Chapter 60

Fifteen years later

"You two, look after each other, all right?" Hermione said sternly.

"We know, mum," her daughter said.

"I mean it, Rose, and look after Hugo," Hermione said.

"I will," Rose said.

"Oh, I'm going to miss you!" Hermione exclaimed, hugging both her children.

"Hermione, the train is going to leave soon," Ron said, chuckling slightly.

Hermione released Rose and Hugo. Ron hugged them briefly.

"All right, stay safe, don't get into too much trouble," Ron said.

"Work hard at school," Hermione said. "And don't be reckless!"

"We won't, mum," Hugo said.

The two stepped onto the train.

"I admit, I miss going to Hogwarts," Ron said, watching them.

Hermione smiled.

"Yeah, me too," she said. "Fun times."

"Ron!" they heard Ginny's voice.

The two turned around to see Ginny dragging Eric towards them.

"Hey Ginny, Eric," Ron said, grinning. "Already see Mark off?"

"Yep," Ginny said, grinning back.

"We haven't seen you guys in forever!" Ginny exclaimed. "You should come over and we'll talk! Like old times!"

"Ginny, we saw each other last week," Ron said.

"Doesn't feel like it," Ginny said.

"I think that sounds like a great idea," Hermione said.

"It'll be great, hanging out like old times," Eric said.

"Where to?" Ron asked. "I remember you two moved into another house."

"We'll take you there," Ginny said. "But let's say goodbye to the children first. The train's about to leave!"

As the trained left the station, the four waved goodbye furiously. Rose, Hugo, and Mark waved back just as furiously.

"I miss them already," Hermione said, sighing.

"They'll be back at winter break," Ron said, hugging Hermione.

"Come on you guys," Ginny said. "Hermione, with me."

"All right," Hermione said, smiling.

Hermione linked arms with Ginny and they disappeared in a crack. They appeared in front of a medium sized home. A second later, Eric and Ron appeared next to them.

"What do you think?" Eric asked.

"Looks fantastic," Ron said, smiling. "Although, it looks like Godric's Hollow."

"That's because it is Godric's Hollow," Eric said. "My parents said we could use it. Mark liked the place a lot so we decided to just move in. We still visit the manor every once in a while though."

"This is Godric's Hollow? It looks so different though!" Hermione exclaimed.

"We remodeled it after Mark accidently blew off the roof when he was four. He had very destructive accidental magic," Ginny said, chuckling. "That was some exciting times."

"Indeed," Eric said dryly, looking very unamused.

"Well, let's go inside. It's hot outside," Ginny said, dragging Hermione towards the house.

An old man walked past an old manor; he was on a casual stroll and happened to pass the ruins of the manor. It had been completely destroyed by an unknown accident years ago. The old man gazed at the ruins of the manor. He had heard terrible rumors about it. It was a dark evil place, belonging to a Dark Lord. The old man snorted and made to walk past the manor when he noticed movement in the corner of his eye.

The old man turned around to see a young man standing not too far away, staring at the manor with a sort of pensive look in his eyes.

"You there, young man!" the old man called.

The young man looked at him. He was fairly handsome, perhaps in his mid twenties. His eyes were a dark brown color and his hair was a slightly lighter brown color. His skin was slightly tanned. He wore a black turtleneck with dark brown pants, all covered by a beige trench coat. He wore glasses.

"What are you doing here? This is not a place to hang around," the old man said. "Do you know what this place is?"

The man gave a small wry smile.

"Riddle Manor," he replied. "Or at least, what's left of it."

The old man blinked in surprise.

"Not a lot of people know that; how do you know?" he asked.

The young man chuckled as he turned back to look at the ruins of the manor.

"I just do," he said.

"Well, it was destroyed years ago by some mysterious force," the old man said. "Nobody knows how it was done or who did it."

The young man hummed in response.

"Anyways, this place gives off some pretty dark vibes. You shouldn't hang around here for too long. Who knows what could be lurking in those ruins?" the old man said, walking away.

The young man watched the old man walk away. His smile widened slightly.

"Not exactly a mysterious force," he muttered. "Just a simple spell."

With a turn of his heel, the young man disappeared with a crack.

"So, did you guys hear?" Ginny asked.

"Hear about what?" Ron asked.

"It's recent news. Someone went up and found that Riddle Manor is destroyed, completely and utterly," Ginny said.

"Seriously? By who?" Ron asked.

"Nobody knows," Eric said. "There are rumors that the manor has been destroyed for at least a decade, but since it belonged to a Dark Lord, nobody had the courage to go up to the manor until just recently. All that's left are ruins."

"Wow," Ron said.

Hermione sighed, looking at her cup of tea.

"Hermione? What's wrong?" Eric asked.

"It was probably Alex," Hermione said. "He probably destroyed Riddle Manor after the battle at Hogwarts."

"Yeah, that makes sense," Ron said. "I wonder where he is now. America? Scandinavia? Asia?"

"Who knows," Eric said.

"I miss him," Hermione said. "He promised me he would keep in touch and it's been fifteen years already. I should've made him swear on his magic."

"That's a little extreme, don't you think?" Ginny asked.

"Perhaps a little," Hermione admitted. "But then, at least he would send one letter. That's all I asked for and I'm stilling waiting for it!"

"Maybe he forgot about it," Eric said.

Hermione shook her head.

"No, Alex wouldn't forget it. He's not the type to just forget things. He's just taking his sweet time, something I do not appreciate," she said, her eye twitching in annoyance. "He's doing this on purpose; I just know it!"

"Calm down, Mione," Ron said. "He's probably just busy."

"Too busy to send one letter? I doubt it," Hermione said, sighing. "I just want to know if he's okay. I mean, he's a fugitive. I don't know if he's been caught or killed. I don't know anything!"

"Well, we do know something. If he had been caught, it would've been in the newspaper by now. He is a pretty big criminal after all." Ginny said. "Obviously, he's still on the run."

"Yeah, fair point," Hermione said. "Still, it wouldn't hurt to send a letter saying you're okay. I don't expect him to visit, although that would be nice, but it's dangerous for him."

"Fifteen years is a long time, Hermione. The Ministry is still looking for him, but not as strongly as they were years ago," Eric said. "He's probably just waiting for things to cool down before contacting us."

"That's good news," Hermione said.

"He's still a criminal," Eric said.

"Yes, I know that, but he's my friend too." Hermione said.

"He's all our friend," Ginny said, smiling. "I didn't know him as well as you guys do, but from when I bumped into him at Hogwarts, he was a nice guy, a little aloof though."

"Yeah that sounds like him," Ron said. "Alex was always aloof. He never got close to anyone...except Harry."

"Yeah," Hermione agreed.

They fell into an almost awkward silence. Ginny opened her mouth to say something to break the rather tense atmosphere when a knock interrupted her. They all looked over to the door in surprise.

"Were you expecting someone?" Ron asked.

"No," Ginny said.

"I'll get it," Hermione said, already standing up.

She walked over to the door and opened it. An unfamiliar man stood on the doorstep. He had dark brown and slightly darker brown eyes with slightly tanned skin. He wore black framed glasses. He wore a black turtleneck with dark brown pants and a beige trench coat.

"May I help you with something?" Hermione asked politely.

The man smiled slightly.

"Come on, Hermione, don't tell me you've forgotten me already. I know I'm wearing a disguise, but still."

Hermione's eyes widened in shock and she stumbled back, gaping at the young man. The man's smile widened slightly in amusement to her reaction.

"Alex?!"