meant to be (1)

60

"Just five minutes!" I pleaded.

"Absolutely not." Madam Pomfrey, the matron snapped back.

"You let Professor Dumbledore in..."

"Well, of course, that was the Headmaster, quite different. You need rest!"

"We are resting, look, lying down and everything."

"Oh, go on, Madam Pomfrey..."

"Oh, very well." she said. "But five minutes only!"

And she let Ron and Hermione in.

"Harry! Julie!"

Hermione looked ready to fling her arms around us again, but I was glad she held herself in as my head was still very sore.

"Oh, Julie, we were sure you were going to- Dumbledore was so worried-"

"The whole school's talking about it." said Ron. "What really happened?"

It was one of those rare occasions when the true story is even more strange and exciting than the wild rumours. Harry and I told them everything. Ron and Hermione were a very good audience, they gasped in all the right places and, when Harry told them what was under Quirrell's turban, Hermione screamed out loud.

"So the Stone's gone?" said Ron finally. "Flamel's just going to die?"

"That's what we said, but Dumbledore thinks that - what was it? - "to the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure!" I said

"I always said he was off his rocker." said Ron, looking quite impressed at how mad his hero was.

"So what happened to you two?" asked Harry.

"Well, I got back all right." said Hermione. "I brought Ron round - that took a while - and we were dashing up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the Entrance Hall. He already knew - he just said, "They've gone after him, haven't they?" and hurtled off to the third floor."

"D'you think he meant you to do it?" asked Ron.
"Sending you your father's Cloak and everything?"

"Well" Hermione exploded. "if he did - I mean to say - that's terrible - you could have been killed!"

"No, it isn't" said Harry thoughtfully. "He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the Mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could.."

"Yeah, Dumbledore's barking, all right." said Ron proudly, which made me burst out laughing.

"Listen, you've got to be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow. The points are all in and Slytherin won, of course - you missed the last Quidditch match, we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you - but the food'll be good."

At that moment, Madam Pomfrey bustled over.

"You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT!" she said firmly.

🤍

After a good nigh's sleep, I felt nearly back to normal.

"We want to go to the feast" I told Madam Pomfrey as she straightened our many sweet-boxes. "We can, can we?"

"Professor Dumbledore says you are to be allowed to go." she said sniffily, as though in her opinion Professor Dumbledore didn't realise how risky feasts could be. "And you have another
visitor."

"Oh good." said Harry. "Who is it?"

Hagrid sidled through the door as he spoke. As usual when he was indoors, Hagrid looked too big to be allowed. He sat down between Harry and I, took one look at us and burst into tears.

"It's - all - my - ruddy - fault!" he 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! All fer a dragon egg! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out an' made ter live as a Muggle!"

"Hagrid!" I said, shocked to see Hagrid shaking with grief and remorse, great tears leaking down into his beard. "Hagrid, he'd have found out somehow, this is Voldemort we're talking about, he'd have found out even if you hadn't told him."

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

"VOLDEMORT!" Harry bellowed, and Hagrid was so shocked, he stopped crying. "I've met him and I'm calling him by his name. Please cheer up, Hagrid, we saved the Stone, its gone, he can't use it. Have a Chocolate Frog, I've got loads..."

Hagrid wiped his nose on the back of his hand and said "That reminds me. I've got yeh both a present."

"It's not sandwiches, is it?" said Harry anxiously and al last Hagrid gave a weak chuckle.

"Nah. Dumbledore gave me the day off yesterday ter fix it. Cause, he shoulda sacked me instead - anyway, got yeh.."

It seemed to be two handsome, leather-covered book. I opened my curiously. It was full of wizard photographs.

The first photograph was a picture of my mum and dad. They both were about 14 or 15 years old smiling at each other eagerly while my dad had his arm around her shoulders. A photograph of my mum with another redheaded girl and a photograph of him and four other boys followed. I decided to look at the other pictures when I was alone.

"Sent owls off ter all yer parents' old school friends, askin' fer photos... D'yeh like it?"

Harry couldn't speak, but I answered for him with an excited nod.