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Chapter Text

Harry lays there on the dusty floor of the Headmaster’s office, contemplating everything he had just seen in the pensieve. He is a Horcrux. He was never meant to live. He stood and made his way over to the desk. He knew what he had to do. 

He looked at Dumbledore’s portrait. “I tried your way, sir. Everyone fucking dies.” He spat. “It’s time we try my way.” He looked at Snape's new portrait. “I’m going to fix this sir. Hopefully.” He  grabbed a scroll of blank parchment and picked up a quill to get started on a letter.

Hey there. It’s me. Harry Fucking Potter. Crazy, I know right?  I’m writing this in the year 1998. I plan on using a TimeTurner to deliver this. The war is not looking too hot right now, and I’m bloody desperate. (Understatement of the fucking century.)

Voldemort made 7 Horcruxes. (I know right! What a fucking lunatic!) If I send this to the right time, he will only have made 6. (Still a lunatic!) If you ALL (Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Siri, Remus, Mum, and Dad) work together and destroy the 6 Horcruxes before he makes the final one, then he’ll be human. Kill the bastard… pretty please :)

• A diary- Lucius Malfoy- what a git!- has possession of this. He sends it to school with the youngest Weasley child in 1992, by planting it on her in Diagon Alley. The diary possesses her and she unwillingly reopens the Chamber of Secrets. 

• Slytherin Locket- The Black Family elf- Kreacher- has it. Regulus Black tasked him with destroying it. Kreacher was unsuccessful. Promise him you will destroy the locket to honor Master Regulus, tell him he can watch. It will make him very happy. Be nice to him! (Regulus tried doing the right thing, remember that Sirius.)

• Marvolo Gaunt’s ring. (There is a curse on this ring! Do not put it on! I’m talking to you Dumbledore!) It is hidden in the remains of the Gaunt Family Shack, in the woods outside of Little Hangleton.

• Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem. Hidden inside the Room of Requirement aka the Come and Go room. Located on the 7th floor in the left corridor, opposite a tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy teaching trolls ballet. Walk past the tapestry 3 times thinking of the ‘Room of Hidden Things’. 

• Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup. Located in the Lestrange Vault. DO NOT touch anything other than the cup in that vault. Good luck :) Breaking into Gringotts is bloody HARD! How hard are you laughing right now, Padfoot?

• Voldemort’s familiar Nagini… erm… good luck :) Haven’t quite been able to get close enough to her yet, so I’ve no idea how that will go for you. 

• If the date is past October 31st 1981, then I am a Horcrux. I’d like to live… so if you could find a way to destroy the horcrux in me without  killing me, I’d appreciate it, if not I understand.

I listed the Horcruxes in the order they were created. Each Horcrux is weaker than the last. From mine and Hermione’s (my muggle-born friend, she’s a bloody genius) research, with each creation of a Horcrux, it split Tom’s soul in half. That means I have the least amount of Tom inside of me. Ew. That sounded different in my head. Is Voldy a fuckin’ perve? Excuse me while I vomit…

Horcruxes can be destroyed by Fiendfyre or Basilisk Venom. There is a Basilisk in the chamber by the way, did I leave that out earlier? Oops. The entrance to the Chamber is located at the sink with a snake-engraved tap in the second-floor girls’ lavatory (Myrtle’s bathroom). You might just have to blow it up if you don’t have a parselmouth on hand. If you kill the basilisk with a goblin-made weapon, that weapon will also be able to destroy Horcruxes. 

Narcissa Malfoy may be able to offer some insight on the Horcruxes in Lucius’ and Bellatrix’s possession. Convince her to make an unbreakable vow, then show her this letter. Specifically this part; 

Mrs. Malfoy, in June of ‘96, your husband fails a task set to him by Voldemort. As punishment, he marks your son as a death eater. He threatens to have you and your husband killed if Draco does not comply. He then tasks Draco with a mission he knows he will fail- killing someone- to further punish you and Mr Malfoy. I saw Draco fall apart in the bathroom. He didn’t want to become a death eater. I don’t know you very well, but I know you must not want this life for your son. Just as you did not want this life for your kid cousin Regulus. Please, I beg you. Do not let history repeat itself. I don’t much like your son, but he doesn’t deserve to be condemned to such a life. 

If mum and dad don’t survive the war… Please don’t send me to live with Aunt Petunia. The Dursleys hate everything about magic, including me (especially me). They knock me around quite a bit, Uncle Vernon and Dudley mainly. 

Best of luck to you all!

I know messing about with time travel is risky, but like I said before, I’m desperate.

Yours truly, 

Harry James Potter

Hopefully the date this sends is sometime around early 1981, if not… I fucked up. Wouldn’t be the first time… probably not the last either.

Harry pointed his wand at the letter and duplicated it until there were 6 copies of the same letter, then put personal notes on each one, then rolled them into scrolls. When that was done, he nodded to himself, then grabbed all of the scrolls and his invisibility cloak up and left to see Professor McGonagall and get his hands on the TimeTurner that he knows she’s hiding somewhere in this castle. 

“Potter! Oh Merlin, I thought-” She held her hand to her chest and gripped his shoulder with her other hand. “We all thought you’d gone into the forest.”

“Professor. I was just coming to look for you.” He grinned. Of course he’d run into her just outside the headmaster's office. “We need to talk. Somewhere private. No portraits.”

She nodded. “My office. Follow me.” As soon as they made it to her office, they both worked in tandem to ward it with privacy spells to hell and back. “What is this about?”

“I have a plan. It’s risky. But if it works, a lot of lives will be saved.” She gestured for him to continue. “Voldemort made a series of Horcruxes.” She sucked in a breath. “I’ve written letters to a number of people that can be trusted about these horcruxes so that they may all be destroyed before he returned. All I need is the TimeTurner.” 

“Even if I agree to this cock and bull plan of yours, Potter, what makes you think I have one? I was under the impression that they were all destroyed at the ministry 2 years ago.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “Fine.” She conceded. “But messing with time travel is risky, Potter.”

“I know. That’s why I have my cloak. I won’t be seen. And you’ll be in the loop too. You won’t be left out of this Horcrux business again. Please, professor. I think this might be the only other way, apart from me going to that forest and sacrificing myself.”

She stared at him for a long time, until finally she walked around to her desk and pulled it from her drawer. “Be smart, Potter.”

Harry stared at the TimeTurner as she dropped it into his hand. “You mean I could have just broken into your office? It was in your top drawer ?”

She patted his cheek. “It’s adorable that you think yourself capable of breaking into my office.”

Harry snorted and put the TimeTurner around his neck and threw his cloak on. “Thank you.”

~~~

He looked around McGonagall’s-now- empty office and after a quick look around saw a calendar. It was May of 1981. He placed two letters on her desk. One addressed to her and the other addressed to Dumbledore. He doesn’t fancy trying to sneak into the Headmaster’s office unnoticed. He quietly stepped out of her office and made his way to one of the passageways that lead to Hogsmeade.

---

He apparated to Spinner’s End and shoved Snape’s scroll in an open window.

---

He apparated outside his parent’s home in Godric’s Hollow. He looked through all the windows on the ground floor and found them all in the kitchen eating a meal together. He then apparated directly in the upstairs study and left their shared scroll on the desk. After a bit of quiet snooping, he found the address of Sirius’ and Remus’ shared flat.

---

He apparated outside their flat. “If I’d have known they lived together, I would have just let them share a bloody letter.” He muttered, before quietly entering their flat. Does no one know how to lock a bloody door? You blokes are living in muggle London! He shook his head and placed both scrolls on a desk with a picture of them. Upon closer examination of the picture, his jaw dropped. “They’re dating?!” He squeaked. “I knew it. I bloody knew it.” 

When he heard the sound of the front door opening, he apparated back to Hogsmeade. He went behind the Hog’s Head. “Here goes nothing.” Then he returned to 1998.

May 23rd 1981…

Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk, examining the invisibility cloak that James let him borrow, when Minerva’s head appeared in his floo. “Albus. Step through. My office has been breached, and there are two mysterious letters on my desk.”

He frowned and put away the cloak, then stepped through the floo, into Minerva’s office. True to her word, there were two letter scrolls on her desk. One addressed to him and one addressed to her. “Do you recognize the hand writing?”

She shook her head. “It resembles James’ to an extent. But James didn’t write these. His ‘L’s are different.” She looked at Albus. “I’ve cast every detection spell I know, Albus.”

“Do you mind if I-?” She waved him off and nodded. Once the letters were deemed safe to touch, they both unrolled the letter addressed to them.

---

Severus stared at the scroll on the floor of his kitchen. It looked as if it had been thrown in through the window. After glaring at it for a moment Fawkes flew in through the very same window with a soda can and a note. He really needs to start keeping that thing shut.

The can is a portkey to my office.  Activation word is Reunion.  Come immediately. Bring the letter.

---

“Okay, I’ve finally gotten him to bed.” Lily said with a huff, leaning against the doorframe of the study. “What’re you looking at?” James looked up from the roll of letter scroll that sat on his desk. “What’s going on?” He pointed at the letter.

Just about as soon as she grabbed the scroll, Fawkes flew in through the window with an ugly trinket of a parrot and a note tied to his leg. “The parrot (his name is Alfred) is a portkey to my office. Activation word is Reunion. Come immediately. Bring your letter.” James read.

Lily groaned. She just got him to bed. “I’ll go get Harry.”

---

“Sirius. Come here.” Remus said. “Someone left us letters.”

Before either of them could open theirs, Fawkes was scratching at their window, and shrieking. Remus opened it. He came with a note and a broken watch tied to his leg. Remus read the note and grabbed the watch. “It’s a portkey, grab on.” He said, picking up the letters. Sirius frowned, but obliged. “Reunion.”

---

“What a lovely reunion !” Every adult in the room glared at Albus. He ignored them and set up a bassinet for the crying toddler. “There you are, Lily. He seems a bit fussy.”

“Probably has something to do with the fact that one minute he was sleeping, and the next he was being sucked through a portkey .” She placed him in the bassinet and sang to him, until he fell back asleep. She stared at Severus. “Hi.”

“Muffliato. ”

“What the bloody hell did you just do, Snape?! Ow- Lily! Ow!”

Severus raised an eyebrow. “Muffling charm, Black. I’d rather not wake the child. Merlin knows you’re incapable of keeping your voice down.” He turned to Lily. “Hello. Shall we?”

“I- erm… yes.” She said, spinning to face Albus and Minerva.

“Shall we compare letters?” Minerva suggested. “It appears there are added notes on everyone’s.”

They each laid down their letters on the desk. “It looks like they're all the same letter.” Remus said, then they all began to read.

“Wait- stop.” Lily said. “I’m not reading anymore of this, until I have proof that my son has written this in 17 years.” She glared at Sirius. “If it’s true, and you encouraged his language, I will kick your arse. Understood?” The man gulped and looked away.

Albus pointed his wand at Phineas Nigellus Black’s portrait. “My sincerest apologies Phineas.” A silencing bubble surrounded the portrait, then a tapestry appeared, covering it.  

Then he turned his wand to the letter and cast a series of spells, then a hologram-like image was in the center of the room. It was of a boy, not much younger than them- excluding Albus and Minerva- who looked damn near identical to James, down to the glasses, but he had vibrant green eyes, and his lips quirked into half-smiles while he wrote… just like Lily. The boy had tears running down his face, he had random spots of dried blood across his body. Bags under his eyes. He looked exhausted. Lily stepped closer and looked at the desk, there was a calendar. May 1998.

“Merlin.” James breathed out. 

Lily nodded at Albus. “Calendar says it’s May of ‘98.” She walked over to the actual desk, after the spell was canceled and picked up her letter. “O-okay. Let’s do this.”

After everyone read the letters, there was a tense silence. “What the fuck ?!” Sirius exclaimed, picking up a random trinket off Albus’ desk and chucking at the wall. Remus grabbed his wrist and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Reg… oh Reg.” He gasped. “What the fuck?”

Lily squeezed his shoulder and worriedly looked at Severus, who was white as a ghost. “Albus, what’s written on the bottom of your letter?”

“ Headmaster, You’ve done a lot for me. But you’ve also kept a lot from me. Please remember that you can’t always protect people by leaving them in the dark. Also, please stop being so bloody cryptic all the time. It’s infuriating. But despite that, I want you to know that you were probably my greatest role model, sir. ” He read.

“The boy makes a valid point. It is infuriating.” Severus commented.

Minerva rolled her eyes, then picked up her letter and flipped it to the back. “ Professor, I’ve made sure to include you in the Horcrux hunt, because when I left school to hunt these things down, you wanted to help. I wouldn’t tell you, because I was convinced that Professor Dumbledore had the right idea about keeping everyone in the dark. It could have been so much easier and I might not have almost died so many times, if I had just allowed you to help. I’m also fairly certain that there’s no way I will be able to convince you to hand over your TimeTurner if I leave you out again. Hypothetically, I could just lie and tell you I plan on keeping you in the loop… but that would be wrong. You taught me that. You’re an amazing Head of House and I respect you more than you may ever know. ”

“Minnie? Are you… crying?” James asked with a grin.

She sniffed. “No, of course not.” She turned away and dabbed at her eyes with a conjured handkerchief. “He seems to be a very sweet boy. If you don’t count his terrible language.”

Lily grabbed the letter from James’ hand. “ Mum, Dad, Do not trust Wormtail! ” She paused and looked between Sirius, Remus, and James. “Pete?” Lily questioned.

Albus frowned. “Why would he tell you not to trust him?”

“Sirius and I were talking about switching the Secret Keeper to Pete.” James said. “Everyone knows that Siri is my best-mate, practically my brother. He would be the obvious choice. No one would expect Pete to be the one entrusted.”

“You mean… Pettigrew very well may be the spy we’ve been searching for?” Minerva asked.

“I shall look into it.” Severus said with a nod.

Lily worried her lip for a moment, then went back to reading. “ P.S. I’m so glad you guys agreed on Harrison instead of Fleamont for my name. If my name would have been Fleamont (No offense dad! I’m sure he was a great man!) I probably would have done Voldy a favor and killed myself. ” She laughed and stuck her tongue out at James.

“It’s not a bad name!” He huffed.

“ I love you so much! ” She felt her eyes well up with tears. “ Oh and Mum? Snape has been protecting me from the shadows for the past seven years. His patronus is a doe. It’s 1998 and he still cares for you. So if you all survive this, would you consider forgiving him? I gotta give you credit though. You REALLY know how to hold a grudge. ” 

Her head snapped up to Severus, who flushed and looked away.

“ And dad? Can you apologize to him? You guys bullied him. I’ve been bullied all my life by Dudley and his friends. It really makes you feel like shit. Plus, he’s been protecting your child! 

Okay, I think I’m done now! ” She raised an eyebrow at her husband, who took a page out of Severus’ book and looked away.

“Me next.” Sirius said, softly. “ Sirius, Do not trust Wormtail! I know you don’t much like Snape, but he’s been protecting YOUR Godson. Even after you and dad relentlessly bullied him throughout your years at school. I know about the incident at the shack, by the way. You do realize you could have killed him, right? Anyways, he’s been lying to Voldyshorts face for the last 4 years to protect me. I think you can manage an apology for nearly getting him killed at 16 and bullying him for 7 years straight. I love you and miss you dearly, Pads. ”

“What is he talking about?!” Lily demanded, in which everyone looked away. “Seriously?!”

“You next, Remy!” Sirius announced.

Remus rolled his eyes. “No. Tell her what happened, Pads.”

He groaned. “You know how we told you that we would go to the shrieking shack with Remus for the full moon, so we could be there as Prongs, Pads, and Wormy during the transformation?” Lily gasped. “Snape ran into me in the corridor and asked what I was up to and where I was going. I told him we were going to have some fun at the shack… knowing he’d follow us.”

“Read the blasted letter, Lupin.” Severus grunted, before Lily could react.

He nodded. “ Remus, Do not trust Wormtail! Knock some sense into dad and Sirius, yeah? From all the stories I’ve heard from you and Siri, you were always the most reasonable. And yeah… maybe apologize to Snape too. You may not have been the one terrorizing him, but you sat by and watched it happen. There’s a reason he became such a bitter bastard. It’s not all on you guys, but I know for a fact that you lot didn’t help. I love you Remus. ”

“Can he lay off?” Sirius muttered.

“He makes a valid point, Severus. I-”

“Shall I read mine?” Severus cut him off. “ Professor Snape (I’m not sure if you’re actually a professor yet?)You're a git, you know? ” He paused when Sirius and James started snickering, then smirked when Lily slapped both of them on the back of the head. “Not like as much of a git as I thought you once were, but still a git. I just wanted a chance to say that without you docking an obscene amount of points. ” He rolled his eyes. “Clever.”

“That’s my Godson! Loopholes!”

“I’ll be sure to dock points on his first day of school. Worry not, Black.” He sneered, then looked back at the letter. “Also, I know you won’t remember it, because it hasn’t happened yet… (And hopefully it won’t need to happen), but you’ve spent the last 7 years saving my life, so thank you. ”

“Now that we’ve all read our letters. I need a word with Severus.” Lily said, shooing everyone out of the room. Ignoring Albus’ claim of it being his office. “Sit.”

Severus glared at the wall, not moving. “If your goal here is forgiving me, don’t. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Lily.”

“Shut up, Sev.” She huffed, sitting down. “I forgave you for calling me that slur, years ago. I just never told you, because… I was ashamed. I was ashamed because after that, I ran into the arms of your bullies, knowing it would hurt you.” He didn’t respond. “Will you please sit down ?!”

He sighed and sat across from her. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Lily.” He repeated. “I-” He stared at the bassinet where Harry was sleeping. “I’m the reason your family has been targeted. I was the one that delivered the prophecy to The Dark Lord.”

Lily sucked in a breath. “Did you know?” She whispered. “Did you know he was going to target us? Target my baby?”

“What? No! Of course not! But-”

“But nothing, Sev. I forgive you. I forgive you for the slur. I forgive you for handing half the prophecy over. I forgive you, and you can’t do anything about it. So stop punishing yourself.” There was a long stretch of silence. “Why did you join?”

He sighed. “I was angry. And alone. I thought… I thought that I had found people that I fit in with. I was naive and stupid.”

“I miss you, Sev.” She whispered, then- all but- threw herself into his arms. He stood and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “I abandoned you. I’m so sorry.” She cried into his chest. “You’re my best friend and I miss you so much.”

“Shh.” He said, rubbing her back. “I miss you too, Lils. Merlin , I’ve missed you so much.”

“It’s really a doe? It’s been 6 years since we stopped talking… after all this time?”

He nodded, clinging to his best friend. “Always.” He whispered. “You were my first friend. It leaves an impression.”

After a moment, they separated. “Okay.” She said, wiping her eyes. “How are you handling the part about Regulus? If memory serves, you were head over heels in love with him at 15.”

He blew out a breath. “I feel like he’s a damned idiot.” He said quietly. “We were about to be married, did you know? The date was set for 2 months after he disappeared.” She squeezed his hand. “We were about to be bloody married and he didn’t tell me what he was planning.” He shook his head. “He was an absolute idiot.”

“What a tosser.” She whispered, quirking her lip. The same sentence she said, anytime Severus came to her complaining about his boyfriend in 5th year. Severus snorted. “So dear old Wally was okay with Regulus marrying a half-blood?”

“Merlin no. But The Dark Lord was , so Walburga relented.” He sighed. “Okay. I supposed we should get back to this disaster.” 

Lily made her way to the door, and let everyone back in.

Once everyone filtered in, Sirius walked up to Severus. “The kid’s right.” He said. “I could have killed you. I was a thoughtless, reckless idiot that never considered the consequences for my actions. If Prongs hadn’t found out what I’d done… you’d be dead and Remus and I would both be in Azkaban right now. And I shouldn’t have targeted you in school simply because you said you wanted to be in Slytherin. It was wrong of me. I’m sorry.”

“I owe you an apology as well, Severus.” James piped up. “I’d only ever heard bad things about Slytherin, so I was quick to agree with Padfoot when it came to harassing you. It’s a shame that it took being scolded by my son to realize that.”

Remus stepped forward. “I stood by and watched them bully you. I was a coward. Too scared to stand up to my friends and you paid the price for it, Severus. I am terribly sorry.”

“I am uncomfortable.”

Chapter Text

“Will we be investigating the report of the Basilisk?”

Lily stared at Severus with a raised eyebrow. “You want skin and venom samples, don’t you?”

His face heated up. “Perhaps.”

Albus chuckled. “We will investigate the chamber when the school is devoid of any students, considering we will have to-” He looked at his letter. “-’blow it up’, as young Harry wrote.”

He sighed. “How are we doing this, then?”

“We shall reconvene tomorrow afternoon.”

Lily stepped forward. “Everyone here can be trusted. I’m not forcing my son to travel by portkey more often than absolutely necessary. Siri. What’s the address to the Potter Cottage?”

After receiving a nod from James, Sirius spoke. “The Potter Cottage is located at 525 Main Street of Godric’s Hollow.” After a beat of silence, he added. “Does this mean we can all go to our homes and sleep? I’m bloody exhausted. It’s 4 o’clock in the morning.”

~~~

“Up!” Harry demanded. 

The room went silent. Lily’s body was shaking with laughter. “Pardon?”

“Up. P’ease!”

Severus had never wanted to cry more in his life. “Um. Okay.” He lifted the child onto the couch and turned back to the conversation. “Why are you all star- Oh circe. It’s on me. Lily. Your thing is on me. Get it off. Why are you laughing ?!”

“Come to mummy, Harry.” Lily gasped out, in between laughs. Harry shook his head. “Come on, love. Sev is… not big on touch.”

“Sev. Sev. Sevvy!” The 10-month old cheered.

“What has my life come to?” He muttered. “It’s… fine. I suppose… Where were we?” They all just stared. “Either remove the beast or stop staring at me.” He growled. Harry giggled. He glared at the child.

“Right.” Albus cleared his throat. “Severus, I believe the best course of action- as far as getting Mrs Malfoy on board- would be to request a meeting with her, at Spinner’s End, perhaps?”

“I could lead her to believe I’m selling and need advice.”

“I suggest Sirius accompanies you. You will need someone to perform the vow, after all.”

Both men nodded. “If all goes well, she will bring you the diary.” He turned to Sirius. “Will Kreacher still come if you call?”

“I was never officially cut off, so he should.”

“After the meeting with Mrs Malfoy, you, James and Lily shall meet in one of my less important safehouses and summon Kreacher. Convince him to hand over the locket. Sirius, remember Harry’s words. Be nice to the elf. You’ll receive more resistance if you’re hostile. That is why Lily will accompany you. She excels at keeping you both under control.” Lily smirked.

Sirius saluted. “Yes sir-ee!”

Severus rolled his eyes, Albus looked amused. “Remus. I believe you should be the one to track down the ring. I can only assume that there are compulsions to wear the ring. Compulsions that I could not fight.”

“And I’m immune.” Remus inferred. “Very well.”

“Minerva. You and I will find the Diadem. No suspicions will be cast, on account of us both working there.”

She nodded. “Perhaps a nighttime search? We are both frequently needed throughout the day.”

“Sirius, you and Mrs Malfoy will work together on a plan for infiltrating Bellatrix’ Gringotts Vault, as her cousin and her sister, I believe the two of you will have the best luck.” After another salute, Albus went on. “We will all get together and face the basilisk once all of the Horcruxes I’ve just mentioned have been gathered, after school lets out.”

“I hate snakes.” James mumbled, while Sirius paled. 

Lily snorted and Albus chuckled. “I suppose someone will need to stay behind with little Harry.” Both men perked up. “However, if James stays with Harry alone, he will be far too worried. I do believe I need not mention why Sirius shouldn’t be left alone with Harry while everyone else is out fighting a 50-foot snake.”

“50 FOOT?!”

Albus chuckled. “Yes, I do believe it would be best if James and Sirius both stayed behind.”

“Your father and Godfather are cowards.” Severus muttered to Harry. The boy giggled and clapped. “Yes. I’m very glad we are in agreement.”

“Betrayal! By my own Godson!” Sirius gasped, clutching his heart.

“Your Godson? I’ve been betrayed by my own son !”

Lily rolled her eyes. “What will we do about the soul-snake?”

“ Soul-snake ?” Severus asked with a raised eyebrow. “I know you can come up with a more clever name than that.” She flipped him off, he smirked.

Albus’ eyes darted between all of the adults. “We will have to set a trap. It will be risky.” He looked at Severus. “Your cover will be blown.”

“I predicted this would be the case. Just get on with it, Albus.”

After a resigned look directed at Severus, he spoke. “We will meet on neutral ground to destroy all of the inanimate Horcruxes. I’m not sure if he will be affected or not. If he is not , then you will have to summon him, Severus. He will be unprepared. Likely will not come with back up.”

Severus sucked in a breath. “He will show up angry.” He warned, and absolutely did not relax when the child cuddled into his chest.. “But he does take that bloody beast everywhere with him. It will likely be better if he does not feel the horcruxes being destroyed. It is more likely that he will leave her behind if he does, to protect her.”

“If he leaves her behind, I have faith that Mrs Malfoy will prove to be useful. Once the snake is dead, we must kill him then. We cannot give him the chance to create more.” Once there were 6 determined sets of eyes looking back at him, he nodded. “Very well.”

“I’ve written it all down. Shall it be kept here?” Lily and James nodded their consent. “Where will the Horcruxes go while we wait for them all to be destroyed?” 

“I will have to consult with Filius. Lily, I’m sure your expertise will be required.”

She nodded. “Of course.” She paused. “We aren’t facing him until after Harry’s birthday. There is a chance we fail and all of us die doing this. I refuse to miss my son’s first birthday.” No one argued with her. “Every single one of you will be here.” She ordered. “Also, we will need to re-cast the Fidelius Charm. I will not have Peter in my home with my son again.”

“I suggest finding a sitter for when the day comes.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “I’ll talk to Ally and Frank. Little Nev’s been missing Harry. I’ll see about them coming here and bringing him.” She raised an eyebrow. “Since when do I not plan ahead?”

“Is it still breathing? It stopped moving.”

Lily snorted. “He’s sleeping.” 

Severus frowned at the mischievous grin she sent his way, then his eyes widened, horrified. “Lily Rose Evans-Potter. I will end you.”

She smirked. “ Accio camera.”

~~~

Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, knocked on an old and worn door in Spinner’s End, her dear friend answered the door. “Good evening Severus.” She greeted kindly, rolling her eyes when he curtseyed her. “How are things?” She asked, entering his home.

“Complicated.” Severus answered with a long, drawn out sigh. He passed her a mug of lavender earl gray tea. “There is something of utmost importance I must speak with you about.”

She raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow. “Shall I assume you are not preparing to sell?”

“You’re the one who taught me to mislead, Cissa. I’m shocked you didn’t spot me a mile away.”

Narcissa chuckled. “Well played, Severus. Well played, indeed. What is it?”

“It is so important that I will need you to make an unbreakable vow.” Her eyebrows rose to her hairline. “Yes. It is big.” He eyed her for a moment. “You told me once, that you don’t want this life… my life, Lucius’ life, dear Bella’s life for your son. I may have a solution. I am not quite so willing to be punished, should you confide in the wrong person.”

Realization dawned on her face. “You don’t want this getting back to Lucius and The Dark Lord.”

“This is correct. Do you agree?”

A single nod. “We will need someone to perform the vow.”

Sirius stepped into the room. “Hello, cousin.”

She gasped. “Sirius.” She glanced between the two of them. “So this is big -big.” She walked over to her cousin. “I have missed you terribly, cousin.” She said, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug. 

“Has dear Lucius not turned you against me?” He asked, clinging to the fabric of her robes.

She laughed hollowly. “If mother, Bella, nor auntie Walburga could do it, neither can Lucius.”

The two broke apart. Severus held out his hand. Narcissa grabbed it. Sirius un-holstered his wand. “Will you, Narcissa Anastasia Malfoy, nee Black, swear to never tell a soul- without the express permission of either I, Sirius Orion Black III, or Severus Tobias Snape- of the conversation that will take place in this room.”

“I do.”

“Will you, Narcissa Anastasia Malfoy, nee Black, swear to never tell a soul- without the express permission of either I, Sirius Orion Black III, or Severus Tobias Snape- of anything you learn of your own volition, regarding the contents of the conversation we are about to have.”

“I do.”

“Will you, Narcissa Anastasia Malfoy, nee Black, swear to never- without the express permission of either I, Sirius Orion Black III, or Severus Tobias Snape- share memories of the conversation in question.”

She nodded. “I do.”

He tapped his wand to their enjoined hands/wrists, then holstered his wand. “Cheers!”

Severus rolled his eyes, then pulled his letter from a pocket in his robes. “Read. It’s been proven true.” With a frown, she grabbed the letter. They watched as several emotions crossed her face, but they knew- at once- when she got to the note addressed to her.

“What do you need me to do?” She asked with angry determination. “There is a Horcrux in the manor where my 11 month old son lives. Tell me what you need.”

“Are you capable of removing the diary without detection or suspicion?” Severus asked.

She nodded. “I will- however- need an exact replica of the diary. He checks- to make sure it hasn’t been stolen- several times a day. I didn’t understand why, but now I do.” She scoffed. “He has knowingly kept an extremely dark and dangerous artifact in his bloody office on display.”

Sirius winced. “I feel a bit sorry for the bloke.” Narcissa smirked at him. “Oh yeah, he’s as good as dead, that one.”

Severus rolled his eyes. “I shall speak with Dumbledore. Are you willing to supply us with a pensieve memory, so that we may study what the diary looks like?” She nodded once. “Do you have the faintest clue how we might go about getting into your deranged sister's vault?”

“I will look into the Lestrange line. If there is so much as a squib willing to help us, we can get in. The Lestrange’s have a tendency of just depositing squib family members into the muggle world. There have been four in the Lestrange line. And that is just including those who Bella has told me about. It will- perhaps- be better if we can find a witch or wizard, who will understand the dangers of a live Horcrux, but if not, a squib would be helpful. I imagine they would be willing to betray those who abandoned them, in a heartbeat.”

“My cousin, ladies and gents!” Sirius cackled, applauding. “Ever the Slytherin.” He turned to the scowling man with a grin. “Phase 1 was a success.” Severus rolled his eyes, Narcissa shook her head at her childish- yet somehow an adult- cousin’s antics.

---

Severus passed the diary replica off to Narcissa by bumping into her while shopping for potions ingredients at an over-the-top expensive apothecary in a wizarding village near Malfoy Manor.

When he returned home, he found the Horcrux sitting on his kitchen table with an elegant bow tied on top of it. He laughed out loud, for probably the first time in 6 years. He put on a pair of dragon-hide gloves to pick up the diary and floo-ed to the Headmaster’s office. 

“Mrs Malfoy works fast, doesn’t she?” Albus said, chuckling. He pulled a red, glowing metal box from a cupboard behind his desk and removed the lid. “Place it here.” Severus did, then Albus closed the box, and returned it to the cupboard. “Please floo to Godric’s Hollow and inform James, Lily, and Sirius that phase 2 is complete, therefore it is time for Phase 3 to commence.”

“You are not seriously going along with Black’s insistence that we refer to these missions as phases.” Albus merely chuckled, then sent Severus on his way.

~~~

“Albus sent me to tell you-” he sighed, “phase 2 is complete, it is time for phase 3 to commence.” He rolled his eyes. “Goodbye.” He spun around to leave.

“Um, where do you think you’re going?” Lily demanded, with a squealing Harry on her hip.

“Sev! Sev! Sev!”

He turned around. “Uh… home?”

“Albus didn’t tell you?” At Severus’ confused expression, she rolled her eyes. “He said that if Remus wasn’t back to his full strength after the moon, that you’d be more than able to help him with Harry.” He looked horrified. James laughed. Sirius cackled. Remus chuckled from where he was laying on the couch. Harry continued chanting his name.

“The child?”

She rolled her eyes. “No Sev, my pet gerbil. Yes , my child!”

“You want me to… help the wolf watch your child.”

The boy giggled, then reached for Severus. He backed up. “Severus Tobias Snape.” He grimaced, then took a slow step forward. The boy immediately latched onto him.

“Merlin! What if I drop it!?” He was panicking. He knew that. He didn’t care. He ignored the marauders' laughter. “Lily. This is a terrible idea. I can go with Potter and Black. Kreacher likes me. I was engaged to his favorite Black.”

“You WHAT ?!”

He ignored Black’s outraged cries. “ Please .”

“Nope. Let’s go boys.” Sirius and James did not hesitate to follow instructions. 

Within 10 minutes, they were gone and he was alone with a wolf and a child that couldn’t even properly use his legs yet. “This is your fault.” He hissed at the child. “Your 17 year old self damned me to this fate.”

“He’s a relatively easy kid, Severus.” Remus said, forcing himself to sit up, grunting. “All you’ve gotta do is show him magic to entertain him. Play with him a little. And feed him. Oh, but if they’re not back by his bedtime? All hell will break loose.”

He looked at the child, then sat him in front of a toy box. “Do child things.” The kid actually started playing with his toys. Thank Merlin . He looked at an exhausted Remus. “I shall start brewing you wolfsbane. If only to prevent a disaster like this from ever happening again.”

“You don’t have to do that, Severus. I can manage.”

He looked at the child crawling towards him. “I do. I really do.”

---

Sirius took a deep calming breath. “Kreacher!”

Pop! “What can Kreacher be doing for the most ungrateful blood-traitor Master Sirius?” The elf sneered. “What would my Mistress say if she knew I was here?” He muttered… loudly. “With blood-traitor Potter and-” he took a step back, “and a mudblood .”

“Kreacher.” Sirius said evenly. “I wish to honor Reggie.” Kreacher froze. He knelt down, Lily and James sent him a thumbs up from behind Kreacher. “I’ve learned what Reggie did. I know he left you with a locket to destroy. We know how to destroy it. Let me honor my little brother. You will have succeeded in the final order Reggie gave you.”

“Master is lying. Master is a dirty liar!”

Sirius clenched his fists, then started taking deep even breaths after Lily glared at him. “I am not.” He swore calmly. “When the time comes for it to be destroyed, you are more than welcome to watch. We would like to keep it safe, until such a time comes.”

“Master Regulus was a good boy.” Kreacher sobbed.

Sirius felt his eyes well with tears. “He really was, wasn’t he?” He whispered.

“Kreacher will collect the locket.” He said, sniffling. “Kreacher does not know when he will return.” He warned. “If Mistress asks where Kreacher was, Kreacher will have to tell her. But Kreacher does not think Mistress knows he left, or else Mistress would have called for Kreacher by now.” He stepped back, Sirius stood, tears falling freely down his face. “Kreacher will return with the locket after Mistress goes to sleep.” Kreacher popped out of sight.

“Pads?”

He took a shuddering breath. “I’m fine.”

“No you’re not.” Lily whispered, dragging him into a hug. “And that’s okay, honey.” She held him, while he sobbed for his dead brother, who turned out to be braver than he was. 

“You’ll miss Harry’s bedtime if you wait with me.” He said after a while.

“I think Snape’s got it covered.” James said with a smirk.

---

“Your mother owes me.” He told the screaming child. “Big time.” Remus was sleeping through the child’s meltdown. Lucky bastard.

“MAMA! DADA!” The child wailed, refusing to be put in the crib.

Severus groaned. “Fine. You won’t go in yet. Happy?” Harry reached for the bookshelf. No. I refuse. This is where I draw the line . He thought, glaring at the book the child grabbed. He grabbed it and opened it anyway. It looked like a muggle children's series. He opened it and sat down. Harry cuddled up to his chest, and Severus began to read.

When the three returned at nearly 2am, that’s where James and Lily found Severus. Asleep on a loveseat in Harry’s room, with the child asleep on his chest, the book laying forgotten next to them. Lily took a picture. “They’re adorable.” She whispered with a soft smile on her face.

“You really missed Snape, huh?” James asked. She nodded. “Then I’m glad you have him back in your life, Lil.” He whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I’ll get the guest room set up for him. I don’t think Pads plans on moving from on top of Moony on the couch.”

Chapter Text

Remus trekked through the woods, under disillusion, his wand drawn, towards the shack. The door knocker on the front door hissed at him. How inviting. He entered the shack, it was trashed. It looked like some teenagers came in and trashed the place. The furniture was upturned. Glass dishes smashed. Broken beer bottles everywhere. 

It took him hours to find it. It was hidden under rotting floorboards, in a gold box. He placed the ring back in the box, and put it in the pocket of his cardigan. More thankful than ever that Lily put undetectable extension charms on his pockets before he left.

~~~

Albus and Minerva had been searching the Room of Hidden Things for at least a week. It was beginning to seem impossible to find one item, in a room with so much junk. Until it wasn’t. “Oh, you’ve got to be shitting me!” Minerva exclaimed, staring at the diadem. It was sitting on a table. In the middle of the room. “Albus! I’ve found it!”

The old man jogged over to Minerva and stared at it, then laughed. “Oh the joys of this lovely room.” He said jovially. The Head of Gryffindor glared at him.

~~~

“I need you to swear on your son’s life, that should Black be killed and we all become the Secret Keepers of the location I’m about to give you, you will tell no one where the Potter Cottage is located.” The woman raised an eyebrow. “Cissa.”

“Paranoid?”

Severus shook his head. “We’ve all recently learned that Peter Pettigrew is the mole within the order. They’ve been best mates with the rat since they were 11.”

“Pettigrew? The… jumpy one? Really?” He nodded. “I swear on my son’s life, that I shall not betray the location of the Potter Cottage.” Severus handed her a slip of paper. She read it, then immediately set it to flames. “Shall we go?”

The two of them disapparated from Spinner’s End and appeared inside Lily and James’ home. “Oh my word. Look at you!” She coo-ed at Harry. “You are just precious.” She said softly. 

“Sev! Sev! Sev!”

Severus grunted. “Hello child.”

“He has a name!”

“He is also a child.”

Lily glared at him. “Start calling him Harry, or I will show Mrs Malfoy the pictures.”

“Hello Harry.” He grunted.

If you asked Narcissa, her jaw did not drop. “You’ve just been blackmailed, Severus. And you folded .” She turned to Lily. “Please call me Narcissa.” Once Severus was distracted by the boy, she leaned over to Lily. “I must see these pictures.”

“Oh you will, they’re just adorable.” She swore.

Narcissa smiled. “Pleased to hear it.” She cleared her throat. “I have located a squib that we may be able to convince to help us. It took much research. After they dropped her in the muggle world, she was adopted and changed her surname. She now goes by Rhianon Donahue. She is 39 years old and the older sister of both Lestrange brothers. I doubt they even know of her existence, this is not one that even Bella knows of. She is a muggle district attorney in downtown London.” She looked at Sirius. “We shall intercept her on her way out of work.”

“Her profession may work in your favor.” Lily said. “A prosecutor helps put criminals in prison. She may like to see justice served.”

“Has anyone heard from Pettigrew?” Albus asked.

James shook his head. “He must know we’re suspicious. After the Fidelius was recast, he’s all but dropped off the planet.”

---

Sirius and Narcissa, under several appearance-altering charms sidled on either side of Rhianon Donahue on her walk to the car-park outside of a law-firm. “Hello, milady.” Sirius greeted with a nod. The woman froze and looked back and forth between them both. “We mean no harm.”

“Who in the blazing hell are you?” She demanded.

Narcissa smirked. “Fiery.” She remarked. “Narcissa Black, and that is my wayward cousin Sirius Black.” She watched as the fiery determination on her face turned to fear. “My cousin was correct. We mean you no harm. We need your help, but only if you're willing. If you say no, then we will find another way, I assure you.”

“What do you want?”

“Do you keep up with the news of our world?” Sirius asked.

---

They were sitting at a cafe, and after casting several charms to ensure they wouldn’t be disrupted, Narcissa and Sirius explained everything. “What a genocidal maniac.” Rhianon said, appalled. “What kind of monster-” She shook her head. “So one of these- these things is in my family’s vault?” All she got was two nods. “Can I even get into the vault? I was disowned.”

“You weren’t though.” Sirius said.

The woman frowned, so Narcissa spoke up. “You were claimed dead. Your birth parents- Mathieu and Adamina Lestrange- staged a fire. They claimed you snuck in their lab, and messed about with a volatile potion. A body was found, but you were a squib, so no one cared enough to check if it was your body.”

The first emotion they saw on her face was disgust. Then there was anger. Finally, fierce determination. “Tell me what I need to do to make those bastards pay.”

---

“That’s a dragon. That’s a dragon. That’s a real-life dragon.” Rhianon muttered. “I’m going to die. I’m going to be burned alive by a dragon.”

“Relax.” Narcissa said, lowly. “Just keep moving, the dragon cannot get to you.”

“Okay, don’t touch anything.” Sirius warned when they finally reached the vault. “He didn’t say what would happen if you did, but I can’t imagine it’s anything good.”

They tiptoed around, careful of touching anything, when Rhianon pointed atop a mountain of gold cups and chalices. “Please tell me that’s not it.”

“Bloody hell.” Sirius muttered. He turned to Narcissa, who looked positively gleeful. “Just get it over with already.”

She grinned at him. “It would be my absolute pleasure , cousin. Levicorpus. ”

---

Severus stared at the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets with his wand raised and a smirk on his face. He was excited . He hadn’t felt excitement like this in a very long time. “ Bombarda .”

The five of them looked down the entrance. “How far down do you think that drop is?” Remus asked.

“I would be able to tell you if your boyfriend came.”

“Be nice, Sev.” Lily murmured. “ Mollaire Maxima. ” She casted, pointing her wand into the dark and gloomy entrance. “Here goes nothing.”

“Lily don’t do- she did.” 

“Lily!”

The response was a laugh. “It’s safe!” She called up to them. “It’s a narrow drop so no more than two at a time!”

Severus and Remus stepped forward. “We’re coming down, Lil’s!” Remus called. Then the two jumped. A few seconds later, Albus and Minerva dropped down, Fawkes flying down after them.

When they reached the Chamber, they found a sleeping 50-foot snake. “Beautiful.” Severus muttered. “It’s a shame we’ll have to kill her.”

“Speak for yourself, Severus.” Remus said, staring at the snake with wide eyes. “I suddenly find myself wishing I was with Pads, Prongs, and Harry.”

Severus huffed. “What a group of Gryffindors. Very brave, you three are.” He stepped closer to the Basilisk. “Her venom sacks are located near her fangs. Our safest bet would be to puncture right there.” He reached in the sleeping Basilisks open mouth and stroked the venom sack.

“There is something seriously wrong with your friend, Lily.” Remus muttered.

“Who gets the honors?” Severus said, retracting his arm. Fawkes flew over and dropped the sword at Lily’s feet. 

She grinned. “Wicked.” She said, lifting the sword and making her way over to Severus. “Tell me where to stab, Sev.” She was grinning ear-to-ear. She looked like a giddy maniac.

“Before you children get yourselves killed .” Minerva started. “Perhaps you’ll allow us to cover its eyes, should it wake up?”

Minerva, Albus, and Remus worked together to transfigure a chunk of concrete into a blindfold large enough to cover the snake's eyes and wrap around its head. Once it was done, they levitated it to the snake and fastened it around its head with multiple sticking charms.

“Okay kids. Have at it.” Minerva said, with a long-suffering sigh.

~~~

“LISTEN UP YOU IDIOTS!” Lily bellowed. Albus, James, and Sirius turned to her apologetically. “Okay great. Now that I have everyone’s attention,” she started sweetly. “Let’s go over the invite list. We can’t have quite as big of a party as we want, but we’ve got a decent amount of trustworthy people that have the address.”

“Who will all be at this party?” Severus asked, uneasily.

“All of us, obviously .” She said, referring to herself, James, Severus, Sirius, Remus, Minerva, Albus, and Narcissa. “I’ve invited Frank and Ally, I told them to bring along little Nev. They’ve all been told the location, so we’ve nothing to worry about on that front. Narcissa tells me that her husband is away for the week on business, so Sirius, you’ll need to tell little Draco the address.”

Sirius nodded. “I finally get to meet my little baby cousin.” He said, grinning. 

“The party starts in 2 hours. Harry will likely wake from his nap in about an hour, maybe an hour and a half.” She grinned. “Let’s get this place decorated, wixen!” She cheered. “Sev, Narcissa will help you get the entryway decked out. Sirius and James, I will supervise you two decorating the den… and offer pointers because you are both useless. Albus, you and Minerva will work on decorating the living room. Minerva’s in charge. Narcissa, when the entryway is done, send Sev to the den to help Albus, so that Minerva can take over babysitting James and Sirius, so that the two of us can get started on the outside decor. As everyone finishes up, come check with Narcissa and I to see if we need assistance. Any questions?”

---

Everything was set up in record time. The house was fully decorated by the time Harry woke from his nap. Narcissa left to fetch Draco. Shortly after, Sirius left to meet Narcissa and Draco at Spinners End so that he could tell Draco the address. Harry had just finished his lunch, when Narcissa and Sirius apparated in with Draco. Less than 5 minutes later, the Longbottom’s apparated in.

The party was a hit. The three babies had a blast. Even Severus managed to crack a few smiles. Lily spoke with Alice and Frank about coming over tomorrow to watch Harry- and Draco, since Lucius was away- while they dealt with a top-secret order mission. They said yes and that they’d bring Neville and make a playdate out of it. 

“James! They’re 1 year olds!”

The man laughed. “They’re toddler brooms, Lils! The kiddos are having a blast !”

Each child was on a broom, hovering 2 feet off the ground, giggling madly. Lily’s familiar- Crookshanks- was hiding under the couch. “I shall be retiring from Hogwarts the year before they arrive.” Severus swore. “I wish to have no part in whatever mayhem those three find themselves in.” He said, shaking his head.

“I am quite looking forward to it, I’m sure they will keep us busy.” Albus said with a chuckle.

Minerva was grinning. “The possibilities.” She murmured. “They can be quidditch stars. We can get them in a youth group team! They’ll be fully trained and ready by the time they reach Hogwarts!”

Sirius snorted as he watched Minerva ramble on about quidditch. He cuddled up to Remus on the couch and watched his family, both sides of his family laughing and having a good time with one another. He only wished Andy and Ted could be here with their little girl Dora. “Cissa?”

Narcissa walked over to join them on the couch. “Cousin?”

“If Andy could be here, you know she’d be ecstatic, yeah?” He squeezed her hand. “Say, when this is all over, how’d you like to pay your older sister a visit?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think she could ever forgive me. I betrayed her the second I married Lucius.”

He rolled his eyes. “She knows you didn’t have much of a choice. She worries about you. All the bloody time. She always told me that you were the most supportive- behind closed doors, that is- of her and Ted’s relationship. She misses you cousin.”

Narcissa closed her eyes. She misses her sister dearly . Perhaps, when Voldemort is dead, there was still a chance for reconciliation. “Okay.” She agreed with glassy eyes.

Chapter Text

They stood on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. Just outside the Hogwarts wards. Each Horcrux laid on the ground, each of them roughly 10 feet apart. “I suggest we start with the weaker Horcruxes first. Just in case he can, indeed feel them.” Albus said, as he laid the last one down on the ground. “The cup first.” He said. “Who would like to do the honors?”

“Me.” Sirius said, stepping forward. “Cissa will want the diary.” He looked at Severus. “I figured I’d give Snape the honor of destroying the Locket. He was engaged to Reggie, still loyal to Reg when he died.” He said, nodding at the shocked man. “So I figured I’d take out the one that my psychotic cousin deigned to hide.”

Albus handed the sword to Sirius. He took it and stepped up to the cup. “Everyone back up.” Minerva ordered. “We don’t know how it will react.” Everyone took a step back. Except Remus.

“Remy.” Sirius sighed. “I’ll be fine.” The man had to be physically pulled back by James.

Once everyone was a safe distance away, Sirius swung the sword down on the cup. Then it was like he’d been shot with the most powerful aguementi he’d ever seen. He heard yelling behind him, so he stabbed the cup with whatever strength was left in him. “Siri!”

He was gasping for breath, but he was no longer submerged in water. “Merlin’s saggy tits.”

“You gave us a fright, cousin.”

She looked deathly pale. “What happened?”

“You were submerged, Pads. Fully submerged in a… well like a wall of water.”

“It resembled a waterfall, of sorts.” Severus added.

“I don’t know what you did, but after a few seconds, the waterfall formed the shape of You-Know-Who’s face.” Minerva said. “Albus?”

Albus, who had been casting a series of Dark-Detection spells on the cup, nodded. “It’s destroyed. It is nothing more than a broken cup now.” He moved over to the Diadem. “I do believe the honor is yours, Lily.”

Lily stepped forward and grabbed the sword. “Why me?”

“Well, if I could bestow this task to anyone, it would be Filius, but alas, he is not here. So I shall entrust his favorite student with the task at hand.”

She flushed. Her former charms professor was always jealous that she was not placed in his house. He absolutely adored her as a student, and she did him as her professor. “Very well.”

“For the love of Merlin, Lil. Be careful .” James said.

She looked back. Sirius was leaning against Remus and Narcissa was squeezing his hand but was much less pale. They seemed to be okay, though. Minerva looked nervous. Albus nodded at her with his usual twinkle in his eye. James looked terrified. Severus looked- well, she couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, he was always good at hiding his emotions- but he looked at the very least, anxious. There was a slight tremor to his hand, and he looked pale… well paler than usual. “I’ll be fine, you lot.” She grinned at them, then turned back around, and brought the sword down on the Diadem.

Red-hot flames circled her. She could hear his voice. “I will kill the boy. Harry Potter will die at my hands.” The voice was meant to scare her into backing down. It did not, though. 

The only thing it did was anger her. She could feel the protectiveness thrumming through her veins as she brought the sword down again. They were doing this to save her son. “Not my son, you genocidal bastard!” Then the flames surrounding her disappeared. She had minor burns on her arms, but nothing too major. She coughed. Okay, maybe a bit of smoke inhalation. 

“Lily, your arms.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine. Let’s finish this so I can see my son.”

“We will heal injuries as we go.” Albus said with finality. “If Tom deigns to show up before we’re ready, it will do you no favors to be injured.”

“Dobby!” An elf appeared. “Fetch my potions first-aid kit. Tell no one where you’re off to. Tell no one you have been here. Not even Master Lucius.”

The jittery elf nodded. “Yes, mistress. Dobby is most loyal to Mistress Narcissa. Mistress Narcissa is kind to Elf Dobby.” Then he disappeared with a crack.

“Taking over Malfoy Manor one elf at a time, cousin?” Sirius asked with a smirk.

She was saved by Dobby reappearing. “Thank you Dobby.” The elf burst into tears. She looked at the amused faces around her. “He’s still learning to accept thanks. Cut him some slack.” She patted his head. “Go home, Dobby. Speak of this to no one.” Then the sniffling elf was gone.

“Drink this cousin.” She handed him a vial. “It will clear out any water you may still have in your lungs.” She tossed a jar at Severus. Burn Salve. He began applying it to Lily’s arms. She rifled through the kit until she found a Fresh Vapor Inhaler. She tossed it to James. “3 puffs. It needs to be fully inhaled, like smoking a cigarette. In 3 minutes, if she is still coughing, 2 more puffs.”

Once Sirius and Lily were both at full health, Remus stepped up and grabbed the sword. Albus nodded at him, then stepped back. He brought the sword down. His father stood before him. “Da.” He breathed out. “What is this?”

It was like he was standing right in front of him. “The Resurrection Stone, son. You don’t want to destroy your only chance at speaking to me again, do you?”

Remus squeezed his eyes shut. For Harry. For Siri. For Lily. For James. For everyone . He opened his eyes. “I’m sorry Da. I have to.” Then he brought the sword down with more force than necessary. Sobs were wracking his whole body. The images of his father being murdered by Greyback- after refusing to join his pack- replaying in mind. A vial was pressed to his lips.

“Breathe Remy. You’re okay.”

Sirius . “My Da.” He gasped.

“I know, love. Drink.” He ordered softly. “It’s a calming draught.” Remus obliged. “There you go, love. Better?” Remus nodded. “Alright. Let’s take a step back, so Snape can destroy the Locket.”

Severus eyed the Gryffindor Sword. “You just had to pick something of Gryffindor’s didn’t you?”

Albus chuckled, then his expression turned serious. “We’ve no idea what the locket will do. It is one of his first Horcruxes. Be prepared for anything .”

“Kreacher!” Sirius shouted. The elf appeared. “It’s time. I told you that you could watch.”

The elf smiled. “Yes. Kreacher shall watch.” Then he squeaked. “Master Regulus’ half-blood boy will destroy it?” Sirius nodded, Kreacher started sobbing and walked over to Severus. “Kreacher remembers how much Master Regulus loved his half-blood boy. Master Regulus was so very happy when his half blood boy said yes to his courtship. Master Regulus said to tell you the next time Kreacher sees you, to not blame yourself.”

Severus swallowed thickly and closed his eyes. “For Regulus.”

Kreacher stood back to stand with everyone else. “For Master Regulus!”

Severus brought the sword down. Then a transparent-blue Regulus stood before him. “Hey there, Sev. I know it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’ve missed you, my dearest. My beloved Sev.” Severus said nothing, he just stared. He could hear Narcissa, Sirius, and Kreacher crying. “I know what your heart's greatest desire is, Sev.” A transparent-blue hand stroked his cheek. “You wish to have never lost me. I can make that happen. You need only drop the sword, my dearest.”

His eyes were glassy, he knew. He didn’t care. He never thought he’d hear that voice again. He never wanted to stop hearing it. “I must do this for you, Reggie.” He whispered. “I love you.” He choked on a sob, then brought the sword down. His knees buckled. Lily and Narcissa were both at his side before he hit the ground. Narcissa pressed a calming draught to his lips. He drank it.

“We will avenge my cousin's death, Severus.” She whispered in his ear. “We won’t let him take another good soul from this world.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek. 

Lily pressed a kiss to his other cheek. “You are so brave, Severus.” She said softly. 

He recollected himself, then stepped back with Lily, to stand with the others. Kreacher was still there. He didn’t think the elf planned on leaving anytime soon. 

Narcissa stepped forward and grabbed the sword. “This will be his strongest Horcrux. Be careful.” Albus warned her, then stepped back.

She nodded to herself, then brought the sword down. An fully corporeal teenage Tom Riddle stood in front of her. “My own followers?” He questioned. “I know you wish to protect your son, my darling Narcissa. I can ensure his safety. I will not let harm befall on your son. You need only write in this diary. I can help you after that.”

“Oh? Is that so?” She smirked at him. “I’m doing this to protect my son from you.” Then she brought the sword down. Black ink began shooting out of the diary. The teenage Tom began screaming and lunging at her. “ Protego .” Then the teenage Tom disappeared after bouncing off of her weak shield.

Narcissa was shaking. Full body tremors. Lily handed her a calming draught. She took it with ease. “Should we assume he doesn’t know what we’ve done?” James asked.

“Not necessarily.” Severus said. “He may be aware that we’ve destroyed them, but is unaware of our location.” He looked at Narcissa. “I am about to summon him, if you-”

“I’m staying. We will both summon him. He will know it is an urgent matter, if we both do it. If he does not bring the Snake, I will disapparate and begin searching.” She rolled up her sleeve, he followed suit. “Is everyone ready?”

“Not in the bloody slightest.” Minerva said. “But shall we get this over with?”

Albus looked at Minerva. “You still wished to be the one to take out Nagini?” He pulled the borrowed invisibility cloak from his pocket. James grinned. “This is the answer to how our marauders got away with so many pranks.”

“Family heirloom.” James supplied. “Use it well, Minnie.”

Minerva grabbed the cloak. “Stay unseen. Unheard. Lurk behind the shadows. At your first opportunity-”

“-off with her head!” She thundered. “Shall we end this war, once and for all?”

Once Minerva was fully cloaked and invisible, Severus and Narcissa shared a nod, then pressed their wands to their Dark Marks.

---

Lord Voldemort, with Nagini coiled around his arms, apparated to the clearing on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, and he was furious . “You dare summon me?!”

“Yes, My Lord.” Severus refused to bow. Narcissa stood tall next to him. Everyone else was lurking in the shadows. Nagini slithered to the ground, next to her master. 

Nagini hissed something to her Master. Voldemort raised his wand. Then war broke out. It took two minutes for Voldemort to get a chance to summon his inner circle. Just as he pressed his wand to his forearm, Minerva snuck up on Nagini and took her head clean off. “NO!”

Bellatrix was the first to appear. Then Rudolphus. Lucius. Rabastan. Pettigrew. Nott. Crabbe. Goyle. Rosier. Crouch Jr. Dolohov. Yaxley. Karkaroff. Rookwood. Wilkes. Greyback. Parkinson. Bulstrode.

Albus summoned his patronus. “For all order members- except Alice and Frank Longbottom- the final battle has begun. Outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. Narcissa Malfoy and Severus Snape are spies. Do not harm them.”

Then order members began apparating in. Moody. Hagrid. Dedalus Diggle. Elphias Doge. Emmaline Vance. Arthur. (Molly stayed home with their children, she’s pregnant with her 7th child). Pandora. Xenophilius. Andromeda. Ted. Edgar and Angela Bones.

“ Sonorus . All of your Horcruxes have been destroyed, Tom.” There were gasps on both sides. “You are mortal, once more. Now is your chance to stand down.”

Voldemort snarled. “ KILL THEM! Kill them all!”

Albus dueled with Voldemort. Sirius dueled with Bellatrix. Narcissa with Lucius. Arthur with Dolohov. Moody with Crouch Jr. Andromeda with Rudolphus. Remus with Greyback. Hagrid with Crabbe. Dedalus with Rabastan. Elphias with Goyle. James with Pettigrew. Minerva with Nott. Vance with Bulstrode. Pandora with her twin brother, Evan Rosier. Xenophilius with Karkaroff. Angela and Edgar with Yaxley. Lily with Parkinson. Ted with Wilkes. Severus with Rookwood.

“Evan.” Pandora pleaded. “I’m your sister.” He threw up another shield. She followed suit. “Horcruxes, Evan.” He closed his eyes. “Please, brother.”

He swallowed thickly. “There is no way out, but with death, sister. One of us will die today. It will not be me. I refuse- NO !” He threw himself in front of her as a stray cutting curse flew their way. 

“What was that you were saying, brother?” She asked, as she healed his shoulder. 

He grunted. “Shut up.”

“Leave Evan.” She pleaded with him. “You do not need to fight his war. Go home. Live another day so that you may meet your niece.” She kissed his forehead. 

“I will not leave. I shall fight by your side, Panda.”

She grinned and helped him up, they threw themselves back into battle. Pandora went to help her husband with Karkaroff. Evan went to help his late-best friend’s brother fight Bellatrix.

“Gone traitor have you, Rosier?” Bellatrix asked with a cackle. “You’ll be slaughtered!”

Evan shrugged. “Will I? Or will you? I’ve never liked you much. Stupefy !”

“Switch sides?” Sirius asked incredulously.

He smirked. “My sister and I had a chat… sort of. I can explain later, Reggie’s brother.”

Several feet away, Narcissa was dodging curses aimed at her by her husband. “Where is my heir?” He demanded. “ Crucio !”

She side stepped it. “Our son is safe! He is a boy! I will not have him subjected to this life! Reducto !” Lucius was never very good when it came to dodging things. “ Stupefy! Pathetic.” She spat, then relocated to her sister’s side. “ Stupefy !” Her other sister's husband dropped. “Hello sister. It’s been a while.”

“Cissa.” She kissed Narcissa’s forehead. “Shall we kick some ass, baby sister?”

Severus had Rookwood stunned in seconds. He was flying through the battlefield, making his way towards his former master, so that he may assist Albus. He did a double-take when he saw Rosier and Sirius teaming up against Bellatrix. Not a massive surprise there. Regulus and Evan had been friends for a long time. 

When he stepped into the middle of the battle, where Albus was holding up a very impressive shield charm, he greeted him. “Tom.” He said boldly.

“You dare ?! You half-blood traitor dare to call me by that name?! Avada Kedavra! ”

Severus expected death. He did not expect Regulus’ house elf to shove him out of the way. “No!” A red and purple shield stood between the two of them and Voldemort just before the killing curse hit him. He watched in morbid fascination as the green stream of light bounced off the wall of elf magic and shot back at Voldemort and hit him straight in the chest. “For Master Regulus.” The elf whispered.

“Leave now, Evan! Go!” Pandora screamed.

Evan Rosier disapparated. It was a testament to how exhausted everyone was. Moody didn’t even object. The majority of the Order made quick work of rounding up the death eaters, while Moody contacted the ministry. It was over. It was really over. 

They mourned their losses. Elphias Doge died by a stray Killing Curse. Edgar and Angela Bones died. Edgar was hit with a Killing Curse by Yaxley. Angela was hit with a stray cutting curse after Lucius failed to hit Narcissa with it.

“It’s gone.” Severus raised his arm. “It’s gone. It’s over.” He no longer had the dark mark.

~~~

17 year old Harry James Potter returned to 1998 with a gasp. He was gasping for breath in the Great Hall. At the Slytherin table?! His head felt like it was going to burst . “Harry?” That was Malfoy’s voice. Since when does Malfoy call him Harry?! There was a commotion around him, but he was in far too much pain to comprehend anything.

“Harry. Look at me.” That was Snape’s voice. Snape? He’s dead. 

His head snapped up. “You died.” He rasped, clutching his head, before promptly passing out.

---

“He’s waking up!” He heard an angelic voice say. A voice he definitely remembered. “Harry?”

He blinked his eyes open. “Mum?” He croaked. He slowly sat up and his bed was surrounded by people. His mum. His dad. Sirius. Remus. Severus. Narcissa. Draco. Alice. Frank. Neville.

“Rise and shine, darling. Kids, can you give us all a moment with Harry please?”

After a fair bit of arguing between Dracon and Neville with their respective parent(s), the two teenagers left the room. “How are you feeling?” Severus asked. 

“Woah. You’re Nev’s parents! This is wicked ! And everyone’s alive! Holy fu-” His mum put a hand over his mouth and glared at him. He grinned.

“Will he forget the memories of the alternate world? Because my child does not curse like that.”

“He’ll slowly start to forget those memories throughout the week. As he forgets those, the memories of this reality will slowly filter in. Poppy and I suspect that by the end of 2 weeks at most his mind will be restored.”

“Hey kiddo.” Sirius said. 

Harry promptly flew out of bed and into his Godfather’s arms, sobbing. “You’re alive.” He whispered. “I’m so sorry, Siri. It was all my fault! You’re all alive and-”

“Okay kiddo. Take a breath.” Sirius said, cradling his head. “Breathe. We’re all alive and it’s all thanks to you. You did good, kid.”

Once Harry calmed down and was back in bed he looked between them all. “Tell me everything . How’d you guys get into Gringotts? How’d you get into the Chamber? How did I end up in Slytherin? Is Headmaster Dumbledore okay? Is-”

“Harry, my love.” His mum said with a smile. “Calm down. We’ll tell you everything about what happened after we got your letter, so long as you tell us about your life before you sent that letter, and where you picked up that deplorable language.”

“Well to start off, son; you’ve got a lot of uncles and a few aunts.” As if to prove a point, he points to Severus. “Uncle Sev.” Remus and Sirius were next. “Uncle Siri and Uncle Remy.” Then to Frank. “Uncle Frank.” He pointed to Alice. “Aunt Ally.” Then to Narcissa. “Aunt Cissa. Then there’s your Aunt Andy and Uncle Ted; they’re stuck at St Mungo’s. You call Minerva Grandma Minnie and Albus and Aberforth are your grandpa’s.”

They all laugh at the wide-eyed look on his face.