Hermione sat at breakfast flipping through the notes for her speech at the end of year event this evening. She was very nervous about it; she had never spoken in front of that many people before. Harry had helped her write the speech along with writing his own small one; Harry didn't seem to be bothered about it, but he had spoken in front of crowds before. She looked down at her plate and realised she hadn't touched a single piece of food yet.
"Hermione, are you feeling ok?" Ron looked across the table towards her.
"Yeah I just don't feel hungry." Hermione pushed the plate away.
"Hermione, you shouldn't be feeling so nervous you are going to be fine I'm sure of it. I've seen you deal with much worse and you can definitely do this. Now you need to eat something or you're going to starve for the rest of the day."
"Thanks Ron." Hermione pulled her plate closer towards her and began to eat her food finally. The exams had finished and the students would leave the school in two week. For now the teachers were preparing them for the outside world and what they had to expect from the real world. Before Hermione had the chance to stand up there was a loud noise as the owls came in with the post. The post had been getting less as students prepared themselves for the summer holidays; a letter fell before Hermione.
She got incredibly excited when she noticed the ministry seal on the back of the envelope and ripped it open. Around Christmas she had applied for a job at the ministry which she had seen advertised in the Daily Prophet. It was to be Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; however, she wasn't sure if she would get the job without her results.
Dear Miss Granger,
After reviewing your application for Deputy Head if the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; we would like to invite you for an interview.
The interview will take place on June 1st at 10:00am where a secretary will guide you to the interview room. We look forward to meeting you along with reception of your NEWTs grades, which we are sure will be of the highest standard.
Kind regards,
Kenneth Towler (Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement)
Hermione could barely contain her excitement at the thought of an interview at the Ministry and the possibility of a job. "Yay!" Hermione yelped as she looked at the parchment.
"What is it?" Draco turned to look at her; he had been sitting with them for the past two weeks now that Ron and Harry had given him a chance.
"I have an interview with the Ministry of Magic after we leave school." Hermione beamed.
"How have you already got one? I didn't think you could apply for a job until you got your results." Ginny said scanning over the parchment. "Congratulations anyway; I'm sure you'll get it."
"Thanks; I hope I do get it. I've wanted this job for so long!" Hermione squealed, she really couldn't believe she'd got this interview. "I am going to write and tell my parents!" Hermione ran off to her room leaving her friends in the Great Hall. For the rest of the day she had almost forgotten that she had to make a speech that evening. It was a formal event so everyone had got their parents to send their formal wear. Hermione's parents had allowed her to buy a new dress as all her stuff had gone during the war while her house was empty. Tonight she would wear an emerald green halter-neck dress, which flowed down to her ankles, she had bought in Hogsmeade. She would get ready with Ginny and go to the Great Hall with her. There were not going to be any dates to the event and students were only supposed to go as friends.
"I can't believe we are actually leaving for good," Ginny said as she put her dress on. She was wearing a corseted red and black dress with heels so it didn't drag along the floor. "It feels different this time; I mean we are actually going to be getting jobs."
"I know I didn't appreciate how much I would miss this place the last time, but I really am going to." Hermione looked around her room. "Having to start the rest of my life is genuinely scarier than the war."
"I know what you mean; can I tell you something I haven't told anyone?" Ginny's voice became much quieter. "Harry and I have been talking and when we leave school and finally get our jobs were going to move in with each other." Ginny grinned tentatively.
"Really, oh Ginny that is wonderful it really is!" Hermione was happy her friend was already moving on with her life. "When did you decide this?"
"About a month ago, but we've been talking about it for ages. It will be good for us to have our own place; it has been long enough having to sneak around in my parent's house."
"Why would you have to sneak around your parent's love Harry and I thought they were pleased you two were finally dating." Hermione looked confused.
"They are pleased, but it doesn't mean that it still isn't embarrassing if they find you kissing on the sofa or getting a little too frisky in your bedroom."
"I see what you mean," laughed Hermione. "Now a little bit of make-up and I think I'm ready to go."
"Don't forget the notes for your speech." Ginny made sure they were obviously placed on Hermione's bed.
"How could I forget about that speech, I have been dreading it all day." Hermione laughed nervously as they added the final touches to their outfits before leaving the room. The boys had already left to the great hall, as they had gotten ready much quicker, and they would meet them there. It seemed like any other day with the castle looking the same as usual. When they finally reached the staircase leading to the Great Hall it became obvious something was going on. There were candles lit everywhere and somehow portraits of all the students about to leave graced the walls around the hall.
"Ginny, you look amazing." Harry said as they walked over to the table they were sat at.
"You don't look too bad yourself." She smiled back while giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Hermione, you look absolutely stunning." Draco pulled her in close to kiss her on the lips. This left Ron standing on the end feeling slightly like a loose end with the others canoodling to the side of him. Eventually Harry got the subtle hint of Ron's coughing and removed himself from his girlfriend and made it a group gathering again.
"I wonder if they have a band or some sort of entertainment here." Ginny looked around the beautifully decorated room.
"I think Harry and the Potters are supposed to be performing." Ron pipped up.
"Oh why would Minerva get a band who were named after me; it's so embarrassing I can't believe it." Harry put his head in his hands.
"Oh come on Harry it's not that bad and none of their songs are actually about you." Draco ribbed his new found friend. The group sat down at their table where food began to appear on the table in its droves. Once the students were stuffed to the brim Professor McGonagall took to the stage to introduce Hermione and Harry and Ron. She had since decided that a speech from all of them would be good despite her worry about Ron talking in front of so many people.
"This year has been a very special one for all of us; I was proud when we managed to return Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry back to its best. We have managed to bring together students from all walks of life and given many a second chance in life. Now to speak to all of you we have three students who played a big part in the war. First up is our joint head girl Hermione Granger, who put her life in danger so we could live like this today." The whole room enthusiastically clapped as Hermione and her several pieces of parchment walked up to the stage. She stood facing the waiting crowd for a few moments before she gained the courage to start speaking.
"Good evening when Professor McGonagall asked me to make this speech I didn't know what to write. After a while I had to call in the help of a couple of friends to get the whole thing done; I think this helps to describe what the past few years has meant to me. Without the close friends I've had I don't think I would have got through them. Hogwarts has given us the chance to learn this again this year by removing the housing system. We have also been taught to give others a second chance; I personally have learned this.
"Several years ago I met a boy I thoroughly hated and continued to dislike through my school years. When I returned this year I found a changed man who convinced me that anyone can move away from the bad things they have done in the past. These are the two things everyone in this room should take away from this year friendships and second chances..." Hermione continued for another ten minutes and completed to a rapturous round of applause. Harry and Ron were both hits with the students who hung on every word they said.
"Hermione you did really well; everyone thought you were fantastic." Draco kissed Hermione when she sat down.
"Thank you for those wonderful speeches and I now welcome on our band and please enjoy the evening." McGonagall walked off the stage as Harry and the Potters walked on.
"Would you like to dance?" Draco turned to Hermione once more.
"I certainly would," she replied and they walked off to join the group of students who'd been much quicker than them at reaching the dance floor. It wasn't long before Harry and Ginny joined the organised chaos that was now becoming the dance floor, leaving Ron sat on his own by the table.
"Oh bloody wonderful," thought Ron to himself. "I'm always the third wheel and now I get to sit here and watch my friends enjoy themselves." Ron sat in a huff until he saw Francine also sat on her own by a table very near him. He sat for a few moments before he plucked up the courage to go and ask her to dance. As he walked over, however, a much taller 7th year did the same, but she refused the dance. Ron didn't know what to do now, was she refusing all dances and she would also refuse him? Or was she just refusing this bloke, for some other reason he could not fathom, and therefore he still had a chance.
"Francine," he didn't realise it, but his feet had continued walking while he was figuring out his chances. "Unless you are not up to it, I was wondering if you would like to dance with me. It only has to be for one song and we don't even have to dance that close to each other." Ron began to ramble.
"Shut up Ron," Ron's head dropped. "I would love to dance with you; i saw you there by yourself and I've been waiting for you to come and ask me to dance."
"Oh God no pressure then, what would you have done if I hadn't come over." Ron began to shuffle nervously from foot to foot.
"i would have been very upset, but let's not worry about that as you did ask me to dance." Francine took his shaking hand and led him to the dance floor, where his friends were now in full swing.
"I can't believe we're actually leaving Hogwarts for good." Hermione said to Draco who now had his arms wrapped around her for the slow dance that had just begun.
"I know we actually have qualifications and getting proper jobs." Draco placed his head on her shoulder.
"Draco I wanted to ask you something." She moved her head back so now they were facing each other. "When we leave Hogwarts do you want to give us a proper go; I mean like going on actual dates and stuff. It's been great here, but it's not like proper boyfriend and girlfriend where we go on dates."
"I would love to give us a proper go; it might be difficult if we live so far apart. I mean I live in London and you live out in the countryside."
"Well you don't have to worry about that too much; I will move to London if I get the job at the ministry. I really don't fancy having to apparate that far and if I live close enough I might even be able to walk in. Oh, it'll be wonderful to actually give us a real chance you know out in the real world." Hermione leant in and kissed Draco hard on the lips, but not for long as there were teachers in the room.
