BLINDING LIGHTS GREETED HARPER WHEN she opened her eyes again. Blinking a couple of times, the red head realised she was laying on a bed in the hospital wing. She pushed herself up and saw Madam Pomfrey hurrying out of her office towards her.

"You're awake, good," she said, placing a hand against my forehead. "How are you feeling."

"Okay," Harper said, rubbing her eyes. "How king was I gone?"

"A couple of days."

Harper blinked and looked around the hospital wing, relieved to see she was the only one. It meant her friends were safe.

"How are the others?" she questioned the matron. "How's Harry and Ron?"

"They're fine," Madam Pomfrey assured her. "Your brother was able to leave yesterday."

Harper nodded, suddenly feeling tired again. Madam Pomfrey pulled the covers of her bed higher up.

"Sleep now, you can see your brother at the feast."

Harper nodded again, too tired to argue, and closed her eyes. Not much later, she was already asleep.

• ✧ •

     "COME ON," HARPER MUTTERED, AS SHE tried to adjust her tie. She had just gotten discharged from the hospital wing and was getting dressed in her school robes as everyone else was already in the Great Hall for the end of year feast. Going with her hand through her hair, Harper decided she looked decent enough before sprinting towards the Great Hall.

Opening the door, she slipped inside and made her way to the Gryffindor table where Harry, Hermione and Ron were eating.

Hermione was the first to notice the redhead and she squealed while getting up. "Harper!"

Harper grinned and ran towards her. "Hermione!"

They smashed into each other halfway. Hermione hugged Harper tightly. "You're okay!"

Harper smiled. "I am."

A second and third pair of arms hugged her and she could recognize the red and black hair from Ron and Harry. Harper let them go and realized that everyone was looking at them.

"Let's sit down," Harper suggested.

The four of them sat down at the Gryffindor table and Harper groaned when she noticed that Slytherin had won the House Cup.

"I wanna sleep," Harper said while placing her head on the table. "I don't want to see Slytherin win."

Ron, who sat next to her, seemed equally miserable.

Harper sighed and looked up when Dumbledore started to speak.

"Another year gone! What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are a little fuller then they were . . . you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next school year starts . . . Now, as I understand it, the House Cup needs awarding, and the points stand thus;

"In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and and two points; in third, Hufflepuf, with three hundred and fifty-two points; second, Ravenclaw, with four hundred twenty-six points; first, Slytherin, with five hundred and twenty-two."

The Slytherin table broke into cheers and Harper buried her head into Ron's shoulder. "I don't want to see this."

He slung his arm around her. "None of us do."

"Yes, yes," Dumbledore continued. "Well done, Slytherin. However, recent events must be taken into account."

Harper's head snapped up at this and she looked at the older wizard, feeling confused. He wasn't talking about us, was he?

"Ahem," he began, trying to get everyone silent. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see . . . yes . . . first, to Mr Ronald Weasley, for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor fifty points."

Ron became pale while the Gryffindor table broke into cheers.

"Good job, mate!" Harper said while patting his back. From her other side she could hear Percy shouting and boasting about Ron.

"My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess board!"

"He did," Harper told Dean and Seamus, who were sitting a couple of seats away. "We almost died but he was amazing!"

Dumbledore waited for everyone to silent down to continue.

"Second . . . to Miss Hermione Granger . . . for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor House fifty points."

Hermione's mouth fell open and her eyes were wide. The Gryffindor table cheered again and Harper gave her a hug over the table.

"Third," Dumbledore spoke up again. "To Miss Harper Potter." Harper's head snapped up at the sound of her name. "For sacrificing herself for the people she loves, I award Gryffindor House sixty points."

A smile spread on her lips. Is he serious?

Fred and George congratulated her while she just felt numb and happy at the same time.

Harper looked around, not really believing what just had happened. Her eyes fell on Cedric who sat on the Hufflepuf table. He looked up and winked at her. She grinned like a fool and looked back at Dumbledore.

We were in second place now!

"Fourth—to Mr Harry Potter . . . for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award to Gryffindor House, sixty points."

Harper laughed and gave Harry a hug while everyone was cheering. "We did it! We did it! We're tied with Slytherin!"

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

Harper squealed and jumped over the table towards Neville. She hugged him tight. "You did it, Neville! You saved Gryffindor!"

Every House, except Slytherin, broke into cheers.

"Which means," Dumbledore finish, while Harper sat down next to Neville, "if my calculations are correct, we need a slight change of decoration." He clapped his hands and the green and silver banners turned red and gold. "Gryffindor wins the House Cup!" he announced.

We had won.

• ✧ •

"LOOK HERMIONE," RON EXCLAIMED, while standing before the piece of parchment that contained their grades, "you've got top marks!" He peered down the list, his eyes widening even more. "Blimey, Harp, you almost got as much as Hermione!"

"No way," Harper said, pushing him aside so she could see for herself. "That's impossible."

But Ron was right. Just under Hermione Granger, Harper could read her own name.

"I'll be damned," Harper said, grinning.

Harry and Ron had done pretty good too. Neville, from what Harper saw, had done spectacularly in Herbology, which made up for his abysmal Potion's one.

She and Hermione said goodbyes to the boys and walked to their dorm to start packing their trunk.

"It's unbelievable how fast this year went," Harper told Hermione, as she was sorting through her trunk. "I almost can't believe our first year is officially over."

"Yeah," Hermione agreed while closing her trunk. "I'll miss you during summer though."

Harper looked up at her and smiled. "We can meet each other during summer. I'd love to go to the movies with you."

She raised her eyebrows. "You actually know what a movie is?"

Harper grinned. "I'm not totally hopeless."

Hermione rolled her eyes and Harper closed her trunk. She took Dale's cage and looked around for the last time, checking if she got everything.

"Until next year," she said and pulled the trunk with her to the common room. Professor McGonagall was passing around a small note to each of the students.

"What's this for?" Harper asked to no one in particular.

Fred and George appeared in front of her.

"That's a warning," Fred began.

"I always hope they'll forget to give us these," George added sadly.

• ✧ •

THE TRAIN RIDE HOME WAS FUN; HARPER was anxious to see Dorcas and Remus again and tell them everything that had happened this school year (she could tell them about Fluffy now). She stared around the compartment, eying Harry, Ron and Hermione.

She was going to miss them.

"We'll write, right?" she questioned the trio. They all looked up at her.

"Of course we will," Hermione replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yeah," Ron added. "The three of you should come over during summer. I'll send you an owl."

Harper smiled and the train arrived at King's Cross Station. The four of them left the train and Harper pulled Harry in for a tight hug.

"I'm gonna miss you, Harry."

"I'm gonna miss you too, Harper," he said, hugging her back just as tightly.

They let go of each other and Harry stared at something behind her. Harper turned around and saw him looking at what seemed to be the most obvious Muggles.

"That's uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and Dursley, our cousin," Harry told her, not seeming too overjoyed to see them.

Harper patted his back. "Have a good summer and if someone is bothering you, write me and I'll come and save you."

"Thanks, I will," Harry replied grinning. "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."

Harper grinned. "That's my brother."

They said their goodbyes and Harper started looking for Dorcas and Remus. She eventually saw them standing in the back.

"Harper!"

Harper beamed as she wrapped her arms around them. "I missed you."

"We missed you, too, darling," Dorcas said, hugging her back.

"The house's been quiet without you," Remus agreed.

They pulled back and Dorcas looked down at her, smiling warmly. "How was your year?"

Harper grinned from ear to ear. "I think we have a lot of catching up to do."

· · ───── · ☆ · ───── · ·

May 28th 2022
I hope you enjoy it & tell me what you think of it! :)
This is officially the end of year one! ;)