Epilogue

Note: So the one story which I never really planned on doing a sequel for is the one that ended up with a sequel. I say that to say this - this epilogue is full of death and destruction of major Anita characters! Of course, none of the Harry Potter characters die here... Anyway, since I'm already started on the sequel (handwritten, but started is started) you should be aware that all is obviously not lost, despite the way this plays out - I mean otherwise there'd be little point in having a sequel. *grin*
PS - This like the previous chapters have not been beta read.

Unexpected American Vacation

~Epilogue~
This Epilogue really does contain content which will be disturbing to some readers. Heed this warning!

A week after coming home, everyone had fully recovered, and Harry had finally discovered why he hadn't been able to move when he'd first returned, apparently the troll had actually started to crush him before Dumbledore and the others had pulled them back. His lower body had been badly damaged, but he'd recovered completely.

The past year had been so busy that Harry, Luna, and Neville hadn't had much time to think about the events from the other world much. But since Harry and Neville had graduated Hogwarts two and a half months ago, their little vacation was coming back to haunt them. Neville more so than he and Luna, but that was understandable since Luna was getting ready to return to Hogwarts for her last year, and Harry had finally decided some months ago that once the gate closed everything was fine. Neville, though, didn't seem to believe that.

Two days ago, Luna left to see Hermione and still hadn't returned. Harry knew she was working on a way for them to at least see how the rest of the battle went. Harry could admit that he was curious, but he had nothing on Neville. As near as Harry could tell the not knowing was starting to drive Neville insane.

Thankfully, since he like Harry, knew Luna was up to something, Neville had relaxed slightly over the past several days.

Harry found himself hopeful that Luna would find a way so they could prove to Neville that everything was fine, and that there was no reason for his continued worry.

Later that night as Harry and Neville were getting ready for bed, they heard the front door open, and both of them rushed from the room eager to welcome Luna home.

Neville rushed down the stairs, Harry simply looked over the railing. Luna was carrying something, and she wasn't alone; Hermione was standing beside her. Harry paused, wondering why Hermione would be with her, especially this late at night.

By the time Harry made it downstairs Neville was greeting Hermione. Harry moved to embrace Luna, but she waved him off indicating the potion she held in her hands. Over her head Neville grinned, apparently he'd been denied an embrace as well.

Hermione smiled warmly at Harry, and he reached out and hugged her.

"Okay," Luna said. "Now that everyone has settled down..."

Neville snorted.

"Obviously," she ignored him. "I believe Dumbledore was correct, there is no way for us to go back. However, Hermione and I have, we think, found a way to peek into that world and see what happened."

Luna went on explaining, and Harry felt his eyes glazing over. He knew this was important, but he really didn't need to know every detail of what Hermione and Luna went through to get to this point. Neville, however, was hanging on her every word. When Harry looked he saw Hermione actually grinning at him.

Harry almost blushed when he saw her grin. Then again, she was probably used to the expression, it was one Ron usually wore when Hermione was trying to explain something to him. Of course, Harry had wore it himself a few times for Hermione, but he did believe this was the first time he'd ever worn it for Luna.

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked her quietly.

"He grumbled something that sounded like 'bugger off, Fred' when I tried to wake him up," she replied. "So I left him a note. I'll probably be home before he even knows I'm gone."

Since Ron had gone to work for Fred and George once leaving Hogwarts that made sense, especially since there were quite a few times that the twins insisted Ron stay over so he would be at work on time the next day. Ron just wasn't an early riser and probably never would be.

Harry found himself wondering once again when Ron and Hermione would finally get married. They'd been living together since leaving Hogwarts, but so far neither of them seemed in a rush to tie the knot. It was starting to get people talking, not that it took much to accomplish that, Harry thought darkly, but Harry was hoping his friends would get married and stop the wagging tongues, though Hermione didn't seem to care much about people talking about it.

Harry glanced back at Luna and Neville and realized Neville had asked a question.

"It's a potion, you see," Luna said holding up the vial. Harry realized he should focus again.

"We'll use it much in the same way we use a Pensive," Hermione spoke up. "Because technically we will be looking at memories. I mean, over a year has passed so the battle itself is no doubt long over."

"We just won't be looking at our memories," Luna took over the explanation. "But we will be trying to connect with memories of someone from that world."

"Who?" Neville asked.

"On my trip to the Circus, without you guys, Jean-Claude gave me something," Luna answered. "We've used that in making this potion."

"Lets get started," Hermione finally said.

~ * ~ * ~

As they got things ready, Harry realized that he was afraid. He wanted to know, and yet now at this moment, he feared what they would see. Until this moment, Harry had firmly believed everything was fine, but now something was telling him what they were about to learn wouldn't be good.

Neville squeezed his hand, and Harry pushed back his fear. Good or ill, they all needed to know.

Hermione called it closure, said that even though they couldn't affect the outcome, they still needed to know.

Harry knew that he and Luna would have been okay without knowing, but they both knew Neville would never be without this so-called closure.

Luna pulled out an empty Pensive and poured the potion inside.

"Now we add blood," Luna said, and used a needle to prick her finger. "Obviously Hermione doesn't do this part," she said passing the needle to Neville. Finally, his hands trembling slightly, Harry took the needle from Neville and added his own blood.

They took up positions around the pensive in a circle.

"Focus," Luna began, sounding different more serious than usual. "On their world. The battle. Jean-Claude."

Harry did as Luna said, and moments later he could hear soft sounds coming from the pensive.

Harry opened his eyes and looked, briefly wondering when he'd closed his eyes, but that wasn't important. Harry saw that unlike a Pensive which pulled you inside, this one did not. It was as though the images were on a three-dimensional television set which they were gathered around.

Harry could almost see the flash of muted light and knew that he, Neville, and Luna were now back through the gate. He glanced toward Anita and realized from the expression on her face that she believed they were dead. It was probably just as well, since they were now beyond helping Jean-Claude and his people, and because they were believed to be dead there wouldn't be any annoying questions later.

Then there was a much brighter flash of greenish light, and Harry knew that the gate itself was now closed. That was good, but during the battle Harry hadn't realized just how many creatures had come through. There were at least thirty troll-like creatures still moving around crushing people. Several of them were now moving toward the police cars and away from the main battle itself.

Harry felt himself tense, before realizing there was literally nothing he could do to stop the creatures from rampaging. That thought didn't really help him relax, but it did stop him from moving and breaking the circle.

There was also thousands of the orc-like creatures which had made it through before the gate closed. Even with the aid of what appeared to Harry as the entire St. Louis police force Jean-Claude's forces were not going to be enough.

One of the large creatures brought its club down, and at least three wererats and one wereleopard were killed. Nathaniel had been the wereleopard, the rats he hadn't known.

Hermione whimpered, and Harry glanced over, before looking back at the battle.

One of the Orcs was literally eating a werewolf. The werewolf was struggling mightily, and Harry gave a jolt upon realizing the wolf in question was the wolf-king. Harry suddenly realized that Jean-Claude and his people were very much buggered. Finally, the werewolf managed to kill its attacker, but Harry could see that Richard had been greatly weakened in the struggle. If another creature attacked him, he wouldn't survive.

Harry felt Neville tense and looked over at what Neville was looking at. He saw that a group of hyenas, Harry assumed they were werehyenas, turning tail and running. Being a Gryffindor, that upset Harry on principle, but Harry couldn't entirely begrudge them. This was a losing battle. Of course, what the cowards didn't seem to realize was that if these things were not stopped here and now eventually they'd be destroyed anyway.

When Harry looked in front of him, he realized that the Orc creatures with the aid of one of the larger creatures were killing the last of the wereleopards. The King was staggering on his feet, but Harry knew he wouldn't get far.

Harry closed his eyes, he knew that Neville would never stop trying to find a way back to help. Harry shook himself, that wasn't a bad thing. These people had, for the most part, been kind to them, had helped them when they'd needed it. With that thought, Harry knew that he would be helping Neville look for a way back.

Slowly, Harry opened his eyes again, and realized the battle was practically over. The werewolf numbers were half of what they'd originally been, the rats were in much the same position, and only three vampires were still on their feet.

Jean-Claude, Asher, and the redhead were huddled together, they seemed to be considering running away to regroup, but Harry couldn't be sure of that. However, even if they were, Harry couldn't begrudge them, because they clearly needed more help. The remaining forces around them would not be enough.

Luna cried out, and Harry looked in her direction. When he looked back, Jean-Claude was on his knees, and reaching for someone. A glance, and Harry saw that Richard was on his back barely breathing. Harry finally realized what had happened when he saw that one of the creatures had used its claws to open Anita's gut.

Anita was both trying to back away and hold her guts inside her. Harry knew there would be no escape or help for her, because already at least ten other creatures were moving in.

One of the creatures reached out and grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head back. Anita screamed just as it sank it's jagged teeth into her neck ripping out a large chunk of bleeding flesh. Harry almost gagged as the thing swallowed the chunk of raw flesh.

Anita's body jerked, but Harry wasn't sure she was any longer aware of what was happening to her, and decided that was probably a good thing. Jean-Claude was still aware, though he was now laying on his stomach struggling vainly to crawl to Anitas side. Finally, he was still, his right arm still outstretched toward Anita.

The images flickered, and Harry realized that Jean-Claude was dying, and once he died they would lose the vision. Harry suspected that would happen sooner rather than later, because one of the large creatures had spotted the downed vampire and was moving toward him.

Harry felt someone hug him, and realized that Luna was crying softly and had wrapped herself around him for comfort. He looked over and saw that Hermione was in a similar position with Neville.

Harry looked back in time to see the large creature bring its club down, and as soon as the club made contact the images stopped. The pensive was simply full of clear liquid and looked tranquil now.

The ending was unacceptable, but there was nothing he could do. That world was now a monsters playground, and his new friends were dead or dying.

One look at Neville's face and Harry saw his own resolve mirrored there. He might have been happy to be back home, and could have told himself that things went fine for the rest of his life. However, seeing was believing, and Harry knew that he would be right there beside Neville looking for a way to go back and fix everything.

Harry took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around Luna. He looked up again and nodded to Neville.

Neville looked relieved, and wrapped his arms around Hermione. Harry knew Neville would never do anything to break up Ron and Hermione. This wasn't a betrayal of relationships, and Harry knew even Ron would understand that.

While Hermione had not known these people, she was soft hearted enough to be horrified by the way and manner in which they died. Harry strongly suspected that she would be joining them on the hunt for a way to help.

"That was horrible," Hermione whispered after a moment.

"We have to go back," Neville said firmly.

"Agreed," Harry replied. "But how? Dumbledore said it was not possible."

Neville, for a moment, looked like he wanted to say something that would be offensive. Finally, Neville shook himself, but still remained silent.

Luna, on the other hand, was now looking at the blank Pensive with a thoughtful expression on her face.

~ * ~ * ~
The End
To Be Continued in the Sequel!
Permanent American Vacation.

Note: Hopefully, you weren't too grossed/freaked out, and will be glad to know that this has satisfied my need to kill Anita and Anita characters. Therefore, the sequel, while not entirely death free won't be filled with characters that you know and love/loathe dying.