The Great Hall was full to bursting. Parents and families sat in rows with the students in years one through six in front of them. Music began playing and the staff began processing in from the Entrance Hall. They were dressed in elegant black robes with white stoles. The Head of each of the four houses wore a stole of the color of their house. Following the small group of teachers, the graduating class of 1998 entered to raucous applause. They filed into room in two straight lines. Cay and Brett walked side by side, their inside hands clasped firmly. They passed by their parents. Darlene who was sitting in the isle seat waved. Michel, who was sitting next the young girl, held Isaiah. She took his small hand in her own waved it as his parents walked by. The three month old gurgled excitedly at the sight of his mother and father. Cay blew the child a small kiss. The pair soon reached the front of the isle and split off to sit on their respective sides.

"Welcome to you all," Professor McGonagall greeted, her voice bouncing off the walls and ceiling of the room.

"To the graduates, it is my hope that you go forward in your lives in the pursuit of your ambitions," she continued, addressing the four rows of students dressed in black robes with the dominant colors from each house; blue, yellow, green and red, adorning the sleeves.

"Now I would like to introduce your Valedictorian, Miss Hermione Granger," Minerva finished.

Hermione rose and moved to the podium where the Headmistress had been standing. Her hair was done up in delicate curls that framed her face. She waited for the clapping to die down before she began her short speech.

"Well, we've made it," she began, surveying her fellow classmates.

"I know a lot of us had our doubts; I admit I had mine. In the past two months we have grown incredibly close. I'd be overjoyed to say that we grew so close because we all wanted to but that would just be a lie," she continued, glancing down at her notes briefly.

"We are a unique class. We were born at the end of one war and now here we are overcoming a second," her voice cracked slightly as she wiped at her eyes.

"This war is what has begun to erase house lines, bringing us together," she explained.

"We have all been affected by these experiences and it saddens me to think that we have lost friends…that they are not here sharing this moment when they were so close to reaching it," she murmured, trying to regain her composure.

Minerva handed Hermione a tissue and she wiped her eyes some more. The Gryffindor received sympathetic looks from the rest of staff seated near her. Taking a shaky breath she concluded her speech to her fellow graduate.

"My advice and hope for you all is to live. Live your life the way you want. But don't forget those who gave up their lives and those who were unjustly robbed of theirs. We leave here today fully fledged wizards and witches. Let's use our knowledge to bring peace to our world," Hermione concluded and returned to her seat, dabbing at her eyes some more.

The audience clapped but quickly died down when Minerva rose and began to speak once more.

"The time has come for each of you to come forward and receive your diploma," Minerva stated with a weepy smile.

She began calling off names. Cay was surprised how many students had last names beginning with the letter 'A'. She glanced over at Brett anxiously. He caught her gaze and gave her a reassuring smile. She was pulled out of her thoughts when Minerva called her name.

"Arcadia Ashburn," she announced.

Murmurs flew through the assemblage of parents. Cay stood and made her way to the line of teachers. She shook each of their hands as she made her way down the line. She clutched her diploma in her hand as she turned and faced the crowd.

"Brettford Ashburn," the Headmistress's voice rang out.

Brett followed the same path as his wife and caught her on his way back to his seat. He squeezed her hand as she sat down. She beamed at him and sat back to watch the rest of her classmates graduate. Earsplitting roars of applause resounded in the spacious room as Harry made his way through the line. He dodged a hug from Hagrid only to end up in a bone crushing handshake with Professor Slughorn. Finally everyone had received their diplomas. The staff rose, pulled out the wands and shot bright fire works soaring through the Hall. The graduates stood up and rushed around, hugging their friends. Cay found Brett and they shared an excited kiss.

"Congratulations," he called over the excitement.

"You too," Cay said as they were approached by their parents.

Darlene grabbed Cay about the middle, babbling her congratulatory comments. Lucky for Cay she's gained most of her pre-pregnancy figure back. Brett had to drag his sister off of Cay so his wife didn't suffocate. Cay took Isaiah from her mother and kissed his chubby cheek, cradling him in her arm. His eyes were still the vibrant blue they'd been when he'd been three weeks old but his hair had darkened slightly and now covered most of his head in a short buzz cut look. He grinned his adorable toothless grin at his mother and wiggled around, his arms reaching towards Brett. Brett gladly took his son and swung him high above his head.

"Come on. We've got something for the three of you," Derek said, placing a hand o his daughter's shoulder.

The group of eight made their way out of the crowded Hall and towards the outside. Once they were off the grounds of the school, they Disapparated, arriving at a small flat in Kent. Cay recognized it vaguely as she'd passed it many times growing up. There was a 'For Sale' sign on the small lawn with a sticker that read 'Sold' in bold orange letters.

"Oh my God!" she screamed, throwing herself at her father.

"Is this…for us?" Brett managed to get out as he stared at beige edifice.

"Yes. Happy Graduation," Madeline said, kissing her son on the cheek.

"What do you think buddy?" he asked his son, holding him up so he could see.

The baby gurgled and pointed and giggled. The infant's antics sent the rest of ht group into hysterical laughter. Jonathan reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys.

"Well go on. Take a look inside," he urged, handing Cay the keys.

Cay, Brett and Isaiah rushed to the door and unlocked it. Inside was a fully furnished sitting room, full bathroom, two bedrooms and a full kitchen. A oak high chair sat in one of the four places at the table in the kitchen.

"It's perfect," Cay breathed as she returned from her foray into the bedrooms.

"We can come and visit right?" Darlene pressed, fixing her sister-in-law with a pleading look.

"Of course silly," Cay said with a smile.

The family spent the evening moving the family of three's present belongings in. The clock on the mantle chimed ten o'clock, signaling that it was time for the guests to leave. Hugs and kisses circulated among everyone and soon Cay and Brett found themselves in bed, fast asleep.