Reunion
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Harry Potter › General
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Currently Reading:
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Category:
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
7
Views:
1,749
Reviews:
2
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Goodbye Old Friends
~ Disclaimer: I own nothing but what springs from my imagination. Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Hogwarts, and the rest of the Potterverse are the property and the children of JK Rowling. ~
Reunion
Chapter 8: GoodOld Old Friends
The students, faculty, and alumni gathered together at the Quidditch pitch to witness the match between the current students and the returning students. The match would be slightly different in that there was a time limit. If the snitch was not caught within 2 hours, the match would be over, with the bragging rights going to the team with the most points. The Alumni Team consisted of Harry, Cho, Marcus, Seamus, Ron, Oliver, and Terry. The Student Team consisted of a blend of all 4 houses. The teams arrived of the field, introductions were given, and cheers went out especially for Oliver Wood and Harry Potter.
“Almost seems like old times, doesn’t it, Severus, my boy?” asked Albus, grinning.
“Almost. It will truly be like old times if Flint upends Wood or Potter at some time during the match,” replied Severus, “or if Weasley completely falls apart.”
Hermione looked up at Severus with a grin, “Not likely to happen. Ron’s grown a lot.”
“Ah, but he’s not as familiar with the Beater position, Miss Granger.”
“He’ll do fine, Professor,” replied Hermione, noting the glint of mischief in her old Potions Professor’s eyes.
“I will never understand Quidditch,” complained Ariah, “I just don’t see the point in chasing each other around on broomsticks looking for winged balls. It all just seems so point. I. I mean, it’s fun to watch, I guess, but I can’t understand the all consuming passion for the game.”
“Thank you, Professor Morrigan,” remarked Hermione, “I could never understand Ron and Harry’s obsession.”
“Severus starts discussing the Slytherin team’s strategies and I just glaze over,” commented Ariah, smiling at Hermione.
“Honestly, pay attention to the game,” said Severus.
“Who are we supposed to be rooting for?” asked Ariah.
“We should root for our current students, I would imagine,” replied Severus.
“Fine,” retorted Ariah, “GO TEAM. OK, I’m done, can Hermione and I leave now?”
“You usually like the matches more…”
“Because I support Slytherin. After all, the man in my life is Slytherin.”
“As are you.”
“Quite correct,” replied Ariah, “Hermione, would you and Neville like to see the night blooming garden? It’s new.”
“I would love to,” replied Hermione. Neville nodded in agreement and the 3 set off for the gardens. Severus rolled his eyes and glanced over at Albus.
“She’s been good for you, my boy,” said the headmaster.
“Yes, she has,” agreed Severus, “I keep fearing it will all end tomorrow.” ThatThat’s highly doubtful. The two of you have been to Hades and back for each other.”
“Yes, but we’re still two very different people.”
“Oh, I didn’t say it would be easy, but regardless of whatever happens between you at any given moment, you will always find your way back to one another. You’re in each others’ soul.”
“Severus, dear,” said Minerva, “have you contemplated marriage?”
“I would be surprised if we ever got married,” remarked Severus, “it just doesn’t seem to be something either of us wants.”
The crowd cheered as Harry took a dive for the snitch, but at the last second lost sight of the golden ball and was forced to do a practically vertical rise to avoid becoming part of the ground. Harry suddenly did what appeared to be a 360 degree turn and shot off toward the opposite end of the pitch, being followed by the Student Seeker, a Slytherin named Dobbs. Dobbs was no match for the famous Harry Potter, who swooped down and deftly snagged the snitch, ending the game with the Alumni winning.
The alumni headed toward the castle for a final reception before the weekend ended, the students headed for their houses. Albus decided then and there that he would plan to hold full scale reunions each year, invitinck ack all the students who wished to attend. He looked around at the crowd and smiled. It was good. Having the old students back felt so right. And having them see his dear Severus in a different light warmed hiart.art. They’d all changed, including Severus. Time had a way of doing that. He grinned at the sight of Hermione and Neville returning from seeing Ariah’s night garden. He could see something blossoming there, though he wasn’t sureit wit was love or a deeper friendship. And he caught the looks exchanged between Parvati and Ron. They would be married eventually. And for some reason, he thought that there might be something new between Luna and Harry. Yes, he thought, this was a very productive weekend. He watched as Severus caught up with Ariah and the pair waited for Remus. So many changes. The houses less insular, the staff more relaxed, his potions master content…it felt good and right. It felt like Hogwarts should feel. Albus didn’t know how much longer he would remain headmaster, he had much to explore now that Tom Riddle was no more, but for now, he would enjoy Hogwarts. He smiled wistfully and entered the castle, opening the doors to the Great Hall to display a beautifully decorated room, complete with a huge champagne fountain. He ushered the staff and alumni inside and began the reception with a toast.
“Returning students and current staff, I am proud to see you before me, and proud to now call you my friends. An occasion like this requires a few words, so here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweek!”
The hall erupted in laughter, each student remembering their first year and their first welcoming feast. How they all thought, each student in each class, that Albus Dumbledore was mad. Except for Luna, who had found he made perfect sense. Albus announced that the staff and alumni were welcome, no encouraged, to say a few words and passed a large goblet full of wine to Minerva, who stood in her place and spoke.
“I have missed you in the past, I will miss you in the future, but I am glad you are here tonight.” She passed the goblet to Severus.
“Cheers,” he said in his gruff manner, “and congratulations on making it this far in your lives, even though it is more than I expected from some of you.” He glared at Neville, a smile appearing through the glare, one that Neville, Hermione, and Albus caught. He passed the goblet to Ariah, who spoke a few words and passed the goblet to Remus.
“I am glad to have met all of you and I am certain you will all go far.” The goblet was passed through the faculty until it was given to Sibyll Trelawny.
Sibyll raised the goblet, her eyes rolling back into her heaer fer face becoming blank, “I see success, marriages, children, much laughter and joy. There will be loss, there will be sadness, but it will be weathered. And we will all come back here each year to celebrate the happiness and mourn the loss.” She slumped in her chair, Lavender jumping up to take the goblet, which she passed to Hermione and tended to her former Divination professor, who appeared to have one of her rare true visions. Hermione looked around the room, raised the goblet, and smiled.
“What Professor Trelawny said, about laughter, joy, loss, and sadness…that’s what life is, isn’t it? Thanks to Hogwarts, I learned about life. Sometimes the hard way. I made friends I will treasure forever, and learned more lessons than I ever dreamed I could behind these castle walls. I missed you all, I love you all, and I promise that this time, I will remain in touch.”
“I just want to say thank you,” said Neville when his turn came, “thank you to Professor Lupin for helping me find confidence, thank you to Professor McGonagall for supporting me when things seemed bleak, thank you to Professor Sprout for introducing me to herbology, thank you to Professor Dumbledore for being who and what he is, thank you to all the professors for instilling knowledge in me, and thank you to Professor Snape, for giving me advice this weekend when I’m sure he would have rather given me grief and for discovering and brewing the potion that reverses the long-term effects of the Cruciatus curse on the mind of those exposed to it repeatedly. You gave me back my parents and I owe you more than you could ever imagine, and I know that probably makes you want to kill me.” He smiled at Severus, who glared back, but it was a softer glare, one that was easily seen through.
The goblet made its way around the guest table, each guest speaking a few words, mostly of thanks and praise to Hogwarts, until it ended up with Harry. Harry stood up, brushed his messy dark hair out of his face, and looked around the Great Hall.
’m n’m not one for speeches, nor am I particularly good at it,” he began, “but tonight, I will try to sum up in words what this place, and all of you, mean to me. I came here all those years ago, not knowing exactly who or what I was. Hogwarts was a journey for me. One that was full of adventure and danger, but one I realize that I had to take. I had a mission. I had a job to do. I could have let myself be defined by that job, be defined as ‘the boy who lived’, but that was not in the cards for me. You wouldn’t let that be all that I was. Somewhere along the line, I ceased to be the ‘legend’ and started to be Harry Potter, boy. Then I became Harry Potter, teenager, and now, I’m simply Harry Potter. Yes, I know there are those who would insist on calling me ‘Harry Potter, the Man Who Killed Voldemort’, but to be honest, that is a job I could never have done alone. I didn’t kill Voldemort and end his reign of terror. WE did. Hogwarts did. If you think I don’t know what some of you did, you’re wrong. I know the price each of you paid to help defeat him,” his gaze flittered over Ariah and settled on Severus, knowing, through Albus, the price they had paid for weakening Voldemort, “Professor Snape, consider your wizard’s debt to my father not only paid in full, but paid back with interest. I owe you my life now. My father saved your life once. You’ve saved mine too many times to count. And through it all I’ve repaid you with dislike, mistrust, and childish behavior. That ends now. We may never be great friends, but we’ve been comrades in arms and I would like us to be, at the very least, good acquaintances.” Severus nodded in assent, Hasmilsmiled, “Professor Dumbledore, there have been times when I didn’t agree with your actions, in the path you seemed to choose for me, in the lack of information you sometimes gave me, but I think I understand that you were trying your best to protect me. And you did. You helped create the man who stands before you. You gave me my identity. ’ve ’ve been the closest thing to a father that I’ve ever really known and for that I am grateful.”
Harry looked around his table, smiling at his friends, “Now, as for you bunch of hooligans, what can I say? Through mountain trolls, basilisks, the Ministry, the War, Professor Snape…you have all been here with me, we traveled the road together. You are my friends. And Ron and Hermione, you’re my home. Thank you.” Harry sat down, tears welling up in his eyes.
Albus Dumbledore surveyed the scene, stood up, clapped his hands twice and stated a one little word.
“Bravo!”
The charmed sky above glittered with stars, the room was filled with candlelight, love, and happiness. Hogwarts had withstood it all and come out on the other side stronger than ever. The alumni would be back. Hogwarts was in their blood. They had survived 7 years of school, a war, and the peace that followed.
5
Reunion
Chapter 8: GoodOld Old Friends
The students, faculty, and alumni gathered together at the Quidditch pitch to witness the match between the current students and the returning students. The match would be slightly different in that there was a time limit. If the snitch was not caught within 2 hours, the match would be over, with the bragging rights going to the team with the most points. The Alumni Team consisted of Harry, Cho, Marcus, Seamus, Ron, Oliver, and Terry. The Student Team consisted of a blend of all 4 houses. The teams arrived of the field, introductions were given, and cheers went out especially for Oliver Wood and Harry Potter.
“Almost seems like old times, doesn’t it, Severus, my boy?” asked Albus, grinning.
“Almost. It will truly be like old times if Flint upends Wood or Potter at some time during the match,” replied Severus, “or if Weasley completely falls apart.”
Hermione looked up at Severus with a grin, “Not likely to happen. Ron’s grown a lot.”
“Ah, but he’s not as familiar with the Beater position, Miss Granger.”
“He’ll do fine, Professor,” replied Hermione, noting the glint of mischief in her old Potions Professor’s eyes.
“I will never understand Quidditch,” complained Ariah, “I just don’t see the point in chasing each other around on broomsticks looking for winged balls. It all just seems so point. I. I mean, it’s fun to watch, I guess, but I can’t understand the all consuming passion for the game.”
“Thank you, Professor Morrigan,” remarked Hermione, “I could never understand Ron and Harry’s obsession.”
“Severus starts discussing the Slytherin team’s strategies and I just glaze over,” commented Ariah, smiling at Hermione.
“Honestly, pay attention to the game,” said Severus.
“Who are we supposed to be rooting for?” asked Ariah.
“We should root for our current students, I would imagine,” replied Severus.
“Fine,” retorted Ariah, “GO TEAM. OK, I’m done, can Hermione and I leave now?”
“You usually like the matches more…”
“Because I support Slytherin. After all, the man in my life is Slytherin.”
“As are you.”
“Quite correct,” replied Ariah, “Hermione, would you and Neville like to see the night blooming garden? It’s new.”
“I would love to,” replied Hermione. Neville nodded in agreement and the 3 set off for the gardens. Severus rolled his eyes and glanced over at Albus.
“She’s been good for you, my boy,” said the headmaster.
“Yes, she has,” agreed Severus, “I keep fearing it will all end tomorrow.” ThatThat’s highly doubtful. The two of you have been to Hades and back for each other.”
“Yes, but we’re still two very different people.”
“Oh, I didn’t say it would be easy, but regardless of whatever happens between you at any given moment, you will always find your way back to one another. You’re in each others’ soul.”
“Severus, dear,” said Minerva, “have you contemplated marriage?”
“I would be surprised if we ever got married,” remarked Severus, “it just doesn’t seem to be something either of us wants.”
The crowd cheered as Harry took a dive for the snitch, but at the last second lost sight of the golden ball and was forced to do a practically vertical rise to avoid becoming part of the ground. Harry suddenly did what appeared to be a 360 degree turn and shot off toward the opposite end of the pitch, being followed by the Student Seeker, a Slytherin named Dobbs. Dobbs was no match for the famous Harry Potter, who swooped down and deftly snagged the snitch, ending the game with the Alumni winning.
The alumni headed toward the castle for a final reception before the weekend ended, the students headed for their houses. Albus decided then and there that he would plan to hold full scale reunions each year, invitinck ack all the students who wished to attend. He looked around at the crowd and smiled. It was good. Having the old students back felt so right. And having them see his dear Severus in a different light warmed hiart.art. They’d all changed, including Severus. Time had a way of doing that. He grinned at the sight of Hermione and Neville returning from seeing Ariah’s night garden. He could see something blossoming there, though he wasn’t sureit wit was love or a deeper friendship. And he caught the looks exchanged between Parvati and Ron. They would be married eventually. And for some reason, he thought that there might be something new between Luna and Harry. Yes, he thought, this was a very productive weekend. He watched as Severus caught up with Ariah and the pair waited for Remus. So many changes. The houses less insular, the staff more relaxed, his potions master content…it felt good and right. It felt like Hogwarts should feel. Albus didn’t know how much longer he would remain headmaster, he had much to explore now that Tom Riddle was no more, but for now, he would enjoy Hogwarts. He smiled wistfully and entered the castle, opening the doors to the Great Hall to display a beautifully decorated room, complete with a huge champagne fountain. He ushered the staff and alumni inside and began the reception with a toast.
“Returning students and current staff, I am proud to see you before me, and proud to now call you my friends. An occasion like this requires a few words, so here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweek!”
The hall erupted in laughter, each student remembering their first year and their first welcoming feast. How they all thought, each student in each class, that Albus Dumbledore was mad. Except for Luna, who had found he made perfect sense. Albus announced that the staff and alumni were welcome, no encouraged, to say a few words and passed a large goblet full of wine to Minerva, who stood in her place and spoke.
“I have missed you in the past, I will miss you in the future, but I am glad you are here tonight.” She passed the goblet to Severus.
“Cheers,” he said in his gruff manner, “and congratulations on making it this far in your lives, even though it is more than I expected from some of you.” He glared at Neville, a smile appearing through the glare, one that Neville, Hermione, and Albus caught. He passed the goblet to Ariah, who spoke a few words and passed the goblet to Remus.
“I am glad to have met all of you and I am certain you will all go far.” The goblet was passed through the faculty until it was given to Sibyll Trelawny.
Sibyll raised the goblet, her eyes rolling back into her heaer fer face becoming blank, “I see success, marriages, children, much laughter and joy. There will be loss, there will be sadness, but it will be weathered. And we will all come back here each year to celebrate the happiness and mourn the loss.” She slumped in her chair, Lavender jumping up to take the goblet, which she passed to Hermione and tended to her former Divination professor, who appeared to have one of her rare true visions. Hermione looked around the room, raised the goblet, and smiled.
“What Professor Trelawny said, about laughter, joy, loss, and sadness…that’s what life is, isn’t it? Thanks to Hogwarts, I learned about life. Sometimes the hard way. I made friends I will treasure forever, and learned more lessons than I ever dreamed I could behind these castle walls. I missed you all, I love you all, and I promise that this time, I will remain in touch.”
“I just want to say thank you,” said Neville when his turn came, “thank you to Professor Lupin for helping me find confidence, thank you to Professor McGonagall for supporting me when things seemed bleak, thank you to Professor Sprout for introducing me to herbology, thank you to Professor Dumbledore for being who and what he is, thank you to all the professors for instilling knowledge in me, and thank you to Professor Snape, for giving me advice this weekend when I’m sure he would have rather given me grief and for discovering and brewing the potion that reverses the long-term effects of the Cruciatus curse on the mind of those exposed to it repeatedly. You gave me back my parents and I owe you more than you could ever imagine, and I know that probably makes you want to kill me.” He smiled at Severus, who glared back, but it was a softer glare, one that was easily seen through.
The goblet made its way around the guest table, each guest speaking a few words, mostly of thanks and praise to Hogwarts, until it ended up with Harry. Harry stood up, brushed his messy dark hair out of his face, and looked around the Great Hall.
’m n’m not one for speeches, nor am I particularly good at it,” he began, “but tonight, I will try to sum up in words what this place, and all of you, mean to me. I came here all those years ago, not knowing exactly who or what I was. Hogwarts was a journey for me. One that was full of adventure and danger, but one I realize that I had to take. I had a mission. I had a job to do. I could have let myself be defined by that job, be defined as ‘the boy who lived’, but that was not in the cards for me. You wouldn’t let that be all that I was. Somewhere along the line, I ceased to be the ‘legend’ and started to be Harry Potter, boy. Then I became Harry Potter, teenager, and now, I’m simply Harry Potter. Yes, I know there are those who would insist on calling me ‘Harry Potter, the Man Who Killed Voldemort’, but to be honest, that is a job I could never have done alone. I didn’t kill Voldemort and end his reign of terror. WE did. Hogwarts did. If you think I don’t know what some of you did, you’re wrong. I know the price each of you paid to help defeat him,” his gaze flittered over Ariah and settled on Severus, knowing, through Albus, the price they had paid for weakening Voldemort, “Professor Snape, consider your wizard’s debt to my father not only paid in full, but paid back with interest. I owe you my life now. My father saved your life once. You’ve saved mine too many times to count. And through it all I’ve repaid you with dislike, mistrust, and childish behavior. That ends now. We may never be great friends, but we’ve been comrades in arms and I would like us to be, at the very least, good acquaintances.” Severus nodded in assent, Hasmilsmiled, “Professor Dumbledore, there have been times when I didn’t agree with your actions, in the path you seemed to choose for me, in the lack of information you sometimes gave me, but I think I understand that you were trying your best to protect me. And you did. You helped create the man who stands before you. You gave me my identity. ’ve ’ve been the closest thing to a father that I’ve ever really known and for that I am grateful.”
Harry looked around his table, smiling at his friends, “Now, as for you bunch of hooligans, what can I say? Through mountain trolls, basilisks, the Ministry, the War, Professor Snape…you have all been here with me, we traveled the road together. You are my friends. And Ron and Hermione, you’re my home. Thank you.” Harry sat down, tears welling up in his eyes.
Albus Dumbledore surveyed the scene, stood up, clapped his hands twice and stated a one little word.
“Bravo!”
The charmed sky above glittered with stars, the room was filled with candlelight, love, and happiness. Hogwarts had withstood it all and come out on the other side stronger than ever. The alumni would be back. Hogwarts was in their blood. They had survived 7 years of school, a war, and the peace that followed.
5