Graduation Day
"Up, up, up," prodded the youngest Weasley, as she nudged her friends with her feet.
Seven groggy sets of eyes looked up at the freshly showered 6th year, clad only in Hermione's pale yellow bathrobe, and blinked at the very bright sun pouring though the windows.
"Oi, Gins, let us sleep – I've got a killer headache," grumbled Ron, as he nuzzled back down into Lavender's shoulder.
"Nope, graduation is in three hours, and our parents will start arriving into Hogsmeade in less than 30 minutes. Not to mention we all need to make an appearance at breakfast," she countered, physically prying Harry's arm off his face, where he had covered his eyes.
"Ginny – my bedside drawer, eight phials –" whispered Hermione, her own face buried in a pillow on the couch, Blaise's arm around her.
"Phials? What's in the phials?" asked Draco, in between rubbing his face in his hands. He struggled to sit up and lean back next to Blaise's legs, pulling Pansy up next to him.
"Hermione and I brewed up a bit of hangover potion last week," Blaise answered. "Ginny, you can save at least one of the phials for yourself, I'm not in need of one."
"Pipe down, Zabini, you're making my head hurt," Harry sniffled.
"I don't need it either, but if you don't mind 'Mione, I'll save it for later?" Ginny called from the bedroom, before returning with the phials in her hand. She grinned as she passed them out to the 7th years, Blaise waving off her offer just as he had said he would.
Hermione waited until she had downed the tiny bottle and could feel her mind clearing before responding.
"Of course you can have it, Ginny; it will be a while before I drink enough to need another one!"
"Now, off with you, take your showers, get dressed in your graduation robes, and I'll see everyone at breakfast in 45 minutes!" Ginny ordered, pulling Harry up and pushing him out the door with the other boys, with a quick kiss.
"45 minutes!" panicked Lavender, "that's not enough time! My hair! My robes! My makeup!"
"You'll be fine, Lavender, the house elves pressed the graduation robes yesterday, and you're always good at the quick hair charms," Ginny soothed, escorting the alarmed Gryffindor to the corridor, along with Pansy. "Now go on, and we'll see you in the Great Hall."
Turning back around to her best friend, Ginny's eyes flashed.
"And now, my dear, it's time to make you stunning."
"Ginny – it's just graduation – "
"You and I both know what day it is, now scoot to the shower while I find your extra bottle of Sleekeazy's!" the younger red-head grinned, tying up her own long hair in a knot as she bent over Hermione's trunk.
The graduates all made it to the Great Hall on time, Ron and Harry skidding to a stop at the last minute, hair still wet-but at least they were there. Ginny and Lavender quietly cast a drying charm on their respective boys, although Lavender let it get a little hotter than normal when Ron wouldn't close his mouth after seeing Hermione.
Hermione reminded everyone of the Yule Ball, her fourth year, except much curvier and more grown-up. She was wearing the standard black outer graduation robes, with the Gryffindor scarlet inner robe, and a traditional black dress underneath. A pair of backless heels completed the picture. To the untrained eye, she looked like every other graduating girl (well, except for the fact that the other houses had different color inner robes).
To the trained eye gone was the bushy birds nest, her hair had been swept up into a bun, with tiny ringlets curling down towards her face. Ginny had used a flattering lipstick and blush on Hermione's face, enhancing her appearance even further (and doing so in much less time than Hermione had thought it would require).
Even Harry did a double take before dutifully returning his gaze to his girlfriend.
"Come along, boys," Hermione said, breaking the silence, "our families have already arrived."
Remus had come to see them graduate, and to serve as Harry's surrogate family, along with every single Weasley (even Percy managed to show up, with Penelope right by his side). The Grangers had spent the night at the Burrow and had side apparated with Arthur and Charlie, much to their delight.
Ron had been dragged away to meet Lavender's parents after being smothered by his mother. Ginny subtly drew Molly's attention to Harry, allowing her brother to escape one woman's clutches for another.
Hermione was surrounded by most of the Weasley brothers who were quizzing her on Harry's relationship with Ginny, and growing rather worried she wouldn't be able to hold them off much longer, when Blaise came to rescue her from the arms of one of the twins who was holding her tightly.
"Hermione, McGonagall has requested our presence," he said smoothly, tucking her hand under his elbow and winking at the gaggle of redheaded men. "Ginny, she'll be wanting the Prefects shortly, surely you can gather them up?"
Ginny nodded and began looking around the Hall for the other Prefects, while the boys turned their attention onto Harry.
"Thanks for saving me," Hermione giggled.
"Someone has to help you keep a secret," Blaise said, smiling at the girl who had become a close friend over the last year.
"Why, Mr. Zabini, whatever could you be referring to?"
"No reason to act coy now," he replied, "besides, I imagine there will be plenty of talk later."
The two Heads made their way through the crowd to the Headmistress and began their final hour of duties.
The 7th years sat alphabetically, all the Houses intermixed so that there was a sea of black shimmering with scarlet, yellow, blue, and green, facing a small stage that had been built on the Quidditch pitch. Blaise and Hermione sat on the platform with the teachers, staring out into the audience of parents, guests, and fellow students, all arranged by House.
After the opening remarks, the Headmistress began awarding the Certificates of Graduation. A small stack of parchments sat atop her podium, and magically the name of each student would appear as she called them to come up.
The student would then walk across the platform and receive the parchment from the Headmistress, after it rolled itself into a tight scroll and was sealed with the official Hogwarts seal. Then the student would be congratulated by the rest of the Professors before returning to their seat.
"Susan Bones," the Headmistress announced, and so the end began.
"Terry Boot."
"Lavender Brown."
Ron wildly cheered much to the disapproving looks from both McGonagall and Hermione.
"Vincent Crabbe."
"Seamus Finnigan."
More wild cheering from the Gryffindor contingent.
"Gregory Goyle."
Harry raised his eyebrow when Hermione's name was skipped, but then remembered something about the Heads being last. He knew he should have paid more attention when Ginny was talking.
"Neville Longbottom."
Neville was blushing at the whoops from Gryffindor, and even more embarrassed by his Gran calling out "That's my baby!" and sniffling. He was pleased to be awarded the "Top Herbology Student of the Century" Award for his 7 years of perfection in Professor Sprout's class. Luna just swooned in her seat and waved her engagement ring in the air.
"Morag McDougal."
"Ernie Macmillian."
A cheer from the Hufflepuffs, and a few rouge pygmy puffs flew through the air.
"Draco Malfoy."
Both Harry and Ron let out a boyish whoop in support of their enemy turned drinking buddy. Draco was also awarded the "Most Improved Wizard" award, on the sole basis that he was an ass his first year (and his second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth years) and was finally able to get along with others. Or at least Potter and Weasley. Even Snape thought that was amazing and deserved an award.
"Pansy Parkinson."
She received a polite smattering of applause from the Gryffindors, much to everyone's surprise, and to Hermione and Ginny's delight.
"Harry Potter."
Screams and cheers burst forth from all the Houses, and a few loud magical fireworks that shot into the air and formed a lightening bolt appeared over the platform. Harry saw Fred and George throw him a wink, under the disapproving glare of the Professors.
"Dean Thomas."
And the Gryffindors cheer wildly some more.
"Lisa Turpin."
"Ronald Weasley."
By the sheer fact that there were almost as many Weasleys as there was everyone else, the cheering was deafening. Ron won the "Quidditch Captain of the Year" Award, quite suitably since the Chudley Cannons had offered him a spot as the Reserve Keeper just that morning.
Minerva paused and turned to look at the last two students.
"Blaise Zabini," she said, smiling at the Head Boy.
Blaise was greeted with thunderous applause, as he won the "Inter-House Cooperation" Award, along with the "Wizard Most Likely to Succeed" Award and the "Future Wizard Leaders of Great Britain" Award.
He waved nonchalantly and sat back down beside Hermione, giving her a squeeze on her arm.
"And now," the Headmistress said, "Our illustrious Head Girl. Recipient of the "Witch Most Likely to Succeed" Award, the "Future Witch Leaders of Great Britain" Award, the "Future Potion Mistress" Award for her marks in Potions – Snape let a scowl cross his face for just a moment – the inaugural "Albus Dumbledore" Award for the outstanding student who has demonstrated calmness and logic in the face of crisis. May I present this Certificate of Completion to Miss Hermione – "
Minerva stared blankly at the parchment in front of her.
"Oh dear," she turned to look at Hermione. "Oh dear, me, no, no it can't be."
Hermione smiled and stood up to approach her favorite Professor.
"Tell me it's not so, Hermione!" she begged, causing Snape to join her at the podium and read over her shoulder.
"Bloody Hell!" he cried. "She's Hermione Jane Weasley!"
And the crowd went into an uproar.
"Ronald Weasley! How COULD you," sobbed Lavender.
"It's NOT me," said Ron, his eyes darting in confusion between Harry and his girlfriend.
Draco sat smugly back in his seat, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Seriously, Ron, why didn't you two tell me?" asked Harry. "And how could you do that to Lavender?"
"IT'S NOT ME!" Ron repeated, trying to gather Lavender's hands in his own.
A loud whistle brought silence upon the gathered group.
"If I may have your attention please – "
Minerva and Snape looked down the aisle and stared at one of the worst, yet most successful, troublemakers to ever grace the school.
"FRED WEASLEY!" came a shout from Molly.
"Mother, you and Mrs. Granger said no Honeymoon till she graduated, we've been married almost a year," he replied, as he advanced up the aisle, stopping momentarily beside the Gryffindor section. "Ginny, love, do you have her things?"
"Right here, darling brother," she answered, tossing a miniaturized trunk in the air, which Fred caught with the grace of a Seeker.
"Now, Hermione dearest, shall we?"
"FRED WEASLEY!" came his mother's voice again.
"Thank you, Headmistress McGonagall, for everything," Hermione said softly, giving the gobsmacked Professor a hug and a kiss on the cheek before plucking the certificate out of her hand.
She reached the edge of the platform just as Fred did, and smiled as her husband grabbed her ring and activated the password-portkey.
"I LOVE HERMIONE WEASLEY!"
Later that afternoon the crowds had thinned and the friends sat around a table at the Three Broomsticks.
"You knew?" asked Ron.
"I figured it out over Christmas Holidays, when I went into the shoppe and used the accio spell on "Weasley Wands". Hermione's flew into my hand. I had thought it was Dobby sneaking the products in, but it is impossible to search the packages of married people, also. That's when it all made sense."
"And you knew?" questioned Ron.
"I figured that the boxes worked like those wardrobes that you could step through into another wardrobe, so I charmed my order form, and then tracked it to a small box in Hermione's room. Rather ingenious of her," Blaise answered.
"But I thought she was beginning to like you!" Ron said.
"Ron," Blaise chuckled, along with Draco, "Hermione's not exactly my type."
"Why not?" asked Harry, "she's pretty enough, and smart!"
"Ginny's not my type, either," Blaise answered.
"She's beautiful though!" Harry said.
"What Blaise is trying to say," Draco interrupted, "is that you and Ron are more his type."
"Oh."
"Hermione and I are just good friends."
"The Ferret knew also?" Ron began to whine.
"Only because he had dinner with Pansy on one of the nights Hermione met Fred for dinner in Hogsmeade. He just recognized Fred's voice," Ginny answered.
"Now what happens to the business? That only worked for one year," Harry asked.
Ginny leaned over and whispered into his ear.
"Your mum said that?"
"If I get the Head Girl letter, she said she saw no problem."
"Does you mum know about your brothers little side perk to marriage?"
Ginny just grinned.
A/N: Wow, thanks for everyone who read this. This is one of those stories that makes me smile when I look at it, and being able to post it here just means I have others along for my happy ride. I appreciate everyone who has read and those who have reviewed! It was inspired by an entry in the Harry Potter Lexicon that mentioned Hermione may have easily assisted Fred and George in developing some of their products during the time they all spent at number twelve, Grimauld Place. Specially mentioned was the fact that Hermione had spent the year before studying magical methods of eavesdropping, right before staying with the twins and their developent of Extendable Ears.