Whole Once More.


If there is one thing Tom Marvolo Riddle was good at, it was talking when he should have been killing. Which gave me plenty of time to decipher the runes Misery put up, find a way to counteract them, and get out of here. Although the snake venom slowly coursing through my body was proving to be a problem.

And me without my Phoenix tears.

"After our previous encounter," Voldemort said. "Your powerful magic expelled me from my previous vessel. Quirrell burned to a crisp and I was forced to flee Hogwarts. I just barely managed to make it back to Albania. If it had not been for certain safeguards, you would have destroyed me, Potter. As it was, my plan to acquire the Philosopher's Stone was foiled."

Did not really have the desire to tell Riddle that the Philosopher's Stone was a fake. Did not care.

"I had waited, weakened, for future opportunities to present themselves. Fate intervened, when an inquisitive young witch and her friends happened to me in the Forest. They showed their devotion to me, where others have failed. That young witch prepared to pledge herself to me."

"That young witch was me!" Misery cried out.

"You don't say," Merula gasped.

"She and her associates decided to perform an ancient magical ritual, which transferred my essence into her womb, to be created as new life. I grew and months later, I had been reborn into this rudimentary body.

I suppose it would have to be less than nine months, because the math does not check out. Even Joanne Kathleen Rowling herself could figure out as much and she is not good at math.

"Her body had been changed though further rituals to nurse me back to full strength," Voldemort remarked. "Rituals with snake venom and unicorn blood allowed her to give me the fluids I needed. Further blood sacrifices were needed, therefore more women were lurred out with promises of sanctuary. Their unborn children served to further sustain me."

Voldemort painted an even grimmer picture.

"They served you well, boo-boo face," Misery breathed.

Voldemort kept down the bile, somehow.

"Misery proved herself to be more adept than I had ever imagined due to her…personality," Voldemort remarked. "Although her plans to unleash a rare breed of snakes onto a train was shortsighted."

"But, my Lord, they are precious little babies who needed to feed," Misery cooed. "And Harry Potter just starved him! That nasty little boy, oh yes he is!"

"Do you know where those snakes came from?" I managed.

I wanted to gauge how much Voldemort knew about the Cloaks. If anything.

"It matters little, for they will serve me once I take the Ministry," Voldemort said. "Such creatures have potential. And you do as well, Harry Potter. The moment I tasted your power, I knew what I needed to do."

To be honest, I slowly nodded off as Voldemort continued his evil spiel. He went on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

"Potter!"

"What a story, Mark, haha," I slurred in a sleepy voice.

"Do I bore you, Potter?"

"Huh?" I asked. "Something about your evil plan."

"You should show some matters, little boy!" Misery snapped. "You would think that you would have more manners, growing up in a cupboard underneath the stairs."

"Let's not make light of Harry's despicable living arrangements," Voldemort said. "Albus Dumbledore never understood how the place where we must call home would be Hell. Did he, Harry Potter?"

I agreed, but I was not going to agree verbally. I did not want to encourage Voldemort.

"This magnificent fountain will allow me to have powers beyond all imagining," Voldemort continued. "But, first, I will use the unique properties of the fountain to drain your powers, and use them to restore my body. Should you survive the process, well, I hope you enjoy strained carrots Potter!"

"Master, aren't we supposed to kill him anyway?" one of the cloaked figures asked.

"You don't know what you're doing, Tom," I told him.

"I believe I do, Potter," Voldemort said. "I will rise again and you will fall into obscurity, as it should be. A fluke of magic bought you ten more miserable years of your life. In the next ten minutes you will be…"

A sound of someone taking out two of the Death Eaters behind them. Misery spun around and also dropped Voldemort. One of the cultists whipped a wand around and ensnared the intruder in cords.

Nymphadora Tonks fell to the ground. The Death Eaters, for lack of a better turn, drew the bound Tonks, who looked up in shock.

"Merula? CJ?" she asked. "Harry?"

"And me!" Bellatrix yelled. "Don't forget about me."

"What are you doing here?" Tonks asked.

I had to say it. It was too easy.

"Oh, you know, just hanging around," I said. "What are you doing here?"

"I…was taking a closer look at the things going on Godric's Hollow,," Tonks managed. "But, something tripped me up. And for once it wasn't my own two feet."

"She's a Metamorphamagus, boo-boo!" Misery squealed. "We can make some use of her."

"Indeed we can, once we sufficiently peel back the layers of her mind," Voldemort said. "But, it's time I have a chat with one of my most devoted followers. Bellatrix."

Bellatrix's eyes fixed on him. If Voldemort noticed the hate in them, he did not comment.

"Let her down, Misery."

"Bad plant, drop Bella-Trixie!"

"What did you call…ooof!"


Bellatrix Lestrange had been freed. I had my eyes fixed on the runes.

"Be still my child," I murmured underneath my breath. "No harm can come to you here. You have no need to fear. Under my watchful eye, you will be strong and bright. You will be brave, you will save the day. From the lands, far and near, you will soar. You will be able to face what is in store."

"What are you doing?" Merula hissed.

"Rest well, rest long," I murmured. "With your dear mother here, nothing will go wrong."

The runes on the walls started to glow. I had the right note.

"Bellatrix, it's been a while," Voldemort said. "You were devoted once others fled. You braved the hellish prison that was Azkaban, for your master. You will live to serve me once again. Will you Bella?"

"No."

Voldemort's eyes fixed on her and the other Death Eaters snapped onto her. That allowed me to keep my attention on unscrambling those runes and disabling them.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I don't serve you," Bellatrix said. "I know what you are, Tom Marvolo Riddle. You lied to us all. You're not a crusader. You're a fraud."

"Bella, Bella, Bella," Voldemort said. "You pledged yourself to me once you took that mark. Lest you forget."

Bellatrix's blood curdling screams echoed so loudly they could be heard several villages over. My focus had been diverted.

"Without me, you are nothing," Voldemort said. "You would have been an afterthough, the spare Black sister. The trophy wife of Rodolphus Lestrange. I taught you everything you know about the dark arts, but not everything I know."

Bellatrix started to gasp and choke on her own blood.

"Stop it!" Tonks yelled. "You're killing her."

"No, she's more useful to me alive," Voldemort said. "As a rabid dog which is to be unleashed on those who deserve it the most. You enjoy it Bellatrix. You enjoy torturing them. Maiming them. You enjoy making them suffer. You enjoy making them fear you almost as they fear me. Almost."

Two of the Death Eaters pulled Bellatrix up.

"Don't you?"

"Yes," Bellatrix admitted. "I do. I enjoy all of that. I'm a monster."

"Yes, you are, and who would have you?" Voldemort asked. "But me. I give you a purpose in your life. And you have no choice to…."

"There's some miserable little brat lurking down the tunnel!" one of the heads on the Runespoor hissed.

"Misery!" Voldemort yelled.

"Hold the master!" Misery yelled.

Misery blitzed down the tunnel. I noticed I had two runes down and three more to go. But, now what.

A body flew down the tunnel past us. Beatrice Haywood landed on the ground with a thud. How did she get down here?"

"Cassie?" Merula? Tonks? Harry?"

Several vines ensnared Beatrice and pinned her down to the ground. One of the vines wrapped around her neck to strangle her.

"Perhaps an example should be made out of this interloper," Voldemort said. "Bellatrix. You know what to do."

Bellatrix rose to her feet, the mark still burning into her arm. She lifted her wand.

"I…I'm not your pawn anymore!" Bellatrix shrieked. "I'm a proud daughter of the most noble and ancient house of Black, and I do not bow to some bastard abomination of a squib and a Muggle who tore his soul apart using magic that he cannot…"

Bellatrix slammed down to the ground, one of the vipers implanting into her back. She spasmed in agony when the poison coursed through her.

"I'll do it, I'll show you that I'm much more devoted than she ever is!" Misery cried. "CRUCIO!"

Beatrice screamed in agony. Almost there. Damn it to hell. She can pull the damn curse off.

Bellatrix ripped the viper out of her back. She breathed heavily, with the snake venom coursing through her body.

"You call that a Cruciatias Curse?" Bellatrix asked. "This is a Cruciatias Curse. CRUCIO!"

Bellatrix dropped Misery to her knees and she screamed her head off. Bellatrix whipped Misery's body around to try and fight her way to the Death Eaters.

Beatrice rose up, shaky, and breathing. I caught her eye.

"Smash it!" I breathed.

Beatrice nodded and blasted the rune. It sparkled to dust.

"Stop Potter!" one of them screamed.

"INFERNUS!" I shouted. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

First the fire scorched the Devil's Snare, and then the Patronus backed off that Dementor Runespoor which had been left down the hallway. I managed to free myself, along with Tonks, Merula, and Cassie.

The tunnel started to collapse on the other side. I managed to prevent it from crushing Cassie, Tonks, Beatrice, and Merula.

"I'll find another way through!" Harry yelled.

"Are you insane?"

Really Merula? After all we've been through, you're still asking that question? I broke pst the seal of the the cave in not knowing what I would find on the other side.


I think I might be right on top of the Fountain of Imperium. And more plants tried to strangle me, but this time I was ready for them.

Bellatrix fell down to the ground, gasping in misery. And Misery was right on top of her, slamming Bellatrix down into the ground. I rushed towards them.

And the cave started to turn topsy turvy. It was rather hard to concentrate with this viper venom coursing through my body and inflaming me on all sides.

Suddenly, I saw Rosemary arrive and blast three of the cloaked figures away. Rosemary took a half of a step before she collapsed.

Bellatrix pushed her way forward and gasped in agony. I dodged a falling rock. My head started to do the bongo drums.

"Subdue this one!" Voldemort demanded. "And Potter!"

A magic box closed on me. Great. This might not be my day. Granted, there's always a weak spot in something like this. Voldemort's face screwed into agony.

"The ritual is ready," Voldemort said. "Misery, test it."

"Of course, boo, anything you say. This is going to so totally be epic!"

Misery grabbed Bellatrix and mystical energy rose from the ground and ensnared them both. The Dark Mark disappeared from Bellatrix's arm and appeared on Misery's. She smiled.

"It was a pleasure meeting you," Misery said. "But, from Hell's heart, I stab at thee!"

Misery stabbed Bellatrix and knocked her off of the ledge. Bellatrix's body plummeted, I am not sure how far down, because that far down is not good. Rosemary's anguish screams were haunting and nonstop, at least until she blacked out.

The curse has not been broken yet, damn it. And that might have fucked her. I really had no time to unpack what just happened due to my own problems.

The cultists turned to Misery.

"It's from Moby's Dick," Misery said. "

They all looked at her.

"Really? You're that uncultured that you've never heard of Moby's Dick?"

"What is it?" one of the cultists asked.

"Oh, I think it's a poem about some guy's penis," Misery said.

I broke the base of the cage and came out swinging. And almost spinning. Because my head is literally spinning. And I could feel something burning. The Horcrux in my scar feels like it's about to burst through the wall like the Kool-aid man.

"And now, Harry Potter. I bid you farewell."

Oh, Tom, you silly, silly, boy.


The cave walls blew open. In comes Astra, Kara, and Zari, tearing through the minions with a force trying to get to , Merula, and Tonks brought up the rear and blasted them hard.

"NO!"

Magical energy swirled and made the cave brighten. Astra's attempts to stop what was happening resulted in her getting lifted off of the ground and slammed down hard.

"My true power will come to light!"

Voldemort rose up, complete, full, in all of his snake-face glory. I rose up, thankfully that I had not been turned into some demented snake-baby or some wraith which got sucked into oblivion. All good signs.

Well, Voldemort's solid again. Maybe. But, maybe not.

"Potter, you live," Voldemort said as Misery passed Voldemort his wand. "But not for much longer. AVADA KEDAVRA!"

And nothing. But a jet of green light. Most certainly not a spark. I broke into a hysterical fit of laughter which only served to enrage Voldemort even more.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort yelled. "Give me your wand, Misery!"

"Yes, honey bear!" Misery squealed.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Third time was not the charm.

"Performance issues, Riddle?" I asked. "It happens a lot to a guy your age. Don't be ashamed of it."

Voldemort performed several spells. Nothing worked. And I mean nothing.

"So, the famous Lord Voldemort," Merula said.

"Oh, I wouldn't be too intimidated by him, Merula," I said. "This big blowhard is nothing without his magic."

I bopped Voldemort right on his no-nose, because I could.

"It's impossible!" Voldemort yelled.

"You're like your common Muggle father," I needled. "Completely and utterly powerless. Thanks for taking the Horcrux you left in my head. And the snake venom as well. I'll be keeping your magic that you so graciously swapped with the Horcrux in my head. What little magic it had in it, was used to construct your adult body."

"This is just a minor setback, Potter!" Voldemort yelled. "I have taken measures that you cannot even dream of to secure my immortality. This is a minor setback!"

"Oh you mean like your diary?" Astra asked. "Completely destroyed."

"The Hufflepuff Cup?" I asked him. "Decimated."

"Diadem of Ravenclaw?" Kara chimed in. "Completely purged of the Horcrux."

"Locket of Slytherin?" Zari asked. "That tacky piece of jewerly was burned by snake venom."

"And the ring of dear Marvolo Gaunt?" I asked. "That's mine. And purged."

"No," Voldemort said.

"Yes," I said.

"YOU NASTY LITTLE BOY! WHAT DID YOU DO?"

Suddenly, Misery fell down to her knees. The mark on her skin burned.

"Boo-bookins, I don't feel so good," Misery gasped. "What is this Dark Mark doing to me?"

"Search me," I said.

"Potter, you will pay!" Voldemort yelled.

"Cash or credit?" I asked. "Because, I think you've got far more pressing issues."

Astra's eyes widened when the ground beneath Voldemort opened up. Beatrice stumbled in behind us, just in time to see all of the cultists in the cave turn into stone, before us. Misery's screams grew louder and louder as more of her body had been covered by stone.

"Oh, dear me, Tom, hoisted by your own petard," I said. "Live by the Horcrux. Die by the Horcrux. And with your soul now as whole as it's ever going to be, there's some friends which are dying to meet you!"

Rotting-corpse like hands tore through the ground and grabbed onto Voldemort. Hellfire surrounded Voldemort as he had been dragged down to his fiery torment.

"I'll get you, someday, Harry Potter!" Voldemort yelled.

Just not someday soon, eh, Tommy Boy?

"Bye, Felicia!" I said while waving at Voldemort.

The ground swallowed Voldemort up. I stepped back, completely devoid of one Horcrux. And Misery and the others around me crumbled into dust.

Astra walked over to me.

"Fine," I told her. "It's over."

And suddenly, the cave around us started to crumble. Yeah, this could be a bit of a problem.

"I really wish we were out of here!" Beatrice screamed.

A doorway opened. Never one to look a gift portal in the mouth, we all rushed though. Only I lingered for a second.

"Harry, we've got to go."

"Bellatrix is still down there," I told them.

"She's gone," Rosemary gasped. "I can't feel her."

That caused me to close my eyes. And Kara and Astra helped me through the portal. Because, they knew I would try to save Bellatrix.

Damn. Just damn.


Beatrice collapsed outside, and she was not the only one. Tonks, Merula, and Cassie joined her onto the ground. Along with a completely devastated looking Rosemary. And I looked out to the ground which we entered. Only there had been no signs that there was an entrance.

"Penny was worried when you did not come back," Beatrice said.

"I know, she was upset when I talked to her," Tonks said. "Bellatrix?"

"She's gone," Rosemary said. "And he is as well. I'm free. But, why do I feel so lost?"

"She's not gone," I told her.

"Harry, no one could survive that," Zari offered.

"And how many of our friends have died and come back?" I asked her.

"Touche," Zari said.

As if on cue, a bright light submerged from the ground and the fountain rose up. A whirlpool opened up and suddenly something had been shot out of it.

"I don't believe it," Merula said.

Sure enough, there she was, still weak, but alive. Bellatrix Lestrange laid on the ground. She opened one bleary eye.

"Did we win?" Bellatrix asked.

"Voldemort's done," I told her.

"Then, we won," Bellatrix said. "Oh, everything hurts like hell."

"How did you survive?" Tonks asked.

"Wish I knew," Bellatrix said. "I think that bint Misery saved my life by taking my Dark Mark. It's a pity she took my magic as well when she did that."

"Wait, you're a squib?" Merula asked.

"Excuse me, I believe the proper term is magically impaired," Bellatrix said. "And yes, I'm…one of those. I think."

We gently lifted Bellatrix up to her feet. Kara and Zari held her up.

"Bellatrix Lestrange, Merula Snyde, and Cassandra Jacobs, all here tonight, and the Ministry has orders for you to be brought in," Tonks said.

"Nice to be in such company," Bellatrix said. "Misery dead as well?"

"Yes," I said.

"She had a few screws loose on that one," Bellatrix said. "I'm going to miss my magic, if it's gone for good."

"I think we're avoiding a big problem," Tonks said.

"Yeah, they're wanted, so what?" Beatrice asked. "Are you going to bring them in?"

"No," Tonks said. "But, if the Ministry finds out…"

"They won't," Beatrice said. "At least I really wish they won't."

Huh, that's the third time Beatrice said she wished something tonight. I felt a very familiar presence.

But, it can't be.

"Let's get back to Hogwarts," I said. "All of us."

"We…we can't," Cassie said.

"Hogwarts is now a sanctuary for those who don't have any other place to be," Kara said. "You should come with us."

"Yeah, you really should," Astra said. "Even you, Merula."

"Didn't think you cared, Logue," Merula said.

"Someone's still sore she didn't get to be Lady Black!" Astra said in a sing-song voice.

The two extremely powerful sorceresses stared at each other.

"Okay you two, enough," Kara said. "We'll see you two around sometime."

"Given our luck and the fact Harry and I have a tendency to attract trouble, sometime soon," Cassie said.

Cassie and Merula disappeared. I turned to Beatrice.

"Your sister is going to have a fit," I told her.

"I know," Beatrice said. "So, do you think you have it in you to break the laws of magic again?"

"One more time tonight," I told her. "But first."

Astra and I walked over to a small swirling vortex where the fountain spat up Bellatrix.

"See you down the road, old friend," Astra said.

"Thanks," I said.

The fountain vanished to pop up in the American Southwest in the early 2000s. So about another ten or so years.

And now with the Fountain of Imperium gone, it was our cue to split.


I just returned after destroying all of the bones of anyone named Riddle or Gaunt. Because, despite the fact that Voldemort was sent to Hell, why take any chances?

I wondered what the stars said tonight, now that Voldemort was eliminated. I feel like with what I have learned this year, Voldemort is only one battle in a larger, more complicated situation. However, it was a personal matter. I had this thought in my mind when I almost ran headlong into Arthur Weasley.

"Oh, sorry, Mr. Weasley," I said. "I've got a lot on my mind."

"I know the feeling," Arthur said.

"So what are you doing here?" I asked.

"Well, I'm going back to school," Arthur said. "Oh, I will be in the summer. Professor Tarazi's summer Muggle studies classes for adults. I have to say, I'm excited to learn more so I can do a much better job at…well my job."

"Well, Zari's always thrilled to teach people why they should not take their toaster into the bath," I told her.

"Well, your toast would get all soggy for one thing," Arthur said.

Oh, Arthur. Just, oh, Arthur. Seriously, he's the best man for the job. And he did improve his knowledge over the years, so he is willing to learn.

"I've been having a discussion with Molly," Arthur said. "She really wants our children to attend the Ministry's new school, but I talked with her and we compromised. That's what Doctor Foster told us. We have to learn how to compromise, and she's learning, I swear. She isn't used to it, but we've decided that it will be up to them. And we'll support them in what they want to do. That's what we should do as parents. Support their dreams, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone."

"Sounds great," I said.

I could see maybe only Percy deciding to attend the Ministry's school. Although, Molly being so devoted to the Ministry after all they have done is really concerning. If she's learning to be less of a control freak, and Arthur asserts himself a little bit more, maybe there's hope there.

I would not want to close the door on it.

"I need to sign up while there's still spots available," Arthur said. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck, Mr. Weasley," I said.

I walked and almost ran into Draco Malfoy,who had an official looking document in his hands.

"Potter," Malfoy said.

"Malfoy," I said to him.

"My father has fallen ill," Malfoy said. "A lot of pureblood wizards have heads of family. They can't even perform the simplest of spells anymore."

And I would imagine that each of those wizards claimed the Imperius Curse. And had a Dark Mark. Imagine that.

Unfortunately, as Sirius pointed out, the world was not divided with good people and Death Eaters. So, there were still some people who did not advertise their malice with a nice little tattoo.

"There's something really wrong, Potter," Malfoy said. "And you're the head of the house of Black. My mother's house. I trust you can keep this matter confidential."

"I can tell you that nothing we say leaves this conversation," I told him. "But, we should move to a more private venue than a Hogwarts hallway. You know how the portraits gossip."

Malfoy nodded in response and we walked into the classroom. I was careful to let Malfoy walk in front of me at all times. Call it old habits which die hard.

"Read this," Malfoy said.

He handed me a document.

"Draco and Lyra Malfoy," I read. "You had a twin sister?"

"She died three days after I was born," Malfoy said. "At least according to this document. But I have memories. Her memories. Up until she was three years old."

"What?" I asked.

"That's what the snakes made me see," Malfoy said. "They say magical twins have a strong bond, but I'm seeing these memories of someone who should have been dead for three years. And then it's all me. All Draco Malfoy."

"Maybe someone modified your memory," I suggested.

"Maybe," Malfoy said. "Or maybe someone modified these records. Because, I think that Draco Malfoy died when he was three days ago. Until my father did something he should not have to bring his son back at the expense of his daughter."

Well, this was kind of a mindfuck. Which explained while Malfoy spent so much time researching blood magic.

"Your father would…would he do that?"

"I'm learning a lot about my father that I don't like," Malfoy said. "Since Longbottom started to make some noise about his parents, thanks to you, they are really clamping down on the records. And my father is a big doner."

"You have a mother," I reminded him.

"And if Father used the spells I think he did, she won't remember a damn thing, and would likely flip out if I mentioned a daughter she thought died shortly after birth," Malfoy said. "Potter, I don't know how you do it, but you get these things done and expose the truth no matter how inconvenient it is. I need the truth. No matter how hard it is to swallow."

"What's your last memory of Lyra?" I asked.

"I…she saw some guy in a cloak meet with Father," Malfoy said. "But that's unimportant."

That sounds very important.

"I'll do some digging," I said. "And I'll get back to you."

"I detest being in your debt," Malfoy said. "But, I have no choice."

No, you really don't, do you? I sensed something insidious happening, and I would have to figure out what Lucius did to make this happen.

"Your sister must have been a powerful witch," I said.

"Of course she is, she's related to me."

Ah, that's the Draco Malfoy I remember oh so fondly. Only not really.

"Is my aunt okay?" Draco asked.

"Bellatrix?"

"Yes, her," Draco said. "Is she afflicted with the same thing as my father?"

"Ask her," I said. "If you dare."

Malfoy muttered beneath his breath and left me all alone. I made my way out to the Hogwarts grounds. Beatrice was on the ground and flinging magical daggers at a practice dummy.

I have the strangest feeling I had a revelation about something the other night. But, it has passed. That might end up bugging me over the summer.

Maybe. If it was important, I would have remembered it.

I sat down, with Kara and Astra coming up on either side of me. They scooted close to me.

"That kid has a lot of guts," Astra said. "She would make a hell of a Legend."

"Technically, you're three years younger than that kid," I told her.

"She's got a good heart," Kara said. "With a tormented past. Does that remind you of anyone?"

"Quite a few people actually," I said. "So, next portal, Mum's coming home."

"Yes," Astra agreed. "Although where or when that is, I don't know."

We will find it. Lily deserved to return back to a normal life. I just wish there was a way to bring Astra's mother back.

Perenelle Flamel walked out to the grounds and Ariana walked with her.

"I've just been showing her Hogwarts," Elle said. "She still wants to come here. With everything settled, next year migt be ideal."

"And Rosemary," Ariana said. "She's happy that she's free from that burden. Sad that Bellatrix lost her magic though. I wonder what we'll do for the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher next year."

"There's still hope," I told her.

"There always is," Kara agreed.

"Mmm, hmm," Ariana said. "Albus has learned his lesson, finally. He wants to speak to you."

I blinked in surprise at Ariana's statement.

"How do you know?"

"I know," she said sweetly. "Do you want to see him? He might only have days left. Living your trauma for almost eight months was not healthy for him."

I suppose I better, for closure. To St. Mungos I go.

"I'll come with you,' Elle said.

I agreed. Best to have an extra set of eyes due to the potentially dodgy things going at St. Mungos.

To Be Continued.