Silence.

When you look back the mist, the Founders and the Feathered Serpent have all disappeared, as have the Four books.

The Forest is silent once more.

But somehow things feel different. As if a great weight has lifted, and in the distance you hear the sound of many owls flying from their roosts.

Yvette, Ember and Andy all return to normal and a shaft of sunlight breaks through the forest ceiling to illuminate the area in it's warm glow.

Winifred rubbed her eyes. The event she had just witnessed was awe-inspiring. She just stood there, relieved, not knowing what, exactly, to do.

Nimue who was still kneeling by Marvo was dumbstruck by what they had witnessed.

All around her she felt the forest itself was awakening from its dark nightmare.

Kat looked around. Everything was different. There were BIRDS singing! Nearly everyone looked hurt in someway. So many people to help. She herself ached from the exertion of all the magic.

She ran over to where Marvo was still curled on the ground. "Marvo, Marvo we did it! You managed it. We are still alive! Listen the birds are singing. Isn't it great! Here..." She used her wand to numb a little of the pain. And then hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. She looked around to see how everyone else was.

Nimue watches Kat's obvious happiness and a trace of sadness comes to her. Not just because she wishes she could hug Marvo but a fear that a line might have been crossed.

Andy got up off of the ground. His body was sore from the pain. He looked around at the others and noticed an awe-struck look on each of their faces. He started to walk but didn't succeed. He felt too tired to try. He looked up at Marvo. "What did we get ourselves into?" he asked. After the dizziness went away, he could successfully walk on his own two feet, and he realised that it was morning and all of the green mist had disappeared

Ember pulled herself to her feet shakily and stretched her newly restored limbs. "Damnation, that was probably the least fun I've had since the last time I had my gums scraped..."

She managed a weak smile and flashed Kat a thumbs-up. Her gaze swept the others who'd held up the now-vanished Books. "You did it, cheres. The bogeyman’s gone."

She was still aching from the torturous spell she'd had cast on her, though thankfully there seemed to be no ill lingering effects.

She looked around. "Everybody okay? Does anyone need help?"

A high-pitched squeal came from overhead; Ember looked up and broke into a real grin. She held up her arm as a huge brick-red bat with large leathery wings flew down to perch on her shoulder.

"Sangria, chere! You're all right!" The bat squeaked and chittered as it snuggled into Ember's long auburn hair.

Madison looked wildly around for Lee, finding him unconscious several feet from where she was standing. She ran over to him, shouting. "Help! Somebody..."

Kat ran over and waved her wand at Lee. "There. That will wake him and dull the pain. I think I'll leave the real fixing to Madame Pomfrey when we get back."

"Anyone else?"

Yvette hadn't seen most of what had gone on, and for a minute after she regained her sight she couldn't see. She blinked and smiled hesitantly. "I'm alright."

Niki looks around. Now that the evil force has been conquered, she looks down at herself. Her brand new school robe is torn and dirty, one shoulder has a long cut, her hair is a mess, she has too many bruises to count, and worst of all...

She glances over at Hadrian's body. "If... if we're going back, can someone help me carry my brother?" She looks around, an odd expression on her face. "How strange. I feel like my head is about to float away. Would someone watch it for me? It is so useful, for putting my hood on..." With that, Niki falls over in a faint.

Moving very swiftly, Ember is just sort of THERE to catch Niki before she hits the ground. "Poor child," she murmurs, lowering Niki gently to the ground. "It's been one hell of a morning for you and your family, no?"

She looked over at Morticia. She hadn't forgotten the horrid things the two had said to her and about her, but under the circumstances she was willing to forgive and forget--particularly since it seemed they'd lost a brother.

Ember knew that feeling all too well... Hidden in her hair, Sangria chittered something that sounded almost consoling.

Insanius blinked. Once the winged serpent was gone, the world suddenly stopped its spinning. He surveyed the scene as he walked back into the clearing from its edge. "'Tis a high price we pay indeed, when in evil planned we must intercede."

Marvo groans. 'Well.... I don't know about the rest of you. But I think we should head back now. There's a Bacon sandwich with my name on it waiting for me. Ha ha... OW!'

Nimue started to giggle with the absurdity of the remark but realised that yes, they needed to return to Hogwarts as soon as possible.

The group slowly made their way back through the forest, floating the body of Hadrian and giving support to those wounded.

It was fairly obvious that the spell had been broken as at the edge of the forest they were met by Professors Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall who were about to launch a search party for the missing students.

Professor Sprout and Hagrid were also present looking slightly dishevelled with green goo dripping from bits of their robes.

Before any explanations could be given the students were taken to Madame Pomfrey where their wounds were dressed and they were generally assisted in coming to terms with the events within the forest. All were interviewed singly and in groups over the next few days.

Many owls were despatched and within a very short period of time various parents and guardians were arriving. Of course, representatives from the Daily Prophet sought to gain access to Hogwarts but the Ministry of Magic exerted itself more than usual to protect the students from publicity.

Some of the students were well enough to return home for the remainder of the holidays. Some remained at Hogwarts as originally planned.