The Ministry-supported funeral was beautiful. Stately. Fit for a man, although flawed, had certainly been a hero and savior to wizards everywhere. Our family hid in the shadows, our true relationship to the man unknown to many in attendance. But afterwards, we held a more private ceremony. Only our family and other close members of the Order were present. It was the first funeral I had ever attended despite being surrounded by so much death and destruction. My father maintained a stoic expression, his hand tightly gripping mine as we watched the lid of the tomb close shut on my grandfather's body. I was grateful that my last memory of my Papa was him winking at me right before the maze. At the time, I had assumed it was in reference to the knowledge we possessed about what lay ahead in the maze. But now, it felt as if he somehow knew that his end was drawing nigh. It was a peace offering, a truce, an indication that no matter our differences, he did believe in me. In Harry. I looked over at my brother, his face emotionless. Harry had been hit by frequent nightmares ever since the graveyard battle and watching Voldemort kill our grandfather. Harry had always been closer to Albus, their relationship not tainted by lack of trust and betrayal. I knew this loss was hitting him particularly hard. Then there was my grandmother. While students saw her as a formidable woman, I saw her compassion and love. Part of her looked lost now that Albus was gone. They had been inseparable and now she was tasked with carrying on without him. Keeping the family together and strong for all that was to come. I watched as my father embraced his mother at the service's conclusion. She maintained her straight face although I could see the series of tears streaming down her face. When it was my turn, I gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I love you granny. So did Papa."

She nodded and squeezed my hand, words an unattainable feat at the moment. I stepped back to allow others to offer their condolences to my grandmother and her sons. I allowed myself to get lost in my early childhood memories. To remember Albus for who he was in my life, long before the modification. To the world, he was a beacon of light and force for good. To me, he was the kind old man who always had a piece of candy for me hidden in his robes. A soft wailing to my right pulled me from my reverie. Sirius was gently rocking a little bundle, trying to shush the babe to sleep. I walked over to him and reached for the baby. A look of relief flashed in his tired and puffy eyes. Parenthood was the journey he and Remus were desperate to begin but had not anticipated starting on the heels of death.

After Tonks died in the graveyard, her mother, Sirius' aunt, asked if he and Remus would be interested in raising Tonks' baby. Andromeda felt she was too old to take on full responsibility and knew her nephew and his husband were fit for the job. I looked down at little Dora Narcissa, named after the fearless women in her family. She had piercing blue eyes and little wisps of white blonde hair. Remus and Sirius had asked if I would be her Godmother, which I readily accepted. I rocked her in my arms and began to sing her the lullabye I'd heard my mother use to calm Harry on sleepless nights. The little girl fell fast asleep, allowing Sirius the opportunity to go comfort his husband while Remus accepted guests' condolences.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emma, Harry, and Dora had fallen fast asleep leaving Severus, Remus, Sirius, and Minerva around the fire drinking tea. After the day's events, a quiet evening as a family felt in order. As they shared memories of Albus, a letter materialized and fell into Severus' lap. He threw a confused and questioning look to his mother and brother but neither one seemed to hold any answer. He quickly set down his tea cup and ripped the letter open. His heart lurched at his father's familiar handwriting.

Severus,

It would appear I learned something from Lily on charming letters to appear at a certain time or after a particular event has passed. I will be sure to share my appreciation for her brilliance and talents. It felt necessary to write down my suspicions about Tom's final Horcrux. I believe that when the final battle comes, there will be a time when he no longer sends his snake to do his bidding. If that occurs, you may take that as a sign the snake is a Horcrux. Destroy it as we have the others and Tom will be brought back to mortality, rendering him vulnerable and weak. Remember, my son, that in the end, this is not your fight but theirs. We must put our faith in Emma and Harry's ability to guide with love and light and to fight against the darkness within.

Albus

Severus looked up from the contents of the letter to see three pairs of eyes staring at him, practically on the edge of their seats. They all knew the story of Lily's letters and assumed it was another one of those. It raised it.

"It's from Albus."

Minerva threw him a quizzical look.

"What does it say?"

He reread the letter to the other adults, only looking up after he finished the last line.

"Fight against the darkness within? What could that possibly mean?" Sirius asked.

"Not sure. But you heard him, this is their fight. Albus must believe a time will come when the two of them will face Voldemort. We can do all that we can to prepare them but in the end, it is up to them."

Severus could feel Remus staring at him, waiting for Severus to respond. Instead, Severus looked away, his eyes landing on the sleeping forms of his two children. When he and Lily had dreamed of having a family, never once did they imagine having two children whose destinies were forever linked with the greatest evil. Yet here he was, a widower with no ability to truly protect his children from their fates. It was a heavy burden but there was no other way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Emma…Emma" Harry whispered.

My brother's voice pulled me from my sleepless dream. I turned over, confused to not be in my bed in Gryffindor tower. It appeared that we were still in my grandparent's private quarters, the blanket I'd been sleeping on transformed into a bed. The fire we had all been sitting around had long since died but in the glow I could see my brother's face.

"Yeah?"

"Did you hear Dad read that letter from Grandpa."

I felt my stomach drop. I had desperately hoped Harry was fast asleep when the letter appeared, not faking it like I had been.

"Yes I heard it."

A silence fell between us for a brief moment.

"Sounds like we just need to kill the snake and then Voldemort can be killed."

"Right. But you heard him say Voldemort will 'stop sending the snake to do his bidding'. We won't be able to get to it until the end."

Harry didn't respond after I offered that conclusion. It was a heavy realization for both of us. Whatever our fate turned out to be, it brought us incredibly close to the man we both despised, the wizard who had ruined so much of our lives.

"We'll be ready. We always are."