Hello everyone! Thank you for all the story alerts and reviews for last chapter.
I loved writing the second half to this chapter! Snape is so much fun to write. And thank goodness Harry is somewhat back to normal. Although we all love a bit of Harry angst, it gets super depressing to write lol!
Hope you guys enjoy! Drop me a review and let me know what you think.

Chapter twenty one

It's started

Harry sat quietly beside Hermione's make shift bed in the sitting room. He watched the gentle flutter of her eyelids, the slow rise and fall of her chest, thanking god for keeping her alive. He ran a hand across his face, unaware of just how tired he felt until now. He felt a gentle hand upon his shoulder.

'Go and get some rest, Harry,' Remus said quietly, taking him by the elbow and pulling him to his feet.

'I don't want to leave her,' Harry said.

'She's sleeping – she'll be fine. Severus and I will watch her.'

Harry looked up at Remus, fear evident on his face. 'I don't want to sleep – not without that potion.' Remus opened his mouth to reply, but another voice cut him off.

'The Dark Lord will not possess you tonight.'

Snape appeared suddenly in the doorway, a large collection of vials in one hand and a book nestled in the crook of his arm. He marched forwards towards Hermione, almost bundling Harry out of the way, and settled himself in the chair beside her. Harry cocked his head, bewildered by the almost paternal expression Snape was wearing.

'How can you be so sure of that?' he said.

Snape cocked an eyebrow at him curiously. 'Having been a servant of the Dark Lord for many years, I am somewhat attuned to his behavior,' he said, setting the vials on the table next to him. 'He will know we are coming, I am most sure of that.'

Harry and Remus exchanged a wary glance. 'So how come he's just waiting for us?' Harry asked.

'Because, Potter, the Dark Lord believes this will be an easy victory for him,' Snape said, now paying more attention to his book than the two men in front of him. 'With the ability to possess you, he believes the battle is won.' Snape tore his eyes away from the page and looked Harry directly in the eye. An unfamiliar expression swept across his face as he did so, and he turned away quickly, not quite blushing. 'He will not possess you tonight,' he finished, and then held his book high above his face, signaling the conversation was over. Remus took this as his opportunity to drag Harry from the room and up the stairs, the boy's protests falling on death ears.

'Hermione will be fine,' Remus reassured him. 'Severus patched her up when we returned, there was no serious harm done.'

'You're sure?' Harry demanded, turning around and halting mid step. Remus smiled at him gently.

'I am one hundred percent positive, now if you don't move up these stairs I will be forced to spell you to sleep.'

Harry scowled at him.

'How can you be so laid back,' he snapped suddenly. 'Voldemort has Tonks. He's taken her, you know he's probably going to kill her - '

'He won't kill her,' Remus said quietly.

Harry raised his eyebrows, startled at Remus' tone. 'How can you be so sure?' he asked.

Remus cocked his head to the side, regarding Harry with a soft gaze.

'If not belief, what do we have?'

Harry was stunned into silence for a few moments.

'Tonks said that to me once.'

Remus nodded sadly. 'And to me,' he said. 'And at this moment, it has never held more truth.'

'I'm sorry,' Harry said quickly. 'For snapping – it's just -'

'I know,' Remus cut in.

'You must be so worried. I know I am and I'm not even the one in love with her.'

'I told her, you know,' Remus said, attempting to push Harry back up the stairs again.

'Really?'

'In sorts. But I'm very sure she knows how I feel about her now.'

Harry smiled at his friend gently. 'Did she return the feelings?'

Remus had the courtesy to allow a small blush to grace his face, but said nothing.

'We leave tomorrow evening,' Remus told Harry as they reached his bedroom door. 'There's a meeting in the morning to finalise plans.'

Harry faltered in the doorway, swallowing hard. 'I can't believe this is finally happening.'

Remus looked at him worriedly.

'I thought you said you were ready?'

'I am!' Harry insisted. 'I really am. It's just - '

'You don't know how it'll feel for all of this to finally come to an end?'

Harry nodded. 'It's been my whole life,' he said quietly. 'And for all I know, this time tomorrow I could be dead.'

'As could I,' Remus said.

Harry breathed a silent sigh of relief, pleased that someone else was harboring the same fears as he was. Taking the opportunity of being alone, Harry walked forward and hugged Remus as tightly as he could, hoping the action would communicate what he wasn't sure he could say in words. Remus returned his hug with equal force, pulling Harry tightly into his chest.

'Are you afraid?' Harry mumbled.

'If you'd asked me that several months ago, I would have said yes,' Remus said, holding Harry at arms length. 'I used to believe there was no place in heaven for a creature like me.'

Harry's eyes grew wide.

'You really believed that?' he said, stunned. 'Remus, being a werewolf can't change how pure your heart is or how good your intentions are. For you, it's an affliction. For Greyback, it is an addiction. He would have been pulled to the darkside long before he was bitten and that makes all the difference in the world...' He trailed off awkwardly. 'What?'

Remus was smiling broadly at Harry, shaking his head gently. Harry cocked an eyebrow.

'What?' he asked again.

'When did you become so insightful?'

'You didn't answer the question,' Harry reminded him with a smirk.

Remus took a deep breath. 'I'm not afraid anymore,' he said. 'Thanks to you.'

Harry felt himself blush but grinned up at Remus anyway. The two friends filtered into silence and just looked at each other for a few moments, both lost in thoughts.

But, out of nowhere, Harry's suddenly began to turn increasingly sour. Hours ago, when they'd returned home from the graveyard with an unconscious Hermione, he'd been so ready to fight, but out of honesty, for the good of the wizarding community. But now the time was actually dawning, his stomach began to churn with an unfamiliar hatred and he felt consumed by a strange desire for revenge.

The stomach turning anger suddenly welled up in his chest and threatened to suffocate him, choke him. He held it back, pushing it down until it was simmering gently in the pit of his stomach. All those sadistic, cruel deeds that Voldemort had used him to carry out, and soon he'd be able to put an end to it. How Harry wished he could make him suffer. How he wished to tear him apart bit by bit.

A firm voice suddenly cut through his reverie.

'You're not him, Harry,' Lupin said, placing his hands on Harry's shoulders. 'He may be a part of you at the moment, but you are nothing like him. Stay true to yourself. Stay true to who you really are.'

Harry let the words wash over him again as the memories of what had occurred over the last few weeks came crashing through his mind.

'Harry,' Remus said sharply. 'This is not the way to go into war. You must fight for good, not for revenge.'

'I know,' Harry said quietly, still struggling with the burst of anger within him. 'I don't want to fight like this. I don't know how to make these feelings go away.'

'First of all, you need to start breathing again,' Remus said, giving him a slap on the back. Harry hadn't even realised he'd been holding his breath. 'Just focus on everything you were thinking at the graveyard. Bring that to the forefront of your mind. Your desire for revenge can be fulfilled once Voldemort is dead, but do not let that be the reason you are fighting.'

'It's not,' Harry said. 'I don't think it ever was.'

The next morning, Harry woke slowly as the sun began to seep through the curtains. He rolled over and checked the clock hovering above his bedside table. The green flashing numbers told him it was only just 7 AM.

In less than twelve hours the Order would be heading off into battle - firstly, to ambush Voldemort's headquarters and rescue Tonks and then to finish him off once and for all (though Harry knew things wouldn't ever be that simple.) He'd eat his wand if they all got out of there unscathed.

He swallowed hard and laid staring up at the ceiling, his heart pounding furiously in his chest. Odd, how it beat so valiantly on what could potentially be the last day of his life.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself out of bed. After throwing on some clothes and washing quickly, Harry headed downstairs. He faltered by the sitting room door, listening for any signs of life beyond. Just as he was about to risk entry, the door swung open and Snape appeared, grabbing Harry by the arm and pulling him inside. The door closed quickly behind them.

In the softly lit room, Harry could see the lines etching Snape's sallow skin. He was no older than Lupin, but appeared far more lined ,though he still retained his curtain of dark hair. Years of servitude to the Dark Lord had obviously taken their toll on Severus Snape.

The Potions Master settled himself in the chair he'd taken the previous night, Harry was unsure whether he'd moved at all, and gingerly brushed the hair out of his face. Harry noticed his arm was trembling somewhat; the dark mark stood out brashly against his pale flesh.

'Your mother wouldn't have wanted you to fight,' Snape said suddenly, filling the tense silence in the room.

Harry whipped his head up to look at him.

'Sorry?' he spluttered.

'Your mother,' Snape said evenly, 'She would not want you to risk your life.'

Speechless, Harry just stared across the room at Snape, whose own eyes were fixed on Harry like a hawk. It was the first time Harry had ever seen a spark of life within the dark orbs; the mention of his mother had done that.

'How would you know what my mother would want?' Harry said. Snape rolled his eyes.

'Potter, if you have forgotten already that I knew your mother, perhaps it would be best for you to stay at home this evening. Your forgetfulness will only bring more risk to yourself or, worse, to others.'

Harry waved a hand dismissively. 'Yeah, I know that you knew each other, but how well did you know her? I mean, Remus didn't even realise you two were keeping secrets together.'

'There were many things that your father and his circle of friends were unaware of.'

Harry's eyebrows shot up his forehead. 'And what does that mean?' he asked warily.

'Your mother and I knew each other from when we were children – before even Lily knew she was a witch. We grew up together, in the same neighborhood, through school and eventually through Hogwarts. It was only when your father came into the picture did your mothers and my friendship...dwindle, shall we say.'

'Friendships don't dwindle,' Harry cut in quickly. 'If you were really friends, then you wouldn't have let my father come between you...' he trailed off quietly, lost in the look ghosting across Snape's face.

'Ah,' Harry said awkwardly. 'You didn't just think as my mum as a friend, did you.'

Snape had the courtesy to shake his head and look away; Harry followed his lead, feeling more and more bewildered as the conversation went on.

'Before your mother died, she asked me to do one last thing for her.'

Snape looked back to Harry; his adams apple dipped anxiously before he spoke. 'She and I made an unbreakable vow.'

Harry shook his head. 'What!'

'Potter, if you cannot work it out for yourself - '

'No, I understand,' Harry said quickly. 'But, why did you agree? If you fell out over my dad...'

'As you said, true friendships never dwindle,' Snape said. 'I would have done anything for your mother.'

'Why are you telling me this?' Harry asked, his eyes travelling to Hermione who appeared to be fast asleep on the sofa, her head gently falling to one side. 'Why now?'

'Because,' Snape went on, 'the promise I made your mother is about to be fulfilled or broken. If I have my way, I will fulfill her wishes.'

Harry nodded awkwardly. 'Okay,' he said. 'What was the promise you made her? This unbreakable vow, what was it?'

'I promised her that I would keep you alive.'

Harry's jaw dropped.

'And what happens if you break this unbreakable vow?' he asked shakily.

Snape shifted on the sofa.

'I will die.'

Harry felt like his stomach had dropped to his knees. Snape of all people, promising to keep him alive? After all that hatred between him and James, after all the bitterness that had occurred through Harry's school years, Snape was still prepared to die in order to keep him alive.

'Is this why you said my mother wouldn't want me to fight?' Harry said angrily. 'Because you want to keep yourself alive?'

'I am not worried about how I will fare,' Snape said heatedly. 'But because I made a vow to your mother, one that I would like to keep – not for my sake, Potter, but for your mother and for what remains of her now. For you.'

'But you hate me!' Harry almost cried.

'It does not affect the situation,' Snape said. 'We have our differences, but we also have one thing in common, and sometimes that is all it takes. You must not fear it Potter, for our fates were entwined long before you were alive.'