Chapter 14: Heading Home

Hermione sat quietly at the long table, listening to the chatter coming from all around her. The only other person who remained mostly silent was Harry perched right beside her as he ever was.

It had taken Hermione the last couple of weeks, as well as three mirror calls with their entire families to finally talk Harry all the way down from his panic. Every other day he would have a sudden spike in his worry and need to find her and settle his nerves again. If it wasn't over something so serious, Hermione might have found it cute. In the end, It had taken all of them to fully address the points that made Harry so frightened at first.

Yes, Voldemort was believed to be alive. Professor Dumbledore's words had seemed to confirm that. But James and Sirius had pointed out that the wording suggested that Neville had beaten the evil prick back once again. So he was no longer in the school, nor was he an immediate threat to any of them before the end of term.

This was the point that most often worried Harry. The idea that the evil bastard had been in their classroom with them throughout the year… Harry hated that he'd had no idea at all something so dangerous had been so close. And the possibility that he could still be hiding somewhere in the school. Harry had spent long periods in the far corner of their common room just watching the Map until Hermione would find some way to distract him.

The idea that Voldemort might soon find a way to return was addressed by Mrs Potter. She had studied a lot of different kinds of magic during her preparations to protect her family against the prophecy. As a result, she had a greater understanding of the sorts of magic that would be needed to return a wayward spirit to its body. She had reassured them of how difficult it would be to accomplish such a feat. Even the simplest such magic would require almost a year of prep work.

Voldemort was not returning in a hurry, not if his plan had been spoiled. It seemed that whatever Neville had interrupted was a vital key to his plan to return here, and without that, he was scuppered.

As for the Dark Lord being revealed to be Tom Riddle, Hermione's parents had addressed that. Accurate information in and of itself was never a bad thing. If they truly believed that this Riddle was the man who had terrorised Britain so much, they now had something solid to research in order to help prevent him from ever doing so again.

Hermione smiled when she recalled that. Trust her parents to recommend study in order to chase away fear.

When she was a little girl, they had impressed upon her that fear was usually due to the absence of understanding. And the best way to prevent it was knowledge. The more informed she was about a concept, the better she would understand it and the less she would fear it.

Hermione had suggested that was likely why Tom Riddle had taken up the Voldemort name in the first place. Not many people would be scared by Tom, the man they had gone through Hogwarts with. But the mysterious Lord Voldemort? He had seeded terror such that most of the people in the magical world refused to utter his name at all.

Riddle had used the very fear her parents had taught her about as a weapon. But they had already removed that power from the man. Should he ever return, they knew his first secret.

Like a lot of things, it had taken a few repetitions to truly cement these factors into Harry's mind and settle his worry. But the last couple of days, he had seemed fairly steady after his panic attack upon learning the truth.

Hermione couldn't deny that it made her feel warm inside that one of Harry's first thoughts upon learning Voldemort might still be out there was that she would be in danger. Her best friend cared about her a lot, a sentiment she certainly shared. She had been equally worried once the aspects had been laid out fully. Especially for Harry and for her parents.

But the others had helped them all to see reason. Voldemort was not back yet, and the Potters would do whatever they could to prevent him from returning at all.

Hermione had been planning a big research project on house-elves this summer. But now, it seemed there would be something else that the family would be worrying about researching.

And the thought of the summer break brought Hermione back to the present reason for Harry's sullenness. All of the green banners hung about the Great Hall.

On their way into dinner, he had checked the hourglasses. Despite his efforts on the Quidditch Pitch, and both their effort in classes throughout the year, the green gemstones in the far right hourglass were still higher than the rubies in the far left one.

Professor Snape had taken Harry's terrifying collision win as a sign to become even more unfair than usual. Something Hermione hated thinking about a professor. He had begun taking points away from Gryffindors in the corridors for breathing too loudly and was heaping points on the Slytherins for the most mundane of achievements.

What had been a somewhat close race for the past few months had become a landslide in Slytherin's favour due to one man's anger at losing the Quidditch Cup.

Harry had been using the Map heavily, not just to ensure that Riddle did not reappear, but to avoid Professor Snape. The man seemed on a mission to find some way to make Harry pay for the win. Thankfully they had finished their potion classes for the year before the match.

It really shook her view of the world to see a professor behaving so childishly. While this one was quite young, being the same age as Harry's parents, so too had several of their teachers back at primary school.

Back there, the younger teachers had often been easier for Hermione to associate with than her peers. The other children still picked on her for being a swot, though Harry certainly helped to temper that behaviour. However, the young teachers who were there to get the experience needed to apply for their certifications tended to be a bit on the nerdy side themselves.

There were several such people that Hermione recalled quite fondly who had supported her love of study and reading. Though none quite to the same degree as Harry, Mrs Potter and her own parents.

Professor Snape, however, had clearly held a grudge against Harry from the moment he arrived. And she was tainted by association. While Mrs Potter's letter had tempered his outright hostility from their first class, the man had remained a hovering presence all year. Just waiting for any viable excuse to punish Harry. He had even tried to have him banned from the final match for stepping two metres outside the common room to summon help for Neville.

The past week had been particularly hard for anyone wearing the red and gold. Buoyed by their Quidditch Cup win only to see their House Cup chances dwindling more and more each day. And the other two houses were not spared his wrath either. Susan had points taken away for flushing a toilet too hard while Professor Snape had been passing the girls' bathroom. And Padma had points taken away for correctly answering a question asked outside of class.

Every house had suffered under Professor Snape's rampage of anger. And now, with the final dinner wrapping up, Slytherin house was about to reap the reward of his actions.

Despite the irritation Hermione felt at the injustice of it, she couldn't help but grin as Professor Dumbledore stood right as her train of thought came to an end. As if he had been waiting for it to arrive at the station.

Silence drifted over the Hall as everyone noticed the movement and the wizened old man watched over them all for a moment before he spoke.

"Another year, gone." He said with a smile. "What a year it has been. Hopefully, you have your heads a little fuller than they were when you arrived. And you have the whole summer to get them nice and empty before next year starts.

"Now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding. Presently, in fourth place, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; in third, Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six; Gryffindor has four hundred and forty; and Slytherin, five hundred and sixty-seven."

Hermione wasn't certain, but she had thought that Professor Dumbledore's eyes had flicked to the right for a moment and his smile seemed to shrink a little as those at the Slytherin table loudly celebrated their victory for the seventh year running. She was beginning to see how such a streak had become possible if Professor Snape had been as judicious with points in previous years as he had this week.

"Yes, yes, well done Slytherin." Professor Dumbledore continued. "However, recent events must be taken into account. I have a few last-minute points to award."

The Slytherin's smiles faded but the murmuring from the other houses escalated. Everyone was wondering what the Headmaster had to assign points for.

"First, to Mr Ronald Weasley…" Hermione was stunned at that, glancing further up the table to where the student in question had gone purple in the face at being addressed by the Headmaster in front of everyone in the school. "For the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Their entire table cheered loudly, even Harry and Hermione were clapping the boy who had provided them with a last-minute chance, despite the trouble they'd had with him throughout the year.

"Second, to Mr Neville Longbottom. For both the cool use of logic in the face of fire as well as for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house seventy-five points."

The house erupted with cheers again, and anyone close enough was patting Neville on the back. Though Neville himself seemed stunned at the result and was not reacting nearly as visibly as Weasley had.

Hermione, however, had done the math in her head. Even with the last-minute awards to Neville and Ron, they still fell short of Slytherin by two points. The additional points had not moved their placement in the cup at all.

"And finally, friendship can be a strangely wonderful burden at times. Requiring that we sometimes allow our friends to get into trouble so that they might learn or understand, as often as it requires standing resolutely beside them." The Headmaster seemed to pause for a moment, considering something deeper in the words he was saying than he was actually speaking aloud. "For this understanding that friendship can mean doing what is best for our friends, even when it might upset them, I award five points to Mr Harry Potter."

It seemed that Hermione had not been the only one doing the math. The entire house exploded with joy as it became clear that they had just passed Slytherin and taken both the House and Quidditch Cups this year. Even the tables on either side of Gryffindor were celebrating and Padma was there in a moment patting Harry on the back as he sat there stunned.

Somehow, Professor Dumbledore continued to speak, being audible over the immense celebration taking place. "Assuming my calculations are correct, I believe a change of decoration is in order."

He clapped his hands and all the green hangings across the hall shifted, the coiled silver serpent becoming a rampant golden lion as the green turned to red. Professor Snape was shaking Professor McGonagall's hand though his face showed he was livid at being forced to do so.

"Gryffindor wins the House Cup." The Headmaster finished, sitting down and allowing the loud celebration to continue unabated.

"Congratulations," Hermione heard and she turned to see Daphne standing behind her next to Padma.

Hermione nodded her thanks and gave the Slytherin girl a soft smile. It must have been hard for her to have been winning only to have it taken away at the last moment. But Hermione didn't see any hatred in the girl's face. She genuinely seemed happy for Gryffindor.

"You guys earned it." She said softly before she turned back to her own house table.

Hermione watched her as she went and noticed Slytherin seemed torn between three reactions. Most were simply upset that their victory had been stolen at the last moment, and they were talking dejectedly amongst themselves. The second set were glaring up at the professors, and the Headmaster in particular.

But the third group, by far the smallest of the three, had fixed their angry gaze on two sections of the Gryffindor table. Even through the crowd of yellow-trimmed robes in the walkway blocking their view.

Malfoy in particular was glaring at the back of Neville's body, and Hermione knew that boy was going to be trouble again next year.

But for now, she was happy to simply ignore him and bask in the joy of having won. Even if it had taken the Headmaster undoing Professor Snape's damage at the last minute.

ϟ

Harry felt a little bit weird going home.

While living through it, the year had seemed so long. Such a long time before the holidays and he would see his family again. Even if he could speak to and see them on his mirror whenever he wanted.

Always another class to attend. Always another assignment that needed to be done for those classes. The holidays so far away on the distant horizon. But also, so much to learn in seemingly so little time. And now, looking back, the year had seemed to disappear in no time at all.

Even the train ride itself was disappearing fast. A few games of exploding snap, a visit from the snack trolley. An impotent glare from Malfoy as he searched the train for someone to vent at after Slytherin had lost the House Cup.

Harry smirked at the memory of the win. How Professor Dumbledore had given him just enough points to take Gryffindor back ahead of Snivellous's rampant cheating since the final Quidditch match. It felt so good to be the one who put them over the line. Even if Neville and Ron had gotten the lion's share of the points. Harry didn't mind not being involved to that degree.

Draco had certainly looked like he wanted to attack Harry for what little role he had played, but Daphne and her friend Tracey had been in the compartment at the time and both they and Padma had their wands drawn when the other boy had stepped up to the door. He had glared inside for a moment before his eyes flicked to the wands and he seemed to think better of it.

It was the first time all year that Harry thought he saw Draco Malfoy actually consider the consequences and learn something.

He looked about the mostly empty compartment. Hermione was of course still there, reading a book that Susan had loaned her for the holidays before she had left to join a few of her housemates further down the train. One Harry knew Hermione would devour at least seven times before returning it to their friend.

The other girls had circled in and out a few times, also wanting to spend some of the trip back with the other friends that they had made throughout the year. A few of Harry's other friends had popped by as well. Classmates and the like, wishing them a happy holiday. The loudest had of course been the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

Fred and George had arrived with butterbeers and they had spent a good hour remembering the best moments from the year. Harry was just glad that he would be allowed to fly freely in the coming term, now that the first-year flying restrictions no longer applied. He wondered if he would still be as eager to play the sport when he could fly any time he liked rather than only during matches and practice.

"Penny for them?" Hermione said beside him and Harry realised she had finished her first reading of the book.

He just smiled at her. "Just thinking about the year. And next."

"You have two whole months to fly as much as you like at home, Harry." She replied, seeming to know exactly where his thoughts had been at that moment.

His own smile grew at how well his best friend knew him.

The mention of home drew Harry's eyes to the window and he realised that they were already in London once more. As he had been thinking, the trip had gone by so quickly. Now, with the gentle slowing of the train, he understood that it was over.

His first ever year at Hogwarts was done.

While he would miss the friends he had made this year over the coming two months, he was extremely glad that Hermione would be around throughout. The Grangers still lived just down the road and Harry would likely spend as much time at Hermione's house as she did at his.

"We should get ready, I guess." He said, nodding to the window and bringing Hermione's attention to their location.

The train braked harder, though still gradual and Harry recognised several of the passing landmarks. They were only minutes from the station and he wanted to see his parents again. After the shock he'd had from eavesdropping on Neville and Professor Dumbledore, he needed to feel them for real again. To reassure himself they were ok, as he had done repeatedly with Hermione for the past few weeks.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him, again surely knowing where his brain was at. She tucked the completed book into her shoulder bag and the two of them hauled their trunks down from above the seats.

While Harry had grown during the year, to the point he'd surely need all new robes for next year, he was still a touch too short to reach and support the trunk by himself. And he was never embarrassed to need Hermione's help with anything.

The pair quietly moved out of the compartment, somewhat glad that they had already said all their goodbyes. It allowed them to head straight for the exit and wait in the little space there by the door.

They were not the only eager ones and a few older students met them there in moments as the train slowed considerably. Harry had to grab onto the rail by the door to prevent himself from toppling over his own trunk.

A loud shriek of the steam whistle came from up front as the scarlet steam engine pulled into King's Cross and Harry watched as the families of the other students passed by the window. He felt his need to see his mum and dads grow even stronger and the moment the train came to a halt, he had the door open and was out on the platform, dragging his trunk rapidly behind him.

It took a moment to locate them, but he soon saw the four men Harry spent most of his time with. His father was easy to spot, with his messy black hair just like Harry's own. His godfather was facing James chattering away animatedly with his arms as Uncle Remus and Mr Granger watched him.

Harry knew right away that his father had spotted him as the man smiled broadly. None of the others did, so Harry knew it wasn't because of what Sirius was saying.

Letting go of his trunk, Harry rushed forward and grabbed Sirius around the waist from behind, knocking them both forward into his father.

"Hey there, kiddo," James said, wrapping both Sirius and Harry up in a hug. "It's good to see you too."

Harry felt the knot of worry in his belly release as he felt his dads firmly in his arms once again. The tizzy he had wound himself into over the whole Riddle mess finally letting up.

"How was school?" Remus asked softly, coming up behind Harry and laying a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"It was great," Hermione replied, coming in from behind them guiding her own and Harry's trunks, which her father quickly moved over to help her with.

"It's good to see you, sweety." He said, wrapping his daughter up in his arms for a minute.

Harry knew they were supposed to be embarrassed to be so affectionate in front of their schoolmates, and that if the Twins saw, they would mock him for it next year. But he didn't care. As much as he loved learning new magic, he had very much missed his family too.

Spending the year up in Scotland was a very different thing to coming home every single night.

He really missed…

That was when Harry pulled back and realised what was missing.

"Where is mum?" He asked, a measure of worry rearing back up again.

"Heavily pregnant." Mr Granger provided. "As is Natalie."

Harry looked up at his dad. "Your mum said it was best for her to stay at home. Didn't want to deal with all of this crazy…" he indicated the hundreds of families reuniting all around them. "She's on the verge, Harry. You're going to be a big brother any day now."

Any worry vanished as that thought filled Harry from head to toe. His mum was going to give birth soon. He was going to have a baby sister. This was going to be quite the holiday.

"Can we go see her?" He asked eagerly.

"You bet we can," James replied, ruffling Harry's hair and grabbing his trunk from Richard.

Remus fished a length of rope out of his pocket and Harry reached for it excitedly. He was going home.