IX. Epilogue

It was a festive world for the next few days. More details came out about what exactly happened that night. What was surprising was that Amelia made sure to thank the goblins for their assistance. Ragnok also released a statement hoping that this would be a new chapter in wizard/goblin relations.

Harry was awarded not one, but two Order of Merlin First Class awards. The first was for the basilisk and the second for killing Voldemort. Sirius received an Order of Merlin Third Class for his assistance in bringing about Voldemort's demise. Nothing was ever said publicly about the horcruxes.

The Wizengamot was partially gutted by the "fine upstanding purebloods" who had been arrested. The remaining Neutrals and Light representatives banded together and declared those seats formerly occupied by now-convicted Dark members extinct. This meant those seats would now return to the Wizengamot to redistribute. It was time to bring in some new blood. Sirius took his seat and declared his House Neutral. Harry took his seats and declared them all Neutral as well, then named Sirius as his proxy for his now 6 votes (Potter, Slytherin, Gryffindor, Peverell, and two Orders of Merlin).

Harry and his friends headed back to Hogwarts in a much better mood than when they'd left. Harry, Ron, and Hermione still had their OWLS to sit while Fred and George had their NEWTS. Some things never changed. But without the specter of Voldemort over their heads, they could relax and just be students.

Minerva had given Snape an ultimatum – either teach or leave. He chose to leave, for which many were thankful. Minerva was able to persuade Andromeda Tonks to come in and teach for the rest of the term. After doing an analysis of what each year had learned (or not), she declared every year would need remedial instruction. She concentrated more on those taking their OWLS and NEWTS first. NEWT students spend four hours Sunday morning and Owl students spent four hours Sunday afternoon in remedial potions. The younger years were getting additional work in their classes as well as with extra homework.

Aurora Sinistra took over as Head of Slytherin House. She clamped down on the bullying going on within the House. For the first week back, she was spending a lot of time reclaiming students who had been caught by the wards using magic in the halls. The other houses had listened to what Minerva had said at the Welcome Feast about the wards and it only took a few in each house for the word to get out and it stopped.

Even though Snape wasn't there, Harry did visit Slytherin House on occasion. The Slytherin students kept trying to figure out how he kept getting in. Nobody had given him the password. Harry didn't bother to tell them there was a small snake on the wall. All he had to do was hiss at it and it would let him in as the Slytherin Lord.

The end of the year came quickly. OWLS and NEWTS were sat. Both Harry and Hermione sat the Muggle Studies OWL in addition to the standard ones. Harry had spent more time studying and less time playing chess, much to Ron's dismay. He'd found that with a capable instructor he was a decent potions brewer and he actually enjoyed it. One of the first things they'd been taught was a shield spell to protect their cauldrons from outside interference.

The Leaving Feast was bittersweet for many. The seventh years were sad to be leaving, but more opportunities had opened up as a result of the end of Voldemort. Harry was looking forward to going home. That was a nice word – home! First, he'd be going to Grimmauld Place, but later he'd be going to Potter Manor to begin to make it his own. The goblins had been selling the basilisk off in lots and he'd already become a very wealthy teen. Sirius and Harry were also going to take a vacation to the Black Island and any other place Harry wanted to go. There had been no end-of-school-year drama this year. All was well.

Finite Incantatem