𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓 ━━ golden trio era

EPILOGUE: SHADOWS OF THE SERPENT

The aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts left the wizarding world in a state of both celebration and mourning. While many rejoiced in the fall of Lord Voldemort, others grappled with the devastating losses that had been suffered. In a secluded corner of the Malfoy Manor, four figures huddled together, their faces etched with grief and determination. Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson, and Blaise Zabini sat in somber silence, each lost in their own memories of the friend they had lost ── Juliet Lily Potter.

The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as if mirroring the turmoil in their hearts. Draco's pale face was drawn, his grey eyes haunted by the image of Juliet's lifeless body. Theodore's usual smirk was replaced by a grim line, his fingers absently tracing the outline of a locket Juliet had once given him. Pansy's mascara-stained cheeks bore testament to the tears she had shed, while Blaise's normally composed demeanor had crumbled, leaving him looking lost and vulnerable.

"We can't let her story end like this," Draco finally broke the silence, his voice hoarse with emotion. "The world needs to know who she really was."

Pansy nodded, wiping away a fresh tear. "She was more than just the Girl Who Betrayed. She was our friend, our confidante, our..."

"Our hero," Theodore finished, his voice barely above a whisper.

Blaise leaned forward, his dark eyes glinting with resolve. "Then let's make sure the world knows it. We owe her that much."

And so began their mission to unveil the truth about Juliet Potter. They started small, gathering every scrap of information they could find. Old photographs, torn pieces of parchment with her handwriting, memories shared in hushed tones ── nothing was too insignificant in their quest to piece together the puzzle of her life.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. The four friends worked tirelessly, often forgoing sleep and meals in their determination to do justice to Juliet's memory. They interviewed anyone who had known her, from Hogwarts professors to house-elves, carefully documenting every anecdote and observation.

Draco took charge of chronicling Juliet's early years at Hogwarts, recounting their initial rivalry that had blossomed into an unspoken bond. He wrote of stolen glances across the Great Hall, of whispered conversations in the dead of night, and of the ache in his heart that grew with each passing year.

"She had a way of seeing the best in people, even when they couldn't see it themselves," he wrote, his quill trembling slightly. "Juliet Potter was the light in our darkness, though the world saw her as nothing but shadow."

Theodore focused on Juliet's brilliance, detailing her academic achievements and magical prowess. He recalled late-night study sessions in the Slytherin common room, where Juliet's laughter had echoed off the stone walls as she effortlessly explained complex theories to her struggling classmates.

"Red wasn't just smart," he penned, using the nickname he had given her. "She was bloody brilliant. But more than that, she was kind. In a house known for its cunning and ambition, she taught us that true power lay in compassion."

Pansy took on the task of capturing Juliet's essence ── her quirks, her dreams, her fears. She wrote of shopping trips to Hogsmeade, of whispered secrets shared behind closed curtains, of the vulnerability Juliet had shown only to her closest friends.

"Jules was more than just Harry Potter's sister or Voldemort's right hand," Pansy's words flowed onto the parchment. "She was a girl who loved Butterbeer and hated mornings. She was someone who would spend hours perfecting a spell just to teach it to a first-year struggling in class. She was real, and she was ours."