Draco and Lucius arrived back at their manor. The place was a mess but neither of them minded. Draco sat down on the couch with a look of thought on his face. Lucius sat down next to him.

"What's wrong, Draco? Is it the fight with your mother and I? We're just hitting some bad moments but it'll pass. It'll all be fine."

"No, Father. I'm not thinking about that. I think I'm okay with it all. I guess. But while we're on the subject. Father, were you in love with Mum when you married her?"

"Well . . that's a question I wasn't expecting. Uhm.." Lucius winced but tried to answer the question as best as he could. "Well your mother was someone was someone I was looking for. She was to be my partner. She was there to guide me through my life choices. What on earth brought you to this question?"

"Paula and I were talking and she told me of some boy she fell in love with at Hogwarts. And it seemed that she could have led the perfect life with this boy, but she turned away from it. It just confuses me that someone so in love could end up with such a sad, lonely life. I'm not saying Paula's sad, but it's depressing to know that she's alone when she had a chance at being much more alive with the right man."

Lucius looked at him intently. "What are you talking about? How did this conversation come about?"

"Well I simply asked her if her wish ever came true. If there was someone that made her feel good enough. And she was talking of this boy. Father, you and Paula went to Hogwarts together. Did you know who she was talking about?"

Lucius was engrossed in thought. Draco was waiting for an answer.

"Father.."

"Go to your room.." he said quietly.

Draco obeyed orders. He walked up the steps but stopped half-way. He looked down at his father.

"Is everything alright?"

"Go.."

He headed up for the steps. Lucius heard the door close and got up. He was sweating intensely. He needed something. Aguamenti . Water appeared. He drank it but his heart was still pounding. Then the thoughts started hammering away in his head.

She still thinks of what happened. What did she tell Draco? Draco doesn't know that's why he asked you Lucius. What stories did she tell him? Well, she chose the right path. She's now very known in the Ministry."It seemed that she could have led the perfect life with this boy" And it's true. She could have. But it was her fault. No! The thoughts are coming back. Please no. I'm done with them. They're the ones that have ruined me. But it could have been perfect. ENOUGH LUCIUS! You're just friends - - and that's all that will ever happen. The way it was always meant to be.