A/n: Well me and a friend were talking on the phone last night, and this idea was created based on the amazing film, 'The Butterfly Effect'. So here goes another story from me…since it's the summer and this is probably the only time when I actually write things. This is my own version of a Hogwarts graduation…or any graduation. I haven't really been to a high school graduation so yeah…Oh and Voldemort's dead in this story coz I don't know what to do with him lol. I'm not good with action/adventure things.
Disclaimer: Butterfly effect and Harry Potter have their own lucky owners…damn you…
Until Next Time
Prologue…
"Potter, Harry," Headmaster Dumbledore announced. There was a loud cheer and applause as Harry got up with a smile and shook Dumbledore's hand. He took his diploma and took a bow. Then he sat back beside his two best friends, Ron and Hermione.
"I can't believe we're actually graduating!" Hermione squealed.
"Yes Hermione, you've mentioned that about three billion times for the past two months," Ron rolled his eyes.
"Well I honestly can't get over the fact that we won't be returning to Hogwarts as students! If we do come back, we'll be professors or something else," Hermione continued in her dreamy tone.
"You still have to do your end of the year speech don't you?" Harry asked.
"Oh, yes I do. Anthony and I have to do it, since we're the head boy and girl," Hermione nodded. "So many wonderful memories happened to us in our stay here in Hogwarts…so many memories…"
Hermione kept droning on and on about the things they did while Harry looked at the families watching their children graduate. He searched for one girl in the sea of faces. He finally found her, sitting near the back of the room with her family with a proud smile on her face. He smiled back at her and longed to just get this whole thing over with so he can spend time alone with her. He had to tell her something extremely important.
"Weasley. Ronald," Dumbledore called out.
Ron got up with an unsure face. He didn't know whether to be happy that he's graduating or to be sad that he'll barely see Hermione. During their years at Hogwarts, he never had the courage to tell her how he felt about her, and now he felt it was too late. He had been dreading the last day of school ever since Hermione mentioned it to them in the beginning of the year. He took his diploma and gave the crowd a weak smile and sat back down.
"You don't look happy, how come?" Hermione frowned. "Everyone's happy during their graduation!"
"Well not everybody's like you Hermione," Ron snapped.
Hermione was taken aback. "What on earth is wrong with you? It's the last day of the year and here you are, starting another fight with me. Honestly Ron, I've been trying very hard not to be angry with you, but you're making it quite difficult."
"You're making it difficult for the both of us!" Ron replied.
"Ok you know what? Both of you just shut up and pretend to be nice to each other," Harry said angrily. He couldn't believe that until the last day of the three of them in Hogwarts and Hermione and Ron were still at it.
"I was being nice until Mr. I-wanna-start-another-fight-at-the-end-of-the-year here snapped," Hermione pointed out. Then she crossed her arms in front of her and watched the few remaining students graduate.
After "Zabini, Blaise" received his diploma, the head boy, Anthony Livingstone from Ravenclaw and Hermione stood up to make their end of the year speech.
"Our years in Hogwarts will always be treasured within our hearts and minds," Anthony began.
Harry sighed. After their speech, Dumbledore has to say his own speech, and finally they have an after-party. Harry couldn't wait till this was all over, but at the same time he didn't want it to be over. He thought more of the decision he made to accept 'the mission', and now it's too late to turn back. He heard everyone applauding; meaning Hermione's speech was done.
"Was that good?" Hermione asked them.
"Yeah it was great," Harry nodded. Ron still didn't say anything.
"When you students leave and go off into the next step of your lives, a part of Hogwarts will always dwell in all of you. We all went through many, many horrific things this year, some more than others," at this part, Dumbledore looked at Harry. "When the Dark Lord came back and regained his power, everyone was petrified. He will be gone for now though, but let's not think that he is completely gone, for he is not. His spirit and memory still lingers within his most faithful followers, and anything can happen. On a happier note, despite all the bad things, there are of course, good things. Winning house cups and Quidditch cups, Yule Balls, Halloween, Christmas, Hogsmeade, all these things add up to make our years enjoyable and unforgettable. In closing, I wish all of you good luck in your lives, and that you all continue to live up to your dreams. You may proceed to have your party."
The graduates stood up and applauded for him. Then they all held hands and bowed to the audience, some of which were crying. Then they all stepped off the grand stage and hugged their families. Harry felt left out in a way, since he didn't have his own parents to be there to hug him and tell him how proud they are of him. A feeling of sadness filled him as he passed by Neville Longbottom and his grandmother hugging and crying. He glanced back and saw Draco Malfoy with a grin, staring at him. Harry ignored him and finally found the girl he had been wanting to be with.
"Harry! I can't believe today's almost over!" The girl cried happily. She wrapped her arms around Harry and hugged him tightly. Harry hugged her back.
"But it's not over yet," He whispered in her ear. "Do you wanna go outside for a bit, I have to tell you something."
The girl looked up at him. "Sure." They held hands and sneaked off to a garden. They lay on the cool grass, gazing at the picture perfect sky. There was also a nice gentle breeze blowing. It was the perfect setting, as if they were in a movie.
"This is so beautiful," The girl said in a soft voice. "Everything's so perfect."
"You're perfect," Harry whispered.
She looked at him and smiled. Then she leaned forward and kissed him gently. "I love you, don't ever forget that."
Harry suddenly felt a swirl of emotions inside. Did he make the right decision in accepting? Why did he even apply for that position anyway? What was he thinking? Was it worth not seeing her for 12 years? He turned away.
"What's the matter?" She asked worriedly.
"I – Ginny – "Harry didn't know how to tell her. It was already hard enough for him to think about it, but actually seeing her reaction…he wasn't quite sure. He felt her hand grip his tighter. "The ministry is sending me away on a special mission in Scotland for twelve years…"
"What?" Ginny felt confused. She brushed her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ears. "What are you saying?"
"I applied for this position you see, so after I graduate I'd be doing something worthwhile in my life, and when I got hired I was so excited…" Harry began to explain.
"But didn't you say you were gonna try to work in Hogwarts?" Ginny couldn't understand what was happening to their plans.
"But this seemed so interesting to me Gin! It's kind of like being a detective, researching and spying on witches and wizards who are planning something evil or something linked to Voldemort." Harry continued. "I just thought that it would make sense to find out why someone would rebel against society, and all those other things. It's hard to explain."
"So basically you're gonna go out there again and put yourself in danger? Haven't you already been in enough? Every year in Hogwarts you were always in some trouble related to you-know-who. Every year you've been close to dying! Do you know how that makes me feel? It makes me feel like I wanna die too because I can't imagine myself living without you!" Tears started forming in her eyes as she remembered all of Harry's near-death experiences.
Harry remained silent. He knew she wasn't going to take it easy. But of course how can she? If the situation was switched and she would have to leave him, he'd probably do the same thing. After a long period of silence, he added, "I can't back out now Ginny, it's too late."
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME SOONER? YOU DIDN'T EVEN ASK ME!" Ginny exclaimed. She was extremely angry.
"I couldn't! I know you would've said no, and I really want to do this Ginny." Harry snapped back.
"EXACTLY! You knew I was gonna say no, and you went ahead and did it anyway!" Ginny cried. "I guess what you want is more important than me, huh?"
"Oh don't use that 'I'm not important' speech that you always do," Harry said coldly.
"Why not? Oh maybe because it's true!" Ginny yelled. She was losing her temper. Everything was so perfect until now. Why was Harry so stupid?
"The decision's final, I can't do anything about it. We're leaving early morning tomorrow." Harry said calmly.
Ginny didn't say anything. There was an awkward tension between the two of them. Both didn't know what to say or do. Suddenly they heard footsteps coming from behind them. They turned around and saw Ron and Hermione laughing.
"There you guys are!" Ron said happily. "We've been trying to find you for awhile." He had icing on his hair and robes.
"Well, here we are, "Harry tried to smile.
"They're having a huge food fight inside, you guys better come and see it! It's pandemonium in there." Hermione added. She had chocolate on her cheek and crumbs on her robes.
"So are you guys going with us?" Ron asked, stretching his arm to Harry.
"Uh – yeah – of course. It is our graduation," Harry nodded unsurely. He looked over at Ginny who kept her lips firmly shut. The foursome walked into the Great Hall, where everyone was either screaming or throwing something at someone.
A few hours later…"That was the best night I ever had!" Ron declared as he and Harry reached their dormitory. "I'm dead tired though."
Harry gave a small snort in agreement. The other boys were either downstairs, still in the food fight, or out somewhere with their girlfriends. He looked at his bed and realized this would be the last night he would be sleeping there. Then he looked over at Ron who was lying on his bed, eyes closed. He hadn't told Ron he was leaving, and he felt guilty for it. The only person who he had told was Ginny. Ron would probably freak out if he told him, and Hermione probably would do the same. Harry decided not to wake him up, since he was already snoring.
Harry opened a box which contained his special possessions. He took out a black, leather notebook and opened to a fresh page. He had started writing a journal since his 6th year, thinking it would help him keep track of what he does. He found it useful for remembering special events and memorable occasions.
June 29,
Today was my graduation and I finally told her my big secret. I took her outside to the gardens and I confessed. She didn't take it too well…I expected that anyway. It was so hard to look at her, crying and angry at me. I don't know how to say good bye to her now. She won't even look at me. I'm truly going to miss her… There was a massive food fight in the Great Hall, I got quite dirty, but not as dirty as Ron. Man I can't stop thinking about her. I wanna go to her room right now and tell her that I'm not going…that it's all a dream and we would be together…but it's too late now…it's all too late….
And with that, Harry decided to write Hermione and Ron a note about his mission. He would be leaving in a few hours, and knowing Ron, he would be sleeping in until noon. After writing his best friends' note, he wrote a note to Ginny. Harry placed the letter inside an envelope and sealed it tightly. Then on the front he wrote Ginny's name and placed it on Ron's bed, along with Ron's note. After that he took his wand and used a spell to pack up his things. He would be leaving in a few hours and he decided to sleep even for a bit.
The next day…
Ron slowly opened his eyes. A stream of light went through the windows. "AHH!" He exclaimed. "Harry? Are you up?" He sat up and saw that his friend's bed was already made. Weird…Harry rarely makes his bed, he thought. He looked at his own bed and saw two envelopes. One said, To Hermione and Ron on it and the other said To Ginny. Ron frowned and opened the letter. After reading it, he quickly ran to the girls' dormitory.
"You're not allowed in here!" Lavender squealed.
"I don't have time to explain," Ron snapped. "Hermione! Where are you? Ginny?"
A redhead peeped out of one of the doors. "What the hell do you want Ron?" Her eyes looked teary and tired.
"Here." He handed her the envelope. "Where's Hermione? Harry's gone!"
"W – What? A – Already?" Ginny stammered. "I – I'm too late…I – "Ginny shut the door and hastily opened the envelope. As she read, tears dropped on the parchment.
Ginny,
I know you're still angry at me for doing this, and I don't know how many times I'd have to say sorry to you for you to forgive me, but I just hope it would be soon. I'm not allowed to receive letters from anyone while I'm on this mission, anyone might be able to trace our location. However I am allowed to owl people every once a month, so you know who I'm going to be owling. I'm truly going to miss you…and I hope you miss me too…haha how cheesy…
Just remember this, I'll always love you no matter what. I always have and I always will. Even if I'll be away from you for 20, 30 or even 40 years, you're the only girl that I'll always be thinking of. I don't know if you'll still feel the same way after 12 years of me being gone, considering how you're so beautiful, and I can't be there to Expelliarmus all the blokes who hit on you. But if you do continue to love me when I come back, I promise you the first thing that we'll do is get married. I promise. Well, I need at least a bit of sleep, long trip ahead of us…
Don't ever forget I love you. EVER.
Loving you always,
Harry
PS: I'll come back for you.
"I let him go! I let him go…and now it's too late…too late…" Ginny wailed as she clutched the letter in her hand.
A/n: Oh my gosh sorry if that was so long! Don't worry the rest of the story won't be this long, it's only because it's the prologue. Well anyways, hope you review!