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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorceror, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards)

Harry James Potter

Gryffindor House

Third Year Final End of Term Report

Astronomy - Acceptable

Care of Magical Creatures - Acceptable

Charms - Acceptable

Defence Against The Dark Arts - Exceeds Expectations

Divination - Poor

Herbology - Acceptable

History of Magic - Poor

Potions - Poor

Transfiguration - Acceptable

Despite a difficult year, Potter has performed satisfactorily, on the whole. His talent for Defence Against the Dark Arts continues to develop, along with his aptitude for the more practical subjects, especially Care of Magical Creatures. Potter's Charm's work is acceptable, although he will need to apply himself more to his studies in this area, along with Potions and Transfiguration if he is to achieve the required grades in his OWLs. Hopefully, Potter will have a less disrupted year when he returns after the summer, allowing him to focus on his studies, where he has the potential to succeed.

Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House

Professor Minerva McGonagal.

Harry hastily shoved the report back into his bag as he heard footsteps approaching, looking round to see Professor Lupin. He looked less haggard than Harry had seen him recently, although he still seemed very weary.

'Harry?' he asked. 'What are you doing here…?'

'I…could I talk to you, Professor…?' Harry asked, coming to his feet, awkwardly.

'…alright. Come in…' Lupin said, Harry following him into the classroom as Lupin sat on the corner of his desk.

'Are you…really leaving…?' Harry asked and Lupin nodded, looking downcast.

'…yes. I can't allow what happened last month to happen again. If Professor Snape hadn't been there, I might have…' he said, his voice trailing off. 'Anyway, I need to find a better way to manage my…condition…'

'…okay…' Harry murmured and Lupin stood up, putting his hands on his shoulders.

'You should be proud of what you've done this year, Harry…'

'…thanks,' Harry murmured, feeling his stomach squirm with pleasure and embarrassment as Lupin stepped back.

'Anyway, I need to finish packing…'

'Do you…need any help…?'

'I'll be fine. Go on. Off you go…'

'…yeah, okay. Thanks, Professor…'

Reluctantly, Harry made his way down to the Clock Tower courtyard where Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were waiting. Ron, easily noticeable by his bright ginger hair, was eating from a box of Bertie Botts Every-flavour Beans. As Harry watched, he popped a bright green one into his mouth, grimacing as he bit into it. Next to him, Hermione had her nose buried in Hogwarts: A History, her bushy brown hair all that was visible behind the book.

'Alright, mate,' Ron said, looking up as Harry sat down next to him, holding out the box of Beans. Harry hesitated before taking a red one, pleasantly surprised to find that it was strawberry.

'Thanks…' Harry said, sitting back, savouring the warmth of the sun on his back. Now that the Dementors were gone from the school, the chill that had pervaded the grounds had gone, too. With an effort, he pushed those thoughts aside, standing up.

'Come on. We said we'd visit Hagrid before the Feast…'

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'The last of the Dementors have left, Headmaster,' Professor McGonagal said as she entered Professor Dumbledore's study, the walls of which were dominated by the laden bookshelves that made up his personal library. On the perch next to his desk sat Fawkes, the Phoenix's red and gold feathers seeming to shimmer in the candle light.

'Thank you, Minerva.'

'Are we just going to ignore this, Albus…?'

'What would you suggest, Minerva? I agree that the Ministry's current…reactionary stance is cause for concern. For now, we will need to remain vigilant…'

'…very well, Professor…

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Harry, Ron and Hermione approached Hagrid's hut near the Forbidden Forest where the Hippogriff Buckbeak was sitting outside next to the pumpkin patch. He raised his head as he saw them and they bowed to him as Hagrid had taught them, Buckbeak staring at them for a second before lowering his head in return. Harry advanced slowly, reaching out to pat him on the neck, Buckbeak rumbling in appreciation as the door to Hagrid's hut opened.

'There you are,' Hagrid said as he appeared in the doorway. 'You're just in time. Come in. I've put the kettle on…'

Bowing again to Buckbeak, they followed Hagrid into his hut, taking seats around the table as Hagrid poured four cups of tea. He was twice as tall as most people and five times as wide with bushy black hair and a beard that hid most of his face.

'I'm glad you came,' he said, cradling his large mug in both hands. 'I wanted to thank you again for what you did for Buckbeak. Without you three, the Ministry would have executed him…' He trailed off, his voice breaking as he took out his handkerchief, blowing his nose loudly before stuffing in back in his pocket, Hermione patting him on the hand.

'Anyway, it's getting late. You'd better get back to the castle before curfew. You don't want to lose House Points on the last day of term, do yer…?'

Finishing their tea and saying goodbye to Hagrid, they made their way back up to the castle as the sun was setting behind the trees. Harry stopped, staring out towards the Forbidden Forest.

'Harry…?' Hermione called. 'Harry…'

'Harry…? Harry…'

Hearing the voice, Harry turned to see a tall man with curly black hair sitting on a fallen tree, dressed in a brown coat and dark grey trousers.

'Sirius!' Harry exclaimed, running over and hugging him fiercely. 'What are you doing here…?'

'…I've come to meet Professor Lupin,' he said. 'But, I couldn't leave without seeing my godson…'

'Leave…? Where are you going…?'

'I'm sorry, I can't say. But, I'll be back before long and then hopefully I can come to visit…'

Harry smiled, his grin fading as he felt the temperature drop, his breath misting. He and Sirius came to their feet as the Dementors swooped towards them from the trees. Sirius pushed Harry backwards, one of the Dementors bearing him to the ground, hissing as it leant down towards him. Harry struggled for his wand as the other Dementor dove towards him. Desperately, he focused on Ron and Hermione, of the times they had shared together since their first year and his wand burst to life.

'Expecto Patronum,' he gasped, silvery light bursting from the tip of his wand, the Dementor swooping away as the shining cloud resolved into the shape of a stag.

'Sirius!' Harry yelled, the stag breaking into a gallop, catching the Dementor in it's horns, driving it away from him. With a deathly shriek, it turned and swooped away into the trees.

'Sirius,' Harry repeated, dropping to his knees and shaking him desperately. 'Sirius! Sirius…'

'Harry,' Sirius croaked, struggling to rise and Harry helped him sit up. 'Are you…alright…?'

'Yeah…yeah…I'm fine. They've gone, I think…'

'Come on,' Sirius said, stiffly getting back to his feet. 'We need to get back to the castle…'

'Harry…? Are you…okay…?'

'…yeah. Yeah, I'm fine,' Harry said, shaking away the memory. 'Come on, we're going to be late…'

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Returning to the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry Ron and Hermione claimed one of the empty sofas by the fire. Towards the back of the room, Fred, George and Ginny were playing Exploding Snap, Lee, Dean and Seamus watching the game keenly.

'Want to play Chess?' Ron asked as Hermione took Advanced Transfiguration from her bag, starting to take notes, Harry's stomach sinking as he remembered how much homework they had to do. Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron started to lay out the chess pieces.

'You could make a start on your homework, Ronald…'

'Come on, Hermione,' Ron said. 'We've got all summer to do that. Right, Harry…?'

'Yeah,' Harry said, starting to lay out the black pieces with a grin. 'This'll be the last chance that we get to play for a while….'

'Suit yourselves,' Hermione sniffed, turning back to her book and Ron shrugged, Harry's grin widening. Ron was right. He could start his homework tomorrow. They did have all summer…

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After 3 games, two of which Ron won, he and Harry reluctantly climbed the stairs to the dormitory to finish packing. Pushing open the door, they found Seamus struggling to close his trunk, while Neville was rummaging through his bedside cupboard.

'Got it,' Seamus grunted, forcing his trunk closed with an effort as Neville stood up.

'Have you seen my copy of Advanced Potion Making? he asked, Harry and Ron shaking their heads.

'I can't remember where I left it,' Neville moaned, crawling under his bed, scrabbling around desperately.

'Found it,' he muttered, struggling back out with the book clasped in both hands. After finishing packing and helping Neville to close his trunk, they made their way down to the Great Hall. Coming down the stairs, they found Fred and George kneeling behind a gargoyle in the shape of a pig with wings.

'What are you doing?' Ron asked and Fred looked round with a grin.

'Just a little something for Filch to make sure he doesn't forget us over the summer…'

'Right,' George added, tapping his wand on the statue and muttering under his breath. 'There. Now, when anyone walks past, it'll bark…'

'Now, remember,' Fred continued, standing up. 'If anyone asks, you didn't see anything. C'mon, we'll be late for the feast…'

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Harry and Ron joined the last stragglers making their way into the Great Hall, finding two empty spaces near the end of the long tables. Further down the hall, Hermione was sitting opposite Ginny, pursing her lips as she saw them arrive. Fortunately, she was too far away to give them a lecture, being forced to settle for a withering glare. At the teacher's table, Dumbledore came to his feet, the hall immediately falling silent.

'Well, here we are at the end of another year at Hogwarts…'

Half-listening, Harry glanced along the teacher's table, feeling his heart sink as he saw the empty chair where Lupin used to sit. In the next seat was Professor Snape, his black hair and dark robes making his skin look even paler than it was. Seeing him staring, he gave him a malicious, mocking smile and Harry looked away, feeling a knot of anger in his stomach. Harry barely paid attention during the rest of the feast, only eating about half of his chicken pie, although he did manage a second helping of treacle tart. As the House Cup was awarded to Ravenclaw, he clapped half-heartedly with the other Gryffindors, secretly glad when Dumbledore announced that it was time for bed. Trooping back to the dormitory with the others, where they hurriedly changed into their pyjamas, Harry crawled into bed, Hedwig hooting at him sleepily from her cage on the table next to his bed. Passing her a couple of owl treats, Harry blew out the candle, turning over to stare out of the window at the moonlit sky. He'd miss Hogwarts, although he was looking forward to going home. The next thing he knows, he was woken by an urgent hooting from Hedwig and he rolled over, the sun streaming through the window. With a groan, he struggled out of bed as Seamus sat up, rubbing blearily at his eyes.

'It can't be morning, already,' he muttered, glaring at Ron, who was still snoring.

'Oi, wake up,' he shouted, chucking his pillow at him.

'Git,' Ron mumbled, shooting him a dark look. Dressing hurriedly and leaving their trunks to be taken to the train, they made their way to the Great Hall for a hurried breakfast before joining the crush of students heading for the Hogsmeade platform. Saying goodbye to Seamus and Dean, Harry, Ron and Neville board the train, struggling through the carriage until they found Hermione and Ginny.

'You're cutting it fine,' Hermione said as they squeezed into the compartment, taking the seats opposite them.

'We made it, didn't we…?' Ron retorted, as the whistle blew and the train started to move. Harry stared wistfully out of the window at Hogwarts Castle until it disappeared from view behind the trees.

Thank you for reading. I hoped you enjoyed it. Any reviews, comments or constructive criticisms are very welcome.