Harry Potter and the Hall of Justice

Epilogue


After setting his affairs in order at Hogwarts, David Potter began the work Albus Dumbledore had tasked him with. At first, he spent some weeks of long evening sessions with his mother and father. They helped him decide where to begin the story.

Once each year, David had suggested they bring together all those who served under the old headmaster: a reunion. The first gathering brought together many familiar faces. He asked each one to document their own recollections and forward them to him. “It is extremely important,” he told them. “We all owe a great debt to Albus Dumbledore. Your old professor wished me to make a full accounting. I must now greatly rely on each of you to help me give the old wizard his due.”

As the old headmaster had prognosticated, David Potter did indeed become a very powerful wizard. Harry and Hermione thought back often on how amazed they had been with Austin’s powers and abilities, but they fell far short of David’s.

Hermione sensed that Lily, too, was a very powerful witch, much more so than herself. Harry and Hermione’s other children, James, Cynthia and Sandy, also developed abilities on the order of their older brother.

Harry went to Hogwarts one afternoon and found David behind the same desk where Albus Dumbledore had sat for so many years. David was always happy to have his dad pay him a visit and called out for a service of Merlin’s Special Brew before taking their seats.

But this time, David noticed his father seemed greatly troubled.

“I’ve got something here I wish to put away in Dumbledore’s trunk, if you will,” Harry began, reaching into a pocket of his jacket. He then extended the hand over the desk and dropped a beautiful emerald ring before his son.

“Wow, Dad! It’s beautiful. Where did you get this?” David asked his father.

Harry then told him the story of the ring. He told him of the great love Ginny and he had once hoped to share. But some things are not meant to be, he told his son.

Reaching into his pocket a second time, Harry withdrew a folded parchment. It was a letter from Ginny sent to him a few years after she moved to Switzerland with Severus Snape. Harry read it to his son.

“Harry,” it began. “So much has happened in our lives. Some things, I guess, were never meant to be. There are times I wish we could go back in time and change some of what got all messed up. But I now accept what happened between us long ago as being beyond our control, as fate. Neither of us is to blame. What happened happened for a reason, and I have accepted it. I wanted you to know I am very happy. Severus and I have a great life together, and we love each other very much. And I know, and I’m very glad, you and Hermione have found such great love. I am very happy and proud of both of you.

I now feel it is time to return the ring. For all these years, it has been at the Burrow, hidden in my old room. I hope it in no way causes you any pain. You will always have a special place in my heart. Love always, Ginny.”

David picked up the ring and read the words his dad had had inscribed inside the band so many years ago.

“What do you wish me to do with it?”

“If you will place it within Dumbledore’s trunk for safekeeping. I leave it to you. Do whatever you wish to do with it. The thought of taking it back to a jeweler and having the inscription removed pained me too much, son. If you wish to do it or present it to someone you love one day, by all means, it is yours. I never wish to see it again,” Harry said. With that said, Harry laid the letter gently on his son’s desk, withdrew his wand and turned it into dust.

David lifted the ring and dropped it into a shirt pocket. It was the last time Harry would ever see it. Much had happened since that day years and years ago when he purchased the ring. Now, he knew, he must let go of those memories, too.

“Well, how is your writing coming along?”

“I must say, Dad, we’re going to end up with several hefty volumes before all is said and done. I really find it hard to believe Professor Dumbledore was as candid and straightforward as he was in his notes and journals. And I imagine there were few witches or wizards who ever lived who were as much of a crafty old schemer as he was. Some of his planning took years. For instance with the selection of Chief Justice Webster, he undermined every attempt to seat a justice until he could be assured of getting not only the right man but have it happen within the exact time period he wanted, so you and Mom would have the best chance of coming together under the influence of the charm. Amazing detail. Unbelievable timing. And a lot of just plain luck.”

“I’m not sure if just plain luck had much to do with it, David. My old headmaster was a brilliant planner and strategist. We owe him more than we could ever put into words.”

“I realize that. And that’s the main reason so many volumes must be written to document it all. But even then, somehow I feel it will still be far from complete,” David replied, looking into his father’s eyes, each acknowledging their shared vision and their mutual feeling of responsibility to the old wizard.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


From time to time, Austin came to Hogwarts to check on David’s progress. There was much Austin did not know but was anxious to find out about the old headmaster. He became one of the first proofreaders of the work in progress, along with Hermione, David’s biggest critic.

“What does Abraham sense of our old professor, Austin?” David asked him on one of the visits.

“Abraham tells me he is with your grandparents, his old friend Minerva McGonagall and many others he had been associated with in this reality.”

“How is it different?” David asked. “This next reality and the others.”

“From what Abraham’s told me, there will be no magical or non-magical separations in the next reality. There will be other obstacles, though. Much will happen we can’t begin to understand. It is beyond our comprehension. Mainly though, there will be much to be learned. As we go further along our journey, we will add greatly to our relationships and knowledge. We each will eventually take different paths but our journeys will intertwine. There is much to be looked forward to, David,” Austin said, smiling at the thought.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


After some years, David Potter sent the multi-volume work to the publisher. In all, there were five hefty volumes. This included one volume titled “Reflections”, a compilation of stories from those who had been associated with the old headmaster.

Hermione suggested a title for the work: “Albus Dumbledore – An Old Wizard’s Journey”. Harry and Hermione each penned a preface dedicated to their old headmaster and friend.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The tale ends with Harry and Hermione sitting in chairs before the desk of the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Their faces are wrinkled with age; their hair now turned salt-and-pepper gray; and, their eyes no longer having the bright sheen of younger years, although a twinkle can still be seen.

“A full moon will be rising shortly, would you care to sit a spell up on the mountain?” David asked his dear old parents.

“Yes, let’s do that,” Harry said, reaching across to take his wife’s extended hand.

David reached down, opened a drawer and withdrew an old long stem pipe and tobacco. Within a minute, they appeared high on a mountain overlooking Hogwarts, its large lake and, in the distance, the plain above the Hall of Justice. It was a warm, late spring evening, and indeed, as they were taking seats on the large rock slab, the full moon began rising over a distant peak.

“Your mother and I spent many wonderful nights seated on this old rock,” Harry said, leaning over and kissing Hermione on her cheek.

“Dumbledore noted a number of them in his journal that told of his meetings with you and mother up here,” David related.

“I can remember every one,” Hermione said, musing over those days so long ago.

“Many were in very troubling times, David. As much as I miss the old man, I wouldn’t wish to relive them,” Harry said.

“Harry! You know that’s not entirely true! Some of the very best times of our lives were back then!” Hermione said in a scolding manner.

Harry smiled and nodded his head. “I do miss some of our old friends. The peril and challenges we faced made us very close. There was much camaraderie. Much more than one would see today. But, I’m proud we went through it. The youngsters today don’t have any real idea just how dangerous our world once was,” Harry said.

For some time they sat still, watching the moon rise in the sky. All around them, the world was lit brightly. Mother-earth had never smelled sweeter.

At last, Harry lifted his head, looked up into the sky and exclaimed, “Professor! If you can hear me, I want you to know all is well!”


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Author\'s note: I thank all you guys who have stayed with me through the rewrite of this, my first ever fan fiction story. To tell the story my way of course, I had to stray far from canon. It was a great journey, though. Lot\'s of fun filled with hours and hours of delightful imaginings.

To those who did not like me wandering off away from canon, I have to say only that I hope you find stories more to your liking.

A number of you wrote to me directly, urging me to consider pairings and such, as well as giving me kindly meant advise and creative, constructive criticism. I greatly appreciate your words of support and encouragement.

To rubberduck: Thank\'s buddy for keeping me inbounds and giving me the benefit of your own imagination through your wonderful stories.

To all: I hope our writings continue to pour out of us, whether adhering to canon or not. Keep the faith. And keep writing.

With my very best regards,

dwmerrell

A special note: To all our brothers and sisters in Great Britain, may God forever bless you and keep you safe. As a Yank with British roots, my heart is heavy and so sad, but my prayers and thoughts are with you. Keep strong and keep the faith. Know that your brethren across the pond are thinking of you every hour. Your pain is our pain. We will all get through this together.