Chapter Twenty Two:

Love, Always

The next few hours were somewhat hazy for Harry. Accompanied by Alex Greenway, he was rushed into the Hospital Wing, where Poppy Pomfrey and her supporting team – consisting of Madame Hooch, Professor Slughorn, Mrs Weasley, Bill, Fleur, Ernie Macmillan, and many other able volunteers – were busy at work, having sprung into action to aid the wounded as soon as it had been safe to do so.

Harry remembered seeing the chaos in the overcrowded chamber, with the assisting nursing staff running back and forth, as different patients cried out in pain from their beds. Harry's nose caught the scents of blood, burns, and healing salves. Then the countless sights and sounds overloaded his exhausted state of mind, and the world became a blur…

When he opened his eyes once more, it took a few moments to take in the familiar ceiling and walls of the staff bedroom he shared with Ron. Sunlight lit up the half-cluttered room, and the only sounds he could hear were the whistling of birds beyond his open, arched window. A faint, welcome breeze softly pushed aside the parted curtains and tickled the loose strands of his hair.

His nostrils flared. The scent of a friend reached him, and he groaned as he started to sit up. His aching muscles protested.

"Gently, Harry."

The dreamy, Irish brogue-accented voice was music to his ears. Harry turned slightly to see Luna Lovegood sat on a wooden stool next to him. She dabbed some antiseptic-soaked cotton wool on his healing cuts, then smiled at him.

"Good afternoon. Did you sleep well?" Luna's silver- grey eyes appraised Harry.

"Urrr… I guess. Afternoon already…? How…, how are you, Luna? And…Ron and Hermione! How are they? And the others…!"

"Relax, Harry." Luna put the cotton wool down and lightly stroked his face with her cool hand. She then handed him his spectacles. As he slipped them on, Harry saw, to his relief, his wand on his bedside cabinet.

Luna followed his gaze and grinned. "Ron and Hermione found it for you. They're fine, by the way. So are most of our friends… There was no room in the Hospital Wing, so Madame Pomfrey ordered you to be taken to your own chambers. And when I tracked you down… Well, I felt you needed the personal touch, Harry." She looked hopefully at him. "Can I hug you? Without hurting you, I mean…"

Harry smiled warmly at his beloved girlfriend. "Oh, go on, then."

Luna did just that. They slowly exchanged a passionate kiss. Harry breathed in Luna's scent – overlaid as it was with sweat, blood, and the traces of those she'd fought in the Final Battle.

As they broke lip contact, Harry remembered the fight in the dungeon-like cell where Professor Lupin had been held captive.

"You were quite the beast in tearing Zacharias Smith apart," he pointed out. "Not that I'm ungrateful for you saving me…"

"He was about to kill you," Luna announced simply. Her hand stroked Harry's. "I will not allow anyone or anything to endanger your life again, Harry. That's not just the wolf in me speaking – it's the lady as well." Her expression brightened a little. "I did find time to brush my teeth since the fighting – but I'll need to wash, later… Anyway, I am so proud of you, Harry! Alex spoke to me, Ron, and Hermione. He was so excited; he couldn't help telling us what had happened to Pansy, Draco, and Bellatrix…"

Harry's hand found Luna's again. His thumb softly rubbed hers. "They don't matter anymore…," he announced. "We do. All of those for fought for our cause, I mean. I saw Professor Flitwick on the Astronomy Tower. What about Professor Lupin, and Mad-Eye? Hagrid? Tonks…?"

"They've all survived, Harry," Luna reassured him. "Even the House Elves thankfully managed to avoid most of the damage the Death Eaters dished out to them, after Winky led a charge of Elves from the Kitchens to the Great Hall and beyond. Professor Moody did get some injuries from a Death Eater's attempt to bring down the cabinets in the Trophy Room, though. Professor McGonagall's nursing him in her own quarters. I rather think she's taken a shine to him, actually!"

"Oh, that's…" Harry mentally conjured up an image of the Transfiguration teacher and the Master Auror spending quality time together, and he smiled. "…that's… Well… Good for them!"

Luna's smile faltered. "There is someone out of our party…"

"Let's hear it," Harry urged her, his expression turning serious.

"Charlotte Greenway's in a private room, and being seen to by Professor Sprout," Luna related to him what Neville had told her. "Firenze is recovering – but Neville and Alex are now both with Charlotte."

"Will she be all right?" Harry asked.

Luna paused. Her gaze dropped towards the floor. "I don't know, Harry," she admitted sadly.

"She'll live…"

Both Harry and Luna gave a start as the shade of Moaning Myrtle emerged from the wall close to Harry's bed.

"Please, Myrtle… Don't do that!" Harry protested. "Try knocking first!"

The bespectacled ghost tilted her head as she regarded Harry. She giggled. "Sorry, Harry. I won't do it again – I promise."

Luna took in the other girl's expression. "Myrtle! Glad to see you've recovered from Bellatrix's jinx! You have news for us, I take it?"

"I have, actually…" Myrtle simpered. "I flitted through the room where that Greenway girl was, as I searched for you, Harry. Your friend… Her legs have been crushed. And Professor Flitwick and Magorian were hanging around outside. The centaur leader was angry - saying that there were hardly any mares left in the centaur haras, thanks to their sacrifice in the battle. The Headmaster looked thoughtful. He went to speak to the two young men with the poor girl. I didn't pry any further."

Harry's worried expression changed as he stared in wonder at his phantom visitor. "You were searching for me… But I've never seen you this far from the toilets and bathrooms before…"

Myrtle smiled. "The ties that bound me when I died have faded away since you killed the one who unleashed the Basilisk. The one who caused my death, dear Harry."

Luna nodded, understanding her. "Voldemort," she declared.

"That's right, Luna! I could have left Hogwarts when he perished – but I wasn't quite ready to go. Now, with the Death Eaters gone, I think it's time to move on – before it gets too boring around here. Time to meet whatever's waiting for me out there." She pointed upwards. "So, I've come to say goodbye to you both – like I have already to Ronnie and Hermione."

Harry nodded. His throat tightened with emotion. "If you see her… Pass on my regards to Ginny."

"And from me, also!" Luna added.

"I will." Myrtle smiled widely, and looked up. Her semi-transparent form turned into a scattering of blue-white lights that then shot through the ceiling.

She was gone.

"Ah, bless her!" Luna declared.

Harry turned his attention to her. "Well, I guess we're alone again, now," he commented with a smile. He studied her tired-looking face thoughtfully. "You look like you could take a break, Luna."

She sighed. "I could do with a rest. But I don't want you to be alone, Harry." Luna's eyes lost their focus, as the wheels in her head moved in mysterious ways. Then she flashed her teeth in an impish smile, pulled out her wand, and flung back the covers to Harry's bed.

"Hey! Luna – what are you doin…?" Harry's voice died away, as his companion cast a spell on him.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

To his surprise, Harry found himself levitated, in his pyjamas, from his bed. However, he did not go far. Rising just an inch into the air, Luna directed him a foot or so sideways, then gently lowered Harry back down.

Harry turned to regard the space next to him on the bed that his girlfriend had just created, and a slow grin grew across his face. "You sly fox," he remarked.

"Please, Harry. I'm a sly wolf. Some of the time, anyway," Luna remarked happily. She took off her shoes. Keeping her other clothes on, she carefully got into the bed next to Harry so that she didn't touch his bandaged stomach wound – then she pulled the blankets back over them both. The two teenagers snuggled against each other.

"There – that's better," Luna sighed in contentment.

"I'm still a junior teacher, with you being a pupil – you know, Miss Lovegood," Harry cautioned her. But he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, just the same.

"Oh, that's alright, Mr Potter," Luna responded airily. "Now that we're back at school, nothing more than a kiss and a cuddle wouldn't hurt. The rest will come at the right time."

"Absolutely," Harry agreed. He kissed her cheek, then removed his glasses, before resting his head next to Luna's…

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

In the corridor outside the set of rooms belonging to Harry and Ron, Molly Weasley was striding along at a brisk, determined pace. A few steps behind her, trying to keep up, were her youngest son and Hermione.

"Stabbed in the stomach, you say? By that wretched Malfoy boy. And yet his wound's already half healed? Well, I've heard of the recuperative abilities of werewolves – but still, I want to personally check on how poor Harry's doing…" Mrs Weasley rambled on, without pausing for breath, as she waved one hand in the air in her agitation.

"But it's true, mum!" Ron tried to convince her. "Madam Pomfrey told us, herself. And I'm sure Harry's being well looked after by Luna whilst he sleeps…"

"Still, she has been with him for some hours – whilst we've been tied up elsewhere, Ron," Hermione conceded. "We should take over, to let her rest."

"Oh, that girl must be exhausted!" exclaimed Mrs Weasley, as she stopped outside the door that led to Harry and Ron's rooms. "Now, I know you say she's a good friend, and that she and Harry have become a serious item – and that you feel I'm barging in. But I simply want to see for myself that Harry is well…"

Sighing, Ron whispered the passwords needed to unlock the door, and the three of them then strode over to the bedroom.

"Harry, dear! I brought along some healing portions. They may taste foul – but my aunt always swore by them… Oh!"

Molly and Ron Weasley, plus Hermione, all froze in their tracks as their eyes took in the sight of Harry and Luna sleeping peacefully together in Harry's bed. Both of them were smiling in their slumber. Ron forced himself to look away, and he thus caught sight of Hermione's gaping jaw and his mother's flustered expression.

"Er… I think Harry's on the mend, mum," he managed to say.

"Ah… Well… Yes. Tell you what…" Molly took out the potions from her handbag and left them on Harry's chest of drawers. Then she walked backwards out of the room, pulling Ron and Hermione with her by their hands.

As they exited back into the corridor, Hermione grinned as she glanced back at the notice Mrs Weasley had just magically conjured up and hung on the door.

It read: 'Do not disturb!'

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

"On the count of three," Professor Moody snarled. "One. Two. Three!"

"Expulso!"

As one, the wands of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Professors Lupin, McGonagall, Slughorn, Sprout, and Faraday, collectively blasted both the four-meter high statue of Lord Voldemort and the plaque of dedication below it. The colliding beams of magic caused the stonework to explode, scattering countless pieces of melted rock across the annex chamber before the Great Hall.

As he watched, Harry saw – with satisfaction – the last pieces of the Dark Lord's face crumble into dust.

Hagrid came up to Harry and patted his shoulders. "An' good riddance to his followers, too!"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned to Hagrid. Their grim-faced expressions were soon replaced by smiles as they all fell into his huge embrace.

"Amen to that, Hagrid!" Harry declared.

The teenagers looked up as Lupin and Tonks – accompanied by Luna – joined them. The joint-DADA teacher – now re-appointed to his duties by Professor Flitwick – bore a few, fading scars on his face and hands, and he looked tired. But he and Tonks also seemed happier than Harry had ever seen them before.

"You had a proposition for our young friends here, Rubeus. Have you told them?" Lupin put to Hagrid.

"Oh, tha'! Well, this is thur firs' chance I've had to catch up with 'em, Professor. Had to check thur school and thur grounds, along with Kingsley Shacklebolt and some Aurors. All clear, I'm gla' to say…"

"What proposition?" Ron piped up.

"Well, Ron, Harry, Hermione." Hagrid's eyes twinkled as he bent forwards slightly to appraise them a little closer. "Instead of tha' insulting monument you've jus' destroyed, 'ow about we put up another dedication? A garden of remembrance, not far from me hut. Where my hut was, anyhow… It got wrecked in thur fighting this mornin'. Anyway, we can have a plaque for Ginny. And for all the pupils and Freedom Fighters who perished during this war…"

Harry, Luna, Hermione, and Ron all considered this, as they looked at each other and communicated without words. Then they all nodded and smiled.

"Yeah. That'll be great, Hagrid," Ron answered first. "I'll tell the rest of my family."

"Good idea," Harry agreed. "And let's not forget those who were forced by the Death Eaters to die defending the school – not just our side."

"I think Professor Flitwick's already considering the possibilities." Luna gave a nod in the Headmaster's direction, as he walked away with the heads of the four school houses. A thought came to her and she asked Harry: "Do you know what happened to your Uncle Vernon, Harry? We saw what became of your aunt and cousin."

"Er no – I don't," he admitted.

Lupin broke in with a heavy sigh. "Whilst I was held captive, Fenrir gave me the occasional visit. He taunted me with what I suspect was a mixture of truths and lies. One thing he related was the capture of your aunt's family, Harry. He, Bellatrix, Draco, and others arranged for the abduction of your relatives – as a message to you that they would strike at anyone who you knew. In time, the woman and boy were bitten by Fenrir, and were turned into his collared slaves. Upon their first full moon, I was told, they were given a large meal – your Uncle Vernon."

Harry stiffened, as the image of Vernon Dursley being savagely killed by his own family flooded into his mind. He hurriedly blanked out the scene, before his stomach would force its contents back out of him.

So… They were all out of his life, then. Despite their abuse and neglect of him, Harry felt sorry for the Dursleys. They hadn't asked to be dragged into this…

"I'm glad you made Greyback pay for his crimes, Remus," he declared.

"Hey – wait a mo'," Ron added. "What about the confounded werewolves fighting against us? Weren't there any survivors?"

Professor Lupin looked down at the floor, a sad expression on his face as he shuffled his feet.

Tonks took his hand and answered for him. "As you know, spells would not work against those who wore the gold collars. They all died in the battle. However, there were two or three human survivors who were bitten during the fighting…"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "More werewolves for the Ministry to take responsibility for, then," she pointed out. "At least this means our kind is less of a minority, to be treated like lepers…"

Ron groaned. "Here comes the spokeswoman of the Society for the Protection of Emancipated Werewolves… Oh god…! It'll be SPEW again!"

Harry and the others broke out into laughter. Hermione scowled, and raised her hand – as if to swat Ron's ear. Then she relented, smiled, and drew Ron into a kiss, instead.

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

The day after the liberation of Hogwarts, having spent many hours in helping to restore the school to normality, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Luna were told to gather in the early evening for something important. Meeting them at the front entrance was Hagrid. He had brought over a couple of lanterns, ready for their trek.

Fang had survived the war – but he did not like being too close to werewolves, even in their human skins. So leaving him behind with a now-recovered Argus Filch, Hagrid led the three junior staff members and seventh year pupil into the Forbidden Forest.

Once upon a time, Harry had been afraid of venturing too deep into the forest. As a growing boy, it had been - after all - where he had first encountered the terrifying presence of Voldemort. Later, there had other dangers – Aragog's spiders, and Professor Lupin's then-uncontrolled bestial nature. Since becoming a werewolf himself, however, Harry had come to regard some of the wooden expanse as the natural territory of the werewolf pack.

As the four friends followed Hagrid into the gloom hanging beneath the treetops, Harry noticed Luna's nose twitching as she drank in the scents of the foliage and hidden creatures. Hermione, too, was regarding the forest with the enhanced senses that she did not have the last time she had been here. Harry and Ron shared a grin as they realised that they and Professor Lupin would now be sharing their territory with their loved ones, as well as other friends. Alex, Clifford, Padma and Parvati. Possibly also with any of the other pupils-turned-werewolves who had survived the war – once they had been released by the Ministry, that was.

Eventually, Hagrid reached a huge log that had fallen across a ridge, in the heart of the forest. It was as tall as the half-giant. He stopped in a dell right before it.

"Here we are!" he announced to his troop.

"Er. Okay…" Harry glanced around him, peering into the darkness. He thought he could sense movement in the shadows. There was an animal scent coming from somewhere nearby. "Why are we here, Hagrid?"

"The Headmaster swore me to secrecy, 'arry. Until the experiment was done." Hagrid looked pleased. He nodded towards some figures now emerging from behind the fallen log. "I'll let 'em explain."

Alex Greenway, Ernie Macmillan, and Firenze walked out to greet the newcomers.

"Hey! Where have you lot been?" Ron exclaimed. "We've not seen you all since the fighting finished. Or Charlotte or Neville, come to that…"

"Yes. How is your cousin, Alex? We've been worried," Hermione put to him.

"She's fine. Neville too," Alex replied happily. He looked relieved, Harry thought. "Like Hagrid, we were sworn to secrecy, whilst Charlotte was being patched up from her injuries. And… Well, you'll see."

"See what?" Ron frowned.

But Luna was taking in Firenze's coy smile – the first time any of them had seen the wise centaur patently happy. And the perceptive Ravenclaw was starting to understand. "Oh, my…!" She grinned.

Harry took in her expression, then faced Firenze with growing amazement. "Magorian told the Headmaster that there's hardly any females left in the centaur haras. Did your people really…?"

"We did, Harry." Firenze looked proud. "It is old magic, not practiced for a long time. But Professor Flitwick asked Magorian if it was possible – and when it was found to be so, the question was put to young Miss Greenway. She did not take long in giving her consent. And Mr Longbottom gave his, also. The magic took hours to be completed."

"Well – no way was my cousin going to accept being in a wheelchair for the rest of her life…," Alex pointed out.

"Her crushed legs!" Ron snapped his fingers. "But 'consent'? For what…?"

Firenze looked back towards the log, and called out, "My friends. You can show them now – if you wish!"

"Oh… Okay! Here we come!" It was Charlotte's voice. She sounded anxious.

She and Neville emerged from behind the huge log, hand in hand. Although Charlotte still wore her spectacles, the clothing of both of the teenagers was minimal. Both of them had on a leather jerkin – but below their waists the pair wore nothing except fur. Rather a lot of fur, Harry and his friends noted. A dark-brown in Neville's case, and a rich bay colour on Charlotte.

They both smiled nervously – but at the same time, proudly – next to Firenze, against whom they were nearly as tall. Neville shifted his fore hoof, idly playing with a loose stone on the ground, as his chums stared back with wide eyes. A pair of horse-like tails swished behind the altered witch and wizard.

"You've become…centaurs!" Hermione squeaked. She walked forwards and hesitantly brushed the fur above first Neville's foreleg, then Charlotte's. Ron, then Harry and Luna, did the same. Then they laughed with relief, and shook the hands of the new-born centaur couple.

Firenze, Hagrid, Alex, and Ernie watched the reception – pleased that the new Neville and Charlotte were being accepted.

"Now we two also know what it's like to be half-human." Neville winked at his werewolf friends. "My aunt's been told. She's… Well – she's going to have to accept it. These new bodies are for keeps."

"It must have been painful – and frightening…," Luna remarked.

"The magic was applied to us carefully, and gradually – so it wasn't so nerve-wracking. Besides, the strength and speed we've been blessed with has been more than adequate compensation for the negative side of things," Neville grinned. "And Magorian and the other centaurs have accepted us."

"The forest is our home, now," Charlotte added. "But Neville and I will still come to Hogsmeade to help Ernie run the herbalist shop, when we can."

"From outside, anyway," Ernie pointed out. "We'll have to set up a tent. No room indoors for those two – especially since my partner's now too big for his boots!"

"Hey!" Neville playfully swatted Ernie's ear – which produced laughter all round.

"And when the time is right…" Charlotte rested her hand on Neville's shoulder, giving him a coy look. "…we'll help to ensure the survival of our new race, by raising our foals-to-be."

Neville took Charlotte's hand in his once more, and beamed back at her. "We will, indeed," he pledged.

Harry grinned at them. "We're happy for you both, Neville, Charlotte. You deserve each other," he declared.

"Talk about Neville being a dark horse…" Harry heard Ron mutter. Then his friend cried out, "Ouch!"

Harry glanced down, and tried to suppress another grin.

Hermione had just stomped on Ron's foot, to shut him up.

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

Another three days passed, whilst the school was in the process of being cleaned up from the damage inflicted during the final battle. The Ministry personnel that was at hand – co-ordinated by Percy and others – saw to the gathering of bodies, from humans and house elves to werewolves, trolls and giants, as well as naming the deceased. There were only a few prisoners taken away – mainly those such as Lavender Brown and the unwilling werewolves, who had been Imperiused. But Delores Umbridge and the injured Death Eater Yaxley were put under heavy guard. The pupils who were at hand jeered at both Umbridge and Yaxley as they were removed from the premises.

Meanwhile, for the duration of the summer, it had been agreed with the Muggle government and local council that the Ministry of Magic would continue to lease the unsold houses in the town not far from Hogwarts, to those in the wizarding community in need of them, to give them time to adjust to the recent upheavals.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron were happy enough to move back into their quarters. But with Luna, still being a seventh-year pupil, the situation was different.

"Our school year - along with the NEWT exams - has been totally disrupted," she pointed out to her now-closest friends, as they all sat together on the hill overlooking the Black Lake. "Professor Flitwick has let it be known that we all have the choice to retake our final year and sit our exams. So…, I've chosen the NEWT route."

"Oh…" Harry was glad that normality – or something like it – was being restored. But now it looked like he and Luna would be separated by the staff-pupil divide. Like he and Ginny had been. He voiced this to her, Hermione, and Ron.

Luna smiled at him. "I did explain to the Headmaster of our close friendship, Harry. He thought about it, and suggested that I could take my NEWTs, whilst employed as a member of staff, meself!"

"Ah-hah!" Ron grinned. "In that case, you two don't have to wait another year to become an official couple!" Then his face fell. "Hold on a mo'! Now that the Death Eater Army is in chains or in coffins, haven't we put ourselves out of our jobs? After all, we were…"

"…training to become Aurors?" Harry finished for him. "Er, yes… We might as well complete our training. We could still be needed in the future, I guess."

"But that's a good point, guys. We will all need a back-up career plan." Hermione idly brushed a lock of her hair back as she spoke. "I'm happy working in the library, under the new librarian – and Ron's keen to resume Quidditch coaching…"

"Too right!" Ron smirked. "And the pupils want to get stuck back in, too."

"I'll have to think of something else for me I could do." Harry met the gaze of his girlfriend. "What role will you take on, Luna?"

There was a thoughtful look in her eyes, as she answered his question. "I like to help people with their problems, Harry. I was thinking of becoming a school counsellor. After all, the Death Eaters badly affected the pupils who were trapped in the school when they invaded. Those boys and girls were encouraged to spy on each other, and study the Dark Arts, and worse. I think I can help them to come to terms with what they suffered, given the training."

Harry patted her shoulder, in approval. "From my experience, I know that you can help others with their problems, Luna."

"Thanks, Harry." She beamed at him.

"Well… Let's not forget our appointment tonight, everyone!" Hermione reminded them. "Special pack meeting."

"Oh yeah. I heard what was planned…" Ron smiled. "That sounds really good…"

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

The night of the next full moon was not due for another few days. Nevertheless, Harry was looking forward to the chance to let his wolf roam in the grounds of the school for the first time since the Final Battle. As the evening light gradually faded with the sinking sun, Harry and his friends gathered at a designated safe spot in the Forbidden Forest – a clearing surrounded by the tall trees.

The forest air was fresh from the rain of the afternoon. The scents of pines, earth, passing owls and the other denizens of the green depths reached out to tantalize the sensitive noses of the werewolves, even though they were still in their human skins.

The centaurs had gone back to their abodes in the forest, but Neville and Charlotte sat themselves down to one side of the clearing, their slightly-pointed ears twitching occasionally, taking in the sounds of the forest. Harry had just spoken to them both, and found that they were adapting to their new lives, learning how to hunt with bow and arrows, and learning the centaur-lore of the various trees and plants within the Hogwarts estate, both natural and magical. Neville was now in his element, adding to his knowledge of herbs. Harry realised that he and Charlotte would help to improve the relationship between the centaurs and the wizarding community.

Close by, Hagrid and Tonks had just drawn up a magical circle of protection. Meanwhile, the pack survivors: Professor Lupin, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Clifford, Alex, Padma, and a now-freed Parvati Patil, were sat talking in groups. The scent of anticipation and excitement from them was slowly building…

"All right, my pack members! It's time." Professor Lupin clapped his hands, addressing them all.

Having now been granted the power to transform whilst still wearing clothes, thanks to the amulets the Ministry had given to Harry, Hermione and Ron, Lupin nevertheless still felt it prudent to disrobe for the night in question, and he announced that he was heading for the nearby trees to change.

"Everyone, find a place in the forest to transform. You may wish to undress whilst doing so. Then come back here," he told them.

Harry and Luna glanced at each other. An exchange of mischievous smiles between them decided the matter.

The pack headed off in different directions – Professor Lupin and Alex by themselves, Ron and Hermione scuttling off together, whilst the Patil twins and Clifford kept close company as they jogged over a nearby rise. Harry took Luna's outstretched hand, and – sighting Hagrid's and Tonks's smiles – walked off to find a deserted spot.

Once they found a suitable place, Luna dropped off the backpack she had been carrying and unfolded from it a thick blanket. Harry raised his eyebrows at her.

"For later," Luna explained. Her silver-grey eyes locked onto his and held him.

Harry placed his hands around her shoulders, then tilted his head to one side. The two of them came together in a long, gentle kiss.

"I should let you know," Luna announced dreamily. "My bark is worse than my bite."

Having seen Zacharias Smith fall to Luna's fangs and claws, Harry wasn't sure how to take her words. "Luna…," he finally spoke. "…wolves don't bark."

"See? I just said my bark was terrible!" She giggled.

A mock groan passed Harry's lips. Meanwhile, Luna gave a toothy grin, as she rubbed her cheek against his, nuzzling him. Acting as one, they began to undress each other – leaving only their underwear on. Harry's spectacles were placed on the neatly-folded pile of his clothes by Luna.

When they were ready, the two teenagers concentrated and called upon their wolves to rise to the surface of their beings. In a matter of minutes, Harry and Luna transformed and they fell to the forest floor upon all fours.

A wolf howled from close by, summoning them. Howling in reply, Harry and Luna raced each other to the clearing – with the grey-and-white she-wolf beating her dark-furred companion by a matter of seconds.

As he panted to recover his breath, Harry snorted as Luna wagged her tail against his nose. She turned and gave a lupine grin.

I beat you!

I let you win! Harry teased her back. Luna – like himself and the others – had fully integrated their dual-natures. And just as you couldn't take the wolf out of Luna, Harry mused; neither could you take Luna out of her wolf…

He looked across to the centaurs. The brown-furred male wolf that was Alex was now being stroked affectionately by Charlotte and Neville. Two more wolves – Hermione and Ron – were queuing up to exchange greetings with the new centaurs, also.

No problems there, then.

The seven juvenile wolves turned and stood to attention as Professor Lupin growled for attention. The alpha-male of their pack then looked across to Tonks.

Although she was still in the circle of protection with Hagrid, the pink-haired witch had also been busy – getting changed whilst the werewolves had done so themselves. To be more exact, she had removed her clothes whilst Hagrid had purposely turned his back, then she had rubbed a magic salve into her skin. Now, crouching down, she let the blanket wrapped around her drop to the ground, whilst Hagrid stretched out the wolf skin he had carried over from the castle. Shaking slightly, Tonks placed the hallowed-out wolf head over her face, and arranged the skin to drape over her body as much as possible.

Harry and his lupine brothers and sisters sat down to watch and wait. Harry had earlier learnt that the wolf skin and salve had been discovered in the Ministry's vault of confiscated magical items. Arthur Weasley had managed to track down the half-forgotten objects, to help out Tonks and Remus Lupin.

For about a minute, nothing happened. Then, stepping outside the circle of protection, Tonks panted for breath, feeling a rush of heat through her animal skin-clad body. She gave a cry and fell to one side. Professor Lupin held himself back, as a noise familiar to the werewolves filled the air – the sound of bones crunching and stretching. Harry saw Tonks's form change. Woman and fur skin fused together – and then she fell silent and still, lying prone across the clearing. She lay there, panting; recovering her strength – then rose upon her paws as a proud, newborn she-wolf.

Tonks threw back her head and howled. Her song conveyed a note of pure joy. Lupin loped over to her, and howled also – adding his voice to hers. The rest of the pack, Harry included, instinctively responded in kind.

When the song was over, Tonks turned to regard the other wolves. She sniffed at the large male besides her, who then drew up and gently rubbed his muzzle against hers. The cranial fur of the new wolf began to change colour. Whilst her pelt remained a dark-brown tone, her pointed ears twitched above a coating of hairs that had suddenly turned a shade of violet, as the she-wolf smiled and affectionately rubbed whiskers with the alpha male.

Harry's lips curled into a lupine grin. All was going well.

Tonks gave a snarl as first Hermione, then Luna, and finally Padma and Parvati padded forwards from the gathered semi-circle. One by one, the she-wolves rolled onto their backs, exposing their throats to the fangs of the latest addition to the pack. Tonks growled, and sniffed at each of her new sisters, nudging them back up - then returned to stand besides Professor Lupin.

With the ritual now complete, the werewolves moved forwards to greet their alpha female – their pack finally complete. From this evening on, they would gather in the forest, from time to time – and help safeguard Hogwarts and its inhabitants from the next peril that would dare strike at the school.

Hagrid tossed some fresh meat to the wolves, which was gratefully torn into. Then, with a growl from Remus Lupin, he and Tonks got ready to move on.

My children… He glanced at Tonks, and then corrected himself. Our children. This is our night. We mourn the loss of Elliott, but celebrate the arrival of my beloved Dora – wolf sister in spirit, if not in blood. The two of us will now leave you all to hunt and enjoy the night as you see fit…

Nipping each other's ears, Lupin and Tonks padded off into the forest. They soon broke into a run, yipping excitedly, as they disappeared into the darkness.

Alex went with Parvati, Padma, and Clifford, as they all set off – racing each other. Ron and Hermione exchanged yellow-eyed glances with Harry and Luna.

Ready for a hunt, guys? asked Ron.

The other three nodded and raised their dark noses to the air. Picking up the scent of the wild boars Hagrid had recently released in the forest, the foursome gave a goodbye howl to the groundsman and the two young centaurs. They waved back.

"Good hunting to yeh all, young 'uns!" Hagrid called out as the pack vanished amongst the trees.

Neville glanced at the half-giant. "They'll…mate…tonight, won't they? Just like Professor Lupin and Tonks," he asked, blushing.

"Tha' they will, Neville. They're all adults now. As are you two. It's the march of time. An' it's a night to celebrate. Talkin' of which…" Hagrid pulled out from his belongings a bottle of whisky. "Care to join me? Got some lemonade and fruit juices here, too, somewhere. If yeh prefer."

"Why not?" Charlotte and Neville laughed. And soon, the three of them were drinking to the future, under the starlit skies.

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

Along with Yaxley, and the few other captured Death Eaters (also including willing collaborators such as Hans Grogan), Professor Delores Jane Umbridge was tried at a Ministry of Magic court which was well-attended by the wizarding community, the Daily Prophet, and Mr Lovegood from The Quibbler. Considering that he'd first met her at the very same courtroom, the best part of four years previously, Harry felt it fitting that the deposed 'Headmistress' saw him in the packed public gallery – along with Luna, Ron, Hermione, and Percy and Arthur Weasley.

Minister Rufus Scrimgeour presided over the proceedings. After hearing a toe-curling, pleading defence from Umbridge herself ("I was only doing what the Death Eaters ordered me to do. If I did not, the children – as well as myself – would have suffered more at their hands!"), the jury then listened to testimony from pupil after pupil after staff member who had been unfortunate enough to have been trapped in Hogwarts during the reign of the Death Eaters' occupation. They recounted how Umbridge had re-established the same strict regime as three years previously – only with the added threats of being press-ganged into Fenrir Greyback's Imperiused werewolf pack, or becoming the sport in the organised full moon night-hunts in the grounds (hunts by which Professor Sinistra and even some of the more rebellious, older pupils had lost their lives).

And Professor McGonagall gave her eye-witness testimony of Umbridge striking Harry Potter with the Cruciatus Curse during the Third and Final Battle of Hogwarts.

Next, the former Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, took the dock, and publically expressed his shock and disgust at the treatment of the pupils who had suffered under both of Umbridge's periods of stewardship at Hogwarts.

"Four years ago, I authorised Delores Umbridge to ensure firm and fair treatment of the pupils at Hogwarts – as well as controlling what I believed to be malicious rumours of Lord Thingy's return." He slammed his hand on the rail before him. "I trusted her to use the powers granted to her wisely. I was a fool – and I have since apologised to Harry Potter and all those who also received the harsh treatment this woman dished out! She had no conscience against working hand-in-glove with the Death Eaters. Nor did she do anything to prevent their attempts to conduct a magically-enabled massacre of both wizarding folk and Muggles."

That got a roaring cheer from the crowd. Ron joined in – and Harry, Luna, and Hermione all smirked. Even Percy (who had supported Umbridge, whilst being unaware of the extent of her actions at Hogwarts) couldn't resist punching the air with Ron and his father.

The jury unanimously found Umbridge guilty of all charges raised against her – and Scrimgeour subsequently sentenced her for life imprisonment. The distraught, crushed toad-like woman stared at the smiling faces of Harry and his company, lost for words. Then she was led away, hounded by the clapping and jeers from the public gallery.

Yaxley and the other captured Death Eaters, and their willing collaborators were also found guilty, and put away behind bars for the rest of their lives.

Delores Umbridge spent about five years at a newly-constructed Ministry prison. Time in which she slowly went half-mad. Then, one pitch-black night – during an attempted escape – she fell foul of a pit trap within the perimeter of the grounds. There, she became engulfed by a surviving colony of Aragog's giant spiders that Hagrid had provided for the Ministry's use.

By the time the guards located the source of the screams and found their lost prisoner, it was too late for Umbridge.

They retrieved her remains the following morning…

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

After a hot and happy summer, the next academic year after the Final Battle of Hogwarts saw further changes. Ron and Hermione qualified in their respective jobs at the school, whilst Luna became a liked and effective school counsellor, employing her unique sideways angle of analysing people and their problems, as she worked to come up with both conventional and offbeat solutions that helped the pupils with their self-doubts and fears, over matters such as bullying, peer pressure, fitting in, exams, family problems, plus more unusual topics. All of which Luna treated in confidentiality.

With Professor Lupin taking on the newly-created post of Cabinet Advisor for Lycanthropic Affairs (a task he took on, with Tonks as his aide); Professor Alistor Moody consequently took over the previously job-shared role of DADA teacher at Hogwarts. But he had a proposition for Harry, as the young man discussed his uncertainty over his future career, now that the Death Eater threat seemed to be finally destroyed. At the end of a busy Friday, after the final class had left the classroom, Moody slapped his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"The time will come before long for me to retire, lad! You're my teaching assistant. How would you like to become my understudy – to take over when I've gone?"

Harry felt his jaw drop. Excitement flooded through him. "Teach full-time…? But… Professor Flitwick? What would he say?"

Moody's false eye swiveled in its socket, as though doing its own little dance of joy. "The Headmaster seemed quite taken with the idea, when I put it to him. So…, what say you? Thought I would give you some time to prepare for the responsibility! Well? Are you up for it? Teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts – full time, after I step down?"

"Oh… Well, I… Definitely!" Harry grinned so widely, he felt his face would split into two. He shook hands with Mad Eye – then whooped and dashed off to tell Ron, Hermione, and Luna the good news, as his mind took in the implications of the opportunity he had been granted.

Now the four of us will be together here, as permanent staff!

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

On the last Saturday in March 2001 – just over two years after the liberation of Hogwarts, the first of a series of weddings took place. A delighted Professor Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks posed for the flashing, old style cameras after their ceremony at the chapel that had been built in the months following The Final Battle.

As they stood waiting to one side, in the Garden of Remembrance, Harry, Luna, Hermione, and Ron took in once more the names of the heroic fallen listed on the huge plaque that had been erected: Professor Sinistra, Fawkes, Elliott Eamesworth, Mundungus Fletcher, Anthony Goldstein, Cormac McLaggen, various centaurs, a few house elves – and not forgetting those from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, and many others, who had lost their lives during the course of the war, within the Hogwarts estate. And, also listed, were those who had died, whilst fighting for the Death Eaters against their own free will – Romilda Vane and Stan Shunpike amongst them. The Dursleys, too, were to be found on the long list.

Harry's eyes shifted to the first line of the plaque. It read: 'In loving, joyful memory of Ginny Weasley, whose sacrifice was never in vain'.

Feeling tense, Harry raised his head and gazed at the shifting clouds above, hoping that wherever she was now, Ginny was looking down with happiness at him and Luna, Hermione and Ron, and the Lupins.

Sensing his thoughts, Luna instinctively took hold of his hand, and he turned to her – seeing in her silver-grey eyes the sorrow of the past, but also the hope and promise of the future. Her sad smile faded to relief as his lips arched upwards, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder – gently drawing his mate closer to him, keeping each other warm in the early spring breeze.

"Done!" the lady photographer announced, taking the final photo of Remus Lupin and Tonks with the bride's proud parents. "How about the groom's family?"

Professor Lupin smiled and turned to the werewolf pack, all gathered around in their human identities. "They're right here. Come on, you lot!"

"Yes sir!" Ron grinned, and led Harry and the girls – plus the rest of the pack – over to join the photo session.

Later on, at the reception, Harry walked over to congratulate the Professor and his new wife.

"Wotcha, Harry!" Tonks beamed, as she finally decided to kick off her uncomfortable wedding shoes.

"Good luck to you both. It was a lovely service," Harry announced, shaking their hands. He paused and looked at the blushing bride. "I've realised something… I can't really call you 'Tonks anymore. So, what's it to be…, Mrs Lupin?"

She gnashed her teeth in mock anger. Lupin was trying to hide his grin.

" 'Dora… I'll accept 'Dora'. Never my full name, though!" She then smiled and playfully butted her fist with Harry's.

"Honeymoon organised?" Harry asked, as he sipped his glass of champagne.

"All done! We're off to Norway and Sweden. See the fjords from a cruise boat," Lupin announced.

"…and practice some more with my wolf skin in the forests. With Remus as my teacher, of course." Dora grinned – then her eyes slid past Harry. "Someone needs your attention, kiddo."

Harry turned round to see Luna being trapped in a one-sided conversation with Professor Trelawney, who was rambling on about the prophetic properties of different brands of Muggle tea leaves. Her thin hands were making odd bird-like gestures in the air.

"A piece of advice – never keep a lady waiting, Harry," Remus winked at him.

"Thanks. Have a great honeymoon, you two!" Harry nodded, and left them to the attentions of the other well-wishers. He then made an excuse to the seer – and took the hand of a relieved Luna, before heading over to the buffet where Ron and Hermione were already eating…

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

The same chapel saw a double wedding take place in the following July, after the end of term. Following on in the footsteps of Fleur Delacour, a beaming Hermione became Mrs Weasley. She and Ron smiled broadly as Harry and Luna then exchanged their solemn vows also – before both couples sealed their respective unions as the vicar announced to the grooms: "Gentlemen, you may now both kiss your bride".

The seated crowd – composed of the Weasley family, Luna's proud father, the Lupins, the pack, the teachers, and their DA friends – all erupted with a show of hands and cheers. Neville and Charlotte stomped their fore hooves in delight, and Hagrid blew his nose with a large, garish-looking handkerchief – before he joined in with the clapping.

Outside, the four were whooped and showered with confetti as they climbed into a covered Thestral-driven coach for a ceremonial drive around the school grounds (which had been restored to their natural, swamp-less, state). Fred and George set up some fireworks as they took to their waiting broomsticks. The couples flinched at the noises assailing their wolf-sensitive ears, but they took it all in good humour.

"Well… Congratulations, Ron and Hermione! Luna and I wish you all the best!" Harry declared, as Luna nodded, smiling.

"Thanks! Same to you two, as well. You both deserve it!" Ron responded happily, as the carriage door was shut and the wheels started turning.

After a minute of relaxing and watching the Weasley twins performing aerial loops in the air as they playfully taunted each other, Hermione spoke.

"The itch is catching!" she remarked breathlessly to them all. "Did you see how comfortable Professor McGonagall was with Mad Eye all the way through the service?"

"I did! And Ernie and Hannah Abbott were giving each other sly looks," Ron shot back. "Maybe we ought to lay bets on who and whom walks up that aisle next."

"And I noticed Charlotte seems to be pregnant," Luna announced brightly. "I hope parenthood suits her and Neville!"

"Another addition for the centaur haras… Great news!" Harry hugged his mate and – yes, his wife, now – close to him. "How do you feel…, Mrs Potter?"

Luna arched her lips into a wide smile. Her captivating eyes twinkled back at him. She was now truly the wallflower who had become a radiant rose. And her true beauty came from her heart and soul.

"I have never been happier…, my husband!" she answered. Her parted lips came closer, and soon she and Harry were lost in each other.

When they broke apart, Luna gave him a puppy-eyed look. "How about we go for a run in the woods after midnight, Harry? It'll be a fine night for it."

Harry grinned and made a playful growl, as he rubbed his nose against hers. "Let's make it a great night – one to remember, for all the right reasons." He stared deep into her silver-grey eyes, which were weeping tears of happiness. "I love you, Luna Potter. Now and always," he declared.

She returned his earnest look, and embraced him. "Ditto, Harry. Love always," she responded in kind.

The Weasleys smiled at them. Then Ron squeezed Hermione's hand, and she returned the gesture – both of them feeling exactly the same way as Harry and Luna. Soon, Hermione met Ron halfway in their own passionate smooch…

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

In the next few years to come, Remus and Nymphadora Lupin would raise a son – named Teddy, after Tonks's father.

Next to follow were Ron and Hermione Weasley – with Hermione giving birth to a pair of beautiful twins in October 2003. The babies were called Tabatha and Timothy.

Within the same academic year, Harry and Luna became doting parents to an adorable girl. Honouring the memory of Harry's mother – and also Ginny – they called her Virginia Lily Potter.

When their biological clocks allowed, all four of the babies obeyed the call of the full moon and became cubs in the werewolf pack that Remus and Dora Lupin always came back to lead, nurture, and protect come each full moon.

Charlotte Greenway, too, gave birth. The centaur foal was a girl, and her proud parents bestowed her with the name of Epona – after the Celtic goddess of horses.

Just after the birth of Epona, Susan Bones (now an orphan after the war) came back to Hogwarts. Although she had visited her friends Charlotte and Neville on previous occasions, this time she had come to stay – in order to be with the teacher she had fallen in love with. The day after her arrival, Harry and his friends congratulated a beaming Susan as she emerged from the Forbidden Forest, with an equally-happy Firenze, as his centaur companion.

Many more events happened in the lives of Harry Potter and his companions and family. But the evils and horrors of Lord Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Draco Malfoy were firmly behind them – echoing only as occasional nightmares that faded away in time. Harry's scar never caused him pain again after the day Voldemort/Tom Riddle Junior had perished in flames – the day when Ginny became imprinted with the nature of the werewolf, and the fates of Harry, Luna, Ron, and Hermione began to take a direction none of them had expected…

As to what else the future brought to them all… Well, that was another set of stories altogether.

THE END!

End notes:

Whew! Finished at last! I hope the readers of this story enjoyed it as much as I took delight in writing it. Remember that most of 'The Lycanthrope Legacy' was written before I read 'The Deathly Hallows' – and I aimed to write an end-of-the-Death Eater-war saga along the lines of how I felt it should have ended, regarding who died and who survived.

Thank you to those who reviewed! Incidentally, no one seemed to pick up on my joke of the minor character, the pupil Desmond Troy who became one of the Stone Inferi in Part One (abbreviate his name to DesTroy…).

So what prompted this story in the first place?

Good question. It was my discovery, via the Internet, that Draco Malfoy survived the war! To me, he should have been one of those characters still out to kill Harry – only to come fatally undone at the end. Hence, he – not Voldemort – became the main antagonist for Harry in 'The Lycanthrope Legacy'. Also, Professor Lupin is one of my favourite Potter characters, and I found it disappointing that JK Rowling never bothered to have him in his altered form after 'The Prisoner Of Azkaban'. There was so much potential in the werewolf storyline waiting to be explored – which I hope I've done to a satisfactory degree.

If you have not done so already, please read my other stories (and those that I've marked as favourites)! With luck, there will be more to come.

Keep on writing!

RMB