Harry Potter and the Test
Chapter 10
I was wrapped in warmth. All around me, I could feel soft cloth swaddling me. Shifting slightly, I could feel how snuggly I was tucked in. The feeling was heavenly and I smiled, refusing to open my eyes.
Then, I sensed something odd. On my neck, I could feel something warm. Listening, closely, I could pick up a gentle inhale and then an exhale. Although my brain was slow, having been out for a while, I was quick to realize that the breaths I was feeling against my skin were not that of my own.
Slowly, so as to not jar my body anymore than necessary, I turned to my left. There, beside me, was a sight to behold.
Hermione was lying next to me. Snuggled under the sheets, she was turned towards me, her angelic face just inches away from mine. Immediately, I began to blush, for obvious reasons. Then, however, my heart began to swell. She was so beautiful; I was overcome with happiness.
Without moving, I allowed my eyes to look around the room. The lamps were burning softly, giving a comforting glow to the whole room. Outside the window, I wasn't able to see any stars from my vantage point, but the dark veil of night was clearly covering the school and the surrounding countryside. Shadows of books and owl-cages danced on the walls, but made no noise. The only sound to be heard was Hermione's gentle breathing, steady and metered.
I nudged myself closer to her ever so slightly. Picking up her scent, I inhaled it, allowing it to overwhelmed my senses. It was light, feminine, but not too flowery. A feeble attempt it may be to put it into words, but it was the smell of a girl who had fought a thousand battles, run through a thousand fields in a thousand summers and had a thousand dreams. She was an angel and I just happened to be blessed enough to have her lying next to me.
I couldn't resist myself any longer. Leaning into her, I kissed her softly on the lips. After a few moments, she stirred. Without opening her eyes, she reciprocated, allowing a soft smile to creep onto her lips. She opened her eyes slowly, and looked directly into mine, grinning.
Leaning over her, smiling back, I knew words didn't need to be said. We were madly in love, and nothing else in the outside world mattered.
Hermione let off a slight giggle and wrapped her arms around my neck. The sheets now pulled back a tad, I could see that she was wearing a beautiful white night gown, which made her look even more angelic. Her brown hair spilled all over the pillow and she glowed in the soft light which filled the room.
Careful not to jostle my injuries, she gently reversed our positions, turning me over so that I was on my back. I ached all over, but as she brought her hand to my face, holding it tenderly in her hands, the pain which gripped my limbs disappeared. As she leaned over me, I knew I was looking into the eyes of the girl I loved and always would.
Planting a passionate kiss on my lips, she stared into my eyes and smiled slyly, as if she knew some secret. Wanting to know more, I began the conversation.
"What happened?" I didn't have much of a voice, but I managed to get this out.
"A lot," she said, being far too concise. Lying down on her side next to me, she continued.
"After the battle, we."
"Wait, wait." I said, interrupting her. "How did you know about the battle?"
"We saw most of it. The doors were sealed shut by some spell and the glass wasn't flawless, so we only saw shifting shapes for the most part, no clear figures, but we knew you were in there; we had to watch the whole thing."
Her voice became choked at the end of her sentence.
"It was the scariest thing I've ever experienced."
She paused.
"You almost died." Finishing, I saw tears began to collect in her eyes. Her brown eyes sparkled in the light and her lips began to quiver. Not knowing how to respond, I wrapped her up in my arms and held her close to me.
"I'm guessing that you knew who I was fighting?"
"Yeah. After we woke up, Harry's scar was throbbing. We tried every spell we could think of, but we just couldn't get in there to fight with you. Voldemort must have put some curse on the door."
'She has no idea it was Malfoy being used as a pawn,' I thought. As much as I desired to talk about it, I thought it best to keep it to myself. There was enough animosity between him and our group.
"You guys would have fought with me?" I asked, slightly astonished. "Even after all I did and said to you?"
"Adam," she said sharply, tossing her head up to look at me directly, "of course! Look, we'll go through some rough times."
"Some very rough times," I interjected, trying to push home my point.
"Yes, we will, but we'll always come out of it okay. Harry is your brother, Ron is your friend."
"Still?" I inquired.
"Yes, and I'm.hopefully more than just a friend?" she asked, smiling sweetly.
"Hermione, you mean so much more to me than any friend ever could, and."
I knew what I wanted to say next, but stumbled on the words. It would be the first time I had said these words to anyone besides family, and I couldn't even get it right this one time.
".and.I love you."
Not knowing what to expect for a response, I braced for my face to be slapped with an open palm. However, the reply was much more pleasant.
"I love you, too, Adam." With that, she began to kiss me, first on the lips, and then on the neck. I 'hmmm'ed in delight, feeling her soft lips against my flesh.
"Then, I guess you won't mind wearing my pajamas," she said, pausing, and letting off a mischievous laugh.
"What?" I said, trying to see what I was clothed in. My eyes focusing, I observed that I was wearing a blue and white pinstriped button- down pajama top covered with little teddy bears, accompanied by what I was guessing to be matching pants. Before I could ask for an explanation, Hermione continued from where she had left off.
"When the doors finally opened, we ran in to find you curled up on the floor in the back corner. You were pretty badly beat up and your pajamas were pretty tattered." She laughed cautiously, beginning to blush as she finished.
"Are you saying I was naked?" I asked incredulously.
"Well, kind of. It wouldn't be the first time, though," she said, trying to brush off the thought. "Remember the first time I put you into bed?" she inquired, giving me a wink.
"Oh," was my only reply as it was my turn to become red as a beet.
"It's okay; don't worry. I didn't do anything bad and the guys didn't poke fun. Why would they? You just had defeated 'him'. You saved us all."
"Good point," I replied after considering her point, which made my cheeks cool a little.
"So," she continued, "we took you to the nurses' wing and they bandaged you up pretty good."
At this, I checked under my shirt and saw wads of medical tape and gauze covering most of my chest and one of my arms was in a cast I hadn't noticed until now. This was probably because it was soft and pillowy, cradling the arm rather then just rigidly holding it in place. It tingled a little, which was probably a sign that the bone-mending potion was at work already.
"The three of us managed to convince the nurse that you'd be more comfortable in your own bed than one in the hospital wing and since all they could really do was bandage you up anyway, they sent you back here, with us. I stayed by your bedside, and watched over you.all night."
I held her hand as she spoke, feeling like the most special being that had ever walked on the face of the earth. She smiled warmly at me and I returned the expression.
"I have a question, though."
"Shoot," she replied.
"What were you guys doing out that time of night when Voldemort got to you?"
Without a moment's hesitation, she answered:
"We were monitoring the halls around the nurses' wing so that 'he' wouldn't get to you while you were weak."
My heart swelled up, not believing the kind of friends I had, those who would protect and care for me, even in times of strife.
"We followed his voice 'til we got close to the Great Hall and."
She snapped her fingers.
"We were hit with a spell faster than you could say 'pumpkin juice'."
I didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry," was all I could muster.
"Don't be," she cooed. "We're always going to have your back, just like you'd have ours."
I nodded and gave her another hug, kissing the top of her head.
"And seeing you lying there, sleeping peacefully, I just could help climbing in next to you," she explained. "I hope you don't mind."
"I'm glad you did," I answered her. "There is not a more beautiful sight that I could ever wake up to."
She blushed again at my words and I kissed her once more.
Breaking the contact, she looked around the room, obviously to get me to ask another question, which I did in kind.
"Where is everyone?"
"At the end-of-the-year feast." She said it with such gusto, it was as if she had been waiting to speak the words for ions.
"Well, we got to go!" I said, already beginning to sit up. Surprisingly, I barely felt any pain as I did, even with the speed at which I bolted up from my pillow.
'Those nurses do a good job,' I though to myself happily.
About to head out the door, I heard Hermione call to me.
"Adam," she coaxed.
"What?" I asked, turning back.
"Might be a good idea to wear this," she said, holding up my uniform.
Looking down at the teddy bears, I nodded in agreement and hobbled over to her.
I could hear the murmurs building as we made our way towards the Great Hall. With one arm over her shoulder, Hermione aided me in our travel down the long and, at this moment, empty corridor.
"I guess the Great Hall is in good order, again," I remarked, noting that the year end tradition was in the same place as always.
"Well, it definitely needed some sprucing up, but everyone pitched in and got the job done," she replied. Looking down the hall, I didn't notice the smile that crept to her face.
"Students." I heard Dumbledore bellow over the crowd, off in the distance. The chattering died down at the implied command. Ambling as fast as we could, we continued to close the gap between us and the doors to the Great Hall. My ears remained at attention, wanting to grasp every word the headmaster was saying.
"It has been quite a year," he began, a remark followed by groans of agreement from students and faculty.
"We have been through unimaginable hardships, facing Dark Arts of the likes which I had never expected to grip this school."
Just one hallway to go.
"Friendships were strained and often times dissolved, comrades turning on each other for reasons unbeknownst to them. This power, so great, compelled them to follow through on these dastardly acts, a power, so great, it swept nearly all of us up in its wake."
We had finally arrived, standing in the doorway to the Great Hall. It was comforting to see the massive room filled with rows of witches and wizards, all sitting elbow to elbow in friendship and with out any acrimony between them.
Shifting my gaze, I remember the Slytherin table.
'Well, maybe not unbridled friendship,' I reminded myself. However, my train of though was broken by the return of the headmaster's voice to my stream of consciousness.
"All except perhaps one."
At this, every face in the room turned, taking their attention away from Dumbledore and bestowing it upon me. With Hermione latched onto my arm, we made our way into the hall, every eye focused on us. Trying to forget that we were in the limelight, I kept my head down, trying to make it to my spot at the Gryffindor table. Not a sound was made during that journey from the door to the bench, but it mattered little to me. I just needed to sit down.
With my rear firmly planted in its place, and Hermione settling down beside me, Dumbledore continued on with his speech.
"When this certain student," he said, trying to be vague, although everyone knew perfectly well he was referring to me, "arrived at this school, he asked the question: 'Why?' 'Why am I here?' 'Why am I just finding out now that I am a wizard?' 'Why can't I leave?' 'Why do you think I have some purpose?' 'Why, why, why?'
"Every time I would see him, I would inquire as to how his mission to ascertain the reasoning behind his presence was coming along. Every time, he replied that he was just as lost as he was the moment he arrived.
"Seeking a reason, he questioned his presence here, and, as I have always believed, every question deserves an answer. However, I think he can now see perfectly well why he arrived at Hogwarts', as accidental as it may have been. This student had a mission, and I can say, with the utmost honestly and condor, that he not only completely this task, but did so in the midst of the gravest times known to this school in its existence. Adam Borrowton, you have my gratitude and that of the entire school as well."
With that, the hall erupted in raucous cheers, whistles and whoops. Stunned and shocked by the sudden change in atmosphere, at Hermione's urging, I stood up and accepted the applause. Unsure at how to react properly, I merely waved to the students and then, as inconspicuously as possible, slipped back into my seat.
"As anyone can see," Dumbledore shouted, once more quieting the crowd, "the Great Hall remains undecorated. Before we decide upon a proper color scheme, I believe it is high time to assess the point totals as tallied thus far.
"Ravenclaw," he started, reading from a scroll that had just been handed to him, "has three hundred and twenty points."
A soft applause roamed around the room and quickly died down.
"Gryffindor has collected three hundred and sixty-one points."
Another soft applause. I clapped half-heartedly. With all the fight we had put into winning that cup.too bad we lost a game to Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Both of those loses set us back along with the one to Slytherin. Silently, I cursed myself, something which I could see much of my table participating in.
We weren't receiving the acclaim we rightfully deserved.
"Hufflepuff has accumulated four hundred and eleven points."
A louder applause erupted, but was still centralized around the table of second-place finishers. Clearing his throat, and looking a tad glum, Dumbledore read the final total.
"This means that Slytherin, with four hundred and seventy points, finishes in first place."
Loud cheers and shouts filled the room, although, a vast majority of them came from the winners table. Everyone else for the most part looked longingly at the Slytherin table and watched the ceiling, waiting for silver and green banners to unfurl from above.
"However, there is one more set of points which has yet to be awarded." At this, many students looked befuddled, wondering what other event could have the houses gained points for.
"Taking into account the recent events and the extraordinary valor and bravery of one, young wizard," Dumbledore said, smiling directly at me, "I award the Gryffindor house one hundred points."
Cheers of joys filled the air around us. Everyone knew very well that were still a few points short of winning the House Cup, but that mattered little. I had been rewarded for my accomplishments and a vast majority of the air had been let out of Slytherins tires. Clearly, it was a moral victory and one that we were all very proud of, first place or not.
"This means that Gryffindor will finish in second and Slytherin will t--"
"Headmaster, headmaster!" we heard a voice shout. Turning to the entryway, we saw Professor Pitwick trotting along at a good pace towards the table at the front of the Great Hall. Hurrying along, running past hundreds of eyes directed towards him, he clutched a small piece of paper in his hand. Approaching Dumbledore, he handed the slip to the headmaster and mumbled a few words, leaving the student body in the dark.
After scratching our heads for a few moments, wondering what could be important enough to interrupt the awarding of the Cup, Dumbledore finally spoke.
"Professor Pitwick.thank you, Professor," he added as an aside while Pitwick took a seat at the head table, "he has brought to my attention an error he made when he was totaling up the points his classes collected over the years. Luckily, he managed to find this paper, hidden in the back of his schedule, from the beginning of the year, just in time, you might say.
"Therefore," Dumbledore said boldly, to a silent crown, sitting up on the edge of their benches, "to complete the tallies, it must be noted that because of an exemplary response from Miss Hermione Granger, ten points will be added to Gryffindor score."
Rather then separate cheers and shouts of happiness, it was one solid wall of screaming glee which began at our table and soon spread to others, rejoicing in our triumph over Slytherin.
"Gryffindor wins the House Cup," the headmaster said, smiling, thoroughly enjoying the shift in events.
Dumbledore didn't even need to announce the new point totals; we knew we had four hundred and seventy-one points. We knew we had pulled off an upset. We knew we had the Cup. None of that really mattered. What we really were rejoicing about was the aches and pains which we had not only overcome, but triumphed over and through it all, becoming stronger for it. Hogwarts' was one again, and that's all that mattered.
I hugged Hermione tightly in the middle of the shouting crowd that was now on their feet. Giving her a kiss, I squeezed both her hands.
"Now, I know what you did that for," I laughed, with a wink. She just smiled back and kissed me in reply.
As the Cup was being passed down the line, I saw hand after hand touch its shiny surface, reveling in the madness of it all. Finally reaching Harry, he turned and bestowed it upon me.
"You hold it up; you deserve it."
He paused in mid-motion, handing the Cup to me.
".brother."
Grinning inanely, I gripped the Cup's handle and held it high above my head. Just when I didn't think a higher decibel of sound was possible, the Hall became even louder. Speechless, I just shouted along with them, yelling what ever came to mind which fit the occasion.
Looking to my left, I saw the Slytherin table. Standing up, they merely gawked at the turn of events. Through the jumping and jostling crowd, I managed to spot Malfoy.
Our eyes locked. He had probably forgotten everything. Even with the bandages, visible from across the room, he probably made up some elaborate story as to what happened, since he most likely had no memory of the event. Not expecting him to, I nonetheless smiled politely and gave him a reassuring nod of the head.
Then something happened which blew me away.
He nodded back.
It was there and then gone, lasting only for a fraction of a second. I wasn't even sure if it had happened, and there was no way to double- check, since it was so slight, and I know nobody else would be paying that much attention to my nemesis, but I could have sworn I saw it.
Would I ever again?
As the gold and red banners unraveled themselves all over the Hall, it was clear that the party was just beginning. Not wishing to see anymore, the Slytherin table began to move towards the door, passing by us on the way out, probably to get a last chance to glare at the Gryffindor students.
Malfoy approached me, his two thugs in tow. With his usual sneer, we came face to face, with just inches separating our expressions of distaste.
"Think you're pretty special holding that trophy, Borrowton?"
"Actually, Malfoy, you can refer to me as Potter," I replied with a smile. As much as I disliked him, I kept reminding myself of what I had just seen. Perhaps, a ray of hope in that dark heart possessed by a mister Draco Malfoy.
"Very well, Potter. Enjoy your new girlfriend," he spat.
"Oh, I will."
As the three began to walk away, slithering back into the crowd, I called to him.
"Malfoy?"
He turned back to me. I stepped towards him, meeting him again up close.
"You say one thing about her that displeases me, I will come after you," I stated without a quiver of hesitation.
Trying to reply, Malfoy simply opened his mouth once and then shut it. Reverting to facial expressions, he sneered at me once more, turned again and slipped into the mob and out of the Hall.
"So what are you going to do?" Harry asked me. The four of us were standing on the platform next to the Hogwarts' Express. After all the partying was over, we remained in the Great Hall, talking about all that we had been through. We decided to stay up all night, making the most of every moment we had. The school year was over, but we were trying to deny it for as long as we could. The train ride went by too quickly.
"I don't know," I replied. I had little to no luggage with me, which was more than what I came in with. My uniform was packed in a truck Hagrid had bought me and I also packed some trinkets that I had collected over the year. Other than that, all I had was the street clothes on my back.
"Go home?" Hermione asked me, a tad frightened. I gave her hand an extra squeeze to comfort her. Everyone awaited my response.
"I don't know. I mean..what do I have to go home to? I don't have any real parents, I am actually a wizard.I.everything has changed."
Silence reigned supreme as we stood there, trying to map out my future. I could hear the gears turning in all of our minds, along with the constant sound of chatter and footsteps that filled the air around us. However, Ron's was the first to spit out an answer.
"Why don't you come home with us?"
"You sure?" I asked, trying to feel out if he was being sincere.
"Of course. We have room.I'm pretty sure.my mom will love you and you'll be able to see Hermione," he said, as pleasantly as possible. Although much hadn't been said about my relationship with her, I think Ron finally had come to grips with it. Although our friendship might have been quite fragile, it was still existent and resilient. Perhaps time would help to mend the remaining wounds.
"Sounds good to me," I replied cheerily, seeing very few other options. Having little desire to go home, I was now looking forward to the summer. Seeing what I really was, Hogwarts' was now my home.
"Looks like we've got out summers mapped out. Harry? You going back home, I'm guessing?" Ron asked.
"Of course," he replied rolling his eyes, sighing with agonizing thoughts running through his mind. "Speaking of, I best be going."
"Don't forget to write me, guys," Harry said, giving Ron and Hermione each a hug.
"Especially you. Brothers have to keep it together," he laughed, recalling the year we had barely survived. After a handshake, we both gave up and resigned to sharing a hearty hug. Patting his back, I held back tears which began to collect in my eyes. Trying to hide them, I pulled away quickly.
"Bye," we both said simultaneously. Nodding at all of us, he grabbed his luggage and continued on down the platform.
"See you next year," I called after him.
He waved in response and disappeared into the throngs of people known as King's Cross Station. Not wanting to show any weakness in front of Hermione and Ron, I decided to split for a while
"I'm going to get a soda," I said.
"Don't be too long. My dad should be here soon."
Nodding, I walked off. Halfway towards the newsstand, something caught my eye. Some object on my shoulder was sparking as the light hit it. Touching it, my fingers became wet. I smiled, understanding.
Even the strongest of us need to cry sometimes.
Chapter 10
I was wrapped in warmth. All around me, I could feel soft cloth swaddling me. Shifting slightly, I could feel how snuggly I was tucked in. The feeling was heavenly and I smiled, refusing to open my eyes.
Then, I sensed something odd. On my neck, I could feel something warm. Listening, closely, I could pick up a gentle inhale and then an exhale. Although my brain was slow, having been out for a while, I was quick to realize that the breaths I was feeling against my skin were not that of my own.
Slowly, so as to not jar my body anymore than necessary, I turned to my left. There, beside me, was a sight to behold.
Hermione was lying next to me. Snuggled under the sheets, she was turned towards me, her angelic face just inches away from mine. Immediately, I began to blush, for obvious reasons. Then, however, my heart began to swell. She was so beautiful; I was overcome with happiness.
Without moving, I allowed my eyes to look around the room. The lamps were burning softly, giving a comforting glow to the whole room. Outside the window, I wasn't able to see any stars from my vantage point, but the dark veil of night was clearly covering the school and the surrounding countryside. Shadows of books and owl-cages danced on the walls, but made no noise. The only sound to be heard was Hermione's gentle breathing, steady and metered.
I nudged myself closer to her ever so slightly. Picking up her scent, I inhaled it, allowing it to overwhelmed my senses. It was light, feminine, but not too flowery. A feeble attempt it may be to put it into words, but it was the smell of a girl who had fought a thousand battles, run through a thousand fields in a thousand summers and had a thousand dreams. She was an angel and I just happened to be blessed enough to have her lying next to me.
I couldn't resist myself any longer. Leaning into her, I kissed her softly on the lips. After a few moments, she stirred. Without opening her eyes, she reciprocated, allowing a soft smile to creep onto her lips. She opened her eyes slowly, and looked directly into mine, grinning.
Leaning over her, smiling back, I knew words didn't need to be said. We were madly in love, and nothing else in the outside world mattered.
Hermione let off a slight giggle and wrapped her arms around my neck. The sheets now pulled back a tad, I could see that she was wearing a beautiful white night gown, which made her look even more angelic. Her brown hair spilled all over the pillow and she glowed in the soft light which filled the room.
Careful not to jostle my injuries, she gently reversed our positions, turning me over so that I was on my back. I ached all over, but as she brought her hand to my face, holding it tenderly in her hands, the pain which gripped my limbs disappeared. As she leaned over me, I knew I was looking into the eyes of the girl I loved and always would.
Planting a passionate kiss on my lips, she stared into my eyes and smiled slyly, as if she knew some secret. Wanting to know more, I began the conversation.
"What happened?" I didn't have much of a voice, but I managed to get this out.
"A lot," she said, being far too concise. Lying down on her side next to me, she continued.
"After the battle, we."
"Wait, wait." I said, interrupting her. "How did you know about the battle?"
"We saw most of it. The doors were sealed shut by some spell and the glass wasn't flawless, so we only saw shifting shapes for the most part, no clear figures, but we knew you were in there; we had to watch the whole thing."
Her voice became choked at the end of her sentence.
"It was the scariest thing I've ever experienced."
She paused.
"You almost died." Finishing, I saw tears began to collect in her eyes. Her brown eyes sparkled in the light and her lips began to quiver. Not knowing how to respond, I wrapped her up in my arms and held her close to me.
"I'm guessing that you knew who I was fighting?"
"Yeah. After we woke up, Harry's scar was throbbing. We tried every spell we could think of, but we just couldn't get in there to fight with you. Voldemort must have put some curse on the door."
'She has no idea it was Malfoy being used as a pawn,' I thought. As much as I desired to talk about it, I thought it best to keep it to myself. There was enough animosity between him and our group.
"You guys would have fought with me?" I asked, slightly astonished. "Even after all I did and said to you?"
"Adam," she said sharply, tossing her head up to look at me directly, "of course! Look, we'll go through some rough times."
"Some very rough times," I interjected, trying to push home my point.
"Yes, we will, but we'll always come out of it okay. Harry is your brother, Ron is your friend."
"Still?" I inquired.
"Yes, and I'm.hopefully more than just a friend?" she asked, smiling sweetly.
"Hermione, you mean so much more to me than any friend ever could, and."
I knew what I wanted to say next, but stumbled on the words. It would be the first time I had said these words to anyone besides family, and I couldn't even get it right this one time.
".and.I love you."
Not knowing what to expect for a response, I braced for my face to be slapped with an open palm. However, the reply was much more pleasant.
"I love you, too, Adam." With that, she began to kiss me, first on the lips, and then on the neck. I 'hmmm'ed in delight, feeling her soft lips against my flesh.
"Then, I guess you won't mind wearing my pajamas," she said, pausing, and letting off a mischievous laugh.
"What?" I said, trying to see what I was clothed in. My eyes focusing, I observed that I was wearing a blue and white pinstriped button- down pajama top covered with little teddy bears, accompanied by what I was guessing to be matching pants. Before I could ask for an explanation, Hermione continued from where she had left off.
"When the doors finally opened, we ran in to find you curled up on the floor in the back corner. You were pretty badly beat up and your pajamas were pretty tattered." She laughed cautiously, beginning to blush as she finished.
"Are you saying I was naked?" I asked incredulously.
"Well, kind of. It wouldn't be the first time, though," she said, trying to brush off the thought. "Remember the first time I put you into bed?" she inquired, giving me a wink.
"Oh," was my only reply as it was my turn to become red as a beet.
"It's okay; don't worry. I didn't do anything bad and the guys didn't poke fun. Why would they? You just had defeated 'him'. You saved us all."
"Good point," I replied after considering her point, which made my cheeks cool a little.
"So," she continued, "we took you to the nurses' wing and they bandaged you up pretty good."
At this, I checked under my shirt and saw wads of medical tape and gauze covering most of my chest and one of my arms was in a cast I hadn't noticed until now. This was probably because it was soft and pillowy, cradling the arm rather then just rigidly holding it in place. It tingled a little, which was probably a sign that the bone-mending potion was at work already.
"The three of us managed to convince the nurse that you'd be more comfortable in your own bed than one in the hospital wing and since all they could really do was bandage you up anyway, they sent you back here, with us. I stayed by your bedside, and watched over you.all night."
I held her hand as she spoke, feeling like the most special being that had ever walked on the face of the earth. She smiled warmly at me and I returned the expression.
"I have a question, though."
"Shoot," she replied.
"What were you guys doing out that time of night when Voldemort got to you?"
Without a moment's hesitation, she answered:
"We were monitoring the halls around the nurses' wing so that 'he' wouldn't get to you while you were weak."
My heart swelled up, not believing the kind of friends I had, those who would protect and care for me, even in times of strife.
"We followed his voice 'til we got close to the Great Hall and."
She snapped her fingers.
"We were hit with a spell faster than you could say 'pumpkin juice'."
I didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry," was all I could muster.
"Don't be," she cooed. "We're always going to have your back, just like you'd have ours."
I nodded and gave her another hug, kissing the top of her head.
"And seeing you lying there, sleeping peacefully, I just could help climbing in next to you," she explained. "I hope you don't mind."
"I'm glad you did," I answered her. "There is not a more beautiful sight that I could ever wake up to."
She blushed again at my words and I kissed her once more.
Breaking the contact, she looked around the room, obviously to get me to ask another question, which I did in kind.
"Where is everyone?"
"At the end-of-the-year feast." She said it with such gusto, it was as if she had been waiting to speak the words for ions.
"Well, we got to go!" I said, already beginning to sit up. Surprisingly, I barely felt any pain as I did, even with the speed at which I bolted up from my pillow.
'Those nurses do a good job,' I though to myself happily.
About to head out the door, I heard Hermione call to me.
"Adam," she coaxed.
"What?" I asked, turning back.
"Might be a good idea to wear this," she said, holding up my uniform.
Looking down at the teddy bears, I nodded in agreement and hobbled over to her.
I could hear the murmurs building as we made our way towards the Great Hall. With one arm over her shoulder, Hermione aided me in our travel down the long and, at this moment, empty corridor.
"I guess the Great Hall is in good order, again," I remarked, noting that the year end tradition was in the same place as always.
"Well, it definitely needed some sprucing up, but everyone pitched in and got the job done," she replied. Looking down the hall, I didn't notice the smile that crept to her face.
"Students." I heard Dumbledore bellow over the crowd, off in the distance. The chattering died down at the implied command. Ambling as fast as we could, we continued to close the gap between us and the doors to the Great Hall. My ears remained at attention, wanting to grasp every word the headmaster was saying.
"It has been quite a year," he began, a remark followed by groans of agreement from students and faculty.
"We have been through unimaginable hardships, facing Dark Arts of the likes which I had never expected to grip this school."
Just one hallway to go.
"Friendships were strained and often times dissolved, comrades turning on each other for reasons unbeknownst to them. This power, so great, compelled them to follow through on these dastardly acts, a power, so great, it swept nearly all of us up in its wake."
We had finally arrived, standing in the doorway to the Great Hall. It was comforting to see the massive room filled with rows of witches and wizards, all sitting elbow to elbow in friendship and with out any acrimony between them.
Shifting my gaze, I remember the Slytherin table.
'Well, maybe not unbridled friendship,' I reminded myself. However, my train of though was broken by the return of the headmaster's voice to my stream of consciousness.
"All except perhaps one."
At this, every face in the room turned, taking their attention away from Dumbledore and bestowing it upon me. With Hermione latched onto my arm, we made our way into the hall, every eye focused on us. Trying to forget that we were in the limelight, I kept my head down, trying to make it to my spot at the Gryffindor table. Not a sound was made during that journey from the door to the bench, but it mattered little to me. I just needed to sit down.
With my rear firmly planted in its place, and Hermione settling down beside me, Dumbledore continued on with his speech.
"When this certain student," he said, trying to be vague, although everyone knew perfectly well he was referring to me, "arrived at this school, he asked the question: 'Why?' 'Why am I here?' 'Why am I just finding out now that I am a wizard?' 'Why can't I leave?' 'Why do you think I have some purpose?' 'Why, why, why?'
"Every time I would see him, I would inquire as to how his mission to ascertain the reasoning behind his presence was coming along. Every time, he replied that he was just as lost as he was the moment he arrived.
"Seeking a reason, he questioned his presence here, and, as I have always believed, every question deserves an answer. However, I think he can now see perfectly well why he arrived at Hogwarts', as accidental as it may have been. This student had a mission, and I can say, with the utmost honestly and condor, that he not only completely this task, but did so in the midst of the gravest times known to this school in its existence. Adam Borrowton, you have my gratitude and that of the entire school as well."
With that, the hall erupted in raucous cheers, whistles and whoops. Stunned and shocked by the sudden change in atmosphere, at Hermione's urging, I stood up and accepted the applause. Unsure at how to react properly, I merely waved to the students and then, as inconspicuously as possible, slipped back into my seat.
"As anyone can see," Dumbledore shouted, once more quieting the crowd, "the Great Hall remains undecorated. Before we decide upon a proper color scheme, I believe it is high time to assess the point totals as tallied thus far.
"Ravenclaw," he started, reading from a scroll that had just been handed to him, "has three hundred and twenty points."
A soft applause roamed around the room and quickly died down.
"Gryffindor has collected three hundred and sixty-one points."
Another soft applause. I clapped half-heartedly. With all the fight we had put into winning that cup.too bad we lost a game to Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Both of those loses set us back along with the one to Slytherin. Silently, I cursed myself, something which I could see much of my table participating in.
We weren't receiving the acclaim we rightfully deserved.
"Hufflepuff has accumulated four hundred and eleven points."
A louder applause erupted, but was still centralized around the table of second-place finishers. Clearing his throat, and looking a tad glum, Dumbledore read the final total.
"This means that Slytherin, with four hundred and seventy points, finishes in first place."
Loud cheers and shouts filled the room, although, a vast majority of them came from the winners table. Everyone else for the most part looked longingly at the Slytherin table and watched the ceiling, waiting for silver and green banners to unfurl from above.
"However, there is one more set of points which has yet to be awarded." At this, many students looked befuddled, wondering what other event could have the houses gained points for.
"Taking into account the recent events and the extraordinary valor and bravery of one, young wizard," Dumbledore said, smiling directly at me, "I award the Gryffindor house one hundred points."
Cheers of joys filled the air around us. Everyone knew very well that were still a few points short of winning the House Cup, but that mattered little. I had been rewarded for my accomplishments and a vast majority of the air had been let out of Slytherins tires. Clearly, it was a moral victory and one that we were all very proud of, first place or not.
"This means that Gryffindor will finish in second and Slytherin will t--"
"Headmaster, headmaster!" we heard a voice shout. Turning to the entryway, we saw Professor Pitwick trotting along at a good pace towards the table at the front of the Great Hall. Hurrying along, running past hundreds of eyes directed towards him, he clutched a small piece of paper in his hand. Approaching Dumbledore, he handed the slip to the headmaster and mumbled a few words, leaving the student body in the dark.
After scratching our heads for a few moments, wondering what could be important enough to interrupt the awarding of the Cup, Dumbledore finally spoke.
"Professor Pitwick.thank you, Professor," he added as an aside while Pitwick took a seat at the head table, "he has brought to my attention an error he made when he was totaling up the points his classes collected over the years. Luckily, he managed to find this paper, hidden in the back of his schedule, from the beginning of the year, just in time, you might say.
"Therefore," Dumbledore said boldly, to a silent crown, sitting up on the edge of their benches, "to complete the tallies, it must be noted that because of an exemplary response from Miss Hermione Granger, ten points will be added to Gryffindor score."
Rather then separate cheers and shouts of happiness, it was one solid wall of screaming glee which began at our table and soon spread to others, rejoicing in our triumph over Slytherin.
"Gryffindor wins the House Cup," the headmaster said, smiling, thoroughly enjoying the shift in events.
Dumbledore didn't even need to announce the new point totals; we knew we had four hundred and seventy-one points. We knew we had pulled off an upset. We knew we had the Cup. None of that really mattered. What we really were rejoicing about was the aches and pains which we had not only overcome, but triumphed over and through it all, becoming stronger for it. Hogwarts' was one again, and that's all that mattered.
I hugged Hermione tightly in the middle of the shouting crowd that was now on their feet. Giving her a kiss, I squeezed both her hands.
"Now, I know what you did that for," I laughed, with a wink. She just smiled back and kissed me in reply.
As the Cup was being passed down the line, I saw hand after hand touch its shiny surface, reveling in the madness of it all. Finally reaching Harry, he turned and bestowed it upon me.
"You hold it up; you deserve it."
He paused in mid-motion, handing the Cup to me.
".brother."
Grinning inanely, I gripped the Cup's handle and held it high above my head. Just when I didn't think a higher decibel of sound was possible, the Hall became even louder. Speechless, I just shouted along with them, yelling what ever came to mind which fit the occasion.
Looking to my left, I saw the Slytherin table. Standing up, they merely gawked at the turn of events. Through the jumping and jostling crowd, I managed to spot Malfoy.
Our eyes locked. He had probably forgotten everything. Even with the bandages, visible from across the room, he probably made up some elaborate story as to what happened, since he most likely had no memory of the event. Not expecting him to, I nonetheless smiled politely and gave him a reassuring nod of the head.
Then something happened which blew me away.
He nodded back.
It was there and then gone, lasting only for a fraction of a second. I wasn't even sure if it had happened, and there was no way to double- check, since it was so slight, and I know nobody else would be paying that much attention to my nemesis, but I could have sworn I saw it.
Would I ever again?
As the gold and red banners unraveled themselves all over the Hall, it was clear that the party was just beginning. Not wishing to see anymore, the Slytherin table began to move towards the door, passing by us on the way out, probably to get a last chance to glare at the Gryffindor students.
Malfoy approached me, his two thugs in tow. With his usual sneer, we came face to face, with just inches separating our expressions of distaste.
"Think you're pretty special holding that trophy, Borrowton?"
"Actually, Malfoy, you can refer to me as Potter," I replied with a smile. As much as I disliked him, I kept reminding myself of what I had just seen. Perhaps, a ray of hope in that dark heart possessed by a mister Draco Malfoy.
"Very well, Potter. Enjoy your new girlfriend," he spat.
"Oh, I will."
As the three began to walk away, slithering back into the crowd, I called to him.
"Malfoy?"
He turned back to me. I stepped towards him, meeting him again up close.
"You say one thing about her that displeases me, I will come after you," I stated without a quiver of hesitation.
Trying to reply, Malfoy simply opened his mouth once and then shut it. Reverting to facial expressions, he sneered at me once more, turned again and slipped into the mob and out of the Hall.
"So what are you going to do?" Harry asked me. The four of us were standing on the platform next to the Hogwarts' Express. After all the partying was over, we remained in the Great Hall, talking about all that we had been through. We decided to stay up all night, making the most of every moment we had. The school year was over, but we were trying to deny it for as long as we could. The train ride went by too quickly.
"I don't know," I replied. I had little to no luggage with me, which was more than what I came in with. My uniform was packed in a truck Hagrid had bought me and I also packed some trinkets that I had collected over the year. Other than that, all I had was the street clothes on my back.
"Go home?" Hermione asked me, a tad frightened. I gave her hand an extra squeeze to comfort her. Everyone awaited my response.
"I don't know. I mean..what do I have to go home to? I don't have any real parents, I am actually a wizard.I.everything has changed."
Silence reigned supreme as we stood there, trying to map out my future. I could hear the gears turning in all of our minds, along with the constant sound of chatter and footsteps that filled the air around us. However, Ron's was the first to spit out an answer.
"Why don't you come home with us?"
"You sure?" I asked, trying to feel out if he was being sincere.
"Of course. We have room.I'm pretty sure.my mom will love you and you'll be able to see Hermione," he said, as pleasantly as possible. Although much hadn't been said about my relationship with her, I think Ron finally had come to grips with it. Although our friendship might have been quite fragile, it was still existent and resilient. Perhaps time would help to mend the remaining wounds.
"Sounds good to me," I replied cheerily, seeing very few other options. Having little desire to go home, I was now looking forward to the summer. Seeing what I really was, Hogwarts' was now my home.
"Looks like we've got out summers mapped out. Harry? You going back home, I'm guessing?" Ron asked.
"Of course," he replied rolling his eyes, sighing with agonizing thoughts running through his mind. "Speaking of, I best be going."
"Don't forget to write me, guys," Harry said, giving Ron and Hermione each a hug.
"Especially you. Brothers have to keep it together," he laughed, recalling the year we had barely survived. After a handshake, we both gave up and resigned to sharing a hearty hug. Patting his back, I held back tears which began to collect in my eyes. Trying to hide them, I pulled away quickly.
"Bye," we both said simultaneously. Nodding at all of us, he grabbed his luggage and continued on down the platform.
"See you next year," I called after him.
He waved in response and disappeared into the throngs of people known as King's Cross Station. Not wanting to show any weakness in front of Hermione and Ron, I decided to split for a while
"I'm going to get a soda," I said.
"Don't be too long. My dad should be here soon."
Nodding, I walked off. Halfway towards the newsstand, something caught my eye. Some object on my shoulder was sparking as the light hit it. Touching it, my fingers became wet. I smiled, understanding.
Even the strongest of us need to cry sometimes.
