by Lisette: Lisette_an@hotmail.com

Legalese: The television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all related characters and material belong to Joss Whedon and UPN.  All things Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling.  I claim ownership solely of the story idea - no profit will be made by this.

Author's Note: To start, I think I'm as sad as all of you that this thing is winding to a close.  But I did want to stress one thing: even though I don't have the time to respond to each individual review, I want to assure you that I read each and every one and take every word to heart.  Thank you all SO much for all of your support, encouragement, humor, and great ideas!  And once more with the big thanks to Wild320, SparkySparkles, solarphoenix, angelic-devil, Kiwi, Catlimere, Rosie, Katie, AP, Angel, Jo, Empress, X-Lander, and jezowen.

Rob: I'll have you know that I'm expecting full Snoopy-dance-age for the epilogue now!  Can I bring popcorn?

"Nothing that's worthwhile is ever easy."
-Nicholas Sparks-

    In the end, the only thing left for the group to do was wait.  Every preparation that could possibly be made had been made as the residents of Hogwarts prepared themselves for war.  The smallest of children had been tightly bundled despite the warmth of the June night and sat dozing on small cots that Dumbledore had conjured for them in the corner of the Great Hall, Ginny Weasley was handed enough floo powder to see them all to safety as well as a parchment with the many names of those that she would try to contact, and the rest of the students and adults changed into dark robes and began preparing the hexes and curses that would keep them safe.  Even Madam Pomfrey, with the assistance of a few hearty wizards, had transported practically the entire infirmary to the Great Hall, Professor Snape working like mad alongside her to prepare enough potions and magical antidotes to see them through the injuries that their side would inevitably sustain.  Within a few hours both Tara and Willow, with Remus' help, had mastered the art of the patronus - an act that surprised practically everyone and impressed upon them the different kind of strength to be found in the wiccan magic and the nearly heady power that encompassed the school.  And throughout it all, the people moved as though they were merely waiting for the other shoe to drop, the minutes and hours slipping by as the light of day drew ever closer.

    They were now flush in the witching hours, and while the witches and wizards began to droop, despite the rush of adrenaline, Buffy and her friends from the states were in their element.  Buffy was used to being up in the wee hours of the morning and for the others... well, it may have been four in the morning for the people of Hogwarts, but for her friends it was only 10pm and they were ready to party. 

    "So you weren't kidding when you said this place is straight out of the stone age," Xander commented idly as he continued to impress... well, anyone he could as he rapidly dismantled his rifle and then put it back together again as quickly as possible, further evidence of his lingering memories of being a soldier on that enchanted Halloween a few years back.

    "Beat your record by at least twenty grains of sand that time," Oz commented idly as he glanced up from the miniature hour glass that Hermione had conjured for him.

    "And dead-boy said I was slipping," Xander said, shooting Angel a dirty look before turning back to his new toy.

    "I told you not to call me that," Angel returned, throwing the teen his own patented dark glare even as he turned his attention to the sword that was balanced in his lap, a whetting stone quickly honing the blade's edge to the sharpest of points.

    "Yeah, you've been telling me that for how long and has it ever worked, once?" Xander quipped even as Buffy smacked him on the back of the head.

    "Quit bating Angel," she admonished as she plopped on the stone floor amongst her friends, and beside a certain dark-haired wizard.  Ever since the big meeting she had been immersed in talks of strategy with Giles and a few others, ensuring that everyone knew where they were supposed to go and what they were supposed to do when the battle began.  In a way, it all reminded her of the preparations that they had made for the assault on the mayor on the day of their graduation.  Only, instead of frightened high schoolers, this time they were armed with capable and deadly witches and wizards who would be facing far more than a few vampires.  "You're just trying to get him to go all 'grrr' and freak people out," she added, watching as Xander pouted at her for the briefest of moments for spoiling his plan before shrugging and turning his attention to the three teens that had joined them - all dressed in the weirdest looking black robes he had ever seen.

    "So you guys really do the Bewitched thing and go all zoomy in the clouds with the toy broom set?" he asked, eyeing the Hogwarts' group with open curiosity.  "And do you wear the pointy hats, too?"

    "Only on special occasions," Buffy broke in, smiling wryly at the group's evident confusion.  "And Xander, what did I tell you about the pop culture references?  Just try to pretend that you're speaking with a much younger, more fun, and definitely cuter version of Giles," she advised as she snuggled closer against Harry's side.

    "And here I thought trying to understand Buffy had been difficult," Hermione muttered, sharing bemused glances with her friends even as Giles swatted Buffy on the head with a rolled scroll as he passed her by, evidently having overheard her remark.

    "Hey," Buffy protested as she shot her departing watcher a withering look.  "See what I get for my wit?" she asked, pouting slightly as she turned a bright grin to Harry who could only shake his head at her antics.

    "Are you guys always like this right before a battle?" he asked as he waved at Willow and Tara who were engaged in conversation with Ginny and Neville, the four teens talking animatedly about spells, charms, and oddly enough, blowing things up.  Actually, it seemed as though Buffy's friend, Willow, and Neville seemed to be sharing their woes the most over that one while Tara and Ginny watched with matching smiles.  Then turning, he indicated the green-haired boy who was, once again, timing Xander in the dismantling of his muggle weapon while Ron interrupted with the occasional question on how Oz got his hair to stop being green when he so wanted - something to do with a prank the twins had pulled on Ron years ago that had caused his hair to remain a very similar shade for weeks.  Meanwhile, Hermione had turned her attentions to Angel as she asked him very pointed and curious questions about what it meant to be a vampire and of the things he had seen in his past two hundred and some odd years - the eternal student, of course.<

    Following his casual waves, Buffy smiled warmly at her friends and grinned unabashedly at the dark haired teen beside her.  "Pretty much," she said, nodding slowly as she critically eyed the group.  "Although we seem to have less doughnuts," she admitted as she jerked a thumb at Xander.  "And too many cool new toys... although there was that time when Xander found me a rocket launcher," she added as a fond smile lifted her lips at the memory.  "It was all whoosh and then big kabloom."

    Snickering, Harry was about to comment further when the tall and curvy girl - Cordelia, if he remembered correctly - settled on the floor beside them in a huff of evident frustration.  Curious, he watched as she fixed Buffy with a withering glare, practically glowering as she seethed beside them.

    "Some woman in a painting said that my lipstick made me look like a harlot," she stated harshly, her eyes narrowing even more as Buffy tried to hide a snicker.  "I mean, can you believe the nerve?" she asked crossly as she snagged a small mirror from her tight pant pocket and flipped it open, inspecting aforementioned lipstick.  "This is the latest shade in the collection!  Everyone is wearing it in LA-"

    "Well, if you haven't noticed, Cordy, this ain't LA," Buffy interrupted dryly even as she rolled her eyes at Harry.

    "Oh, don't think I haven't noticed," Cordelia quickly returned as she arched a slim brow as an older witch in bright magenta robes shuffled past.  "It's a miracle that your already withering fashion sense hasn't completely curdled when surrounded by this for so long," she muttered as she jerked a thumb at the people that surrounded them - many of whom were shooting the oblivious girl some rather dirty looks.

    "Cordy, I think-"

    "And calling my lipstick slutty?" Cordelia interrupted, her tone incredulous as she glared at the offending portrait, obviously scandalized by the taunt.  "I mean, has anyone even bothered to notice the stuff that Faith is wearing?  Hello?  Can we say 'where's my street corner?'" she asked, by now gathering the attention of pretty much every muggle and wizard in the area - including that of the slayer in question.

    "Uh, Cordy, I don't think," Buffy began, nervously eyeing her fellow slayer as Faith began stalking towards them, which was, of course, when all hell proceeded to break loose.  It all began quite innocently enough as Cordelia's bitter retort was cut off and replaced with a pain-filled moan.  "Cordelia?" Buffy asked, confusion warring with concern as she scuttled on all fours to where the girl was sitting, suddenly thankful that the ex-cheerleader was already sitting down.  "Hey, you al-" she broke off as Cordelia's piercing scream broke through every conversation in the room.

    "Cordy!" Angel cried out as he dropped his forgotten sword and moved beside Buffy, both slayer and vampire moving in tandem as they caught the girl between them, her body beginning to shake and her eyes squeezed tight against something as tears of pain began to drip from her lashes.

    "Cordelia!" Wesley shouted, adding to the mayhem as he pushed his way through the gathering wizards and witches and knelt by the seer's side.  "Another vision," he stated, his voice grim as Angel nodded quietly, their eyes meeting briefly before returning to their friend.

    "A vision?" Buffy asked, moving back to allow Angel and Wesley more room.  "This is what happens when she receives visions from those Powers of yours?" she continued, unable to keep the small note of accusation from her voice.  Incredulous, Buffy began to take back every single nasty thing she had ever said about the Queen Bitch of old as she took in the incredible pain that seemed to torment Cordelia.  No one deserved this kind of pain.

    "Oh, you get kind of used to it - not," Cordy's weak voice ground out as the two men quickly helped her to sit once more, the heel of her hand pressed against her pounding head.

    "What did you see?" Angel asked, all business and idly aware of the fact that the mediwitch, Madam Pomfrey, was already beside them and trying to force a lime green potion down Cordelia's throat.

    It only took one look at the girl's hand pressed so firmly against her head for the mediwitch to be instantly reminded of the headaches that always plagued the Potter boy following his own tormenting visions.  Therefore, the remedy was easily found in this case.  "Drink this, it will help with the pain," Poppy quickly ordered as the girl reluctantly took her hand away long enough to down the potion, a grimace pulling at her features as her body shuddered in response.  And then, almost instantly her shudders stopped and her hand fully drew away, eyes clear once more and free of pain.  "At least my remedies can help some people," she muttered, crossly shooting the blonde slayer a dirty look before stepping back.

    Oblivious to everything, Cordelia could only focus on the fact that she felt fine.  Well, better than fine, really.  Her head felt clear and it didn't feel as though it was about to split open at the seams, and for the first time, Cordelia truly began to appreciate what all of the noise was about when it came to this magic crap.  After all, that little sip of nasty green goo did the work of thirty Tylenols without even sending her to the hospital.  "Hey, where can I get some of that?" she asked even as she accepted Angel and Wesley's hands, allowing them to pull her to her feet.

    "Later," Buffy cut in, even as she ignored Madam Pomfrey's pointed glare.  Even as the press of people became tighter around them, Buffy knew that they no longer had time for such pettiness, for deep down, the slayer was beginning to think that she already knew what the seer had seen.  And by the looks that Angel was throwing her way, he knew it as well.  "Cordy, what did you see?" she asked, repeating her question slowly as the girl finally turned her brown eyes towards her.

    Sighing as though annoyed by Buffy's persistent questioning, Cordy quickly closed her eyes as the images filtered through her mind's eye.  "People - hundreds of them - all dressed in black robes and working some nasty voodoo at the edge of a forest in a big circle around the castle," she related, her voice clipped as she opened her eyes and met Buffy's eyes evenly.  "Tall, skeletal things dressed in black drawn together in a mass at the gates of the school - they're cold and the people stay away from them," she continued, her eyes slipping shut once more as she thought back to all that she had seen.  "Demons too - lots of them and... and I think I saw your Big Bad," she added, her eyes growing haunted.

    "Big guy?  Kind of snakey?  Red eyes and desperately in need of a tan?" Buffy asked even as she sensed, more than saw Harry step beside her, his eyes as fixed on the seer as her own.

    "That'd be him," Cordelia agreed before stepping closer to the two.  "And you guys were with him - dark place, water... snakes that were still... not moving," she murmured, her words a mere whisper that was meant only for them both.

    "And this is what's going to happen?" Harry asked, somehow believing that this girl was the real deal.  Not just a Trelawney that made a habit of predicting his death every year for the past four, but someone who really saw what was to come.  Who was really granted a vision of the future.

    "Already happening," Cordelia corrected even as Dumbledore's magically amplified voice split through the muffled noise of the Great Hall.

    "It has begun," he stated, his voice ringing off of the stone as the room quickly burst into action.  "I need all of the younger children to move towards the fireplace at once," he added before his voice fell silent, his head turning and he seemed to be staring off into the distance before his eyes snapped once more back to those gathered.  "We have five minutes - no longer," he added as the bustle seemed to magnify.

    "Ginny, you have the floo powder?" Molly Weasley quickly asked as she grabbed her youngest child by the shoulders and spun her around until they were face to face.

    "Y-yes, Mum," Ginny responded, her face paling even as her brown eyes began flitting around the room, desperately searching for her boyfriend and relieved to see that he was already organizing the children by the fireplace.

    "Good dear, now do as Headmaster Dumbledore said," Molly stated, pulling on her daughter's chin until their eyes met once more.  "See to the children's safety and then send word at once."

    "But I want to stay with you and Dad," Ginny whispered, tears filling her eyes as her mother quickly crushed her against her ample bosom, holding her tight and wishing that she could never let go.

    "I know, my sweets, but you need to do this for us," she whispered, even as a part of her rejoiced at the thought that at least one of her children was being sent far from harm's ways - two, if you counted Charlie who was still blissfully with his dragons in Romania.  "I love you," she murmured, pressing a fierce kiss against her daughter's temple before pushing her towards the waiting children.

    Yet even as Molly Weasley was saying goodbye to her youngest daughter, Buffy was already pushing through the sudden chaos until she was at her watcher's side.  "Let's do this," she murmured, nodding to him even as he lifted his newly acquired wand and turned in the general direction of the doors to the Great Hall.

    "Accio weapons," he stated, his voice ringing slightly as he twirled and flicked his wand just right.  And even as his magic did his trick he was already turning back as Xander, Cordelia, Oz and Wesley joined them, their sniper rifles in hand as Willow and Tara trailed behind.

    "We're ready," Willow announced as she reached down and gripped her friend's hand, Tara nodding mutely beside her.  "Just tell us where we need to be," the redheaded wiccan stated, her resolve face firmly in place.  Already she could feel the tickle of the power that surrounded them, the magic in the very air that they breathed, and she could barely contain her excitement at the magic that she was just itching to try and harness.

    "Cordelia said that the dementors were all hanging out in front of the gates," Buffy repeated, her eyes ticking to Cordelia even as Harry, Ron, and Hermione joined their little group, Angel, Sirius and Remus trailing behind.

    "How about the astronomy tower, then?" Hermione suggested, her face flushed.  "It's the tallest of the towers and sits towards the front of the school," she pointed out as she lifted her wand with one hand, the other gripping Ron's so tightly that she would have been surprised if he had any feeling left in the appendage at all.

    "Works for me," Buffy agreed as she turned to her friends.  "Which means that you two are with Xander," she added as Xander beamed at the two girls.

    "Every guy's fantasy," Xander confirmed before turning to the watcher.  "Ready for our magic keys, G-Man," he added as he cocked his gun for effect, his goofy grin a stark contrast to the serious expressions on the rest of their faces.

    "Just be sure that you don't shoot yourself in the foot," Wesley returned dryly as he accepted the small quill that he was handed.  "And-" he began before he disappeared with a soft pop, the others quickly following suit.

    "If only we could have learned that trick earlier," Buffy sighed, staring wistfully at the spot that Wesley had just recently occupied.  "Just think of all of the tedious lectures we could have avoided," she added as a commotion at the doors to the Great Hall drew her attention.  Swiveling, she watched as the crowd of witches and wizards parted to allow a large trunk to soar past before depositing itself at Giles' feet.  "Oh Giles, you got me weapons!" she chirped, grinning impishly at her watcher even as she was cracking the chest and digging through the various deadly weapons, pocketing knives, stakes, and snagging her favorite sword.

    "Ooh, B's got some new toys," Faith added appreciatively as she joined their side, picking through the remainders and adding some of the weapons to her already impressive store - although the way she managed to conceal various daggers beneath the leather halter she wore was a trick that Buffy would have to learn.

    "Only the best for this girl," the petite slayer agreed as a sudden rumble seemed to shake the foundations of the school itself.  Startled, she turned wide green eyes to the flickering candles that seemed to waver in the air above them before turning back to the older wizards that were gathered with them.

    "Not long now," Remus whispered, answering the group's unasked question as he, too, lifted his wand, his eyes locking briefly with Sirius.  While both Sirius and James had been young aurors during Voldemort's first reign, Remus hadn't been far from the action, and both he and his childhood friend knew only too well the kind of horrors that awaited them.  They both also knew only too well that another old friend of theirs would be somewhere outside, blending with the crowd.  The only question that remained was how much of his sanity Wormtail had managed to hold onto in his year in Azkaban.

    "Then let's get this party started," Buffy muttered as her smile finally disappeared.  In the end, the humor, the glib comments, and the quips were all an act anyway.  She and her friends had been forced to deal with constant danger and death and destructive mayhem since they were only sophomores in high school - a freshman, in Buffy's case.  Overall, that was far too young of an age to face the darkness that they did, and in the end she and her friends faced it in the only manner they could.  They didn't focus on their fear and instead pushed it under a wave of ill-timed humor.  It was the way they always did things, and Buffy had no doubt in her mind that even as Xander and the others began preparing themselves, each, and especially Xander himself, were probably trying to hide their fear beneath some kind of joke.  However, too many things had happened for Buffy to maintain that act for too long.  The others were gone now and accordingly, Buffy allowed her act to crumble under a fierce wave of determination.

    Turning, Buffy locked eyes with Harry as he held his hand out to her.  Feeling a small smile break over the hard line of her lips, she interlocked her fingers with his as they turned and began threading their way through the masses and towards the doors to the Great Hall.  In moments both Sirius and Giles had fallen into step beside their wards as Ron, Hermione and Remus flanked Harry, and Angel and Faith flanked Buffy.  Soon, their steps were matched by the determined movements of the rest of the wizards and witches that had vowed to fight to the last even as Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid and the three crotchety old people fell into step before them.  They were an army that was formed under duress - an army formed to see the end of a Dark Lord's reign.  And together, they had to hope that they were strong enough to end this, once and for all.

    As one the group moved through the Great Hall and gathered in the marble foyer.  There was no time for fancy speeches nor for even small words of encouragement.  Instead, the people gathered took the brief moment that it took to open the great doors of the foyer to think of their loved ones that had already fallen by Voldemort's hands, or of the ones that they had sent to safety only minutes before.  They were the reason that they did this.  They were the reason that they were going to fight the darkness and win.  Or die trying, for in the end, it always came down to that.  For in this battle, there could be no surrender.

    With a flourish that seemed macabre beneath the tense shroud that cloaked them, the great oak doors swung open to reveal a dark night that was lit by a wash of bright light.  A line of Death Eaters drifted as far as the eye could see, lit by their own pinpricks of light as the barrier that guarded Hogwarts trembled beneath their combined might.  And before them stood the tall figure that all instantly recognized as Lord Voldemort himself, a legion of dementors surrounding his gaunt frame.

    "Bloody hell," Ron mumbled, his eyes growing so wide that Hermione had to elbow him to keep him from hurting himself.  Then again, she could understand his dilemma for the sight before them could only be described as awe-inspiring... awe-inspiring in the worst kind of horrible way.  And while not the most eloquent way to begin the battle, those were the last two words spoken before the barriers fell and Voldemort's forces rushed forward, swarming across the beautiful grounds.

    Immediately, the forces of good took their cue and fled from the halls of Hogwarts in a rush of varied colored robes, moving as one and splitting as the group began to spread and encircle the castle, spells, charms, curses and hexes already lighting the battlefield even as small explosions of gas seemed to rock the Death Eater ranks, taking out as many as ten of the robed wizards at a time.  "Angel, Faith - with me," Buffy called out as she quickly darted forward, the occasional curse and charm striking her form and doing little to slow her progress as she made a beeline for the front gates and the dementors that were even now swarming forward, the wizards falling back against their cold.  And even as the screams of her past began to build up and echo in her ears, Buffy watched as a blinding shield of light seemed to soar out over top of them all and descend upon the dementors.  A brief smile lifting her lips, Buffy hazarded a quick glance back as her sharp eyesight barely made out the shadowed forms of Willow and Tara standing together atop the highest tower of Hogwarts, their hands clasped and somehow channeling enough of the good stuff to not only keep the dementors at bay, but repelling them as well.

    "Strike one for Moldy Wart, check one for the White Hats," Buffy chirped even as she casually tripped a running Death Eater and kept him down with an elbow to the back of his neck.  "And remember, no killing!" she added as Faith launched a wicked roundhouse at another Death Eater, easily taking the person down.

    "Relax B, just getting some payback," Faith retorted as she flashed a bright grin at the blonde.  "Some really good payback," she amended as she flattened another Death Eater with a right hook.

    "Well how about them?  Can we kill them?" Angel asked as he nodded towards the Forbidden Forest where a stream of nasty-looking dark creatures began drifting from the wood.

    "Yeah, they're game," Buffy agreed as she quickly lifted her sword and twirled it experimentally.

    Grinning, Faith slowly nodded appreciatively.  "Now we're talking," she added as she withdrew a couple of daggers from the small of her back.  "And just like old times, eh B?" she asked even as their small little group began advancing on the creatures.

    "Mind some company?"

    Startled, Buffy turned and found herself face to face with Harry, Ron and Hermione - the two obviously refusing to leave their friend's side.  "What about-"

    "Less likely to receive a killing curse from a dragon or a vampire - or even a basilisk," Ron replied for his friend as he and Hermione closed the distance between them.  "I think that it was their way of trying to keep us out of trouble," he added as he threw a nod behind him.

    Curious, Buffy turned and found her eyes lighting on Sirius and Remus as the two battled against the Death Eaters with the other adults - including Giles.  Smiling slightly, Buffy found that it was almost beautiful to watch the wizards duel.  Beautiful and deadly as they ducked and twirled and cast, bright light fighting the darkness.  "I wouldn't have it any other way," she finally murmured as she flashed a grin at the trio before an annoyed yell from Faith reminded her that Angel and Faith had already engaged the enemy.  "Let's go keep them happy," she added as she quickly launched herself forward, soon becoming lost in the fight, Harry never leaving her side.

    The battle was everything that it had promised to be.  His allies were falling fast, but the Death Eaters were falling faster.  The dark night was fragmented and shattered by the bright lights of flying curses, the night sounds overwhelmed by bellowed spells and the agonizing screams of those whom those spells took out.  There was little mercy to be granted by either side and the hits were indiscriminate.  People were falling, people were dying, and their numbers were growing smaller.  But the enemy was growing smaller still.

    "Remus!" Sirius bellowed, his friend heeding his warning and twisting down and out of the way of the Death Eater curse that was fired in his direction, a wave of green death flying over his graying head even as Sirius was retaliating, the power of his spell lifting the enemy and twirling him away into darkness.  He and Remus, the last of the Marauders, had never battled like this, side by side - yet they worked together with a speed and efficiency born out of need and out of decades of friendship.  They understood each other and therefore understood entire messages that were conveyed in a single call, based on the urgency and the note in whatever single word managed to be uttered.

    As time passed the faces of friends and enemies alike twirled by and then disappeared into the darkness.  He was sure that he had caught sight of Dumbledore battling against a horde of Death Eaters, taking on so many that he was a single point of light in a sea of dark robes.  Yet despite his age, his movements were effortless and his true power made those that faced him nearly quake in their coward's masks.  Likewise, he had caught the odd glimpse of Arthur and Molly, always side by side and usually accompanied by one or more of their children even as Moody, Fletcher, and Arabella moved with a grace that defied their age.  It was a battle that called upon their skills of old and the aches and pains that were gained with time were forgotten beneath the desperate need to survive and conquer in this battle.  At one point, Sirius had even found himself working back to back with Severus Snape, their old hatreds forgotten as they worked to oppose those that threatened to overwhelm their numbers.

    "Sirius!"

    Grunting, Sirius dove to the ground even as the heat of the curse seared his skin, missing him by mere inches.  But he wasn't so lucky as to avoid the next curse as another Death Eater took advantage of the first's distraction.

    "Crucio!"

    Unable to prevent his screams of agony from escaping him, Sirius felt his world disappear under a haze of blinding pain.  Even as his muscles tensed and pulled tight, feeling as though they were ripping and shredding and sending liquid fire through his system, Sirius found his hazy thoughts find focus on Harry.  He had to get through this for Harry for he knew that he was all that Harry had left when it came to family.  He needed to survive this battle for Harry or else his death might destroy what was left of his godson.  He had to survive this for Harry and to fulfill his promise to James and Lily.  With that thought, Sirius rode out the pain until it came to a blessed release, the haze clearing form his vision until he was staring up into the worried gray eyes of his last remaining friend.  Confused, Sirius slowly struggled to sit, ignoring his protesting muscles as his eyes found his tormentor lying in a heap before him, a small silver dart protruding from his shoulder.  Sighing, he allowed his eyes to drift to the tall towers that housed the slayer's friends and threw a thankful nod in their direction before returning his attention to his old friend.

    "Are you fit?" Remus asked, not even bothering with the usual worries and questions for both knew that Sirius was not fine.  Then again, such a small thing as being hit with the Cruciatus Curse wasn't enough to warrant him heading into the castle for medical aid.  There was far too much riding on this battle and instead the real question was if he truly was fit.  Fit to continue fighting.

    "Good to go," he muttered as his friend pulled him to his feet, handing him his forgotten wand and turning away even as he did so.  There was no time for niceties and for the desires to reassure each other of their health.  There was no time for anything but the battle that continued to be waged around them.  Besides, it wasn't the first time that Sirius had ever endured the hated unforgivable curse, and he also knew that it wouldn't be the last - probably wouldn't even be the last time that night.

    Shrugging his thoughts away, Sirius quickly returned to the battle, freeing his mind and allowing only the fight to remain... until he saw his friend stiffen, shoulders tensing as gray eyes turned sharply to the side.  "Remus?" he asked, moving over fallen bodies until he was at his friend's side, his eyes warily following Remus' gaze until they fell upon a single Death Eater.  With narrowed eyes, he noted that this man was shorter than the others, fatter too, with a hand that was encased in silver and glittering in the moonlight, causing death and mayhem with an ease that was sickening.  "Wormtail," he muttered, knowing instantly what had caught his friend's attention.

    As one, the two friends fell into step together and began advancing on the single Death Eater, oblivious of their presence until it was far too late.  "Peter," Remus called out, his voice hard and unforgiving as the fat man spun in their directions, familiar and watery eyes meeting theirs from beneath the hood that he wore.

    And even as their old friend and betrayer was lifting his wand towards them, Sirius and Remus both were already calling upon their own magic.  For the first time in his life, Sirius actually felt the desire to call upon the Unforgivables and the need to end this once and for all.  Years ago Harry had begged for mercy on the behalf of the man that had killed his parents, not wanting for Remus and Sirius to become killers like the man that had ruined the lives of so many.  And even though that placed Peter in the position of owing Harry a wizard's debt, that did nothing to stop the rat from arranging the kidnapping of Harry and helping to draw Harry's blood in an act that enabled the rebirth of Voldemort.  Peter's role in the death and mayhem that had followed was significant, and now, Sirius wasn't so sure if Harry would be so willing to grant mercy.  Then again, could he really take that chance?

    With that thought in mind, Sirius changed his mind at the last moment and called out the full-body bind even as his friend tried to disarm the traitor, the two spells merging and creating a completely unanticipated effect.  Grinning despite himself, Sirius carefully stepped forward and eyed the sight before him with open amusement.  "Well, didn't quite see that one coming," he murmured as jabbed the end of his wand into Wormtail's frozen cheek, sniggering as the small movement caused the form, frozen in the act of being disarmed, to topple for a moment before crashing back on the ground.

    "Serves him right," Remus muttered as Peter's eyes glared at them from his frozen state.  "Although I dare say he seems a bit upset with us... and a tad singed," he added, a grin threatening to pull at his own lips.  "Rather remarkable, really," he added, turning back to his friend and shrugging slightly.  "Oh well, then, shall we?" he asked as he nodded back towards the battle.  And after receiving an affirmative nod, the werewolf disappeared in a flare of his worn robes.

    Sighing, Sirius allowed himself one more pleasurable glance at Wormtail's frozen form before he found his eyes turning to a different battle that was being waged far away from their own, near the borders of the Forbidden Forest.  The two slayers and the vampire moved with a speed and deadly accuracy that was terrifying to watch as they wreaked havoc upon the dark creatures that swarmed from the wood.  And amongst them Sirius could just make out the familiar forms of his godson and his two best friends, the light from their cast spells illuminating them in the darkness.  He hadn't wanted to send Harry away from his side, but Remus had a point for the children were far safer in the company of the slayers and the vampire then amongst the Death Eaters that milled around them.  In addition, Sirius probably would have gotten himself killed already had he been fighting alongside his godson.  His best friend knew him too well as they both knew that Sirius would have focused his attention to his godson's welfare the entire fight - an act that would have ultimately cost them both.  Even now, he was endangering himself by allowing this small measure of relief - of assurance.  Harry had to be okay because otherwise... otherwise Sirius wasn't sure if he could survive it.

    Shaking his head, the tall man quickly turned his eyes back to the battle.  It seemed as though in his distraction Remus had gained a new fighting partner in the form of the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts.  Knowing then that his friend's back would be protected, Sirius allowed his eyes to fall upon another form, fighting alone and terribly outnumbered.  Grinning roguishly he quickly hurried towards his new companion.  He knew that Harry's slayer would have his hide, again, if he allowed anything to happen to her beloved watcher.  So, he would just have to make sure that the older man kept himself out of trouble... or vice versus, he realized as Giles downed a Death Eater that had been stalking Sirius' own back.  Nodding in thanks, Sirius allowed himself one last longing glance to his godson before throwing himself into battle.

To be continued...