(1) 𝐍𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐄 | d. m

Epilogue

A year later

Author's POV

Delaney Ross never managed to forget about Draco Lucius Malfoy. No matter how many times she tried to get him out of her head, even going so far as to try and date other people (the key word being 'try'), she just couldn't seem to wipe him from her memory. It was simply a lost cause, and she wasn't sure if she even wanted to forget.

In December of 1998, the world welcomed a beautiful baby girl. With her mother's flaming red hair and her fathers piercing grey eyes, Adelia Ross was truly the epitome of kindness and resilience. Her smile was a reminder that there was still good in the world, and her laugh made even the grumpiest of people light up. Much like her mother, Adelia— or Delia, as she would sometimes be referred to — was a ray of sunshine, a light at the end of a dark and twisted tunnel. After all, she was given the middle name Meir, meaning 'bringer of light', as she was her mothers salvation.

Not long after Delia was born, Delaney managed to get a job working at the Leaky Cauldron in London. Tom, the innkeeper, was kind enough to take her on, and even let her stay in one of the rooms so long as she worked there. Delaney was truly thankful for this, and spent every working hour reminding herself of how lucky she was that such a possibility presented itself to her just when it did. After all, how would she manage to take care of little baby Delia otherwise? It wasn't like she had anyone to take care of her. Of course, Delaney's best friend, Luna Lovegood, would sometimes offer to babysit, but she could only take so much of her free time to do so. She had her own life, working as a Magizoologist and traveling around the world, discovering never-before encountered magical species.

"Thank you so much for taking us in, Tom. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't shown me such hospitality", Delaney found herself expressing her enormous gratitude towards the bar man one night.

The old and hairless man looked up from behind the bar counter, flashing a toothless grin. "That is no problem, my dear". His voice coarse and rough, and if she didn't know any better, Delaney would assume he had been smoking cigars for most of his life. "I am only glad I could be of assistance to you and little Delia. After all, she takes after her grandmother".

"You knew my mother?". A shocked expression settled on the red haired girl's  face.

"Of course. She was a bright young witch, always kind, even to the ones who would discourage her. She had a certain way about her. 'Spose that's how she ended up with your father".

Delaney couldn't help but smile at the idea of her parents meeting and falling in love. After all, she had experienced a similar thing not long ago and it was the very reason she was carrying around Delia on her hip.

"I really miss them", she tried to hold back the tears, but of course, they insisted on flooding. "I sometimes wonder what it would be like if they were still here. Would they be proud of me? Would they feel the same kind of love that I feel for Delia? I'd like to think they would".

"Of course", Tom snickered. "Your mother and father loved you dearly. They would surely be very proud of the strong woman you've become".

She smiled through the tears. "Thank you, Tom. Really".

Delaney Ross came to Hogwarts to find out what happened to her parents only to find out that they did in fact die at the hands of Lord Voldemort. They were once Death Eaters, but upon learning of his wretched ways, they went into hiding. Voldemort became furious because of their treachery and searched high and low for them. Unfortunately, they lost their lives before really getting to know their brilliant young daughter, and she was left to deal with the rumours circling. She was the orphan girl. An outcast. A lost cause.