Chapter 11:

Albus Dumbledore stood in the middle of the infirmary in total shock. He couldn't figure out why Arthur Weasley was returning the babe when he had given her to Molly. That woman would never have given the child up without a fight. Someone had betrayed him!

"Arthur, bring the babe to me."

"No, Dumbledore, I won't. My family and I will not follow you any longer. I don't know how you got Lord Potter's daughter, but you made a serious mistake when you left her in Molly's care." He then turned to Harry.

"I return your daughter to you. I ask that you leave Molly to me. She isn't in her right mind at the moment."

After Harry put his sword away, Arthur handed him Lily. Seeing the fear in Harry's eyes,

Arthur hastened to reassure him.

"Don't worry Lord Potter, she didn't hurt the child. She thinks that the little one is Ginny. Molly hasn't been the same since her death. This incident has forced me to realize that she needs help. I intend to see that she gets it. no matter what the cost is."

Harry nodded and stole a brief glance at his sleeping daughter. Relief flooded through him. He returned his gaze to Dumbledore who looked like he was ready to burst. Without taking his eyes off his enemy, he handed Lily to Amelia.

"Amelia?"

"Yes Harry?"

"Take Lily and go meet Susan. Dumbledore and I have some unfinished business."

Several people, including Snape and Dumbledore, were surprised to hear her reply.

"Try and save something for a trial dear."

"I can't promise anything."

Amelia simply snorted and left the room with her aurors following behind grudgingly.

"I intend to destroy you old man."

"You can try, my boy, but I doubt that you will succeed."

Each wizard stood at the end of the hospital wing, like in an American western. Dumbledore raised his wand in an attempt to seal the room so that no one could come in and help the boy. But Harry was waiting for that and sent a spell towards the old man to stop him. The spell made contact with his wrist, sending his wand flying. He looked back at Harry in surprise.

Harry was just as surprised that his spell made contact. He quickly called the defeated wand to him.

"Give me my wand, Harry."

"Nope. I kind of like it where it's at."

"So you intend to punish me without a means of defending myself?"

"Did Lily have a chance to?"

Snape snorted, reminding the other two that they were not alone. Faster than seemed possible, Dumbledore reached out and snatched Snape's wand from him. But Harry was ready for him again. As Dumbledore sent spell after spell towards him, Harry used the defeated wand to create a shield. He used his regular wand to end this before it got too messy.

'Ratio Phasma' thought Harry. A solid gold beam shot out of his wand, connecting with Dumbledore's chest. The once great wizard looked surprised when it impacted into him. Harry watched in fascinated horror as Dumbledore toppled over, onto the floor. The aged wizard lay perfectly still, not breathing.

Snape looked from Dumbledore's body, to Harry, back to Dumbledore, in total shock. Madam Pomphrey came out of her stupor and rushed to the downed wizard's side. She ran several spells over the body before saying…

"He's dead!"

Snape looked at Harry, fury and disbelief showing in his eyes.

"POTTER! YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT!"

Susan arrived at Hogwarts just as Amelia came outside with Lily in her arms. The bag that she was carrying was soon on the ground as she raced towards the two most important women in her life.

As Amelia handed the babe to her niece she said, "She's fine."

"Where was she?"

"Apparently Dumbledore took her to the Weasleys. Arthur brought her here once he learned that Harry was here."

"Where is Harry?"

"Fighting Dumbledore."

"WHAT!"

Severus Snape was many things but being stupid wasn't one of them. A last look at his former comrade lying on the hospital bed and of his 'mentor' lying on the floor dead, done by a mere slip of a boy. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pedestal. The object was a portkey to the Dark lord. It was not something unusual and many Potion masters carried one with them at all times.

"Lily Flower."

But nothing happened.

"Lily Flower!"

Still nothing happened. He shot a glance to the boy who was smirking right back at him.

"Can't leave?"

"LILY FLOWER!"

But it was futile. Somehow the brat had stopped the portkey from activating. He had to get out of here before Bones returned with the Aurors. Seeing his wand lying beside Dumbledore's body he made a leap for it.

Only to find it in the hands of his enemy.

"Looking for this?" smirked the boy.

"POTTER! GIVE ME MY WAND!"

"Uh, no."

To Harry, Snape looked like a bull that was about to charge. Head down, the greasy git went full steam ahead and charged.

But it wasn't Harry that stopped him it was Susan.

As soon as the power waves dispelled Amelia, Susan, Lily, and the Aurors hurried back to the Hospital wing. They arrived in time to see Snape charging at Harry. Susan didn't even think. She merely palmed her wand and did the first spell that came to mind.

It turned Snape into a goldfish. The rest of the group turned and stared at her before her aunt shook herself and conjured a fishbowl to put the man/ fish into.

Amelia looked from Snapefish to the body of Dumbledore on the floor to the body of Lucius Malfoy on one of the beds.

"What happened?"

Harry snorted. "What do you think happened? The old man and I dueled. Then Snape had to try his hand only to be bested by Susie here which was brilliant I must say."

"Thank you." she said primly.

"And Malfoy?"

"I don't know for certain but he looks like he displeased his Lord."

"His Lord?" asked one the Aurors.

"Yes, HIS Lord. You know Voldemort. The Dark Lord. He-Who-Makes-Everyone-Fear-Him-But-Has-A-Secret-Desire-To-Join-The-Circus-As-A-Sideshow-Freak."

Susan burst into giggles as Harry winked at her.

"Really, Harry. That name is much too long. The Prophet can't handle all those letters. But they are improving."

"Of course they are! I fixed that."

Lord Voldemort was in a rare fury. Potter had somehow bested him and he didn't like that. His rage fuelled the headache that formed when Lucius returned. Needing his Potions Master he summoned Snape. When the man didn't arrive, he sent a recruit to get him.

The recruit returned empty handed.

"Where is Severus!"

"Captured, My Lord."

"Captured? By whom?"

"Apparently Potter was dueling with Dumbledore and won. Snape tried to escape and was caught. The Bones girl transfigured him into something and the Aurors took him to the Ministry."

The Dark Lord stared at his minion. "Potter beat Dumbledore?"

"From what I overheard, yes. Dumbledore is dead."

"Potter killed him!"

"So it seems."

Turning in deep thought, the Dark Lord dismissed his servant without punishment. As the servant left, a shudder of fear ran down his spine.

As Amelia returned to the Ministry with her Aurors, taking Snape and Lucius with her, Harry, Susan, and Lily made there way to Harry's assigned quarters within the castle. A flurry of house elves were busy cleaning them when they arrived. They were done in no time. One of them approached Harry.

"Lord Potter?"

"Yes, uh…"

"Stumpy."

"Thank you. Now what do you need Stumpy."

"We is hoping that these rooms be alright for now. We is starting on the Gryffindor rooms later. Would miss like the Hufflepuff room cleaned as well?"

"Hufflepuff rooms?"

"Yes, miss. Each founder had their own rooms here in the castle. We needs to know if miss wants to move into them before yous marry."

Harry tried not to laugh at Susan's embarrassment.

"Umm no I will stay with Lord Potter. However my aunt will need them tomorrow."

"Then we will gets them ready for her. Can we gets anything for you Lord Potter and Lord Potter's miss?"

"Um, no thank you Stumpy. I think we're good for the night."

"Good night then."

The moment the elves popped out of the room, Harry burst out laughing. Susan did a mature thing then. She stuck her tongue out at him and went to put Lily down. Still chuckling Harry followed her out of the room.