I DON'T OWN HARRY POTTER OR DRACULA! REVIEW!

LADY OF THE NIGHT:

CHAPTER NINE:

The next morning, Harry showed us that he'd found his Invisibility Cloak lying on his bed. However, we didn't have much time to be relieved, because the exams were stressing us out. We'd been given Anti-Cheating Quills for our written tests, and it was incredibly hot in the classroom. We also had practical exams. Flitwick tested us to see if we could make a pineapple tap dance across the desk; McGonagall had us turn a mouse into a snuffbox-points were given for how pretty the snuffbox was, but taken away if said snuffbox still had whiskers; and Snape made us nervous, breathing down our necks while we tried to remember how to make a Forgetfulness Potion.

Our very last exam was History of Magic. When the ghost of Professor Binns told us to set down our quills, I cheered along with the others.

"That was far easier than I thought," Hermione said as we made our way onto the grounds, with me clutching Midnight. "I needn't have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager." Hermione wanted to go through our exams papers, but Ron said that made him sick, so we went down to the lake and flopped under a tree. Lee and the twins were tickling the tentacles of the giant squid, who was lazily basking in the sun. Lee waved over at me. "Hey, Evangeline!"

"Hey, guys!" I sighed, grinning. "No more studying." Ron looked over at Harry. "You could be more cheerful, Harry. We've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet." Harry began rubbing his forehead. "I wish I knew what this means! My scar keeps hurting-it's happened before, but never as often as this." I shrugged. "Go to Madam Pomfrey."

"I'm not ill. I think it's a warning...it means danger's coming..." Ron sighed, unable to get worked up. "Harry, relax. Hermione's right. The Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. Anyway, we never found any proof Snape's found out how to get past Fluffy. He's nearly had his leg ripped off once, he's not gonna try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down." Harry nodded, but still looked doubtful. When he tried to explain to us that he felt as though there was something important he'd forgot to do, Hermione sighed. "That's just the exams. I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd already done that one."

Harry suddenly jumped to his feet. "Harry, what-?"

"I've just thought of something." Harry had turned white as he raced towards Hagrid's hut. "We've got to see Hagrid, now."

"Why?"

"Don't you think it's a bit odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have one in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?" Ron frowned. "What are you talking about?" Harry didn't answer.

Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his hut, shelling peas into a large bowl. He looked up at us and smiled. "Hullo. Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?" Ron was about to answer in the affirmative, when Harry cut him off. "No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?"

"Dunno. He wouldn' take his cloak off. It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head-that's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."

"What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?"

"Mighta come up. Yeah...he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here...He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I look after...so I told him...an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon...an' then...I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks...Let's see...yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg, an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted...but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home...So, I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy..."

Harry gulped. "And did he-did he seem interested in Fluffy?"

"Well-yeah-how many three-headed dogs d-yeh meet, even 'round Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how ter calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music, an' he'll go straight off ter sleep-" Hagrid suddenly looked horrified at what he'd said. "I shouldn'ta told yeh that! Forget I said it! Hey-where yeh goin'?!"

Harry turned to the rest of us in the entrance hall. "We've got to go to Dumbledore. Hagrid told that stranger how to get past Fluffy, and it was either Snape or Voldemort under that cloak-it must've been easy, once he'd gotten Hagrid drunk. I just hope Dumbledore believes us. Firenze might back us up if Bane doesn't stop him. Where's Dumbledore's office?" He sighed. "Well, we'll just have to-"

"What are you four doing inside?" We looked up to see McGonagall headed our way. I took a deep breath. "We want to see Professor Dumbledore."

"See Professor Dumbledore? Why?" Harry gulped. "It's sort of secret."

"Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," McGonagall said calmly. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once."

"He's gone?! Now?!"

"Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time-"

"But this is important!" McGonagall arched an eyebrow. "Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Lestrade?"

"Look, Professor, it's about the Sorcerer's Stone-" McGonagall's books fell to the floor. "How do you know-?"

"Professor, I think-I know-that Sn-that someone's going to try and steal the Stone. I've got to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

"Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow. I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, Potter, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected."

"But, Professor-" McGonagall knelt down, picking up her books. "Potter, I know what I'm talking about. I suggest you all go back outside and enjoy the sunshine."

Harry turned to us as soon as McGonagall was out of earshot. "It's tonight. Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when he shows up."

"But what can we-" Hermione gasped, and we whirled around to see Snape standing there. "Good afternoon." We stared at him. "You shouldn't be inside on a day like this."

"We were-"

"You want to be more careful. Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor can't really afford to lose any more points, can it?" I glared at him as we began to walk outside, but Snape called us back. "Be warned, Potter-any more nighttime wanderings and I will personally make sure you are expelled. Good day to you." Midnight hissed as we walked outside. "I ought to let her attack him."

"You'd get in trouble." Harry turned to us. "Right, now here's what we're going to do. One of us has got to keep an eye on Snape-wait outside the staffroom and follow him if he leaves it. Hermione, you'd better do it."

"Why me?" Ron grinned. "It's obvious. You can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know." Ron put on a high falsetto voice, "'Oh, Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen b wrong...'"

"Oh, shut up." Hermione agreed to watch out for Snape, and Harry, Ron and I were going to stay outside the third-floor corridor. That part of the plan didn't work. Professor McGonagall spotted us, and she lost her temper this time. "I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack of enchantments! Enough of this nonsense! If I hear you've come anywhere near here again, I'll take another fifty points from Gryffindor! Yes, Weasley, from my own house!" We went back to the common room, and Harry had just said, "At least Hermione's still on Snape's tail," when the common room door swung open, and Hermione came rushing in. "I'm sorry, Harry! Snape came out and asked me what I was doing, and I said I was waiting for Professor Flitwick, and Snape went to get him, and I've only just got away, I don't know where Snape went."

"Well, that's it, then, isn't it?" We stared at Harry, confused. "I'm going out of here tonight, and I'm going to try and get to the Stone."

"You're mental!"

"You can't! After what McGonagall and Snape have said? You'll be expelled!" Harry whirled on us. "SO WHAT!? Don't you understand?! If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort will come back! Haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over?! There won't be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He'll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn't matter anymore, don't you see!? Do you think he'll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the House Cup?! If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, I'll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for him to find me there. It's only dying a bit later then I would have, because I'm never going over to the Dark Side! I'm going through that trapdoor tonight, and nothing you three say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?!"

He glared at us, breathing heavily. The other two stared at him, but I watched him calmly. Finally, Hermione spoke in a timid voice. "You're right, Harry."

"I'll use the Invisibility Cloak. It's just lucky I got it back." Ron nodded. "But will it cover all four of us?"

"All-all four of us?" I crossed my arms. "Oh, come off it, you didn't think we'd let you go alone, did you?" Hermione nodded. "Of course not. How do you think you'd get to the Stone without us? I'd better go and look through my books, there might be something useful..."

"But if we get caught, you three will expelled too."

"Not if I can help it. Flitwick told me in secret that I got a hundred and twenty percent on his exam. They're not throwing me out after that."

After dinner, once everyone had gone to bed, Harry ran up to his dormitory to grab the Cloak and the flute Hagrid had given him. "We'd better put the Cloak on here, and make sure it covers all four of us-if Filch spots one of our feet wandering around on its own-" A light flicked on, and we jumped. Neville appeared from behind one of the chairs, clutching Trevor. "What are you doing?"

"N-Nothing, Neville."

"You're going out again."

"What? No. No, we're not, Neville. Why don't you go to bed?" Neville glared at us. "You can't go out again. You'll be caught again. You'll get Gryffindor in even more trouble."

"Neville, this is really important."

Neville rushed to stand in front of the portrait hole. "I won't let you do it. I-I'll fight you!" Ron growled in frustration. "Neville, get away from that hole and don't be an idiot-"

"Don't you call me an idiot! I don't think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!"

"Yes, but not us. Neville, you don't know what you're doing." Ron took a step forward, and Neville dropped Trevor, who lept to freedom. Neville raised his fists. "Go on, then, try and hit me! I'm ready!" Hermione sighed, pulling out her wand. "Neville, I'm really, really sorry about this." She raised her wand. "Petrificus Totalus!" Neville stiffened like a board, unable to move, and fell to the floor.

"What'd you do to him?"

"It's the Full Body-Bind. Oh, Neville, I'm sorry."

"We had to, Neville, no time to explain." Ron sighed as we pulled the Invisibility Cloak over us. "You'll understand later, Neville."

We made it to the third-floor corridor, running into Mrs. Norris and Peeves along the way. Harry scared off Peeves by impersonating the Bloody Baron, which was rather impressive. Once we reached the third-floor, the door was already open. "Well, there you have it. Snape's already made it past Fluffy." Harry turned to us. "If you want to go back now, I won't blame you. You can take the Cloak, I won't need it."

"Don't be stupid."

"We're coming." I nodded. "Damn straight, we are."

"Did your Uncle Renny teach you how to swear, or was it instilled at birth?" I ignored Ron, and we made our way through the door. Harry pulled out his flute, and began playing. Immediately, Fluffy fell asleep. "Keep playing." I looked over at the trapdoor. "Looks like we'll be able to pull it open." Ron turned to Hermione. "Want to go first?"

"NO." Ron gritted his teeth and pulled the door open. "What can you see?"

"Nothing-just black-there's no way of climbing down, we'll just have to drop." Harry, who was still playing, pointed at himself. "You first? Are you sure? I don't know how deep this thing goes. Give the flute to Hermione, and she'll keep playing." Harry looked at us. "If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the Owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, got it?" We all nodded.

"See you in a minute, I hope." With that, he jumped. A few seconds later, he called up to us, "It's a soft landing! You can jump!" Ron jumped, and I followed, and Hermione stopped playing the flute, jumping after us. Ron frowned. "What's this stuff?" We looked around to see some sort of plant. "Dunno. I guess it's here to break the fall."

"We must be miles under the school."

"Lucky this plant thing was here to break the fall."

"Lucky!? Look at you three!" Hermione lept up, struggling towards the wall. The reason she had to struggle was because the plant had started to creep around her ankles. As for the rest of us, it had already secured our legs. The more we struggled, the tighter it got. "Stop moving! This is Devil's Snare!"

"Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," Ron snarled as he craned his neck to try to keep the Devil's Snare from choking him. "Shut up, I'm trying to remember how to kill it!" Harry began gasping for breath. "Well, hurry up, I can't breathe!"

"Devil's Snare-Devil's Snare...what did Professor Sprout say?-it likes the dark and damp-" Harry began gasping for air. "So light a fire!"

"Yes, of course, but there's no wood!" I lost it. "THERE'S NO WOOD?! ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT!?"

"Oh, right!" Hermione whipped out her wand, and sent a ball of blue flames at the Devil's Snare. In two seconds, the plant loosened its grip, and we were able to pull free. Harry sighed. "Good thing you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione." Ron scoffed. "Yeah. And lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in a crisis-there's no wood, honestly."

"This way." We headed down a stone passageway, and Ron frowned. "Can you hear something?" A soft rustling and clinking sound came from up ahead. "Do you think it's a ghost?" Harry shook his head. "No. It sounds like wings to me." Hermione frowned, peering ahead. "There's light ahead-I can see something moving." We reached the end of the passage and saw a lit chamber, a high ceiling above us. It was full of small, bright birds, tumbling about the room. "Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?"

"Probably. They don't look very vicious, but if they all swooped down at once...well, there's no other choice...I'll run." With that, Harry covered his face with his arms and ran across the room. Nothing happened. He pulled at the door handle, but it was locked. We followed him, and tugged at the door, but it wouldn't open, not even when Hermione used the Alohomora spell. Ron sighed. "Now what?"

"These birds...they can't be here just for decoration." Harry's eyes widened at Hermione's statement. "They're not birds-they're keys! Winged keys-look carefully. So that must mean...yes! Broomsticks! We've got to catch the key to the door!" Ron stared at him in disbelief. "But there are hundreds of them!"

"We're looking for a big, old-fashioned one, probably silver, like the handle." We each grabbed a broomstick, and tried to catch the key, but the keys darted around so furiously, it was impossible to catch the right key. "That one! That big one-there-no, there-with bright blue wings-the feathers are all crumpled on one side." Ron went speeding in the direction Harry pointed, crashed into the ceiling, and almost fell off his broom. "We've got to close in on it! Ron, you come at it from above-Hermione, you stay below and stop it from going down-Evangeline, you keep circling it on the sides-and I'll try and catch it. NOW!"

We lept into action, and Harry pinned it against the wall with a crunch. We cheered and ran to the door, the key still struggling for freedom in Harry's hand. He put it in the door and turned the lock. The door opened, and Harry released the key, which took off again. "Ready?" We nodded. The chamber ahead was so dark we couldn't see anything. But the moment we stepped inside, the chamber lit up to reveal that we were standing on the edge of a giant chessboard. "Now what?"

"It's obvious, isn't it? We've got to play our way across." Behind the white pieces across the board was another door. Hermione gulped. "How?" Ron frowned. "I think we're going to have to be chessmen." He looked up at a black knight. "Do we-er-have to join you to get across?" The knight inclined its head. Ron turned to us. "This needs thinking about...I suppose we've got to take the places of four of the black pieces...Now, don't be offended, but you three aren't that great at chess-"

"We're not offended. Just tell us what to do."

"Okay...Harry, you take the place of that bishop, Hermione you take the place next to him instead of that castle, and Evangeline, you take the place of that rook."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to be a knight." At these words, a knight, a bishop, a castle, and a rook walked off the board.

"White always plays first in chess. Yes, look..." A white pawn had moved forward two squares. Ron started to direct the black pieces, and my mouth became dry. "Harry, move four squares diagonally to the right." What came as a real shock was when the other knight was taken. The white queen smashed him and dragged him off the board, where he lay unmoving. "Had to let that happen. Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione, go on." Every time we lost a piece, the white pieces showed no mercy. Twice, Ron noticed just in time that we were in danger.

"We're nearly there. Let me think...let me think..." He sighed. "Yes...it's the only way...I've got to be taken."

"NO!" The rest of us shouted in unison. "That's chess! You've got to make some sacrifices! I take one step forward, and she'll take me-that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!"

"But-"

"Do you want to stop Snape or not?!"

"Ron-"

"Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the Stone!" Ron sighed. "Ready? Here I go-now, don't hang around once you've won." He stepped forward, and the white queen attacked. She struck Ron across the head with her arm, and Hermione screamed, but stayed on her square. Harry moved three spaces to the left, and the white king took off his crown, throwing it at Harry's feet. The chessmen parted, leaving the door ahead clear. With a look back at Ron, we charged through the door. "What if he's-" I shook my head. "He'll be okay. What do you think is next?"

"We've had Sprout's, that was the Devil's Snare; Flitwick must've put charms on the keys; McGonagall Transfigured the chessmen to make them alive; that leaves Quirrell's spell, and Snape's..." We'd reached another door. Harry looked at us. "All right?" Hermione and I nodded. Harry pushed it open. A disgusting smell filled our noses, causing us to pull our robes up over our noses. Eyes watering, we saw an unconscious troll lying on the floor ahead of us. "I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one," Harry said as we stepped over one of its legs. "Come on, I can't breathe..."

He pulled open the door, and we saw a table with seven differently shaped bottles on it in a line. Right after we stepped through the door, a barrier of purple fire sprang up in the doorway behind us. At the same time, black flames blocked the door ahead. "Look!" Hermione grabbed a roll of paper lying next to the bottles, and we looked over her shoulder to read it:

Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,

Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,

One among us seven will let you move ahead,

Another will transport the drinker back instead,

Two among our number hold only nettle wine,

Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.

Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,

To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:

First, however slyly the poison tries to hide

You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;

Second, different are those who stand at either end,

But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;

Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,

Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;

Fourth, the second left and the second on the right

Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.

Hermione smiled. "Brilliant. This isn't magic-it's logic-a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic, they'd be stuck in here forever."

"But so will we, won't we?" Hermione scoffed. "Of course not. Everything we need is here on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison; two are wine; one will get us safely through the black fire; and one will get us back through the purple."

"But how do we know which to drink?"

"Give me a minute." Hermione read and re-read the paper. Then she walked up and down the table, muttering to herself. Finally, she clapped her hands. "Got it. The smallest bottle will get us through the black fire-towards the Stone." Harry looked at her. "There's only enough for one of us. That's hardly one swallow. Which one will get you back through the purple fire?" Hermione pointed at a rounded bottle at the right end of the line. "You two drink that-no, listen. Get back and get to Ron. Grab brooms from the flying-key room. They'll get you out of the trapdoor and past Fluffy-go straight to the Owlery and send Hedwig straight to Dumbledore, we need him. I might be able to hold Snape off for a while, but I'm no match for him, really." I sighed. "But, Harry-what if Voldemort's with him?"

"Well-I was lucky once, wasn't I? I might get lucky again." Hermione's lip trembled, and she ran at Harry and hugged him. "Hermione!"

"Harry, you're a great wizard, you know."

"I-I'm not as good as you."

"Me! Books and cleverness! There are more important things-friendship and bravery and-oh Harry-be careful!"

"You two drink first. You are sure which is which, aren't you?"

"Positive." We both took a long drink from the bottle, and shuddered.

"It's not poison, is it?"

"No-it's like ice."

"Quick, go, before it wears off." I sighed, looking at him. "Harry-good luck-"

"GO!" We turned and walked through the purple fire.

Three hours later, Madam Pomfrey allowed me, Hermione, and Ron into the Hospital Wing to see Harry. "Harry!" Hermione looked like she was about to throw her arms around him, but seemed to be holding back. "Oh, Harry, we were so sure you were going to-Dumbledore was so worried-" I cut her off, pulling up a chair next to Harry's bed. "The whole school's talking about it." Ron nodded. "What really happened?"

Harry told us everything: about Quirrell; the mirror; the Stone; and Voldemort. The other two were gasping constantly. Hermione even screamed when Harry told them what had been under Quirrell's turban. Ron frowned. "So, the Stone's gone? Flamel's just going to die?"

"That's what I said, but Professor Dumbledore thinks-what was it?-'to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.'" Ron looked impressed. "I always said he was off his rocker."

"So, what happened to you three?"

"Well, we got back all right. We brought Ron round-that took awhile-and we were dashing up to the Owlery when we met Dumbledore in the Entrance Hall-he already knew-he just said, 'Harry's gone after him, hasn't he' and ran off to the third floor."

"Do you think he meant for you to do it? Sending you your father's cloak and everything?" Hermione glared at Ron because of his question. "Well, if he did-I mean to say-that's terrible-you could have been killed." Harry shook his head, looking thoughtful. "No, it isn't. He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on round here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could..."

"Yeah, Dumbledore's off his rocker, all right. Listen, you've got to be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow. The points are all in, and Slytherin won, of course-you missed the last Quidditch match, we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you-but the food'll be good." At that moment, Madam Pomfrey came charging over. "You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT!"

When Harry walked into the Great Hall the next night, a sudden silence fell over the entire Hall, and then a buzz of the entire school talking at once filled the Hall. He slid into a seat between Ron and Hermione, across from me. Dumbledore arrived a few minutes later, and the talking died down. "Another year gone! And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were...you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts. Now, as I understand it, the House Cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and two points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six points; and Slytherin, with five hundred and twenty-two." I looked over at the Slytherin tabled and saw Malfoy banging his goblet on the table.

"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin. However, recent events must be taken into account." The smiles faded from the Slytherins' faces. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes. First, to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor House fifty points." I could hear Percy telling the other prefects, "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!"

"Second, to Ms. Hermione Granger, for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor House fifty points." Hermione buried her face in her hands, and I supposed she had burst into tears. "Third, to Ms. Evangeline Lestrade, for standing by her friends in the face of utmost danger, I award Gryffindor House fifty points." Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the ceiling. We were a hundred and fifty points up.

"Fourth, to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House sixty points." The noise became even louder than before. We had five hundred and twenty-two points now. Dumbledore raised his hand, and the Great Hall fell silent. "There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. Therefore, I award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom." Silence ensued for two seconds, and then cheering exploded within the Great Hall. Neville was buried under a mound of people hugging him. He'd never won a point for Gryffindor before. He had won the House Cup for Gryffindor.

Dumbledore smiled. "Which means we need a change of decoration." He clapped his hands, and the Slytherin hangings immediately transformed into Gryffindor hangings. I grinned, cheering along with the others as I saw the horrified look on Malfoy's face.

I'd almost forgotten that the exams results were still to arrive, but they did. To my surprise, I got through with relatively good marks, as did Harry and Ron. Hermione, naturally, had the best grades of the first years. Neville even managed to get through, his good Herbology grade making up for his awful Potions mark.

In no time at all, our wardrobes were empty; our trunks packed; Trevor was found lurking in a corner toilet; and notes were handed out to all the students, warning us not to use magic over the holidays ("I always hope they'll forget to give us these", Fred had said sadly); and Hagrid took us first years across the lake to the train.

We boarded the Hogwarts Express, talking and laughing as the countryside became greener and neater. I continued feeding Midnight snacks, though she couldn't seem to get enough. "You're gonna be way overweight before next year starts." She simply purred at me." We pulled off our wizard robes and donned Muggle clothes as we pulled into Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

Ron turned to us as we got off the train. "You three have to come stay this summer. I'll send you an owl." Harry grinned. "Thanks. I'll need something to look forward to." I nodded. "I'll ask C.V.-I mean, I'll ask Uncle Renny." I grinned weakly as they stared at me, then shrugged it off.

We passed through the gateway, and I saw Mrs. Weasley standing there with a girl with bright red hair clutching her arm as she bounced up and down in excitement. "There he is, Mom, look! Look, Mom! I can see!"

"Be quiet, Ginny. It's rude to point." Mrs. Weasley smiled at us. "Busy year?" I laughed. "You have no idea." Harry nodded. "Very. Thanks for the fudge and sweater, Mrs. Weasley." I thanked her as well, and she smiled. "Oh, it's nothing."

"Ready, are you?" We turned to see a purple-faced man with a mustache that seemed almost alive. Behind him stood a bony woman and an extremely fat boy, both looking terrified. Mrs. Weasley smiled. "You must be Harry's family!"

"In a manner of speaking. Hurry up, boy, we haven't got all day." With that, he stalked off. Hermione stared after him. "Have a good-er-summer." Surprisingly, Harry's face split into a grin. "Oh, I will. They don't know I'm not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer..."

Just before he turned to leave, Renny walked over. "Ah, Evangeline, are you ready to go?" I embraced him, and caught the others studying him. "Oh, um...this is my Uncle. Renny Field." Renny smiled at them. "Nice to meet you. Come, Evangeline. We'd best get home." I smiled. "Great. I can't wait to cause more havoc at home." With Midnight in my arms, I walked out of King's Cross Station with Renny to do just that.

WELL, THAT'S IT FOR GABRIELLE'S FIRST YEAR! PLEASE REVIEW!