Harry had also been retrieved by his Head of House on the morning of the OWL celebration. She had apparated them to the Leak Cauldron where they were met by Arthur and Molly Weasley. Harry thought Professor McGonagall was a very sensible choice of chaperone to send to the Dursley's house, with her 'normal' outward appearance and her no-nonsense attitude. She had apparated the trunk too, and said she was going to take it directly to the Burrow.
As soon as Molly saw Harry, she enveloped him in a warm hug. When she pulled away, Arthur shook his hand and said, "Congratulations, Harry. Very good work of you to come top in DADA whilst helping so many other students to do so well too."
Harry blushed, unused to receiving compliments, and looked at his feet.
"Now, now, Harry," said Molly, "This is not a day for modesty. You should make the most of it."
Just at that moment, Harry heard a squeal from behind and tried to find himself with an armful of Hermione.
"Oh Harry, it's so wonderful to see you. Isn't it great that you're here too. Well, it would be better if Ron was here of course but I'm glad I'm not here on my own." Hermione stopped to take a breath and Harry took the opportunity to tease his friend.
"But Hermione, are you sure you should be celebrating, you are only top in three subjects after all?"
Hermione made a small 'humph' sound in her throat.
"Yes, well, my overall results were okay, and I suppose I can't be top in everything."
"Don't be so modest Hermione," said Mrs Granger from behind her daughter. "Your results were fantastic," Mrs Granger smiled, "After all, good results are at least something we can still understand, although what this 'transfiguration' is all about still escapes me I'm sure!"
"Oh Mrs Granger," interrupted Mr Weasley, "You must explain to me how muggles get by without using transfiguration. I saw at work once a muggle toy - a transmorpher I think it was called - very clever, yes very clever indeed."
Mrs Weasley rolled her eyes. "Stop that now, Arthur. Mr and Mrs Granger didn't come here to be pestered about muggle toys. They came here to see their amazing daughter's results." Mrs Weasley turned to Hermione, who blushed to the roots of her bushy hair. "Well done, Hermione, most top marks out of all the students, and good results in all the rest of your OWLs I'm sure."
Hermione smiled. "I got eight O's. I just missed out in Astronomy, with an E. Professor McGonagall said the last person at Hogwarts to get these results was Bill Weasley."
"Yes, of course, although you're far more sensible than he was in those days. Getting that ridiculous fang earring the night before this very celebration!" Mrs Weasley replied, looking a little harassed. Harry laughed, imagining Mrs Weasley's reaction to Bill getting his earring just before such a public family celebration.
His thoughts were interrupted by Mr Weasley ushering the group through the bar area of the Leaky Cauldron and through into an ornate hallway. Professor Dumbledore was stood at a door at the far end and greeted them as they approached,
"Ah, Harry and Hermione. I'm glad to see you both here today, I'm very proud of you both."
Harry forced a smile. Seeing Professor Dumbledore again reminded him of all the reasons why he was sp angry with his headmaster.
"Thank you Professor." Hermione replied. She nudged Harry so he muttered a "Thank you." too. Professor Dumbledore smiled, but his eyes didn't twinkle like they usually did. 'Good,' thought Harry, 'I shouldn't be the only one feeling guilty.'
"Good morning, Headmaster," said Mr Weasley, "It's good to see you again"
"Good morning Arthur, Molly. Please pass my congratulations to your son also. A very impressive set of results. He's on track for a good set of NEWT results too I'm sure."
Molly beamed with pride. "Yes, of course. Ron was very pleased with his results. I'm very proud of him and Harry doing so well, and under such difficult circumstances too."
Molly was cut off by a throat being cleared impatiently behind them. The group turned around to be confronted by a sneering Potions Master and his favourite student.
Snape inclined his head respectfully towards Dumbledore, "Headmaster."
"Ah, Professor Snape, good to see you," replied the headmaster with a cheerfulness that caused Snape to narrow his eyes even further. "And Mr Malfoy. Congratulations on your results, they so your commitment to your studies great credit."
Malfoy gave a small nod in reply to his headmaster, but his impassive look never left his face. Harry realised that although Malfoy had been on his invitation list, it hadn't crossed his mind as to who Malfoy's chaperones would be. Now he thought about it though, it seemed strange that Malfoy's mother was not there. Harry felt a small amount of satisfaction that Malfoy was left to resort to his grumpy head of house.
Whilst he was lost in thought, Hermione had pushed her way to the front of the group. To Harry's astonishment, she raised her chin defiantly and addressed Malfoy.
"Well done on your results, Malfoy. Second place in the year is a very creditable position."
A tense silence fell and all eyes turned to either Malfoy or Hermione with disbelief. Harry wondered what on earth Hermione was playing at and thought it prudent to step up beside her in case Malfoy decided to hex her, which seemed quite likely given the circumstances. He was stopped by Arthur Weasley's hand on his arm, just as Malfoy replied.
"Well done to you too, Granger," said Malfoy. There was the faintest tinge of pink on his cheekbones, perhaps due to anger or embarrassment, but other than that his face was an impassive mask that hid his true reaction to Hermione's words. "Although everyone knows it is the NEWTs that really count, and you won't be beating me on those." With that, Malfoy made his way into the room followed by Snape who left in a flurry of robes. Dumbledore smiled at the group as if nothing had happened. "Well, let's get inside. I feel the need for lunch coming on." He turned and entered the room.
The silence had still not been broken outside in the hallway. Harry looked incredulously at his friend. "What on earth were you doing, trying to wind up Malfoy like that? I thought he was going to hex you."
"Oh relax, Harry," Hermione said, rolling her eyes, "He didn't even go for his wand. He's not that stupid with Snape and Dumbledore here.
"And how on earth did you know he was second in the year?" said Harry.
"Well, it was in the Daily Prophet of course. The list of the top five OWL students at Hogwarts. Myself, Malfoy, then Anthony Goldstein, Padma Patil and Hannah Abbott."
"Oh, right. I haven't been getting the Prophet. I don't know why you still get it either, Hermione, it's full of rubbish." Harry replied.
"We've been over this before, Harry. It's important to know what they're saying," said Hermione.
"Yeah, I suppose," conceded Harry, unable to come up with a good argument against Hermione's logic, as usual. "But I'm surprised that Malfoy was second in the year though I thought it would be Anthony or Padma. I guess Malfoy's dad must have paid the OWL markers off or something."
"I don't think he'd need that, Harry," replied Hermione, "Haven't you noticed he's normally got similar marks to me in our classes?"
Harry looked surprised at this new piece of information. "Not really, Hermione," he said, "I try to pay as little attention to Malfoy as possible."
Once Harry finished speaking, Mrs Weasley put a stop to the conversation about Malfoy by leading them all through to the dining area. They entered a long, high-ceilinged, room decorated in a plush red and purple and containing a long solid wooden table. The places were set with silver cutlery and crystal glasses which reflected the light from the large chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Families were gathered in small groups round the edge of the room.
Harry noticed that all the other students from the list seemed to be there already. Professor Dumbledore clapped his hands and quiet fell in the room as everyone turned to the headmaster. "Ah, Professor McGonagall," said Dumbledore, looking towards the door Harry and his group had just entered to see his Deputy arriving back from the Burrow, "It seems as all the guests have now arrived. I suggest we sit and enjoy the meal. I won't bore you with a speech now - perhaps later once all your appetites have been sated. We have taken the liberty of organising a place setting around the table. The names will float above the chair backs."
As Dumbledore spoke, glittery letters appeared in the air above the chairs. Harry heard Professor McGonagall tut under her breath, and he suspected Dumbledore had heard it too judging by the way his eyebrows were raised in her direction.
Harry realised that whilst he had been watching this by-play, many of the chairs had been filled. He noticed his name above a chair next to Mrs Weasley on the other side of the room.
Harry sat down on his seat, with Hermione on the other side with her parents. Her mother looked rather intimidated sat next to Dumbledore, who was at the head of the table.
Across from the Grangers were the Abbotts. Harry himself was opposite his Herbology teacher Professor Sprout. The middle of the table was populated by the Browns and Patils, and at the far end Anthony Goldstein's family were trying to ignore that glares between Snape, Malfoy and McGonagall.
The meal turned out to be absolutely delicious, and the company so wonderful compared to what Harry had to put up with so far this holiday. As the dessert plates were cleared away and replaced with steaming coffee cups and fondant fancies, Dumbledore gained everyone's attention by tinkling his glass with his spoon.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," he began, "We are here today to celebrate the fantastic OWL achievements of all the young people in this room. Each one of you has shown a dedication to your work that is truly admirable, and I hope you are all very proud of what you have done. The next two years of school will not be easy, but I am confident that you and your schoolmates will finish Hogwarts with not only an impressive set of NEWT results but also a wealth of memories of your time with us. All that remains is for me to wish you an enjoyable second part of your holidays and I look forward to seeing you in September."
Dumbledore sat down to a polite set of applause, and everyone turned back to their coffee. "Well, Harry," said Mrs Weasley, "If you'd like, Arthur and I thought we could invite Mr and Mrs Granger back t o the Burrow for some tea and quiddich before they leave Hermione to stay with us."
"That'd be great," replied Harry, looking forward already both to seeing Ron and to getting on his Firebolt again. "We could get going now if you like, Mrs Weasley."
"If you're sure, Harry," said Mrs Weasley.
"Yes, Mrs Weasley. I'm looking forward to seeing Ron again."
"And playing quiddich too, I'm sure" interjected Hermione, Harry's face telling her she was right.
So with that, the Weasley/Granger/Potter group made their farewells to Dumbledore ("See you soon, Harry, Hermione") and McGonagall ("Make sure you behave yourself, Miss Granger, Mr Potter,"). They returned to the bar where they proceeded to show the startled Mr and Mrs Granger floo powder and made their way to the Burrow.
Chapter 4: Find out how Draco found his dinner, and Harry arrives at the Burrow.
