The Beauty and The Beast

Chapter 40: Time of our lives

Draco's P.O.V
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"Neville Longbottom" Professor McGonagol called and everyone cheered as he went up on stage to recieve his award.

This was the end of our journey. I can't believe it all went by so fast. It seemed like only yesterday when Harry and I were trying to knock each other off our broomsticks.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy" I grinned when I heard loud whoops and whistles.

"Go Draco!" I heard my favourite voice cheer and I smiled, blowing a kiss to Mione. The same thing had happened when she went up.

I took the paper and shook McGonagols hand, going to stand with everybody else. Hermione rushed up to me and i picked her up, twirling her in my arms.

"We did it, love" I said and she smiled, leaning down to kiss me.

"Get a room!" Someone shouted and the entire year level erupted in laughter. This was probably our last moment as one year level. Boy I was going to miss this shit.

"And now, may I call upon head girl Hermione Jean Granger to deliver her graduation speech?"

Everyone started clapping and cheering. I pulled her in for a kiss.

"I'm nervous" she whispered.

"You will be fine, I've known you for what, 8 years? Of course you're going to be nervous, but I love you and I believe in you. So go get em'" she nodded.

"Ok I'm ready"

"That's my girl!" She laughed and kissed me once more before walking into the stage. She took a deep breath, looking in my direction for reassurance. I nodded but she didn't calm down. She looked like she was going to have a panic attack.

I rushed up there, despite the teachers protests and held her hand, kissing her cheek. She took another deep breath.

"Some days, I think to myself. How did this all happen? Since when did things go so fast? When did years began feeling like minutes?" She started, her hand shaking.

"Remember when we used to put our arms in our shirt and pretend to not have any? When we would sleep with all our stuffed animals so that none of them got offended?" A roar of laughter went up and pride swelled inside me.

"Or when we would pour fizzy drinks into bottle caps and pretend to take shots? Or when you'd watch the raindrops on a window and pretend they were having a race? What happened to us? When did we grow up? When did 'tag' become a baby game? When did we get too old to play hide and seek? When did we leave our childhood behind?"

"I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to savour those days of innocence. I wish I could tell myself that I only had 365 days to be 13 and that I should've made use of it. When my friends said to come party with them I should've gone. When they asked to play dress up i should've played. When I wanted to ride a bike I should've learned. Have fun with your besties. Because one day, they'll be packing their bags and you'll have to say goodbye. One day you'll be sitting on a hospital bed and you'll wish you had more fun. You'll wish you postponed going on the phone to play outside.

"When you're too old to date you'll wish you weren't so afraid of rejection. When you're too tired to play you'll wish you accepted the offer to go to that playground. When all you can watch is the news you'll wish you went to the movies with your buds. When you regret this and that, you'll remember you had the chance once. You'll remember there was a time where that was all possible, but you didn't care back then. You were too reckless. To busy. And now, you're too fragile, too slow, too broken, too exhausted, too old." She said and everyone as in complete awe.

"Now, this is when we live, this is when we love, this is our time to shine. We're not old yet. What's the point in waiting until you are? What are you going to do then? This is our chance. Before life gets serious and we get consumed in our work. Before we become old. Before we develop health issues. Before our bones become brittle. Before the reality of the world hits us and we become adults"

"So go bungee jumping, sky dive, go swimming, it's not too late. Live every day like it's your last. Talk to people in the way that if they died the next day, you'd be happy with the last thing you said to them. Treat others the way you wish to be treated"

"We could die any day. There is no guarantee that I will live to see tomorrow. Make the best of today. You never experience the same moment twice. Time is running out. Complete you're bucket list. Have fun. Go party. Get drunk. There's no time like now. You might never be able to do it. We are teenagers, in our golden age, and this is our legacy" she finished. It became completely silent.

That was fucking beautiful.

Suddenly, everyone broke out of their trance and stood up, cheering and whooping. The applause was crazy. I wrapped my arms around her and she kissed me long and hard.

"That was....that was amazing. Beautiful. Breathtaking" I gushed and she smiled shyly. I grabbed a strand of her hair and twirled it in my fingers.

"Kinda like somebody I know" I whispered huskily and she laughed.

"You're too flirty"

"Yeah well you still love me"

She chuckled.

"Unfortunately" she pouted sadly and grinned as we got off the stage, immediately greeted with people talking about how great her speech was. I smiled pridefully.

"Hey sweetheart, I was wondering, your parents are here and I want to meet them" I asked and her mouth dropped open.

"N-Now?" I nodded.

"Cool cool cool cool cool" she said and I smiled softly. She did that when she was nervous. I grabbed her hand and she led me to where her parents were sitting, tears in their eyes.

"Hey princess. That was beautiful" her father said and she laughed. He had kind eyes and a soft, goofy smile. I grinned, extending my hand. He shook it firmly.

"Hello sir, I'm Draco Malfoy, your daughters boyfriend" I said and his posture straightened, becoming strict yet firm.

"Boyfriend huh?" He said and I nodded. Hermione groaned.

"Dad please don't embarrass me" she pleaded and he grinned.

Thus began the questioning. It was horrific. I was sweating and nervous the whole time. I didn't know it was going to mess up

"So how long do you want to stay with my daughter?"

"Forever. As long as she lets me, I mean and considering the baby, as long as I am there" I said and Hermione shot me a horrified glare.

"BABY?!?"

Oh shit.