Epilogue – the FAR Future !
It was a bright sunny day, typical of the days that were now dawning upon everyone. Lily was in her office conducting her typical duties as the Headmistress of Hogwarts. She is now the longest living Head that her school has ever had, and it had been thusly so for uncounted periods of time, so many in fact that Lily was beginning to loose count. She got up and walked towards the windows to look outside at the sun, the red sun whose enormous mass filled up most of the sky from horizon to horizon.
'It's time now,' she said to herself. She went to the fireplace and contacted the Ministry of Magic. "Time for me to get ready.' She thought to herself.
"Arthur? Are you there?"
Arthur's head appeared in the fireplace, by way of the Floo network, a network of communication that was so old and ancient, Lily marveled at it's design.
"I'm here Lily, I guess its time for us to contact the Muggles?"
"Yes, Arthur, it is. I just hope they are easy to work with. They're almost all gone now, only one ship is left, the rest are out in space awaiting for this last ship to leave so they can all go together to their new home."
"I'll meet you at 10 Downing Street to meet the Minister. I believe he's the last to leave. They've taken most everything over the many generations so this is just a formality. I'll miss them, Arthur, I really will. They've been good friends over the many years I've known them. But, I'll keep in touch with them." Lily said, reflecting on her associations with them.
Lily closed the Floo connection and left the school grounds so she could disapparate to London.
There, at the front door she met Arthur and the two of them were welcomed in by the Minister.
"Its good to see you again, Lily, Arthur. I've been thinking of you and your people. I want to try one last time to try to convince you to leave with us. The earth will not last much longer, the radiation will be horrendous, and the heat . . ., There'll be nothing left. The entire planet will be burned away. We hate to loose you. You're our last connection to our ancestors."
"Minister," Lily began, "Like I mentioned to you previously, there's nothing to worry about. I've taken care of our people before and now is no different."
"Well, don't say I didn't try to warn you. We'll be waiting in our ships at a safe distance on the outer rim of the solar system to watch. That'll be the only thing we can do. The sun, as large a red giant as it is, it'll grow to approximately the orbit of Mars. Everything within that space will be burned away. Mercury, Venus, Earth, our Moon, Mars itself will be burned away. Even Jupiter and Neptune will suffer some melting of its' frozen atmosphere."
The Minister offered them his hand and Arthur shook it, and turning to Lily, she just held out her arms and hugged the Minister one last time before he left. "Remember, Minister, to keep looking at our planet, and try not to be too surprised at what you see. We've got a surprise in store for you."
The minister looked at Lily and just shook his head. 'I'll never understand these people. Why won't they listen to reason?'
"Goodbye, Arthur, Lily, its been so good knowing you both." With that all said the Muggle Minister left. Arthur and Lily went to the door and walked out to the streets and just looked around.
Empty silence greeted them.
An entire planet empty of all Muggles!
Their own kind were all that were left now, and Lily did not know quite how to feel. She'd led and guided her people now for so many uncounted Millennia that she'd stopped counting the years. Every living witch and wizard, every single one of them, had gone through Hogwarts as students. Lily had talked to and interviewed them all, many times and so, she had gotten to know them all. Unlike Tom, she didn't want any of them to feel left out, nor to 'fall between the cracks' and go bad. Every one of them were precious.
The entire Wizarding world knew Lily. She could have been made Minister of Magic but turned it down. Even Arthur tried to convince her to take the job, but Like her beloved Headmaster before her, she turned the offer down. Father had wanted her to take this job and here she will stay – until He calls her home. But first, she has to make sure that her people has a good home, one that will last them through out the ages. She MUST show them how to care for it and keep it in good working order, for they, one day, will be called upon to work even greater tasks than what she must do now. She needs their help and she has been promised by the Wizengamot and the Entire Ministry, that she'll have it.
Time to go.
Lily and Arthur Apparated back to the Burrow, it'd be appropriate to be at home when THIS was to take place. She wanted to be with her family, all together, supporting one another. It'd be much easier for her. And for them as well.
"Molly, we're back." Lily said as she appeared in the Burrows Kitchen.
"Oh, hello, Lily dear. Its' good to see you. How was the meeting with the Muggle Minister?" Molly asked.
"He didn't want to stay. He didn't have the faith that we could protect our home. But, he left on good terms. I told him to keep a watch out to see what happens. I do think he'll be surprised. All the Muggles will." Lily replied, mostly musing to herself.
"Lily, you did your best. Don't worry. We'll all be here beside you like we always have." Molly went to Lily and gave her a hug. Lily responded and hugged her back. Lily and Molly were so much alike, more like sisters now. And they both enjoyed and loved one another. It made Arthur so happy to see that.
All the boys came in, one by one, till they were all ready. "Lets all of us go outside where we'll have more room." Lily asked and they all followed her outside, to the front lawn. There Lily looked up into the sky once more.
She held up her arms and looking upwards said, so that her family could hear her, "Father, thank you, for all you've given us," and with that simple statement she began shimmering, glowing like she always did.
But, this time, it was different.
Her family members, when the Light touched them, they, too started glowing, just like Lily. They felt her power, the control that she handled was enormous in its undertaking, but she just continued emanating the Light that soon covered not just them all, but continued spreading outwards. It started with Lily, standing in front of the Burrow, with her family beside her, and it touched every magical being, every magical plant, none were excluded. It touched them and they, too, just like Lily, began emanating her trademark Shimmer. Outward it spread, across the waters, across entire continents, touching other magical beings. For, like Lily and James, they did not exclude a single soul. They all felt her warmth, her love for them unquestionably. Soon, in just a matter of minutes, the entire planet was covered and shimmering just like Lily did so long ago back in Flourish and Blotts when she first discovered her abilities. But this time, it was for the protection and renewal of her planet and people.
Finally, after so many thousands of Millennia, they'd all learned to love and share without question. They all knew Lily and trusted her. This, this was the fruit of all her work and she was pleased.
Out in space, the mighty Muggle ships were stationed at the orbit of Jupiter holding a death watch over their home world. They were watching their home sun, the star that had given them birth and nurtured them all for uncounted billions of years, finally go Nova. It was the final end, the death that must come to us all, that they had to watch over. After it was done, and their world had burned away, they would be going to a new world, one just like their old one, but one younger that would last for billions of years yet to come.
In the ship stood the Minister. In his mind he was remembering his special friends, those who could preform 'magic' or so it seemed to him. But the thing that stayed in his mind was that they really seemed to believe that their world would be safe, that nothing would really happen. He tried countless times to explain to them the effects, but they would not submit and go with him. Their leader, the lady dressed in white, Lily, was her name, and the gentleman, Arthur, also a minister of their people, she was so very kind. She understood what was to happen, but she told him all would be ok.
'What was that she told me, to keep a watch out, that she, her people, had a surprise in store for him.' He thought about that one. He knew they were level headed people, just strange in their dress and customs, but . . . ," He continued to look out the window and saw that the sun was enlarging. It had finally exploded.
MUSIC: Cat Stevens, 'Morning Has Broken'
He could see the ball of light proceed outwards and engulf the inner ring of planets, including the earth, but something was amiss. Where the earth was, or should be, was a glowing pinpoint of light, the brightness that outshone even the brilliant glare of the sun itself going Nova!
That should not be happening!
He contacted the ships captain and asked questions. No one knew what was happening.
He continued looking and saw that the Brilliance was overtaking the sun itself and he noticed that the speed of the explosion was halted and receding backwards, like a movie being played backwards. The Brilliant white light now engulfed both the earth and Sun itself.
Something was happening. This must be the surprise that Lily had told him about.
It took most of the day for the light to recede and when it did, there stood, in space itself, a medium sized yellow sun!
Pandemonium broke loose all over all the ships! Messages were beamed to their people. Everyone had been told, and pictures were shown. Their home world was not burned away, but still stood. Their home sun, Sol, was now a yellow sun, a young yellow sun! It's hydrogen supply had been replenished, but, but, so many questions remained.
The Minister just stood on the deck of the ship, in complete awe. "She was right. Lily was right after all." He didn't realize that he'd spoken out loud and someone asked him who he was referring to .
"Oh, oh, no one. No one at all." He just returned to his thoughts when someone appeared in front of him. In front of all of them.
It was Lily.
The Muggles were stunned at what they saw, who they saw. A woman, youthful in appearance dressed in gleaming white robes, and Fiery Red hair and Brilliant Emerald Green Eyes.
It was Lily. The Muggle Minister recognized her.
"Hello, Lily." He tried to remain calm but his pulse was racing at the turn of events. He didn't know what was coming.
"Minister, you need not fear me, nor my people. We promised you a surprise and as you can see out your window, you do, indeed, have one! What do you think?"
"How, how did you do it? I mean, I just don't know what to say. This just isn't possible."
"It is, indeed possible, but it is all done through Father. It is He who bestowed upon us our abilities, and it is He who has given me my tasks to preform. All my people are safe, now, on our world. We're making a life for ourselves and our kind. This is our world now, and we will keep it, tend to it, and preserve it for all eternity. Minister, this is our home, you've got yours now, and we've got ours. You may come and visit us when you feel the need to, but, for a visit only. We're a very kind and generous people but we do need a home of our own, and Earth suits us." Lily was looking over the gathered mass of Muggles that had come to see her, some were recording the events, which Lily allowed. Some good will eventually come of all this, she thought to herself.
But, there were some Muggles who were not as kind, and to these, Lily aimed her next statement.
"Minister, this is now OUR HOME and we will defend it – absolutely. We can not be overcome nor defeated by any of you. I do know that there are among you those who want to take back our world, but this I can't allow. Greed and a lack of charity have no place in our world. We've all learned love, charity, and sacrifice and we are now one people of one mind. We all have families, friends and we just want to stay together. You who are our friends and wish to learn from us, are indeed welcome. BUT, those who are greedy, are warned to stay away. We know who you are and you will NOT be allowed on, or near, our world."
Lily walked up to the Minister and held out her arms and hugged him, closely for a while. "Minister, you are our friend and are indeed, welcome to our world anytime. I'll come see you from time to time. I'll miss you, greatly – my friend. Before I leave, may we take a short walk? Together? There's something I'd like to discuss with you and you alone."
"Of course, Lily. We've not got much room to walk or places to go, but we'll certainly talk. My door is always open to you."
Lily took the Muggle Minister's hand and they walked a short distance away from the many people. Lily looked back and waved her hand, placing a quieting spell around themselves so they could have a little privacy in their speech.
"Minister," Lily began, looking into his eyes and his mind, "There's so much I can do for you to help you help your own people. They have great potential and one day, under the right leadership they will be a great people. Now that you're in a new world of your own, it's a good time for you to take advantage of my help and suggestions. I can foresee that one day, in the far distant future your people and my people, there'll not be any difference between us. It has taken us so long just for my people to reach this level that our Father has helped us with. Just so long. But, one day, if your people will listen to my people, all this that I've foretold to you will come about. This, as I've told to you, is the eventual future of your people."
The Muggle Minister just looked at Lily, hardly believing what he'd just heard. But, he did believe her. "We need so much help, Lily, and it'll take a lot of time and weeding out of the bad influences." He just let his countenance fall somewhat at the overwhelming thought of the magnitude of what Lily was describing what Lily said.
"Minister, Please, look at me." Lily had her hand on his chin, tilting his face back up to look into her eyes. "All things are possible with Father, Just have faith and don't expect things to happen immediately. All I've said is true. Use us as a good resource and example, and all will turn out as I said." Lily turned to go, but before she did she added "Oh, and Minister, when that day dawns for your people, I'll be there, just as I am now, just as you see me now. I will not have changed." Lily hugged him for the longest time.
With that all said and done, Lily smiled and waved at them all and Disapparated, quietly.
Lily Apparated back at the Burrow, her home and was welcomed by her family. She looked at them, all standing there together. Lily could feel the closeness, the love emanating from them as she once felt that same feeling from her other brothers and sisters in her Fathers' Home. For what she was feeling which came from them was proper, and as it should be, for now, now, they were like Lily, emanating THEIR Fathers' Grace. The old world had burned away and a new world took its' place, populated by her fellow siblings and living as if this were their Fathers' Home.
She hugged them all, tears in her eyes. Her major work was done, now. She just walked a bit by herself in her thoughts. James was by her side, silently.
"Darling," She began, "all I ever wanted was to be a Mum to my son. That's what I asked of Father when we were with Him. I just wanted to be a Mum, and look at what He has given us." Lily shook her head at trying to comprehend all that that'd imply.
"Lily, you've been a Mum to our son. And much, much more!" James added.
Lily looked at her eternal companion, "Yes, James, my beloved, yes, I have!"
Author's Note: The title of this, and the preceding story, The Gift –
My question to you isWhat is the Gift and who received it?
Aurthor's Note:
I've wanted to write this story since reading many others here. This story has a lot of 'me' in it. I've included a lot of music in this story, but it's only available on my copy on my own computer. I've used the format Open Office strickly to place the music in it. I've also included some pictures. I'm not making any money off this, in fact, rarely do I even get any reviews, but I wrote this story just because i made me feel good. Currently, I'm going through a lot of 'personal crisis' in my own private life and may be changing my e-mail address in the very near future, but I will be getting another address. If you like this story, please, E-mail me. I'll reply to everyone in a courteous manner. To me, Families ARE forever, even ifI'm loosing onenow, Istill have hope in the future. Thank you for reading my work. I still update my story from time to time even if I don'tpost those updates here. E-mail me if you wish to: See my profile at this web site.