Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Locked In	By : goldhorse Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 117470 -:- Recommendations : 7 -:- Currently Reading : 13
Disclaimer: I do not own HP, JK Rowling does. I make no money doing this. I have the moths in my pockets to prove it.

Chapter List
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“I would like to present to you, the 1998 graduates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!”

Draco and Hermione threw their hats in the air with the others, happy to finally be done with their schooling and terrified of what awaited them in the real world. Draco was scheduled to begin training with the Aurors the next week. He, Harry, and Ron all had been recruited, though Ron was the only one who would not be an Unspeakable in the end. Harry decided he wanted his other career to be an Auror, like he’d always dreamed of being. Draco would complete the training and then start apprenticing with Professor Snape to begin his Potions Mastery. Hermione started college in a few weeks’ time.

“Now, I know the speeches are usually held before we announce everyone, but we felt we’d change it up this year,” Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. “I’d like to present Mr. Draco Malfoy.”

Draco squeezed Hermione’s hand and kissed her temple before walking to the podium. He gazed out into the crowd, noting his classmates as he went. He smirked at the Notts and the Finch-Flechleys, their first experiments in match making. He winked at Longbottom, who was staring across the way at Lovegood. He chuckled when the Weasel let his hand slide towards Zabini, a welcome surprise. He gave a respectful nod to Potter, who was busy holding Hermione, her beautiful eyes already tearing up.

“Well, it seems as though the different colors of our robes were hardly needed,” Draco began. “Because right now, it looks like a bag of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans were dumped into the crowed.”

The audience laughed as several of the Slytherins and a few Gryffindors cheered and raised the hand of their significant other, more often than not clad in a different house color.

“We’ve learned a lot at Hogwarts these that past seven years. We’ve learned rememberals only work if you can actually remember what you’ve forgotten.” He gave a pointed look to Longbottom, who turned bright red. “There is no counter curse for the slug eating hex.” Ron’s ears turned red. “And… well, Hippogriffs really do require respect.”

He waited for the crowd to stop laughing as they recounted his time spent in the Hospital Wing in a sling because he’d been stupid enough to insult Buckbeak.

“We’ve singed off our eyebrows, blown up our cauldrons, spent a few weeks with pink eyelashes, and learned that Blast Ended Skewerts are best left alone. We’ve swam, flown, walked, apparated, and sometimes been dragged across the grounds of this school all in the pursuit of knowledge. But we’ve acquired more than knowledge about honing our magical skills. We’ve learned about life.”

He paused for a moment and let the lovely vision of his wife in Gryffindor red and gold fill his senses. He could almost taste the future but he wanted everyone to remember the lessons they’d learned in the past years. She had helped him prepare this speech for weeks and he could only hope to do it justice.

“We’ve learned that a true friend will not only go along with your schemes, but will stand up to you to keep you from doing something utterly stupid too. They will stand by your side no matter what the odds, whether your trying to sneak out a dragon or are held at wand point by your enemies. They will never falter, never abandon you, and never give up.

“We’ve learned that house affiliations don’t particularly matter. We each have skills that give us an edge in life and if we combine them, there is nothing we can’t accomplish. Slytherin cunning, Gryffindor courage, Ravenclaw intelligence, and Hufflepuff loyalty together can defeat the worst evil ever known to wizarding kind.”

“Most importantly of all, we’ve learned that love conquers all. A mother’s love saved a tiny baby from an evil despot the rest of the world feared. One man’s love drove him to the ends of the earth and beyond to protect the same child until he could grow into the man who would finally rid our world of the same despot. The love of friends sustained our savior as he grew and taught him that love really was the strongest force in the world. And love… love saved me too.

“Love taught me that there is no such thing as blood purity. Love transcends everything, blood, hate, prejudice, everything. It will be there in your highest high and your lowest low. When everything else crumbles, there is still love. Love comes in many forms, parents, children, friends, family, and lovers. We have love for our school and our colleagues and even a love of learning that drives us to be better.

“I’ve consulted with the founders and received their permission to tell their story. No one ever knew the true story of how pureblood prejudice began. It began with Salazar Slytherin’s terrible experiences, torture at the hands of ignorant muggles who were terrified of his power. He twisted it into something ugly, into hate. Yet he fell for half-blood Helga Hufflepuff, daughter of a muggleborn and a pureblood. He could not look past his hate though, and Helga cast him from her life. He later let out the basilisk …

“Slytherin’s hate cost him the only thing that he ever held dear, the one thing he’d not been allowed to touch since his beloved had enough of his hate. His daughter Magdelene. His family. For centuries, lovers have been sentenced to the same fate. Shakespeare denounced the wizarding world after his lover Violetta Stitch was promised to another. Before he could flee, he was stripped of his powers and poor Violetta, she suffered the brunt of Yardley Platt’s wrath. Jules Verne and Cassandra Vablatsky shared a similar fate. Generations of beautiful couples with love pure as light have been crushed to dust due to hate. Isn’t it time we shed the skin of our past? Isn’t it time to let go?”

“Here, here.”

Draco turned to see the Founders clapping for him. He nodded respectfully as the rest of the crowd gasped, minus his wife and those who were present that day in the ROR when the Notts and Finch-Flechleys wed. He waited for everyone to die down before he resumed his speech.

“So you see, Hogwarts is more than a school. It’s a home full of love, friends, and Professors willing to give their very lives to see their students through. After today, many of us will go our separate ways. We’ll find fortune, fame, family, perhaps all three. But we’ll never forget the school that shaped us, prepared us for who we’ll become. So, it’s with sadness and joy that we say goodbye to these hallowed halls today and begin the next leg of our journey. Congratulations class of ’98. We did it!”

Draco gulped when silence followed. Had he gone too far? As he gathered up his note cards, he was startled by a solitary clap. Hermione had stood and was giving him her all as tears dripped down her beautiful face. He gave her a warm smile and was shocked when Harry stood beside her, joining in her clapping. Slowly, the graduating class stood, followed by the rest of the students of Hogwarts. Teachers, parents, and family joined in. He realized that it wasn’t anger or disgust at his speech that had stalled them. There wasn’t a dry eye in the entire crowd. Even Snape had his eyes closed as he clapped. Draco bowed and joined his wife in the crowd.

Hermione put her hands on his cheeks. “Oh Draco, it was absolutely beautiful.”

He gave her a soft smile. “I hope so. You wrote it.”

“Oh no, sweetheart,” she sniffed. “I made sure your sentences were complete but that… that was all you. I wasn’t sure I could love you any more than I do but I think I might.”

Draco laughed. “Well, you still have some catching up to do if you want to get even with me.”

“Oh, you prat,” she cried and reached up to kiss him.

“Draco?”

Draco spun and saw his mother standing behind him, handkerchief clutched in her fist. He smiled, glad to see her looking much better than she had. The dark circles under her eyes were almost gone. During their first meeting, she’d looked half dead and terrified of what Lucius might have done to him.

“Mother.”

Narcissa nodded. “That was… oh my son. I’m so proud of you.”

Draco had to take a hard breath to keep from tearing up as he hugged her. “Thank you mother.”

“No son, thank you. Lucius is in Azkaban for good. You’ve become your own man, found a lovely bride, and you’re making me a grandmother. I’m quite sure I’m the happiest woman on earth.”

“Well, perhaps I might be able to help there,” Hermione said quietly.

“Oh?” Narcissa asked as she turned to her with a smile. She’d instantly fallen in love with Hermione. She’d cried tears of joy for a long time when she learned they were already married and expecting.

“Um yes,” Hermione said, her voice quavering. “I um, Draco told me about you having to abandon your family because... of that.”

Narcissa nodded gravely. “Yes, Lucius forbid me to make amends after my mother struck… anyway.”

“Well,” Hermione said nervously. “I um… well, I got you something.”

“What dear?”

Hermione smiled and pointed through the crowd, where Andromeda stood beside her husband, looking very nervous. Narcissa made a whimpering noise before trembling against Draco. “Go on.”

Narcissa gasped and nodded, almost running to her sister. They stared at each other for long minutes until they both burst into tears and hugged fiercely.

“Now,” Draco said quietly, “I believe she’s the happiest woman in the world.”

“No,” Hermione cried as she watched the two sisters unite after decades of being separated. “I do believe that honor goes to me.”

“Damn you guys are too bloody sappy,” Ron growled as he dragged Blaise up.

Hermione burst into sobbing giggles as her friends crowded around her. Yes. Definitely the happiest woman in the world.

AN: Hello all. Working 18 hour days is about to kill me but I had some time so I slid in to post this for you guys. Only the epilogue remains. As always, thanks to everyone who reviewed. I read them when I stole a minute between work. Made me feel not so crazy. Keep them coming and let me know how I'm doing. Until next time... Love you guys!
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