Disclaimer - Characters owned by JK Rowling
Chapter Sixteen - Graduation
It was mid January and St Mungo's was preparing for the smallest graduation of Healers it had seen in a long time, but yet it was one of the most eagerly anticipated. There was a war hero, and a ex-Death Eater, and with the rebuilding and healing after the war still taking place, everyone was interested.
Hermione and Draco were sitting in her kitchen eating breakfast with Narcissa wondering about the day ahead, and exactly how much press there was going to be. They had been enjoying the normality of working, and getting on with their lives without any outside interference. They knew today that would change, hopefully only for a short time.
It had been last week when Hermione and Draco had had their first major argument when Draco had told Hermione that they should go separately to the graduation and that it would be ok if she kept her distance during the ceremony.
Flashback
Hermione and Draco were curled up on her sofa after a long day at St Mungo's. Draco was a little tense as he wanted to discuss the graduation ceremony with Hermione and he wasn't sure she'd be happy with what he had to say.
"Hermione" he said, turning slightly to look at her, "about graduation next week...I know you're nervous about it and the publicity that will go with it."
"So are you" Hermione replied "we'll deal with it together"
"We don't have to" he said while pulling away from her slightly, "I mean I won't be offended if you want to go with the Weasley's. Mother and I can attend separately, that way the publicity won't be as bad and..."
"And what act like I'm ashamed of you or us" Hermione shouted as she stood up. She knew something had been bothering Draco for the last few days and she had a feeling it was to do with their graduation ceremony. What she couldn't believe is that he wanted them to face it separately.
"I'm not ashamed" Draco retorted sharply, a bit surprised at how she had reacted. He knew she would be upset but he never thought she'd accuse him of being ashamed, "I'm just trying to make it easier for you. Everyone loves you, looks up to you, think about what it will do to your reputation to turn up with a death eater on your arm"
"YOU WERE NOT A DEATH EATER" Hermione yelled, "I've told you before, you were never tried or convicted, and any acts you were involved in was on fear of death."
"That's not what the rest of the world thinks"
"Who cares about the rest of the world"
Draco sighed and sat back down with his head in his hands. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at Hermione who was standing with her hands on her hips and her don't mess with me face. He stood and walked over to her, not daring to touch her "I love you" he said softly "and I am not going to let you ruin your reputation or your graduation by what will be written and said if you attend with me".
As he turned to walk towards the floo, Hermione spoke "They will find out eventually, or do you plan on this always being a dirty little secret. If you loved me you'd stand next to me regardless of what anyone will say, I'd do that for you"
Hermione then turned other heel and headed into her bedroom, instantly setting locking and silencing spells, so he wouldn't hear her break down.
Draco stood frozen to the spot as it slowly dawned on him just how much he had screwed up. He slowly made his way to the bedroom door, not expecting to be able to get in and giving a large sigh when he realised he was right.
Heading back to the sofa he lay down, watching the fire as he waited. Crookshanks came and curled up in front of the door, adding an extra layer of defence for Hermione. It was going to be a long night.
Hermione rolled over and looked so her alarm clock for the thousandth time, only 3am. After shutting herself in her room Hermione had paced up and down angrily before sitting on her bed and crying. She'd spent the last few hours lying on her back starring at the ceiling with the nights events going round and round in her head. She knew Draco was nervous about the graduation ceremony, well more about the publicity and public reaction to it. Even though Ron had apologised for his outburst, she knew Draco was scared of it happening again with someone else. She also knew that he was trying to protect her. There'd had been a few rumours at the hospital about their relationship / friendship and if, or rather when, the Daily Prophet ran a story it would only get worse.
Hermione had never cared about public opinion, she'd learnt not to care what people thought about her as long as those close to her knew the truth, and in this case they did. She also knew that it wouldn't just be her there to support Draco, the Weasley's would be there too, along with Narcissa and Andromeda. They would be one big group.
Sighing she got up to go make a cup of tea, sleep was not going to happen. Maybe the tea would help her figure out what to say to Draco.
Draco sat up as he heard the door open, Hermione gasping as she saw him. Crookshanks immediately moved in between the two and hissed in Draco's direction.
"It's all right Crooks" Hermione said stroking his head, as she moved past him, "tea?" She asked Draco
"Um yeah" he replied as he followed her into the kitchen.
"Hermione, I'm sorry I was..."
"An idiot" she supplied, turning to face him. Draco smiled and said, "well yeah".
"I know you had my best interests at heart, and in shouldn't have lost my temper, but I'm a big girl, I know what is likely to follow our graduation and I can deal with it, and I know you can too, you just need to believe in yourself as much as I do"
Draco gave her a sad smile, "I'll try but I don't want to see you hurt"
Hermione walked over to him and said "it will hurt more if you don't come with me". Draco pulled her into a hug, "then I'll come with you".
"Are we all meeting at St Mungo's Hermione dear" Narcissa asked
"Yes" she answered "it seemed the easiest way."
Just as Hermione finished talking there was a pop of apperation as Harry and Andromeda appeared in front of them.
"We thought you might like some company Cissa" Andromeda said with a smile.
"I'll see you all there" Harry announced before disappearing with a pop.
An hour later Draco and Hermione were sitting with their Trainee Healer colleagues and the Weasley's, Harry, Teddy, Andromeda and Narcissa were taking up a whole row, raising a few eyebrows at the fact that they were all sitting together.
"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen welcome to our graduation ceremony" Chief Healer Townsend announced "over the last few years our community has overcome horrific times that has inevitably made us stronger. Today we welcome 12 new Healers to St Mungo's. These 12 have spent the last year undertaking an intensive training program which has seen them work together and become one of the strongest graduating classes in recent memory. They have chosen to help people, to heal them and our community. I could not be prouder of them and the career they have chosen."
"To present their graduation certificates please welcome Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt"
Following a round of applause, Chief Healer Townsend began calling out the graduation classes names.
"Jessica Andrews"
"Thomas Church"
"Adrian Dench"
"Hermione Granger"
The Weasley's row erupted in applause and cheering, as did most of the auditorium. Hermione smiled as she walked up on to the stage to collect her certificate from Kingsley, before posing for the obligatory photo.
"Lucy Holmes"
"Daisy Hubbard"
"Katie Lane"
"Draco Malfoy"
Again the row of Weasley's and guests erupted in applause and cheers, which got more than a few strange looks from the rest of the audience. Draco smiled shyly to Kingsley as he handed him his certificate. As he stood for the photo he couldn't help but smile as he saw his family standing to applause him as well as Harry and the Weasley's. Teddy had even turned his hair blonde. He also saw Hermione wink at him with a smile.
Marcel O'Shea
Poppy Smith
George Thompson
Tabitha Weir
The graduation ceremony finished up with a final group photo of the graduates, the minister and chief healer. The graduates were then able to go and celebrate with their families and friends. Hermione and Draco gathered with their family and friends before heading for the floo to head to The Burrow to continue the celebration.
The next morning Hermione was making a cup of tea waiting for the Daily Prophet to arrive, when she heard her floo. She smiled and got out an extra cup to make another cup of tea before turning to see Draco standing in the doorway. She. handed him his tea, giving him a kiss on the cheek before taking a seat at the table. Just as Draco was about to take a seat a newspaper delivery owl tapped on the kitchen window. Draco put down his tea and collected the paper from the owl. As he turned around he saw Hermione smiling at him, "well let's hear it then" she said.
Draco took a seat next to her and unwrapped the paper, placing it on the table and sure enough a picture of them and their family and friends at the end of the ceremony graced the front page.
"St Mungo's Healer Graduation: The Match No-one Saw Coming"
Inside the secret romance of War Heroine Hermione Granger and the son of a convicted Death Eater Draco Malfoy by Lavender Finnigan
Yesterday St Mungo's held a graduation ceremony for its latest group of Healers, the first since the war, but the biggest story was the apparent relationship that has developed between the two most recognisable members of the class. It would appear that during their training course Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy have become romantically involved.
As shown in the below picture, family and friends of both parties sat together during the ceremony and all left to an undisclosed location following the ceremony. When speaking to their fellow classmates all confirmed that the pair were incredibly close and had often studied together and were often seen leaving together.
While there has been no official confirmation of the relationship it is apparent that the hate shown between the pair during their school years has turned into love.
See more inside:
The school years - Page 4-5
The war years - Page 6-7
What can we learn from the pairing - Page 8
"Well it could have been worse"
Draco smiled, "I was expecting a lot worse, maybe Lavender went easy on us"
"Or she expects the exclusive" Hermione smiled.
"Well she's not getting it" Draco answered
"I know, our private life is just that, private. Now feed Crookshanks while I get ready, we're taking your mum to lunch remember"
"I remember" Draco said with a quick kiss before finding the cat food, "and we're still eating in muggle London"
Hermione laughed as she left the room, yes her private life was private and she knew everyone would be watching them for a while but she wouldn't change it for the world.
AN: so its been a while, and I'm sorry. Thank you to all of you who have read and stuck with this story and me.
I hope you enjoyed it and felt it was worth the wait :)
