'From where I stand Albus,' she turned back to face him from across the room. 'You are only the pitiful fool cursed and killed by one.'

'I was murdered by a traitor.' Albus smiled, his teeth bared, his eyes menacing. 'And that is all anyone will remember.'

'Not,' she bit out, her voice crisp as she over articulated her words. 'If I can help it.'

'Minerva please.' Albus switched tactics then. 'Think of your Gryffindor duty. Your loyalty.'

'Neither of those belong to you anymore.' She crossed the room to stand before him. 'So let me tell you what happens now.' She held up a finger to silence his attempt to interrupt. 'You will tell me everything. You will tell me about Harry. You will then apologize to Severus next time we are both in here.'

'You don't trust me?' His affronted look made her smirk.

'In a word. No.' She rolled her eyes at his look of hurt before continuing. 'So you will apologize and then, if I'm still mad at you…' she paused, stretching out the suspense, enjoying his discomfort, his resignation. She watched the other portraits lean further forward in their frames to better hear her threat. She quirked a brow at the two Slytherins and was rewarded with broad approving smiles as she defended one of their own. 'I am going to turpentine your mouth off.'

Chapter 25

Ginny glanced around the Room of Requirement, letting her eyes linger on each of the members of Dumbledore's Army, watching them slowly wake to a new day, another fight. The number totaled over 225 now and encompassed most of the student population. Only Slytherin remained unaccounted for. She let her eyes find Neville's, watching as he sat leaning against the wall on the other side of the now massive room, the room having expanded to accommodate their numbers as the resistance had grown. She saw his eyes drift from hers to focus on where Harry was, standing rigid at the other end of the room, his wand poised, hex after hex being shot into the constantly moving dummy targets. He had been doing this all night, releasing his frustration, annihilating targets, cursing them to oblivion all under a silenzio spell. And he showed no signs of stopping, of slowing down any time soon. Not without an intervention at any rate.

Standing, she stretched and walked towards the target area intending to be that distraction, the intervention he so desperately needed. She approached slowly, carefully, making sure Harry saw her in his frenzy of fire. She stopped just on the edge and waited for him to acknowledge her presence. His eyes caught hers for a just a second before he lowered his wand, the determination slipping from his face as the weight of his responsibility, his all-night attack finally caught up to him. 'Are you alright Harry?' Ginny stepped into the now empty area to comfort her friend.

'I'm so tired Gin.' He shook his head before lifting his glasses from his face and pressing his thumb and forefinger into his eyes, trying to rub the fatigue away. 'I don't even know what I'm doing anymore.'

'Is that why you attacked Snape?' She kept her voice low, her tone non-judging, fighting her natural instinct to berate him for his actions, his carelessness.

'I attacked him because that bloody foul git murdered Hermione.' He yelled, his tiredness suddenly forgotten. 'Or have you forgotten that?' He turned his back on her. 'Some friend you are.'

'How dare you.' Ginny snapped then, her hand finding his shoulder and turning him back to face her. 'Some friend you are. You endangered EVERYONE in that classroom. EVERYONE Harry. Did you stop to think about that?'

'I had to make him pay.' He snarled, his eyes blazing as he attempted to break from her grip.

'At what cost?' She held tight. She saw Neville approach where they stood, the tension heavy, the air crackling with unreleased magic. 'You put everyone in danger.' Her voice dropped then to just above a whisper. 'And Snape saved us all. He saved me.' She shook her head, her eyes tearing up. 'And I don't know what to make of that.'

'You think I do?' Harry's voice remained raised, his body stiff, tall. 'You don't think I feel bad for putting you in danger Gin?'

'Do you?'

'Of course.' He shook his head then, his body slumping. 'But I couldn't just wait and hope he got justice. I had to act.'

'And killing us all was the answer.' She felt her voice raise again in her frustration. 'Harry, you have been acting recklessly ever since you and Ron got back from the Forest…'

'You have no idea what happened there.' He interrupted. 'No idea.'

'So tell us.' Neville stepped up beside Ginny, his tall frame offering her comfort against her irate friend. 'What happened? What was so awful?'

'I lost her.' Harry crumbled then, his face falling, his shoulders slumping forward once more. 'Because of me we were caught. I got her killed.'

'And killing the rest of us will make you feel so much better.' Ginny couldn't contain the sarcasm then.

'Hold up Gin,' Ron interjected stepping from the shadows where he had been watching the scene play out. 'You have no idea what you're talking about. What we went through.'

'All I know is Harry's justification for killing everyone was because he got her killed. She's one person.' She shook her head as she stepped backwards, distancing herself. 'What about the greater good?'

'Don't you care that she died? That he killed her?' Harry bit out.

'Of course I do you moron.' She rounded on him. 'But I care that you acted without thinking. I care that your actions could have killed me,' she gestured about the room. 'Us.' She ran a hand over her head. 'You are the beacon of hope. The savior of the wizarding world, and yet you almost killed everyone you are supposed to be protecting. You, Harry Potter are no better than the people we are fighting.'

'You need to stop.' Harry took a few steps towards her, only stopping when Neville stood between them.

'No you need to stop.' Ginny spoke from behind her protector before pushing him to the side. 'You nearly killed everyone and then where would you be? With no one left to fight?' Her voice cracked as she finally succumbed to tears.

'It's ok Gin.' Ron placed a comforting hand on her shoulder only for her to hurt it off. 'It's gonna be ok.'

'You know I don't think it is.' She shook her head sadly, her face towards the floor. 'How can everything be when I'm so friggin confused.'

'I don't understand?' Ron turned to face his sister.

'I don't either.' She shook her head again, sniffing. 'And that's the problem. Harry's so set on vengeance that he doesn't think about the repercussions. And Snape, who would greatly benefit from the bulk of the DA being exterminated in a potion's accident, endangered himself to inhale all of the vapors, while wrapping me in his cloak and protecting me from the fumes.' She raised her head to pin her brother with a hard look. 'If he's the devil we are supposed to be fighting, why did he save me?' She turned her gaze to Harry. 'Why did he issue us with detention with Hagrid for breaking into his office? Of all the things he has supposedly done as a Death Eater this was his punishment of choice. None of it adds up.'

'I don't know what you want from me Gin?' Harry softened his tone, his approach.

'I think I want you to go again.' She let the admission leave her lips on a mere whisper as her eyes fell to the floor. 'We were all safer when you weren't here.'

'You know why we came back.' Harry felt his control slipping, his anger welling once more.

'You came here for help finding the other Horcruxes.' Ginny shook her head. 'But you're not thinking Harry. You're so infused with hate, so hell-bent on revenge. Your judgement is clouded. You're not even looking for them anymore.'

'And what would you have us do?' Ron rounded on his sister, his face flushing to match his hair. 'You want us to leave?'

'I want you to do what's best for everyone.' Ginny held his gaze. 'And if that means taking the sword and leaving to find the other items on your list. Then yes, I think that's what I want you to do.'

'You can't be serious?' Harry ran a hand through his hair, leaving it even more messy in his wake.

'I am.' Ginny nodded once, definitive. 'You need to leave Snape-watch to us while you go out an face your destiny Harry. You need to save the world. And you can't do that here. Not while ever you can't see beyond your own hate to do what's right for the greater good.' She turned her back on them then and walked away.

'She's right you know.' Neville spoke quietly. 'You can't do what you need to while ever you're this distracted.' He stood taller. 'And we need you to save us Harry. There is no one else.'

'So that's it?' Ron shook his head, his voice defeated. 'You want us to leave the safety of Hogwarts, the steady stream of food, the warmth? You want us to wander aimlessly while we try to figure out where the other items are?'

'I just want this war over.' Neville kept his tone even. 'I don't want anyone else to die.' He swallowed. 'I don't want to lose anyone else.' He looked between his two friends then. 'And I think that means you have to go out and finish the task Dumbledore set for you.' Having said what he needed to say ,Neville turned then and walked away, planning to follow Ginny and make sure she was ok. He was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. Glancing backwards he found Ron's eyes locked on his.

'You'll take care of her won't you mate?' Ron's eyes softened for a second as he sought out her retreating back.

'Of course.' Neville nodded once in acknowledgement of her brother's concern. 'Like she was my own sister.'

'Good to know.' Ron smiled then. 'I'd hate to have to break your face if you thought of her as a girl and not a sister.' He watched the color spread across Neville's cheeks.

'So you're leaving then?' Neville attempted to shift the conversation.

'That is the general consensus. Yes.' Ron glanced back at Harry. 'I think he needs something to refocus on. And I think you're both right. He's helping no one being here.'

'Stay safe.' Neville held out his hand for Ron to shake.

'Oh we intend to.' Ron nodded once more before releasing his hand and striding away.

Neville turned then, following Ginny across the room. It was Saturday. Breakfast was starting in the Great Hall in a few minutes and he was determined to see the aftermath of Harry's actions.

/

Severus Snape sat at the center of the staff head table, on the god-awful throne-like chair he despised, his fork poised inches above eggs he had no desire to eat as he watched the students come filtering into the room in dribs and drabs as they started their weekend. Their voices were grating to his ears, his head as they entered the room, the pounding left over from having his system flooded with toxins as a result of Potter's prank. He closed his eyes for a second, stopping the sudden vertigo that fought for dominance, his body protesting his presence in the Great Hall, his presence essential in reminding the students that he was invincible, that rebellion against him would be futile. He watched silently as the students fell into hushed whispers as they crossed the threshold, his appearance at breakfast disarming them slightly, just as he had planned.

Minerva McGonagal stepped quietly onto the Dias, her eyes landing on the sullen form of the Headmaster as he sat, presiding over his subjects from the center of the stage. To the untrained eye he looked just as formidable, as unapproachable as ever, but as she let her eyes run over him she was all too aware of his suffering, his discomfort and of his unyielding desire to be anywhere but there. She smiled down at him as she passed, her expression shielded from her colleagues, her students. She took her place beside him, her robes brushing against his outer thigh as she sat. 'Good morning Headmaster.' She spoke loudly, cheerily. She saw the slight wince, the creasing of his eyes before he turned an impassive face towards her.

'Minerva.' His head included, his voice so quiet that she had to strain to hear his greeting.

'I trust you are well this fine Saturday?' She continued, non-perplexed.

Filius turned from his conversation to place a hand on her arm. 'What are you doing?' He whispered loudly, his attempted discretion falling terribly short as all eyes at the staff table, in the first few rows of the students turning to him. 'Do not poke the bear Minerva.'

Severus turned to face the small professor, a grin spreading across his lips but not quite reaching his eyes. 'Perhaps I enjoy being poked, Filius.' He deadpanned, his voice smooth, his expression carefully blank.

Filius was on his feet then, the jump from the chair making him appear even smaller than before. 'Are you propositioning me?'

'I do believe Minerva was the one doing the poking.' Severus held back the smirk at the affronted expression on his colleague's face, the little man floundering then for something to say.

'You can't talk to her like that.' Filius rounded on him, stepping forward, puffing out his chest as he attempted to defend her honor.

'I can talk to her however I like. It's my school. Or have you forgotten that?' Severus turned back to face his plate, effectively dismissing the diminutive charms professor.

'He can't speak like that. It's offensive.' Filius simpered to his friend, to the Deputy.

'Perhaps the real issue lies not I what I said, Filius,' Severus spoke quietly, his eyes not leaving his plate in front of him. He felt Minerva's hand land on his thigh under her table and give him a squeeze. 'Perhaps it lies in the fact that I insinuated Minerva would be happy to offer the poke instead of, say…' he paused for a moment letting his words sink in fully. 'You.' He schooled the smile that threatened as Filius choked, spluttering words of indignation before storming off as fast as his shorter legs would allow him. He lifted his head, a perfectly neutral expression crossing his features as he looked along the staff table. 'If no one else has anything to add?' When no one moved, he continued, 'then I suggest you eat the rest of your breakfast and leave me to enjoy mine in peace.' He turned back, lifting his coffee cup to his lips as staff made a perfunctory show of returning to their brunch before slowly, one by one, in an obvious display of randomness, they departed the table and the Great Hall.

Once left alone Minerva leant to her side, shifting slightly closer to the man she knew was suffering. 'Was that entirely necessary?' She smirked when his eyes met hers.

'It got them to leave didn't it?' He stated, his expression still blank.

'Well it did that.' She gave his knee a pat under the table. 'How are you really?'

'I am tired.' He let his eyes soften then knowing the students were on the exit and that no one was there to see them. 'But unfortunately for you all, I am going to live.'

'I'm glad.' Minerva spoke quietly, her voice sincere.

'Sometimes I'm not so sure I am.' He matched her volume with his admission.

'Severus Snape, if you so much as entertain the thought of giving up, of dying on me, I'll kill you.' She locked her eyes on his, her narrowed in her glare.

'You Gryffindor and your blind loyalty. Your sentimentality.' He made a show of rolling his eyes.

She smirked again. 'You love it.'

'Hmmm' he raised a brow. 'I am not convinced.'

'You can be such a git sometimes Severus.' Minerva mock chastised.

'And the truth finally comes out.' He smiled then, enjoying the look of exasperation that pulled at her lips, narrowed her eyes.

'Git.'

'Indeed.' He stood then, a smile still on his lips, the room empty and unable to bear witness to his banter with his Deputy, his newly found friend. 'Come, I believe the weekend is upon us and I have a certain lioness to entertain.'

'I suddenly have the entire weekend free.' Minerva stood, sweeping her robes out of the way as she turned to follow him. 'I don't know who the schedule clearing fairy is,' she caught his wrist in her fingers as they stepped through the door and into the secret passage. 'But if I ever figure it out I'm going to kiss him.'

'Unhand me woman.' He mock postured, rearing back slighting, attempting to pull his wrist from her tightening grip. 'That would be a gross violation of his, or her, personal space.'

'Oh stuff it Severus.' She squeezed his hand once more before dropping it altogether. 'I know it was you, and one day, when you least expect it…'

'Very well.' He interrupted conceding to her point, her unspoken sentiment that she would always stand by him, treat him fairly and kindly now.

'Let me know if you need anything. Otherwise I will see you this evening.' She watched him dip his head slightly in acknowledgement of her words before sweeping his way from the passage and towards his office. 'I'll make a Gryffindor out of him yet.' She grinned, turning to head towards her quarters.