Chapter Twenty-Two - Seven Years, Moving On

Even at a time like this when the morning seems so far / Think that pain belongs to you but it's happened to us all / It's all right to make mistakes you're only human / Inside everybody's hiding something / Take time to catch your breath and choose your moment

You brought this on yourself / And it's high time you left it there / Lie here and rest your head / And dream of something else instead

"Slide" - Dido

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ron and Harry were standing at the bottom of the stairs.

"What's taking them so long?"

"Am I the only one who remembers the costume dance? That was just for Halloween."

Ron groaned.

"We're coming!" The two girls called.

Harry's eyes just about bulged out of his head. Ron was right behind him.

Hermione had her hair in a French twist with little wisps of curls framing her face. She was wearing light green dress robes and the necklace Harry gave her for Christmas.

Dawn was also wearing Ron's Christmas gift, but that wasn't exactly what he was looking at. Hermione helped her pick out deep blue dress robes that were open in the front, showing off the dress that she had been talking incessantly about all day. It was a light blue, sleeveless gown that dipped slightly in the front and formed to her body until the hips, where it flowed out. Her hair was crimped and held back by a single, sapphire beret.

"Wow. I mean - wow." Ron said.

"You mean it?"

"A resounding yes." Dawn blushed.

"C'mon, we're going to be late." Hermione said, and the four of them walked out, arms linked, content that everything was finally all right with the world.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Pain, I can't sleep..."

Dawn sat down happily at one of the tables. Ron was currently dancing with Hermione and Harry was dancing with Lavender. She needed a rest, when a slow song came on.

The current pairs were still dancing with each other. Dawn glanced around, smiling, when her eyes fell on Malfoy. He was sitting alone, looking longingly on at the dance floor.

Dawn stood up and smoothed her dress. She walked over to him.

"I'm not in the mood, Summers."

"Malfoy, can you get over yourself for just a few minutes and come dance with me?"

He looked up at her. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"No. No joke."

"Won't your boyfriend be mad?"

"Let me handle Ron." She held out her hand. He just looked at her. "I'm only offering once."

Malfoy shook his head. "I must be insane," he grumbled as he took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor.

"Hermione, tell me I'm seeing things." Ron said, a little angrier then he meant to be.

"Ron," Hermione turned his head towards her, "Leave her. She can take care of herself. She's not going to go off and snog him in a broom closet. It's just a dance. So, lay off a bit."

Ron looked over warily as Malfoy put his hands on Dawn's waist. He clenched his teeth as Dawn put her arms around Malfoy's neck.

"So...." Dawn said.

"Yeah."

Dawn sighed. "Look, I know that this is going to sound trite, but at the risk of being called a stupid Mudblood - are you okay?"

Malfoy laughed a little. "Oh yeah. I'm bloody fantastic. My father's in Azkaban and my mother disowned me for not helping him. It's going to be an interesting summer at the Malfoy Manor."

Dawn flinched at the edge in his tone.

Malfoy shook his head. "Look," he sighed, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to dump all of this on you. It's just - everything is so fucked up that I don't know which way is up anymore."

"I know the feeling."

"You? How could you?"

Dawn searched his face for any sign of humor or sarcasm. There was none. "I can't believe you just said that. You have no idea what I went through when my mother died. And then my sister? That was the worst, because I damn well knew that it was my fault."

"Dawn - "

"You think being the key is fun? To have this power coursing through you that you barely acknowledged for over a year, and then suddenly, you're forced to use it?" She lowered her voice. "You have no idea what this has been like for me." She looked up into his eyes. "Or maybe, you do." Malfoy looked right back at her. "Look, I'm sorry things had to happen this way, I really am. But there's nothing I can do."

"I know," He said. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?"

"Yes Summers, contrary to popular belief, I do have a heart." Dawn smiled wryly.

The song ended to applause and, to Dawn's immense shock, Malfoy hugged her.

"Thanks."

Dawn pulled away. "For what?"

"I'm not sure. I guess - for putting things in perspective. I'm sure I'll figure it all out some day."

Dawn smiled. "You're welcome."

Malfoy put his hands in his pockets. "Well, Weasly's waiting. You'd better go over there. It looks like he could kill a slayer with that glare."

Dawn laughed. "Probably." She walked a few feet away, but she came back a few seconds later and wordlessly gave Malfoy a kiss on the cheek. She smiled at him and walked away. Malfoy was shocked, but smiled back.

Ron looked like he was about to spit nails. "What the hell was that about?"

Dawn shrugged. "Just putting things in perspective." His glare didn't soften, so she kissed him. "I love you."

Ron sighed. "I love you too. One day, you'll explain all of this to me."

"Agreed."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Alright Seventh Years, this is the last dance," Oz announced, "and we would like to invite the professors out onto the dance floor." There was a round of applause as Buffy and Angel finally stepped down. "The Dingoes would like to present Morgana Tyler, the newest addition to our band. She wrote this song especially for this event. Hope you all like it. So, grab your partners, and let's get this show on the road. Congratulations and we'll see you all at graduation!"

There was a round of applause and then the music started. There was a short interlude before Morgana started to sing.

I walked in here all alone

No one to turn to, no one to call my own

I was afraid, I was ignorant

And then there was you,

There was you.

Dawn curled her arms around Ron's neck as he put his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. She leaned her head on his shoulder. They danced in silence for a minute or two, just enjoying each other's company.

It's been seven years

And now we're movin' on

It's been seven years

And now we're breakin' up, movin' on

Seven years playing the same old game

Seven years

And now nothing's the same.

"One week left, huh?" Dawn said to break the silence.

"Yeah. It's weird knowing that after next Saturday, we won't come here anymore. I mean, sure, there'll be Alumni Day, but it won't be the same. I'm going to miss it. I won't have this anymore."

"But you'll always have me." She said, looking up into his eyes. "Always."

She tilted her face up and kissed him.

Seven years, and look where we are

Developing new lives, we're drifting apart

Thinking back on all the times we've shared

There you will be

There you'll be.

Buffy and Angel were dancing nearby. Buffy looked over at her sister and smiled. "She's all grown up."

"Yeah. And leaving soon."

"Hush you. I'm having a moment. Don't spoil it."

Angel smiled and Buffy stood on tiptoes to kiss him.

It's been seven years

And now we're movin' on

It's been seven years

And now we're breakin' up, movin' on

Seven years playing the same old game

Seven years

And now nothing's the same.

"It's weird." Harry said.

"What is?" Hermione was dancing close, leaning her cheek against his chest.

"That in a week, we won't be able to say, 'Yeah, I go to Hogwarts' anymore. It'll be, 'Yeah, I graduated from Hogwarts.' It's so..."

"Disappointing?" Hermione offered.

"Yeah." Harry said softly.

Hermione gazed up at Harry and gave him a soft, understanding smile. He kissed her forehead.

Seven years

And now nothing's the same...

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