Chapter Fifty-Two

(Wow, I just realized that I was stupid and forgot to change the year after the Christmas chapters…. Oops.)

Hospital Wing, Hogwarts, Scotland, 29 March, 1992

He opened his eyes.

He didn't really want to, but there were loud, angry voices coming from not far away, and his curiosity got the better of him.

"…still unconscious! You'll disrupt my other patients!"

"I don't care!"

"I'm his brother!"

"Five points each from Slytherin and Hufflepuff! I healed your burns yesterday, Malfoy, and yours as well, Potter! Now leave!" Madam Pomfrey practically shouted.

"No!" Henry and Adrian yelled back.

It seemed time to wake up.

"Uhn…"

He opened his eyes and everything seemed to be moving slowly. He shook his head, hoping his eyes would focus, but he just couldn't get them to.

"Why does everything look so weird?" he slurred.

"You are under a sedation potion, along with Skele-Grow and a blood replenishing potion, Mister Malfoy. Do you remember being injured?" Madam Pomfrey asked, shooting Henry and Adrian a look as she bustled over to his bedside.

Seeing the way his brother and friend frantically shook their heads, he assumed that they'd somehow kept their venture a secret thus far.

"N-no, I don't. What happened?" he asked.

"I don't know, Mister Malfoy. All of your friends came into my wing with injuries, and none of them could tell me how they got them!" she huffed. "Yours and your brother's were the worst."

"Will I be alright?" he asked, voicing the question his brother had mouthed at him.

"Yes, yes. You'll be very sore- I had to remove and re-grow all the bones below your waist, but you will make a full recovery," she said, pouring a thick, syrupy red potion into a measuring spoon. "Now drink up, you lost a lot of blood."

He gagged as the thick potion went down his throat.

"So, none of you seem to remember anything," she continued, rolling her eyes at Draco "and I can't find any evidence that you did anything against the rules. All I can reasonably guess is that Mister Longbottom fell down the stairs and hit his head, something large and heavy fell on your legs, Miss Granger was covered in the same sludge as Weasley, Zabini, and Greengrass, and your brother and Mister Potter suffered from severe burns on their legs and feet."

"So, we aren't in trouble?" Adrian asked hopefully.

"No, seeing as I cannot prove that you did anything wrong, you are not in any trouble. However, if you- any of you- ever receive such severe injuries under such mysterious circumstances again, I will dock every single house point from every single house one of you belongs to," she said, her voice and glare more chilling than any that the boys had ever received.

"Yes ma'am," they mumbled, heads bowed.

"Good. Mister- Draco- Malfoy, you will remain in here until I release you," she said. "Until then, you will remain in bed, asleep."

"But-"

"No buts," she scolded. Glancing over at the other two boys, she scowled. "And no visitors."

Great Hall, Hogwarts, Scotland, 1 April, 1992

"Happy to be out of the wing, Drake?" Adrian asked, taking a bite of roast and smirking at his brother and tossing the red Stone high into the air before snatching it deftly.

"Oh, shuttup, Ade. It was your fault I was in there so long. She was punishing me because you kept coming and annoying her," Draco groused.

"Malfoys don't do annoying, Draco," Adrian said, wiping his mouth primly. "It is most unbecoming."

The others stared at him and then burst into laughter.

"You sounded just like my grandmother!" Daphne hooted.

"Urgh, that old bat?" Blaise grimaced. "I met her at a party once. She told me that I should change my name, as Italians are undesirable in a husband. I was six at the time."

"I guarantee that my mum's Auntie Muriel is worse," Ron chuckled.

"We agree, little brother."

The first years turned to see Ron's twin brothers, Fred and George.

"What do you want?" Adrian asked coldly.

"To talk to the notorious Firebrands," George whispered, a smirk blooming on his face.

"Nothing overly important," Fred shrugged.

"Know where we could find them?" the twins asked together.

"How did you find out?" Ron asked, glaring at his smirking brothers.

"Well…" George started.

"…remember how the winners of the war were promised a map?" Fred asked.

The first-years nodded.

"We found it interesting that you lot always disappeared off the map mere hours before some spectacular prank went down…" George said, grinning at them.

"…and believe us, they were spectacular; the anti-gravity spell? Brilliant," Fred said, clapping Ron hard on the back and smiling.

"Well, anyway, you lot of ikle firsties deserve this," George said, taking out a blank piece of worn parchment and handing it solemnly to Adrian and Draco.

Then, Fred winked and said, "Maybe we could collaborate a bit next year, eh?"

"Hogwarts wouldn't know what hit it!" George prompted, still grinning.

The children grinned with them, sharing conspiratorial looks.

Wouldn't know, indeed….

The twins started to walk away from the table when Ron stood and smiled tentatively at them.

"Happy birthday."

Through the Trapdoor, Hogwarts, Scotland, 13 June, 1992

Finally….

After months- no, years- of scheming and planning, the moment had come.

He would regain his body.

Tonight.

"Master, perhaps this is not a good ide- AUGH!" Quirrell screamed.

"Silence, fool!" he hissed. "Do not dare to question me!"

"Y-yes, master," Quirrell wimpered.

The dog had posed no problems; the stupid brute was sound asleep. The ridiculous vines were something a child could conquer, with a bit of fire. The winged keys were defeated with a strong summoning spell, and he merely walked across the chessboard, blowing up any pieces that tried to stop him. The trolls had evidently slaughtered one another at some point, and the potions were easy as well.

Nothing compared to his power, even diminished as it was.

The last challenge was Dumbledore's own, and he would relish defeating the old man, even in this one way.

As he stepped through the fire, grinning triumphantly, there was a sudden flash, a click, and a winding noise, almost like-

"A-a camera, my Lord?" Quirrell stammered, questioning.

There was a large mirror in the room, and mounted at the top was a camera.

And a note, written in a child's hand.

It read, "Smile; you're on candid camera! And we were here first! Many thanks, The Firebrands."

"My-my Lord?"

Quirrell screamed his death throes well into the night as his master departed in a rage.

Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts, Scotland, 6 June, 1992

"What happened to him, Albus?"

"I am afraid I do not know, my old friend," the Headmaster replied sadly, removing his spectacles and rubbing his eyes tiredly. "The best I can guess is that he was some sort of host to a parasite. When it departed from him, he died- violently, it would appear."

"And dare I ask about the Stone?"

"It was taken, but not by Quirinus. I suspect that it was taken by either his accomplice, or someone who came before him. I did not find it on his body."

"So, someone unknown has my Stone- my life's work- and doesn't plan to use it for themselves?"

"That is how the enchantment worked, my friend," Dumbledore nodded.

"I want it back, Albus!"

"I know that, Nicholas! But there are only so many things I can do!"

The taller, older, and altogether fiercer man stood, his dark brown eyes narrowed angrily. "My wife and I will set our affairs in order. Our lives have been long and happy, and I do not have enough faith left in you to get my Stone back in the six months my wife and I have left. This is the last time we will meet, Albus Dumbledore."

Dumbledore hung his head as his oldest and dearest friend- and political ally- walked out of his office forever.

Beside the Black Lake, Hogwarts, Scotland, 10 June, 1992

"AUGH! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!" Henry yelled, throwing his History of Magic book clear across the bank. "I'M TOO BLOODY STUPID TO TAKE EXAMS!"

"Is the boy-who-lived experiencing some difficulty?" Draco asked innocently.

Henry scowled and send a blasting hex after his book. "I hate Professor Binns! I can never stay awake in his bloody class!"

"No one can," Ron called from his perch on a tall branch. "Except for Hermione."

She grinned up at him from her place on the ground. "It isn't easy."

"Hermione, please help me," Henry moaned, head in his hands. "It's all so boring."

She smiled fondly at him and patted the ground next to where she was sitting. "Of course, but only if you teach me some of that advanced Tansfiguration Professor Lupin has been helping you with."

He grinned back and retrieved his book, plopping onto the ground beside her. "Deal!"

"Drake, can you help me with this potion? I'm awful," Neville wimpered, watching as the tar-like mess ate through his cauldron and burned a hole into the ground.

"What are partners for?" Draco smiled and sat down next to his friend.

Adrian was up high in the tree, to the point where the branches bent under his and Blaise's weight.

"What are you going to do with the Stone?" Blaise asked, watching curiously as Adrian flipped the Stone in question from hand to hand.

"Well, I really don't need- or want- anything the stone can make. I don't want to live forever, and I don't really need any gold…" Adrian mused.

"So what are you going to use it for?" Blaise asked.

"Not for myself," Adrian said, a note of finality as he plucked the Stone out of the air once more and stuck it in his pants pocket. "Maybe for a friend who could use the money, I guess."

"Are you talking about Ron, or Neville?" Blaise asked with a smile, glancing over at Adrian smugly.

"Both? Mostly Ron, I think," Adrian shrugged.

"You're a good guy, Ade," Blaise said, smiling at his friend and beginning his descent from the tree.

Adrian grinned down at his friend, deciding to stay in the tree a bit longer before he was surrounded by the pre-exam madness below.

He carefully sat down, straddling the whippy bough and leaning easily against the huge tree trunk. Loki was running around with Daphne, barking happily as she chased him around.

He took the Stone back out of his pocket, admiring the way in glimmered and shone in the bright afternoon light.

'Maybe I should give this back after all,' he mused. 'I really isn't mine, after all.

'But then again,' he reasoned, 'I did earn it…'

He threw it high into the air and watched it fall into his palm with a gentle smack.

"I think I'll keep you," he said to the Stone, "at least for a few weeks."

Hogsmeade Station, Hogsmeade, Scotland, 20 June, 1992

"Hermione, are you… crying?"

"No!" she sniffled.

"Oh, Hermione, we'll be back soon!" Neville said, attempting to comfort his friend. "Only two months, and we'll all be together again."

Loki barked in agreement from his position at Adrian's side.

"She isn't crying," Ron said, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders as they walked. "She just has some sad in her eyes."

The others laughed heartily.

"Where did you hear that?" Hermione asked. "About the sad in my eyes, I mean."

He shrugged, smiling easily. "It was something my mum used to say when Fred and George would tease me for crying when I was little."

"It's cute," she giggled, and he scowled.

"It is not!"

"We have to do stuff this summer! I can't imagine two months without seeing you lot!" Henry laughed as Ron picked up a squealing Hermione and spun her around as fast as he could before setting her down dizzy.

"I agree mate," Ron said, grinning ear to ear. "We all need to practice Quidditch so we can make the teams next year!"

"So, you're planning on trying out as well, Ron?" Adrian asked.

"What position?" Draco asked.

"Either Keeper or Chaser," he shrugged. "Nothing fancy."

"Hey, I'm trying out for Chaser!" Daphne called.

"Me too!" Draco cheered.

"Beater," Blaise smirked. As if to demonstrate his hitting abilities, he smacked Ron across the back of his head.

"OI!" Ron yelled, tackling the laughing Italian boy.

"What about you, Ade?" Hermione asked.

"Seeker," he grinned.

"I'm trying for Chaser, like my dad," Henry said. At their astonished looks, he became defensive. "Hey, Uncle Remy has been helping me practice a lot! I've gotten pretty good!"

"Whatever you say, Hank," Adrian said, shaking his head and smiling.

"Enough with the 'Hank' thing!" Henry scowled as they boarded the train. "My name is Henry!"

They all filed into a compartment at the back of the train and sat quietly for a while, each lost in a swirl of their own thoughts.

"Next year, my sister Ginny will be at Hogwarts," Ron said softly, breaking the hour-long silence.

"Next year, we'll miss another one of Vela's birthdays," Adrian said sadly, and Draco nodded somberly.

"Next year, my cousin is getting married," Daphne said. "I'm one of the bridesmaids."

"Next year, my mother will be remarried. Again," Blaise sighed. Daphne patted him on the back consolingly.

"Next year, we won't be first years," Neville mumbled.

"Next year, there won't be a three-headed dog," Henry said. Neville smiled.

"Next year, we'll all be together again," Hermione said, smiling.

"Next year, Slytherin will win the Quidditch Cup," Blaise smirked.

"Again," Draco added.

"Next year, we'll finally get Hermione on a broom!" Daphne and Ron said together, and Hermione glared playfully at the two of them over the top of her book.

"I resent that," she said primly, turning the page of her book. "Next year, I'll get you back."

"Next year, I'll help Professor Sprout in the greenhouses, like she asked me too," Neville declared, blushing only slightly.

"Next year, I'll have Uncle Remy," Henry grinned.

"Next year, I'll talk to Uncle Severus more," Adrian said.

Loki barked sharply, tail whacking painfully against Adrian's leg.

"Ouch, you arse!" he yelped, rubbing his calf.

Loki snorted.

"Next year, I'm getting a new wand. I don't care if I have to get a job," Ron declared. "But I'll have something of my own, besides the broom."

Blaise shot a look at Adrian, who was pointedly staring in the opposite direction.

"Next year, we'll remember this year," Draco said, smiling at them. "And I hope we laugh about it."

Yes, the FINAL chapter in this story.

There will be a sequel, the first chapter of which I will post soon. That story will NOT have as many chapters as this one does!

I hope you all enjoyed this tale, and I love all of the amazing people who have reviewed!

Much adoration and thanks to the readers,

-TheNefariousMe