"Sorry bout that!" Hagrid apologised "I was just so glad to see you all OK, always knew you would be a great wizard Harry but Hermione, Neville and Luna, you were brilliant and so brave."
"Thanks Hagrid," Neville blushed.
"I'm leaving Hogwarts at Christmas, Charlie has got me a job working with the dragons in Romania. It's always been my dream and the pay is a lot more to, there's nothing left for me at Hogwarts now."
"Anytime you need anything Hagrid you let me know, you were my first friend and gave me my very first birthday gift that I love dearly. You'll always find a welcome at our house and we'll be back to see you before Christmas."
Amelia approached the group, "Lord Potter, as minister of magic I would like to express the gratitude of the witches and wizards of Britain for ridding our country of the cancer that was Voldemort. As Amelia Bones I would just like to say that you all were magnificent today, Shack and his aurors couldn't cope with him and you eight turning up saved a number of lives today. We have some injuries but thanks to the armour your gold provided are confidant Riddle is going to be the only fatality, even the Weasley twins survived with no more than broken bones."
"Ron Weasley got hit when he pushed Millicent away from a cutting curse that Bellatrix fired, Poppy's working on him now." With impeccable timing the healer walked over just as Hermione was finishing informing the minister.
"He's going to be ok, sore for a few days and will be weak for a while after that, I'd like to take them both back with us."
"I think it's time we were all going home," Remus was standing with his arm around his pregnant wife knowing the last obstacle to his dreams had been removed. Home with a wife and family made him the richest man in the world.
....
Her mum was putting Joan to bed when the little girl's nose began twitching; Hermione hugged her daughter to her and asked what was troubling her.
"I heard some people talking and they were saying Britain was now safe with the bad witch and wizard gone, does that mean we'll be leaving here?" asked the clearly worried girl.
Like Harry, Hermione wouldn't lie to her daughter or fob the little girl off with some excuses. "We have no plans to return to live in Britain, things might change in the future but if they do we'll sit down as a family and discuss our options. If you can look back six months and think of the changes in our lives then you'll understand why I'm not ruling anything out but I'm pretty sure Italy will be our home for many years to come."
This seemed to settle some of her fears but Hermione could sense there was something else bothering Joan, "Mum I was frightened today, not when the bad witch had me because I knew you'd come for me. When you left me with aunt Ginny and everyone walked away I wasn't sure if I would see you again, I was really scared mum." The sight of her daughter's tears broke Hermione's heart.
"I just kept repeating what you told me, no harm could come to you while dad was there and it's true mum."
She held her daughter tight, "we'll never leave you again sweetie, that should be the last of them and we can live our lives in peace now." She kissed Joan before tucking her in, Millicent was going to be staying with her 'niece' tonight after she finished saying goodnight to Ron in the infirmary.
....
Amelia looked at the pieces of parchment that might grant her freedom sooner than she thought, both Drumstrang and Beauxbatons realised their contestants were massively outclassed by the Potters so with one contestant dead and another disqualified they were proposing the competition be cancelled. As they had already competed in the first task there was no danger of anyone losing their magic if the ministry declared it over.
She was certain Harry and Hermione would jump at the chance since they had already achieved their objective and it was going to save Amelia trying to choose who would be their hostages that were going to end up awaiting rescue at the bottom of the lake.
The headlines in tomorrow's papers would be spectacular and Amelia could throw fuel on the fire by citing bigotry and bias as her reason for quitting as the minister of magic on Monday. She truly wondered if the British magical community could survive and was certain it wouldn't without changes, that would be the job of the new minister and they were welcome to it.
Amelia could honestly swear she'd done the best job she could and with Harry's very public display of displeasure at toad woman, Deloris was effectively out the running to replace her. She was sure there must be a hell of a story there somewhere and perhaps one day the Potters would tell her the tale.
....
Neville lay cuddling his blond betrothed, it had been quite the few days and tomorrow Harry and Hermione were going to attempt to awaken his father. Neville Longbottom's life changed beyond all recognition the day Harry Potter said he wanted him at his side, all three Lestrange's were dead, his mother was back and he was positive they would help his father return too. When you factored in that the beautiful witch currently in his arms was going to marry him then Neville knew his lonely days were well and truly over.
Luna felt Neville's arms tighten around her and smiled, they were so close now she could almost read his mind. Her heart was filled with happiness for him and the fact that their friends could begin to lead normal lives. The blond witch could now concentrate on her studies because passing her NEWT's granted her the ultimate reward, becoming Mrs Luna Longbottom.
....
Amber was staring again at the ring on her finger, put there by the wizard who was currently sleeping beside her after their earlier exertions. The emotions currently racing through her body left her more likely to be dancing rather than snoozing, she was sure that she must be glowing in the dark with happiness.
They hadn't even thought about using potions or spells and neither was worried, a Christmas wedding was their future and if she became pregnant by then so much the better. Another Lupin boy would be best friends with a Black once more, if she and her aunt Pomona had any say in the matter there would be a whole tribe of Blacks and Lupins pulling pranks at the Potter Institute.
That thought had her snuggling back into her wizard, with some encouragement he just might wake up and discover what was waiting for him.