Wow! Final chapter! It's short but I just wasn't too happy about it finishing…I hope you like it and no one is really disappointed! YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT!!!! Read below if you're interested in a sequel!

And a disclaimer: I do not (unfortunately) own Harry Potter or any Harry Potter related material!

HARRY

POTTER

AND THE STAFF OF VIGOR

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CHAPTER 18: A LITTLE CHANGE

Harry heard the side doors of the Great Hall open and his eyes snapped up to see who entered. It was some Ravenclaw Third year. His gaze returned to that of his plate of food and he sighed.

"Harry," Hermione said gently, "Why don't you eat something?"

"I'm not that hungry." Harry muttered, pushing his plate away.

"You're too distracted mate." Ron said, using the same tone as Hermione.

"I'm not," Harry protested, glancing up as the Great Hall doors opened again, "I'm just not hungry."

"She probably wants to be alone." Hermione said slowly eyeing him carefully. Harry frowned.

"Who?"

"Ella." She raised an eyebrow.

"What about her?" Harry wondered mildly.

"Oh come on, you've been looking up at every single person whose come in the Hall for the past fifteen minutes," Ron rolled his eyes, "And we know you're looking for her."

"Ron," Harry lowered his voice, "I haven't heard from her in three weeks. Not since...the...the thing at the cave. I don't even know if she went home or what happened."

"She didn't," Ron told him, "She's been having exams after school hours and I'm pretty sure that she just doesn't want to make an appearance in front of everyone."

"How did you know about that?" Harry asked, slightly annoyed.

"I've just known. You never asked." Ron shrugged.

"I suppose not." Harry sighed. There was no point in getting into an argument over practically nothing. His eyes darted up as the entrance doors opened again.

"Professor Dumbledore said he was going to make a speech." Hermione told them, nodding her head at the front of the Great Hall. Dumbledore had stood up, in his normal Headmaster fashion, and raised his glass.
"Hogwarts Students," He said clearly, "I would like to congratulate you on another wonderful year!"

The crowd cheered and Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at each other. Wonderful year? Dumbledore coughed and even from where he was Harry could tell he was solemn.

"Yet, some students have not had a wonderful year. As you know nearly four months ago several of our students were kidnapped...and as you know several students did not return," He paused while his words echoed around the hall, "And as you know, I am sure, three weeks ago some students went into battle against Voldemort and one was lost."

There were a few murmurs in the crowd and it was evident that some students did not know what the Headmaster had told them. Dumbledore cleared his throat again.

"I would like you all to toast to the lives of those that were lost. They will be forever in our hearts and their bravery and courage forever embedded in the memories of those that love them," Dumbledore's eyes flickered over to the entrance doors, "And especially let us think of Edward Egon, perhaps one of the bravest I have ever seen. He gave without thought in saving another life and I am positive he will never be forgotten."

Harry saw Ellanora now. She was at the entrance doors, gazing up at Dumbledore intensely but he in return was looking at her as gently as possible. A majority of the students turned around to gaze and her and as she caught sight of them all staring at her she disappeared through the doors.

"Isn't she the one whose brother died?" A student whispered.

"Did she know that boy that Dumbledore was talking about?"

"Was she the one that got saved?"

"Who is she? Is she that girl..."
"It was her brother wasn't it?"

Harry glared at everyone talking before sighing. Ron told a few younger students to 'shut up' but it didn't do much to silence the gossip. Once the students at Hogwarts started talking, they didn't really stop. Hermione smiled at Harry sadly and grabbed Ron's hand.

"Just let them talk. Everything has to get out one way or another."

Ron mumbled something to her in reply and Dumbledore began another speech, congratulating Gryffindor on winning the House cup. But Harry, Ron and Hermione weren't really in the mood for celebrating.

* * * *

Harry was talking with Ron about what they wanted to do over the summer and Hermione was reading a book, glancing up at them every now and then to comment. It was just the three of them this time and Harry couldn't help but notice how different it had been at the beginning of his Sixth Year.

"You will not believe!" Ginny exclaimed, sliding their compartment door open. She was accompanied with Luna whose eyes were shining excitedly.

"What is it? Did something bad happen?" Ron wondered, jumping off his seat. Ginny shook her head.

"What then?" Hermione demanded. Luna was giggling.

"Luna and I...we were just walking around...and...and we heard these noises and stuff coming from a compartment right?" Ginny looked to Luna for clarification.

"Yeah," Luna continued, "And I was thinking that it could be a Snifz or something, they're little fluffy animals that live in walls and small places and they talk like we do and everything. Daddy talked about them in his magazine once. They're supposed to be extinct but really I don't think anyone could know that for sure because these creatures live in walls and it's not like we live in walls..."

"Luna." They all groaned.

"Nevermind about the Snifz," Ginny laughed, "We walked up to this compartment. It was one of the very old ones at the end of the train. I honestly don't think they've been used in years. So we crept up and were listening to the two people talking in it and you won't believe what we heard!"

"What?" Harry asked, curiosity overcoming him.

"Snape and Treen!" Luna told them.

"Going at it!" Ginny added.

"What?" Hermione and Ron shouted. Harry was slightly less surprised.

"What did you hear?" Ron wondered. Luna grinned mischievously.

"What didn't we hear?"

Ginny was laughing, "He told her he loved her! Can you believe it?"
"The greasy-haired git." Ron shook his head in disbelief.

"And then she jumped on him and...well...use your imaginations," Ginny took a step back and looked down the corridor, "Oh! There's Seamus and Dean! We have to tell them!"

"I'm going to owl Neville about it right now!" Luna and Ginny continued to laugh as they both disappeared from sight. Ron slowly sat back down and Hermione was gaping.

"That is the most...Snape...told Professor Treen," Hermione's eyes were wide, "Snape told a woman that he loved her."

"Yeah," Ron pulled a face, "Gross."

Hermione's head snapped around to glare at him, her outlook on the situation taking new form.

"What Ron Weasley is so disgusting about a person confessing their love to another person?"

Ron blushed, "Nothing I guess. It's just gross. Don't yell at me!"

"I was not yelling! And how can you be so immature? Love is a beautiful thing." Hermione's voice was strained.

"Yeah," Ron rolled his eyes, "Beautifully disgusting. How could you tell a girl that?"

Harry frowned a little.

"How could you not tell someone you loved them Ron? Someone you love could die tomorrow and you would have to live with the knowledge that you never told them so." Hermione sniffed. Ron scowled.

"Hermione. You aren't my mother, you're my friend. Why do you always have to lecture me?"

Wrong thing to say, Harry thought. Hermione's face darkened and she jumped off the seat and stormed out of the room, slamming the compartment door after her. Harry sighed.

"Well. I guess it wouldn't be a train trip without the two of you arguing over something or other." Harry mumbled. Ron grinned a little as his eyes flickered over to the compartment door.

"I'll go talk to her then." Ron said slowly, sounding defeated. He got up and walked to the compartment door before turning around and smiling at Harry. Harry pulled a face at his unusual expression.

"You're alright you know Harry." Ron said warmly. Harry smiled, Hermione's words sometimes sank in.

"Yeah? Well I reckon you're alright too."

Ron shook his head grinning and left the compartment to look for Hermione, most likely to tell her the same thing. Harry's smile remained intact for a few moments before he too got up and went to search the train for Ellanora. He had to tell her some things that couldn't wait.

* * * *

She was going to be gone for the entire summer and he wouldn't be able to tell her how he felt. But Harry wasn't just going to tell her he cared for her either, he was going to go all out and confess everything. If he could find her that was.

She hadn't been in any of the compartments he had looked, although he had found the previously explained Snape and Professor Treen scenario much to his discomfort. He had asked people in her House if they had seen her and even people he didn't know who probably had no association with her anyway. But no one had.

Harry took a small breath and knocked on one of his final compartments. He was hesitant because Malfoy was in it.

"Yes?" Malfoy was staring out the window and was thankfully alone.

"You seen Ella?" Harry asked quickly. Malfoy seemed to look down before directing his gaze at Harry.

"Lost her Potter?" He wondered blankly. Harry frowned.

"No, just trying to find her," He made to leave the compartment but for some reason sat down across from Malfoy instead, "How are you going?"

Malfoy was genuinely surprised, "What?"

"How are you going?" Harry repeated.

"I'm fine," Malfoy paused, "How are you going?"

"I could be better." Harry said truthfully, leaning back into the chair.

"I think we all could Potter," He paused again, "I'm not fine."

"You worried about your dad?" Harry guessed. Malfoy shrugged.

"Never you mind about that Potter." Malfoy snapped.

Harry sighed, "I'll just go and see if I can find Ella then."

He got back up and went to leave when Malfoy called him back again.

"Yes?" He demanded.

"I don't want to see her. But...but if you find her...can you give her this?" Malfoy rummaged into a small bag on the seat next to him and pulled out a white lilac flower. Harry frowned in confusion.

"It's just...it's just this personal thing," Malfoy said quickly, "I wanted to give it to her after the what happened to Eddie but I couldn't face her."

"Why not?" Harry wondered. Malfoy paused for a few moments before lowering his head.

"My Father was the one that killed him." Malfoy said quietly even though his eyes flashed dangerously.

"Oh." Harry didn't know what to say so he gingerly took the flower.

"Yeah. Okay Potter that is all." Malfoy waved him away and Harry became a little peeved.

"What is this?" He held up the flower.

"A flower. Surely you know of such a th-" Malfoy began. Harry thrust the flower out in front of Malfoy's face.

"I said, what is this?"

"It's not some romantic thing Potter," Malfoy drawled, "It's just her favorite flower."

Now Harry was annoyed, "What's not romantic about that?"

"It's not unless you take it that way." Malfoy rolled his eyes. Harry sighed.

"Fine then. And I say it's from you?"

"Yeah. And tell her I'm...I'm sorry about Eddie. He was a good kid." Malfoy said sincerely. Harry remembered Ellanora and him saying the say thing the night he stayed with her.

"Yeah he was, I'll tell her. See you."

"Bye."

Harry closed the compartment door quietly. He doubted he would see Malfoy again over the summer until school started again for their Seventh Year but for some reason he felt like he and Malfoy were on better terms. He still didn't like the guy, by any means. But Harry knew he and Malfoy would be associated together over time and it was probably best that they weren't biting off each others heads.

He went and began looking through the compartments again but still didn't succeed in finding Ellanora. He sighed in defeat and went back to his compartment where Ron and Hermione were again, talking to each other in a friendly manner...and sitting very, very close.

* * * *

"And you owl me a least twice a week. The both of you," Hermione lent forward and wrapped one arm around both Ron and Harry's necks, "I don't want to be ignored this summer, and I promise not to ignore you. We have to get together and do something okay?"

"Of course." Ron grinned. Harry nodded.

"Good." Hermione nodded curtly. Harry scanned the heads of the crowd around him and his eyes lit up when he spotted the person he had been looking for nearly the whole train ride.

"Go then." Ron gave him a shove in Ellanora's direction.

"I don't know..." Harry trailed off.

"Go on. I'll owl you soon." Hermione hugged him again and Ron patted him on the shoulder.

"Me too. Talk to you soon mate." He pushed him in Ellanora's direction again. Harry grinned at them, grabbing his bags and tucking Hedwig's cage awkwardly under his arm before running in the direction he had seen Ellanora before.

"Hey!" He yelled catching up with her. She stopped walking and turned around slowly. Harry relished everything about her at the moment, having not been face to face with her in weeks.

"Harry." She said simply.

"Hey..." He stopped speaking now, not knowing what to say. He reached into his robes and pulled out the white lilac Malfoy had given him. Ellanora frowned and reached out to take it off him.

"What is it for?" She wondered.

"It's from Malfoy," Harry examined her closely, "He says he's sorry about Eddie."
She looked a little sad and took the flower off him, "That's nice of him. This was my mother's favorite flower and I love it."

"That's good then." Harry said half-heartedly, unable to help thinking that he did not really think it was good that she loved it. He didn't say anything else and they both stood quietly for a few minutes.

"Is there anything else?" She asked him quietly. Harry coughed.

"Just...just have a good summer." He said cheerfully. She nodded and turned around again.

"You too Harry-"

"No!" He cut her off, "That's not it."

"What?" She turned back around and gazed at his face.

"I...I need to tell you some things," He paused before continuing quickly, "See there's these things I've been wanting to tell you for a while now and I don't really know how to go about it but I've convinced myself I just should anyway right? So I'm just going to come out and tell you. You following?"

"Yes," She said slowly, "I think I understand."

"Ella," Harry lowered his head so they were eye level, "I feel about you the way I have never felt about a girl before in my life."

"That's nice Harry." Her eyes lit up a bit and Harry became a little bolder.

"I think you're beautiful and smart and nice and great," He lowered his voice, "I...I love you, you know."

Her eyes widened, "What?"

"I know it's a strange thing to say, I mean, we never went out or anything and I've only known you for about seven months or so but I do," He added weakly, "I love you."

"Oh Harry," She was blushing, "Don't play games."

"I'm not!" He exclaimed bewildered.

"I don't understand." She said plainly.

"You don't understand what exactly?" He was feeling awkward now. He had just confessed his feelings to her and she hadn't reacted in the way he hoped.

"How could you like me," She shook her head, "You're Harry Potter. You have all these girls after you and they are really beautiful ones and smart ones and I'm just...me."

"I know my name. And I don't like those girls, I like you." Harry said seriously.

"Really?" She sounded hopeful. Harry grinned.

"Really. How could I not."

She lowered her eyes and examined her feet for a moment before looking up at him, "That's really nice. I like you too."

"Great!" He exclaimed before calming down, "I mean...that's good you know."

"Alright then."

"Can...will you go out with me then?" He asked quietly.

"No, I'm sorry I can't." She was watching him closely.

"Why not?" He demanded, confused. She sighed.

"I really like you Harry, don't get that wrong. I've liked you ever since the time you went into the Forbidden Forest with me and then there was the Ball and that night that Edward...that he," She paused, "That's the thing. I have too much to deal with now to be thinking about something else. I just lost my brother, it feels like I'm dealing with it alone but I know I have too. I just don't think I could really..."

"That's alright," Harry smiled reassuringly, "It would be hard I know. Maybe we can try next year?"

"I suppose," She said thoughtfully before shrugging, "Maybe we can try next year."

Harry took a step towards her.

"Harry?" She asked confused by the closeness. He smiled gently before reaching up and cupping her cheek in his hand. He closed the barrier between them by leaning in and doing something he wished he had done months ago. As their lips met Ellanora eye's widened before the shock wore off and she closed them and opened her mouth, allowing Harry to deepen the kiss. He brought his other arm around her waist and smiled against her lips as he heard her bags drop as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Harry reluctantly pulled away and examined her closely, hoping he had done the right thing. Her eyes remained closed for a few moments before she opened them and smiled at him.

"We will definitely try next year." She said. Harry laughed and helped her pick up her bags.

"I don't want you meeting some wonderful, distracting person over the summer so that's why I had to tell you." Harry explained handing over her last suitcase.

"I already did meet a wonderful, distracting person. You are the best thing Harry..." She trailed off as her name was called from behind her. Harry looked over he shoulder and spotted two kind looking people.

"Who are-" He began.

"My foster parents. Sue and Michael," She sighed, "They're nice enough people. But nothing can replace my parents."

Harry spotted Aunt Petunia in the crowd now, looking extremely amiss and he wondered how she had gotten onto Platform nine and three quarters.

"I know what you mean." He agreed. Ellanora cast another glance over her shoulder and quickly kissed him on the lips again.

"I better go but I really look forward to seeing you next year...and who knows where we might go from there." She smiled suggestively. Harry blushed.

"You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to next year."

"I'll see you then."

"Okay. Bye." They both hesitantly moved away from each other as Harry made his way over to his Aunt.

"Hello Aunt Petunia." Harry said cautiously, unsure of how much his Aunt may have regressed or transgressed with her attitude towards him. She smiled at him and he let out a relieved breath.

"Hello Harry," She said somewhat stiffly, "How was your year?"

"It was," He paused to consider the question carefully, "Okay. A little too interesting and sad for my liking but overall, okay."

His Aunt took some of his suitcases off him, "You know, not all of these magical people are horrible. I was looking for you and this nice man helped me in here. I've never walked through a wall before, it was rather interesting."

"Oh yes?" Harry smiled a little as they walked towards the platform exit.

"Yes," Aunt Petunia stopped walking and turned to face him, "I can't promise you that things will be good this time Harry but I can promise that things will be different."

Harry glanced over his shoulder and caught sight of his friends. He saw Ella who put up her arm and waved at him, Hermione and Ron hugging tightly and Malfoy talking to his mother and smiling. He turned back to his Aunt and a smile played on his lips.

"I guess a little difference is always good."

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A/N: Whoa…that's over! A whole month to write 80 000 words! But it was heaps of fun and all you guys were so nice! Thank you so much for the reviews!

And as for a sequel…well I know I really want to do one

But I'm unsure about the time…

I could do their Seventh Year but that would really just be the same kind of thing!

Or I could do it when they're a little older, like graduation onwards or five years later or something?

Help me out guys, what do you think?

I'd still love to keep the characters and all, but anyway…

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE REVIEWS!