He could have never imagined that something as trivial as sandwiches and cupcakes could taste so heavenly to him. A man who had never dined in anything less than a place where the price of a champagne could float a family of four for a month. A man whose mother threw lavish parties where the food was more a work of art than fulfilling and was the talk of the town.

So maybe there is some truth in the words that food tastes better in good company.

Draco wiped his hands on a paper napkin as he watched Hermione admonish Rose to eat with her mouth closed. The little girl closed her mouth and gobbled up in a hurry so she could carry on with her tale.

By the time they were done there was a veritable mess all around them. And half the frosting of all the cupcakes on Rose's face. She smacked her lips and announced, "Best birthday ever!"

He watched Hermione smile at that and lean forward to wipe Rose's face clean.

Draco stared at the softening glare of the sun which would go down in few hours and so would the day. The day that would have been smeared in black like the fading scar on his arm but had turned out to be a memorable one. Soon both of them will go back to their perfect lives. Lives where you have perfect Potter for uncle. A life where people like him would have no place.

The little boy who always demanded to have the best in everything had died with the war so he had no right to demand anything from them. This had kind of been a dream to him. A patch of sunlight in the midst of dark gory nights. A dream that had to end.

So this will be it.

"Oh, Mum! Look a butterfly," Rose got up and ran ahead to chase a bunch of butterflies scattered around a bush.

Draco saw Hermione get up to clean up the mess that they had made so he swatted her hand away, "Wait, and let me do that."

"Oh, no. It's all right, I can do it," Hermione said.

"No, let me. After crashing your picnic and stealing half of your food, it's the least I can do."

"Um, you sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Okay," Hermione replied unsurely.

"Well, it looks like your daughter has the table manners of his father," Draco said and he rounded up the used napkins.

Though there was no heat behind his words, he felt Hermione tensing up at his side.

Way to go, Malfoy. Why don't you just call her a mudblood and be done with it, or if you are lucky she herself might just do the honours and punch you in the face, he thought as he mentally slapped himself.

"I am sorry. I really didn't mean to hurt you," Draco said softly.

"It's all right. It's been years since I have taken anyone's head off for talking about Ron. And I think that was your sneaky Slytherin way to ask what happened between us. Isn't it? It was splashed all over the Daily Prophet, thought you would know all about it," Hermione said with a sad smile.

"I didn't. I mean, of course, I had heard rumours about it years back but what with being busy trying to wipe some of that stain from my name took a majority of my time. Actually, it was, Rose who said it," he said guiltily, least she thinks he was digging information about her from her daughter.

"She talked to you about Ron!" Hermione asked with a flash of surprise.

"Yes. Why? Is something the problem?"

"Well, no. I mean she never talks about him. Whenever Ron's name comes up in conversation she just clams up. So I have tried my best to make her talk about it. But she never does. You are perhaps the first person that she had voluntarily opened up to," Hermione said.

"Maybe because I talked about my loss so she did. And I think Ronald Weasley is a stupid arse for ever letting that perfect child go. Anyone would be lucky to have her. And the full credit goes to you."

A bright smile split her face in half as she said, "She is perfect, isn't she."

Both of them looked towards the girl who was still running after butterflies' unknown to their sombre talks.

"Stupid arse!"

When she looked questioningly at him. "I am calling him an arse again because he left you. The perfect woman anyone could have."

"Maybe I was too perfect for him. Maybe that was the problem. After the war, we were all so busy in finding some sane version of normalcy, someone to hold on when the nightmares came at night that we forgot the bigger picture in the horizon. There was so much loss all around that we just clung on to each other. Ron and I got married so fast that we didn't realise that we didn't really get along, that we were good as friends only, but then Rose came along. A lot of things I have done that I would regret but she was never one. A beautiful surprise is what she is. And after Rose, I tried to make the marriage work but you can't force someone to love if they can't. She's brave. She doesn't show how upset she is when I am the only Mum in her class when it's clearly 'Bring your Dad day' at school but its damn hard not to notice. And the old insecurities raise their heads up, maybe I should have tried a little harder, maybe …" she said softly.

"Never think the problem was with you. The war broke a lot of families. And if he cannot value the precious things in his life, then maybe he doesn't deserve them at all. Take it from me, with the things the war has taken from me, I have a rough idea how precious life is," Draco said.

Warmth settled over his hand as he looked down to see Hermione's hands wrapped around his. Merlin knows how long they sat like that, hand in hand, drawing comfort from something as simple as holding hands.

Draco felt a different kind of warmth on his watch hand, he looked down to find his watch glowing. He knew that only his Mother could communicate like this so for a moment he was worried sick about her. He tapped his wand to the watch as her message glowed on the dial.

Where are you Draco? Come soon.

Draco took in a deep breath and said, "I have left my Mother alone for a long time now. It's time I left."

With a look of understanding, she nodded. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter. And thank you for … well … talking with me."

He smiled. "Thank you for sharing this special day with me, giving me something to remember this day with a smile. Your daughter is beautiful."

…

Oh, Dragons! Old peoples are so weird, Rose thought to herself as she pretended to chase a butterfly a little far from where her mum and Mr Draco sat. Who liked butterflies anyway, well, James did. But then he liked anything that was colourful. On the other hand she, she liked dragons. After all, they breathe fire and how cool was that.

Draco and Mum had talked throughout the picnic and she was glad they did. Because didn't all old people liked talking? They had made fun of each other over how neatly Mr Draco could eat a messy food and how her mum organised things like she was still in school. It was a good thing they knew each other from school then she wouldn't have to work from the start. It looked like her mum hated Mr Draco when they were in school but it was all right because Alex, a boy from her school had tripped on her shiny pink shoes on their first day and she had hated him them. And now look at them, they were best friends.

Rose didn't understand all that teasing but she could see her mother laughing. She could see her mother happy. And moreover, she could see Mr Draco happy too. And that was all that mattered.

She couldn't have found a better man to be her Daddy than Mr Draco. He was good. He made her mum laugh. And he was tall. She was quite sure if he hugged them then his arms would go all around them.

"Rose! Sweetheart, it's time we went back. James would be home soon with the Potters and Weasleys," her mum called out to her.

Oh, no. Was it time already? She wasn't ready to leave. They haven't fallen in love yet. She didn't know where Mr Draco lived. What if they never saw each other? What if he never became her daddy?

Why couldn't they fall in love already? She already knew who she was going to marry. Alex. He always played daddy when she played mummy to her dolls when they played house-house. And James always played their pet dog because he barked really well. So why couldn't they decide?

Maybe she could invite him to tonight's party? Then they both would have more time to talk. After all, they were holding hands some time back like Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny did. Well, her mum wouldn't fall for the big eyes trick that James taught her … again. But it was worth a try.

She skipped towards them. And helped her mum pack up the leftovers.

And when it was time to go, she looked prettily at her mum, "Mum, wouldn't it be really cool if Mr Draco came to my party tonight?"

Her mum looked at her sadly and then sighed. It was one of those sighs where she was preparing herself to tell her some bad news something like your dad forgot your birthday … again. Before her Mum could do some asking, Mr Draco kneeled in front of her.

"Rose, I would have been honoured to make it to your party. But unfortunately, my mother is not feeling well so I must return to her. It had been a tiring day for her and she needs me. I am really sorry."

What? Now she can't even cry and make him agree with her because Mum's were the best part of anyone's life. And if his mum needed him then should go. But this can't be it. They call her stubborn for nothing. So she leaned towards him and whispered conspiratorially. "You like my Mum, right?"

When he stared dumbly, she cheekily said. "Of course, you do. She is the best. And as we both like books, so every Sunday in the afternoon we go to the Flour and Boots shop."

"You mean Flourish and Botts?"

"Yeah, yeah that one. So will you come? To meet me. And my Mum."

Rose looked at Draco as he stared very peculiarly at her. Then a big smile swallowed his whole face.

"You cheeky little brat! You planned all of this didn't you?"

With a blinding smile of her own, she replied, "I don't know what you are talking, Mr Draco. And don't be late on Sunday because we will be waiting and wear something in blue, it's her favourite colour."

Before he could say no or do anything else she smacked a sloppy kiss on his cheek and skipped towards her Mum. "Common, Mum. I don't wanna be late to my own party."

Her Mum looked suspiciously and asked, "What were you two whispering about?"

"Oh, nothing, Mum. I was just saying goodbye."

…

Merlin, save us all from scheming women!

Draco Malfoy thought to himself as he looked at the retreating backs of the two people who in the short span had become important to him. Who knew that bunking his own Father's funeral would lead him to such a place? And if for nothing else he would thank Lucius Malfoy for that.

The little chit had all but given him her blessings and never it be told that Draco Malfoy didn't use the golden opportunity he was given. After all, he was a Slytherin and they were notorious for being a cunning lot.

It looked like he would have to cancel the brunch date his mother had fixed with Pansy Parkinson.

It looked like all of his Sundays were going to be taken from now on.

A/N- well, two more chapters. And then it's going the end. . .

Review sweets!