Title: Ink

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Rest of Your Life

Summary: Ink magic is something not many know about, but should. It could ruin everything.

Story warnings: Swearing, some violence, major character death, other death, and torture. I will update this if I come across more warnings.

Chapter warnings: Nothing for this chapter.

Note: This story is relatively slow-starting, because I for one hate it when everything happens in the first few chapters. This will eventually be an Anti!Dumbledore and Pro!Voldemort story. If that is not what you prefer, I would leave if I were you.

There may or may not be romance later on in the story. It will not be the focus, however.

I have ignored the ending of Book 6 and all of Book 7. At the end of Harry's sixth year, Dumbledore was almost assassinated by Draco Malfoy, but the attempt was stopped by members of the teaching staff (1). Seventh year was a mild year for Harry, with a normal Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and no real challenges to face. Bill and Fleur were married the summer before Harry's seventh year; no attacks occurred.

Disclaimer: I do not consider myself the owner of these characters. They belong to J. K. Rowling. If there are characters I make up and own, I will mention it in the notes section of the chapter, either header or footer.

I hope you enjoy this story!

The day seemed to start like any other. The morning was clear and cool, with not a cloud in the sky. The mid-June air was only slightly humid, giving the atmosphere a rounded, encompassing feel. Birds were singing, crickets were chirping, and students were snoozing. Such is the way of many days at Hogwarts. The castle housed many students on this day, keeping them safe inside the hard castle walls as they slumbered. It was not, however, a day like any other. Not for the seventh year students of Hogwarts, anyway. Today was graduation day- anticipated by many, and loathed by some. This day meant the ending of one chapter and the start of another in life's storybook.

Students slowly began to wake from their sleep, wiping the tiredness out of their eyes and stretching the fatigue from their muscles. Curtains were drawn from the four-poster beds, and sheets were rustled. The boys of Gryffindor Tower all woke up within minutes of each other. A few words were mumbled, and the boys slowly stumbled out of their beds to get ready for the day.

Harry Potter stood quietly next to his bed, looking at his fellow schoolmates milling around as the sleepy fog cleared from his brain. He came to the realization last night that today would be his last day at Hogwarts. It was a strange thought. So many memories were made here, good and bad, and the idea of leaving seemed so foreign to him. But leaving would mean a new beginning. Harry liked the idea of that.

He could leave the people behind that hindered him. He could get out into the world and see what life was like without Hogwarts holding his hand. He could experience what the magical world has in store for him. He could be happy.

Not that Hogwarts didn't make him happy, of course that wasn't the case. But Harry kind of liked the idea of leaving the safety of the castle. He had always been under watch by one person or another, especially when he was at school. Now that he was seventeen and out of school (Or almost, the teen thought with an anxious sigh), he thought he could finally achieve some peace.

Thinking back on the last year of his education, the brunet realized what he was afraid to say almost all term. Nothing strange had happened. No madmen after him, no weird professors, no battle to the death. It was just school. Lots of homework, petty school drama, and a few verbal fights with some classmates, but that was nothing compared to the previous years of his school career.

Harry smiled a little to himself and shook his head. A normal year. He could not believe it. Voldemort had been oddly quiet in the last ten months, with very few appearances made in wizarding public. The only publications about his doings were speculations of his whereabouts. Though strange, the majority of the wizarding world considered this a blessing, and many families took this time to go on vacation, and the like. Harry knew, though, that the Dark Lord was not gone, and he would be popping up any time now, and no one seemed to worry about it. Harry shook his head. He did not understand the minds of the general public. How could they think their worries were gone? Realizing he should get ready, Harry headed towards the showers and began his morning routine.

The graduation ceremony was on a Sunday. The day before it was long and filled with the last of the NEWTs and packing. Today would be long, too. There was an early lunch in the Great Hall for seventh year students and their relatives, with the rest of the school scheduled for a later lunch (there would not be enough room for the whole school plus the parents of the graduates, unfortunately). After the meal, the seventh years would gather their belongings with their family and change into their caps and gowns. Soon after, there would be the convocation. Harry smiled inwardly at the thought. Harry Potter, Hogwarts graduate. Out of all his titles, that one did not bother him in the least.

"Oi!" Harry's head whipped toward the exclamation that sprung from his best friend's mouth. Ron Weasley was looking at him with an expectant expression, and Harry furrowed his brow slightly before realizing the redhead had been speaking to him, or trying to anyway.

"Sorry Ron," Harry mumbled as he turned away from the streaked mirror in front of him. "Was thinking. What were you saying?"

"I was just wondering if you got that spell down, you know, the one Hermione showed us?" Ron gestured toward his robes, which appeared as if they were trampled by hippogriffs. "To get the wrinkles out?"

Harry chuckled slightly at him. "Yeah, hold on." Retrieving his wand, he pointed it at Ron's attire and muttered the incantation. Before their eyes, the fabric straightened itself as if it was ironed.

Ron sighed in relief. "Thanks, mate. You're a lifesaver."

"Well, I am the Chosen One, you know," Harry retorted as he turned back to the mirror, running his fingers through his jet black hair. It would never stay down, of course, but Harry liked to pretend it would do what he wanted.

Soon enough, the boys were dressed in their cleanest house robes and leaving the dormitory for the morning, heading off to the seventh year lunch. Harry and Ron left together, since they were both meeting with the Weasley family. Before they left the room, the boys both turned and gave the place a good, hard look. Harry ran his eyes over every single spot, trying to memorize the little things and the big things.

"I'll miss this place," Ron murmured to himself, eyes flitting over the beds and trunks. Harry nodded in agreement.

Shaking himself mentally, the brunet turned and motioned for Ron to follow, heading down the spiral stairs and into the common room. There were very few Gryffindors in the warmly decorated space, and Harry did not see any other seventh years.

Harry cocked his head to the side. "Are we late?"

Ron shrugged. "Dunno."

Harry's question was somewhat answered a moment later. Hermione, Parvati and Lavender trotted down the stairs, the former coming to a halt in front of the two boys. Lavender said a quick goodbye to Hermione as she ran her fingers through her hair, exiting through the portrait hole.

"Morning," Hermione smiled to her friends. "You two look nice." Harry smiled and Ron fidgeted.

"Are we late?" Ron blurted out. Hermione blinked.

"No," the witch replied slowly. "If we leave now we'll be there on time. Why do you ask?"

Ron shrugged. "No one's around. Can we go? I'm starving!" Harry and Hermione shared a look and the three were off. It really did seem like any other day.

The three walked to the Entrance Hall through the long corridors and down the many staircases. The relatives of the graduates would be gathered there. Harry heard them well before they got to the large staircase at the head of the hall.

Harry, Ron and Hermione slowed down to a halt once they reached the steps, surveying the large crowd of excited parents, aunts, uncles and friends.

Hermione bounced on the balls of her feet eagerly, looking around for her parents. "Ooh!" She exclaimed excitedly as she spotted them, giving her friends a quick wave before bounding after her relations.

It was not hard to find the Weasley family. Harry smiled the moment he saw them. It looked like the entire Weasley family had showed up. Percy was not there, but one could argue that he did not belong there anyway. Arthur and Molly Weasley waved merrily at the boys and Harry waved back, happy to see his family again. Near them were the twins, Fred and George, and leaning against a nearby wall were Charlie and Bill, with Bill's wife Fleur.

Ron pulled Harry by his arm and bounded down the stairs, halting in front of the group.

"Hey," he greeted with a grin, before being attacked by warm hugs and tidings. Harry received the same treatment.

"All right, Harry?" Arthur greeted the teen as Harry dislodged himself from Molly's bear hug.

"Hello, Mr. Weasley," he replied with a crooked smile and a nod.

"Mum, can we go? I'm starving," Bill yelled from the back of the group, making Harry chuckle. All Weasley's loved food; there was no doubt about that. The group entered the Great Hall together, making their way towards the Gryffindor table. The hall was already halfway full, and there were quite a lot of people left in the Entrance Hall. Harry was glad he and Ron had not left any later.

Looking around, Harry noted the dark blue and cream-colored decorations in the hall. These were the colors for this year's graduates. Harry was grateful they were calm, neutral colors, having heard about a year when the students wore bright pink gowns and yellow tassels.

There were blue and white candles floating above the tables, and all of the wooden tables had dark blue place mats under the cream colored plates. The tapestries that usually showed the four house colors showed just a midnight blue, promoting the group as a whole instead of four distinct parts. The enchanted ceiling showed a beautiful clear sky, and Harry was sure there were no spells needed to get the effect today.

Harry sat next to the twins, who looked at him with identical grins.

"Howdy, partner," George grinned with a wink. Fred nudged him.

"Nice one, brother," he snickered with a matching wink to the small teen. Harry smirked, realizing the play on words; they enjoyed praising his involvement in the starting of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

"How's business?" The teen asked, looking at both of them with a grin. They had been doing quite well with owl orders at Hogwarts thanks to Ron and his friends, but it was hard to know what was going on at the shop in Diagon Alley.

"Good, mate," Fred answered, filling up his plate. "Lots of traffic from foreigners this time of year. Pranks are pretty universal, you see, no need for English or anything."

George nodded in agreement. "We're cutting invention time in half and doubling production rates, to raise profit quickly. We have plans of expanding soon." He raised his eyebrows excitedly, spearing a piece of chicken with his fork.

"Oh?" Harry looked at the two, filling his plate as he listened.

"Yeah, we're looking at a shop in Hogsmeade, only a street down from the main road. Bloody expensive rent, but sales will skyrocket in the school year." The twins grinned at the prospect of more customers, and Harry could not help but feel happy for them. They worked very hard for what they achieved, and they definitely deserved the results that followed.

"That's great, guys," Harry said with a smile. "When are you going to do that, then?"

"Well, we have to get a few things in order, first," Fred said, taking over. "We have to hire at least two more employees before the move, because there is no bloody way we can do one at Diagon and one at Hogsmeade." Harry nodded.

"Makes sense. Do you have anyone in mind?"

The twins shook their heads. "We're looking, but not finding, really."

Harry nodded and went back to his plate. The twins definitely deserved the help they needed, but not a lot of people wanted to work at a joke shop these days.

The food was good and filling, and Harry was surrounded by good people. Ron and Charlie were across from him, and to his left were Neville Longbottom and his grandmother. Neville and Harry talked about summer plans, and Harry was happy to hear that Neville was thinking of entering a Herbology career.

"I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do yet, but I'm thinking exotic plant research. I'd get to travel lots," He said, looking at his grandmother and Harry. Harry nodded at him encouragingly.

"You'll do great, Neville. You're great with plants," Harry assured the boy when Neville smiled nervously.

"Thanks, Harry," he said with a smile.

"No problem."

After an hour and a half of feasting and talking, students and their guests left the Great Hall and headed toward the dormitories.

Harry and Ron walked with the Weasley clan, making the long trek to the dormitories. On the way many of them told stories of when they stayed in the castle, pointing out places of interest.

"Ah, I remember that tapestry," Arthur said to the group with a happy sigh. "Got me to Charms class twice as quick as going through the corridor. It was a lifesaver." The twins looked back at Harry and winked, knowing the teen had undoubtedly used the same tapestry from time to time. And Harry had; the Marauder's Map had shown him many useful shortcuts around the school, as well as interesting areas that many did not know about.

Once they made it to the common room, Fred and George slumped on the nearest couch, Bill and Charlie following them. Molly and Arthur followed Harry and Ron to their dormitory so they could help round up their belongings.

Neville and his grandmother were already there, and Seamus and his mother were heard arguing in the bathroom.

Arthur shrunk Harry's belongings and put them in his pocket, Molly giving him Ron's as well. They surveyed the room, looking for anything that may have gotten away from the two.

"Well," Arthur said, bringing his hands together, "Molly and I will go get your owl, Harry. Hagrid said he would keep her in his hut until the end of the ceremony. Much quicker than getting her after like everyone else." Harry nodded, agreeing. All of the students would be picking the animals up after the ceremony… wouldn't that be a fun wait?

Molly grabbed Harry's dress robes from the hanger on his bed and handed it to him. "Best get dressed, Harry. The ceremonial robes need to be magically fitted over these."

Harry headed to the bathrooms, noticing Seamus twitching as his mum yanked at his dress robes from different angles.

"Leave it, mum, no one's going to see it anyway!" He yelled, his red face scrunched in annoyance. His mother tutted and continued to adjust the fabric.

Harry chuckled and changed into his robes in the nearby stalls. He bought his robes over Christmas, so he knew they would fit him. All of the girls wore semi-formal dresses underneath their gowns, while the boys wore nice dress robes. Most of the students bought their robes during Hogsmeade visits, but some chose to bring old robes to save money. Harry had outgrown his robes from fourth year, so he did not mind buying new ones.

After he dressed he headed back into the circular room, Molly immediately grabbing his arms and fitting them into the proper holes.

The ordeal was not a terrible one; Molly was quite experienced with fitting robes. Ron was sitting on his bed, already dressed. He had not put on his black wizarding hat, yet, but it was not necessary until they left the common room anyway.

"All done, Harry," Molly said with a smile, walking around him with a satisfied smile. Harry thanked her, looking down at himself. The heavy, dark blue robes had deep sleeves with a cream lining, as well as cream-colored tassels. The robes just barely brushed the floor. Harry grabbed his hat and nodded to Ron, who stood up, yawning.

"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, walking with Ron to the door. They said their temporary goodbyes as the two boys headed down towards the grounds of Hogwarts.

"That took forever," Ron sighed, rubbing his forehead with the back of his hand. "I just want to be doing it already, you know?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed, fingering the thick sleeves of his robes absentmindedly. The two piled their hats on their heads as they reached the Entrance Hall, seeing other students do the same as they exited the large castle doors.

Stepping outside of the large fortress felt refreshing; the air was nice and cool and the green grass smelled sweet and fresh. The two boys followed the mass of midnight robes toward a large platform near the large Black Lake. This is where the ceremony would be held. Chairs were lined up in front of the platform, with many already seated in the back section; the front four rows were reserved for the forty graduates. The students were previously told the lineup for the ceremony, so the crowd of students organized themselves into the proper four rows of ten, with the help of some sixth year prefects. The rows consisted of five girls and five boys of a house; Gryffindor was the first row, then Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw in the back.

The students quietly chatted amongst themselves as more guests found their seats behind them. Harry waved to Hermione, who was at the end of the row, and chatted quietly with Dean. The guests conversed with their neighbors, waiting for the ceremony to start.

Shortly after the students settled down and got properly lined up the school's headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, walked up the path and climbed the steps onto the stage. He was dressed in a very similar robe to the students, though his midnight blue was accented with twinkling stars and a large crescent moon on the right sleeve. Following him was the deputy headmistress and Harry's head of house, Minerva McGonagall. She was wearing her trademark emerald robes, which she favored to any other color. She would be handing diplomas to the students as they walked to the stage. The diplomas were nowhere to be seen, though.

Dumbledore stepped to the podium in the middle of the stage, effectively silencing the crowd by appearance alone. Though Harry and his classmates had not been told what would be happening in the ceremony, he figured there would be a speech. And he was right.

"Good afternoon," the headmaster greeted with a smile. "Today, on this Sunday, fourteenth June 1998, we honor the students who have successfully completed seven years of magical education and training through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"As head of this school, I have seen the growth of the individuals that stand before me. They come to this school, merely seeds, and by the time they passed through the corridors for the last time, they have been transformed into tall, sturdy trees. Their magic has been given the proper nudges to branch out and grow, and it will continue to grow until the end of their days.

"The professors at Hogwarts have witnessed, along with myself, some magnificent examples of magic by very talented students, and even more pleasing to us educators than this is the students' teachings of it to their peers. Students are always being helped by other students when teachers are done teaching."

The old man paused, surveying his graduating class. "I have been privileged to encounter each and every one of you, and do not ever forget that. No matter the outcome, your lives will make a dent in society, for better or for worse. I am glad to know the ones who will do so."

Harry thought the man almost sounded prophetic in his last few statements. For better or for worse, he thought to himself with an inward smirk. I suppose it is possible the next dark lord of Britain is in this group.

Dumbledore pulled out his wand, continuing his speech. "With the power of magic, these young adults will be able to influence their lives and the lives of everyone around them. Let us all be thankful for the gifts magic has given us." With that, he waved his wand, and with a whoosh, many scrolls zoomed through the air, halting near him. They hovered in midair, as if waiting for their next command.

"To all of you," he concluded, "I thank you. I thank you for what you've achieved, and what you will achieve." With that, he stepped from the podium, stepping to the back of the stage. Professor McGonagall, now standing in the center of the platform, raised her wand to the side of her neck. Her amplified voice declared, "When I call your name, you will come forth and receive your diploma, and return to your seat. When the last student is returned to his seat, all students will rise and face the guests for final words."

McGonagall flicked her wand and the scrolls organized themselves, resting in front of the professor for her to grab and read. With this, the calling of the students began.

The students were called in the same order that they were seated, making it easy for students to stay in line. The Gryffindor girls were first, and then the boys; the girls of Hufflepuff would follow, then boys, and so on. Sooner than Harry expected, his name was called, and he walked up to the platform and took his diploma. He shook his head of house's hand, and resumed his place in line at his seat, strangely relieved. Now that the most anticipated part of the ceremony was over, Harry felt like he finished a difficult exam. It was as if a weight was lifted from his shoulders.

It did not take long for the forty students to get their scrolls and return to their seats. When the last student was seated again, McGonagall stepped back and Professor Dumbledore resumed his place at the podium.

"Graduating class of 1998," he began, "I ask you to please rise." The boys and girls all came to their feet, holding their certificates in their hands. "Please face your audience."

All forty students now faced the crowd. Harry felt weird standing there, knowing the people were looking at all of them. Examining the rows of witches, wizards and Muggles, Harry's eyes stopped abruptly on a man seated directly in front of him, a few rows back. He was looking into Harry's eyes, as if he had been watching him the entire time. As Harry thought this, his scar gave a strange twinge, and he almost flinched outwardly at the unexpected sensation. Blinking rapidly, the teen took a deep breath and hoped no one saw him freak out. It seemed as if no one had. Except for that man. He looked to be young- in his early thirties, Harry guessed- with dark brown hair, bright blue eyes and a guarded expression on his face. His appearance stirred something in Harry's memory, but he could not put a finger on what it was exactly. He was shaken out of his thoughts when he realized there were no more sounds coming from the stage. Harry looked around and realized the headmaster was stepping down from the podium, having finished his speech.

"Ladies and gentleman," Harry heard McGonagall announce, "the graduates of 1998!" At this, there was a deafening applause from the students and audience. This was the students' cue to throw their hats in the air in a celebratory manner. Harry was too distracted by the blue-eyed man to participate, however; the man in question was still staring intensely back at the teen, unblinking, and it unnerved him greatly. It was not until Dean nudged him happily that Harry came to his senses, celebrating with the rest of his peers.

As Harry looked around him once again, he realized that he was no longer a student, but a wizarding adult. He, who had been a part of this same group since he was eleven years old and so unsure of the world around him. He, who had learned and fought alongside the same forty people for the last seven years. From a single group sprung forty individuals. Forty adults, thrust into the real world. The veil, the safety, the protection of Hogwarts was lifted from each of them, leaving them naked and vulnerable. The real world started now, and the notion was utterly terrifying, but oddly exciting.

As the tradition goes, Hogwarts graduates ride in the wooden boats across the Black Lake, as they did to get to Hogwarts the very first time. It was a nice way to end the seven-year journey (2).

Notes:

(1) There was a loophole in the Unbreakable Vow performed in Chapter 2, Spinner's End, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Narcissa Malfoy, in her third condition for Severus Snape, asks, "...if it seems Draco will fail, will you carry out the deed...?" Since it did not seem that Draco would fail (the assassination was stopped mid-spell by McGonagall), the condition was not left unfulfilled. (This could be considered picky, but I wanted Snape and Dumbledore to be alive for this story.)

(2) J. K. Rowling mentioned this in an interview: "...the boats would've been the most poetic and beautiful way to for them to leave, and symbolic..." This is found on a written transcription of a PotterCast found on the-leaky-cauldron dot org.

I hope this chapter was interesting for everyone. I would appreciate some constructive criticism in the form of reviews, so if you have something to say, please don't hesitate! The idea of this story came to me over the last few months, and I decided to actually write it down. I hope it turns out as well as it seems to be in my head.