A/N: Sorry for the gap in updates; school has me REALLY busy.

AAH MIDTERMS NEXT WEEK!! NOO!!

Anyway, onward!

Heart

If you asked me, I'd say Lucius never really had my heart.

Well, in the direct sense he didn't.

In a roundabout way, he really did.

The second I looked at the baby, the little boy in my arms that looked so like Lucius, I broke.

I loved him.

Maybe for the first time in my life, I felt true, pure love.

Draco had my heart.

He never let go.

He may be the only reason I stayed alive.

You could say I spoiled him.

You could, and I suppose you would be right.

But really, what choice did I have?

He saved my life.

Doesn't he deserve a reward?

Maybe I over-did the reward.

Maybe I spoiled my little boy.

But for Merlin's sake, he was my little boy.

And, dare I say it, I loved him more than Lucius.

More.

Well, that may not be a surprise.

But when I realized it myself, I went through too many stages of denial to count.

It was true, though.

I've since learned to accept that.

Draco Malfoy, the man who stole my heart.

His little boy, Scorpius, the baby that was part of me.

The baby that was of my creation.

Through Draco, I mean.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Scorpius won't come until later.

Maybe never.

Draco was exactly six months, twenty days old on Christmas.

No one sent me a "baby's first Christmas" ornament, or any such thing.

Nevertheless, it was the best Christmas in my memory.

Ever.

We played fun little games, and I gave Draco countless presents.

Lucius was home all day.

Quite an accomplishment.

But I still remember what he said, as we sat watching Draco play with something new.

"I have great hopes for that boy."

Immediately, my mind sped straight to the Christmas before I was imprisoned by none other than the man next to me.

"I have great hopes for that boy."

"He's so smart; so like a Black."

I shivered on impulse.

A second later, I had learned that Andy wasn't what she used to be.

A blood traitor.

And a moment afterwards, that Bella was a Death Eater.

Then that 'Siri' was in Gryffindor.

Then that Andy and I had absolutely no relationship left.

And now, wasn't Regulus dead?

Hadn't he betrayed our Lord?

Hadn't he killed himself, really?

Great hopes were certainly not my thing.

But Draco.

As I continued to watch him, I calmed down.

I even dared to smile.

Lucius smiled too.

"Ah, my love, he will be great one day," he said, grabbing hold of my hand.

"Maybe, dear, but I'd rather he be a good, sweet boy than anything else. All I want is for him to be happy," I replied truthfully.

"Well, yes, I love him. And I want what he wants. But he has to marry a pureblood."

I laughed, leaning my head on his shoulder, for this was the child we created.

Maybe it's hypocritical, but at that moment, I felt real, true love for this man.

This man that, a moment later, I would hate.

"He's not one year old yet, for Merlin's sake!"

"He'll grow up faster than you think," he murmured, his eyes glued on our son.

"And when he does?" I prompted.

"He'll go to Durmstrang," was his response. I laughed, but I felt ill at ease, and withdrew my head.

"I'll go make sure Dobby is behaving."

And I left the room, as fast as I could.

I was a weak fool.

I was, and I know it.

Later, I knew, I'd fight.

And I'd win.

For my son.

For my heart.