Chapter 30
Here's to Hogwarts
Hermione woke up the next morning to find that Ginny had already gotten up and started to ready for the day. With that she got up and headed to the girl's bathroom to get ready herself. When she had finished, she and Ginny headed down to the common room where Ron and Harry were waiting for them to head off to breakfast. It was their last breakfast at Hogwarts and their last meal there really.
Ginny hadn't mentioned to Hermione about what happed the night before, and she was glad. She wasn't ready to tell them yet. Hermione was glad that Ginny was there and that she was not asking questions. Ginny just held her while she cried. It didn't feel like Ginny didn't care, it was like 'tell me when you're ready' and that meant a lot to Hermione. Because of that Hermione felt so much better.
They walked down the corridors and down the moving staircases when they got stuck on one and took them some where out of their way.
"One thing for sure I don't think that I'll be missing are these moving stair cases." Ron said.
"That's for sure." Harry said.
Finally they made it down and made their way to the Great Hall as they passed students that were laughing and talking and greeting the four as they walked by. The events of the Ball must have gotten around and the feeling of it hadn't left cause when they walked in everyone who was in there clapped. It only made the four of them laugh. They talked to some people then turned their attention to their final Hogwarts meal.
After breakfast they went down to see Hagrid for the last time at Hogwart's. Harry knocked on the door and stood back. Hagrid opened the door and smiled at them behind his tears.
"I knew yehs a' be comin' down ter see me this one las' time." He beamed. Then he burst into tears and bear hugged Harry. Ron and Hermione jumped back to escape his grasp just in case he wanted to add them to his embrace. Harry started turning purple and looked as if he was in great pain.
"Hagrid take it easy. We'll still see you at the meetings and we'll be working together as part of the Order" Hermione said secretly.
Hagrid released Harry who choked and sputtered as he tried to regain his breath. He and Hagrid had a special bond ever since Hagrid had collected Harry from his parent's house after their deaths and his victory over Voldemort. Harry remembered how Hagrid had come and rescued him from his miserable life with the Dursley's. How he had showed him into a world that Harry could never have imagined. Harry was grateful for that and always looked to him as a big brother.
"Well, I guess it's all settled then. Yeh got yer things all in order for yer journey back home?" Hagrid asked.
"Yeah, it has been odd packing for the last time." Ron said. "I mean, we've done it loads of times before, but it always just felt like it was part of the year and I knew I'd be doing it again next year. Now, I thought I couldn't wait for this day, and it feels great and sad all at the same time."
"Well, yeh will always be welcome ter come an' visit me home, any time yeh wants to." Hagrid beamed.
"Thanks Hagrid." Harry said with a smile.
They said their goodbye's to Hagrid and made their way around the grounds. They passed the Whomping Willow and Harry remembered their second year's misfortune of landing in it with Ron's Dad's car. Ron remembered how Sirius had pulled him under it and dragged him all the way to the Shrieking Shack in their third year, and cringed at the memory. He still had a small scar from that. Hermione remembered hiding from Draco under it on that stormy night just over year ago, where it all begun.
They passed the forbidden forest and discussed how scary it was for them to have detention out there back in their first year.
"Hey Harry do you remember the look on Malfoy's face when Hagrid said that we were going in there? Bloody chicken!" Ron said laughing.
"Yeah it was pretty funny" Harry answered. Hermione cracked a small smile. Harry continued. "How about those spiders huh Ron?"
Ron cringed. "Bloody Spiders, why did it have to be spiders? I hate spiders." His body shuttered at the memory. Harry and Hermione laughed at him.
They continued to walk and stopped at the quidditch pitch, in the middle of the stadium. They looked around and voiced their memories about it. To Harry, this place meant the most to him. Quidditch had vaulted him into instant popularity (not that he didn't already have it mind you) and had given him a link to his father. He remembered the games and the glory that Gryffindor had won on the field and how wonderful he felt the first time he flew on his broom, at the time the best broom up to that date; the Nimbus 2000 and what it felt like to catch the Golden Snitch and win a game for his team.
"There are so many great memories here, hard to pick out which ones where the best." Ron spoke up.
"Sure are mate. Although there are a few memories I'd be more than happy to forget." said Harry remembering the occasions involving the Dementors.
"The Dementors?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah" Harry replied.
"Hey it wasn't all that bad, remember when Malfoy and his body dummies pretended to be…" Ron started but Hermione continued.
"… Dementors themselves and then Harry came after them with…"
"… the expecto potronum spell…" Harry then continued.
"… yeah and the looks on their faces, bloody brilliant!" Ron finished as they all laughed.
"They got what they deserved didn't they?" Hermione asked, but in a way not really questioning.
"Malfoy always gets what he deserves!" Ron said as they all continued look at the spot where it had happened.
"Does he?" Hermione asked, again not really being a question she expected to be answered. Ron gave her a confused look but quickly assumed she meant something else. Harry was also confused by it and if he didn't know about them he would have brushed it off just like Ron but he knew better.
Hermione pulled her gaze away, knelt down and rubbed her hand lightly along the grass in the area where she had giving Draco a special good luck gesture. She smiled at the memory as Ron continued recounting his memories of the place. Hermione smiled as she noticed that "Weasley is our King" never came up in the conversation.
They left the pitch and decided to walk by the lake before they made their way up to the school. When they had arrived in front of the school, Harry brought out some bottles of butterbeer that he had in his backpack and passed them out.
"Here's to Hogwarts!" Harry said as he raised his bottle.
"To Hogwarts!" Hermione and Ron joined him in a toast to the school and clinked their bottles together. Hermione realized how much they had all grown in more than one way her especially. They sat on the front steps to enjoy the view and their butterbeers.
Draco sat outside the open doors sitting on the stairs in the shade with his friends and enjoyed the last few minutes they had left before they were to leave for the train. He watched Pansy and Alex lay on the grass in the sun and stare up at the sky while Crabbe and Goyle sat there eagerly devouring the chocolate frogs that they had amazingly saved from the last Hogsmeade trip for that particular moment.
"Anyone want some?" Crabbe asked.
"No thanks" Pansy and Alex said at the same time. Draco just shook his head no.
Draco watched for Hermione and her friends knowing that they would go on one last tour of the grounds before they left. Sure enough she came into view and walked up towards the doors arm in arm with Harry and Ron.
She looked briefly at him before she turned her attention to the other Slytherins and exchanged nods with them as did Harry and Ron. They walked past them and headed into the castle that they had called home for the past seven years for one last time.
A/N: Don't worry happy ending! Anyway has anyone else been having Internet problems? I have all night and the electricity keeps going out so that is why it has taken me so long to update sorry! I have written this 3 times I keep saving just in case lol. Thank you all for reviewing and for your kind words! I really love you! And thank you for the Birthday wishes! ) No on to the Q&A:
Sexylilmama96: It sure does lol! Thanks!
goldenlion: Yes Ginny is a really good friend, it is good friends like that that gets us through the hard times. Thanks I am glad you like the drama, you gotta have it to keep the story flowing.
Sleepyhead22: Thanks I did! Wow 500 more chapters that's a lot but I do have an epilogue I hope that works lol!
Badgurl13a: You will see, you will see! And thanks!
The Phantom's Dream: You asked "was it a mutual decision for the two of them to become b/f & g/f?" - it was mutual for them to be together and I was when they broke up they didn't want to split but she understood what he was about to tell her and she let him know that she understood why and for what the reasons were by telling him what she had. They couldn't go on in secret forever and it was too dangerous to tell anyone. I hope that made sense. Thanks
HippiechicSMEB: Thanks I am so glad you reviewed! I wanted someone to see them together but someone who would be calm and would respect it and have faith in her as a friend to tell them when she felt ready and to have them see how Draco was with her.
AMI MIZUNO1: You will see. You shouldn't be disappointed. this story has 34 chapters and the last is an epilogue so you will find out in chapter 33. you'll see find out how ron takes it and he with Kiara and thanks for adding me to your list!
I3aI3ygurl: LOL I do I do but don't worry you'll like the end.
Curlyq2713: Yeah being a death eater does suck for him. Draco get a back bone lol he just might! Yeah and thanks alexaj does seem psychotic! Thanks!
HermDracoLover: First of thank you so much! And second your question was -"Will your story go far enough into the future to reveal if Hermione and Draco make it, or will it be ending soon." – I will have an epilogue that lets you know what they did for the rest of their lives and how everything worked out for everyone, that will be chapter 34. I hope that answered your question properly lol. And no problem I don't mind questions at all! Thanks again!
Peaches: lol Anonymous reviews are more than welcome! Thanks soo much! I am glad you like it!
Dancerdollar: Thank so much and I am glad you did!
Elsa: Thanks you so much you have no idea! And I will! Sorry I didn't have time for the past couple of ones I was so busy!
Hpfanatic53072: Oh that is soooooo romantic! You do realize that I based this story off your life lol, not really. It is funny that similar things have happened to you though lol! But yeah I was oooing and aweing all over it too! Thanks!
MusicaLee: well I am glad I helped lol. And you are in the circus that is so cool! Thanks!
goofy518: Thanks! And thanks for your kind words about that flamer! I know if you don't like it go find something you do! Lol thanks again!
Well that concludes this part and it is now 2 am and I am so tiered I am determined to get this out to you! So please keep r/r! No go on and review see you in 15! Thanks again!