Harry opened his eyes, realizing he was in a hospital bed, getting his glasses from the nightstand. To see better. Get well soon cards, gifts and candies were nestled near his bed. Harry looked around with a smile plastered on his face.
"Good afternoon, Harry," Albus Dumbledore walks in the room, looking at the gifts, "ah tokens from your admirers."
"Admirers?" Harry wondered, not having anyone idol him before. This was a first for Harry.
"What happened down in the dungeons, between you, Snape and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret. So, naturally, the whole school knows,"
Harry smiled at that. Before realizing, looking around, "Where is Professor Snape?"
"Ah…he brought you to the hospital wing and went back down to the dungeons. So, I assume that is where is now?" Harry nodded, wanting to thank him bringing him here.
Dumbledore smiled over, before looking down at a box of chocolate frogs that has been opened, "Ah, I think your friend Ronald has saved you the trouble of opening your chocolate frogs."
"Ron was here? Is he all right, what about Hermione?"
Albus held his hand up, "Fine, they are both fine."
Harry was relieved by that. Then he thought of something else, "But, what happened to the stone?"
"Relax dear boy, the stone has been destroyed," the headmaster explains, "my friend Nicholas and I had a little chat and agreed it was best to get rid of the stone altogether."
"But, then Famel…he'll die, won't he?" Harry says in a sad tone, hoping he will still be around.
Albus sits on the edge of the bed, "He has enough elixir to set his affairs in order, but yes, he will die."
Harry wondered something else, "How was it that I got the stone, sir? One minute I was staring into the mirror—"
"Ah. You see only a person…wanted to find the stone, but not use it. Would be able to get it," Albus says, going to closer to Harry he whispered, "that was one of my brilliant ideas. And between you and me; that is saying something."
Does that mean, with the stone gone that is, that Voldemort would never come back?"
Albus looked down at the bed, "Ah…I am afraid…there are ways in which he can return."
Harry was greatly disappointed with that.
"Harry, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him?" Harry shakes his head, having no idea, "it was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself, that kind of act leaves a mark," Harry goes over to his scar with his bandaged hand, "no, no. this kind of mark can not be seen. It lives in your very skin."
"What is it?"
"Love, Harry. Love," the headmaster says back with a warm smile. Patting him on the head as he gets up. Heading over to the gifts, "Bertie bott's every flavor beans. I was most unfortunate in my youth to come across a vomit-flavored bean, and since then, I am afraid I have lost my liking for them," he reached inside the packet, "but I think I could be safe with a nice toffee," he pops one his mouth and chews, "Mmm. Alas ear wax." Harry as he watches the old wizard leave.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Harry was well enough to greet his friends, checking in on them, seeing how they were doing before heading to the dungeon. Wanting to see Snape, his time at Hogwarts has come to an end this year. And a new summer will begin, being stuck with the Dursley's ones again.
Snape was grading papers in his office, as Harry knocked on his door. "Enter," he heard on the other side.
Harry opened it, smiling over at him, Snape gave a nod, stopping on what he was doing. "I see you have wakened."
"Yes," Harry walked over to his desk, "thank you for helping me out this year professor."
Snape did not expect him to say that, not by a Potter. "I did it because of your mother, she asked me to take care of you if anything happened to her."
"How did you get us out of there?"
Snape looked down at his desk, "There is only one way and that is the third floor."
"What about the dogs?" Harry moved to the sofa, sitting down.
His professor got up, walking over to him, "Hagrid releasing him into the woods by the time I got back up with you. Your friends were already gone by the time I carried you out,"
Harry gaped at this, 'He carried me?' he looked at the time, knowing they will be starting the goodbye feasts soon. Gets up, "Well I will be off soon," this time he did not mind Snape being a man nor his being his teacher, going in for a hug. Harry breathed in the smell of potions lingering on the robe. He lets go, "see you next year," he smiled.
Snape was surprised by the hug, recollecting himself, not minding this attention, "See you next year Mr. Potter."
Harry was about to leave, when he stops, turning around, "Could I write to you during the summer?"
Snape gaped at that, not expecting a student to ask if they could write to him. In fact, no one writes to him, other than Dumbledore, "I suppose; not giving you my home address. Only the schools'."
"I will send it to the school then," Harry got excited about this, feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
The great hall was filled with excitement. Children talking, laughing, eating. Dumbledore nodded his head to Professor McGonagall, who got her golden spoon, tapping on her wine glass. Everyone looked at the staff table, "Another year gone. And now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding. And the points stand thus—" The Gryffindors looked sadly at their plates. "In fourth place, Gryffindor with 312 points." There was some clapping around Harry as he sighs with his friends. Third place Hufflepuff with 352 points," more clapping, "in second place, Ravenclaw with 426 points," there was a bit more clapping this time around, "and in first place Slytherin with 472 points." Harry and his friends were greatly disappointed. Although Harry was happy at least, looking over at him, giving a quick nod. Malfoy looks over at the Ron with a sneer on his face. Snape and Dumbledore had a little chat earlier about that, seeing that Harry and his friends have helped him greatly with solving this case, so in return he helped them, "Yes, yes, well done Slytherin, however!" Dumbledore says, "recent events must be considered, and I have a few last-minute points to award. To miss Hermione Granger for the cool use of intellect. When others were in grave peril, 50 points," Harry patted her on the back, telling her good job. This made Draco confused. Hermione smiled over at Hagrid who smiled back at her. Second to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best-played game of chess, that Hogwarts has seen these many years, 50 points," Harry was surprised by that and impressed by his new friend, "third place, to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage. I award Gryffindor house, 60 points." Everyone at the Gryffindor table, clapped and cheered. Harry looked over at McGonagall, who clapped back with a enjoyable smile.
"We are tied with Slytherin!" Hermione whispers loudly to them.
"And finally, it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies. But a great deal more to stand up to your friends. I award 10 points to Neville Longbottom."
Neville could not believe it, he thought he heard wrong, but when his classmates and teachers were clapping and getting patted on the back, he realized that it was true. He won points. This made the Slytherin table sad and disappointed.
"Assuming that my calculations are correct, I believe that a change of decorations are in order," Albus claps, the Slytherin flags were changed to Gryffindors, "Gryffindor wins the house cup!" Gryffindors' stand up cheering their hearts out.
"Yes!" Hagrid cries, clapping.
They throw their hats in the air. Harry looked over at Snape, mouthing the words thank you. Knowing it was him who helped them win.
His classmates were patting him on the back, telling him way to go. Harry looks over to Hagrid with a smile. The half giant smiled back, continuing to clap for him. Students kept cheering with him, a few of them jumping up and down while patting him on the back.
Xxxxxxxx
It was time for everyone to head back home, summer will be starting tomorrow. Hagrid tells everyone to hurry, else they will be late. Harry and his friends were in the 1st year section, about to aboard. "Come on Harry?" Hermione says. Harry told them to wait a minute, as he went over to Hagrid.
"Thought you were leaving without saying goodbye, did you?" Hagrid said, relieved to see it isn't so. He dug something out of his pocket, giving it to Harry, it was a photo album with his parents in it. His parents moved in the picture, while holding a baby.
Harry nodded at them, smiling. His eyes welled up, looking up, "Thanks, Hagrid." Hagrid smiled back with a nod, shaking his hand. Harry was going to miss the half giant, hugging him tight.
Hagrid patted him on the shoulder, "Go on. On with you, on with now. Oh, listen Harry. If that dolt of your cousin yours, Dudley, gives you any grief, could always…um threaten him with a nice pair of ears to go along with that tail of his."
Harry smiled at him about that, making a mental note to do that. Then realized something, "But, Hagrid, we are not allowed to do magic away from Hogwarts. You know that.
"I do…but your cousin don't, do he?" Hagrid winked at Harry. This made Harry relax and smile over at him as he walked over to the train.
"Feels strange going home, doesn't it?" Hermione says.
"I am not going home, not really," he looks over a Hagrid and behind the half giant stood someone else. Harry grinned over a Snape who in return sneered back, giving a small nod before heading back to the school building.
Harry could not believe that this has happened to him, this magic school, everything. And he cannot wait to return there in second year. His eyes welled up with emotions as he hops on the train, shutting the door behind him. The Harry peered out of the window from the train, after settling down with Ron and Hermione, waving at Hagrid till he could not see no more. The train left the station and so ends Harry 1st year of Hogwarts. Heading back to his depressing life with the Dursleys.
Year 2 will begin sometime this week! It will be called 'Playing with Fire Year Two!' So, look out for that one