Disclaimer, All JKR's except for a few OCs
Graduation for the seventh year class had to be held in the Great Hall due to the threat of rain. The hall was arranged with a dais for the students to sit on and seats for the families and friends. Above their heads, the ceiling showed the blue sky that nature had not seen fit to provide.
The weather notwithstanding, the general atmosphere of this event was less somber than the previous one. Minerva's speech this time reflected that.
"We, your professors, are very proud of you young ladies and gentlemen of the graduating class...You are the first class to graduate in a new era. This year has not been an easy one but it has been a good one. You have all worked hard, some of you had to catch up previous studies as well as complete your seventh year, and you have made adjustments that no one should have to make, certainly not as students.
"You have also re-established what the normal routine is here at the school. In setting the example for the younger students to go to classes and attend to your educations, you have won a different sort of battle, one that proves that the world we love was worth saving.
"You have fought valiantly along side of your elders and have earned the right to be called heroes. Some of your original number are not graduating with us today, due to their great bravery and sacrifice. When you are tempted not to live up to what this school stands for, remember them and stiffen your resolve."
She stopped and looked around the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, may I present our graduating class!"
The assembled crowd cheered.
Eventually September 1 came around again, and Barbara Snape was standing on an upstairs veranda watching the smoke of the approaching Hogwarts Express rise on the horizon. Downstairs was the sound of banging and scurrying as Alice and Howard gathered their final things together. They were the first two students who didn't have family of their own and would be invited to join the Snape household during their school breaks until they graduated. Alice would be starting her third year tomorrow and Howard his sixth.
Severus came up behind his wife and put his arms around her. His hands came to rest where her pregnancy was becoming quite noticable. Kissing her neck, he said, "Just got an owl from Ministry. Lestrange has been given life in prison. If he ever causes a single bit of trouble, it's the kiss, though.
Runcorn's claims of being imperiused have again gotten him out of Azkaban, but since he is apparently so susceptible to such curses, he's been permanently placed in the ward for the criminally insane at St. Mungo's"
She turned and smiled. "Kingsley came through. I don't think he'll regret it."
"Are you ready to move back into the castle for the term?"
"Yes. From the sound of it, Alice and Howard are pretty much ready, too. I need to get down pretty soon. I'm supposed to help with the first years after Hagrid scares them half to death in those boats."
"Are you sure you will be able to teach potions? We could make arrangements..."
"You've watched me make potions all summer. It was a passing thing." He kissed her neck again. "Severus... We're going to have to postpone that until later tonight."
"We'd better get going then."
After herding the children onto the path toward the school gates, they followed at a slightly slower pace, Severus pulling Barbara's hand through his arm in a now accustomed position.
A/N: This completes a year of trying to get things back to normal. As some have noticed, there are quite a few loose ends. I think there will have to be another story to pick those up.
Thank you to my kind reviewers, especially debjunk and Mark Darcy!