Forever and a Day

A/N: Wow, another story where I’m sitting here crying into my keyboard. Another sad one, so you can’t say you weren’t warned. And I do have a quick question: does anyone know what Draco’s middle name is? Does he even have one? I couldn’t find one so I wasn’t sure. If anyone has found it would be awesome if you could let me know. Enjoy, if you get a chance reviews are great.

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Forever and a Day

"Come on sweetie, just a little farther. You're almost here!" Ginny Malfoy smiled as she watched her four-year old daughter, Emily, struggling to ride her two-wheeled bike the rest of the way down the driveway to where she stood with a video camera.

As she covered the last distance between herself and her mother she grinned. "I did it mommy!" she giggled as she got off the bike and sprinted towards Ginny, giving her a big hug.

"You did great Em. What do you say we go get some milk and cookies? I think a big girl like you deserves a treat after all that hard work." she suggested, watching as Emily's small face lit up with delight.

"Right now?" she asked, looking up at her mother expectantly.

"They're on the counter, fresh out of the oven. Let's go!" she said, and took off after Emily, who was already halfway to the door and still running at top speed.

In less than two minutes Emily was sitting at the counter and had already ate a cookie and a half and drank half a glass of milk. "You'd better slow down or you'll have some stomach ache!" Ginny laughed, and Emily slowed her eating quite a lot.

"Mommy?" Emily asked seriously when she was done with the cookie she had been eating.

"Yeah Em?" Ginny asked, surprised by the change in the little girl's demeanor.

"Do you think daddy saw me ride my bike?"

"I bet he did. Daddy can see all of us from Heaven now."

"Do you think he was proud of me too?" she asked, staring down at her cookie. It was obvious she had thought about this.

"I know he was sweetheart. He loves you so much." Ginny said quietly, stroking her daughter's white blond hair. She looked so much like Draco. Ginny knew that she was never truly without her husband; he left a part of himself behind in their beautiful little girl.

"Hey, do you remember where I told you we're going today?" Ginny asked, taking hers and Emily's plates and putting them in the sink.

"We're going to see daddy!" Emily exclaimed, her mood instantly lifted.

"That's right sweetie. Why don't you go finish that card you made for him? When you're done you can wait in your room, and I'll be up to help you get dressed." she suggested.

"Okay!" Emily said and took off at top speed up the staircase to her room.

"Slow down!" Ginny called after her, though she was laughing at her daughter's energy.

Once she had rinsed off the plates and cups and disposed of the crumbs from their snack, she walked up the stairs and went into her own room. She slid open the closet doors and quickly located the black skirt and sweater she had picked out for the occasion. She dressed in a hurry and went to get Emily ready.

After the back of the SUV was loaded with their flowers and vases, they set off. "Uncle Ron and Uncle Harry and Aunt Hermione will be there too, right?" asked Emily, clutching her card tightly.

"That's right. Today is a very special service for all the people who were lost in the war." Ginny said quietly, concentrating on the road ahead.

Emily thought about this a moment before she answered. "Is that the war you were telling me about? The one that daddy was killed in, were Uncle Harry had to get rid of that bad man?"

"That's the one sweetie. The man Harry defeated was very mean, he wanted to hurt people, and so did all the other bad men who worked for him. They had to be stopped, but that was hard to do. Brave men like your father, they wanted to stop them from hurting others. There was a big fight and some people, like your daddy, lost their lives." Ginny answered her, tears starting to well up in her eyes at the terrible memories of the battles. "But even though your father died fighting him, it was the right thing to do. Voldemort- that's the bad man- had to be stopped. Your daddy gave his life for the whole world; he was a very courageous man. So were all the other men and women who were lost in the war, and that's what this service is for. To honor their braveness and to remember their lives." she finished, tears now escaping her eyes and running in silent streams down her face.

"Why are you sad, mommy? Was it my question, did I make you sad?" she asked, looking over at her mother.

"No, sweetheart, you didn't make me sad. I was just thinking about your daddy, that's all. I miss him, Emily, I loved your dad a whole lot. That's all." Ginny said, reaching over and stroking her daughter's hair.

Turning her attention back to the road, she pulled the vehicle into the parking lot of the cemetery. There were already many people migrating towards the area where chairs and a podium had been set up for the service.

Ginny released her seat belt latch but didn't get out of the car. Instead she turned to Emily and took one of her small hands. "Now Em, you have to promise you'll behave. There'll be a lot of people there and you have to remember your manners. Can you do that sweetie?"

"I told you the last time we talked about this mommy, I'll be good. Can we go see daddy now? We haven't been here in a real long time and I need to talk to him."

"Sure sweetie. Just remember that this is a sad day for a lot of the people who have lost someone, this isn't for fun. It's very serious." She said, although she knew Emily would be a perfect angel. She had certainly inherited her father's impeccable manners.

"Okay mommy." Emily agreed, and Ginny reached over to let her out of the booster seat.

Once they were out of the SUV and walking across the green lawns of the cemetery, Ginny started to get nervous. This memorial would be attended by a horde of people, many of whom hated, or at least couldn't come to trust, her husband. Even once Draco was in the order, the Malfoy name was widely grimaced at.

It will be okay, she had to remind herself, as she approached Draco's grave. Already people had begun to look and point in her direction. She already knew what they were whispering, There's Malfoy's widow and daughter, never could trust that man. What a travesty it is to have him in the memorial cemetery, much less included in the program. Well they could talk all the wanted, it wouldn't bother her. The important order members, Harry and Ron and Dumbledore, knew who Draco was, and that was what mattered. And he did belong here, no matter what they said about him. He deserved it just as much as all of their loved ones layed to rest on this lawn.

Once she had cleared her head of all thoughts about other people, she turned to her husband's grave stone. Draco Malfoy. Devoted husband, father, and friend. May his strength bravery forever live on in the hearts of all those who loved him. 1989-2012 It read. She had picked the inscription out herself, had thought it fit him perfectly.

She knelt on the tender earth before the stone, the spring breeze gently whipping past her face. She layed a big bundle of white lilies on the ground, then moved nearer the stone and gently traced the letters with her finger.

"Mommy?" Emily questioned, gently tapping her on the shoulder.

"What is it sweetie?" Ginny whispered.

"Can I go with Uncle Harry? He said I could play with James for a while." she said, and Ginny turned around to see Harry, with him and Hermione's son next to him.

"Hi James, and sure. You guys have fun." she said, turning back to the stone.

As James and Emily ran off in the direction of Hermione, Harry knelt beside her. "You okay Gin?" he asked quietly.

"Oh, I'll be fine. Go ahead, find your wife. Those two should be quite a handful together for poor Hermione." she said, giving a small, halfhearted chuckle.

"Okay Gin, I can take a hint. I'll see you in a bit." he said, standing up and leaving her alone.

Ginny waited a minute to be sure he was gone, and then turned back to the gravestone. "Oh, Draco." she whispered, tears starting to well up in her eyes. "I don’t even know where to start. I need you here so much. This is just so hard to handle. I'm trying to raise Em; I want her to grow up so happy. I'm trying to be the perfect parent, especially since she only has one now. Not that it’s all bad, I like to think that Emily's my little part of you, left behind so I wouldn't be without you." she said, tears now streaming down her face full force.

"God, Draco, I miss you so much. You were my angel when you here; you strengthened me and you bettered me. I love you so much it hurts, it’s just this dull ache all over, knowing that you’re not here. Knowing that I can’t hold you or kiss you or even just talk to you. I don't know quite what to do anymore, how to deal with all these people everywhere, so it's just me and Em. Me and Em against the world, now, without you. We’re a family, sure, but not a complete one. Not without you, without you we could never be complete. And Emily, oh she misses her daddy. She’s so young, she doesn’t quite understand, but she still knows you’re gone and she feels that pain. Em can deal now, sure, but right after it happened she would lie in her bed at night and ask me when her daddy was coming back. What was I supposed to tell this little girl, what was I supposed to tell our daughter? For a few days I couldn’t bring myself to tell her.... to tell her........” she paused for a minute, wiping her eyes, temporarily unable to finish her thought. “to tell her........ her daddy wasn’t coming back.” she finished, sobbing and wiping furiously at her eyes. The service would start soon; she didn’t want to be seen like this. Ginny had already cried her eyes out at Draco's private funeral; she had to be stronger this time.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of her daughter. "Mommy, Uncle Harry said the service is starting." Emily said, tapping Ginny on the shoulder.

"Okay sweetie, let's go." Ginny said, getting up and brushing a few stray leaves off her skirt. She took Emily's hand and together they made their way over to the area for the service.

As she approached the chairs, Hermione reached out and touched her arm to stop her. "Are you okay?" she questioned, studying Ginny closely. "You don't have to do this, you know."

"I want to. I feel like I need to, it's important to me. And I already told Harry I'm fine." Ginny said, gently taking Hermione's hand off her arm and wiping her eyes one last time before her and Emily took their seats in the front row.

After a few minutes, Dumbledore, who had organized the service, approached the podium.

“As many of you know,” he began solemnly, “Over 200 causualities were lost on our side of the war. To commerate them, we are all gathered here today. But since I’m quite sure you don’t want to listen to an old kook ramble all afternoon, I’m happy to turn over the podium to someone much more deserving. It is my honor to present to you Harry Potter, a truly exceptional young man who deserves our eternal gratitude. Welcome, Harry.” he finished as Harry approached the podium to generous applause. Once he was behind the dais the audience all stood up to show their respect.

“Well, thank you.” Harry started nervously, looking out at the people with a modest smile. “But you know I really don’t deserve it. I haven’t done anymore, much less in fact, than all of the people you are here to remember. And as much as I appreciate your gracious complement, Professor, I’m nothing exceptional.“ Harry said, glancing at where Dumbledore was seated behind him. “I threw one curse at Voldemort, but that one was no different than the curses fired by others at numerous death eaters. I deserve no more respect or recoginition than anyone else who was out on that battlefield.”

Harry paused for a second to collect his thoughts and then continued. “I’ve lost many people in my lifetime, one of the hardest of which was my godfather, Sirius Black. I know that you all know the truth now, but during the time I spent with him he was a fugitive. Yet regardless of where he was or how much danger it put him in, he was there for me. He guided me with love and concern as if I was his own son, and in return I thought of him like the father I never had. He was always there to support me and would do anything to protect his family, and that’s the mark of a truly brave man. Sirius is buried out on that lawn, as are my parents. Every person out there, they had that courage in them and that’s what makes them, not me, exceptional human beings. They were willing to give their lives so that each of us sitting here could be free of the pain and hatred that was Tom Riddle, and no more courageous act has ever been done. They are the ones that deserve your eternal gratitude, and I’ll be right there with you making sure they get it. Let their memory live on. Thank you.” he finished, and a roar of applause swept through the audience.

Harry stepped down from the platform and sat down next to Ginny. When she looked over at him she saw that tears had started to silently fall and Hermione leaned over and gave him a hug.

Next to speak was a young girl who had lost her fiance; she spoke about the importance of realizing dreams and living life before it was too late. As she neared the end Ginny grew nervous.

“……. So just remember, none of us know how long we have here. You have to live your life every day like it’s your last, or else you’ll come upon one that is truly the last and find yourself with regrets. Dreams only come true if you make them. Thank you.” she finished, and stepped down to polite applause.

“You’re up, Ginny, good luck.” Harry whispered in her ear, and squeezed her hand gently. She whispered a thanks to him and rose from her seat.

She could hear the whispers already rising from the crowd as she ascended the steps to the platform. When she reached her place behind the podium and looked out, she was met with pointed fingers and a few condemning glares. She was growing more anxious by the second, watching their disapproval, but then her eyes fell upon Emily, her little angel. The sight of her baby girl calmed her and she started.

“As I’m sure all of you know, I am Ginny Malfoy. My husband, Draco, was killed in the final battle. What I’d like to talk to you about today is the importance of accepting those who continuously prove themselves worthy. Draco Malfoy proved, more than once, that he was a strong, brave, loving, and good man, one of the best. He gave every plan and every battle his all, regardless of the majority of the wizarding world’s opinion of him. There was a time when I, too, thought he was a hateful prat, but that wasn’t him. That was his father, who beat into him his beliefs and his lifestyle. That wasn’t the real Draco Malfoy, and he found that out. He had the courage to break away from his father, defying every blasted family rule in the process. He joined us, he chose good, yet most of you still dismiss him as nothing more than a phony. You say that he was never really with us, and that he doesn’t deserve the same honor as all the other war victims. Well let me tell you right now, you’re dead wrong.”

She stood for a moment, looking out at the people, wondering if what she said had any resonance with them, before she continued. “I loved Draco dearly, more than I ever thought possible. That’s why I married him, why I agreed to spend my life with him. Well it turned out that a lifetime was pretty short, but I know we made the most of it. And I know that Draco’s still here, especially when I look at my daughter. She’s remarkably like her father, the perfect little angel. Draco was my angel when he was here, and in the wake of his passing I know I need to be strong, I just don’t know if I can. But I know I’ll get through this, because he’s up there now, and he’ll be guiding me just like always. That’s the kind of man he was, selfless and loving and generous almost to a fault, and that’s the way I wish all of you would remember him too. Draco tried so hard to gain your trust, and he should’ve had it a long time ago. He had more than earned it then, but he didn’t receive it. He didn’t receive it because people were unable to over look past adversities and see the man he had become. I’m praying that you can try now, try to give him the respect that he deserves. All I ask is that you try. Thank you.” she finished, and for a minute everyone was silent.

Ginny just stood there for that minute, looking out at the soundless crowd. Then she heard quiet applause, resonating from the front row. There sat Emily, applauding all by herself. Moments after Harry, Hermione, Ron, and little James joined her, all clapping as loud as they could. Soon others joined in, although many stayed resolutely silent.

Ginny stepped down from the podium and sat down next to Emily. “Mommy, you did real good!” she whispered, and hugged her tightly.

“Thanks, Em.” Ginny whispered back, and kissed her forehead.

She turned her attention back to the podium as Dumbledore spoke. “Well, thank you so much to Mr. Harry Potter, Ms. Belinda Gobswak, and Mrs. Ginny Malfoy for gracing us with their beautiful words.” he paused for some polite applause. “I would advise you to take their words to heart, as all three of them had useful messages to share. Thank you all for coming, and may God bless the souls of each and every one of those lost, they certainly deserve it.” With that he stepped down from the podium and people started to rise from their seats.

“Well sweetie, I think it’s about time we headed home.” Ginny said, gathering up their cloaks.

“No mommy, I haven’t given daddy my card yet!” Emily exclaimed.

“Oh that’s right! Let’s go quick.”

Once they reached the stone Emily bent down in front of it much the way Ginny had. “Hi daddy.” she said, putting her card in one of the vases of flowers. “Do you like it in Heaven? Mommy says you’re one of the angels now, that must be nice. I’m glad you’re with the angels, that makes it better, knowing that you’re not here ‘cause you’re in a place nicer. Probably funner too.” she said, looking thoughtful, as if considering what games angels might play.

“You know, mommy did real good talking just now. Did you see her? I hope you’re proud of her, I sure am. She’s the best mommy there is, and you’re the best daddy.” she said. Ginny felt tears start to form in her eyes once again. Emily was so strong, she didn’t know how she did it.

“Well, I think we’ve got to go pretty soon. Oh, I almost forgot! I made you this card, I wanted to show it to you.” She said, taking the card back in her hands and opening it. “I don’t know if you can see it or not, but it says Daddy, watch over us. Remember I love you forever and a day. Do you remember that? That was what you always told me before bed each night. Mommy helped me write it since I can’t read or spell yet, but I know the alphabet now. And I did the drawings all by myself!”

Ginny glanced at her wristwatch. “I’m sorry, Em, but we’ve got to go. I promise we’ll be back soon.” she said.

“Okay.” Emily said, getting back on her feet. She placed the card back in the flowers and turned once again to the stone. “Bye daddy.” she whispered, and placed a kiss on the gravestone. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she looked up and blew a kiss to the heavens. “I love you daddy, for forever and a day.” she whispered.

Ginny followed suit, and blew a kiss up to the sky. “Me too, Draco. I love you forever and a day.” she whispered, then gathered her daughter up in her arms and placed a kiss on her nose, to which Emily giggled. “Come on sweetie, let’s go home.” she said, and they headed in the direction of their car.

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A/N: Thanks so much for reading. Have a great day.

God Bless,

~Christine