Disclaimer: I don't own any of JK Rowling's wonderful world or characters.

And I now present to you the last chapter of

The Moonlight Glares

Chapter Thirty: The Moonlight Glares

"Hermione!" came a harsh shriek in the dark of the night. Hermione awoke with a start, jumping up in bed with a mass of frizz shielding her eyes. Pushing her hair aside, she opened her mouth and mumbled a "w-what?" while stifling a yawn.

"We must discuss your coming-out at ONCE." Elizabeth opened the curtains of her daughter's room of reveal a still black landscape. She then proceeded to sit on her daughter's cushy bed, the owner of which was staring blankly at her.

"Isn't it settled already?" Hermione managed.

"We thought it was, dear," said Elizabeth, obviously already prime and right for the day, "But then a small flinch came in."

"Oh," said Hermione, yawning, "What is that?"

"Your date was taken!"

Hermione's eyes shot open, "Draco?"

Elizabeth gave her a puzzling look, "No, this Saturday."

Hermione looked blankly at her mother for a second, and then her eyes went wide, "Oh. Well, what is Ginny going to do?"

Elizabeth frowned, "That's right, your little friend was going to share your night. I suppose she will have to find a date once we are in to the school year. Anyways, I found this out not twenty minutes ago from Narcissa, and I am so dreadfully mad at the little French family who stole your date. You must be in formal wear within the hour and arrive at the East Parlor. Narcissa, Serena and mother are arriving as we speak in order to sort this matter out."

As Elizabeth walked out, Hermione looked over at the clock on the wall. It read quarter after three. Hermione groaned and rolled onto the floor with a thump.

"Well, that date would not work Lizzy dear, it is far too obscure. My granddaughter needs something much more prominent."

Hermione heard Lady Danforth going on as she entered the parlor forty-five minutes later.

"Well, hello darling," Elizabeth said, ushering Hermione over to a seat, "We have been discussing the date of your coming out, and it seems every day of importance has been taken through October."

"What of August the Thirty-First?" Lady Serena Copalia said, looking up from a small calendar she held, "There is no coming out in all of Europe that evening."

Elizabeth gave a small chortle, "But sister, that is the date of Narcissa's grand ball. It is every year, is it not?"

Narcissa gave a curt nod, but looked lost in thought.

"Well, if that's the case I don't see any other dates until next season. . ." Serena was cut off by Narcissa.

"The thirty-first can work."

"But dear, we don't want you to cancel your fabulous party. It is my favorite of the year," Lady Danforth announced.

"I am honored, Lady Danforth," Narcissa said, "But, I would by no means cancel it. Have you heard of the infamous midnight announcement?"

"I am not familiar with it," Serena said, looking to her sister, who also shook her head.

"It was very long ago, maybe three hundred years, my mother told me, where they would have coming outs in conjunction with other events. The most important girls came out at midnight of the grandest balls, hosted by the most esteemed families."

Lady Danforth was quiet for a moment, "If I recall correctly, wasn't that tradition halted because a girl ran out right at the clock struck midnight, on the party of her own coming out?"

Narcissa pursed her lips, "It was a very long time ago. But, it would be quite an honor to Miss Granger here if we recreated the old tradition to her. It was always only the most esteemed that were introduced to society at midnight."

Elizabeth clasped her hands together, "I like it. Hermione, you will be coming out on midnight of September the first, at the grand finish of the Malfoy Ball."

Hermione's next few weeks were inexplicably busy. She had almost no time to work on her school work and hence was closer to her breaking point than normal. No longer did she and Draco have time to spend together in the library, as every instant was filled with social commitments: The Coming Out season had begun.

Mena visited nearly everyday to fit Hermione to clothes and to work on the masterpiece which was to be her coming out dress. Thankfully, Elizabeth had dropped the idea of an orange themed coming-out and had decided to go with a dusty blue.

One day, Hermione was on her way towards the library when she overheard Elizabeth and Narcissa planning. Of course, this was quite common these days, as her coming out and the Malfoy Ball were one and the same, but for some reason she stopped to listen.

"Oh that sounds marvelous for tapestries, dear. But now let us move on to more important matters. You have the letter drafted? The papers ready?"

"Yes, the letter and the papers have been drafted. They will be ready to sign the day after. He has already consented, and will present to her before her announcement."

"Good," said Elizabeth, getting up, "Then everything is set for her future. Now, would you like to go get a cup of tea? Serena said she would love to meet us."

As Hermione heard a scraping of chairs, she turned very quickly and ran to the library. What could they have been talking about?

It was on a very dusky evening that Hermione found herself looking out her bedroom window, being prepared for her Coming Out. The Malfoy Ball would begin in a scant two hours, and Hermione was to open the ball with Malfoy, and proceed to dance until an hour before midnight, where she would be escorted back up to prepare for her announcement.

All day Hermione had been silent. This was not due to choice, but to magic. On the day of a girl's coming out, she was committed to silence until her announcement, and in the interim, was taken care of by her closest female relatives. Anna, Elizabeth and Lady Danforth, along with Mel had been caring for Hermione's every need all day. Hermione's room, meanwhile, had been charmed to serve her. It would have been a relaxing day had her mind not been focused on one thing: the conversation between Elizabeth and Narcissa. What had they been talking about?

She was not left to thinking for too long, however. Before she knew it, she was being prepared for the Malfoy Ball. She was to open the evening with Draco, as tradition allowed. Due to this tradition, her dress for the Malfoy Ball opener was olive green silk. It was floor length, in mermaid fashion. The top of it was a black bodice laced with green, and strapless. She could hardly breathe in it.

Hermione's hair was put up in waves above her head, spilling down gracefully. Her shoes were three-inch black heels, adorned by small green ribbons on either side. It was only after intense make-up and checks that she was allowed to leave, however.

When Hermione was ready, she was ushered down the stairs out to a carriage awaiting her ride to the Malfoy Mansion, colored coyly in green and black to match her attire. As she arrived she was brought to the top of a grand silver staircase. This staircase opened down into the magnificent ballroom, which was decorated in tapestries of black and green.

The wall opposite of the stair was entirely glass, and looked out over the gardens of the Malfoy estate. Right now, the room was silent and empty. In less than an hour it would be filled with thousands, and Draco and Hermione would open it. As she looked over the room, Hermione felt an arm snake its way around her waist. She turned to see Draco there, looking over the room with her. It was going to be quite a night.

An hour later the room was filled with color, laughter and dancing. Thousands of purebloods had shown up the famous Malfoy Ball. The annual event was often the highlight of all of Europe's year, and you could tell why. Every pureblood of importance from all over the world had shown up.

Hermione was having a wonderful time, everywhere she turned there was someone she knew or wanting to meet her acquaintance. It was on her way over to get a sip of water that she heard it out of the corner of her ear.

"Yes, rumor holds that the Malfoys are announcing the engagement tonight."

Hermione felt her grasp on her glass slip and it crash to the floor. Several people around her gave her odd looks. She quickly stepped aside as a servant rushed to clean up the glass. Hermione found herself in a daze. It was all falling in place.

The lights dimmed to leave only flickering candles in the hall. The sky outside was pitch black. Then the music began again, slowly. The violins began as couples drifted to the floor, all perfectly aligned. Each man led a woman across the floor, as the girls sighed and danced along.

Hermione felt someone take her hand. Draco led her to the dance floor. Hermione spun, and spun and spun. It all fit now. The rules, the regulations. Elizabeth not finding her until her sixteenth year. The stories recorded throughout history, of which witches were inadmissible. The giddiness of the girls, their lack of thirst for knowledge. This placed looked like paradise on the outside.

From across the room, Chels smiled and nodded at the time. It was eleven o'clock, time to get ready for her Coming Out. Chels led Hermione up to a room on the third floor. It was beautiful, decorated in sparkling gold and rich blue. But, it was when Hermione saw the dress that she lost her breath. Soon, she was attended by over a hundred maids, and being pinched and prodded as her mind wandered back. If it was true… she would have to make the decision tonight.

As she exited the room and made her way near the staircase, Hermione felt as if she was the most beautiful girl in the world. Her dress was a light blue, strapless. The skirt was knee-length in front and floor length in back, three layers of organza, each progressively higher. The sash was silver, in a magnificent bow in the back. The bodice had embroidery of turquoise and silver flowers on it. Her neck was bear, but her hair was not. Her hair was perfectly curled and put up with the exception of one small ringlet. There was a silver tiara in her hair of flowers. Naturally, her shoes were silver heels.

Draco smiled when he saw her, and brushed his cheek against hers. He kissed her gently on her ear. "Let's go outside," he whispered.

Hermione unwittingly let Draco lead her out a back passage into one of the gardens. It was very quiet, and surrounded by hedges. There was a fountain in the middle of the clearing and it was quiet now, with lily pads floating aimlessly around it. Overhead rain looked eminent. The moon was hidden behind a veil of clouds, and the sky appeared starless.

Draco drew Hermione next to himself and held her for a moment. Then he leaned down and ever so gently kissed her. Hermione put her arms around his neck and the kiss deepened.

It seemed like a very long time later that Draco broke off the kiss and walked Hermione over to the fountain, where they sat down. Draco looked at Hermione for a minute before speaking.

"There's something I need to talk to you about," he said carefully. Then he stood and pulled a little box out of his pocket. Hermione closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them, Draco had opened the box to reveal a little silver ring with three emeralds in it.

"It's all set," Draco said, "It will be a long engagement, enough for us to finish school, and me to take up the company."

Hermione felt a tear slide down her cheek. She knew now what she had to do. She stood up and took Draco's hand.

"I can't accept this," she said quietly.

"Of course you can, it's the Malfoy heirloom. . ." Draco took her hand and started to slide the ring onto it.

Hermione shuddered and pushed his hand down, stepping back. "No, Draco, I can't accept this. I knew there was something beneath all this glamour, this society. And now I see it. I'm sixteen, for God's sake!"

Draco pulled Hermione back to him, "Most girls get engaged much earlier, many are married by your age."

Hermione threw his hands down and took out her wand, "That's the difference between you and me. Your society, your society, treats women as items, things, to be won, bought and cherished. They don't leave us to make our own choices, to learn or to work."

"But, what about this?" Draco said in a quiet and fierce tone. He grabbed her and kissed her, plunging in so quickly she gasped. Hermione melted. But nothing, nothing was worth her life! Her freedom! Hermione gathered all her strength - and drew back.

"No. I cannot live as a porcelain doll. I want to learn, I want to mess up. I want to work, to get my hands dirty, to enjoy time with everyone I love, magic or not. I am not and never will be a good little society figure, nor a dragon lady in my old age. I want to taste politics, to work with those in need, to go on to higher education. Heck, I want to see my little muggle house again! I want to change the world. And, I can't do that from in here."

A clock chimed midnight overhead as Hermione Granger turned around and joined the ranks of the inadmissible witches. As she walked, head high, tears steaming, the clouds broke and cleansing rain came down everywhere. She laughed, slipped out her shoes, and began to run into the dark. Overhead the glare of moonlight broke through the clouds, illuminating her path. She would remember that night forever.

The End.

First, thanks so much to everyone's support over the last year. I was planning on a thirty chapter fan-fic, and here it is. I am sorry it has to end, but there's a place where each story ends, and this was it. This single chapter probably took me more effort than all the rest combined, simply from trying to remember to tie everything in. If you can imagine, I almost forgot to change her into the blue dress!

Second, to all my reviewers, I loved your comments throughout this time. They made me laugh quite a lot, and many of them pushed me to finish this story.

Third, Flo. Thanks for all those long conversations of figuring out the plot, and editing my (rather horrid) grammar.

Lastly, there is no plan at the moment for a sequel, so please do not inquire. If I do write one, you will know. Chances are, however, that it will not be centered around Hermione.

Once again, thank you all so much for your support, this was so incredibly fun to write, and I look forward to writing more fics in the future!