A/N: Yes Lacey, you got yur very own character :P and Teddy's house will be revealed in the sequel… aren't I evil! Hmmm….i didnt realize it was her b-day... i went back and mentioned it... it like so slipped my mind... And I through in a surprise here at the beginning :P Smirks… Hope yall like the surprise… It involves one person that is missed dearly… Heeehee Ron's trial will be in this one… Voldys will be in the next… The next will be smaller… its just kind of a way to initiate the sequel if you get what I mean… It will have the foundations of it… Kristina, I gave you a middle name :P lol
Chapter fourty five: The silence…
The moment they all stepped into the great hall, cheers erupted all over the crowded room. They were like royalty, they were the heroes. They would never be looked at in the same manner ever again, it wasn't humanly possible. They were the most valuable people alive. They would be remembered after the sun goes dark and after the world Is gone… or well what ever will happen.
The cheers made them smile, especially Draco. He finally felt that he fit in, in more than one way. He had even restored some of his family's honor, about as much of it as was possible. They began to split up to go their respective tables and the crowds continued to clap and moved out of their way.
Hermione had just made it over to Amethyst, Mira, Teddy with Ginny when they froze solid in there place. They were staring at one thing up at the head table. It was something they never thought they would see again. They thought they were hallucinating at first and it wasn't until they glanced over at McGonagall who winked at them. They turned their attention back to the table.
There behind the long oak table still covered in gold goblets, silverware and antique china, sat a man who was nearly transparent, he was slightly more opaque than transparent… He was like Veriteserum. He looked like satin as he reflected a little bit of light, the light made the purple of his robe almost glow. His long flowing beard was glossy and silver. His half moon spectacles still sat on his long crooked nose, he had the same gentle blue eyes and warm caring smile. He was the same Dumbledore, only a little dead and ghost like.
"Dumbledore…" Hermione whispered still not believing her eyes. She closed her eyes tightly and then opened them again. He was still there.
"The one and only…" He smiled at her. He looked the same as he always had.
"But how?" Ginny asked with a genuine sparkle of curiosity in her eyes.
"It is a very long and boring story so I will sum it all up. I bound myself to the earth… Not unlike what your father did…" He started to say "But I didn't kill anyone. I used a very old and lost spell to make sure that my sole could return and remain until I decide I want to leave." He was very chipper.
"That is brilliant!" Both girls said looking at each other, They had knew that Dumbledore was intelligent but not that intelligent. Neither of them would have ever thought of that if the need had risen.
"When do we get cake!" Blaise asked loudly from the Slytherin table across the hall. He and Luna were sitting at the end of the table. Hermione and Ginny turned their gazes to the couple and saw that Luna had her head resting on his shoulder, her eyes were closed. They were surprised that he hadn't woken her by shouting.
"Hey Kristina!" Mira shouted across the hall. "I do believe you owe me ten galleons!" Kristina narrowed her eyes.
"Had I known you knew what happens, I would have never made that bet with you…"
"Hey I'm a Slytherin what can I say." She shrugged turning away from the girl. She really was her fathers daughter.
Hermione continued to look around the room. Cherokee and Seamus were sitting at the Gryffindor table chatting animatedly about something neither of them could hear.. Taylor was at the Hufflepuff table with Christian. Draco was sitting with his mother and Amethyst who was now sitting across from them. She hadn't really been able to get to know her son in law.
Lupin, Tonks and Teddy were all sitting at a table talking. He seemed content with this, he had always been so skittish around them that they hadn't thought he would talk to them.
Fred, George, Molly, Arthur, Bill, Charlie and Percy were all sitting at the Gryffindor table. It was obvious that they were all still mad about what Ron had done. He probably would never be forgiven… He was a bad chicken.
"Things are going to be loppy for a while…" Ginny said shaking her head, she was even a little upset about the Ron problem. He had had so much potential and he had had the gall to go out and ruin it… He had done so several times during the war.
"Very." Hermione agreed as she and her sister walked over to the Weasley's.
OoOo Later oOoO
"CAKE!" They heard Blaise shout with excitement. It caused Luna to giggle… Why was Blaise so excited about cake. Yes it was Hogwart's most famous cake… No one knew what made it so delicious… but still it was cake. Okay, it was a very good cake…
"Yes Blaise, it's a cake." Draco smiled. "I'm so glad that you know what it is."
"Shuddupp" Blaise said with his mouth full of cake… "When argh u gunner tell veryone bout u n ermionee." his mouth was still extremely full.
"Sorry, I don't speak gnomish." Blaise shoved him and he almost fell from his seat. "Merlin, Blaise! I was only joking. You don't have to go bonkers on me."
"We plan on telling everyone tonight." Hermione said from behind the two boys. She had been watching the chat for a whole five minuets. "It's as good of time as ever. I ad mean, the war is over…"
"Why not now?" He asked looking up at her with his infamous smirk. "Now is as good as ever, Mrs. Malfoy." His smirk had turned into a soft smile. Someone behind them began choking on their cake.
"Lily are you okay?" The girl next to her asked.
Draco got up out of his seat at the Slytherin table and stood so that he was looking at her. Everyone had froze in place and was watching them. This wasn't nearly the most exciting thing all day, but it was the most dramatic.
"Y-yeah well, I guess now is as good as ever." She whispered back to him. She had been giving herself time to get a grasp on the idea. She had gotten used to people not knowing. His smile grew wider and people began whispering. The rumor mill was up and running.
"How shall we tell them?" He asked, his shimmering silver eyes looked into her caramel eyes. Only she could hear his words.
"I thought you were the one with that plan…" She said. She was a little worried about what he would do.
"I guess we will have to improvise then wont we?" He asked her lovingly. It was obvious to everyone in that room, that she was his reason for breathing, that his heart was beating for her, She had all of his adoration and no one would ever steal that away, They belonged with each other. It was love and it was what had happened.
"I-I-I guess." She stuttered. She didn't know why she was stuttering. Maybe it was the fact that they were standing in front of the entire school everyone else who sat within the room. "What are…" Her words were cut off as his lips crashed into hers. She felt like she was melting. His arms were the only thing keeping her up.
Everyone began cheering again as she wrapped her arms around his neck so that she could pull him closer to herself as they deepened the kiss. She could literally hear fireworks, or maybe that was Fred and George's doing they did have that one spell and the whole fireworks in a box. Draco pulled away and placed his forehead on hers. "They can find out we are married on their own." He whispered and then they were kissing once more.
OoOo Ginny oOoO
"Finally." Ginny whispered to Harry as they, along with everyone else, watched her sister snog her Draco. A lot of people were still cheering… Some were handing money to their friends. "They are still extremely cute together."
"I guess they always were." Harry said looking at her the same way Draco looked at Hermione.
"I'm just glad that people know they are together… Secrets aren't meant to be kept forever…"
"No they aren't. They have to come out eventually." He smiled. "It's no secret that they love each other." Ginny smiled up at him. She wanted to have that kind of undying love with Harry, and she knew that she would someday. He would be all hers forever.
OoOo Hermione oOoO
"All of you are written into history. You are the leaders of tomorrow, the future of us all." Dumbledore was looking out across the great hall. He saw all of his students, or at least he saw the ones who had survived this chapter of the war. He saw family members of those students and he saw past students. "You will be remembered for your bravery and outstanngdi courage," Hermione leaned her head on Draco's shoulder. Mira-Bella giggled from across the table.
"You are the memories of hope." Hermione watched as he looked around again. He would pause and smile at people as he spoke.
"Some of you, not to be unfair, deserve more credit than others." Hermione looked up at Draco. She knew where this was going.
"There will be a plaque with the names of everyone who fought in this battle, it will be kept in the trophy room, as will the individual awards that will be given to several of you." There were murmurs throughout the vast hall of people.
"I guess I will cut to the chase if there are no objections…" No one spoke out. "Minerva, if you would please help…" He said obviously referring to the fact that he was a ghost, although he was able to move things… some things he couldn't.
"Our first awards, are medals of honor, the indicate bravery, loyalty and extreme talent. They are given to the young witches and wizard who fought so bravely and made something of the world. They all have had major impacts on what has happened." He was still smiling. "Miss Mira-Bella Brianne Malfoy, Whom I might add isn't from our own time, neither is Mr. Theodore Remus Lupin." People gaped at the two students who got up from the tables of their respective houses…Mira skipped in a Luna like manner to the front of the room
"We also have, Miss Taylor Nicole Rosalie, Miss. Cherokee Lynn Herrington, Mr. Christian L. Beeler, Mr. Seamus Fredrick Finnegan, Miss. Kristina Louise Phillips and Gavin Christian Rosalie." Every one clapped as they walked forward. They all seemed really happy. Especially Brianne, who would forever have a medal dated before her birth.
"I now present the first class awards. These go to those students who have done a lot within a long period of time, something sets them apart from the others. Some of them were spies for us while others were much more. They have gone above and beyond."
"Miss. Ginny Alice Riddle." She stood up smiling and walked up to where Dumbledore stood. "Mr. Neville Brian Longbottom." He got up proudly, his grandmother was cheering wildly form behind. "Whose parents would be very proud of him." Neville was very happy. "Miss. Luna Elizabeth Marie Lovegood." she jumped gracefully up from where she had been sitting next to Blaise at the Slytherin table and skipped up to Dumbledore dust As Brianne had.
"Mr. Blaise Andrew Zabini." He went to stand by Luna. "Mr. Draco Lucius Malfoy." Hermione watched Draco stand up and walk forward with grace. He was almost an entirely new person. Well he was more carefree. Hermione was clapping for him. She noticed that not everyone was clapping, some were unsure of what to think. "Miss. Hermia Lily Riddle… Or I guess its Malfoy now." She saw Dumbledore look at her with his famous all knowing smile. He had a sparkle in his eye, He was ultimately helping them break the news.
Gasps echoed around the room as Hermione walked forward. She had known they would be shocked. They had only three hours ago learned that Her and Draco were together, but now all of a sudden they were married.
She went to stand next to him, and when she got there she reached out for his hand and he let her take it. This wasn't the end, it was only the beginning of something more beautiful than she could imagine.
"Our last award goes to someone whom we have all been amazed with since he got here. He has a scar like a lightening bolt, his parents were both killed… And he holdsx the record for most amount of times being hit with the killing curse, that is surprisingly, still standing before us." Everyone laughed. "Mr. Harry James Potter." Cheers erupted all around. The sound was almost defening. He really was the biggest celebrity they had ever seen.
OoOoOoOoO
"Bye Mum." Brianne said as she hugged her mother tightly. This was the last time she would ever hug her mother. She had already given her the necklace Teddy had given her for Christmas, She wanted to have it in the new world.. She was going to miss her. "Bye Daddy, she moved onto Draco, I look forward to getting to know you in the new world." She said smiling. For the first time since he had met his daughter, he saw hope in her eyes. It was something he hadn't ever really seen, She was happy and carefree, just like every teenager should be.
"We cant wait to got to know you as well." He said hugging her tightly.
"OH! Mum, before I forget." The girl pulled out a large leather bound journal out of her bag, it looked to be extremely old and valuable. "It will open when it's time for you to read it. I want you to know everything…" She said ominously.
"Whats it…" Draco started to saw but the girl quickly hugged him, Hermione, Ginny and then Harry and disappeared. She was one crazy girl.
"'Ermione." Fleur Delecour's voice called from the front of the room, Her and Draco both turned and saw her waking towards them. There was a baby wrapped up in a green blanked in her arms.
Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat, that was why Brianne had left so quickly. That was Mira-Bella coming into the hall. Hermione had never been more happy as she took her daughter from the Blond Veela and held her daughter in her arms.
OoOoOoOoO
"Order, Order in the court!" The new minister of magic called out, his words were drawled out and southern sounding. He was obviously from southern North America.
The Weasley's were all there, as was Hermione, Draco, Amethyst, Harry and numerous other people. They all wanted to witness the first hearing after the war. The new minister, Austin Ray Carleton, had come up with a very good method of holding these hearings… It was so amazingly simple that it hadn't been though of.
Whispers echoed through the large circular room as Ron Weasley was brought through the doors by two Aurors. He didn't look to happy.
Abigail, would you be a darlin' and bring me that potion." The way he said Darlin' in that South carolina accent made a few of the women in the crowd giggle. They were all so used to the normal British accents.
The woman named Abigail stepped forward with a vile of clear liquid in her hand. Veriteserum. A few people gasped, that was a smart thing to use.
The young man who was the minister, stepped from behind the podium and walked around it to where Ron was sitting. The chair looked very uncomfortable, what with all the chains that were binding him.
"Open." Minister Carleton said firmly and Ron did as he was told. The man poured the potion into the redheads mouth and he swallowed it. The results were almost instantaneous. His blue eyes hazed over.
"Are you Ronald Bilius Weasley?" The first question would be simple, like with a muggle lie detector test.
"Yup, that's me." Ron said truthfully, he really had no choice.
"Did you aid the death eaters while you were being held in Malfoy manor?"
"Yes I sur did." He said in his most hick accent…"
"BOOO!" Taylor, Christian and Cherokee said from where they sat.
"Did you or did you not, attempt to Murder Draco Lucius Malfoy and then attack his wife?" This was a more direct question as you can surely tell. The man was very confident that the potion would work.
Ron smiled. "I have wanted to kill that sorry son of a banshee since first year, and if Mione wouldn't have been in my way, And that medaling kid.." The reactions through out the room Varied. The Weasley's looked devastated. Draco had his arm around Hermione and some people were throwing peanuts at Ron… He was their Elephant. People were quite frankly, disgusted with him.
"Why did you do it?"
"I hate The Ferret, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Hermione was always supposed to be mine." His eyes were becoming less fogged as the minuets passed.
"Do you in your opinion deserve to be punished, if so how." This was the deciding question. He had used this method on many cases and they always answered truthfully and it was always a accurate answer.
"I would send me to the Dimi's." He meant the Dementors. He seemed very proud that he had an answer.
"Okay then…" He said a few minuets later. "TO Azkaban it is then."
"Oh Bloody Hell." He said as they carried him away, he had just dug himself in an even deeper hole.
OoOo A/N oOoO
I am very proud of this… I like that last part… Oh and there will be one more chapter, it will be a little shorter than normal but that's because it's the last chapter. I will try to update on Tuesday… How does that sound… And no one fingured out what (1) was from. I didn't expect anyone to but I hoped someone would… lol Its part of the FFA opening ceremonies… I was board when I came up with that, lol ..
1. What so you think? Was it any good. Did it have to much cheese…
2. What do you want to see happen in the sequel.
3. Are you ready for the next chapter!
4. I BROUGHT BACK DUMBLY! DO you like that?'
5. Did you know that you cant spell Dramione with out Drama…. It's like some crazy ironic thing since basically every single one is full of Drama… lol That had to have been planned…
6. I bet you wondered why I didn't put Christians full middle name like I did with the rest…. I didn't think that I should… and this wasn't really a question…
7. Dontcha just love the ministers name, its so southern sounding… lol
I don't think im actually supposed to be on the comp right now… Im sick and didn't go to the football game, (I'm in band) I think that my mom would say something like "If your well enough to use the computer than your well enough to go to that game…" lol… But yeah I have a splitting migraine and have to get up early tomorrow morning for a band competition…. Lol Well I hope you enjoyed the story I will try to ge the chapter up on time :P ~Taylor (Slytherin at heart)