The next day was the final ceremony. Starr was fixed up and had a patch over her eye, which was swollen shut anyway. She couldn't move to the full extent. Shiji was nursing the stump of his lost arm. Lucky's arms were limp as she poured a sour smelling liquid. Her bones in the arm had been melted from heat of a fire. Misty's face had a mask over it from getting acid splashed on her. The skin under the mask had burnt off. Only the eight of them knew the story of what had happened.

"The protectors will not be coming back," Dumbledore began, "as you know, Voldemort is dead and the story is for them to remember only. I suspect that they have chosen their final partners, and will be leaving with them before the rest of you leave. Most of you have had a wonderful year, and we have some awards to give. Professor McGonagall."

"I award a teacher a position he has wanted for years. Professor Severus Snape, you shall be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Professor Dibbs was not at the table and Draco suspected he had been a Death Eater, not an innocent bystander (he didn't find out Starr had hit him until later).

Dumbledore stood again, "And finally, protectors." They stood. One at a time, they called out names.

"Harry Sirius Potter."

"Ronald James Weasley."

"Hermione Jean Granger and Draco Lucifer Malfoy." Starr couldn't speak at the time, she hadn't spoken since she had the spear in her eye. The four approached the front. As the four protectors and their partners joined hands, winds started in the room. The candles were blown out as the winds grew. Draco closed his eyes for a minute as the winds blew through his hair. As the rest of the school watched, the eight of them disappeared with a puff of smoke. Draco was home at last, even if his father wasn't there. In his and his father's lover's arms forever he would be. With out a doubt. Forever and always.

The eight of them have been seen in battles and in different places at certain times. They are always in groups of two or more, never is one alone. They are asked for, for guidance and luck as well as hope and a long life. They answer people's wishes in their own ways, as long as it is done. They count on the wishes to live, even though their life is over. They are the Angels, the Protectors, the Watchers. If ever in doubt, just ask for something, luck, life, death, strength to go on, and you shall receive it. They watch over us all, in sickness and health, rich or poor, living or dead, young or old, believing or not. They watch over us and cherish us with the love they show for each other, unbreakable love. Love that can melt the snow of hate around them, and leave their pattern. And always will, until the end of time.