"You don't have to do this, Draco," Dumbledore's voice announced. "You don't have to follow the whims of a madman. Hogwarts stands tall, even after what you brought in. You will be safe here."

"Don't you see?" Malfoy's voice quivered as he spoke, his wand arm beginning to falter. "I have to do it. He'll kill me."

"He won't reach you here."

"He'll kill my mom." Draco's voice cracked. For once, Harry felt like he understood the blonde. If he had someone threatening Severus like that, Harry would have joined the dark side too. The thought shook something in him. NO, no, no, this was not the time for a self-evaluation. He could do that after this was over.

"She'll be safe here as well, young Draco. Even your father, should he want to be here."

"No, no, no, you promise that but it's not true! You'll just kill us! Put us in jail! You don't mean a thing."

"I mean everything I say with sincerity, Draco."

"No you don't!" Harry was sick of this."

"Stupefy." Harry cast, knocking the blonde unconscious. Dumbledore turned, eyebrow raised.

"Harry," The old man said simply.

"Dumbledore."

"What are you doing here?"

"That would be my fault." Snape said, stepping out of the shadows. "He knows."

"Couldn't keep secrets from your son, Severus?" Dumbledore's words could almost be seen as teasing if the situation was lighter. Now though, they carried a heavy weight. A final question, a test.

"Not anymore."

Clambering on the stairs got their attention, both Albus and Severus raising their wands against each other.

"Harrison, leave." Snape commanded.

"But-"

"I will be alright, Harry." Dumbledore offered a small smile. "Death is but the next great adventure."

Green eyes met blue, then black, and with a final prayer- to what God, he didn't know. Perhaps to Time, his father's savior- Harry returned to his hiding spot.

Just in the nick of time, as countless Death Eaters ran into the room.

"What do we have here?" A sickly sweet voice rang out. Harry's blood instantly boiled. Bellatrix.

"Ah, Miss Lestrange," Dumbledore said, offering her no smile even if his tone suggested otherwise.

"Can it, old man." She turned to Severus. "Pray tell, why is my nephew on the ground?"

"He began to give into Dumbledore's words." Severus said, jerking his wrist slightly. "As expected, he used Narcissa against Draco."

"Should have known," Bellatrix took a step forward, kicking Malfoy. "How he managed to survive a year like this is beyond me."

"Indeed." Was all Severus said. "Where's Greyback?"

"Dead, gaping chest wound. Dolohov found him. The idiot must have been caught feasting."

Snape had to resist turning to look at his son. Harry had seen that horror so young? Severus was a grown man, and even then seeing Greyback eat was a sight he would never wish on anyone.

"And where is your spawn, Severus?"

"I have no 'spawn'" The potion master glared at the laughing woman. Just a son, he thought to himself.

"Aww, I expected ickle Potter to be here! Perhaps then I could have seen you torture him! The rotten brat, he deserves it!"

"I would rather not be near that thing at all."

"If only the boy could see his father now, choosing power over blood, how fitting! History repeats itself."

"Bellatrix," Snape said coolly, trying to cut her off.

"You know, with you having killed your own father for power and all," She sent him a crazy grin. "Or would you rather not be reminded of that."

Severus, wisly, said nothing.

"How would Potter feel, knowing his father was choosing the right side? Would he be oh so disappointed?"

No, not after all I know. Harry thought.

"Would he try to kill you?"

"He doesn't have the spine," Severus said.

"Harry is not a murderer," Dumbledore chimed in. "Harry is a good boy, even if he came from a bad seed."

Ironic, Severus thought. Seeing as he was a murderer before even I was.

"Shut it~" Bellatrix sang. "Let's just get rid of him, our Lord is calling."

Harry watched, fear rooted in his stomach, as Severus straightened his wand arm. Dumbledore smiled, backing up to the edge of his tower.

"I will see you soon, Severus."

"Avada Kedavra."

Harry's hand covered his mouth. Dumbledore fell, eyes glazing over as the green light hit him square in the chest. The Death Eaters cheered, running out to look at the falling old man. Severus did not follow, instead turning his gaze to where he knew Harry was hiding. Their eyes met.

I'm sorry, Snape mouthed. The only kindness he could offer Harrison at the moment. Harry pushed himself deeper into the shadows, letting his magic do what it did best: protect him.

A second Harry appeared from his magic, looking as tired and haggard as he knew he felt. It was his magic doing this for him. His illusions had begun taking a mind of their own a long time ago.

It was called Illusion Sentience. It usually required vast concentration, or the loss of one's sanity. Harry didn't know which one applied to him in this stance.

"Morsmordre!" Bellatrix shouted, a black light leaving her wand as their shape appeared above Hogwarts. Around the school, those fighting paused, all looking up.

Death Eaters cheered, most turning and running from their battles. A few were forced to keep fighting, either by their own greed or an overzealous student.

Ron cursed, firing off hex after hex as his other hand as his other carved runes into a door. Ravenclaw had been compromised, all of the students running to Hufflepuff. They would have gone to Gryffindor if they had the choice, but no one, not even Ron, was getting near there with Harry's illusions guarding the door.

"Weasley!" A Ravenclaw yelled out. "She's not breathing…"

Ron said nothing, drawing the last line of the rune Algiz, the rune of protection. He finished at the right time, infusing his magic quick enough for two blue spells to launch off the shield. Soon, the Death Eaters he was fighting looked away, cheering. What was going on?

Ron turned to inspect his Ravenclaw group. Out of fourteen people, 3 were injured, one critically. And another was… poor girl. Ron had barely even learned her name. Paige Fitzgerald, a fourth year who was labelled a transfiguration genius.

"Why is this happening," A first year student cried out.

Ron wished he knew.

"Look! It's-"

"Neville!" Hermione yelled. "Harry's illusions!"

"What is it?" He ran forward, wand at the ready.

"They've fallen…" Lavender said, pale.

"What?!" Neville peaked through the hole in his vines. A Death Eater had used fire magic against their door, ruining the portrait and some of Neville's vines. He had kept them growing, even if it was taxing, and he was glad he did so. A Death Eater ran passed, laughing. Finally the big beasts had fallen.

A second later, Neville's vine struck the man in the heart, killing him instantly.

"Neville!" Hermione yelled, catching the boy as he fell.

"Hermione, we have to find Harry," Neville said, grasping her wrist. "If the illusions fell, he's either magically exhausted, or he's doing something else."

"You don't need to worry about that," a voice said.

"Where am I?" Harry asked, eyes closed. He knew the answer to that, but he figured he'd ask anyways.

"Wherever you want to be, Harry."

"Hello, Time." Harry slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the familiar white room. "Am I dead?"

"Not yet, child." Time took a sip of his tea. "You are simply exhausted, so I figured I would talk to you."

"About what?"

"You have questions, like always. I will answer if I can."

"You always say that, and yet you never do." Harry mused grumpily, taking a seat across from the being.

"You always ask questions I cannot answer."

They sat in silence for a few moments, Time drinking his tea as Harry stared at his hands. Was it always going to be like this? All this blood, sacrifice, and death? No, he couldn't ask that. He'd go insane if the answer was anything but what he wanted.

"Was it Dumbledore's time?" He decided to ask.

"It was far after. Dumbledore had avoided Death's hand for a long time now. He's a tricky thing."

"Oh."

"So is your father." TIme added, capturing Harry's attention. "The man was never meant to live past thirty, yet here he is, surviving."

"What's keeping him alive?"

"Loyalty."

"What's that even mean?" Harry asked.

"All three men he has served are people who Death has yet to reach, even if it was their time." Time explained.

"All three?"

"Tom, Albus, and yourself, Harry."

"He doesn't serve me." This made Time chuckle.

"All parents serve their children, Harrison. It is how the cycle goes. He is loyal to none other than you now, child. You, who have escaped Death yet again."

"What do you mean?"

"Your illusion was just destroyed in your steed. Had you chased after Severus, he wouldn't have killed you, but Severus knew it was the illusion of you."

"How?" This barely made sense to Harry."

"He wasn't covered in blood."

The silence returned once more, Harry taking a sip of the offered tea. It tasted like nothing, like always, but Harry didn't mind. It gave him something to do with his hands.

"Time, I'm begging you."

"You're going to wake soon."

"Please! How can we beat this? He's going to end countless lives!"

"Lives must always be lost in the search for peace," Time took another sip.

"Time!"

"I offer you one last thing, child. One fact that leads to the fate of those you love."

"Yes! Anything, what is it?!"

"Severus Snape is the true owner of Death's wand."

Dumbledore's funeral was quiet, sad. Nobody but Hagrid cried, mostly out of shock. The one person able to stand up to Voldemort was dead. What were they going to do now?

"Not just a friend, but a teacher and mentor too. He- he did the best he could, until the very end, playing chess on a checkerboard." McGonagall spoke, voice breaking slightly. "We send you off to Lady Magic, Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. May you find solace on the other side."

Harry couldn't wait to escape the stuffy room. He was overwhelmed, to put it lightly. Ron stayed back, hugging a silent Hermione. Not much had been said between the four of them, Neville currently residing in the hospital ward.

Fifteen people had died; four students, eleven Death Eaters.

Harry was not happy with those odds.

The only other funeral to happen at Hogwarts was that of Lindsey McMarson, the Slytehrin which Greyback had eaten. She had been abandoned by her muggle family and was residing with another during the holidays. Harry had paid his respects to the girl, having been the one to find her. It hurt him more than anyone knew.

The next few days passed in a blur, and suddenly, it was time to go home.

Home…what even was that.

Neville was much better, at least physically. He had exhausted his magic keeping Gryffindor protected, but he was mostly healed from that, even if his magic was a little finicky.

"Are you ready, Harry?" Neville asked quietly.

"Almost. I need too…" His head turned to the entrance to the dungeons. Neville nodded.

"We'll meet you there, take your time."

Harry turned, walking down the dungeons halls as Neville headed to the entrance. They were going straight to the burrow, all four of them, but first…

He needed to say goodbye.

Goodbye to the place where he would sleep after a nightmare, to the place he would help Severus make potions, to the place he would read, to the place where he confided the truth.

Goodbye to his home.

Turning, Harry saw a note on the coffee table, a small key sitting on top of it. He picked it up, reading the rushed handwriting.

My son, this is the key to my house in Spinner's end. It also acts as a portkey. You may stay here if you need too. IT is hidden under wards keyed to you and you alone. The activation sequence is 'Second Prince'. Be safe, my son, and do not let them catch you.

Harry's fist crumbled around the paper, a single tear living his eye. He would be safe, but no matter what, Tom Riddle would pay.

"Severusss…"

"My Lord," he said, kneeling beneath him. If he was to die, at least he would die with his son alive.

"So you have finally chosen your side. How did you survive?"

"I simply used the last Breath of Life I had. There is no other side than yours, My Lord."

"Potter?" Voldemort questioned. Severus knew what the man was asking.

"The very thought of him disgusts me, my lord. He means nothing to me, just a moment of fun with a mudblood that resulted in him." Saying this hurt him, but Severus pushed on.

"I'm glad you chose the winning side, my potion maker. If only your spawn had been as smart."

"My Lord?"

"I had a way to get inside his head, you see… he is almost as dark as you were, Severus."

It made sense. After what Harry had been through, if he was perfectly fine after that…

"He's a weak fool, My Lord. Worth nothing."

"Nothing you say?"

"Nothing at all." Harry meant everything to Severus, that's why he was doing this. For his new found family. For his son.