Chapter Text
Graduations and Final Rides
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Date: Seventh Year, Mid June
As the various greetings and initial conversational flows began to fade among the seventh years and their family and friends Harry suddenly gets a big grin on his face. As eyes turn towards him in expectation of something great he says, to nearly no one’s disappointment, “Why don’t we have a quidditch game?”
“I’m game,” Oliver Wood says from where he is sitting next to Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell; all of which came to experience the festivities that were this year’s set of graduations. Which leads to many nods of agreement, not just from them but also Cedric and Terence who are sitting nearby.
“Of course you are,” comments Hermione with amusement from where she is sitting next to her parents, parents who are trying to take in all the magic that is flowing around them.
Which gives her mother the perfect opportunity to say, “You don’t like it dear?”
She grins at her parents and explains, “Oh I am fine with watching it, but playing, no, on that I give it a hard pass. Flying isn’t something that is for me.”
Speaking to not just Hermione’s but to all the muggleborn parents around them Harry says, “I know that you have seen a game when you were at my manor but experiencing it here at Hogwarts is just going to be all the more amazing.” A wide grin follows, “Plus it gives you something to yell at your children at when they land after making loops that will scare you all out of your mind!”
“Hey,” Dean says in pretend anger and shock, “Your not supposed to want them to not let us play!” A shake of the head, “And you call yourself our friend.”
Laughter follows as plans begin to be made on how to best plan the game, which soon afterward expands to include those from all four houses. As, Harry says, is very much the way it should be.
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Upon pulling his head out of the curtain covered door into the great hall Harry turns towards his friends and fellow graduates and says, “Everyone is there. Everyone!”
As a number of the other students stare in shock at the fact that everyone choose to come to the graduation ceremony, which is uncommon, Draco just snorts in amusement. Once eyes turn towards him he shrugs, in a very un-Malfoy like fashion and says, “Well really, what did you think would happen? First, it's Harry. Second, most of us are nobles of high importance. And third, well, third is it’s Harry.”
There is a moment of silence as the group of forty take that in before it is broken up by laughter and nods of amused agreement.
As he said, Harry is here.
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There was speeches. Many of them. Most of them the students and staff would probably not remember, despite how impressive some of the names were.
Lady Amelia Bones, the Minister of Magic.
Lord George Ponce, the Supreme Mugwump.
Various high tier Ministry officials and Order of Merlin recipients.
The Lord Nicolas Flamel and the Lady Pernelle Flamel.
The four heads of the school houses.
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
All of them gave great speeches, important speeches, honored speeches.
Long speeches.
Then the Headmaster calls out Hermione Granger, the Head Girl of Hogwarts.to speak. With a smile on her face Hermione got up from her seat and made her way to the podium. She gives the hall a slight curtsey before beginning to speak, “The history of Hogwarts is a long and storied one. It has existed long before we were born and will exist long after most of us are memories in myth and legend. But despite that, or maybe because of it, it is also a place where each and every one of us has put our mark, has given our touch. Our magic is in these halls, and so are our laughters, and tears. This is Hogwarts, we are Hogwarts, and because of that we get to join the honored who have, and will, and always call this place home. Thank you.”
Though the clapping begins immediately it takes a moment for the true importance of her words to sink in, and when it does the claps and applause grow all the bigger, all the wilder.
To Hermione’s blushing pleasure as he returns to her seat up front. .
Then, as all expected, the Headmaster calls out Harry Potter, and as a hush comes over the floor he makes his way up to the podium.
At first he simply stares at the gathered room, as if he is taking the moment in.
He then begins to speak, “Hogwarts. It’s a word and yet it is so much more, as my friend Hermione so perfectly put it. Hogwarts is a home away from home for the magicals of Britain, it is a place where we learn who we are and grow into the person we wish to be. The friendships and alliances made here often last a lifetime, but so do the conflicts and enemies. But that is okay, that is good, because you need both the light and the dark to make a world, a people, true to itself. Those graduating this year are unique in many ways due to the experiences we have gone through, experiences both good and bad yet always necessary. But it is experiences that made us who we are, a people, a group, willing to put aside differences in order to be the best we can be, to do all that we can do. Though we are graduating Hogwarts, leaving her great halls for the last time as students, were are not truly leaving, for Hogwarts will be within all of us, as it is in all of you, forever!” There is a moment of meditative pause before he holds out his arms to encompass it all as he says, “Thank you!”
He then steps away from his podium and gives a bow, a regal bow, one with majesty and power, and yet also deference to forces much greater than him, whether said forces are Hogwarts or the Divinities he lets one choose for themselves.
Even as he straightens up there is a commotion as the thirty-nine other graduates all stand up from their seat and, as one, give their own bow to the same said forces.
As they move to stand up straight the same action is repeated among the others in the hall - first the professors, then the officials, then the parents and families, and then the rest of the student body.
As the last person in the last set completes the bow and straightens up there is a rumbling roar,.a flash of lightning, the smell of incense, and the caress of wind.
Those forces - be it Hogwarts or the Divinities - called forth by the act of respect had answered, and responded, and shown their own favor in the act.
For everyone present - including the muggles and those who still had yet to graduate Hogwarts - now had a flower pinned to their robe. But what made this all the more impressive was that each person had a unique flower, a fact which would lead to many hours, or more, worth of discussion on the various meanings.
After the act of divine will there was a pause, as if no one knew what to do, a pause that would be broken by Harry. He gave a slightly amused nod as he looked at the bouquet of mixed flowers on his chest before stepping down and slowly making his way back to his seat. Upon him sitting down so did the rest of this year, and then the hall.
Which to the Headmaster was the sign to stand up with twinkle in his eye in order to begin the process of calling names and granting diplomas.
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“So what do your flowers mean?” Mason asks as soon as the ceremony was over and he was free to do such that.
Harry just chuckles before honestly shaking his head in wonder, “I don’t know actually as some of the flowers here are either rare or no longer around.”
A blink then a grin followed by some laughter, “So you are saying Hogwarts or the Divinities pretty much gave you homework on the day of your graduation.”
As Harry is about to answer his mind is contacted by Lad Hogwarts herself who sends him images, feelings, which when he interprets has him realize she is basically saying - “I, we, didn’t mean for it to be like that but now that it is said we meant it like that.”
Which lets to Harry losing it in laughter, so much so that he has to lean against the wall to stay up. So much so that it is almost ten minutes before he can even begin to stutter out the explanation for why he is laughing so much.
Which of course sets the stage for the others who hear it to begin laughing as well.
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“Hey Charlie,” Harry asks curiously to his finance during the break between events as they sit on a bench in the outer plaza by the bridge, “I was wondering what made you decide to stand and bow?”
“A feeling, a feeling in my magic and my bones.” Is Charlie’s immediate answer when Harry finishes speaking. He then adds, “It just seemed right you know.”
With a grin of understanding he nods, “Oh, yes, I very much do know.”
The two then let the silence relax them as they peacefully sit together.
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Walking into the great hall Harry and those around him stop and stare in awe, for the place was much changed.
Most especially for the fact that instead of their being the four school house tables plus the head table the room was covered in a huge number of eight to ten person round tables situated around an open platform for dancing.
“Ooooh,” Mason says with awe in his voice, an awe that those around him feel. “I didn’t know they were changing it this way.”
“Surprise!” Sirius exclaims from where he is standing near to Remus and the other professors and staff. He soon continues by saying, “As we figured this was a more formal style of dinner it would make sense to treat it such, hence the tables and dance floor.”
As they walk further in Harry lets out a grin before commenting, “Should I assume that if it's a success tonight then they will bring it back for further year graduations?”
“You know it!” Is the amused answer Sirius gives in response.
Speaking up from where he standing on the other side of Harry, Charlie asks, “So is it assigned seating, and if so where are we going?”
It is Remus who answers, to no one’s real shock, “Yes it is, and the graduating students and families are tables six to twelve with us being six.”
Harry gives a nod at that before exclaiming, “Well brilliant, and let’s head to our seats before we start to mingle.”
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“Hey Harry,” Charlie says spontaneously at one point in the dinner.
Blinking at his partner, “Yes Charlie?”
“Let’s dance!”
Harry grins in response, the two stand up, and then begin making their way over ot the dance floor as the slow music starts to play.
While at first Sirius and Remus only stare at Charlie and Harry as they move towards the dance floor it is not long before they smile at each other and get up to join them as well. Soon afterward so does the rest of the graduates, their partners, and their parents and adult family members.
From where he is sitting Mason is suddenly alone, but only physically and only temporally, for as he watches them dance with joy all he can feel is happiness at how it has all turned out.
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“So who’s staying?” Harry asks after the dinner celebration is over and the parents begin gathering coats in order to depart.
It is Fred who answers with a grin, “Only those of us who were here as of a few years ago.”
“Plus me,” Charlie comments as his arm goes around Harry’s. “As I got special dispensation to break the rules.”
With a chuckle of amusement Sirius, breaking off from where he was saying goodbye to Mason, comes over to give Harry a hug. As he pulls back he says with a sly grin, “Don’t do anything we wouldn't have done.”
“So you are saying go wild?” Is Harry’s cheeky response.
In response Sirius ruffles Harry’s hair and says, “You know it pup!”
“Don’t encourage him,” Remus says, though whether he is saying that to Harry or Sirius is hard to determine. He then moves forward to give his own hug to Harry before saying, “See you tomorrow cub.”
As the parents and younger siblings finish saying their goodbyes George claps his hands and says, “Right, with them gone, let’s have some fun!”
Fred grins in response before pointing towards the hallway, “Okay folks, come with us, to covenant section we go!”
Which was the room that all had decided would be best to have the multi-house post-graduation celebration party.
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Not long after Harry arrives in the great hall for breakfast and sits down at the Gryffindor table Mason comes up to him, steels a piece of toast from the plate, and asks, “So, you look exhausted. How late did the party go last night?”
“Huh,” Harry says, very much his not normal morning self, “oh, till like five in the morning. We’re all operating on less than two hours of sleep and the hope of a pepper up potion.”
Which just so happens to be slid to him by a grinning Ginny who says, “From Professor Snape with a scowl!”
A grin is the response as the table laughs and Harry, and the other now graduates, drink up their own samples of the potion.
Once the smoke fades and the effect takes hold Harry blinks and says, “Right. Hello all and good morning. Sorry for the delay in such greetings.”
More laughter erupts, Ron grumbles about food, as the table begins returning to their more normal breakfast conversation and activities.
For even though this is the last for some tradition must be maintained.
Especially when there is good food in front of them that is just begging to be eaten!
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“So what’s the plan Harry?” Ron asks upon his putting down his bag on the floor of the room on the Express that they claimed.
With a chuckle at the question Harry says, “I will be spending half the time here relaxing and half the time traveling the train for my final meet and greet.”
After giving a nod at that very expected action Ron does let out a slight cough before asking, “At one point can I join you for the walk. Why I don’t want to talk to everyone I would like to travel up and down the train.” His voice lowers as he says shyly, “You know to take it all in for the last time, and such.”
“Of course you can join me for that Ron.” Harry says with a smile. He then gestures towards the others in the train, “In fact all of you could for that walkabout part.”
While Neville, Hermione, Daphne, and Blaise all nod in agreement at that Luna shakes her head negatively. “I will pass as I still have one more year and thus I don’t need to let in the shadows of the wrakspurts like you are doing.”
“Just the shadows my love?” Neville asks curiously, and with some amusement.
A decisive nod, “Of course, for our magical bonds are quite strong enough to keep such creatures at bay!”
“Well that is good to hear,” Hermione adds agreebly. As eyes turn to her she smiles and says, “So, before Harry leaves us to say hello to the others, what to play a game?”
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“Mr Potter, did you really just hug everyone and their parents?” Asks a surprised Severus Snape as he comes up to Harry as he stands in the middle of the platform, easily visible to all.
“Nope!” Is Harry’s cheeky answer. At the raised eyebrow of Snape calling him out on that he grins before explaining, “Well, as I didn’t hug my year mates or their parents I truthfully can’t say I hugged everyone.”
“I see,” comes the drawl with barely hidden amusement, “my mistake, one I do apologize for!”
In a tone of voice and an air that drips pureblood snobbery Harry says, “As you should. But since you did correct yourself I won’t retract the invitation that I know was given to you to join us later today at Potter Manor.”
After one raised eyebrow later, his only sign of amusement, Severus says, “As that is so I shall be seeing you soon, as I also have some final greetings to make before I am released from this ponderous social custom I find myself involved in.” So said, Severus gives Harry a nod before making his way to another corner of the station.
With a slight chuckle and a shake of his head Harry turns his face towards Timothy Crice, one of the students he had yet to say goodbye too.
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As Harry stands at the portal point of the station for the last time on the student journey he can’t help but think back on all that had happened to him - from peace and joy to violence and war, from making friends and finding love, with a side of order and chaos in between.
But then he realized something, all that was in the past, for the him now is so much more than that. He is a man with a family, a man with a purpose, a man with a life to live, a man on a golden path!
It is a reason, a core nature, that has little to do with the pains of his youth. A fact which he is entirely grateful for, for he is much more than a simple scar.
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It is with these words that an adventure comes to an end.
But don’t worry, for where there is one there is more, for both the story and the life of Harry James Potter is one without end, for like the stars themselves there are always new beginnings!
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