Chapter 13
Time Of Your Life
A/N: I know I said this was going to be the last chapter, but there is entirely too much to cover in just this one chapter. And I really wanted to do Andrea's wedding justice. And to the real Rachel Rivers, I can't wait too much longer, cuz I'm leaving for college soon! (8 days) Sorry rach, this had to come out! All my love to the reviewers thus far!
"You're going to be a busy girl this summer." Cho said after hearing BV's plans for the summer. She was concentrating heavily on her baby toe nail that she was attempting to paint a bright red.
"So are you." Andrea said looking up from her bridesmaid book. "Wedding in Russia and then a whole month training. Then Lauren's on tour."
"Ah, going to perfect our skills as a dancer?" Rhonda asked looking up from her books.
"Not really, working mostly orchestra, harp player and a little bit of dance on the side." Cho said, "Oh yeah, Aphrodite, Lauren's not going on tour this year, she took the summer off for the wedding."
"Oh yeah." Andrea said shaking her head, "Can't believe I forgot."
"It's hard to believe too! Sometimes I forget!" Cho said smiling, "Yeah my big sister is gonna be gone."
"You're stuck with Lauren all summer then." BV said smirking.
Cho surprisingly grinned back, "Not really, I'll be gone all of July and start training the second week of August. One week only."
"that's really nice!" Rhonda said.
"Yeah it is." BV said pulling out her Durmstrang book.
Andrea eyed the book, "How many more classes?"
"This Thursday's the last class."
"You're gonna make it?" Rhonda asked.
"Passing with flying colors." BV responded as she started her last essay and crammed for her final.
Thursday came sooner than BV had expected it. She got ready in her nice skirt and a top and headed to the deputy headmistress's office for the last time. She knocked and Mc Gonagall met her at the door.
"Ready for the last one?" Mc Gonagall asked.
"Yeah, I'm worried about the final though. I have no idea what will be on it." BV said slightly quivering.
"Calm down, BV. It's only a test."
"Only a test." BV said her nerves starting to win. "Professor, I can't do this."
Mc Gonagall smiled at the 16 year old 7th year in front of her, "Bridgette Viktoria, I haven't heard you say can't and I won't start now. Grit your teeth and do it."
"Okay, thank you." BV said her nerves slightly fading. She touched the dragon for the last time and was at Durmstrang. She went into the room and sighed as the test were being passed out. BV had never felt so worried over a test in her whole life. But after instantly getting the first five questions within seconds BV felt a surge of confidence. She smiled and continued. An hour later she turned in her test and stood there as Professor Valansy's assistant graded her test. She was a young witch and must have been an eighth year at the school. She scribbled her name across the bottom and handed back to BV.
"Here you go, good job." She looked down and saw a 98 gleaming at her. She smiled broadly as she presented the test to Professor Valansy.
"Congratulations, BV. Very well done, here's your essay for you to see, but I need it back for your portfolio." BV looked over the few mistakes she had made and handed it back a moment later, "Well, BV I will send Dumbledore your diploma for the class he'll give it to you at graduation."
"Thank you very much Professor Valansy." BV said smiling at him.
"One of the brightest student's I have ever met, good luck with what you do after graduation this year."
"Teaching, I'll be teaching at Hogwarts."
"Pity." He said shaking his head as the next finished test came to him. BV took that as her signal to leave. She popped back into Mc Gonagall's office seconds later.
"Well how'd it go?" Professor Mc Gonagall asked from her desk grading test.
"Wonderful! I got a 98 on the final! I passed for the year!"
Mc Gonagall smiled back at her, "Congratulations, I am very proud of you and so is all the staff her at Hogwarts."
BV smiled, "Thanks, professor, it's quite an accomplishment, one I am very proud of too!" BV said as she left Professor Mc Gonagall's office. She began to walk down the hall when she heard a voice call out to her.
"BV!" She turned and saw Roger and a few of his friends. BV turned and quickened her pace.
"Hey Reinheart!" Roger called out.
"Get lost!" BV snarled as she kept moving. Roger eventually caught up with her.
Roger looked her in the eye, "Not this time, BV Reinheart. That is not an option, half-breed." BV glared at his low attempt to insult her. "Victor, Henry, get her." Before BV had a chance to register what he said she found herself pinned to the wall. Her legs were instantly pinned by Roger's. Roger began to unbutton BV's blouse, "God, Reinheart you are such a hottie." BV's tears began to fall as she realized what was going to happen. Roger won, just as Jed had, they both tricked her and used unfair advantages to get her. She cursed Marietta a hundred thousand times in her head as Roger began making advancements on her body. He felt her legs, "Ooh, tensing up, BV, running scared." He snipped softly in her ear.
"I am not." BV said forcefully.
"Sure." Roger said as BV got angry and tried to get away by spitting on him. "You will pay for that you little whore." Davis took his arm and grabbed BV's throat.
"Noel." BV gasped trying not to give in when there was an interruption.
"HEY!" Rachel Rivers yelled getting the guys attention.
Henry, released his hold on BV and charged at Rachel, knocking her roughly onto her back.
"Urgh!" Rachel struggled underneath his weight as he pinned her arms above her head and straddled her hips, "No! Don't you guys have anything better to do?"
Henry laughed, looking over his shoulder at his companions. "Look Roger, a two for one deal!"
"Not these chicks," Rachel grunted and brought her knees up forcefully hitting him in the back.
He howled in pain, closing his eyes, and releasing her arms, allowing her to clamp her hands together, and using them like a hammer she swung across his jaw, knocking him off balance and off of her. Rachel stood quickly and shakily, as Victor released BV's other arm and took off running in the opposite direction.
Roger, who was still holding BV's throat with his left hand, stepped back, pulling his knee off of her and wound back, throwing a right handed punch at Rachel.
She easily avoided it and grabbed his wrist, pulling and twisting it to break it with a loud popping sound.
Roger screamed in agony and let go of BV, who simply fell to the floor gasping for air. She turned to watch the end of the fight.
Rachel, still holding Davies' right arm, held the wrist and stepped behind him, thrusting her palm at his elbow, breaking that as well and then roughly pulling it behind him, bending it against his own back. Roger cried out in pain as Rachel shoved his elbow upward, breaking his shoulder. She released his arm and he dropped to the ground in pain.
"You're lucky that I didn't rip your arm off and beat you with it!" Rachel shouted bending over to yell in his face.
Davies stumbled and tripped, running towards the Hospital Wing.
Rachel smiled triumphantly, watching him run off with his tail effectively between his legs. "So where's my standing ovation, Reinheart?" Rachel asked looking around at eye level. "Reinheart!" she asked looking down upon BV's limp form on the ground.
BV looked up at Rachel with tears streaming down her face and watched Rachel drop to the floor beside her. BV couldn't believe that it almost happened again and this was another time Rachel saved her.
"Aw, come off it Beeves," she said wrapping as arm around the girl's shoulders, trying to lighten the mood. BV hated that nickname but appreciated the gesture, it was unlike Rachel to be touchy feely.
But BV overall was shocked at Rachel's carefree attitude to the situation and that's what came out in full force, "Come off it! Are you crazy! Or didn't you see what just happened?"
"Yeah BV, I saw, but you can't let that ruin your life!" Rachel responded.
BV shook her head trying to get her to understand she said, "Rachel, he's been attempting to do that all year. He's been trying to rape me. He knows about Noel. He thinks that because I have a kid that I'm an easy ride…… you know what…… he's right, I'm an easy whore, I'm worthless!" BV said miserably.
"BV!" Rachel snapped, in her opinion this was stupid and she knew that BV knew it was pointless. "You're not! Sure you're annoying as hell Bridgette Viktoria Reinheart! But you're not worthless, well, at least not to Harry," Rachel grinned knowing the effects that her comment would have.
"I don't like Harry," BV yelled angrily and defensively .
"Did I say that you liked Harry?" Rachel smirked holding her hand up.
"Yeah, whatever, he doesn't stand a chance with me. He's better off trying to hook up with Cho again!" BV said stressing the 'again' as she rolled her eyes.
Rachel in return rolled her eyes, "Don't talk about Chang, and besides he kinda would enjoy kissing you again," Rachel laughed mischievously.
"How the," BV started then a light bulb went off, "Psychic," BV muttered.
"I'm not psychic," Rachel said looking down slightly unnerved that she had been lied to. "Apparently, I'm just good at Legilimency, but no psychic me," Rachel sighed looking up once again.
"Oh, that explains the potion." BV said quietly. "Oh yeah, Rivers, just to get your facts straight…. Harry may have enjoyed that kiss, but I certainly didn't. It was out of line, improper, and rude."
Rachel beamed, "Yeah, but you know you liked it. You want Harry "The Pimp" Potter," Rachel laughed.
"Pimp?" BV question with a look of bemusement on her face. First off, how Harry Potter had gotten the title Pimp would be quite a story. Second it made her remember that she was once an American and that was common lingo over in the states.
"Oh hell yeah," Rachel laughed. "Me, you, Hermione, Ginny, and Chang," Rachel choked. "We all like him, or liked in mine and Hermione's cases," Rachel giggled.
"Yeah he may have liked me, but what's up with you saying you and Hermione liked him. I never would have though Granger would go after him." BV said starting to forget her shame and what might have been.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Its that whole 'best friend turned crush, turned big brother' thing. Same with me an Jed, well," she paused looking up. "At least that's how we started."
"Don't remind me about him," BV snarled as she curled up and in a sense, started closing herself from Rachel. That was the last thing she needed to do. The first thing she need to do was the exact opposite. But Jed was the sorest spot for BV and appropriately so.
"Well if you're ever going to get over it, number one, you're going to have to cancel my subscription, 'cause I don't need your issues," Rachel smirked turning to BV and then back. "Okay, okay, but in all seriousness, you have to talk to an authority figure. A third party so to speak, two, you have to forgive him and three, you have to tell him about Noel," Rachel explained.
"Oh no you DON'T!" BV started getting fired up, telling Jed was the last thing on this green earth that she wanted to tell Jed. "One, you threw yourself into this mess! I'm not talking to anyone! That third person party will try to get a lawsuit going… uh, NO! Stacey's was enough….. Two, Jed can't be forgiven just because he's not sorry and it was my fault for letting him get close! And I'm not letting him get anywhere near Noel Leigh-Anna," BV finished sobbing in hysterics. Protecting her daughter from Jed was possibly one of her greatest concerns in raising Noel all by herself.
Rachel turned sideways and started shaking her shoulders, "BV! Snap out of it! Think about what you're saying! " Rachel commanded, doing the only thing that she could think to do to pull the sobbing girl back to reality. SLAP! The sound itself echoed through the empty corridor, "Reinheart! Shut the fuck up! Nobody cares about your sob story but me! It wasn't your fault, he is evil and he will pay. Like my dad, he may be a Death Eater, but he's still my dad. Jed knowing about Noel just might be the thing that could bring him to the realization about what he did to you, to us, to countless other girls!" Rachel screamed throwing her arms out to her sides.
BV places a hand to her cheek with stunned eyes. "I," after a long pause she continued, "never mind. You're dad's a Death Eater?" BV asked in a timid voice.
"Yeah! I just found out too!" Rachel said annoyed the lowered her voice. "He killed his wife, Beeves, he killed my Aunt Carrie," she said slowly.
"I'm sorry," BV said quietly stretching her arm out to hug Rachel but then decided against it, knowing Rachel's dislike for touchy feely-ness. "I know where you're coming from, though, my brother and dad," BV said vaguely.
Rachel scooted away hoping that BV wouldn't get all touchy-feely, "Yeah, whatever, Reinheart," Rachel said coldly turning away form BV and crossing her arms slightly. "I have to go. I want to catch Dumbledore before dinner is over," Rachel said standing up.
"Yeah," BV said coolly remaining in her spot. "Whatever, thanks Rivers," she said grabbing her fallen bag.
"Don't thank me for anything Reinheart," Rachel spat. "I didn't help you with anything," she growled and strode around the corner and towards the headmaster's office.
BV sat there, she whispered to no one in particular, "You stopped." She dried her eyes then went back to the commons preparing for a new day and a new start. But not before evaluating the obvious and lingering on the past one more time. She went up to the dorms and settled into bed with a book and read it till all the other girls fell fast asleep. She then got up and sat on the ledge of the window in their room staring out into the moonlight until Cho woke up and interrupted her peace.
"BV? What are you still doing up?" Cho asked as she wrapped her tiny body in a pink fluffy dressing gown.
BV looked up at her, "just thinking." BV continued to stare out over the lake from her spot on the ledge gazing through the window. Cho could easily tell she had been thinking a little too long that night.
"Bout what?" Cho asked sitting down next to BV on the floor as she gazed out over the water. It reminded her of her moments with Cedric and her meeting Fleur.
"Just stuff." BV said absentmindedly gazing out over the lake.
Cho was uncomfortable with BV's tone, "BV? What kinda stuff?"
"Well, about the future, Noel's future. I'm not sure I can do this. At least not alone, yet. I've had the world handed to me on a silver platter, with that silver spoon trusted in my mouth at birth. I don't know how to pull this off all by myself." BV said honestly.
"You're already a great mom, you kept her, when most would not have done so." Cho said, "And you love her more than life itself, and would do anything to keep her safe. That's all that maters in the end."
"Yeah." BV said quietly. "But I need to be able to feed her, clothe her, give her everything she could ever want."
"Food, clothes, yes, but not everything she wants, she'll be spoiled. But you know, being so alone isn't a good thing for you. We need to get you a boyfriend."
BV catching on said, "Oh no you don't it was suppose to be the reverse, me hook you and Harry up, not visa versa."
"Who said anything about Harry?" Cho asked, "Besides, I didn't think you were into him!"
"I'm not." BV snapped defensively.
"Sure," Cho said smiling, "Anyway, why not? Andrea said you two are so cute when you kiss."
BV snarled, "Oh that's really not funny, Chang!"
"Sure it's not funny, but it sure as hell is really cute." Cho smirked hugging BV, "Oh, you know we love you BV Reinheart, and what would we do without you?"
"Nothing, you'd go on living." BV said as she drifted into thought again.
"Don't give up, on him, Reinheart, you have every opportunity to love him, I wasn't open to love when I found him." Cho said getting up to go back to bed. She lay down and stared at BV who had not moved, something told her BV was going to be doing some more thinking. Then Cho's eyes became heavy with sleep. The door opened about 20 minutes later and BV turned to see who was entering their dorm at such a god forsaken hour of the night. There stood Lauren Chang.
"BV! What are you doing up?" She hissed.
"What are you doing in our dorms at 2 in the morning?" BV asked back.
"I asked first." Lauren taunted childishly.
"Thinking, you?"
Lauren smirked, "Dumbledore then I wanted to tell Cho some good news."
"What kind of good news?" BV asked.
"Soi's engaged!" Lauren shrieked in a hushed whisper.
BV winced, "Lauren, I hate to burst your bubble, but Cho already knows. We've all known since before Christmas.
"How?"
"I dunno, sorry though." BV replied depressed that she had broken Lauren's little bubble.
Lauren went over to Cho's bed and plopped on it, "Hey girly! Wake up!" She hissed.
"Huh?" Cho said dazed. Then clearing up she saw her mother, "MOM!" She yelled, " What are you doing here?"
"Ah come off it Chang, knock it off!" Rhonda said waking up and hitting her lamp on.
Andrea woke up and her blonde hair frazzled, "Yeah it's like 2 in the morning!"
"Hi, Lauren." Marietta said groggily.
"Hi, Marietta." Lauren said sharply. Andrea came over and hugged Lauren before Lauren continued, " Cho, how did you find out about Soi's engagement before me?"
Cho smiled, "Soi told me back in November or so, she just told you?"
"YES!" Lauren hissed.
"I thought you knew because you were taking the summer off of the tour." Cho said.
"No, I knew Dumbledore was going to ask me to do some stuff."
Cho's eyes lit up, "What kinda stuff?'
"You'll find out Princess, go to bed."
"Okay." Cho responded as she started to go to sleep.
Lauren decided to leave. "Good night BV." Lauren said kissing BV's head as Cho fell fast asleep. Nite, Rhonda, and Aphrodite, Congrats on your wedding."
"Thanks," Andrea said as Lauren kissed the top of her head too. The girls slowly fell asleep one by one until BV was the only one still awake. She stared off into space until she fell asleep as well.
Cho was first up and saw BV had fallen asleep in the window. Cho smiled as she crawled out of her warm bed and wrapped BV in her blanket. The days passed and then the OWLS and NEWT's administrators came. BV was eerily calm about the massive test.
"How can you be so confident?" Andrea asked as she crammed for her Astrology exam that was to place a few nights later.
"If I can pass that Durmstrang final, I can pass anything!" BV said not bothering to look at her potions.
"Crazy!" Cho said shaking her head, "It's sad to think you're going to be valedictorian and not study your ass off to get there."
"Sorry, mate did I hear you right? Me valedictorian? What happened to you?" BV asked looking Cho over.
"Like I'm gonna beat you!" Cho said smiling, "You're just a pinch smarter than me."
"No I'm not." BV said, "You are just as smart as I am." Then the bell rang and the girls went off to face their first test. The test were everything BV and Cho had expected them to be and went on with very little excitement until Andrea's memorized Astrology test. They were seated in one of the classrooms on the same floor as the entrance to the Astrology tower. Andrea ran into the room and flung on the lights the second her test was over, "He's Dead! Dumbledore's dead!" Andrea shrieked as she entered her dorms. The seventh year astrology students were alerting their houses to the battle which had taken place as they were finishing their exams. A battle in which Dumbledore had lost his life. The worst was confirmed the next morning as the headline of the Daily Prophet and Minerva Mc Gonagall seated in the late headmaster's chair. She alerted the houses that classes and the rest of exams were canceled as well as that the funeral would be a days time. The girls had never sat so quietly in their dorms as they did that day. BV only broke the silence to get up and write to Professor De Anna. The girls fitfully fell asleep and awoke the next morning to a bright sun shinning through their windows. They began to get ready and the silence was broken by tiny Cho Chang sitting in front of her vanity.
"It still doesn't seem possible." Cho said softly as she tied her black hair back with a butterfly clip. She looked herself over in the mirror, 'two people two years, is it because of me?'
"Cho?" BV asked as she looked up at the Chinese girl from her bed.
Cho startled asked, "Huh? Sorry, didn't catch that BV."
"Are you alright?" Rhonda asked as she traded her sky blue top for a dark red blouse.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Cho asked putting on dark bronze eye shadow.
BV shook her head, "It's been a hard few years for you. First Cedric's death. Your break up with Harry, Soi getting married, Dumbledore's death."
"So?" Cho snapped, "I'm strong! Contrary to popular belief!"
BV shook her head, "No one is questioning your strength Cho, we already know you shine so brightly, but even some nights the stars shine and you can't see them so appears like they are refusing to shine."
"Okay, fine, I'm not okay, I'm still missing Cedric, I don't wanna let go." Cho said sobbing as she sat down, "Because I feel like if I hold on, I'm not forgetting him, he's not really dead."
"But, Cho, like Dumbledore told Harry, It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live. Sure, in your mind you were so happy and so ready to be his wife to be happy forever, but it didn't go that way. So you have to be extremely brave, walk away, but never forget. Besides he left a handprint on your heart, and you know that." Andrea said hugging Cho. The girls smiled even though today would be tough. BV was saddened she had sent word to Professor De Anna in hopes the owl would arrive in time. After a hardly eaten breakfast the Ravenclaw girls walked down to the school lawn. BV scanned in front of her for Professor De Anna.
"Looking for me?" A voice said behind BV grabbing her by the arm and pulling her out of the line. BV turned and saw Professor De Anna standing there.
"Yes, how are you." BV asked hugging her.
"It's been hard, I had to break the news to his nieces." De Anna said gesturing off to her side, where three of her good Vincentian friends stood tears streaming down their faces. "Go, they need someone." De Anna said following her eyes.
BV walked over, "Christy?" She said softly. Christiana Dumbledore looked up, she had dyed her hair since BV last saw her. It was now a dazzling shade of blonde.
"BV Reinheart, oh my god! It's been a while! Pity it's such a bad time for this meeting." She said drying her eyes with a lacy handkerchief.
"Yeah it is, I'm so sorry for your loss." BV said hugging Christiana.
"Me too, me too." Christy responded, "So how's your bad habit?"
"Totally kicked." BV said not wanting to go into detail with Christiana and was spared.
Another amused voice said, "Bless my soul, it's Bridgette Viktoria." BV turned to see Anna Dumbledore. She stood there the outfit clearly an American suit. Her black hair was pinned half up in a bun.
"Anna, you got tall." BV said admiring her friend's new found height.
"You gained weight." She said noting BV's hips. "You needed some, you were a twig."
"Thanks, appreciate that." BV said as she turned and saw little Aubriana Dumbledore. She stood in green stripped gauchos and a tank top with a ribbon in her cinnamon curly hair. She bore the most resemblance to her late uncle. "Aubrey come here, I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thanks, BV. How are you?" She asked politely.
"I'm okay," BV said the words sounding odd to herself. "I'm okay." She said trying to assure herself.
"That's good, how's the little one?" She whispered into BV's ear.
"How'd you find out about that?" BV asked.
Aubrianna smiled, "Mike Davenport told me."
"I'll kill him I swear to God, I will. But since you asked, she is wonderful."
"look like you?"
"Exactly spitting image except for her eyes."
"Jed's huh?" She said growling under her breath.
"Unfortunately." BV said, "But she's getting so big, it's amazing."
"That's great I'll have to visit sometime we're spending the summer here before we go back to the states for our last year."
"Yeah, you guys are always welcome, that is until I get a place of my own, then only you are allowed to visit." BV teased.
"Well let us know." Aubrianna said as she walked over to join her sisters and take a seat near the front. BV sat feeling sadder than she had ever felt in her life, but the next night all the tears of sadness turned to tears of joy and accomplishment. It was Graduation for the class of 1997.
They walked in a very formidable group of individuals all in dark black robes with stoles of different colors. They stood on either side of the aisle as the graduates proceeded past them to their seats. At the end Cho and BV walked in front of Mc Gonagall. They took the stage and sat in their respective chairs as Minerva took her place at the podium.
"Good Evening, I am Professor Minerva Mc Gonagall. This year I was teacher of Transfiguration, and deputy headmistress. In the unfortunate events that have occurred, I have taken over the role of headmistress at these ceremonies in honor of late headmaster, Albus Dumbledore." The crowd applauded with approval for Dumbledore and his works. But the sense of pain and suffering was still there as Mc Gonagall continued, "On a much lighter note, this evening I am proud to introduce to you the Ravenclaw Class of 1997." The graduated stood in their dark blue gowns with blue mortarboards and a bronze tassel. Cho caught BV's eye and winked as BV grinned back. They resumed their seats as Mc Gongall proceeded, "This has been quite a year and we will hear from two representatives of the class. The Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Ravenclaw class and ironically enough the Hogwarts Class of 1997's Valedictorian and Salutatorian and will present a second speech to the whole class of 1997 at the end of this month." The crowd clapped and BV and Cho simply beamed. "As tradition the head of the Ravenclaw house will first address the house and then present the Valedictorian and Salutatorian to you. Professor Flitwick, if you please." Little tiny Professor Flitwick conjured some books to stand on behind the podium. He finally reached the top and began to speak.
"I apologize, I'm vertically challenged." The crowd chuckled, " The class of 1997, it's an incredible accomplishment today, you've reached that long awaited goal, struggled and excelled to get here, but you are here. Those long nights of studying for potions and all your other classes are over, you have met the challenge. It seems only yesterday we all sat down to talk about which ways you all wanted to go. Aurors to Med witches to Unspeakables to liaisons to charm breakers, to teachers. We talked about the challenges they provided and made a decision for your benefit." BV sat there and thought, ' no we made a choice for Noel's benefit, not mine.' "I don't believe that anyone of you have not reached a goal. You may not have reached the goal you wanted but as Ovid said, "Shoot for the moon because even if you miss you will still land among the stars." You have all landed above the stars and in particular the two young ladies behind me are, no joke intended, shining examples of that. They also embody what traits the House of Ravenclaw was founded on. Wit and intellect. Wisdom and Character and of course Discernment and Fortitude. Of course each of the ladies have taken different paths to reach the goal like the rest of their class, but both have reached the pinnacle of success at Hogwarts. They have run faster and harder than any student we have had at Hogwarts thus far and both still remain good friends through their vigorous fight to prevail as valedictorian. But only one can be acclaimed as Valedictorian, the best of the best and at this time I would like to introduce the Valedictorian for the class of 1997." The crowd clapped as Flitwick lifted a hand to silence them.
" This year's valedictorian has quite a history. A transfer student from Vincentian Academy of Magic in America she skipped her fifth year and jumped into classes with the class of 1997 in their sixth year. She quickly excelled and started to really put pressure on our Salutatorian for that number one spot. We the teachers have seen a determination and pure enjoyment of learning in this individual. She has shown us that the greater the risk and challenge the greater the reward. Upon graduation she will receive a degree in Defenses Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Charms from Hogwarts. A certificate of completion in the study of Defenses Against the Dark Arts from Durmstrang Institute of Magic, a class reserved for elite ministry members and Durmstrang Honors students in their 8th year of study. From Vincentian Academy of Magic a degree in Dark Arts and Education as well as a full scholarship to Vincentian Academy's Graduate school where she will pursue a masters degree in Defenses Against the Dark Arts and Potions with hopes to study Arithmancy and Runes for a bachelors degree. In addition to classes the Valedictorian will be coming to teach back here at Hogwarts as the Defenses Against the Dark Arts teacher. She is a native New Yorker, lives in Vienna Austria, is the daughter of Franz and Marlene Reinheart. I have the great honor of presenting to you Ravenclaw's class of 1997 Valedictorian, Bridgette Viktoria Reinheart." The crowd applauded and Marlene Reinheart beamed at her daughter who took the podium. BV pushed her bronze tassel out of her way as she opened her speech. She took a deep breath and began:
"I want to start my speech, by saying thank you. As you all know I transferred from Vincentian and was placed a year higher than my age. I was willing to bet that these last few years would have been miserable. But they weren't. Your children embraced me and made me feel more at home than I had in a long time.
Now to the class of 97. I know you will groan when I tell you I have a quote, but this one is really good, I promise. The speech I am using comes from another great man, Nelson Mandela. At his inaugural speech in 1994 he used the words of Marianne Williamson as found in her book: A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles," which was published in 1992. Mandela was a man who also said, "Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great, you can be that great generation." and of course, I may be bias, but I believe we are becoming that great generation. So for the class of 1997:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
BV took a breath, "We as a class have proven we are so brilliant in our each individual way. Now we have arrived at a point in time when we must go our separate ways and show the world just how bright we can shine. So I say to you shine, shine like the sun, fly, fly high and fly away and don't forget to trust your instincts." BV finished the crowd erupted into cheers and screams. BV beamed as she went over to Mc Gonagall to shake her hand.
"Beautiful Choice, BV." She complimented as she took BV's hand.
"Thank you."
BV walked over to Flitwick who took her hand and shook it saying, "Congratulations Bridgette."
"Thank you, Professor Flitwick." BV sat back down as Flitwick resumed his spot atop his books.
"Now for the Salutatorian. She, too is quite a story, the daughter of a very young and ambitious mother. She was instantly noted for her dancing skills from a young age. Then started all of the arts, singing, dancing, performing for many people. She has been honored by Beaubaxton School as a cantor for their graduations and a member of their honors chorus ensemble. It has been acclaimed that she has a voice that would make the angels in heaven cry. But she stands in most of the teachers minds as that crazy little Chinese girl who wouldn't stop grinning at the sorting ceremony her first day at Hogwarts. She showed us just how thrilled she was to hit and excel beyond the mark her mother had set so high for her when she went to Hogwarts herself. She is graduating with a honors degree in Potions and a degree in Herbology, Charms and Arithmancy." Someone whistled in amazement in the crowd. " She has been accepted into an apprenticeship program at Saint Mungo's Wizarding Hospital. She will be an apprentice in the field of pre-natal nursing this fall. She lives in London, is the daughter of Scott and famous wizarding lawyer, Lauren Chang. Without further ado, the Ravenclaw class of 1997's Salutatorian, Miss Cho Lily Li Chang." The crowd roared and BV was waiting to hear what Cho had to say. She knew Cho was ready to leave this place faster than anyone else in the class. She had a friend ready with a muggle open bed truck to go joy riding after the ceremony. But Cho started a little different than BV, Andrea and Rhonda had expected.
"Good evening to everyone, family and friends of the class of 97 and the faculty of Hogwarts. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the blessings you have given to us, the 1997 Graduating Ravenclaw class. To the class: " Cho paused regaining composure,
"We've made it, we've reached the top of the mountain. Tonight is that chance you get every so often to look and see where you've come thus far and to look ahead and see what's left to be accomplished. We have a lot ahead of all of us, but we can make that difference. We are not alone, we have all our friends and family that have guided us thus far and the friends and teachers we have met here at Hogwarts. I would like it if you took a moment and thought about your favorite memory and then think about the first time you met everyone in our class. I bet your first impression quickly changed within months of knowing them right? Or they just proved your thoughts completely but then they show you a hidden side of themselves. Just remember these brilliant words of an Italian poet, "We do not remember days, we remember moments." Remember this moment, remember all those moments that made you who you are today and keep in mind all the moments to come. We are closing the chapter and we are saying goodbye to the best times of our lives thus far. And we are preparing to say hello to a new time of our life. Embrace these last few moments together and let go of the pain and hurt from the past, we're all leaving to go embrace the future. Good luck and good riddance!" Cho finished triumphantly as the class laughed and BV, Rhonda and Andrea smiled they knew it was coming. Cho turned around and she shook with Flitwick. Then when she reached Mc Gonagall she gave her a huge hug. She came back and smiled at BV, "We made it!" She said excitedly.
"Yeah we did." BV replied sadly, "It's over." Then the house song was played. The class of 1997 had chosen Green Day's Good Riddance. A Muggle song, BV had never heard of but Cho, Rhonda and Andrea had certainly heard of. The guitar started and Cho and BV stood up to lead the class out of the room into the ballroom for dinner. The song began it's lyrics and Cho sang: "Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go. So make the best of this test and don't ask why." They could hear Rhonda singing with them, " It's not a question but a lesson learned in time. It's something unpredictable but in the end it's right, I hope you had the time of your life." Andrea began singing with the rest of the class, "So take the photographs and still frames in your mind. Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time. Tattoos and memories of dead skin on trial. Through what's worth it was worth all the while. It's something unpredictable but in the end it's right. I hope you've had the time of your life."
Cho smiled and said, "yeah I did have the time of my life."
"Me too." BV said before singing the most repeated line in the song, "It's something unpredictable but in the end it's right. I hope you've had the time of your life."
Rhonda whispered in their ears, "It's something unpredictable but in the end it's right. I hope you've had the time of your life."
Andrea grabbed BV around the neck, "It has been something unpredictable but in the end it's definitely right. I have had the time of my life." The girls laughed the rest of the way into the ball room and danced the night away after it.