Part Nineteen
Erin woke to the sunlight streaming onto her bed. She was surprised to find that she was in bed. The last thing she knew she had been in that room with Voldemort and Quirrel and… "Harry?" She called. She turned and saw someone sitting beside her. "Professor?"
"Good morning, Miss Lyancomp." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles.
"It was you…I heard your voice…" Erin swallowed and he gave her a drink of water. "Thank you."
"No, thank you." He said. "You showed true courage down there staying beside Harry in his hour of need."
"He told me to go, but I couldn't…sir, there's something I have to tell you…"
He held his hand up. "It is not necessary." He said. "I know. Madam Pomfrey found your scar."
Erin nodded. "How's Harry?"
"He is still unconscious, but fine. For a moment there I thought you were both dead."
"I thought I was too…" She said looking down. "The only comforting thought that would have given me was that I could see my mother…"
"Yes, Xenia's death was hard on us all…as well as Lily's and James'."
"I know." The girl said. "I am a Legilimenist."
"Oh? Are you?" Dumbledore asked. "That is a good thing."
"Sir, Voldemort was there and well, I just want to know when he is going to try again. I know there are so many ways for him to return."
"Yes, you are right." Dumbledore said sadly. "Erin, you are truly a wonderfully gifted witch. As usual your mind jumps right to the question."
Erin smiled. "I need to know…"
"So you can protect our dear Mr. Potter?" He asked.
"Yes, that and so I can prepare."
"Well, Erin, truthfully I do not know when Voldemort will try again. But you do not ask about the Stone?" He asked.
"I was hoping it was destroyed." She whispered. "Life and wealth? It sounds more like a curse than a gift."
"You are right." He said patting her shoulder. "I doubt I ever have to worry about you not doing the right thing. Yes, the Stone has been destroyed. You and Harry would have paid with your lives to keep it from Voldemort. Nicolas and I had a long talk and he was both delighted and saddened that you would have gone that far, delighted that you would fight against Voldemort, although you are so young, and saddened that it might have taken that to keep the Stone safe."
Erin smiled. "I bet he is very relieved and excited."
"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked.
"They have been alive so long." She said. "They have each other, yes…but what about all the others that they knew? All are gone. It must seem like the next great adventure to them."
"Yes." He said.
"Why does Professor Snape hate me so much?"
Dumbledore looked taken aback but sighed. "Severus and your father hated each other, Erin. That is why he hates you. Severus was rather at odds with your father and his friends—"
"James Potter and Remus Lupin." Erin sighed.
"Yes." He paused taking a breath. "Well, your father was quite the prankster."
"I kind of figured that."
"Well Severus was rather fond of your mother."
Erin gave him a disgusted look. "Oh, man."
"That is exactly the look your father had when he found out." Dumbledore said. "Truthfully your father played a prank on Severus that would have resulted in his death. I know Sirius felt justified at that, since Severus tried to force your mother to uh, like him, but I am afraid Severus has had a lot of anger over the years from it."
"That is no reason he should hate me." Erin said firmly. "He has no right."
"He has transferred the feelings he had for your father to you. I am not saying it is right, I am saying that is what he has done. Be patient, someday everything will turn out all right." Dumbledore did not quite meet her eyes and Erin knew that the old man was keeping something from her, perhaps more than one thing.
Harry woke that afternoon and had a long talk with Dumbledore. Erin was asleep when he was there so she didn't hear him. She did notice that Harry received a lot of gifts from admirers. The only ones to send her anything were Fred and George, she didn't mind. Harry was the real hero…she was just the sidekick.
Erin was sitting in bed when Madam Pomfrey told them that Ron and Hermione had come to see them. "Just five minutes?" He pleaded.
"Absolutely not! You need rest!"
"I am resting." He said. "Look, lying down and everything."
"Oh, all right, but five minutes only!"
She let Ron and Hermione in. "Harry!" Hermione flung her arms around him and since Hermione had gotten to Harry, Ron went and hugged Erin.
"Hermione! Get off!"
"Oh, Harry, we were sure the two of you were going to—Dumbledore was so worried—"
"The whole school's talking about it! What really happened?" Ron asked eagerly.
Harry told them everything about Quirrell and Erin sat there listening politely until he got to when Quirrell sprang at him. "I fought him off and for some reason he started to burn under my touch! So I knew I had to keep him off that way! Then Erin was there fighting him too. What happened to you two?" Harry asked.
"Well," Hermione said. "After I ran back I found Erin had clobbered the troll and we got Ron around and then took the brooms through the trap door. Erin went back for you."
"We were dashing up to the owlery," Ron continued. "But we met Dumbledore in the entrance way. He already knew! He just said, "They've gone after him, haven't they?" and he hurtled off to the third floor." Ron changed the subject then. "Slytherin won the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup. We were steamrolled by Ravenclaw in the last match."
"How's Oliver taking it?" He asked.
"Quite well." Hermione said. "We got him off the astronomy tower after hogtying him and Fred and George sitting on him. I think he'll be fine once they can untie him from his bed."
Madam Pomfrey shooed them out then with Harry and Erin laughing quite heartily behind them.
The next morning Madam Pomfrey let Erin go. She went to the common room and when she sat down Ron and Hermione sat down across from her and Fred and George on either side. None of them wanted to leave Hogwarts. They were silent and looked very melancholy sitting there. They looked up as the room grew quiet and they saw Harry had come in. He sat down with Ron and Hermione not speaking. They had all changed, even Fred and George, and the time just seemed too soon for them to part.
Harry tried to catch Erin's eye as Dumbledore stood up, but the girl didn't look at him. "Another year gone!" Dumbledore said. "Now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding. The points stand as thus: In fourth place with 262 points; Gryffindor, in third, Hufflepuff with 352 points; Ravenclaw has 426 points and Slytherin, 472." A loud cheering came from the Slytherin table. "Yes, well done, Slytherin, well done, Slytherin, however—" Everyone paused. "Recent events must be taken into account."
Erin looked at Ron and Hermione and they shrugged. "Wonder what this is all about?" Fred whispered.
"First, to Mr. Ronald Weasley…for the best played game of Chess Hogwarts has seen these many years, 50 points." Everyone cheered for him.
Percy was yelled. "My youngest brother! He got past McGonagall's giant Chess set!"
When there was silence again Dumbledore spoke again. "Second, to Miss Hermione Granger for the cool use of intellect when others were in mortal peril, 50 points."
More yelling. "Third to Miss Erin Lyancomp," Her mouth dropped and she just stared at Dumbledore. "For resounding valor and unfailing loyalty to those she holds so dear, 50 points."
There was cheering. Hermione jumped up anyway and Erin grew bright red. "She faced down a 15 foot mountain troll all by herself, knocking him senseless with his own club protecting Harry and me!"
"And she was right beside me the entire time." Harry said. "Fighting Voldemort!"
There was infinitely more applause as the girl ducked her head down embarrassed. "Fourth, to Mr. Harry Potter for pure nerve and outstanding courage I award Gryffindor house 60 points."
"We're tied with Slytherin!" Hermione screamed excitedly.
The room fell silent again. "There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends, therefore I award 10 points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."
"If my calculations are correct a change of decoration is in order. Gryffindor wins the House Cup!" They knew they would never forget this night.
Erin went back to Gryffindor Tower long before the celebration was over and took out a book on Animagery. She went through the steps again so she knew what she was doing and then slowly changed.