When two worlds collide.

The Boat House.

Alex twitches as her eyes flutter open. The sounds of battle no longer distant. The bunch wait expectantly. Alex just nods.

"I know where he is."

The door behind them began to rattle, the doors about to break.

"EVERYONE OFF THE CORRIDOR!" Alex yells as they run off.

Fire runs up the hallways as Hogwarts was set ablaze.

Alex stands there, watching the school go up in flames. All because of her..

"Rosa, I know what you're thinking...it's not your fault." Harry puts a hand on Alex's shoulder, comfortingly.

Alex takes a deep breath and turns to the bunch.

"Let's go get that Horcrux."

"We'll go help the order. Ron, Hermione and Harry will go with you." George states.

"See you on the other side?" Fred smiles.

"See you on the other side." Alex nods and watches as they run.

She leads them to the Courtyard, where students and staff trade spells with Death Eaters, among them were Padma Patil, Neville and Seamus; Sprout, and Kingsley. From an upper balcony, Professor Trelawny raises her wand, draws a bead on a Death Eater and with a forceful flick, sends him flying through the air. Seamus regards her with amazement.

"There's more to me than incense and tea leaves, Mr. Finnegan.."

Dean trades spells with a Death Eater, while Luna stuns a quartet of Death Eaters, one-two-three, and watches the fourth fall before she can fire. She turns, sees Neville standing behind her, wand smoking.

"Thanks.." Luna smiles.

"Don't mention it."

As they were on their way Alex catches sight of Lavender Brown, as she falls to the ground. Alex's eyes shift, spy Fenrir Greyback, lips still glistening with Lavender's blood, staring at her.

He grins.

"NO!" Alex's wand flashes. A deafening blast. Greyback takes it straight to the chest, pitches up into the air and drops. Unmoving.

Alex runs towards Lavender to see if she was still breathing.

"Oh my God." Ron breathes out.

"We need to go. Now!" Harry growls.

The four of them race away from the burning castle. In the distance part of the Dark Forest burns, trees shedding sparks into the sky like scarlet feathers. Shadows do battle in the distant dark. Screams shatter the night. A thunderous shock wave as a monstrous giant lurches into view, swinging one of the quidditch goals, the golden ring dripping blood. Seeing the four, it whips the ring down, strafing them with threads of blood, but missing them, narrowly, scooping out a massive Chuck of earth instead. It scowls in anger and lumbers stupidly off.

The four of them race down the steps toward the Boat House.

Alex, Harry, Ron and Hermione pick their way forward, moving quietly through the eerie light, then stopping within the safety of the shadows. They watch as Voldemort extends the wand. mercurial light, it looks like a living thing.

"Why doesn't it work for me?" Voldemort hums with curiosity.

"You have performed extraordinary magic with this wand, my Lord. In the last few hours alone-" Snape starts but Voldemort snaps. "No! I am extraordinary! But the wand resists me!"

Snape studies Voldemort in the half-light, then his eyes shift to Nagini, who skims slowly over the wooden floor, circling the two wizards.

"There is no wand more powerful. Ollivander himself said it. Tonight, when the girl comes to you, it will not fail you, I am sure. It answers to you and you only.."

"Does it?" Voldemort holds the wand to the wavering light again, his eyes on Snape. "Does it truly answer to me."

Snape says nothing. For a moment, he and Voldemort stand perfectly still, two faces in the darkness, the only sound the lapping of the lake. Alex studies Snape's face, calm, composed, then notes the hand concealed behind his back, twitching with tension.

"You're a clever man, Severus. Surely you must know."

Snape remains silent. His gaze shifts to Nagini, still skimming slowly over the floor.

"Where, Severus? Where does its loyalty lie?" Voldemort stares at him.

"With you, of course, my Lord.." Snape looks away from Nagini. Voldemort stares long at Snape, then, finally speaks..

"The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly, Severus, because I am not its true master. "The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner. Ollivander was quite explicit about that. You killed Dumbledore, Severus. While you live, the Elder Wand cannot be truly mine."

Snape stares at Voldemort, then his eyes shift to Nagini, still circling.

"My Lord." Snape clears his throat.

"You have been a good and faithful servant, Severus.." Voldemort raises the wand, points it at Snape's throat. "But only I can live forever.." Voldemort sweeps his arm away, turning the wand on Nagini. "Kill." Snape's eyes shift to meet the snake's. The snake strikes. Alex's scream is swallowed by Snape's own. Voldemort runs a finger along the wand, eyeing it with wonder, transfixed, then turns away.

" Come! Nagini!" Voldemort stares as he sweeps from the room, toward the lake's quivering darkness, the giant snake slithering after.

Alex rushes forward, into the strange, wavering light, then stops in horror, watching Snape's blood run like syrup over the weathered boards toward him. Ron and Harry bump past, heading in the direction Voldemort took. Hermione pauses by Alex. Alex kneels by Snape. She lays her fingers upon the bloody wound at his neck, but it's no use. Snape's eyes shift and, briefly, look deep into Alex's, then he begins to cry.

"Take them.."

Alex looks confused, hesitant.

"Take them!" Snape's face shudders softly and his tears transform, from clear water to silvery blue. Alex reacts to the color. She's seen it before...Suddenly Snape grabs the hem of her suit and pulls her close.

"Please."

Snape holds Alex captive briefly, then drops back to the floor. Alex blinks, shaken.

"Give me something! Quickly! A flask! Anything!" Alex turns to Hermione.

Instantly, Hermione conjures a flask from thin air. Hands trembling, Alex presses it to Snape's ashen cheek, letting the fluid flow within.

"I'm...." Snape mumbles.

Alex searches Snape's face, trying to decipher his words. Snape stares at Alex in wonder, lost in her eyes, then his pupils dilate, his voice trailing off.

"I'm sorry.." Snape's face goes slack.

"He's gone." Alex shivers.

"The snake too." Ron sighs.

. . .