Aimee
June 27th, 1998.
It had been seven years since Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and numerous other Seventh Years had first set their eyes on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. September 1st, 1991, was a day forever emblazoned in the minds, a representation of their past, present, and future.
A private ceremony set aside for the Seventh Years and their family and friends was held that day; set for three o'clock in the afternoon, each student in turn was as nervous and excited as they ever had been.
Up in the Gryffindor Dorms, Harry and Draco were sitting side by side, and every now and then, Draco would shoot malicious glances in the direction of the small First Years, including Drake. He was a Slytherin and generally didn't belong in the Gryffindor common room, but using the power of Head Boy, he had easily gotten Professor McGonagall to agree – or at least not say anything.
"We're graduating today." Harry murmured for the third time in the past fifteen minutes. Draco simply nodded, his eyes focused on the fire.
"What are you planning on doing afterwards?" Harry asked, his eyes flickering to the side of Draco's face.
He shrugged, his blue eyes, glancing over to meet Harry's green ones. "I'm not sure. Possibly the Ministry… you?"
"Quidditch, I think." Harry said lightly, a smile dancing on his face. "England, Ireland, France, and Bulgaria have offered."
"Bulgaria and France?" Draco scoffed, "You don't even speak Bulgarian or French!"
"True." Harry grinned, "But you have to admit, it'd be fun."
"So you're going to leave me?" Draco sniffed sarcastically, pouting. "Damn. And here I was thinking my best friend and I were going to share a flat in some big city – maybe London – and pick up chicks together."
Harry threw his head back and laughed, "You would think that, wouldn't you?"
Draco grinned, "Ok, ok… Scratch the picking up chicks together part. When do you want to move in?"
"Gotta pick a place first." Harry said, a smile still lingering on his face. "London, then?"
"Sure, but I'm open to suggestions." Draco nodded just as Ron and Hermione stepped into view.
"Today's the day." Ron grinned, his arm around his fiancée. "Are your parents coming?"
Draco and Harry exchanged looks; they hadn't thought about that. Both Lily and Remus were coming… They hadn't seen each other in almost two years.
"Yeah, they are." Harry said in a distant voice, his mind spinning slightly. "Yours?"
"Yes, along with all of my brothers." Ron stuck his tongue out. "Mum and Dad insisted."
"My parents are coming," Hermione grinned, "And I'm so excited! They're going to be thrilled with Hogwarts. The only magical place they've ever been was Diagon Ally."
Both Draco and Harry smiled politely, Harry checking his watch in the process. "We're due in the Great Hall in fifteen minutes."
"Do you want to do down early?" Ron suggest, playing with Hermione's hair. "It's not like we have anything better to do."
"Our parents should be here by now." Draco said, "And I don't know about you, but I want to see…"
Harry nodded vigorously, "So do I. Ten Galleons to say they're about to jump one another."
"You're on." Draco grinned, "But I say they already have."
The four made their way down to the Great Hall after a few minutes of getting their wands and such in order. It was their last day at Hogwarts; after Graduation and a Feast, they would be leaving the school.
The Great Hall was decorated in all the House colors – a minor change from the night before's scarlet and gold hangings, in celebration of Gryffindor winning the House Cup for the seventh year in a row, save their Fourth Year for the Triwizard Tournament. All of the Weasleys were sitting in the second row, chatting happily among themselves and the Grangers, who were sitting in the row ahead – the first row. Harry could see his father talking with Professor McGonagall, who was now the Headmistress of the school. Squinting down the aisle, he noticed his redheaded mother sitting with all seven Snapes, including Castor and Pollux, who were now three years of age.
"There!" After a sharp elbow to Harry's ribs, Draco nodded towards the back of the room, where Remus and Narcissa were sitting with Micah, now two years of age.
Both Harry and Draco noticed Narcissa shoot a wondrous look over towards Lily and the twins. Remus' arm was wrapped around her shoulders with Micah in his lap, and he was trying his best to avoid looking at Lily. He was fighting a losing battle, however, as Draco pointed out a few minutes later. Remus had looked at the short redhead five times, but then had immediately focused his gaze up ahead.
The ceremony started a few minutes later, with the seventy-five or so students sitting on a makeshift platform, eyes glued either to each other, McGonagall, or straight ahead at their family. Draco and Hermione were seated slightly to the right of the stand where Professor McGonagall was standing, her voice droning on and on throughout the Hall.
Soon, it was Hermione's turn to speak. She had been made Head Girl the summer before, much to her delight. She stood in front of the audience, her hands trembling slightly. Clearing her throat, she began.
"When I first stepped through the front doors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on September 1st, 1991, I didn't know what to expect. I was ecstatic to learn I was a witch, as I come from Muggle Family. Devouring the textbooks didn't even begin to prepare me for what lay ahead, enclosed in the grounds of the castle.
"Throughout these seven years, I have been amazed, surprised, and delighted countless times. My experiences will stay with me forever, as each one of yours will. I am forever grateful to my classmates and teachers, as each one of them has enriched my experiences greatly.
"Leaving the school it one of the worst – and best – things I've ever had to do. Leaving the place where so many of my best memories were formed, with my best friends – " Hermione shot a look at Harry, Ron, and Draco in turn. " – is going to be tough. However, I'm looking forward to going out on my own. The world's an exciting place. Dangerous and scary at times, yes, but exciting. And I, for one, can't wait to prove myself."
Hermione grinned once more, "Congratulations to the class of '98!"
Taking a step down as applause filled the room, it was now Draco's turn. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes before starting.
"I come from a very old and proud wizarding family, so I was not surprised in the least when I got my letter saying I was accepted. I was made a Slytherin, and for years lived up to the reputation. I threw myself into my studies mostly, never having any time for real friends. My mother was pleased, and so was I.
"In my fifth year, I realized what I had been missing out on – having real friends at school, the ones where you can talk to and divulge your greatest secrets in to. A few months and unexpected twists of fate later, I had a real, true friend – from the opposite house."
Draco smirked, looking over at Harry. "Despite our differences, we soon realized we had much in common. Both had our biological fathers taken from us at a young age from the same person; Lord Voldemort."
A few people gasped and looked rather scandalized at the name. Draco, however, continued, a slight smile on his face.
"He taught me what friendship really was, and he showed me how to have fun. For once in my life, I was happy. He's my best friend, and things will hopefully stay that way for a long time. Even though we were completely different on the outside, we found a common bond inside of us to hang on to a we made a friendship from that.
"Look around you. These people went through the same experiences as you, for the most part. They have gone through seven years of wizarding training, seven years of happiness, tears, heartache, and joys we will never experience the same way again. We are all so different, as the Houses show us, but yet so much alike. After we graduate tonight, I want to be able to see any one of you on the streets of London and I want to be able to say hello to you, to know who you are.
"Eventually, the memories will start to fade, you will forget names, and the spells you think are so hard now you will take for granite. But look around; remember the faces you see. You have lived possibly the seven best years of your life with these people. Never forget them, and never forget the experiences you shared. No matter what happens in our lives to come, we'll always share the common bond of being the Class of '98. Congratulations, and always remember these seven years. Never forget."
Thunderous applause shook the Great Hall as Draco stepped down. His face was expressionless until he caught Harry's eye, and a small smile suddenly appeared.
The ceremony continued as Professor McGonagall started calling names. The list went on until it reached Hermione Granger – who stepped up proudly to accept her scroll.
Draco Malfoy was the next of the four to accept his. Smiling down proudly as his parents stood up and clapped as loud as any of the others, he shook his head slightly, then proceeded to stick his tongue out at Harry, who was sitting about twenty seats down from him.
Harry Snape was next; as he walked up to McGonagall, he caught his father's eye. He was smiling proudly, his eyes locked on Harry's own. He also noticed his mother brushing her cheek quickly, applauding with the rest.
Ron Weasley was second to last in the class, before Blaise Zambini. He gave Harry, Draco, and Hermione a high-five as he passed them, walking back to his seat with a hand pumped over his head in an excited manner.
The closing comments were quickly said, and soon enough the crowd was departing with their graduate in tow, walking back up to their common rooms to wait for the Feast.
Harry's family, save his mother, had never been in Gryffindor dorms before. Amazed at the difference from the cold and often damp stone Slytherin common room, both Ethan and Kaylee muttered something about it all being rather unfair. Harry just smiled and shook his head, walking over to join Hermione and Ron.
"We're done it!" Ron exclaimed, grinning. "We've graduated!"
"Amazing, eh?" Harry laughed, putting his arms around the two. "We're definitely going to terrorize the wizarding world together though."
"Definitely." Hermione grinned just as Draco, Narcissa, and Remus walked through the portrait hole. Harry grinned and rushed over to Draco, not noticing the expression on Remus' face as he caught sight of Lily.
"It's over." Harry grinned as Draco slithered out of his mother's grip. "We're officially adults now."
"Scary, isn't it?" Draco laughed, glancing over at the Snapes. "Good Lord, the twins have grown."
Harry turned around and nodded, "Tell me about it. I can barely pick both of them up as it is."
"Wimp." Draco taunted, poking Harry in the side. "I bet I can."
Harry eyed Draco's scrawny body. "I highly doubt it. You're as wimpy as I am, Mr. Draco Malfoy."
"Point being?" Draco eyed Harry back. Rolling his eyes, Harry grabbed Draco's hand and dragged him over to his parents.
"Mum, Dad, you remember Draco Malfoy, right?"
Draco had only been over once during the previous summer, for a few days. Remus made sure Draco came in as little contact with Lily as possible.
Severus smiled and nodded. "Yes, I do believe I remember young Mr. Malfoy. Congratulations."
Draco smiled, "Thanks, Professor."
"I'm not a professor anymore, Draco."
"And I'm not quite as young as I used to be." Draco grinned. Severus chuckled, then nodded.
"Yes, I have to agree with you on that."
He's here.
Say hello.
I can't.
It's been two years, love.
I know… but I can't.
Severus sighed and shook his head, giving a pointed look to his wife.
"I can't believe it's over." Ron had come up behind Draco and Harry, slapping the two on the back rather harshly.
"Believe it, Weasley." Draco grinned, his tone friendly. "I'm rather glad it is."
"Tell me about it." Hermione had come up from behind Ron. "No more homework!"
All three guys gave her a shocked look.
"We thought you liked doing homework?" Harry exclaimed slightly, his mouth agape.
"After seven years of doing it constantly, it got rather –"
"Hard?" Ron put in, smiling and squeezing Hermione's shoulder.
"Aggravating." Hermione gave Ron a look, which soon led to a small kiss between the two.
"For the next fifty years, those two are never going to stop." Harry shook his head, slinging an arm around Draco's shoulders.
"It's going to get quite annoying, I'll tell you that."
"Oh, shut it Malfoy." Ron groaned, looking up over the top of Hermione's head.
"Why don't you, Weasley?" Draco grinned. Ron snorted and held up his pointer and middle finger, palm facing in his direction, then leaned down to kiss Hermione once more.
Draco and Harry dissolved in to fits of laughter, as Mrs. Weasley was giving her youngest son a stern look.
"He'll never learn." Harry grinned.
"Boys will be boys." Draco interjected.
"Thank God we're guys. We have that excuse."
"Oh, is THAT what's so good about being a guy?" Draco asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Yes, I would have thought you would have figured that out by now." Harry grinned.
"Of course I had, I was just testing you."
"Sure Draco, what ever you say."
"I was!"
"If you say so."
And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day
Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of that night in June
I didn't know much of love
But it came too soon
And there was me and you
And then we got real cool
Stay at home talking on the telephone with me
We'd get so excited, we'd get so scared
Laughing at ourselves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels
As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever
So if we get the big jobs
And we make the big money
When we look back now
Will our jokes still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can we ever find a job that won't interfere with a tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
And this is how it feels
As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever
We will still be friends forever
Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever*
*Vitamin C, Graduation