Author's Note: Chapter nine. 'Tis the end.

Lucius and Severus began working on better combining their magic and forming a telepathic bond, which were rare and required nearly unbreakable trust between those making the bond. They knew that Voldemort wouldn't wait much longer. However, he moved sooner than they expected. An army of Death Eaters and dark creatures was spotted heading for the school The teachers and members of the Order put protective wards around the school and its ground to keep the army out and buy themselves a bit more time.

The younger students, first through fourth years, went back to their common rooms. The fifth, sixth, and seventh years gathered in the Great Hall.

"Voldemort has brought the war to Hogwarts. If any of you are willing to fight, please come forward, pledge your loyalty to your school," Dumbledore said.

All the Griffyndors, most of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, and Draco stepped forward, declaring their loyalty. Severus and Lucius eyed the rest of the Slytherins. The snakes shuffled but, other than that, didn't move.

"I'm disappointed. How can each and every one of you be cowards? Is there no one among you with a backbone?! Hogwarts is your home, and now it is being threatened! Call me a Griffyndor if you will, but I will not go down without a fight!" Severus said.

"Because of Voldemort Slytherins are viewed as dark and evil. Now is your chance to prove that theory wrong. Find your courage. You all have it somewhere inside you. Courage doesn't mean being unafraid, courage means being able to face your fears despite being afraid. I'll tell you now, I am absolutely terrified, but I'm still going to fight even though I'm afraid. I will not standby and let some immortality obsessed maniac destroy everything we're worked for and achieved!" Lucius declared.

One by one the Slytherins joined the other students, pledging their loyalty to their school. The students were then dismissed back to their dorms.

"Now, we need to come up with a plan," Dumbledore said.

The rest of the staff nodded.

"Severus, Lucius, you two are our best strategists. It's your call."

The Slytherin professors thought for a while, gathered around a table with a map of the school and its grounds.

"We'll need to have guards at each main point of entry onto the grounds as well as the entry points of the castle. Students will take shifts in groups," said Lucius.

"Very good. What of the actual battle itself?"

They looked at each other, putting their heads together once more.

"We'll need to try to limit their ways of entry so we won't be swarmed as quickly. We can take out the bridge once they try to cross it, taking some of them out with it. Everyone will be split up throughout the castle and grounds, and some will be on brooms for aerial attacks. The toughest enemies must be taken out first. They have the advantage of sheer numbers, so we must take out their best fighters as quickly as possible."

"Do you think it will work, Severus?" Minerva asked.

The potions master sighed.

"It's our best shot and all we've got at the moment."

"We're going to need prayers and a lot of sheer dumb luck," Lucius said.

Days later, the Death Eaters managed to break down the wards. Neville and a few other students took out the bridge as well as some dark wizards then hurried to join the others in the front.

The Death Eaters, led by Dolohov and Bellatrix, reached the Entrance Courtyard to find Lucius and part of the army waiting for them. Severus lay in wait with the rest of the army inside.

"Come now, Lucius. You're hopelessly outnumbered. You don't stand a chance at beating us, especially with mere students," Dolohov mocked.

"Well, you'll have to forgive us for trying."

He drew his wand from his cane.

May God be with us.

"Charge!"

He, the students, and the Order members rushed forward and clashed with the Dark Army. Several students fell quickly, and Lucius felt his heart clench with guilt and sadness. They were so young and were cut down in the prime of life. Releasing another war cry, he lunged to avenge one of his fallen students, taking the murderous Death Eater by surprise.

"Professor, behind you!" screamed former student Oliver Wood.

Lucius whirled, removing the dagger he kept hidden in his left sleeve. He slashed open his attacker's throat, finding said attacker to be McNair. Blood gushed and sprayed, getting on him, but he ignored it, continuing to fight. Students and Death Eaters alike who had seen gaped at the Malfoy patriarch's ruthlessness as well as precision with his blade.

Slowly they began to get overwhelmed.

"Fall back! Get inside!"

They fled inside, where Severus and the other launched their attack on their pursuing enemies. The brothers nearly collided as they leaped into battle.

"What happened to you?!" Severus exclaimed at seeing his elder sibling covered in blood.

"I made use of that knife you gave me."

"So that's not your blood?"

Lucius shook his head as he hexed some approaching dark wizards.

"No. Well,... some of it might be. I've been hit by debris and other things."

"Any sign of Voldemort?"

Severus ducked a curse and retaliated with one of his own.

"Not yet. Where are Harry and Draco?"

"They're in theNorthTowerwith Fred, George, Remus, and Kingsley."

"Good."

Finally, the fighting ceased when Voldemort's voice rang out.

"You have fought valiantly. I will withdraw my forces and give you one hour to tend to your wounded and dead. Harry Potter, I speak to you, meet me in theForbiddenForestor more of your friends will die for you."

Dead and injured were brought to the Great Hall. Severus went right to Dumbledore, who was kneeling beside his fading brother, Aberforth, while Lucius went to Narcissa and Draco. Harry looked around, seeing so many of the people he had grown up with now gone or fading. He slipped away to meet Voldemort.

Lucius felt his eyes burn with tears as he gazed upon the bodies of allies, friends, and students of his. He made his way to where Severus was trying to comfort the sobbing Dumbledore, who held the now passed Aberforth, only to stop at the sight of the mourning Weasleys, who had lost Percy and Arthur. He went to them and gently touched Molly on the shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Molly. They were good men."

The Malfoy patriarch drew her into a hug, letting her cry on his chest while the children all hugged each other. Remus came over and let himself be drawn into the children's group hug, knowing they needed the comfort of the silent strength he and Lucius offered as the blond and Molly were drawn in as well. Finally Lucius extracted himself and sought out his brother.

"Where's Harry?"

"I saw him come in, but he probably left the Hall."

Lucius looked around and stubbornly brushed away the tears that broke free.

"I don't blame him."

The hour passed, and a lookout warned them that the Dark Army was approaching with a captured Hagrid. They went outside.

"Who's Hagrid carrying?"

The Dark Army stopped, and Voldemort stepped forward.

"Harry Potter,... is dead!"

"No!"

Severus rushed forward only to be restrained by Lucius and Dumbledore.

"You must all put your faith in me now."

"You're mad!"

All eyes turned the still bloodied Lucius.

"Look around you. Look at what you have done. Our home is in ruins, our friends and family are dead. All because of you! Do you honestly believe that we would follow you after this?!"

"Lucius-" Dumbledore started.

"No! He needs to face the truth!"

Voldemort chuckled.

"And what truth is that, Lucius?"

The blond glared at him.

"That you will never win. As long as there is one person who defies you, you will never win. Yeah, we lost as lot of good people today; Aberforth, Arthur, Percy,... Harry, but they're still with us. As long as we remember what they died for they will always be with us!"

"A... touching speech, Lucius, but a waste of breathe. I have already won. I have killed The-Boy-Who-Lived."

Cold silver eyes bore into his own.

"You may have killed Harry, but that won't save you. You've signed your death warrant. Harry wasn't the one destined to defeat you."

Voldemort lost some of his smug look.

"You will fall by the hands of Severus and myself! This is your last day, Riddle!"

Harry suddenly leaped from Hagrid's arms and blasted back out again, though many Death Eaters fled at the sight of Harry being alive.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!" Lucius and Severus cried together.

Their spells clashed. Each combatant poured their power into their attack. The brothers' stores of energy were being drained, as they slowly pushed the Killing Curse back at its caster. Voldemort finally collapsed. Lucius and Severus stood, panting, then crumpled to the ground themselves, the world going black.

"Shhh. They're waking up. Someone go get the Headmaster."

They woke in the Infirmary and were hugged by their families.

"Thank God you two are all right. You've been unconscious for over a week," Narcissa said.

Dumbledore soon arrived and filled them in on what had happened while they had been recovering. Once left alone, they simply enjoyed the feeling of peace.

It was finally over.

Years later...

"And that's their story."

"But what happened after that, Papa?" asked one of the children.

"Yeah, Uncle Jimmy."

Jimmy, now very old, smiled.

"Life went back to normal. Dad and Uncle Lucius lived to be very old and died on the same day only an hour apart. Today is the anniversary of when they died, which is why I'm telling you this story."

The children soon went back to their homes, and Jimmy sat remembering the days with his father, brother, uncle, aunt, and cousin. Draco and Harry had both died a few years earlier, and Narcissa had died six months after Lucius and Severus. Jimmy always remember how his life changed when Harry arrived outside the Snape Manor that night so long ago.

End Note: Annnnnd... done! Please review.