—————S—————

Severus and Minerva watched as the white light in his office grew before four slightly disheveled teenagers appeared in front of them.

"Well," Minerva said. "I must say you four have looked better."

"Thank you, Aunt Min." Aurora beamed as they all dropped their stuff.

"Severus, what—" Dumbledore started to say angrily.

Severus rolled his eyes, turning to the portrait. "Why should they be on the run when all that's left is what they could never get to?"

"You knew Harry couldn't know."

"Know what?" Potter deadpanned. "That one of my best friend's father, the husband of a woman who was once my best friend, was actually on my side? Or that there's a Horcrux in me and the only way anyone can figure out how to destroy it is by killing me?" Harry asked as if he were merely relaying the weather. Draco's face contorted into a sneer as Harry spoke, but he said nothing, merely clenching his fists.

When the silence was thick in the room, Aurora asked, "Where's Mum?"

"She's ... with your Aunt Poppy, preparing."

"How soon are things happening?" Ron asked.

"Not quite yet. When it does, it will happen quickly," he said, darting a glance at Minerva, who nodded. "I want you to go to the Room of Requirement, you can use the Floo. Ask the leaders of the houses to round up anyone underage. Most will already be inside, but it's imperative that any students under fifteen be escorted out. I will only allow those fifteen or older to help the medics. Ask the room for the exit to safety and it'll grant it."

"Dad, Leo?" Aurora asked.

"Make sure he gets out."

"Sir," Potter said. "What are we doing after we get them out?"

"We're going to use you as bait, Mr. Potter," Minerva said.

"The Order?" Ron asked.

"Will be coming through the room as well."

"Dad, why not keep everyone there, in the room?"

"Because if something happens to the structure of the castle, the room could stop working. The path in the room will take them to a safe place where they'll be able to hide for the duration of the battle. Outside of the castle."

Aurora nodded.

There were so many things Severus wanted to say, just in case this was the last time he had the chance to say them to her. But he refrained, this wasn't the moment for sentiment, not for him.

"Go," Minerva said. "Lingering will do none of us any good."

He watched as they each went to the Floo, calling for the room. When the last of them left, he turned to Minerva.

"You know the spell?"

She grinned. "I've been hoping for an excuse to use it for years."

"Good," Severus assented. "I'll summon the Order. Make sure the underage students leave. After that, follow the plan."

She nodded, heading for the fireplace.

"Minerva," he said before fully realizing he was going to. When she stopped, looking over her shoulder with a questioning frown, he added, "Thank you." It was for so many things over the last two decades.

He saw her eyes mist for just a moment before she pulled herself together, nodded, and left.

"Severus," Dumbledore said, and he slowly turned to look at the portrait. He expected a rant, he expected a lecture. Instead, he got a completely defeated Albus Dumbledore. "You've done well, all of you."

He turned away from the portrait, not needing its praise or approval, and summoned multiple lionesses to go out to Order members.

—————A—————

The room was already in an uproar of joy when she came through the Floo behind Ron. Harry was bombarded by everyone welcoming him back and asking so many questions that they all jumbled together.

She looked around the room, shifting to the side as she had been taught to when coming through the Floo. They weren't the eyes she was looking for in the crowd, but they found her nonetheless.

"Rory," Neville said with a warm smile.

"Hey, Nev," she replied, unable to smile in return. He stepped toward her, and she met him halfway, hugging him in greeting, glad to be back. She didn't get to say anything, though, for once the brief embrace was over, she was tackled. Barely able to catch herself before falling, she supported the body that crashed into her despite its arms wrapping tightly around her.

"I stabbed a Horcrux," Leo said against her arm. "Well, no, I didn't stab it. But I found it and I was there when it was stabbed, and then it almost killed me, but I've been practicing my shielding charm, so all the stuff just bounced off it, and I was in the crater, and I broke my vial of Liquid Luck."

"You what?" Aurora said, trying to look at her brother but unable to move as he had her arms pinned and was putting almost all of his weight on her.

"I broke it. But I was, well, lucky, because some of it seeped into my bloodstream when the glass cut my hand."

"Leo, let go of me," she said, and he did, beaming up at her. She smiled. "I actually did stab a Horcrux. And I broke into Umbridge's apartment, and I stole butterbeer."

Leo's eyes widened. "You've turned to a life of crime?"

"There are worse things." She shrugged, turning her attention to the place where the tapestry marking infractions was and noting it was now a door. And that there were people coming through it.

It took her no time at all to spot him, and it would seem it was mutual. Fred Weasley had only just gotten through the door when he found her. He crossed the room quickly, gently nudging people out of his way until he was in front of her. In an instant, he had his arms around her and she him.

"Knew you were all right. Lee kept saying you didn't look good when you left, but I knew you were okay."

"Okay is a matter of opinion," she said as she stepped back. "I had a fairly nasty Splinch on my left leg. Ron cast a Reparo on me."

"He did what ?" Fred asked, head whipping around, clearly searching for his brother.

"You have part of your leg ripped away and tell me you would care how it was put back together," she said, and Fred seemed to ease up a bit.

"You're okay now, though?" Neville asked.

"Bit of a scar, but pretty sure we all have those now," Aurora replied with a cheeky grin.

A whistle cut through the chatter, and even though there were still people coming in, everyone turned to face Harry and Aunt Min standing on a table in the center of the room.

"All right, listen up!" Harry shouted. "I know this is exciting, but there's very real danger coming here soon. We're going to face You-Know-Who here at Hogwarts." There was mild chatter, but it quieted when Harry raised his hand to silence them. "Anyone under fifteen, you gotta go. There's no question about it, you have to. If you're under seventeen and haven't learned how to heal, you have to go."

"Oi, that's not fair," someone said. Another person grumbled, and then more followed suit.

Aurora's eyebrows nearly hit her hairline when she watched her brother get up to stand with Aunt Min and Harry. Everyone quieted down again, though this time she suspected it was more out of curiosity than respect.

"You may not like it, but you'd be idiots if you tried to stay."

"Shut up, Snape," someone yelled, and before Aurora could stand up for her brother, she watched as he rolled his eyes, crossed his arms, and looked in their direction with utter boredom.

"How long did it take you to come up with that utterly scathing remark? 'Shut up.' Yes, well, if you don't want to listen to me, you're more than welcome to have your guts ripped out by Death Eaters." Aunt Min looked ready to lecture him, but stopped as he continued, "And they will rip your guts out, make no mistake about that. Harry has faced them, of course, but so has my sister. The Weasleys, all of them currently here. Well, except that one, I'm not sure who he is," Leo said, and Aurora saw Percy Weasley standing with his father and Bill. She felt Fred grasp her shoulder, and she glanced behind her to see both he and George were utterly shocked at the sight. "But the Weasleys faced them, Longbottom, Luna, Draco, they fought them. And if you think that the Death Eaters went easy on them because they were underage, you're wrong. They don't care about that. Hell, I don't even think they care about your houses anymore. You stand up to them, they're going to try to kill you. Frankly, it's likely they will. Leave the fight to those who can. This isn't an adventure where you can be like Harry Potter, this is war, and it's real. It's not cowardly to run when you can't fight to begin with."

"Well said, Mr. Snape," Aunt Min said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You see the door people came through, leave through it. A man named Aberforth Dumbledore will be waiting for you on the other side."

"Follow me!" Daphne Greengrass called out. "I'll show you out, make sure you get there safely."

"Should we...?" George asked.

"Definitely," replied Fred, and he released his hold on her shoulder to join George, who was walking over to Percy.

"I guess they're making up," Neville said, standing with her as she watched the twins talk to Percy.

"Good," she said. "It's not the time to hold grudges."

"Yeah," Neville said. "So, it's probably a good time for you to know that I've... well, made up with your dad implies we were on good terms to start with, but...."

"I'm glad to hear it, Nev," Aurora said.

"Yeah?" he asked, and as he was about to add something else, he was cut off by Ginny.

"I should have you know your brother nearly killed himself multiple times, despite me trying to make sure he didn't," she said as she came up to Aurora and gave her a hug.

Aurora returned it happily. "He told me a bit about it."

"He was quite brave," Luna's voice joined them, and Ginny stepped away from Aurora to let their other friend hug her.

"I have no doubt that he was," Aurora replied, stepping back and seeing Harry coming toward her.

"Rory," he said. "I'm apparently going to go with McGonagall, but after, well, we'll still need to figure out a way to get to the snake."

"Meet near the Entrance Hall?" she asked.

Harry nodded. "I'll tell Ron." And he took off.

"What about the secret tunnels and entrances?" Aurora thought out loud, then charged towards Aunt Min. "What about the secret tunnels in and out?"

"Well, I would suggest that you, Mr. Longbottom, and Mr. Finnegan take to blowing them up."

"We might be able to help with that," George said as he and Fred joined them.

"Yes, I would say you two certainly would," Aunt Min agreed with a smirk. "Well, get on with it."

"Harry," Aurora said, touching his arm as he came up to Aunt Min. "Your map?"

Harry dug into his pockets, pulling it out. "You need it?"

"No," the twins said at the same time Aurora and Neville said, "Yes." Harry merely shrugged before handing it over, heading out of the room with Aunt Min.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Aurora said, touching her wand to the map. "We could probably do this best in pairs. Maybe Seamus with —"

"I think Fred and I should split between the lot," George cut her off, and she frowned.

"You'd want to split up?" she asked.

"Only got one map," Fred said. "And we know the ins and outs best."

"Which would make the map rather useless if we know all of them."

"Hand it to Gin," George suggested. "She's not going to be fighting."

"Like hell I'm not!" Ginny replied vehemently.

"You're not of age," Fred reminded her.

"I could just Polyjuice myself as Aurora and no one would know the difference," she retorted in challenge.

"That'd be unsettling," Fred said, grimacing.

"I think it's up to Gin who she fights as," Aurora said. "And if the pair of you want to split up, fine." She handed the map to Ginny. "Maybe you two could make sure all the younger students get out safely. And watch for any would-be Death Eaters that might still be lingering inside."

"I can help with that," Blaise said as he came up behind Ginny, touching her shoulder. "I know which ones are putting on an act for the Gryffindors and which ones are genuine."

"Thanks," Ginny said, smiling up at him a touch too coyly.

"Right, well," Aurora said, turning back to the others.

"I'll go with Finnegan, you with Fred and Neville," George said rather quickly.

"Right," Aurora said, her smile faltering. "Let's do it."

—————S—————

"Amycus! Alecto!" Severus barked, halting their pointless patrol. They turned sharply, confused. "We have word that Potter was spotted in Hogsmeade," he said, beckoning for them to come along.

"What are we to do, Headmaster?" Alecto asked, looking all the world as though she wanted to cling onto his arm.

"We are going to do what we should," Severus replied. "We're going to assemble the staff, ensure they know what they are meant to do," he said, leading them back out of the dungeons and up toward the Entrance Hall.

It was as they entered that Minerva was coming down the stairs, seemingly alone.

"Minerva," Severus said in a silky tone that might have spoken of danger and warning.

"Severus," she said curtly.

"Potter has been sighted in Hogsmeade," he said, eyes darting around her, wondering if the boy hadn't followed the plan after all. "Convene the staff, make sure they know that he is seen, he must be brought to me."

"And if I don't?" she asked, her lips pursed in such a fashion that she might have appeared petulant, if not for the crinkle of humor near her eyes.

"If you don't," he said slowly, "there will be... a punishment. Tailored, of course, to the severity of your infraction."

The Carrows behind him snickered.

"It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster," Potter's voice came from beside Minerva, and he sensed the Carrows drawing their wands, looking around for the intruder.

"Indeed," Severus said, just as Potter pulled off the cloak, wand drawn.

Severus turned, wand in hand, ready to stun the Carrows along.

They dropped, and as they did, Theo Nott came in from the Great Hall. He looked at the bodies on the floor as if they were nothing more than tracked-in dirt, then looked at Severus. "The medical ward is ready."

"Good," Severus said, then turned to the woman he considered family. "Minerva, your arm."

She frowned, hesitantly raising her right arm. He clasped it at her elbow, forcing her to take his in something that mimicked an Unbreakable Vow. Her eyes widened in worry.

"I, Severus Tobias Snape, being of sound body and mind, do relinquish control of the wards and the castle to Minerva Isobel McGonagall, instating her as Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

A swirl of red, green, yellow, blue, and purple magic wrapped around their arms, starting from Severus and ending at Minerva, transferring his power to her. His mind slowly started to feel eerily silent, and he felt the school mourn his loss while celebrating another worthy head.

"Severus... I... I don't...."

"As long as I am headmaster, the school can let them in and stop you from doing what is needed. I believe that until the right moment, I should continue pretending that I am on his side. At least until the snake is slaughtered. If I can stop him, it will throw the other Death Eaters off Potter's scent, it will buy more time before this ends. Besides, it should have always been you."

"I don't know what to say, lad," she replied, her brogue thickening.

"Say nothing," he replied.

"Well." She turned, looking around the Entrance Hall. Spreading her arms apart, she boomed, "Piertotum Locomotor!"

The statues and armor all started coming to life, making Theo and Potter step a bit closer to the professors as those that were part of the walls landed with a rumble on the floor.

"Hogwarts is threatened," Minerva told them. "Man the boundaries, protect us! Do your duty to this school." They continued marching one by one in two lines out the front doors.

It was an amazing sight, one that had Severus in awe. Never had he seen the charm enacted on such a scale, and to see all of the facades and common place decor from the castle rise and follow the call to arms lifted his soul. The witch giggling beside him didn't hurt either. He turned to Minerva, arching a brow, a smirk playing on his face. She turned to him with a giddy smile.

"I've always wanted to use that spell," she said, voice breaking with joy.

Severus snorted, shaking his head and no longer keeping back his smile.

He turned to Potter. "Before I go, I wanted to give you this," he said to the boy, reaching into his robes, hesitating a moment, and then withdrawing the stone he had placed in his inner pocket before leaving his office.

He was very careful not to turn it three times, barely rolling it between his fingers. He didn't want to give it to him, because giving Potter the stone meant conceding that the old man was right. But he knew the moment he saw Voldemort with the wand in his hand, he had to do it.

"What's that, sir?" Potter asked as he stuffed the Cloak in his pocket and held out his hand for the stone.

"A token," he replied. "Should you find yourself facing an impossible task, turn the stone three times and you will find the comfort you've always needed."

Potter frowned but pocketed it within his jacket.

It was a relief to know he had it, and with that done, Severus turned to Theo. "Summon Voldemort."

Theo stiffened. "Did... did you just say—?"

"His name? Yes. It's such a ridiculous moniker and deserves to be ridiculed. Even if my only means of doing so is speaking it."

Theo huffed, rolled his eyes, hesitated, then pressed his hand to his Dark Mark. "He's here," he said, and then looked at Severus. He nodded at the young man, then looked at the Great Hall. His wife was there and he should go say something to her. He should say something, just in case. But he couldn't, he couldn't do that to her. She would be worried enough as it was, having not seen Aurora yet, knowing she was going to fight.

"I will help the professors and the Order secure the wards," he said to Minerva. "And until I am called on, which I'm sure I will be, I'll try to ensure that no one who makes it onto the grounds gets into the castle."

"Be safe, Severus," Minerva said. "Your child will want to meet their father, not just hear about him."

With a nod, Severus left, forcing himself to not look back at the Great Hall.

—————A—————

She stood with her wand drawn at the last tunnel on their side of the castle. With George taking Seamus and Dean with him, they'd divided the task in half, though it was taking longer than expected due to the distance between the tunnels and the spells needed to close them.

"Do you hear something?" Neville asked, and Aurora strained to hear. There was a murmur, something like voices coming from a distance.

"Nice night for it, isn't it?" Fred shouted down the tunnel, and the voices suddenly grew louder. "Yep, someone down there," he said, raising his wand.

"Wait," Aurora said, holding his arm. "There're people down there, shouldn't we just block off the entrance?"