THE BOY WHO LIVED, THE MAN WHO CONQUERED: HARRY POTTER SPEAKS!

The Daily Prophet

SPECIAL VICTORY EDITION

THE BOY WHO LIVED, THE MAN WHO CONQUERED: HARRY POTTER SPEAKS!

Hogsmeade – May 4, 1998 – The wizarding world is still reeling from the monumental events of yesterday, as Harry Potter, the universally acclaimed 'Boy Who Lived,' delivered the final, decisive blow against He Who Must Not Be Named. In the quiet aftermath, amidst the heartbreaking tally of losses and the burgeoning hope for a new era, The Daily Prophet was granted an exclusive interview with the hero himself, Harry Potter, just hours after his victory at Hogwarts.

Looking weary but resolute, with streaks of grime on his face and a noticeable tear in his robes, Potter sat down with our correspondent in the surprisingly calm Headmaster's office. He declined offers of food or drink, his focus remaining intensely on the future.

"It's over," Potter stated simply, his voice hoarse but firm. "Tom Riddle is gone. For good this time." The casual, almost dismissive, use of Riddle's birth name sent a ripple through the gathered press, a clear signal of the young man's lack of fear or reverence for the defeated dark wizard.

When asked about the final confrontation in the Great Hall, Potter averted his gaze for a moment, his hand unconsciously touching his lightning-bolt scar. "It wasn't a duel of spectacular spells, not really. It was… an ending. He never understood some things, even with all his power. He never understood love, friendship, or that there are things worse than death."

Potter stressed the collective effort that led to their victory. "I didn't do this alone. None of it. Dumbledore's Army, the Order of the Phoenix, the students, the teachers, even the house-elves fighting in the kitchens… every single person who stood up, who refused to give in, they're the real heroes. And those we lost… they won this war, too." His eyes held a distant, sorrowful look. "Fred… Remus… Tonks… so many good people. We have to remember them, always."

He spoke briefly of the intense pressure he faced, describing it as "a weight I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy." Yet, he never faltered. "There were times I just wanted to give up, honestly. But then I'd think of Ron and Hermione, of Ginny, of my parents… of everyone who believed in me, even when I doubted myself. I just kept going."

When pressed on his plans for the future, Potter offered a wry smile, the first hint of his usual humour breaking through the fatigue. "Sleep, mostly. A lot of it. And then… I don't know. Just being Harry. Maybe helping rebuild, finding a normal life. No more Horcruxes, no more prophecies, no more dodging Avada Kedavra curses. That sounds pretty good right now."

He paused, then added with a touch of his characteristic defiance, "I just hope everyone can finally live without fear now. That's what we fought for, isn't it?"

Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, has indeed conquered. But more than that, he stands before us not just as a victor, but as a young man profoundly changed by his extraordinary journey, ready, perhaps, to simply be.