Chapter 54
AN: Thank you so much for the response to the last chapter, hope you like this one.
A week has passed since the Mie and her fellow seventh years completed their last exam and for them it has been a week of partying while Mie has also been planning, almost obsessively so. It is the night before the final day of school, the day where Mie and her classmates will be graduating and rather than enjoying the last celebration with her friends Mie has snuck away and is meeting Regulus in the room of requirements.
"Hey," Mie greats as she walks into the room of requirements and finds Regulus waiting.
"Hi," Regulus responds, and Mie walks over to him. Once Mie and Regulus are close enough, they embrace each other, and Regulus kisses her cheek. "How do you feel?" Regulus asks Mie as the break apart as he assumes she must be feeling a lot.
"I honestly don't know," Mie admits as they sit down on the couch that has appeared. "I'll be right back here tomorrow, Dad said no matter what happens that as long as he's headmaster I'll have my room in our quarters, but it still feels like an ending," Mie admits. "Eight years ago, I walked into this castle for the first time, and when I did it felt like I finally had a place where I belonged, where I wasn't strange and other…. I know it wasn't always like that, but I still remember that feeling, that hope," Mie admits, knowing that there were times where that hope kept her going. "I have my family because of this place, a family that spans multiple timelines, and I know that tomorrow is when the work of really changing things for that family begins, and that it was such a gift to be able to even finish my seventh year… am I making any sense?" Mie asks curious as she isn't sure she is, honestly, she thinks she is just ranting.
"Yeah, you are," Regulus confirms, being able to tell how much Mie needed to say all this. "Attending school has given you stability over the last eight years, even when you were on the hunt you knew that when you stopped Voldemort you could go back and have that structure again, but after tomorrow you won't have that anymore, even if you still live at the Castle," Regulus tells Mie. "It's okay to mourn the end of that part of your life, things are going to be different, and you'll have a new normal, and it will be okay," Regulus tells Mie, knowing that she has already had to mourn so much so it's not surprising that she is struggling with this. "Everything you're feeling is okay," Regulus tells Mie, as even though she knows that he thinks he needs to hear it said outload, who nods, and the two of them drift into silence as Mie cuddles up to Regulus.
For a few minutes Mie and Regulus sit together, cuddling up, as neither know how long it will be before they are able to see each other again, but eventually curiosity gets the better of Mie because there is something she needs to know.
"Are you going straight to Voldemort tomorrow?" Mie asks Regulus, dreading the answer.
"Yes, my instructions are clear," Regulus confirms, and Mie tenses at that.
"Be careful, please," Mie requests, as she is terrified that something is going to happen to him.
"I will," Regulus tells Mie. "We should talk about how we're going to exchange information," Regulus tells Mie as he knows that that is incredibly important.
"Yeah," Mie confirms. "We've got to be careful," Mie says, and they start to discuss their plan for how their information sharing is going to work, and once they have their plan they set up what they need.
After spending a while with Regulus Mie returned to the empty classroom where the party is still in full force. Feeling amused as she sees Sirius and James doing handstands as they drink, Mie walks over to where Amelia is standing, watching with a bemused expression on her face.
"Glad to see they are making smart decisions," Mie says, with an amused look on her face.
"It was a dare," Amelia explains, feeling that that should explain the odd sight.
"Marlene?" Mie asks as Mie has learnt that she is chaotic enough to dare something like that.
"Of course," Amelia responds, feeling that that shouldn't be a question. "But to her defence, James and Sirius starting the dares," Amelia responds, feeling that it is important for Mie to have all the information.
"I'm not even surprised," Mie admits, and Amelia turns to look at her.
"You doing, okay?" Amelia asks concerned, watching Mie carefully for her reaction.
"Yeah, I think so," Mie responds, and Amelia puts her arm around her friends' shoulders, as Mie puts her arm around Amelia's waist, and the two of them drift into silence as they stand together watching their friends, their family.
"Nope, none of that," Alice says, walking over to them.
"What do you mean?" Mie asks, feeling confused.
"You two aren't just going to stand back here watching. You're joining in on the dares," Alice informs them, causing both Mie and Amelia to exchange looks.
"Do we have a choice?" Amelia asks, already knowing the answer.
"No," Alice says, and she grabs Mie and Amelia's hands and drags them over to where the others are.
For the next couple of hours the seventh years continue their dare contest, where the dares get more intense as they drink more, and only ends when after James successfully climbs from the empty classroom, to the Gryffindor common room, via the outside of the castle and it's decided that none of the seventh years currently possess enough sound judgment to decide whether a dare is a good idea and so they went to bed.
A few hours after the seventh years went to bed, resulting in none of the seventh years getting much sleep, Mie, who is full dressed in her Gryffindor Robes, is sitting in the windowsill next to her bed in the Gryffindor tower, just staring out the window.
"Morning," A voice says as Mie is staring out of the window and she turns to see that Lily, Alice, and Amelia are all awake, it being Lily who spoke.
"Morning," Mie responds.
"How long have you been awake for?" Alice asks curious.
"An hour, maybe," Mie answers, though she isn't completely sure.
"So, you've barely slept, again," Amelia says, looking concerned.
"Guess so, but it's okay," Mie tells her.
"It's really not," Alice says as she, Amelia and Lily walk over and sit on Mie's bed, which is closest to where Mie is sitting.
"I'll be okay," Mie assures her friends and the four of them drift into silence.
"So, this is it, the last time we wake up in this room," Lily says, looking around.
"Yeah, it is," Alice confirms. "It's so strange, this room has been a part of our lives for so long," Alice admits.
"Really has been," Mie admits, as it was the same dorm she had when she was at Hogwarts in the timeline she is from.
"I've thought about this day so many times, doesn't feel real now that it's here," Lily admits.
"Really doesn't," Amelia confirms. "I know we've been at war the entire time we've been at school, but in a lot of ways we've been sheltered, now not only are we joining the fight but we're going to be in the middle of it, it's a lot," Amelia admits, and as she does Mie notices the looks on her friends faces.
"Do you wish I never came here? Never told you what's to come?" Mie asks, wanting an honest answer.
"Of course not," Lily says quickly.
"Mie you coming here may have changed everything, but it's also going to make things so much better," Alice tells her. "You've given us a chance not to die young, or be driven insane because of torture, that chance, that hope, is worth the difficulties we're going to face," Alice says as she believes that more than anything that Mie coming back in time was a good thing.
"Mie, we're always going to be thankful that you came here, and we'll never forget what you've sacrificed," Amelia tells her. "You're family now, and as a family we're all going to face everything that is to come together; all of us," Amelia says looking between her friends.
Hearing Amelia, Lily and Alice's words, Mie gets up and walks over to them, and hugs them, as their hugs are so intense, they all fall onto Mie's bed as they hug and laugh.
For a few minutes Lily, Mie, Alice and Amelia hug and laugh, but then they finally break apart, and sit up properly.
"I'll catch up with you in the Great Hall," Mie tells her friends, as she stands up. "I've got to go talk to Dad and Gellert," Mie tells her friends.
"See you at Graduation," Lily says with a smile.
"See you at Graduation," Mie responds, also smiling as the words feel very surreal to say, and she heads out of the room.
After leaving her dorm room Mie makes her way to her father's office, and by extension their quarters, but rather than taking the path that would get her to her father and Gellert in the quickest way possible Mie purposely takes a longer path so that she can see more of the castle. Eventually Mie walks up the spiral stairs and into her family quarters where she finds her father and Gellert both sitting at the table and drinking tea, clearly waiting for her.
"Good morning Annemie," Albus greats.
"Morning Dad, Gellert," Mie says as she sits down at the table and as soon as she sits down Gellert pours her a cup of tea as well.
"How are you feeling?" Gellert asks.
"I really wish people would stop asking me that question," Mie admits, snapping slightly, then she realises the tone of voice she used. "I'll be in a better position to answer that this afternoon," Mie admits.
"Okay, I'll ask the question again at the Order Meeting," Gellert tells Mie as Mie will be attending her first, actually other than when she was introduced, order meeting that evening.
"I look forward to it," Mie responds, with an amused look on her face.
"Speaking of the Order meeting," Albus says and he pulls out a ruler which he hands to Mie, and she takes, with a slightly confused look on her face. "You said you want to take the train to London, as do the others, so this is for you to get back, it will take you all to the backroom of the Hogshead," Albus tells his daughter.
"Is it activated by time or word?" Mie asks her father.
"Word, Phoenix," Albus tells his daughter, who nods. "While everyone else is leaving through the portal, head to the other end of the platform, and activate it when you're all touching it," Albus tells his daughter, even though Mie knows how Portkey's work.
"Will do," Mie respond, as she takes a drink of her tea and the three of them drift into silence as they sit together and drink their tea.
A little over half an hour after Albus explained to Mie about the portkey she, Albus and Gellert walk into the great hall the layout of which has now changed. While the teaches desks are in the same place, including Albus's podium, the four house tables have been pushed back so that three rows of the chairs, each of which are divided in half with a path down the middle, are in the front.
As the students where told what would be going on the day before Mie walks over and takes her spot as the students are sitting in alphabetical order. Over the next fifteen minutes all the students, both the graduating seventh years and the others, walk in and take their seats. Once the hall is full and he is sure that everyone is sitting in their seats Albus approaches the podium and as soon as Albus is standing at the podium the great hall becomes silent and everyone's attention is on him.
"As Headmaster at Hogwarts the biggest joy of my position is watching each of you grow over the seven years you are students," Albus says. "From the beginning of your first year, to now the end of your seventh year, each of you have changed, and it has been my absolute pleasure to watch as you find yourselves," Albus tells them, and Mie notices people around her exchange looks. "You enter a dark world, but each of you carry a little bit of light with you, and though you may face struggles and experience pain and grief, I hope that you remember to cherish the light that each of you possess," Albus says. "Hogwarts is a place of learning, of magic, but it has also been your home, and if you find yourself in need Hogwarts will always been here to welcome you home," Albus says, looking between the students. "As you leave Hogwarts today, I know you will carry with you what you've learnt, but I hope you carry with you the memories you've created during your time here," Albus tells the students. "Each of you have achieved so much and I know as you move through your lives you will continue to achieve incredible things," Albus tells the students. "Take time to celebrate your achievements, feel proud of the people you have become, I know I am. It is our choices that define us and you now face chooses that others who become you haven't, they aren't easy choices, and they aren't enviable, but I believe that each of you have it within you to make the right choice, even if it isn't the easy one," Albus says, looking between the students. "Congratulations Hogwarts Graduating class of nineteen seventy-eight, your future awaits," Albus says and once he finishes speaking the teachers, and the students who aren't graduating clap.
As everyone claps Minerva steps up to next to Albus, waves her wand, and a chest comes flying over the top of the students and lands next to her. Once the chest lands Minerva opens it and reveals that is full of diplomas.
Once it is clear that Minerva is ready Albus starts to call out the students who are graduating, each of the students collect their diploma from Minerva, shake her hand then shake Albus's.
"Sirius Black," Albus says, Sirius being the third student he called for and Sirius gets up, walks up to Minerva where he collects his diploma.
"Congratulations, Mr Black," Minerva says to him.
"Thanks Minnie," Sirius says as he shakes her hand, and Minerva gives him a fond look, showing that she isn't actually annoyed and after shaking hands with Minerva Sirius walks over to Albus.
"Congratulations Sirius," Albus says, shaking hands with Sirius.
"Thanks, Albus," Sirius says and as he returns to his seat he glances at his brother, who is giving him a subtle proud look.
"Amelia Bones," Albus says and just like Sirius she shakes hands with both Minerva and Albus before returning to her seat.
"Edgar Bones,"
"Isaac Bones," Albus says, and after Isaac he says a few more names before finally saying, "Annemie Dumbledore," Albus says, and everyone can hear the pride in his voice.
Feeling like everything is very surreal, that she can't believe that this moment she has pictured for so long has finally come, Mie gets up, walks to the front and to Minerva.
"Congratulations Mie," Minerva tells her, handing her diploma. "You should be very proud of yourself," Minerva tells her.
"Thank you, Minerva," Mie says shaking her hand and after shaking hands with Minerva Mie walks over to Albus.
"Congratulations Annemie," Albus says to his daughter, and rather than shaking her father's hand Mie hugs him. "I'm so proud of you," Albus says, kissing her cheek, as he hugs her.
"Thanks Dad," Mie responds, and after they break apart, Mie walks back to her seat, looking between the teachers, some of whom she imagines are from her time, her friends, Regulus, and Gellert, all of whom are giving her a proud look.
After Mie sits back down, she focuses all her attention on her father and Minerva so that she can watch the rest of her friend's graduate.
"Lily Evans,"
"Frank Longbottom,"
"Remus Lupin," As Remus collects his diploma Mie sees the look on his face and she realises that he can barely believe what is going on, and as he heads back to his seat Mie gives him an encouraging look, offering him the little support she can.
"Mary McDonald," Albus says once Remus is sitting back down in his seat.
"Marlene Mckinnon,"
"Dorcus Meadows,"
"Alora Montgomery,"
"James Potter,"
"Kathleen Redding,"
"Severus Snape,"
"Alice Smith,"
"Emmaline Vance,"
After Emmaline receives her diploma there are three students that follow her before every student who is graduating have received their diploma.
"Congratulations to this years graduating class, Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus," Albus says, and once he does all the seventh years stand up, throw their hats into the air and hug each other.
"Graduates, follow me," Hagrid says, walking down from the teachers desks, and as the younger students applause the seventh years follow Hagrid out of the hall.
After leaving the hall Hagrid leads the seventh years down to the lake where the boats to take them across, just like they did in first year. As everyone waits to climb into the boats Mie looks back at the castle. While it isn't the same Hogwarts as the one where she came from it's still Hogwarts, still the place that changed her so much, and while she knows she will be back in a few hours it will no longer be as a student.
"Mie?" Remus asks concerned and Mie turns to look at him. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I think so," Mie responds. "We did it," Mie says to Remus, smiling slightly.
"Yeah, we did," Remus responds, sticking out his hand for Mie's to take, which she does, and the two of them walk over to the boats where they join Sirius and Amelia in a boat.
"Forward," Hagrid says, and the boats start to move
As the boats move, and the students start to travel across the lake, just like they did so many years ago, Mie looks back and around at her, while she is glad to experience her graduation with her new friends Mie can't help but think about what it would have been like to experience graduation with people from her timeline and she feels an ache in her chest as she thinks about that fact.