Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related is the property of J.K. Rowling and anyone else who has claim to a piece of Harry's fame
Disclaimer 2: I own the plot, Saerry Snape, Aeyr's, and the Snapes being Slytherin's Heirs. Nothing more, nothing less.
A/N: And now, the aftermath . . .
Chapter 77 **Aftermath of Battle**
When the darkness cleared, Severus pulled himself up, on hand pressing his tattered cloak down on the gash in his right forearm. Looking around, he saw a headless, burnt-looking skeleton lying in the spot where Voldemort had fallen. A few feet away lay an equally burnt looking skull.
Around him Death Eaters and Hogwarts students and professors blinked. Then Severus saw a limp form crumpled on the ground beyond Voldemort's skeleton. One pale, blood encrusted hand still held the ebony hilt of Slytherin sword loosely.
"HARRY!"
Severus scrambled to his feet and stumbled over to Harry's limp form. Dropping to his knees, he jerked the sword from his son's hand and grasped the pale wrist.
No pulse beat against his fingertips.
Severus blinked and looked down at Harry's face. The emerald green eyes were closed and the face relaxed, as his he was only asleep. Severus felt tears on his cheeks and for once he did not bother to brush them away.
There was a flutter of feathers and Fawkes landed on Harry's other side. The scarlet-and-gold phoenix uttered a single quavering note and bent its head over Harry's. Severus looked up long enough to notice pearly tears falling from the phoenix's eyes into Harry's slightly open mouth.
Someone tugged at his shoulder and said, "He's dead, Severus. C'mon." Severus threw them off with a shrug and watched the phoenix. He never noticed when Saeln settled his shimmering coils about his shoulders and hissed something to him.
Suddenly the hand he gripped in his own jerked, the fingers flexing slightly. Fawkes lifted his head and sang another quavering note, this one longer, starting soft and building up to a fever pitch before it faded away.
Seconds later Harry's eyelids fluttered open and he smiled slightly up at Severus.
"Hi dad."
Severus' voice caught in his throat and he swept his son up into his arms, ignoring the pain in his right one. Harry curled up against him, hands lacing themselves into Severus' robes. A sob from the side announced Saerry's arrival and she enveloped her brother and nephew in a hug.
Around them, the professors and students captured as many of the Death Eaters as they could. They had begun to flee as soon as they saw their Master defeated but most did not make it. Instead, they were confronted by a large black dog, Mad-Eye Moody, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher, and a handful of Aurors. The dog growled and then eight voices all cried, "Stupefy!" The Death Eaters fell and the dog leapt over them, bounding over to the small huddle that was Severus, Harry, Saerry, and Saeln. Barking wildly, the dog bounded over to Remus, who was hovering near the huddle. Remus quickly shushed the dog then turned and knelt by it, whispering in its ear.
Meanwhile Saerry managed to get Harry partway out of Severus' grip and hugged him tightly. She whimpered, "Oh Merlin, I thought I'd lost you for a moment, Harry."
Harry smiled and mumbled, "Sorry . . . . Saerry . . . . didn't mean . . . to."
Severus brushed an errant lock of hair back from Harry's face and softly said, "Its okay, Harry. Your okay and that's all that matters."
Harry smiled then closed his eyes. Saerry's eyes widened in horror but Severus placed a restraining hand on her shoulder.
"He's only asleep, Saer."
Saerry sighed in relief then saw the blood-soaked cloak wrapped around his arm. She cried, "SEV! MADAM POMFREY, NOW!"
Severus frowned at her then Saerry growled, letting a bit of the wolf out by baring fangs at him.
"Okay, okay." Severus chuckled then made his way up to the castle, his eyes drifting only once over to the crowd that had formed around Dumbledore's body. Saerry and Remus followed him, Harry drifting along in the air in front of them. The big black dog, whose tail was between its legs, followed the two werewolves.
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As soon as they were in the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey fussed over Harry and Severus. She healed the latter's arm quickly then insisted the former remain in the Hospital Wing for three days with as few interruptions as possible. The mediwitch was about to say something else when two seventh years carried in a nearly unconscious Neville Longbottom and she fluttered over to his side.
Severus sighed and looked down at Harry as he lay sleeping on the hospital bed. Saeln had settled down on top of Harry's feet and Fawkes had perched on the headboard, its black eyes watching Severus intently. Suddenly Saerry said, "Sev."
Severus didn't turn to look at her, only said, "Hmm?"
"The students. Sev, you're the only one beside Harry who can get them out."
"Oh. Right." Severus rose reluctantly from his seat and began to leave then turned back to Saerry. He grasped her wrist and said quickly, "Go get the swords, Saer. All three of them."
Saerry blinked. "Voldemort's too?"
Severus nodded. He said, "It's a twin to Slytherins. And if you don't get them, someone is going to get hurt."
"Pardon?"
"Only those of Slytherin blood can touch Slytherins sword. I'm not sure about the twin blade Voldemort had but I do know that much about Slytherins."
Saerry nodded and they both looked at Remus, who was gently stroking the black dog's head. He looked at them and nodded, knowing that they were asking him silently if he would stay with Harry. Saerry and Severus nodded in return then set off on their separate tasks.
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Severus entered Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and heard the ghost sobbing in one of the stalls. Shaking his head, he walked over to the last sink and spat, "Open." The sink slid aside and Severus called down the pipe, "Granger!"
Up the pipe came Hermione's slightly muffled reply.
"Professor Snape? Is everything okay? Where's Harry?"
Severus coughed and replied, "Not exactly. We'll deal with that later. Is everyone down there ready to come up?"
"Yes, sir. The first years are terrified of the Basilisk's skeleton and the others keep tormenting them."
"I see. Hold on. I'll send down a rope."
"Okay," came Hermione's reply then Severus heard other voices speak up. A coil of rope shot out of his wand as he flicked it and he picked it up. Tying one end around one of the sinks, he threw the other down the pipe. Kneeling, he called, "You have the rope, Hermione?"
There was a moment of confused sound then Hermione called, "Yes, sir. They're coming up down."
A few scuffling sounds later and a first year scrambled out of the pipe. She froze, staring at Severus in fear until he gruffly said, "Move on. There are more people behind you." The girl flushed red and moved so another first year could get by. Soon all of the students but Ron, Hermione, and Draco were out. Severus knelt by the pipe, listening as Ron yelled, "Mione, I can make it by myself!"
Hermione snapped, "No, you can't, Ron! Don't try it!"
"What are you, my mother?"
There was a snort and then something jerked the rope as it climbed it, making it twang several times. A few seconds later, Ron's red hair appeared and Severus offered him a hand. The teen looked at him then took the proffered hand. Severus pulled him out then turned back and called, "How is Draco?"
Hermione replied, "Looking paler than ever. I think there's blood seeping through some of his bandages too."
"Damn. Can you get him up here?"
"I – I can try."
Severus sighed and rubbed at his temples then said, "Do what you can."
Hermione made a slight affirmative noise then there was a bit of a scuffling sound. Muffled words were spoken then Severus suddenly found himself holding Draco's shoulders. He pulled the boy out and laid him on the ground then turned back around as Hermione climbed up the pipe. He smiled slightly then flicked his wand at the rope, which vanished. The sink slid back over the pipe a moment later and Severus said, "Let's get these two up to the Hospital Wing."
Hermione nodded and moved over to help Ron up as Severus picked up Draco. The teen whimpered as Severus did so and curled up around his bandaged arm. Severus winced then looked over at Hermione and Ron, who was scowling at the girl.
"Let's go."
With that they left the bathroom and headed for the Hospital Wing.
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Outside, Saerry swept quickly across the grounds. She easily found the spot were the battle between Severus and Voldemort and Harry and Voldemort had taken place by the burnt grass where Voldemort had lain. The skeleton was gone now but the three swords still lay gleaming in the grass. Saerry picked up Slytherins sword first and felt the blade hum to life at her touch. She grabbed Voldemort's next and felt the same feeling from the blade. Lastly she picked up Gryffindors sword, feeling nothing coming off the blade. Shrugging, she tucked Slytherins sword into her belt then set back off towards the castle, the other two blades in either hand.
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Severus and Saerry arrived back at the Hospital Wing at the same time and were immediately sent out again, along with Hermione, Remus, and a dejected looking Sirius in his Animagus form. They all looked at each other then headed in their own directions; Remus for the outside, Severus and Saerry for their rooms, Hermione for Gryffindor Tower, and Sirius stayed outside the Hospital Wing.