The Cure – Chapter Seven: Epilogue 11.16.04

By: Aelfswythe

Harry and Ron kept their promise and Hermione was true to hers. They all graduated, Hermione with top honors. Her face glowed as she accepted her diploma and award.

Harry grinned with an equal amount of pride at his long-time friend, who was being honored as one of the most outstanding witches of her time. Her honors stood as being the first person in history to find a cure for werewolf bite, and also the youngest witch ever (and a student at Hogwarts to boot) to have discovered a cure. Word had gotten out of her discovery, and while Dumbledore had tried to keep it quiet, mainly to keep order at the school, somehow it had leaked out amongst some of the wizarding community. It was all they could do to keep people from coming to the school's gates, begging Hermione to find a cure for their incurable ailments.

Harry caught her glance, and she looked down at him, eyes glittering with tears.

"Thank you," Hermione mouthed to him and he grinned happily at her, hardly putting up a fight to the tears gathering in the corners of his own eyes. But when her gaze turned to a beaming and perfectly healthy Professor Lupin, Harry's heart sank.

Just the night before Hermione had told him that she and Lupin were planning on eloping and spending the next few years finding werewolf victims and administering her cure. She had said it was her mission in life, at least part of it, and she had to follow where her heart led. Harry hadn't protested, but his own heart had felt like it had been torn to pieces.

Ever since the night where he had seen Hermione and Lupin together, the friendship with his father's old friend had never been the same. He could hardly look at or speak to the man, let alone stand being in the same room with him. Somehow, Harry had made it through the last term and passed with an A. He suspected that was partly because Lupin felt sorry for him.

The ceremonies ended and seeing his friend looking so glum, Ron came over, dressed in his sharp, red and gold Gryffindor robes and slung his arm around Harry's shoulders.

"Come on, mate. I've finally escaped from my mum. The whole class is heading down to Hogsmeade for the end-of-the-term graduation party. We better change and get down there if we want to get some good seats at the tavern. It's going to be packed!" Harry shrugged and followed Ron upstairs.

As they changed Harry looked around their room. His heart was aching, he was so sad at having to leave it all behind. He'd miss his curtained bed and the sound of Neville's gentle snoring. He'd miss having Hedwig peck at the outside window late at night to bring him a mouse. Not that he'd be getting rid of Hedwig, of course, but it wasn't going to be the same. There would be no more late night outings in his invisibility cloak with Ron and Hermione. No more snacks from the house elves, no great hall, no Dumbledore, or even Hagrid. Harry sank onto his bed, not wanting to ever move again.

He thought of the things that lay before him. A small ray of sunshine pricked his sorrow. He'd finally be able to move out of his Aunt and Uncle Dursley's! What a relief! Dumbledore had helped him arrange to move into his late godfather Sirius's house in London. Dumbledore had said they'd finally gotten it all cleaned out and livable. He could throw as many loud, late-night parties as he wanted. That was going to be pretty smashing. Dobby had even offered to come and be his personal house-elf. That, however, was one matter he'd have to think over a bit longer.

In another month or two he was going to apply to the Ministry of Magic to be an Auror. He was even going to try and see if he could tutor underneath Tonks as well. He'd sent her a note concerning this very thing just yesterday. It seemed that his life was all set and ready for him to move on. Only… he didn't want to.

"Harry!" Ron called to him from the doorway. "Come on, Harry. Let's go." Harry rose from his bed like a creaky, old man and followed. He didn't feel much like a party, but if it meant getting away from his depressing thoughts, he supposed it had to be a good thing.

They arrived at the ­­­­­tavern to find a small crowd already gathered. Seamus had saved a table for them and he beckoned Harry and Ron over.

"Come on! We've already ordered drinks. Dumbledore said he's paying!"

"All right!" Ron cheered, grabbed a mug, and downed the butterbeer in three steady gulps.

Those at the table laughed. "Go on, Ron!" they shouted and he grabbed another mug and chugged that one down too. He slammed the mug down and wiped his mouth, drawing some more laughter. Harry couldn't help but give in to the smile tugging at his lips.

Of course, Ron couldn't go unchallenged. Harry stood up and grabbed a mug, gulped it, grabbed another, gulped that, and finally poured one last one down his throat, all to the chanting and cheering from the growing crowd of graduated students. He slammed the last mug down with a grin of triumph, butterbeer dripping off his chin. Everyone laughed and Ron pounded him on the back.

"Good show, mate!" Ron yelled over the noise and handed Harry a napkin.

Just then a hired band started up in the corner and people started dancing. Harry stayed at the table and watched, chuckling as Ron grabbed Ginny from Neville and started dancing with her.

The tap on his shoulder was so light he almost didn't feel it. Harry turned around in his seat to see Hermione standing there, a shy smile on her face and her cloak wrapped around her shoulders.

"I saved you a seat!" Harry said, offering her a chair.

She shook her head. "No, thanks. I came to say good-bye."

"You're not staying?" Harry's heart did a flip-flop. She couldn't do this to him!

"No, I'm afraid not. We'd like to start out early. We plan on getting married in Edinburgh and need to take the two o'clock train."

His look must have been so anguished and heart-wrenching, because Hermione cried out, "Oh, Harry, don't look at me like that! It's not like we'll never see each other again!"

"How can I be sure of that?" he protested.

Ron came up just then, breathless and grinning. "Hey, Hermione! How about a dance?"

She smiled. "No, thanks. I was leaving actually. I've come to say good-bye."

"Oh!" Ron looked a little surprised, but took it in stride. "Well, we'll see you around, eh, Hermy?" He laughed loudly and swept her up in a bear hug. After setting her down and planting a hearty kiss on her cheek, he turned with a wave and went back to dancing.

Harry could hardly believe him. That was it? 'Okay, we'll see you around' and then back to normal?

Hermione pulled Harry into a quieter corner. "What is it going to take for me to leave you with some kind of peace in your heart, Harry?"

"Don't go?" He knew it was impossible, but said it anyway.

She sighed. "I know you don't like it, but Remus and I love each other."

"But he's so old!" Harry interjected.

Hermione laughed a little. "You know, age doesn't really matter to us. We understand each other. Not only that, but he appreciates my intellect." She said this last bit with a little of the old Hermione stuck-up flair. It gave Harry a small ounce of hope.

"So, you'll come see me at Sirius' house? That's where I'm staying you know."

"Of course!"

"I'm throwing a house-warming party in a few months. You'll be there?"

"I wouldn't miss it."

After a moment's pause he asked, "What are you going to tell your parents about Lupin?"

Hermione's face went blank for a second. "Oh my gosh!"

"What?"

"I forgot all about them! They don't even know!" her voice rose, the shock on her face at forgetting clearly evident.

At this Harry burst out laughing and couldn't stop. He threw his arms around in her in a huge hug. "Don't forget me, Hermione. Although, I can't say the same for your parents."

Her face was red. "Oh, shut up!"

He laughed again and kissed her cheek. "Promise to keep in touch?"

"You couldn't keep me from sending you letters. I promise." Her gaze was caught by someone at the door. "Listen, Harry, I have to go now. You're my best friend in the whole wide world. Don't ever forget that."

"I won't," he said following her gaze. Lupin beckoned to her from just outside. He did his best to avoid Harry's eyes.

"Good-bye, Harry!" Hermione gave him one last hug and was gone.

Harry watched her go, a little bit of him going with her. Life wasn't going to be the same, it was true. He knew he had to accept it. But it didn't mean life had to be any worse. Half of him almost wished that he had been the one bitten by the werewolf. He stared at the doorway in a kind of trance, the people coming and going blurring in his vision.

But after a minute, he shook himself, and leaving the feeling behind, went to join his friends busting some moves on the dance floor.

Well, folks that's it! Let me know what you thought with a fresh, fat, spanking new review! Thanks! -Aelfswythe

Namari! (that's Elvish for Farewell!) ;-)