It was with great cheer that the Slytherins packed up to go home for the summer. With Aria's unprecedented gift from the Head of Gryffindor, and many well-behaved Slytherin students, and with the Weasley twins getting in trouble for several end of the school year pranks, the House of Slytherin managed to keep the House Cup for a seventh year in a row.
Much to the grumbling of the other three houses.
"If the Gryffindors would just keep your brothers in check, they would have won," Theo told Ron as they ate their breakfast the morning they were to leave for their homes. Ron and Hermione had decided to sit with the Slytherins. "If they're to be mad at anyone, it should be your brothers."
"Slytherins seems to be the scapegoats to a lot of people," Hermione observed, buttering some toast.
Aria slathered a piece of toast with butter and jam before setting it on Harry's plate. He jerked out of his thoughts, staring in shock at the toast like he didn't recognize what it was.
"Eat up," Aria said. "You feeling all right? You haven't been eating well these past few days." It was starting to worry her. It was like they were back at the beginning of the school year and she had to encourage him to eat.
"Probably a bug," Harry answered.
"Want to run to Madam Pomfrey?"
"No." Harry supported his chin on one hand while he picked up the toast and nibbled on it. Aria watched him closely. He loved strawberry jam and she had spread it liberally. But he hardly noticed!
"What are the plans for the summer?" Daphne asked. "I'm going to ask if I can have some of you over."
"I'm free all summer," Pansy stated.
"I wasn't talking about you," Daphne replied, glancing at Aria, Hermione, and Tracey.
"You'd rather have them over and not me?" Pansy cried. "But we've known each other since we were babies!"
"Unfortunately," Daphne deadpanned. Pansy scowled and turned back to her porridge. Aria and Daphne shared an eye roll while Hermione and Tracey tried not to giggle.
Ron and Theo continued having a conversation about chess, ignoring the rest of the group.
"I think I'll try to find odd jobs around the neighborhood," Aria told Daphne.
"Maybe earn some pocket cash. It'd be cool to come over to your house. I don't think you'd like mine very much. It'd a bit old and needs some renovation."
"That's because you're poorer than Weasley," Draco said.
"Shut up, Malfoy," Blaise snapped, startling Draco. His face turned pink. Crabbe and Goyle glowered at the dark-skinned boy who merely scowled at them, forcing the two lumps to turn away and continue stuffing their faces.
"What about you, Harry?" Daphne asked.
"Same as Aria," Harry muttered, cracking a smile. "Odd jobs around the neighborhood." He set his half-eaten toast down.
"Don't forget to write," Aria said.
"I'll try," Harry answered. "But my family isn't a huge fan of owls."
"Well then give your address and I'll send it Muggle post," Aria suggested. "Here." She pulled out a notebook from her shoulder bag and a quill. "Write."
Harry scribbled his address.
"Should I give you mine?" Aria asked.
"No. I'll get it off the envelope."
"If, you're sure?" Aria and Harry met gazes.
"Actually . . ." Harry lowered his voice, "you said Professor Snape lives near you?"
"Yeah."
"I'll take your address then."
"Okay." What was going on with Harry? Regardless, Aria tore off a bit of paper from her notebook and wrote out her address, handing it to Harry who pocketed it. She noticed he was wearing baggy pants that were held up by a belt pulled it it's tightest setting. In fact, his clothing today was very baggy, much like what he had been wearing when she and he had first met at Diagon Alley. Had he lost weight or was he just wearing large clothes?
"Students!" Headmaster Dumbledore called from the Head Table. "I wish you all a wonderful summer holiday and I cannot wait for you all to return next year. Except you seventh years." There was some laughter from the older students.
"But it's time now for you all to be leaving for Hogsmeade," Dumbledore continued. "The carriages await outside."
Aria hurried to wrap several pieces of bacon and toast in napkins, stuffing the food in her bag, and biting into another piece of toast while she slipped her bag over her head onto her shoulders. It was a long ride home and she wasn't going to go hungry!
She, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Tracey, and Daphne managed to snag a carriage together. They would have squeezed Theo and Blaise on with them, but the carriage seemed to realize that it was full and began moving on its own.
"We'll save you seats on the train!" Daphne shouted as Theo and Blaise went to find another carriage.
The eight of them squished together in a compartment on the train and, after one run in with Draco and Pansy and their two goons, were left in peace for the rest of the ride. Neville, Dean, and Seamus came and visited for a while before going off to find other Gryffindors to say good-byes to. Aria and Hermione traded Muggle addresses (just in case) and Theo and Ron spent most of the ride playing a single game of chess which Blaise had fun trying to destroy with horrible advice to Theo. Tracey and Harry read for most of the trip.
The Hogwarts Express pulled into King's Cross in the early evening. Aria and her friends managed to get their baggage off the train without much incident, and then began the flurry of "Mum!" and "Dad!" from those whose parents could get onto the platform.
Which followed with a flurry of hurried introductions.
"I want Aria and Hermione and Tracey to come over this summer," Daphne said to her parents.
"Really?" Mrs. Greengrass questioned. She did not seem excited by the idea. Mr. Greengrass though smiled warmly and shook Aria and Hermione's hands after greeting Tracey.
"Yes, really," Daphne answered. Her little sister, Astoria, sniffed and turned away from Daphne with a look of boredom.
"We'll see," Mr. Greengrass promised. "We have some plans already for the summer with the Parkinsons."
"I'll be at your funeral," Aria assured Daphne.
"Thanks," Daphne muttered.
Theo left without a word. Aria saw Lord Nott grab Theo's luggage and shrink it before grabbing Theo's shoulder, disappearing with him out of thin air. Aria gasped.
"Apparating," Ron told Aria. "You need a license."
"Why didn't Theo say a last good-bye?" Aria asked.
"I reckon it's because his dad's a well-known Blood Purist, like Draco's grandfather and father," Ron answered. "I'm actually surprised he managed to remain friends with us throughout the year. He probably didn't want to risk starting something in public."
"I hope he'll be okay," Aria said. "Lord Nott did not seem like a very agreeable person, from what little I saw of him in the hospital wing,"
The Weasley family greeted them all with wide smiles and hugs.
"I'm so glad you're all doing well," Mrs. Weasley said. "I want you to write to Ronnie during the summer, because goodness knows he'll do nothing else but Quidditch otherwise."
"Mum!" Ron's ears turned red at his nickname.
The Weasleys followed Hermione, Harry, and Aria onto the Muggle platform of King's Cross to meet their families. To Aria's delight her dad was waiting with her, talking with a nice-looking couple. She discovered these were Hermione's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Granger.
Kenneth pulled her into a tight hug.
"You're so grounded," he whispered in her ear before smacking a large, slightly embarrassing kiss onto her cheek.
"I thought so," Aria answered. "I am sorry, Dad."
"I'm sure you are kiddo."
In the middle of introductions, a red-faced walrus of a man burst through the group. His fat jiggled as he walked, and his mustache nearly took up the lower half of his face.
"There you are!" he snapped at Harry, the thick mustache over his lip turning downwards like his mouth. "Stop chit chatting. We've got places to be!" He spun around and marched off towards a woman with stringy blonde hair and a neck like a horse. With her was a fat boy with a mop of slicked down blonde hair, his eyes focused on a Gameboy.
"That'd be my uncle," Harry muttered.
"No way!" Aria cried. "Hope he doesn't have a heart attack while driving."
"Aria!" Kenneth snapped. "That's rude."
Harry waved good-bye and lugged his trunk and Hedwig after his family. The four disappeared into the crowd of commuters. Kenneth slung an arm around Aria and grabbed her trunk. She waved good-bye to Hermione and the Weasleys.
"Come on," Kenneth said. "I only paid for thirty minutes parking. You can tell me all about school on the way home."
Thank you! This is a revised version of "The Muggleborn Slytherin" updated/uploaded February 2023.