A/N-Happy Memorial Day to those of us in America! I did all my partying last night so you get your chapter today. The second part to the Battle of Hogwarts has arrived! I didn't make y'all wait too long since I know exactly what it feels like to have to wait for the next installment after a cliffhanger. It blows is putting it nicely. I know I thank y'all every single chapter for reading and reviewing but I can't tell you how much your support means me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Anyways, I know you're far more excited to read the next installment than hear me ramble, ha-ha.

Trigger warning: Violence, torture, and death.

Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own a thing except for my own personal plot twist. Every trope of this story has been done more than once.

Chapter 46

April 21, 1996

Harry came awake on the dingy floor of King's Cross station, though the station was empty. The Hogwarts' Express was nowhere in sight, so it was clear that he was on the muggle side of things. He realized that he was naked, his clothes nowhere in sight. When he realized that his wand was still in his hand, he waved it and conjured a robe, thankful that Hermione had taught him how to conjure things in Transfiguration class.

He had just swung the robe around him, hiding his nakedness, when he spied two forms making their way towards him. Harry readied his wand, wanting to make sure that he wouldn't be caught unawares. As the figures drew closer, Harry couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. His mother and father were getting closer and they both had wide smiles on their faces.

Harry didn't hesitate; he rushed both of them and threw his arms around them, holding them close. They clutched him just as tightly and they held each other close for several minutes before Harry finally pulled away. His smile was wide as he just gazed at them, unable to believe that they were there. His mother ran her fingers through his hair repeatedly while his father beamed with pride. Harry finally broke the silence, unable to remain quiet when he wanted answers.

"How are you two here? How did I get here?" They both smiled softly at him before Lily answered him.

"We didn't come to you. You came to us." Harry took a moment to ponder her statement.

"Does this mean I'm dead?" His mother's eyes were sad so when she clutched his hand tightly he expected the worst. It was his father that answered.

"You aren't fully dead, otherwise you would have come straight to the other side where we are. This is a limbo of sorts. We were able to visit because you're our son and at the moment you're more dead than alive. Don't you remember how you got here?" Harry narrowed his eyes in deep thought, contemplating his father's words. Did he remember? He couldn't recall anything, not anything from the moment before he had woken on the ground. Where were his friends? Where was Hermione and Draco? Had they won the fight against Voldemort?

In that moment, everything flooded back to him.

Draco killing the snake after Hermione promised to get a familiar like Nagini. Her grandfather looking as enraged as he had ever seen and casting the familiar green curse at his own flesh and blood. Harry knowing that Hermione was going to let the curse land and himself stepping in front of it at the last moment. The last feeling, he had had was hitting the hard stone floor, excruciating pain in his chest where the curse had landed. When he met his parent's gaze again, his features were frenzied.

"Did she die? Please tell me that Hermione is still alive." His mother gave him a soft smile before running her hand over his cheek.

"She's still alive son, in fact, she's trying to bring you back with young Draco as we speak. It's your choice if you return to them, to her, or go over to the other side with us." Harry wanted to scream at the unfairness of it. He had wanted to see his parents, speak with them, since he was a toddler. To have it come at the cost of leaving Hermione and Draco forever was something that he just wasn't equipped to handle. A strangled sound erupted from his throat and a few tears leaked out. His father took pity on him.

"We won't be mad if you go back, son. You've made us so proud and you've earned the happiness you have with those two. If you wish to return, we would be thrilled." He turned his eyes to James Potter, his namesake.

"How can you say that? I've missed you so much through the years and to know that you could lose me all over again has to be heart wrenching." His mother smiled at his sorrow.

"Harry, you are our pride and joy. The only thing that we've ever wanted for you was to live and be happy. Why do you think we cast ourselves in front of Tom Riddle? We wanted you to live and have a chance at life. That we wouldn't be there to witness it firsthand was inconsequential. You did the same thing for Hermione; you would do the same thing for any children that came from that girl, be it your child or Draco's. It's what you do for someone you love. If you chose to continue doing what we always wanted for you, how could we be sad or disappointed?"

Harry had never considered things that way. He had known since he was eleven years old that his mother had willingly cast herself in front of the killing curse meant for him. His father had done his best to hold the Dark Lord off, so his wife and son could make an escape. The last thing that he wanted to do was make their sacrifices be in vain.

"Are you sure that you won't be disappointed in me?" His mother chuckled at him.

"We would never be disappointed in you, sweetheart. We have watched every single part of your life since we've been gone, and we have nothing but pride for the person you've become. If you wish to return to your love and your best friend, do it without a single regret." Harry nodded but didn't speak. James laid a hand on his shoulder, however, before speaking.

"I know that many won't believe that you've spoken with us, but I would still like you to pass on some words if you could. Would you agree to that?" Harry met his father's gaze, much like his but hazel in color. His eyes reminded him of Hermione's before her glamour had been lifted.

"Absolutely." James grinned at him.

"Tell Remus and Sirius to stop blaming themselves for our deaths. They've both paid a hefty price for their mistrust and it needs to stop now. We never wanted them to blame themselves for our decisions." His father heaved a deep breath before continuing.

"I also want you to tell Severus that I'm sorry for all the hell that I put him through. I was terrible to him and I regret it more than anything. I know he's forgiven Sirius and Remus but I'm not able to apologize like they have. Could you please tell him how much I regret how I treated him?" Harry couldn't help the smile that graced his features. He had known that his father had treated Snape terribly, Sirius had made sure to tell him that, but the fact that he regretted being a bully made Harry feel better about his father. He nodded happily.

"I'll pass on every single word, I swear it." His father beamed at him before his mother stepped forward.

"Tell Severus that I want him to move on, to let me go. I know that he spied for Dumbledore because of Hermione, but he also hasn't had a single serious relationship since then. Tell him that I want him to move on and find someone new, someone that will love him as I never could, that will love him as he deserves. Also, tell Hermione to take care of you. You're your father's son and you always think that you don't need taken care of, but you do. I'd like for her to take over that job for me." Harry could feel the tears pricking his eyes, but he held them back ruthlessly. He would be damned if he returned to the land of the living bawling his eyes out.

"I'll pass on both your messages. I hope you both know how much I love you and wish that things had turned out differently for us." Both his mother and his father came forward to wrap their arms around him once more.

"We know, son. We love you more than life itself. You must go now, before your chance to go back is gone. Always live life to the fullest and always do what makes you happy." There were several tears that slipped down his cheeks at their words.

"I swear it." As if the magic surrounding them sensed that he had made a decision, his world faded to black around him and King's Cross was no more.

-O-

Hermione was outraged, downright wrathful. Her grandfather had sent a killing curse her way and her idiot boyfriend had stepped in front of it at the last moment, falling dead at her feet. The cry of sorrow that left her lips when she realized what had happened was unlike anything that she had ever heard. The only thing that kept her from dropping to her knees at Harry's body was the fact that her grandfather needed to die. Slowly and painfully if she had anything to do with it.

The curses that she was sending his way were unreserved, her power unchecked. She wanted him to feel her wrath and she wanted him to feel fear. The only thing that stopped her from killing him outright as she wished was the fact that Albus fucking Dumbledore stepped between them and spouted rot about not fighting children anymore.

Once she realized that the wizened wizard was going to take on her grandfather, Hermione spun around to find Draco still kneeling at Harry's side. Tears ran unbidden down his cheeks, but he wasn't sobbing. Hermione refused to let it end like this, without trying. Therefore, when she knelt beside Harry on the side opposite of Draco, she reached out and tugged her other mate's hands over his chest with hers.

"We have to heal him. We have to try." Draco understood instantly and began pouring his magic into his hands, letting it swirl and intertwine with Hermione's. She could feel the downright desperate feel to it, but she could cast no judgement. She knew hers felt the same.

Hermione was unsure how long they shared magic and funneled it into Harry. The sounds of the battle around them filtered through their minds but they paid them no mind. The only thing that warranted any thought whatsoever was the fact that Hermione could feel Harry's magic stirring under the ministrations of herself and Draco.

Out of nowhere, Hermione felt a surge in Harry's magic, signaling that only one thing was possible. He was most assuredly not dead. Dead bodies didn't have magic, let alone rising levels. She waited and let her magic feel just how strong his magic felt, taking her time to make sure they she had Draco had fed enough of their strength and magic into Harry to make sure that he would live. When she was certain that they had done all they could, she lifted her hands from Harry's chest only to notice that Draco looked exhausted. Come to think of it, she felt exhausted too.

Hermione waited with bated breath as Draco reached out and felt for the pulse of their mate. He let loose a whoop of joy and shot her a wide smile, something that was usually out of place on Draco's face. He usually smirked.

"We did it, Princess, this lucky bastard is alive. He probably won't wake to help us but he's fucking alive." Hermione leaned over Harry's body to catch Draco's lips in a kiss before bending and pressing one to Harry's. When she looked up to meet Draco's gaze, he gave her a nod. She took this to mean that he was onboard and would be with her until the end.

"Let's end this. That fucking monster is going down." Draco nodded at her words before stepping away from Harry. The Slytherin reached out and took hold of Terry Boot's shoulder, dragging him towards them.

"Hermione and I have to end this. Harry is alive, no questions, but he isn't awake. I want you to stand here and make sure that no stray curses hit him." Terry looked like he didn't believe it but nodded anyways. Hermione and Draco both stood and turned to survey the room at large.

It was complete bedlam.

Remus and Sirius were dueling Peter Pettigrew, McGonagall was taking on Rabastan Lestrange, and Severus was trying to overthrow Jugson, Rowle, and Nott. People from both sides littered the floor, some injured but most dead. It was a heart-breaking sight, but Hermione had to ignore the emotions that welled up inside her. Just as they started forward, a hand reached out and jerked them both backwards. Hermione turned and was surprised to see Lucius.

"We have to go now. I can't lose the pair of you. I would rather run for the rest of my life than see the Dark Lord end the pair of you." Hermione knew that his heart was in the right place, but she had no time for this. She gave him a soft smile before she rose to her tip toes and kissed his cheek.

"I know you mean well but I can't go with you. Harry is alive and I'm going to end this today. Nobody hurts my mates and that snake-faced bastard is going to pay for it." Draco was nodding next to her. Lucius looked incredulous.

"How can that be? We all saw him fall to the AK." Hermione gestured for the older Slytherin to check for himself.

"Draco and I brought him back. We're ending this now." After feeling for a pulse, Lucius looked up at them completely in awe before it turned to determination.

"Don't worry, I'll let no harm come to him." She gave him a grateful nod.

Hermione took off, Draco at her side, to find her grandfather. Dumbledore was laying on the floor where they had been dueling, obviously dead from the glassy look of his wide-open eyes. Hermione couldn't find any sorrow in herself for his death. He had manipulated far too many people in his lifetime.

Hermione finally spotted her grandfather dueling three people at once, her father, Professor McGonagall, and Moody. Even though it was three on one, her grandfather was still making them play defensive rather than offensive. The Gryffindor knew that this was going to be their one chance to end it all. She headed for the four of them, Draco right beside her, until they were just outside of firing range.

"I'm calling you out, Tom Riddle. As your granddaughter and your heir, I'm calling you to a duel to the death." All casting in the Great Hall came to a stop, everyone turning to watch what played out next. McGonagall, Moody, and her father all stopped and stepped back, though Hermione could tell that her father wanted nothing more than scream at her to retreat. Her grandfather stepped forward, wand held aloft, and sneered her way.

"I already killed Harry Potter, sssweetling. Do you think you can ssstop me from killing young Malfoy asss well? I would love to sssee you try to ssstop me. Don't worry though, I won't be killing you. I intend to keep you for my very own, locked up to where I know that you can never essscape. I'll find a proper pureblood to come breed you and then I'll mold your ssson to my liking." Hermione could see her father fuming and she could hear Draco audibly growling at his words. Before anyone could say anything, the Dark Lord laughed.

"Don't worry, your father won't be needed in the new regime either." Quick as a snitch, a curse escaped her grandfather's wand and hit her father square in the abdomen, opening him wide. Hermione could do nothing but watch Moody and McGonagall bend at his side to help him. Once her grandfather was again focused on her, he grinned his snake-grin her way.

"Don't worry, I won't grant young Malfoy a quick death like Potter received." Hermione was done listening to him. There was no way that she was letting him get anywhere near Draco and she was never going to let him touch her father again. She stepped forward, signaling Draco to stay back but stay close so she could draw off his power if she needed to. Her grandfather now laughed.

"You just sssaw me beating three fully qualified witchesss and wizardsss and you want to take me on by yourself? By all meansss."

Hermione had no plans of letting her grandfather goad her into acting without thought. She wasn't going to let anger rule her actions, only well thought out plans. Draco didn't appear to be happy that she was taking on the Dark Lord by herself but there wasn't much that he could do about it at this point.

The pair began to circle each other, neither wanting to be the first one to cast a spell at the other. Hermione knew that she could very well die in this duel; her grandfather wouldn't try to kill her, but it was clear that she had much more to lose in this fight than her life. Even though her grandfather talked big, she could see a tiny hint of fear in his gaze. Without the tiniest bit of warning, she struck.

Her blasting curse hit a shield, she was the first to admit that her grandfather had faster reflexes than she did. However, he couldn't match her for power. His shield flickered out of existence at the landing of her curse and Hermione gave him a feral grin. The fear in his eyes grew but he was quick to shutter his gaze, hiding all his emotions.

They danced back and forth for who knew how long; Hermione didn't. He would land curse after curse on her shield but could never break through. Her grandfather would always have a shield in place by the time she caught up to him enough to land a curse. Hermione was focused on nothing aside from their duel until two people stepped up next to her.

The Gryffindor's shield faltered when she realized that Harry and Draco were now beside her, both alive and well and truly pissed off. Hermione felt several tears slide down her cheeks at the sight of Harry on his feet once more, but she didn't let them deter her from their final mission. Defeating her grandfather would guarantee them a long and happy life where they would no longer be harassed for their birth or their blood statues.

While the magic between Hermione and Draco had been strong, throwing Harry into the mix had sent their levels off the charts. Hermione could tell that the whole of the Great Hall was staring in disbelief as the Gryffindor boy stepped beside Hermione and spoke.

"Enough fucking around. Let's end this so I can take a nap. My fucking chest hurts." Hermione couldn't help the gurgle of laughter at his words that rose up in her throat. Her grandfather scoffed openly before attacking once more.

Hermione could admit that she, Draco, and Harry were the perfect team. Where she had the power, they had the speed and reflexes that would keep any opponent on their toes. The duel was fast and furious, no words being called out to signify curses, but it was clear that they were all lethal. Spell fire lit up the whole of the Great Hall from their duel and Hermione was eager to end it as soon as she could.

Hermione got her wish when Draco landed a curse on her grandfather, a cutting curse that cut deep into the meat of his leg. It wasn't powerful enough to sever his leg, but it was bad enough to take his attention from the duel for a mere moment. Hermione saw this as her moment to act. A powerful blasting curse left her wand, slamming into the shield that her grandfather had erected around himself. It was obliterated, throwing the Dark Lord several feet back, landing him on his arse. Hermione didn't care; she stepped forward to follow him, not caring that his wand was on the floor several feet from where he lay.

An obscure pain curse left her wand, one that she had read about in one of the restricted section books last year, which left her grandfather screaming in agony. Hermione thought that she must have turned dark because in that moment she didn't care. The whole Great Hall was silent as they listened the screams of the man who had inspired so much fear in their world. When Hermione finally lifted the curse, she stepped close enough so that when she spoke, her grandfather would have no problems hearing her.

"Nobody touches my mates, and nobody touches my father. Here you lie, before Merlin and everybody, screaming on the ground because you were bested by three teens. Just know that while you deserve so much more suffering than what you've received, know that your heirs will curse your name. Nobody will revere Salazar Slytherin after what you've done here today." With a quick spell shot at the wand laying on the ground next to him, it incinerated into ash and smoke. Her grandfather choked out a response.

"You may kill me today, but I'll return and when I do, you won't even be counted asss the lowliest whore on my lowessst-level Death Eater's essstate." Hermione openly laughed at him.

"You won't be returning, grandfather. We've killed all your horcruxes, every single last one. Once you're gone, you're dead." His face turned even more ashen than usual. Hermione bent closer, so she could push every memory of destroying his horcruxes into his mind. After he had viewed them all, he gasped. Just to top things off, Hermione shoved herself into his mind, burrowing through his shields like she had done to her father and Albus Dumbledore.

The things she saw there amazed her.

Every bribe he had paid since he had first come to power. Every life he had taken. Every person that he had tortured. Every single last person that had turn-coated on the side of light. What made her smile was the fact that she had also come across a potion that would cure a person of the effects of a Cruciatus curse. She was sure that Neville would have plenty use for a potion such as that. Once she had taken everything from him that he had to give, Hermione retreated from his mind.

She turned to Harry with a smile.

"Would you like to finish this, or shall I? It's supposed to be your destiny after all." Hermione didn't have to ask to know what her mate was going to choose. He wouldn't want her to have killing her own grandfather on her conscience. Harry stepped forward, extended his wand, and for the first time that day, spoke his spell.

"Avada Kedavra."

A jet of green light left Harry's wand and hit her grandfather in the chest, much the same as his curse had hit Harry. Tom Riddle fell to the ground in a heap and the cheers heard throughout the Hall were thunderous.

Hermione rushed Harry, throwing herself in his arms, Draco right behind her. There were tears running down her cheeks, but she didn't care if the whole world saw them. They were all still alive, her grandfather was dead, and all the Death Eaters were gathered in the Great Hall for the rest of them to take down.

As soon as Hermione pulled herself from Harry's arms, pressing a kiss to his lips before doing so, she turned to make her way over to her father, more than happy to lend her hand at trying to heal him. His eyes were full of joy as she dropped to her knees before him, hand laying directly on his wound. His hand tangled in her hair, forcing her to look at him.

"I've never been prouder of you in my life." She knew that her grin was blinding but she didn't care. What she cared about was healing her father. Even though she couldn't employ the healing method that she and Draco had used on Harry, she was still able to lay her hand on her father's deep abdominal wound and focus her magic on healing the cut, hoping that later potions could heal the damage to what lay beneath.

The Great Hall was once again caught up in battle, the Death Eaters now frantic to escape. The fact that their master was now dead just meant that they were far more ruthless to make sure that they were able to escape unharmed. Thoros Nott fell to Lucius, Pettigrew died at the hands of Sirius, Greyback expired by the hands of Remus, Rabastan fell to Neville. The list went on and on and Hermione was glad that the Room was finally quieting.

Hermione had just stood, pulled to her feet by Draco and Harry, hauled into a hug that had them all laughing and crying. She wasn't focused on anything else and that was her mistake. She wasn't aware that Rodolphus had hidden behind the High Table and crept out once the excitement had died down. With a quick shout, a green curse left his wand.

Hermione had no warning as to what was coming. She had no idea that in her moment of triumph, it would be taken away. The only thing she was aware of was the blinding pain in her back, the angry shouts around her, and her body slamming into the stone floor beneath her.

-O-

Severus could hardly believe that it was over. There was no world that existed where he would be free from both his masters. The fact that his daughter had made this all possible was beyond imagining.

Watching her torture the Dark Lord had done something to him and he wasn't sure that it was good. She had been forced to grow up far too quickly, use spells that should never see the light of day at Hogwarts, but he still couldn't quite feel bad. The fact remained that his father had deserved it and much more. He doubted that anyone at the Ministry would say a word about his underage daughter casting a torture curse, even if it wasn't the Cruciatus.

His daughter had knelt at his side after hugging her mates, laying her hands on the split wound on his belly. His innards were on the verge of falling out of him, the cut was so deep. McGonagall and Moody had done their best to help him but anything short of a healer just wasn't going to be enough. His daughter healed the initial wound, even though he was sure that she had done nothing for the internal damage. At least this way, he didn't have to worry about bleeding to death or spilling his guts on the floor at his feet.

Severus had just struggled to his feet, with the help on Minerva no less, when the fighting commenced in the Great Hall. He watched as those around him continued in their battles, determined to bring the remaining Death Eaters to justice. However, he turned his head just in time to see Rodolphus Lestrange creep out from behind the High Table and cast the familiar green jet of light that signified the killing curse at his daughter. Her body was turned so it hit her squarely in the back.

To say she dropped like a rock would have been an understatement.

Watching his daughter fall to the wand of scum like Rodolphus Lestrange did something to him. Where Severus had always been calm and controlled, he lost what little control he had and let his world color red. His wand appeared in his hand once more and Severus threw himself into the fight.

Rodolphus knew that it was coming, he had been completely prepared it seemed. The battle that erupted from their duel was eye-catching and awe-inspiring. Both were quick with a wand, but Severus had more power available to him. He had always known that he was one of the more powerful Death Eaters to serve under his father, he had just never understood that it had to do with his paternity. Now, none of it mattered except making Rodolphus pay for taking the life of his precious daughter.

Within only a couple curses, Severus had felled Rodolphus, stripping him of his wand. This didn't matter to Severus at all; his wand still managed to incur all sorts of horrid curses on the Death Eater. His screams reverberated off the stone walls and Severus didn't even try to mask them; he wanted everyone to know what happened to people that harmed his daughter and if it landed him in prison, even better. At least then his memories would be sucked away by the dementors, not there for him to relive over and over again.

The screams continued for what seemed like hours. All the skin was flayed from Rodolphus' body before the man went quiet. Severus was sure that he had killed the man until he saw the slightest movement of his chest. Not caring that there were children present, he cast his strongest blasting curse at the Death Eater's head, exploding it like it was nothing more than a watermelon. Brain matter and blood spattered everywhere, all over everyone in a close range, but Severus didn't care.

The man who had taken his baby girl from him had paid for that act with his pain and his life.

-O-

Draco was unsure as to what exactly had happened when Hermione went limp in their arms and hit the stone floor beneath them. Her eyes were wide open and lifeless, the love and light he adored gone forever.

The Slytherin saw Severus lose his composure, despite being injured, and start in the direction behind them. In that moment, Draco realized what had happened. Rodolphus Lestrange had a very satisfied smirk on his face at the sight of his mate dead on the ground. Harry seemed to realize this at the same time that Draco did and started off in the direction of the Death Eater. However, their movements were brought to a halt when they realized that Severus was advancing on the man with his wand drawn. Draco grabbed at Harry's arm.

"We have to bring her back like we did you."

Draco knelt next to Hermione, pushing her onto her back so he and Harry could join hands on her chest. The fact that it wasn't raising underneath their grip scared the life out of him.

Draco poured every last bit of magic he had into their bond. Harry poured his magic in as well, but he was still weakened from his own bout with death. Therefore, Draco compensated as best he could, putting everything but his life force forward to help revive his beloved. He and Harry were both well-aware that while the three of them worked now, it would never work between them and another girl. They only worked because Hermione was there to bind them together. Sure, Harry and Draco would likely remain friends, but never to the depths that they were currently.

Draco felt the trickle of magic emanating from Hermione's core, much like they had felt from Harry when they had been bringing him back. This caused Draco to pour even more of his core magic into Hermione, Harry following suit even though he had far less to give. They both wanted her back and would do whatever it took to get her back.

Draco could feel her magic getting stronger and stronger until he just couldn't pour anymore of his magic into her without permanently damaging his core. He was sure that it had been enough to save her life, enough to have her wake up in a short period of time like Harry had. Therefore, he pulled back when he could give no more. However, the backlash of his magic retreating from Hermione and back into himself felt like a Mack truck had struck him head-on.

The last thing that Draco remembered before the darkness engulfed him was the flare of magic he felt from both his mates.

-O-

Severus knew that he would be portrayed as a monster when he finally went on trial for his crimes against humanity. Rodolphus' death would prove this to be the truth, but he would be the first to admit that he didn't care. Hermione was his daughter and he had rightly justified her death after the Death Eater had snuffed her life out like nothing.

When he turned to make his way to his daughter's side, he saw that Potter and Draco had their hands on her chest much the same way when they had done to her when they healed after Dolohov's attack on her. Hope flared in his chest as he rushed to their sides.

He didn't dare interrupt whatever magical exchange was occurring.

The whole of the Great Hall was silent as the watched the two wizards do their best to revive their beloved. Severus couldn't help but wonder if he was imagining things when his daughter began to glow slightly. He was sure that he was hallucinating when he thought that she took in a breath. Severus could only watch in trepidation as both Draco and Potter removed their hands from her chest. It was like watching a stunning spell hit them but without a wand.

Both young men swayed on the spot, their eyes rolled back in their heads, and fell in a dead faint next to Hermione.

Nobody wanted to make their way to the young trio, honestly, Severus thought they were probably nervous about what they would find. He couldn't blame them. However, he couldn't not know. The Slytherin rushed forward, Lucius not far behind him. He went to his knees next to Potter, Lucius falling the same way next to Draco. Lucius let out a relieved breath.

"Draco is alive." Severus felt at Potter's neck and found a steady pulse. Next, he moved to his daughter and felt the tender skin of her neck.

There was a pulse.

Severus let out a whoop before calling out to the Great Hall.

"They're alive. We need healers now!" Minerva had apparently anticipated that they would be needed and opened the floo wide open. She stuck her head into the flames for only moments before she stepped back, and a barrage of healers came through. Apparently, the witch had summoned them from St. Mungo's. It was clear that Madam Pomfrey would never be able to treat the sheer magnitude of patients from the battle today.

Three healers rushed forward, seeing them on the ground. Each one went to one of the three teens and started casting diagnostics on them. Severus refused to be parted from them until Kingsley and Moody came up behind him and pulled him to his feet by his arm pits. Moody, the same rat bastard that had always doubted him before, growled in his ear.

"Your guts were almost decorations for the floor. That lass down there isn't going to be happy to wake up and find that her father died after the battle because he was too fucking stubborn to get treatment." Severus knew that he was right but needed confirmation first.

"Tell me, are they going to live? Is my daughter going to live?" The healers working on Potter and Draco were the first to speak.

"These two are fine, just physically, mentally, and magically exhausted. They likely won't wake for a few days, but they should be fine." The older man that was working on Hermione looked a little more grim.

"Your daughter is alive, in fact, she appears to be in no danger now. She too is exhausted in every way, but she is also in a coma. Until we can get her somewhere where we can conduct more tests, I have no way of knowing if it's permanent or just how much damage has been done to her magical core." Severus couldn't bear the thought of his daughter not waking up, couldn't even imagine her living the life of a squib if she had burned out her core. Lucius stepped forward.

"Go get healed, Severus. I'll make sure that no expense is spared for these three. Would you rather her stay here or go to Mungo's?" Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, he could feel the pain seeping into his abdomen.

"I would prefer that she stay here if possible. However, the three of them must remain together. It helps them to heal quicker." Lucius nodded his agreement.

"I'm fine with leaving Draco here if that's your wish." Sirius stepped forward, Remus on his heels, clearly the pair of them having just made it through the crowds to get to their sides.

"Hogwarts is fine for Harry as well. It's imperative that they remain together and be somewhere comfortable. Not to mention there will be less press here."

Minerva stepped forward to begin issuing commands to the survivors, but Severus paid her no mind. His daughter was alive, although it was unknown in what condition, the Dark Lord was dead, Albus was dead, and he was injured, probably bleeding internally. He was just about to step forward towards the healer beckoning him when three aurors stepped forward, wands held aloft.

"We're sorry, Professor, but we're going to have to take you and Mr. Malfoy to the Ministry holding cells to await trial. We all know that the pair of you have the Dark Mark, confirming you as Death Eaters." Severus couldn't believe that they weren't even going to allow him to be healed first. However, this became a feat for the aurors involved since Minerva, Moody, Remus, and Sirius stepped forward and blocked their way.

"You're not taking these men. You're going to schedule their trial dates and then they will show up at the slotted time. Their children are injured, and they killed only Death Eaters here today. Both have been helping us and Dumbledore to bring about this conclusion for quite some time." The closest man began sputtering his response.

"Ma'am, I understand that it isn't fair to take them in like this, but it wasn't fair to their victims for them to remain unpunished either. This is justice." Kingsley stepped forward now, even though Severus could tell that Moody wanted nothing more than to lay into the aurors, a rare show of loyalty that he would never have expected, least of all to himself and Lucius.

"As the Head Auror, I am ordering for you to stand down. Return to the Wizengamot and tell them that I will be in later with a full description of the day's events and what is going to happen from here." Severus could only sigh in relief. He would get to see his daughter. Lucius looked similarly relieved. The Slytherin headed for the healer once more, more determined than ever to be healed so he could sit with his daughter and godson. Even Potter waking up would be a welcome sight.

It had been heart-wrenching, exhausting day but there was no way that he would ever forget the cheers and catcalls celebrating their victory as he left the Great Hall, his children and Lucius, Black, and Lupin following behind him.

A/N- Lordy, I struggled with this chapter. I'm happy to report, however, that there is only one more official chapter. *Sigh* Anyways, I hope it met your expectations. Leave me a message after the beep, reviews make me smile.

Next chapter, the aftermath.

Love,

Alicia