Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no monies.

Chapter 11

Notes: It would seem my muse is taking pity on me after the week I've had! First, I had to change out the alternator, Lovejoy coupler and spider on our little generator, then my chest deep freeze said it had had enough and decided all wires would be grounded which meant I had to empty a fridge being used as a pantry so it could be used instead, due to the previous there were two appliances to move out of the kitchen to the porch for safe keeping and be put to other uses, then I got the joy of gathering all the totes I had (most of them holding the many things my kids have made me) so I could go through them and put the keepsakes in the nonfunctional deep freeze and use the totes to hold what had been in the frig. Next came a propane delivery that couldn't happen due to rain (the road I live on washes out easily with any kind of moisture) which caused me to have to be carried on the 4wheeler to meet a friend so I could get gas for the big generator (because the one I had worked on, on Monday, had eaten through the spider already and we had no others)!

However, a bit of good…our propane driver managed to get out to deliver some propane! Yay! But we (the entire family) had to go down with shovels and picks to break up the large piles of dirt/sand/rocks in the washout so he could plow through it…worth it though. And…FINALLY, my girls got the food into the totes while hubby and I worked on changing our little generator from a coupler/spider setup to a pulley/belt setup! GAH! This week has been rough and that doesn't include my hubby's health through all this! RL can really be a bitch when it wants to! Anyway, as I said in the beginning, it would seem my muse has taken pity on me and inspired me to write another chapter. There will be one more after this but I'm not sure when it'll be written/posted.

Well, enough of my ramblings about real life, now onto the story! :) Hope you lovely readers enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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Amelia called the top Unspeakables together so a portal could be opened to the Room of Lost Things and the Vanishing Cabinet could be brought through. No one knew, outside of the small group, that this could be done. It had taken them almost a decade to perfect the spell and although it wasn't needed often, at a time like this, the long hours and exhaustive trials were well worth it.

After levitating the Cabinet into the heavily warded room, the small group set to work tweaking the wards. The chosen room could hold up to three hundred and fifty people comfortably and five hundred shoulder-to-shoulder with wards to automatically expand it further if needed. Amelia would rather have too much room than not enough. Two Unspeakables went to another, much smaller room, to prepare it to receive any animals that may come through. She was hoping Nagini would make an appearance but wanted to be prepared for any others that might tag along.

Amelia made sure the strongest Anti-Apparition charm and Anti-Disapparition jinx was in place. Other wards placed were a silencing spell, magic dampening, animagus repression and one that they created on the spot that would summon any wands in the vicinity. Many may underestimate Snake-face and his followers but she wouldn't. They really only had one chance to get this right and she wouldn't take any chances that it could fail. Amelia knew the despot was powerful but she also knew the element of surprise was on their side, so why not take full advantage of it while they had it?

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When Severus returned to the school he sent a message to the trio for a meeting in the RoR after lunch. He was looking forward to the end of all this mess and he knew the three of them were too. He wasn't sure if he should be relieved just yet or not. If this worked then it would put a stop to the death and destruction. However, if it failed, well…he really didn't want to think any more on that train of thought than necessary.

After lunch the small group made their way to the Room of Requirement. Harry and Hermione reached it before the two Slytherins, as usual. After conjuring a comfortable sitting room, they sat to wait patiently for Severus and Draco to join them.

"What do you think he has to tell us?" Harry asked Hermione after calling Dobby to bring tea and biscuits.

"Hopefully that Madam Bones has taken over and we no longer have to worry about it." Hermione responded just as the door opened and in walked her Dragon and Professor.

"You would be correct, Ms. Granger." Severus said, hearing her comment. "Also, Amelia would like for all of us to leave the Cabinet alone. She has assumed control and responsibility of the cursed thing." Severus explained.

"How is she going to do it, sir?" Harry perked up at hearing they needn't worry about it any longer.

"Well, Mr. Potter, she sat me down and told me all her plans over tea." Severus snarked with a raised brow.

Harry grinned sheepishly before he said, "Well, she might have." Causing Hermione and Draco to snicker at him.

"She did not share such information with me and I did not ask. I, like you three, am just glad she has the means and authority to insure the situation is handled properly." Severus replied.

The three students sighed in relief and couldn't help but be a bit hopeful that the living nightmare that was Voldemort and his followers and sympathizers would end very soon; six years was too long as it was for such madness to consume their world.

Once Severus took his leave, Harry followed shortly after to give Hermione and Draco some alone time.

Hermione flopped down beside Draco on the couch, breathing a sigh of relief, and leaned into his side as his arm rested on her shoulders, pulling her close.

"Looks like we may not have to hide much longer, my Dragon." Hermione stated as she let Snape's words sink in. Draco tilted his head up and breathed deeply.

"Very true and I am looking forward to it too." Draco said.

"Wait, what about your parents?" Hermione queried.

"What about them?" Draco already knew his parents wouldn't approve of his dating the Gryffindor Princess no matter how powerful or intelligent she was. She would always be below them. He was also well aware that he would be disinherited if his sire found out before he would be sentenced to Azkaban, for Draco had no doubt he would be. He knew he would walk away from the Malfoy monies, titles and societal status to be with Hermione in a heartbeat, even knowing it would take some time for him to adjust; she was worth so much more than any of those things.

"Dragon…they'll be sent to Azkaban or given the Kiss. What will you do?" Hermione's voice was full of concern. It warmed Draco's heart to hear her worry about him.

"Nothing." Draco answered. "They chose their paths and will have to answer for those decisions."

"Won't you miss them? Well, maybe not your father but what of your mother?" Hermione needed to know he would be okay with what happened to them.

"Like I said, they made their decisions and my mother, well, her refusal to interfere with my sire's "teachings" and "punishments" have never endeared her to me. She had many chances to step up and protect me from the bastard but turned a blind eye instead. I love them, they are my parents, but I really don't like them. As for missing them, I will a bit, I suppose but you have to remember that my family isn't like yours. There wasn't much affection showed and the only reason we ever were together in the same room was to show the 'Malfoy family' to their visitors." Draco explained to his bookworm.

"Oh, Draco, I'm so sorry." Hermione told him.

"Why?" Draco cocked a brow at her. "Because they will pay for their crimes? That they will reap what their decisions have sown? Don't worry about me, I'll be just fine. Not to mention I have you and when Madam Bones is done dealing with them all and my father is in Azkaban, I will become Head of House for the Malfoy line. There will be nothing either of them can do to me. It is one of the reasons I knew we had to keep our relationship secret. My sire will need to be convicted and sentenced so magic will strip him of his titles, therefore, his control over me." Draco said as he kissed her forehead gently.

"Yes, you're right, but I just hate it for you. No one should feel so indifferent towards their parents. It's a shame, really." Hermione told him with sadness heavy in her voice. She really hated that Draco didn't have the right kind of relationship with those who brought him into the world.

"Don't worry about it, Hermione. Even if they could still try to control me, as soon as I became seventeen, their control would have no sway over me. I would still be with you and live my life how I want to, not what they or anyone dictates." Draco shared.

"You'd risk disinheritance and disowning to be with me?" Hermione asked, shocked.

"Absolutely, within the span of a breath! You are worth walking away from everything if that was what it took to be with you. I care deeply for you, Hermione and I would do anything for you." Draco answered her, locking eyes with her so she could see the truth.

Hermione couldn't believe he would do that for her! She was blown away. When she searched his eyes, she knew he was speaking from his heart and meant every word. Instead of saying anything, she leaned towards him and snogged him sweetly as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

They spent the next few hours before dinner holding each other and snogging here and there, neither taking it any further. It was a time to just enjoy being together with the knowledge that the dark lord's reign of terror was close to an end.

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As Harry was making his way back to his common room he noticed the Headmaster walking towards him. Not wanting to speak to the wizard at the moment, Harry made a detour. He needed to speak with Snape before he met with Dumbledore. He needed to know what he should tell the headmaster and what to leave out.

Once at his Professor's door, he knocked.

"Enter." Snape's baritone answered.

"Sir, do you have a moment?" Harry asked as soon as he closed the door.

When Severus looked up, he noticed Harry's concerned expression and promptly warded his room. "What is it, Potter?"

"I think Dumbledore wants to speak with me, sir. I saw him coming towards me and I changed directions to come here. I need to know what I can and can't tell him when he does approach me." Harry explained.

"Hmm, wait one moment." Severus answered before standing and leaving the room. A few minutes later he returned. "Madam Bones requests that you avoid being alone with Albus until she uses the Cabinet."

"How long will that be, sir? I can't avoid him for long." Harry asked.

"I know but, since it's the weekend, you should have no problem being scarce. I am to report to the dark lord that the Cabinet will operational come Monday." Severus shared with the teen.

Harry nodded his head with hope shining in his eyes.

"Yes, Mr. Potter, hopefully in a few days' time this whole thing will be over." Severus commented.

"Thank you, Professor. I will make sure to stay out of sight until then." Harry assured his Professor.

"Very well. Was there anything else?" Severus asked, making sure there was nothing else on the boy's mind.

"No, sir." Harry replied as he turned to leave the office as he pulled the Marauder's Map out of his pocket and checked where the Headmaster was at the moment. When he saw the way was clear, he left and made a beeline to Gryffindor Tower.

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As told, Severus reported to Voldemort that Draco would have the Cabinet finished by Monday. He also shared that Draco had improved the Cabinet by allowing a doorway to stay open so long as both Cabinets doors were open at the same time, instead of allowing only a few to come through. When questioned about this improvement, Severus explained that there had been a limiting spell on the Cabinet before but Draco had not reapplied said spell when repairing it to give his master the ability to bring as many as he pleased through to enjoy the fall of Dumbledore and the invasion of Hogwarts. A true celebration could be had by all he deemed worthy.

"Very good SSSeverusss, young Draco hasss done well. We will take the ssschool on Monday when the boy opensss the way and, at lassst, no one will ssstand in our way!" Voldemort crowed to the cheers of those gathered around him. Severus bowed his head after seeing the calculating look in Riddle's eyes and left; looking forward to the madman's end.

Once back at Hogwarts, Severus flooed Amelia to let her know the news had been delivered. She assured him they were ready and all would go according to plan.

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Come Monday, Harry couldn't avoid the Headmaster any longer if he wanted to eat. As he took his seat next to Hermione, he kept his attention to those around him, not looking once at any of the professors. When the Headmaster called him to the Head table towards the end of breakfast, Harry hoped Amelia would have taken care of Moldy before his meeting would happen.

"Harry, come by my office after dinner tonight." Dumbledore commanded of him.

"Of course, headmaster." Harry responded.

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Amelia Bones was actually looking forward to what was about to happen. Severus Snape had informed the megalomaniac that the Cabinet would be done by today and now it was time for them to spring the trap. The room with the Cabinet was made to look like the one at Hogwarts so no suspicions could arise.

It was just after lunch when the door of the Cabinet at the DoM was opened, signaling on the other side that it was clear to come through. Amelia had to wait another thirty minutes before DeathEaters started to come through. She was beyond happy she had the wards up she had, especially the silencing spell, and had expanded it as much as they had. No one could alert those behind them of the trap and all had room to walk away to make room without thinking.

As she watched, through a spelled wall, the stream of DeathEaters coming through, it would seem that Snape had been correct. Apparently Riddle's arrogance was every bit as much as Severus had led her to believe and the bastard had taken advantage of the "improvement" and was allowing quite a few of his followers to enjoy the overthrow. She smirked slightly at the stunned looks when their wands went flying out of their hands and they couldn't voice a warning to anyone. As the flow of DeathEaters started to slow, Amelia was all too pleased to see Tom Riddle himself come through with a very large snake by his side. She sent a message to the Aurors waiting around Borgin & Burke to shut the doors and head to Malfoy Manor to apprehend the remaining DeathEaters. A loyal and trusted curse breaker was there to take down the wards on the Manor but not before the others were safely in the DoM's room so as to not alert anyone of the breach.

Just as Nagini cleared the Cabinet, she disappeared to the smaller room. Voldemort let out a silenced scream when this happened and started trying to cast wandless magic. However, he had never taken the time to perfect the art so he was failing spectacularly, not to mention having his magic hindered by the wards. Amelia watched as the proclaimed "Dark Lord" floundered angrily, trying to take his frustrations out on those around him.

In the small room Nagini had been sent, two Unspeakables were waiting. When the snake appeared, they released several mice to entice the last Horcrux to lower her shield to eat. The Unspeakables had made sure the snake couldn't see or sense them in the room with her, knowing her venom was quite deadly and she could strike extremely quickly for her size. After about ten minutes, Nagini finally lowered her shield so she could consume the fat morsels scurrying around the room. As soon as this happened, one of the Unspeakables cast Fiendfyre before both stepped out and sealed the room. When enough time had passed, meaning the wards told them the fire was out, they stepped back in to check the status of the snake and found a charred body coiled quite small for such a large snake in the middle of the room.

Sending their boss the all clear, Amelia signaled the rest of the group to action. The floor of the warded room was made to disappear, dropping anyone or anything standing upon it to the cells below. This could be done one at a time or all at once or in whatever order needed. After all the tiles were gone but one, the floor resealed leaving Voldemort alone. It was then that the door opened and four Unspeakables as well as Amelia stepped into the room to take down the being responsible for so much death and destruction over two decades.

Without his Horcruxes, Tom Marvolo Riddle, a.k.a. Lord Voldemort, was defeated quickly bringing peace finally to the Wizarding world. The Aurors guarding the cells below the Cabinet room watched as those marked with the Dark Mark writhed on the floor as their Marks slowly faded to leave pink skin behind. Fortunately, the only reason to be in these cells was due to coming through the Cabinet, proving allegiance. Amelia had already asked Severus Snape, Potions Master extraordinaire, to brew up a few batches of Veritaserum for use in the upcoming trials. Through this method, no mistakes would be made, no false claims of Imperious control and any who thought they had gotten lucky would soon learn they had not.

When the dust had finally settled, Amelia sent a patronus to Severus letting him know that it was over.

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It was just before dinner when Severus sent a message through the coin. When he finally made it to the RoR, he was happy to inform his little trio that Voldemort was no longer. When Hermione and Harry had asked at the same time if he was sure, Severus and Draco both rolled their sleeves up to show a bare forearm with a pink patch of skin where the Dark Mark had been.

Hermione had squealed and rushed to her Dragon to hug him tightly; ecstatic that he wouldn't have to bear the horrible Mark any longer. When she commented about not needing the tattoo artist after all, Draco gave her a smirk and a wink.

Harry walked up to Severus and held his hand out. Severus looked at the offered hand and sighed dramatically before clasping it with a small smirk.

"Are you going to tell the headmaster, sir?" Harry asked.

"I will. You should still show up to the meeting though, although I feel there won't be much to discuss now." Severus smirked.

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After leaving the RoR, Severus went straight to Dumbledore's office. There was much to tell the old man. Not only about the destruction of Voldemort and the Horcruxes but also that he would only be teaching Potions for one more year before he resigned. The most beautiful part would be when the Headmaster tried to "convince" or "force" Severus to stay through the Vow he took so long ago. When Voldemort had died so had the Unbreakable Vow given to a manipulative old man on a windy hilltop.

Severus' walk had a bit of a lighter step as he headed towards the gargoyle. He had used the time since Riddle's death to realize that Dumbledore had done more than just a vow with him. He had, apparently, also had layered a few geas on the Potions Master. Once the Vow had been broken and the Dark Mark left his skin, Severus had felt the others and had gone into deep meditation to lift them. The old man had been very thorough it seemed. Severus now knew that his anger and hatred towards Harry Potter had been due to Dumbledore, as well as refusing to truly trust anyone. Then there was the compulsion to belittle every house but Slytherin, to be what he absolutely hated, a bully. But Severus' "favorite" was that he would focus so much on losing Lily that he would never attempt to make another connection in such a way.

Oh yes, Albus Dumbledore was losing Severus as a professor in a year's time. The only reason he wouldn't quit at the end of the current year was due to two people…Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. HE wanted to be the one to teach them their final year. He wanted to make sure they received the best Potions education they could. It wouldn't be fair to them to have anyone else because Severus knew Albus would most likely ask Horace Slughorn to fill in rather than find someone qualified.

Severus schooled his face as he reached the Headmaster's office door.

"Severus, my boy, what can I do for you? Lemon drop?" Albus asked.

"No thank you. I wanted to inform you that Voldemort has been taken care of." Severus stated.

The twinkle in Albus' eyes dimmed a bit and his face turned serious. "I am afraid you have been misinformed, my boy. Voldemort cannot be defeated that easily."

"I have not been misinformed, Albus. Amelia Bones, herself, sent a patronus to me a few hours ago telling me that it was done." Severus explained with a stoic face and steady voice.

"Ah, Amelia, a good witch. But I'm afraid it must Harry that defeats Voldemort, no one else can no matter what position they hold." Dumbledore informed his Potions Master.

"Now, you see, that is where you are wrong, Albus; her and her Unspeakables did, indeed, defeat the dark lord and incarcerate a large number of his DeathEaters." Severus corrected.

"Severus, there is something about Tom you do not know…" Albus started but was interrupted.

"You mean his Horcruxes?" Severus asked nonchalantly. When Dumbledore's eyebrows disappeared into this hair, Severus continued, "Yes, I know of them and they have been dealt with."

"How do you know they were all destroyed, Severus? No one knows exactly how many Tom made." Albus countered.

"Actually, we do and it was seven. Although I do not know if Voldemort realized he made Harry one or not. I don't think so or he wouldn't have been so keen to kill the boy. However, all seven have been dealt with." Severus answered, waiting for Dumbledore to admit he knew Harry was one.

"But Severus, there is no way to get a Horcrux out of a living being without that being dying." Albus skirted.

"You are talking about the Horcrux that was in Potter's scar? Oh yes, Albus, I know of that one and there is a way. You just have to know who to go to." Severus responded, knowing that was as close to admission the old man would give him and enjoying knowing something the Headmaster did not.

"I see. Yes, well, that is good then. Was there anything else?" the Headmaster asked curtly.

"Just one, I am giving you official notification of my resignation after next year. I will finish this school year out and teach for one more then I will be done." Severus told him.

Dumbledore took a few moments to just stare at his former spy and digest what he had just learned; if it was really true then he had no need for a spy any longer, however, that didn't mean he would allow Severus to just walk away. He chose to remind Severus of his vow. "Is that really wise, Severus? What would you do if you do not teach? Don't you think your time and talents are better spent here at Hogwarts?"

Severus raised a brow at his current employer, "There is much I want to do and none of it has to do with teaching."

"I see. However, I truly feel you should stay on here at Hogwarts. Surely you haven't forgotten your vow, have you Severus?" Albus asked.

"The vow is no more, Albus. You no longer have any control over what I do or don't do. With the dark lord's final demise, the Dark Mark and your Vow have left me. Magic seems to think my servitude to you is finished." Severus explained with a small smile.

"The Dark Mark is gone?" the Headmaster asked, dumbfounded.

Severus rolled up his sleeve and showed his now bare arm. One had to look very hard to see an outline that was continually getting lighter by the minute.

Dumbledore frowned before he said, "I suppose congratulations are in order. We'll speak of your tenure next year. Good day, Severus."

Dumbledore sat at his desk for a time before he went and floo called Amelia Bones to find out if what Severus had said was true.

After a fifteen minute conversation, Albus had to accept that the wizarding world was no longer in danger from Tom Riddle. Although not all of his followers were in custody, Madam Bones had things well in hand. Actually, she had specifically told Albus to stay out of it; it was now a matter for the DMLE. As the Headmaster sat at his desk contemplating the future, he remembered that he had asked Harry to come to his office after dinner. Well, he sighed, that meeting was no longer needed, so he sent a note to Harry letting him know that it wasn't necessary to come by.

The rest of the night was spent contemplating what the future would now hold. He no longer had to prepare for war; he no longer had to do things with the 'Greater Good' in mind. After thinking for several hours, Albus Dumbledore came to a conclusion. He would retire; there was nothing left for him to do. He would approach Minerva about taking his place. He thought she would do well as Headmistress. He would make it a term in his resignation to the Board of Governors to ensure she was given the opportunity to prove herself capable of running the school.

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