So, I was a week late in posting this. It's harder than I thought it would be to keep on schedule.

Harry Potter and The House Of The Serpent

Chapter 7: Aftermath, and back to Privet Drive.

Harry awoke several hours later in a daze. The first thing he noticed was that the pain in his sides seemed to have gone, although they still felt tender and slightly sore. His head, too, was sore as though it had received a heavy blow, although it no longer actively hurt.

He slowly opened his eyes and took in the room around him. It certainly wasn't the dungeon that he last found himself in. There were dozens of beds with clean, white sheets, a small wooden table beside each bed, and countless windows streaming in bright sunlight.

There were a few other students lying in beds around the room as well. He presumed this was the hospital wing.

"Harry!"

A pair of voices startled him from his observations, and he turned his head to find Hermione and Tracey sitting next to his bed. They both looked rather pale and anxious.

"Madam Pomfrey! He's awake!" Hermione called. A few moments later a witch bustled in carrying a potion vial.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, I see you're awake. Here, take this. It'll help you feel better." she said, offering him the vial.

"Where am I?" Harry asked sleepily.

"You're in the hospital wing, after that dangerous stunt you pulled." Madam Pomfrey said disapprovingly.

"But what about Dumbledore? And Qui-" Madam Pomfrey took the opportunity to force feed him the potion while he was talking. It tasted awful, but he felt the soreness leave his body almost immediately.

"How long have I been here?"

"A few hours. I needed time to heal your bones. You had a couple of broken and damaged ribs, Mr. Potter, not to mention collapsing on a hard stone floor from adrenaline shock. Whatever were you thinking, boy?" she said, shaking her head.

"The headmaster will be in to see you in a few minutes, by the way." With that, Madam Pomfrey departed back to her office with the empty potion vial.

"What happened?" Harry asked urgently, turning to the two witches on his other side.

"Well, we went back like you told us to-" Tracey began

"And then when we got to the room with the devil's snare and the trapdoor above us, Professor Dumbledore sort of... glided down-" Hermione interrupted.

"And he just said "Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?" and then he ran in the opposite direction."

"And he came back a few minutes later, carrying you, and you were unconscious, and he floated all of us back up through the door-"

"And he took you to the hospital wing-"

"Okay, okay, one at a time. What happened to Quirrel, first of all?" Harry asked, feeling the beginnings of a slight headache.

"Well, he's um..." Hermione began timidly.

"He's dead." Tracey said bluntly, exchanging a dark look with Hermione. "I saw them carrying the body away. Even if he's not dead, by the looks of him, he will be soon."

"What about the stone? or Voldemort?" Harry questioned urgently.

Tracey gasped at the name and Hermione looked bewildered.

"Dumbledore went back down after he took you here, but I really can't say." Hermione said.

"Hang on, what's this about You-Know-Who?" Tracey demanded

"Quirrel was trying to steal the stone for him. He was... I don't know, possessing Quirrel or something, because Voldemort's face was on the back of his head." Harry said, grimacing as he recalled the unpleasant images from several hours prior.

Hermione looked sick and Tracey shuddered.

"What about Theo? Or anyone else?" Harry said. He had completely forgotten about his friend up until this point. He had gone with him into the room with Quirrel, and he had been hit by the body bind and Harry had lost track of him during the ensuing fight.

"He's fine, don't worry." Tracey said soothingly. "Dumbledore cancelled whatever spell hit him and he was perfectly fine. A little shaken up, as he was awake but paralyzed during whatever happened down there. Everyone else is fine. We all followed you and Dumbledore up to the hospital to see how you were doing, but soon Madam Pomfrey made us all leave. Eventually she started allowing visitors, and Blaise and Daphne and Theo and even Draco came by to see how you were doing. We were just taking our turn when you woke up."

"What did happen after we left?" Hermione asked.

So Harry told them. Everything. Every word Voldemort said, his and Theo's brief fight with their Defence Against The Dark Arts Teacher (an ironic job, Tracey declared) and the beginnings of Voldemort's and Dumbledore's duel.

"So you got to see the two most powerful wizards alive duel?" Tracey asked reverently.

"Dumbledore killed Quirrel?" Hermione said, sounding horrified.

"I don't think so." Harry said, shaking his head. "It looked like he was trying his best to contain him. Quirrel kept shooting off spells that... that destroyed the walls around us when they missed. They looked like they'd hurt if they hit, but Dumbledore's spells just tried to contain Quirrel whenever they hit. In chains and then a block of ice. Even if Quirrel had Voldemort's full power, wasn't Voldemort afraid of Dumbledore during the last war? I'm sure if Dumbledore wanted to kill him, he could have done it easily."

Hermione looked slightly placated at the news that their headmaster wasn't a killer.

"So what happened to you?" Tracey asked.

"Dumbledore sort of - he waved his wand and I sort of flew behind him, and he conjured a stone wall around me. To protect me I guess, but when Quirrel was losing he lashed out and smashed the wall. Dumbledore tried to stop it but a few chunks of rock hit me. Dumbledore caught him when he wasn't paying attention." Harry explained.

"So what spells did they use? Can you remember?" Hermione inquired curiously.

Harry frowned, trying to remember. "Quirrel said most of his spells, but I can't really remember them. I know for sure that Dumbledore didn't say a single word to cast his spells."

"That's really, really advanced. We aren't supposed to learn wordless magic until sixth year. Most adult wizards aren't even supposed to be able to do it that frequently. That's impressive."

"You flatter me." came an amused voice from the doorway.

All three of them turned to look, and their eyes fell upon Headmaster Dumbledore. His long, deep purple robes falling down around a nice pair of boots, while his eyes twinkled merrily behind half-moon glasses.

"I am not as exceptional as they say. Everyone is capable of such feats if they put their mind to it. I simply was more studious and dedicated to my education than my peers, if I do say so myself." Dumbledore said, coming to stand next to Harry's bed.

"Now, Miss Davis, Miss Granger, if you don't mind, I would like a few words alone with Harry."

"Of course, headmaster."

"Yes sir."

With that, Tracey and Hermione left the room, leaving Harry alone with Dumbledore. The full realization of what he'd done hit him.

"Sir, I'm sorry about what happened - I - uh, I'm not trying to blame anybody, but Theo just got the idea that we could catch him and-" Harry stopped as Dumbledore raised his hand.

"Harry, you are not in trouble. Nor is Mr. Nott or any of your companions. Whatever your motivations, what you did was noble and courageous. And I certainly wouldn't punish you after you came to be injured whilst in my presence. I apologize for you having to see what transpired between myself and Quirinus, Harry. I assume you have several questions?"

Harry's head was spinning. He wasn't in trouble? They had to have broken more rules than he could think of. Out after dark, in the forbidden corridor, destruction of school property. And the noble and courageous part didn't escape his notice. Gryffindor traits, and Harry was constantly being reminded by his housemates that Professor Dumbledore allegedly held a strong pro-Gryffindor bias. His head was swimming. But questions? Harry voiced the most obvious one.

"What happened to Vol- sorry, You-Know-Who?" Harry said, catching himself in time. Although he thought it silly not to say Voldemort's name aloud, his friends in Slytherin had informed him it was socially unseemly. Not only did it bring back fearful memories, but it was tactless to those families who had lost members at Voldemort's hand, and those families whose members had been bewitched, blackmailed and forced into his ranks.

"Call him Voldemort. Always use the proper name for things, Harry. Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing it's self." Dumbledore said, surprising him, but bringing back a memory of something Dumbledore had said to Voldemort.

"Sir, did you- did you call him Tom, down in the dungeons?" Harry asked, not sure if it had been real or not. He had been so caught up in the situation, but he was almost certain it had happened.

Dumbledore grimaced, and in that moment looked incredibly ancient. "Surely Voldemort is not his birth name, Harry. Very few know it, but Voldemort was once a charming and talented young man by the name of Tom Riddle. As much as Voldemort detests his enemies using his name, preferring them to be too frightened to use it, he simply cannot stand it when people use his birth name." Dumbledore said, looking half sad and half amused.

"Tom?" Harry said, who couldn't help but laugh. Voldemort didn't seem anywhere near as intimidating when he had such a common name as Tom.

"Yes, he was named for his Muggle father, which I daresay is one of the reasons that he detests it so."

Harry shook his head, momentarily sidetracked. "So where did he go? Did you capture him? Tracey said Quirrel was dead, but-" again, Dumbledore raised a hand to silence him.

"I'm afraid he has escaped. With poor Quirinus defeated, he fled from his body, leaving him for dead. Voldemort has no body of his own, and it would have been no easy feat to contain him in the state that he is currently in. I presume he is long gone down, possibly back to where he has been dwelling these long years. Not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. I attempted my best to aid Quirinus, but it was far too late."

Harry couldn't help but ask. "Quirrel... how did he die? Did you-"

Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "The moment Quirinus allowed Voldemort to inhabit his body, he was doomed. His presence weakened and corrupted Quirrel, and when Voldemort left his body, Quirrel perished. He shows just as much mercy to his followers as he does his enemies. His state was worsened when Voldemort took full control near the end of our little duel. He forcibly possessed Quirrel completely, in one last attempt to overpower me."

"What about the stone? Did Voldemort get it? Quirrel wanted to use it to bring Voldemort back!"

"Ah, I was hoping you would ask that. It was one of my more brilliant ideas, and between you and me, that is saying something. You see, only one who wanted to find the stone - find it, but not use it - would be able to get it, otherwise, they'd simply see themselves making gold or drinking Elixir Of Life. I daresay you, who wanted to stop Quirrel from acquiring the stone, would have located it had you been allowed to look into the mirror, if it weren't for the ah, interruption." Dumbledore explained, his eyes twinkling and giving Harry a small smile.

"How would that work sir?" Harry asked, confused.

"You would have gazed upon the mirror, Harry, and it would have shown you acquiring the stone from it's hiding place. Quirrel could have been down there for eternity and wouldn't have been able to find it, seeing only him using the stone, but not where the stone is hidden or how to find it."

Harry nodded, beginning to understand.

"So what happened to the stone?" Harry continued.

"Ah, that. Yes, while I had a chat with a dear friend, and we decided it would be best to have the stone destroyed. It would be far too dangerous in the wrong hands." Dumledore said mournfully.

"B-but your friend Nicholas Flamel! Won't he die without it?" Harry said disbeleivingly.

"Ah, you know about Nicholas, do you?" Dumbledore said, looking pleasantly suprised. "Well, he has made enough Elixir for himself and his wife to set their affairs in order, but yes, they will die. It is not such a terrible thing. Not many can claim to have lived for over five-hundred years, Harry. It would be more like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

Harry nodded, thinking over what he said for a moment, when another question popped into his head.

"Sir, if the stone is gone, does that mean Voldemort can never come back?"

"I'm afraid he can. The stone is not the only way he may regain his powers, but that is no guarantee of his return. If the next time he makes an attempt, and there are those who stand up to him, such as yourself and Mr. Nott, and he is again thwarted, he may never return. So long as there are those who stand up for what is right in the face of danger."

"Okay. I have another question." Harry said.

"Just another?" Dumbledore said kindly.

"Quirrel said that you had ordered Professor Snape to follow him around because you suspected him, is this true?" Harry asked, somewhat wary. If Dumbledore had indeed suspected Quirrel, he could have done a better job keeping an eye on him.

"I gave Professor Snape permission to keep an eye on him, due to his own suspicions, not my own. And even if I were to suspect him, it is just that - a suspicion. One does not accuse another of being in league with Lord Voldemort lightly, Harry."

"I understand, sir." Harry said, knowing he probably hadn't gotten a straight answer. He had been taught in Slytherin how to detect half truths and replies that deflected your question but did not answer it.

"So, how long do I have to stay in here? The match against Hufflepuff is tomorrow."

"I thought you would only have one more question, Harry?" Dumbledore said, smiling slightly.

"Just this one extra, then."

"Madam Pomfrey informs me that you may leave sometime today and return to your common room."

Harry went down to the common room later that night, being held up by Madam Pomfrey's last-minute checkups and diagnostic spells. Apparently she feared he'd be grievously injured by simply traveling through the halls of Hogwarts.

He took a deep breath before entering, still in somewhat of a daze. Not that he felt ill, but it was that he still felt like a part of him hadn't gotten over the shock of Quirrel's true intentions and all the chaos that followed soon after.

When he entered the common room, he was immediately mobbed by his yearmates.

"Is it true?"

"Were you in the hospital?"

"What happened after we left?"

"So did Dumbledore kill Quirrel?"

Harry raised a hand to silence them and lead them into a corner, to avoid being overheard by the upper years. Again, he was met with a wave of questions, although more hushed this time.

Sighing resignedly, Harry accepted the fact he would have to explain his story several times over during the next few days.

"First of all, Voldemort - Oh, stop gasping - was possessing Quirrel to try and get the stone."

"He's alive?" Draco asked, looking horrified.

"Not very." Harry said grimly. "He doesn't even have a body unless he possesses somebody, or else he's just a cloud of dust."

"He was with Quirrel that entire time? Hiding behind the turban?" Pansy asked, looking disgusted.

"Yes. I don't know for how long though. I saw him in Diagon Alley back in July, and he didn't have a turban then."

"I bet he was happy to see you of all people." Daphne said wryly.

"He did seem to blame his current state on me, yes."

"And you survived again. You've got to be one of the luckiest people in history. Or more precisely, you're very lucky in your unluckiness. It's very unlucky to have You-Know-Who attack you any amount of times, but you have to admit, you had no business surviving. Lucky Dumbledore was there." Blaise said.

"About that!" Tracey said eagerly. "How was their fight?"

"Loud. Confusing. I'd probably have been excited if it weren't for the situation I had found myself in."

"Well, at least you're alright." Daphne said grimly. "Why were you in the hospital anyway?"

"Dumbledore conjured a wall of stone to shield me, but when he started losing, Quirrel sent a spell into it that sent rock everywhere. I took a boulder to the ribs, no big deal." Harry said with a grin.

"You seem to attract a lot of trouble, Potter." Draco said, looking amused. "First that business with a troll, then your broom tries to kill you, and then this. I may need to stop hanging out with you for fear of my health."

"Hey, in my defense, all three incidents were because of one person, and nobody but me got hurt."

"Glad you're better, Potter." Goyle said, looking sincere and patting Harry on the shoulder with his oversized hand.

Eventually, Harry's friends grew tired of questioning him and departed to their own business once more, when Harry noticed somebody was absent from the impromptu gathering they had held.

In the usual corner he haunted, Theodore Nott was sitting in his chair reading a book. When Harry approached, he looked up.

"Hello." Harry said uncertainly.

"Greetings." Theo said cooly.

"So, do you want to talk about... you know." Harry began.

"No, I don't know." Theo said, avoiding Harry's eyes.

"Yes you do. You know who." Harry grinned.

"Oh har, har." Theo said, giving Harry a withering look.

They stared at each other for a few more seconds, before Theo scanned the nearby area and began to speak.

"Listen, I didn't mean to lead you to The Dark Lord, I swear. I just thought it was Quirrel, okay? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put you in danger."

"I followed you, I'm just as much to blame as you are. Don't be so hard on yourself. Why would I think you lead me to Voldemort?" Harry asked, bemused.

"No reason." Theo said, looking relieved. Harry knew that something was up, but decided that the issue was for a later day.

"That was pretty freaky, though." Theo said, looking slightly pale. "Hearing You-Know-Who speak. I'd say I nearly wet myself, but Notts are made of sterner stuff." he said gruffly.

"I'm sure they are." Harry said sarcastically. "At least you didn't get hurt. And remember we all followed you down there on our own free will, don't blame yourself." he added seriously.

"I know. I'm just slightly ashamed. Rushing into a situation I thought I understood. How very... Gryffindor of me." he shuddered.

Not long after that, a sixth year prefect barked at the first years to head to bed, and they did so, dutifully.

The next day brought Slytherin's final Qudditch match against Hufflepuff. Harry caught the snitch after Slytherin had already scored twenty-five times to Hufflepuff's seven, ending thematch 400-70 in Slytherin's favour, ensuring Slytherin would obtain the Qudditch cup.

Before Harry knew it, he was attending the end-of-year feast, sitting at the Slytherin table as always. His wonderful time at Hogwarts had come to an end so quickly. Quicker then he liked, as he thought darkly of the Dursleys.

Although he didn't hate all muggles, or despise them and believe them to be inferior as some of his housemates did, he despised these ones.

The Dursley's would have gladly taken him in if he had been "normal" in their eyes, but no. They were ashamed of his gift, jealous even, because all they were at the end of the day were miserable, envious muggles, fearing things they cannot understand and reacting with hostility. His housemates constantly said most muggles were the same, and he found he agreed. At least in the Dursley's case.

Harry couldn't say whether or not most muggles were like this, as he hadn't met very many (thanks to the Dursleys, again) but Hermione's parents seemed proud of her for being a witch, as was Tracey's father, so they couldn't be all bad as some of his housemates would have him believe.

Although there was no denying that the Dursleys were the way they were simply due to the fact they were muggles. And he'd be having to go back to that - that place - by the next morning, he thought gloomily.

He was trying to keep his spirits up with memories of all the happy memories and friends he had made during his stay here, but it was hard when he kept wondering how he'd be greeted back home.

He was interrupted from his musings by Dumbledore clanging a utensil against his goblet to announce something to do with recent events.

"First, to Miss Hermione Granger, for cool use of logic in the face of fire, I award sixty points."

There was an uproar of clapping at the Gryffindor table, and everyone but the first years at the Slytherin table looked horrified. Slytherin and Gryffindor had been neck and neck, and Hermione's sudden bounty of points would put Gryffindor in the winning for the house cup.

Although Slytherin had won the Quidditch Cup this year, the house cup was, in reality, more desired. By Slytherin at least, as that would have made it ten years in a row Slytherin had won it. A full decade. All down the Slytherin table it looked like the hopes of that record were being crushed, but Harry and his friends knew better. They had kept their night-time adventure three days prior a secret, and he suspected nobody (besides the Quidditch team) outside of the Slytherin first years knew what it was about.

Harry glanced over at the Gryffindor table. Although Hermione looked pleased, and her housemates looked ecstatic, she kept sending apologetic glances at Harry and his friends.

The pandemonium died down when Professor Dumbledore spoke up again. "With that, I believe a change in decoration is in order." Dumbledore clapped his hands, and to Harry's horror, the hangings and banners and tapestries that had previously held Slytherin house symbols and colours changed to their Gryffindor counterparts. Surely if Hermione was alloted points, Harry and his friends would too, right?

Harry's heart had nearly stopped when Dumbledore spoke up again, sending an amused glance towards the Slytherin table.

"Second, to Mr. Theodore Nott, for remaining ever calculating, resourceful and cautious in a worrying situation all while being able to think on his feet, I award fifty points."

Theo looked relieved, and most of the other Slytherins looked confused, although not all. Clearly, word of what had happened had spread, at least in rumor forms, as the other houses seemed to have a faint idea of what this was about as well.

Dumbledore continued.

"Third, to Misses Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, and Mr. Blaise Zabini, I award ten points each for, despite your doubts, sticking by your friends in the face of danger."

The looks of surprise on their faces was almost comical. Clearly they hadn't expected any reward, as they hadn't been quite as influential as Theo, Harry or Hermione.

"And lastly, to Mr. Harry Potter, for clever thinking and outstanding courage, I award Slytherin sixty points."

Gryffindor table looked heavily disappointed, but they couldn't really complain. They hadn't expected to win as it was, and they should be grateful that they just got Hermione's points in the end.

Meanwhile, Slytherin house lost it's usual calm and unassuming mask and went wild. Only now did it become apparent that they would be winning the house cup again, and by an even bigger margin, as they all threw their hats into the air, began stamping their feet and many other things to show their excitement.

"Well done Slytherin, well done Slytherin. Now, let the feast begin!" Dumbledore beamed, clapping his hands again as the hall decorations changed again to reflect the true winner.

"You'll have to fill me in on what happened to get you and your lot all of those points." a sixth year Harry didn't recognize said from across the table. Harry nodded, not really paying attention as he dug into his dinner.

Yes, that did help him forget about what was going to greet him later tonight. It was nice winning, wasn't it? especially when a great deal of the points had been won personally by Harry and his friends, even if they were going to win anyway. Harry glanced up at the table and saw Professor Snape looking especially smug as he shook hands with Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house.

As the students exited through the front doors from the entrance hall to begin heading down the pathway towards the awaiting fleet of boats after breakfast the next morning, they were handed out notes warning them not to use magic during the holidays.

Theo and all the other purebloods scoffed at that, as they had claimed "The Trace" could only detect magic in a certain area, and it was mostly used to prevent muggleborns from breaching the statue of secrecy.

It was next to impossible to tell who was casting spells in a certain area that had a high magical population, such as Hogsmeade, the village neighbouring Hogwarts, or even a magical household. Theo and Draco claimed they were allowed to do a large amount of preparatory magic before coming to Hogwarts, as the ministry couldn't tell who was creating the detected magic emanating from Malfoy and Nott Manors.

"I always hope they forget to give these out each year." Fred - or George - Weasley said.

"I thought purebloods could use magic at home without the ministry knowing?" Harry said, baffled, having learned this earlier that day.

"I guess they can, and between you and me, we do, but our dear old mum doesn't approve. She'd go nuts if she caught us doing half the stuff we do in our rooms. " said who Harry thought was George.

"This is between us and you, right?" the other twin - Fred - cut in.

"I guess. As long as you write to me during the summer. I've got nobody to talk to but my relatives." he said, sneering the last word. It hadn't really dawned on him how horrible the Dursleys were until he reached Hogwarts. Even rival houses treated him better then his own blood relatives. He had just been used to being treated that way by practically the only people he knew for almost eleven years, but now that he was used to proper treatment, he was appalled at their behavior.

"Okay..." Fred trailed off uncertainly, sharing a glance with his twin.

"They're not really nice people. They're muggles, and they have a rather archaic view, if you know what I mean." Harry said darkly.

Fred grimaced and waved him off as he took the fork on the path that took him to the carriages, which was how the older students got to the train.

As he continued down the path, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he found Theo staring at him.

"Have a good year mate. I got Flint to shrink your trunk and cast a notice-me-not charm on it."

"They won't really pay attention to it, and feel compelled to ignore it, somewhat like the spell that's cast on the Leaky Cauldron and the entrance to Nine-And-Three Quarters." he added, seeing Harry's confused look.

"It's like that so they don't see schoolchildren disappearing through a solid wall. Anyway, I'd think the notice-me-not would be enough, but I assume you'd need their help to carry it, and they'd definitely notice it then. So it's really small now, and a lot lighter too, so you can put it in your pocket and take it with you. Not for long though, it'll only stay small and light for twenty-four hours."

"Thanks. They'd probably try and throw all the contents in the rubbish, or lock it up."

"Any time, Harry. Have as good a holiday as you can have with muggles." Theo said, wrinkling his nose is disgust and grimacing.

A short boat ride later, and Harry was on the Hogwarts express headed back home. Harry, Daphne, Theo, Blaise, Tracey, Hermione and Neville Longbottom all shared a compartment on the train, eating wizarding candy and practicing spells, using up the last opportunity they had to do magic outside of school. (At least in Harry and Hermione's case)

In an unpleasantly short amount of time, he was shaking hands and hugging his friends goodbye, before stepping through the barrier and being greeted by the Dursleys.

"Ready, are you boy?" his Uncle, purple faced as ever, demanded.

"Yes." Harry said neutrally, trying to hold back his laughter as he saw Draco and his parents pass, looking at Vernon like he was something unpleasant that one found in a lavatory.

"When we get back, you're weeding the garden to start with, and then you're mowing the lawn. It's gotten long, and while you're at it-"

Harry sighed internally. His summer break was going to be long.

A/N

So, this is the end. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. As I look back on this, the whole story feels really more like a prologue to the rest of the years, and I'm amazed at how well it reads (if I do say so myself) seeing as it's my first HP story. It's gotten nearly 4000 views. I'd like to thank each and every reader, reviewer, everyone who's favourite/followed it, and several excellent FF writers who inspired me (along with my brother) to do this, as well as offered advice along the road.

Edit: I fixed a lot of odd spacing erros that hadn't appeared when I published it.