Chapter 30: The Farewells

"You see, friendship and love are, beyond all, the greatest source of magic in our world."

That evening was to be her last at Hogwarts, and the thought weighed heavily on Madeline's mind throughout the afternoon. There was nothing she could do about leaving, that was certain. As she sat with her friends in the Gryffindor Common Room, she remained more quiet than usual, and though they noticed, they said nothing.

Nicolas, of course, pretended that nothing odd was happening; Oliver tried to send her furtive, comforting smiles, completely unaware that everyone could see him doing so; Percy spoke only to remind them all that his exams had gone perfectly; Margaret laughed heartily at all of Nick's jokes, even the stupid ones; and Claire, poor Claire, was barely keeping it together. Eventually Nick and Oliver managed to distract Madeline from thinking too much about the next day, but that night was a different story.

To celebrate the end of another year, there was a great feast, and the house-elves outdid themselves once again—heaps of potatoes and at least four different types of pasta were scattered at each House table, and everyone's favourite desserts popped up right near them. Though she was sitting with her dear Hufflepuffs, Madeline knew Oliver and Nicolas were devouring everything near them, savoring their last great Hogwarts feast.

As anyone who had been keeping up with the House points could have predicted, the Great Hall was swimming in scarlet and gold. The Gryffindor table was, of course, the rowdiest of the bunch, and the Slytherins looked more sour than usual. Though she hadn't seen much of him since the end of term, Madeline had heard that Snape had been maniacally foul since the Sirius Black debacle. For some reason, Snape's divulging Lupin's secret aligned with the escape of Black. Madeline hadn't known what to make of it. Sitting at the Head's table, Snape looked his usual cruel self, and Madeline tried to put it aside. She didn't want to be thinking about Snape on her last night at Hogwarts.

After everyone had stuffed themselves full, Dumbledore stood to give his end-of-term speech and to award the House Cup. Gryffindor celebrated wildly, and Madeline watched happily as everyone gave a rousing cheer for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, who was, after all, responsible for the majority of the winning points. Dumbledore warmly thanked Percy and Madeline for their diligence in the past year, and she flushed as her housemates cheered for her. Percy held his smug, gingery head high.

After the feast concluded, Oliver found her before she could be whisked away to her Common Room. For a moment, he did nothing but gaze at her, and she could not help but remember how young they had been when they had first entered the Great Hall together.

"We've spent so much of our lives here," she said.

Oliver nodded, and she supposed he could hardly hear her. It wasn't an idyllic setting for wistful and pensive conversations—there were students thundering through the Entrance Hall to various parts of the castle. They held off to the side, their friends knowingly budging along without them, and as the hall emptied, Professor McGonagall approached them.

"Palmer. Wood. Why are you dallying?"

"Why shouldn't we dally, professor?" asked Madeline, realising a moment later that she had sounded perhaps a touch too cheeky. McGonagall narrowed her eyes while Oliver smothered a grin. Though she wasn't afraid of McGonagall becoming very angry, Madeline felt as though she needed to clarify.

"It's not particularly late, and it's our last night in the castle. Tonight, of all nights, I'd like to dally."

"Very well," she said, nodding her approval. Though she hardly smiled, McGonagall gazed between the pair of them with ill-disguised affection.

"Very well," McGonagall repeated, her tone resigned but not displeased. She turned on her heel and walked away, reaching the massive staircase at the same time as Professor Flitwick. The professors immediately began conversing, and Oliver squeezed her hand.

"Cheeky," he said, and Madeline shoved him with her shoulder.

"Well, it's true. Why shouldn't we spend our last night taking our time?"

"No arguing with that," Oliver replied.

As the hall emptied, Madeline looked around, Oliver following her gaze. Her mind's eye conjured the image of an eleven-year-old Oliver, with his bad haircut, standing near the doors to the Great Hall and waiting on McGonagall. She pictured herself, too, though that image wasn't as crisp. The sharp pang she had felt upon being named a member of the Hufflepuff House hit her again, and she took a deep breath the dispel it. Oliver glanced at her.

"Alright, Maddie?"

"I just remembered how terrified I was our first night here, especially after I was sorted."

"Nick likes claiming that I cried—which, of course, I didn't."

"Of course," Madeline said, smiling.

"You don't believe me?"

"Why should I?"

"Because Nick's a rotten liar."

"Is he, now?"

"Maddie!"

"I'm just teasing, relax. I'll always take your word over his."

"He's been quite irritating these past few days, I'll have you know," said Oliver, huffing. "He's lucky I haven't hexed him. I mean it."

"I believe you. Yesterday he told me this joke about a warlock and a merman?"

"Ugh, stop. I can't hear that joke again."

"He claims that Dumbledore—"

"—told him the joke. Yeah, he told me. Unbearable, I tell you. He and Percy—I'll be glad to be rid of them come tomorrow."

"You'll miss him after a week. Percy… well, Percy after a few months, maybe."

At this, Oliver's laugh rung throughout the Entrance Hall, the pleasant sound louder than usual. Madeline joined him, and they took their time in letting the laughter subside. Oliver took her hand again and kissed it.

"Should we be off to bed, then?"

"Probably, but who cares?" she said, shrugging.

"I'm going to miss Hogwarts, but I'm ready to move on. I'm ready to play Quidditch every day."

"I'm nervous about this summer, about talking to my parents about becoming an Auror, and about studying with McGonagall."

"You'll be fine. I'll be there with you when you tell your parents."

"Will you?"

"Yeah, 'course."

Madeline threw her arms around his neck and felt his arms claim her waist.

"I'll be there whenever you need me," he said, chuckling. "Thought you knew that."

"Hadn't really thought it through, turns out," she said, smiling.

They stood hugging for a few minutes, interrupted only by the Fat Friar singing a hymn as he passed through the door to the basements. He caught sight of them and grinned.

"There you are, Madeline, they thought you'd be here," he said joyously. "Come now! Your House wants to celebrate the end of your last year!"

"Yeah, House mum, your Badgers need you," said Oliver with the smirk he'd learned from Nicolas.

Madeline rolled her eyes at Oliver.

"Give me just a moment, please? I'll join you in the basement shortly," she said to the Fat Friar.

"As you wish, my dear," he replied, flying away.

"Couldn't have you missing the last night, could they?"

"I still have no idea why they adore me so much. It's been bordering on an obsession this week," said Madeline with a grimace.

"They're just going to miss you, is all. Go placate them. I'll see you tomorrow."

"And every day after?"

"And every day after," he said, kissing her goodnight.

Sitting in her common room, their celebrations mostly over, Madeline began having some last-minute regrets. Why hadn't she walked through the Library again? Why hadn't she visited the greenhouses? She certainly needed to see her Head of House once more. Pomona Sprout—the woman who had shown more consistent faith in her than anyone else, the sweetest of all the professors. She owed her being Prefect—and maybe even Head Girl—to Professor Sprout.

Suddenly thankful that commencement wasn't until 11 am, after all of the young students had been whisked away, Madeline made a clear to-do list in her head. She would see McGonagall again this summer, but what of her other professors? When would she seem them again?

"What are you planning?" asked Elaine, who had been studying Madeline's concentrated expression.

"I have a lot to do tomorrow before commencement. I'm glad you made me pack this morning. Thank you," said Madeline.

"Oh, it was my pleasure, really. I love watching you pack. It should be a sport," said Elaine with a grin. "Every year you throw it all around and somehow manage to make it fit."

"Packing is evil—I bet You-Know-Who loved it."

"What?" asked Murray, who hadn't really been listening. His large ears had perked up at "You-Know-Who."

"Nothing, go back to your game of Exploding Snap," said Elaine.

Murray shrugged, but did as he was told, while Madeline and Elaine laughed.

"I'm going to miss you, Maddie," said Elaine as she hugged her around the middle. "You'll have to visit me in Cornwall this summer. Oliver, too, seeing as you can't stand to be away from him."

"Shut it—I can too!"

"Doubt it," said Peter, who was grinning, mostly because he was beating Murray at their game. Murray, Elaine, and some of the fifth and sixth years who weren't ready to sleep yet all laughed at her. It was Cedric, though, who stuck up for her.

"You're all just jealous," he said.

"Jealous of what?" asked Murray. "Their eternal love—plargh! Count me out."

"You don't want to fall in love, Murray?" asked Elaine, her voice tender.

"No, not any time soon, I reckon. Why should I?"

Madeline and Elaine glanced at each other and watched as Cedric shrugged.

"It's worth waiting for," said Cedric. "Right, Maddie?"

She smiled at her hands and nodded.

"Yeah. It is."

Early the next morning, Madeline and Elaine could be found running down to the greenhouses, where Professor Sprout was wide awake and already working, just as they knew she would be.

"My dears!" she said when she saw them entering. "Whatever are you doing down here so early?"

"We wanted to see you and the greenhouses one last time before we left," said Madeline, smiling sadly. Elaine nodded, and Sprout teared up a bit.

"Oh, I do love my Hufflepuffs," she said, smiling.

After spending an hour or so in a greenhouse with Sprout, Madeline and Elaine ran off to the Library with the hopes of seeing Madam Pince, who wasn't there. Madam Pomfrey, though, was in the Hospital Wing.

"Madeline Palmer, what could possibly be wrong with you today?"

"I've got this weird, knotty feeling in my chest," she said, moving towards a hospital bed. Elaine looked mildly shocked, but Madam Pomfrey bustled over quickly.

"Did you go flying this morning? I hate it when you lot go flying unsupervised…."

"No, I'm just afraid that I'm going to miss you," said Madeline, grinning. She felt a bit too proud at her Nicolas-like cunning.

"Miss Palmer, get out of my Hospital Wing—I have real patients that need tending," she said, shaking her head.

"Aw, Madam Pomfrey, I just wanted to say goodbye," she pleaded, pouting.

"Well, go about it, then. You act as though this is your final farewell, child. Where do you think I go every summer? I'll see your mother within a fortnight."

Madeline smacked her hand to her forehead, feeling like an idiot. She had forgotten that Madam Pomfrey spent her summers working with St Mungo's. She could see her whenever she liked.

"Yes, Miss Palmer. I'm sure I'll see you again soon. They are still quite understaffed. I was hoping to go on holiday this summer, but no."

"I'm sorry," said Madeline, frowning. "Maybe they'll hire more people?"

"Let's hope so, for my sake and your mother's."

Madeline groaned.

"Well, I'll say goodbye in any case, as I'm here. I hope you get a holiday soon."

"Get out of here, Miss Palmer, Miss Ellison. You have a commencement to prepare for."

The realisation that her time at Hogwarts had come to an end was made only slightly less startling by the person sitting next to her. Oliver was there, as he'd always been, and it was no small comfort to know that he would always be at her side. She glanced at him and then at Claire, who was on her other side. She had quiet all morning, speaking only when spoken to, and Madeline had done her best to keep Claire's mind off of the boy sitting in the row behind them. Madeline glanced behind her, and while Richard averted his gaze, Nicolas grinned and winked. Margaret took Nick's hand, giving Madeline cause to turn back around. Surely Margaret didn't doubt Nick's devotion to her? Shaking her head, Madeline rid herself of the thought. It wasn't important, not today.

At long last, Dumbledore stood to speak. They had been sitting in the Great Hall for at least ten minutes, waiting for… something. All of the seventh years had been placed in neat little rows, dressed in their uniforms and donning their wizarding hats. The House tables were gone. The mild chattering quieted to near-silence with Dumbledore's presence at the gilded, winged-boar podium. A gust of wind rattled the huge windows from the east, but no one glanced in that direction. Seven years of rattling windows had gone by, and they were all waiting silently for their headmaster to speak.

Dumbledore didn't look as though he had aged, yet something about his presence had altered since she had spoken to him last. His eyes were not laughing, but he smiled nonetheless.

"Every year, I have the distinct displeasure of bidding farewell to another wonderful class of pupils. It would be wrong of me to lead you to believe that the world into which you are entering is prepared for you. It is not. The world outside of this castle is not ready for your ambition, your intelligence, your courage, or your diligence. But it needs you... more than you could possibly know. You are truly a remarkable class, with bright minds and steady hearts in your midst. This morning you will hear from each of your Head of Houses, and then we will begin the commencement. I will have the concluding remarks, and then you will follow our Deputy Headmistress, as you did all of those years ago, into the Entrance Hall."

Snape was the first to speak, and Madeline could not force herself to listen to his quiet remarks. He was an embittered man, old for his age, and she wanted nothing else to do with him.

Professor Flitwick was next, bouncing on his tip-toes as he spoke from his standing position in a chair. His speech was comprised of quotes from a previous Ravenclaw headmaster, who praised those who sought wisdom, as he claimed it was the noblest of all pursuits.

McGonagall was next, and her words were concise. She simply hoped that they would all go out into the world to do good, even in the face of adversity and fear.

And then came Professor Sprout, who spoke the only words that Madeline would remember from that day. She said, "You see, friendship and love are, beyond all, the greatest source of magic in our world."

Soon they were being led from the Great Hall by Professor McGonagall, who looked every bit as stern as she had the night before. Madeline smiled, thankful she wasn't saying goodbye to her yet, and realised that they were not being led through the massive oaken front doors, as they had every time they had left Hogwarts for the summer; rather, they were taking a stairwell off the Entrance Hall, one that none of them had seen in seven years. They were being taken to the boat docks.

"What on earth are we doing down here?" asked Penelope, who looked to Percy. "Shouldn't we be out on the grounds?"

"I think we're crossing the lake, Penny," said Claire, her eyes wide and voice quiet.

"Crossing the lake?" said Peter. "Why would we do that?"

"Crossing the lake is how you first came to Hogwarts and is how you shall last leave," said McGonagall, who had finally joined them. "If you would be so kind as to follow the corridor, you will reach the docks."

They all walked quietly along the dark and damp corridor, McGonagall at their rear. When they reached the docks, McGonagall instructed them to pair up for the boat ride back across the Black Lake. Though Madeline would have instinctively chosen Oliver, she made the conscious decision to grab Claire's hand. When Claire realised who had grabbed her hand, tears welled in her eyes. Madeline squeezed her hand and watched as the rest of her classmates paired up: Nicolas and Oliver, Penelope and Percy, Elaine and Temperance, Peter and Murray, Margaret and Kendra, and so forth.

As they climbed into their boats, Madeline fought the urge to cry and did not succeed. She was more attached to this school than she had realised, and it was finally starting to take its toll. Tears were silently streaming down Claire's cheeks as the boat began creakily drifting, of its own accord, towards the sunny Hogsmeade docks. Oliver and Nicolas's boat drifted closest to theirs, and Madeline smiled at Oliver through her own tears. Even Nicolas didn't speak, and Madeline could tell by the look on his face that he, too, was fighting the urge to cry.

Soon they were out from underneath the castle and floating freely on the bright, open lake. The castle was gleaming wonderfully in the sun and contrasting oddly with their first view of the castle, when it had been lit by candles and fires and glinting in moonlight. Rendered speechless both by the significance of the event and the vision of the castle from the lake in broad daylight, Madeline felt a few tears leak from the side of her eyes.

Her journey at Hogwarts, the only dream Madeline had dreamt for eleven years, had come to a glimmering end.

For the Dawn Vol II:

Will Oliver and Madeline get their dream jobs? Will they ever consummate their relationship? Will Nicolas and Margaret get married? Will Claire and Richard reunite? Will new romances blossom and new drama ensue? How will they all cope with the freedom and burdens of adulthood? See Volume II for the continuation of their journey in the wizarding world outside of Hogwarts, including appearance from Charlie Weasley, Tonks, and, of course, Cedric Diggory!

And if you've enjoyed reading this, please share it and let me know, either by review or PM. I'm happy to receive both! Much love!