The towers were being destroyed by death eaters who were away from the courtyard in hopes of stopping another aerial attack. The only defense they carried were the Weasleys and Kingsley, Remus had left to help out Tonks after the bridge had collapsed. Kingsley and Arthur were inside the castle while the twins fired from the outside, unexpectedly two death eaters apparated behind Arthur trying to catch him off guard.
"Father!" called out a hooded figure who stunned the death eaters behind him, Arthur looked at him oddly until his hood was removed revealing to be Percy one of his sons. Arthur hugged him tightly "I'm so sorry, I've come back to you all…" Arthur comforted his son by patting his head "It's okay son, you're here to help and that's what matters now."
Percy smiled at his father "I also called for Charlie, he's bringing friends to come help." Arthur grinned at his son putting a hand on his shoulder "Brilliant good thinking Percy." he praised his son for his thinking. But as they were talking the two death eaters had shaken free from their stunned effects and attacked them both. Percy was hit with a cruciatus curse that took him to his knees, Arthur took out the other death eater by knocking him against a wall. The death eater not happy to see his friend down casted at Arthur and their beams collided.
"Ron!" Luna called out surprised repelling the spiders that had chased him back to Neville. Ron looked at her with mixed emotions not knowing what she was going to do not knowing if Harry told her anything. She ran straight to him and hugged him tight "You're alright… but Harry said." his face softened a bit "Yeah… he did saw me fall and that's about it." Luna pulled away when Neville cleared his throat reminding them where they were. The both of them raised their wands once again and started firing back at the death eaters around them.
Recovering from the effects of the pained cruciatus curse Percy looked about and saw that a female death eater was overpowering Fred. Rising to his feet against all the pain Percy pushed past his father and charged at the female death eater, his cries alerted her to him being able to cast a spell that hit him but his momentum carried him to her having them both crash against a wall and fall to the floor not moving. Arthur dispatched the death eater he was dueling with, he looked for Percy but when he saw his body he cried out "No!"
Those fighting at the courtyard felt a sudden chill engulf them, looking towards the bridge their eyes flew wide. Dementors by the hordes of them flew like grim reapers over the dead, Katie shook in her place not knowing what to do. Her eyes looked up at a man who stood in front of her, his grey beard confusing her but then she realized it was Abeforth. The old man took a stand and casted a patronus that pulsed a wave of pure happiness with the thought of his sister Ariana pushing them away. Seeing the danger had pasted Katie rejoined the others in battle.
Harry and Hermione quickly made their way to the boat house and almost instantly heard voices from within. They crouched down around a pile of boats outside but they were close enough where they could hear everything. Harry leaned so his eyes could see past the boat, the two shadows stood still amongst themselves.
Snape looked at the dark lord who seemed like he was fighting to release anger that built up over the course of the battle. He stood unshaken not wanting to do anything that will set him off, the dark lord started to move about "You have performed extraordinary magic with the elder wand, my Lord… in a few hours alone surely no one can match your power."
Voldemort looked over at Snape with confusion in his eyes, halting his own pace to lift the wand that was in his hand "No…. I am extraordinary of course but the wand resists me… not allowing me to use the full power of it." Snape knew very well that whenever the dark lord doubted his power he needed a reminder of his power "There is no wand more powerful in wizarding lore; Ollivander himself has said it in more than one occasion."
"Tonight, when the boy comes and he will… it will not fail you. I am sure of it." The mere mention of Potter surged many feelings within the dark lord like fuel to a fire, the prophesize duel between the two weighed heavy on both Harry and Voldemort's mind. Snape glanced over at Nagini who would hiss whenever the dark lord became impatient "It answers to you and to you only…"
The giant snake followed its master closer to Snape, it circled around him as if trapping him as his prey. Voldemort stood closer to him "Does it… Severus?" his words both questioning him and pushing to answer a specific reply "My lord?" Severus spoke hesitantly while allowing the dark lord to elaborate on what he was trying to say.
"Does the wand truly answer to me like you say?" when the dark lord moved past him Snape swallowed hard not liking the situation he was in, Nagini possibly sensing his fear started to hiss "You're a clever man Severus, surely you must know by now… where this wand's loyalty truly lie." His words ending with many thoughts in the air, many of them carrying dangerous intent. Snape seeked to put him at ease "With you… of course my lord who else could it belong to?"
"I can feel it resisting me more and more, the elder wand cannot be used properly if it does not have allegiance to me. The Elder wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner and who was the one who killed that old oaf?" Snape's mind returned to the night where he had slain the old headmaster at the astronomy tower, when he attempted to report to the dark lord that Draco had done it Bellatrix appeared beside him having told him everything "My lord…"
The dark lord came really close to Snape his face glaring at him to be quiet "You killed Dumbledore… Severus, while you live the elder wand cannot truly be mine." Snape froze knowing those words had placed his fate; he glanced down at the snake that circled his cloak. Voldemort walked away from Snape while speaking to him "You've been a faithful servant all these years… you can be sure of that, but only I can live forever no one else can." His eyes poured his intentions to be true, Snape attempted to plea to him but his words were cut short when the dark lord slashed his neck with his wand.
Severus fell back holding onto his neck as blood started to coat his cloak, his back against the window closest to Harry. Voldemort stood above him emotionless as he continued to lash out at him with his own spell Sectumsempra, his arms and legs filled with many cuts that immobilized him to the window. Harry fought the urge to go in there and save him, to stop the horrific scene happening mere inches from him. It is well known that Harry and Snape didn't harbor any positive feelings amongst each other but no man should go out that way.
Voldemort appeared to smile admiring his work and promise for more power, he glanced over at his snake that hissed at him hungrily. The dark lord nodded at it speaking the command that would finish him off "Nagini… kill." within a few seconds loud thuds could be heard as the snake attacked Snape multiple times, thrashing his body against the window and sinking its fangs into any exposed area. Harry made a motion to move but Hermione held his hand, he turned and her expression while in the midst of tears told him to stay put.
When the horrors were over, the dark lord moved about with Nagini petting her for her work at finishing Snape off. Voldemort then apparated away with Nagini leaving Snape there to die, Harry stood slowly checking if he really was gone and from what he could see only Snape was in the boat house. He opened the door with his wand at the ready just in case he had been wrong, but he wasn't he turned to the man gasping for breath and knelt beside him.
He saw him try to move when he realized he was beside him, Harry reached over with his hand to apply pressure to the wound on his neck. Snape looked at him and for the first time did not show any anger or hate in his eyes, deep inside Harry knew why. It was because he was scared, a single tear flowed down his left cheek and he had the strength to speak "Take them."
Harry looked at him oddly not knowing what he was talking about, his hands started moving about "Take them… please." His heart pained at the sight of the man that he held onto, realizing he meant the tear he turned to Hermione asking for something to store it. Harry let go of the wound for a little bit to grab the flask that Hermione had taken out of her bag, he then returned to Snape applying the same pressure on his neck while filling the flask with the tear that formed into a memory strand.
"Take it to the pensive…" Snape said weakly, Harry nodded clenching the flask tightly knowing that it must be something important for him to see. "Look at me… Harry." his body tensed at the sound of his name coming from Snape, he looked at the dying man next to him who had already faced him. "You have your mother's eyes…" he said happily but Harry didn't know why, Snape stared at his eyes for what felt like minutes before turning aside and closing his eyes sighing "Lily…"
Harry stood and took a few steps back from Snape, swallowing hard he spoke "He's gone…" his words felt like it was meant to convince himself that the man next to him was dead. He put the flask away in his jacket for safe keeping but he felt a few stray tears starting to fight not coming out. It didn't take long for Hermione to pull him into a hug that comforted them both, they didn't just cry for Snape but for the others who have died too early in this battle.
A piercing noise attacked their ears like sharp nails on a chalkboard, everyone tried to block it out but it wasn't long before his voice was heard. "You have fought valiantly… but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I therefore command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity with the time I have given you." Many death eaters stopped halfway of their attacks and apparated which saved many of the students who were fighting them.
"Harry Potter stupid boy, on this night you have allowed many to die for you… rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor, join me in the Forbidden Forest and confront your true fate. If you will not do this… I shall kill every last woman, man and child who tries to conceal you from me. Choose wisely, boy who lived…" Harry took in the words carefully contemplating a lot, Hermione looked at him worried about him and what he was thinking.
Neville helped Luna up who was fell moments before when two death eaters had attacked them. But like many around them he was amazed when they apparated away "He's called them off." Neville said chuckling a bit not believing that they were given a moment to catch their breath. Ron saw this as an opportunity to reunite with his friends; he made a dash for the stairs "Ron!" Neville called out to him but he was already too far.
Ron stopped dead when he saw his family through the opened doors of the great hall; they seemed to be kneeling down. He entered fearing the worse and his body could not prepare himself from the sight he witnessed. His family one by one hugged the body tight with tears of their own each fighting the reality of a dead relative near their feet. As Ron got closer they didn't turn around at first but they eventually did and their face poured with more tears.
Hermione with Harry made their way back up the stairs and their eyes looked around at all the bodies that still lay dormant at the courtyard. Many of the creatures and bodies will be cleared out in due time Harry thought to himself before ruckus by the Great Hall took his attention. Walking past everything they both saw that many students were rushing about back and forth from the Great Hall. Harry stood in front of the doors just watching everything play out in front of him.
He was bumped into by a Dean who was one of the few who openly helped carry bodies to the Great Hall. What Harry saw felt like a huge punch in the gut, Dean was carrying Nigel who was one of the youngest to have fallen. Harry walked into the great hall and his body couldn't take it, the place where there was so much life was now a place of death and sadness.
Harry followed where Dean had lowered Nigel's body; looking over to another body next to his Harry felt tears form in his eyes recognizing the other body to be Colin Creevey. "They say he was helping some first years escape when he was cornered. And Nigel well he saved Padma's life in the cost of his own." Dean's voice ranged his ears, Harry turned to Padma who had glanced at them at the mention of her name but she was too sad to look their way again. Below her was her sister's body, with the help of Professor Trelawney she covered the body up with a blanket.
"Harry? Who's that?" Hermione asked appearing beside Harry shaking him away from the sight of the bodies to look where she was looking at. Taking a closer look it seemed to be a red head engulfed in the Weasley's arms, when he caught glimpses of the face his mind thought he was playing games with himself. If he really was seeing what he thought he was, Ron would be brushing his hand against his fallen brother.
Hermione tugged at his hand to take steps towards them, Harry's heart still felt heavy at the bodies around him but one from his adoptive family would pain him more. As he got closer he realized the body was in fact Percy with dry blood across his face that Mrs. Weasley was trying to wipe away while weeping. He didn't get a chance to know Percy as well mainly due to him leaving for the ministry most of the time but they did know enough of each other to develop an ache in his heart.
"I'm sorry…." Harry spoke breaking the silence that he and Hermione held behind the Weasleys, Arthur looked at Harry sympathetically "You weren't there Harry, there was nothing that could've been done son." even through all the pain Arthur managed a smile to him. Fred continued to weep near Percy's body with George nearby to comfort his brother "He died saving me…" he managed past his sobs.
Hermione walked over to Ginny and hugged her allowing her to cry onto her shoulders comforting her greatly. Ginny had gained a brother back but lost one all in the same day, her feelings were in turmoil. Neville looked at her from a distance with worry in his face wanting to help her badly. Ron turned to Harry and when their eyes met confusion filled Harry's eyes seeing his friend truly there, "Hey mate." Ron said simply before Harry hugged him tight.
Hermione smiled seeing the sight managing a small laugh, Harry pulled away from his best friend and looked at him as if questioning if he was truly there "Ron? But… Gringotts?" Harry asked hoping for some answers that wouldn't drive him mad. Ron smiled "Well it's quite a long story but a snatcher found me and took a pity to me thinking I was a guard or something. So when Scabior went off about attacking Hogwarts I disguised myself as one of them so I could meet up with you guys."
Ginny laughed knowing what happened next, Harry and Ron joined Ginny and Hermione in a hug. They hugged each other with a flurry of emotions filling them each, but just when the thoughts of life and death crossed Harry's mind he was reminded of the task Snape had just recently given him. He pulled away from them all he turned to Hermione.
"I have to go." Harry told Hermione who quickly realized what he meant by that, she nodded at him allowing him to head to Dumbledore's office. Not knowing what he was going to see and if it will change him he hugged her tight, he took in every essence of her even the horrific things such as the cuts and smell of blood on her. Because each one represented who she was a brilliant young woman who would go to hell in back for him, his everything.
The part of the castle he went to was deserted nothing could be heard but Harry's footsteps making echoes about the halls. He turned the corner until he saw the golden statue that was the symbol of Dumbledore's office. It felt increasingly odd with each step his mind filling with the memories of the first time he was invited up to his office. He was so young and unexperienced compared to how he is now he feels as if he has aged forty years though he's still under his twenties.
He stopped at the steps in front of the statue staring at it as if waiting for it to start talking to him. Harry shook those ridiculous thoughts out of the need for guidance he can't be going crazy, he swallowed hard feeling his throat dry before speaking the password "Sherbet Lemon." A gust of wind sound filled the air as the stairs started to appear and Harry quickly jumped onto it as it started to grow in size, a small size fought its way to appearing at the thought of Dumbledore's favorite candy as his secret password.
His shoulders felt heavy walking towards the door imagining that he had been called to speak with the headmaster. His hand brushed against the door handle and was hesitant at pulling it, his mind fighting the thoughts of hoping Dumbledore would be at his chair waiting for him. But then he reminded himself that the last time he was there was just after Dumbledore's funeral. Finding the strength he gripped the handle tightly and pushed opening the door.
The door creaked opened to a room that was only vaguely lit by the moonlight; Harry took a step in and saw dust fly where his foot landed. Everything felt deserted, the empty chair, the empty bird post and the dusty desk only added to the feeling. Harry walked up to the desk and looked around at it in his mind he replayed the moments when Dumbledore would tell him about the horcruxes. In this very spot he lifted Tom Riddle's destroyed diary that he had pierced with a basilisk fang.
Looking to his side he saw the portrait of the late Headmaster, Hermione had told him that it wasn't exactly him but the essence of who he was when the portrait was taken. He looked at the sleeping figure within the portrait and fought the urge to ask him the many questions he kept in his head but he knew he wouldn't get true answers from an essence of the man who had the answers he was seeking. He looked away from the portrait and returned his attention to why he came to the office in the first place.
Walking over where the pensive was located it opened to him as if it had been expecting him. Harry felt his throat dry with unspoken expectation of what he was going to see, taking the few steps towards the pensive the bright glow of the magical object appeared on his face. Reaching into his jacket he took out the flask and stared at for the longest time as if deciding to pour it in or not.
But Snape died to give him this he had to see it through for him, he unscrew the cap and tilted it towards the middle. The shiny memory flowed down to the pensive filling it like smoke as it mixed together. When everything in the pensive appeared to settle Harry took a deep breath before plunging headfirst into the pensive, anticipation filling him as the memories played out in front of him.
He could see a wide open field that had many hills and a few trees surrounding it, the flowers were around in patches like puddles after it rained. Out of nowhere came a small little girl with long red hair, she giggled as another girl followed her to an open area in which they can stand together. The red haired girl grinned widely at the other "Tuney, I have something amazing to show you." she said with much enthusiasm past her laughter.
"What is it Lily? Mum is probably waiting." the other girl groaned impatiently gripping the sides of her dress in a way to suppress her frustration she hated all the running Lily made her do. Harry's heart grew in weight at the sound of that name; his eyes looked blankly at the red head "Mum." was all that came out of him as he was in shock.
"You see those flowers down there? Now look at my hand." Lily closed her hand above the flower patch she was speaking of and thought hard of a flower appearing in her hand. She smiled when she felt her magic surge to her hand, she unclenched her fist revealing an empty palm at first quickly not impressing Petunia but then soon enough a gasp came out of her at the sight of a stem then a flower growing on her hand.
Lily was hoping her sister would find it just as amazing as she did, but the opposite happened and she slapped her hand away in fear. "You're a freak!" she almost screamed to the heavens scaring Lily into running away from her sister in fear of getting bullied by her. "Come here! Or I'll tell mum what you did." Petunia called out for her sister as she skipped away from her, her face full of hot emotions that wouldn't sit well with their mother if she was told.
Petunia watched her sister look back at her trying to get away above a hill but then out of nowhere a boy appeared from behind a tree. The surprising sight caused Petunia to freeze in place not knowing what to do. The dark haired boy dressed in mostly black moved closer to Lily making Petunia think that he was another freak so she started to run away. Petunia dared not to look back not even caring what would happen to her sister with the mysterious boy.
The said mysterious boy took out a twig from his jacket pocket and made it twirl towards Lily. She stood still astonished that others could perform magical things like she could, she took the twig after it landed on her hand smiling at the boy who quickly smiled back. The twig grew another leaf and started flapping the leaves like a tiny bird in her hands. Lily giggled at the twig in her hands and at how cute it was acting flapping about.
"I'm Lily…" she said innocently with a smile, the boy took a few steps back but then his face softened "Severus…" he said somewhat hesitantly. Lily outstretched her hand for him; he looked at it for a few minutes unsure what to do until he finally accepted it. They shook hands and smiled at each other "I think we'll be great friends Severus." Lily spoke which shocked Severus with how sure she sounded.
It took a while but Severus finally opened up to Lily, they spoke for hours sharing stories under a tree. "She's jealous because she's only ordinary and you're special." Severus spoke without much thought, Lily turned to him "That's kinda mean Severus." she expressed even though she didn't get along much with her sister she didn't see much a reason to be rude to her.
Severus felt as if he had offended her in some way, in penance he summoned a gust of wind and with the twigs that fell of the tree made every single one of them fly like the one he gave to Lily. The sight made her laugh with joy at the wonders of magic. She continued to laugh until the memory faded away from that time to years later amongst the great hall.
In a crowd of students Lily and Severus stood by each other, Lily turned around to him with a hopeful look on her face "I hope we end up in the same house Severus." Looking about seeing where the other kids went Severus shook his head at her "I don't think that's how it works Lily." he said truthfully feeling like they will most likely be in different houses. But she was defiant to this "But it should, you're my only friend here."
McGonagall pulled out the scroll similar to how she did it for years, looking through with her eyes she spotted the next name and called it out enthusiastically "Lily Evans!" Lily's breath caught her surprised that she was going next, she turned to Severus and smiled at him "Okay wish me luck." She quickly skipped towards the chair and had the sorting hat placed on her "Gryffindor!" it called out, everyone had smiles on their faces and cheered except for Severus.
Lily came down from the chair and before making her way to the Gryffindor table she smiled at Severus eagerly waiting for him to join her. She took an open seat next to another first year that just got sorted only moments before her "Hi. I'm James." he introduced himself enthusiastically. Lily who was still quite shy around people she didn't know blushed a bit and smiled shaking the boy's hand "Hi. I'm Lily."
Severus watched them from where he stood with the other first years awaiting his turn. In that moment he knew he had lost her, they were sorted into different houses as he had predicted. She was in Gryffindor and he was in Slytherin, well known rival houses in the school. Even though they were from different houses they still spent time together mostly out of Lily's persistence.
"Just like your father. Lazy, Arrogant." Snape's older voice echoed in his head as his father came into the memory bumping into Snape with his shoulder making him drop the books he was carrying for both him and Lily. "My father was a great man." his own voice echoed across the memory as James looked back at Lily while Snape picked up the books that had fallen. Lily looked at him with a bit of annoyance in her expression thinking he was a bully to her friend; Snape's face was secretly scrunched in frustration "You didn't know your father like I did."
"I thought she hated him how did she come to marry him?" Harry asked confused looking around at Sirius and Remus for an explanation. His godfather looked down and laughed "Nah, she didn't" said Sirius with a smirk. Harry turned to Remus and he just titled his head smiling acknowledging it to be true "She started going out with him in seventh year." he added to Sirius's statement.
The bushy haired man looked at his friend and laughed "Yeah Once James had deflated his head a bit," said Sirius with both of them shaking their heads. Remus leaned more against the fireplace thinking back to the time when they were just teenagers in Hogwarts "I forgot who was the one who asked first." Lupin smiled at the memory
Harry looked at them with much confusion as if they were just telling a large inside joke between them. He raised his eyebrows in question "I don't understand." his face scrunched up showing his frustration in not understanding. Sirius just smiled at his godson and reached over patting his shoulder "Things change pup… people change, he grew up…. for her."
A gust of wind could be heard as an earie voice echoed from afar, it drew closer and closer until it could finally be heard "Blood shall be spilt… and servant and master shall be reunited once more." Trelawney's face appeared on a sphere, the same ones that were in her classroom whenever she taught Divination.
"Severus." spoke Dumbledore's voice aiming his elder wand at the man before him who was on his feet "No please, don't kill me." Snape pleaded to the old man who drew back his magic. He quickly looked away frustrated at him "The prophecy did not speak of a woman, but it spoke of a boy born at the end of July." Dumbledore told him hoping he would find sense in his words.
"Yes but he thinks it's her son." Severus could feel his own chest tighten at the thought of the dark lord approaching them "He intends to hunt them down now, to kill them. He told me himself." He could recount the fire in the dark lord's eyes before he dressed himself in the dark cloak. Knowing that the three of them were no match for the dark lord at the height of his power Snape pleaded to Dumbledore from the heart "Hide her. Hide them all. The baby, James, Lily… I beg you keep them safe."
Dumbledore looked back at the man before him and stopped pacing, he sounded as if he was in agony but it wasn't physically but emotionally. He looked at him to see if he was sure about his request "That is a mighty request, if I dare say so. What would you give me in exchange Severus? "Snape stood tall and composed himself; with a clear voice he spoke "Anything." Giving himself to Dumbledore's plans and ambitions to save the three of them.
In Godric's Hollow the Potter family sat together by the fireplace as if a normal night was open them. James rose to his feet quickly glancing at his wife and child "Lily our alarms have been set off he's coming." After hearing his words Lily stood picking up Harry and cradling him in her arms "James…" she said worriedly looking at her husband. He had a fire in his eyes and he waved his hands about "Lily take Harry and go quickly!"
"What about you?" she asked rocking Harry about, James gave her a bitter look as if he was deep in thought "I'll try to stop him if I can just go! You're both too important to lose." Lily knew very well that James would do anything for them; even though she would stand with him till the end she had a duty to their son. She caressed his cheek with her free hand "James… I love you." she spoke softly as if she knew it was goodbye; he smiled at her touch "I love you both…"
Lily rushed upstairs with Harry in her arms making her way to the nursery as fast as she could at the end of the hall. James sighed when he heard the nursery door close knowing that his family was safe for the time being. He turned his attention to the door and glared at it with much determination to stop the man who has come to kill his family. The front gate creaked and footsteps could be heard making their way towards the front door, James took no time piercing the locket destroying it with a screeching scream from its death.
The footsteps stopped and James thought they were safe and that the dark wizard had died at his steps. But that wasn't the case, the sides of his door allowed a bright green color flash from the outside. The door shook violently before being blasted off its hinges hurling it towards James at incredible speeds. James using his Quidditch reflexes jumped out of the way and into a nearby rug by the fireplace.
He groaned and coughed out the dust that filled the air from the door and collision, James opened his eyes to a dark cloak figure walking into his home making every light in the house go out. "You are not going to kill my family you heartless bastard!" James called out to Voldemort in defiance getting to his feet pointing his wand at the dark lord.
A fierce battle was fought between the two of them nearly collapsing the entire house into itself. Lily closed her eyes whenever she heard an uninviting thud from below, she looked at Harry who had been crying knowing that danger was near. She continued to sooth him as best she could to get him to stop crying, her body screaming at her to join her husband in battle but her motherly instincts told her to not abandon her child to that mercy.
James got a few good hits on the dark lord but what played against him was that the dark lord harvested the power from fallen victims and he had purged a village earlier in the week. Their beams collided but the dark lord overpowered him throwing him against a wall then to the floor. James felt his legs break from the impact forcing him to crawl against the rug "Lily! Run! Get out of here!" he yelled from below.
The dark lord appeared behind him taking his white sharp fingers to his head lifting his face to him, James grimaced but spat his blood at the dark lord "You will never win, you will die alone and have nothing." James even managed to laugh a bit at his own words. The dark lord didn't like that one bit pushing his head against the rug; he raised his wand at James and muttered the last words to reach his ears. Lily closed her eyes feeling a part of her just died below her, she wanted to cry out and scream but she had to stay strong for her son.
A baby cry rang into the hallway a soft voice could be heard "It's okay sweetheart, there will be times when you feel alone and different but sweetheart remember this. Harry you are so loved, so loved. Harry sweetheart mamma loves you, dada loves you. Be safe Harry, Be strong. " his mother took one last look at him with her glistening green eyes.
The door busted open and Lily stood quickly her eyes glaring at the dark lord. "You will not touch him." was all she spoke casting a fury of spells at the dark lord before her wand flew past the window. She swallowed hard knowing there was no chance to fight back now, she took a few steps back while the dark lord raised his wand. Her hand raised towards Harry "Harry I love you…" she said softly before she was struck down by the dark lord, she fell to the floor with two tears in her eyes.
The dark lord hovered over to Harry and the young boy looked at him curiously his eyes red from crying. A laugh could be heard underneath the cloak before his wand pointed towards Harry. The dark lord stared intensely at the child before him casting the spell that he had just used on his parents. But instead of the quick end he was expecting the spell grew brighter bouncing back and taking him as the victim instead. Using the last remaining power he had he apparated out of the house through the window leaving a baby Harry in the crib.
"You said you would keep her safe." Snape said in frustration and agony holding onto himself against a wall. His heart having been ripped from his chest when he saw her, Dumbledore did not even look at him knowing it wasn't his fault "Lily and James put their faith in the wrong person Severus; it was not of my doing." Snape couldn't fight it he was right, he turned away from the headmaster and wept behind him.
Dumbledore turned to Snape finally and pushed words towards him "Rather like you. But the boy survives… he lives Severus." Snape was in somewhat denial not showing much care for the boy of his love and enemy "He doesn't need protection, the dark lord is gone for good." he spoke in the truth that he believed along with many others that the dark lord had ceased from the world. But Dumbledore's expression told a different story "No Severus, the Dark Lord will return. And when he does the boy will be in terrible danger." Severus shook his head at him not wanting anything to do with the boy or anything with Lily anymore causing him more pain.
"He has her eyes." Dumbledore said in hopes that would trigger something in him, "If you truly loved her." he continued to press until Snape raised his hand informing him to stop. Snape looked at him still fighting on the inside but managed to speak "No one can ever know…" Snape asked of Dumbledore so the memory of Lily could not be used against him especially by the dark lord as leverage. The headmaster walked closer to Severus with a curious expression on his face "That I should never reveal the best of you, Severus?"
Snape pressed on now with a more focused face "Your own word." he said knowing that Dumbledore still respected such things as honor. The elder wizard paced in front of Snape with his thoughts spoken out in the open "When you risk your life every day to protect the boy?" A quick memory to when Snape was saving him from falling off his broom and into his death.
"He possesses no measurable talent, his arrogance rivals that even of his father… and he seems to relish in his fame." Snape's voice spat at Harry's resemblance to his father, the bully that took his love from him. His face continued a glare that carried over the years every time Harry saw him "James Potter… your father was a swang!"
"Drink it all, It will contain the curse to your hand for the time being. But it will spread Albus." Snape instructed Albus looking down at the ring which had already taken effect on the headmaster. Dumbledore lowered the goblet having tasted the last drop of what Snape had given him, he looked at his hand "How long?" he asked seeing his finger darken more and more "Maybe a year?"
Snape made his way towards the exit to get out of the headmaster's way but he wasn't done with him yet. His words halted him in his place "We both know Lord Voldemort has ordered Draco Malfoy to murder me. But should he fail, one should presume the Dark Lord… will turn to you. In the end you must be the one to kill me Severus." The potions master shifted his eyebrows scrunching his face as if to question his judgement but Dumbledore persisted. "It is the only way, only then will the Dark Lord trust you completely without question."
The memory faded to the Astronomy tower with Dumbledore and Snape sharing messages between each other through glances and expressions. "Severus please…." His voice tiredly begged for Snape to end all the waiting to get it over with, reaching for his wand Snape's eyes never left Dumbledore. With no hesitation he spoke the fateful words "Avada Kedavra!" the green spell hit Dumbledore square in the chest and his body went limp. Bellatrix squealed when Dumbledore's body fell from the edge of the tower. Harry looked astonished at what he just saw, he ran to the railing watching Dumbledore's lifeless body fall to the courtyard. His body felt on the bridge of collapse, he could not believe what he just witnessed.
Dumbledore paced about his office once again waving his fingers about "There will come a time when Harry Potter must be told something. But you must wait until Voldemort is at his most vulnerable." Snape tilted his head a bit not following his train of thought completely "Must be told what exactly?"
The headmaster turned to him and walked closer to him "On that very night when Voldemort went to Godric's Hollow to kill Harry… and Lily Potter cast herself between them… the curse miraculously rebounded. When that happened a part of Voldemort's soul… latched itself onto the only living thing it could find." Severus's eyes widen a bit piecing the pieces together "The boy…" he breathed.
Snape's mind returned to that fateful night, he stood at the front of the house on the street. Everything was left untouched only having happened moments before, he fought between two courses of action. One was to go in and investigate but the other was wait for confirmation knowing that his heart couldn't take seeing her if the dark lord was successful. But being only mere inches from the house his body gave way and he made his way inside.
Dumbledore nodded slowly "Harry himself… there's a reason why Harry can speak with snakes, a reason why he can look into Lord Voldemort's mind. A part of Voldemort lives inside of him." Snape's face seemed to drop the confusion and turned somewhat strict "So when the time comes… the boy must die?" he asked as if to be clarified by the headmaster. Dumbledore looked down to the floor as if he was about to reveal a horrible truth and it surely was "Yes… he must die."
Snape passed James not daring to look him in the eyes, they had their differences but he made Lily happy which made Snape admire and despise him for that same feat. He prepared himself having made his way up the stairs and to the hallway making his way to the room with the opened door. All he could hear was Harry's cries and nothing else, lightning flashed from the skies outside as Snape felt his body grow weaker and weaker nearing where Lily was.
"You've kept him alive so that he can die at the proper moment, like an animal for slaughter." Snape spoke out towards Dumbledore, the headmaster looked back at the potions master with much confusion in his eyes "Don't tell me now that you've grown to care for the boy?" knowing very well that he didn't having confessed the truth in one of their many meetings.
Instead of telling the headmaster what he thought he casted in the air "Expecto Patronum." Dumbledore having expected some Slytherin type creature to appear was incredibly surprised when a doe appeared from his wand; it pranced about around them until it flew out the window. The headmaster watched it the entire time until it left their presence "Lily." he spoke questioning the air.
Snape took hold of Lily's body after getting himself off the wall, he kissed the top of her head and rocked her about while audibly crying out. The baby in the crib cried out as well looking down at his mother who lay motionless in the man's arms. A fresh bloody scar on the child's forehead, but Snape continued to weep for his love in his arms.
Dumbledore looked at Snape with much confusion in his face, he gathered his thoughts until they came pouring out "After all this time? Even now?" Snape met his surprise with a strong face as if he had asked him the easiest question in the entire world that is why he only answered with one word that held more meaning than most "Always."
Harry sat outside the tent toying with his now broken wand, knowing that if it were any more broken he would be useless to the cause he had been preparing for since he was a child. He was deep in thought he almost didn't catch the bright light that was in front of him, he shook his head and stood looking at a patronus in front of him. It was a patronus of a doe, his heart skipped when he remembered that his mother's patronus was a doe. He followed it towards the lake where he dove under and tried to retrieve the sword that was in the water.
Dumbledore walked over to Severus with a strong pull in his eyes, he spoke the words with much intent in each meaning "He must die and Voldemort himself must do it. That is essential; it is how it must happen Severus. For it all to end once and for all."
The memory had ended and he lifted his head from the pensive quickly. Harry couldn't control his shock; his breathing had become staggered at what he had just seen. Stepping back a few steps Harry digested everything, he was one of them a horcrux. He swallowed hard remembering the words of Dumbledore and Snape; he had to die for all of this to end. Surely he trusted his friends to see everything through, but would they be strong enough to defeat the dark lord if he's gone?
Walking out of Dumbledore's office he had his head down doing nothing but thinking. Every step he took a thought came to mind, a scenario of how everything could play out. His fears filling most of them ending in the most tragic circumstances, but chances were there for a positive end to all this darkness that has culminated over the years.
All the rubble around him didn't add happy thoughts to his train of thought. Dumbledore said there was seven horcruxes and Harry destroyed most of them except for two. He couldn't get to Nagini because the dark lord kept her close the only time he could've possibly done it was when he was attacked in Godric's Hollow. If his friends don't find a way to take out the snake then he doesn't have any idea how they can defeat the dark lord in his absence.
His heart grew incredibly heavy looking down at his friends, knowing they won't take what he has to say easy. They sat amongst all the rubble a few steps below him, he could see them weeping over all the deaths that had filled the day. Harry's throat burned with the words waiting to get out to them but as he walked closer to them his heart ache grew. No true goodbye is ever easy, especially one with much in this world to keep. He pained for the coming moment when he would tell the love of his life that he is walking to his own death.