Hermione
It was the year after the Battle of Hogwarts when Headmaster McGonagall decided that the students deserved a proper graduation, where we would be handed a certificate of completion and academic excellency (for most of us) in front of all of our family and friends. Apparently, she had attended an outdoor Muggle graduation in her transfigured form and was suddenly inspired.
I loved the idea. We would finish our N.E.W.T.S, then be able to hang out for a week before we walked across a stage and left ceremoniously. I wished that Harry and Ron would have came back and finished school, but I knew why they didn't, and I understood. They wrote me letters all the time, asking how school was going and if the Quidditch team was as good as they were. I always told them that Ginny was a better captain than any I had seen, and I think that might have stung a bit with Ron.
Ron... He's such a nice guy. We've been talking more and more lately, and he even wrote me a sweet love poem last week. Well, as best as he could. His handwriting is worse than Hagrid's. But before and during the war, we seemed to have a budding relationship that never came out to bloom. We would flirt and talk and cut-up, but we never branched off into anything serious. The one time I asked, he clammed up and said, "Let's wait until things calm down, 'Mione."
Things have calmed down. It's been a year, and we're still just flirting.
I never asked Ginny what I should do, nor will I. Even if I do tell her everything, Ron is her brother. She'll be biased, and I don't want to hurt both of them. As for Harry... well, I think it's better to leave him out of this. He tries to help bring in the Golden Trio spirit, but I don't want there to be any tension between him and Ginny because of us.
It was the sound of slamming books that brought me back to attention. Where was I? I snapped back into attention and looked around only to find that the hoard of students that had filled the library earlier were gone, only to be replaced by the quiet whispers of few and the shuffling of Madam Pince. I stretched out my arms and yawned, hoping no one else had noticed that I had dozed off. Thankfully, I didn't see anyone looking my way, so maybe I was in the clear.
Or maybe I wasn't. Lying on the table top, covered in my drool, was my speech I was supposed to say since I was Head Girl and Valedictorian. The ink was now blurred and smudged, and the black markings covered the back of my arms.
"Dammit," I whispered as I tried to clean myself up and salvage some of the documents, but it was all in vain. My clothes and arms were stained, and my speech would have to be rewritten. Cursing quietly, I dug around in my bag in hopes of finding a spare piece of clean parchment to use.
"You're a mess," a familiar voice said smoothly as they pulled back a chair, sliding into the seat as if it were made for them.
I looked up to see the infamous Draco Malfoy reaching into his scuffed black messenger bag, revealing two scrolls of parchment with a small smirk. "Do you need one?"
I hesitated, trying my hardest not to glare. Draco Malfoy was the Head Boy, and was just behind me when it came to academics. Malfoy was smart and cunning, and we had a memory together that we never shared with anyone else. It was a wild night of failed revenge, but one of excitement and heartbreak. There were conversations I never told anyone about, and after the Yule Ball was over, we never really spoke again. Even when we were doing our rounds together, everything was strictly business. In fact, I can't say that we've held a conversation in years.
But Malfoy also was the person behind the slaughter of Albus Dumbledore. Malfoy brought Death Eaters into Hogwarts and watched as I was tortured by his Aunt Bellatrix Lestrange. I still bore the mudblood scar on my arm from the time he refused to step in. He became a Death Eater - even still bears the Dark Mark that he can't get rid of - and escaped Azkaban because Harry was kind enough to back up some of his statements. Harry agreed that the Malfoy's had acted stupidly out of fear, but that they didn't agree with their actions. And once the school year started up, McGonagall convinced Draco to return and finish his education - even gave him the Head Boy position. So he did, but he has since been a pariah. None of his friends returned, and anytime I see him, he's alone in the Head common room or silently sitting with a group of people.
"Um..." I replied. "Sure."
He held out the parchment roll with his left hand, causing his sleeve to slide up and reveal the dark lines of his branding. I couldn't keep my eyes from staring at it as I took the parchment. Draco noticed, and he tried to subtly reach over and tug his white sleeve down.
"Thank you."
Then I looked down at the table and began to rewrite in silence, trying to forget that he was sitting there. Maybe he would go away if I ignored him long enough...
I listened as he unrolled his own parchment and set out his inkwell and quill, preparing to write his speech. He clicked his teeth as he thought about what to write, and I was sure that he was only doing that to grate on my nerves.
"Hmm, no that wouldn't sound right. Maybe 'Family and Friends, thank you for coming-' no wait- 'attending'-yes that sounds better-"
"Can you work quieter, please?"
"Sure, sure, of course."
Again he clicked his teeth, and then I suddenly became aware that he was leaning over and reading my work over my shoulder. I covered in with my arm and shot him a dirty look.
"How about finishing your own instead of worrying about mine?"
"Someone's defensive," he said calmly as he leaning back in his chair, clucking his tongue. "You're smudging it again."
I pulled my arm back, trying to ignore the fact that he was right. I did smudge my first sentence.
"Maybe if you stuck with your own speech, I wouldn't have done that."
"Please, Granger, as if I actually want to say a speech. I didn't want to do this whole 'Graduation' thing anyway. I just want to get out of here."
"That's something you should take up with McGonagall-"
"So word has it that you and Weasle are having issues."
That's it. I set my jaw and slammed my quill down to the side, turning towards him sharply. He never flinched. "Malfoy, leave me alone. I don't have time for this. This speech is due next week, and I have to make sure it's perfect."
"You could get up there and sing 'Yankee-Doodle-Dandy' and they would give you a standing ovation since you're the Wizarding World's Golden Girl. And don't even try to act like you don't know that."
I rolled my eyes and picked back up my quill. If he was going to sit here and badger me, he was going to do it alone. I put my hand up to block him out of my vision. Maybe then he'd go away.
"Well, I can tell when I'm not wanted." He stood quietly, his thin muscular frame doing everything with fluidity. I heard his inkwell click shut. "I just thought you would like to know that Weasle is eating lunch with that ditz Lavender, and that Potter is looking for you." He picked his bag up and began to march off.
I felt a lump rise in my throat. Ron was eating with Lavender? The pair of boys had only came to see me once before, and that was at the start of school. I hadn't seen them since Christmas. Why was Ron seeing her instead?
"Wait!" I called.
Draco paused, his slender Fram turning slowly with an annoyed look on his face. "What?"
"Where are they?"
"How should I know? I'm not their babysitter."
He turned to leave again, but I quickly jumped from my chair and hurried ahead of him. He tried to go around me, but I stopped him.
"Tell me where they are, please."
"No."
"No?"
"No. You told me to leave you alone, so alone you shall be." Draco tried to push past me, but I refused to budge. "Dammit, Granger, move. I tried to be nice and that didn't work, so now get out of my way!"
"No!"
We stood there for a tense moment, both of us glaring stubbornly at each other before he finally broke with an annoyed sigh.
"Potter is in McGonagall's office," he said shortly. "Weasley is in the Great Hall."
I smiled quickly before saying, "Thank you, Malfoy."
Draco nodded and turned, leaving the library with sullen shoulders. I instantly felt a twinge of guilt in my heart for being so rude. Yes, he was a pest, but he was just trying to let me know my friends were here. But he had been on the wrong side of the war.
But he repented...
I hurried back to my table, gathered my things, and took off towards McGonagall's office before I could feel any worse. Draco wasn't anywhere in sight.
I took the stone steps two at a time as I raced on. When I found the stone griffin, I shouted the password in a rush and raced passed it, running until I heard the sound of laughter. I burst through the doorframe, positive that my frizzy hair was in a wreck, to find my best friend sitting in front of the Headmaster's desk munching on a biscuit.
"Harry!"
"'Mione!" Harry Potter shot to his feet and hurried over to me, wrapping me in a bone crushing hug. I dropped my books and squeezed him tightly, letting out a small squeak.
"How have you been?" I asked as we pulled away. He was at least an inch taller, and his black hair was shaggier and messier than ever. He wore a dark green t-shirt that complimented his eyes, as well as blue jeans and scuffed sneakers. Grinning, he bent down to help me gather my things.
"I've been alright, mainly working and learning the ropes of being an Auror. Mr. Weasley thinks at the rate Ron and I are going, we'll be Head Aurors before our twentieth birthdays."
I smiled as we tucked things into my bag. "Maybe after I graduate, I'll beat you to it."
"I wouldn't put it past you."
We laughed and took a seat in front of Headmaster McGonagall, who smiled warmly at the two of us as she offered me a biscuit. We spoke for a while, playing catch up and discussing our futures with our old Transfiguration teacher, until Harry began to ask about Ginny and how she was doing with her classes. McGonagall wasted no time bragging on the Quidditch Prodigy, telling us that Ginny already had professional recruiters watching her games. I saw the pride in Harry' eyes, and I beamed with him.
"Would you like to go see her?" I asked. "She should be finishing up dinner now, and I can walk down there with you."
"Sure!" Harry lifted my bag for me and slung it on his shoulder. We said goodbye to McGonagall before we dashed down the stairs, quietly chattering with excitement. We jogged down five flights of stairs before arriving at the Great Hall, where I had eaten many, many meals and made unforgettable memories. We were laughing about Harry' first take-down as we stepped inside.
The first thing I see is the amount of students turning to look at us, and a few of the First Year's gasping in awe at the sight of Harry Potter.
The second was Lavender leaning down to peck Ron on his lips before she turned to leave.
Harry sighed, "Oh boy, here we go."
"HARRY!" Ginny screamed with glee as she took off towards him. I took a step away as she leapt into his arms, kissing every inch of his face.
Ron stood awkwardly as Lavender sauntered past me, smirking. I started to glare at him as he shyly walked over, but something told me not to. A sneaky idea began to form in my mind, and my glare turned into a smile.
"Oh, hullo, 'Mione."
"Hello, Ron!" I smiled. "I see you two have made up."
"Yeah, ah" - he began to rub the back of his neck nervously - "look, I never meant to hurt you in anyway. I just thought - maybe - I dunno, 'Mione, we weren't going anywhere and-"
"It's alright," I said as kindly as I could manage. "I have some news for you as well."
Ron's back straightened as he cocked his head. "Oh? Well, spill it then."
I turned and glanced over my shoulder ever so slightly. Sitting alone, as usual, Draco Malfoy sat alone, reading a thick book as he munched on a plate of fries. I glanced over at Harry, who was happily chatting with Ginny back at the Gryffindor table, before turning back to Ron.
"I've found someone else myself."
His eyes widened as his jaw dropped. "Who?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
"For the same reason you didn't tell me about Lavender. You didn't want to hurt me." I bent down and dug in my bag that Harry had dropped on the floor, pulling out a crumpled piece of parchment. "Here. Use this for her instead." I handed him back the love poem that I had been carrying around for days. Ron seemed stunned as he hesitantly took it.
"You... aren't mad?"
"How can I be?" I said, clearing my throat right after. I forced another smile. "We've both moved on!"
"Well, I'm glad this hasn't affected us and you're still my best mate." We both smiled awkwardly before each of us looking around and shuffling our feet. I wished I was anywhere but here, having this blasted conversation with him.
"So who's the lucky guy?"
"Do what?"
"The guy you found. Who is he?" Ron was grinning - no, smirking - now, folding his arms at me.
"Oh, well-"
"I must know him. It's Dean, isn't it? I always thought that sneaky rat had it out for you."
"Oh, um-"
"Or Seamus? Hell, did you shag McCormick? Hermione Granger, I thought you would never stoop to such arrogant levels!" He laughed as he playfully pushed my shoulder before throwing his arm around me, kind of like he would do to Ginny. "Okay, okay, tell me! I must know who beat me."
"Well," I said, swallowing roughly. "It's... a surprise!"
"A surprise?" Ron's smile instantly fell, just like his arm. "Blimey, is it a younger boy? Please tell me you aren't dating Colin Creevey."
"No no! He's older than I! I just... I want to surprise you and Harry!"
"What surprise?" Now, of course, Harry decided to chime in, leaning away from Ginny but never releasing her slender hands.
"Surprise?" Ginny said giddily. "Oh I love surprises!"
"Did you know Hermione had a boyfriend?" Ron asked accusingly to Ginny.
The couple both gasped quietly. "Hermione! Why didn't you tell us?!"
"It's Dean, isn't it?" Harry asked Ron.
"No!" I slid into the bench seat beside Ginny, and Ron took his place beside Harry. "Look, how about a triple date tomorrow in Hogsmede? I'm sure I can work something out with McGonagall, especially if you will all be there!"
"That's fine with me," Ron said. "I want to speak with the bloke who thinks he can date my best friend!"
"The best friend you tried to shag!" Ginny snapped jokingly. All of us giggled, but Ron and I exchanged awkward glances.
"How about we meet in the Three Broomsticks at seven?" I offered.
"Sounds good," Harry said, caressing Ginny's fingers with his thumb. "Ron and I are staying in the castle for the night. We used our vacation days to come see you graduate."
I felt a blush rising in my cheeks as I tucked my hair behind my ear. "Yeah, well, I still have to finish my speech before you can see me graduate. It's getting late, so I'll let you all catch up while I finish some work, and we'll meet up tomorrow. Okay?"
"Alright, have fun!"
I hug all three of their necks before gathering my things and hurring off to the library, chewing my lip nervously.
How was I going to get myself out of this mess now?
...
Draco
The banging on my bedroom door woke me up with a start. I had been dreaming peacefully about riding my broomstick over the towers of London, chasing the pigeons. Now, whoever this asshole was interrupted that, and I planned on making them pay.
I threw back my comforter and marched towards the door in only my pajama bottoms, snatching open the wooden door and glaring down at the bushy-haired demon that seemed to haunt me everywhere I went.
"What do you want?" I snapped.
Hermione looked up at me, glancing down at my bare chest occasionally, but trying her best to maintain eye contact. "I-"
"It's alright, you know. I know I'm a sexy beast, so if you'd like to stare, I'm completely comfortable with that."
"Um-"
"But," I interrupted roughly, "I am not comfortable with you interrupting me sleeping. What could possibly be so important?"
She took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure, before rushing out, "I need your help."
"Oooooh, I see." I leaned against the doorframe with a smirk. "With what?"
"So you remember how I was hurrying off to go find Ron and Harry? Well, I found them, and Ron had just finished snogging Lavender Brown by the time I got there."
"Oooooh, I see. Trouble in paradise."
Her cheeks flushed. Cute.
"Listen, please! So I told him that I had moved on as well, and now he wants to have a triple date with Harry tomorrow."
"Oooooh, I see. Granger is a liar."
"Stop it!" she snapped, blushing like crazy. I grinned.
"Why? This is fun."
"Can you please help me?" She walked back over into our Head Commonroom living space and sat down on the couch, still wearing her school uniform. I followed her and sat on the coffee table, criss-crossing my legs and flexing my arm muscles.
"Oh, I don't know, that seems a little difficult."
Hermione glanced up and saw what I was doing, only to throw her face back into her hands and scream annoyedly. "You're insufferable, and I should have never asked!" She jumped up to run off to her bedroom, but I was on my feet before she could escape.
"Now, now, I never said I wouldn't help." I laid my hands on her shoulders and smirked. "What would you need for me to do? Have revenge against Ron for breaking your heart by pretending to be your boyfriend, just like we did three years ago?"
She flinched - she physically flinched, looking up at me with unsure eyes. "Well, when you put it that way, yes."
I grinned. "Well, Granger, what time do I need to be ready?"
Hermione's lips slightly parted as she looked up at me, her face twisting into a frown. "You're okay with this?"
"I never like Weasley anyways," I said coolly before letting go of her shoulders. "So, ready for some revenge?" I offered out my hand.
She hesitated for a moment, looking down at the little space between us for a brief second, before she slipped her slender hand in mine. "Let's do this."
A/N: And that's a wrap! Maybe I'll continue this plot in another fanfic! But still, vote, comment, and share please! Thank you all for reading this story, I really appreciate it! And please let me know if you would like for me to expand on this Epilogue plot in the comment section! Love you guys!
