September, 2029
Epilogue: Full Circle
"We are all joined in a circle of stories."
― Linda Joy Myers, Journey of Memoir
Time was a funny thing. An entire life can change in a single moment, while others remain the same. Hazel Whitehall couldn't help but smile at the busy scene; the platform was a blur of color and sound, filled with masses of families coming and going through the singular entrance behind her. It was strange, she thought, how something could be both an ending and a beginning, both familiar and new.
At eleven, she had stood on Platform 9 & ¾, terrified of the unknown. Nothing could have prepared her for what laid ahead, but she found it hard to regret everything. A hand slipped into hers, fingers intertwining. Turning to her husband, Hazel gently squeezed Mason's hand as they exchanged a fond smile. When they had returned, once more, to attend their third year at Hogwarts, it'd been an emotional reunion.
Time had been the only treatment - not a cure - for everything that led her to that moment. Surrounded by living, breathing friends and family, Hazel had been able to pick up the pieces of herself again. There'd been lives saved, and lives lost. In 2012, the brunette hadn't been sure she wanted to return for her third year at Hogwarts. It wasn't like she needed to learn the material. Still, Hazel was surprised that she hadn't cried when they initially reunited at Kings Cross. She'd done enough crying for a lifetime or two. Like the first time around, Kes and Jack arrived early. Hazel had just spotted them before a familiar figure rushed towards her, sprinting across the platform.
Her laughter was cut off as Mason Whitehall had picked her up to kiss her passionately, the world spinning around them. To this day, Hazel teased that it'd been the pale-haired wizard that had teared up at the fated reunion, holding onto each other as if they'd never let go again. As if no one else was there, as if it was just the two of them. They'd exchanged amused looks with a shrugging Kestis as Jack introduced himself to Mason, confused by the 'sudden' relationship. "Soo," The boy had grinned at the couple, "you must've had an interesting summer." If only he knew.
It had warmed her heart to see Mason and Kestis hug, something she'd never thought she'd get to see; Hazel pretended not to notice the threat Kes whispered into Mason's ear, 'if you hurt her'. Although she likely didn't deserve his forgiveness - learning to forgive herself was still an ongoing process - Hazel had been grateful for the deeper friendship that had developed between herself and Kestis, and had later been honored to be invited to his wedding with Lily. It'd been a beautiful ceremony.
Like the first time around, Tim had arrived at the platform late; his tie whipped around his neck, buttons undone, as he sprinted across the space. Panting, his face was split with a grin, "It still happened, guys." Some things withstand the test of time. It'd taken everything in her not to laugh as the four time-travellers exchanged knowing glances. Wordlessly, Tim had taken one look at Jack before pulling him into a tight embrace; after a second, Kestis and Hazel joined the group hug as the grey-eyed boy watched, smiling. She was with her boys, her best friends. And...Hazel stepped back to slip her hand into Mason's.
Hogwarts proved easy after everything they'd gone through, everything they learned. The four officially registered as animagi, and Kes quickly regained his title as Quidditch Captain. While Jack had initially been offended at the suggestion of therapy - why would he need it, he had protested - the wizard seemed to calm and mature over time, even becoming closer friends with Carly and a few other students. Hazel couldn't help but play matchmaker, especially with Mason by her side; before the end of fourth year, Ben and Carly were officially dating, and they'd even set-up the lion animagus with a witch from Ravenclaw who had a wicked sense of humor.
For the first time, they officially graduated Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With flying colors, no less. Hazel had introduced Mason as her fiance to the family; the man had proposed the Christmas before, much to her delight. They were married before Miranda and Henry, this time around. Hazel had met Lily for the first time, and was pleasantly surprised with how easy it'd been to talk to her. She openly admitted to tearing up at the ceremony, and had nearly died laughing when the Corre burst into extremely loud applause, sending obnoxiously bright fireworks into the sky.
Hazel often saw Kestis, even after school. The friends collaborated in their old work of rescuing and protecting magical creatures. When Mason wasn't working as an Auror within the Ministry, he helped the pair establish the Jackson-Whitehall Sanctuary in Iceland while Kestis traveled the world. You can take the wizard out of the forest...While Jack had temporarily dropped off the grid, Tim had kept them informed when they ran into each other in St. Mungo's as healer and patient, respectively. Jack was talented with extension charms, TIm had written, but occasionally went overboard. She wasn't surprised when Kestis had later asked the energetic wizard to build him a live-in suitcase, much like the infamous Newt Scamander's.
The familiar whistle of the train cut through her thoughts, and Hazel's smile grew as she waved at her son, who was practically hanging from the closest compartment window. With Mason's hair and sense of mischief, and her eyes and enthusiasm, Marcus was the best of both his parents. Maybe she was slightly biased. The 11-year old grinned at them before turning back to his friends. A quiet girl beside him smiled out the window at her own parents; Jack and Mandeep, hand-in-hand, waved back before smiling at the couple beside them. To her right, Kestis placed his arm around his wife's waist as he grinned at his son, who already towered over the other children in the compartment. Tim's daughter and Miranda's son were laughing as Henry pulled his wife in for an overdramatic kiss, groans of annoyance and disgust drifting from the open window. Hazel's heart felt full as she watched the train pull away, towards the unknown. She already had her adventure...but who's to say that this was an ending? Perhaps, Hazel Whitehall thought with a smile as she looked around at the people she loved, this was just the beginning.
The End