Chapter 34: The end is near…
"Yes, it's me! You're a filthy liar. I thought I meant something to you. And all this time you were toying with my emotions." Cho looked angrily at Harry who became more and more confused.
"But Cho, I told you that I was still in love with Ginny, you knew about everything!"
Ginny looked at Harry in astonishment. So he still had feelings for her. She couldn't believe what she had heard. If he really loved her, why on earth had he broken up with her?
A single tear was running down Cho's cheek. "Then why did you kiss me?" she asked with a choked voice.
Harry didn't answer her question. Ginny became very pale and stared open-mouthed at Harry. WHAT had he done?
Voldemort, who was still standing next to Ginny, smirked. "Oh, now it's getting interesting…" He looked triumphantly at Harry.
"Ginny, I am so sorry. It was just a stupid mistake", Harry mumbled very ashamed.
But Ginny just shook her head and turned around to avoid Harry's eyes. She felt so disappointed and didn't want to cry, but she couldn't help it. Slowly she sank down and sat on the floor, leaning against the tree. Harry had no time to explain everything to her, as he still had to face Cho and Voldemort. He felt so miserable.
"A stupid mistake? Is that all I am to you? It was so real; it didn't feel like a mistake at all! "exploded Cho. "ENOUGH! I don't want to hear a single word about some people's love lives anymore. I am getting bored and Lord knows I didn't come here tonight to have a nice little chat. Step away Cho and let me get rid of this scum", Voldemort shouted, pointing his wand once more at Ginny.
Harry ran over to her and stood in front of his former girlfriend in order to protect her.
"No, if you want to kill her, you have to kill me first", Harry said firmly. The minute he had uttered these words it was clear to him, that that was exactly what Voldemort wanted.
"Perfect", the Dark Lord whispered and held his wand up high. Cho hurried over to her master and grabbed the arm that was holding the wand.
"Father, please don't!"
"Father?" asked Harry flabbergasted. "How could he be your father?"
"He was like a real father to me during the last year. When I was just a baby, my father left us and I never knew how it was having a father. After Cedric's death, it was so hard going on with everything and after your rejections I nearly cracked down. Nobody was there to love me and help me. And then Lord Voldemort came into my life. He offered me everything I have ever wanted. He gave me shelter and the power to get everything I want. All I had to do in return was spying on you Harry. But then he told me to weaken you, so it would be easier for him to convince you in joining our side. So I tried everything to make you suffer in losing Ginny's love. Snape, this looser hadn't succeeded in bringing you to my master, so I got charged with this mission. Unfortunately I failed twice. I set the Influenza Charm on Ginny, but instead of her, you became ill."
"But… Malfoy… he was the one to attack me. I saw him there" startled Harry.
"Really? Oh no Harry, it was me. I brewed a Polyjuice Potion in order to disguise. Malfoy would have liked to attack you, but he couldn't have handled that charm. Lord Voldemort made me a Death Eater and I was able to move the fire of the Underworld and bring it to Hogwarts. Nobody had expected you to be resistant against it and I feared that my Lord would be angry at me. It still is a mystery to everyone how you came to save her from the fire… I was so afraid, that now you were out of my reach forever and I promised the Dark Lord to bring him Ginny in order to get you to join us. He promised me that if you'd join us, he wouldn't kill anybody and he would help me to become your girlfriend again. That was everything I have ever wanted and so I waited in the grounds for Ginny. When she arrived, I tried to talk to her, but she preferred to avoid me and ignored me. I had to know her out with as tone and then travel with her to my master."
"YOU hit me with that stone? I should have known! There was nobody in the grounds except the both of us" said Ginny.
"Yes, that was me as well. Harry, please join us and no one must suffer tonight" claimed Cho. Harry couldn't believe his ears. Cho's behaviour upset him and he was really disappointed.
"You are so disgusting. I can't believe that I used to fancy you once. This whole year, you only pretended to be my friend ant I thought you would really understand me. And all the time, this friendship was part of your foolish plan. To help HIM! To help the destroyer of the wizarding community. I despise you. I would never ever join you and your mater!" Harry shouted angrily.
Cho's voice started shaking. "Don't be so harsh, it's for our best. It is for us."
"There is no us. There never was and there never will be", Harry replied icily.
"Don't talk like this", cried Cho.
"Cho, I told you he wouldn't be sensible. I'm afraid; we will have to force him to join us!" Voldemort stood next to Cho and took his wand away from Ginny's temple. He went to a small hill nearby and closed his eyes.
He raised his hands into the air and shouted in another language: "Valo o is Londres hen! Teli na nin a inye buiovan le!" (Force of the London Eye! Come to me and I will serve you!) Voldemort's power became ever stronger and Harry felt himself drawn to his archenemy. Slowly his feet moved towards Voldemort, even though Harry knew it was wrong. He didn't want to join the Dark Lord and yet he couldn't resist the new offer made by Voldemort.
"Yes Harry, come to me and join the Dark Side", he lured. With all his might, Harry tried to keep his head clear and he tried to keep away from the Dark Lord as long as possible. Voldemort became very impatient because Harry's resistance only broke down very slowly.
"Faster Harry" he said. Cho who stood beside her master encouraged him as well: "Please join us Harry… we will be together and happy for all our lives. Join us and Ginny will survive."
Harry moved his head slowly into Ginny's direction and searched for her eyes. He felt weak and looked at her with half-shut eyes. It cost him a great deal of power to fight Voldemort's forces off. Ginny returned Harry's look and called to him:" Whatever happens Harry. Don't join them. You are stronger than him, you have to keep fighting. You were born to defeat him and the Dark Side, not to join them. You must combat these powers. I know you can do it. Please Harry. Come on, you can do it!" Ginny encouraged him all the time and Harry seemed to regain some of his strength. Voldemort noticed that Harry's resistance grew and started to loose his temper.
"Cho, do something to shut this girl up!" Cho nodded and ran over to Ginny. "Stupefy", she commanded, pointing her wand at Ginny who was immediately out cold. Then Cho conjured some new ropes and tied Ginny again to the tree.
At this, Harry felt a great power inside of him. "You won't hurt her again" he yelled and made a strange movement with his wand. Voldemort was thrown back and his head made contact with a tree. The Dark Lord was knocked out and lay unconsciously on his stomach. Harry felt how the old powers of the London Eye were leaving Voldemort. They were no more; they had evaporated into thin air. Still a little wheezy, Harry hurried over to Ginny and he softly spoke: "Enervate!" Ginny slowly opened her eyes and looked around. She was Voldemort lying face down on the floor. Cho was sitting next to him, trying to wake her master up.
While Harry undid the ropes that bound Ginny to the tree, she asked in bewilderment: "How did you manage to fight him off?" Harry didn't know how to explain and simply shrugged. He finally managed to undo all the knots and Ginny was free. She hugged him very tightly and couldn't help crying.
"It's okay. It's over now, let's leave this place" he assuaged her in a soft voice. He was very relieved and wanted to get away from Voldemort as quickly as possible. They hadn't gone very far as they heard an angry voice behind them. Harry and Ginny stopped and turned around.
"You are not going anywhere" Voldemort growled. He struggled to get up and finally managed to stand with Cho's help. Voldemort pointed his wand now straight at Harry, his eyes full of hatred. "Now you are both going to die!"
"No!" cried Cho and placed herself in front of Harry. "You promised me he would survive. Please Tom!"
"Never call me Tom again. That's not my name. Now step aside. I am going to kill them, they don't deserve to live" he said threateningly.
Cho didn't move an inch. Harry was confused and angry. Why hadn't he killed Voldemort while he had been lying unconsciously on the floor? Harry couldn't hope to get help from outside or from Dumbledore. Instead of waiting for miracles, Harry addressed himself to Cho. "How can you be on his side Cho? How can you call this man father? After all, that's the man who's responsible for Cedric's death. And now he wants to kill us!"
"Cedric's death was an accident. He didn't mean to kill him", said Cho firmly.
"I am sorry Cho, but that's just not true. You're totally wrong. Voldemort killed him on purpose. I saw him!"
Cho's eyes filled with tears. "Is that true? Tom… is Harry telling the truth?"
Voldemort laughed icily. "Oh my little Cho. Were you really so naïve to believe everything I have ever told you? Of course I killed this Cedric, he was a meaningless maggot and I had no use for him. I thought you had known the truth about everything. I guess it won't be a big surprise for you to know that I was the one to kill your father, seventeen years ago. He was an auror, a really famous one and I killed him. I only spared your and your mother's life, because she promised me that one day she would become one of my servants."
"You're a liar; my mother would never join you!"
"But YOU have joined me. If you had succeeded in convincing Harry to join us and change sides, I would have let him live. But now, he and his girlfriend are going to die!"
"First you killed Cedric! He meant the world to me and you just got rid of him? And my father… all this year I helped a traitor! You promised me everything…"
"What are promises made for? They have to be broken. Cho, it's not as it seems. Everything is Harry's fault. He is the one you should be mad at."
"Shut up! I hate you, Tom!" she spat.
"Argh, don't call me Tom! Now step aside" he dictated.
"Never!" Cho replied stubbornly. Tears were running down her cheeks. "Harry, I am so sorry for everything and I hope that one day you may forgive me. If I had only seen the truth earlier!"
"It's alright Cho. Now you know that all he did was lie to you and you can help us to defeat him" said Harry.
Cho nodded and faced her former master challengingly.
"Cho, please step aside" Voldemort begged.
Cho slowly shook her head and bellowed: "I am not your servant any more. I am going to pay for the mistakes I made and there's nothing you can do to stop me!"
Harry didn't know what to do or what to say. Before he could even think about anything to do, Voldemort had spoken the deadly Avada Kedavra spell. Harry was shocked as Cho's body fell to the floor and didn't move anymore. She was dead, killed by her own master. Voldemort clearly had expected Cho to jump aside, because he seemed to be nearly as shocked as Harry and Ginny were. He watched her corpse and looked as if he was about to cry.
"NO!" he roared and knelt down next to the dead Cho.
That was the opportune moment for Harry and Ginny to escape. He took her by the hand and together, they ran as fast as they could to the exit of the park. Harry looked back over his shoulder, but nobody was following them.
"How are we supposed to get back?" asked Harry nervously.
"Well, how did you get here in the first place?" inquired Ginny.
"The personfinder showed me where you were and then it opened somehow. I was walking through the mirror and I came out in this park" he explained.
"Let's use it to go back to Hogwarts."
Harry took out the mirror and spoke: "Bring us to Hogwarts!" Ginny and Harry stared at the mirror, but the only thing they saw, was their own reflection.
"Maybe it's broken or it only works once a day or maybe…" panicked Harry.
"Or maybe it only works with persons. It is a personfinder and Hogwarts is a place" said Ginny.
Suddenly they heard very angry shouts behind themselves. Voldemort had at last caught up with them and tried to jinx them.
"What do we do now?" squeaked Ginny.
Harry thought hard and shouted the name of the first person that came into his mind. "Show me where Hermione Granger is!" He held the personfinder in front of his eyes and hoped that it would work this time. Voldemort was already very close to them and time was running away. All of a sudden, the mirror showed Hermione in the grounds and opened itself.
"Come on" Harry said, grabbed Ginny's arm and together they ran through the mirror. The mirror closed itself immediately and they had escaped the Dark Lord. Ginny and Harry were lying in the grass and tried to fight the nauseating feeling caused by the travel through the personfinder off. Ginny was lying unconsciously next to Harry, who muttered: "We're safe" before he fainted as well.
Some hours later, Harry woke up in the Hospital Wing. He sat up, but remained in his bed. He still felt exhausted and wanted to have some rest. He glanced through the room and saw Ginny lying in a bed on the other side of the Hospital Wing. He was enormously relieved that she had survived this whole nightmare and that she was safe. He wondered how it would go on between them, now she knew the truth about everything. Maybe he could talk to her and then make her understand everything. They could make it up again. He really wanted Ginny back.
Harry closed his eyes and tried to imagine how beautiful the world would be if he was back together with Ginny.
Harry must have fallen asleep again, because as he opened his eyes, Ginny's bed was empty. He put on his glasses and looked around the empty room. His headache had gone and everything that had happened came back to his mind. Madam Pomfrey, the nurse entered the room with Harry's washed clothes. She told him to get dressed and then go straight to the Headmaster's office. Harry did as he was told and went through the corridors to the stone gargoyle. McGonagall was waiting there for him and gave him the password so he could mount the stairs to Dumbledore's bureau. McGonagall didn't say anything else to Harry and watched him go upstairs. In front of Dumbledore's headquarters, Harry halted. Ginny was sitting on a chair outside the room, staring at her feet. As she noticed Harry, she looked up. They both stared at each other for a short moment and then quickly looked away again. After some minutes of embarrassing quietness, Harry asked: "How do you feel?"
Ginny avoided to look into his eyes and muttered: "Thank you, I am fine."
"Ah Harry, there you are." Dumbledore had opened to door to his study and smiled at Ginny and Harry. "I already talked to Ginny. Now I want to talk to you about some things, Harry and then I think there are still some important things for both of you to know. So Ginny, if you'd be so kind and wait here for me and Harry to finish."
Ginny nodded and remained seated while Harry followed the Headmaster into his room.
Harry sat down on a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk and waited for the questioning to begin. But then it struck him!
"Professor, how did you know where to find us?" he asked.
"Well Harry. Some time in the afternoon, Hermione came to see me. She informed me that Ginny should have been back from the grounds a long time ago and that you were out looking for her. Hermione told me that you were really upset and as you didn't return, she looked for me. This whole story seemed too suspicious to me, however we could do nothing but wait. We had sent for Hagrid and told him to search the grounds. Hermione didn't want to rest and helped him looking for you. All of a sudden, you and Ginny appeared out of thin air and fainted. You were brought to the Hospital Wing and I am very relieved that the both of you seem to be okay. Now Harry… I don't want you to recall every single detail about this afternoon; Ginny told me everything I wanted to know, even if it seemed a bit hard for her to do so. She told me that you had fought off Voldemort somehow…"
"Yes" said Harry. "He tried to make me join him and at first I couldn't resist, but then Ginny helped me to be strong, she gave me support. Voldemort noticed that Ginny was a big aid for me and told Cho to stun Ginny. At this I got really mad and somehow managed to knock Voldemort out."
The Headmaster scratched his head. "I think you made your first own spell. But Voldemort still isn't defeated."
"I know, I could've killed him today, but I thought it more important to bring Ginny back safely" Harry mumbled.
"Harry it is not your fault that Voldemort is still alive. AND it is not your fault, that he got Ginny. You couldn't have changed his plans."
"Yes, I could have. If I had told Ginny the truth right from the start, I might have been able to give her a better protection. She needn't have gone through all this. I only broke up with her, because I didn't have the guts to tell her what was going on" Harry interjected.
"No Harry" assured the Headmaster. "You didn't want her to live in fear. Voldemort would've kidnapped her anyway. He knows that you love Ginny beyond anything and he knew that you were trying to trick him. Besides, I am sure you would have helped Ginny even if you didn't have those deep feelings for her. You don't want innocent people to die."
Harry nodded but didn't say a single word.
The Headmaster got up, opened the door and called Ginny into the room. She took the chair next to Harry's.
"The two of you should know that from now on, you are in even bigger danger than before. Voldemort will want his revenge on both of you. On you Harry, because you nearly destroyed him and on you Ginny, because you prevented him from luring Harry onto his side. Once again Harry has managed to flee and one of Voldemort's faithful servants was killed."
"She wasn't his servant any more" Harry replied, his voice full of sorrow. Ginny and Dumbledore looked at him in amazement. "Voldemort promised Cho everything she wanted, so she would bring him the information he needed. But in the end, he killed her. Cho only died to save us!"
Ginny had a soft prickling in her throat and in her eyes. It was strange to hear Harry praise Cho. Ginny managed not to break out in tears and tried to ignore her hurt feelings.
"Harry, I completely understand your feelings. But there's nothing for you to do to bring her back now" said Dumbledore.
"You don't understand anything", returned Harry heatedly. "Voldemort killed her father and blackmailed her mother. He took everything out of her life that was important to her, just to get her to join him!"
Dumbledore looked at Harry and didn't say a single word.
It was Ginny who suddenly broke the silence. "Sir" she began slowly. "After Cho died, I mean… Voldemort, he seemed to be really sorry about it. It was the first time I saw him having human feelings. Why is he changing?"
"I think there's a very simple explanation to your question. See, Voldemort took Harry's blood two years ago, to become stronger than ever. Part of his plan worked, but he didn't consider the fact that Harry has feelings. So as he took Harry's blood, he begins to develop emotions himself. Now he knows what friendship and devotion mean and if I am not mistaken, those feelings are scaring him…" elucidated the head of the school.
For some minutes the room was perfectly silent. Then Harry remembered. "Professor, there is one thing I forgot to tell you! Voldemort wanted to know some things and used Legilimency against me. At first I resisted him, but unfortunately his powers were too strong and he found out about the Order, their Headquarters and Eleanana."
"Who is Eleanana?" asked Ginny confused.
"It's a secret weapon to defeat Voldemort. Harry, don't worry… Voldemort would have found out about our hideaway sooner or later. It was only a matter of time till he found out. I will send Fawkes immediately to the Headquarters and tell all the members of the Order to hide and pay extra attention. As for you two, I just want you to be very careful. You may go now."
Harry and Ginny left the room together, neither of them talking nor looking at the other. In front of the common room, Harry started: "Ginny, I just wanted –"
"Sorry Harry, but I am so tired. Bye" she interrupted him and quickly entered the common room, leaving Harry outside alone.
Harry slowly entered the room, where Ron and Hermione were already waiting for him. They wanted to know the whole story and went to Harry and Ron's dormitory as not to be overheard. They were clearly shocked by everything that had happened.
"Did he do anything to Ginny? You know… torture her?" asked Ron anxiously.
Harry shook his head. "No. I think Ginny was more hurt by what I did to her…"
Hermione looked at him in amazement. "You told her? How did she react?"
"No, Cho did. Ginny didn't react at all. She just turned around and didn't look at me anymore. But I know that she must be very disappointed and feel betrayed."
Ron looked from Harry to Hermione and was puzzled.
"What is going on here? What did you do Harry?" he wanted to know.
Hermione looked at Harry and he simply nodded. What was the use of lying to his best friend now? Ginny would tell him anyway, so it was better for Harry to confess his mistake himself.
"During the Easter Holidays I kissed Cho. I know I shouldn't have done it and it still makes me feel bad" he admitted. Harry feared Ron's reaction.
"But that was by the time you and Ginny weren't a couple anymore. So what's the problem?"
Hermione and Harry goggled at Ron. This reaction was so unlikely for him that they were completely stunned.
"What the problem is? Harry kissed another girl, even though he was still in love with you sister" said Hermione coolly.
"Yes, but they were not a couple anymore. And besides, Ginny went out with that Jonathan guy" replied Ron.
"She never even kissed Jonathan, because she knew that she still liked Harry", argued Hermione.
Harry's head was pounding again. "Hey guys… please stop fighting. That's not worth it."
"You're right Harry. So how does it go on between Ginny and you?" asked Ron.
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. I would really give anything to get her back, but she will never forgive me about that kiss. I ruined everything" he answered lowly.
"I am sure she will forgive you one day if you explain everything to her and then everything is going to be back to normal."
"Thanks Ron, but that will never happen. Ginny and I, well… there's no second chance for us. I am sorry… I am still tired. I will just have a nap and then we'll see. Night guys, and thanks for your support."
"Anytime" Hermione and Ron said in unison before they left the room.
The next morning at breakfast, Dumbledore stood up and the chattering of the students died down instantly. "Listen to me, please! I am very sorry to report that Lord Voldemort has once again tried to make his evil plan to rule the world come true. Three of our students were lured into a trap by him. I won't tell you any details, because these persons have suffered enough."
A loud murmur was heard in the Great Hall. Though they didn't know it for sure, most students guessed that Harry had to do something with Voldemort's new attack.
"Furthermore" continued Dumbledore, "I am sorry to tell you that one of our beloved students has died yesterday. Cho Chang was killed by Lord Voldemort. He had somehow led her into a trap so he could get the information he needed. Nonetheless, we will not remember her as a traitor, but as a hero. She faced her death bravely and turned to our side again before she died. We will praise her, because she saved us all!"
Every single person in the Hall became silent, even those who hadn't known Cho. During this minute's silence, Harry thought about how treacherous Voldemort was and how Cho's death was unfair. New feelings appeared inside his mind, he wanted revenge. Harry was very grateful towards Dumbledore, because he had left some major events out of his story. He couldn't stand the thought of people bothering him to tell what really had happened. It was no use that the others knew the real reasons why Cho had joined the Dark Side.
After they had finished eating, Dumbledore raised his voice again: "Another year gone! I hope that you all learned a lot this year. There is one more thing I want to tell you. However difficult and unfair your life seems to be, don't let yourself be lured into a trap by Lord Voldemort or his Death Eaters. That's what he will try to do during the next time. He wants to gather as many allies as possible, so be aware of any dangers. The truth is often the best way, though not the easiest; because it means to hurt the people we love most." At this he looked at Harry who slightly nodded.
"I want you all to enjoy your holidays and once more, I call to your attention. Lord Voldemort is still out there, but together we will be strong and we can defeat him. The train leaves at four o'clock. I hope I am going to see you all back, healthy and safe in September! Happy Holidays" he closed his speech.
Most students cheered and enjoyed the beginning of their holidays, but Harry couldn't brighten up his mood. He was still thinking about his new meeting with Voldemort and hoped that next time he would be able to kill his and the world's archenemy.
In the dormitory, Harry and Ron were packing their things into their suitcases. Neville, Dean and Seamus were right to believe that Harry had been involved into Cho's encounter with the Dark Lord. Harry told them in short what had happened, without mentioning any details. The three boys apologized for being so harsh to him the last time and promised not to bother him with further questions about the previous evening. Harry accepted their apology and went back to his own thoughts.
Half an hour later, at half past three, they carried their luggage down to the train station. Harry, Ron and Hermione had a compartment for themselves. Ginny preferred staying with Isabella, because she wanted to avoid Harry. In their compartment, Hermione and Ron tried to cheer Harry up, but they failed miserably.
"Mate, the holidays have begun and you are about to face your last stay ever at the Dursleys, just think about that", said Ron. Harry tried to smile, but he didn't manage.
"What are you thinking about Harry?" asked Hermione comfortingly, feeling that there was something depressing Harry.
"Cho… do you realize how unjustified her death is? Everything is my fault. If I had never been Ginny's boyfriend, Cho wouldn't have joined Voldemort and she would still be alive. She sacrificed herself to save me!" he said sadly.
"Harry, you're absolutely wrong. Voldemort would have found a way to hurt you, no matter what! You can't bring Cho back to life. And you are not going to tell me that you regret having been Ginny's boyfriend. Besides, you still love her, don't you?" asked Hermione. Harry slowly nodded.
"Well then, go and talk to her" suggested Ron.
"I think you're both right" said Harry convinced and left the compartment.
He found Ginny in a compartment not so far away from his. She was talking to Isabella, as Harry knocked cautiously on the door. "Ginny, may I talk to you?"
Isabella nodded towards Ginny and left the compartment, so Harry and Ginny had some privacy. Harry sat down on the seat opposite of Ginny, not really knowing where to begin. After some minutes, he slowly started: "Ginny I am so sorry about everything that happened. But you've got to believe me, that everything I did, I just did it for your protection."
"Didn't work out though" she replied coolly.
"I know. I've made so many mistakes. But all the visions I have had! I thought it was the best for us!"
Ginny laughed bitterly. "Do you really think the best for us was to break up? We could have handled this together if only you had trusted me. How am I supposed to believe a single word you are telling me now? You don't know how hurt I was. You can't imagine what I have been through!"
"Now you're going too far! Don't you think that I had a rough time myself? It was hard for me as well" he answered irritated.
Ginny goggled at him, thinking of something to reply. "Yes, but we could still have overcome this problem together. And if you still liked me, why the hell did you kiss Cho?" she asked challengingly.
Harry was so ashamed, that he couldn't look at her. "I don't know. I am really sorry; you've got to believe me. If you'd just give us a chance, we could start over…"
Ginny shook her head sorrowfully and sighed.
The sudden stop of the train surprised them both and they collected their baggage. Harry and Ginny left the train together. For some time, they stood next to each other, both a little embarrassed.
"So? What about us now? Do we have another chance?" Harry asked hopefully.
Ginny looked into his eyes and it cost her a great deal of strength to tell him what she was thinking.
"I don't know yet, Harry. There is so much that went wrong between us this year. You didn't trust me and I don't know how a relationship is supposed to be working without trust. I still have to make up my mind. All I can offer you for now is my friendship. Happy Holidays", she added and went over to her parents who were waiting for her.
Harry stood like paralysed in front of the train, staring at his suitcase. Hermione and Ron joined him.
"So how did it go?" asked Hermione. "Is there still a chance for you?"
Harry shook his head and felt like crying. Hermione hugged him and kissed his cheek.
"We'll write you as soon and as often as possible, I promise. Be careful!"
Ron clapped him on the back and added: "Come on mate, everything is gonna be alright!"
Harry managed a weak smile. "Don't you worry about me. See you!"
He made his way through the crowd to leave platform 9 ¾ . Just before he went through the gate, he waved back at the Weasleys, Ron and Hermione. Harry hadn't wanted to see them and was glad to leave the train station. He turned around and walked through the gate. He saw his uncle Vernon standing outside King's Cross Station and went over to him. Without a single word, Harry sat down in his uncle's car and looked ahead to his last stay ever at the Dursleys.
TO BE CONTINUED…