Prologue…

It was an early yet foggy morning in the cozy hamlet of Hogsmeade;the train platform was lively as the train was set to go across the Scottish Highlands and end its list of stops in London. Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger stood on the platform with Draco's luggage at his side,Hermione was finishing her schooling as an eighth year at Hogwarts,however Draco opted to go to London and study investment banking. Hermione clung to Draco trying not to cry,if you had asked her back in her first year if she saw this happening she would have flat out denied it but life is a fickle and funny thing;slowly but surely the pair had developed feelings in third year then the bond only got stronger,now with the war over and Voldemort slain she could finally and publicly admit she loved him "I've got a bad feeling about this.." she admitted to him as she looked up to meet his eyes,and he returned his gaze with a questioning look "What? The train? You think it's gonna derail or something..don't say that. I'll be safe I promise." though he did his best to reassure her Hermione laughed solemnly and shook her head "It's not that Draco..I know we agreed you going to London was a good move and Merlin knows you need the change of scenery. However, I cant help but worry about us." Draco hugged onto Hermione and kissed her "Hey, it's okay, it's you and me against the world just like it always was. As soon as I get settled I'll move you into the city,besides we agreed school is where you needed to be too." before the conversation could continue they heard the final call for boarding so Draco left Hermione behind,never seeing her finally break down as the train left the station.

Fifteen Years Later…

Fifteen years had passed since that day,Draco woke up in the bedroom of his penthouse flat to the sight of a woman facing away from him who was placing a pair of panties upon her body that she had discarded the night before "Last night was incredible." she turned around to Draco laughing as he stretched "Well you are an amazing lover Lavender. How about a round two before you go? Hell, stay the whole weekend maybe?" he offered with a smirk but she laughed it off "Draco, I have to go out of town to see my folks,it is Christmas Eve after all." Draco playfully lamented "Do you have any idea what the traffic is going to be like?" Lavender let out enough of a belly laugh some of her scars rippled like waves "I know how Floo Powder works..Remember?" they exchanged goodbyes as Draco got out of bed and turned on some classical music to begin his day as he walked on to the shower with his nude body on display. As he showered, his mind was on work, as it often was "Need to hand out the Christmas bonuses..Make sure all of the quarterly's are set to go, go over a few proposals, then I'll go off to Mother's.." he thought as he let the warmth of the water cascade down his body.

Meanwhile, Hermione Granger had left her small flat in Hogsmeade to head to the Weasley's for their usual Christmas traditions, she was exhausted and irritated that Kingsley wouldn't let her throw herself into work over the holidays, but figured she could use the break. She had worked at the Ministry since her eighth year of school ended, and had rose through the ranks to the position she now held as assistant to the minister. She had Parcels loading her down,Christmas presents for fifteen people was no easy task. She now had all eight Weasley's,Harry,Pansy,and her nieces and nephews. With a groan, she stopped for coffee at her favorite local bakery, and after acquiring what she needed, decided to aparate to the Burrow. As she appeared she lost her footing but the Parcels caught by Ron,Fred,and George "Thank you boys,some of those gifts were fragile." it was then that Arthur spoke "You mean Fra-Gil-Lay? I hear it's Italian. Learned it from a Muggle Christmas movie. Interesting thing.." Hermione laughed and hugged him before going to help Molly and Ginny with the food. Once things were settling into routine,Pansy and the twins she shared with Ron came downstairs,still sleepy eyed and not long after Harry arrived with James,Albus, and Lily in tow;After the festivities died down a bit Ginny pulled Hermione to the side and took her outside and showed her a tattered letter that she recognized "It's about time, you either send this or burn it." Ginny said firmly but softly at the same time. Hermione remembered how she felt the day she wrote that letter, it was an outpouring of her heart to Draco begging him to come back because she loved him and couldn't stand the distance any longer "Ginn.." Hermione was cut off by Ginny "Look you cant hide it, you still have feelings for this jerk which is why I'm leaving it to you. You've waited and waited while he had done nothing but make money and gallivant around. Besides, I know you only read the financial section to see what he's up to."Hermione took the letter "I'll deal with it,I mean it this time."later that night after a long self-debate Hermione attached the letter to the Weasley's new owl and sent it off on its journey. As Draco had planned he handed out many a bonus checks with ten zeros at the end of the check,had his reports settled,and now was back at Malfoy Manor with his mother;As they sipped tea an owl arrived with a forwarding pile of mail and Draco looked through it only to pause when he saw an envelope with Hermione's name on it "I still can't believe you left her." Narcissa Malfoy said softly to her son,but all Draco could muster in reply was "I know Mother,but I took the road less traveled. It wasn't easy." they talked idle chit-chat for awhile until Narcissa retired to her bedroom,but she decided to take a measure she didn't expect to take on her son;once she got out some needed supplies she began brewing a potion that she had intended to use on her estranged husband but she had altered in "Slip this in his drink before bed and he will see that the road he left behind had a bigger gift at the end." Narcissa thought to herself as she crept into his room while he walked the gardens,she slipped the potion into a small glass of Fire-Whiskey by his bed side and made a silent exit. Draco had left the letter unopened in his room,uninterested in its contents. He walked through the gardens to enjoy the cold night air,allowing it to clear his head "I did what I had to do. I have a good life,so does she..it was a clean break,needed to happen." Draco reminded himself before he made a stop to admire the Moonlight Lillie's for a moment and then headed inside. He went into his room,changed,got into bed, and downed the last of his Fire-Whiskey before allowing himself to fall asleep.