Pride

I often wondered if I would ever get a chance to sit in this seat, watch as Filius, the new Deputy, led the student's in to the Great Hall to be sorted, look out over the sea of students, as the Headmistress.

When I first joined the staff of Hogwarts, I was scared stiff of the idea of being responsible for the education of so many young people, although in later years, Albus often told me that I had hidden it well. I have dedicated most of my life to this old castle, so many years spent teaching everything I know. I've watched terrified eleven year old's turn into confident young adults, and I've smiled as news of their success filtered back to their old school.

When I was made deputy, I was so proud. The idea of being the headmistress had never even crossed my mind until then, and even at that point, it was only a passing thought. Albus, as old as he appeared, acted as though he would live forever, even though he fully recognised and accepted his mortality. I knew the job would be mine if anything happened to Albus, but I was content to wait it out, would have remained deputy forever if it meant Albus was still with us.

Everything changed when he died.

He had been preparing me to take over his job through the year, though I hadn't realised that at the time. Not that it mattered, within a month of his death, I had been replaced by his murderer. I don't think anyone will ever understand the pain that caused me. To have waited for something as long as I did, only to have it snatched away, that hurt, but what hurt the most was that I had hoped to use the position for good, to make a safe haven that Albus would be proud of.

Instead, it was turned into something that reminded me of those muggle military camps. Harsh punishments, horrible lessons, and it was all I could do to attempt to keep my students safe. The pride I felt when my lions, and others of course, stood up to the Death Eaters, protected the younger students, and went into hiding, can not be expressed with words.

When the battle was over, finally finished, I found myself looking around the Great Hall, wondering how we would put our school back together. But we did, and it couldn't have happened without the help of our recent, and long since graduated, students, all pulling together in a show of unity to repair the place that we have all, at one time or another, called home.

Our home is more bloodstained, more ghosts that we would care to remember haunt our corridors, but she is back together, and she stands, as proud as always, ready to welcome anyone who needs her. I stand to address our current residents, the captain of the ship, so to speak, and I feel happiness and sadness, but most of all, I feel pride.