Ch. 13 Graduation.

Graduation finally came to Hogwarts. Harry and Ron, had been being extremely helpful to both Jessi and Hermione. They barely let them lift a finger. When it was time to get ready for Graduation the girls happily banished the boys.

"Jessi…Did you ever imagine any of this would happen" Hermione asked wistfully as she twisted a section of Jessi's hair up, pinning it so the curls fell softly to her shoulders.

"In general or the part about us being pregnant before leaving school?" Jessi asked smiling at her friend.

"Both" Hermione said as she placed the final pin in Jessi's hair.

"Nope, I never did." Jessi said as the switched places.

"Jessi?" Hermione asked.

"Hmm…" Jessi answered absentmindedly, she was experimenting with ways of pulling Hermione's hair back.

"Would you be my Maid of Honor." Hermione asked warily.

"Of Course...wait that means Harry finally popped the question. I'm so happy for you too." she hugged her best friend , then finally decided on a style. She twisted small sections back pinning them at the crown of Hermione's head. She then elaborately twisted it all into a loose knot.

They both smiled and chatted as they put on their make up and jewelry. They turned to opposite sides of the room to dress. Their dresses, to be worn under scarlet Gryffindor robes, had arrived yesterday, and although neither girl was showing much, the dresses had need a bit of altering. (A/N: Gryffindor boys will wear gold robes. Ravenclaw girls blue, boys bronze. Hufflepuff girls yellow, boys black. Slytherin girls green, boy silver.)

Jessi's dress was scarlet, nearly the same shade as her robes. The halter top crossed behind her neck, before splitting into many small thin ribbons that spread and crossed down her back. The top of the dress was fitted to the waist while the skirt fell in graceful sweeping layers to the floor. When Jessi turned around to face her friend she gaped. Every thought, save for the one that her best friend was going to knock peoples socks off, left her head.

When Hermione saw Jessi she gasped. She momentarily forgot that she was dressed up as well. Hermione's dress was white, the slinky , silky fabric fell from across her left shoulder to where it tied in knots the whole way down her side to the skirt. The soft white fabric, pulled and rippled just right as it fell gently into an asymmetrical skirt, with the long side on the right. (A/N: Asymmetrical-not even the whole way around, it's longer on one side.)

The girls both slipped on their robes and shoes quickly. They glanced one last time around the room, before going out into the Head's Common Room. The boys smiled and gaped a bit when the girls entered the room. They smiled at the girls and lead them down to the Quidditch pitch for the ceremony.

The 7th year students sat in the mid-morning sunshine talking and laughing. They were seated by their placement in the class through the top ten students the alphabetically. Jessi was seated between Hermione, who was 1st in the class, and Michael Corner, who was 3rd. When Dumbledore took the stage the applause was deafening. Everyone one the pitch; faculty, students, parents, ministry workers, and alumni; all burst into applause. The cacophony stopped as Dumbledore began to speak.

"Welcome, to the end of another year." he paused beaming at the sea of students. "This year has been one filled with great achievement," he looked from Hermione and Jessi to Padma and Blaise as he spoke, "And great disappointment," he looked at Draco Malfoy who had nearly been expelled, and was on probation with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, for a prank he played that nearly killed a 1st year Hufflepuff. "I would like to Congratulate you all on your success and you completion of your education at Hogwarts. Now I present to you, this years top student and Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger."

The applause when Hermione stood was thunderous. She beamed angelically at her fellow students before beginning to speak. "Friends, Parents, Faculty and Honored guests. My years at Hogwarts have been the best of my life. I could stand up here all day and tell you all I've learned, but that might bore you to tears. So I'm going to hand this over to my best friend, my confidant…and no Harry it isn't you. Ladies and Gentlemen, Jessi Carmichael." Hermione smiled mischievously at her friend as she stood. Jessi approached the stage slowly. When she got there she hugged Hermione who quickly returned to her seat.

"Wow…This is a very different perspective. I had no clue she was going to do that so please forgive me if I'm a bit rattled." She smiled as she looked around the packed Quidditch pitch "Every year new students come to Hogwarts, they come to become a part of the magical world. To fulfill their destiny. I hope I have started to fulfill mine. I've learned many things here over the years, And while yes, a great deal of it has come from books the more important part has not. I've learned about true friendship and bravery. Harry…" she smiled at him. "You've taught me that not everything I needed was always in books, no matter what Hermione says, You've taught me how to be courageous in the face of the things we fear the most. Ron…" she turned to face him and smiled brightly "you've taught me how to use logic to defeat the illogical, and although I'll probably never beat you at chess it was definitely worth learning. Hermione…" she smiled at her best friend and paused "…you've taught me what true friendship is. You've always been there when I need you whether it was all night study sessions for N.E.W.T.s to sticking by me now. You are the sister I never had, and I love you and wish you and Harry the very best." She paused again searching through the crowd her gaze finally locking with Remus', tears welling up in her eyes. "Professor Lupin, I want to thank you for showing me that people aren't always what they seem. And to all the rest of my fellow student, you've all left me with something or taught me something, yes even you Ferret head, Congratulations. We did it." she smiled out at her classmates and exited the stage.

They sat through the rest of the ceremony, each student was called up and given their Certificate of Graduation, and any other awards. After the ceremony, the students milled about on the field, laughing and crying, being engulfed in hugs and smothered with kisses. Dumbledore and the rest of the faculty finally ushered everyone who was not a student off the pitch. The students were grouped together for pictures, fist by house and then the entire class. Dennis Creevy caught Harry, Hermione, Jessi, and Ron on their way to the Great Hall and stopped them for a picture. Soon they were on their way again. When they entered the Great Hall they all smiled. The Hall had been decorated in all the house colors there were magical flowers, and harmless magical animals everywhere. Strung across the front of the hall, written in large loopy, glittering letters was a sign that read:

Welcome to the Good-Bye Ball

Congrats Class of 1998