Typical Disclaimers Apply

A/N: Ahem, you have in front of you the last chapter of the Esme Slain stories (excluding the epilogue (which she's not actually in) and alternative ending (possibly endings)). Thanks to everyone who reviewed!

Again, this is totally rewritten from its original post.

--

Esme and Snape stared at each other for what felt like forever. It could have been forever, if time had stopped moving again. The room was still, despite the bleeding body behind them, Bellatrix and Voldemort in front, and the writhing serpent above. Finally, Esme raised her hand, and slapped him across the face as hard as she could. "You idiot!"

"Esme!" he protested, glad that he could still feel the sting of her slap.

"How thick can you be? What were you thinking, 'He'll commend me for running off into the forest'? What is wrong with you?" she yelled. "God, Ginny even warned you! Why on earth—"

"You think the same thing wouldn't have happened if I'd stayed in the Great Hall?" Snape asked quietly. Esme gaped at him for a second.

"Well, you certainly didn't have to walk straight into him," she said coldly, brushing past him and towards the door.

"That's not what I mean," he called, stopping her in her tracks. "And you know it."

"So you're saying it's my fault?" she whispered icily through clenched teeth. "You—"

"Esme," a new voice cut through the dimly lit room. Both Esme and Snape turned. Behind them, over Snape's bleeding body, was Dumbledore, his eyes searching the two of them. "For once in your life, listen to—"

"No," she snapped, her voice hollow and cold. "No, sir, you promised me that I could go back. That I could live in nothing but memories. That's all I want. I don't want to know that some fool got himself killed, just for me. It doesn't matter what I do now, so let me do what I want."

"I was ready to fight him, Esme," Snape almost yelled, his pale cheeks flushing with color.

"You knew you couldn't!" she cried. "Don't you understand; I saw you in the Great Hall! I heard Ginny's warning! And you said you knew," her voice broke. "But you still went."

"You're the one who doesn't understand," he was actually yelling now. "Without you, I had nothing to live for!"

"What about the thought that, if we win this, the world might be a better place?" she shouted back. "Does that matter to you at all?"

"No," his voice dropped. "If you're gone, nothing matters. Nothing, Esme."

"You could have helped us. You could have helped my family," her voice shook and tears were welling up in her eyes. "Instead you went off and killed yourself, all for some girl." Snape shook his head.

"You were never just some girl, Esme. Not to me," he said in a hoarse whisper. "Never to me." Esme stared at him, shaking her head. He walked towards her, and, slowly, he wrapped his arms around her shaking shoulders. They stayed, wrapped in each other, for what felt like forever.

"Ahem," Dumbledore finally cleared his throat. Snape and Esme pulled apart. "Esme, I hate to ask this of you, but if you could leave the room for a few minutes.

"Of course," she whispered, pulling herself together. "I'll be outside."

After she left, Dumbledore turned his warm blue eyes on Snape. "Well, Severus, is there anything you'd like to know?" When Snape didn't say anything, but just stared down the path Esme had taken, Dumbledore continued, "Any questions about how you were able to save her from the Dementor's Kiss, or how Ginny knew Voldemort would kill you?" After over a minute of silence, Snape finally spoke.

"No, I don't think that will be necessary." He went through the door, looking back only to say, "Some things are better left unknown."

--

Snape climbed out of the trapdoor, dusting his knees off. Esme was sprawled out on the grass, along with Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin, and Fred Weasley. He sat down next to them.

"Is he welcome?" Remus asked out of the corner of his mouth. Esme gave a small nod, and he relaxed.

"So, um, what are we doing?" Snape asked awkwardly.

"To be frank, I have no idea," Fred said with a shrug. "Did Dumbledore come to you guys too?"

"Yep," Tonks said cheerily. "Which was rather strange; I would've thought that my dad had a bigger affect on me."

"And I would've thought my mum," Remus said, his brows crinkling together.

"I wouldn't worry about it," Esme shrugged. "Did he say when we get to leave?"

"Three weeks, apparently," said Fred.

"He didn't tell any of this to me!" Snape cried indignantly.

"Well, we didn't kill him," Fred noted.

"Fred, shut up," Esme snapped. "So, what're we going to do for three weeks?"

"Sit in the grass," suggested Remus.

"Watch clouds," Tonks said, lying back in the grass. "It's peaceful, really."

At that very moment, a large, pure white unicorn raced past them, its hooves scattering everywhere as it snorted viciously.

"Yes," Snape noted dryly. "Quite peaceful."

"What the hell was that?" Fred said, still gasping.

"Unicorns!" said Esme. "Apparently Hagrid's been breeding them in captivity. It makes them carnivorous."

"One of them ate my body!" Tonks cheered.

"No they didn't," Fred argued.

"Yes they did."

"No, they didn't. I saw them carry you in."

"You know what Fred, just keep killing my dream! It's not like I'm dead enough!"

"Fine, whatever," he turned to Esme. "So what happened with—?" She simply smiled and took Snape's hand in hers. "Oh," he smiled. "I thought so much."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's been painfully obvious for the past like four years. Anyway, Sirius was way too old for you."

"He was my age…" Snape raised an eyebrow at Fred, who promptly ignored him.

"He's alive by the way. I saw him in the Great Hall. He gets to handle Bellatrix once Mum finishes with…" They stopped and stared as Harry wandered past them. His eyes were unfocused, and he had a small gold object that he kept tossing from one hand to the next. Esme scrutinized Snape.

"Do you know what this is about?"

"Vaguely, yes."

"Are you going to tell me?"

"You'll figure it out."

"Aww!" Tonks gushed. "You're totally meant to be! And it's even better that you're dead; you can't kill each other through years of gentle nagging!"

"Ah yes," Snape smirked. "In death: No one can here you scream." They all laughed together. It felt good to live without fear again. Well, they weren't exactly "living," but they were happy. And that's all that mattered.

That is until they heard the familiar, hated, high, cold voice echoing across the grounds:

"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone."

The five stood in silence as the screams echoed around him. Hagrid was staggering out of the forest, a body cradled in his arms.

"It can't be," Esme whispered.

"It's not," Snape and Remus said together.

"What?"

"Note how we can't see Harry's spirit rushing to find your little sister," Remus said, grinning.

"Note how you can see, even from fifty meters away, that Harry's chest is moving," Snape added, rolling his eyes.

"You'd think we'd taught them better than this," Esme shrugged as the hordes of students shrieked and sobbed at their "fallen hero."

"I never thought that," Snape shrugged.

"Should we follow them into the castle?"

"Yes, I'd like to see how this turns out."

--

"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"

"Huh," Esme said, watching her mother attack her murderer. "Didn't think it'd turn out like this."

"Oh really?" A small smile was still playing on Fred's lips. "But you know how mad Mum gets. After you left, all she could talk about was killing Bellatrix."

"It would be borderline the-most-horrible-thing-that-ever-happened-to-your-family if both the girls were killed by the same woman," Tonks mused cheerfully, as Molly's killing curse hit Bella right in the chest. They all applauded as Bellatrix's spirit climbed out of her body, dusted herself off, and grimaced.

"Well done. Very well done," Tonks smirked.

"And now, for all of the grief and pain you've caused our families, we're going to kill you," Esme cracked her knuckles menacingly. Bella paled, taking in the five, angry people.

"But I'm already dead!"

"Oh, sweetie," Esme growled. "You can always be deader." Bellatrix turned tail and ran, with Esme at her heels. "Stop running, darling!" she cooed. "I'm only going to do to you what you did to me! Return the joy, you know?"

"Does Esme not care that her brother is about to take on the most evil wizard in history?" Snape asked, looking from Harry, who was facing Voldemort, back to Esme, who had pinned Bellatrix up against a wall.

"Nope," Tonks, Remus, and Fred shrugged.

Meanwhile, Bellatrix was trying to argue her way out of a beating. "Please, Esme, this is futile! We're already dead!"

"Don't care."

"Don't you think it's silly to, you know, beat me to within an inch of my life, when I'm already dead and I'm never going to bother anyone ever again."

"Hmm…Nope!" She punched her in the jaw. After a few minutes, Bella was finally able to yell:

"Look, Esme! You're brothers defeating the Dark Lord!"

"Really?" She turned around, dropping her grip on the victim, who promptly slipped away. "Damn it all to Hell!" she yelled, and then wandered back over to her group. Just to see the one, final curse.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!"

The curse rebounded, flying back and hitting Voldemort. He fell to the ground, his eyes open, blank, and staring. No spirit rose.

"There was nothing left," Snape murmured.

"YES!" Esme screamed. "WE DID IT! We're done, everyone's free! He's gone, he's never coming back! Tra la la la la! We're free!" She began dancing around, shaking her hips, getting dipped by Tonks…Until someone placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It's time to go," the familiar voice of Albus Dumbledore whispered in her ear.

"But we won!" Her face slowly fell, as if she'd finally realized that she couldn't stay here.

"I know," he said kindly. "And now it's time for you all to go home." He made a sweeping gesture to Tonks, Remus, Fred, Snape, and Esme. He also had Bellatrix by the elbow.

"Do we have to?" she asked quietly.

He nodded, "It may not seem fair, but that's death." They all took one last look at the Great Hall, and then turned and followed. Dumbledore led them to the front doors, but when he pushed them open, they were no longer facing the grounds. Instead, they stepped into a familiar, although oddly empty, train station. A small group was clustered in front of an all-white train. Among them Esme recognized Ted Tonks, Arthur's mother (to whom Fred had been very close), and the tall, red-headed woman from her dreams. Next to the woman was a bespectacled man with messy black hair and Esme's sharp nose and strong jaw. Behind them was another smiling couple, both of which had shiny brown hair and full grins. A bit away from everything was a small woman with long black hair and sallow skin. Snape immediately rushed towards her, and she pulled him into an embrace. Fred ran to his grandmother, and Tonks went to her father. Remus was talking animatedly with both of the couples. "James, I think there's someone you need to meet," he was saying.

James?

Remus was steering the bespectacled man towards her. "Esme this is—"

"You're my dad," she whispered.

"I know," he said, cringing. "I'm sorry for being dead most of your life."

"That's…okay. I guess."

Near the train, Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Ahem! I know introductions are wonderful, but you have all of eternity to spend together! Right now I've got some questions for these six. Line up, you lot," Dumbledore commanded. They did as he said; pushing Bellatrix to the front while Snape and Esme made their way to the back.

"Bellatrix Walburga Black Lestrange," Dumbledore started. "You've murdered dozens of people and tortured others into insanity. You were unfaithful to your husband in many ways, and you never once felt any remorse," he looked down at her from over his glasses. "Evidently, we cannot allow you to pass through."

"So I'm going to Hell?"

"Perhaps," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "I think it's up to your last two victims." He nodded his head towards Esme and Tonks.

"Is there any way we could punish more people than just her?" Esme whispered to Tonks.

"I think I've got an idea," she whispered. "We've made our decision," she said in a normal voice. "We're going to send Bellatrix, as a ghost, to go live with Lucius and Narcissa. Forever!"

"All right," Dumbledore smiled as two armed guards escorted Bellatrix out of view. "Next up: Frederick Gideon Weasley. Now Fred, you've always been quite a prankster," Fred's grin widened. "But you never harmed a soul that was not deserving harm. You will pass through, if you choose to, that is."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you could have the same fate as Bellatrix—you could return to your family."

Fred thought for a moment, his brows pressing together. "No," he finally said. "I saw Mum, I think," he swallowed. "I thing she knows I'll be alright." Dumbledore nodded and Fred walked over and on to the train.

He moved down the line to Remus. "Remus John Lupin, a wonderful mentor and teacher. You did all you could to protect the people you loved from yourself. And even through lycanthropy, you were a wonderful and loyal friend, husband, and father. You can pass through if it's your choice."

"Teddy's going to have a fine life," Remus said decidedly. "He doesn't need a ghost of a father staying with him." He looked over at Tonks, who, biting her lip, nodded faintly.

"Nymphadora Andromeda Tonks Lupin," he stared at the list in his hand, one of his brows arching up. "Just…go," he jerked his thumb in the direction of the others.

"I'm indescribable," she sang, skipping to her husband.

"Severus Tobias Snape," he met Snape's eyes and smiled. "You have performed countless good deeds for the good of our world. You let two women, whom you loved dearly, leave you so they may be happy. You've saved the lives of dozens. You will—"

"I shouldn't," he cut Dumbledore off.

"Oh?"

"I don't think I deserve the same thing as the rest of these people," he said softly. "I haven't lived the right kind of life."

"I think you have," Esme said softly, touching his shoulder. "In fact, if there's anyone deserving a reprieve from this world, it's you." For what felt like forever, Snape stood quietly, thinking, his dark eyes clouded.

"Okay," Snape said, and Dumbledore broke into a wide smile.

"Of course you can choose to stay," he said.

"There's nothing back there I want."

"Esmeralda Genevieve Slain," Dumbledore read. "You made mistakes when it came to your heart: you married unwisely. But you paid your price for it, and throughout the entire marriage you were faithful and loving to your husband. And, in the twenty-three years of your life, you have always shown the courage and bravery, even to a point of foolishness, that represents the Gryffindor House." He smiled, his light blue eyes sparkling, "You may pass through, if it's your desire."

"What about Sirius?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, looking concerned. "I can't just leave him behind. He's my husband."

"You know Sirius," a voice from behind her said gently. She turned around and saw the redhead, Lily, staring at her. "And you know that he'll be okay. It'll take weeks, months, or even years, but you know he'll be okay."

"But what about me?" Esme blurted. "What's going to happen to me?"

"Esme," Snape whispered, "I don't know what's going to happen. All I know is that, whatever happens, I'll be with you the whole time."

"Okay," she murmured. "I'll go." She stepped forward, taking Snape's hand. The gleaming white train had opened its doors for them. "I suppose we're leaving."

"I guess we are. Are you ready?"

"Yes," she said confidently. And together, they stepped onto the train.

The End