Author's Notes: AND NOW…..DRUMROLL…this is MY humble interpretation of what could/might happen in the future of Harry Potter – obviously it won't because I created Cassius Malfoy, Tabby Sprout, Stevens and Clara. But…it makes me happy. I am not making any money or anything from this and I don't own anything except the afore mentioned two characters.

Chapter 24 - Fulfillments

In mid-February, Cassius' best friend Stevens finally married his long-time girlfriend Clara. Harry got special permission from Dumbledore to go to the wedding. He was thrilled to go because Clara and Stevens were like an aunt and uncle to him. He went with Remus and Tabby as guests of Clara's. They had a fun time watching all of Clara's single friends (male and female) goggle over Cassius, who had gone alone, he was Stevens' best man. Cassius didn't seem to notice the fuss made over him until Clara teased him then he turned pink and fled from the hall. Harry was glad to see his Guardians, and noticed that they all gave him extra hugs when they returned to Windy Corner where Cassius was waiting. Harry was allowed to stay overnight at home before returning to school. He wondered if they knew Voldemort was planning to act soon.

A few weeks went by. Harry is walking back to the Gryffindor Common Room alone when he is confronted by Draco, Goyle and Crabbe. Harry's scar starts to burn. Draco pulls out his wand. As he starts to walk towards Harry, a tabby cat jumps out of the shadows and entwines around his legs, he trips. Harry recognizes Tabby and realizes something must be up for her to be at Hogwarts. As Draco gets to his feet, Harry has time to get Tabby's wand out. He is able to deflect the Crucio curse that Draco aims at him.

"I want you to suffer before I kill you, Potter." His scar hurts worse, it feels as if it is almost splitting his head open. Draco's features start to change - into Voldemort's! The red eyes blaze at Harry. Harry starts to back up and trips, he scrambles backward on the floor. Crabbe's face and body changes into Lucius Malfoy, Goyle changes into another wizard, Harry can only assume it is another Death Eater. They all advance on him. Suddenly he is hauled to his feet by his collar and shoved behind a tall figure. He recognizes Cassius' coat and grips it tightly, trying not to be sick from the pain in his head. He hears Voldemort's voice. "You think you can protect him? You should have joined me, like your brother! I will make you suffer for your choice." Voldemort yells out "Crucio!" Cassius blocks the spell but stumbles back a few steps.

He can feel the vibration that tell him Cassius is speaking too, strange words that he can't understand. He hears footsteps behind him, his eyes are watering from the pain but he can see Dumbledore running down the last few steps. Remus and McGonagall are behind him. Harry sees a faint glow beginning around Voldemort.

"What is this?" Voldemort has tried to curse Cassius and his wand won't work. Harry feels Voldemort's anger, his stomach lurches.

Snape appears from behind Voldemort. "Break his concentration – hurt his lover." Snape sneers and points to Remus. Lucius whirls to face Remus. Peeking around Cassius, Harry notices a slight look of confusion on his face. The other Death Eater accios Remus' wand before Remus can block the spell and Lucius advances on Remus.

"So…Cassius – this is your secret lover. Give us Potter and I promise nothing will happen to him." Lucius drawls calmly, looking between Cassius and Remus.

"No." Cassius' voice is like ice.

"I will kill him if you don't hand over Potter." Lucius' voice is just as chilling.

"No!" Harry yells, starting to run towards Remus. Cassius grabs him in a vise-like grip and holds him back.

"I will not give you Harry Potter."

"You would choose him?" Lucius arches his eyebrow.

"I have sworn it." Harry suddenly feels very cold…he can see his breath. Cassius' temper has become unleashed and Harry feels energy pouring off him in giant waves. He looks over at Remus who gives him a small reassuring smile.

Lucius raises his wand. He says a spell and Remus falls to the ground. Lucius walks over and pulls Remus up to his knees, there is a gash across Remus' chest and it is bleeding.

"I could just kill you…but it's so much more satisfying to kill the people you love…like Owen Jones."

"What?" Cassius gasps. Harry looks up and sees that for a split second there is a hurt expression on Cassius' face, then Cassius looks cold again. Harry thinks maybe he imagined it.

"I killed him." Lucius smiled. "Just like I am going to kill your werewolf lover." Lucius pauses "Unless you give me Potter."

"No." Cassius' hand tightens convulsively on Harry's shoulder. Harry winces from the pain.

Lucius says something in a language Harry can't understand, he recognizes the last word. "Cassie." Then Lucius says a spell and Remus falls back to the ground, his eyes are open and unseeing.

"No!!!!" Harry yells, trying to tear himself away from Cassius' hold. Suddenly, Harry is blinded by a flash of bright green light. When he can see again, he sees Lucius and the other Death Eater are lying on their backs - dead. Voldemort remains standing, surrounded by a growing white light.

Harry is trembling, from grief, from fear, from pain and from cold. He feels sick. He sees now Tabby has transformed into her human shape behind Voldemort and her mouth is moving, chanting a spell but he can't hear her voice. Moody, Professor Sprout, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Stevens, Clara, Ron, Hermione and Ginny have all appeared at some time during the confrontation with Lucius Malfoy and they are all chanting the same spell. Snape is chanting it too. Harry doesn't recognize any of the words. They are in a circle around Harry, Cassius, Voldemort and the bodies of Remus and the two Death Eaters. The faint glow continues to grow around Voldemort. Kingsley and Tonks appear, chanting the same spell. All the voices are joining, getting louder. The pain in his head seems to be subsiding for a moment, but then it crashes over him again, pain and anger and hatred. Harry feels faint, the world is getting dark.

He looks down and notices white sparkling lights are covering his skin, like they had that day in the kitchen at Windy Corner. He takes a deep breath, and feels a surge of heat inside. He knows it is love. The pain in Harry's head is gone. Harry grips Tabby's wand, he looks at Voldemort through the white cloud surrounding him. He thinks of his mum and dad, he thinks of Sirius and Cedric. He looks at Remus, lying unmoving on the floor. He looks around and sees the people who love him. He feels both Cassius' hands on his shoulders and can feel some of Cassius' energy pouring into him. He isn't alone. He is loved. He is strong. He knows what he has to do.

He speaks the curse "Avada Kedavra." A green light flashes from the wand. It hits Voldemort and he looks stunned, his eyes stare at Harry and he falls backwards, dead. Harry feels faint, he starts to fall but before he reaches the floor, Tabby has gathered him in her arms. Cassius leans down to him.

"Are you all right, Harry?" Cassius' voice is cool. Harry can only nod. "I'll be back soon." The green eyes warm slightly, just for a moment.

Cassius straightens and walks towards Kingsley as he and a few others move forward to deal with the body of Voldemort. Harry watches Cassius walk across the corridor. His face is expressionless. The hallway is still cold. Harry shivers in Tabby's embrace. Clara has come over and is hugging Harry also. Cassius, Kingsley, Moody, Tonks are talking with seven other people in long black robes – Harry assumes they must be aurors.

"We'll return with his body to the Ministry – the hit wizards are waiting and then we'll summon the rest of the Death Eaters." Kingsley's voice floats down the corridor. "Snape – you'll come with us."

"Of course." Snape answered calmly. "Cassius…I only thought…it was a distraction to allow the others to appear without notice." His voice trembled.

"I will kill you – when you have served your purpose." Cassius' voice vibrated with hatred and anger.

"Cass, you don't have to come." Kingsley reaches a hand out to Cassius who moves away before he can be touched.

"Yes, I do." The voice is curt.

"Papa?" Harry looks over at Remus, who is still unmoving on the floor, not breathing or blinking. "He can't be dead, he can't be."

"I don't know, Harry." Tabby's eyes are wet with unshed tears. "I've never heard the spell Lucius used." Harry hears Clara choke down a sob as she helps Harry up from the floor.

"We must get him to the hospital wing, we must hope there is something to be done." Dumbledore moves towards Remus' body, levitating it in front of him. Tabby, Clara and Harry quickly follow. Harry looks back as they leave, Cassius is staring down at the body of his brother but there is no expression on his face and his eyes are cold. Stevens is standing next to him, watching him closely. Harry looks over at Lucius Malfoy then back at his Dad. There is a crack and all of the aurors, Stevens, Snape and the bodies of Voldemort and his Death Eaters have Apparated. Harry hears Hermione gasp and murmur "But you can't Apparate within Hogwarts!"

"Poppy!" Dumbledore calls as they enter the hospital wing.

"What is it?" Madam Pomfrey rushes out to meet them.

"Remus Lupin. Lucius Malfoy used a spell I have never heard…." Harry is astonished both Tabby and Dumbledore have never heard the spell – he thought they knew everything.

"Put him here…let me see." Madam Pomfrey got her wand out and waved it over Remus' body. Harry was too numb to cry. Tabby was rubbing his back. "I've never seen something like this before."

"He's not dead?" Harry blurted.

"No – his life functions have been suspended…to make it look like he is dead." Poppy frowned. "Finite Incantum." But Remus remained like he was. "I will have to research how to break the spell – I've never seen anything like this." She turns and returns quickly into her office.

Harry and Tabby sit next to Remus' bedside. Clara stands next to Harry. Harry reaches out and takes his Papa's cold hand in his. Dumbledore conjures up some tea. Moody is standing at the foot of Remus' bed. The others return to the dorms or their rooms. Ron and Hermione each give Harry a hug before leaving.

"I knew you would do it, Harry." Hermione whispers as she hugged him. "He'll be all right."

Harry didn't know how long it had been before the door opened and Cassius strode in. His eyes were cold. Stevens followed a few steps behind. Clara ran over to him, throwing her arms around him.

"All the Death Eaters are dead." The voice was cool and sleek, Cassius looked towards the bed that Remus lay on.

"Remus is still alive." Moody said in a crackly voice. "Just seems to be sleeping."

"Poppy is researching the spell. Don't worry, Cassius." Tabby walks over to him, taking his left hand. He shakes his head silently, withdrawing his hand and shoving it in his coat pocket like his right. Suddenly, her eyes light up. "Alastor, do you remember the words Lucius said?"

"Something about aurora…Soma Aurora…I think – never heard that spell before." Moody replied gruffly.

"I think – I think he put Remus to sleep – like Sleeping Beauty…her name was Aurora." Tabby smiled widely.

"Sleeping Beauty?" Moody asked, looking baffled.

"It's a muggle story." Harry said as he remembered watching the video at Mrs. Figg's house one afternoon. "The witch puts a spell on her, to make her sleep until her true love comes to wake her. And he wakes her up with a kiss." Harry started to smile, they could wake Remus – or rather Cassius could.

"So – you need to kiss Remus." Tabby pushes Cassius towards the bed.

"That can't be – I've never heard of that story – why would Lucius do that? Why wouldn't he just kill him, like he said he would?" Cassius looked confused.

"What did he say to you?" Tabby asked gently.

"He said…he said he knew I would do what was right. And he loved me." Cassius walked a step closer to Remus, despair and hope warring on his face. "Then he did the spell on Remus and…I killed him."

"He wanted you to. He knew you would…I think it was the only way he saw he could be free from Voldemort." Tabby said.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Moody growled.

Stevens stepped forward, still holding Clara. Cassius looked over at him for reassurance. Stevens nodded. Cassius sat down uncertainly on the edge of the bed next to Remus. He leaned down and took Remus' face between his hands and kissed him. He sat back up. Remus remained still for a long moment and then suddenly took a deep gasping breath. Harry could hear Tabby and Clara start to cry with joy. He felt tears of relief slid down his cheeks. Cassius pulled Remus into his arms and buried his head in Remus' shoulder. Harry could hear Cassius sobbing hoarsely.

"Wha…How'd I get here?" Remus asked as he looked over at Harry.

"Lucius Malfoy did a spell on you, we thought you were dead. But you weren't." Harry was smiling so hard his cheeks hurt. Cassius lifted his head up.

"I thought I'd lost you." Harry could barely hear him.

"Oh, sweetheart." Remus wiped the tears off Cassius' face.

"I love you." Cassius whispered.

"I love you." Remus said, kissing him again.

"Harry…" Remus reached his arm towards Harry who gladly rushed over to the bed, sitting on Cassius' lap and hugging Remus.

"I did it." Harry whispered. "Voldemort is dead."

"I knew you would. I'm sorry I missed it." Remus smiled and kissed Harry's forehead.

Harry hears Dumbledore's voice gently say. "Now that you are back with us, Remus, I think this calls for a celebration. Voldemort and his Death Eaters have finally been defeated. Anyone want some cake?"

"What kind of cake?" Cassius asked immediately. Harry and Remus both laughed. There was an giddy atmosphere in the hospital wing, now that Remus was awake again. Poppy had come out when she had heard Cassius enter, he had been one of her favorites when he was at school. Everyone in the room was grinning happily.

"Your favorite. I happened to bake it today." Tabby smiled warmly at Cassius.

"Really? Where is it?" Cassius pushed Harry off his lap and stood up. "Now that Remus is fine…I'm starving. I can't remember the last time I ate anything." He smiled ruefully and tousled Harry's hair. Harry threw his arms around his Dad and squeezed him tightly. Cassius held Harry firmly, Harry felt the ring on his Dad's chest press into his cheek.

Tabby waved her wand and the cake appeared in her hands. She set it down on a table beside Remus' bed. Dumbledore conjured up chairs for everyone. Poppy insisted that Remus stay in the bed, but conjured pillows to prop him up in a sitting position. Remus pulled Harry next to him.

"I'm very proud of you, Harry. Are you feeling all right?" Remus smoothed a hand over Harry's hair.

"I'm fine, Papa, just tired."

"I feel like I had a wonderful nap – I'm sorry I scared you all." Remus gave an apologetic smile at Cassius who smiled back as Tabby handed him a piece of cake.

Harry watched as Moody took a couple steps towards Tabby after she had distributed cake to everyone. Suddenly, Moody pulled Tabby towards him and embraces her and then, to the astonishment of everyone, he starts kissing her. Her arms wound around him and she kissed him back.

"What? Now?" Harry can hear Cassius' astonished voice, muffled a little by cake. "NOW you kiss?"

"Don't talk with your mouth full!" Remus chided laughingly, Harry laughed too. Clara started to clap, laughing as she did. Remus hugged Harry tighter. "Cassius the matchmaker, finally a success."

"About time, too." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. Tabby pushed Moody away a moment later.

"Alastor, not in front of everyone." Her face was pink.

"All right then." Moody replied gruffly. He pulled Tabby into his arms again and they Disapparated.

"That's so romantic." McGonagall sighed. Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled and he winked at Harry.

Tabby pulled away from Moody once they had Apparated to his cabin on Skye.

"So now, it's safe for you to love me." Tabby said, looking out the window.

"It was never about keeping me safe, it was about keeping you safe."

"All these years, Alastor…fourteen years."

"I never stopped loving you, never."

Tabby turned around, tears glinting in her eyes. "I never stopped loving you either."

"I'm so sorry I hurt you. That was what I was trying to prevent."

"I know…I'm sorry I hurt you too. I said some horrible things."

"You've nothing to be sorry about, I deserved all those things you said, I was an idiot."

"I won't disagree with that." Tabby smiled.

"I love you, Bette, I always have."

"Oh, Alastor." She hurried over to him and circled him with her arms. "I love you too."

"Tabby, Dad and I've been staying here, since Stevens' and Clara's wedding. We knew Voldemort was preparing to act, we just didn't know when. We set up portkeys, charmed to come to Tabby's location, for everyone else. She's been trailing you since you got back here." Remus explained to Harry as they ate the cake.

"What kind of spell was it, Papa? That you were all chanting?"

"A containment spell. It prevents a wizard or witch from using their magic. We had to use many people for it to be powerful enough to work on Voldemort."

"And so I wasn't alone." Harry tightened his arms around his Papa. "I love you very much."

"I love you very much too, Harry."

"What am I, chopped mandrake?" Cassius ruffled Harry's hair.

"I love you, too, Dad." Harry smiled as he batted Cassius' hand away.

"I love you, Harry."