Pride
The whole thing hadn't taken as much convincing as they thought it would when they brought the idea up to headmaster Mcgonagall over breakfast the morning of the last final that year. Neville had thought of it, and after deliberating with the cousins it was determined that since he and Riley had the least amount of detentions between them, they should be the ones to ask.
She had said yes. Enthusiastically.
And so that summer during the New York City Pride Parade there were approximately 40 teenagers marching and dancing behind a long banner that read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL HAS LGBTQIA+ PRIDE!
The students all had shirts on that they tie dyed together earlier in the summer. Teddy and Harry were marching in front, each draped in a pansexual flag. Neville and Kylie were holding up an ally flag between them, jumping and chanting along with Riley, who was leading the whole gang in the school song that was remixed by a group of half drunk Hufflepuff seventh years the night before they left for summer break.
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be gay or straight
Or somewhere in between,
Our world could do with filling
With more inclusive stuff,
To show we care and we'll be there,
When you don't feel enough
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we’ve forgot,
Just do your best, we’ll do the rest,
And love like it is all we've got!
Harry and Draco had broken up shortly before the end of the school year, but remained friendly enough that they walked hand in hand for a while as they strolled passed FitSpace on the parade route. Riley was typically pretty masculine in how he dressed, and had surprised everyone by walking out into the livingroom in a metallic skirt that morning as they were getting ready to leave.
Sirius braided a rainbow ribbon into his hair while Dorcas put a matching one in Kylie's. Remus and Al had to take a second to step into the other room for a good cry at the beauty of it all when Emmeline showed up with the face paint, and Neville asked if it was ok to get a rainbow on his cheek if he was straight.
They had taken a million photos between the five of them, and took time to send a handful off in the family chat when they had a free second. It seemed to them like all New York had shown up that year, and there wasn't much space on the side streets left for people to push through for a good view.
When they got to the spot their parents were on the route they screamed and ran off the the sides for hugs. James had enthusiastically taken over carrying Lyalls usual "Free Dad Hugs" sign and was weeping openly as a small line formed in front of him for hugs. All of the parents, as well as Pete and Em, and Ben and Reg, were hugging tight to strangers, and each other.
"Why is everyone crying?" Ky asked Marlene in a whisper before she ran to catch back up to the group passing by with their banner.
"We're just happy" Marlene said as she straightened Kylie's ribbon for something to do with her hands.
"Happy?"
"Yea, baby. Happy."
Regulus and Marlene caught each other's eye as Ky skipped away happily, and it was clear they were thinking the same thing.
Thank god they don't know.
Of course they had taught the kids the history. Of course they knew that this freedom had been hard fought for, and very slowly won, but they wouldn't really get it right away. You can't really know a pain you haven't experienced personally, even if it does hurt to know. This younger generation was more accepting, less hateful, so they could be who they were more easily than any of the generations that came before them.
And they were so thankful.
The parade went on well into the evening, and afterwards they all gathered at James and Lily's for dinner and games, and looking through the pictures they had all taken. Their voices would be gone in the morning, and the glitter would haunt them for weeks in places glitter shouldn't be, but it was the best time.