A/N: (peaks out from behind a desk) Do you all hate me now? My condolences to those of you hoping for a reunited Golden Trio. Things will be bleak for a time…but I promise things will get better soon!

Chapter 27- Saying Goodbye

It requires more courage to suffer than to die.- Napoleon Bonaparte

The next day dawned bright and sunny, a bitter mockery of the mood permeating the 12. Severus and Samantha sat at the kitchen table, eating some toast and fruit. Harry stood rigidly at the window, slowly sipping a cup of coffee, dressed in some of Draco's black trousers and an open grey button-down over a white t-shirt.

"Are you sure you're not hungry, James?" asked Samantha. Harry shook his head, still staring out of the window. She sighed quietly and leaned back in her chair. Severus stood with his coffee in hand.

"I'm going to the library to read for a while," he said softly. His shoes echoed quietly as he walked out of the room and down the hall. Samantha jumped when a shining white bear shot through the wall towards her. She touched her wand to it and unrolled the parchment that shot out. She read it silently as Harry continued to look out the window.

"Who is it from, Mum?" asked Harry. Samantha refolded the parchment and set it on the table.

"Molly," she said. "The funerals will be at the Burrow on Tuesday at 10." Harry took a sip of coffee.

"Okay," said Harry. They both turned at the sound of the front door opening. Draco walked into the room and stopped abruptly at the sight of Harry and Samantha's drawn faces. Samantha jumped up immediately and hugged him tightly.

"Hi," he said hesitantly when Samantha pulled away, brushing tears from her eyes. "Uh, is this a bad time? I can come back later and report if you want." Harry shook his head.

"No, we can do it now," he said as he sat down at the table. Severus appeared in the doorway and sighed in relief. He walked over and ruffled Draco's hair, resting a thin hand on Draco's neck while Samantha sniffed loudly. Severus steered him the seat across from Harry, taking the head seat for himself. Samantha started moving around the kitchen.

"Are you hungry, love?" she asked Draco. "I can fix you some breakfast if you want.

"Just some toast, if it's not too much trouble," said Draco. "I didn't eat yet, but I'm not all that hungry this morning." Samantha toasted some bread and went to the cupboard to get some butter and jam, setting them in front of Draco with a knife. She ran her hand through his hair as he buttered and spread some of the strawberry jam on his bread. Harry levitated the coffee pot off the stove and moved it to the table. He poured himself another cup. They sat silently as Draco ate.

"We lost a few of the new recruits to injuries," said Draco as he finished his first piece of toast. "Most of the Death Eaters that returned from town were pretty banged up. A few of them were cut to bits from Slicing hexes."

"Hm," said Severus as he frowned. "We usually don't use such lethal hexes in battle. Maybe they got caught in the crossfire."

"Yeah," said Harry. "The only slicing hexes I saw from Order members were from Ron when –" he looked down and cleared his throat. "From Ron when Hermione died." Draco choked on his toast. He quickly took a drink of Harry's coffee and swallowed thickly.

"What?" gasped Draco. He looked to Samantha and Severus, who nodded. He pushed his plate away and sat in completely shock, the blood draining from his face.

"We lost Ron, too," said Harry softly. Draco put his head in his hands, leaning his elbows on his knees.

"It is not your fault, Draco," said Severus firmly. Draco shook his head back and forth. Severus stood and walked around the table. He pulled Draco's chair away from the table and spun it towards him. Kneeling down, he lifted Draco's head from his hands, looking directly into his steel-grey eyes.

"This is not your fault, do you understand me?" said Severus softly. "You are not God. You did your best."

"But it wasn't enough," whispered Draco. "What good does it do for me to do any of this if people still die anyway?"

"Elias, think of how many people would have died had we not known anything?" said Samantha. "How could you have prevented what happened in town? All three of us were right there and couldn't do anything to stop it, no matter how hard we tried."

Severus wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and squeezed gently. "You must not blame yourself. You did nothing wrong. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise." Draco nodded slowly as Severus lowered his hand. Severus looked to the table as he stood back up and lifted the folded piece of parchment.

"The funerals are Tuesday," said Harry as Severus flicked open the note and read. He closed it and placed it back on the table, sighing.

"What did Voldemort say in the meeting after the battle?" asked Severus.

"Well, obviously he was furious over no one being in town," said Draco. "Aunt Bella told him that when she arrived, no one was out on the streets." Harry smirked slightly.

"I hit her with a stunner as soon as she turned around," he said. "She was the first one down." Draco smiled at him.

"Nice," said Draco. He looked back to Severus. "The Dark Lord went into a fury, walking around the circle, doing his Legilimency scan. He got to me, but I kept him from seeing anything important. He held it longer on Crabbe and Goyle before he Crucioed them. Well, Crucioed them more than everyone else, that is. From what I gather from the Dark Lord's rantings afterward, they were in the Hog's Head drunk a couple of days before the attack and let some details slip. "

"Their fathers had the same problem with keeping their mouths shut," said Severus. "But in this case, we are extremely fortunate that it works to our advantage." Draco sighed.

"That's everything that happened after we left," he said tiredly. Harry nodded.

"Good job, bro," he said. "Are you free to hang out here for a bit?" Draco smiled a little.

"Yeah, I've got all day," he said as he got up and followed Harry towards the door. He pulled Harry's shirt away from his body and raised an eyebrow. "Thieving clothes, are we?"

"Uh," said Harry, looking down at his clothes. Draco laughed at him.

"You can have whatever you want," said Draco. "In fact, we can go and sort through all that stuff. What I don't need should fit you." The boys left the room. Samantha and Severus heard Harry's laughter travel down the stairwell.

"I'm glad he came by," said Severus softly. "It'll be good for both of them in dealing with this." Samantha nodded and sipped her tea.

"I'm just glad the Dark Lord doesn't suspect Draco of anything," she said. "That would have been a nightmare, having to deal with that on top of everything else."

"Indeed," said Severus. They sat in comfortable silence, every now and then hearing the boys laugh loudly upstairs.

Draco came back to the 12 on Tuesday morning, dressed in black dress robes. Harry met him at the door in similar attire as Severus and Samantha were coming down the stairs.

"Good morning, boys," said Samantha. She kissed them both on the cheek. "Glamours on, if you please, gentlemen." Three wands rose in sync. Severus and Harry's hair and eyes lightened, while Draco's darkened. Samantha looked between them and smiled sadly.

"All of you are much more handsome as your normal selves," she said. Severus opened the door and waved them out.

"We do what is necessary, my dear Samantha," said Severus. They made their way quickly to the park. Harry offered Draco his arm and the four of them disapparated to the Burrow. They arrived half a mile from the house and walked slowly down the road. As they got nearer, they could see Molly standing at the door, looking strange dressed in all black, while Arthur shook Remus's hand and pointed him to the garden. He saw the four of them and walked out to meet them, taking Severus's proffered hand.

"I'm glad you all could make it," said Arthur as he released Severus's hand. Samantha gave him a hug.

"Wouldn't miss it, Arthur," she said softly as she pulled away. Harry held out his hand but Arthur grabbed him and hugged him tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Weasley," said Harry shakily. Arthur sniffed loudly, pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket. He nodded towards Molly as he wiped his nose.

"You'd better go say hello," said Arthur with a watery smile. "She's been worried sick about you. I know Ginny wants to see you. She should be inside." Harry nodded and walked slowly towards Molly. She ran out to Harry, hugging him and sobbing. Arthur turned to Draco, who hung his head.

"I'm so incredibly sorry, sir," said Draco softly. Arthur put a hand on his shoulder, causing Draco to look up at him hesitantly.

"You just keep doing what you're doing," said Arthur firmly. "I know you never got on with Ron or Hermione." Draco looked to the ground. "But, I also know you never meant for them to be hurt. The only thing you could do wrong now would be to quit. They would never forgive you if you stopped fighting." He turned away and walked towards the garden. Severus, Samantha and Draco followed him, sitting near the back.

A few minutes later, they saw Harry walk to the front, holding Ginny's hand. Samantha was sitting quietly when a younger woman walked up to her. She wore her dark brown hair loose, the strands stirring gently in the breeze.

"Sam?" she said. Samantha looked up and got to her feet quickly.

"Rachel?" whispered Samantha. She wrapped her arms around the young woman tightly. "What in the world are you doing here?"

"Remus told me about the attack," said Rachel softly. "I was helping to notify the store owners before you guys got there with Hestia." She looked behind Samantha to where Severus and Draco were eyeing her carefully. "You might want to introduce me before your friends call the Ministry on me." Samantha grinned.

"Rachel, this is my fiancée," said Samantha. Rachel smirked and shook Severus's hand as Samantha turned to Severus. "This is my cousin, Rachel Palmer."

"If this is who I think it is, it's about bloody time," said Rachel. Severus smiled at her.

"That's what I thought when I asked her," he said. Draco stood up, looking strangely at Rachel as he shook her hand.

"I think I've seen you before," he said slowly. "I bought some robes in a shop off the high road last summer. I think you were working that day."

"Yeah," answered Rachel, smiling. "Yeah, I remember you now. Lancaster, wasn't it?"

Draco smiled sadly at her. "Yes, but I met you before then." He whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened. She looked at Draco with awe and admiration as he met her gaze. She motioned to the empty seat beside him, questioningly. He waved his hand, retaking his seat and speaking to her quietly. Samantha leaned over to Severus.

"She's the daughter of our cousin Camille," she said quietly. "She's the same age as Elias and James, but she grew up in France. Camille's husband Elliott works in the Wizengamot Offices in the French Ministry. I spend most Christmases with my Aunt Janice and Uncle Frank, so Camille and Elliott would come and visit for a few days with Rachel. She sent me an owl back in April saying that since she was graduating early from Beauxbatons, Aunt Janice offered her a job working at Uncle Frank's shop in Hogsmeade as a robe designer. Apparently, she took it and is living there now. I'm sure Camille and Elliott are worrying themselves into an early grave over her being here and being on her own, so to speak, but apparently Remus is looking out for her." Severus nodded and glanced at the young woman quickly.

Everyone quieted when the elderly wizard stepped up to the podium where a few months before he married Bill and Fleur. He was flanked by two coffins as he began the ceremony. The Grangers sat stoically in the front row alongside Molly and Arthur. Bill and Fleur were next to Arthur, along with the twins, Harry and Ginny. Charlie sat next to Ginny, an arm around her shaking shoulders.

The service was short and simple. After the ceremony, Bill stood up, along with Fred, George and Charlie. They each pointed their wands at the two coffins, levitating them off the ground and proceeding to the grove near the makeshift Quidditch pitch. The crowd followed solemnly behind the families. The boys laid the coffins gently into two large holes that had been dug earlier, whispering the spell to cover them with earth. The mourners filed by the families, expressing their condolences. Samantha and Severus shook hands with the Weasleys and the Grangers, waiting for Harry and Draco as the assembly thinned. Draco shook hands with Harry after giving Ginny a hug. Harry said something to him, motioning over to Severus. Draco nodded and came back over to where they were standing.

"He's going to stay for a while," said Draco quietly. "Said Ginny asked him to stay for lunch." Severus looked back at Harry and nodded. He flashed his wrist at him, and Harry did the same, nodding his head. Harry put his arm around Ginny and walked back toward the house.

"Come on," said Severus. "Let's go home." He grasped Samantha's hand as they started down the road to get past the protective wards. Draco said goodbye to Rachel and hurried to meet up with them.

"I'm going back to the apartment," said Draco as they were about to apparate. "I've been gone a lot the past few days. If anyone's come by, there'll be awkward questions."

"Drop by if you need anything," said Severus quietly. "I know James will want to see you." Draco gave him a grin.

"I will, Da-Severus" said Draco. He shook his head. "Almost called you 'Dad' there for a second." He grinned at Severus's slightly pale face as he gave Samantha a kiss on the cheek.

"Take care of yourself, love," she said as he pulled away. She brushed his hair back gently as she cradled his face in her hand. "Call us if you need us."

"I will, Mum," said Draco softly. He turned and disapparated with a snap of his cloak. Severus rubbed his hands over his face.

"It's going to take me a while to get used to this being-a-parental-figure thing," he muttered. Samantha smiled. She turned and disapparated to the park. Severus appeared next to her and they walked back to the house. Severus opened the door, ushering Samantha inside. He felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck. He turned around quickly, looking up and down the street but he didn't see anything. He shook his head as he walked into the house and shut the door. Samantha looked at him from the middle of the staircase.

"Are you hungry?" she asked. "I can fix you something after I change clothes if you want." Severus shook his head.

"No, I'm not hungry," he said. He removed his heavy cloak, hanging it on the rack near the door. He walked down the hall into the library and sat heavily in the window chair, as they had taken to calling it. He closed his eyes, rubbing his temples with his fingers and resting his elbows on the arm of the chair.

Albus, what do I do now? thought Severus. He dropped his hands and laid his head on the back of the chair, his eyes still closed.

He could still see Hermione lying on the ground, soaked in her own blood. The red liquid ran so fast over his hands, which were powerless to stop it from flowing. He shuddered, trying to shake the vision from his mind. Instead of disappearing, the vision shifted. He saw Draco convulsing under the Crucio curse at the meeting where Narcissa had been killed, the look in his eyes when Voldemort told him that Severus had sworn the Vow. His head filled with the boy's screams of terror and pain. Severus's chest tightened as the vision shifted one last time. Harry lay on the ground, his face staring blankly up at him, clearly dead. Severus looked away only to see Draco reaching up for him, his other hand covered in blood pouring from his chest. He spun away from them to see Samantha fall to the ground. Then he heard the evil laughter that had always made his skin crawl. Red eyes bore down on him, slanted slightly in maniacal laughter…

Severus jumped awake, drawing his wand and panting.

"Severus?" said a soft voice. Severus turned and saw Samantha standing in the doorway. She frowned at him. "Are you okay?" Severus blew out a breath, running a hand through his hair.

"Yes," he said as he leaned back in the chair. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a nightmare." He glanced at the window and was shocked to see the stars coming out in the twilight. "How long was I asleep? What time is it?"

"It's five," said Samantha. "I was just about to call you for –" She paused as her bracelet glowed a deep red. "James," she said into her wrist.

"Hi Mum," said Harry's voice. "Just wanted to let you know I'm on my way home."

"Alright, James," she said. "We'll see you in a bit." She lowered her hand. "As I was saying, I was just about to see if you wanted some supper. You missed lunch and I thought you might be –" She frowned as Severus's bracelet glowed red. Severus sat up and spoke into his wrist.

"James, what's wrong?" asked Severus softly.

"Are you outside?" asked Harry. Samantha walked silently over to Severus, clinging tightly to the back of the chair.

"No, I'm here in the house," said Severus. "Where are you?"

"I'm in the park, but there's someone in a cloak snooping around right outside the Square, and it's not either of you," said Harry. Samantha's face paled to a sickly white. Severus jumped up and began to walk out of the room, with Samantha right on his heels.

"Can you tell who it is?" said Severus. There were a few seconds pause.

"Damn it," said Harry softly. "It's Wormtail. How in the hell did he get here?" Samantha gasped sharply.

"Whatever you do, do NOT alert him to your presence," said Severus in a low tone. "I'm coming to you disillusioned. Disillusion yourself and keep him in sight." Severus ran upstairs and yanked open his bedside table. He pulled out his sheath and dagger, slipping it quickly over his robes. He ran back down the stairs as Samantha stood at the foot of the stairs, clutching the rail.

"We'll be back shortly, Sam," said Severus as he tapped his head with his wand. He pulled the front door open and ran out. He leapt down the front stairs, kneeling to hit his shoes with a Cushioning charm. His eyes darted back and forth as he neared the park. He lifted his wrist.

"James," he whispered. He crept to the fence surrounding the Square.

"He's moving towards the gate," said Harry softly. "I'm about 10 meters behind him."

"I'm at the fence," said Severus softly. "No spells. We don't want him to know there are wizards about." He glanced behind him and back to the gate, shivering in the cold. He stilled when a cloaked figure shuffled slowly out of the park. The figure walked with a limp, his left foot dragging slight on the ground. Severus saw a flash of his silver hand as Pettigrew looked up and down the street. Severus stepped closer, keeping one eye on him while glancing around for Harry. He spotted him near a tree, the blue outline barely visible behind some tall bushes. Pettigrew growled slightly.

"Forget this," he muttered. He turned and disapparated. Severus called Harry's bracelet.

"James?" whispered Severus as he searched for any other unwanted visitors.

"I see you," said Harry softly.

"Keep your charm on," said Severus. "Come to me as quietly and swiftly as you can."

"Got it," said Harry. Severus waited as Harry's blue form crept towards him. Severus pushed him gently towards the 12, keeping a hand on Harry's back while his sharp eyes darted around them. They made it to the house with no further interference. Harry opened the door and held it for Severus. He slipped in quickly and shut the door behind him, locking it securely. Harry tapped his head with his wand as Severus cancelled his own charm. Samantha grabbed Harry's shoulders.

"Are you okay?" she cried. She held his head up and looked him over thoroughly. "I was so scared and Severus just ran out the door and --"

"Samantha, let the boy go. He's fine," said Severus as he pried her hands off Harry. He kissed her and brought her close. "I'm sorry for just leaving, Sam." She nodded and pulled away from him to look at his face.

"Just don't do it again," she said, poking his chest with her finger. Harry took off his cloak and hung it on the rack with Severus's. He unbuttoned the first couple of buttons on his robes as he climbed the stairs.

"I'm going to change clothes," said Harry. He slowly ascended the stairs. Severus walked wearily towards the kitchen. He set a pot of coffee on to brew and took a seat at the table.

"It was Pettigrew in the Square," said Severus. He looked to Samantha standing in the doorway. "I don't know if he was just looking around or if he was sent. Either way, we need to let Draco know as soon as we can."

"But even if Pettigrew figured out where we were, he couldn't get in," said Samantha. "Albus didn't choose anyone else as secondary Keeper, did he?"

"Not to my knowledge," said Severus. "But that really doesn't count for much. Albus could be highly secretive when he set his mind to it."

"Yeah, no kidding," muttered Samantha. She poured a cup of coffee for Severus, setting it on the table beside his elbow. She rubbed his back softly. "We'll be alright. We just have to be more careful."

"I'm more worried about Draco at this point," said Severus. He exhaled loudly. "He'll have to be disillusioned from now on when he comes over. No one can be spotted coming to the house." Harry walked into the kitchen, dressed in loose fitting black clothes. He sniffed the air and smiled.

"I love the smell of coffee," said Harry. He walked over to the stove and poured a cup. He lifted it to his face, inhaling the smell before taking a small sip. He swallowed, smacking his lips, and looked back down into the cup. "You make this, Dad?"

Severus raised an eyebrow at him as Samantha chuckled silently. Harry shrugged.

"It's a lot stronger is all," he said. He took another drink and sat across from Severus. He rubbed his eyes underneath his glasses and sighed. "It's been a long day."

"Yes, it has been," said Severus. Samantha sat next to Severus as he picked an apple out of the bowl on the table.

"How is Ginny?" asked Samantha. Harry shook his head sadly.

"She's a mess, of course," said Harry. He held his cup in both hands. "She and Ron have always been really close, and Hermione was as good as her sister, especially since they moved back to the Burrow." He ran a hand through his hair. "I wanted to ask to you both about maybe writing to her more often, especially in the upcoming weeks."

"Hm," said Severus. He swallowed a mouthful of apple and thought a moment. "Your owl is very visible. You would have to be cautious as to what you wrote and make sure to send Hedwig out at random times, so that anyone watching wouldn't be able to predict when she'll be on a flight."

"Or you could ask Molly or Arthur to teach her the Patronus Messaging Charm," said Samantha. "That way you wouldn't have to write everything in code."

"I think for now, we'll stick to owls," said Harry. "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley aren't too thrilled with me telling her what the Order has been up to since school ended. I think I'll wait on the Charm until things settle down a bit." He glanced up at the clock. "I'm not really that hungry, so I'll be in my room for the night." He stood up, taking his coffee with him. He gave Samantha a kiss on the cheek and walked out of the kitchen.