Chapter Five-Draco Malfoy

Summary- It has been about eight months and no one has heard from Hermione, and it seems as though no one misses her.  Harry and Ron have each been married since school let out and they still bear a grudge for their old friend.  Hermione is leading another life, away from the man who used her and broke her heart, and has a terrible secret.  Draco Malfoy is the present heir to the Malfoy fortune and is unhappily married to Pansy Parkinson Malfoy.  He still has haunting dreams of another love.  Around eight months after graduation, Pansy and Draco come across something extraordinary, which links them to the last person they had in mind.

Pairing- Ron Wesley and Lavender Brown Weasley, Harry Potter and Parvati Patil Potter, and at the beginning- Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson Malfoy, but subject to change.

Spoilers-

 Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone,

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,   

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Disclaimer- I do not claim to own any of the characters from the Harry Potter series.  They all belong to Ms. Rowling.  Don't sue, I have a disclaimer and I'm not afraid to use it!

Previously- Dumbledore looked at the woman, who, for many, many years had been beaten and broken, and it was very apparent in her eyes.  "I do not know how to go about this, Narcissa, but it does need to be done. Perhaps we can recruit the help of Misters Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, I have reason to believe that they know something is amiss.  We shall see."  Narcissa nodded and said, "Thank you Albus, I think I shall head to bed now, it has been a most exhausting day."  "Of course, Cissa, anything for a former student."  Dumbledore waved goodbye as he disaperated, leaving a very confused Narcissa Malfoy.

~*~

 Don't make me love you till I'm ready
Don't make me give you more than my kisses
I need you to go slow and steady
Don't make me love you till I'm ready
Oh why you wanna rush into my life
Don't you wanna stop and get to know me better
We got all the time in the world tonight
And if we're meant to be we'll be together hmm
Stay around just slow it down
Till we find out if we got what it takes
Everything I know about you so far
Makes me believe that you're the one for me
But there's still a lot that's on my mind
And I need time before we go further
Don't you see?
So hold me, hold me
But don't be thinking I don't want you too
Its been a little bit of a mystery
Lets wait till we have a bit of history
Behind ourselves ooh yeah
You don't got to be in such a rush
We can live for the moment if we trust
We'll be right here tomorrow, oh yeah
Don't make me love you, love you
Don't make me give you, uh, uh
I need you to go ooh yeah
Don't make me love you, uh, uh, oh yeah

Christina A-Don't make me love you (till I'm ready)

~*~

Draco walked through the now deserted manor in a daze. His mother had gone to Paris to catch up on the latest fashions, so every step Draco took through the large stone manor echoed a thousand years.  Draco had the place to himself, save a few houselves.  For the last few nights, his dreams have become positively unruly.  He dreamed of Hermione again and again, each dream plunging an ice-cold knife deeper and deeper into his heart, and Draco didn't think he could take much more of it.  He needed to find a way to stop all of this, he needed to find Hermione.

~*~

"Dumbledore!"  Harry and Ron cried, thinking of the answer to their problems, their old mentor.  "Of course!"  Harry said, hitting the heel of his hand to his forehead.  "Why didn't we think of him before?  If anyone knows anything, he definitely would! Ron nodded in agreement, and said, "Lets go."

Less then five minutes later, Harry and Ron flooed into the head masters private chambers.  "Hello."  Said the wise old man, who was waiting for them.  He was always one step ahead of the duo.  Instead of questioning him, like Harry and Ron usually do in these cases, they launched straight into the point.  "Is Juliet Malfoy Hermione's daughter?"  Ron asked.  Dumbledore smiled serenely, and motioned for them to take a seat in the deep red velvet armchairs, directly in front of the Professors large, dark wood desk.  They took their seats.  "Well?"  Ron inquired impatiently, reminding Dumbledore of the boy he once was.  "Harry, Ron."  Dumbledore started.  "Yes, Juliet Malfoy, is in fact, Hermione Grangers daughter."  "Why didn't she tell us?"  Ron asked quietly, in a bit of a daze. "Hermione does not know Juliet's true identity, Hermione believes her daughter is dead."  The old wizard replied.  "What?!"  Harry and Ron shouted, then Ron sprung into a stream of questions.  "Why would her daughter be dead?  Does Malfoy know?  Why didn't she tell us she was pregnant?  Does the child know?  Who else knows?"  Ron was on a roll now, but was instantly silenced ad Dumbledore held up an aged hand.  "First, calm yourself, Ron."  He paused, as he watched both boys inhale and exhale deeply. 

"First of all,"  Dumbledore started,  "Hermione believes her child to be dead, because it was she who left it for dead."  Before Harry and Ron could say anything, Dumbledore put up the same hand. "Hermione had a temporary leave of her common sense, to put it lightly.  Her sense of reality was distorted, and she had no one to turn to.  She stayed here, during the time of her pregnancy, and delivered her child here.  Put yourself in Hermione's place.  She just spent the last few years of her life blissfully happy in love, and with two very best friends. Then she is launched into a new reality where non of that exists, just a child she didn't want.  She spent nine months carrying the child of a man she had thought betrayed her.  She ran from the hospital wing a day after giving birth, which is an incredible feat, mind you, and she escaped to a dark forest, no, not the forbidden forest, a place far away from Hogwarts.  I never asked how she did it, I just merely assumed she could aparate.  I knew where she was heading, right to the edge of the Malfoy forest, and I informed Draco's mother of this.  Pansy Parkinson, may she rest in peace, could not have children, and when Narcissa found that she truly had a grandchild, she was elated.  Draco's mother does not care about blood as Dracos father once had.  Narcissa suggested the two go for a walk on the Malfoy grounds, and that is where Hermione had left Juliet, only hours before.  No, Draco Malfoy has no idea that Juliet is his real daughter, but he has been keeping up the pretences for the sake of the Malfoy name.  Now Ron, what would she say to you if she were to tell you about her predicament?  And what more, how would you have responded?  You already made it clear that no friend of yours was to be dating a Slytherin, so she handled it the way Hermione knows best…on her own.  Juliet Malfoy has no idea about her past.  She still believes Pansy is her true mother, and Hermione is just a transfiguration professor.  The only souls that know of Juliet's true mother, are Poppy Ponfrey, who delivered the baby, Minerva McGonagall, and myself.  And now you two know as well."

"Where you ever going to tell Hermione?"  Harry asked quietly.  "I don't know, Harry, but I was planning on informing Draco."  This enraged Harry and Ron, and of course, the Weasley anger far surpassed Harry's.  "Tell that bloody idiot?  This is all his fault!  If he hadn't gone playing our friend we would all be happy! Hermione would be happily married and have kids! Legitimate ones!  Our kids would have grown up to love each other as Harry, Hermione and I have! This is all that bastards fault and I'll be damned if I let him know before Hermione!" 

"Mr. Weasley!"  Dumbledore thundered, radiating immense power in his anger.  "You have no right to judge what you do not know, when you yourself acted in cowardice and jealousy! The forces at hand here are that which not even Hermione knows about!  You know nothing of Draco Malfoy, nor of Draco and Hermione's relationship here at Hogwarts.  You did not know that they dated for years! Years before that day! They were truly in love."  Dumbledore lowered his voice, and the power leveled down.  "Draco's father threatened to kill Hermione if Draco continued to see her.  Draco had to hurt her, by breaking her heart, returning to the old Draco, in order to save her life, from the evil of his father.  Lucius was an evil man, capable of nearly anything.  Draco has been living these years in the same torment as Hermione herself.  He was forced to marry someone he did not love, and had to pretend that that was what he wanted all along.  Now, it is time to reveal the truth to Draco, and, inevitably, Hermione and Juliet. Draco needs to be informed."  Dumbledore declared, still emitting some powerful energy.  "What do you want us to do about it?"  Harry asked, feeling the need to redeem himself.  "I would like you two to be the ones to tell Draco- tell Draco everything."  "But-"  Ron protested, definitely not liking what he was hearing.  "It is entirely up to you, Ron and Harry."  Dumbledore said wisely.  "But keep this in mind- life will make you tired, and weary of considerations, and life is too much like a pathless wood.  You stumble blindly through the underbrush, not knowing where you are going, only having your past to help you along.  The twigs will lash across your face, leaving not necessarily physical scars, but ones that are much deeper, ones that do not break to the surface, ones you bury deep inside of your heart.  Earth is the right place for love, I don't know where it is likely to go better."  Dumbledore finished and sat quietly, staring at both Ron and Harry intently.  Then finally, Harry understood. 

Draco loved Hermione enough to be able to let her go, so she may have the chance to find love in someone, somewhere else in life.  He didn't know if there was to be another place, another chance for love, other then here on earth, who is to say?  He loved her enough to give her a chance for happiness, when he couldn't.  Draco knew his path was set for him, he knew he didn't have much of an option, but he didn't know how deep in love Hermione was with him, and he grew up in a house that didn't believe in love, only power.  He didn't think she would be so affected, so miserable. 

"We'll tell Draco."  Harry said, attracting an angry glare from Ron.  Dumbledore smiled in appreciation.  "Thank you Harry, and please be considerate of Draco.  He will most likely be hostel, obviously.  You have never been on good terms with one another."  Harry nodded, and after an elbow from Harry, Ron nodded as well.  "Good."  Dumbledore said, standing up.  "Remember, your doing this for Hermione, you know her as well as I, and you know she would want this.  Good day."

After exchanging goodbyes, Harry and Ron returned to Harry's house, were they tried to come up with the best approach for the conversation. "Where should we tell him Harry?"  Ron said, still irritable."  We cant just bloody apparate into the Malfoy Manor and say, 'Hey Draco, guess what?  Your daughter is really your daughter! And Hermione's the mother! You do remember her right?  After all, you are the one that knocked her up when she was seventeen!'" "Of course not."  Harry said sharply.  "We will owl him, stating we need to discuss something with him, tell him its about Hermione, and if Dumbledore was telling the truth, that he truly was in love with her, he will reply."  "Alright."  Ron said defeated, "But you write it."  "Ok."  And Harry started to write:

Malfoy,

Remember me? I'm sure you do, we talked a lot back in school.  Anyway, I have some interesting news, which involves Hermione.  Myself and Ron Weasley, I'm sure you remember him as well, would like to discuss this issue with you.  Do not be alarmed, we are not going to avada you into the next century, like we wanted to in our seventh year.  You may pick the place and time if you want to.  Please reply promptly.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Harry Potter

"Look good to you Ron?"  Harry asked.  Ron grumbled something that Harry took as a yes, and gave it to Athena, Hedwig's daughter.  Harry's first owl was still alive, but because Harry didn't know where the Malfoy manor was, he didn't know if Hedwig would be up to the trip.  Athena took it and nipped Harry affectionately on the tip of his finger, and few off.  Harry and Ron stood at the window, watching the brilliant white bird become smaller and smaller.

~*~

Draco was sitting in the library, a large book was in his lap.  He looked down at his old school yearbook, his and Hermione's smiling faces waved up to him.  He didn't even remember that picture being taken.  He was lucky he could pass off the smiling and waving as a head boy duty to his father- trying to look pleasant.  He did look happy though.  But happiness was a foreign emotion to the Draco Malfoy now.  Unknown to everyone, besides his personal house elf, Michie, the yearbook was one of the few things that kept him sane.  Knowing there truly is happiness in the world, and that, even for a short time, he had held it, touched it, felt it……this kept him from doing the unspeakable.  After gazing through his most cherished memories, an unfamiliar owl swooped in through the window.  It came right up to Draco and stuck out its leg, imploring Draco to relive it of its burden.  Draco untied the letter, and noticed the owl stuck around, as if expecting a reply.  Draco opened the letter carefully, and drew in a startled gasp when he read it.  "Potter and Weasley?"  He said out loud.  "What the hell do they want?  What about Hermione? Argh, insufferable gits."  He decided he could hold his own against the duo, and replied

You may come to the Malfoy Manor, as I do not believe you are to murder me, you had the opportunity many years ago.  Please be here promptly at five o'clock tomorrow.  All you need to do is say 'Malfoy Manor' when you aparate, and you will be appearing in the garden, I will be there. Don't be late.

                                               

                                                                                                            Draco Malfoy

Draco was satisfied with the letter, as it sounded aloof and hard, not revealing the painstaking curiosity that was throbbing through his veins, giving the impression that his heart was having a hard time pumping blood throughout his body.  Draco sighed and sealed the letter, tieing it to the pearly birds' leg.  It flew off with a soft 'hoo' and Draco was left alone once more.

~*~

"Come ON Ron! We're going to be late!"  Harry was getting annoyed at his friend, who could care less whether they made Malfoy wait, an d he stated so.  "Why should we care if Malfoy has to wait a few more precious seconds?"  He said, putting on his other shoe.  "Come on Ron, this is fore Hermio ne or you know I wouldn't be doing this."  "Alright."  Ron grumbled.  "Im ready."  And the two men disaparated with a soft 'pop'

"Finally."  A voice drawled.  Harry and Ron landed in what, they expected to be, the Malfoy garden.  "We're sorry."  Harry said, meeting Draco's eyes, and Draco looked a bit surprised, at the apology.  "Please."  Draco said, motioning with his hand, "Take a seat."  He indicated a very elegant wrought iron garden table, which were colored a very dark green, with a canopy for shade over top and matching green wrought iron chairs. 

The three men sat down, and looked at each other apprehensively for a moment or two, finally Draco broke the silence.  "Well?  What did you two desperately need to tell me?"  His smirk becoming obvious.  Before Harry could start the conversation delicately, Ron blurted out, "We know about Juliet."  Draco looked sharply at the red head.  "I beg your pardon?"  He said, eyes narrowing.  "I said."  Ron repeated smartly.  "We know about your daughter, or the girl you pass off to others as your daughter.  We know that you and Pansy did not truly conceive her."  "So this is what all this is about."  Draco said harshly.  "This is all about bribery, you get me to meet you, saying rubbish about Hermione, and instead you turn to blackmail.  Nice touch Weasley, I thought your family had more honor then that."  Harry looked angrily at Ron.  "That's not what this is about, Draco."  Harry intervened.  "This is about Hermione too.  There's a lot that you yourself does not know.  We know what happened between you and Hermione, we know we made a mistake, but there is something you need to know as well."  Draco looked at him expectantly.  "Juliet is, in fact, your daughter."  "Well of course she-"  "No, Malfoy, Juliet is your real daughter.  She has your blood in her...." Harry paused, then added quietly, "She also has Hermione's."

For the first time in nearly eleven years, Draco lost his cool front.  "What!?"  He yelled, nearly tipping the heavy table over.  Harry and Ron looked at him calmly.  "Its true Malfoy."  Harry continued.  "Hermione became pregnant, and had your baby, after you left her.  She had her in the hospital wing in secret, only Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey know.  Besides us and Hermione of course."  Draco was in a state of shock.  There was no other way to describe the look on his face. The usually cold, indecipherable grey eyes of his where now stormy with emotions.  "Hermione…had my….daughter?"  Draco finally asked quietly.  "Yes."  Ron said.  "We also know why you had to leave her, and according to Harry, it was very noble."  Ron said the last part sarcastically, but Draco didn't catch it.  "Is she alright?"  Draco asked, in a hushed voice.  "Is she well? Where has she been?  Have you seen her?"  Harry looked at his enemy, and for once, he wasn't smirking.  Harry finally believed he cared for Hermione, and that's all he needed to know.

"Hermione is fine, if fact, she is teaching.  She is teaching our sons, and your daughter at Hogwarts."  Draco definitely wasn't expecting that.  "She is? Then why didn't I see her at the quiddich game?  Was she with you two at Pansy's funeral?"  "Yes she is, I don't know, and yes she was."  Harry said.  "I need to see her."  Draco announced, standing up. "I need to make things right! I need to tell her the truth! I need to tell her about my daughter! About our daughter! Oh my God, she's at Hogwarts?"  ""Yes she is! Calm down Malfoy."  Harry said, an edge in his voice.  "Calm down?"  Draco boomed.  "Calm down? How can I calm down when I haven't seen the love of my life in over a decade, A DECADE POTTER! Its enough to drive a man insane.  Trust me, I can tell you that."  "Alright Draco." Harry said soothingly.  "We'll help you see her, but you cant expect her to welcome you with open arms,  she thinks you're a traitorous bitch who knocked her up, and until a few minutes ago, I believed it too.  The only one who seemed to know your innocence all along, was Dumbledore."

Draco sat back in the large patio chair, deep in thought.  Harry looked at Ron, who was a mix between fuming and compassion.  A very unlikely combination.  "I need to see Hermione."  Draco said in a monotone.  "I need to see her, and set things straight.  Will you help me?"  With a quick glance at Ron, who gave a curt nod, Harry turned to Draco.  "Yes, we'll help you."

~*~

"Welcome back to Hogwarts, Mr. Malfoy."  Dumbledore said kindly to his former head boy.  Draco had insisted that he, Harry, and Ron immediately floo to Dumbledore, who, of course, was waiting.  Now the four men were gathered in the Headmasters office, waiting to see what came next.  "How would you like to go about doing this, Draco?"  Dumbledore asked the blonde man.  Draco looked at his overpriced shoes,  "I-I don't know."  He said. Ron couldn't help but grin to himself, he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.  Malfoy was the most vulnerable Ron had ever seen him.  "Hermione takes a bromide around ten o'clock every night."  Dumbledore said half to himself, half to the others.  This caught Harry and Ron off guard, but caused Draco to break out in a hopeful smile.  "She does?"  "Yes Draco, I daresay you have something behind that."  "I do, Albus."  Draco said, regaining some of his self assured attitude.  "In our sixth year Hermione was freaking out…really freaking out. You know, about O.W.L.'s, and making head girl and such."  Draco started, while the rest listened.  "SO I  told her that whenever I get stressed, I take a broom ride. I offered to lend her my broom, but she gave some excuse about her and brooms not getting along, well, that night I took her out and gave her lessons.  After she mastered riding, she went out nearly every night, around ten, and flew for about an hour, and she always came back much calmer then she left."  "I see."  Dumbledore said, stroking his long beard.  "It appears Hermione still holds onto the past." Harry and Ron just sat there, silently shaking their heads at how much they missed in their last years of school.

"I'm going to meet her tonight then."  Draco decided.  "Are you sure Malfoy?"  Harry asked the blonde man.  "I'm positive Potter.  I have put this off far too long, I need to do this."  His stormy grey eyes where set in determination, and Harry knew there was nothing he could do to persuade him otherwise.  "Would you like to join the school for dinner?"  Dumbledore asked Harry, Ron, and Draco.  "I would love to."  Harry said, and Ron agreed, never passing up food, but Draco politely declined.  "I think I will prepare for tonight, please, do not tip Hermione off.  And he left the room, his silky black robes swishing behind him.  Harry and Ron shrugged, then followed Dumbledore to the dining hall.

~*~

Hermione sat in her usual place in the dining hall, talking to Severus about Mark Flint, and the horrible things Severus made him clean after his most recent detention, when two figures caught Hermione's attention.  She looked up from her conversation.  "Harry? Ron?  What are you doing here?"  She asked her friends as they approached the table, were two chairs suddenly appeared on the side opposite the one Severus was on, and, magically, the table discreetly grew to accommodate the two new people.  "What?  Do you think you're the only know who can enjoy a meal at their alma mater?"  Ron asked with a grin, and before Hermione launched into a 'I work here therefore I always eat here' speech, Harry said, "We were just discussing some things with Dumbledore, and he invited us to stay for dinner, and who can turn down a Hogwarts feast?"  Hermione laughed at her friends, and reminded then that Barty crouch did, back in their fourth year.  "He was cursed!"  Harry exclaimed.  "That's the only reason, I'm sure!"  Hermione just laughed again, and turned back to her food, listening to the idle chatter of their former teachers talking to Harry and Ron.  Dumbledore arrived and greeted Harry and Ron once more, and winked.  They smiled  self consciously, and Hermione wondered what was up.  She knew it was useless to press he subject while her friends were eating however, so she planned to ask them later….right before her night ride.

Half an hour later, Hermione left the Great Hall with Harry and Ron, she loved little things like this, which reminded her of the way things used to be, before life stepped in.  before leaving, they all hugged, promising to see each other over Christmas, Harry invited Hermione and the Weasley's to stay with Parvati and him at their house, which according to Harry and Ron, was quite large and could easily accommodate them all.  Hermione waved them off from the front doors, completely forgetting what she was going to ask them.

Hermione's footsteps echoed quietly in the deserted hallway. She had an old firebolt over her shoulder, a gift from him. It was very out dated, compared to the newer models of course, but because Hermione only flew a couple of laps a night, she didn't feel the need, or rather, she felt far too sentimental, to ever get a new one.  She reached the dark quiddich pitch, and effortlessly mounted her broom, and took off into the night.  She never even realized someone was watching her every move.

~*~

Draco crept quietly to the quiddich pitch, taking every necessary measure to make as little noise as possible.  He saw Hermione mounting her broom, and took cover by a large rose bush.  The roses were white, oddly enough.  Draco had never seen a pure white rose.

Hidden in the shadows, Draco looked up at the star-studded sky, and he saw her.  She looked just as she did when they were seventeen-nearly twelve years ago now.  She flew through the air with incredible ease, cutting through the moonlight and shining brighter then the North Star.  "She must be out there teaching the stars to shine brighter."  Draco said absently to the dark. 

He stood there silently, waiting patiently.  Soon he saw her drift lower and lower to earth, and finally touching down.  He watched as she quietly and gracefully dismounted and started back to the castle.  This is it

"Hermione."  Draco said quietly, trying out the beautiful name on his tong, whispering it past his lips. He loved it, and said it louder, this time so she could hear- "Hermione." He repeated, and stepped out of the shadows.  Hermione audibly gasped and turned around, recognizing the voice before she saw the face.  "Draco."  She said quietly, barely a whisper, yet her voice was carefully void of any emotion.  "What are you doing here?"  Draco looked into her eyes….The eyes she and Juliet shared.  Juliet. His daughter, her daughter, how could he have missed it?  Draco shifted his own grey eyes up towards the heavens.  "I remember what you looked like the first time you rode by yourself."  He whispered wistfully.  "You were so beautiful.  I was so proud-"  "Draco stop."  Hermione interrupted, and Draco looked down at her, seeing the moonlight reflect off of the tears in her eyes.  She continued.  "Draco, I don't know why you're here, but I can't handle this.  My life is finally coming together after you tore it apart, seam by seam.  Harry and Ron have forgiven me, and I love their kids…I even love your own."  "Hermione."  Draco said, startled to discover he also had tears in his eyes.  The last time he cried was his wedding day…the day he married Pansy.  "Hermione, they had nothing to forgive you for, your are guilty of nothing but…"  He trailed off.  "Nothing but loving the enemy."  Hermione watched as his granite eyes turned to crystal tears.  She looked away quickly.  Draco took her check into the palm of his hand.  "No amount of tears can repay the amount of love I owe to you."  He said as soft as the wind around them.

They stood in silence, his hand still on her soft cheek.  Both of them had small rivers of tears running down their faces, but neither made a move to remove them.  The wind blew around them as grey eyes met honey.  For a moment, they were back eleven years, before the heartbreak and betrayal, before the pain and tears.  They were seventeen again, having a tender moment after a flying lesson.  They were in love then, and to any stranger going for a midnight stroll, they were just as in love now. 

After what seemed like hours, Draco shattered the silence, bringing them back from the blissful world they once shared, brought them back to the cold and bitter present.  "Hermione."  He said urgently, "I need to tell you something, Jul-"  "No Draco."  She cut him off again, blinking away new tears.  "Draco, you and I both know…we both know we cant."  And with that, she tuned away from him, and continued walking towards the castle, oblivious to Dracos desperate cried to her, she took her light with her, the light from within herself she was using to teach the stars to shine, and once again, Draco was plunged into darkness.  Again he whispered, "No amount of tears will repay the amount of love I owe to you"

(A-N)

Hey! Wow, I know, im a bad updater, but I absolutely LOVE this chapter! But I cant take all the credit, this chapter  was influenced by a lot of other things around me.  I was actually writing the part were Dumbledore is telling harry and ron about Draco and Hermione in English class, where we are studing Robert Frost's poetry, and I took 2 lines form his poem 'birches' and manipulated it.  it's the forest and path of life part, lol. and other stuff influenced, but I don't remember. Hehe.

Xoxo

ariel

Rabid d- wow, that was positively the best things someone has ever said to me!!! Omg! My ego inflated to the size of a hot air balloon! Lol. im really glad you like my style, honestly I always doubt myself, but hey, whatever works!  I know what you mean about O.C's I usually cant stand them either, their always too perfect, or too cute, or whatever, but I needed some, so I tried to make them reseble the old characters we all know and adore : P As for Estella and Phillip, the names actually come from Charles Dickens 'Great Expectations' (I suggest you read it, its magnificent) and I love the name Estella.  Their my two little trademark kids, their in all my chapter-fics (first appeared in 'a new kind of enimy') although they arnt exactly the same in every fic. And your right, Ryan and James will have a large chunk of the 'happily ever after' glory : D Im not exactly sure what will happen next, now that two major things have happened, but don't you worry, a lot of our old heros will be making appearances, and all that good jazz. Thank you so much for the fantasticly ego-boosting review, it totally made my day :D

Emma- Hey, thanks! I tried making them smaller, but its hard to find a good place to cut off

Tainted black- thank you! im trying to make it all come together now, the action will start to pick up.

Elizadugrey- Of course they will hook up! Ahh! Lol

Animangus- I hope this helps those brain cells regenterate!

Hamechk-senti- oh yea, lots more ; )

Bibi- thanks! And of course the paintings know a lot, lol, they have been there since the founders!

Evelyn- thank you!

Pearl- that was thre…lol… 1) Emotions by Destiny's Child 2) prolly 13-15 3) here you go!

Anonymous- hehe, *grins evily* we'll seeeee

aLi- fast enough?

 Casper- Hey! Glad you liked it.  About the yearbook, remember they were going to go find it at night, but got lost? That's how they ended up talking to Estella and Phillip!

Even Angels Fall- Welp, Draco now knows, guess who's next?

Lindsey- Hey! Its my fav. Ship too, everything else is boring (Hermione and Ron) or kinda disturbing (like slashes or teacher/student) lol, im just picky about what I read.

Jade-Lol, lots more action, don't worry, but Hermiones not gonna give it up too easily

Alix- thank you! that means a lot to me!

Kyra-Lol, hope I posted quick enough for you!

Vesper- Yea, those kids are rather meddlesome, but I guess we have them to thank, now don't we?

Heather J-Thanks! I am, hope you like this chapter!

Shadows Flame-Thanks, I know theres not much going on, but I like gradual action, not bing bam boom, if you know what I mean, its like escalating for a great climax I guess. I don't know, im a fan for suspence.  I love Estella and Phillip, I've refered to them in some way or another in all my chapter fics. Their my favorite made up characters by me.

Lizzy-Thanks! Hope you enjoy this one!

Sweet Sorrow- Nope, not a sequal, I think I mentioned that in the previous chapters authors note…remember in a new kind of enily Lucius was long dead and Draco and Hermione got married? Yea.  I just have Estella and phillip for a cross referece sort of thing. Its like my trademart now.

Hilde- yea, I know I took forever.  I couldn't think of anything good. Lol.  hope this one came out quick enough!

Jaime- hehe, thanks, I know what you mean about predictability, I try to avoid that at all costs, but some stuff is inevitable, im a happily ever after girl! :D

Angel_1215- I think I mentioned something about Draco noticing…maybe im wrong. But ill use the same excuse I use for all of Hermione's flaws…he just wants to forget.  HE had to hurt her so bad, and the guilt is stiff with him because he still loves her.  He sees this child, and it reminds him of her, but he still couldn't think about him actually impregnating Hermione, ya know? Guys are kind of clueless like that :D

Sugar- Lol, thanks, and sure, Im a sixteen year old female living in western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh.  I like Estella and Phillip, and technically, they are old. Like a thousand years old! Lol.