Chapter 20 Epilogue - The Ceremony

Harry stood in front of the mirror in his room and straightened out his formal robe.

Tonks stood beside him.

"You are looking good, honey." she said lovingly.

"Thank you, but you look stunningly yourself, love." She smiled at this.

He groaned and asked not for the first time: "And there is no way out of this?"

"No. You kicked his ass and you receive the honor. That is your life." she joked.

"Now come on! We have to get to the great hall." she said, took his hand and accompanied him out of his quarters down to the hall.

The teachers, the minister and Mr. Onyx, Harry's boss were seated already at the high table. There were two seats saved for them.

This night there were no house tables but rows of seats for the audience in the hall. The students were there, some parents and the rest were mostly invited guests, partly from other countries and the press of course. Harry groaned as he saw the face of Rita Skeeter.

Some minutes after their arrival the headmaster stood up and asked for silence.

"Dear guests and students. We gathered together today to celebrate a great victory, a victory of good over evil, the defeat of the dark lord and most of his Death Eaters. We are here to honor the efforts of the heroes of this war. We are also here to honor all the brave people who fought for peace and to remember the victims of this war.

Many people fought against the evil with the name of Voldemort."

Gasps ran through the hall.

"But some of them stood truly out. There was for instance Severus Snape, who risked his life as spy. He worked his way up to the inner circle of the Deatheaters to gather valuable information which saved countless lives. He had to endure the pain of the Cruciatus very often, because Voldemort used it freely on his followers for the smallest reasons. He also risked his life, because we all know how Voldemort treated traitors. He also fought the last battle from the inside of the Riddle House and with that he helped our forces out there a great deal. For that he will be awarded the Order of Merlin second class. Another one who stood out was a young auror who stood by the side of Mr. Snape during the last episode of the battle from inside the house where she was kept as hostage to lure Mr. Potter out in the open. She was freed but instead to get out of there, she stayed and fought. For that she will be awarded the Order of Merlin second class as well. Also there was Mr. Weller, the last true Warlock as we all know now. He was retired because of a great personal loss, but as he was asked to help, he came back and stood by our side through many means. He also fought outstandingly at the last battle from the outside and at the attack of Hogsmeade before that to protect the students. For that he will also be awarded the Order of Merlin second class.

And finally we come to the greatest hero. Of course we all know, he doesn't like to hear that, but he is still a hero. Mr. Harry Potter. He was the one, who freed Miss Tonks and fought side by side with her and Mr. Snape inside of the Riddle House. He also made it possible to find the house in the first place, so that the army of light could attack. And lastly he was the one, who defeated Voldemort finally in a fight against all odds, as he defeated firstly the ten most powerful Deatheaters who guarded the dark lord on his own and after that he killed Voldemort himself. Yes, he is dead and this time he will not come back. Sadly to say, me, the head of the department of mysteries and some selected wizards and witches confirmed it, as we went into a pensive where Mr. Potter stored his memory of the final battle."

Murmurs ran throughout the hall and some hands raised.

"Yes, Miss Skeeter?" Dumbledore asked.

"Why did you say it was sadly? Sure that would be a great moment to watch?"

Dumbledore looked asking to Harry who tensed noticeably. Tonks gripped his hand under the table and pressed it reassuringly.

Flashback

It was three days before the ceremony. The core of the order gathered and asked Harry to attend. Mr. Onyx was also in the meeting.

Dumbledore gave Harry an apologetic look.

He asked: "Harry, we have to ask you a favor."

Harry sighed, "You want to see it, right?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"All of you?"

They all nodded. Harry looked at the gathered persons. Even his friends were there.

"Only the last confrontation?"

"All what happened in his throne room. We know, that it is hard for you, but this time we have to be sure, that it is over. But take it not, that we don't believe you. We all do."

Harry nodded sadly and Tonks laid her hand reassuringly on his leg.

"Ok, but let me say some things first. I know all of you here and most of you are very dear to me. Let me make it clear, what you are getting yourself into. As you all know, I killed people in there and I will never forget that. I tell you, it was cruel and horrible. You will see blasted apart bodies, burned flesh and gore everywhere. You will see the Deatheaters burning and hear their screams and smell the burning flesh. Get that clear, it will be a really horrible experience for you and I promise most of you will never forget that and you will get nightmares from it. As my love and my friends know, I still have them.

Most of you haven't also seen Riddle himself yet. That alone is worth a nightmare. You can still get out of that."

Nobody moved.

Harry sighed.

He faced his friends, Hermione, Ron and Ginny.

"Please, consider it! I don't want you to suffer from this and you will suffer."

Ron cleared his throat, "Harry, we promised you, we would stay by your side to the last moment in this war but we didn't. We want to know what happened. We know, you could kick us out and we know you only care for us. But I have to see it."

Harry nodded, "Hermione?"

"I will stay."

He turned to Ginny, "Ginny. You are so young and you already suffered enough from his hands. Please, don't do this to yourself! I know, you already had nightmares. Don't add to this. I know you care for me, but it is not worth it. You know already what happened. You know, I killed people, I killed Riddle and I was tortured beyond imagination. Please! You are like my little sister and I don't want you to see this. You are so sweet, caring and innocent. You will not be the same afterwards and you will lose at least a part of that innocence. Please, do me the favor! Do it for me!"

She sobbed now freely and finally nodded. She hugged him and got out of the room.

Then he turned to Tonks. She had tears in her eyes too.

"Tonks, I love you more, than you can imagine. You are there for me and are helping me through this. I know, that you love me too and care for me deeply. But I also don't want you to see this. You may be an auror and have seen enough violence, but in some ways you are innocent too. You also will lose some of it. I... please for our love, don't do this. You will get nightmares too and you will suffer through it. And who will help me then? Who will hold me, when I have to hold you?"

She sobbed now too.

"Tonks, I know, you were with me for a part of the battle in the house and have already seen the violence of that, but there is one more reason I ask you this. You know already that I was tortured. I know, you feel sorry for that a great deal, but I also know the extend of your love for me. I fear, if you see this torture, it will tear you apart. I really don't want you to see this especially."

She hugged him fiercely and kissed him.

"Will you leave?" he asked gently.

"Yes, I will. I understand your reasons. I would like to be there for you through this, but I understand. I will be there for you afterwards."

"I love you, Tonks."

"I love you too." she ran sobbing out of the rooms.

He sighed. He knew, Dumbledore would stay and Mr. Onyx too. Moody would also stay. Then up to the Weasleys.

"You two have helped me a great deal. You don't see me as the boy who lived, but as a member of your family. All what I said to Ginny and Tonks is true for you too. Please, don't do this to yourself. You are like my foster-parents. I would hate it to hurt you."

"Harry, you would never hurt us, but I want to see this and I think, Arthur too because you are like a son for us. We want to see, what happened to you. Maybe we can help you then."

"I will stand by Molly. We appreciate your caring, but we will stay."

Harry sighed, "You will suffer through it. But I will be there for you afterwards."

"Thank you, Harry and thank you, that you talked Ginny out of it." said Molly and pulled him into a hug.

Then he went to Remus, "Don't even ask, Harry. I know you care, but I want to see what you went through, even if I can never sleep again. Thank you, but I will stay."

Harry rolled his eyes but nodded.

Then he went to Snape and Molly, who hadn't seen them together after the fight gasped.

"Severus, you have already done so much. You have suffered too much. You don't need to see this."

"Thank you Harry, but I want to see him die. I need that. I need to see for myself, that it was not for nothing. Only then I will find peace."

Harry smiled and laid his and on Snape's Shoulder.

"I knew, that you would say that. So be it."

He gave a last pleading look to his friends but they didn't go.

"Alright, let's get over with it."
He pulled the memory out of his head and putted it into a special pensive.

He started as he made himself invisible, he didn't need the others to know, how he got into the room. His second form was still a secret, at least to some of them.

Then they entered the pensive and watched the whole fight. All were white as sheets, as the grenades exploded and the forceful and hot blast tore apart the bodies of some Deatheaters and set some others on fire.

Remus and Severus both had a look full of glee, as Harry beheaded Pettigrew and impaled Lestrange. Hermione and Ron nearly fainted as they saw all the blood, the bodies and parts of it.

Then came the moment of his torture and all sobbed, Hermione even screamed "NOOOO" as the beam of the two wands hit him and he screamed his pain out to the world. They all could see the extend of his pain in his eyes, they could see, that he was shortly before to give up and simply die. Only in the last moment the sparks in his eyes lit up again and he fought. Molly broke nearly down as she saw that. They all looked in awe, as he got up after that and the surge of raw magic developed. They looked proudly at him as he stood up again for his friends and his love and they gaped, as he blocked the next curse. They stood absolutely still, as he impaled his sword in the body of Voldemort and let his fire go free. Then it was over.

As they got out of the pensive, Ginny and Tonks were there already and waited for them.

All were white as sheet, as they came back and Hermione, Molly and Ron threw up as one. The others cleaned the mess with some spells. Molly broke down sobbing and Arthur supported her.

Hermione fell Ron around his neck and sobbed too.

Ginny ran to Molly: "MUM! What... are you alright?"

"She will be, Ginny. It... it was horrible." Arthur said quietly.

Ginny hugged her mum to support her too and shot Harry a worried look.

Snape walked over to Harry, laid a hand on his shoulder and nodded to him.

"Thank you Harry for what you have done. We all owe you for that."

He left the room after that.

Tonks looked at all the people with wide eyes and hugged Harry after that.

"Was it so bad?" she asked.

Hermione looked up with tear strained eyes, "Tonks, promise me something."

"Wh... what?" she asked disturbed.

"Never ever ask Harry to show you that. NEVER. It would tear you apart to see him suffering like that. I.. I don't know how he could stand that. I knew, he was hit by this curse before and he was also hit with a normal Cruciatus by Voldemort. You could see the pain in his eyes, but he didn't even mutter a sound. But that all was nothing against the power of the combined wands. I will never forget his screams. He looked like he wanted to die, because of the pain. I knew, I would and it nearly broke me."

"Hermione, I wanted to die that moment. But then I saw Tonks before me, as I gave her the necklace and I wanted to survive to see her again. If it hadn't been for her and her love for me, I would be dead now." Harry said quietly.

"That is the first time ever, that I wish, I had heard to Harry's reasons. Tonks, please promise me!" Hermione demanded.

Tonks looked with sad eyes at Harry and nodded.

"I promise."

Harry hugged her and then said seriously, "It was hard for me that is right, but you should all realize something. It is over now, I am alive and happy with my love. Concentrate on that and let the past be past."

Hermione gave small smile and nodded.

Harry got up and walked over to Remus.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Remus had tears in his eyes and shook his head.

"No. No one should ever suffer like you did, Harry. I… I couldn't imagine how hard it has been for you. But I will be alright. I only need time."

Harry nodded and Remus hugged him.

Then he went over to Molly. She looked up at him with tears running over her cheeks.

She pulled him into a hug and sobbed, "I am so sorry, Harry."

"You needn't. It is over now and he is gone, Molly. I will live and be happy now."

She nodded and hugged him again.

"Thank you, for all what you have done, what you had to endure."

Harry smiled and nodded, "I did it for you, my family, my friends and my love."

She smiled too and nodded.

Harry came out of his flashback and looked Dumbledore in his eyes. Then he nodded.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, "Miss Skeeter, you don't know, what you are talking about. You haven't seen the torn apart bodies. You haven't heard the screams of the burning people, even if they were Deatheaters. You haven't smelled the blood and the burning flesh. You haven't seen, how Mr. Potter was tortured beyond imagination. The Cruciatus is a curse, that delivers unbelievable pain, but Mr. Potter stood his ground and didn't even scream. But that was nothing against that what followed. Did you ever hear of brother-wands? They don't work against each other. But they work very well together. Mr. Potter was hit by a Cruciatus of the combined power of brother wands. If the pain of a normal one is unbelievable, that pain was beyond imagination. The screams of Mr. Potter will haunt me till the very end of my life. You will never understand how great his deed really was, never. It was a great moment, yes, but in another way as you see it. We all are happy, that it is over. And of course he will be awarded the Order of Merlin first class. Now I would ask the Minister to hand out the awards."

Fudge stood up and handed the awards to the people in the mentioned order. The last one who received one was Harry and he was asked to give a speech.

He stood in front of the speakers desk and looked pensive and serious over the gathered audience.

"You all know, that the war is over now. Voldemort is dead and he will stay so this time. But you should ask yourself why he became the menace he was in the first place. I will tell you the answer. It was because of you all."

The crowd gasped the shock clearly written over their faces.

"Yes, it was because of you. Of course, it was not you alone but you played a great role in this. There are two reasons. Firstly, he got too much power because nobody did something against him, the ministry even denied his return for over a year. Now you say, it is the ministry who was wrong. Yes it was, but you were the ones who elected them. You were the ones who believed the shit the minister told you in his papers and you all condemned your former heroes to insanity. The guilt lies along you as well as by the ministry, because nobody stood up to them. I will tell you something. Had that happened in the muggle world, he would have been kicked out of his office before he could have said Voldemort, not that he ever would. Voldemort didn't have so much followers and his goonies weren't the most powerful wizards. If you all had stood up to him together, it would have been a matter of days, but because of your fear, only a handful fought against him. That is your failure alone.

The second reason is the racism in the wizarding world. A great part of you believes in pureblood superiority and condemn half-humans, werewolves and other magical beings. With that attitude you made yourself powerful enemies and drove them to support the dark lord.

Why? What is so bad with werewolves for instance? You believe they are monsters? You are wrong. I know one. He is one of the most caring people you will find. He is no monster, but a human with a disease. He is human 29 days a month and suffers only one or two nights a month through his disease. He even keeps his human mind during the transformations thanks to Mr. Snape. He isn't a danger to humans and measures for safety could been taken. You create disliking and hate, because you shun them and mistreat them. And what is wrong with halfbloods and muggleborns? Nothing. If you continue to close them out, the wizards will die out! Not instantly but it is countable in decades. The reason is inbreeding. You need the muggleborns to bring fresh blood into our world. And you know what else? They aren't worse than purebloods. In fact, my friend Hermione Granger, a muggleborn witch, is the most intelligent student of Hogwarts in decades. Not one pureblood can take it up with her. And you shun them. You are nothing but hypocrites, because in most of the purebloods is blood of magical creatures as well. I warn you now, keep that up and the next dark lord will rise in a matter of years. It lies now in your hands to build a lasting peace."

The crowd was silent and all gaped at him. Dumbledore looked proud and began to clap.

Slowly the teachers followed and after that the more intelligent of the crowd.

After some minutes Harry smiled and raised his hands.

"I have another announcement to make. It is a more happier one I think."

The crowd stared at him curiously.

"Someone dear to me asked me, what I intended to do after the war, because of my only four NEWTS. Well, in spite of it I got a honorable job, I would say." said Harry chuckling and Molly blushed furiously.

"What is your job, Mr. Potter?" a reporter asked.

"Well, as I am an independent Unspeakable, that would be confidential." Harry chuckled again. He enjoyed this visibly.

"I told her as my answer, that I intended to make a long holiday after the war, find a woman to love and then found a family."

"Now, the holiday has to wait for some days. I found my love, my one and true love. She is the reason, why the holiday has to wait, because she is teaching here till summer. So I have my love, I will have my holiday, I even have a nice home, well more than one.

Now what is missing? Right, the family. Now, Miss Tonks, would you come to me please?" he asked gently.

She blanched, as she stood up and joined him in front of the crowd. She stumbled nervously over one of the steps but Harry caught her easily. Not one dared to laugh about her mishap.

Harry smiled reassuringly and had nothing but love for her in his eyes.

As she stood beside him, he took her hand and fell down to one knee.

The crowd gasped and you could hear a needle fall down.

"Tonks, I know that you love me with all you heart. You stood beside me during the fight, before that and afterwards. Without you and our love, I wouldn't have survived the war. Now you are helping me to cope with the consequences. We are not even a year together, but I know, I love you with all my heart. You are the only one, you are my soulmate. You make me happy. I want to share the rest of my life with you. Nymphadora Tonks, would you do me the honor and marry me?"

With that he took a small box out of his robe and flicked it open. In there were two beautiful glittering rings of platinum.

She had tears in her eyes, as she pulled him up and kissed him in front of all the people passionately. After they separated she smiled full of love and happiness and said, "Yes I will marry you, Harry Potter." And she added quietly, "but only if I can keep my last name as joined name, that all can still me call Tonks."

"Of course." he answered smiling and kissed her again.

Now the crowd stood up and gave standing ovations to the newly betrothed pair.

Molly, Ginny, Hermione and McGonagall had tears in their eyes.

"Mr. Potter!" Rita Skeeter called him.

"Yes?"

"Will you allow the press to attend you wedding?"

"No, because I honor my privacy. I am no celebrity, it would do you good, if you would finally realize that." he said in a cold foreboding voice.

"But the public has a right to hear all about the wedding of the most famous hero!" she insisted.

Now Harry growled and his eyes lit up again with power. That had been clearly the wrong thing to say.

"What from the words 'I honor my privacy' did you not understand? I will not permit any reporter to our wedding. An I will take measures against unwanted and uninvited ones, that you can be sure of, and that includes especially you. And now, that we are on that, I tell you one more thing. I forbid you herewith officially to build any monuments or use my name for holidays or any other of that crap. I was not the only one who fought. Many died during this war. If you want honor someone, honor them. If I see anywhere a monument of me, I will personally blast it into pieces."

"Hear! Hear!" Ron shouted and laughed.

"If anyone dares to use my name without my permission, he will wish that he would never have known me. The daily prophet knows already what I mean. I will take measures to stop and punish such violation of my rights. By the way, the money we got from our regress because the lies and standers in the daily prophet about my fiancé and me we gave to St. Mungos."

The crowd cheered.

Rita sat heavily down to her seat, but Harry saw the determined glint in her eyes.

"Any other questions?" he asked with smile.

"Yes, what happened to Mr. Shacklebolt?" asked a woman.

"May I ask who you are?" Harry asked friendly.

Dumbledore looked also interested as many of the present aurors, because nobody had heard of him after his imprisonment.

"I… I am his wife and after… after the betrayal he has done to you and Miss Tonks I heard nothing of him." she explained with tears in her eyes.

Harry smiled fondly, "Have no fear. Nothing happened to him. I of all know, that people make errors. He did, was he thought was right and thought of as a minor problem. He didn't think about the real consequences for us and that was his only error. As the danger is now over for us, we will hold no grudge against your husband. He is currently in a holding cell in the department of mystery. But even if we do hold no grudge, he betrayed confidential information and that is still treason. However, I spoke for him, because I knew that he was working against Voldemort on two fronts. He will not receive the regular punishment for this, the kiss, but he will be punished. His efforts for the war at the ministry and the order of the phoenix will be carefully weighted against his treason. As I, as the wronged and my fiancé spoke already for him, his punishment should not be too hard. Maybe he can even keep his job. We shall see."

The woman ran to him and hugged him sobbing.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. You are such a noble man. And you are very noble too, Miss Tonks. Thank you so much."

Tonks blushed at this.

"Can… can I visit him?" she asked full of hope.

Harry turned around to Stanley and he nodded.

"Sure. Ask Mr. Onyx over there. He is the head of the department."

Now Fudge growled and shouted: "She will do not such a thing! He will be punished! He is a traitor!"

The crowd booed at this.

Harry turned slowly around and glared at the minister coldly. His eyes burned from inner power as he said in an icy voice:

"Minister, I am sorry to tell you, that you have no saying in that matter, as it was a secret of our department that was revealed. Therefore we decide the punishment."

"But it was treason."

Harry stroked his chin pensively.

"You know, you took an oath as you became minister. You swore to serve and protect the wizarding world of Great Britain. As far as I am aware, you ignored my statement taken under veritasserum about the return of the dark lord. You lied about his return to the public and let grow his power undisturbed for a year. You broke your oath. I would say, that is treason if there ever was one. Maybe we should take a look in this matter and maybe in your account too?"

The minister blanched and fell back to his seat.

"You can't do that!" he bellowed.

"No, he can't." said now Mr. Onyx coldly, "But I can. And as you just now compromised yourself, I will. Consider yourself under probation. I declare herewith an examination of that all. Your account is frozen and I will inform the Wizardgamot about that."

"There is no need. Because I am the head of it, take it, the Wizardgamot is informed. We are awaiting your results." declared Dumbledore with twinkling eyes.

Harry smirked, "Sometimes the right wins indeed over the wrong."

Then he turned to the crowd, "Remember what I said about your responsibility for the Government!"

Then he smiled at Tonks, "Now, I would like to relax with my fiancé. What do you think about that?"

"Well, I would like a dinner for two in your rooms and then we will celebrate our engagement and make plans for our wedding."

The crowd clapped loudly as they left the hall.

As it turned out, Fudge got sacked and his funds were disowned because the investigators found indeed the proof for bribery.

Shacklebolt had to stay for a year in prison, but was then released even in his old job as auror but as an low-ranking one. He would have to work his way up again from the beginning.

Tonks and Harry married in the summer holidays the first day after the school was over.

Coincidentally one Rita Skeeter was hold this day and the following in the ministry cells because of charges to be an illegal Animagus.

As Harry Potter and now Mrs. Nymphadora Tonks-Potter were married, she was pregnant in the second month. The spent their honeymoon at the coasts of California and after that they moved into his home in Godric's Hollow. And they will be happy for the rest of their life....... at least we hope so. Nobody can be sure about that in the case of a Harry James Potter.

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AN: Sorry to say that, but that was it. My first try to write something in English. I hope, you all enjoyed it! For my part, I thank you all for your reviews. It really helps if you get the impression that someone is reading your story and that your work is appreciated. Thanks for that. I also liked to read your critics and I am going to keep it in my mind for further stories. Thanks for that as well. I uploaded the last both chapters together because there is not much happening and it would be unfair to let you wait further for some last scenes. I am astounded to see, that I got over 400 reviews and for a little bit I am still hoping to reach 500 ;-) That is not comparable to the reviews I got for my german stories.

Some of you asked for a sequel, some asked for another story. I won't promise anything for now. Chances are now 60-70 that I will either translate 'Legacy of the mages' or 'The power of the Seraphim' or that I am going to write a new project in English. I enjoyed it too much to get and read all your reviews, so I won't lightly give up on you all, my English reading fans. But I am hard pressed for now with German projects and mostly with the writing of my first completely own story. I do hope to finalize it this year and maybe I find a way to get it printed. That is my dream. We will see if that happens. At least I hope to get it ready in time so that I can make it a gift to my parents and other relatives for christmas.

Again: THANKS! THANKS! THANKS! THANKS for reading and reviewing!