Chapter 18 Surprise Attack

A week went by and everything was going well, the furor about the book finally died, thanks to The Times reporting that it was fiction, and Lily could be seen in her café again. It was Lockhart and the lawyers hunted him down and sued the pants off of him, which was also reported.

James and Hydrus had their bonding moment, but instead of golf they went skeet shooting, which James thoroughly enjoyed.

"That was bloody awesome," the younger man said as they walked to the car. "We have to do that again."

He felt powerful with that shotgun in his hands. He could just imagine what one would do to a person, not that he ever wanted to find out. Playing the video games was one thing but seeing destruction firsthand was another.

"We can do that. You're pretty good, for a beginner," Hydrus said, clapping the all but skipping man on the back. James had hit half of the clay pigeons, which was damn good for a man who had never held a gun.

"We have to bring the guys," Prongs begged with puppy dog eyes.

"We can do that too," the older man stated, knowing that at least Sirius would like it. "I know, next time we can get the guys and get a game of paintball going," he said as the idea came to him. He remembered all the fun his family and the two living Marauders had in the last timeline. Then he remembered what year it was and deflated a bit.

"What's paintball?"

Hydrus spent the car ride explaining what paintball was and how it was played. It was mostly played in the States, but Hydrus figured he could open a field somewhere here and get that going. Plans formed in his head. He would have to import the equipment, but it was a minor problem and he had the money.

They drove home and told Lily about their day and then spent a quiet evening in front of the idiot box. Sirius was on a date and it was the full moon, so Remus was in Hydrus' cellar.

Harry now knew all the body parts on his bunny and was just making it go off to see his dad's face when it giggled. Yeah, he was the son of a Marauder.

A few more peaceful days passed when Arcturus came to Hydrus and told him that he could no longer spy for him. He appeared early one morning at the end of February and gave Hydrus his disheartening news.

"Wake up, Hydrus, there is something I need to tell you," the ghost said, sticking his hand in the immortal's chest, making the sleeping man bolt upright. "I can no longer follow Walburga," he said after the time traveler stopped yelling.

"Why?" the Master of Death asked as he rubbed his chest, completely befuddled. As far as he knew you could keep them from a building, but not from a person.

"It appears that she has finally found a way to prevent apparitions from shadowing her. I can get her general location, but I cannot go to where she is. I know she's on the continent, but not where," the spirit explained snidely. He still blamed this man for his early death, and nothing would sway him of that notion. If Hydrus had not mucked around with time, then he would still be alive. Death even backed him on that.

"Shite," Hydrus said absentmindedly as scenarios flew through his mind. She must be feeling better if she harried off to another country. What could she possibly be doing there? How did she even get there? Who healed her wound? I'd better warn Marius, were the thoughts crowding his head.

"I have warned you time and time again to never underestimate a Black. She has already put three of the lower cousins in their graves. You would do well to heed my advice," Arcturus argued as he pointed a long thin finger at the man he despised.

"I do take her seriously," Hydrus snapped. "But I can't fight her if I don't know where she is. I really wish you'd get over yourself. If you had taken us up on the protections we offered, you would not be dead. I don't give a buggering damn what Death says." He hated fighting with this man, because he was partially right, but he was not going to put up with his accusations forever. He hoped this whole thing would blow over soon, so he could let this man rest in peace.

"Go, rest in peace. If I need you, I'll call you again," the immortal sighed and waved him away. He would never get the ghost to see his way. After Arcturus left, he called Marius. "Marius?" he asked when the phone was answered.

"Yeah, what do you want, Hydrus?" the gruff man asked. "Why are you calling so damn early in the morning?" he demanded.

"Sorry, but Mrs. Black is somehow healed and, on the move, again. I just wanted you to know, since you're the one who shot her," Hydrus said, not the least put off by the man's manners. He had probably woken the man.

"Shite. Next time, I'm killing that bitch. Thanks," and the phone went dead.

"Goodbye to you too," the sleepy man grumbled and then he got dressed and went and told the Marauders that his spy said she was on the move, but he didn't know what she was up to.

Lily and Harry were sleeping in, seems they both had a long day yesterday. Something about too much sugar from a birthday party of one of the kids at the daycare.

"That's weird," Sirius said, rubbing his goatee, "Mum loathes France. She says they are all jumped-up froggies. Come to think of it, she loathes any foreign country. I can't for the life of me think why she would be on the continent," he added, thinking hard of who she might know over there.

"Me neither, except for recruiting. I'm kinda hoping they think she's just some batty old woman," Hydrus said, running his hand through his hair in frustration. He was tempted to die just to see what Death said. After all, the deity wanted the woman also gone he should help. Hey, maybe I can use the ghost to talk to Death, and then I wouldn't have to die all the damn time, he thought.

"If she has money it doesn't matter what they think," James stated firmly. "Money will open a lot of doors, you know that. And we still have no idea where Crouch is, he might be with her," he added, making everyone pause.

"Yeah, but as far as I know Crouch isn't rich," Hydrus stated, rubbing his head.

"You would say that after our… prank?" Sirius asked surprised. "That and I don't think he trusts the goblins. He hates anything not fully human. I'm sure he kept most of his wealth at home."

"Well, when you put it that way, I guess we'd better just keep our eyes open," the immortal conceded.

"We just need to make sure we are not caught unprepared," Remus added thoughtfully. All the classes, and sparring they did would come in handy. They would be better prepared then they had been with Tom Riddle.

"Yeah," the time traveler mumbled, still trying to think of a reason she would be in overseas.

"Changing the subject, Hydrus, have you thought about releasing the Death Eaters?" Remus asked hesitantly. It was a debate he put off for a long time, and now that everything was well at the Ministry, he was hopeful the man would listen.

"I'm not sure, even with Smeller in office, the Wizengamot is still full of men and women who will and do take bribes," the time traveler said, taking a sip of tea that Dobby just handed him. "Thanks, Dobby," he said as the elf served the others, they all called their thanks and a blushing Dobby popped away.

"Okay, I can see why you might be reluctant, but still…" the werewolf trailed off.

"I'll think about it," Hydrus said, and he would. He just had to figure out how to make sure they served their time.

It was at that time that Harry woke up and he was soon brought downstairs by a relaxed Lily, who was just rising from her lie-in. They shared a full English breakfast and soon enough everyone went to work.

Hydrus went home that night and meditated until he came up with a solution for the problem. He just hoped Remus would be content. He really hated debating moral issues with that man. Right now, the matter of the Death Eaters was their only bone of contention.

Hphphp

A week later The Times headline read:

Death Eaters Found

The article went on to explain that over fifty Death Eaters were found bound together in the middle of Diagon Alley. They were in an unbreakable cage with a note stating that only Amelia Bones could open said cage. They were drugged to speak the truth and had a babbling spell on them. The Aurors and reporters took down everything they said. Some of the things they confessed to were not meant to be printed; however, their crimes were alluded to. The paper stated that if anyone of these minions of Tom Riddle's got off, then the public should complain to their government.

Their arms were checked and so were the bundle of wands found at the scene. Soon enough they were all carted off to cells and scheduled to be tried. The only people missing were the Lestranges, Malfoy Sr., and Crouch Jr.

The Daily Prophet took up the stance that the missing people weren't Death Eaters, but fine upstanding members of society. It stated that they had been kidnapped and used to extort information on the government.

Narcissa was quoted as saying 'This just proves that poor Lucius and my dear sister, Bellatrix, are not Death Eaters.' She went on to say that she demanded whoever kidnapped her husband and sister needed to return them.

"Why did you not return everyone?" Remus asked as he put down the rag of a newspaper. They were sitting in Lily's café as they were wont to do. The place was still packed to the gills, but this group had a table reserved every day at noon. No one faulted the café for doing so.

"I told you, those people will never see the light of day. They are too dangerous," Hydrus hissed, a bit miffed that the werewolf couldn't just be happy with what he got. He looked around to make sure no one heard him and was content their conversation was private. He threw up a ward, just in case.

"Moony," James said, bringing his friend's attention to him, "can you imagine those five teaming up with Mrs. Black?" he asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

"Fine, okay, I am sorry," he accepted with a nod, after remembering what the time traveler had showed him.

Hydrus dropped the ward; glad it hadn't been needed.

Then Moony asked, hoping to lighten the mood by changing the topic, "Padfoot, how is the dating going?"

Sirius got a wicked smile as he glanced at Colette, who heard the question and raised an eyebrow. "I don't kiss and tell," he said, turning back to his friends and folding his arms, putting his nose in the air.

"Right, we were dormmates, remember. That's all you do," Prongs scoffed as he looked at the smug man and laughed, making the other two men break down with him.

"Maybe I've grown up," Padfoot snipped back, still holding his pose.

"Oh, Sirius, I've known you as an adult, you will never grow up," Hydrus said, chuckling.

"Fine, we're getting along really well," the younger Black smirked, dropping his mock demeanor. "And she is one hell of a kisser," he leaned over and whispered with a grin and a wiggling of eyebrows. He looked quickly over to Colette, who just smiled and winked, making Sirius sigh in relief.

"I am sure she's had plenty of experience," muttered Remus. He knew she was a vampire, he didn't know if Sirius knew, though he figured he might. Sirius wasn't stupid and it was rumored all around Knockturn Alley, where the werewolf was now residing, since it was cheaper.

Hydrus kicked his foot and glared at him, that was not his secret to tell.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked, not sure if he should be mad or not. He understood that there were talks of her being a vampire, but he didn't care. She is one hell of a kisser.

"Nothing, nothing, just that she is a very attractive woman and I am sure she was quite popular as a teen," Remus quickly stated. Then when Sirius got an angry and affronted look he added, "Not like that. I am sure she is a very nice lady," he backpedaled, holding up his hands.

"You better hope that's what you mean," Sirius snapped, even if she had hundreds of years of experience it wasn't up to Moony to point that out.

"Let's talk about something else," Hydrus said, and they changed the subject once again to mundane things and had a relatively quiet lunch.

Hphphp

Months went by with no major fights, debates or battles. Things were peaceful in the Alleys and people were starting to relax. Everyone was hoping the quiet lasted.

The movies and playhouses were a huge success and brought in tons of money. More jobs and careers were open to the public and many Muggleborn were staying in the Wizarding World. Now that the Alleys were letting people use pound sterling, there was also an increase in profit. Hydrus was hopeful that galleons and such would be a thing of the past. His credit union worked better when it could interact with non-magical banks. The internet would be running soon, and he was thankful for it.

A few more friendly dates were had, and Hydrus was getting more comfortable with Vicky. The fact that she couldn't die and was magical enough to protect her mind, went a long way with that. Now it was not uncommon for Hydrus, Sirius, Vicky and Colette to be seen at the movie theatre, or simply walking down the street.

Hydrus did open a paintball place and teens and men alike flocked to it. Then the women started showing up and wars of the sexes were had. You had a choice of using your wand or a paintball gun. It was indoors, in an expanded warehouse that had a transfigured forest and sandpits. It was a good mock-up and the fact that magic could be used to change the terrain made the wars that much harder.

Mrs. Black was still in overseas and no one could locate her, even the other governments were unable to help.

The law was passed about holding an office in the government for only four years. Now, Dumbledore would have to step down after the next few years.

The Potters and friends celebrated.

Hydrus was hopeful it would bring the man off his pedestal. He was still on the fence about Albus, who was continuing his quest to get the Potters' house location and failing dismally. Still, it was great fun having the mock debates with the quirky old man. The immortal got the feeling that Albus wasn't really trying.

A few stricter laws on the Statute of Secrecy were enforced and there were now blind alleys set up as Apparation points into the Muggle World. They all had spells on them to keep the non-magicals from seeing them, however they were still tricky. If you were seen coming out of an alley you didn't go into, there could be questions, but it was the best solution they had for now. If you were caught not using them, then you were fined heavily. Portkeys were also regulated, and they could only be obtained in the Ministry. The Blacks, and all purebloods, now had to register their emergency ones.

Dress codes were also mandated. You had to be seen in proper Muggle attire if you were going to go into their world. That inspired many women to open stores. Now Diagon Alley was the bustling business it used to be and all the storefronts in the mall were filled. The lingerie shop that Hydrus opened caused a bit of a stir, but he just shrugged it off. He figured they'd get used to it, and the women adored the new underclothes. Men would soon realize that it would cause more fun at home.

Hphphp

The Potters and their friends were walking down Diagon Alley to get to their cars. A temp waitress had been hired for the afternoon so Vicky and Colette could join them. It was now a nice spring day in May, and they were all going to go to a theme park and see if they could get James on one of the rides. They were laughing and joking around.

"Come on, sweetheart, you can ride on one roller coaster," Lily teased with a smile as she bounced Harry on her hip.

'oller coast'," the tiny tot said, smiling at his dad.

"That's right, Harry, we just have to get Daddy to ride one," she said, tapping his nose, making him giggle.

"You know you can't go on any of the bigger rides, Lily, so I'll stay with you," her husband teased back, mussing up Harry's hair and then rubbing Lily's protruding belly.

"I know, I'm just teasing," she said with a brilliant smile and reached down and put her hand on his. She was due in August and she was going to have the little girl she always dreamed of.

As the group walked toward the Leaky Cauldron, they were stopped by spell fire, which was over their heads, more like warning shots. Their bracelets flared and the shields popped up, causing them to stop.

"Potter!" came a shout from behind them.

Lily tightened her grip on Harry and ported home immediately; since she was pregnant there was no way she was going to fight. Everyone else stayed.

The men looked around expecting to see Crouch, since it was a male's voice. That's not who they got. No, standing in the middle of the Alley was Severus Snape, though only Hydrus knew that. The rest thought he was just some upstart Dark Wizard. He was dressed the part in all black clothes.

Snape was pissed; he had been kidnapped and lost months of time. He was sure it was Potter and his cohorts. All of Potter's attempts to harm him in school left him with little doubt, and Lily's visit reinforced that thought. That and he had been held in a Muggle prison in France for being there without paperwork. It was only when he finally got to talk to the Magical Minister there that he could tell his side of the story, under truth serum. He wandered France and got a few jobs and finally settled down working as a brewer.

Then a week ago a cloaked woman told him that the Marauders, along with that unknown Black, were plotting against him and that he should return to Britain. She was very convincing and laid the Marauders' plan out in detail. They were going to use James' political pull to get him kicked out of his new country and make sure that he could never settle anywhere.

Since he was sure that Potter was the reason for his new looks that he couldn't change, it made sense. He would have come sooner, but before that woman showed, he was content with his new life and now these asshats wanted to ruin it. Well, he wasn't going to let that happen. He was an Occlumens, so he had no doubt that she hadn't Confounded him. Therefore, she must have spoken the truth.

The dark clothed man was sneering at them and then he called to James, "You thought you could kidnap me and just drop me in the middle of nowhere, Potter? You thought you could just throw me away and then plot against my new life, you pathetic man? You are a stupid, arrogant man, how foolish of you to try. I have bested you before, and I will do it again."

His silky voice filled the alley and he fired off a stunning spell. He hoped to get the man somewhere private so that they could come to reason. It was only the Marauders and few others, he was a very powerful wizard, and he knew he could hold them off until he made Potter fall. He didn't think he would have a problem with the public. The last time he was in Diagon Alley it was as a Death Eater and they all ran as soon as he popped in.

Hydrus threw up a shield to block it and they all looked in awe at the terribly upset man. They were too dumbstruck by his appearance to do anything but shield. Since he wasn't throwing anything deadly the bracelets just added to the shields, so they just stared. They had no idea what he was talking about, well… most of them.

"Woah… Snivellus? Is that you? I recognize the voice, but I have to say the looks are an improvement," James said. He was looking at the lighter version of Snape. His hair was a dark blond and clean. His face wasn't as long and sharp. His nose and teeth looked straighter.

Then Sirius giggled a real giggle. He folded over and started full-blown laughing, grabbing his knees to keep mostly upright.

Hydrus put a ward around him and smacked him on the head repeatedly and said, "Not now, Padfoot. This could be bad. He isn't firing anything harmful yet, but that could change."

It was shite like this that got the man killed in his first timeline. He kept his wand trained on the man who was getting angrier by the minute. He knew Snape had a temper and could blow at any minute.

"Okay, okay," the laughing man tried to stop. "But it's Snivellus," he whinged, "and we have our portkeys. I don't know why you're all defensive," he added, still trying to get control of himself.

"Get up, stupid, this is how you died before," the immortal hissed in his ear, his eyes never leaving Snape's cold face.

That got the man up and he sobered quickly.

During the time they bantered, the women were getting their children away from the scene and men were gathering around the group with their wands raised.

"You people have no business here," Snape snapped at the crowd, completely surprised they weren't running for cover. Then a few women joined the crowd, flooring the man. "Leave," he tried his best to be menacing, and he pulled it off, but the crowd didn't disperse like he thought they would.

"You are firing off curses in a busy street, of course we have reason to be here," a man yelled back, his wand pointed at the ex-Death Eater.

"You could've hit the kids, we have every right to fire back if you continue," someone else said.

"We ain't going nowhere, you Death Eater scum," another man yelled.

"This is between me, Potter and his… friends," the Potions Master jeered, though he did lower his wand. He was only one man and even with the Dark Arts he could not fight a crowd of defensive people.

If they had been the sheep he had left, then perhaps he could hold his own. These people were not acting as he remembered. What happened while I was gone? he thought. He knew Lily vanquished the Dark Lord, but paid little attention to the happenings of Britain, trying to leave that life behind.

"Right, just so you know I had nothing to do with your… whatever happened to you, Snape," James said, not backing down. He didn't even glance in Hydrus' direction. "And I could care less what you do with your life, as long as you leave Lily out of it. I know it was you that put my family in danger," he glared at his childhood enemy.

"You expect me to believe that after you sent your wife to do your dirty work," Severus scoffed, his eyes flicking from person to person to see how they would take that bit of information.

There were glances at James as people wondered if he had put his wife in danger. Then again, she was the Witch Who Vanquished. So, they turned their attention back to the menace.

"Oh, well, to tell you the truth, I was there the entire time," James laughed at the shocked look on the man's face. "You really should have taken her up on her offer. You wouldn't be facing down… ummm, twenty or so wands," he said as he glanced around the crowd and took a quick count. "You should've stayed where you were," he added, narrowing his eyes and taking up a fighting stance.

"Severus, my boy, it is good to see you again, but why are you attacking James?" came the gentle voice of the Headmaster. He approached the crowd in all his colorful glory. He came to James and laid a hand on his arm, making him lower it. Then he looked disappointed at the people surrounding the four men and two women, and they too lowered their wand, though they did not put them away.

"He kidnapped me and then dropped me in France," the young man stated, looking at his old headmaster, wondering if this time he would berate Potter for breaking the law. "That and he somehow changed my appearance. I am sure it is the watch, but the blasted thing will not come off." He held up the arm in question and though he did approve of the new looks it was the principle of the matter.

"Do you have proof of this," the Headmaster inquired.

"No, but I know it was him," the other man said. "A woman came and told me that he and his friends were plotting against me. I had to come and protect myself. I just want him to leave me alone," he stated firmly. "He has done enough to me, why would he need to do more now?"

Shite, that's what Walburga must have been doing. How the hell did she find him? No one knows that I put him there. What the bloody hell? Hydrus' thoughts raced at the implication that something deeper might be going on.

"I swear, Albus, I had nothing to do with it," James said solemnly, raising his hand in an innocent gesture. "I don't give a rat's damn what happens to him as long as he leaves me and mine alone. There are no plots to ruin his life. We don't even talk about him."

"Well, we seem to have a conundrum," the old man stated, stroking his beard. "Severus, can you tell me what happened? I am sure this is all a misunderstanding." He turned his attention to the young man he so desperately wanted to turn to the Light.

"I am not completely sure," Snape confessed, thinking over the past several months. "Lily… I mean, Mrs. Potter came to my home to offer me a way out of the country and away from the Dark Lord. She said she had a way to remove the Mark and would give me enough money to leave," he sneered once more at James.

"He's right, we did do that," James said, nodding his head. "I was hidden, because I didn't trust him. We left when he turned us down."

"Then when I denied her," Snape sneered at the man's confession, "I was attacked a few days later. I awoke in a field in France, missing months of time. My appearance was changed, I had some money and the Mark was gone. I was then arrested by the Muggles and detained for months until the French Magical Ministry was informed," he finished once more scanning the crowd of on-lookers.

"I promise, Albus, I haven't seen Snape since that day," James offered, a confused look on his face.

"I had a good life going until the unknown woman showed and let me in on their nefarious plans to ruin me." The darker man glared at his hated enemy, convinced they were up to no good.

"Oh, I am very sorry to hear that, my boy, I am sure it was to protect you," the old man tried to placate. "Young James and Lily only had your best interests at heart. If you had taken them up on their offer, we would not be here now."

"I could not trust them. No one that I knew of could remove the Mark. It wasn't until I woke from my kidnapping that I realized they might have been telling the truth," Severus stated, firm in his belief that the facts spoke true.

Dumbledore folded his hands over his beard and looked over his glasses at the young man with twinkling eyes, as if he had solved the problem and all would be well. "Be that as it may, you still have no proof of wrongdoing on James' part. Who was the woman you spoke to?"

"I do not know," the other man confessed.

"Come now, Severus, you know better than to listen to those who do not reveal themselves," the old man stated as he looked disappointed at Snape, making Hydrus cringe.

"You," Severus pointed his finger at the Headmaster, "are doing it again. Every single time these morons did something to me; you would take their side and turn it around to be my fault." His voice rose. "It is because of you that I joined the Dark Lord! You and your favoritism! You almost let them kill me, you senile old man! And then when I wanted to press charges, you slapped them on the wrist and said, 'bad boys, do not do that again.' Time and time again, they plotted and you dismissed my complaints about their deeds," he accused the old man, spittle flying from his mouth at the anger he felt as he approached Dumbledore. "It is because of you that many joined! You and your vaulted 'greater good'! You are nothing but a conniving old man who cannot see the forest for the trees!" he raged, his face turning red and his wand lifted again.

The crowd converged, but they were held back by Dumbledore's ward.

"Now, Severus, do not do anything you will regret. We can talk this over; there is no need for violence," Albus said, raising his own wand, which was decidedly not elder. He never did find out why the Death Stick was no longer functioning. He feared that it was a mystery that he would never solve. He knew that the Potter Cloak was also defunct. He went and got the Resurrection Stone and it was a mere hunk of rock. His lifelong goal to obtain the Deathly Hallows was now just a pipe dream. He threw up a strong shield and continued to try and talk the man down.

"Once again you are not listening to me!"

"Now, Severus, I always listen to you," the Headmaster stated. "Thank you, for trying to help," he told the crowd, "but I am sure we can settle this peacefully." He waved them away, and they backed off, though they didn't lower their wands. "He is merely confused," he added looking at Snape with compassion.

Snape snapped. His face morphed into complete rage and disbelief. It was just one too many times that the Headmaster dismissed him. "Confused!? Peacefully!? How can we settle anything peacefully when you have done your best to put me in my place, which in your opinion was lower than you precious Gryffindors!? For all your talk of equality, you let these… boys run amuck and cause hate and discontent, and then you patted them on the head and all but told them 'good job'! You, pathetic old man, you ruined my life!" the enraged man yelled and fired off a cutting curse.

"Now, Severus, it was your own choices that made you turn to Voldemort. I tried to warn you that your anger would be your downfall," Dumbledore stated as he batted the curse away. "Come with me and we will discuss this," he offered, trying as usual to save someone, who right now did not want to be saved. "I am sure we can find a nonviolent solution."

"You do not understand, do you, you relic!?" Snape shouted as he put up a shield to ward off the many curses and spells that flew his way. It was a dark brown shield and it held up under the barrage. "After this day I will never listen to you again!" he roared his vow. He fired off a Sectumsempra, which cut through the Headmaster's shield and sliced him right down the middle.

"SHITE!" Hydrus yelled and ran to the felled man and tore open his robes to get to the injury. He worked his holly over the cut singing the counter curse, but for some reason is wasn't closing. "No, no, no. Not him," he muttered, and ran his wand over the cut again as blood poured over those blindly, colorful robes. "Shite, shite, shite, why isn't this closing?" he switched wands and tried singing again to no avail.

"Ah, mystery solved," the old man croaked as he coughed up blood. Now he understood why the Hallows were not what they used to be. The only mystery was how this young man obtained them. He felt his life ebbing away and knew that he would only receive his answers in death. He patted the man trying to save him on the shoulder, and then his arm fell to the ground. He was too weak to move again.

"Don't you die on me, old man. You haven't figured out where the Potters live. How are you ever to know if you die?" Hydrus stated as he continued to try and close the wound.

"Do not… worry, my boy… if it is my time… then I am at… peace with that," the Greatest Wizard of these times stated as he coughed up more blood. His breath rattled in his chest and his eyes closed one last time.

"Right, the next great adventure," the immortal time traveler whispered as he watched his old mentor take his last breath. Guilt overcame him once again; another man died before his time and it was all his fault. That and if he was not the Master of the Deathly Hallows then Albus' shield would have held. He stood and twirled around, pointing his wand to where Snape had been, but the man was gone. "SHITE!" he bellowed to the skies. "I hate you!" he yelled, pointing up at no one. "Where the fuck did he go?" he whirled on James.

"We tried, Hydrus. After he cast the curse and you went to Albus, we attacked, but he ported away. He just got a sad look on his face and said 'activate' and he was gone," the male Potter stated, trying to calm the immortal down.

Vicky came up to him and put her arm around his shoulder and led him away. He was in shock and still holding the Elder Wand, but it was at his side and no one saw it.

It was then the Aurors came and started taking statements. The crowd was more than happy to comply. They told the story about how Severus Snape came and killed the Headmaster. How he looked now and the fight that incurred. The Aurors were waving their wands over the dead Leader of the Light, trying to find out why his shield didn't hold. They did note that it was not his usual wand and were testing it for the last spell used.

"Hydrus, put the Elder Wand away and bring out your other one," Vicky hissed in his ear and he blindly did as ordered.

Tears were rolling down his face and he vowed he would get Severus Tobias Snape.