Harry Potter and the Heir of Gryffindor

Chapter Twenty: New Leaves Turning

"Did you hear that!" said Harry as they walked, "can't believe it! I mean, you saw his face that night, right? He was scared!"

"I would've been scared too, seein' my father that way! But Harry--he does live with Lucius. I mean, he's only fifteen, he can't exactly say 'Oy! Dad! I've had enough of your death eater rubbish, I'm off!'"

Harry smiled. "Of course not. . . but Snape told me something the other night that I'll never forget. He said that all of us have a choice-it's just that for some of us, it's a much harder one to make."

Snape!

Harry turned to Ron. "Er--look mate, I'll see you back up in the dorms, all right? I . . . have to go and do something!"

Harry bolted down the corridor, away from Ron's shouts that he was off his rocker.

Harry flung the door open to find Snape at his desk with two large boxes that he was in the middle of placing books into. He looked up, startled, as the door slammed against the wall.

"Potter--"

Harry wasn't about to let him speak. He pounded his fist down onto the desk, glaring at the boxes. "What do you think you're doing? You're not leaving, are you. You can't leave Hogwarts! I just talked to Malfoy in the hall and I know what Lucius is gonna try and do, but it won't work! He's a Death Eater! We could have him bloody kicked off the school board--"

"Watch your language, Mr. Potter--"

"Oh, come off it, Professor! This is madness, this running away! You can't leave!"

"Professor Dumbledore will see to a suitable replacement."

"You aren't seriously going to let someone like Lucius Malfoy run you out of your home, are you? You can't!"

Snape said nothing, and then handed Harry a copy of the Sunday Daily Prophet. "Read just below the story about Imelda's funeral."

Harry stared at the thick black print:

IGOR KARKAROFF, FAMED BULGARIAN PROFESSOR, FOUND DEAD:

Igor Karkaroff, one of the most esteemed professors at Durmstrang's School of Wizardry in Bulgaria, was found dead Saturday morning just outside his home near Plovdiv. Cause of death is unknown at this time, but preliminary speculations are pointing to the possibility of foul play. Given the recent increase in dark activity across the continent, the Bulgarian Ministry is looking into the possibility that Karkaroff's death may somehow be affiliated with such actions. However, no official statement has been made at this time regarding this. Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge sent his condolences to the Karkaroff family and the Durmstrang school, quoted as saying he hopes whoever is behind the crime will be apprehended and dealt with most severely.

Harry set the paper down silently. He looked up at Snape, whose arms were folded.

"That is why I'm leaving, Mr. Potter. It has nothing to do with Malfoy threatening to have me dismissed and everything to do with the fact that. . . I am next."

Harry remembered Voldemort's words last year: 'We have six missing death eaters. . . one too cowardly to return. . . he will pay. One who I believe has left me forever. . . he will be killed, of course . . ."

Harry at once understood why Snape was wanting to leave-- Snape and Karkaroff had been Death Eaters together and were the two death eaters that Voldemort had swore vengeance upon. Now that he'd slain Karkaroff, it only seemed reasonable that Snape would be next.

"But Professor, Hogwarts is the safest place you could be! You're here with Dumbledore! You saw they way he was with Voldemort: there's no way he's going to let anything happen to you!"

"My being here poses a threat to all the students here. Voldemort is out to kill me, Harry. I can't stay and endanger the lives of the children--"

"He's after me as well, Snape! I am forever wondering 'when is he going to come again,' but I'm not hiding out at Privet Drive, I'm here! At Hogwarts! Not only because it's home, but because it's safe! If you leave Hogwarts, Dumbledore can only help you so much. You're much better off here, Professor."

Snape raised his brow. "Why the sudden interest in my well-being?"

"Because I don't want this to happen to you!" Harry shouted, shoving the newspaper back at Snape. "Not when you can help it! You have to stay, it's your safest option."

Snape was oddly quiet. "I must say. . . of all the students, you were the last I suspected would be so opposed to my departure." He leaned closed, "I have given you no reason to act this way, Potter. Why are you telling me all this?"

It was true: Snape hadn't given Harry a reason for this fervent lobbying of his staying on at Hogwarts. But the memory of what had happened earlier in the week was still too strong.

"I'm not asking you for anything. Forgive me for saying so, but you've been a right bastard from day one. But I have spent too much time watching people around me die-- Mum, Dad, Cedric, Imelda-- I do not want another person added to that list, understand? After that night . . ."

Harry couldn't believe he was actually saying those words! He closed his eyes, fists clenched in emotion. "I mean, dammit, Professor Snape, you and I made an amazing team that night!"

Oh hell, Harry, you might as well just spit it out instead of beating about the bush.

"Things would feel so much more secure with you on the campus. And with you, Sirius and Dumbledore together on one campus? Well, I should think that rather decreases the odds of anything happening to the students, not increase the odds!"

Harry was breathing heavily, knowing that he'd made a damn fine case. Snape held Harry's gaze-- his expression vague. It felt like hours before anything was said.

"Have a seat, Harry."

Harry blinked, but obeyed immediately. Snape walked out from behind his desk, looking very unsure of how to formulate his words.

"You have been . . . a very easy person for me to dislike. I've spent these past five years doing nothing but finding fault with you. Something. . . anything to justify my tearing you down. And you understand that your knack for landing in trouble only fueled that fire. And admittedly, I am still most displeased with your uncanny ability to get away with much more than any Hogwarts student ever has-- including your father."

He took a breath, "Slytherins take great pleasure in deriding Gryffindors for their nobility-- most of us think of it as sheer stupidity. The idea of putting one's self last-- of fighting for what is right no matter the consequences-those are traits Slytherins laugh at. A Slytherin would have buckled under pressure-- would have signed anything or paid anything to have their life spared. But you proved there is nothing stupid or laughable about the pride and nobility of a Gryffindor-- It was those very things that saved our lives the other night."

"I suppose this is all a very long way of telling you that . . . after what you did, I now have a respect for you, Potter. I don't give my respect to many people at all. As you've most likely gathered, I'm not exactly what once would call a 'people-person' and it takes a great deal for someone to win my respect. And, this you have done."

Snape's words were almost unbelievable! Harry felt compelled to reply. "Well. . . I'm sure you're very much aware that for the past five years I've absolutely hated you."

"Yes, I rather got that impression."

"But . . . you were willing to give your life that night. . ." he paused. "In that way, you and I aren't so very different after all."

And that's when Harry saw it-- that tug at the corner of his mouth.

Snape cleared his throat. "Off with you then, Mr. Potter. I believe you have your OWLS to study for. . . and I suppose I'd best start reviewing some possible lesson plans for next year-- it seems that I'm a bit behind."

Harry nodded, understanding Snape's words loud and clear. Despite his valiant attempts to suppress it, an enormous grin had broken out over Harry's face. "Good afternoon then, Professor Snape."

"Good afternoon."

Harry turned to leave.

"Oh and Mr. Potter-- you'd best inform Professor McGonagall that ten points to Gryffindor are in order."

Harry's knees almost gave out from under him.

Points to Gryffindor from Snape?

Now, Harry had been witness to many an incredible sight in the past week that he'd been able to handle. Being attacked by Syads? Fine. Nearly getting pulverized by Lord Voldemort? No problem! Discovering he's the Heir to Godric Gryffindor? Kids' stuff! But ten points to Gryffindor from Professor Snape? No-- that was most definitely the greatest shock yet!

"Now get out of here, Potter, before I change my mind!"

Harry nodded quickly and stumbled backwards, bolting out of the dungeon, mystified.

**

The OWLS were every bit as murderous as Harry had anticipated. As expected, he had his primary difficulties in potions, though really, he knew he'd done not nearly as well in any of the subjects as he'd originally hoped. (He had his fingers crossed for perhaps a certificate in the Defense Against the Dark Arts at least!)

As was expected, Hermione seemed quite chuffed with all of the subjects and she confidently expected a certificate in every one of them. (that girl was determined to be selected as a Prefect for the next year) And Ron? Well, he just seemed to be rather quiet about the whole thing. Something told Harry that he and Ron were in the same boat!

Ron and Harry were under strict orders to be selective in what they told the students about what had happened on the trip. They delivered the much practiced, abbreviated speech of: 'Delphine Lestrange escaped from Azkaban and tried to hand all of us over to Voldemort, but her plan didn't work.' Although, admittedly, Harry did rather like Snape's reply to every student who inquired about it: 'with your exam scores it would suit you better to worry about much more important things than that.' In other words: 'none of your damn business.'

The final day of school was upon Harry before he knew it and he was once again packing up his things, getting ready to re-join the muggle world. Although this time, the idea of going back to Privet Drive was . . . tolerable! There were two things waiting for him there: Dudley-the reformed, the new, the likeable Dudley Dursley. And, of course, Sophie.

The prospect of seeing her again made Harry feel, eager to get back to Privet Drive-- something that would have seemed laughable one year earlier.

Hagrid and Sirius were in charge of dispersing the students onto the train on departure day, and Harry was once again trudging along with the rest of the students, making their way towards the awaiting Hogwarts Express.

"Can you believe," George was saying, "that it's over. I mean. . . we're never going to see Hogwarts again after this. . . "

Fred was nodding, "It just doesn't seem possible that seven years can fly by so very quickly! I can't believe that this is the last time we're ever gonna be riding this train," Fred was saying as they waited to climb aboard. "I mean, I feel so . . . old."

"Yeah," Harry snorted, "Seventeen years old. You're ancient, Fred. But, well, you've got the joke shop to think about now! Weasleys Wizards Wheezes!"

"Yeah, of course we're all keyed up about that-but still, this has been our home for the past seven years!"

"Did we tell you, Harry, that we found out who torched the shop?"

Harry's eyes widened. "NO! Who was it?"

"Well, lo and behold, it wasn't Malfoy after all. Matter of fact, it wasn't even a person who did it at all."

"It wasn't?"

"No! Dedalus Diggle was in town on holiday that weekend, visiting some friends, and he wanted to amuse them with one of his fireworks displays-"

"Uh oh," Harry breathed, "no way-"

"Oh yes. You remember how hot it was that weekend, right? Well, we all know how powerful his fireworks are--all it took was a gust of wind in the wrong direction and poof. Bye-Bye-Wheezes."

"Unbelievable. Not the most encouraging start, that's for sure."

"That's exactly what Ron said-- he seems to think the fire was an omen or something, but we don't care! We've put too much of ourselves into it to just give up. Besides, we're investing in some AntiFumuer spray pronto."

Harry looked over his shoulder anxiously, "Speaking of Ron, where is he? Haven't seen him or Hermione since breakfast!"

George let out a low, devilish laugh. "Ahhhh. Well, there's your answer."

"Harry! Oy! Wait up!"

Harry turned to see Ron and Hermione running towards him. . . hand in hand.

Harry grinned like a Cheshire cat. "So . . . what's all this hand holding business about?"

Ron and Hermione both blushed.

"Yeah, well, I guess I just had a lot of sense knocked into me over the past few weeks."

"I think all of us did," Harry said.

Seamus Finnegan walked by at just that moment and did a triple take at Ron and Hermione. He broke out into a tremendous grin and shouted, "IT'S ABOUT BLOODY TIME!" He grabbed Dean by his shirt collar. "Oy! Thomas! That'll be ten knuts! Cough 'em up, mate!"

Ron raised his brow. "Ten knuts?"

"Oh aye," said Seamus happily, snatching the money from Dean's reluctant hands. "We had a bet going that you two would get together before years' end-- you too Longbottom! Ten knuts, thank you! Angelina, where do you think you're going? You owe me as well--"

"Whoa," said Ron, "how many people were betting against us?"

Seamus was still smiling, counting up his money, "Oh, just about everyone except me. Now lets' see, ten, twenty, thirty, forty-- who am I missing. Oh yeah-- how could I forget, Fred and George! You two, c'mon, let's not be stingy now."

Hermione feigned disgust. "Fred! George! You actually put down money against your own brother?"

Fred shrugged, giving Seamus his dues, "Well, the odds were in our favor!"

George nodded. "Yeah-- the guy couldn't form coherent sentences with you around, much less ask you out!"

Hermione was blushing furiously and she laughed nervously, clinging to Ron's arm. Ron's ears were pink as well and Harry had to grab his sides, he was laughing so hard.

They climbed aboard, the entire Weasley clan plus Hermione and Harry squeezing into one compartment. There was laughter spilling out from the compartment the entire journey home, and by the time they reached King's Cross Station, Harry was sure he was going to loose his voice from all the raucous laughter!

They filed out onto the platform, all the Hogwarts students scattering about like ants, trying to locate their parents. The Weasleys all ran back through the barrier together and once again found themselves amongst the muggle world.

Hermione was smiling at him. "You gonna be okay, Harry?"

"Yeah," he said, "Yeah, I'll be fine, Herm."

"Well--you're always welcome to come and visit, you know that."

"Yeah-and you know that Mum would love to have you anytime."

Harry nodded. "I might just stop by."

He paused and then gave Hermione and Ron the biggest hug he could muster. And they returned it-all three standing in each other's embrace for eternity. . .

"Bye!" He waved at Ron as the Weasley's disappeared through the crowds of travelers. Now, where was Uncle Vernon-

"Hello Harry."

Harry spun around. "Sophie," he exclaimed.

She stood with her hands behind her back, dressed in a lavender sun dress-the color as lovely on her as it had been on her mother.

"Dad and I are taking you home," she said.

Harry couldn't imagine a face he wanted to see more than hers.

He walked to where she stood and stared at her. "You all right?"

She nodded. Yeah. . . it's just . . . hard, you know?"

"Yes. I do."

She stood for a moment in uncertainty, and then reached for him. Harry embraced her readily, pulling her close to him, stroking her soft hair.

"I'm so glad you're here," she whispered into his hear. He could her the struggle within her voice to remain composed.

Harry closed his eyes. "Me too."

If only she knew how deeply he meant that.

She pulled away and smiled. "Well! Let's get you home, then."

Roger appeared right then, squeezing through the crowds, his face looking drawn and thin, but still its usual kind self.

"Hello Mr. Banbury," Harry said immediately, foregoing the usual handshake that would have followed and landed him with a hearty bear hug.

Roger patted his back warmly. "Hello there, Harry. Here, let me help you with that."

Roger helped Harry with his cart to their waiting red Renault and loaded it, Harry climbing into the backseat and they made their way out into the London traffic, towards the motorway.

Harry did his best to keep the subject light and as far away from the horrible recent events as humanly possible. He talked about Ron and Hermoine mostly-- Sophie particularly interested and was "shocked" that Hermione hadn't sent her an owl to personally tell her about it!

They were back on Privet Drive in an impressively short period of time and Roger and Sophie both insisted Harry have some tea with them before going to his house. He of course obliged and was even further delighted to find Dudley was to join them. Dudley met Harry with a firm hug and genuine "All right".

"All right, Dudley, thanks. And you?"

He shook his head. "Don't ask-- let's just say that I'm glad Sophie invited me over because I was just about to wring dad's neck."

Harry laughed, knowing just how easy it was to feel that way, and they took a seat in the living room.

"How did those exams go, Harry?" Roger asked, pouring everyone a cup of tea.

Harry groaned. "Next subject, please."

"That bad, eh?"

"Worse, I'm sure," he said glumly.

Sophie was smiling strangely. "Well . . . I got my exam scores back two days ago."

"And?" asked Harry eagerly.

"Full marks."

"Sophie! That's fantastic," said Harry.

"Yeah," Dudley added, "congratulations!"

"Yes," said Roger, "isn't that wonderful? Let me go fetch the parchments--" He happily went upstairs.

"Have you written to Hermione letting her know?" asked Harry, "She'll be thrilled."

Sophie nodded, "yeah, just sent and owl yesterday. Infact, I guess it was such a good thing that Professor Dumbledore and I had a chat last week."

"Oh? Really?"

"Yes-- he actually asked me if I should like to join the students at Hogwarts next term."

Harry's heart skipped a beat and he beamed at her. "Sophie! That's fantastic! It'll be so much fun!"

She nodded. "Yes, I know . . . but I said no. Call me a muggle, Harry, but I can't leave my father. Not now."

Harry smiled. "Sophie? I would have been disappointed If you'd decided anything else. He needs you."

"I know."

Roger came back downstairs at that moment, happily waving the parchments. Harry smiled, flipping through her results. "Very impressive. So then, if you're not going to attend campus, what about your studies?"

"Still correspondence. I'll have a Hogwarts tutor stop by once a week. But Dumbledore did insist that I at least attend some of the Quidditch matches. . ." she smiled strangely again, "it seems as though I'll be supporting Ravenclaw."

Harry's mouth fell. "You were sorted?"

"Yes!" she cried happily, "A Ravenclaw--just like Mum."

"Ravenclaw," Harry repeated, "little wonder with marks like these!"

"That's not your house, is it Harry?" asked Dudley.

Harry smiled, "No, I'm . . . " he paused, "I'm a Gryffindor."

Those harmless words hung in the air around him-- he truly was a Gryffindor. More than they knew.

It wasn't until Sophie was walking Harry and Dudley across the lawn to number four Privet Drive that she dropped the bomb upon them.

"I. . . I have to tell you both the truth."

They stopped and stared at her expectantly.

"Dad and I. . . we're moving."

It was the worst thing anyone could have possibly said.

"You're moving," Harry repeated in disbelief.

Dudley was similarly devastated. "Sophie! No! But you've only just moved in--"

Sophie didn't look any happier about the situation. She stared at the ground glumly, kicking a rock around with her shoe. "I know, but . . . we're moving back to London. Dad. . . he can't take it in that house. You understand."

"Of course," said Harry, but inside he was dying. The thought of Sophie moving away was absolutely unfathomable! He would have literally given anything to have her stay there-- with him.

"W-when are you leaving," he asked quietly.

Sophie looked up at Harry, her eyes watering slightly. "Monday."

"Monday?!?" Both Dudley and Harry shouted at the same time.

"Wot?!?"

Sophie nodded. "Believe me-- I don't want to leave you two, but I haven't any choice in the matter. I'm going wherever my father says, that's the end of it. Like I said, there's no way that I can leave him." She took a shaky breath. "I'm all he has left."

The Dursley's remained quiet indifferent to Dudley's announcement that the Banburys were moving away as they lugged Harry's trunk inside the front door. Petunia did make a comment, however, that it was a relief and she hoped the next neighbors would at least be respectable citizens.

"Mr. Banbury is a police officer, Mum! How much more respectable can you get!"

And," Petunia continued, "they'd best not have any out-of-control teenagers like that Sophie! What a blemish to the neighborhood she was--"

"You were fine with the Banburys until you found out the Imelda and Sophie were witches," Dudley spat. There was rage in his eyes and Harry knew that Petunia was going to sorely regret having said anything negative against Sophie. "They were the nicest, kindest, most sincere people that any of us had ever met! You adored her, Mum!"

"I was probably bewitched--"

"Oh for crying out loud! You just can't admit that you were wrong about wizards, can you! You're never wrong, are you! Well, you know what? That's your problem, not mine! Because Harry and Sophie and Imelda-- they're all the most wonderful people that anyone could ever hope to know. You want respectable? Well, Dad and Mummy dear, it might interest you to know that Imelda spent her entire life dedicated to fighting against a force more evil and darker than anything you could possibly imagine! And as for your 'worthless nephew', well, he's the reason that countless more people innocent people haven't died from that force! He's a regular bloody hero and you treat him like gum on your shoe! And I am just bloody damn lucky that I found it out before it was too late! So it's your loss!"

With his teeth gritted, he turned to Harry and grabbed his shirtsleeve, "Come on, and let's get your trunk upstairs."

And then he stopped and whipped around suddenly, as though he'd forgotten something. "And if anyone is a blemish to the neighborhood, it's you!"

They lugged the trunk upstairs, Harry in awe of his cousin. There was such passion in his voice-- and a certain pain in his eyes. So much so that Harry felt . . .sorry for him. Dudley sat on Harry's bed as he went about putting away his clothes.

"They just make me so mad, y'know? They're both so bloody thick-- I just wish I could smack sense into 'em."

"Well," said Harry lightly, "it did take a pretty girl for you to come around."

Dudley laughed. "A pretty girl can be a bloody powerful thing. . ." he sighed. "I'm gonna miss her, Harry. I really am."

"We'll go and visit," Harry was saying, trying to convince his own self more than Dudley. "It'll be fun-- we'll get to go into London! And I'm sure she'll come back and visit too--"

"Mum and Dad will chase her out of the house." He paused again. "I really am glad that she came along."

"Yeah!" Harry snorted, "We all know how glad you are--"

"No, it's not just that I bloody lost my head over her, its . . . hell, Harry, I've had fun with you. Much more fun that those gits I hang out with at school."

Harry smiled, genuinely glad to hear that. "You know, if I could, I'd take you back to Hogwarts next term." He laughed. "Bet your Mum and Dad would love that!"

"Oh wouldn't that just blow 'em up!" Dudley was laughing too. "Too bad I can't. . . it sounds like a fantastic place."

"You realize that if you heard yourself saying this last year, you would have thought you'd lost your mind."

"I know, I know . . . but there is a such thing as turning over a new leaf."

"Don't I know it. Seen a lot of that this year. And . . . I'm glad too, Dudley. Your being here makes things . . . unimaginably better."

Harry and Dudley were up at the crack of dawn on Monday morning and, after a quick bowl of cereal from the pantry, they trekked across the lawn to number three where Roger and Sophie were already wide awake, going about putting things into boxes. It took them the entire morning of non-stop work before they got everything packaged up and ready to haul into the moving van that waited in their driveway.

"It's-times-like-these-I-wish-you-could-use-magic-outside-school,"

Dudley panted as he and Harry heaved a large box onto the van.

"I'll second that," said Mr. Banbury, stretching his back. "And these bloody movers of ours have been on tea break for an hour now! Where have they gone to-- we're the ones doing all the work!"

"I think they're in the back garden," said Harry.

Mr. Banbury put his hand to his forehead. "The back garden! That's what I've forgotten! Er-- Dudley, can you help me, son?"

Dudley nodded and disappeared with Roger through the house.

Sophie and Harry stood alone.

"So. . . then this is goodbye," said Harry quietly.

Sophie's eyes were downcast. "It's not goodbye. . . we just won't be seeing each other every day like we used to."

"Well . . . I will be expecting you to visit campus next term," said Harry. "Even though since you're a Ravenclaw you won't be cheering for me when you come to see the Quidditch games!"

Sophie shook her head. "Are you joking? I'll be your number one fan."

Harry's laughter subsided. . . Sophie was staring into his eyes. And suddenly, Harry knew what he wanted to do more than anything else in the world. He placed his hand to her cheek-her skin every bit as soft as he knew it would be. And was it his imagination, or did she blush when he touched her?

His face drew closer to hers and Sophie closed her eyes as Harry let his lips softly meet hers.

This was different than kissing Hermione.

Harry had been dreaming of this, he'd been wanting this and the magic that coursed through his veins was more powerful than any other magic he'd ever experienced. Her body felt comfortable and good in his embrace, as though it was had always meant to be so.

He let her go, but only out of necessity to breathe for he would that he could have kept her there so close forever.

"Wow," he breathed quietly. "Don't ever let anyone tell you that you're not a magician, Sophie."

She beamed and met his mouth once more, pulling him close against her--Harry could feel her heart racing against his chest.

"I'm going to miss you," she whispered. "Every single day."

"You'll keep writing, won't you?"

"You bet your life." She pulled away finally, although Harry still felt warm from her embrace.

Dudley came out of the front door at that moment, Roger behind him, the both of them struggling with a very large cardboard box.

Sophie laughed, "See Dad? I told you all that exercise equipment was only going to sit around and collect dust!"

Roger laughed, "you're absolutely right-- that's why I'm getting rid of it. Dudley said that he'll make good use of it!"

"I'm glad someone will," she said happily as Roger and Dudley heaved the box towards the Dursley's backyard.

Roger sighed and approached the kids-- the movers had reappeared and were pulling the doors closed on the van. "Well . . . this is it. We're going to be getting on our way now." He extended his hand to Harry and squeezed it tightly.

"I want to thank you, Harry, for everything you've done for my family. I am never going to forget it." He then did the same to Dudley, "and as I understand it you'll be celebrating your sixteenth birthday in another two weeks, right? We'd be delighted to have you down for a bit of a party, if you're interested!"

"Brilliant! Thanks, Mr. Banbury."

Sophie smiled at Dudley and threw her arms around him. "I'm gonna miss you, Dudley. Thanks for everything--"

"No," he said seriously, "thank you. Because if it hadn't been for you . . . I'd still be . . . that person I once was."

She smiled sweetly. "Oh Dudley, no, don't say that. You've always been this person on the inside-- it just took you awhile to find it out."

"And you're the reason I did, Sophie. That's the truth."

They stared at each other and finally, Sophie nodded and then gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for that."

Her enormous eyes drifted upon Harry once more. "And you," she said quietly.

"Don't say anything," said Harry softly, "it's not goodbye, remember?"

She smiled. "That's right."

"All ready, Mr. Banbury!" A gruff looking mover was motioning for Roger to hurry it up.

"Right," said Roger, "come on Sophie-- we'd best get going."

Roger and Sophie walked to their maroon Renault, Harry and Dudley right at their feet. They got into the car and Roger started up the engine. Sophie rolled down the window and Harry bent down, face to face with her. Sophie's eyes teared up and she threw her arms around Harry once more. She whispered in a tremulous voice so hushed that even Harry wasn't sure he heard her rightly.

"I think I've fallen for you, Harry Potter."

They were the last words she spoke to him as Roger was pulling the car out of the driveway. Harry watched as the car pulled away, a vision of loveliness, her small hand waving from the window.

And all too soon, the car was soon no longer visible.

"What are you so happy about," said Dudley, noticing Harry's smile. "I'm tryin' my best not to break down like a baby right now."

Harry had never felt so entirely happy in his entire existence. Sophie Banbury had told him she thought she was falling in love with him. . . and . . . it finally hit him!

Harry felt the same way about her.

"It's nothing, Dudley. Come on, let's go inside."

"It's just not going to be the same without her," he moaned as they walked inside, past Vernon and Petunia who glared at them from behind newspapers.

"They've gone, I hope," Vernon sneered.

"Yes," said Dudley, "they've gone."

"Thank heavens. At least we'll never hear from them again."

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you," Dudley snapped back. They climbed the stairs, away from the sneers and jibes of Vernon and Petunia.

"Yeah," Harry finally said to his cousin, his smile returning. "You're right. Something tells me that this was only the beginning."

THE END