Ch. 15 Graduation.
The air around Hogwarts seemed to be full to the burst with nervousness when the seventh years woke up the next morning. They all dressed in their long, pure white gowns and began to put on the special pieces that symbolized their positions at Hogwarts. The Head Students and the prefects wore their badges and each student wore a small banner with their houses color on it. The Quidditch players had badges with the ball that they played with or, in the keepers case, a badge of the golden hoops. The captains of the Quidditch teams had an extra fringe with their team's color around their gowns. As valedictorian, Lily wore a gown, not of pure white, but of all of the different colors of the Hogwarts houses. It symbolized the fact that she was better than all of the rest, in James' opinion. (A/N Does the thing with the banners make any sense at all? I hope so! I tried to describe it as best as I could, but I wasn't sure. Here's a picture of something kind of like I imagined: http/ or ) They all wore the Hogwarts Crest and their House Badges as well.
Dumbledore had decided that he liked the idea of having the school graduation outside, so, it was held at the Quidditch Pitch.
As they made their way down, James leaned over and whispered in Lily's ear, "Are you nervous about your speech, Lilyflower?"
"Terrified," Lily replied in a shaky voice. She looked it too. Her eyes had dark circles that were caused by the loss of sleep that she had experienced the night before. She was very pale, James noticed, and looked as though she would faint if someone looked at her strangely.
"Hey, don't worry. You'll be great, love," James murmured into her hair as he stopped to embrace her tightly. Lily nodded against his chest, feeling strongly as though she would like to throw up.
They made their way up to the stadium and took their places among the other Seventh Years as parents and friends began filing into the stadium. When everyone had been seated near the raised platform in the middle of the stadium, Professor Dumbledore stood to say a few words of greeting.
"Hello and welcome to all of you! I am very pleased to have you all here at Hogwarts, both former students and guests alike." He paused to beam around at al of them. "And most importantly we have our graduating class of 1978!" The crowd applauded politely as Dumbledore turned and raised his arm to present the students congregated behind him. "Now, I would like to present this year's valedictorian, Ms. Lily Evans," He continued to speak as Lily made her way to the podium where Dumbledore stood. "Ms. Evans has not only achieved top marks in all of her classes this year, but she served as Head Girl and was a chaser on the Gryfindor Quidditch Team. Ms. Evans?" he stepped away from the podium, leaving Lily's path clear. She took a deep breath and, clutching her note cards tightly in one hand, stepped forward and began to speak.
"Thank you very much, Professor. I have prepared a speech today on the history of Hogwarts and its importance in education in the magical world." Lily suddenly stopped and took another deep breath. "But that is not the speech I am going to give." Lily flung her note cards out into the sudden rush of warm air that surrounded the stadium.
"What's she doing, mate?" Sirius muttered to James out of the corner of his mouth.
"I have no idea," James replied, looking at his fiancée as if she had lost her mind.
" I would like to share with you a verse from the muggle bible," Lily continued. "It is from 1st Corinthians 13:4-7. 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.' This verse is more relevant to the magical world than many of us would dare to believe. It speaks not only of love between a moan and woman but love between a parent and child, or love between members of a community, which is what we are. But love is something that we do not have enough of in the society that we have created for ourselves.
"We allow ourselves to be ruled by power and hate. If we live hating others because they are not as skilled in the magical craft as we are of because we do not have the same bloodline as others, then our society will fail. Do not allow yourselves to be taken by power and greed. Don't let people convince you that you're better than someone else because you have a pureblood family and they come from a muggle heritage. Because that is not true. It doesn't matter what your blood is if you know and can perform magic.
"For me, love is the key to magic. When my parents died in my second year, I gave up. For two months I lived in a household filled with grief. There was no love in that house after my parents had gone. And I lost my magic. When I first returned to Hogwarts, I could not work a single spell. Not even something as simple as wingardium leviosa. But at Hogwarts, I found love again. I found love in the form of my good friend, Alice Coursells. I found love in the hearts of my teachers and also from a very close friend who I had not noticed before. I found love from Remus Lupin, one of my very good friends who has led to the relationship I know have with my fiancé, James Potter. When my magic returned, it was not as powerful as it once was, but when I began to date James, it increased, and I was more powerful than I had been before my parent's deaths. This is because I was feeling love wash over me from all sides. It cleansed and made me stronger. Love can do that for you as well.
"Many people's magic is connected to the amount of love they feel from the people around them. Other people's magic is increased by hate. These are the people we must fear. If we allow hate to rule ore lives and our magic, then we will not survive the hard times ahead. And those who are filled with hate shall be consumed by it. They will destroy everything good and right and it will be replaced by all that is dark and evil. If we allow this to happen, our magical civilization will not survive.
"Everyone here today is here for an important purpose. We are here to graduate and see those we love do the same. I thank you all fro listening to my warning. I believe that love is the key to magic. Those who underestimate it and try to overtake it will parish, but those of us who can learn to embrace love and use it to our advantage will be the ones to survive. Thank you." Lily turned and walked back to her place beside James, completely oblivious to the tumultuous applause that greeted her from everyone but the Slytherins.
That is, the Slytherins and one lone Gryfindor, who did not share his friends' love and friendship for the remarkable young woman who stood before them. Of, course, he reasoned that it didn't matter if he didn't care for her. It wasn't really as if she had ever paid him any mind. She was in love with James, naturally. James was always the best at everything. He was always angry when Peter didn't do something right. Lily loved Sirius too. Not in the same way, but it was obvious how close they were. He was like an older brother to her. Remus, too. Remus had secretly had a crush on Lily in third year. Peter was the only person he had told. Peter hadn't told a soul his friend's secret (It was so rare that any of them confided anything in him!). Of course, Peter had been repaid, when he had told Remus of his infatuation with Marcia Torrence. Remus had laughed at him. He had told him that it was hopeless. Marcia was in love with James. Oh, how that had crushed Peter's very spirit! Yes, though, Lily loved all three of his best friends. However, she felt nothing for him. She only put up with him because she thought that James liked him. As if James gave any care in the world to what happened to him? None of them were his true friends. None of them cared. He would remain one of them, for now, though. There was so much turmoil in the Wizarding World. Until a better chance to save his own neck came around, he could pretend. Peter was good at pretending.
"Was it ok?" Lily whispered to James as Dumbledore began to hand out the diplomas.
"You were magnificent!" James whispered back, giving her hand a gentle squeeze to show his enthusiasm.
"Mr. Sirius Black," Dumbledore called. Sirius stood and walked proudly over to the podium where Dumbledore awaited to hand him his diploma. Sirius took the document out of his Headmaster's hand and shook it gravely. Then, he turned to the podium and began to speak.
"I would like to thank my good friend Albus here for all the great things he's done for me. And for all the detentions and all the House Points deducted and all of the time we spent to together in his office "Discussing my future".
"That's quite enough, Mr. Black!" Professor McGonagall called sternly.
"Oh and thanks to you too Minnie! You've been great!" He bounded over and proceeded to kiss her right smack on the mouth.
"Mr. Black! I-" McGonagall broke off, blushing, and pulled him into a hug. For all the trouble he and his friends had caused, Sirius had always been one of her favorite students.
"Ms. Alice Coursells." Alice stood proudly and walked across the stage. She shook Dumbledore's hand, and then proceeded to walk off without her diploma. "Alice?" Dumbledore said, holding it out to her. Alice gasped and rushed back over to him.
"Sorry!" she gushed as she took her diploma and went to join the others.
"That's my girl!" Frank called out and many people laughed.
"Ms. Lily Evans," Dumbledore called out as Alice went to stand with the other graduated students. Lily took another deep breath. She squeezed James' hand tightly before letting go. "Congratulations, Ms. Evans," Dumbledore said, warmly. He gave his brightest student a hug before she went to join the other students.
"ALRIGHT LILY!" James roared not to be outdone by Frank's call of affection for Alice. Everyone laughed again.
"Franklin Longbottom." Frank walked gravely across the stage and took his diploma without a word. When he reached the crowd of students who had already received their diplomas, Alice ran up to him and jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him deeply. There were many cheers and whistles from their fellow Gryfindors as they broke away, Alice blushing profusely.
"Remus Lupin," was called next and he was recognized for his newly appointed position as Head Boy. He looked guiltily at James, thinking that his friend was the one who had originally held the badge and deserved to be recognized for it.
"Peter Pettigrew," was called a bit later and Peter walked shyly across the stage, tripping over his untied shoelace as he walked.
"James Potter," Dumbledore called out. James took a deep breath and walked across the stage. "This young man would have been graduating as Head Boy if he had been able to keep his wand in his pocket this year," Dumbledore said as James approached him.
"Very funny, Professor," James replied a bit nervously. Dumbledore smiled kindly at him. James joined the other students and immediately found the group that was Alice, Sirius, Remus, Frank, and Lily. Strangely, Peter was missing, but no one really seemed to notice.
James pulled Lily into a hug and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Congratulation," he whispered, still holding her close.
"Congratulations," Lily whispered back, beaming at him.
"And I know present to you the graduated class of 1978!" Dumbledore yelled as Seraph Zulatsky took her place among the graduated students. Everyone yelled and cheered. James put his arms around Lily's waist and lifted her into the air, spinning her around and around until they both stumbled backwards, laughing. For Lily, it would have been the perfect moment, if only her parents had been there to see it.
Everyone dispensed to go and find his or her families a few minutes later. James and Lily were separated in the crowd. Not being able to see any of her friends anywhere, Lily decided she might as well go back to the castle to pack. It wasn't as though she had any real family to celebrate with anyway. Lily forced herself to fight back tears as that thought drifted across her mind. 'Don't do this, Lily,' she scolded herself. 'Just because you are a poor orphan whose sister hates you and refused to even see you graduate from school doesn't amen you're going to feel sorry for yourself all day long.' These thoughts only made her tears fall down harder and more rapidly. 'Stop crying, you big baby! James would be so upset if he knew you were running off to go wallow in self-pity.' Lily couldn't help but let out a strangled sob and several heads turned as she passed.
"Lily!" she heard someone shouting over all the happy noises around her. She broke into a run. She didn't want o be around people right now. She wanted to be alone. Crying was shameful and baby-like and she knew she shouldn't let anyone see her cry. "Lilyflower!" James said joyfully as he caught up to her.
"You know I'm just going to go back up to the castle and pack, James," Lily murmured through her tears.
"No you're not. We made a deal, remember?" James said, sliding his arms around her waist from behind. "Come and meet your new family." James turned her around and there, standing before her were a man and woman. They must have been James' parents. The woman was tall with red hair and James' familiar hazel eyes. The man was a great deal taller than his wife, which explained James' height of approximately 6'1". Mr. Potter also had James' messy dark hair.
"Oh, you must be Lily!" Mrs. Potter exclaimed, launching herself into her future daughter in law's arms.
"Let her breathe, mum," James said a little nervously. Mrs. Potter stepped back and looked at Lily.
"Oh, my dear, you're so much more beautiful than Jamesie ever could have described you as. Look at her eyes, Jason," She said, referring to her husband. "Aren't they just the most remarkably beautiful shade of jade green? Oh and is that your necklace? May I? It's so beautiful. Why, I never knew James was such an artist. When he told me he'd designed it himself... Do you like it dear? James said you would like it ever so much better than a ring. He said you never wear them, but you were forever claiming that you didn't have enough necklaces to wear all the time and how much you liked them, so he thought that this would be better instead. I wasn't sure, but you did say yes, didn't you? So you really do like it now, don't you?" She said all of this very fast and Lily's mind was working overtime to decipher what she had said.
"Um," she said uncertainly.
"For heaven's sake, Emily! Give the poor girl a chance to catch up with you when you bombard her with questions!" James' father exclaimed as he saw the hopelessly confused look on Lily's face. "I'm Jason, Potter," he added to Lily, extending his hand. Lily took it. "I'm James' father, and this rambling bat over here is my wife, Emily." He grinned as his wife gave him a playful shove.
"It's very nice to meet you both," Lily said politely. James grinned at her and wrapped an arm around her waist. Lily looked uncomfortably at his parents, but they didn't seem to mind, so she relaxed into James' embrace. "And I do love the necklace, Mrs. Potter, thank you for asking."
"Oh, do call me Emily, my dear!"
"Are you going to be staying with us during the summer holidays right away, or are you going to spend a few weeks back with your parents first?" Jason asked as they settled down on a couple of benches that had been conjured on the shore of the lake.
"Yes, and where are your parents, Lily? I'd so hoped to meet them today!" Emily gushed.
"Um…" Lily suddenly couldn't find the words. It shouldn't have been difficult, she had told people about her parents' death before, but for some reason she was feeling the effects of it more seriously than she had before in recent weeks. Especially with the dreams she had begun to have about them. Dreams when her parents were still alive, but didn't wan tot know her anymore.
"Lily's parents aren't here, Mum," James said quietly as he took Lily's hand. "They passed away when we were in second year."
"Oh, I'm so sorry! It must be horrible for you, not having any family here!" Emily immediately apologized.
"It's alright. My sister couldn't make it to graduation, but I do have some family here know," she smiled up at James who grinned proudly back at her.
"You know," Emily said to her husband as they sat in their bedroom at home that night, both reading," Lily and James remind me a lot of the way we were at Hogwarts."
Jason grinned at his wife. His grin was identical to James' when he smiled at Lily. It was full of love and compassion, with a slight hint of confidence and teasing enjoyment. "I know exactly what you mean, my love," he placed a soft kiss to her lips and returned to his book. Emily smiled as she looked on at him. It had been a good life for them. They had spent a wonderful seven years at Hogwarts, and had had a full and happy life together afterwards. They had a wonderful son who had just graduated and was about to be married to the love of his life. She felt fulfilled and complete. There would be dark times ahead, but what would come would come, and together they would greet it when it did.
A/N: Ok, another chap done. This chap is a real take-off from my original draft. I didn't have Lily's speech, the stuff about Snape or half of the stuff about James' parents in there. I like this version a lot better. This is one of the longest chapters I have ever written, so I really hope you enjoyed it. Also, the last line of this chap is a take-off from my favorite HP quote. It is the last line of either the third of fourth book. I think it's the fourth, but I can't remember, and I'm too lazy to go upstairs and get my book. Also, I have been really disappointed in the lack of review action lately. If you guys like this story, or if you think that there is something I could improve on, please let me know what you think. I would really and truly appreciate it. One again thank you to F4nfic-F4n4tic. You rock my world, hun! Also, thank you so very much to hpfunkypunk because, even though you have yet to review this particular story, Emily! You are my inspiration for the character of Emily Potter. Don't ask how I got her out of you, I just did. Deal with it. It's mainly her looks. So, yeah. Anyway, everyone please review, I would really appreciate it. Flames accepted, though not necessarily appreciated! (See how desperate I am to get reviews, folks)
Love to all,
Lyny Angell
PRAYER REQUEST: I don't mean to offend anyone who is not religious and reads this story, but those of you who are, please say a prayer for my brother, Brady Hulsey. He was fighting in Iraq and has been wounded. I would really appreciate it if you kept him in you prayers. Thank you.
LA
