May 2, 2017

19 years. That's how long it's been since the day it all went down. What the living now call the Battle of Hogwarts. Students are sent home to their loved ones, businesses close for the day, and the Ministry is as quiet as the dead. Hah the dead. Like me. My name is Lavender Brown and I was killed in the fighting. I remember everything perfectly. I suppose that's what happens when you die. It's not exactly an event one forgets. Still, it's funny how dying changes the way you see the world, and yourself.

I may be dead but that doesn't mean I haven't grown. Not physically obviously. That boy-absorbed pink-wearing girl has died. And she changed like everyone else does as time progresses. I like to think I'm still brave, and kind, and all the important things that I used to be. But still, I'm gone.

I won't bother you with the detailed explanation of my rather grisly death. It isn't exactly a fun topic. But then again this isn't exactly a fun day. Anyway I went out the way I wanted to. I helped destroy the greatest evil the world has ever seen and I was able to die a hero. I also liked the theatrical bit. The explosions and the lights the wands produced swirling around me, quite dramatic. Huh, guess I haven't changed that much then. The important thing is I've found peace, and so has the wizarding world.

Hogwarts changed after the battle. Not too much. Hogwarts is still the place young wizards from all around Britain are able to happily call home. Little things though have been added and have disappeared. No one knows how but the day after the Battle a new candle was created, floating in the Great Hall, for every brave soul that died aiding the Boy Who Lived. Each of these candles sports a black ribbon around it center. Then one day, soon after the battle, someone noticed that the Whomping Willow had gone. Rumor has it the tree splintered off in pieces and drifted away in the breeze. Madame Pomfrey stood crying that day by the tree, occasionally sneaking glances to where the Shrieking Shack stood. No one knows why. Hermione Granger took her grievances out by trying to restart S.P.E.W. once she went back to finish her 7th year. It didn't work but she was able to get the house elves out of hiding. Needless to say everyone loves them after their grand entrance into the Battle. The rumors get more outrageous each year. Oh and Professor McGonagall became Headmistress. Everyone loves her. Things settled down to normal once all the classes that had survived the Carrow twins reign. One more thing of the past still remains. No one knows how, but a portion of Fred and George's swamp in the corridor by the windowsill returned. It remains there everlasting, nobody seems to be able to remove it.

On the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts no one seems to know how to feel. Too many families have lost too much. George Weasley disappears for the day. No one knows where he goes or what he does… and no one asks why.

But then as the years went by the gloom retreated somewhat and 19 years later people are able to celebrate their victory. The Dark Lord has gone and their families and friends are safe once more. A Bittersweet ending, but an ending nonetheless.

As for me, well I'm a ghost now. Sir Headless Nick has left to join the Headless Hunt and when I came back as a ghost I took over as the Ghost of Gryffindor. I give girls fashion advice, and relationship help, and somehow it all works. I know eventually I will stop being a ghost when I am ready to move on into my true afterlife. But for now this works and I'm happy.

The world is different than it once was. No use denying that. But somehow, somewhere along the line, everything fit back together again.