A Second Chance – fire-and-ice89
A/N: Well, people, here it is. The Grand Finale! The One You've All Been Waiting For! So what exactly ARE you waiting for? Read on!
Last Time:
"I guess I don't look like a prince anymore. What a shame. Does that mean I can stop acting like one?"
Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she realized that he did, in fact, mean what she thought he had.
She closed her eyes, and raised her lips to meet his, in their first ever kiss.
And it was perfect.
Chapter Eleven – Graduation
Hermione looked across the sea of faces before her.
They were her classmates. Her closest friends, the people she had grown up with for the past seven years.
And now, though she could barely believe it, here they all sat, black graduation hats on their heads.
They were finally leaving Hogwarts.
As Head Girl, she had a specially assigned seat on stage, giving her a clear view of the hall in front of her. She scanned her eyes over the rows of faces, picking out ones especially dear to her.
Harry, seated next to Parvati. They had become so much closer throughout the year, and they were planning to rent a flat together after leaving Hogwarts. Seeing them so happy together made Hermione incredibly glad she had not tried to interfere. Some things were better left as they were.
Ron, seated next to Lavender. Who would have thought they would turn out so perfect for each other? For Lavender it was the first stable relationship she'd been in. And Ron? Well, she was just glad that he'd taken her rejection so well.
The biggest surprise of all was Pansy and Neville. Ever since the incident where Hermione had helped Pansy, and then been helped in return (Draco told her about his 'chat' with Pansy), the two girls had become good friends. Hermione was glad that Neville had found someone so patient, who never got frustrated with him.
In first grade, no one would ever have seen these couplings coming about. But things were different now. People had changed.
Some people deserved second chances.
This brought her thoughts back to her one and only Draco Malfoy.
Each day he surprised her more. He could be so sweet when she was upset, so infuriatingly calm when she was angry, so loyal when he was defending her, and so much fun to be around.
There were complications of course, involving his family, but he was going to try and surpass these. After school finished he was going to return home to his family for a while, and talk to them. Hermione doubted that he could sway his family to the 'muggle loving' side, but it was worth a try.
If that didn't work, he assured her, he would forsake his family and return to find her.
When he had uttered those words, she had felt her heart pounding. She meant more to Draco than his own family, his own heritage. Last year bloodline was everything to him. Now he was ready to give up his family and fortune for her, a modest girl with dentists for parents.
She knew how much that meant.
And as for her? Well, Draco was very important to her now. She wouldn't say he was the most important person in her life yet. But he had changed so much in less than a year, she felt sure that as time passed they could only grow closer.
Almost as if he were thinking the same thing, Draco slipped a hand into hers and squeezed it protectively. He was seated next to her in the Head Boy position. She turned and flashed him a quick smile, and then looked back at Dumbledore, who was giving his final speech to the seventh years.
Her heart was filled with sadness to be leaving the security she had found between the walls of Hogwarts, but she knew that it was time to leave. They were almost young adults now, and ready to make decisions for themselves. The thought was a bit daunting though.
She struggled to pull her mind back to the speeches going on. She never drifted off, but she was finding it very hard to concentrate today.
Especially with Draco's hand in hers…
But finally, the speeches were over, and they were free. Hermione stood up and cheered with the rest of her grade, tossing her graduation hat up in the air. She laughed out loud when they all started flying around the ceiling instead of falling back down. Someone must have bewitched them all beforehand.
With a start she felt someone give her a warm hug from behind. Turning around, she embraced Draco fully.
"We're on our own now," he said quietly into her ear, with a tone of regret in his voice.
"Oh, don't say that," Hermione pushed him playfully. "Now's a time for celebrating."
She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the side of the stage. He jumped down himself, and then reached up to help her down gently. Together they weaved between the body of students and parents, out to the front door, and into the gardens.
The sun was just about to set behind the hills, and the treetops were glistening with a golden orange light. The light gently touched the tops of their hair, and if someone was looking upon the scene, they would have seen a radiant angel haired boy and a golden girl. There was no one there to watch the couple, though, and when the boy leaned down to encircle the girl in his arms, there was no one to disturb their peace.
"We'll always have each other," Hermione whispered, her head leaning on Draco's shoulder.
"Yes." He agreed. "No matter what."
And the blond haired boy gently brushed a strand of golden hair away from the girl's face, and leaned in to kiss her.
A/N: And so my story comes to a close. I'm so sad! It's been going on for about two months now…I feel so attached to it. Yes, I have to admit, that's partly the reason this chapter didn't come up for so long. I couldn't bear to part with it!
Well, I hope you all enjoyed the story. For those of you who have been with me since the beginning: thank you for being such loyal reviewers. For those of you who have recently found my story: I'm glad you thought it worthwhile to stick around for the end!
And now, everyone, no matter whether you've reviewed before or not, please leave one final review now.
Thanks again!