Summary: The Battle intensifies
A/N: Thanks for reading. Glad you're enjoying the battle. Here's to Severus and Harry winning! (Hopefully.)
Chapter 23
The Golden Quartet were gathered around Dumbledore, discussing their next moves.
Dumbledore looked at Harry. "You know what to do. It's in your hands now."
Turning to Severus, he addressed him as well.
"If something goes wrong, it's up to you to destroy Tom."
"Nothing will go wrong," Severus assured. "Hermione's spell will work."
"I have the utmost faith in her abilities," the Headmaster said as he looked over at her. "But nothing is guaranteed. Be prepared."
"I am ready to do what is necessary," Severus advised.
"Thank you, Severus."
He moved away so the quartet could say their goodbyes.
Ron came up to both of them. "You'll both be fine, yeah?"
"Yeah," Harry said.
Harry looked at his friends.
"This is it," he said.
Hermione moved to him and reached out, squeezing his arm. "You got this," she said with a wan smile.
"If this doesn't work, I want you all to know…"
"It'll work," Ron said.
"You will survive," Severus said.
Harry hugged Hermione and Ron. He then turned to Severus.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes," Severus said, about to start out, but then he stopped. "Wait. Maybe I should Disillusion myself and go with you secretly."
Harry looked back at Severus. "That's a good idea. Maybe when he kills me you can appear and kill him."
"You know what, if Hermione and I sneak around the back of them, we can attack them from behind," Ron offered.
Hermione bit her lip. "We should have all of the Order come with us. Just have the battle in the woods. Get it taken care of."
"It would help save the school, too," Ron continued.
Harry looked around and motioned for Dumbledore to join them again. He headed over to them with Professor McGonagall right behind.
"Professors, we've been talking. Severus was going to Disillusion himself and come with me to meet Voldemort, but what if the Order did the same?" Harry asked.
"We could sneak up and surround the Death Eaters and attack them secretly," Hermione added.
Dumbledore stroked his beard as he thought. He glanced over at McGonagall.
"What do you think, Minerva?"
"It sounds like just the thing we need to beat them, Albus. I think we should do it."
"Get the Order gathered down here. We'll all leave together," Dumbledore advised.
Minerva moved away, and he turned back to Harry and Severus.
"You two will lead us in and just know that the Order will move around you and surround the Death Eaters."
The Order and sixth and seventh-year students were gathered in the courtyard. Dumbledore cast a Muffliato spell so what he had to say to them would not be heard by any spies that may have lingered.
"Again, thank you all for fighting with us. Once I explain what we are to do, anyone who does not want to participate may withdraw. Harry has determined that Voldemort is camped in the Forbidden Forest. He will lead us to him. We will all be Disillusioned. For this to work, I will put a visionary spell on us all so we can see one another even when we are Disillusioned. When we find Voldemort, we will spread out and surround the Death Eaters and wait."
He looked at all of them.
"What I'm going to tell you now will shock you, but it is imperative that you follow my orders in this. Harry has a part of Voldemort's soul in him. If he survives, Voldemort may be able to return again. He and I have discussed this, and he has known for years what he is. In order to defeat Voldemort, Tom Riddle must cast the killing spell on Harry."
Everyone gasped and several people cried out at the decree they'd just heard. Dumbledore held up his hand.
"Miss Granger has developed a spell to save Harry, but it may look like he is dead. None of you, I repeat, not one of you can say anything during this time. You must all keep silent even if it looks like Harry is dead. Does everyone understand?"
There were nods and affirmations.
"Are you all willing to attack the Death Eaters given this new information and plan?"
Again everyone agreed.
Dumbledore raised his wand and cast the spell to make everyone visible to one another despite being Disillusioned.
"Visionarius."
An orange glow surrounded the group standing in the courtyard.
"Everyone, you may now Disillusion yourselves and cast Muffliato so you won't be heard. We start out for Voldemort post haste."
Everyone but Harry disappeared. As Severus looked around, he decided they all looked like ghosts, opaque and translucent. Harry was the only one who looked solid. He watched Harry take a huge cleansing breath.
"All right, everybody," Harry called out. "Let's get going."
Turning, he led everyone to the Forbidden Forest with Severus standing beside him. Ron and Hermione brought up behind them with Dumbledore, and McGonagall and the rest followed in groups of two or three across.
"You look nervous," Severus said quietly so only Harry could hear.
"I'm terrified. I don't want to die."
"We are here for you, Harry. Through everything."
Harry looked over at Severus. "I'm grateful that you are part of the prophecy too. I know that we'll win no matter what happens to me."
"Hermione knows what she's doing. You will survive."
"I have complete trust in her. It's Voldemort that I don't trust. What if he tries to use some invented spell that kills me in a different way than we are prepared for?"
Severus' eyebrows knit together. "I don't know, Harry. I wouldn't put it past him to create something to punish you for being a thorn in his side all these years, but then on the other hand, I think he feels he's so superior to everyone else that he won't do anything but the known Unforgivable."
Harry nodded as they continued on. Severus walked alongside him, filled with his own thoughts on what spells he was going to use to fight against the enemy. Suddenly, he felt a hand in his. Looking over, he saw Hermione next to him. She gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand. He squeezed back.
"Be careful," she told him.
"I will try."
She leaned in and whispered in his ear. "I love you."
His gaze softened as he looked at her. "And I love you."
They reached the forest and kept walking.
"How far?" Ron asked from next to Harry.
"Almost there."
After a few minutes, Harry stopped and waved everyone behind him on so they could secretly surround Voldemort and his army before Harry confronted him. Severus stood beside him, but Hermione and Ron headed away, both of them looking back one last time at their friends.
They watched the Order move forward until they were sure everyone was in place. Harry looked over at Severus.
"Good luck," he said.
"Same."
Harry sighed heavily. "I guess we should go."
Severus reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "I'm right here with you. We're doing this together."
Harry smirked. "Together."
They started off. The minutes seemed to stretch out as they covered the ground between themselves and Voldemort's camp. They could see the group. The seventh-year Slytherins, including Draco, were off to the side talking with one another. Lucius, Narcissa, Voldemort, and Bellatrix were at the head of the group.
Harry and Severus could see that the Order had surrounded the enemy and waited quietly with their wands drawn and pointed at each and every Death Eater in the forest. As Harry and Severus approached, Voldemort–who was pacing maniacally–stopped short and turned toward Harry.
"Ah, Harry Potter, the boy who lived… come to die."
Severus stepped away from Harry and Harry braced himself for the inevitable.
"Now, Potter, it's finally time for you to see who your Lord is. I will end you, and take my rightful place as ruler of our world."
Harry said nothing. Severus wanted to strike out at the Dark Lord, but he knew he wasn't there for that yet.
Voldemort raised his wand and pointed it at Harry.
"I am going to enjoy finally killing you, Potter. Avada Kedavra!"
Green light spewed from Voldemort's wand and shot directly into Harry's chest. Harry was thrown back and crashed to the ground. Severus watched the Dark Lord release the spell, ready to Disillusion himself and cast the killing curse at the Dark Lord, but something had happened. Voldemort fell back onto the ground as well.
Severus turned and rushed up to Harry. His eyes were closed, and he looked deathly pale. Severus reached out with his mind, trying to ascertain whether Harry had survived.
The mind he entered was definitely alive. Severus looked over at the Dark Lord. Bellatrix was helping him sit up.
"Oh, my Lord, are you all right?"
He brushed her aside and stood, shaking his head, trying to collect himself.
Now, Severus thought.
Harry's eyes opened, and he stood and pointed his wand at Voldemort.
"It seems like you are incapable of casting a proper killing curse, Tom," he said.
Voldemort ground his teeth together and screamed. "Noooo, how can this be?"
"It can be because the prophecy is about to be fulfilled, and you are about to die."
Voldemort threw his head back and laughed. "Impossible. The prophecy spoke of someone thrown through time. There is no such person in existence, therefore, you will lose, Harry Potter."
Severus Disillusioned himself at that point. "Wrong, Riddle. I am the one thrown through time. I am Severus Snape, the man who disappeared in 1978. I traveled to the future, and am the fulfillment of the prophecy. You. Are. Doomed!"
Voldemort called out in frustration and shot the killing curse at Severus. Severus ducked and rolled, standing immediately and shooting a stunner at Voldemort, who shielded himself.
From the sidelines, a voice called out. "Traitor!"
It was Draco. His eyes were murderous, and he rushed forward with his wand extended. Lucius reached out as Draco rushed by and grabbed his son.
"No, Draco. The Dark Lord must fight this battle," he said as he restrained his son.
"He's a liar! He fooled us all! Even you!"
Lucius looked at Severus.
"It would seem so, but you would be wrong. He told me who he was months ago."
With that, Lucius sent a stunner at Voldemort, who shielded himself while looking at his right-hand man with loathing.
"I have been spying for the Order since you returned… my Lord."
Voldemort sneered at him. "Traitor! Avada Kedavra!"
The spell barely missed both Lucius and Draco. All hell broke loose then as the order revealed themselves and started fighting with any Death Eater near them.
Voldemort turned from Lucius and Draco and began shooting killing spells towards Severus. The young wizard quickly rolled away and evaded the spells as they came toward him.
"You little bastard!" Voldemort screamed. "You pretended to follow me, knowing all this time you were the fulfillment of the prophecy!"
"Of course, I did! Once I learned how unhinged you were… I knew what I had to do." He shot a hex at Voldemort who shielded it and sent flames at Severus. Severus turned them into smoke.
Voldemort cried out in frustration. Harry shot a stunner at him. He turned to Harry and sneered.
"I forgot you were still here, Potter. This time my Avada will not fail!"
Harry cast another curse at Voldemort, who deflected it easily and grinned. "Your spells are weak, child. You are no match for me!"
Severus, seeing an opportunity, sent an Incarcerous spell at Voldemort, who had turned away from him. In seconds Voldemort was bound and lying on the ground.
"You bloody arse!" Bellatrix LeStrange cried as she cast a spell, hitting Severus in the shoulder. He fell to the ground, clutching at his arm, which was spouting blood.
Neville Longbottom shot a spell at Bellatrix which hit her directly in the heart. She crumpled to the ground.
"That's for my parents!" he snarled before casting a stunner at another Death Eater trying to hit him with a curse.
Harry looked at Voldemort and realized his time had come. The Order members including Dumbledore and McGonagall battled on, keeping the Death Eaters busy so that they didn't disrupt the final confrontation between Voldemort and Harry Potter. Steeling himself, Harry remembered his parents struck down by the man before him and the others whom the evil lunatic had killed. He brought to mind all the hateful things that had happened between Voldemort and himself and found the determination to cast the killing curse.
"Your Horcruxes are destroyed, Tom. There is no saving you now! Avada Kedavra," he cried. The green light shot into Voldemort's body as he screamed. His scream was frozen on his face as the spell finally ended the man who thought he was invincible.
At that point, every Death Eater still standing clutched their arms as their Dark Marks were burned off them. As they writhed in pain, many falling to the ground in agony, they were quickly subdued by the Order. Dumbledore called out a command to everyone to bind them all.
Kingsley sent his Patronus to summon the Aurors. They would gather the criminals and take them to Azkaban.
Dumbledore went over to Lucius, who was still bent low in pain. He put his hand on Lucius' shoulder.
"Are you all right?"
Lucius nodded but didn't speak. After a moment, he stood tall and gazed at his now pristine arm.
"Finally," he murmured.
"You were a spy this whole time?"
It was Draco who had asked, and he looked incredulous.
"Draco, I wish I could have told you."
"Yeah, me too." He looked away. "I could have helped," he said quietly.
Lucius grasped his son by the shoulders. "My boy, what are you saying?"
"I've hated being his puppet at school! Hated it! But I had to put on my brave face and threaten people so they would follow him."
"Son, I wanted you safe. Being Voldemort's man at Hogwarts protected you. I couldn't have you hurt."
Draco looked at his dad and suddenly hugged him furiously. "Thank you. It's over now, right?"
"Yes," Lucius said as he hugged Draco back. "I love you, son."
A cry came from the front of the field.
"Headmaster, help! He's bleeding out!"
Dumbledore rushed over to Hermione, who was bent low over Severus. Dumbledore called out to Poppy and Minerva. They ran over, and Poppy set to work right away, reaching into her robes and pulling out a Blood Replenishing potion, and administering it to Severus. Dumbledore waved his wand over the injury in Severus' shoulder.
"It's Dark Magic. Lucius!" he called out, not realizing the man had hurried over while he was examining Severus.
"Right here."
"Are you familiar with Bellatrix's Dark spells?" Albus asked.
"Some. Let me see."
Kneeling, he ran diagnostic spells. Meanwhile, Poppy was trying to seal up the wound, but it wasn't budging.
Lucius looked up at Dumbledore. "This is a new spell of hers. She was bragging about it just last week. It causes a gash so deep the victim bleeds out. Normal medicine can't seal the wound, so it's always fatal."
"Mr. Malfoy, can you do something?" Hermione cried.
"Please, he's our friend," Harry implored.
"Astonishing," Lucius mused. "Gryffindors begging for the life of a Slytherin."
Lucius concentrated, waving his wand and silently casting what he thought would be the countercurse given what Bellatrix had told him of the curse. Poppy administered another Blood replenishing potion as he worked.
It took some time, but finally, the wound looked like it was beginning to close. Lucius continued casting the countercurse over and over as he watched the wound slowly seal itself. Finally, he stopped the incantation and stood. He looked at Madam Pomfrey.
"He is stable. We should get him to the Infirmary." Looking around he noted several others who were wounded. "Along with the others who have been hurt."
The Aurors had appeared while they were engrossed in curing Severus. They were hauling off the Death Eaters, taking the injured with them to be placed in St. Mungo's under guard. Dumbledore motioned to the teachers who were not hurt, and they began gathering the wounded. Flitwick was just getting up on his feet. He had a gash on his face and his arm was at an odd angle. He limped along, holding his good hand up.
"I can Apparate to the gates."
He picked up a student who was hurt but could stand and spun them both around, disappearing.
Albus stooped down and scooped up Severus, turning on a dime and Disapparating with him. Hermione stood there looking lost before she shook her head to clear it.
"Come on, Ron," Harry called. "You take Neville, I'll grab Lavender."
"I'm all right," Neville said as he stood up and brushed himself off. "Was just blasted into that tree. Knocked my head, it did."
"You should go to the Infirmary and have that looked at," Ron advised.
"Yeah, but I can help with some of the ones that are unconscious."
Stooping down, he lifted Luna up and spun away. Harry helped up a seventh-year Ravenclaw and Apparated away with her. Ron picked up Lavender and did the same.
Looking around, Hermione saw that almost everyone else had been taken care of. Luckily there were few hurt because of their surprise attack. She spotted one last student–Harold Butrell–unconscious a little ways away. She hurried over to him and lifted him to a standing position which caused him to open his eyes.
"Can you Apparate with me to the gates?" she asked.
He nodded, and she spun them away, leaving the other student survivors behind. She rushed through the gates as quickly as she could with Butrell, slowly making their way up the pathway, into the school, and to the Infirmary. Bursting through the doors, she settled Harold on a bed and rushed over to Severus, who had been placed on a bed on the far wall.
He was still unconscious. Hermione squeezed his hand and whispered to him that he'd be all right.
She gazed around the room, looking over at Madam Pomfrey, who was working on straightening Filius' arm and healing his face. Hermione wandered over to her.
"Do you need any help, Madam Pomfrey?"
She looked up briefly. "If you'll just see what all these injuries are, and let me know who needs to be seen first."
Hermione nodded. "Madam Pomfrey?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Do you know when Severus will wake up?"
Pomfrey glanced over at him. "No, but it should be within a few hours if not sooner."
Hermione nodded her thanks and began to assess everyone's injuries. They worked together, Hermione directing Poppy to the next needy patient, and making sure the other wounded were comfortable while they waited. Harold received a healing spell and potion and was well enough to leave the Infirmary. He nodded at Hermione.
"Thanks for helping me."
"I'm glad I saw you before I Apparated away. That spell could have been fatal had Madam Pomfrey not been able to attend to you so quickly."
He nodded at her and left. They continued on. Many of the wounded were healed and sent on their way. Dumbledore also helped to heal injuries that didn't need specialized medicine. After an hour, everyone was taken care of. Most had been discharged, but Luna was in a bed across from Severus. Neville was by her bedside, sitting in a chair next to her. Hermione moved back to Severus and sat on the side of his bed. Reaching out, she took his hand in hers.
"Wake up, love," she whispered.
Harry and Ron came in then and moved up by Severus' bed.
"Madam Pomfrey shooed us out once we'd put Lavender and Sarah on beds. The room was warded from anyone not hurt coming in or we'd have been back sooner," Harry said.
Hermione stood and hugged both of them.
"We did it," she said.
"Yeah, and we all survived," Ron said.
"That was a miracle," Harry conceded. "Thanks, Hermione. I certainly wouldn't be here without your spell."
She smiled at him. "I'm so glad it worked."
"Me too," Harry said in relief.
Ron laughed. Looking over at Severus he motioned to him. "When is he going to wake up?"
Hermione sighed as she looked over at Severus. "Madam Pomfrey doesn't know. Hopefully, soon." She looked at Ron. "How's Lavender?"
"She's achy but other than that, good. She's thankful neither of us was hurt badly."
"I can't believe it's over," Hermione mused. "We've been fighting this our entire lives."
"What do we do now?" Harry asked.
"Live!" Ron said with a huff.
At that point, their conversation was interrupted by a low moan. Hermione spun around and moved back to Severus, grabbing his hand.
"Severus?"
His eyes cracked open, and he turned his head toward her slightly.
"Hermione," he rasped.
"Oh, thank Merlin."
"What happened? Did Harry…?"
"Yes, he killed Voldemort, and all the Death Eaters who survived are in custody. It's over, Severus."
Harry came up to the bed. "And I couldn't have done it without your help."
"Are you okay, mate?" Ron asked as he meandered up as well.
"My shoulder feels like it's on fire," Severus said weakly. "Other than that I feel like I got run over by the Hogwarts Express."
Madam Pomfrey appeared at that time, waving her wand over Severus. She reached into her robes and pulled out a potion.
"Here, take this," she ordered as she lifted him enough so he could swallow the potion.
"You lost a lot of blood. That was a Blood Replenisher." She produced another vial. "This will make sure that everything has healed correctly and take away the pain you're feeling."
He downed that one as well, and Poppy settled him back on the bed.
"You should get some sleep," she said as she looked at the three students surrounding his bed. "If you're feeling well, you'll be able to go in the morning."
Severus nodded. Madam Pomfrey smiled at the four of them, turned, and went to check on Luna. She was still unconscious, so the Mediwitch just waved her wand and took some diagnostics. With a nod to Neville, she moved into her office, leaving the students to themselves.
"Well, I should go check on Lav," Ron said.
Before he turned to go, his face filled with emotion and he leaned down and hugged Severus tightly.
"Glad you're still with us, mate," he said.
"Me too."
Ron rose, his cheeks red. He hugged Harry and Hermione too before leaving the Infirmary.
"I don't think I've ever seen him so emotional," Harry mused as they watched the door swing closed behind him.
"I think we're all emotional… grateful to be alive and that all of our close friends are too."
Harry nodded. He looked down at Severus.
"I'm going to go find Ginny before Madam Pomfrey comes out and chases me out of here."
He reached over and patted Severus on his unmaimed shoulder. "Get better," he offered before turning and hugging Hermione and then leaving.
Hermione turned to Severus and reached out to him. She squeezed his hand.
"Can I get you something?" she asked him.
"Some water?"
Hermione took the glass by the bed and magically filled it. She helped Severus sit up so he could drink. Taking the glass, he downed the water in a matter of seconds and handed the glass back to her. Placing it on the side table, Hermione turned back to the bed.
"Budge over," she said.
He smiled shyly at her as he did what she asked, scooting over so she could join him in the bed. She waved her wand, enlarging the bed slightly, and climbed in. He lifted his arm, inviting her to get close to him. She leaned her head on his chest and his arm surrounded her and pulled her close.
"Good thing it's the other shoulder that's hurt," he mused.
Hermione tapped lightly on his chest. "You're incorrigible."
"Hmm."
He was quiet for a while. Hermione lifted her head after a bit and looked into Severus' eyes.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
"I was mulling over my past and why I came here. I imagine my life would have been very different had I stayed in the past."
"Do you regret coming here?"
Severus shook his head. "Of course not. I'm grateful. I'm thankful I found that spell and was able to come here. It changed the trajectory of my life."
He looked at Hermione, his eyes roaming over her face, and fought the lump that was forming in his throat.
"I wouldn't have met you. Or if I had, anything between us would have been impossible."
"Well, I do like older men…"
He smirked at her before kissing her softly. "I love you," he murmured.
"I love you too, with all my heart."
Leaning in, she kissed him again. They were taken with each other for a bit, Hermione's hand cupping his cheek as he lovingly kissed her. Finally, breaking the kiss, Severus pulled back slightly.
"We did something good today, Hermione. We saved our world from a great evil. An evil I almost became a part of in my original time."
"You were magnificent, Severus. Without Harry and you, we would have been lost."
She leaned her head on him again and caressed his chest, making circles with her fingers. They were both quiet for a long time. Severus sensed something was bothering Hermione.
"What is it?" he asked softly.
She shrugged. "All my life, I've done nothing but fight Voldemort. I don't know what to do with myself now."
"Live."
She chuckled. "Ron said the same thing, and definitely I want that, but that life is going to look very different from the one I imagined. It seemed like we'd always be fighting against him, you know? Now, there's not this cloud hanging over our world. The fear that a despot is going to take over is gone. We can… we can pursue whatever we want to without feeling as if we're not giving to the cause."
"Yes, you can go live on a deserted island and no one would care."
Hermione shook her head into his chest before sitting back up and looking at him.
"What do you want to do, Hermione? Do you still want to create a curriculum to teach our world about tolerance and equality, or was there something that you always wanted to do but hid away because you thought you'd be fighting this war forever?"
She thought about it for a minute. "I almost think that this curriculum is even more important than before."
"Well, there's your answer."
"What about you? What do you want to do with life after Hogwarts?"
"Research."
"On what?"
"I think I want to apprentice in Potions. Once that's done, I want to create new potions. New things that no one has ever thought of. Things to help with everyday life, and maybe cures for some of our worst diseases."
"You would be wonderful at that, Severus. You're so creative, and you have such a good understanding of Potions and how to develop better ways to make them."
"Thank you. I think it would be the right move. I'll open an Apothecary to pay for my research and have time to experiment during the day."
They discussed future careers for a few more minutes before Hermione gave him a sympathetic look.
"Madam Pomfrey wanted you to get some rest, and all I've done is talk your ear off. I'm sorry," she offered.
"Don't be. The conversation has been invigorating, but I will admit that I am feeling a bit worn out."
Hermione moved to get out of the bed.
"Where do you think you're going?" Severus asked as he grabbed a hold of her arm.
"I just thought you would want to sleep by yourself."
"You thought wrong. Come here."
He eased back down onto the bed and swept her alongside him, his good arm wrapped protectively around her.
"There, that's better. Now I can get some rest," Severus murmured.
Hermione kissed his nose before snuggling into him. She yawned.
"I didn't realize how knackered I was until this minute," she admitted.
Severus kissed the top of her head. "Sweet dreams," he told her.
Soon they were both sound asleep and didn't awaken until morning.
A/N: So, we won't be ending this here. We'll follow our pair into real life for a bit before the journey ends. I hope you enjoy what's to come.