The Potter Twins and the Philosopher's Stone

Chapter 9: Going Home….

In the hospital wing the next day, Harry and Michael are lying in beds. Harry's arm is bandaged. Michael has a few bandages on his head and face. They awaken. Harry puts on his glasses, and sits up.

Michael is happy to see Fleet sleeping on his lap.

There are cards and candy all over. Dumbledore approaches them

Dumbledore, "good afternoon, Harry, Michael. Ah. Tokens from your admirers?"

Harry, "admirers?"

Dumbledore, "what happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows."

They all smile.

Michael says, "glad to see people cared about us."

Dumbledore, "ah, I see your friend Ronald has saved you the trouble of opening your Chocolate Frogs."

Harry, "Ron was here? Is he all right? What about Hermione?"

Dumbledore, "fine. They're both just fine."

Michael, "but, what happened to the Stone?"

Dumbledore, "relax, dear boys. The stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicholas and I had a little chat and agreed it was best all around."

Harry, "but Flamel, he'll die, won't he?"

Dumbledore sits on the bed, "he has enough Elixir to set his affairs in order. But yes, he will die."

Michael, "how is it I got the Stone, sir? One minute I was staring in the mirror, and the next…."

Dumbledore, "ah. You see, only a person who wanted to find the Stone, find it, but not use it, would be able to get it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between us three, that's saying something."

Harry, "does that mean, with the Stone gone, I mean, that Voldemort can never come back?"

Dumbledore, "ah, I'm afraid there are ways in which he can return. Harry, Michael, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you two touch him?"

Harry shakes his head.

Michael said, "haven't a clue", as he began to pet Fleet.

Dumbledore, "it was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you both, and that kind of act leaves a mark", Harry and Michael touch their scars, "no, no, this kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin."

Harry, "what is it?"

Dumbledore, "love, my boys, love."

Harry and Michael smile with tears in their eyes.

He pats their heads gently and stands up.

Dumbledore, "ah. Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. I was most unfortunate in my youth to come across a vomit flavored one, and since then I have lost my liking for them. But I think I could be safe with a nice toffee….", he takes a brown bean and eats it, "mm. Alas. Earwax."

The boys laugh at the old man's words.

...

Harry, with his arm still bandaged, and Michael, holding Fleet, enter a corridor where up on a stairwell balcony, Hermione and Ron are talking. They stop when they see Harry and Michael and lean over the railing.

Harry, "all right there, Ron?"

Ron, "all right? You?"

Harry shrugs, "all right."

Michael, "and you, Hermione?"

Hermione, "never better."

….

We see the Great Hall, full of students eating and talking with each other. There are green and silver banners with the Slytherin symbol above their heads, already indicating the house with the most points. Dumbledore gives a slight nod to professor McGonagall, who then clinks her spoon to her glass, to ask attention from the students. The crowd falls silent. Dumbledore stands up and speaks with his magically magnified voice.

Dumbledore, "another year, gone! And now, as I understand it, the house cup needs to be awarded and the points stand thus. In fourth place: Gryffindor, with 312 points", there is a medium applause from the crowd, "in third place: Hufflepuff, with 352 points", the applause for Hufflepuff is slightly louder than the clapping for Gryffindor, "second: Ravenclaw, with 426 points", applause again, this time with a slight cheer from some students, "and in first place, with 472 points: Slytherin house!"

A loud roar rises from the Slytherin table, as students stand up and clap for themselves. Hermione scowls with her hand to her cheek; Snape applauds the students of his house.

Draco, "nice one, mate", he sneers at Ron.

Dumbledore, "yes, well done Slytherin, well done Slytherin. However, recent events must be taken into account and I have a few last minute points to award", some faces at the Gryffindor table rise hopefully, "to Miss Hermione Granger, for the cool use of intellect while others were in grave peril: forty points!"

Hermione looks surprised, while the other Gryffindor students applaud her.

Harry gives Hermione a pat on the back, "good job."

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle don't like what's happening. Hermione looks at Hagrid, who looks back to her with a proud smile.

Dumbledore, "second, to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best played game of chess that Hogwarts has seen these many years: forty points!"

Ron looks even more surprised than Hermione did and the Gryffindor table is applauding even louder.

Dumbledore, "third, to Mr. Michael Potter, for outstanding bravery, duty to protect, and love: forty points!"

Everyone cheered even louder as Michael smiled brightly at the headmaster, Hagrid, and he even caught a small smirk from Snape!

Dumbledore, "and fourth, to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure love and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house: forty points!"

The Gryffindors cheer again, this time even louder than before. Malfoy has a cringing look on his face, while Harry sees a proud, smiling professor McGonagall at the teacher's table. Hermione, who has done some quick math, whispers to her fellow students.

Hermione, "we're tied with Slytherin!"

Now, the Gryffindors look really hopeful, as Dumbledore hasn't finished talking yet.

Dumbledore, "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 ten points to Neville Longbottom!"

Neville can't believe what he just heard and the Gryffindors that heard Hermione's whisper are cheering the loudest. Malfoy looks quite uncertain now.

Dumbledore, "assuming that my calculations are correct, I believe that a change of decoration is in order!"

He claps and motions his hands towards the Slytherin banners, where they flap heavily, until the banners have changed completely to red and gold with the Gryffindor symbol.

Dumbledore, "Gryffindor wins the House Cup!"

The Great Hall explodes with applause, not only from the Gryffindors, but also from the Ravenclaws and the Hufflepuffs, because they are glad that, for the first time in seven years, someone other than Slytherin has won the House Cup. Hagrid can't help himself to also cheer, and all students except the Slytherins throw their hats in the air, while Malfoy angrily throws his on the table in defeat. The Gryffindors around Harry and Michael are all congratulating them and Harry and Michael smile at Hagrid, who smiles back.

….

The outdoor train station. Students are walking around, getting on the train.

Hagrid, "come on now, hurry up. You'll be late. Train's leaving. Go on. Go on. Come on. Hurry up."

Harry hands Hedwig to a train man, while Michael carries Fleet in the crook of his scarf, and walks to an open door of the train with Hermione. Hermione waves to Hagrid, who waves back. Hermione gets on the train.

Hermione, "come on, Harry, Michael."

Harry, "one minute."

He and Michael walk over to Hagrid

Hagrid, "thought you were leaving without saying good-bye, didja?"

Hagrid takes a red album out of his coat pocket and hands it to Harry.

Hagrid, "this is for you two."

Harry opens the album and sees a picture, moving, of him and Michael as babies with their parents. They are all smiling and waving. Harry smiles as Michael begins to tear up.

Harry, "thanks, Hagrid", he shakes Hagrid's hand, then hugs him tightly. Michael quickly joins in, and even Fleet seems to snuggle up to Hagrid.

Hagrid, "oh. Go on…. On with you", Harry and Michael let go, "oh, listen, Harry, Michael, if that dolt of a cousin of yours, Dudley, gives you any grief, you could always, um, threaten him with a nice pair of ears to go with that tail of his."

Harry, "but Hagrid, we're not allowed to do magic away from Hogwarts."

Michael, "yeah, you know that."

Hagrid, "I do. But your cousin don't, do he? Eh? Hehehe. Off you go."

Harry and Michael walk away, back to the train door where Hermione and Ron are waiting.

Hermione, "feels strange to be going home, doesn't it?"

Harry, "we're not going home. Not really."

Michael, "yeah…. This world…. It feels more like home than ever before…."

The train whistles and they climb aboard. As the train starts to leave, Harry and Michael wave out the window to Hagrid, who waves back and then waves more to other students as the train departs.

Thus ending the first great adventure…. Of the Potter Twins….

….

Reviews:

Canadude2029: indeed. Glad you enjoyed the chapter do much.

Bailey Radcliff: well, I'm glad you've been enjoying thr story so much.

ferns25100: I'm glad you enjoyed this story so much.

….

And thus ends the first installment of The Potter Twins.

Also, rest in peace Robbie Coltrane.

Hard to believe Hagrid died on the same day this chapter was published...