EPILOGUE:

A NEW WORLD

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      The morning she was supposed to go back to the Nott manor, Nova Nott had no idea where she was going to stay for the rest of the summer.

      When Fred and George had offered her a place with them, she had been dating their younger brother. Now that she wasn't, she had no idea where that left her and the twins. Sure, they were her friends. But would they really want to let their little brother's ex-girlfriend live with them? 

      Especially when said ex-girlfriend hadn't replied to any of their letters in the past week. 

      Truth was, she didn't want to hear what they had to say. She was terrified that they had found out about the breakup and were writing her to tell her that while they were willing to let her work and live there when her and Ron were together, they just thought it was too weird and were taking back their invitation. She was terrified that she'd have the confirmation that she had nowhere to live. At least without opening them, she could imagine.

      Blaise was waiting for her at the bottom of the steps when she appeared, carrying her stuff down the stairs and dark under eye circles she had tried to cover with a spell Bulstrode used. Blaise always saw right through that kind of stuff. He gave her a small smile when her feet hit the bottom step and offered to take her trunk for her. She stoically slapped his hand when he tried to grab it. "Don't you dare try and be gentlemanly. I've had enough to last a lifetime."

      "You know you can stay with me if you need to," he said softly. "But that's not even the most pressing matter here, believe it or not. Nova, it's been a week and you haven't... reacted. It's like you're a doll; looks like Nova and sounds like Nova but there's nobody home."

      The night Nova had cried into Malfoy's shoulder, she had made a promise to herself. She wasn't going to wallow. That was for girls like Pansy Parkinson. Nova Nott was anything but the crying and whining type, and she wasn't going to change that fact no matter how brokenhearted she was. Which was why Blaise was standing in the middle of the common room asking why she was as stoic as the Slytherin Ice Princess she'd been in the beginning of the year. "There's no need for reaction, Blaise. Weasley and I broke up. End of story."

      "Yeah, but Nova, he was the first person you've ever loved. It makes sense you'd be upset."

      Upset? It seemed like an understatement for what was happening inside. Sure, she was only sixteen years old, but she knew what love felt like. It was the feeling of seeing Ron smile or when he reached for her hand or when he pulled her close. And though she knew this wasn't the worst heartbreak she'd ever experience in her life, it felt pretty damn close. But she was determined to keep that little fact a secret. "I am upset. I'm just not going to spend hours crying about it." When Blaise opened his mouth to speak, Nova interrupted. "Are we ready to go?"

      Blaise nodded. "If you are, I am. Malfoy's said he's going to save us a spot on the train. Knowing him, he's already in one of the carriages." That was another thing that had changed. The night Malfoy had held her while she cried, she had woken up the next morning ready for the cold shoulder. She was prepared for him to say that while he was happy he could be there for her that night, it didn't change that she had lied to him. Perhaps the only good thing that came out of her breakup with Ron was that Malfoy was acting exactly as he had at the beginning of the year. Less lovesick, as to not frighten Nova away, but the best friend he was supposed to be. "Still don't know how you two worked through your problems, but I'm certainly not complaining." Another side glance as they exited the common room and started walking down corridors. "Are you sure you don't want to cry?"

      "You want to tell me what's going on with you and Theo?" she countered.

      Theo. Theo was something Nova hadn't figured out. He'd been ignoring her since the night of their fight, and ignoring Blaise pretty much the same time frame. He hadn't been talking to anyone, maybe. Whenever Nova asked Blaise, Blaise would just shrug and mention Theo was probably "taking some time to figure things out." She wished he would hurry up and just decide if he was mad at her or not. It would be nice now more than ever to have him backing her. But if he didn't, she would survive, just like she had everything else in her life.

      "I think he might be sitting with Parkinson and Bulstrode. Malfoy finally ended things with her, so she refuses to be anywhere near him." The information wasn't anything new. Nova had been on the receiving end of Parkinson's death glares for the past seven days. If she hadn't been so consumed in her breakup with Ron, she might have said something. Fortunately, Blaise had advised it probably wasn't necessary. Parkinson was just licking her wounds, much like Nova was doing. Nova just wished she'd stop being so obvious about it.

      They arrived at the carriages being pulled by the Thestrals. The scene was so reminiscent of the beginning of the school year that Nova had to take a moment to gather her thoughts before she climbed behind Blaise into the carriage. The only other person there was none other than Luna Lovegood, reading her father's magazine and humming to herself. Nova was glad Blaise didn't seem to mind sitting next to her. "Oh," Luna said when they sat down. "Hello, Nova. I've heard you and Ron broke up. Pity. Though, he is an interesting fellow, you're probably better off." There was no sting behind it, just the same voice Luna had always used when she spoke. Nova couldn't tell if she was insulting Ron or not, then decided she shouldn't care.

      When they got to the train station, Nova and Blaise managed to push past first years eager to go home and find Malfoy. He was sitting in the compartment with Crabbe and Goyle, giving Blaise and Nova a nod when they entered. Across from him, Nova was surprised to see her brother.

      "Theo," she whispered. "What're you doing here?"

      He immediately stood and put her trunk over their heads. Nova was too in shock to scold him for treating her like she was made of glass. "Malfoy said I could sit with you guys, if that's okay?" His eyes were so earnest and so much like the old Theo that Nova actually cracked a small smile, nodding almost immediately. Theo brightened. "Great." The I'm Sorry was implied. "I actually needed to talk to Blaise outside for a minute, though, so I'll be back in a little while, okay?" Theo kissed her forehead. Blaise gave Theo a hard look when he exited the compartment, but followed behind him nonetheless. 

      "They make an alright couple," Malfoy mentioned offhandedly. Nova blinked in surprise. "Oh, please. They're rubbish at secrets. Plus, we all share a dorm. I'm prejudiced, but not against two of my closest friends."

      "Just against muggleborns and Harry Potter," Nova supplied. 

      Malfoy smirked. "Exactly."

      Nova rolled her eyes, but was happy Malfoy seemed to accepting of her brother and Blaise's relationship. If any couple deserved to be happy, she supposed it was them. "I'm sure they'll be happy to know you support them."

      Malfoy stared at her for a moment before he turned to Crabbe and Goyle. "I'm hungry. Go find me the trolley and get me cauldron cakes and peppermint toads." It was frightening how fast they up and scrambled to go heed Malfoy's request. When the door shut behind them, Nova couldn't help the small scoff. "You'll get through it, you know."

      "I am getting through it," Nova replied. Her tone was flat.

      "No, you aren't. But I can tell you right now that eventually, you will."

      Nova nodded. "Thanks. And Malfoy... I'm really sorry about your father."

      His eyes went dark for a moment before he shook his head. "I don't blame you. I blame Potter."

      "But I was there."

      "And you're going through the same thing I am."

      Blaise and Theo entered the compartment again and Theo immediately sought the seat next to his sister. He sent Nova a small smile to let her know things between them had gone okay, and then started chatting with Malfoy about something unimportant. When Crabbe and Goyle returned with the sweets Malfoy had requested, the six of them shared the treats as the train made its familiar route back to King's Cross. Nova didn't want the train to stop. She wanted to stay stuck in that moment forever, when her brother was smiling at her and Blaise was talking to Malfoy about some new broomstick. But when she felt the brakes start and the train's speed slow, she knew the moment was over. Theo was looking at her.

      "Narcissa is taking me home. I'm going to stay there with Rinks while Father is in..." The word Azkaban hung in the silence.

      Nova nodded. She struggled to make sure he couldn't see the tears forming in her eyes. "I wish I could go with you. Knowing Father, he made someone put charms around the house so I can't enter."

      "I'll write, okay? I promise I will." He reached out and pulled her into a tight hug. The embrace was so familiar that it made Nova's throat tighten with emotion. He pressed another kiss to her forehead and moved to leave behind Blaise, the two of them exiting the compartment. Nova could see Narcissa when she stepped off the train and onto the platform. She was anxiously awaiting for Malfoy and Theo's arrival, breaking into a relieved smile when the two boys found their way to her. Nova was glad Narcissa was picking Theo up. She knew the matriarch of the Malfoy family would take care of her brother.

      "Rogue Slytherin!" she heard from somewhere behind her.

      When she turned, Fred and George were holding an obnoxiously large and glittery sign reading ROGUE SLYTHERIN (AKA NOVA NOTT) in green block letters. If Nova hadn't been completely surprised to see them, she might have been embarrassed. "Fred? George?"

      "There you are! Took you long enough to get off the train. Like the sign? We asked Verity to make it. Verity's another sales girl there, you'll get on with her. Are you ready to go?" George was talking a mile a minute. Nova was still trying to wrap her head around the words he was saying. "Why do you look like we've just hit you with a Confundus charm?"

      "I...I thought..."

      "You thought that since our little brother was a complete idiot and ruined the one good relationship he'll ever have in his life, we'd tell you the deal was off?" Fred asked, rolling his eyes. "Not a chance, Nott. You would have known this if you'd bothered to open any of our letters."

      "I was terrified it was you telling me you'd changed your mind," Nova replied, her heart swelling with the first real signs of happiness since Ron had broken up with her. "So, you still want me at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?"

      "Rogue Slytherin, we need you! Sales are out the roof! We need someone else there to man the store when Fred and I go on too long lunches. Our little brother being stupid isn't going to change that." They each locked one of their arms through hers, Fred reaching around to magic her trunk to float behind them. "You're stuck with us, I'm afraid."

      "A cruel fate," Nova said, but a true and genuine smile broke across her face. Even heartbroken, she at least had Fred and George she knew she could rely on. "Has Weasley..."

      "Hasn't mentioned much. He's gutted, Nova."

      "He did mention he was the one that broke up with me, right?"

      "Yeah. Doesn't mean he can't be upset."

      He didn't deserve to be upset. Not after he had taken her heart and crushed it. But she wasn't going to focus on that now. She was going to focus on the fact that she had somewhere to live and she had two genuine friends that didn't care the girl they were letting live in their flat was their little brother's ex. "Guys?" she said softly.

      Fred and George looked at her expectantly. 

      "Thanks."

      "Don't thank us, Rogue Slytherin. Thank the competitiveness of the wizarding economy! Business is booming, of course, but we still need some extra hands."

      George winked at her after his statement and for the first time in a week, Nova felt like she could actually start to feel something resembling happiness again.

      "Alright, hold tight to us, Rogue Slytherin. Side-along apparition is a troll if you aren't prepared for it."

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OH MY GOD. Power is over! How the hell did this happen? I feel like I just started writing this and now I'm writing the last author's note for the first book! With that being said, Power WILL have a sequel. You guys haven't seen the last of Rova yet. I'm not cruel enough as to leave their story completely over with them broken up. We've got a war to get to!

Thank you to everyone who has read, commented, voted, or even just glimpsed at this story. You all are the reason I've kept writing. You inspire me so much it's insane. This is all for you. 

Keep an eye out for the sequel, Control! I'm taking this time between Power's ending and Control's beginning to focus on some of my other stories for a bit, so Control should be coming to you within the next two months or so.

Thank you all so much. I love you.