Guardian Angel

I Don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters. Sniff sniff.

I'll never forget the day I found my guardian angel…

My life had fallen apart. And every time I thought I couldn't sink lower, I did. I had no family. My father had disowned me before his own death and my mother had met her own death some time before. I had been forced to realize the foolishness and folly of Voldemort and all he stood for. With this realization, my world came crashing down around me. For all I had known now was null and void. So I had nothing. My fellow Slytherins and former friends had turned their backs on me and everyone else already hated me. My family home had been burned to the ground along with all the Malfoy fortune. So here I was at school, alone and with no hope for the present or future.

School only served to remind me of how alone and hated I was in the world. I had nothing and no one. And, after struggling for a time, I gave up. I had nothing and had nothing to give. I wrote a short note so there would be no mistakes or misconceptions and made my way to the astronomy tower. As I stood on the edge, gathering the courage to plunge, the last thing I expected happened. Someone called my name.

I whirled around and to my shock saw none other than Hermione Granger. We had come to stand on neutral grounds but I never would have expected to see her and knew, instinctively, that she must have found my letter.

"Draco," she whispered, her lips trembling. "Draco…please…"

I remember how confused I was, some of my despair being shoved away. I felt alarmed at the fright on her face and shocked at seeing her and hearing her speak my name.

I don't know how long we stood like that.

"Draco," she whispered again, taking tiny hesitating steps towards me. "Draco...don't"

I could only shake my head in sad resignation, breaking off eye contact.

Hermione, by this time, had come to a stop two feet away. "Please don't…you can't…"

"I have to. There's nothing for me here…"

"Yes there is," she whispered.

"Like what?"

She didn't answer and I tried to reason with her. "Please just go," I said gently. "Go back downstairs. I have to do this."

She didn't move and ten minutes must have passed in silence. Then the oddest thing happened. Hermione launched herself at me, throwing her arms about my neck and hugging me tight. I felt too stunned to move for several moments before I hugged her back. We stood that way a long time before Hermione craned her neck, not letting go, to look at me.

"You can't," she said. "Because I need you…"

And I didn't. We made our way downstairs and here I am five years later in a situation I never thought I could have. I have so much now and so many. I have friends, a purpose. But even more, I have a loving wife and soon, in addition to all the wonders she's given to me, she will give me a most wonderful gift. In a month, she'll make me a father. My loving guardian angel.