Dawn Rivera

Dobby's Reward

I've been to several Hogwarts feasts, but never one quite like this. Everybody is in their pyjamas, and the celebrations last all night. I don't know whether the best bit is Hermione and me running up to Harry, Hermione screaming, "You solved it! You solved it!" or Justin hurrying over from the Hufflepuff table to wring Harry's hand and apologise endlessly for suspecting him,mor Hagrid turning up at half past three, cuffing Harry and Ron so hard on the shoulders that they are knocked into their plates of trifle, or his and Ron's four hundred points securing Gryffindor the House Cup for the second year running, or Professor McGonagall standing up to tell us that the exams have been cancelled as a school treat, or Dumbledore announcing that, unfortunately, Professor Lockhart will be unable to return next year, owing to the fact that he needs to go away and get his memory back. Quite a few of the teachers join in the cheering that greets this news. He was starting to get on my nerves a bit. Besides, I have someone I wouldn't trade for the earth now.

"Shame," says Ron, helping himself to a jam doughnut. "He was starting to grow on me."

Then Gregory comes up behind me and pulls me away from the fray. We walk around the grounds hand-in-hand, discussing this year's events and what next year might bring for us. Then Gregory pecks me on the lips. Life can't be more perfect.

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The rest of the summer term passes in a haze of blazing sunshine. Hogwarts is back to normal, with only a few, small differences: Defence Against the Dark Arts classes are cancelled and Lucius Malfoy has been sacked as a school governor. Draco is no longer strutting around the school as though he owns he place. On the contrary, he looks resentful and sulky, maybe due to the fact that me and Gregory are spending a lot more time together. Ginny and Misty Weasley are perfectly happy again.

Too soon, it is time for the journey home on the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, Misty and me get a compartment to ourselves. We make the most of the last few hours in which we are allowed to do magic before the holidays. We play Exploding Snap, set off the very last of Fred and George's Filibuster Fireworks, and practise disarming each other by magic. Harry is getting very good at it.

We are almost at King's Cross when Harry seems to remember something.

"Ginny, Misty - what did you see Percy doing, that he didn't want you to tell anyone?"

"Oh, that," says Misty, both she and Ginny giggling. "Well - Percy's got a girlfriend."

Fred drops a stack of books on George's head.

"What?"

I giggle. "That's one for the books."

"It's that Ravenclaw Prefect, Penelope Clearwater," says Ginny. "That's who he was writing to all last summer. He's been meeting her all over the school in secret. I walked in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day. He was so upset when she was - you know - attacked. You won't tease him, will you?" she adds anxiously.

"Wouldn't dream of it," says Fred, who is looking as if his birthday has come early.

"Why would you even think that of them?" I say innocently.

"Definitely not," says George, sniggering.

The Hogwarts a Express slows and finally stops.

Harry pulls out his quill and a bit of parchment and turns to Ron, Hermione and me.

"This is called a telephone number," he tells Ron, scribbling it three times, tearing the parchment in three parts and handing it to us. "I told your dad how to use a telephone last summer, he'll know. Call me at the Dursleys, OK? I can't stand another two months with only Dudley to talk to..."

"Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" I say, as we get off the train and join the crowd thronging towards the enchanted barrier. "When they hear what you did this year?"

"Proud?" says Harry. "Are you mad? All those times I could've died and didn't manage it? They'll be furious..."

And together we walk back through the gateway into the Muggle world.

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And that is the end of book 2! I hope you enjoyed it! Book 3 will be up soon! Please don't forget to vote and comment!

I love you all!

Jade xx

Question of the chapter: Mrs Dursley or Mr Dursley?