A/N: This is a stand-alone HP/SS drabble. This is un-beta'd, so any errors are, sadly, my own. This is a one-shot unless I get enough requests to pen a sequel.

Also, I own nothing here except the plot.

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One of the last to arrive on the battlefield, he strode through the masses like a black-robed avenging angel. He deflected curses from both sides. He also aimed curses at both sides. If they happened to hit one side more than the other, and to be more powerful against that same side… well, that was just a matter of bad luck. After all, the goings on around him could only be described as chaos.

The battle was a well-designed 'moment of opportunity'. Someone had observed the Boy-Who-Lived carelessly strolling through Hogsmeade. That same someone informed the Dark Lord of the fact and within minutes the megalomaniac and his followers were apparating into the town.

In those same following minutes, dozens of aurors also apparated in. The battle that ensued was like nothing before observed by those now fighting in it.

Blocking a curse that he was sure hadn't even been directed at him, he turned and dropped an auror to his knees – just in time for the auror to miss getting hit with the killing curse. 'Damn coincidences…' he thought with a suppressed smirk.

He slowly made progress through the pandemonium; his ultimate goal was to reach his master's side. Finally, his eyes landed on the two individuals who stood apart from the rest. These two were oblivious to everything but the other as they slowly circled each other.

One was dressed in bright scarlet robes, the hem of his cloak swirling around his ankles. The once-unruly hair had grown out and was now tied at the nape of his neck with a leather cord. The glasses were gone – replaced by muggle contact lenses.

The other was taller and thinner. Dressed in emerald green robes, he made large, sweeping movements.

Power flowed around both of these men as they circled. Curses were tossed and blocked as they each sought an opening or a sign of weakness. A massive snake slithered around the pair, hissing loudly.

Eventually reaching the two men, he stood silent and unmoving for long moments. Finally, the two became aware of his presence as they faced off.

"My loyal follower! I am glad it will be you who will watch me finish off the boy."

The other's acknowledgement of his presence was subtler. A short nod was given and the black-robed man raised his wand, aiming at the snake. "Avada Kedavra."

His words were echoed moments later by the scarlet-robed man. The sound of a body hitting the ground prefaced the screams of the man's followers as the tattoo linking them to him flared brightly and painfully and faded to a mere outline.

Clutching his arm, the black-robed man fell to his knees. He glanced up and smiled, "You did it, my master."

The red-robed man fell to his own knees beside him, "Ah, Severus, you never doubted me, did you?"

Pulling the other in for a kiss, Severus responded in a whisper, "Never, Harry. I never doubted you."