Severus

As soon as every student affirmed that they were in their proper positions, the Dark Lord had entered Hogwarts grounds. By this time, Harry's group had entered the Great Hall once more, making a beeline towards McGonagall.

"There you are, Potter. Have you finished with whatever you were doing?" the professor asked.

"Nearly, professor. We still have one last thing to do," Harry replied.

"Well, get on with it then. We will buy you some time though I am not sure how much time we can give."

"Any form of help is welcome, professor," Hermione assured her.

"Alright, is there anything you needed help with?"

"Actually, professor, there is one thing," Harry piped up, glancing at Hermione who immediately understood.

"Oh, yes. We wanted everyone to be on the lookout for Riddle's familiar, Nagini. It is imperative she is found as soon as possible. She may be the only thing we need to turn the tides in our favor," Hermione explained.

"It may be a lot to ask for, considering she might always be at Tom's side but it won't be that dangerous. If you manage to see even a glimpse of her, can you send a Patronus to alert us?" Harry added.

"Very well, I will pass the message to everyone in the castle. Best of luck to all four of you. Keep in mind-"

"Constant vigilance!" McGonagall was joined by Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Luna in chanting Moody's motto.

...

When all was said and done, the four exited the Great Hall and headed for the boathouse. Meanwhile, McGonagall had sent her cat Patronus throughout the castle to pass on what Harry had requested of her. She then rushed towards the entrance hall where she had Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, and Ginny Weasley stationed.

"Are you all ready?" she asked.

"We are, professor!" Neville answered for them.

"I was born for this moment!" Seamus exclaimed.

McGonagall smiled at the young man, remembering his penchant for explosions since he had entered Hogwarts, intentional or not.

"Indeed, Mr. Finnegan. Now go make the biggest explosion you are yet to create!"

At this, Neville and Seamus dashed towards the covered bridge that was suspended over the school's courtyard. While the boys set out to do their mission, McGonagall turned towards the entrance of the castle: big, oak doors.

She raised her wand and exclaimed, "Piertotum Locomotor!"

As soon as she had said this, thuds were heard and suits of armor jumped down from the walls of the entrance hall. They started to march towards various parts of the castle. "Do your duty! Protect our school!"

She then let out a little giggle of glee. Dean and Ginny, who were still with her, stood gaping at her.

She turned towards them and said, "I've always wanted to do that spell! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to check if the Order has arrived. Oh, and I would appreciate it if you never told anyone what had transpired here." She fixed them a glare to indicate her seriousness. She then turned, intent on returning to the Great Hall.

"Wait, professor!" Ginny's voice stopped her mid-step.

McGonagall turned around to face her once more, "Yes, Ms. Weasley?"

"Professor... I was just wondering if you've seen Harry."

"As a matter of fact, yes, Ms. Weasley. But you mustn't search for him at the moment. He is doing his part in this war and you would do well to let him do what he ought to do."

"I understand, professor. If I may, who is with him now? I need to know... for my peace of mind."

"You needn't worry, Ms. Weasley. He is with his friends, your brother, Ms. Granger, and Ms. Lovegood."

"Oh... thank you, professor." And with a sympathetic smile on her face, McGonagall turned and walked away from them. As Ginny stood staring at the tall woman's back, her mind was on Harry and his company... specifically Hermione. Ginny narrowed her eyes. She didn't like the two of them together. She definitely needed do something about it... after this bloody war is over.

...

As the battle had begun inside the castle, Harry crept towards the entrance of the boathouse, when two familiar voices echoed from inside. He gestured to his friends to stay quiet with a finger hovering over his mouth. The three nodded in understanding. They stayed crouched under the window, Hermione next to Harry, Luna after her, and Ron bringing up the rear. Satisfied with their response, Harry slowly edged towards the corner and peered at whoever was inside the boathouse.

It was Snape and Voldemort. A low hiss came from beneath Voldemort's feet, signifying that his snake was also present. She was curled at his feet, her forked tongue occasionally coming out of its mouth as she hissed. What Harry found disturbing, however, was that her eyes were trained on Snape's figure although the sallow man stood behind Voldemort, unflinching.

"I find myself in a quandary, Severus," Voldemort said in a gravelly voice.

"What is it, my Lord?" Snape inquired.

Voldemort held up his wand, which Harry immediately knew as the Elder Wand, in the moonlight. He addressed Severus while admiring the wand, "The Elder Wand. I must say it feels strange. Yes, it is a powerful wand... but it doesn't work well under my command. Why do you think that is, Severus?"

"I admit I am as confused as you, my Lord. You took it from Dumbledore's grave. It should respond well to you."

Voldemort hummed in response, still admiring the wand in his hand. "I see... you must think me foolish, Severus." With that, he finally turned around to face Snape. "Sectumsempra!"

Snape's throat had been cut open with the curse he had invented, blood spurting out. Snape gasped in pain and clutched at his throat. He sagged down against the wall, his hand still clutched at his throat. Even as this happened, Snape still regarded Voldemort with an expressionless face.

Voldemort continued to speak as if nothing had just transpired, "I had a theory, Severus. According to the legend, the Elder Wand can be acquired by killing its owner. You, Severus, were the one to kill Dumbledore last year. It does not work for me because you were the owner. I must admit, Severus, you have been a good servant so it is with a heavy heart that this had to happen to you." Then turning around, he proclaimed in Parseltongue, "Nagini... kill."

Voldemort's snake attacked Snape, making him cry out in pain. Hermione covered her mouth to prevent the gasp from coming out at the sound of their potion teacher's voice. Ron clutched Luna to him, the latter burying her face in the crook of his neck. Harry knelt transfixed at the sight, his heart pounding.

After Nagini was done, she and Voldemort had disappeared from sight. Harry waited for a few moments to ensure they were indeed gone before standing and, in two long strides, walked towards Snape. Hermione, Luna, and Ron followed after him. Harry knelt besides Snape, hesitantly taking Snape's body and cradled his professor in his arms, his hand on Severus' as it lay on his bleeding neck.

Snape registered who was holding him and fixed his eyes upon Harry's. "Harry..." They all knew he was having trouble speaking.

"Don't try to speak, professor. We'll help you, I promise."

Snape slowly shook his head. "It's... too late... for me. I just... wanted... to say... I'm sorry... for all these years... Harry."

Harry knew what he was sorry for but he couldn't bring himself to think about the past with Snape dying in his arms. Somehow, all the bad things Snape had done to him in the past seemed irrelevant in the present. Harry found it hard to speak, as if a weight settled itself on his chest. "I... I understand, Professor."

Snape glanced behind Harry, his eyes trained on Hermione's for a second before he turned towards Harry again. With his free hand, he grabbed Harry's head and pulled him towards his mouth, the boy's ear hovering over it. "Don't... make the... same... mistake... I did... Harry... protect her... with all... your life..." He then let go of Harry's head.

Tears escaped his eyelids. Snape gestured at Hermione. "My... tears. Take them..."

Despite not being able to see clearly because of her tears, Hermione rummaged her beaded bag for a phial and knelt beside Snape. She collected the tears into it then stepped back, peering at Snape's eyes for what she knew would be the last time. What she saw was not the usual cold, black eyes of her potions professor. She saw relief, sadness, and warmth in them.

He turned his gaze towards Harry's eyes... Lily's eyes, one last time. He then gave a small smile as Harry saw the light dim from Snape's eyes.

Harry laid him down gently on the ground and closed his eyelids. "Thank you for all you have done... professor," Harry whispered.

He then stood up and turned to look at his friends. Hermione wrapped her arms around his figure and sobbed in his chest, her hand still fisted around the stoppered phial of her late professor's tears. Harry embraced her in return, his face buried in her bushy mane. No tears escaped his eyes though he still felt dreadful. Ron and Luna, who were in an embrace themselves, sadly looked on at the scene.

After a few moments, they separated and Harry wiped the tears off Hermione's cheeks. He then gently took the phial from Hermione's hands, staring at it. Snape's memories were in the phial he was holding. He needed a Pensieve to view them. He was about to voice this out to his friends when Voldemort's amplified voice rang through the air.

"I order my followers to stop and retreat to the Forbidden Forest... none of our enemies will be harmed anymore... dispose of your dead... consider this a reprieve from the onslaught I have brought upon you." The next part was intended for Harry. "Harry Potter... time and time again have your friends died to protect you... how can you let this continue?... How many more will die for you?... I give you two hours... surrender yourself to me and I will spare your friends... once two hours had past and you have not shown yourself, I will wreak havoc upon the castle and will not hesitate to kill who stands in my way in search of you... remember, Harry Potter... two hours."

Silence followed after that. "You heard all that?" Harry asked.

They all nodded. "What are we going to do, Harry?" Ron asked.

Harry sighed, looking at the phial on his hand once more. "We have two hours, huh? Tom can wait. I have something I need to do first."