'Ahem,' said Dumbledore. 'I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes... First -- to Mr. Harry Potter...'
Harry gulped a deep breath. He was getting points awarded? For what?
The room was deadly quiet.
'--for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Slytherin House fifty points.'
The din was deafening at Slytherin table. Those who could add up while yelling themselves hoarse knew that Slytherin now had four hundred and seventy-two points -- exactly the same as Gryffindor. They had tied for the house cup -- if only Dumbledore had given Harry just one more point.
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. Theodore Nott.'
Someone standing outside the Great Hall might well have thought some sort of explosion had taken place, so loud was the noise that erupted from the Slytherin table. Harry stared at his friend, knowing now that it was Teddy who had gone to Snape and told him Harry had gone after the Stone, but it was okay, really, and seeing as how he had lived because of it, it was more than okay. He clapped Teddy on the back, and yelled, 'We won!'
Millie, Draco, and even Blaise Zabini stood up to yell and cheer as Teddy gave them all a sardonic smile and a small bow.
Harry, still cheering, looked over at the Gryffindor table to see the students there almost white with shock at the unexpected loss.
'Which means,' Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, 'we need a little change of decoration.' He clapped his hands. In an instant, the scarlet hangings became green and the gold became silver; the towering Gryffindor lion vanished and the huge Slytherin serpent took its place. Snape was shaking Professor McGonagall's hand, and she had a horrible, forced smile. When Snape caught Harry's eye, he almost caught the sense that Snape wasn't any happier about Slytherin winning than McGonagall was.
He would have to ask Snape about that. But later. For now, it was the best evening of Harry's life, better than winning at Quidditch, or Christmas, or knocking out mountain trolls... he would never, ever forget tonight.
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Harry had almost forgotten that the exam results were still to come, but come they did. To his great pleasure, Harry had passed with good marks; Hermione, of course, had the best grades of all the first years. Even Neville Longbottom scraped through, his good Herbology mark making up for his abysmal Potions one. With some help from Draco and Teddy, even Greg Goyle had passed, and Millie was so pleased she'd passed all her classes that she shared out her last box of biscuits from home with her whole study group.
The last couple days before they were due to leave, Harry spent his time hanging out with his friends, eating sweets from Millie, and poring over a book of photographs that Hagrid had given him while he was in the hospital wing. Hagrid had explained that he had sent away to old friends of Harry's parents and asked for pictures they had of the couple, and there were even a few pictures that had Harry in the photo as well. They were wizarding pictures, so they moved about on the page, seeming to wave right at him. It was one of the best gifts he had ever been given.
At that time, he'd also needed to reassure Hagrid that the big man was not to blame for Harry almost getting killed while going after the Stone, even if he had provided the clue about Fluffy. Harry did not want Hagrid to bear any of the blame, when he knew it was all his own doing.
Snape had another story about that. The night after the banquet, he called Harry to his office, and said, 'Well, what do you think?'
'About what, sir?'
'About what?' Snape sighed, as if Harry were a simpleton, even though he'd gotten his grades by then, including high marks in Potions. 'About why Slytherin won the House Cup this year.'
'Because we deserved it?' Harry said, but he knew immediately that it was the wrong thing to say.
'Ludicrous! Slytherin has won the cup for seven years in a row, it is true. But this year it was in the bag for Gryffindor, thanks to the last Quidditch game issue, not to mention that you should have
Harry took a step backwards, his hands balled into fists. He should have known better than to think anything had changed! Snape still hated him, and wanted to punish him, and--
'Stop!' Snape brought his hands to his face and rubbed at his forehead. 'Please, Harry. Look, I did not mean to yell at you. I am angry at that old coot.'
Confused now, Harry stopped sidling towards the door and frowned. 'Why?'
Snape sighed again, but his dark eyes met Harry's, and there was true, almost frantic, grief there. Worry. 'Because he is egging you on! By awarding you points for that suicidal adventure, he is encouraging you to act in like fashion in the future. But I'll have none of it. I have promised to watch over you, Harry Potter, and to make sure you stay safe and sane through your years at Hogwarts. I will not let that meddling codger send you on more fools' errands where you're more likely to die than not. Is that understood?'
So Snape was angry that Harry had been rewarded for nearly getting himself killed; that made sense. And he didn't want Harry to make a habit of it, due to expecting rewards in the future. And he would rather have lost the House Cup than Harry be hurt again. He really did care about Harry.
Harry smiled. 'I understand.'
The Professor let out a tense breath. 'Good. No go on with you and let me get back to my work. I shall see you in a few days.'
Still smiling, Harry left him to his empty desk. The Professor was due to arrive at the Dursleys the same night Harry returned from Hogwarts. As long as he could manage a few hours of their company, he would be fine.
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