Albus, granted he knew this was going to happen, still coudn't believe that his most trusted friends were gone. Both Hermione and Harry, so young and vibrant. And Severus, his ever vibrant friend, would never walk the halls of Hogwarts again. It saddend him more than he could bare. It was worse now that he had to tell his students and staff that they had all lost three of the worlds most powerful wizards.
Ron awoke the morning after the ball to find that Harry's bed was still empty. He had gone out looking for Hermione and him the night before, but to no avail. He prayed that no harm had come to either of his friends. He found Ginny sitting in the common room looking beside herself. Her face looked much older than it should for a girl of only sixteen. Her light green eyes were now red.
'Has she been crying?' Ron thought to himself. 'I'll kill whom ever made her cry.'
Ginny noticed her older brother enter the common room and ran to him. It was late in the morning and she knew that he had overslept. He hadn't heared Dumbledore's announcement this morning. He didn't know. She threw herself into his arms and once more cried.
Ron looked down at his sister. "Gin, what's wrong?"
"Oh, Ron." she cried. "There...there..."
"Dead." said a somber voice from the potrait opening. Minerva stood, for the first time Ron had known her, as an old woman. "They were found this morning in the hospital wing. Professor Dumbledore found them in his search for a potion."
"Wh...who?" stuttered a fourth year, who was just leaving the girls stairwell.
"Professor Snape, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."
Ron stood, holding Ginny as they three names left his head of house lips. 'That can't be true.' his mind dedused.
"Mr. Weasley, would you please come with me." asked Minerva, quietly. Ginny let go of Ron and fell to the floor, still crying. Ron followed Minerva out of the Gryffindor common room, down the hallway and to the hospital wing.
He cleared his throat. "Where...where are we going?"
She continued to look forword as she answered him. "Albus wishes to speak to you alone. At the moment he is with them."
They walked the leagth of the hospital wing and finally approched a door. Ron had never seen this part of the hospital wing, but he had heard of it before. He had hoped to never have seen this door before. Minerva opened the door and gently pushed Ron inside.
The room was dark, except for a single light the hung over a few tables. One of which Albus was standing beside. The floor absobed any sound Ron's shoes made and the air in the room was extreamly thick. Slowly Ron made his way towards Albus, holding his breath.
"I had hoped it wouldn't have come to this." Albus whispered. "It is quite a sad day for us all."
"Please, Sir, tell me it isn't true. What McGonagall told me." he begged. "Tell me their not..." Ron stood a few feet from the table Albus was standing at and could see the gold trim on the gown Hermione had worn the night before. He could see the ankelt he had given her for her birthday just last year. It was gold with a small charm shaped rose. "No..."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley. I couldn't....save them."
The school morned the lose of two professors and student. There was a funeral held for their fallen friends a few days later. Albus stood beside Ron and the rest of the Weasleys as both Hermione and Harry's coffins were layed within the ground. Severus was buried beside Hermione and the two shared a tomb stone. Granted they had not been together for long, what they had would last a life time.
Years past, people grew up, started lives of their own and slowly the loss of Hermione, Severus and Harry had become but an old memory. Albus died ten years after the trial on the tower. Minerva not long after. Hogwarts found itself without a headmaster for three years before Ronald Weasley took the positions.
He watched students come and go within the halls of Hogwarts and soon, he knew, too he would leave the school forever. He governorn over Hogwarts for almost seventy years before, he too, died. He did not regret any part of his life but he wished he had spent more time with his friends.
One hundred, Sixty-seven years later....
"Welcome!" said an older witch at the staff table. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to words....I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well... I have aslo been asked by our caretaker, Miss Dutch, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors...Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Professor Raven....Now with that being said...TUCK IN!!" The witch sat down and watched as her plate filled.
"Was that really necessary, Helga?" whispered the witch sitting beside her.
"Of course Mya. It is tradition for me to make the same speech at the start of term feast." smiled Helga.
Mya looked out at the students she would be teaching. "Slytherin has more this year then it has in a long time. Their going to be a handful."
"Your only saying that because you had to put up with Stan for another year." Mya rolled her eyes. She looked down at a brown haired boy wearing they Slytherin crest on his robs. She had put up with the boy for six years and this would be the last year she would have to see him. She felt happy and yet sad. That boy had been her best student, but he sure was a know-it-all. "Maybe you should take on a student teacher this year in your advance potions." winked Helga.
"I think not." snapped Mya. "Besides, there isn't a student out there that would meet my standerds."
Helga laughed. "Maybe you should lower them."
"Oy, Stan!" yelled a dark haired girl. "You stairing at Professor Grange again?"
"Can it, Lissa." snapped Stan. He turned his attention back up at the staff table and saw Professor Grange was talking with the headmisstress still. He knew it wasn't right to be looking, or longing for his professors but he just couldn't help himself. Professor Grange had hair the color of ebony and her eyes were the darkest blue. She was the perfect vison of what a woman should look like.
"You know, if you aren't careful someone might think that you have a thing for the Gryffindor..." laughed Lissa. "I want to know how a Gryffindor became head of house of Slytherin."
"Easy. Professor Hitch couldn't take the stress of having to deal with a bunch of morons and she was the only one who saw 'hope' for you blokes." laughed a blonde haired girl walking up to the Slytherin table. She had a Gryffindor crest on her robs. "I honestly hope she knows what she's doing. I would hate to see her end up like your last head of house. I mean come on..."
"I'd watch it if I was you...Longbottom...just because you have family in high places doesn't mean I wont cream you."
"Temper, temper Spike." sneered Longbottom. "You think your so hot because your top in our grade. Well we all know why that is, don't we. Teacher 'pet.'"
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Everyone knows you'll do 'anything' for a teacher." laughed Longbottom.
A red-headed girl stepped in front of him and held her wand aloft. "Back off Longbottom. Your not the only one around here with ties to high people. Stan didn't do a thing to you now get lost."
"Got a girlfriend, ey Spike. Took you long enough. But your little Weasel wont always be around. Stay away from Professor Grange. Got me." with that said Longbottom turned on her heels and walked back to the Gryffindor house table.
"Robin you didn't have to do that." smiled Stan. The red-head just winked at him and retuned to her food.
"So...who do you think is going to make Quidditch captain this year, Lissa?" asked Robin.
"Me, most likely. I mean I am the best keeper this side of Ireland." she laughed. "But then again your a good Seeker."
Stan laughed. "Please, I could whip her butt no problem."
"Who are you kidding, Stan. There was only one person in the world that could have beat me and he died over two hunderd years ago. Professor Gill told me about him. Was the best in the school and in the world."
"Gods, your not going to bring him up again are you?" sighed Stan.
"Please, you and I both know that that Potter guy was the best and there is no denying it." started Robin.
"You only think that because you like how many great grandmothers was friends with him."
"So." said Robin, sticking out her tongue out. "At least I'm not so smart that I was made Head Boy!"
"Um...hello you don't have to be smart to be head boy." corrected Stan. "I mean it's bad enough that that stupid Longbottom made Head Girl, now you have to tell me you have to be smart to gain that position. Come on!"
"You know she got it because she's in it with Riyle. Man I hate that professor. She always plays favorites to the Gryffindors because she's their head of house. And her classes suck!"
Stan laughed. "I don't know about you but I tend to enjoy Transfiguration. Granted Professor Ryley does leave much to be disire. It could be worse." The two girls nodded. "Lissa could you please slow down before you choke on that..."
"Don't be such a worry wort, Stan. I've been eatting since I was a baby. I think I know how to..." she began to cough on the peice of chicken she had just put in her mouth. Robin gave her a hard slap on the back. "Th...thanks..." gashed Lissa. All Stan could do was shake his head.
"It's going to be a long year." he laughed.
OH MY GODDESS! Guys I'm sooooo sorry I've had this typed up for a while now and I honestly thought I posted it. Please forgive me... With this Epilogue I've taken them into the future. Can you guess who's who? I'll post one more time with that answer. Some are obvious but other will surprise you. Again I'm sorry I didn't post. I just got into college and I just really haven't had the time. Love you all...........MEL