A/N: Part three of four. You can find part 1 at chapter 38.

Happy reading!

Henny, that lucky Penny!

Death Becomes Us All

I openly sobbed and launched myself into his arms. I held him tight around his torso. He ran a hand down my back and made shushing noises to stop my tears. I cried because I had needed him for so long that he was finally here and he could help me! He could help me through everything. I was just too damn tired to hold back my emotions.

I pulled away from him and scrubbed my face of the evidence.

"What happened to you?" he asked as he took in my rumpled appearance. I giggled wetly.

"I got blown up while I was being chased by werewolves!" I proudly proclaimed. Kadie's jaw dropped and Mark took a faltering step backwards. My father's features broke into an amused smirk.

"Of course you did." he shook his head; "You can't stay out of trouble, can you?" I shook my head; "I talked to Minerva." he looked at me pointedly. I schooled my face to look innocent.

"What about?" I inquired nonchalantly.

"Your clothing." he replied. I shrugged my shoulders.

"So?" I had started studying my nails.

"You are to apologize to Molly. She was just looking out for you." he admonished me slightly. I sighed and nodded my head.

"What else has-"

Harry Potter is dead! The Order of the Phoenix has fallen. But I am a civil man and will be in the courtyard in one hour. You can round up your dead and wounded in that time. In one hour, I will begin discussions for the lives of those who have survived. I will also be bringing back the body of your so called Savior of the World. In one hour, your fate will be decided.

The Great Hall was descended upon with silence. Everyone was stunned. Except for me. I was a raging ball of fury. He-Who-Kills-Children just plucked my last string. Only vile creatures kill children. Only worthless scums try to kill off a people just because their blood is metaphorically a different color! I know for a fact that everyone's blood is the same. I know for a fact that a person's pedigree does not mean that they are better than another.

I curled my fists and clenched my jaw.

"Henny, help Minerva round up the injured. Mark, Kadie, you will help Henria. Baby, did you leave any minions in your little angry wake?" my father took charge of us teens quickly. I nodded my head, "Where?"

"Fourth floor corridor. Two ugly sons of bitches too." I eloquently described my victims. He sighed at my language, but bounded off to go collect the dirt bags.

"Minerva! Where do you need us to go look?" I called out.

"Snape's body should be in the boathouse." I heard Ronald reply quietly. I sighed. Fine, I will go get the fucking asshole's body.

"Come on Henny!" Kadie called out. Why is she so eager to go see someone dead?

"Alright! But we are running the whole way!" and I saw her visibly flinch.

Mark and I set a jogging pace for Kadie. My Kadie is not a runner. But she is a trooper and did follow us all the way down to the lake boathouse. However, she was panting heavily when we arrived. Actually, I heard her wheezing. She was also clutching a stitch in her side. Dear Merlin! She was going to die!

Ha! Just kidding. She was exaggerating her condition. Of laziness.

"Mark, wand out. I don't know what kind of sick fucks are wandering around." I said quietly. Kadie held up a hand and I just waved her off, "Just keep your wand out and no one will fuck with you. A witch with a wand is a dangerous thing, Rosie. I have shown them that from time to time."

Mark and I entered the shack quietly and slowly. I was not going to get caught with my pants around my ankles. Well, it was impossible since I was wearing a skirt, but details. The harsh tang of blood hit my nose. I had to rub it because the smell was so strong. I started to feel my heart drop. It really was sad when anyone died. Even if I personally believed they deserved it, no one should have to experience it so young.

"Hen, over here." I heard Mark's soft voice from the opposite corner. I hastened my pace and was soon upon a limp looking body of a Potion's Master and my best friend.

"Oh Gods! That is a lot of blood." I whispered horrified at the dark pool under his body.

"I think I can hear him breathing!" Mark leaned closely to Snape's face.

I swallowed and knelt down by his other side. I leant an ear close to his chest. I heard the telltale death rattle.

"It's his last breathes. He isn't even conscious right now." I informed my friend, "I could wrap something around his neck to help staunch the bleeding, but these look like fang marks. The two puncture holes here are dark. The poison is already in his blood." I felt my heart start to break. I really did not want him to die. He was a person and he had feelings and he had goals. Who am I to wish something so horrible on someone?

"Henny, we have to do something! Can't we siphon the poison out? Or at least try?" Mark was sounding desperate. His broad shoulders and barrel of a chest screamed big bully, but he had a softer heart than I did. He is my big teddy bear.

"We can try to make him comfortable. Just to give him some peace." I whispered as I took Mark's hand into my own, "Love, he is beyond my help." I looked to the dark figure slouched over. His chest was barely moving. I felt the sharp pinpricks of tears behind my eyes.

"Fine. We'll lay him down." he sighed in defeat, "Oh! I've got a better idea! We are still going to lay him down; we will just levitate him to the Great Hall. He will be surrounded with people who knew him." I noticed he was careful about not saying people who respected him. His involvement with my uncle's death did not earn him any friends.

"Okay. We need to be gentle." I ordered softly.

With gentle hands and careful movements, we brought the dying man down to a lying position. With a pointed look at Mark's sleeve, he rolled his eyes and severed the cloth cautiously. I transfigured the cotton into gauze and wrapped the bandage around the wounds. It just felt like something I should do. You could not really tell how much blood was on his robes, but with the torn meat on his neck, you could infer how much. I wanted to save him some dignity.

I rose from my position on the floor and mumbled a quiet 'Mobilicorpus' and his body was raised slowly from the wooden floor. Mark led the way to move obstacles out of our path. We exited the drafty shack and Kadie choked back a sob at the still form. I swallowed dryly again. Mark wrapped an arm around her shoulders and started pulling her towards the castle. It was a sobering event. This could have been one of us. We could have been attacked and then left for dead, bleeding from the neck.

The noise in the Great Hall dropped noticeably when I entered with the floating Professor. A number of heads turned my way. I settled him on the closest table and lifted the charm. I caught Poppy making her way towards Professor Snape. Her expression was pinched and tired. I felt for the poor woman.

I could not watch the mediwitch go to work. I surveyed the Hall as I slid my wand into my hair again and found my father talking with Minerva and a few Order members. I did not want to listen to any political bullshit, so I continued my sweeping gaze. I needed someone who could provide me a distraction. I needed someone who could take my mind away from what was about to happen. Our hour was almost up and I was not ready to face my destiny.

I spotted a group of Slytherins in the corner. They were being held in that spot by a few Aurors. I willed my feet to go over there and talk to Draco. I surmised that they had gotten out and had probably joined the fray. Most of the older ones had gotten away, but Draco and Zabini were huddled with a large portion of the younger ones. The pair of them looked a little worse for wear. They were covered in soot and scorch marks. When was there a fire?

"I don't think so, little one." one of the Aurors stilled my movements with an extended hand. I eyed it casually.

"All I am here for is to see how Mister Malfoy is fairing." I informed the man. The two Aurors shared a look and I was given a gentle shake of the head of the one who had stopped me.

"Can't do that. They are right now prisoners. We can't just let anyone come and talk to them." he told me as he made to grab my elbow. I shifted my arm behind my back to avoid his touch.

"Draco, are you alright?" I asked as I leaned around the man in front of me. At Draco's small nod, I turned my focus back to the annoying Auror, "And now I am done. Merlin's pants, I just gave away all the secrets in the world, didn't I?" I sneered at the mousey brown haired man, "Are you going to arrest me too?" I did not even give him a chance to answer as I spun around on my toes and started walking to the Great Hall doors.

The hour was up and those who could walk were lead to the courtyard. It was like a slow death march. My gut twisted painfully as Kadie snatched my hand into her grip. Her face was calm, but she was squeezing my hand in hers with every muscle in her arm. I realized that I had lost my bird again. But I knew that he was somewhere around me. I could hear wings flapping over the clamoring of footsteps. I controlled my breathing so I would not pass out.

I really wish that Kadie and Mark would go home.

I had to stifle a gasp as we entered the outdoors. At the edge of the courtyard was a large gathering of men and women in dark robes. I could see Voldemort standing front and center of the group. Hagrid was off to the side in thick ropes. He was holding a human bundle and I just knew that was Harry's body. I heard a wail of anguish slice through the air. Even Minerva let a gasp of despair through her pursed lips.

"Let us have our precious little ones." Voldemort's voice was like butter. It was smooth and hardly scary.

I heard the pitter patter of shoes on stones and glanced at the Slytherin children running towards the Death Eaters. I shivered at the thought of the ruffians being parents. Until I noticed that Draco had not moved yet.

"Draco!" a sharp call came from an imposing witch with long blonde hair and translucent skin. Narcissa Malfoy.

I went to let go of Kadie's hand, but she just held me tighter.

"No Henny." she murmured under her breathe. I tried harder to pull free as I looked back to Draco's white blonde head, "Henria, stop."

"No. He can't do this! He doesn't want it!" I hissed quietly. Seriously, I am part snake now and it bothered me.

"It is his choice." I felt my hand start to slip, "What are you trying to prove?" her whispered words cut me deep.

"That uncle was right. Everyone has a bit of good in them, no matter how they were raised." I whimpered at the crushing grasp, "I know he is good."

With a sharp tug, the moisture that had built up allowed my hand to slip free of her vice like grip. I evaded her grasp for my wrist and made my way towards the tall wizard. I shouldered my way past stunned witches and wizards. I had to dodge a set of hands that tried to stop my advance. I snapped my eyes to the worried orbs of my father. I winced at the look. I do not normally go around making him worry too much.

I had to sprint the last few feet as I saw him start to make his way over. I skidded to a stop effectively blocking his path and glared into his surprised grey pools. I made sure not to stand too close as per custom. There were too many old blood families here. The implications of our relationship could wait until after the bastard was eradicated, even if I had to strangle Voldemort my damn self.

"Miss Sownbinder," he had wiped the surprised expression off of his face and adopted the look of arrogance that came with his name, "might you be so kind as to step to the side and let me pass?" his posh tone was annoying. I preferred it when he was growling at me in anger. That was a real emotion.

Fine, I can do fake too.