Chapter 119

The Aftermath

"Snape? Snape killed Dumbledore?" Remus asked.

"We… we always wondered…but he trusted… he trusted Snape," Minerva's face was pale as she looked at Lily. She, Remus, Moody, Hagrid, Molly, Sirius, Slughorn, Crouch, Ginny, Ron, Charlie, and Tonks were sitting together in Dumbledore's… no, Minerva's office now. Hermione and Fleur were in the hospital wing, both having been given a potion for a dreamless sleep, especially as both were distraught.

"We knew he was good at lying, but this… Snivellus is going to pay," Sirius snarled angrily.

"Dumbledore always swore he was on our side!" Tonks whispered, holding onto Charlie. "He used to be a Death Eater, but I just thought Dumbledore knew something about Snape, something that he didn't want to share with us."

"I know what it was," Lily replied coldly. She had finally stopped crying – though she suspected that was because she had run out of tears – and as she looked at the others, she felt angry with herself on so many levels, for daring to want to trust Snape.

"Did Albus tell you?" Minerva asked. Lily shook her head.

"Snape told her," Ginny said, holding onto Lily's hand. "Years ago, when the prophecy was made, it was Professor Trelawney who had made the prediction, but Snape overheard. He only got part of the prophecy but went to see Voldemort. He then planned to kill my Lily's parents, and sent Snape to say he had switched sides, but he hadn't wanted anything to happen to Lily senior, so he had switched sides for real, or so he claimed."

"You've got to be kidding me!" Sirius exclaimed. "Dumbledore actually believed the slippery bastard?"

"Snape apparently loved my mother," Lily replied, her voice almost hollow. "He told Dumbledore how sorry he was that they were dead."

"He hated James, he loathed him," Remus scoffed. "He would have jumped at the chance to kill James."

"And me as well, most likely," Lily agreed. "I… I believed him. I trusted him!"

"We know he's a hell of a liar, Lily. It wasn't your fault," Sirius said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I shouldn't have trusted him. And now…" Lily was holding the book that Snape had given her, with the recipe for her transition potion. "He played me… he gave me the very thing I wanted, just so he could play me."

She took the book into her hands, about to rip it apart, when Ginny grabbed it from her.

"Don't you dare," Ginny said. "This… we need to make sure this works, and if it does, I don't care where it came from, I'm not going to let you throw this away."

"Ginny, it…" Lily started, but Sirius interrupted.

"No, she's right Lily. Snape took a lot from us tonight; I won't let your future be taken from him as well. For all we know, he did the work and used tonight as a chance, but if this will work, you're going to take it," Sirius insisted. Slughorn gently took the book from Ginny.

"I'll go over this very carefully. If it works, I'll know for sure," Slughorn promised. "I know this is hard, Lily, but you deserve a great future."

"I just… what do we do now?" Lily asked weakly. "There's so much to do, I know, but we've got to figure out what to do. Can we… is there a chance we can save Nicolette? Destroy the Horcrux Voldemort and save her?"

"I'll look into it, Lass…but I don't think there is," Moody replied.

"When his diary was trying to take me over, though, he was coming into a new body of his own. Why didn't that happen with Nicolette?" Ginny asked.

"Because you were pouring your life into the diary, without realising," Crouch replied softly. "With whatever horcrux he used, it would have been the other way around."

"She was only seventeen. She didn't deserve this," Molly's voice was close to breaking. "She was just a kid."

"Voldemort is an evil bastard who doesn't care about anyone but himself," Sirius told them. "And he'll pay for this, if it's the last thing I do, I'll make sure he does."

"I know I'm going to have to kill him, but I'm feeling less reserved about that now," Lily said coldly, a dark fire in her eyes. "How did Snape know where Dumbledore was?"

"Filius sent for him; we had been on patrol, and we thought extra help would been welcome," Minerva replied. "He joined the battle, but went after Bellatrix, when I said she'd been seen heading for the Astronomy tower, but we weren't sure why."

"He must have found out Dumbledore was there," Remus surmised.

"Ginny, Professor Dumbledore, and I flew in on Madam Rosmerta's brooms," Lily said. She had warned them about Rosmerta, and so Kingsley had gone to help her. Before the meeting had begun, they had gotten word that Kingsley had been forced to subdue her, and she was in St. Mungo's, being helped.

"So, someone saw you come in," Molly surmised.

"Clearly," Lily agreed. "Did you manage to destroy the Vanishing Cabinet?"

"Right now, Ron, Lavender, Cormac, and Cedric are dealing with it," Molly said, a hint of pride in her voice. "He said he'd make sure they couldn't ever get back into Hogwarts."

"If anyone can destroy it, it'll be Ron," Lily's voice was heavy as she spoke.

"When the battle began, we were split up. We didn't know what their goals were, but we had to do something," Minerva said. "We focused on protecting the common rooms. I will say Lily, you being friends with Ron has made him stronger and more confident. His relationship with Lavender has helped."

"He's one of my best friends; I'm lucky to have him around," Lily allowed a small smile on her face, despite the situation.

"When Snape went up the stairs, I tried to follow him, but couldn't," Tonks admitted. "I don't know what was going on, but I tried, though I had to focus on the battle, then Snape came down with Zabini. When I saw Lestrange behind him, I thought they were chasing him, so tried to distract them, and managed to kill Gibbon."

"You did good, lass," Moody complimented. "I'd have thought the same thing. You did what you could."

"Did… did anyone else die?" Lily asked, afraid of the answer.

"Only Death Eaters, or those who were being forced to be there," Moody replied. He looked at Lily, a small grin on her face. "I know you've been helping train your friends, and honestly, you've done bloody well. You too, lad," Moody looked at Crouch. "Your group, Potter, helped make the difference, and saved lives tonight."

"Didn't stop Snape though," Lily replied. "He walked past me and Ginny. He looked at us, saw us. Why didn't he try anything?"

"Can't answer that, sadly," Moody replied.

"There is something we don't get," Ginny said, before explaining about speaking to one another mentally.

"Wait, you could speak telepathically?" Sirius asked, his eyes widening.

"Tele-what?" Molly asked.

"Telepathically, it's a muggle term," Sirius replied. "It means connecting with minds and speaking without saying anything verbally."

"I know highly skilled Legilimen's can speak with one another at a distance, but I doubt that was the case," Remus frowned. "I've never heard of something like this though."

"Voldemort has a similar relationship with his snake, but that's most likely because she's a Horcrux," Crouch said. "I think you two have hit another milestone in your link and connection."

"Is it dangerous?" Molly asked.

"I shouldn't think so, no," Crouch answered. "It just means they can't ever keep secrets from each other again."

"Good; I don't want secrets from Ginny," Lily smiled sadly at Ginny as she spoke.

"Right answer, dear," Ginny kissed Lily's cheek. Lily smiled softly, just as Minerva looked at the group.

"We need to decide what happens to Hogwarts, before the Minister arrives," Minerva said. "I'm struggling about the idea of remaining. The death of Albus at the hands of… one of our 'colleagues' is the darkest mark, next to the Chamber of Secrets."

"Albus would have wanted the school to remain open," Crouch pointed out. "If even one student wants to be here, then you should be here to teach them."

"Will we have even one pupil after this?" Slughorn asked. "Most parents will likely want to keep their children at home. Can't say I blame them either, not after tonight. They'll want to keep their families close together."

"I can't disagree," Minerva nodded, sighing softly. "I know Albus did envision a situation in which Hogwarts would close. When the Chamber of Secrets was open, he considered closing the school."

"You should consult the governors, Minerva," Remus said. "I'm certain there are protocols to such an event."

"Hagrid, you haven't said anything yet. What do you think?" Minerva asked. Hagrid had been crying silently into a large handkerchief.

"I dunno, Professor," Hagrid replied, his eyes puffy and red. "That's fer the heads of house, an' the headmistress ter decide."

"Hagrid, Albus always valued you, and your views, and so do I," Minerva spoke gently and kindly. "You are just as important as anyone else."

"Well, I'm stayin' here," Hagrid said, tears rolling down his cheek. "It's me home, it's bin me home since I was eleven and a student, and if there's kids who wan' me ter teach 'em, I will. It'll never feel the same, Hogwarts without Dumbledore, but it's my duty ter teach here."

"Very well," Minerva said. "I'll consult with the governor's and the Minister as well. As to students getting home, maybe we should arrange for the Hogwarts express to arrive tomorrow to collect everyone?"

"What about Professor Dumbledore's funeral?" Lily asked. Minerva paused, her voice shaking slightly.

"I… I know it was Albus's wish to be laid to rest here, at Hogwarts," Minerva said.

"Then that's what'll happen, right? I mean, the Minister will agree, surely?" Lily asked.

"Maybe. No other headmaster, or headmistress, has ever been laid to rest here," Minerva said.

"No other headmaster or headmistress ever gave more ter the school," Hagrid pointed out. "Hogwarts should be his final resting place."

"Absolutely," Molly agreed.

"The students should be allowed to stay until after the funeral," Lily spoke up. "I… I can't speak for everyone, but most will want… they'll want… to…"

"Say goodbye," Ginny finished.

"Well said," Minerva agreed. "You're right; we should give students the chance to say goodbye."

"Seconded," Slughorn said, with a small smile at Lily. "Lily's right; most of the students loved him."

Before Lily could say anything else, there was a knock on the door. "Enter," Minerva called out. The door opened, revealing Rufus Scrimgeour, looking tired and distraught.

"Minerva… I am so sorry for your loss tonight… for all of you," Rufus said, looking around. "My people are helping to secure the school grounds, and to help repair the damage."

"Thank you, Minister," Minerva said. "This is… it's not…"

"You need not explain, Minerva," Rufus told her. "Right now, I'm going to do whatever I can to help you with this."

"First, I think Lily needs some sleep," Sirius said. Rufus nodded.

"Miss Potter, get going to bed. Mr. Black, would you go with her?" Rufus asked.

"Gladly. You too, Ginny," Sirius told them.

"You can stay in the visitor wing; I think the three of you should remain together tonight," Minerva added. Sirius nodded.

"I'll be back once these two are in their rooms," Sirius promised, leading them out of the office.


Ginny sighed as she sat up in her bed, looking at Lily across the room. "What do we do now?" Ginny asked. Sirius had already gone back to meet with the others.

"We need to find the Horcruxes," Lily said. "I'm not coming back; I can't. I've got to do this. No, we need to do this – I already know what you're thinking."

"Yes, I'm going with you, and not letting you go alone," Ginny promised.

"I'm done thinking I can keep you away to keep you safe," Lily replied. "After everything we've been through tonight, I don't think I can do this without you. But there is something you need to know. I'll tell Uncle Sirius tomorrow, but… tonight was… it was for nothing."

"What do you mean? We got a Horcrux, didn't we?" Ginny asked. Lily shook her head, taking the locket from her pocket, and showing the note to Ginny.

"Someone else… found out his secret?" Ginny asked, fresh tears in her eyes. "I… we… we could have…"

"I know," Lily said softly, as Ginny got out of bed, and went to Lily, wrapping her arms around her. "I feel the same way."

"How can we tell everyone this?" Ginny asked. "They think we… we at least had some success."

"I'll tell Uncle Sirius tomorrow; that's the only thing I can think of," Lily replied. "I just… I don't want any of this to be true."

"Neither do I," Ginny agreed. "But whatever happens, I'm right here, with you," she added, before kissing Lily gently, holding onto her. Lily allowed herself a small smile as she felt Ginny's lips on hers; her scent was always calming and safe. It made her feel complete. As she and Ginny laid down together, holding onto each other, Lily closed her eyes, letting sleep take her, hoping that they hadn't just lost everything… lost Dumbledore… for nothing.