If Walls Could Talk by Excalibur

Rating: G
Genres: Drama
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 07/05/2004
Last Updated: 07/05/2004
Status: Completed

You are invited to attend the graduation of the class of 1998 from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry.Based on the challenge Saying Goodbye.




1. Saying Goodbye
-----------------

IF WALLS COULD TALK
“Can you believe it?” She said sadly from the window seat in the Gryffindor common room. “After
today, no more classes, no more tests ... no more Hogwarts.”

Hermione Granger looked out the window towards the school gates. Parents, friends, and officials
from the Ministry of Magic had been pouring through them nonstop all morning. In a few short hours
she, the head girl, and Harry Potter, head boy and savior of the world, would be giving their
commencement speeches. A warm hand landed softly on her shoulder and she didn’t need to look up to
see her famous best friend standing there.

“It is hard to believe, isn’t it?” He said softly. “I’ll be leaving the first place I could
truly call home.”

“Getting away from *Professor* Snape is my lifelong dream! I say good riddance to this
place.”

Harry and Hermione turned towards their red-headed friend, Ron Weasley, and grimaced at his
outburst. He looked at the faces they made and let out a heartfelt laugh.

“Guys, it isn’t the end of the world here. We’re just graduating, there’s more to life than
school. Quidditch, jobs, parties, Quidditch, Quidditch groupies, the Cannons, the Quidditch World
cup ...”

“I think we get the idea, Ron.” Hermione said dryly. “I, for one, am not looking forward to all
the Quidditch that’s awaiting me after graduation.”

Harry chuckled. “I’m going to miss this.” He said simply.

“Hey, why don’t we nip off to the kitchens for something quick to eat before we have to go out
to the pitch?” Ron smiled wickedly.

“Always thinking about your stomach, aren’t you?” Hermione said with a laugh.

“I’d have him no other way.” Harry grinned at Hermione's side.

Ron looked at Harry. “Well what are we waiting for?”

The three friends shared a laugh and set out on their last adventure at Hogwarts. Within seconds
they were standing in front of their common room’s portrait waving to the Fat Lady and on their way
to the staircase.

“You know ...” Hermione said as she looked at the stone walls of the long corridor that lead to
Gryffindor tower. “If walls could talk, what do you think they’d be saying? Do you think they have
a memory?”

Ron let out a laugh. “If they did, I’d blush at what they could tell us.”

Harry smiled at his two friends. “I bet the stories would be something ...”

He stopped and looked down the hall to his right and a smile curved upwards at the corners of
his lips.
* * *
“I’m going to learn the Bogey Hex and put it on both of you if you two get us caught!” Ron
hissed at the two unwanted guests.

“It’s your fault we’re stuck out here!” Hermione spat back. “If Filch, his cat, or one of the
professors catch us we could get *EXPELLED*!”

“I just forgot the password and nobody would let me in.” Neville simpered.

Harry stopped suddenly and held out a hand. “I thought I heard something ...”
* * *
“Harry?” Hermione had taken hold of his arm. “Are you ok?”

He smiled again and shook his head. “I’m fine.” He looked at the woman standing next to him and
let out a soft laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“I just noticed how much you’ve changed since first year.” He said simply and wrapped an arm
around her shoulders. “Remember that ‘duel’ that Malfoy tricked us with in first year?”

Hermione laughed. “I was ready to kill you two that night. I was so worried that we’d be
expelled.”

Ron grinned. “Well, the only thing we found was Fluffy and I couldn’t understand how you thought
being expelled was worse than being ripped apart by a three headed dog.”

They all laughed and started down the corridor again. The stairs were cooperating with them
until the set they were on deposited them at that self same third floor landing. Harry shook his
head at the coincidence and continued to the next floor.

They were walking past the Great Hall when Hermione looked into the cavernous room and her eyes
clouded for a moment.
* * *
“You solved it! You solved it!” She yelled happily as she ran between the Hufflepuff and
Gryffindor tables. Harry and Ron turned around to see their re-animated best friend dashing at
them.

Harry caught her in a tight embrace and laughed happily. “We never could have done it without
you!”

“Brilliant clues you gave us, Hermione!” Ron said as he hugged her nervously.

Hermione laughed merrily at the complements and sat with her best friends when Justin
Finch-Fletchley walked up and pumped Harry’s arm.

“I’m sorry I doubted you, Harry.”

“That’s ok, Justin, I’m glad you’re back with us.”

“It’s good to be back.”
* * *
“Which time?” Harry asked quietly.

Hermione stirred at his words and smiled at him. “Oh, second year.” She whispered.

Ron shook his head. “Is this going to be a trip down memory lane or are we going to get
something to eat? I’m famished here!”

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Harry with her ‘Why do we put up with him?’ look. Harry
could do nothing but laugh at Ron’s attempt to lighten the mood as his second friend in the
wizarding world smiled goofily and skipped down the stairs.

“Shall we follow?”

“Right behind you, Hermione.”

Ron had gotten ahead of them slightly faster than they had anticipated and was already tickling
the pear that hid the entrance to the kitchens. “Come on, slow pokes!” He shouted impatiently and
stepped into the kitchen.

Harry and Hermione arrived just in time to see their gluttonous friend finish of a plate of
scones and start to work on a ham sandwich.

“Ron, you are the most disgusting eater I’ve ever seen!” Hermione snorted in derision at the
sight before them. “Are you ever going to fill up that bottomless pit of a stomach you’ve got?”

Harry laughed and pulled up a stool for her to sit on and waited for her to join them in their
impromptu feast. After she was seated, he joined his friends at the table and filled her goblet
with chilled water and handed her an apple.

“Thanks, Harry.” She said with a smile which he returned. He went to his previous task of
choosing the best pear from the bowl of fruit in the center of the table and smiled again when she
handed him a goblet of pumpkin juice.

“Thanks.” He said happily and bit into the yellow fruit.

The three of them ate in silence and watched as the house elves went about their tasks in a
hurried, yet calm manner. The wizarding wireless was playing a new song by Celestina Warbeck that
was a remake of an old muggle hit that Harry recognized.

“Hey, isn’t this music from Breakfast Club?” He asked Hermione after he’d swallowed the last
bite of his snack. “Don’t you forget about me ... hmm hmm hmm” Hermione laughed as he hummed the
rest of the lyrics. “I don’t remember much other than that first part.” He said with a grin.

Hermione listened for a moment and then smiled as she’d deciphered the lyrics from the strange
way that the wizarding rock star had been singing them. “I think it is, actually.” She said with a
smile.

Ron chuckled. “Breakfast Club? It is kind of fitting since we’re in the kitchen and all ...”

“Not that kind of club.” Hermione said with a sigh. “It’s the title of a muggle film, Ron.”

Harry smiled. “The only thing breakfast about that film is the time of day they have to serve
detention.”

Hermione looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, I saw it, the film that is.” He smiled quickly. “Uncle Vernon didn’t know I could see the
television in the mirror over the mantle when I had my cupboard door open a crack.”

Hermione’s inquisitive look turned to one of disgust. “Honestly, Harry, I’m so glad you don’t
have to go back to that horrible place this summer.”

Harry shrugged. “Luckily there’s no need to anymore.” He winked at her playfully and tapped his
watch. “We should go finish getting ready, we have speeches to give and a graduation to
attend.”

“You two go on ahead, I’ll be right up.” Ron said around a mouthful of pumpkin pie.

Harry smiled again and got to his feet before Hermione could then made his way to the door. With
a smile he opened it for his best friend. Hermione grinned and stepped through the doorway as Harry
turned back to Ron. “Hey, don’t be too long. You don’t want your Mum to go into a fit if you’re
late ...” With a laugh at Ron’s reaction, Harry stepped into the hallway and set off with Hermione.
They quickly made their way to the Gryffindor common room and set off to their respective dorm
rooms to change into their graduation robes.

Harry opened the door and crossed to his bed but instead of changing looked around the room
quietly.
* * *
“Harry? Harry, are you awake?” Ron whispered from the side of his bed.

“Wassit?” Harry asked sleepily. He was just having a wonderful dream involving Hagrid, Dudley,
and a pig’s tail.

“Happy Christmas!” Ron replied with a grin.

“Happy Christmas, Ron!” Harry said with a sleepy smile. He reached for his glasses and put them
on as he sat up.

“Well, are you going to just sit there or are you going to open your presents?”

“*I’ve* got *presents*?” Harry asked incredulously.

“Of course you’ve got presents, what did you expect, turnips?” Ron said in a strange voice as if
Harry had suddenly grown two additional heads to match Fluffy. “It’s Christmas, why wouldn’t you
have any? I think Mum sent you one of her knitted sweaters. Yep, right there next to that other
package.”

Sure enough, when he got out of bed and looked atop his trunk, there was a small pile of wrapped
gifts. The green Weasley sweater Ron had just mentioned with a tin of homemade fudge, a box of
Chocolate Frogs from Hermione, wooden flute from Hagrid, and a peculiar cloak from someone
else.

“Whoa! That’s really valuable!”

“What is it?”

“Put it on, it’s an invisibility cloak!”

Harry pulled the cloak over his shoulders and wrapped the loose ends around his front. “I can’t
see my body!”

A note fell to the floor and Ron’s eyes went wide. “There’s a note! What’s it say?”

“It-It’s my father’s cloak ... who sent it?”

Harry hurriedly stuffed his invisibility cloak under his sheets when Fred and George opened the
door shouting happy Christmas.
* * *
“Harry?”

“Oh, hi, Ron.” Harry said with a grin.

“Don’t tell me ... remembering something again?” Ron said dryly.

Harry laughed. “My first real Christmas.” He admitted with a lingering dreaminess in his
eyes.

Ron shook his head and chuckled. “I’m just looking forward to getting out of these robes and
away from this school as quickly as possible.”

Harry smiled at his red-headed friend. “There has to be some good memories that you’ve got of
Hogwarts, Ron.”

Ron smiled. “A few, but I’m not going to dwell on them. I know I’m going to make more when I’m
out of here.”

The two young men finished dressing for the ceremony that was just under a half hour away and
they descended the stairs to wait for the third member of their pack.

Ron looked as bored as he always did when they waited for Hermione to finish getting ready. As
the years had gone by, she’d been taking increasingly longer amounts of time as she began to
discover the wonders of being a woman, makeup, matching clothing, coordinated colors, and the
perfect hairdo. Harry couldn’t remember how many containers of Sleekeasy’s his bushy-haired friend
had gone through over the years.

He looked over at Ron and smiled at the wistful look in his eyes. The red head was staring at
the bulletin board and had a goofy grin plastered on his face.
* * *
“Harry I did it, I’m keeper!” Ron beamed at him as he spilled butterbeer down his front from his
sloshing goblet.

“What? That’s brilliant, Ron!” He said as he tried to smile genuinely for his friend. With his
bleeding hand and pounding heart, however, he wasn’t too focused on celebrating at the moment.

“Where’s Hermione?” Ron asked as he pressed a butterbeer into Harry’s hand.

“She’s over there.” George said as he pointed to the sleeping girl. She was holding a drink
precariously in her hands as she dozed peacefully in an armchair by the fire.

After talking to a few of his teammates, Harry sat next to her and she jumped when he put his
bag down. He remembered telling her about Umbridge and could clearly recall the worried look on her
face when she suggested that ‘You-Know-Who’ was controlling the new teacher. There was a slight
argument about his scar and telling Dumbledore but there was also something else ... something that
he heard in her voice ...
* * *
“You ready to go, Harry?” Hermione asked quietly and he jumped when she touched his hand. “Are
you ok? Ron was acting kind of strange when I got down here too.”

Harry smiled at her and glanced around her face quickly. “Yeah, I’m fine.” He let out a soft
laugh when the look of concern crossed her face. “I was just remembering when Ron made keeper
...”

Ron laughed nervously for a moment. “You too, huh?” He cleared his throat and looked around the
common room. “Well, let’s get down there, shall we?”

Hermione shook her head and grinned. “Let’s.” She said simply and the three of them linked arms
and headed to the Quidditch pitch where the stands had been transfigured into many rows of white
chairs for the friends, family, and visitors to this year’s graduation ceremony. Ron peeled off and
headed for the line of Gryffindors on the outskirts of the pitch leaving Harry and Hermione to walk
hand-in-hand to the stage at the end of the pitch that captured a view of Hogwarts behind them.

When the graduation music began, the graduating class took their seats just after the professors
and the head boy and girl took theirs. Dumbledore stood at the enchanted podium and spoke loudly
and clearly, imparting words of wisdom to the newest members of the wizarding world. With a round
of applause, he stepped aside and motioned for Hermione to step forward.

She looked nervously to Harry and seemed to visibly relax at the soft, tender smile he shot her
way and the quick squeeze of her hand as she stood up. Once at the podium, she made eye contact
with everyone silently before she cleared her throat.

“Ladies, Gentleman, friends, family, and respected guests,” She started with a shaky voice.
“I’ve spent seven long, wonderful years at this school and somehow managed to survive all the
excitement, adventures, danger, and yes, the tests that I’ve had to confront here.” There was an
outbreak of laughter and a few whistles of encouragement. She smiled and continued. “When I found
that I was accepted at this prestigious school, needless to say, I was elated because it finally
explained why I was able to blow up my cousin’s doll collection.” Again an outbreak of laughter
with many knowing nods from her classmates. “But I was terrified mostly. Terrified that I wouldn’t
fit in or was smart enough or brave enough. My sorting ceremony hinted that I had the legendary
Gryffindor courage deep inside but it was my friends and classmates that brought that courage to
the forefront.

There have been losses, gains, pain, and relief the past several years mostly at the hands of
one evil man. I discovered during my first escapade as one of the ‘Dream Team’ that it didn’t take
books and cleverness to make a great wizard but friendship and bravery. The ensuing years as I
watched my fellows grow and become powerful practitioners of magic in their own right: Neville
Longbottom, Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, and dear Rubeus Hagrid, may they rest in peace. I found that
with these friendships there was one thing that connected us all: The future is uncertain and life
one great mystery. Why did my friends have to die during the war? Some would call it fate, others
destiny, and yet others would call it courage. I say they were indeed brave, selfless, and more
importantly, they were great. With respect to my best friend, a name doesn’t make you great.” There
was a roar of laughter and Hermione quickly glanced back with a wink to Harry. “It’s your deeds and
the responsibilities that you shoulder to make this world a better place that sows greatness.

From this day forward, I see many of my fellow classmates step into the future without the fear
of a Dark Lord repressing their imagination or creativity. I see a group of young minds eager to
make this world a better place and to carry on with keeping the peace for their friends, their
family, and others they have yet to know. Before me are some of the greatest witches and wizards
that will ever grace the history of the world, both wizarding and muggle and I’m grateful to have
spent these past seven years in their company. Thank you.”

The assembly thundered with applause and Hermione waved and smiled to them all. As she returned
to her seat, Harry caught her in tremendous hug.

“Now what can I say after that?” He whispered quietly in her ear.

She looked at him with a smile. “We’ll just have to see, won’t we?”

Harry grinned and took his place at the podium to much applause and the flashes of cameras. He
smiled nervously at his mentor and then looked out over the seeming sea of people in front of
him.

“Thank you for those wonderful words, Hermione.” He said with a smile back to her. “And thank
you all for attending another graduation at this esteemed school. When I first heard of the
wizarding world my first reaction was to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. Like most muggles,
I knew nothing of what awaited me, much to my amazement and the amusement of several of my friends
and classmates. Over the years, I’ve seen my share of loss: Cedric Diggory, Sirius Black, those who
Hermione had mentioned, and many others. For the longest time I was lost, not knowing what I was
supposed to do, where to go, or how to do it. With the wide experience of the professors here at
Hogwarts, I was given direction, guidance, consolation, friendship, and a sense of family. These
people sitting behind me, and the ones sitting in front of me became my new family when in reality
mine were lost to me years ago. I look at the greatest people on this planet, filled with a sense
of wonder at how they were able to put their prejudices behind them and come together to help
defeat Voldemort. I still see that some of you flinch at his name.” A few pockets of laughter
erupted from the Gryffindor section that spread to the rest of the people in attendance. Harry
smiled and waited for them to quiet down once again.

“A wise man once told me that fear of a name only increases the fear of the object itself. That
same man taught me that the choices we make are what define us and guide us to who we are and who
we will become.” He glanced at Dumbledore with a look of pride and received the same in return.
Harry then turned back to the assembly before him. “I see before me a future where choices will be
made, both good and bad but choices none-the-less. I see the friends, family, and rivals seated
before me that will take the world by storm and redefine it into a place where fear, prejudice,
war, and hopelessness will become things of legend and myth. There was a song in the muggle world:
Everybody Wants to Rule the World. That is the truth and we’ve all seen it first hand. But as I
stand here now, I see the future rulers of the wizarding world: Professors, ministers, solicitors,
Aurors, and researchers. But for the most part, I see those who will truly make this world a better
place, I see the future parents of the next generation of Hogwarts students. The chance I had to
know mine was a fleeting moment, one that brought me unwanted fame I did not deserve. With the
threat of Voldemort gone, I see a bright future where all children will have the chances that I
plan to share with mine. Class of 1998, welcome to your life!”

Applause roared through the hushed silence of Harry’s speech and with a smile and a wave he
turned to his seat. His eyes fell to Hermione’s as he began to walk and his cheeks took on a
distinctly reddish hue. Her smile was wide and her eyes were twinkling. He seemed to be in a daze
as she pulled him into a hug that he suddenly realized was one of the things he loved most. His
eyes clouded over and he looked into her eyes as they pulled apart. She wasn’t smiling anymore. Her
lips were slightly open and her eyes were the most magnificent color he’d ever seen.

Harry Potter lost himself in those deep swirls of chocolaty brown and before he could think
straight, he found his lips on hers. The howls and cheers of the crowd died down and he felt that
they were the only two there. The beating of their hearts, the warmth of their skin, the slight
dizziness he felt as she held him tighter, and the elation that he’d suddenly realized
something.

The sound of the crowd roared back to life like a gale force wind that sprang out of nothingness
and Harry pulled back to gauge the reaction of the woman in front of him. She was blushing
profusely but the smile on her face washed away any doubts he had about her feelings for him. With
a grin of embarrassment, he offered her the seat she’d been occupying then took his own after she
had done so. Her hand tightened around his as they heard the names of the students being called for
their diplomas.

“Terry Boot ... Mandy Brocklehurst ... Lavender Brown ... Michael Corner ... Justin
Finch-Fletchley ... Seamus Finnigan ... Anthony Goldstein ... Hermione Granger ... Daphne
Greengrass ... Wane Hopkins ... Megan Jones ... Ernie Macmillan ... Draco Malfoy ... Pansy
Parkinson ... Padma Patil ... Parvati Patil ... Harry Potter ... Dean Thomas ... Lisa Turpin ...
Ronald Weasley ... Blaise Zabini ...”

There was applause and laughter as each student rose to take their diploma and shake the hand of
the Hogwarts headmaster. When Harry, Hermione, and Ron’s names were called, the noise levels seemed
to go a few decibels higher for the savior of the wizarding world and the friends who helped him
achieve what was thought to be impossible.

Dumbledore smiled and gazed over the students and then the thousands of people in the stands in
front of him. With a clearing of his throat, the old wizard raised his hands and shouted to the
world. “Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you: The Class of 1998!”

Hats shot into the air in a reverse rainstorm of pointed black felt and gravity proved its
existence once again when they returned to the outstretched, cheering hands of the young men and
women who were now embarking on a new journey that would take them to the rest of their lives.

If walls could talk, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would have much to say about the
goings on of the young people who have inhabited its halls and rooms for the past thousand years.
And in a thousand years the school will welcome to its warm and inviting atmosphere more ‘Dream
Teams,’ school rivals, saviors, and heroes. But most of all, those who leave those sacred halls of
learning will embark upon a new life enriched with the tales of those who had graced those same
halls so many years ago.
* * *
*6 Years Later*

Parvati Patil and Terry Boot are happily married with two beautiful children. Parvati has gone
on to train Aurors and Terry is in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department at the Ministry of
Magic.

Lavender Brown spent several years abroad with Seamus Finnigan before they were married in Las
Vegas. Lavender returned to Hogwarts as the new Divination teacher where she receives as much
respect as Professor Trelawney. Seamus is the new flying instructor and Quidditch coach for the
school.

Justin Finch-Fletchley went on to become a muggle actor and has appeared in several box office
hits. He currently resides with Megan Jones in Scotland where they are planning their upcoming
wedding.

Ernie Macmillan is currently an Auror working with Draco Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson married and divorced over the span of three years. They have
two children and are currently in counseling to repair their marriage.

Dean Thomas and Ginny Weasley were married soon after Ginny graduated the following year. They
both live at the Burrow with Mrs. Weasley and their son. Dean went into advertising and designs
adverts for various wizarding magazines and Ginny has become a top clothing designer in both the
muggle and wizarding sectors of high fashion.

Albus Dumbledore retired two years later and has remained a staunch supporter for Hogwarts and
its new headmaster Minerva McGonagall.

Severus Snape is still the Potions Master of Hogwarts and has received several Orders of Merlin
First Class for developing the cures for the Longbottoms and other mentally insane patients of St.
Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Ronald Weasley stopped running after two years and let Luna Lovegood catch up to him. Their
wedding was held the following year and the couple is expecting their first child in four months.
Ron’s support of the Chudley Cannons was so fanatical that they finally signed him on as keeper and
Luna currently presides as the assistant editor for various wizarding world tabloids and magazines
for Quibbler, Inc.

Harry Potter and Hermione Granger disappeared from the wizarding world for five years following
their graduation. They reemerged at the Weasley wedding and soon after exchanged their vows on the
grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Nine months later, James Robert Potter and
Lily Molly Potter were born followed by much fanfare from friends and family. The couple has been
working at their beloved school as the Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms professors
respectively. They are currently expecting their third child rumored to be christened Rubeus
Neville Potter.

**A/N:**Well, there were a few things left out of the challenge. Seeing as I really do not
like songfic at all I just mentioned the required two. At this point in the game, I decided to skip
over any confrontation that Hermione and Ron would have about dating, they've grown and are
beyond those residual feelings in this one-shot. I gave Harry a speech as well, since there were
some things I thought should be said that Hermione wouldn't have. I hope you all liked this
little bit of inspiriation!

KUDOS For finding the gratuating zombie! :) OOPS (Susan Bones ... heh)