Professor McGonagall searched the entire castle, but found no trace of
either boy. She re-entered the Throne Room and transformed back into a
human. After gathering up the robes and the broken wand, she quickly
apparated back to the forest and rushed into the castle.
Once inside, she ran straight to the Hospital Wing. Upon seeing her burst through the doors, Snape sat straight up and Dumbledore stood. With tears in her eyes, she reported her findings and presented the robes and the wand. Snape's eyes shone with recognition of the items and pursed his lips.
"Severus, these are indeed Voldemort's?" the Headmaster asked. The potions master merely nodded. Dumbledore mirrored the movement and turned back to McGonagall. "And this was all you found?" She, too, nodded. "Then there is only one thing left to do. Remus, please go contact Johan Relean. Minerva, please call upon your mother. Tell them to meet me in my office in one hour. It is of extreme importance." Both messengers merely nodded and exited.
"What are you going to do Albus?" came a soft, silky voice from behind him. Without turning, the old wizard answered.
"The Three will cast a very powerful spell as a means to determine whether Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy survived. It will take many days to cast, and I will need Minerva to assume my duties in my absence, and you may be asked to help her as well." Knowing Snape had nodded his affirmation, Dumbledore exited the Hospital Wing to prepare. Madame Pompfrey came over to his bed and assessed his injuries. Seeing that he was indeed well enough to return to his chambers, she released him. Snape merely nodded and thanked her for her assistance. Slowly, he made his way down to his dungeons.
Snape spent the remainder of the holidays in his chambers or in his lab. He didn't note the arrival two powerful magic users, and McGonagall was bogged down with her duties as well as Dumbledore's. Remus consoled and spent time with the three other students while the Headmaster and his guests performed the spell.
The Second Term Feast was as exuberant as ever. No one, not even the Ministry, knew of Voldemort's defeat. The only thing that had been released were the deaths of Parkinson, Goyle, and Pettigrew. The last came as a shock to most of the wizarding world, and many fought for the clearance of Black's name, posthumously. The entire faculty headed the rally, and strangely, Snape was one of the most adamant.
Ron and Hermione searched for Harry immediately on their arrival, but could find him nowhere. They ran to their Head of House before the feast started. Hermione noted how tired she looked.
"Professor, where is Harry? He's not in Gryffindor Tower or in the Great Hall." Hermione sounded calm, but the older witch could knew she was very worried about her friend.
"Please go to the Great Hall," was all she said, then turned and walked away. Ron put a comforting arm around Hermione's shoulder, knowing that that wasn't a good sign. As they entered the Great Hall, they surveyed the Head Table. Professor McGonagall was occupying Dumbledore's usual spot, and Snape was nowhere to be found. The conversations ceased as McGonagall stood.
"I suppose everyone has questions concerning several absences among the staff and student body. I'm afraid I must be honest, though it pains me deeply. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were killed during the defeat of Voldemort. Professor Dumbledore has gone to the Ministry to finish dealing with this matter, and Professor Snape has accompanied him." Here, she choked back tears, unable to continue. Hermione ran out of the Great Hall, crying audibly, with Ron right behind her. Remus stood and followed them out, and Professor Vector stood, taking over where the Deputy Headmistress could not continue.
"Quidditch games and practices are cancelled for the remainder of the year, but we are allowing all students to go to Hogsmeade on designated weekends. As of yet, exams are not cancelled, but the faculty will adjust as needed. We do not know when the memorial service will be held, but we are calling in grief counselors for all students to see if you would like. Please, eat your dinners and return to your common rooms as soon as possible." He nodded to the deathly quiet assembly and took his seat.
Remus found the two Gryffindors in their common room. Hermione was crying hysterically into Ron's shoulder, and he was consoling as best as he could through his tears.
"Ron? Hermione?" Hermione looked up into her former professor's face, then launched herself into his arms. He wrapped one arm firmly around her and held her as she shook, consoling her as a father would. He looked up at Ron and held out his other arm, and the boy leaned into him, sobbing uncontrollably. Soon, Ron stopped and looked up apologetically, but Remus just patted his shoulder.
"Why don't we go back to my chambers. The other students will be arriving soon." Hermione nodded into the older man's chest and pulled back. Wiping her eyes, she straightened her robes and followed the wizard out, walked hand in hand with Ron the whole way. They reached Remus' rooms and he let them in.
It was a scarlet themed room, with a roaring fire heating and lighting the room. Lions adorned the banisters of the four-poster bed, and on the back wall was a montage of pictures. Hermione sank down into the plush couch while Remus went to tell McGonagall where they were.
Ron inspected the pictures and found it was a tribute of sorts to the Marauders. All seven years of the four mischief-makers were portrayed, and Ron couldn't help but smile at a few. The first picture was of the four boys standing in front of the portrait to the Gryffindor common room after the Sorting, smiling and slapping each other with high-fives. Ron leaned in to read the caption: "The Proud Gryffindors." The next was labeled "The Marauders are Born" and it showed a rather sour looking, eleven year old Lucius drenched in what looked like banana pudding. Ron recognized the location as the Slytherin common room, and suddenly wondered which Marauder had snuck in to take the picture.
And so the years progressed in pictures, including James and Sirius making the house team as Seeker and Beater, James and Lily's first kiss at the Yule Ball their fifth year, Sirius and Peter having a belching contest, and all four boys and Lily displaying the number of OWLS they received. The last picture on the wall was graduation. James was spinning Lily in his arms, and Sirius was trying to pull one last prank on Peter, who was not looking too happy about it. Remus was desperately trying to get all four of them to stay in the frame. Ron again found himself wondering who the photographer was. Remus tapped him on the shoulder, handing him a cup of hot cocoa. They walked over to the couch and Ron joined Hermione on the couch.
"Professor -"
"Moony," he corrected.
"Who took those pictures with all of you? I mean, if all of you are in them, who's behind the camera?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He shifted over to sit beside Hermione and wrapped an arm around her. She leaned into him and sniffed. "I know it hurts now, but trust me, it will get better. After James and Lily were killed, it took all my strength to pick myself back up. Especially after learning it was a Marauder who had betrayed them. You have to remember, at the time, I had believed Padfoot had not only betrayed Prongs, but that he had killed Wormtail as well. In one fell swoop, I had lost my entire family. Thankfully, not many people knew I was a werewolf, so I could still go out and find things to do. I received many letters and cards from many of my old schoolmates.
"James and Lily's deaths still hurt a little when I think about what they could be doing now. Hands down, he'd be an Auror for the Ministry, and Lily would probably be teaching Charms here." Hermione began crying, thinking about how different Harry's life would have been.
She inhaled shakily, then spoke. "Moony, do you think Harry still would have been our friend if his parents hadn't been killed?" He smiled a little and squeezed her shoulder.
"I know he would have. He still is your friend now, and he always will be. I have something for the two of you. I made three copies of this book," he pulled out two leather bound books. He handed the blue one to Hermione and the green one to Ron. "I think I will keep this one," he set a red one in his lap. "I hadn't really planned on giving these to you until graduation, but I think now is a good time."
Both teens opened their gifts, and saw each of their baby pictures. Of course, Hermione's was a Muggle picture, but it made her smile anyway. Ron's face flushed when he saw his, but he sobered at seeing Harry's. Hermione shut hers and scooted closer to Ron. The next picture was of the three of them laughing in front of the castle their first year. Harry shoved Ron playfully out of the picture, and he jumped back in smiling. They sifted through a picture of Harry's first Quidditch game, the end of their first year, and a picture of Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table during the Sorting Ceremony their second year. Ron smiled, then laughed. He remembered him and Harry taking his dad's flying car to Hogwarts because they missed the train. The next few pictures were unmistakably Colin Creevey's work. The three of them sitting at the Halloween Feast, Harry catching the Snitch in Malfoy's first game, and then the three of them on the train on their way home.
Remus watched as they worked their way to the last picture. It wasn't a picture, really, more of a collage. It had the entire Weasley clan picture from the Daily Prophet, a Granger family picture he had owled Hermione's parents for, the picture of the Potters from Harry's photo album, and the Marauders' graduation photo from the wall. Ron smiled and closed the book, wrapping his arm around Hermione's shoulder.
"Something to remember him by, hmm?" Remus smiled, though forced, through forming tears. "Now, it is getting late, and you do have classes tomorrow. I will escort you to your common room, but if you need to talk, or even just cry," he placed his hand on Hermione's head, "I will be here." They stood and followed him out, and as they passed the Entrance Hall, the Headmaster entered with Snape behind him. Hermione broke out of Ron's grasp and clung to the Headmaster. She didn't cry, having sworn never to cry in front of him, but he patted her shoulder and smiled weakly.
"I am truly sorry, Hermione, Ron," he looked up to the red-headed boy. "They died saving us all." She nodded and stood tall. Snape looked over to Remus, who looked as if he was barely keeping it together.
"Remus," he inclined his head.
"Severus, how are you?"
"Managing. If you will excuse me, I have pressing matters to take care of." He swept out of the Entrance Hall to his dungeons, and Remus shook his head after him.
"Poor man, I don't know how much more of this he can take," he said to Dumbledore. The Headmaster merely nodded and excused himself as well. Remus escorted Ron and Hermione back to the Tower and left to grieve in private.
When they entered, Ron and Hermione were immediately engulfed into a Weasley hug, which was really more than just the Weasleys. Colin was consoling a sobbing Ginny, Lee was clinging to George, and Fred held Alicia with tears streaming down both faces. Once they worked their way out of the conglomeration, they were accosted by the rest of the fifth years. Hermione hugged Neville, Seamus, and Dean, knowing those three would take it hard. There would be an empty bed in their dorm for their remaining time here, reminding them of its former occupant. She then turned to Lavender and Parvati, who she hadn't really got along with, but embraced them just the same. The portrait swung open and McGonagall entered, her face damp with wiped-away tears.
"Good evening, Gryffindors. I know the past events will have a tremendous impact on you in the upcoming months, but I ask you to please do the best you can in your schoolwork. I know it may sound callous now, but life must go on. Harry would not want you to fail anything because of him. I would like to take this time to have a moment of silence in memory of Harry Potter." Hermione raised her hand, "Yes, Ms. Granger?"
"What about Malfoy? Didn't he die saving us as well?"
"Yes, Ms. Granger. I know most , if not all, of you didn't get along well with Mr. Malfoy, but in the past months, he and Mr. Potter developed a sort of friendship. And together, they brought down the Dark Lord. So, yes Ms. Granger, let us have a moment of silence for both of them." A still silence engulfed the common room, and in fact the school, for at that very moment, all of Hogwarts took this moment to remember Harry James Potter and Draco Lucius Malfoy, saviors of the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Throws hands up in defense from inevitable onslaught of flames*
A/N: Don't worry, this isn't the end. It actually gets much cooler from here on out. Okay, so there's only one chapter left, but there will be a sequel, only I don't know when. I probably won't do the sequel for a while. I need to breathe. This fic was taxing on me, though well worth it, and I would just like to thank all my reviewers, especially those who stayed with me. The 35th and final chapter is, of course, dedicated to ThemGirl, formerly known as Princess Kattera, who has been reading and reviewing since the beginning, and even emailed me a few times.
Once inside, she ran straight to the Hospital Wing. Upon seeing her burst through the doors, Snape sat straight up and Dumbledore stood. With tears in her eyes, she reported her findings and presented the robes and the wand. Snape's eyes shone with recognition of the items and pursed his lips.
"Severus, these are indeed Voldemort's?" the Headmaster asked. The potions master merely nodded. Dumbledore mirrored the movement and turned back to McGonagall. "And this was all you found?" She, too, nodded. "Then there is only one thing left to do. Remus, please go contact Johan Relean. Minerva, please call upon your mother. Tell them to meet me in my office in one hour. It is of extreme importance." Both messengers merely nodded and exited.
"What are you going to do Albus?" came a soft, silky voice from behind him. Without turning, the old wizard answered.
"The Three will cast a very powerful spell as a means to determine whether Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy survived. It will take many days to cast, and I will need Minerva to assume my duties in my absence, and you may be asked to help her as well." Knowing Snape had nodded his affirmation, Dumbledore exited the Hospital Wing to prepare. Madame Pompfrey came over to his bed and assessed his injuries. Seeing that he was indeed well enough to return to his chambers, she released him. Snape merely nodded and thanked her for her assistance. Slowly, he made his way down to his dungeons.
Snape spent the remainder of the holidays in his chambers or in his lab. He didn't note the arrival two powerful magic users, and McGonagall was bogged down with her duties as well as Dumbledore's. Remus consoled and spent time with the three other students while the Headmaster and his guests performed the spell.
The Second Term Feast was as exuberant as ever. No one, not even the Ministry, knew of Voldemort's defeat. The only thing that had been released were the deaths of Parkinson, Goyle, and Pettigrew. The last came as a shock to most of the wizarding world, and many fought for the clearance of Black's name, posthumously. The entire faculty headed the rally, and strangely, Snape was one of the most adamant.
Ron and Hermione searched for Harry immediately on their arrival, but could find him nowhere. They ran to their Head of House before the feast started. Hermione noted how tired she looked.
"Professor, where is Harry? He's not in Gryffindor Tower or in the Great Hall." Hermione sounded calm, but the older witch could knew she was very worried about her friend.
"Please go to the Great Hall," was all she said, then turned and walked away. Ron put a comforting arm around Hermione's shoulder, knowing that that wasn't a good sign. As they entered the Great Hall, they surveyed the Head Table. Professor McGonagall was occupying Dumbledore's usual spot, and Snape was nowhere to be found. The conversations ceased as McGonagall stood.
"I suppose everyone has questions concerning several absences among the staff and student body. I'm afraid I must be honest, though it pains me deeply. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were killed during the defeat of Voldemort. Professor Dumbledore has gone to the Ministry to finish dealing with this matter, and Professor Snape has accompanied him." Here, she choked back tears, unable to continue. Hermione ran out of the Great Hall, crying audibly, with Ron right behind her. Remus stood and followed them out, and Professor Vector stood, taking over where the Deputy Headmistress could not continue.
"Quidditch games and practices are cancelled for the remainder of the year, but we are allowing all students to go to Hogsmeade on designated weekends. As of yet, exams are not cancelled, but the faculty will adjust as needed. We do not know when the memorial service will be held, but we are calling in grief counselors for all students to see if you would like. Please, eat your dinners and return to your common rooms as soon as possible." He nodded to the deathly quiet assembly and took his seat.
Remus found the two Gryffindors in their common room. Hermione was crying hysterically into Ron's shoulder, and he was consoling as best as he could through his tears.
"Ron? Hermione?" Hermione looked up into her former professor's face, then launched herself into his arms. He wrapped one arm firmly around her and held her as she shook, consoling her as a father would. He looked up at Ron and held out his other arm, and the boy leaned into him, sobbing uncontrollably. Soon, Ron stopped and looked up apologetically, but Remus just patted his shoulder.
"Why don't we go back to my chambers. The other students will be arriving soon." Hermione nodded into the older man's chest and pulled back. Wiping her eyes, she straightened her robes and followed the wizard out, walked hand in hand with Ron the whole way. They reached Remus' rooms and he let them in.
It was a scarlet themed room, with a roaring fire heating and lighting the room. Lions adorned the banisters of the four-poster bed, and on the back wall was a montage of pictures. Hermione sank down into the plush couch while Remus went to tell McGonagall where they were.
Ron inspected the pictures and found it was a tribute of sorts to the Marauders. All seven years of the four mischief-makers were portrayed, and Ron couldn't help but smile at a few. The first picture was of the four boys standing in front of the portrait to the Gryffindor common room after the Sorting, smiling and slapping each other with high-fives. Ron leaned in to read the caption: "The Proud Gryffindors." The next was labeled "The Marauders are Born" and it showed a rather sour looking, eleven year old Lucius drenched in what looked like banana pudding. Ron recognized the location as the Slytherin common room, and suddenly wondered which Marauder had snuck in to take the picture.
And so the years progressed in pictures, including James and Sirius making the house team as Seeker and Beater, James and Lily's first kiss at the Yule Ball their fifth year, Sirius and Peter having a belching contest, and all four boys and Lily displaying the number of OWLS they received. The last picture on the wall was graduation. James was spinning Lily in his arms, and Sirius was trying to pull one last prank on Peter, who was not looking too happy about it. Remus was desperately trying to get all four of them to stay in the frame. Ron again found himself wondering who the photographer was. Remus tapped him on the shoulder, handing him a cup of hot cocoa. They walked over to the couch and Ron joined Hermione on the couch.
"Professor -"
"Moony," he corrected.
"Who took those pictures with all of you? I mean, if all of you are in them, who's behind the camera?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He shifted over to sit beside Hermione and wrapped an arm around her. She leaned into him and sniffed. "I know it hurts now, but trust me, it will get better. After James and Lily were killed, it took all my strength to pick myself back up. Especially after learning it was a Marauder who had betrayed them. You have to remember, at the time, I had believed Padfoot had not only betrayed Prongs, but that he had killed Wormtail as well. In one fell swoop, I had lost my entire family. Thankfully, not many people knew I was a werewolf, so I could still go out and find things to do. I received many letters and cards from many of my old schoolmates.
"James and Lily's deaths still hurt a little when I think about what they could be doing now. Hands down, he'd be an Auror for the Ministry, and Lily would probably be teaching Charms here." Hermione began crying, thinking about how different Harry's life would have been.
She inhaled shakily, then spoke. "Moony, do you think Harry still would have been our friend if his parents hadn't been killed?" He smiled a little and squeezed her shoulder.
"I know he would have. He still is your friend now, and he always will be. I have something for the two of you. I made three copies of this book," he pulled out two leather bound books. He handed the blue one to Hermione and the green one to Ron. "I think I will keep this one," he set a red one in his lap. "I hadn't really planned on giving these to you until graduation, but I think now is a good time."
Both teens opened their gifts, and saw each of their baby pictures. Of course, Hermione's was a Muggle picture, but it made her smile anyway. Ron's face flushed when he saw his, but he sobered at seeing Harry's. Hermione shut hers and scooted closer to Ron. The next picture was of the three of them laughing in front of the castle their first year. Harry shoved Ron playfully out of the picture, and he jumped back in smiling. They sifted through a picture of Harry's first Quidditch game, the end of their first year, and a picture of Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table during the Sorting Ceremony their second year. Ron smiled, then laughed. He remembered him and Harry taking his dad's flying car to Hogwarts because they missed the train. The next few pictures were unmistakably Colin Creevey's work. The three of them sitting at the Halloween Feast, Harry catching the Snitch in Malfoy's first game, and then the three of them on the train on their way home.
Remus watched as they worked their way to the last picture. It wasn't a picture, really, more of a collage. It had the entire Weasley clan picture from the Daily Prophet, a Granger family picture he had owled Hermione's parents for, the picture of the Potters from Harry's photo album, and the Marauders' graduation photo from the wall. Ron smiled and closed the book, wrapping his arm around Hermione's shoulder.
"Something to remember him by, hmm?" Remus smiled, though forced, through forming tears. "Now, it is getting late, and you do have classes tomorrow. I will escort you to your common room, but if you need to talk, or even just cry," he placed his hand on Hermione's head, "I will be here." They stood and followed him out, and as they passed the Entrance Hall, the Headmaster entered with Snape behind him. Hermione broke out of Ron's grasp and clung to the Headmaster. She didn't cry, having sworn never to cry in front of him, but he patted her shoulder and smiled weakly.
"I am truly sorry, Hermione, Ron," he looked up to the red-headed boy. "They died saving us all." She nodded and stood tall. Snape looked over to Remus, who looked as if he was barely keeping it together.
"Remus," he inclined his head.
"Severus, how are you?"
"Managing. If you will excuse me, I have pressing matters to take care of." He swept out of the Entrance Hall to his dungeons, and Remus shook his head after him.
"Poor man, I don't know how much more of this he can take," he said to Dumbledore. The Headmaster merely nodded and excused himself as well. Remus escorted Ron and Hermione back to the Tower and left to grieve in private.
When they entered, Ron and Hermione were immediately engulfed into a Weasley hug, which was really more than just the Weasleys. Colin was consoling a sobbing Ginny, Lee was clinging to George, and Fred held Alicia with tears streaming down both faces. Once they worked their way out of the conglomeration, they were accosted by the rest of the fifth years. Hermione hugged Neville, Seamus, and Dean, knowing those three would take it hard. There would be an empty bed in their dorm for their remaining time here, reminding them of its former occupant. She then turned to Lavender and Parvati, who she hadn't really got along with, but embraced them just the same. The portrait swung open and McGonagall entered, her face damp with wiped-away tears.
"Good evening, Gryffindors. I know the past events will have a tremendous impact on you in the upcoming months, but I ask you to please do the best you can in your schoolwork. I know it may sound callous now, but life must go on. Harry would not want you to fail anything because of him. I would like to take this time to have a moment of silence in memory of Harry Potter." Hermione raised her hand, "Yes, Ms. Granger?"
"What about Malfoy? Didn't he die saving us as well?"
"Yes, Ms. Granger. I know most , if not all, of you didn't get along well with Mr. Malfoy, but in the past months, he and Mr. Potter developed a sort of friendship. And together, they brought down the Dark Lord. So, yes Ms. Granger, let us have a moment of silence for both of them." A still silence engulfed the common room, and in fact the school, for at that very moment, all of Hogwarts took this moment to remember Harry James Potter and Draco Lucius Malfoy, saviors of the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Throws hands up in defense from inevitable onslaught of flames*
A/N: Don't worry, this isn't the end. It actually gets much cooler from here on out. Okay, so there's only one chapter left, but there will be a sequel, only I don't know when. I probably won't do the sequel for a while. I need to breathe. This fic was taxing on me, though well worth it, and I would just like to thank all my reviewers, especially those who stayed with me. The 35th and final chapter is, of course, dedicated to ThemGirl, formerly known as Princess Kattera, who has been reading and reviewing since the beginning, and even emailed me a few times.