Chapter 20- Epilogue
Everyone slowly opened their eyes and immediately recognized the place—it was Albus's room.
As soon as they opened their eyes, a strong headache overwhelmed them, and no one dared to move. They all closed their eyes again and immediately fainted from the pain. They lay on the floor like statues, the headache was too intense. Some hadn't even opened their eyes; why hadn’t it hurt this much when they traveled to the past?
After a few minutes, the headache began to ease, and little by little, some started to sit up.
James was the first to recover from his headache and sit up. He was surprised to see several people in the room.
Standing there were his parents—some of them, not all. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Harry, Draco, Fleur, and his cousin Roxanne.
As soon as he finished sitting up, his mother rushed over and enveloped him in her arms.
“You're okay!” Ginny exclaimed. “Where have you been?” She was crying.
“It’s a long story,” James said, pulling away from the embrace.
“I don’t care; I want to hear it,” Ginny wiped her tears. Her three children had been missing for hours, and she couldn't help but think the worst.
“Young man, you better explain,” Harry said sternly, trying not to cry; he had also feared the worst. “I received a note from your cousin saying you weren't home, and then it seemed you weren't anywhere in London.” Harry pretended to be angry, but he was truly worried.
“Um... well...” Where should he start? “No, they wouldn’t have been able to find us even if they wanted to,” James said, immediately realizing that wasn’t the best way to explain.
“What do you mean?” Harry asked sternly.
“Well, it’s just that...” James couldn't finish his sentence.
“What happened? Where are we? Did we come back?” Scorpius had stood up, his memories fuzzy. When he saw everyone around him, he recalled everything. “I think we did it,” he said awkwardly.
“DAMN IT, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?” Draco yelled at his son while rushing to hug him. “Do you know the fright you gave me?” Scorpius shook his head.
“How long were we gone?” Scorpius asked, confused.
“Eight hours,” Draco exclaimed. Scorpius was about to respond when someone else woke up.
“False,” everyone turned their gaze to her. “We were gone for a week and a half.” Ginny rushed to her daughter.
“Oh my God, Lily, are you okay?” Ginny hugged her.
“Yes, Mom,” Lily replied with a smile, but it quickly faded. “Oh no.” She stood up abruptly, causing a slight dizziness, ignored the pain in her head, and knelt next to Alice. “Alice, Alice,” she shook her. “Are you okay?” Lily was worried; if the time travel had affected them so much, what had happened to Alice? She didn’t know much about this illness, but that was exactly why she was concerned. What if something had happened to her?
“Five more minutes,” Alice replied, lying face down. “I’ll be right there; my head is spinning.” Alice complained, and Lily softened her expression.
“You’re fine,” she reassured her. The same had happened to her a few seconds ago; it wasn't something to worry about.
“What happened to Alice?” her father asked, kneeling beside Lily.
“Nothing, Dad, nothing,” Lily noticed how different her father acted and looked now compared to when he was at Hogwarts.
“Are you okay?” Lily nodded but immediately jumped up, startling Harry. “What’s wrong, Lily?” her father asked, concerned. Lily didn’t answer and approached Victoire.
“Vic, Vic,” she shook her. “VIC!” She shook her again, and this time Victoire opened her eyes. “Are you okay?” Victoire nodded.
“Yes, I just feel like my head is about to explode, but...” Victoire suddenly stood up and ran to the bathroom—or at least where she thought the bathroom was; her head was spinning too much to differentiate it from any other room. She entered a room, thinking it was the bathroom, and vomited.
“I’m fine, this is normal!” Victoire shouted, and Lily responded from the other room.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, yes, I’ll be right there.” Lily relaxed her expression as all the adults and Roxanne looked at her for answers.
“Lily, do you want to explain?” Hermione asked kindly.
“It’s not my story to tell,” Lily replied. Draco lost his patience.
“Well, let’s resolve this once and for all.” He fixed his gaze on Scorpius and tried to use Legilimency on him but failed. “Do they teach Legilimency at Hogwarts?” Draco asked, frustrated.
“No,” Scorpius replied simply; he didn’t want his father probing into his thoughts. They would tell what happened, surely, but some things were private. Well, maybe that wasn’t the reason; maybe he didn’t want his father to see his mother alive and talking to him. Maybe he didn’t want his father to suffer again.
“Then how are you doing it?” Draco insisted in vain.
“Rose, I wasn’t going to let you win that easily,” Scorpius said, looking even more confused. “We have a little rivalry about who knows more. Two years ago, Rose learned Legilimency, and, well, I couldn’t fall behind,” he explained simply.
“Give me your wand, Scorpius,” Draco demanded, his patience wearing thin. Scorpius handed over his wand.
“It won’t work anyway; I erased my wand’s spell history,” Scorpius said. Draco rolled his eyes and tried anyway.
“Scorpius, this is advanced magic—how?” Draco asked, astonished.
“No idea; I didn’t do it; Dumbledore did.”
“Dumbledore is dead,” Draco pointed out, though his voice trembled a bit.
“Now he is, but before, he wasn’t.” Draco understood everything.
“Not again—did you travel back in time again?” Scorpius nodded. “You’re all insane!” Draco stood up and suddenly felt a strong wave of heat rush through his body; his face turned red with anger. He took off his jacket. “What’s with the time travel? What catastrophe did you cause this time? How—” Draco was cut off by James's voice.
“You!” James said, pointing at Draco’s arm, his eyes watery. “Thank you.” Draco looked at him, confused. James stood up and hugged Draco. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Everyone looked on in shock; they couldn’t believe their eyes—James Sirius Potter hugging and thanking Draco Malfoy. It was impossible. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” James pulled away from Draco, who had already understood what James meant and returned the hug. “You saved me!” At this point, James was crying.
“James, what are you talking about?” Harry asked, still stunned by what had just happened.
“Didn’t you tell them?” James shook his head. “How did you know it was me?” James pointed at Draco’s arm, where the Dark Mark was covered by a Muggle tattoo. Draco smiled kindly. “Do you like it? It’s better than the Dark Mark.” Draco stretched out his arm so James could see the tattoo.
“Yes,” was all James replied.
“Can someone explain what happened?” Harry asked. What did Draco know about his son that he didn’t?
“Dad, now’s not the time—”
“Of course it is; this is the time!” Harry exclaimed.
“Dad, I’ll tell you in private, okay?” Harry nodded, resigned.
Suddenly, everyone woke up at the same time. Hermione rushed to Rose, Ron to Hugo, Fleur to Louis, Ginny to Teddy, Harry to Albus, and Roxanne to her brother Fred.
Victoire appeared in the room. “Uncle Harry, do you have a cloth?” Harry turned to Victoire.
“Yes, why?”
“I need to clean up the vomit,” Victoire explained, somewhat embarrassed.
“Let me handle it,” Teddy said, trying to stand.
“No, it’s okay; I’m fine now; the dizziness and headache have passed.” Teddy nodded weakly, not insisting.
“Magic?” Harry suggested.
“I left my wand at home,” Victoire explained. During her time in the past, she had been using a borrowed wand, a strange experience.
“Do you want me to take care of it?” Victoire shook her head.
“Alright, the cleaning supplies are by the kitchen door.” Victoire thanked him and left the room, followed by Fleur.
“Okay, does anyone want to explain?” Hermione demanded.
“Yes, Mom, I promise I’ll explain everything, and then you can scold and punish me however you want, but please give me ten minutes; I need to keep a promise,” Rose pleaded. Hermione looked at her sternly.
“Rose, what did you do?” she asked again.
“Please, ten minutes,” Rose begged once more.
“One hour; I want you here in an hour, and I want to know where you’re going,” Hermione laid down the rules.
“Thanks!” Rose turned to Lily. “You’re coming with me.” She pointed to Lily.
“What did I do?” Lily asked, terrified.
“Nothing, but I need to keep a promise, and bring the jar.” Lily grabbed the jar they had been given by Lisa and Emma. “Mom!” Rose called out to her mother.
“Yes?” Hermione replied.
“Do you know a girl named Emma Lint?” Rose asked.
“I remember her from my years at Hogwarts, but I don’t know what she’s up to now.” Rose hadn’t thought about how difficult it might be to find her.
“Do you know anything about Lisa Lint, Charlie Sent, or Zack...” She looked at Teddy for his last name.
“Lorent, Zack Lorent,” Teddy completed.
“No, I’m sorry, I don’t know who they are,” Hermione said.
“I do; Zack Lorent works at the Ministry; he lives...” Harry took a piece of paper and wrote down the address.
“Thanks, Uncle Harry!” Rose took the paper.
“Rose, what did you promise?” her mother asked threateningly.
“I promised Emma Lint that I would find out what happened to her son. It doesn’t do any good for me to know, but I need to fulfill my promise,” Lily’s eyes widened in surprise.
“A son?” Lily exclaimed.
“Yes, Lily. She found out the night before we left. She asked me to see if she had been a good mother.” Rose turned to her mother. “Mom, we’re going to be here,” she pointed at the paper with the address and then turned to Teddy. “Can you take us?” Teddy nodded and stood up.
“Okay, be careful, alright?” Hermione warned.
“Yes, Mom.” She approached Hugo and whispered in his ear, “Take the chance to tell them about your thing with Louis while I’m gone.” Hugo smiled and nodded.
“What are you two planning?” Ron joked.
“Nothing bad,” Rose assured him. “Come on, Lily, let’s go, Teddy.” The three of them left the room and went downstairs, surprised to see Fleur and Victoire hugging, Fleur with tears in her eyes and a huge smile.
“Oh, congratulations!” Fleur stood up and hugged Teddy. “My first grandchild!” Teddy smiled.
“Where are you going?” Victoire asked.
“Those two are dragging me off somewhere,” Teddy replied.
“Well, good luck, and don’t get yourself killed,” Victoire waved goodbye as they left the house. Teddy apparated them to the address Harry had written down. Rose approached the house and timidly rang the doorbell. Teddy and Lily hung back.
“Hello, can I help you, young lady?” Zack greeted as he opened the door.
“Um, yes,” Rose’s voice trembled; she hadn’t planned what to say. “I found out that you were friends with Emma and Lisa Lint, and I was wondering if you know where I can find Emma Lint.” Zack’s face went pale.
“I’m sorry, but Emma is no longer in our world. She... she’s dead.” Rose’s face also paled.
“What happened to her son?” Rose hurriedly asked, and the adult Zack looked at her in confusion.
“He died too.” Rose sat on the porch and began to cry, covering her face with her hands.
“How did it happen?” she managed to ask when she could stop crying. Zack sat beside her.
“She and Lisa were Muggle-borns, and in their seventh year, they had to go into hiding. Charlie hid with them too. The Death Eaters found them and killed them all.” A solitary tear rolled down Zack’s cheek.
“I’m sorry for the trouble. Thank you for your time,” Rose said as she prepared to leave.
“Can I ask you a question?” Rose nodded. “How do you know Emma? It seems like you knew her in person by the way you reacted.” Rose froze.
“We were friends.” Zack analyzed her; how was that possible? He decided not to ask further questions. “Does anyone remember them?” Zack shook his head. “They were incredible; they deserve to be remembered.” An idea jumped into Rose’s mind. “Thank you for your time, goodbye.” Rose ran back to where Lily and Teddy were. “Teddy, take us to Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.” Teddy asked no questions and took them there.
“Rose, what are we doing here?” Rose told them about her conversation with Zack and shared her plan with Lily.
They both entered and looked for their Uncle George. “Hi, Uncle!” Rose greeted.
“They’ve appeared! I should tell your parents,” George exclaimed when he saw them.
“No, Uncle, they know we’re fine; we have 40 minutes before our punishments,” Rose explained.
“Oh great, let’s not waste time, then how can I help you?” Lily extended the jar she was holding, and George took it.
“What is this?” It looked like a normal jar. Rose took the jar back from him, grabbed the paper with the instructions, and performed the spell to make the game work.
Now inside the jar were pieces of paper. Rose handed the scroll with the color instructions to her uncle. “Take a piece of paper,” Rose ordered, and he did. The paper turned red with a personal question: “How old were you when you first did it?” George read, turning red.
“You have to answer truthfully,” Rose explained.
“At 18,” George answered confidently, but the paper stayed red.
“Liar,” Rose and Lily said in unison.
“Okay, okay, at 16,” the paper remained red.
“Liar,” the girls repeated.
“Fine, at 15,” the paper turned white, and Rose and Lily laughed. “How did you know I was lying?” George asked, as red as a tomato.
“The paper will stay that color until you tell the truth,” Rose explained.
“And if you pass it to someone else, it will turn red until that person answers truthfully.” A smile crept across George’s face.
“Here, Rose,” he handed her the paper.
“Oh no, I’m not falling for that,” Rose refused.
“I have to confirm it works,” George insisted.
“Just a second, Uncle.” Lily took out her wand and whispered a spell to the papers in the jar and the one George held. Confident in Lily’s spell, Rose took the paper from her uncle’s hands, and it immediately turned red.
“I never did it,” Rose lied, but the paper stayed red. She realized she couldn’t lie. “I’m not going to answer.” She tried to return the paper to her uncle, but it had stuck to her hands. “What?” Rose shouted.
“Version 2.0 of the game; Lisa taught me. It won’t come off until you answer truthfully,” Lily explained, laughing.
“Holy hell!” Rose shouted, and George and Lily looked at her strangely. “What? Would you dare insult Aunt Ginny?” Both shook their heads. “Fine, Uncle, I’m going to answer, but this doesn’t leave here,” Rose warned.
“My lips are sealed.”
“Alright, I was 14.” The paper turned white, and Lily began to laugh uncontrollably.
“Rose!” George exclaimed. “I don’t know whether to challenge you, congratulate you, or tell your parents!” George said jokingly.
“None,” Rose said, handing the paper to Lily without her noticing.
“So it wasn’t with Scorpius?” Lily joked.
“Shh! Shh! Be quiet!” Rose was almost camouflaged with her hair.
“Rose!” Lily noticed the red paper stuck to her leg. “At 15.” The paper turned white.
“This is the best thing that ever happened to me!” George exclaimed.
“We want you to sell it in your store; we don’t want to profit from it,” Rose said seriously.
“This game would sell itself,” George replied, becoming serious too. “But I don’t do business with family.” Rose shook her head.
“We’re giving it to you; we just want a dream of some friends to come true, even if they aren’t alive to see it.” George thought for a second.
“Alright, any name?”
“First Night in the Past,” Lily said.
“Alright, that’s how it will be. From now on, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes will sell ‘First Night in the Past.’” George smiled. “Since when do you have friends who died?” he asked.
“Uncle, we disappeared for 8 hours; a lot happened,” Rose said, leaving her uncle intrigued. “Fred will explain; we have to go. I start my punishment in 20 minutes.” The two girls ran out of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes and, with Teddy, returned to the Potter house.