Forty Shades of Bewilderment

A girl with bushy brown hair who looked remarkably like the older girl wearing emerald in the picture came in. "Do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is full of boys."

"Of course not!" said Kelsey, grateful of someone to talk to.

The girl sat down. "I'm Hermione. Hermione Granger."

Kelsey replied, "I'm Kelsey. Kelsey Potter."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Any relation to Harry Potter? You know, the boy who brought about You-Know-Who's downfall?"

Kelsey chuckled and replied. "Yeah. According to my god-brother, Derek, he's my twin brother."

Hermione gaped. "You talk about it so offhand--almost like you don't even know about him."

"Well, I didn't, until about a month ago. Even then, I didn't believe it--you know, that my parents and brother were famous, and not the ones I'd grown up with, and that I was a witch, and all that."

Suddenly, the door slid open. A round-faced boy stood there, tears running down his rosy cheeks. "Have you seen my toad? My name's Neville."

Kelsey stood up. "No, but we'll help you look. You go that way, and we'll go that way. If we find your toad, we'll let you know. Okay?"

Neville sniffled. "Okay."

The two girls set off down the train. They yanked open a compartment door, and came upon two boys, a redhead and a glasses-wearer with black hair, sitting in an array of sweets. The redhead had his wand out. After explaining the situation and being told the toad had not been seen, Hermione noticed the wand in the boy's hand. "Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see, then."

Kelsey peered over her friend's shoulder with interest as the boy cleared his throat and began.

"Sunshine, Daisies,

Butter Mellow,

Turn this stupid fat rat yellow!"

Absolutely nothing happened. The boy shrugged as Hermione told them about the simple spells she'd done for practice. When she sat down, Kelsey followed. With a wave of her wand, Hermione mended the other boy's broken glasses. As he removed them to gape in surprise, Hermione gasped.
"Holy Cricket--you're Harry Potter!"

Kelsey snapped to attention. A grin spread slowly across her face. "Been looking for you. I figured if I was starting you would be too."

Harry looked at her suspiciously. "Why?"

"Because I'm your twin sister." She turned to the other boy. Suddenly, she remembered a day, seeing this boy in blue, and a high-pitched voice telling him to "sit there, hold Ginny, and don't move. Percy, stand behind Ron."

Ron--that was his name--Ron Weasley. Either that or it was Percy, but that wasn't likely, Percy being older. "I remember you-- you're Ron Weasley!"

Ron gasped. "How did you know that? What do you mean, you remember me?"

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the photo. She handed it to him. Ron, Harry, and Hermione all bent over it. After a second, Ron gasped. "That's me! And--that baby I'm holding--that's Ginny! And that older boy--that's Percy!" He looked up at Kelsey. "Where did you get this?"

"Take a good look at the two little ones in scarlet."

Harry gasped. "I get it! We knew each other when we were little, didn't we?" When Kelsey nodded, he queried, "But who are the other two girls, and the other two babies, and the other boy?"

Kelsey replied, "The girl in emerald is Hermione, I think, and the emerald baby is her little sister. The scarlet baby is our little sister Jessie, and the older boy in scarlet is our older brother Cedric. The girl in yellow I don't remember--"

"Jenny Wren," blurted out Hermione.

"Did someone call my name?" a voice called from the doorway.

The four turned to the door. A slightly round girl with nut-brown hair stood there. She gasped, "Hermione Granger! What are you doing here?"

Hermione grinned. "Same thing as you, I expect. Have you met these three?"

Jenny frowned. "Truth is, I think I should, but I need something to jog my memory--"

"Like this, for example?" said Kelsey, handing her the picture.

Jenny studied the photo for a minute. "Yup, that's it," she replied.

So finally, after ten years, five friends who should have been together for years were together once again.

~~~

Finally they arrived at Hogwarts. The Sorting Ceremony began. Kelsey was rather nervous, but at least she didn't have to do anything too difficult--just try on the hat. Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor, which was supposed to be a good house. She made a mental note to ask who Cedric was, and which house he was in. She started at the name "Potter" but it was her brother. He was sorted into Gryffindor after almost a minute. She noticed that a pair of twin girls, named Patil, had been sorted into two separate houses, and was worried she would be too. However, she knew it was best to roll with the punches. Finally, as her brother took his seat, he heard the name "Potter, Kelsey!"

Seating herself nervously on the stool, the hat slid down over her eyes, shutting out all sight. A small voice spoke in her ear. "Another Potter? Hmm, where to put you? Let's see... bravery... that's strong. Oh, and intelligence...but where to put you? Oh, there we go... resolve... you'll go wherever I put you...All right, GRYFFINDOR!"

Breathing a little easier, she sat down to the left of Hermione, between her and the older redhead she recognised from the photo, the boy Ron had called Percy. Before she could ask, he confirmed her guess that he was Percy. As they worked their way through the R's, she turned to Percy and asked, "Do you know Cedric Diggory?"

"Oh, yeah, he's in Hufflepuff," replied Percy. "He's one of my best friends. His last name is actually Potter. He's sitting right over there." He pointed to a boy who looked exactly like the only picture Kelsey had of him--the baby picture--except he was a lot taller and older.

The list moved on to the W's. The teacher, Professor McGonagall, called out "Weasley, Ron!"

A sick shade of green by now, Ron sat on the stool. After a couple seconds, the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" Taking a deep breath, he sat down next to Harry, across from Kelsey and Hermione. They all watched eagerly as the hat sorted Jenny. They were all hoping she'd be in Gryffindor. The hat cried out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Grinning broadly, she joined them. After the final child was sorted, McGonagall rolled up her list, picked up the hat and stool, and walked off.

Professor Dumbledore gave a few announcements, then the golden plates in front of them magically filled with food. After filling themselves, everyone sang the school song. Percy led the first years up to their dormitories, and said goodnight. Kelsey sank onto her bed. The last thing to go through her mind before she drifted off was that, ominously, she was going to have fun this year if it killed her.

~~~

About a month later, on Halloween, she reflected on how difficult classes were for some people. It just seemed to come naturally to her. She was enjoying herself so much that she didn't even notice that Hermione was missing until Harry asked where she was at dinner. Neville said that she'd been crying in the bathroom all day, according to Parvati Patil. Suddenly, Professor Quirrel, their Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, burst through the doors and ran down the aisle, shouting that there was a troll in the dungeons. As he reached the staff table, he sank to the ground in a dead faint.

Pandemonium! Everyone screamed and ran for the door. Dumbledore shouted for quiet. When the room was silent, he ordered students to follow prefects to the dormitories, while teachers headed to the dungeons. Kelsey, while following Percy, noticed Snape slip through a door, but was a bit too preoccupied to think anything of it at the time. While heading down the corridor, she noticed Harry and Ron slip out of line. She almost told Percy, but decided not to because it would only worry him. They returned to the tower, and began eating the food that had been sent up. After about fifteen minutes, the portrait swung open. Kelsey glanced up as Hermione climbed through. She waited near the portrait until Harry and Ron climbed through. After a small pause, they all said "thanks" and went to get plates.

As they sat near Kelsey and Jenny, both girls looked up, but said nothing, as their mouths were full. After a couple seconds, Kelsey swallowed and said, "So-are you three going to tell us what happened or leave us to guess that you were knocking out that troll, which I assume has left the dungeons by now?"

Ron glanced up, surprised, and said, "Both. You were right."

Kelsey seemed surprised as well. "I was only joking, but golly, you guys are nuts! You could have been killed! And don't say anything, Hermione," she added, "I know the boys were looking for you-but gosh and golly, how could you let a few nasty remarks get to you? WHY didn't you come to the feast?"

Harry pointed out, "If she hadn't, and we hadn't gone looking for her, the troll would still be loose. It might have killed her, or someone else."

"Good point," admitted Jenny.

About a week later, the small group, minus Harry, headed towards the playing field for the first Quiddich match she'd ever been to. The reason they were minus Harry was that Harry was playing. He was the youngest Seeker at Hogwarts in a century. There was a growing aura of excitement as they headed for the stands. Taking a seat about halfway up the stands, they cheered along with everyone else as the Gryffindor team entered the field. The Bludgers and Snitch erupted, and Madame Hooch threw up the Quaffle. Katie Bell took possession and shot down the field. Within seconds, Angelina Johnson had smoothly scored a goal. Oliver Wood, the Keeper, blocked Slytherin captain Marcus Flint from scoring, and Angelina put another goal past the Slytherin keeper. Wood blocked another Slytherin goal. In a rage, Flint snatched a Beater's club and sent a Bludger into Wood's stomach. A few minutes later, they ran Angelina into the stands and took possession of the Quaffle. Suddenly, Kelsey saw Harry go into a dive. "He's seen the Snitch!" she shouted, pointing to him as he dove. Her cheers turned into shocked gasps as his broom began to buck in mid-air.

"What the heck does he think he's doing?" yelled Jenny. "Showing off like that, he could get himself killed!"

Kelsey turned to her friend and said, "Jenn, I'm assuming you said that because you don't want to believe the truth, because NO ONE could be that stupid. His broom is either out of control, or someone is messing with it."

Hearing this, Hermione focused on the teacher's stand across the arena. She gasped and turned to the others. "It's Snape! He's jinxing the broom!"

Ron looked upset. Hermione told him to leave it to her, handed him the binoculars, and ran off towards the stand. Kneeling, she set Snape's cloak on fire. Dashing down as all the teachers tried to help Snape, knocking one another over, she only prayed that Snape hadn't killed Harry before she could act.

Kelsey focused anxiously on Harry's broom as it went into a barrel roll, then bucked suddenly and flipped him off, leaving him hanging by one hand. After a minute or two, it stopped trying to fling him off, and he was able to get back on. He dove for the Snitch, level with the other seeker. Just before he hit the ground, shortly after the Slytherin had peeled off, he levelled up and chased the Snitch. Balancing tentatively on the broom, he leaned forward too far and tumbled off. Getting quickly to his feet, he suddenly started to gag. Kelsey peered down, wondering if he was going to be sick, when suddenly he coughed up the Snitch!

Between surviving that, You-Know-Who, and a mountain troll in his short eleven years, plus countless other tortures between his aunt and uncle, Kelsey had begun to feel that her brother was completely indestructible.

~~~

Kelsey had gone home for Christmas and had a great time. A few weeks after she got back, when they were preparing for final exams, she noticed that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were behaving a little secretively. She demanded to know what was going on. They told her that there was a three-headed dog in the forbidden third-floor corridor, which Hagrid had dubbed "Fluffy", standing on a trapdoor, guarding something. Hagrid had taken a something out of one of the vaults at Gringotts, the bank, and said it was Hogwarts business, very secret. They knew that was what the dog was guarding, but they didn't know what it was. They had only one other clue--Hagrid had let something slip after the Quiddich match that there was someone called Nicholas Flamel involved--and a fat lot of help that had done them; they couldn't find Flamel anywhere in the library.

Kelsey stared around at them all. "Well, why didn't you ask me? I know who he is, two different places to find him, and probably what that dog is guarding. Come on, I'll show you."

With that, she stood up and beckoned them to follow her. Bewildered, they got up and obeyed.

Upon their arrival at the library, she pulled out a book entitled "Famous Advancements in Alchemy" as well as a Famous Witches and Wizards card. She showed them the card, which was for Dumbledore. It said he'd done work with his partner, Nicholas Flamel! Then she flipped open the book and read them a page. "Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone! The Sorcerer's Stone is a legendary substance, with astonishing powers. It can transform any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal."

"Immortal?" interrupted Ron.

"Starting to get it now?" asked Kelsey. When he nodded, she continued. "The only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicholas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera lover, who last year celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday!" Glancing up from the book, she said to them all, "That's what Fluffy's guarding. That's what's under that trapdoor you told me about--the Sorcerer's Stone."

Ron stood. "We've got to go see Hagrid. He might be able to tell us a little more. Coming, Kelsey?"

Kelsey shook her head. "Normally, I don't run around trying to make kids grow up, but this is a special occasion. Take a look out the window, Ron. It's DARK. That means you'll be out of bed after hours. It's too much to hope you won't get caught."

The next morning, on her way to breakfast, Professor McGonagall stopped Kelsey.

"Miss Potter, you will meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall at eleven o'clock tonight for your detention. Ten points will be taken from Gryffindor. No buts!" She walked sternly away, leaving Kelsey to sit down, absolutely dumbstruck.

Hermione looked up as she sat down, looking totally bemused. "What's wrong?"

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Kelsey replied, "Professor McGonagall just told me I had a detention at eleven o'clock tonight, and that I'd lost ten points to Gryffindor, and didn't even tell me what it was for!"

Ron, before he could stop himself, said, "Ten points? That's all? For us she took off fifty each!"

Kelsey snapped out of her trance, jerked around to face Ron, and said in a voice that was dangerously soft, "What did she do that for?"

Ron gulped. "Well, for being out of bed after hours. I know you said we'd probably get caught, but I reminded everyone of that accidentally in front of McGonagall. I guess she thought you were an accessory or something..." His expression brightened. "At least Malfoy's got one too."

~~~

That night, the four of them and Malfoy headed across the grounds. Filch delivered them to Hagrid, who sniffled a little. Filch looked disgusted. "Oh, God, man, you're not still on about that bloody dragon, are you?"

Hagrid looked at them all. "Norbert's gone. Professor Dumbledore sent him to Romania, to live in a colony."

Before Kelsey could say anything, Hermione pointed out how good it was for Norbert, whoever he was. Hagrid retorted with a stream of worries about Norbert's welfare, saying he was only a baby.

Filch rolled his eyes. "Oh for God's sakes, man, pull yourself together! You're going into the forest after all. Gonna need your wits about ya..."

Malfoy's pale, pointed face grew even paler, if that's possible. He tried to convince Hagrid and Filch not to take them in there, but to no avail. They headed into the forest. Finally Kelsey was able to ask the question that was burning on her mind. "Who the heck is Norbert?"

Hagrid replied, "Norbert was my baby dragon. He on'y hatched las' night, an' now he's gone."

Kelsey pointed out that he knew he'd have to give him up when he was old enough, and it was easier to do now, before he'd got too attached.

Upon entering deep into the heart of the forest, Hagrid stopped and dipped his fingers into a silver puddle. When asked what it was, he told them it was unicorn blood. Their job was to find it. "Now, we'd best split up. Ron, Hermione, you come with me. Harry, Kelsey, you go with Draco."

Malfoy looked at Hagrid. "Okay, then I get Fang."

Hagrid stared at him. "Fine. Just so's you know, he's a yellow coward." As if to make Hagrid's point, Fang whimpered.

Kelsey, Harry, Malfoy, and Fang headed on. Malfoy complained until Kelsey said, "Draco, shut up! Don't you know that with all the noise you're making, you'll attract predators? In fact..." she pointed to a spot right behind him, "...there's one now!"

Malfoy yelled and turned around. Nothing was there. He turned his icy stare on Kelsey. "Ha, ha. Very funny."

But he kept silent for a while.

Suddenly, Fang began to whine. Kelsey and Harry looked where he and Malfoy were looking and saw the unicorn. It was dead. Even worse, there was something on top of it, something that made Harry, who was obviously in pain, clap his hand to his forehead, where his scar was. The thing looked up, its face dripping with silver unicorn blood, and grinned evilly.

That was it for Malfoy, Kelsey, and Fang. All three screamed at once and ran off. They were about halfway back to Hagrid when Kelsey realised that Harry was still back there. She shouted to Malfoy, "Go back to Hagrid! I'll go back for Harry!" She turned and ran.

As she arrived, the thing was advancing on Harry. "Hurry up and get Hagrid back here, Malfoy!" she thought desperately. Another couple of feet and the thing would reach Harry. He was backed into some roots, he couldn't get away--

Then suddenly, they heard hoofbeats. Something that looked like a large chestnut horse soared over Kelsey and Harry's heads, landing in front of the thing. It floated away into the forest. Kelsey let out the breath she didn't even realise she'd been holding, and slid down the embankment to stand next to Harry.

The horse-like thing turned around, and they saw that it was a centaur. It told them to leave, as the forest was not safe. It told them that what that thing was doing was drinking the blood of the unicorn, to keep itself alive, but it was only a half-life, a cursed life, because he had slain something so pure. Harry realised that it was You-Know-Who. The centaur told him he was right. Kelsey realised that he was after the Sorcerer's Stone, to live forever.

Suddenly, they heard shouts. The two looked up to see Hagrid and the others standing there. The centaur told them they were safe, and vanished into the night.

When they arrived back at the castle, they were too worked up to sleep. Pacing in front of the fireplace, Harry told them about Voldemort being in the forest, living of the unicorns. "Don't you see? We had it wrong! Snape doesn't want the Stone for himself; he wants the Stone for Voldemort! With the Elixir of Life, Voldemort will be strong again! He'll--he'll come back." Harry sank into a chair opposite Hermione.

Ron gulped. "But--but Harry. If You-Know-Who comes back, you don't think he'll try to--to kill you, do you?"

Harry looked him in the eye and replied, "I think if he'd had the chance he would have tried to kill me tonight."

Ron turned green. "And to think--I've been worried about my Potion's final!"

Kelsey, however, gave them all a tiny glimmer of hope. "Wait. Who's the one wizard You-Know-Who always feared? Dumbledore, that's who. Even when You-Know-Who was in full power, he never dared attack Hogwarts. As long as Dumbledore's around, Harry, you and everyone else in the castle are safe. As long as he's around, you can't be touched."

~~~

A few days later, as finals ended, Kelsey did something that she later felt was very stupid. She got on a stool in the library to get a book off the top shelf. Malfoy came in and said, "Get off of that! I need it." He reached for the ladder. She lifted her foot to kick him just as he pulled the ladder out from under her. She landed hard on her right foot, and Malfoy, as well as another, rather chunky, kid, fell on top of it. When they all got up, she discovered that the bones in her right ankle were completely crushed. Malfoy had a small fracture in his right arm. It turned out that there was no way to mend her ankle. Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse, had to remove them and grow them back. She was in for a rough night.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione came to see her. Jenny was already there, three beds over. She had fallen ill and was in a coma that she had been in for almost a month. It was certain that if she survived, she was going to have to redo the first year.

After making sure Madame Pomfrey couldn't here, Harry told Kelsey in a low voice that they were going down the trapdoor that night. She agreed, saying that it was best to make sure that Snape didn't get the Stone, with Dumbledore gone, but asked why they were going to bother. Snape didn't know how to get past Fluffy. They had told her that no one knew how except Hagrid and Dumbledore.

Harry replied, "Actually, Hagrid told Snape by mistake, when he won Norbert in the pub. Snape had asked Hagrid what he looked after, and Hagrid had told him that the only way to calm Fluffy was to play him a bit of music. This is really not good."

Kelsey looked at him seriously. "Now listen, you guys, because Madame Pomfrey will be here in a few minutes to shoo you out. Be careful down there. Snape or not, You-Know-Who will probably be there. Yes, I said Snape or not. I'm not sure it's Snape--for all we know it's another teacher, or maybe You-Know-Who will go alone, but he'll definitely be there. Take your wands, you'll probably need them. If something dangerous happens, try to stay relaxed. Panicking often does nothing more but increase the danger of the situation. And--come back tomorrow and tell me EVERYTHING."

Just then, as Kelsey had predicted, Madam Pomfrey bustled over and said, "This girl needs rest, she's got a lot of bones to regrow! Out! Out!"

After promising to come back and meet her when she left the next day, the trio left. As she watched them go, and as Madam Pomfrey whisked away, she found herself muttering to them a poem she'd once read. "May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back..."

Later that night, she awoke due to fearful stabbing pains in her regrowing leg. She heard a noise and noticed the door open. Trying to get back to sleep, she noticed that it was Dumbledore, bearing a floating stretcher. On it was an unconscious form she couldn't see. He was plainly at a loss as to how to get Madam Pomfrey's attention. Well, she could do that. She sat up. Instantly, Madam Pomfrey bustled in. Looking at Kelsey, not at the door, she said, "I assume your bones are growing back in."

Kelsey nodded, then pointed to the door. Madam Pomfrey turned and saw Dumbledore. "What is going on?" she asked.

Dumbledore brought in the stretcher. "He went to stop the Sorcerer's Stone from being taken," he said, helping her move the unconscious form onto the bed next to Kelsey's.

An ominous feeling of dread rising in her throat, Kelsey turned to the bed. Lying there was Harry. Madam Pomfrey put up curtains and stepped outside of them while Dumbledore helped him into pyjamas. Putting the curtains away, Dumbledore gave Madame Pomfrey a grateful smile, and had one for Kelsey too, before leaving quietly.

Madam Pomfrey turned to Kelsey. "You'd better get some sleep, dear," she said gently. "He'll be okay. He isn't dead, just knocked out, though I can't for the life of me figure out why."

Kelsey smiled. "Oh, I'm sure he'll have all the answers when he wakes up."

The next morning, Kelsey got dressed after Madam Pomfrey cleared her to leave. Ron and Hermione showed up, looking anxious. As they helped her get up, Ron said, "Well, that was one of the best nights of my life. You're in here regrowing your bones because Malfoy and some chunky seventh year landed on your ankle and crushed it completely, Jenny's in a coma and no one knows if she'll even survive, and Harry's unconscious and no one knows if he'll survive."

"Madam Pomfrey says he'll be fine," said Kelsey uncertainly.

Madam Pomfrey bustled over. "Actually, he seems a lot worse than last night. I'm starting to wonder..."

"He'll be fine," said Hermione stubbornly.

"For your information, Hermione," snapped Ron, "this is not a book. This is real life. It's not always good triumphing over evil and the hero isn't immortal--heroes do get killed from time to time."

"Thank you, Mr. Optimism," said Kelsey. "As a matter of fact, I think Hermione's right. Harry will be fine. So will Jenny, except for the part about her having to redo the first year. And Harry did win--didn't he?"

Ron shrugged. "I dunno. I got knocked out by a chess piece."

"Harry went on alone," said Hermione in a small voice. "Snape must've got to him."

~~~

Two days later, Kelsey stopped by as usual. She had taken to stopping by for the past month to visit Jenny, and now she came to visit Harry, too. As she entered, so did Professor Dumbledore. As she turned around the door, she saw the most welcome sight she'd seen in a month. Harry was sitting up. Dumbledore talked to him for a bit while Kelsey talked to Madam Pomfrey about Jenny. In a grave voice, Madam Pomfrey said that she had written to Jenny's family, and if Jenny was not greatly improved by the Leaving Feast, which was two days away, the best and most humane thing to do was to end her suffering. It was hard, but Kelsey agreed that it was wrong to keep her alive if she was just going to suffer.

Shortly after Dumbledore left, Kelsey sat down to talk to Harry. He asked her how her ankle was. They chatted for awhile, but each left one question unanswered. Harry told her he would tell her about what had happened when they were all together, since there was stuff Ron and Hermione didn't know, and she said that she'd tell him about how Jenny was doing when they were all together.

That night, after Harry had been released, he and Kelsey sat with Ron and Hermione around the fire. Harry told them all what had happened, although Ron and Hermione knew part of it. After narrowly escaping Fluffy, they had landed on a Devil's Snare, a plant that tried to strangle them. Harry and Hermione had been able to relax, but Ron was too nervous to relax, so Hermione had had to do a spell that made sunlight and frightened the Devil's Snare into releasing Ron. The next room had contained winged keys. Harry had to fly around, being chased by all the other keys, until he caught the right one and given it to Ron and Hermione. The next room had been a giant chessboard. Ron had directed the pieces around, finally sacrificing himself so that Harry could checkmate the king. Afterwards, Harry had gone on alone.

At this point, Hermione shook her head and said, "You know, the way he talks, we're risking our lives to save each other and the Stone, while he did nothing more than catch a harmless key. Those other keys tried to kill him!"

That much Ron and Hermione knew. The next part was new to all of them.

In the dungeon where the Stone was had been neither Snape nor Voldemort. Kelsey had been right--it wasn't Snape. It was Quirrel. He had tried to kill Harry, not Snape--Snape had been trying to save Harry, unbelievable as it sounded. Quirrel had let the troll in on Halloween so that he could take a look at what was guarding the Stone. In the dungeon that night, he had told Harry to look in the mirror and tell Quirrel what he saw. Somehow, he'd got the Stone. He told Quirrel a lie, but a high, cold voice said that he was lying, and to let him speak to Harry. Harry had backed up to the steps as Quirrel unwrapped his turban. Underneath had been Voldemort! Quirrel had tried to kill Harry, under the order of Voldemort, but whenever Harry touched him, where he'd touched crumbled into dust. When Quirrel had completely dissolved, he'd picked up the stone from where he'd dropped it, but Voldemort, separated from his body once more, flew through Harry, which had knocked him out.

Everyone was speechless for a moment. Then Kelsey found her voice and said, "Well, I might as well tell you about Jenny. Madam Pomfrey wrote to Giles--you know, her adoptive father--and he agreed that if Jenny hasn't woken up by the leaving feast in two days, they're just going to humanely end her suffering."

Everyone was completely dumbstruck by now. Kelsey knew what was going through their minds, because it was the same as her own: Jenny can't be dying! She's only eleven! Besides, if she dies we'll never know what she has. She will wake up tomorrow. I hope.

~~~

Well, everything worked out. Jenny woke up and was well enough to go to the feast the next day. She even took her exams that day and passed, so she was safe. Although they were a hundred and sixty points behind the lead, Ron and Hermione each earned fifty points for their heroic actions in the dungeons--Hermione for using the spell to save Ron, Ron for the best played game of chess Hogwarts had seen in many years. Harry earned sixty for "pure nerve and outstanding courage". To that, Kelsey mentally added unwavering loyalty--to himself, to his friends, and to what he believed in. Dumbledore gave ten points to Neville for standing up to his friends to stop them from getting in trouble. "Gryffindor wins the House Cup!"

Jenny, who had gone to the bathroom, told them later that she thought some kind of explosion had taken place, so loud was the cheering of Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs alike--for everyone had wanted to see Slytherin beat. All too soon, their bags were packed, and they were standing on the platform getting ready to board the train.

On the train ride, Kelsey and Hermione discussed plans for the summer. Hermione said that she hoped to go to Australia that summer. Kelsey laughed and said that living in the town she did was an adventure in and of itself. Harry knew he would have a far worse summer than last year, because the Dursleys didn't like the fact that he was a wizard. Ron promised to invite him to stay that summer--it got pretty boring around there from time to time, even with five brothers.

When they arrived at King's Cross, Kelsey asked Harry to point out his aunt and uncle. When pressed for a reason, she said she was going to start his summer off by scaring the heck out of them. This she did by introducing herself. His aunt gave a little scream and hustled her son off.
His uncle barked out, "You mean she had two of you?"

"Four," grinned Kelsey, "but the little one doesn't start school until next year." Turning to Harry, she said, "Have a good summer."

"Oh, I will," said Harry, returning her grin. "They don't know we're not allowed to do magic away from school. I'm going to have a lot of fun with my cousin this summer..."

Laughing, Kelsey grabbed a taxi to the airport. She couldn't wait to get home and tell Derek all about her amazing year!