Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in this chapter except the youngest Malfoy (Athalie) in this story and any other foreign characters that may appear.

Author's note: First I want to apologize for the long wait. I'm sorry. I've been really lazy for the past couple of weeks. Another thing all translations are in parenthesis. Well anyways. Read and review.

Chapter 2: In her eyes.


The lobby of the Ministry building buzzed with conversation in all sorts of languages, ranging from French to Mermish, languages that fascinated a brown haired three year old walking through the crowd of ministry officials, enraptured by their height.

She tried hard to absorb any new words she could use, not paying any attention to the women who ooed and awed at her cute face.


Quite the curious one, that Athalie.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * ** * *

"Où est-il?" (Where is he?) A burly French man in robes of electric blue hissed, pouting and rubbing his bald spot.

"Il sera ici. Vous savez qu'il est." (He will be here. You know how he is.) Answered a middle aged witch, who was too preoccupied with the people all around her, to realize that her leading man was minutes away from making his grand entrance.

A tall, well built man sporting medium length dark brown hair, which was pulled in to a care less ponytail, marched his way up to the red telephone booth in the middle of a shabby-looking neighborhood.

Upon entering he dialed in the pass word, stated his name, received his visitor's badge and patiently waited as the telephone booth took him underground, towards the Ministry Atrium.


Brings back memories doesn't it? He thought to himself.


The telephone booth emerged from the bowels of the earth and he stepped out into a long hallway, furnished with a polished dark wood floor. The blue ceiling shone brightly due to the fact that the golden symbols on it continually moved and changed.


Midway through the hall, where the beautiful life size statue of a noble wizard, surrounded by a gorgeous witch, a goblin, centaur, and house elf, once stood in a circular pool, now stood a larger than life statue of a bearded wizard grouped by five shorter wizards.

On his left was a boy with unruly hair, holding a sword. Behind him was a good looking man in tattered robes. On the bearded wizard's right was an old man with grizzled hair, a wooden leg, and a one large, swiveling eye.


In the back of him was lanky determined looking boy holding his wand very close to his chest. Lastly a gorgeous young woman sat Indian style in front of the bearded wizard smiling sweetly. Her bushy hair was pulled back in to a loose bun.


"Yes. This does bring back memories." The brown haired stranger whispered to himself as he approached the statue. The sign in front read:

In tribute to our hero's who risked their life to save the wizarding world.

Albus Dumbledore

Harry Potter

Remus Lupin

Alastor Moody

Ronald Weasley

Hermione Granger.

Taking a last look, the dark haired young man approached the large gold gates to have his wand registered at the security desk. A short energetic man in robes of peacock blue assisted him.

In minutes he was walking toward the golden gates. Just beyond them he could see a stream of people waiting, probably for the same reason he was. He pushed his way through the crowded hallway and towards the lifts.

His destination: Level five: Department of Magical Cooperation, where a meeting with the French, Belgian, and English ministries was to be held.

Many females eyed him. He was a good looking man. His perfectly chiseled face, dark eyes that turned the color of honey the minute light touched them, careless hair, graceful stride, and mysterious aurora, was what made men jealous and women's knees weak.

Behind him, despite the noise the rickety lift made, he could here women whispering things like "He is so hot!" "I wonder what he does?" and "I hope he's not with anyone or worse…..married." and "I want him."

Before stepping out the lift, he turned to the heavily perfumed women and winked, making them gasp and batter their eyes and whisper to their friend. It always pleased him to see that he still had the charm.

He walked down the empty corridor and into a large room decorated with comfortable looking sofas. Before entering he observed the room and noticed a few familiar faces, but none of which he wanted he really wanted to see.


He stepped in and bumped into something he couldn't see. Looking down he saw a little girl looking as though she just realized where she was.


Normally he would have continued walking but something about this little girl kept him glued on the spot.


She was a beautiful little child with dark brown, curly hair and the most intense blue-gray eyes he'd ever seen. She was a natural beauty, perfect bone structure, smooth olive skin, a sweet smile and curious eyes.


He looked at her and she looked at him and neither person could look away. In her eyes, he saw mystifying revelations. She looked so innocent, but yet mature.


The little brown haired girl cocked her eye brows, a gesture that he was quite familiar with himself. Then she smiled, a breath - taking smile, before running off.


"Marcel! Par-dessus ici." (Over here.) A burly French man yelled, gesticulating for the brown haired man to come over.


"Bonjour Dashiell." Marcel Valentin said to his friend then turned to the middle aged witch.


"Bonjour Celestyn." He said kissing her on the cheek.

"You are late and look at you," Celestyn started in her French accented English, then extracted her wand from her purse began to fix Marcel, who wore a suit in his trademark color, black. His midnight blue shirt was not tucked in and unbuttoned by the throat.

"I would think 'e can dress hiz self but it is quite obvious 'e cannot." She continued fixing his tie. While Celestyn fixed him, Marcel spoke to Dashiell.

"What is ze hold up?" He asked.

"The Minister of Magic 'as yet to arrive," Dashiell grunted. "Are you prepared?"

"Il y avait jamais le doute que j'étais?" (Was there ever any doubt that I was) he replied slyly.


Dashiell let out a hearty laugh and continued to ramble on but stopped talking when Marcel walked off towards a group of people. "I'll be back shortly." he mumbled.


Even from a distance Marcel could see who he was approaching, very familiar faces that he was willing to greet. However there was one person he wanted to talk to.


"Hello." He said surprising the smaller group of people.

"Hello," A female with long hair in a plait said, smiling flirtatiously. "I'm Pavarti Patil."



Next a tall man with fiery red hair stepped up and extended his hand to shake Marcel's.

"Ronald Weasley. I work for the Department of Magical Games and Sports."


"Hello there! Seamus Finnigan," Seamus stretched out his hand to shake Marcel's also. "I work for the Department of Magical Transportation."


Right behind him was the one man he needed to speak to, Harry Potter.


"Hello. I'm Harry Potter. I work in Magical Games and Sports also."


"And is also the current owner and coach for the Irish national Quidditch team." Pavarti squealed.

"

Marcel Valentin. I work for ze Department of Magical Law enforcement for ze French Ministry." He said.


Parvarti seemed to have a ball flirting with him and was even more pleased when he announced his position in the Ministry. It certainly was more prestigious than Magical Games and Transport.


"Oh so you're here for the meeting too, I suppose?" Ron asked and Marcel nodded.


"And you're French." Pavarti added winking at him.


"I'm sorry to cut zis meeting so short. It was nice meeting you all but I was wondering. Could I possibly 'ave a word with Mr. Potter?" He asked smiling one of his best smiles.

Pavarti quickly got the message and dragged both Ron and Seamus down the hall with her, leaving the two men alone.

"It's been a while Harry," Marcel said in a perfect British accent. Harry took a step back looking at the man before him in disbelief.

"Three years, I s'pose."

"Draco....?"

"Yes I'm back."

"Blimey. You had me fooled." Harry admitted rubbing the back of his neck.

"I can see that. This is just a little disguise I mustered up to make this little hideaway easy. I can fix it in a flick of my wand."



"So, how's married life Potter?" Draco said smirking. Over the years he discovered that he enjoyed talking to Harry, a brave man, once his rival and now his closest friend.

"Ginny and I are alright. There are no problems in the bedroom. I'll tell you that much," Harry started brightly. It felt good again to start a boyish conversation with Draco, who laughed jovially.

"But really. We're good. Financially we're set. I make at least two hundred thousand galleons a year from coaching Ireland. The ministry pays well. Ginny's job provides her with a salary over one hundred thousand."


"Really. What does she do.?"


"Healing at St. Mungo's," Harry responded. "Also, she's pregnant with twins."


"Is she really?" Draco asked with much interest. "How far along is she?"


"Six months."


"So basically you're happy. Congratulations, mate." He said

leaning against the wall and beaming at his friend.


There was an uncomfortable silence between the two men before Draco spoke up.


"So how is she?"


Harry took a deep breath before speaking. He knew it was coming; Draco would want to hear about the wife who he walked out on.


"Hermione...er..She's fine. All is well Draco. No need to worry. Athalie is happy and -."


"Athalie...so that's the name she chose."


"Yeah. She's a gorgeous little girl and smart too….." He trailed off before continuing. Harry put a hand on his friends shoulder squeezed it. "You'd be proud." Draco gave him a weary smile after hearing this.


"I wish I'd been there for the first three years of her life--."


"Listen. I wish you were too but you had to leave. It was for the best." Harry cut in.


"Did you explain to Hermione?"

"No. She didn't need to hear it from me. She was too devastated to listen anyways, but I felt that you had to tell your own story."


Draco ran his hand over his face and stared at the polished floor. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that he'd left and taken a significant piece of Hermione with him. It was possible that she'd never forgive him.


He didn't need to hear Harry say "she needs you." And "Go back home." He didn't need it. It was bullshit, lies, an excuse to make him feel worse than he already did.

Hermione is a strong woman. She would live her life with or without him. The world would continue to turn and the forces of the universe would continue to alternate patterns.


One thing was certain: Hermione deserved an explanation, weather or not she wanted to hear it.


"Are they still after you?" Harry asked after a while.


"Yes. They're getting closer. I'm running out of time." Draco replied truthfully


"We had a plan devised, remember."


"I remember."


"You know what you have to do."


"Sure. The hardest part is leaving again."


"You have no choice." Harry declared quite firmly.


"I know...I know."


A young woman, holding a stack of papers came dashing down the hall towards Harry and Draco.


"Mr. Potter, Mr. Potter!!" she yelled fixing her glasses that were sliding off the crook of her nose.


"Yes." Harry answered calmly.


"Ms. Granger can't attend the meeting today and she's left me in charge. I- I don't know what to do." She cried, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

At the mention of Hermione's name, Draco jumped into the conversation.

"Ms. Granger, you say." He asked.

"Yes the Mistress of Magic." She said sniffling.

Draco looked at Harry and shoved his hands into his pocket. Harry gave him a sympathetic smile but didn't stop his interrogation.

"Is that the name she goes by now?" he continued.

"Well that's the name she prefers to go by --."

"Instead of Mrs. Malfoy?"

"Yes. Sorry," she continued shifting the papers from one hand to the next. "Not to be rude or anything, but this still doesn't solve my problem."

Harry spoke up. "You know what Amy? I'll do it if it terrifies you that much. Just, calm down."



Amy smiled appreciatively at Harry and walked away still hyperventilating. Before taking off, Harry turned to Draco.


"I've got to run but listen to me Draco. Take care of yourself and here," he handed Draco a piece of crumpled paper. "It may be quite useful."


Draco unfolded the piece of paper and read Harry's messy script.

22 Godric's Hollow

Yes, this piece of paper would open many doors. It was time to put it to use.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Hermione dashed downstairs to level five, where the Ministry daycare was built since she became Mistress of Magic. It was quite useful to the single parents working in the Ministry, not that they were many to begin with.

As soon as she arrived the waiting area was all ready clear, meaning that the meeting was already in full swing. Hermione surveyed the Daycare, which was halfway down the hall from the meeting area.


She saw Alice, the middle aged witch who ran the Daycare, chasing a little boy dressed in all blue and with pumpkin juice all over his shirt. In another corner she saw a little girl in a pink dress playing with some sort of new toy. Another group of boys played a war game while another little girl sat in a corner, reading. No sign of Athalie, yet.

As soon as the dirty boy gave Alice leave she turned to Hermione.

"Oy, Hermione! I didn't even see you there. Hold on a minute. Let me get Athalie."

Alice turned to the large yellow kiddie's sofa behind her. Then she went to the other side, where the children hung their cloaks. No sign of Athalie. Hermione as well as Alice started to panic.

Each woman ran up and down the day care and the hallway screaming Athalie's name, hoping to see her in some corner. Hermione knew her baby girl better than that. She wasn't lost, just exploring.

Hermione ran back to the day care and looked again and Alice checked under sofas, chairs and tables.

"Athalie. C'mon. Where are you?" the stressed twenty one year old mother yelled.

"I'm here Mummy." Came a small voice from behind. Alice jumped for joy and Hermione rushed toward her child.

"Where were you?" she asked.

"Taking a walk." Athalie replied smoothly like she hadn't done anything wrong.

"Don't you ever wander off like that again," Hermione stated firmly, but her tone softened as she continued. "Mummy loves you too much to lose you, okay."

"Like you lost Daddy?"

Suddenly the air became very still. Hermione stared into her daughter's eyes and she intently stared back waiting for an answer. This wasn't the right time or place to bring that topic up but it made no sense to ignore the question either.

"Yes, like I lost Daddy."

Alice cleared her throat and handed Hermione Athalie's purple cloak. As she rapped it around her she tried hard not to cry. Those blasted tears were always a problem when she spoke to Athalie about Draco. It hurt too much and the more she thought about it, the more she hated him.

"Well I'll be off." She said straightening up and wiping her eyes. Alice approached her and hugged her tightly, a gesture that always made her feel better.The pair headed off to the Atrium where they made an exit by means of floo powder.

"Achoo!" Athalie sneezed into her tiny hands.

"I know just where to take you." Hermione said wiping Athalie's nose. "We're going to go visit Aunt Ginny."

Hermione took a handful of floo powder and let it go. Green-emerald flames shot up and she shouted "Stoatshead Hill."

Everything around her swirled in with the green flames and a second later she was pelted out through a fireplace and into the living room of Harry and Ginny's comfortable mansion on the top of Stoatshead Hill.

Ginny, despite her huge stomach, came running to assist Hermione and Athalie. She picked Athalie up into her arms and playfully greeted her. After she put her down she went to Hermione.

"So what brings you here," Athalie's hacking cough answered her question. "Right. I'll be back with something to cure that."

Hermione picked Athalie up, removed her cloak and seated her on a chair in the kitchen. Ginny returned and spoon fed Athalie a pink potion, which tasted like bubblegum, as Athalie claimed.

"Put her to bed as soon as you get home. This may make her drowsy--" Ginny started but stopped to catch Athalie as she slumped out of her chair. "Ok I see its already working. I'll just put her on my bed for now."

Ginny, dressed in a white maternity dress, waddled out the kitchen with Athalie in her arms.

Hermione waited patiently for her to return to start a conversation. She always had the best conversations with Ginny. The mother- to-be bustled into the kitchen and pointed her wand at the kettle, which started to boil by its self.

Tea always helped Hermione after a hard days work. Two cups and tea bags zoomed across the room on her command and the kettle did the rest. Before Hermione could start talking she had a cup of hot tea in front of her.

"Thanks." she muttered sipping her tea.

"So how has your day been?" Ginny started.

"It's the same as always. I had to cut the big meeting today," Ginny gave her sympathetic smile. "Well at least I'll get some rest tonight."

"I really think you need a vacation. Honestly." Ginny said rubbing her stomach. "Good Merlin! They've been kicking all day."

Hermione reached her hand over to touch Ginny's stomach. She felt a jolt on one side another one on the other.

"They'll calm down. Athalie gave me the same problems. She used to press on my bladder during the night, sometimes." They both laughed.

"One night I all most pissed my self mainly because it was so blasted difficult to get out of bed with these back pains. If it weren't for Draco --." Hermione paused.

Ginny extended her hand to hold Hermione's while whispering "It's okay. It's okay."

"You need to get this out of your system. You need to talk about it. Vent your anger. You haven't done that since he left." Ginny suggested.

Hermione bowed her head and drew in a ragged breath before she started.

"I hate that son of a bitch. I never want to see his face again. He probably wouldn't have the nerve to show up anyhow. How could he Ginny - I never hurt him. We lived a happy life. We hid nothing from each other, or so I thought." Hermione paused to wipe a tear away. Ginny handed her a tissue and continued to listen, nodding to every statement.

"Everything was perfect, Gin. That was the problem. Everything was too damn good to be fucking true."

"He didn't leave any clues behind. Nothing. His clothes were in the same place when I got home, his broomstick, the bed was made. Everything was in order. Just like the day before we left for St. Mungo's. The only thing missing was his wedding ring."

"I never got a message telling me he's okay. I don't know if he's dead or alive. Honestly right now I could care less, but for the first few months I was worried. Had he meant for me to suffer like this." Hermione finished. "I guess I expected too much."

"No. No. Don't you go blaming yourself Hermione. It's not your fault." Ginny scolded.

"Had it ever crossed your mind that there was somebody else?" Ginny asked.

"Of course it has, probably one of those sluts, Parkinson maybe. I don't know."

Ginny nodded and then took another sip of her tea getting ready to make a statement.

"But he married you? That say's something." She added.

"Gin, you don't know Draco like I do. He's a damn good actor. It was all probably a joke from the start."

"I highly doubt that."

"Then what is it then, huh? Tell me, because I spent the last three years trying to figure this out."

"I really can't say. I don't even know my self but I do know this. You still love him. I know you do." After this Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Ginny stopped her.

"You may tell me that you can't stand his guts, you wish you'd never laid eyes on him, you don't want him back, you'll never forgive him but I know better. All of that maybe true but you-still-love-him. I mean really, why else would you spend all this time trying to find a reason why he left you if you didn't care."

"I suppose you're right," answered Hermione.

"I know I'm right. Listen you look tired. Go home and get your self some sleep. You need it." Ginny said standing up while trying hard to maintain her balance.

Hermione gave her a helping hand and ventured out to Ginny's bedroom to retrieve her sleeping daughter.

She picked Athalie up and headed out to the fire place in the living room with Ginny right behind her humming needlessly. Hermione picked up a handful of floo powder and cast it into the fireplace. She stepped in with Athalie still sleeping in her arms.

"You don't think I should Apparate do you?" She whispered to Ginny.

"No. I don't want you splinching my little niece. It's safer this way." She whispered back.

"Alright, tomorrow I'll take the day off and we'll stop by and do something. Bye Gin. Tell Harry I said good night." She said right before shouting out her home address.

Seconds later she was in her living room, decorated to her taste. It was a vast area bedecked in Gryffindor colors. It was the only room in the house she had used as a shrine for Hogwarts. She laid Athalie down on the nearby armchair and circulated the room.

By the fire place there was a large red armchair; above the fire place was a large portrait of Hogwarts and the miraculous landscape around it. The cream carpet covered the floors of her living room.


In the left corner of the room was a very comfortable sofa, of course it was red; on the side of it was a dark wood stand with pictures from her seventh year at Hogwarts, including her senior photo besieged by Ron's Harry's Ginny's and Draco's.

The deep red silk love seat sat on the other side. Near her black grand piano, which Athalie was learning to play, in the middle of the room was a mahogany center table with a cream ceramic top. On this was a large vase of red and white roses.


On one end of the table was a picture of Athalie in a park, during the fall. Red, gold, and orange leaves swirled all around her as she jumped and laughed, trying to catch one. She was dressed in a peach dress and white stockings.

Her brown cloak lay in a near by heap of leaves. Her curly hair bounced up and down as she tried to catch a floating leaf. She was simply a beauty.

The next photo on another end of the table was a photo of Hermione and Athalie playing in the snow, their cheeks flushed and small white snowflakes in their auburn hair.

Hermione laughed at the memory. Athalie had said something incredibly funny. She laughed and Athalie joined in. It was the hardest she'd laughed in years.Harry was there to catch them in the moment. He was such a father to Athalie, the only one she's ever known.

On the right side of the oval table was a photo of Harry, Ron, and herself, laughing and waving the day of graduation. She was wearing her engagement ring from the night before, when Draco proposed. It was hard to forget that moment.

** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * *


Draco waited for Hermione outside of the castle. The sun was setting and the horizon looked beautiful from the lake. A picture of the castle reflected on the crystal clear water, which rippled slightly.


Even though he was nervous about what he was going to do, Draco didn't show it. He stared into the clear waters thinking about his future, a future with Hermione.


From the corner of his eye he could see her leaving the castle. She wore a white thin strapped dress and white sandals. Her hair blew in the wind as she approached the lake. There she was his angel.

As she drew near, his heart began race and excitement ran through his veins. It was time. He loved her too much to let her go and she needed to know that.


"Hi." Hermione said softly close to a whisper.


"Hey." He said smiling.


"After tomorrow it's all over. No more reports, essays, studying, Quidditch games, Halloween feasts, Yule balls. Nothing. After tomorrow we leave the one place that's been our home for seven years and go out on our own...." she trailed out as Draco came near and pulled her close to his chest.


She felt like crying. Soon she'd be leaving Hogwarts and the one man she loved behind. Draco was the love of her life. He was the first man she ever fell in love with, he was the only one she trusted with her life, he was the one she gave her innocence to. She breathed in his fresh scent for the last time.


"I love you." She whispered but Draco didn't hear her. It was hard to let go.


They both stood there watching the sun set in the horizon. Hermione looked out into the painted sky and tried hard not to dwell on what could have been, but instead on what should be.


"So it's over. I guess." It sounded more like a statement than like a question coming from Hermione.


"No it's not." he replied.


"Draco ---"


"It's not over Hermione. Unless ...." He paused to dig into his pocket and extract a small velvet box. Upon opening it Hermione gasped in shock.


"Draco. Oh My! You can't be serious." Hermione took a step back to look into his eyes. Draco was not playing any games. He was serious. She knew it. She wanted this and he wanted this. As long as they both were happy then so be it.


"Let's make this permanent." Draco said slipping the platinum ring, with three of the largest diamonds she'd ever seen, on her finger. "One diamond is for you, one for me, and the other for our eternal love. Will you marry me?"


Hermione didn't wait for a heartbeat to reply, "Yes.yes. Oh goodness yes. I love you." Hermione yelled and pulled Draco into a heart racing kiss as the sun said goodnight to all and the bright stars came up to make the face of the sky so divine as two lovers agreed to make a life long commitment to each other.

 

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Next to the graduation picture was her wedding picture. She and Draco looked so happy together, or was Draco pretending. She stood there with her arm around him while they were smiling at each other.

She remembered every detail of their wedding from the cake to the wedding colors.

She wore a strapless dress with a duchesse satin corset, beaded with white freshwater pearls worn with an A line skirt. Her hair was pulled into an elegant bun at the top of her head and small five carat diamonds were magically entwined into it. Her tiara was connected to a fifteen foot veil and her neck was adorned by pearls that Draco sent to her the day of the wedding.


Hermione still had that wedding dress. It was just another reminder of what she had lost, but Hermione didn't have the guts to give it away.


Forgetting all life's sorrows, she moved the sleeping Athalie into her room decorated in soft hues of water. She changed her into her night gown and shut off the lights. The only light left was the light from the hallway. She watched the sleeping figure of her princess before walking out.


"Mummy," said Athalie, sounding a bit drowsy.


"Yes darling," Hermione answered back opening the door only enough for a little light to come in.


"You forgot to kiss me good night," Athalie said sitting up extending her arms.


Hermione ran back to her bed and tackled Athalie, showering her with kisses and starting a tickle fight. After what seemed like eternity of laughing Athalie leaned up and whispered to her mother.


"You're still in your work clothes Mommy."


"I know. I'm going to go shower now and go to bed. And then tomorrow we'll do something fun." Hermione said. She always found time to bond with Athalie.


"Good night Mommy," Athalie said kissing her mother on her cheek. "Sleep tight."


"Ok. Sweet dreams honey. I love you." Hermione said before making an exit.


"Love you too." Athalie managed to get out in between a yawn.

Hermione traveled down the hall of the second floor of her mansion, to her room. In the center of her room was a large king size, four poster bed made up with crème colored sheets. On the other side was her vanity and dressers. In another corner was a chocolate colored day bed and right above that was a large window, facing her garden.


Hermione stripped of her work clothes and proceeded to the bathroom in her sky blue bath robe. After a hot shower she changed into a white over size t shirt and blue pajama pants. Lately she found herself wearing most of the things she'd worn as a teenager.

Hermione bent down over her marble sink and preceded to brush her teeth. She was already drowsy. She picked up her tooth brush and wet the bristles. The steam from her shower was still on the bathroom mirror and in it she saw a blur of black and blue behind her.

With one hand swipe she wiped away the steam. "Athalie, what are you doing ou-," Hermione was suddenly interrupted when she saw who was there. In the mirror she saw the face of the man she'd hadn't seen in three years, the one who loved her then left her, her husband, Draco Malfoy.