Chapter Twenty-one

Happy Times and Revelations

The celebration seemed to start immediately at Hogwarts. Everyone was cheering for those who had returned from the battle with Voldemort, as well as those fighting at the school. They all wanted to know what happened, and many were asking for a spell by spell account which no one was eager to give, least of all Harry.

Harry was as happy as everyone that Voldemort was dead, probably even more so. Something was sitting at the back of his mind that he couldn't seem to escape. It was the thought that his destiny had already been fulfilled. It seemed as if everything in his life pointed to this day, and then everything was black. All the power he had was now useless because there was no reason to fight with it. He felt as if he had just lost his purpose.

Harry looked forward to spending his remaining days with Serena, but he worried he would become bitter in life. He feared growing to be one of those people who used to say things like 'In the good old days I used to fight to save the world!'. He was lost now, having no direction to go in, only following the thoughts of having a peaceful life before. Now that he had that chance in front of him he wondered how he was supposed to do that. He hadn't known peace in his entire life, and now he only had his friends, his wife, and his godparents to show him. He hoped he could adapt.

Serena was worried throughout the day. Harry smiled and laughed, seeming to be his perfectly normal self, but she knew that something was different now. She felt something change in him and couldn't figure out what it was. She saw how hard he had fought this fight for them to be happy. Now that they had it and everything would be fine for them, he had a look in his eyes like a lost puppy. This hurt her more than she would ever be able to explain.

That night they all sat in their common room. On the outside they were no different then before, but something had changed in each of them that day. The Marauders no longer held the spark of joy and their thoughts weren't on pranks any longer. Their minds seemed to have matured in the space of a day.

In reality, they just realized that there was nothing to hide from anymore. They all knew they were hiding their worries behind a cloud of pranks, arrogance, and smugness. This day was what they had been afraid of for so long, what pushed them forward, and now they knew it. Harry saw the look in the eyes of his friends and noticed a great difference.

In Ginny and Neville, the look was different from the rest. They looked sad and confused, but only slightly so. Harry realized what this meant almost immediately. Harry, Serena, Ron, and Hermione had faced the battle that all of them feared, and caused much more death in the last battle than the other two. It seemed that all the death had hit the four more than anyone would have expected. It almost seemed as if whatever power had kept them young and blissfully ignorant of suffering was broken that day. Harry decided this day should be forgotten forever by them.

"Hey guys." Harry said.

"Yeah, Harry?" Ron said.

"Lets never speak about this day ever again." Harry said.

"Agreed." The other five said quickly.

"So, what do we do now?" Harry asked.

"Can't we just live happily ever after?" Serena asked him, smiling warmly.

"We could try, but I don't think that happens in real life." Harry said, smiling cheerfully at her.

"Well, what about going back to the muggle world?" Ginny said. "No one would think to look for us there. Not that there's anyone left to look for us."

"There are reporters." Ron said. "They will want to know everything."

"I'm not talking to them." Hermione said.

"Me neither." Harry said.

"None of us will." Serena said. "This wasn't honor and glory we were fighting for today. It was our lives, and the lives of our friends."

"I agree." Harry said. "I don't know how to live happily ever after though." He added quietly.

"We'll help you." Ron said. "First thing you gotta do is become a lazy git."

"Then you've got to sit in front of a telly for at least ten hours a day." Hermione joined in.

"Then you bitch about the things getting more expensive." Neville quipped.

"Then you will be a happy person, ready for your happily ever after." Serena said, laughing along with her friends as she said this.

"I don't think I'm going to make it if that's what I have to do." Harry said, laughing as hard as Serena.

Serena got serious. "Ok, how about if we just stay true to who we are, and just go one day at a time. We don't have to look to the future anymore." She said.

"That might work." Harry said. "I just don't know who I am."

"You're Harry Potter." Serena said. "Remember? The boy who lived is dead."

"Yeah, I know. It just seems that all my life I was forced by Voldemort into what happened today, and now my destiny is fulfilled, the prophecy came true, and I'm left feeling like something is missing." Harry said.

"I know, love." Serena said. "I feel it too. It's just that we haven't figured out our next adventure yet. Since we've been together, the adventure was obvious. Survive this war, and move to the next adventure. We just naturally thought it would be peace and happiness."

"I am happy, love." Harry said. "I don't have to worry that my friends and family are going to die, or that I'm going to be killed by Voldemort, or any of the other things I used to worry about. I just feel like there should be something else. Who knows, maybe with this big head of mine I'm getting a bit of a disappointment knowing there is nothing left to make me great and wonderful."

"There is, Harry." Serena said. "You will always be great and wonderful. Now you just have to be a good man. That's what Sirius always wanted for you. I know that's what your parents would want, too. Now it's time to give them what they wanted. No more prophecies following you around, no more Voldemort, just you having the chance to be you."

"She's right mate." Ron said. "You are free to be your own person now. I'd say you more than earned, and I can't even think of who deserves it more."

"Ron's got a point." Hermione said. "And that's really saying something." she added joking, causing a few more laughs.

"Hey!" Ron said. "Aren't we supposed to love and honor each other? That's what they said at the muggle ceremony."

"Ron, I do love you." Hermione said. "And I give you all the credit you deserve, when you deserve it. But making points is not a credit you hold often."

"Wow." Harry said to Ginny. "I never thought the day would come when those two would agree on something."

"I know. It took them a whole seven years, but it's finally happened." Ginny said, laughing.

"I just realized, how are you three going to hold up without all the adventure?" Harry said, directed at Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. "You three have had many of the same things happen as I did. Most times you were right beside me."

"We'll get on just fine." Ron said. "We'll join in on your next set of adventures too."

"Agreed!" Hermione, Neville and Ginny said.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight again, so I'll have to be in on the adventures too." Serena said cheerfully.

"That sounds like a good plan to me." Harry said.

"Oh yeah. Speaking of plans, I have been meaning to ask you what was up with that bow today Mione?" Ron asked her.

"Oh that." Hermione said, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Well, before I got kidnapped with Serena, the bow just appeared after some strange voice in my head called me the heir of Ravenclaw. I don't know any more than that. Harry, how did you know about that though? You weren't even near me when it came to me."

"It was Slytherin's ring that was talking to you, Mione." Harry said. "I heard it, and I knew who it was talking to. I just don't understand how you can be the heir of Ravenclaw if you're muggle born."

"I didn't understand it either." Hermione said. "Why don't you ask the ring?"

"Good idea." Harry said. Then he started hissing at the ring. "How can Hermione be the heir of Ravenclaw if she is muggle born?"

"I do not know. I only know she is the faithful heir. Many heirs rest in this room. How it comes that they are not in their own houses I will never know."

"What do you mean many heirs?" Harry asked.

"The heirs of three houses rest here, and you are the closest thing now to the heir of my former master. It seems that fate has a way of bringing those that need others such as themselves together. All here are descendants but you, Harry Potter. But you are closest to a Slytherin heir than any other, as I said."

"Interesting." Harry said to the ring before turning to his friends. "It doesn't know. I say we talk to Dumbledore. With what this ring has just said to me I think its time we knew a few things, including whether he found the original prophecy that Slytherin heard."

"Harry, wait till tomorrow." Serena said. "It's already after midnight. We can go first thing after breakfast tomorrow, but right now I'm kinda tired, and would really like to sleep. Well, maybe we'll get some sleep in too." She added, smiling at the line and wiggling her eyebrow.

Harry took the hint quickly. "Night guys! I'll set the alarm for the morning!" He said loudly as he followed at Serena's heels.

"Those two will never change." Hermione said.

"Maybe not." Ginny said. "But they have a damned good idea! Coming, Sweetie?" She asked Neville, who quickly rose.

"Night guys. Have fun!" Neville said, moving as quickly as Harry had only seconds before.

"Oh my god!" Ron said. "Never mention that around me again, Gin!"

"Oh shut it, Ron!" Hermione said. "I actually agree with them all. Lets go to bed."

"Damn right!" Ron said, then looking at the ceiling he said softly. "Thank you god!"

The next day seemed to be more amazing than usual for the Marauders. For the first time since all six had banded together they had not one worry other than talking to Dumbledore, and that was normally a cheerful affair. The sudden relaxation seemed almost unnerving to them at first, but after breakfast it seemed that it was nothing more than a bit annoying to break the habit of looking over your shoulder, worrying if someone was coming for you.

Breakfast was a wonderful time as well. Dobby and Winky asked to join them which they quickly agreed to. They told them that house elves throughout the castle were asking to be free after hearing how well Dobby and Winky were treated by Harry and his friends. Hermione seemed happiest about this. Harry and Serena also decided that it was time to have a talk with Winky and Dobby.

"You two." Harry said to Winky and Dobby. "We have to talk to you about something important."

"What is it, Harry sir?" Winky asked curiously. Dobby seemed just as interested.

"Well, me and Serena don't know what we are going to do from this moment on. We have an idea, but we aren't sure yet. We wanted to know if you would rather stay in London or go to America if we go?" Harry said carefully.

"Is Harry sir not going to be wanting us around?" Dobby asked looking slightly hurt.

"No, Dobby, its not that!" Serena said quickly. "We just wanted to know if you both wanted to come, or if you would rather be here, or with Remus and Sam, or anywhere else you thought you might like."

"Miss Serena." Winky said. "I is liking you, and Harry sir, and you friends is being very nice to me. No one is ever being nice to me before, except Master Dumbleydore. I is wishing to stay with Harry sir, and you."

"Dobby is saying the same." Dobby said. "Harry sir is being my friend, and is calling me friend. I is staying with Harry sir, and you too, Serena miss, if you will have Dobby."

"I would love you both to keep working for us, Dobby." Harry said, a tear falling from his eye. "You two are like family to us after all this time, and we would have missed you terribly." As Harry said this both house elves threw themselves at Harry, hugging him as tight as their arms allowed.

"We is loving Harry sir too." Dobby said. "That is why we is wanting to stay."

"Then you will stay." Serena said. "But Winky, don't going trying to take my husband from me." She added, laughing. When Winky looked scared, Harry and Serena quickly explained it was a joke, and Winky and Dobby began laughing as well.

"You know, suddenly this new life doesn't seem so bad." Harry said. "We have our friends, our family, and all the time in the world to do what we want. This could be fun."

"Yup." Serena said. "Till we get bored, and then it's on to the next adventure!"

"We'll be ready." Hermione said, grabbing Ron's hand as she said this.

"So will we." Ginny said, and Neville nodded.

"Who could resist such fun as tempting fate with your life on the line?" Neville said jokingly. "I'll be waiting, and rather impatiently too."

"Don't worry, Nev." Serena said. "With the way things happen to Harry, we will be knee deep in shit before we even leave school!"

"I hope not." Harry said. "We do have NEWTS coming up after all." Then imitating Hermione he added. "I can't believe you all would be worried about adventure when our futures will be decided in a few weeks! Why aren't you all studying? Really!"

They all had another good laugh at this, even Hermione, which showed exactly how much she had changed in seven years. Quite a change from hiding when Ron picked on her in first year. Harry smiled, thinking of how angry that thought would make her and put it carefully away.

"Ah, I see you have questions today, Harry." Dumbledore said as the Marauders entered the room.

"How do you do that?" Harry asked.

"That is easy, Harry." Dumbledore said. "You have never come to my office uninvited unless there was urgent news or you had questions. I'm sad to say that you have never just stopped by for a casual chat. Now, since there is no urgent business to worry about, I just assume that there are questions."

"Oh." Harry said, shocked as he realized that Dumbledore was right. He had never once come to Dumbledore's office just to talk. "I'll have to fix that, since there are no longer reasons to come here now unless I'm curious. But I do have questions."

"I know Harry." Dumbledore said. "Let me guess that the first is about Slytherin's prophecy. To answer your question before it was asked, yes I have it and you are more than willing to look at it if you wish."

"Yes, I would very much like to see it." Harry said.

Dumbledore pulled out a glass sphere and sat it on the desk. An image of a man appeared over the orb. The man spoke the prophecy clearly and Harry heard everything.

"In the time of great darkness the one with the power to fight will be born. The lion will come, and he will possess the attributes of the four founders, none more than bravery and cleverness. He will use what is black to do what is white. The lion will need the knowledge of snake to be like raven and snake.

"The lion will awake to his power when love is taken, and he will be blessed with the power of magic unknown, but will stand with those of the founders, and he will take up the snake, and cast the true snake into darkness by attacking what cannot be seen by mortal eyes, but with the eyes of those who do not pass on. Only with those of the founders can the lion succeed."

Harry stood quiet for a moment, trying to piece together the ideas that formed with what he just heard. "So which ones are which?"

"Well, obviously Tom was the true snake." Dumbledore said. "The heir of Slytherin. As we have seen, Hermione is the heir of Ravenclaw. Mr. Longbottom, you would be the heir of Hufflepuff, leaving the Weasleys as the heirs of Gryffindor."

"How?" Hermione said. "I'm muggle born."

"Yes, Hermione, you are." Dumbledore said. "But no one looks at their lineage anymore. Had you done so, you would have found that, like many muggle borns, one of your ancestors was a wizard. The most direct ancestor between you and Rowena Ravenclaw was a squib, who happened to marry a lovely muggle, as I was told. They managed to have a family of muggle children, who continued this until you came along."

"How do you know this?" Hermione asked him.

"I went to great lengths to follow the lineage of the founders since the day I first heard this prophecy, which was near Christmas." Dumbledore said. "I did not hide this from you, but chose that I would not tell any of you until you asked. I wanted the knowledge to be yours before you asked these questions."

"What did it mean by me taking up the snake?" Harry asked.

"The only way I can interpret it is that by gaining Slytherin's knowledge, ring, and ability to call his sword to you, you have been granted by him or his ring to be his heir. After all, the same powers that were Voldemort's due to his ancestor are imbued to you. The founder's have a way of keeping their line going. Indeed, the Weasleys are not true heirs, but those blessed as you are. Those who gained the power of the Gryffindor line, after a strong battle in which a Weasley and Gryffindor fought side by side. When the heir died, he saw the man he had called friend and passed the gift of great bravery on to him. They became Gryffindor's heirs from that moment forward.

"Only Hermione and Neville are truly direct descendants of the founders. Voldemort was of course, but he is no more." Dumbledore said. "Does this explain it to you all sufficiently?"

"Why do I get left out?" Serena asked.

"Ah, Serena." Dumbledore said. "If you ask Phineas, he can tell you the very reason why you were left out dear."

"Phineas! Wake up!" Serena yelled at the snoring portrait.

"I would have thought that you would not be quite so annoying as your friends, being as you are older and wiser." Phineas said. "I swear, Albus, children have no breeding these days."

"Sometimes I would agree, Phineas. However, she is as well bred as Sirius was." Dumbledore said.

"Hey, Phineas." Serena interrupted. "Why aren't the Blacks related to the founders?"

"Ah, your parents did not tell you the tale I see." Phineas said. "A Black has stood beside every heir of Slytherin ever born."

"Wait, Voldemort didn't have a Black beside him." Serena said. "He definitely didn't have me beside him. Or Sirius."

"You two were not the only members of the Black house." Phineas said. "You forget the Malfoys, Regulus, and quite a few other Slytherins. No, you did not stand beside Tom Riddle, but you and Sirius stood beside Harry Potter, who is now the heir of Slytherin."

"So it is another thing destined of us?" Harry asked, feeling slightly confused.

"You could say that." Phineas said. "In truth, it merely seems that the Blacks, and Slytherins always shared a bond that no one really understood but them. Their arrogance and smugness were often seen as rude to those around them."

"Definitely sounds like us." Harry said, smiling at Serena.

"Of course." Serena said. "When two like us, obviously born perfect, meet, we simply must admire the perfection of the other."

"That is exactly what forms your bond and makes it so strong." Phineas said. "So Nymphadora, while you are not related to one of the founders, your blood holds one of the closest relationships to the founders. Is that not good enough for you?"

"I guess it will do." Serena said, smiling. "Well, Harry, it seems we were made for each other."

"It would look like it." Harry said.

"Also seems we are all meant to be friends." Hermione said. "All of us were needed to work together."

Harry's eyes widened. "The sorting hat! It wasn't telling us that the houses had to join together, but that the founders heirs needed to join together to fight."

"What are you talking about Harry?" Ron asked.

"Fifth year, when Hermione was nagging us about the sorting hat's song. That's what it said, the houses shouldn't be separate, but together as one." Harry said.

"Well, I'll be damned!" Hermione said smiling. "You listened to me!"

Harry laughed. "Well you did make a point of making it known that you wanted us to listen closely." He said.

"Well, I see that everyone is understanding of the situation. Did you have any other questions, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"No, sir." Harry said. "I feel we should leave you to your work now. Maybe I will come by one day soon so we can have a nice chat."

Dumbledore smiled happily. "Of course, Harry. My door is always open."