Graduation 2042

[Ava King]

Ava King glanced around the Hall, a small smile on her face. It was a bitter-sweet moment; a moment of sadness, that a number of great students were leaving Hogwarts. No year was ever the same, no student alike. This year was a crazy year and the loss of a student was still felt. But for now, it was a moment of great pride. Ava was proud of every single student that was graduating. She was proud of the Professor's for teaching everyone well enough for them to pass. Ava watched the graduates and their guests making their way into the hall and each taking their seats. The Professor smiled at each one, knowing that she had to have a brave face for each person today.

Once everyone was seated, the Headmistress made her way to the front of the stage, still smiling to 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 2042." Ava focused her attention on the students graduating. "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, Jean Snow and Victoire Fontaine." Ava finished before moving away from the podium and clapping for Jean and Victoire.

Out of Character: Important Information

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

 

[Victoire Fontaine]

How could this be the end of her schooling? How could seven years have passed already, it felt like just the other weekend that she had first arrived, with the red ribbon in her hair, and sorted happily into Gryffindor. So many things had happened in between then and now, and though being a first year felt miles away the sorting process was as fresh in her mind as it had been the moments after it had happened. This sight was so familiar, she was staring at the front of the hall, where the headmistress stood and in a matter of moments she would be called up by her and she would stand in front of all her peers. The only difference between those two, was the people in the hall watching her, and the fact that she would be speaking, but it was reminiscent of that time. The memory played in front of her as she listened to the head mistress greet them. Of course, their year group wasn't really finishing on the high note that others might've and Victoire didn't feel anticipation or joy about this ceremony more relief that she could finish this year, it was just a pity that this year had gone so badly and that it was her last. She was nervous to graduate, happy to have achieved so much but her final year, final semester was wrought with so much she'd never wanted to deal with that she knew that the strongest emotion she felt was relief. She knew the way was forward, she had to move forward, the future was in the palm of her hand and all she had to do was follow the right path, once she left this hall there would be no looking back.

Victoire looked up as the headmistress called upon her and Jean, and Victoire spared a small glance at the head boy before standing and walking to the podium. She had prepared a little something, not too much because she doubted that anyone here would want to stay longer than necessary, the head girl glanced at her fellow students, the graduating class, people she had spent seven years with, and the loss of Avie had never felt so plain, because he should've been here with them, he should've graduated with them. Quickly Victoire cleared her throat staring down at the podium before letting her eyes glance back out at the crowd in the hall, "Welcome friends, family, professors and my fellow graduates," Victoire gave a small smile to the crowd taking the smallest of pauses, "It is difficult to believe we've been here seven years, we've had seven years of classes, studying, quidditch, seven years of halloween parties and yuleballs, seven years of each other." Victoire had begun thinking about a speech the moment she'd gotten the head girl position but so much had changed what she'd originally written didn't seem right, "We've learned a lot during our time here at Hogwarts, our professors worked tirelessly to give us all the best shot at life outside of these walls, but perhaps the greatest lesson we've all had to learned is that life is short, a person could be here one day and not the next. As we venture out into the world, let us remember that. Let us strive to be the best at whatever we do, let us strive to find happiness even when things are bleakest, let us strive to never take a moment for granted." Victoire took a small breath, pausing for just a moment, "Congratulations Class of 2042, it has been a pleasure. À votre santé, thank you," Victoire finished taking a moment to just smile at her fellow classmates before standing back and allowing Jean to move forward.
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[Jean Snow]

Stepping forward as Victoire finished, he gave her a smile as he unfolded a piece of parchment. There were too many people for him to pick out his mother or sister, but he at least could spot the rest of the quads as they waited to hear their names so they could cross the stage and receive their diplomas. It was a big moment for all of them, but here and now, it was a big moment for him as he stood ready to give his Head Boy speech. He’d spent many nights working on it.

“I could stand here and talk about the fact that we’ve learned a lot and how we should appreciate what the professors and school have done for us. We have and I do. I think we’re all going to do more than ok when we leave here because of what we’ve learned from our professors.” The Head Boy cleared his throat and then continued. “I like to think that we learned just as much, maybe a little more, sorry Headmistress” he smirked, “from each other though. We learned that even though we weren’t all the same that we were all pretty capable wizards…or could be if we only applied ourselves. Right, professors?” He smirked at the group of them seated up front. “We learned that sometimes people excelled in areas that weren’t classroom-related…like quidditch or wizard’s chess or gardening, and that was definitely ok. And a lot of us learned that doing something as simple as searching for rocks could be a lot of fun if you were doing it with the right group of people.”

Jean paused, glad that he’d found a way to mention Avie in his speech. It felt right to do. “And, I know that this has been a particularly rough year for all us with studying for the NEWTs and trying to figure out our lives and losing our friend, Avie." He didn't know anyone among the seventh years that didn't consider him a friend. "But I think that those are the things that’ll also unite us forever, whether we like it or not. So, to the class of 2042, I want to say to remember to apply yourself, keep an open mind, not forget the good times and the good friends you’ve had here, and, finally, good luck out there.” Jean folded his paper up and headed back to his seat, relief spreading through him at finally having that out of the way.

 

[Ava King]

Ava listened to the Head Boy and Head Girl's speeches, smiling proudly of who they had become. Everyone had come so far since they first started, and Professor King was proud to have been part of their journey. Once they were finished with their speeches, Ava enthusiastically clapped along with the crowd and approached the podium as the two graduates made their way back to their seats.
"Thank-you Miss Fontaine and Mr Snow, for your words of encouragement. Class of 2042, remember this day fondly, but keep on keeping on. Don't ever give up; keep that chin up! Congratulations students!" Ava finished warmly. As she called each student up, and shook their hands, Ava wished each and every one of them luck, hoping the best for their futures.

Out of Character:

It's time Graduates! You can now RP your character coming on stage, getting his or her diploma and then sitting back down until the end of the ceremony.

 

[Jean Snow]

Jean would be the first of his siblings to cross the stage to get his diploma, though he still had to wait a while for the Headmistress to get to his name. While he did, he watched the others take the walk, clapping loudly for his friends and politely for others. Watching Victoire cross the stage was bittersweet. School had tied them together. Now, having broken up and having no place where they'd certainly run into each other, Jean knew that these were some of the last times he'd see her. The thought didn't sit well with him. His love for her hadn't diminished at all in the weeks since they'd broken up. In fact, he felt even more love sick, probably because he had no outlet for it.

As his name was finally called, Jean forced a smile which became more natural as he shook the Headmistress' hand and received her words of good luck. Now, he had the degree to show for all of his hard work as well as being an of age wizard. His brother and sisters were right behind him, and they were the first people he would congratulate and hug when all was finally said and done. He'd invited a few of his friends and had his family to find as well. But, Jean was done. Now he really could focus on his career as a professional quidditch player, something he'd get paid to do. It really was a dream come true for the teenager. It was too bad other parts of his life couldn't have worked out as well. As people began rushing over at the end of the ceremony, Jean lost himself in the mob as he began to search for his family and friends.

 

[Victoire Fontaine]

As Jean had finished his speech, the proceedings of the day continued, and while this wasn't the graduation ceremony she had pictures as a child when she'd seen the university students graduating, it did hold in her mind the same level of importance, it wasn't like wizards seemed to really do further education in the way that muggles did, and though when she'd first come to the school it had been a point of concern she had in her time at the school come to realise that it wasn't too necessary, that she wouldn't need it. Her studies within school could be continued at her own pace outside of school and didn't really need to be measured by exams. But in any case, this was her graduation, and though it held a number of emotions she wouldn't have otherwise associated with this day, she couldn't help the slight glimmers of happiness and pride that filter though her emotions. She had done all of this, she had managed it, she had worked hard throughout school and it had paid off, it would pay off. The teen straightened up her uniform, glancing into the crowd and finding her both her parents and her brother, having a limited amount of tickets it hd been prudent to invite the brother with whom she had first shared this world with.

Given that her surname was one of the first, it wasn't too long into the ceremony when her name was called, she brushed down her skirt as she walked across the stage, shaking the headmistresses hand and thanking her in the process. She held the piece of paper lightly in her hand as she walked away from the headmistress and once again took her seat, she placed the paper delicately on to her lap, clapping politely for all the others within her year who were celebrating this day with her. When it final came to Jean's turn, she felt a small amount of sigh for what had been between them, what hadn't been allowed to continue outside of school, her feelings for him still existed, she knew it would take more than a few weeks to get over it, but she was proud of all he'd achieved, even if she could not long tell him as such. The ceremony didn't last much longer, and for that Victoire was pleased. When it was closed and she realise with a rush of relief that it was over, that her school was done, she couldn't help the calm that washed over her. She had managed a lot in school, but the wider world was hers and Victoire had no intention of stopping until she had mastered that. Never would she be not good enough. Victoire smiled to herself, before making her way through the crowd, calling to her parents in rapid french. This was only the beginning as far as Victoire was concerned.
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