A/N: Don't own them; this is just for fun. This is the last chapter in Year Four, I've already begun to write Year Five, which I should start posting soon. Again, I'd like to thank all of you for sticking with the story. It really does mean a lot. And thanks for the reviews. I've enjoyed the writing. I'm still lacking a beta reader so feel free to point out errors. - TM

Chapter 25 - Exams? !

In the end analysis, it might have been a draw: Hogwarts Castle had been damaged, and Harry and company failed to retrieve the Tear, but they did save Narcissa, though at the loss of Jason. Many important Death Eaters were discovered (and killed) in the course of the attack on Hogwarts. To everyone at the school, however, it felt like they came off much worse than the other side.

The PortKey delivered the group from Malfoy Manor back to Hogsmeade. Enough time had passed that they could tell the attack on Hogwarts was over, but they all gasped at the sight of the castle. The outer wall was breached in several places, rubble lying in heaps, smoke was wafting from inside the grounds; several of the towers appeared to be askew and many of the roofs had gaping holes in them.

Still, none of them spoke. The shock of their own battle and their loss was too fresh. Only Sirius Black and Narcissa Malfoy seemed anything resembling functional. "We should get to the castle," Sirius said quietly, and the sad group continued their doleful procession.

It seemed like hours before they arrived at the castle. The grounds were strangely silent, and equally strangely, the main doors were shut. Just as they arrived at the doors, they opened. The Headmaster was there to meet them, flanked by Professors McGonagall and Snape. Harry found himself wondering if they looked as bad as the three adults in front of him. He imagined that they probably did.

Even still, no one spoke. The Headmasters eyes were dull and care-worn, his robes torn in several places and burned. Professor McGonagall appeared as if she had a few choice words for her wayward students, but upon seeing Jason's body, her breath caught in her throat, and she clutched her chest, eyes glistening. Professor Snape had several cuts visible on his face, and he looked like fury incarnate, yet he too sighed deeply at the sight of the group entering the castle.

Now that they were inside the castle, and safe, the teenagers were all on the verge of tears. The three professors turned and led the group slowly toward the Hospital Wing. Harry found himself wondering where everyone was. The castle was eerily quiet.

They were shortly in the Hospital Wing and Jason's body was gently laid on one of the beds. Brandon Potter moved to the side of the bed and laid his hand on Jason's head, tears streaming freely down his face. Harry, too, was crying. "I'm sorry," he said. It felt empty and pointless, just like he did, looking at his uncle. "It's my fault. I'm the one who said we should go. I got him killed."

Brandon Potter wanted to be very angry with his nephew, to yell and scream, to tell him to go away. But he couldn't. He had lost too much, there was too much pain, he was too weary. And Harry was family. So, instead, he moved over next to Harry and put his arm around him. "Harry," he said slowly, as if trying to decide exactly the right words to use. "You made a mistake, and did something you shouldn't have. But it was a Death Eater that killed Jason, not you."

Harry had flinched at his Uncle's touch, but he heard what his Uncle said. Nonetheless, he was who he was. "I understand if you hate me, or don't want to be around me." He tried to move away, but his Uncle just tightened his grip.

"Harry, no." Brandon said, turning to look at Harry for the first time since they'd entered the Hospital Wing. "I can't hate you. Am I angry? Yes. Am I disappointed? Absolutely. Do I know how I'm going to deal with this? Not in the least. But you're still family, and the only family I've got."

"I think," the Headmaster jumped in, "there are several other things we need to discuss, but first I must see to getting the school back to normal. I would suggest that we convene in my office first thing in the morning. Mr. and Ms. Malfoy, I have a guest room for your mother, adjacent to the Slytherin dormitories. There is sufficient room for all of you to stay there tonight. Mr. Potter, if you'd like to stay in your Uncle's rooms, that also is acceptable. Mr. and Ms. Weasley and Ms. Granger, you may also stay there, if you'd like. You'll find extra sleeping bags have been placed in the room. Sirius, you know where to go." The Headmaster paused, and everyone nodded. "Severus, Minerva, please come with me. Brandon, you are excused for the evening as well."

The Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor nodded. "Thank you, Headmaster." Dumbledore smiled sadly.

The teenagers all traded glances, and Draco whispered to Ron and Hermione on his way out, "We'll get my mother settled and come by for a bit." The Gryffindors nodded in acknowledgment, and the Malfoy clan and the professors left, leaving the rest in the Hospital Wing.

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were most uncertain as to what to do now. Harry and Brandon had turned back to the bed and were simply staring there, leaning against each other, looking at Jason's body. Every few seconds they could see one set of shoulders or the other heave and a strangled sob or sniff escape from one of the Potters. After some time, Brandon Potter sighed deeply and said, "OK, kiddo, let's go back to my rooms and try and eat something." Harry let out a particularly loud sniffle as Brandon let go of him to cover Jason's body with a sheet.

Another mournful sigh escaped from the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor as he turned. Harry was still latched on to him, and at the sight of this, the three other Gryffindor students couldn't help but run forward and wrap their best friend in a wet, sobby, hug. Brandon Potter found himself grateful that, for a little while longer at least, he was taller than the teenagers that were currently clinging to his robes. He was able to look up and over their heads as they commiserated, and he was grateful they were so self-absorbed they could not see the tears in his eyes that matched their own.

Sometime later, Brandon decided it was time to get the group moving again. "Alright, gang, let's go. We need to eat something, and it's probably not good for us to stay here anyway." Harry had pulled off his glasses and was wiping them, and his eyes, as Brandon herded them all toward the door. They arrived at Professor Potter's rooms in short order and entered to find that the house-elves had laid out dinner for them. Though none of them were really hungry, they all sat down at the table to eat. It was a strangely silent dinner.

Down in the Slytherin dungeons, Draco and Ivy had also just sat down to dinner with their mother. While this table was somewhat less somber than the one in the Gryffindor tower, it was a matter of degrees, as none of them really knew what to say. The loss of Jason, the escape from Malfoy Manor, and Ivy and Draco's lack of contact with their mother for most of a year made conversation quite difficult.

Finally, Narcissa decided that she had better take the plunge, "Draco, though you should not have done it, thank you for saving me."

Draco looked at his plate, but Narcissa could tell he was trying to suppress a smile. She couldn't help but think that he had always been very sensitive to even slightest bit of praise from his mother. Draco looked up, "I couldn't stand the thought of leaving you in that house."

This was accompanied by a bit of a frown from Ivy, "But mother, what will you do now?"

Narcissa reached out to pat Ivy on the arm, and gently stroked her hair. "Well, dear, I'm not entirely sure." She was thoughtful for a moment. "I suppose, if nothing else, I'll have to rely on the charity of that cousin of mine, Sirius Black." She did not seem overly enthusiastic at that prospect. "Well, I think I will worry about that tomorrow."

Draco had been thinking, too, "Yeah, but that raises another question, Ivy, where are we going to go? We can't exactly go back to Malfoy Manor either." This realization had the effect of silencing everyone again, and they continued to eat in silence, pondering their dilemma.

Eventually, the meal was finished. "Draco, Ivy," Narcissa began, rising from her seat. "I am so grateful to be here with you, and so glad we're all safe." This was said somewhat awkwardly, and Draco and Ivy seemed equally uncomfortable. It was clear that they all loved each other very much, but didn't often express these feelings. "I am tired, and you should probably check on your friends." It was a bit of a strain for Narcissa to think of Ivy and Draco as friends with students of dubious lineage from Gryffindor house, especially Harry Potter and his uncle, who she only remembered as a whiny kid that followed James and Sirius around. Times were changing, rapidly. She gathered her children into a hug, then sent them on their way back up through the castle to Gryffindor tower.

They arrived and knocked gently on the door to Brandon Potter's rooms. Hermione opened the door, and seeing it was Draco and Ivy, let them in with a genuine, but sad smile. Inside they found everyone sitting on the couches and chairs in front of the fire, looking at each other. Draco whispered to Hermione, "Has it been this quiet all night?" The dark-haired witch nodded back in confirmation, eyes glistening.

Draco let out a deep sigh, but was uncharacteristically unsure how to proceed. Even Ron was subdued. Draco and Ivy went over to Harry and Ivy wrapped Harry in a hug, which was awkward because he was seated. Draco simply sat down next to him and awkwardly patted his knee. Just as in the dungeons, there was not much to be said or done. Everyone was wrapped up in their own grief over the events of the day and their questions of the future that seemed to have no obvious answers. Nonetheless, there was something comforting about them all being together. It was rather late when Brandon Potter stood up, and transfigured the couches into beds for Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny, who arranged their pillows and sleeping bags accordingly. It would have been no big deal to go back to their own beds in the dormitory, but by unspoken agreement no one wanted to leave.

"We have to be at the Headmaster's first thing, so we should try and get some sleep," the Professor said wearily as he turned and padded into the bathroom adjoining his bedroom.

"I guess...we'll say good night then," Draco said. He awkwardly gave Harry a hug this time, as did Ivy. Then, with a look at Hermione and Ron, and a sad smile, he and Ivy headed back from the dungeons.

They all climbed into their sleeping bags, except for Harry, who, hearing his Uncle coming out of the bathroom, went in for one last good night hug. It was some minutes before he came back into the living room and turned out the lights and climbed into bed himself.

Everyone was present as requested at the Headmaster's office first thing in the morning, though no one looked like they'd had a particularly restful night. Ron was thinking that even magical sleeping bags were not so comfortable when one had to sleep on a couch. Draco and Ivy were thinking very much the same thing, and Draco was his usual uber-surly self, as there was no coffee in his mother's guest bedroom when he awoke. Neither Narcissa nor Brandon had slept much, Narcissa because she was trying to anticipate where she we would go and what she would do. Brandon lay about thinking about Harry and Jason, and did drift off at some point, or at least he must have because he woke up most uncomfortably to the snoring of his nephew, who had climbed on to the bed at some point in the night. It was awkward, but Brandon understood. Sometimes you just need to feel safe. Sirius was the most well-rested, if not the least troubled of all of them, simply because he had transformed into a dog and curled up in front of the fire and slept.

The Headmaster himself was ready for them, and today, his office had a dining table set up with enough chairs for everyone to sit and eat. "I figured we would likely be here a while, and given the events of yesterday, it seemed likely that we would need to eat and talk." The Headmaster seemed to be in better shape than almost everyone else, though it was equally clear he had slept little and was haunted by the events of the prior day. In short, for Albus Dumbledore, he was unusually somber. Everyone took their hints from the Headmaster's attitude and thus it was a rather quiet breakfast for some minutes. Draco got his coffee at least.

Finally, Dumbledore cleared his voice and spoke, "Well, I believe there are a number of things to consider here, none of which will be easy and most of which will be unpleasant." He sighed heavily. "Nonetheless, we might as well begin. First, children, I cannot tell you how extremely disappointed I am that undertook this incredibly dangerous and foolish...escapade."

Harry thought that he had never heard the Headmaster sound so cold and angry, and he opened his mouth to speak, but the Headmaster held up his hand. "I am not finished. I will be taking 100 points from each of your houses. For each of you." The Gryffindor students and two Slytherin students gasped at this, but the Headmaster continued, "And though you are no doubt traumatized by yesterday's events, rightfully so, I might add, you will take your exams as scheduled this week."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco, and Ivy all traded glances, unsure of if they should say anything, or what that might be. The adults just watched them impassively, clearly upset at the teenagers actions and the ramifications of it. Eventually, Harry swallowed hard, as if marshalling his courage and simply said, "Yes sir. We understand. And we're very, very sorry." He didn't think trying to explain would do any good. The other students nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

"Very well," the Headmaster's expression softened, though he remained quite somber. "We do need to discuss what you discovered at Malfoy Manor yesterday, and perhaps I might impose upon you, Mrs. Malfoy, to share with us anything you might have observed during your imprisonment that would be helpful." He inclined his head slightly toward Draco's mother, who nodded.

"Truthfully, Headmaster, there is not much I can share. I was locked in my room for months. One of the house-elves brought me food and drink. Beyond that I did not see much. I would occasionally hear many people coming and going, but Lucius almost never visited. Only once did I hear Lucius discussing with someone in the hall their plans for the Tear." Everyone perked up at this. "I was unable to overhear much in the way of specifics, but I heard Lucius say that he would need to travel north with it in the very near future to do something the Dark Lord required. I did hear him utter the words 'that old Orcadian bastard'."

Dumbledore's brows lifted at this pronouncement, and both Potters seemed immensely interested in this bit of news. Hermione, of course, had a thoughtful look on her face as well. "I see," the Headmaster said thoughtfully. "I assume, Harry, that you did not find the Tear in Malfoy Manor?"

"No sir, not even a sign of it," he said sadly, thinking of what their failure had cost them.

The Headmaster did not like the look on the face of his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. "Well, I imagine we will be able to trace it eventually. We can worry about returning it to its proper place then," he said with a pointed look at Brandon Potter, who suddenly seemed very interested in the ceiling decorations. "I'm sure that none of you will even entertain the slightest thought of trying to retrieve the Tear again. This is the job of a different group of people, who are more qualified and more-well trained than any of you, except for perhaps the elder Mr. Potter, and even he would not be so foolish as to attempt that by himself, I am certain."

Brandon Potter cleared his throat awkwardly, "Um, yes sir. Of course."

Dumbledore looked at the professor for a moment longer before continuing. "We should probably discuss summer plans. Ms. Granger and Mr. and Ms. Weasley, you will no doubt return home?"

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny nodded silently.

"Very good. That was the easy one. Sirius, I think with Brandon Potter's return, and the fact that you were no doubt seen by a number of people yesterday, not all of them friendly, it might be wise of us to seek your pardon from the Ministry."

"I would be very glad of that professor, though I have no doubt that will be difficult at best," he snorted.

"Undoubtedly. Nonetheless, I think it is probably safe for you to return to your ancestral home."

Sirius looked dubious at this. "Thank you professor, but I find that I am not overeager to spend my summer, or frankly, any amount of time in that place alone."

"Excellent!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "That is just what I have in mind." He turned and looked at Ivy, Draco, and Narcissa. "The Malfoy contingent seems to be, as of yesterday, at loose ends. I doubt seriously, if you'll forgive the pun, that they can return to Malfoy Manor and expect to stay in one piece for very long," Dumbledore said drily. "As you are a cousin, perhaps you will consent to have them as guests this summer."

If anything, Sirius looked even more dubious, an expression that was mirrored by the Malfoy clan. They might be related, but they weren't exactly close. "Um, yes, well, uh, that is...I think I can manage that, Headmaster," Sirius finally relented.

"Excellent." The old man cast a glance at Narcissa Malfoy, who met his gaze for a moment, then gave the slightest nod.

Dumbledore's voice then became very quiet and sad again. "I imagine that Brandon will need to spend some time taking care of things in our former colonies this summer." A glance at the professor confirmed the Headmaster's assertion, so he continued, "and I imagine young Mr. Potter would like to accompany him."

Harry had been fighting off an overwhelming sense of sadness at this turn in the conversation, but surprisingly, he found himself excited at the prospect of traveling with his Uncle. "You mean I get to go to America? With my uncle?" Everyone smiled at this, which was a much-needed relief to the heavy atmosphere in the room.

"Of course you can, Harry. You'll like America, I think," Brandon Potter said happily, though with a tinge of sadness.

Dumbledore continued once again with a smile, "I think it might be best, then that Harry be reunited with his Godfather and, if permission is given, with his school friends upon your return from America at a certain equally well-protected castle somewhere far to the south of here."

At this, all of the teenagers became very excited and started talking. It was a few minutes before they calmed down enough for Dumbledore to continue. It was obvious they were very glad to finally spend a summer together.

"As I said, this is assuming that the various parents and adults involved agree, and it might be best for them to accompany the youngsters."

Brandon Potter frowned, "I'll have to get to work rebuilding some more bedrooms in the castle, but I think that can be managed."

"I'll plan on arriving early, and will get started on that before you return from America," Sirius added helpfully.

"Thanks, Sirius."

Narcissa Malfoy still looked a bit dubious, but thought it best to go along with things.

"Well, then, we should adjourn. The children have exams to prepare for as does the elder Mr. Potter I believe."

With much rolling of eyes and groaning everyone rose from the table and proceeded out of the Headmaster's Office. The teenagers decided to take advantage of the weather and to study down by the lake. Sirius and Brandon retreated to Brandon's rooms, and Narcissa returned to her rooms to rest after her ordeal.

Truthfully, though the breakfast discussion temporarily lifted their spirits, none of the teenagers felt like studying. Once they got to the lake, their sadness returned. Everything was still too fresh. How could Dumbledore honestly expect them to take exams tomorrow? Why were they even having exams? The school had been attacked by Death Eaters! Even Hermione was uninterested in studying for exams, so the five teenagers ended up sitting by the edge of the lake, throwing rocks and generally irritating the giant squid. "How are we supposed to focus on anything?" Ron whined for the fifteenth time. Surprisingly everyone nodded in agreement. Harry was still blaming himself, and everyone else was trying to figure out what to say. Even though he had been quiet most of the time, they all missed Jason, and were still in shock that he was gone. Every once in a while one of the teenagers would look around, as if to make a comment to him, and their breath would hitch as they realized he was gone. The day passed very slowly.

Brandon Potter was having similar issues in his rooms. Fortunately, his exams were prepared, because he would not have been able to focus on them at this point had he wanted to. He found himself alternating between grief, depression, anger, but even a little bit of happiness at that thought that Harry would be spending the summer with him. This sent him back into despair as he thought about the fact that Harry would be spending part of the summer with him in America, where he undoubtedly be wrapping up his adoptive family's affairs. The day passed very slowly.

Sirius had gone to his home at Grimmauld Place to make ready for Ivy and Draco and Narcissa. He was at a complete loss as to what needed to be done, and had it not been for Kreacher, who became significantly more agreeable once he learned that his efforts were for Narcissa Malfoy, Sirius too would have been at a loss for how to function. Narcissa Malfoy was equally at a loss; she had left her home with nothing, and Ivy and Draco would not be able to return either. Money was also going to be an issue, but she thought that perhaps she could use Sirius' house elf, and perhaps her sister Bellatrix to cobble something resembling a plan together. She was not at all thrilled at the prospect of staying with Sirius Black, and less so of having to visit Brandon Potter's castle, wherever it was, but the alternatives were thin, so she decided it was best to be grateful.

It was another uncomfortable evening for everyone. The students had returned to their houses after dinner with Professor Potter and Mrs. Malfoy. The Gryffindor Common Room was eerily quiet when Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny walked in. No one knew what to say; Professor McGonagall had informed the rest of the house about Jason's death. Truthfully, Harry, Ron, and Hermione did not think they could face the rest of their house, so by agreement, the walked briskly through the Common Room and went to their dormitories directly, only barely having time to notice that the rest of the house had all donned black armbands. Ivy and Draco had come to a similar agreement, though their Common Room was full of the usual pre-exam activity. Neither Malfoy felt like dealing with it, and they too retired early.

Even so, no one felt prepared for the exams that started the following morning, and then the week flew. It seemed to Harry as if he stumbled from one exam to another with barely any time to breathe, eat, or do anything else in between. He barely saw his Uncle, and he was pretty sure that the only reason he saw Hermione, Ron, or Draco was because they had most of their classes together. The other thing was that a large part of Harry's mind was still stuck on Jason's death, he was only going through the motions, and it was only in a very intellectual, detached way, that he realized that his friends and his Uncle were dealing with the exact same thing in very much the same way.

The hardest part of the week had been Wednesday night, when they had buried Jason. Brandon had decided to inter the boy in the family plot where Harry's parents were buried. Headmaster Dumbledore granted them special permission to go. Much to the protest of Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Draco, and Ivy, they had gone alone. It was a difficult trip for both of them, for many reasons, but it did bring closure.

Finally, exams were over and the end of year banquet was upon them, and that too was finished. In a strange turn of events, Ravenclaw had the most house points, but surprisingly, the students in Slytherin and Gryffindor did not seem to care that they had lost so many points, and no one said anything, which was a small comfort to those responsible. They had decided it would be best for the students to ride the Hogwarts Express back to Kings Cross. Brandon Potter would accompany them. Narcissa Malfoy and Sirius would Floo to Grimmauld Place as this seemed like the most inconspicuous way to go their temporarily separate ways for the summer holidays.

Thus it was that everyone said goodbye in the Great Hall on Saturday morning, with Professors Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore there to see them off. The train ride to London was uneventful, and the students took their time saying goodbye.

"We'll see you in a month, Harry, right?" Ron asked.

"Sure, Ron. I'll try to bring you something cool from America," Harry smiled back at his friend, and turned to the other three students. "And you all as well. Draco, try to behave around my godfather would you?" he added with a smirk.

Draco scowled, "More like, he'll have to behave around my mother." Headmaster Dumbledore had arranged with Arthur Weasley to have ministry transport for Ivy and Draco since neither Sirius nor Narcissa could reasonably be present.

Brandon Potter couldn't help but look at the five teenagers and smile. He was glad they seemed to be recovering from their ordeal, and hoped the summer would speed that recovery. He snorted to himself with a bit of surprise when he realized he was going to miss having Harry's entourage around.

After a few more exchanges, and handshakes with the Professor, they walked through the barrier and waved goodbye to each other. Brandon and Harry watched them go, then the young professor turned and looked down at his nephew. "Well, Harry? What do you say? Shall we take a little trip? How would you like to see the colonies?" Brandon Potter had a big smile on his face and a gleam in his eye.

Harry smiled at his uncle. 'This could very well be the best summer yet', he thought. "Let's go." He said.