Turn the clock back just over seven years, and Stefan Archer, would've appeared very different. The closed off young boy, who barely spoke, who flinched at almost every movement remotely in his direction was very different from the teen that had awoken that morning in the Slytherin common room. The young boy that had somehow managed to have magic had barely anything else, little height, little weight, no money, no love, a barely functioning father, who functioned in a very incorrect way. The bad of his life at the point seven years before far outweighed the good, now, seven years on the reverse was true. Stefan Archer was still monochromatic, he was still pretty skint, but, he was tall, he was in love with a truly stunning girl, and his father was no longer a factor in his life. In the grand scheme of things, the Stefan Archer who was getting dressed on the day of his graduation was a Stefan much, much better of. Little did most realise, how the school had truly saved his life. The teen could vividly remember the winter before the start of his very first term. He had truly believed the entire thing to be untrue. For his father to have decided to play a huge elaborate trick on him, that would end with Stefan feeling even worse than before. No where in his mind, had Stefan ever thought that the trick would not only be untrue, but would lead to this. Sure, he had gotten a little lost along the way, he had drifted away from the path, and his life hadn't really gotten easier as soon as he'd entered school, but he was a graduating Seventh year, and Stefan was certain that if he somehow ended up going back in time and waking up as the eleven year old boy on the day leaving for the school, he would do it all again, exactly as the this time. The young boy that had first stepped through the door of the great hall, sporting a black eye, and a bandaged arm, shaking to his very core had never thought even happiness would be something he would really feel. Or that he would ever actually see thirteen, let alone eighteen. It was funny how time changed things. How even if not as perfect as could be hoped, things had become better. It had been fairly gradual for the Slytherin. Things had gotten really a lot worse before anything had gotten better. He admitted that while he was at a somewhat nice point in his life, it was as shaky as anything. He knew all too well about how one simply seemingly small breathe could cause everything to crumble. He knew too well that feeling that followed. While he was a better person, better off, and happier, Stefan Archer did not kid himself, the next few years would not be some walk in the park. That much he knew. He was sure. He was an Archer after all, and bad luck was part of who he was. It as much a part of him as was the monochromatic-ness.
With few ideas of what his life would really entail after Hogwarts, the teen had thought to keep his options fairly wide open. There were a lot of things to decide, a lot of things to think about. He wasn't sure what kind of adult he was going to be, or what he end up doing, but he knew he had time. He would be all right, that much he knew. Stefan had gotten ready that morning slowly. He had showered, and changed into the best clothes he had. Which still lacked the same smartness as everyone else. Unlike all of them, Stefan wore his usual school trousers, and his usual white school shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and the top button undone. He wore the slightly newer shoes, that looked a lot less worn than the only other pair that he owned. They were thankfully black, so he knew he wouldn't stand out. Well, not as much as he did already. The last part of him getting ready, were finding and putting on his glasses. The clearly outdated glasses, had a prescription suited to his pretty awful eyesight, all thanks to Elliot and Branson Archer. It was like truly seeing everything for the first time in a long while. It was pretty nice. It had to be said. He had spent the most part of the night staring blankly up at the ceiling of his four poster bed. His belongings sat in two bags beside him. The rucksack that had proved useful during his time away from school, and his school bag. Most of the larger items he had taken home in the last break, which albiet hadn't been much. He had spent the minutes waiting to leave for the graduation staring at the two bags. It was funny to him, how his entire life had once fitted into a small plastic bag. Now, he had two, full bags, not plastic. He knew it still wasn't much, but he was okay with that. The memories that sat in his mind more than made up for what he lacked in possessions. It didn't make him sad, or feel awkward as he watched his roommates back away their belongings into suitcases and things of that sort. He hadn't, not in the slightest. While this day was very bittersweet for the Slytherin, he was content. Perfectly content with how things were. How despite this being his last day at the school, it was good, and while he had long thought this day would tear him in two, he was happy to be finally moving on past the point of school. No longer a child. No longer the scared child who thought too little of his own worth. Thought that he would always be doomed to live in the shadows, to fail at everything that he was faced with.
Stepping into the Great Hall, and seeing how politely decorated the hall was, made the Slytherin smile. The ceiling above the rows of chairs had the same sky as the one outside, and because of how bright the room was he had to assume that it was sunny. Stefan took his seat among his fellow graduates. Unlike some of the others, his family wasn't around to support him. Not that his father would've, but, on a whim decision the elder teen had decided to invite his cousin, the only family member so far, to really openly accept him. Without question. So, glancing round at the crowd of people, Stefan noticed the small boy trying to see over the heads of the much taller adults. His cousin seemed to notice him staring at him, and happily waved, Stefan felt the smile on his lips grow, as he turned back to look at the front. All too soon, the ceremony itself began. Having never been to a graduation, Stefan wasn't quite sure what to expect. Wasn't quite sure how all things would play out. He listened, keeping his eyes to the floor. Not really so much as glancing up at the headmistress who was speaking. He smiled as she welcomed the head boy and girl up to the stage. Stefan looked up, and watched the Ravenclaw boy that he didn't know well at all speak. Stefan gave little smiles, knowing that his schooling had been a little different from that of his. As the boy seemed to begin to round off, Stefan looked up at the ceiling. It was something he had done a lot more in the early days of his schooling, just look up at the sky and speak to his mother, obviously in this hall full of people. But, Stefan was smiling at the ceiling, almost asking his mother if she was watching this. If she was proud of him. His heart told him that she was, she had to. He would never know, but he was happy to pretend that she was. He had made a little something of himself. He had actually managed to graduate. Well, not just yet. After the head boy, the head girl followed. Stefan's gazed was lowered and he kept his eyes upon his beautiful girlfriend. The girl who meant absolutely everything to him. It was impossibly to even remotely put into words how much he loved her. He felt nothing but love for her. He felt her words were more true to more people. He felt them. Stefan nodded along with what she said. All to soon, the speechs were wrapped up, and Stefan clapped along with the other students, keeping his eyes on Kate, and smiling brightly at her. A truly happy smile, reaching the blue eyes hidden behind the glasses. What followed was much like the first time they'd ever been at Hogwarts. Stefan knew that his name being Archer, just like in first year. History was somewhat repeating itself.
Stefan didn't feel the same nerves he had when he had first arrived at the school. He didn't have the same fear of getting up in front of all these people and then promptly getting back to his seat. This was the beginning of something that despite a third of what his mind was saying, he felt ready for. His name was called out, his name as he had pressumed one of the first. With one last glance up at the ceiling, Stefan Archer made his way on stage and accepted his diploma. The smile on his face, was unlike Stefan. He knew that maybe he didn't have his parents there to share this day with. Maybe he couldn't sit with them and talk about how incredibly it felt to say that he'd graduated. But, he could almost hear Tybalt. And what he knew for sure, was that he was proud of himself. He was proud he had made it thus far. That he had managed it. Through all the bullsh1t that he had waded through, all the beatings, the harsh words of discouragement. Through the thoughts of his never ending stream of bad luck, or through the false kindness. He had made it. Without the love and support of his parents, without the ability to even tell a person what green, the colour of his house meant. He had made it. He was stepping into a brighter future than his eleven year old mind had never dreamed of. He had made it. The teen took his diploma and walked back to where he was sitting. He clapped politely as each person got there award, clapping ever so slightly for each of the people he considered his friends. For Sara, for Tara, for Kate. He knew without all of them, there was little that he would have achieved. His family really was them. His family were those people he had chosen to befriend. Who hadn't deserted him, or ever made him feel like utter sh1t. Well, Sara maybe had once, but he'd long since forgiven her. Stefan kept his gaze to the front of the hall, soon the list finished, and they had officially graduated. Stefan, like most of the other students went to congratulate the other students. He smiled, and congratulate Tara as she hugged him. Stefan managed to get to Kate, and kissed her lightly. Just as he congratulated her, he heard Tybalt call his name. The younger Archer, managed to quickly worm his way through the crowd and stood in front of Stefan congratulating him, to which Stefan responded by bringing Tybalt into a hug. With his friends by his side, with Tybalt and his new distant family, with his beautiful girlfriend Kate, Stefan was sure that he would be all right. That his Archer awful luck would no longer feel as bad. That there would be more good days than bad. Far more. More good memories than bad. Because he'd made it this far, and this really was only the beginning.
Out of Character: 
