EPILOGUE

"Look who's there", whispered Ron, turning his chin toward the three shapes emerging out of mist of the Platform 9 3/4. The light's reflection on the blond hair was the first thing that he, or anybody, would see. Not hard then to guess who they belong to.

Draco Malfoy's gaze crossed Harry's, and he nodded. Like he acknowledged his existence, before turning back to his spawn and his beautiful, though tired-looking wife. Harry had not seen him much, this past years, but every time he did, the look on his face brought him back almost two decades back.

Of course, the murders of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy had covered the front page of every newspapers for weeks. What shook Harry to his core was when, three days after that fateful evening, as he was half drunk in the middle of the surprise birthday party all his friend had planned for him, a couple of Aurors showed up to his doorstep for interrogation.

It took time to finally manage to calm down his heart and think rationally that, if they had anything against him, he would already be in a Ministry cell.

They were here because of Kreacher. Stupidly enough, Harry had not though that leaving a Malfoy survivor would necessarily bring to light the fact that his own elf had been serving them for a month, then had completely disappeared. But this was why he had planned his alibis so carefully. "Just in case". He pretended that Kreacher was at Hogwarts, getting healed by his kind.

The unveiled truth was that he never went there and had decided to betray his master, or punish him, for some reason of his own, confirmed by what Draco Malfoy himself (or at least, thought he knew about the servant).

Harry Potter, looking more shocked than ever, as well as Hermione, was more than happy to go with this theory. Ronald, despite his more recent appreciation for the old elf, was pretending that he always knew it was coming, that the little bastard had never been trustworthy, and that he had betrayed Sirius too before. If he was dead, it had it coming, and if he was not, Ron wished he would be soon.

The investigations went on. Draco's testimony was pretty much useless. The only thing the investigators had were the painting's testimonies, and they all concord to the same thing. The Malfoy ancestors all claimed that the patriarch of the House had be slain by a beast. A monster.

Rumors started from there that Death Eaters might have created a new race of werewolves, using black magic, one that didn't need the full moon to transform. The Aurors, however, quickly dismissed those ideas and tried to tie it up with the Azkaban slaughter, until they started a manhunt for a rogue Death Eater that was murdering his former colleagues, despite the lack of leads. And even though it made Harry concerned, he was never be worried by the Aurors. Not a single second did it create any issue during his time at the Auror Training Program. With time, it just went on as a case that would never be solved, despite Draco's best efforts to keep from the Ministry giving up.

Ironically, crossing the last names off his list was probably the best thing that could happen in regard to Narcissa's request. Draco Malfoy's hearing got postponed for a couple of months, due to the on-going investigation. When it became clear that they would go nowhere, or at least that the Aurors were sure the son had nothing to do with it, the Ministry's officials allowed the course of the legal action to resume. And as the late Mrs Malfoy had asked him, Harry showed up. His speech was short, almost toneless, but he nevertheless stated that young Mr Malfoy had suffered enough in the light of the recent events, that he himself knew what it was like to become orphan, and that if Justice meant anything to the Wizarding World, then young man would be allowed to try and rebuild his life. His old enemy had looked at him with a mix of gratitude and disgust on his face, trying hard at the same time to stop tears from flowing. A few voices raised against the cause, mostly politicians keeping some grudges at Lucius for whatever shit he had pulled on them during his career, but in the end, the voice of Harry mattered more than anyone else. Draco Malfoy's house arrest was lifted and he was allowed, if he wished so, to go through his NEWTs at Hogwarts or from home. His funds were unblocked, free for him to use, although monitored by the Auror department for a duration of five years. Any contact with a Death Eater would earn him a quick trip straight to Azkaban. So would any proof that he hid information about his parent's murders.

In the end, as he walked out of court, he turned back a quick second to look in Harry's eye. As their gaze connected, he gave him a quick nod. The same nod he was giving him now, eighteen years later.

Brought back to the present, Harry tried to focus on his younger soon, still rambling about some Slytherin bullshit. As he knelt toward him, delivering the speech he had prepared for the occasion, his right hand dove into his jacket's pocket, hoping to feel the calming touch of the knife's handled.

It wasn't there, of course. He now only used it for cooking for his wife and children. After all, a blade is neither good nor evil, it's just what you used it for. Plus, with his career and position as an Auror, he had now more, and better tools at his disposal, as he had wished long ago when talking with the now-forgotten Sorenson.

He hugged his son tightly, inhaled the smell of his hair mix with the coal of the station, and allowed himself to smile of happiness. He knew he was going to miss him, as much as he had missed James before, but spending time with Ginny would be easier now with only one spawn remaining in the house. Lily could not go to Hogwarts soon enough, he thought with amusement.

His fingers intertwined with his wife, they watched the train leave the station in a cloud of smoke. His smile faded slightly and his green eyes took a darker shade. His jaws clenched a bit. Now that the kids were gone, there was still some work to be done.

A/N : And here we are my friends, the end of the track. I hope you enjoyed the journey, as well as the multiple mirror-effect i used in this fanfic (especially that last on :P). I'm personally quite happy about it, although i know I wished I had been better at portraying certain characters, like Ginny for instance. In any case, if you'd be so kind to leave a review on your way out, it would be much appreciated =) Feel free to have a look at my other fanfics!