And so, after months of writing, 12 chapters and over 33,000 words, the story is complete.
I hope that I have brought to you, reader, an enjoyable piece of fanfiction that had stayed true to the original characters, whilst exploring their stories perhaps in a different way that you imagined.
And speaking of you, reader, I would like to thank you personally for taking the time to read this little bit of work of mine. To those of you who have reviewed each chapter, or any chapter, to those of you who have favourited or subscribed to this fic, or me as an author, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, because you surely do not know how grateful I am to you. I appreciate that my updates have been far apart and inconsistent, so thank you for sticking it out until the final chapter. The reviews left for me pushed me forwards with my writing, and some of them were so kind and helpful, I have no shame in admitting some of them brought tears to my eyes. Thank you, for staying with my Lucius and Narcissa, much as you did our Harry, until the very end.
My thanks, although he will never know of my gratitude, also goes out to Jason Isaacs, who, aside from being ridiculously attractive, brought one of my favourite characters to life.
The same goes out to Helen McCrory, one of the most underappreciated members of the entire Potter cast, who played Narcissa so beautifully, so movingly, that I could not help but be enchanted by her. It is partly down to her that my fascination with the pair first began. Again, she will never know how thankful I am to her, but let it be said now, that I am truly grateful that she was cast.
And finally, to Joanna Rowling herself I place my undying gratitude and love. She is the lady who brought me happiness when the world was at its most bleak, who brought me friends to grow up with that stayed consistent in my ever-changing world, who taught me lessons I never knew I needed. She brought me Quidditch with Oliver, pranks with Fred and George, loyalty with Ron, homework with Hermione, greatness with Albus and a pillar of strength with Harry. The memories I have of reading the books for the first time, attending launch parties dressed as Luna, winning a Harry Potter wand and curling up in the cinema as I saw Voldemort for the first time are scattered throughout my childhood, and without them, my time as a kid would be much less colourful. Harry Potter has been there as I saw the first milestones in my life, and with the credits rolling up on the screen the first time I saw the Deathly Hallows Part II, I knew my childhood was over.
And I owe much of my childhood happiness to Joanne Rowling. She will never know what gifts she has given me, and so, with more effort that I thought it would require, I dedicate this fanfiction to her, in the knowledge that she will never know of it. But you, reader, know it. Don't let the magic die.
This will be farewell from me for a while, I don't know when I'll next be writing, but watch this space, I'll be back before the summer is out. Magic always leaves traces.
Nox.