I apologize that this chapter is slightly shorter...oh well, the next one will be long again!

The Year's End

Everybody slept soundly, knowing everything was safe now that Mr. Malfoy's plan had been spoiled. Mr. Malfoy was a bit sad, but decided to rest before doing anything else. Eustace gave Neville back his toad. He jumped around in joy. Bella tossed and turned, until her mum told her that Snape took Carmel to the Ministry, where she would be well taken care of. They were happy until they realized that the next day was final exams day…

Bella, though in the hospital wing, wanted Crabbe and Goyle, then helped them with some last minute studying, since she didn't need to do any herself. Hermione was frantic, trying not to panic. Same with Neville, though he was comforted by Trevor. The whole school was in a flurry, people nervously checking notes and wishing each other luck.

"Ohhh boy," Ron groaned when they had all gathered at the Griffindor table that morning. "First a dragon egg thing, then this?"

Harry and Draco stared at each other. "Well, after last night, I bet we're ready for this," Draco said grimly.

"Yea," Harry agreed. "Last night was crazy!" They cracked their knuckles and cricked out their necks. Ron stared at them strangely.

"We're ready for this!" Draco and Harry shouted.

"Where were you last night?" someone asked.

"We were out, uh, doing something important," Harry said.

"My dad's only here because he got hurt," Draco put in. The girl nodded in sympathy, and wandered back to her table.

Dumbledore tapped his spoon on his glass, then stood at the podium as silence reigned. "I have a couple of announcements," he said. "First of all, Professor Querriel will be resigning before next year to help out a…well, relative he said, on an island in the middle of nowhere. And also, the test master can't come here today, so, well, the end of year exams have been canceled."

The whole school cheered uproariously. Draco and Harry even hugged for a second. If anybody listened closely, they could hear Caly patting Hermione's back, saying, "It's ok, there's gonna be a lot more tests next year…"

Harry ran back to the hospital wing. "Bella!" he said excitedly. "There's no final exams!"

Bella's face fell. "Awww," she said, then looked thoughtful. "Well, I was going to miss them anyway…I bet everyone is happy now."

Crabbe and Goyle nearly fainted with relief. It took them several seconds to remember 'thank you' for Bella, then lumbered out, singing some weird song they learned from who-knows-where.

Everybody spent the rest of the day lazing around. Well, Lily and Griff nobody could find. Bella suspected they were spending last minute time together. Draco spent the time in the hospital wing with his mum, dad and Bella, the last two whose beds were next to each other. Draco apologized to his dad, saying that he didn't want any plot to hurt Bella. Mr. Malfoy decided he would make up to, well, you know, some safer way, and also not to meddle with dragons anymore. (He wasn't too keen on the idea of hurting Bella either.)

They discussed the prophecy. Draco remembered it: 'New terror, new breed, new bond. An ally has taken things of value from you and your friends. You will go to reclaim them, one unlikely shall join you. The fight will make or break—Malfoy against Malfoy.'

"I bet the terror was the Imperious curse," Bella said slowly. "Or Carmel."

"The new breed was Carmel and the bond was…" Draco put in, then trailed off.

"Mum and Eustace?" Bella said innocently. They looked around, and saw Anwen fussing over Eustace. Bella giggled and Draco muttered 'yuck I hope not.'

"No, I think it was you and me," Bella continued just as innocently.

Draco shrugged. "We know Eustace took some things from us," he said.

"And you all went to get them back," Mr. Malfoy said, annoyed. "Yes…I know that much."

"For sure," Bella said. "Draco—I think you were the unlikely."

"Why me? Oh, because I was fighting you. That's right."

"I think the fight made, not broke," Mr. Malfoy said. "It almost did break, though. Draco. Don't you DARE ever pick up giant snakes, ok?"

Draco nodded vigorously.

(Also, everybody silently agreed to keep the new breed a secret. Who wants people making giant baby basilisks everywhere?)

Anwen told Eustace that his right eye wouldn't see anymore. Toughing it up, he sighed and said 'well, at least I didn't lose both eyes' and Anwen hugged him and kissed his cheek for comfort. On the plus side, he got a brilliant eye patch that made Draco a bit envious.

When it was finally time to go home, Bella was glad most people seemed excited. (She was also happy that her leg had healed enough to walk a bit.) Harry didn't look so happy.

"My aunt and uncle don't like me," he grumbled. Bella tightened her arm around his shoulder.

"It's gonna be ok," she said. "We'll come back. There's always next year!"

Grinning a bit, they got on the train. They all tried to find a compartment (they saw Griff and Lily sneak into one, giggling) but they had too many friends. So they all occupied the two in the back, and left the doors open so they could all talk. Mae, Neville, Ron, and Hermione were in one and Harry, Bella, Falda, Caly, and Draco in the other. (Draco insisted he sit next to Bella, and even helped her walk with Harry.) Anwen and Mrs. Malfoy sat near them, in a different compartment, smiling happily to hear them chat.

Draco was the happiest he had been…probably ever. Surrounded by what he felt like were real friends, he also felt like he was in heaven.

When they got off the train, everybody hugged their goodbyes and wandered off to their families. Or with their families, in the case of the Malfoys and Snapes. Caly ruefully knew she was going back to the Hiding Place, but at least her parents were there. Harry saw his aunt, uncle, and cousin on the platform. He reluctantly trudged over.

"This is it," his uncle Vernon growled. "The house is too quiet without you, and it's perfect. And you have these freak friends with your crazy school! We see no reason to keep you anymore, boy."

Harry stopped in his tracks. His nasty aunt and uncle…not keep him…

"Where can I go then?" he squeaked.

His uncle shrugged indifferently. "Dunno, maybe one of your weird friends will take you."

Behind Harry, Anwen was laughing. "I'll take you," she purred.

Harry jumped. "Really?" he shouted in excitement.

"Then we really CAN be siblings!" Bella howled in joy.

"Do I have to change my last name?" Harry asked.

"No," she said. "Well, maybe. I bet that even if your last name changed, everybody would still call you Potter, because, you know, you're famous. So if you like it, keep it!"

"YAY!" Harry shouted. He threw himself at Bella and Anwen and hugged them tight. "I FINALLY HAVE A FAMILY! I HAVE A MUM AND SISTER!"

Draco glanced over his shoulder. Nobody noticed him glower.

Bella and Harry spent half an hour at Mungo's while their mum sorted the healing supply import of the day. Harry got up to say hi to everybody who came in. Bella decided she might want to work here when she was older.

They went home, and Harry and Bella stood in awe of the small house close to Mungo's. It was only a short walk, in fact. It wasn't very tall, or fancy. They went in. Though everything was ordinary in the Muggle sense, with a few wizarding things (Hufflepuff and Irish themed!), the kids liked it. It was night, but they had no time to set up beds, so they slept on the couches.

In the morning, they explored the small, neat house, and then went out to play on the little back yard while Anwen filled out paperwork for adopting Harry. When they came back for lunch, she announced that in the mail was a secret invitation to the Malfoy's, to wish Mr. Malfoy well since he had been moved to his house with a doctor so he could be with his family.

Bella was happy. They went to their manor in the afternoon, where Bella kissed her old dad many times and told him Harry was now her brother. She didn't notice Draco sulking in a corner. He did, however, get up and shove Harry out of the way so he could tell her they were going to owl each other over the summer.

After a while, Bella quickly asked before it was time to leave, "Can I go explore one last time?"

"You explored one last time when you left for Hogwarts after Christmas," Mrs. Malfoy said. "But yes, go ahead, baby. Sorry," she muttered, glancing at Anwen.

Bella went on wandering alone in the corridors. She made it a goal to find all the house elves and see them again. She saw Dobby and Dotty, along with all the others. Soon, she was in a dark, second floor corridor when she saw something she dreamed about.

Author's question: O boy...what could be in that door? I would not blame you if you cannot guess it, but you will have to wait to find out! I can't wait, can you?