DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
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A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews.
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CHAPTER 45- Dumbledore's Men Through and Through
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January 2011
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The Great hall is almost full of students. Even those Fifth to Seventh Years who weren't taking History of Magic anymore are there to listen to the two sons of war heroes. Savelius sighed in defeat and returned to the chamber at the back of the hall.

Savelius turned to Teddy who was nervously standing behind him. "I swear, if Professor Bones don't give us an 'O'—"

"Now, now, son, that won't be necessary," said a female voice from his left. Savelius's eyes lit up upon seeing her mother with Head Auror Tonks-Lupin. They're both wearing casual robes, not the Ministry robes. Her curly brown hair was in a French braid and she put on a light make-up which made her cheeks blush. She could pass as Savelius's sister. She must've taken a day off to come here.

"Mum!" And his anger began to falter. He feels like the five-year old boy in the past timeline, always looking forward to see his beloved (single) mother. He ran towards her, not caring of what others may think. He threw himself to his mother's arms.

Hermione chuckled. "Oh, my baby," she whispered.

Savelius closed her eyes and savoured the moment. When he gets older, he won't allow himself to act like this anymore, especially that this time, he has his father. Only until summer before second year, he told himself. He broke gently from his mother's embrace. "What're you doin' here, Mum?"

"To see your presentation, of course!" she replied with excitement. "Aunt Dora came with me to see you and Teddy."

"I'm nervous, Mum. We didn't expect our presentation to be like this," he told her honestly. "I thought we're just going to do it in our classroom."

Hermione smiled gently. "Well, you and Teddy must be brilliant to be entrusted with an event like this."

"No, we're just 'sons of war heroes', Aunt 'Mione," Teddy quipped from their side. His mother's busy straightening his school robes.

"What've you done to your robes, young man?" Savelius heard his Aunt Dora.

"She was nervous, dear," replied Uncle Moony. "He kept on clutching his robes."

Aunt Dora gave her son a gentle look. "No need to be nervous, my Teddy," she said fondly. "Dad's here to back you up."

"That's right!" agreed Uncle Moony. "Professor Bones asked me, Severus and Sirius to be on the stage as well, to assist our young Marauders."

"Excuse me?" called Severus in a mocking tone. "I am not a Marauder."

"A Death Eater," teased Sirius. "Come on, Severus. Admit it that since the final battle, you became one of us!"

Severus rolled his eyes. Sirius—Uncle Padfoot for him—went on. "Your son acts like a true Marauder."

"That's because he's best friends with Teddy," Severus reasoned.

"Mister Snape! Mister Lupin!"

Savelius, Teddy and Severus turned their heads to the owner of the voice. It was Headmistress McGonagall, smiling and walking towards them. "We are about to begin," she told him and Teddy. "Please find Professor Bones near the stage."

Savelius and Teddy nodded and obeyed. "Ready, mate?" asked Teddy.

"Yeah," he replied, a little nervous.

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December 1997

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Hermione flinched. It's the first time she'd seen Voldemort face to face. His face alone could make her puke, but knowing that he will die soon, her fear faded away. Behind the half-blood bastard was a sea of Death Eaters with few giants and werewolves led by Fenrir Greyback. They are approaching, but stopped about fifty meters away. She was standing on Harry's left and Ron was on his right. The three of them are holding hands for comfort. Severus and Draco are still inside the castle. Harry pulled them aside earlier before joining the people at the courtyard. Obviously, he told them something, probably further instructions.

"Haaaarry Poootter," hissed Voldemort. "The boy who's about to die." He let out a loud laugh, and so are his minions. Hermione could see Bellatrix Lestrange laughing like a psychopath behind her master.

"Wait," whispered Hermione to Harry and Ron. "She's pregnant."

Harry and Ron don't have to ask who she's talking about. They also turned their heads towards Bellatrix's direction.

"Are you ready to die, Potter? Or is there something you want to say to your... friends before I kill you?" mocked Voldemort. The Death Eaters roared with laughter. The Light side remained silent.

"Cat got your tongue, Potter?" he asked. "I knew it. You're just a boy who would put his friends' life in danger; a boy who would hide under Dumbledore's robes. Are you ready to join your parents? You've been lonely for the past sixteen years, haven't you? It's my pleasure to reunite you with your... heroic parents."

Harry held Hermione's hand tightly and she's sure he did the same with Ron's hand. "Please, just let me do what I have to do," he told them silently. "And if I cannot make it, promise me, the two of you will defeat him. No more Horcruxes after me."

Hermione and Ron stared at each other, both of them swallowed hard and tears were brimming in their eyes, but stopped themselves from crying. "I promise, Harry," she said indignantly.

"You have my word, mate," said Ron.

Harry inhaled and nodded. He took few steps forward and Hermione could hear the others' gasps. Harry faced them, raised his wand and muttered, "Protego Maxima!'

Once again, he turned around and continued walking. He stopped twenty meters away from Voldemort. He did not say anything, but Hermione could see him clutching something in the pocket of his robes.

"I'm ready to die," said Harry, enough for the people behind him to hear.

The Death Eaters roared with laughter while the people on the Light side—the D.A., the Oder and the other Hogwarts students, even the Hogsmead villagers behind them all looked sombre. Professor McGonagall's hand is on her chest and she's crying silently. Neville looked Harry with disapproval. Hermione and Ron moved side by side. They held each other's hands.

"We promised him," said Ron.

She nodded. "We'll not break our promise."

Voldemort looked at Harry triumphantly. "I knew it. You are a coward, Harry Potter!" he laughed maniacally. He raised his wand— the Elder Wand, Hermione recognized. "Avada Kedavra!"

Hermione closed her eyes and felt Ron squeezed her hand tightly. This is just a dream, she thought herself for consolation, but it wasn't convincing. She knew it was real.

"HARRY POTTER IS DEAD!" bellowed Voldemort, earning a loud cheer from the sea of Death Eaters and a maniac laugh from Bellatrix Lestrange.

Hermione swallowed hard and finally opened her eyes. Harry's body fell on the ground, his back on them.

"From this day until the day you die, you put your faith in me," Voldemort told them, the people on the Light side. Neville stepped forward, looking on the ground.

"Neville!" called Ginny, but before she could go after him, Hermione grabbed her female best friend's hand. "Hermione?!"

She shook his head and pulled her between her and Ron. Ron wrapped his hand around his sister. Hermione did the same. Ginny was crying hard now. "We've got to defeat Voldemort," she whispered to the younger witch. "Ron and I promised Harry."

Neville finally stopped, just few feet away from Harry.

"And who this brave boy might be?" asked Voldemort.

"The Longbottom boy, My Lord," answered Bellatrix with pure politeness.

"Ah, the son of the two gutsy Aurors," he said in a mocking tone. "You're a pure-blood. I had your blood status checked sixteen years ago. I admit, I was confused by the prophecy. You see, there were two children born at the end of the seventh month; both from the young couples who joined Dumbledore's Order. But I didn't see you as a threat, Neville, because of your blood. I'm sure I can find a place for you in my army."

"Neville, no!" called a female voice from behind.

They all turned their heads. An older witch, probably few years younger than Professor McGonagall but older than Mrs. Weasley made it in front of Hermione, Ginny and Ron. It was Mrs. Longbottom.

"Don't you dare!" she warned.

Neville looked away from his grandmother and turned to Voldemort. "I was told I could've been the other Chosen One," he spoke for the first time. "Harry may be gone, but it doesn't mean we lose hope."

The D.A. members and the other Hogwarts students cheered for Neville, earning a glare from Voldemort. "SILENCE!" he bellowed. "Idiot boy," he spat at Neville. "Just like your mother and father; trying to be brave. You're wasting your magical blood."

"Draco!" hissed someone.

Hermione hadn't realized that Draco and Severus are now standing by the entrance of the castle, silently observing.

"Draco, come here!" Lucius Malfoy, who's standing behind Bellatrix, hissed again.

"I am glad to know that my two loyal servants are alive," Voldemort said with an evil grin, looking at Draco and Severus. "You made me worried," he said nonchalantly.

Severus and Draco moved forward. As they're walking, Hermione couldn't help herself from feeling anxious. What if he changed his mind? What if he doesn't want to be with me anymore? But she was pulled away from her childish musings by an arm around her shoulders. She looked up and saw Severus's questioning gaze.

"I am offended by the surprised look on your face," he told her seriously, but quietly. "Do you honestly think I'd change sides?"

She shook her head. Voldemort, who couldn't hear Severus partly because of Harry's shield, look confused. "Severus, Draco, my faithful servants... come, join us."

But Severus didn't move from Hermione's side. Draco stood on Severus's other side.

"You looked confused, Draco," said Bellatrix in a sweet and girlish tone. "Come here, sweetie... We're your family."

"I assure you that Draco isn't confused, Bella," said Severus plainly. "He clearly knows where he stands in this battle."

"TRAITOR!" yelled Lucius Malfoy and the other Death Eaters. "You are a disgrace to our family!" Lucius spat.

"No, Father," said Draco nonchalantly. "You are a disgrace to our family. How dare you bring that son of a Muggle in our life, in our house? How dare you put your family's life in danger to kiss the bastard's arse?" he bellowed. People behind them laughed and cheered.

"Turning sides now, aren't you, Severus? And you have to drag my faithful servant's son?" said Voldemort disgustedly.

"I switched sides long time ago, Tom," he said, making Voldemort angrier even more. "I turned to Dumbledore since the day you threatened the life of the only friend I had, Lily Potter."

Hermione smirked upon seeing Voldemort's expression. "Impossible! LIAR!" Voldemort yelled again.

"Such an idiot, isn't he?" asked Hermione loudly.

Severus smirked and tightened his hold to her. "Yes, I was a good liar, wasn't I, Tom? Fooled you, didn't I? You never suspected that I was—until few hours ago—Dumbledore's spy."

"Always a mudblood lover." Voldemort sneered at the sight of Severus, holding her protectively. "I must say I'm disappointed, Severus. Potter's mother was more attractive. You lowered your standards."

"She's brighter than you, bastard," said Draco angrily.

Voldemort laughed, as well as the Death Eaters behind him. "You turned to be a mudblood lover as well, Draco," he mocked. "That mudblood is nothing compared to me."

"Really?" Severus asked in a mocking tone. "We'll see that soon."

Voldemort sneered. "How dare you insult the greatest wizard in the world?" It was Bellatrix who spoke.

"That arrogant half-blood who claims himself to be a lord is not the greatest wizard in the world," spat Severus. "He calls himself a lord, but he didn't even had a vault in Gringotts in the first place. He came to Hogwarts on second-hand robes. He grew up in an orphanage. That's the lord for you?"

Voldemort cast a non-verbal spell to Severus, but it didn't reach the target because of the shield.

Severus sneered. "Albus Dumbledore is the greatest wizard in the world!"

"You killed Dumbledore!" a Death Eather beside Lucius yelled.

"I did, but he was already dying. I killed him under his orders. He took advantage of his illness to get me to a higher rank among your Death Eaters," Severus explained patiently.

"Old fool Dumbledore," Voldemort laughed. "And what was his illness?"

"Oh well, I forgot to tell you, it was the curse at the Gaunt ring that made him ill. You see, he spent his last year searching for your Horcruxes." Voldemort's eyes narrowed, not that they're like normal eyes, but still Hermione could see his fury upon hearing 'Horcruxes'. Severus went on. "But knowing the prophecy, he gave Harry Potter a mission: to destroy all of your Horcruxes. So, Mr. Potter, along with his best mate since eleven and my brilliant witch went on the run to search for your pieces of soul."

"NO!" Bellatrix bellowed. "You didn't take the one entrusted to me..."

"SILENCE!" bellowed Voldemort again. "You can only find my treasures, but you cannot destroy them," he sneered.

"Actually, Tom Riddle, I destroyed one," came the voice of Narcissa from the entrance of the castle. She moved forward and raised the ruined and burnt Hufflepuff Cup.

Voldemort turned to Bellatrix. "Crucio!"

Belleatrix Lestrange squirmed on the ground, fighting herself from screaming in pain.

"My Lord, she is pregnant with your child," said one male Lestrange fearfully, earning a surprised but disgusted look from the Light side.

"Another reason why she has to die," said Mrs. Longbottom loudly. "She can't bring the son of an evil in this world."

"Neville!" called Severus. "Do it! Do it!"

Hermione looked at her fiance puzzled. What's he talking about? Did they tell Neville to finish off Voldemort?

Neville gave his former Potions professor a curt nod and reached for his pockets. He raised the Ravenclaw diadem and a basilisk fang and destroyed the Horcruz right in front of Voldemort.

"NOOOO!" he shouted angrily. He raised his wand to cast a spell to Neville, but they're still protected by Harry's shield. This time, Harry moved and stood up.

"Hello, Tom," he said jovially, as if greeting an old friend. "Did you really think you finally got rid of me?"

The Light side cheered and laughed with joy, realizing that Harry is alive.

"Bloody hell!" shouted Ron cheerfully. He jumped with Ginny who was now crying with tears. "HARRY'S ALIVE!"

Hermione felt relieved and laughed with pure amusement. She's now jumping as well and threw herself in Severus's arms. "Harry's alive!"

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? ATTACK!" yelled Voldemort. And just like that, spells, jinxes and curses were everywhere.

Remus immediately went to the pack of werewolves with Greyback and she got confused when Greyback went to his side and fought against his own pack. He raised his wand and muttered several spells. He was Greyback no more. It was Sirius Black!

Severus went after the two Marauders and the three of them fought side by side, casting Cascading Jinx to the werewolves. Bellatrix Lestrange went after her sister, Narcissa, casting non-verbal spells.

"I thought Crucio was your favourite curse, Bella?" said Narcissa in a mocking tone.

"How dare you, Cissy! You perfectly know well that I'm stronger than you."

"But two are stronger than one!" yelled another female voice. Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. The newcomer looks a lot like Bellatrix, only that she has light brown hair—Bellatrix's is black—and she has warm eyes. She's also wearing an ordinary and faded robe. She went to Narcissa's side.

"You, blood traitor!" spat Bellatrix. "Where's your little nymph? Can't fight with a cub in her tummy?" she mocked.

"Unlike you, my daughter is not risking her child's life," replied Andromeda, pointing her wand to her psychopath of a sister.

Bellatrix lazily eyes her wand. "You didn't defeat me with that wand twenty years ago."

"But together, we can defeat you!" said Narcissa with fury.

Bellatrix's hooded eyes narrowed and cast a non-verbal spell towards her sisters. Narcissa and Andromeda both threw jinxes and hexes towards the Death Eater. Bellatrix fell on the ground. The two Black sisters walked and looked down. "If you're with Rodulphus's child, I would think twice before taking your life," said Narcissa. "But you wanted to be shagged by that evil as a reward for your good behaviour and loyalty. You're pathetic. I won't allow you to bring that child of a monster into this world."

"Give me a chance!" shouted Mrs. Longbottom and she went to Andromeda's side; she looked down to meet Bellatrix's eyes. "You ruined my family," she said bitterly. She pointed her wand. "Diffindo!"

"Diminuendo!" muttered Narcissa, causing a wounded Bellatrix to shrink like an infant.

"Flipendo!"

"Protego!"

Hermione turned her head to find Draco throwing more hexes to Theodore Nott on the ground. He faced her. "Busy watching my Aunt being tortured? What're you doing? Fight!"

Few seconds later, Hermione was duelling Antonin Dolohov with Ron by her side. "Haven't forgiven this bastard for what he did two years ago," she said with fury.

"Impedimenta!" Ron yelled.

"Evanesco!" And Hermione finished.

More Death Eaters came. Hermione and Ron fought side by side. She wanted to search for Severus, but she's confident that he wouldn't be needing help. She has to stick to a friend, and at this moment, Ron is the closest to her. Professor Flitwick was once more duelling animatedly against two Death Eaters and their jinxes backfired, knocking them on the ground. Professor McGonagall was fighting side by side with Madam Pomfrey. Neville and Professor Sprout were throwing several plants against their attackers. Professor Trelawney threw her crystal balls to the other Death Eaters while Parvati, Padma and Lavender threw Jelly-Legs Curse and finally Petrificus Totalus.

Kingsley cast Anti-Apparition Charm around Hogwarts with the help of Professor Slughorn. Hermione, Ron, Seamus, Ginny, Dean and Luna threw Full Body-Bind Curse against the Death Eaters. Finally, there were only Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy and Voldemort. Hermione went to Draco's side as he confronts his father, just in case he needs her assistance. Mrs. Longbottom and Mrs. Weasley finished Bellatrix mercilessly right before the very eyes of the two Black sisters. At the same time, Severus finished off Lucius Malfoy. Draco was weak to kill his own father.

"HE'S MINE! BACK OFF!"

Hermione turned her head to find the owner of the voice. She knows it was Harry. Together with Severus and Draco, they went to the Great Hall. People gathered around Harry and Voldemort, wands pointing at each other but they maintained a twenty feet distance.

"YOU CAN'T BEAT ME, POTTER!" yelled Voldemort.

"Moron, aren't you? What are you going to do?" asked Harry. "No more Horcruxes. Just you and me."

"You cannot beat me this time. I have the MOST POWERFUL wand in the world!"

"Oh really? Well, I've got news for you. If it's the elder Wand, then you cannot gain its allegiance by just stealing it. You've got to disarm its owner."

Voldemort turned to the audience and searched for someone. He stared at Severus and turned back to Harry. "I'll take care of Severus later."

"Too late for that," Harry smirked. "Besides, it wasn't Snape who disarmed Dumbledore that night. It was Draco. And I disarmed Draco earlier. So… it means, I AM. THE. OWNER. OF YOUR. WAND." Harry spoke very slowly, as if explaining to a five-year old.

Voldemort's eyes narrowed. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

"EXPELLIARMUS!"

The Killing Curse backfired. Voldemort's wand flew into the air, towards its true master: Harry Potter. The caster of the Killing Curse fell on the ground, frozen, not moving.

Silence. Only Harry's footsteps can be heard. He went to look at the body of Voldemort and examined it. Then, he stood up and looked around. "It's over," he said in almost a whisper, addressing everyone.

People cheered and some threw their hats on air. Hermione and Ron ran towards Harry and the three of them shared a very emotional embrace.

"You did it, Harry," she said with teary eyes.

"Well done, mate," Ron said. He's also crying.

"Because you two helped me. Thank you so much, Ron, Hermione," he said emotionally. Their embrace tightened and they're all crying with joy. They wiped each other's tears. They only broke apart when Hermione felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Severus smiling. She broke away from her friends and threw her arms around her fiancé. Severus lifted her from the ground and spun around. When she's on her feet again, he cupped her face and kissed her gently. She kissed back. She clasped her hands at the back of his neck. They didn't care if hundreds of witches and wizards are watching with surprised looks. They only broke apart when they heard a loud applause.

They pulled away from each other soon, Severus was pulled by Sirius and Remus; Hermione was pulled by the Weasleys and some D.A. friends. She looked back and met Severus's eyes. He gave her smile and a nod and he walked away with the two Marauders. She smiled back. There'll be more time to catch up with him later. She went to her friends. She saw Neville sitting with his grandmother. She was fussing over him and praising him. Hannah Abbot came to him with a tray of food. He happily received it, but his grandmother snatched the tray to feed her grandson. Hermione, Ron and Ginny chuckled at the scene.