While Harry and Draco ran through the castle's halls and mass of students to get to the seventh floor where the room of requirement was, Ron and Hermione had gotten down into the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets. The entire time, Ron was telling her about the first adventure down there with Harry and Lockhart; it was merely to kill the awkward silences and lighten the mood in lieu of the battle beginning soon. When the hour was up, Voldemort would reign hell on the school and it was going to be the fight of their lives. The final battle.
"Is this it?" Hermione asked Ron as they reached a circle door with snakes on it.
"I think so. Last time, I didn't go this far with Harry because the ceiling caved in." Ron informed. "But let's give it a go?" Hermione nodded to him. Ron took a breath and repeated the sentence that Harry gave to him in his best parseltongue. Sure enough, the snakes on the door began to curve inward and one more came out to circle the door before it opened. Ron and Hermione moved inside and looked around, seeing the skeleton of the enormous Basilisk still where it had been killed by Harry.
"Harry took this thing on in second year?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, stabbed it right through the skull from inside its mouth," Ron nodded as he went to the skeleton and plucked a fang out while Hermione dig the horcrux cup from her bag. "You do it," Ron told her as he took the cup and set it down, then gave her the fang. Hermione lowered herself and brought down the fang hard and fast into the cup as it screamed out and cracked. The water rose up in reaction to the darkness being thrown from the broken horcrux and chased them as they ran for the exit, but it eventually just showered them with the water.
Ron and Hermione stood there a moment, then looked at one another before both pulling each other close and kissing passionately. Afterwards, they laughed and Hermione took his hand. "Let's go meet up with Harry and Draco." She said.
Th two made their way out of the chamber and back up to the school's main level. Ron got out the map, finding Harry and Draco together, heading for the seventh floor. "There they are." Ron pointed out.
. . .
Harry and Draco finally made it to the seventh floor and stood before the wall together, sure enough the door to the room of requirement appeared before them.
"Alright, we're looking for something small and like a tiara…Likely to maybe have Ravenclaw's colors or symbol." Harry told Draco.
"Okay, love," Draco kissed the back of Harry's hand and gave him a smile. "It's almost over." He added.
"I know. Ron and Hermione have destroyed the cup, I saw when Voldemort reacted to it…He knows we're closing in and he's getting desperate." Harry informed.
"So now it's just this diadem, and Nagini?" Draco questioned.
"That's right," Harry replied.
The two kept wandering the room, checking as much as they could and Harry was focused on using his sensing abilities to hear it and take it to them. Ron and Hermione eventually joined them.
"Voldemort's just destroyed the barrier," Ron said to Harry. "I think he's mad about the cup."
"Likely," Harry agreed. "The battle's begun. We need to find the diadem, now." In the silence, he heard the whispers on parseltongue and followed them to see a silver tiara with blue gems and a raven at the top. "It's here, this is it," Harry told them as he held it in his hand.
"Let's destroy it. I have the fang with me," Hermione said.
"Potter!" A voice yelled. Harry hid the diadem behind his back, and pushed Draco behind him too, giving him the tiara to hold.
"What are you doing here?" Gregory asked.
"Could ask you the same question," Harry pushed.
"You have something of mine and I'd like it back," Theodore said. Harry knew what he meant, his wand.
"What's wrong with the one you've got?" Harry inquired.
"It's my father's. It's powerful, but it doesn't really get me. Know what I mean?" Theodore mentioned.
"Why didn't you tell her? Bellatrix?" Harry suddenly questioned as the boys stared at him. "At the manor. You know it was me, you didn't say anything to her." Silence. "You don't have to do this, guys. You can stop, right now…And all will be forgiven. I can help you." He offered.
"You sound like Dumbledore the night he died too." Gregory remarked.
"I know. I was there, hiding just under you three on the next level down," Harry informed. "I know you told Dumbledore you had to kill him because if you didn't…Voldemort would kill you. I know you don't want this life. You've seen his anger, his cruelty…And you know that if you don't, we'll have to fight and you will die." He said. "See this?" Harry held up the diadem now. "It's another horcrux, an object containing a part of Voldemort's soul. These objects are why he cannot be killed, but after I destroy this one and kill his snake; he's mortal and he can be killed just like any of us. It's only a matter of dueling it out." He explained. "I am prophesized to defeat the dark lord, marked as his equal. I can beat him…I can save you from him. Let me help you, please?"
For a moment, it looked like they were lowering their wands until their arms began to burn where the mark was. "Kill him!" Vincent yelled.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione got Crabbe's wand from him.
"Avada Ke-," Gregory started.
"Stupefy!" Ron hit Goyle hard.
The diadem went flying out of Harry's hand. "No," Harry saw it land on a pile of stuff. The boys ran off as Ron chased them.
"That's my girlfriend you're attacking!" Ron ran after them. "You numpty!"
"Girlfriend?" Draco asked.
"We may of, sort of kissed down in the chamber." Hermione stated.
"About time," Draco and Harry said together as Hermione blushed.
Harry started climbing the pile of things and Draco followed him, Harry found the diadem and smiled as he grabbed it. Harry jumped down and helped Draco as they stood together. Out of nowhere, Ron was yelled and running towards them, grabbing Hermione's hand to pull her along.
"Crabbe set the bloody place on fire!" Ron announced.
Harry saw the flames and grabbed Draco's hand next as they ran to get out and escape the flames. "This is Fiendfyre. It's deadly and uncontrollable! Sev told me about never casting it." Draco told Harry.
"Great." Harry sighed. "Didn't I tell you we plan, we get there, and all hell breaks loose, Hermione!? There you go, bloody hellfire this time."
"I'll never doubt you again!" Hermione said.
Harry tried to knock things into its way, but it was useless. As they were cut off, Harry used a water spell and it knocked them back. Ron hit some brooms.
"That's our way out," Draco pointed. The four of them mounted their brooms and headed for the exit. While racing out, the broom Draco was on failed and he fell down. "Harry!" He yelled, now trying to get higher up on a tower of stuff.
"Draco!" Harry turned around to get his boyfriend, then saw Theodore and Gregory both standing on the same table, burning sea below. "We can't leave them," Harry told Ron and Hermione.
"Is he joking?!" Ron asked.
"Now, Ron," Harry told his friend.
"If we die for them, Harry, I'll kill you myself!" Ron shouted.
Harry went by Draco, grabbing his arm and pulling him onto the back of his broom. Hermione got Theodore and Ron grabbed Gregory. The three of them flew to the exit, a final blast of fire forcing them to land outside the room.
"Harry, the diadem!" Hermione told him, tossing the fang his way.
Harry caught the fang and brought it down on the diadem hard, creating a cloud of black smoke that pushed Harry back into Draco's arms. Theodore was the one to kick the tiara into the room as there was an explosion and just before it hit them, the doors closed.
"That was it, we can kill him now?" Gregory asked.
"No, not yet. We need his snake, she's another one. Then it's just him." Draco informed. "You never wanted this, did you?"
"No," Theodore said. "We didn't want our parents to get killed for us refusing to join. We didn't want…To end up without them, like you did with yours." He admitted. "Can I have my wand back, Harry?"
"If you attack me with it, I'll kill you…" Harry warned as he pulled it out and tossed it to Theodore. "You two go help in the battle."
"We will, and Harry…" Gregory said. "We didn't tell Bellatrix because we knew from your return of being at the ministry that you were destined to destroy Voldemort. We knew you were our only hope."
The two tore off down the hallway as Harry was against the post. "Harry…Find Voldemort so we can get the snake." Ron suggested.
Harry closed his eyes, working to get into Voldemort's mind and look around at the room he saw. The boat house. Voldemort was talking to Bellatrix about the wand not working right for him and he needed Severus. Harry took a deep inhale of air. "I know where he is." Harry informed. "We need to go, now," He got up.
. . .
The battle raged outside. Blasts firing everywhere, people on brooms fighting flying death eaters. Bodies of those deceased. It pained Harry, all this was over him. Voldemort wanting him. It was definitely a battleground. The group of four ran through the castle, helping where they could but needing to get where Voldemort was going to be with Severus. Harry had a bad feeling about what was going to happen and it came from Voldemort talking about needing Severus and the Elder wand not working for him. It came from Harry recalling what Ollivander said about wands changing allegiance when won in battle. Severus killed Dumbledore, so Voldemort must think that Severus had to die by Voldemort to make him the owner of the wand.
Harry stopped fast while running and held out his arm to stop Draco from getting hit; he shot a stunner at death eater in their path and Hermione shot a blast at Greyback, who was feeding on Lavender Brown. As they got to the castle entrance, dementors were flying in by the masses. Harry pointed his wand ahead at the entry bridge. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A massive silver light shot from the tip of Pettigrew's wand, that Harry was using for now, and made a barrier that pushed the dementors back and away from them.
"Bloody hell, mate…" Ron gasped at the power Harry displayed.
The light receded when they were safe and Harry had to catch his breath. "Reserve your energy, Harry…" Draco told him. "Now isn't the time to reveal your power at its highest…"
Harry caught his breath as they started once more to get to the boat house. They arrived quietly and hid behind a wall where they could hear Voldemort with Severus. Harry gave them the motion to stay quiet.
"You have performed extraordinary magic with your new wand, my lord," Severus said calmly.
"No, I am extraordinary. The wand resists me," Voldemort said.
"There is no wand more powerful," Severus informed. "Ollivander told you so. Tonight, when the boy comes; it will not fail you. I'm sure of it." A pause. "It answers to you, and you alone, my lord."
"Does it? Truly answer to me?" Voldemort asked. "You're a clever man, Severus. Surely, you must know where it's true loyalties lie,"
"With you, my lord," Severus replied calmly.
"The Elder wand cannot serve me properly because I am not it's true master." Voldemort informed. "The Elder wand belongs to the one who defeated it's last master. And you killed Dumbledore." He informed. "While you live, the wand cannot truly be mine…"
"He's gonna kill him!" Draco panicked.
Harry covered Draco's mouth and had him stay quiet while Severus knew they were there and moved to block their blurry figures on the other side of the wall. "You've been a good and faithful servant, Severus…" Voldemort said.
"My lord," Severus said before Voldemort sent out a cutting curse at Severus, making him hit the wall and fall down ungracefully.
"Nagini…Kill," Voldemort ordered. The snake struck at Severus several times before Voldemort called her back. "Ensure he dies." Then the man left and with his snake too.
Harry got up and moved around the entrance, seeing Bellatrix over Severus. "Expelliarmus," Harry got her wand away from her.
Draco came in and used a curse to keep her bound in place as he rushed over to his godfather, scared for him. Harry knelt down over Severus, surveying the damage. The man was crying.
"Take them…" Severus said to Harry. "Take them, please?" He motioned to the tears.
"Quick, a jar or vial…" Harry told Hermione, who dug it out of her bag and Harry was able to capture the few tears that fell from Severus's eyes.
"Take them to the pensive. I promised you would understand one day, that day has come." Severus told him. "It's time you understand why things happened the way they did and know-," He sputtered blood.
"Sev…" Draco cried. "Ssh, stop talking. No matter what you've done…You're still my godfather and I love you. I may not like it, but I forgive you."
"I'm sorry too you both for all I've done, it was the only way to protect you." Severus coughed. "Both of your parents would be proud of the men you've become."
"What?" Bellatrix asked. "Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy are not dead, you dare say they are?"
"Voldemort killed them, Bellatrix." Harry told her. "For refusing to get Draco to join him."
"They've been gone since the end of my fifth school year," Draco added, sobbing for his godfather, who was going to die.
"H-He…Killed my sister?" Bellatrix asked, shocked. "He promised they were safe, just away doing something for him."
"Voldemort doesn't make promises, Bella," Harry told her. "He never keeps his word. Look what he did, attacking the school before the hour was even up for me to be delivered."
"We can fix this!" Draco told Severus.
"This was sectumsempra, Draco…Even if we heal him, there's the snake venom we don't have a cure for." Harry consoled his boyfriend.
"Look at me, Harry…" Severus said weakly. Harry looked at him. "You have your mother's eyes…" Then the man went unconscious.
Bellatrix was quiet, but with the binding worn off; she pulled a vial from her dress pocket. "Give him this. It's the anti-venom…Heal the wounds and give him this."
"Why…Are you helping us?" Ron asked.
"The dark lord killed my sister, he lied to me…And since Severus alive keeps the wand resisting you know who, I want him alive. Draco doesn't need to suffer anymore loss, neither do you, Potter." Bellatrix said. "I'll tell him Severus died." Then she left the boat house.
Draco quickly got out his wand and used the spell he saw Severus use on Harry when he'd been deeply gashed by Remus, it healed the wounds and returned the blood to his body. Harry quickly got the potion into Severus's mouth, forcing a swallow. "He'll be okay now. We should leave him here to heal, so he'll stay unseen by Voldemort."
"No, we'll take him to the great hall. Pomfrey has set up a rest area for those wounded and when it calms down; bringing in bodies." Draco said. "I don't want him far or left alone."
"Alright, but we have to move him hidden under the cloak." Harry pulled out his cloak and covered Severus up.
Before anything else, the rumbling took over as Hermione and Ron covered their ears, Draco too. It didn't seem to hurt Harry when Voldemort spoke to them and everyone else.
"You've fought valiantly," Voldemort said. "But in vain." He paused. "I do not wish this, every ounce of magical blood spilt. So at this time, I command my forces to retreat for the hour. Collect your dig and dispose of them with dignity. Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you…" He paused only a moment. "On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the forbidden forest to confront your fate before the hour is gone. If you do not, I will slay every man, woman, and child who tries to conceal you."
Everything returned to normal as Harry tightened his fist until it cracked. "It's not true, Harry. Everyone who fought would have done it to stop Voldemort even if your weren't the boy who lived." Hermione said.
"It doesn't matter…" Harry said. "Let's get Severus to the hall, now is the chance to move him." He cast a levitation charm and the four of them walked around Severus's body to get him out of the boat house and to the great hall. People were crying, some hurt, and some dead. The dead were being collected by the teachers and being brought inside the hall to be laid down and covered once accounted for.
Harry was hurt and angry things had come to this, no matter what anyone said; Voldemort was right. Harry could have fought and wounded Voldemort, at best while the others searched for the horcruxes. It didn't have to be him. After this, Harry was going to view the memory Severus gave him and then he was going to fight Voldemort, while somehow figuring out how to kill the snake. They finally reached the main part of the castle and pushed through the double doors. To the front where the head table always was laid the bodies of those who had fallen. It hurt Harry, but nothing more than when Ron was summoned over to his mother and the rest of their family. A body at their feet, and George kneeling on the ground. Harry caught sight of the fallen; Fred Weasley. As Ron cried over Fred's body, Harry couldn't help but look over to the side and saw the bodies of Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks.
"No…" Harry walked closer, tears pricking his eyes. The two were laid side by side, hands still attached.
"Potter, who do you have there? Another fallen?" Minerva asked.
Draco lowered Severus down and pulled off the cape. "He's not dead, but unconscious, Professor," Draco informed. "Harry and I saved him."
"Should have let the murdering coward die," Filius said.
"Don't say that!" Draco glared. "No matter what's he's done; he's still my godfather and I love him. He's the only family I have left next to my death eater aunt Bellatrix and my friends, also Harry…" Draco said.
"Filius. Mr. Malfoy is correct. Severus was still a teacher here, and despite his transgressions; he never allowed the students to endure awful punishments. You saw him before, he hesitated against me and it was in his eyes that he didn't want to do it. Perhaps there is more to the story, and we shall discover the truth when he awakens. We can go from there." Minerva informed.
"Severus said that he was sorry to both Harry and Ron before knocking out, that it was time they understand why he did the things he did," Hermione said. She looked over to Harry, who finally turned his head from Remus and Tonks's bodies, eyes screwed shut before the tears slipped and he went to leave the hall. "Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, please…I'm begging you, not right now. Don't ask it…You know the answer." Harry walked away from the hall and turned down the corridor to get to the headmaster's office.
It was time to see Severus's memories and learn whatever it was he wanted Harry to know to understand why things went the way they did.