Reviewers:
Dragonfirechick: I have that movie!!!! "You're mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries!" (rolls off chair laughing) Anyway, I have no idea how I made those weird signs. All I was doing was making those three dots. You know, to make like you're trailing off...? I'm going to see if it'll do it again.
Architect04: (rolls over laughing again) You. Crack. Me. Up.
Author's note: I'm so so so so so so so sorry I'm so late with this update! It's all Ivan's fault! I live VERY near to where you see all the reports in Florida. Anyway, I'm home now and thank GOD that our home as little damage. The people across our street, however, had major flooding and had a BIG boat get washed up onto their yard! (there's a river behind their house)
Secrets in the Shadows
Chapter 14: The Last Chapter
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Haylie's eyes swam as she opened them, but when they cleared she saw that she was in the hospital wing. The sun was shining brightly through the window, so she guessed it was about noon. At first she didn't remember anything that would tell her why she was there. But in a few seconds, all the memories of the night before came flooding back to her. And with a jolt of her stomach, she remembered the battle between Harry Potter and herself. Well, not exactly herself.
"I killed him," she said in a barely audible voice, sitting up suddenly. She then felt hot tears prickling at the sides of her grey eyes. She put her face in her hands.
No. Oh my God, no! she thought over and over again as the tears wetted her shaking hands.
"Haylie?" a voice said from the bed beside her. Quickly, Haylie dried her eyes and looked to see who was talking. A black-haired boy with startling green eyes looked questioningly at her.
"HARRY?" Haylie exclaimed. "But...but I...but you...OH MY GOD, YOU'RE ALIVE!" She said, jumping out of her bed and flinging her arms around him.
"OW! Haylie, please g'off!" Harry said, obviously in great pain. Embarassed and looking apologetic, Haylie stepped back. Harry was rubbing his ribs gingerly, flinching. "Geez, you're worst then Hermione!"
"I'm sorry," Haylie said earnestly.
"Forget about it," Harry said, waving it off. "Just-don't do it again."
"Aye, aye, Cap'n!" Haylie said springing into a quick salute. She and Harry laughed and Haylie put her hand down.
"Listen, Harry, do you remember much of last night?" Haylie asked, suddenly looking a little uncomfortable. Harry was silent for a minute.
"All of it, actually," Harry said quietly.
"Then, do you mind telling me? After I-" Haylie paused. "You know... 'change', I rarely remember exactly what happened."
"No, I don't mind," Harry said. He paused, collecting his thoughts. "Well, when you changed, we battled for a while. Volde-"Haylie flinched at hearing the name. "Sorry," Harry apologized. "I mean, You-Know-Who was taunting me, trying to catch me off-guard I guess. Well, it worked. You-"
"Hold on, Harry," Haylie cut it sharply. "Please don't say that-that thing was me. I had no control over it."
"Sorry," Harry said quickly. "Well, it whammed me into the wall. It broke a couple of my ribs, so I couldn't defend myself. But, just before the werewolf killed me, something happened. The thing paused, and a really bright light shone out of it. I couldn't see it for a second. When the light vanished, I saw you on your hands and knees. You said something. I think it was; "Thank God" and then you collapsed. The door opened at that exact moment. It was Dumbledore and everyone else. He carried you outside while two other helped me out. Dumbledore made a Port-Key and sent us straight to the Hospital Wing this morning."
Both were silent for a few minutes, until Harry spoke again.
"What happened?" Harry asked her. "How did you turn back? You weren't supposed to until the sun rose, right?" Haylie hesitated.
"Are you a Christian?" Haylie asked.
"I guess so," Harry said. "I've been to church every once in a while with the Dursley's. That's yet another reason why they hate magic. They think it's the Devil's work or something. You know, this is the first time somebody has asked my about my religion..."
"But do you believe in God?" Haylie asked.
"Yah, pretty much. Why?"
"He's the one who saved me. That white light - I think that was Him."
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A few hours later, the two were allowed to go to their common room. To Haylie's great disappointment, and shock, Madam Pomfry told her she still had werewolf blood.
"But I was sure..." Haylie said to Harry as they left.
"Maybe somebody up there is testing you, then," Harry said. "He probably wants you to still be a werewolf for some purpose."
"You know, you may be right," Haylie said thoughtfully.
When the two came back to the common room, they found themselves wrapped up in bear hugs by Ron, Ginny, and Hermione.
"Thank goodness you two are all right!" Hermione squealed.
"Dumbledore told us that you got into a fight with You-Know-Who or something, and all you got out of it was a few broken ribs!" Ron said to Harry. "How'd you do it, mate? We're all dying to hear!"
Haylie and Harry looked at each other. Then Haylie sighed.
"We need to talk to you in private," Haylie said to Ron and Hermione. "You might as well come too, Ginny."
The five of them walked to a remote corner in the common room. They all sat down.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"Harry didn't get into a fight with You-Know-Who," Haylie said. "He got in a fight with me."
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all looked questionably at Harry.
"I'm a werewolf," Haylie said.
The three were silent for a second, until Hermione pumped a fist in the air.
"Hah! I knew it!" she said triumphantly. "That's why you've been disappearing every month." Haylie nodded.
"So..." Haylie said slowly. "Are you all right with that?"
"'Course we are!" Ron said. "We're all you mates here! Anyway, we already know another werewolf. Lupin. Remember him during our third year?"
"Of course I do," Haylie said. "He was my only friend until this year. We've been keeping in touch. He's really a great person."
"We know," the four of them, including Harry chorused.
"Hey, have you two had lunch yet?" Ron asked.
"No," Haylie and Harry said at the same time.
"Here," Ron said, pulling a few tarts from his pocket. "I saved these for you two in case you were hungry." Haylie and Harry took one and thanked him. Haylie ate hers ravenously. The four of them stared at her.
"What?" Haylie said. "I haven't had anything sweet ever since I was kidnapped!"
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The next few months slipped by without much excitement, except for Haylie's monthly absences, which were served in an empty classroom this time.
Easter passed, and they took their exams in May. As the end of the year approached, however, Haylie started to wonder if she should tell Harry about Lia. He did have a right to know. But every time she had a chance to tell him about it, she chickened out.
Finally, the end-of-the-year feast came. Gryffindor, for the sixth year running, was awarded the House Cup. After the feast, as usual, Dumbledore stood to make a speech.
"This has been yet another wonderful year!" he said. "New chances, new opportunities, and new friendships." As he said that, Haylie swore he glanced her way. "But, I'm sad to announce, our Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Severus Snape, has resigned."
The whole Gryffindor table, including some of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, had to use all their self-control to keep from cheering.
"Next year, we will find new teachers to fill in these spots. Before we leave to pack, let us all raise our goblets in a final farewell to Professor Snape," Dumbledore said, raising his cup. Almost reluctantly, everyone else raised their goblets.
"I wonder why he resigned," Ron said quietly to Harry.
"It's probably because of the strain," Haylie said. "Two classes and a secret spying job? Talk about stress."
"Hey, Haylie," Hermione said. "I've just realized-You have an accent."
"What?"
"You sound British."
"Oh," Haylie said, smiling. "It happens every year. During the summer I visit relatives in the U.S., so I sound American until I get back to Hogwarts. Listening and talking to you all makes me sound British."
"You're quite adaptive," Hermione said, nodding.
"That's exactly the word I was going to say," Haylie told her, still grinning.
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The next day, when the four of them (Ron, Hermione, Haylie, and Harry) left the Hogwarts Express, they all gave Haylie their addresses so she could write to them. Haylie also gave her address to each of them.
"This isn't my actual address, it's my aunt's," Haylie told them. "We're staying at her house for pretty much the whole summer. Are you sure your owls can endure long flights like that?"
"Hedwig probably could, but I'm not sure about Pig," Ron said. "I might have to rent one of those long-distance mail owls at the post office in Diagon Alley."
"I better do that too," Hermione said.
"Natasha!" a woman's voice called from the crowd.
"Hi Mom," Haylie said, waving her hand as a couple pushed through the crowd toward her.
"Hello, hon. Have a nice year?" Haylie's mom asked with a clearly American accent.
"Yah, it was really good," Haylie said. "Mom, Dad. These are my friends. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger."
"It's so nice to meet you three," her mom said, beaming. Haylie rolled her eyes.
"C'mon, Haylie. Let's go before the traffic gets us stuck here!" her dad said.
"Alright," Haylie said. "Hold on."
She then turned and gave each of her new friends a hug.
"Thank you so much for accepting me," she said in a quiet voice. "You're the only friends my age I've had for...seven years."
"Well, you a nice person. I'm glad we're friends," Hermione said. "And what's more, you're almost as smart as me, so you can help tutor these two dim-witted slugs."
"Hey!" Ron and Harry said indignantly. Haylie laughed.
"Well, I better go," she said. "See you in a couple months."
"Bye!" the three said simultaneously as she ran off to catch up to her parents.
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THE END!!!!!!
Whooo! I'm finally done. I want to thank all you b-e-a-utiful reviewers for keeping my spirits up! Especially dragonfirechick and Architect04, who reviewed every chapter! I LOVE YOU GUYS! (gives them each a bear hug)
For a special treat, I have posted a soundtrack for SITS on my profile. Before you review, check it out, please!