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Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Severus couldn't draw his eyes away from Harry's body, curled up on the ground. It was all over. In a flash of green light, it was over. Severus didn't realize he had bit into his own hand in an attempt to not yell out at Harry.
Severus' body suddenly forced oxygen into itself, and his head began spinning. Severus had seen death before, numerous times, but this time it struck him differently. He was personally involved. He had loved Harry's mother, protected Harry since he had entered Hogwarts, and protected his best friends, especially Hermione. Now, he was staring blankly at the gruesome sight before him. Tearing his eyes away, he saw Voldemort still on the ground, and Bellatrix groveling, trying to awake him. Severus wished the creature was dead.
Rage suddenly bubbled up inside of him, and he wished he was the one who had killed the monster. After everything that that he had been through by that small boney hand, Severus wished more than anything that he could strike that thing down once and for all, taking twenty years of resentment and anger out on him.
Severus was snapped from his rage induced thoughts by a small movement. His eyes immediately locked on the movement of pale skin and black robes. Voldemort was stirring. Severus instinctively took a step closer to make sure his eyes were not deceiving him. Even from his hiding spot, he could hear Bellatrix stammering and grasping onto his arm to help him up.
Bellatrix was shoved away and landed on the ground with a screech. Voldemort never liked her anyway, he just enjoyed the fact that he could order her around like a dog and she would listen to him regardless of his orders.
Soon, the exhausted thing was on its feet, gazing at the lump that was Harry Potter. Words were spoken, Bellatrix reclaimed her spot beside her Lord, and Narcissa Malfoy stepped forward slowly.
The woman's blond hair contrasted sharply with the dark forest around her. She shakily made her way towards the boy, keeping her eyes on him as if he were a frightened animal. Gracefully she lowered herself to the ground. Severus couldn't see much more. Things were too dark. She stayed bent over the boy for a long drawn out moment, before rising.
"The boy is dead," she spoke, with her chin held high.
Cheers erupted, though Severus could still hear Hagrid shouting over them in his strong booming voice. Severus grabbed onto a tree to support himself. Their one hope was gone. Now, the Death Eaters would take control of the castle, and in turn, the entire Wizarding World.
Hagrid was ordered to carry the boy back to the castle. The giant was sobbing loudly as he gingerly stooped to lift Potter from the ground. The boy's limp arm swung with each of the giants motions, making the nightmare that much more real.
The Death Eater's who were holding onto the chains that held the giant yanked him forward and back in the direction of the castle. Slowly, the giant moved, gaining more control over his sobbing. The parade of Death Eaters soon slowly followed the large man, whispering amongst themselves.
Voldemort allowed Bellatrix to aid him for a short while.
Severus quietly followed behind, making sure his own steps were muffled by the mass amount of Death Eaters. When they reached the forest's edge, Voldemort shoved Bellatrix off of him. He took the front position as they headed towards the school.
Severus darted away and found the path that lead to the Boathouse and took that up to the front of the castle. Breathing heavily, Severus reached the courtyard just as Voldemort shoved the body of a Giant off of the bridge.
People from the castle slowly began to filter out, unsure, no doubt, of what to do in the presence of such a being. Severus caught sight of Miss Weasley and saw the panic cross her face.
"Who's that that Hagrid's carrying? Who is it?"
As she darted forward, her father restrained her, thankfully. Hermione suddenly came forward, standing next to Weasley, stunned. Severus watched as Hermione forced her tears back, her face twisting with grief. Voldemort was speaking, but Severus wasn't picking up any of the words he was speaking. His eyes darted between the Death Eater's, Potter's body, and Hermione's face.
He was momentarily distracted as he watched Draco step forward away from the castle and join his parents who were standing in the front row of followers. Severus couldn't help smirking when his eyes landed on Lucius. The man was broken and petrified. He was going to bolt when the opportunity presented itself to him. Then, he would come crawling back claiming that he hadn't abandoned them at moment when they needed him the most. Narcissa slipped away with her son, but Lucius anxiously gazed around, his eyes darting between faces, knowing that if he walked away now, he would be considered a coward.
Another movement came from the castle. The Death Eaters laughed as Neville Longbottom stepped forward. Longbottom wasn't the type to switch sides. Before Severus had time to pursue the thought, Longbottom launched into a very Gryffindor inspired speech, causing Severus to instinctively roll his eyes and sigh. Leave it to a Gryffindor to always be a Gryffindor.
What Severus wasn't expecting was Longbottom to raise the sword of Gryffindor and trying and attack the snake. The boy went sailing back into the castle and fell with a crash, causing many to turn and look in fear. There was suddenly yelling.
Potter's body had fallen. But a moment later, Potter was on his feet, and sprinting away. In a flash, Potter ran past him, and the wall beside him exploded, sending him sailing to the ground. Severus quickly scrambled to his feet and was caught in the middle of sheer panic.
Death Eater's were Apparating left and right, Bellatrix was screaming at them to remain loyal and fight for their master, some remained and fought. People were screaming and Severus found McGonagall eagerly trying to get people safely into the castle.
Jumping forward, Severus, for the first time ever, publically took a stand against the Death Eater's.
Severus Snape cast as many spell as his mind could think of in his sheer panic, though he dare not show that he was indeed panicking. McGonagall was at his side a moment later, fighting with just as much fire.
"Get back in the castle!" Severus hollered to the people who remained outside fighting. "NOW!" he added when they refused to move.
Slowly the couple began backing towards the door, forcing people inside and keeping them safe. The Death Eater's were stunned when they saw him fighting against them, and he used that to his advantage. The split second pause they took to contemplate fighting against him was all he needed. After Severus took down the first few, the others caught onto the fact that he was no longer on their side. They spit vicious slurs at him, but he barely registered the words. Someone joined the two, and Severus spared a quick glance to his side and nearly snapped.
Hermione fought against their foes as if it was her last battle on this Earth. Her face was the definition of concentration and determination. Before he could say anything, he could hear Weasley yelling at her.
"HERMIONE! WE NEED TO GET THE SNAKE! THE SNAKE!"
"Go on without me!" she answered back, making a cutting motion through the air.
"Get out of here!" Severus growled, trying to step in front of her.
"You can't fight them alone!"
"You have to help Potter, now go!"
"Severus-"
"NOW!" he snapped, giving her a sharp shove backward in order to step in front of her.
He heard her footsteps running away, and he felt a small bit of relief as he resumed the fight. They needed to finish what they started, and no matter what, Weasley would always need Hermione's help.
McGonagall took a hard hit and stumbled backwards slightly, but Severus stopped the next blow from striking the old woman, who quickly regained her footing. The two remained side by side, fighting off the remaining Death Eaters who were trying to force their way into the castle.
Severus looked past the line of Death Eaters in front of them and saw another wave heading across the bridge. In a flash Severus was fighting his way forward. If those forces reached the castle, the two of them would never last.
A stunning hex struck him, throwing him to the ground. Severus blinked a few times, testing his limbs. He concluded that the hex was barely strong enough to knock him into unconsciousness. Scrambling up, he darted for the bridge, flicking his wand once he got a clear shot. The bridge crumbled and the men and women fell in like dominoes, screaming.
As Severus went to return to Minerva, Potter and the Dark Lord crashed to the center of the courtyard. Each scrambled for their wand, and once on their feet, Potter snapped.
"Severus Snape wasn't yours. Snape was Dumbledore's, Dumbledore's from the moment you started hunting down my mother!"
Everything froze at that moment, and Severus knew that the people who recognized him and could locate him, were now staring at him. Voldemort stared at the boy, not moving.
"That Mudblood was nothing to Severus,"
"He was Dumbledore's spy from the moment you threatened her and Hermione, and he's been working against you ever since,"
Severus could hear the gasps around the courtyard, from Death Eaters and their foes alike. He could practically feel the eyes burning into his body. The two circled around each other like animals until Severus could see both of their faces.
Voldemort's eyes followed Harry's, and found Severus Snape, alive and well, standing in the middle of a pile of rubble, with his black robes torn and covered with dust.
Severus could see the rage in his snake-like eyes, but he said nothing.
"Lies!" Voldemort hissed viciously.
Severus remained silent, staring at the creature boldly in the eyes – something he had never done. He shook his head once, telling Voldemort that the words Potter was speaking were not lies. With an inhuman screech, Voldemort attacked Potter.
The two battled viciously, pieces of the spells breaking away and shattering stone walls and archways. Everyone stood silent as the air filled with so much magic many grabbed onto something to stop their spinning heads. And suddenly, Voldemort went rigid, the spell broke, and all eyes followed the wand that that was yanked from the boney fingers. The wand twirled through the air before landing perfectly in Potter's outstretched fingers.
Before Severus' very eyes, he watched the most feared wizard of all time begin to disintegrate and disappear. Soon, nothing of the hideous creature remained, and for the first time in months, the sun beamed down on Hogwarts.