Harry Potter and a Better Future
Chapter 11 The End of Another Year
Harry awoke the next morning to see Professor Dumbledore sat at the foot of his bed.
"Good morning Harry, I trust you are feeling better" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, has the stone been destroyed sir" Harry asked.
"Yes Harry, I consulted with Nicolas Flamel last night and he agreed to it, they have enough elixir of life left to set their affairs in order, then they will die I'm afraid" Dumbledore explained sadly. Harry nodded and noticed the pile of sweets on the table next to his bed.
"Tokens from your friends, they left these this morning when they were able to visit you" Dumbledore explained.
"Yeah, I remember these from last time around" Harry replied.
"Ah, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, I was put off by these when I tasted a vomit flavoured bean" Dumbledore recalled.
"Yeah I remember you mentioning that last time around too" Harry replied. "By the way don't eat that bean" Harry added before Dumbledore put the sweet in his mouth.
"Why ever not Harry" Dumbledore asked.
"If you picked up the same sweet as last time that one would be earwax flavour" Harry explained. Dumbledore chuckled and threw the sweet in the bin.
"I trust that Voldemort will try again next year" Dumbledore assumed.
"Yeah, hopefully I should be able to keep the diary locked away until I can destroy it" Harry explained "I certainly don't want to face the basilisk again" He added.
"I sincerely hope you don't have to either, I think it's time I was off, and I also have a surprise for you" Dumbledore explained.
"What do you mean" Harry asked. He didn't remember this happening last time around. Dumbledore said nothing and got up from the chair he was sat on. He opened the door to the hospital wing, nodded to Harry and walked out of the door. What Harry wasn't expecting was for his godfather, Sirius to enter the room.
"Sirius" Harry beamed. He looked roughly the same as he did when he first met him in his other life except with two years of not being subjected to the dementors.
"Hello Harry" Sirius greeted and conjured a chair next to Harry's bed and sat down.
"When did you get out of Azkaban" Harry asked.
"Yesterday, I couldn't believe it when they took me from the cell and told me I was being released" Sirius explained with a huge smile on his face "and it's all down to an eleven year old, or should I say twenty five year old" Sirius added still smiling.
"What, how did you know" Harry asked. The only other people who knew were Hermione, Ron, Neville and Dumbledore.
"Albus told me, he told me he was supposed to keep it quiet but thought you would want me to know" Sirius explained "he checked my occlumency skills first though" he added.
"Well that saves me the job of trying to keep it secret" Harry replied.
"Albus also allowed me to come and live at the Dursley's with you for two weeks until Grimmauld place has its security improved" Sirius explained.
"You mean like the fidelius charm" Harry replied.
"Yeah, and once we move in I'll find a way to remove that damn portrait of my mother" Sirius explained.
"That's fine, we can have some fun with the Dursley's in the meantime" Harry grinned.
"What do you mean Harry" Sirius asked although he had an idea what Harry meant.
"Well, you're an animagus, I'm an animagus and they don't like anything to do with magic" Harry explained. Sirius laughed when he realized what they could do to the muggles.
Five minutes later the door opened again and three people stepped in.
"Bloody hell Harry, I didn't think you'd be awake for another few days, and is that Sirius Black" Ron asked.
"The one and only" Sirius replied.
"What happened to Quirrel Harry" Hermione asked.
"The same as last time, he couldn't touch me so I used that knowledge to ensure he couldn't get his hands on the stone" Harry explained.
"Was You-Know-Who actually on the back of his head" Neville asked.
"Yeah, and it's Voldemort" Harry replied.
"Harry, now that Sirius is out of Azkaban, are you going to live with him" Ron asked.
"Yeah as soon as Grimmauld Place has some security charms added to it" Harry explained.
"I guess you've got a few weeks with the muggles" Ron concluded.
"Yeah, but me and Sirius are going to have some fun with the Dursley's while we're there" Harry replied.
"Harry, I hope you're not thinking of doing magic during the summer are you" Hermione reprimanded.
"Oh don't worry, I won't be doing magic with my wand" Harry replied.
"What do you mean Harry" Neville asked.
"Well, I can do wandless magic which they can't trace, and also something else I don't think I've showed you yet" Harry explained.
Harry promptly climbed out of bed and transformed into his phoenix animagus. Hermione, Ron and Neville were staring open mouthed at the phoenix now flying around them. Harry changed back and climbed back into bed.
"Bloody hell Harry" Ron exclaimed.
"I've read that it's rare for someone to have a magical animagus form" Hermione explained.
"Harry, I knew you were an animagus but didn't think you could transform into a phoenix" Sirius remarked.
"Harry, how did Sirius know you were an animagus" Neville asked.
"Dumbledore explained my secret to him" Harry exclaimed "Don't worry he checked he was skilled at occlumency first" He added.
At that moment Madam Pomfrey rushed across to Harry's bed.
"I think you are able to leave now Mr. Potter" Madam Pomfrey explained "But before you go there is another visitor for you" She added.
"Oh good" Harry replied.
"Who is it" He asked.
Hagrid entered the hospital wing, ducking to avoid hitting his head on the doorframe. He sat down next to the bed. He took one look at Harry and burst into tears.
"It's my ruddy fault, I told the evil git how to get past fluffy" Hagrid admitted sobbing into his hands.
"Hagrid, its ok, he would have found out somehow" Harry explained.
"I've got somethin' for ya Harry" Hagrid explained.
Hagrid handed him the photo album he had received from him in his other life. Hagrid explained about the album and that he sent owls to his parents' old school friends asking for pictures.
"Thanks Hagrid" Harry beamed.
Harry spent the next few days with Ron, Hermione and Neville chatting about their summers. Ron told Harry they would rescue Harry from the Dursley's if there is no contact. Harry told them he would take care of Dobby when he turns up. Hermione told him not to harm the elf. Harry told her he would only threaten the elf and prevent it from leaving Harry's room. Sirius had been staying at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade and told Harry he would be at the school for the day of the feast and would travel on the train with him in dog form.
Harry went down to the feast with Hermione, Ron and Neville where the hall was decorated with Slytherin colours to celebrate them winning the house cup for the seventh year in a row. Harry knew that Dumbledore's speech at the feast would change this.
"Another year gone" Dumbledore said cheerfully "Before we begin the feast I would like to make a few announcements" He added as the hall went quiet.
"Now, as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy- two."
The Slytherin table promptly erupted in cheers and stamping in celebration of their win. Harry saw Malfoy banging his goblet on the table
"That lot won't be cheering in a minute" Harry whispered to Ron, who chuckled and turned his head back to Dumbledore
"Yes, Yes, well done, Slytherin," said Dumbledore. "However, recent events must be taken into account."
The room went silent again and the smiles faded from the Slytherin's faces a little. 'Here it comes' Harry thought to himself as the Slytherin's went completely silent.
"I have a few last minute points that must be given out" Dumbledore announced.
"First, to Mr. Ronald Weasley"
Ron's face promptly turned purple as it had done the first time around.
"For the best game of chess Hogwarts has seen in years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points"
A lot of cheers came from the Gryffindor table. Percy could be heard telling people that Ron got past Professor McGonagall's giant chess set. The hall once again returned to silence.
"Secondly, to Miss 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 as she had done last time around. Harry thought she had been crying the first time around but this time suspected she didn't want all the attention.
"Third, to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure nerve and courage, I award Gryffindor house, sixty five points"
The Gryffindor table cheered as they realized they were five points ahead of Slytherin. Harry wondered why he had got five points extra and Neville so far hadn't been awarded any points for his courage. Harry suddenly remembered that Neville didn't have to stand up to Hermione, Ron and Neville this time around as he had been with them most of the time. Harry supposed Dumbledore had awarded Harry the extra five points to make sure that Gryffindor still won the house cup. Dumbledore called for silence ready to speak again.
"And finally, to Mr. Neville Longbottom, for the support he was able to give his friends when they needed it. I award Gryffindor house five points" Dumbledore finished.
"Which means" Dumbledore called over the noise coming from all the house tables except Slytherin. The three tables knew this meant that Slytherin had lost the house cup. "A change in decoration is in order" He finished.
Dumbledore clapped his hands and the green and silver hangings vanished and were replaced by the scarlet and gold hanging of Gryffindor. The huge serpent was replaced by the Gryffindor lion.
Their exam results arrived that evening. The four friends passed with good marks. Harry's marks matched that of Hermione's, Ron and Neville's marks were better than they had been in his other life.
Their wardrobes were also emptied ready for the return home. Harry was looking forward to spending his time with Sirius and annoying the Dursley's. He knew his uncle would lock Harry's belongings in the cupboard as soon as Harry arrived back at Privet drive.
Harry knew his uncle would be in for a surprise when he opened the cupboard door to reveal the magically expanded room Harry had created using wandless magic.
Hagrid took the students back across the lake back to the platform. They boarded the train and watched as it pulled out of the station. Once the train was moving people removed their wizarding robes and replaced them with jackets and coats.
Sirius met them on the train and greeted the four friends as they entered the compartment.
"You should come and stay with us this summer Harry" Ron insisted "all of us, I'll send you an owl" He added.
"I might not receive the letters, I'll get rid of the little problem the first chance I get" Harry explained.
"The house elf, yeah, if we don't hear from you in two weeks we will be coming for you" Ron explained.
"At least you won't have to get the bars off my window this time, I'll remove them as soon as Uncle Walrus has them fitted" Harry explained. They all chuckled at the name he had picked for his uncle.
The train pulled up at Kings Cross station. They grabbed their luggage and exited the train. They took a while getting off the platform as there was a guard letting them go two at a time so that they don't attract the attention of any passing muggles.
People said goodbye to Harry as they passed him.
"Still famous" Ron grinned.
"Tell me about it, at least this time I had the extra knowledge" Harry replied.
He, Ron, Neville and Hermione passed through the gateway together. "Look, he's there"
It was Ginny Weasley, but she wasn't pointing at Ron.
"It's Harry Potter" She squealed jumping up and down on the spot. "Look, Mum, I can see him"
"Stop that Ginny it's rude to point" Mrs Weasley scolded.
"Busy year" She asked.
"Very busy" Harry replied "Thanks for the fudge and the sweater" He added.
"Think nothing of it Harry" She dismissed.
"Ready are you"
Harry turned to see his walrus of an uncle standing there. Aunt Petunia was standing there with Dudley who both looked petrified by the sight of Harry.
"Yes, come on Sirius" Harry replied.
"What, you are not bringing that scruffy freak with us" Uncle Vernon protested.
"Oh, it's not like you are going to have any choice, I'm a wizard remember" Harry explained.
"NO, YOU DO NOT BRING GUESTS INTO OUR HOUSE AND DON'T MENTION THE M WORD" Uncle Vernon yelled.
"Tough luck Uncle" Harry replied. When no one was looking Sirius transformed into his dog form and walked up to Harry. Harry said goodbye to the Weasley's and left the station. His uncle didn't say another word all of the way home.
'This is going to be a good summer' thought Harry as the car pulled on to Privet Drive.