NOTES
Oh, it's the last chapter of Holly's first year! Are you excited? I am! So, I've decided to announce Holly's summer plans: She's staying in England with the Brocklehurst family, due to popular demand! Thanks for voting!
DISCLAIMER
Me: It's been a while. I don't own Harry Potter.
Holly: Giving up that easy?
Me: Yeah…
Holly: Why? You're my author; you can't give up like that! Have you learned nothing from me? Keep trying!
Me: Oh…okay…
Holly
Chapter Sixteen – And No One Died
I heard many, many sick and twisted stories about what Harry had done. I counted nearly twenty stories, and I had no idea what was truth and what was not. Some stories were so outrageous that I ruled them out completely. I figured that he didn't die, as Lord Death handed Harry more chances than your average stray cat.
Ha-ha, Harry the Cat. I'd have to remember that one.
Oh! Or Kitty Harry!
I'll stop making jokes relating to felines and my cousin now…
I bet he'd be a cute kitten… Like Hello Potter!
Okay, I'm done.
We should rename him Harry Catter.
No, no. I'm seriously finished.
So, as I had been expressing my constant concern for Harry (or, as Mandy put it, "rambling about Potter's current state of health"), Eddie suggested that we all take a trip down to the Hospital Wing to go see him and give him presents that the older boys got from Hogsmeade, which was mostly candy, because that's definitely what preteen boys liked.
Eddie only managed to muster himself, Duncan, Mandy, Lisa, and me to go visit. I love how supportive the Ravenclaw Quidditch team is. I suppose that their absence might've had to do with a Quidditch rivalry, to which I say, "Get over it!"
We were all standing in a deserted part of the Hospital Wing with Madam Pomfrey. She stood protectively, blocking our way into Harry's end of the Hospital Wing. Eddie still held the collective bag of "donations" from the Ravenclaws, namely the Quidditch team that wasn't in attendance.
"Absolutely not," Madam Pomfrey asserted, "Mister Potter is in no state to be seeing visitors."
"But we wanted to know what happened," Eddie shrugged. "And we figured that the best way to find out would be to ask the only person that was actually there."
"Then you may ask him when he is in better health," she persisted.
"But he's my cousin!" I tried. "There has to be some kind of special privilege for family!"
"There is," Madam Pomfrey said. "You will be one of the first to see him when he is in better health, I assure you."
I tapped my foot anxiously. I could think of one thing that might sway her, so anything would be worth a try. "I'm sure that you're aware of how similar Harry's and my pasts are," I began. "I think it might be in his best interest to talk to someone who actually understands what it's like to be him. I'm no medical professional, but how could you argue that point?"
Madam Pomfrey studied my face for a moment. She then looked over each of the other people in my party.
Finally, she said, "You, Miss Evans, and only you, may speak with Mister Potter. And I will allot you fifteen minutes only. After that, you will leave. Do you understand?"
I grinned. "Absolutely!" With that, Eddie handed me our Ravenclaw goodie bag.
Sighing, Madam Pomfrey led me to Harry's curtain. I noticed my poor cousin's silhouette behind the curtain. Madam Pomfrey pulled it aside gently and told Harry he had a visitor.
Best visitor to walk the earth, she meant.
"Harry!" I whisper-shouted. "Oh my God… How are you? You have to tell me everything! And you'll have to paraphrase because I've only been given fifteen minutes. Oh! I brought you presents from most of everyone in Ravenclaw."
Harry looked at me like I had five heads. He timidly weeded through our presents. "I'm in the Hospital Wing, how good can I be; yes, I'll tell you everything; I guess I can paraphrase; and thanks for the… Is this a coloring book?"
"Yeah, Eddie thought it would be a good way to pass the time. He also says coloring is therapeutic," I shrugged. "We got you candy and some reading books, too."
"Thank you," He grinned weakly.
"So what happened?" I pressed.
Harry took a deep breath. "Well, we had to go through all these rooms. First there was a three-headed dog, then a plant that tried to eat us, then some keys that were flying around, then life-size chess where Ron sacrificed himself so we could pass, and then a room full of different potions. I was the only one that got past the potions because only one of them could get us through these black flames and there wasn't enough for Hermione and me."
"Sounds like they were trying to prevent people from getting to the stone," I muttered.
"Exactly," Harry said. "So I got into the room with the stone. And I expected Snape to be trying to get the stone. But it was Quirrell."
"I never liked him," I shrugged. "There was definitely something strange about him."
Harry nodded. "So Quirrell was the one trying to kill me at the Quidditch match, and he was the one that let the troll in on Halloween. And there was this mirror – The Mirror of Erised."
I blinked. "The Mirror of what?" I asked. "Harry, I've been pretty out of the loop for a while now. Can you try not to confuse me too badly?"
"Sorry," he muttered. "But it's this mirror that shows you what you want most; even if you don't know you want it."
"So the mirror shows the person looking into it their innermost desire, huh? And what does that have to do with the Philosopher's Stone?" I sat on the edge of Harry's bed. He was still holding his coloring book.
"Well, Quirrell wanted to use the stone," he began, "so he just saw himself using it."
It clicked. "And you just wanted to find it before him, so it would show you where it was!"
"Right," Harry grinned.
"Then what happened?" I pressed, keeping an eye on the time.
"He made me look in the mirror and tell me what I saw. Don't worry, I lied to him and told him I won the house cup for Gryffindor. But what I actually saw was me. With the stone. The reflection took it out of his pocket and put it back in and the stone was there, in my own pocket," Harry explained. "And then this voice told Quirrell to take of his turban so it could speak to me fact to face."
"So Quirrell's got two heads?" I concluded, raising my eyebrow.
"The other head was Voldemort," Harry said, staring at me.
I rolled my eyes. "That makes all the difference. Look, I'm not afraid of the guy. He killed my parents – terrifying. He raped my grandmother – equally so. All he deserves is repayment for what he's done as of yet. But please do continue your story; it interests me."
Harry nodded. "Voldemort was living off of Quirrell to get to me. I had the stone, and he knew it, so he told Quirrell to go after me. But he couldn't touch me. Whenever he did, he started… he started blistering."
"Hey, wait a minute," I interrupted, thinking of something. "Did your scar hurt at all throughout this whole ordeal?"
Harry stared at me. "Yeah, it did."
"I see," I muttered.
"See what?" Harry asked.
I shook my head. "Nothing, nothing. Just go on."
"I hung on to Quirrell, even when Voldemort was telling him to kill me and everything. And then he got free and… I don't remember anything after that," his voice dropped off. I thought about all he had said.
"Where's the stone?" I asked quietly.
"Dumbledore had it destroyed," he told me. I nodded.
"Then all's well that ends well," I shrugged. "How do you feel, anyway?"
"My head hurts a lot, but other than that, I'm alright," he grinned.
"So you won't mind me telling you that we kind of killed Gryffindor in the last Quidditch match?" I smiled sheepishly. I had to break it to him somehow, right?
Harry frowned a bit. "I heard," he muttered.
"Your replacement Seeker really, really sucks. I would've preferred playing you. You'd better not be in here next year. I want to kick your butt next time," I giggled. Harry began eating some of the candy Grant bought him (chocolate frogs, of course).
"I don't know if you'll be able to, Holly. Did you see the match against Slytherin?" He grinned.
"Of course I did. You nearly died," I pointed out. "You pretty much live in here. Is this your special bed or something?"
"I honestly don't know," he shrugged.
I shifted my weight. "Do you think you'll be at the feast tomorrow?"
He smiled again. "I hope so. I'll see if I can pull off good health so I can go."
"Great!" I hopped off Harry's bed. "I expect to see you tomorrow, then. And if you don't show up, expect a nice kick in the leg at the start-of-term feast next year," I grinned.
Harry's eyes widened. "You're threatening me while I'm still in the Hospital Wing?"
"Um, yeah," I shrugged.
I nodded at Madam Pomfrey on the way out. She looked like she was about to tear open the curtain and drag me away if I hadn't left when I did.
xXx
The next afternoon, Ravenclaw Quidditch team and friends had taken over the common room. I had a feeling the Penelope wanted to strangle us, but she gave up on that idea after we swore not to break anything.
"I know I seem like a cold and heartless person that almost belongs in the House of Evil, but I'm seriously going to miss you," Eddie said to Duncan. He looked like he needed a hug, though I honestly can't describe that kind of look on Eddie Carmichael.
Duncan grinned at him. "I don't know where I'll end up, but I can tell you this isn't the last you've seen of me," he grinned at all of us.
Danny called this a going away party. I didn't see so much "party", but there was a lot of "Duncan, don't leave me!" I'd only known him since September, but Quidditch teams are close knit, like seven-person families. Roger was the mom.
In a sick and twisted way, of course.
Duncan then went around hugging everyone, including Mandy and Lisa. A little Jason-bird told me that Danny wanted to drag Duncan to the Brocklehurst home this summer, and the older boy agreed. I made a mental note to wish Mandy luck, what with two sweaty Quidditch players at home. I hoped to never have that experience, but I had a feeling it would happen in my future, not that it was a bad thing.
"I didn't know him that well, and I think I'll still miss him," Mandy chuckled next to me.
I laughed. "Duncan's one of those older-brother types. It's hard not to love him and, therefore, it's hard not to miss him."
"True," she agreed, "but I also tend to get attached to things and people very quickly."
"You make that sound like a bad thing," I mused.
Mandy shrugged. "It can be."
"I suppose. I think everything can be both good and bad. There's nothing purely one or the other." I curled my legs under me on the couch.
"That's an interesting notion," Jason said, leaning over us from behind, "in its own way."
"Isn't it?" I smiled. I toyed with an Every Flavor Bean, debating whether to eat it or not.
I did, and inwardly sighed in relief when it was watermelon.
Duncan found himself in front of Mandy and me now. "You don't look like you're having fun," he pointed out.
Mandy rolled her eyes. "I don't think our little gathering is about fun, Duncan. It's more about harping over the fact that you're graduating and going out in the world."
"It should be more fun," he muttered, looking around. "I think I should be congratulated for not dying in any of my classes." He winked at us, and even Jason laughed at him.
"Come on, it's not that bad," Mandy chided.
Duncan stared at her. "Wait until you take Divination. And, to change the subject, I believe I'm living with you this summer."
"Or freeloading off of my parents," she muttered.
"No," he corrected, "I'm planning on trying out for Tornados."
"Not Puddlemere?" Mandy asked, seemingly offended. "Puddlemere is – unarguably – the best. Look at the standings…"
Duncan grinned at her. "The Tornados will be the best after I'm done with them."
"Right," she muttered sarcastically.
"How about you lot drag your 'going away party' down to the Great Hall?" Penelope interrupted our somewhat gloomy bash. "You do know the feast is about to start, don't you?"
"Don't be a killjoy, Penny," Jason muttered, lifting himself from the couch. "You're a prefect, not an evil dictator."
Penelope glared at him. "Jason, you're smarter than that."
Rolling his eyes, Jason waved us along. "Come on, first years," he called.
Mandy, Lisa, and I stayed put.
"They definitely listen to you, Jason," Roger grinned.
Penelope sighed. "I'm going now. If you don't wish to come along, fine. It's your decision, I suppose."
We collectively grinned at her. She rolled her eyes and left us. Danny took our bag of Every Flavor Beans and left with Roger. We all looked at each other and followed suit, walking down to the Great Hall.
We arranged ourselves tactfully around Ravenclaw table. And by "tactfully", I mean "completely randomly yet organized at the same time". Ravenclaws are awesome like that.
I scanned the hall for Harry and smiled slightly when I found him at the Gryffindor table.
When Professor Dumbledore arrived, all chatter ceased.
"Another year gone! And I must trouble you with another man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast," he said gleefully. I had one question: what in God's name is a wheezing waffle? I didn't think I wanted to know.
"What a year it has been!" he continued. "Hopefully your heads are a little fuller than they were… you have the whole summer to get them nice and empty before the next year starts…
"Now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding, and the points stand 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 and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."
Roger and Danny sighed in defeat, Duncan patted a grimacing Eddie on the shoulder, Grant appeared not to care, and Jason merely looked down at the floor. I heard Mandy muttering curses under her breath next to me. The Slytherin celebration ticked me off, what with their extremely loud cheering. Can you say migraine?
"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," Dumbledore said. "However, recent events must be taken into account."
I laughed to myself when the Slytherins looked dumbfounded.
"Ahem," our headmaster cleared his throat. "I have a few last minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes…
"First – to Mr. Ronald Weasley…"
The redhead looked shocked.
"…for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Gryffindor now erupted. I giggled. So now they were in third.
"Second – to Miss Hermione Granger… for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Granger burst into tears. Gryffindor was still in third, but I knew they wouldn't be for long…
"Third – to Mr. Harry Potter… for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."
I-told-you-so.
"There are all kinds of courage," he added with a warm smile. "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."
The entire hall, save the Slytherins, erupted in cheers. Mandy pointed out how Duncan somehow got Eddie to dance on the table with him. I grinned as Lisa hugged me. Though we were now in third, Slytherin didn't win! And that's a very, very good reason to celebrate.
"Which means," Dumbledore called, "we need a little change of decoration."
Green turned to scarlet and sliver turned to gold; a proud lion replaced the devious serpent. Cue more cheering as Professor Snape shook Professor McGonagall's hand with a horribly forced smile. He glared coolly at Harry and gave me a look of indifference when I caught his eye. I think Harry might have been right in deciding that he liked me more. I almost wished for more time at Hogwarts to find out why.
"Hey, America!" Mandy shouted over the persisting celebration. "Come stay with me this summer and save my remaining sanity. Please?" she begged with her crooked grin.
I sighed. I supposed that I could, as plane tickets are refundable. I made mental note that it might be a good idea to go home over Christmas in the coming year.
"What sanity will I be saving, Mandy?" I asked, tilting my head.
"The very tiny shard that's left, obviously. I wouldn't be capable of proper speech without it, you know," she nodded. "And I take it that you're answer's a yes."
"Well, duh," I rolled my eyes. Mandy's eyes immediately lit up and she leaned over the table to tell Danny the news… by hitting him and yelling. What kind of summer did I just sign myself up for?
xXx
All of us passed our finals with flying colors, as expected. Come on, I know it's cliché, but we're Ravenclaws. It's only reasonable. I always hated the end of school, however. Classrooms emptied of posters and the like, everyone promised to keep in touch over the summer, and we said our final goodbyes to our teachers.
This time, though, we weren't saying goodbye to teachers. We said goodbye to the seventh years and our current dorm rooms. Everyone filled their trunks and prepared their pets for the ride home. We were given notes that told us not to do magic over the summer, and I wondered how many people actually listened to that.
I ended up with Mandy, Lisa, Danny, and Duncan on the train ride back. The boys invaded our serene privacy, but we got over it after a while. We changed from wizards' clothing to Muggle clothing, and chatted over Chocolate Frogs.
And, finally, we were back in London. We could only leave the platform by twos and threes as to not terrify the non-magical lovelies. I almost wanted to come running out of a solid wall in a massive herd of people, just to see what would happen. Oh, the life.
A handful of people shouted their goodbyes to me. I grinned in response.
"They love you," Mandy sighed, flipping her hair.
I raised an eyebrow. "Of course. My foreign accent has quite the effect on everyone here."
"Well, yes, but seriously," Lisa began, "you're quite the popular."
"You think?" I questioned.
"Yes," they both said.
I grinned. "Okay then!"
Mandy and I said our last goodbyes to Lisa for… Well, we'd probably call her, so for about an hour. The Brocklehurst siblings then dragged Duncan and I all the way out of King's Cross.
"Our parents thought it would be a better idea for them to wait outside," Mandy said matter-of-factly.
"Because the station's busy and Dad's kind of claustrophobic," Danny added with a grin.
Duncan and I looked at each other and shrugged.
And so we met Mr. and Mrs. Brocklehurst outside the station.
"Mandy, Danny," Mrs. Brocklehurst grinned warmly. "And friends!"
"Hi," Duncan reached out his hand. "I'm Duncan Inglebee." Mrs. Brocklehurst didn't shake his hand, instead, she hugged him.
Turning to me, she hugged me too. "Are you Holly?" she asked, brown eyes sparkling. "Mandy writes about you and Lisa all the time."
Danny rolled his eyes. "Duncan, Holly, these are Mandy's and my parents."
"Elise and Eric," Mrs. Brocklehurst corrected.
"It's nice to meet you two," Mr. Brocklehurst nodded. "We must be going, though. Excited for summer?"
"Yes!" Mandy shouted. I giggled. I liked what I got myself into.