And we have reached it.
The final chapter of this story. Now DON'T WORRY! The sequel will probably be sometime next year, maybe even for Christmas with me working on it over the length of 2019 or something. I just really want to cut down on some of my stuff as I have something planned for Christmas 2018 that will put more stories on the agenda. So cutting down, just to add up.
Great idea, right,

Venquine1990
Shoutouts to:
Lockolocka
Vladimir Mithrander

Chapter 46
Goodnight, everyone

10th of August 1995
The Divine Realm
Neville's POV

Reading through my first year was a real experience, not just the three chapters at the end, but the entire book itself after we finished. I also got the chance to play a leading role in explaining certain things to the Demigods, which will make it easier for them to read Harry's next book, but most of it was also explained by the book itself, which they all very much appreciated.
I did, however, take my version into the Nature room, alongside a few of the others, as reading of how a bunch of no-good Muggles – and having Lily Potter as your godmother makes me not easily consider the word Muggle a curse word – treated one of my closest friends and someone I deeply respect made me desperately need the beauty of the large field more often than not.
Our reading took us all the way into Dinner, which was again provided to us by Harry, who made the most delicious four course meal, one that actually makes me feel as if I am back at Hogwarts, it's just that good. And I can tell that this fact has increased Mrs. Weasley's respect for the boy and that it will make it easier for her to see him for the grown up teenage man that he is growing to be.

Still, the boy may try to hide it and I can tell that his battle with Percy and his talk with Luke has helped, but it's beyond easy for me to see that there are still concerns raging through the young boy's mind and so, while we are all getting ready for bed, do I ask: "Drachma for your thought?" Believing that a Drachma is, currently, worth way more than Galleons.
"I'm worried for the future." Harry mutters, somehow knowing that I mean him, even though I am not looking at him and Oliver asks: "Why is that?" And Harry answers: "We've only just finished the first two books and already we have all of these plans for the future – which we might not be able to make sure they come to fruition for weeks if not months to come. Though – that's not all."
We all look at him and he says: "Like I told Ron's parents and Sirius the day Mrs. Weasley arrived, I have no interest in the war. I don't want to fight Voldemort and I love the idea of sending Percy and the others as they already, with just one book, proved they can handle that much better than any of us. But – it's just – I'm worried that – that if – when we –." And finally I get it.
I turn to him and say: "You're worried that, whatever we read in the books about our own future, will inspire you to change your mind, will give you the belief that it is up to you." Harry nods to me and I walk over to him, the others putting down what they were holding as I put a hand on his shoulder and say: "Don't worry, Harry, we won't let you.."

And I make sure to add a tone to my voice that makes it sound like the solemn pledge one makes to another when they truly care for the other. The other boys all nod at this, their faces proving they are just as determined and I notice a shining starting to glister in Harry's eyes, making me smile as the fact that he can cry proving that he hasn't lost his humanity to the beliefs of the public just yet.
I then notice Oliver turning to the twins and he says: "If we get out of here and Harry gets those urges, grab your bats." And instantly the moment is broken, yet we all laugh too hard to care and I think: "Only better. We may have been brought here with solemn, important goals and reasons, but we deserve to be kids." And I fall asleep, bouts of giggles and snickers escaping me between breaths.

Arthur's POV

"Am I the only one glad that the next book is from Harry's POV again? I mean –." Kingsley wants to say, but I interrupt him and say: "It won't be that much lighter." The others all turn to me and I say: "Harry's Second – is a year that haunts my wife, one of my sons and my daughter to this day. I have no doubt that Andy is going to be really needed this next book."
I then turn to Kingsley and say: "As for how or why you and your squad don't know about it, Kings, is again Fudge. He already had that Department of Education up at that time and said he would use it to take Albus out, the same way Lucius did that year, if he let any of us talk about this. But if my kids and I kept quiet, he would fund the rest of the kids' years at Hogwarts.
Molly and I agreed to it, because it meant no one would know about the true horrors Ginny went through and because we had, by that time, seen how kids handle horrors like that, Ron being friends with Harry and all that. We didn't want her going through something similar."

"Wait, that doesn't make any sense. Why would Fudge be interested in that?" Remus asks and I sigh as I say: "Because – there is a conspiracy hiding within the conspiracy. There was something being done at Hogwarts while the threat was reigning there as well. It was something that Cornelius had a hunch about, but he didn't want to believe it, so he wanted to just forget about it all."
"You know." Kingsley says, looking both conflicted and concerned and I nod, pain and guilt eating at me as I actually caught my own glimpse of this conspiracy – which is actually still going strong thanks to Fudge and the way he is hushing everything up – just a few months ago. "Why aren't you telling me?" The man asks and I turn to him, my emotions shown on my face as I say:
"Because I saw it myself – and I would rather see my family in Bellatrix Lestrange's hands than ever remember what it was that I saw, even though I only saw a glimpse and nothing more." The man looks horrified and concerned and I say: "Allow me to get through this book, allow me to seek counselling with Andy – and I will report to you – once we get out of here." The man nods and I turn around.

Katie's POV

"Looks like we have only one more room mate left to go." Angelina says now that we are all seated on our beds, but I don't really care for this and just look at Ginny, remembering how horrible it was to see her brothers seated in the common room and being told that they will probably never see their little sister again, that she had been taken into the Legendary Chamber of Secrets to die.
On the night itself I had been distraught and furious, mostly with the teachers because they were talking about closing the school and all I had been able to think was: "You're only doing that now? Why didn't you do that when Mrs. Norris or Justin had been attacked? Why aren't you talking about searching the school for her? Are you even going to try?" And I had believed that they wouldn't.

"I know what you're thinking." Ginny suddenly says and I realize that I have been staring at her while thinking back on this. Yet the look on the girl's face proves that she really is a Champion of Ares as there is an incredible amount of personal strength coming off of the look she gives me. And yet again my respect for the girl grows as she strongly tells me:
"I'd rather you just forget about it. Either that or try and withhold from looking at me every time the Chamber will be mentioned, which I'm sure will be a lot next book. The memories alone are bad enough and I am more than ready to ask Mrs. Tonks for her help tomorrow morning, but I don't want to give the plot away to Kingsley and the Demigods. So please just drop it."

I grimace at this, but then Angelina says: "I know just how to do that. And trust me, this is something you and Hermione badly need, seeing the boys you both grew up with." This makes Alicia and me roll our eyes as I know this is something Angelina always wanted to do, but Harry, Ron and the twins always kept her busy, or distracted as she sometimes called it.
She then turns to all of us and asks: "Tell me honestly. How awesome and cute are those Demigods?" Yet instantly Hermione raises an eyebrow and retorts: "You do know that they're taken, right?" Angelina rolls her eyes and says: "That's just Percy and Frank. But the others aren't – well, yet." And this time the girl intrigues and surprises me. She sees this and laughs as she asks:
"You all seriously didn't notice?" We all shake our heads, Hermione doing so with a frown of annoyance on her face and Angelina says: "It's Nico. He so has the hots for Harry – and I think it's being returned, at least a little if the looks between those two are anything to go by." We all look at her shocked and Hermione shrieks: "But they're related!" To which Angelina rolls her eyes.
"First of all, Sirius Black's parents are cousins once removed. Second of, so are Poseidon and Athena. In other words, that should only matter in the Muggle world and neither Harry nor Nico seem interested in living there, so that's that out of the way." Hermione looks at her, mouth agape and I decide to quickly help the girl feel better.

"Of course, the whole bond between Walburga and Orion isn't exactly recommended, even if Sirius proves that that isn't always a problem and that it doesn't always have to result in complications with the offspring, but Angelina is right, Hermione. Especially if you take into account how many families, both Muggle and Magical, have been killed off by the last two wars."
The girl seems contemplative and Alicia lies down as she says: "And besides, if you go back far enough, I'm probably related to Harry, Sirius, Ron and Neville. Speaking of which –." But then suddenly Luna states: "Stay away from my man." And this time we all look at her, our mouths agape and Ginny asks: "Luna? You – you and – and Neville?"
The girl smiles and says: "Well, not yet, but I will fight for dibs rights if it comes down to it.""You call dips on Neville? Okay, fine by me. I call dips on Fred." Angelina says and Hermione looks at her as if she's never seen her before, yet Alicia and I just giggle and Ginny shrugs as she says: "I call dips on the next hot Demigod that comes around that isn't taken."
And the look that she sends her older friend, that clearly says just go with it, knocks Hermione out of her shock. And then the girl that always hides herself behind her books, her bushy hair and her concern for her boys finally comes out and she loses herself to a giggle fit. And as we follow her, do I also spot my two best friends sharing a look that says: "Mission accomplished."

Andromeda's POV

"I cannot believe the progress that boy is making." I state to my room mates after we close the door behind us. Molly looks at me as she and I read our own versions of Harry's book together and I say: "It's just – incredible. Someone with his past – he should have been a reclusive, should have feared the public opinion like a Boggart. Heck, if things had been any worse, he – he might have –."
The woman whitens and Augusta asks: "Is that still possible?" To which I sigh and say: "I can't say for sure. Normally I'd say no as Obscurial are usually only found in kids much younger than him, but then there's that report of the teenage Obscurus from back in the American 1920's and there's the fact that Harry has that trauma of June that still haunts him in his nightmares.
In all honestly, I actually think the chance of him becoming one – might be growing stronger and more likely again.""Why do you think that?" Molly shrieks and I answer: "Because of his hormones – and his emotional problems. In fact – give me a minute." The two nod and I leave the room, heading for the one shared between Sirius, Remus and the other men from Britain. I knock and Sirius opens as I say: "Follow me, we need to talk." The man nods and closes the door behind him.

I head back to my own room and when the man is inside I say: "Sirius, as Harry's godfather and the second one brought here by Hecate, I would like to ask your permission to put a charm on Harry's door that will monitor and detect nightmares and dark magic effects." The man looks at me concerned and confused as I say:
"You and I read the same thing, Sirius. We read of what Harry went through as a child and, in all honesty, and Augusta and Molly agree with me –." The two nod to prove this and I say: "Harry should have changed into an Obscurus years ago. And I fear that his hormones and his nightmares – might cause for one – or the hints of one – to grow within him. Therefore, the monitoring spell."
At this Sirius nods, but then says: "Fine, but start tomorrow night. No, hear me out. I already checked on them before I went into my own room and I heard them laughing before they fell asleep. There is no chance for nightmares tonight, at least not for Harry. Tomorrow, at breakfast, explain this to him and then put the spell up. And do the same for anyone else who asks."

I nod at him, smiling as I know why he says this and say: "I'll walk you back." Making him smile back at me. This time, we close the door behind my own room and I ask: "Trouble in your own room?" But Sirius shakes his head and says: "I'm just – done sleeping in my dog form. And you share a room with Molly, not me and I doubt Remus would appreciate you doing for me what you do for her every night while we stay here."
I smile at him and say: "You know the offer still stands. And Remus shouldn't go above your own health, Sirius." Yet the man smiles and says: "You know my health is more mental than emotional, Andy. And being around Harry – and being cared for like I am by him – you can't say you're not able to see how much good that is doing for me." At which I nod, smiling in great relief as I do.

I then enter the men's room and explain what I will do. And when Remus actually opens his mouth, obviously to ask why, do I turn my professionally stern face on him and say: "Because the mental health of your best friend and my cousin depends on it. He asked for my services and we both know he needs them whenever, wherever. And believing that things are just fine, that's redundant."
The man cringes, yet the look in his eyes already told me that this is what he wants to believe. That because we are in Hecate's Realm, things are fine. I shake my head at him and think: "No Remus Lupin, we're not in Hecate Realm because things are fine. We're in this realm because things are not fine and they can become fine and better, but not right away. You can't expect miracles like that."

Nico's POV

"What is your deal?" Percy asks me the minute we are sure everyone else in the rooms beside ours are asleep and I look at him, trying to feign confusion, but he just sends me an unimpressed look back. "Why are you looking at Harry like that?" To which I can't help but ask: "How is it you're this observant now and not when it was aimed at you?"
Making him roll his eyes and say: "Because I never saw you like that. If anything I saw you the same way I see Harry, like a little brother. I just don't get what you see in him, why you're interested like that. Yes, Harry is incredibly likeable, but surely someone like you can see how scarred and haunted he is." I glare at him and snap back: "Yeah, I do. That's one of the reasons."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Percy rears up and I snarl back: "It's his demons that attract me. They make me want to be with him, to fight them off for him, to heal him and give him someone who understands how it feels, someone who can be like a kindred spirit. Do you have any idea how hard it is for someone like me to find someone like that?"

Percy actually glares at me, as if he doesn't like what I'm saying and then says something that makes me glare back. "Don't hurt him." And he turns around, pulling the cover over his shoulder and turning his back on me. My fists clench and I work my hardest not to call on some Nazi or other kinds of zombies, just to make the stupid prat pay for that, when Grover speaks up.
"He's just being protective." I glare at the Satyr, who winces, but keeps strong and says: "You heard him, Nico. He thinks of Harry like a brother. And you know Percy, Nico. You know how he gets when he becomes protective of his family. How irrational he can get. He's just scared. Scared that your demons and Harry's will clash and hurt Harry, regardless of his belief in what you said.

You know, better than anyone, how irrational someone can get when they're scared." At this I scoff, if only to hide the fact that his words actually did lessen my anger at the son of Poseidon and I growl: "I really hate that bond you have with Jackson, Underwood." At which the Satyr laughs and says: "You're not fooling me and you're not alone. Crushshell over here feels the same."
And a Greek curse word leaves the pulled up blanket, actually dissipating the last of my anger and making me snort before I sigh and say: "Yeah, I do get where he's coming from. But I'm just being protective. Besides, I know just fine that someone who has demons like that needs to be approached with caution. I'm okay with being friends first and maybe more later.""Good." I hear from the blanket, making me snort again.
And yet, as I lie down and let myself be taken into Morpheus' embrace, do I still smile as Morpheus seems to be in partnership with Aphrodite. And while a slightly conscious part of me hopes that my body won't give away my dreaming secrets, do I happily pass through all kinds of wonderful images of Harry and me together, at various locations and with love shining in our eyes.

Thalia's POV

"Those mortals are sooooooooooooooo lucky I'm stuck here." I growl, having worked my hardest not to let anyone see how furious those first few chapters made me and the chapter about the forest didn't do much, even though reading of how amazed and happy Harry felt as he learned about the Magical world had lessened the amounts, but only by so much.
"You're not alone in that, Thalia, trust me on that one." Reyna growls and I snarl: "Those Mortals are the whole reason Lady Artemis swore off mortals. Di immortales, they'd be enough for her to swear off mortals all together!""Surely you won't!" Annabeth gasps and I sigh: "No, that Shacklebolt fellow and that Weasley patriarch are just fine. And Sirius sure is an example for those Stoll twins to follow by." At which the others all nod.
"Besides, isn't Harry emigrating to America when we get out of here? And why are we worrying over that anyway? We still have 15 books left to go." Piper says and I sigh as I say: "I care, because they're going to be the first thing we will read about tomorrow." The girl winces and then asks: "Care for a change of topic?" At which I nod at her, grateful for the option.

"You're brother has an admirer." The girl says, shocking me senseless and we all turn to her as she nods and says: "Nico. He totally has the hots for Harry. And going by the gifts that mother actually blessed me with, I can definitely see those two becoming a really good couple; one that can help each other past their respective demons, if done correctly.
Though if you, me, Sirius and that Tonks woman work together, that should definitely work out just fine.""You – you really – since when are you into shipping, Piper? I thought you hated that part of your heritage!" I snap at her, shocked and confused and the girl shrugs and says: "I don't like the way my mum plays with every relation she sees, but I can appreciate a good bond when I see one."

I look away and rub the back of my head, feeling the silver of the singlet that proves I am one of Artemis' amazons and I can't help but think: "I wonder what my lady would think of this." But then I shake my head, knowing that Lady Artemis is almost impossible when it comes to being convinced that not all men are like the ones from Ancient Greece.
Yet then I smile and think: "Though if anyone can prove her that without a shadow of a doubt; it's definitely my little brother." And while I know that, as one of Artemis' forces, I am supposed to give up my interest in men, do I also know that this doesn't extend to male family members. Yet I also know that, if forced to chose between the two, I would pick my brother over my leader any day.

Percy's POV

"I don't – I – I don't – I don't –." This is a thought that has been running through my mind since I read the book that Lady Hecate recommended we all read and finally, as I am lying on one of the three beds in the room I share with my two older brothers, I exclaim: "I just don't get it!" The two look up at me and I decide to do something, I now realize, I should have done after my fight with dad.
"How is it possible? How could Potter be so badly abused? Was this one of the signs that Minister Fudge saw? Is that what started him and his disbelief of Dumbledore? I mean, why would Dumbledore let this happen anyway? A Cupboard? Those lies on Lord and Lady Potter? The threat of the magic being knocked out of him? How could any of that be possible?"
The two share a look and Bill sighs before he sits up. I notice this even though I am lying down myself and I follow his example as he says: "What you have to understand, Percy, is this. Everyone in the wizarding world is guilty of one thing, even if it happens in various and different situations. When they believe in something, nigh-on nothing can make them stop believing this."

This makes me cringe as I wonder if he means this as a slight against my firm belief in the Ministry over Dumbledore, but I keep quiet and the man goes on, proving me wrong: "This is the case with Dumbledore when he made the decision to leave Harry there and that's the case with mum and her constant belief in the man. But both have their benefits and their flaws.
The benefit of mum being this loyal to Dumbledore is that it makes him more willing to be loyal and helpful to her and the rest of us as well. You might not know or believe this, Percy, but I only got my position as high as I started – because Dumbledore put in a good word for me with the Goblins and got me on a test period while I was in my Sixth. The same with Charlie. The Dragon Reserve in Germany didn't want him, so Dumbledore got him into the one in Romania."
I look between the two, a little amazed at the knowledge they are sharing with me as I never knew this and then suddenly a look shows up on Bill's face that makes me shake my head as it makes vague memories of times long past stir within my mind. "The same can be said for Dumbledore and the period of time of when he left Harry with those Mortals.

Yes, Percy, the war had just ended. No Percy, that did not mean there was instant peace. Remember, I was already 11 at the time, I have very clear memories of what happened to get that peace properly restored. And as far as I'm concerned, peace wasn't properly restored until Christmas 1982, a year after Harry survived that Cheating murderer." I look at him shocked and he says:
"You may not know this, Percy, but – I know of the origins – behind that scar on the back of your left knee." I instinctively reach for it, the scar, while I was at Hogwarts sometimes actually flaring up and making me almost limp after a long day of walking all of the stairs between classes. "You got that in 1982, Percy, by the very last Death Eaters that were rounded up that year. It was cursed too.
That curse, Percy, is the reason I wanted to become a Curse Breaker. Because mum was desperate and heartbroken, knowing the nature of the curse and feeling defeated because Grandfather forbid her from ever using such magic again after she married dad. He put restrictions on her, according to what I was told a few years ago, that are similar to an Unbreakable Vow."
I look at the slightly older man and then turn to Charlie, who nods at me, proving he remembers this as well. "That's why mum is so crazy about you, Percy, and why you almost never hear her speak up against you. She almost lost you and her own family was almost, indirectly, responsible for this. It haunts her even to this day, which is also why she's so protective.

And that is why I can understand Dumbledore's reasons for keeping Harry hidden with those Muggles, at least back then. Death Eater attacks and people getting scarred, both physically and emotionally, happened for another entire year. Though I also believe that Dumbledore was in the wrong, but only when it comes to how much of an eye he kept on the Muggle situation.
Yes, I believe Dumbledore was in the right to try and hide Harry there while this situation was ongoing. No, I don't believe that Dumbledore was in the right to keep Harry there after that situation was absolved. And even after reading his reasonings, I still don't agree with them. If anything, I believe they prove that, at the time, he had his priorities set all wrong.
Yes, Harry's fame was a thing and these last few years prove how much the wizarding world has run away with that, but anyone who really actually cared for the Potters and their sacrifice would have been happy to take Harry in and honored to remind him of this enough that he would never let that get to his head. That he would always put their sacrifice over his own fame. Yet –."

Here Bill looks at me, his eyes silently commanding me and I sigh and say: "Yet Potter – Harry – does that anyway. But isn't that just as much a problem? Isn't that something Dumbledore could use as an excuse to absolve the whole thing? Make it seem like no big deal or that the ends justify the means or something like that?" And Bill sighs as Charlie says:
"Which is why we go back to mum and her loyalty to Dumbledore. Yes, it helped Bill and me and maybe it even helped you. Maybe Dumbledore pulled some strings you didn't even know about. Maybe Crouch didn't want to hire you, but Dumbledore convinced him to or something. And Dumbledore is definitely helping the twins by going easy on them from time to time.
But the crux in that loyalty is that, up until now, mum just swallowed all of her complaints with topics that Dumbledore had a hand in, even if her arguments were valid. But that, Percy, is exactly why we're here. To spot those topics and the faults in them, without being able to push these faults down Dumbledore's throat and without Dumbledore being able to sweet-talk them.
And the most important reason, little brother, the reason that has been made quite clear since this all started is that, whether you, me, Bill, Dumbledore or Fudge like it or not, the crux of all those problems is Harry. He is always at the center of them and most of them are made against them. And that is why we're here, why he's here. To learn of them and, in his case, heal from them."

This makes me grimace and I can't help but ask: "If he has so much –." But then I notice Bill glare at me and he says: "Perseus Ignatius, in my years as a Curse Breaker, I came across eight kids who are actually in similar situations as Harry. Three of them turned into an Obscurus, two of them took their own lives, two of them turned on their tormentors and only one turned out like Harry.
A good person with a noble character, but tons of emotional and mental issues that they are still dealing with – and one of them is now 18 and was freed from that kind of life at age 12. And they weren't willing to admit it until a year ago, even though they had been freed from that kind of life for five years. It just doesn't work the way you think."
I want to open my mouth, I want to complain and rave and object to what he's telling me. But while my mind tries to come up with arguments that will make me win this, does my heart yell at me, cursing me for considering this any kind of competition and beating in self-induced anger that I am doubting someone who I know would never lie to me. "Not about this."

And as I lie down, putting my glasses away and part of me wondering what these kids could have been like and how Bill could have met them, do I also wonder other things. "How did Potter see that stuff happening to Ginny back in '92? Why was that never brought to the public? Was Dumbledore the one who hid it all under the rug? And how did Ginny get involved in all it anyway?"
And while I fall asleep, do I hate myself as part of me, even after all these years, wonders if I really want to know. But now that I know that I am a Champion of Athena the need to know just about overwhelms me.
And just like all those times when I studied a new subject or worked on either my OWLs or NEWTs or important documents for either Fudge or Crouch, do I wonder if I will even be able to sleep at all before I finally learn all I need to know – yet then Morpheus claims me.

Well done, Morpheus.
And with that do we end this story. I will admit, I had a bit of an issue with it as I wasn't entirely sure how to properly end it, but I think I did well. Everyone's asleep and ready for a new adventure. And I guess a sequel is just that; a new adventure. However, before they get to that, I need to get to all of the mistakes I made during the adventure that was writing this story.
So all I can say is:

The end
Venquine1990