Time Heals All Wounds

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of it\'s affiliates. I make no money from this story.



Chapter Sixteen: Graduation Day.



It had been two weeks since the NEWTs, and it was finally here. The seventh year students were to officially graduate from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in just thirty minutes time. Hermione, and Lily were rushing to fix their makeup, in the little time they had left before the ceremony.



Lily ordered Hermione to face her as she consulted her precious copy of Teen Witch magazine. She found the perfect hairstyle inside of it, and was now in the process of charming Hermione\'s hair. Using her wand, she deftly maneuvered Hermione\'s wavy curls into an intricate design at the top of her head. Several tendrils of hair had fallen, framing her face, and Lily, seeing this, decided to leave them as they made the hairstyle fall into place perfectly.



Seemingly happy with the results, she handed Hermione the magazine, and said with a smile, "Here, now you pick out a cute hairstyle for me, ok Hermione?"



Taking the magazine, Hermione teased her friend. "Okay Lily. You need to look your best for James after all."



"What!" Lily exclaimed in mock outrage. "I ALWAYS look my best. I don\'t know what you are talking about."



Hermione laughed, and chose a style from the book. "Ah!" she exclaimed. "This is perfect."



Hermione quickly, and with practiced flicks of her wand, transformed Lily\'s straight red hair, into a gentle wave, and lifted it into a messy bun, at the back of her head. She then added some light blue, lily shaped barrettes to hold it in place.



"There we go. Now all that is left is to put the white robes on, and attach the sash, and we are ready to graduate!"



Both girls squealed in excitement.



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"We have a half hour, that is plenty of time to get ready." Sirius said smirking at his friends. "Just relax for a bit. Oh I know! Do you fancy a game of wizards chess?"



"Sirius, unlike you, normal wizards need time to make themselves look presentable." James said irritably.



"Hey! Can I help it if I was born this way?" Sirius asked with a grin.



"Yes, you can." Both James and Remus said in unison.



Sirius grinned, and sat back to watch James fuss over his hair; and laughed when it would not stay flat. "I swear you guys, it\'s like watching those makeover shows the girls watch…you two spend more time looking in the mirror than Lily and Hermione do." Sirius teased, then ducked as James\' shoe flew at his head.



"Ha! Missed me!" Sirius cheered for himself.



"I didn\'t." Remus said with a feral grin.



"What do you...OW!" Asked Sirius. In the split second that he had questioned Remus, a sharp thud sounded through the room.



Sirius grabbed his head as he turned around and saw Remus\' shoe behind him.



James and Remus were laughing, clutching their sides.



Sirius pouted. "You guys suck."



He stood and smoothed his white robes into submission, and ran his fingers through his hair, causing it to fall instantly into place, and not a hair out of line. He quickly surveyed his reflection in the closest mirror, and deemed himself presentable.



"Lets go, the girls are ready by now." With that, Sirius turned on his heel, and made his way down the winding staircase.



James tried once more to tame his hair, but to no avail. He pouted for a second, before brightening. "Lily knows hair charms!" He ran from the room.



Remus sighed, "This is it, Remus. The day you worked so hard for. You finally did it." Satisfied with his pep talk, he hurried after his friends.



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Severus checked to make sure he had everything. Sash…check. Hat…Check. Box…Check. "Ok…I am off." Severus turned in a billow of white robes, he could not get used to, and hurried to the great hall.



The large crowd of seventh year graduates pooled into the entrance hall, and stood, waiting for Professor McGonagall to give them their instructions, as she had the day they stood there as tiny little first years seeing the castle for the first time.



When the Professor arrived, she raised an arm and said, "May I have your attention please?"



The hall quieted. "Ah, yes. Thank you." Professor McGonagall said. "Now, you will get ready to go in, but when you do, you must line up infront of the staff table, like you did seven years ago. There is to be no talking, until your name is called. Then, once the diploma\'s have been handed out, and then the Headmaster will say a few words, and the ceremony will be finished, and you may mingle with your parents." Professor McGonagall looked at them sternly. "Do I make myself clear?"



"Yes Professor McGonagall…" The crowd answered obediently.



"Yes, well…off you go then." She opened the doors. "And do remember to walk like adults, and don\'t run like toddlers."



The Great Hall was silent, as they watched the procession of students in their graduation uniformed robes, filing in through the great doors. They obediently lined up as their Professor had instructed.



"Welcome! Dear friends, parents, sisters, brothers! For this is a joyous occasion!" Headmaster Dumbledore\'s voice rang through the large room. "Where there was once tiny children, with scabby knees, teddy bears and Bertie Botts Beans…through these short seven years grew, the young adults you see standing right before you." With that Dumbledore stopped talking, to beam at the crowd.



The Headmaster clapped his hands joyously as he called for Professor McGonagall to begin with the ceremony.



"I will start with Ravenclaw seventh year students." She began in a clipped tone. As she called out names, and students began to gather their diploma\'s, Hermione stood anxiously.



What if there had been a mistake? What if she failed everything, and was going to make an absolute fool of herself? She started to shake.



Lily held out a hand to steady her friend. "It\'s going to be ok Hermione…it\'s just stage fright."



"Y-Yeah…yeah I\'m ok now. Thanks Lily." Hermione said gratefully.



"Now I will call forth the Hufflepuff seventh year students to receive their certificate." Announced McGonagall.



"Lily isn\'t even looking at me." James whined. "I made my hair behave this long and she is not even paying any attention to me."



"It\'s just as well, mate." Remus said grinning. "Hermione looks nervous, and if I know Lily, and I do, she is even worse than Hermione right now…only she is trying to look strong and brave so as to make Hermione feel better."



James pondered this for a moment. "Yes…that sounds like something that my Lily would do." James looked decidedly proud of her.



"Slytherin seventh year students, step forward please!" McGonagall said.



"Lucius Abraxas Malfoy!"



Lucius stepped forward and walked up the steps to receive his proof of graduation. He flashed the crowd a tight smile before returning to his spot in the line.



Several other names were called, and then, "Severus Tobias Snape!"



Severus smirked confidently, and proudly walked up the aisle and took the scroll from his Professor. He shook her hand and formally thanked her for the privilege that is was to learn under her. After Severus had taken his spot in line once more, McGonagall called the Gryffindor seventh year students up.



"Sirius Orion Black." Called Professor McGonagall.



Grinning unabashedly, Sirius walked as slowly as he could, to stop from running up the stairs in his excitement. When he accepted the scroll from his Professor, and went to shake her hand, his grin widened. Sirius swung his arm around McGonagall and dipped her, kissing her on the cheek. He stood her upright again, and much to her embarrassment gave a jaunty wave, and ran to his spot.



Taking a few moments to resituate herself, she called the next name. "Lily Marie Evans."



Lily walked quickly, yet with grace and confidence. She accepted the scroll, shook her Professor\'s hand, and walked off the stage.



"Remus Theodore Lupin." Remus smiled with happiness as he took hold of his diploma. The grin did not disappear as he slid back into the crowd.



"James Harold Potter." with a large smile on his face he accepted his scroll, and then promptly used the sonorous charm to raise the volume of his voice. "I could not have done this without you Lily Evans! I love you! You inspire me to-" James was abruptly cut off by an irate Professor. "To your seat." she hissed.



"Yes ma\'m." James blushed.



"Hermione Jean Granger."



Hermione stood and received her diploma, and as she stepped off the stage, Professor Dumbledore stood, and declared them officially graduated. In the flurry of hats flying through the air, Hermione was searching for Severus. When her eyes met his she ran to him, and flung herself into his arms, kissing him deeply. "We did it Severus! We did it!" Hermione said, full of joy.



"Yes, we did." Severus smiled at her.



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The music was loud, and the cheers were even louder, as Severus made his way to the band. He quickly requested a song, and smiled when they nodded. He turned and made his way to Hermione. Just as he reached her, the soothing song began to play.



"Oh Severus." Hermione sighed against him. "You played our song."



"Hermione," Severus began.



Lily quickly motioned for all noise except for the band to cease. The room was silent, holding its breath.



"Hermione, I love you…" Severus said with careful deliberation.



"Oh Severus I love you too." Hermione smiled at him.



Severus dropped to one knee, in front of the entire graduating class. He pulled out a red velvet box, and opened it, holding it out.



"I love you, Hermione, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"



A/N: Thank you for reading, and as always, please review!



~Kiera