Chapter Two: The Hour of Reckoning

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except any characters I invent and the plot.

A/N: This is based during the Battle of Hogwarts in Deathly Hallows, but it won't be the exact chain of events. I hope you enjoy, please read and review!

oOoOo

'You have to!'

'I can't do that!?'

'You have to! You have to protect him! You promised!'

'Narcissa…'

Narcissa collapsed to her knees, tears streaming from her eyes. Snape pulled her into his arms, trying to calm her. The two of them were in the Forbidden Forest, away from all the fighting at Hogwarts.

'Please,' Narcissa implored, clutching onto Snape's cloak.

'But, you'll…' Snape cut himself off, not wanting to finish the sentence.

'I know, but he'll live,' Narcissa countered, pulling away and placing a shaking hand to his cheek. 'Do this one last favour for me, Severus,' she entreated, looking into Snape's eyes.

Snape was hesitant, but he knew Narcissa had made her decision. 'Alright, stay here where it's safe, I'll be back,' he whispered, standing up and running through the trees away from Hogwarts, Narcissa's anguished cries echoing in his mind.

oOoOo

Draco Malfoy poked the fire with a stick, listening to the explosions in the distance. He loathed the idea of hiding in the Forbidden Forest alone, but Voldemort and his father were after him. He had forsaken his calling as a Death Eater, and now there was no going back.

Draco feared for his mother, knowing Lucius would kill her as well as soon as he saw her. He looked up, gazing around sharply as he heard rustling and stood, his wand pointed towards where it was coming from.

Draco lowered his wand when he grasped it was Snape. 'Bloody hell, you almost gave me a heart attack!' Draco barked, stowing his wand away. He looked behind Snape, noticing he was alone. 'Where's mother?' he asked worriedly, dreading something had happened to her.

'She's safe, for the moment,' Snape answered, moving towards Draco and pulling out a knife.

'Whoa, wait a minute-' Draco was cut off as Snape grabbed his head and cut off a lock of his hair.

'There's no time,' Snape countered, popping the hair into a flask of potion he pulled out from his robes.

'My hair! What the hell, Snape!?' Draco seethed, reaching up and running his hands over his hair. 'Is that Polyjuice Potion? What are you going to do with that?' Draco questioned, looking at Snape with wide eyes.

'I can't explain now,' Snape replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. 'You will be safe. Stay here and douse that fire. We don't want the Dark Lord finding you in here,' he told him, turning and walking away.

'Wait, why would the Dark Lord come in here?' Draco asked, grabbing hold of his cloak.

'He believes Potter will sacrifice himself to save his friends, so no doubt the Forbidden Forest is where he will meet him,' Snape responded, shaking his head. 'I need to get back before he realises I'm missing,' he whispered, swiftly walking away without a backward glance.

Draco swallowed hard as he tried to process the information he had just learned. Saint Potter would do the courageous thing to protect those he loved. Draco clenched his fists and looked into the trees.

Maybe I could do the same…

oOoOo

Snape ran through the woods as if a dragon were chasing him. Finally, he found Narcissa and handed her the potion. Narcissa drank it, and after a few moments, he was looking at Draco. Snape exhaled and took the flask from her, stowing it away in his cloak.

'How long?' Narcissa asked, but it was Draco's voice he heard.

'An hour at most,' Snape answered softly, reaching out and touching her shoulder. 'You don't need to do this… there has to be another way,' he said urgently, trying to rack his mind for anything he could think of that would get them out of this situation.

'It's the only way…'

Snape closed his eyes as Dumbledore's words echoed in his mind as Narcissa said them. She watched him with sorrowful eyes. 'You have been a good, loyal friend, Severus. You know what you need to do. Dumbledore had a worthy reason to trust you. He knew you would do whatever is necessary to make sure his plan doesn't fail,' Narcissa told him, reaching up and cupping his cheek. 'You will not fail,' she told him resolutely and stepped into his arms, holding him tightly. 'Protect him for me,' she whispered, tears falling from her eyes.

'I will,' Snape vowed, closing his eyes as tears stung his own eyes.

The two of them looked up as Voldemort's voice penetrated the air, reverberating around them. 'You have fought valiantly… but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilt is a terrible waste. I, therefore, command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured,' Voldemort instructed.

Snape grimaced, wondering what Voldemort was planning. He knew fine well this had to be a ruse. Voldemort was not merciful, he was ruthless. All he wanted was to destroy the world and take his war to the Muggles. How he intended to do that was still a mystery to Snape. It was a massive undertaking, and incredibly stupid in Snape's opinion.

Snape pushed his thoughts to the side as Voldemort continued, 'Harry Potter, I speak now directly to you. On this night you have allowed your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonour. I ask you to join me in the Forbidden Forest and confront your fate. Should you do so, I give my word that no other life will be lost on this night. You have one hour. If at the end of that time, you have not given yourself up, then I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who tries to conceal you from me,' Voldemort's disembodied voice faded, and there was an eerie silence that followed.

Narcissa let out a shaky breath. 'It's time,' she whispered, looking at Snape.

'Yes, it is,' Snape supposed dejectedly, reaching over and taking her hands. 'I'm so sorry,' he whispered, before pointing his wand at her. 'Incarcerous!' he cried, watching as ropes wound their way around Narcissa securely.

Narcissa smiled at him. 'Don't be,' she whispered, letting Snape guide her through the forest.

oOoOo

Harry leaned heavily against the wall, thinking about what Voldemort had now demanded. Hermione and Ron observed him with pained expressions, not sure how to console their friend.

One hour.

'I have to go. I can't ignore him again,' Harry said resolutely after a moment, before marching very quickly towards the marble staircase leading to the main doors.

'What? No, Harry!' Hermione yelled after him, and the two ran after him.

Ron grasped his shoulder. 'Are you barmy, mate?' he asked, looking at his friend.

'I can't let him hurt anyone else,' Harry said unwaveringly, clutching Ron's shoulders. 'I have to end this now,' he argued, moving past Ron towards the doors.

Harry froze as McGonagall came in carrying a large stretcher with Lupin and Tonks lying on it, their blood-stained fingers entwined even in death. Harry felt tears sting his eyes and tried to move forward, but an agonised cry from the Great Hall stopped him. Ron frowned, identifying it to be his mother's voice, and ran towards the hall. Hermione followed him, and Harry managed to force himself towards the door, but he couldn't enter.

Harry stood in the doorway, taking in the dead bodies laid out in the middle of the Great Hall. A heart-breaking cry drew his gaze to George, who was kneeling over a familiar body, tears dripping from his eyes. Hermione moved over to Ginny, embracing the girl while Ron jogged over to George. Ron draped his arm over George, drawing his brother into a loose embrace, and Harry recognised the body to be Fred.

Harry couldn't take it, he staggered backwards and sprinted away from the Great Hall and out the main doors, the crisp cold air hitting him. 'Harry!' came a shout from behind him as Ron and Hermione caught up with him. 'Don't do this!' Ron shouted, moving to block Harry from continuing.

'You have to destroy the Horcruxes. Only then can he be killed,' Harry told them, shaking his head. 'It's ironic, really. I figured out why I am connected to him. I can feel it… him,' Harry whispered, reaching up and touching his chest. 'I think I knew, deep down,' Harry said, looking up at Hermione. 'I think you've known for a while, too,' he said to her, seeing her expression crumble.

'We'll go with you!' Hermione cried, tears falling from her eyes. 'I'll…' she trailed off, wavering desperately as more tears spilt over, tracing her cheeks.

Harry reached out, wiping them away. 'Destroy Hufflepuffs Cup, Ravenclaws Diadem, and kill that damn snake. Once that's done it'll just be him, and I won't be needed for that. It will be all over,' Harry told them, turning away and leaving them.

Ron and Hermione stood mutely, watching every step he took until he disappeared down towards the Forbidden Forest. 'The Basilisk Fangs,' Ron whispered, his voice shaking, and Hermione looked up at him.

'What?' Hermione questioned, not understanding.

'That's the key to destroying the Horcruxes,' Ron replied, looking at her and grabbing her arm. 'Come on, there isn't much time!' and with that, the two hurried back into the castle.

oOoOo

Harry felt like a prisoner walking to the gallows. He reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest and looked into the depths. Dementors were drifting within the trees, and Harry felt a prickle of dread.

Harry moved to enter the forest, but something made him pause. He reached into his pocket and removed the snitch, realising it was fluttering and very warm to the touch. He frowned and eyed the words etched upon it which he had tried to comprehend since he got it. 'I open at the close,' Harry mumbled with a frown before closing his eyes and bringing the metal orb to his lips.

After a few moments, Harry's fingers trembled, and he lowered his hand, watching as the metal shell fell away to reveal a stone. A jagged crack ran down its centre, along the line representing the Elder Wand. The triangle and circle, signifying the Cloak and Resurrection Stone, were faintly discernible. Harry ogled at it, scarcely believing what he was seeing and rolled it over in his hand.

'So, it was in there all along,' Harry whispered, tightening his grip on the stone. 'You really did think of everything, Professor,' he uttered and steeled his nerves. Harry looked back, taking one last look at Hogwarts in the distance before setting off into the trees.

Dozens of Dementors coasted amongst the smouldering trees, but they didn't seem to be concerned with him which was a relief. Harry didn't want to give himself away just yet by casting a Patronus to get rid of them. Harry strode on, his legs driving him and carrying him onward to his fate, but he no longer feared what was to come.

A light splintered the trees ahead, and Harry could make out a clearing. A large bonfire had been put together by the throngs of Death Eaters assembled. Voldemort was walking around the fire, the Elder Wand clutched steadfastly in his hands.

Just to the side of where Voldemort was pacing, a body lay on the ground. Harry squinted, trying to see who it was, but he couldn't quite make them out. He hoped Voldemort had kept his side of this short truce and not murdered someone from their side. Although, Harry also wouldn't be shocked if he did.

Harry took a deep breath and stepped forward towards him…

oOoOo

Draco moved as silently as possible through the trees, trying to locate the source of the voices he could just make out. As they got louder, he disillusioned himself and cast a charm to quieten his footsteps. Draco hid in some bushes, peering over them and took in a shaky breath as he grasped it was Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

Voldemort was pacing around a large bonfire, while he waited for Potter to appear no doubt. Draco had heard Voldemort's voice reverberating throughout the trees and wondered if Potter really would turn up. Draco gasped as Snape emerged into the clearing dragging someone behind him, and he realised he was looking at himself.

'No,' Draco hissed, understanding what the Polyjuice had been for. Why hadn't Snape told him! He knew just from observing the clearing that the individual impersonating him was his mother. She'll be killed! What is she thinking!? he screamed in his mind, but he knew he couldn't do anything to prevent what was about to transpire.

'My Lord, I found him wandering through the forest towards the castle. I suspect Mr Malfoy was trying to help those blood-traitors,' Snape spat, pulling on the rope so hard the fake-Draco fell to his knees in front of him.

'Lucius,' Voldemort hissed, not taking his eyes off the terrified expression on the fake-Draco's face.

'Yes, my Lord,' Lucius replied, coming to stand next to him. He pointed his wand at the fake-Draco. 'I am disappointed in you Draco, and your mother will receive the same fate once she has been found,' Lucius declared, moving towards fake-Draco and clutching his chin roughly.

'I hate you,' fake-Draco spat, and the anger Draco could see was genuine. His mother really did loathe Lucius after everything he had done to them. She had undoubtedly wanted to say it for years but didn't want to be on the receiving end of a thrashing from Lucius. Everything Narcissa did was to protect Draco, and he knew that even as he watched her now, pretending to be him so Voldemort would think he was dead.

Draco wanted to rush forward and shake his mother's shoulders furiously, but then they would both be dead. His mother wanted him to live, to help Potter succeed. Draco surfacing after he's seemingly been executed would stump the Dark Lord, hopefully, long enough for Potter to eradicate him.

'Impudence!' Snape sneered, smacking fake-Draco across the face. Draco made a mental note to beat the hell out of Snape later for daring to hit his mother. Draco understood this was a charade, but he was still pissed. Draco had to hand it to Snape though, his acting skills were remarkable.

'Severus, step away from the boy. I believe his father should be the one to discipline him,' Voldemort bade silkily, gesturing out his arm in welcome as Snape came to his side.

'I apologise, my Lord,' Snape fawned, kneeling down and kissing the bottom of Voldemort's robes. Draco shuddered at the sight.

'I understand, Severus, but I have something else for you to do,' Voldemort told him, and Snape looked up at him.

'Anything, my Lord,' Snape said making Draco want to gag at his display of affection for Voldemort.

'I believe Harry knows my secret. He would have sent his little friends to… deter me,' Voldemort whispered cryptically as most of the Death Eaters didn't know about his Horcruxes. 'Exterminate them,' he commanded, and Snape nodded.

'At once, my Lord,' Snape replied and hurried away from the clearing. His throat constricted painfully as he heard the tortured screams of Narcissa, but he had to press on. Voldemort had given him the excuse he needed to get away from him and find Weasley and Granger. Dumbledore was right… and now the chess pieces were getting ready to make their move, and Voldemort would be powerless to prevent it.

Draco watched Snape run away into the woods, and he had half a mind to follow him, but the sound of his mother's distressed shrieks immobilised him. All he could do was stare as his mother writhed on the ground. Draco felt sick viewing his body heave and convulse as the Cruciatus Curse ripped through his mother. Draco clenched his fists so tightly, blood trickled down his palms where his nails penetrated his skin.

A flash of green light lit the area, and when Draco pulled his arm away from his eyes to stop himself from being blinded, he saw himself lying dead on the ground. Fake-Draco's eyes were open, the same agonised expression frozen on his face. Draco looked away, his body shaking violently. He had to get away, but he couldn't move. Draco tried to take a deep breath and used a silencing charm on himself so his position wouldn't be given away. He let out silent screams, which became murderous promises of vengeance as Lucius picked up Fake-Draco, his mother, and threw her into the fire.

'Such a pity,' Voldemort alleged as he watched, shaking his head forlornly. 'Such a talented young man and a shame pure magical blood was lost,' Voldemort whispered with a sigh, and Draco really wished he could punch him in his obnoxious, snake face…

oOoOo

Snape rushed out of the Forbidden Forest and shifted into a bat, flying towards one of the shattered windows in the castle. When he reached the girl's lavatory on the second floor, he changed back into himself and ran through the door.

Snape reached into his pocket and pulled out a potion, downing it hastily before looking at where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was. Snape pointed his wand towards the sink, and when he spoke a hiss came from his mouth instead. The portal opened, and Snape turned back into a bat so he could traverse the labyrinth quickly, stopping only to open the other doors to the Chamber.

Snape flew towards the statue of Salazar Slytherin and landed as himself next to the body of the Basilisk. Dumbledore had told him that Potter managed to demolish the Diary with the fang of a Basilisk and he had come to the deduction that this was the key to destroying the Horcruxes.

Snape waved his wand, and the Basilisk Fangs dislodged and flew towards him. He stowed them in a black leather bag, which he hid in his cloak carefully. He turned back into a bat and flew back out through the chamber, and landed as himself on the bathroom floor. Snape looked at the entrance and hissed again, making it close upon itself again.

Snape reached into his pocket to get the counter-potion, but voices outside the bathroom stopped him, and he moved into a cubicle swiftly as the door opened. Snape peered around the corner to see Weasley and Granger walking towards the entrance. So, they figured it out as well, Snape thought, almost proud of them. He downed the counter-potion, shivering in disgust at the taste, before stowing it back in his cloak.

'We have to hurry, we've already wasted so much time!' Hermione shouted, looking at the tap faucets.

Ron frowned at her, crossing his arms. 'I'm not a Parselmouth, Hermione. I don't even know if this will work. I said we need the Basilisk Fangs, but I didn't say how we would get to them. There must be another way in,' Ron stated, shaking his head.

'Harry could be dead, Ron! Just try imitating the noises or something,' Hermione cried as she started to panic.

'Calm down,' Ron whispered, moving towards her and wrapping his arms around her. 'That was years ago, I don't remember what Harry did or how to imitate it,' he replied, looking down and wiping the tears from Hermione's face.

'Then it's all for nothing,' Hermione believed, shaking her head.

Snape decided to end this heart-warming show of friendship and pointed his wand at them. Wordlessly, both of their wands shot from their hands into his waiting one. The two spun around. 'Snape,' Ron growled, clenching his fists.

'I apologise for interrupting your sickening display of affection, but you were wasting time,' Snape declared, walking out of the cubicle with his wand pointed at them. 'Looking for these?' he imparted, pulling out a Basilisk Fang and waving it at them.

Ron and Hermione's faces fell as they looked at the fang in his hand. 'Sorry, Harry,' Ron whispered, comprehending they had botched their last mission for him. Tears filled Ron's eyes, and he slammed his palm against the sink.

'Potter is not dead yet. If he were, you would hear the cheers from here,' Snape revealed in boredom, looking at the two of them. 'No, there is still time. I need you both to shut up and do precisely as I tell you,' Snape ordered, but the two looked at him in scepticism.

'We'd rather die than do anything for you! You murdered Professor Dumbledore! You may as well kill us too!' Ron roared, feeling Hermione grab his arm painfully, but he didn't push her back even when her nails dug in.

'I have no intention of killing you,' Snape countered, pulling out a stone from his pocket, placing it on the floor and pointing his wand at it. Hermione and Ron watched as a Pensieve now stood in place of the stone. Snape pulled a flask from his pocket, and they watched him pour the silver memories into the Pensieve. 'Look,' he ordered, gesturing to the Pensieve. 'Now!' Snape barked, and the two jumped before moving towards the Pensieve.

Snape waited while the two dipped their faces into the Pensieve. He picked imaginary lint from his cloak as the minutes ticked by. Finally, the two emerged and looked at him with shocked eyes. 'Now, you know,' Snape told them, receiving numb nods in return.

'So, you're helping us?' Ron questioned in bewilderment.

Snape nodded. 'You'll need these,' he said, handing Hermione a bag with the Basilisk Fangs in them. 'And these,' he added, handing their wands back to them. 'Destroy the Horcruxes, and meet me at the edge of the Forbidden Forest,' Snape ordered them, before going through the door and turning back into a bat.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other in disbelief. Ron reached over and took the bag from her. 'How do you suppose he managed to get into the Chamber of Secrets?' Ron questioned, glancing back at the sink which looked like it hadn't been touched in years.

'Who knows, but we have them,' Hermione said, pulling out the two Horcruxes from her bag. They took a fang each and nodded to each other before stabbing them into the trinkets. The two separate soul pieces flew out of the Horcruxes with pained screeches and the two Gryffindors covered their ears. They ducked as they flew out the door and dissipated into nothing.

In the Forbidden Forest clearing, Voldemort shrieked in agony…

oOoOo

Harry tried not to yelp when his scar burned, and he clutched his head. Through dazed eyes, he observed Voldemort almost fall over clutching his chest. A small smile appeared at the corners of his lips as he grasped Hermione and Ron must have found a way to destroy the Horcruxes. The sting alleviated, and Harry took a breath in relief.

Harry looked back at Voldemort who was breathing heavily and caught the glint of a gold ring on the middle finger of his left hand. Harry stared at the ring, feeling almost like he was going into a trance…

'My Lord,' Bellatrix cried, moving towards Voldemort but he pushed her away.

This snapped Harry's attention back to what was happening, and he shook off his dazed feeling. He frowned, wondering where the ring came from. Harry could have sworn the ring was almost… speaking to him. It was unnerving, and he shook it off believing it had to be a figment of his imagination.

'Don't touch me!' Voldemort barked, getting to his feet.

The light from the fire flickered over the faces of the Death Eaters making them look ominous. Harry didn't think it was fair that Voldemort had all his followers present while he had no one. A noise from the side caught Harry's attention, and he realised Hagrid was in their custody.

Resentment flowed through Harry at the sight of his friend in chains. He scowled at Voldemort who was standing with his head bowed, and his skeletal hands folded over the Elder Wand. Harry looked down, seeing Nagini lying in a heavy coil at his feet. He wanted to reach for his wand and kill the blasted thing, but he knew it would be fruitless.

Harry ducked as Yaxley entered the clearing. 'No sign of him, my Lord,' he notified Voldemort, bowing his head.

Voldemort nodded slowly, staring into the fire. 'I thought he would come,' he whispered, shaking his head and turning away. 'I was, it seems… mistaken,' he murmured and started walking away.

Unable to wait any longer, Harry emerged from the trees. 'You weren't,' he declared boldly, coming to a stop at the edge of the clearing as all eyes shifted to stare at him.

Hagrid wrestled against his captors. 'HARRY! NO! WHAT'RE YEH DOIN' 'ERE!?' he howled.

Yaxley pointed his wand at him. 'Quiet!' he demanded and flicked his wand. Hagrid slumped and fell silent.

Harry glared at Voldemort furiously as he prayed Hagrid would be okay. He squeezed the stone in his hand for a moment, before letting it tumble from his fingers. He just hoped Voldemort wouldn't notice. Taking a deep breath, Harry stepped forwards into the firelight.

A cackling laugh rose on the air, and Harry turned to see Bellatrix glancing eagerly from him to Voldemort. He turned away from her as Voldemort took a step forward and the flickering flames washed over his pale skin. Voldemort tilted his head to the side, a smile curling on his mouth. 'Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived,' Voldemort paused, tilting his head to the other side. 'Come to die,' he whispered, as Nagini hissed behind her protective guard of Death Eaters.

oOoOo

Snape rushed through the trees, coming to a stop behind the one Harry had hidden behind earlier. He looked into the clearing to see Harry facing Voldemort. Snape took a breath before skirting the trees. He needed to hurry.

Snape managed to get behind the Death Eaters protecting Nagini and raised his wand at them. Wordlessly, he fired several spells which froze them in place. He disillusioned himself and snuck towards Nagini with one of the Basilisk Fangs. Snape lifted it high above his head and stabbed it down into Nagini. She let out several strangled hisses before falling to the ground dead.

Voldemort let out a shriek of pain which echoed through the woods as Snape hastily retreated through the trees. He stopped and looked back when he felt he was a safe distance away…

'Checkmate…' Snape muttered, shaking his head as he caught his breath. 'It's up to you now, Albus,' Snape whispered, closing his eyes.

oOoOo

Harry gasped as his scar seared and Voldemort screamed in agony, grabbing at his chest again. Harry glanced behind him in bewilderment to see a dark soul fragment materialise from the lifeless body of Nagini. Voldemort twisted around, looking at Nagini's body before turning fuming red eyes back on Harry. 'You!' he seethed, raising his wand at Harry.

Harry stood his ground waiting and knowing what was about to happen. He didn't falter as a beam of green light shattered the night and sped towards him, engulfing him and then…

Nothing.

oOoOo

A/N: I really liked the Deathly Hallows Battle of Hogwarts, so I decided to use the elements of it, but not in the exact same way. It needs to be the way I've done it for later chapters to work.

Anyway, let me know what you all think!