Chapter 7: The Inner Epilogue

Exactly five years had passed since the day of the war that had been filled with loss, triumph, and tears.

So many had lost a love one- maybe more than just one. Those who said that there hadn't been a triumph over evil were wrong- He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wasn't comming back now, was he? But no one could lie and say that there hadn't been triumph over good as well, not with the Chosen One gone. Tears came throughout the war, and they still fell from the eyes of friends, followers, and those who just wanted it to end.

Sibyll sat in Professor McGonagall's office, Minerva there with her. The tragedy of five years ago had brought the two women close together- well, closer than they had been before.

But Sibyll wasn't here for small talk. Oh Merlin no. She was here to discuss her future at or away from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Small talk first, of course.

"Did you hear that the Ministry believes they know where the rest of the escaped Death Eaters are? They announced it in the Prophet this morning," Sibyll said. Her voice was as misty as ever.

Minerva nodded. "Load of rubbish, I say. They never managed to capture You-Know-Who, what makes you think they'll be able to capture nearly half of his followers?" Still, after all the years of his dissapearence from the Earth, only a select few were able to say the name 'Voldemort.' "Tea, Sibyll?"

Minerva seemed to have aged a great deal during the past five years. Most everyone who had faught in the war seemed to have aged more than needed, the young ones that were then teenagers included.

Sibyll nodded. "I find it a bit pathetic. But then again, I saw it from the moment he came into power. The Dark Lord would rise, fall, and rise again before finally falling for good. But once the final fall were to take place, his followers would hide out. It really is a gift, being able to See as I do," she said. Sibyll poured herself a bit of tea but didn't drink it.

"Yes it is Sibyll," Minerva said. She didn't want to say anything else, just in case she let out something she'd regret later.

The Seer looked out the window of Minerva's office, the Quidditch Pitch that Harry Potter had played on so many times during six of his years at Hogwarts. And where Ginny Weasley played both Seeker and Chaser for two years. It nearly brought tears to her eyes.

Looking to Minerva questionably, Sibyll asked, "Is it me, or does it not feel like it's been half a decade since, well the fall of the Dark Lord?"

McGonagall nodded. "It is not only you. Many of us think that time has flown by. The Wizarding World is so much more peaceful now, but so far from the peace we thought it would be when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named finally died. You can never really predict what's going to happen these days," she said before taking a sip of her tea.

Sibyll mearly nodded, not wanting to give off the impression that she could see what would happen. After all, she didn't want to frighten people with her ever-knowing knowlage of the future.

"So, Sibyll, why have you come here today? Just to talk about what happened five years ago, or do you wish to clear something up?" McGonagall asked, one of her eyebrows slightly raised.

Sibyll took a deep breath. "Yes, I'm hoping to discuss something with you Minerva."

Minerva simply raised her other eyebrow just a bit and gave Sibyll a look that said, Carry on.

"Hogwarts is my home- but it's a home I no longer think is where I need to be. There is a new estableshment in Romaina where Seers can be with other Seers. If I'm able to be with other Seers, I can improve my gift - not that I need it to be improved, of course. But it can open up so many more oppertunities! And as much as I love Hogwarts, it's something I'd like to do," Sibyll said.

"If it is something you want to do Sibyll, I cannot stop you. But Hogwarts will surely miss you," Minerva said to her. But her mind was clearly on something else, espically as she looked out to the Quidditch Pitch.

Sibyll nodded. "I should be getting back to my tower," she said. But looking at Minerva, she saw distraction. "You're still thinking about what happened five years ago?" Seeing Minerva nod, Sibyll smiled slightly. "Do you know what my great-great-grandmother would say right now?"

"No, I'm afraid I don't," Minerva said, looking away from the Quidditch Pitch.

"She would say, 'Dear, all this is, is the inner epilogue.'"