it was just like in the movies

         Astoria led the way. She knew it well and she couldn’t help but to take an extra look around. It was going to be her last opportunity to explore around the corridors and view the grounds. It was slowly started to sink in that she was no longer a student at Hogwarts. The last seven years was officially completed and she was going to move on to the next phase in her life.

           At least with this next phase, she had Ethan around to lean on.

           Unable to stop herself, Astoria chuckled and she let out a dramatic sigh. “If I must,” she said as she held out her hands and closed her eyes as he instructed. Her brow furrowed as she felt the gift land in her hand. It felt like a rather large picture. “You’ll tell me when to open them, right? I’m trusting you here,” She said through her giggles before she shook her head and finally opened her eyes. She looked down at the vinyl and she grinned softly. “This is the bloke you go on and on about, the muggle rockstar,” she asked as she looked back at him before she turned the album over in her hands and she looked down at the titles on the back. “This would be my very first muggle record.”

“This is indeed the bloke that I go on and on about,” he chuckled. “He’s great, and some of his best songs are on this album. More have been released since, but this is a good one to start off on.” He carefully moved the card into his other hand with the bottle behind his back, still not revealing his other gift, and gestured towards one particular song listed on the reverse of the vinyl cover.

“You see this one song here?” He asked, underlining the song ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ with his finger. “I mean it,” he said as he glanced up to meet her gaze. He went on to point at both him and her, “Don’t go breaking my heart, and I’ll do my best to not break yours, either.”

“I have something else for you, by the way. You don’t have to close your eyes for this one.” He grabbed the card with his spare hand first and brought that around from his back before bringing the bottle of champagne around a couple of seconds later. “Happy Graduation, my love. Shall we go celebrate somewhere?”

          The kiss was a surprise. A pleasant one, and one that she happily returned. Since they had admitted their feelings for one another, they hadn’t had much time alone. He was busy with work and she with school. But now that she had graduated, that was going to change. Hopefully for the better. She could use with more time together instead of just letters between them.

         Carefully, Astoria weaved her fingers between his and she gently led him out of the great hall and away from the crowd of students with their parents. “How about where I gave you your graduation present, last year,” she offered with a grin at the memory. “At the bridge.”

“The bridge sounds like a great place,” he agreed with a single nod of his head, as he followed her guidance to the place that had some sentimental value of sorts to them.

The spot was perfect. Made more perfect by the gorgeous sunny day they were having and the backdrop of the castle behind them. Reaching into his inner jacket pocket, he pulled out the small bag. “There is a meaning behind the main gift, by the way,” he said, stopping himself to explain before delving into the bag to grab the items. “I just hope you remember,” he added, a sheepish smile appearing on his lips. If she didn’t remember, that wouldn’t be a problem. It had been a busy year for her and he couldn’t expect her to remember one tiny conversation they had approximately a year ago.

“Okay, hold out your hands and close your eyes.” When she did, he reached into the bag and pulled out the Elton John vinyl, placing it carefully into her palms. “Don’t open your eyes yet,” he pleaded, as he pulled out the champagne bottle and the card. He tucked the bag back away into his pocket and hid the last two gifts behind his back.

“Okay, open your eyes.”

          Standing with the other students felt a little surreal for the Head Girl for the graduating class of 1979. Astoria had worked towards this goal for the last seven years making top marks and studying more often than enjoying most things that wizards and witches her age usually participated in. But all that had brought her to this point and as she stood there, she began to feel nervous… anxious… excited… all at once. She searched the room that was now filled with guests that each other graduates could invite. She didn’t expect to see any of her family there. Her father had wrote that he wasn’t going to be in attendance— he had sent his apologies but work was more important and with all the attacks that had been happening lately, Tori understood— he instead had sent her a new dress as a gift, the dress that she wore beneath her black robes. She didn’t see family but she saw someone who was, to her anyway, more important.

         Tori smiled when she spied Ethan sitting in the front row. It had been a few months since she had lost seen him and he still looked as handsome as ever. When she was certain he could see her, her grin grew and she gave him a small wave before she was asked to lead the procession along side the head boy. She adjusted her cap before she made her way down the aisle with the rest of her class.

           The ceremony was soon over and done with, and Tori had her robe draped over her arm as she pushed her way through the crowd of parents and students greeting each other. She picked up her pace as soon as she saw him again and without giving him much chance to great her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaped into his arms. “I’ve missed you,” was all she managed to say before she pressed her face straight into his chest. 

There she was. Head Girl, Astoria Reece at the front of her graduating year and next to the Head Boy. When they locked eyes for the briefest of moments, Ethan’s smile grew from ear to ear. He returned the wave and gave her a small wink as if to say, you got this and I’m proud of you.

When the ceremony was finally over, Ethan made his way towards the back of the Great Hall. Every other parent had raced towards the front to run and hug their children and if he did the same, he never would have found Tori. He feared he would lose her in the crowd. Instead, he just waited by the entrance of the hall, trying to peer over other students that gradually began to filter out to look out for Tori.

Suddenly out of his peripheral vision, he spotted someone rushing towards him and he knew it was her before he had even set eyes on her. He opened his arms and when she reached him and wrapped her arms around him, he scooped her up and spun her around. With one hand on the back of her neck, he pulled her forward for a kiss and he wanted it to last forever. “I’ve missed you too,” he said as he pulled away to look at her. “So much, you have no idea.” Ethan put her back down on the floor but continued to hold her hand. “Shall we go somewhere more private? I have a small something for you too. A little congratulations, graduation gift from me.”