Previously:
"Everyone if I may have your attention," came his mother's magically enhanced voice, everyone turning to look at her, "Thank you. Now, we all now that this is a night to celebrate the graduation of my beloved son, our dear Pansy, and their delightful friends," polite applause sounded for a minute before dying down, "Now, with the help of his lady friend, we have a gift to present to the Malfoy heir. Draco, if you would come forward. Thank you. Now, Miss Granger, please begin."
She nodded, and without a word to the audience she began, wand raised and glowing.
Hermione's mind was focused, wand raised and glowing as she began to weave a spell. Her movements were slow and controlled, wand drawing a picture only visible to her at the moment, before it would light up before them for all to see. She imagined the starry night sky, concentrating hard to get the points just right for the needed task.
"Apparet," she breathed the final word, the tip of her wand igniting into countless little fireworks that flew out, against the midnight blue backdrop that suddenly appear to cover everything, the only light now beginning that of the star imitations that had taken their right full place to form a constellation. Draco.
At first the witches and wizards may not have recognized the formation, but then, and outline appeared around the stars, dark green and silver suddenly streaked around the constellation and the image of a mighty dragon appeared in all of its majestic beauty. It then looked out to the audience, giving a might roar before leaving the illusionary sky. As it came closer to the awed audience it became smaller in size, a trail of stars following it.
Hermione's wand continued to move, more rapidly now, her mouth opening and closing in a rhythm too fast to keep pace with. The dragon and stars now came before her; the dragon paused, curling up into an odd position as though…as though it were the hilt of a sword. The stars blazed brightly before stacking atop of the dragon… the hilt, when the light died down it was a blade! Murmuring began in the crowd, fascinated at how the stars had turned into a beautiful dragon sword.
Applause began for a moment, everyone believing the gift to be finished, but Hermione was not. Her wand was still raised and her eyes closed to once again focus in an image. Black and green, with a little silver, two dragons of night mirroring one another, two serpents of green twined together, spears crossed, the intersection hidden though by the silver M to represent the Malfoy name. The words, which Hermione was not happy to add in the sense of the meaning were also added…Sanctimonia Vincet Semper…Purity Always Conquers…Hermione let herself imagine that when using the word purity wasn't meant for the status of blood…
Once again she finished the spell, "Apparet."
The crest of the Malfoy house then appeared at the base of the hilt, and with one final burst of light from the sword it was done. The gift had been created.
Hermione bowed her head slightly when handing the sword over the Narcissa to present to her son. When Hermione looked up and saw the smile on Narcissa's face she was momentarily stunned. Narcissa seemed to always wear that polite smile of hers, but now…now it was beautiful. Her eyes crinkling slightly, teeth showing as the corners of her lips dimpled, and her smoky blue-gray eyes were filled with this gentle yet genuine happiness.
Hermione blinked a few times before remembering to hand over the sword, which the elder Malfoy took with a grateful nod. Before turning away to face Draco.
"My son," she spoke out to the once again silent crowd, "Come forward."
Draco straightened and walked forward, the people parting as though he were a prince. Though, Hermione supposed, in the world of the Purebloods, he was probably the closest to prince as it came.
"My son," she repeated in a softer voice when Draco stopped before her, "You are now a man, no longer just a child, no longer having to rely on us, or your school. We are entering a new world, all of us, where blood is not all that matters," small gasps could be heard from this audience but Mrs. Malfoy ignored them, "And as a man, you have bravely stepped forward into this new world on your own. You have not only survived this but also conquered! New friends," she said with a sweeping gesture of her hand, the crowd turning to see Draco and Hermione's friends, bowing and curtsying in recognition, "and a new love." She turned to face Hermione, giving her a kiss to each cheek, whispering, "Thank you for helping my son thrive in this new world."
The witches and wizards audibly gasped, but once again Narcissa continued as she turned back to Draco, "Take this sword and remember who you are."
"I, Draco Malfoy, shall do this, and strive to be the best man I can in this new world," Draco said aloud, speaking in such a graceful and elegant tone it was as though it was rehearsed.
Narcissa nodded, pleased, and then turned back to the watching wizards and witches.
"Thank you all, now please, enjoy the night!"
Everyone paused for a moment as though just remembering that they were at a party before the talking began again and the music started back up, couples stepping out onto the floor to dance.
The three of them though did not resume their previous activities quite yet. Narcissa and Hermione watched as Draco examined his new gift, holding up the sword to admire. He had schooled his expressions, as he had been before the guests had even arrived but Hermione was getting better at seeing through it.
His eyes, though they were the most helpful, weren't the only way to see his feelings. She looked at his hands, they were at ease, even when holding the sword they were not clenched in fear or anger, they were gentle yet strong, his ears weren't tinged with any embarrassment, nor was his jaw clenched in exasperation. He was relaxed, content even
He looked over at his girlfriend, taking out his wand quickly he said a spell under his breath, making the sword fly away to be stored for the night. Draco then reached over and took her hand, placing a kiss on it.
"Thank you," he murmured as his eyes came up to meet hers.
Hermione blushed, and teased, "Just doing my job."
"You did it extraordinarily well," he complimented with a playful smirk.
She rolled her eyes, "Glad it met your approval."
"It did. Now, shall we dance?"
Hermione smiled, "We shall."
Author's note: Wow, ending this chapter I feel as though I just might put up the epilouge next..if not soon. Tell me if you think I should add a little more before I finish this story please!