For the first time in quite a few years, the Hogwarts graduation ceremony did not get rained out. Several hundred white lawn chairs were set up in pristine rows in front of the stage by the lake. With the Durmstrang ship absent after it's long residency there, Evelyn thought the black water looked sort of funny, like something was missing.

The graduates stood lined up at the back of the crowd in the order they would sit, waiting for the orchestra to begin playing the entrance march. As Head Boy and Triwizard Champion, Sean stood in front, followed by the Head Girl, Jennifer Prewett. Evelyn wasn't far behind; the rest of the prefects had been arranged next in alphabetical order, and behind them, the rest of the class.

She was sweating already. It was three o'clock in the afternoon and the sun beat down on her in her black robes and formal, pointy black hat. She wished they wore the witches' hats with brims as part of their uniform so they'd at least have had a little shade. Around her neck, she wore a deep blue stole for Ravenclaw, and her prefects badge was pinned to her chest. Sean was more decorated than anyone, with blue chords for his position on the quidditch team, and two medals around his neck - one for the tournament, one for being Head Boy - that clinked when he walked.

Finally, the orchestra began to play. It wasn't a tune she'd ever heard before, but it felt appropriately celebratory and it stirred up the emotions she'd been trying to ignore all day. Evelyn was not ready to graduate. She was terrified of life after Hogwarts. Hogwarts was all she really knew of the wizarding world. She had no adults that could help her find a job or introduce her to people who could help her get started, besides maybe Sean's family, if they were willing. 

But more than the logistics, it was the nostalgia. Hogwarts, really, was where she had grown up, gotten to know herself. It was where she'd met her very best friends. She didn't like to think about September rolling around and the Hogwarts Express leaving without her.

They began to walk, following a complicated looping pattern through the people assembled to celebrate with them. Some of her fellow students were smiling and waving at people they knew, but Evelyn could hardly look up from the ground, afraid she'd start crying if she spotted her parents or Caiti.

She wished they could take a more direct route to their seats. She also wished she had been able to sit next to Sean and Marlowe.

They looped and circled up towards the front few rows, which remained empty for the graduates. At the last leg of their maze, all the professors and staff had lined up on either side of them, forming a tunnel. They applauded and shook hands with students they had known well and Evelyn felt completely overwhelmed. All these smiling faces and all this noise, but she didn't even want to celebrate what they were all here for. Graduating sucked. 

Finally, they took their places in front of their chairs. Evelyn, along with the other prefects, sat in the front row. There was a large stage set up at the edge of the lake, and a podium decorated with the Hogwarts crest stood at its center. Hovering unsupported were four large banners representing each of the Hogwarts houses. The professors were seated on the stage in front of the banners and they clapped continuously until the last graduate was still.

When they had all sat down, Professor Osset took to the podium to welcome everyone. He was dressed impeccably in crisp black robes. "It seems impossible," he began, "that this day could have arrived already. I'm sure all the parents in the back will agree with me." There was a murmur of consent. 

"It always seems to go by too quickly, and yet, here we are, gathered together to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the young people before me. My staff and I are honored that you have shared them with us for the last seven years, where together we have worked to discover the talents and potential that is unique to each one of them, and today, we've reached the culmination of that work. We prepare to send them out into the world to use the talents they've cultivated at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and I am confident that every one of these students will represent this great school well.

"But now, I would like to address our graduates specifically for a moment. One of things I - and I'm certain my teachers can attest to this as well - one of the things I will miss the most about this class in particular... is the sense of camaraderie, community, and support that you all share with each other. I do not often get the benefit of seeing you all in class. Unfortunately, those of you I spend most time with are the troublemakers," he said, with a little grin and a raise of his eyebrows. Several people laughed. 

"But I watch you all from afar. I see you together in the Great Hall, supporting your teams at quidditch matches and, of course, supporting your peer as he performed in the Triwizard Tournament. I think that ability to come together sets you all apart. It made you, really, an ideal class of seventh years. You were ready-made role models.

"You see, the Wizarding World beyond Hogwarts is larger by far than the little community we have here, and yet it is not so large at all in the grand scheme of the world. Muggles, of course, far outnumber us. Because of that, it is essential that we as witches and wizards do not let our differences come between us. Magic is not the answer to every problem. We have all studied the wizarding wars here... We know that our society, however great, however wonderful, is not any less susceptible to fracture. Perhaps it is even more susceptible, because there are so few of us. It may be easier then, for our differences to get out of hand, to overwhelm our peaceful coexistence with our neighbors. 

"As we all know, this year has been punctuated by some events in the news which have at their root an attempt to sabotage the peace between our world and the muggle world. You are entering the ranks of wizards at a time where tension is building between us and I urge you to continue with what you have been developing here: to continue to find ways to come together and support one another. Do not let your superiors take that away from you, because now more than ever the wizarding community needs to stand together and hold each other up, lest we find ourselves in the middle of another war which is, certainly, the last thing any of us wants.

"Some may disagree with me, but I am of the opinion that our youth are the beacons of change. At Hogwarts, we have done our best to give you a foundation through education, but now I believe you are the vessels upon which the magical community will work to strengthen its foundation. If ever there was a class to do it, I believe it is this one. So I leave you with a challenge, and I do so because I believe you capable. I challenge you to be a part of the change, a part of the solution. We've given you the tools. Use them.

"Congratulations to each and every one of you as we send you off today. May you continue to learn and grow as you have proven yourselves capable of every single day for the past seven years. It has been wonderful to share this place with you and we hope you'll return to us someday in the future."

Everyone began to clap and Evelyn joined in too, feeling a pressure already building up behind her eyes and nose. She glanced over her shoulder, wondering where Marlowe was sitting, but she could not find him among the sea of black robes and hats.

"And now," said Professor Osset, as the applause died down. "I'd like to introduce our Head Girl, Miss Jennifer Prewett and Head Boy, Sean O'Connell."

There was more polite applause as Sean and Jenny walked up to the stage. Jenny replaced Professor Osset behind the podium first and began to speak. Evelyn found it hard to pay attention, watching Sean standing just behind her with his speech folded up in his hands. He deliberately avoided making eye contact with her or anyone else and she didn't blame him. Most of the other prefects had been disappointed when they weren't made Head Girl or Boy, but Evelyn had been relieved. She didn't consider herself the speech-making type. Sean didn't like it much either, but he, at least, could fake it.

Evelyn caught very little of Jenny's speech, mind swimming between how hot she felt in her robes and how much she did not want this day to be happening. She watched Sean or the rippling, black surface of the lake intermittently only snapping back to attention when everyone began to applaud. Sean shook Jenny's hand, grinning at her, and then he took a deep breath and stepped up to the microphone.

"I did something pretty cool this week," began Sean.

A smattering of applause broke out and a couple people whistled and hollered.

Sean let out a small laugh. "I'm not actually talking about the Triwizard Tournament," he clarified, leaning forward into the microphone.

There was another smattering, this time of polite laughter.

"See, Monday at lunch. My best friend Marlowe and I got an offer to play a pop-up game of quidditch with some of the other seventh years from the house teams. Students versus professors. We won. Marlowe might've accidentally broken Professor Mason's arm in the process, but we won."

Another little gust of laughter. Evelyn couldn't stop smiling, but she also couldn't suppress the rapidly worsening urge to burst into tears.

"The win isn't what I want to talk about though. See, that game got me thinking about the way we start out at Hogwarts. The very first time all of us boarded the Hogwarts Express and walked into the Great Hall, soaking wet from a pretty rainy journey across the lake... we all walked in together. One big class. 

"Obviously we were sorted immediately after, and for the last seven years, we've all been convinced our own houses are the best. They're where most of our friends are, they're who we go to class with, who we share dormitories with, who we sit with at meals. Our houses are a huge part of the Hogwarts experience. Being sorted puts us around the people who think like us, who will understand us and help us grow the most. It helps us recognize and celebrate our differences. And our houses shape everything from what we know about the castle to which professors we get to know best to what color we start buying all of our things in. You don't know how much blue there is in my wardrobe now."

The laughter was growing a little more real with each little joke and Evelyn's eyes were now brimming with tears, just about ready to spill over.

"But even though we're split up a lot of the time and even though we develop rivalries and make jokes about each other... we're still one class. I think I sometimes forgot that, but that quidditch match.. Even if it was just for fun, just a way to pass the time this week in our brief little interlude between school and the real world, it reminded me that we're not really that separate at all. 

"Besides Marlowe, no one I was playing with on Monday was from my own house. All of them were people I had played against for years, had wanted to beat, and all the sudden we had come together and even after seven years pretending we weren't on the same team, we were able to work together as one big team and win. It wasn't just those of us on the field either. Most of the class was out there watching, and for the first time in four years, every one of us was cheering for the same team.

"Out in the world, it's not going to matter if I'm a Ravenclaw and you're a Slytherin, or a Gryffindor, or a Hufflepuff, or even another Ravenclaw. It's going to matter that we went to Hogwarts and we learned here and grew up here and we did that together. 

"We came to Hogwarts together, and regardless of what house we were put into on September 1st, 2011, regardless of what color stole you wear today, we're all leaving today together, the Class of 2018. Congratulations."

The entire class rose to their feet and Evelyn couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst into tears and the Hufflepuff prefect sitting next to her, gave her a little side-armed squeeze, smiling through her own watery eyes. "You must be really proud of him," she said, raising her voice over the applause.

Evelyn nodded, wiping under her eyes with the back of her hand. She'd never been more grateful for the makeup in the wizarding world which was actually waterproof.

Sean walked down from the stage, passing Evelyn's chair on the way back to his seat. She couldn't help herself, and she ran a few steps forward, giving him a tight squeeze. Sean grimaced at her. He looked relieved to be done. She knew he'd been nervous, but he'd done so well. It hadn't shown at all.

Professor Osset stood at the podium again, waiting for the noise to die down again so they could resume the festivities. Evelyn took her seat, wiping the back of her eyes again.

"Before we announce our graduates," said Professor Osset, at he stepped forward again, "let us enjoy the overture prepared for us by the first-class orchestra who have joined us today, written especially for the Hogwarts Class of 2018."

The orchestra began to play again and Evelyn fiddled with her wand while she listened, trying to get herself under control. She knew her parents would be disappointed if she didn't get a cute picture with her diploma after she crossed the stage. The music was driving in some points and sentimental in others, ending with a triumphant fanfare atop a cacophony of arpeggios, and then, too soon, the headmaster had risen again to speak.

"At this point in time, I would like to invite our graduates to come up to the stage as we begin the diploma ceremony." Evelyn and the rest of the first row rose to line up next to the ramp leading to the stage. Evelyn's whole body buzzed. She didn't feel quite present.

Professor Munslow switched places with Professor Osset to announce the names while the headmaster handed out the diplomas and shook everyone's hand. Osset beckoned for Sean to begin and he headed back up to the stage.

"Sean Tomas O'Connell," said Munslow, as Sean received his diploma. "Head Boy, Ravenclaw Prefect, Triwizard Champion." The applause for Sean, as Evelyn had come to expect, was deafening.  He shook the headmaster's hand and headed back down the other way, towards the photographer waiting to take everyone's picture as they crossed over into the real world.

Jenny walked next, and the prefects succeeded her. Evelyn tried to listen and clap for everyone, but she still felt like she was hearing everything through a tunnel. If she hadn't known she'd reached the front of the line, she might have missed her own name. At Professor Osset's nod, she walked up the ramp and met him at the center of the stage. "Evelyn Paige O'Sullivan. Ravenclaw Prefect," read Professor Munslow. The headmaster handed her the diploma and shook her hand.

"Congratulations, Evelyn," he said, beaming at her.

"Thank you," she squeaked out, trying to hold off her tears. She crossed the rest of the stage in front of three rows of her professors, applauding and smiling. She tried not to look at anyone too closely as she passed.

She managed to hold off her tears until she'd taken her picture, but on the way back to her seat, they came pouring out. Sean stood up as she neared his chair and wrapped his arms around her tight. He kissed her on the cheek and let her go again, but she wished she could stay.

In her own seat again, Evelyn tried to be surreptitious about her emotions (this was a mostly unsuccessful venture) while the rest of the class received their diplomas. Marlowe, in his  typical fashion, made a big scene out of his own trek across the stage, punching his fist into the air, diploma in hand, and blowing it a melodramatic kiss. She laughed a little at first, but then it just made her cry harder. 

By the time the last name was called, she felt almost dehydrated from leaking so much water out her eyes. Luckily, the Hufflepuff next to her was a crier too so she did not need to feel too embarrassed.

"Let's give all our graduates another big round of applause," said Professor Osset, and everyone stood on their feet to congratulate them. When it finally died down again, Professor Osset said, "There's just one last order of business before our festivities are complete... graduates, if you would rise..."

They stood to their feet, Evelyn clutching her wand. She knew what was coming already.

"Hogwarts Class of 2018, congratulations. Now is the time." And at that, they all raised their wands into the air and shot of silver sparks. They fizzed and sparkled up then showered back down over them all. Evelyn lowered her wand arm and covered her mouth with her free hand. 

Then, Sean was back, pulling her tight into his arms again, and Evelyn let out the first real sob she'd allowed herself the whole day. All around them, their classmates rushed to find each other or their families, but Evelyn stayed right where she was, cheek pressed against Sean's chest.

"It's over," she choked. She wasn't even sure if Sean could hear her, but he ran his fingers through her hair. Evelyn reached up to pull her hat off and Sean took the opportunity to lean down and kiss her, one hand cupping the back of her head. Evelyn couldn't process any of it.

Marlowe reached them first, his hat and diploma clutched in one hand. He held up a hand to high five Sean and they grasped fingers and turned it into a handshake. Sean grinned at him. "Congratulations," he said, clapping Marlowe on the back.

Evelyn ducked out from under Sean's arm and hugged Marlowe tight. He seemed surprised because it took him a second to reciprocate. "Congrats, Ev," he said, patting her on the back. She pulled halfway back, hands on his shoulders and looked at him through wet eyes.

"What?" asked Marlowe, with a bemused smile.

She tipped her head to one side and tried to smile, but she was quite sure it didn't come out as well as she'd hoped. "I'm just really glad we got to be better friends this year."

"We were always friends," said Marlowe, glancing over her shoulder at Sean to see if he knew why she was acting so strange.

"I know," she sniffed, taking her hands back. She wiped under her eyes with the back of her hand. "But different. You know what I mean."

Then Caiti came pelting towards them, bright-eyed, but looking a little hassled from shoving her way through the crowd to find them. She flung her arms around Evelyn first, almost knocking the wind out of her, and then turned to hug Sean, and finally Marlowe, who picked her up and spun her around. "I hate all of you!" yelled Caiti. "You guys suck!"

"Appreciate your support, Caiti," said Marlowe, laughing. She glared at him and he set her down, but did not let go of her.

"I told you you were supposed to fail out and repeat this year," she said.

Marlowe raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't've helped me in potions and maybe I would have."

"Shut up," she said, giving him a tight squeeze with her cheek pressed to his ribcage. Their height difference was almost comical.

Evelyn thought she would gladly have traded spots with Caiti. Another year at Hogwarts, another year to put off whatever was coming next - that sounded perfect.

She stood still, staring at the wand in her hands. 

"What's wrong?" asked Sean.

"Nothing," she said. She blinked hard and shook her head. "It's stupid."

"No it isn't," he said.

"I just... I don't know. You wouldn't get it. You grew up with magic." Sean raised his eyebrow at her so she explained anyway. "I don't know. I guess in the back of mind it didn't seem possible that any of this existed outside Hogwarts, you know? Like this is it and I go back to my life before."

Sean's lips twisted into a smile. "Don't laugh," she said. "I know it's stupid."

Sean shook his head and pulled her into his arms. "It's not over, Ev," he said. "This is real."