Companions of the White Warlock

Smoke Year VII - Companions of the White Warlock Chapter XXXIII

The great hall of Hogwarts was full, as Luna had first convinced Hermione to call the Paladins to the room before breakfast, and then convinced the Headmistress to keep the students and staff there. Remus had been sent to call the Minister, the press, and others. Each time, when so many of the people had asked why one at a time and in groups, Luna had merely said, "The last battle will be some time this morning."

That had been more than enough.

The elves served a light lunch, which was cleaned up well before noon. Hermione wished Ron was there, to hold onto in her nervousness, and because she knew Ron would still be eating, and that would help everyone else relax as they teased him.

When Hermione sniffled, Luna clasped her hand under the table. "Have faith," Luna said simply. "Remember what day it is."

"It's the First of May," Hermione answered.

"The Day of Light Magic, and even the Darker Celtic ceremonies associated with this day tended to celebrate justice," Luna pointed out. "I expect Harry to be here sometimes between a few minutes after One o'clock and One-thirty."

"Then why did you start getting everyone here so early this morning?" Neville asked.

"So they could all be here by One," Luna said. She nodded at the doors to the great hall, where Remus Lupin was escorting in a group of scowling goblins and the French Ambassador. "There are still more to come."

The minutes passed, and finally Hermione said, "It's One o'clock."

"Harry will be here." Luna stated.

At 1:12, Luna suddenly stood and looked towards the doors of the great hall. The crowd quieted. "All rise," she commanded, her voice carrying easily and with very surprising authority. Hermione rose, followed by Ginny. "The White Warlock, the Chosen One, arrives from battle!"

The rest of the crowd stood, and so missed the noise of Harry's arrival. Still, in just under a minute, Harry came into the great hall, with Theseus following behind him. The sword of Gryffindor was sheathed at Harry's side, and he was carrying a leather bag. Theseus had a long carpet rolled and thrown over his shoulder. They walked up the center of the hall to the dias, where the staff, his Council, and the representatives of the wizarding world were sitting.

"The war is over," Harry announced.

"Perseus?" Luna asked quietly.

"Well, I may have the head of a gorgon, but that ain't Cleopatra," Harry replied equally softly, but gesturing at the carpet. Harry walked up to Minister Scrimgeour. He reached into his pocket and tossed a wand on the table. "The wand of Tom Marvolo Riddle, who called himself Lord Voldemort," Harry stated loudly enough to carry. "I have his head, and my ally here was kind enough to bring the body." Harry set the bag on the dias and Theseus did the same with the body rolled in the carpet.

Harry turned so that he was addressing both the dias and the students while Theseus willed himself to be all but invisible to everyone but Harry, Hermione, and Luna. "Let the word go forth that between the efforts of the British Ministry and others, the efforts of fine educators such as those here at Hogwarts, and by the efforts of my Council and I, we have won and that we will not tolerate another dark lord in our life times!"

The hall erupted in cheers. After a few minutes, Harry raised his hands, and the noise died down. "We need to learn how to live and work together. We need to learn how to live with Muggles while preserving our wizarding heritage. We need to learn how to appreciate goblins and centaurs and merpeople and elves and even, if they are willing to live peaceably with us, giants. That is why I named a half-giant, an elf, and a werewolf to my Council. While I can name up to twelve, I need to have at least eight. I will have nine." Harry turned to the group of goblins. "Ringshank, the Chief Hobgoblin of Gringotts of London, please stand."

Ringshank stood, confused.

"I would consider naming a goblin to my Council. I shall meet with any you think might be worthy at your bank two hours after opening time on the First of July."

Ringshank bowed deeply. "We shall consider your offer, and present any candidates for your consideration at that time, my lord."

Harry bowed in return and turned to face his Council. "Dobby?"

Dobby popped out from behind Luna, where he had been hiding. "My lord?" Dobby squeaked.

"Could you arrange with your former co-workers in the kitchen to send up glasses and sparking cider for everyone?"

"Yes, my lord!" Dobby popped away. In less than three minutes, the goblets appeared, and the bottles of sweet cider appeared shortly thereafter.

"Open those carefully!" McGonagall warned the students. Despite her warning, many students followed the lead of George Weasley in letting the corks fly. When everyone appeared ready, Harry raised his glass. "My friends! Two toasts! First, to those we lost in this war!" Every raised their glasses and drank off half. "And finally, to peace!"

"TO PEACE!"

Percy Weasley waved for attention. "My friends! Three cheers for the White Warlock! three Cheers for Harry Potter! Hip Hip. . . ."

"HURRZAH!"

"Hip Hip. . . ."

"HURRZAH!"

"Hip Hip. . . ."

"HURRZAH!!"

Wednesday, June 17, 1998

The O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s were over, and the regular exams started the next day. Therefore, Harry, Luna, and Hermione were sitting out on the porch of the cabin, watching the Hogwarts students enjoy the bright sunshine and cool weather. Many were studying (or pretending to), while the others had given up any pretense and were playing tag or other games, or just sunning themselves.

"It's still hard to believe that it's over," Hermione said. "That there won't be some crises or other before the end of the month."

"No, no crisis this month. Next month, of course, my scores arrive," Harry joked.

"Right, Potter, like any examiner would dare give you a bad score in Defense or Charms," Hermione retorted.

"Oh, you're saying I did poorly in Transfiguration?" Harry teased back. He had not even attempted any other N.E.W.T. other than those three.

"No, I'm sure you did fine," Hermione acknowledged.

"So, seriously," Harry said, "what are your plans? You don't have to dance attendance on me, you know."

"I know," Hermione agreed.

"So, I know you must have plans," Harry said simply.

"Don't get the wrong idea," Hermione warned, "but I'm going to spend most of the next year at Theseus', if you don't need me." Harry grinned. "Not doing that, you perv!"

"If you say so," Harry retorted.

"Don't tease," Luna reproved gently. She turned to Hermione. "Do you have enough of Ron's sperm preserved to have his child?"

"I should," Hermione replied, blushing slightly. "I was thinking having it in a year or two. I'm certainly not ready now!"

"You told me once that you want two or three. . . ." Harry probed.

"You will have one son by Ron and one daughter by Harry," Luna said simply. "I believe I will have four, two each."

"Are you using your inner eye without a permit?" Harry teased.

"No," Luna said regretfully. "The rest of our futures are hidden to me."

"Even our N.E.W.T. scores?" Hermione asked. Then she flushed slightly, having realized she had not changed as much over the years as she had hoped.

"Even those," Luna said.

"Come with me to vet the goblins on the First," Harry said. "We should get our N.E.W.T.s scores that afternoon."

"Sure," Hermione said, but then she frowned. "Harry, would you tell me something now?"

"What?"

"Who were the four optional people on your Council?" Harry had been led to eight by Higher Magic, but chose four on his own.

Harry thought a few moments, looking up into the sunlight. "Ron, Fred, Professor Russell, and Ginny," Harry finally answered. "Whichever goblin I'm led to choosing will be replacing Hagrid."

"You won't be replacing the others?" Luna asked.

"Not for a while," Harry answered. "Right now, I'm thinking of Mister Weasley, Professor McGonagall, and Marcia."

"Good choices," Hermione said, "although I'm sure the Ministry die-hard will complain about Mister Weasley serving two masters and all that." She wondered if Harry had taken that into account.

"He'll have thirty years in at the beginning of August," Harry said simply. "That's when he can start collecting a half pension. Between that and what we can pay him, he'll come out ahead if he wants to take the job."

"That's good to know," Hermione said.

"I'm sure there'll be a bigger fuss about Marcia," Luna said.

"True," Hermione agreed.

Harry shrugged. "Too bad." He grinned. "Besides, who better to help us learn wizarding traditions than a witch over two thousand years old, even if she's also a vampire?"

"Did you consider asking Theseus?" Hermione asked.

"No," Harry said. "He needs to hide back in the shadows fast. There are too many people sniffing around him now for him to be comfortable."

"Is he worried?" Hermione asked.

"Not really," Harry answered.

"That's not surprising," Luna said thoughtfully. "He's had three thousand years of practice."

"True," Harry agreed. His smile went away as he said, "By the way, I'll need both of you to meet me in the atrium of the Ministry at Nine on the morning of the First."

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"So we can all say goodbye to Professor Russell," Luna said sadly.

The trio sat in the shade, feeling gloomy. After more than five minutes of silence, Luna stood. "It looks like those Second years are having fun. Let's play tag with them!"

Harry stood. "You, know, I never played regular tag. Have you, Hermione?"

Hermione, who had been about to object to such a childish thing, thought about that. "You know what? I haven't either. It's time we took care to eliminate such a glaring omission." The three smiling teens went off to play.

Wednesday, July 1, 1998

Deep in the Department of Mysteries, Harry Potter, Luna Lovegood, and Hermione Granger stood in the Room of the Veiled Arch with the ghost of Professor Russell and, surprisingly, that of Professor Binns.

"So," Russell was saying, "all my earthly possessions are distributed correctly." He turned to his companion. "Anything to say, Binns?"

The dour little ghost frowned. "Someone might have mentioned I died long before now!"

"Binns, people have been telling you that for almost a hundred years. You just keep forgetting."

"Hopefully," Binns replied with dignity, "my memory will work properly again in whatever lies ahead."

"I'm sure it will," Russell replied. He bowed to Luna. "You have been one of the most interesting people I have ever met, Luna, as well as one of the best students in our field I have taught."

"I shall remember you with honor," Luna replied as she bowed back.

"Harry . . . my lord. . . ." Russell bowed again, "it has been the greatest honor I could know to have helped you."

"Thank you," Harry replied, also returning the bow. "It would have been almost impossible to succeed without you."

"Somehow, I doubt that, but thank you. Hermione . . . I meant it when I said you were like another daughter to me," Russell said. "Find happiness as well as knowledge."

"I'll do my best to do both," Hermione said, tears running down her cheeks.

"Ready?" Binns asked.

"I am."

The two ghosts floated over to the Veil, where they stopped.

"Strange," Binns said.

"What is?" Harry asked, coming a bit closer. He stopped when Russell raised a head.

"Harry, Luna, you can hear the murmurings?" Russell asked.

"We can," Luna answered. Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust, since she still heard nothing.

"We can hear some of the individual voices," Binns said. He and Russell stood there, listening and murmuring back for several minutes. Then they face the trio.

"Three, no four spirits had messages before going on to the next stage," Binns said. "They will not be this close to this plane again. Albus Dumbledore wishes to make it known that he is very proud of Harry Potter, and that he apologizes for not preparing him better."

"Tell Albus that I forgive him, and that I love him," Harry said.

"I shall," Binns said, and floated through the Veil.

"Harry, your godfather said much the same thing, in rather cruder descriptions of himself," Russell said with a smile. "Ron also wished to say goodbye, and that he loves Hermione and wishes all three of you well. Oh, and Fred asked that you tell George to have more fun."

"Thank you," Hermione said. "Tell Ron about the child I'm planning."

"I shall."

"Tell Ron and especially Fred to be good, or the sulfur they smell might not be from dung bombs," Harry added.

Russell smiled. "I'll pass it on." And with that, he disappeared through the Veil as well.

Harry, Luna, and Hermione stepped out of imposing front doors of Gringotts and squinted in the late morning light. "That went well," Harry said.

Hermione snorted. "Ringshank did look a trifle nonplused," Luna agreed.

"I came to pick a goblin, and I picked a goblin," Harry protested.

"Just not one of the dozen Ringshank had arranged for you to consider," Hermione pointed out.

"Gwenbauble. . . ."

"Is a female, and therefore plays a different traditional role in goblin society," Hermione stated.

"Well, I did say I was looking for someone who understood the goblin point of view, not a warrior or banker," Harry pointed out.

"I thought Ringshank took things well, after he stopped choking and Harry explained his reasoning," Luna said.

"I did too, but it was a near thing," Hermione said in turn. She paused. "Where should we go to wait for our N.E.W.T.s?"

"You mean these?" Harry asked, pulling out two envelopes.

"Harry!" Hermione grabbed hers while Harry chuckled.

"How did you do?" Luna asked Harry.

Harry shrugged and handed the scores to Luna. "Oh, well done!" Luna said. "E in Transfiguration, O in charms, and O and a special recognition in Defense."

"Not bad, since I really didn't know any of the theory well enough," Harry said. They turned to Hermione. "And you."

Hermione had a disgusted look on her face. Harry sighed and snatched the parchment. He glared at Hermione after a glance at her scores. "You only were allowed seven N.E.W.T. classes, and only took one year of formal training in those, and you still took all eleven of the N.E.W.T.s you got O.W.L. in?"

Hermione shrugged and sniffled.

"O in Arithmancy, O in Astronomy, E in Care, O in Charms, O in Defense, E in Herboloy, O in History, E in Muggle Studies, E in Potions, E in Runes, O in Transfiguration."

"I should have waited and taken them next year," Hermione said sadly.

"Six Os and five Es, when no one has ever scored more than nine N.E.W.T.s in history, no one, and most of the best students only score five or six N.E.W.T.s in total?" Luna pointed out. "You did very well."

"The professors Minerva are bringing over to teach Care, Transfiguration, and Runes, and possibly History, aren't going to stay that long," Hermione said, "between five and seven years at most. And Professor Flitwick is going to retire in a few years. I was hoping for one of the positions. Well, not Creatures. . . ."

"You could still get Charms, Transfiguration, or History," Luna pointed out. "You couldn't have gotten the Runes position without the Minor Gift in Languages."

"I suppose not," Hermione said. She squared her shoulders. "Well, I shall be ready for any of those. George has the store, Neville has the estate, Ginny plans on out-producing her mother in the babies department starting next year, Remus and Percy are helping George part time while Remus will be teaching at Hogwarts, and Tonks plans on competing with Ginny on making the most babies in wizarding history. What about you two?"

"I will finish next year," Luna said. "Over the next eight to ten years, I plan on having those four children and helping Daddy with The Quibbler. After that," Luna shrugged. "Perhaps I'll be ready to teach Runes. We shall see."

"Evil hasn't gone away just because a big chunk of evil is gone," Harry pointed out. "The Walpurgis groups are still out there, even if they are partially broken up. There could be other neo-Grindelwald groups for that matter, and now that he's gone, some lunatics will no doubt make Voldemort into more than he actually was. I am still the White Warlock." Harry shrugged. "My job is still to try and save at least part of the world, Hermione. I just have more tools to succeed than I did during our Fifth year."

"You're never going to let me forget I said that, are you?"

"Nope," Harry teased. "What are you up to in the short-term?"

"I'm off to Mum and Dad's for a few weeks. I go to Theseus' in the beginning of August. Oh, and Theseus said you were welcome to visit anytime you wish."

"I may do just that," Harry agreed. "I'll mostly be at Godric's Hollow or the cabin. You are welcome in my home any time, too."

Hermione lightly kissed Harry and Luna and disapparted.

"When are you going to your father's?" Harry asked Luna.

"Saturday," Luna answered. "I think we should go to the cottage at Godric's Hollow until then."

Harry smiled. "Brilliant idea."

"I have several more for once we get there," Luna added. She smiled brightly. "Let's go have fun!"

The End