Thier 19 Years: Chapter 36
Hermione adjusted the black robe on her body uncomfortably. It was graduation day. She was extremely nervous to be leaving Hogwarts. Leaving meant she was starting a new chapter of her life and that meant trying to find a job and a place for her and Ron to live. She would hate to be jobless and be living with her parents. On the other hand she was excited to see what life had in store for her now, and Ron constantly reminded her the Ministry will be at the door begging for her to work for them.
She checked her hair in the mirror, she had tried to tame it by holding it back in a half pony tail with some potion, but she knew her hair well enough that it would not last the evening. Giving up, she left Ginny's room to find everyone.
Harry, Ginny, and Ron were lounging in the living room waiting for her. Mrs. Weasley gushed when she came down and ordered them together for a picture.
"Nice robe," Ron smirked, knowing that Hermione had complained about wearing it since she got it.
"You're wearing the same one,"she reminded him.
"Okay smile, smile," Mrs. Weasley said squashing them all together with her strong arms.
They took pictures together and then Harry and Ginny on their own and Ron and Hermione. Soon Hermione had to leave to get her parents so she could apparate them to the Burrow and then take the portkey to Hogwarts for the ceremony.
"I'll see you soon," Ron said kissing her quickly,then let her go.
"Mum! Dad!" Hermione yelled when she apparated into the kitchen of her childhood home.
"Coming darling," her mother replied coming down the stairs with Hermione's father in tow. "Oh look at you!" Jean Granger exclaimed upon seeing her daughter in her graduation robes, "my baby is all grown up," he mother exclaimed tearfully. Hermione felt her mother resembled Mrs. Weasley fairly well in that moment.
"Mum," she half-laughed. "We have to leave now or we are going to be late," Hermione said grabbing both their hands. "Ready?" Hermione asked her suddenly faint looking parents. They were still not a fan of apparating, her father still threw up occasionally afterwards, but Hermione prayed he could hold his stomach this time.
Seconds later they were outside the burrow; Hermione standing in the middle of her two wobbly-kneed parents. They were greeted immediately by Mr and Mrs. Weasley who ushered them inside. Hermione re-joined Harry, Ron and Ginny in the living room again.
"Well that was quick," observed Ginny glancing down at her invisible watch, "two minutes I'll say," she laughed.
"Okay kids we better be on our way," announced Mr. Weasley exiting the kitchen with Hermione's less woozy parents.
They all gathered around the portkey, Hermione between her parents. In seconds the group tumbled into the corridor directly in front of the Headmaster's office. Everyone landed relatively easily aside from Hermione's parents who landed firmly on their backsides.
"What is wrong with a car for transportation," grumbled Hermione's father. Hermione laughed and patted his back reassuringly as they began their decent to the grounds where the ceremony was to be held.
It was a sea of black as all the graduates tried to find their seats. The eighth years were sat in their own complete section as they were to receive their diplomas after all the seventh years. Harry, Ron and Hermione bid Ginny goodbye and they took their designated seats. Hermione sat in between her boys and excitedly grabbed both their hands.
"Can you believe we are actually going to graduate?" Hermione exclaimed. "This time a year and a half ago I didn't think I would even live to see the school reopen, but here we sit," she sighed resting her head on Ron's shoulder. Harry and Ron shared looks with one another that read 'she's still barmey', but in reality they were thinking the same thing.
"Welcome everyone," McGonagall's voice rang out over the crowd. "It is an absolute pleasure to be standing here today in celebration of the accomplishments of the students who sit before me," she spoke into her wand. "They not only studied and went to class, they fought. A year ago this castle was in ruins and the chances of it opening for this year were next to nothing, but with the help of everyone here and more, we were able to overcome what the uttermost evil thing our world has seen had thrown at us, and they persevered so they could end up where they are sitting today. Ready to start a new segment of their lives, so let's celebrate their bravery, loyalty to this school, each other, and the wizarding world itself. Thank you," she finished smiling.
There was rounds of cheering as everyone got to their feet. Hermione's eyes were filled with tears and she felt Ron rub her back smiling down at her. She looked up at him and they shared a gentle kiss before taking their seats once more with the rest.
It took about an hour for all off the seventh years to go up and receive their diploma's. Ginny was one of the last to go and the majority of the cheering was coming from her best friend, boyfriend and brother, to whom she waved excitedly to as the walked off the stage.
"And now for an extraordinary group of people who have amazed me this year with all their hard work and willingness to push everything from last year behind them and come in this year with the chance to complete something that they deserve. I present to you the first ever in Hogwarts history; our Eighth Years!" she motioned to the group of no more than fifteen. The crowd applauded for longer than usual before McGonagall was forced to hush them so the ceremony could continue.
She began to call them up one by one in alphabetical order, and she soon reached 'G'.
"Hermione Granger," she called proudly. The crowd roared in applause for the war princess (as named by Witch Weekly) as she accepted her diploma. McGonagall then surprised everyone by pulling Hermione into a hug. "Well done Hermione," she whispered to just the young witch could hear. Hermione couldn't figure out what surprised her more; McGonagall not calling her 'Miss Granger' or the deafening cheering coming from the crowd. She took her seat with the seventh years and other eighth years who had already been called, and waited anxiously for Harry and Ron to be called.
It was only several names later that the familiar deafening noise appeared again when McGonagall reached the 'P's and Harry rose from his seat. The crowd was even louder from when Hermione went, as expected.
The chosen one received his diploma like everyone else, and he even got a hug from McGonagall as well. But instead of exiting the stage he whispered something to McGonagall and she nodded in approval. Then he unexpectedly pulled out his wand and muttered 'Sonorus' the crowd quieted down almost instantly eager to hear what the savior of their world had to say.
"Hi everyone," Harry cleared his throat. Hermione could tell he was nervous, but also that he was determined to do something. He had not told her or Ron that he was doing this so she was just as interested as everyone else. "We all know that two years ago today, hope was minimal, and a lot of you believed in me, and supported me when everything seemed to be falling apart, and I just want to say thank you, because without you I would not have had the courage to attempt to destroy what was destroying us with the two most amazing people in the world," he found Ron and Hermione's eyes in the crowd. "And thank you for all your families sacrificed last year because it has made our world a safer place for hopefully forever, but at least a long time to come," Harry finished confidently. The applause continued, louder than ever now.
When Harry reached the tearful Hermione she threw her arms around him and sobbed. Harry hugged her back fiercely then they both sat down awaiting their other best friend.
Finally the last person was called who just so happened to be Ron. Hermione and Harry cheered louder than anyone else and Ginny appeared beside them joining in as well. McGonagall handed Ron his diploma and gave him a hug as well. Ron turned and found Hermione in the crowd and winked at her. As soon as Ron found them McGonagall spoke again "Our Graduates!"
The sea of black robes cheered and threw their hats up very cliché like. Ron then surprised Hermione by pulling her close suddenly and kissing her deeply, arms wrapped fully around her tiny frame. They kissed oblivious to the wolf-whistles and everything that was surrounding them. They only broke away when the necessity for air became apparent. They broke apart to see Harry and Ginny mirroring them in a passionate kiss as well.
Soon the four friends found themselves lounging by the lake while their parents socialized, Mrs. Weasley introducing Hermione's parents to everyone they knew, hinting that they were her son's future mother and father in law. Hermione was laying on her back in the grass her head resting on Ron's lap, while his fingers subconsciously combed through her curls and Harry had his arm around Ginny, as they leaned back against a tree.
"So what now?" asked Harry, looking out across the lake.
"Who knows," replied Ron. There was a pause before Harry, Ron and Ginny chorused 'Hermione'. Then chuckled as Hermione crossed her arms playfully, raising her eyes at her goofball friends.
"Kids!" yelled Mrs. Weasley, "it's time to go."
A big feast was held at the Burrow that evening and all the Weasley's and Granger's were present it wasn't until after dinner that Ron told his mum that he was taking Hermione to show her his graduation gift to her. Mrs. Weasley had squealed and hugged him, kissed him all over, then let him go only when he managed to escape from her death grip.
Ron found Hermione out on the patio watching the sun set.
"Hey, love," Ron said kissing her cheek gently, capturing her attention.
"Hey," she smiled maneuvering herself so she was in his arms.
"So I have a little present for you," Ron said after a few minutes of just enjoying the hug.
"You do?" Hermione stepped back surprised.
"Yeah, but you have to wear this," he said pulling a blindfold out of his pocket, causing Hermione to raise an eyebrow curiously.
"Okay," she agreed turning around so he could tie it over her eyes.
"Now hold on tight, I am going to apparate us to where it is," Ron told her grabbing her hand and wrapping an arm around her.
Ron was shaking with excitement, he had worked so long and hard on this surprise he just hoped Hermione loved it as much as he does. They soon disappeared with a crack and landed on the gravel road of Godric's Hollow.
"Where are we?" Hermione questioned waving her hands around blindly in front of her.
"You'll see," Ron grinned leading her in the direction of the surprise.
They soon reached the sidewalk in front of the now beautiful old house that had been cleaned up to be the prettiest house on the block.
"Here we are," Ron announced. "Ready?" Hermione nodded eagerly, and Ron slowly removed the blindfold.
"Welcome home sweetheart."
I'm sorry, I'm sorry Cliff hanger I know, I know I am an awful person don't hate me! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. I had so much fun writing it with all the speeches:) Anyways the reviews have been a little slow lately:( so please please tell me what you think!
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