A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. I have been writing it for about three weeks and I have just finished it so I thought, well why not post it? Anyways i'll stop blabbering on and let you read. Please review every chapter so that I know whether this story is going good. Thanks

DISCLAIMER: Surely you know I don't own Harry Potter or any of the related characters? Well just to be sure…I don't own them. Only the plot, Lily and James.

Chapter Eight: A letter from Harry.

The gold box opened without a sound. Inside there was a beautiful gold chain with a diamond encrusted cross hanging from it. There was also a note. Hermione took the note out and unfolded it.

Dearest Hermione,

If this reaches you I have passed to the other side. I bought this to give to you on your birthday but later I realized that I wouldn't be around for it.

You and Lily are my world but the truth is that I cannot give you everything. My nights are filled with nightmares that you are both murdered by Death Eaters. I have to sit there and watch before being murdered myself. I know this may seem like a weak way out but I have tried everything, including a councilor and even Occlumency. There is nothing that can help me. Please forgive me for the pain I know will have been caused by my death. I love you with all my heart and I love our daughter. Please find happiness with someone who can treat you the way you deserve to be treated.

Love always and forever,

Harry James Potter.

Hermione wiped the tears that had slipped down her cheeks. She folded the letter and placed it back in the gold box. She lifted the chain out and walked over to the mirror near the front door. She slipped it around her neck and clipped it up the back. She ran a hand down the chain and let it rest on the cross.

A month passed and Hermione cried more for Harry than she had since he had left her to raise their daughter and now their 7-week-old son. She hadn't told anyone about the necklace and she didn't give anyone a chance to ask, as she only wore the necklace when both her children had gone to bed and she had no visitors. While she was wearing the necklace, Hermione played with it constantly.

Late one night, Hermione decided to re-read the letter Harry had placed in the gold box along with the necklace. One line stood out above them all.

Please find happiness with someone who can treat you the way you deserve to be treated.

Hermione knew in her heart that the person who could treat her right was probably the last person Harry would have wanted her too be with, but she couldn't help feeling that he would be happy for her with whatever choice she made as long as Lily and James were both safe. Plucking up the courage Hermione decided it was time to follow her heart and grabbed a piece of parchment, ink and a quill and wrote the following letter.

To Draco,

I am sorry for the way I was a month ago. Harry and I were together for five years and I wasn't ready to begin a relationship with anyone. I truly believe that even now it is too soon but I have also realized that as much as I love Harry, I'm not saddened by his death anymore. It is time for me too move on and that is the reason for this letter. I was hoping, that is if you still want to, maybe we could get together and have dinner, you know as in a date.

Well it is up to you of course and I fully understand if you never want to see me again.

Hermione Granger.

Hermione sealed the letter with a spell so that only the person whom it was addressed to could open it and read it. She tied it to Mallee's leg and took her owl to the window. She watched as Mallee flew off into the distance and then went to get her son as he had just woken up from his nap and would no doubt want a feed. Mallee returned later that night but she didn't have a response with her and Hermione thought that it meant that Draco had lost interest.

A few days later however, Hermione received an owl. It was from Draco.

Dear Hermione,

I am sorry that I sent your owl back without a reply. I will admit that I wasn't going to take up your offer of a date but the more I thought about the more I wanted too so here I am, wondering when you would like to go out for dinner but then upon thinking some more, you have two children who have both met me and yes I know James has no idea who I am but Lily knows me and so I was wondering if you would like to come to my house with your children for a home cooked meal. I am still living at the Malfoy Manor but you need not worry about my so-called father being there. My mother has finally kicked him out and as the house is hers we got to keep it. I hope to see you this Sunday at 6pm. Please let me know soon.

Draco Malfoy.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat as she wrote a short reply.

Dear Draco,

I accept your offer of dinner at your Manor. I will be there at 6pm. Are you sure it is ok that I bring my children along? What about your mum? Does she know I am coming? I will see you in two days time.

Hermione Granger.

Two days later Hermione was getting her children ready to take them to the Malfoy Manor. Draco had told her that his mother was pleased that he had found a nice girl like Hermione and she couldn't wait to meet her.

"Come on Lily. Its time to go sweetheart."

"Coming Mummy." At that moment Lily came running out of her room carrying a bulky looking bag.

"Lily. What's in your bag?" Hermione asked raising one eyebrow suspiciously.

"My pony's and some clothes and Cloe." She told her mother. (A/N: Cloe is a Bratz doll by the way. She's the only one I can remember!)

"We are only going there for dinner. Why did you pack clothes?"

"It's clothes for Cloe, Mummy."

"Ok. Well do you really need all of your pony's?" Lily nodded and Hermione sighed, "Alright then. As long as you clean up after you have finished playing. I don't want you making a mess in Mrs Malfoy's house ok?"

"I wont Mummy I promise."

A few minutes later Hermione had bundled her kids in her car and headed for the Malfoy Manor. It was only a 20-minute drive to Draco's house. Hermione pulled up at the front door and got out of her car. She opened the boot and got James' pram out so he had somewhere to sleep. She checked his nappy bag to make sure she had everything and then got her son and daughter out of the car. Lily looked a little frightened at the sight of such a big house but her face broke into a huge smile when she saw who was coming around the side of the manor. It was Draco. Only he wasn't what Lily was smiling at. The reason she was smiling because Draco was holding a rope. Behind him came a beautiful white and brown pony. Hermione turned to see what Lily was smiling at just as Draco reached them.

"I'm glad you came." He smiled at her. He got down on his knees and looked at Lily.

"I got you a present Lily. Do you like ponies?"

"Yes."

"Well Bubbles is all yours. Do you like her?"

"She is pretty. Is she really mine?"

"She really is but she has too stay here and whenever you come over here you can ride her."

"Draco…You really shouldn't have bought her that pony."

"Why? Look at the way her face lights up when she pats her. It doesn't mean anything Hermione. I wanted Lily to like me so Mother helped me look for Bubbles."

"But what if we never come back here again?"

"That thought crossed my mind but then I said to myself that we don't know what the future holds and I really wanted to get the pony for Lily. Look lets go inside and I'll show you around."

"Ok. Lily did you thank Draco for Bubbles?"

Lily ran up to Draco and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thank you Mr Draco." She grinned giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"That's ok Lily. I have to tie Bubbles to this tree so she doesn't run away while we are inside ok?"

"Can I ride her?"

"Not yet sweetie. How about another day? It's too dark now." Hermione stepped in. Draco agreed and they headed inside, Hermione wrapped and extra blanket around James.

Hermione gasped as she looked around the foyer of Draco's home. It was white marble and antiques littered the walkway. There was a grand staircase that you saw as you walked in. The rails were gold and the stairs were covered in red carpet. Draco led Hermione through to the sitting room at the right of the foyer. This room was just as nice as the foyer. There was antique furniture in this room as well. Hermione stared around in amazement. Draco showed her the rest of the house. In every room there was antique furniture. Hermione already had a favorite room. Draco had shown her the library and in it the walls were filled to the top with books.

Narcissa was slightly cold towards Hermione and her daughter but it wasn't long before she warmed to them and started cooing over James.

"He is a very cute baby Hermione." Narcissa told her after Hermione had come back from taking Lily to the toilet. Narcissa had offered to hold James and Hermione had let her rather reluctantly though.

"Thankyou. If it wasn't for your son, I don't think he would be here today."

"Draco? What did he do?"

"Oh…I thought he would have told you. I contracted pneumonia when I was pregnant with James and Draco stayed with me day and night, making sure that I got better."

"I always knew my son was a hero. How old is James now? Draco did tell me but I'm afraid that I forgot."

"Almost 8 weeks. He is a good baby. He doesn't cry at night anymore. I was up every two hours with Lily."

"Draco was like that. He wanted feeding all the time. I hardly got any sleep in the year after he was born."

Hermione and Narcissa continued to talk about babies while Draco helped the two house-elves in the kitchen. Lily had followed him and to keep her away from the hot stove, Draco let her play with her ponies and Cloe on the floor over by the window where he could keep an eye on her. Soon it was time for dinner to be served and Lily packed up her toys like she had promised Hermione that she would and they all sat down to a nice meal of, Roast Pork, baked potatoes, salad and vegetables, Draco had made Lily chips to go with her pork and after they had finished eating, Narcissa bought out a lovely blueberry pie and some ice-cream for Lily. Hermione felt very welcomed at the Malfoy Manor and when she went home that night, she was secretly hoping that her and Draco would go on another date. Draco himself was also thinking the same thing.