There was something gold glinting above Hailey. It was the Snitch! She tried to grab it, but her hands were too heavy to lift. She blinked to see that it was a pair of glasses in front of her face. She blinked again seeing that it was Dumbledore's face.
"Good afternoon, Hailey," Dumbledore greeted.
Hailey stared up at him confused and then remembered, "Sir! The Stone! It was Quirrell the entire time! He's got the Stone! Sir, we have to be quick—"
"Calm yourself, dear girl, you're a little behind the times," Dumbledore said calmly. "Quirrell does not have the Stone."
Hailey was confused, "Then who has it? Sir, I—"
"Hailey, please relax, or Madam Pomfrey will have me thrown out," Dumbledore said.
Hailey swallowed and looked down. She was in a bed with white sheets and realized that she must be in the hospital wing. She looked beside her and noticed the bedside table was piled high with what looked half of a sweet shop.
"Tokens from your friends and admirers," Dumbledore said beaming. "What happened in the dungeons is between you and Professor Quirrell, so naturally, the whole school knows. I believe your friends, Misters Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a toilet seat. No doubt they thought it would amuse you. Madam Pomfrey, however, felt it might not be very hygienic, and confiscated it."
"How long have I been in here?" Hailey asked, trying to figure it out. It made her head hurt.
Dumbledore answered, "Three days. Mr Ronald Weasley, Miss Granger, Mr Corner, and Miss Brocklehurst will be relieved you have come around, they have been extremely worried."
Hailey started, "But sir, the Stone—"
"I see you are not to be distracted. Very well, the Stone. Professor Quirrell did not manage to take it from you. I arrived in time to prevent that, although you were doing very well on your own, I must say," Dumbledore explained.
Hailey remembered grabbing Quirrell and there was a lot of screaming. "You got there? You got Mandy's owl?"
Dumbledore said, "We must have crossed in midair. No sooner had I reached London than it became clear to me that the place I should be was the one I had just left. I arrived just in time to pull Quirrell away from you—"
"It was you?" Hailey asked in disbelief.
"I feared I might be too late," Dumbledore stated.
Hailey said, "You nearly were, I couldn't have kept him off the Stone much longer—"
"Not the Stone, girl, you," Dumbledore replied. "The effort involved nearly killed you. For one terrible moment there, I was afraid it had. As for the Stone, it has been destroyed."
Hailey was worried for Nicolas Flamel and Perenelle, "Destroyed? But your friend—Nicolas Flamel—"
"Oh, you know about Nicolas?" Dumbledore sounded quite delighted. "You did do the research properly, didn't you? Well, Nicolas and I have had a little chat, and agreed it's all for the best."
"That means he and Perenelle will die, won't they?" Hailey asked.
"They have enough Elixir stored to set their affair in order and then, yes, they will die." Dumbledore smiled at Hailey and she realized she must have looked amazed. "To one as young as you, I'm sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenell, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human being would choose above all—the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."
Hailey stared up at the ceiling lost for word. Dumbledore hummed a little and smiled at the ceiling. "Sir? I've been thinking…Sir—even if the Stone is gone, You-Know-Who might—"
"Call him Voldemort, Hailey. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of thing itself," Dumbledore said.
"Yes, sir. Well, Voldemort's going to try other ways of coming back isn't he? I mean, he hasn't gone, has he?" Hailey asked, trying to wrap her mind round it.
Dumbledore explained, "No, he has not. He is still out there somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to share. Not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. He left Quirrell to die; he shows just as little mercy to his followers as his enemies. Nevertheless, Hailey, while you may only have delayed his return to power, it will merely take someone else who is prepared to fight what seems a losing battle next time—and if he is delayed again and again, why, he may never return to power."
She nodded, but stopped because it made her head hurt. "Sir, there are some things I'd like to know about, if you can tell me…things I want to know the truth about…"
"The truth," Dumbledore sighed, "it is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution. However, I shall answer your questions unless I have a very good reason no to, in which case I beg you'll forgive me. I shall not, of course, lie."
Hailey had to think about it, why would Voldemort want to kill her? "Well…Voldemort said that he only killed my mother because she tried to stop him from killing me. But why would he want to kill me in the first place?"
Dumbledore sighed very deeply. "Alas, the first thing you ask me, I cannot tell you. Not today. Not now. You will know, one day…put it far from your mind for now, Hailey. When you are older…I know you'll hate to hear this…when you're ready, you'll know."
Hailey wanted to argue with him, but she knew it wouldn't be worth it. "Why couldn't Quirrell touch me?" She nearly shuddered at the wording.
Dumbledore started to explain, "Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign…to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good."
Hailey had to wipe her tears off with the sheet. She was protected because he mother loved her. Dumbledore had become interested in a bird out of the windowsill. "Do you know who sent me the Invisibility Cloak?"
"Ah—your father happened to leave it in my possession, and I thought you might like it." Hailey noticed that Dumbledore's eyes seem to twinkle. "Useful thing…your father used it mainly for sneaking off to the kitchen to steal food when he was here."
Hailey figured that she would probably do the same thing. "Michael's wand—"
"Has been returned to its proper owner," Dumbledore finished.
Hailey remembered Quirrell saying that Snape hated her because of her dad. "There's something else…"
Dumbledore replied, "Fire away."
Hailey started, "Quirrell said Snape—"
"Professor Snape, Hailey," Dumbledore interrupted.
Hailey said, "Yeah—Quirrell said that Professor Snape hates me because he hated my father. Is that true?"
Dumbledore said, "Well, they did rather detest each other. Not unlike yourself, Mr Malfoy, and Miss Parkinson. And then, your father did something Snape could never forgive."
"What did he do?" Hailey asked.
"He saved his life," Dumbledore answered.
Hailey was shocked, "What?"
"Yes…" Dumbledore trailed off. "Funny, the way people's minds work, isn't it? Professor Snape couldn't bear being in your father's debt. I do believe he worked so hard to protect you this year because he felt that would make him and your father even. Then he could go back to hating your father's memory in peace…"
Hailey tried to understand that. Malfoy hated her because she turned down his offer of friendship. Parkinson hated her because Malfoy hates her. Why did her dad and Snape hate each other? Did her dad offer his friendship to Snape? Did Snape offer friendship to her dad? Why?
"There's one more thing…" Hailey started.
Dumbledore asked, "Just the one?"
"How did I get the Stone out of the mirror?" Hailey asked.
"Ah, now, I'm glad you asked me that. It was one of my more brilliant ideas, and between you and me, that's saying something. You see, only one who wanted to find the Stone—find it but not use it—would be able to get it, otherwise they'd just themselves making gold or drinking the Elixir of Life. My brain surprises even me sometimes. Now enough questions. I suggest you make a start on these sweets." Dumbledore reached in the pile of sweets and pulled out- "Ah! Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans! I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a vomit flavored one…"
Hailey was disgusted at that and watched as Dumbledore look through the box. "And since then I'm afraid I've rather lost my liking for them—but I think I'll be safe with a nice toffee, don't you?" He popped the golden-brown bean in his mouth and choked, "alas! Ear wax!"
Dumbledore had left and it turned out that her friends wanted to see her. Madam Pomfrey was a nice woman who happened to be very strict.
"You need rest," Pomfrey said.
"Five minutes," Hailey pleaded.
"Absolutely not," Pomfrey responded.
"But you let Professor Dumbledore in," Hailey pointed out.
"Of course, that was the headmaster, quite different. You need rest," Pomfrey stated firmly.
Hailey motioned to her body, "I am resting. See? I am lying down and everything…"
"Oh, very well," Pomfrey sighed in exasperation, "but only for five minutes."
She let the four in and Hailey was glad that they didn't attempt to hug her.
"Hailey, we were sure that you were going to—Dumbledore was so worried—" Hermione started.
"The whole school's talking about it," Ron stated, "What really happened?"
Hailey told them everything: Quirrell, the mirror, the Stone, and Voldemort. It was strange and when she told them what was under Quirrell's turban, Mandy gasped and Hermione screamed.
"So, the Stone's gone?" Ron asked, sounding in disbelief.
"Flamel's just going to die?" Michael asked.
Hailey said, "That's what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that 'to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.'"
"I always said he off his rocker," Ron said. He looked impressed at how crazy his hero was.
"I still think he came from Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor," Mandy muttered. Ron gave the blonde a strange look.
"What happened to you three?" Hailey asked.
"I got back all right," Michael said. "Hermione brought Ron round."
"It took a while and we were dashing up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall—" Hermione said.
"He already knew and just said, 'Hailey's gone after him, hasn't she?' and hurtled off to the third floor." Michael finished.
"D'you think he meant you to do it?" Ron asked, "Sending you your father's Cloak and everything?" Hailey wondered the same thing.
"Well," Hermione exploded, "If he did—I mean to say—that's terrible—" she looked at Hailey, "you could have been killed."
"No, it isn't," Hailey said. "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 he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could…"
"Yeah, Dumbledore's off his rocker, alright," Ron proudly, said. "Listen, you've got to be up for the end-of-the-year feast tomorrow. You missed the Quidditch match by the way, Gryffindor steamrolled Ravenclaw."
"The points are all in and Slytherin won, of course," Michael stated.
"The food will be good anyway," Ron said, cheerfully.
Madam Pomfrey walked in, "You nearly had fifteen minutes, now out!"
After sleeping, that surprisingly lacked nightmares, Hailey felt semi-normal.
"I want to go to the feast." She told Madam Pomfrey was straightening the many candy boxes. "I can go, right?"
"Professor Dumbledore says that you are allowed to go." Madam Pomfrey said, as though Dumbledore didn't realize that feast could be risky. "You have another visitor."
Hailey was confused. Dumbledore came to see her, her four friends did as well. "Who is it?"
Hagrid walked in right as Hailey spoke. In looked like Hagrid was too big to be allowed in and he sat down next to her. He took one look at her and burst into tears.
Hailey wondered if she looked worse than she thought.
"It's—all—my—ruddy—fault!" Hagrid sobbed, putting his head in his hands. Hailey was stunned at Hagrid's reaction. "I told the evil git how ter get past Fluffy! I told him! It was the only thing he didn't know, an' I told him! Yeh could've died! All fer a dragon egg! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out an' made ter live as a Muggle!"
Hailey looked at him, who shaking with grief and remorse. Big tears leaked down in Hagrid's beard. "Hagrid! He'd have found out somehow. This is Voldemort we're talking about. He'd have found out even if you hadn't told him."
"Yeh could've died," Hagrid sobbed, "an' don't say the name!"
"Voldemort!" She shouted and Hagrid stopped crying, maybe out of shock. "I've met him and I'm calling him by his name. Please cheer up Hagrid, we saved the Stone, it's gone, so he can't use it." She picked up a Chocolate Frog and held it out to him. "Have a Chocolate Frog since I've got loads…"
Hagrid wiped his nose on the back of his hand and said, "That reminds me. I've got yeh a present."
"Please tell me it's not a stoat sandwich?" Hailey joked.
Hagrid gave a weak chuckle. "Nah, Dumbledore gave me the day off yesterday ter fix it. 'Course he shoulda sacked me instead—anyway, got yeh this…"
Hagrid gave Hailey a handsome, leather-covered book. She opened it and saw pictures of wizard photographs. Smiling and waving at her from every page was her parents. She couldn't speak and she saw a picture of her dad holding her in a pink onesie. She felt tears coming on.
Hagrid explained, "Sent owls off ter all yer parents' old school friends, askin' fer photos…knew yeh didn' have any…d'yeh like it?"
She couldn't speak and she felt tears roll down her cheeks. Hagrid took that a sign that she loved it, which she did.
Hailey made her way down to the end-of-the-year feast alone, that night. Madam Pomfrey had fussed about, insisting on giving her one last checkup. When she stepped in the Great Hall, everything suddenly went silent. It was full and decked out in the Slytherin colours of green and silver to celebrate Slytherin's winning the House Cup for the seventh year in a row. A huge banner showing the Slytherin serpent covered the wall behind the High Table.
She walked in and went to the Ravenclaw table. She sat in between Mandy and Michael.
A minute or two later, Dumbledore arrived and the talking went away.
"Another year gone!" Dumbledore stated cheerfully, "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink out teeth into our delicious feast."
Hailey was confused at the term 'wheezing waffle'. Apparently she wasn't the only one, judging from the confused looks that Mandy and Michael have made.
"What a year it has been!" Dumbledore continued. "Hopefully your heads are all 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 here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: in fourth place, Gryffindor has three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff with three hundred and fifty-two points; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six points and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two points."
A storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Slytherin table. Hailey looked over to see Draco Malfoy banging his goblet on the table and she rolled her eyes.
"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," Dumbledore said. "However, recent events must be taken into account." It seemed like the room went very still and quiet. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes…First—to Mr Ronald Weasley…"
Hailey looked over to see that Ron had gone purple in the face. Hailey wasn't sure if he was embarrassed or stopped breathing.
"…for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor House fifty points."
There were cheers from the Gryffindor table. She faintly heard Percy saying, "my brother, you know! My youngest brother! He got past McGonagall's giant chess set!" There was silence again. "Second—to Miss Hermione Granger…for lighting a fire in the gloom, I award Gryffindor House fifty points."
She did the math, Gryffindor was now at four-hundred and twelve points. She looked over to see that Hermione buried her face in her arms. She was sure that Hermione was in tears. "Thirdly, there are all kinds of courage to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I award ten points to Mr Neville Longbottom."
Gryffindor was now at four-hundred and twenty-two points and there were some cheers for Neville, who never scored a point, as much as Hailey was told.
"Fourthly, to Mr Michael Corner, for using cool logic in the face of fire, I award Ravenclaw fifty points," Dumbledore said.
Hailey looked over to see that Michael had turned red and looked like he was trying to slowly slide under the table and there were cheers from Ravenclaw.
Hailey realized that they were up at four hundred and seventy-six points. They had beaten Slytherin and there was a lot of cheers.
"And lastly," Dumbledore stated, and everything got quiet again. "To Miss Hailey Potter, for having pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Ravenclaw, sixty points."
Hailey had to think about it, which meant that they had five-hundred and thirty-six points. There was a loud explosion of cheers from all the tables. Ravenclaw had beaten Slytherin, they had ended the six year streak!
Hailey looked over to see that Malfoy and Pansy were looking stunned.
"Which means," Dumbledore said, over the noise, because even Hufflepuff and Gryffindor was cheering over the downfall of Slytherin. "We need a little change of decoration."
He clapped once, and the green became blue and the silver became bronze. The huge Slytherin serpent vanished and the Ravenclaw eagle took its place. Hailey looked over at the High Table to see that Snape was shaking Professor Flitwick's hand, with a horrible, twisted, fake smile. Snape looked at Hailey and she knew that his feelings toward her won't change.
That wouldn't ruin her mood. She was going to have the best evening of her life. It was better than Christmas, or winning at Quidditch, or knocking out mountain trolls.
She forgot about the exam results returning. She got by with good marks. Apparently she placed fifth and Michael got fourth. Mandy had gotten third. She figured that Hermione got first. Ron didn't do to bad being placed at eleventh.
Ron told her that Neville scraped by with his Herbology point making up for his abysmal Potions one. Goyle and Crabbe had managed to scrap by too.
Their wardrobes were empty and their trunks were packed. Notes were handed out to all students warning them not to use magic over the holidays.
Hagrid was there to take down to the fleet of boats that sailed across the lake; so they can board Hogwarts Express. Michael had grabbed onto Hailey's arm as they went across the lake, which Hailey didn't mind.
They had a conversation about the common rooms. Apparently in Ravenclaw, the boys and girls weren't allowed in each other's dorms, while it was just the girls who were allowed in the boys' dorms. Apparently Rowena Ravenclaw, thought it would be fair to both genders if they can't enter each other's dorms.
It took quite a while for them all to get off the platform. A wizened old guard was up by the ticket barrier, letting them go through the gate in twos and threes, so they don't attract attention by all bursting out of a solid wall at once.
"You must come and stay this summer," Ron said.
"All four of us?" Hailey asked, looking at the other three.
Ron looked at them, frowning. Maybe he realized it as well.
"Maybe one person goes to each place for a week or something," Hailey said. "Like I go to Ron's for a week, while Michael or Hermione goes to Mandy's, and I go to Michael's while Mandy or Hermione goes with Ron. Then I go to Hermione's or something like that. It'll be a rotation thing. However none of you can come with me to the Dursleys. They won't like it because I'm a witch and I'm sure they don't want that under their roof."
"We'll owl each other to sort out the details," Ron said.
"I'll look forward to it," Hailey said. "It'll be something to look forward to during the holidays."
Ron, Hermione, and Hailey went through the barricade first.
"There she is, Mum! Look they're walking together!" Ginny said.
Hailey was confused at what that they meant. Mrs Weasley smiled at them, "Busy year?"
"Yes, thanks for the fudge and the sweater, Mrs Weasley," Hailey said.
"Oh, it was nothing dear." Molly said and she noticed that Michael and Mandy came through the barricade.
"Ready, are you?" Uncle Vernon asked, purple in the face. His mustache was still and he was looking furious as if Hailey had the nerve to be carrying an owl in a cage in a station full of ordinary people. Aunt Petunia and Dudley were looking terrified.
"You must be Hailey's family!" Mrs Weasley said, cheerfully.
"In a manner of speaking," Uncle Vernon replied, gruffly. "Hurry up, girl, we haven't got all day." He walked away.
She hung back to speak to her four friends. "See you over the summer, then."
"Hope you have—" Mandy trailed off, wondering how unpleasant Uncle Vernon would be over the holidays.
"—a good holiday?" Michael finished for Mandy, at a lost for words, too.
"Yeah," Hermione said, "What they said."
"I will. They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer…" Hailey said, smiling.
A/N: Year 1 is finally completed. Thanks for sticking around to read, review, favorite, and alert this, even though I used a very clichéd idea, like turning Harry into a girl and stuffing them in a different House type of thing. I'm sure I lost readers along the way, but I still finished it.