Epilogue: The End and the Beginning
Looking back on the night in the Chamber, no one in the Wizarding World knew exactly what had happened. While it seemed that the Boy-Who-Triumphed was the topic of every conversation in the weeks, months, and even years to follow, no one talked about the actual events that had transpired. No one talked about how they saw Harry slowly weaken until it seemed that he was going to fail; no one talked about his sudden burst of energy after Hermione's outburst; because no one could fully understand what had happened, it was simply pushed aside. It was a mystery that was always in the back of everyone's mind, but never spoken of.
Of course people tried to find their own answers to what had happened. Mr. Lovegood published an entire issue of the Quibbler on how Harry was temporarily possessed by Farwinkles, while the Ministry spent much of the following year trying to convince the community that it was the Ministry's efforts that had weakened He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, thus helping Harry defeat him. Needless the say, the majority of the Wizarding World recognized that this was, indeed, not the case, resulting in a rather drastic loss of support both for Rufus Scrimgeor and the ministry as a whole. It was Rita Skeeter who incidentally wrote the truth about that night, claiming that it was Harry's great love for Hermione Granger that had given him the power to destroy You-Know-Who, but ironically, not a single person believed this theory either, finding it even more outrageous and farfetched than Mr. Lovegood's Farwinkles. And Harry and Hermione were certainly not willing to defend her.
Nonetheless, the Wizarding World was, to say the least, overjoyed with the results of the final battle, going so far as to dub the day (much to Harry's dislike) Harry Potter Day. The Daily Prophet was filled for weeks with articles about Harry and about the final battle, with headlines covering everything from "Harry Potter's Favorite Color" to "What to do now that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is gone".
It was an end of an era, an era the world was more than happy to see go. The years leading up to the final battle had been marked with fear and death far greater than many had ever seen, far greater than during the days of Grindelwald and even the earlier days of Voldemort. Not a single person, it seemed, hadn't been greatly affected by Voldemort. Families had been reduced to holding their breath as they arrived at their homes, in fear of seeing the Dark Mark hovering over their house, and students at Hogwarts began to dread the arrival of the owl post, crossing their fingers that their owl would swoop down to greet them only with letters of reassurance and comfort, rather than a death notice.
But those days were gone. And it seemed that all of England was far brighter, far happier, than Harry could ever remember. Diagon Alley returned to its previous nature, bustling with worry-free witches and wizards and young, happy children. Weasley Wizarding Wheezes was now booming with business, after the twins had expanded and opened three new shops across England.
And Harry Potter.
How he made it through the days and weeks following the final battle, Harry would never know. He had fallen unconscious after killing Voldemort, only to awake days later to an environment mixed with celebration and mourning. The Dark Lord was gone, but at a high cost. So many people had died, so many families torn apart, and Harry spent the weeks after the battle attending numerous funerals, unable to avoid feeling the guilt and obligation to attend the funeral of every single one of his former friends and acquaintances who had been killed during the battle. Emmaline Vance…Sturgis Podmore…Mad-Eye Moody…and others…all dead at the hands of Voldemort and his followers. And there were, of course, all of those who had been killed prior to the final battle during various attacks as well.
But life went on. The battle was over, and Voldemort was finally gone. And much to everyone's surprise and delight, all of his followers were gone as well, dying alongside their master the second Harry plunged the sword into Voldemort's body.
Harry had awakened in the hospital wing at Hogwarts after the final battle to find Hermione's face peering down at him, her mouth tight with worry and her eyes bloodshot from constantly being at his side for days. And much to Madam Pomfrey's dislike, the first thing Harry did after opening his eyes was to lean forward and kiss her firmly on the lips, causing an explosion to occur just as it had the first time they had kissed back at Grimmauld Place. Three shattered windows and five splintered chairs later, Harry opened his eyes to find Madam Pomfrey glaring down at him, her hands angrily on her hips, and Fred and George cheering and whooping, clapping him vivaciously on the back.
Despite their conversation amidst the final battle being rather rushed and distracting, Harry and Hermione's understanding of each other's feelings was very clear. Hermione's outburst during the final battle marked her understanding of both Harry's feelings and the importance love played in the battle. While Harry was the savior to the Wizarding World, she was his savior, giving him strength and hope in his time of need.
And now, ten years later, Harry was able to live the life he had always imagined, the life he had yearned for as he had stared into the Mirror of Erised his First Year.
They had, in due time, gotten married, and a few years later were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Lily Jane. But nothing could have prepared the Wizarding World for the birth of Lily, for, as the daughter of "The Boy Who Triumphed" and "the brightest witch of her age", she was marked by extraordinary magical ability. It became instantly clear to the world that the little girl had inherited her mother's cleverness and love of knowledge, and her father's determination and raw magical talent. And while she did not have a distinctive lightning bolt scar across her forehead, Lily was constantly being stopped on the streets to be asked for her autograph. She was clearly her mother's daughter, with her bushy brown hair and rather large teeth, yet she had her father's startling green eyes, and Harry couldn't help but sympathize that she would constantly be told of such resemblances, just as he always had growing up.
And today was the day Lily was to start Hogwarts, a day Harry had been both eagerly anticipating and dreading. She had awakened very early that morning, bounding down the stairs, her arms filled with an enormous stack of books, instantly reminding Harry of a much younger Hermione, the Hermione he had met on the train his first year.
They had arrived at King's Cross without any problems, and Harry had to chuckle at his awestruck daughter as they passed through the barrier into the magical world on Platform Nine and Three Quarters. He vividly remembered the first time he had entered the platform, overwhelmed and mesmerized, and even to this day, he could still feel the same burst of wonder and awe he had felt so many years earlier.
After some rather lengthy goodbyes, he watched both with pride and sadness as his daughter climbed onto the train. He knew she would have a wonderful time at Hogwarts. He certainly had when he was younger. Hogwarts had become his home; it had marked a new beginning in his life, a beginning filled with friendship and excitement and love, things he had never experienced when he was growing up with the Dursleys.
Harry's thoughts reminded him of the letter Dumbledore had left him, the one "only to be opened after he defeated Tom". He had found the letter almost a year after he had received it, stumbling upon it simply by accident after rummaging through a box of old clothes and finding the robes he had worn the night he fought Voldemort…
Dearest Harry, the letter had read.
First and foremost, I must applaud you on a job well done. I am assuming that if you are reading this letter, I was not able to be by your side throughout the entire journey, for which, I am deeply sorry. I recognized that my time was coming to an end, though it was my greatest wish to be with you until the very end. I hope this letter finds you well, and certainly not mourning over my passing, as, I'm sure you remember me telling you, death is but the next great adventure.
I am also assuming that if you are reading this letter, you have fought against Tom, and have won. I am sure the fight was spectacular, and I would have loved to have witnessed it myself.
Never underestimate the power of love, Harry; it is what separates us from people like Tom Riddle. With this I must add, rather forwardly of course, that I hope you have recognized your feelings for Miss Granger by now, though I did find great enjoyment and amusement from watching the pair of you dodge such feelings for one another during your days at Hogwarts. I do hope I am right in believing that she played rather large role in your journey and success.
Please promise me that you will now live your life the way you always should have, if circumstances had been different. Remember, this is not the end, but rather a closed chapter of your life. This is the beginning. Enjoy it!
And with these final words, I must leave you: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
Yours truly,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Harry felt his stomach flip at the memory of Dumbledore, but was instantly distracted as the train whistled, its doors slamming shut. He waved wildly to his daughter as the train slowly pulled away from the platform, Dumbledore's words still repeating in his head.
This is not the end. This is the beginning, Dumbledore had said.
He watched his daughter's face peering out the window slowly grow smaller and smaller as the train picked up speed, his heart swelling with happiness. His daughter was going to Hogwarts for the very first time, most certainly entering a new chapter of her life, a new beginning.
And as he and Hermione stood silently at Platform nine and three quarters, their hands clasped tightly together, he couldn't help but feel as if they too were creating their own beginnings, their own happy memories, with each passing day. Harry's outlook on life had changed drastically with the constant threat of Voldemort gone; his past had taught him to live each day to the fullest, for he, and he alone, had control over his destiny and his happiness. Each day brought a new opportunity to start over, to focus on the important things in life. Each day was a new beginning, a new chance for happiness, a new chance for…well, love. And Harry couldn't help but think that that in itself was a very magical thing.
THE END
Author's note: Wow, I can't believe it's finally finished. I'd like to thank everyone who stuck with it, even when I didn't post a chapter for an entire year…
Please review and let me know what you thought about it!
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