Dumbledore nodded. They smiled at each other.

“Are you sure?” said Ron. There was the faintest trace of longing in his voice as

He looked at the Elder Wand.

“I think Harry’s right,” said Hermione quietly.

“That wand’s more trouble than it’s worth.” said Harry. “And quite honestly,” he

Turned away from the painted portraits, thinking now only of the four-poster bed lying

Waiting for him in Gryffindor Tower, and wondering whether Kreacher might bring him a

sandwich there, “I’ve had enough trouble for a lifetime.”

Epilogue - Nineteen Years Later

Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first of September was

Crisp as an apple, and as the little family bobbed across the rumbling road toward the

Great sooty station, the fumes of car exhausts and the breath of pedestrians sparkled like

Cobwebs in the cold air. Two large cages tattled on top of the laden trolleys the parents

Were pushing; the owls inside them hooted indignantly, and the redheaded girl trailed

fearfully behind here brothers, clutching her father's arm.

"It won't be long, and you'll be going too," Harry told her.

"Two years," sniffed Lily. "I want to go now!"

The commuters stared curiously at the owls as the family wove its way toward the

barrier between platforms nine and ten, Albus's voice drifted back to Harry over the

Surrounding clamor; his sons had resumed the argument they had started in the car.

"I won't! I won't be a Slytherin!"

"James, give it a rest!" said Ginny.

"I only said he might be," said James, grinning at his younger brother. "There's

nothing wrong with that. He might be in Slytherin"

But James caught his mother's eye and fell silent. The five Potters approached the

Barrier. With a slightly cocky look over his shoulder at his younger brother, James took

The trolley from his mother and broke into a run. A moment later, he had vanished.

"You'll write to me, won't you?" Albus asked his parents immediately,

Capitalizing on the momentary absence of his brother.

"Every day, of you want us to," said Ginny.

"Not every day," said Albus quickly, "James says most people only get letters

from home about once a month."

"We wrote to James three times a week last year," said Ginny.

"And you don't want to believe everything he tells you about Hogwarts," Harry

put in. "He likes a laugh, your brother."

Side by side, they pushed the second trolley forward, gathering speed. As they

Reached the barrier, Albus winced, but no collision came. Instead, the family emerged

Onto platform nine and three-quarters, which was obscured by thick white steam that was

Pouring from the scarlet Hogwarts Express. Indistinct figures were swarming through the

Mist, into which James had already disappeared.

"Where are they?" asked Albus anxiously, peering at the hazy forms they passed

As they made their way down the platform.

"We'll find them," said Ginny reassuringly.

But the vapor was dense, and it was difficult to make out anybody's faces.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 645