Chapter 29:

The morning of May 25th dawned beautifully as the sun slowly covered Hogwarts castle. It promptly awoke both the Headmaster and his Deputy Headmistress from their slumber. They stretched, wished each other a good morning, changed and rushed off to their proper places—all of keeping the illusion that they weren't married. They would see each other at breakfast, lunch and dinner. And they, of course, spent evenings together unless there was trouble in the castle. Then, they usually arrived within minutes of the other—from the opposite direction. Of course.

In the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the sun started to shine on the desks. Inside the small chambers off the classroom, the light woke up two-months-old twin girls with soft blond hair and bright grey-blue eyes. Lily, still quite content with laying in the warmth of the rays, rolled over in her crib to clutch a small lamb Ginny had given her upon the last trip to Hogsmeade. Jamie, however, would much rather spend the morning being held by either her mother or her father. So, she kicked and started to coo loudly, not crying yet. That was the last resort.

Sure enough, her father did appear. Remus picked up his fussy daughter, who clutched the small chick Ginny had given her when the Weasley girl had given her sister a lamb. Jamie instantly calmed down as Remus began to rock her and bring her into the next room. He slipped the baby girl into her mother's waiting arms as he changed for the day. The Lupins knew in a few minutes that Jamie would begin rooting, looking to be fed, and then Lily would realize she was hungry. The other Lupin girl would then cry. After Lily was done, their parents would eat their quick breakfasts before one ran to teach a class. Then the parents would be in and out with classes until that night when they would all be together for a quiet evening. As usual.

In the Gryffindor dormitories, the sun had awoken the Head Girl. Hermione was already dressed and had dragged Ginny out of the bathroom, insisting that the redhead's hair was perfect for Harry. In rebellion, Ginny planted herself on one of the Common Room's chairs and was fine waiting there while Hermione went to get the boys. The brunette rolled her eyes but proceeded up the stairs alone anyway. She stopped for a brief moment to admire how the sunlight grasped her beautiful engagement ring. She sighed; she would go in, wake up her fiancé and his friends. They would go to meals, classes, return to the Common Room for some fun time until she would join Draco in patrolling the corridors. Typical.

The only place the sunlight hadn't reached yet was the dungeons, where Severus was still trying to retain his last grasps of sleep. He hugged Kiki closer and felt her squirm a little to find a comfortable position in his arms. It didn't take long and she settled down. Now if only his alarm clock never rang…Severus could be content in bed with his lover next to him. Only his alarm went off and little Samantha began crying. Within minutes, both he and Kiki were up and tending to their little girl. Severus changed while Kiki fed Sam, then went into the kitchen to prepare the two of them breakfast. Kiki emerged a little while later, placing Sam into her father's arms so she could eat. Sam cooed and rolled over deeper into the dark black robes. He smiled at his little girl and looked up at her mother.

Kiki was twirling a piece of her black hair around one of her fingers—a habit he knew she did when bored. He had known that from the first time they met here in Hogwarts, from watching her at the table. How often had his heart leapt everytime he saw her start twirling while talking with Black? And now, she was the mother of his child and living with him. Sure, she balked at the idea at first—she was quite an independent woman and he wouldn't have it any other way—she now was at home with him. She even complained that she now couldn't even sleep without him next to her and it was all his fault, but he knew she enjoyed it. Now, today, they would go about their usual business and fall asleep together. As always.

Of course. As usual. Typical. As always. Four different phrases that had been thought throughout the morning of May 25th by different residents of Hogwarts castle. All expecting that the night would be no different than the nights before that. How wrong they were.

In all honesty, as everyone involved would confirm later, it happened quite suddenly and unexpectedly. It also occurred late at night, when everything final seems to take place. Curfew was called and the Head Girl began her rounds to chase errant classmates back to their dorms. Her friends were scrambling to do the last bits of their homework in their respective common rooms. Dumbledore and McGonagall were playing their nightly game of chess while the lovely night air blew gently, playing with their curtains since they had left the windows opened. The twins were down for the time being—until they were hungry again. Their parents were lying on the couch, Harmony sound asleep on her husband's chest as he reviewed one of his lessons plans. Down in the dungeons, Severus pulled the tiny green blanket over his slumbering daughter before joining Kiki in their bed. He rolled over and hugged her close, just as he had done that morning, ready to fall asleep.

He barely closed his eyes when a large "boom"—for lack of a better term—erupted from the Forbidden Forest. He shot straight up, his left arm suddenly burning. Kiki was already out of bed and changing. Severus kissed her harshly, praying this wasn't their last kiss together. She returned the kiss just as passionately before Severus broke off to give his daughter a good-bye kiss. Within minutes, he was gone—ready to reveal his true loyalty on the field right outside the school he had taught at for so long. Kiki grabbed Samantha and flooed to Dumbledore's office.

The Lupins were already there and Dumbledore told them that McGonagall was off to get Harry and company. "What are we going to do? Are we going to floo to Headquarters?" Kiki asked.

"No," Dumbledore said, flatly. "It was raided about ten minutes ago, according to a harried report from Sirius. They're fleeing here, but a few members of Fudge's Army remain there. It's not safe."

"So, now what? Do we stay inside the castle?" Harmony asked, holding Lily closer to herself.

"No. Remus, I want you to escort Harmony, Kiki and the girls to the Shrieking Shack. I believe you know a secret shortcut?"

"But that involves the Whomping Willow, sir! That's too close to where the Deatheaters are rallying," Remus argued. "And what about the younger students? Are they going to fight?"

"They are being located to a secret cabin on the edge of the grounds with Flitwick and Sprout as chaperones."

"What secret cabin?" Kiki asked, rocking a fussy Samantha.

"Precisely," Dumbledore said, tapping his nose. Kiki rolled her eyes. "As I was saying, Hogsmeade is still perfectly safe. So, Remus, you do know another secret way into the Shrieking Shack."

"You want me to take the path into Honeydukes!" Remus exclaimed. Dumbledore merely nodded as Minerva re-entered with the Dream Team in tow. Remus clapped a pale but determined Harry on the back in support while Harmony gave Ginny a one-armed hug. Kiki told them not to worry and hugged Hermione, who looked like she was going to be sick. After that (and some encouraging words to a shaking Neville), Remus was leading the two mothers out of Hogwarts.

Molly met the small group as they entered the (supposedly) haunted building. Remus was a bit uncomfortable, Harmony knew, to be back in the place where all his school day transformations took place. Molly had brought over the girls' playpen used when at Headquarters. Food, water and blankets were all set to go in the room as well. "Be careful," Harmony warned her husband as he kissed each of his little girls.

"I will," he responded before kissing her soundly. "You all take care, you hear me?" Harmony nodded. Kiki gave Remus a friendly hug before Molly did the same. Before long, Remus had left them as he walked out into Hogsmeade.

The town was quiet, tense…everyone knew something big was happening at the school. Remus walked quickly, hoping that his prescence wouldn't bring out Voldemort's troops to the town. The last thing needed was the battle to spread past Hogwarts and go extremely close to his loved ones. He slipped into the Hogwarts gates and made his way to the field where the fate of the wizarding world would be decided once and for all.

Only those loyal to good were standing on the field, with the exception of Severus. He wouldn't reveal his true loyalties until the full force of the fighting had begun. Remus walked over and stood next to Sirius, who had a look of grim determination on his face. The two men looked over to find Harry, who was standing next to Dumbledore and holding a shaking Ginny's hand. Ron and Hermione were huddled near Tonks and Riley while Luna stood near Eden. Bianca was comforting Neville. Behind them stood all the students from Hogwarts who were deemed able to fight. Only a few Slytherins stood with them, Draco one of them. He looked nervous, his eyes flickering around the field—most likely searching for his godfather. Remus sighed; so many young lives would be changed tonight. And for the first time, Remus found himself praying for a Malfoy.

Severus stood in a deep dark part of the forest he would frequent to gather some rare potion ingredients. The Deatheaters and Slytherins were all gathered around Voldemort, listening to the Dark Lord claim that this was going to be their greatest hour. Severus held back the snort he wanted to give at that. He knew that it would be his last night—ever—of wearing the black robes and masks of the Deatheaters. He was ready to show he had moved on from their evil ways. He was going to fight with Dumbledore, live, marry Kiki and raise his little girl. And possibly have a few more children. He took a deep breath and prepared to face the inevitable.