Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Disclaimer II: A part of Ron's speech is taken from "Two Weeks Notice."

Gradation Speech

Ron Weasley sighed. This was his last day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was going to graduate. After seven years he would be leaving the school and not returning. When he had started he didn't believe that this day would ever come. But this had had come, and surprisingly enough he was going to make a speech.

This was something he wasn't that good at. 'Why did I have to become head boy?' he asked himself, 'and whose idea was it that both the head girl and boy is going to make a speech?'

Ron looked himself in the mirror hanging on thee wall in the boys bathroom. His hair had been messed up carefully and not too much. He didn't want to look like Harry now did he? Ron straightened his shirt and tie, the normal school robes was of course required. Ron nodded, 'this is good enough,' he thought and left the bathroom.

When he came down the stairs, leading to the boys' dormitories, he saw Hermione sitting on the couch in the common room, reading as usual.

'Hello Hermione,' he said. Hermione turned around, smiling.

'Hello Ron, you look nice,' she said. Ron blushed.

'Thanks, you too,' said Ron.

'Thanks,' said Hermione, 'is Harry coming?'

'What?' asked Ron, looking really surprised, 'I thought he was with you.'

'Well, he's probably saying good bye to his girlfriend,' said Hermione.

'Yeah, a bit sad really. Harry's leaving Hogwarts and Ginny has to some back for another year, not that I wouldn't mind,' said Ron.

'Really?' asked Hermione.

'Yeah,' said Ron. 'I really am going to miss this place.'

'Me too,' said Hermione. 'So, got your speech ready?'

'Yeah,' said Ron and nodded. 'You?'

'Yeah. I'm going first right,' she asked.

'Yeah, as always,' said Ron and smiled. 'Should we go downstairs?'

'Yeah, it's only a couple of minutes left,' said Hermione and got up.

As the two of them walked through the portrait hole all Ron could do was to look at Hermione. He regretted that he had never told her that. Hermione looked up at him and smiled; Ron smiled back and put an arm around her shoulders.

When they reached the Great Hall Hermione walked up to the teachers table, to the centre of the hall where they were going to make their speeches. Ron followed her so that he would be ready when she had finished.

After a few minutes everyone seemed to have noticed Hermione and the Great Hall was all quiet. Dumbledore stood up.

'Welcome old students. Today is the day when we have to say our good byes. You will all be greatly missed. The head boy and girl will now make their speeches. The head girl, Hermione Granger will start,' said Dumbledore.

Hermione cleared her throat.

'Girls and boys, classmates and friends. This will be the last day that we are all gathered here together. We will all miss this place, the teachers and our fellow classmates. We have all learnt so much here and I don't think we will ever forget our memories here, together. When I first came here, I didn't know what friendship is and my goal was to be the top student, because I thought that it was all I had, books. But I made two great friends and they showed me that there is so much more than books and homework, there's life. I did achieve my goal, I became that top student but I also found out what friendship is. It's when someone cares about you and you don't have to ask for it, it's you have fun together, it's when you stick together during the bad time and your true friends can show you that you are so much more than a bossy know-it-all. I hope that you have learned at least half as much as I have during these last seven years and I know that there is a hole new world out there waiting to be discovered by you,' said Hermione and finished her speech. There was tons of applause. 'Now, Ronald Weasley, the head boy.'

Ron took a deep breath. He looked at Hermione, she was smiling at him. He turned to the other students.

'Hello. I know that I'm going to miss this place so much. I've gone through so much here, I've learnt so much and I've found my best friends here. We all love this place, and just as Hermione said we have learnt so much here. I know that I'm not so bright and if it hadn't been for one my best friends I probably wouldn't be standing here today making this speech. She's amazing and I love her. Mainly because this person, despite being unusually stubborn and unwilling to compromise and a very poor dresser... she's rather like the building we love so much, a little rough around the edges but when you look closely, absolutely beautiful, and the only one of her kind. And even though I've said cruel things and maybe driven her away sometimes, she's become the voice in my head and I can't seem to drown her out and I don't want to drown her out,' Ron stopped and looked at Hermione. She had tears in her eyes. Ron looked back at the students. 'So I owe so much to this place, I'm sure all of you do. Good luck with the rest of your lives.'

When he had stopped he looked at Hermione before he walked out of the Great Hall. Applause ringing in his ears. Hermione looked after him and turned to Ginny.

'That speech was absolutely perfect wasn't it?' she said. Ginny nodded.

'I know he's my brother but I can't see why you're still standing here,' said Ginny. Hermione looked at Ginny for a second before she ran after Ron through the Great Hall.

When she saw him he was standing, leaning himself against the large tree by the lake.

'Ron!' shouted Hermione. Ron turned around.

'Hermione?' he said, questionably.

When she reached him she flung her arms around his neck.

'I know I can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but I-'but Hermione didn't get chance to finish. Ron had placed his lips on top of hers, kissing her. Hermione drew her hands through his hair and Ron put his arms around her waist. When they broke apart he was the first one to speak.

'I love you Hermione,' he said. Hermione smiled.

'I love you too Ron,' she said, 'and I don't understand why you didn't tell me sooner, or why I didn't tell you,' Ron smiled.

'Oh, shut up,' he said and kissed her once more.