Disclaimer: All characters and places in the Harry Potter series are owned by J.K. Rowling. I have created a few characters and places of my own in relation to this story. But everything else is owned by Rowling.

Chapter 16: "Restoring the Balance"

"Um, Professor, could I talk to Harry for a moment, alone?"

"Sure, Mr. Malfoy," said Dumbledore.

Dumbledore walked towards the door. "Come on, Dylan," he called out. "Let's watch over your mother."

After Dumbledore and Dylan left, Draco stood up and paced back and forth in front of the couch. Harry looked at him worryingly. "What's the matter?" he asked.

Draco stopped pacing. "I want you to know something," he said.

"Is this about Hermione?"

"Yes. But it's also about Dylan."

Draco sat beside Harry. "Harry, before Hermione lost her consciousness, I-I confessed my love for her. But of course, she was in love with you, so I wasn't really expecting anything in return and-"

"Draco," Harry butt in. "I always knew Hermione was special to you. And it's okay. I'm glad you care for her this much."

"Thank you."

Harry smiled. "Was that all you wanted to tell me?"

"Actually, no." Draco rested his back on the couch and stared at the opposite wall. "Harry, for the past week, Dylan has been helping me. steal Hermione from you. That was his, shall we say, plan."

"What?" Harry said.

"But it didn't work," Draco said, looking at Harry. "Because I realized she wouldn't be happy if she was with me, because it's you whom she loves. When Dylan had me drink Veritaserum to reveal my true feelings, he asked me if I was willing to do anything just to prove to Hermione that I deserve her love, and I said yes. But he never asked me if I was willing to give her up for her own happiness, the one question I had always asked myself. I had known the answer all along."

"Draco, why didn't you tell us right away?"

"Because I wasn't sure if I even wanted to tell you in the first place. Dylan was great at manipulating, I could tell you that. But the thing is, no matter how good he was, it still wouldn't have worked if I didn't have any bad intention at all."

"What are you trying to tell me? That you wanted this somehow?"

"I don't know. Maybe I am. If I was able to let this happen, then how can I be sure that it won't happen again-me hurting you, and also Hermione in the process? You heard what would happen in the future. I just couldn't bear being able to do something like that to you and Hermione."

"But you just proved that you are different. The Draco that is Dylan's father is different from the Draco I know, the Draco that is my friend, Hermione's friend. It doesn't matter what your original intention was. It only matters that you were able to stop yourself from doing something wrong, and learn the lesson behind it. It just proves how much you've changed."

Draco gave Harry a hug. He wasn't sure if it was okay. But for the first time in his life, he felt that he and Harry were really friends. It felt good to be finally accepted, and understood.

"Thank you," Draco said, retreating from the hug.

"I think you should thank yourself," Harry said, giving Draco a comforting smile.

***

Dumbledore and Dylan were both standing by Hermione's bed. Dylan was surveying his mother, while holding her hand.

"No wonder why Hermione somehow recognized you. You do look alike."

Dylan looked behind him. It was Harry. He, Ron, and Mrs. Granger had just entered the room.

"Well, except that his hair is straight," said Ron, who was just behind Harry.

Dylan was surprised when an older woman came to her and threw her arms around him. "Excuse me, who are you?" Dylan asked.

"Don't you think Grandma deserves a hug?" Mrs. Granger said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Don't worry, we've told them everything," Harry told Dylan.

"I still can't believe it," Ron said.

"I can't believe I have a grandson. A grandson!" Mrs. Granger yelled happily.

"Where's Draco?" Dylan asked.

Everyone turned to look. Draco was standing outside, watching them from the open doorway. The moment he enters is the moment Dylan would vanish. But there are still a lot of things he would like to say to him.

"It would have been better if he got my eyes," they heard him speak.

"Don't worry. I got something more noticeable," Dylan said.

"And what is that?" asked Ron.

"My arrogance," Draco replied, smiling.

***

Dylan went out of the room to talk to Draco before he leaves. He knew this was his chance to settle the matter with his real father once and for all.

"Don't give me that look," Dylan said, seeing the stoic look on Draco's face. "I'm still your son and I still want to get to know you."

"But in a few minutes I won't have you anymore," Draco said.

"Don't worry. You'll always have me. There in your heart."

Draco closed his eyes. "Why do we even have to say goodbye. We only knew each other for like an hour."

"We've known each other for days," Dylan said, grinning.

"But I've only known you as my son," Draco said, opening his eyes again.

Dylan looked straight in Draco's eyes. "I want you to know that even if you rejected me, I still loved you."

"And I want you to know that I will always love your mother. Whatever lifetime she may be in."

Dylan automatically threw his arms around Draco. This was his last moment with his father. Draco cherished every minute he was holding his son. He felt the bond that was connecting them, that of father and son. When they released their embrace, they knew it was time to part ways. It was hard, but they had to do it.

"It's time," Draco said.

"I know."

"It's too bad you weren't able to meet your mother."

"I already met her. And I know somehow she knew we were connected. Please take care of her."

"Don't worry, I will."

***

Everyone else that was inside the room came out. Harry, Ron, and Dumbledore shook hands with Dylan. While Mrs. Granger kept on hugging him.

"Um, Mrs. Granger-" Dylan began.

"Oh, call me Grandmum!" Mrs. Granger replied, now kissing Dylan on the forehead.

"Er-Grandmum, why exactly are you so happy to see me? Haven't they told you I was the reason why your daughter is lying unconscious at that bed?" Dylan finished.

"I know, but does it really matter?" Mrs. Granger said, throwing her hands up. "I'm only gonna see you now so I want to make the most out of it."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Grandmum-and I do call you Grandmum in my time-I like the way you cook," Dylan said.

Mrs. Granger threw her arms around Dylan one last time. "I'm really gonna miss you," she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I'll miss you too, Grandmum," Dylan replied.

Seeing them like this, Harry couldn't help but wish that he too, would have a family. He also couldn't help but admit how lucky Draco was. For somehow, he felt how having a family was like. Even if it was only for a few minutes.

Separating himself from her grandmother, Dylan turned to face the door. It was time for him and Draco to go inside. But before he moved forward, Dylan turned around to look at his grandmother one last time. "Grandmum, I just want you to know that I used your maiden name as my surname while I was here."

"Watson is your maiden name Ms. Granger?" Draco asked.

"Yes. it is," Mrs. Granger said, wiping the tears off her face.

"Oh, and before I leave, just one more thing," Dylan said, turning to face the door and pulling out his wand. Draco smiled upon seeing it.

"Not this again," Draco said.

"You wouldn't let me go without marking the most important place in my life," Dylan said, staring at the door, then through the glass where he could see Hermione. "The only place where I got to be with my mother and father. All of us together."

Draco just stared at Dylan's face as Dylan pointed his wand on the door. *I guess I wasn't a bad father after all,* he thought, *I was able to give him what he always wanted. A family.*

Dylan uttered "Signeus Ignitus!" and from flames was etched a figure on the door. After the flames have subsided, everyone gasped with both amazement and sadness, as the figure became clear. It was a sketch of a family, drawn by a child-a mother, a father, and a son, with 'Mom' and 'Dad,' written in a child's handwriting, under the mother and the father. And under the son, in big bold letters, was written, 'DYLAN.'

"How did you do that?" Mrs. Granger asked.

"I learned it from my mother," Dylan replied. Both Harry and Ron smiled. Dylan was indeed Hermione's son.

"Amazing what love and magic can do," Dumbledore finally spoke. "Do you know how long it took me to master than spell? A month," he said. "But Ms. Granger once told me that she learned it overnight."

"Mom was the best."

"Yah, so was your Dad," Harry said. Draco smiled at him. "I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot," Harry told Dylan.

"It wasn't your fault. That was a different time," Dylan responded. "Just love my mom."

"I will."

Draco was about to take Dylan's hand when Dylan suddenly ran inside the room. "I wanted to say goodbye to you before I leave," he said to Hermione. "I love you, mom," he said, letting his tears fall down. And with that, he kissed Hermione on the cheek.

Dylan went back outside, leaving the door open.

"Are you sure you wanna do it like this? I could have just entered, you know," Draco said.

"Trust me, Dad. You'd wanna hold me before I leave," Dylan said, not bothering to wipe his tears.

Dylan gave all of them one final look and one last nod. He turned around and held Draco's hand.

They slowly moved to enter. The moment they have both stepped inside the room, Dylan was gone. Everyone saw it happen. But Draco didn't. He had his eyes closed. But he felt Dylan disappear, how the feeling of holding his hand slowly vanished. And though it hurt him a lot, Draco was indeed happy that he was able to hold him.

Draco stepped back and felt something on the ground. He looked down and saw a silver locket. "He dropped it right before he disappeared," Harry said.

Draco picked it up and opened it. Inside, was a picture of Hermione, and of Dylan. He closed the locket and clutched it inside his palm, as tears were falling down his face.

Suddenly, he remembered something. "Hermione," he whispered.

He turned to look at her and saw that she was still unconscious. He ran towards her as he wiped his tears and inserted the locket inside his pocket. He immediately held her hand. He heard the others' footsteps behind him as they too, approached.

"Why hasn't she awakened?" Harry asked beside him.

"Feel her pulse," Dumbledore said.

Draco moved his fingers to feel Hermione's wrist. Tears streamed once again down his cheeks. "She's-dead."