(23)The Prophecies Fulfilled!

After what seemed forever, Mcgonagall slowly lowered Snape into a chair. Lupin let out a long breath & lifted his head to stare, unseeing, across Dumbledore's desk.

"How......?" Snape barely managed a whisper.

"Poppy could barely talk," Mcgonagall started. "She's unconcious now. Fine, but unconcious. She muttered something about seeing Kingsley.....so......maybe there's a chance! She also said to be careful & something that sounded like "not what it appears to be". The hospital wing is shattered."

'""Not appears to be what?"" asked Lupin.

"I don't know," Mcgonagall shrugged. "She passed out before she could finish explaining that! But if Kingsley was there, it'll be alright!"

The door opened softly, paused a moment & closed again. No one, however, had appeared. Lupin, Snape & Mcgonagall reached for their wands. Dumbledore just watched, suddenly smiling softly.

A line appeared in space, then a dark brown head with glasses, green eyes & a lighting-bolt scar, followed by the rest of his body as Harry threw off the cloak. ''Alright! Let's go!''

''Go where?'' Snape stared at Harry. Did the Potter boy not know what happened to his fiancee?!

''Get Merida!'' Harry stated simply. ''My scar hurts whenever I pass Myrtle's place. I think Merida is in the old Chamber. I can open that after all! I saw Kingsley disappear in there so maybe he's waiting for me to open it!''

''In that case, let's move!'' Snape was first out the door, followed by Lupin. Mcgonagall, Neville & Dumbledore were right behind. Harry picked up his cloak, pausing for a moment to gaze at the Sorting Hat before disappearing.

Harry arrived seconds after everyone else at the old entrance. Mcgonagall eyed him closely for a moment. ''Are you sure you saw Kingsley around here?''

''Uh-huh! Why?'' Harry glanced around.

''I haven't seen him!'' said Mcgonagall. ''He doesn't know Parsel-tongue!''

''Maybe he jumped in at the last minute,'' Harry sighed. He opened the Chamber, jumped in first & headed deep into it. Harry arrived first at the underground lake. He saw someone standing at the end of the walkway. ''Kingsley. Kingsley?''

Kingsley turned around. Harry fell to his kness as his scar erupted in a strong wave of pain! He pressed his hand to his scar & gaped at Kingsley in shock then anger. ''You're not Kingsley! You're Voldomort!''

''Polyjuice!'' the Dark Lord smiled. ''Your precious Kingsley has been dead since that train wreck. He was the last one to leave! But he didn't leave alive!''

''You killed him!'' Harry's realization smile crept over his face. ''& took over! & you're the 6th "Death Eater" we've all been trying to catch, aren't you?''

''Yes, I must admit!'' Voldomort lost his smile. ''It was a rather low thing of me to do. But with you around, I had little choice! Not to mention, I had to keep dodging the telepathy of both Albus & Severus. Oh & Merida's as well!'' He added that last bit as an after-thought.

''Where is she?!'' Harry raged.

''Oh I put her under Crucio!'' Voldomort said. ''For 15 minutes straight, at least! She's over there!'' he pointed.

Harry noticed Merida lying on her side in the far corner of the Chamber. He ran to her. ''Come on! Wake up!'' Harry pushed aside her hair but her eyes remained closed.

''Oh yeah, almost forgot,'' Voldomort suddenly went on. ''She should be dead by now or with-in the next few moments! It was just to much for her! That's not a problem, is it?'' There was sarcasim falling off every word in that last question.

''She was pregnant!'' Harry screamed. ''She was to be my wife! My family! YOU DESTROYED THAT!'' Harry ran at the Dark Lord & flung himself on with all his might but was thrown off easily. He stood up & glared.

''Temper! TEMPER!'' Voldomort tsked cooly. ''You should have a lesson in controlling that, don't you think? Crucio!''

Harry collapsed, feeling as if thousands of firey knives had plunged into him.

''You knew this would happen,'' the Dark Lord talked as he continued the Crucio. ''She was a Snape! Curious,'' he lifted the spell. ''Why did you even bother?''

Harry didn't---wouldn't---answer.

''Very well,'' Voldomort sighed, casting the Crucio again. ''I was only curious. It's not important!''

''KINGSLEY!!'' Snape yelled over Harry's screams. ''WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME ARE YOU DOING?!''

''Not---Kings....'' Harry gasped between screams. ''Polyjuice-----Dark Lord!''

Snape glanced back at Mcgonagall. ''"Not what it appears!"'' they said at the same time.

''Stay away from my son-in-law!'' Snape leaped for the Dark Lord, literally leaped, his lycan strength & speed taking over!

Voldomort moved his wand from Harry & aimed for Snape but wasn't quite fast enough. He toppled over, Snape on him, eyes flashed amber.

''Sever----SEVERUS!!'' Voldomort attempted to push him off. ''What happened to you?''

Snape just snarled, baring his fangs. He had the Dark Lord pinned under him & glared into his eyes. The polyjuice began to wear off & Tom Riddle appeared underneath.

''Good Merlin, Severus!'' Voldomort held Snape around the throat & tried to push him off. ''Didn't we warn you this might happen?! Didn't I & Lucious & your own family, even Pettigrew, tell you not to go after that Ravenclaw mudblood?!'' At the word "mudblood", Snape growled furiously. ''We knew Remus was with her, Voldomort went on. but oh no no no! You wouldn't listen! You just HAD to have her, didn't you?!''

''Tom! Severus!'' Dumbledore walked up to them. No one else would go near, being slightly afraid of Snape's furocius abilities as they surfaced. Lupin, however, headed straight for Harry. Snape wrenched himself from Voldomort's grip & glared. Dumbledore gazed cooly back into that amber stare. ''Enough now!'' Snape snarled but stood up & closed his eyes & waited for the yellow vision to subdue. Now he at least understood what came over Lupin. It was rather hard controlling the wolf with-in!

Closing his eyes was a bad move! He was thrown backward with an "Exitos" sent by Voldomort. Snape landed with a yelp beside Merida. Dumbledore aimed for Voldomort, challenging for a duel.

''Best leave while you can!'' Voldomort ordered. ''Since everyone thought I was Kingsley, I was free to do as I pleased! Tell me, when was the last time you checked up on me during my turn gaurding Lucious & Bella &-------need I go on?'' He fell silent as his followers began appearing out of the shadows around him.

''IT WAS A TRAP!'' Lupin yelped, hauling the half-stunned Harry to his feet. ''RUN! GO NOW!'' He lifted one of Harry's arms around his shoulders & attempted to lead Harry away. Lupin glanced back at Snape........& Merida. Then he pulled Harry along, wondering if that was the last time he'd ever lay eyes on either Snape.

''J'ust leave me!'' Harry begged as he heard everyone behind them engage each other.

''No!'' Lupin declared, pullling Harry along. ''Marauder's Code: NEVER leave one of your own behind!''

''I'm no Marauder!''

''Young stag, you are the son of Prongs!'' Lupin stated as he lowered Harry between two snake-head pillars. ''Marauder's are joined life! Forever! That includes their family & their coninuing line! That's one of the reasons why I killed Peter. The only way out of the Marauder's is death. He understood that much at least!''

''& since when was the last time you went on a raid?'' Harry half-snapped.

''Since a few days ago!'' Lupin admitted. ''Stole some chocolate!'' he added with a sheepish grin.

''Let me guess, the Dementor's Chocolate?'' Harry rolled his eyes.

''Be quiet, Prongs Jr.!'' Lupin ordered, trying not to smile.

''Sir, Merida is.......dead!'' Harry whispered the last word.

''NO! She......she c---!'' Lupin lowered himself beside Harry.

''You'd better get out of here while you have a chance!'' said Harry.

''No, I.....'' Lupin glanced back at the battle behind them. ''Has your strength returned?''

''I'll be fine!'' Harry stood up but swayed.

''Stay here until you're better!'' Lupin ordered. ''I must help Albus now! You're safe here! ''Lupin ran back the way he had come, wand at the ready.

''Accio cloak!'' Snape summoned Harry's cloak over & cast it over himself & Merida. Then Snape began looking for a pulse or warmth or any sign of life. Merida was alive but only just. He formed a mind-meld so no one could hear. Merida, you must use Animagic! Become something small so I can carry you out!

Can't........too.....hard!

20 points from Gryfindor!


Snape felt something that reminded him of a laugh!

You must concentrate!

I'd........rather just lie here a bit!

We can't! The Dark Lord, himself is barely a few yards away!

Where's Harry? Remus?


''I DONT CA----!'' Snape began yelling aloud! Just in time he checked his voice. I DON'T CARE!!

Hermione was right! You ARE a silly professor!


''MERIDA--mn it!'' Snape sighed. MERIDA!!! Just focus on your magic & quit giving me a headache!

I'm TRYING!

Don't get snippity with me, Merida!

Quit breaking.......my concentration!


Merida felt something that reminded her of a snarly groan! What seemed like an eternity passed. Merida managed to change to a sparrow but the little bird was still to weak to fly anywhere. She lay on her back, wings open. Snape was about to pick her up when a red beak poked under the cloak & made to swallow Merida!

''No don't eat----her!'' Snape lifted the cloak & threw it over a firey bird. ''FAWKES! NO!''

Fawkes looked up at Snape & chirped muffledly. Snape saw a mass of brown feathers in the Phoenix's beak & realised Fawkes was going to carry her.

''Damn bird! Don't scare me so!'' Snape ordered. ''Take her to the hospital wing & try to wake Poppy!''

Fawkes muffled another chirp & spread his wings as soon as Snape pushed him out from under the cloak. It was perfect! Everyone would think Snape had Merida with him when really, it was Fawkes! Who would suspect the Headmaster's Phoenix? Snape threw off the cloak & charged to Dumbledore's side.

Madam Pomfrey was already awake when Fawkes flew over her head. He left Merida on a pillow & then glared at Pomfrey with big eyes.

''What?' Pomfrey snapped. ''I've got a headache & I've lost a patient! Go away!''

Fawkes pecked her hand.

''OW!'' Pomfrey yelped, grabbing a towel & began to shoo the bird away. Fawkes hopped over to Merida & then glared back.

''Look Fawkes!'' Pomfrey glowered. ''Merida is---!''

Chirp! Chirp! Fawkes nipped at Merida's wing. Pomfrey soon realised that every time she'd say the name, Fawkes would direct attention to the sparrow.

She pulled out her wand. ''Reverso Animago!'' Merida appeared! ''Good heaven's!'' Pomfrey began bustling about, getting a pepper-up potion, asking a million questions. Merida just smiled meekly for a moment before taking the potion then proceeded to explain what happened.

''Oh you poor dear!'' Pomfrey worried. ''We should leave here! It isn't safe! Oh, I must check if the child is alright!'' Merida froze at that!

The Chamber was becaming a rubble heap from mis-placed or dodged spells striking everywhere. Part of a giant snake skeleton didn't help matters much! The wall on the left side had several holes in it & water was begining to leak through from the outside lake. Part of the right side wall was begining to crumble. Harry leaped aside as it gave way without warning. He summoned his cloak & jumped outside, wondering how much Hogwart's Castle could stand with half the Chamber down.

Lupin took a chance & dived outside. Mcgonagall became a cat & fled, Snape close behind. Voldomort & his followers gave chase.

Rodolphouis had a problem. A large bee would just NOT leave him alone! He threw many curses at it &, rest assured, half of them were not from his wand! In frusturation, he threw his wand aside. Turning around, he glared-------right into the eyes of Dumbledore!

''The Marauders aren't the only ones unregistered!'''' Dumbledore smiled. You are one of the most strongest Death Eaters. He summoned the fallen wand to his hand. So please explain to me how you succumbed to an insect?'' Dumbledore smiled almost mischievously & cast Rodolphouis into a binding charm.

''What took you so long?'' Lupin asked once Dumbledore was outside.

''Michief managed!'' was all that the Headmaster said, smiling pleasantly!

''Huh?'' Lupin stammered. Dumbledore only laughed!

Neville fled deeper into the forrest, chasing what he had been after for several years. He could speed up & catch his quarry at any time, but he fell victim to the sport of the hunt!

Not realising she was being hunted by a lycan, Bellatrix hurried on her way. She was planning to lose Neville in the forrest & then circle back to help her Master.

Out of nowhere, Neville jumped out at her. ''Today is a good day to die!''

''How could you find me in this dank forrest?!'' Bellatrix groaned.

''I have a 6th sense now!'' Neville teased.

''Oh really?'' Bellatrix snapped. ''You just got lucky!''

''No really,'' Neville hooked his upper fangs over his lower lip. ''I have a 6th sense now! Remember Remus Lupin? You murdered a friend of his after all?''

''You're a werwolf?'' Bellatrix gasped.

''Mhm!''

''I'll get you, young man!'' Bellatrix threatened, trying not to show a hint of nervousness. ''& your little frog too!''

''Toad, not frog!'' Neville corrected. He advanced on her. She stepped back, feeling more & more nervous. ''I smell your fear, Bella!'' the werwolf pup said gently. ''It excites me!''

''J-Just stay away!'' Bellatrix pulled out her wand. ''I don't need a half-breed around me!''

''Never call a werwolf a half-breed!'' Neville's eyes glazed amber. ''Especially when the human host is a pureblood!''

''Well, excuse me!'' Bellatrix snapped.

''You drove my Mom over the edge!'' Neville raised his own wand. ''Crucio!''

Bellatrix was not expecting Neville to use Dark Sorcery on her. She dropped her wand & fell to the ground screaming. Neville picked up her wand & lifted the Crucio.

''You drove my Dad over the edge!'' Neville stepped out of her way before she could grasp her wand back. ''Mmmm amazing thing, isn't it? Lycan speed! Lycan power! Crucio!'' He lifted it after only a few seconds.

''You don't have the nerve to hold it as long as you should!'' Bellatrix laughed. ''Such a good little wizard!'' she continued in a baby-voice.

''You murdered Sirius Black!'' Neville lifted his wand again.

''Oh, you won't kill me,'' Bellatrix laughed. ''"Si" got what he deserved! So go on now! KILL me!''

Neville hesitated.

''Yes! You won't do it, will you?'' Bellatrix sneered. ''You want to! Desparately! But you're to innocent! This is WAR, Longbottom! Either you kill, or you be killed!''

Neville raised his wand again.

The Order & all Death Eaters were chasing each other up & down the halls & stairs of the castle. Several ended up outside on the roof decks. Lupin was paired off with none other then Lucious Malfoy. The Death Eater was giving him a hard time too. Lupin had just suffered through a terrible full moon only hours before & that one shot of Wolfsbane was just about gone.

Lucios snagged the werwolf with a stunning charm. Lupin pulled himself up & raised his wand. Right in the middle of saying "Avada Kedavra!" some unseen force yanked Lupin around in a 180 turn & his killing curse struck someone behind him. At first he paniced, thinking he may have hit Dumbledore or someone from the Order. Lupin relaxed when he saw it had struck another with a Death Mark. Now to finish off Lucios! However, Malfoy was nowhere in sight.

Mcnair had Snape cornered, but now he didn't know what to do with him. A cornered Lycan was not something to mess around with! Snape dodged quickly, & countered almost every curse.

''Give it up, Mcnair!'' Snape snapped.

''You may move fast, but I'll get you!'' Mcnair declared.

''What's wrong? My Lycan agility to much for you?''

''Ly.....can?!''

''You heard me!'' Snape leaped to the side & grabbed Mcnair, throwing him over sideways. He jumped over Mcnair & pushed him back into the corner. ''Well, well now! What do we have here?'' Snape smiled his half-smile. ''It apears our positions are reversed?''

''I'll find a way out!'' Mcnair warned. They stared at each other for a moment. ''Exitos!''

''Avada Kedavra!'' a voice rang out.

Then Snape was hit. He turned & stepped back, letting his wand fall. The force of whatever curse had hit him pushed him back. Snape saw who had thrown him off before stepping back again & falling into the lake below.

Lupin had picked up Malfoy's trail. A loon nearly knocked him over as it zoomed passed & then dived down over the castle for the lake below. The large duck had a word feathered lightly on her side & she aimed for the place where Snape had fallen through. One question worried her mind: Was it Exitos or the Death Curse that had thrown Snape from the castle?

Harry followed the Dark Lord & they met on the castle grounds. Harry glanced around. He could see Hogwarts Castle. Several areas had been destroyed & some parts of it were on fire. The Quidditch Pitch was smoking. Hogsmeade was a blackened spread against the sky. The sky above Hogsmeade was dotted with Thestrals, their loud-pitched neighs could be heard. Harry could tell they were survying the place where Peter Pettigrew spent his final moments. Harry glared back at Voldomort.

''This is it, Harry!'' said Voldomort. ''Only one will die!''

Sirius! He said that once! Harry tried not to think of that now. ''Yes, Tom! That would be you!''

''Confident!'' Voldomort sneered. ''Our wands are brothers & I'm faster! You'll never win! Crucio!''

''Protecto!'' Harry sheilded himself. Crucio bounced off & hit Voldomort. ''I'm fast enough!''

''Treacherous creature!'' Voldomort fumed. ''You're as bad as your father--Crucio!'' This time, Harry wasn't fast enough! He fell. ''You're going to die like this!'' Voldomort held his wand up. ''I'm not going to release you until you die!''

''Leave him alone!'' Neville came bounding out of the forrest.

Voldomort dropped his spell & aimed for Neville. ''Crucio!'' Neville collapsed. ''Do you like that?''

''Protecto!'' Neville tried t throw it off.

''Oh you don't like it?'' Voldomort released the Crucio. ''That's no fun!''

Both Nevill & Voldomort raised their wands against each other at the same time. ''Avada Kedavra!''

''NOOOOOO!!'' Harry pulled something out of his robes & plunged into the Dark Lord while he was distracted.

Voldomort stood very still. He looked down. A blade peirced through his heart & the point was stuck out of his chest. He fell to his knees as the Death Curse from Neville struck him. Voldomort looked at the blade rammed through him. He laughed. Softly! A calm chuckle. It escalated into a louder laugh, after which was a moment of silence. Then everything went green. The Dark Lord fell on his side. Defeated! The Prophecy of the Dark Lord's demise had come true!

Harry released breath he realised he was holding. He just watched. He couldn't believe it! It was over! Then he remembered Neville & ran to his side. ''Neville? Neville are you alright?''

''I'm.....fine!'' He murmurmed. ''Hey....I----I killed Bellatrix!''

''If only Sirius was here to see that!'' Harry sighed.

''Oh, I---I Crucio-ed her first.....for.....what she did!'' Neville stammered.

''That's good!'' Harry whispered, cradling his friend in his arms. ''That's good!''

''Not bad for a werwolf, huh?'' Neville half-laughed.

''No, not bad at all!'' Harry agreed.

''Where'd you get that blade?'' Neville tried to look at the fallen Lord.

''The Sorting Hat gave it to me,'' Harry said. ''It's the Gryfindor Sword. That & your spell helped me to end it!''

''Take care of Trevor!'' Neville's last thoughts were about his warted friend.

''You take care of him!'' Harry ordered, trying not to cry.

''It's alright.....good Marauder!'' Neville sighed. His last breath.

''NO! NEV---NO!!!'' Harry screamed. ''OH GOD! NO! NEVILLE!! ''He broke down & cried, holding Neville & slowly rocking back & forth. ''FIRST MERIDA! NOW YOU! NO!''

A good 30 minutes passed. The commotion at the Castle had calmed down. The Order had won. Once the Dark Lord had fallen, it was easy to immobulise all Death Eaters. Their Death Marks had flamed strongly & knocked them out for several minutes.

Harry picked himself up & slowly headed for the castle. He would send someone to get Neville. Harry suddenly stopped dead in his tracks & stared at the beach. He began moving again, slowly at first but picking up pace. In the end, he was running! ''Merida! MERIDA!'' She apparantly couldn't hear. Harry ran faster. ''MERI-----------da!''

Merida was knelt in the sandy beach of the lake, her head bowed. Her long hair formed a curtain around the side of hair face & touched ground also hiding her father's face. He was lying on the beach. Merida held his head on her lap, automatically passing her hand back & forth over his face. She suddenly realised Harry was there & looked up at him. ''He's gone Harry!'' she said simply & lowly.

''We don't know that for sure,'' Harry tried to comfort her. ''Let's get him to the hospital wing. Maybe Pomfrey can get the water out of his lungs & he'll----he'll be alright?''

''No, ''sighed Merida. ''He won't be alright! He was dead before he hit the water!''

''We don't know that-----!'' Harry began.

''Yes we do,'' Merida raised her face to look past Harry. ''I can see Thestrals now! I could see them the moment I came out of the lake! He's dead &----& I......know who did it, too!''

Harry glanced back at the Horses Of The Dead. He & Merida watched them for a few minutes. They were evil-looking, to say the least, though, really rather harmless creatures. Scavangers mostly! Their black skin was draped over their boney frames. They looked like skeletons. The horses were gliding around like vultures, large bat-like wings outstretched. Their yellow eyes took in everything.

Harry held Merida close. She explained to him what happened. The child was fine. It was to underdeveloped to suffer much damage. Harry told her about what happened with Bellatrix, Neville & the Dark Lord. It really was over!

Dumbledore sat at his desk. He looked very grave. ''Arthur?'' he finally broke the silence. ''You & Lucious must.....go to the hospital wing....well, I mean the half of it still standing!''

''Why?'' asked Mr.'s Weasley & Malfoy at the same time.

''It appears that there was a small duel in Ginny Weasley's defence----she's FINE, Arthur!'' Dumbledore assured. ''But still, the two of you should go down there. Now''!

''Yes, sir,'' Mr. Weasley aimed his wand at Lucious & kept him up front. ''Let's go!''

Other Order members filed out one after another.

''Remus Lupin, please remain behind!'' Dumbledore ordered. ''There is something you need to know!''

Mr.'s Weasley & Malfoy stood in the hospital & stared.

Mrs. Weasley, Ron & Ginny were gathered around one bed. Mr. Weasley moved in closed & looked down at Percy. He didn't know wether to laugh or cry. His fatherhood won & he embraced Mrs. Weasley. ''It'll be alright one day, Molly!'' he whispered.

''Oh, Arthur!'' Mrs. Weasley sobbed. ''Why'd he have to leave us so?''

''He left us in so many ways!'' Mr. Weasley sighed.

''I know, but still I ask,'' Mrs. Weasley cried softly. ''WHY?''

Lucious slowly edged closer to Narcissa. Draco was lying on his own bed, eyes forever closed.

''Go away!'' Narcissa ordered the moment she laid eyes on her husband. ''This is all your fault! Our only child! Our son! Now he's gone! A fresh wave of tears engulfed her. Bellatrix I really don't care but---but Draco? Why? WHY?!''

''Shh, Narc---!''

''DON'T SHUSH ME!'' She pushed him away & reached over to brush a strand of Draco's blonde hair off his face.

''Narcissa!'' Lucious stood his ground. ''We've lost our child! Must we lose each other too?!'' They stared at each other a moment. Then Narcissa fell into Lucious's arms & burst into tears again.

Dumbledore gazed at Lupin a long time. The werwolf shifted his wieght nervously from one side to the other & growled softly. What could he have possibly done? Lupin waited for Dumbledore to speak.

And waited some more.

Finally, Dumbledore breathed. ''First, I must tell you, Merida is fine!'' Lupin slammed his eyes shut & let out a breath. Dumbledore went on to explain about what happened with Kingsley ending with, ''Merida & her child will both be fine!''

''Thank Merlin!'' Lupin collapsed into a chair. He has had just about enough. Just his luck! The Dark Lord striking only hours after a full moon! ''& second?''

Dumbledore pulled out a book & opened it to where the ribbon marked it. ''Read this, & I'll tell you!''

Lupin took the book, Lycan curiosity plaging him!

---RL---
---SS---


''In the begining,'' Dumbledore began. ''those two lines kept changing. Since Christmas, RL, Remus Lupin, the survivor has stayed on top while SS, Severus Snape has remained on the bottom! Read on?''

1: In the year of the Dark Lord's rise, a lesser evil also rises.

''That was an ever-growing hatred between the two of you,'' Dumbledore explained.

2: Hate arises from love. Neither know peace while both live. Lupin read on aloud.

''You & Severus were both in love with Rachelle,'' Dumbledore sighed. ''There was no peace between you!''

3: In the year of the Dark Lord's demise, one shall destroy the other.

''Yes, one is dead now!'' Dumbledore mused.

4: But who shall it be? The one who suffer's a change.

''Last Christmas,'' Dumbledore interupted again. ''You changed Severus, didn't you?'' he raised an eyebrow.

5: Winter's cold brings death to one but not the other.... Lupin was begining to like reading the old Prophecy less & less!

''You could very easily have died that day, had I not aparated when I did!''

6: But beware of prevention!

''To tell you the truth, ''Dumbledore went on. ''I was aiming for the kitchen. But some force brushed me aside & I stood between you & Severus!''

7: Spring's warmth brings death to the other but not the one if Winter's evil is halted.

Another Prophecy fulfilled.

''You're Death Curse, intended for Malfoy, spun around & hit Severus, didn't it''? Dumbledore eyed Lupin closely.

Lupin buried his face in his hands. ''Why me? Why'd I live?''

''Now that, you must find out for yourself!'' Dumbledore said softly.

''But I'm not Merida's father!'' Lupin sighed. ''I'm-----er---something----er--nevermind! Oh Merlin! She'll never look at me again! But I was forced but---why me?''

''The Prophecy promised peace to whoever lived''! Dumbledore smiled softly, though it didn't reach his eyes. ''You'll find it but first one last thing you must go through. Apparantly, Neville assisted Harry in his defeat of Tom Riddle..... ''Lupin kept his eyes closed through the whole speech & then headed to the hospital wing to see Neville one last time.

''We can wait, ''Harry held Merida close.'' I thought about the wedding in the summer; then you finish your school. I'm in training for an Auror. But we can wait. We'll take care of your father first?''

''We'll do both, Harry!'' Merida cuddled up beside him. They were sitting on the couch in the common room, gazing into the fire. ''Father first! Right now! Well not NOW now.....then maybe the last week of summer we could have a wedding?''

''If you want it that way?''

''I don't mind,'' Merida sighed. ''then we'll be ready for the baby & it'll be perfect!''

''Yeah,'' Harry smiled. Several minutes of silence passed. Then Harry whispered, ''I love you!''

''Love you too,'' Merida smiled as she fell asleep.