HERE IT IS! The last "chapter" to this little exploration of Tom and Sybil as Hufflepuff students, as requested by Adanwen. So with that in mind, this chapter (and this entire story) is dedicated to her, but a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who supported, read, and followed this story, and for taking the time to share your thoughts!
This is, truly, a little epilogue to describe (briefly) what happened after Hogwarts for Tom and Sybil (as well as a few others). I took a few liberties from the HP universe (I tried to be subtle, but you may see them). This may also mean that I created some "scenarios" that perhaps contradict the HP historical timeline, but hey! This is an AU, so just keep that in mind ;o)
Anyway, I do hope you enjoy this final chapter! Again, thank you for reading!
Epilogue
The walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry tell many stories, especially in the portraits that hang there.
There's the story of how Prof. Elsie Hughes became the school's first headmistress, and how Isobel Crawley, who after mentoring Sybil during her last few years at Hogwarts, decided to come back to the school and teach potions…and thus became Hufflepuff's new head teacher.
There's the story of Matthew Crawley, youngest Quidditch captain in Gryffindor's history, regarded by many in the years that followed as one of the greatest players of the game, and who was also seen in the eyes of many (both muggle and magical) to be a hero during the Great War. Matthew was also Robert's heir, and when the earldom was succeeded unto him, Downton Abbey became a place of refuge for the school's "charity pupils", who had no place to go for holidays (short or long). And eventually, the House vs. Village Cricket Match was replaced with Quidditch, which proved to be even more fascinating for the muggle residents who couldn't fly a broomstick.
Mary did eventually become Countess of Grantham when she accepted Matthew's proposal and married him, thus ending at long last, the speculation that the two of them were always deeply in love with the other. They married in 1920, and it was one of the grandest weddings in all the wizarding world, making the front page of the Daily Prophet. Mary came to embrace Matthew's hope of utilizing Downton for students at Hogwarts; this was no doubt brought on when Downton became a convalescent home for soldiers recovering from the War, as Matthew had done. Mary also used her power and influence in the wizarding world (especially amongst pureblooded families) to help them support muggle-born students who lacked a magical mentor, as well as to bridge the gaps and tear down the stereotypes that had been built amongst witches and wizards of her own kind. She always "blamed" this change of perspective on her husband, sister, and Tom Branson, especially Tom Branson, who had served as Matthew's best man at their wedding, and was made the godfather of their first born. But with time, Mary came to embrace Tom as well, seeing him in the same eyes as Edith, a brother whom they had never had, and often she and Tom would travel together, to speak to these wizarding families about ending the prejudice between purebloods and muggle-borns.
Edith surprised everyone when she married Hogwarts' botany professor, Sir Anthony Strallan. He had started working at Hogwarts during Edith's final year, and she could not deny that she did find the gentleman both distinguished and rather handsome. But it was during a ceremony to welcome Isobel to the school's faculty, that Edith and Sir Anthony were reacquainted. She was a little older now (in her twenties) and while there was a twenty-five year age gap between the pair of them, she honestly didn't mind, and felt no shame in pursuing the man. Eventually the two of them did marry, and kept a fine house not far from Hogwarts. Again, Edith surprised everyone when she decided to take a teaching position herself at the school…as the new instructor in broomstick flying!
Yes, it seemed that all of the Crawley girls were destined to do something with their future for Hogwarts, as Sybil was no different from either of her sisters, though she came to the school at a much later point in her life.
Sybil received the highest marks on her N.E.W.T.'s, higher than any other Hufflepuff before her, and some of the highest of any student specifically in the area of potions. It only made sense, since with her cousin Isobel's help, she had done a great deal of lab work and potion testing to find one that would help Matthew recover from his spinal injury. It furthered Sybil's determination to do something involving nursing and medicine when she was finished with her schooling, though she knew it would be a battle in convincing her family that this was the right thing for her to do…especially when she revealed where she wanted to do her work.
Sybil wanted to go with Tom to Ireland, to be a nurse and help the Irish people, both muggles and wizards alike. Tom had told her that many who were like him (witches and wizards) were afraid to coming forth and revealing their magical nature, that there were old stereotypes that continued to thrive amongst the Irish people. While Tom very much wanted to help his homeland achieve independence from British rule, he also wanted to help Irish witches and wizards (especially those from working class backgrounds) understand that they were not alone, and that there was a place where they could go to, to better understand these unique abilities.
Robert had naturally protested.
"I won't allow it! I will not allow my daughter to throw away her life!"
And Sybil had naturally retaliated.
"You can posture all you like, Papa, but it won't make any difference!"
Robert then naturally blamed Tom's "bad influence".
"This is your fault! Seducing my daughter behind my back—"
And naturally, Tom retaliated as well.
"I've not seduced anyone! And give your daughter some credit for knowing her own mind!"
In the end, it took Isobel, Matthew, and both Edith and Mary to convince Robert to offer his "blessing", though it was given most reluctantly. All of them (including Mary) spoke highly of Tom, that he was a very good student (his N.E.W.T.'s were the second highest for Hufflepuff, just after Sybil), and Prof. Hughes thought him to be one of the school's best writers, and had encouraged him to submit some of his essays to the Daily Prophet's sister office in Dublin. They were so impressed by his writing (to the point where they didn't believe that Tom Branson was merely eighteen years old) that they offered him a small job should he come back to Ireland. It wouldn't be enough to live on by itself, but it was a door, offering an opportunity to express his political thoughts and ideas with the world, both magical and muggle.
Cora was satisfied with Sybil's decision, only when she learned that Sybil would be staying with Mrs. Branson (and that Isobel would travel with the young couple and stay on for a little while, until Sybil was properly settled). Cora Crawley and Mrs. Branson began a "pen pal" relationship, Mrs. Branson keeping Lady Grantham informed about all the good her daughter was doing as a nurse in Dublin, and assuring her that both Tom and Sybil were being very proper in their long courtship, both agreeing to wait and hold back on pursuing marriage until after they had turned twenty-one (though pursue it, they most definitely wanted to). In the meantime, during those years of waiting, Sybil became a very highly respected nurse, despite her "suspicious" English accent and magical knowledge, and Tom eventually moved up from writing the occasional article, to becoming a full-time journalist, whose area of specialty was muggle/wizard relations. This knowledge and experience became very handy for the future…
On the morning of Sybil's twenty-first birthday, Tom proposed, and before he was even finished with asking his question, she had thrown her arms around him and more or less had tackled him to the grown, her lips answering with unending kisses. They had waited four years for this day (not to mention the years Tom had waited for Sybil to tell him whether or not she returned his feelings). And while Hufflepuffs were known for their patience, neither one of them wanted to wait another day, and so before the evening was finished, they had rushed to a registrar's office, giggling and holding a makeshift bouquet of wildflowers, and were married at last.
Of course, Mrs. Branson was furious upon learning this later, and demanded that they have a "proper ceremony", which they agreed to do, though they refused to pretend that they weren't married and continue sleeping in separate rooms.
The wedding was nowhere near as grand as Mary's or Edith's, but for Tom and Sybil it was perfect. All of Sybil's family came to the ceremony, including her grumbling father, but Robert had long since resigned himself to the fact that Sybil was simply different from any other Crawley (she was the family's first Hufflepuff after all), and therefore would continue to do things differently, no matter how much he grimaced about it. However, as the years passed, he did soften to the marriage, especially when his first granddaughter was placed in his arms.
For over ten years, the Bransons made their home in Dublin, and three children. By the time their eldest turned eleven, and much to her parents happiness received her first letter from Hogwarts, another letter also arrived, this time for Sybil from Cousin Isobel.
Isobel was retiring at last, and had apparently recommended Sybil Branson to be her successor—"the mistress of potions"—if she wanted the position.
She and Tom talked for a long time about the matter; they loved Ireland, and Sybil truly felt at home in Dublin, just as much (if not more so) as she did at Downton, growing up. But Tom saw a wonderful opportunity for his wife, to help nurture young, brilliant minds so that they could go into the world and make it better for future generations. He also spoke with his editor at the Dublin office, and secured a post with the Daily Prophet in London. Thanks to floo powder, he could travel back and forth from their cottage (in Hogsmeade) to the capital quite easily. Of course, their daughter's biggest concern was that if her mother was going to be on the faculty at the school, did this mean that she would be "forced" to stay at home? Sybil assured her that no, she could stay in the dormitories, however Sybil also made it clear that she would not be receiving "special treatment" just because her mother was the Potions Mistress.
Tom and Sybil had another baby while living in England, and all four children (along with their cousins) went to Hogwarts. Two of the children were sorted into Hufflepuff, while another went to Ravenclaw, and their youngest to Slytherin ("she's very ambitious, just like her mother," Tom had teased).
Tom was eventually elevated to the position of editor-in-chief for the Daily Prophet, and by the time their youngest daughter started going to Hogwarts, Sybil became the head of Hufflepuff House. There were many amongst the faculty who asked Sybil if she was vying for the position to one day follow in Prof. Hughes' footsteps and become the next headmistress of the school. But in the end, Sybil smiled and declined the offer. Rather, she devoted what extra time she had to the small clinic that both she and her cousin had once established in the village of Hogsmeade, and that continued to thrive and flourish.
As for Tom, he did eventually get into politics, though not as the Minister of Magic, himself. But he was named the Minister of Muggle Affairs, and thus spent a great deal of time serving as a liaison between the Minister of Magic, and various, prominent political figures in both Britain and Ireland (all muggles). He kept the position well into his senior years, after his gray hair became a silver white. By that point, Sybil had retired from Hogwarts, and now worked and served at the clinic in Hogsmeade.
Their eldest followed in her mother's footsteps, taking an interest in nursing, and then decided to go a step further and pursue becoming a doctor. Their eldest son took an interest in studying magical creatures, and traveled around the world, taking notes and reporting to various conservation organizations about protecting these mysterious animals. He eventually achieved the role of Game Keeper at the school, and was a beloved favorite amongst many students (including a large, burly-looking boy who also shared a love and fascination with magical beasts). Their second son followed his father into a career in journalism, eventually returning to Ireland to become the editor-in-chief to the Daily Prophet's sister office in Dublin. And as for their youngest (the ambitious Slytherin), she not only went on to becoming an all-star Quidditch player (like her father), but also eventually became Headmistress of Hogwarts too.
The Bransons had twelve grandchildren, who also went on to do great things, big and small. Tom and Sybil's portraits were hung in several galleries throughout the school, as well as portraits of their children and extended family. Many students would pass these paintings, some without looking twice, others (like a colorful haired witch by the name of Tonks) who would gaze fondly at the painting of the smiling Sybil Branson, which hung over the fireplace in the Hufflepuff common room.
The Branson legacy continued to flourish, both at Hogwarts and its surrounding areas, as well as back in Dublin and throughout Ireland. More and more witches and wizards from Ireland began to attend the school, no longer afraid of hiding their magical abilities. And while there were opponents to the pursuit of fair and equal rights between purebloods and muggle-borns, this legacy extended generations later, inspiring more within the wizarding world to take a stand for justice and equality.
Indeed, these were just some of the stories that could be found all over the walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But those stories extended well beyond the school's walls, and even beyond the shores of both England and Ireland. Tom and Sybil Branson had left their mark on the world, both as adults…and as students.
They were many things: a nurse and a writer, a teacher and a politician, a married couple who became parents, and then grandparents, and then great-grandparents, and of course, best friends; always best friends, who always betted on each other.
Patient, hard-working, just, and loyal. Not just the sort of traits that make a good Hufflepuff, but the sort of traits that make anyone a decent person. That, truly, was Tom and Sybil's legacy.
THE END