Till Forever Falls Apart

Chapter Sixteen: Summer Begins

Dumbledore did not even question how they had taken possession of the stone.

    "This is very powerful magic," he said calmly, his eyes settling gently on the two kids in his midst. "I am grateful that you have brought this to my attention."

    I sure hope you are, Val thought bitterly. They had harangued McGonagall and Snape for an audience with the headmaster, and while their female professor did question them about their whereabouts, Snape seemed to be taking the opportunity to try and smear the two students' reputations while the fellow teacher was present. Dumbledore had heard the rustling outside his office, and invited the children in, closing the door swiftly behind him.

    Harry was reluctant to hand the stone over, thinking irritably about how cool it would have looked on his dresser at home next to his quidditch figures and wandstand. Dumbledore placed it squarely in front of them, the two pairs of young eyes moving uncomfortably as they waited for their punishment in silence.

    "You are free to go," the man breezily, waving his hand and the door clicked open. Harry and Val looked at each other, perplexed.

    "Headmaster," Harry said uneasily. "You're not going to ask us any questions?"

    "I don't see a need to," Dumbledore's expression did not waver. "Unless one of you feels like sharing."

    Silence fell over them once again, letting a beat pass before the two of them turned to take their leave.

    "I suspect that the two of you are quite like your fathers," Dumbledore folded his hands together, the wisdom and patience in his voice carried from his desk to the entryway.

    "The two of you have the gift of family, amongst other things you will find out soon enough," he said cryptically. "Do not waste the talents your fathers and mother have given you."

    Val and Harry exchanged another puzzled look, smiling back at their headmaster as they left the office.

    "I thought he was going to have our heads," Val said as they turned the corner.

    Harry nodded. "Me too. What do you suppose he meant when he said we have gifts that we'll find out about soon enough?"

    "I don't know, Harry," a curl fell in front of her eyes. "He speaks in riddles."

    The two laughed, relieved that they were free as they arrived at the end-of-year feast.

    Slytherin banners and ember green decorations were showered across the large gathering space, the serpent plastered for everyone to see. Val made her way to the Ravenclaw table, seeing that Anthony had left a small space just for her. Taking her seat next to him, she smoothed out her blue robes.

    "I can't believe the year's already over," Padma said in disbelief. "It seems like it was yesterday I was spraying water all over you on our first day."

    Val giggled. "I thought you were bizarre."

    "And I thought you were going to hex me when I approached you in the common room that first night," Anthony chuckled. "Almost bit my head off."

    "I was going through things!" Val smiled at him. "But we're friends now."

    "Do you think I could come over sometime this summer?" Anthony said hopefully. "Dad said he would love to catch up with yours."

    "I'll come too!" Padma interjected. "Your family seems so fun!"

    "Of course you guys can!" Val nodded. "I'll write to the both of you."