Graduation
By: CNJ
PG-13
Hermione:
There...I mouthed
as I finished the last question of my final exam, looked it over, then
turned it in. Most of the students were still working on theirs.
I silently wished them good luck, then left the room. Out in the
corridor, I fought the urge to let out a huge whooping bellow. I
did give a high jump and twirled my wand into the air, levitated it a minute,
then caught it. Done! It was sooo hard to believe that I'd
finished my last exam! A few students had finished their coursework
early, so we were taking our exams early in the second week of May.
One of my close friends, Harry Potter, was working on his exams too and
I hoped he'd be able to finish his last one soon. The rest of us
seventh-years, including two of my other friends, Ron Weasley and Cheria
Radwin are taking their exams in late May, right before graduation.
Just two more weeks and we are graduating. Graduating. Graduation.
What a heavy word. It meant the end of childhood and adolescence
and the start of adulthood. I myself am headed to Oxford in the fall.
Not many muggles know it, but Oxford has a magical branch of the campus.
I headed down the corridors in a quick energetic walk, then since it was
a lovely day, I walked outside. Once outside, I tossed my Potions
book high into the air, levitated it high over the castle roof of Hogwarts,
then let it float down until I caught it. "Yep, that's me, I'm high
since I'm finished secondary school," I told the book. I put down
my bag and one by one, levitated my books, then brought them down again.
"I take it you've completed
your last exam..." a soft deep voice said from behind me. I turned
to see Harry Potter coming out with a grin.
"Yes, I have...how did you
make out?" I asked.
"Just finished my last one
too," Harry's lips stretched into an even broader grin and he stood on
one long, slender leg a minute. "Oh, Mione, it's such a relief."
We hugged there a minute, happy for one another. Harry then cleared
his throat and told me, "Next is planning our Head Boy/Head Girl speeches...do
you think you'll be valedictorian?"
"I'm not sure..." I told
him as we walked around the courtyard. "There are three others up
there with me, so I'm not pinning my hopes on it. There's also salutatorian.
McGonagall tells me I have a good chance at winning that."
"I hope you get one of them,"
Harry told me. "If anyone deserves it, it's you."
"Thanks." We were
quiet a while as we walked along in the late spring afternoon. Looking
sideways, I saw a rather sad look in Harry's large eyes. I
knew he'd miss Hogwarts next year when he left for Andrews and Wallace
College in the fall. Harry is sensitive, but is a tad embarrassed
about it. Looking around the courtyard, so many memories flooded
my mind...and I imagine Harry's too. That first flying lesson with
Madame Hooch our first year. Harry's broom had come up first and
it was that talent that led him into being one of the few first years admitted
into the Quidditch team, the Gryffindor team...doing several sleuthings
out here with my friends...the Slytherin and Gryffindor teams doing several
battles over practice time out here...coping with cruel taunts of some
students when rumors flew around about Harry in our sixth year...then the
planning we did a year ago to rescue some of the students who had been
floo-jacked by the evil wizard Voldemort and his followers...and the mess
that visiting students from a middle-world school had made out here while
they visited back in February of this year. And let's not forget
the Gryffindors' final triumph last November over Voldemort...that didn't
happen here; it happened at a retreat off-campus on a wooded area called
Quarry Grounds...I'll never forget that dark, cold, windy night when we'd
been exchanging reflections inside one of the cottages and we'd heard a
noise outside, then all of us had gathered our Gryffindor courage and with
the help of Professor McGonagall and Madame Hooch, had gone out there,
surrounded Voldemort and chanted spells and songs to drive the evil out
of him. He'd dissolved into ashes right there. Aurors had come
to make sure he was really gone and it turned out that his actual soul
had been gone for a long time, but it was an evil spirit that had taken
over his body. Our good spells and love had squashed the evil into
nothingness. I'll never forget the bellows and whoops that
ran through the night air once we'd realized the Voldemort, also known
as Tom Riddle, was gone for good. Once we'd gotten back from that
retreat, all the Gryffindors had been honored and given medals and our
house won 10,000 points. So, this year, Gryffindor has the House
Cup by many kilometers. It's wonderful also knowing we'll be entering
adulthood without worrying about loved ones and others being threatened
by Voldemort or his followers; most of his followers are now in Azkaban
prison and have disbanded, their power broken.
"Do you ever wonder how
much more things will change once we're in college?" Harry ran a hand through
his thick, straight, black hair.
"Sometimes..." I nodded.
"But one thing I know...our friendship will never change."
"Yes..." Harry's hand wandered
over to his glasses and he ducked his head. Is he okay? I wondered.
"I'm...I'll be all right..." Harry said as if he'd read my mind.
"I...just hope...I don't know...I'll miss all of you next year..." he finished
quietly. None of us...my friends and I have an easy time talking
about what is going on deep inside of us. I had the feeling that
Harry's emotions were starting to ebb and flow vigorously like beach waves
inside now.
Harry:
Here they were again.
My emotions waving and crashing like beach waves as Hermione and I walked
along, then headed inside to our dorms. It was a relief to
finish my last exam, but now that it was over, graduation loomed closer
than ever; it was like coming around a tall building and seeing a huge
body of water and you're not sure how calm that water will be. I
know part of that water will be my Head Boy speech. Sure, it'll be
all right to write it up, but actually getting up in front of all the seventh-years
and actually giving it made me queasy inside since I don't like the be
the center of attention. Then there would be the inevitable feeling
of pain and sadness upon leaving this school that I loved so much and saying
goodbye to all my friends...Ginny Weasley has one more year to go here,
but the rest of us are graduating this year. All right...I
guess I should admit...I'm...sensitive...some. I slowly realized
this by my sixth year and it's not something I particularly like about
myself. But in time, maybe I could learn to accept it as part of
who I am, especially since my late Mum was also sensitive. My Great-Aunt
Miranda tells me that it is our sensitivity that enhances our love of music.
I guess it's a good part of being sensitive. I looked over at my
bariol by my bed, then sat, picking it up. A bariol is a magical
instrument that resembles a small, round violin. I started to play
softly. I felt my tension and feelings calm as music
flowed out of me. So I guess this is one area where sensitivity has
its advantages. I just hope saying goodbye isn't too painful, but
I had the feeling it would be rather hard. I just had to muster
up the courage to face it all.
More later!