A/N: A final thanks to everyone who has read, and especially to the reviewers. As I noted in the first chapter (with the table of contents) there is one more chapter after this one, even though this is the end of the story. I got the idea from watching too many special features on DVD. I hope you like them. Thank You, again - HiBob

Chapter Twelve: Epilogue

It was the first weekend of the Winter term.

"Third Years," Miss Hardbroom called. "Line Up."

All the brand new third year girls lined up in the courtyard as they were told. All were dressed in their school robes with pointed black hats and black capes.

"Miss Cackle. The students are ready for your inspection."

A small plump woman with gray hair and pointed glasses frowned at the harshness of Miss Hardbroom's voice. "Constance I am right here. You don't have to shout."

"I Wasn't . . ." Miss Hardbroom suddenly stopped her shouting. The giggles from the new third years ended almost as quickly as they began when the Potions teacher glared at them.

"Of course you weren't," Miss Cackle said. "But we still have to wait for two more arrivals."

There was a small flash and Merlin Langspear was there with a short man, as thin as the headmistress was plump.

"There's no need to wait, Miss Cackle. My apprentice and I are here. And we're both eager for the trip. Imagine. A school of magic in an entirely different world. And how do we get there?" Algernon Rowen-Webb turned and deliberately smiled at Mildred, who was holding her cat, Tabby.

Mildred returned the smile. "Shall I set the portal, Miss Cackle?"

"I'd better do it," Miss Hardbroom said as she pointed to the entrance gate. The wooden gate shimmered and a set of wooden doors appeared. She waved her hand and the doors opened, revealing the entrance hall of Hogwarts School of Magic. "All together girls, walk in a straight line. Remember, you represent the finest of Miss Cackle's Academy for Young Witches. I want all of you to behave for the entire weekend. Mildred, will you PLEASE do up your shoelaces."

"Yes, Miss Hardbroom."

Granny Weatherwax walked into the tavern and went directly to where a grandmotherly old lady was singing a boisterous song while drinking a pint of ale.

"Gwytha, it's time to go, if you don't mind."

Nanny Ogg downed her pint and dropped the mug on the table. "All ready then? Best be going. I have our Tom mindin' the house while we're gone. He'll be lookin' in at your cottage just ta make sure, if we're back late."

Granny opened the door and walked outside to where Tiffany Aching was waiting. Tiffany looked up in apprehension at Nanny Ogg, then at Granny Weatherwax.

"Um, Granny. They came. And there is a problem."

Granny looked over to the bushes. "No one will see us, so come out and show yerselves."

Two dozen pictsies appeared. One of them was female. Granny nodded to herself.

"Yer a new clan, an' yer lookin' for a place to settle."

The kelda looked up at Granny. "Daft Wullie claims he's a friend of a bigjob hag in another world. He suggested we ask her if she has a place."

Granny noted that Daft Wullie was looking cleaner than the last time she saw him. "And you chose him as yer big man?"

The kelda smiled. "He may be daft, but he has the luck. A new clan needs luck more than anything else."

Tiffany Aching noticed Rob Anybody standing near the back of the small crowd. "Rob, why are you with them."

"Ach, I were told to." He whispered needlessly. "She don't want them to settle too close, but she wants to know where they go."

"Everyone. Get close," Granny called out, and the pictsies gathered around the feet of the three women.

"I'll cast the spell," Nanny Ogg said cheerfully.

Granny shook her head. "Best I do it, Gwytha, what with all you've had to drink."

"I'll do the short version," Nanny said. "WE'RE THERE."

"It's dark," Granny said irritably.

"And small, Nanny Ogg added needlessly.

"I think this is a broom closet," Tiffany guessed, and correctly it should be told.

"An' here's the door," Rob Anybody noted. "C'mon lads. We'll give it a push."

Albus Dumbledore greeted Miss Cackle warmly, welcoming her to Hogwarts school. The tables had been extended so that there would be plenty of room for the guests. And she and Miss Hardbroom would be sitting at the teacher's table.

"Have the other guests arrived?" Miss Cackle asked. "I heard a great deal about them."

"They should be here any time now," Albus told her.

Noise was heard from the broom closet just off the Great Hall.

"Ah, I do believe they have arrived," he said with amusement.

The closet door flew off its hinges, going over the heads of everyone in the entrance hall, landing on the outside lawn after smashing through one of the high windows.

"And they even brought the pictsies with them."

Joe 90, the Most Special Agent of the World Intelligence Network, was waiting impatiently for his uncle, Sam Loover. His father was smiling with humor as his son fidgeted in the chair.

"Joe, he won't get here any earlier, even if you jump up and down. Remember, he already knows about magic. You've shown us the proof."

"But Dad, I can't help it. It's not about the magic but . . . They're my friends, and . . ."

Ian McClaine smiled in understanding. He felt the same way as Joe, about wishing Sam would hurry up and get here. He also wanted to see the school of magic.

"Joe, while we're waiting, why don't you check to see which weekends you have free. Then you can make plans for future visits. You might even consider inviting some of your friends for your next match."

The father breathed in relief as the son ran to his room to mark his calender. Joe had something to do to keep him busy. Ian still tried to read the paper for another twenty minutes when his friend finally arrived.

"Sorry," Sam apologized. "That paperwork never seems to stop. But I'm free for the rest of the weekend."

"And how did the trial go?"

Sam smiled. "With the judge's last ruling, we had a 100 percent conviction rate against Travis Matthews and his associates." Sam looked around. "Is Joe ready?"

"I'll call him. JOE! SAM'S HERE."

"I'LL BE DOWN IN A MINUTE."

Sam looked surprised. "Well I'll be. I thought he'd be impatient to be off. We ARE going to another universe?"

"We are, Sam" Ian said in a dead pan voice. "But we will be visiting a school. It's just not the same when you look at it that way."

"I'M READY," Joe shouted as he jumped down the stairs, wand in hand. "Can we go now, Dad?"

Joe put on his glasses and waved his wand. He chanted a spell he would not remember once he took the glasses off. The world seemed to shimmer around them and they were at the top of a flight of stone steps looking out over one of the lakes in the Scottish highlands. Behind them, a large wooden door opened, and a brown-haired boy, younger than Joe, looked out.

"I felt you arrive, Joe. We're all in the Great Hall. You have to see this to believe it. Hello, Doctor McClaine, Mister Loover."

"Dad, Uncle Sam, this is Odin, the Norse god of wisdom."

"Then why does he look like a boy?" Sam asked. "No one will take him seriously if he looks like that."

"That's the point," said a black-haired boy, who was ten. "No one expects children to be able to do anything. Right, Joe?"

"Dad, this is Loki. You might remember him. He's the one who kidnaped me. He was older then."

Ian McClaine smiled and shook Loki's hand. "You have a strange way of making friends, young man."

Loki grinned. "But my way is more fun." Instead of letting go, he pulled on the doctor's hand. "Come on, you really want to see the Great Hall. It's fabulous."

"Look at her, waving her pigtails about " Ethel Hallow pouted. "Everyone thinks she's such a wonderful person, just because she was lucky a few times."

"You don't think too much of her," a blond boy asked as he was passing by. The witches looked mundane, but this one witch had made an interesting comment and Draco Malfoy wanted to know more.

"Mildred Hubble? She's the worst witch in the school. She barely passes any of her classes, and she has no magical background at all. Not like my family. We've been witches for simply ages."

"Well, it shows in the company she keeps. The witch she's standing next to is that goody-goody mudblood, Hermione Granger."

Ethel smiled. "Mudblood? What a perfect word to describe Mildred. I'm Ethel Hallow."

"Draco Malfoy," the blond boy said. "Ethel, would you like to join us at the Slytherin table? Slytherins always appreciate people with a PROPER lineage."

"And you're a Kelda?" Ron Weasley asked. He and Harry were sitting with Hermione while the kelda and the two dozen pictsies stood on the table.

"I will be," the female pictsie said. "As soon as I can find a place to build my nest. Daft Wullie suggested we ask one of his friends."

"I'm curious," Hermione asked. "Tiffany told me how the clans are set up. But why are you picking Daft Wullie as your Big Man? After all, he is . . ."

"Daft?" The Kelda smiled and glanced over to where her Big Man was playing with Tabby. "He is. But he has a luck about him. He did make friends with a powerful hag. And he had an excellent idea about coming here to ask advice."

"An' he was dropped too many times as a baby," Rob Anybody pointed out.

"I'll be more careful with the children," the Kelda answered. "But, just by looking at his brother, I know he comes from good stock." She smiled as Rob began to blush.

"Do you know where you're going to, um, build your nest?" Harry asked.

The Kelda sighed. "Mildred Hubble asked us to come to her world, but she could not think of a good place to settle. I thought to ask about settling here?"

"You don't want to do that," Ron Weasley quickly said. "The only possible place would be the Forbidden Forest."

"Ferbiddin?" One of the Kelda's brothers asked.

"It's called that because we're forbidden to go there. It's too dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Another brother asked with a sense of hope.

Ron failed to catch the change of tone. "Well, the centaurs aren't dangerous, but they don't like strangers." He gave his voice a sinister tone. "But there are werewolves and giant spiders and all sorts of dangerous creatures in there."

"Really?" the Kelda asked. She looked at her brothers and Daft Wullie's brothers, the start of her new clan. "We could give it a try?"

"Are there many spiders?" a pictsie asked.

"Not really," Harry said carefully. "And they're not all that big."

"What are you talking about?" Ron was incredulous. "There were thousands of them when we were there years ago and there's got to be more of them now. " He turned to the pictsies. "And they're huge. Bigger than you can imagine." Ron held his hands out to give an example.

"Le's check it out," Rob Anybody yelled, and the pictsies suddenly vanished out of the Great Hall.

"I'll tell Wullie," the Kelda said. Excitement was in her voice. She jumped from the table and ran to tell her Big Man.

"Thanks, Ron," Hermione said with a huff.

"What do you mean? Once they see what it's like . . ."

Harry interrupted. "They'll want to settle down. Hermione, tell Ron what Tiffany said to do if your home is infested with pictsies."

"Do you know what you should do, Ron? You should MOVE."

"Good Afternoon, Madam. Permit me to introduce myself. I am Professor Severus Snape. I understand you are the potions teacher at your school."

"I am," Miss Hardbroom answered. "Were you looking for a potion for that greasy hair of yours?"

"The wine's nice but not the same as a stiff ale," Nanny Ogg said as she drank the cup. "And you are?"

"Neville Longbottom, Madam," the boy said nervously. Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas watched nervously. Dennis Creevey watched out of curiosity.

"Longbottom? That's a dwarf's name. Ye don't look Dwarfish. Where ye adopted? I met a chap from Ahnk-Morpock once. He was adopted. Biggest dwarf ye ever saw."

"I'm not a dwarf, really."

"Tha's alright, dear. I just came over because I heard you boys singing. I thought I'd join in. What was that song?"

"It's an Irish song," Seamus told her. "The Rocky Road to Dublin."

Nanny Ogg shook her head. "Don't know that one. I do know the hedgehog song."

Seamus said a quick word to Neville and Dean then turned back to Nanny Ogg. "We were wonderin', Madam. Professor Dumbledore says you're from another world. We'd love to hear a song from where you come from."

Nanny Ogg looked pleased but concerned. "I'll be the first to admit I don't have the best voice in the world, and I don't like to sing by myself, unless I've had too many cups."

"You could teach us the words," Neville offered. "We'll sing it together."

Nanny beamed. "A great idea. Now all of you grab a cup to loosen yer gullets and I'll teach ye the first verse."

"Excuse me for being rude." Ian McClaine was trying to be polite. "I've never talked to an actual ghost before, and I don't think Sam has." Sam Loover nodded his head.

Sir Nicholas nodded. "And I've never talked to someone from another planet before, living or dead."

Sam smiled. "We have you there." He pointed to where Loki was talking to some of the Hogwarts students. "And I don't want to guess how many worlds he's been to."

Sir Nicholas smiled at the remark, then nodded his head in the other direction. "Doctor, is that your boy over there?"

Ian turned. "The young one with the wand. That's Joe. And it seems those older boys are teaching him some magic tricks."

Sir Nicholas nodded again. "Is magic different on your world?"

"Magic isn't real on our world." Ian frowned. No one was capable of performing magic on his world. But there was his son, Joe laughing with delight as he made the tip of his wand light up by his own effort. He looked up as someone joined them.

"Professor Dumbledore."

"Doctor McClaine, I'm hope I'm not interrupting your conversation."

"Not at all. Sir Nicholas was pointing out that my son was learning a new magic spell."

"And that is what I wish to talk to you about. Odin tells me that magic does not exist on your world. Therefore, no one from your world should be able to use magic in our world. Joe shouldn't be able to use a wand."

Sam noted the group where Joe was. "That other world, where the girl Mildred comes from. Joe told me that anyone can learn magic there. I was curious. If we went to her world, could we perform magic?"

Mac nodded his head. "A good point, Sam. Can we interact with other worlds on their terms, or are we forced to live according to the physical laws of our own worlds. I think I know you well enough, Professor, to believe you've already looked into this."

"Indeed I have." Albus pointed out two of the students from Miss Cackle's Academy. "Those two girls can not perform any magic in this world, even though they are good students in their own world. On the other hand, Mildred Hubble, the girl with the pigtails, is capable of using a wand even if she has difficulty controlling her magic."

As if to prove the point, the wand Mildred was using shot a bolt of lightning out of the entrance way which hit and blew apart a suit of armor in the hallway. The sound of metal hitting stone could be heard clearly. Miss Hardbroom quickly ran over and plucked the wand from Mildred's hand and showed her how to do the Lumos spell properly.

Albus looked directly at Mac. "Doctor McClaine, it is obvious that Joe can use magic in this world. And I overheard him, by magical means, telling his friends Harry and Merlin that he has been practicing from the book Hermione Granger managed to send to him."

Mac smirked. "He has. I've even done tests already, to see how far away he has to stay from the house to keep from affecting the household appliances. It seems that the use of magic produces an electromagnetic pulse. If Joe is too close to the toaster, for example, and the toaster is in use, it will burn out at once."

Sam snorted. "Mac had to buy four toasters in one week."

Albus smiled. "Then you see the point I am making."

Mac nodded. "Clearly. It seems that the major difference between our two worlds is the genetic code that permits the use of magic. Our world never developed that gene, or wiped it out at an early stage." He paused and looked thoughtfully at Dumbledore. "I believe the gods altered Joe's DNA so that he has this capability. He's only playing with simple spells right now, but he will want to learn more. And I think it is something he should learn to control, even if he will only use his abilities to visit his friends."

"He will be eleven by next September First. If there are no objections, we will arrange to send him an invitation."

Sam noticed the twinkle in Albus Dumbledore's eyes. He noticed a similar gleam in Mac's eyes. "What are you two scheming about? I know that look, Mac?"

"It's a simple scheme, Sam. Neither of us is planning on telling Joe, and I'm asking you not to say anything, either. I'd like the letter to be a surprise."

Sam nodded, but he was already planning ahead. Joe 90, thanks to BIG RAT, was W.I.N.'s most special agent. To combine that with the ability to perform magic . . .

Professor McGonagall returned the smile of the figure approaching her. "I never expected to meet you when I was healthy. You should have come before this."

THIS IS A SOCIAL OCCASION, MINERVA. I THOUGHT IT ONLY PROPER TO COME. Death smiled. I RARELY HAVE THE CHANCE TO VISIT SOCIALLY.

The Transfiguration Professor looked fondly at the smiling figure. "Everyone was amazed that I survived the attack. At my age I shouldn't have survived four curses directly in the chest."

BUT YOUR ANIMAGUS FORM IS A CAT. AND THANKS TO MAGIC, YOU SHARE THAT ABILITY. AND YOU STILL HAVE FOUR MORE LIVES. Death sighed. I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU DIED. I WAS SO SURPRISED TO SEE YOU HAD EIGHT LIVES LEFT.

McGonagall shuddered at the memory. "Drowning is such a horrible way to die. I made it a point to learn to swim after that. And I was so surprised to see you. I didn't know what to think. I was ready the second time, though."

Death laughed. WHEN YOU FELL THROUGH THAT WINDOW?

"It was fearful when I was falling, but it was a rather painless death."

AND THE FIRST THING YOU DID WAS TO REPAIR THE WINDOW. THEN YOU THANKED ME.

"But you never stopped to talk. And I was curious."

"I DID LINGER AFTER YOUR THIRD DEATH. IT WAS A PLEASANT CONVERSATION. Death looked down at the cup he was holding. IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET SOME MORE TEA?

Harry Potter and Merlin Langspear stood in the open area in front of the teachers table. They were about twenty feet apart. Harry held out his wand and Merlin held up his staff. All the students were sitting at their tables watching with anticipation.

"Merlin, are you ready?"

"Take it easy on me, Harry. I heard how you like to show off." Merlin smirked and nodded toward the Slytherin table.

"IMPEDIMENTIA," Harry called out and shot his spell at Merlin.

"HOLD," Merlin shouted. His staff glowed as it absorbed the spell. "CLAMEROUS ECCEATOR."

"PROTEGO," Harry shouted. The bolt of lightning bounced off the protective shield and dissipated.

"Marvelous display of defense," Dumbledore said after the two boys cast a few more spells. "Do you have anything else to show us?"

"Sir," Harry noted. "I received extra credit on my O.W.L.'s for this spell. EXPECTO PATRONUM."

A brilliant white stag appeared in front of Harry. Merlin's were not the only pair of eyes to widen in appreciation. Merlin smiled as the stag walked toward him, and he raised his staff. A flash. He was gone. Another flash. A Unicorn, as white as the stag, appeared where Merlin had stood. The stag and unicorn circled each other, then walked back to Harry and circled him. Then the stag faded away. The unicorn disappeared in a flash. With another flash, Merlin was back.

"You're an animagus," Harry said.

Merlin laughed. "More than that, Harry. I'm a shape shifter." He raised his staff. This time there was no flash. He shriveled and shrank and turned a light brown. Then a falcon flew away where Merlin had stood. He flew across the Great Hall and back, landing on the teacher's table next to his mentor, Algernon Rowen-Webb, who was smiling in delight at his student. This time there was a flash and Merlin was sitting on the table. Even Harry was applauding.

Enid and Maud were looking at Mildred when the applause faded. They thought it a good time to tease their friend. Enid nodded to Maud who said, loud enough for the others to hear, "Millie, your boyfriend was very impressive."

Mildred turned toward Maud and smiled. "He was, wasn't he."

Maud and Enid looked at each other in surprise. Mildred admitted to having a boyfriend. Then they giggled.

"What was funny?" Colin Creevey asked.

Maud turned to the brown-haired boy. In that moment, she understood. She and Colin had started talking when Hermione Granger has introduced him. And Colin asked if she and her friends would like to sit with him. He was nice. And fun to talk to. And Maud had never thought about talking to boys before. Maud understood. They were growing up. And Colin had asked, "What was funny?"

"Mildred finally admitted she likes Merlin."

"I thought that was obvious."

"Yes . . . but . . . it's a girl thing. Mildred finally admitted that she has a boyfriend."

Colin nodded. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

Maud was about to answer when she heard Mildred and Enid giggling. She blushed instead.

"Will you look at that," Draco Malfoy said with scorn. He was pointing to a small red-haired man in a kilt who was running by. "Did you ever see such an ugly looking fairy?"

Rob Anybody stopped and turned in anger. "Did ye ever see a fistful o' haed?"

Draco woke up in the infirmary three days later.

Dennis Creevey staggered toward Professor McGonagall.

"Dennis, have you been drinking Mistress Ogg's wine?"

"No sirree, Prefessher. It waash mine. I earned it."

"You earned wine?"

"Yup. That lady shaid I could ha-a-ave some wine if I could get my own. I tol' the houshe elf . . ."

Professor McGonagall sighed. House elves were always so eager to please that they became too gullible at times. As Dennis had forgotten what he was talking about she decided to take him to the common room. She took his hand and led him away carefully as the thirteen-year-old yawned.

"Professher, I learned a new shong. Ish about hedgehogs. D'Y'Wanna hear?"

Professor McGonagall knew about the hedgehog song. She was the one who placed the silence spell around Nanny Ogg and her chorus before they could finish the first verse.

"Go ahead, Dennis. Why don't you sing it for me?"

"Thanks," Dennis said cheerfully, "An' can you explain shome of the words. 'Specially the third verse. I think it might be . . ."

Professor McGonagall cast a floating spell on the now sleeping boy and took him to the infirmary instead. Poppy would make sure he was fine, and would see to it that he had enough of a hangover to regret what he had done. And once he recovered, she would explain to him exactly what those words meant.

It was after hours, but no one said anything to them. Hermione Granger, Mildred Hubble and Tiffany Aching sat on the steps outside of the Entrance Doors, watching as the moon made its way across the sky.

"That boy, Dennis," Mildred asked. "Is he in trouble?"

"What did he do?" Tiffany asked.

"He was caught drinking some of the wine that Nanny Ogg had. She also taught him a song and he asked that lady teacher what the words meant."

Tiffany paused. "The hedgehog song?"

"You know it?"

"Of course not. And I don't know what any of those words mean. Especially the third verse." Tiffany paused. "Which words were he asking about?"

Mildred snickered. "I think it was the third verse." She paused, then added with a blush. "Not that I know what those words mean, either."

Hermione gave a small smile. "It seems Professor McGonagall does. You could ask her."

It was an hour later

"It was an adventure," Tiffany said quietly.

"I could do without another one for a while," Mildred said in as soft a tone.

Both looked at Hermione, whose head was bowed. She had told them about Harry, about the prophecy, about recent events. They knew that, for her, the adventure was not over. Tiffany sighed.

"We could form a coven. In my world, covens always come in three."

"What does a coven do?" Mildred asked.

"Well, we get together once a week to share important matters."

"To gossip," Mildred corrected.

Tiffany glared at her while still smiling. "Gossip is important. It gives you a feel for what's going on. And we have tea. You'll have to bring the biscuits."

"Why me?" Mildred asked.

"Because you're the one who knows how to make the tea."

Mildred frowned at Tiffany, then smiled. "As long as I don't have to make the biscuits. And what else do we do?"

Tiffany looked at Hermione. "We interfere with each other's lives so that we always know what the others are up to. And none of us can get in trouble without the others knowing . . . and coming to help." Tiffany stood up and faced the other two girls. She held out her hands. "Are we a coven?"

"We are," Mildred said as she stood up. She took Tiffany's hand and held out her other hand to Hermione.

Hermione looked up at her two friends. The three of them were so different but so much the same. She stood up and took both their hands.

"I'll bring the biscuits."