Disclaimer: The characters belong to JKR, the songs belong to Vitamin C, The Beatles, Celine Dion, and Sarah Mclachlan
Chapter 2
A woman rose from the back of the group. She walked up to the podium with the grace of a model, and the presence of an actor. Her thick wavy black hair was held back with a gold barrette. She had perfect teeth, and perfect features. "I might have not been one of Hermione not Luna's best friends, but I knew them well. My name is Parvati Patil and those who were at Hogwarts with me, thought me quite the gossip queen. I know it was rude of me to make up rumors about Luna, but Luna was bigger than this. She rose above it, and forgave me. Hogwarts has never seen as brilliant a witch as Hermione Granger in many years. We were all so jealous when she went to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum. I have lost my sister Padma, my husband Dean, and my best friend Lavender. These two women kept me getting up each day and living. Thank you." Parvati floated back to her seat and Neville Longbottom rose to say his words.
He had matured over the years, growing out of his chubby face and figure, and adapting a tall muscular look. His face looked pained and tired. With a weary voice, he spoke, "I've known Hermione since I was eleven, and Luna since I was twelve. At home my grandmother raised me, but at Hogwarts, I was raised by my schoolmates. All of them affected how I grew up and made myself who I am. I never would have gotten into N.E.W.T. Potions if it weren't for Hermione. She constantly whispered directions to me in class. I wouldn't know so much about Herbology without Luna. Many a time we just liked to talk about unusual types of plants. I wouldn't be an Auror without the two people we have come together to honor today. It wasn't just them. All of my schoolmates have affected me in ways, big and small. Seamus taught me to think for myself, Dean taught me to play muggle football, Ron taught me how to play some wicked wizard chess, Harry taught me how to disarm someone, and Parvati and Lavender taught me how to dance." There were weak chuckles all around at this. "Although death separates us now, we will always remain loyal friends." Neville returned to his seat, his shoulders shaking.
As we go on, we remember,
All the times we've had together,
And as our lives change, come whatever,
We will still be friends forever.
Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
The blonde man, who had hugged Ginny, rose and strode to the podium. His voice was sure, and his gray eyes were full of emotion. He magnified his voice with a charm. His hair was free of gel and his long hair hung down about his face. The trademark smirk wasn't on his face. Draco Malfoy had been converted to the Light Side. "I used to torment these two girls to no end. When I spoke to them, my voice was full of hatred. Mudblood, Nutter, Buckteeth, I had an abundant amount of names for them. It wasn't until the start of 6th year that I stopped. A major change had occurred in my life. My father had been sent to Azkaban. I was lost, all of a sudden my father figure had disappeared and I could think for myself. I was no longer a puppet. That year, I realized that purebloods were not higher than everyone else, and that muggleborns were sometimes better at magic than I was. Hermione, Ron, Luna, Harry, and Ginny were there to help me find my way, and for that I'm eternally grateful. My, now, girlfriend, Ginny, was best friends with these two girls, so I soon realized that I would have to be as well." When Draco mentioned Ginny being his girlfriend, Ron's face took on a sort of strangled look. He wasn't too happy about his sister and Malfoy. "Later it became less of a have to and more of a want to sort of arrangement. In the last 8 years I have been friends with these two women, I have realized that there is so much more to them than meets the eye. Who ever knew that the Bookworm would save all of our lives? Who knew that Luna was a powerful Seer? I wish I had more time to get to know these two wonderful women, but I don't. Life is short." Draco Malfoy inclined his head regally, to show that he was finished, and backed down from the stand.
You say yes, I say no
You say stop and I say go go go, oh no
You say goodbye and I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
I say high, you say low
You say why and I say I don't know, oh no
You say goodbye and I say hello
The last man from the quartet rose to take his place at the podium. The famous wire-rimmed glasses focused the emerald green eyes, as they threatened to spill over with tears. Long locks of his ebony hair fell across his forehead in an unruly way, covering his scar. The one he was famous for. The former Boy-Who-Lived, Savior of the Wizarding World, humbly walked down the path to the stand. Unconsciously he fiddled with the gold band on the ring finger of his left hand, before he started his speech.
"My fiancé, Hermione, once told me that death was not something to fear; it was something to be embraced. She said that Death was but the next great adventure. Well Hermione, I don't fear death anymore, I fear life without you." Harry Potter took a great staggering breath. "Hermione was what kept me going every day for the past 13 years of my life, as my friend for 6 years, as my girlfriend for 6, and as my bride to be for 1. At night when I had a nightmare, she was there to hug me, when I was upset, she soothed me, she was an angel."
For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through it all
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith; you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
The Boy-Who-Lived; the boy who was always strong; the boy who saved everyone; wept for the girl who had saved him and all mankind. "Mione, why did you take the curse that was meant for me? Why did you give up your life so I could live? Why did you have to be the one to die? We were supposed to be happy and get married, and have children. You were supposed to read them fairy tales, and I was going to spoil them rotten with candy and toy broomsticks." Harry realized he was getting sucked into his emotions, so he released a big sigh. "Remember our first kiss? It was seventh year, and you were helping me with Astronomy on the roof of the Astronomy Tower. I looked at your face as you concentrated on correcting my star chart, and I saw you for the first time. I didn't see you, the bookworm, I saw Hermione, the women that I loved. Before I could help myself, I had bent down and kissed you." Harry cleared his throat. "I won't ever forget how much I love you. How you always thought of your friends before yourself, and how you laughed and smiled. I'll never forget to love you."
I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories,
Weep not for the memories.
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