Another one! Battle of the Seven Potters Part Two. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and followed recently. I hope you are all safe and well. Locket, wedding, the takeover of the Ministry are all up next! xx

Chapter 32

The motorcycle climbed higher and higher into the sky, and then, out of nowhere, out of nothing, they were surrounded. At least a dozen hooded figures, suspended in mid-air, formed a circle in the midst of which the Order members had risen.

Screams, a blaze of green light on every side: Hagrid gave a yell, and the motorcycle rolled over. Harry lost any sense of where they were as he clung to the sidecar. The motorcycle then zoomed forwards; Harry glimpsed hooded Death Eaters scattering as Hagrid blasted through their circle. Two Death Eaters were pursuing them, aiming at Hagrid's broad back. Hagrid swerved, but the Death Eaters were keeping up with the bike. Harry ducked low into the sidecar to the dodge the curses shot after them. Wriggling around, he cried, "Stupefy!" and a red bolt of light shot from his own wand, hitting one of Death Eaters. Harry was panting and began firing spell after spell as more Death Eaters pursued them.

More killing curses flew past Harry's head; they were aiming for Hagrid. Harry responded with more stunning spells: red and green collided in mid-air in a shower of multi-coloured sparks, and Harry thought wildly of fireworks. As the chase continued, a Death Eater swerved to avoid a jinx shot by Harry, and his hood slipped, revealing the bank face of Stanley Shunpike.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled.

"That's him, it's him, it's the real one!" the second Death Easter screamed before both pursuers fell back and disappeared from view.

"Harry, where've they gone?" Hagrid bellowed.

"I don't know!" Harry said, voice full of fear, wondering how they had known that he was the real one. "Hagrid, we've gotta get out of here," Harry yelled. "I think I should get on my broom and hide."

"No, Harry, I can't let you. The Order would have my hide. Besides, I think we've lost 'em."

But Harry was not convinced: fear lapped at him as he looked left and right for pursuers he was sure would come … why had they fallen back?

Harry felt the bike drop a little when suddenly the scar on his forehead burned like fire as the motorcycle was flanked by Death Eaters. Two killing curses missed Harry by millimetres before Harry saw him. Voldemort was flying like smoke on the wind, without a broomstick or magical creature to hold him, his white fingers raising his wand again.

Hagrid let out a bellow and steered the motorcycle into a vertical dive. Clinging on for dear life, Harry sent stunning spells flying at random into the night sky. He saw a body fly past him and knew he had hit one of them, but then he heard a bang and saw sparks from the engine; the motorcycle spiralling through the air, completely out of control.

A hooded Death Eater raised his arm to attack Harry when Hagrid shouted in a fury and launched himself from the bike at the Death Eater, plummeting to the ground. Harry had to think quickly and grabbing his rucksack and broom, threw himself out of the sidecar and mounted his Firebolt. As he gripped the broom, trying to gain control, he heard Voldemort scream, "Mine!"

Harry was sure it was over; he could not orient himself or see where Voldemort was. He urged his broom faster with one hand, just trying to evade his pursuer when he heard "Avada – "Harry closed his eyes when he felt his wand acted of its own accord. The holly wand drug his hand round like some great magnet, and Harry saw a spurt of golden fire emerge from the tip; then, he heard a crack and a scream of fury.

At that moment, Harry spotted Hagrid, lying spread-eagle on the ground below him. Harry pulled hard on his wand, diving for towards the ground before smashing into a muddy pond.

Hermione was pacing the fields surrounding the Burrow, waiting for any signs of conflict. Then, in an instant, she felt something reverberate off the wards and heard an explosion as it collided with Ottery St. Catchpole's electrical towers. The power lines began to spark, bright blue flashes of energy bouncing off the hot metal; it reminded Hermione of a lightning storm. She wondered how many homes would be dark tonight as a result of a conflict they knew nothing about. She drew her wand, ready to strike anything that might penetrate the wards when she saw Hagrid's motorcycle and a blur that looked like Harry on a Quidditch pitch careening to the ground.

She wished she could send a patronus to Molly and Ginny. Hermione rushed to the spot where they had landed as quickly as she could manage with the added bulk of the 34-week old fetus inside her.

"Harry!" she screamed, "Harry!" rushing to the side of her best friend who was lying flat on his back in a mud puddle. "What happened? Where are the others?"

"What d'you mean? Isn't anyone else back?" Harry panted.

The answer was clearly etched in Hermione's pale face. "What was the disturbance before you came through the wards," she asked quietly. "It looked like an electrical storm."

"V-V-Voldemort," Harry said with a ragged breath. "Hagrid and I were being pursued, and then one of the Death Eaters screamed, 'That's him. That's the real Potter.' They fell back, and then all of a sudden, we were surrounded, and Voldemort was with them. My - My wand … It defended me on its own 'Mione. It was bizarre. I had to get out of the sidecar because Hagrid had been hit by stunners. The motorcycle was crashing, so I jumped on my Firebolt. At that moment, Voldemort shot a killing curse right at me … my wand … it moved in my hand on its own and shot out a spell that threw Voldemort into the power lines!"

As Harry finished, Hagrid groaned and started to sit up shakily. "Oh, Hagrid! Thank goodness you're alright," she cried, rushing to his side."

"Oh, Hermione, nothing a little brandy won't fix."

"Molly's expecting you inside. You're the first to return. Fred and Arthur and Ron and Tonks should be back by now," she said, wringing her hands.

The three of them stood and began to slowly walk to the Burrow, Harry winced as he flung his broom and rucksack over his shoulder, "Did Hedwig make it? Ron said something about a house-elf."

"Oh yes, she's a little mad at me for not letting her out of her cage, but I didn't want her out hunting and trying to defend you. Pepper, Severus' house-elf, retrieved her and your trunk."

Harry nodded and gave a wane smile as he saw Mrs. Weasley and Ginny emerge from the house. Mrs. Weasley held out of a bottle of brandy for Hagrid, who uncorked it and drank it straight down in one.

"Mum!" shouted Ginny, pointing to blue light in the dark night sky, growing light and brighter as Lupin and George careened to the ground. Hermione knew immediately that something was wrong: Lupin was supporting George, who was unconscious, and his face was covered in blood.

Harry ran forward and seized George's legs. Together, he and Lupin carried George into the house and through the kitchen to the sitting room, where they laid him on the sofa. Harry's stomach lurched: one of George's ears was missing, the side of his head and neck were drenched in wet, shockingly scarlet blood.

Hermione and Mrs. Weasley bent over him, and Hermione gasped, "Sectumsempra. I know the counterspell, but … I shouldn't perform it."

Harry's stomach lurched again when he realized that this was the same spell he had used on Malfoy earlier that year. "I know the counterspell," Harry murmured. Kneeling beside Hermione, he pulled out his wand. He began to sing under his breath as he had heard Snape say in the second-floor bathroom, "Vulnera Sanenteur, Vulnera Sanenteur, Vulnera Sanenteur." The gaping hole in George's face began to close, flesh knitting itself together. Once the wound was closed, Mrs. Weasley grabbed a washbasin and began to wash the blood away.

"I – I don't know if we can re-grow the ear, Molly," Hermione murmured, "It's dark magic, but Severus will know if it is possible."

Molly nodded, tears in her eyes, "It's just an ear, dear. At least he's alive. It could be much worse. You understand."

Hermione nodded, cupping her bump with both arms.

Harry and Remus stood outside, pacing and glancing up at the sky every few seconds. The minutes stretched painfully, and then brooms began materializing above them. "It's them," Remus shouted.

Tonks landed in a long skid that sent earth and pebbles everywhere. "Remus!" she cried as she staggered off the broom into Lupin's arms. His face was set and white: he seemed unable to speak. Ron tripped dazedly towards Harry and Hermione. "You're ok," he mumbled before they flew at him, hugging him tightly.

"What kept you? What happened?" Lupin said accusingly.

"Bellatrix," said Tonks. "She wants me quite as much as she wants Harry. She was so focused on killing me, stain to the family name and all that."

Arthur, Fred, Bill and Fleur returned shortly after Tonks and Ron. The Weasleys all rushed to George's side. At the same time, Harry, Hermione, Lupin and Tonks continued their vigil outside, waiting for Kingsley, Mad-Eye and Mundungus.

Finally, Kingsley arrived looking exhausted. He indicated that they all head inside. When Tonks started to protest, he gave her a look that allowed no room for arguments. Once everyone was inside, Kingsley turned to the room, grim, "Mad-Eye's dead."

Nobody spoke, nobody moved. "I was following behind them. Severus was right; they assumed Harry would be with Mad-Eye or Lupin and were on them from the start, Voldemort flew straight for them. Dung panicked and disapparated. Voldemort hit Mad-Eye full in the face with the killing curse, and he fell backwards off his broom – there was nothing I could do, nothing."

They all looked at each other, failing to quite comprehend that their general, Mad-Eye, so tough, so brave, the consummate survivor was dead. Bill walked over to the sideboard and pulled out a bottle of firewhiskey and some glasses. "Here," he said, with a wave of his wand, sending glasses flying out to all but Hermione and Ginny. "To Mad-Eye."

"Mad-Eye," they all said and drank.

Everyone lingered for a few more minutes, too exhausted to debrief the evening. Hermione's own mind raced, wondering if anyone had news of Severus, wondering where he could be at that moment.

Eventually, Kingsley and Tonks made to leave first, heading back to Downing Street. Hermione stopped them quickly, giving Tonks another letter to give her friend Sarah with a small smile. Kingsley gave her a quick hug and said, "Don't worry. I'm sure he's fine. We will be back tomorrow for a full debrief."

Hermione let a few of the tears she'd been holding back fall and nodded.

After that, Lupin and Hagrid also said their goodbyes with promises to return the next day to debrief and help prepare for Bill and Fleur's wedding taking place in a few days.

Severus watched the remaining Order members from his position above Privet Drive. The Dark Lord had ordered to only kill the Order members and not Potter. They were to fall back and summon himself and the Dark Lord if they spotted the real Potter.

Pairing Harry with Hagrid made sense to anyone who knew the pair. Hagrid would stop at nothing to protect the boy, and the sidecar allowed Potter the ability to hide rather than being exposed. The more obvious choices would be Moody or Lupin, making them the main targets. Luckily Severus was able to dissuade Hagrid and Arthur Weasley from modifying the magical bike in any way as they'd dreamed of. That would have been a recipe for disaster.

In an instant, the Order members came into view, rising from the boundaries of Number 4's back garden, and the once tranquil night sky became a battleground. Severus was accompanied by Selwyn, and they took off in pursuit of Lupin and who he knew to be George Weasley. Severus let Selwyn move ahead so he could watch him. Selwyn raised his wand and aimed directly at Lupin's back –

"Sectumsempra!" Severus shouted, aiming at Selwyn's hand. Still, Selwyn jerked away at the last second, and the curse missed, hitting Weasley instead, causing the young man to fall from his broom. Lupin swerved to catch him by the arm, Weasley's other arm grabbing the side of his head, and the two disappeared from view as they went towards the ground.

"FUCK! Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck!" Severus raged internally, knowing he could not stop to check on the boy, falling back to join the other Death Eaters.

Hours later, Severus was forced to stand by, breath held, trying to look impassive. At the same time, Lucius endured several rounds of torture by the Dark Lord. As far as the Dark Lord was concerned, it was Lucius' fault that his wand had failed against Potter, allowing the boy to escape once again. The broken remnants of the Elm wand lay discarded at the feet of its master's writhing body.

The Dark Lord immediately began interrogating Yaxley, demanding when they could kill Scrimgeour and install Thicknesse into the Ministry. Yaxley stuttered and postured, trying to delay providing his Lord with a concrete date. Eventually, Voldemort grew tired of excuses, and turned his wand to Yaxley, brutally torturing him. "You have one week, Yaxley. Harry Potter has evaded me long enough."

Severus digested this information. Harry's birthday was in four days, Bill and Fleur's wedding the day after that. That gave him two days to get them into hiding.

Eventually, they were dismissed, and Severus helped Narcissa clean and healed Lucius' wounds. Leaving her with a supply of potions promising to return in a few days, it was nearly dawn when he arrived at a still and quiet Burrow.

As he opened quietly opened the creaky garden gate, Severus heard a light turn on in the sitting room, and Hermione rushed to the door. She looked like an angel, the soft light reflecting around her like a halo. He lurched towards her and said hoarsely, "How's George? I – It was me. It was an accident – I…"

"Hush," she said. "George is fine. It was a clean severing of his ear. Harry closed the wound. You'll need to look at it to see if we can re-grow, but it was an accident."

He nodded and choked out, "Selwyn was going to kill Lupin. I aimed for him, but he moved at the last second …"

"Then that's all that matters. You saved a life at the expense of an ear. I think George and the rest of the family will understand."

Severus nodded again, and Hermione smoothed his creased brow with her thumbs. "Everyone is asleep. Why don't you go home to Spinner's End and shower and come back for breakfast?"

"Come with me?"

Hermione looked back inside the still house and nodded. "Let me just write a note, so Molly doesn't panic."

Then she turned back and grabbed his outstretched hand, and they apparated home to wash off their despair and give each other comfort.

A few hours later, Hermione and Severus returned to find only Molly find up and bustling in the kitchen. She rushed to the door to let them in and tightly hugged Severus, "Oh Severus, I knew you must be fine when I saw Hermione's note, but until I saw you myself …"

Severus gently patted the woman's pack and felt a lump in his throat. He had never felt cared for before Hermione. It felt so foreign that with the death of Albus, the rest of the Order would show him care as well, rather than despite him.

"Hermione told me about George. May I go check on him?"

Molly paled slightly and patted his cheek. "So sweet, you don't want to go into the twin's room, though, believe me … it can wait until George wakes."

"Molly," he sighed, "about that … It was an accident, but it was my curse that hit George. Augustus Selwyn had a killing curse aimed at Lupin's back, and I was going to slice the bastard's hand off, but he moved, and I sliced George's ear." He finished, hanging his head in shame.

Molly patted his cheek and grabbed and lifted his chin to look her in the eyes. "Severus Snape. All of my children are alive and well. George was making jokes and as lively as ever. It was a flesh wound, a clean cut. Even if you can't grow the ear back, my boy is fine, and Remus is alive, so no guilt, do you hear me."

Severus gulped and nodded, his pale cheeks tinged pink. "Good," said the Weasley matriarch. "Now sit down, you're much to thin. You need a good meal to start and some strong coffee, I think."

Severus complied, amazed at the woman's understanding and led Hermione to the table where Molly began filling their plates. "Best you eat now anyway before the boys are down and start tearing at the table like wild animals."

Ginny, closely followed by the Weasley twins, were the first of the red-headed brood to arrive downstairs. Severus quickly stood and asked George for a moment alone. The young man was pale from the strain on his body, dark purple circles like bruises under his eyes. His twin gripped him around the shoulder and whispered softly, "you want me to come, Georgie?"

"Nah Fred," he shouted, "we all know Snape's gone soft," winking to the Potions Master. "C'mon Snape, just make sure you stand on my left side. I haven't learned how to read sneering lips yet."

Fred couldn't hold back his laugh as he walked to the table and took the vacant seat next to Hermione. "What's that about," he asked, gesturing towards the sitting room.

To Hermione's relief, Molly interrupted, "Oh, you know, dear, Severus has the most experience with dark magic. He's just going to make sure Harry and Hermione took care of everything last night."

In the Weasley's drab and cluttered sitting room, George took a seat while Severus stood back pacing, unsure of how to begin. Finally, George said, "Snape, er, sir, please sit down; you're unnerving me."

Severus turned to face the man he had maimed the night before, nodded, and then immediately sat in the armchair adjacent sinking into the lumpy cushion much further than expected, his knees nearly reaching his chest.

"Mr. Weasley … George," Severus started awkwardly.

"It was you," George said quietly, "Ron told me about the spell, about Harry and Draco … and Harry and 'Mione knew the countercurse."

An uncomfortable silence hung in the air, and finally, Severus blurted, "It was an accident. I would say never … Selwyn aimed a Killing Curse at Lupin's back. I meant to sever the bastard's wand hand and missed."

George contemplated this information for a minute. He nodded once before standing and sticking his hand out to the Potions Master. "Right then, I forgive you, Snape. It was an accident, and I reckon Remus' life is more important than my ear."

Severus sat there, staring at the freckled outstretched hand in amazement. No one had ever forgiven him as easily as the Weasley's before. One foul word uttered carelessly in the heat of the moment, and Lily had severed all contact. He had severed Weasley's ear from his head and instant forgiveness.

Severus tentatively grabbed the redhead's hand and shook; George chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll get my revenge. When your kid is old enough, he'll get every new Weasley Wizard Wheezes stock courtesy of his favourite Uncle George."

Severus groaned, and gripping the hand tightly, hissed, "I'll accept my fate with as good a grace as you."

Dropping the handshake, George asked lightly, "No chance you can grow it back, eh?"

"No," Severus shook his head, "but if you don't mind, I'd like to examine the area, make sure there's no residual dark magic."

Through the rest of the morning, Order members began to trickle into the Burrow, being handed a plate of food by Molly, waiting for Kingsley and Snape to begin debriefing the previous night. Finally, they began, with each person involved re-telling the night from their perspective.

Eventually, they finished, and an angry-looking Tonks with flaming pink hair pushed a shame-faced Lupin towards Severus. Lupin scratched the back of his head uncomfortably while looking anywhere but Snape's black eyes.

"Yes, Lupin," Severus said silkily.

Remus sputtered a few times before Tonks kicked him in the calf. He started talking, "I'm sorry, Severus, for the things I accused you of before and my insinuations about your relationship with Hermione." He looked back at Tonks, who glared at him, indicating he was not finished, "And, er, thank you for saving my life last night. It would have been awful to be killed just a few days after my wedding."

The entire room went silent before Molly shrieked, "Your wedding?! Another wedding! Oh, how wonderful. You didn't tell anyone! I didn't bake a cake."

"It's ok Molly," Remus smiled wanly, "It had to be kept very quiet due to the anti-werewolf legislation Umbridge is passing through the Wizengamot. We apparated to Gretna Green, and Dora's parents were our witnesses."

"Well, that's no matter," said Molly, "We will celebrate now. Everyone just gives me time to whip something up."

Kingsley and Minerva could not stay any longer than absolutely necessary and departed. Still, the rest of the group lingered around the Burrow. Things almost felt normal. Severus was in a corner talking to Bill when Hermione, who had been congratulating Remus and Tonks tried to grab his attention. Taking the hint, Severus excused himself from the younger man and found the Gryffindor Golden Trio.

"Harry's growing impatient to know what we've been up to this summer," Hermione murmured.

Severus rolled his eyes and ruffled the boy's unruly hair. "Of course, he is. He's a Potter and an Evans. Neither of his parents knew the meaning of the word patient."

An action that would have caused all three of them to keel over a year ago caused the trio to laugh, and Ron whispered, "We should talk in Dad's shed again."

Severus nodded, "Boys, you go out first. Hermione and I will join you in a minute."

Harry and Ron went outside while Hermione excused herself to use the loo for what felt like the hundredth time that day. While Severus waited for her by the kitchen door only to be cornered by Molly Weasley, hands on her hips.

"What are you four planning?"

Severus sighed. Potter wanted no one else to know about the Horcruxes. While he agreed that it was too risky for the Dark Lord to find out, he hated the air of suspicion once more around him.

"Molly, you know he is actively trying to gain control of the Ministry, and with Yaxley controlling Thicknesse, it will be lost before summer's end. They can't stay at the Burrow indefinitely, and they certainly cannot return to Hogwarts. They will storm the Burrow searching for Harry and Hermione. Ronald will be caught in the crossfire as their known best friend."

Molly started to argue, "but surely…"

"No, Molly. Arthur and I are in agreement on this. I must know their location … for obvious reasons, but no one else."

Molly looked like she was going to start arguing with him again, but stopped herself short. Crossing her arms, she looked him in the eyes with a penetrating glare "You will protect them," she said, and Severus knew it was a command, not a question.

"My primary objective is to see the three of them and my son through this Molly."

With that, Molly nodded and turned around quickly. Hence, Severus made his getaway without waiting for Hermione so no one else would interrupt him.

Thirty seconds later, the garden door opened, and Hermione hissed "Severus Snape, slow down and wait for me! Your son is a contortionist today, abusing my liver, and my ankles have doubled in size. I don't have an ankle anymore. I have cankles."

Severus stopped, allowing Hermione to catch up, slightly out of breath as she hurried to reach him. They walked at a sedate pace through the extensive garden to Arthur Weasley's potting shed.

He found Harry pacing like a caged animal while Weasley – Ronald – he corrected himself sat there calmer than he'd ever seen the boy in his life. Severus quickly warded the door and looked at the pair of young men. Arching his eyebrow, he addressed Weasley, "Have you told him?"

Ron snorted, "and risk the twins catching us with extendable ears or whatever gadget they've created? Not likely. I was waiting for you to ward the door, that's why his wand is all bent in a knot," indicating at Harry.

"Potter!" Severus snapped.

Harry scowled, but stopped pacing immediately, crossing his arms like a petulant third year.

"You promised to keep me informed!" Harry shouted.

"Hermione looked like she wanted to say something while again, Ron surprised Severus with his calm demeanour and even rolled his eyes."

"We have been Harry. In our letters, we have told you everything safe, and now, less than 24 hours since your return, we are here to tell you."

"But – "

Severus lifted his hand, silencing the boy. "I will not cooperate with you when you are like this. Calm down now, or go back inside until you are ready to handle this like an adult."

Harry thought for a minute, then unclenched his fists and unfurled his brow. His shoulders sagged, and he sat down on a rickety old stool.

"Well, some things never change," Ron said ruefully. "Welcome to every reunion 'Mione and I have ever had with Harry, Severus. I'm used to it by now, but you defused him well."

"Just tell me what's going on, Ron," Harry said through clenched teeth.

Ron grinned, "Well …"

Severus let Hermione and Ron take the lead on storytelling. However, he did explain the moment he realized the diadem was in the Room of Hidden Things. Once they were finished, Harry let out a low whistle.

"So the locket …"

"We hope Kreacher has it. Otherwise, we're back at square one. Only you could summon Kreacher from Hogwarts."

"Right then," said Harry, "let's get this over with – Kreacher!"