Disclaimer: I do not own anything regarding Harry Potter.
Summary: Seventh year is over, and Professor McGonagall reflects upon a couple. D/Hr ; one-shot
Written for a contest at the Third Floor Corridor. If you'd like to join, go to my profile, and click on the link.
Rules: Write about one of the Professors watching graduation... that's all. The rest is up to you.
Must be over 500 words.
Last Good-Bye:
Professor Minerva McGonagall – Gryffindor's Head of House – watched sadly as the seventh years each walked up to the Headmaster to accept his or her diploma.
Yes, there had been many times of harsh difficulties and times that needed severe reprimanding, but she loved each and every one of her students.
She caught a flash of platinum blonde hair, and smiled inwardly to herself, remembering to herself how much that Draco Malfoy had changed.
A true Slytherin like his father, everybody had expected him to follow in Lucius Malfoy's steps and become a cold and harsh man.
For the first couple of years, nobody doubted that he would not. He was cruel to everybody but Slytherins, and he particularly enjoyed teasing Gryffindors. He was smart and bright, good in all of his classes, but he always acted as if he never cared for anything. He was arrogant and prideful. He boasted about the Dark Arts.
The Head of House still remembered having to take him aside a couple of times and talking to him seriously.
He never paid attention, of course, but she had hoped that he would take her words into heart, and do what he wanted to do, not what his father wished him to do.
The day Hogwarts was invaded by the Death Eaters and Voldemort was a day to be remembered. None of the students got hurt, however. All that was made possible because Draco Malfoy had told the Headmaster – Albus Dumbledore - what the Dark Side was planning two hours before it actually occurred.
Everybody owed his or her life to this odd student. What made him change and help the Light Side?
By the time the Death Eaters arrived, Hogwarts was empty. Not a soul – nor a ghost – remained, and the Order quickly appeared out of their hiding spots to capture the murderers. Harry Potter, because of the Prophecy, killed Voldemort. Harry was badly hurt, but he said one thing to Voldemort that made the Dark Lord stumble.
Harry had cried, "Nobody will ever love you!" and when Voldemort slightly flinched – he did have a heart – Harry took that time to Avada him.
It turned out that one person had managed to sway the brooding Slytherin. She was the Head Girl, and the smartest student in all of Gryffindor.
The Slytherin had been struggling in his studies, and she had boldly approached him, offering to help him though she obviously hated him.
He accepted after three more failed tests.
Tentatively, a friendship began.
In that friendship, the two began to talk more and more. He opened up to her when he realized that she really cared for him and was concerned for him. She began to realize that he wasn't so bad. The girl started to enjoy spending time with the Slytherin and soon, the two were spending each free moment with one another.
Her two best friends had accepted their friendship. What could they do? He had saved Hogwarts.
The two obviously became close friends, and now, looking at the Slytherin who was hugging the Gryffindor girl, lovers.
She had changed him, and had been a great influence in his life. Yes, Hermione Granger had fallen in love with Draco Malfoy, and he in her.
The Gryffindor Head of House smiled to herself.
It would be the beginning of a wonderful life for the both of them. She would miss them a lot, but they would know how to survive in the future … together.