Chapter 20: End of the Term
Cassia didn't know how they got out of the trap door and past Fluffy.
Dumbledore was in the Entrance Hall when she, Hermione, and Ron, who they managed to bring round.
Cassia started saying, "Dumbledore, Harry's—"
"Gone after him, didn't he?" Dumbledore interrupted.
Cassia started, "Yes, but—"
"Take Mr Weasley to the infirmary," Dumbledore told them being going up the stairs with a speed that left Cassia speechless.
Dumbledore had levitated Harry's body all the way into the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey finished tending to Ron, who didn't have a serious head injury, thankfully, went to tend to Harry.
Cassia went to Dumbledore, "Is he—"
"He will be okay," Dumbledore interrupted her. "I suspect that he will be asleep for a few days at the most."
"Do you plan on giving the Philosopher's Stone back to Nicolas Flamel and Perenell?" Cassia said, "It is theirs after all."
"I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself there. Nicolas, Perenell, and I need to discuss what will happen to it," Dumbledore told her.
Cassia looked at Harry, "What about You-Know-Who? I-I have a feeling that he's going to find a way to come back." A white bandage was currently wrapping itself around Harry's head. "Is he still out there?"
"He is. Perhaps he's looking for another body to share…not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. He shows just as little mercy to his followers as his enemies. Nevertheless, Cassia, you and Harry may have only delayed his return to power. It will merely take someone else who is prepared to fight what seems like a losing battle next time – and if he is delayed again, and again, why, he may never return to power," Dumbledore explained to her.
Cassia nodded and looked at the bracelet that she had received on Christmas. That wasn't reassuring. "What happens if You-Know-Who finds us?"
"You can say the name, Cassia. After all, fear of the name increases the fear of thing itself," Dumbledore told her.
"You – Voldemort—" Cassia cringed on the name, "is still out. What if he finds us?"
"When I left you on your aunt and uncle's doorstep, I placed a protection charm on the house, so he will be unable to find you and harm you," Dumbledore explained.
Cassia asked, "Do you know who sent me this charm bracelet on Christmas? The note said that it was my mother's."
"Ah – I found it the rubble of your house. She had charmed it so it didn't break or rust. I have a feeling that she would've passed it on to you once you came to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said, smiling.
Cassia was indisbelief, "And you kept it all this time?"
"Yes, I figured you would want something of your mother's," Dumbledore told her.
"What about the Invisibility Cloak?" Cassia asked, "Harry told me that he received it anonymously."
"Your father left it in my possession." Dumbledored asked, "Anything else?"
Cassia asked, "Was Adrian's and Terence's parents Death Eaters?"
Dumbledore said, "Pucey and Higgs? No. They weren't."
Cassia felt better knowing that.
Dumbledore asked, "Any more questions?"
Cassia thought about it, "How did you get back so quickly?"
"I got to London when I realized that I should be back at Hogwarts. I got Sally-Anne's owl," Dumbledore told her. "Any more questions?"
Cassia shook her head, "No. Not at the moment."
"Are you sure?" Dumbledore prompted.
Cassia nodded, "Yeah."
"All right, get some rest Cassia. I suspect you have a long day ahead of you," Dumbledore said and left.
Cassia looked at Harry and then with great reluctance, she went to the Hufflepuff common room entrance.
Voldemort was still out there and Cassia won't let that bastard come near Harry again. She needed to arm herself with a whole lot of spells to protect Harry.
Cassia sat in the hospital wing by Harry's bedside. Voldemort was out there and he probably wouldn't rest until he found another way to return.
Neville, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnigan walked in, with sweets.
"Hello, Cassia," the three Gryffindors chorused together.
She nodded at them. "Neville…" She trailed off, looking at the other two boys. "—Dean and Seamus?"
"I told you that she remembered our names," Dean whispered to Seamus.
The three Gryffindors placed their sweets on the bedside.
"All three of us are very sorry about what happened to Harry," Seamus stated, looking at Cassia and then at Harry.
"Thank you. He's going to be fine." Cassia said, looking at Harry before looking at the three boys.
Neville asked, "Do you know when he will wake up?"
"Madam Pomfrey told me that he will wake up in a few days," Cassia explained, and looked at Harry again. She looked at the entrance to the hospital wing.
"That's good to know," Dean said, sounding ecstatic. "You must be happy at the thought."
Cassia nodded, "I am."
Seamus asked, "Are you going to come to breakfast?"
"Maybe later," Cassia stated.
Neville frowned, "How about lunch?"
"Maybe," the Potter girl replied.
"We'll see you 'round then." Dean said sounding slightly confused.
Cassia nodded, "See you 'round." The three Gryffindors left the hospital wing, slightly confused.
She wasn't sure how much time passed, but Fred and George Weasley showed up. Fred was holding a pile of sweets that seemed like he robbed half of Honeydukes and George was holding a toilet seat. Cassia couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Hey, Cassy, we see that you're still sitting vigilant at Harry's bedside," Fred stated.
George asked, "Keeping a lookout for old You-Know-Who?"
"He's still out there." Cassia stated and looked at the toilet seat. "What's with the toilet seat?"
George grinned, "Oh, we're sure Harry would find it amusing."
Cassia wasn't sure, but maybe he would.
"Excuse me, what do you think you're doing carrying that toilet seat around? It's unhygienic," Madam Pomfrey demanded, walking over to the Weasley twins.
"Come on, it's a joke, Pomfrey," Fred told her.
Cassia watched Madam Pomfrey and George wrestle for the toilet seat, finding the sight slightly amusing.
"Any news on when Harry will wake up?" Fred asked, unloading the pile of sweets on the bedside table. Cassia repeated what she told Neville, Dean, and Seamus. "We're very sorry about what happened to Harry."
Cassia nodded, "Thanks." She watched as Madam Pomfrey managed to take the toilet seat from George and carried it off, looking really disgusted.
"Hey, George," Fred called over.
George walked over. "What is it, Fred?"
"Do you think Cassy should abandon her post and come to lunch?" Fred asked.
George looked at Cassia. "Well, yes, yes I do." He grabbed Cassia's arm with his. "Come on, Cassy. Let's get you fed so you can come back and sit vigilant by Harry's bedside as long as you please."
Fred took Cassia's other arm. "Come on, Cassy. George and I, being the dutiful older brothers that you wish you had, will take you to get some food."
Cassia stated, "But—"
"No buts," George said. "You're getting some food."
Together, they led her out of the hospital wing and to the Great Hall. When they entered the Great Hall, the Weasley twins led her over to the Hufflepuff table where Sally-Anne and Lily were sitting.
"We believe that this young Hufflepuff belong to you two." Fred said, making Cassia sit down in between Sally-Anne and Lily.
"Yes, make sure she eats because I'm positive she hasn't had anything to eat besides sweets," George said. "She needs her strength to continue sitting vigilantly at Harry's bedside."
"We'll make sure," Lily said with a small smile.
With that, the Weasley twins marched away.
Sally-Anne took some food and put it on a plate, before handing it to Cassia. "Do you want to go to the lake?"
Cassia wanted to go, but she also wanted to be there when Harry woke up, "Maybe later."
After lunch, she went back to the hospital wing, to sit beside Harry.
Adrian and Terence showed up some time later with some sweets of their way.
Cassia asked, "Are those for Harry?"
"Some are, but some are for you," Adrian told her. He handed her some Chocoballs and put a few packages of Jellyslugs with the other sweets that were on Harry's bedside table. Terence gave her some Pink Coconut Ice and put some Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans on the bedside table.
Adrian asked, "Is it true? What they're all saying?"
Cassia wasn't sure what the others are saying. "I'm not sure what happened between Voldemort and Harry, I wasn't there, but I'm sure that most of it is true."
Terence asked, "Quirrell had Voldemort's face on the back of his head and that's why he was wearing that ugly turban?"
Cassia nodded, though she wasn't entirely sure if that was true, "Yeah."
Adrian asked, "So, Fred and George were actually hitting Voldemort when they jinxed those snowballs to bounce off of the back of Quirrell's head?"
Cassia actually got a laugh at that. "Yeah, they did."
When Madam Pomfrey tried to prompt her to go to bed, Cassia declined, saying that Harry was her brother, she should be there, but it was a lost battle, so she had to go back up to the Hufflepuff common room to go to sleep.
On Monday morning, Cassia ran into the hospital wing to see Harry, but was surprised to see that Hagrid was leaving, looking like he had been crying. She frowned and walked in the hospital wing to see Harry sitting up, looking slightly speechless.
She was relieved and she ran over to him. "Harry!" She hugged him tightly, causing him to groan. "I'm so glad that you're up." She sat down on the bed, to look at Harry.
Harry patted her on the back. "Hermione and Ron told me that Lily and Sally-Anne were making you eat actual food and that's why you weren't here when I woke up."
"Yeah, I've been sitting here all day waiting for you to wake up," Cassia said. She noticed that Harry had a book next to him. "What's that about?"
"Hagrid gave me this photo album. It has pictures of our parents," Harry explained. He opened the photo album to show a picture of their parents, each holding a baby. It looked like their mother was holding Cassia, judging from the pink onesie. Their mother was even wearing the charm bracelet that Cassia currently wore. It looked like their dad was holding Harry.
There was another picture where their dad was holding Cassia up. Their dad was making her wave to the camera, as they were standing in front of some sort of fountain. There was a picture of their mother holding Harry too.
Seeing the pictures was heart-breaking and Cassia longed to be with their parents. She tried to imagine their mother giving her the charm bracelet before boarding the Hogwarts Express. She sniffled and wiped at the tears that were rolling down her cheeks.
"It's okay, Cassy," Harry said.
"We just never knew what they were like," Cassia said. "I wonder what it would've been like if they were alive."
"I would've had my own room," Harry murmured, lost in thought. Cassia was sure that he was thinking of what it would be like to have his own room.
Cassia rolled her eyes. "I wonder what they would've been like. Would they be strict like the Dursleys or more laid-back?"
Harry looked at the photo album. "I think Dad would be more laid-back, because he used The Invisibility Cloak to sneak 'round the school. Mom seems like the type to be strict, but not overly strict like Aunt Petunia."
Cassia looked at the photos and nodded. "I think she would've been, but she seems like she has a sense of humour, so she would've let some things go."
"I think she did," Harry said.
Madam Pomfrey walked over, "All right, Miss Potter. I allowed you to have five minutes with Mr Potter, but he really needs his rest."
Cassia started, "But—"
"No buts," Madam Pomfrey replied.
Cassia nearly groaned, but she left the hospital wing anyway.
Cassia trudged downstairs to the Great Hall with Sally-Anne and Lily. She really wasn't ready to see Slytherin gloat over their House Cup victory, but she wanted to be there.
When they opened the Great Hall doors, the first thing they saw was the huge banner of the Slytherin serpent behind the High Table, and there were green and silver silks lining the walls.
The three sat down in their usual spots at the Hufflepuff table. Strangely, it seemed kind of grim inside, despite it being the end of the term feast.
Cassia looked around, but Professor Dumbledore hasn't appeared yet.
She got a strange knot in her stomach. She suddenly wished that she didn't have to go back to Number 4 Privet Drive. She looked at the empty plates.
"Are you okay?" Lily asked, sounding worried.
Cassia nodded, not trusting herself to look up; afraid she might burst into tears.
The Great Hall doors opened and Cassia didn't look up.
"I see Harry's up and well. Oh, he's waving," Sally-Anne stated.
Cassia forced herself together and she looked up. She waved at Harry who went to sit with Hermione and Ron.
She didn't want to think about leaving Hogwarts yet. She still had a few days after all and the exam results hadn't been released yet. From what she heard, they were being released on Wednesday; Friday was the train ride back; and she still had to pack up her belongings.
Dumbledore walked in and everything went silent. He went up to the High Table. He said, cheerfully, "Another year gone! 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 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 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."
Slytherin table erupted into cheers and stomps.
"Yes, yes, will done, Slytherin." Dumbledore interrupted and everything went silent again. "However, recent events must be taken into account."
"Is it just me, or did everything just go silent?" Lily whispered to Cassia.
"It did," Cassia whispered back.
"I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes…First to Mr Ronald Weasley…For the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor House fifty-points," Dumbledore said.
Cassia felt her face heat up at the thought of that night. "Oh, it's for that night." She clapped for Ron anyway.
"Second, to Miss Hermione Granger…for the use of shining a light in the darkness, I award Gryffindor House fifty points," Dumbledore stated.
It seemed like Gryffindor House was getting antsy. Cassia didn't blame them; she was getting antsy as well.
"Third…to Mr Harry Potter," Dumbledore stated, and the room went deadly still. "For pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House sixty points."
There was a commotion because Gryffindor and Slytherin were now tied with four hundred and seventy-two points.
Dumbledore raised his hand and the room went quiet. He continued, "Fourth…to Miss Cassia Potter…for the use of logic under pressure, I award Hufflepuff House sixty points."
The Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers and feet stomping.
Dumbledore raised his hand and everything went silent again. "There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award twenty points to Mr Neville Longbottom."
There was thunderous applause from Gryffindor table and for a second, Cassia thought an explosion erupted over the table.
With that, the decorations turned scarlet and gold, for Gryffindor House.
Cassia noticed that Malfoy and Parkinson both looked stunned. In a way, she felt bad for Slytherin for having their victory stolen away from them. She wasn't sure how to feel about her sixty points. It seemed a little much just for solving a logic puzzle. Did that really warrant that many points?
She looked at the food and grabbed some. She might as well enjoy the food while it lasts, before heading back to Number 4.
On Tuesday, Cassia looked over the Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) and The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection to find any spells that might somewhat protect Harry from Voldemort.
In between readings, Cassia went down to the lake with Sally-Anne and Lily.
On Wednesday morning, at breakfast, Professor Flitwick handed out the exam results. Cassia took her piece of parchment, which had her full name on it: Cassia Lily Potter.
"On three, we open them up together," Cassia said and took a deep breath, "Three."
The parchment was opened and Cassia looked at her results and her rank.
Class Rank: 6th
"I think that means I managed to pass all my classes," Cassia said looking at her rank.
"I think I know who got number one," Sally-Anne said, glancing over at Hermione.
She had a feeling that their little academic rivalry might start over in year two.
"Sixth isn't that bad," Lily said.
"I wonder who came in fifth, fourth, and second, so I can crush them next term," Cassia stated looking around.
When Friday morning came, it was hectic. It involved a lot of packing and goodbyes, because they were going to the Hogwarts Express to go back home.
Cassia did pack her stuff up on Thursday. In the common room, Professor Sprout passed out notes warning them not to use magic over the summer. Cassia looked it over and thought that maybe the Dursleys didn't have to know about them not being allowed to use magic, which would make the summer holidays more bearable. Although, she had to consider that Aunt Petunia had a witch for a sister, so maybe Aunt Petunia knew that they couldn't use magic outside of Hogwarts?
Cassia swapped addresses with her friends, and that included Adrian and Terence. Harry, thankfully, didn't make a sound of annoyance or rolled his eyes, so she guessed that Harry was able to come to some terms with her friendship with the two Slytherins.
After the two Slytherins helped Cassia with her trunk and cat, the two boys helped Sally-Anne and Lily with their trunks and owls.
Cassia pushed her trolley up to Harry's. She just had a unpleasant thought. "Do you think the Dursleys showed up?.
Harry shrugged, "Beats me."
They got to the gate and Cassia looked at the barrier, uneasily. She asked, "Together?"
"Always," Harry replied.
Together, they ran through the barrier into, what Cassia figured, was going to be the worst summer ever.