June 2nd, 1997

Hogwarts Dungeons

Severus slowly opened his eyes, feeling the familiar weight of his wife's head on his chest, and sighed.

That was the day.

Dumbledore's last day.

The headmaster would be dead before dawn the next day, and Severus would be the one to murder him.

He slowly moved Florence's head to a pillow and got up, putting on some joggers and going to the living room fireplace to ask the school's kitchens for breakfast for two.

"I thought we'd be eating with Dumbledore today," he heard Florence say from the bedroom door.

He looked towards her voice and smiled; the sight of his incredible wife dressed in one of his undershirts always had him smiling – even in a horrible day like that.

Severus walked to where she was and kissed her, wrapping his arms around her in a tender embrace.

"We'll have lunch with Albus today," he said, after another kiss, "But I want to have breakfast just the two of us."

Florence could feel his anxiety and sadness, there was even a hint of anger coming from him. She touched both hands to his face and kissed his lips again.

"It's alright. I'm here for you, Severus," she pressed their foreheads together.

He kissed her once more, holding her tightly against his chest.

She caressed down his strong back, comforting him.

"We'll find a way to get out of this hole we're getting into tonight, Sev. Together."

But he didn't say anything, just tightened his arms around her and buried his nose in her hair, needing her comfort.


Hospital Wing

At around ten that morning, Dobby apparated in the infirmary to tell Florence that Dumbledore was calling her to his office.

She thanked the sweet elf and walked into the fireplace, flooing to the Headmaster's office.

"Florence!" Dumbledore exclaimed as soon as she walked out of the green flames.

"You called me, headmaster."

"Yes. Join me for tea, dear," he pointed at the tray on his desk.

In any other day, she'd have declined and just asked him to go straight to the point – but not that day.

There wouldn't be any more calls for tea at strange hours after that night.

So Florence nodded, "Of course, Dumbledore," and sat on the chair in front of his desk.

She poured two tea cups and took one for herself, sipping the hot beverage and finally looking into Dumbledore's eyes.

He smiled kindly, "You know that what I've asked from Severus I couldn't possibly ask from anyone else, don't you?"

"Yes. I know," Florence said, putting her cup on the table and staring at him, trying to change the subject: "Why are you taking Harry to get a Horcrux that you already know is fake?"

"To give him an idea of how hard it'll be to actually find and retrieve the still missing Horcruxes."

She silently nodded, understanding, "And will you tell him he's one?"

"No. Severus will, when he deems important."

She exhaled in irritation, realising she couldn't stop herself from giving him a piece of her mind: "You're putting too much on him, you know. You'll be dead, but my husband will have to carry your death on his shoulders forever."

Dumbledore sighed, "I know, dear. Would you rather do it instead?" he offered.

She narrowed her sudden light-green eyes at him, "There's been many moments in all the years I've known you when I could have done it."

Dumbledore laughed, "I'm sure there were, my dear," he poured himself some more tea, "Will you miss me?"

Florence looked at him, clearly annoyed to admit: "You know I will," she paused, her eyes going to the tea tray on his desk, "Twenty-one years ago I came here, a terrified and confused teenager with no one to run to... and you listened to me and gave me a chance. You kept my secrets and never doubted me," she wiped a tear from her face.

"Yes," Dumbledore softly replied, "I remember that night very clearly; this was exactly how we first spoke: you sitting on that chair, me sitting over here, a tea tray between us," his blue eyes sparkled with emotion, "It's been an honour and a delight to watch that frightened teenager become the woman you are today."

Florence smiled, "Thank you."

"Watching you and Severus grow, and the beautiful family you two have, have been the greatest of pleasures. I love your kids as my own grandkids, Florence, I hope you know that," he finished with a smile.

"Yes, I do. And they love you too," she hesitated, realising there was one thing she'd never asked him: "All those years ago, what did Severus say to convince you he truly wished to leave my father's ranks?"

Dumbledore frowned, "Severus never told you?"

She snorted: "He fed me some sentimental excuse that it was because of me."

Dumbledore smiled, "And it was. But also because of your twins."

Florence looked at him, a little confused, for Severus didn't know the boys were his kids then.

"He came to me," explained Dumbledore, "After having seen the twins at his mother's house one night. He told me of his love for you and how he regretted all he had done to help your father. Then he opened his mind to me, fully – to an extent that I don't think even he realised. And I could feel his love, his dream of helping you raise the boys – even though at the time he believed they were Sirius's children," he paused, "You have heard me say this many many times, but I'll say it again: love is the most powerful weapon, my dear," he looked at her intently, "People underestimate it greatly, but that's the power that will defeat your father at the end. And when I felt all that love inside Severus' mind, I was certain he couldn't be lying about his motives."

Florence sniffed, emotionally moved by what he had just told her, "That's why you made me come here to help him after my father's downfall."

He nodded, "I knew you two belonged together. You are stronger together. And the fate of this war will rely heavily on you and him. Specially after I'm gone," he paused, "I'm deeply sorry your family is paying the price..."

"I know."

"And if things could be any different… if I hadn't got myself cursed..." he looked at his very thin and blackened hand.

Florence nodded again, wiping a few more tears, "I don't like the fact that my husband will become your murderer, but I don't want to watch you wither away because of the curse. It'd be an awful way to die."

Dumbledore stood up and Florence did the same, then he walked towards her, pulling her to an embrace.

"Thank you, my dear Florence, for everything. A blessed day it was, when the Dark Lord's daughter fell asleep in my office," he said, tenderly, making her smile.


Meanwhile, four floors below

Severus was teaching a class that morning for fifth years Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs – which he decided not to cancel for it would help take his mind off of that night.

But the students were able to say that something wasn't right; their usually sarcastic and mean teacher was quiet and didn't walk around the room, didn't check if they were reading the right page of the book.

He just gave them a quiz to be answered and sat behind his desk in front of the class, practically ignoring them for the next three hours.


Dumbledore, on the other hand, was really excited that day; it was as if he was getting ready to go on vacation to a very cool place.

He walked around the castle, talking to everybody; he ate everything he liked and told more than his usual amount of stupid jokes.

All the while, Florence felt sad, anxious and, surprisingly, sentimental. She knew she couldn't cry in front of everybody, but that's what she felt like doing many times during that day; she had never imagined she would miss the manipulative old bastard so much.


The events of that evening had already been carefully discussed and planned between the headmaster, Florence, Severus and Draco.

Dumbledore would leave with Harry at around four that afternoon to get the fake horcrux.

Draco was going to get the Death Eaters inside the school through the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement at around eight o'clock.

By then, Dumbledore would have already returned with Harry and they would stay in the Astronomy Tower, where Draco would lead death eaters to, and Severus would meet them there and kill the Headmaster.

But it was still lunchtime, and the other teachers were very curious about Dumbledore's behaviour.

"What's it with you today, Albus?" asked McGonagall, "You're... even more cheerful than usual."

"Nothing exceptional, Minerva," the headmaster laughed, "I'm just happy. Last night, I took a moment to think about my life and I believe fate has been really kind to me. I never had a happy love life or a family to call my own, as you know. But when I thought that I'd never have any children, fate gave me two," he looked at Severus and Florence, "And I'm so proud of both of them, even though they're both Slytherins," the teachers at the high table chuckled.

But Severus didn't even look at him.

Florence just smiled at Dumbledore and spoke to her husband: He's glad he's dying, Sev. Don't be so grumpy, love.

Of course he is glad. He'll be dead. The whole war will no longer depend on him.

She gulped, knowing why her husband was angry, they had talked about it already: the end of the war would depend heavily on them – Severus and her; there would be no one to guide them, no one to vouch for them either.

The Headmaster sensed her apprehension and correctly guessed what she was worrying about.

So he spoke again: "You can all be certain of one thing," Dumbledore's voice was serious now, "No one in this world would have done for me what Severus and Florence have already done. No one would do what they are going to do for me."

Nobody said a word, the enigmatic sentence hung in the air as they all finished eating in silence.


Dungeons

4 p.m.

Florence was with her husband in his private quarters, both of them sitting on the armchair by the fireplace, she on his lap; her head rested on his shoulder, their hands entwined on her lap, as they silently waited for Dumbledore's signal that he had left the school with Harry.

They knew what that night would mean for their family: more risks, more danger, more enemies – everything would change for the worse.

Then the signal came: one single phoenix feather appeared in front of them and slowly fell to the floor.

"They've left the castle," said Severus, "Harry and Dumbledore are no longer here."

Florence got up from his lap and walked to the table, opening the Marauders' Map that Remus had lent her.

"Draco is nowhere to be seen," she said, "He's probably in the Room of Requirement already. Neville, Ron and others are watching the seventh floor. Should we warn them?"

"No. Dumbledore is the target. Their plan is to get to the Astronomy Tower, because I told Draco that's where Dumbledore is going to be when he returns," he hugged her from behind, "They'll get there and Draco will stall as much as he can, waiting for me to arrive. The students are safe. For now."

And Florence nodded, her eyes still on the map.


A little after 8 p.m., they heard someone knocking on the door.

"It's Flitwick," Florence said, keeping her eyes on the death eaters who had already arrived and slowly made their way to the Astronomy Tower.

Severus opened the door.

"Prof. Flitwick. What brings you down here?" he pretended not to know.

"Death Eaters!" Flitwick shouted, "Severus, you have to go there! The students are being attacked! Albus isn't here! Minerva has no idea where he is!"

"Sure, professor. We'll go up there," Florence said, discreetly stupefying the Charms teacher.

Severus stopped him from hitting the floor and levitated him to the sofa.

"I'll go find the girls," Florence said, for it was part of their plan to get Ginny and Hermione away from the battle – they were both too precious for the Order, which increased their chances of ending up being captured if the Death Eaters had the opportunity.

But she didn't move right away, she stood by the door looking at her husband, knowing that the next time she saw him he'd have killed Dumbledore.

Go, Florence.

But she ignored his order and walked towards him, touching his face and kissing him one more time.

"Good luck, love," she said, looking into his eyes "I'll be waiting for you at home."

Severus just nodded and lay a kiss on her left hand, then he watched Florence run down the corridors and disappear from sight after turning left towards the Slytherin common room.


Hermione was looking at the doors of the castle, ready for battle, when she saw her future mother-in-law running towards her and Ginny.

"Hermione! Ginny!" Florence called them.

"Madam Delacour! What's happening?" Hermione asked, certain that if anyone knew what was going on it was Florence and her husband.

Ginny added: "Harry left with Dumbledore and Prof. McGonagall said there are death eaters here!"

"Yes, girls, it's true," Florence nodded, "We protected the castle, but they found a way in through a Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement."

Ginny gasped, "Malfoy! Harry has mentioned seeing Draco disappear in the seventh floor."

"Right. In the Marauders' Map," Florence tilted her head, quickly realising that if Harry still had his map, that meant Remus had made a new copy for himself, "Around five death eaters are inside the castle right now, at least one of them is certifiably insane and another is a crazy werewolf – so I don't think I have to tell you both to stay far away from them, right?"

"Yes, Ma'am, but..."

"No 'buts', Hermione," Florence hesitated, looking at the girl who held her oldest son's heart in her hands, knowing their relationship was hours away from being broken, "Tonight won't be easy for any of us. But... we've been preparing for this-"

Hermione frowned, "Does this have anything to do with something that happened one night four months ago?"

Florence slowly nodded, reminding herself to be very careful with what she chose to tell the clever Gryffindor.

"Yes. James is not here tonight, but he... he's a part of all of this, Hermione – and that's something you've always known."

Hermione nodded, knowing there was more to be said, but she couldn't figure out what.

"Now," continued Florence, "Go to the dungeons, Prof. Flitwick is there, he passed out and Severus is watching him – we all know he'll be of much more help up here than you two."

Both girls nodded and went to the dungeons as she had told them to.

The girls are on their way, Severus. Florence sent him, hoping he'd hear despite the distance.

Alright. Now you go home, Florence. He ordered.

She knew he didn't want her to watch him killing Dumbledore, she was well-aware he'd have to go through a transformation that night to be able to murder his old friend and then lead the death eaters away from the school, back to Little Hangleton – where he'd be received as the one who fixed the mess that that night could've turned into (with Draco failing to kill Dumbledore and Bellatrix killing half the students).

Yes, she heard her husband's annoyed voice in her head, dripping with sarcasm: I'll be a bloody hero tonight. Now get the fuck home!

Florence just sighed, allowing his rudeness to go unanswered.

She walked away from the castle, towards Hagrid's Hut, but then she heard Bellatrix shouting in the distance:

"Mosmordre!"

And she closed her eyes, hoping no one had actually been killed already.

Florence used occlumency to block her presence from her husband and decided to stay, instead of following Severus' order to go home and wait.

She couldn't leave, not before she was certain her husband hadn't been captured. There were a lot of aurors in the castle, plus the members of the Order.

She hid behind a large rock, from where she could see the Astronomy Tower, and then she waited.

After long minutes, she saw Dumbledore and Harry apparating in the Tower. And less than two minutes later, Draco was in there too, but she couldn't see if Harry was still around.

Then she saw Bellatrix's black untamed hair getting close to Draco and she could also see at least other two Death Eaters in the Tower.

For a moment, Florence thought that their plan had gone wrong, for Draco had his wand pointed at Dumbledore.

Where the fuck is Severus? She asked herself.

And then it all happened fast: Draco lowered his wand and turned to face someone who had appeared behind him – Florence couldn't see who it was, but she hoped it was her husband.

Dumbledore said something that she couldn't hear, for she was too far. And then she saw a bluish-green ray of light hit the headmaster on the chest and he fell off the Tower.

Florence felt her heart skip a beat and held in a sob, watching the grey and white figure falling towards the ground as if in slow motion.

It was done.

Severus had done it.

She sat on the grass, her back to the rock she'd hidden behind, her head falling on her hands, her heart pounding inside her chest.

Dumbledore was dead.

Now they had a war to win – on their own.