A/N forgot I ended it here! So, this is the last chapter of fifth year! Thank you to everyone who has stuck by me throughout this book and others and a massive thanks for all the reviewers, especially: BigBadWolfTardis, Mahli95, 01, Iris Stardust, Sarah2437, Son of Whitebeard, bekkivobekki, WiseWitch21888, Panther Hardraad, santosedanicaa, BlueGreen216, xenocanaan, SparklingCianyde and all the Guests as well! You've made me want to update more so thank you very much. As I have finished the Sixth book I shall upload the first chapter ASAP, and it's very exciting, so I hope you enjoy the next book. Thank you very much, and I hope you enjoy this last chapter! Don't forget to review! xxxx
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The Second War Begins
When Amara awoke from her dark stupor, the first thing she noticed was that she was lying on a comfortable bed, with blankets tucked in around her and a soft pillow under her head.
The second thing she realised that everywhere really hurt. Her head was pounding as though extremely loud music was playing directly into her ear and her whole left arm was immobilised.
She groaned but stopped as it hurt her head too. She opened her eyes blearily and raised her right hand to clutch her pounding head.
"Oh good, you're awake," said a voice from the right.
The person who had spoken came into her vision, and she saw it was Madam Pomfrey, looking slightly worried and cross at the same time, pointing her wand at a variety of bottles floating in the air beside her.
"Madam Pomfrey?" Amara croaked. "But –"
"You don't have to say anything," said Madam Pomfrey. "But can you sit up? If you drink these potions, the pain will go away quite quickly."
She helped Amara sit up slightly and the girl slumped against her pillows, exhausted. She was rather confused too. How long had she been in the Hospital Wing? What had happened to Ron and Hermione and the others? Where was Harry?
As Amara opened her mouth to ask these many questions to Madam Pomfrey, she shoved a spoonful of medicine into her mouth that prevented her from speaking.
"I don't know how it's always you lot getting into a mess," she said rather crossly as she checked Amara's bandages that were wrapped around her head. "You had a cracked skull, broken arm and had lingering spells still affecting you. I don't know how you continued walking! Let alone duelling. And then there are the others – a broken ankle, nose, two unconscious students – one of which is going to have to stay for a while – and one who had apparently been attacked by a Brain! Won't you stop injuring yourselves for a year at the least?"
Amara couldn't help but smile slightly as Madam Pomfrey unwound her bandages to check her head, gave her another potion and mobilised her arm again. In just twenty minutes, Amara was feeling much better. Her arm was fixed and it was only her head that was still pounding slightly.
It wasn't until Madam Pomfrey finished her duties – and her cross mutterings – that Amara could finally ask some questions.
"How long have I been here for?"
"A day and nearly a half," said Madam Pomfrey sternly. "In fact it's nearly lunchtime."
Amara stared. A day and a half?
"And what about the others?"
"See for yourself," said Madam Pomfrey. "I've already released Miss Weasley, Miss Lovegood, Longbottom and Potter."
Amara turned her head to see who she was referencing too and saw Ron and Hermione on beds next to her. Ron was awake and eating a chocolate frog whilst Hermione was apparently dozing.
"Amara!" Ron grinned. "Good for you to wake up, eh?"
Amara smiled back at him. Did he know about Sirius?
Ron saw her expression and it saddened slightly. Amara got the picture immediately.
"So, are the others okay?" Amara said, changing the subject.
Ron nodded. "Yeah, we just have to stay here for a few days – you know Hermione's already fed up."
Amara rolled her eyes slightly. Typical Hermione. But she was extremely glad she was alright.
"Tessie and Ethan had been clamouring to get in for the past day," said Ron conversationally. He seemed to have been deprived of speech for a while. "But Madam Pomfrey refused. They'll probably be back at lunch."
Amara nodded. She hadn't realised that her disappearance would have caused a lot of panic between her siblings.
"Fred and George sent these," said Ron, pointing at Amara's bedside cabinet. "I think they like you more than me."
He looked at his very large pile of Chocolate Frogs and shrugged. Amara had received a huge bunch of flowers (she was surprised at the twins' taste) and some Chocoballs. There was also a note attached.
Dear Amara
We didn't know what to get you as a 'Get Well' present, so we got you both. We heard you kicked ass in the Ministry and are very pleased you made it out alright. Also, we were going to visit you all but decided that they'd probably try and keep us there to finish our school year.
Anyway, glad to hear you're going to be fine and we'll see you in the summer (come to our shop, it's amazing).
from Fred & George
Amara smiled at the letter and replaced it back on her bedside table. Her face fell slightly when she saw a letter from her parents. Obviously someone had written to them about the whole affair.
Dear Amara,
We found out from Ethan why you haven't written much all year, and are rather sorry about what you've had to go through. If it wasn't for the fact you go to Hogwarts and you are a witch, we'd transfer you somewhere else. Then again, there's always Beauxbatons.
Moving on, we got a horrifying letter explaining what you had done the day of your last exam. You went to the Ministry and fought loads of dark wizards? Were you crazy? You could have died – we know you're seriously hurt because Ethan said you hadn't woken up yet.
We really want to ground you, but we realise why you went and what you did, so we've decided to just be angry at you for the time being. This does not mean you've been let off! We're just very glad you're safe – we wrote to Tally and she wants to come over immediately, but she can't until after her last day.
We can't really write anymore in a letter, so we'll talk to you when you get home. Don't do anything stupid, and get better soon.
Lots of love
Mum and Dad
Amara was sincerely pleased that her parents weren't punishing her too much for doing something dangerous.
Ron explained to her that Neville had told them what had happened – and how the prophecy had smashed – when he had visited them the day before. Harry only had come for a very short visit.
"I don't think he's going to talk to us," said Ron sadly.
Amara nodded and looked around the Hospital Wing. She then noticed a familiar short, toad-like witch lying on the bed opposite. It was Umbridge.
"Dumbledore fetched her yesterday," said Ron quietly. "It's been quite entertaining … watch …" he made a slight clipping noise like a horse with his mouth and the short witch shot up in horror. Once realising no horse was in the dormitory, she rested her untidy mousy hair back on her pillows. She had a lot of scratches and leaves on her, and a bit of mud on her cheek.
Ethan and Tessie were allowed in to visit her during their lunch period.
"Amara!" Tessie said and she somehow launched herself at her sister with surprising force.
"Ow," said Amara, rubbing her head. "Ow."
"Sorry," said Tessie. "But you've been asleep for ages. Did you know how long we stood outside the Hospital Wing for?"
"It was weird finding out you'd gone," said Ethan. "It was strange – everyone had a feeling something was happening, considering Umbridge and Snape had disappeared, and McGonagall was in St. Mungo's."
"Sorry," said Amara.
"Don't be," said Ethan. "We have a feeling we know why." He looked at Ron, who shrugged. "Have you had a letter from Mum and Dad?"
"Yeah," said Amara. "They're kind of angry at me, but don't want to punish me at the same time."
"Understandable," said Tessie, nodding. "We were just as scared, you know."
Amara nodded.
"Well, it's all done now," Tessie carried on, helping herself to one of Ron's Chocolate Frogs. The boy opened his mouth but thought better of it. "It's nearly summer now. Guess where I'm going?"
"Where?"
"Off travelling with Joey's family," said Tessie excitedly. "I get to sleep in a caravan for like a month!"
Amara grinned at her.
"And I'm going to Eddie's house," said Ethan. "His dad's made them a new Quidditch pitch in their back garden …"
Amara opened her arms and Ethan and Tessie climbed on her bed and wrapped their arms around her: one tiny pair, and one slightly bigger. It was a mass of dark brown hair, but Amara was pleased to be in one piece.
-OOOOO-
HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS
In a brief statement Friday night, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned to this country and is active once more.
"It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord — well, you know who I mean — is alive and among us again," said Fudge, looking tired and flustered as he addressed reporters. "It is with almost equal regret that we report the mass revolt of the dementors of Azkaban, who have shown themselves averse to continuing in the Ministry's employ. We believe that the dementors are currently taking direction from Lord — Thingy.
"We urge the magical population to remain vigilant. The Ministry is currently publishing guides to elementary home and personal defence that will be delivered free to all Wizarding homes within the coming month."
The Minister's statement was met with dismay and alarm from the Wizarding community, which as recently as last Wednesday was receiving Ministry assurances that there was "no truth whatsoever in these persistent rumours that You-Know-Who is operating amongst us once more."
Details of the events that led to the Ministry turnaround are still hazy, though it is believed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and a select band of followers (known as Death Eaters) gained entry to the Ministry of Magic itself on Thursday evening.
Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, reinstated member of the International Confederation of Wizards, and reinstated Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, was unavailable for comment last night. He has insisted for a year that You-Know-Who was not dead, as was widely hoped and believed, but recruiting followers once more for a fresh attempt to seize power. Meanwhile the Boy Who Lived —
"There you are, Harry, I knew they'd drag you into it somehow," said Hermione, looking over the top of the paper at the boy in question, who was sitting on the end of Ron's hospital bed.
It was the day after Amara had woken up in the hospital wing and she was nearly able to leave it. Hermione had been reading to them from the Sunday Prophet which had arrived to her that day. Everyone was visiting: Ginny was curled up on Hermione's bed, Neville was on a chair between them, Luna was reading to The Quibbler and not listening to what Hermione was reading out, and Amara had squished herself on Ron's bed too, so she could hear properly.
"He's 'the Boy Who Lived' again now, though, isn't he?" said Ron darkly. "Not such a show-off maniac anymore, eh?"
He helped himself to a handful of Chocolate Frogs from the im- mense pile on his bedside cabinet, threw a few to Harry, Ginny, and Neville (not to Amara, as she had her collection of Chocoballs) and ripped off the wrapper of his own with his teeth.
"Yes, they're very complimentary about you now, Harry," said Hermione, now scanning down the article. "'A lone voice of truth . . . perceived as unbalanced, yet never wavered in his story . . . forced to bear ridicule and slander . . .' Hmmm," said Hermione, frowning, "I notice they don't mention the fact that it was them doing all the ridiculing and slandering, though. . . ."
"'Course not," muttered Amara, shifting so her head was more comfortable. "Why would they insult themselves?"
Hermione had woken up the day before from her sleep and was very happy to see Amara alive and well. Apparently, Madam Pomfrey was rather cross with how much damage Dolohov had caused (it was the same spell another Death Eater had tried to use on Amara) and was giving her ten potions a day just to help her get better.
" 'You-Know-Who's Last Attempt to Take Over, pages two to four, What the Ministry Should Have Told Us, page five, Why Nobody Listened to Albus Dumbledore, pages six to eight, Exclusive Interview with Harry Potter, page nine . . .' Well," said Hermione, folding up the newspaper and throwing it aside, "it's certainly given them lots to write about. And that interview with Harry isn't exclusive, it's the one that was in The Quibbler months ago. . . ."
"Daddy sold it to them," said Luna vaguely, turning a page of The Quibbler. "He got a very good price for it too, so we're going to go on an expedition to Sweden this summer and see if we can catch a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."
Hermione seemed to struggle with herself for a moment, then said, "That sounds lovely."
Amara resisted a snort at the way she tried not to say anything that might conflict with anything Luna said.
"So anyway," said Hermione, sitting up a little straighter and wincing, "what's going on in school?"
Amara perked up at this. She didn't really know what was happening, and was keen to know the details.
"Well, Flitwick's got rid of Fred and George's swamp," said Ginny. "He did it in about three seconds. But he left a tiny patch under the window and he's roped it off —"
"Why?" said Hermione, looking startled.
"Oh, he just says it was a really good bit of magic," said Ginny, shrugging.
"I think he left it as a monument to Fred and George," said Ron through a mouthful of chocolate. "They sent me all these, you know," he told Harry, pointing at the small mountain of Frogs beside him. "Must be doing all right out of that joke shop, eh?"
Hermione looked disapproving and asked, "So has all the trouble stopped now Dumbledore's back?"
"Yes," said Neville, "everything's settled right back down again."
"I s'pose Filch is happy, is he?" asked Ron.
"Not at all," said Ginny. "He's really, really miserable, actually. . . ." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "He keeps saying Umbridge was the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts. . . ."
They all looked to where Professor Umbridge was lying on the bed. She hadn't said much since Amara had woken up, and she was still frightened when anything even related to horses came up. Amara and Ron had put it on themselves to talk loudly about them, but Madam Pomfrey told them to be quiet, eventhough a smirk was playing on her lips.
"Madam Pomfrey says she's just in shock," whispered Hermione.
"Sulking, more like," said Ginny
"Yeah, she shows signs of life if you do this," said Ron.
Umbridge sat bolt upright, looking wildly around again.
"Anything wrong, Professor?" called Madam Pomfrey, poking her head around her office door.
"No . . . no . . ." said Umbridge, sinking back into her pillows, "no, I must have been dreaming. . . ."
Amara, Hermione and Ginny muffled their laughter in the bedclothes. It never got old, eventhough they'd done it when she was sleeping too and she'd nearly wet herself with fright.
"Speaking of centaurs," said Hermione, "who's Divination teacher now? Is Firenze staying?"
"He's got to," said Harry, "the other centaurs won't take him back, will they?"
"It looks like he and Trelawney are both going to teach," said Ginny.
"Bet Dumbledore wishes he could've got rid of Trelawney for good," said Ron, now munching on his fourteenth Frog. "Mind you, the whole subjects useless if you ask me, Firenze isn't a lot better. . . ."
"How can you say that?" Hermione demanded. "After we've just found out that there are real prophecies?"
Amara nodded slightly.
"It is a pity it broke," said Hermione quietly, shaking her head.
"Yeah, it is," said Ron. "Still, at least You-Know-Who never found out what was in it either — where are you going?" he added, for Harry had just stood up.
"Er — Hagrid's," said Harry. "You know, he just got back and I promised I'd go down and see him and tell him how you two are. . . ."
"Oh all right then," said Ron grumpily, looking out of the dormitory window at the patch of bright blue sky beyond. "Wish we could come . . ."
"Say hello to him for us!" called Hermione, as Harry proceeded down the ward. "And ask him what's happening about . . . about his little friend!"
Harry gave a wave of his hand to show he had heard and understood as he left the dormitory.
"He didn't want to talk about it," said Luna wisely as he'd gone.
"We shouldn't bring anything up," said Amara, with a side look at Hermione. "Not until he's ready to tell us about it."
-OOOOO-
Amara was pleased, when she had been released from the hospital wing, how normal everything was in the school now that Dumbledore was back, and no one thought Harry as a liar anymore.
Professor Umbridge tried to leave the school quietly, by going at dinnertime so everyone was preoccupied, but Peeves met her in the hallways and proceeded to chase her away from Hogwarts, hitting her with the walking stick a newly recovered Professor McGonagall had. Many pupils went out to cheer him on, and the teachers didn't really make an effort to stop it.
Eventhough life at Hogwarts was back to normal, Amara was pleased to be going home. She needed a break from what had happened the past year, see Tally again and Fred and George, and try and have a relatively stress-free summer. She knew it was going to be hard, what with Voldemort's return being pasted on the newspapers every day, but she was going to try.
The journey home found Amara sitting in a compartment with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville. When Harry went to the toilet, there was quite the commotion near their compartment, and Amara went to have a look with Ron.
It seemed that Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle had tried to ambush Harry, but Ernie, Hannah, Susan, Justin, Anthony and Terry had helped to get rid of them with a selection of jinxes and hexes. The end result was three giant slugs.
"I must say, I'm looking forward to seeing Malfoy's mother's face when he gets off the train," said Ernie with some satisfaction, as he watched Malfoy squirm above him.
"Goyle's mum'll be really pleased, though," said Ron.. "He's loads better looking now. . . ." Amara snorted with laughter as the slugs above them squirmed. "Anyway, Harry, the food trolley's just stopped if you want anything. . . ."
Hermione kept reading out pieces from the Daily Prophet the whole journey back, and it wasn't until Cho Chang passed the door that they changed conversation completely.
"What's — er — going on with you and her anyway?" Ron asked quietly as Harry had looked away from the girl.
"Nothing," said Harry.
"I — er — heard she's going out with someone else now," said Hermione tentatively.
"You're well out of it, mate," said Ron forcefully. "I mean, she's quite good-looking and all that, but you want someone a bit more cheerful."
"She's probably cheerful enough with someone else," said Harry, shrugging.
"Who's she with now anyway?" Ron asked Hermione, but it was Ginny who answered.
"Michael Corner," she said.
"Michael — but —" said Ron, craning around in his seat to stare at her. "But you were going out with him!"
"Not anymore," said Ginny resolutely. "He didn't like Gryffindor beating Ravenclaw at Quidditch and got really sulky, so I ditched him and he ran off to comfort Cho instead." She scratched her nose absently with the end of her quill, turned The Quibbler upside down, and began marking her answers. Ron looked highly delighted and Amara laughed.
"Well, I always thought he was a bit of an idiot," he said, prodding his queen forward toward Harry's castle (Ron was winning again). "Good for you. Just choose someone — better — next time."
"Well, I've chosen Dean Thomas, would you say he's better?" asked Ginny vaguely.
"WHAT?" shouted Ron, upending the chessboard. Crookshanks went plunging after the pieces and Hedwig, Archie and Pigwidgeon twittered and hooted angrily from overhead.
-OOOOO-
When they finally made it through the barrier between Platform Nine and Three Quarters and the one in King's Cross, they found a whole crowd of people waiting for them. There was Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, Lupin, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Fred and George, and, of course, Amara's parents. Tessie and Ethan had already arrived, and her mother nodded at her to go see what the Order members were doing before they went home.
Mrs Weasley and Tonks hugged her before she turned towards the beaming twins, both wearing dragon skin jackets.
"You're kidding me," Amara snorted as they tweaked them.
"Nope," said Fred.
Amara rolled her eyes and hugged them both very tightly.
She greeted her Mum and Dad quickly before joining the others as Harry asked them what they were all doing. She stood contently between Fred and George, watching the proceedings.
"Well," said Lupin with a slight smile, "we thought we might have a little chat with your aunt and uncle before letting them take you home."
"I dunno if that's a good idea," said Harry.
"Oh, I think it is," growled Moody, who had limped a little closer. "That'll be them, will it, Potter?"
Amara saw Harry's family behind Moody, all looking appalled.
"Ah, Harry!" said Mr Weasley, turning from Hermione's and Amara's parents, whom he had been greeting enthusiastically. "Well — shall we do it, then?"
"Yeah, I reckon so, Arthur," said Moody.
They joined the group walking across the station towards the Dursleys.
"Good afternoon," said Mr Weasley pleasantly. "You might remember me, my name's Arthur Weasley."
"We thought we'd just have a few words with you about Harry," continued Mr Weasley, still smiling, as the Dursleys looked horrified.
"Yeah," growled Moody. "About how he's treated when he's at your place."
Mr Dursley's moustache seemed to bristle with indignation..
"I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house —"
"I expect what you're not aware of would fill several books, Dursley," growled Moody.
"Anyway, that's not the point," interjected Tonks, whose pink hair seemed to offend Mrs Dursley. "The point is, if we find out you've been horrible to Harry —"
"— and make no mistake, we'll hear about it," added Lupin pleasantly.
"Yes," said Mr. Weasley, "even if you won't let Harry use the fellytone —"
"Telephone," whispered Hermione.
"Yeah, if we get any hint that Potter's been mistreated in any way, you'll have us to answer to," said Moody.
Mr Dursley swelled ominously. Amara tried not to smile at the way he was glaring.
"Are you threatening me, sir?" he said, so loudly that passers-by actually turned to stare.
"Yes, I am," said Mad-Eye, who seemed rather pleased that he'd got to the point quickly.
"And do I look like the kind of man who can be intimidated?" barked Harry's Uncle.
"Well . . ." said Moody, pushing back his bowler hat to reveal his sinisterly revolving magical eye. Mr Dursley leapt backward in horror and collided painfully with a luggage trolley. "Yes, I'd have to say you do, Dursley."
He turned from Mr Dursley to Harry. "So, Potter . . . give us a shout if you need us. If we don't hear from you for three days in a row, we'll send someone along. . . .'Bye, then, Potter," said Moody, grasping Harry's shoulder for a moment with a gnarled hand.
"Take care, Harry," said Lupin quietly. "Keep in touch."
"We'll see you soon, mate," said Ron anxiously, shaking Harry's hand.
"Really soon, Harry," said Hermione earnestly. "We promise."
"Have a good summer," Amara grinned at him, and he smiled slightly back. He raised a hand in farewell and disappeared, with the Dursley's following him.
Amara disengaged herself from the Weasley's and the Order members, hugged Ginny, Ron and Hermione tightly goodbye, and returned to her family, who were watching rather curiously.
Her parents hugged her in turn.
"Don't worry us like that again, you hear?" Mrs Matthews said sternly. "We were worried sick!"
Amara grinned and nodded, and then she walked out of the station together with her family. Amara hoped against hope that the summer coming up was much better than the last.
~End of Fifth Year~