I thank one and all for taking the time to read through the story. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have writing it. A special shout out to Gloria for sticking it through the story and taking the time to drop a note, every chapter!

Declaration: I do not own Harry Potter world or the storyline of Pride and Prejudice. I do not make any profit through this story and is only for reading pleasure.

Chapter 6

Part I

Elizabeth and Darcy were the only ones to be at the breakfast table the next morning. Though they were confident that the ritual and subsequent recovery of Wickham went well, there was an undercurrent of tension hanging in the air. Elizabeth felt that they would all breathe easier only after Lydia is married to Wickham. For her, the world would be rosier only after settling at Pemberley, and that was something that she found really curious. For Elizabeth, home seemed to be Pemberley and not Longbourne.

They conversed happily about topics that were anything but Wickham. His absence the morning was a little worrisome but they trusted Harry and Hermione to do the right thing. Now that the real threat of the horcrux was gone and Wickham seemingly alive, the two Potters really had no reason to hang around; they could just leave the recovery of Wickham and his subsequent delivery to Lydia on Darcy and Elizabeth. That they were still willing to hang around and help them meant a lot to the engaged couple.

They were just finishing breaking their fast when Hermione came into the room. That she was not a morning person was very much evident by the state Hermione was in. Stumbling gait, wild hair, and blearily eyes told them that she was not fully rested.

It looked as if Hermione picked up her breakfast foods almost at random from the sideboard before she plopped herself on the chair beside Elizabeth. She took a deep draught of her morning coffee and sighed deeply. Only then Hermione looked a little awake.

Her antics brought a few chuckles to the audience in front of her. Hermione grimaced, it was almost a ritual for her right from the time she was five years old. Her parents and Harry were accustomed to it and even helped her feel normal in the morning. Hermione knew who it would appear to strangers, but she just could not help it.

"Harry already dropped off Wickham in his room, he would stay there until the afternoon," Hermione told them.

"Where is Harry?" Darcy had to ask.

"He had his breakfast and went back to sleep right away," Hermione replied, "The tax on his magical core will force him to sleep for another hour or two and then he will be back to his full strength."

Elizabeth and Darcy waited until Hermione finished her breakfast before leaving the room themselves. Hermione wanted to sleep for a bit more and wake up with her husband and that left the engaged couple free to roam the park.

The initial few minutes were spent on the task before Darcy and the Lord Potter, retrieving Wickham publically.

"He would be sent to a regiment up north," Darcy explained the plan he concocted with Mr Bingley and was refined by the Lord and Lady Potter. "I purchased him a commission in the regulars."

Darcy hesitated for a moment. He knew that he was arranging things for Elizabeth's family without even their knowledge and he knew how independent Elizabeth was. Would this anger her?

"Is this to your liking?" he asked a little apprehensively.

Elizabeth also understood the reason why William was unsure. She could detect the nervousness in his tone, something she never imagined with her fiancé.

"William," that address always brought a smile to Darcy's face and now it also brought a little relief. "As much as I love my family and fought with you over your representation of them, it is the truth that my father would not trouble himself to do even half of what you did."

Darcy tried to protest but Elizabeth cut him off, "You are going to be family William, you are allowed to voice your displeasure at them occasionally."

The tease in her voice was easily evident and Darcy joined in with a soft chuckle.

"I thank you, sir. I thank you for all that you have done for me," Elizabeth met his eye to show him how sincere she was and also that it would be the last time they would approach the subject. Darcy was sensible enough not to argue with that and they lapsed into a comfortable silence enjoying the sights.

"Be careful please," Elizabeth begged Darcy.

Darcy pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead fleetingly, "Do not worry my love, we are not going to be in Wickham's company very long. The Lord Potter plans to confine him to a different carriage and the elves will take care of the rest. We may even be back in Potter Manor very soon after Wickham sets on his journey."

They wandered along taking in the sights. Eventually, Darcy brought the one matter that was still hanging on his head.

"I confessed my unwanted interference to Mr Bingley before leaving Pemberley." Darcy saw the hesitation in Elizabeth's eyes. He knew that it was very wrong of him and he was also sure that Elizabeth knew that it was very wrong of him. Elizabeth was never one to shy away from speaking her mind and she did it before, but now she was hesitant to accuse him. With the situation of their relationship changed, and probably exhausting her opinion on the topic, Darcy guessed that she had nothing else to say. According to Elizabeth, she would think only of that past as its remembrance gives her pleasure. The onus was on him to put all his ghosts to rest and he did, he just hoped that he did the right thing.

"I know that my interference in your sister and Mr Bingley's lives was just that, an interference. Charles was justifiably angry but his anger was very short lived, he told me. He was more focussed on planning to get to Netherfield Park and apologize to your sister than waste his time to argue with me."

Elizabeth grinned at that. She could just imagine the exuberance of that man coming through. Darcy also saw the happiness in her eyes but he wanted to make sure, "Do you approve of it?"

He was rewarded by the tinkling laughter that enchanted him and haunted him many a nights, "How can I not sir, when you gave me two of my heart's deepest desires."

Darcy was obviously happy, but "Two?"

"Yes two," Elizabeth replied hoping that the matter got dropped but the expectant face of her fiancé told her a different story. With a sigh she began, "One, the happiness of my beloved sister and two a husband who loves and respects me."

Elizabeth refused to blush but she could not meet Darcy's eye yet.

Darcy meanwhile was overjoyed. He lifted Elizabeth's hand and kissed her un-gloved hand tenderly, putting all his feelings into that kiss. He was not brave enough to kiss her outright like the two Potters do, but it was only a matter of time when they would be sanctioned by the church to do so. He could not wait for the day to come.

Elizabeth was clearly overcome by the tender feeling and more so when her William proclaimed softly, "You must allow me to say how ardently I admire and love you."

Tears sprang unbidden to her eyes. Elizabeth met Darcy's eyes and replied in a similar voice, "And you must allow me to say that you are the best of men I have ever known."

Part II

George Wickham woke up with a headache that forced him to keep his eyes closed. However much he wanted to open them, the pain was forcing them closed and the sun streaming into his room was not helping any. When the fact that the sun was high up percolated into Wickham's brain, he knew that he overslept. The coach he was supposed to travel onwards might have left at daybreak as the driver promised. The driver of the coach would probably have waited for him a few minutes but definitely not hours.

Wickham rummaged in the small bag he managed to procure and now had all his worldly belongings in. Finding the powder mix that was ever present, he mixed it with the water and drank it down. The powder was a life saver for him many a times in the past, when he was hung over.

As much as Wickham would like to portray himself as a gentleman, he did not have enough money to support a valet for himself. That meant that Wickham had to learn to do even the menial tasks for himself and that included going to the apothecary in every town he was in to stock on headache powders.

Taking a long drink of fresh water, Wickham fell back on the bad and pulled the covers over his eyes to keep the sun away. He tried to remember what he did to merit the headache. He consciously stayed away from drinking too much. With his freedom at stake, Wickham could not risk a drunken night and miss transportation. He could do that once he got onto the ship or onto his destination. That was the reason why he struck to one glass of rye.

'It must be the rye,' Wickham decided. He knew of such places that would mix a few things into the rye to make it taste like rye but was not really the drink a customer would pay for. It was usually the fastest and cheapest way to make up the volume of the drink; the inn keep could always blame the customers' health due to the long travel they had just made if anything went wrong.

Wickham finally managed to get ready for the day and get down to the foyer in time for lunch. As soon as he stepped out into the street with the intention of going into the eating place a few paces down the street, Wickham saw the most amazing carriage that he ever laid his eyes on. He did not recognize the crest on the carriage and so was fairly certain that they would not know him. If he only could himself a seat in that carriage. Wickham straightened himself and put the most charming smile he could manage. He took a few steps towards the carriage which by now came to a stop near the inn and he too froze.

The man who stepped out of the carriage was one who he never wanted to see again, one Fitzwilliam Darcy. If Darcy's visage sent a shiver down his spine, then the man who came next was utterly intimidating to Wickham. He had no chance of an escape now that they were coming towards him.

Wickham did not understand why Darcy was so adamant in finding him. Did his attempt to use Georgiana for his own means finally bring the famous Darcy wrath on him? Wickham could only think that was the case. It was now more than a year and any rumour he might start would have no meaning. Darcy knew this and he must have finally got tired of him. Would he throw him in debtor's prison? Unfortunately, Wickham did not know how his life would turn out to be a nightmare, something to run away from, even though he had no chance to do so.

He had no fight in him anymore. Something happened to him to take away the belligerent attitude but he knew that it was a little too late.

"Can we at least have some lunch before we start back?"

After lunch, Wickham was given the privilege of having a carriage all to himself. It was a carriage in the loosest of terms, more like a prison on wheels. Harry also strengthened it with magic and with two elves playing footmen along with the driver, there was no chance of his escape. Even if he did, the elves tagged Wickham with a tracking charm and he would be back in the cell in the blink of an eye. At least the cushions were a lot better than the ones in the post coach he travelled in.

Harry bought the carriage and modified it with magic to make it difficult to escape from.

Darcy offered to pay for the carriage but Harry waved him off, "The Potters were a very wealthy family William. Where I come from, I am the last Potter and I have a fortune. Hermione and I came prepared for a war, I converted some of the money that magicals use into pounds."

After the modifications were done, the carriage was transported to the coaching inn Wickham was in and the show was on the road. The carriage that Wickham was in travelled ahead with a couple dozen feet separating the Potter carriage that contained the Lord Potter and Fitzwilliam Darcy. After they left the town and the pace picked up; unseen by anyone, the Potter carriage flew to Potter Manor with its two occupants and all Wickham could see was an illusion of the carriage that would keep him company through the journey.

Wickham never experienced a travel like what he did that night. It was of course the first time he every travelled in a gaol cart, but it was also the first time that he travelled through the night. It was comfortable enough for him to sleep on the cushions and if the high and mighty Fitzwilliam Darcy could sleep in a cramped carriage, however luxurious it may be, George Wickham could too. Not that he was given a choice.

The cushions in the carriage were good enough to sleep on and that was what Wickham did, aided by a sleep spell. Travel by portkey was enough to give the illusion of travel through the night while giving the horses and the elves guarding Wickham some much needed rest.

Their mode of travel meant that the carriage carrying Wickham made good time in reaching the outskirts of London in a little more than a day, faster than what it took Wickham by about two days. The man could only lament that he did not have such a mode of transport while fleeing which would have taken him right up to Plymouth in the given time.

Harry and Darcy joined the procession a few miles from the same glade that they stopped in on their way out of London. This was to be the location of the house that the Potters were supposed to have near London. Wickham's carriage stopped in the clearing just in front of the driveway, while the Potter's carriage went up to the doors of the modest two storied three bedroom cottage.

Wickham was curious to know the reason for such a stop. His eyes lit up seeing a beautiful young woman who could only the Lady Potter being escorted down the steps. Wickham was shocked to see the next woman being escorted by Darcy, it was Miss Elizabeth Bennet and they were looking too cosy to be two people who loathed each other.

Seeing the interaction of Miss Elizabeth with Darcy, opened up a world of suspicions to Wickham. For the first time he had a doubt about the reasons that Darcy was chasing him for and for the first time he had an inclination as to the reasons why he was being taken back to London for. He feared that he would be put in debtor's prison for all the trouble he caused the Darcys. Now though, he shuddered at the thought of the fate that awaited him. For he was sure that he was going to be shackled with a young and a very silly wife.

The two ladies did not spare a glance at the carriage that Wickham was in before they were handed into the Potters' carriage. The pace was a little slower than before, owing to the ladies' comfort and even then the carriages reached the Gardiners' place by the late evening. All in all, Wickham was absconding for only four days but that was enough to make him very unpopular with most of the Bennet family and their relations. On the other hand, those who went after him were treated as dearest friends.

Only Lydia Bennet and Mrs Bennet were overjoyed to see Wickham. The rest of the members of the house were just relieved that a nightmare has come to an end.

The man in question was not insensible of the hostility towards him. In a way he counted himself lucky that these people needed him alive, if not, his life would have been drastically shortened. Wickham made sure to always be with Lydia and Mrs Bennet. They were the only ones who showed any happiness at him being in their midst. If any outsider was to see the way Wickham was attentive to Miss Lydia, they would have been tricked into being in awe of the love the young man had for the girl. No one privy to what happened would have been mistaken though.

Wickham did not want to be in any room that had only the men of the house or even Mrs Gardiner. Wickham was sure that they will not be shy of telling him what they thought about his stunt of inciting Miss Lydia to an elopement and then abandoning her. Though he kept up a cheery façade, he was miserable thinking about the life he was to face with Lydia as his wife. His days of cavorting were done.

The other acknowledged couple in the room, Elizabeth and Darcy were content to exchange smiles and touch hands whenever the opportunity was provided. They were happy in the knowledge of their love for each other and of the knowledge that their own union would bring happiness to not only their family but more importantly to each other.

Darcy and the two Potters were pressed to stay for dinner and was accepted. The Potters did not have any place to go except for Potter Manor and Darcy had the unglamorous task of keeping Wickham confined until the wedding. The Darcy townhouse had a room above the stables which was used to stock up hay and grains for the horses during winter and was empty now. This would serve as a good housing for Wickham; Darcy vowed not to allow the man into any of his houses and was determined to uphold it. No one need to know where he was housed and Wickham would be sure not to blab about it. Two of the Potter elves would take turns with Darcy's footmen in ensuring that Wickham would not have any unsavoury thoughts.

The post dinner tête-à-tête between Hermione and Elizabeth was tearful. Elizabeth was shocked that the Potters were not going to stay around and attend her wedding which was planned to take place in two months' time.

"You do know how far we have to travel to get to our home," Hermione reminded her. "We were prepared to stay for any length of time but truth be told, we did not want to. The more we stay in this timeline, the greater is the danger of causing some irrevocable changes."

Harry and Darcy joined the conversation; they were relieved that the women had their round of tears and were now relatively collected.

Harry explained about the bright blue moon that was to occur the day after tomorrow and how that would be a powerful night for their ritual. "Besides," he continued, "I am guilty of displacing the current Lord Potter from his home."

The two Potters and the engaged couple took their time as Wickham was still trying to explain himself to Lydia with a beaming Mrs Bennet trying to give them as much privacy as possible.

"You are the only ones who know the truth about us and you will be the only ones who will remember us properly," Hermione replied to a question from Darcy. "The others will know about Harry and me but they will never question you. They will not even remember to ask you about us. Over a period of time, they will forget about the Lord Potter unless the current Lord Potter comes into their lives, which I do not see happening."

Elizabeth and Darcy were quite satisfied with that explanation. They themselves would make sure that the topic of Lord and Lady Potter would not be raised often. Hopefully, they will be able to communicate with the current Lord Potter and straighten any inconsistences that might arise.

When no one was looking towards their small group, Harry handed an envelope to Elizabeth who was curious enough to open it right away. Her eyes widened in astonishment which prompted Darcy to take a look inside the envelope. It was a banker's draft for twenty five thousand pounds.

Before they could say anything, Hermione grabbed one each of their hands in hers. "Please consider this as a wedding gift."

"Use it to enjoy yourself or to improve the lives of those around you," Harry piped in. "All that gold was lying idle in my vaults. I know that you will do much good with the money."

Elizabeth and Darcy shared a look and accepted the gift graciously. A few seconds later, Elizabeth threw herself in Hermione's arms, "I will miss you…" she sniffled through her tears.

Hermione was also a little tearful, "I did not have many friends until I met Harry, but you are one that I will count as a friend. I will never forget you."

"and I you."

Two nights later, when the full moon was at its brightest, Harry and Hermione got ready to activate the ritual that would take them back to their own timeline. Now that they had a specific destination, the ritual was much easier compared to the one they used to come to the past. Though Hermione was sure that there would be no need for them, the crystal magic sinks were fully charged and ready for use.

With the last minute instructions given to Noody about informing Lord Geoffrey and Lady Amanda Potter of their departure, Harry and Hermione Potter started the ritual…

…And Harry and Hermione Potter disappear from Potter Manor.

Part III (Epilogue):

A red-gold glow burst suddenly across the enchanted sky above them as an edge of dazzling sun appeared over the sill of the nearest window. The light hit both of their faces at the same time, so that Voldemort's was suddenly a flaming blur.

Harry heard the high voice shriek as he too yelled his best hope to the heavens, pointing Draco's wand:

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!"

The bang was like a cannon blast, and the golden flames that erupted between them, at the dead center of the circle they had been treading, marked the point where the spells collided. Harry saw Voldemort's green jet meet his own spell, saw the Elder Wand fly high, dark against the sunrise, spinning across the enchanted ceiling like the head of Nagini, spinning through the air toward the master it would not kill, who had come to take full possession of it at last.

And Harry, with the unerring skill of the Seeker, caught the wand in his free hand as Voldemort fell backward, arms splayed, the slit pupils of the scarlet eyes rolling upward. Tom Riddle hit the floor with a mundane finality, his body feeble and shrunken, the white hands empty, the snakelike face vacant and unknowing.

Voldemort was dead, killed by his own rebounding curse, and Harry stood with two wands in his hand, staring down at his enemy's shell.

One shivering second of silence… was shattered by people cheering wildly.

Harry looked around to see people rushing towards him. His friends and others. First to reach him though was his best friend, Hermione Granger. She threw herself at him screaming his name and laughing wildly.

Their eyes met and memories poured in. Memories that they did not have before. Memories of being married, ten long years of struggle, of going back in time to destroy the last horcrux of Tom Riddle, and of the ritual that brought them back.

Harry and Hermione Potter shared a wide smile and crashed their lips together in a searing kiss.

"Wha…" Ron sputtered. "But… kiss…" he mumbled stunned at the actions of his two friends.

Hermione broke the kiss but stayed in her husband's arms, "I am sorry Ron, but I made my choice in the tent itself."

Six months later

The newly remarried Lord Harry Potter and Lady Hermione Potter waited in the luxurious lounge of the headquarters of Pemberley Estates and Farms. Situated in Derbyshire near Bakewell and the Peak district national park, Pemberley has been in the Darcy family for many generations. The family had been quite prosperous in monetary terms and also in their goodwill.

However, with the advent of modern day practises and profiteering, the Darcy family suffered while holding to traditions of fair play and good of all. Harry and Hermione were determined to help the family again.

Sitting in the spacious lounge, Harry and Hermione were attracted towards a portrait of a very pretty woman who was in her early thirties. The portrait captured her fine eyes and the remarkable sparkle in them very well. The portrait though not large was big enough to attract the attention of guests, and the woman inside had an endearing quality that was hard to overlook.

Harry and Hermione walked to stand in front of the portrait reminiscing the interactions they had with the woman painted in there. They did not know her very long, but it was enough to leave an indelible impression on the two.

They were disturbed by a soft voice at their side, "That was Elizabeth Darcy." A young man probably entering his thirties was standing to the left of Harry. "It is said that she brought light and laughter back to the Darcy family."

With that the young man turned back to the portrait of his many times grandmother. Even in these dark times, the lady in the portrait never failed to lift his spirits, such was the effect Elizabeth Darcy apparently had on every member of the Darcy family, even if she was confined to a portrait these days.

The young man turned to Harry and Hermione extending his hand to shake, "William Darcy the IInd at your service."

Harry clasped his hand and introduced himself, "Lord Harry Potter and this is my wife the Lady Hermione Potter."

William Darcy's eyes lit up. He knew that the Potters and the Darcys had a good relationship through many generations but had petered out during the last half century or so. Maybe it was time to revive the relationship that started during the time of the lady that was watching over them now from her portrait.

"Let me introduce you to my wife," William led them towards the drawing room where his wife was waiting. "We can always talk business at a later time."

That was something Harry and Hermione were happy to do too.