Chapter V: When the Magic Stops
Harry could not have asked for a more perfect birthday. The party did not end until 2 in the morning. By that time, only Ron and Hermione were left to help clean up and say their goodbyes. It was now that Harry understood why people cry at graduations because they know that they will never see their friends quite the same again. Even in a few years, or later that same year, when one another might see each other, they cannot be the same as they were. It's those things they used to do with you that they don't anymore that you just wish you could do one last time.
Hermione placed her arms around Harry's neck and squeezed tightly. Her sweet breath cooled his neck hairs, forcing them to slowly stand up on end. He always had something special with her, but it could never be anything on more serious, romantic level. That job was better suited for Ron. The two kept their dating quite secret; yet, Harry picked up on the small indications they were still seeing each other. A wink there, a more than friendly hug here and a few pecks on the cheek when no one was looking (except for Harry of course).
Ron's goodbye took just as long as Hermione's. They stood there embracing each other like it was the last time they'd be together in the same room. Even though it did feel that way, it was not true, not true at all. Just as the large Muggle grandfather clock moved to 2:30 AM, Ron and Hermione gathered their party favors (compliments from George and Fred). They left together, and Harry stood staring at their backs as they left wondering if he would ever be so lucky to find a girl like Hermione. He did once… Harry tried not to think of Cho though, especially after her wish to see Draco at the party. It really wasn't a big deal, as Ron told him during the night, but Harry still wanted Cho to be thinking just about him and no other guys. Breaking up is hard but forgetting that they don't share the feelings you have for them is horrible.
"That about does it," Harry said to himself. He was left to lock up the place and make sure nothing was left behind. His gifts were piled on a wagon and ready to be dragged home. After checking that everything was in order, Harry left the café, locked the door with the key Madam Puddifoot lent to him and slowly walked away from the wooden door. It was so strange to him, being 18, having no set career while his friends seemed to know exactly what they wanted. Little did he know that this year would determine not only his calling but determine whether or not he and his magical friends would be alive to live out their callings.
The month of August felt like one day in Harry's time. It was as if he fell asleep on August 1st and woke up on the last day. Neville had found a place for himself and decided that moving within the next month or so would be the best for him. His training was going along splendidly as Harry would hear this every night over dinner. And still, Harry had nothing. It was not as if he sat around all day staring at the wall. He was looking for a job but everything he read in the paper involved being behind a desk. Then, he considered an internship at the Ministry of Magic with Ron. He did not want to work there, but it was good experience and could lead him to the path he wanted.
Toward the end of August, Harry sat at the kitchen table early in the morning. He waited for his owl to return from the Post and hopefully return to him some accepted application. After sipping two cups of coffee and devouring a stack of buttermilk pancakes drenched in ketchup and ranch dressing, the fluttering of wings came to the table. Harry turned to see Hedwig and in her mouth was one letter.
"Thank you," he said as he took it from her beak. It was not from whom he expected though. On the back of the envelope was the Hogwarts crest stamped in rising ink. Harry tore it open and pulled out a very fine, thin piece of paper. After carefully turning it over, he found a most surprising invitation.
'Dear Mister Harry Potter,
It pleases me to inform you that you've been selected to be a graduating class representative at the next Sorting Hat Ceremony. No speech is required, yet it is recommended you be prepared to speak in front of a larger crowd than usual. Formal dress robes are required, however, along with your wand, House colors and broomstick. If for any reason you cannot attend, please address me at your earliest convenience, which is now.
Sincerely,
Professor Albus Dumbledore'
This was quite unexpected, yet appealing nonetheless. Harry wasn't sure if he was the only one or if there would be several people like him attending. There was one thing that Harry did not have though that was required. A broomstick. Last year, when he found out his broomstick was a Driveller, she disappeared into the Forest. For the past few months there was no need to get another one. If he had to, he could buy one just for this occasion but he hoped that if he spoke to Dumbledore, he could attend without one.
On the morning of the Sorting House Ceremony, which was only a few days later, Harry found himself pacing around the house and yelling at himself for not speaking with Dumbledore. He put it off that day he got the letter and the next and by the time he thought about buying a new broomstick with some money from his party, it was already the night before the ceremony. Hopefully, he could borrow somebody's once he got there.
The Hogwarts Express. Harry thought for sure a few months before that it would be his last ride on it; but now, he stood before it with a suitcase containing his formal wear, wand, galleons, and a few papers. He walked over to the front cart and knocked on the closed door. Even though there was an open door just a few feet to his left, Harry did not want to board the train with the young, new students. He felt so old compared to them. It made him feel much better to sit with the teachers and prefects.
Within a few seconds, the door swung open. A professor he had never met before opened the door. She had long, blonde hair and hazel eyes with a few golden specks in them. Her pale, pink lips were neatly painted onto her matching pale white skin. She wore a Hogwarts robe and had to hold up one side of it with her hand so she did not trip.
"Can I help you, sir?" she asked.
"Yes, I am Harry Potter. I was invited to the Sorting Hat Ceremony."
"Are you a student?"
"I was. I think that's why I'm supposed to come back."
"Oh, you're one of the speakers," she said in a gleeful manner. She grabbed Harry's forearm and elbow and literally picked him up and carried him onto the train. When Harry's feet touched the floor, he turned quickly to see if his trunk came on board to. But he did not see anything else near by.
"My trunk! I think it's still outside!" Harry said as he immediately pressed his face against the glass window. He reached for the door handle but it wouldn't open. And then he felt his feet move and sway forward. "No, we can't be moving yet. I need my suitcase."
"I'm sorry, dear, but it's too late for that. Somebody will find it and bring it along. Don't you worry about a thing." The woman patted Harry on the back and then motioned him to one of the doors. "Off you go now."
Harry was shoved into the cabin to see three other students and one Professor. Two of the wizards were prefects he had never seen before and the other was none other than Ginny Weasley. It almost slipped Harry's mind that she had another year to go at Hogwarts. It also surprised Harry that she didn't mention her prefect status at his party. In any case, it was nice to see a familiar face.
And then there was the Professor. He was somebody Harry had before but he couldn't remember exactly what class. It took him almost a full minute to think of a name, so when the man finally said hello to him, Harry could pretend he remembered him.
"I haven't seen you in so many years, Mister Potter," the professor said after about ten minutes of silence among the group.
"Nor I, Professor Kettleburn. Not since my first or second year," Harry replied.
"Such a fine young man you've become. I'm sure you will have much to say at today's event."
"Oh, yes. What exactly am I supposed to be saying?"
"Haha, such a sense of humor. You already know what this is about," he said.
Harry shook his head.
"How could you not know? Didn't Albus tell you anything?"
"You mean Professor Dumbledore?"
"You're a graduate, Mister Potter. We go on a first name bases after that. Oh, that means I should call you Harry from now on I suppose… What were we talking about before?"
"What I'm supposed to say," Harry reiterated.
"Ah, yes. Well, it's quite simple really. After the new students have been sorted and us teachers introduced, you will speak to all the houses about your chosen career, why you chose it and how all your years at Hogwarts helped you make that decision."
Harry looked down at his feet. "What if I don't know what I'm doing yet?"
"Nonsense. Don't be silly, Harry, you know what you want to do. All you have to do is talk about it for an hour. And then afterwards, demonstrate to the group a few tricks with your wand. Then you have to show some of those Seeker skills."
Harry's face grew pale and his stomach ached. He could not possible speak for an hour about his calling which he hadn't even found yet. Even if he managed to talk about all his years at Hogwarts, he'd scare the new students more than anything else. Harry could just imagine what he would say.
'Oh yes, well, in my first year, I was nearly killed by a Professor, but he was possessed by the Dark Lord, you know how that is. Second year, there was a large snake and the Dark Lord this time possessed a student, who almost died. But she's fine now, no worries. Third year, I helped escaped Sirius, Black that is. Don't give me that look. He was my godfather…was… Fourth year I was in the Triwizard's Tournament. Very challenging. Cedric died… But he wasn't the last Hogwart's student to die. Fifth year, we had chaos at Hogwarts with Umbridge and all. While fighting Voldemort, Sirius died…' Harry stopped for a moment in his mind and gathered his thoughts once again. 'Sixth year, the Dark Lord was able to possess numerous students and teachers, creating a cult following group called the Blue Bloods. Hagrid's brother died saving my best friend's life. In my 7th year, I found a locket and was haunted by Salazar Slytherin. I killed a fellow student, the Fly. I blacked out for a few months, which caused Hagrid to go insane since he blamed himself for my supposed death and he's still… and…'
Harry started to cry. Not just in his imagination but in reality. He sat next to Ginny who now gasped and tried to hold Harry to comfort him and see what was wrong. But Harry just sat still and buried his reddened face into his warm, moist hands. It was all too much. So much death, and wrong, and it all involved him somehow. He always attracted danger and it cost too much for others. Until they got to Hogwarts, Harry just sat and cried and would not stop.
"My dear, everyone has left already," a woman's voice awoke Harry from his saddened state of mind.
"Must I go? I have nothing good to say," Harry said.
The blonde professor sighed. "You're still here today. That's good enough. If you're too nervous, I'm sure everyone will understand. Now, come with me."
Again, she pulled Harry, lifting him off his seat and out of the cabin. He was shoved off the train and onto the grassy lawns of Hogwarts. In the distance, the backs of a crowd of students entered Hogwarts and were heading for the Great Hall. The blonde professor walked beside Harry now, pulling him along by tugging his right sleeve.
"I don't think I saw you here last year," Harry said to her.
"This is my first year as a Professor at Hogwarts. I graduated here over 8 years ago. A lot has changed." She looked down at Harry's still solemn looking face. "Yes, a lot has changed indeed."
"You missed a lot of chaos, death and misery, that's all," Harry mumbled.
"I didn't miss any of that," she said. "Believe it or not, people do suffer outside of the world of Hogwarts."
And with that, the woman walked faster that Harry and in to Hogwarts. Harry followed slowly, hoping that he could find Dumbledore ahead of time and tell him that he can't speak in front of everyone. He didn't have is wand, so he couldn't demonstrate any spells, and without a broomstick, he couldn't show off his seeking skills.
The walls seemed different. Even though the bricks were the same as the previous year, they were just... Harry couldn't pin point it out. They weren't smaller or bigger or painted a new color. As Harry continued walking toward the Great Hall, he felt as though he didn't belong. No longer a student but not a teacher or someone with position.
Soon, Harry came across the side door into the Great Hall that led to the stage. When he entered, he heard a sudden clamor of voices, hundreds of them. The tables were overcrowded with many more students than the other years. The teachers lined the stage and sat, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Harry stuck in behind them and walked over to Professor McGonagall. When he was right behind her, she turned around and smiled brilliantly.
"Mister Potter, I am very pleased you could make it. You're suitcase is over in the corner my dear. You shouldn't leave those things about."
A part of Harry was relieved his wand was found, but now, he had to speak or at least demonstrate his skills. Harry walked over to the corner but before he could make it, a slim, tall young man jumped in front of him.
"Well well, and I thought I was the only one here."
"Draco," Harry said lowly.
"Oh, Harry, I missed you!" he said sarcastically and hugged him. He immediately let go and laughed, clutching his stomach. "I suppose you know what I'll be talking about. You do know I play for the best world Quidditch team?"
"Really, Draco? I had no idea. I've been living under a slimy rock out in the forest for last few months."
"Wouldn't surprise me if you did actually," Draco said back. "Sorry I didn't make it to your party. I had more important things to do you know, with my very busy schedule. But I'm sure your schedule is full of interesting things. What have you been up to?"
Harry hesitated. He looked over at the corner and tried to get past Draco without answering his question. Just as he was in reach of his suitcase's handle, Draco pulled him back and turned him around.
"I asked you a question, Potter. You are doing something, aren't you? Even if it's something as boring as interning at the Ministry of Magic like rat-faced Weasley."
"Of course I'm doing something," Harry lied. "Now I really have to get my things."
"Right, well, I look forward to hearing about your exciting job, Potter," Draco said as he chuckled a bit and walked up onto the back of the stage.
Harry sighed and grabbed his suitcase. He had to change quickly and hoped that he caught some rare sickness to get out of this dreadful thing. Just as the ceremony was about to begin, Harry rushed out into the boys' bathroom. He found an empty stall and threw on his formal robe, which was already too small on him.
He took his wand with him and left the suitcase next to the toilet in the stall. Before he left, he looked at himself in the mirror. It was so strange. He looked as if he belonged at Hogwarts once again, but he knew that could not be possible. His hair was all a mess and face scratchy with stubble. He was no longer a child, but inside, he wished he still were.
The sorting hat started to sing. He could hear his song from the bathroom as he sorted a new boy into his House. Harry was in no rush to return, and so he stayed, staring at himself in his old reflection. After a few minutes, his eyes began to tire. He dipped his head into the cool water from the faucet and wiped his eyes.
When he lifted his head, he thought he saw a glimmer in the mirror. There was a brief, blue light that glided across the mirror and the walls it was attached to. It was almost like a scan across the room. Harry quickly dried his eyes with his robe and looked again. There was nothing at all now, but he knew he saw something.
"Mister Potter?"
The blonde professor poked her head into the bathroom doorway.
"Yes?"
"Come along, dear," she said and tilted her head toward the Great Hall.
Harry nodded and began to walk away. But before he left, he turned once more to the mirror, studying its every corner and smooth, reflective surfaces. He hoped he could see that light again, just to know what it was. After a few seconds, he gave up and walked out. As he left though, his back faced a small window on the farthest wall of the room. Outside, there was a glimmer and then a large spark. The shimmering started to fade and buildings, Muggle buildings, far off in the distance slowly became visible.