Chapter 40

The room fell silent.

"I've lived my life, Ariana. I've served my purpose in this world. You did not get the chance to do that, but now you have that chance. However, I am not meant to be here for any longer, I'm afraid," Dumbledore said.

"So you're…you're going to die again?" Ariana whimpered, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm going to go back to where I belong," Dumbledore answered. "Besides, we can't just leave Aberforth alone, can we?"

Ariana giggled through her tears. "I'm going to miss you, Al," she said, wrapping her arms around him.

"I shall miss you too, Ana," Dumbledore said, hugging her back.

I'll miss you too, Sir," Albus piped up.

"And I you, Albus. This is been quite the adventure," Dumbledore said with a chuckle.

"The adventure of two lifetimes!" Genevieve exclaimed.

"Indeed," replied Dumbledore.

"Thank you for everything, Sir," Harry said, wiping away his own tears.

"You should not be thanking me, Harry," Dumbledore said, turning to the man with the faded lightning scar. "I was never honest with you. There was so much I wish I had done differently. So much…"

Landry shook her head. "But don't you see, Mr. Dumbledore? You did! You helped and encouraged me in ways that nobody else could. When I wanted to give up, you always gave me a new way to look at things. I couldn't have done this without you."

A tear rolled down Dumbledore's cheek. "Thank you, Landry. That does not excuse what I did to Harry, but I am truly happy that I was able to help you."

"Group hug!" Genevieve shouted suddenly. Soon, everyone in the room had wrapped Dumbledore in the warmest hug he had ever received. After a few minutes, the group pulled apart, and Dumbledore turned to Landry.

"Would you do the honors, Landry?" he asked her.

She nodded silently, tears freely falling from her eyes. Landry closed her eyes, and slowly extended her arm out towards Dumbledore. The surrounding group watched as Landry's hand began to glow, followed by Dumbledore himself. And then, in the blink of an eye, Albus Dumbledore was at rest once again.

After a moment of silence, Albus spoke. "So, what do we do now?"

"We should go find Professor Longbottom," Landry suggested. "We have a lot to talk to him about."

"And then Landry will have to send all the rest of the resurrected people back to where they belong," Scorpius pointed out.

"Right," Landry agreed.

"In that case," Harry said, "I do think I'll go say goodbye to everyone. I'm sure Neville is with his parents now, I'll tell him to meet you in the Headmaster's office in 15 minutes, so that he has the chance to say his farewells to them."

"I'll come with you," Albus said, walking over to join his father.

"If Albus is going, I am too," Scorpius added.

"I suppose I'll go too, then," Draco said with a shrug.

As Harry, Draco, and their sons turned to leave, Landry suddenly called out to Harry.

"Harry, wait!"

Harry turned back to face Landry. She quickly took the invisibility cloak, which had still been wrapped around her, off of herself, and held it out to him. "I believe this belongs to you," she said.

"Actually, I think it really belongs to you. Ignotus Peverell got the cloak from Death, after all. Besides, I'm fairly certain that your little sister loves that cloak more than myself or any of my children ever have," said Harry.

Landry smiled. "Thank you," she replied. "Pippa will be thrilled."

"Anything for another Chosen One," Harry said with a wink.

—

15 minutes later, Landry, Miles, Genevieve, and Ariana waited in the headmaster's office for Neville. Landry found herself noticing things about the room that she had never noticed before. It wasn't like she had spent much time in the office over her six and a half years at Hogwarts, but being in it now felt as though she was in a graveyard. A half-empty glass of firewhiskey sat on the desk. McGonagall must have been drinking it just before the battle began. On the wall, just above the desk, was a large portrait of Dumbledore. Except, to Landry, it did not look like Dumbledore. The man in the portrait was old and wise looking, with a long silver beard and a pointed purple hat. The Dumbledore that Landry knew was 17, with long auburn hair. Nothing about the Dumbledore in the painting looked anything like Dumbledore to Landry. Nothing, that is, except the eyes. They were clear, blue, and twinkling, just as Landry knew them to be. She smiled as the painting winked at her. Landry knew that McGonagall's portrait would soon join all of the other past Heads of Hogwarts on the wall of this room. Though McGonagall was not really dead, most everyone would need to think so if she was to live out her life as a cat like she wanted. So her portrait would go up on the wall, and that would be that.

Landry's train of thought was broken by the arrival of Neville Longbottom, who shut the door behind him as he entered the office. His cheeks were tear-stained. It was clear he had just finished saying goodbye to his parents for the last time.

"So," he said, looking at Ariana. "You're Ariana?"

"Yes, Sir," she confirmed. "Ariana Pricilla Winnifred Bertha Dumbledore. But just Ariana is fine. Or Ana, that's what my brothers called me."

"It's very nice to meet you, Ariana," Neville smiled. "Harry tells me you're going to be joining us here at Hogwarts next term."

Ariana nodded excitedly. "I would very much like to, yes, Sir. The only problem is that I'm, well, I have quite the magical parasite."

"Ariana's got herself an Obscurial," Landry explained.

"I see," Neville said, stroking his chin as he thought. "Well, I think that we can make it work. Everyone is welcome at Hogwarts, no matter what."

Ariana grinned from ear to ear. "Thank you, Sir!" she cried, throwing her arms around Neville.

Neville chuckled as he hugged her back. "You're very welcome," he replied.

"Well, now that that's all settled, I should go," Landry said. "I have a lot of people to send back to the Afterlife."

"Very well," Neville agreed. "Ariana and I will stay here, we have a lot to discuss."

As Landry, Miles, and Genevieve turned to leave, suddenly a voice called out. "Wait!"

Everyone looked around the room, confused as to where the voice had come from. Soon, however, the source was spotted.

"I can't sort someone without an audience, and this girl is in dire need of being sorted," said the Sorting Hat.

"Certainly," Neville said. He walked over to the shelf where the Sorting Hat was sitting and brought it over to Ariana. She took a deep breath as the hat was placed on her head. Ariana had been longing for this moment for her whole life.

"What do we have here…a Dumbledore! My, it's been quite a while since we've had a Dumbledore as a student here at Hogwarts!" the Sorting Hat exclaimed. "I know just where to put you. GRYFFINDOR!"

Ariana cheered as Neville removed the hat from her head. She was extremely excited to have been placed in the same house as her brothers.

"Now you're free to go," the hat said, as it was placed back on the shelf.

Landry nodded to the hat respectfully, and then she, Miles, and Genevieve left the office, so that Ariana and Neville could talk privately.

The three teenagers made their way to the Great Hall, where everyone was gathered. As they walked through the room, they passed by many crying Weasleys, Potters, and many more who were saying farewell to those they loved. Harry spotted Landry from across the room, and quickly pulled out his wand so he could amplify his voice to address the room.

"Alright, everyone should say their last goodbyes now. Landry is here, and she will be sending people back to the Afterlife starting now," Harry announced.

"Are you ready, Love?" Miles asked Landry.

"Yes," Landry replied. "Let's do this."