Diamonds are Forever
Chapter 2
The Package
[ Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Period.]
As Hermione walked in, supported from behind by Ron (both in spirit and body), she involuntarily scanned the seats for Harry. Next to Parvati Patil was an empty seat. Immediately, it felt like a weight was pressing on her chest as she realized who was supposed to sit there. She automatically felt tears sting her eyes and she put her hand in the pocket of her robe to feel the small package sitting there. Well, Harry, she said quietly, it's graduation. After almost two years of waiting, she would be able to open Harry's last gift to her. In her other pocket, Hermione felt the parchment with her valedictorian speech on it. Smiling sadly, she remembered another Harry moment.
~*~
Hermione leaned over her Arithmancy Honors textbook and bit her lip as she tried to decipher what her homework assignment was asking her to do. She felt two arms embrace her from behind and she jumped two feet in the air. "What the bloody hell?"
She whirled around and came face to face with a beautiful pair of emerald eyes. "Hi, 'Mione," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her. She let his lips touch hers gently. She relished in the feeling of being loved. Harry broke the kiss and looked at her warmly. "Why are you worrying your pretty little head on all this work? We all know you're valedictorian and no one is gonna beat you between now and the end of seventh year." He smiled and tucked a stray piece of her hair behind her ear. He smiled mischievously. "Why don't you write your valedictorian speech now and get it over with?"
Hermione stuck out her tongue at him and swatted him with her quill. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Mr. Potter. Who knows? My grades might take a nosedive from now to then." They looked at each other a moment and then burst out laughing. Hermione giggled one last time and relented, "Okay, Mr. Harry James Potter. I'll do it. But you're not gonna leave til it's done."
"Fine," Harry said with a grin. He swung his legs over the side of the armchair next to hers. Hermione set aside her remaining homework, only with a little trepidation. She took out a new piece of parchment. She began, reading each word she wrote out loud. "Faculty, family, friends, and fellow Hogwarts students…"
Hermione had finished it and left it on the table as she went to get another book for her Potions assignment. When she returned, the parchment was folded neatly and Harry had taped it together. "What did you do to the speech, Harry?"
Harry looked at her innocently. "Oh, another surprise for you to open on graduation."
Hermione groaned. "ANOTHER surprise! God, they're getting annoying. If you keep giving me suprises, I'm gonna have a lot to open."
Harry smiled. "When you make your speech, you'll get it." Hermione shook her head, smiling.
~*~
Hermione sat stoically in her chair, wedged between Gosling, Lina and Green, Michael, both Ravenclaws. Dumbledore had just led them all in the school song and was ready to introduce her in order for her to do her speech. Dumbledore boomed, "And now, for your valedictorian, Hermione Granger."
Hermione walked up to the magic podium and opened the tape on the speech. A small note was folded inside. She opened it discreetly and saw Harry's handwriting.
Dearest Hermione,
If you're reading this, then it's graduation and you're valedictorian. I told you your grades wouldn't slip. Haha. Well, before you start boring all of us with your mindless prattle, open the package I gave you in Year Six.
Love,
Harry
Hermione could feel all the eyes in the auditorium staring at her. She cleared her throat and started explaining:
"Um…hello everyone. Because you all are sitting there wondering if I'm a little git, I'm going to explain something to you. Last year, I lost a good friend of mine. More than a good friend. I knew even there he was the love of my life. He told me, jokingly, to write a valedictorian speech. I have it here. But I know think, that with all that's happened, it's inappropriate. I had talked about ends. Months after this speech was written, Harry Potter met his end. I felt as if my life itself had ended. I didn't see any way to go on living. Eventually, however, I realized that from every end, there is a beginning. So my speech is not going to be a cliché-filled piece of crap about life and the end of school. I'm going to talk to you about beginnings." Hermione held up the package Harry had given her the year before and took a deep breath. "Harry gave me this package at the beginning of our relationship. I wasn't allowed to open it til now. So on this day of beginnings and endings, I'm going to open a present, the last one from my love."
Her hands shook as she opened it. She opened the cardboard and saw a jewelry box. She opened the velvet covered parcel and saw a pink-tinged stone as big as her thumb hanging from a thin chain. She saw a note underneath, unaware, she read this note to the crowd.
Dear Hermi,
This diamond is spelled. My father gave it to my mother the day they graduated. The wearer of this stone sees the person she loves most in it. It reveals, when you say "Loverus Discoverus" the whereabouts of your lover. It will work no matter where I am. It also tells me where you are. So, love, put it on so I can always know where you are.
Love you forever,
Harry
Another diamond! Hermione thought. She put it on and whispered, "Loverus Discoverus." In the middle of the stone appeared Harry's face! "But how can this be? He's been dead for more than a year!" That's the last thing she remembered thinking before she fainted.
To be Continued…
A/N
Hi everyone! I debated on continuing the story. So now we all know what's in the package. Is Harry really alive? I might not tell you that! ^_~ You're gonna havta wait to read more! Thank you to my first three reviewers! *hugs*
And yes, I know the incantation is dorky. ^_^;;
Bye for now!
--Sarah (sarahstar521@hotmail.com)
