The next chapter! I'm sorry that it took me so long to write it, but I've been busy with life and other stories those past weeks. I hope you don't mind. Please let me know what you think about this chapter! I didn't describe all the scenes in the battle, but I think we all know what happens there.

I've started to edit the story a few days ago, so there will be a few changes in the first chapters. I won't change the plot, don't worry. Mostly, I'll just fix a few mistakes.

And just in case you're wondering, I think the story will have about 80 chapters in the end, so there's not too much left.

I don't own the characters or places!

Sirius

We didn't have much time to prepare traps for the Death Eaters, I was sure of that. The tension in the castle seemed to rise with every passing minute. Next to me, Remus seemed to feel it too. He was tense and looked around from time to time, as if he was already expecting an attack.

"So what is it you're looking for?" Remus asked quietly. "You know you can trust me, Sirius. Don't tell me that you need the diadem for the wisdom it should give a person."

I sighed. "It's a long story. There is a way to defeat You-Know-Who. We need the diadem and have to destroy it."

Remus narrowed his eyes. "There are more objects than just that?"

"Exactly. We've been looking for them those past months."

"I would have loved to go with you." Remus muttered and I remembered our conversation at Grimmauld Place what felt like ages ago.

"You know that it was the right choice to stay." I said softly.

"I do." He agreed. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have Teddy now. But I would have liked to help anyway."

"You did when you let me stay with you. And now you're helping as well." I reminded him.

He smiled at me, but didn't get the chance to say anything else. We heard footsteps and already raised our wands, but it were just Fred and George. "We've set up the trap close to the stairs." Fred said with a grin.

"They won't see it coming!" George agreed.

I nodded. "That's good. Shall we continue then?"

Together, we ran to the next point in the castle we wanted to set up a trap. We continued like that for some time when we noticed that something changed.

More people were running through the castle now, led my Prefects and other teachers. They were heading in the direction of the Room of Requirement. "They're evacuating the students." Remus whispered next to me. "I'd like to know what caused this."

We didn't have to wait long for news about this. It was Neville who informed us. "Harry has been seen with McGonagall. Apparently, she fought Snape and he fled! Now the students should leave and everyone else prepares to fight!" He grinned. "This is so exciting! Finally, something happens. It was about time."

"Do you know where Harry is now?" I asked, wanting to join my godson again. "And what about Ron and Hermione?"

Neville shrugged. "I'm sorry, don't know about that! I have to keep going, we want to set another trap at the bridge outside!" With that, he vanished again, Ginny and Seamus close behind him.

"It's starting." I muttered and next to me, Remus nodded.

"I have to find Tonks." He said. "You should look for the others."

"I won't leave you alone in all this chaos." I said sternly. "We'll look for them together!"

It didn't take long for us to find Tonks. She was in front of the Room of Requirement, together with other members of the Order. I could see Kingsley, Bill and Fleur as well as Molly and Arthur among them. To our surprise, the statues and suits of armor of the castle were walking outside.

Tonks grinned when she saw us. "Minerva woke the statues!" She exclaimed and her eyes were shining in excitement. "I've never seem something like this!"

"It's fascinating, but I don't think we have the time to look at it any longer." Remus said and smiled slightly. "There will be a battle soon."

Suddenly, we heard loud voices.

"That was Harry Potter!"

"Harry Potter!"

"It was him, I swear, I just saw him!"

Remus smiled at me. "Seems like you don't have to look for Harry any longer."

I nodded and relief washed over me. I had already feared that something happened to him. Soon, he came around the next corner, together with Luna. There was a stressed expression on his face and he stopped when he saw us.

"Sirius, Remus!" He called loudly and I grinned.

"Did you find it?" I asked instead of greeting him.

"No, but I know whom I have to ask." Harry said breathlessly. "Where are Ron and Hermione? Did they return yet?"

"They didn't." I explained. "I've been looking for you when we stopped here."

"The ghosts might know where it is." Harry muttered. "I have to talk to them."

"I'll come with you." I offered immediately, but he shook his head.

"You have to find Ron and Hermione. We need a way to destroy it once it's found!" Harry shouted. "Here, take this" he shoved the Marauder's Map into my hands "then you can find them and me again! The entrance to the Chamber is the girl's bathroom on the second floor!" Without another word, Harry turned around and vanished in the crowd again.

I exchanged a look with Remus. "Will you be fine?" I asked.

"We'll help you finding them!" Remus said determinedly.

"No, you're needed here! The battle will begin soon!" I protested, but of course they didn't listen to me. Instead, Remus took the lead and together, we ran towards said bathroom. On our way, we met more and more students who were trying to leave the castle in panic. I feared that they wouldn't all make it in time. Inwardly, I cursed for causing this situation in the first place. If we wouldn't have come here, there wouldn't be a battle. However, we didn't have a choice. We needed to destroy the Horcrux.

While we were running, I scanned the Map for Hermione's and Ron's names, but it took some time until I finally found them. "They're on their way downstairs!" I shouted and Remus changed the direction without hesitation. Soon, I took the lead since I could follow their steps on the Map now. Everywhere in the castle, members of the Order were casting protecting spells and I felt the urge to help them, but I resisted. The Horcrux was our priority, not the defense of the castle.

When we finally spotted Ron and Hermione, I sighed in relief. They were carrying lots of yellow objects which I knew were basilisk fangs. Ron was also carrying a broom. They saw us and stopped.

"Sirius!" Hermione shouted and nearly let the fangs fall to the ground. "Where's Harry?"

"Searching for the diadem!" I explained. "He said I should get you."

"How did you find us in all this chaos?" Ron asked incredulously.

I showed them the Map. "Harry gave it to me. So we can also find him now."

"Where is he looking for the diadem?" Hermione asked.

"He wanted to talk to the ghosts." I said shortly. I was already looking for Harry's name on the Marauder's Map again.

"Brilliant." Hermione whispered. "The ghost of Ravenclaw!"

"There he is!" Ron had been looking at the Map as well. "But where is he heading?"

"Looks like he's going back to the Room of Requirement." I muttered thoughtfully.

"We should follow him!" Ron exclaimed.

And that's what we did, together with Remus and Tonks. "You can't go with us all the way!" I told them when we passed a corridor that wasn't so crowded.

"We know, but for now, we'll stay with you." Tonks said determinedly and Remus nodded.

"You're impossible." I whispered, but honestly, I was glad that they were with us.

I glanced at the Map again. "Harry has nearly reached the Room of Requirement."

"So do we!" Hermione shouted.

It was true, we met Harry directly in front of the room. Just that it wasn't filled with people anymore. Instead, they were all leaving it. "What's going on here?" I asked loudly.

Harry spun around when he heard my voice. He looked from me to Hermione and Ron. The relief in his eyes was obvious. "I need to go in there. It doesn't work when others use the room."

"He's hidden it in the Room of Requirement?" I asked incredulously.

Harry nodded. "And I've already seen it once." He described how he'd hidden the Potions book of the Half-Blood Prince.

When the room was empty, I turned to Remus and Tonks. "Please be careful."

"We will be." Remus assured me and I hugged him tightly. "Don't do anything stupid, Padfoot." He whispered into my ear.

"You too, Moony. I will see you again soon." I didn't want to think of how it would feel like to lose my best friend.

We exchanged one last smile before they joined Kingsley to strengthen the wards around the school.

"So let's get that Horcrux." Harry muttered and together, we entered the Room of Requirement.

It all ended in disaster. We met Draco, Crabbe and Goyle in the Room of Requirement. It ended in a battle and the outbreak of fire which destroyed everything in there and nearly killed us. In all this chaos, I wasn't sure if Harry managed to get the Horcrux, but at least I hoped so. Crabbe didn't survive the incident, but everyone else could escape the room unharmed.

Luckily, Harry had the diadem. And it was destroyed by the Fiendfyre. Right now, Hermione, Ron and I were kneeling in front of Harry, who had his eyes closed and was breathing heavily. We all knew that he was looking inside Voldemort's mind now.

Suddenly, Harry opened his eyes. "It's the snake. She's the last one. It's the last Horcrux." He gasped and looked at us with wide eyes.

Ron leaned forward, a serious look on his face. "Look inside him, Harry. Find out where he is, if you find him, we can find the snake. And we can end this!"

Next to me, Hermione didn't look happy, but she didn't protest. I took her hand and squeezed it. This was our best choice to put an end to this war.

It didn't take long until Harry opened his eyes again. "I know where he is."

We all followed Harry through the battle and towards the Shrieking Shack. It was clever to hide there. Not too far away from the castle, but also not too close. No one would ever go there freely.

On our way, we were involved in many fights and saw lots of our friends.

"Hello, Minister!" A loud voice startled us when we rounded a corner and we saw Percy and Fred Weasley standing in front of Thicknesse, who was lying on the ground and tried to reach for his wand. "Did I mention I'm resigning?"

"You're joking, Perce!" Fred shouted and grinned at Percy when the last Death Eater was lying in the ground. "You actually are joking, Perce... I don't think I've heard you joke since you were -"

The sound of footsteps caught my attention and it was just in time. I was able to cast a single protection spell and then not too far away from us, an explosion took place. My spell couldn't prevent it completely and we were all flying through the air. I heard pained gaps and someone muttered a spell to let the dust in the air vanish. When we were able to see again, I jumped to my feet and sent a wave of spells towards the Death Eaters.

"Everyone alright?" Harry asked, but I didn't turn around. I kept focused on the hallway in front of us, waiting for another attack.

"Might have broken an arm." Fred muttered and the others all said that they were fine.

"We have to keep going." Hermione said urgently.

"Will you be alright?" Ron asked and I knew it was directed at Percy and Fred.

"Yeah, we'll join the others again." Percy said. "Can you fight, Fred?"

"I can wave my wand, that should be enough for now." Fred agreed.

"Be careful!" Ron called out before we continued to ran towards the entrance hall.

We weren't able to run fast. Every time we just defeated a Death Eater, the next one seemed to appear. It was difficult enough to stay together. Soon, a few other members of the Order joined us right before we left the castle. Outside, the chaos was even worse. I saw giants, Death Eaters and spiders fighting against our people. Even a few Dementors were in the air.

Even while we were running, I looked out for Remus and Tonks. I would never forgive myself if something happened to them in all this. And that's when I saw them. Tonks was lying on the ground and I wasn't sure if she was just unconscious or if it was worse. In front of her, Remus was fighting Dolohov and it didn't look good. He was wounded and even from the distance I could see that he was in pain.

"Keep going, I'll find you!" I shouted at Harry and the others. Before they could react, I'd changed the direction I was running in and headed towards Remus and his opponent. I knew that I wouldn't be fast enough when Remus was forced to his knees, so I did the only thing I could think of in this moment. While running I changed my form and sped towards the two men. Without slowing down, I collided with Dolohov and his wand fell to the ground.

A dark growl escaped my mouth when I jumped at him again, this time aiming for his throat. I got hold of his shoulder instead and he screamed in pain. Then Remus was next to me and stunned Dolohov with a movement of his wand. There was blood on his face and jacket and he looked like he would break down soon, but he smiled weakly. "Thank you, Sirius."

I changed back to my human form and raised my wand. "Don't thank me." I knelt down next to Tonks without loosing sight of our surroundings. "She's alive." Her pulse was weak, but there. "You have to get her away from here."

Remus nodded, but in that state, I doubted that he'd be able to carry her. So I took her into my arms and stood up. "Can you back me up?"

Remus hesitated. "You're losing sight of Harry and the others."

He was right, but I couldn't just leave them here.

"I'll take Tonks." Another voice said suddenly and I turned around to see Kingsley, Aberforth and Arthur. "You have to stay with Harry." Kingsley said sternly.

I nodded with relief. "Take care of them and yourselves."

"You too."

I knew that I wouldn't be able to catch up with the others like this. I changed into Padfoot again and ran. When I finally spotted them again, they had nearly reached the Whomping Willow.

"Sirius!" Hermione had seen me first and there was worry in her eyes. "What happened?"

"Tonks and Remus will be fine." I told them once I changed back. "The others are with them. We have to focus on the task at hand now."

The others nodded and together, we entered the secret passageway that would lead us to the Shrieking Shack.