A Forbidden Love

Chapter 12: Wait! What?

Today is the day. It is the day of the final feast. Classes are over. There's nothing to do today but spend the day with friends. And that's what we do.

We spend the first hour of the morning packing up our things. Then we head to breakfast. After that, we just sit in our dorm and take in everything one last time. That is, until next year.

"I'm going to miss this place," I say.

"It's only one summer," points out Crabbe.

"Yeah, but I made so many memories here."

"Me too," says Blaise. "To think that I spent the first week of school as a wallflower. I had no friends whatsoever. Now look at me. It's all thanks to you guys."

"Okay," Theo shouts, "enough of this sad crap guys. You'll see each other next year. Let's party instead."

"Yeah!" Goyle agrees, reaching under his bed and pulling out a bottle. "I stole some butterbeer from the party last night."

"I got some cups," Theo adds.

We pull out the things and set up. We spend the rest of the day playing beer pong, laughing, and simply enjoying each other's company. It's the perfect way to spend the last day.

Finally, the time comes for the final feast. Everyone is buzzing around now, waiting to get home. For me, though, I am home. Once I leave, I'm just going to a house.

We walk into the Great Hall to see it decked out with green and silver decorations. Slytherin won the house cup! I completely forgot.

When I'm done awing at the decor, I go and sit down. Once everyone is seated, the ceremony begins. Dumbledore starts it off with his farewell speech.

"Another year gone!" Dumbledore starts. He drones on for a while about safe summers and great work this year but I'm waiting for one thing.

"Now, as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding," exactly what I was waiting for, "and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."

We cheer and cheer loudly as Dumbledore congratulates us. Nothing could stifle our pride, except maybe what he says next.

"However, recent events must be taken into account," Dumbledore says. We all stop cheering and stare. My jaw drops more with each statement he makes after this.

First, he awards the weasel fifty points. He awards them for a great game of chess. What? How is that fair? At least there's still 110 points between us. Still, I'm worried.

He continues after awarding the weasel to award the mudblood. She doesn't deserve anything. My dad says mudbloods are a disgrace. I guess he says the same about gays, though. I may need to stop listening to him.

He awards the mudblood another fifty. This time it's for "cool logic in the face of fire." What does that even mean? They're getting too close to beating us. I don't like it.

And surprise, Potter is awarded sixty points. That hot, impressive child. I can't stand him. Dumbledore awards him for courage. I can't even begin to understand.

What are these awards? They don't make sense. Then, my mind puts the pieces together. Over the past day, I've heard rumors of Potter battling Voldemort after getting past a bunch of traps set up by the teachers to guard a stone. I had tuned it out because there are so many rumors about Potter. That's what all this was about.

Suddenly, I realize we're tied with Gryffindor. Everyone starts whispering.

"We can't tie," I say. "That's not allowed, right?"

"It's never happened," Theo answers.

"Then...?" Theo shrugs.

Not a moment later, Dumbledore announces the final award. He awards the brainless scum, Longbottom. I'm beside myself. I'm so mad. What could he have possibly done to earn points.

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends." That is Dumbledore's reasoning. The quote hits me hard. If that's the reason, I guess Neville does deserve it. Maybe he's not so brainless after all.

The decorations are now changing around the room. The green and silver disappears as red and gold replaces it. It's a disappointing sight for all Slytherins.

Needless to say, we all continue to enjoy ourselves. Sure we didn't win, but we always have next year.

Dumbledore ends his speech informing us that we will have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher next year. I wonder what happened to Quirrel.

The rest of the professors give speeches about hard work and effort. All speeches sound very similar except for one. The one is Snape's.

"Everyone worked hard this year," he starts, "but we can all work harder. More effort needs to be put to the learning of Potions."

When the speech ends, I'm practically in tears. I'm laughing so hard. I'm proud to have him as Slytherin Head of the House. He really is one.

After all the speeches conclude, the feast begins. The food is piled high, just like it is any feast. At the end of the feast, we say goodbye to our seventh years. They're the only ones we won't see next year. It brings a tear to my eye, but I never connected with them. I'm not going to miss them much.

My gang and I go back to the common room to find it somewhat empty. Nobody is partying tonight. Everyone wants to get home. We all go to bed to make sure morning gets here quickly.

It does, and when we wake up, we're dragging our trunks to the train. The train leaves at eleven, as it always does. We arrive home by nightfall.

At the train station, I say my final goodbyes to my friends. We even hug each other goodbye. We don't know if we'll see each other at all this summer. We hope, but nothing is certain.

"Ready to go?" my Mom asks when I get over to them.

"I think so," I say.

"Welcome back!" My dad puts his arm around my shoulder and we head off the platform.

I only look back once, to wave to my friends yet again. I already can't wait till the next school year begins.