Hermione and Severus stared, panting, at the large snake at their feet, decapitated.
Sirius held the sword of Gryffindor tightly in his hands, his own chest heaved while James held Lily to him and Remus turned to look anywhere but at the oversized corpse.
Hermione grasped Severus' arm, the exhaustion of their day giving way to elation at having taken care of yet another piece of the puzzle.
"He managed to get away." James groaned, eyes narrowed on the corpse and Hermione gave a nod.
"We'll get him." Sirius tossed the sword to the ground beside the snake, the clang of metal almost deafening in the otherwise silent room. The Order had stormed Voldemort's hideout, catching them all off guard and successfully putting an end to the cursed snake.
Severus kissed the top of her head and she glanced around. Everyone was injured in some way or another, the fighting had been intense.
Still, they'd managed to round up at least ninety percent of the dark wizard's following, end the final horcrux.
Dumbledore was meant to be confronting Riddle any moment, they would find out soon how the confrontation had gone.
SSHG
James held the letter from Dumbledore, looking for all the world as if he wanted, yet didn't want, to open it. Hermione shook her head with a little smile and glanced around.
Lily was chewing her nails, looking like she may be sick if he didn't open the correspondence soon. Remus was flicking little balls of parchment at Sirius who twitched in his sleep every time one smacked him in the face. Severus was pacing, black cloak swaying behind him and reminding her dangerously of the Severus from her own time.
Hermione just watched, her lips pursed. She'd found companionship in these people, friendship that she never would have expected and, she glanced at Severus, a love she never would have anticipated.
Even if Riddle hadn't been disposed of, even if he was still alive right now she knew they would conquer him. Overcome the odds.
It was in their nature after all, each and every one of them was a survivor, no matter what timeline they lived out. She knew it to be true in the very pit of her stomach.
"Just open the damned thing before you give everyone in here fits, James." She cocked an eyebrow, the dark haired wizard cocked an eyebrow at her and inhaled.
"Are you sure, this could prolong the war by years." He groaned, his eyes flashing at the parchment.
"Whether you read it or not the end is the same." Hermione grumbled, crossed her arms across her chest. James heaved a sigh.
"Fine, wake up Sirius." He glanced to Remus who shrugged with a snicker.
"I've been trying for the last hour." He thumped another piece of parchment at him, this one landed in the sleeping wizards mouth.
He choked and spluttered awake, spitting parchment out and glaring around the room.
"Nice one." Hermione laughed and threw a smile Remus' way, he smirked and it was obvious he was fighting laughter.
"Good morning, star shine."
"Bugger off." Sirius growled before he caught sight of James, parchment in hand. "It's here?"
"Has been for the last hour, lazy git." Severus grumbled and Hermione tipped her head back on the sofa to stare at him, he'd begun to pace behind her.
"Come sit with me, Sev?" She crooked a finger at him and with a grunt he joined her, a petulantly annoyed look on his face. She fought her laughter as she leaned against him and watched James finger the edge of the parchment.
"Open it already!" Remus crowed, Lily started and stared at him, green eyes wide.
"Do it…" Came her soft voice and James let his shoulders slump, his finger breaking the seal and allowing the parchment to unroll.
He read, his eyes skimming the page several times as his mouth twisted while he was reading. He frowned, and then smiled, and then frowned, and then finally settled on a neutral expression.
Hermione thought he'd keep them waiting forever.
"Well, what's it say then? We free or we off to fight the big baddy some more?" Sirius grunted, it was obvious he was trying to look nonchalant and failing.
Failing badly.
"We're free." James exhaled, his eyes flicking around the room, joy written on his face.
"He's dead."
Sirius whooped, Hermione let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and Severus hugged her to him tightly. Lily let out a joyed sob and James quickly pulled her into his chest whilst Remus looked on dumbfounded.
"You did it, my Hermione, you changed the future." Severus breathed into her hair and she sighed, her lips finding his neck.
"We did it, oh it's really over?" Her eyes flicked to James who was holding Lily to him tightly while she sobbed.
The release of tension in the room was profound, it was as if a weight had been pulled off of them and thrust to the wayside.
"It's over, the pushed his remains beyond the veil." James confirmed, his hand still clutching the letter.
"We'll get to see our baby grow up." Lily cooed, relief etched into her every feature.
Severus kissed the side of her head, his black eyes catching Lily's gaze. The two shared an intense look, everything they were feeling passing between them.
"Let's go to bed, Sev." Hermione kissed the underside of his jaw and intense black eyes locked onto the witch curled into his side.
Sirius made an oo'ing noise and was immediately smacked in the back of the head by Remus who gave them a knowing smirk.
"A wonderful idea."