Beta by d1n0s...

The three of them appeared on the school grounds near Hagrid's hut. His body still weak from the effect of the poison, Dumbledore just about fell to his knees but was caught by Snape.

"Where were you?", asked Snape angrily.

"Not now, my boy. I promise I will tell you later", answered Dumbledore weakly.

Severus looked like wanted to say something further but Dumbledore raised a hand to stop him from speaking.

"It isn't about trust Severus, as I've told you and many others, I trust you with my life. Only this secret, I have to be careful with. You are too close to him and if he should find out, we won't be able to stop him from getting what he's always wanted", explained Dumbledore, seriously.

"So, Potter's mind is shielded enough then?", asked Snape sarcastically.

"After last term, Voldemort hasn't used the link again.", answered Dumbledore.

Severus snorted. "Fools, you never know with the Dark Lord."

Dumbledore sighed and decided to let the matter sit, he just didn't have the energy to argue with Severus.

"They'll be here soon, Sir.", Potter spoke.

"Severus, bring Harry out of here", ordered Dumbledore.

"What?? I'm not leaving you here alone to face them!", hissed Severus.

"I can handle myself, and you still have your other job to do, my boy", answered Dumbledore. "Now, both of you. Go".

"You are not in any condition to fight, Albus.", growled Severus.

"Potter, go hide yourself, now!", demanded Snape.

Harry quickly hid under his invisibility cloak. He wasn't far enough that he still couldn't listen to the conversation between Snape and the Headmaster though. Dumbledore seemed to trust Snape more than anything and Snape looked like he at the least had a grudging respect for the Headmaster. He might be wrong for taking the dungeon bat as a traitor. He wondered what made him changed sides.

"Severus..."

Severus turned to the only man he held the slightest bit of respect for, blue eyes met black.

"Regardless of what happens to me, you must protect Harry", said Albus.

Harry still hidden under his cloak stood stunned at Dumbledore's words and then turned to hear Snape's response.

In Harry's first year Snape had already promised to Lily's memory to protect Potters' brat but the odds made it unlikely he could so without the Headmaster at full health.

"Of course, Headmaster", Snape replied resentfully. Then, turned back to see the Death Eaters exiting the castle.

The Death Eaters were bringing the coffin with them, Bellatrix and Draco having also rejoined the group.

Stopping at the entryway Bellatrix raised her wand and with a cry said," Morsmordre!" causing the signature sign of the Death Eaters to appear in the sky over the castle, the Dark Mark. She then hurried after them, only noticing Dumbledore and Snape when she finally caught up with the others.

"I knew it!! you're a traitor, little Snape!!", yelled Bellatrix.

Severus stayed silent as he wasn't sure if his cover was truly blown or not because despite what they told the Dark Lord later, he may still be able to talk his way out of this.

"So, this is where you were hiding Dumbledore.", sneered Bellatrix.

"I didn't know you were looking for me, my dear", said Albus innocently, raising an eyebrow.

"You are going to die tonight, Headmaster to many names Dumbledore.", said Bellatrix letting out a maniacal laugh.

Harry was nervous. There were eight Death Eaters including Draco Malfoy. He was furious with Malfoy for bringing the Death Eaters into the castle. He kept looking at Dumbledore and Snape but neither of them made a move yet.

"You are in my home, Bella.", said Dumbledore, his voice turned grave "You should be worrying about yourself, the Aurors are on their way."

"Do I look worried?" Bella laughed.

"Return the coffin and then I'll let you apparate away", bargained Dumbledore.

"This is my counter offer, let us kill you and then we'll leave your body in one piece so it can be buried.", said Bella, smiling wickedly.

Dumbledore didn't even flinch at Bellatrix's threat but Snape seemed nervous and kept glancing at the Headmaster.

In a rush the Death Eaters raised their wands and started to fire off several curses towards Dumbledore and Snape. Curses were headed directly towards them and they were outnumbered. Harry could see Snape was indeed a skilled dueler as he deflected spell after spell and those, he couldn't he sidestepped and Dumbledore in his weakened state was still putting up a good fight. Two death eaters went down, one was taken out by Dumbledore, another one by Snape.

As several curses streamed towards Dumbledore at the same time, Dumbledore swept his wand in front of him releasing a powerful wave of magic that dispersed the curses and knocked his opponents off their feet.

The Headmaster took the opportunity to shoot a spell of his own towards the coffin, pulling it through the air towards him.

"Confringo!" shouted Bellatrix.

She shot her curse towards the coffin blasting it into pieces, the corpse rocketing into the air with the force of the explosion but gravity still more powerful caused it to fall rapidly towards the ground.

Dumbledore was trying save the corpse but all his spells were intercepted by the Death Eaters. While Severus was unable to help as he was fending off both Fenrir Greyback and Amycus Carrow.

Harry saw no one able to save the body. So, he took the opportunity to reveal himself and saved the body from hitting the ground.

"Aresto momentum"

The Death Eaters turned abruptly to the voice.

"Well.. Well... Well Potty is here, trying to help your beloved Headmaster I see", mocked Bellatrix.

Severus scowled as he saw the boy. Potter always made a situation more difficult. He needed to be quick.

"Stupefy!" he fired a stunner towards Greyback as he was the only one who could still be dangerous without a wand.

"Sectumsempra", a curse was directed at Snape from behind.

Severus turned around, and with a flick of his wand, he deflected the curse easily. "How pathetic, Carrow," sneered Snape," and you thought you could use my own spell against me?"

Severus immediately shot a red curse towards Amycus Carrow, the man crumple to the ground, unconscious.

Gibbon, Rowle, and the carrows were currently out of the picture, unfortunately Severus was sure that Greyback would be up again at any moment so now was likely his only chance to assist the Headmaster.

Harry gaped at Snape's words. 'His own spell? The curse that was crafted by the Half-blood prince?', thought Harry.

Harry pulled the corpse closer to himself and lay his cloak over it. He didn't notice someone quietly approaching him from behind.

Albus sent a powerful red stream towards Yaxley, causing the man to instantly drop to the ground unconscious. At that he coughed violently as the poison weakened his body further, blood dripping from his mouth.

Taking a chance Bellatrix shouted "Expelliarmus!"

Albus Dumbledore was disarmed by Bellatrix Lestrange.

The Elder wand went flying from his grip and dropped close to where Harry was standing.

The insane witch was in return quickly disarmed with an Expelliarmus from a hurriedly approaching Snape.

"Snape!!", yelled Bellatrix angrily.

"Surrender, Lestrange!" Snape snarled

Bellatrix smirked while looking over Snape's back, then laughed. "Well done, Greyback"

Albus and Severus quickly turned around searching for Greyback and saw the werewolf his wand pointed at Harry.

"One wrong move, Snape and I'll kill him", shouted Greyback.

Severus scowled. He turned to Albus and received a nod from the old man.

Snape turned back stonily as he remembered Albus' order and his own promise to Lily.

"Draco.. it's your turn", said Bella, smiling wickedly. The boy moved forward and stood beside his aunt. He raised his wand hesitantly.

Albus could see the boy hesitate. "Draco, you are not a murderer"

"I have to", said Draco.

"Don't listen to him Draco, do it now!", hissed Bellatrix.

"It is alright Draco I forgive you.", said Albus gently with a resigned look on his face.

Draco finally lowered his wand. Bellatrix's face was in shock and rage at her nephew's feebleness. Without wasting anymore time, she grabbed the wand out of Draco's hand.

"Avada kedavra!!" a flash of green light streamed towards the Headmaster.

Suddenly, a blue flash appeared out of nowhere shielding Dumbledore from the killing curse. The flash to Harry's eyes looked like that of a bird made of blue flames.

Severus took the opportunity to attack Greyback as everyone was distracted.

" Potter down!"

" Confringo!" Harry was able to throw himself to the ground in time as the spell flew over him.

Greyback was hit with a blasting curse and was slammed into a large nearby tree, sliding to the ground unconscious.

21h agoAt the moment that the green light disappeared, the blue bird made of flames came together to form a man, a man all attending were sure just a short moment ago was dead. Standing in front of them to all of their astonishment was Felixus Albus Dumbledore.

"Seems that people need a little reminder that those who wish to harm my father need to go through me first", said the tall brown hair man, with blue eyes.

With a wave of his right hand, Bellatrix Lestrange was disarmed.

Bending over and reaching down Felix took a wand from the ground which he thought looked an awful lot like his own and then pointed upwards throwing a powerful curse towards the sky.

"Vitus!" Red sparks erupted from the wand causing a loud thunder clap to be heard and the sky to turn a deep red with roiling clouds. Lightning leapt from the storming clouds to explode in the sky against the Dark Mark causing it to disappear.

Bellatrix swiftly pulled Draco to her and activated a Portkey made from a bracelet around her wrist, Yaxley the only other to escape after quickly grabbing hold of the Portkey Bellatrix was using

Albus approached his son and placed a hand on his shoulder to check if his old eyes weren't playing tricks on him. Under his grip he found the person standing in front of him to be solid, warm, and very much alive. A single tear fell down his cheek. Felix's face was the same as that from the memory he and Harry had viewed not that long, that of a healthy 42-year-old.

"Father. .. are you alright?", asked Felix concernedly as he saw his father crying.

Albus could only nod happily and pull his son into a tight hug.

Please review

Please favourite

Please follow