Harry Potter and the Second Chance

Chapter Thirteen - Another Year Gone

"Ugh, I can't sit still. I'm too worried." I said, dreading the History of Magic lesson that we were currently in.

"He's alright. Really." Ron assured me for the thousandth time.

"I know. But still."

---

After class, the three of us hurried to the hospital wing. Before we got there, though, we found the person who we'd been wanting to visit.

"Harry!" I exclaimed.

"Alright, Eleanor, Ron?" He smiled at us.

"Brilliant." I said.

"Alright. You?" Ron asked in return.

"Alright. Hermione?" Harry said.

"Never better."

---

The great hall was all decked out in green and silver decorations, announcing Slytherin's house cup win. It was like salt in the wound.

"Another year gone. And now as I understand it, the House Cup needs awarding. And the points stand as thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor with 262 points. Third place, Hufflepuff with 352 points. In second place Ravenclaw with 426 points. And in first place, with 472 points, Slytherin House." Dumbledore announces that night at the end of term feast.

The Slytherin table erupted into applause, and many of their more prominent members sent us nasty looks. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I exchanged defeated looks.

"Yes, yes. Well-done Slytherin. Well-done Slytherin." Dumbledore congratulated the house. "However, recent events must be taken into account. And I have a few last-minute points to award."

To this, Slytherin booed, then shut up after a pointed look from the headmaster.

"To Ms. Hermione Granger, for the cool use of intellect when others were in grave peril. 50 points." The Gryffindor table broke out into applause, excited to be gaining at the last moment.

"Second, to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen these many years. 50 points. Thirdly, to Ms. Eleanor Berwyk, for being a kind and compassionate friend when others were hurt. 50 points." Fred clapped me on the back as the Gryffindor House applauded. "And fourth, to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage. I award Gryffindor House 60 points."

"We're tied with Slytherin!" Cassandra exclaimed.

"And finally, it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies. But a great deal more to stand up to your friends. I award 10 points to Neville Longbottom."

"Good job, Neville!" I praised, and he smiled shyly.

Assuming my calculations are correct I believe that a change of decoration is in order." With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore replaces the green and sliver with red and gold. "Gryffindor wins the House Cup!"

The entire great hall roared, all except for the Slytherins. They were quite upset, but we were excited. We had beaten Slytherin for the first time in seven years.

"It's not fair! You can't do that!" I heard Draco shouting.

"He can do whatever! He's headmaster!" Ron shouted back.

---

"So, how are you liking Hogwarts?" Tim asked as we walked to the train station.

"It's brilliant." I answered.

"It's a lot more eventful than I thought it'd be." Harry added.

Cass laughed. "Yeah, for you four! El, I barely heard from you at all after the winter holidays."

"Well, I mean, we were kind of busy." I said.

"And yet you still managed to get better marks than I did." Tim sighed in halfhearted disbelief.

"I don't know how they do it!" Ron exclaimed, gesturing to Hermione and I.

"I'm so proud of you, El. I'm proud of all of you." Cass pulled us all into a huge group hug.

"May we join in?" Fred and George asked at the same time, and, without an answer, they pulled our group into an even tighter hug.

After a minute or two of pure suffocation, we were released. Finally, we were at the Hogsmeade station.

"I'm going to miss you all so much this summer!" I said, pulling my three friends into another hug.

"Yes! We all have to promise to write." Hermione agreed.

"Promise." Harry said.

"Promise." Ron repeated.

"Promise." I ended.

"Oh, there's Hagrid. I'm going to go say goodbye. Cass, can you bring my trunk on?" I asked my older sister, who nodded.

"I'll go too, Eleanor." Harry told me.

"Save us spots?" I asked Hermione, who nodded.

"Yeah, of course!"

We walked over to Hagrid, who was trying to direct all of the students running in different directions.

"Come on now, hurry up! Train's leaving. Go on, hurry up!" Hagrid was waving his hands towards the entrances to the different cars of the train.

"Come on, Eleanor, Harry. You don't want to miss the train."

"You didn't think we'd leave without saying goodbye, did you?" I smiled, and Harry and I both ran up and embraced the gamekeeper.

"Oh, now, that's right kind o' ya. You have a good summer, alright?"

"Alright, Hagrid. You as well." I turned to leave. "Coming, Harry?"

"Yeah, I'm a minute." I smiled at the both of them, then went back to the traincar.

"Where's Harry?" Ron asked.

"He stayed behind for a bit. I think Hagrid has something to tell him." I explained.

A couple minutes later, Harry came into the traincar and sat down.

"Alright, Harry?" I asked.

"Alright."

---

It didn't matter where they were, because it was different for each of the six. The gateway.

"What do you think?" Dumbledore asked the four men.

"About the girl?" Padfoot asked.

"About everything. But specifically her, yes." The old headmaster confirmed.

"She seems to be a lovely girl." Lily said. "She smart, talented..."

"I think she's good. A good match." Prongs said. "Three's a crowd, but four's a family."

They all looked around, even at Wormtail, who had been forgiven of his treachery many moons ago. Prongs was right. They were a family.