Chapter Twenty
Harry found consciousness but all was dark.
'I'm dead' he thought to himself, 'when I open my eyes I'm going to be in the afterlife.'
Harry slowly opened his eyes, the light hurt his still aching head and it took a few minutes for him to be able to open his eyes fully. When he did he saw a women leaning over him, her hair glowing in the light.
"Oh thank the gods!"
Harry looked over to his side and saw not an angel but his mother sitting in what looked like a rather uncomfortable chair.
"Mum?" he asked, his voice was hoarse and came out in barely more than a whisper.
"Yes Harry, oh sweetie, yes it's me. You're OK." she told him running her soft hands over his forehead, tucking a bit of hair off his face and behind his ear.
She'd been crying; Harry could tell and looked like she'd not moved in days.
"Where..." Harry didn't have the energy to say any more. He felt completely drained and could feel himself falling back towards sleep.
"You're safe, we're in the hospital wing at Hogwarts." Lily explained. She took out her wand and flicked it. A thin silver trail pooled out and formed into a doe, "Find Severus and tell him Harry is awake. Tell Poppy on your way." she instructed it and the doe trotted off out the cubicle of curtains.
It was less and a minute later that Madam Pomfry came bustling round the curtain to check on Harry. She moved her wand in complicated patterns over Harry, tutting as she did so.
"You are very lucky Mr Potter." She told his sternly but with a smile, "I shall inform the head master. He asked me to do so as soon as Harry was a wake." she said quietly to Lily.
Lily's face twisted into an angry frown but she nodded her consent and turned her attention back to Harry.
A few minutes later Snape burst through and wrapped himself around Harry. It hurt but Harry didn't care.
"I am so sorry." he said, Harry could see he'd also been crying, "I told you to leave it alone."
"Wait the stone!" Harry cried sitting up suddenly sending shoots of pain throughout his body.
"It's all right Harry." Lily said soothingly, edging onto the bed so she could give him a gentle cuddle, "He doesn't have the stone. Help came in time."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief and let his mother pull him down into her arms.
"You were very brave, if very stupid. I thought that because you didn't end up in Gryffindor I wouldn't have to worry about you doing something so stupid, reckless and courageous." she smiled, "I'm so very proud."
"And James would be to." Snape said kindly.
Harry felt his heart swell at the compliment, not only to himself but to his father.
"What is all this?" Madam Pomfry asked exasperated, "I told you to be gentle with him!" she ordered Severus and Lily off the bed, pushing them towards the chairs and Harry watched as Dumbledore slowly swept into the small cubical.
"It's so good to see a family together," He said politely.
Lily stood up and stared angrily at him, "Danica isn't here." she said before sweeping past him to wait outside the curtain.
"Very true. And she is a sweetie." he said, Harry felt a horrible chill run down his spine and remembered looking into the mirror of Erised and seeing Danica grown, happy and safe. Was that future, his little sister, under threat?
"Severus would you mind if I had a quick word alone with young Harry? I'm sure he has many questions." Dumbledore asked, though it was more of an order.
Snape stood and straighten his robes, "Of course not. I'll be just outside with Lily. I'd be quick though, Lupin and Sirius are on their way. The Malfoy's will be bringing Danica soon and I'm sure Harry's friends will be coming straight here when class ends in five minutes."
Dumbledore gave a polite if slightly irritated smile and waited for Snape to leave. Harry forced himself to sit up, from the way his parents were behaving he felt far to vulnerable lying down.
"Well seems we do not have long." Dumbledore sighed, he flicked his wand and Harry's beside table was suddenly covered in sweets, chocolates and cards, "Gifts from you admires. Of course what happened to you and your friends in the chamber is a complete secret so, naturally the whole school know."
Harry grinned, "Are my friends OK?"
"They are, dear boy. And it must be said that young Pansy was very close to mixing a potion to come through and help you when I arrived, although it wouldn't have been as protective as the real thing it would have allowed them to get through the flames."
Harry laid back slightly in the knowledge that his friends were safe; it seemed it was impossible for him to keep his guard up around Dumbledore.
"What happened? I don't even know what day it is." Harry asked.
"During the fight you managed to injure Quirrell enough that Voldemort fled his body; he has little interests in even those who support him. Quirrell died in the chamber before I got to you and you were nearly dead with the effort. You've been unconscious for two days. Madam Pomfry was getting ready to send you to St Mungo's." Dumbledore explained.
"What happened to the stone? Is it back with Nicholas Flamel?" Harry asked
"Yes and no. Nicholas and I had a long talk and it was decided it would be best to destroy the stone." Dumbledore sighed.
"But that means he'll die. And his wife." Harry gasped.
"Yes. They have enough elixir to set their affairs in order and then they will pass. After a long life death is nothing more than going for a well needed nap Harry. It is nothing to be afraid of."
Harry could hear footsteps come rushing into the ward.
"Where is he?" he could hear Remus ask breathlessly and then some muttering in hushed voices.
"I think we may have to finish our conversation soon." Dumbledore smiled, "How wonderful it must be to have such a close family. Always supporting you. Do you have another question?"
Harry nodded, "How was I able to kill Quirrell? It was like he was allergic to me or something."
"The night your father died; he died to save you and your mother. Your mother also nearly died because she refused to save herself if it meant loosing you. That pure love gave you a mark; invisible but powerful."
"Blood magic." Harry said.
"Yes. I believe it was also what saved your mother that night, no one should have been able to survive such relentless pain." Dumbledore said gravely, "Now I will leave you to your family."
He left Harry with a pat on the hand. Harry could hear him bid goodbye to those outside the curtains and his footsteps leaving the room.
"It's lucky isn't it?" Lily said suddenly, "That your amazing challenges, set up to protect something so important, could be beaten by a small group of first years." she said nastily, "My son must be amazing."
Harry hadn't thought about that before. What was one of the greatest wizards to have ever lived doing making challenges that Harry and his friends could have gotten though so easily.
Lily came back in with a smile on her face, followed by Severus, Sirius and Lupin. In fact, the next two days were a steady stream of visitors. Neville, Draco, Pansy and Daphne came as often as they could even if it was just for a few minutes between classes much to Madam Pomfry's annoyance. Even Sally and Howard came for a visit to see how he was doing.
But despite all the visitors by the end of Day two Harry was bored out of his skull. He would have even done homework at this point if it gave him something to do other than be allowed to sit on a chair for ten minutes at a time.
"Umm Madam Pomfry." Harry called.
"Yes dear?"
"Can I go to the end of term feast today? I really want to see everyone." Harry pleaded.
Madam Pomfry scowled, "I'm not sure you're well enough but Professor Dumbledore wants you to go. Just take it easy and take it easy once you get home. Tell that little sister of yours no playing for the first week or two. And if you feel ill or get worse you must go to the hospital."
Harry grinned; Danica had come for a visit and charmed everyone she met.
That evening Harry did his best not to run down to the great hall he was so excited. His mother had gone home to rescue Narcissa and Lucius before they completely spoiled Danica rotten but he'd see them tomorrow and he would be able to sit with his friends.
He almost didn't care about all the house points.
Harry arrived at the great hall to see Neville sat at the Gryffindor table waving to him and pulling faces at Ron Weasley who looked about five inches to big for his robes.
Harry laughed and looked up at the large hangings covering the hall. He was not surprised to see the large Gryffindor lion and the whole hall covered in scarlet in gold. Gryffindor had clearly won the house cup.
Harry wondered down the table to sit with Daphne, Draco and Pansy who although a little scraped and bruised looked unharmed. He smiled at them and wrapped them in a big hug.
"I'm so glad to be out of that ward. I was going crazy." Harry told them sitting down.
"No comment." Draco smirked.
"You're lucky to be out of there at all Harry. We were so worried!" Daphne told him.
Harry smiled at her. He felt very lucky to have so many friends.
The hall filled quickly as Harry talked to his friends. He couldn't not notice the amount of looks, waves and smiles he was getting as well as the whispers between friends about how brave he was. Harry wished they would go away; he chuckled to himself from how much he missed just being ignored.
Dumbledore stood from his seat and asked the hall to fall quiet. As the hush descended Harry tuned his attention to the head table.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and rested his hands on the table, "I welcome you all to this years end of term feast! Next year the faces I see before me will not be all the same I see now. We bid goodbye to our seventh years and wish them luck in their future lives. We may even see some of them back here on this table in years to come."
Everyone clapped and congratulated any seventh years around them.
Dumbledore cleared his throat again as silence fell, "Before we eat it is my duty and honour to award the house cup. Currently the points stand at Slytherin with 320 points, Hufflepuff with 424 points, Ravenclaw with 445 points and Gryffindor with 481 points."
A large cheer came from the Gryffindor table with much banging on the table. Harry rolled his eyes as Ron turned round to give him a nasty superior look.
"But!" Dumbledore said loudly, "Accounts of recent days must be taken into account and so I feel I must award some much earned last minute points. To Mr Neville Longbottom, for quick thinking during a complicated chess game that had he not thought so quickly could have cost his friends dearly I aware 50 points!"
Harry clapped and cheered loudly with everyone else.
"For Miss Daphne Greengrass, for remembering Herbology in a tight situation and for an expert bit of flying, I award 50 points. For Miss Pansy Parkinson, for one of the best puzzle solving and potion mixing abilities I have ever see in someone so young, I award 50 points. For Mr Draco Malfoy, for friendship and loyalty to those he holds dear that any Slytherin would be proud, for choosing to stay and help even though it meant more danger of, I award 50 points and lastly for Mr Harry Potter,"
Harry watched as an icy flicker flashed across Dumbledore's eyes just for a second; it sent another chill down his spin and made him shuffle that little bit closer to his friends.
"For Harry Potter, for defiance in the face of overwhelming danger and odds, I award 60 points!" Dumbledore clapped, "And so the point totals now stand at Hufflepuff 424, Ravenclaw 445, Gryffindor 531 and Slytherin…. 530."
Dumbledore raised his glass to the Gryffindor table and took a sip as the plates filled with food. Large cheers came from the Gryffindor table and many people got up to pat Neville on the back. He turned around and looked sadly at his friends on the Slytherin table.
Harry shook his head and smiled to him. Sally came over and patted Harry on the back.
"I'm so sorry-" Harry began
Sally cut across him, "Don't worry about it. I really don't think after everything you've done for us one point really means all that much." She smiled, "There are more important things in life. I wish I could say your journey from now on will be an easy one but I wont lie to you. But you have four amazing friends and a family who loves you more than life itself. You're going to be OK and we are very proud to have you in Slytherin."
Harry watched open mouthed as she walked back to her seat.
"Well I guess we're off the hook for all those points we lost." Pansy remarked.
Harry nodded, "Yep. Now lets eat. I'm starving!" he grinned.