Life Begins Anew

A/N Is it over?

Chapter 79 Sorting it out

Dawn broke out, the sun shining down on the grounds of Hogwarts. Albus and Minerva walked among the fallen bodies looking for survivors with the remaining wizards and witches that survived. They carried parchments and wrote down the name if they recognized the body and clipped it into the body.

"Albus you could have told me that you lived." Minerva reproachfully told him. "How did you survive? After all Mr. Potter saw you die."

"I did die Minerva, but Sara presented me with an interesting proposition to…what was her words? "To see this madness through." Albus replied. "She controls death and I was able to hide myself away. She kept me informed of everything."

He brushed his lips on her cheek and whispered in her ear. "I would have revealed myself if you needed me. Love, you handled everything superbly."

Minerva enjoyed being close to him. "I did not Albus. Look at everyone who has died here. The Deatheaters certainly obeyed Voldemort 's order as the ground is covered in blood."

Albus bent down and closed the unseeing eyes of Fred Weasley. "Poor Arthur, he has been through so much." Sighing as he wrote down his name on parchment and tucking the paper into the dead wizard's robes."

He stood up. "Look to the sunrise Minerva. This is the first day of true peace that the Wizarding world has not seen in such a very long time. But where is the body of Severus Snape? I need to find him."

Minerva expressed her outrage. "You trust that traitor!?"

Albus looked to her sadly as he replied. "He is the reason that we are standing here and one of the reasons that the Wizarding world free of Voldemort. I should have released my Unbreakable Vow when he found out that Harry Potter had to die. He would have carried through without it. I committed a grave injustice to him by denying the request."

Albus grabbed Minerva's hand as they headed towards the castle.

&&&&&&

Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived at the makeshift hospital in the Great Hall as the levitating stretchers bearing the still forms of Severus, Sara, Draco, Bootstray, and Slightly followed behind them.

Madame Pomphrey rushed up to them and gave them a quick hug. "Thank Merlin that you survived." She immediately attended to stretchers as she ran diagnostic spells.

"Three of these are dead. Orderly!" She called out. "Place these bodies with the others."

"No!" Hermione shouted as she began to sob. "You do not understand what they did!"

Madame Pomphrey tried to handle the hysterical witch as Hermione stood in front of the stretchers with her wand pointed out. "No one will touch them."

Albus entered into the Great Hall and looked to the still forms. "Poppy, I am taking them to the Infirmary. Fifty healers from St. Mungo's are coming soon and I would like for you to meet me there as soon as they arrive and are briefed. The surviving witch and wizard are special and need to be isolated."

Poppy merely nodded to the Headmaster as she went to attend others.

"Harry, Hermione and Ron please help me." Albus asked.

They said nothing as they began to follow the Headmaster. No one said a word during the walk to the infirmary, the only sound was sobbing from Hermione. Arriving at the empty Infirmary, they gently placed the still forms onto beds.

Albus noticed the left arm of Severus had fallen down and noticed the wedding band on his hand. He watched as Miss. Granger fell to the floor and gently grasped the hand as she kissed it. He saw the band on her hand as well.

"You married him?" Albus gently asked.

"Yes Headmaster, we were Bonded by Touch." Hermione quietly replied as she continued to hold the cold hand of her husband.

&&&&&&

Sara came to an awareness of sorts in her mind as she felt the presence of her husband within her.

"So Sara, you were against me all along. And you control DEATH."

Damn! She thought. Voldemort! This was unexpected. She realized that he now knew all of her secrets.

"Yes witch, and how fortunate for me. This is better than the Horcruxes I created. When you called forth the bits of me placed within the Mark of my followers you called me as well. Though witches are thought to be weak, I will enjoy my new life as Sara Snape. I will live again and I will truly have control over DEATH."

The silent battle of wills started in earnest.

&&&&&&&&

They watched as Sara suddenly came to and stood up from her bed, gasping out in shock at her hideously scarred face.

She looked to them for a moment. "I assure you the rest of my body is no better. Voldemort is within me and I cannot maintain the glamour. An unexpected result of the spell I used to help Harry." She pulled up the sleeve of her robe, revealing the Dark Mark. It was solid black raised and writhing madly, reflecting the battle that Voldemort had started within her.

Harry looked to Sara as he noticed that she stood still, her body rigid and her eyes red. "Headmaster…." Harry started as he was interrupted by the arrival of Hades, watching him change into a huge brute of a man and grabbed Sara's throat with one hand, choking her to death. He watched as Hades let go and Sara fell to the floor dead.

Hades changed back to his true form and croaked out. "I am sorry Mistress." Ignoring the stunned looks from the witch and wizards as he rubbed his beak on her face. "I kept my promise to you."

Sara looked to DEATH in her translucent form and crossed her arms. "You knew about this side effect of my plan all along!" She snarled to him.

"It was a possibility." DEATH replied. "I only realized it when you came to my realm with the Darkness within you."

Sara began to curse as DEATH held out his hand. "While our association of the last five hundred years has been mostly pleasant, I hate the fact that a mere mortal is Bonded to me. The risk to my realm is nil as I am tasked to travel with the dead to the Veil. It matters not to me the state of the mortal world. The Veil sorts everyone at the end."

Sara clapped her hands and laughed. "Oh bravo DEATH! So smooth in your words that if I fail, you will be commanded by a wizard far worse than me. You will be used illy Lord DEATH."

DEATH looked to her ignoring her mocking reply. "There is only one way to free ourselves of that and you know what you have to do."

"DEATH you are as manipulative as Albus is in your own plans."

DEATH merely nodded to her.

"If I was a spiteful witch, I would fail purposely. But I would hate to have all this is for naught." Her hand pointing to Hermione. "It is well for you that desperately want to be released from our Bond. And I remember the abuse that my brother took while protecting me when I was young."

"Of course Little One. My training instilled that into you. The prophecy gives you a chance to die properly and be rid of me."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked to DEATH with a sudden realization. "And what of Bootstray and Slightly Lord DEATH? You manipulated them into this."

DEATH shrugged. "They are at the Veil now. There is nothing that I can do."

"I am the true Master Assassin now that Voldemort is dead and you will obey me Lord DEATH by the vow you freely gave to my Guild. You will go to the Veil and give Bootstray and Slightly a second chance at the life they could have lived if you had not manipulated them. You will bring back Severus Snape and heal him of every ailment and scar on his body. He does not have a choice. Go now!" She commanded.

DEATH glared at her. "And you mere mortal witch. What do you know of my relationship to the Veil? Setting me upon this task will damn you in the eyes of the Veil."

Sara laughed in mirth as she shot back. "But Lord DEATH I am already damned. Now stop wasting time and get to it."

DEATH looked to her angrily as he faded away. "You will regret this Sara Snape."

Just one more in the line of many she thought as she settled down into her body. DEATH had really stretched limits this time with her with the uncaring attitude towards the deaths and the situation of a whole and it rankled her, making her realize that DEATH only cared about being freed from the vows and nothing else. She chuckled. She was dealing with DEATH after all and she had finally stood up in the end.

***Thank you Hades for completing your vow to me. Your owner is very upset with me*** Sara sent to her Familiar as she pushed him away as she stood up.

***No doubt about that Little One. I have never seen DEATH so angry***

She pulled Hermione away from her husband and slid off the ring of the Lady of Prince family from her hand and placed it onto Hermione's right hand. "You are now the Lady of Prince until your daughter comes into her own. It is the way of our House."

Sara placed a sealed envelope containing her will into her hand. Inside it stated that Hermione Granger and Severus Snape were to be given all of her lands and money save one account. Her Master Assassin's account would go to Bootstray and Slightly if alive, or fall back to Hermione and Severus if dead.

Sara looked to her. "You will do well with my brother and you both will heal one another with time and live a full life I am sure."

Hermione watched, not understanding her words as Sara pulled a parchment and an electric blue potion from her robes and placed it on the table next to her brother. "Hermione, the potion will unlock the forgotten memories of his childhood. Ensure that Severus reads my parchment before he takes the potion." She placed her hand upon the dead wizard's chest for a moment. "Be well brother and live a full life and make the most of the second chance given to you." She whispered into his ear.

She moved over to the bed of Bootstray and laid a parchment down on the table next to him. "Bootstray, you taught me love and loyal to me to the very end. You need to let me go and find a good witch." She looked to him for a long moment before she turned and walked into the aisle way separating the rows of beds.

She remembered the looks and thoughts that Slightly had given to the Veil when he turned it down before. She knew that he would turn down DEATH's offer. Be well my friend she thought out to him.

Looking to the gathered witches and wizards she called Hades to her and he landed on her shoulder.

"Good-bye." She simply said as she faded away.

They arrived on the grounds surrounding the Guild and she felt the resistance. She grinned as she transformed her robes into that of the Master Assassin and placed her mask upon her. Time to complete the Prophecy and be released. She entered the building wand in hand.

&&&&&&&

Hermione sat in a chair and continued to hold the cold hand of her husband as she pondered Sara's words. She talked as if she and Severus had a future to together. She gasped out in surprise as she suddenly remembered that Sara could command DEATH. Looking intently at her husband's body, she gently placed Severus's cold hand upon his chest and uncovered his face and began to wait.

Draco awoke and glanced to the bed next to him seeing that he was bedded next to his Godfather. He saw that Hermione was looking intently to her husband's body and shakily stood up and walked over and join her.

"Hermione, I killed him. He was about to kill Sara and could not see that Sara's spell worked at the end. I had to do it." Draco told her.

Albus, Harry, and Ron heard Draco and joined the witch and wizard.

Hermione pulled her attention away from her husband. "Please tell us what happened after I left Draco." Hermione gently asked.

Albus silently conjured up the required number of extra chairs and sat as they listened as Draco told his tale.

Draco finished the tale. "I'm sorry Hermione I had no choice."

Hermione pulled the Slytherin up out of his chair as he began to sob and wrapped him into her arms. "You're forgiven Draco. Sometimes in war you have to do acts that hurt you the most."

Madame Pomphrey and Medi-witch Kelly arrived with two unknown Healers seeing that Draco was out of his bed. "Mr. Malfoy, go back to your bed until I determine that you are well."

Seeing the angry look in Madame Pomphrey's eyes he quickly did as he was told as screams of pain sounded out in the Infirmary.

Hermione looked down and saw as her husband's body began to convulse. She watched her husband's face change, the hard lines of his face softening slightly.

"Get away!" Madame Pomphrey cried out to the group as her team went to work on the two forms screaming

"Poppy, I thought you told me that Professor Snape was dead." The Healer shouted out, barely heard through the screams of pain as he casted the diagnostic spells.

"He was I swear to you!" Poppy shouted back as she held down the convulsing form of Headmaster Snape.

"These readings are impossible. The diagnostics show all bodily functions shut down, and yet he lives. He has brain functions so he is not Inferi. Accio Blood Replenishment!" Holding his hand out as the phials rushed to him.

Kelly pushed down on the convulsing form of Bootstray as the second healer shouted out. "This one is the same as well. Merlin! He should be dead!"

Albus watched the healers work on their patients as phials of potions flew out of the healing cabinet when called. "We need to let them do their job. Let's go to the Great Hall and give comfort to those that survived."

Harry and Ron said nothing as they left, understanding that they would be in the way.

They were surprised that Hermione immediately joined them. "Hermione, don't you want to stay?" Ron asked her as he hugged her.

Hermione smiled. "Remember who Sara commanded? They will come out well in the end."

Albus nodded as Harry took her into her arms and twirled her around. "I had forgotten that Hermione. I am happy for you." He stopped as he looked to her in a sudden realization. "Ginny, I have to find her."

"Let's go Harry. We have to find all of our friends."

Albus continued to walk as the young students ran increasing the distance from him. He hoped that they could handle what the Great Hall had in store for them.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron entered the Great Hall and looked silently as they heard the moans of suffering.

Harry looked to his friends. "I have to find Ginny." Quickly leaving to begin his search for his witch.

"Hermione, I would love to stay but I have to find my father." Ron told her as he quickly left her as well.

Hermione heard the shout of cheers as the wounded recognized that Harry had entered the hall. She ignored them as she went to find the members of her Order. Walking among the witches and wizards on the floor she recognized Gary Quickhand and went to see him.

A Healer pulled her aside. "He will not survive. All that he has been asking for is Hermione Granger and I recognize you. Will you give him comfort?"

Hermione looked to the Healer and saw her sadness. "I will. Go and take care of those who need you the most. I will stay with Gary until the end." She assured the young healer.

She watched as the Healer left and approached Gary and took his hand. "Gary, it is Hermione." She told the wizard.

"Aye that you are." He looked to her with his one good eye. "I told you that we would get 'em for ya Hermione. Were we successful?" He asked as more blood spilled forth from his mouth.

She conjured up a towel as she wiped the blood away from his mouth. "Yes Quickhand leader of the thieves. We got them all."

"I have family Hermione Granger. Will you clear my name?"

"Yes Gary, your name will be cleared and your family free just as I promised." She kissed his cheek. He was one of the more resisting members of her Order as he did not believe what she promised him.

"You are such a good witch Hermione. Maybe if I had met someone like you before….."

She watched as he shuddered and died as she continued to hold his hand. She whispered to the wizard. "I am sure the Veil will recognize your sacrifice." She placed his arm across his chest and walked away to see if she could find more members of her Order.

Hermione left and found Harry at Luna, Neville, and Pansey together on the floor. She rushed up and hugged them all.

Luna looked to her. "Thank you for rescuing us from death."

Hermione looked to her uncomfortable as Luna spoke out once again. "Go back to your husband. He needs you."

She heard the urgentness in her request as she stood up and rushed to the Infirmary and approached his bed.

"Wife!" Her husband snarled out to her as he pointed to the two Aurors standing guard in front of his bed. "You promised that you would let me die!"

"And I did Severus Snape!" She snarled back. "I used your potion on the dead on the battlefield. It was not me who brought you back, but your sister. You know she commands DEATH."

He looked to her in surprise as she angrily shouted out. "I love you Severus Snape and I am glad that you live but do not ever accuse me of breaking a promise. Look to the table and see a parchment and a potion left for you from Sara. I have killed and watched members of my Order die. You are not the only one who has sacrificed Severus." She vehemently stated. "Owl me when you are in a state to discuss things logically." She turned and left the room.

Bootstray looked over to Severus.

"Mate, she's right." Bootstray told him. "I came back willingly as I love her. In her note to me she told me that I should explain her actions and I will before you read that parchment. She remembered the sacrifices in her childhood and that you protected her. Sara was amazed that you held her and comforted her when she died before. She wanted you to have a second chance at life as you have protected her. Read the parchment and decide for yourself wizard."

Severus picked up the parchment on the table and read it. He placed it down and picked up the phial of electric blue potion as the two Aurours turned and pointed their wands to him. "Put it down murderer." One Aurour told him. "You are only to take what is administered by Madame Pomphrey."

Bootstray grabbed his wand and knocked out the two Aurors. "Do it Severus." He called out.

Severus drank down the phial and immediately became unconscious.