The Epilogue: The Hat
There had been a snake and a hog—no, not a hog. It was a lion, an eagle, and a badger. The snake had been attacking the beast. The snake was a giant serpent—oh, it was all starting to fade away. Rowena rubbed her temples in frustration, trying to recall the vision. If she could push hard enough, she might remember better. The giant snake had been attacking the beast. It had all been so fuzzy, as if it was a distant future. There had been a stag as well. Where had the stag come into it? Ah, yes—the snake had killed the stag and a doe. They’d had an offspring, though—a little stag. But it wasn’t just a little stag; it was also a lion and a snake—oh, this was so confusing. This little stag, though, which was also a lion and a snake, alone had the power to defeat the giant serpent. It alone could slay it.
*
“You’re sure about this?” Godric asked, sometime later.
“Certain,” Rowena replied firmly.
They were all in Godric’s office. The three of them—Godric, Rowena, and Helga—stood around Godric’s large desk. The circular room was accessible only via a giant griffin and a password. They exchanged grave looks.
“We will not be able to find it and defeat it,” Rowena continued, “but another will.”
“We’ve already searched everywhere,” Helga said worriedly. “Godric’s looked everywhere. If he can’t find it, no one can. Are we certain this is all true and not some final trick of Salazar's?”
“Absolutely,” Godric replied forcefully. “You weren’t there, Helga; I was. Besides, I’ve asked the old Slytherins—you know, all those pure-blood mania lot. They wouldn’t tell us a thing, just denied they knew anything about it. But I could tell from their eyes, they did. I should make them tell me.”
“No,” Rowena pleaded earnestly, “it will do no good anyway. There is only one who will be able to defeat it, and they are not here yet. The best we can do is ensure they have all the help they need when they do come.”
“You’re right,” Helga nodded.
Godric looked impatient. “Quite. So we’re agreed then,” he confirmed.
He placed on the desk a magnificent gold and ruby-encrusted sword, crafted by the goblins.
“This, to defeat the beast,” Godric asserted proudly.
“This,” Rowena said, “to give the wearer the knowledge to defeat the beast.” She placed on the desk a silver diadem.
Then Helga added, “This, to the one who drinks from it, to heal any venom of the beast.”
She placed on the desk her own contribution: a small golden goblet.
“Will that be enough?” Helga asked.
“Hopefully,” Rowena sighed.
“And this,” Godric exclaimed at last.
He took off his hat and placed it, too, fondly on the desk.
“Now, you, my old friend, have the most important task of all. You must make sure the right person finds them at the right time.”
All three sighed. There was nothing more to be done.
The End.
