Chaos.
Utter chaos reigned in the Great Hall when Severus and Florence ran in.
There were students of all houses and ages fighting against death eaters, despite the curfew that had been instated – although that shouldn't have come as a surprise, since Hogwarts' students were not good at following orders at all.
Then a loud unexpected explosion coming from outside shook the two long tables still standing and rattled the debris inside the Great Hall.
I believe that was the Covered Bridge. Said Florence, grimacing.
If that worked, I'm never complaining about Mr. Finnigan's penchant for explosions ever again. Severus replied, raising an eyebrow and making her laugh, before she chose a death eater to attack, killing him in seconds.
Severus did the same, killing one death eater after the other, until he found Amycus Carrow and didn't think twice; he ran towards the man and killed him by means of a violently cast Sectumsempra.
Amazing spellcasting, husband. She said, proudly, killing a few more death eaters she didn't recognize.
Thank you, princess. It truly was amazing, if I do say so myself. He replied, suddenly saying: What the hell?
And Florence looked at where he was looking and became just as surprised as he as she watched Charlie Weasley holding Scabior down while Narcissa Black punched the death eater repeatedly.
We broke Cissy. She sent Severus with a touch of amusement.
He laughed as he finished killing a few more death eaters and walked back to her side.
"And what is that?" Florence asked out loud, pointing at the right corner of the room, where Draco and Liz had joined a group of Slytherin students that were holding their ground pretty well against their attackers. "Are those Nott and Zabini? Fighting for the Order?" she sounded surprised.
"Yes." Replied Severus, sending a death eater across the room with a flick of his wand. "Good to see those two finally fighting for what they truly stand for."
Florence kept fighting beside her husband and as they made their way through the battle ground that had become the Great Hall, a few things became clear: the fight was pretty balanced, but kids were fighting, getting hurt and dying – and considering that the Slytherins had joined the fight, more than one kid would probably have to commit patricide that night.
But the most concerning thing: there was no sign of Nagini or Voldemort anywhere.
Do you think he will come? She asked, worried.
Potter is here and we are here. Said Severus. He wants us. He'll come.
Then a loud scream was heard above all the fighting sounds: "TRAITOR!"
"Bellatrix." Severus growled, wand in hand.
Florence quickly cast the protective shield around them both and they waited for the mad woman's move.
"I never trusted you, half-blood!" Bella shouted, stopping five meters away from them.
Florence pointed her wand at the mad woman as well, calling Bellatrix's attention to her.
"And you, Florence." Bellatrix said, looking extremely unhappy at the sight of her. "My Lord's greatest disappointment. You betrayed your own father!" she said that as if it was a horrible crime and shook her head. "Dirtying Salazar Slytherin's bloodline with the likes of HIM!" she brandished her wand at Severus. "I'll kill you two and your brats; then I'll give my Lord the child he deserves!" and she caressed her lower belly.
Holy fuck! Said Severus through their bond. She's pregnant.
She can't be. Florence replied, fearing that could be true. So she asked Bellatrix: "And will I be having a brother or a sister?"
"No idea yet, but you'll never know!" Bellatrix replied sharply, before cackling maniacally. "Cause you'll be DEAD!" and she attacked, casting a string of curses aimlessly, two killing ones amongst them.
But none of them hit the Snape couple.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Asked Florence, confused by her lack of aim. "You're completely out of your..." but she didn't finish her sentence, for a loud terrified scream cut through the air:
"NOOO! My son!"
It was Molly Weasley.
Florence saw the woman kneel on the floor, crying desperately over someone's fallen body.
It was Ronald; he was dead.
Bellatrix, taking advantage of their temporary diverted attention – which weakened Florence's shield –, aimed her next curse, and Severus was her target.
"Avada Kedavra!" shouted the deranged woman.
Florence felt all air leave her lungs and, without thinking, she grasped Severus' arm, disapparating with him the fastest she had ever disapparated before.
The violent pull of magic shook her and him, and she found out it was impossible to focus on their direction. She thought of the dungeons and hoped it was enough.
When Florence opened her eyes, once the dizzying feel of apparition fizzled out, she recognized the corridor they were in; they had ended up in the dungeons after all, near the door to the Slytherin common room.
"SEVERUS!" she shouted, touching his chest and face in desperation. "Are you ok?"
"Yes, Flor, I am!" He pulled her close. "I'm fine! Calm down, love!"
And she panted against his chest, fisting her hands on his shirt, rubbing her face on its dark fabric, sheer terror still running through her body.
"I feared..." She trembled. "For a moment... I thought it had hit you! Oh, my love... I thought I had disapparated too late!" Her voice broke because of the fear.
"It never hit me; you saved me, princess." He held her tightly, trying to reassure her he was fine.
She pulled his face down for a kiss, and Severus kissed her long and passionately, only stopping when passing out from lack of oxygen became a risk.
Florence looked at him and smiled, feeling calmer; but her sweet smile quickly turned into anger and she growled:
"I'm gonna fucking end her!" and she ran upstairs, crossing the Entrance Hall and storming into the Great Hall, ignoring the several duels that were on full-swing around her, her eyes searching for one person, her main target – and then she found her.
"Confringo!" Florence shouted, pointing her wand at the mad female death eater who was dueling against Molly Weasley on top of the Slytherin table.
Bellatrix slumped onto her knees and fell off of the table, yelping as she hit the stone floor of the Great Hall with full force, her arms bound behind her back and her legs tied together.
Florence pulled the woman to her knees by the black rat's nest she called hair.
"You made a terrible mistake, Bella."
The death eater looked up at her with barely contained fear.
And Florence continued: "I was going to kill you before, a quick and painless Avada and you'd be nothing but history. But now, oooh, now I have something else in mind." Florence smirked evilly, feeling the dark power that she had always associated with her father pulsing inside her own body.
"You wouldn't murder your unborn sibling, would you?" Bellatrix said in a high-pitched voice and a pout that made her look even more deranged.
Florence hesitated, afraid she could be telling the truth; so she pointed her wand to the woman's lower belly and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, Bella, it turns out I won't be killing my own sibling – for there's none inside of you."
The woman looked surprised, but Florence didn't spend another second worrying about what she was about to do; she pulled Bellatrix's left arm to the front of her body and held it with both hands, her right thumb grazing the Dark Mark.
Bellatrix whimpered.
Florence glanced at her face. "Do you remember, Bella? What I can do, when I touch this?"
The woman nodded and let out another whimper.
"Oh, don't worry." Said Florence. "I won't torture you today. No, what I have in mind in much worse." She pressed both thumbs onto the Dark Mark, calling on the fire from the Fiendfyre spell and conjuring it inside the veins of the woman in front of her.
Bella tried to pull her arm free when the fire first touched her, but in the next second she was screaming in excruciating pain as her body burned from inside out.
Florence let go of her arm and took two steps back, watching the woman writhing on the floor.
And then Bellatrix screamed no more, her body turning into an unrecognizable pile of burned bones and flesh on the floor beside the Slytherin table.
People all around the Great Hall, death eaters and Order members alike, seemed pleased with that woman's demise.
Then Florence felt a familiar presence, seconds before the whole castle started hearing her father's voice booming through the corridors and grounds:
"You have fought,"' said the high, cold voice, "valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. And I do not wish this to happen; every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste. Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat, immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured." He paused and all death eaters ran from the battlefield, going towards the forbidden forest.
And Voldemort continued: "I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman and child who has tried to conceal you from me. You have one hour."
Then silence.
The members of the Order of the Phoenix who were still standing looked at one another, not moving for the first seconds – the adrenalin of the fight running high through their bodies causing them to need a moment to think of what to do next.
The first one to move was Harry. He removed his invisibility cloak and ran towards Molly and the Weasleys as they all gathered around Ron's fallen body.
Severus held his wife's arm, a hand touching her face to make her look at him.
"Hey, love. How are you feeling?"
She knew he was asking about the fact she had murdered Bellatrix.
"Honestly?" Florence sighed. "Like I did the world a favour."
"That you certainly did." He nodded, smiling.
"Mom!" they heard the twins and Elizabeth call and turned towards the sound.
Florence hugged and kissed her kids, "I'm relieved to see you three unharmed."
"We saw Bellatrix attacking dad." Said Nicholas, concerned.
"Yes." Florence looked at her husband. "But he's fine and she's dead. Let's not talk about it ever again, it was one of the worst moments of my life."
"And what do we do now?" asked James.
"We regroup, count our dead and get ready for round two." Explained Severus, seeing Remus and Neville in the middle of the room and walking to them.
Florence and the kids followed him.
"My friend." She said affectionately, hugging Remus tightly, ignoring the displeased look on her husband's face.
Less hugging. He told her through their bond.
You sound like four-year-old James. She snorted.
"How big are our losses?" Severus asked, pulling Florence away from Remus.
"Not big." The werewolf replied, shaking his head at the man's jealousy. "We lost around thirty fighters. But if it weren't for the students we'd have lost double that. The Slytherins were brilliant!" He glanced at the group gathered around Draco and Narcissa. "Neville here was telling me one Gryffindor group found prisoners in a room on the second floor."
"Did you take them to Pomfrey?" Severus asked.
Neville nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Good." Said Florence. "I'll go up there to help her. Send the injured ones up." And she left the Great Hall.
Then Harry approached the Snapes and Remus, being hugged by the latter.
"You know what you have to do now, don't you, Potter?" Severus asked.
"Yes, I do." Harry took a deep breath. "I'll do exactly as you've planned, sir. I'll face him willingly."
Severus nodded, "I'll be waiting for you to come back to declare our victory, Harry. I'll find someone to get Nagini's head off."
"I'll be here to see that!" the boy said, smiling.
"I really hope so, Harry." Remus said.
The boy nodded and left the Great Hall.
"What will we do if he dies?" asked James.
"At least your grandfather's horcrux will die with him." Severus replied. "But that won't be the end… he'll come back if we don't destroy Nagini." He looked at Neville. "Stay around, Longbottom. I'll get the Sorting Hat and then we'll need one little lion brave enough to fish the sword out of it and kill the snake."
In the Hospital wing
Florence opened the door of the infirmary and found the place packed like she'd never seen it before; there were no empty beds, and those with less threatening wounds were sitting on chairs and even on the floor.
"Poppy!" Shouted Florence, making her presence known. "Tell me where you need me!"
"Flor!!" The mediwitch exclaimed in relief. "I'm so glad to see you! Start on that side! Beds first! I'm low on everything, so only use potions when extremely necessary, please!"
"That can be easily remedied." Florence said, already running her diagnostics on her first patient. "Tiffany!" she called.
"Yes, Mistress Flor?" Said the elf as soon as she appeared.
"Gather all potions we have in our storage at home and in the headquarters and bring them here!"
And Tiffany disapparated.
Florence healed the young man on the first bed, only afterwards recognizing him as the Gryffindor student Dean Thomas. She wrote on his chart that he needed one Blood-Replenishing vial and moved on to the next bed.
The girl there was in a critical state – werewolves had attacked her.
"Shit." Florence cursed, as she worked on stopping the girl's several internal bleeding spots and assessed the lycanthrope contamination level in her blood – it was high.
Right then, Severus ran into the infirmary, carrying a wounded McGonagall.
"Florence! Come check Minerva!" he shouted. "She lost consciousness twice on the way here!"
And Florence ran towards him, noticing Tiffany was back.
"Tiff, give Mr. Thomas a vial of blood-replenishing; and did you find the wolfsbane in stasis that was in the corner cabinet?"
"Yes, Mistress." The elf replied, already uncorking a vial to give the potion to the boy on the first bed.
"Good." Florence transfigurated a small cabinet into a bed and Severus put McGonagall on it.
Did you get it? She asked. The Hat?
Yes. I've got it with me.
Then she told him out loud: "Now remove the stasis from the wolfsbane Tiff brought and give it to Miss Brown, she's on the second bed."
He frowned, concerned for the girl, but moved quickly to do as she had told him to.
Florence focused on healing McGonagall; the professor had been hit on the head by a rock, had sustained one Cruciatus curse and had cast several spells herself – her body was injured and exhausted.
After a few minutes, and an Enervate, the professor woke up startled.
"Calm down, you're safe, professor!" Florence said, "Severus brought you to the infirmary. I've healed you. Just rest a little now." And she was moving to the next bed, barely looking at her patient's bruised face, her focus solely on diagnosing and healing them fast to be able to go on to the next one.
"Fucking hell." Florence whispered, realizing some of the wounds and bruises on the woman in that bed were consistent with those seen in sexual assault victims.
After a couple of healing spells, a pain potion, a morning-after draught and a blood-replenishing vial, the woman's temperature finally rose back to normal levels, her bruised face were less swollen, and she stirred.
Florence moved down her leg, working on fixing her patient's severely broken ankle.
"You." The woman whispered.
And Florence snapped her head towards her face, looking into the hard, tear-filled eyes of none other than...
"Cassiopeia." She whispered, holding the woman's gaze for a few seconds, before focusing back on healing her ankle – telling herself that it didn't matter who the person on the bed was, she was a victim, she was hurt and needed medical attention.
No matter their past issues.
Once Florence finished mending Rosmerta's ankle, she told Tiffany to give the woman a calming draught (which the elf did without hiding her displeasure), and moved on to the next bed without another word.
"I hate this as much as you." Said Rosmerta after a while, her voice low and filled with loathing. "But I find myself being forced to thank you."
"No need for that." Florence replied dryly, not even turning around to face the woman again. "I took an oath. I am obliged to help you or anyone else that is trusted under my care. And what happened to you was awful – no one deserves that."
She heard Rosmerta take a deep breath before saying: "Thank you, Delacour."
Florence slowly turned her face to her, unable to stop herself from correcting her: "It's Mrs. Snape, Cassie."
And Rosmerta clenched her jaw, fury burning in her eyes again.
Then Florence heard in her mind: Play nice, wife.
And she raised her head to look at her husband who stood nearby, Shut it, Severus. Keep pissing me off and I'll be transfigurating a bed for you next.
He raised his hands in a sign of surrender and Florence focused on her next patient, Miss Lovegood, who had been tortured by several Cruciatus curse. Luckily the girl's mind was capable of powerful dissociative magic and she had been able to use that to protect herself from madness.
"Will she be alright?" Asked Neville Longbottom, standing by the foot of the bed.
"Yes, Neville. Luna is a lot stronger than she looks. She'll be fine after some rest and an Invigorating Draught." Then Florence turned to him. "Now, let me check your forehead."
He nodded and leaned forward, letting her fix the ugly gash.
"A rock fell on you?" she asked.
"It's more like I fell on the rock. I was thrown backwards when Seamus blew up the Covered Bridge."
"That was a brilliant idea. It helped us tremendously."
He smiled and she finished healing his wound.
Suddenly, they all heard Voldemort's voice reverberating through the school again:
"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We'll bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone."
Severus and Florence stared at each other, shocked.
The infirmary fell into a heavy silence, those who were awake barely breathed as they absorbed that hopeless news.
"It didn't work." Florence whispered, "Harry died, but father didn't die with him."
Severus ran his hand through his hair, visibly shaken.
And Voldemort continued:
"The battle is won. Despite you efforts, my Death Eaters still outnumber you and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle, now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live, and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together."
Silence.
No one spoke a word all over Hogwarts.
Florence walked to her husband, no longer able to hold back the tears that flooded her eyes.
"What will we do now?" she asked him.
"We'll go to the Great Hall and... we'll fight until..." he stopped talking and took her face in both his hands. "Flor, please, stay here." he begged.
She immediately got furious: "NO! I won't let you go there by yourself!"
"But if both of us die... think about the kids." he pleaded.
Florence fisted a hand on the collar of his shirt and tugged, bringing his face down, closer to hers.
"I'll kill him. There's only Nagini left! You have the Sorting Hat, Longbottom can get us that damn sword! Finish the snake. I'll deal with my father!"
Severus clearly hated her plan, but he knew better than to disagree with her. He just grabbed her waist, pulled her against his body and kissed her.
Then they ran back to the Great Hall.
When Florence, Severus and Neville reached the Marble staircase, they could tell that no one was in the Great Hall anymore. The Order members and the students had gathered outside in the Entrance courtyard.
Prof. Slughorn came towards them as they exited the double Entrance doors.
"What will we do now, Severus? Potter was the chosen one!" cried Slughorn.
"There's only one Horcrux left, professor." Severus replied. "And we have a plan." He pulled something dark brown and dirty from inside his pocket and restored it to its normal size, giving it to Longbottom.
"Is that... the Sorting Hat?" Asked Slughorn, confused.
"Yes, but we haven't got time to explain!" Said Florence, walking towards the front of the gathering. "Remus!" she called, holding his arm.
"Flor! Tell me you've got a plan!" Remus asked frantically.
"Yes." She nodded. "Neville will end Nagini and I'll distract father. You'll have to fight the death eaters again until the snake is gone, for only then I'll be able to kill him. Killing him before that will only delay this fight another seventeen years!"
Remus looked at her with worry. "We won't be able to fight for much longer, Flor, they still outnumber us."
"So help Neville get Nagini!" She ordered.
He nodded.
Then they heard sounds on the Viaduct, and coming towards them was Voldemort, being followed by death eaters and Hagrid – who carried Harry in his arms.
At the sight of the boy's lifeless form lying limply on the half-giant's arms, everybody seemed to stop breathing.
Voldemort smiled as he saw his daughter standing a few feet in front of the resistance.
"Florence." He said. "I heard you're the one responsible for Bella's death."
"Yes. You see, father, I enjoy being an only child." She replied mockingly. "And Bella wanted to change that – so she had to go."
Voldemort laughed, his eyes narrowing at the man that stopped beside his daughter.
"Severus." He spoke with despise. "You know, I truly trusted you two. You should be proud of that – you were the only people to have ever fooled me." He stared at the couple and then extended his gaze to the others, saying reproachfully: "I don't see any of you on your knees!"
"We'll never bow to you!" Shouted Hermione, standing beside James with tears in her eyes.
Voldemort narrowed his eyes at her, not missing the way his grandson put himself in front of the girl.
"The mudblood, James?" Voldemort asked, clearly disgusted by even the sound of that word. "I had such high hopes for you and your brother." He tutted, disappointed, looking at Florence again. "You had everything! The only thing you HAD to do was breed with a pureblood!" he started raising his voice. "But then you went and bonded with HIM! And I was understanding, Florence! I gave you two my blessing despite Severus' blood status!" He shook his head. "But you never respected me! You betrayed me! Lied to my face! Played ME for a FOOL!" he shouted, breathing rapidly, his voice returning to its sibilant low normalcy: "Unfortunately, I can't see past that. So you two have to die!"
And he attacked, casting some nameless, but powerful, spell, its dark-red light clashing against Florence's blue-lighted Protego.
She moved her wand, throwing their connected spells against the wall, blowing it up.
Next, she cast Inpulsa, hitting her target; but Voldemort quickly used the counterspell.
The Order members had their wands at the ready, however the death eaters remained in place on the other side of the courtyard, waiting for Voldemort's command.
Then, by the corner of her eye, Florence saw Nagini slithering towards the castle, preparing to attack those protecting the school.
She glanced at Severus and he knew what he had to do.
"Longbottom!" He called, running into the castle, being followed by the Gryffindor boy.
"Whatever you and the traitor have planned, Florence." Voldemort growled. "You'll fail!" he pointed at Hagrid, who cried over the still form of Harry in his arms. "The chosen one is DEAD! Put him on the ground, Hagrid!" He ordered, "Right at my feet, where he belongs!" and Hagrid carefully put Harry down onto the ground.
"See?" Voldemort touched his foot to Harry's face. "Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand it now, you fools? He was nothing; he was just a boy, a boy who trusted you would all sacrifice your lives for him."
"NOO!" they all heard the desperate cry of Ginny Weasley. "He can't be dead! NOOO! Harry!"
Then others started to shout and Voldemort grew tired of that.
"SILENCE!" he ordered, casting a silencing spell and everybody lost their voices. "It's over!"
Florence never lowered her wand, she kept it pointed at her father, ready to engage him in duel again, to stall him, giving Severus and Neville time to end Nagini; for she couldn't attack him to kill if the snake wasn't dead.
"Harry Potter was killed while trying to run away from the castle." Voldemort said in a deceitfully amiable voice, as if trying to explain things to his listeners aiming to make them understand that he knew better: "The boy was caught trying to save his own life!"
No one seemed to believe him.
"C'mon, father," Florence snorted. "You can lie better than that. We all knew Harry well-enough to be certain he'd never run away from battle and leave his friends behind."
Voldemort glared at her, letting her see in his eyes the deep level of his disappointment in her. And when he spoke, it was enunciating each word: "So. Much. Wasted. Potential, Florence." He shook his head. "You must know that it pains me to think I have to kill you. You are the child of the only woman I can honestly say I loved in my life." He paused briefly. "But this is all your fault, you brought this upon yourself!" he raised his wand again.
Florence got ready to defend herself, her battle stance similar to the one of the man in front of her.
But he didn't attack her, instead his face was unexpectedly taken by pain and anger.
At the same time that Florence heard her husband's voice: It's done! Longbottom did it!
And she breathed a sigh of relief, while Voldemort screamed in fury:
"NOOOO! Nagini!" his angry green eyes met Florence's briefly and moved to the others, as he shouted: "Forget mercy! YOU WILL ALL DIE!"
Then the death eaters got ready to attack and so did the Order members, but Florence noticed something: Potter had vanished.
"Where's Harry?" she asked.
Voldemort stopped his angry outburst and looked down at his feet – finding it empty.
"Where is he?" he asked, looking at Hagrid. "Did you take him?" The half-giant shook his head fast. "WHERE IS HE?" he looked around, seeming terrified, realizing he was not in the safe spot he had thought he were mere seconds ago.
"Problems, father?" Florence asked, smirking. "No Horcruxes left and one missing Chosen One. Yeah. You clearly do have problems."
He glared at her, but didn't raise his wand her way again.
"You do remember that you've never been able to defeat me, daughter?"
"I was a child then, father. If I were you, I wouldn't be so sure of what I can and can't do now."
"You're willing to sacrifice yourself for that boy?"
"I don't feel sacrifices will be necessary tonight, father."
"Goodbye, Florence." Said Voldemort, pointing his wand at her.
"NO!" they suddenly heard, and Harry revealed himself, standing between them. "No one else will die for me!" he looked at Florence.
She stared at the boy, smiling at the sight of him, and then nodded before walking towards her husband.
Harry turned around to face Voldemort, who laughed ironically.
"But you can't be serious, Potter; you're not going to fight me yourself, will you? No, this is not how you usually act, is it? Look around and choose; who will you use as a shield today? Who else will die for you?"
"Nobody!" Harry said firmly. "There are no more Horcruxes, Tom. It's just you and me. You won't kill anyone else tonight. You won't ever be able to hurt anyone again!"
"HOW ARE YOU ALIVE?" shouted Voldemort angrily.
"You don't get it, do you?" said Harry. "I went to you willingly. I was ready to die to save my friends."
"But you DIDN'T DIE!"
"But I accepted I would, to save them; and that's what makes all the difference! Actually, you can thank Snape and your daughter for this plan."
Voldemort looked at them, seeing how Florence stood surrounded by her husband and children. Then he gave a twisted smiled and laughed.
"Is it love, again?" he snorted. "Dumbledore's favourite solution: love. Which he believed could conquer death. Although love didn't stop him from falling off the Astronomy Tower like and old rag doll. Love didn't stop me from killing your filthy muggle mother, Potter! And now, no one seems to love you enough to put themselves between you and me. So what will stop you from dying this time, Potter?" he pointed his wand at Harry.
"Another of Dumbledore and Snape's plans." Harry calmly replied.
Voldemort's face twisted in anger: "All the old man's plans have failed, Potter! Haven't you realized it yet?"
"They've apparently failed. Tom." He smiled. "You fail to see that I know some things that you ignore; magic that you've never tried to understand."
"You think you know more about magic then I do?" Voldemort sounded outraged. "I'm capable of things not even Dumbledore dared to dream of, Potter!"
"Oh, he dreamed about them. Only he was cleverer than you. He knew there were certain powers that he shouldn't try to master."
"DUMBLEDORE IS GONE!" Voldemort shouted. "It makes no difference now! He tried to stop me from possessing the Elder Wand, he wanted Snape to be the Wand's Master, but I killed him! Florence may have brought him back, but I did kill him! Now the Elder wand is mine! Dumbledore's last plan failed, you stupid boy!"
"Yes. It did. Only... it failed for you, Tom, not for me." Harry tilted his head. "And you know very well what I'm talking about."
Voldemort's hand shook slightly around the wand.
"It is still not working properly for you, is it?" Harry motioned the Elder wand. "That's because you killed the wrong person. Snape was never the Master of the Elder Wand. He never defeated Dumbledore."
"Snape killed Dumbledore…" said Voldemort.
"Aren't you listening?" shouted Harry. "Snape never defeated Dumbledore! Dumbledore's death was planned between the two of them! The power of the Elder Wand was supposed to die with Dumbledore!"
Voldemort frowned. "So Dumbledore practically gave me the Wand! I took it from his grave! Its power is mine!"
"Losing Horcruxes's left you with cognitive problems, has it?" he mocked. "The wand chooses the wizard! To wield the Wand is not enough, Tom! The Elder wand recognized a new Master before Dumbledore's death. Someone who never touched it. Someone who never even knew about it. The true Master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy."
Draco frowned and shook his head, looking from Elizabeth to his mother.
"I don't... I've never..." he stuttered.
"We know, Draco." whispered Florence, reassuringly.
Voldemort looked from Harry to Draco, clearly surprised by that information, "It doesn't matter, now." He finally said, "After I kill you, I'll get rid of Draco."
But Harry was shaking his head, "No, Tom. It's too late, now. You've lost your chance. I've defeated Draco a while ago."
And silence reigned, while Voldemort absorbed Harry's words; the realization of what that meant could clearly be seen on the ophidian man's face.
"Does the Wand in your hand know her last Master has been defeated?" Harry asked so softly it was nearly a whisper. "Because if it does, Tom… it knows that I am its true Master."
Voldemort's face contorted into an angry snarl and he didn't wait another minute:
"Avada kedavra!" he cast.
"Expelliarmus!" cast Harry.
And both rays of magic – one green and one red – collided in the middle and seemed to stand in the air for a while.
Then the green ray receded, going back towards Voldemort.
"N-no! Nooo!" He shouted, but the Elder Wand escaped from his grasp and flew through the air towards Harry.
Voldemort stumbled, nearly hitting the ground; his green eyes frantically looking for someone, and when he found her, he forced his frail body to walk towards her.
"Florence." He gasped.
And she inhaled sharply.
Don't go to him, Florence! Ordered Severus, holding her arm.
Let me go, Severus! She replied, prying her arm away from his grasp and walking towards the dying body that hosted her father's one-eighth of soul.
Voldemort fell onto his knees in front of her and gripped her sweater weakly, with both hands.
"Sh-show me." He demanded in a broken whisper, his face turned up to look at her. "Let me... let me see her."
Florence stared at him in surprise and confusion, panting as she struggled understand what he was asking.
"Her eyes!" He tried to shout, but couldn't gather enough energy to do it. "Please, daughter! Show me. Show me your Lily's eyes..."
Her breath hitched, a lump settling in her throat, making it hard for her to breathe as she witnessed the desperation in his eyes – something she had never seen before.
"Please, daughter." He whispered, his hands letting go of her sweater and his head falling forwards onto his chest as the last of his energy started to leave him. "I need... to see them... one last time."
"It's ok, father, I understand." Florence said, delicately pulling his face up, looking into his eyes and opening her mind to him, letting him see the first time she had gazed into Lily's purple eyes.
She heard him gasp, his rapidly decomposing body shivering and he smiled, giving out one last faint whisper: "Sophie."
Then she let go of his face and he slumped onto the ground, his upper body hitting the hard stone and he didn't move again.
No one dared move or utter a word as they all watched the wind blow away the dusty remains that once had been the most feared and powerful wizard to have ever lived.
Florence panted as she looked at the empty space in front of her where her father had kneeled; for a moment she stood frozen in place as she recalled everything he had meant in her life – the good, the bad and the awful – barely hearing what was happening around her.
She felt Severus wrapping his arms around her protectively at the same time that chaos was reinstated in the courtyard.
The death eaters started to flee, but the Order members and the students attacked them, trying to capture as many of the Dark Lord's supporters as possible.
But neither Florence nor Severus entered that battle; they stood in the courtyard, his arms wrapped tightly around her, while their three oldest kids, plus Draco, protected them from any attacks.
Are you ok, love? Severus asked.
Yes. Florence nodded against his chest, slowly coming out of her emotional shock and looking up at him. I'm just shaken up. She touched his face, pulling him down for a sweet kiss. We made it, husband.
He chuckled, We did, love.
She joined him in laughter and he hoisted her up, kissing her deeply as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
"OY!" they heard James' voice. "The battle is still going here!"
They broke the kiss and laughed harder.
Then Florence exclaimed: "Harry! Where's Harry?"
Severus let her put her legs down and she turned around, running towards Harry as the battles died out.
"You did it, Harry!" she shouted, hugging him and kissing his face. "You killed him and you're alive!"
"WE did it, Mrs. Snape. If it weren't for you and Prof. Snape..." He blushed due to her public display of affection.
"No. Don't mention it, Harry. You were so brave!" she kissed his forehead again.
"If I were you," said Severus, standing beside them. "I'd want peace and quiet right now, Potter."
"Yes, sir." He smiled for a second before grimacing, "I can't imagine the kind of raucous the media will cause tomorrow."
"That's going to be awful." Agreed Florence, "Look, I know you may wish to return to Headquarters, but... if you'd like somewhere quieter, you could come with us."
"You can be sure no wizarding media will be able to break through our protections." Said Severus.
"Father himself couldn't." Added Florence.
Harry smiled and nodded, "I'd like that. I know there's no place I'd feel safer than under your roof. Only..." he hesitated. "I'd like to go to Dumbledore's office. I want to talk to his portrait before we leave."
"Go, dear." Said Florence. "I'll drop by the Hospital Wing and help Poppy with the injured until we find out if it's possible to call St. Mungus."
Harry nodded, "I'll meet you there." And he covered himself with his invisibility cloak.
Hospital Wing
"How can I help you, Poppy?" asked Florence as she walked into the infirmary.
"Flor!" Pomfrey shouted, going to hug her with tears in her eyes. "I'm so relieved to see you! Where's your grumpy half?"
Florence looked at the door and Poppy followed her gaze; Severus raised an eyebrow at the school's mediwitch.
Pomfrey smiled and started telling Florence what had happened so far: "Flitwick will need to go to St. Mungus – but I believe he'll survive. Prof. McGonagall has already left. As have all the students I had here before. However, Rosmerta will..."
Florence clenched her jaw and glanced at the bed where the woman slept, saying dryly: "Send her to hell, or home. I don't care, Poppy. I healed her – I did my duty."
"Don't be like that, love." said Severus, trying not to laugh. "How is Cassie, Pomfrey?"
Florence just whirled and punched his jaw, making him fall onto the floor. "How dare you ask about her health?"
In that moment, James and Nicholas walked into the Hospital Wing carrying some hurt students; they dropped them on clean beds and went towards their parents.
"Why is dad on the floor?" asked Nicholas, frowning.
"He tripped." lied Florence, pulling the twins for a hug. "I'm so glad to see you two are unharmed. Where's Liz?"
"She is downstairs with Draco, his mother and Charlie. Barely a scratch on her. She was awesome, mom." Said James.
"I know, love. I'm so proud of all of you." She caressed his face.
"Fucking hell." They heard Severus groan as he stood up, touching his jaw.
James frowned and shook his head. "I know better than to ask what instigated that."
Florence glared at her husband briefly and walked toward the beds.
But Pomfrey held her arm, "You can go now, dear."
"No, Poppy." Florence frowned. "I can stay and help you!"
"You did more than enough today and during the whole war, Flor. Get your family and go home." She smiled. "And, Nicholas, dear, if you could pop at St. Mungus, I'd be grateful for some of their help."
Nicholas nodded and disapparated.
Florence decided to not argue with Pomfrey, so she walked out of the infirmary.
Severus and James followed her out of the Hospital Wing, and the teenager rolled his eyes at the tension he could feel between his parents.
"Look, I'm out." He said. "I'll get Mione and go home." James looked from one to the other, pointing a finger at them. "I really don't want to hear a word about whatever this is."
"Are we leaving then?" They heard Harry ask as he removed his invisibility cloak.
"Yes. You're going home with James, Harry." Said Florence, her eyes never leaving her husband's.
"C'mon, man." James said, and Harry followed him down the corridor.
Harry put his invisibility cloak into his pocket and asked: "What's going on between–?"
"Don't ask!" James interrupted him. "Geez, they've been married for nearly twenty years and still act like teenagers sometimes, it's bloody disgusting!"
Harry just smiled in amusement.
Note: Voldemort's lines were taken, nearly verbatim, from book seven.
Whatever you recognize from the final battle is not mine (I wrote this 13 years ago, I have no idea what is from the book and what is mine in that scene anymore).
And this is not the end. I will NOT be like J.K. and jump 19 years. NO! You'll know what happened in the hours after the final battle. Smut and fun ahead.