Disclaimer: I unfortunately have nothing to my name, joys of working with other peoples characters and being too lazy to create my own.
A/N: Of the Common wealth so mostly British English spelling not American sorry
His time was coming to an end. He knew this and accepted it, embraced it even, after all, death is but the next great adventure. Even with Severus' potions, the curse on his hand would certainly have him dead before the school year was out, he hadn't been expected to see the New Year through. However, without the threat of a cursed hand, spread by now to the elbow, Tom had apparently decided he was to live no more. He hadn't had any luck in locating Harry in over a year and a half and to Tom that now made him worthless.
Severus had reported just prior to Christmas that Tom had given his orders to the young Malfoy boy, if Albus lived to the end of the school year, his parents wouldn't. Severus had been forced to give an unbreakable to the boy's Mother to help him and Albus couldn't help but agree. The Malfoy boy could not be allowed to become a killer, any innocence which could be preserved through this war must be, the fact that the Potter boy must die was tragic enough as it was. The Malfoy boy's heart was clearly not in it, his few feeble attempts in the month since the Christmas break spoke of his reluctance. The poisoned mead and cursed necklace never had a chance of making it to him. The only attempt of concern had been through the Death Eaters trying to access the school through the Chamber of Secrets.
Having learnt Harry Potter, and consequently, Tom Riddle, could access the school via the Chamber Albus had 24/7 Order guard placed in the girls bathroom where Myrtle Warren's ghost resides. Just last week, late at night while the Weasley twins were on guard duty, there had been an apparent attempted break in through the Chamber. Attempted and apparent because it had not been of success and unfortunately they were unable to access the Chamber to see just what had happened that day. Potters snake, unfortunately, refused to open the Chamber for them as it had the locket, no matter how many mice Albus had tried bribing it with. Albus had observed the memories of the twins.
While conversing with Myrtle during a game of exploding snap they'd heard footsteps and voices coming from the sinks the entrance was hidden behind. Oblivious to the fact they could be hear on the other side, the voices echoed loudly up the pipe as they discussed the order guard they'd have to 'off' when entering the bathroom. Plans to meet the Malfoy boy just outside the bathroom and an assassination attempt on his own life had been made for the night. There was also mention of a snake, suggesting Tom had gifted them a snake to use in the same way Potter had for Lovegood and Longbottom. Of course Tom wouldn't waste his time coming through the Chamber himself just to open some doors for a Junior Death Eaters task. As the Weasley twins prepared for battle, sending off their patronus' for back up, they learnt that while Potter may have expected Albus to put Order guard in the bathroom following his own break in into the school, he hadn't left anything up to chance. Before the Death Eaters could hope to open the Chamber from the inside, their tortured screams had filled the bathroom before whimpers then nothing. Seemingly triggering traps Potter had left for any would be invaders of the Chamber. The Weasley twins were frozen in silence, watching the entrance intently, straining their ears for a sound, any sound, when Albus along with all other members of the Order present at the school had rushed into the bathroom.
Both elder Malfoys and Bellatrix Lestrange had been tortured profusely for the failed attempt. The Malfoys for their sons failure and Lestrange for her own. She had been coming up the rear in the party and had watched as her fellow Death Eaters skin had melted off their bodies as what was apparently a muggle acid had doused their skin when they hit the trigger. She had been hit also, as her comrades had flopped about trying to get the stuff off their skin, her damage however, had been minimal. Seeing that the snake was dead, she reported to her Lord that she'd killed the now worthless Death Eaters before fleeing, just making it out in time before the earlier doors had shut themselves.
The Potter boy was obviously putting his studies to creative uses. Though Albus was still unsure just how he knew about the horcruxs. In his letter to the Lovegood girl, the section whuich revealed itself only to Albus spoke of details he'd though no one else knew. While he was aware that there were seven horcruxs he was still unaware as to the identity of an item from Hufflepuff. He was aware, having guessed from his own experience of seeing through the its eyes during his fifth year, that Nagini was another one. Most worrying, was how the boy knew he was one himself. His letter had spoken of 'working on the one created in Godric Hollow', Albus had known for some time now that the only way to remove the horcrux from the boy was through his own death at Tom's hand, it was only a matter of time before the boy was forced to accept this. What Albus didn't know was how the boy knew anything of horcrux's in the first place. The existence of horcruxs were not common knowledge, this was something he hadn't even informed the Order of.
There were, unfortunately, things that only the Order knew of that the boy seemed to know also. This led Albus to suspect the boy of having a spy within the Order. Any move they made, the boy was already two steps ahead, with the exams for example. It couldn't be coincidence that he'd sat his final exam at the British Ministry the very same time as the Order was meeting to discuss placing guards there to find him. Then of course he'd known to not return to the French Ministry after sitting his one exam there and had even sat his last two exams in the same day at the Irish Ministry so as not to be tracked there again. It couldn't be Granger or the youngest Weasley boy, they'd been under constant surveillance ever since the Potter boy had gone missing and had made no fruitful attempts to contact the boy. There was, of course Lovegood and Longbottom, but they weren't members of the order and there had been no further contact since the letter prior to the Christmas break. He was forced to question the loyalty of the Weasley twins with Potter being the financial backer to their prank store in Diagon Alley. While the elder Weasleys had always been loyal to him, money was known to buy spies.
His main suspect, was Remus Lupin. While the man continued to follow Albus' every order in attempting to gain the werewolves support in the war, he had attempted to contact Potter via patronus at the ministry over the Summer. Although no magic could enter the ministry examination rooms, a patronus with Lupin's distinct werewolf magical signature had attempted to gain access while Lupin delayed Aurors Kingsley and Tonks from apprehending the boy. Revising Kingsleys memory had shown Tonks to be just as confused by her husband's hesitation as Kingsley had been. Albus had chosen to believe Lupin when he had claimed that the patronus was intended to warn the boy that Death Eaters were coming. It was after reviewing Potters letter to Lovegood that he had started having the man followed. While Potter had well proved his intelligence with his NEWTs, the magic in the letter was a very distinct replica of that of the Marauders infamous map. So far Lupins tails only reported him to be at either Order meetings, working with the werewolves, or at home with his pregnant wife. No sign of Potter. Albus would not give up hope, they had to be communicating somehow, Lupin had, after all, been the one training Potter in advanced magic since his third year, why would he stop now?
He needed to make contact with Potter. He no longer wished to bring him under his control, he wouldn't live long enough to reap any benefits from it and doing so would only help Tom in finding the boy. There were things he needed to tell the boy, things he needed to be aware of before Albus reached his expiration date. He had considered passing the message through Lupin but he was yet to confirm if the werewolf was truly Potter's spy. He couldn't have this information out there for just anyone to hear and he'd prefer to tell Potter first hand, he had to ensure the boy understood the importance of his words.
Severus pushed himself further into the dark kitchen corner as more Order members filled the room. The noise in the room was deafening with half the table full of red hair, he remained wary of pranks as the twins whispered among themselves. Lupin entered with his very pregnant wife and attempted to help her struggle down onto the bench seat around the table before two of the Order members offered their chairs to the pair on the outskirts of the room. The room silenced as the Headmaster entered the room and took his seat at the head of the table. The meeting proceeded as it usually did, reports on Order business was given, all the while Severus watched Lupin throughout the speculations on Potters whereabouts and possible plans. Severus was one of the few Order members Dumbledore had confided his suspicions and had following the werewolf. When it came Severus' turn to report on the Dark Lord he couldn't help the glance he sent Lupin before turning to the Headmaster and hesitating. Lupin surprised several members of the Order by standing, as Severus and Dumbledore exchanged glances, and asked the Headmaster if he should just leave the room for the Severus's report.
"I am aware Headmaster, that you have had me tailed. I am a werewolf after all, I can smell them. Severus, Kingsley, Moody, and I'm sure I'd have been able to smell Mudungus even without being a werewolf."
Of course the Headmaster attempted to play ignorant at first, but Lupin wasn't buying it.
"I do not blame you Headmaster, I am loyal to Harry, something you are obviously aware of, and I have been feeding him information from Order meetings for coming up two years now." Gasps and cries of outrage followed this comment yet Lupin stood calmly waiting for silence so he might continue. "I knew you would suspect me after I attempted to warn him of the Order approach at the ministry the Summer gone. What I don't understand is why you didn't start having me followed until my November?"
"The letter he sent through Miss Lovegood, my dear boy. The magic about it was very reminiscent of the map you and your friends made back when you were Hogwarts students. You taught the boy well."
Lupin chuckled at this, ignoring of the loathsome looks directed at him from all around the room. Surprisingly, even his wife appeared to have been ignorant of his position as a double agent.
"Funnily enough, I didn't even teach him that. He deconstructed the map and figured it all out on his own, he even managed to replicate the map. A truly intelligent boy, Lily Evans son without a doubt."
"Even the most intelligent of people need teachers to learn form, it is down to you and Sirius after all, that he has such impressive NEWT results."
"No Professor. Sirius and I did help him, along with a few others, but Harry's results are down to Harry. With the parents he had he was always going to be intelligent, but no matter who taught him, he would not have done so well if it weren't for his own personal determination and drive to succeed. All born of childhood you forced him to suffer through. You're just lucky you didn't end up with another Tom Riddle. It really could have gone either way, if it weren't for the support he had when he found out you were simply raising him to die at the right moment, he would have. See that's where you lost my respect and loyalty Dumbledore, the moment I found out you'd raised the boy like a lamb for slaughter."
Silence filled the room as Lupin glared at the Headmaster who had his head bowed in shame, refusing to make eye contact with Lupin or any other occupant in the room.
"You don't deny it because we both know it's the truth, now so does everyone else. I will of course, continue my attempts in getting the werewolves on side, but beyond that, our ties are cut Headmaster." Lupins sneer at the last word looked out of place on the typically kind face as he gathered his coat. Voice softening he turned back to the Headmaster one last time.
"I will always be appreciative of everything you have done for me, not many people would have allowed a werewolf an education as you did. You are a great man Albus, but that does not excuse the horrors you have forced that boy to face, your unrealistic expectations of a mere child disgust me."
As Lupin turned to leave the room the Headmasters broken whisper somehow filled the room.
"Tell him I'm sorry won't you Remus. I truly regret that he must die, but it is the only way to end this war."
"He knows, it was hard to accept but he has. I still search for another way myself but he's resigned to his fate and has plans to do what is necessary."
The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife. Silent tears ran down the face of the Weasley matriarchs face at Lupin's words. All joy which had filled the room prior to the meetings commencement was flushed out as the Order understood just what Potters plans must be. He was going to die and he was arranging it himself. Lupin refused to turn back to Dumbledore, to see the tears on his own cheeks.
"Are we done Headmaster?"
"The yellow he seeks is held in a cup."
This cause Lupin to turn to the Headmaster first a look of shock then understanding filled his face.
"A cup?"
"He has told you of them of course?"
"Yes. That's the difference between you and Harry. He trusts those who are loyal to him."
With that Lupin left the room and the house. Severus finally sunk down onto an empty chair, he had of course been aware of the horcruxs, Dumbledore had assigned him the task of locating the Cup of Hufflepuff. He had even been aware that the boy himself was one. What he hadn't know was that the boy planned to end things for good, he had every intention of dying for this war. Lupin's wife seemed to come to herself, struggling from her seat she cast a final glance around the room and at Dumbledore before leaving the room. Tripping over the horrid umbrella stand and setting of the portrait's screeches as she went.
Not one member of the Order went to shut it up. The screeches of Walburga black filled the otherwise, deathly silent house as the Order mourned the life of Harry Potter.
Remus made sure to keep close to Harry. There was no way the boy was giving him the slip again. They now knew where one of the last Horcrux's were hidden. Despite having plans to retrieve the Cup of Hufflepuff from Gringotts next week, Remus had caught the boys attempting to sneak off to collect it today, planning on leaving him behind. While being loudly furious at Harry for this decision he was also quietly respectful. He had a three week old son after all, with Harrys past he didn't wish to leave his Godson without a Father. As much as it pained Remus to think it, there were things more important than his son growing up with a Father. If the plans at Gringotts went awry it could very well cost them the war. Not only could Harry get caught, but it could alert Voldemort to their knowledge and destruction of his Horcruxs and he could then make more, putting them back at square one. As much as Remus loved his son and wanted him to have the best life possible, he knew sacrificing his life may be necessary to giving him that.
Who did the boys think they were trying to sneak out past him? He had shared a dorm room with Sirius Black and James Potter for seven years for Merlin's sake. The plan had gone mostly to plan. With Harry hidden under his Fathers cloak and the other two polyjuiced as Bellatix and Rodolphus Lestrange while Remus himself went down as Greyback. Things were going smoothly, if choosing to ignore Harry using an imperious on a goblin, until they hit the security fall. They managed to get past the dragon and into the vault to retrieve the cup before back up arrived, including Dumbledore. Remus had been aware of Dumbledore's imminent death and had frankly hoped to never set eyes on the man again. While Remus wasn't a particularly spiteful man, this man had wished harm on his cub and that was unacceptable. The battle hadn't lasted very long, with the Dragon attacking anything and everything and Harry managing to disarm Dumbledore sending his wand lord knows where, the only concern was the Dragon.
The dragon was no longer of concern, however, once the Weasley twins decided to climb on its back, pulling Harry with them. Never one to miss out on new experiences, Remus had joined the three boys just as the dragon was taking flight. While not to plan it was undoubtedly an efficient escape route. Flying a dragon up through the roof of Gringotts, now that was something even James and Sirius could never claim to have done. As they left the building in the distance, Cup in hand, Remus couldn't hold back his face splitting grin. This was it, the war was almost over, just the snake to go and they could finally end it for good. Remus' grin finally faded as he thought of what this meant for the young man whopping for joy in front of him. He held on to the boy just a little tighter, as though he could keep him alive by doing so. Emerald eyes caught his as the boy turned around with a sad smile, knowing exactly what the man was thinking.
A/N: This was supposed to be the last chapter but it ended up longer than I'd thought it would be so I've made it two, next chapter really will be the last :) thanks for following