Chapter 10: The House Cup
Words: 2,221
Total Words: 35,689

Hermione made her way back through the troll's room (thank god it was still unconscious) and to where Ron still lay, now semi-conscious and beginning to stir. She knelt down next to him and gently tapped his face. His eyes opened, though they took a minute to focus on her.

"Where's... Harry?" Ron's voice was weak.

"He went on to stop Snape. We have to get an owl to Dumbledore," Hermione said urgently, helping Ron stand and putting his arm over her shoulder. They made their way back to the key room and grabbed brooms to ride past the Devil's Snare and up Fluffy's trapdoor. Once they had made it past Fluffy (they had flown and landed by the door, which Hermione had immediately wrenched open for a quick escape), they raced towards the owlery, but ran into Dumbledore instead.

"Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?" Dumbledore said. Hermione only had time to nod breathlessly before he was rushing up to the third-floor corridor and out of sight.

Right now, Dumbledore was their only hope.

...

The next day, after Ron and Hermione had discovered that Dumbledore was back, they ran to the hospital wing to see if Harry was doing okay. Madam Pomfrey refused to let them see him, telling them he was getting some much-needed rest and the headmaster was going to visit later.

At dinner that night, Hermione couldn't help but notice that Dumbledore was looking a little paler than usual; he must have been worried about Harry and what had happened beneath the third-floor corridor. Hermione and Ron spent the rest of the evening speculating what had happened with Snape and Harry down wherever they had ended up - both of them were very glad that Harry had made it out alive and that Dumbledore was back.

...

"Oh, very well. But five minutes only," Hermione heard Madam Pomfrey say. She and Ron were back by the hospital wing and had gotten there just in time - Harry was not only awake, but asking for them.

"Harry!" Hermione cried as they were let in. She thought about giving him a hug again, but held herself back, as Harry looked very sore and tired still. "Oh, Harry, we were sure you were going to - Dumbledore was so worried - "

"The whole school's talking about it. What really happened?" Ron asked. They sat down next to Harry's bed and listened as he filled them in.

It hadn't been Snape after all, but Quirrell, the very teacher they had wanted to protect. Harry told them about how the Mirror of Erised had been there, and how he saw himself holding the Stone and then it was in his pocket (Hermione couldn't believe Dumbledore had made something so clever) and how Quirrell's turban was just a cover for Voldemort. When he said that, Hermione actually screamed. She had been right, he had been there! The story went on for quite a while, and Hermione was speechless after Harry had finished.

"So the Stone's gone? Flamel's just going to die?" Ron finally said.

"That's what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that - what was it? - 'to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.'"

"I always said he was off his rocker," Ron said, but he looked quite impressed.

"So what happened to you two?" Harry asked them.

"Well, I got back all right. I brought Ron round - that took a while - and we were dashing up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall - he already knew - he just said, 'Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?' and hurtled off to the third floor." Hermione explained, shaking her head. She was still surprised that Dumbledore had somehow known, but at the same time it made sense. He really was one of the greatest wizards of their time.

"D'you think he meant to do it? Sending you your father's cloak and everything?" Ron had just finished asking the question when Hermione spoke up angrily.

"Well, if he did - I mean to say - that's terrible - you could have been killed."

"No, it isn't," Harry said after a moment of silence. He seemed to be choosing his words rather carefully. "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. "Listen, you've got to be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow. The points are all in and Slytherin won, of course - you missed the last Quidditch match, we were steamrolled by Ravenclaw without you - but the food'll be good."

Before Harry could answer, Madam Pomfrey hurried out, bristling slightly.

"You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT," she said, ushering Ron and Hermione out of the hospital wing.

...

Hermione was very glad to see Harry come down to the feast, scooting over so he could sit next to her and Ron. The entire hall went quiet for a moment and then began talking loudly as Harry made his way over to his friends. The hall was decorated with the Slytherin colors of green and silver and Hermione was going to be glad when the feast was over so she wouldn't have to endure the Slytherins all bragging about how they had won the House Cup again.

Dumbledore stood up and the talking died away instantly.

"Another year gone!" He said, smiling. "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! 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..."

Hermione smiled, but knew she would be spending the summer studying and making sure she not only remembered everything, but hopefully she'd be able to get a leg up for her second year.

"Now, as I understand it, the House Cup here 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."

A large amount of cheering broke out at the Slytherin table. Hermione frowned.

"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," Dumbledore said. "However, recent events must be taken into account."

What is he talking about? Hermione thought. He's not going to deduct more points from Gryffindor, is he?

The hall was silent, waiting for Dumbledore to elaborate.

"Ahem. I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes..." he paused. "First - to Mr. Ronald Weasley... for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Ron was rather purple in the face; it clashed horribly with his hair. The Gryffindors cheered and applauded loudly, the sound reverberating around the hall. Even Percy the Prefect was saying excitedly, "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!"

Finally, the Gryffindors quieted down enough for Dumbledore to continue.

"Second - to Miss Hermione Granger... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Hermione immediately went pink and buried her face in her arms to hide the fact that she had burst into tears. She couldn't believe Dumbledore had recognized her! The table once again burst into cheers and applause.

"Third - to Mr. Harry Potter..." the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. "For pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."

It sounded like the Gryffindor table had exploded; everyone was cheering, whooping, and making an incredible noise. Hermione did some quick adding in her head and found that Gryffindor and Slytherin were now tied - they each had four hundred and seventy-two points! But could Houses tie for the cup? Hermione was just thinking about tying when Dumbledore raised his hand and the hall fell silent once more.

"There are all kinds of courage," he said. "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."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all stood up with the rest of the Gryffindors as they yelled, banged the table, and hooted. They had won the House Cup! Hermione couldn't believe it; it was like they had never lost the points to begin with! The celebration went on for a few moments before Dumbledore was able to sort of regain control.

"Which means," the headmaster called over the still-clapping Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws (they had cheered too; they were all glad to see Slytherin lose), "we need a little change of decoration."

He clapped his hands and the silver-and-green hangings that had been around the hall turned to scarlet and gold. The huge Slytherin snake disappeared and the Gryffindor lion took its place; in Hermione's eyes, the whole hall seemed to cheer up immediately with the bright color change. It was the best night Hermione'd had at Hogwarts, hands down.

...

With all the excitement in the last couple of weeks, Hermione had almost forgotten that they still had to get their exam grades back. She couldn't help but be nervous, and was immensely relieved when she had not only passed, but gotten the best grades of all the first-years. She was also glad that both Harry and Ron had managed to pass; all of them were moving on to their second year!

It hurt as Hermione packed her trunk and began to say her good-byes to the teachers, castle, and grounds. She couldn't believe the year had gone so fast and that she wouldn't be back for a couple of months. She almost wished she could stay at Hogwarts, but part of her was going to be quite glad to see her family again. She had missed her parents and was looking forward to telling them all about her exciting first year at Hogwarts. She was not surprised, but a little disappointed, when the teachers handed out notes saying they were not to use magic outside of school (But I wanted to practice for next year) and they were sent on their way to the Hogwarts Express.

The ride back to King's Cross was very pleasant, spent chatting and eating candies and reminiscing about the next year in store for them. Hermione was sad to take her robes off and put her Muggle clothes back on - it really was over.

"You must come and stay this summer," Ron said as they got off the train and onto the platform. "Both of you - I'll send an owl."

"Thanks," Harry replied, "I'll need something to look forward to."

People were saying good-bye all over the place, most going out of their way to say it one last time to Harry. Hermione grinned.

"Still famous," Ron said, echoing Hermione's thoughts and grinning as well.

"Not where I'm going, I promise you."

The three friends passed through the gateway together.

"There he is, Mom, there he is, look!" Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister said... but her finger was pointing at Harry, not Ron.

"Harry Potter! Look, Mom! I can see - "

"Be quiet, Ginny, and it's rude to point."

"Busy year?" Mrs. Weasley asked them, smiling.

"Very," Harry answered her. "Thanks for the fudge and the sweater, Mrs. Weasley."

"Oh, it was nothing, dear."

"Ready, are you?" A gruff voice said curtly. It wasn't Mr. Weasley - it was Harry's Uncle Vernon. Hermione only knew this because Harry had described him to her and Ron. She could see immediately why he hated him. The man was large, with a big moustache and little neck and a rather purple face. Hermione didn't like him much either, even though she had just met him.

"You must be Harry's family!" Mrs. Weasley said cheerfully.

"In a manner of speaking. Hurry up, boy, we haven't got all day." He walked away.

Harry didn't go with Vernon, but stayed with Ron and Hermione a moment longer.

"See you over the summer, then," he said.

"Hope you have - er - a good holiday," Hermione said. She couldn't believe someone could be such an unpleasant person, and was sorry that Harry had to spend his holidays in such miserable company.

"Oh, I will," Harry said. He was grinning. "They don't know we're not allowed to do magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer..."

And, although Hermione didn't approve of it, she just smiled and said her good-byes, eventually finding her own family and heading home for her summer holidays. She couldn't wait to see Ron and Harry next year.