Author's Note:

OH GOD! WOOHOOOO! –jumps with joy-

"My greatest invention is completed!" –muhawahahahaaa!- (cackles like Dexter)

WOOOO! -takes few deep breathes and tries to say something-

Er... Um... ER...!

JUST go and read the chapter! I'll rant at the end. -faints-


Chapter 34 – Novus Vita
(Translation: New Way of Life)


To Harry's relief, he was discharged the next day, by which time he had been filled in on the events of the past month by Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Luna. Except for Luna, the other two didn't know about his and Ginny's new development, but Harry surmised that it couldn't be kept quiet for long.

Hagrid, Lupin, and Caradoc, also came to visit him as soon as they heard that he had awakened. Hagrid had come first, and given him such a long hug that once he let go, he had to cough in order to regain normal breathing. Hagrid had beamed at him nonstop and had kept on poking him about any new developments with the Red Queen (Ginny's nickname made popular by Dean Thomas), Harry shied away from commenting. Moreover, Lupin and Caradoc had come together, and Harry was happy to observe their renewed friendship. Lupin had been filled in by Caradoc; still, he was very fascinated by the account of the guardians, and the snatches of his parents that he had seen after getting hit with the Killing Curse.

"Your mind is opening to your past, Harry," Lupin had pronounced wisely.

Harry also noticed—happily however—that Ron had finally started calling Voldemort by his name, as he continued mentioning rude things that should be done to him.

"I see you calling by his name, Ron," Harry had said appreciatively.

"Loads of good that'll do!" Ron had rolled his eyes, but couldn't help beaming at Harry for noticing, nonetheless.

Harry also found out—not so happily, this instance—that the time he had spent in Caeli had only amounted to a day at Hogwarts. His disappearance was only registered the next day when he hadn't showed up in his dormitory room. Neville had been sworn in by that time, so Ron informed Dean and Seamus that Harry had caught something while visiting his Muggle Aunt, and would be gone for some time. Of course, many curious students had tried to get a glimpse of him at the infirmary, but Madam Pomfrey had barricaded his ward so fiercely that it was only broken into by Hermione—every night, that is.

No Death Eater activity was reported by the Daily Prophet either, which only meant that either Voldemort was simmering over his defeat, or this was another silence before the upcoming storm—both of which weren't very appealing.

When Harry entered the Great Hall one bright morning of May, majority of the heads swiveled towards him—others, who weren't looking, were painfully poked to do so—and fixed their sight on his now extended scar. Before, his unruly hair had helped in hiding it, but now unless he planned on growing them to shoulder-length as Sirius's, his hair wouldn't be of any help in the hiding department.

"Hiya, Harry!" Neville shouted over the din, that was buzzing the Great Hall.

Even the Gryffindors gaped at his scar, and Harry couldn't blame them. He, himself, hadn't been used to it till now. He noticed Lavender and Parvati, who seemed positively enraptured by his scar—Harry's bet was over a new harebrained prediction by his Divination professor, Sybil Trelawney. And Colin Creevey for one, seemed to be having a horrible heart attack, as he trembled, looking at him.

Harry wanted to console him but he was afraid that he might go into shock if he tried to talk to him, so he sidled to a seat quite far and hidden from Colin.

"What happened, Harry?" Dean asked concerned as he sat between Ron and Hermione, both of whom tried to imitate Crabbe and Goyle's trollish features so that people would look some other place—however, to no avail.

"Er…"

"I heard some Slytherins talking, that you went to some other dimension, and only returned because you begged to be let out?"

"I heard you were bit by a werewolf, Harry…" Seamus cut in, staring feverishly at his scar as if to make out a werewolf bite.

"Honestly, you two," Hermione puffed in indignation. "How can you believe such crackpot stories?"

"I didn't," Dean added hastily, while Seamus nodded along. However, they did exchange curious looks when they thought he wasn't looking.

"He got injured in a fight with his cousin," Ron supplied on an impulse. "Very disturbed, that one." He shook his head in disdain for effect.

"Yeah… It took time to heal," Harry cottoned on, while Ron and Hermione nodded their heads vigorously.

Nobody related his reappearance with the Gryffindor House Points increasing to Nine hundred and seventy-three from six hundred and seventy-three. Professor McGonagall told Hermione that it was awarded on Harry's special services to the school—which again, wasn't made known. Ravenclaw's points were the lowest in many years, as Professor Flitwick took three hundred points from his own House in disgust.

Harry was flashed with a lot of suspicious looks throughout the month, as he went from class to class. Everyone had to either accept his story, or believe in the rumors supplied by the Slytherins. Comprehending their zero reliability, many wild theories were tossed around, but as the final exams approached most of them got so busy with studies that thankfully the finger-pointing at his scar finally stopped.

He breathed a sigh of relief, as he was already having difficulty in memorizing and practicing the lessons that he had missed. He truly appreciated Hermione as a friend, who along with her Prefect duties spent the rest of her free time teaching him. Ron—who had been too worried about Harry that he hadn't paid much attention in lessons—seized this opportunity as well.

One plus that came from all of this, Malfoy didn't bother them anymore. If their paths even crossed in the corridors—which was often as they were in same year—he and his cronies about-turned and vanished; he also started sitting as far away from Harry as possible, in the lessons that they had together. According to Ron, "Malfoy's been thriving on rumors since you turned him into a Flobberworm. Maybe he's just scared that you'll turn him into a Bundimun next!" Harry had another theory of his own. Lucius Malfoy must have informed him about what had happened in Caeli, at least a mild version of it—causing his panic.

During his catching up, all of the professors cooperated with him, except for one Severus Snape, who gave him such a long essay to write over 'One Thousand Uses of Scurvy-grass, Lovage and Sneezewort', that he was near to collapse when he reached the nine hundredth. Hermione helped him with the last hundred uses.

And, Ginny had more workload than any of them because of her upcoming O.W.Ls. She confined herself into a corner of the common room and studied till midnight everyday, which was quite appropriate, because whenever it was Ron and Hermione's turn of patrol duty, they got to spend some quality time together. Harry discovered another fact; a little necking went a long way on relieving exam tension.

In between this preparation frenzy, he was finally cornered by Michael Corner one day, along a very shivery Colin. He had been on his way to the common room, laden with reference books, when he was almost flagged to stop by them.

"Harry, a minute, please?" Michael requested.

"Yeah, sure." Registering his embarrassed manner, Harry added, "You really don't have to do this. Dumbledore told me how you were controlled. I don't need any explanations, really."

Michael's eyes widened, while Colin's lip trembled as if he was going to cry.

"I don't blame you, too, Colin," he tried to soothe his worries away. "I know how hard it is to lose someone close to you. Anyone could've been blinded…"

"I'm so sorry, Harry," Colin said faintly.

"I hope you forgive my mistakes…" Michael looked uncertainly at Harry.

"What's to forgive?" Harry said earnestly. "You didn't do it on your own, Michael. You were provoked. Voldemort"—Both of them cringed, but Harry ignored them—"has a way with people. He always uses your weaknesses against you. I don't blame you—any of you."

Seeing them preparing to apologize again, Harry cut in with, "Now, I've got to run and finish a very long reading list... Bye!"

He left a very astounded Michael, and a reverent Colin behind.

As Harry rounded on the Gryffindor common room stairwell, he couldn't help feeling lighthearted as he jogged towards the portrait of the Fat Lady. The clouds of doom were parting for him, finally. His preparations for exams were going well—thanks to Hermione. And, he had already been informed by Lupin that he wouldn't have to spend much time at the Dursleys this summer, as he would be taught to Apparate, and properly channel his vita powers. That also meant that Ginny would be taking those classes as well.

Harry couldn't wait these exams to be over, and the vacations to start.

-x-

The final exams started with a group of mutinous clouds that sent torrents of rain, smattering every window, as if hammering to shatter it. Inside the Hogwarts castle, students milled about their common rooms, revising and finishing their last bit of reading. Some nervous faints were reported, either for too much studying, or not studying at all. The tempers were running high as many scuffles ensued in the corridors on trivial things like, talking too loudly, or not watching where they were going. As if the exam papers weren't surprising enough, the rain clouds kept on thundering and clapping when they least expected.

Like a pelting Firebolt, the dreaded exam week finished, leaving them rather empty. It seemed to Harry that whatever he had learned in the short duration of last month had seeped out of his ears, and now he was left with a hollow brain, feeling positively light. The chatter all around him proved that everyone was relaxing after the grueling session of exams. Even the sun came out of the clouds and winked at them.

As always Hermione beamed with the knowledge that she would top all subjects—yet again. Ron wasn't sure that he would pass Potions this term—coming to that, Harry wasn't either.

As gloomily as the term had begun, it ended with a lot of cheering and merrymaking. Within a week, their results came out along the rest of the school, except for the fifth- and seventh-year students, who appeared for O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts respectively, and would get their results during the holidays directly from the Examination Office at Ministry of Magic.

Surprisingly, both Ron and Harry passed every subject with good grades, even Potions—for which Ron swore that Dumbledore must have had a hand in it. Not so surprisingly, Hermione topped every subject, and beamed at the pair of them for doing not so bad. For Harry, it was better than you-could've-done-better lecture.

Every House threw a rowdy party that day, which continued till midnight.

-x-

Harry couldn't believe another year was gone as he packed his trunk to be loaded into the Hogwarts Express the next day. The year that had started with such trauma and deaths was ending quite cheerfully. He hoped that the trend would continue.

He hurriedly bundled his side-table paraphernalia into his trunk, as he was already getting late for the end of the term Feast. A squealing Ginny however, interrupted his packing by entering his room.

"Harry, you won't believe what I saw!" She was suffering a very bad case of giggles.

"D'you think it's wise for you to come here?"

"Oh, grow up, Harry!" Ginny waved her hand, as she took out an old parchment from her robe.

"Ginny, not again!" Harry complained, as he recognized his Marauder's Map.

"You weren't using it, so I just borrowed it." Ginny's eyes were glinting mischievously.

Harry's interest was piqued all right. "It better be good."

"Oh, it is!" Ginny giggled some more, as she activated the map with, "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." She handed the map to him. "See anything interesting on the second floor?"

Harry looked closely at that section of the map. "Well, house-elves sure look busy today… Hang on," Harry's eyes widened as he looked at the concealed passage near the kitchen that led directly to fourth floor.

Ginny giggled hysterically as she peered beside Harry, while he stared at two familiar dots squashed together. His face split into a grin, as he registered what his best friends were doing.

"They'll snog each other senseless if they don't stop," Ginny chortled.

"About time!" Harry whooped.

"Finally!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Yeah…" Harry got an idea of his own as he looked at the seventh floor, and then wiped the map with, "mischief managed.

"Er… Ginny, d'you know there's nobody in the entire common room right now?"

"No…" Ginny's giggle vanished, as she looked indulgently at the grin spreading on his face.

She gave a high squeal, and ran for the common room as Harry chased her, laughing his head off.

-x-

Both the couples dragged themselves to the feast after some time, making stupid excuses to either one of them. Hermione seemed to catch on to the changed standing of Harry and Ginny, but Ron didn't much care as he stared dreamily at Hermione throughout the dinner, much to her chagrin.

To no one's surprise, Gryffindor won the House Cup for the sixth year running; Professor McGonagall couldn't help beaming at a very displeased Snape, who took out his anger on the nearest pudding, quashing it into a pulp.

Harry had a very peaceful sleep that day, well fed and extremely happy. He felt contented, and dreamt of his parents, who waved at him pleasantly from some higher point.

-x-

On board the Hogwarts Express, after settling down, Harry finally announced to Ron, Hermione and Ginny, that he had something important to tell them. He finally seemed ready to do it.

Looking at his serious expression, Hermione soundproofed their compartment, while Ron sealed the door. Ginny didn't have to do anything special to Pig because he, too, became quite unusually still in his cage—it was because of Hedwig's stern eye or simply the seriousness of the situation, they didn't stop to contemplate.

As the tension that he had been feeling all year ebbed away from his body, Harry finally repeated Sybil Trelawney's prophecy to them:

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"

He told them everything that Dumbledore had informed him about the prophecy, including how Neville could have been marked, but Voldemort chose him for some reason.

It took almost half of their journey to finish it. After which, there was a stunned silence, as Ron goggled at him, Hermione chewed her lip, and Ginny kept wringing her hands. The silence was broken by a knock on the door.

"Blimey, Harry… You aren't joking?" Ron tried to laugh, but didn't, while Harry shook his head seriously.

Hermione opened the compartment door, and bought their supply of food from the trolley.

"I wanted to tell you… but things kept on happening…" said Harry.

"And I thought her to be a fraud…" Hermione said in a small voice, as she handed him his stack of pasties, cauldron cakes and chocolate frogs. "I've read about prophecies of course, did a bit of side reading while I was taking Divination—Ron! Would you stop making faces?—one thing that I understood is that they should be translated rightly, keeping in view every angle."

"Yeah, that's why Voldemort didn't know that he shouldn't have marked me. And now, he has repeated his mistake," Harry added.

"This changes a lot of things, Harry. Now, everything makes sense; why he had been after you and all that… And, it's not about him and you anymore… the whole wizarding community comes to light here… No wonder you've been feeling so much pressure." Hermione shook her head, empathizing with him.

"I'm fine," he looked at all of them, taking more time with Ginny. "I got plenty of time to deal with it. When Dumbledore told me last year, I was still in shock. It actually sank in at Grimmauld Place, after talking with Lupin…

"I'm not saying it's easy… But after what happened at Caeli, meeting my mother there. Seeing the love that my parents left behind inside of me, having such loyal friends… All of this has made me realize that if I really want to do something, I can do it." He looked significantly at Ginny, whose eyes went misty.

"We'll be right beside you, Harry," Hermione said decidedly, her voice hoarse.

"'Course!" Ron looked at the group, as if it was already understood. "I still don't believe it... I mean, you didn't tell us for a whole year?" He looked hurt, while he brutally tore a chocolate frog wrapping.

"C'mon, Ron, didn't Voldemort tried his best to do Harry in, all year? It's not easy to tell someone that your death has already been predicted," Ginny said sorely, as she had gone through the same thing this year with the Elders of Ulterius.

"'Course, you'll side with your scroll buddy!" Ron brandished a chocolate frog at her, and then looked at Harry—trying his best to lighten the mood. "Five long years, you build a strong friendship—and what you get?—he runs off with your little sister to some other world, forgetting his best mate in his adventures!"

Harry tried his best not laugh, even if the frog in Ron's hand kept on lolling side to side, while its brown eyes popped, as he waved his hands about.

"Ron—"

"Don't hush me, Hermione; we were getting worried sick over here—"

Ginny couldn't help herself and burst out laughing. As if it was contagious, Harry and Hermione, started as well.

"What?" Ron asked, bewildered; his eyes glinting with mischief. In his gesturing about, he had severed the poor chocolate frog's head, which dropped beside him. He joined in the laughter, stuffing the frog along with its head inside his mouth.

"Next term, Ron," Harry offered.

"Like hell!" Ron snorted. "No, seriously! I'm not letting you out of my sight, Harry. I'll pester Dad and make you come and stay at The Burrow."

"That would be nice," said Harry, while Ginny giggled beside him.

"That wouldn't be a good idea, Ron." Hermione looked pointedly at Harry.

As if registering for the first time that Harry and Ginny were not only sitting together, but exchanging looks as well, Ron mouthed as a goldfish out of water. "You two—"

"Of course they are!" Hermione announced matter-of-factly, as if it was written on both of their foreheads.

Ron suddenly stood up and made for Harry. It was so abrupt that Harry didn't have time for any diversionary tactics, as Ron's big hands clamped around his throat.

"YOU GIT! Why—didn't—you—tell—me?" Ron wasn't really blocking his air, except for choking him a little.

"I was going to! Gerroff me!"

Ron left him suddenly, and advanced on Ginny as she looked at him apprehensively.

"Honestly, Ron!" Hermione grabbed at his robes, tugging him backwards.

Ron plopped to his seat, and gave a mad cackle, as if his birthday had come early. "Oh Merlin, Ginny! My sister all grown up!"

"Stop it, Ron!" Ginny folded her arms huffily.

"Who would've thought, you two—" It seemed he was having a fit of some kind, as he quivered with mirth. "His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad!" he repeated a rather embarrassing poem that Ginny had once wrote Harry.

It was Harry's turn to laugh, however he stopped hastily looking at the withering look that Ginny was giving him and Ron.

"Don't even make me start!" Ginny said threateningly. "I was twelve, you git!"

"His hair is dark as a blackboard!" Ron seemed to be enjoying himself thoroughly.

"OK, shut it, Ron, we got the point," Harry warned. Realizing that Ron was only starting up, he finally had to relent with Strawberry Twisters. "Don't make me break your drawer, Ron."

That shut him quite eloquently up.

Hermione, who hadn't joined in the laughter before, looked quite intrigued. "What are you talking about, Harry?"

"Nothing!" Ron added quickly.

Exchanging looks with Ginny, Harry thought to tell them finally. "We know!"

"OH!" Hermione mouthed, turning red, while Ron turned redder than even her.

"Ginny, would this one be good? Would Hermione like it? It wouldn't smell, would it?" Ginny mimicked Ron, as she told them his story of selecting a perfume for Hermione last year.

"Yeah, yeah, have loads of fun on my expense!" Ron said sourly.

However, the tension and seriousness ebbed away, the prophecy wasn't mentioned any further, and their conversation steered off to other topics as Ron and Ginny's childhood tales, accompanied by a lot of sheepish smiles over Exploding snaps.

Soon, the Platform Nine and Three-Quarters came flashing by. They had already been saying their goodbyes to Luna, Dean, Seamus and Neville, when the train stopped at the station.

"I dunno what Dursleys' reaction would be over my scar," said Harry, trying to flatten his fringe over his forehead.

"It wouldn't matter, Harry," Hermione said soothingly.

"You can always scare them with the 'm' word, eh?" Ron winked at him.

Harry was surprised, seeing all the Weasley except for Mr. Weasley and Charlie waving at them as they got off the train. Even Percy Weasley was present, a little away from the group, which might be because the twins kept on throwing him dirty looks.

Mrs. Weasley clutched Ginny and hugged her so crushingly that she had to shout, "Mum, Let me breathe!"

Next in line was Harry, who was given the same treatment, along with a dark look at his scar. "You saved her life again… what am I going to do with you, Harry?" She shook her head disdainfully at him.

Harry wanted to say, because I like to, but didn't say it aloud. Ginny caught his eye, and they grinned together.

The rest of the Weasleys came and shook his hand; incase of the twins, they thumped his back and gave him a sack of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes goodies. Percy however, wanted a private word.

"Thanks for talking to Dad for me, Harry," he said, as soon as they were out of others' earshot.

"Er… I didn't…" Harry looked uncertainly at him.

Percy's ears went pink. "I thought it was you… Oh well, at least we're on talking terms again… I hope you're feeling all right?" His eyes moved to his scar.

"Yeah. Loads better," he said earnestly. "I think it was Dumbledore," he continued staring at his vacant expression, "I mean the one who talked about you to Mr. Weasley… He does it all the time."

"Yeah…" Comprehension dawned on Percy's face. "We haven't found Umbridge till now, you know… so you better watch out."

"It was you who tipped off the Daily Prophet?" Harry asked amazed, distinctly remembering the article about Fudge stepping down.

Percy nodded enthusiastically. "I've realized the error my ways…"

"Good for you," Harry looked at Ginny, who was trying to catch his attention. "OK, bye, Percy."

"Take care, Harry."

There was an awkward pause, as Harry faced Ginny and wanted to swoop down on her, but couldn't because of all the Weasleys present. Ron seemed to be going through the same problem with Hermione, as both of them shook their heads at each other miserably.

Harry came out of the barrier along the Weasleys, and immediately spotted the Dursleys standing in a corner—minus Dudley; they had their back to the platforms. Harry took that as an omen for even more displeased Dursleys than they typically were. He was sure that the hint of affection that he had seen in his aunt's eyes wouldn't be displayed in front of uncle Vernon.

He also distinctly recognized Tonks standing few paces behind them, chewing bubblegum, and looking uninterestingly at the passers-bys. He also spotted Dung stationed near a pole, jingling a can under the noses of whoever passed him by. Harry shook his head. So, his guard was at it again.

"Bye." Harry waved at the Weasleys and Grangers (both of whom were exchanging pleasantries with each other), when Ron and the twins came towards him.

"We only want to say hi," Fred said indulgently.

Harry knew for a fact that uncle Vernon wouldn't want to meet any of his friends even if they came with bowed shoulders. However, on much insistence, he made for the Dursleys along with the Weasley brothers.

Harry tapped Vernon Dursley's shoulder for getting his attention. Just as he had predicted, as soon as they spun on their heels, the pair of them recoiled at his image.

"What happened to—" Aunt Petunia stopped, looking at uncle Vernon's furious expression.

"Might've blown someone up again!" he said scathingly. "They must've given him their right mind, too." His bottlebrush moustache quivered in indignation, as his eyes kept on darting to his scar.

Aunt Petunia looked quite curious, but kept herself in check.

Looking at them, Harry guessed that either uncle Vernon's memory was modified, or he simply didn't want to remember that he and his family were saved by a bunch of wizards. Aunt Petunia on the other hand, looked amiable enough.

"Get a move on, boy, I don't have all day!" Vernon Dursley bristled at him, as he got over the shock of his scar.

"Don't push your luck, Dollop! He'll be of age soon!" Fred suddenly burst at his uncle, as Harry looked on, shocked.

"What did you call me?" His uncle's beetle eyes narrowed, while Aunt Petunia looked highly disconcerted.

"Didn't you hear him? Harry can use magic now!" George added, grinning along.

"And Apparate, too," said Ron, delighted at the Dursleys' expressions.

"You know, appear from one place and reappear in another," Fred supplied earnestly.

"He can hex too." George gave him a meaningful look, as uncle Vernon's bushy eyebrows flew to his head.

"And Curse," Ron added for fun, seeing Vernon Dursley's purple face, fuming over their daring to use so much magical jargon in front of him.

"And don't forget torment!" Fred smiled at them, as if he was giving them the best news they had ever heard.

Before uncle Vernon could retort, Mrs. Weasley interrupted, "I think that's enough, boys!"

"Ah, all right, Mum," Fred said dejectedly.

"We were just warning these nice people, you know. Harry's become so dangerous this year…" George added candidly.

Harry was torn between laughing his head off, or exuberate meanness by bunching his brows and giving the Dursleys full view of his scar.

"OK, bye, Harry!"

"Take care."

"See you soon."

They all departed after shaking his hand, winking at him meaningfully.

He waved at Ginny, who waved vigorously back, her eyes shining. If it was up to him, he would have stood there forever waving back to her. However, he got tugged at his sleeve by Aunt Petunia. With a last departing wave, he followed the Dursleys to the car park. Not dreading the summer holidays for the first time.

-x- LE FIN -x-

It's finished! I just can't believe it! -weeps-

Dear Readers, I can't tell you how it feels… I feel positively writhing with excitement, and then again HBP is coming out in two days! My happiness knows no beyond right now! My head feels empty, and now I'm glad that I did the whole plot ramble in the last chapter because I really can't think of anything right now!

One thing, of course, I want to say is about this whole experience. I still remember posting its first chapter at HPN and getting enthusiastic response. Posting at GH, where if I didn't post an update in two days, my readers went to mutiny (not that serious of course!). Then posting here, and getting still more love from my readers. Writing, I agree, is a very wondrous thing!

JKR has thought up such an inspiring world that it gave me the opportunity to write something magical of my own. 130,000 words long, this fic will always be dear to my heart.

First, Special Dedications:

To, Omair, my trash-bin buddy, my bestest pal on earth, partner in crime, etc. etc. I can go on and on and still would be talking about this guy, who's kind of a miracle worker for me. Thanks for always being there, I truly feel lucky to have you as a friend! Cheers for our budha budhi days. ;)

To,Elizabeth, this fic wouldn't have been as good as its now, if you hadn't taken it up for beta-ing. I still remember the first few chapters which came back so red that my eyes popped. But, I'm a better writer now because of a lot of things that I learned from you. You've been an inspiration!

To, Sonja, you've joined this bandwagon very late, still your hawkeye has been more than appreciated! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To, a lost friend, May you find peace.

Thank you-s:

I want to thank all the readers who have reviewed at HPN, DM, GH, FA and of course at ff! Each one of you has been my motivators in finishing this fic. In normal circumstances—the ones that I was in while this fic was only half complete—I seriously considered abandoning it. Writing to me, at that time didn't seem too attractive anymore. But, I got over the feeling, I thought about the readers who have loved this fic since last two years, and I thought I would disappoint them if I left it be. So, I decided—firmly—that I would see to its end. And I did.

And it would never have been such a sweet ride, if it weren't for my dear readers, who are reading it still (and those who will be reading it later)! Thank you so much!

Thanks are in order for Omair, Mahjabeen, Missy May, green eyes, thephantom114, Heather, Macy, A Shadow of Deus, Draco's Wife Lover, Akanksha, Astrid for dropping by this time around. I don't seem to have the energy to write replies individually (been on the PC for hours now!). So, I'll talk to you guys in the Epilogue.

Few Important Notes:

Any sequel? Nopes. Sorry. I'm not going for this option because of canon discrepancies that will arise. Phantom114 summed it up for me.

Any shorties? Perhaps... If my 'shadows' muses shower some at me, I may write few missing chapters, or even one-shots along the same plot-line. I already cut back on ideas for this fic, like there was supposed to be an attack on the Hogwarts Express, before it pulled from the Hogsmeade station. But, I let go of it because of the time factor.

Epilogue? Of course! As I said before, I'll post it after the HBP frenzy. So, it would be updated at the end of July or maybe first week of August. If you don't have an ff account, you can give me your email address, and I'll email you when I post the epilogue.

So, cheers for the upcoming HBP! I hope you have enjoyed this fic as much as I have, in writing it.

Love and Huggles,

- Nymph Patronus a.k.a. Tania