A/N: Only one more chapter until it's ALLLLLLLLLLL over! Drink it in while you can ;-)

Draco landed hard on his back after Rita used her wand to try and blast Ron into oblivion. Luckily, she missed him and instead made a well-sized hole in the middle of a tree. They would really have to make sure to avoid that spell.

"No, dammit! I said one-on-one! Stop getting in the way, Mr. Weasley, and maybe I'll be kind enough to make your death quick and painless when I control the wizarding world!"

"Fat chance!" shouted Ron, running out from the tree he had dodged behind and shooting a Killing Curse at her.

She effortlessly stepped out of the way. "Aren't you Weasleys against that sort of magic?"

"Not when someone is trying to kidnap our friend's baby!"

"You truly are a nuisance, you know that?"

Rita tried to blast Ron again, but he jumped out of the way. She grunted.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Ron rolled out of the Killing Curse's line of fire just in time. When he looked up, Wiley Rosier was standing there with his wand pointed right at him.

"Avada Kedavra!"

He rolled some more.

"It's about time you got here, Wiley! If you want to be Minister when this is all said and done then you better damn well start pulling your weight!"

"How dare you criticize me! I have been doing nothing but fighting for you this entire time!"

"Where's Quinn?"

"He was bloody torn apart by vampires for killing that one of Arron's! I told you they were unpredictable! We never should have brought them in!"

Ethan was dead? Draco tried not to react, but it was hard when he knew how upset Hermione and his mother would be. Who else that they cared about had died today?

"And Quincy?"

"I heard someone from the other side say that his son was a spy. The rumor is they're dueling."

"Bloody fucking … and the Parkinsons?"

"Dueling their daughter."

"Well, I see the prophecy was not wrong about families being torn apart." Rita looked back at Draco and raised her wand. "Looks like we can finally have that one-on-one time I was craving."

"Avada Kedavra!"

Rita dodged as a Killing Curse shot by her scarred head. "What the -"

She looked up to see Hermione running towards Draco with her wand aimed. Astoria was right behind her, only her legs were taking her towards Ron.

Rita huffed. "Oh, fine! Two-on-one! Whatever! You're still going to lose!"

"Hermione, what are you doing here?" demanded Draco. "Where's the baby?"

"Don't worry. He's safe," she answered as she reached him.

He grabbed at her arm and tried to push her away. "And you need to be safe with him -"

"Draco, no!" she shouted, pulling out of his grasp. "Do you remember why we were fighting so much before I was kidnapped?"

"I -"

"It was because we were lying to each other! We were lying to each other because both of us feel this constant need to protect one another! But I don't need protecting, Draco! All I need is you!"

Draco sighed. "I need you too."

"Then let me stay! We're strongest when we're together! You can't deny that!"

He smiled. "I can't."

"So … we'll fight together then!" She smiled back.

"You're the boss."

"Crucio!"

Draco grabbed Hermione by the waist and moved her to the other side of him, the curse just missing both of them. He kissed her quickly before raising his wand and shouting, "Crucio!" right back at Rita. It just missed.

XXX

"Lucius, are you sure we're going in the right direction?" asked Narcissa, trying to sooth her crying, yet still silent, grandson.

"Yes, I'm positive. How is he?" he asked, looking back.

"Still fussy," she said with a smile, "but cute enough to rival his own father." Suddenly, her smile faded. "Do you think they'll be all right?"

"Of course they will. We raised Draco to be the best and he has lived up to that. The only one with higher marks in his year at school was his wife. There is no better wizard and witch to finish this war."

"I know Draco is strong, that is not my concern. I just … we've already lost so much during this war. I don't think I could bear losing him too."

"We won't," said Lucius, glancing back at her. He stopped and let her catch up to him. "What are you going to do with the ashes?"

Narcissa sighed and reached one hand down to feel the phial in her pocket. "I don't know. It just seemed wrong not to have some sort of burial for him. He saved my life countless times today. Yours too."

Lucius frowned. "I wish I felt guiltier about what I did to him but I'm sorry, Cissy. I just don't. If I hadn't done what your father requested then you and Ethan might have stayed together and eventually gotten married. You and Draco and now this nameless grandson of ours are the only things in my life I have to be proud of. While the other two might just have happened, it was not like that with you, Cissy. You were my choice, my prize. Our love may not have been as instant as yours and his, but that does not make it any less significant."

"I know that," said Narcissa, looking down at the baby who had finally calmed and using her sleeve to wipe off his wet cheeks. "I was never going to marry him, Lucius. Despite everything, I loved my family and I did not want the same thing that happened to Andromeda to happen to me. In fact, I even overheard our fathers talking once about trying to find a way to get you and me together."

Lucius raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

She nodded. "I thought that was why you first decided to try and make a move on me."

"No, that was just me being a horny teenage boy."

Narcissa smirked and shook her head. "We probably would have gotten married, anyway. Only, it would have been arranged."

"I like our way better."

"What? You turning my boyfriend into a vampire, using my depression over his disappearance to sleep with me, falling for me and then manipulating me into sharing your beliefs?"

"Well, when you put it like that …"

"Look, Lucius, I'm not going to leave you if that is what you are worried about," she said coldly. "I get the feeling the reason you keep bringing this up is because you think I am and that just is not the case. Despite everything, I know you are not a bad person. You have made some mistakes, plenty of mistakes, but so have I. And I love that you are trying to better yourself. I do. If it weren't for you, I might never have had the strength to go undercover as I did. It was seeing you become a better person that made me want to be one."

Lucius sighed. "I wish I had never doubted you."

"Me too," she said before making some cooing noises to settle the fidgeting baby. Once he was still, she continued walking. After only taking a few steps, Lucius reached out and grabbed her arm. She turned and he cupped her face before drawing her in for a kiss.

When he pulled away, he smirked and said, "It just didn't seem right that I was not the last person to kiss my wife." And then he kissed her again.

"Always a competition with you," she said with a smile before kissing him back.

The baby laughed. They both looked down at him curiously but proud, nonetheless.

"I guess the Silencing Charm wore off," said Lucius.

"This baby is only thirty minutes old. How is he already laughing?" asked Narcissa.

"Best not to question these things, Darling."

Just then, the thick forest began to darken around them. The air became icy and chill as the joy they felt only moments before while staring at their laughing grandson all but vanished.

"Narcissa, we have to move," said Lucius, taking her hand.

They quickly sped into a run but had not gone very far when a dark shadow glided towards them. Lucius yanked Narcissa down to her knees and wrapped his arms protectively around her and the baby. As soon as the Dementor swooped over their heads, he pulled her back to her feet and took off running again. When they saw more Dementors headed for them, they switched directions.

"Of course, the Dementors come for the only two people in this entire war who do not know how to cast a Patronus!" shouted Narcissa as they dashed through the trees.

"I believe there are one or two others who do not know how, either! Expecto Patronum!" he attempted with little success.

Another Dementor swooped in front of them, causing them to switch directions once more.

"Well, it looks like we are definitely not heading out of the forest!" shouted Lucius.

Narcissa grunted. "What horrible babysitters we are!"

XXX

"Phillip, Sophie, please help!" shouted Caroline, running over to them. "Seth has completely flipped! Chastity's dead and Seth has completely flipped!

"Chastity's dead?" repeated Phillip as Sophie gasped and threw her hands over her mouth. "How?"

"Vampires got her when she was going after that fucking prick, Zandicus! He won't stop crying over her dead body and Seth has completely flipped! He's being reckless! He's going to get himself killed! You have to stop him!"

Phillip ran off with her without hesitation but Sophie looked back around the battlefield for a quick moment before doing the same. Goyle was helping Pansy duel her father while her mother seemed torn on what to do. Harry, Ginny and the other Weasleys were battling various witches and wizards in the area, and Luna and Rolf were instructing the former D.A. members to use their Patronuses on the abundance of Dementors that had suddenly appeared. Everyone around here was all right, for now. She just hoped it stayed that way.

"Seth, stop!" shouted Phillip, running in front of his friend as he battled a pair of wizards that clearly outmatched him.

"Phillip, I'm fine! Caroline doesn't know what she's talking about!"

"Seth, you need to calm down!" shouted Caroline. "You're going to get yourself killed!"

"Would that be so terrible?" he asked before shooting a Killing Curse at one of the wizards. They dodged it and shot one right back at him. Phillip pulled Seth out of the way.

"Yes, it would!" he said, smacking Seth across the face. "Snap out of it!"

"You didn't see her die! LOOK AT ME!" Seth tugged on his shirt to show Phillip all of the blood on it. "This is Chastity's blood! I don't care what happens to me, just as long as we fucking win! I won't let her death be in vain! Avada Kedavra!"

He hit one of the wizards and they fell back dead.

The other wizard looked down at his comrade, slowly moving his angry eyes to Seth. "That was my brother, you bastard!" He then cast what appeared to be a giant fireball and sent it hurdling in Seth and Phillip's direction. They both jumped out of the way.

It was then that Sophie saw him. That prick, Zandicus, sitting near the edge of the forest and crying with a dead witch in his arms. She ran over to him and pulled him out of harm's way just as another fireball came shooting by.

"Chasteety died while running after your arse, you coward! So do 'er a favor and fight like she wanted you to!"

"I … I can't -"

"Yes, you can! She thought better of you zan ze rest of us! Prove 'er right!" shouted Sophie before running back out to help her husband.

Another two wizards from the other side had joined in the fight and were giving Seth, Phillip and Caroline a run for their money. Jack tried to join in but was quickly sent flying backwards and left unconscious.

There was another fireball sent through the middle of them and they all dispersed.

"Dammit, Seth! We are thinkers, not intense duelers!" shouted Caroline, climbing to her feet.

Her eyes barely had time to focus before another fireball was headed right for her. Seth ran over and shoved her out of the way.

The wizard whose brother Seth had killed looked right at him and shouted, "I will kill all of your friends, and then I will kill you slowly, you fucking bastard!"

"Avada Kedavra!" shouted Sophie.

One of the other wizards pushed him out of the way but ended up getting struck themselves.

With an even stronger hatred in his eyes, the wizard began to form another fireball. He aimed it towards Sophie but, just when she started to move, he instead threw it at Caroline. There was no time to dodge but Seth was still close. He positioned himself in front of her, shielding her from the fireball as it struck. They both went flying from the force, not stopping until they hit a tree.

"Seth!" screamed Caroline as she pulled him off of her and tried to get a look at his wounds. "No …"

Seth hacked up blood as more of it oozed out of what was essentially a hole in his stomach. He looked down and touched his hand to it.

"No! No, no, no!" repeated Caroline, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a Healing Potion.

Seth touched his hand to the bottle and shook his head. "That …oomg … won't work."

"Seth, no! You have to try! Please, please just try! I can't go on without you! I lo -"

Seth collapsed into her and hacked up more blood. Caroline wrapped her arms around him and clung to his shoulders while she wept.

"Seth, please …"

"Ch-chastity," he choked.

Caroline nodded. "She's just right there," she cried, moving his head so he could look at the body lying alone only a few feet away from them.

Caroline clung to him tighter and dragged him the little ways towards Chastity. She lied him down next to her and he grabbed her cold hand in his.

"Visit … oomg … m-my mum, w-will you?"

Caroline nodded again. She stroked Seth's hair until he took his last breath, then whispered, "I love you," before kissing him on the cheek one last time. When she heard someone walk up behind her, she didn't even have to look. She knew it was Jack. "I'm sorry."

"There's no need for that, Caroline. I always told you, you did," he said before rubbing her shoulder. "Take your moment. I'll make sure no one comes for you."

"Thank you …"

Phillip was trying to keep himself together on the battlefield, and the only way he could do that was by not looking back to see what had become of Seth. But then he couldn't take it anymore and he gave in. The moment he saw Caroline sobbing over what could have only been Seth's body, he immediately regretted it. Phillip's eyes flooded with tears, and his breathing became rapid and heavy as he tried to hold it in.

"Phillipe, you must focus!" shouted Sophie, shooting a Killing Curse at the wizard who kept shooting fireballs. "We weell mourn Seth later! I promeese!" She wiped a few of her own tears away before dodging another fireball.

Taking advantage of their moment of vulnerability, the two wizards they were dueling began throwing everything they had at them. Fireballs, Killing Curses, Cruciatus Curses, all were coming nonstop, and Phillip and Sophie barely had time to block or dodge.

Eventually, Phillip fell onto his back to avoid a fireball. When he looked up, one of the wizards had their wand pointed at him and was shouting, "Avada Kedavra!"

"PHILLIPE!" Sophie tried to run for him but he was too far. "NO!"

Phillip closed his eyes and waited for his fate to take hold of him but, just when he thought it was over, someone grabbed his arm and pulled him with amazing strength out of the way. When he opened his eyes again, Zandicus was standing above him and shooting a Killing Curse right back at the wizard. It hit.

"Don't look so shocked," said Zandicus, looking down at him. "Chastity never got the chance to fight, so I will do it in her place."

"Uhh … all right."

"Do not misconstrue this. We are not friends."

"I know."

"We do not share beliefs."

"I know that too."

"But we both loved the same woman once and she would be very upset with me if I let you die."

Phillip forced a smile. "Just focus on the task at hand, will you, Zandicus?"

He then stood up and turned his attention back to the last wizard dueling his wife, trying hard not to look back at his best mate's body just behind him.

XXX

Draco and Hermione were having a hell of a time dueling with Rita. She was pretty strong for a reporter they had rarely seen lift a wand before. Ron and Astoria were not doing much better with Wiley, but that was to be expected.

"Where did you learn to fight, Beetle?" asked Draco as he grabbed Hermione and put up a shield to block them both from a curse she threw at them.

"A girl's gotta know how to take care of herself," said Rita, shooting another one of those giant blasts at them. They separated and dodged.

The forest around them turned dark and eerie very quickly. They all glanced around as any icy chill ran down their necks and through their spines.

"What are the Dementors doing over here?" asked Rita, looking at Wiley.

"I don't know. I told them to stay on the battlefield."

There was suddenly a rustling headed their way. They all turned to see two faint figures run out of the brush. Lucius and Narcissa halted when they saw them.

Draco's eyes widened when he noticed the small bundle in his mother's arms. "My parents are what you call safe?"

"Of course they are!" shouted Hermione. "But I said that before they brought him here. What in the name of Merlin are you two -?"

"Dementors led us this way," said Lucius, taking his wife's hand again and running past all of them. "Patronuses please!"

Draco, Hermione and Ron all cast theirs.

"Wiley, go after them! Get the baby!" shouted Rita as Lucius and Narcissa disappeared from view, instantly followed by a trail of Dementors. Wiley immediately pursued them.

"Ron, Astoria!" shouted Hermione. "Stop him! And keep a Patronus near my baby!"

They both nodded and took off after Wiley with Ron's translucent Jack Russell terrier trailing behind. Hermione sent her Patronus off with them too but Draco made his larger to keep the Dementors from entering their battle.

"You mean you don't want to go after your baby yourselves?" asked Rita, arching an eyebrow.

"Dying to," said Draco, "but we have to kill you first."

"Yes, that's what you've been trying to do this entire time, haven't you? And quite unsuccessfully, I might add."

"Not for long. Avada Kedavra!" shouted Draco.

Rita sidestepped the curse and smirked. "It will take more than a Killing Curse to kill me, Mr. Malfoy. I suggest you get more creative."

Hermione immediately sent a blast similar to the reporter's in Rita's direction. She had to jump to get out of the way.

"You certainly learn quickly, Mrs. Malfoy. But, unfortunately for you, I am not going to make it that easy!"

She shot another blast through the center of them, causing Draco and Hermione to leap in opposite directions.

As soon as they were separated, Rita aimed her wand at Hermione and shouted, "Expelliarmus!"

Hermione went flying backwards as her wand shot out of her hand. A tree stopped her flight and she fell to a heap on the ground.

"Hermione!" she heard Draco scream as she tried to stand up. Another blast was headed her way. "Contego Amare!"

Hermione gasped as a red light shot out of Draco's body and entered her own. "NO!"

A shield was put over her before the blast could hit. Knowing very well that Draco would now be unprotected, she instinctually lifted her hand to make it look like she had cast the shield herself.

Rita gasped. "But you are no longer pregnant! How, in the name of Merlin, do you still have wandless magic?" she demanded. "What did he cast on you?"

It seemed to have worked. "He cast a simple protection spell on me. That is all." Hermione stood up slowly, all the while keeping her hands raised. "I have always had wandless magic, Rita. I only led you to believe it was because of the baby to keep me alive."

"But … Pansy confessed -"

"Yes, Pansy confessed what she believed to be true. The theories were her own. I simply did not deny them."

"I believed your child was the answer to the prophecy long before I ever knew about the wandless magic!" shouted Rita. "The day of conception was all I needed!"

"You mean the date Goyle confirmed for you when cufflinks came out of that potion? A wizard who is currently out there fighting on our side? You really think he didn't have it in him to lie?"

"He wouldn't dare! Theo entered his mind many …" Rita stopped.

Hermione smirked. "Yes, Theo. Did Wiley not just confirm him to be a spy a few moments ago?"

Rita's eyes narrowed as she pointed her wand more forcefully at Hermione. "Liar. I know I am right."

"Am I a liar, though?" asked Hermione, raising her eyebrows. "All of this time, you thought you were two steps ahead of the game, Rita, when, really, you were always ten steps behind. Our baby was never the answer to the prophecy!"

"Liar!"

"It was always a spell! A spell that would protect the ones we love from people like you!"

"Liar, liar, liar!"

"A spell that Draco and I started together! That he finished in my absence!"

"No!"

"For months, you have been chasing the wrong answer! So, tell me, Ms. Skeeter. How does it feel to be played for a fool?"

"Crucio!"

Hermione held up a hand and Draco blocked the spell. "Crucio!" she shouted back.

Draco was fairly skilled at nonverbal spells and cast a pretty good one. It shot out of Hermione's chest, though she moved her hand to make it look like it was coming from there. When Rita dodged it, Hermione darted for her wand.

"Fine!" shouted Rita, standing back up straight. "I was saving this for later but my annoyance of you has convinced me that it's time. It won't get everyone from here but it will hit enough of them!"

"What do you mean?" asked Hermione, now aiming her wand. "Any spell you aim at the battlefield will kill your own people!"

"Yes, I am aware of that, Mrs. Malfoy, but I am also positive that all of my people will be proud to sacrifice themselves for the greater good! So you say you have a spell that will protect all of the ones you love? Well, I suggest you cast it now. Magna Crepitus!"

A large burst of roaring fire shot out of Rita's wand and into the sky, engulfing the forest even quicker than fiendfyre. It circled around them, looking ready to strike.

Hermione immediately thought of her spell. It would protect everyone, even their enemies. The war would be stuck at a standstill, but what other choice did she have?

She was just about to cast it when she looked at Draco, unprotected as the fire circled around him, still glowing in that faint blue light …

"The light …" whispered Hermione. "That's it! The light!"

The light from Katie's spell. It was the only thing that separated their two sides. With the light, she could protect only those who were most important to her. Her friends, her family, even the strangers who had come out here to fight for someone they hardly knew, simply because they knew it was right.

"Contego Totum Lumen!" Hermione shouted, aiming her wand at Draco's translucent dragon that was still floating around.

The moment the spell hit, the dragon let out a thunderous roar. It swept through Draco and Hermione, catching them both in the most luminous of blue lights before growing and then shooting up towards the sky. It split into several smaller dragons and darted in different directions.

The dragons began to race the fire towards the battlefield, each of them letting out a roar of warning that rivaled that of its enemy. Everyone on the battlefield looked up as the massive amount of flames rushed towards them, some halting to run but most continuing to fight or putting up shields.

The dragons beat the fire by milliseconds and flew onto the battlefield, running through everyone engulfed in the faint blue light, making it shine for everyone to see.

Ginny clung to Harry as the flames shot all around them, the heat of it all still making them sweat even though they were unharmed.

Pansy had fallen to the ground when the blue light engulfed her, too mesmerized by it to notice her father aim a Killing Curse at her. It bounced right off and shot back at him. He dodged it but, not even a second later, his wife hit him with her own Killing Curse. He did not even have time to react before he fell stiff on the ground.

Immediately realizing what this spell was, Pansy looked over at the flames headed their way. Her eyes widened and she jumped to her feet, wrapping her arms around her screaming mother to try and shield her. Being so small, this didn't do much, so Goyle ran over and covered his much larger body over Mila's. The flames still got her, but she was not as hurt as she could have been.

Phillip grabbed onto Sophie as the flames swept by them, shielding her head even though they were already both protected. Zandicus was lucky he had decided to fight since, before, he hadn't been glowing blue at all.

Suddenly, the vampires zoomed by them, trying to avoid the flames. They took off into the forest with no intent on ever coming back, nearly knocking over Caroline and Jack, who were trying to shield Seth and Chastity's bodies.

Further down the battlefield, witches and wizards fighting for the purebloods were not being killed, but, instead, were seriously injured by the flames. The giants took this moment to stomp on and crush them, putting them out of their misery.

The dragons kept swooping ahead of the flames, putting their blue light over Luna and Rolf as they warded off Dementors, and Neville, Hannah and Kingsley as they former protected the wounded Minister from a vicious group of witches and wizards. The dragons even protected Charlie Weasley and his dragon, Summer, flying in the sky, along with every last Hippogriff, Thestral and witch or wizard on a broomstick fighting on their side.

At the very edge of the battlefield were Theo and Katie, dueling his father. They were the last to see the flames coming and Quincy used Theo's distraction to shoot a Killing Curse at him.

"No!" Katie threw herself in front of him and flung her arms around his neck.

Theo could feel his heart stop as the spell hit, tears already flooding his eyes before he realized Katie was still breathing against him. She looked up at him, noticing the last of the translucent blue dragons floating just above his head. He let out a loud breath of relief and kissed her.

"What is this magic?" demanded Quincy, who had barely managed to dodge his own Killing Curse while also having to cast a shield to protect himself from the last bit of flames.

"I believe this is the work of the Malfoys," said Theo with a smile.

"Attention all enemies of the Malfoys and the Ministry," Kingsley's voice radiated around the battlefield. "You have lost. If you cast a spell at us, it will only bounce right off. Go on. Do it now if you do not believe me."

Quincy did just that. Theo moved Katie out of the way, just in case. Neither of them was harmed.

"Now you can see that I am not lying. Drop your wands and surrender immediately. If you do not, we WILL finish what was started."

Theo and Katie could literally hear the many clicks of wands dropping to the ground. Unfortunately, Quincy's was not one of them.

"You heard the man. Finish what was started, Theo."

Theo took a step forward and held out his wand.

"Theo … think about this," Katie said behind him. "He has already lost. There are other ways to punish him for his crimes."

Quincy smirked. "Kill me, Theo. It's what you've always wanted," he mocked.

Theo's nostrils flared. He glared at his father, swung his wand and shouted, "Stupefy!"

Quincy fell back unconscious. Theo walked up to him and bound his legs and wrists.

"I'd say Azkaban is worse than death. Wouldn't you?" he asked, looking over at Katie.

She walked over and took his hand. "So much worse," she said with a smile.

Theo gave her a quick kiss before picking up his father and carrying him over to where other members of the Fellowship of the Dragon were transfiguring cages to hold everyone who had surrendered. They had already taken care of everyone who had not.

XXX

On the other side of the forest, Ron, Astoria, Lucius, Narcissa and the baby were caught in the middle of a circle of Dementors while Wiley shot curses at them. They all kept running around in their small space to distract him, since he was obviously afraid of hitting the baby.

Ron's Jack Russell terrier worked on keeping the Dementors at bay while Hermione's otter chased her child around at all times.

"Can't you make it stronger, boy?" yelled Lucius who was growing rather tired of being in this ring they were trapped in.

"I've never been very good at Patronus'. Am I really the only one here who knows how to do it?" Ron looked at Lucius. "Surely you learned after you were drained into insanity by them?"

"Yes, I realize now that that probably would have been a wise decision. Alas, it was one I did not make."

Suddenly, one of Draco's and Hermione's dragons flew into their circle, engulfing them all in its light.

"This is Draco's Patronus, isn't it?" asked Astoria, getting dizzy as she watched the dragon circling around them.

"Yeah, but it doesn't seem to be keeping the Dementors back any," said Ron.

They all froze as it hit them at the same time. The dragon slowly disintegrated but the light now radiating off of them did not weaken.

Wiley shot a Killing Curse at Lucius while they all stood still, but it bounced right off and headed straight for him. He barely dodged it but, before he could even straighten up, Lucius was shooting one right back at him. He fell back dead.

"Now, the Dementors," said Narcissa, holding the baby tighter.

Hermione's otter floated in front of her and stopped beside the baby. He smiled and reached out for it. Then he sneezed on it.

The otter burst out in a gust of scattered light and engulfed the lurking Dementors, decaying their cloaks and then turning their skeletal bodies into dust.

They all stared wide-eyed at the peculiar sight in front of them, unable to move their gaze until every last Dementor was gone. Then they looked down at the baby. He drooled and kicked a little, paying them no mind. The Jack Russell terrier floated over to him and he immediately started laughing again, reaching out for the translucent dog and looking highly amused when his hands went right through it.

"Did … did that just happen?" asked Ron, incapable of taking his eyes off of the infant.

No one had an answer.

XXX

From where they stood in the forest, Draco, Hermione and Rita cold hear every word Kingsley's echoing voice had said.

"Ah, thanks, Beetle! You just won the war for us!" said Draco, still aiming his wand at her like it would serve a purpose.

Rita took a step back. Hermione aimed her wand now. She stopped.

Hermione smiled. "I tried to tell you that you had it wrong. You should have listened."

Rita looked at Hermione glowing in her blue light, and then at Draco glowing in his. She bolted.

"Oh, no you don't!" shouted Hermione. "Avada Kedavra!"

Rita dodged it and tried to head another way.

"Avada Kedavra!" Hermione tried again.

Rita dodged again. Then she smirked. "I told you it would take more than a Killing Curse to get me, Mrs. Malfoy."

Draco and Hermione exchanged a glance. She was right. They would need more and they would have to be clever about it. As much as they hated to admit it, Rita Skeeter was no idiot.

Rita began shooting blast after blast out of her wand, trying to distract them. While they did not get harmed like before, the gust of wind the spell created was still strong enough to send them sliding back a few steps.

Looking down at his essentially useless wand, Draco suddenly knew what he had to do. "Hermione!" he called.

She turned and he lifted his wand. Hermione nodded. She ran a few steps so Rita was now sandwiched between them.

Draco knew he had to aim to kill. There would be no Azkaban for this woman. She needed to be gone. Unfortunately, he just didn't know any spells other than the Killing Curse that would actually kill someone.

But then he remembered something. The spell the painting of Gappelish had taught him to reveal the names on the Love Chamber door. He had forbidden Draco from using it anywhere but on the door. But why? It had to be strong and it was definitely worth a shot.

"Avada Kedavra!" shouted Hermione.

Rita dodged it and turned to look at Draco, knowing very well that it was his turn to shoot something at her. She readied her wand.

"Infigelare!"

He meant to aim it slightly to her right so she would dodge left, and straight into Hermione's line of fire. A light shot out of her chest and headed for Rita, hitting her dead on.

Rita gasped as she realized what had happened. She turned slowly and glared through her jeweled spectacles at Hermione as her body convulsed. And then she began to change. Her skin became thick and green, almost shell-like as extra squirmy arms - or maybe legs - shot out of her sides.

"Holy crap, she's becoming beetle!" Draco said to himself more than anyone.

"Yes, obviously, Draco!" said Hermione, taking several skeptical steps back. "What in the name of Merlin did you cast?"

"I have no idea," he said honestly.

Rita continued to transform until she was nothing but a giant beetle in front of them. She let out a weird clicking noise and had just opened her wings to try and fly off when something rumbled inside of her.

Draco and Hermione looked at each other, their eyes widening before they took off running in opposite directions. The explosion sent them both flying, remnants of beetle insides now stuck to their backs.

"Gross!" shouted Draco, trying to wipe some remainders of Beetle Skeeter off of him.

"EWW!" he heard Hermione shout behind him.

Draco quickly stood up and ran over to her. "Mione, are you all right?" he asked, falling down beside her.

"Couldn't you have chosen a less repulsive death?" she asked, taking out her wand and cleaning herself off.

"I suppose I could have. Do you know of any spells that will do that?"

"Just the one," she said, cleaning off the last of the beetle bits.

"Mind doing that for me as well, love?"

"Yes, I mind! I'm mad at you! How dare you cast that spell when I specifically told you not to!"

"Fine by me. I'll kiss you like this." Draco leaned forward.

Hermione put up a hand to stop him. "Oh, fine!"

The moment Draco was more or less clean, he grabbed Hermione's cheeks and pulled her face towards his, kissing her fervently. They stayed like that for a long while.

When their kiss ended, Draco looked deep into Hermione's eyes and stroked her cheek. "It's over, Mione," he whispered.

She smiled and shed a few tears of joy before kissing him again. "Draco … could we please go and find our baby now?"

Draco nodded and kissed her one last time before taking her hands and pulling both of them to their feet. Hermione made a small spark of light with her wand and sent it off to find human life. They followed it through the forest, not stopping until they heard several voices.

"Come on. Sneeze for your grandmother."

A baby cooed and then laughed.

"He is not going to do it again," said Lucius's voice.

"Maybe it was just a onetime anomaly." That was Astoria.

"Or maybe we just need to throw more dirt in his nose." That was -

"Dammit, Weasel!" shouted Draco, running out of the trees. He was a bit surprised to find all of them sitting in a circle on the ground, with his baby squirming on his mother's lap in the middle. "Why the hell are you throwing dirt on my son?" He aimed his wand. Hermione moved beside him and did the same.

"Because it was bloody amazing!" exclaimed Ron.

"You should have seen him, Draco," said Lucius proudly. "He sneezed on your wife's Patronus and it burst out over the Dementors -"

"Turning them all to dust!" finished Astoria. "It was …"

"Bloody amazing!" repeated Ron.

Hermione and Draco lowered their wands. She walked over and picked her son up. "Don't tell anyone about this," she said.

"Got it! Your secret's safe with us!" said Astoria, climbing to her feet and then helping Ron. Lucius and Narcissa followed suit.

"You all didn't get very far," said Draco, walking over to Hermione and joining her fawning over their son.

"Yes, well, once Wiley and the Dementors were dealt with, we heard the Minister's announcement," said Lucius. "There didn't seem much point in running after that."

"We need to go and check on everyone," said Hermione, though she made no attempt to move. She just could not get enough of him.

"What's this?" asked Ron, wiping some slime off of her shoulder.

Hermione looked at it and then at Draco. "Long story," she said.

XXX

Back on the battlefield, everyone was gathering together the remaining witches and wizards who had surrendered. While Pansy healed her mother's wounds, Goyle went in search of Blaise. He was not sure how much of the flames he had suffered or what had become of him.

When he got to the spot where Blaise had once been, he was nowhere to be found. Goyle began scanning the battlefield, his eyes stopping when they hit the slightly charred remains of Daphne's body. Blaise was sitting beside her, several burns marking his skin while his arms and legs were still bound. He must have crawled there.

Goyle slowly walked over and stopped behind him. Blaise was silent as he continued to stare at Daphne, no signs of whimpering, even as tears fell down his cheeks.

"Kill me," he finally said in a hoarse voice.

Goyle sighed. "No."

"Why not? I deserve it. I deserve to die after what I did to her."

"If you had done just that then maybe. But you have done more than just kill Daphne, Zabini. And, for that, you deserve so much worse than death."

Blaise clenched his eyes shut and finally let out a soft moan. "I only did it because of her. I never cared about all of this bloody power. You know I didn't. But, when her father asked, I thought it would win her over. I thought -"

"I don't really care what you thought. At one point, you should have realized that what you were doing was wrong -"

"I did -"

"- and not just because she stopped wanting you. I feel no sympathy for you, Zabini. There was a time when I might have but, the moment you touched Astoria, all of that vanished. You deserve everything you get."

"You done with this one?" asked Ernie McMillan, coming up beside Goyle with Justin Finch-Fletchley.

"Yes. Take him away," said Goyle with utter disdain. He began to walk away as they each took one of Blaise's arms.

"Wait! WAIT! Please, just let me stay with her a little bit longer!"

Blaise pulled free of their clutches and crawled back towards Daphne. He cried as he leaned down to kiss her but, before he could, Goyle grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back.

"Daphne would not want your filthy lips touching her, you bastard!"

Blaise stared back at him, breathing heavily as Ernie and Justin grabbed ahold of his arms again.

"You never fucking deserved her, Goyle!" Blaise shouted as they dragged him away. "YOU NEVER FUCKING DESERVED HER!"

As soon as he was gone and his screams could no longer be heard, Goyle collapsed beside Daphne's body. He glanced over at her and sighed.

"Are you all right?"

Goyle looked up to see Pansy standing above him.
"Fine," he said.

She sat down beside him. "I'm sorry about Daphne. As much as I hated her, I really didn't want her to die." A tear slid down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly.

"I know. Neither did I."

Pansy glanced sideways at him. "I thought you two reconciled?" she asked.

Goyle shook his head. "No, it was over. I just wanted her to get out of here."

"If she had then you'd be dead."

"Yeah. Not really sure how I'm supposed to feel about that one."

Pansy sighed and put her head on his shoulder. "Thank you for holding my hand when I was locked in the basement. If it weren't for you, I don't think I would be alive either."

Goyle smiled, "My pleasure," and grabbed her hand once more.

All of a sudden, people began to cheer. They both looked up to see Draco and Hermione walk out of the forest with a small bundle of something in Hermione's arms. Pansy and Goyle stood up and walked over.

"Hermione, thank Merlin you're all right!" said Ginny, giving her a hug before turning her attention to the baby. "What a perfect mix of Mommy and Daddy!" She tickled his little stomach.

"Is Skeeter gone?" asked Harry.

"Yes," answered Draco, "and she wasn't tidy about it." He wiped some leftover slime off of his arm.

"Is everyone who surrendered all locked up?" asked Lucius, walking out with Narcissa behind them.

"All taken care of," said George Weasley, trying to push forward to give his brother, Ron, a hug. The other Weasley's were quick to join him, pulling Astoria in with them.

"I think Zabini was the last one," said Goyle, just arriving with Pansy.

Hermione looked up from her son for a moment to glance at all of the faces around them. Harry, Ginny, the entire Weasley clan, Goyle, Pansy, Luna and Rolf were just running over, Neville and Hannah were helping control cleanup with the Minister, Theo and Katie were snogging against a tree. Almost everyone was accounted for but …

"Where are Phillip and Sophie?"

Everyone glanced around, looking unsure. Luna arrived just in time to hear the question, tears immediately entering her eyes.

"Phillip and Sophie are fine."

Hermione and Draco sighed in relief.

"They're with your friend's body," said Luna while Rolf put a comforting arm around her shoulders.

Draco's heart clenched. "Who?" he asked in a choked voice.

"Seth," finished Rolf, since Luna was now crying too hard to say it herself.

Hermione gasped as Draco's hand tensed tightly in hers. She looked over to see several tears dripping down his cheeks.

"Where are they?" he asked.

Rolf pointed.

Draco and Hermione pushed through the crowd and did not stop walking until they got to their friends. Phillip was sobbing over Seth's body while Sophie held onto him. Caroline was on his other side, stroking his hair while Jack sat beside her. Hermione whimpered when she saw Chastity's body lying beside his.

They all looked up as Draco and Hermione approached them.

"Oh, zank Merlin!" said Sophie, jumping to her feet and hugging both of them, holding them like she never wanted to let them go.

Phillip stood up and did the same. "And who is this?" he asked, wiping away his tears before rubbing the baby's head.

"We haven't decided yet," said Hermione, "but we're planning on keeping family tradition alive and naming him after a constellation." She looked over at Draco and squeezed his hand, but he was too focused on Seth's body to notice.

"Draco, stop that," said Phillip, grabbing his arm and shaking him until he responded. "I know what you're thinking. This," he pointed at the two bodies by their feet, "is not your fault. Seth and Chastity chose to be here. They wanted to fight. Just like everyone else."

"Well, maybe not 'im," said Sophie, motioning her head towards Zandicus, who was sitting against a tree several feet away.

"But he did," said Phillip. "We all did."

"Hermione, are you seriously standing on your feet after having a baby in the middle of a war?" asked Caroline from below them.

Hermione blushed. "I … took a Numbing Potion."

Draco's eyes widened. "You what?"

"I took a Numbing Potion, Draco," she repeated while rolling her eyes. "How did you think I was walking around?"

"I just figured Astoria was an amazing Healer! What the hell is wrong with you? Sit down!" Draco practically shoved Hermione down against a tree.

Hermione smirked and stuck her tongue out at him before pulling him down with her. "You need to rest just as much as I do."

As soon as Draco was sitting beside her, the baby cooed and reached out for him.

"I think he wants you to hold him for a while," said Hermione, handing him over.

Draco gladly took his son from her and cradled him in his arms.

They stayed there for a long while, watching as everyone worked to clean off the battlefield. Eventually, someone came for Seth and Chastity's bodies. Caroline and Jack followed them to make sure they got to the right place while Sophie and Phillip sat down against the tree just next to theirs.

Once everything was settled and it started to get dark, the alcohol came out. Ron and Harry brought them over shots of firewhiskey, but Draco insisted on taking the whole bottle.

They watched as everyone meshed together so well, like there had never been any division between them. Katie introduced Theo to her former Quidditch team. Goyle and Pansy shared a drink with Harry, Ron, Ginny and Astoria. Phillip and Sophie got up and joined Zandicus for a shot, or five. Narcissa chatted with Atticus Quartz about their school years and the two made plans to do something with a phial of ashes she was holding very carefully. Hermione didn't even have to ask. The lack of Ethan's presence already let her know that it was him in there. She snuggled closer into Draco's shoulder and cried even more than she already had been.

"War is bloody awful," she said, wiping her eyes.

"Yes," he said, kissing her forehead. "Let's hope that this was our last one for a while."

Hermione looked down at her baby, who was fast asleep in Draco's arms. She smiled. "What are we going to do about him?" she asked, stroking his cheek.

"Uh, raise and love him," said Draco, looking over and winking at her.

She smirked. "You know what I mean. Our baby sneezed and blew up Dementors. As much as I would like to deny it, we both know the prophecy was talking about him."

Draco nodded. "We do, but who says everyone else has to know that? We had a spell, Hermione, and it was a bloody good one. If we say the spell was the answer then no one is going to question it."

"You really think so?"

"I do," he said, once again kissing her forehead.

Hermione smiled and leaned up to kiss his lips. "So shall we think of a name?" she asked, taking a sip of their bottle of firewhiskey before feeding some to him.

"I suppose we do have a nice starry sky for inspiration. Close our eyes and point?"

Hermione smiled. "Close our eyes and point!"

Draco took his spare arm out from behind Hermione's back and linked his hand with hers. They closed their eyes and lifted their clasped hands, wiggling them around for a little while before coming to a halt. They opened their eyes and looked.

"Reticulum," said Hermione.

Both were silent.

Hermione glanced sideways at him. "Try again?"

Draco nodded. "Try again!"

They closed their eyes and lifted their hands, purposely trying to aim anywhere else in the sky. This time, they skeptically opened one eye at a time and looked.

"Those faded stars are something, right?" he asked.

Hermione smiled. "They are. That's Caelum."

"Ah," said Draco softly. "Caelum. That's not bad."

"I'm going to be honest, I was aiming for Orion, but Caelum … I like that."

"Me too," said Draco, lifting his son a little higher and nuzzling his nose against his cheek. "Caelum Malfoy."

"It definitely has a nice ring to it," said Hermione, leaning down and kissing her baby's cheek.

Draco leaned back again and held out his arm for Hermione to rest against. She snuggled into him, wrapping one arm around his waist while the other continued to stroke Caelum's soft head. She closed her eyes and began to sing.

Are you sleeping under the willow?

Stars twinkling while your heart deep has bled.

Lay yourself down upon the soft pillow.

As true love enters the dreams in your head.

Draco laughed quietly and leaned his head against hers before joining in her song.

When morning comes you will find him there.

Waiting for you while his heart deep has bled.

Love may be true but is not always fair.

As visions of true love enter your head.

The phoenix sings as it cries for you.

Healing the wounds your heart deep has bled.

Together you will leave all that you knew.

True love is no longer a dream in your head.

And when the last verse was sung, Draco and Hermione drifted off to sleep. They were able to rest easy for the first time in months knowing that their family was finally together. And they were safe.