Chapter 5
Harry and Noah started gravitating toward each other more often than not. All their friends had paired off. They are the only two left single. Harry and Noah are happy for their friends. Harry was still unsure about himself. He is working on it but isn’t quite ready to be in a relationship.
After some gentle questions by his family, he voiced his concerns. They supported him and offered him words of encouragement and advice. They helped Harry realize that he might need therapy. Harry started seeing a mind healer. Harry was able to start healing.
Through therapy, Harry was able to voice his frustrations, validate his feelings, and deal with his trauma. Harry starts to recognize that he is valued and loved by others and that he deserves these things. He also learned that he could accept the love he was given by others. He found solace in family and friends. They supported him at every turn.
Over the summer, through lots of therapy, Harry strengthened his relationships with his family and friends. He also learned some coping strategies to help with his anxiety. His self-esteem began to get better. He even learned the value of self-worth and that he was not expendable or a sacrifice for others to live. He even realizes that his friendship with Noah is a lot closer than his other friends. They share a bond like no other. Harry feels dumb when he figures it out. Noah had been there all the time. Silently supporting and waiting for him. Noah was his rock, his foundation, his best friend. Now, Harry wanted to have a deeper relationship with Noah. He wanted Noah to be his boyfriend.
At Noah’s birthday party, Harry finally gathered his courage to confess. Noah simply smiled softly and fondly at Harry. Noah said he was just waiting for Harry to be ready. Noah couldn’t ask for a better birthday present than for Harry to become his boyfriend. Their friends all congratulated them. Sirius, Remus, and Severus welcomed Noah into their family. They were happy for the young couple.
Sirius, Remus, and Severus finally had a ceremony bonding them as a trio. Harry was excited for them. He couldn’t be happier that they had made their relationship official. He wholeheartedly approved and supported them.
Over the next two years, Harry and his friends focused on their studies. They threw themselves into studying for their NEWTS. They wanted to graduate and go on to better the world around them.
Once Hermione found out that she was not actually the top student she went a little crazy. She tried besting everyone in class. She constantly blurted out answers to questions even when she wasn’t called on. She wrote essays even when they weren’t asked for. She started to break down mentally. Somehow, she found out that Harry and Noah were tied for the top spot as students in their class, and she accused them of cheating. As evidence was shown that they were not cheating, she went even crazier. She attacked Harry and Noah.
Headmistress Sprout expelled her, and Hermione’s wand was snapped. The Ministry had stepped in and put its foot down. They wanted to make an example out of her. They sent her back to the Muggle world with binding on her magic. She would keep her memories, but she would be unable to return to the Wizarding world or tell anyone about it.
They hadn’t heard anything from Dumbledore though, and that was worrisome. It had been too quiet. Harry was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. He felt something brewing on the horizon. He just knew something was coming, he just didn’t know what. He hoped that whatever it was, he was ready to face it.
Harry did learn from Mr. Weasley that Ron wasn’t doing too well. Mr. Weasley tried to find tutors for Ron but couldn’t afford them. So, he sent Ron to Durmstrang where Ron was expelled for inciting violence and bullying. He called everyone dark and refused to go to any classes that taught dark magic. Mr. Weasley had no choice but to send Ron to his ex-mother-in-law's place. He believed Muriel would put him in his place in no time. Mr. Weasley promised to keep Ron in check, as he had become resentful and angrier. Muriel was able to get him back under control and straighten him out. She taught him personally. He wound up working at a shop as a custodian. He would never marry.
Harry and Noah graduated top of their class. They both earned Os in DADA, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Astronomy, Ancient Runes, and COMC. Noah also received an O in Arithmancy and History. Harry received an EE in Herbology and History. They both earned a total of 8 NEWTS. Noah and Harry both got offers of all kinds of internships and apprenticeships. They wanted to travel a bit before settling down.
Dumbledore tried to crash their graduation, but when attempted to do so, found the wards set against him. Headmistress Sprout had been notified of the attempt and made sure to warn Harry of the attempt. She also sent notice to the DMLE of the event. Harry was relieved he was blocked from being able to ruin his graduation and cause panic.
Over the summer, the Ministry decided to celebrate the end of Voldemort’s reign and the end of the war finally. They had put it off so long due to the climate of the Ministry. They had finally weeded through all the Death Eater trials and sorted out all the supporters of Dumbledore and Voldemort. They cleaned up the Ministry and the Wizengamot. They completed their analysis of their laws, the structure of their government, and the bills introduced under Dumbledore’s leadership. They restructured almost everything. They made sure to close the board between muggle and wizarding worlds. They made all magic legal again. They made it so that the wizarding culture was being taught at Hogwarts and their holidays honored. They opened an orphanage and created a child welfare agency that would help detect abuse. They got rid of laws against all creatures, allowing them to have jobs, and families, and attend school. They also introduced harsher punishments for bullying, abuse, and violence. They even were going to help the board of Hogwarts restructure the classes and point system. Hogwarts would be getting new classes, more teachers, and a whole new point system.
Harry attended with Noah on his arm. Severus, Sirius, and Remus attended as well. Harry mingled with his friends. Everyone was celebrating and having a great time.
An hour into the party, Dumbledore came crashing in with Fawkes as his prisoner. Harry used the chaos caused by his entrance as a distraction to break the bond Dumbledore had with him. Fawkes cried in relief and instantly flamed out, to avoid being forced back into the slave bond with Dumbledore.
Dumbledore zeroed in on Harry. “Harry, my boy, you have usurped me for the last time! Now, you shall pay.”
Dumbledore cast a bubble around them so no one could interfere. Harry held his head high as he stood to face Dumbledore. The Aurors at the party started casting spells at the bubble, but it was of no use. They would not be able to get beyond it.
Dumbledore started throwing curse after curse at Harry. Harry defended himself. He didn’t want to harm his former Professor. He just kept up his shield and tried to throw non-harmful spells back at Dumbledore. Even though he knew this would end badly, Harry didn’t want any bloodshed.
“This is all your fault!” Dumbledore taunted. “If you had just done what you were told and stayed in your lane, then I would not be doing this now. I would be in control and shaping our world in my image. But no, you had to be difficult. I don’t know how you did it. I don’t know how you learned about everything I did to you. I made sure to keep you in the dark. I made sure that everything was set up so that you would die, and I would become the hero again. They would look to me for the answers. They would allow me to shape our world. All my hard work is ruined. You ruined it. Can’t you see what you have done? We have gone backward. We should accept muggles and open the borders. I am disappointed in you, my boy,” Dumbledore ranted.
Harry kept his wits about him as the information bombarded him. He didn’t want to lose focus and allow Dumbledore to hurt him or worse. Dumbledore became more aggressive with his spells.
Harry had an idea. He smirked, “You want to know how I found out? I did die. In my second year, when I faced the basilisk. I died and my mother was there to greet me. She told me everything. She was the one to open my eyes and told me to visit the Goblins. She was the one to show me your true intentions. So, you can’t blame me. Besides, all I did was expose you for who you truly are.”
Dumbledore was gobsmacked. “Expelliarmus. Potrificus Totalus.” Harry shot off in rapid succession, taking the opportunity while Dumbledore’s attention was diverted. As Dumbledore was knocked to the ground, unconscious, his bubble shield dissipated. Noah got to Harry first, pulled him into his arms, and kissed him passionately. Remus, Sirius, and Severus were rushing next to make sure Harry was unharmed. After ensuring that Harry was okay, they let the Aurors talk to Harry and had a healer double-check him for any lingering effects. There weren’t any.
The Aurors quickly apprehended Dumbledore, put magic-suppressing cuffs on him, and sent him to the Ministry to wait for trial.
Dumbledore was sentenced to be sent through the Veil.
Harry was finally able to find peace and relaxation.
Harry and Noah traveled for the next three years. They visited other Wizarding cities and learned about their cultures. Harry and Noah explored many different countries, ate all kinds of foods, and took time for their relationship to grow.
Upon their return home, they married in the garden of Marauder's Nest. Noah became a famous lawyer and Harry started his own line of brooms and became very famous for how unique and personalized they were. Harry and Noah went on to adopt a boy and a girl.
Upon Ginny Weasley’s release from Azkaban, she was given the option to either be permanently warded against being in close proximity to Harry or exiled to the muggle world with her magic bound. She chose the former. They made sure to put in the contract a clause about having anyone Ginny wanted to marry checked for potions or spells before they could finalize their marriage.
All was well.
To those who stayed with Harry until the very end, thank you.