The Moon and Stars.

18- The First Year Of The Rest Of Their Lives

Harry was out of the hidden chamber that morning. Dumbledore has rescued him, just barley. Harry had to be placed in the hospital wing immediately after.

Ron was out of the hospital wing that day.

Harry didn't wake up until three days later, where the entire school had learned of his bravery, and his four close friends had spent the time in silence, fearing for his life.

Their first real joy in awhile came when Madam Pomfrey, a simultaneously strict and kind nurse, allowed them into the hospital wing for five minutes to see Harry.

"Harry!" They yelled in joy, running to his bedside.

They refrained from hugging him, which Dumbledore told them to do, as he left the hospital wing a few minutes before they entered.

"Oh Harry, we were sure you were going to—"

"We were so worried, and so was Dumbledore which made it even worse—"

"The whole schools talking about it-"

"What really went down?"

Harry immediately launched into detail, and his friends sat in polite silence as they listen to his tale, which was even more exciting than the rumors floating around school. Everyone had known what happened up to the point Hermione and Harry separated, but nobody had a clue about what happened after.

They say and listened, gasping in all the right places and politely holding any questions till the end. Hermione even screamed when Harry told her what was underneath Quirrell's turban.

"It does make sense, if you think about it." Said Selena after the sorry was over. "Snape suspected Quirrell, which was why he was always yelling at him. Plus the troll on Halloween and the troll in Quirrell's room that was knocked out. I mean, it makes sense. Although, the real question is why didn't Professor Snape think to alert Dumbledore."

"I wondered that too." Harry admitted. "I'm wondering if he didn't think he had enough evidence or if he wanted to do it himself."

They all seemed to accept that answer.

"So the Stone is gone? Flamel's just going to die?" Asked Ron.

"That's what I said. Dumbledore told me 'to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.'"

"I always said he was off his rocker." Said Ron, causing the group to share a laugh, the first one they had in over three days.

"So what happened to you four?" Asked Harry.

"We got back alright. We used the brooms to leave, Cass carried Ron, and Selena sung some Disney songs to get Fluffy to sleep-"

"Still don't know what Disney is." Ron added.

"And we flew up to the owlery- yes, flew, we didn't want to spare any time- and plenty of students saw us, that's how the story got out, and then we sent the letter." Explained Hermione.

"But get this, Snape shows up and looks as if it was Christmas morning, as we all should've been expelled, and we all started freaking out since he was with us, and you were down there with who knows. Needless to say he was very confused." Said Cassiopeia.

"But then McGonagall shows up, mad as hell, but we explained and she whisked us away to the hospital wing. Snape was so angry! His one opportunity to expel us, down the drain." Chortled Selena.

"Then on the way to the hospital wing, we saw Dumbledore. He just looked at us, noticed you weren't there, and hurtled off towards the third floor."