Sorry for the absence, I had a lot of tests last week. I meant to publish this yesterday, but totally spaced.

Not Potter and the Stupid Stone

Chapter 25

Laura

I pushed a piece of hair out of my face as I slid down the rough stone wall of the corridor. Hermione, Noel, Ron, and I had to have been waiting for at least half an hour at this point, just trying to get into the infirmary to see harry. Ron had gotten out the day after we left the chamber, all he had really gotten from falling off the horse were scratches, not that he hadn't acted like he way dying anyway, and we managed to visit harry that day before and after class. However, that night Fred, George, and some Ravenclaw goonie of theirs had snuck into the infirmary and covered the whole thing with rainbow-colored loo roll. They had said it was to help cheer Harry once he woke, but that hadn't stopped Madame Pomfrey from banning all students not seeking medical attention from the infirmary. It's been five days since then. We came down here now because some Hufflepuff third year had gone in for a pepper-up potion and said she'd overheard Dumbledore and Harry talking. The whole school had been talking about it at breakfast, so we skipped the meal and came here. Unfortunately, we were no at the will of Madame Pomfrey, who was in no rush to let us in. Suddenly, Noel jumped up. The door, which she had been sitting against, had just flown open.

"He's awake now," she told us, sternly, "but be very careful. He's still very weak, so try not to injure him anymore. You have five minutes."

"Thank you, so much," Hermione said, nearly hugging her.

The four of us sprinted inside, reaching his bed in record time. We all leaned in to give him light hugs, in attempt not to hurt him.

"Oh, Harry, we thought you were going to-" Hermione began, "Dumbledore was so worried-"

"The whole school's talking about it." Ron explained.

"What ended up happening, Harry?" Noel asked.

In this occasion, the story was told so vividly that it seemed the wa all had been there. The retelling was even stranger, and more exciting, than the rumors running around school. He explained the run in with Quirrell, the mirror, the Stone, and Voldemort. Harry explained how Quirrell was the one causing everything, rather than Quirrell. He discussed the secret that lie under his turban, too: Voldemort.

"So, the Stone is finally gone?" I asked. "Flamel's just going to die?"

"That's what Dumbledore said." He began to quote him, "'To the well-organized mind, death is the next great adventure.'"

"Always said he was off his rocker..." Ron laughed, with fondness in his tone.

"So," Harry questioned, changing the topic. "What happened with you all?"

"Noel and I got back all right." Hermione explained.

"By the time we got back, Laura had woken Ron up and tried cleaning up some of his injuries." Noel continued.

"It really wasn't much use, though." I added in, "I couldn't do much down there, but I managed to come up with what would be on the letter and write it down on a napkin that I found in my pocket."

"For a while we tried heading back," Ron followed. "But it was a struggle for just one person to help me."

"And not all of us could support Ron. We needed at least two functioning people just to figure out how to climb out of that place," Hermione chimed in, again, "but we got out as quick as possible."

"By the time we finally did manage to get out," Noel explained, "Dumbledore was already there. He knew everything somehow – even said, 'Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?' before walking off."

"Do you think this was all on purpose, then?" Ron asked, pondering the thought. "He sent you the cloak, after all."

"Well, if he did, that's terrible!" Hermione scoffed. "Harry could've been killed!"

"No, it isn't." Harry laughed, "he's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could."

"Yeah, Dumbledore's off his rocker, all right." Ron said, laughing with Harry.

"You need to come to the end-of-year feast tomorrow." Laura insisted. "The points are in, and Slytherin won, of course."

Just then, Madam Pomfrey bustled over.

"You've had nearly fifteen minutes," she said, sternly. "Now, OUT."


The next day, Ron, Hermione, Noel and I sat at the Gryffindor table for the end-of-year feast. The hall was decorated with a plethora of green and silver, to celebrate the Slytherin's seventh consecutive House Cup win. Even though I was partially, well, maybe more than partially, annoyed, I respected their win. Besides, we DEFEATED a literal reincarnation of VOLDEMORT. So, who's win really is better?

I looked up as the hush of whispers suddenly settled on the previously riotus hall. There, in the doorway, was Harry. He walked in passed the many staring eyes and sat down, awkwardly. In this moment, I very much pitied the boy. Although, I was happy that he had chosen to accept my insistence of coming to the feast. I began talking with all my friends, when, moments later, Dumbledore broke the silence with the beging of his speech.

"Another year gone! And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feat. What a year it has been!" Dumbledore began. "Hopefully your heads are a little fuller than they were; you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts. Now, as I understand it, the House Cup needs awarding. The points are at thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six, in second, and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."

From the Slytherin table, cheering and claps broke out. I could see Draco happily cheering along with Crabbe and Goyle, the sight of him set off my mood. Honestly, we may have won the cup if it weren't for his snooping.

"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin." He nodded, "however, recent events must be taken into account. Ahem, I have a few last-minute points to hand out."

Everyone sat, confused.

"First," he continued, "to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor House twenty-five points."

The cheers nearly raised the bewitched ceiling, and Gryffindor could have been heard from miles away. Why had Dumbledore begun giving us points? It couldn't affect the results, at this point, could it?

"Second," he followed, "to Miss. Hermione Granger, for the cool use of logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor twenty-five points.

"Now, for my third and fourth rewards." He added. "Third, to Miss. Noel Avery, for quick thinking with flame before the flame of life was taken, twenty-five points."

I congratulated Noel, as she smiled at her award.

"Fourth, to Miss. Laura Fawley, for care of friends beyond adventure and masterful performance of the arts, when in need." I smiled so wide, nearly laughing from joy, and some embarrassment, as our fellow housemates cheered loudly. "In all, I reward twenty-five points."

"Fifth," he said, seemingly finishing, "to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House sixty points."

The hall became deafening, as it quickly changed from dead silence to an uproar. When added up the new point tallies, Gryffindor had now earned four hundred and seventy-two points – exactly the same as Slytherin.

Dumbledore then raised his hand, and the room, gradually, fell silent. "There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."

Someone standing outside the Great Hall might as well have thought some sort of explosion had taken place, as the noise that erupted from the Gryffindor table was so loud. Harry, Ron, Hermione, myself and Noel stood up to yell and cheer as Neville, white with shock, disappeared under a pile of people hugging him. He had never won so much as a point for Gryffindor, before. Still cheering, I turned and saw Draco throw his hat against the table, looking stunned and disgusted at the outcome of the House Cup. As much as I would have hated being him, right then and there, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Which means," he smiled, "we need a change in decoration."

He clapped his hands. In an instant, the green hangings became scarlet and the silver became gold; the huge Slytherin serpent vanished and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place. At the Head Table, Snape was shaking Professor McGonagall's hand, with a horrible, forced smile. It seemed, by now, that life would be back to normal next year - or as normal as it ever was at Hogwarts.

For many of us, it was the, current, best evening of our lives. But, for all, it would be an evening we would never, ever forget.

I had almost forgotten that the exam results were still to come, but they did. To my surprise, I, Harry, and Ron all passed with good marks. Hermione and Noel, of course, had some of the best grades of the first years.

And suddenly, our wardrobes were empty, our trunks were packed, and notes were handed out to all students, warning us not to use magic over the summer. Momentarily, we were hopping into horseless caridges and watching the graduated seventh years sail across the lake on the tiny boats that we had arrived on in the begining of the year. We were boarding the Hogwarts Express; talking and laughing as the countryside became greener and tidier; pulling off our wizard robes and putting on shorts and t-shirts; pulling into platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross station.

It took quite a while for us all to get off the platform. A wizened old guard was up by the ticket barrier, letting us go through the gate in twos and threes so that we didn't attract attention by bursting out of a solid wall all at once.

Finally, heading back into the muggle world, I looked around. Nine months earlier, I stood here, no idea what to expect. We blabbered on for a while, as Ron began to talk about summer plans.

"You guys have got to come and stay this summer!" Ron grinned, "I'll send out an owl."

"Thanks." Harry stifled a laugh, "I'll need something to look forward to."

"I'm gonna miss this," I said, "honestly."

"It won't be gone forever." Hermione smiled. "We'll be back in just a few months."

"I know," I sighed, "but that still feels like forever.

"Six more years to go." Noel laughed, "I'm sure plenty more will happen, so you can look forward to that."

The five of us grinned happily, as we shared one final embrace. After saying goodbyes, I walked away, meeting my brother and parents nearby.

Noel

I watched my friends walk away, nothing but smiles on their faces. I would miss this, I though, sadly, as the matching grin slid off my face. I turned around and felt a sharp pain flash on my cheek bone, just below my eye. I could feel a small trickle of blood running down my face, the result of my fathers Avery crest heir ring. Purebloods don't defeat the dark lord. They don't even help their friends to do so. Not without receiving punishment

Laura

I was excited for summer, to see Thomas again, but also sad. Sad to be saying goodbye to Hogwarts. Even though the summer temporarily stopped our adventures, I knew that I'd be back soon, as Hogwarts would always be my second home.

So... this is the end. I do have the next book started, however, I am not as far in as I would like to be. I'm thinking about taking a short hiatus, I don't know how long, but I want to get at least half way through the next book. I hope you enjoyed this book. Despite it's many flaws, I'm proud of it. If your interested in continuing to hear my insane story, when published, the next book will be titled, Not Potter and the Chamber of Children.