"Is it really over?"
They sauntered along towards the school half asleep until they reached the middle of the hall. They met with Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall and Professor Snape who were waiting somewhat eagerly and hopeful. The moment the teachers saw the tall redhead they put themselves at ease. It was done then, it was all over. They moved closer to the group as Ron was suddenly assaulted from behind! To his very surprise, Fred and George had appeared out of nowhere and looked thrilled to see their brother safe and well. "Mum made us come!" "She was convinced that the clock at home was working again and that you were here!" "We came to be sure!" Snape moved closer to the other three and scanned over them analytically. He then looked at Draco and took a deep breath.
"Mr. Malfoy," sounded of Snape's deep voice. "I'd like to know if I could have a word with you but first I must know if you have your wand,"
"My wand?"
"Yes,"
"Of course I do. It's in my – AH! What? Where –"
"I think I have the answer to that then. Please come with me," he said as he led Draco deeper into the hall where a tall black silhouette awaited them.
The rest of the teenagers looked intrigued but Professor Dumbledore, who was looking at the cloak that was still wrapped around Ron, stole their attention. Ron, realizing why he was being targeted removed it and gave it to Harry. Hermione, following Ron's example, removed the orb from her pocket and handed it back as well. Harry took all the treasures and returned them to professor McGonagall. The moment he lifted his head however, the transfiguration teacher gave a gasp.
"Oh my! Albus! Albus come here!" she hurried as the old wizard moved next to her.
"So it is as expected. This is proof that he is finally gone," said Dumbledore.
"What is it?" asked Harry confused.
"I suppose that it's better that you find out for yourself Mr. Potter. Well, we'll now be going. We have to prepare to receive a student that has been away for a while,"
"A student?" they all said in unison.
"Yes, Dennis Creevly I believe," responded Dumbledore.
The three smiled happily. Dumbledore must have found Dennis while they were on their adventure! Harry, Ginny and Hermione were all a twitter but Ron was not. He looked at his excited friends and lifted an eyebrow.
"Dennis wasn't here? I guess that's why it was so quiet in the common room,"
"Well, yes Ron. Didn't you know? Didn't Wormtail reveal his whole plan to you? You knew about Lucius," asked Ginny.
"Yes but this plan had nothing to do with DENNIS Creevly! It was that other little weasel that –" said Ron, his cheeks turning a deep red.
"Ron, Dennis was kidnapped! That's why –" began Hermione until Professor Mc Gonagall cut her off.
"Kidnapped? Heavens no! He is returning from an exchange trip early. Colin has taken his place and is going to continue to study there. His grades were up to par so I said he could leave,"
"WHAT?" they all shouted at once.
The professor gave them an odd look and decided best to leave. She stared at Professor Dumbledore as they both walked away. As they went, Draco returned running, followed by Professor Snape and to their surprise, by Sirius Black. Draco looked very distressed but stopped for a moment to catch his breath before getting to close to the others. He stared at the ground and Hermione noticed his eyes were shifting as if they were searching for something.
"Draco, what's the matter?" asked Hermione.
"My – my father escaped," he murmured.
"WHAT?" came everyone's voice for a second time.
"Yes, he used magic to escape so we only supposed that he had stolen Draco's wand when he went to visit him. It was the only explanation we could come up with and we were right," concluded Sirius.
"I know just when he could have done it too. He approached me at the very beginning of my visit and I was under so much shock I probably didn't notice his hand slip into my pocket. The coward! He was planning this from the beginning," said Draco his fist tightening.
"We'll be looking for him Draco. Don't worry about that. If you leave everything to the Wizard Capture Unit we'll find your father," said Sirius but Draco's stared did not falter away from the floor. "I'm sorry things turned out this way," he said finally resting a hand on Draco's shoulder before walking close to Harry.
Harry looked up at him and Sirius paused and smiled hugely. Harry blinked a few times. This stare was not a normal one. He was happy about something, very happy. He soon gestured to Snape to come with him so they could discuss Lucius' case more and the two dark men walked away. Harry scratched his head, first McGonagall and Dumbledore, then Sirius?
"I can't stand by and let this happen. I'm going to look for my father as well!" declared Draco finally.
"What? But what about your studies?" asked Hermione quickly.
"Hermione!" everyone sighed.
"I'll finish them next year. I hope you don't mind having me graduate with you Ginny?" said Draco with a strangely warm grin.
"No! It will be nice to have someone stay," she smiled.
"We'll go with you and –"
"No P – Harry. You've done enough for my cause and I thank you for that. Besides, this is something between my father and me. Once he finds out he has no master he wont know what to do… so I'll be there waiting for him. He is still my father," he grinned.
"Great, first Colin now Lucius…" said Hermione.
"Colin?"
No one made a sound and Ron looked to everyone. He knew what they were thinking. He knew that somewhere in between his leave and his return they had probably felt sympathy for him because they thought he had lost someone precious to him. But Colin lied and left, just when the dark side had lost. That was too much coincidence to be overlooked. They had all seemed to have come to an agreement without words as Draco continued to search the expressions. Draco had enough on his mind now for him to even begin to think about Colin.
"Oh it's nothing," said Hermione.
"Well… I better get going then. Who knows how far he's gotten by now,"
"Draco –" began Ginny.
"Don't worry about me. And I promise I won't let anymore evil people come near you next year Ginny I owe you that,"
"No more evil people... except you of course," said Ron lifting an eyebrow.
"Still don't trust me do you Weasley?"
"It's not that! It's just, how you are is how I'll always remember you," he smiled.
"So I guess I'll remember you as the hot-headed idiot who can never keep his mouth shut, his face out of other people's business and who says useless and stupid things in the most unnecessary moments," smiled Draco.
"Yep he's got Ron down right," said Fred.
"WHAT? Why YOU –" began Ron as he rolled up his sleeves to pummel Draco.
"RON! Good luck Draco. I'll handle him from now on," said Hermione restraining Ron as Draco laughed.
Ron began to laugh as well. Before the silvered-hair boy turned to leave he looked at Harry. His eyes doubled in size on seeing that the fringe on Harry's face was completely parted away. "So, that's it then," he said to himself as he walked away. Harry was upset now. Was there something freakishly wrong with him? Did he look like a Dementor or something?
"So what's the story with Colin?" asked George.
"He was one of them! He was working with Wormtail and Lucius to lure Harry to – to Azkaban. He really did hate him that much," said Ron who must have heard it all from Wormtail.
"Wait! You all went to Azkaban? Wormtail was loose?" said George.
"The means Dumbledore couldn't protect you against the Dementor! Did it come after you?" asked George curiously.
"Well –" began Ron.
"We destroyed it! It's dead! And so is Wormtail… and every other person in that prison," said Hermione.
"We should tell dad to shut down that place,"
"And to keep a look out for Colin too,"
"Terrible thing to live through, especially since we have such good news! Say, he forgot to say it, didn't he Fred?"
"Yes he did. Has loads of things on his mind, Sirius Black does. Ron, you've been cleared!"
"What?"
"There was a ministry member that went clean! He said that Lucius came to him after he escaped. He asked Lucius if you were really involved and he told him you were just a pawn the entire time! So you're a free man again,"
"Of course, the ministry member resigned but I suppose it's best for him. Won't get into any compromising situations again or be able to win employee of the month. We better get move on Fred, mum will want to know everything but I know she'll be happy that you're here now Ron,"
The twins waved goodbye and began to leave but not before looking long and hard at Harry. "So that's what he meant!" and they both disappeared from view.
"Okay! That's it! Everybody, tell me if I look strange!"
"You look strange," repeated Ron.
"Stop that Ron! I'm serious! Everyone's giving me an odd face!"
"Well, the only freakishly wrong thing about you, a side from that fact that you're seventeen and still WAY too short is – Oh my gosh! It's gone!"
"Gone?" said Hermione.
"Hermione! The great ugly gash on his head!"
"Hey! You always liked my – what? It's gone?" said Harry.
"He's right! Your scar has vanished!" said Ginny parting Harry's hair completely away.
Harry's forehead was as smooth as his friends. Ginny passed her hand over it a few times to be sure it was real. It was almost awkward seeing Harry without his scar and the others began to wonder what had happened.
"Well, what do you know? How did we not notice? I guess your hair covered it up," said Ron.
"But how is it that it's gone? Harry did something happen to you when we were in Azkaban?" asked Ginny.
"You mean a side from the fact that I was glowing yellow from Hermione's charm?"
"My charm? Oh! Of course! The spell I used! "Luminos Ara"!"
"Come again?" said Ron.
"It' means "Light Shield!" of course! Ron, you really have to catch up on school!"
"Oh brother," sighed Ron.
"It protected Harry's body because it protects things that are pure," she continued giving Ron a 'you-need–to-study-for-your-N.E.W.T.s' look.
"Wait Hermione! There was a green mist that left me and went into the snake pendant!"
"You-know-" began Ron but then took a deep breath and said. "Vol-der-mort?"
Harry smiled.
"Yes! Any part of him that was in you has completely vanished! Ron probably sucked it out of you when you were struggling! And that scar must have been an imprint! A physical indication of Voldermort's presence!" analyzed Hermione.
"And I destroyed the pendant. So that's it then! It's all finally over," said Harry rubbing his flat forehead.
Ginny seized Harry closely and they decided it was time to head to the common room for some sleep. Hermione held Ron's hand tightly as they saw Harry and Ginny move a head of them. Ron stopped and saw the two, move out of focus. He stared into Hermione's brown eyes and passed a loving hand on her cheek. He then took her little body and laced his arms around her. She blushed. This was so nice. He was so warm and they were finally together again. No danger lurking in the shadows, no fear growing, nothing but themselves safely wading in happiness. They were lost again. The world had disappeared. She felt protected by Ron but knew now, that she could protect him too. They had passed so many tests and gone through so many trials just to live in this moment. Just to be close to the people they loved. She closed her eyes. Ron's mind and heart were now at ease. Draco will find his father, Colin will be found there was no need to worry anymore.
"I'm with her again, I'm with her. I'm holding her just like I did at the beginning. She's not pushing away; she's not leaving my grasp. She likes this just the same way I do. Life is complicated. We think we do good things but sometimes they're not. We think we're helping but we make things worse. We do this for a lover, for the love of a friend, for family… it's unavoidable because it's all-powerful: it's pure. Even when the situations are mixed, even when consequences are hard… we do things, we live, we breathe all for love,"
The End
Author's note: That's it! It's over! I must warn you all that I have NO IDEA how to write an epilogue so this is my account of events put as it came to me. See ya and don't forget to see my other stories if you ever want them!
Epilogue:
And so the trio goes forth to finishing school. As Ron does his best to catch up as his relationship with Hermione grows. Her determination to help him study only makes him more grateful to have her by his side. Hermione does her best to fuel Ron's mind with information and he succeeds in barely passing Snape's N.E.W.Ts. She finally uncovers Ron's hidden potential as he, surprisingly, excels in his Charms N.E.W.Ts. Hermione, as always expected, graduated with honors and Harry and Ron had managed to win the Quidditch cup for the fourth year running. A scout had gone to the finals and had offered Ron his dream job: to be a Keeper for the Chudly Cannons. To this Ron accepts and Hermione surprisingly decided to take time to travel with Ron. Harry declines (not just because he doesn't really fancy the team) and takes an offer from Mr.Weasley to work at the Ministry as his personal assistant. Harry and Ginny also rekindle their relationship during those final days of term. He secretly offers her an engagement ring that they keep to themselves until the young girl finishes school.
Draco's trials and travel lead him to finally finding his father after following a long line of leads by old liaisons of the Malfoys. By then, Lucius was too devastated by the loss of his master and the loss of dark followers that he refused to return with Draco. Lucius had felt the fall of his prestige as he realizes that he had nowhere to go anymore. Draco never mentions that he had a hand in the destruction of the plan and offers to harbor him, once again but calls on the hit wizards one month after "containing" him. Draco returns to school and graduates with Ginny. (He has become very good friends with her) Sirius by then had isolated Creevly and sentenced him to a Juvenal Wizard Detention Ward where he continued his studies and finally learned how to control his obsessions.
(He was still a minor then. Ron's the oldest of the whole group turning 18 on March 1st in this story. He was only weeks away from turning so that's why he was sent to Azkaban.)
Other Characters:
Neville Longbottom: Studies by Professor Neidlemore and soon they began experimenting in a new and exotic plant that might have powerful properties that enhance nimbleness. (Good for Neville huh?)
Padma and Parvati Patil: Both graduate and marry two rich heirs. (duh)
Dean Thomas: Joins a football team. (lol.. sorry I just can't think up anything good for this kid!)
Seamus Finnegan: Meets and Joins the wizarding band: Weird Sisters. (lol. Another awful one!)
Dennis Creevly: Goes on with school and graduates as Head Boy. He soon opens a magical photography development store in honor of his brother, or mostly in mocking. "Creepy Creevly Developments"
Justin Finch-Fletchly: Goes on to work for the Daily Prophet where he gets to blab as much as he likes.