Chapter 2 – A Night to Remember

On Friday, Ginny, Luna, and many of their classmates spent the day finalizing plans and decorating the entire castle and grounds. In the Great Hall, the house tables were removed, and smaller tables, each seating six, were moved in. New banners were hung, each symbolizing unity between the houses, with badgers, lions, serpents, and eagles together in various formats. Over the head table, a large banner floated, with each house represented, along with an image of its founder. There were other banners too…proclaiming "Brotherhood" or "Tolerance" or "Friendship."

"Are 17 chairs enough?," Luna asked again.

Ginny looked up and again checked her list. "It should be. That's one for everyone we confirmed. Why don't we include a couple more, just in case?" She wasn't certain, but it seemed possible that someone else might make it, and she wanted them to feel welcome…after all, that was the whole point.

At four, they were done, and they made a quick stop in the kitchens to talk with the elves before heading to their dormitories to get ready. Ginny was thinking about her own plans for the evening when she was stopped on the stairs by Professor McGonagall.

"Are we all ready?'

"I think so, Professor. Everything on our list is completed." Ginny mentally included some last-minute changes she made after Dumbledore met with her earlier in the day.

"Ginny, I…I want you to know how much we appreciate everything you've done, all of you. This is a very special effort you have made. We're all hoping for the best."

Ginny started to tear, thinking about all she had been through since coming to Hogwarts. "It was Luna's idea, actually. It…well, it…seemed like…it seemed like the right thing to do," she finally stated.

"It is much more than that," McGonagall said. "There are many wizards and witches who would never have tried what you have attempted, and even should it…" She had started to say "fail" but couldn't bring herself to use the word. "Even if it doesn't work out the way you want, it's was worth doing. From all of us, I say 'Thank you.'"

Ginny was actually crying now, thinking of the people who wouldn't be here; who couldn't be here. She knew this time would come, when she wouldn't be able to hide her feelings, but she had scheduled it for later, not now. She drew herself up, and forced her feelings back in the box once more. "I need to get ready," she stated, and went on up the stairs. McGonagall just stared at her, wondering where the world found such people, and thanking Merlin that they showed up when they were needed.

Ginny headed for the shower, enjoying the cleansing force of the steaming water, thinking about her personal plans for the night. Would he go along with them? Was he ready to do what she wanted so badly?

The party was scheduled to start at seven. The graduates could come unaccompanied or have a date, usually from within the class. With permission, they could have a date from outside the class, some being older, and a couple being sixth years. Slowly the entry hall began to fill as people met each other and couples formed. It was a sea of colors, as uniforms were replaced with dress robes.

Ginny wore a robe of royal blue, a gift from a year ago provided by Fred and George. She had brushed her hair at length, and the red highlights danced, framing her face in lovely contrast to her robe. She was obviously no longer the little girl, raised as the youngest in a family with 6 boys. She had become a very beautiful woman.

Luna was standing beside her, wearing a dark blue, almost black robe with a high collar. It contrasted well with her pale complexion, although for the first time in her life she was wearing makeup.

Finally, the entry doors opened and several people came up the stairs. Ginny stood rooted to the spot as he came in. This was not the boy she met in her first year; this was a man, her man. Neville came directly over to her and swept her into his arms.

"You become more beautiful with every passing day," he said, and kissed her. Then he handed her a small box tied with ribbon. She began to tear, and he kissed her again, beginning the evening just as she had dreamed. She opened the box and found a silver charm bracelet, with six charms attached. Neville took her through each one, explaining they represented her years at Hogwarts. There was a lion, for being sorted to Gryffindor in her first year, a silver cup with a golden snitch on top for Quidditch in her fourth year, and so on. Neville placed it on her wrist, casually mentioning that she would receive another charm tonight, representing her seventh year. She smiled through her tears of happiness.

Then the doors to the Great Hall opened, and the couples began to enter. There were place cards at each table, and the group worked through the tables, finding their spots. Neville, Ginny, and Luna moved to the head table, seated near the center, next to Dumbledore and McGonagall. Off to one side was a raised platform with various instruments and a banner proclaiming the Weird Sisters. On the opposite side was another, smaller platform, much simpler, with a large keyboard instrument and a couple of stools.

Professor McGonagall began tapping her goblet with a spoon, and the students grew quiet. Ginny rose, looking first at Dumbledore and then at her notes. He nodded and she began.

"Good Evening. It is my privilege to welcome you all to a very special graduation evening at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We have been through tumultuous times in our seven years at school, and we hope tonight will build a beginning to a future bright with possibilities. We have invited several special guests to join us tonight. People who have helped us reach this point in our lives. I ask them to join us here on the dais as they are introduced." She looked down and began silently hoping that she could get through this without going completely to pieces. The list of people she was about to introduce was known to only a few, and the final introductions were known only to Ginny and Dumbledore.

"From our first year, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart." Lockhart came out of the door, escorted by a healer from St Mungo's. He still had a dazzling smile, and waved at the group, although he seemed to have little idea why he was there. The students clapped politely, most of them avoiding laughter.

"From our second year, Professor Remus Lupin." Remus came out and mounted the stairs, his smile evident as he moved to the middle of the table. The cheers from the class were amazing, considering that they once feared him as a werewolf amongst them. As he was seated, Ginny continued.

"From our third year, Professor Alastor Moody." Again the cheers began as Moody stalked across the stage. They all knew that he hadn't actually taught them anything, but he was still revered as a fellow victim of the times, and even the imposter had left a positive impression as a teacher.

Ginny continued, introducing former teachers and others from prior years. Then she reached the last names on the list, a surprise only she knew about. No formal announcement had yet been made, and even the Daily Prophet didn't know. Ginny knew because Dumbledore had participated in the Grand Wizarding Council, and shared the result with her earlier in the day. She immediately saw an opportunity not to be missed and made several last-minute changes to the plans. Colin Creevey was poised with his camera. He didn't know what was going to happen, but Ginny had given him a heads up, and he was ready.

"As you all know, the position of Minister of Magic has been vacant for some time. It is now my pleasure to introduce the newly-appointed Minister of Magic, and his wife. They were also once Hogwarts students. They were the leaders while they were here. They set standards of performance that we may never see duplicated." She paused, teasing them.

"But most important, they were fellow students and our friends. Please join me in welcoming…" She paused again, teasing them some more.

"Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter."

There was a collective gasp, even from the head table, and then the cheers and applause mixed together as the entire room rose to its feet. Out from the door came Harry, then Hermione, both smiling broadly. There were even more gasps when they saw that Hermione, wearing a blue robe and a ruby and pearl necklace, was obviously very pregnant. The great hall had never heard such sound, even when Hufflepuff won the house cup, and it was many minutes before the group settled down again. Harry and Hermione stopped and talked with each professor, and took time to walk between the tables, saying hello to everyone. Together, they sought out Neville, who had not known of Harry's appointment. Finally, they took their places at the center of the head table.

Ginny rose again. "As you can see, we have a very special evening planned, and many more events for the weekend. Right now, Professor Dumbledore has a few words."

Dumbledore rose, smiling serenely. He looked over at Harry and Hermione and Neville and winked.

"My few words are these…Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" Harry and Hermione began to laugh. "Now, tuck in!" There was a short cheer as food began to appear on the tables, and plates were filled. A low, dull roar settled over the room as utensils clinked and small talk prevailed, with Harry and Hermione frequently the topic of the conversations. The food kept coming, but finally the last course had been served and the plates were removed, leaving the tables with only their center pieces and glasses.

Ginny rose again. "This evening, we have provided two different bands. One may be familiar, the other is new. We begin our entertainment with the Weird Sisters. Suddenly, the room darkened, and three witches in torn and patched robes stepped onto the stage. Students immediately cheered and then rose to dance as the music began. Neville smiled at Ginny and pulled her closer. "I want to dance with you later, when the music is somewhat calmer." Ginny smiled, knowing Neville wasn't into this type of music.

After a very short first set, the Weird Sisters departed, and Ginny got up to introduce the second band.

"The Sisters will be back in a while, but now we have a change of pace. This is a new group, who have yet to adopt a name. That's okay, however, because we all know them by their own names. Here are Ernie Macmillan and Padma and Parvati Patil." Harry looked at Hermione. They were as surprised as the students. Apparently only Ginny knew of the band, and they walked out onto the stage to loud cheers. Ernie sat down at the keyboard, and the girls sat down on the stools at the front. Ginny reached out with her wand and darkened many of the candles throughout the room, leaving a gentle glow from the ceiling.

"Their first song is in honor of our new Minister of Magic and his wife," Ginny said, as she turned to Harry and Hermione and offered them the floor. They both smiled and rose, Harry leading the way off the dais and onto the floor. Ernie played softly and slowly as Harry gathered Hermione in his arms. He had never been much of a dancer, but he did better with Hermione as his partner than he had done with Parvati, years ago, and they began to move around the room. The students were quiet at first, but then began to clap softly, keeping time with the music. Padma and Parvati began to sing in close harmony, their words forming a beautiful song.

There's a long, long trail a-winding

Into the land of my dreams,

Where the nightingales are singing

And a white moon beams

There's a long, long night of waiting

Until my dreams all come true;

Till the day when I'll be going down

That long, long trail with you.

Hermione began to smile broadly as she held Harry closer and closer. They began to exist in their own world, leaving everything else behind.

"Do you suppose our room is still here?" she asked.

"I don't know, but we could find out. Ginny has a room for us for the weekend, but I guess we don't have to use it."

Hermione kissed his ear. "I want to see if we still have our own place. I want to spend the entire night there with you, like we never could before." It was Harry's turn to smile. He felt movement, and looked at her. "What if it happens while we're here?"

"Well then, I guess it does. It's not like I have a lot to say about it. The healer said she would come at any time I need her, and she can apparate into Hogsmeade. I'll be fine."

"Did you try the spell again?"

"Yes, but it still doesn't seem to work. Right hand – boy, left hand – girl, but I can't tell any difference. Both hands tingle."

Harry just smiled again. He had the best of all worlds…the beautiful woman he loved about to have their child, in a world now safe for families. "It doesn't matter," he said and continued guiding her around the room, holding her close.

The song came to an end and they sat down. Ernie started a new song, and the students got up in couples to dance, enjoying the slower tempo and the girl's harmony. Neville took Ginny to the dance floor and reached around her.

"Do you know how much I've missed you?" Ginny just smiled, because she missed him also. "Auror training is tough, and sometimes I feel like I'm back in class here." Then suddenly Neville smiled and changed the subject. "Can you leave for a little while? Can we go somewhere else?"

Ginny responded by leading, slowly dancing him towards the entry door. They walked down the steps outside into the grotto of fairy lights that had been conjured there. Neville stopped when they reached a small bench and they sat down. He reached into his robe and brought out another small box. Smiling, but obviously very nervous, he held it out to her.

"This is the charm for your seventh year." He said nothing more. She took it slowly, noticing he was shaking and very white.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"I'm fine, I…I think."

What did he mean? Ginny began to tear at the packaging, but it was very well wrapped, and the ribbon simply wouldn't come off. Finally, she slowed down and noticed she could untie the bow. She pulled on the end, and then threw it aside and lifted the lid. Inside were two boxes, one on top of the other.

She took the first one, the bigger one and began to open it. She looked up at Neville. He looked like he had seen a ghost…for the first time! What was in here? As she opened the lid, the moonlight struck the stone and she gasped, as if she hadn't been breathing for years. She looked up and saw Neville's eyes were glistening with tears. She looked down again…it was still there!

"W…w…wi…will…you…you…" Neville just couldn't get it out. Ginny couldn't either, but her shrieked "YES!" followed immediately by her embrace gave him his answer. Now it was Neville's turn not to breathe. He simply couldn't, because Ginny was squeezing him so tightly. He tried to break loose, but then gave up, since he didn't really want to be loose anyway. He gasped a little air and simply waited for her to calm down. He ended up waiting a long time.

Dumbledore walked over to Harry and Hermione. "Congratulations, Harry. And congratulations to you also, Hermione." They both beamed. "I assume that you know I am retiring." They nodded, then Harry spoke.

"Do you have any plans?"

"No, not really. I want to take some time and consider what has happened. I assume that Ginny has told you about the rest of the weekend."

"Yes," they both answered.

Dumbledore looked down. "It is a pity that so many cannot be here…so many that…that are gone."

Harry thought Dumbledore looked more completely tired than any person he had ever seen before. "Did you know that Hermione's parents are coming? As my first official act, I made a special exception to allow them." Dumbledore looked up and smiled as Harry continued. "Yes, I know that probably is an abuse of my authority, but I don't care. They deserve it, after what they have given to the wizarding community." He turned and smiled at his wife, and Hermione glowed even brighter. Dumbledore grinned, more like a child than either of them had ever seen. Then his face again grew serious.

"Harry, their sacrifice has been greater than you could ever know. To give their daughter to a world they could not even visit, to allow her to leave into a world they do not see, to allow her to marry into that world…these are sacrifices beyond what we comprehend. You see, they know more than either of you are aware." Both Hermione and Harry just stared, not knowing what he meant.

"For the parents of muggle-born witches and wizards, the lack of understanding of our world is alarming. They know nothing of what is expected. Some feel that they have done something wrong, or been cursed by Satan, or something like that. Often, they do not embrace our world, and frequently refuse it. Many of the students we identify never come, not because they lack the skills, but because their family does not see the gift as anything other than a curse. Harry, you know how this feels, having grown up with the Dursleys." Harry nodded quietly, and looked at Hermione, pulling her closer.

"Before your first year, Hermione's parents had many questions. I met with them and answered as honestly as I could, and they decided she could come. After your first year, I told them what happened…all of what happened. I told them that they might not wish to have her continue at Hogwarts, since she had inadvertently formed a friendship with you, Harry, and she could be in a dangerous position." Hermione gasped, learning for the first time that her parents knew more than she had told them.

"I suggested that they think about things over the summer and then decide. They did. When they wrote back to me, it was after profound and soul-searching thought. They wanted Hermione to continue. They said she had never been happier, and she was so excited with her new-found skills. They also said they discovered something else." Hermione began to tear as she thought about her parents being placed in the position of having to make this choice.

"They told me that Hermione was, well, I guess they thought she had always been lonely. She had never had siblings or close friends. Now, they said, she had friends, even boys as friends, and was blossoming more every day. They said Hogwarts was good for her, and that they were willing to take the risk…that her future was worth the danger that might exist. They said she would never be happy again if she had to live as a muggle." Now Hermione was really crying, thinking of her mother and father having to say this and never tell her.

"Each year, I told them what had happened, so they knew she was in danger, and even that she nearly lost her life defending the Ministry. Each time, they responded the same way, even later on, when they themselves were in danger. 'We feel still it's worth it.'" Harry pulled Hermione even closer as she continued to sob, amazed at what she had never suspected.

"When you two were together at Christmas, for the first time, I had to make a decision. I had told them everything up till then. Should I tell them this? I decided that I wouldn't…partly because Harry trusted me with the information, and I had already broken trust with Harry too many times, and partly because I didn't see any danger in it." Then he smiled, and pointed to Hermione's rather-large stomach. "I guess, there was some danger, however."

All of them laughed, and Hermione broke loose from Harry to hug Dumbledore. Now it was Harry's turn to confess.

"Professor, since we're sharing, there are things I should probably tell you also." Dumbledore smiled, and even grinned, continuing to hold Hermione, who was now smiling through her tears.

"I suspect there are many, Harry, starting with the number of times I asked if you had something to tell me and you said 'no.'"

"Well, yes, there were those. But something else, also. Hermione and I are probably the only students who have our own private room at Hogwarts." Now it was Dumbledore's turn to look quizzical.

"In our sixth year," Harry grinned at Hermione," when we first really discovered each other, we wanted a place where we could get away together without being interrupted." Hermione's grin widened.

"She found a storeroom on the third floor, and we, well she, sealed it from all access." Dumbledore's smile grew larger.

"I know well it is sealed, since have I tried to open it several times. How did you do it?" Now it was Hermione's turn to join the confession.

"Well, the door is locked, and then the lock was sealed, and then the seal was covered. The walls are also sealed, and then covered with an Imperturbable Charm. Then I found a charm that prevents even Peeves and the ghosts from going through the walls, floor and ceiling." The look on Dumbledore's face was nothing less than complete amazement.

"Hermione, no one but you could have done that in their sixth year, and most wouldn't have figured it out when they were 50 years old. So how do you enter the room?"

"There are two chairs inside, linked to chairs elsewhere in the castle with a Protean Charm…the version with the Portkey stimulation." Dumbledore again shook his head.

"It is good that you were not sorted into the wrong house. Your skills could have destroyed this school, and everyone in it." Both Harry and Hermione began to laugh, along with Dumbledore.

Harry thought this was enough confession, and brought the meeting back to a more immediate topic.

"Do you think this weekend will help?" he asked. Dumbledore looked thoughtful, and paused before answering.

"To those who wish to find a permanent solution, it will. To those who haven't decided, it might. If there are others, with different agendas, we will make little difference. Our hope is that we can plan a new direction for our society. That is now your task, Harry." Dumbledore paused, looking very carefully at Hermione, and then spoke again.

"No, Harry, I was wrong. Your task now is to love your wife and support her throughout the night, in your own room at Hogwarts. Tomorrow, a new day will begin…" Dumbledore stopped in mid-sentence and stared again at Hermione, as if looking right through her. His voice changed as he resumed speaking, but as if in a trance.

"On Sunday, a new day will begin, new lives will begin, and together you will lead us in a new direction."

Before either Harry or Hermione could react, he turned and was gone. They were left to stare and wonder. Was this another prophecy?