As The Cherry Blossoms Fall -- A Harry Potter Fanfiction by Miss Red Rose
First Important Note: As with all fan fictions, I do not own these characters, and so I do not make any money off them or any of the conversations or situations that I put them in. Except the original characters in later chapters, they are mine, and I intend to one day make money off them. For now, they are just cool inserts into this fan fiction that I cannot make any money on. I hope you totally understood what I just wrote as a disclaimer.
Second Important Note: This story is based one year following HP and the Deathly Hallows. If you have not read it, then do not read this story. It has serious amounts of spoilage to the next level. It is set from the perspective of Harry himself and I know that there may be some false statements and ideas in it. But that's why it's called fan-fiction, cause I can make this stuff up as I go.
Third Note: I should be writing the DAOS' next issue. But instead I'm doing this. Interesting huh? Oh, and the reason why I won't be eligible for the 100 Themes Challenge, is because I am doing more than one theme in each chapter.. This chapter is covering the first four, bonus points to anyone who notices which four are talked about in the title of the chapter.
ENJOY!!
Chapter One: My Introduction From the Dark, Into the Light That I So Love.
A flash of green light was all it took in the very beginning. That flash of light was so powerful, that it changed my very being for the entirety of my life, turning my life into a world of never-ending darkness. In this darkness laid bitterness and anger, abandonment, and rage, things that can't be controlled within your soul. In the end, it was a blazing flash of light, that destroyed all that held me bound to this darkness that had consumed my life all those years, and brought me into a new world.
Now here I stand.
The sun warms my face as I stand on the stairs of Hogwarts main entrance. I stand upon these stairs a graduate student of Hogwarts, or at least in a few hours I was to be anyway. I gazed upon the endless rows of chairs that now sat upon the green as a testament as to what was to happen later this afternoon. My completion of school, and my completion of a chapter of my life.
The world wanted to know what the man who finally vanquished Voldemort would do after it was all over and I was free at last. Nobody believed me when I said that I wanted to go back to school and graduate. For a moment, I wondered myself what I would have benefited from going back. However, it was then I realized that I wanted to finish what I started so long ago on my first journey to Hogwarts. My parents also would have wanted me to graduate and celebrate with my fellow students. They would have wanted me to do something normal. But then again, I was no "normal" child. Something I have had to come to embrace these many years.
Therefore, I went back to school, studied, trained students in the Dark Arts during the Quiddich off season, brought the Quiddich Cup back to Gryffindor after a four year hiatus in the school, placed the fifth highest student in my NEWTS (Behind Neville, Ron, Luna, and Hermione in that order.) and now I was graduating, a year later.
The morning of commencement started like any other, breakfast with my friends, packing for the train, and preparing my robes for the event. Not one moment after I closed and locked my trunk for the last time did my door knock. The door opened, to reveal Headmistress McGonagall, her looks had not changed much, a little greyer in the hair from all the stress and fighting these many years. Nevertheless, she still maintained decorum as she stood, wearing the traditional robes for the school commencement.
"Mr. Potter, may I trouble you for a moment?" She asked as she stood at the threshold of my dorm room.
"It's Harry now, but of course you can Headmistress McGonagall." I answer her ushering her in with a warm smile on my face. She may have been a stern woman, but I know that Minerva was fair, in all aspects of her life. That fairness made her a good woman beyond all measure.
"Mr.--Harry," She stumbles "I have something for you." She hands me a brown paper package tied with a red bow. I open the package to reveal a stripped hood, striped in each color of the four houses, which went down to the floor in length.
"This is the House Hood of Honors, The highest honor, any graduate receives at Hogwarts ever." Disbelief comes over my face, yeah I saved the Wizarding world, but all the authorities knew that I was not the smartest, or the most rule-abiding member of my class. Definitely not a role model student in anyway because of my insane list of events that I have taken part in. I know for sure, that they are going to write a chapter in "Hogwarts, A History" about my adventures and mishaps as well as a list of things I've destroyed for sure.
"Yes it is the House Hood of Honors, only nine other students have earned the right to wear this hood. The last one to wear it was the late Albus Dumbledore almost eighty years ago. And," Minerva says as she gestures me to turn around, I turn to face the mirror. Minerva takes the hood from my hands, and places it around my shoulders, the ends hang off my chest and down to my knees, the back is bunched and lowered a little to give a draping effect.
"Today Harry, you become the tenth. Not only as a thank you gift from the students and staff at Hogwarts, but on behalf of a grateful nation." She brushes my shoulders lightly, as tears fall from her face. I look up to see her try and brush them away, I turn to face her.
"I know that your parents should be here to put this on you Harry, but they are not. They were not saints, but they knew what was right and what was wrong. I want you to know that for as long as you live."
"You need not remind me Headmistress. I know that they are proud of me. Moreover, you are wrong about them not being here. They are here, because they live in you, and in every person that knew them. As long as we all have that, they are never truly gone." I take her hands and smile gently.
"Their treasure was in all of us. In the goodness of all the people, they touched. And that is where their hearts are, even now, after all these years." Tears came even faster down Minerva's face as I embraced her. She began to sob, for all the time, people, emotions, words, and memories that were lost. All of which I saw through right down to the core of her, she was actually doing the crying that I could not. Not because I couldn't do it, but because if I did, I would never be able to move on.
"This afternoon," Said Hermione in a soft yet proud tone "We sit here and come before all of our friends and family to celebrate this wonderful occasion, one that we all will remember for many years to come. Friends, family, students, staff and dignitaries, welcome to our commencement ceremonies for the 313th graduating class of Hogwarts School." Cheers and roars of applause come from the students who were sitting in center, and formal applause from those who were sitting surrounding the graduating class in the center. Pictures were being taken from all over the lawn and smiles were beaming from all over. It was the perfect moment, to a perfect ending.
"As we gather here today, we are reminded of the people we love and the people we have lost in our journeys. Take comfort in knowing, that as we celebrate, those we have left behind are celebrating alongside us. It is not a moment for us to mourn, and so we shall do no such thing. As Head Girl, it has been my honor, to not only be allowed back to finish my education, but to train and enlighten the brightest minds this school has ever witnessed. May the world know who we are; we are Hogwarts, and we are the magic makers of dreams and endless possibilities!" Cheers and roars spread like wildfire as Hermione steps away from the podium and the students all rise as cheer her. She walks back over to her seat to be hugged by both Ron and myself. Professor McGonagall heads to the podium.
"It is at this time, we will bring forth the governors of the school, and begin the roll call of procession." Loud whoops and cheers begin to erupt from the entire class who was waiting for this one defining moment of their lives.
"I would like to ask all students remain standing until the entire roll call is completed." The back row stands up, and begins to move forward, each name called formally along with their house. However, I begin to notice, that as the lines move towards ours in the front, that I would be the last name called for the entire class. While I did not think to ask for a trade when I had my right to, I also realized that once again, I was to be praised above all other students. Hermione looks over at me, and she immediately deducted the same situation as I did.
"Harry, and students who receive special awards from the school are always put last. You also get the opportunity to say anything you want. You don't have to say anything, but I'm just letting you know."
"While this is a little late in saying, thanks Hermione." I mumble worried, looking down at the ground. I did not quite know what I was going to say. Then one clear thought came to my head, as the front row finally rose and moved towards the stage. With each name came cheers and flowers being garnished upon each person from friends and family. However, when I finally reached the stage, the entire crowd silenced itself.
"As a tradition, any students who have won distinguished honors from the school get to have the last speech of the commencement ceremony. This year, we have only one honoree, but this person has received the highest honor that we at Hogwarts can bestow, the House Hood of Honors. Friends, family, students, and distinguished guests, even though this small honor is nothing in comparison to how grateful we are to this person, please welcome now to the podium the tenth recipient of the House Hood of Honors, Harry James Potter."
Cheers, screams, whistles and a standing ovation came within half a second of my name being called. I step onto the stage, shaking hands with Minerva, I look before the entire wave of people before me, cheering, praising me. However, there was one thought that I wanted to say. I raise my hands to lower the cheering down, as students remained standing and everyone else began to sit down. I take in a really deep breath and exhale as I take in this very moment before me.
"I don't have too much to say. I only just found out that I was receiving this award this morning, for reasons unknown to me. However, I would like to think, that they did not tell I was to receive this award, out of fear that I would pull out my invisibility cloak and make an escape for home so I wouldn't have to give another speech." Harry said as he chuckled as the entire crowd began to laugh.
"First of all, I would like to thank all the staff here at Hogwarts, for their continuing dedication to teaching even with all the things that has happened. You inspire hope, and mold children into not only good students, but good human beings as well."
Applause flowed through the audience as every teacher stood and bowed before Harry. Hagrid, in tears much before I came to the stage, was sobbing with pride; I couldn't help but smile and bow before all of them. I turn back to the crowd before me and looked at all of them. My goal now was to get out my one thought out as clearly as possible.
"Eight years ago, when I was just a rejected kid living in the broom closet of my aunt and uncle's place, if you had told me that I was going to defeat the one guy no one could. Be known all over the world for it and that I would be standing here today, talking to all of you. I would have laughed. All of my life, I have been surrounded by darkness, and it is not just like dark clouds or perpetual rain. The type darkens your soul, and dooms you to a life of emptiness and abandonment. Eight years ago, that was my fate. It is not my fate anymore."
"I do not know what lies in store for me, or for any members of the 313th graduating class of Hogwarts. However, I do know this one thing. Please do not remember just me for saving the wizarding world, remember every person who has given his or her life in the pursuit of what is right. Not just for what one man did, against one enemy, but what we have all done, in our pursuit to be good people."
"Remember that, and you will illuminate this dark world, full of people, who were once like me, isolated and forsaken. It is a guarantee that you will give them hope, and keep their lights bright and away from darkness. Twenty years from now, it will not matter what I have said here, what will matter, is what we have done, to better this world. So grab your broomsticks, and sail into the skies, allow the wind to catch you and carry you to wherever you wish to go. Explore everything about life, dream the dreams that no one else has, and discover, that life is not about honors, glories, battles and titles; it is about living a rich and full personal life with no regrets. I have no regrets, and that is my hope for all of you. Thank you all, take care of yourselves, and each other."
The response at the end of my speech will be another great moment that I will never forget in my life. Hats flew in the air, students cheered, tears once again flowed through the eyes of every person who was happy that it was all over. I walk past the governors shaking each hand, receive my parchment of completion, and walk down the stairs, to be instantly greeted with a shower of both students and flowers.
Some one screamed 'WE ARE HOGWARTS', which followed more cheers, and a round of the chant flowed through the entire class. We were the first class to graduate since the fall of Lord Voldemort. Till this day, the 313th graduating class will be known as the class that had Harry James Potter, tenth recipient of the Hogwarts House Hood of Honors, First Class in the Order of Merlin, and Ambassador for United Kingdom to the Wizengamot, in it's roll call.
What a legendary way to leave a school, huh? Although, I like think I will never be without Hogwarts in my heart. Hogwarts was my introduction to the light of life that I now love, and cannot be without. It saved me, from a dark fate in which I would be still stuck in had it not been there, waiting for me like a mother waiting for their child to come home for the night. I guess in a way, you could say that I am proud to say 'I AM HOGWARTS'. Because a big part of who I am came from there, and will always be there.