The Cowardly Lion (Book 1)

21: Of End-of-Term Feasts and Dursleys

Hagrid was Harry's and Draco's final visitor before the end-of-year feast, and he came in, took one look at Harry and Draco, and burst into tears.

"It's - all - my - ruddy - fault!" Hagrid sobbed, his face in his hands. "I told the evil git how ter get past Fluffy! I told him! It was the only thing he didn't know, an' I told him! Yeh could've died, the both of yeh! All fer a dragon egg! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out an' made ter live as a Muggle!"

"Hagrid!" Harry interrupted him; he had taken to sleeping in Draco's bed, and Draco had to say he couldn't complain. "He'd have found out somehow, he's Voldemort, it's not your fault."

"Yeh could've died!" sobbed Hagrid. "An' don' say the name!"

"VOLDEMORT!" shouted Harry, startling Draco. "I've met him, Hagrid," he said in a quieter voice, "and I'm calling him by his name. Please cheer up, Hagrid, have a Chocolate Frog, we've got loads..."

"You've got loads," Draco corrected.

Harry conveniently ignored Draco's statement.

"That reminds me, I've got yeh a present..." Hagrid sniffled. "Dumbledore gave me the day off yesterday ter fix it. 'Course, he shoulda sacked me instead...anyway, got yeh this..."

It was a handsome, leather-covered book. Harry opened it beside Draco, and Draco's jaw dropped; it was full of wizard photographs, not that Draco recognized anybody in them. But on every page, there was a red-haired woman with Harry's eyes, beside a man with Harry's messy hair, glasses and build, smiling and waving from them.

"Are those - " Draco asked Harry quietly, but Harry seemed to be speechless. He looked to Hagrid, who nodded gruffly. "Sent owls off ter all his parents' old school friends, askin' fer photos...knew yeh didn' have any...d'yeh like it?"

Harry still couldn't speak, but Hagrid understood.

As they walked down to the end-of-year feast, Harry turned to face Draco. "I'll really miss this place," he said quietly. "I'll really miss...well..."

Draco took Harry's face in his hands, cupping his cheeks, and kissed him. When they broke apart, both of their cheeks were pink. "Yeah," breathed Draco, "I'll miss this too."

"My aunt and uncle...they're not really...well, they...it's not you," Harry burst out, "they'd be unhappy even if I didn't come home with a boyfriend, but especially since it's a boyfriend..."

"It's okay, Harry, I get it. We'll make sure to stay away from them during the summer," Draco said quietly.

When they walked into the Great Hall, decorated with emerald and silver banners celebrating Slytherin winning the House Cup, there was a sudden hush, and then everybody started talking loudly, all at once. Harry led Draco to their seats across from Ron and Hermione, who beamed at them.

"Another year gone!" Dumbledore announced cheerfully, effectively ending the chatter. "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."

There was a loud cheer from the Slytherin table; Draco and Harry lowered their heads at the sight of Crabbe pounding his goblet on the table victoriously.