Feast
"So I can definitely go to the feast tonight, right Madame Pomfrey?" Harry asked.
The nurse smiled, "For the fifth time, yes. You can go to the feast."
Harry blushed.
"You also have a visitor. Fifteen minutes dear."
"Thanks!"
Hagrid came in and sat down. He took one look at Harry and burst into tears.
"Hagrid? What's wrong? What did I do? Whatever it was, I'm sorry. Please stop crying."
"Yeh d-didn' d-do anythin'. It's all m-my ruddy f-fault!" Hagrid sobbed. "Yeh almost died! If I had jus'-"
"Hagrid! That wasn't your fault. We tricked you into telling. And even if you hadn't said anything, we still would've gone down there. So, in a way, you telling us helped keep one of us from getting even more hurt!" Harry smiled up at him.
"But, I told tha' evil git how ter get past Fluffy! It was the only thing he didn' know an' I told him! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out to live like a Muggle!"
"But, think about who you're talking about, Hagrid. He'd have figured something out eventually, even if you hadn't told him."
It took a couple of minutes before Hagrid managed calm down.
"Do you want a Chocolate Frog or something? I've got loads."
Hagrid wiped his nose, "That reminds me. I've got a present fer yeh."
He pulled out a nice, leather-covered book. Sirius jumped up on the bed when Harry opened it. The book was filled with photos of James and Lily, smiling and waving up at them. Sirius let out a small whine, Harry scratched his ears absentmindedly.
"I sent owls to all yer parents old school friends askin' fer pictures. I knew yeh didn' have any... d'yeh like it?"
Harry looked up with tears in his eyes. Hagrid grinned and hugged him.
Sirius stared at the book. He wondered how many of those pictures had come from Remus. He had to have sent at least one. Sirius's head dropped onto his jaws. He missed Remus. He really wished he could talk to him again.
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Sirius trailed after Harry on the way to the end-of-year feast. Madame Pomfrey had insisted on giving Harry one last check up before they left, so the Great Hall was already full. Harry did his best to go unnoticed as he slipped inside. He hated being late. The Hall was decked out in Slytherin green and silver to celebrate their winning the House Cup. Draco caught Harry's eye and waved, grinning. Harry smiled shyly and waved back before slipping into his seat by his Gryffindor friends.
"Gotta say, I'm happy for Draco and all, but this sucks." Fred pouted.
George sighed and nodded, "Seventh year in a row. McGonagall must be furious"
"That's probably our fault." Harry mumbled.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Don't be silly, Harry. They just did better than us this year. It's not the fault of a single person."
"Cheer up, mate." Ron chimed in, "Next year we'll smash those Slytherins!"
Dumbledore arrived a moment later. "Another year gone! And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into this delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they once were... You have all summer to get them nice and empty before next year starts... Now, as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, 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 in second with four hundred and twenty-six; and Slytherin in first, with four hundred and seventy-two."
Loud cheering erupted from the Slytherin table. Polite applause came from everyone else.
"Yes, yes. Well done Slytherin." Dumbledore said, "However, recent events must be taken into account."
The Slytherin's smiles faded a little. Draco shot a confused look at his Gryffindor friends. They shrugged back at him.
"I have a few last minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes... First-- to Mr. Ronald Weasley..."
Ron's face went as red as his hair.
"...for the best played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
The Great Hall practically shook the Gryffindors cheered so loud.
/Poor Draco/ Sirius thought. He knew there was no way Dumbledore would bring this up now, in front of everyone, if Gryffindor wasn't going to end up winning.
"Second-- to Miss Hermione Granger... for use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Hermione buried her face in her arms. Sirius was pretty sure she'd burst into tears. Harry wrapped an arm around her, smiling. "Well done, Hermione." He whispered.
"Third-- to Mr. Harry Potter..."
The room went deadly quiet. Harry slipped his hand into Sirius's fur and tried to look as small as possible.
"...for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."
The din was deafening. Gryffindor was now tied with Slytherin. Sirius wondered if Draco's part in everything had been awarded privately, or if it would even be acknowledged at all. Looking across the Hall, Sirius could see Draco's disappointed expression. He knew where this was going as well as everyone else.
"There are all kinds of courage," Dumbledore continued, "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 therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."
Even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff joined in the celebration, Slytherin had lost. Neville, white faced in shock, disappeared under a pile of people hugging him. Sirius was glad that Dumbledore had awarded his points last. The boy hadn't won a single point for Gryffindor all year and now he'd been given the points that put Gryffindor in the lead. Harry nudged Ron and pointed at Draco. The Slytherin had slumped onto his table. Sirius was fairly sure there were tears in the boy's eyes. Once he noticed Harry and Ron looking at him, he forced a smile.
"Which means," Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, "we need a little change of decoration."
He clapped his hands. In an instant, the green hangings became scarlet and gold; the huge Slytherin serpent vanished and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place. Snape was shaking McGonagall's hand with a horrible, forced smile.
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The next morning the group got the chance to talk to Draco.
"I don't know why Professor Dumbledore didn't give you any points, Draco. You were just as important as the rest of us." Hermione said.
"Oh, he gave me fifty points." Draco sighed, "Just... in private."
"I think old Dumbles has a bit too much of a dramatic flair." Fred said.
"It's fine, really." Draco insisted, "We'll kick your butts next year."
Ron laughed, "Whatever you say, Draco."
"We will! I don't think reckless Gryffindors like you lot could actually keep points til the end of the year."
The others laughed again.
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"You're going to come to my house over the summer, right Harry?" Draco asked. It was free period for first years, not that they were doing much in most classes anyway, exams had finished over a week ago.
"Definitely. I mean, not the whole summer, cause Ron and the twins wouldn't be happy about that, but for a while at least. You'll write before then, won't you?" Harry looked up at his friend, hopeful.
Draco snorted, "Obviously. I'll write every week if you want."
Harry grinned and hugged him, "I absolutely want!"
"Want what?" Ron frowned as he and Hermione walked over. Somehow, Hermione had roped Ron into going to the library with her.
"Harry and I are going to write every week." Draco answered.
"Oh yeah? Well, I'm going to write him twice a week!" Ron grinned.
Harry blushed.
Hermione leaned over to him, "I'll bet you a Galleon Ron doesn't keep that up for more than one week."
"You're on. I think he'll last two."
"Hey!" Ron glared.
"I want in on that bet!" Draco said.
Ron just crossed his arms and pouted.
"Sorry Ron," Harry clapped him on the shoulder, "We just know you too well."
"Fine, fine." He sighed, "Just do me one favor?"
"What?"
"Don't tell my brothers."