There are certain expectations that everyone has on graduation day, I was no different I expected it to be my first real step into adulthood. I thought that it would mark the end of my childhood and my emergence as a man. Now I realize how wrong I was. My graduation did not mark the end of my adolescence, but rather the beginning of a long journey that would eventually turn me into a man. I'm not even sure if I have completed that journey yet. Despite, all this the ignorance of my youth perceived that day as a loss of innocence. In away it was I guess I could no longer hide behind the childlike naivety, pretending to be oblivious to the war that was going on around me. I remember the day like it was yesterday.
I remember sitting on my chair surrounded by my friends, and anxiously waiting for Dumbledore to call my name to give the traditional Head Boy speech. I heard my name called and my breath hitched. I walked slowly up to the podium, and looked at all the faces of the boys and girls that I had spent the last seven years of my life with. As I took a deep breath, and felt the familiar twinge of nervousness I always got before I had to speak publicly. People used to say I exhumed confidence, and in certain aspects of my life I did. I had always been amazing in classes, quidditch and other things of that nature. However, I did not have confidence when it came to speaking in public. Sure I gave pep talks before a match, I could give a stirring speech from the heart in the heat of the moment. But, this was different. I took one more deep breath.
" At the Welcoming Ceremony our first year the Sorting Hat talked about how Hogwarts was formed on the basis of the friendship of the Four Founders, and it was the friendships that we have all required in our seven years here that will have the most lasting effect. It will be those friendships that stand the test of time.
The memories we have had here will stay with us for the rest of our lives. It was here we learned how to levitate, how to disarm, how to transfigure objects, even how to take care of some of the most vile creatures on the planet." At that thought everyone chuckled. "But, it was not only academic lessons we learnt here. Some of the most important life lessons were learnt in these walls. We learnt what simple minded prejudices can do, how the person you are isn't defined by who you're related to (I quickly through a smile Sirius' way), how even the best of people can be corrupted by grief and hardship, that life is never simply black and white, and sometimes just a kind comment can make the world of difference to someone. These lessons are what brought us closer to those we have chosen to call friends. However, it was not only heavy events that shaped these friendships.
We were all there at the very first flying lesson when shear determination got Mary off the ground for the first time all lesson. We were there when Evan blew up a cauldron in third year potions and covered the whole class in purple slime and started the most outrageous potion fight this school has ever seen. We were also all there when we were all forced to help clean it up. We all took part in the Fifth year ditch day and snuck out to Hogsmead. We were also all there when Professor Drake caught half of his Defense Against the Dark Arts class drunk in the Hogshead. I can't think of what was worse the three weeks of detention or the hangover I had the next day (more chuckles). Today marks the day we leave the safety of these walls and enter the world outside. It will be these lessons that help us make our way through the world, but it will be the friendships that make the turmoil and the hardships we will all undoubtedly face bearable. Well congratulations class of seventy eight we did it."
The crowed cheered, and I slowly walked back down to my seat. It was now time to receive our diplomas.