Author's Note: Happy Saturday! We have two narrators in this chapter, so I made sure to mark it clearly for you. This will not happen often. In fact, it doesn't happen again in any other chapter I've written so far...

Draco - January 2006

I was pacing the hallways of St. Mungo's, anxiously waiting for Astoria to deliver our baby. She had adamantly refused to let me into her delivery room, so I was relegated to the waiting room. Much to my surprise, Harry Potter was there as well. When he saw me, his eyes widened for just a moment before he stood and walked over to greet me.

"Malfoy. How are you doing? Your father told me you had a pretty nasty broom accident."

"I did. I'm still not clear on exactly what happened, but I'm recovering." The silence stretched between us for a few moments. "Is Pansy having baby number two right now?" I asked, making polite conversation.

"She is," he confirmed. "Astoria is also in labor?"

I nodded, unsure of what else to say.

"She won't let you in the room with her either?" Potter asked.

With a laugh, I replied, "No. It's a pureblood thing. The women like to suffer through it alone. Once the baby is clean and swaddled, they'll invite us in. My mother explained it to me."

"Yeah, I've been through it once already with James."

Right. Potter had already been through this torture. I didn't know if I could stomach it a second time around.

"Where is James? With Granger?"

Potter shook his head. "No, he's with Ron and Luna. He and Stella are becoming friends now that she's a bit older. Hermione is, well, she's not really equipped to deal with children at the moment."

Something he said had my stomach turning over, though I wasn't sure what had triggered it.

"Right. I'm assuming she's still on her own then?" I enquired, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

"She is. She's been going through a difficult time, but she's starting to get better," Potter offered. "I'm sure she'll meet someone and settle down soon. She just spends a lot of time working so she doesn't date much."

The thought of Granger dating definitely made my insides squirm. It seemed I had never gotten over the silly infatuation I'd had with the Muggle-born witch during school. Idly, I wondered how I'd managed to conceal it from everyone in the office. I felt sure I'd made an ass of myself at one point or another.

"I believe that. She's always been a hard worker. I bet she never would've left the Hogwarts library if you and Weasley hadn't forced her to," I quipped, causing him to smirk.

Potter looked at his watch even though there was a clock on the wall in front of us. "I actually have to pop in and visit a friend on another floor. Could you send me a Patronus if the Mediwitch comes out to get me?"

I froze, trying to remember if I'd ever learned how to cast a Patronus. "I… I actually don't remember if I can or not. Do you happen to know? From work?"

"You can," Potter replied. "Give it a try. Focus on a happy memory and cast it."

I did the wand movements and said the incantation, thinking of the moment Astoria had told me she was pregnant. That was the happiest memory I currently had, and a silvery creature burst from the tip of my wand. When I looked at it, I couldn't immediately identify it. It was something unfamiliar, and I saw a look of momentary shock on Potter's face.

"What? What is it?" I asked.

He visibly swallowed. "It's an otter. It's just, well, it's just a little strange. I was expecting… your Patronus used to be something else, that's all."

"What was it before?"

"It was actually a dragon. I don't know what type, so don't ask me, but it was definitely a dragon the last time I saw it," he explained.

I went from a dragon to some little almost rodent-like thing?! That is, Merlin, that's embarrassing.

"Right, well, you can do it," Potter stated. "I won't be long, but send it my way if Pansy needs me."

He seemed bloody fucking uncomfortable, and I really couldn't fathom why. I mean, it was a Patronus, and they were known to shift. They were known to change after major emotional stresses or that kind of nonsense. I guessed it might shift back to the dragon after I had more of my memories back.

If I ever got more of my memories back.

Potter returned nearly an hour later, but neither Pansy nor Astoria had given birth yet. We sat in the waiting room, not really speaking. I didn't know what to say. I would sound bloody stupid if I couldn't remember something important.

After about an hour of uncomfortable silence, I decided to question him about my work.

"So, Potter, do you think I'll ever be able to come back to work? Or am I too addled?"

He snickered. "It doesn't seem like you're addled, Malfoy. If you wanted to, you'd just have to prove that you have no issues making new memories, and you'd have to pass the re-entrance exams. It's as easy as some studying, dueling practice, and a visit to a healer."

I nodded. "Was I a decent Auror?"

"Yeah, actually, you were really good. I was shocked when you got into the program, but you really proved yourself over time. You helped to bring in a lot of the escaped Death Eaters. You had invaluable information and we caught quite a few people hiding out at pureblood estates with your help," Potter explained. "You were always great at doing some of your own research, too. Hermione didn't really have time to help everyone, so you'd often just work things out on your own."

"You want to know something strange?" I asked. He gestured for me to continue. "I don't really remember working with her at all, even when I try to. I know I did, but it's like our paths never crossed or something. I can't really see her around the office over the past two years at all, but I remember her before then."

"That's because she stays in her office most of the time. I can barely get her to go out to lunch some days," he said with a smile. "Like I said, you did a good portion of your own research. There was really no reason for you to interact with her."

On top of what Potter told me, I supposed I tried to avoid her after I married Astoria. If she was still single, I likely didn't want to get myself into trouble. If she had ever given me an inch, I would've taken a mile.

I didn't continue talking, lost in my own thoughts about the strange things missing from my memories of the past two years, and Potter didn't initiate further conversation. I sat, unable to pace for fear of a dizzy spell, and waited.

Pansy gave birth first — a second baby boy who they named Severus — so I visited her. It seemed like she couldn't meet my eyes and I wondered why. Was it awkward for her ex-boyfriend to be here? Was she uncomfortable with me after the accident? She'd been by the Manor several times to visit and I couldn't remember any hard feelings between us.

"He's adorable, Pans," I complimented. "Who would've thought you and Scarhead would make cute babies?"

Forcing a smile, she laughed. "Well, I'm sure you'll have your perfect pureblood heir with Malfoy hair and eyes soon enough. You and Astoria have similar coloring."

"I know. I'm starting to worry. She's been in there for hours, and I've heard nothing," I replied.

Pansy finally looked straight at me, and I could tell she was emotional. Whether it was the hormones or something to do with me, I had no idea. "The first one always takes some time," she explained. "Her body hasn't done this before. It's not exactly a walk in the park, Draco."

"I know. I just wish I could be in there with her, giving her support, or really just to know she's okay," I replied.

Her eyes softened. "You really love Astoria."

"Of course I do," I answered, wondering how I had treated my wife before the accident. Why would Pansy be surprised that I loved her?

I saw her take a deep breath. "Good. That's good, Draco."

Potter grabbed her hand and squeezed it, shifting her focus to him. "Pansy, tell him what it was like for you the first time around. That'll make him glad that he's not in there right now."

And she proceeded to horrify me with the story of her first birthing experience, giving me a blow by blow of everything that happened, complete with the threats she'd made on Harry's life for getting her pregnant in the first place. I started to wonder if Astoria was feeling the same way or considering having my bollocks removed.

Once I'd calmed down a bit, they both smiled at me. Potter said, "There's nothing like the first time you hold your baby. You'll never feel a love so strong."

Looking down at Pansy holding their son, a soft smile crossed his face. I felt like I was intruding on something very private, intimate, even. Potter looked like he wanted to spend some time alone with Pansy and their son, so I headed back towards the waiting room. I sat on the uncomfortable chair and tried to let my mind race. My thoughts used to run so quickly, jumping from one to another. Since the accident, though, I felt like they crawled along at a snail's pace, like the missing memories had severed connections somewhere, and I just couldn't jump from one thought to the next like I used to.

An hour later, just after midnight, Astoria gave birth to our son. January 13th was now officially my favourite day. When I was allowed into her room, she was already cleaned up and looking perfect again, our son cradled against her chest. I could see wisps of Malfoy blond hair on his tiny head, and I felt a surge of emotion in my chest. I'd never felt this kind of love for another person before.

I moved to Astoria's bedside and kissed her forehead before telling her she looked beautiful. She smiled and seemed to savour my affection. I ran a finger along the baby's cheek, stroking his soft skin, and she carefully transferred him into my arms. I thanked her for giving me this gift — this precious, tiny person who looked almost exactly like I had as an infant — and I sat down beside her, rocking him gently.

I stared at his tiny face, memorizing every detail of it. In that moment, I was so very thankful I had no problem forming or accessing new memories. I wouldn't miss a thing, not a single second, of my son's first days. I would be able to remember every milestone, every tantrum, every smile. I felt tears well in my eyes, and Astoria must have noticed because she said, "Draco, are you okay?"

I nodded. "He's perfect, Stori. Look at him. He's just so perfect."

I looked over at her and she was beaming at me. She looked a little tired, but she seemed happy nonetheless. "He is pretty amazing already," she replied. "I was thinking we could follow the Black tradition and name him after a constellation or a star."

After a moment, I blurted, "Scorpius. His name should be Scorpius."

"Scorpius. I like it. I'll have a dragon and scorpion protecting me."

I didn't answer her, too enamored with the baby in my arms. I knew I should keep talking with her, but I was so overwhelmed by how much I already loved Scorpius; my world had shifted and he was now the center of my universe. I was going to try to be the best father ever, the polar opposite of what Lucius had been to me. When I finally looked over to Astoria again, she had fallen asleep. Scorpius was also dozing, but I felt so awake, so alive, for the first time since the accident.

I carefully set the baby down in the rolling cot and kissed Astoria's forehead. Despite my less than polite behaviour, I really did love her. In fact, I felt like today had made me love her more than I already had. The disjointed feelings in my memories were still unclear but, since the day I had woken up in the Manor, my feelings had been growing. She had been there for me, assisting with my recovery in every way possible, even when she'd been having a difficult pregnancy.

She helped me remember things I'd lost in the past year or so, and she made me feel like I could fall in love with her. And she'd now delivered Scorpius, giving me the most precious gift I'd ever received.

I took off my shoes and carefully climbed into the hospital bed, laying down beside her. She instinctively moved closer to me and I held her tightly. She'd put perfume on again, and I breathed it in before dropping gentle kisses along her neck.

"I love you more than anything, Draco," she murmured sleepily.

I wanted to reply, but the words froze on my tongue for a moment. I knew I should tell her the same, but I just couldn't. I kissed her lips gently and replied, "You too, Astoria."

Astoria and I woke to the sound of Scorpius crying. There must have been a monitoring charm on the room because the healers and the Mediwitches also made their way in after he woke. I was unceremoniously sent home to shower and change my clothes while the healers looked Astoria and Scorpius over and gave her tips on nursing. My parents rushed to me as soon as I stepped through the Floo.

"Did she have the baby, Draco?!" My mother cried.

Fuck. I'd forgotten to owl them.

I nodded and said, "Yes, after midnight. I didn't want to disturb you. A healthy, baby boy with strong lungs. We've named him Scorpius."

I saw her eyes fill with tears. "Oh, my little dragon is a father! When can I meet my little scorpion?"

I told my parents they could visit later that afternoon and that the Potters had also welcomed a child the night before. My mother gushed about all of the new babies being born to start the year, and I nearly rolled my eyes. My father had barely acknowledged me.

However, when I turned to leave the room, he put his hand on my shoulder. "How did you feel when you saw the baby, Draco?"

"Like everything had changed in an instant," I admitted. "Like I'd do anything to protect him and make him happy."

"And what about Astoria? What did you feel for her?"

"I was grateful that she'd given me this gift, Father. Other than that, I felt love. I have loved her for some time now."

He smiled at me, and it was one of the only genuine smiles I'd ever seen from him. "Good. That's wonderful, son. I'm so glad you have your own little family now. I think it's just what you needed."

His words struck me as odd, but my father had never been one to discuss emotions. I figured he was just absolute shit at it. After an awkward half hug, I retreated to the room Astoria and I had been sharing in the family wing of the Manor. I showered and dressed as quickly as possible, eager to get back to the hospital and spend time with Scorpius.

When I walked back through the door of St. Mungo's, I ran into someone unexpected. Blaise Zabini was heading towards the exit and he stiffened when our eyes met. I wasn't sure why, but he looked stressed.

"Blaise," I greeted. "It's been a while. I thought you would've turned up at the Manor while I was recovering."

"The DMLE has been a little bit crazy. You went out on leave and then Hermione—"

"Hermione? You call Granger by her first name?" I asked.

He looked at me curiously.

"Isn't that strange?" I continued. "I mean, you can't be that familiar with her."

"No offense, Malfoy, but you wouldn't remember if I was close with her or not from what I understand of your injury," Blaise snarled uncharacteristically. "Hermione is a good friend of mine and so is Potter."

"Right," I replied, getting the feeling that something had happened to strain my friendship with Blaise. "Mate, I'm not sure what happened between us, but something obviously did. Whatever it was, I'm sorry for it. I never would've wanted to lose you as a friend."

He shrugged his shoulders casually. "You haven't lost me, Draco. I just… can't tell you anything. Your father told me the healers didn't want anyone telling you about your past. They're worried it'll somehow affect your recovery."

I examined his face and it looked like he was telling the truth. He normally had a twitch near his left eye when he lied, and I saw no sign of it. "Right. Why are you here, Blaise? Visiting Potter and Pansy?"

"Um, no. I was visiting another friend, actually. She's been in here a while and we're getting ready to bring her home," he answered. My head tilted to the side a bit, nonverbally asking who he had been visiting. "Oh, it's no one you know, Draco. She's a Muggle-born and is a bit older than us."

I invited him to come up and meet Scorpius, but he declined. It was clear he was uncomfortable around me, and I was sure it was because of something I'd done before the accident, but I had no way of recalling what it was. I couldn't try to figure out who he was visiting or why that individual was here because I didn't know what floor he'd been on. I tried to shake it off, to forget I had even seen Blaise, but it was difficult. He and I had been best mates since first year and the tension between us had made me feel ill.

And then I remembered that Potter had also gone to visit someone late last night, and I wondered if it was the same person Blaise was visiting. I resolved to ask Potter if I ran into him and continued walking to Astoria's room. When I entered, she was holding the baby and nursing. I almost averted my eyes, feeling like I was walking in on something I shouldn't see. However, she was my wife and this was my son. Surely I didn't have to leave the room or look away. Astoria must have sensed my initial discomfort because she covered the nursing baby with a small blanket. I moved to the chair I had sat in the previous night and took her unoccupied hand.

"How are you feeling this morning?" I asked.

She smiled at me and I noticed her face was completely made up like it was a normal day. "I'm great, Draco. He's everything I've ever wanted."

"You look tired. Once you're done, you should get some rest. I told my parents they can come to meet him this afternoon."

Astoria nodded, lifting the blanket and checking on the baby. I could see his little mouth still working, and I was glad he was already eating. Through my reading, I'd learned that some babies wouldn't eat much for the first few days of their lives. Clearly, Scorp wasn't having that problem.

"I should've asked you before I left this morning — do you need anything from the Manor? I don't know how long they're planning on keeping you here," I said, trying to fill the silence.

She just shook her head, continuing to focus all of her attention on the baby. She pulled him free and started to burp him, and I was mesmerized by how tiny his features were. I couldn't tell if his nose would be pointed like mine or if he'd end up with my long fingers. I still hadn't seen his eyes, so I didn't know if they were grey or blue or green. I didn't think they'd be brown; there were no brown-eyed family members on either side.

Once he had been burped, Astoria held the baby out to me and I happily took him. He seemed content after his feeding, so he mostly just slept in my arms. I relaxed into the chair, enjoying the moment of peace. However, much too soon, the Mediwitches came in and showed me how to change a nappy and swaddle him. When he was tightly wrapped in his blanket, I placed him in the cot so he could rest up for his visitors.

Astoria had fallen asleep, as well. Since I was the only conscious person in the room, I decided to go up to the tea room; I had forgone my caffeine fix that morning and was also feeling pretty tired. Potter was there, using the percolator to make a pot of coffee.

"Blimey, I'd forgotten how exhausting it is to have a newborn, even though I just had one a year or so ago!" he exclaimed. "Do you want some coffee?"

"I don't drink coffee," I responded.

Potter looked at me and shrugged. "You used to. In fact, you drank more of it than most people I know."

Seriously? I had forgotten that I somehow preferred coffee to tea now? I felt myself tense up, finding it difficult to believe that my tastes had changed that much. I gestured for Potter to pour me a cup and brought it to my nose. It smelled strong but also delicious, especially since I hadn't had any since I'd woken up from the coma. I felt my eyes widen and Potter smirked.

"Thank god you drank it black before, Malfoy. Otherwise, this could've gone much differently."

Remembering my conversation with Blaise, I decided to ask the question that had popped into my mind. "Who were you visiting last night, Potter? I realised I never asked."

"Oh, it's no one you know, Malfoy. Just a friend of mine," he answered coolly.

"I ran into Blaise downstairs. He told me he was visiting someone, so I figured it must have been Pansy, but then he told me it was a Muggle-born that I wouldn't know."

Potter sighed. "Yeah, it is. She was hurt by a former Death Eater and she's recovering. We can't reveal her identity to anyone because she's a witness."

This answer frustrated me; Blaise had said she was a friend, not a witness. I felt like something was being kept from me, something I really needed to know. Maybe not needed, but I was certain that I wanted to know. On top of that, I had a feeling they would've told me who it was if not for my injury. Maybe I'd be visiting this witch, too. I felt somehow drawn to the mystery.

"So, how is little Severus? Is he as surly as his namesake?" I ventured, trying to change the subject since Potter would never give out information on a witness.

With a laugh, he nodded in the affirmative. "Did you end up with a boy or a girl?"

"A boy, of course. There are never females born into the Malfoy line."

"But Astoria is from a family that produces predominantly females, so it could've gone either way," he pointed out.

"True," I began. "I named him Scorpius, following the Black family tradition. I'm sure you know about that."

"Yes, seeing as I have a Black family tapestry stuck to a wall in my home that won't ever come off," he answered. "I've learned so many constellation names."

I laughed. I could send my mother over to Potter's place and, with just a few drops of blood, she'd be able to remove the tapestry. However, I found it funny that my name would be stuck on Potter's wall forever. My mother had her copy of the tapestry in her private sitting room. The Malfoy version spanned the wall of my father's study.

"It's horribly ugly. Do purebloods honestly like to look at them?"

"I was forced to memorise both the Black and the Malfoy ones," I replied honestly. "I didn't find it particularly visually appealing, but it's always been the way."

"Will you make Scorpius learn it?" Potter inquired.

I shook my head. "No, that nonsense is over now. I won't be locking him into a marriage contract with a pureblood witch, and I don't care if he knows who his dead great-great-great grandfather on his mother's side is. The man has been dead for a long time now. I'll only want him to know who his living relatives are."

Potter looked at me with an approving smile. "I'm glad to hear it. Don't let Lucius change your mind. No child wants to learn all that rot."

I certainly agreed with him on that point. I had hated sitting in front of it for hours when I was younger, trying to remember names and dates that were completely irrelevant. My father, however, was a traditional pureblood to his very core and wouldn't let me off the hook. He said it was crucial that I understood the years of perfect matches that led to my conception, and that had somehow made me feel like I was a science experiment, designed to be the perfect pureblood heir.

I didn't want Scorpius to feel that way. I wanted him to know that he was here because his parents both wanted him, that he was loved. Our bloodlines may have been vetted before they were deigned an acceptable mixture by my father, but that wasn't why we'd had a child. I had always wanted to be a father — a good father, so unlike my own — and Astoria had always wanted to be a mother. She and I had a good relationship and I was sure that children would only solidify that.

Potter seemed to be studying me in the strange way he always had, and I raised an eyebrow.

"What?" I asked.

"It's nothing, Malfoy. I honestly can't believe that we'll have sons with the same birthday starting at Hogwarts together in eleven years. Who would've guessed it?" he mused.

"Scorpius was born after midnight, so one day apart technically. Who would've guessed that you would marry Pansy? The only thing more shocking would've been if I'd married Granger," I laughed, and Potter looked like he had swallowed a lemon, clearly as protective of Granger as he'd ever been.

"Yeah, Malfoy, that would've been strange — you and Hermione… I don't think the world will ever be ready for that," he responded, though it sounded forced.

Rolling my eyes and snickering, I said, "Like the Golden Girl would have ever given me a chance."

Potter looked like he was going to say something, but we were interrupted by my father's arrival. "Draco. Auror Potter, how nice to see you. I hear congratulations are in order."

"Mr. Malfoy. Thank you. Pansy and I are obviously over the moon," Potter answered. "If you'll excuse me, I've got a friend who is quite unwell downstairs. I was just on my way to visit her."

I nodded and let him go, but I saw my father examine his face. A barely imperceptible nod, likely a farewell gesture, passed between them, and I escorted my father to Astoria's room.

Lucius — January 2006

Right before I entered the tea room at St. Mungo's to fetch Draco, I heard the most unwelcome phrase in the world.

"—the only thing more shocking would've been if I'd married Granger," Draco's voice danced out and I froze before crossing the threshold.

Did he remember? Did he know what I had done? She had been confident this would work, and she truly was the brightest witch I'd ever met, despite her heritage.

Harry Potter's head was in my line of sight, and I vaguely recalled Draco saying that Pansy had given birth to their second baby. "Yeah, Malfoy, that would've been strange — you and Hermione… I don't think the world will ever be ready for that," he responded to Draco, and I could hear the reluctance in his voice.

Draco let out a snicker. "Like the Golden Girl would have ever given me a chance."

I heard it, heard his longing and the glib tone, and I knew I had to interject. It was clear that Potter knew something of their former relationship and was holding back. I felt something between relief that he didn't remember and guilt over taking away something that clearly would've — no, had — meant so much to him.

I masked my emotions and entered the tea room, greeting my son and congratulating Harry Potter. The look in Potter's eyes as he met mine was familiar; I'd seen it countless times since the boy was merely twelve years old.

Hatred.

Despite the forgiveness I'd earned from other people, I would never be redeemed in Harry Potter's eyes. That was fine with me; he treated my son and my wife with kindness and respect immediately after the war, which was more than many others had done.

"Mr. Malfoy. Thank you. Pansy and I are obviously over the moon," Potter stated. "If you'll excuse me, I've got a friend who is quite unwell downstairs. I was just on my way to visit her."

Well, those comments were quite obviously pointed.

I followed Draco down to Astoria's hospital room to meet the newest member of my family. I smiled a lot, more than I can remember smiling in quite some time. Maybe since Draco's birth. Narcissa was cooing over Scorpius, and she looked just as beautiful as she had when she'd been holding Draco over twenty-five years ago.

However, in the back of my mind, Harry Potter's comments were haunting me. The Granger girl, if I'd deduced his comments correctly, was here in the hospital. I felt a worry I hadn't expected to feel. If she was actually here, it was likely because she was suffering after her split with Draco. Had the girl, the one who was so brash and brave and strong, tried to take her own life? Had I nearly had her blood on my hands, as well? Did she really feel that deeply for him?

Did Draco still feel for her in some way?

I remembered the sound of the longing in his voice when he tried to joke about her. Narcissa had always teased me when Draco was younger and complained about Hermione Granger, saying that our son had found his one true love. I constantly dismissed her, saying that Draco would never develop feelings for a Mudblood. He certainly feared me enough to stay away from her. Had Narcissa been right? Had Draco actually felt something for her since his Hogwarts days? Had he dreamed of her, longed for her, the way that I longed for Narcissa when we were teenagers?

Had I taken that away from him?

I sat in a chair, observing my family and thinking things through. What would my life have been like if I hadn't gotten to marry Narcissa? If she'd left me after the first war or the second war? No one would've blamed her, myself included, if she had divorced me, especially after I'd endangered her life and Draco's.

As usual, my perceptive wife knew something was wrong and she led me from the room under the guise of picking up ice cream for Draco and Astoria. Once we were out of the hospital, she Apparated us back to the Manor and looked at me sternly.

"What's going on, Lucius? It's obvious you're not really present with us."

With a sigh, I began telling her about what I'd overheard in the tea room. "Draco still feels something for the Granger girl. It's not like it was, but he longs for her. She warned me he'd had feelings for her before they started their affair, but I didn't believe it. I thought it was all about the sex."

Narcissa dipped her chin and shook her head. "What did you overhear, Lucius?"

"Draco commented on how it was strange that Potter had married Pansy, and that the only thing stranger would've been if he'd married Hermione Granger, given their history," I explained. "Potter said that the world would never be ready for Draco and Hermione as a couple, and Draco made a remark about how she never would've given him a chance."

Narcissa met my eyes, and I continued. "I could hear it, Narcissa. He wanted her to give him a chance. This relationship — however distasteful — it was Draco finally going after something he wanted instead of trying to make us happy."

I saw the sadness I felt enter her eyes, as well.

"Oh, Lucius, what have you done? Why didn't you come to me before you approached her?" Narcissa's voice trembled. "Our son loved that girl, and she obviously loved him, as well."

I felt myself filling with guilt, and Narcissa continued, "I love you, Lucius, but I will never understand why you don't trust my intuitions when it comes to our son. I told you he loved her when he was fourteen years old, and again when she was brought here during the war, and again after you brought her here to Obliviate him. He's always made sure he's in her proximity."

I let out the breath I'd been holding in. "What am I supposed to do now, Cissa?"

She looked at me with a sad smile on her face. "The same thing as you've always done, Lucius. Learn to live with your mistakes. There is no going back now."

She'd told me this after both wars, and I'd done a decent job of it. But this — this mistake, one that had seemed so right for Draco at the time — was twisting something inside of me. I didn't fully understand why but, deep down, I knew it would come back to haunt me someday, and it would likely be the thing that fully destroyed my relationship with my son.

Narcissa read the worry written over my face, and she said, "Lucius, stop. If he somehow manages to find out about it, we'll deal with it. I'm sure what he's feeling now is just the remnants of his attraction to her from school or right after the war."

"And what if she does manage to kill herself?" I whispered. "How do I explain that to Draco if he ever finds out?"

She shook her head. "I'm really not sure, Lucius. Let's pray to Merlin that doesn't happen. Potter and Weasley will likely watch her like hawks now that she's ended up in the hospital. I'm sure she'll start to recover now."

I could only hope.