Beauty and the Unexpected Beast

Happily Ever After

There was one shivering second of silence as Voldemort's body hit the floor, the shock of the moment suspended: and then the tumult broke around us as students and teacher screamed, cheered, roared, and embraced one another. I felt a new sun shinning through the windows as Ron and I ran as hard as we could to Harry. Around us others ran towards him also, but we out run them all and wrap our arms around him, holding him to us.

Tears stream down my face as I laugh and tell Harry how I was going to kill him for letting himself get killed. Around us our friends join us. Ginny, Neville and Luna were there, hugging the three of us. The Weasleys appear around us crying and suddenly the Order of Phoenix surrounds us, until finally we were in the middle of a large crowd full of people cheering for a new life they had. Everyone was shouting something different and I couldn't pick one word out of the shouts.

We all cheered. For the only reason of it all being over.

Quickly Ron and I lost hold of Harry as everyone passed him around like a toy. They wanted him their, their leader and a symbol, their savor and their guide; but they didn't seem to understand that the three of us had not slept since we left Shell cottage. I wonder through the crowd, being stopped every few steps to listen to people tell me their story or have them thank me for helping Harry. Everywhere I look people were either mourning with friends or celebrating with them. Each person had their own way of coping, but I wasn't sure I was ready to cope yet. As I try to reach the edge of the crowd I hear all the news that was coming in from outside of the school, as news of Voldemort's death spread throughout Britain.

The Imperiused around the country had come back to themselves. Death Eaters were either fleeing or being put in Azkaban. The innocent muggle-borns in Azkaban were being released. When I finally see one of the walls of the Great Hall, I am stopped by Slughorn, who has a bottle of Whiskey in his hand, and Kingsley's arm in the other.

"Listen to this her-hermio-" Slughorn tries to say my name a few more times while Kingsley stood there fairly uncomfortable.

"Hermione. Professor." I correct.

"Right!" He all but shouts, sending a whiff of liquor breath my way. "This man, this man is the new Minister of Magic!"

I look to Kingsley smiling widely. "Congratulations Kingsley! Thats fantastic."

"Temporary Minister of Magic." Kingsley corrects, but smiles proudly all the same.

I continue to walk towards the edge and when I reach it, there were a few yelps and gasps as McGonagall moves her wand and the house tables appear in the Great Hall. People took their seats, no one paying attention to what house they were in. As I look around the room I see several of my classmates standing up near each other, and Harry on the edge of the Hufflepuff table talking to Luna. Before I make my way to them I see Draco and his mother's blonde hair at the edge of the Slytherin table. Draco was looking around while his mother stares at the table in front of her. No one pays them a second glance, but I could tell Narcissa wasn't sure if she was supposed to be there or not. Lucius was notably absent from the picture.

I walk around the crowd of people to make my way to them. Draco catches my eye before I make it halfway there, I stop when he looks at me, wondering if it was ok for me to approach him and his mother. He smiles at me before turning to his mother to say something. Narcissa looks up at him, she looks around before resting her eyes on me. She gives a curt nod before she looks back at the table, from this close I still could see no expression showing on her pale face.

I continue to stand still as Draco makes his way towards me. He was grinning widely with his eyes locked on mine and no other person catching his eye. My heart flutters as he comes closer, and when I couldn't take it any longer, I begin walking towards him, slowly gaining speed until I was sprinting. I collide with him and knock him back a few steps but his arms encircle my waist and I kiss him to hold him in place.