I don't think I mentioned this last time, but... I still can't believe you guys got me over 1000 reviews AND got me to first place/third place when including M-rated stories. That's pretty fucking amazing, and I am in awe at how dedicated you guys all are to this story. We've only got one chapter left, unfortunately :( no worries, though, because I am currently working on another story that should be published at around the time that 4B starts. Of course, that means y'all will have to follow me to find out when it officially comes out, so do that ;)
Also, I wanted to treat you guys since you've been so wonderful, so here's a reply to each of your reviews:
JosieCarter: Spencer is gonna need a lot of comfort from the OT4, but in the end I think she'll be alright :) and thank you so much! I really am so happy that you've enjoyed this story, it was such a blast to write.
AL3110: Thank you :)
hufflepuffhaleb: That part was so emotional for me to write to be honest. Spencer is one tough cookie for having the guts to do that. And HALEB! I can't deal with him being gone, I just can't. And really, thank you so much for your kind words, I'm so happy you think that way about this story 3
S. S. Ezria: Haha, that was the one saving grace for this otherwise depressing chapter. And ugh, don't remind me. I'm so sad :(
Elggup: Oh, me too. Her FACE! She looked so, so sad. Good on Sasha, I'll tell you that. She managed to portray YEARS of growth and corruption in a character that's been gone all of that time. All within a minute of screen time, all within just her facial expression. Amazing. And please, thank you for reading!
foreverawildandbeautifulmess: Thanks, girlfriend! :D
eveningshades1107: That was actually a recommendation by a reviewer, and I was like "Okay, I am SO putting that in my story". At first I was thinking a wild-eyed terrier because Jenna said that's what Spencer reminds her of, but a bloodhound sounds way better. And wow, I'm really glad it could relate to you like that! I have two older sisters, so writing that internal passage almost made me tear up. Poor Spencer :( Seriously, though, thanks again. Your reviews always make me smile :)
Spobyistruelove: Haha, oh Caleb. He's such a boy sometimes :P and oh, they were there, too. They didn't stay on the beach, haha, sorry! I should've made that clear. They just didn't run up to Spencer like the girls did. Thank you so much for reading this story, and I KNOW! I won't be able to survive until January 7th, but I'll be writing a story til then/it'll help me focus on school, so there's that.
AvrilRP212: Thanks so much :)
Rae: WOW! Okay, first of all, never apologize for a long review, because I live for long reviews. And every single sentence/word/LETTER in that review was perfect. I'm glad you like the girls' friendships, because they're my favorite part of the show as well. Alison actually isn't in this story, though :/ and well, my handle on the Slytherin house might have to do with the fact that I'm a Slytherin myself, haha, but I do like to think that the rift between the houses dissipated when the war ended. How else would the girls be such amazing friends? ;) Again, thank you for reviewing and taking the time to read this story and being so dedicated that you took NOTES? Like, WHAT? Incredible. And hopefully you see this, too, because I don't even know what chapter you're on right now. Haha.
TotalCowGirl: The question is what am I going to do once this story is over?! I'm going to miss you all so very much, not even joking...
Ava B: It really does, doesn't it? #OT4 #FTW
ShadowsOnTheMoon: No worries, that was a very funny joke indeed. And I'm actually so sad for this story to end, but it's fine because like you said I'll have time to write my other story! Glad you enjoyed this chapter, as always. Your opinion means a lot to me in case you were unable to tell :)
Alright, now for what is technically the last chapter (the actual last chapter is the Epilogue)... sigh. Here we go, and as always: REVIEW!
It was a week later, and everyone was gathered in the Great Hall in celebration of the newfound safety of the wizarding world; in celebration of the overcoming of the dark magic that had almost taken over once more. A large feast had been prepared: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, bacon, steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, chips, yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and peppermint humbugs, as well as blocks of assorted ice cream, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, jelly, and rice pudding for dessert.
Spencer, Hanna, and Aria had joined Emily at the Gryffindor table. Since it was such a happy occasion, the professors were not as strict about people socializing from different houses.
"Okay, can we talk about Prudence Finn right now?" Hanna said bluntly. "What is that on her neck?"
"I think it's cute!" Aria said with a laugh as she looked down the row at Prudence's dog collar necklace, spikes poking out at the side.
"Yeah, easy for you to say!" Hanna pointed out. "You wear forks for earrings!"
At this, Emily doubled over in laughter, while Spencer spit out her pumpkin juice as she collapsed in a fit of giggles. Her juice spewed across the table, and Emily gaped at the debris now on her.
"Spencer!" she exclaimed, scrambling for a napkin on the table. "What the hell?"
"That's what you get, Em!" Aria said pointedly. "I happen to like my earrings!"
"Yeah, and I like cats, but you don't see me wearing them on my ears!" Hanna said cleverly. Spencer and Emily laughed hysterically again, and this time even Aria cracked a smile, cocking an eyebrow upward in a what-can-you-do fashion as she sipped from her goblet. But midsip, she stopped, her eyes widening.
"Aria, what's wrong?" Spencer asked worriedly. Aria lowered her drink as she looked toward the entrance to the Great Hall, only able to utter one single syllable.
"Mike."
Mike Montgomery, looking better than ever, entered the hall, walking toward the Gryffindor table with a giant grin on his face to greet his sister. Once Aria had gained back the feeling in her limbs, her entire face lit up as she, in one breath, leapt up from the table. "MIKE!"
She ran across the aisle at full speed until the launched herself at Mike in a big hug. He smiled as he hugged back. "Hey, sis."
Aria stood on her toes as she rested her head on his shoulder, rubbing her hand back and forth along his back. "I missed you."
Hearing the sadness in her voice, Mike pulled back. "I'm here now, though," he said optimistically. "That's good, right?"
Aria just laughed as she pulled her brother in for another hug. It was good to have him back.
Emily, Hanna, and Spencer smiled at the sight of Aria reuniting with Mike, but suddenly something occurred to Emily.
"Mike's awake," she said thoughtfully. "That must mean..."
She stood up, and sure enough Maya entered the hall seconds later, looking like she wanted to be anywhere but there. Emily found herself smiling, but then she stopped to look over at Paige, who was staring at her. Her expression was hard, but after a moment she nodded her head, granting permission. She felt confident enough in her relationship with Emily to know that it wouldn't lead to anything.
With that, Emily looked across the table. "I have to..."
"By all means!" Hanna said affirmatively, and Emily left.
"Well, Spence, I guess that just leaves us for now," Hanna continued as she shoved a handful of chips into her mouth.
"Looks like it does," Spencer agreed, until she froze. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted someone coming toward her. For a minute she was uncomfortable with the upcoming encounter, but then she remembered everything she had been through recently with that person, and she let herself relax.
"Mona," Spencer said tentatively as she stood up from the table. "It's... it's good to see you."
Mona looked up at Spencer unsurely, not sure where to go from there, but she ended up holding out her hand to shake. Spencer stared at it in confusion, and Mona rolled her eyes.
"It's a truce, Hastings," she said gruffly.
"Truce?"
"You did well," she said with a headnod, admiration eminent in her tone. "You basically saved all of our lives."
Spencer's eyes widened, shock at Mona's turnaround eminent in them, but she pulled herself together in time to respond to Mona. "Well, I couldn't have done it without your help."
Mona smiled as she bowed her head bashfully. "And... I want to apologize for the immaturity I showed toward you all these years."
Spencer had to laugh at this. "Well, I was no better," she admitted. "But thank you, Mona. You really deserved to be Head Girl."
Mona nodded. "Thank you. You made a great person to work with all of these years."
Spencer smiled as she finally grasped Mona's extended hand in a firm handshake. Their exchange was interrupted, however, by the sound of shouting just a few yards away.
"I don't care!" Noel exclaimed. "I never loved you, why can't you just accept that?!"
"You're lying!" Jenna shouted back, tears streaming down her face. "Why would you pretend? How can you not love me?!"
"Because I love Mona Vanderwaal!"
Spencer froze, and Mona gasped. Noel turned, meeting Mona's almond eyes with his green ones. They stayed like that for several seconds, before walking toward each other and meeting in a passionate kiss. Spencer continued to watch, with glee, as they remained in a passionate embrace and as Jenna gawked in fury.
"I'm back, hold your applause!"
Noel and Mona broke apart at the sound of the voice, and Malfoy entered the hall, clean shaven with his white-blonde hair combed back, as though he were prepared for a job interview. Jenna stared at him for a solid few seconds, before looking over at Noel, meeting his gaze with a two-can-play-that-game look in her one working eye, and grabbing Malfoy by the scruff of his robes, crushing her lips to his so hard that he might have broken a tooth.
He was shocked per say, but nevertheless he kissed back as several of his cronies at the Slytherin table clapped, one even going so far as to yell, "Get some!"
"Well, that takes care of that," Noel said happily as he turned back to Mona, meeting her lips affectionately.
"Students!" Professor McGonagall bellowed happily. "I am very happy to tell you that the Chamber of Secrets has been closed and the school is now safe!"
There was an eruption of applause throughout the dining hall as everyone clapped for joy. McGonagall then put up her hand to silence the crowd.
"And it is thanks to Madam Pomfrey and Professor Longbottom and their mandrake juice formula that those who were petrified are awake and well."
As the applause started again, Aria turned to Mike, a giant grin on her face as she kissed him on the cheek. He didn't even try to shove her away this time.
"And in even better news... in celebration of the victory that we have made over dark magic, all exams for the end of the school year have been cancelled!"
The previous eruption of applause got even greater as more and more students rose to their feet in celebration and excitement (all except for Spencer, who was genuinely disappointed that she wouldn't get to take her exams).
"Unfortunately, not all of us managed to escape the tragedy."
The applause stopped as McGonagall's sharp words cut through the crowd like a razor blade, silencing everyone, and Hanna immediately bowed her head, knowing whom McGonagall was alluding to, and thinking of everything that she should've said to this person, everything that wasn't done that should've been done to make this person realize just how much she cared about him. Not in the way she cared about Caleb, but still a lot.
"Lucas Gottesman was killed last week when trying to save us all from a common enemy," McGonagall went on to say. "His bravery will be forever remembered and recognized. It would be considered blasphemy if we didn't give him a proper moment of silence - "
McGonagall's speech was interrupted by the sound of the double doors at the front of the hall bursting open. Three adults stalked forward, and the sight of these three specific people sent a roar of whispers shooting across the room.
"Mom! Dad!" Albums Potter squealed as he scrambled to his feet, along with his siblings, Lily and James, and their friends Rose and Hugo Weasley. They raced to the center of the hall to greet their parents, who hugged them briefly before walking forward to the Head Table.
"Professor," one of the three, a short man with round glasses, said.
McGonagall simply nodded her head. "Mr. Potter."
The whispers throughout the hall grew louder. What could Harry Potter possibly be doing here? And why had he brought Ron and Hermione Weasley?
The three had a small, hushed exchange with McGonagall before whipping around to face the students. "Would the following please come forward," Hermione began. "Toby Cavanaugh, Emily Fields, Spencer Hastings, Noel Kahn, Hanna Marin, Paige McCullers, Aria Montgomery, Caleb Rivers, and Mona Vanderwaal."
The nine students, taken aback, stood up and walked forward to the front of the hall. What could be wanted of them?
Ron stepped forward this time, ready to speak. "We wanted to thank all of you."
"Thank us?" Emily asked meekly. "Why?"
Ron just snorted. "And yet they put you in Gryffindor?" he joked. "C'mon now, take in as much praise as you can get."
He then turned to Toby at the end of the row, whose head was bowed as he tried to avoid eye contact. "You too, old chap."
Toby raised his head, his blue eyes wide with confusion. "Me? Why me? I'm a Slytherin!"
Ron just rolled his eyes as he turned to Hermione. "Fetch the sword."
She nodded as she reached into the inside of her robe to pull out a long shaft in a cloth sheath. She withdrew the sheath, revealing a long silver sword. The same sword that Toby had pulled out of the Sorting Hat in the Chamber.
Hermione walked forward to Toby, kneeling in front of him with the sword in her hands. "Take a closer look."
Toby carefully took the sword from Hermione as he examined it closely. It took a minute, but he was finally able to pinpoint a certain text.
"Godric Gryffindor," he whispered, and Hermione nodded.
"Only a true Gryffindor would have been able to retrieve that sword," she said admirably. "Ask the Sorting Hat if you have any doubt. You belong in that house just as much as I do."
Toby beamed, and Spencer proudly reached for his hand. After all this time, he finally knew where he belonged.
"As Ron was saying before," Harry piped in, "we are here to thank you all. You expressed true bravery in protecting this school, and protecting our children."
"As you can imagine," Hermione continued, "it has been a great fear of ours that our children would go through the same toils that we went through going to this school."
"But you all made sure that wouldn't happen," Ron said, a wide grin gracing his freckled face. " and for that we cannot thank you enough."
Hermione nodded, and then turned to Aria. With some reluctance, she reached for her robe sleeve, rolling it up, and Aria gasped.
On it was a near identical scar of the word "Mudblood" carved into her arm.
Aria looked down to her own arm, now tightly bandaged. Hermione smiled. "Embrace it, dear," she said warmly. "You and I are living proof that it is nothing to be ashamed of."
Aria smiled at this, and Harry, after observing, turned to Caleb. "You're an orphan, aren't you?"
Caleb's jaw dropped. "How did you - "
"Lucky guess," Harry said knowingly, rubbing his notorious lightning scar on his forehead as if it would prove as a type of evidence. "Whether you all know it or not, there is something about you all that you wish you didn't have to define you. But everything you wished you could leave behind, everything you thought would only weaken you in the end, made you stronger. Everything you hate about yourselves is what led you toward winning this battle in the first place. You're heroes, whether you know it or not."
He then turned to Spencer, his green eyes shining with wisdom through his spectacles. "Especially you, Hastings."
Spencer involuntarily gulped, her blood running cold. This was it. He was just going to remind her again of how she killed her own sister, just like everyone else was.
But surprisingly, this did not escape Harry's lips. "It takes a lot of guts to take down the Basilisk. Quite the trickster, it is."
Spencer let out an incredulous, and slightly nervous, laugh. "Not really. It was really dumb."
At this, Harry had to chuckle. "Oh believe me, I know," he said understandingly. "Still, it's one hell of a beast, and you wouldn't be able to take it down if you didn't have bravery at your side the entire time."
Not even taking a second to glance at the stunned expressions of the gang, Harry turned around. "You were saying, Professor?"
McGonagall nodded, clearing her throat. "Now is the time to take a moment of silence in recognition of Lucas Gottesman's sacrifice, of the bravery of the nine peers before you, and of the end of dark magic in the wizarding world."
As commanded, silence struck the Great Hall. The nine in front bowed their heads with everyone else, but Hanna looked up. Without saying a word, she reached for Emily's hand, encasing it in her own. Emily followed through, squeezing back as she reached for Aria's hand with her other. And Aria kept hold of Emily's as she squeezed Spencer's.
They had gotten through it together, just as they thought.
All was well.
Remember when you all were yelling at me because Harry, Ron, and Hermione hadn't entered the scene yet? You can calm down now because HERE THEY ARE! I love how so much has happened with the girls and their friends and spouses, but they all have each other and that's what matters. Nothing can beat the OT4. Nothing.
So, next chapter you'll have the epilogue, which took me FOREVER to write because I wanted to make it perfect. But I hope you guys like it, and I hope you guys liked this chapter. And if you did like it... you guessed it... REVIEW!
