This will be my last author's note. I have completed the last chapters of this fic. Including this one, there are three. The next chapter I will post on Tuesday and then the last will be posted on Thursday.
I would like to say, "Thank you!" to everyone that has reviewed so far. All of you make my day, so, "Thank you."
Eternal Cosmos: As always, you are wonderful. And thank you for the picture, it is beautiful.
Severus Snape and the Boy-Who-Is-Missing
The sun had quickly dropped that day, yielding to the night sky the battle would take place under. Severus Snape stood at the bow of Harry's ship just watching the twinkling stars, knowing it would be his last time to do so. The wind that blew across the land was gentle and caressed Severus's black hair away from his pale and sad face.
Walking up to his love, Harry commented; "It will be a shame to cause bloodshed on this beautiful night."
"It will not stay this beautiful; it's going to rain." The dejected man said.
"How do you know its going to rain?" The pirate captain asked, weaving his fingers between the older wizards.
"I've seen this battle in my dreams." Severus's dark eyes sadly looked at Harry's. Cupping the younger man's face with his free hand, Severus bent down to capture his lover's lips with his own. In the background, Harry's crew shouted out catcalls, encouraging their captain. Pulling back and rubbing his thumb over Harry's cheekbone, Snape whispered; "I love you."
"Severus…" The one eyed wizard was at a loss. Never had his proud lover's voice sound so defeated before. Not knowing what to say, he settled for a simple; "I love you too."
A small smile graced Severus's face. Kissing Harry's forehead on his lightning bolt scar, he said; "Come, we must prepare for battle." Harry nodded and pulled Severus with him to where his crew stood on deck, every pirate winking at their captain as he and his mate walked by.
"A thousand word of encouragement I could give to you" Said Harry. "But you know them all by heart." Several men laughed, knowing it was true. "Tonight, we go to battle!" The crew of Mistrust howled out their excitement. "Mr. Smith, take care of the prayer, if you please."
The tall Mr. Smith stepped next to his captain and turned to the crew. "If you don't believe the sun will rise!" He yelled.
Everyone, including Harry, yelled back with; "Stand alone and great the coming night, in the last remaining light!"
Severus raised an eyebrow at Harry in a silent question. "I heard a muggle song once and I started singing it one day. After that the crew took a liking to it and it has been our prayer ever since."
On the port side of the ship, a pirate opened a wide door that sat perfectly at the service of the water. The grungy man moved out of the way as ten wizards walked their horses through the door; their horses charmed to walk on the water. They galloped on the surface of the water towards the planed battlefield.
Harry, moments later, rode Set out onto the lake with Severus seated behind the pirate. They galloped after the other ten, Set's massive hooves creating large splashes as they rode across the water.
Reaching the other end, Severus jumped off followed by Harry. He gave Set's rains to one of the other horsemen and walked the short distance to his army. Each clan or house had their banners flying high above their heads. Harry's own banner, his jolly roger (a skull with a sword and wand crossed behind it), hovered above his head in black and white.
Passing his allies with Severus at his side, Harry nodded to them. Standing and facing his large army, the captain signaled for everyone's attention. "Each and every one of you know your roles in this battle. Tonight we will face our enemy, our brothers, parents, family and friends. We will rise to meet them without hesitation.
"But remember we will give them mercy where they will not grant it for us. I want no one killed if it can be helped. These are our friends and after this battle, let us not make them our true enemies." Taking his long cloak off, he turned to face the front gates of Hogwarts, waiting for the opposing army.
With the lake behind, the dark forest and the school flanking Harry's army, the only way for Ron's army to get to them were through the front gates. Dark clouds rolled in as Harry's men watched Ron's army march closer, their torches the only thing giving them away. A clash of thunder was the signal for the rain to start. A few drops fell lightly before the thick and heavy downpour bombarded both armies. The torches were snuffed out by the rain but it didn't matter; both armies could see each other just fine without them.
In unison Harry's army unsheathed their weapons. The pirate in Harry smirked at the loud frightening sound they made. Lifting his own sword, the captain paused before he slashed it down, yelling; "CHARGE!" The whole of Harry's army, except for the Cavalry, charged forward.
On the other end of the field, Ron imitated Harry; "CHARGE!" as he unhooked his war hammer from his belt.
In the middle the armies met like two incoming titans. Curses, jinxes, stunning spells and steel all clashed as one as the battle began. Ron stood at the back of his army and crushed anyone with his war hammer if they got too close. Severus never left Harry's side as they fought their way through to the back where Ron was waiting, with a smirk on his face.
"You've grown since the last time I saw you," Ron commented as Harry and Severus neared him. Coming out from behind Ron, Lucius Malfoy stood next to the red head.
The blonde sneered at Snape as he pulled out his wand. "Don't think you can get away from me that easily again, Severus."
"Of course not Lucius" Severus mocked. "That would be overestimating your inadequate abilities."
The rain poured down on the four men as they stared at each other. It was Ron who cursed first; "Crucio!"
Harry was able to sidestep the curse as Lucius and Severus started their own duel. "So tell me, old man. How does it feel to be dead?" Again, Harry sidestepped another curse.
"It is not something one can explain, dear Harry." Voldemort's red eyes, to Harry, looked out of place in Ron's body. "You will just have to experience it. Avada Kedavra!"
Quickly Harry put his hand up, stopping the curse in mid air just like he did with Percy's curse. Looking towards Ron's body, Harry just couldn't find it in himself to rebound the curse. What if Ron was still in his body? Growling, he banished the curse instead of rebounding it.
"What's wrong Potter? Have a moral dilemma?" Ron hissed out a laugh.
Finding that small spark of anger deep inside of him, Harry fed off of it. His anger grew and so did his power. Pulling out his wand, the pirate captain was seething. How could this man steel people's lives like this time after time? How could he steel Ron's body as if he were some kind of parasite!
Through the battle cries, the rain and thunder, Harry could hear only one thing; his blood pumping in his veins. His magic grew as he stood in front of the stunned Ron. It became so great that his magic became visible, like a black vortex of sand swirling around the pirate.
Coming out of his shock, Ron pointed his wand at Harry and yelled; "Avada Kedavra!"
At the same time Harry shouted; "Expelliarmus!" The two curses flew at each other with great speed and when they met, they did not link like before. This time they exploded, blowing their casters back.
Lifting his wand hand, Ron hissed in pain as his wand had charred his palm. Harry's wand had a similar effect; leaving both men unable to cast spells with their wands for the time being.
Screaming in frustration, Ron scrambled up and hurled himself at Harry, swinging his fists. "Why can't I ever kill you?!" He screamed, landing a punch on Harry's side. He caught the other wizard off guard only once and every other blow he tried to deliver, Potter blocked. Ron felt like his head was going to explode. His anger and frustration was leaving Voldemort unwary. The real Ron could feel Voldemort's control over him slip.
Meanwhile, not too far away from Ron and Harry, Severus and Lucius were locked in their own battle. Unlike Harry, Severus was not fairing well against his old school friend. He was unable to block several dark curses from Lucius, said curses leaving his left side completely useless.
From the steps of Hogwarts, Draco watched as his father cursed Severus again and again. "I cannot stand here and watch this!" The young blond hissed.
Minerva and Albus guarded Hogwart's entrance with the young man. They could not stand to watch Severus lose either, but both of them could not leave their post to go help their colleague. It surprised them greatly when Draco stood straight, without the help of his cane.
Draco ran off towards where Severus had just fallen due to a nasty curse thrown by Lucius. Twisting the top of his cane, it transformed into a broad sword. Holding it tightly in his hands, he ran up to Lucius. "Father!" he yelled.
Lucius Malfoy stood over Severus's body as the man gasped on the muddy ground. Smirking, the long haired blond pointed his wand at the slowly dying man. "Avada—"
"Father!"
Turning when he heard Draco's voice, he found himself to be face to face with his son and before he knew it, Draco had rammed his sword through his father's stomach, up to the hilt. Dropping his wand, Lucius fell to the ground next to Severus. Snarling, Draco pulled his sword out of his father's body and swung it up. In one quick motion, he cut off the aristocrat's head.
Letting out a frustrated growl, Voldemort swung his fist at Harry, only to have Harry move out of the way as if it was nothing. Again, he advanced and swung; only this time his fist stopped of its own accord. "What?" he yelled, trying to move his fist again. It didn't work. "No, you idiot child! I command you!" Slowly Ron fell to his knees and when he spoke, his voice was his own, "Harry, help me. Take him away from me."
Taken aback and slightly ecstatic, Harry encircled his arms around Ron, pinning his friend's arms to his side. "This will hurt. Hold on." Harry started chanting in a langue only Voldemort could understand.
"No!" The Dark Lord cried out of Ron's mouth. "You cannot get rid of me!"
The only chance to get rid of Voldemort without permanently damaging Ron was to pull Voldemort into himself. Harry knew the only way to accomplish this was if Ron didn't want old Voldie in his body. The powerful pirate became overjoyed when Ron started coming through.
Ron screamed in agony as Harry chanted. He felt as if his very soul was tearing in two, which in a way, it was. He could feel the very core of Harry's magic as the pirate extracted Voldemort's essence from his being. Endless waves of heat flooded his body as Voldemort tried to cling to Ron.
"No!" He could hear the Dark Lord in his head. "I will give you everything you ever wished for. I'll make you powerful, and rich beyond your wildest dreams."
Ron could think of nothing he wanted that he didn't already have; a wonderful wife and a beautiful daughter. What more could he want? I have more then I could ever hope for, Ron thought, a lazy smile coming to his face despite the pain.
"No, no, no!" The Dark Lord yelled as Harry gave one final pull and Voldemort slammed into his body, sending both men to the ground with a blinding flash.
Every witch and wizard that was on the battlefield stopped when the brilliant light came from Ron and Harry's location. Uncovering their eyes, everyone looked on as Ron slowly got to his feet, slightly shaking his head as if to clear it.
Harry, on the other hand, was on the muddy ground screaming and convulsing with his hands trying to claw at his head. He ripped off his eye patch and that was when Ron noticed Harry's eyes were rapidly changing from green to red.
Draco was watching all of this from his spot next to Severus. The blond had Severus's head in his lap, trying to convince the man not to give up; his breaths were becoming shallower and few.
With one final scream, Harry laid still and silent. "Harry!" Ron yelled, kneeling down to his friend's side. "Come on Harry!"
Without warning, his eyes popped open and he sat up. Slowly his vision came back to him and when he saw Ron, he smiled.
As for Ron, his jaw dropped when Harry opened his eyes. Both were green and his right one slowly started to heal itself. When Harry smiled, he couldn't help but sigh in relief and he smiled himself. For a second there, the red head thought Voldemort had won Harry's body.
Helping each other to stand, they noticed it had stopped raining. Looking around the field, Harry chuckled at all the forms of life staring at the two wizards. It was then that Harry noticed Severus was not close to him. Looking sideway, he saw Draco sitting on the ground, pleading to the dark professor to just hang on. Harry's heart dropped at the site and broke into a run towards his love.
"Severus!" he yelled, running to his side. Putting his arms around the older man, Harry brought him to his chest. "Severus, don't leave me. You can't leave me." The pirate pleaded to the dying man. Severus just gave him a soft crocked smile before he closed his eyes. "No!" Harry roared, slightly shaking the man. "I promised to take you traveling! We were going to see all the flowers in the world! I promised you! Don't go!"
Clutching the potion master's body tightly, Harry screamed to the heavens. For miles around people could hear his heart break. He would give his life for Severus and the gods knew it.
On the Mistrust, Sirius grabbed the ship's railing steadily. Tears swelled in his eyes when he heard his Godson's cries. He couldn't take the screams anymore. Turning away from the battlefield, Sirius suddenly turned back around as the faces of the pirate crew became luminescent. There in the back of the field, where Severus had fallen, was a bright beckon of light. It seemed as though it was coming from Harry and Severus.
Everyone who was watching had to shun away and close their eyes as the light engulfed the pair. Harry's screams had died down a while ago, but no one noticed; the noise from the light was enough to drown out his yells.
Sirius watched in fascination, wondering what was going to happen. It was all too soon that the light faded and the noise with it. The battlefield of Hogwarts became deadly still and quiet and there in the same position as before, was Harry holding Severus.
Draco and Ron watched as the potion master gasped in a breath, clinging to Harry as a lifeline. When he opened his eyes, a shockwave of power emerged from the pair, blowing down everyone on Hogwarts ground, even rocking Harry's ship.
"I feel strange," Whispered Severus and upon hearing his voice, Harry started laughing madly with happiness.
Holding Severus closer, the pirate whispered; "Don't ever scare me like that again." Looking up at Harry, the older wizard gasped seeing Harry's green eyes. It was not that they were green, but because both of them were luminescent. Even the scars on the pirate's face were fading quickly away. Smiling for his love and bending his head down, Harry captured Severus's lips in a passionate, desperate kiss. "I almost lost you," He whispered onto the older man's lips.
"Harry?" Ron called out to his old friend after he got over the shock of being knocked down. When Harry and Severus looked to the red-head, Ron smiled fondly. "Hey, Harry."
"Hey, Ron." He smiled back.
Picking himself off the ground, Draco said; "The fighting has stopped."
From his position on the ground, Ron watched as wizards and witches, once fighting, were now helping each other up. "Most of them," he gestured to the large mass of magical folk. "In… in my army, we were under the Imperius Curse." He said in a monotone voice. "But that's not the problem. All of Voldemort's Death Eaters are standing by, waiting for me to bring down the anti-apparition wards." Ron's brown eyes saddened as he looked over the injured or dead bodies littering the ground. "I don't think we have enough to defeat them. There are at least twice as many."
Helping Severus to stand up, Harry reached out a hand to Ron, who took it. Pulling the large man to his feet, he asked; "How much time do you think we have before the Death Eaters abandon their fight?"
"You want the Death Eaters to come?" Draco asked to Harry in complete surprise.
The pirate briskly nodded, saying; "It is why Remus and all the other werewolves are here for." Turning back to the redhead, he asked again; "Ron, how much time?"
Looking up at the sky, Ron said; "At least forty five minutes. They are not expecting the battle to be over this soon. We have just enough time to gather everyone, tend to the wounded and prepare for the next battle."
"Good" said Harry. "Draco, I want you to go get Madam Pomfrey and tell her she has some patients waiting." Nodding, Malfoy left in a rush towards the castle. "Ron, gather your officers and meet me by the lake shore."
Before he took off, Ron asked; "Where are Hermione and Clarice?"
"They are in Hogwarts and are safe." Harry answered, waving him off. Turning to Severus, Potter gave him a sharp smile. "Are you alright?"
"I'm not sure." The older wizard wrapped his arms around himself. "I feel more than fine. I feel renewed. Why is that?"
"I can only guess." Harry frowned. He had a pretty good idea why they felt the way they did, but he was not going to tell Severus just yet. Not until he could confirm his suspicion.