Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise, nor anything affiliated with it.
Hermione's POV
The deep burgundy of my graduation cap makes the golden tassel much easier to spot. Each student received one in their house colours, as well as a little brooch with the school crest, visible on all of our robes. Though heavy, the dark robes are quite breathable and ensure that we won't be too hot in the Great Hall later.
I fiddle with the cap as I hold it in my lap. It's almost time for the ceremony to start and my nerves are starting to reach me. Earlier this morning I was still alright; adrenaline kept me moving. Now however, I have nothing left to do but wait and I don't like it one bit. As I reach up to adjust my hair and put my cap on, Draco reaches over to tuck a strand behind my ear.
His gentle touch jolts me back to reality but also calms me down ever so slightly.
"Hermione, you're going to be alright, you have one speech to make and you're much better at it than you think you are. The whole school adores you and I have no doubt that you'll give them a speech worth remembering. You have this." His grey eyes convey a sense of warmth in me unlike anything I've ever felt before. Before I register what I'm doing I pull him into a tight hug.
"Thank you Draco, thank you so much for being such an amazing friend and for helping me so much this year. I don't know what I would have done without you." He tenses a little when I first grab him, but slowly he relaxes and returns it.
"Which is funny, since at the beginning of the year I'm sure you would have still hexed me within an inch of my life if I gave you enough reason to do so."
I laugh and pull away, setting my cap on my head. "That is probably true." I admit.
McGonall's voice rings out across the hall, audible even from where we're standing, just outside the doors to the hall. The same doors that we had once walked in when we were just first years waiting to be sorted into our houses.
"Parents, relatives, friends, and teachers, thank you all for joining us today as we celebrate the first graduation at Hogwarts in a world free from Voldemort." A few gasps from the audience as she uses his real name bring a bitter smile to my lips. I turn back to Draco as he dons his green cap with a silver tassel.
"It is my pleasure to invite the graduating class to take a seat on the stage." We both walk forward together and push the large wooden doors open and lead our classmates through the aisle to where McGonagall stands behind her podium. The eyes of those in attendance are immediately drawn to us but we keep our head held high.
When we reach the stage, McGonagall nods to each of us in turn and we take a seat behind her with Prefects and Head students in the front and everyone else seated alphabetically.
Once everyone is seated, she continues, "Today we are here to celebrate the academic achievements of a particularly strong group of students. These students here have witnessed atrocities that most adults could only imagine, they have lost friends and family, they have had their childhood ruined on account of a tyrant and dictator, but they have also pulled themselves together and have continued to pursue their future with tireless drive. These students have so much to be proud of and have so many people who are proud of them."
She pauses then as the audience erupts in thunderous applause. I can see many of the parents lifting handkerchiefs to their face, drying tears and blowing noses.
"We will begin the ceremony first with some speeches prepared by this year's Head Students and co-valedictorians, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. After, we shall present the diplomas to each student, and finally we shall present the special awards. Without further ado, Ms. Granger will now come up for her speech."
I stand up carefully, glancing back once to Draco, the silver spark in his eyes propelling me to keep moving. My notecards are in my hand and I place them on the oak podium. I cast a quick sonorous before I begin.
"Good afternoon parents, friends, family, and teachers. As the Head Girl this year, it was my duty to watch over the students here at Hogwarts in lieu of the teachers, to organise events, to monitor everyone and keep them safe. In addition to that, I assisted with the teaching of our Muggle Studies class in the absence of a fully qualified teacher after an amazing woman, Professor Carrington was killed."
I take a breath. It's been almost a year now since she was killed at the airport, and though I don't normally think about her, saying it out loud again makes my heart clench painfully. I try to steady myself against the podium and keep up a mask so no one can see me hurting. Behind me, I can hear a few sniffles and sobs and I feel comforted knowing that I'm not the only upset about it still. Forcing myself to take another slow breath I continue.
"Through both of those positions, I have seen the students here grow out of the shells; coming into this school with a will to learn, and turning into courageous, responsible, and honourable men and women. As the seniors, they put their pasts behind them and grew in unity, past prejudices of houses no longer mattering as people began to help each other the war.
"This may not be the last class of students who experienced the fight with Voldemort, but as the first in this generation, they have illuminated the path for everyone to follow, overcoming obstacles that seemed insurmountable. They have discovered what friendship truly is and that the only way to move on from the dark times is to make your own light.
"As we move on to the working world, we have already built relationships and skills that will help us navigate it and get through our future struggles. The students gathered today have a drive that will take the wizarding world and grow it to a civilization unlike any other."
I turn away from the audience and instead face the students. I turn towards my friends, my classmates, my peers. "So with these parting words, I congratulate you, seventh and eighth year students, and I challenge you to keep doing your best as you continue to grow."
I clap for them and everyone soon joins in. McGonagall comes back up and invites me to take a seat.
"Thank you Hermione for a wonderful speech. Now please join me as we invite our next speaker up, Draco Malfoy!"
As I walk past Draco on his way I give him a small thumbs up and reassuring smile, he looks a little startled but covers it up very quickly with a smile. "You were great! The perfect speech."
"Thank you," I whisper hurriedly as he takes the stand.
"Good afternoon everyone. For my speech I will be taking a somewhat unorthodox approach. With permission from our illustrious Headmistress," he winks at her and she gives him an exasperated smile in reply, "I will be showing you all a memory of mine. The spell I will use will provide you all with an immersive experience, similar to that of a Pensieve but available to everyone here all at once. I will cast it in three seconds. One. Two. Three."
"Omnibus revelare."
My senses fade and are replaced instead with a fresh outdoor scent and the melodic hum of the lake.
Draco's POV
I'm sitting on the edge of a rock by the lake. The surface of the water has a crystalline look to it, and there are birds chirping all around me. I'm dangling my legs over the edge with relative ease. My legs feel so strong and pain-free. I reach down to touch the water and feel the cool edge to it but when I do, I see the reflection of the sky turn to gray as clouds start form. They are dense and cast gloomy feel over everything. I get up to leave before it rains, but suddenly the rock starts to shake as cracks form on the surface. They are deep and black, and the gapping lines start to move towards where I stand. I back up to the edge of the rock but slip and fall down into the water. It's bitterly cold and I can't tell which way is up or down. Rocks start to fall into the water and pin me down to the bottom of the lake. I start to drown and water starts to fill my lungs when I wake up.
The memory fades away and one by one my classmates and their parents come back to themselves. I'll have to remember to thank Hermione later for teaching me the spell, linking everyone's minds together to view that memory made this a lot easier.
"So that was a dream that I had this year. It was quite unsettling overall, but what really got me about the dream was how it felt to not have to deal with my problems.
"As some of you may know, during the year I was attacked and the joints in my lower half were almost completely destroyed. In this dream however, I didn't have to face the ever constant pain of my waking hours until the very end. Almost like when I chose to ignore all my pain and problems when I was younger. When I grew up however, they hit me in the face and smashed me to the ground. They overwhelmed me and I was drowning. Someone saved me from the fate of actually drowning, but it took some time and it wasn't just one person.
"I think about how Myrtle and Luna used to talk to me and let me discuss my problems, how Hermione finally taught me how to step out and leave it behind, and how our Headmistress McGonagall and Harry Potter all took a chance on me and have helped turn me into the person I am now.
"So based on this, there are two points that I would like everyone to take away from this. No matter how much you're struggling in your position, don't ignore your problems and your pain. Face it, because it will just keep building up and getting stronger. I also want to remind all of you that no matter what you go through in life, always depend on your friends. My friends have brought me lots of happiness and I hope that I bring them just as much. As we all go forward into the adult world, remember to find the happiness that only your closest friends can give you. Don't forget to have fun even as a working adult or in your post-secondary education programs. You've all survived a war, most of you after being on the front lines, now go and take over the wizarding world."
The applause seems deafening to me and I take a few steadying breaths to calm myself down a little before taking a bow and walking briskly back to my seat. I almost collapse into my chair as Hermione grabs my arm and congratulates me on an, "amazing, well thought out, and extremely creative speech". I smile briefly at her before turning back to Headmistress McGonagall who has now retaken her spot at the podium.
The rest of the ceremony passes in a blur. We each receive our diplomas but I don't even remember mine. The awards were presented with many surprises. Neville won the Herbology award, Ginny won the Quidditch award, Hermione won the Academic achievement award, and Luna won the character award, but then Blaise won the Runes award, Ron won the History of Magic award, and Pansy won the Alchemy award. I myself won the Defense Against the Dark Arts award, much to my confusion and the amusement of everyone else.
Once everything is over, we're all released to enjoy the dinner provided and mingle with our friends.
"Hey guys," says Harry after he finds all of us, "Congratulations all of you on your awards! Wow, some of that was really unexpected right?"
"It really was!" Agrees Ginny. "I can't believe we all got one too!"
McGonagall, who is mingling with some nearby parents, steps towards us.
"Well you're all exceptional students." We all blush in response and thank her. "No, the pleasure was all mine, it was a delight teaching all of you and I know the halls here at Hogwarts will miss you. You're all quite welcome to visit whenever you would like to, and for those who I talked to, if you ever want to take me up on the offer, I'd be happy to accept you for the positions. I must get back to the rest of the parents, but go enjoy yourselves!"
"Wow, this is really it, huh?" Says Ron and we all nod in agreement. "This sure has been one crazy ride."
"Well we still have the rest of evening though, to enjoy our last night here. Besides, McGonagall did say that we can drop by anytime." Adds Hermione.
"Yeah, come on guys, let's go have a good time! The dance is starting soon so let's go grab some food and have some fun." Says Ginny.
We head over to grab a bite but to my surprise there's a group of house elves getting ready to serve the food.
"Harry Potter!" Squeals one of them and Harry, who was standing near the front of the group, is suddenly knocked down by a rather blurry shape. "Winky is so very happy to see you sir!"
"Winky!" He exclaims, "Merlin's beard it's been a while, how are you?"
"Oh Winky is sorry for knocking master over, but Winky is very excited to see him. Winky is doing very well, she is.
The house elves behind the tables begin murmuring to each other, asking if it really is Harry. One by one they slowly leave the tables and crowd around Harry. By the time all of them have come over, they're all asking him questions and thanking him for killing the Dark Lord. I can't help but laugh at the discovery of his latest fans.
Across the hall, McGonagall gives them a stern look and they reluctantly return to setting up for dinner. However when they realize that we had come over for food, they rapidly finish setting up and begin to serve us, excited to be of service to "Harry Potter and his friends".
They uncover giant dishes of steaming brisket, potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, roasted vegetables, and mini treacle tarts. The drink selection includes the usual pumpkin juice, but also fresh cider and butterbeer; special supply from the Hog's Head.
While we had gotten our food it appears that a line has gathered and the relatively clear seating from earlier has been turned into white tables with floral centerpieces in the middle. After Winky finishes serving Ginny, we grab a seat at a table near the back of the hall.
Somehow we manage to fit all nine of us around the rather small table. Across the hall I see the Weasley's and Neville's gran sitting with my father. As I watch him sitting and casually chatting with them, I feel a bittersweet pang in my chest for my mother.
I forgot that since she's gone, she'll never see me graduate and she'll never know the person that I've become. She won't know how much I've changed to become the man I am today. She'd have hated to see her little boy all grown up, but I know she really wished to be at my graduation, it was something we had discussed a few times when the Voldemort was in power and it looked like graduations would become Death Eater initiation ceremonies instead.
Forcing the lump in my throat down, and willing myself to focus on anything but that, I try to return to the conversation in front of me. Unfortunately I was now hopelessly lost.
"Yes but if you were to somehow cross breed basilisks with phoenixes, wouldn't the healing properties of phoenix tears contradict the basilisk venom and vice versa? Or would the half breed just have both agents and then be able to use them whenever they felt like it?" Argues Ginny, trying to speak across the table to Pansy, but the centrepiece was a little tall.
Since I obviously was not going to figure out what they were talking about any time soon, I decided to make myself useful instead and shrink the centrepieces to better allow for conversation.
Since I obviously was not going to figure out what they were talking about any time soon, I decided to make myself useful instead and shrink the centrepieces around the hall to better allow for conversation. No one seems to notice but no one was supposed to anyway.
"Hello everyone!" Calls out McGonagall. "Almost everyone seems to be finished with their food, so we're going to clear the tables and plates away so that we can start the final dance of the year. If you would like to continue eating, leave your cutlery on your plate and grab a seat at a table along the wall, your plate will appear in front of you when you do."
The clatter of cutlery echoes through the hall before the plates suddenly disappear, presumably the handiwork of the house elves.
Most of us stand up in preparation of the tables being removed, and gather near the middle. I notice a few men walking up on the stage, wearing torn black robes. At first I'm confused but then I recognize them with their iconic fashion and instrument choices. The Weird Sisters are a strange sight now since two of them were killed during the war after refusing to serve Voldemort's regime, but it looks like they're slowly recovering from their devastating loss.
"All right Hogwarts, are you guys ready for a great night?" Asks the lead singer, Myron, after amplifying his voice.
"Woohoo!" The cheers from the crowd aren't as loud as you'd have expected at something like this but I don't think anyone really cares.
"We have a great night planned for you guys! A perfect mix of our own songs and some muggle songs for diversity, let's hear it for the muggle borns in here!" He yells. The whole hall screams bringing a smile to my face. Perhaps we did better than we thought with the students. "And of course we'll have some nice older wizarding hits for the parents and staff." He adds with a wink at McGonagall who just smiles exasperatedly. "Let's get this celebration underway then!"
The band starts with a solid beat and then slowly adds a guitar riff and chords. The song starts playing and people start heading out to the floor to start dancing. Most of our friends have headed and now it's just Hermione and I.
"Hey I just wanted to say, you had a beautiful metaphor and story for your speech earlier. It was amazing, the way you added that imagery to get everyone's attention, ingenious." Says Hermione after a little bit of awkward standing around.
"Thanks, I didn't want anyone to know about it beforehand, so I just wrote a burner speech for the rehearsals. Yours was really great too though, I was surprised that you mentioned Professor Carrington though."
"Well I didn't intend to, it kind of just slipped out of my mouth without me thinking about it."
We fall back into silence and watch as our classmates dance to the music. Most of them are just shuffling around, hopping up and down, or swaying, but a few of them are dancing with partners and getting more creative with it. I see a couple doing a lift near the back and smile, they looked very happy.
"My parents would have loved to see this." Whispers Hermione after a while, pausing again. "To see me graduate, as valedictorian, just to see the school for themselves. My mother always loved the idea of castles and I know she would have loved the architecture here." She seems to deflate a little and I reach over to hold her hand.
"My mother would have loved to be here too. She used to tell me about how she couldn't wait for me to graduate and become who I was truly meant to be. She'd spend hours imagining what we would do at the graduation, telling me what awards I would get. But she also told me that more important than anything was being happy. Even when things aren't going your way, even when sadness threatens to overwhelm you, even when it seems like living is not worth it anymore, try to find happiness, and I know she wouldn't want me to be upset now, neither of us should be."
"I know, just sometimes it becomes a little much. I wish I could just talk to them one more time."
"As much as we all wish that…" I don't finish my sentence, because we both know how it ends. It doesn't need to be said out loud because we know we'll never stop wishing that.
A new song begins playing and Hermione suddenly looks up.
"Woah, I assume you know the song?" I ask, a faint smile forming on my face.
"Yeah, it was ages ago. I think I was 3 or 4. My mom and I used to listen to music in the kitchen while she cooked and this was one of her favourites for a few days before she found more songs to listen to. But I loved it."
"In that case, may I have this dance?" I stand up and hold out a hand for her to take. She smiles and grabs my hand, dragging me into the mass of students who can't dance.
I have
I have you breathing down my neck
Breathing down my neck
I don't, don't know
What you could possibly expect
Under this condition-so
I'll wait, I'll wait
For the ambulance to come
Ambulance to come
Pick us up off the floor
What did you possibly expect
Under this condition, so
Slow down
This night's a perfect shade of
Hermione leads us a very upbeat dance as we spin and sway together, swinging around each other, and weaving around everyone else.
Dark blue, dark blue
Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?
When I'm here with you
I said the world could be burning, burning down
Dark blue, dark blue
Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?
Well I'm here with you
I said the world could be burning
'Til there's nothing but
Dark blue, dark blue
This flood
This flood is slowly rising up
Swallowing the ground
Beneath my feet
Tell me how anybody thinks
Under this condition
So I'll swim I'll swim
As the water rises up
Sun is sinking down
And now all I can see
Are the planets in a row
Suggesting it's best that I
Slow down
This night's a perfect shade of
Placing my hands on her hips, she arranges me then puts her own on my shoulders.
"Now, when they hit the chorus here, you're going to bend a little and then push me up straight up so I'm balancing, briefly, on your hands." I stare at her incredulously. "It'll be fun, trust me. I'll have my hands on you for support and I'm going to jump to help you. It's not very long. Okay, one, two, three!" I stop thinking and move on instinct instead.
Dark blue, dark blue
Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?
When I'm here with you
I said the world could be burning, burning down
Dark blue, dark blue
Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?
Well I'm here with you
I said the world could be burning
Dark blue
We were boxing
We were boxing the stars
We were boxing
You were swinging for mars
And then the water reached the west coast
And took the power lines, the power lines
And it was me and you
And the whole town underwater
There was nothing we could do
It was dark blue
I suddenly scoop Herminoe up bridal style and spin her around. By this point we're one of the few people still dancing since everyone got tired, but we're still going strong. She laughs and screams a little, worried that I'll drop her.
"Don't worry," I say, "trust me." She punches me lightly in the shoulder for that.
Dark blue, dark blue
Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?
When I'm here with you
I said the world could be burning, burning down
Dark blue
Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?
Well I'm here with you
I said the world could be burning
Now there's nothing but
Dark blue
If you've ever been alone
You'll know
Dark Blue
If you've ever been alone
You'll know
You'll know
As the song ends, the first thing I realize is how closer we're standing, pressed against each other.
I stand back quickly, pushing myself away and creating a gap between us. "I'm sorry, I forgot-"
"No, no, no, no… that's okay I wasn't paying attention either." Hermione replies, out of breath, her cheeks rosy. I can't tell if it's from embarrassment or exertion.
We stand there awkwardly, both of us too nervous to do anything. Our silence is interrupted when the lead singer gets our attention again. "Alright Hogwarts! It was a delight to play for all of you today, but we have go home now and so do you. Your headmistress will be coming up now to give you all instructions but have a great day and get home safely!" The band then bows and clears the stage for McGonagall.
"Thank you everyone for coming to today's graduation ceremony. I think it is safe to say that it was a great success and everyone had a good time. We will bid you all farewell today, but don't forget to collect your diploma by the door on your way out. You may collect your last few items from your rooms but your main luggage should already be down at Hogsmeade now. The Hogwarts Express will be leaving in 2 hours so please make sure you make it on time. It was a pleasure to teach you all and I hope that the future is kind to you. Thank you."
Everyone applauds her and we slowly start making our way out. Many of the students stay behind to say goodbye to their friends but Draco and I head straight up to our dorm.
Hermione's POV
Draco and I have headed up to our dorm, walking slower than usual, and I can't stop thinking about our dance. Something about it felt weird, but it was also magical. I don't know if Draco felt the same way but I know that was special. Unfortunately it also feels like something's changed between us. We're walking together but we seem to ve ever so slightly further from each other than normal. There's something in the air between us, unspoken.
When we reach the portrait, the little boy and girl pull their kite down, seemingly walking closer to us.
"Are you guys leaving?" They ask sadly.
"Oh! Um, yes we are." I say cautiously. In the entire time we've had this dorm, they haven't stopped to talk to us. I assumed that they didn't interact with people as much as the other portraits.
"So soon? But you just got here!" The boy whines.
I feel a little confused; it's been a year since we first got here. "Unfortunately, we do have to go. We just graduated, but you'll have another set of kids to watch over next year."
The girl sniffs a little, wiping her yes. "But we'll miss you!" I can see Draco out of the corner of my eye, getting more and more weirded out with every passing second.
"Hey, shh." I say, walking closer and pressing a finger to the portrait, as if trying to stroke her hair. "It'll be okay, we'll miss you guys too." And it's true. While we barely spent any time chatting to them, I'll miss seeing the two kids playing in the field. They were always so happy and carefree.
When you're graduating, or just leaving something behind, it's the little things that get you. When I first left my family home in our seventh year, it didn't really set in that I was leaving my entire life until I tripped on a funny looking log I used to play with as a young girl. I used to use it like a wand. Now as we're leaving Hogwarts, the thought of leaving this portrait, something I took for granted, seems like it might be too much.
"Hermione, it's okay." Reassures Draco, who rests his hand on mine, pulling it away from the painting. "And you two will be okay. Keep flying that kite way up high." He adds. The girl wipes her face one more time and nods, handing the kite to her friend and starting to run with it.
I take a breath to clear my throat and whisper our password. "Everything has changed." Nothing could be truer than that. When we chose that as our password the first time, it had been shortly after the Halloween Ball when things slowed down just a little bit. As we've gone through this year, it's taken on many different meanings, but we've never changed it. Now as we're leaving something feels different about it, but I don't know what that is.
We walk in silently and slowly walk up to collect our last few items. I brush the elegant vines twisting around the handle to my room before twisting it to go inside for what will probably be the last time. The desk is now clear, the bed has been made, and the only thing left is a small bag with all of my school work in it. I pick it up and shrink it before slipping it into my purse.
I survey my room one last time, pushing the memories down inside my mind. I don't want to remember what I'm leaving behind, it'll make it that much harder to say goodbye. Draco steps out of his room just as I step out of mine. He's slung his bag over his shoulder, his hair pushed to one side. We close our doors and then walk down so we can make it to the train station on time.
As we pass the living room, I feel Draco's head on my shoulder, leaning into me as we played board games by the fireplace. His hair was so soft between my fingertips. The kitchen reminds me of our fights, when I dropped my mug in the sink that one day and it was just too much for both of us. I remember him drying my tears when I was marking the exams at the island counter. So many memories were made here in this dorm. I don't want to leave, but I know I have to.
Slowly, Draco and I make our way to the front of the castle to board a carriage and head down to the Hogwarts Express. Pansy and Ron appear the only ones left waiting so we group together and snag one for all four of us.
Once we've sat down, I slowly begin to fall asleep as the rocking of the carriage becomes more steady. My eyes grow heavier and my head droops a little. One of the wheels runs over a rock and it jolts us all awake; turns out I wasn't the only one falling asleep.
"You guys ready to head back?" Asks Ron once we realize how close we are to the station.
"Not at all." Replies Draco. "I'm going to miss the chaos of Hogwarts. The manor is a little too quiet for my liking at the moment."
"If you want chaos, I'm sure mum would love to have you over at some point." Offers Ron.
"Perhaps, I might take you up on that offer later."
"No worries, just send an owl. What about you Hermione?" I was kind of hoping they'd stay focused on each other and ask me.
Truth be told I don't want to go back either. I haven't really thought about what I'm doing. I know that I'm going to start working with the ministry soon, but until then, I'll have the house all to myself. Last year I just hid in my room all day. I'll have to figure out what to do this time.
"I don't know, I think I might try fixing up my house over the summer. I'm still a little too sentimental about it, but I might sell it one of these days and get an apartment instead, something closer to wizarding London."
"If you're interested in a flatmate, I'm getting a place closeby as well so that I can cover a larger area with my designing business." Says Pansy. "I sold my family's house and got a nice three bedroom flat about ten minutes from the Leaky."
"That's great. I'll see how it goes and owl you if anything changes." I reply.
I'm about to ask Ron what his thoughts are when the carriage stops. It appears we've arrived at the station.
We file out and join the other students gathered near the platform. The luggage is just being loaded now and we should be boarding in a few minutes.
I spot the others gathered near the end of the platform and we regroup there.
The train whistles suddenly and fills the platform with steam.
"We'd better board quickly, so we can grab a compartment for all of us together." I say, rushing everyone on.
We just manage to steal the last car as everyone rushes on. It's a tight fit but all nine of us manage to fit in. We spend the ride chatting, planning a meet up in late July that none of us may actually be able to attend, and playing an intense game of Exploding Snap. A few of the cards ended up in the hallway, much to the annoyance of the trolley witch. We did not get them back.
In the end, it's probably almost 11pm when we get to King's Cross station. We disembark from the car and gather on the platform to say our last goodbyes. We take turns hugging each other, which probably takes about five minutes and then one by one we start to depart.
Soon, it's just Draco, Ron, Harry, Ginny, and myself. The other three were planning to stay at the burrow and were just waiting for everyone else to leave, but Draco and I were each going to our own places.
"Alright you too, we're going to head now. You guys okay to get back yourselves?" Asks Harry. We both nod and we say goodbye again, so now it's just Draco and me. Like always it seems.
"So I guess this is goodbye then?" I ask softly. The platform is mostly clear now, just a few stragglers. I look up at him and he looks a little sad, staring off to one side.
"Yeah, I guess it might be." He replies. We look each other in the eye, both of us looking for something in the other's expression, trying desperately to read the unspoken words between us.
I have to tear my eyes away now. Walk away, I tell myself. Just keep walking and don't look back.
"Hermione," he calls out and I stop in my tracks, "before you leave, I just want to say, I'll always be here for you. No matter what you need, I'll be here." So much is said with those few words and I feel tears threatening to spill over.
"I know Draco." I whisper, still facing away. My face warps a little as I bite back my sobs. I drop my trunk on the ground and run back to him, wrapping my arms around him, and burying my face in his shoulder. We embrace right there on the platform, oblivious to the world around us. When I eventually step back and pull away, I can see his eyes are red and puffy too.
"I… I have to go, I'm sorry." I say, my voice now hoarse. He nods and follows me to my bag. We walk silently to the apparition point and when we reach it I speak up again. "I guess I'll see you around then."
"Yeah, see you around." He places his own trunk down and waves. I step onto the platform and twist around, leaving my life and love behind.
I don't see Draco crumple in on himself after I'm gone. I don't see him collapse on the ground, his heart shattered once again. Just like he doesn't see me stumble into my house and collapse onto the couch sobbing, wondering if I was right about us not being right for each other. Neither of us see the other half of the picture, but we both learn to move on, even if it takes us all summer to crawl back out of our shells again.
Author's Note: Bit of a weird ending, but this wouldn't be fanfiction without some tears. So there's the last official chapter, but the epilogue should be up soon! I've had it mostly finished for a while but I had to get myself through these last two chapters. Thank you guys for sticking by and those of you who just joined us for this crazy, weird, journey. I hope you guys enjoy the wrap up and that you guys have a great week in the meantime. Please leave a review, just a final word of feedback would be great. Till next time! ;)