When they got there they heard paintings clapping and Dumbledore smiling.

Dexter Fortescue was waving his ear-trumpet; and Phineas Niggelus called, in his high, reedy voice, "And let it be noted that Slytherin House played its part! Let our contribution not be forgotten!"

But Harriet had eyes only for the man who stood in the largest portrait directly behind the headmaster's chair.

Tears were sliding down from behind the half-moon spectacles into the long silver beard, and the pride and the gratitude emanating from him filled Harriet with the same balm as phoenix song.

At last, Harriet held up her hands, and the portraits fell respectfully silent, beaming and mopping their eyes and waiting eagerly for her to speak. She directed her words at Dumbledore, however, and chose them with enormous care.

Still tired and bleary-eyed though she was, she must make one last effort, seeking one last piece of advice.

"The thing that was hidden in the Snitch," she began, "I dropped it in the forest. I don't exactly know where, but I'm not going to go looking for it again. Do you agree?"

"My dear girl, I do," said Dumbledore, while his fellow pictures looked confused and curious. "A wise and courageous decision, but no less than I would have expected of you. Does anyone know else know where it fell?"

"No one," said Harriet, and Dumbledore nodded his satisfaction.

"I'm going to keep Ignotus's present, though," said Harriet, and Dumbledore beamed.

"But of course, Harriet, it is yours forever, until you pass it on!"

"And then there's this."

Harriet held up the Elder Wand, and Neville, Ron and Hermione looked at it with a reverence.

"I don't want it." said Harriet.

"What?" said Ron loudly. "Are you mental?"

"I know it's powerful," said Harriet wearily. "But I was happier with mine. So . . ."

She rummaged in the pouch hung around her neck, and pulled out the two halves of holly still just connected by the finest threat of phoenix feather.

She laid the broken wand upon the headmaster's desk, touched it with the very tip of the Elder Wand, and said,

"Reparo."

As her wand resealed, red sparks flew out of its end.. She picked up the holly and phoenix wand and felt a sudden warmth in her fingers, as though wand and hand were rejoicing at their reunion.

"I'm putting the Elder Wand," he told Dumbledore, who was watching him with enormous affection and admiration, "back where it came from. It can stay there. If I die a natural death like Ignotus, its power will be broken, won't it? The previous master will never have been defeated. That'll be the end of it."

Dumbledore nodded. They smiled at each other.

"Are you sure?" said Ron.

There was the faintest trace of longing in his voice as he looked at the Elder Wand.

"I think Harriet's right," said Neville quietly.

"That wand's more trouble than it's worth." said Harriet.

"And quite honestly," she turned away from the painted portraits, thinking now only of the four-poster bed lying waiting for her in Gryffindor Tower, and wondering whether Kreacher might bring her a sandwich there, "I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."

Chapter 22

It had been a week since the end of the war. Harriet now lives with Neville and Augusta at Longbottom Manor. She and Neville were going to move into Grimauld Place next year. Kingsley had offered former Hogwarts students the job of being an auror.

Harriet had rejected Kingsley's offer and wanted to finishing school and go back to her true home.

Because she was going back to school Kreacher was going to stay at Hogwarts and stay with his Mistress.

Neville and Hermione are going back to school to.

Neville for a mixture of finishing school, staying with Harriet after losing so many people she loved and making his parents and gran proud of him.

Hermione was no surprise because they all knew she was a bookworm and was glad at least Harriet and Neville were coming back to finish school.

Ron accepted Kingsley's offer so he could start working and so he didn't have to go back to school.

They had each gotten an Order of Merlin also. Harriet got first class. Hermione and Neville second class and Ron third class.

Ron had gotten third because he had left the other three of them when they promised to work together.

Harriet had gotten first class because she was the leader of the new quartet and savior of the wizarding world.

She had pretty much taken control of Hogwarts when they came back until she had defeated Voldemort.

Neville and Hermione had gotten second class for sticking with her and helping her defeat him.

Harriet had gotten Peter and Remus buried at Godrics Hollow with her parents and even though he had been gone through the veil she still got one for Sirius. Tonks, like Lilly was doing with James, was laying next to Remus.

Harriet and Neville were standing in front of the four Marauders right now.

Harriet stood there leaning on Neville. While she did that he rubbed her back gently and slowly.

The graves said,

I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good

Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs are proud to present the Marauders.

For the last time, Mischief Managed

Harriet had made it herself. Her eyes started to water while she looked at them. Then she shut her eyes tightly, fought the tears and sniffled.

Then Neville put her in his arms and she started to cry.

Neville felt bad for her because she had lost her parents, godfather and her 'uncle'. She had told Remus that she started to consider him as an uncle and Sirius as a father.

While she cried Neville did the best he could calming her down.

"Don't worry, you'll always have me, gran, the Weasley's, Hermione and the other Gryffindor's. Even the Professors." he said.

Then he gave her a kiss and she started to calm down.

"I know but I lost almost everyone I loved! I love you, Hermione, the Weasley's and our Gryffindor's to but you're not my parents. All the Weasley's considers me as a non-biological Weasley and I love them as parents, brothers and sister. But I wish I had my real parents and my aunt and uncle loved me like they do Dudley."

"I know. How about we go grab something to eat and then we can go home. Sound good?" he said.

She whipped her eyes then nodded.

When they got somewhere they sat there in silence. Then Neville thought of something.

"Can you believe they made us four chocolate frog cards? I know Ron likes it but both me and Hermione don't really like it. How do you feel about it?"

"I don't really like it either. But I'll let them do it anyway. I know they're not going to give up on that. I also know I'm going to get a lot more attention than I did on Halloween 1981. I still can't believe a 72 year old lost to a 17 year old. Not to mention a girl!" she said.

They started laughing.

"I know! And we still haven't finished school yet!" he said.

After dinner they went back to Longbottom Manor.

Augusta was in the living room reading a book when she heard the door open. Then she looked up and saw Neville and Harriet.

"Hello you two, how was dinner?" she asked.

"It was good." Harriet said.

"Yeah, it was good. Had some dinner in the muggle world so Harriet could relax and calm down." Neville said.

She saw Harriet's eyes were still a little red and remembered they were going to Godrics Hallow.

"Alright, you look tired so why don't you go to bed."

They nodded and went upstairs.

"Night Harriet." Neville said and gave her a kiss.

"Night Neville." she said.

As the summer went on they all worked on getting Hogwarts put together again. Since Harriet was Lady of two old and rich families she helped pay for the school as did Neville and most of the other families.

She would go visit Teddy and Andy on weekends. On the funeral of them all she took care of Teddy for Andy all day and he spent the night with her so Andy could calm down a bit.

Harriet and Neville decided to celebrate their birthday on Harriet's birthday because they're only a day apart.

Harriet had gotten him a book about herbology, he had gotten her a necklace with a picture of them together. And Mrs. Weasley had given them both a Weasley sweater since they missed Christmas.

Madam Pumfry had forced the four of them to get looked at when they had gotten some rest and three out of four of them looked fine.

The other one on the other hand, Harriet was forced to eat, drink, rest and take her nutrients potions everyday. Madam Pumfry had given her a complete check up like she had wanted to since her second year.

When she found out what had happened to her she was shocked that Harriet could hide all that from everyone without a glamour everyday.

She had told her that she was worse than James and Sirius put together during quidditch games. That got Ron, Hermione and Neville to burst out laughing. Ron and Neville knew the two Gryffindor's quidditch history from Ron's parents, Neville's gran, Remus and Sirius.

Harriet had found out about them from mostly Remus and Sirius.

Neville had swore to not tell anyone about Harriet's childhood and continued to do so. Harriet had forced Madam Pumfry to do the same thing or she'll hex her into next year.

Even she knew Harriet is a strong young witch and to never get her to mad.