Preserved

"Well, this is it," Hermione said when they were on Platform 9 ¾. "Our son is going to Hogwarts!"

Both Draco and Harry were awkwardly silent. Hermione hugged Harry and kissed him on his forehead.

"Good luck, Harry," Draco said, trying to sound happy.

"Bye, Mum," Harry said to his mother. He then turned to Draco. "Good-bye, Mr. Malfoy."

Before Draco or Hermione could say anything, Harry had gotten lost in the crowd of students and boarded the train.

Draco's mouth hung open. He stared through tear-filled eyes at the departing train.

Hermione turned to him and hugged him. "Draco, I love you," she whispered. "And so does Harry."

"I don't think so, Hermione. I just don't think so," Draco said as he watched the train disappear in the distance.

*****

All the way in London, people could hear the screaming of Hermione, who was making a howler for Harry.

"How can you be so ungrateful? Your birth father has been dead for eleven years, and Draco has still loved you enough to act as a father! I wouldn't even consider calling your birth father your father! As far as I'm concerned, Draco is your father, and he always will be! I hope you can accept that! And if you ever show that much disrespect to either one of us ever again, then you'll wish you'd never been born!"

"Hermione, that's a bit harsh," Draco interrupted.

"You expect me to just sit here, and watch your son be that rude to you?" Hermione asked.

"No," Draco agreed. "However, I don't think it's necessary to scream at him and face embarrassing him on his first day of school. Remember how Ron felt during second year after his mother sent him a Howler?"

"Actually," Hermione said, "I rather believe he enjoyed it. Everyone knew that he had driven a flying car to school."

"Okay," Draco said. "Bad example, but my point is, you can't just yell at him, that won't get through to him. Trust me, my parents believed yelling at me would convince me to be a Death Eater, but look where I am today. I'm on Dumbledore's side, I'm not a Death Eater, and I'm married to a muggleborn.

"Now, will you just write a note to Harry?" Draco asked.

"Fine," Hermione said, tossing the Howler into the fireplace.

Dear Harry,

I had originally planned on sending you a Howler, but your father has made me come to my senses. And when I talk about your father, I do mean Draco Malfoy. I am sorry that I lied to you, that I didn't tell you, and that you had to find out the way you did. But one thing I'm not sorry about is letting you find out. I felt that you needed to know; I just wasn't quite sure how to tell you. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us because we are very sorry and we love you.

Love,

Mum and Dad

Hermione showed the note to Draco. He agreed it was acceptably and sent Hedwig with the note.

"Everything's going to be okay," Draco said, trying to comfort her.

Hermione nodded in agreement, but she didn't believe it.

It won't be okay. We lied to him for too long. We made a mistake.