Chapter 7- Happy Holidays!

Before a chaos could ensue regarding the missing of the Sorcerer stone, the next morning itself, Harry went and told Dumbledore about whatever had taken place the previous night. Harry had so openly disclosed everything to Dumbledore as he knew that once the headmaster came to know that the Sorcerer was actually a Hocrux then he was going to appreciate what he and his friends did, and yes, Dumbledore did felt and said that he was very proud of Harry and the other children.

"What intrigues me the most is that the young Malfoy saved you from falling!" he said with a curious twinkle in his eyes.

"That's what surprised me, professor! Well, it does seem he sometimes gives his conscience more priority than his blood prejudices and personal grudges." Harry said.

"I have been observant of him myself, Harry, and you maybe right." Dumbledore agreed, a mused expression adoring his face.

"Though we couldn't figure out why he wanted the stone? Hermione said she had heard rumours of his father being a death eater, and so we were thinking that maybe Lucious must have ordered Malfoy to get the stone for Voldemort?" Harry said, looking expectantly at the old man, thinking he might shed some light on it.

Dumbledore regarded him silently for a moment and then said,

"Well, I am sorry I have to say, Harry, I don't know much about Lucious Malfoy, since always he has only been a mere acquaintance from ministry. And years ago when I was a part of the war against Voldemort, I hadn't come across him anytime, though I heard from other people that they had found him torturing muggles, and spying for Voldemort. But later during his trial, he was able to prove him not guilty of all the charges put against him. So, even I can't say anything about whether the rumours about him are correct or not, or as to why Mr. Malfoy wanted the stone."

Harry frowned; he wasn't satisfied with his ans at all. He was very suspicious that the headmaster was hiding something from him, nonetheless he didn't question him further.

Seeing the boy silent,

"I think if this was all you wanted to tell me then we are done with our discussion." Dumbledore said with a smile.

Harry nodded and exited his office.

Later the headmaster called an official meeting of the Wizarding ministry, the authorities, and the professors of Hogwarts, informing them about what had happened to the Sorcerer stone. The audience was very surprised after hearing the truth from Dumbledore, nonetheless they too praised the children for their efforts and the great job they had done by destroying the first Hocrux already! After this meeting the news got spread like wild fire, and the entire Wizarding world began singing their praises.

While narrating the incidence to the ministry, Dumbledore had lied that just when Harry and Hermione were about to leave for the underworld, Draco had run into them by chance, and had seen the stone with them, because of which they had to tell him that they suspected the stone to be a Hocrux, and then he too had went along to help them destroy it.

And thus, this was what conveyed to the wizarding world.

All students of Hogwarts, who were obviously well aware of the enmity between the two Gryffindors and Draco, wondered how he could have willingly helped them on their quest. Draco himself was shocked hearing to this version of the story from his house mates. He couldn't figure out why Dumbledore would lie like that, nonetheless he was thankful to him, as doing this the headmaster had saved him from all the trouble he would have landed into, if the ministry knew the truth, they would have got after his life to pry it out of him as to why he wanted the stone for himself.

So, it left only Harry and Hermione, who knew why the headmaster was protecting the blonde. As Dumbledore too agreed with them that Draco did have a conscience, and that he could improve even more, they figured out, that he was giving him the chance.

When the Slytherins asked Draco about how he could go on helping the enemies, he just dismissed the matter saying that he wanted to gain some reputation by destroying a Hocrux.

At present he sat in the main hall toying with the food in his plate and seemed deep in thoughts when Blaise Zabini, his Slytherin peer, came and took a seat beside him.

"Draco, I am seeing, how since morning you have been avoiding me and others like plague! But you know it isn't going to help, you have to face us all sometime!" he said, his gaze intent on Draco.

When the blonde didn't give any response,

"I heard from others that you helped to destroy the Hocrux to gain a reputation! But do you even realize what you have done! You have invited the wrath of the dark lord by doing this! He would not leave you for doing this to him! Aren't you afraid!" he went on to rant.

It was then that Draco finally looked at him,

"Well, guess what Zabini, yes, I am not afraid of him!" he said with a firm look in his eyes.

Blaise shuddered.

"You are going to get yourself killed mate, I am telling you." He stated grimly.

But Draco remained indifferent and was back to toying with his food.

Blaise released an exasperated sigh before asking,

"And what will you say about saving that Potter from falling off the cliff! You hate him, don't you?"

"I do hate him Zabini! But despite of all the personal grudges that we have, don't you think letting him die would have been too much! I think anyone in my place would have saved him." Draco replied.

"Oh really? I think I wouldn't have done that! And you call yourself a Slytherin?" Blaise laid out in a mocking and offended tone as he gave Draco a disgusted look, before getting up and leaving.

On the other hand, the blonde kept staring at his plate, his face grim. No one knew the horrible truth that he was hiding. He wished he could tell someone what he had landed himself into but, well, he couldn't.

…..

Later that evening he was called by Dumbledore in his office.

"Hmm, So, Mr. Malfoy, is there anything very crucial that you would like to share?" the old man asked with a curious look.

Draco shook his head trying to look completely oblivious to why he could be asking him that, but in actuality he well knew what was coming and was already dreading it.

"Well, you know I had lied to everyone about you, now you tell me the truth Draco, why had you wanted the stone?" Dumbledore asked.

Since the moment Draco was invited by the old man to meet him, he knew this was what he wanted to enquire him about, and so the blonde had been preparing his ans for a while, though he was afraid if Dumbledore would buy it, but he had to try.

"Sir, I am ashamed at my deed, I had read a lot about the stone, and I was fascinated by its incredible powers! Last night, when I was going to my dormitory after dinner, I saw Potter and Granger passing through the corridor, I got suspicious as to where they could be heading at such a time? Thus, I followed them only to find them sneaking out of your office with the Sorcerer stone! Obvious I was shocked, many questions plagued my mind, as to how the stone could be here at Hogwarts? And how did they know about it? And why were they stealing it away like that! But above it all, one thought that came to my mind at that moment, affected me the most! I suddenly began thinking, as what if I could have the stone for myself! I thought of obtaining it from them by force and then obliviating them so that they won't remember a thing, and then I could take it with me and secretly use the stone to take revenge from whoever tried to mess with me!" He told; his head hung low.

"You wanted to use such a powerful magical object to take revenge of your petty childish quarrels with your classmates!" Dumbledore arched his eyebrow,

"Do you even know Mr. Malfoy what damage it could have brought if you actually would have got a chance to use it on someone! It's not your fist that you can go on using to hit someone you got into a fight with! It was very powerful and it could have even caused death if used to harm someone!" he added in a strict reprimanding voice.

"I know, I was being very stupid Professor, I am so sorry!" Draco apologized, his head still hung low.

"Well, though as later you did go with your conscience and saved Harry from falling off the cliff, and also in way aided him and Hermione in their quest, I think I will reduce your punishment to one week of detention."

"And remember, from henceforth think very carefully of the consequences, before you end up doing something so foolish that you might regret later, or else I won't be able to forgive you the next time." The headmaster said,

"Draco, I have heard complains of you getting into arguments with your classmates very often, but I know you are not a bad person at heart! Just put aside your grudges and try making friends, you can do so much better my boy!" he continued in an encouraging tone.

It was then when Draco's head lifted up and his gaze directly met with the Professor's. He was quiet for a moment before,

"Yes sir!" he exclaimed, giving a sharp nod.

"Off you go now." Dumbledore stated calmly.

So, with that, Draco was out of his office. He couldn't believe, the old man actually bought his lie! Nonetheless he was very relieved that he did.

…..

The last one week at Hogwarts passed away like a whirl of wind, and finally it was the last day of the term.

First years sat in the hall waiting for the headmaster to say his final speech, after which they would be free to go to their homes for vacation.

The continuous chatting in the hall died down when the students saw that Dumbledore had climbed the podium and was standing with his eyes scanning them all. Satisfied that he had the silence he wanted, he began,

"Another academic year has passed away, and I must say it was anything but usual. I'll like to congratulate you all that despite of the various hardships that occurred, we are finally at the end of it in our best of health! Now today is the time to celebrate, but before that I would like to distribute the house points and declare which house is going to be the winner."

"Starting with Hufflepuff, the house stands at fourth position with 257 points, next Ravenclaw stands at third position with 300 points, then Gryffindor stands at second with 350 points and finally Slytherin stands first with 410 points."

The moment Dumbledore said this, the Slytherins began shouting and clapping.

"Silence." Dumbledore shouted in his ever-powering voice, and the noises stopped.

"I am not finished yet, I want to say that some amendments have been made in the distribution of house points considering the great work done by a few students," he said.

The students began to exchange surprised glances.

"So, I would like to give 60 points to Mr. Harry Potter for his bravery and high spirits!"

Everyone began clapping, Slytherin house doing it for formality sake obviously.

Dumbledore continued,

"50 points to Miss Hermione Granger for being the wisest witch, always ready to help with her vast knowledge of every kind of spell!"

Again, roars of clapping filled the hall, Harry patted her back, Hermione couldn't stop smiling as she felt her heart bursting with happiness.

"We are ahead of Slytherin now!" she whispered to Harry as Dumbledore went on,

"At last, I'll like to reward 50 points to Mr. Draco Malfoy, for the part he played in destroying the Hocrux!"

The Slytherins obvious hated Draco for helping some Gryffindors, no matter even if it won their house, points, nonetheless they continued the claps, again for formality sake. On the other hand, the other three houses clapped for Draco with the intensity and respect which they had shown for Harry and Hermione. They felt no matter what a bully Draco was, he actually had done a noble thing for which he deserved to be praised.

Draco was completely surprised that Dumbledore had considered giving extra points to him too.

"So, with current scores, there's a tie between Slytherin and Gryffindor!" the headmaster announced.

Loud clapping filled the hall.

Dumbledore continued,

"Also, now I will announce the topper of the year, again there is a tie between two students from each of the winning houses, Miss Hermione Granger from Gryffindor stands first with perfect 'O' in all subjects, and same way Mr. Draco Malfoy from Slytherin stands at the same position with perfect 'O' in all subjects!"

Again, roars of appreciation soared across the hall for the two students.

" Now lastly, I would like to thank few people who aren't present here but had made important contribution in destroying the Hocrux. I would like to thank Demi gods- Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase, who had played very important roles in the quest, but since they don't belong to Hogwarts, it's unfortunate we can't do anything to return their favor, but their sincere efforts will forever be engraved in our minds and hearts, with this I will end my speech, happy holidays children!" he finished.

This time along with clapping, the students jumped out of their seats, they shouted, screamed and some even danced with joy.

"I am so happy Hermione! I already knew you will top!"

Hermione beamed at him. "How did you do?" she asked.

"Well I managed to get an 'A'." he replied sheepishly.

"That's really fine, Harry!" Hermione assured.

Suddenly a shrill voice of a woman took away everyone's attention at the Gryffindor table, they saw that Ron Weasley had his face twisted in utter horror, and in front of him was a magical letter, floating in the air.

"Ronald Weasley! I got a letter from Dumbledore telling me that you have got a 'T' in most of the subjects, and that you will be giving re exams during your second year! What a shame it is! Come home and see what I do with you!" the voice of Molly Weasley, Ron's mother, screeched out through the letter.

Ron's lips were trembling with fear and he sat frozen at his spot, his eyes bulging out. Neville, who was sitting beside him, fainted and fell down from his seat.

"What happened to Longbottom? The letter was addressed to Weasley, I suppose," Dean was whispering to Seamus.

"You know how Neville is, Mrs. Weasley's nasty voice must have scared him," Seamus whispered.

Everyone rolled their eyes and got back to whatever they were doing.

Harry, and Hermione were back to their conversation,

" I didn't expect Malfoy would also get the first position." said Harry.

"No Harry, you do know that even in class Draco and I were the ones who always got the best grades, so it was obvious that he would top." said Hermione.

"Yeah, Yeah, Whatever," He said in a bored tone, and she laughed.

"What?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Someone's jealous," Hermione chuckled.

"I don't need to be jealous of him!" Harry exclaimed, his cheeks turning red.

"Oh Harry, you're so adorable!" Hermione exclaimed bursting into giggles.

But seeing that Harry wasn't finding it funny at all, she did stop.

"Leave it Harry, I was just kidding." she said.

Harry's offended expression vanished quickly and he smiled at her.

It was then that they saw Dumbledore approaching them.

"Hello children! I wanted to give you a piece of my advice, before you leave. As you have now destroyed a Hocrux, it's likely Voldemort must be furious, so be very careful and alert during the holidays, he might try to attack you and take his revenge. If you feel anything amiss around you, do inform me quickly and I would come to help as soon as possible." He said in a serious tone.

Both the kids nodded at him.

"And by the way Harry, where will you be staying, at your uncle's or Miss Hermione's?" he questioned.

"We have decided that he will be staying with me Professor." Hermione came up.

"Very well." Dumbledore nodded. He concluded that even if he was going to stay with Hermione, her parents being muggle, their smell would mask the presences of the kids, and thus it was going to be difficult for Voldemort to find them.

"Happy holidays, once again!" he greeted and then was gone.

...

Evening had fell, the first years were ready with their luggage, to travel back to their homes for holidays.

Harry and Hermione had said their goodbyes to Hagrid and at present they were in Gryffindor common room. They were done with their packing.

"Ok Harry, its time, let's go now, I don't want to miss our carriage again, and then catch the train on brooms." Hermione said with distaste remembering the dreadful experience.

Harry chuckled and nodded as he began following her outside.

…..

THE END

A/N: This is the end of first year! I will be writing the upcoming years also, till then, see yaa!