Chapter 17: A Big Announcement

"Easy now mate," Ron said as he helped Harry up the stairs. It had been a week since the attack in the Chamber and Harry had just been released from the hospital wing, but he still felt a little sore. Due to the Killing curse Mr. Malfoy hit him with, Harry now had a second scar on his back, right between his shoulder blades. Madam Pomfrey wasn't sure how much longer the pain would last, but the wound itself had healed, so she told him to take it easy and let him go.

When they reached the top of the stairs, Harry leaned his back against the wall to rest a bit before continuing on. Ron leaned silently against the wall next to Harry for a moment before he spoke.

"So Harry, when did you find out about the prophecy?" he asked quietly.

"Dumbledore told me right after he brought me back from the Ministry of Magic last year," Harry answered as he glanced at Ron's brooding face. "I know--bit of a shock, isn't it?"

Ron sighed. "Well it's not everyday you hear your best friend has to kill the most evil wizard of all time or be killed by him," he replied with a grim smile. "You should've seen Hermione after the news really sank in. She sat crying in my arms for hours." Harry bowed his head sadly as Ron looked up at him. "I can only imagine what it was like for you to hear about it."

Harry shuffled his feet. "Well it's like Hermione said--it makes sense, doesn't it? What with everything that's happened in my life? It's amazing though; how alone you can feel with something like that hanging over your head." His voice started to crack a little.

"But you do know that you're not alone, right?" Ron whispered, his voice shaking. Harry looked up, his eyes wide, as Ron put his hand on Harry's shoulder. There was a somber look on his face. "Hey, we've been in this together from the beginning, right? No matter what happens, Hermione and Ginny and I will always be here for you if you need a hand." A lump rose in Harry's throat as he gave Ron a grateful smile.

"YOU!"

Harry and Ron whirled around to find Malfoy charging at them. His normally sleek blond hair was frazzled and his face was contorted with rage. Suddenly the scar in Harry's back exploded in pain.

Malfoy knocked Ron to the side and pounced on Harry. "YOU KILLED MY FATHER! YOU KILLED MY FATHER!" he screamed over and over as he pounded Harry with his fists. Harry did his best to block the blows, but the increasing pain in his back weakened him.

"HEY!" Ron scrambled to his feet and grabbed at Malfoy, throwing a few punches of his own at him. He just managed to pull Malfoy off Harry and pin him against the wall when--

"What's going on here?" The three boys turned around to find Snape walking toward them.

Vindication lit in Malfoy's eyes. "Potter and Weasley just attacked me sir," he said as Harry pulled himself off the floor.

Ron's eyes bulged in disbelief. "What are you talking about? You charged at us! He--"

Harry put his hand on Ron's shoulder. "Ron," he called quietly and shook his head. Ron stopped his rant and stared at Harry, confused.

Harry looked intently at Snape. You know perfectly well what was going on here, he thought.

Snape looked at Harry for a moment, an understanding forming between them. He beckoned to Malfoy. "Mr. Malfoy, if you could come with me please," he said.

Malfoy, obviously expecting something else to happen, didn't move immediately. When that something else didn't come though, the triumph melted from his eyes. He looked as if his entire world had shattered. He walked toward Snape in a daze.

Just as Snape and Malfoy started to leave, Malfoy turned and glared at Harry. Suddenly the scar in his back exploded in pain again and Harry gasped for breath, working to keep his composure. He stared in horror as Malfoy walked away and realized: he really was more of a threat now than Harry ever imagined.

Ron stared at the retreating pair for a moment, then turned to Harry with a bemused look on his face. "What just happened here?" he asked.

Harry spent the rest of the term resting in the common room and, when it was time for the Leaving Feast, he felt like he was back to his old self again.

After congratulating Gryffindor for winning the House Cup once again, Dumbledore raised his hands to make another announcement.

"As many of you may know, Professor Tonks will be leaving Hogwarts this year to continue her duties in the Ministry as an Auror." A few groans and protests could be heard from the students. Dumbledore smiled amusedly at their reactions and continued.

"However, before you leave for the summer, I would like to announce her replacement." A few whispers rose as Dumbledore turned to Snape. "Severus?" He held out his hand. "I think it's time."

The entire Great Hall went silent as everyone, including Snape, stared at Dumbledore in shock. Harry scratched his head, trying to comprehend what was going on. Then, as he watched Snape stand up and shake Dumbledore's hand, he realized: Snape changed during this year. They had reconciled their relationship and, while Harry doubted they would ever be friends, they had come to enough of an understanding to be able to fight side by side against Voldemort.

The entire school buzzed about the announcement all the way up to the time when they were about to board the Hogwarts Express home. Ron, for one, was insistent that Snape used the Imperius Curse on Dumbledore to finally get the position he wanted.

"There's no other way!" Ron declared as they dragged their trunks out of the school to catch the Hogwarts Express. "He's been teaching here for what--15 years? And now's when he finally gets the Defense Against the Dark Arts position? I swear, it's a plot I tell you--"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ron, do you really believe that a man as powerful as Dumbledore could be controlled by the Imperius Curse?" she argued. "And honestly, how many times do I have to tell you that Snape is on our side?"

Harry and Ginny grinned at each other and continued out of the castle, leaving Ron and Hermione to squabble to their hearts' content.

"We're going to Romania this summer," Ginny said as she and Harry walked hand in hand. "I feel like I haven't seen Charlie in ages! He said he just got some new Hungarian Horntails last week!"

Harry winced. "Oh, I don't think I'd fancy seeing one of those again," he laughed. "The last time I met one she--Ginny?" His attitude changed to one of concern when he noticed that Ginny had stopped moving, her face white as a sheet. "What is it?" He followed her gaze and saw the carriages ahead with the thestrals harnassed to them.

"Wha--wha--what are those?" she whispered shakily.

Harry put a sympathetic arm around her and pulled her close. "They're thestrals, remember? We rode them last year?"

Ginny calmed down some then, but she was still a little edgy as they walked toward the thestrals and climbed into the carriages.

The train ride home was uneventful. When they arrived at Platform 9 3/4 they passed through the barrier to find Remus and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley waiting on the other side.

"So; you're going to be of age soon," Remus said. "We're going to try to bring you over before your birthday so we can celebrate it properly."

"In the meantime, you might want to study this," Mr. Weasley added. He handed Harry a booklet entitled The Ministry of Magic Apparating Handbook. Harry smiled. This was going to be a great summer.

He turned to Ginny and wrapped his arms around her. "I'll write to you everyday," he said, only to be interrupted by a screech from Hedwig. Harry chuckled. "Alright, as often as I can. I'll miss you." He kissed Ginny.

"I'll miss you too," she said as she gave him a hug. "Don't let your cousin get to you too much now, okay?" Harry looked over his shoulder and saw Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley waiting for him.

"Okay. I'll see you soon." Harry kissed Ginny one more time and headed over to his uncle.

"You've got a girlfriend?" Dudley exclaimed.

"That's right Dudley," Harry smirked as he pulled his luggage cart up to his cousin. "Can you say the same for yourself?"

"Alright, we'll have no more of that; let's go," Uncle Vernon mumbled. He started to walk to the exit, but stopped when he noticed Aunt Petunia wasn't moving. "Petunia? Something wrong, dear?"

Aunt Petunia had a surprised look on her face as she stared at Ginny. When Uncle Vernon called to her, she slowly turned and looked at Harry, her eyes growing sad.

"Petunia?"

Aunt Petunia woke from her reverie with a start.

"Is something wrong?"

She shook her head, but it was obvious something bothered her. "No, I just--." She glanced at Ginny and Harry again, then managed to regain her composure. "Come on, we'd better get going."

Harry glanced back at Ginny, who was still standing with Ron and her parents by the platform. She looked up, smiled, and waved at him. Harry waved back and, dragging his luggage in front of him, he walked backwards so he could keep looking at her.

He was walking that way for a few minutes when suddenly something hit the backs of his legs. Harry barely had time to look down to see a stray suitcase before he tripped over it and, arms flailing wildly, he fell flat on his back.

Harry's face turned red as he scrambled back onto his feet and regained control of his cart. He looked back at Ginny; everyone there was staring at him in shock.

"I'm okay!" he shouted to them. Everyone smiled with relief and laughed. Harry laughed with them as he walked away.

THE END!