A/N: Here it is, the second to the last chapter. Enjoy!

I don't own Harry Potter. He belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 27: Everything Happens for a Reason

"The cave is going to collapse!" Megan screamed as rocks (not pebbles anymore) fell from the ceiling.

"That's an understatement, Megan." Draco said as he wrapped an arm around Hermione, and put another arm over his head. Ron was edging away from Voldemort as the Dark Lord got to his feet.

"I must be off now." Voldemort said after taking another look up at the ceiling. There was 'pop', and a boulder landed on the spot where he was once standing. He had Apparated out of there.

"Damn him." Alina muttered under her breath as a pebble landed on her head. She tried getting Harry onto his feet. "C'mon Harry, up you go. We have to get out of here." He stood up, but he was a bit wobbly. "Are you feeling okay? I'm not sure; maybe Voldemort put you under that curse while we were gone. But it's okay now, he's not here." Harry adjusted his glasses, and almost fell backwards if Alina hadn't caught him. "Hang on to me, okay? Don't let go." She said as she brought his arm over her shoulder, "Lean on me. It's okay."

"Alina! Hurry!" Ron called out. He was waving her over. Alina looked at Harry, and he nodded. The two broke into a run, and they stood face-to- face with the wall they had come in from.

"How are we going to get out?" Alina asked. Ron shrugged. Draco was pressing his fingers against the wall.

"I don't think there are any buttons." Hermione said softly, and Draco gave up on the wall.

"Let's just break it down." Megan suggested. Draco and Ron shared a nod before they forced themselves against the wall. They kept at it until their bodies were sore.

"That hurts." Ron said, rubbing his shoulder. Megan paced back and forth.

"We're going to die in here, aren't we? We're going to be squashed." Harry lifted his head slowly.

"Have you all forgotten about your wands?" Ron and Draco looked at him disbelievingly.

"Ugh! What's the charm that breaks things?" Ron yelled at himself as he swished his wand around.

"Break-a...something. I can't remember." Draco said, rubbing his temples. Megan whipped out her wand.

"Breakatus!" Megan exclaimed. The wall in front of them crumbled, and there was a thick puff of smoke. But they didn't wait for the smoke to clear so they could start walking. "I can't see! Ron, where are you?" someone grabbed onto her arm, and she screamed.

"It's only me, Meg." Ron assured.

"I still don't know how we're going to get up to that other path. That's probably the only way out of here." Draco said.

"We'll think about it when we get there." Alina said. She had to stop once in a while to allow Harry to catch his breath. "Hang in there, we're almost outta here." Harry nodded, and they caught up with Draco and Hermione.

"We should think about it now. We might not have time to think about it there." Hermione said.

"I still think we should levitate each other back up to the other path." Alina shrugged.

"It sounds good to me. As long as we get out of this cave, I'm fine. We'll probably have to levitate each other to get out of the other path anyway." Alina looked up, "I think we're here already." Draco nodded.

"Harry, you first. Alina, you two work together in Charms, so he probably trusts you the most. Levitate him up to the other path. Meg, you're after her, followed by Ron, Hermione, and I'll go last." The group nodded, and Alina pointed her wand at Harry. He flinched.

"I won't hurt you." Alina said softly, "Wingardium Leviosa!" Harry floated in the air, until he landed on the other path. Megan followed, levitating Alina, and the rest of them went as Draco had ordered. "OW!" a large rock hit Alina at the back of her head.

"The rocks are getting bigger." Hermione said as she dodged a falling rock.

"I just want to get out of here alive, I just want to get out of here alive." Megan repeated.

"We will!" Draco said as they started running again. "There's the trapdoor. You know the drill." They levitated each other, one by one, and soon they were all out of the cave. Ron spotted the invisibility cloak lying on the ground beside the trapdoor and picked it up.

"I don't think all of us can fit under it." Ron said as he tossed the cloak to Draco.

"Let's just cover Alina and Harry." Hermione suggested, and Draco put the cloak over the two. They walked back to the school in silence, and it stayed that way until they pushed the big oak doors open. Teachers, Prefects, Head Boys and Girls were patrolling the corridors. Professor McGonagall ran to them, worry written all over her face.

"What are you all doing out on school grounds? It's after hours, and it is believed that Voldemort is prowling around the Forbidden Forest. Were you not aware that your lives were in danger?" she asked. She didn't sound as stern as she usually would, though. Her voice broke in between sentences, and she was talking faster than usual. "You all have cuts and bruises. I think you all should pay Madam Pomfrey a visit." She said before nodding them off. "Miss Adams." She called, and Megan walked to Professor McGonagall without the whole entourage.

"Yes, Professor?" Professor McGonagall's face softened considerably.

"Alina Halliwell has yet to be found. But as soon as we do, I will inform you. Did you by any chance see her when you were outside?" Megan shook her head.

"No, Professor." She lied. Professor McGonagall nodded, and Megan caught up with the group waiting for her around the corner. "Alina, are you still there?" Alina lifted the cloak.

"Harry passed out. We need to get to the hospital wing, pronto." Alina ordered.

"I'll go inform Dumbledore that you've been found." Hermione said before running down the corridor.

******

Harry stretched out in bed, and immediately brought a hand to his forehead. He ran a hand over his scar, and sighed. He opened his eyes to see Professor Dumbledore standing over his bed.

"You went to look for Miss Halliwell yesterday." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

"Professor, I didn't intend on this-"

"I understand your intentions were all good ones, but you should've realized that you too were in danger. If your friends hadn't arrived on time, you would've died. You know that, right?" Harry nodded. "Lord Voldemort got away, and the Order was unable to track him down. I was told he fled the scene when the cave began to give way." There was a knock on the door, and Madam Pomfrey grumbled as she walked out of her office. She opened the door, and Professor Lupin and Snuffles walked in.

"I still don't understand why you must bring that dog everywhere." Madam Pomfrey said before she went back to her office. Professor Dumbledore excused himself, to allow Harry privacy with the professor and his godfather.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Professor Lupin asked as he pulled the curtains around the bed back. When he saw that they were out of Madam Pomfrey's sight, Sirius was in human form.

"I'm fine. My scar burst open yesterday. It was painful." Harry said. Sirius stepped forward.

"Peter died." Harry frowned, "He fell into the Fire of Life."

"There goes your trial. Your name will never be cleared now." Sirius shrugged.

"As long as you and your friends are safe, my trial doesn't matter. Besides, I'm getting used to living used to living like a dog." There was another knock on the door, and before Sirius could transform back into a dog, the person at the door screamed.

"YOU'RE SIR-" Harry laughed at the sight of Alina, with Professor Lupin's hand clamped over her mouth.

"Don't be frightened. I won't hurt you. It would've never crossed my mind, Miss Alina." Sirius said. Alina's eyes widened, and she forced Lupin's hand off of her mouth.

"How did you get into this school? You killed people! Harry?" Alina turned to Harry, and then back up at Sirius, "How do you know my name?" Professor Lupin cleared his throat.

"We haven't been completely honest with you. Snuffles is not a real dog, but an Animagi. Snuffles, in human form, is Sirius Black." Professor Lupin explained calmly.

"THERE'S BEEN A KILLER SLEEPING IN MY BED!?"

"I'm not-"

"DOES DUMBLEDORE KNOW THAT ONE OF HIS STUDENTS-"

"Alina, it's okay. He didn't kill anybody." Harry said.

"Don't you read the Daily Prophet? He killed a whole street of-"

"It wasn't me. I was framed. It was Peter Pettigrew."

"Wormtail?" Alina asked. Sirius nodded.

"The story is too complicated, but I swear that when I find the time, I will tell you the whole story." Sirius said. Alina still looked at him uncertainly. "I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner. Dumbledore knows I'm not a killer, and he put your safety in my hands because he knew I was the right man for the job. And besides, being here allowed me to spend more time with my godson." Harry waved.

"He's your godson?" Sirius and Harry nodded. "Okay, I'm not mad, Snu- Sirius. It's just that I told you...stuff." Alina said, trying to discreetly nod her head towards Harry. Professor Lupin pretended he didn't notice, and Harry and Alina blushed.

"I didn't say anything. It's between the two of us."

"Remus, you-" Alina quickly ran and hid behind Sirius when Snape entered the room. She still had mixed feelings about him ever since she believed he had tried to kill her.

"It's only ol' Snape. There's nothing to be scared of. Although I wouldn't blame you for-"

"Sirius." Snape said stiffly, "Miss Halliwell, I had no intentions of killing you. I was used as a sort of decoy for the Order." Alina peered at him from behind Sirius and blushed.

"Of course, Professor. I knew that...I think." There was silence. Alina turned to the three men. "I was wondering if I could have some privacy with Harry for a while. That's why I came here." The three men nodded, and left Alina and Harry alone. Alina pulled up a chair, and sat beside Harry's bed. They avoided looking at each other.

"Um...so...?"

"Yeah...so...um, I've been thinking a lot lately about the fact I'm not a werewolf, and why I came here in the first place. If my parents had told me sooner, I probably wouldn't be here. I might have some other life, and I never would've met Meg, or you, or anybody else. I probably would've ended up being a witch at some American wizarding school... Harry, do you believe that everything happens for a reason? That something happens in your life for reason, no matter how good or bad it is, it happens because it'll affect your life in the future?" Harry nodded. "I came here for a reason, Harry. I came here to help me find out about my life, and who I am... But most importantly, I came here to meet you. At first, I thought I was just going to watch you from a distant. I never thought I'd actually get to know you, and have the honor of calling you one of my friends."

"I'm one of her friends. Well, what was I expecting? Did I actually believe she'd tell me she likes me?" he thought, feeling crushed. But, hold on a second, there was more.

"And Harry, if I never met you, I would've never fallen for you." Harry's eyes widened, and Alina blushed. He reached over and lifted her head with his hand. He leaned over and *finally* kissed her.

******

"OH MY GOD!!!" Hermione, Penelope, and Megan all screamed at the same time. Alina sat atop of her four-poster, grinning at her friends' reactions.

"You told Harry!" Megan exclaimed before hitting Alina with a pillow.

"What was that for?" Alina asked, tossing the pillow back to Megan.

"For taking so damn long to do it in the first place." Penelope said as she too hit Alina with a pillow.

"So give me all the details again. It all sounded, just...too perfect." Hermione sighed.

"Yeah. 'If I never met you, Harry, I would've never fallen in love with you.'" Megan said in a voice higher than her own. The other girls, including Alina, giggled.

"I didn't say those exact words." Alina said, blushing.

"Who made the first move?" Hermione asked, with her eyebrow arched. The three girls flopped onto her bed, and stared at Alina dazedly as she gave them every little detail of her 'coming out' with Harry. The girls sighed, and giggled the way giddy Muggle teenyboppers did when that group *NSYNC would swivel their hips. "Alina's got a boyfriend." Hermione chorused, and the other two girls joined in.

"So does Hermione." Alina countered as Megan and Penelope ooh-ed.

"Okay, okay. Come off it-"

"Hermione and Draco!" the three girls sang.

"Keep it down." Hermione hissed.

"Everyone will find out eventually." Megan said, a mysterious grin on her face.

"You wouldn't." Megan's grin grew wider.

"I just might tell the whole Great Hall tonight at din-"

"You do and I'll-"

"Well, will you look at that? It's suppertime already!" Megan jumped off the bed and ran out of the room, followed by Alina, Penelope, and very red Hermione.

******

"I still can't believe the Quidditch Finals have been called off. It's so unfair!" Ron, Harry, and Fred were sitting together in the Great Hall during dinner, and listened as George went on about the Quidditch Finals being called off. "It's our last year. The Cup was sure to be ours this year, too. Our team has the best players Hogwarts has ever seen! Katie Bell, Alicia-"

"Your girlfriend's here." Ron said after nudging Harry in the stomach.

"Girlfriend? 'Ickle Harrykins has got a girlfriend!" Fred cooed as the four girls walked up to the table.

"What did I miss?" Alina asked. Ron scooted over to give her the spot next to Harry.

"Nothing much. George was just talking about the Quidditch Finals being called off." Harry explained. When Alina had taken her seat, he went in and pecked at her cheek. Fred and George were hooting with glee.

"Oh shut up." Alina said as she lowered her head to hide her blush.

"Oh you two should just get a room." George said.

"Shut up." Harry said through gritted teeth. Megan, a couple of seats down the table, cleared her throat. She tapped her goblet with a fork, and stood up. The Great Hall silenced, and all eyes were on her as she stood up.

"Silence, please. Thank you. I'd just like everyone to know that-"

"Don't say it Meg, don't say it Meg." Hermione pleaded.

"Harry Potter and Alina Halliwell finally got together-"

"Oh my god, I can't believe she just did that." Alina's face was almost pressed up against the table as she tried to avoid everyone's gaze. Even the Slytherins were looking over at her. Someone put an around her, and she looked up to see Harry grinning at her.

"It's okay. We've got about a month left of school to humiliate her." He assured. Alina snuggled against him as the students and teachers in the Great Hall resumed dinner.

"You didn't say it." Hermione said as Megan sat back down.

"Of course I didn't. It just looks like Draco has finally found his place with the Slytherins again, and I didn't want to sabotage that. It's up to you to tell people, and I don't have the liberty to speak for you." The two of them looked over at the Slytherin table to see Draco actually sitting amongst other people. He was laughing about something with Blaise Zabini, and looked up in time to catch the two girls looking at him. He raised his goblet, and nodded his head. Megan and Hermione, following Draco's lead, lifted their goblets.

"I'm officially a single girl! Percy and I are through!" Penelope squealed as she waved a letter in Hermione and Megan's faces. Megan snatched the letter out of Penelope's hand.

"Let me see that." Megan said. Penelope was reading it aloud from over Megan's shoulder.

"Remember how I went to Hogsmeade to meet him and the other Penelope? Well, we both broke up with him, but he stormed out on us. He finally wrote me back! He said he's sorry, and that he hopes I do reach my goal of becoming," Penelope started blushing, "Mistress of Magic. He also said that I shouldn't hesitate to ask him for help when I try applying for a job at the Ministry. He promised he'll put a good say in for me." Penelope said, grinning.

"This year started out tough, but by the looks of it, things are getting better every day." Penelope was still clutching the letter with a huge grin on her face. Ron and Megan were joking around, and Alina and Harry were staring at each other... Hermione suddenly remembered something. "I FORGOT TO STUDY FOR O.W.L.'S!!!"

A/N: Brace yourselves. The next chapter will indeed be THE LAST CHAPTER! -Gryffindor Heiress