I admit right from the start that this is basically just a quick little wrap-up of my story. However, I really wasn't sure where to go from here. Thinking up another prank to pull on Dumbledore would have required more creativity than I have at the moment, and I have a few other story ideas I'd like to start writing without worrying about how I'm going to end this one. So, to quote the Doors, this is the end. I hope you've all enjoyed my stories.

Oh, by the way, Dragonfly, about your comment about my story being either the product of a genius or a twisted mind? You're right on both counts.

Secrets of Hogwarts 2

Chapter 8: Epilogue

          The Marauders, living and apparitional, continued pulling pranks of genius magnitude for the remaining years that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were at Hogwarts. They all eventually got their own pedestals in the Meeting Place, just like Lily's. Ron's pedestal was created a little after the fact, for his brilliant idea for the prank the Marauders pulled on Dumbledore.  Harry, James, and Sirius worked together in Harry's seventh year to hatch a brilliant plot against the Slytherin Quidditch team when they were tied with Gryffindor for the championship.  The point during the prank/match where Draco Malfoy burst into tears and started bawling for his mommy was a memory that made everyone present howl with laughter, even years later. That very night, pedestals to Beaky, Prongs, and Padfoot joined Lionheart and Firefur in the Meeting Place.

          Remus and Hermione, who were more studious than the rest, went about creating a prank worthy of their counterparts in a most interesting fashion. In Harry's seventh year, the two of them discovered the spells that controlled the large hourglasses that marked each House's points. The rest of the Marauders didn't see the point in this, since it was nearly the end of the year, and Gryffindor had a commanding lead anyway. Of course, they didn't know what the two had planned.

          On their last night at Hogwarts, the Great Hall was decorated in red and gold, and Dumbledore was just beginning his farewell speech, when the caretaker, Filch, rushed into the Hall screaming.  The teachers, and the Head Boy and Girl (who were, surprisingly enough, not Harry and Hermione) left to see what was the matter. Not surprisingly, everyone followed them.

          The crowd was thick, but not so thick that everybody couldn't see what was happening. The Slytherin hourglass had apparently gone berserk. Slytherin had come in second place in the House Championship, but the sand level was dropping until they were in third. Then last. Then, inexplicably, first. Up and down the sand went. Heads were bobbing up and down from watching it. It just seemed to go on and on until, without warning, the bottom of the hourglass disappeared. All the sand fell out, hit the floor, and just vanished.

          Only eight people ever knew who was responsible. One of them had no choice but to repair the hourglass and let the pranksters go free. He might have been Headmaster, but they were graduating the next day. Five of the other seven almost immediately held a celebration for the last two in the Meeting Place. Their pedestals, topped with a fearsome werewolf and a wise owl, respectively, put the finishing touches on what everyone agreed had been a great four years.

          It should be noted that the Marauder's adventures didn't end here. Lily was able to teach the kids the very charms she'd used to originally set the crests up around Hogwarts. Fifteen years later, they were put into effect, thanks to young Richard Potter and Eddie Weasley…but that's another story.

The End.