Scorpius learns some surprising things when writing his graduation speech.

Thanks to Anna for beta'ing this chapter.

Wednesday, June 11,2024

This is awful. Completely horrible. Get this: I have to write a speech for graduation. Apparently the Head Girl and Head Boy are supposed to writing speeches for graduation. And Professor Longbottom barely told us yesterday! Rose is ecstatic about this. She woke me up at five this morning to tell me that she had 'fascinating ideas for her speech'.

Right now it's eight in the morning and we're in the library. A day after the NEWTs. I thought I'd never step into the library again. I was wrong. Rose is already hard at work, scribbling ideas in her sheet of paper. I need ideas.

"Rose?" I asked, placing my quill on the table. "Rose?" I asked again when she didn't answer.

She lifted her head. "Hmm?"

"What are you writing about?"

"Well, things."

I curled my lip. "Obviously. But what other things?"

Rose put her quill on the table. "Well, I'm writing all the good things that have happened to me in Hogwarts, all that we've learned. Oh, and I'm thanking the teachers. Oh, and my family of course."

I nodded. "Thanks," I muttered. Merlin. I have tons of work. Family. I've never really thought of including this in my speech. Family. Well, family was of course Mother and Father. And Grandmother. Especially Grandmother. Grandfather was gone…I don't really care for mother's family. They're idiots. Well, Aunt Daphne is the only one sane there. But that's it. Four people. Rose on the other hand…she has so many people. Merlin, there must be at least twenty people in her family.

Huh. I've never really thought of it. I've been there thousands of times and I've never really realized it. Well, I've got nothing better to do…except for my speech and that isn't going well at all, so maybe I should count how many.

First, there's her Gran Weasley. She's very cool. Al and Rose told me about when she killed Grandmother's sister, Bellatrix, she actually called her a bitch. That is just bloody brilliant. How many Grandmothers would actually say that type of word? Then there's her Grandpa, who's a little obsessed with Muggles. Father loves to tell me that he's very weird. Actually, Father loves to tell me that the Weasleys and Potters are weird. Well, back to Mr. Weasley. He's nice and all, and always asks me how my Muggle comic collection that Mother started me on is going. I made the mistake of telling him one day. See, he had a comic book and he asked Mr. Potter what it was, and me being an idiot, I shouted that it was just the best Muggle comic book ever. And then he and Mr. Potter looked at me like I was an idiot. And then I had to tell them how I knew. So now he asks me how it is. At least I don't have to worry about him telling Father that I collect Muggle comic books. Father would kill me. Hmm…who's next? Well, there's her French aunt Fleur who's really, really pretty. Damn, I shouldn't have said that she's pretty. Well see, she's part Veela. I don't know how much, but it's like one-half or one-fourth. I'm terrible at Maths. All I know about her is that she was involved in that famous Triwizard Tournament and that she swears a lot in French. Then there's Bill. He actually told me to call him that. He wears an earring, and Rose told me that he was Head Boy as well. He has horrible scars from the war, but I think they're wicked. Oh, and there's her uncle Charlie, who works in Romania with dragons. I almost never see him, but every time I do, he has a different girlfriend. Then there's her Uncle Percy who always seems so stiff to me, and her Aunt Audrey who's always laughing. Percy works in the Ministry and Audrey writes articles for Witch Weekly. Of course there's her Uncle George who owns all the joke shops with her Dad. Now that's a wicked job. And her Aunt Angelina is the one I see a lot, because she works in Father's department at the Ministry. She's actually very nice, and is the one that convinced Rose's dad that I was decent enough for Rose. Then of course is her Mum and Dad. Her mum works at the Ministry. She's very nice, and we sometimes talk about books that we've read. Her dad's another story though. I know that he really dislikes me. Everytime I see him I have to act all polite and everything. I'm hoping one day he'll lighten up. Oh, and there's Mr. and Mrs. Potter, who are really nice to me. So that's…hmm….how many people? I think it's thirteen. Yeah, thirteen.

Oh damn. I forgot to count Rose's cousins. Well, there's Teddy, my cousin who's just bloody awesome. He's Great-Aunt Andromeda's grandson. He's married to Victoire, Rose's cousin, which makes it a little disgusting to think about because it means that Rose and I are related. In a way. A very small way. I think it's weird. James, Fred, and Dominique are a year older than us. Then there's Albus and Rose. Molly. Lily. Hugo. Louis. Roxy. Lucy. So that's thirteen as well. Thirteen adults and thirteen kids. Maybe I should count Great-Aunt Andromeda in their family? She goes to those Friday night dinners that Rose forces me to go to on holidays, so maybe I should count her. Wait, if I count her, then maybe I should count Grandmother. And then myself! That'd make Father barking mad. I'll count Andromeda, but that's it. Oh! I'm missing Rose's other grandparents, the Muggles. I've only met them once, but they seemed fine to me. Father would have another heart attack if he only knew that I interacted with Muggles. He doesn't know that Grandmother and I used to go to Muggle London for my comic collection. Now that I think about it, Father would be dead if he knew all the things I've done that I'm not supposed to. I think it's funny.So…there's sixteen plus thirteen…that's twenty-nine people in her family. Twenty-nine people! I wonder which cousin will marry or have children first in order to make thirty people. Her speech is going to be huge if she counts everyone.

Now that I realize it, I know more about Rose's family than mine. Wait. That's impossible. I know her family better? Now that I think about it, I don't even know Aunt Daphne's husband's name. Huh. Strange. I've spent so much time thinking about Rose's family than mine. Or my speech. Maybe I should write my speech about the Weasleys. Yeah, and then Father will have, to change things, a stroke. And then he'd kill me. I better start writing my speech. I just snuck a look at Rose's speech. It's so long! One page is full and she's already half-way through the other. Oh, why oh why did I have to be picked Head Boy? Only because I'm good at Potions and Charms and Transfiguration? That's nothing! Oh wait, Herbology as well. Neville's' class is so easy. I hate Hogwarts rules.

Okay, I've got my quill and parchment. Time to start writing.

7:42

It's been fifteen minutes and I've only got the title: 'Speech'. That's it. I don't know what to say. I've got nothing to say to my family. I've got nothing to say to my classmates.

8:05

This is so frustrating! Rose is almost done, and she says that she won't let me go until I'm done with my speech. How can someone write a speech in an hour? We've only known we had to write the speech less than twenty-four hours ago!

8:17

Okay, I think I'm getting somewhere.

Father…hmmm…Father. How about: 'I'd like to thank my parents for providing me with the best care there is.' No, too disgusting. Maybe, 'Father, Mother, thank you for all the support you've given me.' Too normal. Now that I think about it, I better write about the Weasleys and Potters. I mean, I have spent an awful lot of time with them, and I don't really have the guts to thank them in person. It'll be nice in my speech. Father will kill me, but I don't care. I'll be long gone. How about:

'I'd like to thank two other families that aren't my own family. Those are the Weasleys and Potters. They've always given me advice for school, and advice on how to live. Everytime I went to see them, they welcomed me with open arms and Mrs. Weasley especially would welcome me with a platter of treacle tart.'

Yeah, that sounds nice. I should make it a little funny.

So, for Father and Mother. Maybe:

"I'd like to thank my parents, because without them, I wouldn't be here."

Yes, that sounds okay. It's cliché, but who cares?

And for Grandmother, maybe:

"Grandmother, thank you for the wonderful times I've had with you. I know I wouldn't be the person I am today because of you."

And that is true, because she's the one who told me that Muggles are not evil monsters like Father told me when I was six, or that they didn't carry vile disease like he told me when I was eight. She's also the one that made Father cool down with his Muggle-hating.

I did the hardest part. I thanked my poor excuse of a family. Now to write the rest of the speech.

9:37

I finally finished it. Rose changed a few things for me, but I like it. Rose liked it a lot too. She got teary around the part where I mentioned her family. We're going to go have breakfast now. It's our last one here. We're leaving around noon today. I'm starting to get nervous for graduation, but that's ages away. It's five days, actually, but it seems so far - yet so near.

Friday, June 21, 2024

I had a conversation with Grandmother yesterday. We were sitting in her living room and drinking some tea together. We were sitting on her brown couch, where we always sat when we were having tea and talking. She'd invited me over because according to her, I looked very nervous. She's so good about analyzing someone's mood. I am nervous. I'm nervous that Father will scream bloody murder once he hears the words 'Weasley' or 'Potter'. That's enough for someone to drive someone insane. So she invited me over, and I had the courage to tell her about what I had discovered while writing my speech. She nodded understandingly when needed, and listened thoughtfully. When I was done, she placed her tea on the center table and sighed.

"You know, Scorpius, I knew this was to happen one day. I was expecting it to be much sooner, but alas, it's here."

I wrinkled my forehead. "What do you mean, Grandmother?"

She smiled tentatively and leaned back on the couch. "I was waiting for the day for you to realize that you do not fit in with this family. You know your father. He's very quiet and reserved. You know that he resents the Weasleys and Potters, but at the bottom of his heart, I know he is grateful for them." My eyes widened. "Don't be surprised Scorpius, you ought to know that. He does let you visit them. He does let you date Rose. If he hated them with all his heart, you know he wouldn't let you even be near them."

I sipped the amber liquid. The story was getting good. "But why do you say that he's grateful?"

Grandmother's breathy laugh echoed in the room. "I suppose he has never told you that Mr. Potter and Rose's parents saved him?"

"No!" I placed the flowered cup on the table.

"Yes!" Grandmother's eyes twinkled. "It was during the Battle of Hogwarts. To cut it short, your father was caught in some unfortunate incidents, and they were there to save him. Two times."

I laughed. "Honestly, Grandmother?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

I shook my head. We were in silence for a few moments. I fiddled with a thread hanging from a pillow. "You didn't finish, Grandmother."

"Finish what, Scorpius?" she asked, motioning for her house-elf to fill more tea.

"You were saying that you weren't surprised that I didn't really like my family."

"Ah." She waited for the house-elf to finish pouring the tea, and took a sip. "Well, I already told you about your father. Your mother is a wonderful woman." I nodded in agreement. "And I have flaws."

I shook my head in horror. "No, Grandmother! You're wonderful!"

She pursed her lips. "Thank you, Scorpius. But as I was saying. This family is horrible and has a horrible reputation. You know that. Your father is haunted from his past. Your mother tries to comfort him. You have nothing else to do. You've always liked Muggle artifacts, like those comic books. You're different than them. You had no real friends, so why not turn to the Weasleys and Potters? They're wonderful, as you say. They have young people your age, and the adults are warm and inviting. It was a new experience for you. You'd never experienced that. So now that you've known them seven years, and they've welcomed you with open arms and grown to like you, it's natural you've grown to like them as well. And maybe even more than your own family."

I nodded. It all made sense. Complete sense. Grandmother always made sense of things. I didn't feel guilty anymore about including them in my speech. I had to. It was my 'thanks' for all the support they had given me. And if Father got mad, who cares? At least I did the right thing.

"Now, Scorpius. Tell me. How is Rose? Is she doing well? What is she planning on doing after graduation?" I smiled and turned back to Grandmother to talk about my favorite person.

Saturday, June 22, 2024

It's here. Graduation. I'm seconds away from my speech. I'm so nervous. Rose is looking very calm and serene. I don't think she's nervous at all. Oh, they called my name. Okay, I'm standing up. I'm walking to the podium and trying hard not to fall. Here I go.

Frankly, when I was assigned to do this speech, I wasn't sure of what to write. I knew I was going to make a fool out of myself and embarrass everyone here. But I convinced myself I could do it, and I'm happy I'm here.

I've had so many good times here, and so much has happened to me. I've discovered new friends, new hobbies, and new loves for subjects. I've discovered so much about myself and surroundings that I didn't now about. I suppose that's what Hogwarts is really about: learning about yourself and helping you become a better person, with a little help from classes and friends.

I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has helped me come this far. Mother, Father, thank you because without you, I wouldn't even be reading this speech. You've been the people who have guided me the most. I'd also like to thank Grandmother, because without her, I wouldn't be who I am today. I'd also like to thank two other families, although not my own, families who have guided me and supported me, with either advice for family or school, and they've always been there. So thank you to the Weasleys and Potters. And to my best friends, thanks for everything. Teachers, thanks for educating and enduring us these seven years. I'm impressed that all of you lasted that long.

I had always dreamed of coming to Hogwarts as a young boy and learning how to do magic and use magic however I wanted to. I thought magic was the best: we could use magic to cook, to clean, for everything! Now I've learned that you can't do everything with magic. There are restrictions, there are limitations. And that's good. Because you can't do everything with magic. It's not real. You can make someone fall in love with you using love potions, but it's not true love. It's fake love. I think that's the most important lesson I've learned in all my seven years in Hogwarts. Magic is good, but being real is better.

I'm sorry for not posting sooner! I was on vacation-and apparently my brain was too. Well, I'm finally here and I promise to post another chapter soon! Thanks for all your kind reviews regarding the last chapters. Oh, and if any of you have ideas for later chapters, please tell me in your reviews!