Chapter 15: …and What Might

Chapter 15: …and What Might

Harry stared at the pouring rain through the window. He watched sadly as the carriages pulled farther and farther away from Hogwarts. Another year had come and gone, anther year where his life had been threatened. Each year he wished more and more that he didn't have that scar. He didn't feel like anyone special. Unlike Hermione and Azar, he hadn't finished his O.W.L.'s testing one hour before anyone else. The only thing he felt any good at was quidditch.

They reached the Hogsmeade station. Everyone ran to the train as quickly as they could, covering their heads from the rain. This summer storm was unusually violent. Harry soon found a compartment with Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George. They all set up for a wizarding chess tournament. The conversation eventually turned to the Dream Controlling Curse, and Harry told them about the dream Dean had had, and they one he had the first night.

"You've kept that from us the whole year?!" Ron exclaimed.

"Hey, Ron, that reminds me," Harry said, quickly turning the tables, "That day Dumbledore took you aside, what did he say to you?"

Ron's face went bright pink. "I-well…"

Fred gaped. "He didn't come on to you, did he?"

Everyone burst out laughing. It was just what they needed to lighten the mood.

"No, he didn't," Ron answered, his grin slowly fading, "He told me… Well, he said he was proud of me. Tha-that not many people could handle…what had happened the way I did."

Everyone was silent. George reached out and patted Ron's back gingerly. They slowly got back to the chess game, no one speaking for a while.

****

The journey back was pretty enjoyable, though their compartment was a little crowded. Azar and Neville had joined them, making seven people in all. Various conversations and games were going on all at once, making it awfully noisy. Having used his trunk as a table, Ron was placing the final cards on top of his pyramid. Inconspicuously, Azar swiftly removed a bottom card. The whole stack tumbled, exploding. Ron's face was astonished and a smeared with soot. All in the compartment burst out laughing.

"Sorry, Ron," Azar grinned, holding up the card she had removed, "I couldn't resist."

Before anyone could even let out another laugh, the card in Azar's card exploded. Everyone was practically rolling this time, Azar laughing hardest of all.

"This is about the time Malfoy should enter with a snide remark," Harry said, wiping the tears from his eyes, "Where is he, anyway?"

"Haven't seen him this whole trip," Fred grinned, "and don't say anything to jinx it, Harry. We're perfectly happy without the prat."

Harry made eye contact with Ron and Hermione. They all raised their eyebrows questionably, indicating that none of them knew where Draco was.

"Hey, since we're almost there, care for a race around the train, Azar?" Fred asked, grinning.

"Sure, but don't think for a moment, Mr. Weasley, that you'll beat me."

"Ah, but can you beat me with jelly-legs?"

"No curses! Just leg power."

Fred and George went out into the hall. Azar followed, whispering to Harry as she went, "I think I'll let them win this time. It is, after all, their last year."

The sounding of running footsteps and shouts soon filled the corridor, and faded away.

"I-I'm gonna go, too," Neville mumbled, blushing, "I've gotta meet a gi- someone."

He quickly darted out the door before they could question him. Hermione listened to his fading footsteps, then turned to the boys.

"I have something for you, Harry," she smiled, pulling a small vile out of her pocket, "One drop of this and it'll make a person extremely nice for a week. I figured you could use it on the Dursleys. It's called the Sickeningly Sweet Solution."

"How in the world did you make that?!" Ron gawked.

"Well, I got the recipe from Moste Potente Potions. Professor Connerly signed for it without even reading what I was asking for. She's too busy all of the time, but of course this is only her first year teaching. Anyways, I borrowed Harry's invisibility cloak one night-"

"What?!"

"Relax, Harry. It's safe and sound in your trunk. Well, then I snuck into Snape's office and…er, borrowed a few things. It took a while brewing, but I really got to know Myrtle better. She's actually an okay person, so long as you don't push the wrong buttons. So, I hope you don't mind if I give you your birthday gift early this year, Harry," Hermione finished, handing Harry the vile, "It might help you have a happier summer."

Ron gaped. "Hermione, you're such a witch…"

Hermione blushed, smiling. "Thank you."

Harry stared at the light blue liquid, stars in his eyes. He couldn't believe it. He might actually have an enjoyable summer this year.

"I've got to put this in my trunk," he said, "If I lost it, I'd die. I don't know how to thank you, Hermione."

"Oh, it was nothing."

Harry reached into his trunk, wrapping the vile safely in his invisibility cloak. Then, something else caught his eye. "Oh my gosh, the note!"

Ron and Hermione stared at him as he brandished the piece of paper. "Here, read this. Someone sent it to me this summer," he said, handing it to them, "Tell me what you think."

When she finished, Hermione looked back up to Harry with wide eyes. "Thi- that was this year…"

"I know."

"But what was the 'Day of Dreams'," Ron questioned.

"Maybe the day I met with Voldemort again," Harry shrugged, "That fits in many ways. I'm just not sure."

"Harry, this is amazing!" Hermione gasped, "If there's someone out there who is telling you what's to come… The possibilities are enormous!"

Just then, the train stopped. The three friends quickly got off with their trunks and headed for platform 9 and ¾'s exit.

"What does it mean, though?" Ron asked, "Was it a threat or a warning?"

"I don't know. The real question is," Harry said worriedly, "who wrote it?"

~*~*~

A/N: Ah, well that's the end of my fanfic. I hope y'all liked it! I know I loved writing it. Is that too much of a cliffy? I hope so! That way you'll have to read my next fanfic to find out! I'm going to write about Harry's 6th and 7th years also. (Whoops! Now you know that Harry lives through his 6th year. Oh well.) After that…*shrugs* I have a few ideas for other HP fanfics, but none of them with Harry as the main character.

I won't update as much, though, probably. I have a goal this summer to finish my first novel, so that will take top shelf at all times.

Thank you all for reviewing!!! I enjoyed reading them and some of them made me realize what I missed and would have to fit in somehow.

Oh, one last thing. When I write about Harry's 6th year, I can promise you that it will be quite a bit longer and so will the chapters (hopefully…). I kind of raced through this one, but I don't think I'll do it again. ^-^

Well, that's all. Be excellent to each other!

-Ady