The Scars We Leave Behind

Epilogue: About Bloody Time

-August 5th, 2006-

Albert wasn't used to being at Hogwarts during the holidays, but he was honored to be invited on such a day as this. He followed his date for the evening through the streets of Hogsmead. She was his classmate and Creative Director, Gemma Travers. They walked up to the gates of Hogwarts. Since she came from a family of Wizards, she offered her parents could get him through the Floo network, then they could take the Knight Bus to Hogsmead together. Albert hadn't been sure how he'd get there on his own, considering his parents were muggles and had no idea about magical transportation.

Miss Fyre had asked for the two of them personally at the bottom of the wedding invitations, writing that she wanted to give them an opportunity to have an article about it for the Gazette.

There was a small line to get onto the grounds, as it appeared Mr. Filch was checking everyone's belongings and bags. Mr. Filch was actually wearing tattered dress robes and Mrs. Noris had an ugly pink bow around her neck.

Gemma was wearing a simple baby blue dress and had a matching bow in her red hair, it flopped a bit as she walked. She checked her dark brown bag  for her camera. "Can you believe it? We might be the only students invited."

"Yeah, it's crazy. To think, we could have one of the best opening articles the Gazette has ever had." He followed her, nervously and became uncomfortable from the way she held his hand. He let go when they got in line, he didn't need to be nervous today. He fixed his dark blue necktie.

"Maybe, but you have to admit the article about the Battle of the Ministry in Nineteen-Ninety-Six was a pretty wicked opening article." Gemma laughed but looked at his neck tie. "Do you want me to fix that?" 

He nodded, "If you don't mind." 

She fixed his tie as they stood in line behind a man with long dreadlocks. He wore green dress robes and the woman on his arm wore a long green dress to match.

Albert recognized him immediately as he turned his head to look at the olive skinned woman. He was the famous radio personality for the WWN, Lee Jordan. Albert listened to his show frequently. He was bloody funny. 

"Not going to lie, I may have had a nightmare about this when I was eighteen." Lee Jordan, revealed to the woman who Albert assumed was his wife. Her face looked familiar, but he couldn't place where he'd seen her before.

The woman proceeded to hit him directly in the stomach, making Albert and Gemma quietly laugh between them.

"Honestly Lee?" The woman asked with two raised eyebrows and a roll of her eyes.

"What Gen? It's not a nightmare now." Lee Jordan chuckled at his wife's punch. "Besides in the nightmare I had, they had a Niffler officiating."

His wife didn't laugh, just rolled her eyes.

"I'm obviously thrilled to be here today." Mr. Jordan kept insisting. "Not at all uncomfortable."

Albert stifled another laugh. He knew the many stories about Mr. Jordan and Miss Fyre from their school days, before their Potterwatch notoriety. He'd even found their initials carved in the stone wall of the One Eyed Witch passageway. 

He looked at Mr. Jordan's hand and saw a little scar on his hand, it read: I Will Not Speak Out.

Mr. and Mrs. Jordan made it through Filch's inspection, even though he gave Mr. Jordan a real stink eye.

Gemma and Albert survived their inspections with Filch. They made their way to the grounds, following the crowd behind the greenhouses.

It was beautiful on the grounds, where simple wooden chairs were set for the ceremony and little black flowers lined the aisle. There was a large arch made of black trees and covered in deep green vines. The vines looked like they were moving.