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Chapter Seventeen: Graduation, Part One
Jaide paced Severus's office, wringing her hands nervously.
"This isn't going to work Sev. We can't win without 'Mione and Draco."
Severus shook his head, "That's exactly why I want you to leave Hogwarts love. We may be able to hold them off with Cheering Charms and the happiness potion but eventually they will break through our defences. We must get as many people out of the school as possible. I do wish you wouldn't stay though."
She stopped pacing and looked at him thoughtfully, "We have to get Harry out first. If he gets killed then the wizarding world is doomed. You find Harry as soon as Lucius gets here and I'll round up the students."
"Okay, but promise you'll be careful."
"Course. Oh, and did you put those barriers on the house dormitories?"
"Yes. Not even the Shades will be able to break through them in a hurry. It was hard though, if it were easier I would've done the whole school."
"That's okay. At least the younger kids are protected. Now all we have to do is go down to the ceremony and wait I guess."
"Lets go then." Severus sighed.
Jaide took his hand and together they walked down to the Great Hall, both fearing they may never come back.
Remus Lupin stood outside the Hogwarts gates with Tonks and Moody.
"Why did Jaide ask us to come here again?" Tonks asked.
"She wouldn't say. She was practically begging though so I'm sure there's a very good reason." Remus said.
"It's probably a trap set by dark wizards." Moody said grumpily.
"There's no reason to think that Moody." Remus said exasperatedly. He was freezing in his thin cloak and was not in the mood to argue with Moody about wether or not dark wizards were behind this, "If you're so worried then why did you come?"
"Someone's gotta watch you." He said.
Remus looked away, towards the castle. It was Harry's graduation tonight and that fact gave him a slightly nervous feeling. Maybe Jaide knew of a plot to attack Harry during the ceremony. But if that was the case then why didn't she just tell him outright. They would've gotten more people if she had. By the sounds of things the party had already started. No doubt they were much more comfortable and warm than he was right now. He sighed again and wrapped his cloak tightly around him.
"Hermione, you look beautiful." Ron exclaimed as she came out of her room.
She was wearing a elegant ball gown made of a shiny, liquid-like material. The bodice was tight, fitted and a gorgeous gold colour. The skirt was flowing and the purest white you'd ever seen. She had braided her hair with white and gold ribbons in a thick plait down her back and had shimmery gold makeup on.
"Thankyou Ron. You look rather smashing yourself." She replied.
Ron was wearing a muggle tuxedo in a dark black with blue trim. Hermione thought he looked very handsome dressed like that.
"Well, we'd better go and graduate now." Ron said light-heartedly.
"Lets." Hermione agreed. They linked their arms and headed to the Great Hall, where they were the last ones to arrive.
Jaide looked out one of the windows and searched fervently for Remus. Sjhe thought she could see him and two others standing by the gates but it was hard to tell. Severus noticed where she was looking and turned to her curiously.
"Is there someone out there?" he asked.
"Um, please don't get mad at me Sev, but…"
"What?" he asked worriedly.
"I sent a letter to the Order asking Remus if he could bring some members to Hogwarts and wait outside the gate during Graduation."
Severus glared at her, "WHAT! I told you how important it was to tell no one about this."
"Well, I didn't tell him about it. I just asked him to be there."
"I suppose that might've worked. Why didn't you ask more people?"
"Didn't want to risk it. We have one shot at getting this Shade and if there were tons of wizards hanging around Lucius might not attack."
"You're right. Well, at least now we have some backup."
"Let's not think about it right now. You said that he wasn't going to attack till the ceremony so lets dance." She grabbed his and hand dragged him out on to the dance floor, much to his disgust.
They all danced happily, enjoying their last night at Hogwarts. It was a truly fun event and all the students were mingling, saying goodbyes, and having a good time. All except for one.
Draco Malfoy stood in a corner, staring glumly at the pathetic happiness that surrounded him. He caught sight of Hermione dancing with Ron and his heart sank. She looked truly beautiful tonight and it hurt that he would probably never see her again after Hogwarts. She would go on, marry someone (maybe Ron), have gorgeous kids, have a great career and a full and happy life. But he would be forced to become a deatheater and probably die before he turned thirty. It was a bleak prospect and one he was defiantly not looking forward to. He sighed and tore his eyes away from his only true love. He saw Jaide had managed to get Severus out on the dance floor. The sight made him laugh and wish he had a camera. Surely he'd never see anything like this again.
'No,' he thought, 'I'll never see happiness like this again. From the minute I leave this school it's going to be my goal to destroy things like this. I'll never be happy again.'
A silent tear slid down his cheek but no one noticed, they were all too busy having fun. He turned away and went out to the Entrance Hall, where he sat on the stairs and stared into space. He tried to block out the sounds from the party but they were too prominent. Then he heard something down one of the corridors, people sneaking around. He got up and cautiously looked round the corner.
"I do not feel that this is a good idea Lucius." He heard a cold voice hiss, "Something is not right abouttonight."
"Seems alright to me Shardi. Everything's going to plan. Bellatrix and Narcissa are stationed at the othersideof the Great Hall and when we attack none will escape." His father's voice replied.
"We'll see."
He gasped, 'That must be a Shade. Oh no, the prophecy is going to come true tonight. They're going to attack the party. I've got to help Hermione.'
He turned to run but heard someone shout "Stupefy," and then everything went black.
'Damn that boy for sneaking up on us. If I'd known it was him I wouldn't have stunned him. God knows we could use his help with this.' Lucius though coldly, 'Oh well, better get him hidden then, it's nearly showtime.'
He dragged his sons limp body into an empty classroom and closed the door, grinning to himself.
"Who was it Lucius?" Shardi hissed at him.
"Just my son playing detective. Don't worry, he won't cause any problems."
"Lock the door Lucius, your son has the Lialle inside of him and if it gets out the plan will be ruined."
"There's no danger of that happening Shardi. I've made that mudblood hate him so much the stupid love thing will never work."
"Lock the door." It demanded.
Lucius sighed, "Very well." He pointed his wand at the door and they heard the lock click shut.
They walked back down the corridor and listened. The music had stopped and it sounded like everyone was sitting down for the ceremony. The time for their attack would soon be there.
"Welcome seventh years." Dumbledore announced, "Firstly I would like to congratulate you on the behalf of all the staff at Hogwarts for your graduation. Each of us is proud to have taught you and wish you the very best for your futures. This year group has been one of the most… interesting Hogwarts has seen in years. Now, I would like to introduce your Head Boy and Girl, Mr Harry Potter and Miss Hermione Granger."
Harry and Hermione stood up from their seats at the teachers table and smiled at the students.
"Thankyou Professor Dumbledore." Hermione said, "On the behalf of all the students we would like to thank you for the knowledge you have instilled upon us. This experience has been one of the most rewarding I'm sure we'll ever have and we are happy we got to share it with you."
"We could not have asked for better classmates." Harry took over,"Each of us has made lifelong friendships with the people we have met here. The students of our year are all wonderful people and there is no one I would rather have shared my journey here with. Thankyou."
Harry and Hermione sat down and the Great Hall erupted with applause. Not surprisingly the Slytherin's were not amongst the cheering crowd. Professor McGonagall stood and walked around so she was standing in front of the teacher's table. She held a stack of certificates in her hands.
"Now, I will call you up one by one to get your certificate. First is, Hannah Abbott."
Hannah got up and accepted her certificate while her classmates clapped politely. Once she sat down, McGonagall called the next name, continuing down the list in the same order she had when they were sorted back in their first year. However, before she could reach Harry's name there was an explosion and the wall behind the teacher's table disappeared. The students screamed and ran for the door, only to be blocked by Lucius Malfoy and a crowd of shadowy figures.
"What's the meaning of this Lucius?" Dumbledore demanded to know.
Lucius laughed, "Do your thing Shardi."
The Shade swooped down on Dumbledore and passed right through him. Then it waited for him to burst into flames… and waited… and waited…
Minutes passed and nothing happened. Lucius roared in anger, "It's not working, someone's done something."
"Oops." Severus said, "I must've accidentally put some happiness potion in the pumpkin juice."
"You!" he seethed, "You are a traitor."
"Yes, I suppose I am. But there's nothing you can do about it now."
Lucius laughed maniacally, "Oh yes there is. Shardi, you and your Shades get to work."
"Yes Lucius." Shardi replied. The Shades floated into the room and began making a soft,morbidchanting sound. Immediately the students began to feel the effects of the happiness potion wearing off.
'You're all going to die.' A voice in Jaide's head taunted. She could feel herself slipping into a deep despair, 'Why bother trying to save them? There's nothing you can do to stop us now that Draco and Hermione have broken up.'
Things were not looking good as the wizards and witches in the Great Hall slumped down, beginning to feel the effects of sadness.
Remus looked over to the school as he heard a huge explosion. There was a whole section blown out of the side of the castle.
"I guess that's our cue." He told the others.
"What do you thinks happening?" asked Tonks.
"I don't know, but I'm sure this is why Jaide asked us to be here."
Moody nodded and all three took off in a run towards the now flaming school.
AN; I may have to slap a slash waring on this fan fiction. Do any of you have a major problem with slash? Oh, and I've nearly finished the first chapter for the sequel so it'll be out the very minute this one is finished. I'll try and have Part Two of Graduation up by tomorrow.