A/N: Thanks to FabMart, Sunshine72, Stargon1, foreverjuliet, MomsEscape, FairyTaleWolf6, StephanieTreat, atoumatoutou, & samanthakp for the follows/favorites, & thanks to Sunshine72, GinnyPotter6891, Stargon1, & HallowRain8587 for the reviews!
This is the last chapter, so I'd like to say an extra thank you to ALL of you who've read, followed, favorited, & reviewed my story - it really does mean a lot to me, & I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. If you're interested in more Potterverse fun, I've started another story - Part 1 is called "Circumstances of an Unexpected Trio", & I'll post the first few chapters after I finish posting this. As always, JKR owns everything you recognize. Please R&R, & enjoy! :)
The late June sunshine crept lazily across the sky and caressed the grounds for hours, and although the small group by the lake found themselves constantly bringing their arms up to shield their faces as they talked, they appreciated the beautiful weather. They'd been haunting the same spot near the dock every day since they'd finished their N.E.W.T.s, but they'd crossed their fingers for good weather today more than any other – it was the last day of term, and they were determined to enjoy it as much as they could.
"It's hard to believe it's all over," Hermione said softly as she absentmindedly fiddled with a wildflower she'd plucked from the lawn.
"What's all over?" Ginny asked.
"This." Hermione gestured towards the grounds with a sweep of her hand. "We're leaving tomorrow…and this time, we're not coming back."
"Well, aren't you just a right little ray of sunshine." Draco had been lying flat on his back near Hermione's feet, fingers laced behind his head as he stared up at the sky, but he shifted and propped himself up on his elbows to look at her as he spoke. "You really think we're leaving for good?"
"As much as I don't want to say it, our Hogwarts careers are over," Hermione reminded him. "When we get on that train tomorrow, that's it." Draco snorted.
"Please, Granger. I don't know who you're kidding, but you'll be back. After all, this place does have one of the biggest libraries in all of Wizarding Britain." He paused to smirk at her, then continued, "You're not coming back as a student, no, but I wouldn't be surprised if you came back as a teacher – nothing will keep Hogwarts' favorite know-it-all from these hallowed halls of learning for long."
"Draco, I can't teach fresh out of Hogwarts!" Hermione said, blushing furiously at his backhanded compliments.
"Maybe not, but you wouldn't do that anyway – you'll go off, spend a few years saving the world – or underprivileged creatures, or first-years, or whatever you Gryffindors are into saving these days – do some sort of impressive internship while simultaneously taking education courses, and then come back to impart your wisdom on our next generation. How's that sound?"
"Better watch out there, Drake," Blaise said as he looked up from his book. "You keep talking like that, and people will actually think you're friends with Hermione here."
"Don't be ridiculous," Draco scoffed. "People won't have to think it, coz they'll already know it." He winked at Hermione, who flushed again – it really was a shame they hadn't been able to become friends sooner; getting her all flustered was so much fun.
"What are you going to do after tomorrow, Draco?" Lisa asked, briefly looking up at him from the elaborate braid she was creating on Ginny's head. Several of them had already shared their post-Hogwarts plans – Lisa had an entry-level position in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Ginny was freaking out about her upcoming tryout with the Holyhead Harpies, Neville had a Herbology apprenticeship lined up with Professor Sprout, and Blaise was considering offers from several different Ministry departments – but the blonde had so far kept quiet during those discussions. His response was to shrug.
"Not really sure," he said. "I was considering training as a Healer, but that would depend on my N.E.W.T. grades…and I'm not overly excited about some of the stuff they do. The initial Healer training covers pretty much everything, and do I really want to waste several more years of rigorous schooling on something that's not going to make me happy?"
"Fair point," Lisa conceded. "My cousin is a Healer, and she had to successfully complete the initial training program before she could even consider applying to one of their specialized programs. I mean, it's great that they're so rigorous – I've been to St. Mungo's a few times for minor things, and I've always felt better knowing that the Healers really are the best at what they do – but you have to really want to commit to it completely." She paused and looked thoughtful for a moment as she considered Ginny's braid. "I've always been under the impression that you liked Potions – what about doing something related to that?"
"I do like Potions – it's one of my favorite subjects," Draco admitted, "but I have no idea how I'd turn that into a career. I don't really see myself as the next Snape." Blaise snorted, and Draco gave him a look that made him very glad he was out of the blonde's reach.
"What about their apprenticeships?" Hermione asked. Draco looked as if he didn't know how to respond.
"What do you mean?" he finally asked.
"I'll assume that you either didn't discuss Healing as an option at your career advice meeting in fifth year, or you weren't paying attention to what Snape told you," Hermione replied with a smirk. "St. Mungo's doesn't just employ Healers – they have all sorts of other specialists working there, especially helping to develop cures and things like that. They offer apprenticeships in half a dozen different areas, one of which is Potions. The program is just as demanding as the Healer trainee course, but as the focus is different, it's more specialized from the start. If you're really that interested, it might be worth looking into."
"As much as I love the fact that we're making breakthroughs with regards to Draco's career choices, this whole conversation is rather depressing for my liking," Ginny interrupted. "Real life can wait till tomorrow, but this lovely afternoon waits for no one – who's up for a swim?"
The next morning was a bittersweet one as the eighth years packed up the last of their belongings for the final time. After breakfast, they stayed in the common room for as long as they dared – they knew they'd have to head down to the carriages soon, but nobody seemed keen to leave the place that had helped bond the unlikely group. They were lounging on the couches, not really talking about anything in particular, when Hermione stumbled out of the girls' dormitory, her arms weighed down by a number of identical packages. Wordlessly, she set them on the homework table and passed each to its proper owner after a glance at the tags.
"Hermione, you didn't have to give us anything," Neville began, but Hermione held up her hand in a silent plea for him to keep quiet, and he obliged.
"Please, just open them," she requested. They did so, and each member of the group found themselves holding a small leather-bound book. The words Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Eighth Years, 1998-1999 were stamped on the cover in smooth gold lettering, and when they opened the front cover, they discovered the books were actually photo albums. The first page held a photo Ginny had taken just the day before – the eighth years stood in a line on the sloping lawn by the lake, their arms draped casually around one another's shoulders as they grinned at the camera. They'd worn their House robes for old time's sake, and as Hermione had somehow managed to develop the photos in color, they noticed for the first time how well the House colors actually complemented one another. There was a short note underneath the photo, and Draco couldn't help the small smile that graced his lips as he took in the familiar neat handwriting:
Draco,
When one door closes, another door opens – I hope you'll excuse the Muggle saying, but I felt it appropriate. Thanks for being a part of my open door and for letting me be a part of yours in turn. Keep in touch.
Love from Hermione
"Always hits the nail on the head, that girl," he murmured to himself as he flicked through the album. It was obvious she'd been taking pictures all year, and he suspected each person's album was slightly different based on Hermione's interactions with them. Some of the photos were still life shots – their common room, the library, the grounds as seen from the Astronomy Tower, the Great Hall, Hogsmeade, and a truly spectacular shot of the castle itself – but the majority of the pictures featured any number of the eighth years and their friends. There was a whole page dedicated to Phoenix Rising, the photo of the team with the Quidditch Cup displayed prominently in the middle. A frustrated Blaise lost a game of Wizard's chess to Justin in one photo, and Susan and Lisa laughed uproariously over a joke Neville had told in another. There were even several photos from their trip into the Forest, although Draco had no idea how Hermione had obtained these – taken them through a Pensieve, perhaps? She'd most likely done the same to get the shot of him playing the piano and the one of the two of them in front of the war memorial. One of his personal favorites featured himself and Hermione during their duel in Defense class – their photograph selves were flinging hexes at each other with lightning speed and looked a little worse for the wear, but the looks of pure ecstasy on their faces made Draco feel like he was living the duel all over again. It was easily one of his favorite memories from this year.
"Hermione, I don't know what to say," Susan said quietly. "These are incredible. You really didn't have to do this."
"Yes, I did," Hermione countered. "This was easily one of my best years here, and all because of you guys. I had no idea what to expect when I decided to come back, but I'm really glad I did."
"Don't go getting all sappy on us, Granger," Draco said, but his eyes told her he understood what she meant. It was probably safe to say they'd all experienced their best year at Hogwarts this year, and he secretly admitted that it was better than he ever could've imagined.
"We should probably be heading down soon," Justin said rather reluctantly as he glanced at the mantle clock. "The train's leaving in half an hour." The rest of the students murmured in agreement and tucked their albums under their arms – as per usual, their trunks were already in the entrance hall, waiting to be transported to Hogsmeade Station. With one last glance around the empty common room, they left.
"Granger, can I talk to you for a second?" Draco asked once he'd shut the door behind him.
"Um…sure? It can't wait till we're on the train?"
"No, I want to show you something." He turned to the rest of the group. "We'll catch you up in a minute – save us a seat?" Neville nodded, and he, Lisa, Blaise, Susan, and Justin headed down the corridor, leaving Draco and Hermione alone.
"What's all this about, Draco?" Hermione asked as Draco led the way down the corridor in the opposite direction from their friends.
"Well, I don't really have a parting gift for you, but I did have something I wanted to show you." He pushed open the door of their old Defense classroom, which was closest, and said, "This'll do." Confused, Hermione followed him into the room and perched on the edge of a desk. With a flick of his wand, Draco dimmed the lights, leaving the classroom in a state of semi-darkness.
"You'll be able to see it better this way," he explained.
"See what?" Hermione asked, still unsure of where this was going.
"This." Draco turned to face her, raised his wand, and said, "Expecto Patronum!" Hermione's eyes widened in recognition and then delight as the silver light burst from his wand. The little animal paused in front of her, sitting up on its hind legs and cocking its head to one side as it studied her. When Hermione realized just what the creature was, she burst into a fit of giggles.
"Yes, the form is rather unfortunate," Draco said sardonically. The ferret turned to face its conjurer, looking insulted.
"Oh, Draco, this is wonderful!" Hermione said once her laughter had subsided. "This is a great surprise, thank you. And the form isn't really all that surprising, really."
"And why not?" Draco asked, sounding rather affronted.
"No, I wasn't thinking of that – although it is a rather amusing coincidence," she said with a small snicker. "If I'm not being too nosey, what memory did you use?"
"You are being too nosey, but I'll tell you anyway," he teased. "It was of you."
"Me?"
"Yes, you," he said seriously. "In spite of all the horrible things I did to you, you still found it in you to give me a second chance. You stood up for me when most everybody else wanted to lock me up for life, and you approached me of your own accord here and extended your hand. I don't know what I did to deserve your friendship, but…thank you," he finished awkwardly, flushing slightly.
"Who knew Draco Malfoy had a sweet side?" Hermione said, giving him a teasing smile. "You know why I did those things, Draco, and I'm glad I did. No, it's interesting that your Patronus takes that particular form because…" She drew her own wand. "Expecto Patronum!" Her Patronus came forth to join Draco's, the two animals regarding one another curiously.
"It's an otter," she said in response to Draco's questioning look, "my favorite animal."
"What does your Patronus being your favorite animal have to do with mine being…what it is?" he asked.
"Otters and ferrets are related," Hermione replied. "I think it's rather fitting, don't you?" He smiled then and reached out to take Hermione's extended hand.
"Rather fitting indeed, Granger. Now, I do believe we've got a train to catch." Without letting go of each other's hands, they waved their wands to extinguish their Patronuses and left the classroom.
If anyone had tried to tell Hermione Granger just a short time ago that she'd spend her last day at Hogwarts walking the corridors hand-in-hand with Draco Malfoy, she'd have thought the informant insane – however, a lot had changed since they'd first come to Hogwarts, and many more changes were yet to come. They were no longer a Mudblood and a former Death Eater, or even a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, but two friends leaving a place that had undoubtedly played a huge part in their young lives. Their friendship certainly wasn't going to fix everything – and Hermione couldn't deny that the Wizarding world still had a long way to go – but as she and Draco made their way downstairs, laughing to themselves about something Ginny had said at breakfast, she smiled at the thought that they'd at least taken a step in the right direction.