A/N: And here is the last and final chapter of the story. Please let me know what you think…

Thank you to Gurgaraneth for still reading this story and for reviewing

Epilogue

A shadow watched from a dark corner as two teens sat next to each other at a party without noticing each other. Both seemed to be stuck in their own little world as they waited for the party to end so that they could return to their dorm rooms in peace.

One of the Gryffindors started singing really off key and the Ravenclaw girl seemed to hit the limit of her patience as she abruptly stood up. The shadow lightly waved his hand and sent her stumbling into the Slytherin boy next to her, almost making the Slytherin spill his drink.

The Slytherin turned an angry scowl towards her, but it disappeared as he finally noticed the Ravenclaw, who had frozen in the middle of her stuttered apology as she finally noticed the Slytherin in return.

"Hi, I'm Gellert…" The Slytherin held out his hand and the Ravenclaw hesitantly placed her hand into his.

"I'm Ariana…" The Slytherin smiled as she blushed when he kissed her hand.

"This might sound a little forward, but do you want to get out of here?" The Slytherin held his breath as he waited for her answer, and he slowly released it as she nodded with a shy smile.

"But where would we go?" The Slytherin pondered the Ravenclaw's question for a moment before the ideal location formed in his mind.

"I know a place, but you will have to keep it a secret." The Ravenclaw nodded eagerly and the Slytherin took her hand before leading her away from the party. Neither noticed the shadow that followed them.

They followed the stairs to the seventh floor and the Slytherin asked her to wait as he paced up and down the hall three times. A secret door appeared much to the Ravenclaw's delight and the Slytherin motioned for her to open the doors.

What waited inside was a perfect blend of comfort and knowledge. Lines upon lines of books were neatly packed in bookcases that lined the room and the Ravenclaw could already spot quite a few titles she hadn't read before. The center of the room held comfy-looking couches and the Ravenclaw excitedly grabbed the Slytherin's hand to drag him inside, barely giving him a second to close the door.

The shadow watched happily as the two grabbed a book and made themselves comfortable on one of the couches. They read together and spoke excitedly whenever they came across a new piece of knowledge.

The shadow finally retreated, knowing that they would talk well into the night. He stepped out of the shadows and into a different castle, where he froze as his back was abruptly pulled against the front of another body, and a hand moved to hold his arms in place as another folded over his mouth.

The person behind him pressed his lips to his ear and he shuddered as Marvolo spoke. "What was so important that you had to leave our bed at this time of the morning?"

The hand slipped away from his mouth before slithering down over his throat and then moving towards his shoulder as Marvolo nuzzled the back of his neck, giving him a serious case of goosebumps.

"You know I can't think and form an answer when you do this!" He tried to sound irritated, but Marvolo was merely amused by his words before he bit down on Hadrian's ear without a warning.

Hadrian let loose a yelp before quickly escaping from Marvolo's arms and turning around to glare at him. "That was not nice!"

His soulmate merely grinned before pulling him close and hugging him once more. "It wasn't nice of you to leave me alone at breakfast with your minions either."

Hadrian mock-glared at him, and the humor of the situation quickly set in. "They were your minions first you know. They just decided to change jobs after a while."

Marvolo gave a huffed laugh as he nuzzled his soulmate. "You've ruined them, even though I don't crucio my followers anymore, the threat still had some merit until you declared that Reapers were immune to it."

Hadrian smiled. "They made that choice by themselves, you know that!"

Marvolo kissed him with a grin. "I know, which is why I suggest we get a move on before those twin menaces find us…" He gave a mock shudder as if to emphasize the consequences and Hadrian looked around after a small, yet very real, shudder of his own.

They had only revealed his new title to the closest of friends on the day that they returned. None of them had thrown a fit however and Hadrian had been surprised when Draco and Severus were the first ones to ask if there was a way to be able to join them in the realm of Death.

Adriana had easily revealed that certain souls could be made into Reapers if they were genuine enough about it without having alternate goals, and in the end, most of the Death Eaters as well as Hadrian's friends decided to become Reapers upon their death.

Once this was done, Hadrian gathered everyone together and declared that anyone that found their soulmate, would be able to either leave the title of Reaper behind and go into the reincarnation circle to join them, or they would be able to turn their soulmate's soul into a Reaper's if their soulmate chose to do so.

Harry thought that most of them would follow their soulmates right away, but it did not happen, and he found himself relaxing around his friends as they stayed by his side without complaint.

Marvolo nudged him towards their bedroom where a set of clothes had been set out. "Get dressed, I have a surprise for you."

Hadrian looked at the clothes in confusion before he pulled them on. Marvolo wouldn't take 'no' for an answer anyway and who was he kidding…he lived to make his soulmate happy.

He cautiously walked through the castle as he felt the masses of Reapers and Marvolo standing in the ballroom. He never revealed the ability because he knew it would dampen Marvolo's constant need to surprise and spoil him, but as he opened the doors, he found himself pleasantly surprised at a giant cake with candles and the many presents packed beneath it.

He turned to Marvolo in confusion and the man held him close before whispering into his ear, "Happy Birthday, Harry".

That one simple reminder of his birth name floored him as the pressure finally broke. He hugged Marvolo tightly as he tried to compose himself. All the hurt and terror seemed to flow from him as he finally calmed down and he looked up at the man he loved more than life itself.

His soulmate had cast a barrier around them without a second thought and was looking at him with worry shining in his eyes.

"I'm alright, Marvolo, I just really didn't expect this."

Marvolo drew him close. "I know, which is why I plan on making it up to you with every single birthday you have. I may not be able to make up for everything, but I intend to try…"

The ex-Dark Lord would have spoken more but he scowled as Hadrian cuffed him over the head with a smile.

"You don't need to explain, as long as I have you and our friends, I am happier than I had ever been before…"

He was about to speak more but Marvolo silenced him before turning him around, revealing his parents and Sirius who was now clothed in the Reapers' cloaks.

Marvolo whispered into his ear, "I love you, Hadrian, everything I am belongs to you. And I want to give you everything you deserve".

Marvolo was pleasantly surprised when instead of immediately running to his parents and godfather, Harry turned to him instead. "Thank you…thank you, thank YOU, THANK YOU!"

Hours later, Hadrian finally felt content as, after a long night of dancing and socializing, he sat on Marvolo's lap and told his parents and godfather about what happened. No one judged him for his decisions, and he finally settled down. He could do this; he could be Death…because he had Marvolo at his side.

And if Marvolo sneakily placed a bonding ring on his finger as he kissed him when they had a private picnic on a beach at midnight…well no one would know until morning.

The End