Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter.
Phantom Lover
Chapter Ten
"Your exams for this class have been marked, and, I am unfortunately here to tell you, out of the 18 students I have in this class, only a few managed to pass," Snape said, his lip curling. "However, you will not recieve your marks until later in your summer vacation. The marks you get in this class, for some of you, determine whether or not you can proceed into your career. But, I found, most students chose a career that didn't require much Potions knowledge, lucky for you."
The class groaned. It was the day of graduation, and being difficult as he always is, Snape was determined to make even our last day horrible.
"Now, as Dumbledore instructed, you have the rest of this period off, much to my displeasure, but he is the Headmaster, not I, so you will follow his instructions. You are dismissed."
Most of the class roared with anticipation, as they hussled out the door to the Grounds. I shook my head, grinning, as Ron pumped his fist in the air.
"Yes! No more Potions! No more Snape! Ever!" he said, as we tumbled out the door.
"Oh, Ron, that's no way to be. Potions is an very helpful class. In fact -"
"No, I don't want to here it, Hermione. With my luck, I failed Potions, meaning I don't qualify for an Auror, and we don't want that. I just want to relax," he said, as he heaved a sigh of relief.
"Yeah, I'm with Ron on this one, Hermione. No more Snape breathing down my neck, making sure I do every little thing wrong. I'm happy," Harry said as he grinned at me.
I shook my head. "Well, one of these days you'll look back and think, 'yeah, I remember old Snape telling me that.' I promise you."
We followed the many students heading out onto the grounds, looking for a day to relax.
"Harry!" Ginny yelled, as she ran to him, flinging her arms around his neck, kissing him on the mouth. Ron made a face at me. "I can't believe you're leaving. I'll never see you again!"
Harry put his arm around her waist. "Ginny, what in the name of Merlin are you talking about? You know I'll see you. Ron's my best mate, and do you think I'd go all summer without seeing him?"
She grinned. "Of course not. Hermione, you're coming to, aren't you?"
"Of course I am, Gin. I would never leave my best friends," I said, glancing around the grounds.
"You're not going to find him," Ginny whispered, as she came up beside me. Harry and Ron had turned their attention to a Quidditch game that was going on.
"Who?" I said, biting my lip.
She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Malfoy, Hermione. He left. I don't know if anyone told you about this, but I heard from Sam... that he just... left. He went to the Headmaster, who gave him permission to leave, and just up and left, without saying a word to anybody."
I stared at her, my chin quivering. He left me. He's gone. Forever. I would never see him again. Nothing could fix the broken part of my heart. After I had that fight with him, we'd split up, yes, but I never stopped loving him. And I was still in love with him.
"So... h- he's gone? But he didn't even graduate! He left everything behind, including me!" I said, as I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.
"Oh quit your snivelling, mudblood," came a cold, mocking voice behind me. I turned around and saw Sam, surrounded by her new found friends. She was just like a Slytherin. "Draco never cared for you anyway, you know that don't you? You did the right thing breaking up with him. All the love he shared with you was meant for me, and you know that. He never forgot about me. He just used you as a replacement for me."
"Shut the bloody hell up, Samantha," Ginny snarled. "You're just trying to start some shit, aren't you? Why don't you do us a favor and go jump in the lake."
She laughed. "Oh, bite me, Weasley. Anyway, Granger, he did graduate, just not infront of everyone. The Headmaster gave him his diploma, and he left."
"But why?" I said, sniffling.
She shrugged. "I'm not supposed to tell," she said. I knew she was lying. He didn't tell her, along with everybody else. "Besides, he didn't need you, you unpure creature. I gave him more pleasure then your filthy body ever could. Happy Graduation!" she said, laughing as she sauntered off with her friends.
"I hate her, Hermione, I really do!" Ginny said, making a rude gesture to her retreating back. "She was practically yelling across the hall that he'd left, and had left her a love letter. She was lying, of course," Ginny said, seeing my face.
"Oh, it doesn't matter anymore, Gin," I said, smiling as I wiped the tears off my face. "I'm through crying because of all of this. It's the end of my seventh year, I should be happy!"
"There's the old Hermione I know!" Ginny said, grinning, hugging me.
I smiled, but on the inside I was still crying. I still loved Draco, and I never should have let him go. He escaped from my grasp, and now he was never coming back.
XXX
"The year has come to an end. And, for some, the mere beginning. We all look back, to the years past, with the war, with many lives lost, many born, and many turned dark. There is a saying. One that is short, but true. 'It's all in the past.' And, indeed, we must remember these words. Everything is in the past, and all you have now is your future. Now, without further adu, I give you the graduates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"
Hermione rose, along with the rest of the seventh years, as Dumbledore finished his speech. She smiled through tears, only these tears were tears of happiness, as she raised her wand.
"Graditio!" she yelled, along with everyone else.
Fire burst from their wands as a huge, fiery crest shown before them. The flames licked around each of the symbols of the houses, as the graduates stepped down, throwing their caps in the air. Hermione heard the happy sobs of Molly Weasley come from the crowd infront of them.
She looked over at her two best mates, both of whom had broad grins on their faces.
XXX
"Oh congradulations to all of you!" sobbed Mrs. Weasley, as she pulled Ron into a breathtaking hug.
"Mum, mum, geroff for Merlin's sake! I need to breathe in order to start my future!" he said, pushing her away.
We laughed, as the Weasley family surrounded us, each one of them congradulating us, and suffacating Ron. Charlie had come all the way from Romania to see his brother graduate, Bill had brought his wife, Fleur and their adorable little girl, Gabby, Fred and George had also come, looking sharp as ever.
I couldn't stop smiling for anything in the world. It was the happiest I had been in a long time, and I wanted it to last forever.
"Now, children, you all must come for the summer, and Harry, we already have your luggage assigned to arrive at the Burrow," Mrs. Weasley said, smiling fondly at Harry. His living arrangements had changed since Voldemort had been defeated, and he turned eighteen. "No, in fact, I expect to see all of you at least once this summer, so we don't forget what you look like. All of you have made me very proud, yes, you too, Hermione. I know you will all do well."
"We know you'll do well," came the voice of Ginger Granger, from the middle of the huge Weasley family.
Hermione smiled at her mum and dad, as they came up and hugged her. "Congradulations, baby. You're all grown up," Ginger said, as she handed Hermione a buquet of flowers.
"We're very proud of you, Hermione, and know you'll succeed in anything you do," Mike Granger said, kissing the top of her head. "Now, as you have graduated, and you're eighteen, we know you don't want to be living with your oldies anymore, so, as a graduation present, we give you this."
It was a key. Hermione took it, examining it. A key to a apartment. "Oh mum, dad, you really didn't have to give me this."
"Nonsense, Hermione, you deserved it. The flat is located in Diagon Alley, so you'll be able to be close to the world you love so much. We love you very much, Hermione," he said, hugging her tightly.
Hermione sighed in happiness as she turned around, to tell everyone the exciting news of owning her own flat.
XXX
"Ahh.. this is the life," Ron said, propping his feet up on the table infront of him.
They were in Hermione's new flat. Ron had already made himself comfortable, sitting on her brand new sectional.
"Feet off Ron!" she exclaimed, pushing his feet off the table. "It's brand new! I don't need scuff marks on my new table!"
Hermione had told Harry and Ron they were invited over anytime, that her home was their home.
Ron grinned as he stood up, examining all of her flat. Harry came around the corner. "It's big. You're lucky. Me and Ron still have to find places."
"Ah, it won't be too hard," Hermione said, setting tea out infront of them.
After awhile, Harry and Ron decided it was time to apparate back to the Burrow, and left Hermione to get packed in. Her parents were bringing the rest of her things over in the morning.
Hermione walked to her bedroom, placing clothes in her bereau, when she heard a soft tapping on her window. She turned, and saw a handsome black owl pecking on her window. Hermione raised her eyebrows, walking over to the window, letting it in. It fluttered down beside her, releasing the letter it was holding on her bed.
Hermione walked over, turning the letter over. She saw, in very elegant script, her name written. She turned the letter back over, opening it. She gasped when she opened the letter.
My Dearest Hermione,
Ever since I left you standing in the hall, I could never stop thinking about you.
I was heartbroken when you broke up with me. All I could think about was what I did wrong, and how I could fix it. I will never forget the hurt I saw in your eyes when you saw me with Sam. I will never forget the look of hurt and anger in your eyes when you told me you hated me, but, deep in your heart I know you didn't mean it.
What I want to say, Hermione, is I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. Sorry for taunting you all through school, sorry for my snide, cruel comments aimed toward you and your friends, sorry for cheating on you the way I did. I love you, Hermione, and I always will.
I'll never forget the wonderful times we spent together. I won't forget the first time we held hands, the first time we named our tree 'our tree,' the first time we made love. I won't forget your laugh, the softness of your face, the taste of your lips on mine. I won't ever forget you Hermione. You changed me, Hermione, to somebody I never thought I could be. You'll always be in my dreams, and one day, I hope you can find in your heart to forgive me for everything I've done to you.
I love you very much, Hermione, and you'll always fill a space in my heart. I love you.
Love,
Draco
I placed a hand to her mouth after I had finished reading the letter. Tears fell down my face as I brought the letter to my face, kissing it.
"I forgive you, Draco, I forgive you," I said over and over again. "I love you, I'll always love you."
I don't know what happened to him. That letter was the last I heard of Draco. I've never known what became of him, or where he was, or if he still thought of me. I still thought of him. Everyday I would see or hear something that reminded me of him. I could still hear his voice whispering in my ear, as we laid together so many times under the stars. I yearned to see his face again, feel his touch, but I knew he was gone from my life forever.
All I know now, is that I will always love him.
Forever.
The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath
And emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky
Never revealing their depth
And tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above
And I'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love's suicide
And I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life
And rain falls angry on the tin roof
As we lie awake in my bed
And you're my survival, you're my living proof
My love is alive, not dead
And tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love.
I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above
And I'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love's suicide
And I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life.
And I dropped out, I burned up, I fought my way back from the dead,
I tuned in, turned on, remembered the thing that you said.
And I'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love's suicide
And I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life
The greatest fan of your life.
Well... there you go! My last chapter in this story! I hope you liked it! What became of Draco? Why did he really leave? I plan on having a sequal to this story, but it is still untitled. The sequal will tell you what became of Draco and if Hermione and Draco ever get together.
I also reccomend this absolutely AWESOME stories called "Letters" "Please Take Me" and"Seduction"by Hyuga Kyuuketsuki, who is a great author, so be sure to check him out.They are allD/Hr fanfics, so you'll love 'em!
Thanks to all of my wonderful reviewers:
Midnite At Noon, who by the way, is really Samantha.. i loved your reviews, they cracked me up!
maixwolfblossom who I converted to D/Hr pairings.. muhahahha!
Gryffindors-Light- lol.. always got a review from you! Thanks!
XorderlyXchaosXnXconfusionX- who is writing an awesome fanfic, btw, check it out
Viktor Krum's lazyllama101 - love your name
LadyMalfoy730
Hyuga Kyuuketsuki- I hate you by the way! RAWR! Just joking... read his story!
rizahawkeye21 -
goldenbubbles
newslang08
Sugar'N'SpiceRin
sAngels
iluv2dance
ohlorditsamy
poo - great name... and thanks for your...er 'nice' review...
Heroi-xoverdose
meenajon
niekej
CcFire
gingybread121
Haunged-Shadows
caligirl248
SoDeeply
DracosPunkBabe
Fauxx
mishiimish
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GeekyAnnie
Rikku and Gippal forever
beaten broken wilted rose
xenija
atruwriter
mandy-jg
You guys really helped me with my story. You gave me ideas that I worked with, and produced something big. Thanks you so much, and keep watch for my sequal!
Thanks to you all, and keep reviewing! Toodles!
xOxO
MystikalFairy