"Harry, have you decided what you want to say at Graduation tonight? Can I read your speech?" asked Hermione walking over to Harry. She sat down on the couch in front of the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room turning eagerly towards her best friend of the past seven years.
"Well, I haven't really decided what I am going to say. I'm probably just going to wing it" replied Harry staring into the fire.
"Wing it? Harry, this might just be the most important speech that you will ever give and you are just going to wing it?!" protested Hermione. The raven-haired boy just gave her a smile and expertly changed the topic.
"Sign my yearbook, Mione. Please?" asked Harry handing Hermione his yearbook. Dumbledore decided that his gift to all the seventh year students that year since they had been through so much from Quirell and Voldemort in their first year to the Final Battle in their last, was to give each of them a yearbook. The book was magical to say the least. It was full of memories, pictures, mini-magical-videos or MMVs, helpful hints, as well as quotes and stories submitted by the students themselves not to mention the teachers. It had as many pages as necessary for signing and allowed the students to enchant their notes so the book became even more personal for each student. He had called the yearbook "A Walk Through Time". It was a beautiful black bound book with the picture of a wizarding clock on it. Hands of the clock included Classes, Friends, Quiditch, Gossip, Lunch, Balls, Crushes, Graduation, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. The hands on the clock said the years that they had been in school as well as the owner's name. (Disclaimer: This came from the yearbook I bought last year. I don't own the design nor the name)
"Of course, Harry. Sign mine too, please?" replied Hermione handing Harry her yearbook. Harry opened the book and added three simple quotes as well as a short, but heart felt note.
Make New Friends
But keep the Old
One is Silver
The other is Gold
I don't suffer from Insanity, I enjoy it Anonymous
It's remarkable how much you have to know before you realize how little you know." James S. Hewett
Ever since the day we fought that troll together in first year till the day I die, I am proud to be known as the best friend of the Hermione Granger, bookworm and know-it-all. Thanks for the support and the love,
Harry Potter
"Thanks, Harry. You are so sweet" said Hermione kissing Harry on the cheek before walking off to get Ginny to sign her yearbook.
"Mate, sign my yearbook, will you?" asked Ron walking over to Harry as well. Ron as well added a favorite quote into Harry's yearbook.
Oh No! I'm late! I overslept…for my nap! Garfield
Let's just get this over, graduate, and never listen to another teacher again. It's been interesting from the train ride to the moment we graduate; I never regretted a moment.
Your sidekick in kicking the ass of all that is evil, Ron Weasely
Ron had picked up this quote after reading some of Garfield's work given to him by Hermione. "Bloody brilliant" in his words.
The rest of the afternoon passed simply as the Golden Gryffindor Trio reminisced good memories and bad, talked with classmates, laughed, and walked around their home for the last seven years. Way too soon for Harry, the Graduation ceremony started.
"I would like to thank everyone for coming to the Graduation of our Seventh years today. These young men and women have seen horrors and have acted with a maturity that is beyond their years" started Albus Dumbledore gazing particularly at Harry, Hermione, and Ron. They were all decked in their student robes with their house badges and ties, but instead of the uniform required, they all wore dresses and formal clothing.
"These children have warmed my heart many a time in these past seven years. They have renewed my faith in humanity with their sweet smiles and gentle innocence. Through all they have suffered, they have managed to retain an inherent goodness that astonishes me to this day. I am proud to say that I have had some influence in their lives. So I will leave with these words, Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak¨. Thank you" ended Albus leaving the podium with the same words he had welcomed them seven years ago. Professor Sprout came up and started announcing the names of the graduating Hufflepuffs. Professor Flitwick then Professor Snape followed her. Finally, Professor McGonagall came up to announce the names of the graduating Gryffindors giving a little speech like the other professors had done before starting to call the names.
"Gryffindors are known for their bravery, but I am proud to say today that these Gryffindors sitting in front of me are not only known to be brave, but to be compassionate. I will now announce the names of the graduating Gryffindors" She called out many names, but left the one that people were anticipating for last.
"…and finally, Harry Potter!" said the Professor. Harry walked up to the stage and shook the hands of the staff of Hogwarts just like many before him. But unlike the rest, he stayed up there to give his graduation speech.
"Please give a warm round of applause to Harry Potter with this year's Commencement Address" announced Professor McGonagall.
"Hello" said Harry whispering the spell to allow his voice to heard across the Great Hall.
"Many of you know me as Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived or the Man-Who-Saved-Us-All to say a few of the silly names the press has insisted on giving me. Even if you didn't, all you would have to do is gaze up at my forehead and then you would know" started Harry brushing his hair away from the famous lightening bolt scar.
"However, most of my classmates only know me as Harry, one of the Gryffindors. So I would like to introduce myself. Hello, my name is Harry, a graduating Gryffindor from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am not here to talk about Voldemort or the war the Wizarding World just suffered through." A gasp could be heard through the room, but Harry just rolled his eyes and continued his speech.
"I am here to talk to you about the greatness of Hogwarts, our lives beyond these gates, and the future. Most specifically, I would like to talk to you about a role model in my life. When we walk out of these gates today, we will walk out being fully certified wizards and witches with the power of seven years of knowledge in our grasp. We will walk out knowing that our childhood has ended, but that it will never be forgotten. We don't know what our future is like, though if you ask Professor Trewlany she might be able to tell you, but we will always have the safety and comfort of Hogwarts if we should ever need it.
That brings me back to the people who make up this castle. Those people are the staff of Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, and the rest of the wonderful people who make up the teaching staff here at Hogwarts. I would like to extend a simple, but heartfelt thank you for teaching me all I needed to know to survive the war and for teaching me how to enjoy my life despite obstacles. Thank you" said Harry gazing out at the professors sitting in the very first row of chairs. The women sniffed and brushed away tears daintily with a handkerchief.
"They have all made each of us a better person through the lessons they gave us, whether they were about school or life. Each of them played a significant role in our childhood and our upbringing. However, not all of them played the role that cast them in the best light. So today, I would like to entertain you for a few moments about a man who was not cast in the best of light. I would like to tell you about a Professor who we all loved to hate, a person who was willing to sacrifice his reputation so that we would survive the war, I would like to talk to you about Professor Severus Snape.
As most of you know, I was not a great fan of the Professor for many years when I was in his classes. In fact, up till the Final Battle this year, the Professor and I shared a mutual hatred. During the Final Battle, Professor Snape willing told and was tortured by Voldemort for being a spy for the Light side. It was only when this happened was it possible for me to kill Voldemort. Without that, Voldemort would still be among the living to this very day. As a spy, most of Professor Snape's work has gone unrecognized. However, I would like to recognize him today for being the brave, intelligent man that he is.
When I came to Hogwarts, more than one person was blinded by the fame that I had accumulated. Everyone from my best friend to the Headmaster never seemed to forget that I was Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. Everyone except for one person. Professor Snape told me the very first day in no uncertain terms that he didn't care if I was a beggar or the richest man on earth; I was equal to everyone else in his classroom. He was the first person to give me one of my greatest desires, equality and normality.
That wasn't the only lesson he taught me. He taught me how to stand up to the enemy, whether it was Voldemort or a mean Potions Master. He taught me what true bravery was, how to act calm in demanding situations, and he allowed me the chance to make mistakes when facing an enemy. He did this by simply being the first enemy I actively stood up against. He taught me that thinking rationally was better then rushing into things and that sometimes emotions just got in the way.
Professor Snape probably won't thank me for what I did today, because of all things he is a very private man. In fact, he is glaring at me right this instance for being in his words "an impertinent brat" by talking about him and his achievements. However, I can't say I regretted it, because sometimes you need to look past Houses, Age, Gender, and even Personality to see the true being in a person.
Thanks, Professor. I am honored to know you. I don't deserve to be called the Savior of the Wizarding World, you do. By the way, I love you, Dad" With that Harry Potter ran off the podium and into the waiting arms of Severus Snape, his Dad.
¨ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Page 123