Graduation 2041

[Justin Cliffeton]

Professor Justin Cliffeton had a lot of fond memories as he stood at the head of the Great Hall for one of the most important events for the Seventh Years. He remembered his own graduation, when he had stood in this expect spot and given his Head Boy speech, and he couldn't help but recall what a bittersweet kind of moment that it had been for him. There was a lot to think about in this moment, because all of the students that you had spent the last seven years with were leaving, but they were moving on with their lives and going into the larger world.

Once everyone was seated, the Deputy Headmaster made his way to the front of the stage, and a smile crossed his face as he faced the crowd. "Welcome parents, guests, and most importantly, graduates. Thank-you to everyone who made it here to join us in celebrating and honouring the graduating class of 2041." Justin focused his attention on the students graduating, for a moment. "Graduates, remember that this is not the end, it is simply the beginning. You are going into a world where anything is possible, so dream big, and work hard. I'd now like to welcome up our Head Students, Clara Antolini and Vladimir Zhefarovich." Justin finished before moving away from the podium and clapping for Clara and Vladimir.

Out of Character: Important Information

This thread is for Graduates and Speakers to post in. Guests and Spectators can post in the 'Guest' topic.

 

[Clara Zhefarovich]

It was Graduation Day. Clara couldn't believe it. She had actually made it through seven years at the school. She'd even gotten through the year being Head Girl. If someone had told her when she first entered the school that she'd be Head Girl, there was no way Clara would have believed them. Even at the end of the previous year, she wouldn't have. When Clara first got told about her position, she thought it had to be some kind of a joke. She was so sure it was. She didn't know what was so great about her, why she would be chosen out of all the other options. Clara had grown the most during her Seventh Year, she had learned a lot of things, and not only things that were taught in the classes. There was still a hole in her heart from Lucien, and though she had spent her time grieving their break-up, Clara tried not to think about it, especially not today; it was emotional enough. Besides, the blonde had an idea on how to get her ex back.
The Head Girl took her seat, and fiddled nervously with her hair. Clara had re-written her speech a million times, always certain that it wasn't good enough, but she could never seem to find anything that was. Finally the day had come, and she just had to bite the bullet and go with what she had written. Her stomach was a bundle of nerves, and she wished she had asked one of the nurses for a calming draught. Instead, Clara took in a couple of deep breaths, trying to focus on what the Deputy Headmaster was saying. It was a pity that this year didn't have their Headmistress with them, but Professor Cliffeton was just as good and just as cool, and that was something Clara couldn't focus on. She wondered if she'd ever see half of these people again. She'd never been any good at keeping friendships, but she knew that a lot of people never saw their school friends again after they left school. It was a terribly sad thought, but somewhat calming; if she mucked up her speech, she'd not have to see anyone again.
Before Clara knew it, her's and Vladimir's names were being called. The Hufflepuff patted her robes as she stood up, licking her dry lips as she made her way to the podium, only hearing her heart beat in her ears. Don't trip, don't trip. Thankfully, the blonde made her way without any incidents. Clara cleared her throat slightly, taking out her speech, and starting with a smile. "Greetings friends, family, Professors, and my fellow graduates. I know speeches can be tedious, long, and somewhat boring, so I'll promise to keep this short." Also the fact that she had no idea what to write for it. "C.S Lewis once said "There are far, far better things ahead, than any we leave behind"." A muggle author, and though some would be angry with that knowledge, Clara had never been one to discriminate. "Leaving school is sad. Well - for most of us. We're leaving behind our friends, our memories, our home for the last seven years. Hogwarts New Zealand has taught us so much, our friends, our Professors, they have all been such a big influence in our lives and in helping us to grow up. I doubt any of us will ever forget the experiences we've had, the friendships we've made, or the madness that Hogwarts has brought us. But it's time for us to move on, and as Lewis said, there are better things ahead for us. Leaving Hogwarts New Zealand is the next great adventure. We'll get to meet new people, have new experiences, make new memories. Our time on this crazy planet we call home isn't infinite, so we should focus on the here and now, and not be sad about the things left behind. It's time for us to be happy, because we did it! And we've gained so much. But it's also time for us to be excited for the things to come. My advice to you is, don't stop learning. Don't stop living. Never hold back. Find the joy in everything you do, be kind to others, be kind to yourself. Do what you love, with the people you love. Congratulations, class of 2041. It's been an honor to grow with you." Clara finished, with a sigh of relief. She knew she needed to listen to her advice as much as anyone else in the room. Her final duty as Head Girl done, Clara stepped back, a smile on her face, her nerves gone, as she clapped for the Head Boy.

 

[Vladimir Zhefarovich]

Graduating was not a very big achievement for Vladimir Anton Zhefarovich. In fact, this was just a little obstacle that he had to endure before he would ascend into his throne in the Zhefarovich Family. That meant more to him than anything else. He was still bitter about the fact that they lost to Ravenclaw, just barely, when it came down to Quidditch. Yes, he would remain bitter because he led a great team for years. But it somehow blew up in his face and he was not happy about it. Oh well, he had better and bigger things to worry about. That included the birth of his daughter, that would soon arrive. Vladimir clasped his hands together as he waited for his turn to make a speech that he did not prepare. There was nothing worse than giving a speech to those that he thought were greatly inferior to him. Vladimir thought that there was no way in hell he would bother giving a long speech about his past, accomplishments, nothing of the sort. Instead, all he wanted to do was to say a little something, and call it a day. He was not going to waste his time on lesser beings. He will let people know in his own way what he thought, which should be clear as day. It was obvious with the way he carried himself. Vladimir had such pride within himself, that it was just oozing out of his pores. The way he held his head even. It said nothing but pride.

It was his turn for his speech. Walking up to the podium, Vladimir approached it, with his black robes fanning around his legs as he did so. His hands rested on each side, and his onyx eyes fell over the entire audience. His stare was cold, empty, like it normally was. He had the stance of a leader. From their position, he may not have anything to be proud of, because he would be a teenage father, and his team was in second place, but they did not know his life outside of the school. Everything he did, he did for one reason. His family. Vladimir sighed, knowing that the audience was expecting something lengthy and prepared, when in fact, it was neither. “I do not want to waste my time, or yours. Thus, I’ll keep it short.” Vladimir paused, as if he said a lot which was not true at all. “The future is out there, just don’t let it leave you scorched in the end. So, good riddance.” Vladimir knew that this was a reference to someone in the school being set on fire, but it was a saying that he could not resist. Vladimir stepped away from the podium, and went back to his place, so that he could finally get his diploma. That, and probably take Belladonna to the Zhefarovich Manor, where they could await the birth of his child. Although, maybe that was too much. Perhaps just stay at his father’s house for a while. His father was more accepting. For now, graduation. Later, the rest of his life.
​

 

[Justin Cliffeton]

Professor Justin Cliffeton loved this day more then all of the others, and since Ava was away having a planet baby, it meant that he was able to be in charge. As the Head Boy and Head Girl made their speeches, he couldn't help but be brought back to when he had given his own speech in this very hall. That day had been a very proud day for him, but at the same time it had been a very sad day as well. He smiled as Vladimir finished up his own speech, and rised from his seat to begin the rest of the ceremony.

Glancing at the two, he smiled, "Thank you both for your kind words. I'm sure that your graduating class will take them to heart as you all move forward together into a new part of your lives." Justin didn't want to scare them, but he knew that the world they were going to step into would be very difficult for them, but he knew they would rise to the challenge. Turning to the seventh years now, he smiled once again. "Seventh Years! When you hear your name, please step forward and receive your certificate." He said, and he began calling out the names.

 

[Lux Hamilton]

Lux was relieved to be finally leaving Hogwarts after these long seven years of being trapped here with some of the strangest people she'd ever met. It had been why she'd kept to herself for the most part but it didn't hurt to be friendly now so there she was sitting in her graduation robes, both trying to remember and forget the great hall she currently sat in. She had been to one graduation prior to this and the speeches had been interesting there but she hoped that students in her year would have learned not to be so awkward. She knew that speeches weren't the forte of everyone but it really couldn't be that difficult to spew out some inspirational crap. There seemed to be an attempt by the head girl but for Lux it fell flat so she simply rolled her eyes at the pair of them, attempting to be nice about it at the same time because it would do no one any good if she started a fight on their last time at this school.

Lux waited through all the names being called, most of them she didn't actually know as there were many people graduating but she hoped that it would go quickly enough because she desperately wanted to sneak out of here early with her friend to go to a party. She deserved this much after dealing with the rest of Slytherin house. It didn't help, too, that all Lux wanted to do was to put her hair up and out of her face but it was curled nicely as a stark contrast to her every day looks. If anything it would prove to her little sister that she wasn't always such a tom boy. Truth be told, however, Lux desperately wanted to get out of this dress and shoes and into a pair of jeans and runners. Luckily though she had a purse under neath her seat with just that to help her escape the festivities early once she'd gotten her diploma.

"Hamilton, Lux."

The blonde graduate teetered towards the stage anxiously in her heels. As much as she had practiced walking in them it was foreign to the athletic girl but there was simply no way she was going to allow the ceremony to go on for very long due to her own outfit choices. When she reached Professor Cliffeton, Lux smiled at him and said, "Thank you." She shook his hand briefly while accepting her certificate then walked off the stage. It was done, now. She could begin her life.

 

[Emilee Styx]

Graduation was finally here and Emilee was relieved to finally be leaving. Though she was sure there were some aspects she would miss, her siblings were not some of them. She'd been trying to get away from them for years, succeeded and then managed to get dragged back into the fold again. Now she was finally able to get away from them and hopefully that would be the end of that. She noticed that many of her house mates and other seventh years had dressed up for the occasion, but Emilee simple wore her dress robes as she really saw no benefit to dressing up. Besides, all it was would be her walking across the stage after he name was called. Very simple and who liked parading around in a party dress just for something simple like that. It seemed kind of pointless to her, she didn't have anyone she wanted to impress. She impressed all of the people she wanted to impress a while ago. So it really didn't matter to her what she wore and sitting in the back rows of the graduation, because her name was one of the last on the list. As soon as the speeches started, Emilee tuned right out. She didn't care what they had to say, though she knew that Clara would probably say something uplifting and hopeful, Merlin these people were bubbly.

After what felt like hours, the speeches were over, though she was sure it was all due to the head girl, she couldn't imagine Vladimir being particularly bubbly. Not that she cared either way, all she cared about was herself... and Bothizar was in there too. She was waiting patiently to hear her name and the moment she did she stood up and moved to receive her official testament to graduation. Now that she was done, she didn't have to worry about school or anything else. She was officially a graduate.
​

 

[James Adams]

James was totally not crying. There were absolutely and categorically no tears whatsoever. He smiled as he realised that he couldn't deny it: yes, there were tears. He may be holding them back, but his eyes were certainly moist as he looked around at his surroundings. There was his dorm room, some of the beds tidy, some not so, and there were also the memories. As he gazed around, he was thankful that the room was empty, because he didn't really want anyone to see him like this. He would forever cherish his memories of this place, he knew that, and so as he looked at himself in one of the floor standing mirrors, he dabbed away a tear near the corner of his eye, straightening the collar of his silk dress robes with his other hand. He looked smartly turned out, and he did a small pirouette to admire the flare of his robes. Then he started to laugh at how ridiculous he must look. Smoothing his black hair down once more, he had a last sweep of his eyes around the room, attempting to remember all the details that he never wanted to forget, before heading for the door.

On his slow way down to the Great Hall, he stopped at a few of the portraits and had a chat to one or two that he knew well, wondering whether he would ever see them again; he doubted it, despite his yearning to come back and help around the school. Jobs were few and far between, and he hadn't exactly kept up most of his classes to NEWT level to even attempt to justify applying for a teaching post. He smiled at a few of the people he saw on his way down, most younger students for whom graduation was still a long way off yet, talked to a member of the Quidditch team, but otherwise just took in the splendour of the establishment. It amazed him how wonderful the buildings looked in the warm sun through the windows, and he was unsure just how he had managed to miss so many of the beautiful features of the castle. Instead of taking his usual shortcut straight down to the Great Hall, he decided on taking the main staircase, once or twice meandering through the long corridors that he would so desperately miss. After seven years of his life, this place would always feel like home, no matter where he decided to set that up. Then he began to wonder who he might set it up with, and thus his thoughts turned predictably to Dominique. He had of course invited her by owl, but he had yet to see if she had turned up, and where she might be if she had. He had yet to forget her beautiful features, but he did miss her humorous quirks that made her such an amazing person to be around. Despite himself, he felt an urge to quicken his steps, hoping that he might catch her before the ceremony itself began.

Entering the Great Hall, he was struck by a wave of noise and commotion, last minute preparations being made, and the seats beginning to fill up with guests. Looking around, he tried to spot Dominique's blonde hair, but he was unable to catch sight of it over the heads of the crowd. Taking his seat in one of those reserved for graduates, he looked around at those nearby. They were sorted alphabetically, and he didn't know any of those nearest him particularly well, but he nodded and smiled, recognising at least one by name and the others by sight. As Professor Cliffeton walked on and the Hall quietened, James listened intently, his natural curiosity to hear what was being said overruling any boredom that be might have felt. In reality, it wasn't boring this graduation scene, it was gripping and emotional, and he felt a fresh wave of tears threatening to break through. He wasn't given to emotional outbursts much, but this was too sad a moment to not well up, even very slightly. As the Head Girl Clara took over, James felt a stirring of recognition at the phrases she used: certainly 'madness' seemed to apply to him. He looked back on the last few years and smiled ruefully at the havoc he may have caused. There had been the food fight, of course, taking precedence at the beginning of fifth year (to think how long ago that had been!) and then the incident with the fireworks; he felt a twinge of remembered pain as he thought back on that first night in hospital, barely able to comprehend everything going on around him. Then of course his prefect's probationary period, and the curfew that he may have helped bring down on Gryffindor. Now there was a point - he fondly remembered the good memories too: becoming a prefect, succeeding in school, becoming Quidditch captain, even for so short a period as he had held it, the varied snitch catches he had made, the wild Gryffindor parties and his relationship with Dominique. Even his punishments, looked back on through the rose-tinted mask he could now apply to them, were memories to be cherished. By contrast, Vladimir's speech was brusque and to the point - clearly he was not devoted to the finer points of rhetoric. For a moment, James thought that he had been mentioned with the use of 'scorched', but then his thoughts darkened as he recalled the attempted murder which had taken place. Still, graduation was no place for such dark thoughts, and he thrust them aside to instead concentrate on enjoying what little time he had left.

As Professor Cliffeton returned to the podium, James tensed, knowing what was about to come. Since his name was the front of the alphabet, he expected to be called relatively early on, and he composed himself, attempting to wash out all thoughts to concentrate on getting through the next few moments without welling up. Then, on a whim, he remembered the famous Muggle mic drops, and suddenlh he knew exactly what he was going to do. Careful to avoid detection, he conjured a replica similar to his, and then he pushed it into a pocket for a few moments later, knowing that to the Wizard audience, a wand would make more sense than an actual microphone; he wondered how many people would actually get the joke. Smiling, he almost fell of his chair when he realised his name had been called. Laughing, he got up as the final words died on Professor Cliffeton's lips.

"Adams, James"

Climbing quickly up the steps he walked calmly over to the deputy headmaster and accepted his certificate, smiling up at the man. He may not know him particularly well, but he had a great respect for him regardless, and he shook his hand firmly. Then, turning around to the hall, he stepped forwards and drew out his fake wand. Holding it out in his left hand, he stopped and surveyed the scene. Finally, he caught sight of Dominique grinning at him, and he grinned back, relishing the happy memories that were swarming around him. Then opening his mouth, he spoke out. "Thank you all. James out!" As he uttered those words, he dropped the fake wand on the ground and half ran, half walked off the stage, dropping lightly onto his feet on the ground out of sight. Then, laughing, he looked briefly at his certificate, the only indication of having graduated, and slipped it inside his robes. He had somebody to find after all, and although he had to watch the others receive their certificates, clapping loudly when a friend of his was up on stage, his mind was far away, wondering exactly how to meet Dominique, and what exactly he was going to say.
​

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[Matthew Cosgrove]

Matthew had spent so much of the past year wishing for this day to arrive as fast as possible, now that it had arrived, he was sorry it had. The last few months had seen a change in his relationship with Alana and the two had somehow managed to form a real friendship out of the ashes of their 'relationship' if it could be called that. It had been an emotional morning, packing up his trunk and generally saying goodbye to the common room that had been his home for the last seven years. Now he sat in the Great hall listening to Professor Cliffeton kick off the ceremony and he couldn't but wonder where the last seven years had gone, had he really accomplished anything during his time at the school? He didn't think so, he had just spent the best part of his last years chasing after a girl who was the very definition of unobtainable.

The Professor introduced the Head Boy and Girl first to give their speeches, Matthew hardly knew either of them so wasn't really bothered what they had to say, that was until he saw the head girl. Clara was simply stunning and he found himself hanging on her every word. He particularly enjoyed her quoting C.S Lewis, something he never expected to happen at a place like Hogwarts. Following Clara was the head boy he pretty much told everyone to get lost and was done with it. Lovely. Finally it was time to walk across the stage and officially graduate. Matthew was called early on.

"Cosgrove, Matthew,"

Matthew sighed, it was officially all ending. He made his way onto the stage and shook the Deputy Headmasters hand. He barely knew the man, he just nodded and mumbled a thank you. Unlike James he would not leave his classmates with a witty remark instead he just took his certificate and walked off stage. Maybe he would drink heavily at the graduation party later, who knew.