Chapter 51

"Sit down in that carriage Mr. Petersen, before I take points from Ravenclaw," Minerva yelled sternly as the last carriage left for Hogsmeade. Once the second year was seated, she turned around and headed back toward the castle. Having an hour before she needed to retrieve Harry from his detention and bring him to the headmaster's office, she decided to relax in her quarters with a book and a cup of calming tea. Her nerves were a mess with the attack looming in the near future.

She only had one foot inside the castle when she heard Filch yelling her name while rushing toward her from the staircase. "What is it Argus?" she questioned. She thought he would be in the Trophy Room supervising Harry's detention, but knew that sometimes the man left the students on their own.

Filch ran up to her and stopped, bent over trying to catch his breath. "Mr. Potter," he wheezed. "He has yet to show up for his detention. And I waited for fifteen minutes."

Minerva narrowed her eyes. "Thank you, Argus. I will go look for him. You are free for the day. I will have Potter do something else for his detention once I find him."

Without a word, Filch took off toward his office, his feet shuffling along the way, while Mrs. Norris trailed after him.

Cringing at the noise, Minerva went immediately to the Gryffindor tower to look for her wayward, and seriously in trouble, student. She entered and found her remaining ten students, minus Harry, seated around the tables in the common room. "Have any of you seen Mr. Potter?"

"I saw him at breakfast, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you Mr. Creevey. Let me be more specific. Have any of you seen Mr. Potter since breakfast?" When all ten students said no, she headed up the spiral staircase to the sixth year boy's dorm. Upon entering, she found it empty. She checked the other dorms and then the restrooms, knocking on the boy's before she entered. Harry was not in the Gryffindor tower. She walked back to the common room. "If any one sees Mr. Potter, please tell him that I want to see him in my office immediately."

After the portrait closed behind her outside the tower, Minerva pulled out her wand and did a location spell to try to find Harry. Like the last time Harry went missing, the spell was unable to locate him. Huffing, she replaced her wand and went directly up to Albus' office to relate the bad news.

Letting the spiral staircase take her up to the headmaster's office, she knocked on the wooden door a few minutes later. At the soft "enter" from the other side of the door, she stepped inside.

"Minerva," Dumbledore stated from behind his desk in surprise. "You're a little early. I wasn't expecting you and Mr. Potter for another forty-five minutes at least." He set his quill down and looked behind Minerva. "Where is Harry? Did you leave him outside? Please, bring him in."

"That is why I am early, Albus." Minerva sat down in one of the chairs facing Dumbledore's desk, her face grave. "Mr. Potter has gone missing again. He never showed up for his detention with Argus at ten. I searched the Gryffindor tower with no luck. I even performed a location spell. Albus, he is not in the castle or on the grounds."

"Have you spoken with Severus?" Albus asked through gritted teeth. He wouldn't put it past the potions master to hide the boy.

"No. I came here immediately after performing the spell. Do you think Severus is hiding Harry?"

"There is a very high probability that he is."

"But why would he? Severus has no idea about your plans with Harry, does he? He had never been to any of the meetings where it was discussed." Minerva looked at one of the spinning silver orbs behind Albus in thought. "But I do know of someone who might have told Severus or taken Harry into hiding himself. Remus was extremely angry this morning."

"It was not Remus," Dumbledore stated, interrupting Minerva. With Minerva watching his every move, he went to the fireplace and firecalled Severus. The moment Severus answered, Albus ordered him up to his office.

"Why do you say it's not Remus?" Minerva asked, once Albus was again seated behind his desk.

Albus removed his glasses, rubbed at his eyes and put his glasses back on. "Remus is out running some last minute errands for me that will help in Hogsmeade. He left from here right after breakfast concluded."

"So that leaves Severus," Minerva breathed, knowing Harry had been in the common room up until breakfast. She could fully understand why Severus would not want Harry to participate in the attack. What parent would want their child to be involved in that type of life or death situation?

A few seconds later Severus stepped out of the floo. He brushed off his robes, which had not a speck of ash on them, while glaring at Albus. "What do you deem so important that you had to pull me away from my last minute preparations, headmaster?"

"Harry Potter," Albus answered gravely.

Severus' stomach dropped with dread at those two words, but he maintained his normal façade. "What about Mr. Potter?" he asked, walking toward the empty chair in front of Albus' desk. Instead of sitting down, he stood to the left side of it and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Where are you hiding him?" Minerva asked, since it seemed that Albus had no intention of speaking.

Severus' head snapped down to Minerva. "I am not hiding him. The last I heard, he was to be in a detention for you."

"He never showed up. Argus stuck around for fifteen minutes."

Dumbledore carefully watched Severus' reaction, glad that Minerva was taking over the conversation.

"And why is that my problem?" Severus asked, trying his best to keep his emotions in check. He had hoped that things would go the way he had them planned, for once; that he wouldn't have to worry about Harry and could have all his concentration on his task in a few hours.

Minerva stared at Severus incredulously. "You are his father."

Those words affected Severus more than he could imagine. He cleared his throat against a growing lump and tightened his fists until his knuckles turned white, to try and suppress his inner turmoil at those words. "You are his Head of House," he finally bit out once he had some control. "Why do you not keep tabs on your students?"

"Where is he Severus?" Minerva repeated, her patience waning.

"Probably in the same location he was when he went missing the first time. Did you happen to look there? Oh right. You never found out where he was or why he was missing. What kind of Head of House are you? You never even bothered to ask…"

"Enough Severus," Albus interrupted, slamming a hand on his desk to stop the bickering. "Where is Harry?"

Severus glared at Albus angrily for the reprimand. "I do not know," he stated calmly.

"Where was he hiding a few days ago?"

"I do not know," Severus answered again.

Minerva stood up, angry with Severus' antics. "Stop playing games, Severus. This is extremely important. Where was Harry hiding?"

Severus' glare transferred from Albus to Minerva. "How many times must I answer the same bloody question? I do not know where Harry was hiding?"

"You are his father, for Merlin's sake! Why didn't you ask him once he was found?"

"Because he does not want me as his father anymore," Severus yelled out, frustrated. He froze as he realized what he had just revealed. He hadn't wanted anyone to know, especially the headmaster. Without looking at either occupant in the room, especially the satisfied smirk he knew Albus was wearing since the man didn't want Harry and him to have that type of relationship, he whirled around and went back to the fireplace. "I need to finish preparing," he muttered before he vanished a second later.

After Severus left, Minerva sat back down and looked to Albus. She was a little unsettled at the look of triumph on the man's face. "What has you so happy Albus?"

"I just love it when everything falls into place." He sat back and gave Minerva a smile.

Feeling slightly sick at the realization of Albus' possible meaning, Minerva stood back up. "I guess you will have to come up with some other plans for the attack now. I best be off to make sure everyone who is in the castle stays in the castle."

~SH~

"Damn it all," Severus swore as he stepped out of his fireplace into his quarters. He sunk into his chair and put his head in his hands. "Why couldn't Harry just do what he was supposed to do for once in his life? And why did I let my emotions get the better of me in front of Albus?" Raising his head, he stared at the fireplace. He, unfortunately, didn't have time to worry about Harry; he couldn't afford it. He just hoped the boy was somewhere safe inside the castle.

With only a few more minutes before he needed to leave, he stood up, put on his Death Eater robes, and grabbed the handful of vials from the kitchen table that he had been gathering before being summoned to the headmaster's office. After waving an anti-breaking spell over the vials, he pocketed them and left for the apparition point outside the gates of Hogwarts.

~SH~

Harry glanced around woods as the time grew nearer for the Death Eaters to meet. There were Death Eaters milling about, but no one mentioned where and when Voldemort would arrive. Figuring he'd just have to search the village, he began to walk back to the main street.

In front of him in the distance, Harry saw Neville and Luna walk out of Gladrags. He was just about to run up to them when he remembered that they were on the train to Kings Cross. He actually watched them board. Before he even had time to contemplate what was going on, he heard something explode behind him.

Quickly turning around, he watched as the contents of the cart that had been in front of Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop rained down from the sky in pieces; ink, quills and wood all littering the ground.

A moment later the scene in front of him turned to one of complete chaos. The battle had begun. Curses were fired up and down the village. Shop keepers and customers began scrambling out of the buildings as some had caught fire.

Not wanting to be in the cross-fire, Harry rounded Zonkos and crouched down in the small alleyway watching the scene unfold in front of him. Curses were now being fired from Death Eaters, Order members, and business owners. But Harry didn't care what was going on with them and who was killing who. He'd have time to worry later. There was only one thought in his mind. Find Voldemort.

Hearing a snakelike voice echoing off the building, Harry made sure his cloak still covered him and crept back out to the main street. Dodging curses and running people, he hugged the buildings as he searched for Voldemort. He came to the end of Honeydukes and had just rounded the building when he saw Severus and Remus speaking to each other at the back of the little alleyway.

Harry stopped and just watched the two, being too far away from the men to hear their conversation. More than likely they were talking about how to attack the Death Eaters, though he did notice Severus was wearing his Death Eater attire. An instant later, however, Severus raised his wand and pointed it directly at Remus. Remus did the same. The look Severus then gave Remus caused terror to bubble up within Harry.

Before Harry knew what was happening, a shot of green light emerged from Severus' wand and struck Remus squarely in the chest. Harry felt all the air leave his lungs and he was frozen in place. It was the Ministry of Magic all over again. Remus fell to the ground with his wand still in his outstretched arm.

Time seemed to stand still as Harry watched Remus fall. He thought he might have screamed, but glancing around, saw no one took notice of him. Then again, his scream probably got lost with the rest of the screaming. Harry's eyes were brought back immediately to Severus. The man looked to be laughing with a satisfied smile. A moment later a Death Eater walked up to Severus with a smile as well. The two said a few words then left the scene laughing.

With a deafening roar in his ears, Harry stepped backward with a hand out reaching for the wall of the building he knew to be behind him. When he felt it, he immediately slid down and sat on the ground, legs pulled up to his chest. He was still looking at the location where Severus had just been while at the same time trying not to look at Remus, but the scene replayed over and over in his head.

Remus was dead at the hand of Severus. He had never felt so betrayed in his life.

~SH~

Fifteen minutes later, the shock having finally worn off and with a new determination, Harry rose slowly from the ground. He was now ready to end it all one way or the other. When he had initially come to Hogsmeade, his intent was to come out of the battle alive. In the blink of an eye, that had changed. Glancing sadly at Remus' body one last time, he turned away and continued in his search for Voldemort.

Walking in the direction of the Shrieking Shack, Harry spotted Voldemort between The Three Broomsticks and the post office. The evil wizard just stood there on the main road admiring all the destruction around him with an evil smirk. When Harry was standing ten feet in front of the Dark Lord, he tightened his hold on his wand and took a few deep breaths. Up until he watched Severus kill Remus, he wasn't sure if he could go through with it. But after being betrayed by Severus and then watching the last living adult he could count on die, he knew he was ready. He had nothing to lose if Voldemort killed him now. No one would miss him, except for Hermione and the Weasleys, but they'd get over it. It was his destiny after all. With wand at the ready, Harry quickly took off the invisibility cloak.

It took a few seconds before Voldemort realized who was standing in front of him. "Harry, is that you?" he questioned in his snake-like voice. "I now have no need to go looking for you. Wonderful."

"Yes, wonderful," Harry said emotionless. "It's time to end this once and for all. I'm ready to die. Are you?"

"I won't be dieing today. That will be you. But first, I want to have some fun." Voldemort raised his wand to Harry. "Crucio!"

Knowing what had to be done, Harry fought against every instinct to shout a protego and raise a shield the second Voldemort yelled the incantation. When the curse hit him, he immediately dropped to the ground, began twisting in pain, and clamped his lips shut. He would not cry out from the pain and give Voldemort the satisfaction. When the pain intensified, he bit his bottom lip to keep from screaming.

Not pleased with Harry's response to the curse, Voldemort let up on it, only to cast it again but this time a lot stronger.

For an instant, when the more intense curse hit him, Harry had a flashback of the graveyard in his fourth year. Like then, and just seconds earlier, Harry gave the same response to the curse; not a sound. But Voldemort wasn't letting up. The pain then became unbearable and he couldn't help but scream.

Voldemort let the curse up a minute later and lowered his wand. "This is not as satisfying as I had hoped. I know how to solve that problem, though." With an evil smile, he raised his wand one more time as Harry began to stand back up.

The spell hit Harry an instant later. Screaming himself hoarse, he dropped to the ground in excruciating pain. It felt like an elephant was standing on top of him causing every bone in his body to break. He could barely get any air into his lungs. Clenching his eyes tight and breathing very shallowly, he wished to pass out or die. But he had to finish this once and for all. He would not let Remus' death be in vain.

He rolled onto his side with a cry, intent on standing up. The moment he tried to put weight on his shoulder and arm to help him stand, the pain became too much. Instead, he returned to lying on his side facing Voldemort.

"It's been about fifteen years. Are you ready to end this now Harry Potter?" Voldemort asked.

Harry didn't respond. He just raised his wand. Voldemort did the same.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Seconds later, green light engulfed Harry.

~SH~

Severus dodged curses as he left the alleyway by Honeydukes, glad that the explosive potion was already in the hands of the Dark Lord. He walked down the main street and fired curses whenever he felt eyes on him. Coming upon the street leading to the Hog's Head, he ran into Dolohov. After inquiring about the Dark Lord, claiming he needed to see how the potion worked, Severus retraced his steps and headed back in the direction he had come from.

As he walked through the street, he noticed the screaming had died down considerably. Most of the shop keepers and customers had apparated or flooed out of the village. All that remained were mostly Death Eaters and Order members. Coming upon Honeydukes, a blood curdling scream rang out through the air.

Recognizing the scream instantly, Severus ran in the direction it more than likely originated, all the while cursing the echoing the placement of the buildings caused. He rounded the bend past the post office just as Voldemort threw the killing curse at Harry. In complete shock at what he was witnessing, it wasn't until Harry fell to the ground lifelessly that Severus screamed. "NO!" Without a thought, he raised his wand in absolute fury and pointed it at the Dark Lord who had yet to see him. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A green light shot out of Severus' wand and hit Voldemort in the chest. A moment later green sparks surrounded Voldemort which triggered a violent explosion. At the same time Severus' left arm erupted into excruciating pain. With his right hand over his left arm, Severus' eyes locked on Harry's body. He took a few steps toward the boy, not paying any attention to what was going on around him, when part of the post office was blown apart. Chunks of concrete rained down on Severus. A piece about the size of a baseball hit him on the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground. Still wanting to get to Harry, he began to crawl over towards him. Concrete continued to rain down on him, and a few feet away from Harry, a large piece came crashing down and pinned him in place. Seconds later his world slowly began to go dark.

~SH~

The first thing Severus noticed when he began to regain consciousness was that the ground seemed very soft. That bothering him, he slowly opened his eyes. It was only seconds before he realized he was lying on one of the hospital beds back at the castle. Events of the attack, made him sit up quickly. He groaned as he became nauseated and lay back down.

"Not so fast Severus," Madame Pomfrey said while walking quickly toward his bed. "You have a very bad concussion. You were hit with pieces of concrete on the head and legs."

Severus ran a hand over the back of his head, wincing as he came across a rather large lump. "Where is Harry?" he rasped out, then began coughing. A glass of water was thrust in his hands. He took a few grateful sips. "Where is Harry?" he repeated, his voice just a little less raspy.

"Let's just worry about you now, Severus." Madame Pomfrey took the glass and set it on the bedside table. She then drew her wand out and ran a diagnostic.

"I need to see Harry." Severus then tried to sit up again, this time slower.

"Severus, lay back down this instant. You need to concentrate on getting better. You have a nasty concussion and the bones in your leg have just begun to heal. Some Order members said that before they were able to get to you a few curses were thrown at you from Death Eaters while you were unconscious. One has caused damage to your vocal cords. Stay still and be quiet." Severus, again, started to sit up. "Do you need me to bind you to this bed?"

Rolling his eyes, Severus lay back down. He'd appease the medi-witch for a little while. Faking a yawn, he closed his eyes and feigned sleep.

Satisfied her patient wouldn't leave the bed, Madame Pomfrey returned to her office. There were a few more records she needed to fill out for the handful of patients she had sent to St. Mungo's. Luckily they were just Order members and not innocent bystanders.

Against his will, Severus actually fell asleep. Hours later he awoke to the hospital wing bathed in moonlight. Quietly, and ever so slowly, he sat up and dropped his legs over the side of the bed. With help from the moonlight, Severus looked around the wing. Surprisingly, he found it almost completely empty. The only other occupied bed was the one he had been occupying a few days earlier. Wanting to see who else had been hurt in the attack, Severus got up and began to walk toward the bed.

After one step, he began to feel dizzy. He grabbed on to the footboard of the nearest bed and waited until the sensation passed. When he thought he could make it, he began to walk again. This time his legs wanted to give out. With the help of the beds between his and the occupied one, he slowly shuffled his way over.

Five long minutes later, Severus was standing at the foot of the occupied bed. His heart began to race in his chest when he recognized the pale face lying on the white pillow. With all the strength he could muster, he hobbled along the side of the bed towards the head, his eyes never leaving Harry's face. He had never seen the boy's face so pale. It was almost as white as the pillow upon which he lay.

Thinking he was dreaming or hallucinating, Severus brought a hand to rest on the top of Harry's head. Feeling the hair underneath his fingers, he sharply removed his hand and began to shake. "What…I don't understand…" With the trek over to the bed using all the little energy he had, and with the shock of what he was seeing, Severus crashed to the floor, knocking a glass of water off the bedside table in the process.

Poppy rushed out of her office at the sound. "What are you doing out of bed Severus?" she asked sternly, upon seeing the professor crumpled on the floor at Harry's bedside.

"Severus?" Poppy called out quietly. She walked over to him and laid a hand on his arm. "Severus?"

Lost in his thoughts and trying to comprehend what he was seeing, Severus started at the touch. He whipped his head up and came face to face with Poppy.

"Come Severus. Let's get you back to bed." She pulled gently on his arm to urge him to stand up and began leading him back to bed.

"Why would you put Harry in a bed when he…when he…," he swallowed, unable to finish his thought. "I saw him get hit with the killing curse, for Merlin's sake! Are you that cruel?"

Having arrived back at his bed, Poppy made him sit down. She took a vial that was on the side table and handed it to Severus who downed it without a question. "Harry did not die, Severus," Poppy related once she began to see the potion Severus had been given was starting to take effect. "He's alive. He's just in a coma."

"Oh…good," Severus replied around a yawn. He then got fully into bed and was out cold a few seconds later.

Poppy pulled the bed sheets over the professor and with a small smile returned to her office. She knew Severus should have been told about Harry's condition when he first asked, but she knew the stubborn professor would never have allowed himself to heal. He'd be too intent on making sure Harry was well.

~SH~

When Severus woke up hours later, it was early afternoon. He slowly sat up against the headboard as he noticed Poppy walking towards him not more than ten seconds later.

"I had to put a charm over you so I would know when you woke up," Poppy stated as she came to Severus' bed and saw his questioning look. "I didn't trust that you would stay in your bed once you woke."

Not really acknowledging the medi-witch, Severus turned his head to Harry's bed. "How can Harry be alive? I watched him get hit with the killing curse. What happened?"

Poppy placed a table over Severus' lap. "I will explain everything while you eat. You haven't eaten in over twenty four hours."

Not hungry in the slightest, but knowing he didn't have the energy to fight Poppy over the matter, Severus gave in. Harry was too important, besides.

Nodding with a smile as Severus began eating the broth in front of him, she began to answer Severus' questions. "Yes, Severus, Harry is alive. And unfortunately his condition hasn't changed since last night. He is still in a coma. After a lengthy conversation between myself and Albus, we can only assume that because of Harry's connection to You-Know-Who through his scar, that when the curse was cast at him yesterday, it was that connection that died, not Harry."

"I cast the killing curse on the Dark Lord," Severus muttered.

"Yes. And there is nothing left of him. I was told that bits and pieces of him were scattered all throughout the streets."

"When will he come out of his coma?" Severus asked, voice quiet, while looking over at Harry.

"That all depends on him, Severus. He has an extensive list of injuries, but none would cause him to be in or stay in this state." Poppy glanced at Harry and then back at Severus, who was still looking at Harry. "I wish I could give you a definite answer."


Wow! I've actually updated. I sure hope I haven't lost any readers, but with this huge amount of time between chapters, I probably have. If you're still with me after all these months, and years, here's a box of chocolate frogs. :)

I really must apologize for the lack of an update over these past few months. Besides a major case of writers block, I think a part of me didn't really want to write any more. I'm coming to the end of the story and with it being a huge part of my life for the past five years, I guess I just don't want it to end. :(

I'm actually not at all happy with how this chapter came out, especially the battle, but after reading bits and pieces of it it over and over these past few months, there was nothing I could really do or add to it (wish I was a better writer). Because the battle was one of the scenes I knew that I wanted when I started writing this over five years ago, I was hoping it would a great chapter. Unfortunately I don't think that happened. I hope I didn't let anyone down, besides myself, with it.