Okay, I'm updating twice in the same day, but I was really excited about this chapter. This is the last one! After this, the story is finished. It makes me sad to think that I'm done writing about Legacy, because I really enjoyed it. I've gotten kind of attached to these guys :). I'm not going to write an epilogue, although at the end, there is an idea of the future.
I'd like to thank those of you who have left reviews and have been reading the story from the start. This is, as you know, my first fanfiction ever, so it really means a lot to me.
Tell me what you think of the ending, and the story overall, just in general. Like it, hate it, love it, expected it . . . whatever your opinion is, tell me! I really do enjoy reading your reviews.
Also, I want to write a story about the Marauders' lives - how they met, how they formed one of the closest friendships ever, and how they fell apart and ended in tragedy. What do you think?
Don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: This world and these characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The only thing I own is the plot.
"Madam Pomfrey, help!" Rose yelled, thankful that her voice was still a bit raspy. The plan had changed, but only slightly. Devienne, who had been lured to the hospital wing by Lily, froze as Madam Pomfrey came rushing forward.
"Oh, my," gasped Madam Pomfrey, staring at the four people sitting up in bed.
"It was him!" Al pointed at Devienne, widening his eyes.
Devienne narrowed his gaze at Al. "What's going on? Potter!" He whipped around to turn his glare on Lily, who waved cheerfully back.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Al!" She flung herself theatrically at her brother before inspecting Rose, Scorpius, and Alice in turn. "What happened? All we know is that you fainted in the dungeons because of an accident –"
"It wasn't an accident!" Scorpius burst in angrily. He mimicked Al, flinging a finger at Devienne. "He did it!"
Madam Pomfrey stared for a moment before hurriedly leaving the room, calling, "Don't move, any of you!" over her shoulder. She returned with Professor McGonagall and Professor Longbottom, who both had baffled expressions on their faces.
As Madam Pomfrey fussed about and Neville gave his daughter, and then the others, a relieved smile, the Headmistress regarded the four calmly. "Explain," she ordered, and Al began talking.
"Professor, we were in the dungeons studying for our Potions O.W.L. when Devienne came up in front of us and began talking. He was saying things about – about our parents, and how they caused the death of a lot of his people's families."
"We weren't sure who his people were, obviously," Alice put in, "or how our parents could possibly have anything to do with it. I mean, yeah, they fought in the war, but didn't a lot of other people? And just because Harry was the one who cast the spell that killed Voldemort –"
"That's enough, Alice," Neville broke in, although he didn't correct his daughter on what really happened.
"Anyway, a guy named Andrew Danforth came forward and put a full body-bind on all of us before we could do a thing," Rose continued. "He started talking about how we got special treatment and never earned anything because of who our parents are, which again, I don't understand because didn't a lot of other people fight in the war? And how did my parents have anything to do with it; Uncle Harry was the one who killed Voldemort, right?"
Nobody answered her, so Scorpius went on. "He said killing us would be too dangerous, so he would permanently incapacitate us, which was the next best thing."
"Devienne administered the potent sleeping draught on us, and that's why we were comatose," Al concluded. "We woke up just now to find him standing over us."
"That's ridiculous," Devienne protested. "Professor, they're obviously confused – they just woke up –"
"Then what are you doing here, Devienne?" Professor McGonagall asked coldly.
He opened his mouth, undoubtedly to try to weasel his way out of the situation – he was a very dangerous Slytherin in that regard – but Lily intervened. "I was watching, Professor. Back in the common room, I fell into a secret room and decided to explore. There, I found three very important papers hidden away."
She showed McGonagall the documents, ignoring the flash of rage that crossed Devienne's face before he schooled it into an impassive mask again. McGonagall scanned them, her eyebrows creeping higher and higher, until she looked up and demanded, "What is this?"
Devienne pressed his lips together, knowing very well what they would say. Legacy, it seemed, had more Slytherin in it than he'd anticipated. Worse than that, it was made up primarily of Gryffindors – and this move was bolder and more daring than any a Riddler would have made, which was exactly why it was working.
"You can't prove I had anything to with that," he said.
Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes, but Lily spoke up. "Professor, these papers are the reason I followed Devienne when I saw him leaving the common room. He came straight here and tipped the contents of a vial into their mouths. He laid the vials on the cot beside them, and I snatched it up. He didn't notice."
She reached into her pocket and withdrew the antidote, looking directly at Madam Pomfrey. "I guarantee it's some sort of antidote."
McGonagall looked at the vial, and then at Lily. "You're sure?" she asked. "These are serious accusations, Miss Potter."
Lily nodded. "Test it. It'll be an antidote."
"You can't prove that it was mine," Devienne repeated.
Professor McGonagall shifted her gaze to him. "If that is truly an antidote, there will be serious consequences for you. Unless you can provide memories that prove otherwise – and we will know if the memories have been tampered with or not – you will be taken to trial."
Devienne paled slightly, but his expression remained composed. "Professor, surely you don't believe such a ridiculous tale. There must be some mistake."
McGonagall looked at him levelly. "Can you prove otherwise? The story fits – what other explanation can you come up with for being here and for the revival of these four?"
Devienne gritted his teeth. "Taking my memories is a gross invasion of privacy," he said. "Much like the use of veritaserum under trial – which is why consent must be given before such actions are taken. The fact that I don't want to give up my memories is irrelevant to my guilt."
McGonagall didn't waver. "I'm afraid the evidence says otherwise." She stood up, keeping the three documents with her. "This will have to be investigated. And if this house truly exists and contains the people the list has named – you will be taken to trial."
The message was one word – now. Will's nerves were almost unbearable, but he forced himself to be calm as he Apparated to the Riddler safe house, antidote in hand. The timing for this had to be perfect.
He entered the house, wondering when he had become attached enough to Legacy to risk his whole life; his career. At school, it had always been about the rivalry with the Riddlers. Now . . . somehow, Will was risking Azkaban for a family that wasn't his.
If he was truthful, he was doing it for Lucy. So were Holly and Dylan, of course, but he had different reasons. Lucy Weasley had been his best mate for a very long time, and he had fancied her for nearly two years, and then one day he had realized that he was absolutely, irrevocably in love with her.
At least he knew she was in love with him too, although she'd never actually said it in all the time they'd been going out. They never really said anything out loud, because saying something that serious when one actually, truly meant it was far too bold a move for a Slytherin.
The eleven Riddlers, now joined with the four imposters, were tied up and on the couches. Knowing it would take ten seconds for the antidote to work, Will began to untie the Riddlers. He burned the rope when he was finished with it and waited for Teddy's signal.
"Fifteen seconds," came Teddy Lupin's voice, and Will worked his way through the Riddlers, tipping the antidote into their mouths quickly.
Without wasting time, he Apparated away. Not a moment after he was gone, the booming voice of an Auror sounded: "Nobody move. Put down your wands and don't try to Apparate out."
"Were you caught?" Lucy demanded worriedly as he appeared on the couch of her apartment.
"No," he breathed, relieved. She grinned at him.
"Well, damn. I always wondered what it would be like to bail you out of jail. 'He's a hit Wizard, see, and he's always been really bad at Apparating.'"
Will snorted. "Sorry to disappoint. Forgive me if I'm just glad I avoided ruining my life." Then he shuddered. "That was really reckless. I feel like . . . a Gryffindor."
"Don't even joke," Lucy deadpanned.
Will looked at her thoughtfully, at her icy blue eyes and her mischievous expression and her raven hair. They'd always joked that they should switch last names because of their hair – from their first meeting. While he was feeling like a Gryffindor, maybe he should fix that.
"Hey, Luce," he said, "I don't suppose you want to get married?"
Her eyebrows shot up, her mouth opened slightly, and her eyes widened to the size of a house-elf's. He grinned slightly at her expression. "You look like an idiot, you know that?" Not the most romantic thing to say, but they'd been best mates since the age of eleven. He reached into his pocket and withdrew the Raven family ring.
"You weren't joking," Lucy said faintly. "About the Gryffindor thing." She glared at him. "Snap out of it. No fiancé of mine will act like a Gryffindor."
His grin broadened. "Is that a yes, then?"
She nodded, and he suspected strongly that he looked like an idiot, too, grinning madly as he was, but he didn't particularly care at that moment. Tugging her to him, he kissed her, almost crushing her with the strength of his hug, but she didn't seem to care.
Then a thought struck him, and he froze, drawing back. "Oh, Merlin," he said in horror. He looked at her. "Luce, your family. Every bloody male is going to be after me now. And all the females – I've heard about your Aunt Ginny's bat bogey hexes." He looked terrified, and rightly so. "James told me once that he blew up the kitchen, and his dad had to stop her from murdering him." Then he paled. "His dad . . . his dad is Harry Potter. Head of the Auror Office, the Chosen One, defeated Voldemort . . . Harry bloody Potter."
He banged his head against her shoulder. "I'm going to die. Everything I've risked, and your family is going to beat me to a bloody pulp and eat me for dinner."
"Don't be ridiculous," Lucy chided, looking as though she was thoroughly enjoying herself. "We wouldn't eat you. We're not cannibals."
Will gave her a look. He hadn't failed to notice how she didn't say anything about the part where they beat him to a bloody part. "I had so much life ahead of me," he said despairingly.
"The older relatives will probably let you live," she comforted him. "They'll want to save some threatening for the younger guys – you know, all the Legacy members, starting with my Auror cousin Teddy Lupin?"
"I don't suppose it's too late to reconsider?" Will asked hopefully. Lucy gave him an outraged look and hit him over the head, reaching for her wand. "Kidding!" He put his hands up, eyeing her wand.
Lucy didn't look impressed. "At least you're not acting like a Gryffindor anymore."
Will shrugged. "Sorry, but you aren't worth my life. Ow! I was joking! Bloody hell, woman. And they say women only get violent after marriage. Hey! That hurt!"
Lily's fingers closed around the snitch, and she held it up in the air to overwhelming cheers from three-fourths of the stands, and boos from the Hufflepuffs.
"SLYTHERIN WINS 320-30!" shouted the commentator. Lily shook her fist in the air, overjoyed, as her teammates encircled her, clapping her on the shoulder and celebrating. Her family was cheering for her, and therefore the Gryffindors were cheering for her. The Ravenclaws, who were hoping that Slytherin would beat Gryffindor in the next game so that they wouldn't have to face them to win the House Cup, were cheering because Slytherin's chances of being the team in second place (and bumping Gryffindor from first to third, therefore ensuring that the final match would be Ravenclaw versus Slytherin, as Ravenclaws were currently in second place for the Cup).
"Miss Potter," Professor McGonagall called. "Congratulations on your win. You'll be up against Gryffindor next." Lily watched her suspiciously. Although she never said it, as she was no longer Head of Gryffindor House, everyone knew that the Headmistress hoped Gryffindor won both the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup. "Your family has been called out of school for the day, as it is the day of the trial."
Lily's eyes widened. "Oh."
Professor McGonagall nodded. "If you would follow me, please."
They collected the rest of her family, as well as Alice and Scorpius (the Woods and the Scamanders were not allowed to come) and headed for the Headmistress's office. Lily received a lot of high-fives from them.
A sense of foreboding and nervousness undermined her euphoria, however, and as they Flooed out, Lily found herself praying for Teddy, who had been given the authority to do the questioning.
This was where it all came to a head. If it worked out, good.
If not, they faced Azkaban.
Teddy took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Thankfully, they hadn't caught the Imperious curse when the representative – Andrew Danforth – consented to be asked five questions under veritaserum.
He was about to go in now, and he couldn't stop worrying. Harry had given him a reassuring smile and a nod before leaving, as Teddy was supposed to be alone in the room. But Harry had no way of knowing why Teddy was so anxious.
There was a knock on the door, and a young trainee poked his head in. "They're ready for the questioning, sir."
Teddy gave him a curt nod and followed the trainee out. He stepped up to Danforth, who was seated in a chair. He prayed that the Imperious had worked and that Danforth wouldn't blurt everything that came to mind out, as veritaserum typically caused those without restraint to do.
"Mr. Danforth, you are aware that your consent was given for veritaserum to be used?" Teddy asked. The answer was yes – Teddy had said nothing about willingness.
"Yes," said Danforth, clenching his jaw. He couldn't back out now without being charged guilty. Perhaps he could weasel his way out of the questions, however. He had spent quite a bit of time around Slytherins. This wasn't likely, though – Teddy had devised his questions very carefully.
Danforth wasn't currently under the Imperious, of course, but he would remember making the resolution and he would know that even if the truth came out, it would be worse for him than it would be this way. Danforth wasn't like the other Riddlers; he wasn't as invested in the cause. He wasn't willing to risk something worse than a lifetime in Azkaban just to see Legacy brought down.
"Is it agreed by every Riddler that you are representative of the Riddlers, and whatever verdict that is placed on you shall also be placed on them?" Teddy asked.
"Yes."
"Did you join an organization known as the Riddlers that showed malignant interest in the Potter, Weasley, Longbottom, and Malfoy children?"
"Yes."
"Did the Riddlers deliberately use a sleeping draught potion on Albus Severus Potter, Rose Ginevra Weasley, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, and Alice Hannah Longbottom with the intent of harming them?" They had, even if not the way the story was told – when they first kidnapped the four, they had knocked them out for easy, struggle-free transport.
"Yes." A trickle of sweat made its way down Danforth's face.
"Are the following –" and Teddy read the list of names – "all members of the Riddlers?"
Danforth swallowed. "Yes."
"Are there any names missing?"
"No."
Teddy nodded and stepped back, gesturing to the Wizengamot that he was finished with the Auror line of questioning.
"Then you, Andrew Danforth, and consequently every member of the Riddlers, are charged guilty."
"The Riddlers' inner circle members are all sentenced to life sentences in Azkaban on charge of use of an Unforgivable Curse and attempted murder, and the others are expelled from school and have taken Unbreakable Vows not to harm us in any way, or to ask or help anyone else to harm us," Teddy told his family.
"You did well in there, Teddy," Harry told him, clapping him on the shoulder as Teddy offered the legacy members a tiny, conspiratorial smile. It had been his first questioning for an Auror's Investigative trial.
"Thanks," Teddy said, smiling at his godfather.
Rose turned to Scorpius. "Can I talk to you outside?" she asked.
He looked at her curiously. "Of course. What's wrong?"
They left the room and stood in the hallway as Rose bit her lip and looked at the floor nervously. Where's your Gryffindor courage, Rose? "Well . . ." she said, and then she grabbed the front of his robes and kissed him roughly.
"That," she said when she pulled back. Scorpius was staring at her in astonishment, his mouth hanging open slightly. "Sorry. I just – I figured as a Gryffindor I shouldn't hide that from you. I thought it would go away, but I was probably kidding myself, so . . ."
He kissed her again, and suddenly Rose found it a lot easier to smile. After a while, they decided it was time to go back inside, because neither of them fancied a gruesome death by family.
They got back just in time to hear Teddy clear his throat nervously. "Everyone, I've got an announcement to make."
It took a while, but eventually they quieted. Teddy glanced at Vic, who was beaming from beside his. "We're getting married," she blurted out, unable to take Teddy's silence.
There was an instant response – a series of "congrats, mate!"s and "finally"s went about the room, and for some reason, Rose saw Will Raven's shoulders slump in relief from where he was standing beside Lucy.
Then she caught the glint of an engagement ring and grinned to herself, nudging Scorpius and pointing. "Who knew nearly dying could cause so much romance?"
"Everyone!" shouted Will over the top over their voices, and they eventually quieted down again. "Ah . . ." He held up Lucy's hand, showing off the Raven family ring on her finger. "We're getting married too."
He escaped the threats through sheer luck – the general good mood from the end of the trial and Teddy and Victoire's engagement announcement was still running, and so Lucy and Will were congratulated heartily. As Rose congratulated both her cousins, she had no doubt that Will would be severely threatened later on, but he was safe for now.
"I suppose this means they won't notice us," Scorpius said with a grin, taking her hand.
Unfortunately, this was not true. Ron Weasley saw his daughter holding hands with Scorpius Malfoy and felt the need to point it out to Scorpius's father, whose heart sank horribly when he saw that it was indeed true.
"Oh, Merlin," Draco Malfoy said in horror as his wife beamed beside him. Needless to say, Astoria was took home a very drunk, very depressed Draco Malfoy that night.
As money exchanged hands and Harry Potter winked at them both, much to the astonishment of the two, Ron Weasley decided his threat was due. "I'm an Auror and my best mate's the head of the Auror Office," he told Scorpius. "Don't hurt Rose."
Then, shockingly, he turned to Rose. "This boy has been a part of our family for years, and if you hurt him, you will suffer. And congrats on finally realizing your feelings. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
As Scorpius and Rose exchanged bewildered glances, Ron walked off, feeling quite satisfied with himself.
They went back to Hogwarts that night, and quickly settled back into their routine – they still held Legacy meetings, although they hardly ever had duels in the halls anymore. The adults never found out the story of what truly happened, but it wasn't important anymore.
They had proved that they were worthy to themselves, and that was enough. The whole thing had changed quite a few of their views. Rose, for example, had new aspirations to become a Healer – she wanted to find advancements for ailments and conditions like cancer . . . or perhaps blindness.
They didn't let the story of Legacy die out completely, however. They added their memories to a flask that someday might be added to the pensieve, and Morgan Wood, who had always wanted to write, put their story into a book.
Someday, they knew, long after they were gone, their story would be known to the world. But for now, they had achieved what they had wanted, and they were content.
Generations later, a Potter, a Malfoy, and a Weasley found a book . . .