The Final Part Of The Journey ; Epilogue

Melody and Tom both looked over their final N.E.W.T grades. Tom got all O's (Melody was not surprised), while Melody passed Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Charms, Defence, and Transfiguration, along with Astronomy. Melody didn't take Care of Magical Creatures or Divination, but that's to be expected. Melody turned 18 during the school year, so she was finally free to leave the orphanage in a few days. Tom had showed her to Salazar Slytherin, who then got the other three Founders, and it was like a reunion.

But most importantly, Melody had succeeded in creating Time Turners. However, these weren't like her special Time Turner, as she learned that time was not to be messed with, so therefore, the knowledge of creating a Time Turner for an alternate universe would only be passed down her family line for safety reasons (but she made one special Time Turner, that could only be touched by a family member by blood). Tom had officially got his emotions back, and quit the Dark Arts, so by the time they graduated, they became better friends, unlike before. Although Cheryl did say their arguments were quite entertaining, and even the kids at the orphanage said so too.

Melody was packing her things to prepare to leave the orphanage. It was the last time she'd return here, but it didn't mean the place didn't hold such special memories. Memories that made her childhood, her childhood.

"Lucky you, you get to leave this place," Tom said from her open room door. Melody hummed. "Uh huh, but I'll never forget all the memories I made here."

Tom would be able to leave in a few months, once he turned 18 in December.

"True, a lot has happened. I still remember getting my Hogwarts letter."

The world was back to normal, as Grindelwald was defeated by Dumbledore that same year. Sure, maybe a few Dark wizards were still around, but no Dark Lords. Tom had applied to become an Unspeakable after he turned of age in the Muggle world, and Melody was going to work in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

"I'll owl once you get to your new home," Tom said.

"Sure," Melody nodded, closing her trunk. She got an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia. She felt like crying. After all, it's hard to move on.

"You okay?"

Melody blinked. "I'll just...it's hard to move on, it feels weird to finally be an adult.."

"Yeah, I know," Tom said offhandedly. Melody stared at him, confused. "Hello?"

He shook his head, snapping out of his daze. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For everything. You saved me from a terrible life."

Melody smiled. "It's no problem—"

"Yeah, but I hurt you in the process."

Melody tilted her head. "How?"

"I sort of read your journal entry about our argument the summer before fifth year.."

Awkward silence. "Oh. It's fine, I recovered. It's sort of hard to feel sad when you're irritated," she quipped. Tom laughed.

"Like when you disappeared off to Knockturn Alley and I didn't know, I was too freaked out about the attack up in Diagon Alley to feel irritated about it." Tom did end up confessing on his secret trips to Knockturn Alley before when they used to go to Diagon Alley. Luckily, he quit going.

"Anyways, I'll go say goodbye to Mrs Cole and come back to get my trunk," Melody walked past Tom out the door, and went downstairs. And sure enough, Mrs Cole was at the front desk.

"Mrs Cole?"

She looked up. "Yes?"

"I'd like to say thank you for taking me in all those years ago," Melody said politely. Mrs Cole smiled warmly. "It's no problem, dear. I hope you have a great life. I sort of will miss you, but of course, we must move on."

Melody held out her hand, and Mrs Cole shook it. "Thank you, you too. I will never forget all the memories I made here."

Then Melody went back upstairs, where Tom was in his same position as before. "Well, I'll be leaving now, I'll see you at the Ministry after your 18th birthday," Melody said, going to get her trunk. "And since I'll be busy on your birthday, happy early birthday."

"Don't worry, this will probably be the best birthday I've ever had."

Melody began to drag her trunk out. "I guess this is goodbye for now, isn't it?"

Tom nodded. And held out a hand. Melody looked at it, then to Tom. And she shook it with her free hand.

"Good luck on tracking down your relatives."

"Thanks."

All Melody could say, it was the best day of her life, regardless of being so nostalgic.

_____In January, a day after Tom turns 18______

Tom finished packing, then brought his trunk downstairs, and went to see Mrs Cole. She was at her front desk, like usual.

"Yes, Tom?"

"I would like to say, thank you for taking me in. I'm sorry about all the trouble I caused," he apologized. She looked surprised for a minute, but managed a smile. "We all make mistakes, we learn from them."

Tom stuck out a hand. Mrs Cole hesitated at first, but shook it anyway.

"I guess this is goodbye," he said finally after they let go.

"Yes, but we mustn't dwell on the past, we can move on, have a nice life," she assured him.

All Tom could say, it was the best day of his life.

And he was especially grateful to Melody for making such a day in his life possible. He felt like he owed her a life debt.

But he was happy.

It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Thank you, Salazar, Rowena, Helga, Godric, and Melody.

No matter how stubborn he was, Melody was persistent, and she succeeded.

And now Tom Marvolo Riddle could live a normal life.

____________________________________

Tom and Melody stayed in contact, and Melody got married a few years later, and so did Tom.

The end.

A / N : That's the end of this story. What do you think? Did the epilogue happen too early? It's my first book, so mistakes are normal, I don't mind civil critics.

Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading!

:P

Another note, my teacher told me this as a child,

Goodbyes are one of the hardest things to do, and it is a universal agreement. But with every ending is a new beginning to something. 'I' want you to live your life without the fear of endings, life is seamless.

I am grateful for this message from my teacher, as it helped me move on. Because as children, we usually do not understand things very well, but when we grow up, we finally get it. It was this way with the note my teacher gave me. It took years for me to actually reread it, and I finally get the message.

'Goodbyes are hard, but we must be happy and move on,'

- Moral of the story