Chapter 15:Finale(First Year)

Edward woke up with a large headache. He mentally cursed Voldemort for his final attempt. He also noticed that Harry woke up. Looking around the room, he saw many gifts, presumably from his parents and friends, and an old man staring at him.

"Good afternoon, Harry, Edward," said Dumbledore.

Harry stared at the professor. Then he remembered: "Sir! The Stone! It was Quirrell! He's got the Stone! Sir, quick--"

"Calm yourself, dear boy, you are a little behind the times," said Dumbledore. "Quirrell does not have the Stone. "

"Then who does? Sir, I--"

"Harry, please relax, or Madam Pomfrey will have me thrown out. "

Dumbeldore then proceeded to talk about how they were very brave and did things that even most adult wizards would have been very afraid to do. After he was done consoling Harry, he turned to Edward.

Edward was really nervous. This was the first time he had met Dumbeldore in his life. If Dumbeldore used Legitimacy, he would be screwed, but luckily, Dumbeldore did nothing of that sort.

Dumbledore smiled at the look of nervousness on Edward's face.

"To one as young as you, I'm sure it seems incredible to face a scary villain, but your path will definitely be tougher. Being friends is a lifelong choice. You either float, or sink with your friends. Young Malfoy, I have spoken to your family. They have agreed not to influence any of your choices. So don't worry. Choose your path wisely."

Edward lay there, lost for words. Dumbledore hummed a little and smiled at the ceiling. "But I really must say, wonderful use of herbology and alchemy."

"Professer, what alchemy?"

"Oh right. From what I have noticed, your transfiguration has a permanent effect. It really is quite remarkable for someone as young as you."

Dumbeldore fumbled around his pockets looking for something

"Oh yes, where did I put it- Aha, found it."

Dumbeldore held up a book," Alchemies for Dummies. It was actually written by Nicholas Flamel when he was a lot younger. I believe that he would definitely like you to have it."

Edward took this book gratefully from Professor Dumbeldore. "Right then, it's time for me to leave before madam Pomfrey throws me out. Well then, have a good day lads."

Harry looked his close friend Edward," Edward, I understand if you or Draco decide not be friends with me anymore. It gonna tear your family apart.You--"

"Harry," interrupted Edward,"I'm not worried about anyone threatening me. Besides, we need to look out for each other right?"

Just then, Hermione ran inside the hospital dorm with Draco and Ron tagging alongside her.

"Edward, Harry!"

Hermione looked ready to fling her arms around him again, but Edward was glad she held herself in as his head was still very sore.

Draco patted Edwards shoulders

"Oh, Edward we were sure you were going to -- Mom and Dad were so worried--"

"The whole school's talking about it," said Ron. "What really happened?"

It was one of those rare occasions when the true story is even more strange and exciting than the wild rumors. Harry told them everything: Quirrell; the mirror; the Stone; and Voldemort. Ron, Draco and Hermione were a very good audience; they gasped in all the right places, and when Harry told them what was under Quirrell's turban, Hermione screamed out loud.

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

"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," said Ron, looking quite impressed at how crazy his hero was.

"So what happened to you two?" said Harry.

"Well, I got back all right," said Hermione. "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. "

"D'you think he meant you to do it?" said Ron. "Sending you your father's cloak and everything?"

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

"No, it isn't," said Harry thoughtfully. "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," said Ron proudly. "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 steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you -- but the food will be good. "

At that moment, Madam Pomfrey bustled over.

"You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT" she said firmly.

At the end of the year banquet, everyone sat down for the announcements.

"Another year gone!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "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. . .

"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 storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Slytherin table. Harry could see Draco Malfoy banging his goblet on the table. It was a sickening sight.

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

The room went very still. The Slytherins' smiles faded a little.

"Ahem," said Dumbledore. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes. . .

"First -- to Mr. Ronald Weasley. . . "

Ron went purple in the face; he looked like a radish with a bad sunburn.

". . . for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fourty points. "

Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the bewitched ceiling; the stars overhead seemed to quiver. Percy could be heard telling the other prefects, "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!"

At last there was silence again.

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

Hermione buried her face in her arms; Harry strongly suspected she had burst into tears. Gryffindors up and down the table were beside themselves -- they were a hundred points up.

"Third -- to Mr. Harry Potter. . . " said Dumbledore. The room went deadly quiet. ". . . for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points. "

The din was deafening. Those who could add up while yelling themselves hoarse knew that Gryffindor now had four hundred and fifty-two points -- exactly the same as Slytherin. They had tied for the house cup -- if only Dumbledore had given Harry just one more point.

Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell silent.

"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up with and against their family. I therefore award thirty points each to our beloved Malfoy's. "

Someone standing outside the Great Hall might well have thought some sort of explosion had taken place, so loud was the noise that erupted from the Gryffindor table. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood up to yell and cheer.. Edward couldn't help but notice Snape, who couldn't have looked more stunned and horrified if he'd just had the Body-Bind Curse put on him.

"Which means," Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, for even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were celebrating the downfall of Slytherin, "we need a little change of decoration. "

He clapped his hands. In an instant, the green and silver hangings became scarlet and gold. Snape was shaking Professor McGonagall's hand, with a horrible, forced smile. He caughtEdward's eye and Edward knew at once that Snape's feelings toward him had decreased, but he didn't mind. His life would be back to normal next year, or as normal as it ever was at Hogwarts. After all, next year will be a blast.

Hagrid was there to take them down to the fleet of boats that sailed across the lake; they were boarding the Hogwarts Express; talking and laughing as the countryside became greener and tidier; eating Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans as they sped past Muggle towns; pulling off their wizard robes and putting on jackets and coats; pulling into platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station.

It took quite a while for them all to get off the platform. A wizened old guard was up by the ticket barrier, letting them go through the gate in twos and threes so they didn't attract attention by bursting out of a solid wall at once and alarming the Muggles.

"You must come and stay this summer," said Ron, "all of you -- I'll send you an owl. "

"Unlikely, but thanks," said Edward.

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

At the front everyone could see their respective families. The Weasleys, the Durselies, the Grangers and the Malfoys. Edward laughed at how his father was forced to converse with 'blood traitors' and 'mud-bloods' as he called them.

"Harry Potter!" Ginny squealed. "Look, Mom! I can see--"

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

Mrs. Weasley smiled down at them.

"Busy year?" she said.

"Very," said Harry.

"Thanks for the fudge and the sweater, Mrs. Weasley," said Edward.

"Oh, it was nothing, dear. "

Lucius held both his kids arm's and took them away. Draco looked back and waved at the others. Edward smiled,' this was the family I desired.'