AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Last chapter of Volume One.

Volume Two up soon.

Gotta get it into chapters.

=P

****

"Lanni!" Scott cried, and ran over to me.

"Don't kill me, please!" I said as he embraced me.

He laughed, and then he pulled away and kissed my forehead swiftly.

"Now look here little one, you are building too much of a reputation for yourself. Maybe we should talk about this. Mum and Dad are going to freak, and I can't have you dying while I'm supposed to be watching over you." Scott explained.

"I know, Matty, I know." I told him.

"So promise me that you'll be more careful, okay?" He asked.

"I promise." I said slowly. "I'll be more careful in the future."

"Good to hear it." Scott said.

****

Hermione and I had been sitting by Ron's side, when Harry was brought in. He was unconscious too. Ron woke up and we all hung out around Harry's bed for a while, before Madam Pomfrey kicked us out, and told us to go get some sleep. We slept that night, but first thing in the morning we got dressed and ran to Madam Pomfrey's office.

"I'm afraid that you'll have to wait until Professor Dumbledore is done speaking with him." She told us.

We sulked back up to the top of the stairs, and sat there, until Harry came out in his robes and looked up at us.

"You all right Ron?" He asked him.

Ron nodded.

"And you two, Lana and Hermione?" He asked.

"Never better." Hermione told him.

"And we see you're in tip top shape too." I added.

We all smiled at each other.

****

That night was our last feast at Hogwarts. We would be going home for the summer. I was actually quite saddened by that. I was going to miss Hermione, Harry, and Ron, not to mention Oliver, Uncle Albus, and Draco.

I had started to cry when we were entering the Great Hall, and Uncle Albus had to hug me, and tell me that it would be all right. I headed to go sit with Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Oliver, and then Dumbledore took his place in front of us.

"Another year gone." Dumbledore began. "Hopefully all of your heads are a little fuller than they were. You have all summer to get them nice and empty before next year starts. Now as I understand it, the House Cup needs awarding. And the points stand thus: Gryffindor in fourth place with two hundred and sixty-two points, Hufflepuff in third with three hundred and fifty-two, Ravenclaw in second with four hundred and twenty-six, and Slytherin in first with four hundred and seventy-two."

There was a storm of cheering and stamping from the Slytherin table, and many people from Gryffindor didn't even clap for them. I couldn't help it because Draco glanced at me—not to mention my brother was in Slytherin, so I kind of had to show some family love—even if I wanted to be the victor.

"Yes, well done Slytherin. But, I have last minute points to award, taking recent events into account." Dumbledore said.

The room went very silent, and the Slytherins stopped smiling…especially Snape.

"First to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best game of chess I have seen these many years…Fifty Points." Dumbledore said.

Ron was blushing, and Percy started bragging about him.

"Second, to Miss Hermione Granger for the cool use of intellect when others were in grave peril…Fifty Points." Dumbledore continued.

Hermione buried her face in her arms, and I applauded for her. We were one hundred points up.

"Third, to Miss Lana Langston for the use of cool logic in the face of fire…Fifty Points." Dumbledore smiled at me.

I was speechless. Fifty points? I even caught Draco smiling slightly, except that it meant that we were now at four hundred and twelve points. Scott was really proud too, and started bragging about me to his Slytherin friends.

"Fourth, Mr. Harry Potter for pure nerve and outstanding courage…Sixty Points." Dumbledore told us all.

As we all clapped for Harry, we realized that we were now tied with Slytherin at four hundred and seventy-two points. Then Dumbledore held his hand up for silence, and we looked at him.

"Bravery comes in all kinds. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends. I award ten points to…Neville Longbottom!" Dumbledore announced.

We all started screaming and cheering, and almost smothered Neville with hugs.

"Now if my calculations are correct, I think that a change of decoration is in order." Dumbledore clapped his hands, and the green Slytherin banners became maroon Gryffindor banners. "Gryffindor wins the house cup."

We all cheered some more, and then feasted and went off to bed. It was such a marvelous night, that I would never forget it.

****

The next morning, we all checked our scores on our Final exams before getting ready to board the train home. Hermione and I had obviously gotten the best grades out of all of the First Years, and to Ron's disappointment, Goyle passed his classes as well.

We all said goodbye to the teachers, and I ran to Dumbledore. I hugged him tightly and I could have sworn that his eyes were teary.

"I'll miss you so much Uncle Albus!" I cried.

"You'll see me next year, Lana." He told me.

I nodded. "I know, but I won't see you all summer."

He smiled. "I'll write you, I promise."

"You better. This last year has been great." Scott told him. "Thanks for housing me for my first year. I guess I have to brave it at home with two sisters again now."

"Hey!" I cried, punching him lightly.

"I never said it would be a bad thing. Dad will be happy to have his son back." Scott declared.

"Great, I will no longer be his favorite—not since his precious Matty is returning." I sighed.

I hugged Uncle Albus one last time, and then went to board the train with Harry, Hermione, and Ron, Scott sitting with his Slytherin buddies. When the train stopped, we got off of the train, and I saw my parents talking with Ron's. I smiled and Ron blushed. My sister was talking with his little sister, both of which would be attending Hogwarts next year…we hoped.

"Mother! Father! Chelsea!" I cried, and ran to them.

I hugged them to me, and met Ron's parents with Scott. Then Hermione, Ron and I turned to Harry and smiled at him. We hugged him and then looked to see the Dursleys. They were the ugliest Muggles I had ever seen. Sorry for my frank rudeness.

"You must be Harry's uncle." I said, extending my hand.

He just looked at it. "You could say that. Hurry up boy. Don't keep us waiting."

The woman and stout little boy followed him away from us.

"Well, hope you have a good holiday, Harry." Hermione told him.

"I will. They don't know that we can't use magic outside of Hogwarts. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer."

We laughed, and then watched as Harry left.

"Hi mom. Dad. Chelsea. Matty." I said as I turned back to them.

They all hugged me.

"Let's get you two home." My father said. "We have a lot to do this summer."

I nodded, and went with my mother, father, brother, and sister, to our new London home.

Note: Volume Two next.