Draowondershowlonghe’dwaitedtohaveamomentlikethis,whereeveryonewashangingontohisstword,waitingtohearwhatwonderfulthinghehaddonenow.Toolong,probably.
“You’reallfamiliarwiththearhivingassigIhaveuaken.Manyofyoupyedinstrumentalrolesintheproess.Andnowit’sompleted.”There’saheer,ledbyGinny,andinsteadofgettingupsetatbeinginterruptedlikeDraohadexpeted,Peryjustsmiles,ridingthewaveandwaitinguntilitdieddownagain.“Theministryhaseletedtoopenthereordsuptothepubli.There’sgoingtobeaeremony,andthepeoplewhosharedtheirstoriesaretobeinvited.”Hebeamsdownatallofthem.“Hermionewillbeopeningtheeremony.I’llbetheretoo,ofourse.”
There’sanotherheer,thisoneledbyRon,whograbsHermionebythewaistandspinsherarounddespiteherprotests.Whenhesetsherdown,theyalleonPery,hugginghim,buryinghiminthemidstoffamily.
Geeisn’tapartofit.
herisPenelope.She’sstandingonthesidelineswithDrao,wathingthemall.
“Thisisallheeverwanted.Tobelovedbythemlikethis.”Penelopedoesnotlookliketheepitomeofgraenow—thereisaslouhtohershouldersandastainonherskirtandastrandofhairomingloose,butnow,DraoanseewhyPeryhasbeentakenwithhersolong.“Ijustwishthattheyhadfiguredouthowtodoitsooner.”
Don’tweall,Draothinks.Theonethingwe’regoodatislovingtoote.
It’sfast,afterthat.
Billleavesfirst,thenCharlie,andthentherestofthekidsleaveatthesametime,pullingontheirjaketsandsayingtheirgood-byessofastitdidn’thidehowdesperatetheyweretoleave.
“Merlin.”Ronshakeshishead,squintingupatthestreetlightsthewayhealwaysdoeswhentheyreahamuggletown.“IlovePery,butheanbeadragsometimes.”
“Idon’tknow.”Hermionegnedoverathim,butshehadn’tneedto—theyalwaysseemtoknoweahother,likethewaytheywereaughtintheother’sorbitmeanstherewasnopossibilityoffallingoutofstep.“Hewantedtomakeyouguysproud.”
“Weareproud.We’vealwaysbeenproud.”GinnylooksfromherbrotherandHermione,baktoHarry.“Hehadtohaveknownthat,right?”
“Somepeoplehaveahardtimebelievingwhattheyan’ttouh.Whattheyan’tsee.”Lunatalksabitmorelikethem,now,lesslikelyshewasaughtinadreamandmorelikesomeonehadfinallyforedhertowipethestardustthathadgatheredinhereyes.Itwassad,beausenowshehadtoseelifethewayitreallywas.“Youan’tdoitallthetime—evenIhavetowonderwhethergnarglesarearoundhere.”