In Which There is an Update and an Epilogue
I know it's been two years since I last updated this story, and I felt bad every time I thought about how I promised more and that I haven't delivered yet.
When I first wrote Corinna's story, I was in a different place in my life. I had finished college just before the lockdowns started in my country and I was in a weird limbo where I only had a part time job and nothing else going on. I had a lot more time on my hands with the world shut down. I had these ideas swirling about for a while, and I finally had the time to sit down and commit them to paper (or, more accurately, a computer screen).
While I was uploading each chapter, I got a full-time job and a lot more responsibility, and I have written very little on the sequel to this story. Bits and pieces here and there but nothing that can concretely be considered a full story. And I'm afraid with my lack of free time and inspiration waning because of it, I don't think there will ever be a full story. For that, I am very, very sorry. I promised something and failed to deliver.
However, I felt like I needed to give you all something. It's the least I can do. The following is an epilogue that doesn't close off the possibility of the sequel coming to life but gives you a little something if that doesn't ever happen.
So, thank you for your patience, and I'm sorry for taking as long as I did to give you some closure.
The day was beautiful. The sun was high in the sky, surrounded by fluffy white clouds against the bright blue backdrop. Far below was the Burrow in the distance, standing as strong as it always had—never faltering after all these years.
There was a tent set up in the orchard with tables ladened down with various foods from finger sandwiches to fairy cakes. Although there was a lot of food, none of it was fancy. The Weasleys along with Harry and Aunt Andromeda had put their metaphorical foot down when Molly tried to make things much too complicated.
While the food was under the tent, most everyone was out in the sunshine, enjoying one of the first warm days they had after a cold and dreary spring. People stood around with plates of food as they talked to one another, many catching up with tales from the last year. No one dared broach the subject of the war, instead focusing on what people have been doing to move forward.
Strung up between two trees was a cream-colored banner with a 'Congratulations' permanently etched in black ink. However, the names next to it would rotate, giving each person ample time in the spotlight for themselves before moving onto the next person and so on. It might have been considered familial bias that Ginny was first as George was the one who set up the banner, but he claimed that it was in reverse alphabetical order so it then moved onto Dean, then Luna, Hermione, and finally onto Corinna where it would start all over again back at Ginny.
"So, how does it feel to be an official graduate?" Terry asked as he came up next to Corinna. He offered her a bottle of butterbeer, which she gladly accepted. She looked about at the large crowd that had came to celebrate the five people who went back to complete their seventh year. Terry and Harry were offered positions right into the Auror Department and had skipped getting their NEWTs altogether since Kingsley accepted anyone who had fought in what was dubbed the Battle of Hogwarts. Others, like Neville and Ernie, made arrangements to take what NEWTs they wanted to at the Ministry of Magic over the summer. And some, like Ron and Seamus, skipped their NEWTs and agreed to work for George at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.
Corinna shrugged and took a sip of her butterbeer. "I'm mostly relieved," she admitted. "This last year was…tough."
That was putting it mildly, she realized, but it was better than being honest on a day that should be filled with celebration. She did not want to talk about the panic she would get going down certain corridors to the point that she would go all the way around the school just to avoid them, or how there were so many sleepless nights from the nightmares to the point that her and Hermione sometimes shared a bed just to bring comfort to each other.
The final exams were the easy part of the year.
"At least it's over," he said. "And now you get to go to the Healer Academy because you just can't get enough of education."
Corinna resisted the urge to smack him upside the head. "If I get in. I still have to wait for the results and then I have to submit them along with my application." The thought of her results made a lump form in her throat. She wasn't worried about her Potions or DADA marks. Those she could accomplish in her sleep. Even Charms and Herbology would be okay, since she felt good with all the studying she did and her practical exams seemed to go well. She was worried about Transfigurations—her weakest of the five NEWTs she took. Although it was tough to recall any of what happened, she felt like none of her practical exam went well enough even if she did well with the concepts and diagrams on the written portion.
Time will tell if her dream job was going to become reality.
"They're bound to accept you, you're brilliant. And, if not, it does help that your aunt and uncle are celebrated healers. Nepotism can get you far in life."
"I don't think you're allowed to talk to me about nepotism when you joined the Aurors without a single NEWT."
"Yeah, and so did your boyfriend," Terry reminded, as if that helped his case. "Or, should I say fiancé?"
This time, Corinna did hit him in the arm, but all he did was laugh. "We're waiting to announce it," she said. "Today isn't about us so shut your mouth!"
Corinna did not even wear the ring today because she knew someone (Molly Weasley) would call attention to it. Although she still hadn't gotten used to wearing it, it made her heart flutter every time she looked at it. The main ring itself was rose gold and met at the Asscher diamond setting, but there was a second white gold band that was loosely braided with it diamond insets. She wasn't certain who Harry told prior to the proposal, but they wanted to keep it under wraps for a little longer, and Corinna refused to get married until after she became a healer. Corinna, of course, couldn't help but immediately tell Aunt Andromeda and Terry as soon as it had happened. Something she was now regretting.
"Don't worry," said Terry. He eased up on the laughter, but he still had his goofy grin on his face. "I am happy for you, though. And I get five galleons because I knew Harry would not want to wait."
"You bet on my engagement?" Corinna cried, giving Terry an incredulous look.
"And when you're going to be pregnant. Don't worry," he added when Corinna looked like she was going to yell at him some more, "I called that one for a few years yet. You're good at potions, so I know you won't fuck up a contraception potion."
"Terry Boot!"
Terry jumped out of Corinna's reach and dashed away from her. She chased after him, but he had jumped into one of the splinter groups, using Grace as a human shield.
"What are you? Twelve?" Grace asked, as she shoved Terry away from her and quickly straightened up, only for Terry to hide back behind her.
"Quit cowering, Boot," said Corinna.
"Seems that Snake Slayer here is bloodthirsty again," said George as he put an easy arm around Grace's shoulders and pulled her out of the way. "Don't worry, babe, I've got you. I'll protect you from the children."
Corinna and Terry scowled at George, but they couldn't find it within themselves to actually be angry at him. It was good to hear him willing to joke around now. A year ago, it would have been nearly impossible to even get him to smile or join in. Moving in with Harry and Ron while they fixed up Grimmauld Place seemed to do him good. But what came out of nowhere, at least to Corinna, was his budding romance with Grace Boot.
Grace spent the last year trying to get answers as to what really happened to her friend who was supposedly missing. She found out the truth while Pius Thicknesse was put on trial to find out if he was really under the influence of the Imperius Curse or not. He agreed to take Veritaserum so there would be no question. He admitted that he was Imperiused, after getting ambushed after a late night at the Ministry. He was walking with his assistant, who just happened to be Grace's friend by the name of Francis Ruiz, when they were ambushed. A Death Eater by the name of Yaxley had cursed him and, as a test, made him use the Killing Curse on Francis.
Somewhere in between them finding answers and healing, they seemed to have started something. Neither of them would define it, but George kept looking at Grace as if she was the only one there, and Grace took any excuse to touch him in some way.
"Quit calling me that," said Corinna, momentarily distracted from trying to attack Terry. "That was not my finest hour."
It did not get past her that she was pretty damn lucky to not have been killed by that. Instead, she had become the killer.
Corinna gave a shuddering breath as she shoved those intrusive thoughts from her mind. Today was supposed to be about starting a new chapter and putting a close to the previous one that was full of heartache and strife. She told herself that she would not allow Bellatrix to affect her any longer, and that included the recesses of her mind.
"You have to admit it's pretty badass," George reminded.
"Quit teasing her," Grace scolded. She turned back with a kinder expression. "By the way, congrats, Corinna. It is important to complete your education."
Terry only looked slightly guilty, but George just gave a bright smile.
"Why were you running after him anyway?" George asked.
"I was telling her about the bet," said Terry, earning him another smack to the chest.
"You told her?" George said in disbelief. "That's going to change the standings."
"I didn't tell her who bet what," said Terry. "Nothing is going to change."
"Our lives are not subjects to profit from," said Corinna, "Who's all involved?"
"I think an easier list would be who isn't involved," said George, and even Grace wouldn't meet Corinna's eyes. "In which case, that would include you and Harry, obviously, as is my mum and your aunt. Teddy is also lumped in there, but he is only a year old and doesn't have pocket money he can gamble away yet."
"Even Arthur?" asked Corinna in surprise.
"Especially Dad," said George with a chuckle. "He thought it would have happened by now."
Terry gave Corinna a knowing smile and she wanted nothing more than to smack the goofy grin off his face.
Corinna muttered a curse under her breath and rubbed the back of her neck. "Anything else I should know about?"
Both George and Terry shook their heads, but the glance they exchanged made Corinna know something else was up. "You don't want to know," Grace said to Corinna. "Trust me. I've already yelled at them for you."
"Good," she said, and finished her drink. "Grace, you want anything?"
"I'm good."
"I could take another butterbeer, if you're buying."
Corinna gave George the finger as she walked away from the group and over to the table where they held drinks. She opted for pumpkin juice as that seemed more appropriate on a warm day like this.
"Why did you flip my brother off?" Ginny asked as she was getting drinks for her and Dean, who was off talking with Seamus and Neville. "I'm sure he deserved it, but I'm still curious."
"I found out about the bet," Corinna said as she leveled a glare at the Weasley girl.
"Which one?"
"Bloody hell," Corinna muttered as she rolled her eyes so hard they hurt. "How many are there?"
"Only two that concern you: engagement and pregnancy," said Ginny, in a grin that was just as mischievous as George's. "Harry's got a couple more about when he'd become Head Auror and when they are going to start asking him to be the next Minister of Magic."
"I hate you all," said Corinna, not meaning a word of it. Even when she wanted to wring their necks, she still loved and appreciated everything the Weasleys had done for Harry. They were his family, and, in a way, they were hers even now.
"Oh, you love us," said Ginny as she stepped away from the drink table and made her way back over to Dean.
Corinna took a sip of her drink and looked about the crowd. There were so many people that she could barely remember what it was like when her family was just her, her grandfather, and her father. But as she saw Aunt Andromeda talking with Molly, Arthur, and Kingsley, and Teddy not far from them playing contently on a spread-out blanket, she couldn't help but notice who all wasn't there. Fred deserved to be laughing along with George as he transfigured Ron's drink into vinegar. Dora and Remus deserved to be the ones watching over Teddy and bragging about how he was so close to walking and his vehement disgust for yams. Uncle Ted should be standing there with his arms around Aunt Andromeda and looking at her as if she was the only person in the world. Even Sirius and Dumbledore should be there, proud of Harry as he managed to complete the impossible.
"Corinna?"
She looked over, relaxing a little as she noticed Harry standing next to her. There were still times when she looked at him, that she still saw his dead body being carried by Hagrid from the Forbidden Forest. Even after he reassured her that he wasn't actually dead during that whole thing, she still couldn't help but feel the overwhelming grief and hopelessness that she experienced during that.
But he wasn't dead. He was very much alive and happier than he had been in years. He will probably always be on the slight side, but he wasn't nearly as bad as he was when Corinna first saw him at Malfoy Manor. He had filled out a bit from having regular meals and Auror training, and his raven hair was shorter than he normally kept it, but he still had bangs covering his scar and his hair was still as unruly as ever.
"Come on," said Harry as he grabbed Corinna's hand. "There's something I want to show you."
He led Corinna away from the main part of the group. They walked past the low fence that bordered the side garden and stepped up beneath a large oak tree. Once they were in its shade, Harry turned back to Corinna. He pulled a jewelry box from his pocket.
"You already proposed," Corinna reminded as she took the box. It was bigger than a ring box, the velvet covering the box was worn in spots. "And I told you no graduation gifts."
"Then consider this a late birthday present."
"You already gave me one."
"Very early, then?"
Corinna gave Harry a look and all he did was laugh. "Seriously, Cor, just open it."
She sighed heavily as she lifted the lid. It took her a moment to register exactly what she was looking at. Once she did, she looked back up at Harry, her jaw slack. "How?"
"I may hate the nickname, but I figured if I was going to be the bloody Vanquisher, I might as well use it for some good."
Corinna pressed a hand to her mouth. She felt the fresh sting of tears in her eyes as she looked back down at the contents of the box. Inside were the two most important pieces of jewelry in her life: even more important that the engagement ring that was currently in her purse. She first pulled out the gold watch with the pearly white clockface, but right next to it was the lapis lazuli necklace set in gold.
"H-how?" she asked, trying to keep her sobs contained.
"They were confiscated from Malfoy Manor after the battle," Harry explained in a soft voice. "I saw them on the manifest, and I might have enlisted Kingsley's help to get them from evidence. They were the only things of yours that were there. I don't know what happened to anything else."
Corinna didn't care about anything else. It was just schoolbooks and clothes, things that she had already replaced before this. She just couldn't say so, no longer trusting her voice. Instead, she turned to Harry and crashed into a strong hug. She buried her face in her chest, letting the tears fall freely. For the first time in a long time, these were tears of happiness.
Harry wrapped his arms around Corinna, holding her as close as possible, and she never wanted him to let her go.