Harry and Ron decided that the best way to get over Hermione and
Renata was for the four of them to hang out together as they'd done the
past years. Gradually things did return to normal. Exam stress helped
return things too normal because the fact was, it was just too stressful to
bother worrying about girlfriends or dating when you were trying to
remember everything you'd learned all year.
Harry felt he'd done fairly well on the exams, or at least he'd hoped he had.
At any rate, once post exam time kicked in things just seemed to roll by so quickly that before he knew it, it was the end of year feast.
"Another year has gone! And with it we have lost a life very precious to us, that of our Care of Magical Creatures professor and groundskeeper, Rubeus Hagrid. A moment of silence." He paused, "Let us raise our goblets, to Hagrid!" Most students did this, and waited for him to continue. "If you forget all else this summer remember this: A life lost cannot be regained, even an innocent life. Every moment is precious and any moment could be your last. Or my last. Let the feast commence! Fill your bellies tonight as we have strived to fill your heads this past year." Food appeared on the gleaming plates.
Hermione leaned over and said, "He makes a lot of valid points."
Harry said nothing. It was too true. Everything that had happened, there was no going back. His parents were dead. He'd come to terms with that some time ago. Cedric was dead. He was beginning to move on from this. But Hagrid's death, this was still too new. Harry ate mostly in silence. He didn't have anything much to look forward to this summer. He was just going back to the Dursleys. If he was lucky, maybe he'd get to see Ron and Hermione, or Sirius.
At the end of the feast Professor Dumbledore stood again, "I would like to thank the students that spent this year here with us instead of at their school, and the students from our beloved Hogwarts who went to participate at the other schools. The students from Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, Salem, and Angel's Academy will be returning to their schools directly after the feast. Our four Hogwarts students have returned and I invite them to stand."
Harry just noticed Neville at the end of the table. Neville stood as well as one other student at each table.
"Have a wonderful summer everyone!"
They dispersed Harry went back to his dorm to pack and was soon finished.
The next day they took the train home. The train ride was uneventful but when they got off the train, and went back to the Muggle part of the station. Renata said quietly, "Maybe I'll see you this summer, Harry?"
"Renata, it's just too painful. Either you want to be with me or you don't."
She didn't answer.
Mrs. Weasley came over, her children flocking around her, and gave Harry a tight hug. "Had a good term?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley."
"Good. You'll have to come visit this summer."
"Bye, Harry."
"Bye, Ron."
Hermione's parents were coming toward them now too. "I've got to go, but I want both of you to be sure to write!"
"Sure thing, Hermione," they said.
"Bye, everybody!" said Renata, hugging them each in turn. "My mom's waiting over there."
They all departed, taking their separate ways.
Harry stood, standing alone.
Sirius came up behind him, a large hat pulled down over his face. After all, he was still wanted by the Muggle police. "I'm driving you home, Harry. You have to go to the Dursleys. I won't get out of the car, too much chance one of their neighbors could see me. Come on."
"Where'd you get a car?"
"Borrowed it from my friend Fletcher."
"Oh."
"C'mon."
Harry smiled and followed his godfather out of the station.
Harry felt he'd done fairly well on the exams, or at least he'd hoped he had.
At any rate, once post exam time kicked in things just seemed to roll by so quickly that before he knew it, it was the end of year feast.
"Another year has gone! And with it we have lost a life very precious to us, that of our Care of Magical Creatures professor and groundskeeper, Rubeus Hagrid. A moment of silence." He paused, "Let us raise our goblets, to Hagrid!" Most students did this, and waited for him to continue. "If you forget all else this summer remember this: A life lost cannot be regained, even an innocent life. Every moment is precious and any moment could be your last. Or my last. Let the feast commence! Fill your bellies tonight as we have strived to fill your heads this past year." Food appeared on the gleaming plates.
Hermione leaned over and said, "He makes a lot of valid points."
Harry said nothing. It was too true. Everything that had happened, there was no going back. His parents were dead. He'd come to terms with that some time ago. Cedric was dead. He was beginning to move on from this. But Hagrid's death, this was still too new. Harry ate mostly in silence. He didn't have anything much to look forward to this summer. He was just going back to the Dursleys. If he was lucky, maybe he'd get to see Ron and Hermione, or Sirius.
At the end of the feast Professor Dumbledore stood again, "I would like to thank the students that spent this year here with us instead of at their school, and the students from our beloved Hogwarts who went to participate at the other schools. The students from Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, Salem, and Angel's Academy will be returning to their schools directly after the feast. Our four Hogwarts students have returned and I invite them to stand."
Harry just noticed Neville at the end of the table. Neville stood as well as one other student at each table.
"Have a wonderful summer everyone!"
They dispersed Harry went back to his dorm to pack and was soon finished.
The next day they took the train home. The train ride was uneventful but when they got off the train, and went back to the Muggle part of the station. Renata said quietly, "Maybe I'll see you this summer, Harry?"
"Renata, it's just too painful. Either you want to be with me or you don't."
She didn't answer.
Mrs. Weasley came over, her children flocking around her, and gave Harry a tight hug. "Had a good term?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley."
"Good. You'll have to come visit this summer."
"Bye, Harry."
"Bye, Ron."
Hermione's parents were coming toward them now too. "I've got to go, but I want both of you to be sure to write!"
"Sure thing, Hermione," they said.
"Bye, everybody!" said Renata, hugging them each in turn. "My mom's waiting over there."
They all departed, taking their separate ways.
Harry stood, standing alone.
Sirius came up behind him, a large hat pulled down over his face. After all, he was still wanted by the Muggle police. "I'm driving you home, Harry. You have to go to the Dursleys. I won't get out of the car, too much chance one of their neighbors could see me. Come on."
"Where'd you get a car?"
"Borrowed it from my friend Fletcher."
"Oh."
"C'mon."
Harry smiled and followed his godfather out of the station.
