Chapter 14

Epilogue

It had been the biggest party Hogwarts had had in a long time. Fireworks in the Slytherin dorm forgotten for the moment, the entire school, except for a few, rejoiced in Ron and Natalie's return. Dumbledore had even canceled classes the next day so people could stay up and have fun. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had shown up to welcome their son back.

Ron knew he had a week's worth of classes to make up for, but everyone was offering to help. He already knew who he wanted as his Potion's tutor. Natalie had, it turned out, been actually decent with potions and after observing the class for so long knew all the tricks. She was to be reinstated in Hufflepuff dorms that day. Dumbledore had kept all her personal possessions in storage, "just in case" so she would have her wand, robes and everything else needed for class.

Amongst all the good cheer though, Ron noticed Natalie had disappeared. Quickly excusing himself from his friends, he went in search of her. He prayed she hadn't returned to Nothing. She wouldn't, he told himself as he jogged down a corridor and up a set of stairs. It was then he heard her voice.

"Can we hear the voice of those that cry?
With an open heart
Can we see through this haze that blinds us?
Love will guide the way
Can we catch the tears of a broken world?
Falling down upon the Earth,
Falling down."

It was the same song she'd sung at the ravine, but it no longer held the sadness it had. Following the sound, he found her sitting on a window ledge gazing out at the night sky.

"Natalie?" He asked coming up to her. She turned around. "Why aren't you at the party?"

"I needed a little quiet time. I'm not used to having so many people around talking to me." She paused and looked down at the floor. "I remembered where I learned that song. It was part of a lullaby my mother sang."

"They died in that ravine we visited, didn't they?" He prodded gently hoping that it wouldn't upset her.

"Yes. Father was a wizard, but Mother was a Muggle. She had some magic blood in her, but she never developed any talent. She was adventurous and liked to rock climb. That's how they met, rock climbing." She laughed weakly. "We used to go a different place every summer when I was old enough to climb. It was the summer between my fourth and fifth year. A rockslide brought on by a sudden storm. Father Apparated me to safety, but he was knocked unconscious before he could do the same for my mother. At least that's what I can figure out. Their bodies were found eight miles down stream. They'd fallen into the river and had been swept away.

"I had no living relatives, so I was put in an orphanage. Luckily my parents had saved enough money so I could finish school, but I didn't. They term it 'survivor's guilt' now, but at the time it didn't have a name. That's how I became Nothing. I felt I should have died along with my parents. I didn't deserve to live. My depression and self-pity eventually lead to my belief that I was nothing."

"And that's what you became." Ron finished. Natalie nodded. "But you're not that any more. You're Something. Something that's smart, daring and can throw a really mean punch."

Chuckling Natalie stood up. "We really should go back to the party; after all it's in our honor." Ron said. "It doesn't look right to disappear on everyone like that. They might assume the worst."

"Thanks Ron." She said leaning over. He wasn't sure what she was doing until her lips touched his. It was a light kiss, just enough to send his heart racing. As she pulled away they could hear footsteps in the distance.

"What if they've become Nothing again?" Ginny's panicked voice echoed down the hall.

"I don't think they have." Harry said, clearly trying to soothe her frazzled nerves.

"Looks like they've sent a search party." Natalie teased, her eyes sparkling.

"Then we better go." Ron said grabbing her hand and hauling her along. Life was about to change for the better he thought as they ran back to the festivities.

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Author's Notes: Natalie's song was inspired from the song "Star of Tears" from the Xenogears soundtrack.