Results

Name after name was announced by Professor McGonagall.  One by one, the young wizards and witches collected their NEWTS results from the newly appointed headmistress.

Harry sat in the congregation, shivering and mournful.  He had his envelope clutched in his hand but didn't dare open it, not because of the disappointment he might suffer over the results inside but because of the memories it would force to surface.  'Zabini, Blaise,' had just been called out, and the blond had approached the stage for the second time that afternoon, leaving his place at Harry side. 

Nervously, Harry fiddled with the small collection of envelopes in his lap.  'Thomas, Dean' and 'Finnegan, Seamus' had been killed as one on the battle ground the previous month, their families having been exterminated the following morning because of association to the muggle-born and his boyfriend.  But, most significantly, the young man who had survived the war was staring at the parchment addressed to 'Granger, Hermione.'  She, too, had perished in the last fight, nobly protecting her best friend in a hopeless duel with three Death Eaters.  Her boyfriend, Ron, had followed soon after, killed by the wand of Voldemort himself.

Draco returned to his seat having collected the envelope meant for his best friend.  McGonagall concluded the presentation and murmurs of conversation began across the Great Hall.  Silently, sensing each other's distress, Harry and Draco clasped hands offering comfort to one another.  They refused to leave each other's side throughout the congratulatory party.

Later that day, the envelopes were buried alongside the people they were meant for.  They remained perpetually unopened, the results inside eternally unknown.