𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 (𝟐) || HARRY POTTER LOVE STORY

59

Julie had been to several Hogwarts feasts, but never one quite like this. Everybody was in their pyjamas, and the celebrations lasted all night.

She didn't know whether the best bit was Hermione running towards her, screaming, 'You solved it! You solved it!' or Justin hurrying over from the Hufflepuff table to wring Harrys hand and apologise endlessly for suspecting him, or Hagrid turning up at half past three, cuffing Harry, Ron and Julie so hard on the shoulders that we were knocked into our plates of trifle, or our two hundred points securing Gryffindor the House Cup for the second year running, or Professor McGonagall standing up to tell us all that the exams had been cancelled as a school treat. ("Oh, no!" said Hermione) or Dumbledore announcing that, unfortunately, Professor Lockhart would be unable to return next year, owing to the fact that he needed to go away and get his memory back.

Quite a few of the teachers joined in the cheering that greeted this news.

"Shame" said Ron, helping himself to a jam donut "He was starting to grow on me."

The rest of the summer term passed in a haze of blazing sunshine. Hogwarts was back to normal, with only a few, small differences: Defence Against the Dark Arts classes were cancelled and Lucius Malfoy had been sacked as a school governor.

Draco was no longer strutting around the school as though he owned the place. On the contrary, he looked resentful and sulky. On the other hand, Ginny was perfectly happy again.

Too soon, it was time for the journey home on the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, Mason and Julie got a compartment to ourselves.

They made the most of the last few hours in which they were allowed to do magic before the holidays. They played Exploding Snap, set off the very last of Fred and George's Filibuster Fireworks, and practised disarming each other by magic.

They were almost at King's Cross when Julie remembered something.

"Gin - what did you see Percy doing, that he didn't want you to tell anyone?" she asked curiously.

"Oh, that." said Ginny, giggling. "Well - Percy's got a girlfriend!"

Fred dropped a stack of books on George's head.

''What?'' they all said, shocked.

''It's that Ravenclaw Prefect, Penelope Clearwater." said Ginny. ''That's who he was writing to all last summer. He's been meeting her all over the school in secret. I walked in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day. He was so upset when she was - you know - attacked. You won't tease him, will you?" she added anxiously.

"Wouldn't dream of it." said Fred, who was looking as if his birthday had come early.

''Definitely not" said George, sniggering.

"Sounds good, doesn't it?" whispered Harry into Julie's ear, smirking. "Kissing in an empty classroom..."

"POTTER!"

The Hogwarts Express slowed and finally stopped. Harry pulled out one of his quills and a bit of parchment and turned to Ron, Hermione and Julie.

''This is called a telephone number" he told Ron, scribbling it three times, tearing the parchment in three and handing it to them. "I told your dad how to use a telephone last summer, he'll know. Call me at the Dursleys, OK? I can't stand another two months with only Dudley to talk to..."

"Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione, as we got off the train and joined the crowd thronging towards the enchanted barrier. "When they hear what you did this year?"

"'Proud?" said Harry. "Are you mad? All those times I could've died, and I didn't manage it? They'll be furious..."

"I'm sure it won't be that bad." Julie said as they started looking for their familys. They spotted her parents first.

"MUM! DAD!" she screamed excitedly while sprinting to them and pulling them into a tight hug. "I've missed you so much!"

"We missed you too." her dad said. "Hello Ron, Hermione and Mini Potter!"

"Is that a new bracelet?" her mum asked me, pointing at the beaded bracelet, which she hadn't taken off since Christmas.

"Yes, Harry made it for me," Julie said, her smile widening. Her face flushed, and she quickly glanced at Harry, who was now looking at anything but her, his cheeks faintly tinged with red.

Julie's dad opened his mouth, grinning widely, to say something, but luckily Mason interrupted him.

"Mum! Dad!" he shouted from a distance of ten metres "We've got to get home! I need to send a letter to someone!"

Julie gave all her friends tight hugs before following her parents and Mason through the gate into the Muggle world.

But as she turned back for one last look at the platform, she saw Harry standing with Ron and Hermione, his eyes searching for her amidst the crowd. For a moment, their gazes met, and something passed between them. A quiet, fleeting connection that felt like more than just the end of another year.

Julie smiled faintly and turned away, her heart fluttering a little faster than before. It was the smallest thing, but it lingered in her chest, a feeling of adoration.