Soul Mate - Chapter 13:
It was time for Hogwarts’ annual year-end feast, but this year felt different.
This gathering carried a weight that went beyond the usual celebration.
Professor McGonagall’s gaze swept over the seventh-year graduates sitting at the head of each
house table. Pride softened her eyes as she rose, a gentle smile gracing her face.
Students, another year has passed. So much has happened,
yet I could not be prouder of how you have carried yourselves.
She paused briefly, letting her eyes linger on each familiar face,
remembering the words she had spoken seven years ago when they had first approached the
Sorting Hat. Perhaps these students would become the most remarkable she would ever teach.
Let the graduation ceremony begin
At her words, the Great Hall shimmered with renewed brilliance.
Hogwarts banners fluttered above, the hall shining brighter than ever.
Students and faculty alike turned their attention to the
floating stacks of diplomas awaiting the student council presidents.
Draco and Hermione approached the podium, prepared to hand out
each graduate’s diploma the moment McGonagall called their name.
It was likely the last official duty they would perform as student council leaders.
The order had never changed in over a thousand years:
Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and last of all, Gryffindor.
Sitting at the long table, Harry felt calm at first, but as one by one his classmates received their
diplomas, a thrill began to build inside him. It was impossible to describe,
a wild mixture of relief, pride, and joy that refused to stay hidden.
His smile grew impossibly wide.
Ron, predictably, was even more expressive, as if he had just won a hundred thousand Galleons.
Gryffindor, Hermione Granger
Nyeve Longbottom
Ron Weasley
…
Harry Potter
The hall fell into a collective hush as Harry’s name was called,
quickly replaced by thunderous applause. Suppressing his excitement,
he made his way to the podium. McGonagall embraced him warmly,
her smile radiating pride.
Harry drew a deep breath and approached Draco,
who already held the diploma out to him with a single word
he had likely repeated countless times that evening.
Congratulations
Thank you
As Harry accepted the diploma, Draco murmured casually,
remember to come to Malfoy Manor in two weeks.
Harry froze. He had nearly forgotten the invitation entirely.
His emerald eyes blinked, but Draco’s expression remained unshaken.
I’ll pick you up myself. You’re still at 12 Grimmauld Place, right
Reluctantly, Harry nodded.
Alright, that’s all. Watch for my owl. Now, go back.
Didn’t you notice everyone else is getting impatient.
Harry swallowed his urge to roll his eyes and returned to the long table,
grumbling under his breath.
Why did it take so long to get a diploma, Ron asked, peering curiously toward Draco.
Did the ferret give you trouble.
No, Harry shook his head, it wasn’t that… oh Merlin’s beard,
he just reminded me of the exact date to visit Malfoy Manor.
Ron gave him a sympathetic look, Harry. Just bear with it.
They wouldn’t make things difficult for their guests, would they,
Probably not, Harry admitted, though memories of encounters with Lucius suggested otherwise.
As for Narcissa, he recalled only the image of a perfect aristocrat:
graceful, composed, elegant.
In no time, the diplomas were all distributed.
Against all odds, every seventh-year graduate had passed, a miracle considering the war.
Not a single student would have to repeat a year.
Once McGonagall announced the cancellation of the House Cup due to the war,
the year-end feast officially began.
Graduates settled in for one last Hogwarts dinner, and students from other years joined in,
laughter and conversation filling the hall.
Harry chatted with friends about plans to keep in touch via owls,
comforted Ginny with the knowledge that summer would separate them for nearly a year.
Do you all feel like this is a dream he asked.
It feels surreal, said Seamus, chewing on a lamb chop.
Like we just went through the Sorting Ceremony yesterday.
I remember being so nervous.
Neville nodded, I felt the same, my hands were shaking back then.
Maybe they’ll shake again tomorrow, Seamus teased,
reminding him of the Ministry carriage that would take them directly to the awards ceremony
Ron groaned, I’ve been worrying about what to wear! Formal attire?
Am I supposed to stroll around in robes worth thousands of Galleons like some aristocrat
Laughter erupted across the table.
Dean glanced toward the Slytherin table, Malfoy will be happy to give you fashion tips.
Every Malfoy is a trendsetter in the wizarding world.
Forget it, Dean! He’ll just mock me in that annoying aristocratic tone.
The room erupted in laughter again. Harry laughed so hard tears nearly came to his eyes.
His gaze instinctively flicked toward Draco, who looked up at the same moment.
Their eyes met briefly. Draco offered a faint, polite smile and
a quick toast before returning to conversation with Blaise.
Harry studied the Slytherins, recalling Pansy and Blaise from yesterday.
Perhaps Slytherins were not what he had always believed.