Chapter Fifty

Confronting the Faceless 💀 Complete
May 2-3, 1998
"Until the very end."
 
When McGonagall dismissed the students from the Great Hall, Gabe was already working on a way to smuggle himself and his friends back into the castle so that they could still fight. No way was he going to sit this one out, and he knew Romilda and Nate would agree with him, albeit for different reasons.
 
He manages to get his friends to pull to the side of the Gryffindor herd being led towards the Room of Requirement to share his plan.
 
"We just have to pretend to be prefects." He says with a grin. "Say that we are sixth years who already turned seventeen - we are of legal age and can fight. Who is going to know the difference?"
 
"Other than the actual sixth year prefects you mean?" Romilda teases. "Sounds good to me. Nate, you in?"
 
"Michael is going to stay and fight, so yeah, I'm in." He replies, already sounding a bit resigned. Gabe frowns and tries to catch his friend's eye, but things have remained rocky between him and his best friend since Michael's injuries, and it seems that even with a massive battle coming up Nate is clinging to his bitterness.
 
It's honestly a bit too easy to fake their ages and rank - the Order members who are helping with the evacuation don't even blink when the three of them climb back out of the portrait hole and head for the Great Hall to help with preparations.
 
"Adults are really dumb sometimes." Romilda decides with a grin. "I like it."
 
"I think they just forget that kids are actually smart." Nathan mutters, mostly to himself but Gabe hears and laughs all the same.
 
"All the better for us, yes?" He points out, but Nathan has gone quiet again and Gabe sighs. Worth a try.
 
Romilda rolls her eyes but doesn't comment - Gabe knows that she's said her piece to both of them and has officially "washed my hands of male idiocy" and is leaving them to figure things out on their own. Gabe sometimes appreciates it, but other times wishes she was a bit more the nosy, pushy brat she'd been the past few years.
 
Thankfully, when the fighting actually starts whatever resentment Nate is still feeling doesn't stop him from having their backs. Gabe is feeling a little giddy when the stand down order comes through, but he drops from that pretty fast when Romilda immediately sags against the nearest wall, gripping her leg.
 
"You okay?" Nate asks, and she gives him a wry look that's answer enough.
 
"We should go see where everyone is gathering." Gabe suggests. "There are probably healers who can look at your leg."
 
Romilda nods and attempts to stand back up, but ultimately needs assistance from Nate to actually rise and start moving, leaning on him heavily as Gabe leads them back through the castle, which is a hollow, burned, and battered mess.
 
He hadn't actually realized how much damage was happening before - seeing it now makes his gut twist uncomfortably. But he pushes forward - he can hear voices now and steers towards them.
 
They run into a small group heading for the Great Hall, and they join the trek. Gabe doesn't recognize anyone in the group, and he keeps scanning for familiar DA faces, hoping to find friends who have survived.
 
Romilda is hurried to the back of the Great Hall to be treated when they arrive, while Nathan and Gabe are shooed to the side of the room to wait with the other relatively uninjured fighters.
 
They sit side-by-side in silence, and Gabe can see Nate nervously eyeing every person who comes into the Great Hall, looking for anyone familiar. Gabe can't blame him - he's doing the same thing.
 
They spot a few DA members - Logan Griffith is with his guardian, and Susan Bones joins them after a while, Terry Boot stumbles in with assistance from an Order woman Gabe doesn't recognize, Ginny rushes in a panicked mess and shouting for her brothers - but Michael is yet to make an appearance and Gabe is getting twitchy.
 
Nathan, oddly enough, seems to be the more calm one between them for once. At least until another familiar face stumbles into the room and Nathan immediately leaps up and runs across the Great Hall.
 
Gabe can only blink stupidly for a moment at the sudden shift, and then he's awkwardly averting his eyes because Nathan is full on making out with Seamus Finnigan in the doorway of the Great Hall. The teen standing next to Seamus looks vaguely amused by the situation, and though he's familiar Gabe can't quite put a name to the face.
 
All three boys walk back over to Gabe, and Nate is firmly clutching Seamus's hand as they go.
 
Gabe raises an eyebrow, but smiles to show he's not judging. Nate had come out to him the year before, and he'd said then that he didn't care, and he intends to prove that now. "Hi, I'm Gabe." He introduces himself to the one face that he can't name yet, and he doesn't miss the way Nate's lips curl up appreciatively at the casual acceptance the introduction implies.
 
"Dean Thomas." The dark boy says with a tired grin, accepting the handshake. "Muggleborn, Shay's best friend." He adds, for context? Or maybe it's an English custom Gabe hasn't run into yet.
 
"Um, Pureblood, Nate's..." He suddenly hesitates. He still sees them as best friends but-
 
"He's my best friend." Nate supplies, looking straight at Gabe with a hopeful apology in his eyes. "Not sure how he puts up with me though."
 
"Romilda helps." Gabe offers with a half smile, and Seamus laughs.
 
"Wow, high praise there." He teases, and the four of them settle in to wait. They chat as if they're in Hogsmeade getting butterbeer rather than perched on a bench in the Great Hall pretending bodies aren't being carted in minute by minute as time passes.
 
"Shay!" Someone shouts, and it's Neville, waving over his lieutenant. "We could use some help."
 
Seamus squeezes Nate's hand, hugs Dean, and then bounds up and hurries off to assist.
 
"So. That's new?" Gabe offers after a moment, and Nate snorts.
 
"Yeah, about a month, though we've been easing into it for most of the year, I think. I was going to tell you but then the dungeon stuff happened."
 
Dean seems to pick up on this being a sensitive topic, as he suddenly sees someone he knows who needs help and politely makes himself scarce.
 
"I'm still sorry about that." Gabe says after a moment. "He said go so I went. I... can't say I'd do differently, now." He adds honestly.
 
Nate sighs. "I know, and he wouldn't want you to. I was just... I don't know. Irrational."
 
"Upset, and fairly. I have put put... how you put it... 'flair' over safety before." Gabe mutters, the admission nearly getting stuck in his throat, but he manages to choke it out.
 
Nate blinks, and then laughs. "Are you actually listening to Romilda about something?" He asks with a slightly teasing tone, and Gabe shoves him off the bench.
 
"Shut up, no." He grumbles, but he knows he's smiling and Nate is too and maybe things will turn out alright after all.
 
They sit in comfortable silence for a while before Nate speaks again, softer now and a bit vulnerable.
 
"I don't know how you do it. You and Romilda. And I think I get a little jealous sometimes." He admits, but Gabe isn't quite sure what he's talking about, and he says as much.
 
Nate shrugs. "I mean, you both seem so calm about all this." He waves a hand over the death and pain laid out in front of them in an ugly, broken tapestry. "I feel about ready to throw up - if I didn't know Michael was out in that mess somewhere I would've been happy to hunker down in Hogsmeade. I joined the DA because you did - I never would have without that, but you and Romilda were all over it from day one. I don't know how you both are so brave."
 
"You're brave too." Gabe says immediately, and then actually stops to think about what Nate had said before continuing. "And anyway, I'm pretty sure I just don't think things through all the way." He gives a self-deprecating laugh. "So I don't think to be scared. Romilda is just insane."
 
Nathan snorts at that and they settle back into quiet observation. Dean makes his way back around at some point to rejoin them, and he and Nathan talk a bit about the school year, and more specifically Seamus, and Gabe leaves them to it as he continues to scan for DA (and Romilda now, too. Her leg hadn't been that bad, why hasn't she rejoined them yet?).
 
The other two are partway through a debate about something called "football" when the voice cuts through the air again, freezing everyone and making Gabe's hair stand on end.
 
"Harry Potter is dead."
 
They sit in silence, listening to the blasphemic crap the Dark Lord is spewing for far longer than they probably need to, and Gabe is instantly on his feet when Voldemort extends the invitation out onto the grounds.
 
"Gabe." Nate tries to protest, geting half-way up himself before Gabe gently pushes him back down.
 
"Wait for Romilda." He says sharply. "I'll be back."
 
He doesn't wait for the reply, already letting himself get swept up in the flow of other people pouring out the doors and into the main courtyard.
 
It's a mess out here too, the shattered remains of crushed statues intertwined with puddles of blood and... is that hair?
 
Gabe quickly looks away before he makes himself sick.
 
There's a wall of people moving towards them from the Forbidden Forest in a steady march - a wave of Deatheaters perfectly in sync.
 
Gabe would never admit it, but the sight is terrifying. The entire group halts simultaneously on Voldemort's command, and now he can see Hagrid the groundskeeper cradling a limp form just behind Voldemort and he feels ill.
 
Then the screaming starts, and it gets worse.
 
"NO!"
 
"No!"
 
"No!"
 
"Harry! HARRY!"
 
He can recognize Ginny's voice, and the raw fury and anguish in it ignites something in him and he joins the rising tide of voices shouting and screaming insults and hatred at the black wave when-
 
"SILENCE!"
 
His tongue suddenly weighs too much to lift, and judging by the instant quiet around him the other fighters are experiencing the same thing. And that.. that was scary, too. How could one spell, not even said correctly, silence an entire group of people?
 
"It is over!" Voldemort hisses, mockery and pleasure dripping from the tone and disgusting Gabe quite thoroughly. "Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!"
 
Gabe glares uselessly as the groundskeepers is apparently forced to obey, clumsily moving forward and lowering the body, though it's clear he tries not to jostle it.
 
"You see?" Voldemort gloats, and Gabe returns to glaring at the man, ignoring the shudder of revulsion that continuously travels down his spine at the sight of the Dark Lord's face. "Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"
 
"He beat you!" One of the Weasleys - Ron, right, Gabe kind of remembers him - shouts and just like that his tongue is working again, if only for a moment before Voldemort throws another silencing charm over them. It feels like a victory though, especially considering the rage on his pallid, twisted features.
 
His voice remains as disturbing and cold as ever though. "He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds," And if anyone had believed him about that before they definitely didn't now - that was the tone of a liar, "Killed while trying to save himself-"
 
There's a shout of anger, the silencing spell shattered again, and Gabe spins to see Neville fighting his way forward, wand up and clearly ready to fling himself at Voldemort. However, the Dark Lord flicks his wand and Neville is disarmed with a bang.
 
Gabe starts to lunge forward, but a hand on his bicep holds him back. He spins, furious, and then stops when he sees the person attached to the hand.
 
Michael Corner holds a finger to his lips and tugs Gabe to the back of the gathering, away from where Neville and Voldemort and the Deatheaters are talking and over to a small group of other DA members.
 
Gabe glances at Michael questioningly, but he just grins and gestures at the group, and Gabe suddenly picks up what's going on when he scans them again.
 
In the early days of the DA they'd often talked and planned what they would do when the Deatheaters inevitably showed up. Gabe of course had still be the only plan maker at that time so he'd offered several suggestions and possibilities, most which were either shot down entirely or placed aside to be "reworked". Eventually they stopped worrying about the future possible battle and focused in more on the definite now one, but that doesn't mean Gabe's forgotten the plan that they'd thought had the best chance of succeeding.
 
And this is the exact team he'd suggested for it.
 
Seamus shoots him a grin, though it wavers slightly when he glances past Gabe, obviously looking for Nate who isn't there. Michael follows the gaze as well but is keeping his expression carefully blank.
 
"He's fine, we got separated in the rush out here." Gabe says lowly, and both of the other boys nod in relief. From there there's no more talking - they need to get into position and fast. Neville's distraction will only work for so long.
 
He's good though, better than Gabe would have predicted back when they'd first thought this up.
 
"Dumbledore's Army!" Neville calls, and Gabe eagerly joins the chorus that replies, even if they all get silenced again for their trouble (and that is getting annoying, he's never going to silence someone ever again).
 
Then things go a little sideways when the Sorting Hat shows up and Neville is rooted to the spot, but they can't change their course, and besides, they've already gotten around the Deatheater lines. A little closer to the forest and they can signal the secret weapon.
 
There are screams coming from the gathering behind them, but Gabe forces himself to tune them out as their small group finally gets close enough and raise their wands in unison.
 
For a long moment it seems to not have worked, but then a roar comes from the forest, and Gabe whoops in victory before scattering out of the way.
 
"HAGGER!"
 
Ginny had known about the young giant in the forest, and she'd spent some time early on in the year making friends with him, and promising that if Hagrid - who he was quite fond of - was ever in trouble that the DA would call for him.
 
That ploy had worked out beautifully.
 
And because the gods seems to be on their side the centaurs ride out of the forest only moments later, firing into the Deatheater ranks and scattering them like ants.
 
Gabe loses sight of the others, and he doesn't have time to try and relocate them because the battle seems to be starting up again in earnest, spells flying left and right and it's all he can do to not be caught in the crossfire.
 
They're being pushed back - he can feel that even as he struggles to hold ground. He finds himself locked in a duel with a lanky Deatheater who's relentless in his spell casting, and a small stumble sends his wand clattering out of his hand.
 
The entrance to the Great Hall is maybe a dozen feet behind him, but it's too far for him to run to it for safety as the Deatheater raises his wand triumphantly.
 
Yeah, gloat over beating a teenager, very classy. He thinks venomously, but there's nothing else he can do but glare fiercely at the face of his killer.
 
But the blow never comes. Instead, a blast of red light flings the man away and then there's a shield charm shimmering around him and a hand on his arm tugging him backwards towards the doors.
 
"Got your back, Snob." A familiar voice says, breathless but making an attempt at teasing. Romilda grins at him when he flips her off, but he quickly drops the annoyance when he sees the blood soaking her hands up to her elbows.
 
"Not hers." Nathan says quietly beside him, and Gabe finally registers that it's him doing the pulling and Romilda maintaining the shield. "She was helping the Healers. Don't mention it." He adds warningly, and Gabe nods. He doesn't know who's dead, but no one could survive with that much of their blood outside of their body, he's pretty sure.
 
They back up carefully, and Gabe is feeling annoyingly useless without his wand, hunkered down between his two friends.
 
However, his position means that he can watch the rest of the battle unfolding around them without having to divide his focus, and he's thrilled when he realizes that despite all of the Dark Lord's boasting about numbers and strength, the Deateaters are losing.
 
The defenders of Hogwarts are mostly paired off (Flitwick is handling things solo though, and that's impressive enough that Gabe thinks maybe he should continue Charms into the NEWT level and also be a little more terrified of the former dueler than he previously was) as they steadily take down the attackers. He spots Seamus and Hannah working together, and several of Ginny's brothers holding their own as well (he assumes they must be her brothers at least - they all have that tell-tale red hair). A few of the Deatheaters don't even seem to be trying to fight, racing around and flinching at the spells from both sides.
 
Great crew there Voldy, so scary. Gabe snickers to himself and wonders how he'd ever found these idiots intimidating.
 
The fighting is thinning out now as more and more people are knocked out or frozen stiff, and Romilda finally drops the shield when they reach the edge of the room, dangerously close to the Great Hall and its makeshift morgue.
 
"You're okay?" She checks, and Gabe nods stiffly. Despite his near miss only moments prior he is actually feeling fine - giddy even. But he still doesn't have a wand, and the fighting is winding down around them. Now the focus is on the two duels going on in the center of the room, the rest of the fighters stepping back in an unspoken agreement not to interfere.
 
Ginny and Luna are fighting next to a frizzy-haired young woman who Gabe takes a moment to remember is Hermione Granger, Muggleborn and friend to Potter. The three of them are being fought to a stand-still by a single woman in the Deatheater's black robes. Her hair drifts wildly from her head and the look on her face could be described as something like manic glee, though with a distinct undercurrent of cruelty. The girls are putting up a good fight, but it's clear they're going to eventually lose the upper hand.
 
The other fight is with Voldemort himself. McGonagall and Slughorn fight side-by-side with a slightly younger black man, and while this fight is a bit more evenly balanced that the other, it's obvious the three aren't gaining any ground either.
 
Gabe's focus is torn back over to the first fight when a slightly plump woman explodes from the crowd of watchers towards it.
 
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU !"
 
"Holy Mum." Someone mutters from nearby, and Gabe glances over to see one of the Weasleys looking red-eyed and stunned.
 
The woman - Mrs. Weasley, Gabe supposes - dives straight into the fight, shoving the three girls away and taking on their opponent single-handedly.
 
Gabe realizes quickly that this fight is also uneven - but this time the odds aren't in crazy's favor. Some students don't realize that and try to rush forward, but Mrs. Weasley shouts them back.
 
Crazy figures out what the students hadn't rather quickly, as her smirk transforms into a snarl and her dueling amps up - an edge of panic flickering into her style.
 
It's over rather quickly despite her obvious increase in focus - the fighting between the two is intense enough to crack the stone floor surrounding them, and anything that pressurized never lasts long.
 
Crazy starts ranting, and that's when Gabe knows that she's figured out what the end result of the fight is inevitably going to be. This is a last-ditch attempt to knock Mrs. Weasley off-center.
 
"What will happen to your children when I've killed you?" She taunts, eyes wild and panicked even as she pushes on a final veneer of control. She wants to leave a final impression, so even if - when - she loses she'll still haunt the nightmares of ever person present. "When Mummy's gone the same way as Freddie?"
 
Even seeing what she's doing, Gabe thinks she'll be haunting his nights all the same. Someone that in control, even of her own death? That's terrifying.
 
Mrs. Weasley's spellwork, if possible, becomes even more focused. "You - will - never - touch - our - children - again!" She's screaming, and Gabe realizes in that moment that Crazy has won.
 
The Weasley matriarch fires off the killing curse - silent, but obvious if you're looking - as Crazy gives a breathless, victorious laugh. The spell connects and Crazy freezes, her expression flat and slightly crazed (appropriately enough) before she topples to the ground.
 
The crowd around him goes nuts, cheering and shouting happily. Gabe doesn't join them - instead he watches as Mrs. Weasley lowers her wand and stares at the corpse in front of her, her brain finally catching up with her actions.
 
"Protego!" A voice cries, and Gabe's focus snaps back to the other key player left.
 
Voldemort has thrown his opponents aside in a clear show of pure, raw rage and had fired the killing curse at Mrs. Weasley. Someone had obviously stopped it, but looking around no one seems to have their wands up.
 
Then Harry Potter suddenly appears out of thin air and for a moment everyone is screaming again - but that quickly cuts off. This time Gabe knows Voldemort didn't use a silencing charm. This is the kind of quiet that's laced with anticipation, with fear and uncertainty. This is the kind of quiet that comes before a storm.
 
Or in this case, a final showdown.
 
"I don't want anyone else to try and help." Harry says, and okay, wow, isn't he seventeen? No seventeen year old should know how to use a tone like that. Still, it gets the job done - no one so much as twitches. "It's got to be like this. It's got to be me."
 
"Potter doesn't mean that." Voldemort hisses, almost overlapping Harry's words with how quickly he flings his own out. "That isn't how he works, is it? Who are you going to use as a shield today, Potter?"
 
It's faint, but Gabe realizes that the Dark Lord has been thrown by the Boy Who Lived's sudden reappearance. He hadn't planned for it, and now everything is crumbling around him and he doesn't know how to handle it.
 
The continuing conversation only confirms Gabe's suspicions - Voldemort is officially losing his mind, and his grip on the fear he'd commanded for so long. It's almost sad - even Crazy had kept her dignity, in the end. People will remember her as a terror. Voldemort? He'll be defined by how pathetic he was in his final moments, screaming about accidents and denying the obvious equality that exists between himself and Potter.
 
For his part, Harry Potter is holding ground well, even if Gabe thinks he ought to stop talking soon and just be done with the whole thing.
 
"You don't learn from your mistakes, Riddle, do you?" Harry says after a short speech about apparently dying for them? That Gabe kind of wants to dissect more, but the conversation quickly moves past it and now probably isn't the time to raise the question.
 
He's distantly aware of how odd it is that he's so calm and unbothered when his wand is lost somewhere in the courtyard so he's entirely unarmed. He's dead if Harry doesn't win - and yet he's quite confident in the outcome. Just as he'd seen Mrs. Weasley's superiority to Crazy, he can see now that Voldemort is coming unhinged - and it's going to be his final mistake.
 
It's a rather fitting ending, when it finally does happen (good lord these two talk a lot. He didn't even understand a majority of it - what even is the Elder Wand?). Hit by his own rebounding killing curse. The body slumps to the ground, and the long-time terror of the wizarding world is reduced to nothing more than lifeless skin and bone.
 
There's a moment when they all take it in - and then the world erupts into celebration and the people who are still alive are clinging to each other in joy if they were with Hogwarts, in fear if they weren't. Everyone is pushing forward, surging to reach Harry, to shout their congratulations and pat him on the back.
 
Gabe stays by the wall, just watching, and for once content with that. Romilda and Nate stay beside him and they sit in silence, watching the claustrophobic mob following Harry to one of the tables, insatiable until a familiar voice shouts, "Look, a Blibbering Humdinger!"
 
Gabe outright laughs at Luna's voice, and finally pushes himself up off the wall. "I'm going to go say hi to Lovegood." He says by way of explanation. "Meet back here in a few?"
 
Romilda tilts her head slightly in acknowledgement, and Gabe only now realizes how oddly quiet she's being - she's barely said a word since she and Nate found him in the courtyard during the battle. He frowns at her but she waves him off. Nate has already scampered off, probably to find Seamus.
 
Gabe hesitates, then decides he can talk to Luna later and sits back down next to Romilda. "You alright?"
 
"Lavender is dead." She says after a moment, scrubbing at her hands in what seems to be a subconscious gesture. The blood there has dried, and while some flakes off most is stubbornly clinging to her skin. "We tried but..." She shrugs, biting her lip, blinking hard even as her expression remains blankly neutral. "We won, at least. In the end."
 
The light comfort that had been settled around Gabe ever since his friends showed up finally starts to wear away as he watches Romilda.
 
"At least." He echoes softly. "...Stupid question, but are you alright?"
 
Romilda laughs slightly, hollow and forced. "Probably will be. They say that, right?" She huffs, and then pulls her feet up so she can rest her chin on top of her knees. "We'll move on eventually."
 
"Not right now though." Gabe sighs, tired and suddenly realizing he has no idea who's still alive. He only cared about Nate and Romilda, but now he wonders about the rest of the DA. Lavender is gone - who else is among the bodies laid out in the Great Hall?
 
They don't talk after that, just sit and wait for Nathan to come back. Gabe tracks the sun as it eases its way up the sky - the literal and metaphorical dawn of a new day. He snorts to himself at the thought and reminds himself to never mention it to his friends - it's way too sappy a notion.
 
Peeves is racing about overhead, singing off-key and off-color songs about the victory that directly contrast with the melancholy exhaustion that's slowly beginning to settle over the room. Gabe supposes that ghosts - or poltergeists, in Peeves' case - probably can't read a room very well after so much time dead.
 
The Order members are starting to recruit people to help with the initial cleanup, while others are starting to arrest the Deatheaters still standing (or lying, as is the case with the unconscious ones). Gabe spots a few stray DA members helping where they can, but he's honestly too tired to want to move.
 
Nathan eventually returns, looking more awake than Gabe is feeling (they've been up all night, that makes sense, everyone is probably exhausted to at least some degree), though he subdues quicky when he sees them.
 
"Healers are doing the rounds again." He says after a moment. "About fifty casualties estimated, all from before the hour break."
 
Romilda makes a noise that's probably supposed to mean something but for the life of him Gabe can't tell what. Nathan looks equally baffled, and concerned. "Should I direct someone over here?" He asks after a moment.
 
Gabe waves him off. "Go make out with your boyfriend, Corner." He grumbles. "And tell your brother you're not dead before he hunts me down and bugs me about it."
 
Nathan goes beet red at that, but it's worth it because Romilda gives a slight snort.
 
"You finally found out?" She asks after a moment, and Gabe shoots Nate a wounded look.
 
"You told Romilda before you told me?" He accuses, though it's more tease than anything else. Gabe knows exactly why Romilda learned first - he was kind of in hiding when everything had gone down after all.
 
"They didn't have to tell me, I figured it out. They were never exactly subtle about the flirting." Romilda smirks, then outright giggles at the look Gabe gives her. "What? You're smart Gabe, but you're not always the most observant."
 
They bicker and laugh as the sun slowly fills the room with light and warmth, and things are far from okay but Gabe thinks that one day, they will be again. As long as he has his friends with him, thing will surely turn out just fine.
 
Author's Note: And this is what I like to consider the "official" ending of CtF. There are two more chapters, but they're more Codas than anything. Either way, we're heading into our final week of double updates, after which we'll have weekly ones for the three-part epilogue. We're nearly at the end of this story, and I've been so honored to have all of you joining me on this little adventure of mine <3
 
Next Time: What to do when your world caves in
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unqua911
So I'm thinking I might do a final 'afterwords' chapter to share my thoughts and feelings on writing this story, if that's something people would be interested in? I'm also open to answering any lingering questions people might have there as well!

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Susan15
#1
Chapter 57: Hi!
I'm so sorry for taking so long to comment, but shall we begin!

I swear I should have made a bet omg. The moment I first heard of Python I was like "hmm.. what if she was Percy's Audrey?" And even though I knew that our Audrey would be Percy's girlfriend, I always thought how it would be nice if Python and him were endgame, but honestly... they wouldn't last long haha

I want to thank you for being so passionate about the story and truly understanding the characters and doing your best to give them justice. I loved how you put so much effort on everything!

When I first saw this story I first imagined a muggleborn with a fiery personality so after seeing that Tangi was created you have no idea how happy I was.
Claire was my first character for the story. When I thought about her I wanted a strong woman who was conflicted between her believes and her family, but who definitely couldn't turn a blind eye to people in need. Then I thought if she was an insider probably no one would suspect her because of her family, so she would have some advantage!
I'm truly proud of how she grew up. She was such a lonely girl who had only Bill and her cousin Petra as her friends. Then she loved her brother and her parents but she always thought that he didn't care about her. She didn't agree with her families believes and she truly had to do something to free herself from her fears and allow herself to be who she was. And being one of the leaders of the underground made me very proud of her! Especially after Max was able to change as well and they now became stronger together as a family. Honestly I wonder how Claire decided to do in the future, if she stayed in the ministry, if she dedicated herself to her family and if she made friends (because I'm so happy that she at least became friends with Python, she truly deserves friends), whether she ended up married or not, well I'm curious but I think if she ever got married she would choose someone she truly trusted and who she could be herself and for God sake, someone who could make that poor girl smile, because come on she looks so gloomy xD But I'm happy that she made at least one friend and that she got closure with her brother, so I'm blessed :) Ps: I always thought that Claire wouldn't make it until the end xD I always thought she would be killed or that she would sacrifice herself to protect someone.

Theo... Oh my little boy. When I visualised Theo I thought about a broken boy who always wanted his parents approval. Theo was meant to be an adult version of Draco Malfoy. When Kent appeared in the picture I imagined the rivalry such like Draco and Harry and that only made the adult version I imagined more lively. Theo was lucky to have a friend like Kent, even if he didn't understand what a friend truly meant. Theo lost his mother, his uncle hated him, his father well... they didn't have the best relationship, he didn't manage to be captain, he didn't manage to be a prefect, he had to give up on his dream, he couldn't trust anyone. Well everything about Theo was supposed to be tragic. His partnership with Zara was just amazing, I believe he saw himself on her (even though she was pure evil), and he believed that maybe people could change if someone believed in him. He betrayed his family, he betrayed his colleagues for something he believed to be the right thing, Kent could have abandoned him and Kingsley could have hit believed in him and hand him over. But people believed in him, he was the same person his mother believed he was. Seeing him trying to get thought his trauma was sad, but it fit him. I'm so so happy that he found happiness somehow. Val loved him by who he was, she didn't see him because of his family, blood heritage or even his mistakes, but she saw his pure heart and that is just beautiful. And of course Theo and Kent's bromance are still one of my favourite parts of the whole story! Thinking about the future, I wonder if he managed to keep working or his stability is not well yet, but he has Val, Kingsley, Kent, all of his friends, so he will he fine :)

I will miss these kids, but I'm making room for the new kids so hopefully we will have a more funny time on UFF rather than a more serious and gloomy one :) I hope everyone who made it to the end are now happy and even if they don't make a cameo on UFF, that they have success and find their happy endings :)
Once again, thank you so much for this ride. I just can't believed it already ended, it seemed like it was yesterday that Aiden made his first pov ;-;
This won't be a serious goodbye because we will still talk and of course I will still be hyped with UFF and I'll be commenting every single chapter :p
Oh and I'm curious, as you know I'm like a huge fan of Oliver :p did you imagine him getting married? I can totally imagine him marrying someone from his work honestly.
Ok now for real, thank you so so so much. You are an amazing writer and I want you to know that I anticipated every single chapter every week and reading it made my day, seriously, even if it took me a while to comment in the chapter.
I wish you the best and I hope you have a lot of fun writing UFF and finish this trilogy which I believe will bring tears of joy and will bring you the best feeling of accomplishement. You deserve it Dani! Thank you so much *takes off my hat* farewell Ctf, thank you for the ride, you will be always remembered!
From the bottom if my heart, thank you Dani, thank you very much! <3
I won't say goodbye so have a nice week and see you around ;) take care of yourself.
luv_kero
2415 streak #2
Chapter 57: I've been anticipating the Afterword chapter so much ever since you mentioned it, and I absolutely loved reading all of your thoughts on the cast and how you went about developing their arcs!! <3 Some of the things I knew (thanks to me loving spoilers and our insanely long back-and-forth responses via comments and PM, HAHA) and some of the things were a complete surprise, so it was so cool getting to learn and relearn these behind-the-scenes tidbits!! ^^

One thing I had no idea about (but probably should've figured out, LOOOOL) was Python's intended role as canon!Audrey Weasley!! Looking back now, it totally makes and I should've known you'd make sure every aspect of Percy's story was covered, even if they weren't intended to truly be endgame with the planned divorce. :P Does that mean Python would've been leading the MII with Cadi instead of Audrey Blishwick if the latter hadn't been submitted??

Ahhhh, not a day goes by where I wish Evera were still here with us, even though I know that her death was necessary. :') I take a lot of comfort in knowing that her death served so much purpose in the story and that it wasn't meaningless (not that anyone's death was ^^;) in the grand scheme of things. :) I do wonder how the story would've changed if she had stayed alive, since I imagine Kent would've been a much less broken man. But then his motivation to really get plans in motion within the Order of Phoenix wouldn't have been as strong as it was after suffering such a devastating loss. OTL All in all, Kent and Evera will always be the best dynamic duo, and I will never stop thanking you for bringing them to life in such a beautiful way!! <3 And I guess I don't know if they'll make cameos in UFF, but I'd love to know what happened to Drake and Jemma (and even little Roderick from H:aH, LOOOL, if you ever got to planning his future XD) after the events of CtF if you have that information readily available. ^^; If not, no worries!! I'm just very attached to my original trio, HAHA. :')

I'll be reiterating a lot of stuff I've said in previous comments and/or messages, but Channer was the first character I fully conceptualized when you announced CtF and its plot. I'm honestly drawn to charismatic, outgoing male characters (Kent, Drake, Landon), so writing a coward like Channer was such a fun challenge for me since I got to really step out of my comfort zone. I think part of me subconsciously wanted him to eventually join Adeline in the Underground, since I'm a er for the good side, but I loved that he stayed neutral throughout since I think that's the path truest to his character. It wouldn't have made sense if he had joined up and although it was painful to see him get bested by Yurina, I'm really happy that he's learned to hold his family a little closer now. <3

And now, MY FOX QUEEN, MISS YURINA NAKAYASHI!! I honestly don't enjoy writing Slytherin-like characters, but she was such a fun character to create and I became so attached to her in such a short amount of time. I really think it was her background that cinched it for me. The tiger parent mentality is often lauded by Asian parents as the "right" way to raise your child and while I do think there are some great parts about it, I also think it can be incredibly toxic with the wrong parents and the wrong children. So giving Yurina such a lonely childhood made me sympathize with her so much, even though I knew I was creating an evil character who really shouldn't be redeemed. ^^; I think I would've been really sad to see her caught by Abeni, so I'm stoked that UFF saved her in a way and I can't wait to see what mischief she's planning now!! :D Even though she's probably going to be defeated in UFF, at least she got a happy ending in CtF, HAHA. XD No matter what happens, she'll forever be my queen of darkness. <3

And then we have Odette, the strongest Fugitive out there who's absolutely killing it in life now, which she completely deserves after everything she went through during the war. :') Even though I made her to get tortured, I don't think I envisioned just how much she'd have to go through and my heart broke every time her situation got bleaker. OTL I honestly feared for her life the most out of my main four, especially after Evera died, since I knew that a Fugitive death would be incredibly possible. My other Fugitive characters, Xander and Cassie, were much more capable and resourceful than Odette was, so I figured that if a Fugitive had to die, she'd be the one. OTL So knowing that she ultimately made it out alive, even with immense trauma, made me so happy because I would've been crushed to bits by her death. ^^; Odette's a strong girl who shows that persistence and sheer will are key, and I'm so glad that sunnier skies graced her future. <3

I know I didn't write about everyone, basically focusing on my own characters, but I absolutely loved reading about every single member of the cast and seeing their stories get woven together in this amazing tale. Just as it was for H:aH, it was truly the greatest honor to be part of this story in some way and I'm eternally grateful that I was given the opportunity to help shape the HoM trilogy with my imperfect characters. :') They've all grown immensely over the course of CtF and I'm beyond ecstatic to see what kind of magic you'll weave next with UFF!! x] You know I'll be there writing essays after every chapter, because I can't stop myself from spazzing over even the tiniest details and I'm actually going to cry when it's all over. I would've cried when CtF ended, but knowing that there's still one installment left kept the tears at bay, HAHA. :') But we'll worry about UFF ending when the time comes, since it's just barely begun at this point and it's time to ENJOY what's about to come!! :D

Again, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for writing Confronting the Faceless!! <3 You're forever one of my writing inspirations and a friend I've grown to cherish so much after getting to know you these past few years, and I will never stop saying how grateful and lucky I am to have stumbled across Hogwarts: a History back then. x] You're the absolute best, Dani!! <3
Susan15
#3
Chapter 56: Hi!! Ok I believe I am ready for this overwhelming final chapter ;-;

Honestly, I always thought about what would happen to Ava. A part of me continuously compared her to Claire, but I think Ava is a coward. While Claire didn't agree with the values that most of Slytherins believed, she actually tried to do something about it, and a good part was that she met Bill and had her cousin. Ava had Astoria and her friend wasn't what Ava thought about the others. I think she was obsessed with "I'm better than them" to the point that she disliked Clary who was different from what she hated and also she was shocked about Kingsley, someone she saw as an example, only to find that he was a Slytherin. She put all her hatress into the house instead of growing up and understanding that not everyone is the same.
I liked how everything wrapped for her, it was the best outcome became she herself did not grow up much within all those years. And I'm really happy that she and Anwen got to become friends :)

Theo... I'm so... shocked! And happy? I'm truly glad he managed to find peace with himself (or something similar to that) and that he found someone who went through something "similar" and somehow could understand him and love him by who he is. I actually wonder if he managed to face his father since he always wanted to make him proud on top of everything and honestly I wonder if he got to see his uncle getting arrested, because well he deserved that! And I'm so happy that Kent was the best man! Ok I'm happy by how everything just went, Kingsley too. And I'm so so proud of Max and it was great to see him and Claire at Theo's wedding. I hope Theo and Val can make things work and finally forgive themselves.

Aiden as a grandpa is the strawberry on top of the ice cream xD Mia is so cute and YES ONE OF MY SHIPS SAILED!! I'm so happy Logan and Susan got together! And am I sensing a rivalry between Albus and Mia? xD Or maybe something more? :p I'm so happy and proud that Aiden was able to retire and be happy, he deserves and honestly he is one of my favourite characters. It was not easy to be a adoptive father and now he became a proud grandfather, I'm so happy for him.

Minki and Padma got together <3 and they had twins omg poor Minki! But I'm so happy and proud that he was able to follow his dream even if it was smaller than his bigger one. Oh my and Terry and Parvati wow I wasn't expecting that! Friends becoming lovers is something I live for haha. I'm so happy that everything worked out. I know that he is probably the most neutral character in the story, I don't remember, was he in the battle?

Odette! And she is the final pov ;-; Omg Dean got married and they became friends, that's so great. I wouldn't have guessed that Dean would marry a muggle! Dirk would be proud of how both of them grown up so much after everything that happened. I'm so proud of Odette and happy too, she deserves all the happiness in this world!

I can't believe this story just ended. I believe I can speak by everyone that we became attached to these characters and I'm not ready to say goodbye. I love every single character and I believe you made such an incredible story that I don't have enough words to express what I feel. Thank you so much for your time, passion and for making this amazing story and capturing our hearts. You are a great writer and I hope you feel proud of yourself just like I'm proud of you :)

I hope you have a great weekend and honestly I'm making fingers crossed to see them somehow again in UFF because I think I'll miss some of them too much xD
Thank you so much and see you Sunday to see your amazing thoughts and feelings through this story <3. Take care of yourself and have an awesome time :)
Susan15
#4
I'll give you a proper comment about the final chapter but yes please, I'd live to read your thoughts and feelings!
I'm so happy and shocked at the same time with the final chapter, but I will leave it to another time!! I just wanted to let you know how much I loved it and that I really do want to hear what your opinions :)
Have a nice week and I hope to read your feelings and thoughts next sunday :')
luv_kero
2415 streak #5
Chapter 56: Oh my gosh, it's the final epilogue. I'm not ready. OTL

Dang, I legit wasn't expecting Ava to be an ice cream shop owner after twenty years, LOOOL. :P But yikes, I can imagine that leaving Hogwarts definitely turned the "Slytherin=bad" sentiment on its head. I don't blame Ava for thinking that way during her school years, since she was a teenager and she hated not fitting in with her house. But at least she's become more open-minded and chill now, and it does show a lot of her character growth. :) It's also really sweet that she revived Fortescue's ice cream shop, since it's such a cornerstone of Diagon Alley and it broke my heart when Florean disappeared. :'( But omg, I also didn't expect Anwen to have had a whirlwind romance with a Muggle, so I'm glad that she also seems to be a lot more open-minded now as an adult. ^^ Although it that it didn't work out and I hope Anwen is doing okay as a single mother, since I know that can be difficult. >___< The cameos of Albus, Rose, and Scorpius were also super cute and I love that they're this generation's trio, hehe. x]

Oh gosh, Theo looking at little Evan and thinking of his guilt towards Evera's death had me gutted too. Q___Q But also, I'M SCREAMING AT KENT BEING HIS BEST MAN!! AND I'M ALSO SCREAMING AT THEO MARRYING VALERIE???????? FORGET WHAT I SAID ABOUT AVA. THIS IS THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OUT OF ALL OF THE EPILOGUES. I'M SO SHOOK. THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST SHOOK I'VE EVER BEEN. NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS DID I EVER EXPECT VALERIE AND THEO TO END UP TOGETHER. Like it totally makes sense with them bonding over their trauma in this support group and I bet Valerie felt AWFUL for getting caught in Branwen's web after she found out Branwen was a Death Eater. T^T It's so so so cute that Theo and Valerie eventually fell for each other, and I'm so happy that Theo gets to experience this beautiful moment because he deserves it!! And ahhhhh, I love that Kent is Best Man (best boi forever!!) and Evan is the ring bearer (/cries i love this kid so much already help) and Zac also got happily married and Valerie's family is there, and Theo has so many friends and people who care about him. :') AND JUST THAT ENDING, OMG. SHOT ME IN THE HEART. *o* I'M DED FROM HOW CUTE THEY ARE. PROCLAIMING MYSELF AS CAPTAIN OF THIS NEW SHIP NOW, HAHAHA.

Ahhhh, Logan and Susan got together!! x] And Mia, like all the kids, sounds so adorable and Aiden is definitely best grandpa!! ^^ And ooh, looks like Oliver is teaching at Hogwarts now after retiring from the professional circuit?? :D Gah, that reminds me that he's also old now too. OTL And omg, I'm ded at Mia and Albus having a Quidditch rivalry. XD Try-outs will be a battlefield this year with those two gunning for positions, HAHA. And LOOOOOL, I also wasn't expecting that kiss comment from Mia. :P I imagine Albus will definitely be a heartthrob, especially when he gets older, and Mia will be one of many who have a crush on young Potter, LOLOLOL. But ahhhh, so happy that Aiden has such a beautiful family and that he's enjoying life so much now!! He completely deserves it after everything he went through!! And I also love that Ava made an appearance at the end, even though they never actually met in the main story, since everyone's stories are ultimately tied together in this epic. :)

Haha, definitely not surprised that Minki opened up a dance studio. XD He really suffered the least overall out of everyone in CtF, I think. Him and Venus. And awww, so cute that he and Padma ended up having twins!! x] And ooh, Padma is also a teacher now?? :D What kind?? (also there's a tiny typo where you wrote parvati instead of padma and i was like, wait which twin is which?? is padma the gryff and parvati the ravenclaw?? XD) And awwww, I wasn't expecting Terry and Parvati to get married, but I can totally see them together and it's so cute that the two best friends each got married to one of the twins, HAHA. :P They're all one big happy family now!! ^^ Minki and Padma's banter is also so cute, and I love how chill Minki is now in comparison to how he was in seventh year. :') And ooh, what does Terry do in the Department of Transportation?? Guess he followed the more traditional path of working for the Ministry while Jerome went traveling, LOOOOL. XD

And now, we're here at last at the final epilogue. T^T Odette was the last of my main characters submitted to CtF, she was the last POV chapter of the story (and the last Fugitive to be rescued), and now she's the last of the epilogues. But that doesn't mean she's last in my heart, because she's far from it!! <3 I figured she would eventually strike up a friendship with Dean, since they both had the connection of being on the run with Dirk at some point, and I bet they've shared a lot of stories about Dirk with each other over the years. :) My heart hurts knowing that Odette still suffered so much for so long, even though it's completely understandable that she wouldn't have mentally healed in an instant. That's just not possible when you've gone through what she did. And ahhhhh, HARRY COMING THROUGH TO GIVE HER A CHANCE MAKES ME SO HAPPY!! TRULY AN ICON. AND AHHHH, SO SO SO PROUD OF ODETTE FOR BECOMING HEAD OF THE IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE!! *o* SHE OVERCAME ALL OF THE OBSTACLES LIFE THREW HER WAY AND WE LOVE SEEING FEMALE MUGGLEBORNS GETTING RIGHTFULLY RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK IN THE MINISTRY!! x] Again, restating what I said in Kent's epilogue, I completely relate to Odette and Dean talking to Dirk's gravestone so this definitely hit home for me. It's a way to stay connected with them, even though they've passed, and I think it's very powerful that Dirk was able to create a very unique bond between Odette and Dean, even though he had long since passed. :) And I love that the ice skating figurine managed to survive the war!! It's definitely a beautiful, subtle reminder of the past before the war. ^^ And ahhhhh, that final sentence really pulled at my heartstrings. :') Everything is going to be just fine, Odette!! You've made it this far and you're only going to continue climbing to the top!! <3

Also, a big resounding YES to your A/N!! I'd love an Afterwords chapter!! :D I'll save my final CtF comment for then, hehe. ^^
Susan15
#6
Chapter 55: Hi!!

Omg yes! Venus had her dream come true, I'm so proud of her!
Oh and is she getting interested in that man?? :p
I kind of imagined her with someone from work since she would probably be a professional most of the time and she wouldn't go out on dates with just anyone, especially because she would care a lot about her job and would dedicate 100% of her time to that, so I truly see things work out between them :)

Tangi!! Our precious child who is not a child anymore :') I'm so glad she and Xander kept their friendship and managed to still be a part of each other's life!
Aw and Hazel made it out alive! And I can definitely imagine their marriage :) I'm also so happy that Clary and Kingsley got married too, like omg yes!

Gabe!! I truly thought that he was the groom!! I was shipping him with Romilda ;-; but it's still good that they kept being friends all this time. Same goes for Nathan, I'm truly happy that the two of them kept their friendship after all this time! Gabe also speaking in french with Fleur was just perfect haha.

Kent!! Aww I love the name Evan as I bet Evera would love it! He truly acts like a proud dad! And Tori already grown up omg ;-;. Why am I imagining those two in Hogwarts having the time of their lives? Haha. Kent is now a married man with two beautiful kids and I bet he feels the happiest man on Earth. Evera would be really proud of him. The final scene is just heartbreaking :') farewell Evera.

And finally but not last, Audrey!! I'm so glad that she and Percy got serious and started having a life together and forming a family. Their daughter Mai is really energetic haha. And I'm so glad to see that Audrey and Python still remained friends! Omg Lucy... that hit my poor heart ;-; I bet Lucas would feel proud and happy for her. I can imagine little Lucy in Hogwarts as a happy kid and perhaps who knows, maybe she would also become a healer! And Python becoming her godmother is just amazing!

I can't believe that next chapter is the last ;-; it's been a long journey and to see that everyone have grown up and becoming happier (even Yurina haha) is so heartwarming and we became attached to all of them so it will be hard to say goodbye. I hope that maybe some of them may make a cameo in UFF :')
I'm preparing tissues for the last chapter which will take another 10 years after this one and since it's set prior to the UFF events, I'm quite curious!

Thank you for this chapter, for the "romantic and couples" chapter haha. It's good to see everyone getting their dreams came true and them having their own families.
I hope you have an incredible week, great classes and I wish you everything the best :) Rest well and take good care of yourself.
I will see you later for the story's finale ;-; see ya~ :)
luv_kero
2415 streak #7
Chapter 55: Good on Venus for becoming the youngest ever Unspeakable!! Just like Rajani, we love seeing female Slytherins achieving their goals!! ^^ At the beginning of the story, I would've never expected Venus to be working in the Love Chamber. But after her work with identifying the loss of hope during the war, it does make sense that she'd end up in the chamber that's all about unraveling the mystery behind emotion. And omg, I wasn't expecting Cadfael to be an Unspeakable as well!! :D He's so much more chill now after his angsty Hogwarts days. XD Hopefully life has been much kinder to him since then. :') And ooooh, do I spy some sparks flying between him and Venus?? :P I can definitely see them together, bonding over their Slytherin days at Hogwarts, both of them with their air of mystery and very small social circles, haha. And since Unspeakables can't really share what goes on with their work, I imagine it'd be nice to be with someone who'll understand any workplace frustrations and such. ^^

Awwwww, love that Xander and Matangi are still so close after the war!! x] And yaaaay, so glad that Hazel survived and is thriving now!! :D It's so awesome to see that she's become an activist and hopefully things change for the better for the LGBTQ+ community with her leading the charge. :) And omg, Kingsley and Clary made up and married each other!! Ahhhhh, that's so sweet!! ^^ Wow, look at Clary, going from worrying about her grades in Hogwarts, to a bittersweet relationship with Lenox, to being one of the best Auror trainers in the Ministry, to being a member of the Underground, to becoming the Minister of Magic's wife while also being the Head of Magical Law Enforcement!! Again, we love seeing successful female Slytherins killing it in life!! :D And yesss, Xander is gonna be amazing in his new job and I'm so happy he's ending his dueling career on such a high note!! :D And ahhhh, Matangi and Hazel's wedding will be absolutely beautiful, and I really hope they'll be able to wed soon!! x]

Haha, you really threw me for a loop there in thinking that Gabe was the groom. XD I wonder who David is and how Romilda met him. :P But it's awesome to see that Gabe, Nathan, and Romilda are still best friends and as close as ever after all these years. ^^ And ooh, love the little bonding moment between Gabe and Fleur!! :D And also, dang, it's very cool that Gave is working as an investigative reporter. I definitely wasn't expecting that to be his career, since I thought he might go the Auror route or something similar. He was such an explosive kid, always gunning for justice. :P But I can see why he'd choose investigative reporting instead, especially since it does have a lot of freedom and traveling is so much fun. ^^ And he still gets to pursue justice, albeit in a more roundabout manner, LOOOL. And I guess he's going the Charlie route and staying a happy bachelor for the rest of his life, which is awesome and I'm glad he's happy without needing a partner to fulfill him. :)

Oh wow, another Weasley kid to add to the clan. XD They just don't stop coming. :') And it's funny that Mai is so different in temperament from her parents and Percy must have his hands full trying to make sure she doesn't upend everything in their lives. :P And it's so cute that Audrey Caldwell is still known as Python, even after all these years, HAHA. It's definitely a very cool nickname, even without the Underground attachment, so I can see why she'd keep it, LOOOOL. And omg, ahhhh, it's so sweet that Audrey decided to name Lucy after Lucas. T^T He really meant a lot to both her and Percy, so it's very beautiful that they're choosing to honor him through the newest addition to their family. :) He still lives in everyone's hearts, even though he's long gone now, and I'm sure he would've loved doting on Mai and Lucy if he had survived. >___< And I just realized that this means Audrey will have a pre-teen at home and a teenager at Hogwarts while she's dealing with stuff in UFF, LOL. What a busy woman. :')

And oh my gosh, Kent, my lovely boy, I don't think I'm ready to let go of him yet. Q___Q He's one of my absolute favorite OCs and I'm so happy I got a opportunity to expand on him for this story. <3 Like he was already an amazing side character that I loved to bits, but getting the chance to see him under the spotlight made me so incredibly happy, despite everything that happened to him during the war. :') And awww, Tori's a teenager now and I love how sassy she's become. XD Reminds me a lot of Holly in H:aH, LOLOLOL. :P And omg, so cute that she considers Jemma an aunt too, and I'm so so curious to know how Jemma and Drake are doing nowadays!! ^^ And omg, Ebony is such a beautiful name for Holly's daughter, hehe. x] It's awesome that Kent and Willow were able to find their way back to each other, even though it was so rough. Totally understandable that they broke up after the war. Kent was still grieving the loss of Evera and Willow then had to go through the exact same thing with Laurel. They definitely needed to grow separately as they processed their grief. You don't want to be at 50% when you're dating someone, using them to fill that other 50%. You want to be at 100% and dating another person who's at 100% for it to be a healthy, long-lasting relationship. At least that's my belief, LOL, although I don't have any personal experience to go off of (so who knows if I'm spouting nonsense). ^^; But Evan is such a great name, and Evera would've loved him and Sammy to pieces. x] And oh my gosh, my heart is dying because the end of Kent's epilogue is at Evera's grave. T^T I'll be very honest here, I talk a lot to the gravestone of one of my loved ones (and I use it as proxy for the other gravestones that I can't physically visit), so Kent talking to Evera this way was something I wholly related to. And my heart is breaking all over again, because I miss Evera so much and I don't think I'll ever get over her death. But I will stay strong, because she was a strong girl and Kent is staying strong too. I hope there're only clear skies for him for the rest of his life, even though I know things will get crazy with raising two boys in the house and there's still UFF's events to come ten years later. ^^; And omg, I just realized that Evan (and maybe Sammy) will be at Hogwarts when UFF starts!! XD Not that it's super relevant in the grand scheme of things, LOL, but I will have fun imagining the newest crop of Sylvesters at the best school in the world, having shenanigans of their own. :') And I'm just really really really happy that Kent got a happy ending, because he deserves it and I love him so much. He and Evera will always be my favorite pair of siblings, forever and ever, and I'm so happy that their bond will never be broken, even by death. <3

OMG, the final epilogue is coming soon and it's set right before UFF!! :D I'm not ready at all for CtF to end though. OTL But I'm also super excited to see the five remaining POVs and catch up with them twenty years later. ^^
Susan15
#8
Chapter 54: Hi!! Sorry for taking so long to comment!

First of all, my heart is hurting for Lucas. He was one of my favourite characters and honestly I feel like since half of the story he was making a rough path and the signals to his tragedy were there ;-; His last pov and Odette's pov showed how he was overworking and not taking care of himself. I liked him a lot, but somehow I feel like I knew that he would have a bad ending. I'm glad he had a painless passing and I'm sad that he didn't do a check up with Python because maybe he could have survived, but that's so Lucas.. And I'm really sad for his mother, she suffered so much and losing a son is like losing a part of her, especially since it's not natural. Oh my ;-; rest in peace Lucas.

Oh Channer ;-; poor boy, he must feel so guilty. But we all never know what is going to happen tomorrow so it's normal that we don't say "I love you" everyday. But of course it's truly painful and the last interaction is always what is pressed in our minds ;-; I know you will be able to process your grief and you will be better with time. You have your mother and sister, you will be fine!

I'm so glad that Max made it out alive. Now Claire and Max can really talk and pour their hearts to one another. They just "lost" their father who will be imprisoned after waking up (if he eventually wakes up), so they just have one another and their mother. And I truly understand what she means that everyone is biased and already settled their minds that everyone in the losing side is guilty. Fitz!! I'm so glad to see him!!! And I'm super glad that he is fine!!! Willow and Theo omg guys ;-; I'm so proud of Theo to try helping out and prove that everyone deserves a second chance like he had, because of their family environment and ideals. And I bet Willow feels like she compensated a lot from what she did. Everything is good now, I'm happy for them.

Oh Farrah :( you need time to heal my poor child. I understand that Christian is very important to her but he wouldn't understand what she has been through and she definitely needs to have a support near her who truly understands her and even though I know that Christian was what kept her sanity, she created a version of him in her mind who probably doesn't exist, and she needs time for herself now. You can get well child ;-;.

Yurina queen of the evil! Always causing trouble, really haha. Abeni must have a huge grudge on Yurina, because she is quite a pain in the haha. Let's see how Yurina will cause problems in Uff because I know you're involved young lady!

Wow next epilogue is 10 years from here! We're going to see the Hogwarts kids as grown ups!! I hope Venus and Minki managed to follow their dreams! I'm quite curious how Ava and Gabe became as adults haha. I bet everyone else is doing well now :)
I can't wait for the next epilogue!!
I hope you have a nice week, take care of yourself, rest well and see you later ;)
petitreveur
#9
Chapter 54: I told myself I was going to properly comment at the end of the three-part epilogue but I know I had to drop a comment after I read the first POV. NOOOOO LUCAS NOOOOOOO :"( Why do all my fav characters have to die hurhur /cries/ First Evera, then Laurel and now Lucas. My heart was literally squeezed tight when I read the line "He doesn't wake up" and I'm like NO NO NO, THAT CAN'T BE TRUE :"( I should have realised that foreshadowing when he was feeling way too exhausted than ever, that he w-wouldn't make it pass the night. Idk why but his death hits so much harder than anyone else's?? Lucas was (fk, I have to use the word 'was' now) such a golden boy, he did so much as a Healer and contributes sooo much as part of the Underground!! Although he didn't "fight" in the war, he was a true war hero!! I guess it's...relieving that his death wasn't a painful one and he passed in the comforts of his house....he will definitely be sorely missed :"( I can't imagine how broken his mother would be when she realises that her son is never going to wake up again >.< OH GOSHH, THAT START ALREADY SCREAMS DEPRESSING!! (I literally paused for five whole minutes before going on to the next POV)

Glad to see that Channel survived the war!! That sibling dynamic between Channel and Adeline has drastically changed. Damn, those two siblings must feel rather awkward and apologetic to each other but I feel it's neither their fault that things turned out that way. It's the awful circumstances that caused things to spiral out of control >.< It's so heartwarming to see Adeline and their mother visiting Channel in the hospital. , Channel must be feeling even more horrible and guilty for not actively doing anything during the war after learning that their father had passed away in Azkaban. Despite the awkwardness between the siblings, I'm sure Adeline never actually blamed Channel for ousting her and that's what family is all about. They are there for you no matter how much you might have forsaken them and at the end of the day, they still worry about you and welcome you back with open arms ^^ Things are never the same but Channel still has Adeline and their mother and things will get better with time :-)

Another POV that reflects the phrase "blood is thicker than water". Even though Max was a Death Eater, Claire can't bring herself to hate him or cut off ties with him. Sure, she does not agree with his dealings but after all, he is still her brother, her family. That conflicted feelings within her must be chewing her up for she knows that her brother deserved to be punished for the greater good but at the same time, Max is her brother, they are related by blood, and it must be hard to see him locked up in Azkaban (when their father was already sentenced while in a coma, big oof!) That grey area would always be grey ^^" Oh wow, I would have never thought Willow to be on defence (should I say that Max is very lucky to have Claire as his sister? LOL) and Theo to be the final witness!! Looks like Max doesn't have to live in a crammed cell anymore :')

Poor Farrah :'( She is suffering so much but I'm glad to see the tiniest progress that she is making since the day she was admitted into Mungo's. It that she doesn't really have any close friends around her except for Clara as all of her friends are all Muggles who wouldn't be able to understand what she had gone through because of the Statue. And now Clara is feeling slightly wary around her >.< Well, I don't blame Clara, she must be at a huge loss of what to do with someone so utterly broken, she had never been in her situation before and neither is she a trained medical professional. But it's great that Farrah is seeing a therapist and I can tell that Ellie is a good psychiatrist to her. Oh nooo, it must have been a last straw for Farrah when she heard that she's not allowed to see Christian as it was Christian who kept her fighting on for her life in the cells >.< Yet again, Christian prolly wouldn't be able to understand what happened to Farrah as a Muggle. But maybe, it's just the presence of Christian that she needs? Somehow, I don't think that Clara is a mean friend to Farrah or anything, it's just that Farrah is just so delicate right now and Clara obviously can't be there 24/7 for her >.< It's draining for both girls. Perhaps, a longer hospital stay would do them both good? The impact of war is just so harsh :"(

Da boss lady is in the house!! And she is getting straight to work!! With her schemings!! Poor Amos, he is so naive to think that he can get a taste of her LMAO and Yurina is using that to her strength, obviously. And voila, now she has information about Abeni Akingbade, which leads me wondering what exactly happened over the past twenty years?? The Akingbades must be pretty influential people in Nigeria?? And I'm pretty sure Yurina managed to wreck chaos in Nigeria and overthrew the government in some way or another?? I swear this little Japanese lady just doesn't stop :P Abeni must have gone through much turmoil, seeing the UFF's first teaser. Damn, everything is getting juicier and I can't wait for the tea to be spilled xD
luv_kero
2415 streak #10
Chapter 54: Oh man, I should've figured Lucas would end up dying from overwork. :'( The signs were all there, especially during his final main POV. T^T Him overworking himself was a constant theme and it so much that he had to go out this way. It reminds me a lot of karoshi, "overwork death" in Japanese, and I'm just glad that he got one final night with his mother and that he died in the comfort of his home. OTL But oh my god, his mother is going to be absolutely heartbroken when she finds him in the morning and my heart hurts so much for her, because she was probably so thankful that her son wasn't directly on the battlefield, but he ended up being a casualty anyway and she'll still have to bury him with all of the others. T^T In a way, Lucas' death sort of has a numbness to it and both Audreys are probably going to be devastated when they receive the news as well. :'( As well as Percy, Jemma, Jun, and anyone else who knew Lucas. ;~; He was a great guy though and he really did a lot for the war effort. In the end, he definitely died a hero like the others.

Oh my gosh, I've been anticipating the conclusion to Channer's story ever since his final main POV and I'm so glad he's in a much better state than some of the others. <3 Granted, things aren't perfect and they never will be, especially since Timon is dead, but at least he has a chance to make things better and that's what counts the most. Channer is still so young and he has his whole life ahead of him to strengthen the bonds he has with his remaining family members. It's something I'm personally trying to work on as well, although our circumstances are admittedly very different. One thing I definitely fear is leaving things unsaid when it's too late, and my heart hurts so much that Timon and Channer never got to properly bond before Timon died. :'( It's definitely going to weigh on Channer a lot from now on, and I hope that he'll be able to process his grief and regret in a healthy way. On the plus side, I'm so happy that Henry is okay and it's so cool that Adeline stayed with his dad while she was in hiding!! ^^ If anything, maybe Henry and Channer can become eventual friends with Henry easing some of Channer's regrets with stories of Timon in Azkaban and how Timon was always talking about how proud he was of his kids. It won't alleviate all of the pain, but it might help a bit, knowing that even though he never verbally expressed his feelings to his dad, Timon still deeply loved and cared for Channer until the very end. Linette, Adeline, and Channer are definitely going to struggle for years to come, but at least they have each other and that's what matters. <3

Oof, it does that Claire's still stuck between both sides, even after the end of the war. But it's nice to see that short moment between her and Fitzwilliam, and he's grown so much from his school days, ahhhhh :') And oh my, I guess since Claire does technically have a stake in the other side because of her family, what the Order is doing for clean-up probably does feel a lot more harsh to her, even though they probably feel completely justified in doing so. It's a very gray area and at the very least, Willow and Theo came through by helping out, even though they had no obligation to. I do wonder why they did. Maybe it was Holly asking for a favor, since she knew Claire?? Maybe it was just Willow not wanting someone else to lose a sibling after she did?? Maybe it was Theo knowing that Max was like him, brought up with Death Eater ideals but still capable of change?? At the very least, I'm glad that Claire doesn't have to lose a family member who's so precious to her and she's much luckier than most who've been affected by the war.

Oh wow, good to see that Farrah also survived Azkaban!! I'm guessing we'll find out Hazel's fate in Matangi's epilogue. Anyway, it's awesome that Farrah is already seeing a therapist and Ellie sounds wonderful. :) And considering how broken Farrah already was back in February, I'm not surprised she was even worse by the time all of the prisoners were released from Azkaban. Her fantasies were probably the only thing keeping her going while she was at Azkaban. x___x But yikes, I don't know if a happy ending with Christian is in the cards. Considering what she's been through, she'll really need someone by her side who'll understand the extent of this war and since Christian is a Muggle, I don't think he can be that person, realistically. >___< Maybe if this were set during UFF's time with magic finally being revealed, Christian could become her caretaker and they could have their happily ever after. But considering how Clara is Farrah's best friend and Clara's reaction to Farrah's breakdowns, I doubt Christian will be able to last long either. >___>

And finally, my beautiful and strong queen of darkness, Miss Yurina Nakayashi!! <3 Going to America was definitely the right call, HAHA. (Since no pandemic to worry about and the US was in a much better state back then OTL If this were 2020, I'd be like, NOOOOO, GO BACK TO ASIA!! ANYWHERE BUT THE US!!) And yesssss, what a QUEEEEEN, living in the lap of luxury in Vegas!! XD Love love love that she's already scheming and recruiting people to her cause!! She isn't wasting any time in making plans for world domination. XD And ooooooh, I've been so so so curious to find out about the bit with soap operas that you asked me about a while back and it's so cool to finally see it here!! :D And oof, looks like Amos is her newest puppet and I love her puppeteering so much!! XD She'd never give him a second glance if it weren't for the information he's gathering for her. He's too much of a lust-driven doormat and Yurina is WAY above that. x] If she ever does fall in love, it'll be with a man who can provide a challenge and keep up with her intellectually. He'll have to REALLY impress her with his cunning and capabilities, and men like that are few and far in between, especially relative to Yurina. She has no time to deal with small fries like Amos and he's probably only got an Avada Kedavra in his future once she's done with him. :') But ooh, Abeni better watch out since Yurina has her eye on her now!! The fox is on the prowl and no one is safe now, hehe <3

Ooh, super curious to see what life will be like ten years from now!! Definitely a lot happier than this, since most people will have healed considerably by then. :') And wizards probably won't be affected by everything that's happening in the Muggle world, LOL (collapse of the housing bubble, Great Recession, etc.) :P