.
.
How The Sorting Hat Destroyed Hogwarts
Author: joerandom on FanFiction dot Net
Story Started: 15 February 2022 Story Completed: 15 February 2022
SUMMARY: Harry Potter comes to Hogwarts – and has an epic argument with the Sorting Hat. The implications of which are staggering. Oneshot.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing; I'm only visiting this universe.
AUTHOR: joerandom on fanfiction dot net
CATEGORIES: Adventure/Drama
CHARACTERS: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom
RATING: T (PG-13?) If you think the language in this story is too much for PG-13 (T) then you haven't spent any time around middle-schoolers recently.
SIZE: 4.8k words
VERSION: 1.0
Story Idea Started: 15 February, 2022, Story Completed: 15 February, 2022
CHAPTER POSTED: 28 April, 2022
AUTHOR NOTES: I'd been trying to finish a really large story ("And All Those Left Behind") and my muse kept skipping out and not helping. So, I gave in and wrote this story in an afternoon. Yes, I know it sounds like it, too. But maybe I've earned some brownie-points in the process? (And "And All Those Left Behind" is now ready to post. :-) So – did I mention that this was pure fluff? Just a wild ride for fun. Not a serious story at all. And I decided that I might as well post it. So here it is. Random bits strung together for your enjoyment.
Chapter 1
How The Sorting Hat Destroyed Hogwarts
Harry sat in his compartment on the Hogwarts Express, dreading what was to come. The train was filling up fast. He'd sent Hedwig on ahead, not wanting her to have to sit through this mess. He just breathed to stay calm. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, the tension roiling his stomach.
A nock at the compartment door. Harry jerked back in his seat. A boy opened the door. Ron.
"Any room in here? Everywhere else is full." Ron came in and sat down. Then his face paled, "You're him ..."
Harry stood up tensely, "No, I'm not." He moved to the door.
"Wait, where are you going?"
Harry turned back impatiently, "The loo – and no, you can't come with me." He bolted out the door and down the hall to lock himself in. He'd only be in there for – a few hours, right? He grumbled – and then sighed heavily. He just wanted to scream. He hated what he was going to do. But he had tried for several years to figure out another way. He washed his hands. Several times. It didn't help. He decided he didn't have to wait. It probably wouldn't make any difference. So with some relief he moved out and started looking in the compartments just ahead of his.
There! Found it. He smiled. The first bit of contentment he'd had in a long time. He set his imagination on how he wanted his introduction to go, so his attitude would match. He nocked, then opened the door and stepped in. All eyes turned to him, "Good morning. I'd like to introduce myself, I'm Harry Potter."
Everyone's eyes just got bigger. No one said anything.
Harry came in and sat down, "You see, I've recently found out that I'm supposed to be famous. And –" He sighed with huge frustration, "– I'd rather not be – and I'm just looking for a compartment where – everyone will let me be normal. At least for a while."
Neville stood up nervously and bowed, "Mr Potter. My name is Neville Longbottom. Though, I'm afraid that we are not all that normal here, but you are welcome, just the same."
Harry stood up and extended his hand, "Neville, I'm proud to meet the Heir of House Longbottom." Harry looked conspiratorial and spoke softly, "May your enemies bleed and your vaults consume them."
Neville laughed nervously, "You make me sound like a Goblin."
Harry put a hand on his shoulder and spoke seriously, "I know a great wizard when I see one." When Neville started to laugh, Harry held up a finger, "No. Your family has –" Harry held his breath, "– not appreciated your greatness. Much to their loss. But I know they will come to know their errors in time." Harry turned to the other occupant of the compartment and extended his hand with his intense green eyes.
Hermione stood up and spoke nervously, "Mr Potter, My name is Hermione Granger. I've – read a lot about you."
Harry winced.
She rushed on, "But it was all historical – not those tripe children's stories."
Harry smiled and nodded knowingly, "Ah, well – that's a bit better but – even all that is wrong." He looked pained for a moment. "So, please, pretend I'm someone else." Harry sat down.
Everyone else followed.
Hermione still looked very concerned, "If even the history texts are wrong – how wrong were they?"
Harry sighed, "No one was there but me. So they guessed, and imagined, and speculated. And in so doing – sparked even more imaginations everywhere. Over an event that is very painful for me. And frankly, none of their business. Their speculations gave everyone permission to stick their nose in my pain. So –" He sighed again, "– I don't have much patience for all that."
Hermione looked shocked, "I'm sorry I –"
Harry smiled, "Not to worry. You were quite sensitive about it. Both of you. Unlike some ..."
The compartment door flew open with a crack. "I understand Harry Potter is on this train?"
Harry's face went blank and he stiffened in his seat. He was facing Neville and Hermione when the door flew open so Malfoy didn't see him. He started to stand up slowly.
"Longbottom, you useless lump. Have you seen him?"
Hermione almost squealed in anger, "How absolutely rude! Who are you that you think you can be so rude?"
"Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. And you are?"
"None of your damn business, Malfoy." Harry had turned around and glared with enough magical pressure to fog the windows.
Malfoy (and his goons) took a step back, "Potter! What are you doing hanging around with the likes of Longbottom and –" He waved toward Hermione.
"Enjoying a pleasant conversation – until a minute ago. What do you want?"
Malfoy was taken aback by Harry's tone and curtness. He started to scowl, "I was going to offer my friendship and expertise in navigating the wizarding world. You wouldn't want to be seen with – these." He waved his hand around the compartment, "You need better friends than that."
Harry growled, "I have better friends, thank you."
Malfoy started to say something but Harry interrupted.
"You are disturbing my acquaintances. I think it's time you left." Harry glared threateningly into Malfoy's eyes and moved into his personal space, his flaring accidental magic pushing Malfoy out of the compartment. Harry shut the door loudly. He took a moment to breathe, then turned with a smile, "Well, that's done with." He came back and sat down.
Hermione was ready to explode, "Who was that – cretin! I've never met anyone so rude –"
Neville shook his head, "Draco Malfoy has been that way since – he was born. His father is worse."
Hermione sighed to calm down, "I didn't even get to introduce myself."
"Don't." Harry looked quite serious.
Hermione was surprised, "Why not?"
Harry took a moment, "Your name is not a magical name. It's better you stay under his radar."
She looked askance, "There are magical names?"
Harry leaned forward, "There are a few important magical families, none of which have the name of Granger. He will ridicule you. Better you completely ignore him. Pretend he doesn't exist."
Hermione sat back looking confused.
Neville nodded, "He's right. Malfoy is a pureblood bigot. You don't want him to notice you."
Hermione looked even more shocked.
Harry turned to Neville, "So, Neville, are you ready for this –" he waived his hand toward the front of the train.
Neville shrunk back into himself, "No."
This brought Hermione out of her confusion, "Why not? I'm excited to learn about magic."
Neville shook his head, "That's because you don't know about it yet."
Hermione looked – fearful, "Know about what?"
Neville huffed, "Magic. Not – that magic is bad, it's just what people do with it is – horrible."
Hermione swallowed hard, "Is Longbottom one of those – magical names?"
"Yes, but I don't care about any of that pureblood garbage."
Hermione relaxed a bit, then turned to Harry, "Do you?"
Harry shook his head with smile.
Hermione paused before asking, "What do they do with magic?"
Neville looked somewhat ashamed, "Bigotry. War. –" He whispered, "Unspeakable violence."
Hermione's face paled, "What am I doing here? I don't want to be involved in that!"
Harry spoke quietly, "Thats why you keep your head down. Don't say anything. Pretend you are no one important and go about your business, quietly."
Hermione started to melt, "But – who can I trust?"
Neville sat up straight, "Me."
"And me. Start there, then wait and see." Harry waited a moment and then tried to redirect the conversation, "So what part of magic are you most interested in?"
It took a moment for Hermione to reorient her thoughts, "Um – all of it, actually. Everything I can learn."
Harry smiled, "Excellent. I'll help."
Neville shrunk again, "Well – I'd try to help too, but – I'm not good at magic."
Harry chuckled, "Don't sell yourself short, Neville. I think you can."
Neville looked confused – and thoughtful at Harry.
Now Hermione looked curiously at Harry, "Are you good at magic, Harry?"
Harry shrugged, "Never done magic before."
Neville sat again, "Never done magic? How can you say that?"
"I live with my mother's sister, who is a squib. They hate magic."
Hermione gasped, "So – they hate you?"
Harry nodded slowly, grimly, "Yup."
Hermione hand covered her mouth, "I'm sorry."
Neville looked about ready to explode.
Harry beat him to it, "It's OK. Particularly since I've started Hogwarts. Now they won't know how much I know." He smiled rather angrily looking off into the distance. Then focussed back with a smirk, "Besides, I'm pretty good at pushing their buttons now."
Hermione looked concerned, "What kind of buttons do they have?"
Harry smiled rather evilly, "Lots and lots of fear. Of magic, of what happened to my parents, – of me."
Hermione's fearful eyes kept bouncing back and forth between Harry and Neville, "This – all sounds like magic is – rather dark."
Neville shook his head, "Magic isn't dark. But a lot of wizards are."
She looked at Harry waiting for him to answer.
Harry shrugged, "I don't really know."
Hermione turned laser-focussed on Neville, "What can you tell me about magical society?"
Neville blinked a few times, "It's – just –" He shrugged, "I don't know. It's all I've known. I've never been anywhere else."
She looked at him strangely, "Not the Continent?"
He shook his head.
She looked disbelieving, "Not – even normal London?"
He shook his head again, with a bit of trepidation.
Hermione's nerves were evidently still rattling about, "So is wizarding society – safe?"
Neville sighed heavily and looked out the window with a scowl, "Not in my experience."
This did not help Hermione's nerves. Panic started to show in her eyes.
Harry made a thoughtful sound, "I think – people are people, be they magical or not. Just like there are areas of London you don't go in after dark, there are probably places you don't go. Some magicals are bad, some are good. You find the nice ones and stay with them."
Hermione did not seem convinced, "But – the bad ones – what can they do?"
Neville closed his eyes obviously in pain.
Harry glanced at Neville, then back to Hermione, "I think that's a conversation for another time." He nodded toward Neville.
Hermione's eyes grew as she understood Neville's expression. "I've only read a few books about wizarding culture, and – they are written like – everyone already knows everything. I don't know enough about how not to step on someone's toes."
Harry nodded, "I'll help – where I can."
Neville took a deep breath and looked back out the window, "That I can help with."
Hermione looked a bit overwhelmed, her voice was quiet, small, "Thank you."
Silence fell for a while. The train rolled on, through the hills. The sun sank low. Each deeply involved in their own thoughts.
The door sprung open and a head popped in, "Hogsmeade in 15 minutes. You should get your robes on."
Hermione sprung up, Neville sighed and rose slowly, Harry sat looking disappointed.
Eventually Harry huffed and stood up with frustration dripping off him, "Ok. I'll go get my robes. Be back in a bit." He walked out and down the corridor through the crowds of students. He approached his original cabin and noticed it was empty. He dove in, locked the door, and put on his robes quickly. He was back out in the hall in just a few minutes and headed back to Neville.
"There you are, Harry. Hermione's in there changing." He stood at the door like a guard.
"Excellent. You next?"
Neville nodded.
The door sprung open and Hermione stepped out, "I'm done."
Neville snuck in and the door closed.
Harry smiled at Hermione, "You look nice in robes."
She was taken aback, "What? – Ah – Thank you." She was obviously questioning his sanity. Yet still quite affected by his statement.
Neville popped open the door, "All done." He stepped back to let them in again.
Hermione sat down, "Neville, do you know what happens next?"
Neville shook his head, "No."
Hermione looked very confused, "Didn't your parents go to Hogwarts? Didn't they tell you what's next?"
Neville turned his head away and he froze, "No."
Hermione looked shaken again, "I'm sorry – I didn't mean to ..."
Neville turned to look at her with dead eyes, "My parents were casualties in the last war."
She whimpered, her hand covering her mouth, "Last war? Oh – when Harry's parents ... I'm sorry."
He looked out the window, "You didn't know."
The silence was stretched by the train starting to slow. Within five minutes it was stopped at the station.
Harry stood up, "Well, shall we get this adventure started?" He sounded grimly pleasant. If that was possible. He opened the door and stepped out.
Neville motioned for Hermione to precede him.
She moved out the door and grabbed Harry's arm. They moved toward the end of the carriage and onto the platform flowing with the crowd.
Harry stopped, "Let's wait for Neville." It only took a moment, "There you are Nev. Shall we?"
Neville nodded and Hermione grabbed his arm too – much to his shock.
Hermione spoke confidentially, "You said you'd help, so I'm going to hold you to that."
Harry smirked at her hand with a death-grip on his arm, "I guess you are."
They started walking down the platform.
"Firs' years, This way. All firs' years, this way." Hagrid towered over all the little firsties like a tree. "Follow me. This way." A procession of tiny ducklings running and scrabbling after mum.
They all made their way along the sometimes muddy path, then down the embankment to the little dock with a flock of boats. Everyone got in, with Harry at the front, Hermione, Neville, and another boy.
He introduced himself, "Seamus Finnigan."
"Hermione Granger."
"Neville Longbottom."
"Harry." Harry shook his hand and looked out across the lake – away from the approaching castle. He was back to being tense and angry.
The 'ooohs' and 'ahhs' of everyone's first view of Hogwarts carried between the boats. Harry was not interested. He didn't want to look at Hogwarts. He waited sullenly.
"Everyone duck yer heads. Low passage."
Harry leaned forward and let the hanging vines brush over him. When the boats docked Harry sprung out and offered his hand first to Hermione, then Neville, and Seamus. Hermione grabbed his arm again and reached back for Neville, dragging him in. They moved toward the stairs and the doors at the top. Quiet mumbles and the shuffling of shoes and robes in an echoing stone staircase were all that was heard.
Hagrid nocked, the door opened, "Here are the Firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid." She looked severe, upright, and laser-focussed on – children. Potentially unruly – children.
Harry didn't look up.
McGonagall gave a short speech about – points and what-not.
Harry didn't pay much attention. Until –
"Mr Potter. Are you listening?"
Harry looked up at her. He was not happy at all. He didn't say anything.
She gave up and started walking.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione was whispering at him.
He shook his head and looked away, but clamped his hand on hers wrapped around his arm. He patted it twice and kept up with everyone else.
They were left in the anteroom with dire threats on behaviour. Harry was starting to feel nauseous at what was coming. He just concentrated on breathing steadily. He tried to ignore everything else.
"Well Potter?"
Harry opened his eyes to see Malfoy glaring at him; he'd evidently been saying something. Harry glared back with disinterest. He didn't say anything.
Malfoy started to say something when the door opened.
"Come this way. Two rows, please." McGonagall started the parade. The group pooled at the end of the House tables.
McGonagall set the stool and the Hat in front of the Head Table, "When I call your name come up, sit on the stool, and put on the hat." She pulled out a roll of parchment, "Abbott, Hannah."
Harry tuned out the proceedings. He was desperately trying to hold on. His stomach was roiling, jumping, and generally trying to get away. He closed his eyes.
"Granger, Hermione."
Harry patted her hand as she left to sit on the stool. Harry watched fiercely, waiting. It was almost immediate.
"Gryffindor!"
Harry went back to meditating.
"Longbottom, Neville."
Harry perked up again and concentrated. Again, it was quick.
"Gryffindor!"
Harry sank back into desperate – anger. It was what kept him sane. He held on for dear life.
"Potter, Harry." Silence – and then muttering and whispers started.
Harry opened his eyes, gritted his teeth, and moved forward.
Harry sat on the stool and the hat plopped on his head, all the way down to the end of his nose and the back of his neck.
"Oh!" The hat made a surprised noise.
Harry sat frozen still. Then shook his head slightly. It was a moment – then Harry growled loudly enough for everyone to hear in the expectant silence, "No, I will not."
The hat's pointed tip wiggled.
Harry growled again, "I said no. You put me in Slytherin and I will walk out that door!"
Silence – and shock – weighed heavily on the room.
"I don't care! I will not – No! I will not have anything to do with Draco Bloody Malfoy! Death Eater garbage!"
The room stirred uncomfortably.
"Are you nuts? Why would I want to do that?! Look, they're all bloody Death Eaters! – No! – Yes, I know he's here. I can feel him."
The hat started squirming as the obvious argument heated up.
"Look, I killed him before, I can do it again! He's a buggering wanker! –" Harry sighed in obvious frustration, "Do you think that I don't know that? – And you think Dumbledore will do what?" Incredulity dripped from his tone.
Harry started squirming and balling his fists, "You! A freaking hat, gonna give me advice?"
Harry stood up, "Look, those stupid purebloods are going to get themselves all killed! And it's all their own damn fault! What do I care? The stupid bastards did this to themselves. – I do not have to care! They bowed to Voldemort, not me!" Harry threw up his hands, "I will not lay out a finger to help them! It's already too late for all of them. They've made their bed – No! Do not lay that guilt on me. Fuck Them!" Harry threw off the hat onto the stool. "Fucking hat!"
A few gasps snuck into the dead silence.
Harry turned around and pointed, "You! Piece of shite! You killed my parents!"
Professor Quirrell drew back stiffly and started to stand up slowly. His eyes were full of rage pointed at Harry.
Dumbledore stood up quietly.
Quirrell spoke slowly, "You fool, I will kill you for that."
Harry broke out laughing, "Don't be stupid Quirrell, you're already dead. You, Tom! Come out and face me again, and die! Again!"
Dumbledore started moving closer behind the Head Table.
"Release me!" A voice that was a sandpaper whisper seemingly from nowhere.
Quirrell reached back and swept off his turban in one smooth stroke then turned around.
Screams rang out in the hall.
"Potter! Now you die!"
Harry yelled out to the students, "Everybody down!" He turned back to the head table, threw the stool at Quirrell, ran forward, jumped on the Head Table and onto Quirrell's back, knocking him down. Quirrell started screaming, Tom started screaming, Dumbledore was yelling, the hall was full of screaming. The students got up and started moving away.
The professors finally woke up and were moving to attack. Spells started flying! Explosions, fire, screams.
Students ran back toward the doors, Prefects tried to maintain order, unsuccessfully.
The shade of Voldemort rose above the Head Table, "I will kill you all! You are dirt under my boots! You are nothing!"
More spells flew at the shade. Some were repelled, some were returned, but a set of spells conjured a Chrystal sphere around the shade. He screamed until the ball was complete, then silence.
The hall came to a frozen halt as the ball floated above the Head Table, with Voldemort thrashing violently within.
Harry stood up and brushed himself off, "I'm supposed to be in Gryffindor." He turned and started walking toward Hermione and Neville.
"Mr Potter." The hat spoke from a crumpled mess on the floor.
Harry turned and yelled, pointing at the hat, "Don't you dare! I will walk out that door!"
The hat sighed, and said quietly, resignedly, "Yes, yes, Gryffindor. But you are not done yet."
Harry stood still, staring at the hat, "You're now working for Fate, Inc?"
"No, but you can not escape your visions!"
Harry held up a specific finger to signal the hat, "This is not my responsibility. It's his!" Harry pointed at Dumbledore. "Go bitch at Dumbledore, hat." Harry turned and walked toward the doors.
"Harry Potter!"
Harry ignored the hat and kept walking. Then Harry noticed the students. Part of them were standing, listlessly, blank look, mouth hanging open. They looked Imperioused. Harry turned around and saw Tom, in his Chrystal ball yelling at, and looking at, the blank-faced students. Those students started to move forward.
Harry yelled again, "Everyone out! Move! Move!" He started running for the doors, grabbed Hermione and Neville and pulled them. The crowd followed screaming.
They got about 50 metres out the front doors when the Great Hall exploded. Rocks, timbers, and metal roofing flew up and came down. Dust and smoke came billowing out of the Hogwarts Great Hall ruins.
"Harry Potter!" A boy of about 16 came out and stood in front of the crowd, "What the bloody hell was that?"
Another boy, who looked like a younger version of him, said, "Come on Perce, he saved all of our lives."
"He did not!"
Another boy, evidently a twin of the other said, "Come on, Perce, you didn't notice the Imperioused looks on all the Slytherin's faces?"
McGonagall came stumbling out of the doors.
Percy ran to help her. She was followed by Hagrid carrying Flitwik, and more professors coming out.
Hermione turned to Harry, "Harry, what was that?"
Harry nodded and motioned toward McGonagall, "I think I'm going to get asked that again, in a second."
McGonagall came to a stop in front of the crowd, "Anyone injured?"
No one moved.
She turned, her voice quiet, tired, "Mr Potter, please explain what happened?"
Harry sighed tiredly, "I'm a Seer. I've been dreaming of all this for years."
The crowd mumbled.
Hermione gasped.
McGonagall started to stress, "And you didn't tell us about this?"
"How was I supposed to do that? Dumbledore shoved me off onto my magic-hating relatives and never came to see me. I had no access to anything magical."
Now she was stressing, "You didn't say anything on the train? To a Prefect?"
"You seem to presume that my Sight would tell me everything? I'd never heard of the word Prefect before today. The only way I could have known about that is if I'd seen something in my Visions. If you'd like to put in a complaint that my visions are incomplete, you'll have to go to the source. But more to the point, Dumbledore didn't seem to care about me while I was suffering at my abusive relatives, so why should I care about him?!"
McGonagall was now officially upset, "What about all those students? They're now dead!"
Harry was yelling back, "They were the children of Death Eaters! They had become Clients of the Ancient House of Slytherin when their parents took the Dark Mark. Tom was the Head of the House of Slytherin and as such he had power over them. There was nothing anyone could have done for any of those children. They were dead the moment Voldemort Marked their parents. All their Houses were captured by Tom by Right of Conquest! Stupid Purebloods didn't read the fine print! They were enslaved by their own traditions that they so insistently demanded!"
McGonagall sputtered, "Are you saying that – all those children – and their parents –"
"Are all dead. Yes! And the things Tom used to stay alive."
McGonagall shook her head, "How?"
"That Chrystal sphere cut off Tom from his – things to stay alive. It broke those links so those things died. Then when the sphere broke – he died too."
"But – Dumbledore is now dead."
Harry smirked darkly, "Congratulation on your promotion."
"You care nothing for –"
"I can't fix that! Tom was Dumbledore's responsibility! As Tom's teacher at Hogwarts from however many decades ago, and as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and even as Supreme Mugwump of the ICW. Yes, responsibility is a bitch. It was his job, not mine. I don't care what the prophesy said!"
The crowd gasped.
Harry continued, "That whole prophesy thing was just for Tom's entrapment."
McGonagall was incredulous, "You saw all this and didn't try to stop it? Change it?"
"Yes, I did! Every time Fate sent me Visions I did everything I could to screw them up. I'd send a great big 'fuck you' straight at Fate. It didn't help! I'd see a Vision and run the other way. I'd see a vision and do something to get in it's way, to change it! To blow it up. Every time! Yes, things changed, but not the fundamentals. That's what all of tonight was, just me trying to do the opposite of what my Visions wanted me to do. I just got tired of being Fate's chew-toy. I'm just so tired of it all."
McGonagall sighed in complete exhaustion, "Now what?"
Harry turned to the crowd, "Susan Bones?"
A timid voice came back, "Yes?"
"I need to talk to your aunt. Can you call her on your necklace?"
Susan nodded and did something to her necklace.
Harry turned to the crowd as a whole, "Let this be a warning to you. Magic is serious business. Do not 'play' with magic. It is karma made real and immediate. It can kill you easily. It has rules that you must pay attention to – or die trying." Harry turned and walked toward Hogwarts gates.
Hermione followed him, "Harry –"
He stopped part way down the path and turned, "Yes?"
She caught up to him, "Did – were you really arguing with the Sorting Hat?"
He chuckled, "No. I was just playing my half of an argument I'd wanted to have with Dumbledore. The hat gave up trying to talk me out of my charades and just listened."
She looked confused with more questions, "These visions – they told you all that? What to do?"
He chuckled, "Not at first. But the more I rebelled and ran away, the more visions I saw, evidently trying to 'convince me'. Eventually I'd seen enough to figure out what I wanted to do."
She gasped, "You manipulated Fate!?"
Harry smirked, "Let's say – I bargained. I kept running away until I got what I needed. And Fate got Tom." He held up his hand cupping his ear with raised eyebrows, "I don't hear Fate complaining."
She looked around nervously, "Define 'complaining'."
Harry chuckled and shrugged, "Lightning bolts?"
She shook her head in amazement, "Where are you going?"
He sighed and shook his head in frustration, "I don't know. I need to explain all this to Madam Bones and then I'm out of here for a while. I need a vacation." He looked into the distance, "I suppose that means Gringotts, to start."
Hermione reached out to hold his hand, "Can I go with you?"
Harry smiled, "I was hoping you'd ask." He kissed her cheek.
They turned and started walking toward the gates of Hogwarts hand in hand.
.
– The End –