Chapter 21

Harry blinked against the bright light, wondering just what was going on. He had been fighting against Voldemort in an intense fight, only to end up here. He had been thinking of his family and friends as he fought, and even as he cast the Killing Curse.

During his training, Harry had been taught that the Killing Curse was Unforgivable because the castor could only use negative thoughts and emotions - not because it banished its victim from the plane of existence. As he battled Voldemort, he had realized that he couldn't use such emotions against someone who was so full of hate.

He had begun by humming the lullabies he faintly remembered Aunt Lily sang as he tried to break through the bookcase to where Voldemort was waiting. Once he was inside, he had gone through memories of growing up, dating Sirius - marrying Sirius - watching his little brother charm everyone. He saw Hugh winning at gobstones, Helena singing slightly off key along with the Wireless. Harry remembered finding his fathers sitting next to each other in front of the fire, talking quietly.

Scenes from school flashed by: Ron playing chess and Hermione up to her eyes in library books. He saw Neville blowing up yet another cauldron, Seamus trying to smuggle Firewhiskey past McGonagall. A memory of the Creevey brothers trying to take his picture flitted through, followed by one of Dean and Ginny having one of their spectacular break-up fights, only to get back together the next day. Even memories of his newer friends raced through his mind. Zabini holding Ginny back as she tried to punch Percy again. Terry Boot laughing at his new pig snout, thanks in part to a hex gone wrong in the DA. Susan Bones dancing gracefully in spite of Justin Finch-Fletchley, her partner, watching his feet so that he wouldn't step on her toes.

Harry had felt the love and affection building, even as the fight became worse. Voldemort had tried to catch him several times and almost succeeded one. He had recovered, though, and finally connected their wands together.

They each fought to push the beads to the other's wand. Just when Harry had thought that Voldemort might just win, he swore he heard Sirius telling him that he loved Harry. Bolstered by it, he set himself to win this thing. Power flowed through him and he pushed the beads into Voldemort's wand.

A strange mist surrounded the self-proclaimed Dark Lord. It vaguely had the outline of a wolf. Taking that thought and running with it, Harry wand-lessly conjured a silver dagger. Watching where Voldemort's wand was, he imbued the dagger with a Killing Curse made with every positive emotion that Harry could gather. He threw it, hitting Voldemort in the chest. A bright light began to shine through the wound, even as the mist wrapped around the creature's body. The light and mist joined together, blinding Harry.

Now he was here, although he had no clue as to where was here.

"Hello, Harry," a woman's voice came from out of the light.

He turned around, trying to find out from where it had come from.

"I'm right behind you, Harry."

Harry twisted around to find a young woman with red hair standing there. He lifted his hand in reaction, suddenly noticing that he no longer had his wand.

"What...?"

The woman laughed, a deep, rich sound that was full of happiness. "You don't need it here, Harry. You won't be here long enough to use your wand, anyway."

"What do you mean by that? Who are you?"

She smiled warmly. "You are already waking up, Harry. True, it's very slowly, but I don't have all that much time." She raised a hand and swept it through his hair. "You've grown so much, Harry. Just like James. Severus used to worry that all of his genes had been passed over, because you look so much like James. But you have his cunning and ambition."

Harry blinked in confusion. "Just who are you?"

"I'm Lily. Lily Evans."

Remus blinked at the light that was rapidly fading. He could feel the grass under him, and there was an arm around his shoulders, and that arm was attached to a body fairly close to him. There was a niggling in the back of his mind that told him that something was very different to how it should be, but at the moment he didn't want to find out. The night sky was light above him, the stars just faintly showing against the large globe that hung just above the trees.

The moon looked bright, giving a luminescence to everything, from the man next to him that looked like Shacklebolt, to the smoking ruins of a large house not that far away. He slowly sat up and looked at the group of people laying in various poses around him, trying to figure out who was who in the strange light of the moon. There was a glint of reflection, a sure sign that it was either James or Harry.

Had they finally been rescued?

Shock and horror raced down his spine as he realized what was the matter. The moon had risen, and he was in full light of it, with his friends and family surrounding him.

Remus looked down at his paws and shook himself when he didn't find any. All he saw were his hands, streaked with dried blood. His arms, too, were bloody, but human. He ran his hands over his body, expecting to find fur. However, all that he found was skin and torn clothes.

He didn't understand. He should be trying to rip apart all of these humans, and suddenly he was one of them? What had happened?

The memory of slashing his wrists came slamming back. He should be dead, but he wasn't. What had changed that?

"Remus?"

He turned to find James eyeing him warily, wand in hand. Remus pointed to the moon.

"It's beautiful, Jamie," he whispered. "So beautiful."

James came over, still cautiously holding his wand in front of him. "How?"

Remus shook his head. "I don't know. I woke up, and pow! I'm still human." He stood and embraced James, holding his friend tight.

"What's going on? Where's Harry?"

Remus looked down to find Sirius trying to raise himself up with only one arm. He then looked at the house and saw someone coming towards them. He let go of James to help Sirius off of the ground. The man lurched forward as soon as he was standing, trying to take a step forward. The person approaching began running. As he got closer, Remus saw that it was Harry. He was bruised and had a gash across his left collarbone.

The young man ran up to Sirius and tightly wrapped his arms around him.

Remus looked over at James, who was reaching out to his son.

"You're alive," Sirius was murmuring over and over. His good arm was clenched in Harry's hair.

"Hush," Harry soothed. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Except to the infirmary," Poppy's voice came from behind Remus. The school nurse looked at Remus and then at James. "You might as well pour that goblet onto the ground. This boy's not going to need it." She clasped him on the shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. "I'll run a couple of tests later, but now we have to get some of these people to the infirmary. Especially Mr. Black here."

Several pops sounded nearby as a contingent of Aurors arrived at the scene.

"Are we too late?" asked one of the Auror trainees. "'Cause I wanted to kick some DE arse."

James smiled at the picture in front of him. Severus had been given first one son and then the other to hold, and the man was staring at his newest children. If it was any other man, James would have said he was staring adoringly at them.

"Which one is which, Mr. Potter-Snape?" Hermione asked.

James pointed to the infant in Severus' arms. "This is Holden Michael and this one - " he pointed to Helena, where she was holding the second twin - "is Hunter Christopher."

The door to Poppy's office opened, revealing a grinning Remus.

"What's the verdict?" James asked.

Remus laughed. "I'm officially cured. Poppy says that I have the body of a normal man, as if I was never bitten."

"Congratulations, Mr. Lupin," Hermione said, even as James and Helena gave their own congratulations. The Gryffindor prefect gave her seat to Remus, saying that she was going to find Ron, reminding them that they needed to be down in the Great Hall by seven that evening.

"So, how are Harry and Sirius?" Remus asked as he sat down.

"Good," James answered. "Poppy said that, other than some magical exhaustion, Harry's fine. Sirius, on the other hand, will need to stay a couple more days here because of the blood loss, as well as the damage caused by his initial injury."

"Why is Hamilton in there?" Helena asked as she shifted Hunter slightly in her arms. "He was following Hugh around earlier, and now he's with Harry and Sirius."

"Your brother has a girlfriend and did not need a four year old following them around," Severus joined the conversation with this response.

"When did this start?" James asked. "You didn't say anything about it earlier."

"A couple of days ago," Helena said. "She's a Gryffindor, third year, and her name is Amy Gordon. She's from Surrey somewhere. Her mum's a witch, and her dad's half and half. Amy's paternal grandfather is in the House of Commons, and her maternal grandmother is the head of Sleakeazy."

"Quite the informative network you have there," Severus commented.

"People talk around Luna like she's not there." Helena shrugged. "She's probably only second to Parvati and Lavender in gossip, but she doesn't spread it."

"Almost like Albus' network," James slyly said. He turned to his daughter to finally finish his answer. "Hamilton could either take his nap in here or with them. He chose there because he's jealous of the babies."

Remus chuckled. "He's been the baby himself for too long. But he'll get used to it."

James nodded. It would help that school would be let out early this year, and so Severus would be able to help the first couple of weeks. The only reason Severus was confined to a bed was because a falling floor joist hit him when they had searched Nott Manor earlier in the morning. His leg was suspended over the bed, healing the break he had received -from the fall that had resulted from the falling timber. James had held back his laughter when Severus had told the nurse just how his leg had come to be broken.

"So what was Hermione in here for?" Remus asked. "I'm surprised that she wasn't staying with Harry in the first place."

"Harry kicked the Weasleys out because Fred and George kept trying to prank Sirius," Helena answered, standing up and bringing Hunter over to James. "He's heavy," she commented to him before turning to Remus. "Hermione was telling us what was happening here while we were over at the other place. There were a few Death Eaters that came here after the Order left, thinking that the school would be vulnerable without the Headmaster."

"The Defense Association scared them so badly that they turned themselves in to the Ministry," James finished. "Four newer recruits against thirty well-trained students."

Harry's eyes kept gravitating to the bed. The picture of Sirius and Hamilton curled up together was very darling. Hamilton had put up such a fuss when he had come in, because he had not wanted to take a nap, and Sirius had coaxed him to lay beside him. Sirius himself had been out of sorts at having to stay in bed - without Harry. He knew that Sirius wouldn't get any of the rest he needed if they shared the bed.

He had watched over Sirius as soon as Harry had escaped from Madam Pomfrey, while the others were still back at Nott Manor House. First his parents had tried to get him to rest, followed by Mrs. Weasley. Then the rest of the Weasleys had come in, and there was no sleep to be had when the twins were in a certain mood. It was good to see everyone so jubilant, but Harry wasn't amused that they had to be so in Sirius' hospital room.

About the time that he had kicked out the Weasley clan - Fred and George had tried to set off a WhizBang inside the room - Hamilton had come running in here, crying about having to take a nap. Harry couldn't remember what he had done about taking a nap, and he knew that Helena and Hugh had never fussed, so he really had no clue how to handle the situation. Then he had watched Sirius as he took care of the little boy and they had fallen asleep.

Watching the two as their chests rose and fell with the same rhythm, Harry could almost imagine it as six or seven years down the road: Sirius and their own little boy taking a nap with his daddy. The image was heartwarming and gave him something to look forward to when he continued his education. He and Sirius had talked it over earlier, and they would be taking a long honeymoon, returning only a day before the semester started at Cambridge. Then they would both have classes, with Harry taking them and Sirius teaching. They wouldn't have any classes together until Harry's second year, when he started his specialized classes. Harry was already looking forward to it.

Harry used this time to think about what Aunt Lily had told him. She had said that it wasn't time for him to go yet, and that she had been sent to guide him back to the living. But, like his father, she really hadn't been needed. Lily had wanted him to tell his father something, so that he would know it was her. She also wanted Harry to pass on a message to Sirius along the lines of what she would do to him when they met again if he ever broke Harry's heart.

It was nice that everyone wanted to protect Harry, but he was afraid that he would be the one to hurt Sirius and not the other way 'round.

"Hey," Helena called from the door. "Do you want anything from the kitchens? I'm making a run, because Dad and Patri are cooing over the twins again, and I don't think I can handle that much sugar."

Harry shrugged and looked over at Sirius. "Why don't you have the elves send up some tea and biscuits, along with a glass of milk for Hamilton?" he asked his sister.

She nodded and began to close the door.

"Helena?"

"Yes?"

"You okay?"

She smiled wryly. "I will be. It's not a picture you can erase easily."

Harry nodded. He knew what she was talking about, having heard the entire story earlier. "If you need to talk to someone who is not Dad or Patri, you do know that you can talk to Sirius."

Helena laughed. "And keep him from shagging you when you're on the beach?" she asked. She shook her head. "No. Professor Dumbledore is going to have one of his friends come up."

"Why?"

"Because I asked." Helena looked at the floor for a moment. "I know I can't do this by myself, and I don't want our parents to worry about it. They have enough to do with Holden and Hunter to look after."

"I know."

Helena perked up. "You do know there are pamphlets in the library about vacation spots."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "You're serious? Why would they have those?"

"For the professors, git. You don't think they want to stay here all summer, do they? Only Patri stays in the country because we live here."

Harry shook his head in disbelief. He did not want the image of McGonagall in a swimsuit stuck in his head. Or Filch. Disgusting. "You think you could send a couple of those my way?" he asked.

"Professors?" Helena laughed at Harry's glare. "I will. I'll have the house elves put them on your tray. It should take about twenty minutes extra, though."

"No hurry needed."

Harry had begun his vigil once more when Hermione came in, followed by Ron. The red head was looking a little dazed, which meant that Hermione had followed through on her promise on taking him to the Room of Requirement when she found him. She had already told him about what had happened out on the front lawn before heading off to find her boyfriend before he killed the his twin brothers or Ginny or even Bill, who had all been teasing him about sleeping in Harry's Head Boy room last night with Hermione.

"Just checking to see if you were still here, Harry," Hermione was saying. "Ron and I will see you at the feast tonight."

"You don't have to go," Harry began.

Hermione shook her head. "No. They're still asleep, and we can talk later, Harry. You'll sit by us, right?"

Harry nodded. "Save a couple of seats. I have the feeling that we're stuck with Hamilton for the time being."

Ron snorted. "Is he turning into a growth then?"

Hermione swatted her boyfriend on the arm before pulling on his sleeve to tug him out of the room. "We'll see you later."

"A growth?" Sirius' sleepy voice asked as the door closed.

"Hey," Harry said. "You officially awake yet?"

Sirius shrugged and carefully sat up, his one arm making it difficult. It didn't help that Hamilton was plastered to his other side. "Possibly." He looked around as Hamilton shifted into the warm spot Sirius had vacated. "My growth moved!" he exclaimed quietly.

Harry handed him a goblet. "Madam Pomfrey said that you needed to drink this as soon as you woke. Helena's sending up tea."

"Good," Sirius said after grimacing at the taste of the potion. "I'm starving."

"She's also sending up some pamphlets on vacations," Harry stated.

Sirius winked. "You that anxious to get away?"

He shrugged. "Not so much as I'd like to get away. I'm tired of reading all of the bad news, and now that old Voldie's gone, the Daily Prophet's just going to cause a big fuss. You know they'll try to come to the house or your flat. Even here. So, the sooner we can leave, the better chance we'll have of keeping our location quiet."

Sirius laughed. "You just want to see my sexy body in the sunlight, don't you." He leered at Harry, the picture marred only by the small boy sleeping next to him.

"That's right," Harry agreed. "Plus I want to throw sticks into the ocean for Padfoot to chase after."

Severus looked over his brood as they almost filled one of the round tables. Harry's friends were seated next to him, while Luna, Neville, and Orion were seated at the next table, along with several of the professors. Minister Bones was seated next to the Headmaster, along with top Aurors and France's own Minister, and the Order members that were here had scattered throughout the room.

When Poppy had examined him earlier to release him, she had said something that had startled him. James had been in the other room trying to dress Hamilton in his robes, and the other children were off and about. Severus still hadn't decided when he would tell James about this.

Poppy had told him that, from all of the scans she had run earlier, that Remus had been dead when Helena had tried to heal him. All of which meant that she hadn't healed him. Instead, she had brought him back from the dead. That was the reason why he had been 'cured' of his lycanthropy, because the wolf had died and hadn't been brought back along with Remus. It explained the mist that Severus had seen and that which Harry had described when he was recounting his battle with Voldemort.

The reason why Severus was putting off telling his husband was the fact that Helena had done the same thing to James in the Shrieking Shack. He wasn't sure of James' reaction to this, and he would prefer if they were in private before discussing such a subject. It also brought up the fact that Helena had not been Gifted with Healing like they all thought that she had been. Sirius had Gifted her with Necromancy, which was something that the Ministry would be able to imprison her for. If they ever found out. Poppy would never tell because of patient-healer confidentiality, and Severus would only tell James and Helena herself. Poppy has also erased the taint of Helena's magic that had been left behind, so that it seemed to be a miraculous recovery.

Then she had told him something even more amazing and he was still trying to process. Poppy said that the ritual that Harry and Helena had used had cleansed him of all the effects that the Dark Mark had caused. Because his body had been filled with the toxins carried by the mark, it had taken quite a long time for his body to return to normal. Because he was free of the Dark Mark, it meant that Severus was able to get pregnant.

He had not had any of the symptoms that James usually had, and hadn't gained any weight because of it. Severus himself had only experienced some tiredness, and he had believed that to be because of the war and his role in it. If he had known that it was possible for him to become pregnant, he would have taken a prophylactic.

This news he was keeping to himself as well. But only because he still couldn't wrap his mind around it.

He turned his attention back to the main table as Minister Bones sat down from her speech, the occupants of the Great Hall clapping. Dumbledore stood and raised his goblet.

"Tonight we celebrate the end of the second with Voldemort."

Severus saw most of the people here shiver at the fear such a name produced. He also noticed that most of those were parents and those not in the Defense Association.

"We mourn those who have fallen, and we take pride in those who have survived. When we planned this great feast earlier in the afternoon, I asked Minister Bones if I could be the one to present this medal to my student. He has gone above and beyond anything that we could have asked for, even if he proceeded without anyone knowing what was going on. He also has performed ably as Head Boy this year, helping those students who asked for it, as well as those who did not know how to ask for help.

"I would like to present this Order of Merlin, First Class to the boy who has defeated Lord Voldemort: Harrison James Black."

Severus smirked as he watched his eldest son slink down in his seat, face red with embarrassment. Most of the student body looked at him, with a variaty of expressions on their faces. Most were curious, although there were several of Harry's close friends that looked dubious by the announcement.

Dumbledore gestured to the bright red boy. "Harry, my boy, won't you come and accept this award?"

Harry shook his head, but Sirius, who was on a pass from Poppy, flicked him on the ear. "Just get up there and take it, Harry. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to stay here," Sirius said quietly.

Harry's face softened. He nodded and rose to the table clapping. As he rounded the table to stand beside the Headmaster, the noise grew as the crowd stood. It grew even louder as Dumbledore hung the medal around Harry's neck, flashing the gold and silver disk that was attached to a red and gold ribbon.

"Will you say a few words, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, to the approval of the crowd.

"Speech!" "Speech!" Most of the Weasleys were heard over the other people in the hall.

Harry's eyes found Severus' own, a question in them that he understood all too well. Severus nodded, and Harry stepped forward.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Harry began, turning back to Dumbledore. He turned back to the crowd. "Thank you, as well." He picked up the medal and looked at it. "I think that I'll keep this away from Hunter and Holden when they start teething - " the people laughed - "although it'll probably be pretty dusty by then." Harry sobered. "You know, this medal doesn't really belong to just me. There are a lot of people that were behind me, even if they just wanted to kick my arse. There are four men that shaped me into the person I am today, and I certainly couldn't have offed old Voldie without them.

"I'm talking about my parents, Severus and James Potter-Snape, Sirius Black, my dearest husband, and Remus Lupin."

Severus could see that Harry's eyes were bright with unshed tears, denying that he also was in the same condition. He was so proud of his boy, proud that he had become this wonderful man who knew what was right and what was wrong. He had taught Harry something that Albus had told him when the old man had asked Severus to spy for him: it is better to do what is right than what is easy. And that is what Harry did, but using all of the love that he had to offer to rid the world of Voldemort.