"I told him to be careful." Erica crossed their arms as they walked.

"Well now he's in the infirmary. He could be dead." Ron gasped.

"He could be what!?"

"Dead!"

"He's not dead." Hermione sighed.

Erica held onto Hermione's arm.

"He's not dead." Hermione repeated.

"See?" Parker opened the infirmary door

"Harry!" Erica ran over to his bedside.

"Woah- Hi Erica." Harry laughed

"Ron's a meanie." She huffed.

"Am not." Ron rolled his eyes,"The whole school's talking about it."

"You're famous. Well, even more so than before." Hermione chuckled.

Harry laughed before he explained what happened.

"So the Stone's gone? Flamel's just going to die?" Ron raised a brow.

"Well, he wasn't exactly young. was he?" Erica shrugged.

"All wizards are old." Parker hummed.

"Well, that's what Dumbledore said. Actually it was something like 'to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure!" Harry told them.

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

Harry snickered, shaking his head,"So? What happened to you all?"

"Well, I got back all right." Hermione hummed.

"We got there and we all brought Ron round which took a while, then we dashed up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall, he already knew, he just said, 'Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?' and hurried off to the 3rd floor." Parker explained, using her best Dumbledore impression.

"Very accurate." Hermione nodded.

"D'you think he meant you to do it? Sending you your father's cloak and everything?" Ron tilted his head.

"If he did, he's horrible. I mean, you could've been killed." Erica pointed.

"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 had the right to face Voldemort if could-"

"He's crazy." Erica covered his mouth.

"You can't say his name." Hermione shook her head.

"I think Harry can say it all he wants." Ron chuckled,"He's beat him twice!"

"You get scared of saying it." Parker hummed.

"Harry isn't scared of anything." Ron shook his head.

"Everyone's scared of something." Parker nodded.

"Even me." Harry chuckled.

"See?" Parker pointed.

"He's still very brave though." Erica stated.

"Yeah, no doubt in that." Ron nodded as Pomfrey ran in.

"Right, you've nearly had fifteen minutes. Out!"

"Oh, but Miss-"Parker groaned.

"No, out. He needs rest."

"Fine." Parker got up.

"Get better soon Harry!" Erica smiled at him.

***********************************

"Who do you think will win?" Neville asked Erica as they sat down in the Great Hall.

"Let's face it, not Hufflepuff." Erica shrugged.

"Not Slytherin either." Parker shook her head.

"You never know." Hermione shrugged.

"Dumbledore... Kinda hates us." Parker hummed.

"Well, that's not your fault." Erica reminded her.

"I know." Parker ate an apple, "Let's just see."

"Oh, there he is." Ron pointed.

"Another year gone!" Dumble dore clapped to get everyone's attention,"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 three hundred and seventy-five and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."

"No way." Parker gasped.

"See? Maybe he does like you guys." Erica nudged Parker.

Parker looked over, seeing her house cheering, Draco bouncing up and down in excitement.

"Y'know, I don't think I've seen him this happy before." Hermione nodded slowly

"He never has been." Parker shook her head.

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

"What?" Parker blinked in confusion.

"Maybe I spoke too soon." Erica sighed.

"First to Mr. Ronald Weasley... For the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

"Oh, it better be one of the best-played games. I nearly died for it!" Ron crossed his arms, although he was smiling.

"Second, to Miss Hermione Granger... For the use of cool logic in the face of fire, award Gryffindor house fifty points." Dumbledore continued.

Hermione smiled proudly.

"Third, to Mr. Harry Potter for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points!" Dumbledore smiled.

"That's Gryffindor tied with Slytherin." Parker looked at Erica

"Surely this is cheating." Erica whispered.

"Definitely." Parker agreed.

"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."

Erica smiled at Nev and hugged him.

"I got house points?" Neville laughed nervously as he hugged back.

"You got house points!" Erica smiled.

"Oh my god." Neville smiled as well.

"I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, Erica." Neville hummed as Dumbledore spoke again.

"Now, potions isn't an easy skill to master at such a young age but it's clear that some are gifted in that field. And as such, I'm gifting ten points to Parker Malfoy!"

"He surely knows his stuff." Parker hummed.

"He's a stalker." Erica whispered as she poked Parker.

Parker laughed and nodded.

"And finally, for sticking to all her traits of being a friend. She stayed loyal throughout and did not back down due to the challenges she faced. I am awarding fifty points to Erica Weasley!" Dumbledore announced.

Erica smiled but looked at her hands, a little embarrassed.

"You did great." Neville smiled at Erica.

"I was just doing what I usually do, it's nothing special." Erica shook her head,"I didn't deserve that many points."

"Being loyal is a trait not everyone has."

"It's not that hard."

"Draco Malfoy finds it hard." Neville told her.

"Because he's Draco Malfoy." Erica shrugged.

"That's true." Parker agreed.

*********************************

Blaise walked out of his room with all his luggage.

"Blaise!" Parker ran down to him.

"Woah, hey Parker." He chuckled.

"Hi, sorry." Parker leaned against the wall.

"No, it's fine." Blaise assured her,"What did you want to tell me in such a hurry?"

"I wanted to tell you... That I hope you have a good summer. Will you send me owls?"

"Of course I will." Blaise told her,"As long as you send me them too."

"I need someone to talk to." Parker hummed.

"As do I."

"Oh! Maybe I can send you gifts."

"Gifts?" Blaise raised a brow.

"I noticed you liked reading. I have a lot of books if you'd like me to send any over." Parker nodded.

"Oh, you'd do that for me?" Blaise asked her.

"Of course I would. You're my friend." Parker smiled.

Blaise smiled back, before looking up at the sound of a tapping foot. Parker didn't look away from Blaise.

"Is it a white ferret?" She hummed.

"If by that you mean your impatient brother, then yes." Blaise smirked.

"What do you want Draco?" Parker sighed.

"Blaise, he said he'd walk with me." Draco stated.

"Yeah well I'm talking to him just now."

"Well hurry up."

"I would but this is a private conversation that doesn't include you." Parker hummed.

"Well, that's too bad." Draco rolled his eyes.

"Just give me a minute!" Parker stomped her foot.

Draco tensed and rolled his eyes,"Fine."

"Bye." Parker glared at him.

"Bye." Draco huffed and walked off.

"I need someone to distract me from him." Parker sighed.

"Well, that's what I'm here for." Blaise patted her shoulder.

"Thank you Blaise." Parker smiled

"Of course." Blaise smiled back.

"I'll send you an owl." Parker waved.

"I'd best be off before your brother finds a way to glare at me harder." Blaise chuckled as he walked off.

"Don't die from his glare!" Parker warned before she went to find the others.

"I'll try." Blaise called back to her.

**

Erica hummed as she fiddled with her sleeves, waiting for Neville.

Neville pulled all his bags up as he tried his best to run out the room.

"Need any help?"

"Ah! Erica!" Neville jumped.

Erica giggled and snatched one of his bags,"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

"I always get scared."

"Well, I bet you're gonna be super brave one day."

"Me? Super brave?" Neville laughed.

"Yes, you!" Erica nodded

"I don't see it." Neville shook his head.

"I do."

"You can see into the future now?" Neville hummed.

"Mhm, of course!"

"You'd be good at Divination."

"Obviously." Erica giggled.

"Who are you waiting for? Ron?"

"Well, yeah, I guess... But I was really waiting for you." Erica poked hin

"You were?" Neville turned to her.

"Yeah, I wanted to say goodbye to you."

"That's so sweet." Neville smiled softly.

"Of course, you're one of my best friends." Erica smiled.

"Aw, thank you Erica. You're one of mine too." Neville hummed.

Erica hugged his side. Neville slowly hugged back and smiled softly.

"Maybe I'll see you on the train?"

"Yeah, maybe. I'd like that."

Erica smiled and patted his shoulder before handing his bag back,"I've got to wait on my brother now."

"He was just coming, talking to Harry." Neville nodded.

"He likes to dawdle." Erica sughed as she stepped into the portrait hole.

"Gonna scare him?" Neville raised a brow.

"Only if I have yo."

Neville hummed,"Bye Erica."

"Bye Nev!"

*********************************

"Right, everyone here?" Harry hummed.

"I think so." Hermione looked around.

"Can we get on before Draco comes?" Parker hummed.

"That would be nice.' Harry nodded.

"What's everyone's plans over the summer?" Hermione smiled.

"To keep this one out of trouble." Ron pointed at Erica.

"I'm sure she's not that bad." Parker linked arms with Erica.

"Nope, I'm not trouble at all." Erica smiled sweetly.

"We'll all still send owls over the summer, right?" Harry looked at them.

"Of course we will." Ron told him.

"You know... This has been one of the best and worst years of my life." Hermione sighed as they got on the train.

"Couldn't imagine why." Erica hummed.

"I'm calling dibs on the carriage!' Ron ran off to find an empty booth.