Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Personal I did not like the end of HBP. This is what I would have liked.
Chapter 1: Hogwarts: Four years after HBP
The setting sun cast an orange glow over the grounds of Hogwarts School. A school that once was the best in Britain lay in unused ruins. It was closed four years ago when the Headmaster died and the Deputy fled. No one bothered to even enter the grounds… until now.
As the sun reached the lake; two boats docked on the shore. Four hooded adult sized figures climbed out of the first boat. They then turned around and helped five children out of the other boat.
The nine people wordless walked up to a white marble tomb. "Is this him?" little Esmeralda asked looking at the monument. The child was about five years-old with dark hair, green eyes, and square glasses.
"Yes Essie it is," replied her elder sister. The one speaking took off her hood to reveal a woman of twenty-two with waist length ebony curls and haunting blue eyes.
"Should I say something to him?" Esmeralda asked running a hand along the side.
"Only if you want to sweetie," said a man throwing off his hood to reveal messy jet black hair and dark green eyes. He also had round rimmed glasses and a lightening scar on his head.
The girl nodded and turned back to the tomb. "H-hi daddy. It's me Essie, I just want to say that we love you and we miss you."
"That's real nice," the man said. The adults then placed roses on the marble and headed toward the castle. They walked up to the front steps and entered into the front hall. Everyone else took off their cloaks and looked around the entrance.
A part from the three black haired people there was a young man with shaggy ginger hair and hazel eyes, a woman with bushy brown hair and chocolate eyes, a boy of about twelve with short auburn hair and blue eyes, and three little girls no more than two years-old. One of the girls had chocolate eyes and bushy ginger hair. The other two were clearly twins. Both had sparkling blue eyes and black hair.
The adults opened the large double doors and entered the Great Hall. Cobwebs and dust littered the entirety of the castle as well as other problems.
"Needs a little dusting don't you think," the ginger haired man lightly chuckled.
"I'm sure that will be the least of our worries," the brunette snapped irritably.
"Hey man down the fort guys. We're going to see what state the head office is in," the green eyed man replied. The other two agreed and watched the couple leave the Great Hall; little Esmeralda trailing behind them.
"Should we stop her?" the man asked watching the little girl.
"There's no point. Ari's practically her mother. It'd do no good," the young boy replied.
The ebony haired couple reached the familiar gargoyle statue. "What was the password four years ago? Do you remember?" the woman asked as the five year-old reached them and tugged on her sister's dress. She smiled down at the girl and hoisted her on to her hip.
"Uh…well no." the man admitted.
"In that case…how about Ginger Newts!" the woman said and amazingly the statue slowly moved out of the way.
The three mounted the stairs and rode them up to the door. With a quick unlocking spell they entered to the dark and dinginess that was the headmaster's office.
The woman lit some candles and quickly banished the dust. Just this little work made the room infinitely warmer and less foreboding.
"Thank Merlin someone's finally come back! Minerva is that you?" exclaimed Armando Dippit's portrait.
"No Professor," the woman said turning her head so the picture could better see her.
"Oh I'm terribly sorry my dear. I just thought that maybe Minerva had come back to her home. Forgive me child but who are you," the old headmaster said looking at the three, "H-Harry? Harry Potter is that you?"
"It is Professor Dippit," the man nodded, "And I'd like to introduce you to my wife…Ariana Anita Venus Potter."
"Oh? Oh! Miss it is an honor," the man exclaimed.
"Thank you very much Headmaster Dippit," the woman nodded.
"Yes…my dear…did you just say your name was Venus?"
Ariana placed her sister in the high back chair behind the desk before turning back to the portrait. "Yes it is. Though I'd really rather you called me Ariana."
"So you are the girl-who-lived?" he asked eyeing the woman.
She sighed and pulled down the shoulder of her dress so he could see the lightening shaped scar on her left collar bone. She then pulled the dress back up and crossed her arms. "I take it you've heard my story?"
"Admittedly I thought it just that…a story. Why is it no one else knows?"
"A child of six jumps in front of the killing curse to save her mother and spend the next five years in a coma? Do you really think that constitutes fame?" the woman laughed without a trace of humor. "What child in their right mind jumps in front of that to save their mother?"
The former headmaster said nothing but just stared at the woman. He watched as she and Harry moved around the office looking through the books and boxes trying to figure things out. They'd mumble things to each other and seemed to be totally in sync to what the other was thinking. It reminded him of Albus and Minerva; which reminded him of the secret he was to reveal to Albus's kin. Watching the two made him wonder.
"Mr. and Mrs. Potter may I have a word?"
The couple turned and eyed the portrait. "Yes Professor Dippit what is it?" Ariana asked crossing her arms.
"Well…I'm curious if you could answer a question for me," he said rather mysteriously.
"Depends on the question," Harry replied.
"What was the date that fire and water met on equal terms?" he asked watching their expressions. Harry's faced wore that of shock and Ariana's was silent suspicion. "December 17, 1978. Why?"
"Because Albus told me that only his heir could answer the question," Armando answered before his frame swung open to reveal a small safe.
"Am I missing something?" Harry asked as they both advanced on the safe.
"No more than I am," Ariana replied.
The safe was not normal by any means. It appeared to be centuries old and they were sure it was. It had no dial with numbers but just and imprint of a hand. Ariana carefully place her palm in the imprint and was surprised when the safe opened as though it had been used only yesterday.
The couple reached in and took out a small money bag, a compass that didn't seem to be working right, a vial of blue powder, two odd looking maps, and a letter. They placed everything on the desk as Ariana unsealed the letter and started to read the familiar purple script.
Dearest Ariana,
If you're reading this then I am doubtlessly dead. I always said death was but the next great adventure to an organized mind, but so is life. I knew what was being planned and this was my plan…I made Severus kill me to draw Tom into a false sense of security.
I pray it works because only when Voldemort is gone can I come back. Yes my dear there is a way to bring me back. Using your wit and knowledge of Ancient Runes and old wizarding spell I'm sure you can figure out how.
Good Luck! And all my love,
Daddy
FYI: That date is the date Ariana was born. Albus and Minerva married two months later.