Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and her various corporate partners. Keldorn Firecam is owned by BioWare, Atari, or whoever it is that owns the rights to Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn these days, although I have taken several liberties with his character. I own nothing, and I am making no profit by my little ventures into the shadowy realms of fanfiction. I do so purely for enjoyment. I would, however, like to thank JKR for allowing us all to play in her sandbox.

Harry Potter and the Knight of the Radiant Heart

Epilogue

Harry wrapped his thick cloak more tightly about himself as the late November wind tried to pry it away. The weather had definitely taken a definitive turn toward winter, but the sky was bright and clear. Sunlight reflected off of the two monuments in front of him.

One was rather large and ornate. Built of pristine, white marble, the wide, rectangular base rose two feet off the ground. Columns with ionic capitals lined the perimeter like silent sentries keeping watch. They supported a dome of clear crystal that refracted the sunlight and made it dance across the polished surfaces. An intricately carved pediment depicting the mighty deeds of one of the world's greatest wizards stood watch over the steps of the entryway. The entire structure was built around a stone sarcophagus that bore a gilded inscription.

ALBUS PERCIVAL WULFRIC BRIAN DUMBLEDORE

AUGUST 14, 1881 – OCTOBER 31, 1997

HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS

GRAND SORCERER

SUPREME MUGWUMP

CHIEF WARLOCK OF THE WIZENGAMOT

MENTOR AND FRIEND

Another grave, some little distance away, was much simpler. A common burial plot, the earth still freshly overturned. It had an upright, granite headstone.

SIR KELDORN FIRECAM

DIED NOVEMBER 1, 1997

PALADIN

KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE RADIANT HEART

REQUIEM ÆTERNAM DONA EI

ET LUX PERPETUA LUCEAT EI

They weren't the only graves that now occupied the grounds.

Dumbledore's mausoleum stood at the center of what was now the Hogwarts Cemetery. It was an addition to the school born of necessity. The outside world was too dangerous, too full of unknowns to risk a venture for the many necessary burials. The remains of the fallen would rest in the very earth that had been hallowed by the shedding of their blood.

There were many simple headstones like Keldorn's in the new burial ground. Far too many in Harry's mind. Several of them were carved with names that were near and dear to the young paladin. Remus Lupin. Nymphadora Tonks. Colin and Dennis Creevey. Septima Vector. Dean Thomas. Cho Chang. Percy and Arthur Weasley. This list went on.

Even Buckbeak had a simple marker in the graveyard.

The Weasleys had taken the loss of their patriarch and one of their sons rather hard. The fact that they had died like the Gryffindors they were, fighting bravely, was ultimately of little consolation to the grieving family. The knowledge helped, certainly, yet it couldn't replace a brother and a loving husband and father. But Harry knew that they would pull through in time. Charlie had finally turned up a few days after the battle was over. The fact that the rest of her children were safe and sound and within her reach did much to ease Mrs. Weasley's grieving heart. Harry had no doubt that in the coming months, when the pain of loss was no longer quite so fresh, Molly would be getting rather anxious for Ron and Lavender to tie the knot and start raising a family. He was also sure that soon afterwards, hints would start dropping from the Weasley Matriarch about him and Hermione as well. He wouldn't hold it against her, not that he'd be inclined to anyways. She had nothing but good intentions. After all, something joyful would go a long way in healing the wounds of their society.

A large section of the cemetery was denoted only by a single stone. It was decided that the bodies of the undead, the unwilling victims of Voldemort's dark magic, would be buried with respect in a single, mass grave.

The foul remains of the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters were gathered and burned in a clearing in the Forbidden Forrest. Magical fire was poured into the blaze until even the finest of ashes were utterly consumed.

The last remnant of Voldemort's evil was purified by white-hot flame.

Harry sighed as he stood in front of the graves of his two mentors. Dumbledore and Firecam. Wizard and paladin. He had learned so much from both men. They were gone from the present world, but Harry would see to it that their legacies lived on.

Light, help me live up to their example. Help me be whatever you need me to be. And grant them rest and peace, he silently prayed before his eyes swept over the entire cemetery. Light grant them all rest and peace.

A pair of lithe arms snaked around Harry's waist and a chin came to rest on his shoulder.

"You okay, Harry?"

The young man who was both wizard and paladin answered with a sad smile.

"Yeah, I'm okay, Hermione."

He wrapped his arm around the witch, pulling her to his side, and enfolded her within the warmth of his cloak.

"They'd both be very proud of you," she said after a moment of silence. "In fact, I'm sure that they are, wherever they might be."

They stood watch over the graves for a little while, sharing their warmth and giving each other what comfort they could.

"Come on," Harry finally said, "we better get back to the castle. There's lots to do yet."

They turned together, still wrapped in their embrace, and slowly made their way back to the school.

In the days and weeks since the battle, Harry had been feeling more and more responsibility pressing down on his shoulders. And it wasn't just from the fact that Carsomyr was now constantly strapped to his hip. For the many witches and wizards of what was left of wizarding Britain, Harry's legend just kept growing. He was now universally acknowledged as Dumbledore's protégé, and after his actions both before and during the Battle of Hogwarts, everyone looked to him to fill the old wizard's shoes. No one expected him to become the next Headmaster of Hogwarts, at least not yet, but they did expect him to be their leader, their example, and their guide in the difficult times that were sure to come.

He even had a new nickname.

After they had witnessed his defense of the castle, flying on the back of a hippogriff in full armor, wielding a sword, a lot of people started to get ideas. Some started referring to him as 'Sir Harry,' others called him 'the Knight of Hogwarts,' still more preferred 'Protector of Hogwarts.' Eventually, a compromise was somehow reached, and now he was almost universally known as 'Sir Harry Potter, Knight Protector of Hogwarts.'

He had tried to get everyone to stop giving him more monikers of course. He argued that he had never been knighted and that he was no more a protector of Hogwarts than anyone else that did their part against Voldemort. But no one listened to him. The people might have been looking to him as their leader and champion, but that didn't mean that he had any say in what they called him.

Hermione hadn't said what she thought of his new title. He knew that she was aware of his opinion on the matter, but that didn't stop the smile from spreading on her face whenever the topic came up.

At least it's not hyphenated, Harry had eventually admitted defeat. And at least they didn't go with Luna's idea. He smiled as he recalled that particular encounter with the quirky girl. She always managed to bring a light of joy and humor with her wherever she went, no matter how dark the world might seem.

"Hello, Harry Potter," the blonde witch said as she approached him and Hermione a few days after the battle.

"Hi, Luna," he replied with a tired smile. He was relieved that the eccentric Ravenclaw had made it through the fighting unscathed. Like so many others, she had done her part on the battlements.

"Would you prefer that I use your new title, Mr. Knight/Wizard/Paladin of the Chosen Defenders of the Damsels of Hogwarts?" she asked.

Harry groaned at hearing yet another name.

"Where did you get that one?" Hermione asked with a grin.

"'That one' what?" Luna replied, seemingly confused. "If you're talking about my new necklace, I welded it together from spare parts I found at an aircraft hangar…"

"No," Hermione answered, "I mean that absurdly long title you gave Harry."

"Oh. I suppose it is a bit long. Perhaps we could just go with 'M.K.W.P.o.t.C.D.o.t.D.o.H.' How could we pronounce that? Maybe, 'Mic-Kow-Pot-See-Dot-Doh?'"

Harry groaned again.

"Anyways," Luna continued, "I got it from the Quibbler, of course. We published a special edition this morning, what with everything that's been happening. I brought you a copy."

"Luna," Harry started, "We literally just lived through the end of the world. How in Merlin's name did you and your father find the time to print and distribute a new edition of the Quibbler?"

"Oh, you know, the usual," she answered with a waggle of her eyebrows.

The Ravenclaw then handed them a thicker-than-usual copy of the peculiar periodical. The front page of the tabloid proclaimed "Fungus-Man Lives!" in big bold letters. Luna directed them to a page somewhere in the middle of the issue for the article about Harry's new nickname. Hermione had to unroll a small slip of parchment in order to read the entire headline.

KNIGHT/WIZARD/PALADIN-WHO-STILL-CHOOSES-TO-BE-ALIVE-DESPITE-HIS-QUESTIONABLE-WARDROBE-ACCESSORIES RESCUES DAMSELS IN DISTRESS FROM UNDEAD DRAGONS OF THE ROTFANG CONSPIRACY!

By Luna Lovegood

Three nights ago the eldritch horrors of the Rotfang Conspiracy unleashed their dastardly plans upon the quiet locale of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Students and teachers alike were quite taken aback when a sizable flock of revivified dragon assassins arrived at their doorstep. If not for the intervention of seventh-year student Harry Potter, they might have succeeded in their plan to impose mandatory poor dental hygiene upon the female population of the school.

Mr. Potter, who sources say is now referred to as 'Mr. Knight/Wizard/Paladin of the Chosen Defenders of the Damsels of Hogwarts,' single-handedly defeated the undead legions by organizing an impromptu wizarding checkers tournament. Famed wizard and notorious missing-person Stubby Boardman took first prize in the tournament, but it was the byzantine bureaucracy imposed at the last minute by Potter that is credited with defeating of the necro-draconic horde.

Sources were unable to determine why Mr. Knight/Wizard/Paladin of the Chosen Defenders of the Damsels of Hogwarts was wearing nothing but platinum underwear throughout the evening.

For speculation about Potter's sartorial choices, see page 87-92.

For more details of the tournament, see the spherical page.

To unlock the secrets of other eldritch horrors, stare into your nearest abyss.

Harry wasn't sure how many people had actually read Luna's article, but thankfully no one else seemed inclined to use her suggested title.

He also wasn't sure what had happened to the copy of the Quibbler that Luna gave them, but he had a sneaking suspicion that his girlfriend was planning to have it framed.

He could only hope that the House Elves would never catch wind of any of this. If they did, it would probably take twenty minutes just to say 'hello' to one of them.

"How's the research with Flitwick going?" Harry asked the girl at his side as they passed through the gatehouse.

McGonagall had decided that the curtain wall around the school would remain where it was. There was so much that was still unknown about the world outside of Hogwarts, that everyone agreed that extra defenses were a good thing. The Acting Headmistress had managed to mostly repair the damage that was done to gatehouse by Voldemort's Fiendfyre, and volunteers took turns patrolling the ramparts, keeping watch for anything out of the ordinary.

"It's okay," Hermione answered. "Still rather slow going. It's not going to be easy to disable such old and powerful Muggle-Repelling Charms. We still need to find some way to redirect all the magic when we start syphoning it off. If we don't, the charm will just come back in a few days."

Since refugees kept arriving at the castle looking for shelter, it was decided that Hogwarts would officially become a refuge for anyone in need in the post-apocalyptic world that Voldemort had created. And everyone was aware that Muggles were going to be suffering the most in the new magic-saturated environment. Muggles and magicals alike would all be welcome to build new lives at Hogwarts.

Harry was organizing search and rescue teams that would soon scour the countryside for anyone in need so that they could be invited to come the school. But they couldn't start their efforts until the Muggle-Repelling Charms were gone. It would be hard to provide food and shelter to people that were constantly trying to wander off as they suddenly realized that they'd forgotten to turn off their ovens.

"I'm sure you'll figure something out soon," Harry said. "No problem is too hard for the smartest and hottest witch in the world!"

"Oh, stop," Hermione blushed at Harry's blatant flattery.

"Never. Not until you admit the truth."

"You're delusional."

"I've told you before, the girlfriend of the Boy-Who-Lived is always that hottest of the hotties."

"But you're not the Boy-Who-Lived anymore," she argued, "now you're the Knight Protector of Hogwarts."

"You're right!" he exclaimed. "And his girlfriend is always the Beauty of beauties!"

"You're terrible."

"You love me."

"I do," Hermione said as lifted up on her toes to give him a kiss.

"Come on," he said once they broke apart, "let's go find something to eat."

"Yes sir, Sir Harry Potter, sir!"

Harry shuddered.

"Don't do that! It makes you sound like Dobby."

"What's wrong with Dobby?"

"Nothing. I'd just rather you didn't start talking like him."

"Hmm…" Hermione tilted her head to the side and tapped her chin in thought. "I might be willing to agree to your demands, but it's going to cost you."

"Oh? How much?"

The young witch gazed at him through hooded eyes.

"I'm sure I'll think of something mutually agreeable."

"Merlin, I love you, Hermione."

"I'll never get tired of hearing that."

They continued into the castle together. Outside of Hogwarts the world was still falling apart. Inside the castle there were plenty of problems and many wounds in desperate need of healing. But Harry and Hermione had each other. They had good friends and companions. And they had the Light. They'd do their part in building something new.

And they'd be ready to stand against whatever Darkness might come next.

AN: It's over! Then End! Hooray!

What did you think?

She wasn't originally supposed to be there, but Luna just insisted on being included in the epilogue. It was gonna be all serious 'n stuff, but she begged to write another article for the Quibbler. She really does shine like a light in the darkness, doesn't she?

The story's over, but there's still a lot left open and unresolved, isn't there? I actually have a few sequel ideas bouncing around in my skull; maybe I'll start writing one at some point. They're mainly just individual scenes, or character ideas at the moment though. What I really need is a plot. Do you have any ideas? Would you be interested in reading a sequel? Let me know in a review.

(Updated August 28, 2017) Good news! I've actually started writing the sequel to HP & KoRH! I've got extensive notes and a few roughly drafted chapters written. However, I don't plan on posting anything until the story is complete, or at least until I have a complete rough draft. I learned that lesson with Knight of the Radiant Heart when I started posting as I was writing, but then it took me almost four years to get the thing finished. And in the mean time, you all had to suffer through some rather long waits for updates. If only I had the time, money, motivation, and discipline to dedicate myself to fan fiction full time. But alas, I do not. If there's ever anything to say by way of progress updates, I'll try to post something in my profile.

If I do ever manage to finish the sequel, I'll try to remember to post an update here so anyone following the story gets a notice. But you might want to throw on an author alert as well just in case.

Note that I've started going through the story for another edit. I've also been removing many of the longer author's notes so that the chapters flow better. If you're curious about what I've had to say during the writing of this story, or if you want to see some comments about a few of the things that have happened, check out my forums. I created them specifically for the purpose of archiving story notes. There's a link in my profile.

If you made it all the way to the end, please do me a favor and leave a review. Fanfic authors get nothing in return for their efforts except for the (dubious) joy of writing as well as the feedback of their readers. So, leave a review, please. Let me know what you think!

Finally, I want to say thanks to all the readers. Thanks to everyone who favorited or followed the story. And most of all, thanks to all the reviewers!