chapter 31

Dumbledore clapped his hands. In an instant, the green hangings became scarlet and the silver became gold; the huge Slytherin serpent vanished and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place. Snape was shaking Professor McGonagall's hand, with a horrible, forced smile. He caught Harry's eye and Harry knew at once that Snape's feelings toward him hadn't changed one jot. This didn't worry Harry. It seemed as though life would be back to normal next year, or as normal as it ever was at Hogwarts.

Key's friends hug her.

Harry, Ron, and Neville shake hands with others.

The faes fly around the Great Wall from excitement.

It was a great evening for Harry, Key, and their friends, so much so that Harry and Key nearly forget that the exam results are coming soon.

To their great surprise, Ron and Harry pass with good marks.

Hermione had the best grade of the first years.

The other faes, Key, and Makai had done well too, especially Alden.

Even Neville scraped through, his good Herbology mark making up for his abysmal Potions one. They had hoped that Goyle, who was almost as stupid as he was mean, might be thrown out, but he had passed, too. It was a shame, but as Ron said, you couldn't have everything in life.

Once they got the exam results, Key goes to her friends, and they chatter, Harry, Hermione, and Ron join her.

They had fun, and spend the day together.

And suddenly, their wardrobes were empty, their trunks were packed, Neville's toad was found lurking in a corner of the toilets; notes were handed out to all students, warning them not to use magic over the holidays ("I always hope they'll forget to give us these," said Fred Weasley sadly); Hagrid was there to take them down to the fleet of boats that sailed across the lake; they were boarding the Hogwarts Express; talking and laughing as the countryside became greener and tidier; eating Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans as they sped past Muggle towns; pulling off their wizard robes and putting on jackets and coats; pulling into platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station.

It took quite a while for them all to get off the platform. A wizened old guard was up by the ticket barrier, letting them go through the gate in twos and threes so they didn't attract attention by all bursting out of a solid wall at once and alarming the Muggles.

"You must come and stay this summer," said Ron, "all of you -- I'll send you an owl."

"Thanks," said Harry, "I'll need something to look forward to."

"I agree", said Key.

Makai hugs Key.

Key hugs Makai back.

"Awww!" replied Liza.

"Come on, group hug", said Betty.

"We'll miss you", said Syria.

"You better contact us, we need at least reunite one time during the summer", said Keni.

"I agree", said Amy.

"It would be a shame if we didn't", said Devin.

"I will guarantee, we will meet", said Key.

"But, Key", said Harry, worried.

Key looks at Harry with a smile, and says "I have a way".

Key looks at her friends, and says "I promise".

They all believed her.

 People jostled them as they moved forward toward the gateway back to the Muggle world. Some of them called:

"Bye, Harry!"

"Bye Key!"

"See you, Potter!"

"Still famous," said Ron, grinning at him.

"Not where I'm going, I promise you," said Harry.

"Bye Keni!"

"Bye faes!"

"We understand, Harry", said Betty.

They passed through the gateway together.

"There they are, Mom, there they are, look!"

It was Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, but she wasn't pointing at Ron.

"Harry Potter Key Walter!" she squealed. "Look, Mom! I can see--" "And faes! 

"Be quiet, Ginny, and it's rude to point."

Mrs. Weasley smiled down at them.

"Busy year?" she said.

"Very," said Harry. 

"We appreciate the presents, Mrs. Weasley", said Key.

"Yes, Thanks for the fudge and the sweater, Mrs. Weasley", said Harry.

"Oh, it was nothing, dear", said Mrs. Weasley.

"Ready, are you?" asked a voice.

It was Uncle Vernon, still purple-faced, still mustached, still looking furious at the nerve of Harry, carrying an owl in a cage in a station full of ordinary people. Behind him stood Aunt Petunia and Dudley, looking terrified at the very sight of Harry and Key.

"You must be Harry's family!" said Mrs. Weasley.

"In a manner of speaking," said Uncle Vernon. "Hurry up, you two, we haven't got all day." He walked away.

"Oh! I understand", said Betty.

"Yup, I can read their aura", said Makai.

"Good luck", said Devin.

They give each other one more hug.

Makai gives Key a kiss on the cheek, just making Key blush, which shocks some people, even Dudley catched the sight of that.

"See you over the summer, then."

"Hope you have -- er -- a good holiday," said Hermione, looking uncertainly after Uncle Vernon, shocked that anyone could be so unpleasant.

"Oh, I will," said Harry, and they were surprised at the grin that was spreading over his face. "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer…"

"Oh! That's my cousin", said Key.

Key and Harry walk away, and wave goodbye to their friends.