Disclaimer:- I neither earn nor own anything from this story except my plot. Harry Potter and his world are the intellectual property of JK Rowling and her associates.
A/N:- Thank you to LadyWinterlight, for her beta work on this chapter, and to everyone for their reviews and alerts, I appreciate every one of them. Now, I know that this story is becoming rather angsty, but there is hope on the horizon, never fear dear readers. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Chapter Seven – Graduation Day
The day of the graduation ceremony probably dawned for most as a hazy blur of what had happened last night. However, on the whole this was not the case for Hermione, although she did wake from a rather vividly sexual dream.
"Draco," she moaned as her eyes opened slowly, but then she abruptly sat up and gasped. She was alone, and it was a dream. "No," she huffed, flopping back down again. Another sigh left her lips and she glanced at the clock. It was only six. "Oh god," she breathed, rubbing her hands over her face. "I truly am going to go mad if my mind starts doing this to me," she muttered to the empty room.
Images and words filled her mind, and she closed her eyes again to see Draco in his naked glory, and what her mind conjured was lovely. She wanted to sink back into her dream, but then reality crashed in on her fantasy and she threw her legs over the side of the bed, sitting up; indulging in fantasies was not wise.
Throwing on some running gear she wandered out to make coffee, but of course coming into the little kitchenette only reminded of her weakness from last night. While her one kiss with Draco was going to be a treasured memory, in the light of day she also realised that it had been a very stupid lapse in her control.
She needed to clear her head, so with her first coffee of the day in her system she left, and taking every shortcut she knew—because running in the halls was forbidden—she made it to the front doors, and she was off. Taking off into the courtyard she decided that a run around the Black Lake was in order.
xox
As Hermione was making her way around the lake at Hogwarts, Ron was standing at the small window in their room at Lavender's parent's home. He glanced back at Lavender who was still asleep in the bed, and he sighed.
Lavender had come home yesterday to break the news to her parents that she was expecting, and he was pleased that she'd decided to do that. There had been no way that he could have risked her going to the graduation ball last night, although he knew that she'd been torn by the decision to leave before it. He hadn't been, didn't need to go to some stupid graduation ceremony anyway. He'd still get his results, and all term he'd been frantically trying to keep Lavender and Hermione separate. However, the upside was that now he was safely here in Devon before his mother learned that he'd left, and a little chuckle tickled over his lips, but then he sighed.
He looked at the unsigned contract on the table, and he wished that he could have Hermione look at it before he signed it, but that wasn't an option because she was going to be boiling mad with him now. He'd left her, and stood her up. Well, what does she expect? A part of his brain asked. She's hardly made herself available to me, has she? I have needs, and he glanced back at the naked witch in the bed. Needs that Lav fills perfectly, and I was happy to have the simple hand-bonding ceremony with her at the ministry annex here last night.
He sighed. I guess I need to sign the contract, it's too late to worry about 'Mione. Mum will just have to lump it. Anyway, I don't need Hermione now I don't have homework to worry about anymore, but saying that, even in his head, made his stomach clench awkwardly. His mother was going to go bananas. He'd have to go home in a few days and try to explain things to the people there, but right now he had a perfectly excellent naked witch in his bed, and he walked back over to his wife and gently touching her distended stomach, he started rubbing it.
Lavender's glamours to hide her condition had been starting to fail as her magic changed with her pregnancy, and she'd only just made it through her last exam before they'd made a hasty exit from the school, and he'd apparated her to Devon.
She'd insisted that he return and do his Defence exam, and he'd agreed to meet her last night after his exam was over. Her parents hadn't been pleased with their daughter's condition when she arrived, but they'd settled down when Ron arrived last evening and they'd been married quietly.
In three months he was going to be a father, and he couldn't wait. Ron had always wanted enough children to have his own Quidditch team, and his hand ventured down under Lavender's belly to rub, and he smiled when she groaned softly in her sleep and opened her legs more.
xox
By the time she'd made a circuit around the lake, Hermione was ready for an early breakfast. To her surprise when she arrived in The Great Hall, Ginny and Harry were already there.
"Hello," she said, flopping down opposite them. She'd used a freshening spell on herself, but she was being careful just in case.
"Been for a run?" Harry asked.
She nodded as Ginny said, "Have you heard from Ron?"
Her eyes narrowed, and her nod changed into a head shake. "No, I haven't."
Ginny leant across the table and whispered, "Mum's going to be incandescent with rage."
"Mmm," Hermione agreed, but then smiled at Harry. "What was Professor Dawlish talking to you about last night?" she asked.
"He's retired from active service, but he runs an elite Auror program for The Aurory, and he's offered me a place in it."
Hermione squealed. "That's great, are you going to accept?"
Harry grinned and glanced at a smiling Ginny. "Already have."
"Oh, Harry, that's great."
"What about you?" Ginny asked, placing her hand over Hermione's.
Hermione smiled. "Professors Babbling and Vector have offered me a double mastery here at Hogwarts."
"And have you accepted?" Harry asked.
"I told them I'd consider it, but yes, I'm planning to accept," but her lip slipped between her teeth.
"What?" Ginny asked.
"They can't offer me accommodation here, so I'll have to find somewhere to live."
"That's easy, you can stay with us. After all, you and Ron are going to be married. It makes sense."
"Yes, I guess so," Hermione replied slowly. She wasn't so certain about that anymore, or that Ron was going to want… well, he'd taken off last night without a thought for her, and she shrugged. Then there was what had happened with Draco, Hermione was fairly certain that she could not allow Ron to even touch her again after that, but she was brought from her thoughts by Ginny's voice.
"Harry and me are going to live at home until he's working properly." She leant forward again and whispered. "And I'm going to be in with Harry, so you and Ron can have my room."
"Mmm," Hermione hummed once more. Hermione wasn't too sure that Molly would allow that, but she smiled at them anyway. "Well, I want to have a last look at my speech before the start of the ceremony, so I'll catch you later," she said, grabbing another piece of toast.
"Okay, see you," they answered together as she got up to leave. She was just about to start walking away when she turned back.
"Do you think that one of us should give Molly the news that Ron's left before the ceremony?"
Harry shrugged. "I'm sure he'll be back in time. I mean it was only an interview, they won't need him straight away."
"Yes, I guess you're right, but I feel badly that she doesn't know," Hermione said, but then her eyes narrowed, "And I'm bloody livid with him, stupid git," she added.
"You're not the only one," Ginny put in. "If he doesn't turn up Mum's going to be on the warpath, and that means we're all going to cop it."
Hermione sighed. "Then let's hope he doesn't let us down," and she started to walk away, knowing full well that there was every likelihood that he would not care one bit about letting them all face his mother's wrath in his place.
xox
At ten o'clock, Hermione was sitting next to Draco on the raised stage constructed where the high table usually resided. The pair of them were on the end of the line of teachers as the student representatives.
"I saw you being approached by Professor Vector and that other professor last night," Draco murmured as they waited for things to get started.
Hermione smiled at him, and said happily, "They've both offered me a mastery."
"Oh, that's wonderful," Draco replied, genuinely happy for her. "So, you'll be here at Hogwarts?" He would be happy if she wasn't living with Weasley.
"Yes, but not living here. The apprentice's quarters are still on the 'to be rebuilt' list," she said, using discreet air-quotes.
"Then where will you be living?" he asked, his brow furrowing with concern.
"Probably at The Burrow, and I'll be Flooing in daily."
Draco did not like the idea of Hermione living in that rabbit warren, and wished it was in his power to change that circumstance. He glanced out over the graduating class for said redheaded menace.
"Did you find out what happened to Weasley last night?" he asked.
"No, he still hasn't turned up, and I'm pretty annoyed with him."
Draco cackled softly. "I suspect you will be often."
Hermione's eyes narrowed, but the headmistress choose that moment to rise, so she did not get the chance to rebut him. Her eyes remained looking out over the people gathered, but she heard his decadent chuckle at her irritation over it and it sent a wave of need surging through her.
He knew he'd won; she was too much of a rule follower to comment when she should be listening. He didn't even bother to look for Astoria in the crowd, he knew she'd be glowering at him, she always was and he didn't care. Nor did he care what her parents or sister thought, and he glanced down to where his mother was sitting and gave her a half smile instead.
Narcissa returned the expression. Her astute gaze had been watching her son and the young woman sitting next to him. Today was her first journey into the public sphere since her return, and the Greengrass family had been quick to ingratiate themselves on her upon her arrival here. It had left a sour taste in her mouth.
They came across as sycophants and fools, and on meeting her soon to be daughter-in-law, Narcissa had found her to be someone totally unsuitable for her son, and she had decided then and there that she would find a way out of it for him. That resolve had just become even more firm now, watching Draco and Hermione Granger together. It had reinforced her resolve, as despite their history, she would happily welcome Hermione as a daughter-in-law.
It had been the height of the first wizarding war when the agreement between the Greengrass and Malfoy families had been made, and at the time Narcissa had wanted to fight against Draco being sold off, but it was pure-blood tradition. She'd remained silent to save herself and her small son, but it had been difficult. She'd hated her own marriage, and had daily longed to flee. Her sister had escaped an arranged marriage, but that had only been fortunate circumstance. There were only two ways that she knew off to void a marriage contract, and even fewer ways to end the marriage once it was set in stone, so simply leaving had not been an option.
However, many things had changed now; Narcissa had been reunited with Andromeda the day of the battle and they'd made a pact of their own. She glanced at her sister now, seated on the podium. It was so good to have a family member as support again, and while Narcissa had been in Azkaban, Andie had written constantly. She'd also supplied her with a steady stream of books, and Narcissa had been studying law and judicial practice; this was continuing now she was out of prison.
At first, she was only interested in extraditing herself from her own marriage, but that had just taken on a wider mandate. Divorce was now an option that had recently opened up after the war, and Narcissa was taking full advantage of it, and while she was ridding herself of her own odious marriage, she would use the legal team she had only this week assembled to rid her son of his unwanted tether as well.
Furthermore, she would befriend and sponsor Miss Hermione Granger, and shepard her so to speak, because what she had just witnessed passing between Draco and the witch had done her heart good where her son was concerned. She'd seen in them a real happiness with one another that did not often show itself. There was another reason too, the Malfoy family owed Hermione Granger—along with many other people—but Narcissa was determined to do the right thing by the witch who had suffered so at their hands.
As Narcissa was considering all this, and the fact that as soon as she was strong enough she would need to make a trip to Switzerland to see to the state of their finances, the ceremony continued, and speeches were being made as the teachers handed out their medals.
Hermione won the medal for Arithmancy, and Runes, as well as Astronomy, but Draco won for Potions and Transfiguration. Harry took the Defence medal and Pansy won the Charms prize. The other subject medals were handed out, and then the lesser medals were awarded.
All was going fine until Madam Hooch rose and announced that Ronald Weasley was the winner of the Hogwarts Quidditch medal and there was no one receive the prize.
Then they heard Molly's confused voice murmur in the silence, "Where's Ron?"
Hermione was still too angry with Ron to accept his medal for him, and finally, after a quick look at Hermione, Ginny rose and received the medal on her brother's behalf. As she started to walk back down off the podium her eyes met her mother's, and she saw Molly wearing a stony—you better have a good explanation for this—expression. Ginny slid back into her seat beside Harry and whispered, "I wish a hasty exit was our best option."
"Oh dear," Harry replied, and they both glanced quickly over into the audience to Molly, who had Teddy on her lap, and then their eyes moved to Hermione. They saw Hermione's eyes narrow further, and they knew that all hell was about to break loose.
"I could cheerfully kill Ron about now," Ginny murmured as the ceremony kept going and they watched Hermione win the librarian's prize and clapped.
xox
As soon as everything was finished, Molly handed Teddy off to Arthur and stormed towards Minerva. "Where is Ronald?" she demanded.
Minerva had seen Molly's question building, and she was prepared. "Whilst it is normal for students to attend their own graduation, there are three of the number of adult students who chose to leave as soon as their exams were finished. They will still receive their NEWT results," she assured her angry friend.
Molly was quite taken back by Minerva's words, and she wasn't certain of what to say.
"They are adults," Minerva ventured. She knew one had to stop Molly before she managed to get the upper hand in the debate.
"That's arguable," Molly muttered, but then she seemed to come to her senses. "However, you are correct, my apologies, Minerva, I was just shocked that he wasn't here," she managed to say.
Minerva squeezed Molly's arm. "That's understandable, dear. Perhaps, Harry, Ginevra or Hermione may know more than I do."
"Yes… Yes, you're right," Molly said as Arthur arrived at her side after giving Teddy back to Andromeda.
"I told you that's what she'd say," he murmured. "Come on, let's congratulate everyone."
They approached Ginny and Harry, who were talking with Professor Dawlish.
"Hello, John," Arthur said.
"Arthur, Molly," John Dawlish replied. "You have a very talented young man here as a prospective son-in-law," he added, patting Harry on the back.
"Yes, we know, John," Arthur said, watching Harry blush. "Gin, your mother would like a word, please," he said, giving Ginny a significant look.
"Sure, Dad, of course," Ginny stated. "Excuse me please," she said to Harry and John, as she took Molly's arm.
"Where is he?" Molly demanded, as soon as they'd reached a quiet corner.
Ginny sighed. "He left last night before the ball… Hermione is livid," and she sighed again. "But we thought he'd come back, Harry said he only went to an interview in Devon with the Cannons."
Molly remained silent but her eyes searched the hall for Hermione. She saw her talking with two professors. "Didn't he talk to Hermione before… Didn't they discuss?"
"We only know where he is because Harry caught him taking off out their dorm window. He stood 'Mione up last night, and well she was a bit humiliated I think."
"That's understandable," Molly agreed. "I'll go and talk to her."
Molly turned to leave, but Ginny caught her arm. "Mum, none of this is Hermione's fault. They just don't seem to be a good match, they're certainly not a partnership."
Molly shrugged. "Everyone's different, Gin. They'll be fine," she said before walking towards Hermione.
Ginny watched her go, and she shook her head. She was pretty certain that the fact that Ron hadn't returned meant that he was ending things with Hermione, this coupled with the fact that they had spent little to no time together during term. Ginny was not stupid, she knew that if Hermione wasn't filling his baser needs, then he was filling those needs somewhere else… but that wasn't her call to make. He was a shallow bloke.
xox
"Hermione?" Molly said to gain her attention.
Hermione smiled as she turned. "Excuse me please, Professors, I'll see you both soon."
"Excellent," Septima replied. "You'll receive our lists for your holiday reading as well as your indenture papers to sign by Monday," she added, and held out her hand. "Congratulations on your decision, my dear."
Hermione smiled as she shook Septima's hand, and she turned as Bathsheda started to speak.
"Yes, welcome aboard," and she also offered her hand.
Having organised her future, Hermione beamed as she turned to Molly. "I've just agreed to a dual mastery apprenticeship. I'm so happy, Molly," she said excitedly.
Despite her anger Molly was very happy for her, but as she pulled her into a hug, she asked, "So, you'll still be living here next year?"
"No," Hermione replied, pulling back, but then her lip slipped between her teeth, and she sighed. "I will be here only for my apprenticeship, there is nowhere for me to live here until the appropriate quarters are replaced.
Molly smiled. "Then you shall live with us," she asserted. This will give me the time to find out what was going on, she thought to herself.
"Thank you, Molly, but I don't know… Ron and I haven't talked much this term. I've been busy with study and he's been busy with Quidditch. I didn't know he was going to leave."
"He'll come back, and all will be fine, you'll see," Molly stated, a look of determination on her face.
Hermione nodded, but she wasn't so certain about that, but just then she saw Pansy and Blaise looking like they were about to leave. "Excuse me, please, I can see some people leaving that I want to say goodbye to. I'll do that and go and collect my things and come back."
"Very well," Molly agreed, already looking for Arthur in the quickly thinning crowd.
xox
As she raced up the stairs towards her quarters after bidding Pansy and Blaise goodbye, Hermione spared a thought for the fact that she'd done it; she'd completed her Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests, and she smiled. Yes, there had been points when this had all seemed so unattainable, but now, regardless of what her results were going to be, she had a secure future.
Then her personal situation came back into the forefront of her mind. She had missed Draco leaving the hall, but she hoped that he wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, even if she was dreading that happening, and of course this thought was chased by guilt. She was technically still attached to Ron, even though she'd already decided that his actions within the past twenty-four hours had been the final nail in the coffin that was their relationship.
She hurriedly opened the door to their common room, still deep in thought, but she was brought up short seeing Narcissa Malfoy sitting elegantly on the lounge.
"Hello, Miss Granger," the blonde witch stated evenly.
"Madam Malfoy," Hermione replied, glancing around.
"Draco is collecting his belongings. He was hoping to see you before we leave," she said, answering Hermione's unspoken question. "In fact, I was hoping to speak with you too," she continued, patting the lounge beside her.
Hermione's eyes narrowed slightly in puzzlement, but she walked forward and perched on the other end of the lounge.
"I understand you have secured a dual mastery," Narcissa started. "Congratulations, Severus would be very pleased."
"S-Severus… Professor Snape?" Hermione gasped.
"Yes," Narcissa said, and what could only be described as a sad smile past over her lips. "He was not the monster you might suppose… Many of us were not, but we did had to live up to expectations if we wished to survive… And in the process those of us who had the disposition to were trying and make this world a better one by our clandestine acts." Her blue eyes took on an expression of distaste. "Your incarceration in my husband's house at the end of the war is one of my worst memories, and I have seen some awful things. In short, I wish to make amends," she stated clearly.
"That is not necessary, Madam Malfoy… Really," Hermione insisted.
Narcissa reached forward and covered Hermione's hand where it sat in her lap. "Oh, but it is, my dear. I would be very pleased to receive you at my townhouse," and she pushed her card into Hermione's hand. "Shall we say, Wednesday next week at two o'clock? Please say you'll come, Andromeda and little Theodore will also be there."
Hermione nodded in acquiescence. "Of course. Thank you, but now I best collect my things too," but she had just turned to go to her room when Draco appeared out of his. She took him in from head to toe, and her lip slipped between her teeth as their eyes caught one another's. This was it; this was goodbye.
"I will go and make our goodbyes, Draco," Narcissa said, and taking up her elegant silver-filigree and rosewood walking cane she rose from the lounge and walked from the room.
It was a fair bet that neither of them heard her, and she smiled to herself as she closed the door and started back down towards The Great Hall.
Back inside the room the now ex head boy and girl were still looking at one another, and eventually Draco reached forward and pulled her into his arms. He held her tightly. "I wish we were together," he murmured.
Hermione swallowed, but no words would come out, she was too busy inhaling his scent, desperately trying to memorise it.
He drew in what sounded like a heavy sigh, and he said, "My prospective father-in-law," and the bitterness leaked through his words, "has just informed me that I will be married over the summer break. I thought I had another year before anything would be forced on me."
"Oh, Draco, I'm so sorry," Hermione managed to say, but then she pulled back slightly, and her astute eyes questioned him, even as all hope for something already unattainable metaphorically crashed into her stomach making it feel like a hole had just been created inside her. "But why would they suddenly change an arrangement that has been in place since you were babies?"
Draco shrugged, he was too wound up in his own misery to hear what she was saying. "I hate my father for doing this to me," he muttered.
Hermione sighed. "It will do no good to hate him," and she pulled away a little more to see his eyes better. She slid her hands up to cradle his face. "Did you even hear what I said?" she asked.
"What?" he replied passionately, becoming lost in looking at her.
"An arrangement that has been set in stone for seventeen years is suddenly changed," Hermione answered. "Doesn't that make you at least a little suspicious?"
He watched her intently, but then slowly nodded. "You're right, by Merlin you are right."
"It has sometimes been known to happen," she muttered, smiling at him.
"Oh, you wonderful witch. You're right. I must speak with Mother." He tore away from her but then quickly reached forward and pulled her back into his arms, his lips landed on hers and she was instantly lost.
Gods she loved this man, and she was overcome with the feel of his lips on hers, and she moaned softly as she opened to him. All reason fled and he was backing her towards the wall beside her bedroom door.
"I want you," he groaned between kisses.
"Oh, Draco," Hermione replied, winding her leg up around his thigh as they continued to kiss.
Her action opened her to him, and his hand took instant advantage.
"Merlin, I've dreamed of this moment," he groaned. "I was hard all night after our kiss in the kitchen."
Hermione did not answer but her lips attached to his again, and she sighed into their kiss when his fingers slipped under the elastic of her underwear and started exploring. Their kiss became frenzied and then he was rubbing her so perfectly that she tore her mouth away from his and she threw her head back as a scream of want broke from her mouth. "Please," she pleaded. "Please… I need you."
He didn't need to be asked twice, and quickly released himself from his trousers and impaled her. They both sighed as their flesh became one.
"Yes," she cried. "Oh, Draco, yes."
As he started thrusting, he lifted her legs up around his waist. "I love you," he groaned. "I love you so fucking much," and with his declaration he tightened his grip on her and started driving into her.
She clung to him, meeting his every stroke into her. "I love you too," she managed breathily.
"Then we'll find a way," he told her, lost in the moment, his heated breath in her ear driving her wild.
They both came together, and slid to the floor a tangle of legs and arms, panting. As their post orgasmic haze started to lift, they looked at one another.
"Will we really find a way?" she asked, still clinging to him.
"We will," Draco assured her, planting kisses over her face.
Finally, Hermione said, "I could never accept mediocre after what we've just done, but you still have to get free from your commitment. I will not be your little bit on the side. I'm sorry, but I have my principles."
Draco gasped. "I would never ask you… I have too much respect for you to treat you like that… Your principles are part of the reason I love you."
Hermione smiled sadly. "Draco, you can't keep saying that."
He pursed his lips. "Can't I?" he asked innocently. "It's true."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "I know, but tell me again once you're free," she told him.
He laughed. "The very moment." He kissed her again. "I will get free, love, and I will have you," he said between kisses. "Thank you," he said after a heated exchange. "You've just given me some hope, we'll have to lay low until this is sorted, but Mother told me on the way up here that she is not going to allow them to press me into a marriage that is beneath me."
"I'm pleased," Hermione said, starting to straighten.
Draco helped her up and then tucked himself back into his trousers. Then he immediately pulled her back into his arms. "When will I see you again?"
Hermione thought it best not to tell him that she would be at his mother's townhouse on Wednesday. "I don't know," she replied. "I suppose that you will have to continue on as you are now while a way out is investigated."
He sighed. "Yes, I suppose I will. I will miss you every moment," he said.
Her hand arrived softly on his cheek. "Yes, me too," she whispered, but then she looked up at him seriously. "Draco, I will break it off with Ron either way." She shrugged. "Although, I'm pretty certain that he's abandoned me anyway, but I will make sure he understands that I'm not his anymore."
He sighed. "Thank you, and I will obtain alternative accommodation for you," he stated.
"No, it's best that you just concentrate on your own needs at present."
"I need you," he said plainly as he nodded his acknowledgement of her comment.
"And I you."
"I want to make certain you're safe."
"I'll be fine, as long as I know we'll get to do this again soon," and she looked up at him. "I better go," she whispered. She didn't want to but she knew she should.
He loosened his hold on her, but his lips started adoring her face. "Then go," he whispered.
She closed her eyes, wanting nothing more than to sink into his embrace once more.
"You haven't gone," he murmured, his lips teasing hers seductively.
She swallowed, and tried to find the words, but none would come. She stepped back. "I will see you again soon," she replied after a time.
"Yes," he replied.
"Good bye," she whispered, and slipped to the side, opening her bedroom door.
His answer followed her into her room. "I'll see you soon."
Hermione leant up against the back of her bedroom door with a half-smile lighting her face, but then suddenly gasped and cast a post-coitus contraceptive charm on herself, she was not going to damage his family's reputation by their impulsive act.
She wasn't certain how long she stood there, but eventually she pushed herself off the door and set her belongings to pack themselves while she freshened up. Was there a possible loophole? Oh, how she wished that there was… But what would it be?
