Holding Back Tears ch. 3
By Tiffiany Hargis
Disclaim- Hey, Rowling called me the other day and gave me an update on how my Ron was doing. She said that he was having a blast playing Quidditch now that he was comfortable out there. He is getting in trouble in Snape's class but he's passing. Everyday he asks himself why he even took Potions after 5th year, but blames it over a head injury he received over that summer. I asked Rowling if I could go and visit the castle and she gave me a flat out "NO!" I'm very disappointed, but at least she called me to give me an update on my future husband. (In other words I don't own Harry Potter, and, to my great disappointment, Ron Weasley, but who knows I might one day own Rupert Grint. Gosh, I love sleeping; it lets me have some fantastic dreams!) *off to bed I go* "here I come Rupert; I hope I haven't kept you waiting."
Ron was correct, by the time his name was called to pick up his diploma the sky was dark and sparkling with stars. It didn't seem to faze him though. He was just as happy and delighted as Hermione was when he grabbed the certificate.
After everyone's names were called and the hats were thrown, there was a huge crowd of graduates greeting their parents. Hermione found Harry and Ron before making their way over to the Weasleys' and Grangers.'
When they reached them they were bombarded with hugs, slaps on the back, congratulations, and kisses on the cheeks. The families' enthusiasm was contagious and soon they were all talking with each other animatedly.
After they talked for a while, the Weasleys, Grangers, and Potter walked to the Great Hall where they were holding the graduation party.
The hall was decorated much like the stands were at the ceremony. The same house banners decorated the walls, but hanging from the ceiling the majority of all the decorations were Gryffindor themed to celebrate the winning of the House Cup.
On the Gryffindor table, along with the House Cup also stood the Quidditch cup that Harry and Ron had won with the rest of the team early that year. Naturally, Harry had become captain of the Gryffindor team the previous year after Angelina had left. Harry felt a great sense of pride when he looked at the cup that had been in Gryffindor's possession for the last four years. It was up to Ginny who was going to be the captain next year to keep it in their possession.
There was live music by the Melodic Maids being played, and there was an extensive buffet of food being served. The house elves really outdid themselves today. Yes, despite Hermione's unending attempts at spew, or S.P.E.W. the house elves still were enslaved much to their enjoyment.
Hermione was standing at the end of the Gryffindor table with her parents talking about everything that had happened in the last year. "Yeah, classes were great! I learned a lot of interesting and practical things that are going to help me in my training at the Ministry. My N.E.W.T. scores got me into the ministry no questions asked and without going through an extensive interviewing process. They actually said they've been watching me for a while." Hermione told her parents.
"That's wonderful darling. We're both so proud of you." Mr. Granger told his daughter as he hugged her for the millionth time that night. "Yes dear, we couldn't have asked for a better daughter." cried Mrs. Granger as she also hugged her.
Hermione returned their hugs with just as much love. Right now her mom was doing enough crying for the both of them. Hermione smiled; "I love you guys so much."
When Hermione pulled back from the hug she looked past her parents and saw Ron looking at her with a smile playing on his lips. She smiled back which turned into a laugh as Mrs. Weasley started messing with Ron's hair (The hat had messed it up). Ron looked really annoyed.
Harry approached Ginny after he was done talking with Mr. Weasley about all the uses for an oven. She was alone, standing behind her mom as she messed with her son's hair. She looked really bored. Ginny smiled at him as her approached.
"Hey, you having fun?" he asked her smiling.
"How'd you guess?" she answered playfully.
"I don't know it was just a feeling. So are you looking forward to next year?" he inquired.
"Yeah, but I'm really nervous and sad at the same time. It's going to be hard being the captain after you, but I think I can handle it. I'm really just worried about the N.E.W.T.s and actually having to go out there and get a real job." she answered. "How about you? I bet you're nervous going into Auror training."
He thought hard for a minute than said, "Yeah, I'm really nervous, but I'm more excited though. It feels right. It feels like it is what I'm meant to do. If that makes sense?"
"Of course it makes sense. I think I'm going to go into a field that requires charm work. I scored really high in charms on my O.W.L.s. I've always felt very confident in my charms work, and it, also, makes me think that is what I'm supposed to do." She paused for a minute, "Yeah, I know what you mean."
There was silence as they watched what was going on around them. Ron and Hermione were staring at each other while the other wasn't looking, Fred and George were by the food trying to conceal some of their new products into the food, Bill and Charlie were sharing stories about their jobs as Fleur stood off to the side looking bored with her husband's story (She obviously had already heard these stories many times before), and to the Weasleys and Grangers who were having a conversation about their children.
Harry and Ginny looked at each other and smiled; it was nice having such familiarity and being surrounded by love. Harry let his eyes wonder over to Ron and Hermione. They were still playing tag with their eyes, and when their eyes did finally meet they both blushed and looked away.
It was very obvious what they were doing to anyone who was noticing, seeing as they both were standing without anyone else around them. Then, Harry thought, that they were so into their little game that even if there was anyone near them they wouldn't even know.
Ron and Hermione found each others eyes again and did the same thing as they did previously, but this time they both smiled bashfully. Their childish behavior made him laugh, and found that Ginny who had been watching them also and was laughing with him.
Harry was thinking 'what a beautiful smile Ginny has,' when a sudden flash brought him out of his thoughts. He turned and saw that there was a photographer there to document the occasion.
He was carrying what looked to be a very antique camera that had to have its bulb changed after each photo was taken, but it looked as though it was very well taken care of and treasured. The name of the company was Tangible Memories as the photographer's shirt said, and he had taken a picture of Ginny and him as they had laughed. As soon as he had changed the bulb he was off to another picture perfect moment somewhere else.
Harry smiled at Ginny again and said, "I guess I'll talk to you later. I'm gonna go talk with Ron and Hermione." Ginny smiled back, nodded, and headed over to her mother.
Harry made his way over to Ron and Hermione who where Hermione was standing with her parents earlier. When he got there he heard Ron saying, "...your speech was awesome, Hermione. It was perfect just like everything else you've done at Hogwarts. Of course it wasn't stupid." Ron smiled at Harry as if saying to back him up on this. "Yeah" Harry said getting the hint, "It was great. How could you ever think it was anything less?"
"Thanks guys!" she replied. "It did take me quite a bit of time to write it. I am kind of partial to it myself." She said with a smile.
"I was scared there for a second when you didn't speak for a while. I thought that maybe you were going to run off the stage or something." Harry said with a laugh.
"Yeah, I was a little scared, also. Were you frightened?" Ron asked.
"No, I was silent for dramatic effect." Hermione lied coolly. Both Ron and Harry looked incredulously at her. She gave in, "Fine, I was having a minor case of stage fright, but I overcame it." She said. Then she remembered why she got over it so simply; by just a smile from Ron. She let herself remember the way he looked as he stared at her smiling. It wasn't a bad memory at all. But the boys' laughing brought her back from the memory. She glared at them.
"Miss. Hermione Granger is not perfect. Wait until I tell the Ministry." Ron said teasingly.
At the mention of the Ministry Hermione's insides lurched. She was terribly nervous about her new job, and she didn't know if she could get over it as simply as she did her stage fright.
The boys seemed to notice the change in Hermione's mood, and Harry asked, "Hermione you OK?"
"Yeah, I'm alright. I'm just terribly nervous about the Ministry. What if I disappoint them, or I make a huge mistake and they realize their mistake was in hiring me?" Hermione answered.
This caused the boys to chuckle a bit before reassuring her that she was going to be fine, and the Ministry couldn't find a better person for the job. "But if it doesn't work out you could always come back here and be the librarian, you know. No one knows that library better than you." Ron said jokingly after their reassurances.
"Thanks so much Ron, you always know just what to say." Hermione said sarcastically.
"That's what I'm here for." said Ron heroically.
"How 'bout you Ron? You can't honestly say that you are not nervous to be joining the Cannons." Harry asked Ron seriously.
Ron had improved majorly over the last two years in Quidditch, and had the honor of saving the most quaffels in a season this year. The plaque is now hanging with the rest of the trophies he had to polish second year.
Both Harry and Ron had many offers to go to assorted teams for professional Quidditch, but only Ron had taken up on the offer. Of course he chose his dream team the Chudley Cannons.
Ron thought about his answer before he voiced it, "Yeah, I am a little, but I'm so thrilled to be on the team and to be doing something I love for a living that it overcomes it." Ron answered with a light in his eyes.
"You're going to be great you know? Hermione told Ron. "You're going to be the best keeper that professional quidditch ever had."
Ron just stared at her. There seemed to be an underlying passion and intimate connection as they stared at each other. Harry started to feel very uncomfortable after a moment and did an uncanny impression of Professor Umbridge by going, "hem, hem." It seemed to break Ron and Hermione out of their trance, and now both were competing on who could get the reddest in the face.
Harry just smiled at them and threw his arms around both their shoulders. "This is our last night here." He said to make conversation at the now strained atmosphere.
Hermione had a flashback of just a few hours ago when they were at the lake having the same conversation.
"I wouldn't want to spend it with anyone other than you two" Harry said not looking in either of their directions.
Ron looked a little uncomfortable and honored at the same time and smiled at Harry and gave him a pat on the back. Hermione was near tears again at the statement, but instead smiled at them and gave them a group hug. They both hugged her back, and a wave of contentment washed over them.
They were so into their conversation that they had not heard Dumbledore call everyone to the front of the Great Hall by the staff tables to speak one more time that night. They hadn't realized that they were now alone in the back of the Great Hall in the shadows, and they also never noticed the photographer searching in his bag for another bulb for his camera.
He found his sought bulb, but this one was different. In the center of it was a green mist. He inserted it into the camera, put the camera up to his eye, aimed, and pushed the button that released the green flash that engulfed the three teenagers. It lingered over them for a moment than suddenly the mist faded but also did the three friends. All that remained of the trio was leftover light that started to make a shape. It first made an outline of a skull then another ray of light made a snake that slithered ominously into the skulls mouth.
Hanging in the air like a green ghost, was a six foot tall four foot wide Death Mark waiting for the unsuspecting finder to unveil it's symbolic foreboding evil.