Chapter 46: The End of the Road?

"Don't…don't make…my mistakes! …Be brave…be a Gryffindor! Don't run...don't hate…just be…GOOD! AAAAAAARGH!"

Peter woke with a start, pale, sweating and in shock. He instinctively patted himself harshly, as if to put flames out.

"Peter?"

James and Sirius were roused from their slumbers at the scream Peter had just let out upon wakening and dashed over to his four-poster.

"What is it, Pete?" asked Sirius.

"Bad…bad dream…" replied Peter.

But was it? It felt so real…so agonising…all he knew was, that he didn't want it to ever be real!

"Norton gave you a Troll, did he?" asked James.

"No…I was on fire…I was telling myself…not to make mistakes…and to be a brave Gryffindor."

James and Sirius were puzzled. As far as they were concerned, there was no predicting that scenario.

"But…you are brave, Peter," said James.

"Oh?"

"You stood up to Malfoy, remember? Almost took him out by yourself when you saw us getting hurt! You're brilliant, and a Gryffindor worthy of the name!" added Sirius encouragingly.

Peter felt better for that.

"Yeah…I guess it was just a dream after all…sorry to wake you guys."

"No problem, Peter," replied James, "we're normally up later than this anyway. And it's a Saturday in the morning anyway."

"Hogsmeade trip…can't wait!" grinned Sirius, thinking of the adventures they could have with the extended privileges endorsed by James' Invisibility Cloak.

The three of them went to sleep that night, with a smile on their faces at the thoughts of Honeydukes, The Three Broomsticks and maybe, now that Remus was in the Hospital Wing at all times, the Shrieking Shack.

Meanwhile, Severus, warm and comfortable, slept in his bed in the Ravenclaw common room, dreaming of dating Lily in the New Year to come, and making a good impression the following day in Hogsmeade, unaware of Voldemort's latest scheme.

The following morning, snow fell heavily on the grounds, but it didn't deter the trip to Hogsmeade for anyone. They were all ready to go, and they even planned to go in to the village together as a group, as the full House Union.

Severus and Lily walked down hand in hand, alongside the other couples in the Union. The only exception was Peter, who planned to catch them up after spending an hour with Remus, whom still showed no sign of recovery.

Zeus Gardner and Hagrid led the students into the village, and some primary staff members also proceeded to keep an eye on the students and to reflect on the past term and all its doings over a pint of Butterbeer or Firewhiskey in the Hog's Head. These staff members included Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and further behind them, looking as eerie as ever, Professor Norton.

Severus decided to keep an eye on Norton, hoping against all odds that the man was merely like himself, a Dark Arts enthusiast who did not have entirely evil purposes in life. Severus didn't start out that way as a child but losing Lily had hollowed him out to an extent, but still not enough to become a cold-blooded murderer, like the other Death Eaters.

As the friends arrived in Hogsmeade, Severus watched as Norton went over to the Honeydukes shop, yelling at students to enter and leave one at a time instead of cramming up the doorway and causing a barricade for the locals. He then found himself being pulled into the Three Broomsticks by Lily, and he also noticed that Mary and Marlene were looking in the direction of Madam Puddifoot's with a wistfulness in their eyes. He rolled his own with sarcastic humour.

They joined some tables together before the place got too crowded and sat down to a tray load of Butterbeers after ordering them from Rosmerta.

As they settled down to savour the sweet taste, a seventh year who had declined joining the Union due to the stress of NEWT revision named Emmeline Vance, came into the inn and spotted Severus.

"Severus," she said cheerily, "I have a letter here for you. Some old gentleman asked me to give it to you."

"And you just took it? Just like that?" asked Severus suspiciously.

"What do you take me for?" chuckled Emmeline. "I may not be in your Union, but I'm no fool! I might be helping Dumbledore and Moody fight Voldemort upon leaving Hogwarts, and I know the tricks. The moment I left the Hog's Head, I examined the note thoroughly with anti-jinxes and I can guarantee that the message is harmless. Speaking of, here you go!"

Severus took the note with curiosity.

"Thanks, Emmeline," he said.

"You sure you don't want to join us, Em?" asked Lily kindly.

"You have my support, Lily," said Emmeline politely, "but I just don't see much point. I'm already part of a group that's dedicated to more important things than a companionship in the houses. I get that the Union could do the school and its students the world of good, but I'm looking at the bigger picture at the moment…but good luck all the same."

"If you say so, Em," replied Lily despondently.

Emmeline soon left the premises and went to look for her boyfriend.

Severus read the note and was pleasantly surprised to find it was his grandfather's handwriting and seal.

Dear Severus,

I apologise for not writing sooner and I hope that the note reaches you before you're missed at Hogwarts. Through an impromptu arrangement, your mother, step-father, grandmother and I decided to go into Hogsmeade for the day. If you wish to catch up with us, we shall be in the Hog's Head. Miss Evans' family are with us too.

Hope to see you later,

Yours sincerely,

Grandad Septimus.

Severus grinned and showed Lily the letter.

She was very excited at the thought of seeing her parents and Petunia again earlier than intended, even if only by a week or so. She almost forgot about the rift between her father and sister, but it soon returned to her and the smile she bore slightly slackened.

Severus smiled softly.

"Hopefully things between them are okay, if they're all there together," he suggested with hope.

Lily nodded softly, and the two of them decided to take their leave instantly, after downing their Butterbeers.

"We'll see you guys later?" asked Sirius.

"Yep, say in two or three hours outside of here?" suggested Lily.

"Sounds good to me," said James, before taking a sip from his frothy Butterbeer, making his friends chuckle at the moustache he now sported.

The friends waved at each other as Lily and Severus departed the inn and made their way downwards to the Hog's Head.

The pair of them soon arrived, and found their respective families seated near the bar, and they were being chatted up cheerfully by Hagrid. Aberforth was cleaning out his tankards with a look of bitter indifference. He didn't particularly like the subject of Hagrid talking so fondly of his hated elder brother.

Ignoring the bitter old goat lover, Severus walked over with Lily and made their presence known. Milli-seconds later, the Princes, the Evans' and the Kennedys embraced the both of them, and much to Lily's delight, Petunia was there too as she had hoped. She did however, noticed that she was not allowing herself to stand within two yards of Trevor and always had a dirty look on her face whenever she glanced in his direction.

"You need to patch up soon, Tuney," whispered Lily, after the greetings died down, "how is Mum managing while I'm gone and she just has you two around and you won't put up with him?"

"She's upset, I guess," said Petunia, "but so am I. Every day!"

"I know," murmured Lily sadly.

"I might forgive him someday, Lily…but don't rush me. He hasn't earned my forgiveness and I'm not really sure how he will. He made me feel like…a…a freak."

Lily, unaware of how strong that word was once aimed at her by another version of her sister once, nodded sadly and cuddled her sister, as they sat before the inn's fire, feeling its warmth brightening their spirits. As this happened, they got down to the subject of Hogwarts' fourth year so far, Lily's new discoveries in Herbology class and Petunia's eagerness to look around the local village and maybe even the castle from a distance.

Lily asked Severus if he wanted to accompany them to give Petunia a tour of the village, but he politely declined, partly because he wanted to spend some time with his family and partly because he felt Petunia and Lily would enjoy the tour more without him. And so, the two sisters waved and rushed through the door, letting some snow in, much to Aberforth's fury, and darted off back to the centre of Hogsmeade.

Severus was sure he heard Lily say, "You'll adore Honeydukes!"

"Now then, how are you doing then, boy?" asked Septimus.

"I'm doing well, Grandad," replied Severus pleasantly.

"Any idea when you're gonna get yourself a girlfriend? A certain redheaded girlfriend, specifically."

Severus informed him that he planned to ask her out just before the New Year.

"Romantic idea, lad!" chortled Septimus. "If you don't mind, I'd like a private word with you outside."

Septimus led the puzzled Severus outside and round the back alley of the inn. After making sure nobody was around, he addressed the boy quietly.

"Your grandmother and I have agreed that you should have this."

He handed a ring box to Severus, and inside it was the most beautiful engagement ring that Severus had ever seen, not that he had seen many. He never had the need to go looking for one ever since he lost Lily's friendship. It had a huge emerald embedded inside and the Prince family's insignia embedded around the ring itself.

"We want you to give this to Lily when you're old enough to know she is the love of your life. I gave this to your grandmother when I proposed, but now she and I want you to carry it on by giving it to Lily, but absolutely not before you are of age. Until the day you both are ready, keep that ring safe."

Severus was stunned.

"Always, Grandad. I…I promise."

Nothing could have made Severus happier to have been reunited with his grandparents in this life. They had not only accepted Severus and his mother, or changed their outlook on wizarding blood, but now they were happy to have a Muggle-born become a part of their lineage.

He hugged his grandfather happily. But then at that moment, there was an outbreak of cries and screams, coming from the village.

"What's going on?" asked Septimus.

Severus paled. Nothing that sounded like that could be good, and Lily had just taken Petunia in that direction. What if something had happened to them?

He quickly ran to find them, Septimus following.

By now, the noise could be heard within the inn, and Aberforth, Desdemona, Eileen, Robin, Trevor and Rose could see Severus and Septimus running towards the source. The shrieks were harrowing to even Trevor and Rose, and they gasped upon realization that their daughters were in the middle of it.

"We must find the girls!" cried Rose.

"No! Stay here! We'll go after them!" said Eileen.

Eileen, Robin and a suddenly athletic looking Desdemona raised their wands and rushed off to investigate.

Aberforth sealed the doors to the Hog's Head and non-verbally cast his goat Patronus, to send a message to Dumbledore.

"Death Eaters in Hogsmeade! Come fast!"

In the village, it was chaos!

McGonagall had also sent a Cat Patronus to Dumbledore, and she and Flitwick led the charge to fend off the Death Eaters and to protect the villagers and the students.

The Death Eaters fired spell after spell, curse after curse. People from all over the area were dropping like flies, either in agony or in death.

Severus and Septimus raged into the battle, wands a-blazing, the latter so immersed into the thrill of the fight that he didn't take notice on how strongly and willingly to battle Severus was, as if he were an experienced war hero.

Severus looked frantically for the red hair of the girl he loved. He daren't call her name in case it caught the attention of the Death Eaters, and they'd take pleasure in eliminating his love. He eventually caught sight of the red hair. It was crouched just outside the Three Broomsticks, clutching someone else protectively in her arms. It was Petunia, who had a bleeding gash on her cheek.

Severus reached them just in time to dodge an incoming Cruciatus Curse, before sending a Stunning Spell back in return.

"Are you both okay?!" he panted.

"We're fine, but where are the others?! We need to get Tuney away from here!"

"We'll try and get her to the castle!" called Severus over the screams and chants. "The Hog's Head is more likely to fall under siege than Hogwarts! We can get her to a Floo there and send her home! Your parents will likely have been sent back too!"

Severus knew this was unlikely, as their parents would never willingly leave without their girls, but he was at this juncture praying that Aberforth would have been more forceful in this situation.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

The three of them ducked for cover, and Severus looked up to see Professor Norton had fired the spell. Lying behind him was Professor Flitwick, bruised, bloodied and motionless. Severus froze. Filius Flitwick couldn't possibly be…

Then he noticed Norton was changing. His hair turned darker and his eyes grew sharper…he was under the Polyjuice Potion's effects, but it was wearing off to reveal-

Severus knew vaguely who he was. He saw him a few times during his career as a Death Eater. It was Oscar Nott, the father of Theodore Nott, and one of the original Death Eaters.

"You…you posed as a teacher…why?!"

"As a spy, boy!" laughed Nott. "The Dark Lord wanted me to keep a close eye on Dumbledore and his potential recruits. And by being a staff member, I also sneaked a few students out of the castle today. Those without permission to go to the village and were Mudbloods are now out here being massacred! The Dark Lord will reward me most handsomely!"

"YOU VILE, INHUMANE BASTARD!"

It was Petunia who shrieked at Nott with such fury.

He was momentarily stunned, but then his lip curled into a mirthful sneer.

"You've got bravery, girl…but no brains and no magic…you're just a wounded dog ready to be put down!"

"NO!" cried Lily, throwing herself in front of her sister.

"No, you're absolutely right, Miss Evans. Your sister is lower than a dog! She's a MUGGLE! Avada-!"

"NO!"

A fist collided with Nott's jaw, breaking it, but he still cast non-verbal spells at his attacker: Trevor Evans!

Trevor expertly dodged the spells and tackled Nott to the ground, knocking his wand out of his hand.

Petunia then grabbed the wand and snapped it in half.

"FILTHY BITCH!" shrieked Nott.

"NEVER! INSULT! MY! DAUGHTER! IN FRONT OF ME!" roared Trevor.

And with that, Trevor seized Nott by the hair and smacked his head into the ground several times until blood oozed from his head and the Death Eater lay motionless, eyes wide open in shock, killed by a 'filthy Muggle.'

"Dad!"

Lily and Petunia embraced their father tight.

"Where's Mummy?!" sobbed Lily.

"She's home! The bartender and I made her do so. I said I'd follow, but then I made the bartender lock up the network. I had to get to you both!"

"But you're more defenceless than we are!" cried Petunia. "What will Mum be going through right now?!"

"Tuney! He just killed a Death Eater! Dad's freaking awesome!"

Nobody argued with that, and they quickly got up to get to Hogwarts or any building that hadn't been taken over by the Death Eaters.

Severus cast jinx after jinx, suppressing the urge and natural reaction of using Unforgivables against his enemies. He also restrained himself from reintroducing Sectumsempra to this world.

The battle was still going fiercely and fortunately, nobody on the opposite side seemed to have noticed Nott's murder at the hands of Trevor. If they had, Severus was almost certain that Trevor would be laying dead on the ground in seconds.

But as they fled to the outskirts of the village, they saw Melody and Regulus being chased by two Death Eaters and to his horror, Severus recognised the cackles of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Everybody, hide!"

Trevor sensed the horror in Severus' normally stoic voice and obeyed, also not fancying his chances of protecting the children from two armed Dark Wizards.

Severus knew he had to help Regulus and Melody, and Lily looked ready to fight too.

"We can't leave them to those two!" she whispered.

Severus nodded and as if through mutual agreement, the two quickly used Petrificus Totalus on Petunia and Trevor, keeping them safe and immobile, hidden in the bushes. They then stepped out and rushed to fight.

"LEAVE THEM ALONE!"

Lily was heard by Bellatrix. She laughed.

"Ickle Mudblood girl come to help blood traitors and other Mudbloods?"

Lily replied instantly with a furious Incarcerous spell.

Bellatrix deflected the attack and shrieked in anger.

"CRUCIO!" Severus charged Lily down, and the spell flew behind them, and hit somebody else.

Sirius Black's screams could be heard for miles around. His friends, James Potter and Rebecca Castle, along with his girlfriend, Marlene McKinnon rushed to his aid, but then James quickly got back into the mindset of fighting and aimed a jinx at Bellatrix, while Severus and Lily took on the masked Death Eater.

The battle was fierce and Severus, Lily and James were holding their own fairly well, until-

"CRUCIO!"

James screamed in agony. He felt like he was being sliced and diced with daggers and the screams didn't do his suffering justice.

"NO!"

More spells came flying and from different directions. Two came from Frank and Alice, the former bleeding heavily from a broken nose and a swollen eye. The third one came from the castle. Severus was hoping it was Dumbledore, but it was Peter.

The group now heavily outnumbered the two Death Eaters, but two of their number were down and another was short-sighted by the wounds he had received. Severus knew the odds were not exactly in their favour due to their lack of experience, but he refused to give in. Not when he had Lily to protect.

Peter's second jinx hit the second Death Eater full in the face and he yelled, stripping his mask off and revealing the visage of Lucius Malfoy.

"I got him with a Bat Bogey Hex!" yelled Peter.

Bellatrix shot a spell that knocked Lily and Alice backwards and tended to Malfoy's sticky flapping face with a brief counter-jinx.

"Run! I'll keep them back!" said Peter to Severus and Frank.

James and Sirius were being helped back to the castle by their girlfriends, Regulus and Melody were far ahead and Lily had rushed to go back to protect her sister and father. But Severus, Frank and Alice weren't moving.

"Peter, don't! Come back with us!"

"I refuse to be the coward who can't get a spell right!" snapped Peter. "I was jealous of Severus and I always felt like the odd one out when James and Sirius befriended him in first year! I've made friends since and I want to prove myself! I will not make the same mistakes!"

Severus frowned. What did that mean? Did Peter somehow know what his past self did in the old universe?

"GO! PLEASE!"

Severus pulled Alice back, but Frank refused to leave Peter's side.

Just then, a roaring Patronus in the shape of a phoenix flew to the scene and soared right through Bellatrix's chest. She paled and cringed in pain…as if the happiness the Patronus carried was agony to her insides. She passed out, but Lucius lashed out, fully recovered and the Patronus was devoured by a well-controlled bit of Fiendfyre.

"Now for you!"

He turned on Peter. Frank tried to disarm Malfoy, but the villainous Death Eater shot a Cruciatus at him, making him collapse in pain.

"Not this time, Longbottom! Pettigrew's mine!"

Peter held up his wand. He was as pale as a sheet and shaking furiously, but he stood his ground. He knew…just knew somehow that this was the opposite of what he had done sometime before…how he knew he couldn't tell, but he refused to betray or hurt his friends. He would be brave, just as the Sorting Hat suggested he was.

"DUMBLEDORE!"

Lily's cry was heard.

Dumbledore was rushing to the scene, wild fury in his blue eyes and above him was Fawkes the Phoenix, ready to fight in the village. He saw Malfoy in combat with Peter and rushed to help. Severus did too.

Malfoy roared in anger.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

"NOOOOO!"

Peter had turned his head at the name of his headmaster with a smile of relief on his face. He didn't realize what had happened. His body slackened as the Killing Curse hit him and his body fell into Malfoy's arms.

The Death Eater shoved Peter's body off of himself in disgust.

"ACCIO!"

Bellatrix's prone body flew over to him and he Disapparated before Dumbledore's enchanted ropes could seize them.

Everything was in slow motion.

Severus had still been running when Peter died and now, he slowed to a stop over his body and tried in vain to shake him awake.

"Peter…Peter…"

Dumbledore looked at Peter's body with tortured eyes, before Apparating to the village.

Within seconds, yells of retreat could be heard in the distance, then the sounds of popping; the withdrawals of cowardly Death Eaters.

"Peter…"

Trevor and Petunia made their way over with Lily. She saw what Severus was shaking, albeit more slowly and weakly than he had originally, as the realization sunk in.

Frank crawled over too, tears streaming in his eyes. Alice rushed over and hugged him.

"Sev…let him go."

"Peter…"

"He's dead, Sev," whispered Lily, crying deeply.

Severus saw her traumatised face, softly lowered Peter to the ground again and embraced her, crying silently himself.

Trevor hugged Petunia as she sobbed at the sight of a dead body, the body of a boy younger than her who showed such courage. She felt so pitiful, so useless. And to think she wanted to learn basic magic…

Dumbledore was soon there along with several Ministry Aurors, including a younger and less scarred Alastor Moody.

Dumbledore and a St Mungo's Healer bent over the body and the headmaster conjured a sheet with the Hogwarts emblem on it and shrouded it over Peter.

"Severus Prince?" asked Moody.

"Y-yes?" replied Severus.

"Come with me, please, your mother asked for us to locate you."

Moody led Severus and the Evans family, who followed him, back into the village. Severus looked back and saw Dumbledore watching him with a look of sheer grievance. He didn't like the look of that. It was like Dumbledore was telling him to prepare for more bad news.

He paled.

Did something else happen?

Upon entering the village, Severus, Lily, Petunia and Trevor spotted several bodies, including that of the Three Broomsticks' landlord, several villagers and a student or two were laying face down on the ground. Whether or not they were dead, they didn't want to know yet. They also saw McGonagall tending to Professor Flitwick who was alive but heavily injured. From a distance, Severus and Lily saw Nott's body, but ignored it for now.

Severus looked on and saw Narcissa Black, laying spread-eagled on the ground. She was clearly not dead as her chest was rising and falling rapidly, but she had been badly hurt or worse, tortured. He couldn't bear the idea of her being permanently driven insane by her vengeful ex-fiancé.

But before he could contemplate this possibility, his gut wrenched with horror at what he saw just outside Honeydukes.

His mother was being hugged by Robin on the ground, both looking unscathed, but Eileen looked tortured with grief. In front of them was a Healer trying and failing to console a shaking Desdemona, who had laid herself over a body.

Severus dared not believe it, but upon their stop, he could see the blank empty eyes of his reformed and beloved grandfather…the eyes that had looked at him with pride and love only half an hour ago, never to have such light in them again.

A/N: Here it is at last: Chapter 46! I hope it's to everyone's liking and I hope you don't all hate me for these events. I chose for Peter to die before he could chicken out of the light and let his teenage mind control his desire to be good. I also selected Septimus to give Severus a new reason to fight for the Light besides the love of a woman.

To the reviewer named Jen, I don't recall saying I would update only 4 days after the last chapter, but I also wish to apologise to you and my other readers for taking this long. My laptop broke down last week and before that, I was more in focus on my dissertation at university. Both are resolved now, and I hope to get back into the swing of things now!

Please review! Thank you for reading! Chapter 47 coming soon!