A /N: Hello my lovely readers! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, I know what you're all thinkning, about time but any way I'm sorry I haven't uploaded a new chapter in forever, I've lost my mojo to write...sigh...anyway I hope you like the new chapter, please don't forget to review, it means a lot to me!

The sun began to rise on the ground of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Over the years thousands upon thousands of students have passed through the hallways, ate in the grand hall and lounged by the black lake, and those thousands upon thousands of students have graduated and today was no different. Today the 7th and 8th years were leaving this magical place, saying goodbye to an end of a chapter and hello to a new one once Hogwarts could be seen no more.

The early morning sun shone on the black lake symbolizing the place of their final goodbye. Their graduation will be like every other, after their ceremony they will leave on the enchanted boats that brought them here in their first year. It's rather symbolic, they start and end their journey through school in the same way, and it's as if they were returning to innocence.

All though it was early, the young June sun brought waves of heat lapping over the grounds.. No clouds dared to come close, the only presence u the clear crystal blue sky were a pair of blackbirds entwined in a beautiful dance.

"What are you doing up so early?"

Asked Ron coming down the stairs, he headed straight for Hermione who was standing in front of the window and rested his head on her shoulders, she instantly relaxed and leant against him.

"I couldn't sleep. I couldn't get it out of my head that this is the last time we'll be here as students. So many memories have been created here, I don't wasn't to leave"

"Neither do I, but we have the whole world waiting for us to create havoc, we have so many years ahead of us to make new memories and remember the good old days"

They stood in silence watching the morning unfold in front of them. It looked like it was going to be a wonderful day, there was a gentle breeze blowing fresh air into the silence of the castle.

"What's worrying you really?"

"Nothing is worrying me Ron, I-"

"Hermione, I might have an emotional range of a teaspoon but I know when some things worrying you."

"It's uncertain, I don't know what's going to happen new", this has been my schedule for most of my life, I know that I have lessons, essays to write, homework, meeting and whatever but after today, I'll have no clue what's coming next and it scares me"

"I'll tell you what's coming next, we're going to graduate, you're going to get the best marks in you exams, better then everyone in history, you're going to train as a healer, do great in a job you enjoy and live a happy life surrounded by friends and family and so what if bumps appear on the way we'll overcome them, together."

"When did you get so good at giving reasons reason and sounding so clever?"

"It's what lack of sleep does to me, give me a few hours and I'll be right as rain. There's a few hours till we need to get up, coming back to bed?" Hermione nodded in agreement, she was so thankful she had Ron, her world would be a completely different world without him.

"It seems strange to think in a few short hours we will no longer be students at this school"

"I know what you mean, Gin" Harry and Ginny lay lazily in each other's arms. It was too early to get up and like Hermione and Ron they couldn't sleep their mind wondering to their leaving ceremony.

How are we going to spend the last day here then Harry?

"Why don't we take a grand tour of the castle and grounds, a way of saying goodbye, remembering all the little things before we go for good?"

"Sounds perfect" silence engulfed the room, both thinking hard about the future that lies ahead. "Harry, do you think we'll be ok?"

"You're going to be a Potter soon, and things always work out"

"But until I'm a Potter?"

"We're going to be just fine, I can feel it"

"Welcome all to the graduation of a wonderful set of children, well not so much children anymore. These young adults have faced many horrors but have all seen the light that rises within. I have watched these marvellous people walk through those doors as young first years, frightened bewildered looks but now I watch them full of honour, bravery and a sense,... a sense of wholeness, in a way they have come to appreciate this school not just as a place to learn but as a home. I have grown quite attached to these students and I will miss each of them very dearly, to Miss Grangers answers for each question, to Mr Finnagens habit of blowing things up. In a short while I will call each one of you up to say a few words, not an entire speech like I'm sure Miss Granger had all ready wrote but a few short words. Before this I welcome Minister of Magic, Mr Schalbolt"

The whole crowd stood up and cheered as the Head Mistress stepped down and the kind yet influential man walked up to the podium. The podium itself was white marble with a bold eagle capturing the front, as the minister began to talk, the eagle unfolded his wings, power rippling through to the tip.

"Thank you Minerva, and thank you everyone for the warm welcome, Now I know sitting in this heat isn't very nice so I will try and keep it short but you all know once I get going there is no stopping me. The greatest man I have ever met was Albus Dumbldore, I won't say his full name its a mouthful " this earned a few chuckles from the audience. "He was always there in time of need, always there to lift a sorrow and always there to give you confusing riddles whether you asked for them or not but one quote always stays with me, "Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.", The war was one of the darkest times I have ever been a part of, and I hope it stays the darkest as I hope all darkness has gone, but still this saying is correct, even when we faced the darkest time, we still had light within us, we had hope, we had love, we had something worth fighting for. Thats what you all did, you fought even in tough times but you won, you survived and now you all get to move on with your lives and live in a world where darkness is only a word not a fear.

I have got to know many students here today quite well and I can say Iam so very proud and humble towards each and every one of you. I know you have faced evil things but now is your time to live. I wish reach and everyone of you a happy and healthy future. I hope you get the chance to do everything you've ever dreamed of doing and by Merlin you all deserve to be happy.

One last thing before I finally shut up, the whole ministry would like to offer you a career in the ministry. We will be forever grateful for what you have done here and this is only a small thank-you. If you are interested in this offer, owl me any time before the summer is over and we'll see what we can do"

Another round of applause shock the natural tranquillity of the grounds, mostly from the students who didn't know what to do in a future career now having some kind of plan.

"Finally I cannot leave here without doing this, I must ask if Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood could please accompany me on stage"

All eyes turned on them as they made their way down the long isle towards the stage.

"Without these people I don't know where we would be today, don't worry I won't mention every little thing they did to end the war as I assume some of them might have broken the law but what I am going to say is I am honoured to Neville, Ginny and Luna the order of the Second Merlin and to Harry, Ron and Hermione the order of the first class Merlin""

As each person accepted their award the whole audience was on their feet, clapping, cheering and some like Mrs Weasley bowling their eyes out, ride radiating off her. The orchestral cacophony was all to be heard. Plastered on each one of their faces was huge cheesy smile. Each set of eyes had happiness oozing out of them. This is something they would remember for the rest of their lives. Their long and happy lives.

At long last the Minister finally stopped talking and walked off the stage. It had now come to the individual words, as each person said a few words they would receive a certificate, a photo and a personal letter from the head mistress in a leather bound folder. Most students said what their goals were, their plans, what they'll miss, and although Hermione did talk for the longest her speech was still short, but the one speech that will be remembered by a few was spoken by Luna.

"Hello, you all know me I'm Luna Lovegood but over the years ion Hogwarts I've been known as Looney Lovegood, as first it was meant as an insult but over the years it's felt more like a compliment. I'm loony, my mother always told me but she also said that one day people will be jealous because I have the gift of being able to lose myself in a world of my own at whatever time, that's why when we were fighting in the war I wasn't scared because I knew I had my own world waiting for me, now I know that this summer my own world will become the real world. Thank you for everything Professor McGonagall."

The crowd after this was silent for a few seconds as Luna stepped down after receiving her blue leather bound bundle and silently hummed to herself whilst sipping down the aisle. The crowd soon found their hands again as she sat down.

At last all speeches were said, all graduation gifts were given now the only thing left was to say goodbye, and like every year they have their own tradition.

"Now students, it's time to say goodbye, so would you all follow me to the lake, the enchanted boats are waiting for you."

Numerous questions were flying about, but everyone did stand up and follow the head mistress towards the answers of their questions.

"I don't understand why we're going on the boats" asked a voice in the crowd of students.

"It's simple really," said Hermione addressing everyone in hearing distance, after seeing all the confused faces she continued, "We're leaving the way we came here, the boats, it's quite symbolic if you ask me. We get to watch the castle go further and further away, that's our final goodbye."

"If today wasn't our last day Miss Granger I would award you 10 house points. Now would you split into groups of six and make your way towards the boats, once everyone is seated you will begin to float away, now whatever you do, do not panic, these boats only ever go there and back, not to half way and drop you in the lake and secondly no pushing anybody in the water because as soon as your away from these shores there is nothing I can do to help. Are we all seated? good."

"I wish you all the best, I hope life is good to you all, if ever you want to visit, my office is always open. I wish safe on your journey home and I hope you enjoy your summer holidays. For those of you who will be returning as staff in a few short years after you have completed your training, I look forward to the day. Good bye to you all, I will miss you dearly" Tears were now staining the older lady's face, she said the last part to Hermione the most, she had come to care for her more than the rest but something tells her it isn't the last time they'll meet, something will bring her back.

The boats moved swiftly across the gentle waves of the lake, as their professor said Hogwarts will get smaller and smaller till eventually it'll disappear. No one was talking, everybody silent, deep in thought, awaiting the unknown. The castle itself looked beautiful, no one could tell it had been bruised and battled like everyone else. It looked calm, brave, and strong, no one could ever say the castle wasn't magnificent because it was, and now with the first rays of sunset it looked like something almost fairytale like. Beauty at its best.

The last rays of sunset were setting as they reached back at the station. The train ride consisted of just the graduates as the other students would be leaving next week. It was a gentle train ride, everyone getting over that fact that they had just graduated. As the collected their belongings that were waiting for them at the station, they all hugged each other, promising to keep in touch. One by one families collected their loved ones, until it was just a handful left.

"Are you coming with us dear?" asked Mrs Weasley to Hermione.

"I thought my mum and dad would be here, I know they're still not happy with what I did to them in the war but I'd thought they'd be here to see their little girl finish Hogwarts"

"Come on, I'll make you a cup of tea when we get home" Mrs Weasley put her arm around Hermione, leading her towards the brick wall. Together they ran through almost colliding with a couple waiting on the other side.

"Mum! Dad! I thought you weren't going to come"

"Of course we'd be here, we just weren't sure if we could run through the wall or not, we're not magic so we thought we'd wait here for you, come here darling" said Mrs Granger holding out her arms for her daughter. Hermione almost ran into the, clinging for dear life ac her mother returned the fierceness.

"We'll see you soon Hermione, our doors always open, come on you lot" said Mrs Weasley, ushering her kids out of the station. All of them stopped and gave Hermione one last hug and in Ron's case a small peck on the cheek and carried one following their mother.

"Come on Hermione let's get you home, you can tell us all about your last year on the way." said Mr Granger wrapping a loving arm around Hermione's shoulders. Before school started Hermione was able to track down her parents and re adjusts their memories. They were reluctant to leave Australia and so left Hermione after she returned to Hogwarts. But since coming home, they've managed to take over their old dental practice and setting up their old home ready for their daughter. They knew she wiped their memories for protection and so knew they were very lucky to have a daughter like Hermione and they knew they will never forget it from now on.

A/N: I hope you liked it, If you're wondering where I got the idea for the enchanted boats it's on Harry Potter Wiki, if you haven't been on it, check it out, it's amazing! Please tell me what you think, good bad, on the fence, I don't care. Thanks for reading!