Firstly, I want to thank everyone for their reviews. I'm very glad that you've enjoyed this story, which is now at a close, sort of. This is to be Part One of a series I am entitling The Dark Lord's Legacy, and I hope that there will be six more stories following this one. I hope you all read and enjoy them. Thank you again for all your support!
EPILOGUE: A New Beginning
As the light subsided, the sword of Godric Gryffindor seemed to hover in the air for a moment or two, then fell down to the hard marble floor with a series of clanks as it bounced a bit. Harry hurried to pick it up, but first he turned back to look at his friends. "We're okay, Harry. They didn't do anything to us. They didn't even make conversation, or respond to our insults. Pity, really," said Ginny with a smirk that Harry couldn't resist. Harry smiled in turn and reached to pick up the sword.
As his hand gripped the hilt, time seemed to freeze, and he heard Lanskey's voice in his mind. I trust this message only to you, for if anyone were to overhear, it could be disastrous. The reason only those of the Gryffindor bloodline, plus myself, can wield this sword, is because Godric and I gave our blood to create it. There is a creature that has long since passed into legend, the Great Red Lion. The last of these beasts was a companion of Godric and myself, and when it died, we took its body and blood and used it to forge the gems in the hilt. They may appear to be rubies, but they are actually Philosopher's Stones, and their powers far exceed the creation of gold and Elixir of Life. Use it well and wisely… my son.
Harry looked up and back at Ginny suddenly, but it seemed as though no time had passed. 'My son,' she'd called him. He might carry her blood, but he sure as hell was not anything like a son to her!
"Are you all right, Harry?" came Ginny's concerned voice. She began to walk over to him, but suddenly stopped and vomited. Kneeling and breathing hard, she said, "I'm all right. Just a stomach cramp is all. Don't know where it came from."
Hermione knelt by her sister-in-law with a smile on her face. "Ginny, call me crazy, but I think you're pregnant."
Harry and Ginny both exclaimed, "What!" at the same time. Looking at each other for a moment, they ran together and embraced each other. Harry's eyes were watery for the first time in a long, long time, and this time only from sheer joy.
McGonagall swept over to them and started pulling them along by their arms. "Come now! Come now! Poppy would never forgive me if I didn't allow her to be the one to tell you for sure!" Hermione hurried after them.
Harry thought to himself, This is what life is all about. For once, I think, I'm going to enjoy things for a while. Everything else can wait. "A baby!" he said quietly as he kissed his wife.
TO BE CONTINUED…