Chapter Twenty

The War Ends

They went toward the hospital wing where Madam Pomfrey was kept busy with the new influx of patients. Many of the patients were unconscious but others suffered mild effects from cures and jinxes. "Yes Headmaster?" she asked when she spotted them.

"We need your potion for a dreamless night sleep for these three," he said indicating to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

She led them toward three beds where she handed them some pajamas and pulled the curtains around each of them to change. After Harry had changed, he pulled back his curtains and climbed into the bed beside him. She came back levitating three goblets and she approached Harry first. She helped him drink the potion and he fell into a deep sleep after the first sip of the potion.

The next morning, they were released after breakfast and they left toward the common room since they had been told by Madam Pomfrey that the grounds were still off limits. They climbed the flights of stairs not talking about what had happened the night before. They entered through the portrait door after Hermione gave the password 'dittany' and saw that the common room was fuller than usual. Some of the Gryffindors greeted them while others simply waved. According to Ginny, Professor Dumbledore asked not to pester anyone who witnessed or contributed to the defense toward Hogwarts.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione tried to stay out of the common room as much as possible by roaming the corridors and hiding in the library; much to Ron's disgust since the term had ended. In those few days, the Daily Prophet had reported the attacks, and with the news that Lord Voldemort has finally been dealt with made Harry more famous since everyone guessed that Harry dealt the final blow. Harry tried explaining that he had help from Ron and Hermione, but few people, except the Gryffindors and a few members of the other houses except Slytherin, regarded what he said truthful. There have been other articles and the one that caught Harry's eyes was the one that exonerate Sirius for the deaths of his parents since the Death Eater who made the sacrifice was Peter Pettigrew. Harry had been receiving letter upon letter from senders since Voldemort's defeat. Harry had been sent a letter from the publishers of Hogwarts, a History; wanting to add the events of his years at Hogwarts, but Harry was not sure yet since he had only finished his sixth year. There was one letter that had completely taken Harry by surprise; it was a small letter that contained…

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Ron shouted taking the pentagonal shaped card out of Harry's hand after he had opened it. The card was one of the cards that come with Chocolate Frogs and it had a picture of Harry on it. Everyone in the Great Hall heard Ron's cry and the other students talked to the ones who couldn't see about the card Harry had gotten.

Harry had finally gotten a chance to read the card:

HARRY POTTER

Better known as the 'The Boy Who Lived' who survived a curse that has killed many wizards and witches only coming out with a scar shaped like a thunderbolt. Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord at the end of his sixth year in 1997.

Draco Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins on the other hand, regarded Harry, Ron, and Hermione has anything more than something really foul. The Slytherins confronted them in the Great Hall the night of the Leaving Feast, but only ended up with them loosing points due to the fact that their many spells only ended up bouncing off each other and hitting suits of armor along with several other students from all the houses. Professor McGonagall took five points from all the Slytherins present.

The dreadful day came for Harry is when they got aboard the Hogwarts Express for the journey home. They got a compartment to themselves as they talked over what they were doing for the summer before their last year at Hogwarts. Not long after Harry bought sweets from the cart for his friends and himself; Malfoy came through the door with Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson in tow.

"You think you three, especially you Potter, are so smart to help Gryffindor win the House Cup and ending up on Wizarding Cards. You three will pay for sending my father to Azkaban again," he sneered with his anger slowly rising.

"You know Malfoy," Harry said standing up to face to face Malfoy. "You don't have to take your anger on us or anyone else. I think you should leave before you get cursed again like the last time you tried that."

Malfoy appeared to not have heard Harry, but he took out his wand. Harry was faster than Malfoy was. "Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted and Malfoy was thrown against the wall while Crabbe and Goyle tried to intimidate Harry as Pansy Parkinson checked to see if Malfoy was okay. They left with Malfoy limping on his left foot.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione talked until the train stopped at Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters, and they gathered their trunks and pets on trolleys before walking through the barrier. Harry could she his Uncle Vernon waiting by the car with a scared Aunt Petunia and Dudley waiting for Harry to arrive. Harry bid goodbye to his friends and walked toward Uncle Vernon who didn't even bother in helping Harry lift his trunk into the back of the car. Before Harry had left through the barrier, he had bewitched his trunk to make it light as a feather. Although he pretended to struggle so not to attract any attention from the other Muggles at the station, especially from Uncle Vernon. Harry bid farewell to his friends before getting into the car before his Uncle Vernon left the station to return to Privet Drive. Harry thought that his summer will be more eventful this year since now that he can now use magic outside of Hogwarts.