Chapter 22
“What have I told you about breaking mirrors? It’s bad luck.” Alyssa’s voice was shaking slightly as Harry blinked awake, letting out a small groan of pain as he moved to sit a little too quickly. “Though I suppose you did save everyone the hardship of having to really worry about destroying the stone.”
“Alyssa.”
“Don’t you dare scare me like that again you hear me? If you didn’t think you could kill Quirrel I get it, but if you had told me this was the plan, I would have let Nevil heal Draco and I would have helped you.”
“You do things like this all the time.”
“No, I don’t Harry. I don’t go looking for boss fights. The biggest thing that I’ve actually had to fight was a Pyramid Head, not something that big.”
“But-“
“Your right, there was the Spider Haunter, but that was when I was little. And I did not go seeking that out. Now I would rather not talk about that, but Harry… I wouldn’t willingly go up against something like that on my own, I’m not even following the logic of what you thought would happen.” Alyssa sighed, shaking their head. “But to be clear I checked and there are no remnants of the Philosopher’s stone, and Constantine even checked the glass to be sure.”
“He’s here?”
“No, he left a while ago, didn’t stay long.” Alyssa let out a heavy sigh, clenching their fists on the sheets. “What were you thinking Harry, you could have very easily have been killed.”
“I know Alyssa, I’m sorry.” Harry whispered, fixing his position before reaching out to pet their cheek. “I’ll be alright though, you know that.”
“Of course I do Harry, that doesn’t mean I’m okay with you being reckless.” They let out a heavy sigh. “Draco’s okay by the way. The moon’s going to be rough, but he’ll recover just fine.”
“That’s good. How are you?”
“Other than worrying about you for the last several hours, I’ve been fine.” They shook their head, wiping the tears from under their eyes as they turned. “Your basically my brother Harry, that’s the kind of friends we are. The fact that you did something like this without thinking how it could affect me hurts quite a bit.”
“I know.”
“With that being said, I’m still fairly impressed. You managed to fight a boss monster, and by choice. That’s… Probably less emotionally scaring then what happened to me.” Alyssa gave a chuckle gently hugging harry before pulling back. “your going to have to describe what you can to me-“
As Alyssa’s eyes went wide Harry let out a small sigh. He could only figure that they had been sitting there, waiting for him to wake up as long as he had been in the hospital wing, it was a miracle that the ‘doctor’ hadn’t made it’s presence known much sooner than it already had.
“It’s okay, you should probably go. I appreciate you staying as long as you have.”
“Hm?” Alyssa’s focus snapped away from the monster, blinking a few times back to reality. Harry didn’t dare bring up the many times that they had to face the shadowy being, knowing how fruitless their efforts to get rid of it had been. “Oh, right. Yeah... I don’t really want to be in any form of a hospital longer than I need to be, I’m going to get going. I’ll see you at the end of the year feast alright?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
As Alyssa left a soft chuckle sounded from nearby and Harry turned to find Albus Dumbledore waiting for him.”
“Albus.”
“Harry my boy, it’s good to see you awake.” Harry glared at the twinkle in the old man’s eyes. “I heard about your escapades protecting the Philosopher’s Stone, quite a remarkable-“
“Please, get to the point.” Harry crossed his arms. “And I am not your boy, far from it.”
“I merely wished to congratulate you on your fine victory.” He gave a small nod. “though I expected nothing less from the boy who lived.”
“What a childish title. I would much prefer not to be known by a mantra that I earned as a baby, in an event that cost me my parents life thank you very much.”
“Very well my boy.”
“Clearly my wishes are not being respected, but maybe this one will be headed. Please leave.”
“I do wish to inquire about your friend’s current position on their houses.”
“You would have to ask them. Now with all due respect sir, please leave. I just got up and I am rather sore. I would like to get as much rest as I can so that I can hopefully be out of here for the end of the year feast.”
“Very well. Sleep well my boy.” Harry let out a heavy sigh as Albus finally headed off. He very much disliked the headmaster of the school, but it didn’t take him too long to relax as Hermione, Draco, and Nevil headed up to check on him as well. They didn’t really have much new to say; Draco being escorted back to bed rather quickly after Pomfrey discovered him with Harry, but it had been good to see his friends.
A few days passed before Harry made his way down to the Great Hall for the end of the year feast. He had been held back quite a bit by Madam Pomfry; so the great hall was already full of people when he arrived, everyone going silent as he headed in before talking loudly once again. The hall itself was decked out with green and silver ribbons, banners with the Slytherin crest hanging from the ceiling.
Even having won the Quidditch cup, Slytherin had beaten them out by almost two hundred points, but when things were all said and done Harry didn’t really care. He didn’t care that Slytherin was winning for the seventh year in a row. Gryffindor had hardly earned victory, having fully chased out two of it’s members.
Nevil had also decided he was leaving. He had said he was tired of being the laughing stock of the house, and that he had asked Sprout if it was okay that he changed to her house between years as well. She had; much like Flitwick had with Alyssa, agreed, not wanting a student to be forced to stay where they didn’t feel they belonged.
Quickly Harry made his way over to his group of friends, finding Alyssa to be entirely missing.
“They left when things really started getting loud, but Nick said he would get them when the feast really started.” Gerogre said heading up and sitting across from the trio.
“Though that probably wont be too much longer...” Fred said, giving a nod as Alyssa rushed towards the group, sitting between the twins. Not long after Dumbledor took his place at the Professor’s table.
“Another year gone.” Albus said, smiling as the babbling died down. “And I must trouble you with an old man’s waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are a little fuller than they had been… You have the hole summer to get them nice and empty again. Now as I understand it the House cup needs awarding and the points stand thus: Hufflepuff in last place with three hundred and fifty-two points, Gryffindor in third with four hundred and fifteen points, Ravenclaw in second place with four hundred and twenty-six, and Slytherin in first place with five hundred and sixty five points.”
There was a loud roaring cheering from Slytherin, the other three houses respectfully clapping as well. Glancing up Harry met Draco’s eyes and smiled supportively.
“Yes, yes. Well done, Slytherin, however recent events must be considered.” The hall fell to quirt muttering before falling silent as Albus cleated his throat.” I have a few last minuet points to dish out. Firstly, to Mx. Alyssa Wayne. For great detective work, fifty points.” The house cheered but Alyssa blushed away from the attention.
“Second to Miss Hermione Granger- for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, fifty points.” There was more cheering, though at that point it wasn’t nearly enough to surpass Slytherin.
“For Mr. Nevil Longbottom- for brilliant herbology work in the face of great danger, fifty points.” Even Harry knew that Albus was reaching for that one. While Nevil had helped a great amount, it was clear even he didn’t think he needed that many points, and it wasn’t even enough to surpass Slytherin.
“To Mr. Draco Malfoy- for the best game of Wizarding chess this school has seen. Fifty points.”
The school cheered again, Slytherin clearly seeing their victory sealed.
“And finally, to Harry Queen, for great heroics, and incredible bravery in the face of incredible evil. Sixty points.”
There was a silence for a moment before the hall erupted in cheers. It as clear that everyone had just been hopping that Slytherin would lose it’s winning streak, but Harry wasn’t entirely sure they had completely earned it. Part of him felt that those points should have been awarded several days prior to truly even count, but a win was a win.
“Which means we need a little change of decor.” Albus clapped his hands, and the decorations quickly burned to gold and Red, the banner’s now holding the Gryffindor lion in place of Slytherin’s snake.
Glancing up he met Draco’s eye, the boy giving a small nod and a warm smile as the school celebrated.
“Well earned Queen.” Draco smirked, pointing to him as he cast Message. “Be happy, there is always next year to get the streak back.”
“Right.” Harry responded, giving a nod. “Best of luck then. See you on the train Malfoy.”