Harry and Tess had been to several Hogwarts feasts, but never one quite like this. By the time they got to the Great Hall, they were surprised to see everybody in their pajamas. There was plenty of food to go around and friends reuniting with those who were Petrified. Even Snape wasn't scowling at the celebration before him, except for when he saw Harry and Tess walk in the Hall. Of course they would carry their Polyjuice Potion experience with them as The-Plan-That-Shall-Not-Be-Mentioned even though Snape was still convinced it was them who had caused the Swelling Solution disaster.
To absolutely no one's surprise, except for his fangirls, a certain Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher wasn't present at the staff table, but Tess couldn't care less. The Heir of Slytherin was defeated, no one died and everyone was UnPetrified, as Hagrid once put it. Speaking of whom, he was still due to arrive from Azkaban but he hadn't shown yet.
But for everyone else, Hogwarts was safe from peril. What could make tonight better?
"I don't understand what any of this is." Ron looked over Harry's DNA test. "What the bloody hell is an Rh factor?"
"That's a conversation for when you're older." Tess teased, taking the paper from his hands. "But Harry, do you know what this means?"
"I'm not related to Slytherin." Harry deadpanned. "But I think that was cleared up in Dumbledore's office."
"But still." said Tess. "Whatever language you speak, whosoever blood runs through your veins, you, Harry Potter are still our best friend." She held his hand and they hugged. "Come on Ron."
"Ok, ok." Ron chuckled joining in.
"Hey!" Neville tapped Harry's shoulder. "It's Hermione!"
The three wizards looked over the people seated next to them and sure enough, it was Gryffindor's resident book lover, Hermione Granger. She was standing at the door looking at the Gryffindor Table. She started running towards them and they met up with each other in the aisle between tables and hugged each other like there was no tomorrow. Well, except for Ron, they stood there, looking at each other and just shook hands. ("I wish I had a camera." Tess had whispered to Harry.)
"You solved it! You solved it!" Hermione had almost screamed.
"You're back, that's more important!" Tess exclaimed back.
"Well we had loads of help from you Hermione." said Harry.
"We couldn't have done it without you." said Ron.
"Thanks." said Hermione just as Professor McGonagall tapped her glass with her spoon, commanding the attention of the entire school.
Quickly, the Quartet took their seats at their table when Dumbledore stood up to say a few words:
"Before we begin the feast, let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout, Madam Pomfery, whose Mandrake Juice has been so sucessfully administered, to all who have been Petrified." Everyone, even some of the Slytherins clapped for this achievement, while Ron clapped Ginny's shoulder and gave her a look of reassurance. "Also in light of recent events, as a school treat, all exams have been cancelled."
Instantly, there was an uproar of cheers that filled the ears of everyone in the Great Hall at this news. Well, save for Hermione who exclaimed, "Oh no!" Tess only laughed at this.
Suddenly, the magnificent doors of the Hall opened and standing at the doorway, was none other than Rubeus Hagrid.
"Sorry I'm late." He said walking down the Hall. "The owl that delivered my release papers got all lost and confused. Some ruddy bird called Erroll."
Knowing full well who owned that bird, the students sniggered and Ron's face turned the color of his tie. "Gee." Tess wondered. "I wonder that belongs too."
Hagrid stopped his trek, right in front of the reunited Golden Quartet-who looked happier to see him than ever before. Of course Hermione had some catching up to do on what happened while she was Petrified, but she still missed him anyway.
"I'd just like ter say, tha' if it hadn't been for yeh, Harry, Ron, Tess, and Hermione of course, I'd uh, I'd still be you-know-where. So I'd just like to say, thanks." By the end of his small speech, Hagrid looked like he was going to cry.
Wanting to comfort his friend, Harry got up and said, "There's no Hogwarts without you Hagrid." He then gave him a hug, almost getting his arms around his enormous torso. It seemed the touching scene had some sort of impact because as soon as the rest of the Golden Quartet joined in, the entire school started applauding Hagrid's return. Yes, their gamekeeper was here to stay and wasn't going anywhere.
After Hagrid's heartwarming welcome, Harry didn't know whether the best bit was Gryffindor securing the House Cup for the second year running, or Dumbledore announcing that, unfortunately, Professor Lockhart would be unable to return next year, owing to the fact that he needed to go away and get his memory back. Quite a few of the teachers joined in the cheering that greeted this news. "Shame," said Ron, helping himself to a jam doughnut. "He was starting to grow on me."
"Harry?" Justin was standing next to them with an apologetic look on his face. "Harry, I am so sorry. I should never have been such a git, suspecting you and your friend for being behind it all, I should never have judged you because you're a Parslemouth. I am so, so, so sorry."
"Justin." Harry interrupted the Hufflepuff before he could continue. "Apology already accepted." The second years shook hands and Justin departed but not before yelling out, "I'm sorry!" over the crowds of chatter.
The celebrations lasted all night and it was a fantastic way to end an inscrutable year.