Dilecto Subpono

Chapter 1: Graduation

Seven years were finally up, for Hermione Granger. Here she was, standing just before the podium to give a much wanted speech to all of the Seventh Years, and the rest of the school, but the end of year speech was really only for the graduators. She wore her Gryffindor robes proudly, as she strutted up to the podium.

As she walked with her head held high, despite the sickness developing in the depths of her diaphragm. Where am I going to go from here? It's the end now…I don't want it to be, thought Hermione. My friends have their plans mapped out…I don't. I did want to become a Medi-wizard…but now, after the war…I don't think I could bear to see another person injured. Harry and Ron will leave…leave to become Aurors…just like they had always planned. I'll miss Hogwarts…

These were Hermione's thoughts as she trudged up to the podium, and just before she began to speak, she used her other hand (the hand that didn't contain her speech notes) and pulled out her wand.

"Sonorus," she exclaimed, as she pointed her wand to her throat.

I will be alone...for the rest of my life, Hermione thought, just as she was about to speak.

"Good Morning everyone…today, we, as the class of 2005, have finally made it!" she said, as her voice projected out to the large crowd in the Great Hall.

It will be fine…everything will be fine…won't it? Hermionethought as she allowed the students to cheer; the loudest cheering came from the Seventh Years at the various tables. She looked over to the Gryffindor table. Harry and Ron were cheering as well, looking at Hermione with encouragement for the speech so far.

"It has been a hard seven years…we all know it. But what's important is that we acknowledge that there have been set-backs; enemies have been made," said Hermione, with a stern face, as her eyes lay upon Draco Malfoy on the Slytherin table. He sneered at her as she began to think about all the times he had made life hard for her and her friends.

Draco Malfoy had become more mature than in his earlier years, for example, Third Year, when Hermione had punched him. For one, he stopped calling her "Mudblood" in 6th Year. Hermione had no idea why, but, she reasoned that it was because he was maturing and that after the war; he learned to keep his discriminative remarks to himself. This did not stop his taunts, sneers and looks that she got, because she was a muggle born though; it merely showed that Draco was not the boy he once was. What was more, he had become a very attractive young male, and Hermione noticed this. She had supposed that on the account of Quiddich, he had grown in the muscle department…as well as in other 'departments'. Not that she thought about it much, it was more a random thought…as every girl thought about any guy at their age, enemy or not. Luckily, Draco had not managed to make Head Boy, but, he had had almost every class with Hermione.

For the last year, he had sized down his taunts by at least half…she thought that perhaps this was because he didn't care about being the best anymore or about blood, as his father was in Azkaban…there was no need to be under so much pressure.

All these things were going through Hermione's mind in seconds as she waited for all the murmuring to simmer down in the crowds.

"…but we have all learned to overcome them, and moved on," she said, still looking at Draco, piercingly.

Draco noticed this, and narrowed his eyes.

Hermione smiled though, after this, lightening the mood.

"But…we have also made friends…friends that will always stand by us, no matter what…friends that we can take away with us today…knowing that everything will be okay," said Hermione, sadly. I only wish this were true, she thought.

"Everyone…welcome to the Wizarding World…graduates of 2005…we made it…and will always remember these seven years of our precious lives!" yelled Hermione, to the screaming crowd before her. "And now…and now…the Head Boy would like a few words."

Hermione stepped down from the podium, pointed the wand to her throat and spoke, "quietus". Her voice was back to normal.

As she edged her way to her seat, next to Professor McGonagall, at the teachers table, her thoughts wandered as the Head Boy, Blaise Zabini, began to speak.

I really hope that I will see Harry and Ron, and all my friends from Hogwarts again, she thought.

Draco Malfoy had hated that speech that Hermione had given. How dare she look at me like that...as if I had had caused her' set-backs', he thought. Stupid Mudblood…doesn't know her place…I don't care about her…I'll become an Auror now that Father's gone…and I'll never have to see people like her again!

Draco slouched back in his chair at the Slytherin table, as his best friend, Blaise Zabini, gave his speech. He smirked, as Hermione glanced over to him from the teachers table. He had stopped calling her Mudblood 2 years ago…why? He didn't know…but…after a while…it just felt like it was so old…and unnecessary. It wasn't like he didn't notice the way Hermione looked. After three years of being a bucktoothed, bushy haired know-it-all, she began to get very…beautiful, from the start of Fourth year, to the end of Seventh Year; now. Draco couldn't help noticing the way she stood out from the rest of the women he knew. Even Pansy seemed to be getting very 'old' in his eyes, compared to 'Granger'. But he knew that he would never touch her…she's filth…and that was all his mind would think every time he thought about how good Hermione looked.

Draco sat forward a bit to clap to Zabini's speech. He looked around to find two girls, hovering around him. Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bullstrode, both just wanting to be popular and knowing that he had all the looks, wealth, and popularity. They done it ever since First Year…he detested them to be honest…but, sometimes they were useful, especially when trying to get to Harry, Ron and particularly Hermione.

1 hour later, Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped off the Hogwarts Express and greeted their parents (except for Harry, who was staying with Ron in The Burrow now).

"Bye 'Mione…I'll owl you some time when I get a chance," said Harry, as he and Ron met up with Ron's parents; and Ginny on their tail.

"Yeah…seeya 'Mione…ditto to what 'Arry said," exclaimed Ron, waving at Hermione.

Ginny, who was only a metre away from Hermione, hugged the older girl.

"I'll see you some time…I'll owl you, or you can owl me…and we can have lunch or something," said Ginny, with a genuine smile. Then she walked away with Ron's family.

"Sure…bye everyone," said Hermione, grabbing her trunks to meet up with her parents also.

Ginny Weasley, and her had become great friends since the start of Ginny's first year. With the whole Tom Riddle ordeal in Second Year, and various other ordeals, where it involved Harry and the Weasley's, Hermione and Ginny had always been there for each other. But now, for Hermione, it was uncertain whether she'd see her best friend again.

Hermione walked in the opposite direction sadly. She was almost half way to her parents when she heard a familiar drawl come from behind her.

"Well, well, well…if it isn't Granger…all on her lonesome," said the voice.

Hermione dropped her trunk to face Draco Malfoy, who also decided to drop his trunk.

"There's no need to be rude anymore Malfoy…school is over…you can go back to your luxurious life…free of all muggle-borns," sighed Hermione.

"Oh…but…all the more reason to be rude Granger. Oh…and by the way…I loved your 'moving' speech you gave today…very touching…" sneered Malfoy, sarcastically.

"Listen Malfoy…I don't care what you thought…" began Hermione.

"Well…you obviously do…the way you were staring at me when you were giving it," said Draco, looking at his nails, as if this was a boring conversation.

"Really? I was staring at your table…not at you…now shove off so I can meet my parents…good bye…Draco," said Hermione, picking up her trunk and meeting her parents.

Draco stared as her beautiful figure walked away from him…never to return.

"Good bye…Hermione," said Draco under his breath, angrily, yet…sadly.

3 years later, The Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Law Enforcement…

Hermione now worked in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, in the Auror Headquarters. She was not an Auror by all means, but using her brains, and great knowledge of the history of the Wizarding world, as well as her great use of spells, and the way she can retain great amounts of information quickly, she is used as a strategist, healer and a good secretary for their department. Other offices, such as the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office would often share Hermione around, as she was useful in that department also.

Most of the wizarding world believed that since the fall of Lucius Malfoy, and various other Death Eaters, that they were safe from the wrath of Voldemorts and more Death Eaters. People can be so ignorant.

Auror's would come and go from the English branch of The Ministry of Magic; and most of them would have encountered a Death Eater or two. They would come straight to the Ministry of Magic to strategise how to attack various Death Eaters lairs etc. and would not be healed; so it was Hermione's job to ensure they would survive another round of Auror vs. Death Eater.

She loved her job; she even got to see Harry and Ron from time to time, as they were in their 2nd year of Auror training. What she didn't expect was to see Draco Malfoy anytime soon, neither was someone else. Draco was a smart one…but not as smart as Hermione. You see, there was a traitor in their midst in the Ministry of Magic. Someone in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; someone who worked very closely with Hermione. She was the only link to the fall of the Dark Lord. Her strategies were more than successful, and never failed...Draco Malfoy was also a threat to the Dark Lord's demise. This someone would do something to stop her and him…stop them…and the Ministry. They would kill two birds with one stone…and it would start the day Draco Malfoy steps through the doors of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

A/N: Well…its only the start…so keep reading…the plot will get better as the chapters go on…sorry if it's a bit long and drony. It will get better…I hoped you all liked it! Thanks to everyone one who reviews my other story: "Starcrossed Mudblood". Also…sorry if some of the information is incorrect, like time line stuff…especially the "class of 2005" thing…I would have no idea when they would graduate…sorry…made that up! Now…please review…I'd really like more than 4 reviews…please? Spread the word…I'm just sad…that's all…lol!

Translations:

Dilecto Subpono: Love Switch (more like substitute…but…I couldn't find a better word for it…I can't find a good Online Latin Translator…if anyone knows one…can you email it to me?)

Sonorus:Latin for "loud". Projects the voice of the spell caster, making it very loud.

Quietus:Adaptation of "quiet". Negates the effects of the Sonorus spell.