It was time … she took a deep breath and …
"Welcome everyone to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Graduation and End of the Year Celebration! On behalf of the Head Boy, and myself, Hermione Granger, we would like to thank you all for coming and supporting this year's graduating class. And now, without further ado, I give you Headmistress Minerva McGonagal."
Hermione Granger, brightest with of her time, and top of her graduating class, stepped off the stage and slid into her seat beside the Head with a sigh of relief.
"I never did like public speaking," she whispers to the Head Boy, Draco Malfoy, sitting beside her, their heads close to hear each other over the din of excited graduates and parents.
This would have been a strange sight to see a few years ago, but the seventh year holds unforeseen surprises for everyone – present class not excluded. The magic the school holds for the students does not begin or end in the classes – it extends to their experiences … and with what the Heads have gone through this past year, it's not surprising that a certain closeness has developed between the two.
Draco snickers, pats her on the head and tells her "I'm surprised you even got up there to begin with – what with you going pale and weak in the knees before we even started. I swear, I can never figure out how you even managed to get that whole spew thing started with your fear …. "
"That's S.P.E.W., and I do not FEAR public speaking … I just don't like it."
"Right, and Weasel does not fear spiders, he just doesn't like them …" mumbling under his breath Gryffindors and their damnable pride … earning him a good hard smack upside his head.
"I heard that … and Ron -er- … it's RON ok! Sheesh! You'd think you guys would have gotten over your name calling already," rolling her eyes at Draco, trying to hide the beginnings of a smile.
"What and miss the chance to watch him turn red and purple with rage when he loses his temper? No way … I have way too much fun watching him turn puce. Plus, the entertainment value of him sputtering and falling over his feet to get a word - or punch - in is just priceless." Hermione just sticks her tongue out at him and goes back to paying attention to what was going on around her.
"Besides, I have yet to see what other shades Weasel can turn into."
The Graduation Ceremony ended hours later without a hitch, and everyone – students and guests – are gathered into the Great Hall for dinner and End of the Year Celebration Ball. There is laughter all around, everyone in high spirits – well, almost everyone. Again we find Hermione and Draco together, happy, yet somber at the same time.
"Draco, are you going to be ok?," Hermione asks with concern. She puts a hand on his shoulder and he turns to her and gives that hand a squeeze. He smiles and says, "I don't think I'll ever be ok, but I'll manage." He takes her hand, spins her around, brings her back and catches her in a dip … then pretends to drop her. With a squeal, Hermione grabs him by the neck and pulls herself up, muttering "I should have known … stupid prat."
They walk out to an empty table and resume their conversation. Hermione begins, "Draco, I'm really sorry your parents couldn't be here …" but Draco cuts her off with an impatient sigh and wave of his hand.
"Don't … just, don't. Let's drop it Hermione. It's supposed to be a happy occasion, let's not ruin this …"
"What do you mean 'Let's not ruin this'? THIS is already ruined from the look on your face. THIS was never happy for you to begin with. THIS doesn't mean squat to you without them – admit it!," anger slowly making its way into her voice and demeanor.
"You're right. THIS is nothing to me – just another day to move on from. THIS doesn't mean anything to me, with or without them. THIS wouldn't mean anything to them anyway!," anger also taking a hold of him.
"FINE! Have it your way."
"Fine."
"FINE!," and with that last word, she bangs her hand on the table and gets up to walk away. Draco sighs and wipes his hand over his face. He looks up to see Hermione glaring down at him, ready to turn and leave. He gives her a pleading look, a sad look, a helpless look – a look that she's only seen once before. He did not have this look when they took his father away to Azkaban. He did not have this look when his father was given the Kiss. He didn't even have this look when his father passed away. No. This was the look on his face when his mother walked out of his life.
Her gaze softened and the anger left faster than it came. She pulled her chair closer to him and held his hand. She put her forehead on his, looked him in the eye and said "Make THIS day a day for you not to move on from, but to remember. I want you to remember this day for ME. Make THIS a moment to remember WITH me."
She kisses his cheek, pulls him up and drags him to the dance floor.
"Oi, Malfoy! Get your grubby hands off Hermione and let a REAL man dance with her," came the booming voice of a grinning Ron Weasley. Draco smirked and stretched Hermione out to Ron, then pulled her back to him as Ron reached for her.
"I would, Weasley, if a REAL man asked to dance with her."
"Ha, bloody ha! Now lemme dance with her you git! You've been manipulating her for the whole bloody day! And don't give me that sorry excuse of you both being Heads with duties and all, coz I'm not buying it you selfish prat."
"Whao! Is this Insult Draco Malfoy Day and no one bothered to tell ME?," asks Harry Potter, coming from behind Ron with Ginny in tow.
Dramatic sigh from Malfoy, then counting off with his fingers: "ONE: I have NOT been manipulating her time and attention – she just prefers my company to yours, for obvious reasons (Hermione hides a snicker). TWO: I have not now, nor have I ever given sorry excuses to anyone – even if I AM talking to a sorry excuse of a person (Ginny grabs Ron at this). THREE: I am NOT a selfish prat. Selfish, yes, but I not a prat (Harry rolls his eyes). And finally, NO it is not bloody Insult Draco Malfoy Day. Honor, Obey and Respect! Not insult." Draco jumps as Blaise Zabini throws an arm over his shoulder and grins at everyone.
"Who, I ask WHO got Mr. Pasty-White over here monologing? Haven't you guys yet learned he loooves the sound of his own voice and will use any excuse to listen to himself?," asks Blaise who made his way to the group when he heard laughing and snickering and finds his best friend in the middle of it – oblivious to the laughter and very much into himself.
By the end of his rant, the whole group was already laughing it up at his expense, and hearing Zabini insulting Malfoy – thus disproving his Honor, Obey and Respect Day decree drove them into near hysterics.
Glowering at his friend, Draco throws Balise's arm off, faces him and looks his friend up and down. "My dear Blaise, were you not listening to what I said? It is NOT Insult Draco Malfoy Day …" but Blaise cuts him off, saying "I was NOT listening to that garbage you were spouting – and yes it was garbage," he interjects as Malfoy opens his mouth to disagree "BUT I will agree that Hermione needs to be asked by a REAL man to dance with her." With that, he turns to Hermione, bows and asks her dance with him – to which she laughingly agreed, amidst Ron and Draco's protests.
"I'll bring her back once you boys grow up and learn to share," Blaise winks as he and Hermione walk away.
"Well, he's not bringing her back, coz we all know that's NEVER going to happen," says Harry, dodging both Ron and Draco's punches and running into the dancing crowd with Ginny.
