Chapter 8: Time to Say Goodbye
Junior emerged from the portrait hole after his friends. When he finally saw his friends in the hallway, he saw that they were frozen there.
"What?" asked Junior, still full of adrenaline.
"Hi, son." Junior didn't have to look up to see who spoke.
"Hi Dad," said Junior. His father had a stern expression on his face. Junior gulped; he was in trouble.
Then his father's features softened, and a smile formed on his father's face. "Couldn't wait up, could you?" teased his father. Junior and the others let out simultaneous sighs of relief. Junior had disobeyed his father, but perhaps his father would have done the same thing at his age. "Now tell me everything," his father said sternly.
Junior gulped again. His friends nodded at him. "Okay," said Junior, and then he obeyed--not leaving anything out.
His father did not look too surprised, but his father had seen a lot. "So now what?" his father asked.
It seemed obvious to Junior. "You tell Mr. Weasley directly," said Junior matter-of-factly. "Because we don't know who else to trust at the Ministry. Then Mr. Weasley exposes Clark and the other bad guys."
"No," croaked Jenny. "Junior, what if . . . "
Will finished for her. "What if the embarrassment forces Mr. Weasley's resignation anyway?"
Junior thought about it. Mr. Weasley, Jenny, and Will all had his friendship. And the possible stop to the conferences . . . and the Muggles in jail did pose at threat to the wizarding community . . . and . . . "How powerful could this Nightfall person be?"
"I haven't heard of either Nightfall or the Rune of Shadow," said his father. "Nightfall sounds like a fake name."
A battle of ideas raged in Junior's head. Perhaps, although at great sacrifice, they could defeat Nightfall . . . but what might he risk? . . . what tragic loss could he live with? And then he thought of the Moores'--not a very close family, but a family nonetheless. Clark had killed the father and had forever changed the survivors' lives. And Pallas . . . wounded, too scarred to risk showing any emotion save a love--a forbidden love for a girl named Jenny.
"Junior," said Jenny, disrupting Junior's train of thought. "Would you risk . . . my father's career?"
Junior had made up his mind. "Yes," he said firmly, even though it hurt terribly to say it to her.
And then Jenny began to sob, and Junior suddenly felt sick. When Jenny finally spoke, she spoke with unprecedented bitterness. "You and your heroic aspirations!" Junior's father's presence had not deterred her.
Junior stared at her, fighting back tears of his own. But if he had to lose her friendship, then . . . so be it. But he had to say something. "J- . . . Jen--"
But Jenny had already cut him off by throwing her arms around him. She began to cry on his shoulder, and Junior helplessly patted her on the back.
"Thank you," she finally said, "for doing the right thing."
***
Junior's father obtained Snape's permission to take Junior and Pallas with him that night. They flew by broomstick to the Ministry, where they went directly to Mr. Weasley and told him everything.
"I believe you," said Mr. Weasley after they had finished. "I've long suspected that Clark is a no-good git. A few trusted agents of mine and I will pin him by the end of the week, I'm sure. The two Muggles will be released, but we'll keep an eye on them. You were right to go to me first."
"And what about you, Ron?" asked Junior's father with concern.
"Don't worry about me," said Mr. Weasley cryptically.
"I always worry about you," said Junior's father. The two men laughed, but Junior wondered what made Mr. Weasley so confident.
"And The Truth?" asked Pallas.
"They might be related to the hate group that the Muggle brothers belonged to. Or maybe Clark set it all up to boost his reputation. We'll look into it."
"And Alicia Wilson and the wizard protesters?" asked Junior's father. "Any connection to Nightfall?"
"We'll see," said Mr. Weasley. "Clark only wanted to stay in power for roughly a week. Maybe Wilson was trying to stir up anti-Muggle sentiment before Nightfall's planned rise to power." He smiled at Junior and Pallas. "We'll need you two during the next week--to answer a few questions and testify. This should be quick, believe me."
***
The next few editions of the Daily Prophet showed that Mr. Weasley kept his promises--and worked fast. Clark and the other followers were exposed and convicted for the murder of Mr. Moore and various other crimes. The Muggle brothers were convicted of several instances of illegal hexing of Muggles. Alicia Wilson and her fellow protesters disappeared, and Mr. Weasley's newly trimmed Ministry was likely tracking her down.
Junior and his friends finished the year strongly. The Quidditch Cup went to the undefeated Gryffindors, thanks mainly to Junior. Pallas led the Slytherins to second place finish, save two losses to Junior: one in the regular season and one in the playoff game. Jenny finished as the top student in the class, with Pallas second, and Junior and the others included in the top ten.
The end of the year banquet arrived before they knew it. Junior and the others stuffed themselves with food, and then Headmaster Snape addressed the school.
"Another year at Hogwarts draws to a close. As you know, the rise of a new, powerful Dark Wizard was thwarted. This wizard, who calls himself Daius Nightfall, would have brought about a terrible war, if not for the efforts of one of our students who wishes to remain nameless."
Everyone started talking at once. Junior couldn't believe that Snape had decided to mention the last part.
Snape cleared his throat impatiently, and silence filled the room. "In honor of his accomplishment and bravery, I grant 100 points, and, thus, the House Cup to this student's house: the House of Gryffindor."
The Gryffindor table erupted in applause and words of jubilation, for none of them expected this final point adjustment. In fact, they had all accepted Slytherin's narrow edge on them for first place. Junior's Gryffindor friends and Pallas in the Slytherin table all flashed Junior knowing smiles, and Junior felt proud. He saw so many of the Gryffindors ask each other who the hero could be.
He had arrived at Hogwarts looking for fame, but, in the end, he had ultimately denied himself the glory. He didn't need it, and he didn't want Nightfall hunting him down.
When calmness finally returned to the Great Hall, Snape continued. "Our transfiguration professor, Professor Potter, has resigned after two years of admirable teaching."
Applause filled the room. Junior's mother stood up smiling and waved, mouthing thank you as she did so. Junior saw that Andy, Marcus, and several other boys looked on the verge of tears. The applause finally died down, and then Snape resumed his closing remarks.
"Professor Potter will be replaced by another excellent professor, a Lisa White. Enjoy the banquet, and we will see you all next year."
***
Junior didn't want the Hogwarts Express train ride to end. Junior, Will, Jenny, Pallas, and Charles tried to make the most of the last few hours.
When Junior and the others stepped off the train and onto Platform 9 3/4, he suddenly saw a girl with long, straight black hair.
"Julie!" Junior exclaimed as he approached her, revealing more enthusiasm in his voice than intended.
Julie turned around with a smile on her face. "Hi, Junior!"
"Julie, is the new transfig prof--"
"My mother? Yes, she is. Strange coincidence, huh? My mother taking over for your Mum, that is."
"Yes," said Junior. "Though I suppose the boys will be just as distracted in the class," he blurted out. Suddenly, he felt extremely embarrassed, and he tried to recover. "I mean, considering how you . . . "
Julie just grinned at him with amusement. "You can say it, Junior. You think I'm pretty. That's why you think my Mum's probably pretty, too."
So she knew!
"If you ever feel like writing me," she continued. "I'd appreciate it very much."
Junior felt his cheeks go scarlet. "Okay," he managed before quickly returning to his friends.
His friends dissolved into hysterics when he told them what had just happened. Then Junior held back the tears as they said their good-byes, and then Junior began to head for his waiting, smiling family.
"Junior," he suddenly heard Pallas say.
Junior turned around. Will, Jenny, and Charles had already reached their families; Pallas had the opportunity for a private word. "Yes, Pallas?" asked Junior.
Pallas spoke in an unnecessarily low voice. "Thanks for saving my chance--my chance for a relationship with Jenny."
"Oh," said Junior. "No problem."
Pallas half smiled, and then he waved his mother over.
Mrs. Moore dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief as she reached Junior, and then she took Junior's hand and shook it warmly. "Pallas and I are so grateful," she said as tears streaked down her face.
Her suffering moved Junior. "You're welcome," he said solemnly.
Pallas took his mother away, looking over his shoulder along the way to flash a smile at Junior.
Finally, Junior returned to his family, and they bombarded him with hugs and questions.
"Who's the dark-haired girl?" asked Bobby.
"Julie White, a Ravenclaw," said Junior knowingly.
"And the tall, dark boy?" asked Emily mischievously.
"Pallas Moore," said Junior. "A Slytherin, and a great friend."
They continued to talk incessantly as they boarded the flying van and as Junior's father drove them all back to Godric's Hollow.
***
A/N: Thanks to all the reviewers, and I hope that you all enjoyed this.
Yes, the chapter title comes from the beautiful song "Time to Say Goodbye" from Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.
I can't guarantee full-length fics for Junior's next six years, though I do have some definite ideas planned for year four. Perhaps I'll just do years four and seven.
Or maybe somebody else wants to write some of it for me? Just ask, and, other than giving you a few guidelines, I'll let you do whatever you want with the characters. Please be nice . . .
--May 23, 2001. Philip "Pottermaniac" Gonzales.
