Thank You Lord Voldemort

Chapter 27 - Tomorrows

Previously

Harry could hear the hesitation in Severus' voice as he got to the Order members. "And the Order members, Severus?"

Severus pulled Harry up close to him, laying Harry's head on his shoulder. "We have confirmed that after Kingsley was portkeyed away from the battle he was killed. The other Order member - Merlin, I'm sorry Harry - The other member was Remus Lupin."

"Lupin? Lupin is…." Harry had to swallow to try and hide his rising anxiety. "No. He can't. Tell me you're joking. It wasn't supposed to happen like…like this. It's not – it's just not fair."

Severus pulled Harry closer to him, cradling Harry's head to his chest. He needed to shield him. The place would be swarming with ministry officials and the press any minute. He had to get Harry out of here, but he was in no condition to Apparate. He looked around, hoping to find Albus.

"How is he Severus?" asked Dumbledore, solemnly.

"Physically he is just exhausted, but we have to get him out of here before the questions begin."

Albus nodded and then pulled a quill from his robe. "Portus."

Severus grabbed the quill and whispered to Harry, who also grabbed it. At the count of three they were whisked away.

When they landed, Severus took a moment to regain his bearings. They were in the headmaster's office, which was blissfully empty.

Harry clutched at his lovers robes, trying to wrap himself up in them. He couldn't figure out what emotions to feel. After several minutes of silence, punctuated with deep breaths, Harry spoke up.

"How? How did he die? Once Voldemort showed himself, I couldn't chance looking at anything else."

Severus smoothed his hair, trying to find the right words. "I am not sure that you are ready to hear all of this. Waiting for a calming potion would be…"

Harry interrupted him with a hiss. "I'm ready. Please, just tell me."

Schooling his features, Severus began telling Harry everything that had happened, using a calm tone of voice.

"My cover was already blown, so I was the favorite target of most of the Death Eaters. It was during a duel with Bellatrix Lestrange that I heard the Cruciatus curse cast from behind me. I whirled around just in time to see Lupin jump in the way of it, crumpling to the ground. Pettigrew was just the other side of him, holding the curse. Not a moment later, Lestrange had fought through the Impedimenta on her, and was casting at me again. When I finally felled her with a binding hex, I turned to see Petigrew with his silver hand around Lupin's throat. I lunged after him, pulling him off of Lupin, and Stupified him. He is much too weak a wizard to break that, so I turned back to check on Lupin. He was taking his last breaths."

Harry pinched his eyes closed, pulling in a shaky breath. "From the moment I first saw that silver hand created I knew it would come to this. Why didn't I forgive Lupin when I had the chance? He saved your life, probably. I can't fathom…"

"Lupin told me to tell you not to do this. It was his last words. He said that you needed me more than you need him, and that he was ready to see his old friends again."

Harry shivered, and leaned into Severus, not wanting to move, but wanting to be alone with Severus. "If we stay here, the headmaster is going to want to question us."

"You are more than likely correct. Let's go back to my rooms," Severus said.

Harry barely suppressed a yawn as he let Severus lead him down the steps. He had used a great deal of power on killing Voldemort, and it was taking its toll. The long walk gave Harry time to take in their condition. They were both sweaty, dirty, and covered in scrapes from rolling around dodging hexes.

"I could use a long bath. You too, actually."

Severus nodded and led Harry to the bath. It was a little too hot for his taste, but still it was very soothing.

While he was in no mood for anything sexual, Harry found it comforting to have Severus gently cleaning his wounds. He was more greatful for Severus now than ever before. He felt cold, separated from all that had just happened.

He winced as Severus rubbed a particularly nasty cut.

How long had he hoped for the war to end? He knew there would be a battle. It was pretty obvious that there would be losses in the war. But, he didn't expect to feel so strange about it. Was Lupin's life worth less than Severus'? Harry knew that losing Severus would have been more devastating to him, but that thought didn't make the pain any less. He had lost the last link to his parents. Harry just considered himself lucky to have experienced that year in the past, as pleasant or unpleasant as it was.

Harry hadn't noticed that the water had been shut off until he felt the unmistakable sting of a healing potion being applied.

"Harry. Harry, pay attention. I'd rather you made it to the bed before you collapsed."

He blinked his eyes a couple times, registering what Severus had said. "Um, yeah. But, what about you?"

"I can take care of healing myself after you are asleep. Now come to bed. I have a flask of dreamless sleep in there for you. Tomorrow we will be leaving for my family home. There will be time to talk to the ministry and the press, but I think you should have a few days to sort yourself out."

Harry nodded as he climbed into bed, eagerly swallowing the potion that would stop the thoughts from racing around his mind. "Love you Sev."

Severus took the potion flask from Harry's hand as he succumbed to the potion. "And I, you Harry."

a/n: This was the last chapter of the story, but I decided to write an epilogue. It should be up in a few days. Basically I had a plot bunny that wouldn't leave me alone. It may even turn into a sequel. However, since I wrote this fic several years ago I have started a family which keeps me very busy. It makes me very happy to know that people have enjoyed this fic. I don't consider myself a very good writer, but I do enjoy writing.