Author's note: Thanks for the great reviews on Chapter 7. This epilogue is just a little something I wanted to do to tie the whole story together, although I don't think it really turned out that way. Anyway, it takes places after approximately five years after the end of Chapter 7. I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: These characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I just like to get them out and play with them for a while.
Epilogue
I was lying in my favorite spot in front of the parlor fireplace at number 12 Grimmauld Place, now known as Potter Manor, reflecting on my life. I must say that, all in all, it had been a good life. Sure, there were ups and downs along the way, but for the past 12 years I have been very content. I have accomplished a lot in my life, and if I were to name my greatest accomplishment, I would have to say it was in helping two wonderful young people get together.
Harry and Hermione Potter (I like to think of them both as my humans now) have been married for five years. Together, they defeated the Dark Lord Voldemort and restored to the wizarding world the peace and tranquility it had formerly known before the dark wizard's rise to power. Harry went on to become an auror, and one of the best the Ministry of Magic had ever known. Hermione also become an auror, fighting alongside her husband, but after two years had quit. She was now in the process of writing a series of books detailing their adventures at Hogwarts, which they shared with their best friend Ron Weasley.
However, there was a new terror about, a terror that lived with us at Grimmauld Place. The worst part was that they were blind to the fact that the terror even existed. I tried to point it out to them on several occasions, but was immediately shushed for my trouble. Eventually I decided to leave them to their ignorance and take up the mantle of protector myself. If they refused to save the world from this terror, then it was my duty to the wizarding world to do it for them.
Alas, I was not to be successful as the terror overpowered me one day and rendered me helpless. I remember that day vividly. I was at my usual spot in front of the fireplace when I heard footsteps. I had heard these steps many times before and knew they did not belong to either Harry or Hermione. One thought ran through my mind: the terror was coming! In my panic, I froze not knowing what to do. Perhaps if I feigned death, the terror would bypass me and find something else of interest. How wrong I was!
I listened as the terror's steps drew closer and closer. I could hear its heavy breathing as it came for me. I felt it as it crept within inches of me. Then, it spoke.
"Cwookthankth!" Its high pitched voice mangled my name. I felt its fingers wrap around my tail and give it a tug. I squealed in pain and surprise, and jumped from my spot on the floor. Turning, I lashed out at the terror and swiped its hand with my paw, scratching a small cut in its skin. It wailed in pain. Tears poured from its vivid green eyes and it shook its head with its mass of bushy brown hair.
The cry of the terror drew the attention of my human, and she entered the parlor at a run. Quickly assessing the situation, she immediately drew a conclusion (albeit the wrong one!) and began fussing at me.
"Crookshanks!" she scolded. "I've told you before to leave Lilly alone!" She then picked the terror up and held it close.
"There, there," she said soothingly to the monster. "It's okay now. Let mummy see." She looked at the wound I inflicted, and then at me before returning her attentions back to her demon spawn. "You'll be all right. It's just a little scratch. He didn't mean it."
Yes I did! She pulled my tail!!
"Crookshanks! Come here!"
I had heard my human use that tone of voice many times. Sometimes it was with Harry, sometimes with their spawn, and, on rare occasions, she used it with me. I knew better than to try and run as she had once before put the leg locking curse on me, so I did as she requested.
Sitting down with her hellchild on one knee, she picked me up and set me in her lap.
"It's long past time the two of you started getting along," she said. "Crookshanks, I know you've been reluctant to accept Lilly as a part of this family."
I certainly have. She's evil!
"But this has been going on for over a year now, and it has to stop. No. It's going to stop, and it's going to stop now! Do I make myself clear?"
I dropped my head in resignation. There was no arguing with my human once her mind was made up. I had seen Harry try to get her to change her mind many times before, all to no avail.
"Good," she continued. "Now Crookshanks, I want you to let Lilly pet you."
I cringed at the thought of those pudgy little fingers in my fur. However, I was left with no alternative.
"Go ahead, Lilly. He won't hurt you."
I sat on my human's lap and watched as the terror's hand reached toward me. Every fiber in my being screamed for me to run. I think my human sensed this as her grip on me tightened. The tiny hand of her offspring inched closer and closer to me, and I closed my eyes in anticipation of the painful sensation of fur being ripped from my body.
But then, the most amazing thing happened. The demon child was actually gentle. Her touch was soft, much like her mother's. My human began stroking my fur, and the child followed her lead. Whenever the child would get too rough, her mother would correct her, and they would begin again together. Eventually, the child was petting me on her own.
I allowed myself to get closer to her, and she hugged me. Being the daughter of Harry and Hermione Potter, the child had to have been very magical, for at that moment she put a spell on me. From then on, no matter what this child did to me, it would be all right for what she did, she did in love. I made a silent vow that I would be by her side, the same as I was by her mother's and, eventually, her father's. No one was going to mess with my family!
Post script: As I started writing this epilogue, I had a certain idea of how I wanted to go. But like so many other stories and idea I've had, it kind of took on a life of its own. I hope you have enjoyed it.