Chapter 24 - The Flame Passes
The period following the dissemination of widespread knowledge of Voldemort's fall had been a chaotic time for everyone. Unlike the end of the first war, where people had practically taken to the streets in celebration shortly after news arrived, this time there was widespread mourning. Harry didn't know if it was because more people had died or the destruction had been more widespread, but it was a bit unsettling for him. Of course, it wasn't that he disapproved of the melancholy attitude and long funeral processions. To the contrary, he believed that it was more than appropriate. Even Minister Fudge's declaration of a week of remembrance had seemed to be the least they could do to pay respects to those who had fallen. No, his discomfort arose from the question of why the reaction at the end of this war was so different from the reaction at the end of the one that claimed the lives of his parents and forever altered his own childhood.
Still, Harry had said nothing and tried to banish the rather selfish indignation over the seemingly double standard from his mind as he attended one memorial after another. The bodies of the fallen Light Bearers that they had managed to preserve were finally laid to rest and respects were paid to those whose remains had been completely destroyed or else lost. The worst of it had been the double funeral of Arthur and Ginny Weasley. Molly had been inconsolable, even by her children, though Bill, Charlie, and Ron all tried their hardest. The twins on the other hand were just as devastated as their mother was when it came to their little sister. Harry hadn't realized just how fond of her the twins had been or how much they had buried their feelings in order to do their duties.
Another thing that didn't happen at the end of the first war was the wave of vengeance taking that had gone on shortly after Voldemort's fall. As witches and wizards began to flood back into England or come out of hiding from among muggles the purebloods had continued to lay low. Even purebloods that had not been involved in anyway with Voldemort, indeed even Neville's gran, the direct relative of a war hero, had been assaulted once in the newly reopened Diagon Alley. Only the Weasley's were well known enough to be mostly immune from popular outrage.
The Ministry hadn't allowed that sort of lawlessness to carry on for very long though. Aurors and regular magical law enforcement had quickly reasserted control over the nation. The Ministry had been rebuilt in record time using some kind of prefabricated spell that Harry and Hermione had never seen before. It was rumored that Fudge had ordered the new structure be fortified with spells to resist acid too. The Ministry had also begun to hand out much of its goblin gold directly from the vaults of Gringotts to relieve people who had incurred property damage and the families of those who had been killed.
The Ministry being back in operation, even if Fudge was trying to gloss over how he almost didn't even attempt to fight the Death Eaters head on, was a good thing as far as Harry was concerned. The government was acting as if its attacks on the Light Bearers had never happened and Harry saw no reason to push the matter anymore. Hermione had ordered the dementors to return to the Ministry's service and as a result Azkaban was back in operation. They hadn't told anyone in the Ministry about the dementor death spell though, just in case they ever needed to retain the services of the dark creatures again. Harry and Hermione both agreed that the Ministry headed up by the untrustworthy Fudge didn't need to know about the dementor's weakness just yet. Eventually Harry hoped the Ministry would secure Azkaban with means other than dementors so that the troublesome things could be wiped out, but for the time being the status quo seemed most expedient.
A fully functioning Azkaban also allowed the Light Bearers to begin the process of emptying Middle Yard and handing over its prisoners to the Ministry for trial, imprisonment, or release. Most of the prisoners went straight to Azkaban still in their petrified forms, but a few, including Narcissa Malfoy, had already been turned out. Even though it was worrisome that Lucius had yet to be captured Draco had reappeared not long after his mother had been sent home. He had spun some tale of being able to escape Hogwarts during Hermione's battle with Bellatrix, but Harry didn't believe it. Hermione reluctantly admitted that there were plenty of moments when she was too preoccupied with fighting to notice him sneaking out and he wasn't suspected of any major crime so they had both decided it was best to just let it go.
Other Death Eaters had been seen fleeing England, no longer willing to take the chance of pleading bewitchment after having already used up their benefit of the doubt at the end of the first war. Some had been found dead, killed by unknown persons usually, and a few had been captured. One of the most notable captures had been the Potions Master Vance Vitter. Vitter, it was revealed, had done much of the theoretical work on Voldemort's muggle magic enhancement potion and several other groundbreaking works. Fudge had, with surprisingly little controversy, granted him a conditional pardon so long as he agreed to work for the Ministry. Filtch had become very hopeful that a "cure" for squibs would soon be perfected.
The Wizengamot had also been reconstituted with Dumbledore resuming his place as the head of that body, but only in a judicial capacity. Minister Fudge continued to insist that remnant Death Eaters compelled him to retain emergency powers to ensure that the mistakes that occurred at the end of the first war were not repeated. Despite lacking executive authority Dumbledore and Madam Bones had begun spearheading the process of integrating the rather sizable number of destitute muggle werewolves into magical society. Since the muggles had been, in most cases, literally scooped off of the streets of European cities they had no money, no job, and no ability to get a job within the magical community. The Ministry had set up a compensation plan to make sure that they were not turned into a fringe element. Werewolves with magical blood, like Remus, were also eligible for assistance at the pushing of Dumbledore. Harry had high hopes that the alienation and prejudice that had built Voldemort's army for him would be undone at long last.
"It's nearly time," Hermione said gently, her words shaking Harry from his thoughts. He glanced at himself again in the full length mirror that he was currently standing in front of. Harry almost didn't recognize the figure staring back at him. For a long time he had worn nothing but black cloaks and robes or maybe the occasional ill fitting hand-me-down muggle outfit from Dudley. Now he was wearing the most elegant white suit that he had ever seen. It resembled an old style of European formal dress used during the seventeenth century, though it was somewhat modified to wizard culture tastes. Golden highlights ran all along the edges of the bright white fabric. The look was completed by a long flowing white cape that was adorned with the golden outline of a stag on the back.
"Are you nervous?" Harry asked, grinning broadly. Hermione was wearing a similar outfit to his, only accentuated in different places. Her white flowing cape was identical too except that had an outline of an otter instead of a stag. They were also both wearing finely decorated bracers of bluish tinted metal on their left arms that extended down into thin leather gloves. Hermione had insisted on this because she knew that Harry didn't want people staring at the age ravaged hand that he had received from when they captured a dementor to experiment on.
"Of course not," Hermione replied. "They can't all expect us to stay around after this."
Two cracking noises alerted them to Ron and Luna's arrival. Ron had been tying down all the loose ends that were left over in terms of the bureaucracy. Continuous orders for supplies had to be terminated, final payments made, recovery of equipment from individuals who were quitting the Light Bearers as peace began to reassert itself, and who knows what else.
"The crowd is all assembled," Ron said happily. "We're just waiting on you two."
"What about the report?" Hermione asked.
"Aw, what? That…" Ron said with an air of dismissal. "There's nothing to report, everything's quiet."
"Ron, honestly, you know you're the most unconvincing liar of all time," Hermione retorted.
"He's really bad at it," Luna agreed. "We're no longer getting any sightings of those shaman representatives and the vampires haven't deviated from their normal activity since right before the battle of Hogwarts."
"So all of Voldemort's prospective allies have scattered?" Harry asked.
"It appears that way," Ron replied. "Its really nothing either of you should be worrying about today of all days."
"We just want to make sure everything is in order," Harry said slowly, "Because we're leaving."
"Leaving?" Ron asked, "Of course you'd want some time alone…"
"No Ron," Hermione interrupted. "We're leaving, we don't know exactly when we're going to come back."
"We're leaving Hedwig and Crookshanks with Hermione's parents so we can travel lightly," Harry said.
"Even with Voldemort gone there are still a lot of people running around who don't exactly wish us well," Hermione explained. "Plus, we have a lot we want to do without interruption."
"But what will happen to Grimmauld Place while you're gone, or the Light Bearers?" Ron asked.
"Dobby and Winky will continue to take care of Grimmauld Place," Harry said.
"As for the Light Bearers…they'll be fine without us now that the war is over. We've found the perfect replacements for us anyway," Hermione said slyly.
"Replacements?" Ron said incredulously. "Who?"
Harry and Hermione both reached up around their necks and lifted the golden emblems off them. "Silly, you and Luna of course," Hermione said with a grin. "If you want them that is."
Ron stood mutely as Harry handed him the emblem while Hermione did the same to Luna. All the Bearers of the Light felt the magic of the controlling emblems switching for the first time as Ron and Luna put the necklaces on. A year or two previously Ron would probably have gotten all excited over such a thing. He realized that long ago the events he had experienced with Harry had completely eradicated all traces of the jealousy, slight though it might have been, that he once felt. His eyes wandered to the thin bluish metal that covered the back of Harry's hand, hiding his wound.
"Thanks," Ron said at last. "We'll take good care of them, won't we Luna?"
"Definitely," Luna affirmed, "The gold doesn't attract Pharos beetles though, does it?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head in the negative. The Pharos beetle was supposedly a two-foot long glowing creature that would eat gold and anything else attached to it. No one had ever seen one though.
"But if you ever want them back all you need to do is ask," Ron continued. He had long since become so accustomed to Luna's fanciful creatures that he barely noticed anymore.
Harry reached down to the ceremonial holster at his side and touched his wand briefly so he could cast a prearranged signal. There was a flash of fire followed by a cascade of feathers as Fawkes appeared in the room.
"Is everyone ready?" Hermione asked.
"Shouldn't we be the one's asking you that?" Ron replied. The four teens reached out and laid a finger on Fawkes. There was a flash and then they were all suddenly standing in the Great Hall on the raised platform at the front of the room where the teachers normally ate. Dumbledore was standing in front of them dressed in his finest stately robes. In the days following his battle with Voldemort the elderly wizard had finished losing the last of his powers. He still carried a wand and very few people were aware of his weakness, but nevertheless Voldemort had demolished his once formidable strength.
Ron and Luna moved to the side as the crowd broke out in applause. Harry and Hermione turned around for a moment to acknowledge all the people who had come to see them off. In the front row was a line of American wizards, all in some kind of gray dress uniforms, including Mia Valian. Harry's powers had become greatly diminished after the death of Voldemort and the fading of his scar. Hermione surmised that his earlier increase had been power bleeding through the connection of the cursed scar as Voldemort absorbed huge amounts of power from altered muggles and with him dead the powers had faded somewhat. Still, he had retained enough power to cast the conjuring spell that created a silver replacement limb for Mia. Hermione could have done it, but she understood why Harry had wanted to do it himself. Her own powers, along with Harry's, had also suffered from unexpected after effects of the magic enhancement potion that Snape had given them.
A few other silver appendages could be seen glittering around the room and Harry wondered curiously how many other magical advances pioneered by Voldemort would ultimately come to serve a good purpose. There was still a treasure of expected discoveries awaiting them at Riddle Manor.
Harry let his eyes continue to wander across the crowd. He realized that all of them had their own stories to be told, but that they probably never would be. History would likely focus on him, as it had thus far, and miss the true depth of what had happened in this world of magic.
The rest of the Weasley's had all turned out of course. Molly was the real reason that they were going ahead with the ceremony so soon after the end of the war. She had insisted that Arthur and Ginny would have wanted them to set an example for everyone else and that now each person had an obligation to make sure their sacrifices were not in vain. Molly said that it was up to the survivors to move forward and be happy. Bill and Fleur had set the date for their own wedding soon after Harry and Hermione's. Fleur joked that if Hermione and Harry could have an uninterrupted ceremony then undoubtedly she and Bill would be safe too. Unfortunately, even with only a few escaped Death Eaters, it had been decided that Hogwarts would be the best place to hold the ceremony as opposed to the Burrow.
Many of their other friends had also attended. Remus and Tonks, now employed by the Ministry, were working with Dumbledore to help muggle werewolves become accustom to the world of magic. Almost all of their professors, even Snape, had crowded into the expansive hall too. Snape had resumed his position as potions master without even grumbling about Bill getting to keep the Dark Arts slot.
The most unusual guest was probably Firenze who was still very grateful to Harry and Hermione for opening the forest to him once more. Unfortunately, with the war over, the centaurs had tried to kick him out again. The herd had split into three or four different factions over the issue and so Firenze was with the one small group that had supported his return. Surprisingly, they had made a deal with Aragog apparently and so were now co-existing safely within the spider domain.
"We are here today," Dumbledore began solemnly, "to acknowledge with ritual that which already exists in reality. The bond between the witch and wizard you see standing before you is worthy of the title of marriage."
Unlike muggle ceremonies that revolved around the couple exchanging vows a wizard ceremony was usually based on the testimony of those who knew the couple in question. One by one people came forward and offered their testimony until everyone who had wanted to speak had been able to. Ron, Remus, even McGonagall all recounted their perspectives on the relationship that they had been front row observers to for years. After the last person had finally spoken Dumbledore rose again.
"Before the presence of those whom hold these two hearts dear and whom they in return hold dear…I declare unto you all Harry and Hermione Potter," Dumbledore said. Harry and Hermione clasped each other's hand and raised them above their heads as they faced the crowd and bowed to complete the ritual.
"Well, then, I guess this is goodbye," Ron said softly as the last of their friends finished congratulating Harry and Hermione.
"Not for good," Hermione said. Her eyes were on her parents as she spoke.
"We want to see what its like being "normal" for a while," Harry said.
"They tell me our house will be finished soon," Sarah Granger said. "At least come visit soon, won't you?"
"Don't worry Mum, we will eventually," Hermione said.
"And I wish you'd consider taking that off," Sarah added with a smirk as she pointed at the sparkling charm bracelet on Hermione's wrist.
"You'll get your grandkids someday," Hermione replied with a grin and a blush. "Harry and I just want some `us' time first."
"Ahem," Dumbledore broke in, "I have one final thing I wanted to give to you both."
Hermione and Harry followed him a short distance until they were alone. "I know the two of you very well," he said. "Don't worry about Riddle Manor. It's a relic of an age that has already passed. My last gift to you is this advice…worry about yourselves now, take care of each other, and don't take upon yourselves the role I gave myself."
"Like Hermione said," Harry replied. "We just want to be left alone now."
Dumbledore smiled. "No one deserves it more than the both of you. Since the two of you are leaving I'll make one last announcement early. As you know I am no longer qualified to guard this school so I too will be leaving. If you wish to find me you need only go to Meadow Down, you now know where, and I'll be there."
"Until we meet again Professor," Harry said as Dumbledore clasp his hand fondly.
Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and looked up into his face as he activated a hidden portkey to take them away. Their destiny had been fulfilled and now Harry's future, like his face, was no longer blemished with Voldemort's scar.
Author's Note:
Well, well, that was a long involved experience and yes there are still obviously many unanswered questions. Work on the sequel is set to start in…twelve days! I will be following my standard operating procedure up until now and finishing the story before posting it a day at a time. The tentative name for the sequel is Harry Potter and the Secret of Sorcery. I will no longer be constrained by JKR's Voldemort plot so who knows what crazy things might happen. In the mean time I have to finish writing 20 pages of research paper for my evil professors. Gasp! I hope everyone enjoyed the story. Deep felt appreciation and thanks to all those who have written a review.
-->