Nearing the End: Part 2

Disclaimer: I've borrowed some of J.K.R.'s characters, but I'll Scourgify them later and send them back.

Thanks go to my lovely, brilliant, reliable beta, Charmed Nay. Without her, I doubt I would have continued writing fanfiction all those months ago.

Severus frowned as he waited for his Lord to look at him. The man seemed terribly distraught. He bit back a sigh, not wanting the man to know of his discontent. He simply wanted to go to his bed, lift Hermione's pillow to his face, and see if he could still smell the scent of her shampoo on it. Leaving her had been one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do, especially after finding out about her father. What sort of man would not try to comfort the one he loved in such a time of needless tragedy?

After another minute of silence, Severus asked, "My Lord, are you ill?"

The Dark Lord lifted his head, and the deadly expression on the man's face sent shivers down Severus' spine. For a brief instant, he feared that the man knew. Quickly masking those thoughts, he gazed boldly into his Master's eyes. He'd learned long ago that the best way to hide something was to present everything openly, to not arouse his suspicions, or to make him want to delve further.

"What of Nagini's killers?"

Surprised, Severus said, "Our traitor sent word to the Order that the Grangers were in danger. Tonks, Lupin, and Moody were dispatched to watch over them. From what I gathered, the father left to go to his office, forcing the members to split up. Tonks and Lupin are the ones responsible for Nagini's death, but I am uncertain which one actually sent the hex that killed her."

"Where are they currently?" came the curt question.

This, he had not expected. "I believe Lupin and she are sharing a flat just outside of London."

"And you've no idea what the location is exactly?" he asked, voice cold and laced with disbelief.

Severus shook his head. "I've never had reason to call on either of them, nor the desire to. Should I inquire?"

"There is no need."

Uncertain as to what his Master was planning, he questioned, "Is there something you request of me?"

"I will tell you when I have decided," the Dark Lord said gravely. "I am thinking that I will need your services to brew a potion for me."

Severus nodded. "As you wish, Master."

The high-pitched, cold cackle echoed throughout the room. "They will pay in the worst way, Severusss. After they drink what I have in mind, I will take pleasure in watching them suffer each day." He stood and moved to the doorway. "Tomorrow evening, I will call upon all of my followers. The time of waiting is now over. The time for action is here."

"I am ready, my Lord," Severus said dutifully.

"The traitor, I believe he made a terrible error earlier tonight. We shall find out tomorrow evening." He emitted a low growl, and the room seemed to shudder slightly. "Nagini was very important to me, not only for being part of what nursed me back to health, but she held a portion of me inside of her. With her death, that was destroyed. So she has quite literally taken part of me with her." He clenched his long, skeleton-white hands into fists. "Slow deaths to all who had a part in it."

He swept out of the room, leaving Severus with a great feeling of foreboding. Their numbers would be great when Potter and the others came. He hoped the element of surprise and Potter's somewhat improved skills would be enough to end things. Making his way to his chambers, he pulled the small, Disillusioned piece of parchment from the inside pocket of his robes. "Locus Hermione," he said quietly, holding his hand over the parchment. He sat down heavily on the chair near the cold grate.

Currently lounging in bed with Harry Potter, distraught.

"I suppose the little bastard is comforting her in her time of need," he said acridly, sneering in disgust. "And so it begins." The process of growing apart was upon them. She would turn to Potter for comfort, and eventually, Potter would return her affection. "That is of course... if the boy lives." As quickly as they started, he pushed those thoughts aside. He'd just done everything possible to ensure that the boy got the upper hand. It wouldn't do to sabotage it now just to spite him.

Whatever happened after the final confrontation would simply be part of another day. If he died, then at least he'd done everything possible to make certain that Hermione was safe. He hoped that all his work and years of servitude...to both the Dark Lord and Dumbledore...would not be for naught. If he lived, however, it would be very hard for him to see Hermione with anyone else. That was something that he would be willing to deal with when the time was upon him. He'd gotten through worse things before and couldn't let anything interfere. Again, he waved his hand over the parchment. "Locus Hermione."

One of his eyebrows arched.

Currently lounging in bed with Pansy Parkinson and Harry Potter, determined.

"What are you planning, you silly girl?" he wondered aloud.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ouch!" Hermione said, rubbing her head. "The corner of this," she pulled the offending book from beneath Harry's pillow, "just poked me in the head!" She began to snicker lightly. "Harry, what are you doing reading Wartcap's Vanity? I've only known witches to read these!"

Harry took the book from her and narrowed his eyes. "Pansy was reading it to me when I was recovering, thanks."

"And you like it?"

"Well, I sort of want to know what happens, don't I?" He shook his head. "There is usually a new update every week, but the last one has yet to come out yet." He tossed the book onto the nightstand. "Not that I'm constantly checking to see if it has been."

"Right," she said disbelievingly. "About Pansy... What's going on with the two of you, Harry?" She sat up and leaned against the headboard. "I saw the way she was looking at you, and then, when I left mum's room earlier, I saw you touch her cheek."

Immediately, Harry's expression turned dark. "Think it's wrong of me, do you? Well, I'll have you know that nothing has truly happened between us, but if it does, I don't know that it's anyone's business but ours!"

"Whoa," Hermione said, holding up a hand. "What are you on about? I only asked..."

"Aren't you going to say that it's a bit soon for us, as we're disrespecting Ron by being interested in each other?" he asked, shrugging her hand off of his shoulder.

"No," she said quietly. "I was just wondering what I'd missed all these weeks. I would support whatever you decided... as you've done for me with Severus."

He looked at her, and his face reddened. "I'm sorry. I just thought that..."

"Do you feel guilty about Ron, Harry? Is that why you jumped to that conclusion?"

Nodding, he replied, "A little. He seemed happy with her."

Hermione remained quiet for a moment, internally debating on telling Harry the truth. She'd never kept much from him. Why start now? "Harry, I have to tell you something, but this stays between us only. Agreed?"

"All right."

"When Ron died," her eyes began tearing up, "I was with him. I don't know if you saw it or not, but I..."

"I saw you with him. I wasn't sure if he was dead, but then I saw your face as you held him. And I knew. I knew he was gone." He ground at his eyes with the heels of his hands. "I froze. I was torn between going to his side or fighting with Voldemort."

"Well, you made the right choice, fighting Voldemort."

"I wasn't really fighting him with all I had though. I was worried about you, Dumbledore, and Ron." He smiled sadly. "He got the best of me, and if Dumbledore hadn't whisked me off, I'd have died with Ron that day. I saw Bellatrix die, saw Neville fall, and saw you getting hexed by a Death Eater."

"Harry..."

He put a finger to her mouth. "It seemed like all was lost, and all I'd been fighting for was leaving. You and Ron... You two have always been here for me, and I didn't want to go on. Everyone I love... dies."

Hermione nodded. "It does seem that way, Harry, but trust me. That's not the way it has to be. Tomorrow, when we go to take on Voldemort, I want you to do what you must. If I fall, you fight for me. For Ron. For all the others that we've lost."

"Snape told Dumbledore to make certain that you don't join us."

"I'd like to see either of them... or you try to keep me here," she retorted. "I told Severus I wouldn't go, but it was a lie. I'll be at your side if it kills me." She shrugged. "It's just my part in things. If I can Stun one person that would harm you before you can take on Voldemort and kick his arse, then I want to do it. I want to be there to see that bastard rot! He shouldn't have had my dad killed."

Harry reached over to wipe her tears. "I'm so sorry about your dad. If you hadn't become my friend, none of thi..."

"If I hadn't befriended you or Ron, I would have had nobody. I would have continued to be miserable." She smiled ruefully, pushing his hands away. "Besides, who else would have put up with my bossiness?"

He grinned. "Thank you for always being there for me and Ron."

She nodded. "When Ron died, he told me that he'd always loved me and would have married me." Her voice cracked, and she looked away. "He said to tell Pansy he was sorry, but he still loved me." She sniffed. "He wiped my tears away even as he was dying. The last thing he thought of was his mother. He died before he could tell me what he wanted to say to her." She swallowed. "I... I am glad he died without knowing about Severus. That would have hurt him."

"Yes, it would have," Harry said sadly. "I didn't know that he still wanted you in that way." He sighed. "Oh, I saw the way he still looked at you when Pansy wasn't watching, but I just thought that maybe it was some old protectiveness or something."

"I don't want Pansy to know. I think that would be rather hateful of me to tell her."

"I agree," Harry said. "Don't tell her that."

"So, Harry, if you were feeling as though you'd be betraying Ron, then please don't. I imagine he'd be happy that you could find happiness with Pansy, especially without Gabrielle."

"When you talked to Voldemort, did he mention her?" he asked, slight hope in his eyes.

She shook her head. "Not ever. No one did."

Harry nodded. "I'd hoped that maybe she was a prisoner there."

"She's dead, Harry. It's time you accepted it."

"I have, but the hope was still there." He pulled off his glasses to rub his eyes. "Maybe this is some sort of sign that Pansy and I should try to make a go of things if I live after tomorrow night."

Hermione hugged him fiercely, causing him to drop his glasses. "You will live, Harry. You fight. Don't look at us and worry about us. Don't let their deaths be in vain. You live and do what you must to kill him. Avenge your parents, Cedric, Sirius, Dean, Hagrid, Gabrielle, Ron, my dad, and all the others lost in this wretched war!"

"But, Hermione, what if something happens to you? Maybe Snape is right. You shouldn't..."

"I'm either accompanying you, or nobody will be given the location. That's the bottom line," she said firmly. "I'm sure Dumbledore will see it my way."

"Sorry," Pansy said from the doorway. "I'll come back later."

"No, come in," Harry said, pulling away from Hermione's embrace. Pansy looked between them uncertainly. "Close the door before Mrs. Weasley sees you."

She did so and moved towards the bed. Harry scooted over and patted the space between Hermione and him. Surprise brightened Pansy's eyes, and she smiled before crawling in between the two friends.

"Hermione was giving me a pep talk," he informed her. "It seems that tomorrow night is going to be a big night for us all."

"That's right," Hermione said. "I told him that he'll not die and that he's going to kick Voldemort's arse." She got up to get the book from the chair next to the bed. "I brought this up. It has loads of defensive jinxes, protective spells, and offensive maneuvers that I thought we could all practice."

"All?" Pansy asked.

"Are you coming with us?" Hermione countered.

Pansy nodded, lips set in a grim line. "I would like to go, yes. I'd hoped to be allowed."

A sharp knock sounded at the door. Hermione quickly hid the book and took her place by Pansy's side after snatching up the copy of Vanity.

"Come in," Harry called.

Molly Weasley entered. "My, what's going on in here?"

"Oh, we're reading the latest update in Wartcap's book," Pansy answered.

"Hmph," Mrs. Weasley said, eyes locking with Hermione's. "I wonder if that book had a bad influence on you, young lady! I've a mind to write this Wartcap and tell her she's influenced a good girl to chase after her Potions master!"

Hermione shook her head and got up. "That's the last time I'll let you talk about my relationship with Severus in such a way. I know you mean well, Mrs. Weasley, but that'll do. If my mother approves, there is no reason that you shouldn't. You're not my mum. You should worry about your own family. Not me."

She brushed by her quickly, leaving the room. Within seconds, she felt the woman's hand on her arm. She spun around, ready to have a row with her, but she stopped upon seeing Mrs. Weasley's expression.

"Hermione, I didn't mean... Sometimes I am a bit blunt with my thinking and words. I'm sorry. I suppose I just hate to see all of you growing up." She smiled and pulled Hermione into her arms. "Ron used to love you so much. I always thought of you as my second daughter. That'll never change. Nor will my worrying and nosing about stop."

"It's just that my relationship is my business. I know some people will never approve, but it's for me to deal with," she said softly, hoping the woman would understand.

"I know that, but I can't help feeling that it was not in the best interest of either of you," Molly said. "It just doesn't seem right for a professor to lust after a student." She held up her hand when Hermione pulled away in a huff. "It's what it boils down to... whether he loves you or not."

Hermione nodded. "I know, but there's just so much more."

"And now it's over."

"For now only."

Molly simply nodded and asked, "Was Ron in very much pain?"

This change in conversation shocked Hermione. "He... no." She shook her head. "He didn't say that he was. I think maybe the shock of it all spared him."

The older woman nodded. "I think about that at night, you know. I wonder what was going through his mind, if he was hurting terribly, if..."

"Yo-you were the last thing he talked about," Hermione said quietly. "He was trying to say something when he died. All I could make out was the word mum."

"So he did speak?" Molly asked, eyes widening. "And he mentioned me."

"Yes," Hermione said, adding a lie. "He said that he loved everyone, that he was sorry, and tried to tell me to tell you something."

Molly smiled slightly. "Thank you, Hermione."

"I held him and tried to get him to hold on, but... there was just too much blood." She took Mrs. Weasley's hand. "I swear that if Neville hadn't killed Bellatrix, I would have."

Smiling, Molly said, "He'll be here for the meeting in the morning, Neville. He's joined the Order now that there's no school." She nodded down the hallway. "You ought to check on your mum. She was in the loo a couple of times earlier. I think that potion isn't working for her."

"All right," Hermione said, striding forward.

She knocked once on her mum's door and opened it to find her mother sitting on the bed and looking at a photo of their family. "Mum? Can I come in?"

"Yes," she said, making room for Hermione.

"Did the potion make you sick? Mrs. Weasley said that you'd been to the loo a few times."

"I imagine that's only one thing that bothers me," she said quietly. After a long pause, she looked at Hermione. "I met your Severus earlier."

"When?" Hermione asked in surprise.

Jane chuckled. "He was the one that pointed out the way to the loo. It was just for a moment, but he's... a good looking man."

Hermione smiled. "Do you really think so?"

Her mother nodded. "Yes, and you were right. That voice of his is quite... enchanting."

"I think Dad would have liked him... after the initial shock of me shagging a professor wore off," she said, smiling ruefully. "But after he heard of everything that Severus has done for us in this war, he would have been proud to welcome him to our family, and he would have approved that Severus refused to... touch me in that way until I was no longer his student."

"Yes, I agree," Jane said. "My dear Hermione, when did you grow up? One day you were starting a new school, and now, here we are. You're a woman in your own right."

"Time flies, doesn't it?"

"There never seems to be enough," her mother said wistfully. "I wish that I would have had more time with your father."

"It's my fault, Mum. If I had only..."

"No, it's not your fault. These things happen. Your father died a happy man, although his life was cut entirely too short. I'd wager he hadn't any regrets. He was loved, and he loved." She kissed Hermione on the forehead. "You and your young man will find a way to work things out after all of this is done."

Hermione smiled. "I hope so. He seems so adamant about me going my own way."

"Well, you can make him see that he did make you happy, but he only went about it the wrong way. Once things are put right between the two of you, don't waste time, Hermione. That's my only regret with your father." She sighed. "We didn't have enough time together."

"About tomorrow night, Mum, I want to go."

"I figured you might."

"Are you going to try to stop me? Severus told Harry and Professor Dumbledore that I was not to go, but I feel that I must," Hermione said, hoping her mother would understand.

"It would be a terrible shame for me to lose a daughter the day after I lost my husband," she said quietly.

"You won't, Mum. Things will work out. We'll surprise them, and I can Stun Severus before anyone else can hex him, and... Oh."

"Hermione," Jane chided, "don't you dare go if you plan to interfere in things. What if something goes wrong? He may need to be awake and not... whatever you said." She smiled sadly. "I won't stop you, but you've got to promise to think things through before going. Anything that you do could have an effect on how things turn out."

"I will, Mum. I promise."

After an hour of talking, her mother's eyes finally closed to find sleep. Hermione decided against going back to Harry's room, not wanting to walk in on anything. They could practice their spells in the morning.

She went back to her room and pulled out the parchment that Severus had left with her. "Locus Severus," she said. Her heart broke when she read the words.

Currently on the Kincardineshire east coast, in the Dunnottar Castle, in his suite of rooms, feeling dejected and unable to sleep.

"What are you thinking about, Severus? Are you hurting as much as I am?" she voiced softly. She looked at the small timepiece near the bed. It was almost three in the morning. She needed to sleep, but how could she? Each time she tried, she'd see flashes of her father's smiling face, her mum's heaving shoulders as she cried, Severus' forlorn expression, Harry's tears, Ron's dead yet open eyes gazing at her...

Would everything be all right? Would they be able to get through another encounter with Voldemort? Was her mother right? Should she truly not go and interfere with anything? You've got to do it, Hermione. Harry needs you, and whether he knows it or not, Severus needs you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun had just come up, and she could already hear him rustling about the room. All night long, he'd been tossing and turning, shunning her advances when she'd tried to hold him.

"Remus?" she called. "Please come back to bed for just a few more minutes."

"No," he said sharply. "We have an Order meeting later this morning, and I'd like to prepare."

Tonks sat up quickly and ran her fingers through her hair. They'd have to have it out and soon, or they would be torn apart. "Remus, we can't go back and change what happened. I feel terrible about it. Truly, I do. Do you think I'll ever be able to look at Hermione or her mother in their eyes again?"

"I know we can't change anything," Remus said, sitting down in dejection. "There was likely nothing we could have done from the moment she bit him, but I firmly believe that had we been paying attention, we could have discerned the moment they showed up." He frowned. "I was just so intent on having you that I wasn't truly listening when I should have. Also, in the back of my mind, I felt that Snape himself would have told us if the Grangers were in danger. I just let myself relax when I should have been more..."

"Vigilant," Tonks said when his voice trailed off. Moody had lectured them for over an hour about vigilance and consequences. "So... you're blaming me then, aren't you?"

"No, I am blaming us. We should never have fucked while on Order business," he said bluntly.

Tonks flinched at his choice of words. "And I wouldn't leave you alone about it, so ultimately, though you won't voice it out loud, you blame me."

Remus looked at her for a moment and sighed in exasperation. "This is not something I can fix with a piece of chocolate, a pat on the shoulder, and some kind words. A man is dead, and part of the blame does fall on my shoulders." He looked away. "If you must know, yes, I feel you are also partly to blame, but it isn't only your doing. I could have denied your request. I wanted it, too."

His last words were barely audible. "I am sorry. I don't know what else to say."

"Right now, there is nothing else either of us can say." He stood and moved towards the door. "I'll get breakfast together while you dress. I think we should go early and have a word with Hermione if we can."

"All right," Tonks agreed, not looking forward to facing everyone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Draco," Ginny said, elbowing him slightly. "Mum might catch you in here if you don't go to your room."

"Mmmm," he moaned, tightening his hold on her.

She snuggled into his body as closely as she could. It amazed her at how perfectly they fit together. Her arse wriggled against his crotch, causing his morning erection to twitch against her. For a brief moment, she wished that they hadn't put back on their underclothes after their long awaited second coupling. They'd talked things over, and both had decided that they were going to join Harry. He wanted to prove to the world that the Malfoys could do something right, and she wanted to do what she knew Ron would have done.

It would be a risk, what with the pregnancy, but for some reason, she didn't think that she or the baby would be hurt. She felt that Ron was staring down at her and happily protecting her and his unborn niece... or nephew. If something did happen, well, she didn't want to think about that. However, if this prophecy business was right, she had nothing to worry about. She was supposedly some prophesized seventh child of an old line that would be on the victorious side of a battle, helping things to start anew, helping the world move on past the stage of war. Surely that meant she would bode well. Snape would make certain that nothing happened to Draco.

Snape will likely be worried about himself and Hermione first. Draco and I will just have to fend for ourselves and help Harry. Afraid that she might be losing him or that he might be hurt, she rubbed against him again, wanting him to awaken, wanting to be with him once more.

"What do you think you are doing?" he asked sleepily, hand traveling down to rub her stomach.

"Trying to wake you," she said with a laugh.

"We don't have time," he said regretfully, obviously knowing what she wanted. "Your mum comes round all the time to make sure we're not... like this."

Ginny sighed. "What do you think about the name Celaena?"

"I think," he drawled, moving to nip her neck with his teeth, "that you might be sorely disappointed when you give birth to a son. All of these girl names will have been chosen for nothing."

"All the same. What of it?"

"Where'd you get this name?" he asked.

"I told you that I want to name our child from something celestial, like your name. No plain or old-fashioned names like in our family. I want something different. Celaena was one of the seven sisters and found in Pleiades, which is in the Taurus constellation." When he smirked, she continued, "The old wizards left behind stories; one said that the great Orion pursued them in life, and they had to seek refuge in the stars to be away from him. Zeus put them there himself, and ironically, when he placed Orion in the stars, he falls behind them, not only warring with Taurus but showing that he's still chasing the seven sisters...even in the afterworld."

"Seventh daughter, seven sisters... What's with the number seven?" he asked playfully. "And since when do you believe in such rubbish?"

"You know as well as I that seven is a powerfully magical number." She turned and propped herself up on one elbow, rounding stomach pressing into his flat body. "Besides, though it may be rubbish, I find the old theories fascinating. There is supposed to be some special alignment tonight where the light from Pleiades' brightest star...Merope... I think anyway...will combine with others to reflect upon some escaped gases from a nearby nebula. For only tonight will we be able to see it. The last time that happened, there was an odd ghostlike face. Quite haunting, that." She grinned. "Haven't you been reading the papers? It's all over!"

"Sorry, but that's just not my forte. I was glad when I was able to drop Astronomy," he said, moving to sit up. "I guess I'd better go."

"Soon we'll not have to sleep apart...ever." She sat up and kissed his bare shoulder.

He turned around and placed a chaste kiss upon her lips. "Maybe Celaena isn't so bad. What was that other one?"

"Maia," she said with a smile. "I did like Electra, but when I mentioned that to Dad, he went into some excited lecture about spark plugs and electricity. So that name is definitely out."

The both laughed. Draco rubbed her stomach once more. "We still have time."

Ginny smiled and nodded, but she thought internally, I hope you are right, love. "Oi, look! Someone just shoved a parchment under the door."

Draco went to retrieve it. "It's from Hermione. She wants us to meet in Harry's room in a few minutes."

"I'll bet they want to form some plan for tonight," she said. Her lover simply nodded, and both became lost in their own thoughts.

Southern's Notes: It's only fair that I stop right here. Everything else will be the meeting with Harry and his friends, the Order meeting, and the final battle. I've decided that all needs to be in one chapter alone. So there will be a part 3 to this. And unfortunately, that means everything else gets pushed back one chapter, so instead of ending on 40 chapters, it will likely be 41. Sorry about that. The good news is that I've nearly finished the next chapter, so my beta will have it tomorrow afternoon.

So, who's nervous about Snape's survival? Remember those visions with Bane? The outcome hasn't changed; luckily Voldemort doesn't know about that. Teehee. On a serious note, there will be a character death warning on the next chapter, and there will be a good bit of action. Hope you all don't mind. I like interesting fight scenes and will try to give you one.

Gee, I wonder what image will be revealed in the sky for one night only? Maybe I'll give a prezzie to anyone that can correctly guess.

Here are links that I looked at while gathering my thoughts on what I wanted Draco and Ginny to talk about:

http://www.naic.edu/~gibson/pleiades/pleiades_myth.html

http://www.aao.gov.au/images/captions/uks018.html

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0012/06hubble/

http://www.liv.ac.uk/~ggastro/Society.news.Feb98.html

Seven sisters of Pleiades: Merope, Asterope, Maia, Electra, Taygeta, Alcyone, and Celaena

**All references to Wartcap and her story, "Vanity," were used with permission.