Severus led them down a moldy old tunnel. "As soon as you feel it get colder, start running. That means we'll be out of Hogwarts. When you get to the end, stop."
Then they ran for what seemed like years. Hermione was the first to see the light at the end of the tunnel. She, Ron, and Ginny paused while they waited for Severus and Harry, who were helping Neville because he'd twisted his ankle. Severus pulled out his specially made Marauder's map. "They're following us. Go to the left a bit, Hermione. You'll see a small cottage. We'll be safe there for a bit."
The five students pulled their cloaks just a bit tighter around their shoulders and slowly walked into the cabin. "Get some rest, children. They won't come here for a time." Ginny and Hermione lay on one of the rickety looking beds, while the boys took the other. All five fell promptly asleep.
Severus pulled his mirror out of his pocket. "Sirius Black."
Sirius eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. "Minerva made her way here somehow. She was badly beaten, but Molly and I patched her up as best we could. We still have no idea where they, whoever they are, have Gawain. Try to get here as soon as possible."
"Remus and Arthur?"
"Still missing. Moody's looking for them, but he hasn't gotten back to us yet."
Severus glanced at the Map. "We've got to go. This situation is looking quite grim."
"Just come home. I can't keep Molly from going to look for Arthur herself much longer." Sirius face faded from view. Five pairs of eyes looked expectantly at Severus.
"A person alone is a vulnerable person, so make sure you stay together. Run!" Severus gently, but forcefully gave them their instructions. They ran down the dirt path leading away from the cabin as fast as they could, but it was too late.
"You can't get away from me that quickly, dear Harry." Dumbledore's eyes flashed with rage. He bound them all and turned to Lucius. "Which ones shall we let live?"
"Obviously we need the boy…let's allow two of them to live. Which of your friends would you like to live, Harry?" A flash of light left Lucius wand and hit Severus.
Harry closed his eyes. He could hear Severus' ragged breathing, so he knew that he was still alive. "You will never win. I hope you know that, Dumbledore. Good always triumphs. Always." Harry didn't struggle, because he didn't want anyone else to die.
"You're wrong. Evil usually wins." A flash of green light hit Ron, and Harry knew Ron was gone.
"Evil only wins the battles, Dumbledore, but not the war." Despite the rage in Hermione's voice, it wasn't hard for anyone to miss the fact that she was fighting back tears. She managed to free her hands, as did Harry. Dumbledore had their wands, so it was useless trying to fight him. The two remaining members of the trio held hands, trying to keep the banter going so that another of them wouldn't end up like Ron. Another flash of light came from Dumbledore's wand, this time striking Neville.
"Someday, Harry, you will learn that there isn't such a thing as love…only power." Dumbledore tossed their wands to the ground and apparated away, followed closely by his new best friend, Lucius. Harry turned to Severus, who, other than a profusely bleeding head wound, seemed to be fine.
"I'm alright, Harry. Let's go home. They won't be able to hurt us there." Harry took Ron's cold, limp body in his arms; Severus took Neville's. "Hold on to the mirror." Severus had known about this particular feature of the mirror, but he also knew that it would have only transported four of them home, and if they would have used it with more, it would have taken them to Hogwarts, the last place they would have wanted to be. "Take me home."
With a pull similar to a portkey, they were soon transported to the backyard of Gawain's house. Sirius rushed out to greet them. "What happened, Severus?" Sirius asked, but one look at Harry, Hermione, and Ginny told him all he needed to know.
"Dumbledore…don't let Molly see Ron, Sirius. She'd probably go mad." Severus set Neville's body onto one of the picnic table benches. "Harry, set him down." Severus set his hand on Harry's shoulder, trying to give him some strength.
"I know she would. We just got the news from Moody that Arthur and…" Sirius swallowed. "Remus are dead. We had to identify them. I can call Moody to take them away. He'll need to get your memory, though."
The look that Harry gave Severus was almost enough to tear his heart in two. He desperately wanted to take away the pain he saw in his godson's eyes, but he knew he couldn't. He settled for his best friend's son in his arms, and holding him as the fifteen year old mourned his own best friend.
Hours later, when Sirius and Severus finally calmed Harry, Hermione, and Ginny down enough to get them to go to sleep, the two friends discussed the situation. "We haven't gotten any updates on where Gawain is, have we, Sirius?"
"No. Try explaining that one to the kid who's just lost their best friend, seen another friend die, and heard that two of their main father figures for the past four years have died." Sirius looked away from Severus. "We don't have anything to drink around here, do we?"
"That isn't going to help anything. We can only properly mourn when we hear news about Gawain." Severus hoped, silently because he didn't know if he could voice it aloud, that Gawain was alive. If he wasn't, Severus didn't know how they could go on. All of a sudden, they heard a knock at the door. "I'll get it."
Severus sneered when he opened the door. "What exactly are you doing here, Minister Fudge? I don't recall us inviting you."
"I must speak to Harrison Black Malfoy, Hermione Jean Granger, and Ginerva Molly Weasley. I need to witness their memories of the heinous crimes supposedly committed by Albus." The pompous man looked about as if he were about to be eaten by Severus.
"I am afraid that you will be unable to do that. They have had a most trying time of late, and if you must see a memory of the event, you may see mine, at another time. You will not put those children under anymore emotional stress than they already are. Good day, Minister." Severus slammed the door in the minister's face, much to the displeasure of said minister. "We really need to fix the warding on this house, Sirius. If that horrible excuse for a government official can get up our front path, then anyone could."
"I quite agree. Anyone could get into your home." Severus turned around. Standing in between he and Sirius was Lucius Malfoy.