Like Father, Like Daughter
Chapter 18: The Ceremony
Summer POV
The day of the final task kept going through my head every passing moment. Sure I learned of the birth of my baby sister Taylor but yet my Dad still hadn't said anything about my marriage, only two months away. I guess you could say that I was getting worried that I would have to walk myself down the aisle.
The Closing Ceremony for the Triwizard Tournament was on the last day of the term. There, I would get my trophy, my winnings, and be able to give my speech. It would be both mine and Andrew's last day at Hogwarts.
But until then, going to classes and seeing all the congratulations in the hallways every day would have to do until the days went passed on. Andrew and I were still busy with our marriage plans and the plans for the rest of our lives.
The night before was the practice ceremony, which went smoothly. My Dad couldn't make it however due to the fact that he was stuck home with the baby.
Andrew and I were walking back up to the castle hand in hand in the cold of the night.
"I think he's avoiding me." I spoke up.
"Summer you're crazy. He's just been very, very busy." Andrew replied to me.
"But don't you think he would have owled me back by this time?" I asked.
"Well, I have to admit that that is a bit odd, but don't worry about it. Tomorrow we'll both say goodbye to Hogwarts together and say hello to the rest of our lives." Andrew smiled at me.
"If only August would come sooner." I responded back quietly.
The day of the ceremony, I woke bright and early to the sound of birds chirping outside my room. The sun was already up and I had 4 hours to look beautiful for the ceremony that began at 11.
I went down for a quick breakfast to find only Jake at the table. "Hey Jake Baby." I teased him as I sat across from him.
"Hey." Jake replied back to me without looking up.
"What's wrong?" I asked pouring myself a cup of coffee.
"Nothing really." Jake replied.
"Jake, what is it?" I protested.
"It's just," Jake began taking breath and looking up at me. "Don't you ever wonder what I am going to do sometimes? I mean about me and Samantha?"
I thought to myself for a moment. "What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, she's going off to begin life outside of school and you and Andrew and going off to get married. What's going to happen to me?" Jake asked himself.
"I dunno." I stated.
"She's going back to France tonight." Jake went on. "I don't think I want her to go though."
"Then tell her." I said a little too loud.
Jake looked up at me. "You think so?"
"Of course I do. I mean if you really like her that way, then just tell her. Your both coming to the wedding, maybe it'll get you some ideas."
"I'm sorry Summer if we aren't just as perfect as you and Andrew." Jake teased me back.
We both sat in silence for a moment with the only noise being the crunching of toast of sipping of coffee until Jake broke the silence. "Have you talking to your Dad yet?"
I let out a sigh. "Don't remind me."
"Summer, you have to realize that he has a lot on his plate right now. He has a new daughter now and his oldest is getting married."
"Now that you put it that way you make me feel sort of guilty that I causing my Dad so much stress." I stopped him before he could continue.
"I never said that. All I am saying is give him some time." Jake replied.
"I've given him months, what more does he want." I asked.
"I dunno." Jake answered. "But you should go and get ready. Today's your big day."
I looked down at my watch and nodded at him. Abandoning my coffee, I left the Great Hall and made my way upstairs, to Gryffindor Tower.
Within matter of hours, I perfected my appearance to look like the perfect girl my age. The baby pink dress hung around my body perfectly as the day I bought in Hogsmeade. It was strapless of course as it flowed down the ground. Along the left side of the dress, it was sprinkled with rhinestone's that added a glowing touch to gown. It came with matching elbow high gloves as I slipped them on.
I put my hair up in a perfect French bun that my mother taught me when I was 8 years old. With that in I placed the tiara, made with swirls of hearts and diamonds, giving me the princess glow that I desired for. I strapped the kitten heels on my feet before I grabbed my clutch and made my way for the door.
The body mirror that was placed by my roommate's bed caught me off guard as I looked at myself. My black hair stood out perfectly with the pink. The green eyes were pushed back as I looked like a perfect imagine of my Dad. The pink glow made me look absolutely beautiful.
"If only I could feel better." I smiled at myself.
I opened the door and carefully made my way down the stairs. Andrew was waiting for me as the whole common room froze to look up at me.
I reached Andrew who stood there in shock. "Summer," He began.
"Yes?" I encouraged him on.
"You look, amazing." Andrew finished.
"Thank you." I smiled at him. He was wearing his black dress robes with a matching baby pink tie, which was tradition for the Tournament. He wasn't so thrilled when I showed him the color of my dress.
He stretched his arm out to me as I looped it with my hand. We made our way out of the castle like Cinderella and Prince Charming to the stadium where all three schools came for the event of the century, along with the whole wizardry community within England.
I took a breath in as Andrew and I made our way inside the security guarded doors and backstage where we were immediately spotted and reported in.
"Well, you always seem to carry your Dad's habit as well as being late!" Headmistress McGonagall added.
Well common, you know how this works.
Andrew and I stood there in the circle with Jake and Samantha and James and his girlfriend. We all stood there silently, knowing that it was the final moments that we would all have together.
"So this is it." I spoke aloud to all of them.
"Yeah, it was one hell of a ride." Samantha whispered among us. She was wearing a dress similar to mine except it was dark purple. She looked beautiful standing next to Jake.
"I think that none of us will be forgetting this anytime soon." James replied.
Overview point of view!
Cho Chang and Harry Potter walked to the center to the stage as they pulled their wands up to their necks to mutter the incantation to make their voices resonate.
"Good afternoon and welcome to the closing ceremony of the Triwizard Tournament." Cho began as the audience began to roar with applause.
"I am Cho Chang, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports at the Ministry of Magic." She went on.
"And I am Harry Potter, Head of the Auror Office at the Ministry of Magic as well." Harry spoke up. The their response, the audience cheered for the well known wizard.
"We have both seen the best witches and wizard of their age pass difficult and rigorous tests and it all came down to the final task only a few weeks ago." Cho recalled.
"As many of you know, Summer Potter won the tournament, leading it all the way, and outdoing the rest of the competition by having the best time in the final task." Harry continued on for her.
"So without further interruption, let us bring out the finalists and their escorts." Cho smiled to the crowd of people.
"First we have the champion finishing in third place, from the Drumstrang, James Keller." Harry announced.
James emerged from backstage as his girlfriend was on his arm to his right. His dress robes were around his body as he smiled into the audience, but no on cheered louder than his father.
"James is being escorted by his girlfriend Rosemary Allis. James plans to begin Auror training, this summer. Congratulations!" Cho announced a loud.
James smiled down into the audience as he took his place on the stage where the champions were to stand. There were higher stands for the second and first place winner's.
"The Second place winner is Samantha Estes from the Beauxbatons Academy." Harry spoke over the crowd.
Samantha emerged wearing her purple gown with Jake in his black dress robes, with matching purple tie, at her side.
"Samantha is being escorted by her boyfriend Jake Esperanza. Samantha is going off to be an apprentice healer at St. Mungo's after graduation." Cho went on this time. Samantha continued to her place in the stands where she was ranked second place.
"And finally, our winner and Triwizard Champion, from Hogwarts none the less, Summer Potter!" Cho announced with spirit in her voice. Summer emerged with Andrew smiling at her side as she walked up to her place on the podium.
"Summer Potter is getting married this August to Andrew Weasley, who happens to be her escort. After the wedding she hopes to go into the Quidditch League." Harry smiled over at his daughter.
Andrew and Summer looked completely perfect up on that stand together, like the dream come true Romeo and Juliet.
"Now, will Summer please come forward." Cho asked.
Summer left Andrew on the stand as she made her way down and to the judge's. Suddenly, Headmistress McGonagall came out with the Cup in her hands. Cho smiled at the Headmistress as she took the cup from her.
"Summer Potter, I would like to congratulate you on your fabulous victory in the Triwizard Tournament, and through all your hard work, you came out and above the others. With that said I am happy to present to you the Triwizard Cup with your name engraved on it, right after your fathers." Cho handed the cup over to Summer who took it in her hand.
With that Harry waved his wand over the cup as a bag appeared in the center of the cup. "As well as the thousand galleon prize money." Harry smiled at his daughter.
"Now Summer, will you present your speech for us?" Cho asked her.
Summer could only nod her head in response. She stepped forward as Harry held his wand up to her neck. She breathed in through her nose as she began.
"Thank you all for coming. Let me just say that I would have never done with without the help of my wonderful fiancée Andrew and my friends Sam and Jake as well as my ever growing family for supporting me through this all.
"Through this whole experience I learned that nothing is perfect. Life isn't as you always hope that it is. Challenges don't lie in facing dragons or giant ancient birds; it lies in the everyday things. Like prosing to your girlfriend, helping your friend through there drama, or even telling your Dad you're not returning for your 7th year of school and getting married." Summer paused there and looked up at her own father before continuing on.
"With every good thing, another bad one follows. Nothing lasts forever and I am sure within a decade or two I might be forgotten, but it's people like my father and mother that make history and that's what I hope to do. This is the beginning of my journey and make it the beginning yours two. Life is way too short to let it fly by. One moment, I am riding my first broomstick with my father, the next I'm meeting Andrew for the first time, winning the Triwizard Tournament, and before I know it, I'll be walking down the aisle.
"My message to you all is to make something of yourselves. Be remembered by someone, anyone! Do something that makes your life worthwhile. Let there be a reason in your life to walking up in the morning and waiting for the next day to come by. Live like everyday is your last because you never know what's waiting right around the corner."
Harry released his wand from her neck as the audience began applauding at the moving speech.
Summer POV
Backstage after the ceremony, everyone had come to congratulate me again as champions went off there families and I found myself with my Dad, Mom, Baby Taylor, and the Weasley's including Andrew.
"Summer congratulations!" Mrs. Weasley came up to me wrapping her arms around me. With my free hand I held her back. "Just think," she began, whispering in my ear. "In a few months you'll be family!"
"I can't wait." I smiled back at her as she let me go.
"Oh Harry, you still haven't told Summer yet!" Mom said to my father.
"Yeah Dad, you still haven't told me anything!" I encouraged him as well.
My Dad took a big breath before he began. "At first I thought this was a crazy idea, but after winning the tournament and making all the plans yourself, your mother and I strongly support your decisions." Dad smiled at me.
I put my cup down and squealed with excitement and I ran over to my Dad and threw my arms around him. "Thank you Daddy!" I almost screamed.
I let go of him as we both just stood there for a moment until my Dad walked over to Andrew. "I just want you to know though, that even though I am letting you marry my daughter, if you hurt her, you can bet that I will hurt you ten times worse." He said down to Andrew.
"Dad!" I said after him.
"I can assure you Mr. Potter, that I would never do any such thing." Andrew replied to my Dad.
Another awkward silence came over the group. "This should be a happy day!" Mr. Weasley spoke up. "Soon enough these two lovebird are finally going to tie the knot and we'll all be family."
"Oh Ron, you still can't get over it now can you?" Mrs. Weasley remarked.
"How can I not? My son and Harry's daughter, it's like destiny waiting to happen!" he went on.
Within that moment was when I finally realized that everything is going to work out for the best. Maybe I was wrong earlier, that good ones follow bad things. I fingered the ring around my finger, hoping that August was just around the corner.
Sorry for the long update. My computer at home as been broken for a while and the minute I got near a computer, I spilled all the things developing inside my head.
So, here's to all my lovely reviewers (I'm at 199, just one more to 200!)
MikayGirl: I hope when you say Lily you mean Summer! Because that's just kind of weird. Anyways thanks for your lovely, review once again!
HelloKitty14: Stupid evil teachers giving out homework on your two party weeks. YAY! Another story has to happen soon! I've been totally patient so common now!
TickledOrange: The computer got busted due to my little sister, which gives me another reason to bug my mother to get me a laptop for my Sweet 16! Anyways, thanks again!
FairyWings101: YAY! So happy for you, me on the other hand, I'm taking a break from guys for a while. But yeah, are you going to write another story because I'm totally waiting! And it's okay for missing a review, but it could have been my 200th review for this story!
Devil'lil': Wow, that means a lot to me! I mean I get a lot of reviews like that one but it always touches me when I get them. Thanks again and I hope you leave me another great review!
Radcliffe'sGirl4ever: Taylor's godparents, why it's the same as Matt and Summer's the Weasley's of course! Anyways, your sister is in cheer too? God I hate going to those. I have to go to one in Vegas over my Spring Break, but at least I don't have to go to the actual competition! I get to go Outlet Shopping!
Harrysnumber1fan101: Thanks so much! It means a lot to me when people say things like that! You're a great reviewer!
Lucyrocks73: Look! You made a comeback! I put that in there especially for you! Anyways, you'll be there again at the wedding of course!
Rodrigo: Thanks for the fabulous review. Her actual full reaction however doesn't come until the next chapter.
Slytherin princess 05: Hi anyways, I couldn't bring myself for Summer to get any serious injuries. Although however I had a lot of complaints about not showing how Summer won the tournament in the first place. Anyways, thanks again!
Werewolf21: Aren't we all a guilty party of writing short reviews, don't worry about it.
Melodicmoonstar89: I hope this answered some of your questions. But maybe I just happened to plan the birth like that. Don't worry, as long as there is Harry Potter fanfiction, I'll be writing!
Thanks again for all the fabulous reviews. Spring Break is next week and my computer is supposed to be fixed by today, but we'll play it by ear on that one.
Happy Easter to you all by the way, and it's confirmed, three more chapter are left but knowing me I'll throw a forth one in there, maybe, but still don't count on it.
Best Wishes!
Holly