Chapter 8 – An Evening with Friends

As the sun began to fall behind the mountains on the far side of the lake, everyone made their way to the stands that were set up facing the castle and the sunset. Harry wanted to stay with Hermione, but they both knew he had responsibilities, and he reluctantly released her hand and started down to the field. She continued to smile however, knowing something he didn't; a private agreement between her healer, Madam Pomfrey, and her parents.

In front of the stands was a large platform, with several chairs and a stand holding many, many unlit candles. Harry walked slowly up the risers to the platform and took his seat off to the side as Dumbledore looked over at him. He was weary, but very happy, his heart filled with joy and love. When everyone had arrived and settled in, Dumbledore rose from his place on the platform and started to speak.

"We have gathered here this weekend to celebrate many things. Before we begin tonight's planned program, I would like to ask you to join in celebrating something which was not planned, or at least not scheduled for this evening. Tonight, let us join in the celebration of new life. I would like to announce the birth of Lily Ann Potter, and James Harry Potter, twins born to our new Minister of Magic and his wife, Harry and Hermione."

The cheers were unlike anything ever heard at the school before, and the birds from the forest quickly rose in response, their calls and screeches added to the overwhelming noise coming from the multitude. Harry rose, smiling, and bowed deeply, touched by the outpouring of good will and happiness. He was certain that Hermione could hear it, even up in the medical wing. Then he was surprised as around the corner of the platform came Hermione, supported by her healer and Madam Pomfrey. Behind her came her parents, each carrying a small bundle. Harry could barely walk as he stepped over to the riser and took her hand. The noise, already deafening, became even louder, and he and Hermione just stood looking at everyone, both smiling and weeping profusely. Her parents presented the infants, perhaps aware for the first time just what they had agreed to allow years ago. If ever they had lingering doubts as to the wisdom of their decision, this erased them forever.

Hermione looked over the crowd, seeing faces from the past. Viktor was smiling, more than he ever had before. Fleur and Gabrille were next to him. In the front row was Ginny, standing next to Neville and smiling as if she had her own children. Next were Ron and Mandy, and Mandy's parents. The rest of the Weasleys, Lavender, Parvati and Padma, Hannah Abbot, Seamus, Susan Bones…the list went on and on: classmates, friends, and others, each beaming and clapping loudly. Over in the staff section, Hagrid was grinning, standing next to McGonagall, who was in tears. Professor Flitwick, as always, was bouncing up and down, while Firenze was smiling. Hermione was too weak to do anything but continue crying, while smiling at Harry and radiating love as only a new mother can.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, the crowd quieted down and resumed their seats. Hermione waved and stepped up to the magical microphone. Thank you seemed so weak, but she had to start somewhere.

"Thank you. Thank you each. We're not that special." She was quickly drowned out by the boos.

"No, I mean it. Harry and I have been blessed by so many things, by so many of you, but now this? I hope we can fulfill your trust." More boos. "I wish I could remain with you this evening, but I am told that is not an option. Thank you, once again." Harry was holding her, and they got a new round of applause when he kissed her. Slowly, she made her way back the castle, again supported by her healer. Her parents turned the infants over to Madam Pomfrey and remained at the edge of the stage.

Dumbledore stepped up once again.

"This weekend, we have gathered to renew our old friendships, to re-fight our old rivalries, and re-live some of the best years of our lives. Most of us have grown beyond the petty differences which we experienced in our youth, yet we have just gone through some of the most difficult years ever in the wizarding world." That was Harry's cue, and he stepped up to speak.

"There are many who are not with us here tonight," he started. "They are gone because we failed to resolve fundamental issues which have confronted the magical world since before this school was founded. These issues still remain, and they have threatened Hogwarts before. It is time to resolve them, for all time. Tonight, I ask you to join me in saying that the time has come to bury our differences, and stop burying our friends.

"We were asked here today, by the graduating class, to help them start down a new path. But they really asked US to start down a new path. This is their request, and I think we owe them a world were they too can get married and have children." Harry paused, wiping the tears from his eyes, and then looked up, getting a nod from the person he most wanted at his side tonight.

"I have asked several people to join me tonight, as we remember all those who have died in this tragedy."

"Draco Malfoy" Draco came up and took Harry's hand, then wrapped his arms around him, hugging him as Harry did the same. Their classmates whispered as they were amazed to see them together like this.

"Neville Longbottom" Neville came up and Draco hugged him also, having finally realized what he had gone through growing up without parents.

"Dobby and Winky" The two elves walked up, and the crowd discovered that all of the hundreds of Hogwarts elves were quietly sitting off to the side, most dressed in a Hogwarts' tea towel.

"Arthur Weasley" Arthur came up and stood between Draco and Neville, placing an arm around both of them.

"Griphook" Everyone looked around, not knowing who this might be. Then a goblin came up on stage, and a large group of goblins moved to the side and sat down quietly. Again, there were murmurs in the crowd.

"Remus Lupin" The noise level in the crowd rose again as an acknowledged werewolf walked onto the stage.

"Rubeus Hagrid" Hagrid came up, towering over everyone else on the stage, looking as if he felt out of place.

"Bane and Firenze" There was a quiet rumble, as the entire herd of centaurs came out of the forest and moved near, standing next the elves. Bane came up from the herd and met Firenze, coming from the Hogwarts staff. Together, they walked up onto the platform. The crowd stirred, as many of them had never really seen a centaur before. Hagrid walked over and stood next to them, smiling and whispering to them both.

"Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington" Nick glided in and floated next to Neville. All the other Hogwarts ghosts moved next to the goblins and drifted there. Harry noted that even Myrtle was there. Did she know?

"Lastly, I would like to ask my in-laws, and new grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Granger to join us. They are muggles, and I am very proud to say that." While most everyone knew about Hermione's parents being muggles, Harry had now thrown it out to the public where it couldn't be ignored, and comments were shared, some expressing questions about why they were allowed at Hogwarts. Draco made the first move, smiling as he introduced himself and then introduced others on the stage. Dumbledore smiled as he observed what could only be the most diverse group of creatures ever assembled.

Then, as if on cue, they took out their wands. There was a wave of laughter as Harry handed a Never Extinguishing Match to the Grangers, who were also laughing, feeling somewhat out of place, but understanding the humor.

"I said before that we will remember EVERYONE who died, because every one of them was a loss to this community. That includes those who you may believe were on the wrong side, or simply caught in the middle." There was more conversation. What did he mean?

Ginny walked up to the microphone and Harry stood aside, joining the others. She knew she had to get through the first name, then the others would come easier.

"Frank Longbottom" Neville walked over and lit the first candle, then joined Ginny, holding her close.

"Edgar Bones" Remus stepped forward and looked down to Susan and her family before lighting the candle.

"Ragnok" Griphook stepped forward, looking at the other goblins. They all nodded, and he lit a candle.

"Peter Pettygrew" Remus lit another candle.

"Frank Bryce" Mr. Granger stepped forward and lit the candle, for a fellow muggle he never knew. Few in the crowd knew the name, but the inference was obvious.

"Cedric Diggory" Harry looked out into the crowd, finding Amos and his wife and acknowledging them before lighting another candle.

In the crowd, there were hushed conversations as each new name brought forth memories of better times for some. The litany of names continued as candle after candle was added. Some names were familiar to everyone; others were virtual strangers, depending upon which generation was involved. Some of the names were muggles that no one knew.

"Kreacher" Dobby and Winky stepped forward and lit a candle, their eyes brimming with tears.

"Karkus." Again this was a name that almost no one recognized, but then Hagrid came forward and everyone understood that he was there to represent the giants.

"Severus Snape" Dumbledore stepped forward and lit the candle. Luna came up to read the names, and Ginny and Neville went down to sit with her mother. They both knew what was coming.

"Myrtle Spencer" Moaning Myrtle looked up as she heard her name…a name from long ago that she hadn't heard used in fifty years. Nick glided forward and pointed. Draco lit the candle. They had overlooked no one.

"Sirius Black" Harry and Remus met and lit the candle together, each feeling a loss in his own way.

"Percy Weasley" Arthur stepped forward and lit a candle.

"Charley Weasley" Arthur lit another candle.

"Bill Weasley" Arthur lit another candle, and everyone began to realize the extent of the family's losses. In the front row, Ginny and Ron and Fred and George gathered around their mother as she cried quietly.

"Magorian" Bane and Firenze both stepped up and used a burning candle to light another.

"James Potter" Harry moved forward, but before he could do anything, Draco took his hand and pulled him to his shoulder. They stood together for a moment, and then Draco lit the candle.

"Lily Potter" Draco lit another candle.

"Lucius Malfoy" This time Harry took the lead, and they stood together again, two young men who had both lost parents to an ancient feud. Harry lit the candle.

There was only one name left on the list, and only Harry knew who it was. It had been the subject of deep thought and consideration, and in the end, he decided it had to be there. Luna looked at the list, and suddenly realized who the name was. She trembled slightly, but then spoke up.

"Tom Riddle" The entire crowd gasped and then went silent. Everyone waited to see who would light a candle for Voldemort, the wizard most responsible for the entire war. Harry let them wait, forcing them to think about things. Finally, he moved.

As he stepped forward, there was a cry from the back of the crowd.

"NO!"

Harry stopped, and then moved to the microphone. He had anticipated this response. "When I said we would remember everyone, I meant it. We cannot pretend that some people matter and some people don't, that some creatures are more important than others, or that some segment of the wizarding community is somehow better than the rest. Those thoughts and ideas are what started this whole thing." As he spoke, he looked over at the centaurs, then to the goblins, then to the elves before continuing to address the crowd.

"When I was a student here, Bane and I met several times. At one time, he was ready to kill me, AND Hermione. I came to understand that the centaurs felt the wizarding community looked down on them. They felt that way because we did look down on them. We passed laws to restrict them without involving them. They were identified as having near-human intelligence. We 'let them live in this forest' as if it was our forest and we were doing them a favor. That was wrong, and it's time to acknowledge our errors." Bane was nodding, and all the centaurs were listening closely to every word.

"Amongst all of the people who died was Tom Riddle. If anyone has the right to be happy about that, it's me. He personally killed my parents, and tried to kill me many times. One of his Death Eaters tried to kill Hermione, and he planned again to kill both Hermione and her parents as a way to get to me. I was forced to kill him myself, but I'm not proud of that. He was also a victim, and it's time to acknowledge that everyone who died is a tragedy. It is time to treat every member of our community with the respect they deserve, whether they are witch or wizard, elf or giant, goblin or ghost, centaur, thestral, or any other magical creature. It is time to show the same respect for muggles.

"I will light this candle to remember a young man, a wizard with tremendous potential, who could perform magic beyond our comprehension, and who could have provided great benefit to our world. I am truly sorry that he was not able to fulfill that promise." Harry stepped up to the last candle, and every person on the stage joined him. Together, they lit the candle and stepped back. Slowly, Dumbledore stepped to the microphone.

"As in so many times passed, our youth have shown us the error of our ways. I hope that this graduating class has done so again. Let us remember our joy as we celebrated new lives earlier. Now we have been given new lives ourselves…let us treasure them no less."

Finite Incantatum.