Author's note: Please be aware that I own ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, everything, except my character ocs' I place in here, belongs to the wonderful Lady J.K. Rowling. This is a Sirius Black/OC Fan-fiction.

Welcome back readers! I hope you enjoy this one as much as you have the first Story that began this journey! :)

"Forgive me,"

UPDATED:9/30/2019

Chapter 49

Voldemort had given his warning, his desire to have Harry handed over was more than clear to them all.

The entire Slytherin house was sent to their common room in the dungeon after Pansy Parkinson had begun shouting for someone to grab Harry to hand him over!

"I'll secure the school, hopefully, it'll give you all some time to look for whatever it is you need… An-and Potter! It's good to see you again…" McGonagall smiled softly to the boy, she was terrified for her students, a war had broken out and had rushed right for their school in the form of Voldemort and his followers while Harry, Ron, and Hermione had rushed out to find the remainder of the Horcruxes, the students rushed around to hide the younger students while the rest who were standing to fight for the school, loved ones and their lives rushed around trying to find a way to safeguard the school in any way.

"You mean it, Professor? You're actually giving us permission to blow it up?" Neville asked with an excited grin following after their Professor, "That's right Mr. Longbottom."

"You mean actually blow it up? Boom!?" Neville couldn't help his excitement, even in this kind of life-threatening situation. He began to laugh with excitement when the Professor nodded and did her own, "That's right! Boom! I want to see the fireworks, Longbottom!"

"Brilliant! But how will we manage that?"

"Why don't you take Mr. Finnegan. If I recall currently, he has a particular knack for pyrosis. Now go!"

"Awesome, come on Neville. Hey Malfoy! Why don't ya come with us mate! We'll grab a few others on the way!" Seamus shouted out after Draco as he was running out of the castle with Ginny next to him. Hand in hand, the two ran off with Neville and Seamus to get the needed things from the twins and moved about setting things up on the bridge.

Athella and Horus rushed past them chasing after Rubeus and Kale Malcolm, all four intending to help, until, "Oh no you don't!" Fred shouted, grabbing both Athella and Horus by the back of their shirts, slowing them to a full stop, leaving the Malcolm brothers to continue forward, "Ellie, I need you and Horus to go hide. You're not fighting." Fred said sternly to them both, "No way Freddie! We're fighting!" Athella shouted back, pulling herself from his grasp she glared up at the Weasley twin she adored so much.

Her stubbornness was what he admired, but it could also annoy him, like right now. With a soft, calming sigh Fred ruffling the two twin's hair and knelt to their shorter level with a smile of adoration, "I can't let you two fight in this. Please, hide yourselves." He was not going to beg them, he'd had hoped Horus would have agreed and taken his sister to hide, but he was stone set like Ellie and it just made Fred's job more difficult.

"No… We're not letting this war happen without us. Our parents were a part of the beginning,"

"So, we'll help finish it." With both the twin's final say so in the matter, Athella took the opportunity and kissed Fred on the cheek before both twins ran off leaving the Weasley in place in small shock, 'Well that was unexpected.' "Ellie! Horus! Hey! Damn it-"

"Fred! Come on, Kingsly and Remus need wands up stares!" George shouted for his twin. A grin plastered to his face. He'd seen Ellie kiss him on the cheek and he found it rather sweet, and very amusing.

Everyone took their stations after finding where wands were needed while McGonagall summoned the Castle's the stone Knights that were architected around the school via the Locomotion spell as the rest sent up their wands to erect a barrier around the school, it was finally coming to an end, and everyone from the beginning was beginning to feel the fear of not making it out to their families, but in the end it would all be worth the sacrifice if they won. They couldn't let Voldemort win.

Forest

"Where have you been Narcissa." Voldemort demanded, his red eyes never leaving the Malfoy woman as she approached them and took her place next to her husband, "My apologies for being so late, my Lord. I won't happen again." She said softly to him, her head stiffly low in mock submission. She had gotten Finn into the castle just in time. She had pulled Emma off into a corner once she knew she wasn't near any of the others that knew her, she had to see her before this war broke out. Narcissa had a sinking feeling she wouldn't see her after that. She had to see her only friend after she had watched Emma and Sirius split up and rushed out of the Great Hall as everyone rushed around. The two women had hugged one another tightly, "I thought you were dead,"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't figure a way to get word to you without him being informed… I'm so sorry Sissa. Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry I can't stay, I just had to be sure I wasn't going crazy." Narcissa cried, taking in a good look at Emma, smiling for the first time in a while.

Emma saw the turmoil in the woman before her, the hardship this war had taken no her, the pain it caused her and her family was devastating, and Emma's mind's eyes flashed before her, green light and bodies hitting the stone ground, who it was she wasn't sure, but the sickening feeling it was someone that was dear to her was overwhelming, "Narcissa, what's wrong?"

"Don't worry about it. Finish this fight, Emma… For them." letting her go Narcissa gave one last tearful smile to the redhead that became her family over the years and Disapparated out leaving Emma on her own in worry and confusion.

Hogwarts

"Emma, come on Love, we have to go. We need Wands up in the towers." Sirius said grabbing his wife's hand. He was confused and worried when he found her hidden off in a corner of the hall alone, the tears running down her face worried him, "Hey, what's wrong?"

Sniffing back her worries Emma shook her head and moved up the stairs for her station, "Nothing. Let's go."

Taking their positions on the other side of the Astronomy tower Emma sighed as she looked out, watching the shield finally seal up, encasing the Castle. "Impressive isn't it." Sirius softly spoke to her, a small, nervous smile on his face, he was terrified he'd never see any of the people now that he was here with, his children, his wife, best friend, ectara. But Emma's unsettling realization of the strength of the shield was unnerving to him as they watched the lights flying towards them, the shield taking the full brunt of the attacks, "That won't hold, you know that Sirius." And she was right, it wasn't going to hold for long. "We just have to give Harry and the others enough time… Emma… Emma, look at me!" Her mind was elsewhere at the moment, and the second that barrier falls she'd been an open and dead target. Grabbing his wife by her arm he pulled to face him, grey eyes meeting worried filled green, "What's wrong?"

"I can't stop this feeling of dread when I think of Narcissa… Sirius, I don't think she's going to make it." Sirius was stunned silent as he stared at his wife as Remus and Kingsly walked past them with Dean following them, "Tell Professor McGonagall Remus and I will handle this side of the castle," he said quickly to the boy as he nodded in understanding.

"Yes, Sir,"

"Hey Dean! On second thought, tell her we may need one or two more wands this side." Kingsly clarified, his eyes lingering on the view from the tower. The number of followers Voldemort had gathered was astonishing. And frightening.

Fred, George, and Percy had walked past Dean, Fred patting Dean on the back with a confident smile, "It'll be okay Dean, just have faith, will ya."

"Yeah, come on mate, try to look on the bright side, you get to kick some butt now after those crazy Death Eaters practically gave you all Hell the last year."

Knowing they were just trying to cheer him up from all the heaviness in the air, Dean nodded, forcing a small smile, "Yeah, right. Hey, Weasley's…" He might as well say something now before something terrible happened, smiling a real hope-filled grin Dean made sure to make eye contact with each three Weasley brother's, "Thanks, to all three of you…"

Nodding their heads to the boy the three brothers smiled back, "Take care, Thomas." Percy said to him, watching him rush off to inform the Professor for extra wands.

Remus sighed with a heavy dread sinking in his stomach. Remus had a bad feeling about this, it wasn't going so well, "It is the quality of one's convictions that determines success, not the number of followers."

"Who said that?"

"Me." Both men shared a look, wanting to remember the other's face of who'd be fighting by their side, "We'll be alright, Remus… Trust yourself and trust me. I'll get ya home back to that handsome son and wife of yer's." Shackelbolt said with a small hopeful nod to the man. Glad he smiled and nodded in return, "Same to you friend."

A zap was heard from the corner of Sirius and Emma, and the face that smiled at her and Sirius had nearly sent Emma into fearful tears, "Dora, no… What the hell are you doing here."

Hugging the falling redhead into her arms, Dora smiled into her best friends and aunt's hair, "I couldn't let him fight without me. We're better when we're by one another's side, Auntie." Dora said, helping Emma regain her feet. Finding Remus Dora made a run for him with a relieved smile at seeing him as she rushed into his arms, "What are you doing her!" Remus scolded, "I wasn't going to let you fight alone Remus, for better or worse, remember. There's no battlefield you'll walk on alone without me. Besides, we fight better when we're with one another, I'll follow you anywhere Remus Lupin." Dora whispered into Remus's ear, and for that moment, Remus was finally able to realize he'd follow her in death if it ever took one of them. "Stay close to me,"

"Always,"

"As touching as this is, we really need to be paying attention." Kingsly grinned at the two. The scene was truly touching, he never wanted to ruin their moment, but they had no time with the shield falling as they spoke. "Emma, Sirius stay on that side. Arthur, stay with your boys."

The shield was barely falling, their fears doubled the second a large and powerful spell came forward and the shield began to crumble, "That's not good." Arthur said, his fearful eyes glanced over to his three sons he was currently with.

"No, but it means they were able to destroy one of the Horcruxes," Remus said, his words grew heavier and heavier as the battle approached them. There were obviously going to have casualties, but he couldn't lose his wife. The thought made him sick to his stomach.

"And that means what exactly?" Dora asked worried, "It means he's scared and pissed… He's ten times as dangerous now than he was before. We can win this." Kingsly spoke up with a worried sigh.

Fear had continued to rattle Remus to the core, but since his wife's arrival, his rattled fears had only gotten worse, "Dora, go home... Please…" he said looking to her, begging her to just go home to their son. Teddy needed at least one of his parents.

"I'm not leaving you, Remus."

Bridge

Neville had watched the snatchers rush the bridge, fearful they'd make it to him, he'd involuntarily taken steps back, ready to run but had laughed with triumph when the first few disintegrated freezing the others in their strides as quickly as they possibly could, feeling a bit too in power he jumped with excitement, "Yeah! You and whose army!" he'd soon regret his choice in words shortly when a blast shook the shield and the grounds with it, leaving him shocked at the power, "What the hell was that?" his answers were given when he watched the head Snatcher grin at pieces of magic falling from the shield as he watched Snatcher take a step over the line where the shield should have been and began laughing when his leg was left unharmed.

Fear bubbled up in his chest as he watched the Snatchers laugh, one more step and Neville was in a sprint for his life down the bridge, "Oh shit!"

Seeing Neville's fast running form Draco took off running down the Bridge towards his friend as Ginny reached out for him as he took off, "Draco, no!""No! Ginny, Neville, and Draco are enough ou' there! If you run out to them, they'll have one more person to worry abou'." Seasum said sternly holding her back, "Draco asked me to keep ya safe. And I don' like breakin' my word." He continued.

Everyone watched as Draco cast curse after curse towards the Snatchers trying to 'Snatch' the running boy, "Neville! Come one, keep running… Light it!" Draco shouted, turning on his heels quickly he and Neville ran side by side as the Bridge began to blow and light up the night, giving many a show, "Keep going- AH!" the bridge had come out from under the two boys, and both went down.

Ginny screamed in horror as the two boys collapsed with the bridge, Seasum held her close to comfort her, no one said a word, a moment of silence for their classmates. Their sorrow was lifted when two wands came flying over and four hands gripping the floorboards of the remaining bridge and two heads popped up, panting and sweaty as they lifted themselves up onto their arms of the bridge's floors, "Well… that went well… Don't you think Neville?"

"Oh yeah, completely well, I'm not being chased anymore. Thanks, Malfoy." Neville said reverting back to their old playful ways of using one another's last names, both boys began to laugh abruptly, "Not a problem, Longbottom."

The shield was finally down, and the Death Eaters finally had access to their many victims as they wanted. Windows broke as they flew in and bodies began to drop, whether or not it was a student, teacher or Death Eater.

One Death Eater, in particular, was taking too much joy in her current and soon to be victim, "Hello, little niece." Bellatrix laughed sadistically to none other, Nymphadora Lupin and began tossing curses at her. Huffing with a bit of disappointment when the woman deflected them, "Taking after that dear Gabrielle I see. Blonde doesn't suit you, sweetheart, sorry. However, death will surely look much better!" and had sent a blast of her killing curse at Dora Lupin with her signature laughter filling the room as it flew across the distance.

Remus's heart sank as his eyes watched the curse going for his wife, a light through his darkness was about to be snuffed out, "TONKS!" A curse had slammed Remus back into a pillar, taking the breath from his lungs in painful pants, his ears ringing with the Death Eater's laughter, imagines assaulting his mind with the dead body of Dora. Not caring much to block attacks he continued to lazily fight for his son, just barely blocking the curses, no longer aware of his surroundings.

"DORA!" red hair flashed past Bellatix's eyes, leaving the woman stunned beyond belief as Emma stood in front of Dora, her wand up and ready, her deep green eyes stern and deadly as they glared straight into the gaping Witch, "Cubby? But that's impossible…"

Emma only gave a simple and cold response to the woman, "Bella,"

Stumbling back in shock, Bellatrix's hand dropped from the action, she couldn't hurt Emma, "Y-you know I can't hurt you… I can't."

"Pay attention Lupin!" Flitwick screamed sending the laughing death eater out the window screaming from the fall away from the heart-breaking man, "She's dead," Remus softly spoke mournfully. His eyes misting over. He couldn't look, in deep fear he'd find his wife truly dead. He hadn't protected her. She'd become his heart, his very spirit. And he'd lost her in a blink of an eye.

Confused as to what he was talking about, Flitwick's eyes quickly looked around and pointed at still breathing and viciously fighting Dora Lupin just as she reduced three Death Eater's to dust, "For Merlin's sake! Look, you delusional man! Your wife is fine! See, she's fine, if I may say so myself. Now get up and fight boy!" Flitwick scolded the man as he stared in wonder and relief returning back to the battle in the tower.

Emma's heart was pounding, not of fear or worry of Bellatrix, but of rage and adrenaline. She knew just about everything, had heard what Bellatrix had done, she knew everything, and she felt nothing in her beating heart for the wild-haired woman that stood before her, "Well then that's just too bad, I was looking forward to a fight, Lestrange." Emma's words were deadly, sharp as a dagger and laced with poison as she glared heatedly into Bellatrix's confused and worried filled dark eyes.

In a panic, Dora grabbed Emma's arm, seeing more Death Eaters arriving she took action sending them back out, trying to keep her eyes on the surrounding room. Remus was next to Flitwick, both still fighting, giving the woman a comfort, her husband was still alive. Kingsly stood with Arthur while Sirius was back to back with the Weasley twins, Percy was out on the tower side and not in sight, something she didn't much like the idea of, he wasn't with his father, even though he was an adult, Arthur would never forgive himself if something happened to one of his children on his watch. But the words that left Emma's mouth sent Dora into overdriving panic, "Emma, no-" Her warning had been silenced when another Death Eater had tried taking Remus out from behind and Dora had dropped him instantly, "Emma, don't do it!" But the Red-headed Witch had ignored her warning, Emma wanted a fight, and she would entice the bitch just to finally have it out with her.

Her victory came when Bellatrix glared, her breathing heavy as she raised her wand in a shaking grasp, "Against me…. You, Emma Evans, want to fight me?" Bellatrix was outraged, but she was terrified at the same time as she looked at the well-grown Emma.

"Black… The name is Black, not Evans. I'm not the same Emma you somehow came to adore, Bellatrix. You raised your wand to Dora, tried killing your own niece, my niece and a very dear friend. You helped murder my sister and James, nearly killed my son and Nephew and tortured Hermione, and you murdered Gabrielle… You're fight, starts with me, Witch... Dora, go."

Not exactly a time to argue, Dora huffed and stood back to back with Emma a few steps away and moved for any other enemies coming in.

The hairs on her skin stood on end like electricity had struck her as light blew up from behind her, screams and annoying grunts from Bellatrix had filled the air. Bellatrix Lestrange had finally raised her wand and attacked Emma and had her own spells returned from the once sweet, little, Emma Evans, now standing tall as Emma Black. The duel had only carried on for a few short minutes until she was suddenly blindsided and knocked from her position by a Death Eater slamming into her and raising her up off her feet in a choking grip as his laughter.

"Emma!"

"FOX!"

"AUNTIE!"

They knew this laughter, he may have gotten older, but his laugh hasn't changed one bit, "Finally! After all these years I can finish what I started! Go on Bellatrix, I know how much you hated fighting this little spitfire. I'll handle this one." He laughed.

With an up nosed sneer, Bellatrix lifted off, vanishing off down below, taking out whomever she could as she went.

With everyone now currently busy fighting off their own enemy, Avery finally had full rang to Emma, even if they wanted to intervene, the amount of Death Eaters Avery had brought with him would likely leave them open and result in their deaths.

"Avery! Let her go!" this one, however, had shocked him from his current thoughts. Confused as to why he was here, Avery turned his attention from Emma, "I thought you were locked up in that cage of yours were you belonged boy."

His laughter somewhat cackled with amusement, "Na, I never did much good in cages, I was always the one who did the playing, not the other way around… But I guess you'll have to suffice in being my chew toy for a bit, you sick bastard." Disappearing in a flash the new arrival apparated at the other side of Avery, catching him off guard scaring the man enough he released Emma, unfortunately, she had fallen over the side of the beam he'd held her over and hit her back on the metal railing, leaving her painfully dazed and trying to breathe as the boy took out Avery with bombarda and a grin. "Well, that wasn't how I imagined that going," she grunted slightly, trying to recapture her breath.

With less and less Death Eaters now in the tower Remus had a chance to actually see who had helped, his confusion had left him knocked for a few loops, 'This has to be a joke.' But the destruction and slightly healed gashes and wounds marking the boy's face, neck and likely the rest of his body would likely leave nasty scars. But Remus still knew this kid anywhere, "Finn? Is that you?"

An explosion had taking their attention away from the boy and Emma as Fred's painful scream filled the air, " PERCY! Dad! I ca- he isn't waking up!" Fearful his sons were all hurt or worse, dead, Arthur took to a sprint, "BOYS!" only for his heart to be ripped from his chest at what scene he came upon. Percy Weasley was held tightly in Fred's arms, a deep wound gashed along his temple. Fred was right, Percy Weasley wasn't waking up, he wasn't going too. Arthur and Molly Weasley had lost a son.

With their attention currently directed elsewhere, a Death Eater flew past with a blood-chilling laughter after aiming a curse for the tower wall holding Arthur, Fred and Percy Weasley. He hadn't expected two broomsticks to fly up out of nowhere sending his killing curse right back to him, hitting him in a heartbeat. The blast of the blowback had sent him out and down, painting the ground below with his remains.

Scrunching her nose up in disgust, she gave one easy and simple statement to the newly splattered Death Eater below them, "Ew,"

"Nice shot Ellie." Horus complimented his sister with an impressed grin, "Thanks, but that was still gross. Is everyone ok- Percy?" the twin's froze in shock and realization. What scared them all the more was that Percy wasn't moving. Dismounting from their brooms they rushed the Weasley's, skidding to their knees and Horus shook the curly-haired ginger with tears streaming down his face in terror, "Percy… Perc, wake up…" Hours began shouting and screaming, shaking the dead young Weasley, begging him to wake up, to breath, anything. His shouts and mourning had carried for a few more moments, during the time they had remained unmoved the towers wall and structure was becoming increasingly unsteady.

Knowing it wouldn't change anything, Athella grabbed her brother's hands from the action and stood him up, "Horus… HORUS! It's not going to change it. It won't change anything… Come on we don't have time out's here, this isn't Quidditch! We-We can mourn afterward, we don't have the time." She was doing her best to keep herself held together, the Weasley's had helped their mother and father raise them, they were like a second family in their hearts. This death was their fearful reality of War. The twins had fully forgotten that this was not a game, War was where many died, lost lives, friends and family.

"We can't- can't just leave them here, Ell,"

"Okay, I understand, and I am sorry… But Horus, yes, w-we can… Okay? we have too. There are other traps around the school we have to set off… Come on, Horus I can't do this alone! Look at me!"

"IF IT WAS FRED ELLIE!" His words struck home, Percy had been like his big brother, a form of an ideal besides the twins, but there was a difference in the two people to Athella, she held deeper feelings for one of the twins, always drawn to him, the realization and images of Fred's dead body had shaken the girl to trimmers. "That's not fa-fair, Horus, and you… You know that of all people." The pain choked her as the images assaulted her mind, if it hadn't been Percy, it would have been Fred. This she knew.

Having enough of their bickering, Arthur took charge, separating the two, his son was dead, the other had likely only escaped death because of the elder brother's sacrifice, he wasn't going to have these two pushings one another over the edge that was mere feet from them. "Okay, that's enough you two! You're going downstairs, this side of the tower isn't safe anymore. Fred, take them down. Yes, take them down, I'll… I'll take Percy." Arthur said taking a breath. His eyes watering as he looked at his son's still form as Fred nodded silently and pulled the two siblings from the tower.

Dora had rushed down looking for Emma, hoping above all hope that she was alive and sighed with relief when she found her leaning against the railings, "Oh thank you. Come one, we need to get down to lower levels, this tower is nearly unstable."

They'd moved the dead from the tower, each one mourning a lost friend, brother or teacher; Flitwick had taken on two Death Eaters that had tried killing Remus from behind themselves, "My students are off-limits you vile mongrels! GET OUT OF OUR SCHOOL!" but he hadn't seen the third behind him after defeating the first two, "Flitwick!" their warnings had been too late, the curse had blasted a hole through his chest, killing him instantly. Remus and Sirius had both killed the third, overkill would be what some may say, justice was what they'd call it. But their hearts feel heavy when Arthur walked down with Percy in his arm. The sight had sent Emma in screeching whales. Now Arthur knew the Aunt's reaction, now he just had to imagine his wife's reaction, but heart-shattering screams were all he could hear in his head.

Finn had rushed down trying to move them all along away from the tower, "Why are you here Finn." Remus questioned the boy, pulling him to a stop, wand drawn and ready for anything. But the scars were what made him want to spare the boy, his words startled him even more, "I got tired of the being that flee-bags chew toy and scratching post, that's why. And because he's freaking crazy. Oh, and I know this really isn't an awesome time but while I'm at it, kind of clearing the air and everything, um, Emma… Sirius, please don't kill me just yet I still have a job to do at the moment. But I'm the one that spiked her tea fourth year. Sorry."

Shocked and by far bewildered, Emma's eyes were the size of tea saucers, "Excuse me?"

Drawing his wand, Sirius aimed for Finn, a tight huff leaving his chest, had Andromeda not come to help Emma when she was spiked, the couple would have lost their children and Emma's mind may have been permanently damaged. "Remus, out of the way, I'm going to kill him."

Knowing there was already enough death Kingsly grabbed Sirius's wand arm redirecting down to the floor as the twins moved in front of Remus and Finn, both agreeing and seeing where Kingsly was going with his actions, "Wow! Easy there Sirius!"

"Let me go Kingsly. Boys, out of the way."

"Sorry Sirius,"

"Can't do that," the twins spoke up saddened by this. Percy was just killed along with many others including Flitwick. They didn't want to watch one of their uncles kill a former student of Hogwarts, a solid punch to the face would suffice, not death. But they were relieved with themselves to realize that they understood why Sirius was so angry and wanting to act as he was.

Raising his hands into the air in surrender and nearly dropping his own wand, actually worried they'd kill him after he'd saved Emma's ass from being skinned alive by Avery and his psycho aunt, "Kill me later! We have a school to keep safe, trust me, please. Long story I'll tell you if I survive past the night! Swear. Or you can just ask Alicia or Luna, they can probably tell you a better version of it. Either way, losing time and likely lives, so let's go." He had jumped around as he spoke, not sticking to one line or situation for long.

The adults watched him quickly rush down the ladders and stairs leaving them all rather confused and a bit worried as to what the heck happened, "I'm actually scared now," Emma admitted sarcastically as Finn disappeared from their view, "Grey-back bit him," Remus clarified.

Once again everyone looked worried, "And you just let him walk away, alive that is." Emma questioned her friend with concern, everyone gracing him with wide shocked eyes. "Something's different about him, I can't point it out… Just think of it as a form of redemption for us not trying to help Severus when we started School…" he whispered softly looking after the fleeting boy with his keen eyes. Remus's words had hit home for Sirius and Emma, redemption for not trying to help one child and laying blame to him where the fault was not his in the beginning. Remus was right, Finn was different. "But he's right, there's much more that needs done and dealt with, come on." Fred spoke up, his voice was currently void of anything at the moment, his brother had been killed shielding him from the blast, "Don't stop the mischief, Freddie, you're actually funny when you aren't trying to piss me off or pull cruel pranks on me… I know I'm strict, that's probably why you and George always pulled pranks on me." Percy had teased a bit

"Yeah, we wanted to try loosening you up. You're so serious all the time." Fred laughed, smiling happier than he had before that moment, Percy had actually smiled and laughed with him. Then the blast had come Percy had moved faster than they had ever seen him move, shield his baby brother from the blast. One life for another.

Seeing his distress, Emma placed a comforting hand to his back as George sadly watched as he took his comfort from his father as Emma hugged Fred when he moved in for a one. It was almost like he six-years-old all over again when he hurt his knee nearly skinning the skin clean off and cried himself to sleep in her lap while Molly cleaned him up, "Come on Fred, we'll be back for him and the others when this is over. Promise." Sniffing with a sad nod Fred and the others left the lost souls where they had laid them temporarily, they had to be able to move if attacked, carrying bodies down now and not having the time to move would mean their own lives, and they had lost too many as it was.

Front courtyard

Finn had run off without anyone following him, and he truthfully hadn't cared, his job was to keep Draco alive. His ears had caught a particular scream and sadistic laughter off in the distance had drawn his attention as his eyes landing on Grey-Back slowly approaching a girl barely hanging on for her life by a slipping brick from its place. Her tightly curled hair was still held back by one of her ridiculous headband bow ties he'd always hated.

Making a run for her and Grey-Back, Finn cursed the approaching were-wolf sending him flying back, knowing he'd regret not killing him as he reached over and grabbed the girls arm just as she'd lost her grip, "Hey beautiful, want that lift now?" he'd meant it as a joke, however, at the dire timing for her life literally hanging by a grip it hadn't exactly been funny to the poor girl as she looked up to him he'd found himself actually transfixed as he watched tears sliding down her face, "Please don't let me go!"

With ease he'd pulled her back over, catching her against him when her legs gave out like shaking noodles as she cried. She'd been saved from not only falling to her death but from being torn to pieces by Fenrir Grey-Back, "I wasn't planning to."

Stunned he'd not only saved her but had admitted he wasn't at all remotely thinking of letting her go, Lavender had opened her mouth to thank him, but had said something else entirely, "Why'd you save me?"

Grinning a bit playfully to her, Finn laughed lightly, "Please, who wouldn't save you, Lavender. Come one, heighths makes me nervous, someone can easily through you over." He playfully jested. Though she hadn't thought it funny it was rather true, "That's not funny," Lavender lightly scolded him, considering she had technically not been tossed over, she'd lost her footing and fell.

Grinning with a small laugh Finn shrugged, "Sure it is… What? To soon? Sorry." He apologized as he grabbed her hand, and both ran off back down, he had to find Draco and the others. Narcissa had done so much as of late for him, the least he could do for her in return, was to keep her son alive.

Main Staircase

Their horrors struck them to the core as they descended down and found Gregory surrounded by body parts, blood covering his mouth, arms, and shirt as he tore a Death Eater's arm from his body, a spider's legs and snapped a Troll's neck in less than five seconds. The sight was truly nerve-rattling.

"Arthur!" A man's voice painfully screamed from a winding stairwell. Amos Diggory was cornered by several Death Eaters, and a giant spider gaining uncomfortable distance. His knee had been nearly blown out, sadly to Arthur's worst fears, Amos was already severely wounded.

To Amos's worst fears he'd caught sight of Morgan, Amos Diggory's secret son, trying to make his way towards him. That was death awaiting them both, he was not going to lose another son.

Arthur sprinted forward, hoping to make it to his friend, "Amos hang on!" He was frozen in horrified shock when Amos had cast a spell at his feet stopping his advance to help, "NO, THE PILLARS!" Amos screamed. Arthur's eyes followed the winding stairs pillar holding the tall staircase in place. There was no way Arthur would be able to blow it out with his friend still there, he'd be crushed to nothing with the enemies surrounding him, "NOW! NO MORGAN!"

Finally, Amos's request sank in, Amos's knee was gone, his body was severely wounded, and his only remaining son was rushing to his aid likely to only be killed with his father. Arthur watched Gregory quickly snatching Morgan back from the winding stairs, holding the screaming boy back and shared a grieving look with one another, "He won't make it out of there alive either way Arthur, blow the pillar!" Gregory shouted, holding Morgan tightly to him as the boy fought against his hold as he screamed for them not to do it.

"Forgive me," With tearing eyes, Arthur blew out the pillar, watched Gregory spinning himself and Morgan away from the crashing sight. The entire time Arthur watched the staircase fall, his friends' smiling a peaceful smile before being covered by the crushing stone.

Athella and Horus had continued running down, pushing through students and stupefying any dark Smoke of Death Eaters, spider's or troll's as they possibly could as they made their way down to steps. A sudden sharp pain shot through Athella sending her to her knees. After her mother's murder she had linked a connection to herself, her siblings and their father, to have some form of safe security that they were safe, but the line to her father had been viciously severed, "Te-tell the-m I'm sorry… I'm sorry I wasn't th' f-fath'r they deserved…"

Severus's voice whispered through the last reminiscence of the connection before it turned into a silence, cold and empty void where he had once been as she screamed. But in her moment of pain and vulnerability, Athella Rose Dumbledore-Snape had left herself wide open for any form of the attacker.

They'd heard Horus shout for his sister, trying to fend off who and what he could around her fallen form as she screamed and cried, holding her shirt over her heart with a painful grip. Fred's feet had lifted off the ground in a sprint down the stairs as they all watched helplessly as Horus was sent flying back and green flares from two wands flashed towards the kneeling girl, "ELLA!"

A swift breeze of air flew past Fred's head unseen, in seconds heat filled the staircase and fire swallowed up the twins as the two curses flew through the fire hitting nothing but stone stairs right in front of Fred's very feet and screams from the three enemies that had attacked the Snape twins.

Skidding to a stop Fred looked around frantically for the twins, "ELLA! Horus!" Silence, even though the screams of students, had been his gift. Ice like terror enveloped Fred and the others as they searched around for the two kids in fear the twins had been incinerated by something or someone.

George and Fred were frantic, unable to find the twins they fell to their knees in tears as Emma rushed past them farther down the steps into the crowd as the kids continued to run and scream, the flames and killing curses had clearly scared them all more, sending them all scurrying from their hiding places or shoving past one another, "HORUS! ELLA!" she too was graced with nothing. Gabby's and Severus's twins, their first-born children had vanished, or killed right before their eyes and had been helpless to stop it.

Voldemort's voice rang through their ears once more, in all of their fear and adrenaline many had clamped their hands over their ears as Voldemort graced them with the opportunity to retrieve their dead, then moved to speak to Harry, insulting him with being a coward and 'allowing others to die on his behalf,' then giving up his location for Harry to hand himself over to him. Requesting this all in just one hour.

"No… he can't… he wouldn't…You all look for the twins, Dora and I will go find Harry!" Emma said rushing off to find her son with Dora and Morgan on her heels. She was terrified Harry would not think twice about handing himself over after this first wave. Yes, the first wave, they all knew there was always more than one battle, this was just the first of it all.

***Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all being so patient with me and my absence, I'm so sorry it took me this long to get Chapter 49 up but I still hope you enjoyed it, well, with it being such an intense last book and movie I kind of had to go with the intense thing also. Couldn't let it drop at all, what kind of adrenaline-boosting thing would that be? Probably not at all really. Either way, I'm sorry I was so mean with the deaths, but I still hope you all liked reading the chapter, no matter how heart-aching it was. Thank you all for staying with me for this long and threw all of my long delays. I hope you all have a glories night/day! Now I shall say goodnight for the moment. THANK YOU!