Antidisestablishmentarianism

~This is the last part of the trilogy, but it was too short to post solo. ~

I loved my second installment, but apparently no one else does XD;; Any who, a lot of you guys had questions. Actually, all of you asked the same question. Where did the photograph come from, and who's still dead? XDD Well, here's my answer. I'm not expecting it to be as long as the other two, because it's just a wrap-up. Enjoy!

*

I've just managed to escape the small but lively party my friends have arranged. It turns out that as soon as I returned, Tonks got in touch with Charlie, and together they tracked down Ron and Hermione. I thought they'd died, I'd mourned for them and put them into the little box of memories that I'm never touching again, and then, thanks to the efforts of Tonks and Charlie, they're here in my life again.

Ron follows me outside, glancing around nervously. He makes a disgusted face as he sees me light up a cigarette, but I figure that it won't chase him away.

"Tell me what happened," I practically demand of him, and he sits down next to me on the ground.

"We saw your invisibility cloak and your wand. They were both completely ruined, almost beyond recognition. Then rumours began going around that you'd been killed, and your body was rotting at the bottom of the Thames. Someone - I don't remember now - swore they saw some Death Eaters dumping a dark haired body into the river. We all thought you were gone. Shortly after the war, Hermione and I got out of the country. We went to Romania with Charlie, and tried to disappear. I don't even remember the last time I saw him. Must've been a few years ago. We had a good life over there. We lived in a little village and tended goats, as strange as that sounds. Hermione, she... was tortured pretty bad before we got out. She never really recovered, so if she seems a little strange, please don't think badly of her."

I'm shocked into momentary silence. "Ron, it's been a while, but the two of you are still my best friends. I'll never think badly of her, or you."

He smiles at me, tiredly. "So, all of a sudden, Charlie shows up on my doorstep and tells me that you've come back to England, and that we're going as well, for your birthday even if we don't stay. I'll ask Hermione what she thinks, and maybe we'll find a house over here again."

I grin. "I'd love that," I tell him. "But even if you leave, you'd better let me know how to find you."

"There's no doubt of that, mate," he says, and looks up. He grins once, and waves, and then stands. "Well, I'm going back inside. I'd better make sure Hermione hasn't rearranged your spice rack or anything." He leaves, and Draco sits down a moment later.

"I heard you two talking. I guess I should explain the picture." He looks almost sheepish. "I hired a private investigator the day you disappeared. Not because you disappeared, actually; I just wanted to do something nice for your birthday. He gave me back a huge report on your time in America about halfway through the week. He told me that you'd 'shacked up' with some bint called Anya, and that the two of you were a great pair. He said you were very close, but she died of a drug overdose. The police never incriminated you in her death, or the fire. They assume it was an accident she caused when she died, or something. But then he sent back a couple of pictures of her, and the two of you together. You looked dreadful, by the way. Whatever you were doing was not helping your good looks."

I lean against him, nudging warningly. He smiles, and tucks my head under his chin.

We're silent for a long time afterwards, looking up at the stars companionably.

"England has changed a lot," he says finally. "The wizarding world as we knew it has disintegrated. I imagine that as word gets out, more and more people will return, just like Weasley and Weasley in there. But things won't ever be like you remember them."

I think about Anya, and Hogwarts, and my parents. "It's alright, Drake. I've got some good memories, at least."

He laughs. "Don't call me Drake, Har."

I stick my tongue out at him, and he chases me around the yard and into the house. Tonks and Charlie have got that look in their eyes, and I wonder if they might not start dating. I'm glad. Charlie could do well with a girl like Tonks, and god knows Tonks needs a grounded lad like Charlie to keep her head out of the clouds.

They're good for eachother. Like Hermione and Ron. Like... Draco and I.

Ten years ago, I never would have dreamed of this. Not even in my wildest nightmares.

But sometimes, even as confusing as things are, I think that there's a pattern to it, underneath it all.

Everything happens for a reason. That's what I'd like to believe. It took eleven years of purgatory, twelve years of hell, and six years of the best, most life-threatening years of my life, but I think that now is my pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Even as cheesy as that sounds. Haha...

-Fin-

Very short, just a little wrap up. I won't even post it separately. Does this answer the questions? Thanks for reviewing!