Chapter 24
The trip to Little Hangledon had been way too interesting for the adults, as Voldemort had cast a range of curses at the place where the next to last horcrux had been hidden. It was in all of the others opinions been Jen who had managed to ensure that none of them were hurt in the process. She had instantly recognized the hiding place for the horcrux and had also realised it was affected by some heavy duty curses. Neither of them had dared come close as a result of this, and they`d had to devise a method of dripping Basilisk poison on it from a distance. But finally they had only one left, and this one was giving them trouble as they had no clues what so ever. They had spoken to everybody that they could about where tha last relics of the founders could be found. They had an idea that Ravenclaws diadem might be a possibility, but no one knew where it could be.
One day Jen was cleaning out the classroom and the grey lady floated through the wall. "I have information for you regarding Tom Riddle" the ghost said abruptly "yes"? Jen said hoping this might lead them to the diadem.
"I am the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw, and I am afraid I mistakenly told Tom where her diadem was hidden".
Jen looked encouragingly at the ghost and the sad apparition vrung her hands before continuing "Im sure he stole it from the place I told him about and and Iˋm sure he hid the diadem here in the school when he came back here for an interview with Headmaster Dumbledore.
"Thank you dear lady, I hope it gives you some comfort that you might have led us to the last hindrance to a final end of Voldemort or Tom Riddle as you knew him".
"There is nothing that can bring comfort in this un-life I have chosen for myself. I wish I had been braver.." the chost wailed softly before gliding away.
Later as Jen joined Harry and Severus for dinner they discussed the possibility of finally finding the last Horcrux, and all of them felt hopeful that their ordeal might be over. "I hope this means I can start school this autumn without the shadow of Voldemort hanging over me" Harry said exitedly. "By the way, I have been meaning to ask you what will happen when this is all over."
"What do you mean"?
"You told me you only got engaged so that you could work closely together as you tried to find and destroy these Horthingys. Will you separate when this is over, will Jen still teach here, in short will everything change"?
Severus and Jen looked at each other and then Harry, before Severus answered "to be honest we havenˋt discussed what comes after too much. But I think we all feel that we somehow belong together. If this after some time becomes more and ends up in us getting married and Jen adopting you is something for the future to show us. For now we are comfortable as we are, and I doubt thing will change drastically anytime soon."
Nodding her agreement with Severus Jen took Harryˋs hand in hers and said "Iˋll stay here and teach Potions, maybe Remus will teach defence if he agrees to that. I will be here for you as an honorary aunt or maybe even as a mother figure if you like. As to Severus and I, we belong together as he says, and we will find what form that togetherness takes in the future"
"Oh, okay" Harry said "but I wouldn `t mind if you got married at some time, Iˋd like a mom and maybe siblings" he continued chortling at Severusˋexpression at the mention of siblings.
"You cheeky brat" Jen said while laughing "youˋll regret teasing your father and I in such a manner" she then proceeded to give Harry a thourough tickling that made him nearly wet himself with laughter.