The four fell on to the hard ground. The grass was dry and brittle and the
earth was rather dusty. Harry pushed himself up after he mentally checked
to make sure nothing was in pain. Everything was pitch black but Harry knew
from the sounds of crickets that they were outside. He heard the other
three stand up behind him as they tried in vain to look around.
"Where are we" Hermione whispered, although they could all hear her as if she was speaking.
"I'm not sure," Harry said, still trying to see through the dark.
"We must be by the ocean," Nikki said, "I can taste the salt in the air."
The clouds overhead parted as the light from the full moon shone through, lighting everything dimly. They could now see where they were clearly, they were by the ocean with very little to hide behind. Harry turned and saw a drop off that led to a beach below them. They heard a popping sound and someone say "Lumos." A light formed on the tip of a wand and shone on a mask, revealing it to be on the end of a Death Eater's wand. Several more appeared doing the same as the first; slowly enclosing them, leaving the four students sandwiched between them and the cliff.
"Bellatrix," one of them spoke. "Is that not your cousin's daughter?"
"Why is it," She cooed from behind her ivory mask
They heard a final pop as Harry's scar began to burn. The Death Eaters slowly parted as a tall hooded figure glide through the passageway that they quickly closed off. A skeletal hand reached up and slid the hood of his cloak off his head to reveal his red snake like eyes.
"Harry Potter," he smiled sickly. "How nice it is to see you again, it has been much too long. How's that scar of yours holding up?"
"Just fine," Harry spat as some of the Death Eaters sniggered.
"Why bother trying to put this off any longer Potter, why don't we just get this over with," Voldemort offered as the moon shone on to his pale skin making it look snow white. "But of course it would be one on one, my followers and you friends will have no part in our battle."
"Sounds good with me," Harry said as he drew out his wand.
The Death Eaters parted and left for the beach along with Hermione, Ron and Nikki after Harry told them to do so. Harry stared in to the face many have seen before they've died and swore that he would not do the same. Voldemort slowly drew his wand out as they stared transfix on each other, they slowly bowed as they heard a battle break out on the beach below. Harry swung his arm out as he tried to expel Voldemort's wand from his hand, but failed and needed to doge the same spell. Harry hit the end of Voldemort's robe with a fire spell as it became ablaze which was put out with water before Harry could think of his next move.
"You've gotten better Potter," Voldemort complimented in a hollow voice, "But so have I!" He shouted before sending a slicing charm towards Harry. Harry's leg exploded in pain as it hit him dead on, he winced as he tried to keep aware of what was going on. He concealed his location with a fog spell as he did a numbness charm on his leg, he couldn't afford being distracted by it. The only thing is that now he couldn't see Voldemort either. He closed his eyes, trying to pick up any sound of moving feet but found it rather difficult to drown out the shouts below.
"Potter" Voldemort yelled as he emerged from the smog and wrapped his long thin hand around Harry's neck and forced him down. Harry hit the ground once more, this time on his back, with Voldemort slowly strangling him. His scar was searing with pain and making it hard to concentrate on anything. Harry struggled to breathe as Voldemort had a look of satisfaction on his face.
"The Great Potter," Voldemort hissed. "The Boy Who Lived, you were a savior to the Wizarding World, the one who banished me to nothing but a lower form of my former self and, yet, helped me obtain this new body of me." He smiled as he looked fondly at the hand binding Harry's throat. "And you are now about to be famous for something else; you death" he informed as he pointed his wand to Harry's chest. Harry began to frantically feel around for his wand.
"I've waited for quite a while for this moment Potter; I'll remember it for the rest of my life. Avada..." He hissed as the tip of his wand began to glow the familiar bright green. Harry's mind began race, he raised his hand up and grabbed the wand and twisted it upwards as they both yelled "Kedavra" before being blinded by a bright green light. Harry felt as if he was floating, everything felt serene and at peace. 'So this is what death's like' he thought as he began to feel light headed. His whole body was tingling, and he felt as if time had no end. A wave of warmness washed over him as he dizzy; his whole body feeling as if it weighed nothing but unable to move.
"Harry," a voice wafted in like a dream. It felt close but sounded so far away; Harry opened his heavy eyes and saw him looking in to the faces of Hermione and Nikki, both looking battle worn. Harry could feel a faint smile swim across his face.
"Am I dead," he asked wearily.
"No not yet, but Voldemort is," Hermione told him with a broad smile and tears in her eyes.
"Can you feel this Harry," Nikki asked.
"Feel what?" Harry asked as he lifted his head slightly and saw Nikki poking his leg.
"You did a numbing charm didn't you," she asked as Harry nodded. "I'm going to have to take if off alright." She waved her hands as she said the incantation as the previous spell was lifted. "What hurts," She asked.
"Everything," he admitted, feeling as if he just broke every bone in his body. He felt something wrapping around his leg as he sat himself up. Nikki was wrapping something she seemed to pull out of the air. The pain in his leg lessened as she began to brace it with some pieces of wood. She continued on to his arm which got smashed against a rock when he fell.
"It's not perfect but it'll hold you until we find a way to get back home" Nikki said as she stood up, also bandaged. "Hermione, can you help Harry around, I'm going to look for Ron; I'll signal when I find him," Hermione nodded as Nikki left for the beach and she helped Harry up to his feet and handed him his wand. Harry saw a pile of dirt on the ground and what seemed to have been several pieces of limbs; all the components that have created the evil force. They began to walk down below, Harry hobbling on his good leg, as they saw an uncanny resemblance to the Northern Lights in the sky.
"She found him," Hermione said as the proceeded to follow the lights to the lower part of the beach. They found them sitting in the sand as Nikki was wrapping Ron's ankle with him propped up against the cliff. Hermione helped Harry down to the ground so he could sit and get some pressure off his leg.
"Pay attention Ron, or else you're going to slip out of it again," Nikki said as she continued to bandage his ankle. "And then I don't know if you're okay and it scares me."
"Why," he asked with a coy smile as Hermione sat down too, resting her injured wrist on her lap.
"Because I," she said before she pause. She lifted her head and looked straight into Ron's eyes, "Because I love you."
Harry felt his jaw drop at the same time as Hermione's and Ron's. Ron had a look of disbelief, yet happiness, on his face as he tried to talk. Nikki lowered her head as she finished mending Ron and flopped back on the sand as she looked at the starry sky.
"I really can't stay," she said in a sing-song voice.
"But baby its cold outside," Ron responded, obviously picking up on their song.
"What happened to all the Death Eaters," Harry asked, just realizing how alone they were.
"They left after the curse was set off, they thought that it was you who died," Hermione informed as Ron and Nikki continued to sing. "They must have realized that you didn't by now."
"We did," said a deep voice from behind them. They all turned and saw a hooded figure wearing a Death Eaters mask over his face. A strong hand reached up and removed the mask to reveal their sullen face.
"Congratulations," Snape smirked. "You've done as it was prophesized Mister Potter. Now, why don't we all go back to Hogwarts before Mister Wesley's mother has a panic attack."
They all stood up as their Potion Master Picked up a stone and incarnated it into a Portkey; they all laid their hands on it, and were brought back to the school. Their feet hit the ground just outside the school's doors. They entered and walked in to the deserted school. Not even a ghost was to be seen floating around, although they heard talking coming through the heavy doors that blocked the entrance to the Great Hall. They pushed open the second set of doors and saw the whole school inside, House tables were gone and people were just sitting on the floor. Snape slipped into a group of nearby teachers, unnoticed to anyone, none of them seemed to have noticed that there was four new people with them. Harry felt the three push him slightly in the direction of the High Table where Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were sitting, looking worried. He walked awkwardly up to them, not wanting to us his bad leg too much, as they appeared to have halfhearted smiles on them. He reached the mahogany table and Dumbledore gestured for him to turn around.
"Everybody," Harry spoke, a few people seemed to have heard him as they turned to their friends who didn't hear him. Soon everyone was whispering to each other to pay attention to the seventeen year old. "There will be no more suffering, for anyone. And to all of those who have lost someone close to them; I'm sorry. I know what its like. And... you can now walk the street, unafraid and with pride. There is no more reason to hind from those you don't know. The world has changed and so will Hogwarts. We can now connect with each other, in happiness and sadness for we all have something in common; we are here. And being here was the safest place you could ever be, but now everywhere is safe. What I'm trying to say is; Voldemort" a wave of shudders ran through the large room "Is a name you no longer have to fear. For it is pointless to be afraid of nothing. He is no more; tonight, Voldemort has died." A chain reaction of gasp could be heard. "He died and now, now is the time to spend time with your family; for you have been given a second chance. Go forth with you studies, the world is opened to anything. And above all, be happy – for the wizarding world is free and we are all safe."
The room remained deadly quiet; nobody seemed to be breathing; until a third year stood up shaking. "Is he really gone Harry?" She asked as her voice echoed through out the room. Everybody's head swiveled back to Harry who nodded. The third year began to shake more as she began to cry. A spastic uproar of cheers and tears began as Dumbledore helped Harry back to the doors to meet up with his friends and brought them to the Hospital Wing.
Madam Pomfrey didn't seem to be too surprised to see them already sitting on the beds; her face was glowing, obviously, she heard the announcement. She began to tend to them, praising the job that was already done to keep them in place. She placed some green substance on Harry's wounds before re- wrapping them. She came back after tending to the other three, who weren't as near as injured as him, with a sleeping draught. She gave each of them a goblet full with the potion to ensure them a dreamless sleep. Hermione drank hers first as Ron seemed to talking to Nikki about something. Harry downed the thick liquid as his head swam and he fell back on to his pillow.
*
"Do you want to come this summer," Nikki asked Harry and Hermione the next day. It was nearing lunch and it wouldn't be long before their visitors were allowed inside. "Everybody comes, it's always fun. Please come."
"Sure, it'll get me out of Privet Drive," Harry smiled as Hermione nodded. Ron and Nikki cheered as they threw their arm in the air and Ginny came walking in.
"They're coming to the barbeque" Nikki told Ginny who smiled. "They always have to come now, tradition for twenty years now."
"How are you all" Ginny asked as she sat on the end of Ron's bed with Nikki, facing Harry who was sitting on Hermione's bed.
"Fine, we're allowed to leave when ever we want, we just want to get our thoughts together first." Harry told her as she smiled.
"What happened anyways... you know when He died," Ginny asked as she looked at Harry.
Harry began to animatedly explain what happened the other night; the other three listened intently to him. The events flashed through his mind as he talked about them, as clear as if it was still happening. "And I grabbed the wand, I figured that I may as well try to kill him if it seems like I'm going to die anyways. And, I guess it worked. When Hermione helped my up I saw this pile, it had everything in it that made Voldemort for the second time around, and he's really gone." Harry finished. Nobody talked, Harry felt his stomach leap.
"Would you like some supper," Madame Pomfrey asked as she walked out of her office. "You barely ate anything all day."
"Its suppertime already," Ron exclaimed as he and Nikki stood up. "We should get you back; did they take the Portkey off those doors?"
"Most likely" Nikki said as she waved goodbye to them. "Remember, the first day after school ends."
"Ginny," Hermione said once the other two were gone. "I'm going to guess that you didn't hear this yet; Nikki told Ron last night that she loved him."
"Get out," she gasped. "Shut up she did not, did she? Oh man this is BIG. They should not be left alone. We need to get a leash or something. Oh holy frig."
Harry laughed as Ginny continued to have her panic attack; pacing the room.
*
"Where have you been?" Ginny snapped at Ron the next day as they sat under a tree by the water, revising for their exams.
"Jamie Lil was over and time slipped away, I stayed over at Nikki's." He explained as he picked up a book lying on the ground.
"How is she," Hermione asked.
"She's fine; turns out that she was born an Anigamis. She just happened to be a wolf because of Remus; who should be here tomorrow with Lé Anna. And they heard about Voldemort, it's all over the papers and the news."
"That's nice," Ginny said as she continued to eye her brother suspiciously. She never broke her gaze from him as he tried to read the book.
"We didn't do anything Ginny," Ron stated with a stony face before they all went back to reading.
"We really should have started revision earlier," Hermione commented. "I must have been crazy to have put this off for so long. N.E.W.T.S. are much too important to have waited so long."
* "That wasn't too bad actually," Ron commented. "The fuss they make over it; I think that I did fairly well on my tests."
"That's because everybody was in such a good mood. Even Snape was nice to the Gryffindor," Hermione noted as they got ready to board the train. McGonagall handed them each a letter before they boarded the train. They got comfortable in their usual compartment as they each opened their letters. Inside were their grades, a note that McGonagall wrote to them, their diplomas and a list of people that would like them to work for them. Harry read over his letter from McGonagall smiling broadly. Reading about how much of a pleasure it has been for her to see him grow; both mentally and physically. She remembered how small he seemed when he first came to Hogwarts; unsure of whom he was, malnutrition, a wiry little boy who never heard of what he had done when he was little; but now, he knew who he was – he was Harry Potter and carried the name well. He grew beyond his class mates in Defense and found his place in Quidditch before he was even allowed to. She knew that he would amount to great things.
He looked at his marks smiled; he got a perfect score in Defense and between E and O in all his others. He checked to see who wanted his services and noted that the Ministry was on the list; just above Fred and George. Ron and Hermione had quite the list too; Fred and George both wanted them to work for them as well.
"This is the last time we're ever going to be on this train," Hermione spoke as she looked out the window.
"You're right," Ron said, realizing how much time has passed since they were first on the train, before the three of them were all friends. They began to recount all the things they've been through and as more people joined them inside the compartment, the more stories that were shared. Harry even found himself talking with a Slytherin for a few minutes; there were no more Houses so there was no more rivalry. People started to talk about their families like during their first feast together but this time there were more tears as they realized how many of them had been affected by Voldemort's power. The Slytherin was saying that her parents were Death Eaters and she was afraid of what they would say if she was in any other House. The train soon slowed down as they all parted their ways; bidding farewell and promising to keep in touch. Harry and Ron found Ginny and met up with the Weasleys as Hermione left with her parents. Saying that they would all meet up tomorrow at the barbeque, they left into the dark of the night for a good night sleep.
* A/N: I love the speech that Harry made; I think that he was planning it for a while. Anyways, this is not the end of the story, the barbeque is next and JL will be in it and there will a rather important announcement in it too. I'll have it up when I have it up.
"Where are we" Hermione whispered, although they could all hear her as if she was speaking.
"I'm not sure," Harry said, still trying to see through the dark.
"We must be by the ocean," Nikki said, "I can taste the salt in the air."
The clouds overhead parted as the light from the full moon shone through, lighting everything dimly. They could now see where they were clearly, they were by the ocean with very little to hide behind. Harry turned and saw a drop off that led to a beach below them. They heard a popping sound and someone say "Lumos." A light formed on the tip of a wand and shone on a mask, revealing it to be on the end of a Death Eater's wand. Several more appeared doing the same as the first; slowly enclosing them, leaving the four students sandwiched between them and the cliff.
"Bellatrix," one of them spoke. "Is that not your cousin's daughter?"
"Why is it," She cooed from behind her ivory mask
They heard a final pop as Harry's scar began to burn. The Death Eaters slowly parted as a tall hooded figure glide through the passageway that they quickly closed off. A skeletal hand reached up and slid the hood of his cloak off his head to reveal his red snake like eyes.
"Harry Potter," he smiled sickly. "How nice it is to see you again, it has been much too long. How's that scar of yours holding up?"
"Just fine," Harry spat as some of the Death Eaters sniggered.
"Why bother trying to put this off any longer Potter, why don't we just get this over with," Voldemort offered as the moon shone on to his pale skin making it look snow white. "But of course it would be one on one, my followers and you friends will have no part in our battle."
"Sounds good with me," Harry said as he drew out his wand.
The Death Eaters parted and left for the beach along with Hermione, Ron and Nikki after Harry told them to do so. Harry stared in to the face many have seen before they've died and swore that he would not do the same. Voldemort slowly drew his wand out as they stared transfix on each other, they slowly bowed as they heard a battle break out on the beach below. Harry swung his arm out as he tried to expel Voldemort's wand from his hand, but failed and needed to doge the same spell. Harry hit the end of Voldemort's robe with a fire spell as it became ablaze which was put out with water before Harry could think of his next move.
"You've gotten better Potter," Voldemort complimented in a hollow voice, "But so have I!" He shouted before sending a slicing charm towards Harry. Harry's leg exploded in pain as it hit him dead on, he winced as he tried to keep aware of what was going on. He concealed his location with a fog spell as he did a numbness charm on his leg, he couldn't afford being distracted by it. The only thing is that now he couldn't see Voldemort either. He closed his eyes, trying to pick up any sound of moving feet but found it rather difficult to drown out the shouts below.
"Potter" Voldemort yelled as he emerged from the smog and wrapped his long thin hand around Harry's neck and forced him down. Harry hit the ground once more, this time on his back, with Voldemort slowly strangling him. His scar was searing with pain and making it hard to concentrate on anything. Harry struggled to breathe as Voldemort had a look of satisfaction on his face.
"The Great Potter," Voldemort hissed. "The Boy Who Lived, you were a savior to the Wizarding World, the one who banished me to nothing but a lower form of my former self and, yet, helped me obtain this new body of me." He smiled as he looked fondly at the hand binding Harry's throat. "And you are now about to be famous for something else; you death" he informed as he pointed his wand to Harry's chest. Harry began to frantically feel around for his wand.
"I've waited for quite a while for this moment Potter; I'll remember it for the rest of my life. Avada..." He hissed as the tip of his wand began to glow the familiar bright green. Harry's mind began race, he raised his hand up and grabbed the wand and twisted it upwards as they both yelled "Kedavra" before being blinded by a bright green light. Harry felt as if he was floating, everything felt serene and at peace. 'So this is what death's like' he thought as he began to feel light headed. His whole body was tingling, and he felt as if time had no end. A wave of warmness washed over him as he dizzy; his whole body feeling as if it weighed nothing but unable to move.
"Harry," a voice wafted in like a dream. It felt close but sounded so far away; Harry opened his heavy eyes and saw him looking in to the faces of Hermione and Nikki, both looking battle worn. Harry could feel a faint smile swim across his face.
"Am I dead," he asked wearily.
"No not yet, but Voldemort is," Hermione told him with a broad smile and tears in her eyes.
"Can you feel this Harry," Nikki asked.
"Feel what?" Harry asked as he lifted his head slightly and saw Nikki poking his leg.
"You did a numbing charm didn't you," she asked as Harry nodded. "I'm going to have to take if off alright." She waved her hands as she said the incantation as the previous spell was lifted. "What hurts," She asked.
"Everything," he admitted, feeling as if he just broke every bone in his body. He felt something wrapping around his leg as he sat himself up. Nikki was wrapping something she seemed to pull out of the air. The pain in his leg lessened as she began to brace it with some pieces of wood. She continued on to his arm which got smashed against a rock when he fell.
"It's not perfect but it'll hold you until we find a way to get back home" Nikki said as she stood up, also bandaged. "Hermione, can you help Harry around, I'm going to look for Ron; I'll signal when I find him," Hermione nodded as Nikki left for the beach and she helped Harry up to his feet and handed him his wand. Harry saw a pile of dirt on the ground and what seemed to have been several pieces of limbs; all the components that have created the evil force. They began to walk down below, Harry hobbling on his good leg, as they saw an uncanny resemblance to the Northern Lights in the sky.
"She found him," Hermione said as the proceeded to follow the lights to the lower part of the beach. They found them sitting in the sand as Nikki was wrapping Ron's ankle with him propped up against the cliff. Hermione helped Harry down to the ground so he could sit and get some pressure off his leg.
"Pay attention Ron, or else you're going to slip out of it again," Nikki said as she continued to bandage his ankle. "And then I don't know if you're okay and it scares me."
"Why," he asked with a coy smile as Hermione sat down too, resting her injured wrist on her lap.
"Because I," she said before she pause. She lifted her head and looked straight into Ron's eyes, "Because I love you."
Harry felt his jaw drop at the same time as Hermione's and Ron's. Ron had a look of disbelief, yet happiness, on his face as he tried to talk. Nikki lowered her head as she finished mending Ron and flopped back on the sand as she looked at the starry sky.
"I really can't stay," she said in a sing-song voice.
"But baby its cold outside," Ron responded, obviously picking up on their song.
"What happened to all the Death Eaters," Harry asked, just realizing how alone they were.
"They left after the curse was set off, they thought that it was you who died," Hermione informed as Ron and Nikki continued to sing. "They must have realized that you didn't by now."
"We did," said a deep voice from behind them. They all turned and saw a hooded figure wearing a Death Eaters mask over his face. A strong hand reached up and removed the mask to reveal their sullen face.
"Congratulations," Snape smirked. "You've done as it was prophesized Mister Potter. Now, why don't we all go back to Hogwarts before Mister Wesley's mother has a panic attack."
They all stood up as their Potion Master Picked up a stone and incarnated it into a Portkey; they all laid their hands on it, and were brought back to the school. Their feet hit the ground just outside the school's doors. They entered and walked in to the deserted school. Not even a ghost was to be seen floating around, although they heard talking coming through the heavy doors that blocked the entrance to the Great Hall. They pushed open the second set of doors and saw the whole school inside, House tables were gone and people were just sitting on the floor. Snape slipped into a group of nearby teachers, unnoticed to anyone, none of them seemed to have noticed that there was four new people with them. Harry felt the three push him slightly in the direction of the High Table where Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were sitting, looking worried. He walked awkwardly up to them, not wanting to us his bad leg too much, as they appeared to have halfhearted smiles on them. He reached the mahogany table and Dumbledore gestured for him to turn around.
"Everybody," Harry spoke, a few people seemed to have heard him as they turned to their friends who didn't hear him. Soon everyone was whispering to each other to pay attention to the seventeen year old. "There will be no more suffering, for anyone. And to all of those who have lost someone close to them; I'm sorry. I know what its like. And... you can now walk the street, unafraid and with pride. There is no more reason to hind from those you don't know. The world has changed and so will Hogwarts. We can now connect with each other, in happiness and sadness for we all have something in common; we are here. And being here was the safest place you could ever be, but now everywhere is safe. What I'm trying to say is; Voldemort" a wave of shudders ran through the large room "Is a name you no longer have to fear. For it is pointless to be afraid of nothing. He is no more; tonight, Voldemort has died." A chain reaction of gasp could be heard. "He died and now, now is the time to spend time with your family; for you have been given a second chance. Go forth with you studies, the world is opened to anything. And above all, be happy – for the wizarding world is free and we are all safe."
The room remained deadly quiet; nobody seemed to be breathing; until a third year stood up shaking. "Is he really gone Harry?" She asked as her voice echoed through out the room. Everybody's head swiveled back to Harry who nodded. The third year began to shake more as she began to cry. A spastic uproar of cheers and tears began as Dumbledore helped Harry back to the doors to meet up with his friends and brought them to the Hospital Wing.
Madam Pomfrey didn't seem to be too surprised to see them already sitting on the beds; her face was glowing, obviously, she heard the announcement. She began to tend to them, praising the job that was already done to keep them in place. She placed some green substance on Harry's wounds before re- wrapping them. She came back after tending to the other three, who weren't as near as injured as him, with a sleeping draught. She gave each of them a goblet full with the potion to ensure them a dreamless sleep. Hermione drank hers first as Ron seemed to talking to Nikki about something. Harry downed the thick liquid as his head swam and he fell back on to his pillow.
*
"Do you want to come this summer," Nikki asked Harry and Hermione the next day. It was nearing lunch and it wouldn't be long before their visitors were allowed inside. "Everybody comes, it's always fun. Please come."
"Sure, it'll get me out of Privet Drive," Harry smiled as Hermione nodded. Ron and Nikki cheered as they threw their arm in the air and Ginny came walking in.
"They're coming to the barbeque" Nikki told Ginny who smiled. "They always have to come now, tradition for twenty years now."
"How are you all" Ginny asked as she sat on the end of Ron's bed with Nikki, facing Harry who was sitting on Hermione's bed.
"Fine, we're allowed to leave when ever we want, we just want to get our thoughts together first." Harry told her as she smiled.
"What happened anyways... you know when He died," Ginny asked as she looked at Harry.
Harry began to animatedly explain what happened the other night; the other three listened intently to him. The events flashed through his mind as he talked about them, as clear as if it was still happening. "And I grabbed the wand, I figured that I may as well try to kill him if it seems like I'm going to die anyways. And, I guess it worked. When Hermione helped my up I saw this pile, it had everything in it that made Voldemort for the second time around, and he's really gone." Harry finished. Nobody talked, Harry felt his stomach leap.
"Would you like some supper," Madame Pomfrey asked as she walked out of her office. "You barely ate anything all day."
"Its suppertime already," Ron exclaimed as he and Nikki stood up. "We should get you back; did they take the Portkey off those doors?"
"Most likely" Nikki said as she waved goodbye to them. "Remember, the first day after school ends."
"Ginny," Hermione said once the other two were gone. "I'm going to guess that you didn't hear this yet; Nikki told Ron last night that she loved him."
"Get out," she gasped. "Shut up she did not, did she? Oh man this is BIG. They should not be left alone. We need to get a leash or something. Oh holy frig."
Harry laughed as Ginny continued to have her panic attack; pacing the room.
*
"Where have you been?" Ginny snapped at Ron the next day as they sat under a tree by the water, revising for their exams.
"Jamie Lil was over and time slipped away, I stayed over at Nikki's." He explained as he picked up a book lying on the ground.
"How is she," Hermione asked.
"She's fine; turns out that she was born an Anigamis. She just happened to be a wolf because of Remus; who should be here tomorrow with Lé Anna. And they heard about Voldemort, it's all over the papers and the news."
"That's nice," Ginny said as she continued to eye her brother suspiciously. She never broke her gaze from him as he tried to read the book.
"We didn't do anything Ginny," Ron stated with a stony face before they all went back to reading.
"We really should have started revision earlier," Hermione commented. "I must have been crazy to have put this off for so long. N.E.W.T.S. are much too important to have waited so long."
* "That wasn't too bad actually," Ron commented. "The fuss they make over it; I think that I did fairly well on my tests."
"That's because everybody was in such a good mood. Even Snape was nice to the Gryffindor," Hermione noted as they got ready to board the train. McGonagall handed them each a letter before they boarded the train. They got comfortable in their usual compartment as they each opened their letters. Inside were their grades, a note that McGonagall wrote to them, their diplomas and a list of people that would like them to work for them. Harry read over his letter from McGonagall smiling broadly. Reading about how much of a pleasure it has been for her to see him grow; both mentally and physically. She remembered how small he seemed when he first came to Hogwarts; unsure of whom he was, malnutrition, a wiry little boy who never heard of what he had done when he was little; but now, he knew who he was – he was Harry Potter and carried the name well. He grew beyond his class mates in Defense and found his place in Quidditch before he was even allowed to. She knew that he would amount to great things.
He looked at his marks smiled; he got a perfect score in Defense and between E and O in all his others. He checked to see who wanted his services and noted that the Ministry was on the list; just above Fred and George. Ron and Hermione had quite the list too; Fred and George both wanted them to work for them as well.
"This is the last time we're ever going to be on this train," Hermione spoke as she looked out the window.
"You're right," Ron said, realizing how much time has passed since they were first on the train, before the three of them were all friends. They began to recount all the things they've been through and as more people joined them inside the compartment, the more stories that were shared. Harry even found himself talking with a Slytherin for a few minutes; there were no more Houses so there was no more rivalry. People started to talk about their families like during their first feast together but this time there were more tears as they realized how many of them had been affected by Voldemort's power. The Slytherin was saying that her parents were Death Eaters and she was afraid of what they would say if she was in any other House. The train soon slowed down as they all parted their ways; bidding farewell and promising to keep in touch. Harry and Ron found Ginny and met up with the Weasleys as Hermione left with her parents. Saying that they would all meet up tomorrow at the barbeque, they left into the dark of the night for a good night sleep.
* A/N: I love the speech that Harry made; I think that he was planning it for a while. Anyways, this is not the end of the story, the barbeque is next and JL will be in it and there will a rather important announcement in it too. I'll have it up when I have it up.