Chapter Twenty-One
Hope for the Future
Three Days Later, Hospital Wing..
The first thing Nick noticed as he opened his eyes was that he was in the hospital wing. That tracks, I guess.. He thought as he picked his head up, noticing the small head of dark brown hair mixed with a lighter, chestnut brown laying down with one arm wrapped around his own. "Merula? Sweetheart, what are you doing here?" Nick asked, smiling as the little girl picked her head up groggily.
"Daddy? Daddy! Mummy, gran, he's awake!" The little girl cheered as several sets of footsteps all seemed to rush towards where Nick lay.
First to appear was Bellatrix, who breathed a sigh of relief at seeing Nick awake, smiling fondly at him as Sameera appeared next to her, the two nudging each other with a friendly scowl between them. Then Solana and Neela showed up from around the other two girls, both having their own small smiles present at the sight of Nick awake. And while she didn't make herself fully visible to him, Nick could see the edges of Seraphina's form hiding behind the rest of them. "It's about time you woke up, sleepyhead." Neela said, giggling.
"Hey, ma. How long was I out?"
Bellatrix laughed. "Three days, as would be the usual case, yeah? How are you feeling, Nicky?"
"A lot better having woken up." Nick said, chuckling. "What happened after I killed Tom?"
"I dare say you have shifted the balance in Peace's favor, young Lord." Came Dumbledore's voice as he appeared next to the women. "Even the Minister will be singing your praises for your role in the battle. I believe no matter your final N.E.W.T. scores, you will have plenty of opportunities in carving a future for yourself. Perhaps you may even consider coming to take over the Defense position? I have no doubt the curse on the position may just be lifted if you were to teach."
"Even if I wanted to take over as DADA professor right now, I'm not ready for that. Not yet. Voldemort may be dead, but there will still be rumblings in the dredges of Wizarding society against the peace I aimed to bring with Tom's removal from life. Unrest will still exist, it's just up to us now to stop those plots from getting otherwise out of hand."
"Well said as always, my boy. Now, as it stands, you have woken up just in time for the End of Year feast, if Madam Pomfrey has no objections to your leaving the Hospital Wing." The old wizard said, looking at the medi-witch.
"Oh, he should be more than fine to go. Despite the strain he put on himself with that final spell against Voldemort, Nick's magical core only needed the first day to replenish itself. Otherwise, I believe his body was just resting itself otherwise. Using a spell such as an Unforgivable while also using the Maxima enhancement charm would send anyone else to death's door from exhaustion. We are all very lucky to have young Nick on our side." Pomfrey explained.
"Well, then I'd better go make sure everything is packed to go, shouldn't I?" Nick said, standing up with a long stretch. "Plus, I have an audience of applause to attend, haven't I?" Nick snickered as Bellatrix scowled.
"Don't go all narcissistic on us, lover boy. Plus, I think someone here still has something to say." She said, turning her head and tilting it in Nick's direction, Seraphina poking herself out from the other women.
"Sera.. Good, you're alright. New look?" Nick asked, seeing Seraphina's half teal, half pink hair, split right down the middle.
"It's.. kinda how my powers settled down after the shock of still being.. well, alive. I like it. Listen, Nick.."
"Don't. What matters is that you're okay. Despite the sacrifice made for it. Bellatrix knows. I'd do it again, just to see you safe like the rest of my girls. I hope you three haven't been too hard on her.." He said, sharing a pointed look with Sameera, Bellatrix and Solana in turn.
"Bella grilled the hell out of her the first day, but even she's calmed down from it, since. So, what now? Voldemort is dead, once and for all, so what's next?"
"Simple, girls." Nick sighed. "We start changing things to how the future should be, even if that means that, eventually, the Statute of Secrecy can be done away with. We have to make sure the world, for our children and theirs after them, is a safe, open environment for everyone."
"That's my Nicky. But, before we go changing the world, I believe this summer is reserved for us to just.. be teenagers?" Bellatrix said, giggling.
Nick nodded, chuckling. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Plus, we have a house to go vacation at, don't we?"
"We're going to the beach house?" Merula asked excitedly, hopping up and down.
Nick smiled. "Yes, sweetheart, all summer. Then starting some time next year? It'll be home."
The little girl cheered, rushing out of the room, probably to go find Lucina, who Nick realized wasn't there. "Where's Luce?"
"Solaris came and whisked her off at some point yesterday, didn't say where they were going, only that he'd be in touch."
"Of course. Well, everyone, I think I should get ready and out of this bed. We all have a feast to attend, do we not?" The others gathered around his cot laughed as they each filed out until only Bellatrix stood with Nick. "What about the rest of the school?" Nick asked, feeling the thrum of Hogwarts resonate slightly within him.
Bellatrix sighed. "Thankfully, we didn't lose many. Five students were killed, all from Death Eater families, and the Muggle Studies professor died defending several students from a collapsing overpass in the Western Wing of the castle. Otherwise, we are all accounted for."
Nick nodded heavily. "Good. Make sure whomever survives the upcoming trials of those families gets some kind of reparation. It's the least I can do, not wanting to lose anyone that day."
"Nicky.. Don't do this to yourself, please. You saved us all, you saved Lily, James, Remus, and even Regulus from falling to horrible deaths related to Tom. You saved me. He's gone, my love, and you made sure he isn't just going to come back. You've done exactly what you set out to do once you realized when you were."
"I know, but there's always that damned fear, isn't there? The paranoia that it isn't really over, that I've missed something.."
"You haven't. He was too arrogant to attempt making more Horcruxes, and that arrogance guaranteed our winning this war. I know you won't stop looking out for all this, our new life, and I wouldn't have it any other way. There's just something about your use of magic that gets me hot under the collar, Nick, and your fighting spirit has always been one of your best traits. You never give up, so suck it up, buttercup and take the victory with the stride deserving of a teenager who destroyed the biggest threat to not only the wizarding world but humanity as a whole. You deserve the peace." She leaned into his ear, whispering something that had Nick's face turn beet red as she giggled, turning away innocently. "We'll see you down in the Great Hall, babe. Come on, girls." She said, leading the rest of Nick's otherwise visitors out of the Medical Wing.
Nick chuckled to himself as he was left with his mother and Donna. "No insight on what I should do now, oh great Meddler of time?" He asked Donna sarcastically, his smile showing he didn't really mean the tone.
Donna laughed. "Just live a little, Nick. Stay up on training your abilities, but don't forget to have fun, too. You have quite a big family to start soon enough."
"Don't tease him, Donna. I believe the two separate parts of your younger self have everything on that end handled, believe me. I'm just glad they didn't tell me to expect a grandchild by the time they finished the year." Neela said with a smile towards Nick as she walked out with Donna next to her.
"That's how it went the first time around, you know?" The older Bellatrix sighed heavily. "Dawn was the reason I couldn't do the Dueling Nationals, but I never regretted carrying her to term during school. I'm glad this iteration of Nick and young Bella are much more careful about such situations."
"I'm honestly just as surprised as you, Donna. Trust me, they wouldn't leave Nick's room for a good part of Christmas Break. Although, I can't be sure they were actually at the house, at Grimmauld or their new place in Newport."
"Ah, the Newport Manor. Well, either way, I'm here to stay now as well. No need to go back to the future now that things look even brighter than when my Nick killed that bastard. I'm sure we have nothing to worry about." Neela rolled her eyes, hoping the saying wouldn't trigger another incident to start forming in the chaotic way nature seemed to challenge humanity repeatedly.
Back inside the Hospital Wing, Nick sighed as he put his head back on the pillow, relieved the threat of Voldemort was- thanks to him and his friends- now put to a permanent rest the first time someone got him back for all this scheming and affiliated criminal activities. Now, he hoped, the future had changed and Voldemort wouldn't be coming back from the dead while his children and those of his friends attended school, although he knew there were always ways around that if he so choose to. Not that he would. He was just happy to be alive without going the Harry route and killing himself while killing that snake-faced bastard.
"Oh, get on with you," Madam Pomfrey said as she tapped the bed, magically sending Nick springing up into the air. "The headmaster told you to get on when you were better, and there's nothing quite wrong with you." The healer admonished lightly, smiling.
Landing on his feet with a slight stumble, Nick chuckled. "Right. Thanks again, Madam Pomfrey. Have a good summer." He said, appearing out of the Hospital Wing.
Pomfrey jumped from the sudden sight, shaking her head at the teen's antics. "That boy.. Bellatrix and those other girls are in for a lot of trouble." With another wave of her wand, the bed was cleaned and sterilized as she walked off towards her desk in the far back of the Hospital Wing.
Great Hall, Not Long After..
"And now, for our closing ceremonies for another year, despite the.. conflict several days ago." Dumbledore spoke at the podium in front of the Staff table as the doors to the Great Hall opened, Nick pushing them dramatically as he entered. "Ah, Nick. You made it." Dumbledore chuckled as the entire Great Hall erupted in applause at the Savior of not just the school but everything the wizarding world stood for.
Nick smiled and held one hand up, the Hall quieting as Bellatrix his her face, knowing her fiance was about to be incredibly idiotic. "Your king has returned, healthy and successful in his conquest over the evil wizard."
The Great Hall fell into hysterics as even Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes, well. Please, your Highness, take your seat and we can all soon get to sleep before you all return to your homes. And thank you again, my young Lord, for the certifiably mental efforts you and your friends put forth in the fight against Riddle and his Death Eaters."
"As the Lord of House Gaunt, it was my responsibility to put a stop to my cousin's nefarious machinations." Nick said before taking his seat between Bellatrix and Sameera.
"Quite. Now, first we will go over the results of this year's Quidditch League. Unfortunately, the League was a bit lackluster this year but it's nice to see Hufflepuff take the Cup for a change." Applause rang out again as the seven members of the Hufflepuff House Team stood up and bowed. "A fine year to everyone of course, but onto our.. final business before the feast begins. The House Cup.."
Nick listened raptly, knowing he'd been paying very little mind to the House Point Hourglasses positioned in the Entrance Hall to the castle. "In fourth place, despite their victory this year, is Hufflepuff with 849 points, lowered out of second place due to the incident yesterday during the restoration efforts of the collapsed West Wing walkway. In third place, we have Ravenclaw with 891 points. In second place, Gryffindor with 921 points. Therefore, the House Cup goes to Slytherin, running the board at 967 points, eighty of those points awarded to Nick Negron for his stopping and killing of the infamous Lord Voldemort, may his soul- whatever is left of it- suffer in the deepest pits of Hell. With all that said, I thank you all for attending Hogwarts, may all your aspirations and dreams for the future be met with good fortune." Snapping his fingers, the tables became full of food as students began digging into the various meals.
As Nick was about to bite into some chicken, he felt a hand on his back. "Good show, old boy." Sirius said with a smirk, James and Lily standing next to him.
"Siri, can't the congratulations wait until after the feast?" Bellatrix asked, not looking at her brother. "Nick just woke up from that stupid little coma of his. Let him breathe."
"Of course, Bella. Just congratulating the Savior of our world. Once we're all home, we're having a nice big party, a Summer bash for the ages!" Sirius laughed as he and the future Potters walked back off to the Gryffindor table.
Nick and Bellatrix shared a smile as the feast went on, their final night in Hogwarts counting down until their departure in the morning.
The Next Afternoon, King's Cross Station, London..
Nick stretched as he and his friends filed off of the Hogwarts Express, Bellatrix lingering at the doorway. Running her fingers down the handrail just outside the door, she sighed. "Good bye, old friend. For now." She giggled, turning back to Nick. "I wish you'd come back earlier, given us both more time being students.."
"Aw, Trixie. It's alright, we'll be back. Remember the altered books, I was teaching after all, with you right by my side."
"True. Still, that just means we have to hope nothing comes after us. Voldemort is gone now, but there's always the paradox of there always being a bigger threat in the shadows."
"Enough cynicism, my love. Enjoy the fact we won now. We have a new life to live."
"Yes, and one directly out of both our dreams and your writing."
"Jeez, the change in history probably made those age poorly. Oh well, I guess. I'm going to get Angie home, meet you by the Tower later tonight?"
Bellatrix nodded with a smile, remembering the plans they had made the previous night before they retired to bed. "Of course. Until then, handsome."
"I'll be counting the minutes, gorgeous." Nick said as the two separated to join their separate family groups. Bellatrix felt her cheeks heat up as Sirius chuckled, Severus leaving Narcissa with a kiss on her cheek before walking towards his mother, who beamed at her son.
Nick joined Angelina and Sameera where Neela was standing, Merula giggling from just behind Neela's left leg. "So, Meera, I guess you're staying with us, too?"
Sameera nodded. "You know it, buster. And Sera, too. Unless you want her renting out one of Tom's rooms at the Leaky."
"No, no! Seraphina is still a bit too volatile to unleash on Diagon Alley. Mom always said the house felt empty after Angelina started school." Nick said, grinning at Neela.
"I'm fine with having a full house again, Nick. Just keep an eye on her. Madam Pomfrey believes that Sera needs to find her balance unimpeded in a routine, home setting or else face a possible relapse in her judgment. Now, let's all get home. The Blacks aren't the only ones having parties this summer."
"Yeah, I expect invitations to most of those parties." Nick laughed. "And if so, Bella and I will have a very busy summer."
"Can I come?" Merula asked cutely, looking at Nick with her large eyes.
"Not all of them, sweetie, but you'll definitely come along here and there." Merula cheered as the family left the train station.
Later, Lestrange Manor..
Rudolphus looked around the entrance hall of the family manor, sighing at how empty it all felt now. Rudolphus didn't regret making the choices he did, the side he chose, but he would always regret being unable to keep Rabastan by his side. He deserved what he got. He thought to himself, waving his wand to rearrange the dusty room a bit. It was then that a miniature dragon patrons entered through the solid wooden door. "Hey, Rudy. Just checking in. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask, alright? Though not by blood, you are a brother to me. Thank you for believing in me and joining my fight." It said in Nick's voice, even bowing it's head respectfully when needed.
Rudolphus smiled, petting the ethereal dragon. "I'm alright, Nick, but thank you for checking in. It'll take some getting used to, not having Rab here, but he made his choices." With that, the dragon disappeared, rushing back out of the closed door as Rudolphus sighed.
Before he could take another step, however, there was a knock on his door. He hesitated momentarily, knowing not many knew where exactly the Lestrange family manor was. Going over as another knock sounded, he opened the door and saw Argenta Moon standing there, her hair shining in the moonlight. "Argenta? What brings you here, Moon?" Rudolphus asked.
Argenta smiled at him, the boy slightly frightened of whatever reason Argenta may have had to come to his house. Instead of vocally answering, however, Argenta opted to surprise Rudolphus even more as his eyes widened at the sudden feeling of her lips on his.
When the two separated, Argenta blushed and looked down. "Argenta.. what was that for?"
"Isn't it obvious? I had to thank my savior somehow." She replied, Rudolphus remembering the events of the other night during the Battle, particularly him saving Argenta from the father and son duo that were Lucien and Alistair McNair. If he remembered what the Prophet had said the next day once the reports of the battle had been given had said, then Alistair had become sterile thanks to the curse Rudolphus had flung at him. Although, Rudolphus had believed the curse he used was supposed to act like a concentrated bombarda, wherein the possible target was limited not only to the extremities but also internal organs. Rudolphus had been aiming to rupture the bastard's spleen.
"Sure, but you didn't have to come all the way out here. How did you even find this place?" Although not kept within a Fidelius charm, the Lestrange Manor was far out of the way for most to travel to without using the Floo Network or apparition if you were keyed into the wards.
"I.. may have asked around a bit around the Slytherin students after the battle. I was.. pleasantly surprised that no one threatened to hex me just for asking."
Rudolphus chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course. Trying to court an upperclassman?"
Now Argenta giggled, looking at Rudolphus with a purposeful look. "And what if I am?"
Rudolphus grinned.
Potter Manor..
James and Lily laid in bed, Lily cuddled up to James' side as he strokes her hair. "I can't believe it's all over. The war before it even truly started. School. Now how do we keep busy?"
"Stop worrying, James. Severus and I will be apprenticing under Professor Slughorn until he retires, which then the teaching position and Head of House will belong to whomever he decides deserves it better. Meanwhile, you and Sirius at the least will be Aurors, making sure our families, friends and world stay safe even while Nick will- undoubtedly- step in as well. The mystery surrounding that boy, though.."
"Yeah, it seems only Bellatrix knows the full story of why and how Nick knew so much about this past year, how he knew what to do to prevent bad tidings. And I only believe the fact Bella has Seer abilities at face value."
Lily giggled. "Oh, stop. If I win the Potions position, then I'll have to start rooting for their team, you know. Although, Head of Slytherin House doesn't seem like the worst outcome anymore."
James chuckled as Lily yawned, nuzzling deeper into James' neck as he tightened his hold on her, the two allowing sleep to take hold quickly.
Grimmauld Place..
Marlene giggled as Sirius tossed her onto his bed, a muffled shout of 'keep it down' being heard through the walls from where Regulus slept. "It feels good to finally be home. To feel safe." She said with a sigh.
Climbing over her, Sirius grinned. "Indeed, my love. And now, there's no one to threaten your pretty little head."
Marlene nodded. "Yes, thanks to your oh so courageous future brother-in-law. We all have Nick to thank for bringing us out of that bastard's grip. Now enough talk. I haven't had you to myself like this since Christmas." Sirius cackled endearingly as he leaned down to kiss his fiance.
Cirucci Manor..
Named after the ancestral family that his own descended from, Cirucci Manor was Solaris (and Solana's) home. Walking into the entrance hall, the younger sibling of the two shook her head as she heard the faint but obvious sounds of her brother and Lucina Malfoy-Negron coming from the far side of the manor. "Of course.." Solana said, rolling her eyes before spinning on the spot, the crack of apparition sounding as she disappeared from the entrance hall. She knew it was likely to be a quieter night elsewhere.
Ministry of Magic..
The Minister sighed as she placed her quill down on the table, reading over the speech she was to give in several days' time announcing formally that Voldemort had been killed and his reign of imminent terror stopped indefinitely. Bagnold nodded to herself as she set the parchment down. "Good. Now, we just have to hope no one gets the bright idea of taking over what Riddle believed was the right course of action.." She smiled as Moody walked in.
"Go home, Minister. The battle is over, the war has been won. Go and enjoy some time with your family. You don't know how long you may have had with them had Nick not been here to stop his cousin."
"Yes, Moody, I know. Even for a Gaunt.. the entire wizarding world is in that boy's debt. To be perfectly honest, I don't know what could possibly satiate him as a thank you."
"Just leave the boy be. He has his own growing family to worry about. For him, now is the time to celebrate his achievements."
Bagnold hummed. "Yes, I suppose you're right. However, I believe you wanted him put into the Academy next year, is that right?" She asked, her eyes scanning the requisition form Moody had filled out just that morning.
"Yes, if he's willing. I don't want to put him out into the Aurors officially, but training him in the correct methods wouldn't hurt. And, he would be a highly valued asset to my numbers. I might perhaps even find out why the boy is so.. prodigious in general."
Again, Bagnold nodded. "True.. I will think it over and give you an answer come Monday. This weekend is for celebrating, after all." Bagnold had announced that morning that only essential businesses like restaurants and the like would stay open over the weekend, everyone else given the slight reprieve given to them by Voldemort's death. It wasn't much, but the curtain of darkness that had begun settling over the wizarding world had been vanquished, and everyone saw the sun shining brightly on the future.
None more so, in his new life, than Nick, who watched Bellatrix fall asleep in his arms before even attempting to sleep himself.
Meanwhile..
In the kitchen of the Negron household, Neela poured a glass of firewhiskey as she looked at Donna. "So you're really staying back here, now?"
Donna hummed. "Yes, I am. It would be more in my own interest to go back to our actual time, believe me. But, Neela, I'm.. I'm scared to.."
"But why? Sure, some things played out a bit different this time than the first, but for the better in your own opinion."
"You're right, mom." Donna said, smiling at her technical mother-in-law. "But.. I don't want to look at those damned books, you know? I don't want to see the possibility of my family being lost again. I.. I'll really lose it, then. I won't be able to come back from that, breaking my mind into the original Bellatrix. Voldemort or whoever decides to screw with them will pray I don't get ahold of them.."
Neela nodded. "I see. Well, then I guess you're going to have to tell at least the rest of your family the truth. Nick does too, before they find out the wrong way. Maybe the rest of the wizarding world doesn't have to know, but those kids deserve the truth about why Nick is the way he is, and Bella. What you pulled shouldn't have worked, Donna. The merging of Bellatrix and Trixie should have made her mind implode into madness."
"I know.." Donna sighed, tears in her eyes. "That's why I had their great niece send her back, I couldn't bring myself to do it myself.. I was afraid I would fuck myself up. But when I didn't suddenly break after a few days, I sent myself back to before the merge. I kept watching on them both at the castle, it was.. it felt good, being back there. I saw them avoiding each other, Neela. For a while, especially once October had started. Then, I saw Trixie in the way Bellatrix acted, and the mix of herself as well. It doesn't matter now, they're more together than most couples their age." She laughed. "But I still won't look at those damned books. I don't want the faintest hint at how they've changed everything this time around, I want it to be fresh. I.. hm, I want to experience it, and help them stop whatever comes."
Neela laughed. "There's the Bellatrix I remember. And before you say it, I will tell Nick why he's even looped back in time, and what I am. How did you figure it out, anyway? I'm sure it's never come up in conversation between the two of us. In any time."
"You didn't." Donna assured her. "To be honest, it only clicked once I came back here and saw you still exactly the same as ever. So tell me, how does a literal angel get herself turned mortal? And how does that tie into Nick's unfortunate talent of being unable to die, instead reincarnating as a teenager?"
Neela frowned. "The only reason it happens is because he doesn't get a full life. First, it was that fucking drunk running him over and first sending him back to this time. Then it was the revived Voldemort come the nineties, and he reincarnated instead to live his original life again, which then brought him back here again. As long as he gets to truly live life this time, both of us will finally know true peace in death." She sighed. "As for my deal? I was exiled for falling for Nick's father, Heaven really hates when we do that. That's it. I can only die when Nick, being my original oldest child, gets to live a full life."
"That's a bit fucked though, innit?" Donna said, laughing at the slip of her tongue. "Wow. It's been so long since I spoke in UK slang. Well, I'm gonna go get some sleep. There's a lot to do in this new peace time."
Neela nodded. "Yeah, goodnight, Donna. And thank you, for watching over them this whole time."
"Were their parents, Neela. It's our job." Laughing, Donna walked towards the stairs, taking the spare bedroom for herself, at least for the night.
Part One: Back to the Past.. Fin..
A/N: Finally finished with the first arc! Now I can go focus on a new story I thought of. Basically a harem isekai with a basis on another version of other stories, Fandom World and Interdimensional High, of mine. But with a much more strictly limited number for the harem itself. I'm TRYING to limit to seven, lol.
And so yay! The truth I keep alluding to with Neela has been revealed, and also the true (and I know somewhat nonsensical) reason for Nick time-hopping in isekai fashion.
Next Time: Summer Begins, and truths are revealed.