The next chapter! Slowly, we are getting closer to the end of this story. I've planned to reach 80 chapters in the end. It's kind of sad, I've been writing this for so long and it's been such an amazing journey! I hope you like this chapter, please let me know, that would be amazing!

I've also started to edit this story some time ago. I'm crossposting it on ao3 and noticed many mistakes especially in the first chapters I wrote seven years ago. So I've decided to fix all the mistakes. The edited chapters are here as well. Don't worry, I didn't change the plot! A few scenes might be a little different, but it doesn't change anything about the course of the story.

I don't own the characters or places!

Sirius

"I have a problem, Severus." Voldemort said softly. We were in the Shrieking Shack, hidden under the Invisibility Cloaks, and watched the conversation between Voldemort and Severus Snape. The snake was also there, but there was nothing we could do in this moment. We would get discovered as soon as we moved away from here and that was the last thing we wanted. So we couldn't do anything else than to listen silently.

"My Lord?" Snape asked.

From where I was hidden, I saw that Voldemort raised the Elder Wand. "Why doesn't it work for me, Severus?"

"My – my Lord?" Snape said after a few moments of silence. "I do not understand. You – you have performed extraordinary magic with that wand."

"No." Voldemort argued. "I have performed my usual magic. I am extraordinary, but this wand... no. It has not revealed the wonders it has promised. I feel no difference between this wand and the one I procured from Ollivander all those years ago."

They kept talking about the loyalties of the Elder Wand and my mind was racing. Did Voldemort want to say that the wand wasn't serving him correctly? That someone else was the master of the Elder Wand? Was Snape really the master of the wand since he killed Dumbledore? And would Voldemort kill Snape because of this?

Even if I hated Snape with all my being, I began to feel sick. No one deserved something like this.

In the end, it turned out that my presumption was true. Voldemort wanted to kill Snape. But he had no intention to do it himself. Instead, he told Nagini to do it. I glanced at the others and saw the same tension I felt on their faces. I took Hermione's hand and squeezed it, noticing that there was something else next to fear in her eyes. Sadness, maybe? But why?

Once we were sure that Voldemort and Nagini were gone, we left our hiding place. Severus was lying on the ground, blood running down from a deep wound on his throat. He was still alive, but I knew that it was just a matter of time. There was nothing we could do for him anymore.

Harry knelt down next to him and tried to stop the bleeding, but it was useless. Snape breathed in sharply when he recognized Harry in front of him. He made a hissing noise and his voice was barely a whisper. "Take... it..."

First, I wasn't sure what he meant, but then I saw the tears running down his cheeks. I turned to Hermione, wanting to tell her that she should give Harry a bottle, but she was faster and already pushed it into his hands. I knew why those tears were so important to him. Memories. Severus Snape's memories. But why did he want Harry to see them?

"Look... at... me..." Harry did and we all stared at them in silence, frozen in shock. "You have your mother's eyes." Severus Snape whispered. Then he took one last breath.

The next minutes, we spent in silence. Harry was still kneeling next to Snape and looked at him, but I couldn't see his face. Hermione wrapped her arms around me and hid her face on my chest and Ron just stared at Harry and Snape with an unreadable expression on his face.

Even if I'd hated this man all my life, I felt sorry for him. He had done terrible things, but no one deserved a death like this.

My thoughts were interrupted when a high, cold voice began to speak. I already thought that Voldemort returned, but when I looked around, I noticed that we were still alone in the Shrieking Shack.

"You have fought valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery." He started slowly and his voice seemed to be everywhere at once. "Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste."

At his words, Hermione made a hissing noise.

"Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat, immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured." Merciful... Only he could call himself like that.

"Harry Potter, now I speak directly to you. On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you, rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forrest and confront your fate. If you do not do this, I shall kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me."

So this was how he wanted to do it. How he wanted to force Harry to confront him. Voldemort knew that Harry would do anything to keep others safe. He was using this to his advantage.

My godson stood up slowly and turned to us. The look on his face was blank and I knew that Voldemort's words had hit him. I placed a hand on his shoulder as a sign of support. I wouldn't let him sacrifice himself. There had to be another way.

We made our way back to the castle slowly, no one saying a word. Next to me, Hermione was watching Harry from time to time, but I couldn't tell what she was thinking. I also didn't ask. This didn't seem to be the right time for words.

When we had nearly reached the castle, Ron grabbed Harry's arm. "Don't listen to him." He said. "I know what you're thinking and I won't let you do this!"

Slowly, Harry turned to look at Ron. The utter desperation on his face made his best friend breathe in sharply. "What if there's no other way?" Harry whispered.

"There's always another way." I argued sternly. "What about those?" I pointed at the bottle Harry was still holding. "Maybe they'll help."

Only now Harry looked at the bottle again, surprise obvious on his face. Apparently, he'd nearly forgotten about Snape's memories.

"It will be all right." Hermione threw in and I could feel her uneasy. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Let's just go back inside and then we'll see what we can do."

Ron looked like he wanted to argue again, but then he just nodded and together, we entered the castle.

After the battle, it was strangely quiet. The Entrance Hall was empty, but I could hear voices from somewhere else. Most probably from the Great Hall. I took the lead and the others followed me.

The house tables in the great hall were gone and the room was crowded. The survivors stood in groups. People were talking or just hugging each other quietly. Many of them were also crying. The injured were treated by Madam Pomfrey and a few others at the end of the hall. And the dead lay in a row in the middle of the big hall.

I took a deep breath and glanced at them, afraid to see faces I knew. I hoped Remus and Tonks were all right, as well as the other members of the Order. And of course everyone else Harry, Ron and Hermione knew...

But then Ron cried out and began to run towards the middle of the hall. When I saw who was lying on the ground, I started to feel sick. Lavender Brown had claw marks on her chest and I knew whose work this was immediately. Ron sank down onto his knees next to her and began to cry. Hermione already ran after him, but others were faster.

Fred and George both wrapped their arms around their younger brother to comfort him. They were followed by the other Weasley's who were all fine. Even Percy was there and looked at his younger brother with a sad look on his face. I noticed that Molly was standing close to Percy and looked at her son with wonder from time to time. I knew that it was hard to understand for her that he was really back and fighting alongside them.

Now Hermione also knelt down next to Ron and whispered calming words to him. I kept watching her, but then someone called my name and my heart started to beat faster.

Remus was looking terrible, but he was running to me anyway. I was so glad that he was all right that I just wrapped my arms around him once he was close enough. "Thank god, you're all right." I whispered and grinned at him.

Remus smiled as well. "Thanks to you. Otherwise, Dolohov would have been the end of us."

I raised my eyebrows. "So you mean Tonks...?"

"Will be fine." Remus nodded. "Thank you, Sirius."

"Don't thank me." I shook my head. "That's what family's there for." I looked around again, trying not to pay too much attention to the Weasley's. "Is everyone else all right?"

"Most members of the Order, yes. Though many are injured. The battle's been tough." Remus also glanced at the Weasley's. "Poor Ron." Then he frowned. "Where's Harry?"

Only then I noticed that my godson was indeed missing. Without looking at Remus, I left the Great Hall. The footsteps behind my back told me that he was following me. In the destroyed Entrance Hall, I breathed in deeply. "Seems like he's gone upstairs." I muttered and relaxed again, though it didn't last long. Voldemort's words were still on my mind.

"He will go, won't he?" Remus asked. "To the forest."

I sighed. "I hope he won't do it, but..."

"He's just like James. He also wouldn't have let others suffer for him." Remus said softly.

"I don't want him to go." I muttered.

"But would you stop him?"

That was a good question. I wanted nothing more, but I knew that I couldn't stop Harry if he really wanted it...

Remus placed his hand on my back and took me back to reality. "Come on, let's go back to the others."

"Maybe I'll just wait for him here." I muttered and looked over my shoulder to the Great Hall. I saw Neville and Luna sitting next to each other, talking about something. Ginny and Hermione were standing apart from the other Weasley's now, also discussing something. Suddenly, Hermione looked up and our eyes met. However, she didn't join us. I also saw many others I knew in that hall. But Harry was missing. No matter what choice he made, I had to be there for my godson now.

"Then I'll also stay for a few more minutes." I smiled at him gratefully and together, we sat down on the stairs. "So now tell me what happened." Remus said. "Or is it still a secret?"

"Snape's dead." I muttered. "Voldemort killed him."

"Snape?" Remus asked incredulously. "But I thought he was working with them!"

"He was. But he had something Voldemort wanted." In short words, I told him about the Elder Wand and that it went from owner to owner by killing someone.

"So Snape killed Dumbledore, which made him master of the Elder Wand. The most powerful wand in the world. And now Voldemort killed Snape." Remus shook his head in shock. "Harry won't stand a chance against him." He narrowed his eyes. "But those Hallows weren't the things you were after the past months."

"No, they weren't. There's something else." I hesitated. Could I tell him about it now? "There's a way to kill Voldemort. But before that's possible, the snake must die."

Remus frowned. "What are you talking about?"

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. "It's a really long story. Let's just say that Dumbledore started something we wanted to finish."

"I always knew you had a plan, but..." He shrugged. "Tell me about it once all this is over?"

I nodded and smiled slightly. "Always."

We sat there for a few moments in silence. "Tell me about Teddy." I said when I couldn't stand it any longer. And so Remus did. It was good to hear stories about him, and the happiness in Remus' voice made me smile.

We were talking for some time when I heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs. But when I turned around, no one could be seen. I knew that this must be Harry, hidden under his cloak.

Apparently, Remus thought the same. He stood up. "I'll leave you alone now." He looked in the direction of the stairs. "Just know that you're not alone." With those words, he returned to the Great Hall.

I didn't stand up and after a few more moments, Harry appeared next to me. He was looking tired, with dark rings under his eyes. The sad and thoughtful look on his face didn't surprise me. "What did you see?" I asked quietly.

Harry swallowed, searching for the right words. "I think I always knew that it would come to this."

It took a few moments until I realized the meaning behind his words. "No!" I muttered. Even if I'd known all along that it might come to this, those words still shocked me. I couldn't lose him. Not Harry. Not after everyone I'd already lost.

"There's a reason why I can hear them. The Horcruxes." Harry muttered. "I think I've known for a while." He breathed in shakily and didn't try to hold back the tears anymore. Neither did I.

I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him closer. "James would be so proud of you." I whispered. "And Lily."

"And you?"

I chuckled and wiped away the tears on my cheeks. It wasn't of any use since more were following. "You know that I've always been proud of you, Harry."

"I'm afraid, Sirius." Harry admitted quietly.

"Only fools aren't afraid." I said softly. "You're the bravest man I know."

"Nothing compared to you." He argued.

I laughed, but it sounded more like a sob. "I'm too foolish for my own good, your father used to say."

"That's not true."

I smiled sadly. "I wish you could have met James."

"Me too." Harry whispered. "Snape knew." He said suddenly.

I raised my eyebrows.

"About Voldemort and me. That it had to end this way. He was always working for Dumbledore." He breathed in deeply. "Because of my mother. He always loved her."

I nodded slowly. I'd already assumed that back in the Shrieking Shack. "So we've been wrong about him all along."

Harry nodded. "Dumbledore always trusted him." He was silent for a few moments. "Tell Hermione and Ron that I'm sorry. And that I love them. And Ginny..."

"They know." I whispered.

"How's Ron?" I could see the concern in Harry's eyes. Even now, when he was about to sacrifice his life, he was worried for his friends.

"His family's with him." I explained. "All of them."

At this, Harry relaxed. "That's good. And Remus and Tonks are also fine?"

I nodded.

Harry breathed in deeply. "Take care of them, Sirius."

"I will." I promised. "And you be careful." It was hard to say those things, knowing that I would never see Harry again.

"Always." Harry tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

We both stood up. "Let me accompany you to the forest." I said, but he shook his head.

"This is something I have to do alone." He muttered.

I nodded slowly, not happy with his words.

"You have to be there for Hermione now."

I sighed. "You always know what to say to make me do the things you want." I muttered, but glanced at the entrance to the Great Hall anyway.

We hugged each other again, but none of us said anything. Just before he wanted to walk away, Harry glanced at me again. "You have to kill the Snake. And then it's only him."

"We will." I said determinedly.

Harry nodded one last time and then he vanished under the Invisibility Cloak.

I looked after him for some time and didn't notice that someone was approaching me before a hand touched my arm carefully. "Sirius?" Hermione asked carefully.

When I looked at her, I saw the concern in her eyes. Only now I realized that I was still crying. "He's gone." I said simply.

"I already feared that." Hermione muttered.

Then we wrapped our arms around each other and cried. Soon, Ron also joined us and we all stood there and looked at the grounds silently.