Hey everyone,
Wow, what a way to end the year! With not one, but two stories finished, one which has been a great hit since its first chapter got posted and one where I never really knew where to take it and that changed into something quite incredible the more chapters got added, though that didn't start until after chapter sixteen.
And to be honest, I am quite happy that I get to close this story off as I apparently had a hiatus on it that lasted more than a year and that is something that, when I reread the whole thing to make sure I wouldn't be leaving any plots unsolved and that I tie up all the knots, really shocked me as I had forgotten about the hiatus.
Still, ever since I retook this story and got back into it, do I have to say honestly that I am very proud of how it has gone since then and I actually feel really excited and happy with the idea that, after this month's over, I can honestly say that I have brought a fitting end to a masterpiece – and yes, I am gloating.
Happy new year,
Venquine1990
Chapter 30
A Final Dance, A New Year Begins
2th of August 1996
Abbot Abbey
Hannah's POV
I have never been more happy that it is the Abbot line that will be ending this year's season as this year has already been more amazing than any other year in the last decade and even the ending of the season will be incredibly special as it will be the very first ball where King James will be taking only his Queen with him.
Some people have definitely been voicing their concerns over this, but they have been responded by an Oath by his majesty that he spends at least four hours a day learning what his son and his son's mates hope for the future of their kingdom as well as getting to know the new town that connects England to Ireland.
The Irish themselves have definitely voiced their shock over suddenly having land bind their island together with our own, yet the fact that this was done by the Destined Mate of the new Prince of our Country had made them feel incredibly honored and thus had prevented them from voicing any possible objections to the union.
Minister Fudge had definitely been quite shocked when, after discovering that my fellow year mate Seamus Finnegan was actually the godson of the Irish Minister for Magic, the Irish Minister had requested that he and his Ministry get accepted by the English Wizengamot as fellow members of the Ministerial and Royal Parliament.
And with that the union between the two countries and Radiant Garden had officially become a thing and the Ministry had undergone a few changes, both within their building as well as within their ways of rule and law and their departments before a pamphlet had gone among the students with the most astounding news.
If the students so desired, they could graduate at any of the three schools that were now officially English finest; Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Mauve Academy for the Gifted or Ansem's Castle of Arts and Craft, and none of the schools would require them to relearn or redo their previous years or tests.
And what is even more incredible to be known is that, while Prince Harry would be returning to Hogwarts with Aerith and Daphne, Ventus, Terra and Aqua would be going to Ansem Castle and Lea, Even and Ienzo would be heading for Mauve Academy. The idea that this entire group would be divided is one that still astounds me.
"It's like breaking up Harry, Ron and Hermione or even King James and his queen." And this thought brings me back to what I read about this morning, after I felt sure that all was set for the ball tonight. Professor Snape, after hearing of his friend's return and then the attack on her life, had actually drunk himself into a crazy madness.
And in that madness he had actually rampaged towards Greengrass Manor, destroyed most of the wards as well as the front gate and door and almost cursed King James with a Cruciatus, yet in his madness he had tried casting all three Unforgivables together and this had caused his own wand to explode on him instead.
The man had been blasted back through all the damage he had caused and landed on the wrecked gate, a single bar of it cutting straight through him and ripping his spleen apart. And when the residents had tried freeing him, he had cried and begged them to keep him there and for Queen Lily to just stay with him till the end.
The woman herself had been heartbroken to see her former friend in his state, yet his mental and magical powers combined had actually allowed him to keep himself alive long enough for them both to have a true heart to heart and to talk out all of their differences, causing for the man to smile content upon drawing his last breath.
This all had been in a special edition of the Daily Prophet, which is now in hands of Amelia Bones, who stepped down from her position as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for the sake of her Irish counterpart, and personally I find this a brilliant act done by Prince Harry as Madam Bones instantly proved her worth.
And now Rita Skeeter is under incredible heavy scrutiny and the new DMLE Head assigned Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks as her guards while she is under investigation. All of her Quick-Quoting Quills have been confiscated and the Wizengamot has accepted a law that makes such quills illegal for publishing companies.
"He's only been king for maybe two months, has now stepped down and become a prince and still England is just getting better and better every day. Man, I can't wait for tonight. Though I do wonder how Professor Dumbledore feels about losing a man he has been supporting for so many years." Goes through my mind.
I am standing on my own private balcony at Abbot Abbey, the location allowing me to keep a perfect eye on the party venue at all times, yet instead of watching it am I just looking out into the sunset as I think these thoughts, part of me feeling for my ancient Headmaster even if I never liked Professor Snape or his teaching methods.
"At least the man got to pass on with a cleansed heart." I suddenly hear a voice say and I turn around, a huge smile growing on my face as I see my actual fiancé, something I plan to announce at tonight's ball, lean against the doorframe of my balcony and as I turn back to the sunset, do I feel their arms come to encircle my waist.
"Everything is changing, my gorgeous little blonde, but it is changing for the better." My fiancé then whispers and I nod at them as I ask: "How many do you think will shout Finally when I announce us tonight?" And I laugh as I say: "I think only the royals will be shocked, seeing how I doubt his Highness knew of us."
"So we get to announce us, end an amazing season of balls and have fun. This night just got even better." And I laugh at their comment as we watch the sunset together before my fiancé says: "You know, I find it amazing that the prince is willing to separate from his mates. I know I couldn't." and I nod in agreement with them.
The next morning
6th of August 1996
Daily Prophet Front Page
Hannah Abbot Announces Herself Engaged
House Bones and House Abbott United As One
Justin Finch-Fletchley wins 300 Galleons In a House-Wide Bet
King James And Queen Lily Offer to Hold Official Wedding Ceremony
Queen Lily Promises Albus Dumbledore to personally arrange Severus Snape's Funeral
Party at Abbot Abbey Holds Silent For One Minute For Fallen Potions Master And The Queen's Loyal Friend
3 ½ weeks later
London, England
Harry's POV
"This has been my busiest summer yet." I sigh, leaning my head against the headrest of the huge limo that Minister Fudge insisted my family and I use as we travel to King Cross Station and the new Platform Of Magical Travel as Platform 9 ¾ has been officially dubbed as after it got two more platforms added to it.
The three trains are each destined to travel to one school and while the school to Mauve Academy will actually be traveling through a tunnel that was built under the Canal, will the train heading for Ansem's Castle be using the special Portal magic that Lea, Even and Ienzo are capable of using and that they taught us.
"And the upcoming year will probably be just as busy, don't you think?" Sirius asks and I sigh as I say: "Don't remind me. I have to get back in contact with alliances of all families I am actually descendent from, I have to make sure I have dates with my mates that don't go to Hogwarts – and I have my classes to boot!"
"Not to mention keeping us up to date on what the students at Hogwarts think, how the changes are affecting them and keeping an eye on the Fifth to Seventh years to see if any of them have potential to join our new court." Dad then says, only for mum to slap him across the back of the head as she says: "Be nice to him."
Before she smiles at me and says: "Just make sure you have a fun year and that you write to us, at least once a week, okay honey?" And I nod at her, loving her caring nature, but also appreciating how she is still maintaining a slight hand's off approach thanks to our years apart and the fact that I will be off age in only a year's time.
"Hey, don't forget who will be his new Potions teacher this year. He'll be fine." Sirius then says and we all roll our eyes before Daphne says: "He'll be fine, because he officially made peace with Slytherin House when he bonded me and because Head of House Professor Lupin will be keeping an eye out for the rowdier ones."
And while we all laugh at how dry she sounds as she says this, does Sirius glare at her before I sigh and turn to the ones who have barely spoken a word since we got here, making it so that I felt I could talk of them as if they were already on their way to their new schools and I say: "I am really going to miss you guys."
And the six who will be leaving for the other schools smile at me as Ventus says: "And we'll be missing you as well, my black-haired angel, but we just feel more comfortable with the other curriculums." Before Aqua says: "Plus, we will show ourselves as true diverse minded and talented royalty if we do this."
And I sigh at this before I say: "Doesn't mean I have to like it." And dad says: "Woo, teenage drama!" Something that actually slightly cheers me up as dad has been worried that I was acting way above my age for most of the time since his return and has been encouraging teenage stupidity whenever possible – when mum was elsewhere.
Then the car suddenly stops and the driver at the front says: "We're here, Your Highness." And I smile as I say: "Thanks for the ride, Stan." And Stan Shunpike, the former conductor of the Knightbus, tips his hat to me in a nod as we all exit the limo, a set of Ministerial Guards instantly coming to stand on both of our sides.
This makes me sigh as Fudge has been demanding we be protected this way ever since the attack by Snape – may he rest in peace – and this has made it so that Greengrass Manor practically became a Safe Haven to me where I could retreat whenever the press or others who wanted my attention became too much to handle.
However, the Aurors have also proven to be both useful and a necessity as there are actually still followers of those that decided not to follow Lord Slytherin and surrender to the Crown and some of them actually managed to almost get into Greengrass Manor, even after Lord Greengrass got brand new wards to be set up.
Yet each of these followers got caught in the act and sent to Ministerial Holding Cells, my parents working together with Fudge to ensure fair trials and also prove to the people that they take their new roles quite seriously. Yet even with the added guard detail have neither me or my mates ever truly let our guards down.
And even now, while one part of the Aurors keep an eye out on potential threats and the other half moves to make sure our road to the passageway into the platform can only be interrupted or traced by Muggles and that there aren't any hidden dark witches or wizards around, do I keep my wand hand tense and ready.
I have actually managed to join most of my mates in the special ability of Keyblade Wielding, just like my parents, Remus, Sirius and several of the friends I have made over the summer, and right now I am keeping a tight hold on the power that allows me to summon the Keyblade at a moment's notice as my eyes roam my pathway.
"The road ahead is safe. No need to worry." A strong voice then suddenly says and I look up, Lea and the others smiling as they see a silver-haired young man appear and he smiles at them all before he turns into the station and says: "I can smell lingering scents of darkness, but none of them are in anyway powerful or a threat."
"Thanks Riku." Lea says and the young man nods as Aerith asks: "What are you doing here?" And the young man shrugs as he says: "Lea got us invitations to Ansem Castle. Plus, we discovered what happened to Radiant Garden and we feel curious as to how it's doing now that it's been taken so far out of its original location."
This definitely sounds reasonable, but then Ienzo asks: "I'm sorry, us?" And the Riku boy looks behind him as a young man my age with brown hair that is as wild as mine and a girl with long red hair that slightly covers her forehead and lies down her shoulders move over to stand beside him, making Ienzo mutter:
"I should have known.""Sir, we better move. The road is free and the coast is clear, but we doubt it will be for long. Pedestrians have already started noticing your vehicle as it is." One of the Auror then says before he asks: "And they are?" To which I calmly answer: "Friends of my Potter mate; they've been cleared." At which the man nods.
We then all move through the crowd and while I sincerely wish that Stan would just drive on now that we have left the vehicle, do I then focus back on where we are going, feeling confident that the newly improved Department of Muggle Security Detail and the Obliviation team will make sure none of the Muggles remember this event.
We then easily pass through the passageway and instantly it takes me all of my Pureblood Training not to groan out loud as the majority of the Student body seems to have gathered here with cameras and their voices ready to shout all kinds of exclamations and questions, yet instead I summon my Keyblade and shout:
"Time!" And instantly the time around us suppresses just enough that everyone gets silenced before I say: "I already promised you all that I myself, my Mate Lea and my Princess Aqua will be holding a speech at the Opening Feast and Banquets respectively. Now please, show your schools some class and proper culture."
And instantly everyone seems to feel properly chastised as they all move away slowly, some of them still with smiles on their faces as they apparently managed to shoot a picture of me before they got attacked and Terra says: "I have never been more glad that I don't have to do those speeches." To which I roll my eyes.
We then head for where the three platforms split up and I sigh as I look at the three stone archways that lead into the three separate platforms – 9 3/4, Queen Mauve and the Keyhole – and then turn to the six people that won't be joining me into the far left archway and tunnel and each of them instantly come over to hug me.
Pulling six of the many people that have come to mean so much to me over the last few weeks to months and whisper: "I am going to miss you guys so much." And they all voice their agreement before suddenly we hear a pair of running feet approaching us and because of earlier, do we all instantly call on our weapons.
Yet the runner turns out to be Fred Weasley, who has actually together with his brother given up on his Jokeshop in return for working for my parents full time in return that they get to use as much money and inventory as possible to create whatever they believe can help the kingdom into the future and we all dismiss our weapons.
The slightly older teenager pants as he says: "Thank the Founders you guys didn't part yet. I had no idea who of you would be going where and we were almost scared that we wouldn't make it in time." Yet this confuses me and then Sirius smiles and asks: "So, they're done?" And my friend nods before handing me a package.
"Eight Two-Way Mirrors with full protection runes on them and with a single hair from each of you as well as a drop of each of your blood. The hair makes it so only you can use them and the blood makes it so you can only call all the others who have these mirrors. Full safety, perfect communication. Plus, we added a few extra features."
"Ehm, such as?" Sirius asks, now looking curious yet wary and Fred answers: "It has a levitation spell so that you can have it float alongside you when you're walking, a spell on it to make sure it can't get more than a single arms-length out of your vicinity and a privacy spell to make sure even Extendable Ears can't work on them."
This makes all of us whistle and then Fred says: "Do make sure you give them to those that have their names on it with the paper around it. I accidentally activated the personification rune while running as I was just that determined to get to you guys before you had left through the portals. They give a nasty shock to the not-owners now."
And I nod at the man, my eyes showing him how grateful I am for him for doing this and then he makes us all whistle again as each of the mirrors, upon being unpacked by their new owners, get proven to be given a personal touch to the framework to further prove they belong with each of their respective owners.
And as I look at the gorgeous framework of my own mirror, which has a lightning bolt, a stone, a snake, a Dementor, a Dragon, a crown and a heart on it in that order over and over, do I send the inventor yet another grateful smile as I take a deep breath and say: "Thanks Fred, and let's go, guys. Our school years await."
And with my mates parting with me as we move through the archways and with dad going with Terra, Aqua and Ventus and mum going with Lea, Even and Ienzo, do I feel Daphne and Aerith each take one of my hands while I feel Sirius' presence right behind me and this makes me pass the small tunnel with a confident smile and the thought:
"Hogwarts is changing, England is changing, Purebloods, Muggleborns and Half-bloods are changing. Everything and everyone is changing and yet – the changes they've made were done by me and they make me proud. Proud of my skill, proud of my friends and proud of how my past allowed me to take a step into this brand new era."
The End!
Hey everyone.
Happy new Year! Seriously the whole thing may have sounded a bit sappy in the end and I know that some people don't like it when the title of a story or chapter gets used by the character, but I felt it had to be done and to be honest – I actually try to do that with multiple chapters and stories of mine.
Anyway, I am very proud with how this story has ended and I am proud to say that there might be a sequel planned – or at least I have a sequel title in mind as well as a small idea of what I want for the sequel. And finally I just need to do this: Captain James H00K, THANK YOU! This chapter was thanks to you and you only!
Thanks for the finale,
Venquine1990
