Transition

Harry awoke abruptly and sat up in bed, looking about the dormitory sleepily. He plucked his glasses from his bedside table, slipped them on, and reached for his alarm clock. It was half past six in the morning, very early in his opinion. All around him, his friends lay sleeping and snoring contentedly.

The wakeful wizard sighed wearily. It had been an uncomfortable week for him once the rest of the school knew of the argument between him and Ron. Only a handful of people treated him normally. Snape still picked on him whenever he had the chance, but always eyed him slyly when no one was looking. Remus was oddly cheerful and his queer behaviour often had Snape looking at the sometimes-werewolf belligerently. Harry had suspicions about the two of them but wisely kept his mouth shut. Professor Dumbledore acted indifferent to the news but slipped in wicked comments every time he passed Harry, making the young wizard blush. Hermione, who was the first to suspect anything brewing between him and Draco, treated him as she always had. The most surprising thing was that Ginny seemed ready to accept the fact that Harry was dating the Slytherin. Her tolerant nature did not make Ron happy at all, but she ignored whatever remarks her brother spat at her face.

Neville, Dean and Seamus were uncomfortable with the notion, but they were less inclined to avoid Harry. There was only one person other than Ron that was outraged by the recent news.

Her shrill screams echoed throughout the dungeons and caused the already irate Potions Master a great deal of irritation. Pansy Parkinson, senior prefect from the Slytherin House, threw a huge tantrum a day after Draco’s relationship with his greatest school enemy came out into the open. Her rage had caused her dorm-mates to flee the room and demand that their Head of House deal with her. It had actually taken four other professors to calm her, and Draco, the cause of her belligerent nature, was wise to make himself scarce and avoid her presence whenever possible.

Harry slowly got out of bed, then grabbed his towel and toiletries. He was quite amazed to find his hand shaking slightly as he brushed his teeth. I don’t remember feeling so nervous, he thought wryly. Merlin … but getting exam results is a killer.

When he returned to his dormitory, he found Neville blundering about, searching for something. “What are you looking for?”

“My hat. I think I’ve misplaced it,” his friend replied worriedly.

“Wasn’t it in the pocket of your robes?” Harry said, frowning a little. “I thought I saw you keeping it there last night.”

“Really?” Neville’s face brightened considerably and he immediately went over to inspect the robes that were draped over the foot of his bed. “Here it is!” he exclaimed. “Thanks, Harry.”

“No problem.”

“Hey, be quiet,” Ron grumbled. A second later, the wizard resumed snoring.

It took Harry only a half-hour to dress, and Neville, his hair still damp, came to shake Dean Thomas awake. “Come on, Dean. Wake up. It’s already seven.”

“You should have woke Ron first,” Dean said seriously after a huge yawn. “He dawdles a lot, don’t you know.” Neville tilted his head to one side and thought about the suggestion. Then he went and tickled the red-haired wizard’s feet with a feather. Ron awoke with a shout.

“Blimey!” Ron panted. “What did you do that for?” he demanded of Neville. The latter gave him a slightly sheepish look.

“Wash up first, Ron. I haven’t got my stuff out,” Dean said quickly, jumping out of bed and opening his wardrobe.

Harry, who had been standing in a remote corner, waited until Ron left the dormitory before speaking to the rest. “I’m going down to the Hall for breakfast. I’ll see you down there.” He looked slightly preoccupied as he walked down the stairs, and absently listened to the soft rustle his robes made as they brushed against his legs.

He saw a couple of Hufflepuff girls trying on their graduation hats when he entered the vast Hall. Hermione was seated in her usual place and eating her breakfast quite calmly. Harry sauntered over to her side and smiled at his friend briefly.

“I saw Professor Starkmind and the other Veela just now,” she told him abruptly.

Harry jerked in surprise and stared at her with wide eyes.

Hermione studied his face, her mouth opening as if to say something, but she closed it. Her expression became thoughtful but the look that she gave him later was full of accusation. “You forgot,” she stated.

He scowled. “What are you talking about?”

“You didn’t invite them,” Hermione continued, her eyes filled with disappointment.

“What?” Harry wailed.

“Harry, you’re such a dolt!” the witch declared in a loud voice. “The invitation to the graduation ceremony. I’ve asked my parents to come and they’re coming with the Weasleys.”

Harry looked at her in puzzlement. Finally, it dawned on him. “Bloody hell!” he exclaimed.

“Yes, Harry.” Hermione nodded in agreement. “ ‘Bloody hell.’ ”

The emerald-eyed wizard felt like a stranded fish – his mouth opened and closed at regular intervals. Hermione’s gaze was unwavering and Harry flushed with guilt. “Damn … I forgot to send the card,” he moaned.

“I don’t think they will take it too hard. But really…” She pursed her lips. “I guess I should have reminded you a week ago but it completely slipped my mind.” She shook her head slightly. “No matter. Eat your breakfast and then run on down to the staff room. I think that’s where the guests are being received.”

Minutes passed and more students entered the Hall, thereby lightening the atmosphere with idle chatter. The Creevey brothers – with the consent of the seventh-year Gryffindors – took several pictures of their graduating housemates. Parvati had seated herself beside Hermione and Ron was almost forced to sit beside Harry.

In all that time after he finished eating his breakfast, he toyed with Draco’s ring and watched it in bemused admiration as sunlight hit the indicolite gem. He did not notice the white shape sailing through the air until it hit his nose. He gave a strangled yelp and grabbed blindly at the object in front of him.

“That’s the weirdest form of a love-letter I have ever encountered,” a wilted-looking ghost remarked.

“I’m surprised that a Slytherin was the one who thought of it,” a knightly apparition observed, his voice full of dignity.

Harry Potter, savior of the wizarding world, fought with grim determination not to blush. The paper had been folded to resemble the shape of an eagle owl and it was unadorned. He dubiously opened it and read Draco’s neat written message.

Good morning, love.

My mother’s here for the ceremony. Would you like me to introduce her to you and vice versa? If I remember correctly, the introduction three years ago was hardly civil. Would you like to start anew?

Harry looked across the Hall and saw Draco watching him with a fond smile. Slowly, the blonde wizard raised an eyebrow, as if in inquiry. The Gryffindor sighed and nodded. Draco responded with a wink and limped out. Harry winced inwardly, wondering if there was some way that Draco could walk more comfortably. Just looking at his lean partner made his knees ache.

“I’ll see you guys at the graduation venue,” he told his friends quickly.

“Don’t forget to go see Professor Starkmind,” Hermione reminded him.

Harry turned around and waved at her before going in search of his boyfriend. He walked absently down the walkway until the sound of someone clearing her throat stopped him. Standing beside his boyfriend was a fair, tall and graceful woman, gently fanning herself with a fan. The Gryffindor unconsciously straightened his robes and stood uncertainly before Draco and his mother.

“Mother, may I introduce you to my partner?” Draco started calmly. “Harry Potter.” Silver eyes then turned to focus on the uneasy Gryffindor. “Harry, this is my mother, Narcissa Malfoy.”

“Ma’am,” Harry responded with a slight inclination of his head, and Narcissa Malfoy curtsied, her black robes making a soft rustling noise as she did.

“Mister Potter,” Narcissa purred. “You’ve matured a great deal since I have last seen you.”

Harry swallowed and looked at Draco for help.

“How do I look to you, Mister Potter? Now that I’m not looking down at my nose with the expression that I’d smelled something unpleasant?”

That remark made all the blood rush to his face, making his complexion looked darker than usual. “Did you have to tell her that?” he asked Draco somewhat plaintively.

“Oh, don’t blame him. I told him to report all the remarks he heard about me ever since he started schooling,” Narcissa cut in peevishly. She looked gravely at her son. “He seems to be all right. Stable. Draco told me that you’d be training to be a teacher. Why not work for the Ministry? Especially under Experimental Charms?” she asked, staring inquiringly at Harry.

Harry shrugged in reply. “Teaching is what I’m most comfortable with,” he said simply.

Narcissa raised one thin eyebrow. “I thought you were the one who needed to be taught.”

“Actually, I’ve been a tutor in charge of teaching twenty-eight students before. Unofficially, of course.”

“Really?” Narcissa’s look was on of skepticism.

“Dumbledore’s Army,” Draco supplied.

“Ah.” The hawk-faced woman smiled.

“Narcissa!” a female voice called from inside the staff room.

“I hate ex-schoolmates’ gatherings,” the witch muttered darkly before faking a bright smile. Harry and Draco watched as the witch returned to her social circle.

“We had to keep up a certain impression those few years ago,” Draco said quietly and moved away from the door. “She loved him … sometimes, I think she could not believe that my father married her, even though he knew the reprieve was just that … a reprieve.” He sighed melancholically. In a sudden change of mood, he asked, “How do you feel?”

The dark-haired wizard leaned forward and kissed the other boy’s lips softly. “Nervous,” Harry admitted. Then he kissed Draco a second time and he relaxed, a little.

“I saw Professor Starkmind and the other one in there. Bluestone, I think is his name. They’re chatting with Lupin,” Draco informed him. “Now that I’ve gotten my kisses, my appetite is back. I’m going to go to the Hall and eat something.” Harry yelped when Draco gave his bottom a slight squeeze and scowled at his chuckling boyfriend. The Slytherin winked slyly back at him and Harry swore. Draco’s chuckles grew even louder.

“I see that the two of you are getting on splendidly,” someone whispered into his ear and Harry jerked in surprise. “Ouch!” the person exclaimed when Harry’s elbow connected with his ribs.

“Elaviel!” Harry punched the half-Veela playfully on the shoulder. “Don’t do that!”

Bluestone came forward and embraced him warmly, then added a kiss to the Gryffindor’s forehead. “He really shouldn’t do that. Your Draco, I mean,” the Veela said in a mournful tone. “Now he has placed so many ideas in my mind that I’m tempted to drag your ex-teacher down some dark corner somewhere.”

“I didn’t think that you needed to be encouraged, handsome one,” Starkmind teased his husband. “The castle is an obvious place for all sorts of mischief after all.”

The three of them burst into chuckles.

“I’m so sorry I forgot to send you the invitation,” Harry said hesitantly. The married couple stared at him as though he had lost his mind. “A lot of things had happened last week that I have forgotten to tell Hedwig to send the card to you.”

Bluestone studied his face thoughtfully and then he fished out a white envelope from a pocket. “But we got this,” the Veela said with puzzlement. “It bears your handwriting.”

“Now that you mention it,” Starkmind started, toying absently with a lock of his hair, “it wasn’t sent by your snowy owl. A very huge eagle owl instead. Dark grey with dashes of silver.”

“Shadow,” Harry replied promptly. “Draco’s owl.”

“You have a good partner, remarkable one,” Bluestone said with approval. “Are you excited about your summer vacation, Harry?”

“Kind of,” the teenage boy replied.

“Or are you more excited about being in a bedroom with that beautiful devil of yours?” Starkmind joined in. Harry laughed in embarrassment. “Come join us during the reception later. I’d like to introduce you and your mate to your trainers.”

“Speaking of our trainers, will my relationship with Draco bring trouble?” Harry asked a little worriedly.

“They’re open-minded enough,” Starkmind replied. “It’s only when you bring domestic trouble into their sessions that you’re likely to get into a mess.” The wizard checked his watch. “It’s almost time to go to Firenze’s classroom. We’ll see you later.”

“But first –” A blinding flash took Harry off-guard and Bluestone chuckled. “Let’s take a picture of ourselves.” The Veela handled the camera with surprising familiarity and charmed it afloat while a green light flashed, accompanied with regular beeping sounds. Starkmind casually draped an arm over Harry’s shoulders while Bluestone’s hand snaked around his waist.

“Smile!” Starkmind instructed. There was another flash of iridescent light and Bluestone quickly retrieved the camera. He pressed several buttons and gave a smile of satisfaction.

“Just wait until I print the photos out,” the Veela said happily.

“Uhmmm … you tampered with the camera?”

“Of course!” Bluestone smiled. “Tampered with it a little so it would work here, but not so much that the Muggle technologies are overridden.”

“It’s really cool. Who helped you with it?”

“A very reasonable fellow,” Starkmind said evasively.

“Well … don’t want to be rude or anything, but Draco’s likely to feel jealous about the photos.”

“Don’t worry, Harry. I’ll make sure I’ll include your mate later. No matter what others say, I like that you are partnered now.”

Firenze’s Divination classroom still had not lost the verdant look. There was no platform whatsoever, but there was a podium at the far end of the room and a large desk with a stack of certificates. There were rows of wooden – but elegant – benches spaced out on the floor. It was certainly remarkable to the students and they felt completely at ease in it.

Firenze the centaur was lying down on his manufactured grassland looking at the students with amusement, and there was a hint of pride when he focused on the Gryffindors. Then the centaur’s attention was stolen by the Patil twins; they were chattering brightly as they stepped into the room and the girls froze when they found their Divination professor watching them with penetrating eyes. Then the identical witches came forward, both smiling impishly at the relaxing centaur.

“What do you see, Wise One?” Parvati asked.

“I see that Man had found ways to observe the planet Nerrain,” the centaur replied calmly.

“You’re pulling our legs! There’s no planet named Nerrain!” Padma protested.

“I see what I see. The planet is dark red like the ruby and is farther in space. Man may name it differently in the next two thousand years but Nerrain is a lovely name to me.” Then Firenze turned to the rest of the students. “Fully occupy the first six benches,” the centaur instructed. “The rest are for family members who have come.”

Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville tried to squeeze themselves into one of the benches but there wasn’t much space for Neville. The boy seated himself directly behind Harry, and Susan Bones and her fellow Hufflepuffs quickly occupied the second bench. It took only a few more minutes for the rest to settle down. Draco, Harry saw, had seated himself on the bench beside his.

Delighted murmurs exploded behind the rows of students and when he turned, he saw Hermione’s parents trying not to stare at the centaur. Fred and George, at Mr. Granger’s somewhat hesitant inquiry, explained that Firenze was one of the staff members teaching at Hogwarts. Mrs. Weasley took Hermione’s mother by the hand and led her to a bench quite near to the students.

“How did your parents handle it, Hermione?” Harry asked his friend quietly. “And I sort of had the impression that the professors aren’t too happy about Muggles knowing the castle.”

“My parents are discreet. Their reactions have taken to a fascinating turn lately. I am having a few suspicions.”

“Such as?”

“I think they might have been spending some time at The Burrow. They were awfully skeptical towards magic but now, they’re reacting the same way Ron’s father does when he sees a toaster,” Hermione replied.

“Is that good or bad?”

“I don’t have the faintest idea. We’ll see how it goes.”

“You know, you haven’t told me what you’re going to do once we’re out of Hogwarts.”

Hermione smiled tremulously and cast her gaze at her feet. “I wish school hadn’t finished so soon,” she said shakily. Harry took a lot of courage to hug her comfortingly. He briefly met Ron’s eyes and the latter looked away quickly. “Anyway, I’m spending some time with my parents. I’ll probably seek employment in the Ministry and then Ron and I are going to get married. Once we have saved enough money,” she added. “It won’t hurt if both of us are financially stable first.” She watched Harry unerringly.

“Don’t worry, Hermione. I’ll keep owling you,” he reassured the witch.

“I’ll be very cross with you if you don’t,” Hermione agreed.

There was a dark movement coming from one side of the classroom and the students saw their Professor Snape conjuring several elegant chairs. Harry looked curiously in the professor’s direction. Several minutes later, the Head of Department of Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones, accompanied by a stern-looking wizard in sable-blue robes and another wizard with startling violet eyes, thanked Snape and graciously took her seat between the two sorcerers.

“Who are they?” Harry turned his head and whispered into Hermione’s ear. The prefect shook her head and turned to ask Susan Bones instead.

“I don’t have a clue,” the Hufflepuff replied apologetically.

The presence of the Transfiguration professor stilled all modes of conversation and the students watched her expectantly as she gracefully crossed over to the dark brown podium. Seeing that she had the undivided attention of the people present in the room, she cleared her throat just once.

Harry barely paid attention as his Head of house greeted the crowd of students and adult wizards and witches. It was only when she began to mention the Ministry official and her two companions that he forced himself to listen.

“We are so proud to have Madam Bones with us today, and with her are Professors Aran Reed and Elron Vine,” Professor McGonagall informed them and the crowd broke into applause. “Before we begin the ceremony, Professor Dumbledore wishes to say a few things.”

The ancient wizard inclined his head gravely at the Deputy Headmistress and tottered forward. Dumbledore stared at each of the students, his gaze lingering on Harry for a minute longer before moving on to appraise Draco Malfoy.

“It is unlikely that Hogwarts will ever again face such troubles as it has these few decades,” the old sorcerer began abruptly. “Needless to say, the School will have fond memories of you whom have taken the troubles to know it while you were busy with your studies. You all have been made brave due to certain events the last few years, and now it is time for you to go out into the world and join the rest of us adults.” His clear blue eyes glazed over and his face took on a thoughtful look. “You have only one life. One may not know how long one can live, so use your time wisely, young ones.” His face crinkled then as he smiled. “That is all. Now, we’ll turn the certificates over to you.”

McGonagall cleared her throat, frowning slightly at the Headmaster. “That’s my line, Albus,” she said in an undertone. The old wizard smiled at her stupidly and she rolled her eyes comically heavenward. She stood behind the podium again while Dumbledore moved over to the table.

“Miss Susan Bones,” the elderly witch called out and the Hufflepuff stood rather nervously and walked up to Dumbledore. The Headmaster bent his head and spoke something to the young witch. She trembled slightly and bowed her head in acknowledgment. She faced her housemates as applause filled the room, then smiled when her parents took several pictures of her. “Miss Mandy Brocklehurst,” Professor McGonagall announced the Ravenclaw’s name and Susan went back to her seat.

“Miss Lavender Brown.”

“Miss Millicent Bulstrode.”

Snape clapped rather loudly.

“Mister Michael Corner.”

Loud whistles pierced the air and the handsome Ravenclaw smiled roguishly at his supporters. His pointed hat slipped on to his right side and covered his face for a moment. The students chuckled at the boy’s slightly embarrassed look.

“Mister Vincent Crabbe.”

The applause for the pudgy Slytherin was less enthusiastic.

“Miss Marietta Edgecombe.”

By now, Harry’s heart was beating rather chaotically against his chest and he could feel Hermione waiting tensely beside him.

“She’s calling out the names in an alphabetical order,” Harry heard Hannah Abbott whisper desperately. “Why wasn’t my name called out?”

Justin Finch-Fletchley stood up and walked towards Dumbledore to receive his certificate.

“Seamus Finnigan.”

Harry and the Gryffindors whistled piercingly and their friend approached the Headmaster gaily.

“Anthony Goldstein.”

“There goes your secret admirer,” Padma whispered slyly to her twin. Parvati slapped her sister lightly, but blushed all the same.

“Ginny is crushed,” Ron remarked to the lovely twins, purposefully ignoring Dean’s swearing.

“She can keep this fellow over here. Anthony’s mine,” Parvati said firmly. She grew dreamy-eyed when the handsome Ravenclaw flashed her a shy smile.

“Daphne Greengrass,” McGonagall proclaimed loudly, shooting the crowd behind Harry’s bench a look that spoke volumes.

“Neville Longbottom.”

“Go Neville go!” the Gryffindors cheered. Even Professor McGonagall clapped rather spiritedly, her face beaming with pride.

“Ernie Macmillan.”

Theodore Nott, Dean Thomas and Lisa Turpin’s names were mentioned before Professor McGonagall went into a long pause. When the last student finally returned to her seat, the catty-looking witch spoke. “I’m going to announce the top two students of the year. I’m sure you all have guessed about their identities. Miss Hermione Granger.”

Harry smiled and applauded as his friend came to stand beside Dumbledore.

“Miss Granger has not only performed terribly well in her studies, but she has conducted her duties as a prefect outstandingly. I will not go into a lengthy speech about her, but even when some of us think that her unlimited knowledge is unwholesome,” McGonagall cast a sarcastic glance at the Potions Master, “she is one of the most remarkable witches of her time and I am proud to have been able to impart my knowledge to her.”

Hermione smiled winsomely back at the Head of the Gryffindor house and thanked Professor Dumbledore. The two exchanged whispers before the young witch returned to her place beside Harry and Ron. The other top student was the Ravenclaw, Terry Boot. During McGonagall’s speech, Harry exchanged a frightened glance with Ron. The table bearing the certificates was clear and empty. Dumbledore retreated to a corner, his face bearing a somewhat melancholy expression. The silence that followed when Terry stepped off the ‘stage’ became unbearable.

I’m not graduating. Harry’s mind went blank in fright.

It was barely noticeable but McGonagall was smiling mischievously at them. “Please do not stare at me so, Mister Weasley. Hogwarts is quite proud that your batch are graduating.”

“You mean all of us?” Ron said in a small voice.

“Yes. Let’s continue, shall we? Mister Gregory Goyle. We were all quite afraid that you could only depend on your OWLs, but it seems that our fears were unfounded. Not only did you manage to pass all of your NEWT subjects, but also, you actually received an ‘Outstanding’ grade for Advanced History of Magic. Well done.”

“May I add something, Professor McGonagall?” Professor Dumbledore interjected in a diffident tone. “Other than just giving you a certificate, we’re also giving you a trophy.” The old wizard passed his hand in an arc over the table and two crystalline, pyramid-shaped trophies stood out elegantly from behind a new stack of scrolls. He picked the trophy up just as Goyle reached him. Dumbledore squinted at the plaque and read the inscription aloud: “For the most improved student of graduating year one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight.”

“That’s my boy!” A plump witch exclaimed happily.

“Ronald Weasley.”

Ron looked amazed and he handled the trophy Dumbledore placed in his hand carefully. The cheers coming from the Weasley brood were noisy. “Wicked,” the redhead said in an awed sort of voice.

“The next students are those who have achieved five ‘Outstanding’ grades and above. Miss Hannah Abbott.”

Professor Dumbledore gave away the witch’s certificate and pressed a dark maroon parcel that he had conjured out of thin air into her hand.

“Draco Malfoy.”

Graduate and Headmaster stared piercingly at each other. Dumbledore inclined his head slightly and Draco responded in kind while taking a deep emerald box calmly.

“Pansy Parkinson.”

“Padma Patil.”

“Parvati Patil.”

“Harry Potter.”

Harry took a deep breath before rising to his feet. Dumbledore was smiling and his azure eyes were twinkling merrily. “You did extremely well in Potions, Harry,” the old wizard said quietly. “Maybe peer-tutoring has its advantages after all.”

“It also depends on the tutor himself, Professor,” Harry reminded him.

“True, true. Your parents are probably very happy for you. And Sirius as well.”

“I know.”

“Here you go.” Dumbledore pressed the certificate and a parcel similar to the one that Draco had been given, into his hands. McGonagall called Blaise Zabini and Harry left the Headmaster to congratulate the Slytherin.

“Well.” Professor McGonagall studied each of the students she had taught for seven years with brimming eyes. “Hogwarts will miss you all. Good luck with your future.”

The graduating students stood as one.

“No more books!” someone exclaimed happily.

“I don’t mind books but I will never write an essay ever again,” Susan Bones muttered vehemently.

Harry glanced sideways at Professor Snape, who glowered at the Hufflepuff witch. Without any warnings at all, Dean and Seamus crowed at the top of their lungs, and the graduates, taking that as a signal, threw their pointed hats into the air. In the confusion of weeping and laughter, and the crowd of bodies pressing close together, Harry and Draco managed to move away from the milling people.

With similar, evil grins, both unrolled their certificates and they were not surprised that both received an ‘Outstanding’ grade for Potions. Draco slapped Harry’s back in congratulation. “I’m terribly proud of you, Harry.”

“Looks like you’ll be walking around with your skin intact after all,” Harry said cheerfully. Draco pouted at him but broke out into laughter finally.

Ron pulled away from Hermione and looked over the heads of his fellow schoolmates. He found Harry and the sharp-chinned Slytherin gazing at each other’s faces affectionately. His heart grew heavy and he stared at his best friend. An incomprehensible feeling of loss gnawed at the core of his soul. Then he steeled himself, and wrapping himself tightly in his Gryffindor pride – not to mention his stubbornness – he turned his back on the one person who had almost become his sixth brother.