Chapter 6: Harry's Future

Final Chapter

a little reminder of last chapter

"I'm not dead yet."

Harry's face lit up at the same time Draco's darkened.

"No, I guess not, but you will be. Avada Kedavra!" Draco bellowed.

Harry tried to stop him, but...

there was no need to. Nothing happened.

"I think you need a bit more work on that one, Draco," said a soft voice from behind them. They turned around and there stood Dumbledore.

"Help!" Harry cried. "Hermione—"

"Now, now, there is no need to shout. I heard everything that happened. I heard shouts and a big crash coming from here, and since the teachers were busy with their classes, I took it upon myself to see what had happened."

Right then, a gigantic bird flew up and perched on Dumbledore's shoulder. Dumbledore motioned to Hermione, and the bird must have understood, because he flew to her and immediately began crying. Draco watched this situation in horror.

Hermione's deep wounds healed instantly.

"Thank you so much," she said to the phoenix.

"Please, Hermione, come with me to Madam Pomfrey's," Dumbledore said quietly, "to make sure you have no injuries."

"I'm fine, honestly. No damage done." Hermione insisted.

"Very well, then you and Mr. Potter can assist me in escorting Draco to Mr. Snape's office." Dumbledore told them.

Right then, Hermione burst into tears. Dumbledore looked to Harry and then pointed to Hermione very subtly. Harry knew this was his place to step in, and Dumbledore took Malfoy into the office to have a talk with Snape.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"I'm such...an idiot!" she cried in between sniffles. "I thought Draco really loved me."

"Hermione, it's not your fault. Draco is a jerk. Besides, it's easy to believe him. He's a tricky guy." Harry tried to comfort her.

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione cried. "Thanks for being here for me."

She pulled him into a hug and buried her head into his shoulder. Harry awkwardly hugged her back.

"It's no problem, really." Harry said.

"Plus, you...you saved my life," Hermione gave him a look of gratitude.

"I did not!" Harry answered truthfully. "I just came to look for you. When I found you, I thought you were already dead. That's not saving your life."

"But...you were a distraction to Lucius and Draco. You allowed me to save myself. Plus, you cared about me enough to go out and look for me."

"I was worried," said Harry humbly. "I found Malfoy's letter, and I had to tell you we were in danger.

"Letter?" Hermione said, perking up. "What letter?"

"Well, I found a letter Draco wrote to his father. He left it in the Owlery..." and as he explained the rest, Hermione gasped in horror.

"So...you could be dead, all thanks to me." Hermione's face fell.

"No, Hermione, don't put the blame on yourself. Please." Harry begged, looking into her eyes. "It's really my fault and—"

"Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

And with that, she leaned in and kissed him. Harry felt great, he knew now that the feeling was mutual. He felt like he was floating, but only shortly, because Draco came out of Snape's office, so they broke apart.

"Don't say a word, Potter." Draco glared at him and then turned away.

"Bet he's been expelled," Harry grinned. "So other than that, everything's back to normal."

"Not quite." Hermione said, and winked.

Harry knew right then that everything would indeed not go back to normal. In fact, he thought it was possible it could change drastically, and soon. And, he thought, probably for the better.

end