Author's Note: Well, here it is, the end of Lord Potter's Own Will. It was quite hard to finish this story; not because I lost my love for Harry Potter or for Fan Fiction, but because my personal writing projects took my imagination to new places. For those of you who have also read the many Anwen and Sirius stories I've written, know that I am also finishing that final project, Time War, and then I see myself hanging up the Mutt N Feathers moniker. If you'd like to read my original work, please go to Amazon and look for Amy Austin-Taggart, that's who I really am. Thanks to all of you who stuck it out all these years, and I hope this leaves you happy for Harry. MNF

Epilogue:

August 18, 1998

Harry's House

Kilarney, Ireland

Harry sat alone in the backyard of his Irish home. He was leaving it today, returning to the Potter ancestral home in the U.K. and taking on the responsibilities he'd created when he and Sirius had seen Dumbledore removed. As much as the Wizengamot had done in the last years, there was still much to do. The entire composition of the ruling body of the Wizarding world was about to be changed, and many saw Harry and Sirius as the best ones to assist in the overhaul. No longer would the ruling body simply be made up of those who had certain bloodlines or who were entitled by the crown to have seats; anyone who was a witch or wizard could be elected. Of course there would still be a certain percentage of the body who came from old families, but by being elected these persons would be responsible for the good of all. Harry was thankful that Hermione had agreed to be his assistant and advisor as he navigated this new role; that was after she was married and had her honeymoon. The wedding would be interesting, as she'd asked Harry to be her Master-of-Honour. Thankfully he was wearing a kilt – his family one, instead of the fancy robes Ginny and Luna would be in as her maids.

In another year or so Hermione would begin her true legal studies at Oxford, but she knew Harry needed her now, and she would never desert her best friend. Harry had begged her to not put her life on hold for him, but Hermione reminded him that she'd never have an opportunity like this again.

His house wouldn't be empty here in Ireland, as several students still had another year or so of schooling. Remus and Klytië were remaining as chaperones, their love strong and completing them both. Ginny would remain, which gave Harry pause. He loved her, but she wasn't ready to live under the microscopic lens he would be under in England. The weight of the mantle of adulthood was fully on him; but in his heart he knew she wasn't ready to bear it… yet. He figured there was no reason to deny her youthful indiscretions and frivolity just because he couldn't really have them. He wasn't sure where their relationship was headed, and he'd decided it was perfectly alright to not know now.

Someone let the back door slam, and Hannah's voice was heard reprimanding whomever it was. In some ways the girl had claimed the house as hers; cleaning, painting and generally caring for it. She'd very recently renovated said door, and didn't want her hard work to become chipped and cracked again. Harry chuckled at her; he'd considered giving the place to her, but it was Grandma Freddie's and she was too close to his heart to give away her home without talking with her first.

A mug of steaming tea was thrust in front of Harry's face, and the man took it willingly before looking up to see the long, lean body of his best friend, Neville, sitting down next to him.

"Can't believe it's our last day here," the newcomer said.

"You'll be around a lot more than I will. Hannah's still here." Harry loved how Neville's ears turned red when he mentioned their relationship, even in passing. Unlike many of the couples of the house, Neville and Hannah were discrete, much like Remus and Klytië. It didn't stop Harry from taking the mickey out of the pair though, when Hannah announced she was taking the boys' room, and then proceeded to transfigure the two double beds into one very nice bigger bed.

"But it isn't going to be my home," Neville paused, "and you won't be here."

"It's not like I'm going to be far away," Harry answered. "You're the one going further. Padua, Italy requires a scheduled Portkey, not just a quick Apparition."

"They leave every half hour though. I can be from Padua to Kilarney and back forty-eight times a day. Anyway, you know why I'm going there." Harry held his hands up at his friends' slightly defensive tone.

"Neville, if I were selected to study with a woman who only takes on one new student a year, I would go to the moon for the opportunity. Italy isn't nearly as far. Anyway, you're going to be trained in Herbology and Potions by the only living Grand Master. I'm just glad you're not going to be living in a hovel there."

"Who knew the Longbottom's had a house in Italy? Gran had never told me anything about our history with the city and its magical heritage."

"From speaking with Myrddin, I think neither of us knew much of our heritages. It's good to know now, though," Harry said wistfully. He'd been denied access to his family – even if they were just in portrait form – for fourteen years. He relished every second he could have with them now. At his family estate, he'd be surrounded by the Potters and others. He'd even have his two house elves, although he thought it silly to be served by them. He was a healthy eighteen-year-old who had some skill in the kitchen. But, as his grandfather Eldon explained, they would see his independence as denial of their life's work. It would be an odd family, but it was his family and he wanted to be surrounded by them.

Harry and Neville sat quietly on the warm grass, listening to the sounds of the other inhabitants of the house awakening and moving forward with their day. Harry was always the first awake, followed by Hannah and Neville. Ginny would undoubtedly be the last. He wanted to wish her well on her first day of her final year, otherwise he'd have already been gone.

Harry had slept alone and in Sirius' room the night before, as Sirius and Maggie had decided to live in his home with Cissy and Draco for the same reasons Harry was returning to his family home. He'd emptied Grimauld and razed it. Sirius had finally made peace with his childhood by destroying the place which reminded him of hate, ridicule, pain and torture. He planned to build a new home which he, Harry, Hermione and Remus could us when they were needed in London.

"Have you seen Maggie lately?" Neville asked after their moments of quiet togetherness.

"Yeah, she's madder than a doxy that she's on desk duty, but she's huge. I think they're fudging a bit on that due date," Harry said with genuine laugher in her voice.

"Maybe it's twins?"

"Bloody Hell," Harry said in horror, "can you imagine two offspring of Sirius at once? Narcissa and Draco will run off and Birony might be the first house-elf to quit."

"I think Maggie will keep their kids in line. Do you really think they'll get married?"

"Probably. Mags will pester Sirius into it, and they'll go somewhere warm or something and be married on a beach or in a cave or whatever. He won't have a big wedding, even if her family might want one."

"What about you? You want a big wedding in front of the Binding Circle?"

"Maybe, but a wedding and being married is the furthest thing from my mind. I have work to do and then I want some time to myself, I think; or maybe not." Neville looked in the face of his friend, searching for something Harry wasn't sure of.

"You're really not sure about it, are you? About her?"

"Neville, I'm only just beginning to understand what love is. I get fatherly love, my dad shows me love and then there is everything Sirius has done for me, what he sacrificed for me. I know Mum loves me. So did, does, Mrs. Weasley, but she put conditions on it, so it isn't really like Mum's love at all. I love my friends, you, Remus and Klytië, Hermione; but I question love between a man and a woman. I see how Mum and Dad are, and Grandma and Grandfather and I wonder if that's what I have with Ginny. Perhaps I'm just being too philosophical about things. Time will tell."

Neville smiled, even as he shook his head. "Harry, you know you are just allowed to be. The future will come whether you've sorted all of those things out in your head."

The back door slammed again. Hannah called out again, and the laughter of the two friends was joined by a higher pitched one coming from one who had swinging hips in little denim shorts and red hair swishing in the breeze. Maybe Neville was right. The future would come on its own and Harry wasn't responsible for it.

As plum lips which tasted of raspberry jam met his in greeting he decided a good snog was the only thing on his mind.