Shell Cottage. It felt like a lifetime ago when he had brought Rosie back here. The place she said she would one day like to live.

He stepped onto the beach, his eyes scanning the empty dunes. And his heart contracted.

There, in the distance, she was. His dear, sweet, beautiful Rosie. It was like seeing a ghost. He couldn't believe she was real.

Her wavy dark hair billowed around her pale, freckled face. Her eyes were closed but he didn't need to see them to remember what they looked like. Every single detail of her burned achingly into his memory.

And then she opened them and those brilliant blue soulful eyes were suddenly staring into his.

Draco's heart raced. With every step he took towards her he was more convinced that she was just a hallucination. He was terrified she wasn't real. He had spent so long thinking she was dead. It just couldn't be possible.

She started moving, moving towards him, running, coming closer and closer.

And then she was in his arms. Exactly where she belonged.

***

My heart was bursting through my chest as I willed myself to run faster. It was him, it was really him. I was terrified that if I didn't get to him in time he would disappear again.

I threw myself so hard at him, we nearly toppled over. I clung to him, wrapping my arms tight around him, sobbing into his chest.

I couldn't believe he was here. After all this time, all this grief, he was here and I was in his arms.

"I'm so sorry, Rosie," he whispered, holding me fiercely. "I'm so sorry I left you."

I cried harder, I didn't think I'd ever stop. Overwhelming tears of grief, relief, sadness and joy all left me at once.

We both fell to our knees, clinging to one another as the wind whipped around us and the waves crashed beside us.

"I'm here, Rosie," he murmured into my hair. "It's OK now, I'm here."

***

He held onto her tightly as she trembled, her sobs wracking her body with such ferocity it frightened him.

"Don't cry, Rosie, please," he whispered over and over again in her ear. He kissed her hair, pulling her in tighter and tighter, trying to absorb some of her pain.

He didn't think his heart could break anymore than it had, but seeing her so broken like this hurt him so much.

They stayed on the beach, him holding her as she cried. He didn't know how long for, but he didn't care. Time no longer mattered now he had Rosie back.

"I never gave up on you," she whispered, after her sobbing had subsided. The first words she had spoken. "I went back to the Manor to find you. I waited for you there."

Draco's heart clenched, imagining her going back to the place where she was tortured just to find him. He couldn't believe Potter watched her go through that without saying anything.

"I- I thought you were dead." He choked out. "I would never have left if-"

"What?" Her face looked up at his with a mixture of hurt and confusion. "Why would you think I was dead?"

She didn't know. He was very aware that what he was about to say would hurt her even more, and he didn't want to do that to her. But there had been too many lies, too many secrets.

"He gave me the ring. He came to the Manor and handed it to me himself."

"Who? Draco, who told you I was dead?"

He took a deep breath. "Potter."

He wasn't prepared for her reaction.

She jumped up and, covering her face in her hands, started wailing. It wasn't like any noise he had ever heard before, more like some kind of primal scream.

Fear grabbed at his heart. He was furious at Potter, but this- this was something else.

"Rosie?" He leapt up next to her, trying to pull her back into his arms but she backed away, now clutching at her stomach as she bent over double. The pain on her face was indescribable as tears cascaded down her cheeks.

Draco didn't know what to do.

"Rosie?"

He felt the world disappear beneath his feet as she spoke the next words;

"Our little girl," she choked out between gasps. "I lost our little girl."

***

It was the first time I had ever spoken the words out loud.

In fact, I realised, it was the first time I had even said anything to anyone about my baby's existence. I had remained mute on the subject when anyone had tried to broach it with me. It was too painful to face.

"A baby?" His voice was choked in disbelief. "Rosie, you had a baby?"

Slowly, I allowed myself to look at him. His face was one of complete shock. I nodded.

"She looked like you," I whispered, as tears started spilling from my eyes again.

Arms encircled me as I felt him pull me to him.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," He wept, burying his tears into my hair.

I held on to him with everything I had. I knew the pain he would be feeling, and I wanted him to know I was there for him. I would always be there for him, loving him forever.

In an instant, his sobbing stopped and I felt his body go rigid.

"Where is he?" He growled.

I looked up at him, his face was now contorted with rage, his grey eyes glinting dangerously.

"Where is he? Where is Potter?" He spat, shaking in fury.

"He's probably at the Ministry, but-"

Letting go of me, Draco heatedly started walking up the beach.

My heart hammered in my chest. I ran after him, grabbing his arm just in time as he Disapparated.

We fell onto the floor of the busy lobby. Draco marched straight to the stairs as I scrambled after him.

"Draco!" I cried, panic choking me.

He didn't turn around, didn't stop, but just kept on striding determinedly, his mind on one thing and one thing only. Harry.

I chased after him as he barged into the Aurors main offices. People started yelling indignantly as he flung open doors, knocking papers flying in his haste.

"Malfoy?"

Draco stopped and turned towards the voice. There was a moments hesitation as they clocked eyes. Draco, panting heavily, glared. I watched, my heart in my throat.

And then, Draco lunged.

Harry went sprawling to the ground as Draco pounded fist after fist into him.

"You stole her from me!" He bellowed as he pummelled into him. "You stole her and our baby from me!"

"Draco! Stop it! Please stop it!" I screamed, desperately trying to pull him off of Harry. Harry didn't seem to be fighting back, he just lay there as Draco smashed his face. I suddenly remembered that I had a wand and shakily pointed it at Draco.

There was a blast and Draco flew into the air, landing several feet away from him.

Harry slowly sat up, his face covered in blood.

"Th-thank you, Rosie," He stammered, removing his broken glasses.

"I didn't do it for you," I said coldly, not being able to keep the disgust from my face.

I walked over to Draco and helped him up. The fury had left his face and he now looked utterly resigned.

Keeping hold of Draco's hand, I turned back to Harry, who was now back on his feet.

"I did it for Draco. I'm not going to lose him again because of you."

"Rosie, I did it because I care-"

"IF YOU EVER CARED ABOUT ME YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE THAT! I LOVE HIM!" I screamed, tears pouring down my cheeks. "YOU SAT BACK AND WATCHED MY HEART BREAK INTO PIECES, AND YOU SAID NOTHING!"

Harry simply looked at me, shame written all over his face.

"You and me, our friendship is done." My voice was quieter, cold.

Without looking back, I led Draco out of the office, leaving Harry behind.

We didn't say anything until we got back down to the lobby.

"Did she have a name?"

I stopped. Something tugged at my heart. I looked into his silver grey eyes, full of sadness.

"Pearl," I whispered. The sound of her name on my lips twisting at my insides as I reached out and touched Draco's pearly white cheek.

He closed his eyes and a single tear rolled down his cheek. I stood on tiptoes, kissing it away.

"It's beautiful," he murmured, resting his forehead on mine.

"So was she." I breathed, sighing in the relief of finally being able to talk about her. A great warmth settled over me as my heart beat contentedly next to his.

"Come on, Rosie," Draco whispered, brushing his lips gently against mine. "Let's go home."

***