Empty Spaces

Chapter 60

"No, that's not right," she spoke up, fuming, "Absolutely not. Draco, you did NOT just spend four months studying your ass off for some idiot to just take this away from you– Oh! Sorry! Hello, Professor, how– how can we help you??" Hermione squeaked, visibly mortified at her choice of language as she noticed Flitwick approaching their group.

"Just a word with Mister Malfoy, Miss Granger," Flitwick said, gesturing for Draco to come off to the side, "It has come to my attention that your practical results have been marked as null and void due to a biased examination. If you are able to stay, Sable Goldhorn has agreed to reissue your practical."

It was magic to Draco's ears. Tired and angry as he was, he'd been given another chance and goddamn it, he was taking it. Lucius and Hemlock can both go fuck off. I'm doing this. I've earned it.

Goldhorn apparently felt the need to compensate for what she clearly viewed as her colleague's lack of tact, and although Draco found her sympathy irritating at times, it was a significant improvement over Hemlock's blatant dislike. When it was all over, she even apologized on behalf of the Board of Examiners, saying she'd never seen anything like that in all the years she'd been doing this, and that Draco shouldn't worry about his first results at all.

"It will be fine dear," she reassured, "I wasn't the only one who saw what he was trying to do to you. It's our job to deliver a fair and unbiased examination to every student who stands before us. Now off you go, and– between just the two of us– well done, young man!"

It was truly over. Draco didn't quite know how he felt yet– relieved, perhaps? There was no rush of revelation, no sudden joy. Draco figured the emotional chaos of taking two extremely different versions of the practical exam back-to-back had something to do with the fact that he mostly just felt exhausted. It's over. It's over? It's over! It's over. Now what?

"DRACO!" Harry's voice echoed in the empty hallway as Draco found himself enveloped into his boyfriend's arms once more. "What the fuck, I can't believe you had to do that TWICE. Hermione couldn't stay– she had to get to work– but you're done! How did it go this time?? Hermione said Goldhorn seemed fair, I guess she did Hermione's exam earlier today. Come on, let's go home and then I'm taking you to dinner and then we're picking Hermione up for butterbeers and you're not saying no because I already checked your schedule with Aberforth and you're not going to work until tomorrow afternoon."

Draco laughed and then it was finally there– the happiness and the relief and the joy and the hope. But instead of some huge life-changing rush, it was more of a slow trickle, like regaining the feeling in a limb that had fallen asleep.

"Sure," he said, uncharacteristically agreeable from being entirely too tired to argue, "Whatever you want, darling." He leaned down and gave an affectionate kiss to his lover. This is it. We've done it. Finished school.

"Hey! HEY! Rule number one hundred and twelve! All interactions in the corridors are to be conducted with proper and appropriate decorum!" Filch's voice wafted down the hall, growing steadily louder along with his shuffling footsteps.

"It's fine, Filch, we're leaving anyway," Harry dismissed, "Come on Draco, let's get out of here."

Dinner was far better than Draco wanted to admit; Harry had insisted on going someplace nice and Draco was too spent to argue so he just allowed himself the secret indulgence of enjoying fine dining again. Harry spent an admirable amount of effort bashing Hemlock before Draco insisted on comparing his exam with Goldhorn to Harry's experience with Buttonwood. After a rather thorough recounting, Harry finally put his foot down, telling Draco to save his analysis of the written portion for when Hermione joined them later and it was bad enough that he had to take the tests once. Because Harry had done such an admirable job dragging Hemlock through the dirt despite never actually having met or interacted with the bloke, Draco obediently changed the subject and for a fleeting moment, Harry looked like he was on the verge of saying something before changing courses and Draco was once again struck by the familiar feeling that Harry was keeping something from him. But the combination of wine and dessert and the ever increasing sense of relief as reality settled in meant that the feeling was gone nearly as quickly as it came. We did it.