Epilogue

Harry climbed over the rubble, reached down and helped Hermione over a large piece of debris. "Oh, Harry," Hermione gasped, tears forming again, "The Fat Lady …" she whimpered holding up the broken frame and shredded painting.

"This was the first home I ever knew …" Harry whispered painfully.

"Nonsense, my dear, It's not but a flesh wound," A voice called from the painting, causing Hermione to scream and throw it down.

"This place never ceases to amaze me," Harry said, looking over the wreckage.

"So, now what Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Simple really," Harry said, pulling her in a hug, but holding back just enough to look into her eyes, "We go on, rebuild, go to another school, whatever, just so long as we're still breathing, that's what matters." He said before giving her a quick kiss and then pulling back, trying and failing to hide the sadness in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Harry," She whispered, resting her head on his chest.

"I really miss her, Hermione," He said, holding her tight and burying his face in her hair.

"I know," she responded, giving him a firm, comforting squeeze.

--

Wolverine leaned against the X-Jet, staring at the ground; solitude was his way to grieve Jean's loss. He sniffed a moment and then narrowed his eyes, "What the hell …" He growled, stepping toward the back sleeping area of the X-Jet.Two people were obviously panting and breathing hard.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Wolverine growled, throwing open the door and making Ron jump off Jubilee. "You …" Wolverine growled, unsheathing his claws.

"Wolverine!" Jubilee shrieked, trying to cover herself unsuccessfully when Ron showed his gentlemanly ways by taking the blanket to cover himself.

"Ron, run, now!" Jubilee ordered, seeing the anger almost pouring off Wolverine. Ron bolted for the door, wearing only the bed sheet. Wolverine turned and stomped after him, "Wolvie, I love him. Don't kill him!"

"I wasn't going to kill him … 'til you said that," Wolverine said, walking casually after the almost completely naked, totally scared to death Ron.

--

"Looks like the children will get a few months extra summer holiday this year," Dumbledore sighed, watching the students load into Thestral-drawn carriages.

"So what are you going to do, Albus?" Prof. Xavier asked, rolling up beside him.

"I felt the situation was bleak when Hogwarts fell," Prof. Dumbledore spoke softly, "but then I looked around at all the students, all the professors, and I realized all that was destroyed was an old castle. Hogwarts still exists in the hearts and minds of its students and teachers, and it will continue on quite possibly as long as the world has heroes such as your X-Men, Charles."

"Someone help me!" Ron's voice called as he ran across the open field, holding the bed sheet tight, with Wolverine hot on his heels, "He's mad, I tell you, MAD!"

"What do you know about him, Charles?" Dumbledore asked, nodding toward Wolverine.

"He goes by the name Logan now, Albus," Xavier responded, "He has no idea who he really is or where he came from or that he is on the same covert team as his own son," he said, smirking at the last.

"Ah, so it is him," Dumbledore nodded, "Any idea on how he could be alive?"

"He has no memory before fifteen years ago," Xavier informed, "His last memory is of himself wondering through the forests of Canada like a wild animal covered in blood."

"Are you going to tell him of his past?"

"No," Xavier shook his head. "His mind is too fragile at this time. His conscious and subconscious might not survive such a revelation."

"Yes, letting him discover his past on his own would be the most prudent course of action," Dumbledore mused.

--

"Oh no …" Hermione whimpered when the pair discovered a few books from where the library once had been.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry sighed, walking in front of her.

Hermione looked around at the scatted torn books and rubble, and then a faint whisper began to rise in the back of her mind, causing fear to rise in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't make it out, but she knew the voice, it was Sinister. Her mind grew slightly fuzzy, and she reached down to pick up a jagged stone. The voice slowly became understandable: 'Kill … Kill … Kill …'

Her face scowled and an almost insane smile crossed her lips as she walked toward Harry's turned back. Hermione walked up and raised the stone over her head. 'Kill … Kill … Kill …' the voice repeated, 'Kill Harry?' Her own voice asked from the back of her mind, making her eyes go wide and her hand drop the stone.

"Hermione?" Harry asked, turning around at the noise, "Hermione, are you alright?" He asked, shaken by Hermione's shocked and frightened expression.

"Harry!" Hermione cried, diving into his arms.

"What's the matter?" he asked, his voice dripping with concern.

"J-Just hold me," Hermione begged, "Never let go …"

--

A short while later, only Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle remained with the Professors and X-Men. "You sure you're alright, Hermione?" Harry asked Hermione, now acting her old self again.

"Honestly, Harry," Hermione smiled, slapping his arm playfully, "I get emotional once, and you think something's the matter; you must relax." She said, giving him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.

"You two waste no time," Ron teased, earning blushes from both Harry and Hermione.

"Oh sure, just took us six years to figure out we liked each other," Harry smirked, wrapping his arms around Hermione's waist from behind as she leaned into his chest, "We really should slow down, shouldn't we?"

"Potter!" Malfoy said, walking up to the group, none of them noticing a blush creeping up on Ginny's cheeks.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry asked, unimpressed.

"What's with you, Weasley?" Draco asked, glaring at Ron, "Associating with a Mutie, and I thought you could sink no lower."

"You have a problem with me," Harry said, stepping out in front of his friends, "Take it up with me."

"Oh, I will, believe you me, Potter," Malfoy growled, a hint of worry in his voice, "But you know that you being what you are places the Mudblood and the Weasel's family in danger …"

Malfoy couldn't finish as Harry had grabbed him by the collar, "Well, I pity the poor fool that tries to get to me through my friends." He said, dropping Malfoy's collar and then turning just in time to see the last two carriages pull up, "Ok, guys, time to go home," Harry said with an oddly cheery voice, turning to Hermione, Ron and Ginny, "Send me an owl, alright, and maybe you guys can come over sometime this summer?"

"Wouldn't miss your birthday, Love," Hermione said, giggling at the last part, "I could get used to calling you that …" She said flirtatiously.

"Oh, get over yourselves," Ron said, rolling his eyes, but he was just then almost tackled to the ground by a yellow and red blur.

"Bye, Ronnie Baby," Jubilee said, kissing him all over his face, "I'll miss you lots, and lots, and lots, and lots …"

"Hark who's talking, Ron." Harry said, raising an eyebrow.

"Bye, Harry," Hermione said before giving him a soft kiss, "I'll call you when I get home, talk to you soon," She said, getting into Ron and Ginny's carriage.

Harry waved, watching the carriages disappear down the road before joining his other family in the X-Jet.

The flight over the ocean was a quiet one, the group taking their own time to think of their loss. Harry looked over at Jean's empty seat, and then around at the somber faces of the X-Men. They had won and yet lost. But like Hogwarts, they still lived, and because of that they would rebuild. This was not the end, not even close. This was but the beginning.

----

Hermione's Voice: Change is coming. A new breed of man has emerged. They are the Children of the Atom, Homo superior, individuals gifted with strange and fantastic abilities simply by virtue of their genetic makeup. Many of these 'Mutants' believe they should rule, and that open conflict with the human majority is inevitable. Hated and feared by those they've sworn to protect, another group stands in defense of a world on the brink of war with itself. Until the day Mutants and Humans can live in peace and harmony, there will always be … the X-Men.

The Beginning

C. Cowboy: Well that's it for Harry Potter and the Children of the Atom, nothing much else to say except thank you Xavien for Beta Reading this story, and coming this weekend: the next installment of the HPX series: Harry Potter and the Secrets of Weapon X!