Endless Sky

Endless Sky

It was graduation. Ginny Weasley had moved up a year, and the trio became a quartet. Ginny was Hermione's best friend, as Harry was Ron's. She was also Harry's girlfriend, but neither had any idea of what would happen when they left Hogwarts. And now, that time was very close. Only a few hours away, in fact.

"Ginny-" said Harry before he broke off uncertainly.

"Mmm?" she replied.

"Doyouwanttocomeawaywithme?" he said in a rush.

"Sure!" she replied with a grin on her face.

"You mean you actually understood that?" asked Ron incredulously as he sneaked up behind them. Harry turned quickly to face Ron, with an almost fearful face. Ron had been fairly lenient about the whole 'Harry/Ginny' thing, but going away? His kid sister? Not likely. Ginny, seeing Harry's face spoke up.

"Yeah - he, he said do you want to come and dance with me!"

"Why'd you get all nervous about that?" Ron replied with a sceptical look, but Ginny dragged Harry onto the dance floor.

"So, where are we going to go?" asked Ginny. Her breath was warm on Harry's neck, and he searched for an answer.

"I don't know," he said truthfully. "The idea just came to me. Where do you want to go?"

"America would be wonderful. Or Australia - or, or Africa!" Ginny sounded truly excited, and Harry hit upon an idea.

"How about we find jobs, no don't look at me like that," Ginny's face had dropped suddenly, "save up a bit, then go on a world trip. We'll go everywhere - from Wales to Kenya. The muggle way perhaps, or broomsticks. See the world, not just Apparate..." Harry trailed off, his eyes dancing. Ginny's enthusiasm was catching, and she jumped up to hug him.

"Great - Hermione and me were talking about opening up a bookshop. I can help it get off the ground then leave for a year or so before coming back again! If she'll let me..." Ginny suddenly looked worried. "After all, it'd be difficult by herself."

"Hermione'll come round," said Harry soothingly. "Maybe she'll want to have a gap year or something later on, and you could do it by yourself. A sort of - trade." Ginny looked slightly more hopeful at these words.

"We could go ask now!" Ginny grinned at him.

"We'd have to tell Ron as well, and your family, and Sirius..."

"I'm a big girl - Ron will have to get used to that. And mum won't mind! Neither will Sirius, I'm sure. Let's go find Hermione and Ron now," replied Ginny.

It took a bit of searching to find Hermione and Ron through the throngs of seventh years and their families. Many students were wearing their Hogwarts robes (possibly for the last time) but here and there people were fully decked out in house colours. One of these people, was Draco Malfoy. Over the years the incessant fighting between Harry and Draco had ceased, and Draco waved at the two Gryffindors with a smile. Maybe they'd never be great mates - but they weren't enemies anymore.

Eventually, Harry spotted a shock of red hair over the crowds, and the two made their way towards Ron Weasley's hair. Sure enough, under it was Ron Weasley, and next to it was Hermione. Maybe 'tangled in it' would be a better description though. Yes, dear readers and all Hr/R shippers, Ron and Hermione were deeply involved in a game of tonsil hockey. Harry tapped Ron gently on the back.

"Hope we're not interrupting anything, but maybe you should get a room," began Harry. As they sprung apart upon hearing the familiar voice, Ron blushed as red as his hair, while Hermione went faintly pink.

"Ahem," said Ron, attempting to regain some dignity. "Well, uh, what do you want?"

"To drive a deal home," began Ginny. At some odd looks she shrugged her shoulders and began again. "Okay, so we want to tell you something, and if you don't agree, I don't really give a damn. Hermione, we want your opinion too." Ginny stopped talking and looked expectedly at Harry.

"What? You want me to do the talking?" he asked, in shock.

"You've known Hermione longer," reasoned Ginny.

"You've known Ron a lot longer," Harry shot back, before grinning. "Alright. Ron, Hermione, Ginny and I were proposing that we take a round the world trip for about a year." He let this sink in before carrying on. "Hermione, this bookshop idea - could you either hold it off, or start it, then let Ginny take a year out?" he gazed at her pleadingly, matching Ginny's 'puppy-dog eyes' expression.

"Well, I guess so, I'll get a job in a shop or at the Ministry in the meantime...a year you say? Ron," Hermione sounded breathless with excitement now, "why don't we do the same thing?"

"No money." Ron's answer was short and blunt.

"My parents have been saving my university funds," Hermione said pleadingly, "but I've got the qualifications I need at Hogwarts. I can use that!"

"Yeah, £3000? For a world trip? How much is that in galleons, anyway?"

"About £11,000 actually. And we can get loans. Or work for a couple of months first - please Ron!"

"I've got a solution," spoke up Ginny. She and Harry had been silent, watching the argument going on before them. "Why don't you start up the business while me and Harry go, then when we get back, you can take all the profits and I'll run the shop while you're away. A trade," said Ginny, smiling when she thought of the moment when Harry had said that.

"That's not bad..." said Hermione. "I'll do it."

The moment was nigh. The moment when they walked up to that podium and received their Hogwarts graduation papers. The moment when they became a respectable citizen of the wizarding world. The first step to all their dreams. Harry could almost smell the apprehension.

"I'd like to say first of all, thank you everyone for coming. Students and parents, brothers and sisters alike, you are always welcome at Hogwarts. Incidentally, a position for a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is now open. All entries on a postcard please," Dumbledore paused, and smiled.quot;Before each student collects their graduation, I will say a few words about their achievements and acknowledgements during their time at Hogwarts.

"An absolute asset to Hufflepuff house, a girl who has shown great potential for widening her work in the field of Herbology, Hannah Abbott..." Harry tuned out as Dumbledore went on listing Hannah's grades and achievements. He could see this would take a while.

"I doubt this trio will mind me talking about them together, despite it not being alphabetical order. Yes, as I'm sure you have guessed, I'm talking about three young Gryffindors, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and of course Ron Weasley."

As Dumbledore said his name, Ron jerked out of a doze and could feel himself going red. Damn pale skin!

"During their time at this school, the trio have defeated Lord Voldemort, defeated Tom Riddle, Voldemort as he was at 18, saved an innocent escaped convict, as well as competed in the TriWizard Tournament. I would like to add that Harry competed in the Tournament, but received great help from his two best friends," at this, Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he looked right at Harry, slumped down in his seat.

"At the beginning of fifth year, Ginny Weasley was moved up a year, and instantly became part of the trio, now a quartet. Together, the four defeated Lord Voldemort in their sixth year, an outstanding achievement. Harry has shown tremendous bravery while he has been at this school, from his first year, as well as great loyalty. He has also contributed a large amount to the Gryffindor Quidditch team, through his position as Seeker, and later captain.

Ginny has been in the top two students of her class every year, and was indeed top of her year for the first three years of her time in this school. She has also shown an extreme affirmity with animals, helping our grounds keeper and Care of Magical Creatures teacher Rubeus Hagrid a great deal. She has also shown talent in the area of Quidditch, becoming an invaluable Chaser in her fifth year.

Ron Weasley has been a pleasure to teach throughout his career at Hogwarts. His head of house says that although he sometimes got 'distracted' she found him a very useful student. Indeed she would like to commend him on his chess skills, that helped Harry, Hermione and himself through their adventure in first year. He has shown true Gryffindor bravery, right through to the fact that he is willing to put himself in danger for the people he cares about.

Hermione Granger has had an astounding record at this school. Every year, she has been top of her class, excelling in every subject except (I'm sure she won't mind me saying this!) Flying, and Divination! She has been through her fair share of troubles, landing in the hospital wing almost as often as Harry! She has also been a prefect since fifth year, and was our Head Girl. This quartet has been invaluable to this school, and they, as all the students here, are welcome to return to Hogwarts to visit, or teach, any time. Please, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Harry, step up here, and receive your graduation."

There was a loud storm of clapping as the four friends ascended the steps up to the podium. They accepted their graduations, and as they were coming down the steps, Hermione spotted Fred and George in the crowd, whistling and stamping their feet. She grinned.

An hour later, Dumbledore fished out the last graduation to Blaise Zabini, and when silence fell, he leaned into the magical microphone.

"You may now, throw your hats in the air," he said in a stage whisper. As one, the entire seventh year threw up their hats, cheering, clapping, and hugging their friends.

Harry looked at Ginny with a questioning glance. She nodded back, and the two slipped out of the mayhem unseen. When they reached their luggage, Harry ripped off his robe, revealing jeans and a jumper, and Ginny copied him. Then he charmed his invisibility cloak, to make it three times bigger, before he and Ginny shrunk their luggage to fit in a pocket. Harry then pulled out his Firebolt, and Ginny picked up her Nimbus 2001, and they both mounted, soaring into the dark sky.

"Hey, Harry! Ginny!" a voice called from the ground. They both turned.

"Bye, Ron! Bye, Hermione! Bye Draco!" they both called from their seats high in the air. Suddenly, they disappeared from view as Harry swung the cloak around them, the sky seemingly empty, apart from the stars. Down below, Ron and Hermione were silent, but Draco Malfoy (of course) wasn't.

"Just like Potter to make an exit."