xxxxAlbrecht had in the most unexpected and tragic set of events become headmaster of Durmstrang only a month into the school year. There was no choice but to strive for the students to continue and learn despite all that had happened. Now, it was the end of the year and graduation was upon the seventh year students. It was the first year without their great headmistress. For the first time in a while, the Headmaster truly felt as if he were an imposter in a position he was never meant for.
xxxxYet, he was here and he wanted to honour them. The graduating students would be seated in front of the crowd, a stage-like area that was higher than the others. The students would have already had the chance to save spots to sit together and walk up together. The ceiling was enchanted to reflect the night sky of the surrounding mountain of Durmstrang. Their parents would not be invited to this ceremony but would be when the students crossed the icy lake on the famous Durmstrang boats in the official ceremony on the actual last day of the school year. They would sit in rows of banquet tables, covered in table cloths of icy blue. Every two meters or so, there would be a centerpiece of a dragon, sculpted from ice, draped in the colors of the school. They would not melt, not until the enchantments were ended.
xxxxSurrounding them would be scented candles, exuding the smell of nature right outside the famed halls of Durmstrang, trees, snow, and more. Although they were inside, the students would be greeted with the smell of the great wilderness outside everyone adored. Unlike previous years, Emery had invited alumni to this special ceremony, in a way to honor the season of time that the school had gone through. They would have had the opportunity to arrange travel through Emery or travel by their own means. It was not enough, but he hoped he would continue to be able to honor the memory of the past headmistress. With this last thought, he gestured for the banquet hall doors to be opened to let the students in. As the students would pour in, Emery considered the faces of those who would graduate. Though they were not aware of it, this would be a test. If they pass this test, they would receive their own forged sword, just as previous years had. Emery knew it would never be as meaningful as when the previous headmistress would offer these to graduates, but he hoped that the continued tradition would be a positive reminder that they were still alive, that he was grateful for what they would be in the future.
xxxxThis day would be a day of celebration and joy, as well as a day of testing, though the students did not know that yet. Emery had prepared something. It would be strange to see this happen at Hogwarts, but at Durmstrang, he was absolutely certain the graduates would pass with flying colors. He stepped out onto the stage and waited as the other professors brought the students into their seats. With the students seated, the other professors joined him on the stage. Emery would announce the start of the graduation ceremony once the students were seated. Before that though, the students would see the banquet filled with their favourite foods, and any drinks they could request, all they had to do was say their name.
