Eren woke up in a bed in the hospital wing. He blinked a few times, eyelids heavy with sleep; He didn't know how much.
Someone with blond hair stood next to his bed.
"Reiner…" he muttered.
The person came into focus. It was Professor Smith.
"Hello, Eren."
"What – what's going on? Mom…" Eren managed.
"Eren. I'm afraid to tell you your mother is dead. She was eaten by a giant. Hannes was unable to save her. I'm sorry," said Professor Smith.
Tears dripped down Eren's face onto his pillow. "Armin?"
"Your friend Armin, on the other hand, is alive and well. He was the one who sent for help after you got separated. He doesn't believe me, but in doing so, he saved your life as well as Mikasa's. I'll send your friends in to visit once I leave."
This cheered Eren up a bit, but it didn't make up for his mother's death. "I want to kill all the giants!" Eren's voice was hoarse with anger and grief, but his eyes sparked with determination.
"To the well organized mind, death is the next great adventure," said Professor Smith.
"What?" Eren was confused. Death was the end. No more. "But the giants…"
"The giants are advancing closer and closer to human land, both muggle and wizard, as we speak. They haven't come this close in over a hundred years. Maybe you will be the one to finally stop them," Professor Smith said the last bit like he didn't believe it. "Do you have any other questions?"
Eren shook his head.
"Then I'll send in your friends; they've been yearning to see you for the past 24 hours. The end of year banquet is tonight; you're welcome to come if you like."
As Professor Smith walked out the door, Armin and Mikasa hurtled through it, nearly knocking him over. They both threw themselves on top of Eren.
"Ow…" he hugged them back. "How long was I out?"
"Just a couple days," said Reiner from behind Mikasa.
"You didn't miss anything," said Thomas from behind Armin.
Mikasa and Armin let go of Eren.
"I heard you were the one who saved me and Mikasa back there," said Eren to Armin.
Armin reddened. "I didn't do anything. I just found an owl and wrote a note and sent it to Hogwarts."
"How did you get away?"
"I ran. Like you told me to. I ran as fast as I could until I was so tired I could barely walk. Then I saw an owl sitting on someone's garden fence and picked it up and wrote a note inside."
"Reiner, why were you there?" asked Eren.
"I wasn't there," said Reiner, a little too quickly. "You must have been seeing things."
"What about you, Bertholdt, Annie?"
They shook their heads.
At the feast, the Great Hall was hung in green and silver banners.
Professor Erwin Smith stood up from his seat at the head of the staff table.
"And here ends another year at Hogwarts. It seems Slytherin has won the house cup again, even with Gryffindor's victory in the quidditch pitch yesterday. But before it's too late, I'd like to add a few last minute house points.
"To Mikasa Ackerman, for her courage and quick-thinking – without which several students wouldn't be here – 100 points to Gryffindor.
"To Eren Jaeger, for his refusal to leave his friend, even in the face of grave danger, 50 points to Gryffindor. Courage and loyalty are attributes of a true Gryffindor.
"To Armin Arlert, for knowing when to call for help, and, in doing so, saving many more people than just his friends. 150 points to Ravenclaw."
The crowd cheered, happy to hear that Slytherin had been defeated at the last minute. Eren looked over to see Jean staring glumly down at his empty plate.
"This makes Gryffindor five points ahead of Slytherin. I think this calls for a change of decoration!" he waved his wand. The green and sliver banners changed to gold and scarlet.
Food appeared on their plates. People Eren didn't even know were congratulating his and Mikasa on their last-minute house points. He went to bed that night very full and happy.
In the morning, he threw a few things in his trunk and packed it up. Professor Smith had set Eren, Armin, and Mikasa up in an orphanage in London to spend their summers until they graduated. The place didn't look so bad, but they would have to hide their magic books and study at night. Professor Smith said that in August, he would send someone to take them to Diagon Alley.
As he got off the train, and said his goodbyes to all his friends, he noticed a man in a suit waiting for them next to a black car that looked like it could use a few repairs.
"Are you Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert, and Eren Jaeger?" he asked, not unfriendly, but somehow menacing.
They nodded. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as it seemed.