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Chapter 16 The Battle of Hogwarts

Severus had called all the students to form up with their respective houses in the Great Hall. The tables had all been pushed aside, leaving a large amount of space.

Garrett and Annalise stood behind him as he stared down at the children. Two Deatheaters were guarding the doors, off to the side.

The other Professors bowed their heads, cowering under his scrutiny. All of them except McGonagall. Her lips were set and she glared daggers at the Headmaster. She was disappointed in the man he had become. As a student, he had a bright future lined up ahead of him. When he became a Deatheater, it all went to smoke. Literally.

"Many of you are surely wondering,
why I have summoned you at this hour. It's come to my attention, that earlier this evening... Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade." Whispers were heard amongst the students. "Now, should anyone, student or staff attempt to aid Mr. Potter, they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transcription, further more... Any person found have knowledge of these events who fails to come forward will be treated as equally guilty." Hogwarts' inhabitants shuddered at Snape's sinister words. "Another, if anyone in here has any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening. I invite them to step forward. Now!"

No one moved for a moment.

Slowly, Harry stepped out of the Gryffindor formation. Students gasped left and right.

"It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a security problem, Headmaster. I'm afraid it's quite extensive." The smug smile was wiped off his face when the Headmaster took out his wand and waved it toward him. Minerva stepped in, pushing Potter out of the way and took out her own wand.

Severus hesitated. He didn't want to hurt the woman who had practically raised him during his childhood.

Minerva attacked, Severus blocked. It continued in a similar fashion until he realized he had to leave. Waving his hand above his head, he disarmed the Deatheaters, rendering them unconscious, before turning into a cloud of smoke and jumping out the window.

"Coward!" He heard his coworker cry out, as the students cheered. 

He made his way to his office just as the Dark Lord's voice resonated through the walls.

The battle was beginning. The Deatheaters would attack any minute. He landed in his office and headed to to the Pensieve to collect his memories.

A gentle hand caught Severus' shoulder. He turned around swiftly and his thoughts floated away.

Before him stood his wife. The wife he had sworn to protect. The wife he had promised to keep safe.

The Headmaster wrapped his long arms around her waist and pulled her closely, pressing a hungry kiss to her lips.

When they pulled apart, she held him tightly.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

Eliza scoffed. "I came to fight, of course!" Her voice cracking from not speaking for so long.

A small smile appeared at the corner of Severus' mouth, but abruptly disappeared when a thought struck him.

He gripped his wife's shoulders tightly. "Where's the baby? Where is Persephone?"

The woman smiled softly. "Don't worry. She is safe. She is with Lupin's son. They are being minded by Mr. Ollivander. He was too weak to fight."