Author's Note:
Well, since today is Sirius Black's birthday (if he were alive in 2022, he would be celebrating 63 today and obviously still hot as fuck). So Happy Birthday Sirius!
10 CHAPTERS TO GO!
I would like to thank kleinerVampier for taking the time to decide to translate this massive story into German! It's a huge undertaking and I am completely honoured and humbled that anyone wants to try. The link is on my tumblr at the bottom of the pinned post. Thank you!
Also, just wondered if Diya and her boyfriend are still reading. I've missed hearing from you each week on tumblr. Hope everything is all right.
Reviews and Comments: To marauders_mowopapr: Sorry to keep your emotions on a rollercoaster. We'll find out about Remus and Tonks soon! Thank you, but sorry about the pain. A little. Thanks. To AQuickRead91: Thank you! To Shivamrai2001: Yes, Arthur in exchange for Fred. I know, losing Misha as well will be hard. Thank you! To briana_t: Yes, McGonagall is alive, Remus and Tonks are alive for now and yes, Fred is alive. Thank you! To : Sorry to make you cry at work. Thank you so much! To Payton: Thanks for catching up and sorry you felt it was short, after binge reading one chapter is a bit of a setback lol. Thank you! To AnaGPotter: Yup, I switched up the deaths! Thank you! To shuweet: Thank you so much for saying you liked my ending better than the original. Yes, Bas, Fred, Remus, Tonks… I like to play with people's emotions. Thank you! To free_bee: Yes, wrong deaths and thanks for being surprised. Thank you! To 19HuffleClaws: I agree, Arthur dying is less cruel than Fred, but still incredibly heartbreaking. Thank you. As to Remus and Tonks, well they are alive for now. Thank you. To idonthaveaname: Sebastian is alive for the moment, the healers are working on him. Same with Tonks. Thank you. To The reader: Nope lol. Thank you. To Potterm1998: I know, Molly is going to be so heartbroken, thank you! To Masonjar191: Misha and Arthur, I know. Thank you. To Mackie919: Ginny is definitely going to be devastated when she learns the news. Sorry to make you cry, but thank you!
To BadWolfKris: Thank you! To AmericanDesi: Thank you! To EhSohMaria: You think Tonks will live to fall of a cliff clumsily when she's 94? LOL. Thank you! To SweetPhrogJezus: Sorry to make you cry over Misha. Thank you. To PurpleLotus: Thank you so much for saying I moved you to tears. I will happily take a million times Kudos, thank you! To musemesmer: Sorry to have made you "physically nauseous from sorrow," but thank you very much for saying it's a testament to my writing skills. Thank you! To Preethi Rao: Sorry to make you sit in shock for fifteen minutes lol. I'm glad there was some heartbreak among the unexpected ones. Yes, Ciara and Mila was meant to be reminiscent of Colin Creevey in canon. Too young to have passed. Julian will be heartbroken. I'm glad Remus and Tonks was a shock. Yes, Ginny and Harry are going to be devastated by Arthur. Thank you for loving how I revealed Misha's death. Thank you for loving my final battle and saying that the way Harry defeated Voldemort was so satisfying, that's so nice to hear. Yes, there will definitely be an aftermath to see. I think I do just need a writing break, but don't worry, when I start posting the third one, it means I'm ready to finish it. Thank you! To Tmr_Potterhead250: Thank you so much for reading the last chapter three times, but I'm sorry to hear you've cried every time. Thank you!
To Endinium: Thank you so much for saying "the battle, Voldemort's death, the suspense, you created a masterpiece." Thank you so much! To katelyn453: Of course Harry insisted that Ginny was taken care of first. Thank you! To BleedRedandGold: Aww, I'm sorry the Sirius scene made you cry, but thank you so much for saying they "are still so impactful even though his dead occurred so long ago is truly masterful." Wow! Thanks for loving my confident Ron as well, it is a big part of his character and I'm glad you appreciate it. Thank you! To reginaphalange: Thank you so much! I'm glad some of the deaths were a surprise. Thank you! To cryingandsobbing: Thank you for saying the chapter gave you goosebumps! Sorry to make you cry over Arthur (this chapter might be a bit harder on that front). Yes, Zee lost Lady G and her dad. Thank you. To TatiRena: Yup, gotta keep you on the rollercoaster. Thank you! To Bellmel: I'm glad to know our friendship will stay intact since Bas is alive lol. I really need someone to talk about books with. It's true, even though it is heartbreaking, the Weasleys do need to suffer a loss from the war. Ciara and Mila were so young so killing them was very hard to do. Thanks for loving my different POV jumps to show how people were dealing with the battle. Draco seeing the relief in the end was meaningful as well. Thanks for loving Donal. That was fun. Theo definitely collapses in relief when he hears about Sebastian. Durant threatening Theo (of course), and Yeona adding Theo to the next of kin list just so he can go to the hospital, all so important. Sirius calling Harry "our boy" to Zee, all great moments. Thank you so much for appreciating them. Thank you!
To jaccy3: Thank you! To Tmrpotterhead250: Thanks for waiting with baited breath. Thank you so much for saying I have the best plots and characterizations. I'm glad there was some screaming in happiness at the survivors, but I am sorry to make you cry over the deaths. Thank you! To Mutt N Feathers: Thank you! To ANewRanger: Thank you for taking the time to review again after so long. I'm honoured you think the final battle was amazingly done. It is insane to think I wrote all of this for free, but us creative types have to get our ideas out somehow. Thank you so much for loving "the relationships between the characters are portrayed so well and with so much detail that it's impossible not to love them." Thank you so much for your kind words. To Zarathos Morgenstern: I'm glad Misha was a surprise, but disappointed you guessed Arthur. Thank you very much! To Bluerain22: Yes, Fred's alive! I'm glad you enjoyed the scene with Fred only for me "fuck you up" with Mr Weasley lol. You're welcome? Thank you very much! To Spike's Number One Pet: Sorry to make you sob, thank you very much! To one-of-a-kind-copycat: I love that I'm great at giving you exactly what you want and leaving you with more questions than before haha. Thank you! To Cassiopeia Anastasia Black: Thank you very much! To fancy blood: Ha, sorry, I will not be writing an outtake of Marauder's reaction to Lady G in the afterlife, but he's happy to see her. Promise. Thank you! To Katie2001: Yes, Misha is gone, sorry to make you sad. Thank you! To saucyswimmer: Thank you! I'm so glad people are excited for part three! Nope, the person in the prophecy was Zee, but as I said last chapter in the author's notes, I pulled a season one Buffy finale with the prophecy meaning her death, but Ron bringing her back to life didn't mean it didn't come true. Harry and Ginny definitely needed to just hold each other, to take it all in. Thank you for saying my writing is powerful, thank you!
To The Geordie bookworm: Sorry to make you a sobbing mess, but I am rather proud of myself lol. Thank you. To scrappy8: Thank you! To minnierocks: I know, I am evil. Thank you so much for loving this fanfic. Thank you! To Calamity Ganon: Thank you for reading my stories over and over again. Thank you! To Wolf's scream: Rossi did make it. Thank you! To zorica: Thank you! To riddermark: Thank you for giving me a laugh. The "you maniac" comment made me snort in laughter. To darkhk: Thank you! To akshutalankar: Sorry to make you be sad all day, and nope, no Misha to work with Harry in the future. Thank you! To threereasonswhy: I know the ending is a lot closer, right? Thank you! To Padfoot777: Thanks for saying I artfully twisted the blade with Misha. Thank you for reading the chapter four times in a row — wow! Thank you! To Hanacide: Yes, more heartbreak to come. Thank you! To Nightwing2013: It was amazing to see that many reviews and I am grateful for every single one of them. Yeah, Mandy was a bit jealous. Yes, Arthur is going to miss Ginny's wedding. Thank you! To jennyalexa.1995alex: Thank you! To KingRajesh: Thank you. I really like showing different POVs of the same event because it gives you a broader scope of everything and a chance to see things we might have missed before. Thank you for saying I do it "masterfully." Sorry to shock you with Arthur. Thank you!
To nesciamema: Thank you! Sorry to make you cry. To Slaidback: Thank you and no, I will not be glossing over it. There's more to come, thank you. To Sets: I'm glad Theo and Fred could both make you laugh, it was needed. Thank you! To Emma Janet: It was fitting for Mandy to be the first one to say she was turned on, wasn't it? Sorry to keep you in tears. I agree, Mr Weasley dying was fitting even though it's heartbreaking and tragic. Yes, Ciara dying was important because she did bring Theo and Finn together and her death closes that chapter even more to make room for Sebastian. Thank you! To Read and Fly: I love that you're excited for The Third Time's the Charm, but don't start checking that soon lol. ASC will still be posting the first week of January, realistically, it won't be until February or even March. Thank you very much! To apham: Thank you! To harstonks: Yes, they are both gone. Sorry to crush your heart. Thanks for the recommendation but I will not read anything on wattpad because someone uploaded my Beginning Series on there without my permission and the website will not take it down. I've been trying for years. Thank you. To Lance Kumazuki: Sorry to break your heart. Thank you for saying I'm "one hell of a storyteller." Thanks for loving my work and thanks, I can definitely use someone rooting in my corner! To minu2014: Thank you very much! To GODMISHA: Sorry to make you laugh in relief and cry in a seventeen second span, but thank you!
To ThomasAvery: Thanks for reading the sneak peek a few times before I posted lol. Yes, Bellatrix, Belladonna, and Crouch all escaped. We'll see more of them. I'm excited to show Harry and Ron being Aurors (it's been fun to write). Thank you! To Nuno Neves: Thank you for saying despite it being an emotional chapter, it was well written. As to the rest, we will see the rest soon. Thank you! To puttyman24: Thank you! To MinervaMcGee: You're welcome for saving the twins, thank you! To Unknownsolidersofthought: Thank you so much for saying Zee is your favourite original character, that means a lot. To pix25: Yes, war means casualties. Thank you. To A Huge Fan: Sorry about the feels, but I'm glad you feel the grief and sadness of the war. Thanks for liking how I'm showing the Slytherins as having different sides other than evil. Thank you. As to Draco and Astoria, nope. To FrivolousFox: Thank you very much! To alix33: HA stands for Healer Assistant. Thank you! To Undead Gothic Princess: Thank you for saying the list of deaths so far have the right balance (i.e. Arthur instead of Fred), I did try. Thank you very much! I'm glad you love my cobra chickens reference lol. To cath: Sorry that you're in tears. Thank you! To Redmatter91: I'm sorry that you're crying your organs out LOL. Thank you so much for saying this story has been the past part of your free time for years, that means so much to me. Thank you very much! To Guest: You're welcome. Thank you! To Saz J: You will find out soon if Tonks is dead or not. Sirius will definitely look after Lady G and Misha. Sorry to make you cry. Thank you! To ascfan: Yes, wands up for the fallen warriors. Thank you! To EnigmaticEmperor: Yes, definite torture for Harry not to have sex for two weeks lol. Nah, there will be so much else going on, he will barely think about it. Harry and Ginny definitely know everything about each other down to the last detail. Hermione does need to stay busy to keep her mind off of things, thank you. The description of Donal was definitely so Fred. Thank you! Draco and Astoria will not be in ASC, no. Thank you!
To the frozen flame: I know so many deaths and so many emotions, but thank you very much. Theo is still dealing with not knowing if Bas will make it or not. Thank you. To ellyann13: Nope, Harry will definitely be embarrassed by being "absolutely shag-able" lol. Harry and Ginny will have so much other stuff going on, they won't be thinking about sex. Seamus is going to make a great first responder indeed. I did save Fred for Arthur. Thanks for liking D threatening Theo. Thank you! To tim2604: Harry definitely needs that tattooed on his forehead lol. I wish someone would draw that scene of Harry looking so hot and fierce in the moment. Oh calling all artists? Thanks for loving Misha and yes, I did kill him. You really should stop reading around people cutting onions, it's becoming a problem, Tim. Thank you. To George R: Thank you so much for saying I have taken a "well loved story and written such an explosive, graphic and believable alternative saga." Thank you very much! To Guest: You will have to wait and see about Tonks, thank you! To The Booknerds: Yes, when Misha ran back to the castle he was caught up in the explosion of Amethyst Inferno. Thank you. To Knightowl34: Zee has Harry and the twins right now, that's all she needs at the moment. Thank you!
To Gigi87: Thank you! I worked on Halloween, but yes, it was very nice. Ginny is badass and she was more or less, dragging her ankle behind her. She is definitely the only one to have gotten through to Harry and yup, Harry's face is going to be permanently red while people congratulate him. Yes, Hermione, Charlie, and McGonagall are all safe. Mandy was definitely voicing the thoughts of everyone else lol. The Aurors should have, but a fight like that, they were distracted. Lavender was attacked by both vampires and werewolves, yes. There will be mind healers recommended, but those who leave school will have to do so on their own. I thought showing Lockhart hiding in the midst of the battle made total sense. Yes, Blaise might actually approve of Rossi. You think the Resurrection Stone will the death of Belladonna? Interesting. Yes, I loved having Fred be saved by one of Fiadh's brothers and then him just being all teasing about it. Yes, Ciara and Mila snuck out just like Colin did in canon. We will learn more about Tonks in this chapter, but yes, Remus is okay. It is heartbreaking that Ron saved Harry's mum only to lose his own father. Ginny will learn the horrible news this chapter and yes, Arthur would definitely have been her biggest cheerleader in her Quidditch career (outside of Harry, of course). Yes, Misha is gone as well. As to grabbing chocolate, a box of tissues, and a bottle of wine before reading the chapter, I think readers are prepared by now lol. Thank you very much for saying the chapter was beautifully written. Thank you very much.
To Cristina: I agree. I am tired of reading fanfics where Percy is always the scapegoat or the one who's killed off and I think letting it be Arthur, as sad as it is, makes it better. He lived his life. Yes, Fred is alive and I was happy to let him live. Zee was receiving bad news after the other, but she's alive and as to Tonks, well, we will see. Thank you very much for starting to read from the beginning again. I really hope you enjoy it the second time around as much as the first. Thank you! To ravenclaw_rockchick: Well, I'm very sorry that you can't leave the country for health reasons, but also, thanks for not coming to cry on me lol. I know, Arthur's death is very tragic and it was hard to choose to kill him, but I think killing him over Fred was a wise decision. Theo is heartbroken and in shock and just disoriented. He's worried about Sebastian and just overwhelmed by everything. Thanks for loving my Tonks. We'll find out more about her this chapter. Draco and Astoria will not be becoming a couple in ASC. We won't really see more of them together until The Third Time's the Charm. Astoria is going into her sixth year at Hogwarts and Draco has his own choices to make on what he wants to do next. I do plan on them ending up together though. As to Lavender and Padma, you will have to wait to find out. Thank you!
My posting schedule: Weekly.
Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.
As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!
Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!
CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY:
The One With the Polka Dot Tie
Neville found his grandmother before Hannah. She had dirt on her face and her black trousers were singed in places. She had on a tunic like shirt with a belt around her waist, and bits of blood splattered it. He rather thought she looked like she'd gone a round with a dragon and had come out on top. To say he was surprised would be a lie.
He sure as hell wouldn't want to face his grandmother in a fight.
"Gran."
"Oh, Neville, thank Merlin!"
She pulled him close. He dwarfed her now, bending to wrap his arms around her, happy to find her well amidst all of the rubble and destruction.
"You all right?"
"Of course, I'm all right!" Augusta exclaimed. "Griselda and I kicked arse!"
Neville chuckled. "I don't doubt it, Gran, but still, let's sit down and have a rest, yeah?"
Augusta reluctantly agreed, taking him in. "Are you hurt?"
"Nothing serious," he assured her. "A few cuts. Have you seen Hannah, Gran?"
"No," Augusta said. "But Griselda and I stayed put in here. It seems that despite being in the Terra Troops, which you know we had to fight tooth and nail for — too old, my arse! They still insisted that we shouldn't be on the front lines as if we couldn't take care of ourselves. But we showed them!"
Neville knew that wasn't an exaggeration by any means. His grandmother with a wand was a scary sight. She was considered formidable for a reason. She and Griselda had always intimidated him and he knew that facing either one of them in battle would not have been an easy feat to escape from.
"Augusta!" Griselda exclaimed, coming to sit next to her. "Did you see that Auror's face when I showed him the Death Eater's we took out?"
Augusta chuckled. "Just because we're old doesn't mean that we don't know what we're doing!"
"You took out more than one Death Eater?"
"Six," Griselda replied. "One died. The other five we left all tied together and wandless in the middle of the room."
Neville nodded, amazed. He had a feeling watching the two ladies fight would have been something. They certainly looked like they'd fought a battle. Sweaty and dirty, specks of blood here and there; it was very clear that they hadn't been sitting on the sidelines.
Neville cleared his throat. "I'm going to see if I can help McGonagall."
Augusta grabbed his hand, tugging him until he bent lower so that she could cup his cheek. "You're a fine young man, Neville. A fine young man!"
Neville felt his cheeks flush. He pecked her wrinkled cheek and took off towards the headmistress to see how he could help. He only made it a few steps before he saw her familiar blonde hair walk into the Great Hall with Anthony and his heart stopped. He was running before he could stop himself. Hannah noticed half a second later and she let out a tiny shriek before she ran to him as well. He gripped her arms, holding her at arms length once he was in front of her.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"No," Hannah replied, shaking her head. "You?"
Neville shook his head before he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "No. I love you."
Hannah burrowed closer, her hands fisting in the back of his shirt. "Neville… Suzy's gone."
"Ah, shit. I'm sorry, Hannah."
Hannah shook her head. "No. I'm sorry. Merlin, Neville! I've barely spoken to her since she and Kevin and… he's dead, too."
Neville felt her tears against his shirt and he embraced her tighter. "It's not your fault. That was a shitty move on her part, to date your ex boyfriend. It's not a very friend thing to do and I know that you were upset with her, but it doesn't mean that you didn't still care about her or she you."
Hannah's bottom lip trembled. "I know, but it still… I wish she knew that I wasn't really cross with her. I didn't want Kevin back or anything, I just thought that she could do better than him and now he… they're both gone."
Neville pressed his lips to her forehead. "They died to help us, Hannah. They were heroes."
Hannah tilted her head back to look into his eyes. "They weren't the only ones. Did you see Harry?"
"Yeah, I did."
"He was magnificent," Hannah recalled. "Absolutely amazing! He looked like some powerful god and when Voldemort fell to his knees… Neville, my heart was pounding. I couldn't look away."
"Most people couldn't," Neville remembered. "It was an amazing moment. Harry did it. He's finally gone."
"He really was the Chosen One," Hannah whispered.
Neville kissed her forehead again, remembering how close it had come to the prophecy landing on his own shoulders instead of Harry's. "Yeah. he really is."
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, long and slow. When he moved away, her eyes fluttered open slowly and he smiled.
"Come on. Let's go see where we can help."
Hannah's hand linked with his and Neville couldn't help but feel happy. Voldemort was finally gone and despite the loss around him, he knew that good things were coming. He could just feel it.
~ ASC ~
After Zee woke up, Ginny left Harry with her. She didn't want to leave Harry just yet, but after hearing that Misha had been killed, she wanted to find her own family. She wanted to hug her brothers and her parents and just be with them; to be thankful that they were all alive.
She returned to Hogwarts and immediately made her way towards the Great Hall where people were still gathering. Returning to the mess of the castle, it almost seemed unreal. With her ankle healed, she hurried to find sight of someone and found Colin outside of the door to the Great Hall.
His bright blond hair was even messier than usual, his curls big and wild. He was standing by the door and crying; his tears looked bloody as they mixed with the cuts on his face. He still had his camera around his neck, but he was covered in grime.
"Colin?"
He turned at the sound of his name and when he saw her, he began to sob.
Ginny ran to him, kneeling in front of him as he fell to the ground. She wrapped him in her arms, pulling him close as she felt him tremble in her embrace. "Colin, what happened?"
"Dennis!" he sobbed. "Dennis is gone, Ginny! He's dead!"
"Oh! Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry," she said, hugging him tightly.
"He snuck out," he mumbled against her ear. "Wanted to fight and he… and Edie… they're both gone, Ginny."
Ginny hugged him tighter, tears in her eyes as she thought about how young Dennis was. He was so eager to prove himself and to show Colin that he was growing up and now… she couldn't imagine how devastated Colin's parents were going to be when they heard. And Edie… working with her at the Hogwarts Herald had been fun and to think that she wouldn't be coming back. It was unthinkable.
"Edie went left," Colin mumbled. "She went left and I went right and then the left side exploded and… it could have been me, Ginny! It could have been me!"
Ginny kissed his cheek, cradling him close. "But it wasn't, sweetie. It wasn't you. And I know it's not fair and it bloody-well sucks because Edie didn't deserve to die and neither did Dennis. But they were so brave, Colin, so brave."
Colin sobbed louder, burying his face in the crook her neck as she ran a hand up and down his back, her other hand in his curls. She wasn't sure how long they sat there, kneeling on the ground outside of the Great Hall, but she looked up when a shadow fell over her. Her eyes softened when she recognized Luna.
"Luna," she whispered, reaching a hand out to her.
Luna was just as dirty as Colin, exhaustion evident all over her body. She knelt down next to them, accepting Ginny's hand before she wrapped her arms around both of them.
"I'm very sorry for your loss, Colin." She kissed Colin's cheek and then she kissed Ginny's. "Ginny, your mum needs you right now. I'll stay with Colin."
"My mum?"
Luna leaned around Colin to hug Ginny tighter. "Go."
Ginny kissed Colin's cheek, watching as Luna turned their sobbing friend into her arms before she stood up, her heart pounding in her chest. There was something in Luna's eyes when she mentioned her mum that suddenly made her very anxious. She closed her eyes a moment and let out a slow breath before she moved through the doors of the Great Hall.
The smells hit her first.
The Great Hall smelt of close bodies, blood, and grime. There was loud crying coming from all over, some people talking excitedly about Harry's fight, and the injured were still being treated amidst groans and cries. Fleur appeared next to her, startling her as she took her arm in hers.
"Come with me, Ginny. Maintenant."
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked, her heart moving into her throat. "What happened, Fleur? Is Bill all right?"
Fleur didn't say anything, she only kept Ginny's arm tucked in hers and guided her around to the far side of the Great Hall where Ginny could see the bright red hair of her family. Fiadh, Angelina, Audrey, and Hermione were standing there as well, but the closer she got, she realized that all of them were looking devastated and shocked. She started to ask what happened again, but Bill moved and she found herself looking down at the still body of her father. If Fleur hadn't been holding onto her, she was certain that she would have fallen to the ground.
"No," she whispered. "No."
Bill took a step forwards her first, but Fred beat him to it. His arms wrapped around Ginny, pulling her close to his side as he pressed his lips to her hair.
"Dad's gone, Gem."
"No!" Ginny shouted, shaking her head in denial despite the sight before her. "No, no, please! Not Daddy, no!"
But when she looked into her mother's eyes, she knew that it wasn't a lie.
The sound of a loud and rather sudden sob had Ginny turning; her heart broke when she realized that it was Charlie. He was holding onto their father's hand, tears raining down his face. Bill moved to sit next to him, one hand on Arthur's arm and the other squeezing the back of Charlie's neck as he turned him towards his own shoulder. Charlie let his face fall into the crook of Bill's neck as he cried and for some reason, the sight of Charlie of all people, losing it, was too much for her.
Brother reached for brother as Fleur, Angelina, Audrey, Hermione, and Fiadh banded around them to offer support. Ginny and Molly sat on opposite sides in the centre, crying. No one seemed to know what to do or what to say.
Ginny noticed that Fiadh was crying as well while Fred kept his arms around her. Tiernan and another fae — who Ginny couldn't name — were standing nearby; it was only then that Ginny noticed Ciara Casey was lying among the dead. The little girl whom Theo loved so much. That was Fiadh's niece, she realized. Merlin, did Theo know?
Charlie let out another loud sob and Ginny's bottom lip trembled. She couldn't look over there again. She couldn't look at her father lying there, couldn't look at her strong brother crying. It made it too real. Percy wrapped an arm around her and tears welled up in her eyes instantly. She sat between him and Ron, trying to figure out her thoughts and trying to stop her tears.
"Ginny… come here, darling," Molly said, beckoning her over.
Ginny's bottom lip trembled as her tears spilled over her lashes. She let Percy lead her over to her mother and the moment that Molly wrapped her arms around her, Ginny lost it. Sobs tore through her, huge wracking sobs that shook her body as her brothers all moved in to engulf her and her mother in their strong arms.
Ginny didn't know how long they stood like that, cradled together, holding each other close as they all cried, but when Ginny finally managed to let out a gasping breath, Molly kissed her forehead.
"He saved me," Molly told her. "I don't know who sent the curse, but your stubborn father pushed me out of the way. He… he shoved me right to the ground and when I turned he… he was…"
"Mum," George began, pressing his lips to her cheek. "Of course he did. He loved you so much."
Molly nodded, her bottom lip trembling. "I don't… I don't know what to do without him. I've loved him for over thirty years. He's my whole world. My Arthur, my love, my… everything. He's not going to see Aydin grow up and he won't get to meet Fred's twins and he… he…"
"I know," Bill said, pulling Ginny into his arms so that Charlie and Percy could get in to hug Molly tighter. "I know, Mum."
Ginny moved out of Bill's arms to move closer to Arthur. Tears blurred her vision as she leaned over to look at her father's still form. She couldn't ever remember seeing him so still before. He always had a foot tapping or a finger moving in some way. But now… he looked like he was sleeping. Except he wasn't sleeping, for even in sleep he'd never looked so… stagnant. His red hair, thinning at the top, had some white in it. His face had a day or two of stubble and the tie that he wore every day to work was crooked. For some reason, the sight of that ridiculous lime green tie with purple polka dots made her smile. She'd made it for him when she was seven and he wore it just because it was from her… another sob tore out as she reached out to fix it.
"Don't," George's voice broke out behind her. "Leave it crooked, Nevra. He'd want it that way, wouldn't he?"
Ginny let out a strangled breath and instead reached her hand out to touch his face. He was still warm to her touch and for some reason that made it worse somehow.
"Daddy," she whispered. "I love you, Dad."
When she turned, it was Ron's arms she found waiting for her. She burrowed into her brother's warm and safe embrace and let the tears fall over again.
~ ASC ~
Hermione stayed with Ron as the Weasley family came together to suffer the shock that was losing the patriarch of the family. Once Ginny arrived, Hermione, Fleur, Audrey, and Angelina moved back a bit to let them grieve as Fiadh spoke to her brothers, Tiernan and Donal, about the death of their niece, Ciara. Hermione heard them talking about getting ahold of their sister, Niamh, and she couldn't imagine how heartbreaking that conversation was going to be. Ciara had barely been fourteen.
When Ron pulled Ginny close in his arms, Hermione dug her mirror out of her pocket to check in with Harry.
He appeared on the mirror a moment later, rubbing a hand over his face under his glasses.
"Hermione? Hey, you okay? You're not hurt?"
"No, I'm okay," she said, smiling in relief to see him. "Are you?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry said. "Cut my leg and a few other things, but I'm sitting here with Zee. She's doing good too. But she… she said that Papa died."
"Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry," Hermione told him. "Mr Zacarias was a great man."
Harry nodded, tears in his eyes. "Yeah. It… it doesn't seem real. Is Ron okay?"
"He's… as best as can be expected." She bit her lip, lowering her voice as she looked into Harry's tired face. "Harry… Mr Weasley was killed."
Harry's green eyes widened. "What?"
"Everyone's here now with him, except for you and Aydin, obviously. But… he's gone. I wanted to make sure you knew."
"How's Ginny?"
"Ron's holding her now," Hermione whispered.
"He… fuck, Hermione! I've been so focused on Zee and… who else?" he demanded.
Hermione hesitated and Harry's eyes narrowed.
"Who else, Hermione?"
"Harry," Zee said from behind him, making him turn. "We'll find out who else after. Let Hermione alone now so she can stay with Ron."
Harry looked like he wanted to argue, but he nodded. "Yeah, you're right. We'll know soon enough, I suppose. Hermione, have you seen Uncle Rem? He hasn't been answering his mirror."
Hermione shook her head. "No, I haven't. As soon as I do I'll let you know, he must have been in a different part of the castle."
"All right," Harry said. "Thanks, Hermione."
When he disappeared from the mirror, she let out a slow breath before letting her eyes wander around the Great Hall. Harry wasn't the first person to ask about Remus now that she thought about it. McGonagall and Flitwick had been looking for him, but Hermione couldn't remember seeing him around anywhere, not since the battle had first begun.
"Who are you looking for?" Angelina asked, coming up to stand next to her.
"Remus," Hermione said. "I haven't seen him, have you?"
Angelina shook her head. "I saw him and his wife earlier when the battle first started, I think."
"Wait — Tonks was here, too?"
"Yeah, it was definitely her," Angelina said. "The two of them were fighting a pack of werewolves, back to back."
Hermione let her gaze wander once more over the Great Hall before she shook her head. No, there was definitely no sign of either of them and Tonks would be easy to spot with her bright pink hair.
"I think that we need to find out where they are," Hermione said. "Angelina, do you think that we can sneak away?"
Angelina looked back at where the Weasleys were still congregated. "Yeah, I think we can. Let's go."
They told Fleur where they were going and the two of them hurried out of the Great Hall to see if they could find where Remus and Tonks had disappeared to. Hermione knew that Harry would do a lot better if he knew where his father was. And having something to do was the best thing for her right now.
Even if it meant finding more dead and wounded in the process.
~ ASC ~
Remus was trying not to panic, but by the time he'd managed to get his wife to St Mungo's, she was deathly pale and he knew exactly how much blood she'd lost. He could hear the slowing of her heart and it made him want to tear into anyone who got in his way.
She had to be all right.
Higgins had helped him to his feet and together they worked to stop the bleeding as they called for a healer. When no one came, Remus had picked Tonks up himself and ran with her until they could find someone. It took two minutes too long, but they found one. The healer immediately set them up with an emergency portkey and now Remus was pacing outside of her room while they worked on her, listening for every little sound or blip.
He'd reluctantly let a healer look at at him, but his injury wasn't serious and he'd practically jumped away the moment his side was bandaged to check in on his wife.
And when she stopped breathing, his hands gripped the doorframe so hard, the wood splintered between his fingers.
The sound of her heart beating again a few moments later, made a sob tear through him. She was alive.
"Mr Lupin?"
Remus made a strangled breath as he met the eyes of the healer. She was a short woman in her fifties with her dark hair pulled back into a low bun at her neck. Her name badge read: Healer Kelly.
"Mr Lupin, we've managed to stop the bleeding on your wife," Kelly said. "She's breathing through a spell right now so that we can give her body time to heal, but she can breathe on her own."
"Will she…?"
"Right now, things are improving, but the next twenty-four hours are critical. We're going to have to operate again if she doesn't stop bleeding."
"Operate?"
Kelly nodded. "Yes, Mr Lupin. The curse hit her stomach and the damage done to her pelvis and to her uterus has caused a lot of bleeding that's a cause for concern. We're doing everything possible, but it might mean we have to —"
"Do it," Remus interrupted. "Just keep her alive. Whatever it takes."
Kelly's eyes met his for a moment before she paused. "All right. Mr Lupin, there's also the fact that your blood mixed with hers… we don't know how it will affect her. If it will affect her. Right now, we need to just work on keeping her breathing. We will do everything we can, do you understand?"
He nodded, swallowing. "C-c-can I see her?"
"For a moment," Kelly said. "We want to run her upstairs for a few tests before we operate again, but you can take a moment."
Remus went into the room and the sight of her pale, still form on the bed made him pause. Her hair was mousy brown and wild around her pale face. He reached for her hand, bringing it to his lips.
"I'm here, Nymphadora. I'm here and I'll be waiting right here for you when you come back. I need you. Teddy needs you. Be strong, if not for yourself, for us," he whispered. "I love you."
He pressed his lips to her forehead and Kelly nodded.
"All right, we need to get her upstairs, Mr Lupin."
Remus stepped back as they took her out of the room and then he stood in the hall outside of her door, not sure of what to do. Lycanthropy was passed through blood and saliva, he knew that. He knew that she hadn't been bitten, but another part of him, the part that had bled all over her, was terrified. What if he'd given her his disease? What if it was possible to be transmitted only through blood? Would she turn? How would she feel? What was he going to say?
He dragged his fingers through his hair, making it stand on end as his heart pounded in his chest. Fuck, he couldn't lose her.
Not like this.
Not now.
He wasn't sure how long he stood there, but he jolted when Theo appeared in front of him and handed him a cuppa.
"Theo."
"Hi, Professor," Theo said, his voice hoarse. "I saw you out here and thought that you might need that."
"Thank you," he said, accepting the tea gratefully. "What are you doing here?"
"My boyfriend, he's… the healers are with him now."
"Will K be all right?" Remus asked, thinking of the tall and powerful Auror whom his wife adored.
Theo shook his head. "I… I don't know. He's alive and that's… that's all I know."
"My wife," Remus said, softly. "They just took her up for tests and possibly another operation."
"And will she be all right?" Theo asked.
Remus bit his bottom lip. "I don't know."
Theo touched his shoulder in comfort. "Would you mind if we sat together while we wait?"
Remus gave him a grateful look as they took seats in the waiting room. "No, that would be… thank you."
The two of them sat in comfortable silence for few moments before a healer in lime green robes ran past them, her wand in the air.
"Four more are incoming from Hogwarts! Two critical!"
"Good grief! What's happening at that school?"
"Margaret! Didn't you hear?" The woman in green cried out, making Remus turn. "Harry Potter really did it! He really defeated You Know Who!"
"I heard he gave him the old heave ho!" A man replied. "Just killed him outright with no finesse!"
"That's not what I heard," Margaret insisted. "I heard he kicked his arse and struck him down with lightning like some god of thunder!"
"If I was twenty years younger, I'd sure be willing to show that man my appreciation!" A woman exclaimed.
"Honey, I'll show him anyway if I see him," a man said with a smile.
"To Harry Potter!" someone cheered.
"To Harry Potter!" people shouted. "The Man Who Bested You-Know-Who!"
"To the Chosen One!"
Remus looked over at Theo, his eyes wide. "Did he really…?"
"He did," Theo told him. "And Margaret had it right. I don't know how he did it, but he summoned this storm down from the sky and lightning hit him and… it was bloody amazing."
"And Harry?"
Theo shook his head. "I don't know, Professor. I think he's all right, but I haven't heard anything."
"Mac, I moved your patient into room three as he wanted to be with Miss Zacarias. Helen's patient was discharged and took off," the receptionist said, making Remus clamber to his feet.
"Excuse me?" Remus said, moving closer to the desk. "Did you just say Zacarias? Zee — Zahira Zacarias?"
"I'm sorry, Sir, but we don't give out that kind of personal information unless your family."
"I am. Family, that is. She's my… sister-in-law," he lied, for lack of a better word to describe his relationship with her.
The receptionist looked down at her book before her eyes met his. "She's in room three, down to the left."
"Thank you," Remus said. "I'll be in there. Can you please let me know when my wife comes back from her tests? Nymphadora Lupin?"
"Of course, Sir," the woman assured him.
Theo hopped up to his feet to follow Remus down the hall and into room three. Remus' eyes found Zee in the hospital bed and relief tore through him when he saw Harry sitting by her beside, his hands covering hers. He was murmuring to her and she was smiling in reassurance as if telling him that she was okay. When she looked up and saw him hovering in the doorway, she smiled.
"Remus, hi."
Harry spun around so fast that the chair almost toppled over and the anxious look on his face made Remus feel terrible for not looking for him immediately.
"Uncle Rem!"
Remus let out a half-laugh, half-cry as Harry threw himself across the room and into his arms. His arms came around him tightly, kissing the top of his head. "You did it. Fuck, you really did it, Harry!"
Harry pulled back, a smile tugging his lips. "Did you doubt me?"
"Never for a second," Remus promised. He cupped Harry's face in his hands. "Are you hurt?"
He shook his head. "Leg's a bit wonky, but they patched me up. I have to take it easy for the next two weeks. Hey, Theo."
"Hi, you were amazing out there," Theo told him. "Like amazingly incredible and everyone thought you were totally sexy while you did it."
"Erm… thanks?"
"Sebastian Kane is here. Theo was keeping me company while we both waited to hear news," Remus said. "Nymphadora is getting some tests done as well."
"Wait — Tonks was there?" Harry exclaimed. "Why? Where's Teddy? What was she doing fighting?"
Remus let out a slow breath. "She brought Teddy to Sorcha. She said that she needed to be there to save my arse. She surprised me, too. They might have to operate again. It's… they can't stop the bleeding."
Harry's eyes widened and he hugged Remus tighter. "She's strong, Uncle Rem. She can fight this."
Remus nodded, too afraid to say anything else. "Zee, are you all right?"
"I will be," Zee said from the bed.
"Papa's gone," Harry said, making Remus' eyes soften.
"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry," Remus said, pulling him into his arms.
"And Arthur Weasley," Harry said, making Theo's eyes widen in surprise. "Hermione told me over the mirror."
"Ciara and her friend Mila were killed," Theo added, tears welling up in his eyes again. "They were barely fourteen."
"There's going to be a lot of loss," Zee told them. "We'll never be truly prepared for it. Lady Godiva is gone."
"And Dobby," Harry whispered.
"Lord Norfolk?"
They turned to look at the healer in lime green robes in the doorway.
"Mr Kane has been returned to his room if you'd like to sit with him. He hasn't regained consciousness yet, but the healer said that you can go in. Until he regains consciousness, we won't know for certain the extent of his injuries, but he's made it through so far which is a good sign. You can sit with him now if you'd like."
"Thank you!" Theo exclaimed, turning back to Harry. "I have to go. Let me know if Ginny needs anything or… if anything else comes up."
"Go," Harry said. "Sebastian needs you."
When Theo disappeared out of the door, Harry turned back to Remus. "What happened with Tonks? I've been trying to call you on the mirror and there was no answer."
"I don't know," Remus admitted. "I'm sorry, I forgot my mirror at home. As for Nymphadora… I don't know. We were fighting and something hit me and I thought I was good and then I turned and… whatever hit me… it came through her. There was a lot of blood and they… they already operated, but they might have to do a second one if they can't control the bleeding."
"She's strong," Zee assured him. "She'll pull through. Harry, you should get home."
"I don't want to leave you," he said.
Zee shook her head. "I'll be fine, sweetie. Remus will check in on me. You should get home and help with the kids. Teddy could use a familiar face, I'm sure. And… well, Mama should hear it from one of us."
Harry frowned. "Yeah, I… fuck."
Remus pulled him close again and kissed his temple. "I need to stay here and wait for news on Nymphadora, but as soon as I… I'll be there soon, okay?"
He nodded. He hugged Remus a moment longer before he moved back to hug and kiss Zee. "I love you."
Zee kissed his cheek and squeezed him in her hug. "I love you, too. Go on. Healer Greene said that I can probably go home tomorrow. If you need anything, I have the mirror. Go tell your grandmama about Papa and… try to get some rest, okay, sweetie?"
Harry let her hug him once more before he blew out a breath he headed out.
Remus turned to look over at Zee. "Are you sure that you're all right?"
"Yes," she insisted. "I'm tired, but I'm all right. Go, Dora needs you."
"I will in a minute," he said, moving to sit in the chair that Harry had vacated. "She's still upstairs. The healer assistant said she would come find me. Did you see him fight?"
Zee nodded, her eyes wide. "He was absolutely incredible, Remus. It was… the single most fantastic thing I've ever witnessed. I was taken down before the end, but… he did it. He defeated him. It's really, truly over. And his Patronus!"
"What about his Patronus?"
"Another animal appeared," Zee told him.
Remus' eyes widened. "What?"
"A stallion," she said. "A horse just like Ginny's Patronus… it was magnificent and incredible."
"And rare as fuck," Remus mumbled. "Wow! I wish I would have seen that."
"I haven't asked him about it yet, but… I think that it was the first time it appeared for him."
"Wow," Remus repeated. "That's incredible."
They both turned when Healer Greene came into the room.
"Sorry to interrupt," Greene began, a smile on his kind face. "I wanted to check in on my patient."
Remus stood up. "No worries. I need to go and check on my wife. If you need anything, Zee, I'll be just down the hall."
"Thank you, Remus."
He kissed her cheek and left her with the healer. A peek into Tonks' room told him that she still hadn't returned yet. He made to pace the waiting room again, lost in thoughts of powerful Patronuses, Voldemort finally being gone, and worry over how much longer his wife would be upstairs for tests and prayed there wouldn't be a second operation.
~ ASC ~
Harry left Remus with Zee and made his way towards the exit of the hospital so that he could Apparate home to Black Cottage. When he walked through the A&E on his way out, people started to applaud him.
"Thank you!" someone shouted.
"To the Chosen One!"
"To the Conquerer!"
"For he's a jolly good fellow," someone began to sing as others joined in.
Harry's cheeks flushed. He shook some hands and spoke to few people in earnest before he managed to sneak out; the sounds of people still chanting his name, echoing in his ears.
He made it outside into the streets of London and let out a long breath. Voldemort was truly gone and it felt surreal. He moved into an alley where he Disapparated to Sidmouth. As he walked up the drive to the cottage, the sun was starting to rise and he bit back a yawn. The house was quiet as he headed upstairs, careful not to make a sound. Padfoot greeted him at the top of the staircase and he reached over to scratch the dog's head, putting a finger to his lips. Then he made his way to his bathroom to take a shower.
He undressed, his hastily re-patched together jeans that the healers had cut off were rubbish now. He tossed them onto the floor along with the rest of his clothes before he stepped under the hot spray. The moment the hot water touched his skin, he started to cry.
He didn't know what else to do.
It seemed like his whole life had been waiting for this moment and now that Voldemort was finally dead, it was such a relief, he couldn't process how light he felt. He turned his face under the spray, placing his palms flat against the tile and let the shower cover his tears until he finally felt like he had nothing left.
When he finished washing up, he headed to his room in a towel to find an old pair of sweats and a tee shirt. He hastily attempted to draw a comb through his hair before he made his way downstairs. There was nothing he wanted more than to crawl into bed and sleep for a decade, but he couldn't.
He needed to tell Sorcha about Misha and then he needed to go to Ginny.
Harry put the kettle on, suddenly feeling famished as he puttered around the kitchen, thinking about breakfast. He looked out at the morning horizon over the treehouse, thinking how beautiful it looked and how grateful he was to be able to see another day. Part of him had wondered if he'd ever even see another sunrise. The steam of the kettle brought him back to the moment at hand and he barely took his first sip of tea before he heard a soft cry. He went upstairs to find Sorcha holding Teddy in her arms, still in her bathrobe.
"Harry!" she exclaimed in surprise.
"Hi, Grandmama," he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "I'll take him."
"He has a bottle with breast milk in the kitchen. You'll have to heat it up."
"I got it," he said, adjusting Teddy in his arms.
The tiny baby looked up at him, eyes partially open as he yawned and then fussed a bit. Harry shushed him and told Sorcha he'd meet her down in the kitchen.
He found the bottle easy enough, used his wand to heat it to the proper temperature and remembered to test it on his wrist first, just to be safe. Then he settled in the sunroom to feed his godson.
"Your mum and dad will be home soon," Harry told him. "Your mum's at St Mungo's, but she's going to be all right. I know she will be. She's a powerful Auror and nothing can keep her down."
Teddy's eyes met his and Harry watched as they turned that perfect shade of golden brown just like Remus' and he smiled.
"You're so loved, Teddy. I just want you to know that. You are so loved."
He finished feeding him and succeeded in getting one burp from Teddy with almost no mess. He carefully placed him in the chair he transfigured into a baby seat, using his wand to keep it swaying lightly.
"Okay, you sit there. Your Uncle Harry's going to make breakfast. Wow, Uncle Harry… that sounds pretty strange, doesn't it? Don't worry, Teddy. We'll figure this godfather/godson thing out together."
Within ten minutes, he had breakfast hash going and he'd just served up it up onto plates as Sorcha came down dressed for the day.
"Well?" she prompted. "I've been listening to the wireless on low most of the night, but I dozed off. What happened? Where's Zahira?"
Harry placed a bowl of breakfast hash down for her before he moved to stand in front of her, taking her hands in his. "I defeated him, Grandmama. It's over."
Sorcha gasped before she threw herself into his arms. Harry hugged her back as she murmured her awe and praise.
"There's more," he whispered.
Sorcha moved back to look up into his eyes. "What is it, mo ghaisgeach treun?"
"Zee's at St Mungo's. She's all right, but they want to keep her the day just to make sure. She… Voldemort hit her with something and she stopped breathing, Grandmama, but Ron, he… he brought her back."
Sorcha's eyes were wide as she let out a small gasp. Harry explained what had happened and what the healer had said. When he finished, he let out a slow breath.
"And Papa…"
"What about Papa?"
Harry's felt his heart stutter as something seemed to get caught in his throat. "I don't… I don't know what happened yet but he… he didn't make it."
Sorcha's expression went completely blank. At first, Harry thought that she might have been petrified as she stood there unblinking and staring at him.
"Grandmama?" Harry asked tentatively.
She shook her head. "You're wrong."
"Grandmama," he began.
"You're wrong!" she exclaimed. "My Misha's not dead, he's not!"
Harry swallowed. "Zee said that when she… died, she saw him and Uncle Sirius together. Uncle Siri promised to take care of him and of Lady Godiva. Lady G stopped a curse for me and she… she's gone, too."
Tears rolled down her cheeks just as a cry came from upstairs. Harry pulled her close and kissed her cheek.
"I'll go get them. Sit down and have something to eat."
He found Mina, Leo, and Aydin in the nursery and he carefully lifted each one up. After closing the bedroom door so that they couldn't escape, he changed nappies and carefully carried the three of them downstairs as they babbled in his ear. He found Sorcha sitting on the sofa of the living room with Colt and Flo, crying.
Harry put the kids down and moved to sit with his grandparents. Colt reached over to hug him as Flo held Sorcha.
"Hell of a mess, Harry. You did good, son. You did real damn good. We're so damn proud of you!"
Relief tore through him as he leaned into the hug. He wondered how Zee was doing at St Mungo's and assured Sorcha, Colt, and Flo that he would be all right if they wanted to go to hospital to see her.
Harry passed babies off to grandparents so that he could eat and then prepared breakfast for Mina, Leo, and Aydin. Within the hour, he was left alone with four babies, and he wondered why he had decided that he could do this all himself.
"You just defeated Lord Fucking Voldemort, Potter," he muttered under his breath. "You can handle four kids under the age of two."
"Fucking!" Aydin exclaimed, clapping her hands.
"No," Harry said. "That's a bad word, Aydin. We don't say fuck or any variation there of."
"Fuck!" Leo said.
"Fuck!" Mina repeated.
Harry rolled his eyes to the ceiling.
It was going to be a long morning.
It turned out that it wasn't that long. The kids kept his mind busy and thirty minutes into building blocks with Mina, Leo, and Aydin while he held a sleeping Teddy on his shoulder, Charlie stepped out of the Floo.
"Pa-pa-pa-pa!" Aydin squealed. She tottered to her feet and took off towards Charlie.
Charlie had her in his arms in less than half a step, snuggling her close and kissing her cheeks. "Hi, baby girl. Did you miss me?"
Aydin's hands tangled in his messy beard. "Hi."
"Hi, baby. Papa loves you so much," Charlie said, kissing her cheek. "Harry. Where is everyone?"
"They went to St Mungo's to sit with Zee."
"Is she all right?"
Harry nodded. "She will be. Ron saved her."
"Good. I heard about Misha, I'm sorry."
"Thank you. I'm sorry about your dad… he was one of the best men I've ever known."
Charlie blinked back tears as he held his daughter more firmly in his embrace. "Yeah, he was. Tell Sorcha thank you. I'm taking Aydin back to the Burrow so that we can… you're welcome whenever you can make it. I know Ginny will want to see you."
Harry nodded. "I'll be there."
Charlie moved to check out Aydin's bag, using his wand to summon all of the items before he stopped in front of the fireplace. He turned to look at Harry, his face sober.
"Harry, thank you. I know it's not your style and you won't appreciate all of the attention, but thank you. You did the world a great service and we won't forget your bravery or your sacrifice."
Harry didn't have words for that but when Charlie left, he held Teddy a little closer, and thought that he wasn't the one who had made the sacrifices and that he was a little afraid to find out who else had been the ones to do so.
~ ASC ~
Ron felt like he was in a daze. He moved automatically from brother to brother, from Ginny to Molly, not sure what to do or what to say. He had one tear that wouldn't quite fall, but he couldn't seem to summon more either.
He was in a state of uncertainty.
They sat in the Great Hall, all close together with Arthur's body until the coroners finally came to start collecting the dead. Molly protested this, but she kissed Arthur's forehead then his lips before she turned into Percy's arms, tears on her cheeks.
Hermione and Angelina had disappeared at some point, but they returned and Hermione sat on the bench of one of the house tables, him stretched out next to her, his head in her lap. Her fingers were in his hair. She didn't say anything and the silence was soothing.
People were bustling about as the coroners removed the bodies one by one. OFB officers flew around helping DMLE officials pick through rubble. People were still being pulled out of areas of the castle, some from the Black Lake, and some from parts of the bridge. The Amethyst Inferno had burned through a section of the castle and some of the bodies they were recovering were almost unrecognizable, but it seemed like the dead kept coming.
When he looked up, he saw Flitwick was ordering people about and students were leading students back to their dorms to get some rest. The train was coming to take people home in the morning. Some people had left already with parents and relatives, but most were waiting, wanting to help where they could.
"Where's McGonagall?" Ron asked, listening to Flitwick's voice.
"She went to St Mungo's," Hermione told him, her fingers still gently threading his hair. "She collapsed about three hours ago. Internal injuries. I heard someone say that she was duelling three Death Eaters at once."
"Will she be okay?"
"I hope so," Hermione admitted. "Nyx almost took out two healers who tried to approach her when she collapsed. Hagrid's taking care of her until McGonagall returns."
"Should we check on Harry?"
"I did already. He's all right. He's home. Misha was killed."
"Ah, fuck," Ron mumbled, rubbing his hands over his eyes.
"Angelina and I were looking for Remus, he wasn't answering his mirror and Harry was worried. But we ran into Auror Higgins and he informed us that Remus and Tonks went to the hospital. I don't know any news yet."
Ron nodded. "Ginny said that Zee was doing all right so that's at least one good thing."
Hermione continued to run her fingers through his hair. "Your mum is going to need you at home. Let me go tell Flitwick I'm leaving."
"No," Ron said, grabbing her wrist. "I… I need to do something, I can't just… I want to stay here and help."
Hermione leaned down to kiss his forehead. "Okay. Whatever you need."
Ron entwined his fingers with hers, grateful for her presence. She was what he needed in every sense of the word and right now, that was enough. But keeping busy would certainly help as well.
~ ASC ~
Sebastian woke to a sharp pain running down his body. He hissed and when he moved, the pain intensified. When he opened his eyes, he only saw red dots as pain hissed through him again, but after blinking a few more times he realized that the bright white lights told him that he was in the hospital.
He remembered waking up a few times earlier and someone claiming he was regaining consciousness, then there had been more potions and more sleep. The grogginess was still there, but the pain was more constant as he blinked the room into focus and took in his surroundings. It was then that he recognized the mop of brown hair bent over his bed, fast asleep, and he couldn't help but smile.
Theo was still wearing the clothes that he wore during the Battle of Hogwarts. They were dirty, blood stains all over them. He had dirt on his cheek with tears streaked through the grime, and his hair was standing on end as if he'd been dragging his fingers through it. He had dark circles under his eyes, but in sleep he looked both peaceful and sad at the same time.
Sebastian reached out to run his fingers through his hair and Theo sat up as if he'd been shot; those beautiful brown eyes framed in long lashes narrowed. The look of anger on his face made Sebastian laugh. He couldn't help it. It reminded him he was in pain and he grimaced, but the smile still stayed on his lips.
"Are you bloody laughing?" Theo demanded. "You're in the bloody hospital because Auror Arsehole is too fucking good to stop and tell someone that he's fucking bleeding bloody everywhere in the middle of a bloody fight!"
"Didn't think it was that bad," Sebastian said, shrugging, reminding him that his right side was on fire. "I was in the moment."
Theo glowered. "Well, next time you're in the moment, bloody pay attention to fucking blood dripping down your side, you stupid tosser!"
Sebastian's lips twitched and he linked his fingers with Theo's. "You were worried. I like that."
"Worried?" Theo repeated. "Worried? I thought that you were bloody dead and now that I know you're going to be just fine, I just might kill you myself!"
Sebastian laughed again, wincing at the pain. "Merlin, I fucking love you, Theodore Nott."
"You —!" Theo's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "You… did you just…?"
"I love you," Sebastian said, his eyes sobering. "I just wanted to tell you that."
Theo stared at him like he'd been clubbed over the head for a full minute before his eyes narrowed again. "You arsehole! You thought that you were bloody dying! You were going to tell me you loved me and then you were going to bloody die on me!"
"Er, when you put it like that… ow!" he exclaimed when Theo punched him in the arm. "I'm injured here!"
"Don't you ever do something like that again, Auror Arsehole! Or the next time you end up in the hospital it will be because I bloody-well put you here!"
Sebastian laughed again, wincing at the pain it caused. "Noted."
Theo made a huffing sound. "You don't just go around telling people you love them and then almost die! Who does that? What's wrong with you? I swear to Merlin, when we get back to Norfolk you are not leaving that bed until you are fully healed and if you even think about it, I will tie you up, and not in a fun way! Are we clear?"
"No," Sebastian said. "I'm going home. To my own bed. And I will not be fussed over like I'm an invalid. I feel fine."
"Do you even know what fucking happened?" Theo demanded, putting his hands on his hips.
"I took a hit for you," he shot back. "And I'm awake and arguing so, clearly I'm good."
"Well, if he's yelling at people, obviously there was no need for me to come," a familiar voice said from the doorway.
Sebastian's eyes turned to find his mother standing there and his eyes softened. "Maman."
Sadira Kane walked into the room. Her eyes drifted over Theo a moment before she bent to wrap her arms around Sebastian and he immediately felt comforted. He kissed her cheek.
"Sebastian, what happened?"
"Nothing serious," he said.
Sadira turned to look at Theo. "What happened?"
"He took a curse that was meant for me. It cut open his back and his right side, did irreparable damage to his kidney. They removed it, but stopped the curse from spreading. He's going to scar, but be all right. Excuse me."
Sebastian watched him leave, frowning. His mother's finger traced his frown lines and he turned back to look at her. "I'm okay, Maman. You didn't have to come all the way here."
"You always tell me that and I didn't come all the way here. I was called in to help out. In fact, I was so busy dealing with injuries from the battle that I had to see your name on the board myself."
He winced. "I'm sorry. You know that I don't like to worry you."
"I work in the hospital, Sebastian. You come in, I worry." At his look, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Dad is at the shop waiting for Tommy to come in, but he'll be here soon. Does it hurt?"
"Yes," he admitted.
She kissed his brow. "Good. If it hurts, maybe you'll take it seriously. Now, tell me about the handsome young man you were just yelling at."
"No."
She smiled. "Are you worried that we'll embarrass you?"
"You and Dad were bad enough with Max and with Clark. I learned my lesson."
"You were fifteen with Max and you didn't let us meet Clark. We met him by accident when we ran into you. I didn't like him."
"I know," he said.
She brushed her fingers through his hair. "Will you at least come home and let me take care of you while you heal?"
"I can take care of myself."
"Mmm," she said, not looking convinced. "Will that man be there?"
Sebastian rolled his eyes. "According to him, I'm going to his place and if I attempt to get out of bed before I'm sufficiently healed, he's going to tie me to it. So, no, I will not be letting him take care of me either."
Sadira chuckled. "I like him already."
Sebastian scowled. "I can take care of myself."
"Of course you can, dear." She kissed his cheek and then made a fuss out of tucking him in just as the healer came in.
Sebastian noticed Theo hovering in the doorway as the healer told him he needed to stay for two more nights before he could go home. He was ordered two weeks off of work and was told that he couldn't do anything strenuous for at least twelve days.
"Take it slow," the healer insisted.
"I run," Sebastian began.
"Not for twelve days you don't," the healer said. "No running. No sexual activity. No flying. Do you have someone who you can stay with who can help you? You will be sore for a few days and will need help moving around. Sadira?"
"He refuses to come home with me, Phil," she said. "But I'll keep an eye on him."
"He's coming home with me," Theo said from the doorway. "I'll make sure he rests."
The healer, Phil, nodded. "All right. I expect you back in six days for a followup."
Sebastian frowned. "Theo, you don't have to take me back to yours. I'll be fine at my flat."
"If you say one more word, I'm dragging you home by your ear and tying you to the bloody bed," Theo threatened.
Sadira chuckled. "It's about time someone insists on taking care of my baby. He's always been much too independent." She stood up from her chair and offered her hand. "Sadira Kane, Sebastian's mère."
"Theodore Nott," Theo said, taking her hand in his.
Sadira smiled, squeezing his hand. "It is lovely to meet you. Sebastian never lets his father and I meet any of the men in his life."
Sebastian squirmed in the bed. "It's not that I don't want you to meet people, it's…"
"We embarrass you?" she teased. She turned back to Theo. "You'll come to dinner when Sebastian is healed and meet everyone, oui?"
"I'd like that," he admitted.
Sadira patted his cheek. "Good. Now, I'll stay with my son while you go get some rest. It looks like you haven't slept much yourself. Go, get cleaned up and get some fresh clothes. You'll feel better."
Theo looked like he wanted to protest, but he nodded. "Yes, I… thank you. I'll be back in a few hours then."
Sebastian watched as he sent him one more look before he left them alone. "You didn't have to make him leave."
"That boy is exhausted, Sebastian. Let him go and have a hot shower and some fresh clothes, maybe some food. He'll need his strength if he's going to deal with you."
"You're hilarious," he mumbled.
Sadira took her seat in the chair next to his bed and took his hands in hers. "He's special."
Sebastian started to deny it, but his mother's blazing blue eyes staring back at him made him swallow. "Yes. I… I love him."
"You light up when you look at him," Sadira said. "I like to see my baby so happy. Tell me about him."
"Maman…"
"Tell me about him," she insisted, crossing her legs. "What else have you got to do?"
He glowered and took the potion she handed him. "So nosey."
"Because my son doesn't tell me anything."
Sebastian grinned. "Only because it drives you mad."
"Oh, you!" she said, patting his hands. "Bastian, tell me about your Theo."
His cheeks heated at her words. His Theo. Merlin, he'd been thinking about him as such for a while now. "He's… amazing. He's just so full of life and energy and so… open about himself and… he's everything."
"Good. I know, I only met him the once, but I didn't like that Clark."
"Seems that no one did," he muttered.
"You are a kind-hearted soul and you always have been. Just because you're Mr MIA and run around doing secret jobs for the government doesn't mean that you aren't," Sadira said. "You deserve a man who sees that side of you and loves you for it as much as your family does."
"Theo's the complete opposite of Clark."
"His reaction to you taking it easy when you go home rather gave me that impression. You know how I felt when you came down with the Black Cat Flu."
"Maman, that was years ago."
"It was," Sadira agreed, "and that Clark didn't even check in on you. I want someone to take care of my baby when he won't let me."
"I can take care of myself," he insisted.
Sadira brushed her finger over his knuckles. "Stubborn. Just like your father."
"I think you have that backwards, love," Spencer Kane said from the doorway. "I don't have a stubborn bone in my body."
"Codwallop!" Sadira exclaimed. "You could be standing in the rain and would refuse to admit you were getting wet."
Spencer moved to sit next to his son's bed, leaning in to kiss Sebastian's forehead. "A little stubbornness never hurt anyone. What happened, Bastian? Are you all right, son?"
Sadira chuckled, reaching out to run her fingers through her son's hair. "He's going to be all right, Spence. Sebastian, did you really take a curse for him?"
Sebastian swallowed, nodding slowly. "I had to."
"For who?" Spencer asked.
Sadria smiled. "Shush, Spencer. Because you love him?"
"Yeah," Sebastian admitted.
"Tell me everything, mon chéri. How did you meet him?"
Sebastian let out a slow breath, turning to look at his father before he did. He told his parents everything and when he finished, Spencer kissed his forehead.
"I can't wait to meet this Theo of yours."
"He's… wonderful," Sebastian told them.
Sadira smiled as the healer came back in and gave him a potion to take. When he drifted off to sleep again under the thrall of the potion, his mother was still gently running her fingers through his hair and singing an old lullaby under her breath while his father held his hand in his.
But it was Theo he dreamed about with a smile on his face.
~ ASC ~
Harry finally fell asleep later on that evening due to sheer exhaustion. But he was woken less than hour later by the vibrating of his mirror on the night table. He reached for it blindly and murmured, "'Lo?"
"Hi."
Harry's eyes flew open at the soft voice as he fumbled for his glasses, his eyes lighting up at the sight of Ginny's face. "Hey."
She nodded. "I can't sleep. Did I wake you?"
"Barely," he assured her. "Want me to come over?"
Ginny gave him a grateful look.
"Give me five."
He swiped the mirror off and shoved it into his pocket before he found a tee shirt from his wardrobe. He grabbed his wand and a hoodie, pulling it over his head and made his way downstairs. He wrote a quick note, sticking it on the kitchen table so that Sorcha wouldn't worry and then used the Floo to the Burrow.
He found Ginny sitting on the worn sofa waiting for him. Harry used his wand to clean himself off from the Floo before he sat next to her, stretching his long legs out lengthwise and snuggling her into his chest.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Harry wrapped his arms around her more securely. "I'm so sorry, Gin, about your dad. I—"
"—No, don't you even try to say you're to blame," she interrupted. "He saved Mum and he… he wanted to be there. He wanted to fight."
"He was an amazing man. One of the best I know."
"Knew," she corrected, tears in her voice.
Harry kissed the top of her head. "He knew how much you all loved him. He'll be missed, by a lot of people."
Ginny didn't say anything. She only burrowed closer into his embrace.
Harry stroked a hand down her spine in a soothing motion as she cried quietly. He didn't know how long they sat like that, but she eventually cried herself to sleep, dried tears on her cheeks. Harry gently wiped them away with his thumb and thought even in her grief, she was devastatingly beautiful.
He looked up at the movement in the doorway and saw Molly come closer. She looked at her daughter before she leaned over to kiss Harry's cheek.
"Thank you for being here for her."
"There's nowhere else that I'd rather be."
Molly half smiled. "You're a good man, Harry. And such a brave one. The world will never forget what you did. You're our hero and I know that you're too humble to want to hear that, but you are. Arthur and I… we're both so proud of the man you've become. I want you to know that. Thank you. For everything."
"Mrs Weasley, I'm sorry about Mr Weasley."
"Dear, after all this time, I think it's high time you start calling me Molly." She leaned over the back of the couch and kissed his forehead. "And thank you. I'm sorry about Misha as well. A lot of good men and women lost their lives and so many children."
Harry nodded. "Yeah. It… it shouldn't have happened."
"No," Molly agreed. "But You Know — Lord Voldemort — he's finally gone now because of it. Because of you. The Chosen One."
"I'm just Harry," he said.
Molly smiled. "Well, just Harry, you're just a little bit extraordinary which is a lot more than just Harry." She patted his cheek lightly. "Goodnight, dear."
Harry watched her turn to go back upstairs, comforted and moved by her words. He looked down at the woman asleep in his arms and thought that she was his future. She was why he had fought as hard as he did, for his future with her. Maybe that did make him the Chosen One, but all he knew was that Voldemort was finally gone and Harry had never felt more relieved in his life.
He tugged the blanket down from the back of the sofa, wrapping them both up before he hunkered down, his arms still holding her, and finally let sleep overcome him, warm and safe in Ginny's embrace.
End Author's Notes:
(Gaelic) mo ghaisgeach treun = my brave warrior
The list of the dead will be provided at the end of the next chapter.
Thanks for reading and please review!