Hermione
The Hogwarts Express lingers over me for the last time. Draco, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and I board the train in silence. There have been a few tears shed today, considering that our last year at Hogwarts has come to a close. Harry cried as he hugged Hagrid, and I cried as I returned my final book to the library. Draco and Ron didn't shed any tears, but were upset nonetheless. Ginny still has one more year left at Hogwarts.
We pick the compartment at the back of the train. Everyone sits down except for me; I'm still the Head Girl, if only for a couple more hours, and I have duties.
"I'm going to check on the students to make sure everyone is here," I announce, my voice slightly muffled from crying earlier. They all nod, and I turn to Draco. "Aren't you going to come? You are still the Head Boy after all."
"No, thanks. I'm not feeling particularly sociable today," He answers, not making eye contact with me. Draco has been acting strange for the past couple of days, but whenever I ask him what's wrong, he avoids the question. I have narrowed the possibilities down to one thing: the future, in regards to us, is very uncertain. We don't have any plans on how to stay together once we part ways today.
I step out of the compartment, shaking the uneasy thoughts out of my mind. Proudly, I secure the Head Girl lapel onto my chest and enter the compartment across from ours. The first years- second years, now- look up at me excitedly.
"How was your last year at Hogwarts, Hermione?" Amber, the only one whose name I remember, asks. I saw her in the library frequently.
"It was... good. It had its ups and downs, but it always has," I smile nostalgically, "Is everyone here?" Each one of them count on their fingers to account for each of their friends.
"Yes, we're all here."
Amber speaks up once again, "What are you going to do now?"
"Would you believe me if I said I didn't know?" I answer. And I was trying not to think about it. Thanks.
I close the door and head to the next compartment. Yaxley is the only student in there. As much as I don't want to, I step inside. Earlier this year, his compartment had been filled with his many friends. Now, he sits alone with his head in his hands. He hasn't even noticed that I entered the compartment.
"Where did all of your friends go?" I ask, trying to be cordial. He sits up, startled.
"What friends?" He snaps, rolling his eyes, "After you told everyone what I did, no one has wanted to talk to me since. Apparently, they all love you."
"Don't blame it on me. You made that choice, and choices always come with consequences. And I can guarantee you that most of the time, they're not worth it."
"Leave me alone." He spits, his eyes like daggers.
"Look, you don't have to be the bad guy. Obviously, being bad doesn't make you good; it makes you bad. But being good, nice, caring? That's what will fill this compartment up again." I put my hand on the door to slide it open, but he says something in a voice so small that I finally feel like I'm talking to a child instead of a criminal.
"I don't have a choice."
"There's always a choice. I know a boy who made all the wrong choices because he thought he didn't have one, either; but he changed his ways, and things have gotten so much better for him."
"I don't believe you." He stares out of the window, his face now emotionless.
"You don't have to," I slide the door open and turn back to him, his black eyes meeting with mine, "I forgive you." I close the door.
As I'm congregating with students, I realize just how long I have been gone from my compartment. I would like to spend the rest of the ride with Draco and my friends. There's only a few more minutes until we reach the station, and we are officially no longer Hogwarts students.
When I reach the compartment, everyone's face is joyous, and they're making quite a commotion. But when they realize that I'm back, their faces turn to stone. Silence.
"How did it go?" Harry inquires.
"Fine. What were you all so happy about?" I ask. Why is everyone acting so strange?
"Ron told a joke." Ginny says, smiling, but her smile indicates that there is something much more than a joke going on here. However, they're not going to tell me, so I decide to let it go.
I offer my hand to Draco, and he holds it gently. His hands are cold and sweaty at the same time, as if he's nervous about something. Harry and the Weasleys are preoccupied in what seems to be a riveting conversation, so once again, I decide to ask Draco what's wrong.
"Draco, you haven't been yourself lately. It's worrying me. Please, tell me what's wrong." I plead.
"Nothing," He says, avoiding my eyes. I glare at him, both threatening and pleading, somehow hoping my eyes will convince him to let it out. Finally, he continues, "I'm nervous, Hermione. I'm nervous about what happens to us once we step off of this train."
"When we step off this train, I'll still love you. I'll always love you. Things may change around us, but we will remain constant. That's the only thing that's certain right now, and that's okay," I run my thumb along the side of his hand comfortingly.
"You do realize that you have family waiting for you at the station? There's no one waiting for me. Your parents will surely want some time with you; and in the meantime, I'll start my job as an Auror and try to find somewhere to live."
Trying to comfort Draco is hard, considering that I've had the same thoughts all day. He's right: I have my family. He doesn't have anybody. Once we leave, we'll have to go our separate ways. I'll go back to my home with my parents, a house full of love, but he doesn't even know where he's going to sleep tonight. I've offered for him to stay with me, but he said he would feel guilty, and that's a feeling he knows all too well. He wants to make it on his own, to convince himself and others that he can do it.
"Let's not worry about it. We'll deal with that once the time comes. But for now, we have a few more minutes, so let's just enjoy this-" I try to console him, but the train screeches to a halt. Neither of us realized that we've reached the station. Draco inhales sharply.
"You love me. Right?" He asks, his hands shaking.
"Of course."
"That makes this so much easier," He sighs, although not fully releasing all of the stress and insecurity he is obviously feeling.
We stand up, sliding the door open. Harry and Ron encouragingly pat Draco's shoulder. Draco smiles a little, and I catch myself wondering once again what they were talking about before I entered the room.
Once we leave the train, Harry, Ron, and Ginny run off. I try my hardest to catch up with them, shouting, "Wait! Aren't you going to say goodbye?"
Ginny turns around, smiling, and says, "Not yet." She turns back to Harry and Ron, and they all start laughing. I run back to Draco.
"I can walk you to your parents' car," Draco says. I nod and try to grab his hand, but he pulls it away and stuffs it into his pocket. We walk in silence for a few moments. I refuse to spend my last moments with him like this. Before we reach the exit doors, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. But when I open my eyes to look again, he's kneeling on the ground with a diamond ring in his hand. So this is why he's been so nervous.
"Hermione, I never believed there was good in me. But when I found you, I found the good in myself. You've changed so many aspects of my life in such a great way, and there's only one thing I want to change about you: your last name." He smirks charmingly, and his nerves seem to suddenly vanish. In the best way, I see the Draco he used to be. My heart is beating so loud and fast that there's no way he can't hear it. "Hermione Jean Granger, will you marry me?" He asks, and I can see his hand slightly shaking as he presents the beautiful ring to me.
"Yes, Draco. A thousand times yes." I answer, engulfing him in a hug. We hug for what seems like forever before he finally pulls away and slips the ring onto my finger.
"It was my mother's," He says, gesturing to the ring, "She sent it to me. She wanted it to have a second chance."
"I thank it's beautiful," I reply, smiling. Tears start to fall slowly from my eyes. This is perhaps the happiest that I've been in my life; and I can tell from the smile on Draco's face that he feels the same way. I turn around and walk towards the door. Draco grabs my arm.
"Are you really leaving? You know-" He starts, but I cut him off. The joy left his face, but only for a moment. When he heard my next words, the bright smile returned.
"Of course not. You're coming with me."
Harry, Ron, and Ginny run over to us and wrap us in a giant hug. I'm assuming that this is what they were talking about.
If there's one thing I learned in my last year at Hogwarts, it's that things don't always work out the way you planned; but from what I can tell, they always work out for the best.
After saying goodbye to my best friends, Draco and I start walking to the door. My parents' car is waiting outside. Draco and I smile so genuinely that it's like we're reliving all the laughs, tears, and moments we've ever shared in this one second.
"Are you ready?" I ask, grabbing his hand.
"As long as I'm with you."
* * *
And with that, the Mudblood and the Traitor walk off hand-in-hand, taking the first steps of their new life together.
THE END