Author's Note – So anyone who looks at my profile can see that I'm not the best with finishing stories, in in fact this story wasn't supposed to be published until all nine parts were complete, but I decided that since I'm currently working on part five and have a complete outline that I'd start the process of getting it online. I also want anyone reading this to be aware that it is un-beta'd and while I try to catch grammar, spelling and tense issues as I write and later as I type, there will be instances that might need to be pointed out since this is mostly written during my lunch breaks at work between people seeking me out and phones ringing. Also I'm rather American so while I try to keep things general so that I don't get everything wrong there will be things that are more American, than English. Also I kinda quit reading in the middle of book 5, I know the general outline of the rest of the series but I refuse to admit to its existence.
Disclaimer – I own nothing but the time taken to write and type this, everything else belongs to another, characters belong to JK Rowling, Hold Your Dreams belongs to those who own the rights to Fame, the 2010 movie.
Part 1
Countless Hours of Learning More
Countless Hours of Knowing Less
Can't Look Behind You
You Have to Look Ahead.
Standing on the stage looking out at her fellow graduates Hermione tried to still the butterflies in her stomach. With her grades being the highest the school had seen in years the Headmaster had given her the honor of addressing her classmates and their families, an honor that excited her as much as it saddened her.
Looking out once more before checking the notes of her speech she couldn't stop the wave of sadness that hit at the sight of all the chairs filled only by a framed photograph and long stemmed roses or lilies. Each chair representing a student or their family who had lost their lives in the war with Voldemort. When the Headmaster had proposed the tribute to the fallen she had worried that some would be excluded because they hadn't been on the order's side, but now she realized that it was a needless worry.
The crowd quiet she took a deep breath crossed her mental fingers and began what she saw as one of the most important moments of her life so far.
"Looking out at you, my classmates of seven years and fellow graduates, I wish to offer Congratulations, for all your hard work over these seven years and for surviving a war that took the lives of so many. When we started seven years ago we were momentarily united in the time before sorting, we stood in the Great Hall in awe and wonder unsure of what would happen next. After the sorting we drifted apart, perhaps not intentionally, but we did not the less. For the last seven years we have stood apart from each other in the shadow of our houses and their innate rules for interaction until today when we are once again united, this time in accomplishment.
As we get ready to step out into the world as graduates of Hogwarts's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry it is time to stand united. United to pick up the pieces created by shattered lives and create a better world than our parents left us. It is time to grow past animosity created in childhood and work together to repair our lives and honor those who can no longer do so.
Before those who would object do so, I would ask you to look around and take note of those who should have been present but cannot because their lives were taking in a conflict with no winner, all because we let ourselves be divided.
Working together we can prevent the past from repeating and causing another generation to suffer the same heartbreak and despair that we are so familiar with. I apologize if as muggles say, I've been standing on a soap box preaching, it was not my intent. My intent was only to attempt to unify my fellow graduates in an effort to restore and improve the wizarding world which has become my home over the last seven years. A place that I can only hope will embrace me beyond the boundaries of this school as I have embraced it.
Again congratulations to my fellow graduates. We have achieved much over the past seven years and I hope we can achieve much more together in the future."
Finished she turned to shake the Headmaster's hand before retaking her seat, hoping that her speech hadn't done the opposite of what she'd wanted. Looking to the side Hermione had to take a deep breath to force back the tears that wanted to fall at the sight of her Father's empty seat and her Mother's picture.
She'd thought her parent's would be safe with the war finished and the most dangerous death eaters either dead or in the custody of the Ministry so she'd removed several of the more powerful wards from the house only for her Mother to then by killed in a home invasion. Her Father spared only because he'd been away at a dental conference. The irony of surviving a magical war led by a blood supremacist only to die by muggle means in a completely non magical way did not escape her. Nor did it escape her Father who had refused to see or speak to her since her Mother's funeral in mid-March. Going so far as to move all of her belongings into a storage unit and changing the locks on the house and leaving her to find out when she came home during the Easter Holiday.
Shaking her head to clear the melancholy thoughts she was started by the volume of cheering around her, the cause taking a moment to decipher, the Headmaster had just declared them graduates. Gathering up the flowers and picture of her Mother, Hermione made her way to Harry and Ron, hugging and congratulating them before slipping away with an excuse that she wanted to say a few more good byes.
Slipping through the crowd she made her way through the castle to her room. Taking one last look around she shrunk her belongings before setting out for the gates having decided that she needed to get away for a bit and travel before settling down and deciding the next step in her future. She'd left her friends each a note explaining her need to be alone for a bit to sort things out and could only hope they'd understand and respect her wishes. With a creak of the gate and a pop Hermione was gone.
