The next week of their summer break had passed in a blur. There was barely a second where Hermione and Harry were apart. Well, unless you count the few times where Dan took Harry along to play golf. Regardless, this was the best summer the both of them had ever had.

Their relationship was going strong, both the one Harry had with Hermione and the new parental bond he was forming with both Dan and Jane Granger.

He and Hermione had moved no farther than snogging, but nonetheless their relationship was moving along quite nicely. If possible, the two had grown closer than they had ever been. He had learned so much about her growing up, things she had never told anyone before, not even her mum and just overall Hermione Granger in general. Most of which just made him love her more.

This day saw the two hunched close, sitting in Harrys living room. She had finally made it over to see what Harry had actually done to Number Twelve Grimmauld place. He took to showing her all the rooms he had finished, wich was most of the house, minus three of the upstairs bedrooms.

To Harrys delight, she had liked what he had done. Knowing Hermione, he knew that she liked everything perfect. She was a firm believer of if you were to do something, you had to do it right. She was quick to note that, "for a boy" he had great color cordination.

Anyways, the duo sat on Harrys couch, in light conversation, when they heard a knock at the door. Harry stood up and made his way to the front door.

He opened it, to reveal none other than Draco Malfoy.

"Hey Draco. Hows it going?"

"Pretty good Harry. Mind if I come in?"

Harry moved aside, letting Draco into the house. The two headed into his living area.

"Oh, hey Granger." Draco said, looking over his shoulder, smirking at Harry. "What a surpise to see you here.

Hermione rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Its nice to see you too, Draco."

HE moved over next to the couch, sitting in the armchair Harry had placed near it.

"So," Harry said, sitting back down by Hermione, throwing his arm around her. "Is there something you wanted? Or did you just want to stop by and hang out?"

"Ugh," Draco started, nerve in his voice. "I uhh, I need your and Hermiones help."

Hermione was intrigued. "What kind of help Draco? You're not in trouble are you? Please tell me Voldemorts followers aren't seeking revenge on you.."

"No, Hermione. Nothing like that. Merlin no." Draco replied, brushing the hair out of his face. "Honestly, I'm having girl problems. Well, not actually problems, its just.."

"Draco," Harry said, chuckling. "You can ask us anything. We're your friends after all."

This had Draco thinking. Years ago he would of hated to even be in the presence of Hermione and Harry. Now however, they were his two best friends.

~Flashback~

The past few months had been very rough for Draco Malfoy. Following the final battle at Hogwarts, Dracos father had been killed. The hard part for Draco however, was how his father died.

You see, during the Dark Lords final stand, Lucius had left his family to die, as he attempted, very poorly, to protect his precious master. Draco had always looked up to his father, so seeing him so easily desert his family had hit him pretty hard.

His mother was unphased by his fathers death however. When he asked her about it, it was as if a lot of things in life had started making sense.

"Well Draco, excuse my being blunt," Narcissa started as she looked at her son, straight into his eyes. "My marrige to your father was nothing but a loveless sham. Though I wouldn't of wished death upon him, I can't really say I'm saddened by the loss."

This had shocked Draco. Growing up he thought his mum and dad had the perfect marrige. The fact that it was a sham left him with even more questions.

"If you didn't love him then why did you stay with him? He asked, the anger he tried to keep down, managing to somewhat leak out into his voice.

"I think its quite obvious Draco." She replied, a sharp edge now in her voice. "If I would of leftyour father, I would of lost you. He would have taken you from me and that is one thing I simply could not have dealt with. You are my life Draco. I love you very, very much."

Draco knew this. His mum was always terrific towards him. She had never once laid a hand on him or made him feel any lesser than he was. The couldn't be said for his father, however.

Narcissa took his silence as confirmation for her to continue.

"You see Draco, one thing I have never told you, mostly because your father forbid me to do so, is that I was forced into marrige with him. My father had negotiated a marrige contract years ago, between the Malfoy family and ours. My hand to your father was promissed even before either of us were born."

Narcissa took a moment to catch her breath. Talking, even thinking about this always put her in a sad mood. The fact that she had never even stood a chance to live her life the way she wanted, obviously did not sit well with her.

Draco, noticing his mother discomfort, moved closer to sit next to her. He draped an arm over her, pulling her into a single arm hug. Narcissa smiled lovingly at her son and continued.

"Your father had taken so much from me over my life. Even during our time at Hogwarts, I had no freedom. He treated me like he owned me, like I was his property. " She let out a bitter chuckle. "I guess, in a way, I was. Coming out of Hogwarts, I wanted nothing more than to be a healer. It was my passion, I loved being able to help people. Your father however, forbid it. He wanted me to be nothing other than a house wife. To him I was nothing more than a pretty figure on his arm and his means to claiming his heir."

Narcissa sat their for a moment. She wanted this to really sink into Dracos head. She hated how Lucius had raised their son, she wanted nothing more than to step in, take her son away and help become a man. Not a man like Lucius or the Dark Lord, but a man who would put his family and freinds first in any circumstance.

"One of the things I've always hated most about your father, was how he treated people. Now, I don't blame you Draco, I truly don't, but that his something you have gained from your father."

Draco opened his mouth, trying to protest with his mother had said, but Narcissa simply raised her hand and silenced her son.

"No Draco, listen. He raised you to be a pure blood elitist. You knew nothing growing up besides that blood made you who you are. That is something I have never and will never believe. I know how you treated people in school Draco and it saddens me that you may have ruined any chance of making friends with people, who could have been great to you."

Narcissa's face was now slowly becoming covered in tears. She was finally getting a chance to tell her son all the things she wanted to tell him over the years, that Lucius had simply forbid her from doing. It felt good to finally get this off of her chest.

"Draco, what I really want in life, is to make sure I leave this world, hoping to have helped you become the best man you can possibly be. So, what I ask of you, is that when you go back for your final year of Hogwarts, I want you to give people a chance. Blood will never make you better than anyone. What makes you better, is how you treat people. Treat them how you yourself want to be treated Draco."

Draco was normally the type to keep a stone face. He rarely showed emotion. However, the things his mother had just said, really hit home with him. He knew that he had treated people wrongly, but thats how his father said lower class people needed to be treated. Draco wiped a few falled tears from his cheek and tightened the hold he had on this mother.

"Mum, I promise. I'll try to better myself. It'll be hard, but I'll try my best to be polite to everyone i meet."

This brought a smile to Narcissas face. She hugged her son back and thanked him for being there for her. They both sat their, thinking of just who he should be quick to make ammends with. Unbeknownst to the both of them however, they both had a perfect idea of who he had wronged most in his time at Hogwarts

~ End Flashback ~

Harry and Hermione sat their with bemused looks on their faces. Draco was in the middle of telling them what he wanted, when he suddenly spaced out, looking into the world as if he had never seen it before.

"Earth to Draco?" Hermione said, chuckling.

Draco was drawn from his thoughts. He shook his head, and replied to Hermione.

"Oh, sorry I was just deep in thought." Harry and Hermione laughed at him, but he just rolled his eyes. "Anyways, I want your and Hermiones help. You see the girl I've been seeing, I'm thinking of asking her to marry me. I know we haven't been together long but I cant help but feel like shes the only one for me. You know?"

Harry nodded his head in agreement. He knew exactly how Draco felt. I mean, sure he hand Hermione had been friends for years, but still. Being a couple felt completely different. Not that he was complaining. He loved every, single second of it.

"So, what do you want help with?" Asked Hermione, as she snuggled closer to Harry.

"Well, I just want help planning it. I want it to be perfect."

Hermione nodded her agreement, and Harry replied. "Sure, Draco. We'll be more than Happy to help."

This caught Draco off guard. He knew they would agree to help him, they were terrific friends, but he had guessed they would atleast ask who she was.

"Don't you guys have any questions? Like why so soon? I don't know. Maybe, who is she?"

Harry broke into uncontrolable laughter. Hermione rolled her eyes, smirking at Draco.

"We know who she is Draco. You're proposing to Ginny Weasley."