CHAPTER 68
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 68 ~ Epilogue
Bara graduated Hogwarts with high honors. The young wizard received many awards for his accomplishments in Potions, Charms and Arithmancy. He had perfect marks in Magical history as well. He also won Most Valuable Player for his final year of Quidditch. He was a marvelous seeker and could do things on a broom people had trouble doing on solid ground. He was quite competitive in the air, and most tried to stay out of his way.
Despite his aggression on the Quidditch court, Bara was quite even-tempered for a Slytherin. Never once was he caught doing anything untoward…a testament to how well Severus had schooled him.
Albus and Minerva fairly burst with pride that their son had done so well for himself. They had high hopes for him after Hogwarts.
“Have you decided what university you will be attending, Bara? Any one of them would be excited to have you,” Minerva gushed, kissing the wizard on both cheeks and hugging him tightly.
“No, mother Minerva,” Bara said, “I haven’t yet. I’ve decided to go back to my homeland for a while. Find my roots again.”
Minerva and Albus looked at each other sadly. Bara leaving? They hadn’t imagined the wizard would do that. But it made sense. He hadn’t seen India for a long, long time.
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Severus and Hermione had been married for several years now. There had been a few clashes, but overall they suited each other just fine. They were still childless, Hermione wrapped up in private research and Severus continuing to teach at Hogwarts. It would be several years before they started a family. Right now they were quite satisfied and fulfilled with each other.
Harry had become an Auror for the Ministry. Initially he caused quite a stir when he appeared, but soon the furor died down and he lived a nice quiet life. He was quite the eligible bachelor and was dating frequently. He hadn’t found anyone he could be serious with yet, but he still wasn’t ready for that. He still saw Ginny on occasion. Gail had found herself a nice wizard and broke it off with the redhead, and now was married with two children, a girl and a boy. Her husband never found out about her wild lifestyle. Gail thought it better that way.
Ginny still played the field and had other lovers besides Harry. The witch believed she would never settle down. Her brothers all married and had children, so Molly wasn’t after her to bear grandchildren, something Ginny was extremely happy about.
Eli found himself a mate at well. Her name was Bottleblue. She was a cute little elf with big blue eyes. He also had a son, Leafear, who was a chip off the old elf. He was anxious to render service whenever he could, Eli instructing him how to serve a master properly. He hoped to bind his son to Severus’ offspring letting the generations grow together.
Eros began to help mortals more. Severus and Hermione had whet his wings, and the god found it quite rewarding…though he was still vain. Finder made a nice living finding things for other demons. Barth and Garth continued tormenting their souls and roasting eyeballs, and on occasion, tongues. They gave Finder a wide berth.
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The Untouchable were in their small camps, cooking what meager food they could find when there was a flash of blinding blue light. They all looked up, frightened as a man emerged from the light.
Bara walked into the middle of the camp.
“My name is Bharadwaj. I am a mighty wizard and I have come to help you. You will all follow me…every Untouchable will follow me. We will rise up against those who oppress us and demand our rightful place in India,” the wizard said, looking around the camp.
A man stood up. He had a shirt wrapped around his head and wore ragged red pants. He was dirty and barefoot. He glared at Bara.
“Pah. A mighty wizard. Tricks with light do not make you mighty or a wizard. Who are you to come here and tell us we will follow you? Many have led us to our deaths with such foolish talk of fighting our oppressors. This others may follow you, false magician, but I and my family will not!” the man said, sitting back down and spitting as a sign of disrespect with his wife, young son and daughter.
Bara frowned.
“I see a demonstration is needed,” the wizard said, pointing his wand at the man. “Crucio!”
The man let out a horrible scream and began to writhe in pain, as the others watched, their eyes round as the man vomited, urinated and defecated on himself.
Bara released him.
“First you see the pain I can cause,” Bara said evenly, “Now bear witness to my other power. Avada Kedavra!”
Bara cast the killing curse on the untouchable. He lie there dead, his wife and daughter screaming and shaking him.
“I will not tolerate rebelliousness in any form,” Bara said, “If you all do as I say, I will treat you well and reward you. If you do not, then you will die. There is nothing between. Me or death. Am I understood?”
The untouchables looked at the dead man and all nodded, daring not to speak to this killer of men. Bara smiled.
“Good. Now line up to take my Mark so I will always know where you are.”
Slowly the Untouchables stood up and formed a line in front of Bara. The first man approached him.
“Open your shirt,” Bara ordered.
The man did so, his brown eyes wide with fear. Bara touched the tip of his wand directly over his heart.
“Morphus Morsmordre,” he intoned. The man let out a cry as the Dark Mark burned into his chest.
Bara smiled darkly at the skull and snake insignia.
“It begins again, cousin,” he said to the night sky. “But I, cousin…I will be greater than you.”
Above the wizard, the stars twinkled, then grew dark.
THE END
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A/N: And that is the end(?) of “Walking the Gray Line.” I hoped you enjoyed it. Please leave a final review and see you next story. Bye :::waving:::