Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony Open

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Sunday | 29 June 2025 | Lunchtime
The Great Hall was flooded with high noon light, the enchanted ceiling a brilliant canvas of summer blue streaked with wisps of white cloud. Sunlight spilled through stained-glass windows, casting colored patterns over the long rows of students seated in their house sections—robed, restless, and expectant. The Great Hall had been transformed for another graduation ceremony. With a stage at the front of the hall - where the Headmaster @Solomon Lear, Deputy Headmistress @Hjørdis Jensen, and four Heads of House stood - the special occasion would be clear to everyone. Professors sat dutifully at the staff table which had been pushed towards the back of the stage, looking out at the students as they filed in. Balloons, banners, Butterbeer. All of this and more decorated the space as students were instructed to take a seat at the four House tables. There was a stage-facing bench at the head of each table where seventh years were able to sit in preparation for being called up. The room was gradually filled with the excited chatter of younger years and the reminiscing minds of the upper years. A quiet fell over the scene once everyone had filed in and the doors had closed.

Solomon Lear, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry did not wear robes. Instead, his tall frame was clad in a suit of honey-colored leather-covered plate armor. The leather was supple and the iron was heavy, the runic symbols embossed into the leather shimmered faintly when touched by the sun. The armor fit headmaster Lear like a memory, worn at the shoulders, smoothed at the chest. This was armor that was marked by time and travel, and to the keenest observer, also battle. A gift, he had always claimed. By who, that was a secret the old man refused to tell, a name that had been swallowed up by time and the wild. Lear had worn it across years, through ruin and shadow. He wore it still. In fact, he rarely took it off.

He stepped up to the podium, his heavy boots echoing softly against the castle floor. The sun painting the man's profile in gold. His once blonde hair, how streaked silver and ash, glinted faintly in the mid day light. His face was weathered beyond his years, he was in the later years of middle age, but his features were still a decade beyond this actual age. His face bore the unmistakable weight of a man who had loved, lost and dabbled in the impossible.

He spoke rarely, but when he did the burden was remarkable. His voice carried a rough-hewn, deliberate sound, that of a man who had long since abandoned the need to impress his contemporaries, his audience or his future peers.

"Before you leave these stone halls," Lear announced, "know that I do not offer hollow promises." A flicker of laughter surfaced among the crowd that was quickly swallowed by the quiet. “I am well aware of the dangers some of you have faced with admirable courage and steadfast devotion to your friends. Take that with you as you leave here. The world beyond this Hall is fierce, unpredictable, and often unkind. Your wands will not always be enough. Nor will your cleverness. But—” he placed a gloved hand on the podium, the leather creaking softly, “—what you carry in your chest, what you cling to when no spell will answer you… that might just be.”

He let his words settle. The uncomfortable silence that followed was perhaps a tick too long as he was momentarily lost in a memory that caused his eyes to cloud over.

He shook it away. “There is a kind of magic that cannot be taught but has been learned that you’ve already touched—grief, courage, love unspoken. Some of you carry it now. I envy and pity you both.” It was a terrible burden to feel with such depth. To have their best as well as their worst years still ahead of them. “Go forward bravely, graduates of Hogwarts. And if the world grows too dark—” his eyes passed over theirs, one by one, “—remember that a light burns here still.”

He bowed his head, more a vow than a farewell.

Ravenclaw
Reducio
The Head of Ravenclaw @Marcus Iwasaki adjusted his formal robes as the opening remarks were made. Today was a big day for these students, but it was also a big day for all the educators who had been a part of their lives. They had watched these children grow into the adults that stood before them now, and the longer he was here, the tougher it was to say goodbye. He felt like he was making a real impact in his position here, and part of that impact was encouraging those students to move on from Hogwarts and live their life to the fullest.

When it was the eagles' time to step forward, the Blasian man stepped up to the lectern to read through names. There were not many this year, but it meant he was all the more proud of the one he called forward.

"@Lavinia Cloven," he invited to the stage, clapping with the rest of the room as the student stepped forward. "Congratulations," he said when they were face-to-face, offering a warm smile to the young woman. "Your tenure as Broom Racing and Quidditch Captain was nothing short of impressive, and you're graduating today with top marks in Flying. I'm confident you will have no shortage of teams recruiting you," he said, and every word was genuine. The graduate standing before him had an amazing sports record, and her leadership skills as captain would mean a lot to those big teams. "I look forward to hearing about the exciting career you have ahead of you." With that, he handed over her certificate and let the next Head of House take over.

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Hufflepuff
Reducio
As Caradoc stood there nodding to whatever it was Lear was saying, he couldn't help but focus on his only graduate this year. That's right. One graduate, just the one. The mere thought of it had him laughing for the whole month when the Heads of Houses had come together to plan this year's graduation. Nora scolded him for not being able to keep a straight face for the duration of said meeting. And he sure was glad she wouldn't be able to do much during the ceremony itself. With a wink and a bright smile Caradoc would give @Annie Morgan a little wave before realizing she was, in fact, blind.

When the time came for the Head of Hufflepuff to step forward, he managed to muster every last grain of seriousness he still had left in his body and solemly stood behind the lectern. As his eyes slowly rolled their way down to the paper, they fell upon the degree that lay before him. And on it, the name of the singular person that deserved his praise today.

"Annie Rosaline Morgan. Please come forward." His voice was warm and inviting as he motioned to her to come over to the stage.

As soon as she stood in front of him, she'd feel both his hands reach for her shoulders. "You have shown this school and me your unmatched resolve, Annie. I could not have been prouder today and I-" The chuckle came back. Though there was something else mixed in there now. The pain of letting go. He composed himself before trying to continue. "I am happy that today I do not need to divide my attention, or pride, between several of my students. Today you stand alone for Hufflepuff, but today I think you know you were never truly alone with us."

He let go of her, trying to stay professional, like Nora would have. Fighting every urge to give Annie a big hug filled with pride and joy of seeing her reach this point in her life. But he also knew Annie liked to keep things cool every now and then, despite her overwhelming capacity for kindness.

The Head of Hufflepuff gave his former prefect her degree and laughed out loud one final time with tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. "I will always be proud of what you have achieved here. Now go and kick some ass out there, Miss Morgan." A title he knew she hated and made her feel old, but seemed fitting for this particular ceremony of moving on to adult life. Caradoc gave her a last encouraging pat on her shoulder before stepping back himself.

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Gryffindor
Reducio
Galahad had been at sixes and sevens ever since Orion had declared that they would be having their wedding this summer. He now regretted making the romantic, spur of the moment decision. Next summer would’ve surely been better. When they had time. Time to plan. Time to breathe. Time to actually enjoy each other's company. Or simply time to exist. All of these trivial pursuits distracted Galahad to the point that he only knew it was his turn to participate in the graduation ceremony because his better half had just kicked him under the table. Hard. He could only assume that it had not been the first attempt. He kissed his soon-to-be husband on the cheek before ascending to the lectern.

He was resplendent in dress robes of scarlet with gold trim. Standard Head of Gryffindor attire. As he got ready, he remembered his papers. He produced his wand and wordlessly flicked it, at which point a few rolled pieces of parchment and a couple of loose sheets floated onto the lectern in front of him. "Good afternoon," he began in a slightly aloof manner, "As I hope all of you know by now, I am the Head of Gryffindor. I'm still... not quite sure what that entails but I'm assuming I have shown some baseline degree of competence as Lear hasn't fired me yet," he nodded graciously to the headmaster. He was starting to wish he held off on the pumpkin juice firewhiskey wombo combo until he'd spoken. Oh well.

"Before I give my graduates their certificates, I feel compelled to say a few words. Not just to them but to all of you, graduate or not." He began to read the remarks he'd prepared last night. "Magic is more than a gift. It is a trust, a solemn responsibility to use your gift for the benefit of all mankind, not just wizardkind. The muggles no doubt seem backwards and foreign to many, but there is grace in their failings." He took a deep breath before continuing, sure that no doubt some people would rather he omit the next part.

"The further we get from the terror and turmoil of the wizarding wars of Grindlewald and Lord Voldemort, the easier it is to forget how we got there in the first place. Muggles are not animals. They are not beneath us, they were born without the gifts we were born with. They have come up with remarkable ways to not just survive but thrive without magic." He paused again, knowing he was quickly coming up on someone going ‘what’s your point’. “My point, is that I see a different world than most, and what I see frightens me, because our enemies are no longer known to us. They no longer march behind the Dark Mark or hide behind masks. They live among us, they live in the shadows. So my final words to you are this. Stand together. Stand with each other. Don’t isolate, alienate yourself. Because together, we can push ourselves forward and maybe, in a long, far too long, time, we might arrive at an age where muggles and wizards can coexist.

With that, he resumed what he was sure people would say was a mercifully normal graduation ceremony. One by one, the gryffindors came up and got their certificate as Galahad offered them a smile and hearty handshake. Hugh Lowe had gotten so tall he’d needed to stoop slightly to complete the transaction.

He then returned to his seat next to Orion and gave him a warm smile before having another swig of the concoction he’d named pumpkinwhiskey, and resumed planning the wedding in his mind.

@Hugh Lowe
@Meenauh Silmataurea
@Jay Victoria
@Galton Lansdale
@Lamik Fillestar
@Katrina Walker (certificate image pending, will be added in shortly)

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Slytherin
Reducio
Lesmana walked forwards when it was Slytherin's turn. Never in his life he imagined himself in this position. He was very new as the Head of Slytherin. His knowledge about the Slytherin graduates was lacking in personal. He just knew them from their track records documents.

He stood on the lectern, feeling all attention turned towards him. He cleared his throat and started to read the names, "@Illowy Magnard,” he called. Lesmana put on a soft smile once the girl stepped forward. He handed over the certificate to her and said, “Congratulations, I’m proud of you. Never be afraid to dream boldly and aim high. I wish you all the best in your next chapter.

The next on the list were the prefects. Though he was just familiar with them for a while, he felt a heavy weight in his chest at the thought of letting them go. Still, the pride was bigger than the sorrow.

@Ruby Cazares.” He watched her step forward. “I'm proud of you,” he handed the certificate. “Thank you for your service in leading the Hogwarts Headliner to produce interesting articles. And thank you for helping me as a prefect. You are leaving behind big shoes to fill. I look forward to hearing about your future achievements.

@Koko Riddle.” As she stood in front of him, he handed the certificate. “Thank you for helping me to take a closer look at the Slytherin students. You’ve made a mark in leading the Quidditch team that won’t be easy to match. Your absence as Hogwarts Headliner secretary will be deeply felt. I wish you continued success in all that lies ahead.

He continued the list. “@Astrea Soleil Neptune.” He handed over the certificate and said, “I'm proud of you. Thank you for leading the Duelling team to the victories. Your achievements will always be remembered. I’ll be watching your next journey with great interest from here.

@Bridget Collins,” he called the former duellist. “Congratulations. I’m truly proud of all you’ve achieved in duelling. Keep chasing big dreams and never stop reaching for more. I look forward to hear where life takes you next.” He handed over the certificate and left a proud smile.

The last one, “@Dan Palmer.” He watched the boy stepping forward. He handed the certificate once the boy stood in front of him. “Your achievements in the Quidditch team will always be remembered. Thank you for your service as the Captain of Quidditch team. Know that whatever you pursue, I will always be proud to hear of your progress from here.

Lesmana felt something weighting in his chest again as he looked at the graduates once more, despite having known them for a brief time. With quiet composure, he stepped back from the lectern, and returned to his seat among the other professors. Once settled, he followed the next procession with calm grace.

@Illowy Magnard
@Ruby Cazares
@Koko Riddle
@Astrea Soleil Neptune
@Bridget Collins
@Dan Palmer

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Donning her black formal robes, which were not too far from her normal ones, Hjørdis moved to the centre of the stage. She gazed into the crowd, scanning the faces of the graduating seventh-years preparing to leave the school. It would be strange not to see their familiar faces around the castle after she had literally seen them grow over the years before her very eyes. Their names had been immortalised in the book of graduates and in years to come, the rest of the students who filled the tables would find their own names added to this book. Today, however, was solely about the Graduating Table in front of the stage. It was their moment, their time to shine and their time to be celebrated.

Her voice was not particularly loud but it would be heard throughout the Great Hall as she spoke. She addressed the room, as they ended the ceremony.

"Seven years ago, our graduating class arrived through these very doors. They sat on this very stage, under this very ceiling with the Sorting Hat on their head as they began this journey. Over these seven years, every single day has changed you. There were undoubtedly hard times, but you overcame all obstacles, facing your fears and discovering strengths or building relationships that will last far longer than these walls. Today, the Graduation Hats that each of you is wearing mark the culmination of years of perseverance, unwavering dedication and growth."

She paused, turning her attention directly to the table of Graduates and speaking to them. Her gaze moved from each student, looking at them directly as she addressed them.

"To each and every one of you, we are immensely proud of all that you have achieved over these years. Though this chapter may be closing, do not doubt yourself; you are fully equipped to handle whatever the next chapters bring. In the darkest moments, you have shown courage, resilience and incredible strength. You have persevered, no matter what. You are the 'lumos' in the darkest of nights.

Your journey may not have been easy and at times, you may have wanted to quit. Yet, you are here today. Take a moment to congratulate yourself. You have made it.
."

Hjørdis paused for a moment, before repeating it much slower so they could fully comprehend that they have survived what might have been the hardest seven years of their life. No child should go through what seems to happen here daily. "You have made it. No matter what trials and tribulations life has thrown at you in these past seven years, you have made it here today and that is something worth celebrating.

Watching you grow into the remarkable adults you have become today has truly been an honour and as I bid you farewell, please know that Hogwarts will always be your home.

With this flick of my wand, I now declare the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Class of 2025 officially graduated.

May your next chapters be full of magic.
"

As she waved her wand, each graduate would see their robes beginning to change into something new. Featuring their house colours, these stunning robes honoured their new status as Hogwarts Alumni.

As she finished, she took a step back and gazed out at the Class of 2025 once more before giving them one final nod. A Hjørdis Jensen way of saying 'well done'.

With that, the fireworks began. Crackers running down the empty paths between the tables, bursts of fireworks in each of the house colours filled the ceiling until a blue and bronze eagle, a black and yellow badger, a green and silver serpent and a red and gold lion each roared through the air, over their respective house tables, before combining into the Hogwarts crest for the grand finale that would hover for a few moments before exploding into a final burst of colour.

Looking down, students would see their tables quickly filling up with food as the graduation feast began.
Thread Guidelines:
  • This thread is open to everyone and is for students to interact with each other after the ceremony. Note this takes place at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, so if you recently joined as an incoming first year for 2025-2026, you cannot join this thread as your character would not be at Hogwarts yet.
  • Please do not approach the Professors table, unless a professor has explicitly permitted you OOC to do so. Only the professors who post after this and state they are open to interaction should be interacted with.
  • Only the graduating PCs will be able to go on stage. Graduating PCs may be able to do minor interactions with the Headmaster, Deputy Head or HOHs but please do not expect a reply.
  • Graduating students can also join the final boat ride, which is set the next day on June 30th. All students are leaving via the Hogwarts Express on June 30th.

This is the "Game Master" account. Please do not owl this account, unless specified. This account is not moderated actively and therefore, you may not receive a response.

Contact a Head of House or the Headmaster if you need anything.

Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony Open
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Jacob watched as the graduating students were getting their certificates, and he knew that at some point next year, he too would be graduating in about a year. He knew that time was fast approaching, and yet still, he couldn't help but smile for the Gryffindors who were graduating, and even some of the Slytherins, funnily enough.

It's ironic that the Slytherins, whom he once thought would be his greatest rivals, would be some of the greatest people he had ever known, at least in most cases. The Athanatos Family would be an exception to this rule.

He knew that the house was not to blame for evil actions, but rather the people who became evil. He now knows for sure that people from any house, even in his own house of Gryffindor, would turn evil. It seems Albus Dumbledore was correct; it is not our abilities that show us who we truly are. It is our choices that define people. And the Athanatos Family has consistently made the wrong choice, every time in his eyes.

Now, with his graduating year fast approaching, he looked back on all he had done in the last few years with pride and happiness. Knowing he might have faced many dangers, but the one thing that made him do the impossible at times was Hogwarts, help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.

"Do not pity the dead... pity the living. And above all those who live without love." Albus Dumbledore -
Jacob Harman
INPC: Tina Parker

Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony Open
Sinks and Secrets ...revisit his past...
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Date: June 29th, 2025
Speech | Thoughts
Time: Lunchtime
Interacting with:
« Preceeding | Following »
Luca seldom procrastinated, so his trunks had already been packed by the morning of June 30th, when the graduation ceremony was scheduled for lunchtime. The young wizard was excited to see the upperclassmen graduate because he knew it would be him someday. Although he hadn't gotten to know any of the Seventh Years, they were constantly reminded of the accomplishments of those years ahead of them. Often, upper-level students would share bits of wisdom here and there, which most of the younger students clung to desperately. Luca was no different, and when an older student spoke, he made sure to listen.

Dressed in his usual Slytherin robes, Luca headed to the Great Hall a little early to find a comfortable seat where he wouldn't have to strain to hear the Headmaster, Deputy Headmistress, and other Professors speak. As the excitement of finishing either the first year or another year at Hogwarts began to fade, the room immediately fell silent once Headmaster Lear started to speak.

The words Solomon spoke echoed in Luca's mind, providing comfort at such a young age to know he always had a home at Hogwarts, even long after graduation. Once the other houses finished their graduation announcements, it was Slytherin House's turn, and their Head of House stood proudly at the podium. Luca noticed that the Head of House had something personal to say about each of them, which made the young wizard feel cared for. Still, Luca clapped loudly for every Slytherin graduate and felt sad that he hadn't had the chance to get to know any of them personally.

As the final graduates were announced, Luca listened carefully to Deputy Headmistress Jensen's speech. His face brightened as the graduates' robes changed, and he was always delighted to see something even more magical happen at Hogwarts, which made it so special to him. Once the food appeared on the tables in front of them, the young boy eagerly dug in and enjoyed his last feast of his First Year.
His story continues: Smoke Over Hogsmeade

STA: 7 • EVA: 10 • STR: 0 • WIS: 7 • ARC: 2 • ACC: 9
Parselmouth • Evasive Maneuvers
PC: Luca Corranado
OOC Notes: Always open to interactions.
"His story continues" means Luca is no longer there!
iNPC: Silvio Accardi