Something in the Way She Moves

Something in the Way She Moves

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"Another year has come and gone. This year, like every year, has had its share of joys and sorrows. Undoubtedly, the greatest accomplishment of the year, and possibly the single greatest event in many years, is the final and absolute defeat of Lord Voldemort. I cannot express to you all how glad I am to see none of you flinch anymore at the sound of his name. I would also like to congratulate my old house, Gryffindor, for winning the House and Quidditch cup again this year. On a serious note, I would like us all to observe a moment of silence, for the passing of the father of one of our students. I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to the entire Malfoy family. I hope it is of some comfort to his son, Draco that the two of them were able to resolve their issues with one another before his father passed. Let us now all pray for the soul of Lucious Malfoy." There was a long pause, and then Professor Dumbledore continued. "Now, let us get back to lighter matters. Our Head Boy for this year, Mr. Harry Potter, will now give you his end of term speech. Mr. Potter, if you please."

Harry shook Dumbledore's hand for a few seconds, before pulling him into a hug. He would miss having him as a headmaster, even though he was going to be staying on as the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. Harry wondered if their relationship with one another would change, now that he would be working for Dumbledore and not just one of his students. He rather doubted it; Dumbledore was warm and good natured to everyone. "Headmaster Dumbledore, Professors, fellow students, and friends, thank you all for coming. Not that you had much choice, of course." There was a smattering of laughter at this. Harry always liked to open with a joke.

"I can scarcely believe that it has been seven years since I first started here. When I first came to Hogwarts, I had never even heard of the wizarding world. I had no idea that I had been famous since the age of one, and I would have never imagined I could ever be accepted into this society. I have come to view the people I have met since that first day as my real family. And I love each and every one of you."

"When I was thinking about what my speech should be about, I had a hard time narrowing myself down to one thing. I could talk about my final battle with Voldemort, but that subject is still too fresh in my mind, and I would rather continue to distance myself from it." Harry fought to keep his eyes from welling up at the thought of the battle that took more than one life that night.

"I could talk about saving the Sorcerer's Stone back in first year, but you've all heard about that a million times already. I could talk about finding the Chamber of Secrets in second year, but you all know about that as well. And, indeed, all of you who have spent time down there during a detention from our last Defense against the Dark Arts teacher would most likely wish to forget about it. I could talk about fighting off a hundred dementors during my third year. I, for one, am relieved that all the dementors have been destroyed, and that Azkaban today is no longer a place of darkness and despair, but of light and treatment for the mentally ill. I could talk about the Triwizard tournament in my fourth year, and how I escaped from Voldemort in his newly resurrected form. That was another very hard year for me because of the death of our friend, Cedric Diggory. I only wish that he could be the one up here talking to you now. I could talk to you about the now famous battle at the Ministry of Magic during my fifth year. I lost another loved one that year, my godfather, Sirius, who I still miss very much." Harry stopped talking again. He still had a hard time talking about Sirius.

"What the bloody hell are you going to talk about, then?" Came a yell from the direction of the Gryffindor table. Harry smiled.

"All right, Ron, I'll tell you what I did decide to talk about." Harry cleared his throat and pushed his glasses up higher on his nose. He was still a little nervous about the rest of his speech. It wasn't that he was anxious about being in front of a crowd of people; he'd played Quidditch in front of the whole school dozens of times. No, this was a whole different kind of fear. He would do it, though. All seven years of his time there had led him up to this moment. "I decided to write on what I thought was the greatest thing that has happened to me at Hogwarts. Without one person, I wouldn't be here today. Everything I have ever done, and will ever do, has been made better because of this person. Since my first day here, this person has been at my side. They have fought next to me, laughed with me, and cried with me. I owe my life to this person, and I can never hope to repay them for all that they have done for me, nor can I ever hope to express my love and admiration for them." Harry took a deep breath, noticed that his glasses had slipped back down his sweaty nose, and started again. "So, to help me out, I have asked someone to help me say how I feel. James, if you would come up here." He indicated for someone to come forward.

A relatively tall man with greatly receding hair brought forward a stool and sat down. He gave a timid little wave to the audience and began to tune a guitar. "Mr. Taylor is playing a charity concert for St. Mungo's tomorrow night at the Three Broomsticks. His opening act will be The Weird Sisters. Tickets are sold out, but I would imagine that Mundungus Fletcher could come up with some if need be." Those who knew Mundungus laughed at this. Professor McGonagall pushed her purse containing a hundred galleons a bit further down into her robes. "So, without further ado, may I introduce Mr. James Taylor, who will be performing a song for us." The crowd went silent, and James started to sing.

There's something in the way she moves

Or looks my way or calls my name

That seems to leave this troubled world behind

And if I'm feeling down and blue

Or troubled by some foolish game

She always seems to make me change my mind

And I feel fine anytime she's around me now

She's around me now almost all the time

And if I'm well you can tall she's been with me now

She's been with me now quite a long long time

And I feel fine

Every now and then the things I lean on lose their meaning

And I feel myself careening

Into places where I should not let me go

She has the power to go where no one else can find me

And to silently remind me

Of the happiness and good times that I know

It isn't what she's got to say

Or how she thinks or where she's been

To me the words are nice the way they sound

I like to hear them best that way

It doesn't matter what they mean

She says them mostly just to calm me down

And I feel fine anytime she's around me now

She's around me now almost all the time

And if I'm well you can tell she's been with me now

She's been with me now quite a long long time

And I feel fine

James then stood, gave another wave to the now cheering audience, and took his seat between McGonagall and Sprout, both of whom looked delighted. Harry clapped along with everyone else and then returned to the podium. It was the moment of truth at last. "The person I decided to talk about is the person I love with all my heart and soul, and the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. Hermione Catherine Granger, will you marry me?"