The Ritual

Everyone this is a fic that was orignally posted on Fanfic.net. An author wrote a one time shot, and me and my friends were completely upset by this because we were completely inlove with it, so I contacted the author and she said I could continue it, so here I am!! (Hopefully I did this right, I clicked alot of things, but that\'s all later in the fic!!)

Disclaimer: I own them!!! I swear I do...ok I don\'t, but in my dreams they are all mine, all mine I say!!!!!!!! Oh if only I owned them, all the fun I would have!!

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Chapter 3: Closure – Life After Hogwarts

The Trio decided that after graduation they would move into together, for after being together for seven years they couldn’t imagine life without each other. They had become like a little family, even though Ron had enough family to share; Harry had never really had a family and Hermione, being an only child. This new-made family was very important to them. They decided that 12 Grimmauld Place would be the perfect place for them to move in together, that is if the order didn’t mind having a group of seventeen-year-olds using there head-quarters as a permanent living place. None of them had found any possible future spouse in Hogwarts. They thought they would find comfort in each others company at Grimmauld, expecting nothing to change: oh, how wrong they were.

Harry and Ron were puzzled by Hermione’s behavior. They expected her to be a little upset after graduation, but to overcome it eventually like Hermione always did. They expected her to be upset now that her schooling was finally over, and that there was no more to be had, but they thought that the prospect of finding employment would intrigue her learning side as always; that as soon as it sunk in, she would be bouncy, bubbly, and spouting random facts like normal. Maybe she would even find something similar to “Hogwarts: A History” at Grimmauld and entertain them with facts from that for a while.

Hermione was completely thrilled throughout there last day, walking around with a bounce in her step, all smiles, but once they got into there compartment on the train her smile began to falter. Hermione kept staring towards the compartment door, fidgeting with herself. She tried to convince them that they should have just one last Prefects meeting, but Ron would not hear of it when the Trolley witch was about to come around with a large supply of chocolate frogs to be bought. After staring into abyss for a while, deep in thought, she pulled out a small vanity mirror from her robe pocket checking herself over in it very carefully, which shocked the boys because they didn’t even know she owned one or even cared what she looked like. She then proceeded to shock them even more by asking them if they found her attractive, which left the boys stunned and had them sputtering and mumbling for an answer. Ron’s response was something along the lines of “‘Mione, you’re like a sister to me! It’s like Ginny asking me that question!”

Harry’s response had a completely different tune “Herm, you’re cute….pretty…you look just as you always do,” was his final response.

Neither seemed to appease Hermione, as she seemed more upset afterwards. She then rushed off, using the excuse of having to visit the loo.

“I wonder what that was all about, mate” A puzzled Ron asked an even more puzzled Harry

“I wish I knew Ron”

“Maybe it’s just that time of the month. Bloody hell, we’re going to have to deal with that monthly from now on.”

“I am sure that eventually she’ll turn back to her old self, Ron.”

“I hope your right mate –”

Hermione re-entered their compartment, sitting as far away from Harry and Ron and possible.

Harry and Ron tried to engage her in conversation. As neither of the boys had ever been as good as Hermione when it came to making others feel better, they were at quite at a loss. Peace offerings of chocolate frogs did nothing, and after that Ron was completely out of ideas.

Harry harshly whispered to Ron, “Just have a Prefect meeting.”

Ron responded with a whine in his voice “But I had hoped to be rid of the Bouncing Ferret completely, once I left the castle.”

“It might be the only thing that’ll cheer ’Mione up.”

Begrudgingly Ron looked towards Hermione and said “’Mione, wanna have one last Prefect meeting?”

Hermione stared at Ron, her chocolate brown eyes filled with tears, “Not anymore, Ron.”

After that, she reached into her bag and pulled out a large book and started to read. The boys relaxed slightly at this, seeing a little bit of there old Hermione back.

Hermione tried to read through her book, she really did, but she couldn’t get her mind of Draco, she ended up spending the rest of the ride staring out the window as silent tears rolled down her cheeks, thinking about all she has learned. She now realized how stupid she was for falling for the dark prince; it was all her imagination that he felt the same way. She became more and more distant then normal that day, not wanting to have to feel that feeling again. The feeling of her heart being ripped from her.


During Hermione’s little out-of-character moment, Draco was having a similar problem. He desperately wanted to go find Hermione and tell her how he felt, but he was too cowardly to do so.

Sitting in his compartment going slowly mad, as Blaise and Pansy talked about Quidditch and Crabbe and Goyle stuffed there faces.

It was obvious to anyone who looked that Blaise liked Pansy, but she was too wrapped up in herself and in being the future Mrs. Malfoy that she couldn’t see anything else. Draco hoped that his mother wouldn’t let something as putrid as Pansy become a member in the Malfoy lineage. To Narcissa Malfoy, blood meant everything, and even though Pansy came from a pureblood family, it didn’t meet Malfoy standards.

Draco could just imagine what Pansy was saying to Blaise. “I can’t wait to get the Malfoy family ring, it will look just perfect. The dragon and snake tails end in a diamond; it’s the perfect engagement ring. Of course we must have a showing off…oops, I mean engagement party as soon as it’s announced to everyone.” Draco mimicked Pansy’s voice in his head. He could see Blaise turn white as he listen to her talk about becoming Mrs. Malfoy. But there was only one witch that Draco could see wearing the Malfoy ring, even though if the story was true, then it would fit her, only to burn her though.

As the story went, once the Malfoy ring was given to the eldest son to give to his future bride, the ring would change to fit his perfect match, which Draco was sure that it would only do for Hermione… Yet the same rumor said that if slipped onto the finger of one that who was not of pure blood, the band would burn the finger, and inflict as much pain as possible upon the wearer. This cruel joke would endure the purity of the Malfoy line.

Draco speculated that this curse was a complete lie. As Draco’s thoughts continued to wander, there was a quiet knock on the door.

A very distraught and humble looking Hermione Granger stood on the other side of the door. Her face clouded in a mask of sadness.

“Granger, what are you doing here?” Blaise asked to the unwanted guest.

Hermione’s voice failed her “I…I wanted to make sure that…”

“Out with it already Granger, we don’t have all day”

Hermione cleared her throat, and brought her eyes to Draco’s staring into them as she finally found her voice “I was wondering if all your prefect duties were done?”

“Yes they are, now leave, your poisoning the air” replied Pansy

“One last thing, is there anyone thing that you need to say to the students?”

“Why yes there is” Pansy said with a smirk and gleam in her eyes “I guess this is as perfect time as every, dracky-poo, I know you wanted to wait, but lets tell everyone now, starting with her” she turned to Hermione and said “Draco and I would like to announce our future engagement to the rest of the school”

Hermione gulped, and started gasping for air; suddenly the compartment was too small “Engagement?”

“Yes, it’s been in the plans for ages and I think it’s finally time, so keep your filthy eyes away from my Dracky”

Draco in complete shock just sat there immobile, not saying or doing anything. He still didn’t believe that he had actually heard that said. He must have fallen asleep on the train and this was his mind playing tricks on him, yes that was it.

He still didn’t believe it was quite real when Hermione quietly said “Congratulations” with her eyes averted, not looking to anyone but her shoes. Then just as quickly and silently left the compartment.

A finality reached them both that day. Malfoy was inevitably engaged to Pansy according to everyone on the train that day, and Hermione realized that she shall never have him. This both shaped them, and taught them that not everything they want is achievable as people are told as children. The world is really a cold place, where you hardly end up happy. The only defiant thing that both came upon them that day was that they would never belong to each other, Hermione feared that she shall always be along and Draco feared that he would be stuck with Pansy, in which case he would rather be alone. There life after Hogwarts never seemed as more uncertain then to right then.