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fanfic-lover-girl · 3 months

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The HP Epilogue: JKR's trashfire ending to a trash book series

I was reading snippets from the epilogue for the first time and everything about the epilogue is just frustrating. And I want to share things I found intolerable about it to let off steam. These are MY opinions so if you feel differently, I am happy for you. But here is a summary of my gripes.

The names of the Hinny Harry's kids

James Sirius. Albus Severus. Lily Luna. I can empathize with wanting to honour people you love by naming your kids after them...but this is just overkill. Not one of Harry's kids has an original name. Not one! And I said Harry's kids because it seems like Ginny had absolutely no input in the names. If I am being generous, maybe the Luna name was hers, but given the naming pattern of the kids, I am sure that Luna references Lupin and not Luna Lovegood. Sometimes I feel as if Harry has a domineering vibe in Hinny and the kids' names are not doing any favours to combat that. Not surprising as everything about the Hinny romance was dictated by Harry's wants. Who cares about Ginny?

Muggleborne discrimination is bad but pureblood discrimination is A-ok

‘You’re right, sorry,’ said Ron, but unable to help himself, he added, ‘don’t get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pure-blood.’

I could not believe my eyes when I read this. It's like Ron forgot that HIS family is pureblood! It's the same vibe as a black parent telling their black or mixed kid not to marry another black person! Luna is pureblood! Neville is pureblood! Do the Weasleys have some kind of self-hatred?? Another point to purebloods slowly dying out but who cares? As far as JKR is concerned, the wizards should be aiming to all be mutts with mixed blood :)

BTW the Scorpius/Rose pairing fills me with revulsion. I like Albus and Scorp as friends though! But not so much as lovers.

Marriage is the only way to be truly part of a family

‘Oh, it would be lovely if they got married!’ whispered Lily ecstatically. ‘Teddy would really be part of the family then!’

Got some heavy Hinny vibes from this line of dialogue. Harry did not become a true Weasley until he got with Ginny after all :)

I know Lily is a kid and she means no malice, but I truly felt disgust towards this line. It just bothers me, especially in the context of Hinny and how Ginny functions as a way for Harry to become a Weasley member. Teddy is Harry's godson, he should be like a big brother to Lily. How does becoming a cousin-in-law make him more of a family member compared to being her surrogate big bro??

Do Hogwarts alumni swear an oath of secrecy?

‘And you don’t want to believe everything he tells you about Hogwarts,’ Harry put in.

He had never told any of his children that before, and he saw the wonder in Albus’s face when he said it.

So James Sirius is telling Albus Severus exaggerated tales about Hogwarts similar to what the Weasley twins did to Ron. But how is this possible? Do the parents not talk about Hogwarts to their kids? If my kid was going to my alma mater, I would tell him/her all about the school when I went there. I don't understand why it seems like parents don't talk about Hogwarts. At least Draco's parents seem to talk to him about the school at least.

Muggle abuse is still funny Ha. Ha.

‘As a matter of fact, I did Confund him,’ Ron whispered to Harry, as together they lifted Albus’s trunk and owl on to the train. ‘I only forgot to look in the wing mirror, and let’s face it, I can use a Supersensory Charm for that.’

Remember that Ron is an Auror! A wizarding cop! But nah muggles are still lesser than wizards so even a guy like Ron who's supposed to be a good hero character feels no shame in messing with their autonomy. Ron is literally so disgusting in the epilogue. Never thought I would end HP finding Ron the least tolerable of the trio when Ron is usually my fav of the 3. Not that the bar is very high for the other two.

JKR really does not like Draco

His hair was receding somewhat, which emphasised the pointed chin.

Of course, JKR can't end the series without throwing more shade at Draco. He's rocking the middle-aged man look, only has one kid and has a love interest that we know squat about. And then in CC, Draco's wife dies! Sigh, I really hate Drastoria...

All is not well

There is still house discrimination. Magical creatures likely still have fewer rights. Aurors like Ron and everyday wizards abuse their powers against muggles. Purebloods are dying out. Wizards like Albus act like they did not grow up in a magical world, aka wizards still have low brain cell counts. But sure, Harry's scar is fine so ALL IS WELL!

I can't believe there are people out here calling JKR a good writer! I see the vast potential of the book series and I feel so sad sometimes. I am so happy that HP never existed in my childhood.

#harry potter series #anti harry potter #harry potter epilogue #hp 19 years later #weasley family #anti hinny #ron weasley critical #anti jkr #draco malfoy #harry james potter #james sirius potter #albus severus potter #lily luna potter #anti scorose #anti drastoria #muggle discrimination #pureblood discrimination #draco deserved a better author

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hollowed-theory-hall · 28 days

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thoughts on the hp epilogue? i kinda hate it and don't really consider it canon but im curious what your opinion is.

I'm not a fan, I usually disregard it.

There are things I don't like about the epilogue and things I don't mind. My dislikes range from the usual suspects like Harry naming his son "Albus Severus" to some deeper things actually.

This ended up a bit long, so I'll add a read more here.

So, I'm going to divide this into two parts, things written in the epilogue itself, and the supposedly canon future of the characters that bother me, but technically it's not in the books and therefore easier to ignore.

Thoughts about the epilogue itself:

I actually don't mind the character dynamics between the golden trio in the epilogue, I actually like some of them (like Ron's comments about his muggle driver's test). I like Neville becoming an Herbology professor as well.

Now, for what I don't like...

The existence of the epilogue as a whole bothers me. I don't feel like the books necessarily needed one, at least not one like this. I would've preferred it to end on a hopeful note of rebuilding and changing house stereotypes and muggleborn treatment so there won't be another Voldemort. Not just jump 19 years later to show a society that didn't change any of its inherent problems (more on that in the next section). But the fact Albus is concerned about being sorted into Slytherin shows me nothing changed. House prejudice is still rampant, and the wizarding world still gawks at Harry. Ron mentions casting spells in broad daylight on a muggle for his driver's exam, so clearly muggles and the Statue of Secrecy are still a joke. It's like, complete and utter stagnation.

I also, don't actually want to see the second generation in canon. This is one of those things I think is better off to leave for fan spaces. The whole epilogue feels like a weird fanfic, it doesn't feel like a part of the books. It's even written in a different POV, that same third-person omnipotent that appears in the first chapter of books 1, 4, and 6. It just feels outside the books, I don't know how else to put it. It took me out of the story instead of leaving me satisfied with the ending.

I made it no secret I hate Dumbledore, so having Harry name his son after the two men who made his life hell, as much if not more than the Dursleys, just... it's just really gross. I hate thinking about it even.

I'm not the biggest fan of the names Hugo and Rose either, but that's my personal opinion.

The final problem I have with the epilogue itself is more subjective than the others, but also the most glaring for me, and that's Harry and Ginny. I just really didn't like them as a couple for multiple reasons that I want to make a whole post about actually (it's in the drafts, I'm working on it). But I didn't like the fact Harry married Ginny, I just really don't like them together. It's more of a me thing, and I'm sure fans who ship them together don't mind this, hence why I saved it for last, but it does bother me quite a bit.

And it's not that I dislike all of JK's canon pairings. I like Ron and Hermione, Bill and Fleur, Remus and Tonks, James and Lily — I like all of them well enough. It's Harry and Ginny that I have a problem with.

Thoughts about things JK said about the characters' futures (cursed child and Pottermore and a bit of the epilogue):

I don't like the Harry's and Hermione's careers, I think they are a disservice to the characters.

I go into more detail below about why the Ministry of Magic really really sucks, but with how the final books (5 and afterward) are all about how bad and corrupt the ministry is, it sits really wrong for me than Harry and Hermione go to work there.

And like, with as much as Harry is good in DADA and likes it, I don't think he'll actually enjoy being an Auror. Being an auror is more than just fighting dark wizards. It's filling out paperwork, dealing with bureaucracy, and having to obey his boss. Harry can't obey anyone, I can't see him working well in a hierarchical system that supports authority, it's the antithesis of a character who could resist the imperious curse on his first try because of how much he hates obeying. Personally, I think Harry should've removed the DADA teacher's curse and stayed at Hogwarts. Like, I see him as a DADA professor who often joins Aurors as, like, a special advisor or something. It'll give him more freedom and I think he'll like working with students and staying at Hogwarts.

As for Hermione, yes, she had SPEW, and I definitely think she would spend her life trying to improve creature rights, I just can't really see her becoming a minister. Hermione isn't about strategy (that was Ron), and she isn't about leading (that was Harry). Hermione is compassionate, and I do, as I mentioned, expect her to work for creature rights and improve the state of muggleborns in their society. But she's also a need, who loves reading and studying, I kinda feel she'd be more at home as an unspeakable rather than the minister. She just isn't a politician. Think about them breaking into Gringotts where she literally couldn't lie to save their lives.

Ron, I kinda like the idea of him trying to be an Auror and leaving after two years (honestly, Harry could have done the same and I would've been more willing to accept it). And I don't mind the idea of him helping George at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, I understand why he'll want to do it. Both to get out of the limelight, to help George with Fred's loss that they all share (tbh I'm in denial about that), and the chill environment probably would be good for him after the war. I think Ron will have fun in such a profession, honestly. He's the only one where I can kinda see it.

I don't like the way the Wizarding World is portrayed in the epilogue as I mentioned above — like nothing changed.

In the final books in the series (but actually, we see hints of this in books 2 and 3 already) the ministry is repeatedly portrayed as corrupt and inherently discriminatory — both towards magical creatures and muggleborns.

I don't think I need to discuss House Elves and werewolves too much, as the books state the problems in the ministry’s treatment of these groups quite plainly. But what the books don't mention as much is how hard muggleborns who wish to stay in the Wizarding World have it.

While there are private professions like shop owners, broom makers, Quidditch players, authors, and such, most jobs in the Wizarding World are in the ministry. And you can't get a job in the ministry unless you have connections in the ministry. They run on nepotism and who-knows-who and not merit. This places all muggleborns, even ones like Hermione (if she wasn't a war hero) at a disadvantage when searching for a job after Hogwarts.

We see it with Tom Riddle (12 NEWTs, all O's, prefect, and head boy). Yes, Slughorn pulled some strings to get him job offers, but he preferred to work at Borgin and Butkes over the lowly ministry positions they were willing to give a muggleborn who got a recommendation! What do you think happens to the muggleborns without a close relationship with Slughorn or to students who were quiet but still got solid Os and Es. And we don't know if other teachers recommend students to the ministry.

And that's before I talk about how muggleborns are introduced to magic, which is abhorrent. Or the lack of care towards child abuse (cases like Harry, Voldemort, and Snape come to mind). Or wizards' condescension towards everything muggle. Even Arthur Weasley, who supposedly loves muggles, is incredibly condescending towards muggles and ill-informed about them.

This outlook on muggles is why the Statue of Secrecy is a joke. I mean, book 1 opens with Vernon seeing weird people in colorful cloaks celebrating Voldemort’s downfall. They have no subtlety. considering Ron confounded the examiner on his driver's test and Harry and his family walked with owls in a muggle train station, this didn't get better either...

Sorry for my rant about the ministry, but all this is to say, I don't like the idea of Harry and Hermione working in such a corrupt system that they both witnessed the damage of firsthand. And even if they did work there, I kinda expected them to change it. To actually put in the effort to improve the damaged system they had, and JK mentioned they did. But in the epilogue and any other material we see no signs of this improvement. Everything is still corrupt and running on connections and favors. Otherwise, Albus Potter wouldn't be scared of being sorted into Slytherin, that fact alone means the prejudices that are a huge problem in their world still exist.

The ministry's corruption was such a big plot point in the final books that it feels weird to me that it isn't addressed in any way in the epilogue itself. I mean, the reason Voldemort rose to power as easily as he did was because the ministry and their society were built to allow it.

My ideal epilogue will take place maybe a few months after the war, it'll show them rebuilding, and being hopeful for a future that'll now exist. Stop the house rivalries that do more damage than good and cease the discrimination against muggleborns and creatures, or at least take the first steps towards something better. And it'll show the couples together and the golden trio's friendship, but no second-generation stuff. I feel that wasn't necessary to get the point across. Which I don't feel it did. Like, it gave me the wrong kind of catharsis that I wasn't looking for, if that makes any sense. It just gave me answers to questions I didn't ask.

Tldr;

Sorry for my rambling, the epilogue and anything stated after the books isn't really canon in my head.

#harry potter #harry potter thoughts #hp #hp thoughts #harry potter epilogue #asks #anon ask #anonymous

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prismolovesfanfiction · 2 years

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magic is wasted in Harry Potter

not one obliviated Elon Musks memories and pretended to be his heir so he'd give them money??

not one silencio'd loud babies on planes???

not one avada kedavra'd the King????

#harry potter #harry potter shitpost #Harry Potter text post #elon musk #elongated muskrat #king of england #king charles iii #queen elizabeth #british royal family #harry potter spells #tom riddle #lord voldemort #jegulus #drarry #hexrpg #wolfstar #marauders era #harry potter next generation #harry potter epilogue

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nettedtangible · 7 months

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Epilogue, HP Microfic, 2554 words.

We all hate the epilogue, so I re-wrote it. Enjoy.

Harry stood in the kitchen of one of his favourite places in the world, and noted that, for the first time he could remember, the Burrow was silent. He placed his hands on the benchtop and gazed out the window at the small and sombre band of people gathered in the overgrown yard.

It had been four days since the battle of Hogwarts; days which had felt to be some of the longest of Harry’s life, bar perhaps, some of his more arduous stints at Privet Drive. He hung his head, diverting his eyes from the scene in front of him. Behind him he heard a noise, and turning, saw Ginny emerge from the staircase, her eyes red, though her face was set firm. He had seen that fiery resolve in her face many times before and reached out for her hand. She took it and, with a gesture of her head, indicated that it was time for them to join the others.

They walked through the backdoor and into the garden, the sky pearly grey above them to mark the occasion. The Weasleys were gathered around a freshly dug hole in the ground, beside which stood a rough-hewn coffin. Harry stole himself as he looked at it and turned his head, taking in those around him.

Mr and Mrs Weasley stood at the head of the grave, Mrs Weasley sobbing into Mr Weasley’s shoulder, whose face was set into a mask of stony grief. To their right stood Andromeda Tonks, stroking the face of the blue haired baby she carried in her arms. Harry closed his eyes, remembering heavily Lupin and Tonks’ funeral of the previous day. It had been a small affair, and a devastating setting for Harry to meet his godson, feeling as he had held him for the first time, an overwhelming sense of responsibility for the fate of his parents.

Standing near Andromeda were Bill and Fleur, Fleur resting against Bill’s chest, the picture of regal sadness. Charlie stood beside them, one arm slung around Percy's shoulders, eyes downcast. Near the foot of the grave stood George, flanked by Angelina Johnson and Lee Jordan. Harry thought that he had never seen a person look more lost. George was staring into the grave intently, as if filled with longing to join his twin, as he had in all other adventures. Angelina was clutching his arm and sniffing with repressed sobs, while Lee simply looked shocked, as though expecting Fred to leap from behind a bush at any moment.

Next to Harry stood Ron and Hermione, locked in a tight embrace. Tears were dripping off the end of Ron’s long nose as he buried his head in Hermione’s bushy hair, her own face wet from crying. Slightly off to the side sat Hagrid, who clutched a bottle of firewiskey in one hand and an overlarge plaid handkerchief in the other.

Nobody present wore dress robes or had followed in the Muggle tradition of wearing black, their grief was worn on their faces and banished all need for ceremony.

Harry exchanged a glace with Ron, and found he had no words of comfort to offer. Gripping tighter to Ginny’s hand, he turned to Mr Weasley. A sense of quiet expectation settled over the crowd.

Mr Weasley stepped forward, disengaging gently from a still shaking Molly, and raised his wand. Softly, the coffin was lifted from the ground and slowly lowered into the open grave. Harry heard it land with a soft thud, the finality of which shook him to his core. George turned his face, looking away from the grave for the first time.

‘My son,’ began Mr Weasley, voice clear, though slightly unsteady, ‘was a man unlike any other,’ he gave George a small look and continued, ‘save for his partner in crime and in life.’ A small gasp of mirth seemed to be wrenched from the mourners, as George began to cry in earnest.

‘I will never be able to understand why it was that he was taken from us, as so many were, by this terrible war,’ continued Mr Weasley, ‘but I do know, that he died because he fought. That he was brave, and rash, and would never, for one second, have let the fight go on without him.’ Some more tortured chuckles were released from the crowd.

‘Fred, I will love you until the day I die, as will everyone here. But I know that you walk beside us, possibly tying our shoelaces together when we’re not looking…’ another gasping laugh.

‘Fred died fighting for what was right, and to protect the people he loved, and each of us must honour him by going forth and living our lives with love in our hearts and laughter in our days.’

Harry’s face felt hot and tears prickled his eyes as a smile broke through the pain. Mr Weasley stepped back from the grave and raised his wand, ready to fill the grave with the adjacent pile of dirt when suddenly, a strange thumping noise echoed over the garden.

‘Arthur-,’ said Mrs Weasley, sharply, grasping Mr Weasley’s arm and staring into the grave, ‘listen…’ The thumping sound was growing louder and more pronounced, and every onlooker shuffled forward to peer into the grave, looking at the coffin intently.

With a blast the sound of a canon, the coffin burst open, and explosions suddenly filled the air. For a mad second, Harry thought that Fred had come charging out, but soon realised that hundreds of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes fireworks were pouring out of the coffin, emitting loud cracks and bangs and expanding out of the grave. Dragons and pinwheels rocketed up into the overcast sky, and letters forming the words “saint like” danced around their heads. Harry whipped his head to look at George, who was grinning widely through a sheen of tears. He looked around at his family, who, like Harry, had turned to him, and shrugged,

‘We had a pact,’ he said simply, looking sheepish and heartbroken all at once. A laugh rang out among the crowd, loud and shrill. Harry looked around to discover that, unexpectedly, it was emanating from Mrs Weasley. She was laughing so hard that her body shook, and she fell to her knees, stroking the grass at the very head of the Grave, peering into the coffin lovingly, her laughs mingled with sobs.

At this, though they had been momentarily frozen in surprise, the rest of the party began to laugh too, haltingly at first, through with increased fervour. Ron was smiling despite himself and running his hands over his disbelieving face. Lee and Angelina were beaming as they watched rockets and hippogriffs soar above them. Teddy was staring at the fireworks completely enrapt, and Bill and Charlie were smirking, exchanging knowing looks at their brothers’ antics.

Harry felt a relaxing of the tightness in his chest as he admired the colours and sparks of the superb firework display and knew that Fred wanted them to celebrate him, not mourn. He laughed as one of the fireworks performed a particularly rude gesture, which, again unexpectedly, made Molly redouble with laughter.

The group laughed and cried and traded stories about Fred as the dusk turned the sky to a faint pink and the fireworks flew all around them and off into gathering night.

Harry followed the others as they trouped inside, the Burrow feeling warmer now than it had all day. Mr Weasley lit a fire with his wand and promptly began distributing firewiskey, while Mrs Weasley busied herself in the kitchen, wiping her eyes on her apron as she went. Hagrid, having brought up the rear and squeezed himself arduously through the door, now sat on the hearth, swigging liberally at his flagon and telling Angelina about a time that he had discovered Fred and George in the Forbidden Forest during one of his visits to Aragog.

‘Never seen a more meddlin’ pair ‘an these two I reckon!” he said, his words slurred slightly. ‘’cept you lot.’ he added, gesturing the flagon accusingly at Harry, Ron and Hermione, who all exchanged sheepish smiles.

Mrs Weasley brought out copious amounts of food and they passed the evening feasting on delicious mince pies and treacle tart as they swapped increasingly rude stories about Fred and George’s famous wrongdoings, some of which took Mr and Mrs Weasley so aback they managed to half-heartedly chide George.

As the night progressed, the conversation turned to the events which had transpired following the downfall of Voldemort. The entire ministry was in disarray according to Mr Weasley.

Harry found himself in the kitchen, leaning against the sink and asking about the state of affairs at Hogwarts when Kingsley Shacklebolt strode through the door.

‘Arthur,’ he said solemnly, shaking Mr Weasley’s hand ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t be here for the funeral, I came as soon as I could, the Ministry’s in absolute chaos.’

‘Of course,’ said Mr Weasley, ‘thank you for coming.’

‘Fred was a good man,’ said Kinglsey gravely, ‘Harry,’ he nodded, shaking Harry’s hand also, ‘how are you?’

‘I’m alright,’ replied Harry, ‘How is everything? Is the Ministry going to be okay?’

‘Oh yes, it’ll be fine,’ said Kingsley, shaking his head, ‘The Death Eaters did a number on it but we’ll have it put right soon enough. In fact,’ he added, ‘we could use your help.’ Harry thought about it, considered everything that the Ministry had put him through and a not dissimilar conversation he had had with Scrimgeour a year prior. Kingsley, sensing his apprehension, shrugged,

‘You don’t have to of course, Merlin knows you’ve done enough, we won’t ask you to die for us again.’ he said with a wry smile. Harry smiled back,

‘Yeah, I’ll help,’ said Harry, ‘It’s not like I can go back to school.’ They had received word the previous day that all seventh years who had fought in the battle of Hogwarts would receive an automatic graduation. Hermione was distinctly forlorn at the news and had already written to Professor McGonagall asking to return in September to complete her N.E.W.T.s. Harry smiled at the thought of Ron’s amused though unsurprised face when she had told them of this.

‘Excellent,’ said Kingsley, ‘we can get your Auror training started right away,’

‘Auror?’ said Harry questioningly, ‘really?’

‘Think you’re under-qualified?’ said Kingsley, smiling, ‘defeated any famous dark wizards lately?’ Harry smiled.

‘Yeah,’ he said, ‘I’d love to be an Auror!’

‘Great!’ said Kingsley, ‘we need a replacement for Dawlish anyway, and in the meantime, there’s plenty of work that needs to be done.’

Kingsley didn’t stay for long after that. He talked briefly with Mrs Weasley, offering his condolences, and shared one drink with the increasingly inebriated party before departing back to the Ministry. On his way out he informed Harry that his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin were safely in the care of the Order and preparing to return to their normal lives, though, he informed him with a jerk of his lips, they could not return to number four, Privet Drive, as the Death Eaters had destroyed it following the battle of the Seven Potters. Harry allowed himself a small smile at the thought of Privet Drive being no more, before bidding Kinglsey farewell and seeing him out into the yard.

After Kinsley had disapparated, Harry lingered in the Garden for some time, looking at the soft mound of dirt marked with a large slab of granite down by the vegetable patch. He leaned on the rough wooden fence and turned his face towards the sky, now clear and smattered with stars. From behind him he heard footsteps but didn’t turn around. He found himself flanked by Ron and Hermione, who joined him in his stargazing.

‘What did Kingsley say?’ asked Ron, resting his elbows on the fence,

‘Wants me to go be an Auror,’ said Harry, considering this avenue further.

‘Cool,’ said Ron admiringly, ‘reckon you’ll be suited to that?’ he shot him a grin.

‘We’ll see I guess,’ said Harry, allowing himself to grin as well. ‘you should join.’ He added, glancing over at Ron.

‘Yeah maybe,’ said Ron thoughtfully looking up at the night sky, ‘I reckon me and Hermione are gonna go to Australia first, find her parents.’ Harry looked over to Hermione, who had a restrainedly hopeful expression.

‘That’s great,’ he said, ‘I hope you find them soon.’

‘Yes,’ said Hermione, ‘well I didn’t put any tracking spells on them in case we were captured and tortured, so it’ll be tricky…’ Ron shrugged,

‘Nothing’s tricky for you Hermione! We’ll probably find them in a week. Plus, we gotta get you back for September first.” He smiled teasingly at her.

‘Yes,’ said Hermione, ‘I don’t want to miss the train! I might have to enchant a car and fly to school,

‘We didn’t enchant the car!’ said Ron indignantly. Hermione laughed.

‘When will you leave?’ asked Harry, glancing between them.

‘Soon.’ Said Hermione plainly, ‘once the dust has settled a bit,’

‘Take food.’ said Harry, grinning at Ron who made a rude gesture in return. Hermione just snorted derisively.

‘Yes, we’d better.’ she said.

They stood at the fence in silence for a while, comfortable soaking up each other’s company as an awareness that they were about to be going their separate ways for the first time in seven years settled over them.

‘I’ll miss you guys.’ said Harry thickly.

‘Yeah mate,’ said Ron encouragingly, ‘we’ll miss you too,’

‘Of course we will,’ said Hermione, placing her hand on Harry’s shoulder, ‘we’ll be back before long.’

‘Yeah,’ added Ron, ‘and we’ll bring you a souvenir, have you heard of these mad things called Kangaroos?’ Harry laughed, Hermione rolled her eyes.

Ron loped his arm over Harry’s shoulders. Harry wasn’t sure how long they stood there like that, but he felt as though he could stay forever.

Eventually, the two receded and wordlessly wandered back inside, linking arms as they did so. Harry saw them pass a figure in the doorway and recognised Ginny walking across the grass to him, baby Teddy in her arms. As she drew level with him, he saw that Teddy’s hair was now a vivid shade of orange, the exact colour of the Weasleys’ hair. Smiling, Harry drew them both into an embrace, and kissed Ginny softly, cradling her in his arms and looking down at her and Teddy.

‘It’s going to be okay,’ she said, kissing his cheek delicately.

‘How do you know?’ he asked looking down into her deep brown eyes.

‘I know.’ she said simply, resting her head on his shoulder.

‘What now?’ he asked, feeling time opening like a maw before him, threatening to swallow him whole. His task had been accomplished; his all-important purpose fulfilled.

‘Now we live.’ She said, tears shining in her eyes, though none fell. ‘There’s work to be done.’ He smiled at the thought. Though Fred and Lupin and Tonks and Sirius and Dumbledore were gone, Ginny was here, and Teddy was here, and Harry, despite all he had been through, was here.

They embraced under the starry sky as a phoenix firework soared past, emitting sparks and tongues of flame and Harry heard its song in his chest and for the first time in seventeen years, contemplated a future that was totally his own.

#harry potter #canon #harry potter canon #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter fandom #harry potter microfic #hinny #ginny weasley #ron weasley #hermione granger #ronmione #fred weasley #harry potter epilogue #harry potter marauders #I don't want harry to be an auror but its canon compliant #fuck jkr

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chaztalk · 1 year

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Can someone explain the last line Ron says here? Is this another Ron joke or is he being for real? Because granddad Weasley himself married a pureblood. Unless, after the 2nd war, all or most purebloods are cancelled. Those that marry half-bloods and muggleborns and half-Veela are accepted. It’s just a super weird thing to say.

#harry potter #hermione granger #ron weasley #harry potter epilogue #arthur weasley

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mystarbucksofancientgreece · 1 year

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This is a finished slowburn dramione fanfic set in 8th year at Hogwarts. It features Hermione and Ginny in Gryffindor, and the whole Slytherin gang of pals. Find it on ao3 by starbucksofancientgreece

#harry potter #dramione #draco malfoy #hermione granger #harry potter fanfic rec #dramione fanfic #theomione #theodore nott #harry potter epilogue #fanfiction #fanfic #ao3 update

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animefankotaro · 2 years

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Trans Lily Luna Potter

Lily was in her room. It had been an hour since she said she was going to tell her mum and dad about how she felt. She already told James and Albus and they told her they would have her back.

“You know. I always wanted a sister.” James said.

“I knew you were a girl anyway.” Albus told her. Lily smiled at her brothers comments. She had told them her secret. Now she had to tell her parents. She was 8 years old now. In just three years her Hogwarts letter would be showing up. She was worried it would have her birth name on it. With that she was worried she would have to go to the boys dorm which would be 7 miserable years for her. She had to tell them it was now or never.

“Don't worry, sis.” Albus said. “We'll back you up if you need us.”

“I don't think you will though. I have a feeling mum and dad will support you.” James also said. Lily nodded her head.

“Okay, I'm ready.” She went downstairs. Her father was waving his wand working on some spells whole her mum was using a laptop. Unlike her father her mum found muggle objects fascinating. Her Grandfather Arthur was even more amazed by them. She went down the stairs and into the room her parents were. They both noticed her and Ginny spoke first.

“Is there something you need, Remus?” Lily flinched a bit at the sound of her real name. She knew she was named after a Hogwarts professor who was friends with her father and best friends with her grandfather James Potter. Her middle name Neville was after a good friend of her father's from school who now worked at Hogwarts.

“Umm. There's something I need to tell you. Both of you. It's very important.” Harry and Ginny looked at each other before looking back at “Remus”.

“Sure, kiddo.” Harry said. “What's the problem?”

“Alright.” She sat down by her parents looking like she was ready to puke.

“Are you okay?” Ginny asked.

“I'm just nervous about what I need to tell you.” Lily gulped.

“You can tell us anything, kiddo.” Harry said.

“Well....I don't want my name to be Remus anymore.” The air was so silent that they would hear the wind outside. Harry and Ginny could also hear their other two son's breathing by the stairs but ignored it.

“You.. you want to change your name?” Harry questioned. “What do you mean? You don't like your name? We choose it for a reason.”

“I know. I know you named me after one of the heroes who fought with you. But.... it just doesn't fit. I want something more... feminine.” Harry and Ginny looked at each other. They were sure they knew what was coming next.

“Do you feel like you're really a girl?” Ginny asked. Lily was quiet a moment before nodding slightly.

“I don't wanna grow up to be like James and Albus when they do. I wanna be a mom. I want to go to school as a girl. I'm so worried the letter will have my name on it and I'll have to go there as a boy. I just can't do that. I can't imagine myself growing a beard.” Lily started crying here. Ginny took her in and hugged her. Harry put one hand on Lily's hand and another on her head.

“It's okay. Kiddo.” Harry said. “We don't let that happen. If you really feel like a girl inside than your mom and I will help you.”

“That's right. We will.” Ginny said.

“I already told James and Albus. They said they will help me.”

“Good. Tell you what. You're mom and I will floo up to the school and talk to the Headmistress about this.. I'm sure we can get it all sorted out.”

“Do you have a name you would prefer.” Ginny asked.

“Well. I was thinking since I was named after a hero of yours and a friend I could still do that.” Lily asked.

“How about Lily Luna?” Harry asked. Ginny smiled. This is the same they would have chosen if they had a daughter.

“I like that. Lily Luna. I'm Lily Luna Potter.” Lily said proudly.

“Our little Lily.” Ginny kissed her daughter.

“You'll be with me until the end?” Lily asked.

“Always.” Ginny said.

So Harry and Ginny went to Hogwarts to talk to Professor McGonagall.

“I assure you that Lily will be able to come to Hogwarts as herself. While rare we have had some students like in before. When it is time her letter will have her preferred name on it and there should be no problem with the staircase.”

“What about bullies?” Ginny asked.

“Anyone student who bullies Lily will receive a warning at first. A detention will be given and so on if the behavior continues. Teachers will also be required to use her preferred name and pronouns. She will also get to wear the girls uniform.”

“There's also the issue of her body. It can be changed with potions can it?” Harry asked.”

“Yes. But it is a long and hard process. She can take a potion that will stop puberty as soon as she starts her first year. She will probably have to wait a few years to take anything else. While she'll be disappointed being behind the other girls it's a rule by most healers that no one can take permanent body changing potions until about age 14. We'll see where things go from there.” Harry and Ginny nodded. After their meeting with the Headmistress they told Lily the news.

“So I can be a girl at school?” Lily shrieked. Her smile was big.

“Yes you can.” Ginny told Lily. “You don't have to worry about the letter, staircase, or bullies. You can also start taking potions that will stop your puberty too.” Lily hugged both her parents.

“I promise I'll be the best daughter I can be.”

“You already are, Lily. You already are.” Harry said.

#harry potter #lily luna potter #ginny weasley #albus severus potter #james sirius potter #hogwarts #staircase #gryffindor #slytherin #hufflepuff #ravenclaw #trans #transgender #transgirl #MtF trans #Headcanon #one shot #headmistress mcgonagall #harry potter epilogue

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samesanegirl · 2 years

Text

LET’S TALK ABOUT GINNY WEASLEY’S QUIDDITCH CAREER

By the end of the series, JK Rowling reveals that Ginny becomes a Chaser for her favourite team, Holyhead Harpies. She then says Ginny retires in order to become a mother and then becomes a sports columnist for the Daily Prophet.

As years have passed, I am baffled at the end that Ginny got, as it contradicted her character. Ginny is a very fiery and independent woman who clearly had an immense love for Quidditch. She is the type of woman who has nothing tying her down and will make tings happen for herself. If JK Rowling had stayed true to Ginny’s character, she would have played Quidditch professionally for over a decade, travelled, broke as many records as possible and enjoyed her success. But JK Rowling sacrificed her ambitions in order for her to become a young mother.

In the series, it is said that Ginny is an accomplished player and can play two positions perfectly well. The fact that she becomes a player is amazing as it fits her character and it symbolises her coming into her own. If she started playing Quidditch at 18 after graduating Hogwarts and retires at 22 when she is pregnant, then that means she was only a Quidditch player for 4 YEARS!!! And some people have made their own Fancanons that Ginny returns to play Quidditch after her children are toddlers. But thinking about this realistically, it would have been very difficult to return to play, especially considering she gave birth three times and James, Albus and Lily had short age gaps (2 years in between all of them).

No. I am not saying that Harry and Ginny shouldn't have had kids. In fact, I see them being very active in their children’s life and they would have been very loving and attentive parents. But I am very confused that Harry and Ginny became parents roughly at 23/24. I believe they would have been okay with achieving their own goals, growing as a couple and healing from their traumas before thinking of children.

#Ginny Weasley #Harry Potter #harry and ginny #quidditch #Holyhead Harpies #harry potter epilogue

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blackbird0blog · 1 year

Text

The Real Harry Potter Epilogue

Harry’s post-Voldemort life kicks off with a bang when he is attacked by mercenaries seeking the Elder Wand. Soon the Trio find themselves caught up in a race to keep the Hallows out of the hands of those who seek them for their own nefarious ends. Humour and Crack AU.

Harry knew it was going to be a rough day when he was awoken at eight in the morning to a choir of house-elf heads singing a bawdy wake-up call from downstairs. He forced himself out of bed, bemoaning the fact that he’d forgotten to silence them the night before, then tromped down for breakfast. Lucius Malfoy’s trial was that day, and Harry just knew it wasn’t going to be a good one.

The trial itself was rather straight-forward, but it was emotionally draining. Narcissa had cornered him at the ministry beforehand, trying to convince him to keep her husband out of Azkaban.

“In my second year at Hogwarts Lucius Malfoy gave an enchanted artefact to an innocent child which opened the Chamber of Secrets,” Harry had told her bluntly, patience already expended despite the day only beginning. “He endangered the entire school by releasing a basilisk on the students, including your own son. At Voldemort’s resurrection, he answered his summons immediately and willingly, proving that he escaped justice by lying about being under the imperius cure. And in the Department of Mysteries he tried to kill myself and my friends once again,” Harry summarised succinctly, watching Narcissa’s face grow more and more blank.

“I saved both you and your son from a life in Azkaban. You may have gotten off, but Draco wouldn’t have. He has the dark mark and he let Voldemort’s worst Death Eaters into Hogwarts which led to Dumbledore’s death. He and his friends came back during the battle and tried to kill us with Fiendfyre.

“If I wanted Draco in Azkaban, mark my words, he would be there. I repaid my life debt to you by saving your son from a fate worse than death.” A flash of white, and Harry somehow felt lighter. “Magic agrees.”

Harry looked at the pale and drawn face of Narcissa Malfoy and felt sympathy despite himself. In a gentler voice he said, “I’m sorry about your husband, Mrs. Malfoy. But I’m not sorry that he is finally facing justice.”

Lucius Malfoy had gotten that Azkaban sentence he deserved, but Harry hadn’t emerged from the trial feeling any better about it. Hermione and Ron were waiting outside the courtroom for him, looks of sympathy on their faces.

“Long day?” Ron clapped him on the back.

“Long year,” Harry muttered.

“Kreacher is making steak and kidney tonight,” Hermione reminded them, smiling slightly when they both perked up. They were just leaving the VIP exit to avoid the crowds when the hairs on the back of Harry’s neck rose.

“Don’t look now,” he muttered to Hermione and Ron, “but someone’s following us.”

Both sharpened to attention but neither gave away that anything had changed. The very instant they exited the Ministry, spells hurled through the air at their backs, and they turned as one.

““Protego!””

The three of them were taken aback by the strength of the bombardment but held firm. Four men Harry had never seen before - who didn’t even look British – were attacking them, countenances menacing.

“Avada-”

Harry jerked his wand sideways and a pigeon on the roof fell off and morphed into a pan. It smashed onto the head of the man, cutting off the killing curse before he could finish. He dropped like a stone.

“Who the hell are you?” Ron asked. The three remaining men ignored him, simply upping their game.

Curses flew back and forth between the two groups, their speed and viciousness a match for Voldemort’s inner circle. But beyond that, it was their opponents’ teamwork that really made them a terrifying enemy. The three moved as a single trained unit, not shaken by the loss of their teammate. Their professionalism was outstanding, and Harry was certain these people meant business and had done this many times before. It wasn’t long before Harry, Ron and Hermione were on the back foot. Hermione launched a stream of fireworks from her wand, lighting up the alley in a burst of noise and colour.

“Run!” Ron shouted and they sprinted for the street behind them, wands raised. The Weasley didn’t get any further because there was a loud ‘bang!’ and suddenly a familiar triple-decker bus appeared before him. Ron ran straight into it.

“Oomph!”

“Welcome to the Knight Bus-”

“Get on!” Harry tossed himself up the steps, cutting off the droning conductor, quickly followed by his two friends.

“Go!” Hermione shouted at the driver.

“Well, I never-” the old lady in the back of the Knight Bus – who looked rather familiar, had Harry seen her before? – sniffed disdainfully before there was a massive crackaboom and the bus was suddenly three dangerous men fuller.

“You can apparate onto the Knight Bus!? Don’t they have wards?” Ron asked incredulously as he snapped off a reflexive stunner.

“What idiot would apparate onto it anyway? That’s just asking to get splinched,” Harry responded dryly and parried a curse that was so strong his arm shook as he deflected it. The sickly pale-yellow light smashed into one of the windows instead, causing it to melt like ice in an oven, informing him of the terrible fate he had just escaped.

“Antimobulus appartum!” Hermione cast the anti-disapparation jinx. “Less chat, more cursing!”

Harry and Ron obeyed, the former shooting rapid-fire stunners while the latter shot off a jinx he’d learned from Fred and George that caused explosive hair growth. Harry’s spells dashed against the lead mercenary’s shield, but by some extraordinary stroke of luck, Ron’s jinx missed the burly man on the left, rebounded off the pole behind him and shot back, hitting him on the arse. Dark hair sprouted from every inch of skin, and soon the mercenary looked more yeti than man.

Harry snorted with laughter as the mercenary’s armpit hair burst out of his robes, then nearly had his head taken off by a shopping cart when the Knight Bus suddenly exploded forwards and everyone and everything was sent flying. Harry was launched off his feet, his stomach smashing into a bed and knocking the wind out of him. Hermione landed next to him while Ron clutched onto a pole for dear life.

Spells began to fly again as everyone found something to clutch onto, bright lights sparking through the interior of the bus.

An idea popped into Harry’s head and he shot an animation charm at the yeti, who started thrashing as his hair began trying to strangle him, flailing wildly as he fell to the ground and was thrown to the back of the bus. With one man down, the trio focused their fire on the other two.

The lead mercenary – the skinnier one who had been tossing out the most vicious curses – tried several counter-curses on his partner, failed to undo Ron’s obscure spell, then went back to cursing. He made a complicated twirl of his wand which animated the bed Harry and Hermione were on. They both yelped as it morphed into a gorilla, throwing themselves to the floor as King-bed Kong tried to smash them.

“Merlin’s balls!” Ron summed up Harry’s thoughts and started cursing the gorilla. Hermione had rolled straight across the floor the very far side and was launching bolos while lying on her stomach. The mercenaries went down, yelping.

“Imperio!” Harry pointed at the gorilla just before he was crushed by a meaty fist and the transfigured beast lumbered back the other way. He and Hermione used the reprieve to drag themselves to their feet using their own poles, and then the three of them were covered in feathers as the lead mercenary blasted his gorilla apart and it reverted back to a bed.

Harry dug into his own bag of animal tricks.

“Serpensortia, serpensortia, serpensortia! Bite them.” He hissed. A trio of snakes that could rival Nagini in girth slithered across the floor toward the mercenaries.

Hermione mimicked him. “Avis! Oppugno!”

A wave of fire burst from the tip of the lead mercenary’s wand, incinerating the animals before they could even reach him, setting the remaining beds alight as well as blowing out the windows. Harry choked as the bus was filled with the awful stench of burning hair, and he realised the mercenary had set his hairy partner on fire as well. Hermione began dry-heaving.

“Bloody hell!” came Ron’s exclamation of horror, and Harry turned to see what else had gone wrong. Only to experience the same dread as Ron when he saw the bus driver slumped in his seat, rendered unconscious by a stray spell. Even worse – they were all hurtling towards a low bridge that definitely wasn’t tall enough for them to fit under.

“Get down!” Harry roared, and he once more threw himself to the floor. There was a high-pitched groan, the sound of metal giving way, and then the entire Knight Bus shuddered as the top was shorn clean off.

They covered their heads as pieces of seating and wreckage rained down, and there was a moment where the spell-fire ceased as the combatants tried to re-orientate themselves. Harry really hoped there hadn’t been any people on the upper level.

“Hermione!” Ron shouted. “The wheel!”

Hermione leapt for the front of the bus, stumbling and scrambling as she did, grasping desperately at the sliding overnight beds as she unsteadily made her way forward. Harry and Ron threw down covering spell-fire as best they could while being tossed about, which wasn’t very well.

Their opponents – foreigners apparently, judging from the European language Harry didn’t recognise – were clearly less acquainted with the Knight Bus and were fairing even worse. The hairy mercenary had even stopped casting altogether and was instead holding onto one of the poles like his life depended on it, his robes and impressive beard covered in vomit. If Harry had been able to see beneath his overgrown eyebrows, the man would be extremely green in the face.

In between trading curses - all of which missed - Harry could hear the shrunken head shouting its colourful commentary from the front:

“Your stumbling makes mating trolls look elegant, you bumbling oafs!”

- and at the insensate wizard near-passed out –

“Even a squib is better than you, you useless pansy! Stop cowering and get up and curse them!”

- and to the ancient witch who was sitting in the corner with her shopping, throwing her recently purchased eggs at every person unfortunate enough to be in sight -

“Throw faster you wrinkled hag! Use the tomatoes!"

Lee Jordan – brilliant commentator that he was – would weep with envy. McGonagall would probably set the blasted thing on fire. Merlin knows that Harry would love to, if only the bloody bus would stop moving.

As if his hearing his thoughts, Hermione finally reached the driver seat and accidently pushed the – hopefully unconscious – Ernie off the seat when a sharp turn disrupted her balance. Harry shot several of Snape’s spells at the mercenaries and was dismayed to hear Hermione’s shout of, “Where are the pedals?”

“Argh! Screw you all, random attackers!” Ron howled in panic as a blue ray shot from his wand and miraculously hit the flailing mercenary who looked like he could be Dudley’s bodybuilding twin on steroids, causing him to slump unconscious.

“Nice one!” Harry called, grasping onto the edge of a bed with his left arm and cursing at the final man with his right.

“Thanks ma–“ Ron took an egg in the face and started choking, ducking down to avoid further projectiles.

“We don’t use pedals you imbecile, use the levers! The levers–"

Whatever further insult the shrunken head was going to say was cut off by a thwap, followed by a high-pitched squeal.

“Argh! My hair!” Harry heard Hermione shriek over the sound of levers being pulled. The bus shuddered and shook ominously, and then finally began screeching as the breaks kicked in.

By some arcane means, after slamming the breaks and causing Harry and Ron to fly forwards – Harry using the opportunity to finally stun their last opponent – the bus slowed down just in time to save the colossal house in front of them from destruction.

Hermione was not, however, in time to save the front gates. Or the lawn. Or the albino peacocks, which had splattered themselves across the windscreen in a gory mess of feathers and guts.

Silence fell over them as the tension and adrenaline slowly faded, and they all heaved simultaneous sighs of relief. The right side of the bus took the opportunity to fall off completely, as if it had been sliced clean away.

The scene that greeted the trio was the grounds of Malfoy Manor, with both Malfoys present in immaculate robes, obviously having been interrupted in the midst of a publicity stunt, as could be evidenced by the crowd of swarming reporters. A crowd that had been stunned into silence at the sheer abruptness of the arrival of the steaming wreckage that had been the Knight Bus plus occupants, who blinked owlishly back at them in turn.

Harry stumbled down the stairs of Grimmauld Place late the next morning, yawning and with his hair an irredeemable mess. He was wearing pyjama bottoms paired with a t-shirt proclaiming DARK AND DERANGED that Fred had given to him on a lark, and the mounted house-elf heads George had enchanted shouted bawdy pickup lines at as he passed the first-floor landing.

In the kitchen, Hermione was sitting at the table with a pot of tea and a pinched expression, the dreaded Prophet in hand.

Harry winced. “Do I even want to know?” he asked, a mix of dread and resignation in his voice. She opened her mouth to answer when the roar of flames came from the drawing room accompanied by the sound of someone stumbling through, followed by another flare and –

“Hahahaha!”

George’s roaring laughter could be heard along with Ron’s stomping steps as the two Weasleys entered the kitchen of Grimmauld place.

“Fabulous! Never seen anything like it!” the older brother gasped in between his howls of mirth.

Ron groaned loudly. “Shut up George, you’re just jealous that we crashed the Knight bus into Malfoy’s front lawn.”

“Oh, I am incredibly jealous! I’m green with envy! I can’t believe we never thought of egging you first!”

Harry, while cheered at George’s humour – absent since Fred’s death – grimaced and decided to get it over with. The bold headline greeted him first:

Mercenaries Attack Harry Potter! Golden Trio Looking Rather Tarnished

Clearly the level of journalism at the Prophet hadn’t improved with Skeeter’s absence.

Below the title was an enormous picture of the tattered remains of the lower level of the Knight Bus. Hermione, hands still tightly clenched to the steering wheel, had a crazed expression on her face. Her hair - bushy on a good day - looked like one of Hagrid’s more shaggy beasts had attached itself to her head. Hanging from the ends of the strands, a shrivelled head with its long deadlocks could be seen wiggling back and forth as it attempted to talk while keeping a hold with its teeth.

Ron looked better, but only marginally so. Clutching onto a pole while standing in the puddle of vomit – curtesy of the mercenary with terrible motion sickness – his picture-self wiped remnants of egg off his face before shaking it from his hand with an expression of disgust.

Harry himself could be seen lifting his body up from where he was sprawled on top of the stunned mercenary on one of the beds, his face turning to look at the camera with the most put-upon expression on his face. His picture rolled its eyes to the heavens as if begging for answers, before looking back and swearing. While there was no sound, the words ‘fuck me’ could clearly be made out.

Harry couldn’t help it; he started sniggering.

“Harry!” Two betrayed voices came from his best friends.

“Sorry!” he said insincerely, trying to keep a straight face. “I can’t help- Muriel!!” Harry exclaimed as he scanned the article. “That ancient woman on the bus was your great-aunt Muriel?”

“That’s right!! Dear old Aunt Muriel egged Ron in the face!” George burst out laughing again and Harry joined in.

“Stop it!” Ron demanded, his ears burning red. “There’s nothing funny about it. I have no idea why you’re laughing too Harry, you were egged by a crone pushing two hundred as well!” He pointed to the stains on his clothes.

George pounded the table causing the teacups to rattle as he laughed harder. Harry started crying and wheezing.

“Look at us!” he gasped and brandished his hand at the paper. “You’re covered in eggs thrown by your ancient Aunt Muriel while standing in vomit, I look like I’ve been caught shagging some bloke, and Hermione’s been caught red-handed after she drove the Knight bus straight through Malfoy’s lawn. You can even see his ridiculous peacocks smeared across the windscreen!” Harry roared and held his ribs as they started to ache. Ron and Hermione peered over the paper.

“Huh you’re right,” the Weasley mused.

“Wait a minute,” Hermione interjected, frowning thoughtfully. “Didn’t Voldemort kill all of them?”

“Yeah, hang on,” Ron said slowly, face lighting up with glee. “Doesn’t that mean Malfoy just bought some new ones? “

“Well, he’ll need to buy some more again,” she said, her own smile creeping onto her face.

Ron started guffawing and Hermione joined in, the four of them descending into uncontrollable laughter. This was the scene the Minister of Magic walked in on.

Kingsley Shacklebolt sat down at the table and poured himself some tea, sipping it serenely as he watched the four of them. Harry gave a few more lingering chuckles, gasping for air and wiping away the tears that had collected at the corner of his eyes. Kingsley glanced at the Prophet on the table and his lip quirked up at the picture.

“You’ve made front page again.”

Nothing new there – though it was nice for it to be something other than being a nutter or killing Voldemort.

Kingsley smiled. “I imagine you’re rather pleased with destroying the Malfoys’ front lawn.”

Ron and George snickered at that, the older Weasley clapping a hand on Hermione’s shoulder.

“Fabulous driving Hermione. Couldn’t have done it better myself!”

Her face turned pink. “I didn’t mean to!” she protested. “I honestly have no idea how we got there; the Knight bus doesn’t drive anything like a muggle car, and I’ve never even driven one of those.”

“Of course not.” George winked at her, tapping the side of his nose knowingly.

Kingsley cleared his throat. “Yes, well Narcissa Malfoy was most displeased with the state of her front lawn,” he said dryly. “She demanded that since there would be no compensation for its destruction, she should at least be allowed to know the reason behind it. I told her it was an assassination attempt on you, Harry.”

“You told her,” Harry echoed, his humour fading and brows creasing. “But it wasn’t?”

The former Auror shook his head, face serious. “No. The interrogation of the mercenaries revealed extremely disturbing information."

Hermione frowned with worry and Ron sat up straighter. George stopped his fiddling with the Prophet and turned his full attention to Kingsley.

“The Elder Wand. They were sent for it.”

Silence descended in Grimmauld place as everyone considered the ancient artefact. A chill raced down Harry’s spine as his mind flashed to Dumbledore’s grave, and the powerful weapon that he had placed back in the hands of its previous owner.

“I was there at the final confrontation, as well as numerous other fighters at Hogwarts.” Kingsley’s eyes took on an unfocused look as he thought back on that day, only a few months prior. “We all heard your and Voldemort’s last exchange of words, how you were the true master of the Elder Wand. I saw the wand acknowledge you in that moment, and you defeated him with his own spell.”

His eyes refocused on Harry’s, and the intensity in them put him on edge.

“But if the hundreds of people there at Hogwarts that day know that you are the new master of the Wand of Destiny, then you can bet thousands know now. The rumours will spread further, and the hunt for the Wand - an artefact once believed to be legend, but now proven real - will begin in earnest.” Kingsley shook his head. “No, it has already begun.”

Harry could feel familiar pressure weighing down on him, the feeling of being hunted. A glance over at his best friends revealed they felt the same. He had thought he was done with battles. Voldemort was dead, the Ministry was theirs, and yet here he was still being hunted. His fists clenched beneath the table.

“The mercenaries you captured revealed that they had taken an Unbreakable Vow,” Kingsley continued, shocking them once more. “As you know, the Vow involves three oaths that all must be upheld. They swore to never reveal their employer’s identity, to do everything in their power to retrieve the Wand, and once they had it to hand it to their employer as fast as humanly possible. These mercenaries have something of a reputation; whoever sent them, they’re not playing around.”

The five Gryffindor alumni sat in contemplation as Kreacher levitated more plates over for the breakfast spread he had set out while they were conversing. Even the smell of delicious eggs and bacon wasn’t enough to cheer Harry up as he felt anger and helplessness bubble up at having yet another powerful figure after his head. Why couldn’t these people just leave him the hell alone?

“Who were the mercs?” George questioned.

“The man Harry is,” Kingsley shot a glance at the paper, “ah, embracing, is Alexandre Ivanov.”

Hermione giggled and Harry snorted, but the two Weasley’s goggled.

“Ivanov?” Ron gasped. “Bloody hell!”

“Who is he?” Harry asked, shooting a glance at Hermione who was equally as puzzled.

George shook his head. “Only one of the most infamous mercenaries in the world. There are a few assassins and hitmen said to be better than him, but he’s a real piece of work. Rumour says he’ll do anything if the price is right.”

Harry grimaced.

“Yes, capturing him and his crew is very impressive,” Kingsley agreed. “You’re entitled to their bounties, a very nice sum even split three ways. But the fact they were hired to retrieve the wand is extremely problematic. They are only the first to come seeking. I want you to be on guard, especially when you’re in public. Unfortunately, I don’t have any aurors to spare to guard you.”

“Don’t worry, Kingsley. I understand.” They traded loaded looks, plans already churning through their heads.

The aftermath of Voldemort’s occupation of Britain was a real headache to sort out. The ministry was filled with bootlickers and blood purists, along with people who kept their head down out of fear or indifference. Separating them was a challenge that former auror, now Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt rose to with admirable swiftness.

After the Battle of Hogwarts, he gathered together the loyal aurors and hunted down the traitors in the corps before they set about purging the Ministry. They removed the obvious death eaters, like Yaxley and Macnair, as well as people like Umbridge - racists and criminals but not death eaters - and dosed them all with Draught of Living Death to be trialled and dealt with later.

Rather ruthless measures, but necessary since they simply didn’t have the manpower to deal with everything all at once.

It was the less obvious people that caused the real headaches, such as those who had genuinely been under the imperius, and Harry was just glad it wasn’t him having to sort it out. He’d gladly provided Grimmauld Place’s many dusty and disturbing rooms as a temporary prison for the dosed prisoners and let other people sort the rest out – in fact, Umbridge was currently laying in a potioned sleep on his drawing room floor. Ron always pointed and laughed whenever he walked past, even though people under draught of living death couldn’t hear.

It was incredibly satisfying in a vindictive way to know that there were huge issues, and Harry was going to do absolutely nothing about any of them.

“I suspect you’d rather not have Aurora shadowing you anyway,” the Minister said dryly. Well, he wasn’t wrong.

Kingsley turned to the Weasleys. "If you could make sure to keep your home security up to par, we don’t know if the Burrow will be targeted given how often Harry is there.”

George nodded. “We have the best wards up, and Bill’s house is still under Fidelius. We’re as safe as we ever were.”

“Very well. I’d love to stay for breakfast, but I’ve got to go. Duty calls.” Kingsley sighed and cast the sausgaes a mournful look.

“Thanks for dropping by.” Harry stood up to see him out, but the Minister waved him off, the floo firing seconds later.

The four of them were quiet for a long minute as they processed their new situation, before George held up the Prophet.

“So. Can I get your autographs?”

#harry potter fanfiction #this is how the epilogue should have gone #humour #crack fic #harry potter epilogue #fanfic #fanfiction #comedy

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