A/N: I want to remind everyone that this whole story was written prior to the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I did not know anything that was revealed in that book, so, of course, my story is consistent only up through book six. (Nor did I know any post publication pronouncements.) What you have been waiting on all this time was for me to do a simple re-edit. Sorry, I took so long but I always found something to reword though I did not change any major points. And, at last, the ending is here and I hope the wait was worth it. Enjoy.

Oh, and this is my last plea—please, please let me know what you think! Also, I have a question for you: I gave this story a "T" rating because of the mature themes and a few (very few) words. Does it deserve that rating or can I lower it and perhaps increase my readership?

EPILOGUE: Dumbledore's Triumph

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"Even if I could, I wouldn't. Scars can come in handy." – Dumbledore, SS p 15

"He gave you the scar that has proved both blessing and curse." – Dumbledore OotP p 842

"Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike . . . We wizards have mistreated and abused our fellows for too long, and we are now reaping our reward." – Dumbledore OotP p 834

"I am not worried . . . I am with you." – Dumbledore, HBP p 578

It was important, Dumbledore said, to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated. . . . –HBP p 645

For a fleeting instant, Harry thought he saw a gleam of something like triumph in Dumbledore's eye. –GoF p 696

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Harry flipped the page. "There is only the Epilogue left. Would you like to hear that too?"

"Of course."

Harry began reading,

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It has now been twenty years since the passing of Voldemort. We are in an unprecedented time of peace. In order to better understand the past, and thus preserve this peace, Luna Lovegood, celebrated author and investigative reporter, and Hermione Granger Weasley, in her capacity as Minister of Magic, compiled this report as an addendum to the official Harry Potter biography. Our years of research, gleaned from intensive interviews, Pensieve views of memories and Memorias Affecti, provide an unprecedented opportunity to understand the "why" of what happened.

The Memorias Affecti were particularly helpful in that, unlike the Pensieve which gives us an unbiased view of a memory, a Memoria Affectus provides us with a memory from the perspective of the participant and allows us to view intent, and therefore, deduce cause and effect. We feel that this very valuable tool has the potential to remedy many of history's deficiencies. This is important because, as a famous Muggle named George Santayana once put it, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

We therefore thank you for your interest, attention and time. We hope that knowledge brings understanding and understanding, redress. Having thus graciously indulged us, we feel it is only considerate to bring you up to date on the fate of a few of the individuals.

Petunia, Vernon and Dudley Dursley were taken from the Chamber of Death immediately to St. Mungo's. Petunia was released the next day. Vernon, however, was experiencing amnesia, presumably the result of some minor head trauma. The healers pronounced it easily cured, but Petunia refused all magical treatment on his behalf, saying that if he was in his right mind that would most definitely be his wish. She then had both Vernon and Dudley, who was in a coma, transferred to a Muggle hospital.

Ten days later, when the Muggle doctors said they couldn't do anything more for either of them, and suggested that Dudley be transferred to their long-term care facility, and that Vernon receive psychiatric care, she petitioned to have Dudley readmitted, realizing that St. Mungo's was far superior to any care facility she could afford.

With only meager savings, their home and possessions destroyed and no-where to go, Petunia and Vernon were allowed to remain with Dudley at St. Mungo's in family housing. This did not upset Vernon as one might expect -- in his condition he was incapable of detecting the magic around him. In fact, to this day, he is virtually unable to perceive magic even when it happens right under his nose. It is, as if for him, magic does not exist at all, and he is a much happier man for it.

Under the expert care of the healers at St. Mungo's, Dudley emerged from his coma after seventeen days, but remained bedridden for fifteen months, mainly due to his refusal of further magical treatment. Today, he uses a wheelchair to get around.

During Dudley's long hospital stay, Luna Lovegood and Susan Bones were regular visitors, and they all became good friends, with Petunia, particularly, referring to Luna affectionately as her daughter. When Dudley was released, and the Dursleys were again faced with the problem of where to live, Luna talked her father, Mr. Lovegood, into inviting them to stay at their home. Petunia willingly accepted the gracious offer.

Petunia, having been fascinated with the healers use of herbs, decided to pursue her interest by initiating correspondences with noted herbalists, medicine men, and shamans and by reading everything she could lay her hands on. She eventually became a noted Muggle herbalist in her own right.

Recently, she teamed up with Neville Longbottom, professor of Herbology at Hogwarts and famous rare plant collector, to collaborate on "Ecological Eden," a project to save rare and diverse ecological systems and to bring some of the more common, and less unusual, healing and beneficial herbs to the attention of the Muggle populace.

In March 2003, Dudley Dursley married Susan Bones, currently a master healer at St. Mungo's. By then he had become an accomplished graphic artist, working for Mr. Lovegood at the Quibbler doing illustrations. Though a Muggle, he still managed to master the art of magical animation. When Luna, who joined her father's staff as a reporter soon after her graduation from Hogwarts, published her renowned series, "Invisible Magical Beast and Their Hidden Habitats," Dudley did the now famous illustrations. They are currently working together on a series of sci-fi fantasy books for Muggle distribution.

Luna Lovegood married Fred Weasley on September 13, 2013. Fred commented that he had long been fascinated with her, adding that she was just unusual enough to keep him interested. George remains a committed bachelor, and doting uncle.

Scrimgeour was immediately dismissed, having deserted the Ministry in its most dire need. Arthur Weasley received well-deserved credit for saving the Ministry, and with his long record of steadfast service dutifully noted, was unanimously elected Minister of Magic. He proved an effective and popular leader.

An important footnote to this story is that five years into his term he got a call from the Department of Mysteries about a huge, black dog suddenly appearing in the Death Chamber. Arthur immediately went to investigate. To his astonishment he recognized Padfoot, aka Sirius Black. He told his personnel that he had received a memo about a tourist having lost their pet dog when they were there, and he quickly and quietly whisked Padfoot away. Because of his fast thinking, the incident did not even merit a report, and the return of Sirius will remain unknown, to all but a few, until the release of this book.

Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, were married two months after Voldemort's downfall. Anyone who follows Quidditch is well aware of Ron's stellar career. Likewise, Hermione's is known to anyone interested in politics.

For those of you not as well versed in Wizard celebrities, Ron began his career during his last year at Hogwarts when he led the Gryffindor Quidditch team in an undefeated season. Drafted by the Chudley Cannons the next year, Ron took the team to the head of the League within two years and then to seven, unheralded World Cup victories. After an injury sidelined him, he was elected as head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports.

Hermione continued her education by getting a Ph.D. in psychology at a Muggle University (to the bemused bewilderment of most of the Wizarding world). During that time she continued to be an avid activist, taking her fledgling organization SPEW worldwide.

In 2005 she joined the Ministry as Head of the Office of House-Elf Relocation and worked her way up to Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Her tireless efforts pushed through an astonishing number of reforms under the watch, and with the support of, Arthur Weasley, Minister of Magic.

But, progress was still too slow, change too long in coming, to suit her, so when Arthur retired in 2016 she ran for Minister of Magic on a platform promising a complete overhaul of the system and won. Remus Lupin, who had been head of one of Hermione's first successes, the Werewolf Liaison Office, became head of the department when she left. Her legacy of reform continues.

Severus Snape, having been the one credited with actually destroying Voldemort, freed Harry Potter as he had never been free before. Harry reveling in this newfound freedom, decided to travel. For over three years, he traveled to every corner of the world, Ginny Weasley joining him whenever she was not in school, and Neville Longbottom on excursions to exotic and remote locations to collect rare plants.

But the plight of the many children whose parents were Voldemort's victims weighed heavily on him. With his wanderlust, if not satiated, at least temporarily satisfied, he returned to Britain, married Ginny, sold Grimmauld Place and with the money opened, "Dumbledore's Triumph: First Wizard Primary School and Orphanage for Disadvantaged Children" in Hogsmeade.

As Harry said at its opening: "The formative years are very important in determining the values a child embraces. If we do not want to create future Voldemorts, we must eliminate the conditions that formed him.

"Love, I have found, is the most crucial ingredient, and we offer an abundance of love and care at Dumbledore's Triumph. We accept all orphans with magical ancestry, no matter how far removed. We also search for Muggle children who demonstrate early magical ability. Our goal is to end the abuse and the ostracizing of children who are different from the norm. In that vein, we also accept children from intact families when we feel our environment will be more beneficial than the child's current environment. Age eleven, when our present school system begins, is simply too late for many children in troubled and ambiguous situations."

In further conversation, he confided that he hoped that no future magical child would have to grow up in a situation similar to Voldemort's, Snape's or his own. One guest remarked on the similarities of their childhoods, but noted how differently they had turned out and asked what he thought made the difference. Harry's response was, "I always knew my parents loved me. I never doubted it. I could feel it. My mum's love saved and protected me. It was always with me."

Sirius Black, preferring to live life as Padfoot, (he says after his time in the veil he is much more comfortable as a dog, besides, we all agree it is best if he remains incognito), is in charge of the pre-schoolers. Molly Weasley basically keeps the school running smoothly with the help of Dobby and Hagrid. Harry and Ginny, between them, have managed to convince almost everyone they know, from wizards to centaurs to giants, etc., to teach a workshop or give a lecture at their school.

Most days, one can find Harry busy telling stories to the children and taking them on field trips. Ginny, besides being mum to all, including their own three, teaches the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes at Hogwarts.

And we are certain, Dumbledore continues to watch over us all.

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Harry closed the book and glanced up at the portrait behind him. "What do you think?" Dumbledore, dabbing at his sopping eyes with a handkerchief, opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a "Humph!" from further down the wall.

"The last of my line living life as a dog and babysitting!" Phineas Nigellus guffawed. "What a disappointment."

"Quite the contrary," Harry replied. "Sirius told me he met you, as well as the rest of his ancestors, while he was behind the veil. He says only love survives there, and that even your critical temperament has mellowed. Apparently, when he was ready to return, you told him that you were very proud of him. It is a rare feat of great goodness and love to pass back through the veil."

"He can say what he wants, but that doesn't make it true," Phineas muttered.

"Ah, Phin, you know we are limited here by the extent of our knowledge at the time of our deaths, and the little we learn from hanging around. But you also must sense that your real essence exists elsewhere. We have just heard an amazing story. Do not bother to deny the obvious. Now, Harry, please tell Hermione and Luna that they did an excellent job, and far more interesting than Binns' dry retelling of history."

"Quite." Harry laughed. "In fact, now that she's finished the book, I've invited her to use her free time to revamp our history curriculum for next year. I'm still trying to convince her to come teach, but she says there is too much she still needs to do. Ginny, Neville and Hagrid are here already, and I've brought Arthur out of retirement to teach Muggle Studies for me.

"I'm only acting Headmaster while Minerva is on sabbatical so I don't have much time, and I need all the help I can get. I want to see if it is feasible to combine the two schools. If it works, I'd like to try to open it up to everyone. I think it may be too early for many of the younger children to stay overnight, but their parents could drop them off in the morning, and pick them up after classes if I can create a Floo station. My main problem is I want to include Squibs and even some Muggles because I feel that we all benefit from a diverse community. However, I don't think I can talk the board into that quite yet."

"Perhaps after Hermione pushes through a few more reforms. You have two years, and I'm sure Minerva will continue your efforts. Do you know why she took such a long sabbatical?" Dumbledore asked, suddenly looking somewhat dejected.

"I can tell you what Ginny and Hermione think. They think she needed to get away from you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, they say she always had a thing for you. They think twenty years of you looking over her shoulder is just too much. She needed to get a life. She's gone to Italy, the land of romance. They say they won't be surprised if she comes back married or at least with a new beau."

"Me?"

"Don't tell me you don't know! It's been obvious, Albus. I've known since the day I first saw you two together. And don't deny that you return her affection. We've all seen the way you look down at her when you think no one's watching," Dilys giggled.

"I don't . . . I never thought . . . you mean . . ." Dumbledore blushed. "You are imagining things. Of course, I'm very fond of Minerva. I miss her, but nothing more." Dumbledore cleared his throat and turned to Harry who was grinning up at him, "I think we were talking about Hermione and Luna's book. I have a few questions. Firstly, if Luna co-wrote this, does she know . . ."

"No. My aunt would not let Luna interview her, or Vernon, and she made Hermione promise that she wouldn't show her any of their memories. Hermione already planned, and promised Aunt Petunia, that the book would be included as part of her Ministry papers. I think they are legally sealed for something like 50 years after her death.

"We figure that will be long enough. There are just too many things that we'd rather not have as common knowledge just now." Harry unconsciously smoothed his hair over his scar. "Anyway, only Hermione interviewed my aunt and uncle. Good thing, too. She said she needed all of her training as a psychologist to pry through Vernon's amnesia – she thinks it is self-induced. She withheld certain parts of the draft when Luna proofed it. Besides, none of it confirms . . . you're the only one who knows . . ."

". . . and I will tell only one person, if that person was to ever ask. Tell me more about Memorias Affecti?"

"They're incredible. Neville discovered them. Made him famous. It's a plant. The person whose memory you want holds the bulb when the plant is blooming. Whoever wants to view the memory holds a tendril. Somehow this plant then transmits what the bulb holder was seeing, hearing, thinking and feeling at the time of the memory. We put it to great use in determining the motive, guilt, and later the effectiveness of our rehabilitation, of Voldemort's followers."

"Amazing! By the way, how is Neville doing?"

"Great! He's dating Gabrielle! You remember Fleur's younger sister? She got divorced a few years back and Neville seems completely smitten with her and her with him."

"Ahh," Dumbledore appeared about to say something more, but, out of the corner of his eye Harry caught Armando winking at Dumbledore, and Dumbledore blushed and changed the subject. "Ever learn what happened to Draco?"

"No. Nothing. Never heard anything more about him or his mum," Harry replied.

"Poor child. Did you find out how Snape knew that you had destroyed a horcrux?"

"No. I have no idea. What do you think?"

"When I destroyed the ring, I had to tell him it was a horcrux so that he would know what to do. I saw both the surprise and the comprehension in his eyes. I knew he wanted to tell me something, but he could not speak. So I carefully questioned him around the issue. It was a dance of verbal finesse, if I do say so myself. I eventually came to understand that he knew, at the time of your parents' death, that Voldemort had planned to make two horcruxes, but that he did not know that there were any more. I then told him about the diary and my theory. But that does not explain how he knew that another one had been destroyed."

"Uh hmm, I confess that I'm responsible." All eyes turned to Phineas.

"You, Phin?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes. Snape had a small picture of me that he confiscated from Grimmauld Place during clean-up. I had been privy to a number of Severus's and your conversations in this very room – as well the ones you had with young Harry here -- and often found myself agreeing with Severus. Sorry, Albus, Harry. So, of course, I knew of the plan and the promise you extracted from him and the necessity of destroying the horcruxes first.

"Though I am bound to serve whoever is the current headmaster and not to reveal anything I hear in this office, when Minerva asked me to keep an eye on Harry at Grimmauld Place, and Severus asked me to do the same thing, I did not see any conflict. I saw Harry retrieve the locket from Kreacher and later when I visited Mrs. Black, I saw that she had the locket and that it was open.

"Oh, by the way, I don't think I ever thanked you, Harry, for shutting her up. She really had a way of getting on my nerves. As to the locket, I figured Severus needed to know. After all, it was you Dumbledore, who charged him with keeping Voldemort and Harry apart until all of the horcruxes had been destroyed. How would he know if no one kept him informed?

"But the code of silence?" Armando questioned, as many of the other headmasters muttered among themselves.

"The stakes were high. He needed to know in order to keep his promise. I did not break the code."

"Hummf, Phineas, you know that is just a technicality. You drew a very fine line," Armando snorted. "I think we should discuss among ourselves exactly where we draw that line so that Harry and future headmasters know exactly what to expect of us. I am sure Minerva did not intend for you to divulge any information you gathered to anyone else." Again the other portraits grumbled. Dumbledore remained quiet, though a smirk played across his lips. His eyes swivelled back to Harry.

"Speaking of Severus, I have one more question. If I recall correctly, you pocketed some of his memories when you were in his office, but the book did not mention them again." The portraits quieted down, eager for Harry's answer.

Harry removed a small, plain, case from his cloak and opened it to reveal two glass vials of swirling silver smoke. "Hermione asked about them also. I told her I lost them. I think she saw through me, but was kind enough to drop it anyway. . . .

"Do you remember when Snape told me I was destined to exact from him what was most essential to him, and later when he demanded that I leave him his pride? I've thought often on what he may have meant. I'm convinced that he was never simply talking about the two books of his I had, though I'm sure he treasured them. I think now, that I represented all that he felt circumstance had stolen from him, starting with my aunt's love, and the fame, recognition and respect he craved.

"He felt he lost all chance of achieving his heart's desire when my parents were murdered and I became the Boy-Who-Lived and you left me with my aunt. Then I came to Hogwarts. Not only was I the spitting image of my father and had the feel of Voldemort about me, but he felt like he was losing your love when you ignored his advise, in favor of letting me learn from my own mistakes and displayed obvious affection for me.

"Then, hardest of all, he was forced to kill you, his only friend, the only person he respected and trusted, and knew, felt the same toward him. Finally, there was the knowledge that to keep his promise to you, to save me from my own foolishness, there was the possibility he would have to sacrifice himself for me.

"I think he probably removed these memories to keep them from Voldemort, and maybe even from you. I think they must be very personal, and after all I've done, it would be wrong of me to take these memories from him, simply to satisfy my curiosity. "

"I never rationed my love. There was always plenty for both. Only you . . ."

"I know."

"May I be bold enough as to ask, why do you carry them with you then?" Dumbledore leaned forward, and rested his arms on the frame of his picture.

"Because I wonder if they do not hold the answer to some questions that haunt me still. I've had twenty years to ponder everything that happened. It didn't take me long to figure out that it was probably Snape who made the Portkey that took us to the Ministry in an effort to save both me and my family.

"I only found out about Aunt Petunia and Snape a couple of years ago when Hermione interviewed her for the book. It explains some things, but there remains so much more that is obscured. Snape's motives intrigue and puzzle me. One of the questions maybe you can help me with? Snape told me that he had two ways to beat the unbreakable vow. One was Voldemort's way. Did he really have another way?

"No. Being a spy, defying Voldemort, Severus came to believe that he was intellectually stronger than most wizards, and in some ways he was. But he also discounted his emotions, priding himself in being above them. We both know how wrong he was in that respect.

"As you may or may not know there was no specific time limit included in the vow, something that most wizards unwisely forget to include. There is an ancient tale about a wizard that was able to beat an unbreakable vow by holding in himself the intention to fulfill the vow, but forever convincing himself that the time was just not right – therefore the vow remained in effect, but unfulfilled.

"Trouble is, as the story goes, he eventually went mad. Snape did not think that common human frailties applied to him. He thought he was stronger than that. I have no doubt he could have done it for a while, but it wears the soul out. Unlike a rip that can be mended, it is more like a hole in the cloth; the surrounding threads worn so thin and frail that there is no repair. I could not allow the possibility of such a hole in his soul."

"Another thing that troubles me about Snape." Harry absentmindedly rolled the vials between his palms in what was an obvious habitual motion. "If he was as perceptive as I now understand he typically was, then he should have known by my reaction, and by what I said, that Peter was the next to the last horcrux, and that I was the last. I suspect that he may have already guessed about me. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that his mark burned whenever he saw me, much like my scar did around Voldemort.

"Therefore, after Peter's death, the sensible thing for him to do was to let Voldemort and me fight it out, then kill the winner. He would have kept his promise to you, been the hero, and no one would question the necessity of my death in order to completely destroy Voldemort. It is exactly what I would have done if our places were switched. Everything I think I know about Snape says that's what he would have, should have, done."

"And yet, that is not what he chose to do." Harry glanced up at Dumbledore's bemused smile. "Severus was a flawed man, but he was my man," Dumbledore murmured.

"Was he? I understand that very few of us are at an extreme of the continuum like Voldemort was. The rest of us make our choices somewhere near the middle of the pendulum swing, often counterbalancing a good choice by following it with a bad decision. We all lack perfection, it is where our humanness resides."

Harry picked one vial off of his palm and held it between his thumb and index finger. Shaking it, he raised the agitated, swirling quicksilver to eye level. "So how do we increase the likelihood of good choices over bad? And even more troublesome, do we judge whether a person is ultimately good or bad based on his motives. What's in his heart? His deeds? One deed or the totality of his life? Do we even have a right to judge?"

The swirling fluid slowed to a leisurely roll. Harry replaced both tubes carefully in the padded case and snapped it closed. "And what of those that have evil in their hearts, but control their actions? Even with everything I now know from this book," Harry held the book aloft, "I am not completely convinced that Snape did it for you, my aunt, me, the world, or because it served the greater good. Not every circumstance was to his liking, but I believe Snape was always in control, always aware of the choices he was making and their consequences.

"The Snape I knew was not an act. He relished his role, every part of it. He took pride in knowing that he was feared, even despised, and that there was no other wizard capable of playing both sides. Self-sacrifice was not a quality, I believe, that was strong in him. Perhaps Rita had it right. I don't know. Twenty years have passed and every child knows his name and his deeds, but I still don't know what to say when one of my young wards picks up a stick, waves it around, and declares himself the Great Severus Snape.

Harry's hands tensed, as he spread his fingers flat against the desk. "I like to think that I am a better man than Snape was, but it was Snape who turned and deliberately pushed me aside. I, at that moment, despite my new comprehension of his role in my parents' death and your whispered warnings, had not slackened in my hate of him. In fact, with Peter's death, it flared ever stronger. I intended to take them both out with me, if I could. But Snape, for whatever reason, pushed me aside." Harry turned his hands over, his palms cupped.

Dumbledore broke the silence. "Harry, you are too hard on yourself. You were young and the power of Voldemort's anger inside you at that instant . . ." The hard look in Harry's eyes stopped Dumbledore from finishing. Instead he asked, "How are you, Harry? Really? I always knew . . . trusted . . . you are special. Still, it is much to ask. The scar . . ."

"Oh it can be disconcerting knowing that I am capable of such great evil. But we all have the capacity, do we not? I am only unique in that a part of the evil in me was once a part of Voldemort."

Harry laughed suddenly, light and easy. "Did I tell you that Voldemort occasionally haunts Hogwarts. He's not even a ghost, something less than a ghost, just a pair of snake eyes and a damp, musky smell. But he hasn't moved on. Can't, I suppose, til I die, but even then, he may be too afraid of death. Sirius said, when he returned, that you, in particular, were trying to teach him love, but that there is so little of his soul left that it will take a very long time. He said that you commented that without my blood in him and a piece of his soul in me, you would have little hope of ever succeeding.

"Anyway, these snake eyes, they search me out. He pesters me and tries to tempt me or get me to despair. He thinks when I die, that he will get a his horcrux back, and he will be powerful enough to pass through the veil. He knows he's not actually dead yet, and I don't think he realizes that when he killed Peter, he killed his only other horcrux, and that when I die, he will die also. Sirius has explained that only love can make the journey back through the veil. But, here's the funny part," Harry laughed. "Do you know what the little children call him when they see him? 'Old Moldy Voldy!'"

The room roared with laughter. Dumbledore steepled his fingers, his wet, glowing eyes reflecting the candles' flicker. "I'm not surprised. I never doubted you. So you do not worry?"

Harry pursed his lips, folding and unfolding his hands, until they also came to rest in a steeple. "Remember when you told me that you were not worried because you were with me? Well you, my mum, my dad, everyone I love or has ever loved me, are always with me -- comprise the biggest part of me." Harry smiled again, his green eyes dancing, "and I've got Ginny, Padfoot and the kids to keep me in line, just to mention a few. . . . Voldemort is no more than a memory. And this, that was once his, is no longer his. I have accepted it as a part of me. It is even starting to fade."

Harry lightly brushed his fingertips across his scar.

THE END

Thank you everyone for sticking with me and especially to those that posted a review. I thoroughly enjoyed writing and sharing this tale with you. I hope that it was a delightful read and that you will recommend it to your friends.

If you still have anything you want me to explain (one loses details when waiting for a story to be finished), IM me and I will do my best.

A special thank you to my SugarQuill beta-reader, PirateQueen for all of her help, and to this website for providing an additional place to post it, and, of course, to JKR for her fantastic story and for allowing her fans to romp with her characters.

Love, Peace & Gratitude,

Moon Goddess Queen