Chapter 65

"Cheers to the end of Hogwarts." James said, raising his pint of butterbeer to his fellow remaining Marauders around the table. The boys cheered at his words and met the toast with their own glasses in the middle.

Sirius was leaning back in his chair striking a cocky pose and flashing a smile at a group of women sitting across the bar of the Three Broomsticks. James jabbed at the boy, "Marlene will have you tied to a pole with a collar on if you even dared."

Remus chuckled, while Sirius scoffed, "She's been moody these last few days. I asked her about going to the Bones' party, and she nearly bit my head off."

"It might be hard to focus on a party when her dad was just promoted to Head Auror.

"So you aren't going?" James questioned in surprise.

"Oh, we are going. She just isn't happy about it." Sirius chuckled, but it looked out of place with a scowl on his face, "She thinks I still fancy her."

James rolled his eyes, but the dour look on Mooney's face caught his attention, "Alright, Remus? Who are you going with?"

A semblance of a smile crossed his features at the question, "Mary MacDonald."

Sirius whistled lowly, "Always knew she had a spot for your inner animal."

James chuckled at the joke, but Remus' expression continued to be pained. James prompted him again, "Come on, Remus. What is it?"

The man sighed, "It's just all going to be different now."

Sirius shook his head, the confident smirk remaining on his countenance, "Oh come on, Mooney. Being a Marauder is for life. We told you."

"We got you." James agreed.

"It's more than my furry little problem." Remus said waspishly, before looking around as if he expected to be overheard, "You've all heard, Harry. You have all seen the signs. War is coming. He has equipped us with dangerous magic. What are we going to do if it's one of our schoolmates? Under the imperius…or worse, they actually chose to stand against us?"

"They lost my sympathy the day they killed my dad." James spat, but quickly calmed himself as a few heads snapped in their direction.

Sirius placed a placating hand on James' shoulder, while giving Remus a soft expression, "We know it isn't going to be easy, Mooney. Neither of us, nor Harry claimed it would be. We have to use good judgment, and that may not always be easy, but we have to do our best. If we did nothing, then…well…we are all doomed to the fate Harry promised us."

James stiffened at Sirius' words, while Remus just looked downcast, and glanced at the fourth chair beside him as if he expected someone to materialize into it, "We've just already lost friends along the way. I don't want to imagine who will be next."

"Harry has prepared us." James said stubbornly.

"Nothing could prepare us for him." Remus countered.

The table was silent for a few minutes, and James seemed angry by his friend's words and he leaned into the table to whisper heatedly, "Harry has done everything he can. If we come face to face with the heir we will run. You all saw what he did to my dad, Charlus, Dumbledore, and Harry. The man is a monster, but I will be damned if we aren't capable of taking down his most competent followers."

"Snape." Sirius said at once.

"Like Snape." James agreed.

Shaking his head, Sirius countered, "No, Snivellus is here."

As if James had been struck, he reeled back and whipped his head to the side seeing his childhood nemesis take a seat at the bar. His insides boiled at the sight of him. James may have saved his life last year, but that was more in protection of his best mate. He didn't want Remus to pay for Sirius' carelessness. Regardless, word had reached Lily about what had happened, and it had been one of the things that had warmed her heart to him, and for that he was grateful.

Nonetheless, he could hardly ignore the fire in his stomach as he saw the teen. Folding his arms he leaned back in his chair, "Git probably followed us here, knowing Lily would be meeting us."

Shaking his head, Remus just shrugged, "Just leave it, James. You won in the end. Assuming we all live to see the next few Summers, Harry is a pretty good indication that your relationship with Lily is strong. He has nothing to take from you."

James knew that wasn't true. He had not told the others that Severus had been the one to sell out his family in the future. The one that told Voldemort about the prophecy. He had promised Harry he wouldn't go looking for a fight, but seeing the young man there, alone, really tempted that promise.

As if Snape sensed his thoughts, his head turned slowly to meet the raging eyes of James, and the dark haired boy smirked as he rose to his feet. Remus muttered, "Oh here we go."

As Snape approached the table he looked at James directly, "Oh, Potter, here to drink your misery away knowing that you failed out of Hogwarts?"

"Last I checked I was head boy this year. Which means I had some of the top grades. If your nose wasn't always in a potions book you may have known that Snivvy." James snarked.

Snape didn't bat an eye at the name, as he turned to Sirius, "Black, I see you don't have your usual gaggle of admirers. It's strange to see such peace and quiet around you."

"Why don't you go play with your chemistry set, Snape." Sirius growled out.

"Lupin…strange to see you out this time a month…planning to take a little walk…in the moonlight?" The teen said this last part with a smirk, and James shot to his feet going nose to nose with him.

Severus for his part didn't even flinch and his wand was suddenly in his hand, though it remained at his side. James didn't see him go for it, but he knew he was at a disadvantage, "Are you going to hit me, Potter? Like some common muggle."

"It's an attitude like that which costs you, Lily." James growled out.

Snape wasn't smiling anymore. The expression disappeared off his face like dust in the wind. His dark eyes seemed to blacken and he looked almost feral as James looked at him. The tensing of his arm was the first sign James could tell that he was seconds away from being cursed. He knew from Harry's training that he was close enough to take the boy to the ground however. James was an athlete after all. He could choke the life out of Snape just as easily as he could curse him within an inch of his life.

"I regret that day." Severus said, finally glancing somewhere other than James' eyes, "She isn't like the others."

Shaking his head, James took a step away from Snape as he realized most of the eyes of the bar, including Madame Rosmerta were on him, "It's because you differentiate the others is why she will never forgive you."

The anger returned for a moment and a spark flew from Snape's wand causing Rosmerta to shout, "Out! The lot of you. Out of my bar!"

Sirius and Remus both stood, but instead of leaving, they stood beside their friend. The look in Snape's eyes was murderous, and none of the Marauders expected the boy to leave without a fight. Snape growled out, "You've always thought you were so much better than everyone, Potter."

"Not everyone." James corrected, "Just you."

"Prove it then." Snape spat, "You think you are so talented. Prove it. One on one."

"James." Remus warned in a hissed whisper, but the teen didn't back down.

"Tell me something, Severus…where were you during the attack on Hogsmeade?" James asked in a hushed voice.

Snape closed the distance between the two leaving only room for James to hear what was whispered, "I was close enough to see your father get annihilated by a superior wizard."

James felt his body stiffen in anger. For a moment he nearly decided to forgo magic and deck the greasy haired bat in front of him, but instead he offered a hand in between them, "I know just the place we can settle this."

"We are with you, Prongs." Sirius said, placing a hand on his shoulder, and after a moment he felt Remus' hand as well.

Snape looked to the others with a look of hesitation, "Three against one. Very brave."

"Don't worry, they are only spectating. Can't have you calling your Death Eater pals to ambush me." James growled out.

Snape glanced around the bar seeing there weren't many sympathetic to his cause at the moment. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw alumni who were likely friends of James Potter were sitting at nearby tables, and if the fight broke out here even he wouldn't stand a chance. Instead he looked at the offered hand in disgust, and took it on his own.

With a twist, the four men disapparated with a pop, and landed in a nearby area on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. As the group separated James' eyes never left Snape, "You know this is Lily's favorite snogging spot."

Snape's face had a flash of irritation, but it was clear he bit it down trying to enforce his mind shields in preparation of what was to come. James fell into his dueling stance, and didn't give Snape time to prepare as he swirled his wand in a blur, kicking up the ground in front of the greasy haired teen causing a swell of dirt to nearly topple him over. James wasn't stopping there either as he shot a geyser of water out of his wand in hopes to trap the boy in a tomb of mud, but Snape was crafty.

Instead of apparating away Snape yanked his wand causing the dirt and water to fly past him and then raise into the air like two waves, and as they went towards James, who apparated away attempted to fire several arrows from his wand that Snape easily stopped in mid air with a flick of his wand and returned at James.

James defended himself with ease, and quickly realized that all his physical spells were being used against him so instead, went to curses. Rapidly his wand flashed in a variety of movements making different colors of hexes, jinxes, and curses fly from his wand. When a particularly nasty curse that would've made Snape blind was deflected the teen sneered at him, "Is that all you have, Potter? I must say I am slightly impressed. I figured you had the knowledge of a third year when it came to this type of magic. I suppose your cousin has taught you well. Now let's see if I can teach you something more…useful."

Snape was on James so fast that he felt like he was dueling two people, or worse, Harry. The speed was prodigious. It was something that Harry said would only come after thousands of attempts at each spell, and it was clear that Snape had put in the work to his curses. Still, James would not go down quietly as he began adopting a style Harry had taught him. With a twist he apparated and attempted to curse Snape. Snape blocked it easily, but then James did it again before he could return fire. The pattern continued three times, before Snape apparated as well when James landed, and for a moment he thought the boy fled, before he felt like he had been stabbed in the back of his shoulder. Turning around quickly Snape was grinning maliciously at him, "You're weak, Potter. Too weak to defend Lily from what's coming. Give her up. She will be safer without you."

With a roar of rage, James swirled around and went to engage Snape, but suddenly his back felt like it had been ripped apart as he fell to his knees. James felt the shouts of his name as Sirius and Remus were at his side and they both gasped at whatever they saw. James' vision blurred for a moment as he attempted to get back to his feet, but he fell forward into the grass as the pain spread to his hip.

James heard the warning tones of Sirius and Remus, but couldn't decipher their words. His eyes faded, and when he closed his eyes he heard a soft voice in his ear, "Welcome home, son."

.o.

Lily was on cloud 9. She had just been offered a Charm's Apprenticeship from Professor Flitwick on her last day of school, and her luck could hardly be believed. All those extra lessons with Harry and Elaina had paid off, and she couldn't wait to share the news with her son and his girlfriend.

Her son. The thought was still strange in her mind, but she knew it was true. She had seen the memories, but beyond that, from the moment she had met Harry, she had felt protective. She supposed a mother's instinct could transcend even time, but her heart broke every time she thought about what he had endured.

Harry had insisted he in no way held her responsible for what had happened to him, but knowing her own family had treated him that way hurt her in ways she was sure he would never understand. Her own sister, her own flesh and blood, had treated her son like he was a common street rat.

Trying to shake away the bad feelings she felt towards her sister she continued on her path through Hogsmeade to the Three Broomsticks to meet with James, and the others. She had been looking forward to Amelia's party at Bones Manor, and despite not having as much time to get ready as she would've liked she was looking forward to her time with her friends. As she walked up to the Three Broomsticks she saw a few people staring into the window with whispers and giddy expressions on their faces. Lily was surprised to see Crouch Jr, Regulus Black, and Corban Yaxley, among them. A bad feeling entered her stomach and as she approached the door she heard some shouting from inside. Spurring forward she watched as Snape spoke in his usual drawl, "Three against one. Very brave."

"Don't worry, they are only spectating. Can't have you calling your Death Eater pals to ambush me." James growled out.

She watched helplessly as Severus took the hand of James Potter, and the group disappeared. She attempted to call out his name, but it was too late. They were gone. Whirling back around to exit the way she came she noticed that all the older Slytherins were gone now, and the horrible feeling from before intensified.

Lily couldn't believe the idiocy of her boyfriend and his stupid friends. She knew how talented Snape was at dueling, and though they had been training hard for months that made her wonder if James and the Marauders could handle him, a feeling in her heart said they couldn't.

She knew James couldn't have apparated all four of them very far, and she frantically ran through Hogsmeade calling out their names attracting the attention of many, but none seemed interested in getting in her way. She was on the outskirts of the village in moments, and prayed for a sign of where her boyfriend and his friends could be.

Suddenly, sounds of fighting erupted not far from where she was standing, and she knew where James had taken Severus. It was a place they had spent much of their private time together the last few months. The place where she had fallen for the stupid man. With a flick of her wand a patronus in the shape of a doe materialized and she thought of Harry as she spoke, "Harry, I need you in Hogsmeade. The Marauders are dueling with Severus on the outskirts of Hogsmeade by the Lake!"

No sooner did the Patronus take off did she do the same. As she came closer to the sounds of intense spellfire she knew things must not have been good. Raised voices ahead made her run to spring, but before she could make it, however, a stunning spell flew over her shoulder from behind and a quick glance showed that she was being chased by the three Slytherins she had seen before outside the Three Broomsticks. Crouch Jr looked thrilled by the moment, "Look at this Reg, we caught ourselves a Mudblood."

Realizing Lily had just interrupted a trap meant for the Marauders she wasted no time in engaging the three. She was on Yaxley faster than the boy could have prepared for, and in seconds she was dueling for her life once again. Unlike the last time Yaxley and his gang tried to corner her, Harry had been training her. Even without the help of Elaina, she was a force competent enough to deal with two younger boys, and some puffed -Pureblood.

Lily unleashed a blast of fire so hot at the trio, Yaxley apparated away, while Regulus and Crouch shielded for dear life. Yaxley attempted to take her out from behind, but Lily charmed the fire with a quick swirl of her wrist, and barraged the seventh-year with curses until he spun around and threw a green spell at her that she recognized instantly. Throwing herself to the ground in hopes of dodging the spell she shot back to her feet only to realize that Yaxley was being lifted into the air grasping at his throat. Before she could question what was happening a blast of water circled around her and snuffed out her charmed flame with ease, before wrapping up the two Slytherins that had attacked her with ease. Both boys were clearly struggling to breathe and Lily turned to see Harry and Elaina had arrived.

Harry looked ready to kill, while Elaina unsympathetically watched the two former sixth-years begin to drown. Hoping to save the boy's lives she stunned both of them knocking them out of the water that was holding them as they thudded to the ground. Yaxley however she just watched for a moment with wide eyes, before screams behind her reminded her of why they were all there. Turning to run towards the sound of the screams she yelled out, "Harry!"

She didn't turn to see what he did, instead she took off in the run, and came over a short hill when she saw something that made her knees shake. James Potter lay motionless on the ground by the Black Lake, while Sirius and Remus attempted to kill Snape. She knew the duel was lethal judging by the spells that were flying from their wands, and she feared the worse.

Lily ran towards James, and saw the blood, it was everywhere. James didn't appear to be breathing as she let out a sob, and held her wand over him attempting to gauge what the most severe wound was.

The scream of Snape's name from Harry's familiar voice seemed to stop the fighting on the field. He heard Harry bark some words at Elaina, and before Lily knew the girl was at her side, "Hold on."

Before Lily could gauge what was happening Elaina had grabbed her hand and apparated her and James away.

.o.

As soon as Harry saw the state of James the rest of the world turned red. He stalked forward like a predator coming upon wounded prey. Snape, for his part, did not act like he was wounded however as he scoffed at the arrival of the Potter, and held his wand pointed confidently at Harry's chest.

Harry didn't stop his path forward as he called out, "We've never traded spells before Snape. I thought you were smart enough to avoid this moment. Seems like I was wrong, and you are going to regret it."

Snape knew a threat when he heard one, and didn't wait a second longer to begin his barrage of spells. Unlike the others he had dueled with thus far however Harry didn't move off his linear path. At times he slightly moved his head to dodge a curse, but for the most part his wand just batted the curses aside with precision that was unnatural to Snape's eye. The boy's confidence that he could strike Harry down was supreme until he came within fifteen feet. The teen's eyes widened and his occlumency seemed to falter when Harry entered an uncomfortably close proximity. Before Snape could comprehend it, or make an exit strategy Harry's wand disappeared from his hand, and wandlessly summoned the teen with one hand, and punched Snape in the face with the other. Snape reeled back from the blow, but before he could do anything else Harry disappeared. A second barely passed before a blow struck Snape in the back of the leg and his knee snapped, causing him to yell in agony as he dropped to the grass.

"I didn't want it to be this way, Snape. I avoided this moment. I knew what you could become, but I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt." Harry chuckled humorlessly, "Look where my mercy has led me. You may have just killed a member of my family."

Harry roughly grabbed Snape by his long hair and yanked it backward, "If James dies tonight, there will not be a safe place for you on this Earth. In fact, your life is still in your own hands."

With three mighty blows, Harry rammed his fist into the boy's face before pushing him over. Not satisfied with the damage that was done Harry summoned the teen's wand and snapped it in his fingers before standing over Snape with his wand spinning on his palm magically. His temper was flaring and his magic called for death. Instead, Harry gripped his wand and surgically fired a cutting curse at Snape's left forearm revealing unblemished skin. Taking a breath Harry shook his head and kneeled next to the groaning boy. Snape's face was a bloody mess, his knee was certainly broken, and he eyed Harry with pain and hatred clear on his expression.

"You don't get another chance, Severus Snape." Harry warned with a clear voice, "You have a bright future ahead of you. Don't throw it away for vengeance, and don't throw it away for the Death Eaters when they come calling. Both will cost you your life."

Rising to his feet he eyed the solemn expressions of Sirius and Remus before his eyes shifted to the stunned forms of Regulus Black and Barty Crouch Jr. Shaking his head one last time he conjured a mangy old boot and dropped it on the ground, whispering, "Portus."

When the boot hit the ground Harry spoke sharply, "That portkey will take you to Saint Mungo's. Any word of this will bring more trouble than you can handle, so keep your mouth shut. Don't forget my promise about James. If he dies you can run, but not forever."

Snape spat blood on the ground, "I won't forget this, Potter. I will get you. If it's the last thing-"

"Sectumsempra!" Harry barked out with a slash of his wand.

The spell impacted Snape and deep cut lines began forming on his body. Blood soon followed, and Harry stormed over to the boy. The hateful tone is what made him reconsider his mercy. Snape was a dangerous enemy to be left alone, and if he was going to swear vengeance, Harry would protect his family "You are out of warnings, half-blood prince. Your own spells are turning against you. Think carefully before you ever speak in my presence again, because the next threatening words will cost you."

For a moment, he considered taking the boy's life, but his heart wasn't in it. Snape would be able to undo his own spell if Harry hadn't snapped his wand. He may still bleed out, but Harry wouldn't take the boy's life. He had repaid the debt he had to the man that sacrificed much in his own time. He had spared the idiot teen's life, and he wouldn't lift another finger to protect Severus Snape.

Without wasting another moment, Harry stormed away in the direction of the unconscious Slytherin students. Completely disregarding the body of Crouch Jr, Harry levitated Regulus and pulled him close in preparation for apparition. Before he could address the remaining Marauders, Sirius asked, "What are you going to do with him?"

"You probably haven't heard, but Arcturus is awake." Harry said fiercely, unable to control his temper which was still spinning out of control, "I am going to take your idiot brother, and see that the Lord of your family handles this. I suspect he will either be cast out or sent away depending on how stupid he has been leading up to this."

Sirius' eyes widened, "Arcturus is awake? That means-"

"Lord Black is back in the fight." Harry answered with a grim smile, "And he is pissed. I imagine he will be much more, when he finds out what Regulus here was up to."

Sirius shook his head, "I thought he would never wake up."

"It's for the best." Remus said thoughtfully, "If Arcturus could be convinced to send him away, maybe he won't turn."

Sirius looked at his little brother with an expression Harry couldn't quite decipher, and sighed, "I want to know how James is doing, but-"

"There's nothing there for you, except worry." Harry cut him off with a sharp voice, his anger still abuzz, "Come with me to your grandfather. Tell him what happened, and let's make a difference in your brother's life. We could save him right here, and prevent him from joining the Death Eaters."

Both Sirius and Remus had learned what happened to Regulus Black in Harry's time. They knew the teen had become a Death Eater, only to be so appalled by what Voldemort had done in his path to victory that he turned on the heir of Slytherin. The betrayal cost him his life, and they all knew it had not likely been a peaceful death.

Sirius seemed unsure for a long moment, and Remus spoke, "I will send an update as soon as I have one. Harry, will Elaina have taken him to Saint Mungos or Potter Manor?"

"Saint Mungos." Harry grunted out, "She knew that Charlus and Dorea were at Grimmauld Place, and they needed immediate help. We obviously didn't have time to discuss it, but I would check Saint Mungos first."

Remus nodded, and turned to look at Sirius, "Are you alright?"

Sirius looked dazed by everything. Harry knew it wasn't easy watching your best friend get brutalized in such a manner, and then to find out your grandfather, who had been on death's door for months, was awake, had to be a shock to the system. It all had so many consequences that even Harry couldn't comprehend them all. Still, there was a job that needed to be done. Regulus needed to be handled, and Harry knew there wasn't anything that could be done for James at this exact moment.

"Sirius!" Harry prodded, and the teen's eyes snapped to him.

"Sorry. Yes. Let's go, Harry." Sirius said shakily.

Giving Remus a nod he watched the boy turn and apparate. Harry glanced back at where Snape had been to see the boy was gone with the portkey still on the ground precisely where Harry had left it. Finally, his eyes shifted to Barty Crouch Jr and he felt something turn inside of him. He knew what the boy was capable of, and frowned as he faced a moment of indecision.

Crouch was talented. The boy would be a good recruit for the Death Eaters in a few years. He would slip priceless information from the Auror office to Lord Voldemort. This would lead to the loss of many lives, and Harry could not allow it.

"I need to deal with Crouch." Harry said emotionlessly, "Take your brother to Islington, and I will meet you at the front door to number 12."

Sirius looked wide-eyed from Harry to Crouch before swallowing hard. He knew what Crouch had done to Harry in his fourth year. It was clear the teen had some objections, but after watching his best friend nearly get murdered, it seemed the moral high ground seemed a little more hazy than usual.

Grabbing onto the shirt of his little brother, Sirius twisted and disappeared leaving Harry with Crouch Jr alone with no one in sight. Walking steadily over to the boy Harry could feel the flashbacks of his encounter with the man he would become. The night Voldemort was resurrected was the worst night of his life. When he returned to Hogwarts that evening he thought he was safe. He thought he had actually escaped the clutches of death, only to find himself abducted by the Death Eater that had orchestrated it all.

He gripped his wand tightly as he observed the youthful face of his enemy. A moment's hesitation crossed through his heart and soul. This was just a dumb teenager. How could he do this to someone so young?

"You won because I made it so, Potter. You ended up in that graveyard because it was meant to be so. Now the deed is done."

The words Crouch Jr said to him steeled Harry's heart as he knew the true mastermind behind Voldemort's resurrection. He was too dangerous to be left alive. This is why he came back. To make a difference. To win.

"Avada Kedavra."

(A/N) It seems Harry's mercy has found its end. Join me on Discord and read through Chapter 84 for free. Just find "The Hunters Lounge" or add me on Discord OrionB15. You can also read through the end of the story for just 1$ on Pat(reon).