(A/N: Immense BYOT warning.)

Chapter 13: Repercussions

It's over. We've won.

Lily had never been so happy to see the end of anything. Battles were worse than she had thought – if she never had to fight in another one, it would be too soon for her. And she was discovering things about herself.

I don't think I'm cut out to be a Healer. Mess and blood I can handle, but it affects me badly when the harm was done deliberately...

Aletha seemed to be five places at once – she'd already set three broken bones, bandaged several serious wounds, and administered a number of healing potions from her bag. Lily was taking care of the less serious cases, which didn't need as much skill or as much of the Healer's professional detachment, something Aletha had in quantities and Lily hardly at all.

Maybe I'll become a midwife. I think I'd like that...

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Lily and the Auror whose arm she was bandaging both jumped. "What is that?" asked the woman, whom Lily vaguely recalled introducing herself as Alice Longbottom.

"It's Peter," said Lily, recognizing the voice. "A friend of mine. But I don't know what's happened to him..."

Aletha looked up from Alice's husband, Frank, and the broken ankle she was setting. "It's Evanie," she said, her face still but her voice frighteningly dead. "I thought I saw it, but I wasn't sure..."

"Evanie?" asked Frank. "Is that his girlfriend?"

Lily nodded. "What did you think you saw?" she asked Aletha.

Aletha's eyes were blank, as if she were trying to block out the memory. "Someone tried Avada Kedavra on Peter. But Evanie got there first."

The blood drained from Lily's face as she realized what that meant.

No wonder he's screaming...

"Go," Alice urged her, seeing the look on her face. "I'll be fine – you go, he needs his friends now."

Lily scrambled to her feet and hurried across the room, stepping over bound Death Eaters, pieces of the wall, broken wands spitting sparks, getting closer and closer to the source of the cries, which hadn't let up.

Peter was lying on one of the cots, twisting his body and screaming, trying to get out from under Remus, who was holding him down with one paw on each shoulder. Sirius and James were standing nearby, looking very much as if they didn't know what to do. A white-draped form on the next bed must be Evanie.

Averting her eyes, Lily knelt next to Peter. "Settle down," she said. "Peter, do you hear me? You have to calm down, you're going to hurt yourself if you keep on like this–"

"I DON'T CARE!" Peter's eyes were wild and staring. "I don't care," he repeated a little more quietly, now lying more still but trembling all over, tense and stiff. Remus made an uncomfortable noise low in his throat.

"I don't care," said Peter a third time, looking away from Lily, to the still form of Evanie, then back. "I don't care if I die. I want to die. I'll be with her again. I want to die–"

Remus barked in alarm as Peter's shoulders vanished from beneath his paws. Wormtail the rat scurried off the bed, across the intervening space, and vanished beneath the shrouding sheet, visible only as a moving hump in the cloth covering the bed's right bottom leg, and even that disappeared as he got to the mattress. James, the closest of them, pulled the cloth away quickly.

Wormtail was nestled against Evanie's side, his eyes shut. Remus dodged as Lily hurdled the bed, her heart pounding.

He wasn't supposed to transform – that'll start the bleeding again – he's going to get his wish –

The furry body under her hand was still warm, still breathing, but Lily could feel the jerkiness in the breaths, could feel how Peter was fighting for each one, a fight that in a few moments he wouldn't be able to win.

"We're going to lose him," said Sirius quietly. "Aren't we?"

Throat too choked to speak, Lily nodded. This isn't fair – they never even had a chance at life – they were so in love, so happy, and now it's gone, all gone – no one can heal this...

Danger was sitting on the bed next to Remus now, her head laid against his and sorrow plain in both sets of eyes, brown and blue. Aletha stood next to Sirius, her best Healer's detachment beginning to crack at the sight of her friends, one dead, one dying. Lily reached blindly for James and felt his hands close around hers and lift her to her feet, and his arms wrap around her, giving and asking comfort at the same time.

Somewhere in the house, a clock began to strike midnight.

Midnight.

A perfect time to strike.

They will die where they stand.

What a fool Dumbledore was, to fight on my ground – I know precisely how to seal off every room in this house, and how to fill those sealed rooms with gases so insidious and deadly that they will have no chance. Or there are always the spells I have tailored to harm only those who do not wear my Mark.

"The moment of my triumph is at hand," hissed Lord Voldemort to himself as the last stroke of midnight died away.

"Not quite," said an amused voice behind him.

"Excuse me," said a woman's voice behind them.

Sirius stepped out of the way of a white-haired witch in blue robes, with a face holding both wisdom and compassion.

Lily looked hard at her. Who is she? I don't think I've ever seen her before, but she reminds me of someone...

"I may be able to help." The witch lowered herself to one knee and laid a hand on Peter's tiny, furry back. "Come now, you don't want to die," she murmured. "Not yet, at any rate. Don't you want to see that overblown child who calls himself a Dark Lord get his comeuppance?"

The others exchanged startled looks. What was she talking about?

"Yes, I thought that would get you," said the witch in a satisfied tone. "Come along, there's no time to waste. The rest of you, too," she said, turning away from Peter to look at the other six. "You'll want to watch. It'll be something to tell your grandchildren about – you were there at the fall of 'Lord' Voldemort." The sneer quotes around the title were as obvious as if she'd written them down.

Lily and Aletha's attention was caught by what was happening on the bed. Peter's breathing was no longer ragged – it was deep and even, and he was stirring –

The human Peter Pettigrew sat up as the white-haired witch took her hand away. He still looked as if he'd lost his best friend –

Which he has.

But his face was no longer unnaturally pale, his breathing was easy, and he stood up with no trouble. "I can always do it later," he said to the witch, almost challengingly. "After I see this."

"True enough," she said placidly. "Come on, then, everyone, out to the other room. You should all see this – as I said, something to tell the grandchildren about–"

They were all moving, everyone in the room, even the wounded were hobbling or being carried out, through the small complex of rooms where they had set up camp and into the large hallway where most of the fighting had happened –

Where two wizards stood in a shell of green energy that closely resembled the one that had enclosed Remus and Danger when Lily had first seen them as wolves. But this was a different color of green, darker, richer, healthier.

One of the wizards was Voldemort. Lily had never seen him before, but it could be no one else. Though he looked different from the way she had expected – he looked –

Frightened?

The other was a man in green robes who looked a great deal like James' father, though perhaps not quite so old. Or maybe he looked like James would in a few years. Lily couldn't decide.

As if he knew what she was thinking, the other wizard looked directly at her through the shield and smiled. Lily stared. The shield might be distorting her vision, but if it wasn't, the wizard had eyes almost exactly like her own...

A small wave of his hand made a portion of the shield transparent. His eyes were still as green as leaves in June. He winked at her, then restored the shield to its former shade.

"Are we all assembled?" he said aloud, in a strong, carrying baritone.

"We are," answered a chorus. Lily turned to see the white-haired woman who had healed Peter standing with three other women in blue, together with two men and a woman in red and a man and woman in yellow.

None of them were here for the battle, I'm certain of it...

And now that she looked, there were people inside that circle of brightly-colored robes. People in black, with mussed hair and ropes around their bodies.

The Death Eaters! Are they – guarding them somehow? But none of them have wands...

"Tom Marvolo Riddle," said the man in the shield, thoughtfully. "What a fine young man you were. I remember when you were born – we all had such high hopes for you. Finally, a strong Heir of the bloodline. Maybe he'll overcome the taint. Maybe he'll fight through the troubles." He shook his head. "But it didn't work out quite like we hoped it would."

"No one calls me by that absurd name," said Voldemort angrily. "Who are you, that you so dare?"

"I'm your great-uncle, Tommy boy." The man seemed to be counting on his fingers, then gave it up. "Well, actually that's great-great-great-great-many-lots-of-times-great – a thousand years or so, you figure it out. Doesn't matter. What matters is that we are related. You're descended from my lovely brother Matthias." He looked over at Sirius. "Dad always liked him best," he said. "You can relate, I'm sure."

Sirius nodded bemusedly. "A thousand years?" he hissed to the others. "Who is this bloke?"

"My name is Alexander Slytherin. I was the second son of Salazar Slytherin. He and Matthias left the school after that little disagreement over purity of blood. I stayed."

And the noise you hear is the sound of everyone's jaw hitting the floor...

"I and my colleagues remain close to the world we once lived in – you might call us super-ghosts–"

"No, you might call us that," called out the younger man in red. "I prefer demi-gods, myself."

"Thank you, Paul," said Alexander sarcastically. "At any rate, we did once live in this world with bodies of flesh and blood, which did die quite a long time ago, and our souls do continue to live on in another place, not too terribly far from here, from which we can, when we are allowed, influence the workings of this world. For the better, I hope."

Lily's eyes were drawn to Dumbledore. He was listening calmly, as if none of this surprised him at all.

I suppose now I can honestly say that nothing ever surprises him...

"We can occasionally take on a semi-fleshly form," Alexander continued. "When it is needed." He stepped closer to Voldemort and slapped him hard across the face. "As you see. You're really very ugly in this form, you know that? Why don't we have a little makeover party, you and I." He waved a hand around Voldemort's head, and a green mist issued from it, covering the Dark wizard.

When it dissipated, there was standing a man whom Lily would have guessed at thirty if he were a Muggle and perhaps fifty to fifty-five for a wizard. He had dark hair and strong bones in his face, and there was a resemblance between him and Alexander. A stranger might have guessed that they were somehow related, but surely no one would ever have guessed the truth, Lily thought...

"Most of the time, of course, we're not allowed to interfere this directly. We have to give people hints and clues, and help them notice important things, and wait to see how it all comes out. But just this once, we're allowed to take a direct hand in things. And I'm taking full advantage."

Voldemort, though Lily supposed they would have to call him Riddle now, seemed unable to speak for rage. His face was no longer as frightening as it had been, but he could still look so angry that it made you want to cringe before him. "What do you plan to do?" he asked softly, after a moment of struggling to speak without screaming.

Alexander smiled. There was no pity and no mercy in his face. "I plan to give you exactly what you deserve. Exactly what you gave all the others. Right down to that girl who died on your orders a few minutes ago. Every death, every scream of pain, every horrified thought that ever happened because of you – you're going to experience them all. From the other side."

He laced his fingers together behind his back and stretched his arms upward, rolling his shoulders. "After that... how would you like to meet your hallowed ancestor? Not Salazar, I'm afraid – my father is, shall we say, unavailable at the present time – but Matthias is somewhere perfectly accessible to us. To me, rather. And I plan to take you there."

The smile returned. "It's a little corner of existence just above the worlds. Where Matty can look down at them, watch them all going on, but can't get in touch with any of them. No one hears him in their heads the way they hear me sometimes, encouraging them to do something they might not do on their own..."

Behind her, a strangled whine made itself heard. One of the wolves had apparently just had an epiphany.

"In short, he's totally and completely helpless. Can't do a damn thing. And that's what gets to happen to you, Tommy boy. Except I'll key your little space to this world particularly. And it's slated to run pretty damn happily for the next, oh, hundred years or so. You get to watch everyone be happy, and think about how you could ruin their lives if you only got the chance. Except you never will."

Riddle was staring at Alexander in undisguised revulsion.

"So, all you folks out there, do me a favor," Alexander concluded, looking around at his audience. "Be a little extra happy every day. Tommy'll hate you for it." He looked over at the other brightly-garbed people. "Am I good to go, Rick?"

"I think you've covered everything, Alex," said the older of the men in red. "We'll handle it from here."

"Then I take my leave. So long, kids, and always brush your teeth."

Lily got one last look at Riddle, rigid with shock and horror, before the shield imploded with a thunderous clap of air. Silence reigned in the room for a moment.

"Always brush your teeth?" repeated Sirius aloud, in a tone of total disbelief.

"Sound advice," said a calm voice. Albus Dumbledore was crossing the room towards them, with the woman in red and two or three of the ones in blue beside him. "Now, I believe there is some business to be taken care of, regarding other injustices that have been done tonight."

Lily followed the others back into the room where Evanie lay on the bed, face frozen in lines of determination. Peter moaned at the sight of her, and knelt down beside her, laying his face on the mattress.

"We will let him have a moment alone," said Dumbledore, putting up a Privacy Spell around Peter and Evanie. "If you will all excuse me, I am needed elsewhere, but Remus, Danger, these ladies have a gift for you." He moved away, toward a knot of adults at the other side of the room.

"We do have something for you," said the woman in red. "Something I think you want very much."

"We can turn you human again," said the dark-haired woman in blue. Remus' jaws opened in a wolf-grin and his ears pricked up happily, and Danger pranced a little in place, her tail wagging.

"Everything goes back to the way it was," continued the blonde. "I'm afraid we can't do anything about the lycanthropy, Mr. Lupin, we haven't been authorized for that."

"But Miss Granger remains an Animagus, so that would be more or less solved, as I understand it," finished the redhead.

Remus nodded resignedly. I'm used to what I am. Don't worry about it.

"Moony?" said James in surprise. "Was that you?"

Well, I don't see any other talking wolves around here, said an acidic female voice.

"Danger!" Aletha laughed aloud, if a bit shakily. "Do you ever stop making comments?"

No, she doesn't, said Remus.

"Didn't think so."

I can talk for myself, you know.

I never said you couldn't.

"Enough, you two," said the woman in red, with good humor in her voice. "You'll have your whole lives to fight. Let's get this done."

Wait. Danger looked up at the woman. I'm sorry, I don't know your name –

"Maura. And these are Brenna and Sophia and Margaret."

Thank you. Please, isn't there anything you can do about Evanie?

"What do you mean?" asked Maura, in a tone Lily interpreted as careful, as if she were waiting for something, or listening for it, something that would be her cue to act in a certain manner.

Some way to – oh, I know there isn't, but I can't help hoping – please, can't you bring her back to life?

Maura exchanged a look with Margaret, the redhead, before she answered. "Perhaps. But that requires certain elements to be present."

"What kind of elements?" asked Sirius.

"Is there any way we could help?" Aletha wanted to know.

"We'll do anything," said James.

"Within reason," Lily added quickly, elbowing him. These people are obviously powerful, and probably not human as we think of it, it wouldn't be beyond them to take "anything" literally...

"Two elements are required for Evanie Mead to live again," said Sophia, the blonde woman, precisely. "First, a large amount of magic, roughly equivalent to that we will use to make each of you human again." She nodded to Remus and Danger. "Secondly, another life."

"Another life?" repeated Aletha. "You mean, someone else has to die?"

"This is why we were hesitant to tell you," said Brenna, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "We hardly ever do this, it's a terrible precedent to set, and a terrible price to pay. But a life for a life is only fair."

May I ask a question? It was Remus' voice.

"Certainly," said Maura.

If I remain in this form, what will happen to me on full moons?

"Nothing. The magic which was disrupted by Miss Granger's action left both of you in this altered state permanently. You are, as of this moment, not a werewolf. The full moon will have no effect on you."

And – Remus looked around the group. If, perhaps, one of us remained in this form while the other became human again. Would the link by which we speak remain intact?

What are you implying, Remus? asked Danger sharply.

"Yes, the link would remain. It will persist between you even should you both return to human form."

Should we both return?

Then I offer my magic as part of what is needed for Evanie's life, said Remus, ignoring Danger. I know what it is to see the one you love be out of your reach, as you think, forever. Peter deserves much better than that. I would rather be a wolf all my life than watch him suffer and know I could have helped him, and did not.

Danger grumbled aloud. Man's too damn noble for his own good, she griped mentally, and Lily got the impression that only she and Aletha, who was looking amused, could hear it. I think that's why I love him. She spoke up. I have a request as well.

"We are listening," said Maura.

I don't want to be human if Remus can't. Take the magic you would have used on me and do something good with it. I'll take my chances in this form.

Danger – Remus turned to stare at her. You don't have to do this.

Nor do you, but I know you. Arguing with the walls of Hogwarts would be easier. And I'd rather live as a wolf with you than be human without you. So that's settled.

"There is a phrase to make it binding," said Brenna. "'So I speak, so I intend.' Speak your wish formally, and end with that phrase, and it will be done."

Formally?

"Oh, I know." Sirius brightened. "Like pureblood-speak, Moony. Remember when I used to do that and make everybody laugh?"

Movement behind him caught Lily's eye. Regulus was hovering on the edge of their group, close enough to hear but not saying anything.

Yes, I remember. So I start with my name?

"Yes," said Sirius and Maura together, then looked at each other in surprise.

Remus chuckled. All right. I, Remus Lupin, declare on this day, the first of July, 1977, that I wish the magic which would have been used to return me to human form to be used instead to restore Evanie Mead to life. So I speak, so I intend.

I, Gertrude Granger, said another voice, declare on this day, the first of July, 1977, that I wish the magic which would have restored me to human form to be used in some good work. So I speak, so I intend.

"And so let it be done," said the four women as one. A bright haze hovered over the two wolves for a moment, then was gone.

James sighed. "So. Now we just have to make a really hard decision. I assume it has to be a willing sacrifice?" he asked the women, who all nodded. He looked back at the group. "So. Who's it going to be?"

Silence. Lily knew what everyone must be thinking; it was the same as what she was thinking herself.

Who among us would really be willing to die for a friend? That's supposed to be the surest test of friendship, but it's not exactly one you want to undergo, or have one of your friends try out for size... it's a little too permanent for most people.

But Evanie was willing. She threw herself in front of that curse without even a second thought.

Who is going to take her place?

"I'll do it."

It was her own voice.

"No," said James quickly, stepping forward to her side. "Let me. I'll do it."

Sirius shook his head. "No way. I will."

"Oh, like hell you will," said Aletha angrily. "Move over."

You know, if this wasn't so serious, it would be damned funny, said Danger. All of us shoving and arguing over who gets to die. And I'd like to put my vote in.

It would sound rude to say I'd already done my part, wouldn't it? asked Remus. I'm ready.

"Now this is a problem we haven't had before," said Margaret, the corners of her mouth twitching. "Too many people volunteering for this particular post."

"And there's only one fair way to solve it," said Sophia. "You'll have to draw lots."

"Allow me." Brenna held out her hand, and a length of shining white yarn appeared in it. Sophia touched it, and it was marked in blue, five equal lengths and one longer. Margaret passed her hand over it, and it was cut. Maura accepted the lengths and held them so that no one could see which was the long one.

"The magic on them will allow you to see which is the long one only after they have all been drawn," she warned. "So that no one can cheat."

"Good luck, everyone," said James, stepping forward to draw.

That's the most ironic thing I've ever heard. Remus took one of the threads delicately between his teeth and pulled.

On three, then, said Danger, hiding her string with a paw. One, two, three.

Six strings were displayed.

Sirius held the longest one.

Aletha turned away for a moment. When she turned back, her face was again as calm as it had been directly after the battle. "You'll go, then," she said distantly.

"Yes." Sirius closed his hand around the string again. "Yes. I'll go."

"I will miss you."

"I know. I'll miss you too."

"May I ask you one question?"

"Go ahead."

"Would you have married me?"

"Of course."

Lily surreptitiously wiped her eyes on her sleeve as Sirius and Aletha embraced. James' bottom lip had disappeared, and his eyes were gleaming oddly behind his glasses.

Remus stropped against Sirius' legs. See you on the other side, he said. Don't forget us – we'll be along eventually.

"Don't worry, I won't." Sirius rubbed Danger's ears playfully. "Have fun with your new form. And watch out for this one." He punched Remus' side. "He sometimes forgets how sharp those teeth are."

I will. Danger shoved her nose into Sirius' palm. Good riddance, you mangy mutt.

Sirius stood up and faced James. "Guess we won't be partners, then, Prongs," he said with an attempt at a smile. "Sorry about that. Hope they don't pair you with anyone too hopeless."

"I'll whip 'em into shape if they do." James' return smile was as bad as Sirius'. "First kid gets named after you. That's a promise."

"I'll be watching." Sirius hugged James once, hard, then turned to Lily. "Take care of him," he said. "He gets silly when he's drunk, and that's not counting all the stupid stuff he does when he's sober."

"I know." Lily threw her arms around Sirius, fighting tears with all her might. She wouldn't be the first to cry, she wouldn't, she wouldn't – not with Aletha, who was losing so much more than she was, standing as strong and proud as an ebony statue. She wouldn't disgrace her friend that way.

Sirius turned around. "I'm almost ready," he said, his voice shaking almost imperceptibly. "If I could say goodbye to Peter..."

Maura waved. The Privacy Spell around the bed dissipated.

"Hey, Wormtail," said Sirius gently, kneeling down beside Peter, who was still where he had been, shoulders shaking. "I gotta go, okay? I'll see you some other time. Take care of yourself, and don't get eaten by anything 'cause I'm not there to save you, all right?"

"What are you talking about?" Peter lifted his head to look hard at Sirius. "What's going on?"

"Getting you your girl back," said Sirius. "You deserve her, Wormtail. I've never seen you so happy as when you're with her. And she needs you. So take good care of her – I don't want to do this for nothing, understand?"

"Do what?" Peter looked at the others, confused. "Why do I always miss everything?"

"Sirius is taking Evanie's place," said Margaret. "She will live. He will die."

Sirius swallowed hard. "Kind of hard to think about, when you put it like that," he said lightly, but Lily could hear fear beneath his words. Aletha didn't seem to be breathing, her eyes fixed on the two boys by the bed.

Peter's eyes widened in incredulous hope. "You mean she – and you–" He looked from Sirius, to Evanie, to Sirius again, and suddenly hugged him hard. "Thank you," he said, his voice breaking. "Thank you, thank you, thank you – I don't deserve a friend like you–"

"Hey, don't overreact, here," Sirius protested. "Everyone wanted to do it. I just won the draw."

"Everyone?" Peter's face was almost radiant, and Lily wondered suddenly if this was how Evanie saw him. If so, she could understand the younger girl's perspective. This Peter was one that a woman could love. "Thank you – so much–" Tears were streaming down his face, but he didn't seem to care. "I'll never forget this, Sirius. Never."

"You'd better not. I'll come back and beat you over the head for a while if you do." Sirius stood up. "Now I'm ready," he said. "Can it be – quick?" His voice quivered a bit on the last word.

"Of course," said Margaret, stepping forward to stand a few feet from Sirius, eye to eye with him. "You are a brave man, Sirius Black."

"Of course I am. I'm a Gryffindor." Sirius held his head high.

Margaret lifted her hand to touch his forehead.

(A/N: I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. It was so perfect. And since no one remembered that it would be July at midnight, and Alex was allowed to come and do his thing in July, I feel justified in writing one more awful terrible cliffy.

"The End of the End" is coming... doesn't that sound like it should be on a sign carried by some dude with a long beard who hasn't washed his hair in a year? But anyway. It's coming, it's probably coming tomorrow, and remember two things:

1) Reviewing makes the author very happy.
2) A happy author is more likely to write a happy ending.

So, if you want a happy ending – review! And has anyone else read Robert Heinlein?)