Ch 95: Graduation
Ron couldn't remember the last time it had taken him this long to fall asleep. He was used to waking up with nightmares, but it had been years since he had just laid in bed trying desperately to sleep. He looked at Hermione next to him. She was on her side facing him, her crazy curls having escaped the pony tail she had done before bed. Her one leg was thrown over his, and her hand was on his stomach, and he could watch her wedding ring go up and down in the moonlight with each breath he took. He glanced at the clock again, groaning when he realized it was just past 4 am. He really needed to fall asleep if he was going to be any good tomorrow.
Rose had gotten home the day before, and tomorrow was Hugo's "graduation" ceremony from primary school. He remembered Rose's ceremony. It was nice, but nothing he had lost sleep over. But now, well, Hugo was leaving the school he had been in when his parents were killed. He keenly felt the absence of Dennis and Fi, and it felt like it was the first step to having to put him on that train in September. And while he knew Hugo would do so well at Hogwarts, he was just sad that his days with a child at home were almost done. It felt unfair to only have gotten to experience that for such a short time. But then he would feel guilty about feeling that was unfair as it was not remotely as unfair as dying in a car crash with your spouse and in laws leaving your only child alone. And thus churned the downward spiral in his mind.
To celebrate the event, and – well – to invent a reason to party with their elderly muggle friends from the care home – they were going to have a party with the grandparents, Melissa, Mrs. Carrington and her long lost sister in law. Melissa was excited because Michael had volunteered to rent a wheel chair van for the whole day so the two women would be able to attend the ceremony at the school and see Melissa's "kids" and their art and then come to their party. As usual, Hermione had everything under control and wasn't flustered in the slightest. All he had to do was make sure none of his family jumped out of the fireplace when their muggle friends were around, and yet he was the one not sleeping.
After another hour of overthinking things, Ron gave it up as a lost cause and quietly rolled out of bed. He left a note in the kitchen, grabbed his broom and apparated to Shell Cottage where he hoped he could burn off whatever it was that was bothering him in time to kip before the events later in the day.
By the time he returned home around 8, Hermione was sitting at the kitchen table enjoying her tea. But, instead of reading the muggle or magical papers as she usually did, he noticed she was looking through old photo albums.
"Morning," he said as he began to help himself to breakfast.
"You were up early. Everything ok?"
"Yeah. Just couldn't fall asleep last night. Thought flying might help me get tired enough to kip a bit before all the excitement later."
"I'm sorry, Ron. I hate that feeling."
"Right? It makes no sense to be exhausted and unable to sleep."
"I know. But, you have to admit, your brain is trying to keep up with everything, don't you think?"
"You think I'm not sleeping because of the party?"
"No," she smiled knowingly. "I think you can't sleep because after today Hugo is done with Primary School and we can't pretend September 1st isn't coming right at us."
He grimaced and took the seat next to her at the table. "I know," he grumbled. "I'm just not ready. Don't get me wrong – I think he is totally ready. Just me who isn't."
She touched his hand softly. "I know. Me either. Why do you think I pulled out these old photo albums? I look back at the pictures from when he started school, and, well, it blows my mind. His life has changed so, so much in just a few years. Even putting aside the accident and us and everything, just looking at the pre-teen boy he has become. He went from those soft, pudgy cheeks of a five or six year old and now his face is much more linear. His eyes have seen too much to stay so bright. Now they have this wisdom in them that can be unnerving at times. And I look at the art work he did then versus now, and his skill really blows me away, you know?"
"Yeah," Ron nodded. "I do. He really is so talented. I hope he can keep that interest, excitement and skill for art when he's at school."
"We'll figure that out. Today I just want to be so happy for him, though. He slugged through so many difficult things during these past years, I don't want today to be about Dennis and Fiona not being here. I want it to be all about him. About celebrating what he's accomplished and the exciting adventures ahead."
Ron sighed, "I know. I'll pull it together. I promise."
She laughed. "Well, first you'll shower, because you smell like sweaty boy and salt water."
"Sweaty boy?" he laughed. "That's what you think of me?"
"When you smell like that, I do," she scoffed.
"Ok, ok. I give in. I promise to go shower and then be much more upbeat."
"Well, here. Eat first. Then shower. And then if you can sleep, do that for a bit. None of the excitement starts 'til this afternoon."
"You're the best Hermione," he said as he best to hug her. She squealed and ducked away, avoiding the sweaty hug. He laughed and chased after her a bit until Hugo came wandering into the kitchen.
"Seriously? You two are pulling this stuff today? Come on. Can you just hold off on the kissy face stuff 'til I go to school?"
"Not a chance, little man," Ron laughed as he caught Hermione in his arms and kissed her, leaving her dramatically protesting his sweaty hug.
"Yuck. Not sure I want breakfast after that show!" yelped Hugo.
"Oh please," Ron laughed. "I know you too well. You're as bad as I am about food."
"True," admitted Hugo with a shrug.
Hermione laughed and pulled together breakfast while Ron headed up to shower.
"I am so glad that Mrs. Eldwin and Mrs. Carrington are coming to the school for the ceremony," he said with a mouth full of toast.
"Seriously? Chew. Swallow. Speak. It isn't difficult!"
He shrugged again, swallowed and continued. "I can't believe they've never seen what she does. I think she's really excited about it."
"Well, good. She is a gifted teacher and a wonderful woman, so I am glad her family will get to see how talented she is."
"I'm really going to miss her next year," he said sadly. "I wish we could tell her about Hogwarts. I'd like to owl her pictures and things, but obviously I can't do that."
"No, you can't," Hermione conceded. "But you can owl me and I will give them to her and vice versa."
"Won't she think that's weird? That she can't mail things to me directly?"
"I'm sure we can come up with a plausible reason. She cares for you too much to just let you drift off into the world."
"Rose said they do have art classes there but that they are magical. You think I can still study muggle art too?"
"Hugo, my love, I think you can do anything you put your mind to! If you want to learn about muggle art, definitely don't let anything stop you. I know they don't have the internet up at Hogwarts, which I still can't quite wrap my head around, but there are so many wonderful books on art, art history and different techniques. I know you can learn a lot from that. And I am sure that Mrs. Rupesmith will work with you to continue teaching you the techniques you can't learn from a book."
He sat quietly for a few minutes. Then he asked nervously, "You know, the other kids at my school aren't as into art as I am. Do you think the other kids at Hogwarts will think it's weird?"
"No. I don't. Now, remember I never went to school there and in many ways, all magic life is 'weird' to me. But, that said, I think that when people meet you they aren't going to say 'hey, there is the art boy.' I think they will think 'wow, there's Hugo. He is so nice and really funny, and despite his terrible table manners I am so glad we're friends!'"
"Hah Hah," he laughed.
"No, seriously," she said. "Ask Ron about when your Uncle Collin went to school. Now he was a thousand times more in everyone's face about his photography. And apparently he practically stalked Harry. But, despite that, they all loved him fiercely. They don't recall him as the weird kid with the camera. They remember him as their good friend who was kind and loyal and funny who also liked taking pictures. And you have it easier than he did because you already know about a zillion kids at the school between Rose and all of Ron's ten thousand nieces and nephews."
"Ten thousand?"
"Well – you have to admit – there are a lot of them."
"I'll give you that. But I am so glad for each, you know?"
"Yeah," she smiled. "I know."
Ron was relieved when his parents came through the floo that his dad looked only mildly odd in his attempt at muggle clothes. He was wearing plaid pants, a checkered shirt and a polka dot tie. But, blessedly, it was cold enough that he needed a jumper over it all at the last minute, so Ron loaned him a plain navy one that seemed to tone everything down a notch. And, he thought his father was too thrilled to even notice as he was going to drive with Michael in the wheel chair van to fetch the women from the care home and would meet them all at the school. Hermione drove with her mum, Hugo and Rose while Ron took his mum through side along apparition since there wasn't extra room in the car.
There was to be a short concert by the graduating class, a few speeches and then a small ceremony for the children. But, they all arrived early enough to tour the exhibit of student art which Melissa had pulled together. Hermione admitted it was incredible how much amazing art Melissa had been able to get out of such young children. Hugo was beaming as he pulled various grandparents around the display to show off different pieces he had made throughout the years.
"Hermione!" Melissa called.
"Hi, Melissa. This is fantastic! You are so, so talented. These kids are so lucky to have you."
"Thank you," she said, blushing. "But, I wanted to show you this. There was a chance for the children to submit work to a juried art show. Hugo submitted an amazing pencil drawing he had done, and look – it won!"
"Did you pick the winners?" Hermione asked skeptically.
"No, no – you don't understand. It was a contest across all of London. The children were supposed to draw a picture of what family meant to them. The winners were announced today online and Hugo won first place!"
"Wait, WHAT?"
"He doesn't know yet – we'll surprise him in the ceremony. And the art work isn't here – he had to send in the original. But, look – I made a copy. Isn't this incredible? I want to smile and cry every time I look at it."
Hermione looked down at the page Melissa handed her and immediately felt the tears welling in her eyes. Hugo had drawn a self-portrait in the center of the page, surrounding him were sketches of herself, Ron, Rose, her parents, his parents and others, and then surrounding them were softer, intentionally hazier pictures of people they had lost, including his parents and grandparents. But the way he had done the drawing, you could practically see the layers of love he felt from each person on the page – both living and deceased.
"Oh, Melissa," Hermione said as she started to cry.
"I know, Hermione. I know," said the woman as she hugged Hermione. "Mr. and Mrs. Creevey are so grateful for you and Ron. I just know it. You two have loved him and made him feel so confident and assured of his place in this world. While he endured terrible trauma, you have never for one minute let him feel that he wasn't a part of your family and loved thoroughly for being exactly who he was born to be. And if you didn't know he felt that way before, I hope you do now."
Hermione nodded, wiping her tears away. "Thank you. I miss them today, you know."
"I know. And I didn't mean to make you cry. But I wanted you to see this before the ceremony so you weren't caught off guard."
"Thanks. Um, can I make a copy of this? I'd like to show Ron as well."
"No – that copy is for you. I have another in my desk. You go find him and I will see you later, alright? I want to show my Gran and Mrs. Carrington a few things before the ceremony. Have you seen them?"
"No," Hermione laughed, "but odds are she's hitting on my husband."
"Right," Melissa chuckled. "She probably is. But trust me, even if Mrs. Carrington was a 25 year old underwear model, I don't think Ron would even notice any woman but you. But, since she is decidedly NOT a 25 year old model, I think you are even safer from competition."
The two friends laughed and set off to find their family. Ron reacted to Hugo's winning picture much as Hermione had, the only difference being he was more embarrassed about tearing up than she was. But, he pulled himself together, and they soon rounded up the family and found their seats for the ceremony.
Hermione couldn't decide what she enjoyed more – watching Hugo in the ceremony, watching Ron through the ceremony, or watching Arthur and Molly throughout the ceremony. Arthur was thoroughly delighted with every new thing, and Molly was simply beaming with pride. But Ron was beaming with pride and love, and so her eyes kept coming back to him. When they announced that Hugo had won the art competition, the grandparents clapped so loudly Hugo finally had to wave his hands to get them to calm back down. As Hermione watched her mum document it all on her camera, she knew she was thinking of her dear friend Janie and how much she would have enjoyed this. She knew Dennis would have as well, and thought of the many school programs they had sat through together in that very room. Soon, her eyes were welling with tears, and she was lost in memories until she felt Ron grasp her hand in his and lift her hand to his lips. She sniffed and smiled at him, and then they both chuckled at what emotional wrecks they each were. Rose shook her head at them and snapped a picture of her two crying parents to show Hugo later. But, Hermione didn't need Ron to say a word. She knew they were both crying for themselves, crying for what their dear friends were missing, and crying for the end of a wonderful chapter in their lives.
After the ceremony, Melissa got one of her co-workers to take a pictures of the entire group. The eleven of them squeezed in for the picture, with everyone saying "cheese" except for Arthur, who smiled and said "doxies," which made everyone laugh.
Ron and Hermione ducked out and let the rest of the family wrangle everyone back to the house while they got the food and drinks ready for the evening. The Potters arrived a few minutes later. Hugo had requested "pizzas and puddings" for his party, so they had ordered their favorite pizzas and had made a table full of desserts for everyone to sample. Hugo was beaming throughout the party, getting to have some one on one time with each guest.
By the time Arthur and Michael took the elderly ladies back to the care home and returned the wheel chair van, Melissa had gone home, the kids had disappeared upstairs, and the adults were collapsed on chairs in the sitting room chatting over tea and firewhisky.
"Molly, how was it for you when you sent your last one off to Hogwarts?" Hermione asked. "It just seems so strange to think we'll have an empty house in three months."
"Well," she laughed, making a face at Ron, "you may not know the story, but it wasn't the quiet night at home we had anticipated. Your clever husband, here, along with my dear now son-in-law missed the train and thought the natural next step would be to STEAL Arthur's magical car and fly to Scotland!"
"Well, Mum, you make us sound like hooligans! You left out the part where Dobby magically sealed the platform so we couldn't get on the train!"
"I know, dear, and I understand that part. The part I have YET to understand is how that led to the logical next step of 'oh yes, steal the magic car and fly up there.'"
"Sorry 'bout that, Molly," mumbled Harry.
"Oh, please," said Arthur. "It was rather exciting and all ended up alright in the end."
"ALRIGHT? They landed in a whomping willow and were almost killed, then almost expelled and you almost lost your job, if I recall."
"Yeah, but then the car sort of went wild and it ended up saving us when we had the run-in with those acromantulas, so it turned out to be a blessing I guess," Ron said.
Hermione just stared at her husband shaking her head in disbelief.
"What?" Ron asked her innocently.
"What? I think it's a good thing I wasn't at Hogwarts with you back then. I would have been furious at you for almost getting killed. Or expelled!"
"Right," he chuckled. "Priorities."
The conversation continued, and finally the grandparents all headed out for the night, and Hermione and Ron offered to keep all of the kids overnight and sent Harry and Ginny home as well. Ron headed up stairs and corralled all of the kids into the empty former master bedroom.
"Alright you lot," he said in his friendly yet stern auror voice. "You are all here for the night. I'm conjuring up five sleeping bags and you can all camp in here. But I want you to keep it down, alright? And if you aren't too loud and crazy, I will make pancakes in the morning and possibly share my stash of real maple syrup from America with you. But that's only if no one wakes me up overnight."
"OK, Dad. We promise – we'll keep it down."
As he and Hermione crawled into bed, she kissed his cheek sweetly. "You did good tonight, Ron."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I know you were struggling at different points, but Hugo never caught on. All he felt tonight was love and support."
"It's going to be empty here come September," he said dully.
"Well, there are five here tonight, so let's enjoy the full house. We'll have a fabulous vacation after we load them back on the train, and then we'll go from there. They aren't leaving forever, you know. Look at your mum and dad – it's not like The Burrow is quiet and empty, is it?"
"No, you're right. It's just I guess I had just gotten used to this new life, and now it is all changing again."
"But that's life, right? Just when you think you know what you're doing and have it under control, life throws you a curveball."
"What's a curveball?"
She just laughed and kissed him as she snuggled up in his arms and went to sleep.
