I was going to kill Hagrid, but I just couldn't.
Please read author's note at the bottom.and enjoy!
Chapter 16 Afterthoughts
When Harry, Ron and Hermione reached the Entrance Hall, they were met by Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, and Figg.
"What happened?" professor McGonagall immediately asked upon reaching the three Gryffindors and Hagrid, who was still hanging loosely in mid-air.
Harry didn't ask how they knew that something had indeed happened on the grounds that night he just said, "There's no time for that now," Harry said with urgency in his voice, and such a commanding tone that made Ron, Hermione and all the professors listen immediately. "We need to get Hagrid to the Hospital wing, quick" Harry started to walk briskly down the corridor, followed by the professors, and Ron and Hermione.
Hermione had been silent the whole time and was now on the verge of tears.
They entered the hospital wing, and professor McGonagall went to fetch Madame Pomfrey. They returned a minute later and, Madame Pomfrey wearing a dressing gown and her hair up in a net.
Harry Moved Hagrid with his wand on to the bed, nearest the door, and Madame Pomfrey examined him.
After a quarter of an hour of sitting in silence, Madame Pomfrey spoke. "Well.there is nothing we can do for him now. We will just have to wait and see what happens. He is just unconscious now. He could wake up in a few minutes or it could be days or months. There is nothing I can do, Headmaster."
"Well, alright if you say so, Poppy." Dumbledore replied and then he turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione who were all seated close together on a bed nearby. "I would like you to come to my office, Harry, it won't take long." Harry looked into the usually sparkling blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore, but they were not sparkling this time. He didn't look like himself; he looked worried. Then Dumbledore's gaze shifted from Harry to Hermione.
Hermione had silent tears streaming down her face, and was leaning on Ron's shoulder. Harry would have found this amusing, in Ron and Hermione's current situation, but since it wasn't really a time to be laughing, he kept his mouth shut.
As Dumbledore looked at Hermione, she tried to hide the tears, and hastily wiped them away. "Miss Granger, Mister Weasley, you may go up to Gryffindor tower." He said sympathetically to them.
They all departed. Harry followed the professors up to Dumbledore's office and Ron and Hermione made their way up to the Gryffindor common room.
Once they reached the stone Gargoyle that blocked the secret entrance to Dumbledore's office, did the full impact of what had happened hit Harry. Hagrid had nearly died, and it was all his fault. He didn't have time to dwell on this, thought they had entered the circular room and Dumbledore had asked them all to sit down.
"Now, Harry, I want you to tell me what happened tonight." Said Dumbledore, very calmly from the other side of his desk.
Harry explained how he, Ron and Hermione had gone up to the Astronomy tower to look and see if the cloaked men were there again. How they did see them, three of them, and how they thought Hagrid might be in trouble. He told them about over hearing Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy, and Wormtail plotting a terrible attack, and about how they tried to escape. When he got to the part about Hagrid, guilt washed over him and he felt ashamed, but he tried not to show it and he continued, up until they had met the centaurs and had reached the castle.
Once Harry was done telling his story, everyone sat in silence for a moment.
"Are you certain of what you heard, about the attack, I mean, Harry?"
"Positive." Said Harry firmly, but he was also curious. Professor Dumbledore motioned for Professor Figg to come up to his desk, she did, and he told her something in her ear that Harry couldn't hear. She took her seat and the silence filled the room again.
"Very well.you may go, Harry. I trust you'll want some sleep, after all you've been through tonight."
"Professor-," Harry began, but he stopped himself, and left the office.
Ron and Hermione had walked back to Gryffindor tower in complete silence, except for Hermione trying to stifle her now more rapid and audible tears. Ron didn't know what to do.
"What are you doing out at this time of night?" the fat lady asked keenly as they approached. When they drew closer, however, the fat lady's keen tone turned to worry, she had spotted Hermione. "What's wrong, dear?" she asked, Hermione just whaled a little louder, and Ron walked up next to her and said, "Butterfly wings"
The portrait hole swung forward and Hermione dashed in and collapsed on the sofa in front of the fire.
Ron walked around behind her, but he couldn't stand it for long. He walked over and sat next to her. She immediately through her arms around him, and broke down completely. A vision of their third year flashed through Ron's mind as Hermione held on to him very tightly.
They sat there for a very long time, Hermione just crying and Ron staring into the fire. Harry came back some time later, but walked past them, as if he couldn't see them.
Some time later, Hermione had fallen asleep, and Ron took her upstairs to her dormitory. He laid her on her bed, and had an urge to lay with her, so if she woke, he could comfort her again. Ron pulled her blanket over her, and just looked at her for the longest time.
Ron walked slowly to the 5th years dormitory, not knowing why it had taken so long to finally get to bed.
The next morning, after only a few hours of sleep, Harry, Ron and Hermione went down to breakfast, all very silent.
Harry hadn't slept more that 3 hours the previous night. He had lay awake thinking.thinking about Hagrid.and then.Cedric, and he came to a conclusion, it was all his fault. He thought about all of the people who had been affected by Voldemort. Neville.Ginny.Cho.Cedric.Hagrid. And then he thought about Ron and Hermione, and felt guilt for dragging them into this. He came to another conclusion, he had to do it, it was up to him, why had he been the target of all of Voldemort's plans, why had he been on the top of so many people's hit lists, why had he survived that curse to began with, because it was up to him, he was the one who would stop it all.
O.W.L.s were approaching, and so was the Quidditch final - Slytherin v. Gryffindor, just like 3rd year, and just like 3rd year, Harry was nervous.
Harry, Ron and Hermione spent all of their time either in the library, or for Ron and Harry - the Quidditch pitch. They were all working hard, trying to take their minds off their situation.
It was Wednesday, and Saturday was the Quidditch final. Wednesday evening Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the common room, after dinner. Harry and Ron were discussing the match on Saturday, while Hermione was studying.
Most people all the way from Fred, George, and Ginny to a few younger students, including those in the 1st and 2nd year noticed the sudden change in the trio's behavior. Even the younger students had grown so accustom to the fights and the issues that plague the trio that was destined to save the world, noticed the change, and it was unnerving the Gryffindors.
They all knew what it was about, they had all heard about Hagrid, and even if they hadn't they could hardly fail to notice that Professor Grubbly- Plank was back and taking over the Care of Magical Creatures lessons.
The Quidditch match against Slytherin was one of the shortest matches that anyone could remember anywhere, much less at Hogwarts. Both Harry and Ron were so mad at Malfoy - because of his father - they were determined to beat him at all costs.
Neither of them could stand it if Slytherin beat them, so when the final score turned out to be Gryffindor: 220 Slytherin:0, it was about the only thing that had taken Harry's mind off of Hagrid, and he forgot even to blame himself for a little while. It was the biggest victory anyone could remember, and that night the entire house celebrated with a party. Not only did the Quidditch match win Gryffindor the Quidditch cup - for the second time in a row, but with the 20 points for each player Gryffindor earned they had won the house cup too.
O.W.Ls started a few weeks later, and they seemed to drag by, or maybe it was the fact that Harry, Ron or Hermione didn't seem to do anything else besides get up, take tests, and study every evening.
Their exam results came back a week later and both Harry and Ron did surprisingly well - due to the fact they had studied so much. Hermione, of course set a new record with the highest number of O.W.Ls Hogwarts had seen in centuries.
It was a very subdued group that boarded the Hogwarts Express on the last day of school, in spite of all of their victories. They road in the carriages to Hogsmead Station, and boarded the Hogwarts Express, to take them back to Platform 9 ¾. They got a compartment to themselves and sat, silently, in fact watching them for the past few weeks, you'd of thought they had become mute. Several people came by to say goodbye to them - Fred and George, Ginny, Neville, Dean, Seamus, and though not to say goodbye and wish them a happy summer, Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle came by too.
None of them spoke practically the whole way. They all kept thinking about what had happened in the forest. What had happened to Hagrid, what would happen to Hagrid? And Voldemort, what was he planning, what about that attack, and where were they hiding? All of the unanswered questions in their heads plagued their thoughts as they traveled back home.
Well, that's the end of the 5th year at Hogwarts for Harry, Ron and Hermione.
OK, now here's the deal, please read this, it's important to the sequel if you want to find out what happens next! I hope you all will read the continuation of this story, it will be on the same thread, well, maybe!
As I'm sure you all are doing as well, I'm going at midnight to get Order of the Phoenix, on the 21st. I want to include the things in that as well as this story like, all the R/Hr, and the book - Ancient Prophecies, and what's written in it.
I'm just going to wait and see, and I'll tell what to expect. It will probably be a couple of weeks after the 21st, when I actually come back, but look for my story! I also think I'm going to skip 6th year and cram all the exciting stuff in to one action-packed 7th year, again, not sure!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed and put up with this story, and me, it has been a real pleasure writing for you.
Chapter 16 Afterthoughts
When Harry, Ron and Hermione reached the Entrance Hall, they were met by Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, and Figg.
"What happened?" professor McGonagall immediately asked upon reaching the three Gryffindors and Hagrid, who was still hanging loosely in mid-air.
Harry didn't ask how they knew that something had indeed happened on the grounds that night he just said, "There's no time for that now," Harry said with urgency in his voice, and such a commanding tone that made Ron, Hermione and all the professors listen immediately. "We need to get Hagrid to the Hospital wing, quick" Harry started to walk briskly down the corridor, followed by the professors, and Ron and Hermione.
Hermione had been silent the whole time and was now on the verge of tears.
They entered the hospital wing, and professor McGonagall went to fetch Madame Pomfrey. They returned a minute later and, Madame Pomfrey wearing a dressing gown and her hair up in a net.
Harry Moved Hagrid with his wand on to the bed, nearest the door, and Madame Pomfrey examined him.
After a quarter of an hour of sitting in silence, Madame Pomfrey spoke. "Well.there is nothing we can do for him now. We will just have to wait and see what happens. He is just unconscious now. He could wake up in a few minutes or it could be days or months. There is nothing I can do, Headmaster."
"Well, alright if you say so, Poppy." Dumbledore replied and then he turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione who were all seated close together on a bed nearby. "I would like you to come to my office, Harry, it won't take long." Harry looked into the usually sparkling blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore, but they were not sparkling this time. He didn't look like himself; he looked worried. Then Dumbledore's gaze shifted from Harry to Hermione.
Hermione had silent tears streaming down her face, and was leaning on Ron's shoulder. Harry would have found this amusing, in Ron and Hermione's current situation, but since it wasn't really a time to be laughing, he kept his mouth shut.
As Dumbledore looked at Hermione, she tried to hide the tears, and hastily wiped them away. "Miss Granger, Mister Weasley, you may go up to Gryffindor tower." He said sympathetically to them.
They all departed. Harry followed the professors up to Dumbledore's office and Ron and Hermione made their way up to the Gryffindor common room.
Once they reached the stone Gargoyle that blocked the secret entrance to Dumbledore's office, did the full impact of what had happened hit Harry. Hagrid had nearly died, and it was all his fault. He didn't have time to dwell on this, thought they had entered the circular room and Dumbledore had asked them all to sit down.
"Now, Harry, I want you to tell me what happened tonight." Said Dumbledore, very calmly from the other side of his desk.
Harry explained how he, Ron and Hermione had gone up to the Astronomy tower to look and see if the cloaked men were there again. How they did see them, three of them, and how they thought Hagrid might be in trouble. He told them about over hearing Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy, and Wormtail plotting a terrible attack, and about how they tried to escape. When he got to the part about Hagrid, guilt washed over him and he felt ashamed, but he tried not to show it and he continued, up until they had met the centaurs and had reached the castle.
Once Harry was done telling his story, everyone sat in silence for a moment.
"Are you certain of what you heard, about the attack, I mean, Harry?"
"Positive." Said Harry firmly, but he was also curious. Professor Dumbledore motioned for Professor Figg to come up to his desk, she did, and he told her something in her ear that Harry couldn't hear. She took her seat and the silence filled the room again.
"Very well.you may go, Harry. I trust you'll want some sleep, after all you've been through tonight."
"Professor-," Harry began, but he stopped himself, and left the office.
Ron and Hermione had walked back to Gryffindor tower in complete silence, except for Hermione trying to stifle her now more rapid and audible tears. Ron didn't know what to do.
"What are you doing out at this time of night?" the fat lady asked keenly as they approached. When they drew closer, however, the fat lady's keen tone turned to worry, she had spotted Hermione. "What's wrong, dear?" she asked, Hermione just whaled a little louder, and Ron walked up next to her and said, "Butterfly wings"
The portrait hole swung forward and Hermione dashed in and collapsed on the sofa in front of the fire.
Ron walked around behind her, but he couldn't stand it for long. He walked over and sat next to her. She immediately through her arms around him, and broke down completely. A vision of their third year flashed through Ron's mind as Hermione held on to him very tightly.
They sat there for a very long time, Hermione just crying and Ron staring into the fire. Harry came back some time later, but walked past them, as if he couldn't see them.
Some time later, Hermione had fallen asleep, and Ron took her upstairs to her dormitory. He laid her on her bed, and had an urge to lay with her, so if she woke, he could comfort her again. Ron pulled her blanket over her, and just looked at her for the longest time.
Ron walked slowly to the 5th years dormitory, not knowing why it had taken so long to finally get to bed.
The next morning, after only a few hours of sleep, Harry, Ron and Hermione went down to breakfast, all very silent.
Harry hadn't slept more that 3 hours the previous night. He had lay awake thinking.thinking about Hagrid.and then.Cedric, and he came to a conclusion, it was all his fault. He thought about all of the people who had been affected by Voldemort. Neville.Ginny.Cho.Cedric.Hagrid. And then he thought about Ron and Hermione, and felt guilt for dragging them into this. He came to another conclusion, he had to do it, it was up to him, why had he been the target of all of Voldemort's plans, why had he been on the top of so many people's hit lists, why had he survived that curse to began with, because it was up to him, he was the one who would stop it all.
O.W.L.s were approaching, and so was the Quidditch final - Slytherin v. Gryffindor, just like 3rd year, and just like 3rd year, Harry was nervous.
Harry, Ron and Hermione spent all of their time either in the library, or for Ron and Harry - the Quidditch pitch. They were all working hard, trying to take their minds off their situation.
It was Wednesday, and Saturday was the Quidditch final. Wednesday evening Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the common room, after dinner. Harry and Ron were discussing the match on Saturday, while Hermione was studying.
Most people all the way from Fred, George, and Ginny to a few younger students, including those in the 1st and 2nd year noticed the sudden change in the trio's behavior. Even the younger students had grown so accustom to the fights and the issues that plague the trio that was destined to save the world, noticed the change, and it was unnerving the Gryffindors.
They all knew what it was about, they had all heard about Hagrid, and even if they hadn't they could hardly fail to notice that Professor Grubbly- Plank was back and taking over the Care of Magical Creatures lessons.
The Quidditch match against Slytherin was one of the shortest matches that anyone could remember anywhere, much less at Hogwarts. Both Harry and Ron were so mad at Malfoy - because of his father - they were determined to beat him at all costs.
Neither of them could stand it if Slytherin beat them, so when the final score turned out to be Gryffindor: 220 Slytherin:0, it was about the only thing that had taken Harry's mind off of Hagrid, and he forgot even to blame himself for a little while. It was the biggest victory anyone could remember, and that night the entire house celebrated with a party. Not only did the Quidditch match win Gryffindor the Quidditch cup - for the second time in a row, but with the 20 points for each player Gryffindor earned they had won the house cup too.
O.W.Ls started a few weeks later, and they seemed to drag by, or maybe it was the fact that Harry, Ron or Hermione didn't seem to do anything else besides get up, take tests, and study every evening.
Their exam results came back a week later and both Harry and Ron did surprisingly well - due to the fact they had studied so much. Hermione, of course set a new record with the highest number of O.W.Ls Hogwarts had seen in centuries.
It was a very subdued group that boarded the Hogwarts Express on the last day of school, in spite of all of their victories. They road in the carriages to Hogsmead Station, and boarded the Hogwarts Express, to take them back to Platform 9 ¾. They got a compartment to themselves and sat, silently, in fact watching them for the past few weeks, you'd of thought they had become mute. Several people came by to say goodbye to them - Fred and George, Ginny, Neville, Dean, Seamus, and though not to say goodbye and wish them a happy summer, Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle came by too.
None of them spoke practically the whole way. They all kept thinking about what had happened in the forest. What had happened to Hagrid, what would happen to Hagrid? And Voldemort, what was he planning, what about that attack, and where were they hiding? All of the unanswered questions in their heads plagued their thoughts as they traveled back home.
Well, that's the end of the 5th year at Hogwarts for Harry, Ron and Hermione.
OK, now here's the deal, please read this, it's important to the sequel if you want to find out what happens next! I hope you all will read the continuation of this story, it will be on the same thread, well, maybe!
As I'm sure you all are doing as well, I'm going at midnight to get Order of the Phoenix, on the 21st. I want to include the things in that as well as this story like, all the R/Hr, and the book - Ancient Prophecies, and what's written in it.
I'm just going to wait and see, and I'll tell what to expect. It will probably be a couple of weeks after the 21st, when I actually come back, but look for my story! I also think I'm going to skip 6th year and cram all the exciting stuff in to one action-packed 7th year, again, not sure!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed and put up with this story, and me, it has been a real pleasure writing for you.
