"Nash! Ron, you're awake!" Hermione cried walking through the door. "Oh, Harry, he - he went on with out me. There was a knocked out mountain troll - it was even bigger than the last one, and we got to Snape's defence - it was a logic potion thing and there was only enough potion for one of us. Harry made me go back!" She sobbed.
I hugged her and said "He'll be fine, he is the Chosen One after all." I joked. "Come on, help me get Ron to sit up."
We pushed him up into a sitting position.
"We need to send an Owl to Dumbledore - Harry said-"
I cut her off "Hermione, come on, we need to get Ron up so we can go." I understood what we had to do.
We hung Ron's arms around our shoulders and struggled to the other side of the room. I wrenched open the door and fetched three brooms.
"Do you think you can fly, or will you have to share."
He tried to stand up but he looked like he had been hit by a Jelly-legs curse and fell to the floor and groaned.
We hurried over to help him up and he leant on a wall.
"Er - Hermione, how do I put this... you are not the best flier... I think Ron should go with me..."
She hung her head and agreed. I knew she didn't like flying and was already nervous.
I mounted my broom and Hermione pushed Ron onto the back of it. She anxiously mounted her broom and we kicked off. My broom was a bit slower than Hermione's, with two people on it.
We zoomed through the tunnel and past the still quivering Devil's Snare with the fire, still lit.
We went up the trapdoor, Ron holding on for dear life in the vertical climb and Hermione squealing as she zoomed ahead.
Fluffy aimed a few chomps in our direction before we entered the third-floor corridor.
We dragged Ron to the Entrance Hall, where Dumbledore was - he already knew - he just said 'He's gone after him, hasn't he? Before hurtling off the the third floor after Harry.
"We should take Ron to the Hospital Wing, Dumbledore's enough." I said.
She nodded as Ron groaned. I felt much better knowing that our Headmaster was going after Harry.
Three days later the school was buzzing with Harry's fight against You-Know-Who. I had sent him a very large box of Zonko products. Different theories and rumours were going around, during one of Theo's theories at breakfast I received an owl telling me that Harry had revived from Professor Dumbledore.
I glanced at Ron and Hermione, who had also been given a message. I sprinted to the Hospital Wing - as Hermione and Ron did the same - leaving my breakfast there and Theo still talking.
Madam Pomfrey opened the door and we begged her to let us come in.
She closed the door and walked away. A couple of minutes passed before she came back and said we could visit Harry, but for five minutes only.
"Harry!" We all cried. I am sure Hermione was ready to fling her arms around the boy in the bed but she restrained herself.
She burst "Oh, Harry, we were so sure you were going to - Dumbledore was so worried-"
"The whole school's talking about it." I cut in.
Ron voiced our question "What really happened?"
The true story was even stranger and more exciting that Theo's theories. Harry told us about Quirrell. I said multiple times "I told you so." He told us about the Mirror of Erised, the Philosopher's Stone and You-Know-Who.
He said that name many times during his explanation, causing me to wince many times.
Hermione screamed at what was under Quirrell's turban - the back of his head was You-Know-Who's face.
I said finally "So the Stone's gone? Flamel's just going to die?"
Harry replied "That's what I said,but Dumbledore thinks that - what was it? - 'To the well-organised mine, death is but the next great adventure.'"
"My family has always said he was off his rocker." I smirked.
"So what happened to you three?" He asked.
"Well, I brought Ron round - that took long enough - and we were going up to the Owlery, but met Dumbledore in the Entrance Hall. He just said 'Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?' Then he hurtled off the the third floor." I said.
Ron said "D'you think he meant you to do it? Sending you your father's Cloak and everything?"
Hermione exploded "Well, if he did - I mean to say - that's terrible - you could have been killed."
I shook my head thoughtfully. Harry said "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 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-" I shivered "if I could..."
Ron said proudly "Yeah, Dumbledore's barking, 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 -" He rolled his eyes at me silently cheering. "- you missed the last Quidditch match, we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you - but the food'll be good."
Madam Pomfrey bustled over as I stuck my tongue out at Ron and Hermione.
"You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT." She said firmly.
I stuck my tongue out at Harry as we left too.
We visited Hagrid that evening to tell him that Harry had revived - but Professor Dumbledore had already told him. He wouldn't let us in the hut because he was working on a gift for Harry. I spotted a book on the table before he shut the door.
"I just hope that Hagrid's idea of a gift isn't an illegal creature..." Hermione muttered.
I murmured in agreement.
A/N I have changed the house cup numbers because different things happened, yes, I know, they seem rather unbelievable. Sorry for the perfectionists out there. I am feeling your pain.
"I keep telling you Theo, Potter must be trained in Defence Against the Dark Arts." Blaise said.
"No, he has a supply of Felix -" Theo fell silent as the Great Hall doors opened to see Harry before bursting out "Look not a scratch on him!"
"He has been out cold for three days, under the eye of Pomfrey." Blaise argued.
I stared at the Great Hall decked in Slytherin colours of green and silver. A huge Slytherin banner hung behind the High Table.
Dumbledore arrived a few moments later and the babble died away.
He said "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 a little fuller than they were... you have the while summer ahead to get by 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 sixty-two points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and eighty-two ; Ravenclaw have four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."
A storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the table. Draco banged his goblet on the table as I burst in to chanting with Tracy and Daphne shouting "Sly-ther-in! Sly-ther-in! SLY-THER-IN!"
Dumbledore continued "Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin. However recent events must be taken into account."
My smile faltered and the room went very still.
He said "Ahem, 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."
Gryffindors cheered, from the Prefect table I heard Percy - Ron's oldest brother at Hogwarts - saying "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!" Gryffindor were now third.
At last there was silence.
"Second - to Miss Hermione Granger... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Gryffindor was second.
"Third - to Miss Nash Malfoy..." My eyes widened. "For the greatest healing skills a first year has performed, according to Madam Pomfrey. I award Slytherin House fifty points."
I laughed as Daphne patted me on the back and Tracy said jokingly "Show-off."
"Next - to Mr Harry Potter..." The room went quiet. "... for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."
The din was deafening. Those who could add up from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor were yelling. Gryffindor had five hundred and twenty-two points - the exact same as Slytherin once you added my new points. I think we all knew where this was going. Oh, Dumbledore and his favourites. Said man raised his hand and the room fell silent.
He said smiling. "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. I therefore award thirty points to Mr Neville Longbottom."
A sort of explosion erupted from the Gryffindor table. I tried to stand up and cheer with three quarters of the Hall before Draco yanked me down into my seat.
My new position on the bench didn't stop me shouting at the top of my voice "WELL DONE, NEV! WELL DONE!"
Draco looked like the victim of a body-bind curse when I shouted.
Dumbledore called over the storm of applause "Which means, we need a little change of decoration."
He clapped his hands and in an instant my house's colours turned to red and gold. The snake turned into a lion.
I saw Sev sourly shaking McGonagall's hand with a forced smile.
I didn't feel any sadness about the cup being snatched from our mitts, Gryffindor deserved every last point.
The exam results came out, much anticipated by Hermione and I. She and I added up our overall scores and got the exact same mark, we also came top of the year.
Suddenly our wardrobes were empty and our trunks packed. Nev found Trevor in the toilets and a note warning us not to use magic over the holidays was scrunched up and binned by Draco and I, and most pureblood students.
Hagrid took us down to the fleet of boats that sailed across the lake; I boarded the Hogwarts express with Hermione; talking and laughing with Harry and Ron as the countryside became greener and tidier; eating Drooble gum and everything else as we sped past Muggle towns; taking off our uniform and putting on coats and jackets; pulling into Platform nine and three quarters at King's Cross Station.
It took a while to get off the platform in the massive crowds. I wizened old guard was by the ticket barrier, letting us go through the ticket barrier slowly so we didn't alarm Muggles by all bursting out of a solid wall at once.
"You must come and stay this summer, all of you - I'll send you an owl." Ron said.
I tried to spot Draco or Father and Mother through the thick crowds. I saw my Mother standing next to Draco and his belongings.
"Guys, I've got to go. Owl me, I'll reply. Have a great summer!" I called running over to Mother and hugging her tightly.
"Let's go." Mother said and Draco and I pushed our trolleys behind her.
A/N I hope you enjoyed the story, last few chapters were HELL. NEVER TYPE ON TABLETS! Please review, it will make my aching fingers, sleepless nights and frustration worth it.
Sequel is going to be called Honourary Gryffindor. Which is taking a while to start.
Hipsterpotamus over & out x