CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:

ULTIMATE BETRAYAL

Time crept by incredibly slowly for Prometheus as he, Pandora, and Apollo sat just feet away from the palace. Apollo continued to scan the area for intruders. Pandora kept glancing at him in silent communication. It was driving him crazy but one thing being a vampire had taught him was patience. The silence was broken by the growing sound of distance footsteps. Apollo was the first one to get into attack position. The other two followed suit. Prometheus held his breath as the person came closer. A voice of someone very large spoke.

"Apollo, are you there?" the deep booming voice asked. Apollo jumped up and clawed at the face of a gargantuan vampire. Pandora pulled Apollo off the other vampire and scolded Apollo before turning to the large vampire.

"Epimetheus! What are you doing?" she exclaimed and looking around for others.

"Apollo told me to come tell him when the first wave of vampires hit the school," Epimetheus said, like a child trying to be obedient. Pandora and Prometheus shared a brief fearful look but covered it very well. Rome's heart was thundering in his throat.

"What does he mean by 'the first wave', Apollo?" Pandora asked him directly. He quickly showed them how unstable he was.

"Zeus thought that it would be the best way to flush out the virgin-blood," Apollo said as his eyes flashed dangerously. "He felt that the war needed to be started earlier at Hogwarts. It was the one place he knew the virgin-blood could be lured," he finished gleefully. Rome continued to fight the urge to immediately rush to the school.

"And Apollo said we would be 'killing two birds with one stone,'" Epimetheus said. "We kill Zeus and then finish what we started." Pandora hissed at him in full rage.

"You idiot! Don't you realize what you have done? You have compromised our mission by this! Zeus knows what we are doing," She shouted, "Why else would he have sent them out so soon? You have left us out in the open!" Rome remained silent with fury...until he saw Zeus approaching behind Apollo and Epimetheus with an entourage.

"He's here!" he yelled.

Shantiel had been slowly awakened by distant screams around her. Her eyes opened to her dorm-mates dashing for the door with vampires behind them. Quickly she jumped out of bed and grabbed her wand. Out of nowhere she felt a hand grabbing her wrist.

"Come on, Shan! Let's go!" Ginny said as the two ran downstairs to the battlefield in the common room. They saw the heads of the D.A. members fighting. The girls ran over to help Neville, Ron, and Hermione.

"Quick, you know where to go!" Hermione bellowed as she caused a vampire to fly out of a window. In clusters, the Gryffindor members followed the first six out into the corridor. Everyone had been battling the vampires.

Dodging spells and aiming spells, they made their ways down the corridor. They all focused on the entrance. The door appeared in front of them they all rushed inside of the room where pure silence met them.

Three minutes ticked by in which nobody said a word. Hermione finally spoke up, "You guys, we can't stay in here forever–we have to go get help!"

"I know!" Ron shouted.

"There's no need to get shirty with me, Ronald!"

"Sorry, I'm...I just...we're all in our pyjamas. And it's freaky, they came to Gryffindor Tower first!"

Neville looked at everybody very intensely and said, "The only way you'll get to the Headmaster's Office is if you split up and go different directions. Hopefully, there won't be enough vampires to corner all of you..."

Everybody gulped and again shared a look. The odds weren't in their favor, but something had to be done–that much was certain.

"Okay, okay...Neville, you stay here and wait for anybody else who shows up. I'm sure the vampires won't have stayed in Gryffindor Tower for very long," said Hermione. "Shan, Ginny, and Ron, we'll be the ones who run for it. Good luck to us all," she shook each of their hands.

Prometheus stood still as Zeus walked up to him, a ghost of Voldemort's cruel smile spread across his features.

"I knew the time would come that we would meet eventually. Pity that my main guard had to betray me in the process," he said, as his eyes met Pandora's, "especially after all I have given her." Pandora growled as she stood next to Rome. The young vampire prepared for the first strike.

Suddenly, Apollo and Epimetheus grabbed Rome before he was able to make a move. Pandora went to attack but other guards tackled her.

"We knew it was the virgin-blood, sire," Apollo said, as he grabbed Rome by the back of his neck. "You can smell him a mile away," he said, as he yanked Prometheus's head down and sniffed deeply. "Disgusting. Virgin-blood."

Zeus continued to survey the young man almost as if to be certain it was him. He stepped towards Rome. He slowly lifted Rome's fringe. Zeus laughed victoriously as he saw the lightning-shaped scar on Rome's forehead.

"So, what I have heard is correct," Zeus said in heightened amusement. Knowing the jig was up, Rome slowly allowed his features to transform into those of himself.

"It's sad that you had to once again possess someone weaker than you, only to lose again," Rome said defiantly. He watched the brief flicker of fear that flashed across the face of his old enemy. Zeus walked up to the young vampire. Prometheus could sense the analytical side of Tom Riddle kick in as he surveyed Rome.

"What are you afraid of, Tom?" Rome said, baiting him as he smirked dangerously. "I don't know if you have noticed but being a vampire as given me a better clarity concerning what must be done."

Zeus-Voldemort laughed at the young man mockingly. He circled the group, his eyes on Rome's.

"You think because you have destroyed my Horcruxes that you can kill me like the legend says?" He hissed in amusement. "Have you forgotten? Like yourself, I am now immortal." That was true. How was Rome supposed to kill him now? It was then that he wished that he had learned more before going in for the attack. But he was surprised to hear Pandora laughing this time.

"And you are forgetting that there are ways to kill a vampire?" Pandora said slyly. She suddenly slinked through the arms of the guards, flipped backwards, and kicked each of them in the chest. While they were on the ground, Pandora staked them both simultaneously through the center of their chests. It was a good thing the guards had failed to disarm Pandora and Rome.

Apollo and Epimetheus both released Rome and in turn charged at Pandora. She was ready as she leaped over both of them. She caught Epimetheus in the back of the head with her heel. Apollo growled, enraged, as he grabbed her by her other foot. He went to twist it but she kicked him on the side of the head with her other foot. Vampires continued to swarm on the group. Prometheus created a small gout of Fiend Fyre and burnt a group of immortals that had only started to charge.

"As true as that maybe, my dear, I know that I can not be defeated by someone as pathetic as you two," Zeus stated in a matter of fact tone. "Kill her, but the boy is mine," he ordered his minions. "It is a shame that what you did was all for nothing." Pandora continued to fend off vampires. "Hogwarts doesn't stand a chance."

Zeus disappeared and re-appeared behind Prometheus. Prometheus was so busy trying to find where he had gone that he barely saw Zeus's blow to his head coming. WHAM! Trying to fight unconsciousness, Rome felt Zeus pulling him up by the hair. Rome looked into the horridly gleeful eyes of his opponent. Zeus plunged his dagger into the young vampire's side and dragged it down his ribs. Rome gasped in shock.

"You have always been so weak," Zeus scoffed. The pain was almost unbearable but Rome didn't let it show on his face. Zeus pulled the dagger out and licked it. "This was almost too easy. Soon my guard will bring back all of those you love. Then you can watch them die one by one."

"It's not over yet, is it?" Rome said, he disappeared out of the vampire sovereign's iron grip. He re-appeared next to him and then disappeared. He hissed somewhere close by, "You always were too quick to think you had won. Like always, that led to your downfall." Prometheus knew that Zeus was beginning to lose his patience but Rome knew he finally had an advantage on him. Zeus let out a frustrated roar like a beast stuck in a trap.

"I am done being toyed with, Potter!" Zeus bellowed in Rome's direction. Prometheus laughed from the treetops. Reading his stake, Rome dropped onto the ground feet away from Zeus-Voldemort. The young vampire was unseen by the blur of activity going on between them. Prometheus struck with precise aim-the stake hit its intended target. Zeus looked down, alarmed, to see the pointed end penetrating through his chest. It was as if he couldn't believe Rome had actually done it. "No..." he whispered. He yanked the stake out of his chest. Blood poured from the wound. Zeus-Voldemort collapsed to the ground, to move no more. The bevy of activity surrounding Rome had caused their fight to go unnoticed. With even more clarity than before, Prometheus knew what he had to do. He ripped off Zeus's red velvet cloak, covered himself face with it, and changed his features into that of the Vampire King.

Like angry bees the guard charged Prometheus and Pandora. Rome felt fangs enter through his skin as he fought them. He could barely hear a distant pop from off to his right.

"STOP!" he ordered them in Zeus's voice.

He watched as vampires continued to drop to the ground one by one. He looked up to see Viktor attacking them.

"You may think you have won the battle," Apollo called out to them, "But the war has yet to end." He and Epimetheus started off in the direction of Hogwarts. Rome's zeal had not disappeared. He started to run after them. Pandora grabbed his shoulder to stop him.

"We have to follow them this is something that needs to be finished," Rome said quietly, with determination. Pandora nodded knowing that he was right.

"You must speak with the minions first, though..." she whispered in his ear. "I will tell Viktor to go warn Dumbledore–tell him to arm the school and that the actual vampire sovereign is dead."

"Guards!" called Rome-Zeus, "Cease attacking!" They stopped and turned to look at him. "Apollo and Epimetheus have plotted against me. That is why they have fled. They are on their way to Hogwarts School. We must find them and make them pay for their crimes of treachery!"

They threw their fists in the air and roared their approval for their sovereign.

The Room of Requirement became a safe haven; there were students who chose to remain in the school despite the first wave of vampire attacks that had been sent. They had been preparing for whatever else came their way. To everyone's surprise, more of the Slytherins had joined the D.A. in a sincere manner. And they soon proved themselves as they fought against the vampires.

It was quiet except for the few whispers amongst clusters of students. In the distance thundering crashes sounded around the castle. Everyone turned to the window in amazement. What looked like a shield slowly lowered passed the window.

"They're here, aren't they?" Luna asked, breaking the silence that fell over them. Ron and Neville turned around facing everyone. Ron gave a slight nod. Ominous looks spread across the faces of the group. Everyone returned the nod in response of understanding.

"Then let's arm ourselves because this is it," Neville announced as he grabbed his wand. The other five followed suit and the rest of the D.A. mirrored them.

Pure silence filled the halls as they marched to the main entrance where the Order stood guard inside and outside the oak doors. Time slowed as they came closer to the front line. Everything intensified tenfold. Once outside, the Forbidden Forest swarmed with vampires by the hundreds. No one moved for ages, wondering who would make the first move.

Ginny looked at her friends; all whom were sharing the same expression. Like a rushing wave, the vampires charged the barrier that kept them out. They pushed through like spirits through a wall. The Order and D.A. stayed firm and send out fire as an attack. Everyone scattered as mortal and immortal combated one with another. Some members of the D.A. stayed in the front line while others took off back into the school. Vampires were close to their tails.

"IMPEDMENTA!" Neville shouted at a vampire about to attack a first-year boy. He caught up to the remaining five, who were facing off with more vampires.

The corridor was filled with flying spells and scattered bodies. Six D.A. members kept running down the hall, while blindly casting spells behind them as they ran. They entered the fourth floor corridor where all sound died except for their panting. They had lost so many of their group behind them.

An eerily gleeful but dangerous laughter came from the end of the hall. A blonde vampire approached them as blood trickled down his chin. Both Ron and Neville stood in front of the girls with their wands aimed.

"Do you really think those sticks have any power against me?" Apollo laughed evilly. "If you hold still, it won't hurt much." His eyes flashed with an animal-like hunger.

"Stupefy!" Ron bellowed but Apollo whirled out of sight, causing the spell to rebound off the wall. They heard his laugh again as he stood face to face with Ron.

"You mortals never learn, do you?" Apollo sneered in Ron's face. Ron stood his ground and hid his fear. Suddenly Apollo went flying into the wall as a random spell hit him in the chest. Everyone turned to see Severus racing towards them his wand still pointed at the vampire.

"Weasley, Longbottom, take the others and leave!" Snape ordered the two young men. They stood in paralytic shock over what just happened. "I said leave! Don't stand there looking so daft! GO!" Severus hollered, the volume in his voice finally getting them to move.

They ran down the hall and Shantiel looked back for a split second at the Slytherin professor. It looked as if Snape were being attacked by Epimetheus, but Ron pulled Shantiel's hand and led the group around the corner.

"Wait!" she cried, trying to go back, but Ron was too strong for her.

"We need to go!" Ron said. She knew he was right. Otherwise, Snape would have sacrificed himself for nothing if they didn't get away.

Epimetheus had grabbed hold of Severus, clamping his huge hands over the Slytherin man's arms. Severus tried his best to level spells anywhere near the gargantuan vampire, but nothing he threw at the immortal took any effect. Then Epimetheus twisted Snape's arm, SNAP! which caused him to drop his wand to the floor. Severus had no doubt his right arm was now broken.

Suddenly, Severus felt Epimetheus draining out blood through his jugular vein. The pain in his arm thankfully eclipsed any pain he felt with the bites he was receiving from Epimetheus and Apollo. For what felt like ages, Severus fought the pain. He refused to cry out...and eventually found himself sink into blessed oblivion.

"Seeeeeeeveeeerruuuuusss..."

Snape felt himself to be waking from a horrible nightmare.

"Seeeeveeerruuuuuss..."

Someone was calling his name, attempting to wake him up. The voice was light, airy, almost musical...and also quite familiar.

"Wake up, Sev..."

His eyes snapped open. There was only one person in the world he'd allowed to call him "Sev".

"Lily," he said in utmost clarity. He sat up in one smooth motion, facing the woman he had loved nearly his whole life. "What are you doing here?"

"I belong here. And now, so do you," she answered. She gazed at him serenely.

"Ah. And where is 'here', exactly?"

"The Afterlife."

"So...I'm...dead, then."

"Yes.."

"Ah," he said.

"Do you have any questions you wish to ask me?"

"Yes." He couldn't seem to remember how he'd got there. "How did I die?"

"You died saving an entire group of Harry's friends from vampires. One of them held you down, broke your wand arm, and a pair of the vampires drained you dry."

A flood of memories returned to him; he grabbed his right arm upon remembering the pain of it breaking. He inspected it but it was fine. Severus looked at Lily closer this time. She looked exactly the same way he remembered her when she'd died at the age of twenty-two. How was that possible? But more to the point...

"Why are you here, Lily?"

She smiled at him and replied, "Being greeted by loved ones in the afterlife is a privilege gained only by those who have earned it."

"Ah," he replied, yet again. He wondered why he felt so very awkward. Hadn't speaking with Lily again been what he'd been dreaming about for nearly twenty years? He wanted to ask her how he, of all people, had earned the right to be greeted by her, yet he couldn't bring himself to say the words. It didn't appear to matter, however. Lily anticipated his question.

"Sev, if I know you, and I do–you're wondering why you're here with me."

"Yes..."

"And you're wondering where James is."

"Uh, yes." Damn. She'd even guessed that one.

"He's here, and we're still together." Lily smiled again.

"Ah. Of course." He was amazed that she had known about things he himself had not yet voiced aloud. Then again, she had always been that way. Severus was suddenly struck by an overwhelming need to apologize to her. Apologize for being the one responsible for her death...

"Lily," he began, "I–I'm so sorry." In spite of himself, tears filled his eyes. "I tried to dissuade the Dark Lord from pursuing you and James and Harry, but I couldn't. He remained convinced that he had to..." kill you, Severus added silently. Even after all this time, he couldn't bring himself to say the words in front of her.

"Sev..." Lily shook her head, and took his hands in hers. "You could not control the actions of your master any more than I could have. You did have control over your own actions, however. You lived for Harry, lived to protect him." Severus looked away. He couldn't bear to hold her gaze as she spoke candidly to him. Yet she continued.

"You sacrificed yourself to protect others. Every single action you've taken since you discovered Riddle was going to kill me has been for somebody else." She tipped his chin up to meet her eyes again.

"You've always claimed the reasons you did so were entirely selfish, but I know that's not true. I also know you grew to care for Harry nearly as much as you cared for me. At virtually every turn, you risked your life for the sake of other people."

Severus went to protest, but Lily stopped him.

"You might not have been the best person, but you do have a good heart. Nothing you say can convince me otherwise. Actions speak louder than words, Severus. And I want you to know how very proud of you I am. I forgive you. And I will never forget what you've done for me and my son." She stood on tip-toe and gave him a tender kiss on the cheek. "Always," she whispered in his ear.

At that, Severus began to weep openly. And Lily let him do so...she stood there and held him as he released an entire lifetime of regrets. Her words were exactly what he'd needed to hear these many years. And at long last...he could truly feel whole and at peace again.