Chapter 8

Sorry I haven't updated this. I've been so incredibly busy. This story is finished so I just need to make a point of uploading a chapter a day if I can.

All canon characters belong to JKR.

Thank you for June for her help with all of my stories.

Chapter 8

Osiris continues telling Raven of the final battle.

"What if Albus dies as well?" asked Osiris sadly, as the tears welled up in his small black eyes.

"Then we are all lost." Severus turned and walked out.

Osiris heard the wards go up for the rooms, and then turned to look outside the window. The castle grounds were filling slowly with Death Eaters. The school's wards had been brought down; Voldemort was coming for them all.

As he looked out onto the castle grounds, Osiris searched intently for Severus. It was difficult to spot him at first, yet eventually he managed to discern him from the many robed and masked figures. As soon as he could, Severus fought his way to the middle of the field. He deflected hexes from both sides at one point. He looked around and spotted Voldemort holding Bill Weasley under the Cruciatus Curse. Severus approached as the young man's face was growing almost a darker shade of red than his hair. As he walked into view, Voldemort stopped, then looked at the Potions Master.

"Severus, how kind of you to join us. Would you care to finish this one for me?" asked Voldemort, as he grinned down at Bill.

"No, I would not," Severus said as he walked to Bill, then helped him to his feet, "Get away from here." Severus pushed Bill in the direction he had last seen Molly, then turned to look at a shocked Voldemort.

"What is the meaning of this?" the Dark Lord asked as he narrowed eyes.

"Have you not figured it out?" Severus held his wand raised and steady. His intent was not to kill the madman in front of him, merely to hold him there until Harry could get to them. Sibyll Trelawney's prophecy stated that it was Harry who had to deal the final blow to Voldemort; Albus believed the prophecy, and so would Severus. Still, Severus wanted to weaken the monster for Harry, and keep him from hurting others.

Voldemort laughed. "Your father always did say you had a sentimental heart."

Severus felt as though a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head,

"Shocked? Well, I gather you might be. Yes, Severus, I knew your father. He truly was a loyal servant. He followed my instructions for you to the letter. Giving you little hope of ever having a normal life. He molded you for me, made you question your self-worth, made you wonder if there was more out there, made you eager for what I promised you. Unfortunately, I made a small error. I never realized your mother would have any influence on your character." Voldemort sneered at him now.

Severus felt his mind whirling. His father had been a follower of Voldemort, and he never even knew it. He did not doubt this however. He knew deep down inside, Voldemort was telling him the truth.

Voldemort knew this knowledge would put Severus off-kilter and took advantage of the surprise.

"Expelliarmus!" yelled Voldemort.

Severus' wand flew out of his hand and landed several feet away from him. Cursing his own stupidity, he began to look around. He needed to know where Harry was; he needed to make sure he held Voldemort there.

"And what did you promise my father for my servitude, if I may ask?" Severus was curious as to just how much his life had been worth to his father.

Voldemort laughed. "Oh, he did not give you to me for monetary gain; no. You see, when all this is over, I will need men by my side to rule this world. I will become a god, Severus, a god!" he yelled. Severus looked at him in confusion.

"Are you so far gone that you actually think you can bring the dead back to life?"

"I do not think I can; I know I can. Your father will stand by my side as we build a race of wizards so..." before he had a chance to finish his diatribe, Severus began laughing. "How dare you! You do not laugh at me! Crucio!"

Severus dropped to his knees as the pain began to race through his body. . .

* * * * * *

At that moment, Raven looked at Osiris, interrupting his story of the final battle. "What does it feel like to be Crucio'd, Osiris?"

Osiris spread out his wing and touched Raven's shoulder. He whispered a spell, which sent a jolt of what felt like an electric current through the boy's body. Raven blinked at the momentary shock.

"Imagine that, multiplied by a thousand, going through your body for several minutes, without pause." Osiris said. Raven shook his head, overwhelmed at the thought. "Weaker men would have begged for mercy and surrendered. Your father withstood that from Voldemort for almost an hour before Harry finally reached them."

Osiris continued his story. . .

* * * * * *

As the battle raged on, many lives were lost on both sides. Voldemort was in the middle of the battlefield, still torturing Severus after almost one hour. He would hit Severus with the Cruciatus Curse and hold it for five minutes, then ten, then fifteen.

Severus felt as though every vein in his body would explode. His skin felt like thousands of bugs were crawling over him. Sweat was raining from his pores, and every nerve felt as though it were on fire. His breath came out in gasps each time Voldemort stopped. At one point, he felt as though he could no longer stand it; then out of the corner of his eye, he finally saw Harry approaching.

Voldemort had his wand pointed at Severus again, then quickly put it down and held out his empty hand.

"I will give you one more opportunity to redeem yourself in my eyes, Severus," the Dark Lord hissed. "Kiss the ring on my hand; swear your allegiance to me once more, and I will spare your life. I will give you anything you wish when this is all over and done with. I will let you rule by my side in your father's stead."

Severus tried to steady his breathing. He lifted his head slowly, reached out his shaking hand, and took the thin hand of his former master. Voldemort smiled. Severus looked into his eyes, and then he spit on the ring.

"So be it!" Voldemort pulled back his hand and snarled. He pointed his wand to Severus once again, this time to end the traitor's life, when a voice behind him caught his attention.

"VOLDEMORT!" shouted Harry, his wand raised and ready.

Voldemort turned and saw Harry standing behind him.

"Ah, so you have found me amidst all of this chaos. How you must truly wish to join your parents," said Voldemort as he fully turned to face Harry, so the boy's wand now aimed straight at his heart. Harry stood straight, his hand shaking, but he held firm. "Well then, come." Voldemort held out his arms and smiled. "Embrace me, Harry. Let us dance one more time and end this."

"Let the devil embrace you," Harry sneered. Before Harry could form the words of the Killing Curse, Voldemort pointed his wand towards him and yelled.

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry's wand flew out of his hand and landed several feet away, just as Severus' wand had done earlier. Voldemort's laughter could be heard for miles. It was then that time seemed to stand still. Everyone surrounding them stopped, and looked at the scene now playing out before them. The final scene to a horrible tragedy would soon play out and end the war, with only one side the victor. Harry's face showed only defeat as he looked at Voldemort.

"Is that all?" asked Voldemort, as he tried to compose himself. He lowered his wand as he continued to mock the wandless Harry, "How easily I have defeated you. The famous Harry Potter has no more tricks up his sleeve?"

Harry's face then lit up.

"Actually, I've got one more trick." With lightning speed, Harry drew from his sleeve his mother's wand, and cast the final blow, "Avada Kedavra!"

A stream of green light shot out of the tip of the wand. The sparks coming from the light surrounded them. Harry's aim was perfect. Voldemort fell, and all that was left of him were ashes.

Severus looked up; he saw Harry standing and looking at the ashes flying away in the wind. Severus slowly stood on his shaking legs and looked around him. Aurors began to surround the field, as the Death Eaters began to scatter. One lone blond Death Eater approached them, walking alongside of Arthur Weasley. Lucius took off his mask, then his Death Eater robes, and looked at Severus.

"It is over, my friend," he said. Severus smiled, his body swayed, and he was caught by Arthur and Lucius. As they helped him walk away from the scene, Harry shouted behind him.

"Professor!"

Severus stopped, then turned his head.

"Thank you."

"I just kept him busy, Potter; I just kept him busy." Severus turned back and allowed the two men next to him to help him back to the castle.

* * * * * *

"After the battle the cage released me, but I couldn't get the wards down. That evening, your father told me about the final battle after Albus brought him back to the dungeons from infirmary. He sometimes told me what happened after he went on raids with Death Eaters; during those years, he needed a confidant, and no one in their right mind would suspect a bird. After he defected to the Order, there were things he had seen and done as a spy that are best left unknown, but this much about your father, I had to tell you," Osiris finished somberly.

Raven nodded then smiled as he wiped the newly-formed tears from his eyes. When his father showed him the Dark Mark on his arm earlier, he felt his world crumble. He had loved his kind and loving father. As many times as he and his sister caused trouble, his father never reprimanded them severely. Raven realized that the man he knew now was not the man who had become a Death Eater all those years ago. His father was Severus Snape, kind and loving husband and father, Potions Master, Defense Against Dark Arts Professor, recipient of the Order of Merlin First Class, war hero, snarky bastard, and ... most importantly ... his hero.

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Well there it is, the final battle. I hope you enjoyed my version of it. I'll have more posted soon.