AN: Okay, so this is the final chapter of this part of the story. I don't want to make any promises about when the first chapter of the next part will be posted but I hope it's not too far away. Anyways, I hope anyone who reads this enjoys it.
The School Year's End
Selena had been waiting outside the hospital for several minutes before anyone opened the tall brown double doors. When they finally opened, Professor Snape exited and swiftly shut them. He turned his attention to her, "He is unconscious," he informed her emotionlessly.
"When can I see him?" She asked furrowing her eyebrows and widening her eyes.
"That isn't up to me," he stated plainly before walking off and making his way to the Grand Staircase.
Selena watched him, frowning slightly. His demeanor towards her had changed when she had informed him of Professor Quirrell and the immediate danger he posed to the stone. Something shifted in his dark eyes. His expression softened and when he spoke his voice lacked its usual venom. Although it couldn't possibly be described as friendly his new neutral tone frightened her much less.
Not much later Madam Pomfrey exited the Hospital Wing and stood in front of her.
"Your brother will be... resting for the next few days."
"When can I see him?"
"Soon but not today. He needs proper rest— no excitement."
Sometime after dinner, Terry approached her. He sat down beside her on the bench and passed her a dinner roll. "I thought you might be hungry."
She shrugged and took a bite out of it.
"You haven't eaten all day!" He pointed out.
She shrugged again, "It wouldn't be the first time," she mumbled. She was used to being left hungry for days at a time at the Dursley's.
Terry looked like he wanted to say something but he kept his mouth shut. They sat beside each other in complete silence while Selena picked at the dinner roll clutched tightly in her palm. Terry was very clearly bored as he was bouncing his leg up and down furiously but felt too bad to just get up and leave.
"You don't have to sit with me you know," Selena said quietly.
"Yeah, I know."
"Oh," She replied, looking away in embarrassment. She had expected him to thank her and run off to join Anthony or Michael. They sat together for many more minutes, still silent, as the daylight left the corridor. Selena's thoughts swirled as she stared at the double doors of the Hospital Wing. It didn't matter what Snape or Madam Pomfrey said. She wouldn't feel better until she saw his chest rising and falling.
Selena's attention was pulled away from the doors when Terry leaped from the bench.
"Well, we'd better head off for the night."
"I'm not going," she refused. He stared at her his mouth hung open.
"You have to! You'll lose points for being out of bed," he argued.
"Terry," she said. Her eyes burned while she stared him down. "I don't care."
He made a small sound of frustration and headed off to the nearby Grand Staircase. Not long after Terry left Selena began to feel quite drowsy. Her eyelids drooped and her muscles tingled. Before she knew what she was doing her knees were hugged against her chest. She rested her head atop them. She fought the desire to drift away into sleep…
The next thing she knew someone was carrying her. She began to protest by knocking on her transporter's shoulder like they were Liza's front door. "Ow," her captor chuckled lightly.
"David!" She grumbled in surprise.
"Righto," he responded softly. "I'm taking you up to bed, kiddo."
"No!" She shouted. She felt a sudden burst of energy. Selena pushed herself away from his chest so that she could see. "David put me down! Put me down! I can't leave him. You've got to put me down."
His face dropped, "I'll put you down but you're not going back to the Hospital Wing."
After two entire days, Selena was finally allowed to see him. She would have run straight back to the Hospital Wing the morning after David had forced her to come up to the common room, had it not been for Ron and Hermione. They caught her as she was passing the Great Hall and convinced her to have breakfast. Hermione told her that the best thing that they could do was check with Madam Pomfrey daily until she let them in. Selena protested but Ron agreed with Hermione.
On the third day of waiting, Selena received a note during lunch telling her to come to the Hospital Wing immediately. She ran out of the hall and made her way to the double doors. This time when she tugged their handles they swung open. She hurried past a bed piled high with sweets and cards and... a toilet seat? She shook her head and carried on until she came upon a bed surrounded by white curtains.
"You have fifteen minutes," Madam Pomfrey said sternly. "Remember, not too much excitement."
The second she strode away Selena ripped the curtain open. "Harry!" She greeted warmly a smile stretching across her face. "How're you feeling?"
"I'm fine really," he responded. "A bit tired is all."
"What happened down there?"
And so Harry told her the story of everything that happened that night. He, Ron, and Hermione sneaked out of the common room and made their way to the third-floor corridor. When they opened the door Fluffy was fast asleep. Quirrell, who Harry at the time was convinced was Snape, enchanted a harp to play continuously so the Cerberus wouldn't wake.
They went down the trapped door and fell into Devil's Snare which they fought off by making a fire. Then they entered a room filled with flying keys. Harry, Ron, and Hermione each grabbed a broom from the stack leaning against the wall and caught the proper key. In the next room, they had to play a giant game of wizards chess. They won the game but had to sacrifice Ron's piece in the process. So, only Harry and Hermione moved on. Upon entering the next room they discovered a note and a line of potions. Using the note they came to the conclusion that only two of the potions were safe to drink. Hermione drank the one that would send her back and Harry drank the one that would allow him to move on.
She walked purple flames and He walked through black flames. Once he had made his way through he discovered who was waiting for him, Quirrell.
He couldn't retrieve the Philosopher's Stone from the mirror, but somehow Harry could. Quirrell attempting to take it from him unraveled his turban revealing Lord Voldemort.
He attacked Harry but where they touched his hands burned. Quirrell fought against the pain. Harry held onto him trying to deal as much damage as possible. Then something grabbed Quirrell off of him and everything went black. The next thing he knew he was in the hospital bed.
Selena had so many things she wanted to ask but she started with the stone. "How did you get the stone from the mirror?"
"Dumbledore told me that only someone who wanted the stone but didn't want to use it could get it."
"Ah," she said. "Makes sense."
"So Quirrell had Voldemort underneath his turban the entire time?" She asked. It was by far the craziest part of the wild tale of that night.
"I know!"
"Wait a moment... Remember that one time over winter holidays when Fred and George enchanted snowballs to bounce off the back of his turban..."
Harry's eyes widened and he covered his mouth. "They were hitting Lord Voldemort in the face!"
Selena didn't know whether she should find that horrifying or humorous. Before she could say anything else the Hospital doors clattered loudly.
"Right down there Hagrid," Madam Pomfrey's voice called out.
Selena and Harry looked at each other with surprise. Hagrid bent at the knees and ducked under the bar to join them behind the white curtain.
"Hullo there, Selena wasn' expectin' ya." He greeted. She waved lightly.
Hagrid sunk down into a chair on the other side of Harry's bed. Selena hadn't even noticed it until he sat. She was too busy worrying about Harry. Hagrid looked at Harry and sorrow enveloped his features. He threw his face in his hands and began to cry. "It's – all – my – ruddy – fault! I told the evil git how ter get past Fluffy! I told him! It was the only thing he didn't know an' I told him! Yeh could've died! All fer a dragon egg! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out an' made ter live as a Muggle!"
"Hagrid!" Harry yelled. Hagrid pulled his face from his hands and looked at him through teary eyes. "Hagrid, he'd have found out somehow, this is Voldemort we're talking about, he'd have found out even if you hadn't told him."
"Yeh could've died!" Hagrid replied remorsefully. "An' don' say the name!"
"VOLDEMORT!" Harry bellowed so loudly that both Selena and Hagrid jumped in their seats. Hagrid grimaced. "I've met him and I'm calling him by his name. Please cheer up, Hagrid, we saved the Stone, it's gone, he can't use it. Have a Chocolate Frog, I've got loads …" Harry offered. Hagrid's blubbering was clearly making him uncomfortable. Selena felt the same.
Hagrid wiped at his nose and cheeks with his wooly sleeve. "That reminds me…" He sniffled. "I've got a present fer ya- fer both of ya."
"It's not a stoat sandwich, is it?" Harry asked feebly.
Hagrid chuckled softly pulling something out of the sack resting against his chair. "'Nah. Dumbledore gave me the day off yesterday ter fix it. 'Course, he shoulda sacked me instead – anyway, got yeh this …" It finely crafted book with a leather cover and binding. He handed it to Harry. Selena quickly moved closer to the bed and leaned down so that she could see. When he opened it, they discovered that it contained wizarding pictures of their parents. There were pictures of them smiling and laughing, pictures of them with friends and alone and with babies held close to their chests… As Harry flipped through its pages Selena felt hot tears forming in her eyes. They silently fell down her cheeks. Selena blinked them away and dabbed at her face with her sleeves.
Hagrid was looking at them with wide eyes when they looked up from its magical pages. He looked nervous. "Sent owls off ter all yer parents' old school friends, askin' fer photos …" He explained quietly. "Knew yeh didn' have any ... D'yeh like it?"
They looked at each other and then nodded at Hagrid. Words could not express their gratitude.
The next night was the end of the year feast. Selena sat down at the Ravenclaw table next to Terry. Sue and Padma sat down next to her. Michael and Anthony plopped down beside Terry. He was in deep conversation with the two boys no doubt relaying to them the story of the Philosopher's Stone that she had told him the day before. She was about to smack him on the shoulder for sharing a story she told him privately when Professor Dumbledore entered the Hall. They all quieted and looked at him expectantly.
"Another year gone!" Dumbledore announced from behind his podium. "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 all a little fuller than they were ... you have the whole summer ahead to get 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 twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw have four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."
The Slytherin table erupted in cheers. Older students stood up from their seats and certain students clanked their goblets against the table. Marcus Flint cupped his hands around his mouth, "Better luck next time, Boot!" He jeered miming tears.
David nearly stood from his seat but Penelope Clearwater tapped on his shoulder and tugged his arm downwards. He scowled darkly but didn't retort.
"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," Dumbledore interrupted. "However, recent events must be taken into account."
The entire hall froze. Marcus Flint dropped into his seat and his mean smile faltered. The smiles had been wiped off of every Slytherin's face.
'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."
The Gryffindor table cheered so loudly that it made the previous Slytherin cheers sound like whispering.
Dumbledore waited patiently for the room to silence once again. "Second – to Miss Hermione Granger ... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
"Third – to Mr. Harry Potter … for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."
This time when Gryffindor burst into cheers Selena joined their celebration. Gryffindor had soared from the bottom of the ranks to tied for first. And it was all thanks to Harry.
Dumbledore raised his hand in the air signifying that they should be silent. "There are all kinds of courage," He started, a smile stretching across his wrinkled face. "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 ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."
The cheers were deafening. It sounded as though a bomb had gone off. Padma and Sue covered their ears. Students were standing and jumping and patting Neville on the back. Selena laughed and clapped a few times. Harry and Ron were laughing and pointing at a very shocked looking Malfoy.
David and Roger Davies the captain of their house quidditch team stood up from their seats and yelled at Marcus. "You were saying Flint?" David bellowed.
"Better luck next time!" Roger cheered, throwing Marcus' own taunt back in his face.
Marcus' face grew red in embarrassment. He slouched in his seat with his arms crossed. "Whatever!" He shouted. "You still lost."
David and Roger didn't care; they were too busy laughing and cheering.
"Which means we need a little change of decoration," Dumbledore called out over the din of thunderous applause. With the clap of his hands, the green and silver decorations flipped over and switched to scarlet and gold. Gone were the serpent banners. They had been replaced by Gryffindor lions. Professor Snape begrudgingly shook hands with a very pleased looking Professor McGonagall.
When the cheering died down they contently settled into the feast.
Within the next few days it was time to leave. They had received their exam results. She and Terry both did well. They had also received papers notifying them that they were not to use magic outside of school.
Selena carefully tucked away all of her belongings into her trunk. She double-checked for her new purple sweater and cat figurine before bringing her luggage down the dorm stairs into the common room.
The journey to the train station went by in a dream-like blur. They climbed back in the boats and sailed across the lake. She boarded the train and sat down in a compartment with Terry. A few moments later Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered. They changed into their muggle clothes while the train passed through the rolling hills of the countryside. They chatted happily while enjoying an assortment of candies they had bought off the trolley lady.
Selena couldn't help but feel sad that they were leaving. She was not looking forward to returning to the Dursley's. The only thing she had to look forward to was Liza. She was the only thing Selena missed from muggle life. She couldn't wait to tell Liza everything that had happened- even if she had to edit all of the magic out of the stories. A small part of her couldn't wait for the train to reach the station.
Once it did they were separated from Terry. He had to go join David. He hastily promised that he would write and ran off to join his brother. The three who remained waited patiently in line at the barrier. Only a few could go at a time so that they didn't alert the muggles.
The second they passed through a young girl's voice called out, "There he is mum, look!"
It was Ron's younger sister Ginny. She was staring starstruck at Harry. "Harry Potter!" she cheered. "Look, Mum! I can see –"
"Be quiet, Ginny, and it's rude to point."
Mrs. Weasley smiled and waved at them. "Busy year."
They all nodded. "Very," Harry answered. "Thanks for the fudge and jumper."
"Yes!" Selena added, suddenly alert. She had almost forgotten to thank her. "Thank you so much."
"Oh, it was nothing, dears," She said with a slight blush coloring her cheeks.
"Ready, are you two?" A familiar voice called. Selena and Harry turned around. Her mood turned sour. He was looking at them with poorly concealed anger. He didn't like the attention their eccentric luggage brought. Harry was carrying Hedwig in her cage and Selena had Bastet curled up in a carrier. Aunt Petunia and Dudley stood a short distance behind him looking fearful.
"You must be Harry's family!" Mrs. Weasley assumed brightly.
"In a manner of speaking," Uncle Vernon answered shortly. 'Hurry up, we haven't got all day.'
Selena, Harry, Ron, and Hermione huddled together. "We'll write to you guys," Ron said.
"We will," Hermione agreed.
While Harry and Ron discussed the prospect of them visiting over the summer, a thought occurred to Selena. She asked Hermione for her phone number. The other girl agreed and pulled a spare piece of parchment from her bag. She scribbled the digits and handed it over to Selena. "Thanks, I'll call you if I can get the chance."
Hermione nodded. "Hope you have a good holiday…" She said wearily peering at Uncle Vernon.
"Oh, we will,' Harry said, a devious grin spreading across his face. "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. We're going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer …"
Selena smiled as well. This summer was going to be a lot better than she had originally thought.