So, my lovelies. The time has come, for the adventure to end. I hope you have enjoyed the story. It would mean the world to me if you could review it, perhaps suggest things I could have done better or just leave a rating, I'm happy with either.

I'm so happy I've finished it (only took a few years haha) and who knows, if I get a big response, I may be inclined to write more fanfics (any fandom suggestions), though I will be finishing off my first children's novel in the meantime, so it has to be a BIG response for me to be tempted to write another. Plus, I'm working full time, so it will take a while unfortunately (I may be able to type at 90 wpm, but I'm not the Flash). But if I get lots of reviews, I will do my best to write one a story over the next few months, a Harry Potter fic or another fandom fic if I get a lot of requests for one: I'm also a huge Star Wars (original - not Disney), Avatar and Teen Titans/DC fan, so if anyone would like a story about those particlar fandoms, say so now, or forever regret it.

So, for now, I wish you all a fabulous 2021 - surely it can't be as bad as this past year - right?

And I'll leave you with this: even if we no longer like the latest movies *cough cough Crimes of Grindelwald *cough cough, and material JK Rowling is producing, and the weird tweets she keeps writing, I will always be thankful to her for creating this world that we can dream and write about. Harry Potter will always have a place in my heart.

Now, if you all don't mind, I'm going to bed, before anyone comes up with another clever idea to get me to write Harry Potter fanfics at 2am in the morning again!

Peace out muggles. (Yes, I said that)

Chapter 20

Together, United

"All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us." J. R. R. Tolkien.

Throughout the days that followed, Al's strength returned. At first, it had been challenging. Every time he breathed it hurt. Some nights the scar would sting his flesh and it would burn his insides that he had to be given sedatives by Madam Pomfrey so he could rest. His parents were understandably upset when Madam Pomfrey told them that she, and no other doctor, could heal his scar as it was made with a cursed blade. At first, Al was upset. But then, he turned to his dad, and pointed to his father's famous scar on his forehead.

"I'm even more like you now dad." He said. Harry responded by laughing and crying at the same time, before giving Albus a giant hug.

It was exactly a week later from when he woke up in the hospital wing, that Al was able to leave the safety of the medical cocoon. Accompanied by Scorpius and Rose, of course, they headed to the Great Hall for dinner. It was the night of the feast. His parents had left a couple of days ago as they couldn't stay away from work for too long, but Al knew it wouldn't be long before he'd see them again, and Lily, who'd cried for a good five minutes when they'd said goodbye to one another.

"Apparently, McGonagal has some huge news." Rose said excitedly, as the three approached the Great Hall. Al was careful as he made his way down the corridor, for much to his dismay, not only did he need glasses, but Madam Pomfrey had forced him to use a crutch for the next two weeks at least! Al was sure, as they approached the Great Hall, that he preferred to be invisible, like he was at the beginning of the year. He was sure that people were whispering his name. He got many looks, some were sympathetic and other students looked at him with what appeared to be awe.

"Rose, why is everyone staring?" Al whispered. Even Scorp rolled his eyes.

"Ugh, cos you kicked Nott, Armon and Voldemort's asses to high kingdom come!"

"Scorpius." Rose admonished. "I wouldn't say those names outloud."

"Why not?" Scorpius cocked his head to one side.

Rose nudged him in the ribs. He glared at her, but conceded to her demands by shutting up.

"You two are like an old married couple." Al snickered.

Rose and Scorpius both blanched at this statement. Scorp put his hand gently on Al's shoulder,

"Al, I think you've been in the hospital wing for too long, don't talk crazy nonsense."

Copious amounts of chatter suddenly surrounded the trio as they entered the hall. A fair number of students glanced their way, but after a quick observation of the trio, most of the students continued to chat to one another as normal, as the hungry witches and wizards waited impatiently for the magnificently delicious feast to start.

"I'll see you two later then?" Al said nervously, wishing he'd asked to have dinner in the hospital wing. He noticed a few of the Slytherins sitting nearest to the entrance way were glaring fiercely at him. He shook slightly, wishing that he could sit with Rose and Scorpius at the Gryffindor table.

Scorpius nudged him playfully below his shoulder. Rose smiled.

"See you after."

"Remember to eat vegetables to get better." Rose chided. Al snorted.

"Yes mum."

"Remember to eat…" Scorpius began to mimic Rose's statement in a high-pitched voice, but was ultimately prevented from doing so as Rose pinched his ear and dragged him off to the Gryffindor table.

Al nervously looked for a spare seat at the Slytherin table. Whispers followed him like how ocean winds follow a sail. He should've said he still wasn't feeling well. Why did he come here. He didn't even want to eat. His scar began to sting.

Suddenly, a shot of unkept brown hair caught his eye as a girl sprinted towards him from where the first year Slytherins had been sitting at the front of the hall. Al's eyes widened as he saw who it was who'd suddenly dashed towards him and then wrapped her arms around him in an enormous bear hug.

"Bellatrix!" Al's eyes widened, and almost protruded out of their sockets as his former rival enveloped him in an awkward hug.

"I'm so sorry Al, I've been such an idiot." She said, she let go of the embrace. Al hissed in pain as her hand accidentally brushed against his clothing which then brushed against his scar. She swore and stepped back as he leant forward on his walking stick for support.

"Salazar, I'm sorry Albus." She whispered quietly.

"For what?"

"For hurting you just now." Bellatrix sneered, though it was more of a playful sneer, not one of the awful ones she used to make at him. Al shrugged.

"Mistakes happen." The pain had begun to subside as he stood up a little straight. Bellatrix crossed her arms, looking as though she'd caught a sudden chill as she shivered on the spot. "What's wrong?" Al asked innocently.

Bella couldn't help it but release a small sob. She turned around, furious with herself for acting like a crybaby, and wiped her unshed eyes roughly with the sleeve of her robe. Then, staring into Albus' green orbs, she said, in a much softer tone.

"I'm sorry. For everything."

Al smiled gently. He looked at Bellatrix. Really looked at her. As though he were peering into her soul. Her eyes looked different than before. Instead of being cold, silvery blue windows of steel, they now resembled the colour of a clear blue sky.

"I've already forgiven you." Al said quietly.

Instead of perhaps smiling back, Bella scowled. At first, Al was taken aback, but then, she said gruffl, "You shouldn't. I wouldn't forgive me. I was horrible to you. And then, I didn't even recognise my own father."

Al's expression hardened at the mention of Nott Sr. After a few calm breathes Al smiled and put a hand on Bella's shoulder. "Hey, even McGonagall was fooled."

"I don't care about McGonagall, I feel like a fool." Bella snarled.

Al gestured to himself and let out a small chuckle. "I almost let the darkest wizard of all time rise back from the dead. Well, I did, for a few minutes. I think I'm the bigger fool." He felt the cool pendent seem to sooth his scar as he took the snake and lion out from underneath his robes, and placed the golden pendant on his palm. Bellatrix's lips trembled as Al held out the pendant for her to see. "We're all fools, but we'll be fools together."

Bellatrix couldn't help but release a couple of tears which had threatened to escape her eyes for a while. She quickly wiped those tears away from her cheeks. Slowly, she raised her hand, and glancing at Al to see if it was alright, as he nodded in encouragement, she placed her hand around his that had the pendant on the palm. "Thank you, Albus." She said, smiling. "From now on, us Slytherins stick together."

Al smiled as they let go of each other's hands and made their way to the Slytherin table. Duke whistled in approval as he passed and suddenly more students looked his way, in what appeared to be pride… and not hatred.

"C'mon, the old crow is standing up." Bella pulled Al to the table. Winston, Harrison and Burns were all staring at him, in what appeared to be awe.

"Nice glasses, Potter." Burns chortled. Bella shot him a warning look, but Al merely smiled in return, "Thanks, I look even more like my dad now."

Burns rolled his eyes. Harrison and Winston laughed.

Suddenly, as though a cloud descended on the hall, silence descended upon the students. McGonagall had risen to her feet. Smiling sincerely. You could've heard a pin drop it was so quiet. Then, the Headmistress cleared her throat.

"I have a few things to say before we dig in to an amazing feast. Though we still have exams, it is almost the end of term, and whilst it will be a few weeks until I can declare who won the house cup, I can give some points to individuals who've earned them."

Excited whispers echoed around the hall. Albus suddenly felt that quite a few eyes were upon him. He stared at the table to avoid making eye contact.

"First, to Mister Scorpius Malfoy." McGonagal smiled, and Al's head shot up to see his friend turn the colour of Uncle Ron's favourite strawberry jelly. "I shall award him thirty points, for showing true loyalty and bravery in the face of adversity."

The Gryffindor table erupted into a rapturous applause. Al could see that even James and Hunter were cheering and shouting Scorpius' name. McGonagall raised her hands for silence, the students complied.

"Next, to Miss Rose Granger-Weasley, for finding the truth where others could not, I award her thirty points."

Another humungous cheer from the Gryffindor table filled the room. Bellatrix rolled her eyes, and refused to clap along with everyone else.

Al was really hoping that would be it. He was proud of his friends. They'd been the ones who'd found out that Professor Finch was Nott. They had the courage to help him when no one else would…

"Now, to Mister Albus Potter."

Low whispers suddenly rang through the hall. Al felt his cheeks heat up with embarrassment and he was certain he was as red as a tomato. He could feel everyone. EVERYONE. Looking his way. He buried his face in his hands. He wanted to disappear. But… he felt a soft hand on his shoulder. He raised his head. Bella was smiling at him. Encouraging him to face the crowd. He put his hands on the table, and looked to McGonagall, who was smiling warmly back at him.

"For uniting the Houses of Hogwarts, for showing true bravery and cunning and outstanding courage, I award Slytherin House, seventy points."

The resounding cheers were defeaning. Al almost had to cover his ears they were so loud. Every single Slytherin was clapping. Many students; for it was not just the Slytherin table that were clapping, but the whole, entire hall; had gotten to their feet. Some were banging on the table. Several, were chanting his name. Al then glanced towards the Gryffindor table, who were on their feet as well, clapping and chanting his name as well. James looked so proud he looked like he was going to burst with pride. Scorpius and Rose were giving him the thumbs up. Bellatrix smacked him playfully on the back. He hissed momentarily with pain, she grinned apologetically.

"Sorry." She whispered. Al laughed.

Then, as everyone sat back down. McGonagall raised her hands,

"I have one more quick announcement. The League of Wizarding Schools across America and Europe, have announced that we will have a Schools Quidditch Tournament, and Hogwarts will be the school that will host the tournament this year."

A resounding cheer echoed through the hall. McGonagall gestured for the room to be silent. She continued, "This means, that throughout this term, the four house Quidditch teams will have trials to see who will play for Hogwarts. We are not simply four houses, we are all a family, all equal, all special. House rivalry, whilst important to our school, can divide us. This year, we have all learnt that it is better to be strong as one than to be broken in pieces. Together, the chosen players across all four houses will be the first Hogwarts Quidditch team. Together, we will face others as one."

Students and staff cheered and clapped and talked about the school Quidditch team right through the feast. Everyone was excited. Everyone was happy. Hogwarts was together.

And the school would stay this way.

For generations to come.

The houses were siblings.

Rivalries were no longer violent.

Slytherins were no longer ostracized.

Hogwarts was together.

And the Houses would be one. Were one. For now and always.

And that was what it should have always been.