Next day, Ginny went to breakfast smiling. Thankfully she wasn't of those who had drank. She was saving the chance to taste fire whiskey after graduation.
She saw Luna, eating at her house table and eagerly rushed there, sitting down.
"Morning bestie!"
Luna turned and smiled as Ginny packed herself a plate of food.
"Hey Ginny. Wonderful morning isn't it? Congratulations too, by the way!"
Ginny dropped her fork as she was about to put some scrambled eggs in her mouth and pouted.
"What?! But I wanted to tell you myself! How did you even find out?!"
"Nothing at Hogwarts is really a secret anyways. You, my dear, should know that"
"True"
Ginny mumbled and Luna giggled.
"Have you told your parents yet? Or Blaise?"
Ginny shook her head as she stared at the Slytherin table and didn't spot him there, nor his friends.
"I was planning to write a letter today though, also to bill and Percy. They were both the valedictorian students of their years. At least, it'll give me ideas on what to write."
"Hm. Do make it original though. It's you speech after all"
Soon enough, they decided to head to the lake to relax. After NEWTs, they had nothing to do again. Ginny had continued studying Occlumency. She could now feel when someone was prying into her mind and she had a pretty strong defense as well. She had also began to extensively arrange her mind in a particular order and she was really proud of herself.
"So, we haven't discussed this much, but how where exactly are we moving? I think I'd like a pretty open and busy street honestly. Maybe like one of those town houses, like grimmauld place?"
Luna's eyes sparkled.
"Speaking of places like that, you know how dad has some connections in the muggle world? Well, an acquaintance of his just recently moved away to his estate as he got married to a rich widower. It's cute townhouse. Not big mind you but big enough for us. It's 3 rooms. It's living room is connected to it's open kitchen and has 2 bathrooms as well as a visitors toilet. It has a tiny storage room and the hallway is thankfully quite wide. Father convinced him to take £250 pounds from us. Apparently Dad has quite a lot of blackmail material on him. That's 35Galleons, 7Sickles and 1Knut a month. A real stealer if I do say so myself!"
Ginny's eyes widened at the information she'd just received. That was definitely a real stealer! She'd honestly thought they'd both live in a cramped apartment or something. And the money! It was quite cheap! That's only 17Galleons 8Sickles and 6Knuts she had to pay for the home! Wow, luck really came for her this time.
"Oh my God! This is good news Luna! Oh my God!"
They hugged each other.
"What's with the celebration ladies?"
They both turned to see Blaise, Draco, Theo and Daphne as they walked over and settled down. Draco putting Luna in his lap and Ginny putting her legs on Blaise's laps. She smiled when he didn't do anything.
"We were just discussing our moving to London some time after graduation."
Luna said, playing with Draco's hair. Daphne raised an eyebrow.
"Ow, you've gotten the house?"
Ginny nodded.
"Yes we really got a good deal. Don't worry we'll do a house warming party."
"How'd mama Weasley take it?"
Theo said amused and Ginny scoffed, smiling.
"She'll have to get used to it. It's something of a Weasley tradition so I'm pretty sure she's been expecting it. I've always been like my biggest brother that way."
She shrugged.
"Seems like everyone has plans after graduation"
Draco said, relaxing into Luna who braided into his hair.
"What about you Blaise?"
Luna asked curiously.
"Well, I obviously have obligations here, Daphne's wedding. Then after that, I have this… plan with friends in Rome that we'll go on a sort of vacation together. Then when I'm back I'll obviously help my father in his businesses."
"Its like you've already planned for the rest of the year"
"I have"
He said, as he tightened his grip on Ginny's waist.
"What about you two though?"
Ginny asked curiously.
Theo shrugged.
"Well, we've finally fixed the wedding date to July 24th. Taking into consideration, the plans of everyone. By the way, you're all invited. Anyways, after that, we've decided on a one month honeymoon/vacation as well. We also plan on possibly seeing Blaise in one of the places they travel to".
They discussed some more before evening came and they decided to head back inside again.
It was weeks after and the night of their party came. It was happening in the great Hall. No teachers allowed and only 6th and 7th years. Or their dates. It was a cool kind of party, wearing casual clothes.
Ginny wore a black halter neck crop top and a silver flare high waist thigh length skirt and black and white sneakers. She put her hair in an high ponytail, the end made wavy. Her face done with a light make up, her wand in it's holster.
When she was done, she headed down the stairs and out the door excitedly with the golden trio who were dressed well too, the boys in their leather jackets too and Hermione in a pair of blue skinny jeans, a brown spaghetti top and a black 2 inch open to heel.
"Finally! I've been waiting for this party!"
Ron said excitedly, his hand in Hermione's.
"Honestly Ron! It's just a party right?!"
Hermione huffed and Ron beamed, placing a kiss on her cheek making her blush.
"It's with you though"
Ginny and Harry mock barfed, laughing as they entered the hall. They stared in wonder.
The hall was decorated and different colors of light filtered around the hall. There was a table at the end with a large bowl of drink, probably spiked. Some small chops scattered around. People danced around in the hall. She spotted Dean making out heavily with Romilda who was dressed quite scantily and she turned away in disgust. Luna and Draco were dancing care free with each other, smiling. She spotted Blaise a bit at the end and smiled, hurrying over to him and waving the trio away.
"Hey…"
She murmured, putting her arms around his neck and kissing him thoroughly. He placed his arms around her waist drawing her closer as they kiss intensely. When they broke apart, they both smiled at each other before Blaise spoke to her.
"Dance floor?"
"Yup"
They danced for a while, Ginny rocking Blaise, grinding her has on him as they had fun and sang to songs they knew. Ginny smiled, seeing Blaise so carefree. Maybe, just maybe, they'd survive the outside world. She had been scared of graduation for a while. Thinking with their whole future beginning to set in place, they'd be too busy to spend time together.
All of a sudden, as they both headed to have a drink, they heard some commotion near the area.
Dean was in the midst of Romilda, Dora and Su Li. Romilda behind Dean while Dora and Su argued.
"You bitch! He was mine!"
"Well he was mine first!"
Su gritted out in anger.
"He just used you, you bitch!"
Dora's face broke into tears and she ran off crying. Su turned to glare at Dean, before splashing her drink on Dean and stomping off angrily and Romilda squealed.
Dean scoffed, glaring at everyone.
"What are you all staring at?!"
And he stomped away angrily, Romilda rushing after him.
"Babe! Calm down…Babe!..."
Ginny chuckled as Blaise gave her a cup.
"its never an Hogwarts party without a drama right?"
He smirked as he sipped his cup.
Ginny did too, wrinkling her mouth at the first taste and her mouth let out some smoke, showing that the fire whiskey was highly concentrated.
Blaise looked at her amused.
"First time?"
"Fire whiskey? Yes. I could get used to it."
They danced some more, some made jokes, more drama, more dancing before the party ended past 3a.m.
GRADUATION DAY.
Ginny stared at herself in her mirror in her room. Her hair was made in a low bun and light make up on her face. She was dressed immaculately too.
It was really beautiful. It's paleness contrasting well with her skin tone and Ruby hair. She had donned on her black graduation gown. A stole around her shoulders colored red with the words valedictorian written in soft good on it. The hat sat immaculately on her head with the strands of thread on it also red. The red was Gryffindor gold, representing the house she was graduating from.
Her eyes watered a bit but she blinked it away. Today was the day, the last day, she'd be an Hogwarts student. They had changed a few rules after the war. Previously, muggle parents were not allowed in Hogwarts for their children's grad but now they were.
The tradition they left though was that, after the graduation, graduating students are asked to use the boat they used when they were first years, back to the Hogwarts Express and after they get off it in London, find their way home, as a way of becoming adults in the real world.
Ginny grabbed her purse, staring at the room she was finally saying goodbye to. It had a lot of memories. Both good and bad.
She realized it was soon time for her to head down the stairs and she left the room. Stopping by the door though, she smiled one last time and mumbled.
"Goodbye…"
And she turned her back on the girls' dorms for the very last time.
"Hey Luna!" Ginny shouted, spotting her friend in the crowd of students moving outside where the ceremony would take place. The morning was beautiful. The sun was smiling moderately at them and everyone was in good spirits. She passed a bunch of parents and spotted Stephanie Cotton with an elderly couple, the woman looking like her. An older guy, possibly her big brother and a smaller one looking 8 or 9, all staring around in awe. Their very first time seeing magic at it's finest. Ginny smiled.
"Have you seen your dad yet?"
"No. He did say he'd be arriving with your family though. Ooh! I can't believe the day has finally come! Ready for the speech Gin?"
Ginny breathed in and out as she stared around. Not too far from them was finally the quidditch stands were all the parents and non-graduating students would sit.
Down at the field we're many arranged chairs over 50 as their year were combined though they were both the best years still, divided into 2 places, so there was a division to pass between. There was a high area for where the professors, the heads of house and headmaster as well as board of governors and people from the ministry would sit. A podium was also situated in front of the students.
"Not really ready. I honestly think I'll puke! I'm so scared! I don't think the speech I wrote down will do the graduation justice!"
Luna side hugged her.
"Just do you Ginny. And you'll be okay."
Just then, she squealed and sprinted towards someone Ginny recognized as Luna's father in a sunflower yellow robe beaming. It seemed they decided on the color as Luna also wore the same color but in a cute armless knee length flair gown.
Ginny spotted her own family next to them and breathing a sigh of relief as her eyes were only for them. Her mother was dusting imaginary dirt from Ron's robe looking awfully teary eyed. Her father, stared around at his family in pride, looking at them all complete. The twins were each with their girlfriends, grinning in a pair of ridiculous orange suit a bit similar to Ron's whose own was Cannon's orange. Charlie was busy chatting with Bill who had a pink bundle in his arms and Percy looked quite relaxed. Fleur glowed as she laughed at something Aubrey, Percy's girlfriend had said.
Just then, her mother spotted her and let out a gasp and the rest of the family turned to stare and she felt herself blush. Oh honestly, it wasn't even her wedding!
"Oh! My baby! You look so stunning! You're practically a woman!"
She said, tearing up as she hugged her mother.
"Hey mum…dad. Glad to see you all here!"
Her dad smiled, hugging her.
"Well of course we all had to be here! It's the last Weasley brood until at least 10 more years or so"
He winked and Ginny chuckled. Just then she rushed to Bill, holding her niece and smiled at the happy parents.
"Hey guys! I've been waiting to greet my baby niece!"
Fleur laughed.
"I'm sure she's also been curious about the girl her daddy has been regaling her with tales about"
Ginny peeked into the fluffy pink blankets and stifled a gasp as she stared in awe at the cutest little thing she'd ever seen.
Little Victoire Weasley had cute and soft strawberry blonde Tufts of hair on her head and her eyes were sapphire blue like her mother's. She stared curiously at the new person, yawning and placing her hand in her mouth. Ginny raised her hand to grab her free hand which the baby eagerly clung tightly to and she stared in awe at the proud father.
"Just over a month and she's already pretty strong. She'll be a great quidditch star in the future."
Fleur scoffed amusedly.
She later greeted everyone and saw a ring in Aubrey's finger and she was informed that Percy had proposed over a week ago.
Soon enough, everyone settled in the seats they were all meant to and the ceremony began. It was all protocol and all talk. Congratulating the students on a job well done. Ginny had toned it all out as she thought about her life, and how things would change. Even as they called students to the stand to receive their certificate. Even as Hermione was called, gave her speech and collected hers. She only felt numbness. At least, till she was called.
Gingerly climbing the stage, she walked over to the podium and brought out her speech paper. Staring at it and not particularly feeling anything for it, she sighed before looking at the crowd. Her friends in particular.
"Thank you, Hermione, for that beautiful speech. It's of course, to be expected from one of the smartest witches we all know."
Some students chuckled and Hermione's parents up in the stand beamed with pride.
"You know, I had my speech all written down and planned, like Hermione had told me to do… Or forced. We all know how she is"
She joked and even a the students nodded and agreed with her, making Hermione blushed and her parents smiled amusedly.
"But then, I realized I couldn't. I woke up this morning, filled with fear and anxiety. How would my life be after Hogwarts? How I was basically leaving something I'd regarded as my other home. My bed, mirror, favorite spot at the black lake, astronomy tower adventures, sitting in the common room at night and joking with friends. How I'd miss it all. And then I got scared. But then, my best friend. My sister in all but blood, Luna Lovegood…"
"That's me!"
She shouted, jumping up and making people laugh, scoff or smile. Ginny giggled, smiling.
"She told me 'Just do you. And you'll be okay'. And in that moment, I realized… What did I have to fear for? Yes, I'd miss all this things mentioned. But, the things that made me love them, the people, that'll make me miss them…are moving on with me. We're all going into our future. Together.'"
Her eyes sorted out Blaise who smiled proudly at her, and she smiled back.
"The people… the people, who made Hogwarts great for you, they'll always be there with you. Hogwarts, will always be there for you. So don't look back and be wistful. Look back and be grateful! Because Hogwarts has gone through a lot with us! And we should be saying thank you for pulling us through! Thank you for still standing! Thank you for having us! And… thank you for being you. We love you Hogwarts. Now, let's move on, to the beginning of our new tomorrow. Thank you."
The claps were thunderous around the pitch as everyone clapped at the beautiful speech. Tears were seen but not mocked, and Ginny shook hands with Dumbledore who smiled proudly at her and handed her the certificate which she raised and elicited even more roars as she hurried to go sit with Luna and the trio by her.
"And you were worried…"
Luna murmured and Ginny smiled impishly.
"That was beautiful Ginny! I'm glad you did yours last! Mine would have been utterly boorish!"
Hermione gushed, tears in her eyes.
"And this brings the graduation ceremony of the 1998/1999 set to a glorious end. And never forget, Just be you. Congratulations!"
Dumbledore said gloriously and all students rushed to throw their caps up in the air.
Ginny's eyes spotted Blaise's, and in that moment, she felt at peace with herself. They were going to make it. Together.
And so is the end of the first part of her journey. The second part will continue in this same book though, so look forward to life after Hogwarts!