'm starting to understand." The redhead breathed out through his nose roughly before turning back to Draco. "You have one more day in the cabin. You promised me you would come to dinner this time, and Fleur is too excited for her own good. I am not sure if you have seen an upset Veela, but it is not pleasant. I expect you at Shell Cottage at seven tomorrow. If you are not there, I am sending her here to get you."

Draco smiled, before giving Bill a single nod in assent. He could do dinner. One dinner with Bill and Fleur might just be what the Healer ordered anyway. Then, he would have the weekend to get himself together before he would have to see the hurricane that will surely be Hermione Granger on Monday.

Draco stood outside of Shell Cottage for what had to have been near the hundredth time waiting for someone to let him in. Since he had been attacked, this section of the Weasley clan had become like a second family. Narcissa often had afternoon tea with Fleur and the children, and Draco occasionally came over for pick-up quidditch on the beach.

The crashing waves seemed to grow louder as the sun set against the dark blue of the ocean, golden light shining on the surface like the stars that would soon blanket the night sky. While waiting to be welcomed inside, Draco walked out to the edge of the path and watched the waves. More than once he had thought about building a house out here, as it was one of the most peaceful places he had ever been. But something always stopped him. For the few hours he would be here he would soak in the peace that came with the repetitive crash of the waves, and the distant sound of sea birds as they gracefully rode the breeze.

He was so busy watching the water, and didn't notice the door opening or the small girl who came up to stand next to him. She quietly slipped her tiny hand in his, and he couldn't help the smile that crept across his face as he gave her a squeeze.

"I thought you were supposed to stop opening the door." He chastised, looking down at the girl with hair so fair it shamed the light of the moon rising in the distance. She smiled up at him, her bright cornflower eyes filled with mischief that made her mother nearly faint every day. She was wearing a pair of pale blue overalls over a white shirt that had a couple of dirt stains. Her trainers were also caked in dirt, but that was nothing new. One had to be prepared to get covered in dirt in any of the Weasley clan's abodes. Draco was thankful for the warming charm placed around the exterior of the home, because the young girl had forgotten a jacket in her rush to come outside.

"I knew it was you, Daddy told me you were coming tonight!" The four year old gave him her brightest smile, the one reserved for those she considered family. Those she trusted. He smiled back down at her before picking her up and holding her tightly in a big hug.

"Merlin, you are growing like Mandrake. What am I going to do with you? Shove you in a pot with some dirt." She giggled, swatting him lightly on the arm, before giving him a hug around the neck. "Oh, Salazar...I'm gonna drop you...you're definitely too heavy." He began to drag his feet as he brought her back towards the door, acting as if the small girl weighed too much for him to carry.

"No, Uncle Draco. You're strong enough, you're a wolf." She scolded him playfully, causing him to laugh at her.

"I guess you are right, Victoire. I am very strong." Draco puffed himself up before throwing the growing four year old over his shoulder.

The young girl had snuck down about a year ago and had heard Draco speak to her father regarding his wolf status. She had clung to that knowledge like a barnacle to the side of one of Theo's boats. Thankfully, the little girl seemed to have a natural instinct when it came to keeping secrets, and had yet to speak of it to anyone but Draco and Bill. She was fascinated with it, and always asked Draco questions while he was around, and draco answered. Bill liked to joke that Draco was under little Vikki's Veela charm, and Draco had to admit that he couldn't say no to the girl.

She laughed the whole way before shouting over his shoulder. "Aunt 'Mione tells me that werewolves are super strong!"

Entering the house Draco swung her around and set her lightly on her feet. The little girl promptly fixed her hair, and straightened her overalls before holding her hand out to him. Draco took it, turning his grey eyes on her, "Your Aunt 'Mione is right. But, then again what isn't she right about." Draco whispered the last sentence to himself, hoping the little girl's keen ears would fail her for once.

"She was wrong about the sugar and the salt." Vikki responded, hopping instead of walking down the hall towards the dining room in the back of the house.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, she put salt in the pie and now there is no dessert." That brought Draco to a stop.

"No dessert?" The little blonde nodded her head seriously, before tugging him down the hall. Bill would have told him. That bastard would have said something if she was…

The sound of her laughter filled the hall as they rounded the corner. Her scent creeped under the swinging door that separated the main house from the sunroom the dining table was in. Her scent was always in this house, so Draco had thought nothing of it as he had crossed the threshold. But as he sniffed the air he realized how strong the scent was as it was fresh in the area. Floating right behind that door.

Vikki tugged on his arm again, and Draco forced himself to move forward. The sound of voices became louder as he forced the door open. Vikki charged forward to play with Teddy, while Draco stood in the door, feeling very much like he should leave.

The hardwood floors extended into this room. A large, worn oak table stretched nearly from wall to wall, having been extended with magic. The table was set, but the center was empty, clearly leaving a place for food to be summoned to. Pale cream wallpaper covered the wall with the door, but the rest had windows that gave a circular view of the ocean, and a rock in the distance that Draco knew was his old house elf Dobby's grave. What gave Draco pause was the fact that the normally open and large, bright room was filled to the brim with people.

Ron and George were laughing in the corner. They both looked very much as if they were causing trouble that no one had noticed yet. Charlie, who Draco had only met three times in the past, stood next to Angelina Weasley. The older Weasley was wrangling the nearly one Roxanne. For a Dragon tamer he seemed to be having a hard time as the young one kept nearly launching herself from his arms and to the floor. Next to them Fleur sat at the table with newborn Louis swaddled up against her chest. Bill was standing behind her, his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them lovingly.

three year old Dominique played with two year old Fred under the table with magical paints that removed themselves from the floor with a simple wand wave. Harry was sitting at the long table, Ginny in his lap balancing a bowl of bread on her very pregnant belly.

And then there was Hermione.

Hermione sat next to them, occasionally trying to sneak a roll from Ginny's grasp, but the younger girl repeatedly pushed her hand away. Every time she tried, the brunette got closer and closer. Finally she snatched one causing both girls to erupt into laughter.

The laughter transformed her face. There were wrinkles around her eyes that hadn't been there while they were in school, but only added to her beauty. Her nose crinkled a little, and depending on how hard she was laughing she would sometimes snort. Draco waited patiently as one such snort launched from her nose and into the air. He couldn't help the grin that pulled on his lips.

"Malfoy, there you are." Bill called out to him, causing everyone to stop their conversations and look at him. Hermione furrowed her brow before looking back and forth between him and big mouth Bill. Draco forced himself to turn to his friend before shooting him a death glare.

"I was unaware everyone would be waiting on me." Draco stated cooly, pulling a chair out of the table, waving to Dominique as he did so. She helpfully added some bright pink paint to his shoes, causing a brisk scolding from her mother. Draco waved it off, "I can always buy more Fleur."

"That may be so, but she should still know better." The frenchwoman sniffed, placing her middle child in a swift time out. The little girl pouted from her spot in the corner, sticking her tongue out at her mother's back.

"Sorry I didn't tell you we were having so many people, Charlie just portkeyed in this morning and we wanted to have a small gathering. Mom and Dad had date night tonight, so they couldn't make it, but everyone else was available." Bill explained sheepishly, leaning over towards Draco from where he was sitting.

"You could have sent me an owl." Draco growled lowly. The redhead shrugged passively at him, turning back towards his wife who handed him his now sleeping son, with orders to take him to bed.

"So, how was work this week?" Draco politely asked Harry while he waited for Bill's return. He was definitely going to hex the fucker by the end of the night.

"Fine, finished up some paperwork. You know, the usual." Potter replied before filling up his cup with a pitcher of water. After setting the pitcher down, the glass container filled back up with water. Harry offered a glass to Draco who accepted gratefully, if only to have something to do with his hands.

"Uncle Draco!" Vikki called from where she was playing with Teddy. He looked up and raised his eyebrows, letting the young girl know he was listening. "Watch Teddy!" Draco watched as the young boy made his hair as long and pretty as the young girl's next to him. She giggled before tugging at his hair and running to hide by Draco. "Can't get me Teddy! Uncle Draco will stop you!"

The boy started forward, but looked up at his cousin before hesitating. Teddy had only met Draco a few times, and was still nervous around him. The boy seemed to weigh his options before turning his hair the same color as Harry's and going to stand by his godfather. "Uncle Harry could help me. Can't you?" The boy asked, standing next to his godfather and crossing his arms.

"Nuh-uh." The girl called, placing her hands on her hips and stomping her foot. "Uncle Draco is stronger."

"No he isn't"

"Yes he is!"

"No he isn't!"

"Yes he is, he's a-"

"Victoire!" Bill's voice boomed as he came back into the room, causing the entire room to turn and look at the arguing children, and the eldest Weasley.

The little girl shut her mouth quickly, looking at Draco with a guilty expression. The fear that coated her face almost matched the shock on his. "I-I'm sorry." She said quickly, her lower lip trembling as she realized the weight of her almost mistake.

Draco had always had a soft spot for this girl. If he was honest he turned into a pile of putty around her. Conversation still hadn't resumed, all eyes still locked on the two of them at the table. Feeling her shame as his own Draco reached down and picked her up before moving quickly out of the room. By the time they were out of the crowded sun room Victoire's wet tears had soaked through his dress shirt.

"It's alright little Mandrake." Draco cooed to her, rubbing her back. He brought her back out to where they were watching the waves, hearing the echoing footsteps of her father and two other people following close behind. "It's alright."

"I almost-"She sniffled, snot spreading across his shirt. He cringed slightly, but still rubbed her back.

"I know." He sat them down on the sand, casting another warming charm just to make sure the little girl wouldn't get cold. The door opened behind them, and Draco took a quick sniff of the air to see exactly who was following them. It was Bill, but waited up on the hill until Draco was done comforting his daughter. He was eventually joined by his youngest brother, and Harry who had followed them both out after the ruckus.

"I am sorry Uncle Draco," She sniffed again after some time, staring out at the waves.

"You didn't say anything, so there's nothing to be sorry for." He told her quickly. Once she was calmed down he continued, "You were right by the way. I'm definitely stronger than your Uncle Harry." She smiled a little, which was a win in Draco's book. "How about we just try a little harder to keep that to ourselves ok?" She nodded, and Draco gently nudged her back towards the house. He stood, and waited for Bill to come and stand by him.

"If you would just tell people, we wouldn't have to worry about a four year old spilling the proverbial beans." The redhead commented.

Draco ignored him, and just stared at the moon where it hung near the waves. The repetitive crashing sound of the water hitting the sand was like a balm to Draco's racing mind. Things were getting harder to keep secret, especially with how close Hermione was becoming to him. Their previously strenuous relationship had grown stronger and the bond had strengthened from a thread to a now thick rope that tied them together.

Closing his eyes Draco moved his head back, soaking in the way the moon made him feel. Even at it's partial state it made him feel stronger...more alive. "He's right." A new voice called down towards him.

Weaslebee.

Draco jerked towards the three wizards in front of him before scowling."Alright, which one of you can't keep a bloody secret." He demanded, his hands clenched in fists at his side. His gaze shifted between the only two living wizards who knew that he was a werewolf. The only other person in the world who knew was his mother, and he was positive it hadn't been her.

Harry lowered his head in guilt before turning back to Draco, "In my defense they really shouldn't let someone drink that much alcohol at a pub." Draco scoffed, throwing his hands up in the air. The anger he felt at Harry's inability to keep his mouth shut was quickly replaced by cold dread. He turned quickly back to the group, all three of them were shuffling uncomfortably before him, and it left no doubt to the answer of his next question, but he still had to ask.

"What else does he know?" His voice sounded strange to his own ears. Like he was speaking slightly underwater. He eyed Ron even though his question was for the other two in the group. Still, he didn't miss the way the younger Weasley flinched before turning his gaze back towards the small cottage. Back towards her.

"I know." Was Weasley's quiet reply.

"Fuck." Draco cursed, before starting to storm away. He was heading to the antiaparation wards, he was getting the fuck out of here. First, Bill had invited her when it was supposed to be a quiet dinner, and now he had to find out that his historic mortal enemy knew that the whole time he spent loving his fiance', Draco had been pining after her from afar. Draco felt the embarrassment flood his cheeks, which was quickly replaced with anger.

Maybe Madagascar was nice this time of the year. His quiet musings were cut off as Ron raced in front of him and put a hand out to stop him.

"Wait, Malfoy!"

"What?" Draco snarled. He was embarrassed and caught off guard. The man standing in front of him was the person that Hermione was supposed to love. Yet here he stood, and she was back there at the house alone because they both had failed her. He couldn't figure out where his anger belonged, so he projected it to Ron because it was so easy to do.

"I don't blame you." Ron's cornflower eyes were big and innocent as he stood there in front of Draco, his hand resting on the blond's shoulder.

"You knew!" Draco growled, his chest rumbling with the force. Ron quickly drew his hand back from Draco and waited. "How long have you known?"

"About a year."

"A year. And you just what? Just ignored it?" Draco started pacing in front of the other man like a wild animal trapped in a cage. Distantly he heard the scrape of fabric on wood as the other two behind him drew their wands. He knew it was a 'just in case' action, but it still caused his defenses to rise. It made him feel trapped. He didn't like to feel trapped. The wolf didnt like to feel trapped. Draco released a deep growl in his throat. Bill took a step back, Harry at his side, but kept their wands in a tightened grip.

"Yeah, pretty much. What was I supposed to do, go up to the woman I loved and tell her 'hey you remember that fucking git from school? Well he is your soulmate, so I guess easy come easy go?'" Ron pushed Draco slightly before running a hand through his shaggy red hair, "No I couldn't do that. I wasn't strong enough to leave her. I loved her for years, Malfoy! Years. While you were telling her how filthy her blood was, I was drying her tears in my shirt."

Draco felt like a whole had been punched through his chest, and he flinched at the memory of how he treated Hermione, but Ron didn't seem to notice, "While you told her that you hoped she would die next, I helped her learn to fight. While you laughed behind her back at her hair, I dreamed of being able to run my hands through it. While you watched her cry on your floor, I bloodied my hands trying to claw my way out of your dungeon to get to her!" Ron stared up at Draco, his bright blue eyes brimmed with tears. Whether those tears were from sadness, heartache, or anger Draco couldn't tell. "So I fucking ignored it, until I couldn't anymore and then I broke the engagement."

"So you abandoned her? She loved you too you know! Now you want to push her on me not two weeks after you leave her. How was she supposed to recover from her broken heart?" Anger at the Weasley's inability to understand human emotions flowed through Draco. Not for the first time he wanted to ring the man's scrawny neck.

"Not that it matters but I broke the engagement two months ago!" The redhead roared into the night.

Well, that certainly was news, but Weasley was right, it didn't matter right now. Still, Draco stored that tidbit of information away to evaluate later.

"You still left her when shite got hard didn't you? How were you able to leave her without explaining what happened...mmmm? Is she convinced she isn't good enough? What did you tell her when you left her?" Draco stepped closer to Ron, making him take a step back. "You could have stuck it out. She would have been happy with you!"

"I had to!" Ron stated firmly, "She wasn't happy. She would wake up crying because she thought she had lost someone but couldn't remember who. She spent so many nights hiding her tears because she knew something was wrong, but was not sure what it was. I tried to make her happy, but she could feel the damn connection, and it was tearing us apart!"

"She cannot feel the bloody bond!" Draco yelled in frustration, shoving the redhead hard enough in his anger that Ron landed roughly in the sand several feet away. Draco stood back, his hands jammed deep into his pale blond hair, "She can't! Lupin told me-"

"Then Lupin was wrong!" Bill shouted, from where he was standing. "What Ron is saying is proof that this is causing her pain! Can't you see that!"

"She has fought this at every turn, Malfoy!" Harry joined in, as Ron pulled himself up from the ground. They had him cornered now. He couldn't make it to the wards, and he couldn't continue back to the house. "She deserves to be happy!"

"No! We deserve a fucking choice. And if what Weaslebee-"

"Hey!"

Weaslebee's annoyed shout was ignored as Draco pushed on, "-is saying is true then we still don't have it. Don't you get it. I want to make my own fucking decision!" Draco rushed towards Potter, getting into his face until he could feel the shorter man's breathing as it puffed warm against his cheek. It was natural to charge Potter. For a second they were two school boys arguing about their sides of the war, and not about the heart of a girl they both loved-even if in different ways.

"You love her!" Harry yelled, poking a thin finger into Draco's chest.

"No! I don't." Draco lied, slapping the other man's hand away.

"What about the kiss?"

"Just because this bloody beast wants her doesn't mean I do." Draco hissed his denial. He still couldn't admit it aloud. He couldn't, because if he did then the last thing protecting Hermione from him was gone. And he couldn't do that. "That kiss was a mistake. Nothing more. A moment of weakness after a near death experience. She may be everything to him, but she is nothing to me." Draco finished breathing heavily. No one needed to be told who "he" was in this scenario, all familiar with the wolf at this point. Draco and Harry stared at each other, slate grey and emerald green challenging one another the same way they had for almost fourteen years.

A soft cough pulled the boys from their little bubble. Everyone turned and saw the curly haired witch in question standing on a sand dune.

A/N 2: I am so sorry about the Hiatus. I have been in a funk lately that can only be described as a rise in my clinical depression. :(. Luckily I had this written. Please ignore any grammatical mistakes, but feel free to comment. In reward to my many reviewers, here are responses from any reviews made since April 21. Thank you for your continued love and support.

VictoriaJameson: I CAN end a chapter like that, and here is another one for you ;)

ChuffedInDarkness: I have many more twists to come!

Ardina Falconhurst: You have really been paying attention and I appreciate that. You remembered about his healing factor, and thank you for your kind words.

Guest 1: You are welcome, and I am glad you thought it was cute.

Guest 2: Yes a cliffhanger. Here the next chapter for you.

Kelsicb: Remus had some issues regarding who he was and what he was. Those issues were tackled later in his life thanks to some harsh but needed words from Mr. Potter.