Chapter Text
Draco Malfoy had not always been on the wrong side of things, he for sure had lived a charmed life. Being not only of one but two of the Sacred 28 families came with a prestige and then later infamay that would follow him. His family had had more money than they could ever need, he was loved by his parents, had loyal friends who were more like siblings, and he had loved and had been loved. Regardless, he had been thrust into situations that had not been ideal, which then forced him to make difficult choices that had deeply impacted his life.
Once upon a time, his family had pledged allegiance to a madman that landed them on the wrong side of things momentarily, until his family had used that same pledge to help bring Voldemort down. But on that precarious journey Draco had had to pretend to hate anyone not like him, a pureblood, and the hardest was to pretend to hate the love of his life. No not everyone would have made those decisions, but Draco had, and it had almost cost him his life, and most importantly it had cost him …. her.
Draco Malfoy didn’t have many choices when he was at Hogwarts and certainly not when Voldemort had risen to power once more, but having to lose the only witch he knew he would ever love, was one of his biggest regrets. She would never know that he had unwillingly made the choice to give her up, simply because he loved her enough to do it.
When Harry Potter finally defeated Voldemort, there was a small moment of hope where he thought maybe just maybe this is it, I can fix it and we'll be happy together, but that hope was quickly doused as the realization landed like a well aimed crucio, that they weren't meant to be, destiny what a fickle bitch.
After the final battle the Malfoy family had been promptly arrested, tossed into a safe house while they awaited the several weeks it took, before they all had their trials.
In the end, Lucius Malfoy was sentenced to three years house arrest at a home of his choice, fined hefty price, and had a magical restriction placed on him for six years. Narcissa Malfoy had been pardoned with magic restrictions for three years and fined. And finally, the boy who had no choice, Draco Malfoy, due to in large the testimonies of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, along with evidence submitted by various Order members, had magical restrictions for one year and fined. The family had accepted their consequences and mad enough complaints.
The wizarding world itself, had been somewhat more forgiving especially when the news broke of some of the things the Malfoy family had done in it's efforts to contribute in ending the war.
Lucius had initially been a loyal follower during the first war, but his stance had changed quickly after joining the Dark Lords ranks and quickly realizing his error, and then did what he could from within to help end Voldemort. Narcissa had not been as devout since the beginning, but had followed her husband and sister Bellatrix dutifully. Like Lucius Narcissa knew that the madman that demanded to be called Dark Lord, was a serious threat who needed to be ended, and with her husband and a few other allies, began working behind the scenes to do just that.
Narcissa's resolve was solidified when she received word that Ted Tonks, Andromedas husband had passed away of a sudden illness a few years after their daughter Nymphadora’s birth. Narcissa didn't hesitate and had reached out to Andromeda and never let her go again. Neither Narcissa nor Lucius cared that Andromeda, who had been cast out of the Black family because she had married a muggle, had done so.
Draco's story was another matter, it had come to light that he had been friends with a muggle born. Truly she was more to him than that, but just having been associated with 2/3rds of the Golden Trio was enough to earn him a repreive. From the first day Draco had met Hermione Granger on the Hogwarts express his life had changed. He often told his friends he didn’t believe in destiny, but that had changed as soon as he laid eyes on her. It was love at first sight for him, from the very second his silver had met her chocolate eyes, who had took him by surprise. He felt his world shift when she had asked about a boy named Neville’s missing toad. Draco had never wanted anything more than to find the stupid toad simply so he could see her again. In the end that hadn’t happened.
He recalled writing home to his parents that very night after the sorting, telling them about how he had met the girl who he would marry one day. He found out later that it would be a little more complicated than that. not only was she a Gryffindor, but was a muggleborn. Also Draco hadn’t been the nicest person to her at school, he had to keep up appearances after all. He had hated every moment of how he’d had to treat her. Honestly, Draco nor his family didn't really hate the Golden Trio, but he knew he couldn’t be their friend either, so instead he had helped them from afar unbeknown to them.
After their trails when it was all said and done, and Draco knew that things were different, he had pleaded with the Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was now his uncle as he had married his Aunt Andromeda, to keep his memories of just how long he’d helped the Golden Trio confidential. He didn’t want or need the attention he was just relieved that the war was over, that Hermione was alive, and now it didn’t matter he just wanted leave and to start over.
Kingsley had thought it was not the right thing, but had respected his nephews decision. And just like that, the Malfoy's had moved to muggle London so that Lucius could begin his house arrest. Draco hadn’t really wanted to leave, but he knew he needed to, he needed to escape the memory of her. While it killed him to have lied and pushed her away at the end, Draco knew he loved Hermione Granger enough to let her go, and so he had.
=^.^=
In the five years since leaving the wizarding world behind, Draco had found some normalcy in the form of his friends and family. Moving to London had been surreal. The Malfoys had purchased a beautiful mansion on Park Lane that overlooked Hyde Park. The only people that knew their location was his aunt and uncle, and they had been sworn to keep their whereabouts secret. He had asked about the Golden Trio and was told that they were well, he couldn’t really ask about Hermione specifically, but he had accepted her happiness as such and never asked again. Shortly after the Malfoy's moved to London, Theo and Blaise purchased a duplex penthouse on One Hyde Park near the Malfoy home.
Theo and Blaise had escaped to Italy to the Zabini’s familial estate at the end of sixth year and remained there until the war was over. Oh, how Draco had wished he could have fled with them, but he couldn’t, he understood why Theo had left. Theo Nott Sr. had been a terrible man and had abused Theo all his life, so Narcissa had ensured that Selena Zabini took him away to keep him safe. Draco had resented his mother a while for leaving him behind, but now he understood that Theo would have been killed by his father had he stayed.
When the boy’s had returned, Draco was glad that he wouldn’t be so alone, while he didn’t have her, he had them and they were like his brothers.
Then one day, what had started as a joke one year after the group had left the wizarding world in a bid to unwind one after noon in a London bar had led them down a path that would eventually turn them into international rockstars. Theo had jokingly signed the boys up to play in local band competition. They had always been musically adept, Draco could sing and play the piano, Theo and Blaise had learned to play the drums and bass while they hid in Italy. No one aside from his best friends and his mother knew that Draco had a beautiful voice, he hadn’t had the time to share that part of himself with Hermione.
After their initial performance, the boys decided that they had had entirely too much fun and soon they were performing regularly at different pubs, with proper fans and all. Draco had written so many songs, so they always had fresh materials. While he was in Hogwarts, he would often jot down his thoughts and drabble to empty his mind.
One night during one of their performances, a music producer had approached them about a potential contract. Initially the boys were reluctant as they had no knowledge of the music industry, but after Lucius had looked over the paperwork and completed negotiations on their behalf, the band Nova was created and was under contract to record their first album.
They became Bonafide stars and climbed the charts due to Draco’s captivating voice and Blaise and Theos musical creative sounds. With Lucius’ business savviness as their manager, Narcissa running all their PR, and Pansy Parkinson joining them a year later as an on-hand assistant manager, the band thrived.
Lucius for his part had turned out to be well-suited to be the bands manager, it seemed that his time working in the Ministry of Magic translated well while he navigated the ruthless muggle music industry. He ensured that his boys had the best deals and Narcissa kept their images mysterious enough that left the fans wanting more. They had given interviews, but they were rare, choosing to let the music speak for itself. In the last 4 years, Lucius and Narcissa had managed to negotiate no live interviews to maintain their anonymity. When band performed live, they seem to simply appear with the lights as if by magic and disappear just the same. Being wizards had its benefits.
Nova had only toured Europe the first year since Lucius could not leave the home and the boys wanted to stay close. Everything exploded when Lucius’ sanction was lifted and the family and band began a world tour. The little known band had come out of nowhere and skyrocketed to fame especially in the US. And in the four years since the band had officially launched, they had topped the charts with every song they had.
While Draco had not wanted the attention, he knew that the band gave him an outlet to express his feelings. It was an escape they had all needed and a chance to leave their ghosts behind. The bands biggest hit to date had come in the form of a song that spoke about angsty angry love. Draco had penned this song shortly after the end of the war when he had walked away from the love of his life. He was an angry thing, he was angry with Hermione, Ron, and himself for just leaving. He was angry that she had chosen another and walked away. It seemed the tortured angsty vibes spoke to millions around the world.
Being magical also allowed them some anonymity within the magical community as they were separate, and Draco had preferred it that way. They were able tip toe back into the magical world when they needed a break, but overall, they had fully emersed into the muggle world. That first year had been hard, having to adjust but luckily after their house elves had been freed, Benson, Boone, and Stella had agreed to stay with the family. They had been with the family helping fight alongside them during the war where Stella had lost her brother Dobby when he had been tasked to help save the Golden Trio.
The little elves were a part of the family, Benson stayed at the London residence during tours, holding down the fort, but Stella and Boone travelled with the band. Being elves made it easy for them to hide when muggles were around. Draco was forever thankful for Stella; she was always there when he had his nightmares about the war. He had cried when they had lost Dobby, because no matter what others thought, the Malfoy's always took care of their own and Dobby was one of their own.
=^.^=
Now five years and some months later, they were the headlining their own tour and had had three shows in London before they went on break. The boys were backstage waiting for Roxy to finish her portion of the show.
“It feels so good to be back home and ready to take a much-needed break. Who knew being in a famous band would be so exhausting.” Blaise said as he twired his drumsticks in his hand.
“I honestly just want to sleep and read a good book,” Draco added with a smile.
“I’m going to miss my fans,” Theo said pouting.
“More like your groupies,” Blaise retorted.
Theo was a massive flirt, and breaking free from Nott Sr had given him all the confidence he'd always had to suppress, but secretly Draco knew he was waiting to find the one.
“Not our Draco though, he has girls practically begging to birth his children, but noooooo, he’s saving himself.” Theo added laughing.
“Just because I won’t screw the first women who throws herself at me doesn’t mean that I don’t partake,” Draco retorted. “I’m just a bit more selective.”
“Oh yes …. he has Roxxxxxyyyy,” Blaise exaggerated.
“Ugh don’t’ remind me, it was once and honesty a huge mistake, I couldn’t get away fast enough,” Draco said shuddering at the memory of his ill encounter.
Pansy had insisted on several occasions that hooking up with Roxy Red was trouble and royal bad idea, and he had agreed, but on the ill fated night, Draco had been drowning in the past heavily and needed an escape and fast, Roxy just happen to be available.
Even through his cold demeanor Roxy had not seemed to take the hint and would flirt with him still, and even more relentlessly. The joke was on her, he’d already had his one and only and no one could ever replace her.
On the occasions that Draco felt the urge to forget, he would find a one-night distraction, but they were always that. A body and a distraction, he didn't care to get personal, he never kissed them, and the encounter only happened once and it was only for his pleasure. It was cold and detached, but just enough to take the edge off.
“Well mate whatever you did must have been phenomenal because she is relentless.” Theo said breaking him from his thoughts.
“I saw Pansy casting notice-me-not and muggle repellants around our trailer, to help keep Roxy away.” Blaise added laughing.
“Remind me to ask father to give Pansy a bonus, she deserves it,” Draco said as the door opened and Pansy walked in.
“Yes, I do, I’ve had my eye on a pair of Louis Vuitton’s,” Pansy said coming over to do her last-minute checks.
“Roxy is just about done on stage, so lets’ get into place and finish this tour off strong so we can take a holiday to secluded beach somewhere.” Pansy said adjusting Draco’s hair.
“That sounds like a plan Parks, so long as I can get away and relax, I’m in.” Draco said smiling at her.
“Ready boys,” Theo said his excitement thrumming.
“Ready,” Blaise and Draco answered.
The crowd cheered as the lights went dark and they heard the first beats of the music begin.