Chapter 25 ? Aftermath

I'd like to thank once again those who have taken the time to read this and review.

All canon characters belong to JKR.

A huge thanks to June, for all of her help and suggestions, especially the last few paragraphs here.

Chapter 25 – Aftermath

After the battle ended, volunteers stayed on the battlefield to identify the dead. Albus was amongst those volunteers, so he was able to point out the body of "Rodolphus Lestrange." The body actually belonged to a minor Death Eater whose face had been deformed by hexes, and Albus simply added a beard and lengthened the man's hair. Rodolphus was not a public person; few people in the wizarding world actually knew what he looked like in recent years, and most of those people were Death Eaters themselves. The fact that he'd been a private man most of his adult life, now worked in his extreme favor.

Albus knew from speaking with Lucius by Floo the previous night that Rodolphus might take the opportunity to flee after the battle, if he were to survive. His disappearance into the forest did not go past the all-knowing and sometimes all-seeing Headmaster, who had been helping Harry to his feet when he saw Rodolphus leave. While Rodolphus had murdered many people in the past, Albus knew that without the help that the Death Eater had given the Order, things might have ended differently, and many more innocent people may have died. The least Albus could do was allow him a new start, for it was clear that Rodolphus wanted to redeem himself.

Severus and Lucius made their way to Hagrid's Hut, only to find Hermione and Ginny outside sitting on the steps. They both stopped and looked at each other.

"Why am I not surprised," said Severus as he caught Hermione, who had flung herself at him. "I should have known no wards Draco or Weasley could set up would keep you in there."

While Hermione bathed Severus with kisses, Lucius held Ginny tightly.

"I was so scared," said Ginny as she trembled. "I saw you fall, and I thought..."

"You thought that you would risk your life and our child's life to come and save me." Lucius held Ginny back slightly. "Ginny, what if something would have happened to you?"

Severus and Hermione now stopped and looked at the other couple.

"You didn't tell me you were pregnant!" said Hermione as she now happily hugged her friend.

"Well, congratulations are in order then for the both of us," said Severus.

Lucius looked puzzled. "You two are having a baby as well?"

"No, we were married yesterday," said Hermione as she showed off her ring.

"Oh, Hermione, I didn't even notice that!" said Ginny.

For a brief moment they all forgot about the world around them.

It was only when Severus saw a dragon land nearby that he remembered. He slowly approached Ginny and took her hand. "Ginny, I need to tell you something."

All laughing ceased. Ginny now looked towards Lucius and then Severus again. Lucius also looked at Severus, not knowing what he was about to say.

"What is it, Severus?" asked Ginny nervously, as she noted the serious look on her ex-professor's face.

"When Hermione saw me earlier, I was fighting with a Death Eater, who..." Severus faltered slightly. "Ginny, I saw your brother Charlie fall from the dragon he was on. By the time I reached him, he'd been killed by a Death Eater, the one I was fighting."

Ginny felt her knees grow weak and she leaned against Lucius.

"I'm sorry, I...I just couldn't get to your brother fast enough."

"Charlie," whispered Ginny as she felt her body grow numb.

Hermione buried her face in Severus' chest. She felt the sting of tears in her eyes as she watched Lucius hold Ginny. She grieved for Charlie and felt badly for Ginny, but she was glad she'd hexed the Death Eater before he was able to kill Severus.

"Come, we should get to the Headmaster's office." Lucius led the way as they walked back towards the castle.

From the outside, they entered the castle through the Great Hall, where there was a flurry of activity. Aurors and Order members who were slightly injured were treated at Hogwarts' infirmary, and those who were in need of critical medical help went to St. Mungo's.

While Severus and Lucius had earlier helped sort Death Eaters, there were now more prisoners to be processed. Aurors held uninjured Death Eaters in conjured holding cages; Ministry officials were taking notes and questioning some, to determine whether to send them to the Ministry or Azkaban. The critically wounded were being taken to St. Mungo's, which had a separate secure ward for injured Death Eaters, while others who had minor injuries were being attended to on the spot, not taken to the Hogwarts infirmary.

Everything looked to be proceeding well, so the four of them went up to the Headmaster's office, which was the base of operations.

Upon entering, Ginny spotted Ron. He was standing next to Draco and Harry, whose arm was in a sling. She rushed to her brother and held him tightly and cried. Ron was shocked for a moment, never having his sister cling to him so.

"It's all right, Ginny. I'm fine, we're all fine. Well, Fred and George are still at St. Mungo's, where they have to wait for several days until they can be separated. They're low priority for now." Ron patted her back as Ginny held him tighter.

By this time Arthur and Molly approached the two siblings.

"Ginny, that was very foolish of you to run of into the battle the way you did," admonished Arthur.

Severus placed his hand on Arthur's shoulder. "Arthur, I'm sorry but I have some bad news."

Molly nervously held Arthur's arm, as Bill now came up behind his mother. Arthur looked around the room; he realized now that Charlie was missing. He looked into Severus' eyes and knew.

"Did...did you see it happen?" he asked.

Severus shook his head and took a deep breath. "No, I only saw him fall. I tried Apparating to him, but there was just too much conflicting magic on the field and I couldn't get my bearings straight. By the time I reached him he had been killed by a Death Eater, who should be among the prisoners. I'm sorry."

Bill stepped forward. "It's not your fault, Severus. You tried to go to him."

Arthur, being Minister of Magic, needed to stay at the castle until all the prisoners were dealt with, and from there he'd need to go the Ministry. He asked Bill to take his mother home and care for her, as Ron continued holding their sister.

Lucius began to walk away, but was held back by Arthur. "You're part of this family now, Lucius. Please, Ginny needs you." Lucius nodded and went to Ginny. Arthur looked at his wife. "I'll bring our son home, Molly."

Harry and Draco stayed behind at the castle. Harry needed to give his final statement before he could leave, but promised he would get to the Burrow the moment he finished.

Molly, Bill, Ron, Ginny, and Lucius then left the Headmaster's office and walked outside to Apparate to the Burrow. Severus and Hermione stayed behind helping with the rest of the identifications. They also took the burden of readying Charlie's body for the trip back to the Burrow, not wanting Arthur to be the one to do this. After all was in order at Hogwarts and the Ministry, Arthur, Severus, Hermione and took Charlie's body to the Burrow, where he would be remembered and grieved.

In the days after the battle was over, lives went on and the living adjusted to the new world that had emerged. Muggleborns were most relieved, no longer needing to fear the coming of the Dark Lord and the prejudices that would have accompanied him.

When Lucius sent Neville home with Lynnette from the battlefield, the young wizard found something waiting for him at his home. There was an owl perched just beneath the veranda. When he opened the French doors, the owl swooped inside and dropped a package on the coffee table, then flew out the same way it had entered.

Knowing that there were battles happening in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade as well as Hogwarts, Neville wondered if the package was something more than it seemed. He moved a still shaking Lynnette to stand behind him as he held out his wand towards the package.

Slowly, it began to unwrap itself, and the box opened.

"Wh...what is it?" asked Lynnette nervously. She'd known that falling in love with a wizard would be an adventure, but she'd never planned on anything the likes of what she'd already experienced.

"I'm not sure really," answered Neveille as he craned his neck up to see if he could see what was inside the box. Slowly, so that neither of them became frightened, a pale mist formed just above the box, and the form of a man began to evolve. It was Rodolphus Lestrange.

"Mr. Longbottom, by the time you receive this, I will most likely be dead. I do not expect to live beyond the battle that has taken place today. For this reason I am leaving you my family home. I know this in no way absolves me or mine for the wrong we have committed against you and your family, but this is my way to at least, in some small way, try to pay you back for our misdeeds. You will find the magical deed included in this package. It is quite legal and binding, I assure you. I have very few house-elves, but they have been instructed to follow your every command, and understand that you are their new master.

"Take my home, Mr. Longbottom, do with it what you will. Please bring to it the happiness that should have always existed inside of its walls."

With those final words, the figure of Rodolphus Lestrange disappeared.

Neville and Lynnette approached the package and peered inside. There was a thick parchment, and several very old keys. Neville picked up the parchment and unfolded it. It was the deed to the Lestrange property.

"He's given you his home, Neville," said Lynnette in awe as she looked at the deed's drawing of the large home. To her eyes, it was similar to Mr. Malfoy's, only this home, even though a drawing, looked abandoned,

Neville felt his eyes tear, and a large lump formed in his throat. He too looked at the drawing, and noticed there was an "L" on the property's front gate. It was likely he wouldn't have to change much at all. He then looked at Lynnette.

"What do you think, Lynn? Should we?"

Lynnette was taken aback, not expecting to be included in such an important decision.

"I...I don't know, Neville. It seems he had no family left and wanted you to have his home very much. It's your decision, though. It would ultimately be your home."

"You mean our home," said Neville. "You are going to marry me, aren't you?"

Lynnette smiled. "Well, I suppose after a proposal like that, I'll have to." She kissed him, and then looked once more at the drawing of the house. "His wife died to save your life and now he is most probably also dead. He wanted you to have this, to make it a happy place. I think we can make it a happy place."

They moved into the newly renamed Longbottom Manor on the day of their wedding, a week later.

Neville set up a room in his new home for his herbal remedies. He had to think ahead; he now had a wife to support – and maybe children one day.

Six months after the battle...

Molly had some difficult months after the death of Charlie, the second son she had buried in this war. But she knew that her other children needed her and it was no use living life mourning the dead. She would instead cherish the memories of her lost sons, and looked forward to her first grandchild from Ginny and Lucius.

Ron, who had been training on and off with his brother in Romania, decided to become a dragon handler. He'd found that it was something he actually enjoyed and was very good at. He stayed at the Burrow for two months after Charlie died, then decided it was time to go off on his own. He'd also decided he wanted to settle down. Seeing his friends happily ensconced in their relationships, Ron wanted his own partner to share his life with. He would eventually meet a woman who'd come in as a trainee from Germany. Ron finally met his match in wizard chess. The two dated for two months before they married.

Ginny finished her healer training. After talking with Neville one day during a visit to Longbottom Manor, they decided to open a small practice together in Hogsmeade. Ginny would use her ability as a healer, and Neville would make and distribute any prescribed herbal remedies for maledictions.

Ten months after the battle...

Draco and Harry purchased Neville's old home. They liked the old feel of it, and it suited their needs and had plenty of room for the two of them. After finally marrying in a small ceremony, they adopted two children from one of the many wizarding orphanages that were created after the war. Their new son and daughter's parents were Death Eaters killed in the war. The children would be brought up knowing what their biological parents' beliefs were, as well as being taught that it was wrong to judge someone based on their blood. Whether persons were pureblood, halfblood, or even from Muggle parents didn't mean they weren't as good as everyone else. It was what you were in your heart that mattered.

After she gave birth to their son, Orion, Lucius presented Ginny with a two-carat sparkling yellow diamond and asked her to be his wife. They'd always both known they would marry, but waited until after the baby's birth just to be different from the norm. Besides, Ginny had been too busy for wedding preparations; she and Neville spent hours readying their new practice in Hogsmeade.

Lucius continued his work at the Ministry of Magic, and would one day become the Minister of Magic after Arthur retired.

Severus and Hermione did indeed conceive their first child on their wedding night. Olivia Snape, Hermione decided, would be just like her father. The new mother already noted what would soon be a temper to be wary of, although it seemed that Severus was the only one who could calm the month-old Olivia when she was in a rage.

Severus would go on to become the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, while Hermione stayed home raising their children and writing research papers on the benefits of combining potions with spells and charms.

As for Rodolphus Lestrange, according to all official records, he died on the battlefield, his body hexed almost beyond recognition. In the months after the war and for years to come, he would be praised publicly by Albus Dumbledore, Arthur Weasley, Lucius, Severus, and other Order members. In a special interview with the Daily Prophet, Harry Potter himself told of how Rodolphus had placed Voldemort in a body-bind so that Harry could kill him. In an interview with Witch Weekly, Neville spoke openly of how Bellatrix Lestrange had died to save his life, and how she and Rodolphus regretted their actions; as proof, he showed them the deed to the Lestrange property that Rodolphus had given him. The Lestranges – once feared as loyal Death Eaters – had become tragic heroes, destined to be studied by generations of History of Magic students at Hogwarts.

Miles away from Britain, a man sat overlooking fields of ripening grapes and smelling the scent of newly blossoming roses. Dante Monte Cristo would soon have a new destiny.

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I have just a short epilogue which is basically all Rodolphus. If you are interested, then I should have it up on a couple of days, if you wish to skip it, then this is the end of this story. I thank you for reading it.