When they got there they heard paintings clapping and Dumbledore smiling.

Dexter Fortescue was waving his ear-trumpet; and Phineas Niggelus called, in his high, reedy voice, "And let it be noted that Slytherin House played its part! Let our contribution not be forgotten!"

But Harry had eyes only for the man who stood in the largest portrait directly behind the headmaster's chair.

Tears were sliding down from behind the half-moon spectacles into the long silver beard, and the pride and the gratitude emanating from him filled Harry with the same balm as phoenix song.

At last, Harry held up his hands, and the portraits fell respectfully silent, beaming and mopping their eyes and waiting eagerly for him to speak. He directed his words at Dumbledore, however, and chose them with enormous care.

Still tired and bleary-eyed though he was, he must make one last effort, seeking one last piece of advice.

"The thing that was hidden in the Snitch," he began, "I dropped it in the forest. I don't exactly know where, but I'm not going to go looking for it again. Do you agree?"

"My dear boy, I do," said Dumbledore, while his fellow pictures looked confused and curious. "A wise and courageous decision, but no less than I would have expected of you. Does anyone know else know where it fell?"

"No one," said Harry, and Dumbledore nodded his satisfaction.

"I'm going to keep Ignotus's present, though," said Harry, and Dumbledore beamed.

"But of course, Harry, it is yours forever, until you pass it on!"

"And then there's this."

Harry held up the Elder Wand, and Ron and Hermione looked at it with a reverence.

"I don't want it." said Harry.

"What?" said Ron loudly. "Are you mental?"

"I know it's powerful," said Harry wearily. "But I was happier with mine. So . . ."

He rummaged in the pouch hung around his neck, and pulled out the two halves of holly still just connected by the finest threat of phoenix feather.

He laid the broken wand upon the headmaster's desk, touched it with the very tip of the Elder Wand, and said,

"Reparo."

As his wand resealed, red sparks flew out of its end.. He picked up the holly and phoenix wand and felt a sudden warmth in his fingers, as though wand and hand were rejoicing at their reunion.

"I'm putting the Elder Wand," he told Dumbledore, who was watching him with enormous affection and admiration, "back where it came from. It can stay there. If I die a natural death like Ignotus, its power will be broken, won't it? The previous master will never have been defeated. That'll be the end of it."

Dumbledore nodded. They smiled at each other.

"Are you sure?" said Ron.

There was the faintest trace of longing in his voice as he looked at the Elder Wand.

"I think Harry's right," said Tracey quietly.

"That wand's more trouble than it's worth." said Harry.

"And quite honestly," he turned away from the painted portraits, thinking now only of the four-poster bed lying waiting for him in Gryffindor Tower, and wondering whether Kreacher or Tweeky might bring him a sandwich there, "I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."

"You can say that again." Tracey said.

"Come on. Let's go see Madam Pomfrey. Call Tweeky or Kreacher and ask them to make us something to eat." Harry said.

They nodded and headed to Madam Pomfrey.

When they got there she looked at them and fixed them up. Harry called Tweeky and asked her for some food.

"Yes Master Harry, in Tweeky's opinion Master Harry and Mistress Tracey deserve food. Especially Master Harry!" she said.

He and Tracey laughed after she went to the kitchen.

After Madam Pomfrey was done and they finished their food Harry was out of it first, then Tracey and then Ron and Hermione looked at their friends and smiled. Then they fell asleep to.

They deserve the rest they got. Especially Harry.

A few days had gone by and they still hadn't told Tweeky and Kreacher about their parents and Sirius yet.

They stood there in Godrics Hollow looking at their family graves Harry and Tracey looked at each other.

"I have an idea of what we can do." Harry said.

"What? Tracey asked.

So he took out his wand and started.

I solemnly swear it I'm up to no good.

Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs

Remus AKA Moony

H. T

Cub Cubbling

Peter AKA Wormtail

H. T

Prongslet Kitten

Sirius AKA Padfoot

H. T

Pup Prongslet

James AKA Prongs

H. T

Prongs jr. Prongslet

Are PROUD to PRESENT the MArAuDeRs.

Mischief MANAGED

They looked at the graves, smiled and nodded.

"There we go!" Tracey said.

They stood there quietly for a few minutes.

"I guess I have to take lordship of the Potters don't I?" Harry said.

Tracey nodded. "And I have to take ladyship of the Black."

"You staying at Potter Manor or Grimauld Place?"

"I'm staying at Potter Manor then after school I'll head to Grimauld Place. I'm gonna finish my last school year. You?"

"Same. I'm gonna finish school and then accept the auror offers Kingsley gave us. Ron's not going back to school. Just us and Hermione."

Then he thought of something.

"Why don't you have Kreacher stay at home until next year. That way he can still work and have help with Tweeky?"

"Sounds good. KREACHER!"

"TWEEKY!"

They called together.

Then they heard two snaps at once.

"Mistress Tracey call Kreacher?" he said.

"Master Harry call Tweeky?" she asked smiling.

"Yes, I'm staying at Potter Manor for the next year so you can go to Hogwarts or Potter Manor. Your choice." Tracey said.

"Kreacher will stay with his Mistress Tracey at Potter Manor. Can Kreacher ask why?"

"And can Tweeky ask Master Harry why he and Mistress Tracey are here and where Master James and Mistress Lilly are?" Tweeky asked.

"Mum, dad, Sirius and Remus are gone Tweeky, Kreacher." Harry said.

Tweeky burst into tears. While Kreacher stood there in shock.

"Come here Tweeky. Let it all out. We can dry our clothes." Harry said.

So she ran into his arms and Tracey did the same thing.

When they all calmed down they looked at the graves.

"Well, why don't we go to Potter Manor and have some dinner?" Tracey said.

"Sounds good. Tweeky, do you mind giving me a ride?" he said.

"Of course Master Harry!" Tweeky said smiling then took his hand and was gone.

"Same thing with me Kreacher?" Tracey asked.

"Of course Mistress Tracey." he said.

So like Harry did with Tweeky she held onto his hand and was gone.

When they got home they had Tweeky and Kreacher make dinner.

While they did that Harry and Tracey sat in the living room quietly.

"This is going to be hard." Tracey said.

"Yeah. But we'll always have each other. From the day we're born to the day we die we'll always have each other." Harry said.

So they gave each other a hug and then went and had dinner.

It was a hard war and they lost a lot of people they care about but will always have them and their friends. They'll also have each other for the rest of their life.