Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter!

Epilogue An End: A Beginning

Prongs charged with an enthral bellow and lowered his lordly head. Voldemort sneered and kept his ground. He would have been better to run and look the coward.

Harry shielded his eyes as Prongs collided with the black mage, blinding by an other -worldly light. The fighting ceased in those precious moments.

The light faded and Harry opened his eyes. If a term had to be used it would be that Voldemort was dead. His reign ended with brutal force at the hand of a spiritual guardian. The black mage lay in a motionless, crumble heap, his limbs twisted into arcade shapes. From his body a crimson red oozed, smoke sizzled and spat as if his blood was acid.

Prongs stood by the body and blinked his large green eyes as if he too could not believe the power of the charm that brought the wizarding world greatest enemies to his knees. Prongs moved forward slowly on thin graceful legs, his eyes transfixed on Harry. He lowered his crowned head and snorted and Harry felt the warmth of the patronus' breath.

And then Harry understood. He lowered his wand. Voldemort had precious little human left in him. It had not taken a killing curse but a charm: a complex charm – but a spell Harry never intended to kill with. That of course was the difference. Voldemort had been killed by his patronus, something that was neither alive nor dead.

"Power the dark lord knows what," Harry was sure his lips formed those words but was unsure if he said them aloud. No one reacted.

Mr and Mrs Weasley dashed out from the house, their wands outstretched in front of them, Molly's was shaking dangerously. Arthur Weasley came to a grinding halt and looked at Harry blankly; then to what was left of Voldemort; to Prongs who was chewing hungrily on Harry's sweater then to his two children.

Everything was still: no one dared to breathe as if in fear of shattering the dream and finding Voldemort resurrected. It was over… Voldemort had passed from this world like a bad dream.

The leaves stirred around us and yet no one spoke. Comprehension had no yet dawned on them. A small wind picked up and before our eyes Vodlemort's body turned to black ash and was swept away.

"Ah, Harry?" Neville was the first one to speak – to break the silence. He jerked his thumb at the sky. "Are you going to let them down?"

In the shock of victory Harry had forgotten to release the Death Eaters from their invisible prison in the sky. Harry waved his hand and they came crashing down onto the garden path with a satisfying crack.

The movement of the falling Death Eaters must have broken Molly Weasley's reverie for in the next instant she drowned Harry in her sweater as she hugged him almost viciously. Ron and Ginny were her next victims and then and any other unfortunate Gryffindor or even Slytherin who had come running at the sounds of danger.

'Well done…' Harry suddenly felt the essence of the mentor in his mind. He felt his immeasurable pride under his stern façade, which brought strange goose flesh to his skin. 'Well done my heir…'

It was in those moments Harry truly realised what he had done. He had fought the last battle and came out alive.

'Victory… victory… VICTORY!'

Several essences filled Harry's mind all at once as they joined in with his chanting. Tonight belonged to the magical world. Harry looked through his tear stained eyes and saw Ginny and Hermione jumping up and down both of them laughing and bawling their eyes out.

Ron clapped Harry's shoulder – he had no words for Harry. But Harry didn't need his words. He understood perfectly.

To say the celebrations in the wizarding world were wild; would be an understatement. And Hogwarts was the centre of the party.

The week of celebrations passed in a blur of colour, people and happiness. And for the second times during Harry's education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, end of semester exams were cancelled. (Yes Hermione was bitterly disappointed).

Slytherin and the other founders left after that week. As Harry strongly suspected it was once again Helga Hufflepuff's legacy that had caused the time travel. Hermione asked Rowena Ravenclaw to explain the process to her… simply put the legacy links the founders to Hogwarts. In essence they are Hogwarts… and so will never leave the hollowed halls of their school.

Godric also explained patiently to Harry why he didn't like the wards being connected to via blood. Protective Magic is very strong and dangerous as suggested by the texts on the subject if the spell had gone wrong… well to put it lightly no more Harry…

Before leaving Salazar Slytherin left back for his time he showed Harry the little gold coin he had given him. He smiled thinly. "I know what this is…" the gold glinted in the sunlight and he clasped it tightly. He tucked into his shirt and pattered Harry's head much as if I was a pet dog. "I will miss you."
"And I you…"

Salazar held out his hand to me. "I was an honour knowing you half blood or not."
"I'm glad I was wrong." Harry didn't let the smile, which was threatening to blossom show on his face. But Slytherin knew it was there.

"Me too…" Ron was behind a pace or two and he too offered Salazar his hand. Salazar looked at it for a moment then clasped both large hands over Ron's.
"It was a pleasure, Mr Weasley." Slytherin smiled slyly and looked in Harry's direction. "Keep him out of trouble."
Ron grinned sheepishly and nodded. "I will…"

Salazar Slytherin turned quickly and glanced back at me one more time. He placed his hand over his heart. "I will be watching…"

Harry stretched in his chair and looked out of the window; a new day was just dawning.

He placed the quill back into its ink well and glanced back at the finally paragraph for Hogwarts – A History Volume II – by Harry Potter and Hermione Granger and smiled. It was complete…

Complete for all the wizarding world to know and learn from …

Unlike many however, I hope he isn't forgotten. I hope wizarding kind remembers the lessons Voldemort has taught us – Evil will rise again as surely as they sun will rise after the moon. For now the magical world has a new hope of peace… I do not believe that it will last forever. I dearly pray our world will be ready for the next evil…

Thankyou for reading my story I love sharing with you.

Farewell for now

Snakes Eyes is another fiction I'm writing at the moment. If you like my Salazar Slytherin in this fiction read about his life from his point of view – from the very beginning!

Illeanah