Road To The End

The Road To The End Chapter 1

Sitting on the grass on a warm, summer day, an adolescent boy is just watching the clouds go by, when he hears a voice booming from the house behind him.
"Harry! Get in here! NOW!" a rather beefy man hollered.
The young man, messy hair and all, got up and headed inside. After what he witnessed three weeks ago, Harry Potter wasnt too sure if he could deal with anything his oversized uncle could throw at him.
Slamming the door behind him, Harry asked, with a bored tone, "What do you want?"
"THIS just came for you" Uncle Vernon said, holding up a letter with the Hogwarts crest on it.
Harry looked at it and turned away. The memories were all too vivd. He could still see the green light hitting Dumbledore in the chest from Snapes wand.

As the memories came back, so did the everlasting hatred for Snape
"I don't want anything to do with Hogwarts, or the wizarding world ever" Harry said angrily
"Well then, you dont mmind if I throw it out then?" Vernon said, with a large grin on his face
"I don't give a damn if you wipe your as..."
"HARRY!" a bony woman said, walking into the living room where Harry and Vernon where standing.

Harry looked at his Aunt Petunia. They were being way too nice, but maybe it was because they knew he was of age now.
"Just get rid of it" Harry said, not looking at his uncle.
Without a word, or a glance back, Harry headed upstairs to his room and locked the door behind him.
He doesnt remember seeing an owl in the sky, he should know, hes been watching the sky for the most of that afternoon, only to take his eyes off for about two minutes while he was watching Dudley and his gang beating up this kid even scrawnier than himself.

As he headed towards his window, he couldn't help but notice his room looked very Muggle-like.
No wand, no spellbooks and most of all, no Hedwig
He'd not seen Hedwig for a week, maybe more. Harry just didn't care, he just wanted to be a Muggle, he didn't want to be the famous Harry Potter, he didn't want to live his life in fear anymore. He just wanted to be a normal person
Harry was so lost in his thoughts that he didnt hear the tapping at his window.
Hedwig had returned, with a mouse in her beak, and alot of letters and parcels attached to her leg.
"Cant you just go away?" Harry said to Hedwig, as Hedwig put out her leg out for Harry to relieve her of her excess weight.
Harry took the letters and parcels, but threw then to the side. He just wasn't in the mood at the time.

Downstairs, there was a ring at the door, and Dudley went to answer it. As Dudley opened the door, he didn't even have enough time to say hello, before he was faced with a green light, that had come from two hooded figures.
Dudleys screams echoed through the house.
Vernon and Petunia rushed to see what caused their Dudley to scream.
"You idiot!" one of the hooded figures said "Thats not Harry! Thats his muggle cousin"
"Well no-one told me he lived with Muggles" the other hooded figured drawled
"He lives with Muggles - There, now you know" the first hooded figure snapped back
Petunia screamed as she saw Dudley laying motionless and screamed more when she saw the Death Eaters.

Harry, in his own world upstairs, heard the screaming downstairs and decided he should see what everyone was making such a fuss about
He unlocked his door and started heading downstairs when he noticed them - the Death Eaters.
Harry froze in his spot
One part of him was telling himself to go and get his wand and fight, but the other part said just to act like a Muggle.
He chose the first option, running quickly but oh so quietly to his room, picking up his wand, something he hadn't done since he left Ron, Hermione and Ginny on the Hogwarts Express. As he picked up his wand, he started heading downstairs, very very slowly

Chapter 2


As Harry reached the second step, he froze.
He thought he'd heard the stairs creaking, but realised it was only Petunias consistant sobbing.
Slowly, once again, he made his way down the stiars, ever so quietly
As he reached the middle landing, one of the Death Eaters spoke.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are" on of the Death Eaters droned
Harrys blood boiled. He recognized that voice instantly. It was Lucius Malfoy
"If you dont come out, either on or both of your sweet and kind relatives is goi g to be faced with the Cruciatus Curse." Malfoy said, sounded extremly smug
"Do you really think I care?" Harry said, not thinking before speaking
"Ah, Harry. I knew you would be wise enough to come down" Malfoy said, nodding at the other Death Eater.
With that nod, they both muttered "Crucio"
Petunia and Vernon both fell down, screaming with pain.
Harry just stood there, out of view of the Death Eaters. He continued listening to his aunt and uncle scream. It reminded him too much of the screams he heard in that tower, but feeling alot more hatred this time around
Not thinking, Harry ran down the stairs and screamed "EXPELLIARMUS!
The Death Eaters wands went flying and the silent Death Eater finally spoke.
"You know Potter" the Death Eater said "thats the second time you have done that to me"
Harry thought he had seen a ghost. Or at least heard on anyways. It was Snape
All the hatred that he had for Snape had been boiling in him for so long finally erupted
"HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOUR FACE AROUND HERE!" Harry bellowed, thinking that the neighbours must have been hearing all this
"Oh come now Potter, you seriouslt didn't think we had forgotten about you, did you?" Snape said, his hands held by his side.
:I just wish you would" Harry said bitterly "But you coming here now has made me realise your a bigger jerk than I first thought... YOUR A MURDERER!"
All of a sudden, an owl flew through the open door with a ministry crest upon it, but no letter
Quick as a flash, with Harry distracted, Malfoy dashed towards Harry causing Harry to drop the wands. Malfoy lunged towards the wands and caught them
Malfoy threw Snape his wand back and both yelled "AVADA KEDAVRA" pointing their wands at Harry
As Harry saw the jets of green light heading towards him, he ducked behind a chair, causing it to explode upon impact
"Oi! No wrecking the house!" Uncle Vernon bellowed
Big mistake
Malfoy pointed his wand at Vernon and without any thoughts, killed him.
"Avada Kedavra!" Malfoy said, pointing to Vernon
Five seconds later, Vernon was on the floor, next to Dudley, dead

Harry leapt from his spot, ran upstairs and locked the door.
He knew locks didnt matter to magic, magic prevailled anyday, but it would kill a bit of time
He grabbed the letters he took off Hedwigs leg, stuffed them in a pillowcase and looked for his books, potions and owl treats, which he found and stuffed in the pillowcase as well.
Grabbing Hedwigs cage, she jumped in, as though she sensed something happening
Just as he locked Hedwig in her cage, the door burst open with a flash of white
Snape and Malfoy were standing in his doorway, unhooded.

"I dont, but I do care and value my life" Harry said through gritted teeth
All of a sudden, without any warning, a **CRACK** made Snape and Malfoy jump back so much it had thrown them into Harrys bedroom door, which was off its hinges after Snape and Malfoy blasting it off
"STUPEFY!" someone in front of him yelled
There stood Professor Minerva McGonagall and Remus Lupin, wands at the ready.
"Harry, my dear boy, are you ok? Did you not recieve any of my warnings?" McGonagall said, extremely frantically
Harry shook his head slightly, but didnt have enough time to say anything
McGonagall grabbed Harrys arm and told him to hang on. Harry knew immediently what was going to happen
McGonagall Apparated out of Harrys bedroom to Sulley Street, just four blocks down the road from where Snape and Malfoy were, where Harry thought he was safe.
"Stunning spells are very useful, dont you think Minerva?" Lupin said, breaking the awkward silence, and finally speaking
"Oh, yes, quite useful" she said, without taking her eyes off of Harry
Harry had to lean on the brick wall the landed next to. Suddenly, Harry was sick.
This didn't happen when Dumbledore was killed in front of me, why now? Harry thought.
So what if they were family, Dumbledore was more of a family member than the Dursleys ever were.
"Harry" McGonagall said quietly "Its time we got you somewhere safe"

Chapter 3


Harry looked up at the worried Professor.
"I WAS at a place I thought was safe" Harry said, sounding quite bitter. "Before Dumbledore died..." Harry trailed off.
He hadnt mentioned his name out loud since that awful day.
"Before he died.." Harry went on bravely "..he visited me at the Dursleys place, saying that I was still protected - that I had nothing to worry about" Harry said, his anger starting to build up "Now hes gone, NOWHERE IS SAFE!"
He didn't realise he was yelling until the pain of someone hitting him in the head struck him. He also didnt realise that Ron and Hermione had Apparated right next to him (even though there was a loud crack that made McGonagall jump) and it was Rons elbow that hit him in the head.
"Oh, sorry there Harry" Ron said, sounding both exhausted and utterly shocked. "Oh Harry! Are you ok?" Hermione said, like her usual frantic self.
Harry was rubbing his head, looked at Hermione, then at Ron, then back at Hermione and said "Yeah Im fine. What are you doing here?"
"A VERY good question Mr. Potter" said Professor McGonagall
"Don't you both remember that you are not to Apparate in Muggle presence?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked around. There wasnt a Muggle in sight. Ron was the one to point this out
"But, uh, Professor. There aren't any Muggles around"
"I know, but that Muggle house.." McGonagall said, pointing to number 23 "..had there blinds open, so they could have seen you"
"Sorry Professor" Hermione and Ron said in unison
"Its fine, just make sure it doesnt happen again" McGonagall said, quite strictly "And Harry"
She looked at Harry and handed him the letter he recieved earlier before all the commotion settled in
"Read it now" she said, with a little bit of urgency in her voice
Harry opened it, his fingers shaking as he took it out of the envelope, and read it aloud

To Mr Harry Potter

As you have become aware, the future of Hogwarts was in jepardy due to the unforseen death of the great Albus Dumbledore, but the remaining teachers and myself met with the Ministry of Magic and am pleased to inform you that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft And Wizardry is to stay open.
We hope to see you on the 1st of September

Professor Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress Of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry

P.S. We gave been tipped off by the Ministry of Maguc that two Death Eaters are heading your way.. It would be good if you headed to the Leaky Cauldron, I will meet you there. M McG"

Harry re-read the letter to himself and thought, How could they keep Hogwarts open? After a disaster like that happening, who says it wont happen again
Ron broke his train of thought "Well, it true anyway"
"Whats true?" Hermione said, perplexed
"The Defense Against The Dark Arts job is cursed. Thank god we got rid of Snape though. Hes nothing but a slimy git that always has his head up his a..." Ron was cut off "RON!" Hermione exclaimed, all Ron could do was shrug
Harry, who finally found his voice, said "It was him. It was Snape. He was one of the Death Eaters that came to the Dursleys tonight"
Ron almost fell where Harry was sick earlier, Hermione looked like she was going to be sick and McGonagall looked frantic. Lupin, however, just nodded
"Thought as much" Lupin said, thoughtfully
Harry looked at Lupin, then at Minerva, then at his friends, then shook his head
"What do you mean?" Harry said
"Didn't you get my letter?" Lupin said
"What? The Ministry letter?" Harry asked bewildered
"Yeah" Lupin said, looking at everyones faces, they all looked like they were hit with a Stunning Spell
"Oh come now! Dont tell me you didn't know?!"
Everyone shook their heads
Lupin sighed "I was appointed Head Of Department of Control Of Magical Creatures after McNair left to rejoin the Death Eaters. It was a hush-hush appointment - One of the last things that Fudge did before he stepped down from being Minister"
McGonagall butted in "Sorry Remus, but I must ask - Harry, you can Apparate now, cant you?"
Harry nodded.
McGonagall said "Good, hold your bags and all belongings close to you, including Hedwigs cage and Apparate to a block before the Leaky Cauldronm its safe"
Harry went to argue, but Lupin stepped in
"Believe her Harry, I went personally with her to check and it was clear
Harry looked really hesitant, but grabbed all this belongings and said his short goodbyes to Ron and Hermione and Dissaperated to Jaroah Street, which was the block before the Leaky Cauldron

Harry looked around. He felt safe, and that was a good start, so he walked to the Leaky Cauldron.
When he got there, he pushed open the door and felt an instant cool breeze. It was so refreshing, he had been walking in the warm, sticky heat and he felt so relaxed as he entered
Tom advanced towards Harry as soon as he stepped inside
"Hello Harry!" Tom exclaimed "Professor McGonagall and Mr Lupin are waiting upstairs for you, along with your friends. Oh and here, let me take those things for you" Tom offered to take Harrys belongings to store away safely, which Harry graciously accepted
"Thankyou" Harry said, handing over his stuff and made his way upstairs
As he got upstairs, he heard Lupin and Fudge talking.
"..he's almost here, so we'll get his side of the story soon" Lupin said, in a sort of a whisper
Harry found the room and wasn't too sure of it at first, but proceeded inside all the same
"Ah Harry, welcome back to the Leaky Cauldron. Please, take a seat" Fudge said, offering a seat in between Ron and Hermione.
"How do you do, sir?" Asked Harry, shaking Fudge's extended hand, then taking the seat offered
"Ok, Im getting straight to the point today. I was asked by the Minister to meet you and ask you the story about what happened at your aunt and uncles house tonight" Fudge said, sitting down also
"You will not be punished, as you are well aware, because you are of wizarding age"
Harry nodded and kept listening to Fudge
"So Harry. Please, tell me everything that happened, and dont leave out any little bit. Every bit is critical to our investigations" Fudge said quite urgently, pulling out a quill and parchment, ready to take notes

Chapter 4


Harry began telling Fudge everything, from Malfoy using the killing curses on Dudley and Vernon, to Snape revealing himself to Harry, to the second he got into the chair before they started talking
"..and then I came here and started talking to you and telling you what happened" Harry said finally
Hermione gasped and Ron moved his hands from his mouth to speak, but Hermione put her hand on his leg, and instantly took it off, noticing where she put her hand.
Ron just looked at her, then at his leg and didn't stop looking at where Hermione had her hand
Fudge nodded, got up and headed towards Harry, stopping short and leaned on his desk
"Thankyou Harry. We've been looking for Snape ever since.." Fudge stopped, trying to think of the right words so as not to hurt Harry because Fudge knew this was a sensitive issue
"..since he fled with Draco. We are very concerned for Dracos safety, assuming you know of his situation"
All three of them shook their heads. Harry did notice Draco looking paler than usual all of last year at Hogwarts, but he put it down to that spell he used on him that he found in his old potions book, which he had since thrown away.
"What is his 'condition'?" Hermione asked, while Ron was trying to stifle his giggles.
Lupin stepped in. "Draco was bitten by a werewolf, you remember that werewolf that liked biting kids, Greyback I think his name is?" Hermione gasped loudly and Ron stopped giggling.
"Well, they stayed with the Malfoy family last summer and he gave into temptation and it Draco. Now its high alert that we find Draco before he bites anymore people. His current count, as we know it, is fourty-seven people and growing by the day."
"Serves the stupid git right for entrusting an idiot werewolf into there house.... No offence Remus" Ron said, looking at Lupin, who was looking at Ron with a weird face.
"Yeah, well, thats also what was in your letter to you Harry. I asked of you to keep your eyes out for any signs of Snape and Malfoy, Draco that is, not Lucius" Lupin said looking at Harry hopeful
Fudge cut in. "Ok, its getting late Harry, I've booked your usual room with Tom and your to stay here until school starts again"
"Why cant he come to The Burrow?" Ron asked
"Because its much, MUCH safer here that at The Burrow" Fudge said
Just as Ron went to argue more, Harry butted in
"I'm not going" he said
"Its best if you do Harry, for your own sake" Professor McGonagall said
"Its still the safest place for you"
"How can you say that? After everything thats happened there since I haev been there, you still call if the safest place in the world?" Harry said, starting to get angry, but Hermione spoke
"Harry, Professor McGonagall is right. Dumbledores secret keeper is still alive and if he dies, then the secrets of Hogwarts dies with him"
"Yes, that is correct Miss Granger" McGonagall said
"But Hogwarts has been relocated, as a precation. You all will still meet at Hogsmede station, and its the same castle, its just been.... moved"
"But how do you do that?" Ron asked curiously
"I think.." Lupin said "..that its time for bed"
Harry got up from his chair and headed for his room, following Lupin and being followed by Professor McGonagall.
Harry got to his room, and said goodnight to Lupin, McGonagall and friends and entered his room
When he closed his door, he locked it and rested on it, only to find himself faced with a half naked girl.
All she was dressed in was a towel, searching through a small black bag. Harry thought it was the most amazing sight he had ever seen.
Sure he'd seen Ginny like that, but he didn't get the shivers he just got.
Maybe it was the dragon tattoo, which reminded him of a certain Norwegian Ridgeback he got quite attached to, or it was her slim, petite body, but he did know he should look away
Just as he was about to look away, she turned around and screamed.
"What are you doing in here?" the girl said, with an unusual accent Harry didnt recognize, but enjoyed listening to.
"Um, I'm, ah, very sorry" Harry said, trying not to look, but also trying to take a peep ever now and then
"Mr. Fudge said that my usual room was ready and this is my usual room" Harry said, a little bit shocked still
"Oh no! I must have mixed up numbers! I'm so sorry!" the girl said with all urgency.
She gathered up all her things with a swish of her wand and without a backwards glance, left - dressed in towel and nothing else - and with the click of the door, she was gone
Harry just stood there and shook his head
What in the blue moon just happened, Harry thought, absoultly bewildered.
He shook his head again and headed to bed, still trying to figure out what had just unfolded 5 minutes ago

Next morning, Harry woke up to Hedwigs chirpping and an unmistakable amount of fiery red hair looking down at him
"AHHH!" Harry yelled, jolting up
"Mornin Harry!" Ron said, quite cheerfully
"Morning" Harry said grogily.
"Come on! Breakfast is ready" Ron saod, rushing out of the room to let Harry get dressed
Harry got dressed with hesitation and headed downstairs to breakfast.
Trust Ron to think of food at this time of the morning, Harry thought
He got downstairs and was greeted by the usual happy faces of the Weasleys and Hermione - Ginny, who, for some reason, was giving him the meanest of looks.
Fred, however, was glowing.
Between Fred and George was an attractive girl with hair so red, it almost outdid the Weasleys.
"Harry! How are you going?" Fred said, rubbing the girls back "Oh, this is my girlfriend Stacey. Shes from America! We've been corresponding via owl mail for the past 8 months and decided to get together.. Never been better! Shes going to be attending Hogwarts this year, along with her best mate"
"How do you do?" Stacey said, outstreching her hand
"Good thankyou" Harry said politely, taking Staceys outstreched hand and shaking it
"Stacey, can I borrow your toothbr... Oh, hi"
The other girl that Harry had met last night entered the room. Yes, she had more clothes on this time, a nice small black top and figure hugging jeans, but she still looked so radient like last night, but this time, she had her brown hair out of the ponytail that it was in last night
"This is Jessie, but I hear you have already met" Stacey said, trying to hid her giggles
"Yeah, I have" Harry said, a little stunned and shocked
"Yeah, well, Im from the good old US of A. Im from the American Institution of Witchcraft and Wizardy and Jessie here is from Meralus School of Witchcraft and Wizardy in Australia" Stacey said
"Im are staying here till term starts and working part-time to cover my staying here" Jessie said
"Yeah, I've been offered to stay at The Burrow until school starts" Stacey said, hugging Fred to death
So thats why I haven't heard that accent before, Harry thought.
Harry waved Jessie goodbye and everyone else, sat down at an empty table and started planning out his day, hoping to bump into Jessie

Chapter 5

Harry decided to check out Diagon Alley after all. He still needed to get his school stuff and thought he might as well go, seeing it was the last time he would be doing it
It got Harry thinking about the very first time he visited Diagon Alley with Hagrid, finding out he had a mountain of gold left behind by his parents
A huge hand upon his shoulder shook him back to reality
"Ello 'Arry" Hagrid said, grinnig broadly
"Ere your coming back to Hogwarts to finish up. Mighty proud of ya I am 'Arry"
"Yeah" Harry sighed, looking at the pile of books he just bought from Florish and Blotts, making a mental note to stop by Gringotts later and collect more gold
"I decided to take on Care Of Magical Creatures again... that is, if your still teaching it.. No harm in taking on one extra class"
Hagrid looked at all the books Harry was carrying, including Advanced Potions and Advanced Transfiguration - The 7th And Final Year.
"Course I am" Hagrid said, looking very proud of himself
"Takin' on one extra class is a good thing. Make those people at the Ministry mighty impressed with ya"
"Yeah" Harry said, feeling a little bit uncomfortable. Probably because he hadnt seen Hagrid since Dumbledores funeral
"Well, I gotta go collect the rest of my stuff"
Harry looked in his bag, realising that he needed potion ingredients from the Apothcary
"Orrite 'Arry, I'll be seeing ya back at Hogwarts" Hagrid said, still beaming, headed towards the Leaky Cauldron
Probably off for a drink, Harry thought to himself as he watched Hagrid disappear through the doorway.
Harry entered the Apothcary and bought his ingredients, and left the store. He looked at his watch and sighed. It was only 1pm and he had done everything he needed to do, so he decided to head to Fortescues Ice-Cream Palour for an ice-cream
Harry sat down and started eating his triple choc-honeycomb tower. He started reading his new Quidditch book he just bought, 'Advanced Flying - The Easy Way' when the familiar female voice spoke just in front of him
"Um, is this seat taken?" Jessie said, wearing a pair of jeans and a black oriental top underneath her robes
"Every other table is full and you are the only person I know here - ok, well barely know but at least thats something isnt it?" Harry just chuckled "Sure" he said, standing up and pulling out the seat for Jessie, who had her arms full of books as well
"Thanks" Jessie said, taking the seat and sitting down, just in time too. Her books went tumbling on the ground
"Ah. I'm just gonna leave them" Hessie said, waving her hands at the books so they adjusted themselves accordingly
"How'd you do that?" Harrys said, watching her Advanced Transfiguration book clambering on her Divinations book
"Oh, well, I was top in my school and learnt how to do this well before anyone else did" Jessie said "I even remember having to compete in an inter-school competition against a Hermione Granger from your school. She was fantastic! We became friends and corresponded by owl for a while, until hers stopped coming" Jessie looked a lil sad but Harrys laughs made her feel better
"Yeah, good old Hermione, shes one of my good friends"
"Yeah, I know. She never stopped talking about you and a certain Ron Weasley"
Jessie said, shrugging
Harry laughed out loud this time "HA! Yep, thats definatly our Hermione. I seriously think they fancy each other, but I cant get in the way"
Jessie laughed as well, she was glad she found something they could talk about
"Double Strawberry, Double Vanilla and Triple Honeycomb ice-cream tower ready!" Fortescue yelled out
"Oh, thats mine, be right back" Jessie said, leaping from her chair
How can she eat all that! Harry though

"You like Quidditch?" Jessie asked, noticing the open Quidditch book on the table
"Oh, yes, I'm the Gryffindor Seeker and Quidditch captain at Hogwarts"
"Wow!" Liz said, sounding extremly impressed
"I used to be a Chaser and captain at Meralus as well" Jessie said, very casually
"The Australian Quidditch board asked me to go onto the Australian All-Stars team, but I just wanted to concentrate on school and because of..." Jessie trailed off
"What?" Harry asked
"I've gotta go. Sorry to bug you again" Jessie said, running off, tears welding in her eyes.
Harry just sat there and didnt know what to do
What the heck? Harry thought. Am I going to be thinking this all time I talk to her?
Harry just shrugged, finished his ice-cream and decided to walk around Diagon Alley some more.
Harry heard a voice behind him as he was heading towards Gringotts
"Harry!" the voice yelled out behind him
"Ron?" Harry said
"Come quick! Theres something you've got to see!" Ron said, with urgency in his voice
Something was telling Harry that this was not a good thing

Chapter 6

Harry followed Ron in such a hurry, that he didnt ask Ron what was going on
All of a sudden, the doors burst open at the Leaky Cauldron and the sound that followed was deafening
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!"
The room was full of his favourite people, the Weaslys - including Bill and Charlie - and Hermione, who was talking to Jessie in a corner under the stairs
Harry beamed at the sight around him. He'd never had his own birthday party and he was loving it
"Thankyou everyone" he said, not knowing what to say. He decided to mingle with people that even he didnt know
He noticed another girl with the Weasley twins, but decided to wait until a little bit later on to find out who it was
He started heading towards Hermione and Jessie, but was stopped by Mrs Weasleys crunching hugs
"Hello Harry dear, wont you open your presents?" she said, shuffling towards his presents, pulling Harry by the sleeves of his robes.
They stopped in front of the tall oak table that was filled with presents
"All right, I'll open two now, then the rest later" Harry said
"Ok" Mrs Weasley said "Open up Hermiones present and this one from..." Mrs Weasley picked up a parcel and read out the name ".. Miss Stacey Matthews amd Miss Jessie McMaster"
Harry picked up Hermiones first. He could tell it was a book, it had always been a book, except the time she gave him a polishing kit for his Nimbus 2000
When he opened it, he got a surprise he never expected
It was the most beautiful blue and gold trimmed photo album he had ever seen. He opened it and saw a small title page
The Road To The End

"Wow Hermione, its amazing! Thankyou" Harry said, hugging Hermione, whilst trying to hide the tears that were welding in his eyes
"No problems, Harry" Hermione said, smiling and returning his hug
Harry looked through the album. He saw a photo of himself waving at his present self.
It was his first year and it was him in his Quidditch robes with the Quidditch team for the first time. There was also another photo from the secret DA meetings they had in their fifth year, when they had Umbride as their Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher
"Ok, Stacey and Jessies present" Harry said, putting down his new album, trying not to get too involved.
He unwrapped the parcel and out rolled a knitted maroon and yeloow scarf with 'Quidditch Captain' knitted along the very edge and a mug with the words 'Harry Potter - Gryffindor Quidditch Team' on it
"Sorry, we couldn't get you much, but its the thought that counts right?" Jessie said
"Yeah, Jess knitted the scarf by hand and it took her all night to do it. And I charmed the mug" Stacey said
"Well I dont care about price, I love them both. Thankyou" Harry said, hugging both Stacey and Jessie
"Ok, lets get this party started!" he yelled as he let go of a blushing Jessie
Everyone started dancing with the closest person, but Harry decided to see if Jessie was ok.
"Hey, I just wanted to ask if you were ok? You just ran off crying from Fortescues place that it worried me" Harry said
"Yeah, it was all a set up to get you here. But, when I noticed you didnt follow me, we went to plan B and got Ron to come out yelling and screaming" Jessie said, looking quite embarrased
"Well, it was clever" Harry said, laughing "Would you like a drink?"
"Yes please.. Oh, I dont have any money left after buying the wool for your scarf" Jessie said, patting her pockets for change
"Hehe, thats ok, this ones on me" Harry said
He approached the bar, bought two Butterbeers and headed back to Jessie. He handed her a drink and Jessie took a sip and said "Wow, this is some seriously good stuff"
All of a sudden, Jessie collapsed on the floor
"Jess?? Are you ok??" Harry said, patting her cheeks and starting to get frantic
There was no response from her.
"Somebody help!" Harry yelled and everyone stopped and Stacey ran straight over
"Oh my gosh! What happened?!" Stacey asked Harry
"I dunno. One minute she was opening her drink and taking a sip and the next shes taken residence on the floor here" Harry said even more frantic than before
Stacey bent down and tried talking to her to no avail.
Jessie was just laying in the middle of the floor, motionless

Chapter 7

Stacey just looked at Harry and started bellowing at him, in front of everyone
"WHAT THE FLOBBERWORMS HAVE YOU DONE?!" Stacey yelled
"I swear I didn't do anything! Honest!" Harry said, trying frantically to calm Stacey down
As Stacey and Harry started arguing, the other girl that was accompanying the twins walked over and splashed water on Jessies face.
She woke up daized and confused, but before Harry had the chance to apologize to Jessie, even though he had nothing to apologize for, the other girl was taking Jessie up to her room.
'This is going to be a long month' Harry though as we sighed, watching Jessie being helped up the stairs

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September 1st could not have come around quicker for Harry. Between all the arguments with Stacey and Fred standing in the middle, and trying to get a head start on studying for his last year at Hogwarts, he wished he was back at Privet Drive.
'At least theres no-one there anymore to bug me for anything' Harry thought, but the thought of going back quickly left his mind.
The morning of the 1st was extremly hectic in the Weasley camp, even though there was only 2 of them going, but for Harry, it was easy going
He has already put his school books, quills and potion ingredients in his trunk, wondering who the new Potions and DADA teacher will be.
All he was waiting for now was Hedwig, who was out on her daily food hunt, when he heard a knock at his door
"Come in" he said, looking hopefully at the door
When it opened, his smile faded. He was hoping it was jessie because he hasnt seen or spoken to her since the day she collapsed, but it wasn't Jessie. It was stacey
"Hi Harry" Stacey said, quite timidly
"What do you want? Haven't you blamed me enough already?" Harry spat.
"Well, I've been talking to Jessie for the past week, about.." Stacey trailed off, but managed to regain her voice ".. you know?"

"Yeah, anyway, I wanted to say sorry for all the arguments. When Jess and I were talking, she said that she watched you and never saw you do anything, and because she's like a sister to me, I believe her" Stacey said quietly, her face redder than her hair
Harry turned around and looked at Stacey, but said nothing, indicating to Stacey to keep talking
"But, yeah, I thought I should apologize. We'll be both be on the Hogwarts Express shortly and I thought it would be good to make amends before we go back. Jess will be on there too, so if you wanna talk to her, I think she'd be happy if you did"
"Thanks" Harry said, approaching Stacey, and gave her a hug
Stacey wasn't ready for this, but hugged him back all the same.
Stacey turned to leave but turned and faced Harry to say something else
"Oh, and if you wanted to know, Jess is ok. A Healer from St. Mungos visited and said that it was just plain dehydration"
"Thats good news" Harry said,who had turned back to the window, a bit brighter.
"Yeah, it is. Shes just not used to the middle of the year being summer. Shes from the Southern Hemisphere remember, so for her its usually winter" Stacey said with a little giggle
Stacey turned away again and started walking out of his room, not before turning around again and said "You know, she really does like you. Not because your the famous Harry Potter, but she likes you for who you are. Not for your fame"
Stacey left Harry standing in the middle of his room even redder than Stacey had been only a few minutes earlier

As all of the remaining Weasley Hogwart students, which was Ron and Ginny, as well as Harry, Hermione, Jessie and Stacey, piled out of the Leaky Cauldron into the Ministry cars - they got them because of what Harry had to go through earlier on in the summer.
They hurried ever so quickly into the cars and rushed off for Platform 9 and 3/4

As they got there, they hurridly put their trunks on trolleys and swooshed through the crowds towards the barrier. They stopped and let Ginny go first.
Stacey and Jessie looks at each other and shrugged
"You've got to walk through the barrier" Ron said, pointing at the brick wall to Stacey and Jessie, who looked bewildered
"You say that like its easy" Jessie said, still looking at it as if it was a Fire Turtle coughing up Flobberworm mucus
Everyone laughed, even Jessie
They went through and came face to face with the enormous scarlet engine
Stacey and Jessie gasped. They had never seen anything as magnificent as this before
Ron, Ginny and Harry laughed, walking past them to let Hermione have room to come through still
"Come on Ron, up to the prefects compartment" Hermione said, indicating to people that she was through and eager to get to Hogwarts for her last year as a student
"Oh I can't wait to hear who Head Girl and Head Boy are going to be this year"
"We already know your getting Head Girl, Hermione" Ron said, impatently, as he walked up the stairs and into the carriage which lead to the prefects compartment
"See you all in a little bit" Ron said, waving at Harry
Harry waved back and turned to Ginny, Jessie and Stacey
"Well, that leaves me with you three then" Harry said.
Stacey and Jessie giggles and Ginny rolled her eyes
They got into the train and found an empty compartment, and very lucky too, because down just a little bit further was three second years throwing extremly poorly performed hexes around at each other
"I think I'm gonna go see Neville and Dean. Just to make sure he hasnt lost his toad again" Ginny said, walking away as Harry opened the compartment door for Jessie
"What in the living Pegasus is wrong with her lately?" Jessie said, but Stacey and Harry just looked at each other and laughed
"What?!" Jessie said, walking into the compartment.
Harry and Stacey followed in and took a seat
Not more than 5 minutes later, Hermione and Ron entered the compartment.
"Has the trolley been yet? Im starving" Ron said, sitting next to Stacey, leaving Hermione to sit next to Jessie, as they both struck up a conversation pretty quick
"Yeah it has" Jessie said, excusing herself from the conversation with Hermione "Got you something, sorry its not much, I didnt earn too much when I was working at the Leaky Cauldron"
Jessie handed him two chocolate frogs
"Hey, thats not problems, Thanks for these all the same" Ron said, taking the frogs and other food items that everyone was giving to him
Hermione rolled her eyes and said quite loudly "well, you wouldnt believe who Head Boy is" Hremione said, with a mixed look on her face, and a shiny Head Girl badge planted right on her chest
"Who? It can't be Malfoy, he's still missing" Harry said, as he watched the look on Hermiones face constantly trying to stay still

Chapter 8

Suddenly Ron opened his closed hand to reveal the Head Boy badge
"You've GOT to be kidding me?!" Harry said, rather estatic. "Thats great! Congratulations"
Rons face went red.
"Thats nothing. We've got to share a dorm together" Ron said
It was Hermiones turn to blush.
Ron was the only one to notice though, but she quickly turned away in hope that no-one else saw
"Yeah, Well, it was supposed to be Malfoy that got Head Boy, but since his disappearence and what he was meant to do, that decision quickly changed" Hermione said, making sure her face wasnt red anymore.
"Yeah, apparently it was between myself and that Terry Boot character for the Head Boy spot" Ron said, still extremly stunned, but pinning his badge to his robes
"Well, I'm really happy for you" Harry said, looking at Ron with a huge smile
"Yeah thats great. Wait till your parents hear about it" Laura, the other girl from the day Jessie fainted, said.
Ron cringed. He remembered the day that he went home for the summer during third year, when he dobbed on the twins to his mother, they said "We can imagine it now, little ickle Ronnikins, your going to be the next Head Boy, the next Percy even"

The rest of the train ride was pretty peaceful. The only interuptions they had was the usual, Neville asking about his toad and Malfoys croonies looking for Pansy.
They finally got to Hogsmede station just as the sun was setting.
As they got off the train,they all looked around at the remaining students.
There were more students than Harry thought there would be.
Ron and Hermione came from the front of the train, they had to patrol the train before they got off, and Stacey, Jessie and Laura came following behind Harry
Ron caught up to Harry and started talking to Harry.
"D'you have any idea where our.." Ron shuddered "..our own dorm would be?"
"No idea. You never know, it might just be the Room Of Requirement" Harry said, sounding unsure but trying to calm Ron down all the same.
They approached the carriages and hopped inside. Jessie, Stacey and Hermione on one side and Harry, Ron and Laura on the other
As they reached the castle, the rain started pouring from the night sky. Everyone was scurrying from their carriages and rushing inside.
Just as they got inside, they noticed it a little bit different. The happiness sucked out and replaced with seriousness
Stacey, Jessie and Laura, however, gasped at the beauty of the Entrance Hall.
"Wow, this is way better than the place I used to go to" Stacey exclaimed, admiring the paintings
"Yeah, it was nicer when Dumbledore was around. Felt so warm and welcome" Ron said "but it just lacks everything like that now"
Harry sighed as he walked in and caught the last bits of Rons sentence
"Well, time to go to the Great Hall for the last time for sorting" Harry said with yet another sigh
Just as they got to the doors to the Great Hall, Peeves approached Ron and Hermione
"Ickle Ronnikins and Ickle Granger are to report to Professor McGonagalls office" Peeves said, looking quite sullen
"Your not just pulling my dress robes are you?" Ron asked Peeves, eyeing him suspiciously
"No, just go" Peeves said before dissapearing
"Foul tempered ghoul" Hermione said "Well we better be off then"
"Thats an insult to poor ghouls Hermione" Ron said, chasing after Hermione
"Yes, and we had better stay here, we were told we gotta be sorted, so we have to wait for the first year students" Stacey said to Harry
"Alright then, well, good luck and lets hope you all get into Gryffindor" Harry said, hugging all three girls and heading to the Gryffindor table
Jessie blushed but mananaged to regain herself just as the first years arrived.
Not too long after Harry sat down, all the first years and the three new girls entered the Great Hall
They all walked that familiar walk that Harry went down, 7years ago and they stopped in front of the teachers table and the stool with the Sorting Hat on it.
Everyone fell silent as Professor McGonagall spoke.
"Please let the Sorting Hat speak" she said, looking a little bit anxious
The Sorting Hat started his song as Hermione and Ron came back into the Great Hall

In the beginning
there were an fantastic four
You just never know
There could have been more
But if only they could see
What has been happening lately
All the world is a mess
But we can make it less
If we can work together
It wont be like this forever
And we can all live in harmony

Everyone clapped, but Harry looked puzzled
"Well that was shorter than usual" Hermione said, putting her hands in her lap
"How'd your meeting with McGonagall go?" Harry ask Hermione and Ron
"What meeting? It was all a prank" Ron said "As we rounded the corner, he suprised us with water balloons"
Harry just shook his head as Professor McGonagall started speaking again "We have three new girls for their final year, so they are to be sorted. First is Stacey Matthews, then Jessie McMasters and lastly, Laura Vigarotti"
Stacey approached the Sorting Hat and closed her eyes as Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head.
Within seconds, the Sorting Hat bellowed "GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table clapped and cheered and Stacey sat next to Ron
Jessie was next up. Harry crossed his fingers underneath the table so noone would see. As she approached the hat and put it on, she gulped. All she could think of was being in Gryffindor. After a minute, the Sorting Hat finally said "GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry and Hermione jumped up from the table and invited Jessie over to the table as Laura was putting on the hat.
"No need to think --- GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat yelled.
All friends in the same house is great Harry thought as Laura joined her mates at the table
Jessie whispered across the table to Stacey, but Harry couldnt pick up what she said, only to see Staceys puzzled face, the sorting finished and the beginning of term feast beginning