Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. The characters and general plot were created by J. K. Rowling and belong to her and her various publishers.

Chapter 14

High in the Cascade Mountains of Canada, the large dining hall of the Black Weasel Lodge was decorated in purple and gray, the school colours of the Cape Caution Magick Institute. A banner had been strung across on wall that read "Congrats to the Grads". The table, covered with deep green cloth, was enormous but every seat was filled. As with every graduation ceremony, it was a celebration of an ending and of a beginning.

Mr. Weasley pushed back his chair and raised his wine glass. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ron and Harry, graduates with honours from this year's class at C.C.M.I."

A chorus of 'Here, Here' echoed though out the vast hall. Ron and Harry grinned at each other as family and friends toasted them. It had been a long and often difficult seven years getting to that point for the young men and their family.

The Ministry of Magic attempted legal steps to keep Harry at Hogwarts following his dramatic departure but Harry circumvented them by bribing Vernon and Petunia Dursley into signing guardianship of Harry over to a more then willing Arthur and Molly Weasley. It cost the Weasleys several lifelong friendships and Mr. Weasley his job at the Ministry. Bill and Charlie felt pressure to side with the establishment but familial ties were too strong for them to capitulate to those forces.

It cost Harry his fortune. At his request, Hermione searched the internet for opportunities abroad. A failing ski resort in British Columbia was on the market. Harry convinced the Weasleys to form a partnership with him and buy the place. By the time they had it up and running and monies were laid aside for tuitions, Harry was penniless and he and Ron and the rest of the younger Weasleys had lost a year of school.

They had, however, been fortunate. Having the Weasley's pet rat, Scabbers, seized and carried off by a hawk during their second day there seemed like a bad omen but with the entire family working hard and two good seasons of snowfall, they had remained solvent and the arrival of unforeseen partner with plenty of ready cash during their third year enabled them to purchase of some lakefront property allowing the expansion to year round operations with snow skiing in the winter and fishing and boating in summer (well, year round actually because you know how anglers are).

It was Dumbledore himself who brought Harry and the Weasleys their well heeled partner. He arrived at their front door with Sirius Black, presumed mass murderer and Harry's godfather, at his side. Sirius had escaped Azkaban and Dumbledore vouched for his innocence. Unfortunately, it was an innocence that couldn't be legally proven so hiding out was a necessity. The Cascade Mountains were ideal thus with a few legal documents signed Weasel Ski Lodge became Black Weasel Lodge and Resort, complete with its own airstrip. The addition of extra capital as well as a rakishly handsome ski instructor proved to be a boon and Harry had his godfather in his life.

Dumbledore and Harry took the opportunity for a long conversation. Harry never said what passed between him and the ancient wizard but they came back from their walk without any of the old hard feelings on either of their sides. Slowly friends from the old days began to write Arthur and Molly and several even came to the lodge.

To the absolute joy of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, the Doctors Granger had visited the lodge during the first summer that the Weasleys were running the place. They fell in love with western Canada and decided to immigrate. They purchased a practice and settled in Victoria. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were classmates once again, this time at the Cape Caution Magick Institute although Hermione, who hadn't missed a year of schooling, was in the grade ahead of them.

CCMI was different from Hogwarts in that, in addition to the course work in Ars Magica, the course work expected of all secondary students in Canada was also taught. It made for a demanding workload but it allowed the magical community of Canada blend in more easily with their muggle fellow citizens.

Harry pushed back his chair and stood. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said raising his glass. "I give you, the Earl of Bowland."

If the wall reverberated with the 'here here' of the previous toast, the roof came off with the shouts of 'The Earl of Bowland'.

The extraordinary news had reached Canada and the rest of the wizarding world in January. Neville Longbottom, a quiet, retiring, young wizard with an ancient pedigree had stormed a manor full of Death Eaters leading a team of equally young witches and wizards. The Death Eater threat to Britain was eliminated by the annihilation of the evil cadre with Neville, himself, killing Lord Voldemort.

"He needed killing," was the only comment ever made by Neville to the media which still thought he was in his ancestral manor in England, not in a Canadian ski lodge with his fiancée.

The Minister of Magic was so grateful for the end of the Death Eater menace that he went to the Prime Minister with one request. It was a monumental task to push it through the House of Commons and maintain the needed veil of secrecy but Neville was granted a hereditary peerage. Three weeks previously, Neville Longbottom was created Earl of Bowland (his home district) by the Queen in a clandestine ceremony in Buckingham Palace.

"Speech! Speech!" rang out from several throats. Neville stood up finally, blushing slightly.

He simply raised his glass. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Her Majesty, the Queen." said the ever modest Neville.

After they toasted the Monarch, everyone fell to eating and talking. Nothing of real importance was said. Just the bonds of friendship and family renewed and strengthen by the simple sharing of food and conversation. Harry looked about the table and smiled. He was surrounded by people who loved him. It would be hard to leave here.

Both he and Ron would be leaving soon. In Ron's case, he was accepted at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver where he will rejoin Hermione who just completed her freshman year there.

Harry had surprised everyone by enlisting in the army. He would leave for Quebec in July for basic training.

"I just want a break from school for awhile," he explained at the time.

"You're part owner of a successful resort," Sirius said.

"All the more reason," Harry said. "Canada's been good to me. I owe her some service."

Sirius smiled and shook his head. "Just remember, wizard or no, you're not bulletproof. Put something hard between you and the bad guys."

A few years down the road, in the dangerous mountains of Afghanistan, Harry would find Sirius's words to be very sound advice indeed. He made it home in one piece and hung up his uniform. He joined Ginny in studying at the University of Victoria.

After dinner, the fab four found themselves on a balcony overlooking the forest. The moon peeked around the mountain that loomed above them as a breeze brought them the scent of pines and of the lake.

It's been a long time since the four of us were alone," Harry said.

"I did not go anywhere," Neville chuckled.

"Yeah, well, sorry about that," Harry replied.

"When you and your fiancée finally set a date, let us know," Hermione said.

"Oh, thanks for reminding me," Neville said. "I would have forgotten my three oldest friends if you hadn't said anything."

"You're welcome," Hermione deadpanned.

"You know, I don't believe that I ever got around to thanking all of you," Neville said.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked at each other in confusion.

"I'd say you're welcome but I don't know what you're talking about, mate," Ron said.

"The world has anointed me as a hero…"

"You are a hero, Neville," Hermione interrupted.

"Whatever," the newly created Peer continued. "But if it wasn't for that first year together at Hogwarts with you three, I would have never done anything. Gran did her best, bless her, but her brand of child rearing had sapped what confidence I ever had in myself but from the moment I met you three, you encouraged me, built me up."

"I honestly don't remember helping you at all," Harry said.

"You were The Boy who Lived yet you became my friend," Neville replied. "You still have no idea what that meant, do you?"

"No, but whatever it did mean, your commando raid eclipsed it by a wide margin," Harry laughed.

"Well, it meant a lot to me," Neville said. "And about the first thing you ever said to me, Ron, was designed to encourage me and you kept it up all year long as did you Hermione. I could hear your voices for the next six years that I was at Hogwarts. Anytime I faced an obstacle, your voices were there. As prefect and then as Head Boy, I would always ask myself, how would Ron or Hermione or Harry handle this."

"Things could have easily been different," Hermione said. "In primary school, I was considered a bossy know-it-all and was very unpopular and, in hindsight, there was a lot of truth to my class mates taunts. We spent most of the trip through Scotland singing folksongs together; perhaps we wouldn't have bonded so quickly or maybe not at all if we hadn't. Life often turns on small as well as large decisions."

"I think, hell, I know that that concertina changed the course of my life," Ron said. "Somehow learning to play that thing gave me self confidence. I was able to conquer a lot a fears and insecurities before I got to Hogwarts. I would have been a mess, otherwise."

"I know what the effect the three of you had on my life," Harry said. "So I suppose that I'm indebted to that squeezebox, too"

"If I had a glass, I'd toast my beloved concertina," Ron said.

"In case I haven't said so lately, I love you guys," Harry said.

Hermione leaned over and kissed him lightly. "I love you, too, Harry," she said

"Yeah, I love you, mate," Ron said. "But I'm not going to snog you."

"Don't look at me," Neville joked. "I'm still English; I can't say that I love you three as if you were my very blood."

Hermione kissed him. "I'm Canadian now so I can. I love you, Milord Bowland."

"Do I get a kiss?" Ron asked.

"Tongue or no tongue?" asked Hermione wickedly.

"Shall we get some wine, Harry," Neville asked.

"Good idea," Harry said as the two of them beat a hasty retreat from the balcony carefully closing the door behind them.

"It's the mountain air," Harry said

"Really?" Neville asked. "Where's my fiancée?"

Harry laughed. Life was good and tomorrow would be a new day dawning.

THE END

A/N: Once again my sincere thanks to all who took the time to read and review this story. God Bless.