Author's Note: Thank you all for reading and commenting! It's encouraging to me!
Conclusions are not always satisfying. Some endings are happy, propelling a person on to more incredible things. One such example would be graduation. Graduation day opens the door to a bright future because everyone knows graduation is not the end but a beautiful beginning. It's a terrifying yet thrilling time in life.
Another happy ending would be giving birth, whether it's the birth of a baby or the birth of a dream. After waiting and waiting for the delivery to happen, when it comes, it brings a person into the essence of creation. It's the epicenter of wonderful power that no one can fully explain. That is why it's called a miracle- the miracle of birth.
But then there are those conclusions, those endings that bring pain and heartache. One of those would be death. Loss of life, loss of love, loss of dreams, it's all a death. But death is not the ultimate loss in life. No. The ultimate defeat, the greatest ending, is what dies in a person while living. That is a tragedy of the highest order. And the truth is nothing is the same after it. There's no going back to the way things were. Everything has changed.
Perhaps that's what's wrong with Marcus. The conclusion of the headless man was eye-opening, to be sure. Finding out that your father has been keeping a hidden head in his safe is disturbing on every level. Finding out the head belongs to a long-dead ancestor is another altogether. Upon reading up on the Flint family history, it was learned that the severed head goes with the headless statue in Flint Manor. It's the body of his great-great-great-great-something grandfather from the sixteenth century, Magnum Flint.
Through this enlightening research into genealogy, Marcus realized Magnum was a very competent wizard. Although, competent is not exactly the right word. It's more like cunning, calculating, and crafty. At least, that's what Marcus thinks. The man was a potion genius and developed a cure for dragon pox and even the common cold. However, The Great Fire of 1672 destroyed Magnum's findings. The Great Fire also destroyed Flint Manor, and it had to be rebuilt from the ground up. There are sketches showing what the ancestral home looked like before it burned to bits. It was actually a prettier, simpler-looking estate before renovations. Now it's massive and a tad too ostentatious.
Not only was Magnum Flint a credible potioner, but he was also a dark wizard- a very dark wizard. Long before Voldemort, death eaters, and Grindlewald was a host of other dark deviants. Though none have been explicitly named to the sixteenth century, that doesn't discount the vile dealings of that time period. Yes, Magnum did some good, but by and large, the wizard's work dealt in the arena of darkness.
An example of this would be The Blazing Brew. It's only one vile thing the wizard created that stands out. The potion is genuinely alarming. One tiny drop of it will cause the skin to burn from the inside out. However, swallowing the whole thing will make a person immediately burst into flames and turn to ash. Learning of this potion unsettled the Slytherin boys for days afterward.
Another thing Magnum Flint made was Dumb Dust. Sprinkle the dust onto an unwitting person, and they become temporarily paralyzed. The victim enters a death-like state. If it's not removed within a specific time, the person has permanent brain damage and memory loss. It causes them to be "brainless," in other words, like a zombie. The knowledge of these creations troubled Marcus, his friends, and the Grangers.
What's even more distressing was the dark wizard's research into something he named The Lazarus Diaries. From the dawn of time, man has wanted power over death. In the magical realm, evil wizards and witches have sought to achieve that goal by any means necessary. The thing about that kind of wickedness is that when one nefarious being dies, another comes after to carry on their work. That is what Magnum Flint did. He studied the findings of others before him and sought to add to them. He left detailed journal entries stating new discoveries.
These diary accounts are traced way back from even the BC era. It shapes a dark history of corrupt thinking and motives surrounding the mystery of life. The entries all have one thing in common, victory over death: elixirs of life, powders to raise the dead, and stories so fantastical to be believed all detail this experience. That was how Marcus learned Magnum Flint was the one who created the Powder of Life and successfully brewed the first Preeminent Elixir.
It was also how Marcus came to throw The Lazarus Diary across the room in a fit of anger. Adrian remarked, "What did the book ever do to you, Man?"
The youngest Flint rounded on his friend. His face contorted in frustration and disappointment etched on his being, the athlete told him, "What did it do to me? That despicable book has created some of the vilest potions known to man. It has accounted for how others have tampered with life and death. And it's quite possibly played an unknown part in Voldemort's scheme. Yet you ask what had it ever done?"
A shaky hand ran through his dark hair before he sat on the sofa beside Mrs. Granger. He buried his face in his hands to gather himself. When the strong Slytherin came up for air, he further noted, "That's part of my family's history, you know? I had no idea that one of my ancestors dealt in truly dark magic. It was concealed in plain sight, begging to be uncovered, but I never paid attention. And I always wondered about that headless sculpture. It's no surprise my father had the statue's head in his safe. Old Maxwell has a penchant for everything monstrous."
Jean patted the young man on his back in a motherly fashion. But then Marcus shared something else that sent a wave of coldness across the room. "That diary explained how Magnum, and other black-hearted wizards, would capture muggles. They would use them as test subjects for the vicious inventions they created- Lazarus experiments. These experimentations with potions, elixirs, balms, powders, and other things would aid them in the quest for the ability of life over death. That's sickening and demented. It makes me wonder if that's what my father has been doing in the bottom level of the house. Over the years, I remember hearing these moans and screams coming from that space."
These things have been hard to research and even more challenging to discuss. The Lazarus experiments sounded to them like death eater tactics before the formation of the group. It also seemed like these dark wizards were playing Dr. Frankenstein too. Marcus knew he had to get this information to Hermione.
The trouble was he didn't know how, as she hadn't responded to anything he's sent through the locket. That bothered him. He wrote to his Gram weekly, and she'd reply, updating him on what was happening. And then one day, she wrote a short message saying, It's over. Voldemort has been defeated. Come home.
Marcus knew he had to go home. It's up to him to find out how far his father helped with the brewing of the Preeminent Elixer. Then he had to destroy, seal, and give the Aurors any evidence of dark magic. He'd destroy or burn the truly dark and dangerous things so that no one could ever get their hands on them. The least he can do is try, right?
So, after sharing the letter with the guys and the Grangers, a couple of things were decided. First, Mr. and Mrs. Granger would stay put in Australia for now. Pucey was going to stay with them. Of all the guys besides Marcus, Adrian is the most skilled in defense. He's also equally good at transfiguration and charms. They have all told him he should apply to become an auror, but Pucey brushes the comments off by saying, "Doubt they'd take the son of death eater on board." But his comment has been half-hearted. They can all see he'd love to be one of those magical law enforcers.
The other thing settled was that Graham would help Marcus locate and destroy the Preeminent Elixir (and anything that goes along with it). Cassius would assist as well, but by being a lookout. It's Warrington's job to alert them to the goings on in the Wizarding World at large. Plus, it helps that his father has his trading company, allowing Cass to note any suspicious activity regarding dark objects. This information will be very handy because it shows where any Voldemort sympathizers may be hiding or whatnot. Those vile offenders can be turned over to the authorities as well.
But honestly, the one thing Marcus wanted to return home for was Hermione. After a long year of her being on the run, entangled in seeking and destroying horcruxes, he needs the reassurance that his girl is alright. It's not enough to talk through the locket. With the hideous devil defeated, the worried athlete must see her with his own two good eyes. Another day that passes without her is entirely too much space between them.
What's happened during this time apart has been eye-opening to Marcus. It's shown him that even though he lives, living without her is not really living at all. He's just existing because you're either alive or going through the motions, and he's tired of that. It comes in waves like the ocean his home is nestled by. Some days the waves are small, and he's able to push that longing, that missing her, down deep inside a box.
Whereas other days, the waves come crashing, and he's drowning. Those days were the hardest because that's when the chaotic thoughts would arrive. Those times spent listening to the wizarding wireless broadcast, hearing name after name of the fallen would push the strong wizard closer to the truth. And the truth is this... Life is messy, and it's way too short to play games. If you love someone, like really love someone, then you go get them.
No one knows what tomorrow brings. Marcus's Gram always said that in times of uncertainty, faith kicks in. She told him, "It's the thing that keeps you going in spite of the circumstances, fear, or mind fog. That's because no one truly knows the future, even with predictions. Predictions can change. They're not prophecies or set in stone, My Love. So you must have faith because faith is not knowing what the future holds but puts one foot in front of the other anyway. After all, anything is possible."
Marcus has held on to that, encouraging him to keep going in troubled times. So, during Hermione's quest over the year, he realized just how much he needed her. He's tired of them being apart. No more. That made him do something he'll never regret, even though it may be a bit rash in others' eyes. It was after a quidditch match. The star chaser invited Mr. Granger to the game, and the two had dinner afterward.
The pair were eating at a local pizzeria, and the conversation was sensational, especially since Paul had never been to a quidditch match. The doctor was blown away to see such a sport and told Marcus so. It was after the man declared, "What a spectacular play you made! The way you dove after that quaffle, I thought I'd have to fix your teeth again. I was right on the edge of my seat! Amazing, really!"
Marcus, of course, thanked him and answered any quidditch questions Paul might have. Before the two left the eatery, the wizard's knee began to shake, and his hands sweat. That's when he plucked up his thin amount of courage and declared, "I want to marry your daughter." The words fell out of his mouth like vomit, and when he realized what he had said, the nervous young man added, "Sir."
Mr. Granger sat back in the restaurant's chair, steepled his fingers together, and looked very "dad-like." He asked, "Do you now?"
Feeling much like teeth under a giant magnifying glass, Marcus swallowed thickly before he spoke. Wiping his hands on his pants leg, he admitted, "Yes. I do. Hermione and I have been together for almost four years now. I love her, and I cannot picture my life without her in it. Everything I see in the future includes your daughter; I'm a mess without her. I can't breathe. I can't sleep right. I can't eat much. All I do is worry and pray to anyone who will listen that I will see her again and then worry some more."
He willed his knee to stop shaking and wiped his palms on the jeans once more. "You see, Mr. Granger, Hermione is it for me- my sun, moon, and stars. She's what my world spins around, and there's no one else quite like her. The first time I spoke to her, I mean really talked to her; I knew she would change my life. At first, I thought it would be with charts, study guides, and strict tutoring sessions making my life a mess. But I was wrong. Her brilliance helped me to see that I wasn't an idiot. And the first time I held her hand, I couldn't imagine not holding it. She's my best friend, the one person I tell everything to. That's what I want. I want to marry my best friend. I love her more than anything, even quidditch."
Mr. Granger felt a great many things, but mainly "I knew the two of you had that special kind of love the day Hermione brought you to meet us. It's not every day my daughter brings a young man to our home, especially one that makes her face shine brighter. Jean and I have had the pleasure of watching the two of you grow together even when apart. You have my blessing as her father. I know the two of you are young, but I'm quite sure my Hermione has grown up in many ways this past year. She's always been more mature than her peers and if she wants to marry you, then go for it."
Those words had lifted a weight on Marcus's capable shoulders that he didn't even realize he had been carrying. When they returned to the Granger's house, Jean hugged Marcus. Paul had told her the good news. Mr. and Mrs. Granger asked about an engagement ring. He told them there was one at home in England that he wanted for the occasion, which would be on Hermione's birthday. That's another reason he needed to return home, to get that ring.
So, the minute a portkey was secured through the Australian Ministry, the trio of Slytherins slinked back home. They landed in the living room of Marcus's chateau. No sooner had they put their feet on English soil than an uppity, official-looking owl began pecking the window to be let inside. Montague let the bird in, and it flew directly to Marcus and stared him down. Its beak held a stately, silver embossed envelope addressed with instructions printed on the outside that reads: tap twice.
Taking his wand, the wizard in question did as instructed. The envelope unfurled into a lengthy document, which he examined silently. Then sat down and ran a shaky hand over his face in shock. At that moment, Marcus looked quite like Professor Hagrid in Madam Puddifoot's, entirely out of his element. Montague snatched the letter and started reading out loud.
"To Marcus Flint...
You are receiving this by virtue of Maxwell Flint and his honorable lawyer, JW Daggot Esquire. This letter has been authorized to come to you in light of two things. First, your father was given the dementor's kiss in Azkaban for his participation in the war. Two, the heir apparent, Marshall Flint, has perished as well. Upon those conditions, you are now the heir to the Flint family. Lord Maxwell set these guidelines long after you were born in case of an ultimate untimely demise for either himself or the firstborn son. Numerous documents must be promptly signed with the Flint estate, vaults, and business bequeathed and transferred to you. Arrangements will be made for an official visit posthaste. Expect a second owl later today.
Sincerely,
The Honorable JW Daggot Esquire"
The only thing heard in the room was Cass's "Whoa!" Graham handed the letter back to Marcus and took a seat beside him on the sofa. Staring off into space, the muscular, dark-haired Slytherin acknowledged the situation. "So, my old man was given the kiss, and my brother died. No doubt he fought for Voldemort. Marshall always wanted to follow in dad's footsteps, unlike me. Now I'm the heir to everything. I wasn't raised to be the heir, nor have I ever thought of being so. It's insane! Also ironic, considering Maxwell put me down my whole life and called me stupid and unworthy. Now, I'm the head of the Flint estates."
Graham chuckled and mentioned, "Yeah. It's like a big middle finger to your family."
That made both Marcus and Cassius laugh. Warrington suggested, "But now you have the opportunity to do some good in the wizarding community. You can change things, especially since you have a family seat on the Wizengamot."
Marcus paused and gave thought to that. He hadn't considered it in all of this news that's been dumped on him. The fact he now controls the family seat was fortuitous. The Wizengamot brought a smile to his face. Those old crones won't know what's coming because, to tell the truth, he could care less about politics. But Hermione... Now, she would be perfect for filling it. That made him jump up from the sofa.
Turning to his friends, he stated, "Guys, I have to go. I need to get to my Gram's and find Hermione. I'll floo you both later."
With those words, the new Flint heir raced out of the space and into the floo room. From there, he flooed to his grandmother's. The minute he stepped into his Gram's floo salon, Pippy popped in and hugged his leg. She told him, "Master Marcus, yous being missed. Come! Pippy takes you to the Grand CC. Yous being needed."
Pippy took his calloused hand and apparated them to Rose House. Marcus caught his breath with his hands on his knees when she let go. His eyes beheld the home his grandmother and aunts were raised in. He's never been here but has always heard about it. There's beauty in the world, in magic, and the wizard knows it's here also. He sees it and feels it all around the room and estate.
In step, with Pippy following her, Marcus admired the loveliness of the house. Out in the garden, he clapped a hand over his mouth. For there was the most beautiful sight that he hadn't seen in a long time- too long. Without thinking, the chaser took off running, leaving Pippy behind. A few rose bushes may have been trampled in the process. When he reached the wrought iron bench, he dropped to his knees and grabbed Hermione's hand. With tears in his dark eyes, his head bent over it and kissed it.
Then that same delicate, feminine hand began carding through his hair. Unable to see clearly because of the tears, a full sob began enveloping his body. Arms embraced him as he inhaled the familiar tropical scent of hibiscus and paradise- because she's his paradise. His arms flew around her, pulling her to him, and the witch found her way into his lap. Their tears mingled, both weeping and taking comfort in each other. Cecilia got up and left them alone in the garden because they sought solace in each other. You see, love didn't just survive the war. It won and was alive in the rose garden.