Something About Harry: The Lilia Watt Files

Epilogue

I stepped out of the horseless carriage onto the familiar gravelly path. I shivered in the chilly late autumn wind, and began to walk up the path to the castle. The gates were open, and my shoes made a soft clicking noise on the ancient stone steps as I walked hesitantly up to the door. I took a deep breath and knocked three times.

The heavy wooden doors creaked loudly and slowly open. A small, old face peeked out.

"I'd like to see the Headmaster, please," I said to the short witch.

She nodded, and without a word, swept off down the corridor. She led me up several flights of stairs, and stopped at the same old stone gargoyle.

"Chocolate Frogs," croaked the gnarled old witch. The gargoyle sprang aside as the wall opened to the golden staircase.

I answered uneasily, "Thank you," as I stepped onto the stairs. My mind ran nervously as I waited for the staircase to reach the door at the top.

What will I say? What will he say? How can I explain...

The door seemed to unexpectedly appear in front of my face. I bit back my anxiety and knocked.

"Come in," came the deep-voiced reply from within the room.

I opened the door. A tall, beautiful young wizard with dark hair stood looking out the high, curtained windows. He turned around and looked straight at me, and his green eyes grew wide behind his glasses.

"Lilia," he breathed.

"Hello, Harry," I said softly.

He stared at me for a few moments, then shook his head and said, "C - Come in, sit down."

I unwrapped my scarf and placed it on one of the chairs, but I remained standing.

"How are you? What are you doing here?" I thought I saw his eyes searching for my left hand, where the ring was...but perhaps I was imagining it...I quickly hid my hand.

"I've been offered a job at the Ministry," I answered quietly.

"That's great!" he said. "Are you...are you going to take it?"

"I...I don't know yet."

He walked around me. "You look wonderful. How long has it been?"

"Three years," I said.

He just leaned on the old desk, watching me, his eyes dancing. There was a picture on his desk...a girl...How could I have thought he'd wait for me? I drew nearer...the girl in the picture...was me!

"Well?" Harry asked.

"Well what?"

"Are you going to kiss me or not?"

Startled, I started to say, "Harry, I--"

"Shh..." he whispered as he pulled me closer and leaned in to kiss me...the most passionate kiss...he gently ran his hands through my hair, and warmth flooded through me, a different sort, as he kissed me again...

"Ahem!" someone said from across the room.

Harry and I jumped apart, faces burning, and I nearly fainted when I looked over at the speaker.

It was Professor McGonagall.

"Er, sorry Professor, didn't hear you knock," Harry said awkwardly.

"Apparently not," she replied, eyebrows raised, as she looked at me, and I could've sworn she almost smirked. Then she squinted at me as though not quite sure she was seeing correctly..."Miss Watt?"

I smiled sheepishly. "Hi, Professor."

To my great surprise, she smiled back. "I hear you're going to be an...er...Unspeakable," she said to me.

"Department of Mysteries, that's right."

"So you're going to stay?" Harry interrupted.

"Looks like it," I said casually.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat again. "I rather have some business to attend to, Headmaster, if you don't mind."

"Oh," said Harry distractedly. "Right. Sit down, please." He gestured to the old chairs in front of the desk.

"I'll just wait outside," I said nervously, and left the room.

I watched the children passing in the corridors, on their way to lunch, it seemed. They gave me funny looks, some of them, but continued on their way.

Professor McGonagall and Harry soon came down from the circular room.

"It was nice to see you again, Miss Watt. I expect I haven't seen the last of you," she added, looking at Harry again, and she too went to the Great Hall for lunch.

The corridors were now empty, and a dull roar of noise issued from the Great Hall.

"I've got to go, Harry, the Ministry will be expecting me. I have to go all the way to Hogsmeade before I can Apparate. I'm staying in the village inn until I can find a home."

"I'll come visit tonight then, shall I?"

I smiled. "Okay."

Harry looked around secretively, then said "One more time," and kissed me again. "I love doing that," he said as we broke apart. Then we looked around.

A crowd of first years was standing in the corridor, staring at us and snickering occasionally. Can't get any privacy in this school.

"OooOooOooOoo," they chorused.

"I didn't know Headmasters were allowed to snog in the corridors," piped up one boy.

"Er.." Harry let go of me. "Finnigan, why is your class so late?" he said to the boy, trying to change the subject.

"Professor Snape kept us back."

"Oh he did, did he? Off to lunch with all of you, I'll sort this out," Harry replied, shooing them away.

"Bye, Mrs. Potter!" called several of the students as they left.

I giggled in spite of myself, and Harry grinned and shrugged. "I'll see you tonight," he said, and then he turned and strode off in the direction of the dungeons, his robes billowing behind him.