At Hogwarts
The twins apparated Harry and Luna as close to the Ravenclaw Tower as they could – having never been to that part of the castle before, they relied on Luna's memory to guide their apparition.
It worked well enough, and they hid in an empty classroom, while Luna took Harry to find the ghost lady they had to speak to.
Hey, Nick. Called James, after a while, looking out the window. Look at this.
And Nicholas approached him, looking outside as well. Fucking beautiful here, isn't it? He said. Mom said we stayed here for a few days before her and dad got back together. Do you remember anything about it?
No. I remember having breakfast with dad for the first time, though. He gave us bacon!
I remember talking to him about his birthday. But it's a hazy memory...
They looked outside for a while longer.
I'd love to have studied here... Nicholas added.
I'll come to work here. Said James with certainty. Dad probably won't want to be a Potions teacher after the war, so I'll apply to be his apprentice and become a teacher like him.
Nicholas smiled, You mean you'll ask mom to convince dad to take you as an apprentice, so that you can become a teacher here.
James smirked, You got it, bro.
And Nick seemed pleased to hear that. My plans are exactly the same. I'll apply to be Flitwick's apprentice though. Since I truly love Charms.
James smiled as well, happy to know they wouldn't have to live away from each other after all.
You'll get a house in the village too?
That's the plan. Said Nick, nodding. Fred can floo to the store in Diagon Alley and Lynne can go to the day care we used to go.
Same plan. James smiled. Get a house in Hogsmead, Mione can floo to wherever she wishes to study and when we have kids, they go to the day care.
Good plan. Now we just have to kill grandfather.
James snorted, Yeah, just that.
Then they saw Harry's Patronus stag enter the room, gallop towards them, and say: "Meet us on the west corridor of the seventh floor. Be careful of the students, the Gryffindor Tower is on that floor as well."
And the twins disapparated.
Meanwhile in Hogsmeade
It was a pleasant mid-afternoon, so Cassiopeia Rosmerta was sweeping off the stone pavement right in front of the Three Broomsticks, thinking dejectedly how business had plummeted after Severus left Hogwarts.
And lately there were death eaters all over the village; one could even see dementors roaming the streets during the day.
No matter how deeply Rosmerta hated Florence, she had to admit that at least the mediwitch had been useful in keeping the death eaters and the dementors away from Hogsmead.
Suddenly three loud apparition sounds startled Rosmerta, making her look around and dread who could have arrived – for her pub had been seeing some very dangerous patrons lately.
She stopped sweeping when she saw them: three men were walking towards her, looking as horrible as they smelled.
"You can get in, gentlemen." she told them with a forced smile. "Paul is in there to take your orders."
But the men didn't move, they silently exchanged a meaningful look and turned to face her.
"We're not here for a drink, lass." Said the first man, who she recognized from her Hogwarts years, he was an older classmate from the Slytherin House named McAllister. "We've just received orders to attack the village and we got dibs on you."
"Dibs?" Rosmerta frowned. "What are you talki–?"
Another man, Bulstrode, interrupted her: "We know you used to fool around with Snape. And we're curious to learn what you used to do for him, after all he really has great taste in women."
Rosmerta gasped, suddenly realizing she was in big trouble.
"We can't get his wife." Said the third man, who she also recognized, Crabbe. "Being that she's too powerful and the Lord's daughter on top of it. So... you'll come with us to give us a taste of his appetites."
Rosmerta walked backwards trying to get to her wand which lay on the nearby table.
"I don't know what you're talking about..." she said. "I haven't talked to Severus in years!" her voice trembled as terror filled her. "He won't lift a finger to rescue me!"
"Good, we don't want him to come and rescue you." said Crabbe, smiling lasciviously.
"Stupefy!" cast McAllister, and Rosmerta flew backwards, hitting the wall of the pub and falling onto the ground unconscious.
Then the three men disapparated, taking her with them.
Order's Headquarters
About two hours after the twins, Harry and Luna had left, Remus received a message from Aberforth, the owner of the Hog's Head.
"They're attacking Hogsmeade!" Remus told the others.
"What?" asked Florence. "Do you think they already know Harry is in Hogwarts?"
"Probably. Yes." nodded Remus.
"We have to warn James!" said Florence, concerned. "We know the twins will stay safe, but Harry might not."
"Just send him a Patronus." Said Severus.
"I could go." offered Elizabeth, eager to join the fight.
"No." Said Severus immediately. "Don't even think about it!"
Florence looked at her husband. It's safer for her to go now rather than later. James will protect her.
Severus groaned, "She'll get lost in the castle!"
"I can go with her." Said Draco, receiving a very angry glare from his godfather.
"According to the Marauders' Map," said Remus, looking at the large map open on the desk. "They disappeared somewhere on the seventh floor.
"In the Room of Requirement." Said Florence, Severus and Draco at the same time.
"Draco can guide your apparition, Liz." Added Florence.
Tonks frowned, "Doesn't she have the Trace on her? Won't the Ministry be able to track her here if she disapparates?"
"No." Explained Florence. "She wasn't registered at the Ministry, so they've never cast the Trace on her."
"Florence." Said Severus. "I don't want Elizabeth to go. You know the things that happen..."
"She's more than capable of defending herself, Severus." She cut her husband off. "She's duelled against James and held her own several times!"
He didn't look convinced.
"Elizabeth," continued Florence. "Apparate with Draco to the Room of Requirement and stay there with the others. We'll come for you once we get to the castle. I'm trusting you to do as you're told." She said, glaring at her.
"Yes, mom." Liz nodded. "I know this is serious."
Florence kissed her forehead and the young couple left the living room, going to the apparition spot and disapparating.
"I fucking hate this!" growled Severus, after Liz had gone.
Florence held his hand. She's part of this, Severus.
He just shook his head. She'll get herself kidnapped!
No, she won't. Florence replied with certainty. She's young but she is not stupid. That's just your fear.
"It's three o'clock now." They heard Remus say. "I think we should leave in an hour."
Florence nodded. "Yes. I agree."
"I'll send word to the Order members then. And Dobby has already confirmed that we only have to call and he'll be here with some other elves to take us all to the kitchens."
"Excellent." Said Florence, "I'll be upstairs until it's time to leave."
"Call us if you need anything before then, Remus." Said Severus, following her upstairs.
Back in Hogwarts
"What the fuck is this place again?" asked James as they walked around a very unorganized, very large room. He couldn't even see where the place ended, and it was packed full with all kinds of stuff.
"This is the Room of Requirement." Explained Harry. "Whatever you need, it can provide you. This is the version that appears to people who need to hide something."
"According to the Grey Lady, here's where the horcrux is." Added Luna, looking around in that dreamy way of hers.
And Harry nodded. "And it sure is here, I can feel its presence."
"What does it look like?" asked Nicholas.
"It's a diadem, like a small crown." Said Luna. "With a blue gem, if the stories are correct."
"Ok, we'll help you look." Said James.
So he and Nick moved around the room, walking by tall piles of chairs, tables, sofas, giant chess pieces, broken statues, even an old wardrobe; smaller pieces sat on top of the larger ones, and there was jewellery scattered over tables and inside glass-door cabinets.
This is what thousand years of clutter looks like. Commented James.
They even found a small bookcase hidden in a corner, a round table and an old-looking armchair stood near it, a pile of books and an assortment of odd knickknacks could be seen on the table.
James picked up the books from that pile and leafed through them, until an old potions book called his attention; the tattered copy of Advanced Potions had been well-used and it showed, its pages were all written on, there were at least two notes on each page – and in some of them the recipe had been completely changed by whoever the owner of that book had been.
James kept on reading the changes the student had written and had to admit they all made sense.
"Wait a minute." He whispered to himself, realizing that some of those techniques sounded familiar. "Hey, Nick!" He called. "Take a look at this!" he pointed to one heavily scribbled on page of the book. "Don't these look like mom's and dad's handwritings?"
"Hell, yeah! It sure does!" Nick looked through it and found the name Eileen had been magically blurred and in its place a new name was visible. "The Half-blood Prince." He read and exchanged a knowing look with his brother for a second, before both of them burst into laughter.
Ooh, I'm definitely asking dad about this! Said James.
Please do! Laughed Nick. Afterwards, I'll let you know which is funnier: dad's face that you found out his stupid nickname or your face after he hexes the hell out of it!
James glared at his twin, but their amusement was suddenly interrupted by a loud scream and a strong wind that filled the chaotic room, knocking furniture over, throwing papers and things in the air and stopping as abruptly as it had begun.
"What the fuck?" they whispered. Suddenly realizing the probable culprit: "Harry!" they both shouted, running towards the place they'd last seen him.
"I'm here!" they heard his voice and quickly followed it, finding him kneeling on the floor, a burned tiara in front of him.
"Is that...?" James asked.
"Yes! I found it! And destroyed it!" Harry exclaimed excitedly. "There's just the snake left!" And me. He added mentally.
"Great, man!" exclaimed Nick. "Now we just have to wait for the others–"
"No!" Harry interrupted. "We should go to the Gryffindor common room and–"
"No can do, man." Said James, shaking his head. "I don't know how you're used to do things, but no one simply disobeys Mrs. Florence Snape's orders and lives to tell the tale."
Nicholas nodded. "Mom told us to wait here – so we're waiting here."
And right then, Elizabeth and Draco apparated inside the room.
"Liz! Why are you here?" asked Nicholas, worried. "Something happened?"
"Yes. Grandfather knows Harry is here."
"Oh, so you came here expecting to meet him?" Said James, sarcastically. "That would explain why you're dressed like you're on your way to brunch." He pointed at her dark blue brand jeans and pink cashmere sweater. "This is war, Liz!"
But Elizabeth didn't seem fazed. "Only you'd think it's proper to wear combat boots to brunch." She pointed at her own feet.
"Wow." Said Nicholas looking at her boots. "Those are ghastly Prada boots, sis – why have you spent the amount of money of a muggle motorcycle on those awful things?"
"Putting together her whole outfit, she's probably wearing the equivalent of a two-bedroom flat." Added James, continuing to annoy their sister – for teasing Liz over her expensive tastes was one of the twins' favourite pastime.
And she looked at them, furious. "Fuck off, you two! If I die in this battle, I'm not going down wearing cheap jeans and sneakers!" she looked at them as if they carried a contagious disease due to their simple clothing. "At least Potter is wearing a brand jacket. Is that Adidas?" she asked him.
He nodded and the twins looked at him with equal frowns of disapproval.
"What?" Harry asked, a little embarrassed. "I wore my cousin's old stuff for most of my life. I like to buy myself good things."
James rolled his eyes and then his gaze fell on Draco – who had remained uncharacteristically quiet so far – and he arched an eyebrow at his all black, expensive-looking, attire. "A suit, Malfoy? Really?"
"Shut up, James!" growled Liz, finally saying why they were there: "Listen, you idiots! Grandfather has doubled the number of death eaters in Hogsmead!"
"And they're already causing destruction there." Draco finally spoke. "We are to stay here and wait for your parents and the others to arrive."
"Fine by me." Said James, with a smirk. "We'll stay over there."
"Yeah," continued Nick. "Just in case our simple clothes give your fancy ones cooties."
Harry blushed in embarrassment, but Elizabeth gasped in anger and walked towards her brothers, her hands on her hips, shouting: "Really, Nicholas? Mocking me when you're the one who identified my Prada boots for afar?"
"Since we're back on the subject," Nick replied. "Let me add that knowing how expensive they are, I have to say you could've gone for something far cuter, sis." He pointed at her boots. "I'd never have let you buy those, If I had been with you."
"Oh, please!" she exclaimed. "How dare you judge my boots when you're wearing Nike sneakers!"
Harry and Draco looked at their absurd argument in amusement.
"Can't believe they're arguing about clothes as we wait for the Dark Lord to arrive." Said Draco.
"Growing with siblings must be awesome." whispered Harry, seeing Draco nod in agreement.
And they kept watching Elizabeth and Nicholas discuss which brand had cuter boots (Liz said Gucci, while Nick was partial to Burberry).
Back at the Order Headquarters
Florence walked into her room and changed her clothes, putting on a pair of dark jeans, a long-sleeved shirt and a comfortable black sweater and boots.
Severus walked in and got dressed for battle as well.
After a few minutes of silence, they looked at each other from across the room.
"This is it, love." He said.
"Yes." She replied, softly.
They fell silent again, his eyes fixed on her and she stared back at him. There was nothing else to be said; only they knew all they had gone through to get to that moment – they knew how important the battle of the next hours was.
If they failed to stop her father, all would be lost – their family would be destroyed, their younger kids would have to hide for the rest of their lives or risk being kidnapped by their crazy grandfather, their friends would die and everything they had fought for so hard during years would be crushed under her father's reign.
Severus could sense her anger in her mind, and there was fear as well – fear for him, for their youngest kids and for their three oldest kids, who were already at the castle.
"Florence," he started, walking towards her and wrapping her in his arms. "If anything happens to me–"
She stopped him with a glare. "You know me more than well-enough to know I won't accept anything happening to you."
"Let's promise each other one thing then." He held her left hand on his right one, keeping it against his chest while he tightened his left arm around her waist, holding her close. "If only one of us survive, they will live on to see the twins graduate school."
She shivered, feeling magic around them and ordering: "Do not invoke an oath, Severus!"
"This I promise," he continued, the magic swirling around them. "Your turn, Florence."
She kept glaring at him, furious he was forcing her to promise such a thing, but there was no way out; so she finally said: "I promise."
Severus kissed her wedding ring and the magic of the oath died out around them.
"You asshole!" she whisper-shouted, shoving at his chest.
"Stop it, love." He pulled her closer again. "We both know how hard it'll be if one of us doesn't return from the battle."
"Yes! And you might've just condemned one of us to eighteen years of torture!" she hissed.
Then a soft sound coming from the crib stopped her from bashing her husband any further.
"They're the reason why I did it, Flor." He whispered, looking at the crib near the bed. "They need at least one of us."
Florence shot him another glare and walked to the babies, picking up Stephen and sitting on the bed to breastfeed him.
Severus picked up Lily-Rose and sat beside Florence, helping her position both babies to feed at the same time.
He looked at her and her eyes were still a little lighter than usual, her lingering anger affecting their colour. "I love you." He said, getting an eye roll from her.
"I'm mad at you, husband."
He chuckled and touched her face, kissing her lips softly then looking down at the babies.
"They are doing so well; it's hard to believe that they were born prematurely." He said, "And I'm glad that you're well too." And he kissed her again.
"Still mad at you." She said mid-kiss, making him chuckle.
A sudden soft 'pop' let them know one of the elves had appeared in the room.
"Tiffany's sorry to interrupt, Mistress and Master, but Tiffany wanted to check if it was time to bring Mrs. Eileen here to look after the little Master and Mistress."
"Yes, Tiff." Nodded Florence. "We'll be leaving as soon as their tummies are full."
"Has Dobby been called, Tiff?"
"Yes, Master. Melody went to the castle to call Dobby." She nodded and added: "Tiffany will tell Mrs. Eileen to come here." Then she disapparated.
After a few more minutes, Severus picked up Stephen to burp and Florence did the same with Lily-Rose.
Once the babies were in clean diapers and fast asleep in their crib once more, Severus entwined his hand with his wife's and they left the room.
As they reached the living room, everyone – human and elf – turned to look at them.
It seems we're the ones leading this mess. Severus commented, clearly displeased.
Florence just smiled at him and turned to the elves. "Hello, friends. First I'd like to thank you for your help."
"It's us who thanks you, Miss." Said one of the female elves.
"The Carrows have been horrible to the elves and to the students." Said Dobby. "It'll be our pleasure to watch the Order crush them!"
Florence nodded at him, surprised by his bloodthirsty words, and turned to address the others. "Hey, everyone. We all know the plan: Dobby and his friends will take us to the castle. Once half of us gets there, we'll start killing the death eaters we find. Once the other half gets there, they'll do the same."
"Kill on sight." said Severus. "Do not give them a chance to speak." He repeated, trying to convey the importance of that.
Everyone nodded and they were divided into groups of four and the elves began taking them to the school kitchens.
Hogwarts
Florence apparated Severus, Remus and Tonks to the kitchens.
"Severus and I will go to the seventh floor to get the kids from the Room of Requirement." Said Florence, wand in hand. "Remus, you wait for the others and remind them to be as silent as possible. The longer no one realizes we're here, more death eaters we'll be able to kill before the battle begins."
"Good luck, Flor." Said Remus, pulling her to a hug.
Then Florence left the kitchens with her husband, running through the empty corridors underneath the Great Hall, only stopping when they reached the corridor that led to the Hufflepuff Common Room.
Listening attentively, Florence concluded no one was coming down the staircase, which was on the opposite end of the corridor, so she moved quickly, running to the stairs and up, Severus right behind her.
But once they reached the main corridor of that side of the dungeons, their luck ran out – there was a group of Hufflepuff students coming down the stairs that led to the Entrance Hall.
Florence and Severus quickly hid behind the tapestry hanging on the wall and waited for them to enter their common room.
Once the corridor was empty again, they ran to the stairs, walking up the steps with their backs to the wall, listening to the sounds of many voices coming from the Great Hall and the Marble Staircase above them.
Crossing the Entrance Hall without being seen won't be easy. Said Severus. We can't start the battle now – not before at least half of the Order is here.
Florence nodded. We'll have to apparate to the seventh floor.
And she took his hand to do it, but before she had initiated the apparition, they heard two familiar (and deeply despised) voices talking in the Entrance Hall
The Carrows. Said Florence, and mischief sparkled in her eyes.
We're not engaging them, Florence! Ordered Severus. Killing either one of them would certainly start a battle!
Easy, husband. She said with a wicked smile. I just had an idea. Then she went up two more steps and pointed her wand at Amycus, casting: "Imperio." And the man's eyes quickly lost focus. "You'll send all students to their Common Rooms, immediately!" she ordered.
"Ami?" asked Alecto, looking at her brother in worry.
Then Amycus shook his head as if to get rid of a dizzy spell and said: "I will order the students to stay in their Common Rooms."
"Alright." Agreed Alecto. "Good idea. That way we can focus on finding Potter and killing the idiots who will come aid him!"
And the Carrow twins left the Entrance Hall, going to the staff room.
Florence looked at her husband and he tilted his head in acknowledgement. That was a brilliant move, love.
Then Florence held his hand and disapparated.
Poppy Pomfrey was at her desk, writing down all the potions the infirmary was dangerously close to being out of.
Since Severus and Florence had left the castle, about three months ago, she had to go to the dungeons and brew the potions herself – however, she wasn't as skilled or as knowledgeable as the Snape couple, so it took her days to brew something they could do in an afternoon.
"Attention all students!" the loud voice of the Headmaster's sister bellowed through the castle.
"Fucking idiots." Growled Pomfrey, "What is it now?"
"You have ten minutes to get into your common rooms! Curfew hour has changed today – starting in ten minutes! Supper will be served by the elves in the common rooms at 8. You are to stay there until further notice!"
"What the fuck are they up to now?" Asked Pomfrey to the empty infirmary.
Then she heard the soft sound of an apparition and raised her head, gasping: "What are you two doing here?"
"Hi, Poppy. Harry is here." Quickly explained Florence, locking the hospital wing door and placing a silencing charm around the room. "We're going to wait here for the students to clear the hallways."
"Where is Harry?" Pomfrey asked.
"Room of Requirement. The twins, Liz, Luna and Draco are there too."
Then Pomfrey understood: "You're behind this impromptu curfew."
"Yes." Florence nodded. "This way the students will be safe and we can start killing the death eaters without risking a hostage situation."
The school mediwitch nodded, looking from her to Severus, shaking her head. "You two are unbelievable."
"I'm only a follower, Pomfrey." Said Severus. "Whatever she orders, I'm doing it."
Florence snorted: "For once."
Pomfrey laughed, adding: "If only he had learned that lesson sooner."
"Right?" Laughed Florence.
Severus just rolled his eyes.
"How are the babies?" Pomfrey asked.
"Great. Growing, eating, filling up eight diapers a day at least."
"Excellent!"
"And Fred gave birth to Lynne a few days ago!"
"Oh, you're a grandma now, Flor! And how are they?"
"Both dad and baby are fine. Birth was easy – not that Fred would agree." Florence chuckled. "And Lynne is a redhead like Fred but inherited Nick's green eyes."
Pomfrey smiled sweetly, "She'll be a heartstopper!"
"No doubt about that!" Florence said, pulling Pomfrey to the side and speaking in a low tone of voice: "I really need to talk to you about my post-partum quarantine..."
Pomfrey raised her brows, glancing quickly at Severus and then looking back at the woman in front of her, understanding what she was talking about; so she moved her wand over Florence's midsection and down her hips, nodding. "Go for it, dear. You're fully recovered."
"Great!" Florence exclaimed. "Did you hear that, husband?"
Severus looked her way, frowning at what she was talking about, since he hadn't been paying attention to what they were saying.
Florence walked to him, touching down his chest. "I'm fully recovered." And she sucked on his bottom lip.
Severus smirked but narrowed his eyes at her, "I hope you know now is not the time for you to jump my bones, wife."
"I can leave." Offered Pomfrey.
"See, she can leave." Florence trailed kisses down his neck and he felt his resolve wavering.
But loud knocks on the door had Florence stopping and hissing angrily: "I'm killing whoever is behind that door."
"No!" said Severus, holding her arm. "We have to disapparate, otherwise Pomfrey will be in trouble."
She looked from her husband to the mediwitch and nodded, "You're right. Damn it!" She took his hand and disapparated them a second after removing the locking and silencing spells.
However, the seventh floor wasn't as empty as they'd hoped to find after curfew had been instated.
"It seems... Gryffindors are truly incapable to follow rules." said Severus in his calm disapproving voice, startling the twenty students that stood in the corridor discussing what they should do – they all pointed their wands at him in surprise.
"Prof. Snape!" exclaimed Neville Longbottom, lowering his wand. "It's true then? Harry is here?"
"Yes." Severus drawled.
"How do you know that though?" asked Florence, walking towards the boy. "And what the fuck happened to your face?"
"We got a message from Aberforth about Harry. And this?" Neville pointed at his face. "The Carrows like to make an example out of some of us." Then he motioned the others, and each one of them had some sort of wound on their faces, arms and legs.
"Get inside your common room." She ordered. "Now!"
They quickly obeyed and she and Severus followed them into the room.
"Who's worse?" Florence asked, standing in the middle of the room. "Make a line from worse to less worse – and do not play hero with me! If you're hurt get in line to be healed or I'll double your pain." She glared at them.
And all twenty students got in line at once, and Florence worked on healing each one of them.
"Why haven't you seen Pomfrey?" Severus asked.
"If we ask for help, they torture us longer the next detention." Explained Seamus Finnigan.
Florence glanced at Severus and he nodded, not needing to hear her say it to know what she was thinking: the Carrows wouldn't live to see the light of another day.
Once all students were healed, Florence divided them into four groups and gave them instructions.
"This is war." Added Severus. "You must be ready to kill them for they won't think twice about killing you."
"Or taking you hostage." Said Florence, looking at each one of them. "If you cannot see yourselves casting an unforgivable, do not leave this common room."
The students looked at one another but they all eventually nodded.
"Also," said Severus. "If any of you gets hold of the Sorting Hat, you ask for the sword of Gryffindor and use it to kill the snake."
The students looked at him in confusion.
"Just do it." He repeated, annoyed. "Follow an order for once."
And the students nodded, shrugging as they looked at one another.
"Ok." Said Florence, "You all have your orders, go to your designated floors and kill on sight."
Severus opened the painting of the Fat Lady and looked out in the corridor, "It's clear. Go!" he ordered.
And the four groups left.
"Fucking hate this." Florence whispered.
"Sending kids to fight in a war?" Severus asked. "Yeah, I can't stop thinking which one of them won't ever see their parents again."
"Yes." She glanced around the Gryffindor common room. "Have you ever been here before?"
"Yes. Once. I came here to tell Black you were in the infirmary."
Florence frowned, trying to remember when that had been. "After the Astronomy Tower accident?"
"Yes." He nodded. "I found Lily here and told her to let Black know. She was furious at me, demanded to know what I had done to you."
"That sounds like her. She was a great friend." Florence smiled sadly, "This is her fight as well – her and James'."
"Yes." He held her hand, "We'll avenge them, love." He wiped a tear that had fallen down her face.
She just nodded and they left the common room.
Inside the Room of Requirement, the twins were passing the time reading the potions book they had found, while Harry and Luna played wizard chess against Draco and Elizabeth.
"What's Sectumsempra?" James suddenly asked, pointing at a word on the top corner of a page.
Immediately the room went tense and Draco and Harry exchanged a weird look.
"You found your father's book." Harry said, looking towards them and recognizing the Half-blood Prince's book from afar.
"Yeah. We've been reading it." Said Nicholas. "Do you know what that spell does?"
Harry nodded. "It slashes your opponent's flesh."
"Like a cat?" asked James, frowning.
"No... worse." Harry's voice was heavy with embarrassment.
"How much worse?" insisted James.
Then Draco stood up and lifted his black shirt, showing the faint scars on his chest. "A lot worse." He said.
The silence that followed was very uncomfortable.
But before anyone could explain what had happened, Florence apparated into the room.
"Good, you're all still here." She looked from her sons to Draco and Liz and then to Harry and Luna. "With a Gryffindor in the midst, one can never be sure if orders will be respected."
Harry blushed, remembering he had been the one to suggest they leave the Room.
"How're things out there, mom?" asked James. "Has the battle begun?"
"No. Not yet. I made Carrow order the curfew, which you certainly heard about; then I had to heal Gryffindor students. But the Order members are probably already spreading around the castle, so it won't be long now." She looked at Harry. "Did you find it? The horcrux?"
"Yes." He nodded with a smile. "There's just the snake left and... that other one." He didn't want to tell the others about him carrying a horcrux.
Florence nodded, her eyes filled with compassion for him, "Let's hope it all goes according to plan tonight, Harry."
The boy just nodded, his face showing confidence and bravery.
"Where's dad?" asked Liz, a little concerned.
"In the corridor. He'll tell me if it's ok for us to..." but Florence stopped talking all of a sudden, feeling a change through their bond.
Severus? She called.
Nothing.
She tried to sense what could be happening, but couldn't tell anything beyond the feeling that he was fine.
Then, after nearly a minute, she finally heard his voice: You can come out now.
She opened the door and found her husband standing in the corridor – three death eaters lying dead near him.
"It has begun." He said. "Remus sent me a Patronus just now; the death eaters are all over the castle. The Order needs help in the Great Hall."
"Alright." She said, turning to the teenagers, "Do not hesitate to kill."
They all nodded and followed the Snape couple down the moving stairs, the sounds of curses, hexes and shouts of pain getting louder the closer they got to the lower levels.
At every floor on their way down, there was a battle – quick ones, though. For Florence, Severus and the twins cast Avada kedavras without a second thought.
While Elizabeth, Draco, Harry and Luna looked at them with admiration and a hint of hesitancy.
"If you don't think you can do this," Florence looked at them as they were crossing the third floor, "You'd better stay in the hospital wing and help Poppy!"
The four of them shook her heads.
"I can do this." Said Elizabeth.
"I have to do this." Said Harry.
Florence nodded and all of a sudden a spell crossed the corridor towards them, hitting the wall right above Luna's head.
"YOU!" they heard a female voice shout.
Florence was smiling as she turned around. "Alecto. Exactly the bitch I wanted to see."
Severus took several steps back and motioned the others to do the same.
"Do I even want to know the reason mom's not simply killing her and moving on?" asked James.
Severus shook his head and they paid attention to the two women facing each other.
"Do you really want to do this, Alecto?" Florence asked, the smile never leaving her lips.
"I don't give a fuck you're the Lord's daughter! I'm killing you!" Alecto shouted. "Avad–"
Florence rolled her eyes, casting a Collido right on Alecto's face, stopping her from finishing her killing curse. "If you're going to kill me, at least be creative!" she mocked, looking at the woman with a smirk, "For example: Interemo harenae." And Florence moved her wand in small circles.
Nicholas and Hermione gasped, understanding the meaning behind those words.
And Alecto's scream filled the corridor as her body was turned into sand, the sound dying out as she became nothing but an arenous pile on the stone floor.
"Holy shit!" exclaimed James. "That was terrifying, but so cool at the same time!"
Florence walked to Severus and kissed him, "No one has the right to desire what's mine." Her light-green veela eyes sparkled and he could sense the satisfaction from the magical being in her mind. And you are mine! She added mentally, kissing him again.
"Of course the reason had to be disgusting!" said James, rolling his eyes. "Enough with the snogging! No flirting during life or death situations!"
Florence glared at her son before kissing her husband once more.
On the second floor, they found many dead death eaters and two of the Gryffindor groups they had divided earlier.
"Neville?" exclaimed Harry.
"Harry!" the tall boy exclaimed, hugging him. "It's so good to see you, man!"
"We're going to blow up the Covered Bridge!" Exclaimed Seamus Finnigan excitedly. "Wanna come?"
Florence and Severus exchanged a surprised glance and she asked: "Why are you doing that?"
"There's a large group of death eaters gathering in the woods on the other side." Explained Neville.
"Oh, ok." Florence nodded. "Make sure you blow it with them ON the Bridge."
Seamus seemed surprised to hear that.
"Got it!" Neville agreed, smiling. "Lure them onto it and then blow it."
"Exactly!" Florence smiled at him and their two groups parted ways.
When Severus, Florence and the others finally reached the first floor, a large group of about twelve death eaters intercepted them.
And leading them was Lucius Malfoy.
"Well well well, what do we have here?" the blond man said. "A bunch of traitors!" he growled the last word as his eyes fell on his son.
Let him talk. Florence sent Severus. I'll cast a protective shield around us.
Severus nodded, his eyes never leaving the death eaters surrounding them.
And Lucius continued: "Draco, Draco, what a disappointment you turned out to be." He looked his son up and down until his eyes found where the boy's hand was entwined with the girl's by his side. Then Lucius' face turned from disgust to surprise and amusement as he realized what was happening there.
"Is this your girlfriend?" he looked from Elizabeth to Florence and Severus. "My son is fucking your daughter?" he asked, laughing next: "Poor girl!" he turned his malicious eyes to Elizabeth. "Don't worry, my dear, once this is over, I'll show you how a real man fucks."
"SHUT UP!" Draco shouted, surprising everyone. "All my life I've done everything and anything to get your approval! But you know what I found out? That parents DO love their children unconditionally – even when they're different from them!"
Florence glanced at her husband. The protection is in place. Let him talk. He needs this.
"Love." Spat Lucius. "Love is weakness!"
"NO!" Draco shouted. "YOU are weak! You're a pathetic excuse for a father!"
"I'll shut you up, you little shit!" Lucius growled, attacking his son.
But the red colour of his Cruciatus Curse was absorbed by Florence's shield.
"You're never torturing me again." Said Draco in a low and strangely calm voice.
Florence glanced at her husband and they knew what the boy was about to do.
Should we stop him? She asked him.
Severus just shook his head.
And Draco continued, his voice carrying a certainty: "You're never torturing my mother again. You'll never hurt anyone again!" His hand tightened around his wand, steadying his grip, and then he cast: "Avada kedavra."
The surprise on Lucius' face accompanied him to his death as he fell onto the floor.
Then the death eaters attacked, their several spells hitting Florence's shield and not harming either the Snapes or the others.
Within minutes, there were twelve bodies lying on the first floor corridor, sporting varied types of wounds – all deadly.
Once the sound of the spells went down, Pomfrey appeared at the door of the Hospital Wing.
"Is anyone hurt?"
But no one replied, Severus went towards Draco, stopping in front of him and putting both hands on his shoulders.
"Draco?"
But the boy kept his eyes on the man on the floor – his father, whom he had just killed.
"Draco!" Severus called again, using his strong classroom voice and that seemed to break through the boy's thoughts.
"Y-yes. What?" Draco blinked up at him. "What is it?"
"Listen to me." Severus said. "You'll be alright. I know what you're feeling right now – I had to do the same thing you did. And you'll be ok. Your mother will be safe from him now. Forever."
The blond boy nodded, glancing once more at the dead man on the floor.
The twins and Elizabeth looked at Florence, surprised by the information that their father had killed his own father.
"How old were you?" Draco asked, raising his blue gaze to his godfather's face again. "When you had to do it?"
"I was nine."
"Holy shit." James and Nicholas whispered.
"Draco." Said Florence, getting close to him. "We have to keep going. If you need a moment, you can stay here with Poppy in the infirmary."
Draco shook his head. "No. My family is partially responsible for this war. My grandfather and my father donated millions of galleons to the Lord's fight. I want to help bring this nightmare to an end."
Florence slowly nodded and looked at her husband. What do you think?
Let him go. He needs to do this.
And they ran to the Marble staircase.
From the top of the stairs, they could see that the Entrance Hall was covered in debris; statues lay in pieces on the stone floor, paintings hung from the walls with torn canvases and broken frames, and the large glass window on the opposite side of the staircase had been completely shattered.
As their group ran downstairs, they could hear shouts and screams mixed with the sounds of spells and destruction coming from the Great Hall and from outside as well.
"Team up!" ordered Florence, stopping near the bottom of the stairs and turning to face them. "The twins go first!"
And the boys ran into the Great Hall.
"Luna, Liz and Draco. In you go!" And they went, "And Harry." She paused, looking at him. "You need to hide until we kill Nagini."
He was about to protest, but she continued: "Do not argue with me in this. You know your role tonight – and it's not to kill death eaters. You're here to kill my father."
"And die." Added Harry.
"Maybe, yes." She whispered, pulling him into a quick hug. "Get under your invisibility cloak and stay hidden."
The boy obeyed, albeit reluctantly, vanishing from sight.
Florence looked at Severus, pulling him down to a brief kiss, silently conveying her love through her eyes and receiving the same warmth from his.
And then they entered the Great Hall.