They quietly landed at the crack of dawn on the grounds, looking up at the castle. It wasn't bustling with activity, but a few people could be seen walking around, maybe to send an early owl or get an early start on breakfast. The dance had been last night, so Harry was surprised anyone was up at all.
A bird chirped brightly in the early morning air. They looked at each other. It was hard to believe that today was a day after Christmas, that everything could be so peaceful, after they'd just looked death in the face and made it out alive. No one spoke, but they started walking forward, heading for the great oak doors that led into the castle Harry called home. Harry wasn't looking at the doors, however, and when a new voice spoke, he was caught by surprise.
"I see you found one of them," Albus Dumbledore said, looking at Harry.
Harry didn't know what to say, so Kelly answered for him. "We… we were in a room with a troll, sir, and when we went to get Hermione, she was gone."
Dumbledore nodded. "Many people were quite surprised to find that Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Kelly Damen were all missing. It wasn't surprising to others, however…."
Dumbledore had that twinkle in his eyes again.
"Yoflam Ronam," Riles said quietly, looking at Dumbledore.
"Surprise, surprise," Dumbledore said. He turned to the others. "Come. I suggest you all go to the Hospital Wing, whether you feel sick or not. I know you're tired," he added, "and there you can get some peaceful sleep."
Harry, Ron, and Kelly reluctantly nodded and headed off toward the Hospital Wing. They met McGonagall on the way. She opened her mouth for an old-fashioned telling-off, but then slowly closed it and walked on, to Harry's amazement.
They came into the Hospital Wing, and from the moment of their arrival, Madam Pomfrey had a fit. They ignored her, however, walked over to beds side-by-side, and collapsed one by one, finally getting some sleep.
Kelly let out a half moan, half scream.
"I told you!" Madam Pomfrey scolded.
"Go away," Kelly said, and from the sound of it, she jammed a pillow over her head.
"Oh…" Madam Pomfrey said angrily. "Take this now!"
"Take it yourself," came Kelly's muffled voice.
"Now!"
Harry felt around for his glasses. He knocked something over in the process, and it crashed with a bang. Harry put on his glasses to see what it had been. A broken potions flask and lethal-looking black liquid were spilled upon the floor.
"Oh, Potter, now look what you've done! Professor Snape made that just for you!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed.
"Well, then I'm definitely not taking it," Harry said flatly, all tiredness dispersing immediately.
"Potter, take it. It will help, as I told Damen," Madam Pomfrey explained. "All it does is force you to let out emotion of what is most prominent in your mind, in your life. We can only hope that your adventure yesterday would be one of the things you release."
"Guess that's not too bad," Harry commented. He looked at Madam Pomfrey suspiciously. "What's the catch?"
"The only possible drawback is that you shout whatever you see."
"Absolutely not," Harry said swiftly. Even if the adventure was what erupted from his mouth, there were things he might say that Madam Pomfrey should not be exposed to. If he didn't burst of the Christmas day escapade, he hated to imagine what else he could say. "There is no way I'm putting that potion down my throat. Look at it! It's a deeper black than even Snape wears, you can't overlook the fact that Snape made it, you say he made especially for me and he hates me, and--"
While Harry was still speaking, Madam Pomfrey inhaled and exhaled several angry breathes. "Potter," she said through gritted teeth, "take the potion or I shall make you."
Harry considered that for several long moments. "Well… do I have to? I mean, I feel all… right…." He remembered that Hermione had not joined them on the return trip and suddenly didn't feel all that fine. The look on Madam Pomfrey's face told him that there was no getting out of this. "Fine, but if something bad comes out, I'm hunting Snape down."
Madam Pomfrey shoved a new bottle into Harry's hand and Harry looked at it. It was deathly black. Harry looked at her with a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me look on his face.
"Drink up!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed.
Harry looked over at Kelly, who was peeking at him from under her pillow, and at Ron, who desperately trying to snore convincingly. Neither of them had taken this yet.
"Go on!" Madam Pomfrey urged.
Harry bit his lip, then chugged it.
It was one of the most wonderful sensations Harry had ever felt. He was flying! He could zoom around the whole world if he needed to, flying like this, like there was no tomorrow, because their wasn't. He could see all his friends below, cheering him on, the Snitch was waiting! Harry raced around and saw it quickly. He dived… the Snitch was just ahead… he was battling Slytherin, so Malfoy was bound to be close behind…he caught it! He caught the Snitch!
"Gryffindor wins!" Dean announced happily.
"I award Gryffindor the World Cup," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.
"WAAAAAHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Harry, calm down!" The voice was distant.
"WE DID IT!" Ginny yelled, piling down on him.
"Harry, stop!" This voice was distant, too.
"POTTER! POTTER! POTTER! POTTER!" the crowd chanted.
"Harry, please!" Another distant voice, but coming closer. Were they after him?
Harry flew down to celebrate. "WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON!"
Someone sighed in the distance. "I'm going to make you win a knuckle sandwich."
Kelly was in front of him, shining. "Harry, you did it! You're so brave!"
Harry smiled back. "It was nothing, Kelly."
"Oh God," someone said in the distance. Harry vaguely heard them turn away.
"Oh, Harry, now look what you did!" someone else in the distance said.
Harry was slapped. He turned around. "Malfoy?"
"POTTER!" Malfoy screamed at him, though Malfoy's voice was slightly distant. What was happening to him?
Harry was slapped again, this time by Ron. "Harry, you git, stop it!"
Harry shook his head. "W-what?"
"Harry, get up! You're making me blush horribly," Kelly said.
"Yes, I'll have to check you on that, too," Madam Pomfrey said, taking note of it.
"HARRY!" Kelly screamed.
"Sorry," Harry apologized. "What happened?"
"That potion," Ron explained. "The second you took it, you went into this weird state, and you started shouting what everyone was saying."
"Everyone?" Harry gulped. "I didn't think it would be everyone."
"Everyone," Kelly repeated, rolling her eyes. "Me, unfortunately."
Harry shook his head, grinning. "So it's all Snape's fault?"
"Professor Snape," Madam Pomfrey corrected.
"Professor Snape," Harry repeated mockingly.
Madam Pomfrey gave him a warning look, but other than that commented no further on his lack of enthusiasm on proper names.
Ron was quiet, then said, "So… can we leave?"
"I should think not!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed.
"But Dumbledore said it was only so we could get a good night's sleep!" Kelly protested.
"You are my patients! Lie down!" Madam Pomfrey insisted. All three glared at her, and she glared right back. "Now."
Kelly and Ron stomped back to their beds, threw the sheets off them, and laid down, Madam Pomfrey having just been taken off their good list.
"So… when do we get to leave?" Harry dared to ask.
"Next semester!" Madam Pomfrey said sarcastically. "Damen, Weasley, get ready. You're taking the potion next."