Parting was always sad.
With the experiment's initial success, Lupin's life had become much easier. He even felt like opening a bottle of Red Wine and watching the moon with Ilsa when it hung full and bright in the sky.
Of course, Anna was the happiest of them all.
When Nagini broke free of her Viper form and returned to human form, the happy life she'd enjoyed "two years ago" no longer seemed so far out of reach. She was so happy that she kissed Anton on the cheek in front of everyone.
The Old Wizard had left early, heading to Hogwarts with that noisy band.
Goblin Pedro had also left. He planned to travel and recover from the exhaustion of it all. The one-two punch of Rosier and Anton had been far too much for his fragile heart.
Besides, the thought of having to return here once Anton was on holiday and resume their research (and be researched) sent a chill down his spine.
But there was nothing he could do. Nagini was his daughter, and Anna was his granddaughter. He'd grown weathered with age, and the continuation of his family had become his hope.
Anna's family was leaving next. A little shyly, she arranged with Anton to keep in touch by letter once they started school.
Andrei Rosier generously left Anton ten whole bottles of Potions and a small mountain of Gold Galleons to fund his research.
That's right, a small mountain of Gold Galleons.
The sort of wealth that beggared belief. It finally filled Anton's little Vault at Gringotts to the brim.
The Rosier family was indeed ancient and steeped in wealth. Andrei took Anton to their Vault and found a stone tablet on a shelf crowded with all kinds of magical items.
The tablet was called