A Year to Remember Chapter 16: Tying Up, a harry potter fanfic

A Year to Remember

By Izzy

Part 16:Tying Up

"We really must meet again," said Mrs. Granger to Mrs. Fadton.

"Yes," agreed Mrs. Fadton, "and perhaps somewhere a little more...a little more 'Muggle', as our children would call it." She then tried to get her shoes on again:someone had enchanted them to refuse to get on her feet.

"Are you ready to go?" asked Madame Baud. All four nodded. She handed Mr. Granger and Mr. Fadton each a piece of paper. Thier wives took the other end. She checked her watch. "Seven...six...five....four....three...two...one..."

Both portkeys activated simultaneously, and the parents dissapeared.

"Why are they insisting I go back by the plane?" wondered Alfred. "New York State's out by now." He and Hermione headed out of the school, nearly tripping over Justin and Sappho, who were seated on the steps.

"Ah, there you two are!" called Ron. He, Harry, Hannah, and Max were waiting nearby. "Come on, Afred, the plane's going to take off." added Max.

"Gotcha." Alfred walked up to Hannah first. "I believe I shall be seeing you soon, Hannah van Abbott."

"And you, Al Bones." replied she. They exchanged a kiss and then he headed off. "Hey, Sappho!" called Max. "You coming?"

"Just a second or so." she called back.

"You hurry up too," Harry called to Justin as they too walked away. "The Bus will be leaving soon."

"So," said Sappho, when they were gone. "You really think we could make this work?"

He nodded. "I'm sure of it."

She nodded. "Well, look on the bright side. My father's always been regretful that the family name won't be preserved. If its a boy, then it should be." They both laughed, embraced, and walked together to the Bus and plane that would take them two continents apart.

That evening...

The first wave of graduating nostalgia hit when the Bus parked behind the mountain where they had first boarded it eight months ago. Professor Sprout was waiting for them.

Dumbledore got out first. "Hello, Octavia. How are things going?"

Professor Sprout heaved one huge sigh. "How are things going? Well....Minerva's still in the Hospital Wing, she went out with you, she's awake now, and wants out, but Poppy is insisting on keeping her in, and they are arguing to death, rumors are flying about saying you're dead, Minerva's dead, or both are dead, and most of the students are in hysterics, Professor Solen announced yesterday morning she was leaving and then left without giving any reason, all four Houses are tied for the Cup and I don't know how we're going to handle that, and I think I'm coming down with Omega fever. Do us all all a favor, Albus, and never do this again!"

"The Leaving Feast should be going on now, correct?"

"Correct. Severus and Filch are taking turns trying to terrorize the students into order. I'm going to go see if Poppy will release Minerva, that might convince people she's alive and well. I'd advise you to go up there immediately."

"Advise taken. Dobby, make sure the Bus is returned, now that we have no more use for it."

Wordlessly the twelve students followed Dumbledore up the corridors, until they reached the Great Hall. When they entered, silence fell. Then, someone started to cheer. Everyone else joined in until the Hall rang with cheering and clappin.

"Lavender!" Parvati came on the run and hugged Lavender tightly. "Gabrielle got a letter saying what happened, I'm so sorry for you!"

"Don't be, please," murmered Lavender, and pushed past Parvati to the Gryffindor table, her head down.

Next to approach the twelve was Draco Malfoy. "Pansy, I want to talk with you."

"And I with you." she answered, and they walked off together.

"What was that about?" asked Sally-Anne. "I thought they were done. She seems to have fallen for him anyway...you don't think..."

"Draco Malfoy, in love?" finished Ron incredously. "Is that even possible?"

But if the expressions on Draco and Pansy's faces when they rejoined thier Housemates a minute or so later were anything to go by, it was indeed possible.

By this time the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had also rejoined thier Housemates, but when Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Morgana moved to join thiers, Dumbledore stopped them. They waited until the applause died down.

"Now," said Dumbledore, "I am sure you have all heard of the events at Beauxbatons. I am very very pleased to honor four of our students for thier actions in regard to them."

"First of all, Miss Hermione Granger, who tied with Mr. Fadton of New York State for the Triwizard Cup."

Everyone clapped, and Hermione turned very pink.

"Second of all, during the events, Mr. Ronald Weasley performed a very powerful Disarming Charm, which in all likelihood saved both Miss Granger and myself. For this, the Ministry has awarded him the Order of Merlin, Second Class, and I award Gryffindor 100 points."

Everyone clapped again. The Gryffindors clapped the loudest.

"Third, also during events, Miss Morgana Nott sucessfully performed a life-transference spell, and a crucial role in the defeat of the Dark Lord. For this, she too has been awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class, and I award Slytherin 100 points."

There was no applause this time. Instead there were murmers of shock. If Morgana was upset by this, she didn't let it show.

"And finally, Mr. Harry Potter, as I do not think anyone will be surprised by, sucessfully defeated Lord Voldemort for what we believe will be for good. For this, he has received from the Ministry the Order of Merlin, First Class, and 200 points for Gryffindor."

The walls shook with the applause. Harry tried to keep himself from turning red.

"So I believe that leaves Gryffindor the winner of the House Cup," Dumbledore clapped his hands, and the Hall was decorated with scarlet and gold ribbons, and the lion of Gryffindor hung over the staff table. Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried to thier table without a second's hesitation. Morgana cast a look of yearning after them, then reluctently began her trek to the Slytherin table.

As she sat down at the edge, alone, Blaise Zabini called to her. "Hey! Morgana! Come sit over here with us!"

Morgana looked at Blaise with astonishment. She couldn't remember being asked to sit with someone here at Hogwarts.

"Come on!" called Blaise, and several other Slytherins backed this sentiment.

Morgana smiled, and went to sit with her housemates.

"Hey, Hermione." said Ron. "Why are you crying?"

Hermione looked up with her potatoes, which were salted with her tears. "This is the last time, Ron. With everything that's going on, we've forgotten about that. In two days we graduate, and..." Ron nodded his understanding. "We won't be gone forever. I least, I hope we won't."

"No, we'll come back, but it isn't the same. I'm going to miss this place."

"Especially the library."

"Hey!"

"Well you will!"

Harry watched them argue. It wouldn't last long. It never did. By the time they returned to the Common Room to sleep in thier dormitories for the next-to-last time, they wouldn't even remember this arguement. He found himself laughing, though what about he wasn't sure. He would miss Hogwarts even more then they would, for it was here he had spent his happiest days-and his saddest too.

If there was one place that changed his life, this would be it.

Two days later...

The Great Hall was once again crowded, though all the students sixth-year and below had gone home for the holidays, though those with older siblings in the seventh year had returned. In the place of those students that had not returned were friends and relatives. The entire Weasley family were seated at the Gryffindor table, as were the Grangers, Neville's grandmother with two other old-looking people, what Harry assumed to be Lavender's and Parvati's parents, as well at Seamus's and Dean's, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, and Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour.

Harry himself, in scarlet robes, was standing with the rest of his classmates behind the staff table, which Flitwick was standing on, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Sprout, and Snape were standing in front of, and Hagrid was sitting at. Dean Thomas had spoken earlier, and now Mandy Brocklehurst was finishing her speech. She rejoined the others behind the table.

"And now," said Dumbledore, "let us present the Hogwarts graduating class of 1998. When your name is called, each of you will come up and recieve your diploma."

"Hannah Abbott."

Dressed in canary-yellow robes, Hannah walked up to the table and received her diploma from Professor Sprout. She shook hands with all four teachers. Harry could see Alfred, Max, Francisca, Sappho, and her parents applaud her. She joined them at the Hufflepuff table.

"Susan Bones."

Susan followed Hannah's path, and joined a woman who Harry suspected was her mother.

"Terry Boot."

In many ways, it was a repeat of thier Sorting seven years ago. They were called in the same order, and one by one, they headed for the front, then turned and went to thier tables.

"Lavender Brown."

Parvati had to nudge Lavender, but then she went forward, and she smiled slightly as she received her diploma from McGonagall. "Not much." said Parvati to her sister. "But its a start."

Justin...Seamus...Hermione. Harry and Ron applauded loudly, so did half the Gryffindor table. Hermione fund herself seated between her parents and Mrs. Weasley.

Neville received his diploma, then Morag MacDougal. Then Draco Malfoy strode brisky to the table and sntached his diploma from Snape, not looking at any of the teachers as he shook hands with them. His mother was clapping from the Slytherin table, as was, Harry noticed, a man who very much looked like he could be Pansy's father. Well, if Malfoy had gotten just that, so be it. It wasn't like Pansy was much anyway.

"Ernie McMillian."

Harry began to pay more attention as Ernie joined Hannah and Justin and Felix Moon received his diploma from Professor Flitwick. When Morgana's name was called, she strode to the table with a confidence she certainly had not had at the beginning of the year, and Madeline was waiting for her at the Slytherin table. On the other hand, Pansy Parkinson's snobbish way of receiving her diploma was not surprising in the least, and Harry concluded that she and Malfoy deserved each other.

Padma Patil was called. Then Parvati. Then Sally-Anne.

"Harry Potter."

Strangly enough, tears stung his eyes as he reached the table at received a large pat on the back from Hagrid. He didn't bother look at Snape as he shook hands with him. He grinned and Sprout and Flitwick, they smiled back. As he received his diploma from McGonagall, he thought he saw just a hint of a tear in her eye. He shook hands with Dumbledore, fighting the tears back now. Then, trying to ignore the applause, he collapsed between Hermione and Mrs. Weasley. She hugged him very tightly, and he allowed the tears to escape into her sleeve.

Dean. Lisa. Harry pulled away from her to clap for Ron, who didn't look much better then he was feeling. Bittersweet.

Finally Blaise Zabini got the last diploma from Snape, and sat down. The four Heads also sat down.

"We congratulate all the students of this class." He clapped his hands, and food appeared. After a minute or so, Harry excused himself and went to sit next to Sirius.

Sirius was now talking with Gabrielle, and she was holding a piece of parchment. Harry peered over her shoulder to see what it was, and his jaw dropped. It was the Maruader's Map. "How'd you get this?" he whispered.

"Elaine found it," answered Gabrielle. "In Professor Solen's office."

"Of course," mused Harry. "He'd have to keep it hidden, because if anyone else had seen it, they would have known he was an imposter..."

Gabrielle gestured towards Sirius. "'E says zey made it, and it's yours." From the tone of her voice, Harry knew she didn't want to give up the map.

"And from she's told me, she's found it quite useful," Sirius added. "We may have two more Maruaders on our hands, Moony."

"I hope you two haven't been using it to break too many rules." replied Lupin.

"Well, not *too* many..."

"The problem with you, Remus," said Sirius, "is you're too serious. And I'm supposed to be Sirius." Harry chuckled. "You can keep the map." he told Gabrielle. "I don't have any use for it anymore."

"Well, it's certianly been a year to remember." noted Ron, when, all too soon, they were taking thier last looks at Hogwarts from the train. Harry wondered when he would see it again.

"As I've said," said Mrs. Weasley. "The last year should always be special."

"It's not the end, I hope," said Ginny.

"It's not for you," said Neville. "You've still got one more year."

"But it isn't for you either. We're still going, right? All of us. In fact, life's just beginning for you guys. It's not the end by a long shot."

And on this point they all had to agree. It wasn't the end.

Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found
To take its place.... Hey Jealousy!

You can trust me not to think
And not to sleep around
If you don't expect too much from me
You might not be let down
Cause all I really want is to be with you
Feeling like I matter too
If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago
I might be here with you

Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found
To take its place.... Hey Jealousy!

Tell me do you think it'd be all right
If I could just crash here tonight
You can see I'm in no shape for driving
And anyway I've got no place to go
And you know it might not be that bad
You were the best I'd ever had
If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago
I might not be alone
Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found
To take its place.... Hey Jealousy!
Hey Jealousy!
And she took my heart
There's only one thing I couldn't start

-Gin Blossoms, "Hey, Jealousy"

Author's Note:(Wow, I've never done one of these at the end of a story before!)Like the song lyrics? Well, this is it, folks. But don't pack your bags just yet, there's a sequel on the way, and it will star Gabrielle, Elaine, and two completely new characters. I hope I didn't upset anyone by making Paul a spy, I'd planned that right from the beginning of the fic, you see, and there wasn't much turning back.(Unlike Hector, who took me completely by surprise.) Love you all, especially Fawkes, Hermione L. Granger, and Veralidiane, because they reviewed so much.