Epilogue - The gift.

Later that evening, Draco stood in the small park across the street from Emma's apartment building, looking up at the window he knew was her bedroom. He watched as Tom and Emma approached the front entrance of the building from the corner Tube Station, laughing and chatting. The doorman greeted the young people as he grasped the handle of the glass door, holding it open. Tom hugged Emma, gave her a kiss on the cheek and sauntered off down the street, waving goodbye as he rounded the corner. Emma waved, thanked the doorman and entered the lobby.

Draco's fingers tightened on the box in his hand as he 'Apparated' into the building. Gazing around Emma's bedroom, smiling, he inhaled deeply, recognizing the faint presence of her favorite perfume. He had decided that leaving his gift inside her apartment might scare her unduly, so he walked from the bedroom, down the short hall and over to the entry. Taking one last look around, Draco let himself out, and then balanced the box on the door handle, where she was sure to find it. Hearing a soft chime and the sound of the elevator door sliding open, he 'Apparated' away.

Emma came around the corner, fumbling deep in her purse. "How does it always manage to find its way to the very bottom corner?" she muttered to herself, as she pulled her key ring free, flipping through the collection to find the right one for her door. As Emma reached out to insert the key in the lock, she noticed the gift wrapped box balanced, rather precariously, on her doorknob. Looking around, but seeing no-one, she lifted it and saw a small tag. Unlocking her door, she went into her apartment, flipped on the light switch, and then tossed her purse and keys onto the sofa. Emma held the box under the nearby table lamp so she could read what was written on the gift tag.

Dearest Emma,

This present is for you, in the hope that,

one day, you will remember me . . . fondly.

You hold the key to my heart . . . in your hand.

Always,

Draco Malfoy

PS

If you ever need me, for any reason,

hold the necklace next to your heart

and say my name.

DM

"Draco?! Right! Classic! "

Emma started to toss the box onto the hall table, but something stopped her. Lifting it next to her ear, she shook it gently . . . there was a soft thumping noise. Emma frowned and then put it firmly down on the table, retrieved her purse and keys from the sofa, walked purposely into her bedroom, deposited her purse and keys on her dressing table, did an abrupt about-face, came marching back out, picked up the box and tugged on the end of the silver ribbon, which came untied easily and slid from her fingers..

"Slytherin colors; goes well with the name. * sigh * This had better not be a prank!" she added, with a frown.

The green wrapping paper fluttered to the floor.

"Oh, my!"

In her hand was a square, black velvet jewelry box with a silver clasp. Emma pushed the clasp carefully, hearing the little click as the lock unlatched. Taking a deep breath, she lifted the lid open and gazed at the necklace resting on the emerald green satin lining. Hanging on a black silk ribbon was a plump emerald heart, but the stone seemed to be almost transparent, with little golden sparkles glinting deep inside. The heart was held by swirls of double wrapped wire, threaded through antique watch gears, tiny green beads and more curlicues of wire, with a little key and chain dangling under the heart . . . she was mesmerized.

Removing the necklace and placing the box on the table, Emma walked over to the mirror by the front door and held the necklace up to see how it would look against her throat. There was a hook and loop at the ends of the ribbon , so Emma reached behind her neck and clipped them together.

"Someone has good taste . . . this is lovely. . . "

As the necklace settled against her skin, she felt a bit dizzy and looking in the mirror, saw what appeared to be silver strands of light swirling around her. Gasping, she looked down to see . . . nothing. Checking again in the mirror, Emma saw only her reflection.

"What in the . . . . "

She reached a hand out to brace herself on the wall, with her other hand she rubbed her temple, frowning.

"What's . . . happening?"

Inside her brain, thoughts started rushing around in a swirl of images: the beginning of the day, the surprise guests at Dan's and then, almost faster than she could comprehend, she saw everything that had occurred and knew it was not some illusion . . . it was all real . . . it had happened. . . today! Was that possible? Were these real memories returning? Had she met all those people and helped Harry Potter and his friends defeat Voldemort again? In real life !?

"Oh, my God!"

It was real . . . they were all real and alive! Magic! Hogwarts! all of it! . . . how? . . . OH! . . . Draco! He had kissed her! More than once! A lot! . . . A shiver ran through her . . . his blue-grey eyes and their hidden depths . . . what he'd told her when they returned . . . and then later that night in front of the fireplace. . . .OMG! . . . .the talk they'd had as they sat by the lake . . . what he'd whispered, as they said goodbye . . . she looked at her reflection for several long minutes, trying to make sense of it all . . . did she dare take a chance? . . . on her feelings? . . on him ? . . on Magic? . . .wouldn't she be putting him and his world in danger? . . . could they hide their relationship from both of their worlds? . . . now that she remembered, could she live without him, to protect him and his world? . . . could she forget all of this if . . .

Emma quickly took the necklace off and dropped it back into the box, staring at it, her hand over her mouth. The memories, however, did not disappear, but settled into Emma's brain, in an empty space where they seemed to belong. Her facial expression changed from frightened, to wondering, to despairing, to thoughtful, to lost and confused, to longing and then finally to hopeful.

With trembling fingers Emma picked the necklace up, put the ribbon around her neck and hooked the clasp. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes, wrapped her hand gently around the emerald heart, pressed it to her own heart and then she whispered, "Draco."

Nothing.

Silence.

Emma wasn't sure what, exactly, she had expected to happen. She sighed and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She had so hoped that . . . tears were forming in her eyes . . . she pressed the back of her hand to mouth even as a sob escaped her lips . . .

There was a soft knock on her door.

Gasping, she said a silent prayer as she reached for the doorknob and yanked it open.

Draco stood there, gazing at her, a small smile on his lips which vanished, his heart giving a lurch, when he saw the tears sparkling on her lashes.

"Oh, my love," he said softly, as he took a step toward her, opening his arms. With a sob, she threw herself into his embrace, clinging to him.

"Draco," she whispered, then looked up into his eyes, all of her fears vanishing.

"Emma." he murmured, as he lowered his lips to hers, all his wishes coming true.

How they would manage this delicate balance between their two worlds was something to talk about later . . . now, it was just the two of them . . . and that's all that mattered.