Anything that's not blatant is a riddle
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Author's penname: Elixa Amethyst
Voices of the Past Part III
Written May 2002 onwards, pre Order of the Phoenix.
All characters and things you recognise, are © JKRowling, no infringement intended.

All references to "mediwizard" mean healer.
Please read parts I and II first.

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Epilogue of the Voices

The end of term was gone like a flash, the days seeming unreal, and the feeling that this was the end of Hogwarts for the seventh year never seemed to set in properly. Once again, I stayed on after term to clear some things up, get some advice and gather my memories. The day after the end of term, Severus took me up to the place we'd scattered Alastor Moody's ashes not so long ago, up on the mountain, overlooking the lake and Hogwarts. The sun was shining and the rocks reflected the heat of the sunlight back on us as we walked. Finally we settled down on the stones at the top to admire the view. I looked down at the lake slowly lapping at the banks, reflecting the sunlight in the waves forming on the surface. I watched for the giant squid for a few minutes, but it seemed it was lying dormant for the morning. I looked to my right where Severus was sat, he was gazing out over the tops of the towers of the school, out to the surrounding mountains, and perhaps onwards to the Muggle world. He looked peaceful, which pleased me. His face normally showed the stress of school, Voldermort and in recent times- me. I couldn't believe my behaviour some times, I had made a solemn promise in my heart to think more carefully in future.
"I'm going to take the offer from the Ministry up." I said, sounding slightly unsure. Severus turned his head to look at me slightly, his black eyes appearing to read my mind once more.
"Are you sure?" He asked, picking up on my wavering tone.
"Well I haven't had a reply from St Mungos yet, and I don't see any other job throwing itself my way." I said with a sad smile.
"Who knows, you're probably right going for the Ministry." He turned away, looking back over at Hogwarts. I narrowed my eyes.
"Tell all…" I said in a lowered voice.
"Let's just say Dumbledore isn't exactly having very many applications for a Dark Arts teacher next year."
"Not very many being how many…?"
"None." I was surprised, my uncle's tone was flat, disappointment, with a hint of 'I told you so' in it too.
"What about Slatero? Doesn't he want his old job back?" Severus looked at me in a disapproving way.
"Think Elixa, how on earth is he going to do any sort of practical if he's a ghost?" I realised how stupid I was not to remember, and felt a blush on my cheeks, probably not noticeable in the heat.
"What about you then?" I asked. Severus let out a sigh. "I suppose you're a bit irreplaceable…" I answered my own question.
"We'll just have to see won't we?" He said, a slight smile at the edges of his mouth.
"We will." I said, smiling too. Above us were three invisible spirits come to watch over us for one of the last times at that spot. Cassius Amethyst was contemplating how his brother in law could be so civil after so many years, whereas Adia was wishing she could be there with us, alive. Alastor looked over Hogwarts for the last time, memories of how he'd fallen fighting the work of Voldermort were still fresh, but he knew he hadn't died in vain. He'd be back no question, to watch over Harry in his final year, but for now the three spirits were at rest, watchful over the Hogwarts grounds, waiting for the day Voldermort would finally fall.