"Graduation (Friends Forever)" is copyright Vitamin C and I believe it is off her self titled debut album. I know it's a bit of a cliché song to use, but I can't really think of any other song that would fit this chapter. I also happen to be rather fond of the song. All Characters and settings are copyright J.K. Rowling, save the ones you don't recognize. *Obligatory Warning* …………… You should know this by now. Enjoy the Story.
Graduation
May 31st, night before graduation and last day of classes for all seventh years. The farewell banquet had just ended and all of the students were returning to their houses. Ron entered the Gryffindor common room and looked around sadly. The happiest seven years of his live had been spent within these walls, and tonight was the last night he would ever see them.
He looked around at all of the familiar faces adorning the various chairs and couches and whatnots around the room. He smiled seeing his brother George, (who had been left back a year due to a bad choice of pranks on the headmaster), cuddling in the corner with Hermione. They had been going out for almost the full year, and George had confessed to him not last week that he was thinking of popping the question to good ol' Herm. Wouldn't their mum be pleased??
He sat down in a vacant seat, wondering to himself where Harry may have gotten off to. It wasn't long before he discovered him in a corner, surrounded by the Creevy brothers and a few first year girls. Ron smiled when he saw that Harry was signing autographs. Harry noticed Ron looking over at him and grinned with a wink of one bright emerald eye.
After the autograph hounds had dispersed, Harry made his way over to sit beside Ron, followed by George and Hermione, and a few others made their way over as well. The group of seventh year Gryffindors stayed up late into the evening, talking about their plans and what the future may hold for them.
And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives,
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25.
I keep thinking things 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 bout this night in June,
I didn't know much of love,
But it came too soon.
And there was me and you,
And 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…
They walked up to the stage at the front of the Great Hall like they had done almost fifty times in rehearsal. It was different this time, though, this was the real thing. Two straight lines, girls on the left, boys on the right. Ron stood at the back of the boys line. As they walked through the center of the Great Hall, he could hear all of the students cheering, along with the parents. He smiled to himself, hearing his mother cheering for George, Hermione, Harry, and himself over the rest of the crowd. They were all family, and they would be for life.
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.
He sat at the back of the crowd, looking around at all of the faces of his fellow graduates. They had all made it. They really did it! Even Crabbe and Goyle somehow managed to pull through. He wondered to himself where they all would go after today. He already knew that Hermione was off to a muggle college called Harvard in the states. She was going to be a Dentist, just like her parents. And Harry was of to an esteemed Wizarding school somewhere in Massachusetts. And he himself was off to Romania to go to the school his brother taught at. He had to hold back tears when he remembered that he and Harry would be parting ways tomorrow.
Hermione was called up to make her Valedictorian speech, (she always was top in their class), and Crabbe went up to read a poem he had written saying goodbye to everyone. And then the names were being called for the handing out of the Diplomas. Ron watched with tears in his eyes as every single one of them walked up and shook Dumbledore's hand while receiving their Diplomas. He was going to miss them all, more than words can say. They were his companions for seven years of his life. Hell… He was even going to miss Draco Malfoy.
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 try to break every single rule?
Will little brainy Bobby be the stock broker man?
Can we ever find a job that won't interfere with a tan?
I keep thinking this is not goodbye,
I keep on thinking it's a time to fly…
And this is how it feels…
Amidst friends and family, The graduating class poses for on final picture, and then tosses their pointed hats up into the air. It was over. Seven years of learning and friendships was over within a single day. But then again, the true friendships never really end, do they? Ron received many a teary eyed hug and very many "I'll miss you" sentiments, including a surprising hug and kiss to the cheek from Malfoy.
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.
The Weasley family, accompanied by Harry, Hermione, and her parents, all headed out towards the train platform that would take them back to the burrow for one last night before they all said goodbye. Harry and Ron held hands the entire train ride. Both of them knew that they had to hold onto tonight for as long as they can, because they may never have another chance to hold onto each other again.
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 this is not goodbye,
I keep on thinking it's a time to fly…
After all of the celebrating was through, it was very late. Everyone else in the house had been to bed long ago. Ron and Harry, on the other hand, Lay in Ron's bed, holding tightly to each other. They had both been crying for almost two hours now. After finding the happiness they had both longed for, for so long, within each other, they didn't want to let it go. It was Harry who broke the silence finally. "Ron?"
"mmmmmmmm?" was Ron's muffled reply as his face was buried in Harry's neck.
"Ron, will you…. Sleep with me… tonight??"
Ron looked up at Harry, a little confused, "well, obviously if we're sharing a bed together, I will be sleeping with you…."
Harry couldn't help but chuckle at this. "No, Ron, what I meant was… will you… be my first?"
Again, another blank look, and then what Harry was asking finally dawned on him. He turned a rather bright shade of crimson and replied softly, shyly, "Yes Harry, Of course I will."
As we go on,
We remember,
All the times we,
Had together…
Harry leaned in then, gently placing velvet lips against Ron's. After allowing the kiss to linger for a moment, he pulled back, and looked deeply into the crystal blue orbs of his lover. "I love you, Ron, more than anything in the world.
And as our lives change,
Come whatever…
"And I love you just as much, if not more." And he leaned up to once more press his lips against Harry's, slowly undoing the buttons on Harry's pajama shirt.
We will still be,
Friends Forever.