Disclaimer – Isn’t mine.

Chapter 21 – Saying goodbye.

‘Gwen, I have to go.’ He said softly. Gwen squeezed him tightly before releasing him.

‘Please Harry.’ She whispered.

‘I’ll be careful.’ He promised, collecting Draco, who had been hugging Hermione, and Grordin and walking swiftly from the hall.

The large group was waiting for them on the pitch and Harry and the other’s quickly split up and held out the Portkeys. As soon as everyone had a finger on them Harry nodded and they all said the password to activate. Within moments the pitch was empty and several pairs of eyes, some sad, some hopeful and some angry, finally turned away.

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Harry cast a localised silencing and obscuring charm the minute they landed and called out for everyone to gather round.

‘You’ve all seen the map and you all know what you have to do. Riddle’s reign is over. It’s time she joined her father.’ He said firmly.

‘This Riddle is a lady?’ Commander Radcliffe asked suddenly.

Draco snorted. ‘She maybe female but she ain’t no Lady.’ He snickered. Harry growled, instantly silencing his apprentice’s giggles.

‘Control yourself Draco, now is not the time.’ He scolded.

Draco’s face morphed instantly. ‘Sorry, Sir.’

Harry nodded. ‘Okay let me cast the binding charm and then we’ll go. Remember I will be heading straight for Riddle so the Death Eaters are all yours, and please, gentlemen,' he said speaking to the SAS troops. 'Aim low. Even I can't repair brain tissue if a bullet happens to go through a friendly's head.’ He moved through the group until motioning for the others to stay where they were and walked up till he could just feel the tingle of the wards. Closing his eyes and raising his hands he placed them gently against the wall of invisible wards and began murmuring softly under his breath. Barely discernable pulses shot from under his palms, arcing upwards and sideways before disappearing Harry glowing brighter with every minute.

‘Great Caesar’s ghost.’ One of the SAS men whispered as several sparks danced across Harry’s back.

‘Who on earth is that guy?’ another nudged Radcliffe who just shrugged. Five minutes later it was done and Harry dropped his hands and turned to face them.

‘Potions.’ He instructed and watched to make sure everyone drank. ‘All right, everyone in your groups? Good, let’s go.’ And with that simple statement the first combined assault force of wizards, elves and muggles ran quickly towards their target.

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Within minutes there was chaos as the SAS soldiers found their targets everywhere, the members of the Order, the Aurors and the Callens working diligently to protect them as they tried to take as many down as they could. The noise inside the manor was deafening, screams, cries and gunshots echoing throughout the cavernous rooms. Harry, Grordin, Draco and a small group of Callens together with Commander Radcliffe quickly worked their way through the house downing any Death Eaters that got in their way but generally leaving them for the others as they came up to the room Oliver had said Riddle spent most of her time in. Harry had sent up a partial anti apparition ward when he did the binding spell but it wouldn’t stand up to much if Riddle really wanted to leave. It would take her less than ten minutes to take it down again so they knew they were running out of time.

Harry signalled to the Callens and counted down with his fingers. As soon as his hand was a fist, Draco sent a Reductio hex at the door and it exploded into millions of tiny pieces, the group rushing in as one. Sure enough Riddle stood in the centre of the room, her eyes ablaze in anger as she chanted rapidly trying to get the ward Harry had put up to fall.

‘Potter.’ She hissed venomously.

Harry smiled grimly. ‘Ophelia.’ He said politely before raising the gun and shooting her point blank several times in the chest. He was taking no chances this time. No magic. No conversation. No cursing. Just in, shoot, and out. He had learnt that lesson at Christmas. Riddle collapsed to her knees, desperately trying to catch her breath and raise her arm to get off a curse in Harry’s direction as blood dribbled out the side of her mouth.

There was a large crack and Harry knew his wards were finally down, Riddle grinned maliciously at him and apparated away just as Draco darted forward and snatched the wand out of her hand. Harry quickly cast an anchoring spell as Draco was almost tandem apparated and the group stood there gaping at the now empty space that contained no more than several spots of blood.

‘It won’t matter.’ Harry said resolutely. ‘The potion’s in her. Even if she apparates directly to St Mungo’s, it won’t matter.’

Grordin plucked the wand from Draco’s grasp and handed it to Harry. ‘It won’t matter, Your Highness.’ He confirmed quietly. Harry nodded and it was then everyone realised that apart from the odd random burst of gunfire most of the noise outside had stopped. As one the group headed outside, guns and wands still drawn and ready. They found the bodies of Death Eaters riddled with gunshots throughout the rooms on the second floor.

'I'll say one thing for those muggles.' Draco mused aloud as he and Grordin collected all the wands as they passed and placed them in a large box that Harry conjured. 'They certainly know how to shoot.' He glanced around then catching Radcliffe's expression and adding sheepishly. 'No offence intended, Sir.'

Radcliffe raised an amused eyebrow. 'None taken young man.' he said with a snort.

There were several injuries all of which Harry and Grordin healed as they passed. Only about twenty bullets had hit anyone friendly and they were quickly dealt with. Three Order members and four Aurors had to be Portkeyed to St Mungo’s and Harry sent Six Callens and two SAS soldiers back to Hogwarts the same way.

‘Tell me.’ Harry said as the leaders of each compliment of Callens reported to him.

‘All the Death Eaters are down, we didn’t lose any after the anti apparition wards fell.’ Feria reported.

‘Good.’ Harry nodded turning to Deakin. ‘The count?’

The elf sighed. ‘We haven’t finished counting the Death Eaters yet but we did lose two Aurors and one Order member.’

‘Which one?’

‘Shacklebolt.’ Deakin said softly

Harry face paled slightly but his expression didn’t change. ‘Callens?’

Deakin glanced at Grordin before answering. ‘Twelve.’

Harry staggered slightly as his knees buckled but Grordin captured his elbow and steadied him. 'Who?' he questioned.

Deakin swallowed. 'Heras, Claintos, Verta, Milena, Brokis, Felis, Wilnas, Trene, Opena, Sanith.'

'That's only ten.' Harry said quickly.

'Gering and Clanos.' Deakin added softly. 'I'm sorry, Your Highness.'

Harry felt himself being grasped by the shoulders and turned slightly to find himself looking straight in concerned blue eyes.

'It was not your fault, Sirene.' Grordin murmured.

'But.' Harry began, only to be cut off once more.

'It was not your fault.' Grordin repeated.

'They were some of our best and brightest.' Harry insisted.

Grordin nodded. 'They were some of our best and brightest, yes.' the elf agreed. 'but they were warriors, never forget that.'

Harry nodded and swallowed before turning back to the waiting group. 'Do we have all the wands?' His face may have been a mask but his voice betrayed him as if wavered.

'Yes, Sir.' Draco replied from his left.

Harry nodded. 'Good, everyone apparate back. I will bring the SAS back with me.'

Fifty or sixty odd pops were heard as the Order members and Aurors apparated away. Harry pulled out several Portkey's and handed one each to Grordin and Draco and waited for the soldiers to crowd around them. Within moments they were gone and the landscape was bare.

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'Harry!' came Gwen's exclamation as they landed in the great hall. Within moments he found his arms full and with a smile he hugged her back.

'We lost Clanos and Gering.' he whispered.

'I know darling. I'm so sorry.' Gwen said softly. Harry pulled away and glanced about the hall. All but the dead and uninjured had returned and were milling about. Harry glanced at his watch. It was almost time.

'Set up the parchments.' he told Draco. 'One for each wand.' Draco nodded with Severus and Grordin's help quickly laid out hundreds of sheets of parchment down both sides of the long table Harry conjured in the middle. Everyone looked on curiously as Harry stood at the head and pulled Tom Riddle's wand out of his pocket before placing it down on the parchment in front of him.

'What's going on, Sir?' he vaguely heard on of the SAS men asked their commander.

'Just watch Carver.' Radcliffe said quietly. 'I believe history is being made.'

Harry heard this and smiled but even he didn't realise just how short of the truth that statement really was.

'Bindus Revelo.' He murmured, touching his palms to the table and allowing his magic to filter down the sides, touching each parchment and wand before moving on. Those in the hall looked on in wonder as bright silver tendrils of Harry's magic made their way down the table before fading.

Everyone held their breath, some waiting for the blood red writing to appear, others unsure of what exactly they were waiting for, but feeling the tension pulsing around the room. Several minutes past before the names began appearing and everyone began shuffling closer to look at the words they now contained.

'My word.' Fudge gasped.

Harry was staring intently at the piece of parchment in front of him, oblivious to everyone else. 'Come on.' he muttered. 'Come on.' He placed his hands flat on the table, his shoulders hunched over as his eyes bored into the parchment. Grordin, Draco, Severus, Hermione, Gwen and Rose all stood nervously behind him.

'Mr Potter.' Cornelius Fudge said firmly as together with Albus stepped up behind him.

'Just a minute.' Harry replied without looking up.

'Mr Potter, I must insist.'

'Shut up.' Harry yelled. Suddenly the parchment seemed to darken and once again the blood red writing appeared. Harry sucked in a breath as he waited for it to finish.

'Oh god.' Harry gasped hanging his head as his eyes filled with tears.

'Harry, what is it?' Severus asked gently, trying to see what was written. Harry stood, picking up the parchment and handing it to the potions master.

Severus' eyes widened as he read the loopy red cursive.

Ophelia Riddle

'You did it. You really did it. She's dead.' Severus said incredulously.

'Riddle's dead?' Fudge asked, glancing at Albus.

Severus ignored him, instead sweeping the young man into his arms as everyone else tried to hug him too. Cheering rang through the hall as the news of the death of the daughter of Voldemort. The wands were all snapped and placed in a pile in the centre of the hall and set ablaze, after some heavy duty safety charms were in place of course. Draco and Rose collected the parchments as Harry continued to be passed from one person to another and each added their congratulations. Harry tried telling them it was a team effort but they just nodded and shook his hand or kissed his cheek once again.

'MR POTTER.' Fudge yelled, silencing those around them instantly.

Harry stopped and turned to stare at the currently red faced wizard.

'Yes?' he said bluntly.

'I'm afraid Mr Potter.' Fudge began. 'That now that all this is finished, I must place you under arrest for murder.'

Harry gaped at the man. 'WHAT?' he bellowed, this sentiment being echoed by almost everyone around them.

'Apparently you executed five unarmed wizards with a muggle gun.' Fudge explained.

'Albus.' Severus growled.

'Harry?' Gwen whispered nervously, moving to stand beside him and taking his hand in hers.

'Harry is the heir to the Elven throne. You can't just arrest him like some common wizard.' Grordin said angrily.

'And they were Death Eaters.' Rose added. 'Unarmed or not, they killed and tortured hundreds.'

'It matter's not. Mr Potter is a wizard and he is subject to wizarding law.' Fudge said imperiously, snapping his fingers and summoning four Aurors who hadn't gone on the raid and had instead been standing nearby.

'Albus, you can't seriously be agreeing with this.' Minerva insisted.

'I'm afraid I do. I think Harry is out of control. He should pay for what he did. Those people were unarmed, they couldn't have hurt him or anyone else.'

Harry saw red, waves of anger pouring off him. 'What about those they had already hurt? Who speaks for them?'

'What gives you the right to decide whether they lived or died?' Albus questioned.

'What gives them?' Harry spat back. 'You sit up in your exalted office every day, deigning to come down and speak with your subjects, tossing them small morsels of your wisdom in return for them pledging themselves to your precious Order. You send them out to face some of the vilest wizards who will stop at nothing or no one to achieve their goals and you expect these good witches and wizards to fight them with disarming spells and tickling charms. You think that two lemon drops and a cup of tea is the answer for everything. Well it's not. THIS WAS A WAR.' Harry yelled.

Grordin placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and turned the young prince away from the two men in front of him, instead holding him close to his chest as the ex Callen spoke quietly. 'Minister, Albus, you can't possible believe that what you are doing is right. Harry has saved your world twice now and this is how you repay him.'

'I'm sorry General.' Fudge said firmly and those around him saw how the elf flinched at the title. 'but Mr Potter is a wizard and he will answer to his actions under wizarding law.'

Grordin went to reply again but before he could speak he was tossed sideways away from his charge as Harry began murmuring softly and was surrounded by a hideous green glow that closely resembled the colour of the killing curse. Gwen tried to approach him but she too was tossed back in Deakin's waiting arms.

'Harry?' she called out but it was as if he was in a trance and couldn't hear. His eyes were squeezed closed, his arms wrapped tightly around his waist as if he was in pain.

'What the hell is he doing?' Fudge blustered. 'Stop him. Stop him now.' he ordered the Aurors who moved forward, only to be tossed away as well. People throughout the hall were whispering, asking each other what was going on.

'HARRY.' Gwen screamed loudly, trying desperately to attract his attention. Rose had moved closer to her teacher as she tried to discern exactly what he was saying and as the words became clearer her face drained of blood.

'Oh god.' she gasped, turning horrified eyes on the potions master who was standing next to her. 'You've got to stop him.' she pleaded. 'Don't let him finish it, please.'

'What is he doing girl?' Fudge interrupted nearby. 'You must have some idea.'

Rose nodded. 'I know exactly what he's doing and this is all YOUR FAULT.' she finished loudly. Severus noted the look of anguish in the girl's face.

'What is he doing Tulip?' Severus asked gently as he laid an arm on the trembling girl's shoulders.

Rose's eyes glanced at Harry before pining the Headmaster like ice chips. 'He's dispersing his magic.' she whispered.

Severus eyes widened. 'What?'

'He's dispersing his magic. It was a spell in the Scrolls. I don't know why he learnt it. Maybe he thought he'd use it on Riddle or something. I didn’t even think it could be used on yourself, but it is what he’s chanting. You have to stop him.' She begged.

'What do you mean dispersing?' Gwen asked hesitantly.

'He's setting it free. Releasing it.' Severus explained in a horrified whisper.

'No.' Grordin moved to go to Harry again as the implication of Severus statement became clear. 'Harry.' Grordin said, reaching towards him once again. 'HARRY.' he yelled Gwen and the others joining in. They tried every type of stupefying spell or disabling charm they could think of but everything was absorbed by the green light surrounding him.

Every time they tried to reach for him, to stop him they were thrown backwards until with a horrifying scream and a blinding flash of light everything and everyone stopped.

Harry opened his eyes, fixing a dull green gaze on the elderly wizard in front of him. 'I hope your happy now.' he said hoarsely. Dumbledore could do nothing but stare open mouthed as Harry crumpled to the floor.

'The diamond will shine brightly before fading.' Hermione quoted softly as Gwen and Grordin rushed to Harry's side. The exact line from the second prophecy finally coming true in the most horrific way possible.

The hall exploded into uproar as the news of what Harry had done quickly spread. Grordin ignored them all quickly picking the now seemingly small figure in his arms and together with Gwen walking swiftly from the hall.

Three hours later Draco walked into Harry and Gwen's rooms. He had spent that time returning the SAS men by Portkey to Hereford after placing some very heavy memory charms of course, cleaning up at mess left by the potion at the site of the battle and together with Hermione, Rose and Severus, answering the hundreds of questions posed to them by the Minister regarding what Harry had done.

The Minister had demanded the Scrolls be turned over only to be advised that Gwen had thrown them in the fire on her return with Grordin and Harry from the great hall. The copies were left unmentioned.

The Order members and Aurors had all left, the events of the day easily being overshadowed by what had transpired in the great hall. The good news of Riddle's death being far outweighed by the news that the Boy-Who-Lived, the man who had twice saved the wizarding world, was now a muggle.

Both Fudge and Dumbledore had been called some awful things after Grordin and Gwen's abrupt departure. Draco instantly sending Deakin back with the fallen Callens, telling him to advise the King and Queen what had happened and to let them know they would all be returning the minute Harry woke.

Minerva was so angry with Albus she had refused to speak with him, instead closeting herself in her rooms. The other teachers had sadly but silently helped clear the hall and make sure everything was alright for dinner. The students had come down from their dormitories to find a hollow silence hovering over the small number of teachers left. The headmaster, Minvera and the entire right side of the head table was empty and the expressions on the faces of the others were numbing to say the least. Carolyn had been told what had happened and her bowed head and shaking shoulders had everyone worried.

Draco, on finding out where she was, had come down to fetch her and the thirteen year old was currently by his side, the odd sniffle escaping her as she walked into the room.

'Why don't you go and see Riley and Jamie. I bet they're a bit upset too.' he suggested. Carolyn nodded and quickly disappeared into Riley's room as Draco looked at the sombre faces around him. Blaise had an arm around Hermione as Millie did with Rose. Both women seemed to have stopped crying but their eyes were very red. Severus and Grordin stood just outside the door to the bedroom and Gwen sat on the sofa, staring at the fire.

'Gwen?' Draco said tentatively.

Gwen looked up, her eyes unfocused. 'Draco?' she whispered as he moved to kneel in front of her. 'What are we going to do?'

Draco took her hands in his. 'He's alive Gwen. Still with us, that's all that matters.' he said firmly.

'But his magic.' she sobbed, breaking finally as tears spilled out of her eyes and trailed down her cheeks.

'It won't matter. I mean it might at first but in the end it won't matter. His magic has caused him so much heartache, he will remember that eventually.' Draco insisted.

'Draco is correct.' came a hoarse voice from the doorway and every head whipped up.

'Harry.' Gwen gasped, tearing her hands from Draco and flinging herself across the room and into his arms. 'Oh god, Harry.' she cried, hugging him tightly. Everyone waited as Harry and Gwen stood tightly embraced in the doorway of the bedroom. After several minutes they pulled away.

'Sirene.' Grordin said softly and Harry turned to face him. 'Sirene, I'm sorry.'

'Don't apologise Fascia.' Harry sighed. 'There was nothing you could have done. It was my decision and no one else's.'

'I didn't protect you as I had sworn to do. I knew they were planning something and I should have sent you back to the Glade directly after.'

'It matters not now.' Harry placed a consoling hand on the slightly panic elf's arm. 'As I said it was my decision.'

A strangled yelp sounded to the left and Harry turned once more, eyeing the almost livid potions master who was struggling to hold his tongue. 'What is it Severus?' Harry asked softly. 'We are friends, if you have something to add please go ahead. It's not as if I can hex you anymore if I don't like what you say.'

That was obviously the wrong thing to say as the tall dark haired man exploded. 'How can you even joke about it?' Severus bellowed. 'You bloody impulsive Gryffindors. Do you have any idea of what you've done? How in the hell could you be so stupid?' The rant continued in this vein but if you looked closely into the rage filled eyes they were full of tears. When they started down the pale cheeks Harry stepped forwards and halted the words with his hand.

'I have to joke about it Sev.' he whispered. 'It is the only way I can deal with it just now.' No one could miss the forlorn look in Harry's eyes and Severus quieted instantly. The young man had done so much for him. Saving his life, removing the Dark Mark and his connection to Voldemort, giving him a family and a home. Severus shook his head. Harry had only needed the potions master once in his life and Severus had failed him. He too had seen the look in Albus’ eyes the day before and earlier today and he knew it meant trouble. He just didn’t think it would all happen so quickly.

'I'm so sorry Harry.' he whispered.

'Don't apologise Sev.' Harry pleaded softly. 'Don't apologise any of you. I knew what I was doing. Fudge would never have given up, not with Albus’ support. I had a choice Azkaban or the Glade. For one I had to give up my family, the other my magic. It was an easy decision. My magic has caused me so much trouble, more than it was really worth I often thought. I can still protect the Glade because the Diamond in still a part of me. I’ll just have to remember if I want a cup of tea I have to get it myself from now on.’ He chuckled softly.

Draco smiled. ‘Harry, you’re a Prince, I’m sure if you wanted a cup of tea you would have any number of people who would be absolutely thrilled to get it for you.’

Harry smiled at his apprentice’s help in lightening the sombre mood. ‘Besides,' Harry cocked an eyebrow as a sly expression came over his face. 'Now that the Boy-Who-Lived is no longer, from now on they’ll have to ask Neville to save them.' he said with a grin.

Severus glanced at Harry’s face and snorted, Grordin quickly following and soon the entire room was giggling like drunken schoolgirls.

‘Daddy, what’s so funny?’ Riley asked as the three children walked in. Harry, still snickering held out his arms, picking the four year old up.

‘Nothing sweetie. Just a joke for the adults. Isn’t it time you two were in bed?’ He scolded, hugging her tightly and kissing her cheek before putting her down and doing the same with Jamie. The toddler tugged on his ear and hugged him as tightly as his chubby little arms would allow.

‘Let me take them.’ Millie insisted, taking both children’s hands and leading them towards their bedrooms.

‘Thanks.’ Harry offered her a smile.

‘Harry?’ Carolyn said tentatively.

Harry turned to the young teenager, grasping her by the shoulder and guiding her to the sofa. ‘Cara.’ He began quietly. ‘Did Draco explain what happened?’ Carolyn nodded. ‘It doesn’t change anything.’ Harry could see the girl let out the breath she had been holding and knew exactly what she’d been thinking.

‘You’re not staying are you?’ she said softly.

Harry shook his head. ‘No, we’re not. The decision is yours to if you wish to stay here until the end of the year or continue your education at home.’

Carolyn’s eyes widened. ‘Home.’ She whispered. ‘I’m not used to saying that.’

Harry smiled. ‘Neither was I. It took some time to get used to.’ He added.

Carolyn glanced over at Gwen before answering. ‘I want to go home.’ She said softly.

Harry grinned and swept the thirteen year old into a hug, more than happy that she wanted to return to the Glade with them. ‘You’d better go and pack then.’ He told her. Carolyn grinned back and after jumping up and hugging Gwen, disappeared out the door in the direction of the Hufflepuff common room.

‘Are we going to breakfast?’ Severus asked.

Harry looked up from his seat on the sofa. ‘Yes, I want to say goodbye to Minerva and the others.’ Severus nodded and it was with promises to have everything packed and shrunk by morning they left for their respective rooms, the unspoken realisation that Harry wanted to be alone suddenly becoming very clear.

Ten minutes later the sitting room was almost deserted, Gwen having gone to begin packing the children’s clothes. Grordin stood silently in the shadows, his heart breaking as Harry, still sitting in front of the fire, finally leant forward and buried his head in his hands as his shoulders shook with silent sobs.

Hermione woke early, she wasn’t sure why. After leaving Harry’s rooms together with Draco, they had ordered some dinner from Dobby before packing their things, neither mentioning the events of the afternoon.

Quietly she got up and dressed before slipping out of the room. Something was calling her as she padded softly down to the entrance hall and outside. There she found her best friend standing at the top of the steps looking at the rising sun on the horizon.

‘Harry?’ she said tentatively.

‘Hey, Mione.’ Harry said softly, turning and reaching for her.

Hermione studied his face, taking in the dark circles and red rimmed eyes. ‘You didn’t sleep.’ She said knowingly.

Harry shrugged as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her close. ‘No, not really.’

‘Are you okay?’

‘Probably not, but it’s done now.’

Hermione was silent for several moments. ‘Why did you do it, Harry?’ she asked softly.

‘I told you yesterday.’

‘Yes, you did. But you left something out. That wasn’t a good enough reason. There was something else, wasn’t there.’

Harry sighed and glanced down at her. ‘God Hermione, how in the hell do you know me so well?’ he murmured.

‘What were you thinking?’

Harry sighed again. ‘I was thinking of Gwen and the children and the Glade, of what I would be missing if Fudge sent me to Azkaban. I mean, yes I might have got out eventually but, well, you couldn’t be too sure. Then the past months flashed before my eyes, the pain, the responsibility, the people who died because I wasn’t strong enough to save them. The expectations.’ He finished softly.

Hermione looked into the brooding green eyes that she knew so well. ‘Why don’t you go flying?’ she suggested.

Harry smiled sadly. ‘I can’t. Scales, Phe, even Black, they’re all gone. I can’t even fly a broom.’

Hermione blanched at her lack of tact. ‘Oh god Harry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think.’

‘It’s okay Hermione.’ Harry said quietly and the silence grew longer. ‘Do you think Ron would be disappointed in me?’ he asked suddenly.

Hermione was so shocked she pulled away to look intently at her friend. ‘You are joking aren’t you?’ she asked incredulously.

‘Well…’ Harry trailed off.

‘Harry James Potter.’ Hermione began, her impression of Molly Weasley strong in spite of the lack of contact with the Weasley matriarch. ‘Don’t be so ridiculous. Ron would be so proud of everything you’ve done. So would Sirius and your mum and dad. I can’t believe you would ask such a daft question.’

Harry smiled and moved forward to wrap his arms around his oldest friend once more. ‘I love you Mione.’ He said softly.

‘I love you too, Harry.’ She replied.

Breakfast was a sad affair. Dumbledore a no show under the pretence that he was trying to fill several staff positions. No mention was made of even considering asking Harry and the others to stay. The rest of the staff understood and their farewells were short but sweet, Minerva promising to write and visit the Glade again during the summer holidays. The majority of the students all stared at Harry, none daring to even ask if it was true. It was the arrival of the owl post carrying a full report of the events of the afternoon and evening before, that finally confirmed every rumour that had been passed around the school since then.

After the meal Harry and the others gathered just outside the gates. The other teachers looking after the students as Minerva escorted them off.

‘Goodbye Professor.’ Harry said softly.

Minerva smiled, tears in her eyes. ‘Goodbye Harry, and thank you.’ She added giving him a final hug before he joined Gwen and the children, Grordin, Hermione, Draco, Rose, Severus, Millie and Blaise in the circle of Callens. Within moments they were gone, only Harry noticing the sad blue eyes watching them from atop the tallest tower before they disappeared.

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(Four years later)

Harry stood overlooking the gardens from his place on the stone steps. The large area had been decorated with brightly coloured lights and garland. Masses of stunning flowers arrayed in pots everywhere and soft music filtered around them as he watched his best friend marry one of the only people he had come to truly trust.

Hermione looked stunning as she pledged her love to Draco, his blond apprentice vowing his just as strongly in reply. Gwen and Rose stood nearby, eight year old Riley and six year old Jamie in front of them, dressed in their finery.

He could see Madolyne and Darius seated on their thrones as they watched the proceedings with joy. Deakin and Feria were standing near Draco, ready to assist in the ceremony as witnesses when needed. And Severus, well he was officiating.

‘I had always thought it would be me.’ Harry said softly. Grordin reached up and placed a hand on his arm.

‘It was the only thing that would have made the day more perfect for them Sirene.’ He whispered. Harry nodded, swallowing the sob that caught in his throat. Over the years he had come to terms with the loss of his magic but it was times like this, as rare as they were, that the meaning of that loss became very clear.

Hermione and Draco, being a witch marrying a wizard had required another witch or wizard to complete the ceremony, to make it magically binding. For three years after their return, Hermione and Rose had re-read every section of the Scrolls they had translated in a desperate effort to return Harry’s magic to him, but it was not to be. Eventually Harry had gotten angry with them, telling them to leave it be and move on and thankfully they had. Two months previous Rose had married Deakin and then finally Hermione and Draco.

Madolyne and Darius had been understanding about what had happened but Harry could tell the King was relieved that even if Harry could no longer do magic, the Ulysses Diamond was still intact and protecting the Glade. His relationship with his parents in law, while better than it was when they had left Hogwarts after the incident with Grordin, was still no where near what it use to be, something Harry had despaired over for many nights.

He had finished Draco and Rose’s apprenticeships just this last summer but was loath to take on another. Grordin tried to convince him otherwise but Harry had been adamant. Without magic, he said, it wouldn’t be fair to the apprentice. He spent his days researching cures for different diseases, both Elven and human. He still trained with Grordin and the Callens each morning but the loss of his magic seemed to have taken the edge off his duelling and as each year passed he found other interests more fulfilling.

‘Harry?’ came a quiet voice from his elbow and Harry turned.

‘Albus.’ Harry gave the elderly wizard a smile. Two years ago the headmaster had suffered a heart attack, rendering him unconscious for more than a week. Upon waking his only request was to see Harry and the staff at Hogwarts had practically moved heaven and earth to grant the old man’s final wish. In the end it was Severus who had convinced the young man to go and, together with Grordin, had accompanied him.

The words spoken between the two had never been revealed by either party but after being closeted in the Headmaster’s room for over six hours Harry came out, his face lined with worry but with a spark in his eyes that Grordin and Severus hadn’t seen in sometime.

‘The headmaster will be returning with us.’ Was all he said. Sure enough Dumbledore returned with them and Harry together with Glenian healed the elderly wizard as best they could. Minerva had taken over in Dumbledore’s absence but became the Headmistress when Albus decided after three months in the Glade that he wished to stay.

Over the last two years it had been Albus who had helped Harry with his research. The body may have been old and withered but the brain was still as sharp as a tack. Together they had come up with the base for a cure to Lycanthropy as well as several other Elven illnesses.

To this day no one, not even Gwen, knew what Albus had said to Harry but it was clear the two were now quite close Harry treating Albus like the grandfather he never had.

‘Lovely ceremony.’ Albus said softly and Harry smiled again. He could see the sorrow in the old man’s eyes and knew that he still felt guilty that Harry couldn’t take part as even the witnesses were required to have some magic, whether Elven or human.

‘It is.’ Harry whispered. It was the only thing he could say.

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Harry never again returned to the wizarding world, instead remaining at the Glade even after his research triumphs had people begging for him to come back. A few years later Fudge was finally voted out of office, the loss of the Boy-Who-Lived to the Elven realm the final nail in the Minister’s coffin, so to speak. Hermione and Harry started the Ron Weasley Research Foundation the day the Minister resigned with the money the new Minister decided to award Harry in compensation.

Albus died the day before Riley’s twelfth birthday and Harry was finally able to explain to his first mentor how he really felt as he sat by the grave for hours two days later.

Jamie and Riley grew like weeds and both were taller than their mother before they were teenagers. Carolyn finished her education as was in demand throughout many different worlds as a Reader. Harry often travelled with her as part of his research and when Albus died both Rose and Carolyn joined the small Foundation Harry and Hermione had started.

Rose and Deakin had a little boy the next year two months before Hermione delivered twin girls, Harry and Gwen being god father and mother to all three.

And then, one hundred years after he married Gwen, Harry finally became King.

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There you go. It’s all over. I can’t believe I actually finished it. I had my doubts I have to admit. I will get back to the others now, I have had a few people ask me to do another Harry in Azkaban one and I am thinking about it.

Thanks again to everyone who followed this through to the end. I’m sorry about the whole Harry thing but I didn’t want him to kill him off in this one and this ending seemed to fit so well into that second prophecy.

Anyway, thanks again.

Regards,

Mione.