Author's Note:So, the usual applies: I don't own Harry Potter and I'm sorry if I ruin the characters.

This is my answer to The Album Challenge. Prepare the Masses is an album by A Change of Pace and each chapter focuses around a different set of characters and are all loosely linked to the Battle of Hogwarts, Dumbledore's Army (under Neville), the First Order and the Aftermath of the War. So, twelve chapters or, if you will, twelve one-shots.

They're not all strictly songfics, the songs are more prompts, but some, inevitably, are.

Please read and review and most importantly, enjoy.

Song One

Prepare the Masses

Prepare the masses, 'cause this means war
And if it's a fight they want, we'll bring the hell they're looking for.
With bullets blazing, the cowards hit the floor
Stand up and fight like men, let God decide who's coming.

Now sit back and watch this story unfold,
With the fair Juliet and her Romeo.
Two young lovers with one heartbeat,
In a devoted grave is where they'll sleep.

-

The Hall was scattered with different coloured gems and bits of brick and wood. Holes had been blasted into walls and floor alike and great chunks of the marble staircase were missing. He slumped against the inside wall, staring around at a place he once conceived safe.

As he took a deep shuddering breath, he knew he would never leave this place again.

Across the hall were students in violent combat with five Death Eaters. He knew those students. He had taught them. "Neville, no! What are you doing?" he heard himself shout, only just aware that his feet were dashing across the uneven flooring and his wand was raised and shooting brilliant jets of blue light over the black cloaked figures.

"Professor Lupin!" There was a cut above Neville's left eye that was congealing slowly and crouched beside him, clutching at his stomach was a curly haired boy, a girl with a plait fussing over him.

Susan Bones looked up to meet his eye, "A hex, something nasty," she said, indicating the boy on the floor.

Remus drew his wand and muttered, "Finite." Nothing happened. He pointed his wand at the cut above Neville's eye and the skin healed instantly.

"What did it do to you? Ernie, can you speak?"

"Don't. Know."

"Susan, hide with him, somewhere safe. Go, now. Hurry."

Safe. He wasn't even sure what that meant any more. He hadn't been safe in years, not really. Safety was something you had to forego when you became a werewolf twelve or thirteen times a year.

One of the Death Eaters was stirring, his fingers reaching out towards a fallen wand.

-

He didn't like to think about Sirius any more. He had lost him once already, lost him to Voldemort and Azkaban for twelve long years.

There had always been something wrong with that, something that would fester in the pit of his stomach that never seemed right. When he had been told that Sirius had sold Lily and James out, he had not believed it. The idea that Sirius would betray James was ridiculous. And yet, all the facts, all the witnesses, stated otherwise and in one swift move, those childhood friend, his first friends, his best friends, his only friends were all wrenched from him. In the space of twenty four hours, he was alone. No James, no Lily, no Peter and no Sirius.

Trusting Sirius again, after learning the truth, felt like awakening from a dream when he hadn't even notices he was sleeping. Sirius was there, he was alive and he was on their side. And for a few short months it was almost like being back in the first Order, back before it all went wrong.

But then the Department of Mysteries happened. Bellatrix happened. Sirius was gone. Really gone this time with no possible way of return. And he felt as though he was back to that horrible November first, all those years ago.

"It's just not fair." He hated how childish he sounded. Her eyes softened and she rested a hand on the top of his greying brown tresses, biting her lip. "I just feel so alone. They've all gone. I have no one."

She straightened up in the bed, retracting her hand from his head. He looked up at her from where he sat on a chair at her bedside. She was pale and her features were drawn. Her hair, that was usually so bright and vibrant had settled into a curling mess of brown and there were shadows under her eyes. "You have me," she whispered.

He sat still for a moment, staring her down.

"Don't," he said simply, shifting in his seat away from her.

She shot a glance at the flowers he had brought, blooming in the vase he had conjured. "Remus, look at me."

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Look at every single person I've called a friend," he said simply, still refusing to meet her gaze. "James and Lily and now Sirius, Peter is a Death Eater for Christ's sake! And look at me, I'm a werewolf Nymphadora, I spread disaster to whoever I get close to."

"You're being melodramatic. And don't call me that."

"I'm being realistic, Nymphadora."

She scowled. They sat in silence for a long time.

"Why did you come here, Remus?"

"To see you, to make sure you were okay after what happened at the Ministry."

"I'm fine and you knew that I would be. Why did you come here, Remus?"

"I-"

"Is it about what I told you before we left?" He didn't answer. "Because I'm not taking it back, Remus."

"I wouldn't expect you to." He shifted uncomfortably in his seat again.

"I like you, Remus," she said quietly, her gaze levitating towards the flowers. "I like you a lot. Sometimes I even think I could love you, if you let me close enough."

He stood abruptly. "Please, don't Nymphadora. You deserve someone better than me, someone who can give you a future and a family." He grabbed at his cloak that was hanging over the back of his chair. "Forget about me."

She bit her bottom lip, "Remus, Remus please don't leave."

"Goodbye, Tonks."

"I'm not going to forget about you," she shouted, as he opened the door to the ward. "I won't do it. I can't." He had gone.

-

A streak of purple snapped at his ankle and he fell to the ground instantly, his flesh burning. Within a split second, he could feel another attack coming and he rolled to his left, jumping to his feet as he went. A blinding pain shot up his right leg but he ignored it as he began sending as many hexes and curses as the masked figure he was so sure he had already felled.

And then out of the corner of his eye he saw her, running down the stairs of the great hall, her wand raised, sending a shining white spell at the head of the Death Eater he was duelling, who fell, face first to the ground.

"Dora, what the hell are you doing here?" he yelled, turning to look at her, beaming.

"Saving your arse," she shouted back, sending a stunner at the back of another Death Eater who crumpled.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw him – the monstrosity of a man who would prey on the young, the vulnerable – and his eyes were fixated upon his wife. "No."

-

Dumbledore's death changed things. There was no one to hand out orders now, no reason to stay away. He was unsure whether to remain amongst his kind or else just go on the run. Both were appealing to an extent. But then she was there, on his doorstep, a flask of potion in hand.

"For tonight," she told him, forcing it into his hands.

"Excuse me?" he said, staring at the flask.

"Wolfsbane. For next week. Snape can't brew it any more and I thought you might be greatful. If not, I won't bother next month." Her arms were crossed and her eyes were ablaze.

"You-you brewed this, for me?"

"No, it was for extra credit with the Aurors."

"But, Nymphadora, this is, I just-"

"I thought you'd be like this. I'll go. Don't worry. I won't impose my company on you." She turned away and began up the corridor.

"Tonks, wait. Please." He was still holding the flask in his hand aloft.

"What is it Remus?" she snapped, turning around to face him. Her hair was beginning to change fire red. "You've made your feelings perfectly clear. I just thought-"

But before she could finish, he had walked towards her and pressed his lips against hers. As they broke away, he caught her eye, "No, Dora, I don't think I have made my feelings very clear at all."

-

Greyback had launched himself at her before he could even shout a warning. Anger pulsated through his veins, the wolf inside of him rearing up, ready to meet it's creator. He set a burst of orange flame across Fenrir's face, his body flying away from Dora, her blood trailing from his mouth. "Dora, speak to me," he shouted, as Fenrir ambled to his feet, clutching the burn across his left cheek.

"Touching," he said, grabbing his own wand and sending a shot of green light soaring over Remus' head. And then they were battling violently, each searching to hurt, to maim, to kill, their wands blurs and all the while every thought he had – about Dora, bleeding on the floor, of Teddy at home with Andromeda, Teddy who he was sure he would never see again – had to be pushed aside, become secondary thought or else he knew he wouldn't see them again, would never find her again to make sure she was okay.

And in a triumphant explosion of golden light, Fenrir flew backwards, hitting a wall and sliding away out of sight.

He turned around, calling her name, elated. But his eyes fell upon Bellatrix instead.

Bellatrix duelling his Dora.

Bellatrix beating her.

Her eyes met his, "Remus, watch out!" she screamed. But her split second distraction, her warning cry gave Bellatrix the upper hand. He saw the green leaving Bella's wand, saw Dora's own eye bore into his own, felt a curse hit him side on and then there was nothing at all.

-

Ted had hardly been happy when Remus had taken him aside to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. Remus explained that he understood – what parent's would want a werewolf for a son-in-law? – but Ted only laughed at this, saying that he sure as hell didn't care about that. He was happy as long as Dora was happy, he was just a little worried that they were rushing things. Again Remus understood, nodding in agreement at Ted's words but he explained that Dora wanted to do things quickly, before it was too late and Ted had laughed again. "When that girl gets an idea in her head, she won't let it go," he had said. "Remus, son, you never really stood a chance."

The wedding itself was simple and discreet. Remus had wanted to ask Harry to be his best man but they both agreed it was far too dangerous to take him from the safety of his Aunt and Uncle's before it was absolutely necessary.

As a short wizard with flyaway grey hair pronounced them bonded for life, he leant down and kissed her gently on the lips, cupping her face in his hands. As they broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers. "I'll love you forever, Dora. I think I always have."