Disclaimer: Many of the characters, thoughts and ideas that are in this fan fiction are not of my own design. Though this story is from my imagination, I realize that this is the property of Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling. This is not J. K. Rowling's work. I also read many FFs and if you see something similar to another work it is entirely unintentional. I have posted this on harrypotter.com as well….
Becky (rebcschult and PrincessOfCliffiesRCS)
P.S. Please read and review!
In general to all of my fans – Okay this is the very last chapter of this ficcy… I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter posted here…. I have had a very hectic month… Anyhow I do have a year six to follow this in the process of being written and it is being posted currently at harrypotter.com. If you would like to join me there please note that it will be rough as it is the first draft and over there is where I did earn my screen name… there I am the Princess of Cliffies :-D, just to warn you …. There my s/n is rebcschult and the name of my year six there is Harry Potter and the Green Flamed Torch. If you want the addy to my year six so that you can keep reading my writing… I will put it in my profile under my bio…. I hope you will decide to join me there. But if not I will eventually post it here too! But it will be quite a while before I do as I have not finished writing it yet… nor have I edited any of it yet either! Once I finish writing it and editing it… I will most definitely post it here! I would like to take this time to thank you all for being loyal fans and reading my ficcy. You will never know how much it has meant to me to have you all as fans! THANK YOU!!! :-D
Butler – Thank you for reading! I'm so glad that you have enjoyed this! I hope you'll join me for my year six! :-D
Athenakitty – Thank you for all the questions… I hope that most of your questions have been answered. I realize I have left several things in the air… Those things are to be answered in future ficcys. I hope you have enjoyed what you have read! Thank you for being a loyal reader. :-D
Texasjeanette – Thank you so much for your wonderful comments! I'm so glad that you enjoyed what I wrote. Indeed it is interesting that the death of women he loves and cares for have given him strength… to be honest, this part of the story wrote itself for the most part. ;-D Thank you so much for being a loyal reader! I have enjoyed your comments and insights. I hope you join me for my year six! :-D
Numbal – I believe you are new so WELCOME!! And I am happy you have enjoyed what you have read! Thank you for reading!! I hope you will join me for my year six. :-D
Manateegirl524 –WOW!! Thanks! I'm so sorry it took me so long to post the next chapter!! I'm so glad that you have enjoyed this ficcy that much! I hope you will join me for my year six! I know this end is short and sweet…. And that I leave you wanting more…. But if I gave it all to you now…. Then there wouldn't be anything for the other two years! And believe me when I say that this is just the beginning of my plans…. Hehehehehe!! Thank you for being such a wonderful and loyal reader!!! It has been a pleasure to have you read my ficcy! :-D
Dnd4ever – I believe you are new so WELCOME! As for killing the pretty little red head… heheheheheh…. Well maybe you should read the rest of my ficcys before you say this (hint, hint). ;-D believe me when I say that there is still much that I have planned….. Anyhow… thank you so much for reading!! I hope you'll join me for my year six! :-D
Oxi-Nu – Thank you so much for your wonderful comments!! I'm so glad you enjoyed what I have written! And that's okay about being comfused… Hehehehe! I'm a blond so a state of confusion is natural for me at times! ;-D Thank you for being a loyal reader! I hope you'll join me for my year six! :-D
The Keymaker –Hehehehehe! I guess you will find out what happened to Lina…. Sort of… right now! I would like to thank you for being such a loyal reader! I have enjoyed your comments and insights! I hope you'll join me for my year six! :-D
OOoWASPToOo/Billy –Thank you so much for your compliments and for giving me your new email address! If you are asking about my year five on harrypotter.com… Unfortunately, because I was finished with it and it hadn't been bumped on as regularly, they deleted it…. But I do have a group web page with several other of the Royal Family of Cliffies that has my year five. If you would like that let me know… but as for my year six… the address is in my bio in my profile. I have not yet put any of my year six on the group web page. Anyhow…. Thank you so much for being a loyal fan and enthusiastic!! I really appreciate your comments and compliments! I hope you'll join me to read my year six! :-D
11111 – Thank you so much for you compliments!! I really appreciate them! As for Lina…. Well I guess you'll have to read this chapter to see what happens to Lina…. But here's a hint…. She is still an important character! ;-D Congratulations on the Yankees getting A-Rod. Thank you for being a loyal and wonderful reader!! I hope to see you at my year six! :-D
Cyress – WELCOME!! Thank you for your compliments! I hope you will enjoy this little ending. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you at my year six! :-D
Thirdxdemension – WELCOME!! Thank you so much for the compliments!! I'm very glad that you have enjoyed my ficcy! I hope you'll join me at my year six! Last chapter is here! :-D
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR – AN ENDING OR A BEGINNING
Harry and the other Order members left the Hospital wing soon after their ordeal that day. They had been given restorative draughts and Ron was given the cure to the black potion that still ran through his veins.
Ron was horrified to find out how much he had missed. And with the upcoming O.W.L.s he didn't know how he would get through everything to take them in time. Ron was happy to note that the tests would only include that which he had already learned. Taking out much of his worry.
The tests by comparison to what they had faced in Diagon ally was much easier than they had all anticipated. The proctors arrived for the O.W.L.s and the test schedules were set up. They took the written portion of the tests in the morning and then began the practical parts in the afternoons. The hardest O.W.L. by far was potions, as Snape who was proctoring the written part of the exam paced up and down the rows and scoffed at some of the answers that the students were writing. He seemed to be in a particularly foul mood. Harry even noticed a few differences about him. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew there was something different about him.
Professor Clovis was better, but not out of the Hospital wing. After Harry, Hermione, and Ron had completed their written part of the Defense Against the Dark Arts, and while they were waiting for what turned out to be one of the best O.W.L. practicals, they ever ended up taking, they went to visit Professor Clovis. She had seen enough of what Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Ron could do in the Alley, that she knew they would do very well.
They chatted for some time and then left to do their practicals. Harry was the first to finish his practical and returned to the hospital wing. When he got there Lina was sleeping. He sat for a long time just watching over her. He put his head down on the bed next to her and fell asleep himself. He woke up to a hand rubbing through his hair. He lifted his head and looked into the eyes of the woman that had stolen his heart. Harry helped her to sit up.
They spoke softly for some time. Finally, after a short time of quietly looking into each other's eyes Lina spoke, "Harry, you know that you saved my life don't you?"
"Yes," he said shyly.
"For that I can never repay you enough." She gave him a bright smile.
"Your smile is payment enough for me…. And I meant every word you know…."
"When?"
"When I was trying to save you in the alley…. I meant every word…. I love you with all my heart."
"Are you sure, Harry? Are you sure that this is not just a crush?"
"I know what a crush is. I had a crush on Cho…. But this is different. I almost feel like I am meant to be with you…. I'm sure that sounds crazy, you being my teacher and all."
"Not at all, Harry. I have long felt something for you, too. And since you have passed all of your requirements for your Defense Against the Dark Arts class I am no longer your teacher."
"But, aren't you coming back to teach next year?"
"No. It has been a very difficult year for me here. I cannot continue."
"But…. But…."
"I will not be far away though…. I am part of the Order now…. And I feel more at home here than I ever did back where I'm from. So I'll be around…."
Harry was saddened by the news, but knew that her being nearby would be good too. They sat there for the remainder of the time together, talking a bit, but mostly staring into each other's eyes. Then just before he knew that Madam Pomfrey was going to come out of her office to kick him out, he felt the time was now or never. He leaned in, and once again found her leaning in too. Their lips locked for the first time, and Harry felt elation enter his being. He nearly skipped out of the room before Madam Pomfrey ever left her office. For the first time in his life he felt so happy, even if it were only for a short while, before he had to return to the harsh reality of his real life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ron and Hermione had finished their practicals and were going back to visit Professor Clovis again, figuring that Harry would be there. They reached the door and saw that Harry was sitting in the chair with his head down next to her. They watched as she woke up and looked at their best friend. They could see and feel the struggle that she was going through as she gently rubbed her hand through Harry's hair and woke him up.
Ron was about to barge into the wing and visit with them, but Hermione stopped him. Ron looked at her confusedly. She led him away from the Wing to the Library.
"What is it, Hermione?"
"I think I finally figured out where it is that I saw something that would help out Harry and Professor Clovis…."
"Really? Where?"
"Where do you think? The Library!!"
"Well, I knew that! I mean where, in what book?"
"The one that you have been reading all year…."
"What Hogwarts: A History?"
"Precisely."
The weeks went by, stories and rumors flew around the castle about what had happened to Ron. He had become a hero to many as the story, which he was constantly being asked to tell became more and more accurate as to what exactly had happened. When he had first told the story he had left many of the gruesome details out, as he did not want everything to come out. But as time wore on more details came out with every telling, especially when the nightmares continued to haunt him about what had happened.
In fact they all had nightmares about what happened. Neville woke up screaming Ginny's name, most nights, and it took putting a silencing spell around Dean's and Seamus' beds to keep them from being woken up by one of the other three on a nightly basis, particularly after the funerals for Ginny and Amelia were held.
The sadness over the losses was still fresh in Harry's mind when he went to the closing feast. And saw that yet again the black flags were the ones that were hanging in memory of those lost.
Dumbledore stood before they began the feast. "Another year gone. And now I must ask that you all give a moment of silence in respect of those among us that were lost in the terrible tragedy at the Diagon Alley field trip, the day that Voldemort attacked." The hall fell eerily silent before Dumbledore continued, "Now, I must apologize again for the cancellation of the Quidditch final this year, but it was necessary and essential to use our resources for the important task of bringing back one of our number from being kidnapped." He looked at Ron, who smiled slightly. "And we were quite lucky to be able to do just that. Now let the feast begin and let your minds be emptied over the summer so that you will come back eager to learn more in the fall. Thank you." He said no more. He did not mention more about Voldemort being back…. He hadn't needed to.
Rita Skeeter had gotten the best story of all…. She had gotten the chance to not only get the exclusive on how Voldemort had come back (privately interviewing Harry), but also she had been undercover for Dumbledore for the entire year, finding out as much information as she could about what Voldemort's activities were. She was then able to publish her findings, once Voldemort had revealed himself, effectively stopping many of his plans of attack directly after the attack in Diagon Alley.
The day after the closing feast, they warily and sadly climbed the train and went back home. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were silent for most of the way home. Ron and Hermione knew that they were about to separate for a couple of months were quietly hoping for time together during the summer. The sadness of Hermione's parents being gone slowly grew as the train traveled further toward London, hanging like a very black cloud above her head. The tears silently fell down her cheeks, knowing that there would be no way for her to ever see them again and returning home now was a harsh reminder of that.
Harry's mind was far off in the horizon, realizing that his one hope of salvation during the summer was gone with the death of Amelia Figg. He closed his eyes to once again try to erase from his mind the look of pain upon her face when they had found her in the rubble.
They got off the train ominously. They each had no idea what would be in store for them over the next few months and all were silently hoping that Voldemort would not try anything with their families. Harry somehow knew that Voldemort was aware of whom everyone in the Order was and privately he feared what that meant when they were not protected at home.
All of them quietly wished each other goodbye, knowing what was on each other's minds and finding it hard to put into words how they felt, they simply hugged, shook hands and said goodbye. With a sense of foreboding Harry walked back through the barrier seeing the angry red face of his uncle great him and quickly steer him away to the car to go back to the place he would never consider to be home….
THE END OF MY YEAR FIVE!!!
A/N: Again as I mentioned before I am in the process of writing a year six and posting it at harrypotter.com….
I hope you will join me there… but if you have a weak constitution, be warned….. I am not called the Princess of Cliffies for nothing! :-D Thank you all for reading my year five!!
P.S. Occasionally I will return and respond to any new comments left… I will also put a message here just after I have begun to post my year six here at ff.net. I will give you the new addy to it at that time! Thanks again for being my loyal fans and reading my ficcy!