Chapter 20-The End

Chapter 20-Epilogue

HERMIONE GRANGER- (2012)

The wizarding world had changed a lot since the day she had first stepped into the magical Diagon Alley. And even though things had seemed rather hopeless at one point in time, yet now she could say that the wizarding world was in a much better condition than the one she had stepped into.

She may have missed the underlying tension and bigotry plaguing the world when she had first entered the magical castle of Hogwarts, yet now, in hindsight, she could see the cracks in society. Cracks that had been the remnants of the first war against Voldemort.

Voldemort, or Tom Riddle as his name was, may have been the main instigator of the conflict all those years ago, yet he was only a symptom of a much greater problem. A social problem that had risen up with the increased influx of muggle-born into the wizarding world.

The traditional pure-blood families had thought of it as an invasion, especially with their influence and numbers waning. That sense of being threatened had caused a sense of rebellion in them and had been what had instigated the First Wizarding war.

It had taken two wars over the span of thirty years for the wizarding world to realize the error of their ways. Even for her it had only been after the trial of Crovus Lestrange that she had begun to search for where this magical, and miraculous society had gone wrong.

Yet things had changed after that trial, and it had all been because of him.

Crovus Lestrange was the man responsible for the defeat of the Dark Lord. A feat he had carried out at a great personal risk, despite he himself having little need for going against the Dark Lord.

He was a pureblood, one born into unimaginable wealth, and was the sole heir of three magical lordships. He was favored by the Dark Lord, yet had sacrificed everything to rbing down the man.

Many muggle-born had blamed the pure-blooded wizards for the war, laying the blame on them and their traditions. Yet his example and sacrifice had united them all and had instigated the change their society had needed.

And as she sat down once more in the Great Hall where it had all begun all those years ago, that change was visible. Unlike all those years ago, she didn't sit on the tables, but on the platform on a seat to the right of her once charms Professor, as the Transfiguration Professor and the Vice Headmistress.

The students in front of her were still clad in four different uniforms, symbolizing their Houses, yet they mingled with each other. Slytherins sat with the lions of Gryffindor, joined on the side by the ravens of Ravenclaw. They all sat together, irrespective of their houses, and chatted with each other, with several glances inching towards her as they whispered about her, just as she had once done for her own professors.

Yet the students in front of her weren't just humans, there were villas, and vampires, and with the new regulation and set to pass, soon they would even have goblins midst their ranks.

The age of Moderation and revolution. In the years after the final defeat of Voldemort, the wizarding world had been filled with strife as they all mourned the loss of hundreds and hundreds of lives that had been lost to the conflict.

And just as it had seemed that nothing would change, few people had stepped forward. People from her generation are too tired of the status quo. They had been ridiculed, called out, yet they had persisted. And their movement led by herself, Daphne Greengrass, and Crovus, each of them representing a different political faction, had won in the end, making possible the very change she saw right infront of them.

Laws had been revised, and the ruling structure of the Ministry had been modernized, giving voice to both the purebloods and the muggle burns, allowing for the beginning of true change.

Professor Flitwick stood up from his seat and struck his glass with his fork, making the Hall quiet down.

"Now that all of you are well fed and sorted, it is time for me to make some announcements," the Charms Master's voice rang through the Hall. Unlike his predecessor, Professor McGonagall, he was less strict and was more inclined towards change.

She could see the students focusing on the man as the magically amplified voice spread through the Hall.

"First of all, after much demand, a school football tournaments similar to the Quidditch tournament has been approved by the Board," he began and she saw students in the Hall cheer loudly at the announcement. For over the years the football fever had overtaken Hogawats as well, with even purebloods playing the sport, and now Hogwarts would have its own football tournament.

"Other information regarding this has been displayed on the Notice Boards and has been conveyed to your Head of Houses," the Headmaster added with a smile, and after a small cough, the students became quiet so the man could continue.

"Secondly, as an ex-dueling champion, I was very disappointed with our performance in the last Tournaments," he said pointedly, and she saw the current Headboy, Edgar Bones, look down, embarrassed for he had been caught under a veela's charms in the quarter-final, loosing what should have been an easy win.

"In that regard, and after the Ministry's new Educational guidelines, I am proud to announce that Hogwarts is the first institution to introduce a new elective for the NEWTS," he began, and she saw the older students perk up at that.

Over the years after the revision of the laws, many new subjects had been added to the school curriculum, including but not limited to warding, alchemy, spell craft, and many more, including muggle science, which had now replaced muggle studies and were compulsory for the first five years.

"And that elective is Ancient Magic and the Dark Arts," the Professor said, and some students gasped at that name, for this was still a controversial topic. Many had thought that the Dark Arts should be banned completely, for the danger they posed.

Yet the Dark Arts were not a taboo. They were magic. Dangerous magic, yet all magic posed a certain danger. And what was to stop a man with enough resources and will to venture into these arts? So it had been decided that the arts would be taught in the school, in a limited fashion, under the tutelage of a true expert.

Professor Flitwick ignored the murmurs and gasps and continued.

"And someone very special has agreed to teach this class," and she watched as the doors to the Great Hall opened to reveal a single figure standing at the gate.

A person who had been instrumental in bringing the change they now saw in the world, a person who had given them a chance to change this world.

His hair had turned white, a consequence of his complicated birth. His face still carried the marks from the war, and his hand on the cane was scarred still underneath that glove he wore.

Crovus Lestrange walked into the Hall, his red orbs glinting like the day she had first seen him, his face stoic, yet she didn't hint at the small upturn in his lips as two people, the benches, gasped.

"Father!" and it was none other than Bellatrix Lestrange Black and his son Alden Murton Lestrange.

He walked onto the podium as the students clapped and gasped, at his presence. Despite his active role in shaping the wizarding world into what it now is, Crovus Lestrange famously led a rather reclusive and private life, with most of his actions being undertaken through his friend Daphne Greengrass.

Yet his influence could not be underestimated, he was the wealthiest wizard in all of Britain and had essentially helped rebuild the war-torn Magical Britain into what it was today. And his fortune had only ever grown, and with him occupying several seats in the Wizengamont, he was a political powerhouse unlike any.

His prowess as a wizard were another matter. The Dark Lord and Dumbledore himself had trained him, and even as a teen, he had been able to rival powerhouses like Amelia Bones and Flitwick, and over the years he had only gotten stronger, and given his history with the Dark Arts, there was truly no one better than him to teach this new subject, to the students.

Their eyes met, and he gave her a small nod as he walked towards the empty seat to her side and sat down as the Professor continued.

"I don't think I need to make an introduction of the man. Yet, for those of you who maybe unaware, Professor Lestrange was awarded an Order of Merlin First Class for his role in the defeat of the Dark Lord Voldemort, and I can confidently say that the number of wizards in all of the world who could match him in knowledge and skill can be counted on one hand. Hogwarts is extremely lucky that he has agreed to teach this course for these initial years, I hope you all would do well to learn as much as you can from him!"

0000

ADELAINE MURTON

Night had fallen, and now the darkness enveloped the world. Even in Summer the nights in Britain were rather chilly, and she pulled the cloak around her tighter as she walked down the stairs in her little heaven.

A part of her still couldn't believe what had become of her life. The years after the Trial had been tumultuous, as both she and Crovus had sought solace in one another, as those around them and tried to help them come to terms with what he had undergone.

Crovus's life had been a tragedy, one which had destroyed his sense of self, and it taken years for him to come to terms with everything he had undergone. Yet she had promised herself that she would not give up on him, and over the years she had persisted by his side, as a friend. And then he ahd proposed to her, asking her to take his name, and she ahd agreed.

And so she found herself in her current condition as she walked down the stairs in their private cottage, now named Adelaine Lestrange, wife to Crovus Lestrange, mother to Astoria, Bellatrix, Alden and Daphne.

They had been blessed with four children, with each bringing much joy to their lives, and it was the youngest she found wrapped around her father, who sat in a rocking chair across the fireplace.

His eyes were closed, and his right arm remained covered in a glove to hide the scars from all those years ago as he held onto their youngest, who had fallen asleep in his arms.

Her hair, much like her own father, was white, something which had caused her a lot of worry, yet the healers had said that nothing was wrong with them.

And as he lay there, she walked to his side and sat down on the chair's arm, her hand ruffling through her daughter's hair as she leaned on his shoulder.

"Sometimes I still cannot believe whether this is all real or not," she whispered gently, and he reached for her and replied softly.

"That makes two of us," he replied as his arm pulled her closer.

"She is asleep; let me take her to the room," she said as she scooted up their little five-year-old girl and then tucked her in her own room.

And when she walked back, she found Crovus still sitting there, looking into the fire, his red eyes blazing in light, their redness accentuated by his snow-white hair.

"What troubles you dear?" she questioned as she handed him a glass of water, as she retook her previous seat by his side.

He glanced at her, and she could feel his tumultuous thoughts through those red orbs.

"Sometimes I still question whether I deserve all this or not?" he said forlornly, and her heart wrenched in agony as she heard those words, as she stilled momentarily.

"You do, and not just this. You deserve much more than this!" she replied as she pulled his head towards him, gently placing her lips onto his, as both of them lost themselves in each other's warmth.

0000

This was a shorter story, yet I believe I was able to do justice to the story. It may not have gone as I had initially planned but yeah it is what it is.

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