Learning to Live

Chapter Two

"So. Here we are."

All of the seventh year students, there were about thirty of them, were sitting in solid, brown chairs, lined up in the center of the Quidditch field. The audience was in the stands, and Dumbledore and all of the teachers were on a stage in front of them. Dumbledore's voice had been magically magnified, so it was possible to hear him all over the grounds.

Most of the girls were crying. And even though none of the guys would actually cry, a good part of them wanted to.

None of them believed that this was it -- that this was the end of their education.

"I have enjoyed getting to know all of you. Some I've conversed with more than others," he said and smiled, "But, you've all showed courage and discipline and intelligence beyond belief. Graduating Hogwarts is no small feat. You've shown that you are now capable to be released -- to be let out into the real world and take on whatever is waiting for you there.

"I know that most of you are reluctant to leave. Some of you cannot wait. However, I will miss all of you. And I hope that some of you will miss me. And this school. Just know, that this school will never be the same without you inside its walls."

Most of the girls who hadn't been crying before were crying now. A fair few of them were desperately wiping at their faces, trying to not let on that they were bawling.

This was becoming more real than any of them wanted it to be. They wanted to continue believing that they were still children. That they were still kids, waiting to learn, ready to be looked after.

"So, with that note, allow me to get you up here, give you your diploma, and release you into the world." He paused and allowed this to sink in before saying gently, "Hannah Abbott." A few cheers were heard from the audience.

The girl with long blonde hair stood up and walked up to the stage where Dumbledore was standing. No longer the little chubby girl with a pink face and blonde pigtails. He said something quietly to her before handing her a diploma. She walked back off stage and sat back down.

"Susan Bones."

The same thing followed for nearly ten people.

Watching their classmates make their way to their ticket for the future, made them all realize: they were growing up. Then were grown up and there was nothing they could do about it.

They couldn't ignore it anymore.

And there was no going back.

"Hermione Granger."

Yells came from the onlookers and Harry and Ron both cheered.

Hermione stood up straight, her face streaked with semidried tears as she walked a slow and stable walk toward Dumbledore and her other professors.

Harry looked back at Ron and they both smiled at each other.

Hermione took a deep breath when she reached the stage. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore ... "

He smiled wisely at her. "Hermione ... you will be truly missed. And I know for a fact that you've got wonderful friends who will always be there for you. There's so much that I have to say to you, about you. However, all of it has left me now. One thing I do know is, I do believe you've earned this. Congratulations." He handed her the diploma.

She stared at it for a moment, proving its authenticity. She then smiled at Dumbledore once more, sniffled, and allowed a new batch of tears to roll down her cheeks before turning around to walk back and sit down.

A few more people were called up.

Dumbledore paused and smiled before saying lightly, "Harry Potter."

Whoots, whistles, and hollers were heard and Harry could hear the entire Weasley family from the stands, not to mention nearly everyone around him.

Harry smiled as he stood up and walked toward Dumbledore.

He wasn't sure if he wanted to complete this trip or to turn around and bolt, delaying the entire event.

He decided on the earlier, and he swallowed and continued to make his way toward the stage, fists balled and head held high.

"Here we are at last," Dumbledore said and smiled when he finally got there.

"Yeah, Professor ... "

"Well, Harry. You have proved to us that you can achieve way beyond what's expected of you. You have surpassed everything thrown at you. You are truly a legend, Harry. For all the things that we've been through, I really hate to see you go. But, I know that letting you go into the world is giving the world a far better gift than I'm giving you."

"Thanks, Professor. I'm definitely gonna miss being here."

"And we'll miss you. So, Harry. This is it. You deserve it far more than most," he said and handed him the diploma, "Keep in touch."

Harry smiled, nodded, and sat down.

After a few more people walked up and Professor Dumbledore smiled again.

"Ronald Weasley."

The Weasley family plus a few in the stands cheered and most around him cheered, just as for Harry.

He grinned like a fool before standing and walking up to Dumbledore.

This was what he had been waiting for. He went through boring classes, agonizing homework, and grueling essays to get to this point.

And he wasn't sure that he wanted it now.

"Ron," Dumbledore said and smiled at him.

"Professor," he answered, a smile growing on his face as well.

"I'll say the same thing to you as I did to Harry and Hermione: you will truly be missed. It will be different without you three here. And definitely a lot more quiet."

Ron chuckled and blushed a bit.

"But, I know that you learned and gained a great deal here and even if you never admit to it, you will be different after leaving here."

"I know ... " he said nodded, "There's no denying that."

"I'm not sure that I'm quite ready to release you three, but I'm afraid that I have to. So, Ron. I give this to you, in hopes that you will make something great of yourself."

"I'll definitely try," he said softly and then smiled, taking the diploma.

Ron grasped it tightly in his hand, perhaps crumpling it a bit, as he walked and sat back down.

Two more people were called up before Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Well, ladies and gentleman ... you are all free. Go on, get on with your lives. However, don't forget to always eat until you are full, and keep friends close. Congratulations. You will all be remembered and missed." He began to clap, which started a loud applause throughout everyone sitting in the Quidditch field.

And that was it.

They were free.