Epilogue
She smiled as they approached the repaired Ollivanders. Luna and Ro had gone to look for a new pet for him while Ryleigh took Quinn to get a wand.
The shop was empty when they entered so she called out, “Mr. Ollivander?”
The old man popped his head out from the shelves.
“Ah hello.” He said as he walked over.
“Nice to see you again sir. I’m Ryleigh Walsh, I got my wand from you 7 years ago.”
“I remember, survivors wood. Seems I was right then wasn’t I?” He asked.
She smiled, “indeed. Well, this is my sister Quinn. We were hoping for a wand for my sister.”
Ollivander looked over at the shy girl.
“She rather reminds me of you at that age.” He said kindly. “It seems to me however, she already has a wand.”
“What?” Ryleigh asked.
“Isn’t that right dear?” The man asked Quinn.
“Well I… have Grandads wand sir.”
The wand maker smiled, “it’s yours now. That wand chose you.”
Quinn pulled it out from her bag.
“Quinn I didn’t even know you were carrying that around..”
“I just kept it cause you told me to.” The girl said.
“That was- over a year ago love.” Ryleigh said with a smile.
“No matter, wonderful wand for a wonderful witch.” The man said with a wink.
Xx
They waved and smiled at the children as they boarded the train and found their seats. As soon at it was out of the station she looked over at Luna.
“Where to next?” She asked sweetly.
“I was thinking, I really would like to learn more about the Demiguise up close and if we…”
Ryleigh just smiled and nodded as the girl spoke. She loved to listen to the passion she had for these creatures and her lust for discovering and learning about them.
“Let’s go.” Ryleigh said.
Xx
Like she promised she would every Christmas she returned to Hogwarts for a few weeks spending time with McGonagall and the kids. Ro had taken extremely well to Transfiguration and Quinn was top of her class in Charms and Defense.
She’d recently published a new book on potions and Slughorn had asked if she would guest lecture his class upon the start of term so she’d agreed.
As she stood in the potions room looking out at the students before her, fifth years, if she had to guess, she nearly panicked.
“Hi.” She finally settled on and they smiled at her with scattered ‘hi’s back.
“I’m Ryleigh Walsh. I am a Potioneer. Which is just a weird word for saying that I make potions all day, every day.”
The group of kids groaned.
“I know, but I really like it. I brew potions for people to buy and I tend to peoples injuries if they need help while I’m traveling. But mostly I work to create new potions.” She said.
“I’ve made 5 potions myself. The first one when I was younger than you.” She said and they looked at her impressed.
“What is it?” One girl asked.
“We actually brewed it at the beginning of this year Kiera, Steel-Skin Potion.” Slughorn supplied.
“Oh yeah!” The girl said.
She continued to talk a little bit about herself before diving into the talk she had prepared on her Potion of Persequor.
“This potion saved my life before it even had a name.” She said with a smirk.
Xx
Ryleigh never did grow to like Quidditch like Ginny had hoped she would. But she did enjoy watching her best friend kick ass on the pro quidditch team so she cheered along with the rest of the crowd.
Xx
They attended Ron and Hermione’s wedding together, she could see Ron was drunk off his ass and she honestly couldn’t blame him. It was a sweet affair though the absence of Fred was certainly felt. She spent most of the event with George Weasley who spoke fondly of the time he’d been spending recently with Angelina Johnson.
Xx
The next wedding was Ginny’s where Luna and Hermione were bridesmaids and Ryleigh served as her maid of honor. It was lovely and full of Weasleys just like Ron and Hermione’s only no one was shit faced drunk.
Xx
They’d come for Christmas at Hogwarts again, after having visited Xenophilius before hand. Before they left on the 3rd of January Luna had grabbed her hand and dragged her up the Astronomy tower.
“What are we doing?” Ryleigh laughed following behind her girlfriends quick steps.
At the top of the stairs the tower had been transformed into a beautiful candle lit scene, billowing sheer fabric and warm light emitted all around them.
“Luna…” she whispered looking around.
“Ryleigh, we’ve been together for 10 years.” Luna said and Ryleighs eyes widened and she nearly choked.
“Holy crap you’re right! We grew up! When did that happen?” Ryleigh laughed.
“Ryleigh!” Luna said, “I’m trying to say I’d like to spend the rest of our lives together!”
“Y-you… want to get married?” Ryleigh asked.
“Yes.” Luna said softly. “We don’t have to but… Ginny and Harry just had a baby, Ro is graduated already, Quinn is 17!” Luna said.
“I want to be with you forever.”
Ryleigh smiled at her, “yes.”
Luna said nothing else as she grabbed the girl by the cheeks and pulled her in for a kiss.
Xx
They planned for a July wedding. Ryleigh had quickly realized that January to July was no where near enough time to plan a wedding but luckily they’d had help from Ginny who would bring baby James and plan with them.
McGonagall had offered Hogwarts as a venue when they’d told her the news so they decided to marry in the clock tower courtyard.
Luna had noted that it felt the cozy and natural for them and Ryleigh just liked the way she looked so happy when she said it so she agreed.
The guests were limited,
Ro and his girlfriend Nora.
Quinn.
Harry, Ginny and James.
Ron and Hermione.
Molly and Arthur Weasley.
George and Angelina.
Professor McGonagall.
Xenophilius Lovegood.
Marina, her mothers friend.
Neville, Seamus, and Dean as well as a few others. And a few of the other professors.
“Have you considered inviting Draco?” Luna asked as they were sat in the living room looking through a magazine of gowns.
“No.” Was Ryleighs immediate response. Then she looked over at Luna, “why would I? He’s been horrible to everyone for years. He was a death eater and bullied you incessantly.”
“He’s your cousin.” Luna said.
“His mothers was my dads like third cousin or something- besides his mother had mine killed. I killed his aunt!”
“But Narcissa didn’t actually do the killing… and Bellatrix deserved what she got… I just thought I’d mention it.”
Finally Luna had convinced her that she ought to at least invite the Malfoys if they wanted to come so she did, and they arrived quietly sitting at the back on the pews.
Before she walked out alone she gripped the necklace around her neck. The simple silver bar with ‘Ryleigh Sloane’ engraved on the front and ‘SOB’ on the back. She looked up toward the sky.
“I love you Mam, Dad…”
They were married in perfect weather with Quinn Ro and Ginny serving in their wedding party and when it was over they all approached to say congratulations before heading inside for the reception.
Harry walked over with baby James on his hip.
“Congratulations.” He said with a hug to each of them.
“Thank you Harry.” Luna said sweetly.
“Ginny and I got you both a proper gift but I did have something I’d like to give you Ryleigh.” Luna kissed her and made her way off with Ginny.
“I’d forgotten about this. What with the battles and then… life but… well… here.” He said and took out a rather battered looking advanced potions textbook.
“Um, thanks Harry but I’ve actually finished my potions studies.” She said with a smile as she took the book.
“It was Snapes. When he was at Hogwarts. I.. I had it during my sixth year and then I had Ginny hide it but… I thought you might like it so I grabbed it when I was giving a talk the other day.” He explained. “Its got loads of notes and spells and things he’s written all over it. I- I’m sure you already know but I just— here.”
She flipped the pages open and looked inside, ‘this book is property of the half-blood prince’
She looked back to Harry and pulled him in for a tight hug.
“Thank you. Really.”