Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

I am pleased that we've all discovered the confusions and cleared ourselves of them!

Last time:

(Draco's flashback)

In a daze, Hermione arrived at Malfoy Estate as Dementors escorted Draco out of his home. His angry eyes fell upon her, and softened.

"HERMIONE! Tell them you were with me! I couldn't have killed my own father that morning! We were together! HERMIONE! Say something!" Draco pleaded.

Numbly, biting her tongue, and silencing his pleas mentally, Hermione stood within the crowd and said nothing.

'I am saving you Draco. Find it in your heart to forgive me…'

"HERMIONE! How could you betray me! How! Fucking Mudblood! It's over, you hear! OVER!" Draco hollered , hot tears rolling down his pale face.

Chapter Seven

Gritting his teeth at the memory that overwhelmed him with unwanted emotions, Draco watched Hermione converse animatedly with his father. The scene before him naturally arose unwelcome recollections. Ridding his mind of such nonsense, Draco decided to study the merriment ongoing within the Malfoy Manor Ballroom.

Alex was getting affectionate pats on the back from the males and kissed on the forehead by the women. The young ladies were fawning over Dylan, who arrogantly smirked at the attention he was receiving. Little Princess Anna was currently in the possessive grasp of her grandmother, Helena (Hermione's mother), other elderly women accompanied her-cooing at the beautiful child. Hermione was dazzling her current audience, as expected.

And Draco stood in awe, surveying the family he knew he couldn't have. A family he wanted so badly…

This is no gift from Merlin- it is my punishment. He is showing me a life I could have chosen, but somehow- through the messes of my bloody life I fucked up and now I am a convicted murderer. I deserved that damned Dementor's kiss! Why did I have to keep my soul and live through this… I would rather receive that disgusting 'kiss' everyday of my fucked up life instead of standing here, watching these people that I have grown so fond of…and know that they don't really exist.

Biting his lip from choking out a sob he'd been suppressing, Draco halted his miserable thoughts. A familiar voice filled the room.

"This song is dedicated to you Harry Potter, you were the love I lost. Not a day goes by I don't ask myself 'what if'…why did I ever let you go? Not a day fazes me without having regret weigh my heart down. Time can't change what has happened between us. Good, or bad. Our present and future is grim, but what we had, was unforgettable." Came the words of Alex's godmother, Ginevra Weasley. She stood on a platform magically levitated above the crowd. Her voice was charmed to fill the room elegantly, loud enough yet, gentle. Her eyes never left Harry, who sat directly below her- with his wife. Cho Chang. Nor did his eyes leave Ginny.

Ginny's eyes shifted from Harry to Alex, she let herself smile softly.

"Happy birthday Alexander. This young man is too intelligent for his own good, look at his gene pool right? He told me- 'Auntie Ginny, I know it's going to be my birthday, and I am supposed to be the one that's really happy because of my gifts and all. I always wondered if fairy godmothers ever got their wishes granted? So instead of you giving me a present that will make me happy, I want you to give me a present that will make you and I both happy. I want you to tell Uncle Harry how you feel. Even if he doesn't leave Cho-Cho it doesn't matter, you'll be happier knowing that he knows how you're truly feeling.' I love you Alex, you have given me the strength I've been mustering for fourteen years.

This song is for all the broken hearted lovers out there, allowing what if to control their entire being. I hope this inspires you to do something before it's too late. Like it is for me." Ginny cleared her throat, on cue, a soothing melody filled the ballroom (they decided to hold the party there because it's very spacious).

Her voice was enchanting. Draco found himself drawn to Hermione, holding a hand out for her to take.

Others watched in awe, the 'transformed' Draco had yet to be revealed. The ballroom roared with rapid whispering. Lucius choked on the white wine he was currently swallowing. His lips curled into a genuine smile, granted no one noticed, but it was there. Even Lucius pitied Hermione for the way his son treated her and his grandchildren. He fixed his eyes upon them intently. He then felt his eldest grandson put an arm around his aging shoulders, and his youngest grandson settling himself on his lap, wiping the white wine residue on his chin for him. The three Malfoy men watched couples slowly occupy the dance floor. Eyes locked with the couple that took the spotlight. Draco and Hermione. Knowing that the two were in a world of their own, lost in each others' eyes.

Draco clung onto Hermione, cherishing the moment with her.With great difficulty, he stifled the sobs threatening to transpire.

Emotions overpowered Draco, as Ginny finished off the last octave, he wept. He wept for himself, for the family he loves but cannot have, for the pain he felt when she betrayed him, for the death of his father…for everything he's kept within the walls of his concealed heart- he wept.

Major writer's block. But I am over it now obviously.

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May 1 2005: I have taken out the lyrics to the song I had perviously in this chapter. I do not plan to be reported for this because they have requested that we writers take lyrics out. I am so sorry, I know it takes away a lot of the emotion this chapter is supposed to provoke but, um... find the song and listen to it while you read this chapter is the only thing I could suggest, or look up the lyrics, it really helps ... What if, by Kate Winslet.

Kristine.