Extended version contains two extended scenes and one new scene. The Ron/Hermione/Ginny scene has been expanded a bit. The other extended scene is the conversation between Buffy and Giles. A new scene to resolve the Professor Snape/Professor Summers relationship has also been added.

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Chapter 33

Forgiveness (extended version)

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Carriages were streaming from the mountains. As members of the faculty and the students who had stayed behind watched as the sun tipped over the horizon, the carriages grew closer. As they did, they could hear the sounds of students celebrating their safe return to the school they knew and loved.

Ron was among those who were the first to arrive back at the school. As he cheerfully left the carriage, he glanced over the heads of many students running in front of him.

In the distance, by the entrance, near the areas where the gates had crumbled in the vicious battle just the night before stood two girls, looking around. One suddenly spotted him and beamed, nudging the other. And they both ran forward toward him.

"Ron!" Ginny screamed happily, limping slightly as she reached her brother, throwing her arms around him as he easily lifted her from the ground, never so happy to see his sister in his entire life. As he set her down, he saw Hermione smiling shyly over Ginny's shoulder.

"Hermione," he said gently, stepping forward.

She looked up at him, beaming.

"I told you I would see you again," he said softly as he reached for her. The moment she was in his arms, hers tightened across his back as she closed her eyes, thanking whichever power brought him back alive. Not to mention kept her alive. His lips touched hers and he felt the power surging through him. He had never felt like he belonged anywhere but here.

Ron pulled back and saw Hermione's tears. "No more crying," he said, watching as she hastily wiped the tears dripping down her cheeks. She glanced up at him, with hope shining in her eyes.

He glanced around again, hoping to spot Harry. It was then he noticed Ginny and Hermione exchanging a quick look. "Where is he?"

Ginny bit her lip, letting Hermione explain. "He's in the hospital wing. They don't know when he'll get out..."

"The battle," Ron realized. "How bad was he hurt?"

"Pretty bad," Ginny said, her voice quivering with her pain. "I was unconscious for most of it, but Voldemort possessed the amulet Harry was wearing... it was beyond scary..."

"I watched it," Hermione whispered, her eyes showing her horror at reliving the events of the previous night. "It was... I felt so... it was beyond anything I had ever felt before. It was evil... pure... powerful evil."

Ron gently reached for her hand. "It's okay," he replied, as the three turned and started walking back toward the castle as students ran around them. "Let's just go and see him, and be thankful that was the only..."

"It wasn't," Ginny said hastily. "A lot of Slayers died. And... And..."

Her voice caught as Hermione once again took over.

Ron froze, his eyes wide. "It wasn't the Professor, was it?"

Hermione shook her head, her eyes wide. "It wasn't Professor Summers," she said, taking his arm and ushering back toward the Entrance Hall. "It was Willow."

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The hospital wing was still very crowded several hours after the battle. The moment Ginny had awakened, she had left the wing so that an injured Slayer could take her place.

Buffy stood by the door, watching over the Healers and nurses as they bustled back and forth.

The only bed with no activity around it was the bed belonging to that of her closest friend.

Tara was the only one there, and she held Willow's hand, refusing to let go. Giles and Wesley both stood in the background. Xander needed a tranquilizer once he realized what had happened to Willow, and was occupying a bed in the Slayer's suite.

Faith walked in, her arm in a sling and her hair pulled tightly back, exposing her bruised neck and shoulder. "How is she?"

"No change," Buffy said, her voice hollowed, dull.

Faith turned back toward Willow's bed, her eyes losing some of their luster. "What of Harry Potter?

Buffy walked over toward Harry's bed in the corner, Faith following behind her. "He's in a coma too. But he'll come out of it. All he needs is time."

"Right," Faith said softly. "Because being possessed by evil is being possessed by evil." She noted the look on Buffy's face. "So what now?"

"I want all the bodies to be taken tonight back to their families. I entrust that Giles has all the information we need."

"He and that bloody Ministry," Faith grumbled, rubbing at a scratch on her face. "Hey, B."

She put her hand on Buffy's shoulder.

"You need to get some rest," Faith replied before stepping away towards Giles.

Buffy stared at Harry's face, which was peacefully calm and somewhat eerie. Placing a hand on his arm, she sat down on his bed and watched him as he slept. It was comforting to know that he would wake out of it.

It was devastating to know that Willow may never.

She turned as she heard footsteps approach. Giles was standing there with Faith. He had binder in his hand which he turned over to her. "I think this is what you asked for."

Buffy nodded and scanned the list, the bottom of her heart dropping out. For a moment, she couldn't speak. "Th-This was such a high price to pay," she finally choked out, turning to him. "I-I n-n-need to call Willow's family."

"It's not a call you're looking forward to making, I imagine," Giles said, removing his glasses to clean them.

"I'm not," Buffy replied, looking at their hands. "As for these other girls...."

"It'll give Andrew something to do. He's been locked out of the hospital wing all night. I already gave him the first sheet."

Buffy paled. "How many did we lose?"

"Over half, including some of the more skilled ones," Giles replied gently. "Chao-Ann, Jade..."

Buffy put up her hand, her face screwing up as she fought with her emotions not to cry. "It's... it's not fair... they just found out who they are... and now... they don't have a chance to prove... themselves... or anything... they're just... dead..."

"They did what they were predestined to do," Giles said, laying a comforting hand on Buffy's shoulder. "As did Willow. As did Angel. They did what they knew they had to do to protect the school."

Buffy sighed softly, her arms dropping down to her sides. "I cannot believe we made it through, even though so many died."

"We were fortunate to be as prepared as we were," Giles said with a kind smile toward his first Slayer. "And Angel did sacrifice his life to save your own."

"How is he?" Buffy asked, anxiously.

"He's resting in the dungeons... I'm quite sure that Professor Snape has been watching over him."

Buffy nodded. "I'm going down to see him. It'll give me something to do other than sit here and ponder my sanity away."

She stood up, feeling numb, unable to breath much. "Watch over Dawnie, will you?"

Giles nodded, his face in the shadows, watching as his first Slayer left, almost hesitantly.

He walked back toward Dawn, who was awake and surrounded by Ravenclaws who were bringing her gifts. He saw Draco Malfoy, sporting two black eyes and more cuts and bruises than Giles had ever seen on him, waiting to talk to her. Deciding to leave her alone, he returned to Willow's bedside.

Dawn watched as Cho lead the others away and saw Draco walking toward her, tears in his eyes. "You're hurt," he said softly.

Dawn tried to smile, but an overwhelming wave of pain hit her stomach and she grimaced, her bandaged hands on her broken ribs. "I'll be fine," she said in a voice tight with pain. "I just need..."

He handed her a goblet with some medications in it. She sipped it and relaxed back down on her pillow.

"Will you be okay?" he asked her, stroking her hair.

"I'll be fine," she replied, taking his hand suddenly. "I'm going to sleep... these drugs... make me so tired...." Her voice faded a moment as her eyes closed. Slowly they opened back up. "For what it's worth... you made me proud..."

She chanced one smile before the medications kicked in and she fell asleep.

Draco lovingly set her bandaged hand on top her chest and kissed her forehead. "Glad to hear it," he replied thickly as he stepped away from her bed. His eyes met several other pairs, but instead of reproof, they held something else. Pity? Respct? Awe?

He didn't know, nor did he want to.

He'd find out soon enough.

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Buffy crept out of the hospital, glancing at the students all pacing in the halls. "It'd be best if you all went back to your common rooms," she advised them. "Everyone here will held here through the night."

"How are you holding up?" a deep voice asked at her elbow.

"I'll be okay," Buffy said, recognizing Severus. "It just… Willow's my best friend. Seeing her dying… it brings back bad memories of when I did have to watch someone I love die."

He saw the look in her eyes. She was worried about someone besides Willow. "It's the vampire, isn't it?"

"Isn't it always?" Buffy asked with a sharp laugh. "I'm so sorry, Severus. I can see in your eyes that you really do care for me. I just wish I could be able to return that love, but I can't, because the truth is, I love someone else."

"I understand," he said, and he really did. He knew that if he attempted to explain his complicated feelings for her, he would be turned down. He always was, in the end. And it didn't take both of his working eyes to see the deep feelings that Buffy and the vampires shared. There was more than just a long work history between there. There was also love and a lot of respect.

"Thank you so much," she said softly, standing on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Thank you for being my friend."

As she swept down the hall, he watched her go. His heart ached slightly and he found himself surprised. He really had grown to like her. But in time, that would be all she would become – a mere memory.

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Harry's eyes felt heavy as he heard someone talking above him. The voice sounded oddly familiar. "Harry! Harry!"

His eyelids fluttered open and he saw a woman with soft auburn hair and emerald eyes grinning at him. "James, he's awake."

"About time," a deep voice replied as Harry's father appeared over his mother's shoulder, grinning as he wrapped an arm around his wife. "I thought for a moment we'd lost you."

"No," he said, confused as he sat up.

"We've been here all night," Lily said, lovingly fixing her son's wild dark hair. "Sirius hasn't left your bedside since you arrived last night."

"What happened?" Harry asked, eager to get out of bed.

"We don't know," another voice sounded from his other side. He turned and saw Ginny looking at him. "You scared me to death though."

"Death," he whispered, and suddenly the memories came flying back toward him. He cried out and fell back onto the pillows, a deep twinge of pain searing across his scar. "Willow!"

"Willow?" His mother asked gently. "Honey..."

"No, Willow," gasped Harry, sitting up and looking around. "Where is she? She should be here."

"She's not here, not for a while anyway," James replied.

Another voice sounded in the corridors of the white-walled room.

"We're in here, Sirius!" James called pleasantly as the curtain was ripped aside and Sirius arrived, beaming.

"I knew you'd be awake!"

"What happened?" Harry asked him, positive that Sirius could explain everything, just like he had always done before.

"You were possessed by him," Sirius replied in a dark voice, an angry look on his face. "But now you're here."

"I'm dead?" Harry asked, suddenly realizing that he was dreaming, because in reality, his parents and Sirius were dead. He wasn't sure why Ginny was here.

"No," his mother finally said. "You're dreaming. And I know we're going to lose you soon."

"I don't want to go," Harry finally said. "It's so peaceful here, with you and Dad, Ginny... Sirius..."

"You have to go," his father replied, looking aghast.

"But... if I go, I won't see you..."

His mother's smile softened as she sat next to him, wrapping him in her arms. "We're always here, and we'll be waiting to see you again. But only after you make us proud with grandchildren."

"I want to make you proud," he said softly, tears smarting in his eyes. "I want to be good."

"You always have been," his mother replied, smiling through her tears. "You've been making us proud ever since you realized that... your parents died for you."

"I love you, Mom," Harry whispered as he hugged her back. "And you too, Dad."

His father gave him a shaky smile.

"It's time to go now," his mother said, standing up and taking James' hand. "Don't be afraid. If worse comes to worse, we'll be waiting for you, forever if we have to."

Harry smiled at them, before turning to Ginny, who was also crying. "Oh, Harry!" she cried, before the sobs started and she had to leave the room.

"You won't be having these dreams again," Sirius said quietly from the other side of the room. "But we had to say goodbye."

Harry gave one last tentative smile, suddenly feeling sleepy, as though the weight of the world was pressing in on his shoulders.

As he closed his eyes, one last thought crossed his mind. His parents and Sirius had left him alone, and he had never forgiven them for leaving.

"I forgive you," he breathed as darkness came over him.

In the real world, he opened his eyes and looked around.

And he smiled.

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