Epilogue Two
Confronting the Faceless 💀 CompleteSummer, 2008
"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"
Venus Burke
Nearly ten years suffering through the general monotony of working for the Ministry of Magic Research Committee has finally paid off, and Venus takes a deep, fortifying breath as she steps onto the Ministry lift and for the first time presses the button for Level Nine.
Her bag is looped over her shoulder, dozens of notebooks and loose pages dating back to her school days stuffed into it in an organized chaos, ready to be presented to her new coworkers.
It's a bit insulting, honestly, how long it took the Department to accept her proposal considering how little it has changed since she initially sent it in just after graduating Hogwarts, but Venus isn't stupid - she knows that as a former Slytherin the path of upward mobility was always going to be harder for her than anyone from the other Houses, particularly after the war. But despite that she's managed to do something her parents always warned her might be a tad too ambitious.
Starting today, Venus Burke is the youngest ever Unspeakable working for the Department of Mysteries, specifically in the Love Chamber where she will be pursuing her thesis on the impact of emotion on spell casting.
She doesn't think she's ever been in a better mood in her life, not that that's a particularly difficult competition to win.
She steps out of the lift five minutes later (the ride up was slower than she would have liked due to other employees needing to get off on lower levels), but finally the door slides open and she takes her first steps into the long, obsidian hallway that leads to her new workplace.
There are two men standing in the hallway, one older and one younger, who are talking casually. Venus recognizes the older one and immediately walks over to him.
"Good morning Unspeakable Greengrass." She greets her uncle politely. In her everyday life, Astoria's father is usually "Uncle Gareth," but she's determined to make a good showing on her first day, and that means full professionalism.
Her Uncle nods at her. "Unspeakable Burke." He returns the greeting flatly. "Congratulations." He adds, and she tilts her head in acknowledgement, knowing it's all she'll get from her strict, no-nonsense uncle. "Welcome to the Department of Mysteries. Unspeakable Ashburner will show you around and provide you with your tag."
Venus doesn't ask for any clarifications and instead just nods again and turns to the younger man, who she assumes must be Ashburner. He isn't looking at her though, keeping his focus on Gareth Greengrass instead, obviously waiting for the other man to leave.
"Well then, you can have the morning for the tour but both of you must get to work after lunch." Her uncle decides, and they both nod as he strides away to do... whatever it is he does, it's not like Venus actually knows the details.
Unspeakables aren't allowed to share details of their work outside of work itself, after all.
"So, you're the new girl." Her guide finally speaks, and Venus turns to face him again, studying the man carefully. He's attractive enough, blonde hair and blue eyes - a very typical look among purebloods (though his last name marks him as a half-blood).
"Venus Burke." She introduces herself. "I was admitted to work in the Love Chamber."
Ashburner nods. "I know, I was part of the group that read and approved your application. It was surprisingly in-depth work considering your limited resources."
Venus preens just a bit internally, though she keeps her external demeanor calm. "Well I'm glad to hear it. I started at school so I did have some access to the Restricted Section, which provided quite a bit of my basis." She admits, allowing a small grin when she catches Ashburner giving her a look of veiled surprise.
"Well, we should get started on the tour." He says after a moment. "Here." He offers her a simple card that has her name, picture, and primary Chamber on it. "That's your tag - it will help you navigate the Department safely. It's really easy to get lost in here."
"I'd imagine." Venus replies politely. So far Ashburner seems nice enough, but she's hoping that the tour is quick so she can get started on her work. "So where's the Love Chamber?"
Ashburner (she eventually learns his full name is Cadfael and isn't that an unfortunate first name?) is actually quite thorough in his tour, showing her each Chamber and giving warnings and advice about the dangers within each.
"Generally you won't need to go outside your primary Chamber, but it does happen on occasion." He says. "I'm mostly in the Death Chamber, but my work has required me to do some things in the Time and Love Chambers as well."
The tour ends up running right up to the lunch break, which is frustrating but understandable - there are a lot of different chambers, each with their own unique nightmare fuel to keep track of, and Venus, despite her want to get started, can appreciate the importance of being thorough in this situation.
Ashburner invites her to have lunch with him so she can ask any other questions she has, and she ends up taking him up on the offer. It's... enjoyable, in a way she can't really say she's ever experienced. Too often talking with other people is exhausting, or feels like a one-sided conversation either because they can't keep up with Venus's thought process or don't want to. But Cad (as he insists she call him) has not only read and understood her work, but he finds it fascinating, and they find themselves nearly going longer than their allowed lunch break, getting caught up swapping theories and debating the meaning of certain findings.
"I'll see you around then?" Venus asks as they take the lift back up to the Department, and Cad offers her a small smile.
"You will." He promises, and Venus thinks that this job is already better than she could have ever hoped for.
Matangi Mahtan
"Did you guys hear my interview? Wasn't I awesome?"
Xander Orton enters the room like a storm, impossible not to notice and likely leaving destruction in his wake.
Matangi looks up from where she's eating lunch with Hazel, who's been spending their lunch break pouring over documents more than actually eating.
"It wasn't live Z, we're going to listen tonight, remember?" Hazel replies distractedly, waving a quill at him in a shooing motion.
Xander pouts and sits down instead of leaving. "Fine, fine, but I was awesome! You'll see, with the support of the number one professional dueler in the world you'll get your bill passed in no time at all!"
Matangi scoffs. "Top Twenty in Europe." She corrects. "And while I agree you'll help with the public vote, it will more likely be Mrs. Shacklebolt's testimony to the Wizengamot tomorrow that will really determine if this goes through or not. They can decide to ignore what the public wants, after all."
"Have twice already." Hazel sighs. "So tomorrow's hearing needs to be perfect. There are some new faces in the group - Willow Kiddell, Sarah Poole, younger folk who are more likely to lean our way, but a lot of the old arseholes are still around as well."
Matangi smiles a bit at the cursing. Very little can make her girlfriend agitated enough to forego polite language but the Wizengamot's most conservative members manage it quite consistently.
Mind, Hazel has been working for nearly five years to get gay marriage legalized in the wizarding world with no luck, so her frustration is well warranted. Matangi helps out where she can, but her job as a trainee Investigator for the Auror Department keeps her busy more days than not.
The upcoming appeal to the Wizengamot is their third push to get a motion passed in favor of marriage equality, and honestly Matangi has a hard time seeing how Hazel could lose this time. She's really pulled out all the stops - endorsements from several public figures, Xander as well as some Quidditch stars and even a comment from the Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and popular War Hero Hermione Granger. Add that to getting the Minster's wife (and current Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement) Clary Shacklebolt to testify and the case seems impossibly solid.
Hazel is still worried though, hence Matangi regularly taking her lunch hour to go over to the Law offices so she can spend time with her girlfriend and try to calm her nerves, or at least serve as a sounding board for Hazel's presentations.
"See, this is why I don't do politics." Xander declares, then perks up in a way that tells Matangi he's about to go on a massive unrelated tangent. "Oh hey, did I tell you guys yet? I have news! Other than the interview going awesome, I mean."
Hazel grimaces, but Matangi knows she could use a distraction, and Xander's nonsense is usually quite good at doing exactly that.
"No Xander, I actually don't think you have." She replies, and Hazel gives her a look - she knows exactly what Matangi is doing and Matangi isn't sorry about it.
Xander, with all his usual social awareness, misses the exchange entirely. Or ignores it, it's always hard to tell with him. "Well! Much as I hate to admit it, I'm pushing fourty, which is a bit old to still be in this business."
Matangi raises an eyebrow and shares a look with Hazel - they've both been telling Xander as much for the past five years (Hazel much more gentley than Matangi) but it's still a surprise to hear him admit it himself.
Matangi says as much, and Xander pretends to swoon in his seat.
"Why are you so cruel to me T?" He whines. "This is good news! Don't spoil it with your Negative Nancy routine!"
Matangi grumbles, but Hazel is snickering slightly behind her hand and that makes it well worth it.
"Anyway." Xander declares dramatically. "Rhys Morgan reached out to me this weekend. You know, the new Head of Magical Sports and Games?"
"Games and Sports." Hazel corrects, then blushes a bit. "Not that it really matters, sorry, continue." She adds quickly at the hurt puppy eyes Xander gives her.
He clears his throat. "So. Rhys calls me up and says he's got an opening in the Department and he can't think of anyone else capable of doing it well. And so once this season ends I'll be formally retiring and..." He drums his hands on the table and Matangi rolls her eyes while Hazel laughs. "You are looking at the new Organizer for the British Professional Dueling League!"
Hazel hops a bit in her chair in excitement, and Matangi gives her friend a grin in congratulations.
"That's awesome Z!" Hazel says. "It really is perfect for you, congratulations."
Lunch wraps up soon after that, and Hazel shoos both Xander and Matangi out of the office ("You both have your own jobs!").
"Thanks for cheering her up." Matangi says as they walk down the hall towards the lift.
Xander grins over at her. "Hey, she's going to win, we both know it. Also, I didn't tell her because it's a surprise from the interview, but I got the entire British Quidditch Team to endorse the proposal as well."
Matangi can feel her smile straining her cheeks but she doesn't care. "Oliver came through? That's awesome!"
Xander gives a bow as the lift arrives and they step in. "Anything for my queens, but I expect to be best man at the wedding." He winks, and Matangi flushes. She hadn't told him she's planning to propose to Hazel the moment the bill is passed, but she's not surprised that he knows. Even after ten years, they can still read each other well.
And really, there are worse people to be stuck with.
Gabriel Beaux
Gabe is pretty sure Romilda is out to humiliate him. He feels ridiculous.
"Don't be so dramatic, you look great." Nate assures him, a far too happy bounce in his step as they make their way to the front of the chapel. Nate's one to talk - he gets to wear jeans. Gabe is made up in a full suit complete with a ridiculously gaudy red tie. "You match the rest of the wedding party." He adds with a laugh, poking at Gabe's tie before his hand is swatted away.
"You're pretty dang cheerful considering this isn't even your wedding." Gabe points out as they round the corner and run into the rest of the wedding party - including Romilda.
She looks amazing, Gabe has to admit, and when she beams brightly on seeing them her beauty only increases.
"Oh good you're here! You took you time." She fusses at them, and just like that she's just Romilda again, the shock of seeing her dolled up in flowing white instantly dulled.
"Do you know how hard it is to take a leak with fifty layers on?" Gabe shoots back, and she rolls her eyes.
"I'm a girl Gabe. Yes."
"She's got you there." Nate sing-songs, and if his boyfriend wasn't two feet away Gabe probably would have smacked him. As is, he's got a healthy respect for Seamus Finnigan and his ability to (probably) kill him in ten different ways using nothing but a toothpick (he's heard stories about Hit Wizards from people during his work with the Prophet).
"You shut up, you'd be miserable if you had to be the 'Man of Honor' too." Gabe grumbles, and Romilda punches him lightly.
"You shut up, don't ruin my day." She scolds as the music starts up.
Gabe shuffles to stand just in front of her, before turning around and grabbing one gloved hand, bowing to give it a kiss.
"French good luck." He winks, and she snorts. "David is a lucky man."
"Damn right he is. Now don't miss your cue." She nudges him, and the bright smile is back and Gabe can't really be annoyed when his humiliation makes his best friend this happy.
The ceremony is excruciatingly long, and Gabe knows that if she could have gotten away with it Romilda would have happily just eloped and called it a day. She keeps shooting him and Nate looks of exaggerated misery throughout the ceremony, and all three have to muffle their laughing. Across from her, her now-husband David just looks on adoringly.
Finally, the ceremony concludes and Romilda and David kiss, and the whole room cheers before being swept off to the reception.
Gabe loses Nathan pretty quickly when Seamus swoops out of nowhere to drag him onto the dance floor, but he's honestly content to stand by the drinks table and chat with people he recognizes (which is quite a few - Romilda has apparently invited the entire DA, which means the whole Weasley clan is in attendance).
He prevents disaster when a tiny red head races past him and nearly upends the entire drinks table when she steps on the too-long table cloth and does some impromptu skating on it. A quick levitation spell saves anything from being spilled, and David's mother nearly smothers Gabe with her thanks.
He does manage to escape Romilda's new in-laws (and thank goodness - David's mother keeps trying to set him up with people and it's weird) and wanders towards the dance floor scanning for his friends.
"You are lost?" A voice asks, and he spins to find a young woman with platinum blonde hair and a far too charming smile looking at him curiously. She's watching a group of children - among them the girl from earlier - who have obviously been herded away from the main body of the party to avoid any more situations like the one before.
None of that is what startles Gabe though. Rather, he recognizes her accent.
"Parlez-vous Francais?" He asks curiously, and she looks absolutely delighted.
"I do! It's my first language." She exclaims happily. "I so rarely get to speak it here though. My husband tries, but he is better at dead languages than living ones." She laughs. "What brings you to England?"
They chat (in French) for a good hour, trading stories of their British experiences and their jobs. Fleur Weasley, as she introduces herself, had married her husband and moved to England just before the start of the last war, three of the kids in the Weasley child pile are hers, and she works at Gringotts helping Muggles open accounts and convert their money. Gabe tells her about his work as an investigative reporter, which often has him traveling around England and even Europe on a few cases.
"I'm working for Alma Blishwick right now on the ongoing corruption allegations against the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol. It's pretty interesting, and makes me very glad that they don't actually have that much power at the end of the day - that goes to the Aurors and other, more highly trained witches and wizards." He's saying when a man who must be Fleur's husband walks over to them.
"They're playing a bunch of slow songs and I'm feeling very lonely." He announces, swooping down to kiss his wife, who laughs when he pulls away.
"I am watching the children chérie, I cannot dance with you." She scolds. "Bill, this is Gabriel, he was just telling me he works with Audrey's aunt!"
"That so? Good work you all are doing at the Prophet these days, it's great to see some real, objective news from that paper now." Bill says, offering a hand that Gabe shakes firmly. "You with the bride or the groom?"
"The bride is my best friend from school. I'm pretty sure the groom's family is trying to hook me up though, so I guess both?" He jokes, and Bill laughs.
"From your tone I'm guessing you're happily a bachelor?"
Gabe grins. He thinks that's a perfect way to put it - after all, he still has his best friends, and he's always getting to meet new and interesting people. How could he not be happy?
Kent Sylvester
"Just remember to warm up Sammy's milk before you give it to him." Kent hears his wife's voice before he sees her, and he smiles faintly at her fussing. She's normally quite composed, but when it comes to the kids she's turning into something of a helicopter parent.
He hears the babysitter groan. "I know, you've told me, like, twenty times. Check the temperature with the inside of a my wrist, bedtime for Evan is seven o'clock, I'm good."
Kent turns the corner, securing the final button on his cuff. "I hope you don't talk that way to the other families you babysit for Tori." He teases, and the brunette teenager turns to face him.
Victoria "Tori" Hobbes gives him an unimpressed look. "Obviously Uncle Kent." She whines, and Kent has a moment to feel bad for Eric. Dealing with a teenage girl alone can't be easy, and this one has all the pushy self-confidence her mother did at her age.
But still, Tori is the only babysitter that his two year old Evan doesn't hate, so it's not like they have much choice when it comes to who will watch the kids when they want to go out. So he decides to sooth ruffled feathers and get the night started.
"Come on Willow, you know Tori's the best, the boys will still be here when we get back." He smiles at his wife, who huffs but nods as well.
"And absolute worst case I'll just send Apple to my dad or Aunt Jemma." Tori adds, suddenly much more chipper than she'd been two seconds before, gesturing to her owl who she'd brought with. "So chill and go have your date or whatever."
"Or whatever." Willow grimaces as Kent gently leads her out of the house. "I'd think even a fifteen year old would know that an anniversary is important."
Kent laughs. "Well one year for us isn't really a huge milestone, all things considered." He points out, and Willow gives a half smile.
"Fair enough." She admits, relaxing a bit now that they're out of the house and she breaths in some of the night air. "On the other hand, considering the fact we managed a full year of marriage after struggling through almost a decade of dating, this might be an even bigger milestone than it would be for most couples."
Kent grins at that, offering an arm that she gladly takes, and they walk down the street quietly together, not needing to talk to enjoy the company.
Kent takes the time to reflect on the past ten years. They've been... messy, he thinks is a good word. Not a bad messy, really, but not always a good one. After the Battle ended and he'd found Willow and Theo (together, which had surprised and pleased him) he'd had to tell her about Laurel. Willow hadn't taken it very well.
They had technically broken up then, Willow saying that they both weren't in a good place to be starting a relationship, and looking back now Kent can admit that she's right. But at the time it just felt like another horrible thing on top of everything else the war had taken.
She'd come to Evera's official funeral, though, stood in the back and nodded to him when he'd made eye contact. He'd gone to Laurel's - gone to so many that he actually hit a point of being sick of funerals instead of sad - and had talked to Eric but chickened out when he saw Willow standing next to their youngest sister Holly and her newborn daughter Ebony.
It had been a terrible year, but with his parents home, Drake spending more time in their apartment, and Theo back to being his partner, things got better. Not to where they were before, but to a place where he was at peace with his life and with the war.
And that was when Willow had walked back into his life.
She'd been the prosecutor on a case that he and Theo had closed and she needed them to testify. They kept things professional right up until they won, at which point they'd both gotten drunk and made the same choice they'd made years before in the living room of Kent's apartment.
It had been a slow rebuilding of the relationship. They had both grown in their years apart, and it felt like dating someone entirely new and yet intimately familiar at the same time. In the end, they hadn't really made the choice to get married - their son Evan made it for them when he was accidentally conceived and Willow decided to keep him.
Most people think Kent had named Evan after Evera, but most people are wrong. Willow had named him after Evera, and told Kent she hoped he was as "strong-willed and confident as I've always heard she was."
That was when Kent finally proposed.
It was a great decision in the end, even if it had been stupidly impulsive (and Willow had told him as much after she accepted), and a year of marriage (and another kid) later Kent doesn't think he's ever been happier.
They reach their first destination about ten minutes into their walk, and Willow lets him take the lead as they move through the rows of stone.
Finally Kent stops, and kneels down.
"Hey sis." He addresses the gravestone in front of him, Willow standing just behind him and keeping a hand on his shoulder supportively. "So guess what? Not only did I get a wife and two awesome sons, she's actually kept me for a whole entire year. How about that?"
"And I'm keeping him in line, don't worry." Willow adds with a smile, squeezing his shoulder.
"Anyway, I totally win that bet when you said I couldn't get a girl to ever like me, so there." He finishes with a small smile, placing a poppy across the grave before standing, his usual routine.
He turns back to Willow and offers his arm again, and she smiles at him softly as she takes it.
It isn't perfect, but it's his, and he wouldn't trade it for the world.
Audrey Weasley (neé Blishwick)
She's exhausted and in pain, and she's one hundred percent blaming her husband for this one (never mind his constantly reminding her he supported whatever decision she wanted to make with this).
He isn't actually here right now - he's sitting in the hallway with their six year old daughter Molly Alma "Mai" Weasley, trying to make sure their destructive child doesn't touch anything. Again.
Thankfully no one was killed, but the Healers hadn't been happy about the tiny toddler poking everything in sight. Honestly Audrey would have been amused by her daughter's inquisitiveness if she wasn't in so much pain at the time.
She's feeling better now, but she'll be sore for a while yet. Not that she didn't know that going into this. After all, this is her second time giving birth.
The Matron returns then holding a wailing, squirming blanket, and Audrey smiles and reaches out tiredly for her daughter.
"Would you like me to send in your family?" The woman asks kindly as Audrey cradles the tiny human against her chest. "Your other daughter is still a bit wild so I'm not sure-"
"Send them in. Mai will be good, don't worry." She says quickly, not wanting to hear the woman insult her daughter, no matter how unintentional or subtle it is.
The Matron nods and exits the room again. A few minutes later, Percy walks in, holding Mai's hand firmly.
"A girl." Audrey greets, not moving her eyes from the bundle in her arms. "You have a baby sister Mai."
She wasn't planned, but when Audrey learned she was pregnant again she didn't hesitate to keep the baby (though she's getting sterilized after this - two is plenty).
"She's beautiful." Percy breaths.
"She looks like a bean." Mai declares loudly and begins yanking at Percy's hand, trying to explore the room.
"Mai." Percy says sharply, and their daughter (oldest daughter, they have two now, and the thought is a wonderful one) starts whining miserably. Her parents tune her out for the moment using skills developed through many tantrums and long nights.
"So names?" Percy asks after a moment. They'd talked about it a little, but nothing they'd tossed around felt right. Now they don't have the luxury of deciding to sleep on it and try again in the morning.
"I'd like to name her after someone, like we did with Mai." Audrey admits. Her family has always had a tradition of perpetuating family names through each generation, and even though it resulted in her genuinely awful middle name of Wilhelmina, she obviously internalized it at some point.
A knock at the door interrupts any further discussion, and after glancing at Audrey to make sure it was alright, Percy calls for the person to come in.
"Hope I'm not interrupting, but I heard Mai was causing some aggravation for the staff up here." Python says wryly as she steps through the door. "I'm on lunch and thought I could give you some time with the new one."
"Auntie Python!" Mai shrieks happily, and Percy releases her so she can fling herself at her favorite aunt.
"If you want to be the absolute best you could drop her off with Dorian." Audrey adds. "He's watching her tonight since this little one came a bit earlier than expected, and the Healers want us to stay overnight, just to be safe."
Python hums as she picks Mai up. "Sure, I haven't seen him in a while anyway. You excited to stay with Uncle Dorian tonight?" She asks Mai, walking them out of the room and letting the new parents relax a bit more.
"We should ask her to be godmother." Audrey says after a moment. "I know my brother will be the main godparent for both our girls, but Mai has George so I don't see why... she can't have two as well."
Percy smiles faintly. "I think she needs a name first." He points out wryly, and Audrey chuckles as well.
"I know, I know." She pauses. "I kind of hoped I would see her and just know her name, like your mom did with you."
"You know that isn't the whole story, right?" Percy laughs a bit. "Mum didn't just look at me - she saw a Patronus come in to tell dad he was needed and it made her think about King Arthur's knights of the round table. That's when she came up with Percy."
"Always thought the knight was called Percival." Audrey says with a small tired smile, finally looking up from her new daughter as the girl settles and starts nursing, hoping for some sort of inspiration like what Molly got all those years ago.
All she sees are the bland, sanitized walls and a cabinet of potions pushed against the far wall. The whole place is oddly clean considering how messy she vaguely remembers the birth being.
As she gazes at the walls she finds herself thinking about the war. It's not uncommon, but she does it a lot less these days than she used to.
It's then that it hits her.
"Lucy." She breathes, looking back at her little girl. "Lucy Elizabeth. For Lucas."
She hears Percy's breath catch.
"Lucy Elizabeth Weasley." He tests the name, and she can hear his smile growing in his tone. "It's perfect."
His voices catches a bit on the last word, but Audrey doesn't comment. A lot had been left unsaid between Percy and Lucas when the latter had unexpectedly passed from stress and exhaustion (heart failure, technically, but they all know the culprits that led to it) and Audrey knows it's one of her husband's many hidden injuries that's never fully scarred over.
This feels like a beginning though. A way to start remembering him in a positive way.
"Python is definitely going to be her godmother."
Author's Note: And this is what I like to call the romance-epilogue because LOOKIT ALL THE COUPLES JEEZ. For someone who claims to not care about romance arcs I sure do like tossing in endgame couples on the final lap xD
Next Time: Summer, 2018
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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