Graduation: Friends Forever
Hermione smiled sadly as she took her diploma from Professor McGonagall, who had tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong, Professor?" she asked in an undertone.
"I hate to lose you as a student, Miss. Granger. You're one of the people that I love teaching for. Good luck in the future, Hermione."
Hermione smiled faintly at her.
If she only knew, Hermione thought, how much I'm going to lose tonight...
And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day
Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of that night in June
I didn't know much of love
But it came too soon and there was me and you
And then we got real cool
Stay at home talking on the telephone with me
We'd get so excited, we'd get so scared
Laughing at our selves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels
Hermione sat down after shaking her teachers' hands, and felt her eyes well up with tears.
After the ceremony, Harry and Ron approached her.
They looked so happy, so carefree.
Hermione couldn't understand how they could not be sad or worried.
"Congrats, Herm," said Ron, blushing scarlet.
"Yeah! Valedictorian! Wow, we knew you had it in the bag!" Harry smiled.
She tried to smile, but didn't succeed in anything more than a grimace.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked concernedly.
"Well, it's just that...you guys aren't worried about the future? About our lives, and how we'll probably split apart and see each other hardly ever? Don't you worry?" she said quietly, staring into Ron's eyes.
He stared back at her in a sort of sadness and disbelief.
"You think we won't keep in touch?" he said quietly.
Hermione shook her head, shrugging, emotion tugging at her heart.
"You think that we don't care enough about you to stay with you when you need us? When you want us? When you need help or advice or anything, you think we'll just not be there?" he said, an edge lurking in his voice.
Hermione shrugged again, but was wary.
"Ron, I didn't mean that you don't care..."
"Well, Herm, that just plain and simple, not true! Do you have any idea what I...What you...What we....." Ron trailed desperately.
Hermione was confused.
"What? Ron, what do you want to say? Just say it." she said, afraid that her voice would break if she said anymore.
"Herm..."
"What?"
"I'll always be there."
As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change, come whatever
We will still be, friends forever
"We'll always be there," Harry added.
Hermione smiled faintly.
She still didn't know what Ron was going to say, and she was very curious.
They mingled and laughed and talked until the party was over, and then they headed outside before going to bed their last nights at Hogwarts.
Harry went off to find Andrya, whom was his latest (and longest) girlfriend, which left Ron and Hermione alone.
However, Hermione saw the meaningful look that Harry and Ron shared before Harry had left.
What was going on?
"Herm? Can I ask you something?" Ron whispered, looking at her right in the eye.
So if we get the big jobs
And we make the big money
When we look back now
Will our jokes still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can we ever find a job that won't interfere with a tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
And this is how it feels
Hermione looked at him in wonder, the nodded.
"Hermione....I reacted the way I did before, because...tonight I was going to do something....but...it's so hard because of what you said. That you didn't think that we'd be together anymore." he gulped, watching her face for a reaction.
Hermione studied his expression.
"Ron," she said slowly, "Just ask me."
They stared at each other for a moment, and then Ron took a deep breath.
"Iwiuvyiou," he said quickly.
"What?" Hermione exclaimed, guarded.
"I love you, Herm. I always have, and always will. I was going to ask you tonight...would you...get any pleasure in marrying me?" Ron mumbled.
Hermione stared at Ron in shock.
"Ron, why did you never say anything?" she breathed.
"I just.....it was too hard....?" he tried, starting to look very nervous.
Hermione noticed his hands were shaking.
She beamed at him.
"Yup. That's my Ron. Always the procrastinator." she grinned, and caught his eye.
He gave her a weary look, unsure of what that comment meant.
"Oh, Ron, come on! Do I have to spell it out for you?" Hermione laughed, "Of course. Yes. Uh huh. Absolutely."
Ron's eyebrows raised.
"To...to the question?"
Hermione swatted him.
"Of course, to the question!" she giggled.
Ron started to laugh, then swept her into his arm and kissed her deeply.
She pulled back, breathless.
"Whoa, Ron! Why didn't you ask me sooner?" she joked, smoothing her hair.
Ron chuckled, and pointed beside them, where Harry and Andrya were watching them.
Hermione laughed, feeling the most carefree that she had felt since...she had never felt so carefree!
Harry and Andrya approached them, and they all stood together, laughing and hugging, and they knew that they would be together forever.
La, la, la, la; yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la, we will still be friends forever
Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
La, la, la, la; yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la, we will still be friends forever
La, la, la, la; yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la, we will still be friends forever
La, la, la, la; yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la, we will still be friends forever