Ultimatums

Chapter 41

Euphemia Potter sat amongst the parents and guardians of her daughter's peers. It was the graduation ceremony, and a rather grand one at that. The Great Hall was lined with the house banners and candles, and the students had just finished their final feast.

The audience had heard from the faculty, the Head Boy and Girl, prefects and a select few of students. Dumbledore glided onto the stage now, holding an envelope.

"And now it is time to introduce the valedictorians of this year. Now as you all know, we always have a male and female nominee and this year for the first time both of the nominees are from Slytherin House. One nominee has gotten one of the highest sets of NEWTs in Hogwarts history, the other not so far behind. Put your hands together, ladies and gentlemen, for Miss Hermione Potter... and Mr Regulus Black"

Euphemia looked around at the other parents. She wasn't quite sure how to react. The Blacks were clapping serenely, the definition of composed, but anyone could see through Narcissa, Walburga and Orion's smiles and the shine of their eyes that they were so very proud. It was something the Euphemia couldn't bring herself to feel. Pride.

It was no lie that she was happy for Hermione, but she couldn't possibly be proud. Not when she was so ashamed of her life choices. She didn't even know why she was there to be honest. She told herself it was to give her daughter her seventeenth present. But she could have sent that with an owl...

Hermione and Regulus walked up to the podium, their heads bent together whispering and laughing. Euphemia stiffened at the hand on the small of Hermione's back while Walburga cooed. She raised a brow at the entwined hands while Orion slipped a coin to Narcissa with a hardly there smile. Differences that caused such a rift in the beginning.

"Well" Hermione began "I speak for both us, I think, when I say Hogwarts is like a home away from home. The memories from within these grounds truly are unforgettable. People in this room have made lasting impacts on us -"

"-for better and worse"

"And we are so thankful for the experience"

Regulus finished off saying "Be safe out there, in whatever you do, whatever you take on. Keep loved ones close"

They stepped off the stage, accepting the certificate. Euphemia watched them sit with two boys, the boys hugging Hermione with massive grins. Dumbledore came onto the stage again, saying that it was now time for the celebration. Chairs were taken away magically, and students tapped their wands on their graduation gowns.

☏

Hermione tapped her wand on her graduation gown, a garment quite similar to a Muggle's with green lining. She had sent a spark at the bottom, and the gown went up in flames.Students around them began to panic, but Regulus simply rolled his eyes and muttered a wandless aguamenti. The smoke cleared to reveal a pleased and totally unscathed Hermione, looking down at her new attire. A sleeveless, sweetheart lavender ball gown, with sequins that caught the candle light perfectly. Regulus only wore simple black dress robes with small lavender details linking them together.

"Must you be so dramatic and cause a scene, Nita? Now your mum is coming over" Regulus grumbled. He'd spent a good few years away from the Potters, and now it was ruined.

Hermione's heart stopped, then started again only twice as fast. "Mum? No, no,no. She didn't say she was coming..."

Avery put a hand on her back, the other finding her cheek. "It's fine, Mione, she can't do anything. Not in front of everyone"

Rosier nodded, and the sound of someone's throat clearing announced her arrival.

"Hermione, dear, I thought you were with Black?" Euphemia asked, her tone edging on judgemental as she looked from Avery's hand removing itself from her cheek.