Finding Hope (Book 1)

Chapter 21: Another adventure soon to come

AN--I know that Hogwarts school year end about the third week of June, but for the plots sake can we pretend that they end sometime in the first week of June? 

The rest of the final term passed in a haze of blazing sunshine. Hogwarts was back to normal with only a few, small differences -

Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were canceled ("but we've had plenty of practice at that anyway," Ron told a disgruntled Hermione) 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 Weasley was perfectly happy again. Too soon, it was time for the journey home on the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, and I  got a compartment to themselves. 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 practiced disarming each other by magic. Harry was getting very good at it. Hope on the other hand was slowly coming along.

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

"Oh, that," said Ginny, giggling. "Well - Percy's got a girlfriend." Fred dropped a stack of books on George's head.

"What?" Fred exclaimed.

"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 like his birthday had come early.

"Definitely not," said George, sniggering.

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

"This is called a telephone number," he told Ron, scribbling it twice, tearing the parchment in two, and handing it to them. "I told your dad how to use a telephone last summer - he'll know. Call me at the Dursleys', okay? 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 they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward the enchanted barrier.

"When they hear what you did this year?"

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

I handed the telephone number to back to Harry. "I won't be able to call you over the summer. Its dangerous for demigods to use the telephone, attracts monsters." 

"Keep it just in case." And together they walked back through the gateway to the Muggle world. 

Suddenly Professor Dumbledore appears by my side. "I hope that the train ride was delightful?"

"Yes professor it was." 

"Grab my hand please." I automatically knew what was going to happen. Everything went black; I was pressed very hard from all directions; I couldn't breathe, there were iron bands tightening around my chest; my eyeballs were being forced back into his head; my ear-drums were being pushed deeper into my skull.

The first thing I saw when we appeared was a huge, White House Christmas tree-sized pine at the crest of the nearest hill. 

"That's the property line," Dumbledore said, pointing to the big tree. "Get over that hill and you'll see a big farmhouse down in the valley. And Hope, you are the only half-blood who is also a witch. It is forbidden for gods to mate with wizards and witches. So I suggest that you keep your witch side of you on the down low. I have already contacted the camps activities director, Chiron , about your situation and who you are. And child, be safe."  At the last word a crack sounded and Dumbledore was gone.