Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and ran with him to the owlery.

"Slow down! Slow down!" said Ron, turning green and holding her hand tightly.

"What if we get caught?" he asked, trying to stop her.

"I honestly don't care about that at the moment!" said Hermione determinedly. Ron stopped dead in this tracks. Hermione thought he was going to vomit but Ron just smiled at her as he turned back to his normal color.

"I knew I'd rub off on you."

Hermione smiled at the ground embarrassingly then took Ron's hand and ran with him.

They had only just reached the entrance hall when they heard footsteps rushing up towards them. 

Hermione gasped but Ron covered her mouth.

They turned to run, but the person was that coming towards them was just the person they wanted to see.

Long white hair down his back, matching white beard and bushy mustache bouncing in the wind as he ran and half-moon spectacles slowly falling off his crooked nose.

"Professor Dumbledore!" gasped Hermione.

"Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?!" exclaimed Dumbledore, who had only paused for a moment before running off again.

"Wow," said Ron. "One hundred and fifty and still going strong."

.        .        .

The next morning Hermione and Ron were alerted that Harry was unconscious in the Hospital Wing. No one had told them if he was getting better or not, which extremely bothered the two. They finally agreed on something.

This was unfair and scary.

When they went to go see Harry Hermione could barely hold in her tears, just looking at him motionless like he was dead. It was like Ron all over again.

Ron seemed pretty messed up by it too, but he tried to be brave for Hermione.

"It's going to be alright," he said awkwardly as she cried into his shoulder on the way back to Gryffindor Tower.

"Dumbledore is probably very disappointed with us," she said to Ron, wiping her eyes.

"You know what this reminds me?"

Ron shook his head.

"Neville is still stuck in the common room."

.        .         .

The next day Neville had gotten better and was fairly distant with Hermione and Ron, who had apologized a thousand times for cursing him. He sat away from them and didn't speak their names. "He'll get over it," Ron told Hermione.

All of Gryffindor had begun to notice that Harry was absent from meals and was never in the common room or with Hermione and Ron. And worst of all Gryffindor had a Quidditch game against Ravenclaw and they didn't have Harry.

Watching the game was like watching Harry in bed. It was unbearable.

Rumors began to speculate that Harry was dying.

Hermione didn't know what to tell people when they asked what had happened to Harry. She didn't know if he was dying or not. Older students had said they normally informed you when patients were making progress and that must have meant Harry wasn't making any.

This worried Hermione deeply, especially since Professor Snape was still in school and looking more smug than ever.

Had he gotten the Stone after all.

Had he blasted Harry with some horrible Dark spell and nearly killed him?

Harry could die and no matter how many times Hermione and Ron tried to convince themselves it would not happen the were not in their favor.

Hermione shivered at the thought. Who would do such a thing?

.         .         .

The third day Hermione and Ron had gotten the information they had been longing to hear for three whole days!

They rushed up to the Hospital Wing, but Madam Pomfrey refused to let them in for a long while. ("He needs rest!" she said.)

When she did let them in and Hermione caught a glimpse of Harry, laying in bed, happy as ever and waiting for them Hermione screamed, "Harry!"

She wanted to hug him tightly, but Madam Pomfrey had just told them he needed rest.

"Oh, Harry, we were sure you were going to - Dumbledore was so worried -"

"The whole school's talking about it. What really happened?" asked Ron.

"Well, when I went through you'll never believe who was there -"

"Snape," Hermione and Ron said in unison.

"No, Professor Quirrell." Hermione and Ron gasped. "And you'll especially never guess what was under his turban!" Hermione and Ron leaned in, close to Harry. "Lord Voldemort -" "AH!" screamed Hermione.

"He's been working for Voldemort this whole time. Apparently, Snape knew what he was doing and was trying to stop him. We were way off. Quirrell didn't have a problem getting through anywhere. The Mirror of Erised was in there. I looked into it and just as I expected I saw me finding the Stone. Voldemort knew that was what I saw, but neither of them expected for the Stone to appear in my pocket!"

Hermione and Ron gasped.

"Voldemort ordered Quirrell to kill me, but he couldn't. Anytime he touched me his skin burned. It was so unbearable for him that he had to let go."

Hermione and Ron gasped yet again. 

"Then Dumbledore came and saved me and . . . well I'm guessing you know the rest."

"So the Stone's gone?" asked Ron. "Flamel's just going to die?"

"That's what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that - what was it? - 'to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.'"

"I always said he was off his rocker," said Ron.

"So what happened to you two?"

Hermione explained what had happened to them after they'd gotten out of the third floor.

"D'you think he meant you to do it? Sending you your father's Cloak and everything?"

"Well," began Hermione, "if he did - I mean to say - that's terrible - you could have been killed."

"No, it isn't," responded Harry. "He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could. . . ."

Hermione thought this over.

It was rather mad, but in the same way completely ingenious.

"Yeah, Dumbledore's off his rocker all right," repeated Ron proudly.

"Listen, you've got to be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow. The points are all in and Slytherin won, of course - you missed the last Quidditch match, we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you - but the food'll be good."

Madam Pomfrey came rushing in at the moment.

"You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT!" she told them.

.       .       .

The Great Hall was filled with Slytherin colors, silver and green to celebrate Slytherin's win.

"Seven whole years in a row!" said Draco Malfoy rather loudly as he passed the Gryffindor table. "I do feel so very sorry for other Houses though. Losing seven years in a row isn't much of an accomplishment. I especially feel sorry for Gryffindor - last place this year. Hey, Goyle isn't seven the most magical number there is?"

Ron rolled his eyes and rubbed his knuckles.

"Malfoy's lucky there are a bunch of teachers up there," he said.

Hermione gasped at that very moment and pointed at the door.

Harry had entered!

Everyone was silent for a moment then went on with their conversations as he sat down by Hermione and Ron. People were so interested in him being alive that they even stood up to get a good look at him.

When Dumbledore came to the feast everyone became silent.

"Another year gone!" he said joyfully. "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."

The Slytherin table burst into cheers.

"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," said Professor Dumbledore. "However, recent events must be taken into account."

The Slytherins' smiles began to fade.

No one knew what was going on.

"Ahem. I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes. . . . First - to Mr. Ronald Weasley. . ."

Ron went purple with embarrassment.

". . . for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor House fifty points."

Gryffindor cheered happily, but fifty points didn't really do much. Percy Wealsy still seemed very happy though, telling his prefect mates, "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!"

Then there was pure silence again.

"Second - to Miss Hermione Granger," said Dumbledore. Hermione went pink and stared at the ground.

". . . for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor House fifty points."

Hermione was so happy she buried her face in her arms and burst into tears. She only hoped no one was looking.

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

Everyone in Gryffindor House roared with excitement, except Hermione, who's tears were now coming to a stop.

Everyone who had any math sense knew that Gryffindor now had four hundred and seventy-two points - exactly the same amount as Slytherin.

Dumbledore raised his hand to silence the room.

"There are all kinds of courage. 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."

Hermione, Ron, and Harry stood up to  cheer as loud as they could for Neville with the rest of Gryffindor House. Neville was white with shock, but then realized what he had done and smiled. People were hugging him fiercely all while screaming and smiling.

"He's surely forgiven us now," Ron whispered to Hermione.

Even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were celebrating Slytherin's downfall.

"It's been a long time coming," smirked Fred Weasley.

"Which means," said Dumbledore, "we need a little change of decoration."

Hermione gasped with excitement as the green hanging became scarlett and the silver became gold, and best of all the huge Slytherin serpent disappeared and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place.

Snape was shaking hands with Professor McGonagall with a horriblly forced smile.

It was the best day of Hermione's life. 

The last day at Hogwarts was so much better than the last day of Lilac Fields Elementary. She felt at home here and it was a shame to leave but she was going to her parents and to Ms. Lauren. Of course there were times here she didn't ever want to recollect (especially the mountain trolls) but this would be one night she could never forget.

.        .          .

The first years were given their exam results before they left. 

Hermione was proud to have the best grades of all the first years. She was rather surprised that Ron and Harry got good marks too, considering their study habits.

Everyone was packed up and ready to leave, and given notes warning them not to use magic over the holidays.

This bothered Hermione because she would not be able to practice or show Ms. Lauren.

Hagrid took them down to the boats that they'd use to cross the black lake. 

Everyone was happy to board the Hogwarts Express again and head home for the holidays, eating candy and talking merrily.

"You know what?" Hermione asked, taking a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean. "I'm not even going to brush my teeth afterwards!"

"You daredevil!" said Ron sarcastically.

They were at King's Cross before they knew it.

An old wizard guard was there to let them into the barrier by twos and threes

"You must come and stay the summer," said Ron, "both of you - I'll send you an owl."

"Thanks," said Harry, "I'll need something to look forward to."

The three of them marched back through the barrier into the Muggle world.

A lot of people called goodbyes to Harry.

Obviously, they were no longer angry with him for losing their points.

"There hi is, Mum, there he is, look!" said a red-haired girl who looked merely a year younger than Hermione.

"Harry Potter!" she squealed. "Look Mum! I can see -"

She was pointing at Harry excitedly.

"Be quiet, Ginny, and it's rude to point."

The red-haired, plump woman smiled down at them.

She appeared to know Harry and Ron so Hermione assumed this was Mrs. Weasley, Ron's mother and his sister, Ginny Weasley.

"Busy year?" she asked.

"Very," answered Harry. "Thanks for the fudge and the sweater, Mrs. Wealsey."

"Oh, it was nothing, dear."

"Ready, are you?"

The voice came from behind them. It was a purple-faced, mustached, furious-looking man. This must be who Harry had been talking about. Hermione was horrified at just how unpleasant this man was.

Behind him was a thin woman with her thick, blonde son.

"You must be Harry's family!" said Mrs. Weasley.

"In a manner of speaking," he replied. "Hurry up, boy, we haven't got all day." The man walked away.

"See you over the summer, then," Harry said to the,.

"Hope you have - er - a good holiday," said Hermione. She still couldn't get over that man.

"Oh, I will. 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. . . ."

And with that Harry left.

Then out of the crowd of Muggles Hermione saw her parents.

"Mum! Dad!" she cried.

Mrs. Weasley came to speak to the Grangers, but Ginny stayed with Hermione and Ron.

"Oh, Ron, you have to tell me all about Harry Potter!" she exclaimed.