33: Someday, just you wait

Sorry again for the late chapter. I was quiet busy with my exams. Finally got some free time on my hands so I thought why not post a chapter. SOooooo here is the chapter. Just so you know, although I am back but no promises. I am still busy so I will not be able to update regularly. But regardless of every thing, I am bacccckkkkkk.

(Beatris POV)

"I have heard she fought you know who."

"She and Hermione got through the ....."

"There was a three ..... "

Various chatters were sounding in the great hall. If they all had something in common it was the fact that all were pointed towards me. And I was damn nervous. Ron and Hermione had told me that the whole school was talking about our little endeavor. And I really thought that I was ready for it but facing it now, I just wanted a hole to hide myself. The whole school pointing and talking about was too much nerve racking. We were at the great hall and it was about time for the end of the year banquet. The rumors of our journey were the hottest topic of the time. I was still not used to being the girl who lived and now this... my life was a mess at that time. I was never good at public places and this much attention was getting on my nerves and by each passing second I was becoming more and more of a nervous wreck.

*CREAK*

the door of the great hall opened and Nathan walked in. All the hall fell into silence. There were some whispers here or there but mostly every one looked at him as he made his way towards the table.

(I really wish I was like him. Confident and unwavering. He does not care what is happening around. He is unfazed by all the fingers being pointed at him. How can he be soooo...)

He slowly walked towards the Gryffindor table. Towards Ana.

"I see you are back on your feet." She was clearly mocking him. Who mocks a patient that just got out of the hospital. No matter what, this was the weirdest sibling that I had ever seen in my life or would see in the coming years of my life.

"Yeah I am up. At least I got hurt while doing something .... unlike someone who was nowhere to be found when her brother needed her the most" Nathan had no plan at all of backing down.

"I see you haven't lost your spunk"

"And I see you still have no regard of your brother's well being"

"Nope none at all."

"Then why should I care any thing you say."

The polite discussion was taking quiet a turn. All the Gryffindors were looking at the bickering pair with there mouths hanging. All the chatter that had halted due to Nathan's arrival had resumed and now the great hall was like the site of some jail break. I was already nervous as it was and the the noise was not helping at all.

Fortunately, Dumbledore arrived moments later. The babble died away.

"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! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were... you have the whole summer ahead 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 has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."

A storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Slytherin table. Beatris could see Draco Malfoy banging his goblet on the table. It was a sickening sight.

"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.

"Ahem," said Dumbledore. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes..."

"First ..... to Miss Hermione Granger... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house 60 points."

To some one outside the room it might have felt as if a lightning bolt had struck the floor of the great hall. Such was the sound that erupted from the cheers of the Gryffindor table. Hermione turned beet red and hid her face in her arms and between us, I bet she had burst into tears. She was such a cry baby.

"Second ..." The noise immediately died out ".....to Mr. Nathaniel for the use excellent magic and an excellent show of swordsmanship Hogwarts have never seen before, I award 50 points"

Once again the hall bursted into cheers. I turned around to see if I could find any kind of reaction. I was not at all hopping to find anything like Hermione but I sure was hoping to find something. Some expression on that cold emotionless face.

(I bet even he cannot stay neutral in such conditions... I Bet even he...)

But all my hopes were shattered as I looked towards his face. That guy .... was totally oblivious of his surroundings, his face burried in his book while his sister was even more carefree than him. Using her wand she was trying something with her water goblet. I could see a very faint light surrounding her and for some reason I could bet that it was some kind of spell to silence the sound all around her. I mean come on...... can the both of you please not study at least at the banquet especially when our is being given free points for something that YOU did. All the Gryffindors around them were cheering but they were in there own world.

"Third ... to Miss. Beatris Potter... " said Dumbledore. And once again there was pin drop silence. "... for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points." Okay, I take back all that I had said about Hermione. This was the worst feeling ever. Every one was around me and patting my back and congratulating me but I was in no position to look even one of them in the face. If Hermione was beet red before then I must have been a tomato. No words were coming out of my mouth as I struggled to not just run away from the hall.

"Hey we are equal to Slytherin ...." I heard someone say. The gears in my head turned and just a little maths told me that we had now four hundred and seventy-two points. Exactly the same as Slytherin.

(Only if we had a bit more ....)

Then, Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell silent.

"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."

If the great hall was considered noisy before then right now it was like that A sudden meteorite had crashed in the great hall. To someone standing outside, it might have felt as if many dragons were ravaging each other inside the great hall and letting all hell lose. Such was the noise that erupted form the Gryffindor table. The Slytherins were stunned as if someone had just jinxed them with full body binding curses. The Ravenclaw and the Hufflepuff were celebrating the demise of the Slytherins with the Gryffindor as all threw their hats into the air. well except for the Slytherins who were just throwing there hats down in frustration. All my anxiety and embarassement5 flew away when I caught a glimps of Malfoy's face. It was twisted into the most ugly expression I had ever seen. It was definitely worth all the effort.

"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 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. Every body picked us up on their shoulders. Me, Neville, Hermione. Somehow Nathan had disappeared from the great hall.

--------------------------------------

The steaming engine was once again in front of us. It was time for our summer break, time to leave Hogwarts for a good while and unlike most of the students I was not happy at all. I did not want to leave Hogwarts. I did not want to o back to the Vernon and his family. No mistakes but it was his family not mine. They never treated me as such. As we were finding a cabin to sit, someone called

"Hey hot stuff"

"Who me?" I was Flabbergasted

"Yeah you. who else ?"

"Why am I hot stuff"

"Come on !!!!!! you are the hottest topic of Hogwarts right now"

"MEEE ????"

"Yes you. every one is talking that how you beat the big bad evil lord and saved the humanity."

"oh please !!!!! I never did anything much. Most of it was done by your brother." I told Ana who was, by the looks, of it not going to let me off the hook that easily. So I changed the topic.

"I have your brother's swords," I still had them on me as I never got the chance to return them to him. I always carried then with me. For some reason I could not get that face out of my head when he gave then to me. It still sent shivers down my spine.

"Why should I give these to him" She pushed them back towards me. "You give it to him yourself" She pointed towards a direction where I could clearly see Nathan standing and pissed. "Give him and just a friendly advice. His head still hurts so he might be a bit cranky." She winked and a cold sweat trickled down my forehead.

(CRANKY. He is always cranky and if she is saying that he is cranky right now then he must have achieved some new levels of crankiness that might have never been achieved before)

Slowly I made my way towards him

"ummmm ....... Nathan I wanted t." he cut me short

"Oh my .... our home made celebrity has decided to grace us with her holy presence. What can I do for you oh great lady Potter" Okay, I admit I was nervous before meeting him again but his attitude made my nervousness disappear into thin air. Now I was just royally pissed. Boy... he was good.

"No, nothing like that. just here to return these to you" I held myself back.

He quiet literally snatched them from my hand.

(You could have pleasantly grabbed them from my hand. Why is it always .....)

But my train of thoughts was interrupted when I looked how he held his swords. He was greeting them like some long lost friends. Something about his actions made me feel ........ sad ....... lonely.

"Thanks !!!!" He said making me choke on air.

"I did not catch that. Could you say that again please" Oh I was going to enjoy this or so I thought.

"Don't get full of yourself Potter. I was thanking you for returning these back to me. I hold them quiet dear. So I thanked you. Well its not like you needed it any way. I mean every single Gryffindor is thankful to you. Even you will have your hands full with these many thankyous for a while. I mean even the girl who lived, our most famous celebrity might just need some time to sort all the letters of gratitude she will receive but you always surprise me Potter. Still wanting more attention."

I take back every good thing I have ever wasted my time on about you. You are the biggest jerk I have ever met in my life. Some day ... I will get you back. Someday just you wait.