When Your Parents Tell You Bedtime Stories

2

"God gave us our parents...please forgive him."

~Ashley LeeAnn Fredrick

"When life gives you shit; put it in a paper sack and put it on your neighbor's porch."

~Ashley LeeAnn Fredrick

Draco walked by her office again. It was unorganized and dirty from all its previous occupants. No one had been able to hold that job for very long. But then again, there was no one like Hermione Granger.

"Potter," he growled on his way past his desk. "Did you get that last muggle case turned in yet?"

"Yes, Malfoy," Harry said not bothering to look up. He was staring at the headline in the paper before him. Twelfth Anniversary of the Downfall of You-Know-Who. "Stupid bastards," Harry muttered when he knew Draco had noticed too. "He's been dead twelve years and they still can't say his name."

"Are you alright, Potter?" Malfoy asked carefully knowing this anniversary was also for another reason.

"Are you?" he asked turning to look up at the blonde man. Harry noticed how old Draco seemed to have gotten. He was still physically fit from Auror training, but his hair was darker and there was this ever-present sadness in his eyes.

"Tell Johnston I'm taking an early lunch," he growled turning and leaving the Auror department. I'd almost forgotten, his mind was frantic, it's the anniversary. Twelve years; has it really been that long without her?

"Hermione," he whispered to the sky when he had stepped outside. "You'd be so proud of her."

"Get out of my way!" Persephone barked at the giggling first-years. Cautiously they jumped back and let her pass into the Great Hall.

"Judging by the yelling outside I'm guessing you're in a splendid mood as always," Aludra said. Aludra Spica had been Persephone's friend since they had incidentally ended up in the same compartment together on the Hogwarts express first year. Aludra was fair skinned and had waist-length brown hair from her mother, who had been in Hogwarts years before Persephone's father.

"What are you talking about? She's as bright as ever this morning," Rigel said shoving toast in his mouth so he wouldn't laugh. Rigel was Persephone's other friend. He was the son of Marcus Flint, who had been a few years up from her father. Everyone said his dad had to be the ugliest person ever, but it definitely didn't pass down. Rigel was tall and lean with midnight black hair and a gorgeous proud look on his face that left every girl swarming after him.

"If I was pleasant I'd be a sodding Gryffindor," Persephone replied sinking into her spot. Aludra and Rigel just shook their heads and continued eating.

"Did you see the paper?" Aludra said tossing it to Persephone.

"Twelfth Anniversary," she read out loud. "Wow, and they're still celebrating."

"It was the biggest thing to happen in the wizarding world!" Aludra said.

"So what?"

"Well, you should care, I mean...." Aludra cut off when she got painfully kicked by Rigel.

"Match against Gryffindor today," Rigel said changing subject. "Looking forward to it?"

"As always," she said smirking. "You and I are going to do permanent damage this time."

"And I'll watch from the sidelines, as always," Aludra sighed.

"It's not our fault you didn't make the team, Aludra," Persephone pointed out taking a bite of toast.

"Slytherin team, field," the captain, Alphard Henning, said standing up.

"We'll see you after the match, Aludra," Rigel said standing.

"Yeah," she sighed. "Good luck, Persephone."

"She doesn't need luck," Alphard said passing by. "She's got the skills. Takes after her father according to my dad."

Persephone smiled; she loved hearing that.

"Mind if I join you?" a voice asked startling the man.

"I suppose, Potter," Malfoy said noticing he had tracked him down. "How'd you find me?"

"My favorite after-work place too," he said ordering a drink from the waitress. "I miss her too you know," he said a moment later.

"It's just not the same without her," he growled a bit too harshly.

"Listen, Malfoy...."

"It wasn't your fault, Potter, stop blaming yourself. There was nothing you could have done to save her. I got my bit of peace in before she left, I guess I have to thank you for that," Malfoy said taking a sip of his drink.

"I think, even if she never told you, that she cared about you too," Harry said noticing how hurt the man really was inside.

"We're not buddies, Potter, we never have been, so don't pretend you know me." Draco Malfoy stood and threw a couple coins on the table. "Happy Anniversary," he spat before walking out the door.

"Malfoy," Harry said chasing the man out the door.

"What?" he shouted over his shoulder.

"Can I just talk to you for a second?"

"What?" he asked again stopping and turning around.

"Seeing as...as what day it is and all...I thought I should tell you something."

"What?" he asked getting more irritated.

"You've done a good job raising Persephone. I think Hermione would be proud," Harry said.

"I'm sorry I cut you and Weasley out of her life."

"No, it's understandable," Harry said. "You don't want her to know about what happened to Hermione. Ron and I understand that. But we know you've done a good job, even if we've been watching from the sidelines."

Draco thought for a moment before doing something he'd probably regret later. "Want to go to a Quidditch match, Potter?"