Epilogue

There had been some rather startled looks from students in the courtyard of Hogwarts as the fountain in the centre trembled and began to move apart revealing a staircase leading down into the ground. Those looks became even more surprised when a ghostly spectre shot up from the opening and disappeared off into the school and this was proceeded by a small group of haggard and sombre looking students who were ascending the stairs, most of them with tears in their eyes. And though five of them had entered the vault, now there was only four walking out of it with one lifeless body being carried in Charlie Weasley's arms.

The following few hours had been a blur for Charlie, Phia, Jack and Kyle. Students in the courtyard had quickly come up to them to ask what had happened but none of them were able to talk, still too shocked by what had happened. And before anyone else could descend down the newly revealed stairs to see where they led, the fountain closed itself and the vault was once again sealed.

It didn't take long for teachers to arrive on the scene and quickly whisked them away. Professor McGonagall had taken charge, ensuring the four of them were all taken to the hospital wing to be checked over by Madam Pomfrey. McGonagall had said she would take care of Phenix's body and place it somewhere safe for now but Charlie had been unwilling to let go of it. But he reluctantly gave in when his arms became too weak to continue to carry him and he himself just wanted to lay down on the floor in despair.

When they arrived in the hospital ward they were surprised to see only a few of the beds occupied by Percy, Vanessa and Poppy, the three students who had been victims of the vault's curse. But now they were awake and sat up in their beds and looked worried as they saw the new arrivals, who seemed in a worse shape than they were. Missing from the hospital ward were Professor Skymore and Dumbledore, who had both woken too when the curse had been lifted and had already discharged themselves, knowing there was lots to be done.

Dumbledore had almost immediately returned to the ward to talk to the four of them and they recalled everything that had happened to them with difficulty. Though Charlie had done most of the talking as Phia was sobbing too much and both Jack and Kyle had trouble finding any words to speak. Charlie too had struggled to hold back his emotions and once he had told everything to Dumbledore he broke down in tears.

Phia's dad had arrived almost at once at Hogwarts after Professor Quirrell had been sent to retrieve him and bring him back via a Portkey. Quirrell had only told him that there had been an incident with his children and it was Dumbledore who had broken the grave news to him about the tragic passing of his son.

The rumours around the school quickly spread and Dumbledore had called a school assembly to try and explain everything. But that didn't stop the onslaught of questions that Charlie, Phia, Jack and Kyle received from almost every student they met when they were allowed to leave the hospital ward the following day.

Dumbledore had increased the protection around the vault entrance tenfold, with now a dozen statues standing guard and various charms to prevent anyone else from entering it.

Phenix's funeral was to be held in his hometown the following week but as Dumbledore knew many students would want to pay their own respects to him, a memorial was organised before the end of term.

A large stone chess king had been placed in the school garden with a plaque remembering Phenix and Dumbledore had said a few words about what a hardworking and inquisitive student he had been and how he would be sorely missed by everyone. Phia had been asked if she wanted to say anything but she had been too distraught to speak but was grateful for everyone who had turned up. She was also appreciative to Jack who had been much support to her over the days since her brother's death as they both grieved for someone they loved dearly and they both grew much closer to each other.

Kyle's Slytherin friends had been bemused why he had taken Phenix's death so hard when to their knowledge they had never gotten along. He had seemed in a melancholy stupor for days, barely speaking to anyone and instead wanting to be alone with his thoughts.

Though Charlie had been hit hardest by the death. In his mind the image of Phenix dying in his arms played over and over again. He could barely sleep for constantly waking up from nightmares where he relived the moment.

And he rued himself for having wasted so much time in not telling Phenix sooner how he felt about him. He looked back on the brief time they had got to spend with each other. The hours spent flying together, the afternoon spent on the mountain side in Hogsmeade and the time spent alone up on the turret of the castle. It seemed so little yet it had a lasting impact on Charlie. Those memories are what got him through the preceding days after Phenix's death. They were a bright light in an otherwise seemingly dark time.

One afternoon Charlie found himself atop the empty Astronomy Tower and he had no idea how he had got there. He had just been walking around the school in a daze thinking about Phenix and realised he had brought himself to the very spot where they had stood together and looked out on the world below.

He couldn't help but shed a tear as he thought back to happier times. How life had been so innocent and both he and Phenix had seemingly had their whole lives in front of them. Now he faced a future without Phenix, the first person he had feelings for and could truly see himself being with. He wondered what life would be like for him now and what he would go on to do after he left Hogwarts for good in just over a year's time. The only thing he knew for certain was that he would never meet another person like Phenix. Someone who was so kind and caring and fun to be around. Someone who made his heart skip a beat whenever he was with them and made him feel totally safe and that he could truly be himself around.

He knew he had to get on with his life, that Phenix would want him to be happy and live life to the full but he wondered if he'd ever meet anyone who made him feel as happy as Phenix had.