RAVENCLAW!

18. Win or Lose

Harry sat on his bed, gaze fixed on the book in his lap. He turned the page and found yet another picture of his parents. This time they were standing in the snow and a blonde woman was with them. All three of them seemed to be about 17 years old and they were waving into the camera happily.
A caption read:

Lily, James and Marlene; Hogsmeade, Feb. 1978

Harry smiles sadly at their merry faces. It was nice having something from their past but it also hurt a lot.
Suddenly the door was flung open and Michael, Terry and Anthony entered, ripping Harry from his thoughts. As soon as they saw him they were attacking him with questions. So he closed the book and placed it on his bedside table.

"Yeah, I'm fine guys and no I did not battle a dragon. Who even said that?"

"Please tell us what really happened, these crazy rumours will be the end of me!"

So Harry sighed and told the whole story. Well, the short form. How he and Hermione and Ron had found out about the Philosopher's Stone being at Hogwarts (*gasp* "What? Really?") and someone planning to steal it in the name of Voldemort ("DON'T say that name!") and how they went past the three headed dog in the forbidden corridor and down the trap door, through different rooms with different challenges until he found Quirrell ("Quirrell? You're joking.") who had Voldemort's face in the back of his head (Don't say THAT NAME!" "I was always wondering why he started wearing a turban.") and how he then got the stone out of the mirror of Erised and Quirrell attacked him and he fainted before Dumbledore got him out of there.

"Wow, okay, this is at least twice as crazy as the rumours! You sure you didn't make that up?"
As an answer Harry held up his in bandages covered arm.
"Trust me. I wish I did."

Then he took a look Uncle Vernon's old watch on his bedside table.

"Guys, we should probably head down to the end of year feast or we'll miss the house cup ceremony."

"I wouldn't mind. Slytherin won. Again,"
Michael said disappointedly.

They went down to the great hall anyway.
As all students were seated at their tables Dumbledore stood and held up his hands, silencing them.

(A/N: the underlined parts are 100% copied from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone)
"Another year gone!"
Dumbledore said cheerfully.
"And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding and the points stand thus:
In fourth place, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two points; in third, Gryffindor, with three hundred and seventy-seven; Ravenclaw have three hundred and eighty-one and Slytherin four hundred and forty-two."

Slytherin started to cheer and stomp loudly until the headmaster silenced them again.
"Yes, yes, well done Slytherin,"
said Dumbledore.
"However, recent events must be taken into account."
The room went very still. The Slytherins' smiles faded a little.

"First- to Mr Ronald Weasley, for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts he's seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Cheers erupted at the Gryffindor table and Harry flashed Ron a wide grin.

"Second- to Miss Hermione Granger, for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Hermione buried her face in her arms.
When she looked up again, teary-eyed, Harry held up two thumbs at her and she gave him a smile in return.

"Third- to Mr Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, as well as great skill and good thinking, I award Ravenclaw house one hundred points."