FB: Chapter 10: The Heir of Gryffindor

Disclaimer: see chap 1

Thank you so much for the reviews, guys! I had a ball writing this story and hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.:o)

Harry stared at the jeweled ring that encircled Rosmerta's ring finger. He, Hermione and Ron sat in her little apartment across from her and Sirius. Harry had never seen him look so alive- his hair was shorter, his skin no longer pale, and he held a smile- not a relieved smile, but a happy smile on his face. They had all saught refuge here when Professor McGonagall told them they would all be sent home for three months when the school was being rebuilt again. She also told them the sad news that Dumbledore had been killed from his encounter with Snape. Snape's body hadn't been found.

And this was replaying and replaying in Harry's mind. The silence between the five of them was driving him crazy. He jumped to his feet. "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!"

The other four turned to him. Hermione made a move to get up and go over to him, but Sirius stopped her. "Allow me," he said and squeazed her hand. She settled back down next to Ron.

Harry turned to him. "How could Dumbledore let all of this happen!? He knew more than anyone that Snape wanted the Dark Arts job and then he gives it to him! He just went and got himself killed!"

            "Harry, I understand you're upset, as we all are," Sirius said. "But every great battle has its sacrifices."

            "You haven't seen the things I've seen!" he looked to Ron and Hermione. "Well, not everything… I have seen evil! I have seen it and…"

            "…and you have destroyed it." Sirius finished for him. "Have you ever heard of Akham's (sp?) Razor?"

            "No." Harry said.

            "I have," Hermione chirped. "The most simplest explination tends to be the right one."

Sirius gave her a small smile. "Right you are, Hermione."

            "What's that supposed to mean?" Harry snapped.

            "There's a reason why you weren't killed as a baby, there's a reason why you have that scar, there's a reason why only you could have brought down Voldemort." Sirius said.

            "And that is?"

            "Because you're Godric Gryffindor's heir, Harry. Only one of the four heirs would have been able to rid the wizard world of evil. And when you couldn't be killed seventeen years ago, I knew it was you. The whole wizard world knew it was you."

Harry peered around the room. "So, Cedric and Cho died for nothing."

            "Voldemort believed it was love alone that saved you. Not because you were the heir. If you had known what you were doing when you were a baby, Voldemort would have been dead long ago." Sirius added. "If he had succeeded in killing you last night, no one would have been able to have stopped him."

            "But, it says…" Hermione started.

Sirius held up a hand to stop her. "Do not always believe what is in books, Hermione. That was what only was written. It also says no one is supposed to survive the killing curse."

Ron grinned at her.

            "Snape said…" Harry started. "That my mother…"

            "Was a Death Eater? So, he told you." Sirius said.

Harry nodded.

            "Yes, she was, but that was long ago. Way before she met your father. Don't look back on her with shame, Harry. Everyone, in their life, does things they are not proud of."

            "But, if she had never been a Death Eater, both may still be alive." Harry replied.

Sirius gave a small frown. "Your mother was a powerful witch, but to Voldemort, she wasn't anything more than a slave." His face grew dim.

Harry opened his mouth to speak again.

            "She wasn't killed because she left Voldemort's side. She was killed because she wanted with her whole heart to save you."

            "I still don't get it," Harry said. "What's an heir supposed to do?"

            "What do you think your calling is?" Sirius asked.

Harry thought for a moment. "Well, lately, I've had this really weird pull to become an Auror."

Ron grinned, and Hermione gave a small smile.

            "Then that's what you should do." Sirius said.

            "And if evil comes back?" Harry asked.

Sirius shook his head. "I don't think there will be another dark wizard."

Harry walked over and took his seat inbetween Hermione and Ron. Hermione took his hand.

            "Speaking of which," Sirius walked over and put his arm around Rosmerta. "we're getting married."

The trio stared at them.

            "Congratulations!" Hermione cried, and Sirius and Rosmerta were engulfed in a sea of hugs.

            "We better be getting back to Hogwarts," Ron said, checking his watch. "we'll miss the carriages and my mum will go volcanic."

Three months later, the trio returned to the newly rebuilt Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall became the Headmistress, and a memorial was made for Dumbledore and all of the students Hogwarts had lost in the attack. And at graduation, Harry was asked to say a few words.

He had always hated giving speeches, but this one, somehow felt different. And as he stepped up to the podium in front of the whole school, including his classmates, it just felt right. "My fellow students," he started. "Today we honor those that were taken from us way to early. Especially Professor Dumbledore, Professor Lupin, Cedric Diggory, Cho Chang, and… (his voice gave a slight break) Hagrid." He paused, drew in a deep breath and continued. "We must not stop living because they have died." Hermione burst into sobs, Ron patted her back. "we must go on with our lives, and fulfill our dreams, because they are watching over us, and that is what they would have wanted." He paused again. "And today, I along with my classmates leave forth from Hogwarts and step into the world on our own. But we will never forget each other. At Hogwarts, you are not just classmates, but friends…" he looked directly at Ron and Hermione. "…family." They grinned. "May the knowledge we've learned here carry us forth and through our lives, as we continue on the path to greatness. Thank you."

The whole school stood and applaused. Draco Malfoy sat and stared at Harry, and then, climbed to his own feet, and clapped.

Ron, Hermione and Harry took one last look at Hogwarts.

            "Been quite a year, eh?" Ron asked them.

Harry nodded, then turned to Hermione and smiled.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Hey, where's…?"

Lavender came bounding up to him and he smiled. "There you are."

            "Let's all leave together," Hermione said, smiling at Harry. "The way we started."

He grinned at her, and so did Lavender and Ron

Then, they turned to walk down the path to greatness together.

The END! Wooo hooooo!