Daphne Greengrass felt herself smile as Professor McGonagall placed the certificate in her hands. She was free. Grown up. She would leave Hogwarts for the last time in only three days time. She looked out at the Great Hall. The sky was blue, and the sun illuminated the students and their families seated throughout the hall. Daphne walked on shaky legs back to her seat with Astoria, her Mum, and her Dad. Dad patted her back and Mum hugged her.

"Shh," she whispered, taking her seat. The ceremony seemed to drag on forever each student walking so slowly to the front. There were about sixteen students who had repeated the seventh year, so the graduation ceremony was shorter than it usually was. Still the sun beat down on them.

"Malfoy, Draco," called Professor McGonagall. Daphne's stomach didn't agree with the somersault it did. Act natural! Daphne had hung around Draco's friend group until her fourth year when he and Pansy Parkinson had started dating. Her long-standing crush on him had become too annoying, and she'd found other friends. Now she watched him take his diploma and return to his place in between his parents.

Astoria leaned in, pulling Daphne down by her robe's shoulder, and whispered, "Go talk to him, you idiot!"

"What?" she played dumb.

"Malfoy, you should talk to him if you like him." Astoria was sixteen, but Daphne still felt weird talking to her about boys. She searched for a change of subject. She realized that she'd barely spoken to her sister since before the year end exams.

"How'd you think you did on your O.W.L.S?" she asked.

"Okay, except for Potions, but I mean I've always been hopeless in that department. How 'bout you?"

"Yeah, I did alright. Shall we take a look?" Daphne held up her certificate, "Let's see . . . an E in Charms, Transfiguration, and Herbology. I got an O in Potions, and Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Ancient Runes! Oh, I only got an A in astronomy." She sighed.

"I wish they gave us fifth years our OWL grades sooner!" Astoria said quietly. Daphne nodded in agreement. She drew her attention back to the podium where McGonagall was giving a speech; 'So proud of you all. . .' Daphne didn't really listen, so she only caught bits and pieces, 'Doing great things. . ."

"Hey!" said Daphne, glancing up when she felt a hand tap her on the shoulder.

"Daphne," said Draco Malfoy.

"Oh, hi Draco," she mumbled, "fancy seeing you here," she added sarcastically as she regained composure. Draco gestured toward the long table laden with desserts of all varieties.

"Same to you," he said. She was unsure how to respond, what to say.

"So . . . what've you been up to lately?"

After that small talk flowed easily. Daphne learned that Draco planned on working as a lawyer, and when Daphne told him her plan of being an Auror he was one of the first people not to look at her like she was insane.

"Hey," he said, at least, ten minutes into their conversation, "I've got to go, but we should hang out sometime." Daphne's heart fluttered even though she knew he would never be serious about her. He had to marry into a noble house . . . didn't he?

"Yeah, any time works for me this week. Anytime," she blurted.

"Okay, I'll owl you." He walked over to a group of his friends. Daphne watched him go hoping was all she could do really, she had bigger problems and bigger dreams. Becoming an Auror was no laughing matter. She had intended to ask him out, but it had he sort of just done it?