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."Just five minutes," Harry pleaded."Absolutely not.""You let Professor Dumbledore in.""Well, of course, that was the headmaster, quite different.You needrest.""I am resting, look, lying down and everything.Oh, go on, MadamPomfrey.""Oh, very well," she said."But five minutes only."And she let Ron and Hermione in."Harry!"Hermione looked ready to fling her arms around him again, but Harry wasglad she held herself in as his head was still very sore."Oh, Harry, we were sure you were going to -- Dumbledore was so worried--""The whole school's talking about it," said Ron."What really happened?"It was one of those rare occasions when the true story is even morestrange and exciting than the wild rumors.Harry told them everything:Quirrell; the mirror; the Stone; and Voldemort.Ron and Hermione were avery good audience; they gasped in all the right places, and when Harrytold them what was under Quirrell's turban, Hermione screamed out loud."So the Stone's gone?" said Ron finally."Flamel's just going to die?""That's what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that -- what was it? -- 'tothe well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."I always said he was off his rocker," said Ron, looking quite impressedat how crazy his hero was."So what happened to you two?" said Harry."Well, I got back all right," said Hermione."I brought Ron round --that took a while -- and we were dashing up to the owlery to contactDumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall -- he already knew -- hejust said, 'Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?' and hurtled off to thethird floor.""D'you think he meant you to do it?" said Ron."Sending you yourfather's cloak and everything?""Well, " Hermione exploded, "if he did -- I mean to say that's terrible-- you could have been killed.""No, it isn't," said Harry thoughtfully."He's a funny man, Dumbledore.I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance.I think he knows more orless everything that goes on here, you know.I reckon he had a prettygood idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he justtaught us enough to help.I don't think it was an accident he let mefind out how the mirror worked.It's almost like he thought I had theright to face Voldemort if I could.""Yeah, Dumbledore's off his rocker, all right," said Ron proudly."Listen, you've got to be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow.Thepoints are all in and Slytherin won, of course -- you missed the lastQuidditch match, we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you -- butthe food'll be good."At that moment, Madam Pomfrey bustled over."You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT" she said firmly.After a good night's sleep, Harry felt nearly back to normal.I want to go to the feast," he told Madam Pomfrey as she straightenedhis many candy boxes.I can, can't I?""Professor Dumbledore says you are to be allowed to go," she saidstiffily, as though in her opinion Professor Dumbledore didn't realizehow risky feasts could be."And you have another visitor.""Oh, good," said Harry."Who is it?"Hagrid sidled through the door as he spoke.As usual when he wasindoors, Hagrid looked too big to be allowed.He sat down next to Harry,took one look at him, and burst into tears."It's -- all -- my -- ruddy -- fault!" he sobbed, his face in his hands.I told the evil git how ter get past Fluffy! I told him! It was the onlything he didn't know, an' I told him! Yeh could've died! All fer adragon egg! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out an' made terlive as a Muggle!""Hagrid!" said Harry, shocked to see Hagrid shaking with grief andremorse, great tears leaking down into his beard."Hagrid, he'd havefound out somehow, this is Voldemort we're talking about, he'd havefound out even if you hadn't told him.""Yeh could've died!" sobbed Hagrid."An' don' say the name!""VOLDEMORT!" Harry bellowed, and Hagrid was so shocked, he stoppedcrying."I've met him and I'm calling him by his name.Please cheer up,Hagrid, we saved the Stone, it's gone, he can't use it.Have a ChocolateFrog, I've got loads."Hagrid wiped his nose on the back of his hand and said, "That remindsme.I've got yeh a present.""It's not a stoat sandwich, is it?" said Harry anxiously, and at lastHagrid gave a weak chuckle."Nah.Dumbledore gave me the day offyesterday ter fix it.'Course, he shoulda sacked me instead -- anyway,got yeh this."It seemed to be a handsome, leather-covered book.Harry opened itcuriously.It was full of wizard photographs.Smiling and waving at himfrom every page were his mother and father."Sent owls off ter all yer parents' old school friends, askin' ferphotos.knew yeh didn' have any.d'yeh like it?"Harry couldn't speak, but Hagrid understood.Harry made his way down to the end-of-year feast alone that night.Hehad been held up by Madam Pomfrey's fussing about, insisting on givinghim one last checkup, so the Great Hall was already full.It was deckedout in the Slytherin colors of green and silver to celebrate Slytherin'swinning the house cup for the seventh year in a row
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