Chapter III

Lily's POV

Lily was pacing up and down the tent that night; she couldn't get her brain to stop worrying. It seemed like they were in a no win situation where her son was in danger no matter what. The door to her tent flipped open and Severus walked in.

"Is everyone okay?" She asked.

"Yes, everyone is fine, no injuries."

"Did all the kids get home?" Lily asked.

"Some decided to stay, it was safer for them here than home. Molly tried to take Ginny and Ron by force, but she was unsuccessful."

"We are not going to win this war with kids," Lily said scandalized.

"There is a prophecy that disagrees with you about that."

Lily glared. "I do not know how to keep him safe anymore."

"We killed the bastard once."

"Did we? He is still here!" Lily raised her voice. "What we did was lose James and buy us 11 years."

"11 years of peace, time for your son to grow up."

"To be slaughtered according to Dumbledore!"

"Dumbledore is not here either!" Severus rose and took her frantic hands in his. "We are, and we are going to find another way, I promise."

Lily fell asleep at some point last night, she wasn't even sure when. She just woke up in the tent's cot Severus's arms around her holding her tight, like she may run away during the night. He opened his eyes as soon as she moved to rise.

"How are you?" He asked in a raspy voice.

"As best as I can, all things considered."

"We should meet up with Remus and Sirius and talk strategy.'

"Mum!" Harry burst into the tent.

His eyes got as wide as saucers. She felt Severus freeze behind her. Damn lock charms that do not work on tents, she really didn't want to start her morning like this.

"You didn't just talk strategy and fall asleep, did you?" Harry asked after a tense silence.

"No," Lily answered.

"I should… leave you to talk," Severus finally came alive and moved to leave. The next few minutes were of awkward shoveling and silence.

"How long?" Harry asked when Severus left the tent.

"Recently, after the war started."

"So not before…"

"No!" Lily was surprised by her own steel tone. "I loved James with everything I had."

"And now you love… Severus?"

"Yes." No hesitance, she was surprised by that.

"I am not calling him dad." Harry said in the end in a very serious tone.

Lily burst out laughing.

Lily and Harry made their way to the command tent where Sirius, Severus and Remus were already waiting.

"So we gained 10 stubborn kids that do not want to go home," Sirius summarized.

"Have their parents been notified?" Lily asked.

"Some are orphans, some are purebloods, but we did try to contact the rest," Remus replied.

"Have the Death Eaters left the school?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Minerva confirmed it for us this morning," Severus reassured him.

"Would it be too dangerous to send the remaining kids there?" Lily asked.

"Probably… They took over the school once, we can't risk it," Remus frowned.

"Is it more dangerous than here though?" Lily asked.

"We can defend them better here," Severus assured her.

"Do we know where Voldemort moved his troops?" Harry asked looking at a map; they used pawns from his magical chess board as markers. Currently, the black ones had left the Hogwarts marker and were moving down towards the mainland.

"We assume to Malfoy Manor again, but we have no confirmation," Severus said.

"No, they are not," Draco said rushing in with a letter in hand. "I just got this from my father"

"Do you still keep in contact with him!?" Harry raised his voice in surprise.

"Of course not," Draco said cold. "He said he used a tracking spell, blood magic to find me."

"What does he say?" Severus asked.

"Apologies." Draco scanned the letter. "And also informs me the Death Eaters plan to attack London next, muggle London, in an effort to draw us out."

"But what about the Secrecy rule?" Sirius jumped appalled.

"It's not like there is much of a Government left to enforce any rules," Remus said in a small voice

"When?" Harry asked Draco.

"Tonight," Draco said tight. Lily spent enough time with purebloods to notice the signs of fear, a slight tremor of the hand holding the letter, a chipped tone.

"I should go and inform the werewolves," Remus said.

"Can we rely on them if the battle is in muggle London?" Lily asked.

"We should draw them out on our turf," Sirius said. "Tell them to get ready and we can plan a strike first."

"A strike to where?" Draco asked.

"I need a drop of your blood, we can find out," Lily said.

"Lils, blood magic is outlawed," Severus grabbed her arm worried.

"They let me go with killing him the first time," Lily said in a false chipper tone.

In a few minutes they had Malfoy's approximate location, they studied the map thoroughly and picked a clearing near the pureblood's estate they were currently in, the Parkinsons'.

"I need to inform the werewolves," Remus said when they had the location.

"Take care," Sirius sighed and kissed his husband good-bye absentmindedly.

"That means that you are out of the battle," Remus reminded him.

"Come on…" Sirius whined.

"Teddy," Remus said serious.

"Come back home," Sirius grabbed his hand. Lily always got worried when Sirius got serious, pun intended.

"I promise," Remus stopped and reassured his husband.

"I will be at the command center, give me that at least."

"Okay," Remus amended, "but at any sign of trouble…"

"Apparate home and take Teddy!" Sirius repeated as it was rehearsed.

Remus nodded and left.

"Draco, you are with me on potions," Severus announced.

"And you are out of the final battle" Harry jumped in.

"No, I am not" Draco's tone had no inflections.

"But you are…" Harry stammered.

"Wandless?" Draco raised a challenging eyebrow. "I have the family wand, I can do fine."

"If something happens…"

"What? Should I apparate home and take care of the children?"

Harry got red, looking like a very intimidating tomato.

"I just… would fight better knowing you're safe."

"What makes you think you will be on the field at all?" Lily asked. "Both of you are in the command center with Sirius."

"But, mum, we already proved ourselves," Harry whined.

"In stealth mission under observation, not in direct combat!" Lily argued.

"What was all this training for then?" Harry challenged.

"To keep you alive if you had to defend yourself in an attack. This is an offense."

"We have enough experienced fighters to handle this fight," Severus lied. They were severely outnumbered, even with the werewolves, but the kids didn't need to hear that.

"You are outnumbered even with the werewolves," Draco piped in smug.

"That doesn't mean we need kids on the field," Sirius said. "Protecting you would take too much of our time and resources."

"You were younger than us when you joined the Order!" Harry argued.

"And I never forgave Dumbledore for that," Lily said cold.

"They will be after me regardless," Harry said.

"They won't know we are coming!" Lily said an edge to her voice.

They apparated to the battle field. Harry and Draco were not in the front line, but she feared it wouldn't be for long. All the other kids were with them, even if Lily was against it. Remus and the werewolves were already there, a handful of them could transform at will and the rest were not trained for combat. She was trying to remain hopeful, but she felt a chill in her bones.

According to Lucius's letter, they would arrive here soon, for now the field was empty except for small wildflowers. Severus stood by her side and laced his hand in hers, a small gesture of comfort she was starting to relay on.

The werewolves tensed, probably smelling the magic in the air. Remus explained to her once that when people apparated he could smell the magic before they materialized. She tensed and got her wand ready.

The Death Eater started appearing in large numbers, curses started flying lighting the sky like fireworks. Severus let go of her hand and engaged them. Lily cursed the closest Death Eater to her, his face swallowed horribly and the bats arrived soon. Lily smirked and moved to the next.

She cast a Protego around Ron stopping a red nasty curse before it could hit its target. Ron turned a grateful smile in her direction. He was too small to be here, they all were….A werewolf jumped in front of Lavander stopping a green deadly ray, while transformed they were immune to killing curses. Lavander shook behind its fur. So damn young.

Lily threw her eye over the field everyone was engaging the Death Eaters, some people laid in the field, but she couldn't see who they were, on which side. The kids were vicious using all the spells they've been taught. Remus was leading a pack of werewolves to her right, his wolf form was so much bigger than last time she saw him. Remus snarled, her instincts screamed for her to run even if her mind knew it was Remus. He jumped in front of an even bigger wolf, the largest of their enemies that Lily assumed must've been Greyback. They circled each other and then pounced at the same time. The other fighters gave them a wide berth, Lily's body jerked to help, but she knew this is Remus's fight.

Voldemort and Bella were nowhere to be found… she saw Peter, fighting a snarling Bodin and Lucius engaging Severus, but not those two… The dread returned and froze her veins; this was a distraction.

Lily dug for the mirror in her pocket and called Sirius back at camp. She could feel magic wash over her and a curse hit the newly formed shield. She didn't turn to thank whoever did it as her hand shook. Sirius didn't reply.

"What's wrong?" Severus's worried voice asked.

"They set up a trap to get Harry!" Lily said agitated. "We need to go!"

She grabbed Severus's arm and apparated near the campsite. She could see from the distance, Selena's huge natural form looming; she breathed a sigh of relief. Selena would protect Harry with her life and she was nearly indestructible.

She and Severus arrived at the camp site, the main tent was in tatters, squished by something big and some of the smaller tents were burning. They heard screaming, there was a fight going on in front of them. They hurried up ahead.

They arrived to a surprising scene, Sirius was in front of the boys, shielding them, Bella and Voldemort got them surrender with Selena's body in the middle. Then Selena lounged at her family, Sirius put up a shield to stop her initial attack, but then curses flew from the other's ones.

Lily and Severus jumped right in, cursing Bellatrix away from them and getting Selena's attention. Sirius spun into action then, attacking Voldemort full on and moving the fight away from the kids. Severus went after Bellatrix leaving Lily to engage Selena, the enormous almost indestructible snake, Sirius got the better deal she thinks.

Harry tried talking to her, but it didn't deter the snake that was still coming straight for her. Lily dove from its path, but she still heard the snake coming, suddenly Severus and Bella got quiet. Lily risked a look at them and both were frozen on the field, curses still on their lips as Selena left them behind.

"No!" Harry shouted.

Selena is advancing towards her with nothing in its way now. Lily closed her eyes trying to remember anything she knew about basilisk…Severus was trying a summoning before he started fighting Bellatrix, but what was it? The shadow of the snake was looming over her, probably ready to lounge and eat her whole, when she hear Harry's voice. Harry finished the summoning Severus started, Lily was still holding her eyes closed when she hear a rooster's cry, then nothing from Selena. She opened her eyes and the basilisk was indeed gone. Harry looked heartbroken.

"You will pay for that, traitor!" Voldemort spat and another snake, smaller this time, but still huge by normal standards lounged at them.

Harry tried hissing, but it didn't seem to listen. Lily cast a few curses, but the damn thing dodged them. Lily raises a shield and its fangs got stuck in it. Big poisonous fangs.

"It's a Horcrux!" Draco screamed from the other side of the field running towards them.

"Not so fast, mister Malfoy!" Voldemort moved in front of him. Sirius was throwing curses at him, but he parried them easily and even the one that landed didn't seem to hurt him at all. "I need to pay a debt with you" Voldemort talked, his words chipped and hissed. He casted a Petrificus Totalus and Draco stopped mid step.

Harry's eyes glow with rage, he turns from the snake to Voldemort and throws all the curses he knew at him, Lily was impressed. With Voldemort busy, Lily turned her attention to the snake. A living Horcrux? How would they even attempt to kill it?

She threw a few more curses at the damn thing, but they just bounced off. She was tempted to see if an Unforgivable spell works when Sirius arrived by her side.

The snake attacked again, Lily's shield grew weaker as the venom rotted at it. What even was that thing? Another lunge, and the shield cracked. Lily saw something glint in Sirius's hand in the corner of her eye before the snake attacked.

The shield shattered around her, she looked over at the snake ready to try one of the Unforgivable spells on it when she saw Sirius's hand. It held a hilt of a sword plunged into the belly of the snake. The sword of Gryffindor, of course!

Sirius tossed the snake away and the sword started disappearing from his hands the moment the corpse hit the ground.

"Nagini!" Voldemort cried.

Looking at him again, Lily could see that his face got flaky, like he was peeling away. He hadn't looked that bad a few moments ago, so it was true, killing the Horcruxes would kill him too, but then… Lily's eyes went to Harry unconsciously.

"Maybe now he is weak enough" Sirius whispered. She and Sirius circled Voldemort and started attacking, Lily even casted Crucio, but nothing seemed to work. She saw with the corner of her eye, Harry moving for Draco and using the counter curse on him. Draco and Harry started immediately whispering furiously with eachother. Then Draco gave him a potion, Harry drank it straight away and immediately sagged in Draco's arms.

"Harry!" Lily called. She trusted Draco, but seeing that… the rational part of her mind went to polijuice potion, Imperio….

"Hit him with everything you have now," Draco called. Lily and Sirius cast at the same time, Voldemort raised a shield. His skin was flaking, visible in the sun now, Lily's skin crawled.

Lily and Sirius flanked him, hitting him from both sides with the most powerful curses they knew. Lily used some that were on the cusp of being against the law. The shield held for a few rounds, then it broke with a sound of china hitting the floor. Severus's curse land3e first, then Lily's, a few seconds of being defenseless and Voldemort fell.

Lily rushed over to Harry. Sirius, more practical for once, rushed over to help Severus. He caught Bellatrix in a moment of stupor over her master's death and froze her. Severus panted exhausted, Bella had always been a good duelist.

"What have you done?" She hissed.

"Draught of the living dead," Draco replied, Harry still cradled in his arms. "I figured if his heart stops, the magic connecting them may see him as dead and we have a chance against Voldemort."

"Do you have the Wiggenweld Potion?" Lily asked.

"Yes," Draco takes another vial from his pouch. He put the vial to his mouth and then kissed Harry.

Lily remained speechless.

In a few minutes, Harry started coughing as his chest start moving again. Draco held onto him for a second and then released him.

"What happened?" He asked confused.

"We defeated him," Lily said and hugged her son tighter.

Epilogue

Lily knew she would be late again as she was rushing over the Floo. The clinic had been so busy recently since they opened the Elf Relocation and Health Center. She burst through the Floo on Platform 9 ¾ she didn't got to use it since its installation last year since Severus didn't use the train to get to Hogwarts.

"You're late," Sirius hissed as soon as his eyes landed on her.

"Yes, I know, but I didn't miss it, did I?" She called.

"No and we are grateful you came," Remus piped in.

"Where are they?" She asked.

"Look, there they are, trying to escape Harry and socialize."

"Blond hair today" She remarked.

"Dora kept campaigning Hufflepuf over the summer," Remus rolled his eyes affectionate.

"When she has kids I will buy them only green things," Sirius huffed.

"Well, prepare to buy a lot of green baby dragon blankets then," Remus laughed.

"Has he finally transferred to Scotland!?" Sirius returned surprised.

"Stop gossiping about family," Andromeda scolded them.

"Who should we even gossip about if not them," Sirius laughed.

Harry and Teddy finally reached them.

"Okay, the luggage is secured," Harry informed Remus that nodded.

"Will Sparky be alright there alone?" Teddy asked, his hair turning a bit blue. Dora was teaching him how to control his emotions with his metamorphus powers, but it was a slow process.

"He is not alone, they are a lot of other pets and familiars in the train," Harry reassured him.

"But they are no other ferrets," Teddy mumbled.

"They should be none, but Minny has a soft spot for me," Sirius looks like a puffed out peacock.

"Or Draco," Harry piped in, a huge grin on his face like he always had at any mention of his fiancé.

"Is he coming, by the way?" Remus asked.

Harry checks his watch. "France is an hour ahead of us. I hope he set his Tempus right."

"I am always on time, Potter," Draco hissed.

"Draco!" Teddy screamed excited and jumed into their cousin's waiting arms.

Draco hugged them close and then moves to plant a kiss on Harry's cheek.

"Thank you for coming, love," Harry beamed.

"I wouldn't miss Teddy's first time going to Hogwarts," Draco said and ruffles the kid's hair.

Harry glared.

"And I am here to say goodbye to you, you know the Defense curse and all. I am preparing myself to be a widower."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Is Severus already gone?" Draco asked Lily.

"Yes, the house heads had to be there early."

The train released a loud call.

"We have to go!" Harry grabbed Teddy's hand.

"Take care!" Remus hugged his kid one last time.

"Send an owl as soon as you get back from the Feast!" Sirius called.

"Yes, dad I will," Teddy called distracted.

Harry rushed Teddy inside the train. Lily waved them off and turned to Sirius that was full on crying on Remus's shoulder.

"They will be fine, Pads!" Remus comforted his husband.

"What if they get bullied or… sorted into Slytherin."

"Slytherin is not a bad house." Draco called offended.

"We know all the teachers, we have Harry working there as well from this year. Severus, Minerva, Neville, Hagrid promised to keep an eye on them as well."

"But what if they get in trouble, we are too far to help…"

"If they wouldn't get in trouble, they wouldn't be your kid," Andromeda muttered.

"Come on, let's grab a drink," Lily patted a sniffing Sirius on the back. "You have time for a glass of wine?" Lily asked Draco.

He checked his watch. "I have a master's class starting in an hour," He said apologetic.

"I still do not understand why you had to go for a course so far from home," Sirius grumbles. "You need an international portkey only to visit."

"I am in my last year," Draco rolls his eyes. "And it will matter when I bring all my potions knowledge back to the clinic. Anyway, have to go!" Draco hugged them all and activated his portkey.

"All the kids are leaving me!" Sirius wailed.

"Hermione and Pansy are still in town," Remus said.

"They are both too busy to even visit… Last time Pansy took her interview at the dinner table…" Sirius complained.

"At least they visit. Dora is in town and I've barely seen her since she started back with the Aurors," Andromeda huffed.

"Moony, I want another kid!" Sirius prompted serious.

"Next orphan left in a basket on our doorstep is ours, I promise!" Remus deadpanned.

"Are we sure we want to pour alcohol into him now?" Lily whispered to Remus.

Remus laughed.

"Come on, Luna sent us some good wine from Italy on her last trip," Sirius called.

"Coming!" Remus and Lily hurried to catch up with Andromeda and Sirius that were walking ahead.