Sorry, it won’t be a long chap – but I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Words in # # are telepathy

THE BEGINNING

“YOU WILL NOT PASS.” The demon is bombarded with countless curses, burnt with Fire; blades are swishing, Unicorn horns sever the clammy tentacles… One coils round Snape’s leg, he slashes it but another one is coming, then another one, he can’t breathe, the world starts to blur…

#Is this worth dying for?#

#Yes, Aryman.# - he answers. What is THIS demon doing here?!

#Is this worth all the hell you had to endure?#

#Not your business.# - he snaps. Strange, but the power of Aryman forced the Deanimator to let him go.

#Is it? If you could choose once again, would you drop the service by Voldemort once more?# This beast is really insolent and nosy! #Yes or no?# Aryman’s power makes him answer.

#Yes.#

#Are you sure?#

#Yes.#

#You could have turned the Dark Lord. You still can; there’s no Voldemort to fight; you’d have no equal enemy.#

#Get lost. I won’t.#

#You’ve always craved for power, Severus.#

#This slaughter isn’t power. It’s only cruelty.#

#So would you die for these people?#

#And what do you think I am doing now?!#

#Sometimes living is a greater sacrifice than death, Severus. You know it well.#

#Want to buy some pain from me?#

#Don’t I feed on sacrifices, Severus? There’s a lot of them here.#

#So how much do you want? Hurry, or the Deanimator will kill them!# Aryman laughs and the world starts spinning faster and faster, till it disappears…

He opens his eyes and the strong light hits him. He blinks – he’s on a chamber with no roof… He rubs his eyes, not believing his own senses - it is – it used to be – Hospital Wing.

“He’s woken up!”

“Aegnor, shut up.” – he croaks but the door opens and people start running in. The Karkaroffs, Naya, Draco, Harry, Pansy, Remus, Sirius… “What the hell?” – he barks.

“He’ll be all right.” – says Aegnor aloud. “If his sarcasm is intact, he’s going to heal.” Some people laugh. Snape sits on his bed.

“What happened?”

“We’ve won! Severus, we’ve won!” – shouts Draco aloud.

“I suppose so.” – murmurs Severus, hugging him. – “Because we’re alive. But how?”

“We were about to yield.” – whispers Vlad – “The Deanimator grasped you and we hurried to help you – and something, somebody I’d say, came and asked whether we’d do it again. Taking part in this war, I mean. I said yes and I think many others, too… And this being ripped the Deanimator into pieces. Just such flecks remained but they disappeared, too.” Snape smiles wryly.

“Aryman.” – he whispers – “She feeds on sacrifices… Came to save us.”

“To save you.” – interrupts Hermione. “I’ve been reading about that lately.” Snape can’t help a small smile – is there anything on Earth that can distract her from learning? “Draco told me you had called Aryman once. The demon remains bound to such a wizard forever. She came to help you, feeling you courage and…”

“And enough lofty words, Demon Fighter.” – he replies. “You were all great, all of you.”

(a week later)

Severus enters the Great Hall. Some debris has already been removed but there’s still a lot of dirt, broken glass and stones on the floor. The ceiling has always been bewitched to look like a sky but now you can see the real sky, if you look up. The wind raises clouds of dust but he calms it down with a spell. He sighs – most of the castle is destroyed. No tower is standing anymore; it’d hard to find any piece of roof, the walls of the Great Hall are half-broken… Luckily they had hidden all precious things in the dungeons before the battle. A piece of glass crushes under his foot with a loud crack. He slowly approaches the tables. There are a few now as today they all are going to meet. There are not only places for the people prepared but also for non-human fighters. The Unicorns march in equal rows, powerful and proud as ever. Avalanche the Leader stares at him with her wise, blue eyes, what makes him think of Dumbledore. Albus is gone… Now it’s his turn to take the Headmaster’s duties. He paces to the last table and stares at the Headmaster’s armchair. According to Albus’ wish, it belongs to him now but how can he replace Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of all times, as great as Merlin? OK, he is his ancestor, Merlin’s Foal, as the Unicorns are calling him now but does it matter? “It is our choices, Severus, that shows what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – Albus’ voice is ringing in his head. His hands clench tight on the back of the armchair. Now he is the Headmaster, the Phoenixer, Master of Potions, one of the best in the world, a celebrity heavy with honors; he’ll receive all the orders English MOM can give him, not to mention that another MOMs are grateful, too. Still, he’d choose to be a normal, average wizard – if it could bring Dumbledore back. He keeps staring at entering fighters… The vampires in their usual black, with their shining swords. Three Demon Fighters, with flames on their fingertips. His daughters, the Healers. The students, many accompanied by their families. MOM’s Aurors and Hit Wizards – they did hell of a good job. Hari and her friends. The Balrogs. They all march wordlessly across the ruined hall, only their footsteps echo against the walls. One by one, they take their seats. Snape sweeps across the Hall with his eyes. There should be many more among them but they’re gone. The night of Voldemort has come to an end but many can’t see that. Lily. Hagrid. So many others. It’ll be a strange feast – full of joy but also of grief. The war is over but it’ll take a lot of time and effort to rebuild everything.

“Severus” – Harry’s quiet voice interrupts his musings.

“What?” – he croaks.

“He wanted this seat to be yours. Take it then.” Snape smiles wryly.

“No wizard can replace Dumbledore.”

“I know but you’ll be the Headmaster he’d be proud of. He wanted that.” Snape smiles again and sits down. Finally, everyone involved in the last battle have gathered. Snape stands up, knowing that they’re waiting for his speech.

“Friends” – he begins – “I’d like to thank everyone who helped to destroy Voldemort’s Dark Realm. I’d like to thank everyone who helped to fight the Deanimator. The night is over; now we must rebuild all what was destroyed. We faced the danger; now we must face the reconstruction. Well, I heard some saying that this battle was an end. They were wrong – it was just the beginning.”

THE END