The Photo Album

The Photo Album

A storm was brewing. Thunder and lightning boomed in the distance. Heavy rain came down, pitter-pattering on the roof of number sixty-two. It was late at night and in the house a baby girl began to cry. A young, blonde-haired man slowly got out of bed to soothe the baby. As he walked into the room, he began to remember another night like this. He picked up his child and held her close to him, slowly rocking her back and forth. With bright, cinnamon-colored eyes and flaming red hair, she was the mirror image of her mother.

As he held her close, listening to the roll of thunder come closer and closer, many memories came flooding back. It happened a year ago today. He could feel his throat tighten and the tears begin to well in his eyes, so he put his daughter softly back down on the bed. He covered her up, gave her a light kiss on the forehead, and went back to his room. Once there, he sat down at his desk by the window, turned on the lamp, opened a book and began to leaf through it. All the happy memories, all the good times, began to upset him once again. He stopped at one picture and with a single glance he broke down. Large, hot tears began to trickle down his face and landed like raindrops on the pictures. He was so upset at being reminded of what he had lost and also at not being able to move forward. He was living in the past. Finally, he lifted his head. He had to get past this moment, this one picture. It was hard, he knew, but he had to do it. This picture was a safe waiting to be opened and all he had to do was turn the key.

The picture showed his happy family. His wife, Ginny, was beautiful. Her straight, red hair framed her pale, heart-shaped face. Sparkling brown eyes accented her rosy cheeks and gorgeous smile. She was perfect. She was holding their one-month-old daughter, Charlene, in her arms. He had his arm around her waist. He remembered walking with her and his daughter around the park, stopping every once and a while so the elderly could take a look and coo at Charlene.

They had heard the rumble of thunder in the distance and decided to go home. They made it inside just before the rain began to pour down. They ate, fed Charlene, bathed her, changed her diaper and then put her to sleep.

Ginny was in the kitchen, putting away the dishes when she clapped a hand to her forehead and swore quietly. "We're almost out of baby formula. Charlene doesn't have enough for tomorrow. I should run out and buy some."

"Okay," he had replied. "Do you want me to go?"

"No, it's okay. You have to go to work tomorrow so it's best you get some rest." She grabbed her jacket and keys, put on her shoes and returned to the living room.

"I'll be right back." She leaned over and gave him a soft peck on the lips. "I love you."

"I love you, too," he murmured.

She waved good bye and walked out the door, closing it softly behind her. He watched her pull the car out of the driveway and go down the street towards the grocery store. As he watched her leave, Draco was amazed at how much he had changed. He had gone from teasing and taunting Ginny to loving her. They had met after school, when both had been Aurors-in-training. When Draco saw her, he could not believe that it was the same Ginny he'd teased. She had changed so much; she was gorgeous. He immediately found himself attracted to her but was unable to convince her that he had changed, much less convince her to give him a chance. Finally, after much wheedling, she agreed eventually. A year and a half later, he proposed and they got married.

She had changed him so much while they were together. She had taught him how to care for people and how to love them. She taught him that everyone was equal, even Muggles, and she had even gone as far as to convince him that they could still be wizards and live in a Muggle village. She saw that Draco needed to get away from the wizarding community because some of its members did not believe that he had changed after the war and made him realize that as long as he had her love and caring, he did not need to worry about anyone else. He felt better when they moved into the Muggle village, but sometimes it still felt strange to be living with Muggles, the very people he had been brought up to despise. After his father had died, he was finally able to be himself. When the man had been alive, Draco always had to pretend to hate certain people because if he put one toe out of line, his father would give him a cruel punishment. He had spies everywhere.

The memory haunted Draco as he sat in his chair, tears streaming down his face and burning his cheeks. He glanced at the picture once more. He wanted to see her again so badly. He wanted to be with her. But he would not leave his daughter without a mother or father. Ginny would not have wanted that. He was tired, but couldn't sleep. So instead, he turned his attentions to the photo album.

He turned the page of the leather-bound book and saw a picture of Ginny and Charlene at the hospital the day Charlene was born. It was the first of many more to come. Pages upon pages were filled of pictures of Charlene as a newborn. Just looking at her made him smile. Then, he turned the page again and this time came to a picture of Ginny and him on their wedding day. Once again, hot tears began to sting and burn his eyes.

Ginny was in a white, strapless, wedding dress and veil, adorned with jewels and lace. She looked like an angel from heaven. He stood beside her, his hand on hers, cutting their wedding cake. They were both smiling happily. This was a hard memory for him too, because not a week after her accident it would have been their first anniversary. He remembered saying his vows, slipping the ring on her long, slender finger and dancing with her. She was a beautiful dancer. When they danced together for the first time as husband and wife, it seemed like the perfect moment would never end.

He picked up the picture carefully, and for the first time he noticed a white envelope tucked under it. The envelope was still crisp, as if brand new, and Draco felt his breath draw in sharply. Draco put the picture down and picked up the envelope with caution. He could feel his stomach turning into knots. His hands were shaking so badly that Draco was surprised that he did not rip the envelope. He felt sweat running down his face, mixing with the dry tears on his cheeks. He turned it over and opened it. Inside was a note, in Ginny's hand writing.

My love,

We have been together for a wonderful year and we have had many good and bad times together, but no matter what, we have always resolved our problems. I want you to know that I love you very much and that I will always love you, no matter what happens between us. I will be your shoulder to cry on when you have a bad day and I'll pick you up when you are down. Wherever I am and wherever you are I will always love you and be thinking of you. Happy Anniversary, my love. I will always be here with you.

Your loving wife,
Ginny."

He sat stunned for a few moments; he could not believe it. He felt the tears fall but ignored them completely. She was here; Draco could feel her around him. She was guarding him with all her love, making sure he and Charlene were okay. He walked to the window and looked to the sky. The storm had passed, and the clouds were rolling back, showing a very bright, large moon. The stars winked at him from above as if to say, "It is all right." A smile crept across his face. He had not smiled for the past year, and it felt wonderful. He turned and walked to the next room where baby Charlene was sleeping. Draco's walk was different now that he was no longer laden down with bad memories. They were not stopping him, not keeping him in the past. He carefully picked her up and kissed her on the forehead. She stirred a little and awoke. She was so beautiful. She gurgled a little and let out a small word that sounded like, "Daddy".

Draco sat in the chair by her window and gently rocked her to sleep. He looked to the sky and he knew Ginny was there watching over the two of them, making sure they were happy and safe.

The End