AN: I know some of you aren't too happy with me right now, but I promise it will get better. And reasons for Harry's behavior will be explained. Thanks for continuing to read. Comments are always welcome.
Chapter Twelve: Graduation
(Hermione)
As I stood in front of my entire graduating class, a feeling of extreme loss overwhelmed me. Hogwarts had been my home for the past seven years and to suddenly have it hit you that you were leaving to go and explore other places, was a bit saddening.
I stood at the podium, graciously receiving applause from my fellow students, minus the Slytherins, preparing myself to read my graduation speech that I had been working on all year. Checking for errors at the last minute, I realized I could find not one. It was perfect.
So I cleared my throat, and began.
" Hello my name is Hermione Granger, I am the Head Girl here at Hogwarts. I am very proud to have been offered this position because it gave me a chance to get to know each and every one of you individually. As most of you know, I am a muggle born witch, and when I received my acceptance letter to Hogwarts, I was enamored to know that I would be training with some of the greatest witches and wizards ever to walk this earth. I made some wonderful friends, friends I am likely to never forget, nor do I want to. Many wonderful things have happened to me in the seven years I have been here, things that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I was a little nervous on my first train ride here, don't tell Harry or Ron that, they wouldn't believe you even if you caught my feelings on tape." A little chuckle was heard throughout the crowd. I glanced over at Harry, he was even smiling. I continued. " For the longest time I thought I had to prove myself to everyone, just because I am muggle born, so I studied, relentlessly. Every day and night, again my best friends teased me about it quite a bit, after awhile I learned to ignore it, and even convinced them to study with me, though Quidditch held their interest far more than studying Charms and History of Magic with me. I will never forget this school, and the things it has helped me accomplish. I was accepted into a muggle university and I begin in the fall. Who knows what I will decide after I receive my N.E.W.T scores. I am very proud of each and every one of you, even if I don't show it, or we aren't speaking right now. You have all impacted my life so much that it will take one of Lockharts' memory charms to make me forget you all. Thank you so much for the best seven years of my life."
A hush went over the crowd and I heard the sob of Professor McGonagall ring out through the crowd. I nodded my head, silently thanking everyone once again before exiting the stage and taking my seat next to Lavender. Friends all around me were giving me the thumbs up sign letting me know that it was as good as I hoped it was. I was elated; I had gone out with a bang. I turned around in my seat and saw Ron smiling at me. I blew him a kiss and he pretended to catch it, and then eat it. Some things never change; I thought shaking my head and turning to look absently for another familiar friend of mine. Before I realized that Harry and I weren't talking anymore, I had found his raven hair sticking out like a sore thumb. He was looking at me with a shy smile on his face. How was I able to ignore him when he so silently begged me to forgive him?
I turned my head back to Professor Dumbledore who now was on the stage saying the closing remark, then finally congratulating us and then finally dismissing the seventh years. We all stood up and cheered, slapping our friends on the backs and smashing into them with warm embraces. I ran to where Ron was and jumped on his back hugging him tightly. I was so proud of everything he had accomplished. He managed to get me off of him and turned me around to hug me properly. This is where we were when Harry showed up.
(Harry)
There they were, right in front of me. My two best friends in the entire world. The only people to ever stick by me, and what did I do? I alienated them to have a few weeks of carefree time to myself. Now what I had done was irreversible.
I knew they had seen me, because they both tensed up at my presence. I decided this was something that needed to be done. No matter what I did in the recent past there was no excuse for not talking to them on our graduation day. Seven years of friendship was not something you could just throw away easily.
I plastered a smile onto my face and walked right up to them.
" I wanted to congratulate you on graduating." I said to Ron, who returned my statement with a smile and muttered "Likewise"
I then turned to Hermione.
"Your speech was perfect. You will do great in whatever you chose."
Then I decided to surprise them both and I leaned in and planted a short kiss on Hermiones cheek, turned, shook Rons hand, and left.
That was the last time I had seen them. The look of utter surprise on their faces will forever stay in my mind. I loved them and it hurt me to walk away from them, but I had made my bed and now I had to lie in it. I knew then as I walked away from my best friends, that I would never see them ever again.
(Hermione)
I was surprised to say the least, that he even bothered to come up to us after graduation, but the fact that he did made my heart swell. He still cared about us, about me, somewhat to have come up to us like he did. It was like facing a firing squad, what he did.
Ron wasn't too bothered by it, said it was very big of him to do so. I just nodded his head and followed him closely as we searched for Luna and Ginny. We found them standing with the whole Weasley gang under a tree on the Hogwarts grounds.
" We're all so proud of you two." Mrs. Weasley said as she crushed us together in a hug. I smiled, knowing she was like a second mum to me.
I took turns with Ron making the rounds and hugging every member of his family, and then mine, which was considerably smaller. I couldn't help but think something was seriously missing without Harry here. I thought about whom he would be hugging right now, and became quite sad when I realized he would be hugging nobody. I then banished those thoughts and told myself, this was his choice, before returning to the chitter chatter of the two families talking at once.
"Hermione, you and your family will be coming to the Burrow for dinner tonight, wont you?" Mrs. Weasley asked curiously.
As much as I wanted to, I had other things planned before my start at the university this fall.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley, I have so much to do before I leave in the morning." I respectfully declined. I could sense she was a little distraught about it, but let it go.
After mingling for a half an hour, we finally decided to part ways. As the Weasley bunch prepared themselves to portkey home, my mum and dad and I made our way to the car, where we would enjoy the long car ride home.
My mind reeled with thoughts of Ron and the Weasley's, and graduation, and of course Harry. I knew it would take some time to forget him, but it was time I was willing to take.