Whatever Comes (Demma Book 1)

Aftermath

Dateline: June 8th, 1992

Harry and Hermione were unconscious in the Hospital Wing, and to their dismay, Gryffindor lost to Ravenclaw in the final Quidditch match of the season, and it was their worst defeat in 300 years. They both woke up from their three and a half days of being in the hospital only to see get well cards and wizard treats placed on their beds as Dumbledore walked into the room.

"Good afternoon, Harry and Hermione. Ah. Tokens from your admirers?" he said, looking at the gifts placed on Harry's and Hermione's tables.

"Admirers?" asked Harry.

"What happened down in the dungeons between you two and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. Ah, I see your friend Hermione has saved you the trouble of opening your Chocolate Frogs."

"Hermione was here? Is she all right?"

"Fine. She's right there, on the bed."

"But, what happened to the Stone?" asked Hermione.

"Relax. The Stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicholas and I had a little chat and agreed it was best all around."

"But Flamel, he'll die, won't he?" asked Harry.

"He has enough Elixir to set his affairs in order, But yes, he will die."

"How is it I got the Stone, sir? One minute me and Hermione were standing in the mirror, and the next..."

"Ah. You see, only a person who wanted to find the Stone, find it, but not use it, would be able to keep it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between you and me, that is saying something."

"Does that mean, with the Stone gone, that is, Voldemort will never come back?" asked Hermione.

"Ah, I'm afraid there are ways in which he can return. Harry, Hermione, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you two touch him?" said Dumbledore, leaving Harry and Hermione with shaking heads. "It was because of your mothers. She sacrificed herself for you two, and that kind of act leaves a mark. This kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin."

"What is it?" they both asked.

"Love, Harry and Hermione, love," he answered, patting both on their heads, and he stood up. "Ah. Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. I was most unfortunate in my youth to come across a vomit flavoured one, and since then, I have lost my liking for them. But I think I could be safe with a nice toffee... Mm. Alas. Earwax."

Dumbledore left the room, and a few minutes later, Harry and Hermione got out of the hospital with their left arms bandaged.

"Crazy first year, isn't it?" asked Hermione.

"Can't wait to see what we're going to have to face now that we know Voldemort's spirit's lurking about," said Harry.

Harry stared at Hermione for the longest time, and he made sure no teacher was watching. He started to lean in, but Hermione was quicker, capturing her lips with his, and he kissed back. It was only for a split second before making their way down to the end-of-the-year feast alone that night. The Great Hall was packed, and it was decked out in the Ravenclaw colours of blue and silver to celebrate Ravenclaw's winning the House Cup. A huge banner showing the Ravenclaw eagle covered the wall behind the High Table. When they both walked in, there was a sudden hush, and then everybody started talking loudly at once. They both slipped a seat between Percy and Neville at the Gryffindor table and tried to ignore the fact that people were standing up to look at them. Fortunately, Dumbledore stood up from his seat and spoke with his magically magnified voice.

"Another year, gone! And now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding, and the points stand thus. In fourth place: Gryffindor, with 312 points! In third place: Slytherin, with 322 points! In second place: Hufflepuff, with 352 points! And in first place, with 472 points: Ravenclaw house!" he said, and a storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Ravenclaw table. "Yes, yes, well done Ravenclaw, well done Ravenclaw. However, recent events must be taken into account, and I have a few last-minute points to award. To Miss Hermione Granger, for the cool use of intellect, while others were in grave peril, I award Gryffindor house: eighty 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 nearly a hundred points up.

"And Second, to Mr Harry Potter, for pure love and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house: eighty points!"

The din was deafening. While yelling themselves hoarse, those who could add up knew that Gryffindor had four hundred and seventy-two points, precisely the same as Ravenclaw. If only Dumbledore had given Harry or Hermione just one more point. Dumbledore raised his hand. The room fell gradually silent.

"And finally: it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends. I award ten points to Neville Longbottom!"

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 and Hermione stood up to yell and cheer as Neville, white with shock, disappeared under a pile of people hugging him. He had never won so much as a point for Gryffindor before.

"Assuming that my calculations are correct, I believe that a change of decoration is in order!" Dumbledore clapped his hands. In an instant, the blue hangings became scarlet, and the silver became gold; the huge Ravenclaw eagle vanished, and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place. "Gryffindor wins the House Cup!"

It was the best evening of Harry's and Hermione's life, better than winning at Quidditch, or Christmas, or knocking out mountain trolls, or saving the Stone from the jaws of defeat...they would never, ever forget tonight.

Dateline: June 20th, 1992

On the 11th, Harry and Hermione had almost forgotten that the exam results were still to come, but come they did. To their great surprise, both passed with good marks; Hermione and Harry, of course, had the best grades of the first years. It was then time to go back to London, and both are trying to stay away from Dudley and his friends for more games of Harry-and-Hermione-Hunting. Both had their bags packed, and they headed to Hogsmeade station, where the Hogwarts Express arrived for the students and their luggage. To their surprise, Hagrid was ushering the students on the train. They ran over to him.

"Thought you two were leaving without saying good-bye, didja?" asked Hagrid, pulling a thick, red-velvet book from his coat and handed it to Harry. "This is for you two."

Harry opened the album, and Hermione peered over at Harry's shoulder. They saw a picture, moving, of both of them with their parents smiling and waving.

"Thanks, Hagrid." they both said, shaking hands with the giant and hugged him tightly.

"Oh, listen, kids, if that dolt of a cousin of yours, Dudley, gives you any grief, you can always, um, threaten him with a nice pair of ears to go along with that tail of his."

"But Hagrid, we're not allowed to do magic away from Hogwarts," said Harry.

"You know that," said Hermione.

"I do. But your cousin don't, do he? Eh?" answered Hagrid, winking at them. "Off you go."

"Feels strange to be going home, doesn't it?" questioned Hermione.

"We're not going home. Not really," answered Harry, looking back at Hagrid.

"You're right; we're really not going home because we still have six more years here. And also,"

"Respect the Dursleys at all costs!" they said, hopping on the train, and it rode off into the sunset.