Epilogue

Five months later

"OBJECTION!"

All eyes turned to me, and I swallowed, feeling sweat drip down my back. It was one thing to shout "objection" alongside one's heroes in Muggle law movies. It was quite another thing to shout "objection" in front of seventy-six esteemed jurors of the magical court.

Still, I hadn't worked my arse off for months to give up now. After weeks (three and a half) spent in recovery and then even more weeks (eight) spent waiting for the wizarding courts to be reassembled after the culminating Battle of the Ministry, I was more than ready to seek justice for Daisy. Besides, now was as good a time as any to pursue an objective as ambitious as dismantling the centuries-old practise of keeping house elves. After the recent uprising of goblins, werewolves, giants, and the occasional vampire, the wizarding world was reluctant to give any group another reason to rebel.

I cleared my throat, forcing my hands away from the hem of my crisp black blazer, and said loudly, "Intimidating the witness is a clear violation of Rule 38E in Section 121A of Law 82."

The opposing solicitor, an imposing man in an expensive-looking suit, scowled at me, and I stared unblinkingly back. I'd faced far worse than an aggressive solicitor. He didn't scare me. Numberita summoned brief flashes of memory - smoking runes, a cruel laugh, the smell of burning flesh - and my fingers drifted towards my stomach. Even after months of healing, I still bore a deep, white scar that stretched from my collarbone down to my navel. Still, it was nothing compared to the marks Al was forced to wear.

No. This was not the time to think of Al, of all the things I might have done to prevent what had happened.

"I agree with Ms. Lancaster's assessment. Mr. Rosier, reword your request," the presiding judge declared with a bang of her gavel.

I allowed myself a small smile (success!) and sat down primly. I (very maturely) resisted the urge to stick out my tongue at the stodgy man.

"Good job," Cain Black murmured from his seat to my left. My immediate superior was as demanding as ever, and this small amount of praise meant a lot.

"Thanks," I said quietly. "I just hope Daisy wins."

The house elf in question sat to my right, looking very nervous in her too-large chair. She was perched on a stack of six colourful cushions (each one embroidered, at my request, with cheerful images like cupcakes), and she kept glancing at the glowering family sitting immediately opposite her. I narrowed my eyes at the father; Vince was a foul man who, despite the recent war, still believed wizards (especially of the pureblood variety) had a right to be placed uniformly above other species.

We were in the final rounds of the trial, the first since the wizarding courts had opened just a week prior. The case had drawn a lot of media attention, and Numberita counted no less than six different reporters furiously scribbling notes onto rolls of parchment.

Behind the press sat the general public, where I knew I would find Seth, Vane (they were, much to my delight, tentatively dating, and I'd already dubbed them 'Sane' - ironically, of course), Rose, and Scorpius. They'd insisted on attending each day at court to support me and Daisy, and I drew great comfort from their presence.

I only wished Al were h-

Nope. Not thinking about that.

I studiously looked away from the audience, instead transferring my attention back to the proceedings. The judge banged her gavel again, dismissing old Ben from the witness stand, and said, "It is now time for closing statements. Solicitor Rosier, you're up."

The stodgy man (whom I'd nicknamed Mr. Grumpy) stood with an impressive flourish of his robes. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," he began, his beady black eyes roving over the crowd. "This is a clear case of misunderstanding. My client did not abuse the house elf. My client is a well-respected member of society. After the Battle of the Ministry, my client was among the first to offer - quite generously, I might add - to pay to fix some of the damage. It is with his funds that this very courtroom was rebuilt. My client has nothing to gain from abusing a house elf. After all, a damaged servant is not a good servant. Ladies and gentlemen, we all know this. We are wizards. The mockery of a firm you see before you has ulterior motives. They would have you vote to dismantle the very system we have based our society on, to rip tradition to shreds and stomp on all of our ancestors' graves, may they rest in peace.

"My client is innocent. I would suggest that the house elf is merely the misguided pawn of her overambitious solicitors. We have centuries of tradition and esteem to back us, and what do they have? The crazed ravings of an elderly gardener."

His lip curled into a sneer, and my hand drifted towards the wand strapped to my waist. It wasn't my wand - that was long lost somewhere deep in the ruins of the Department of Mysteries - and I still found the wood foreign under my touch. It was stiffer than my last one, and more ornery, but I was sure I could make do. Mr. Grumpy looked like he needed some pink hair, anyway.

"And so, ladies and gentlemen, I will not waste your esteemed time by prolonging this sham of a lawsuit any longer than I have to. I humbly request that you dismiss this case."

Rosier shot me another glare before sitting down. Behind us, the press erupted into low murmurs, and it took the judge three minutes and fifty-one seconds to quiet them down again.

"Solicitor Black? It is your turn."

Cain stood, saying, "Actually, your honor, Solicitor Lancaster will be speaking on our behalf."

What?

Perhaps that wasn't said with sufficient emphasis.

WHAT?

Cain was the first lawyer on this case - he was the more senior one, the one who was supposed to close the case. I wasn't prepared in the slightest. What was he doing?

"Very well," the judge said, fixing me with a penetrating look. "Go on, then, Ms. Lancaster."

"You've got this, young'un," Cain whispered, and I kicked him from underneath the table. He gave me a thumbs-up, his eyes watering, and I stood hesitantly.

"Um," I began, and I saw Rosier snicker out of the corner of my eyes. Behind me, Daisy looked at me hopefully, her huge eyes gleaming. My back straightened - I wasn't going to let her down.

"This man - Gregory Vince - would have you vote to dismiss this suit, to maintain the pratise of keeping house elves. People like you and I might have grown up with house elves waiting quietly in the background. You might have never noticed these house elves and instead only seen the things they created - the feasts, the neatly made beds, the freshly laundered linens. Or perhaps you noticed the house elves. Perhaps you were even fond of them, perhaps you considered them your friends.

"This is a lie. There can be no friendship between a master and a slave, for the two are inherently placed in an uneven power dynamic. For that is what this is - slavery. You have heard expert witnesses claim that house elves desire to be employed in this manner - no, to be enslaved, for there's no use sugar-coating the practise. You might even know house elves who cry out in terror at the very thought of leaving their households. It is important to note, however, that we are arguing for the power of choice. House elves are robbed of choice, of the power to decide whether they wish to work at all. It is this power to decide their own fates that makes them - that makes any of us - alive.

"Solicitor Rosier has brought up his client's wealth in the hopes of reminding you of his influence, of making you feel indebted to him simply because his money has constructed the walls of this courtroom. Is this a worthy reason to allow his client to continue beating Daisy? Is this a valid reason to continue this practise of slavery knowing full well what happened when the similarly subjugated goblins and werewolves launched their revolt? Have we learned nothing from the countless fatalities, from the families slaughtered in their own homes?

"Solicitor Rosier has said that we are wizards. Yes, we are wizards, but we are people first and foremost. We cannot forget the debt we owe to house elves, to Squibs, to everyone who helps us everyday. Solicitor Rosier claims we have ulterior motives, that we are merely using this case - and Daisy - to tackle the practice of holding house elves. To that, I answer yes. Yes, we do wish to get rid of this vile practise - and so should we all.

"Ladies and gentleman, I merely ask you to consider fully the evidence presented throughout this trial. Thank you."

I sat, my pulse still thudding at my temples, and glanced at Cain. The solicitor stared, open-mouthed, at me.

"What?"

He shook his head. "Merlin, Adela. Remind me to hire you if I ever get sued."

I grinned, feeling my cheeks flush. "Mental note made, Cain."

The judge banged her gavel again, calling for attention. "It is time for the vote," she said, her magically amplified voice booming against the marble walls. I stretched my arms out and felt Cain and Daisy take my hands.

"I am thanking you, Miss Adela!" Daisy piped up. "Even if I do not win, I will never forget all you and Mister Black have done for me!"

I smiled, saying, "Thank you for trusting us with your case."

"All in favor of Mr. Gregory Vince?"

Twelve hands were raised, and I felt the first tendrils of hope curl in my stomach.

"All in favor of Ms. Daisy?"

Sixty-four hands appeared, some rising faster than others, but there was a majority nonetheless. The gavel banged, and I leaped from my chair, sending it toppling to the ground. Daisy jumped onto the desk, her eyes gleaming with tears. "You did it!" she crowed.

"We did it!" I said, feeling tears of my own well up in my eyes. Daisy shot forward and, upon landing on my chest, gave me a tight hug.

Merlin, this felt better than receiving my first Hogwarts letter. Daisy went to give Cain a hug, and I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned, smiling sheepishly at Hermione Granger.

Rose's mom pulled me into another hug. "Congratulations, Adela," she said warmly. "This is a major step towards dismantling this evil practise."

"THAT WAS BRILLIANT!" I heard Seth bellow (what? We were a loud duo) as he came barrelling through the milling crowds. He ruffled my hair, ruining hours of stressful tidying (my hair was a lost cause most of the time), and beamed. "My sister, the scary solicitor," he sniffed, wiping at his eyes. "I'm so proud!"

Vane rolled her eyes at my brother's antics, but I could see the small smile playing on her lips. They suited each other well, and I was happy to see them together. "That was pretty scary," the Auror said flatly. "Almost as scary as me."

Silence. Then -

Vane grinned. "I'm joking."

"Eve, we have got to work on your sense of humour," Scorpius said, coming up behind the Auror. He had his arm wrapped around Rose's shoulders, and I felt another pang. Of course, I knew Al couldn't be in a crowded area like this - he'd fared the worst out of all of us, and even months after the battle he still needed extensive care. Even after months of treatment, his magic was slow in returning - Healer Park said he was lucky he had any magic at all. I knew it pained him to have people nurse him, and it made me feel awful to see him hurting.

"Are you thinking about Al?" Rose said quietly, whispering so that only I could hear.

I smiled weakly. "Is it that obvious?"

She shook her head. "No, but I know you too well. Nothing escapes this steel trap," she said, tapping her mass of red curls. "Besides," she added, her brown eyes glinting mischievously, "something tells me you'll be able to tell him the good news very soon."

"What do you m-"

"Hi, Lancaster."

I turned, my surroundings fading as I focused on the wan-looking man standing a meter to my right. He wavered unsteadily as the crowd pressed against him, and the dark runes stood in stark relief against his pale skin, but his eyes were as sharp as ever. Al.

I ran forward and, not caring who was watching, flung my arms around him. He stumbled back from the impact, but his arms were steady as he returned the gesture.

After an immeasurable amount of time, I looked up, resting my chin against his white dress shirt. "What are you doing here? I thought they were still keeping you in St. Mungo's!"

His mouth curved into a self-satisfied smile. "Oh, they are."

…he was joking, right?

Of course he wasn't.

"Al! Healer Park's probably out of her mind by now."

"Something tells me she'll be fine," he said, and inclined his head towards something behind me. I turned, my eyes widening as I saw Cain and Elise talking, their heads bowed towards each other.

"You came," I said again, turning back to Al.

"Of course," he said quietly. "My girlfriend just essentially told the whole wizarding establishment to fuck off. You think I'd miss seeing that?"

I beamed, preening at his praise. "It was pretty awesome," I said, thinking gleefully of Rosier's stunned expression.

"Mm," Al agreed, and his gaze drifted towards my lips.

I reddened but stubbornly said, "You know, you never apologised for acting so standoffish earlier this year."

Al frowned, his mouth setting in a firm line, and said, "I'm sorry, Adela. I was an arse and didn't know how to handle facing you again."

I smiled. "Apology accepted. But I do expect some delicious apology treats." When he nodded, my smile broadened into a grin. Then, feeling emboldened from our victory, I tugged him down by his slim silk tie.

"Blue," I observed, running the smooth fabric between my fingers.

"Blue," he echoed, his eyes intent on my hands.

I grinned and, pulling him closer, kissed him soundly.

"OI! No snogging - at least not where the rest of us have to see you," I heard Seth complain loudly.

Al groaned, and I pulled away, laughing at his expression of utter disgruntlement. "Did you two agree in the womb to be as infuriating as possible?"

I looked at my twin, and Seth shrugged. "Yes," we said at the same time, and Al rolled his eyes. "Figures," he said. He slung an arm around my shoulders, and I leaned into his warmth as Rose and Scorpius came walking towards us.

"They're getting a bunch of people together to play a pick-up Quidditch match!" Scorpius said eagerly. "Merlin, I haven't even touched a broomstick for months-"

"-Weeks," Rose interjected.

"Okay, weeks," Scorpius said.

"No, now that I think about it some more, it's only been six days," Rose mused, tapping her chin with an expression of exaggerated innocence.

Scorpius groaned. "Merlin, woman, okay, days, then, but still - Quidditch!" His silver-grey eyes went starry. Beside him, Seth adopted an identical expression, and Vane groaned.

I looked up at Al. Yes, he was out of the hospital, but was he well enough to play a game as strenuous as Quidditch?

"Ten galleons says I kick your arse," he said, tapping my nose.

I scowled. "You have a deal, Potter."

As we traipsed out of the courtroom, laughing and shoving each other, I couldn't help but think back to my last moment in the Department of Mysteries. If I were being completely honest, I'd been tempted to stay in the quiet, to lose myself in the tranquil peace. It would have been so easy to step into the darkness and leave it all behind.

But this? This was something I could never, ever sacrifice.

I looked fondly at my friends before elbowing my twin. "Ready, Seth?"

Al, sensing where this was going, groaned as my brother beamed. "On three!" Seth said loudly. Rose laughed, tucking her arm through Scorpius's, and joined my brother as he counted down:

"One..."

"Two," Al said, narrowing his eyes when my brother reached over to pat him on the head.

"Three!" I said eagerly, making sure to punch the air (I'd seen someone do that in a Muggle movie, once, and thought it quite cool).

"BATTLECRY!"

Author Note: So, this is it. The culmination of four years and almost 300k words. I've changed so much in that time period, but I've loved having Adela as a constant and I hope she brought some entertainment to your lives.

Thank you all so, so very much for all of your support. I remember feeling SO SO excited to read your reviews (I still feel extremely excited to see the review count go up!), and I truly believe you all are some of the kindest readers around. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Please feel free to continue leaving requests on the Outtakes fic, as I'll be restarting that when I have a bit more time (unfortunately, this not be for some time). I also have a new Marauders-era fic (in addition to several other Harry Potter fics, but those are darker in tone) that is also a humor/romance OC fic. Although the OC is not Adela, I hope you'll give her a chance :)

Thank you!