Y48 Graduation Ceremony: Guests

This graduation hit harder than the one Teddy attended last year. Maybe it was because the students walking the stage weren’t that much older than him and some of them were even his friends. It struck him that it would be him up there in just two short years and that he should probably start paying attention to the speeches because he might have to give one of his own one day. Zerrin went first who Teddy knew him from the Brotherhood and as Fraser’s brother. His speech was solid, but Teddy was thinking about how he’d take his own further. Then came Anisha. He liked Anisha, although her speech didn’t really resonate with him because he tended to do it all and achieve anything he set his mind to, it was still a good speech though.

He sat up straighter as the graduate names were called. A part of him wished there was some sort of magic to graduation like an Un-Sorting Hat, or even better a Career Sorting Hat, something a bit more magical to finish off seven years of magical education. Instead, they just took their diplomas and walked off stage. It felt oddly anticlimactic in a way. Maybe that thought was worth noting down to bring up in any future speech he may or may not have to write. But for now, he clapped for every graduate and called out, “Yeah, Elio!” when Elio crossed the stage, adding a whistle. He cheered for all the Brotherhood members and for Anisha too. There were no graduating Gryffindor Quidditch players but if there had been, he’d have made just as much noise for them. And then it was over. The whole thing had gone by so fast, it felt way faster than last year.

Being back here hadn't been a surprise to Nolan if he was being honest. He wasn't going to pass up the offer of seeing his siblings graduate. This was his second time coming back after graduating from Hogwarts. There weren't a lot of familiar faces around if he was being honest, which wasn't surprising to Nolan as he had graduated long ago. But he and Molly were here to see Conan graduate today, which Nolan was happy to do.

Nolan knew the drill of the graduations by now, as he himself had attended a few graduations before his own as a prefect. He listened to the speeches of the head people, remembering when Molly was up there herself doing her headgirl speech, which felt like yesterday. Nolan was quite proud of his siblings. He did in fact, like both head people's speeches, though every speech he'd heard from previous head people had been quite similar if he was being honest.

It wasn't long before the graduates were able to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. He clapped politely for all the graduates. When he had heard his brother's name, Nolan clapped and cheered loudly for his brother, his chest bursting with pride. He could hear his sister cheering along with him and clapping loudly with him. He chuckled at the face of slight embarrassment his brother had plastered on his face. His brother was now a graduate.

It had been a few years ago since Molly had graduated now, and she couldn't believe she was back again to witness one of her younger siblings graduating. It had been weird being back here and the memories of school and flashed before her eyes as she had entered the great hall for the graduation. She remembered the speech she had given, and to be honest, Molly wasn't sure if she was embarrassed or not by the speech she had given, but that was in the past now, and there wasn't really anything Molly could do.

Molly sat down with her older brother as they waited for the graduation to begin. Molly looked around the room, a few of the professor's she knew or familiar with were still here, a little older than she remembered, but that was to be expected, right? There weren't many familiar faces around, though she recognised a couple. It wasn't long before the speeches of the head people had began and Molly listened to the speeches. They were defiantly better than the speech she had given and she was glad about that.

It was then the graduates names were called to receive their diplomas. Molly clapped for all the graduates and cheered and clapped loudly once Conan's name was called. She was quite proud of her baby brother. He did it! Her baby brother graduated and she was happy for him.

As a prefect, it had been a requirement to attend the graduation, and Marley wasn't sure if she liked that requirement so much. She had attended the graduation last year for her cousin with Teddy, and if she was being honest, she had found it completely boring. But this time around, it had hit her that it wouldn't be long until it was her who would be walking across this stage and wouldn't be attending Hogwarts anymore after that. The thought of that sort of shook Marley to the core, which made her realise that maybe it was a good time to start thinking about what she wanted to do after graduating.

Marley listened to the headpeople's speeches, nodding along and politely clapping when appropriate. She then clapped politely for the graduates as they walked across the stage, cheering extra loudly for those she knew. Marley couldn't believe that the years were coming closer and closer to her graduation. It wasn't too far away if Marley thought about it.

Samantha hadn't attended a Hogwarts graduation in ages, not since her brother had graduated many years ago. It was weird being back to attending graduations now, she had been in the graduates' shoes years ago, and that was her walking across the stage. Sam listened to the speeches and clapped for the graduates as they collected their diplomas, clapping a little louder for the students she had taught. She was quite proud of them, and she knew the students did well.

Watching as the speeches were delivered, Alana could still remember parts of her own Head Girl speech. She smiled to herself at the memory. Clapping politely, the woman glanced around and spotted the top of her son's head. She'd never expected him to be a Head Boy. If she was being honest, she was just relieved he'd made it through his schooling with different results than his father. The woman's smile widened as her son's name was finally announced, clapping heartily for him. She couldn't wait to give him his graduation gift later in the day.

Elise was in an unusual bad mood. She knew Ezra was graduating this year but it never felt quite real until now. She sat in between her aunt and her dad with her arms crossed firmly across her chest. She even had to leave Nyx in her room because apparently 'pets' weren't allowed. She had never known Hogwarts without her brother and while she had been excited to have a few years at home without him, this felt different. He wasn't going off to a different school, he was graduating, he was growing up without her and she didn't like it. She knew he was likely to be at home for a while and they had the school break together but she knew the train in September would sting. She had spent so much time insisting she didn't need him and while she knew she was full capable of standing on her own she didn't want to. Elise didn't pay much attention to the speeches she never did, but as the names started to be called she held her breath. She frowned when Ezra was called and sank lower in her seat despite the elbow from her dad. She didn't feel like clapping so she wouldn't. When it was all over she reached out and clung to her dad's hand, feeling very small as they walked outside.

Indi was trying, and failing, not to feel smug as she walked into the great hall with the rest of her family. She had left Hogwarts knowing she'd return eventually for Anisha and Raafe's graduation, and eventually the twins' too. But there was a special satisfaction she carried with her knowing her sister was going to be giving a speech as Head Girl. She had ever confidence in her sister that she could do it but seeing it all come together was something else. It was funny to think back to their childhood and reflect on just how viciously they would fight. They still did on occasion but now it was more intense debates rather than the hair pulling they did as children. They had both grown a lot and the distance had been good for them as they were able to develop outside of each other's shadow. Now Indi could sit here and feel nothing but pride as Anisha stepped up to the podium. She clapped loudly when she was done and even louder when it was her turn to get her diploma. She made sure to clap for Raafe too who followed in her footsteps like always. Even their names put them in their familar place and she rolled her eyes. If Hogwarts hadn't separated them she was sure the real world would.

Naveen felt like he shouldn't actually be here even though he was explicitly invited and his cousin was even head girl. But he couldn't help but feel like he was going to be asked to leave at any moment. He stayed close to Dhivya as the rest of their large family squeezed into the seats around them. He saw Indi and nudged his sister to sit closer to her as a buffer. He spotted Cyrus a few rows away and waved. For a moment he was surprised to see his friend but remembered his cousin was graduating too. Naveen sat quietly as the headmaster spoke and clapped poltely for the head boy and then for Anisha. It was all kind of boring if he was being honest, but it was kind of exciting to see his cousins walk across the stage. He was a little sad to see them go but he was a little relieved too. He always felt like they were around every corner waiting for him to mess up. When it was all over he sighed in relief and was glad to get out of there because it was one step closer to home for the holiday.

Felix felt odd being back at Hogwarts. He always knew this would happen since he wouldn't miss Thistle's graduation for anything. But there was a sense of surreal-ness that came with returning to a place that once felt so familiar. He had only graduated three years ago and he found himself searching for familiar faces. Suddenly he saw Molly and quickly ducked behind Sawyer's back. He wasn't sure why he was hiding but he felt silly for not expecting to see her. It was her sibling's graduation after all too. Felix desperately took his seat and tried to pay attention to the speeches but quickly gave up. He was pretty sure he vaguely remembered Zerrin and felt a little pride seeing another Hufflepuff on stage. He scanned the waiting seventh years and easily spotted Thistle with her pink hair. She didn't have to wait long before her name was called and Felix stood up to cheer as loud as he could. He was almost tempted to shift into his animagus form but he wasn't sure if people would appreciate a bear in the crowd. He was so proud of her and there was a part of him that felt bad for graduating and leaving her as the solo Carnahan. But now they were all graduated and free. He was traveling all the time with the circus but knowing they could see each other made it easier. He let out one more obnoxious whistle as his sister took her seat again and waited for the whole thing to be over so he could give her a huge hug.

There were few things that truly caught Vera off guard but her nephew graduating was certainly something she wasn't expect to creep up on her so soon. In her head Ezra was barely walking and talking, not about to head into the adult world. It didn't help that she had never been to Hogwarts before. All her siblings had been home schooled and she couldn't help but feel a little wistful about a different life where she had been able to go to a proper school. But staring at the stone walls and drafty space in the great hall made her realize that she'd probably hate it. She sat next to Elise and gave her a sympathetic look that she didn't see. She was never that close to the rest of her siblings outside of Benji and they had never been apart for much of their lives. As the speeches started she couldn't help but think this all was rather stuffy but she clapped politely especially after the students spoke. She could see their nerves and wanted to be supportive. Stage fright was no joke. When she heard Ezra's name she smiled and clapped for him. It made her feel ancient but she was proud of him.

Yvonne felt the usual lightness that came with the end of the school year. With her grading done and responsibilities behind her for a couple months she entered the great hall and took a seat with the other professors and staff. After all these years she had gotten into a comfortable routine, one after the other. Neither head student had been in her class this year but she was happy to cheer them on like she was for all the seventh years. She clapped politely for all the speeches and for all the students who walked just in case they didn't have anyone else. At the end she stood up and stretched as she followed the rest of the crowd out of the hall.