Getting excited in finishing this story

Getting excited in finishing this story! (Squirms in delight)  Only two more, people! All right, here's chapter 29.

Chapter 29

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Harry looked around the office.  Dumbledore was standing behind his desk.

  "What happened? Did you get the necklace?  Are you all right?" he asked.  Harry felt like he had lost his voice.  He couldn't speak.  "Briana, is everything all right?" 

Professor Sullivan came behind Harry and Ron, with Hermione by her side.  "Hermione has been hit.  We need to take her to the hospital wing."

They manage to get to the hospital wing without anyone seeing.  Professor Dumbledore explained to Madam Pomfrey what had happened, or at least he told her a mere lie.

  "Will she be all right?" asked Ron, his voice quivering.  He looked up to Professor Sullivan.  She looked back at him and smiled weakly.

  "Yes, she hadn't been hit that bad.  It was a bad hex but I'm sure she'll be all right," she answered.

  "This is all my fault.  I should've been the one who got hit with that hex."  Professor Sullivan sighed and sat on the chair next to Hermione's bed.  She put her head on her hands.  Harry looked around.

  "Where are Sirius and Remus? Didn't they got out of the portal?" he asked.  Professor Sullivan looked around.

  "Maybe they are in the headmaster's office," she replied.  Harry looked at her.  He had something that he always wanted to ask her.

  "Professor, why do you hold your wrist?  Do you have a Dark Mark?"

She looked up at him.  "It's not a Dark Mark, honestly, the Dark Mark is on the left arm.  No, I have never been and will not be a Death Eater.  I think I know a lot better than that.  No, it's, er," She pulled up her sleeve and showed his a scar across her wrist. 

  "Where did you get it from?" he mused. 

  "Er, Harry, there's something I need to tell you.  Harry, I'm your godmother."

  "Er, Professor, I already know."

  "Oh, well, that difficulty is done.  Well, your parents chose me as second guardian to you.  In other words, if there were anything that would happen to your parents or Sirius, I would be the person who takes care of you.  Now, we all know what happened and, well, I insisted that you should live with me.  But the headmaster disagreed and he thought it would be best if you were to stay with your relatives.  This scar is a symbol of my sacrifice to you.  I'm sorry if I can't tell you the whole reason behind it, but sooner or later you will understand.  I'm sorry, Harry."

Harry was staring determinedly back at her.  "It's all right, you don't have to tell me, right now, anyway.  I understand.  So you're my godmother?  Am I going to live with you?"

Professor Sullivan opened her mouth to say something, but Dumbledore walked towards them.  Madam Pomfrey was bustling around Hermione.

  "She's all right.  Madam Pomfrey will have to take care of her for two days.  But I assure you that she will not miss your O.W.L.s," he added, his eyes twinkling.  "She will be unconscious for the time I have told you, which is two days.  Mr. Weasley and Potter do not worry about your friend.  Now, tell me, what has happened?"

  "Maria, she's a Death Eater," said Professor Sullivan, her eyes getting misty.  She turned around to wipe them.  "We saw the ceremony.  It's just so-" She couldn't talk anymore. 

  "Interesting, interesting.  Mad-Eye has hinted that there will be a traitor again in our midst.  I can see why Voldemort would feel that it is necessary to have a member of the Order of the Phoenix in his group.  Tell me, does he have the other two necklaces? And where are Sirius and Remus?" asked Dumbledore, quietly.

  "He has them, all right.  Maria used them to get into the castle during the game.  She disguised as me.  I'm betting that she was the one that broke in the castle that one time."

  "Yes, very understandable.  But where are Sirius and Remus? Didn't they got out of the portal too?" he repeated. 

  "I didn't see them coming back in," replied Harry, getting worried.  "Maybe they are in your office, Professor."

  "Indeed, maybe, perhaps I should check.  I will leave you in charge here, Briana.  Are sure you are all right, Harry? Ron?"  They both nodded.  "Good.  Make sure that they are safely back to the Tower, Briana," he added as he left. 

They stayed at the hospital wing for as long as Harry can remember.  That time he wasn't himself.  The memories of today flourished like the events of the Triwizard Tournament of last year.  He couldn't help but see them every time he has closed his eyes.  Ron wasn't in very good shape either.  For the next few days, he kept muttering to himself and refused to talk to anyone but Harry.  If he weren't at the common room at day, he would be at the hospital wing visiting Hermione. 

After the two days, Hermione woke up.  She was anxious and relieved.  Anxious, because she thought she had missed the O.W.L.s.  Relieved, because she thought that Harry and Ron had died.

  "Thank goodness you two are all right," she said the first time she had woke.  "So what happened? Did we beat them?"

  "Er, let's just say that you just glad we were out of there before anything else happened," Harry remarked. 

  "Oh," she said.  She glanced at Ron, who remained quiet.  "Well, what's the matter with you?  Have you got the Silent Charm or something?"

  "No, it's just I-you should have, you know-took that curse for me," he said meekly. 

  "Oh, come on, Ron, don't be stupid.  You would have done the same thing for me," said Hermione simply. 

  "Yeah, but, you know, I don't reckon you had to suffer so much to…"

  "Don't worry about it, Ron.  The kind of girls Hermione and I are, well, let's just say that we aren't damsels in distress type, am I right, Hermione," said Professor Sullivan.  She just came in the hospital wing.  Hermione grinned at her.  "Are you all right, Hermione?"

  "Fine, thank you, professor," she replied. 

  "Good, then I would hope to see you on Friday for you O.W.L.s?" she asked.

  "Ugh, why do I have the feeling that I would rather face those Death Eaters again rather than do this," said Ron.  It was a bright Friday morning and sunlight has flooded the windows of the Great Hall.  "I mean I would rather go outside and lazy on about all day." 

  "Oh, honestly, Ron, we have to do this sooner or later," said Hermione.  "And besides, it's only going to be one day." 

  "Yeah, one day of misery," muttered Harry. 

  "You two, we had a lot of practice and I know you two are ready.  The O.W.L.s aren't that bad.  Don't be too nervous."

It was the Friday that they were to take their O.W.L.s.  The fifth years have a special schedule that they would have to follow all day.  They had gotten each a schedule to see what were they in for.   

  "It says right here that we will have the written exams with the Ravenclaws first.  Then the practical exams will be in the afternoons with them again," said Hermione as she was looking through her schedule. 

  "Well, it isn't that bad.  It's the Ravenclaws, right? I mean it's a good thing it's not the Slytherins.  They'll do anything to get us failing this test," said Ron.

They arrived in a huge classroom.  Professor Mcgonagall was their teacher for the written O.W.L.s.

  "Seat far apart from each other.  There will be no cheating.  Do your very best.  When you are finished, stay seated till everyone has finished.  I will be observing every single one of you.  Good luck." 

Harry and Ron looked at each other.  They knew that this wasn't going to be a nice experience.  They were given rolls of parchment from different subjects (ex. Potions, transfigurations, etc.).  They were also given special types of quills that were bewitched with an Anti-Cheating Charms.  Harry felt like he was there for eternity answering questions like what were the ingredients for a certain poison.  After they had finished the written part of the O.W.L.s.  The lunch break was much longer than usual. 

After lunch, they were to go to the grounds of the castle.  Professor Sullivan greeted them warmly as they approach her.

  "Hello, I will be your teacher for the practical O.W.L.s.  Get into groups of two and we will be dueling first.  Then I will ask you to come to me individually for the curses and charms and transfiguration test.  Good luck."

Harry and Ron were partners in the dueling test.  They had fun dueling that they almost forgot that they were taking the O.W.L.s.  After the duel, the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were called in alphabetical order.  Hermione, as Harry can tell by the superior look on her face, had done very well.  Finally, it was Harry's turn. Hermione and Ron bid him good luck.  He walked towards Professor Sullivan. 

  "Hello, don't reckon I'll go easy on you," she teased.  "Just because I'm your godmother."  She winked at him.  "All right, we will start with the Stunning Spell." 

It took an hour for the test to finish.  All Harry had to do is to perform the spells that Professor Sullivan told him to do. When he was finished, he and Hermione waited for Ron to go on. As they went up to the common room, relieved to have survived the exam, Professor Flitwick told them to follow him.

  "The Headmaster needs to see you three," he said.  He led to the headmaster's office.  Dumbledore was behind his desk.  He looked somber and was holding a piece of parchment.  He looked up.

  "Have a seat, you three," he said.  "I have something to tell you three." He added a piece of parchment to Harry.

Harry read it.  His eyes widened.  "Sirius and Remus had been kidnapped?"

All right, that's all! Please leave a review.