Chapter Sixteen – The Class of 1998

Harry and Hermione breezed through their exams over the next week. Ron and Rae, however, both thought they did terrible on their NEWTs and were dreading getting their results tomorrow morning.

"I am going to fail!" Ron groaned, "I'm gonna do worse than Fred and George!"

"That would be pretty impressive actually," Harry grinned, as he sat cuddled up to Hermione on the couch opposite Ron's armchair.

"Considering they didn't sit their NEWTs," Hermione continued, also grinned amusedly.

"Oh thanks guys," Ron uttered, not at all grateful for their comforting words, "It's so sweet how you finish each others sentences and all but I'm in trouble here. Who knows what mum'll do when she sees my results!"

"Come off it Ron! You be fine!" Hermione snapped impatiently.

"Besides Fred and George aren't failures," Harry reasoned, "You'll live ok?"

"Whatever," Ron muttered.

"What about me?" Rae asked from her position on the floor, "I bet I flunked too. I don't even know what kind of wizarding background I come from."

"Sirius was one of the best wizards in his year level. He just chose to apply his skills with a wand to tormenting the Slytherins instead of his schoolwork." Hermione assured Rae.

"You'll be fine as well," Harry said looking at the doubtful expressions on his friends' faces, "C'mon guys the exams are over – nothing more we can do. Now I'm going to bed. The Graduation ceremony is tomorrow evening and I need sleep," Harry stood and looked down at Hermione, "Coming sweetie?"

***

Harry woke early the next morning. It was the beginning of a sunny, June day. Harry smiled at his sleeping Hermione and rolled over to fetch his glasses. Next to them was a letter, addressed to him. He put his glasses on and picked it up. On the back was the Hogwarts seal. Harry ripped the letter open and read:

Mr. Potter,

Your results for the Nastily Exhausting Wizard Tests are as follows:

Herbology – O
Potions – O
Transfiguration – O+
Charms – O
Defense Against the Dark Arts – O++

Therefore your overall NEWT score is O+. Congratulations on remarkable results and also congratulations on tying for the top student in the year with Hermione Potter.

Good Luck in the future,
Minerva McGonagall

Harry looked over at Hermione's bedside table and, sure enough, her letter was there too.

"Mi?" Harry said softly, touching her shoulder, "Mione? Your results are here."

Hermione stirred, "Hmmm, read them out to me," she mumbled.

Harry reached over her and grabbed the letter. Tearing the seal open, he read:

Mrs. Potter,

Your results for the Nastily Exhausting Wizard Tests are as follows:

Herbology – O
Potions – O
Transfiguration – O+
Charms – O
Defense Against the Dark Arts – O++
Ancient Runes – O
Arithmancy – O+

Therefore your overall NEWT score is O+. Congratulations on remarkable results and also congratulations on tying for the top student in the year with Harry Potter.

Good Luck in the future,
Minerva McGonagall

"Well done Mi," Harry said as Hermione sat up, excited.

"We topped the year?"

"You sound shocked," Harry grinned.

"No, just happy. I'm going to have a shower."

"Ok."

***

While Hermione was showering, Harry decided to visit Ron. He grabbed his broom and climbed out the window – it was much quicker flying to Gryffindor Tower than walking.

"Hey Ron!" Harry yelled, tapping on the window of the seventh year boys' dorm. Ron got up and opened the window, "Wha?" he grumbled.

"Results," Harry pointed to Ron's nightstand.

"Oh," Ron said, suddenly looking quite green. He opened his letter and Harry waited for him to finish reading it.

"So?" Harry prompted.

"Three Es and two As so my NEWT score is E," Ron couldn't conceal his smile.

"Told you you'd be fine."

"Yeah how about you and Hermione?"

"Oh um, we both got O+," Harry said nonchalantly, hoping not to kill Ron's good spirits.

"Well done, wonder what Rae got."

And just as Ron spoke this, Rae burst into the room, grinning wildly.

"How'd you go?" she asked.

"E," Ron said.

"O+," Harry replied, "You?"

"E+!" Rae squealed, hugging them both.

***

Later that day, all the seventh years sat, waiting in a chamber off the Great Hall. In the Hall all the parents and other students were piling in and finding seats.

The door to the chamber opened to reveal Professor Flitwick, "Ok, they're ready for you," He said.

Harry and Hermione lead the rest of the year into the Hall. They took their seats and turned to listen to McGonagall.

"Welcome parents, teachers and students to the Graduation Ceremony for the class of 1998," she said, "This group of people are a remarkable bunch of young witches and wizards. Together they have scored one of the highest collective NEWT scores ever. They were lead to this achievement by their Head Boy and Head Girl, Harry and Hermione Potter." McGonagall gestured for them to come forward to speak.

Hermione stepped up first, "Good evening everyone," her voice wavered a bit, "Firstly I would like to say congratulations to everyone for doing so well on their NEWTs. Secondly I'd like to thank our teachers. Even though, at times, we thought they were the enemy, they have truly helped us become the witches and wizards we are today.

During our years here, we have had many adventures, in and out of the classroom. It is those memories that will remain in our hearts as we enter the working world. These memories have helped shape us and will continue effecting us through our adult lives.

And so I say good luck, class of 1998, may you all find success and happiness in life."

The Hall erupted in applause. Harry stepped forward and a hush fell over the crowd.

"Hey everyone," Harry waved, "I admit I complained a bit when Professor McGonagall told us about these speeches," Hermione scoffed at him from her seat, "I had no idea what to say, so I consulted a memory of someone else's and turned to my dad's Head Boy speech for inspiration. It backfired. True to his apparent style, my dad did nothing more than create some explosions and ask my mum to marry him. So no I won't be blowing anything up," A glance at McGonagall, "And I won't be asking anyone to marry me, I already did that," Harry grinned at Hermione and the Hall murmured with the polite laughter of the audience.

"Then I got to thinking about my time at Hogwarts," Harry continued, "And although my

experiences always seemed surreal, the things that happened to me weren't much different to any of you guys," he gestured to the seventh years, "I, like many, had a knack for getting into trouble. If I wasn't breaking rules, I was bending them, hard. Some teachers, I disliked, some were great. Some disliked me, others not so much." Harry paused for a while.

"No matter what experiences we endure, whether they be perfect sailing or horrors such as those we have seen in the past few years, we must take from them what we can. It is irrelevant what has happened, it's the lesson we take form the experience that matters. If I have learned anything about myself these past seven years, its that the most important things in life are the relationships you have with your family and friends. I have found that I can do anything if I have the support of my best friends," Harry looked at Hermione to see tears in her eyes, he smiled lovingly, "And when one of your best friends becomes your family and your future you feel like you have it all. All I ask of you, class of 1998, is that you remain loyal to your loved ones, as I believe it is the secret to the happiness and success I feel I have already obtained in marrying Hermione." Harry grinned slyly, "Good luck guys!" He raised his wand and shot a few friendly fireworks into the air, "Sorry Professor McGonagall, I couldn't help it."

"Well you are James' son, Harry, after all." She replied, smiling.

The Hall exploded in applause as Harry took Hermione's hand and they accepted their certificates. The two sat down as the rest of the class received their scrolls.

"That was really good Harry," Hermione said.

"You too, Mi," Harry squeezed her hand.