The Light of the Dark: Harry Potter x OC

Chapter Twenty Seven - Year Two

"So you're both still alive?"

"Yes, we're both alive. Can we go in now? Drenched quidditch robes aren't exactly a joy to be in." As soon as we had reached the Fat Lady's portrait, we had given the password. However, she had decided to interrogate me until she was satisfied that I really was alive and not someone trying to sneak into the Common Room.

"Well, hold on now, I just have a few more-"

"I think if someone was trying to sneak into the Gryffindor Common Room, they'd have to be pretty thick to choose to look like one of the people who was dragged down into the chamber, don't you?" Ron questioned. The Fat Lady gave him a cold look before sighing.

"Yes, I guess you're right. Go on in then." She told us, finally swinging open. I took a deep breath before walking through the portrait hole. After taking only a few steps in, I froze. There was a large amount of cheering and what sounded like people crying. What was going on?

"And you said Emily was alive too, right?" I heard George Weasley ask.

"Yes! She and Harry are with Dumbledore right now." I heard Ginny tell him.

"Dumbledore's back too then?" Fred asked, a bright smile on his face. I walked the rest of the way into the Common Room, Ron and Harry right on my heels. The portrait door then swung closed and everyone looked over to see who had walked in. When their eyes landed on me, they went wide, a few people even gasping.

"Wow, I can't think of a time you two were ever so behind on the school gossip." I joked, looking at the twins. No one moved for a few more seconds until Angelina came to her senses and ran towards me, engulfing me in a hug. Everyone started cheering and a few others ran over to me. As soon as Angelina let me go, Katie Bell wrapped me in a hug. After her, it was the twins.

"Emily!" They said when they reached me. They pulled me into tight hugs.

"We were really worried about you and Ginny." Fred told me.

"Thought you were goners when we found out Lockhart was supposed to be saving you." George told me.

"Good thing Harry was there to save the day." Fred said.

"Oi! I was there too!" Ron complained. Fred and George ignored him and instead asked if I would tell them what happened.
After a quick synopsis, I excused myself, snuck through the crowd, and went up to my dorm. I smiled, looking at my bed. I was still here. I was still alive.

I took a quick shower and changed into my everyday robes. I then met Harry and Ron downstairs and we all made our way down to the feast. We made our way into the Great Hall and down the Gryffindor table. We saw a spot down by Neville and made our way over there. As we walked, a bunch of people stared at me. Some smiled, some said 'hi', and some just stared. A few people shook my hand and welcomed me back. It was weird to me, but it made me realize how long I had actually been gone. Eventually, we sat down across from Neville and Seamus, both of them saying hi. Since we had arrived a bit late, the food was already on the table, so the three of us began eating.

"Emily!" Neville said. I looked over at him. "It's Hermione." He told me, looking towards the entrance. My eyes widened and a smile erupted on my face as I looked over to see my best friend. I leaned back in my seat to get a better look. I had to lean way back as both Harry and Ron had already beat me to it. Hermione began to run towards us, a wide smile on her face. The three of us stood up and waited for her to reach us. As soon as she did, I opened my arms and we wrapped our arms around each other.

"You're okay!" I cheered, holding her tight.

"So are you!" She said. We gave each other one more tight squeeze before pulling away. Hermione then hugged Harry before pulling away and going to hug Ron. Before they connected, they both stopped.

"Uh, um..." Ron stuttered. He then held out his hand and the two shared an awkward handshake. "Welcome back, Hermione."

"It's good to be back." She told him. "Congratulations. I can't believe you solved it." She told the boys.

"Well, we had tons of help from you two." Harry told us. "We couldn't have done it without you."

"Thanks." Hermione and I said. Then, there was the sound of a fork hitting the side of the glass. We all looked up to the teacher's table towards McGonagall who had been making the noise.

"Could I have your attention, please?" McGonagall announced. The four of us went back to the table to find our seats just as Dumbledore was standing up.

"Before we begin the feast, let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout, Madam Pomfrey, whose Mandrake juice has been so successfully administered to all who had been petrified." The entire hall broke out into applause. "Also, in light of the recent events, as a school treat, all exams have been canceled." The entire hall broke into loud cheers and applause. I had a small smile on my face and gave a small golf clap. It would be nice to not have to stress over the exams, but I had put a lot of time into studying for them. I looked next to me at Hermione to see a look of peer disappointment on her face. Dumbledore smiled, looking from the students to the other teachers, before sitting down.

Then, the doors of the Great Hall opened up, silencing the celebration. Everyone directed their attention to the doors to see who was barging in, late to the feast. Once the doors had fully opened and I saw who was behind them, I couldn't help the large smile that appeared on my face.

"Sorry I'm late." Hagrid said, beginning to walk into the hall. "The owl that delivered my release papers got all lost and confused. Some ruddy bird called Errol." A laughed escaped me as I took a quick glance back at Ron before bringing my attention back to Hagrid.

Hagrid continued to walk until he had reached where the four of us were sat. He stopped and we all looked up at him with bright smiles, happy to have him back. "Well, I'd just like to say that if it hadn't been for you, Harry, Ron, and Hermione and Emily of course, that I would uh, still be you-know-where, so I'd just like to say thanks." The four of us looked at one another before Harry stood up.

"There's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid." Harry told him. He then leaned forward and embraced Hagrid, who returned the gesture. A clapping sound was then heard throughout the room. I looked over to the teacher's table to see Dumbledore standing and clapping his hands. His actions were quickly followed by Professor McGonagall and the other teachers. The students then started to clap. Harry pulled away as Ron, Hermione, and I stood up, all clapping for our friend. The entire hall, minus a few Slytherins, stood up and applauded Hagrid, who had tears in his eyes.

Tears entered mine as I looked up at my giant friend, extreme joy flooding through me as I realized that everything was all right and that the danger had officially passed.

----

The next day was the day that we would return home. After making sure we had packed everything, Ginny, the twins, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I had all packed ourselves into one compartment. Ginny had just finished informing us that Percy had been dating Penelope Clearwater, a Head Girl from Ravenclaw.

"WHAT?!" The twins shouted at the same time.

"No way!" Fred exclaimed.

"That's mental!" George said. I looked at them from the other side of the compartment.

"You're not going to tease him, are you?" I asked. The twins gave each other knowing looks before turning back towards me.

"Never." They both said, their tone and facial expression letting me know that that's exactly what they were going to do.

About an hour later, the train came to a stop. We all stood up and grabbed our things before hopping off and stepping onto the platform. We all hugged one another and said our goodbyes, promising that we would write to one another. We all then went off in separate directions, heading over to our parents and guardians, thinking of the next the time we were here and what next year could bring.

— End of Year Two —