Thank you' goes out to everyone who reviewed this story! Whoever said that it was too much narration… well see the thing is, Draco was all by himself in the first chapter so why would he talk? Besides I'm trying to create the mood of the story... there will be more dialogue soon… so obviously I've decided to write more! I really need some constructive criticism at this point in my story. hint hint

Then and Forever

Chapter 2

Finding His Loved One

Draco strode into the Ministry of Magic with purposeful strides. He caught sight of Potter and stalked towards him. Harry glared at Draco with suspicion, as he neared closer. Then, without warning, Draco bent down on knee, clasped his hands together in a begging motion, his liquid steel eyes pleading with Harry's bottle green ones.

"Please, I have to know where she is. I just have to know… I want to fix everything. I love her."

"Oh please. Do you actually think that I would give it to you? You broke her heart Malfoy. She hates you now." The very thought nearly dissolved his determination. But a picture of Hermione floated behind his eyes, strengthening his resolve.

"Come on Potter, let me have it. I'll find it somehow anyways. I just have to talk to her! Come on! I'm desperate here. I'll do anything. Please. Just give me her address."

"What are you going to do if I say no?" Harry taunted, his old rivalry between himself and Draco not forgotten.

"This," and in the blink of an eye, Draco had Harry pinned up against the wall, wand at his throat. Harry recognized a great pain behind his clouded grey eyes, and he knew that Draco was indeed a desperate man, and would do anything for the name of love. Even and especially murder. So resigning himself to Hermione's future fury, he bit back his reluctance and surrendered to Draco's favor.

Draco stared around the tropical paradise before him with amazement. After being locked up in dark manor for a year, the bright sunlight and vibrant colors really shook him. He was sure he had never seen anything so beautiful, with the exception of his precious Hermione. He was amazed that Hermione had actually chosen to live somewhere like this. He thought that she would've stayed in London, where all her friends and family were.

He couldn't believe that Potter had actually given him Hermione's address, even at wand point. Harry wasn't the type of person to bow easily to a threat. It was nothing short of a miracle that he was here, on the island home of the woman he loved. He couldn't believe that he had actually resorted to violence! In his former days he would have had no problem with it. But now… he just felt guilty. He kept striding down the path with anticipation, thinking of ways to make it up to Potter.

He neared a fork in the road, a left and a right path feasible options. The battered sign on the left said "Village", the one on the right said "Hermione's Hut".

Draco strode impatiently down the trodden path to the right. In another few minutes, he would see Hermione. But as much as he wanted to hurry, he knew he could use the time to plan out what he was going to say to her. Should he tell her that he still loved her? That seemed like a good place to start. He knew that was he did was stupid, but he was changed now. Knowing her, she would probably say it's a little late for an apology. So he just had to think of something to say. I thought I would give you time to cool off? That sounded a bit harsh, considering. He was the one who had needed time to cool off. Or should he say that he couldn't stand not being near her? That would probably melt her disposition a little bit. He wasn't an expert on love – just look at where his antics had gotten him – but he knew his way around Hermione's heart – for the most part.

But then he remembered a time all too painful when he hadn't been able to win her over. That's why he was here now.

He decided to give up on it. Hermione was unpredictable; he was better off improvising.

Draco rounded a bend in the path, only to find himself smack dab in front of a cozy cottage surround in palm trees. Behind it lay a small lagoon with the clearest green water he had even seen. Trees that grew every kind of fruit where scattered around her snug home, and soft white sand stood under his feet. All in all, the place was beautiful. The cottage seemed to be made of stone, to last in all kinds of weather. Behind the house he could see a little hen house that he presumed was full of laying hens. Draco felt a wave of relief washed over him; at least she wasn't in poverty. She had all the basic necessities lying at her feet.

It seemed as though she had already had everything she needed. The suggestion stopped Draco dead in his tracks. What if she had forgotten about him? Or what if she really did mean it when she said that she never wanted to see him again? His determination wavered. Maybe it would be better for them both if he went back to his Manor and stayed there for the rest of his life.

Draco turned around and was about to head back when he decided to try once more. It couldn't hurt. This was his last chance to make it right, and it didn't want to screw this up. Everything and anything was worth a try.

He walked up the stone steps and knocked on the heavy wooden door. He waited.

There was no answer. He tried again, thinking that maybe she was immersed in a book and didn't hear him. But again there was no answer. Maybe she really didn't live her? What if Potter had given him the wrong address? Sweat trickled down his back, and it wasn't from the 30+ degree weather.

Hermione please let this be your house.

He tried a few more times, but to no avail. Slumping down onto the cool porch, with his white blonde hair rested against the door Draco wondered what in the world he was going to do. I've lost her again. If only I hadn't have been so stupid! I shouldn't have-

A cracking twig snapped him out of his reverie. His ears perked up at the sound of a hushed feminine voice.

Hermione's voice.

"Shhh… It's okay Hun were almost home."

Instinct told him that Hermione was coming back home... He couldn't wait to see her again.

Time seemed to go in slow motion, and to Draco the seconds felt like hours. When she finally rounded the path he froze with anticipation. She was coming closer, yet she didn't seem to notice him for she was focused on the tiny bundle in her arms.

Her hair was just as glorious as it had been when he'd last seen her; full of curls that fell down past her waist. Her dark locks floated in the light breeze, and her pale skirt fluttered around her ankles, giving her the appearance of a goddess. Her eyes, the ever foreboding color of amber, were still flecked with cinnamon slivers. He loved her eyes. They were always reflected with such fervent passion. Now her eyes were filled with sorrow that reached out its frail hands to claw at his pathetic heart.

Pain and loss overwhelmed him; his sharp intake of breath was just loud enough to catch her attention.

She looked up surprised that she was not alone. As soon as her gaze fell upon him she nearly screamed in shock. She ran up to him, amazement in her eyes.

"Draco," her soft voice spoke in wonder. She engulfed him in as tight an embrace as she could muster before she backed away, unsure of her actions. "What… what are you doing here?" When she backed up a step, her arm still lingered on his shoulder, almost afraid to let go. She stared deep into his eyes, searching for an answer. Her eyes seemed so far away, and much wiser than he had ever seen them.

Draco couldn't think of anything to say, so his he shrugged his shoulders.

"What are you doing back here? I thought that… well I thought we were over." The look of crushed hope in Draco's clouded eyes made her quickly add, "I mean, we weren't expecting you…"

Draco's expression turned from sorrow to deep confusion, puzzling Hermione along the way. "What's wrong?"

His voice was hardly audible as he managed to say, "We?"

Hermione bit her lip, realizing that she had just given away something important that she had never wanted to tell him. The bundle in her arms started to stir, catching Draco's attention. What he saw nearly made him faint.

His clouded gray gaze locked onto a pair of eyes that were the exact same color as his, his fathers, and many generations of Malfoys before him. It wasn't until he took in the whole body of a 6 month old baby swathed in pink blankets that he realized just who it was:

His Daughter.