Exactly 365 days ago, I posted the first chapter of something that would consume my life for nearly a year. And now, a year, 267 pages, 119 353 words, and 190 reviews later I have this last chapter to give you. We've come so far! I had no idea that this would become so big. But I love it. This is the first story I've finished and actually liked.

Thank you to all of you who have been here since the start, everyone that's joined along the way and all of you who have favourited, alerted, and reviewed. You have no idea how much it has meant to me and writing this story, sharing it with you all, has just made me grow as a person. I hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have!

A special thank you to: xenaz3, semantics, Talis Ruadair, Alexybath, weirdgiraffe, and Linnup for reviewing the last chapter.

Epilogue: The Games of Fate

Many Years Later:

As it turns out, fate has odd ways of operating. Everything happens for a reason, as they say, and this time was no exception to the rule. There are many events that occur, events that may seem singular in existence, and events that seem to have no meaning at all. Humans, as intelligent as they are, only see the linear connections, perhaps manage to see no connections at all. But in worlds above, beyond, and disjointed – the view is not the same.

No, not the same at all.

It is not linear, but a web of interconnected events, thoughts, feelings, emotions all brought together by the one that they call fate. It cannot be ignored. It cannot be destroyed. It is something that humans create themselves. It is something that holds everyone together and at the same time, takes everything apart.

Fate really is a fickle thing. It seems as if it toys with you, extorts from you that which it needs and discards you with everything that it deems useless. Sure, play your part for the higher purpose. Do whatever it is that needs to be done for the good of the world. But resent it not, for that may be an event in and of itself.

Scorpius Malfoy finally understood.

He had pondered it for years on end, why fate had destined his family to suffer such an early demise. He had mulled it over in his head constantly. No, others were not aware of the direction that his thoughts were headed. They had no inkling of the intricacies that had developed in his head. But he had thought of it all nonetheless. He had drawn up a picture of what was, what is, and what is to be.

And it was all the bloody same, wasn't it.

Scorpius had realized that everything he had done so far in life had already been expected of him. He realized that fate had sent him here to do a job – and so, that is exactly what he did. He did what fate had asked of him.

Of course, that's not what he told everyone else. How absurd would that be, exclaiming to the world that he was what he was because fate had told him to be this way! They would lock him up in a loony bin, stash him away somewhere in the darkest corners of St. Mungos, and never let him out. The world was not a very accepting place, even if Scorpius was the most respected member of Wizarding Society to date.

The illustrious life of Scorpius Malfoy was not to be taken lightly. He had started young, quite fresh in fact. Straight out of school and into a domain that his father had built for him. No one had taken him seriously at first, of course. He had had to grab it all by the balls and make it bend over for him. Not to be crude, or anything.

Yes, Scorpius Malfoy had done a lot over the years.

It had started small. Small for him, anyways. He had begun where his father had left off. He had expanded his father's life long work to an international basis, a truly global sensation. It had spread to nearly 194 countries – and if that's not global then you're truly messed in the head.

It hadn't been enough.

He was 20 and the owner of a multi-million galleon company, but the fire inside him hadn't abated even the slightest bit. Every time his father's last words to him replayed themselves in his head, he felt a surge of energy that made him stay up all night and pace his office. It wasn't enough to have achieved success people dreamed of all their lives in such a short period of time. No, he would need much, much more to satiate the beating of his overworking mind.

So, he continued what his father had touched upon – things that his mother had completely advocated. He began campaigning for muggle rights with a gusto his opponents could not match. He lobbied for the equality of wizards, witches,muggleborns, muggles, and creatures alike. Had Hermione been alive to see the work he had done for the working conditions for house elves, she would have had tears in her eyes.

He was 25, owner of a multi-billion galleon international enterprise, the face of the new surge in the equality of muggles and muggleborn movement, chairman of 15 different charities, yearly donor to 40 other charities, shelters, orphanages, hospitals, and schools.

But still, it had not been enough.

Even though the wizarding world now was going through what seemed to be the most peaceful years it had ever seen in the history of witchcraft and wizardry, Scorpius Malfoy was not satisfied. Despite the fact that Scorpius had singlehandedly ensured that blood status would never be an issue of war ever again, he had not had enough. Regardless of the fact that he had practically rebuilt the wizarding world to its stature before Grindewald had struck his reign of terror – Scorpius Malfoy could not have enough.

So, he thought that perhaps it was his education that was lacking – his drive perhaps needed knowledge and that was all. So, he attended lectures. He read books. He went to forums and institutes of higher learning. Five years and his massive energy led him to be known as one of the greatest minds that ever lived. He had written journals, books, papers...

Yet it brought him no peace.

Does it surprise you that it was not enough?

Most people didn't notice his despair. Most people were simply happy to live under the shadow of what they thought was to be the next Albus Dumbledore. Many were glad that Hermione and Draco had only had one child. Living under a shadow that large would have been...mentally and emotionally difficult, least to say.

No, no one really cared about Scorpius. Sure, they loved him. They praised him to no end. They definitely relied upon him. But he felt he was missing the love he remembered his parents had shared when Hermione had still been alive. He remembered how hollow his father had lived after she had died.

He wondered when he would find his own love. He couldn't sleep at night, wondering if this was the piece of his life that left him unsatisfied. Perhaps it was love that he needed. But what could he do? He could not simply walk around the street, asking random women if they were his soul mate. If there was such a thing, fate would bring them together.

A year later, Scorpius Malfoy married Lily Luna Potter at the age of 31.

It brought some semblance of normalcy to his life, at least for a few years. He was happy for the first time in his life since his father had passed away. His drive for success had been put in the back seat for a moment. Now he had found a new source of accomplishment in his life – pleasing Lily Malfoy.

And thank Merlin it wasn't an easy job.

But soon, Scorpius became aware of all of her secrets. He knew everything she wanted and when she would want it. He knew how to give it to her. Eventually, they had two children – a boy and a girl, but Scorpius was not satisfied any more. Yes, he had a family and he loved them so dearly that his chest ached from it, but he could no longer rely on them to fulfill him.

He needed something more, but he was at a loss to say what. All of his life had been centred around finding something, accomplishing something, doing something or another for the wizarding world. If not for the wizarding world, then for his peace of mind.

And so, a week after his 37th birthday, exactly twenty years after his father had passed away, Scorpius Malfoy could be found sitting behind an enormous desk in an office that was furbished elegantly. But the office, though newly acquired, was not what Scorpius' attention was focused on. He sat behind his lovely desk, poised perfectly over a set of well worn documents. He was on the last page of what seemed to be a large pile of yellowing parchment.

There was a knock on the door and the head of his secretary popped in the door. He didn't raise his head to acknowledge her. He probably hadn't even noticed that she was there yet, he was that absorbed in whatever it was he was reading.

"They're ready for you, Mr. Malfoy," she finally said, breaking the heavy silence.

"I'll be there in a moment," he said, acknowledging her presence, much to her relief. She had worked with him for 8 years and had learned his moods well enough to know he didn't want to be disturbed. She just hoped that he would hurry along with whatever he was doing so she wouldn't get in trouble. She left him in silence, shutting the heavy door behind her.

Scorpius sighed and stood up, brushing away the invisible wrinkles on his robes. He straightened the pile of papers to lay perfectly in order on his desk. He stared at the title fondly. If there was anything that gave him something to work for, it was this.

Apathy: Love for the Broken ... By: Draco Malfoy

The script was elegant and easy to read. His heart jolted as it always did when his eyes lay upon the title page. His father had written this and he had given it to him. Of course, Scorpius had seen to it that the book be published... but he had kept the original copy all to himself. He had the unedited version and no one else would fully know the lives of his parents. They had been great people.

Feeling inspired, he took a breath. If his parents could go through all of that because fate had put them through it to get him this far, he could live and make example for their sake.

He put enchantments over his office to prevent anyone from entering. It was unnecessary, of course, but one could never be too sure with safety. Advice, compliments of Draco Malfoy – the most paranoid person he had ever known. And with that advice well heeded, Scorpius left the room housing what he believed was his most valuable possession.

Fate really is a fickle thing, he realized as he stared out at the massive crowd that had gathered to see him. Everyone had their own place in life. His mother had happened to be thrust into the position of raising the world's salvation. His father had been dropped in to hold pieces together until he was ready. And he...

Well, he was a special case.

At least, that is what he thought as he began to give his first speech to the public of Britain as the youngest minister of magic ever to have lived.

A/N: Want to spend another year with me? I've made a goal that I'm going to write my take on every kind of Harry Potter story there is. So far on my list I have: Time Travel fic, Marriage law fic, Veela fic, Head boy/Head girl fic, Alternate dimension fic... Any suggestions? Let me know and I'll most likely write something or another about it in the future.

So you'll see quite a lot more coming from me in the future!

~ Murtagh799

Unsigned Reviews:

Alexybath: No, unfortunately there will not be a sequel to this story. I think that it ended on a pretty good note, but I will continue writing other fics and other Dramione stories. :) I don't think I'm going to write any more one shots regarding this story either – but more about Riddle in other stories in the future. I love him as a character too much to let him go so easily. – About everything else, it's all up to your imagination, mate! (Sorry, annoying, I know).