Chapter 11
'TROLL! IN THE DUNGEONS! TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!' -Quirinus Quirrell, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J.
The days that followed the quidditch match saw the school study halls filled with a buzzing tension that had all the seventh years worked up. Several graduating students would be sent to Pomphrey for various stress related illness everything ranging from dizziness to full blown panic attacks. Harry was lucky in the sense that he did not feel panic towards his exams but rather an anxiousness that clawed under his skin and set his teeth on edge. Hermione was not helping. She studied with the same fervour she always did. Yet somehow it seemed far worse this year, for good reason, but it was getting on Harry's nerves. One evening when Hermione had thrown herself into a downward spiral of doubt and anxiety Harry snapped.
"HERMIONE! CALM DOWN!" Harry cried as he shook her lightly. Hermione stared at him in a slight daze. "You are the bloody smartest person in the whole of bloody England! You are not going to fail all your exams and get sent back to first year!" Hermione took a deep breath then nodded slowly. Harry huffed in relief and flopped back down into the couch with his potions textbook. Ron slowly leaned over as Hermione went back to studying.
"Thanks mate… I mean I would have said something but… you know how scary she gets…" Ron whispered with a wince.
"Brilliant, but scary." Harry repeated quietly causing Ron to laugh loudly earning a smack from his irritated bride to be that demanded absolute quiet during the study months. The silence law in the Gryffindor common room was so absolute that soon it was quieter than the library on some days. This caused an influx of Ravenclaws trying to get into Gryffindor 'for the quiet' James Potter frequently shewed a large crowd out of the common room around curfew with a snort and a shake of his head. James 's seventh year defense class members were in a panic leading up to the date that would take their practical. Blaise ZabinI had gone so far as to swallow his pride and go to Harry and ask about that secret room where he trained people during Umbridge's reign. Ron had stared gobsmacked at that. The boy was hardly turned around though. He was very civil with Harry and when Harry offered to give him some tips the boy looked at him as if he were a particularly disgusting thing on the bottom of his shoe.
"Blaise is a bit stubborn. He likes to try things by himself first before he accepts help." Draco told him one day as he studied with the trio one day "The problem is that he's also a bit prideful. I can't tell you how many times Proffessor Snape had to help him out of a problem after he refused to ask."
"Well it's his loss. I'd personally be honored to receive lessons from Harry." Hermione said. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Ya well we're not all super geniuses with inferiority complexes Granger." Draco drawled. Hermione pursed her lips and sent a silent stinging jinx at his thigh causing a yelp and much glowering at both Hermione and Ron, who laughed for the rest of the study session. By the time the first written exam came around Harry's head felt stuffed. He didn't think he'd be able to find anything his mind was so full of facts and dates and spells. So when he sat at his first written lesson, charms, and turned it over he was weary. glancing at the first question he silently read it in his head. Give the Incantation, What two classes it is taught in, The effect, and the who and when the Cushioning Charm was invented. Harry thought for moment the smirked and quickly jotted down his answer. Slowly he read over the other questions and smiled wide. They were all so easy! And so it was with his head held high that Harry exited his exam alongside his fellow students.
"That was … alright." Ron admitted in slight shock. Hermione sighed.
"I think I could have done better on the first couple questions."
"Hermione… you handed in seven rolls of parchment… what could you have done better?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow. Hermione bristled.
"Well I don't know! I just… humph." Hermione finished before she crossed her arms in irritation. Ron and Harry both laughed heartily at that before Ron gave Hermione a kiss.
"I love you." he said quietly. Hermione pursed her lips before she rolled her eyes and huffed as though she were being demanded to do some great tedious task.
"I love you too. When you're not being a prat." she allowed. Harry laughed out loud at that. That night Harry and Hermione did one last long haul study session for potions. Ron actually surprised everyone and stayed up later then the both of them to study. He stayed up so late in fact that he needed a pepperup potion. The trio went down in the great hall for the examination amongst a group of panicked students all nibbling on their fingers.
"Wait! Did I study veritaserum?! Is that on the exam you think?"
"I'm doomed! I don't have 1000 magical herbs and fungI memorized!" the chatter was making Harry nervous to the point where his hands started to shake and he started pinking at the skin around his finger nails and jerking his neck. Hermione noticed the familiar signs of his dreamless sleep cravings and held his hand.
"Harry." Hermione said drawing his eyes into hers. "Look at me. Just ignore them. Only focus on me." Harry did what she said and after a few minutes of deep breathing his hands stopped shaking.
"Thanks Hermione." Harry said quietly after a signing heavily.
"Hey any time ya need ta borrow my wife mate it's fine." Ron quipped. Hermione smacked him on the arm for the remark which helped Harry forget the incident altogether. As the doors to the room finally opened the group was introduced to two very different examiners. One was a man bent so far over his staff his was folded nearly double. His lined face was so wrinkled and layered that one was unable to tell what emotion he felt. The other was a woman who looked as though her spine had been replaced by an extremely uncomfortable metal pole which caused a particularly dark glower permanently presiding over her face. The group stared at the pair wearily until the man cleared his throat gravely and spoke.
"Please proceed to the named desks." he said with a high squeaky voice not unlike flitwick. Several particularly nervous Hufflepuffs choked on a laugh before moving arround. Soon each student was sitting at an elongated desk. As they sat down a cauldron and several utensils appeared.
"You will follow the instructions on the exam to the letter." the woman said with a haughty high pitched voice that reminded Harry horrifyingly of a strange mix between Umbridge and McGonagall. "There will be a written portion followed by a practical exercise where we will evaluate your brewing… abilities." the woman said snidely. The man clears his throat again and spoke.
"Begin!" he said before he lifted and slammed his staff on the ground and a large hour glass appeared at his side. With that Harry turned over his test and began. The questions were fairly challenging and Harry was stumped for a few seconds before he finally figured the answer. After he finished the written he moved onto the practical.
Prepare the ingredients and Brew Dreamless Sleep.
Harry choked and dropped his knife with a clatter. Everyone in the room froze and the woman walked over with a sneer.
"Is something the matter Mr. Potter?"
"I… can't brew this madame…" Harry said with a slight quiver in his voice. The woman scoffed.
"Contrary to popular belief Mr. Potter. Celebrity does not exempt you from the rules."
"Its for medical reasons." Harry tried.
"Are you allergic to any of the ingredients?" the woman asked with a sneer as if she already knew the answer.
"No but-"
"Well then if you simply don't want to brew the potion because you 'don't feel like it' I'll have no choice but to-"
"SELWYN!" the man suddenly boomed out startling several students. His voice had taken on a dark tone so contrasting from his usual voice that it caused several students to make drastic errors. "Potter looks visibly ill! He is most obviously unable to brew the requested potion! Do not argue and disturb the examination simply give him another!" he growled. The woman drew her wand with a sneer. Just as she was about to wave her wand the man added. "One that is covered in the curriculum!" the woman growled then waved her wand.
Prepare the ingredients and Brew Elixir to Induce Euphoria
Harry heaved a great sigh of relief and picked up and disinfected his knife and began chopping his vervain roots and bloodroot stems as the woman strutted away looking cross. He proceeded through the potion remembering all that he had memorized the night before. Finally he finished and bottled his potion before presenting it to the man. He picked it up swished it around then inspected it in the light. Suddenly the wrinkles in his face suddenly shifted into what Harry realized was a smile.
"Excellent Mr. Potter. Like mother like son." he said happily in his returned high squeaky voice. "Thank you sir." Harry said quietly before he bowed and made his way out of the room conscious of the woman glaring at him all the way. He waited outside until Hermione joined him in a few moments. He gave Harry a big hug.
"That woman was just awful!" she cried only loud enough that the people inside the room, by extension 'that woman' would not hear. Ron joined them with everyone else and together the trio moved outside.
"Did you hear what he called her. Selwyn. That's the name of one of the death eaters that attacked us at Lovegood's. I bet you anything she feeling bitter and petty." Ron said with gritted teeth. Harry waved his hands.
"It's over now. And that old guy liked my work so it's all fine." Harry paused at the portrait door. 'I'm actually gonna go stay with mum and dad tonight…" Harry muttered. Hermione smiled.
"It's fine Harry."Hermione said "goodnight."
"Night mate." Ron said before the two entered the common room. Harry turned for his parents quarters.
"Staghorn." he said quietly. The stag and doe on the portrait both tossed and shook their heads and the door opened. Harry stepped in and was suddenly drawn into a hug.
"Selwyn is a wretched vile woman worse than her brother." Severus muttered darkly. Harry made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a cough.
"Thanks mum." he said muffled into his mother's chest. Severus pushed him out and held him at arm's length
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Geez. you've turned into a mother hen." Harry said with a roll of his eyes. Severus sneered in distaste. Suddenly the portrait opened to admit James. He looked crosse.
"Why is Anastasia Selwyn strutting around like a pompous parrot?"
"She was the chosen master for the examination." Severus said. James made a disgusted noise.
"I love you Severus, but your colleagues are terrible." with that Harry and Severus laughed. The family enjoyed a meal together for the first time in a while. Harry stopped as he entered his room and turned back.
"Goodnight." he called.
"Night." James called back.
"Goodnight Harry." Severus repeated for them. Harry felt an emotion bubble up inside him and went to be with a large smile. The next day him, Ron, and Hermione sat together outside by their favourite tree.
"So how did you exam go?" Draco asked as he walked up while Ron and Harry had one last practice for the big defense practical.
"Which exam?" Harry asked as if he had no idea what Draco was speaking of.
"Oh I don't know… arithmancy… POTIONS YOU PRAT!" Draco shouted giving Harry a shove. Harry laughed before he shrugged.
"I don't know my grade, mum wouldn't tell me." Harry said as he and Ron lowered their wands.
"What did he say when you asked?" Draco asked as the trio lounged on the grass.
"He told me to get studying." Harry said as he lay down.
"Was he upset?" Draco asked
"I don't know. Its mum. The man has a tighter hold on his emotions then a nun's-" Harry began.
"Finish that sentence and I will smack you." Hermione said from her spot by the tree. Harry blushed and Draco winced and ghosted a hand over his face in remembrance.
"Anyways he looked the same as ever." Harry said shaking his head. With that Draco shrugged and opened his potions text book.
"Why are you studying that?" Ron asked with a distasteful grimace. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Because unlike you I have to get my mastery, which means I'll be taking potions for another year in a college" Draco said with a haughty turn of his chin. Ron gagged causing Hermione to punch him. Harry smiled slightly as he let the chatter and wind rush over him.
"I'm gonna miss this." Harry muttered out of the blue. Hermione and Ron looked at him and smiled a bit sadly.
"Yeah… me too." Ron admitted as he leaned back and looked up at the sky.
"You remember when we all had to do detention together?" Draco murmured contemplatively.
"How could I forget. You were a spotty little git." Ron groused. Draco chuckled sheepishly.
"Yeah I was… and a coward too…" Draco said quietly.
"Remember that time Hermione got turned into a cat." Harry murmured.
"Harry!" Hermione cried with a deep blush. But Draco heard it and smirked.
"How did that happen?" he asked. Hermione glared at him even with her pink cheeks.
"That was the year we thought you were the heir of Slytherin…" Harry murmured contemplatively. Draco balked.
"No thank you. I rather like my nose, and do you know how much I spend to keep my hair in this shape." Draco cried. The three Gryffindors howled with laughter as Draco began to preen like some over stuffed peacock. Harry smiled and let the casual air calm him. He held onto that calm as the week followed leading up to the defence exam. Harry was still nervous as hell as time passed until the exam was the very next day. Draco agreed to one last practice session. And so after about an hour of training Draco cracked his neck and rubbed his sore muscles with a wince.
"Okay… you ready… in fact watching you is kinda scary. Like a horrifying age defying mirror into the past."
"Thanks Draco, that makes me feel loads better." Harry muttered from his spot in a chair in the back corner.
"Hey I'm not saying you're like that when you duel regularly… it just… nevermind I'm not good at talking to guys." Draco muttered. Harry snorted and burst into laughter at that. "Shut up Potter." Draco growled.
"Make me Malfoy." Harry parried back but it was void of malice. Draco smirked a bit and together he and Harry exited the room they were training in with Draco draping an arm over Harry.
"You know. I almost envy those guys in Defence. I also would love to see the look on your friends face." Draco admitted with a dark chuckle. Harry punched him in the arm slightly. "I'm kidding… you'll be great." Draco said with a smile. Harry heave a sigh.
"I hope you're right." the very next day the defence class was piled onto the day bus again. Harry stood tapping his foot with pent of agitation the entire ride. Luna placed a hand on his arm comfortingly.
"You'll be fine Harry." she said quietly with such sureness that Harry didn't doubt her at all. Soon they were walking to the auror training room and James addressed his class.
"Time to see if you studied." James said with a smile looking all his students up and down. One by one the students went into the room each facing a dummy representation of their chosen dark wizard. Seamus and Dean where each bested by Merwyn the Malicious and Emeric the evil respectively. Hannah was just barely defeated by Yardley Platt. Ronald just barely managed to fight off Godelot. Blaise was bested in a humiliating single cure for his Herpo the foul dummy. PavartI and Susan both appeared to have their dummy's on the ropes when they slipped up and were taken down. Hermione defeated her ethelred the ever-ready dummy with the same ferocity and logic she attacked he studies earning her a win. Parvati's loss was soon forgotten after Ginny's astounding defeat of Morgan Le Fay. That was similarly forgotten after Luna absolutely furious attack on her Grindelwald dummy. The thing was left in pieces after she was done. Harry watched her come in with slightly bulging eyes and gobsmacked face. James snickered a bit at his son's lovestruck face before he tapped his shoulder. Harry jumped and looked at him before he nodded.
"Alright I'm sure you were all waiting for this." James cried gaining his classes detention. "It's time for Harry to show us what he's made of." Harry meanwhile was waiting for the door to open. When it did he took a deep breath before he stretched his neck. Suddenly his entire posture changed. He was standing taller. His muscle were loose. Hermione frowned when she noticed that Harry was loosely holding his wand in his left hand. The class watched in confusion as Harry seemed to float into the centre of the room as opposed to walk. James on the other hand paled and straed at his son like he was seeing a ghost. Harry stopped in the center of the room and seemed to wait. There was a palpable silence in the room so thick you could hear a pin drop in the offices down the hall. Suddenly with no apparent reason Harry raised his wand in a whipping motion before three a blast of red energy at the ground. As it blasted out twelve auror appeared circling him and were blasted off their feet before they could even think of a curse. Harry fluidly moved as he savagely tore into the aurors that followed their comrades. Soon he was fighting four at once. And he was winning. Two more were blasted of his feet before suddenly rose his wand. Suddenly the air was filled with water that was soon turned into sharp icicles that zoomed towards opponents that were approaching from the rear. The cried out as they fell back and the icicles stilled less than an inch from their faces. With another whip of his wand the two aurors that he was fighting were suddenly chained to the wall. Soon Harry was surrounded by six more aurors. Harry watched them all as they seemed to hesitate. As they stood a smiled curled onto his lips and with a single whip of his wand each auror was knocked off their feet and bound by invisible ropes. For a second there was silence before Harry loosened up his stance again and looked around.
"Erm… is there anybody in need of medical help?" he offered wearily. There was a resounding groan as all the people he had blasted off their feet at the beginning of the test raised their hands. "Oh come on, you're just feeling apparition sickness, take a stomach soother, is there anybody with broken extremities?"
"I think you broke my everthing Potter!" one of the aurors on the ground complained. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Stop complaining." he grumbled as he released all the aurors that were bound. He waved his wand the icicles disappeared into water vapor and the aurors gasped for breath. With that he turned and looked at his classmates. Harry swallowed when he saw their faces. They looked afraid. Even his father was staring at him like he was seeing him for the first time. Harry stood for a second, unsure and frightened when suddenly clapping sounded from the class. Harry looked and saw Luna smiling at him the same way she always did and his heart filled with joy. Slowly Hermione and Ron began to clap as well and slowly but surely everyone but Blaise and Theodore was clapping. Even his father. Harry walked over to then and James patted his back.
"I have to admit I was not expecting that." James whispered in his ear. Harry winced and looked at him but the fear he had seen on his father's face before was gone. Harry shuffled over to the sidelines then as James called on the last student.
"Theodore Nott! You're up next. Raczidian is waiting" James said smiling at the tall slytherin. Theodore scoffed and strutted into the testing room lie he owned the place. Harry watched the dummy came towards Theodore and smirked preparing to see the man get his just deserts when suddenly his face fell. The students took steps back as the glass began to freeze over.
"Dad… you didn't." Harry said worriedly. James swore worriedly and flung the door out open.
"Out! All of you out! God damn it I told them not to use real ones!" James cried before he drew his wand and ran into the room after Theodore. Harry watched and looked at the fleeing students.
"Harry!" Hermione cried. Harry groaned before he pulled out his wand and rushed in after his father.
"Harry!" Ron cried as he and Hermione ran after him. Luna followed close behind them. Harry skidded to a halt beside his dad as a proud buck danced around the room. Suddenly an otter drifted past him
"Harry!" James cried. "Get Theodore out of here!"
"We got him." Ron cried as his dog chased another dementor around the room. Luna was beside Harry as he rose up his wand.
"Expecto patronum!" the two cried together. There was a burst of bright light that made James' own patronus vanish as two bright objects hurled from the pairs wand and began to jump around the room. After the cold and the dementors disappeared the two being returned to their masters and hopped around them a bit. Harry stared as his patronus stopped in front of him as always like a loyal pet to its master. The march hare's ears turned to him before Luna's own hare nuzzled his and they both disappeared. James released a breath he didn't realize he was holding in a gust. Harry looked over at Luna and smiled at her as she smiled back. Harry looked over at James as James cleared his throat.
"I thought I told you to get out." Harry opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted when a junior auror rushed in.
"I'm so sorry sir! One of the senior aurors' lost a daughter to Nott senior at the Battle of Hogwarts. He was just detained. The boy was sent to St. Mungo's. His mother was contacted I believe."
"I'd like to speak with the head auror. That was a serious offense that left several of my students in serious risk!" James said furiously. James turned to Harry.
"If you and Luna could corral all the students and get them back to hogwarts. Tell your mother I'll be home later." James said before he patted his son's shoulder. Harry nodded and took Luna's hand as they orchestrated everyone back to hogwarts. Once back and after he got his mother Harry pulled Ron and Hermione aside.
"I… I have something to tell you...it's… it's about my patronus." Harry said quietly.
"What about it?" Ron asked.
"It changed." Harry said quietly. Hermione nodded slightly while Ron's eyebrows rose up to his hair.
"Wait patronuses can change?" he asked. Hermione scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"Honestly Ron! Have you ever opened a book? Patronuses change after a moment of great emotional change. It makes sense that your patronus would change. So much has happened within the last year. What is it?" Hermione asked. Harry swallowed.
"A march hare." Harry said.
"Symbol of rebirth and freedom. It makes sense." Hermione said.
"Hang on… isn't Luna's patronus a march hare or whatever too?" Ron asked. Harry nodded.
"You see… mum and dad have matching patronus'. Mums is a white tailed doe and dads is a stag. Dad said that because they have matching patronus' it means…" Harry trailed off.
"It means what?" Hermione pressed. Harry swallowed.
"It means their soul mates." Harry said. Hermione rose an eyebrow.
"Well yeah." Ron said. Harry and Hermione looked at him. "Everyone knows that. It's really rare for someone to have matching patronus', like… once in a generation kind of rare. Heck even Fred and George have different patronus'! Actually… Mum and dad have matching patronus'." Ron admitted.
"They do? What are they?" Hermione asked. Ron blushed.
"A male and female weasel." Ron admitted. Hermione and Harry tried to hold back their snorts and giggles. "Shut up." Ron hissed in annoyance.
"It's alright mate." Harry said after he got himself under control. "We won't tell Draco." that set Hermione off and Harry followed as Ron looked between the two looking very disgruntled
"You two are awful friends." Ron muttered. That just made Hermione and Harry laugh harder. After the defense exam there was a week long lull before marks came out. The trio were both waiting in anticipation before James walked up to the three of them with their marks. He looked very grave and Hermione clutched onto Ron's arm desperately. James silently handed each scroll to Ron and Hermione before he turned to Harry.
"I'm afraid." he began. Harry felt his stomach plummet. Had he not tried hard enough? Had he failed everything? Where they going to make him take hogwarts all over again? How would he be able to look his mother in the eye after he had disappointed him like that? All these thought swirled around his head as he looked up and stared stupidly up at his father who was now smiling wide and holding out his marks. Harry took it numbly and opened it. He stared at the page for a second.
"I passed everything." he said blandly. Suddenly what he said connected to his brain and clutched the paper and read it over a few more times and burst into laughter. "I passed everything! I got an O in potions! AN O! Where's mum?!" Harry cried before he got up and dashed out of the hall. He passed Luna and picked her up swung her over his head and planted a lingering kiss on her lips before he dashed towards the dungeons. Ginny laughed at Luna's shocked face as the blond stared after his looked confused. Harry dashed down the steps to the dungeon and looked around before he spotted his mother locking up his office. "MUM!" Harry cried before he ran to Severus. The man grunted as suddenly his son had his arms wrapped around him in a tight hug.
"Harry. What is it?"
"I got an O in positions!" Harry said smiling up at his mother. Severus blinked before he smiled and held out his hand for the list of marks. Harry handed it to him and he read it over.
"O in defense, unsurprising, O in potions, E in transfiguration, O in charms, E in herbology… I daresay you've done it…" Severus looked at him and felt something well up inside him.
"Why did you grow so quickly." he whispered in his head. Harry's smile fell slightly and Severus berated himself for speaking his mind. Harry looked at him with a slight nostalgic smile.
"I still remember the first time I met you… and you started going on about aconit and powdered root of wormwood and infusion of whatever-"
"Powdered root of asphodel and an infusion of wormwood." Severus corrected briskly. Harry snorted.
"Yeah, that… I geuss… I guess I never really learned that." Harry muttered. Severus smiled slightly.
"You didn't have to. I was being unfair on purpose so that I would alienate you." Severus said his face falling near the end.
"I know." Harry said quietly. Severus pulled his son in for a hug.
"I would never do that now, ever." Severus said strongly.
"I know." Harry said quietly. The pair stood there like that for a long time. Uncaring who saw, and remained that way until James came and found them. The days that followed Harry spent much of his time outside appreciating the view.
"This is it." Hermione said coming up beside him. "Leaving home."
"Yeah." Harry said quietly as he looked out across the lake. And he thought of everything that had happened on these grounds.
"I lost my virginity here." Ron said suddenly.
"Ron!" Hermione cried as she hit his arm. "Really?! Now is not the time!"
"What!? It's true!" Ron said. Harry laughed and pulled Hermione into a hug and Ron to his side.
"Promise that even though we're leaving this" Harry said gesturing to the view "doesn't stop." Ron shook his head.
"Naw mate." Ron said patting his back roughly. "You're stuck with us. You were stuck with from the moment that troll hit the floor of the girls bathroom." Harry smiled as he looked out towards the view again.
The very next day Hermione paced back and forth muttering under her breath.
"Come on Hermione. The speech is perfect." Ron insisted. Hermione sighed heavily and continued pacing.
"Hey." Harry cried as he grabbed Hermione's shoulders. "You're gonna be fine." he said. Hermione looked at him a few seconds before she took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yes… yes you're right… i'm over reacting… I can do this… I can do this." Hermione said.
"It's just a speech. You'll be fine." Harry insisted. Hermione nodded, much more confident than before. And so ten minutes later Harry sat with all his other fellow seventh and eighth years and watched as Hermione slowly stood up to the podium. She swallowed took and deep breath and began.
"If I were to use one word to describe my years at Hogwarts? Magical. I know to some that sounds naive and more than a little childish but everyday we do things here that as a child I had only dreamed of. everyday I learn new wonderful things that I would have no hope of learning if I never knew. I have so many to thank for where we are today. my first friends, Harry, Ron, who've been with me since that disastrous Halloween." there was a collective chuckle from the professors and eighth years who remembered the event "new friends that came after, Neville, Seamus, Dean, Ginny, Luna… Dumbledore's Army." Hermione looked out in the and smiled at those she had mentioned. "And friends that I have now that I am shocked to have, for they were once my enemies, Draco." she left a lingering look on the blond who swallowed and smiled up at her. Hermione swallowed and continued "When you're at Hogwarts, your house is like your family. a very wise woman once told me that, but I'd like to amend that statement ever so slightly. when you are at Hogwarts, everyone is your family. Together we laugh, we cry, we fight, but we stay strong. I think I speak for everyone when I say that Hogwarts will always be home. to some it is a true home, one they never got to have before coming here. To others it's a home away from home. but no matter who you are or where you came from Hogwarts will always hold a place in your heart. And so I leave this podium with four well said words: 'Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus'" Hermione finished. There was a roar as the crowd stood and cheered as she descended from the stand shaking hands with a slightly teary eyed proud faced McGonagall. The headmistress rose to the podium and smiled down at them.
"Well I daresay Mr. Potter we'll be glad to see you go, perhaps we'll be able to keep a defense professor for more than a single year." there was a resounding laugh as even Harry chuckled a bit. Mcgonagall cleared her throat and continued. "All joking aside I am quite proud of all of you. You have proven yourselves to be ready minded and capable so I have no shame in presenting the graduating class of 1998!" Mcgonagall finished before she shot four fireworks from her wand of red, green, blue, and yellow. With a great cheer the student rose to their feet and threw their hats in the air. And so Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood at the gates of Hogwarts. Neville came up behind them and smiled. Dean came next with Ginny on his arm. Seamus was beside them. Luna came and entwined her hand in Harry's. Harry smiled at her and looked out towards the road and life beyond and took a single step.
~Finite Incantatem~
A/N: I really have a problem.
But you made it.
Past all the pitfalls and tripwires!
To the very end!
More than a years of work and 70k+ words and its final over!
I'd like to thank my friend and family for putting up with my shenanigans and 'wait just one moment I'm almost done this chapter!'s
I'd like to thank my editor and good friend Books who put up with all my grammar and spelling mistake and endless 'it'll be out next week' and 'maybe the week after' and 'it'll get done!... eventually…'
I'd like to thank J. and the wonderful cast of the Harry Potter franchise for bringing my favourite childhood character to life and allowing me to play with them to my wicked sadistic little heart's content.
And last but certainly not least I'd like to thank all of you. I know the wait has been agonizing.
As for what's next…
I think i'm gonna focus on finishing some of my Gravity Falls and My Little Pony stuff before I put out anymore Harry Potter content. I'm sorry for all my HP exclusive fans.
now , One last time:
PiffyEQ: sadly this is the last update. I hope you enjoyed the true conclusion.
Faery66: I'm sorry for such a long wait. The sheer length of this work makes it hard to write all in one sitting. I hope the real ending it to your liking
Angelallie15: I hope you were too upset… who am I kidding, you were furious, you all were. As you can see Harry does have a strong support system and he will continue to grow on to a bright future. Thank you for reading my fic and I hope you enjoy any future works I come out with. And I promise. I wont troll… much.
dreamyeyes14: thank you so very much. I like you am a huge snames fan! I was frustrated by how little there is of this ship on the internet. I thank you for reviewing. I really does provide me with all of my essential vitamins and minerals. I hope you will continue to enjoy any further works I put out.
Girl-luvs-manga: it is isn't it. Thank you again for reviewing. It really helps motivate me.
Lady necromancer: first off I'd like to say thank you to you personally for following this fic through to the end and not being scared off by the long wait. Its fans like you that encourage us authors to continue. I wish all online readers were like you. I hope you are satisfied with this conclusion and I hope you will continue to enjoy my works in the near and far future.
Any reviews I get for the april fools chapter will be replied to via pm.
I apologize for my evil muse. She likes to torment people. Though most especially me.
Anyways, With that over, I say one last thank to all of you out there who come after.
Keep on reading.
Until next time ;),
-TheTransfiguredCanary
This Fic is Dedicated to
Alan Rickman
1946-2016
Keep the Magic Alive
Always
