Lord of time (chapter 41-107)

89

Hogwarts had become a grand and wonderful spectacle yet again, but this time it was for the newly graduated students of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The quidditch pitch was gone and in place stood a podium and hundreds of chairs for students and parents to see their children gain their graduation certificate. Only wizards and witches of course, could come to see their children graduated, those with Non-magical parents were having to graduate without their families behind them cheering them on. Fortunately, most had friends who were sitting in place of them, so that they did not feel alone.

There was a massive table filled with an assortment of finger foods and drinks - non-alcoholic - for the parents and students to eat while they waited. As for those who were graduating, there was another row of chairs behind the podium for the students to receive their certificate from their Headmaster Armando Dippet.

"Are you all ready, ladies and gentlemen?" Slughorn asked his students, positively bursting with fatherly pride as he stared at them all. Remembering them as young eleven-year-olds who had entered Hogwarts for the first time - with the exception of Hadrian of course, who had joined a little later - he'd known some were destined for greatness, but they had all surpassed all he had thought of them.

"Yes, Sir!" came the chorus of voices, whether they were Slytherin or not, they responded to Slughorn who might play favourites but didn't actually outright antagonise all students in his bid for searching out those he believed would do wonders for the magical world.

"Good! Good!" Slughorn said, still beaming in pride, as he absently nodded. "Come along! Take a seat! We're about to start now!" they had their robes with their house crest and hats on, the hats they hadn't worn since their first ride to Hogwarts ironically enough, it was fitting that they'd end their Hogwarts education wearing them.

'We did it,' Hadrian thought, as he claimed his seat, his husband as always close by and sitting next to him. The rest of the Slytherin's surrounding them. He'd actually graduated from Hogwarts, something he hadn't been able to do the last time.

'We did' was all Tom replied, well aware that Hadrian despite his good grades hadn't actually graduated in his past life. In fact, he had been surprised to know that they actually did graduation ceremonies, since he'd never attended one, which left Hadrian wondering whether Dumbledore had put a stop to it...or if he'd just been that ignorant and didn't know about it. Although, surely, if it existed Ron would have attended his brothers graduations? He was dragged out of his errant thoughts by a mental nudge, in time to hear the tail end of Dippet's speech.

"...one by one as I call your name you will come up and receive your graduation papers, well done students, I am proud of you all." Dippet said proudly, glancing particularly at the group of Slytherin's set to graduate today, it had been one hell of a year for them and they were all here, ready to graduate. Thank goodness for small mercies, the thought of any of those lives snuffed out made him shudder. "As for right now, please help me in welcoming the class Valedictorian Tom Peverell-Slytherin!"

Tom smoothly stood up, as everyone cheered, from the back dozens upon dozens of lights heralded the press being here. The group of Slytherins were quite often in the newspapers, the press hounding them when they could, in order to give the public more of what they wanted.

"Good afternoon, friends, families, professors," Tom said with smoothness that came with knowing exactly what he wanted to say. "I am proud and honoured that I was given the honour of being class Valedictorian this year, and since then I've been pondering on the best way to express my admiration." Utterly charming and captivating them.

"In the past seven years I have pushed the boundaries of what I expected of myself and in turn made the world a better place. I feel as though my friends and I - as well as my husband - have been given a second chance and none of us intend to waste it. So, I urge each and every one of you not to waste it either, live, thrive, reach for your dreams and goals and do not ever give up. It might take a while to get there...but all good things come to those who are patient enough to wait!"