and staggered over rocks and sticks.

"No... no... no!" Someone was screaming.

"No! Fred! No!" Percy shook his brother, Ron knelt beside them, and Fred's eyes were almost closed, weak.

Cassiopeia instinctively knelt down. Everything she had learned from Madam Pomfrey flooded her mind in flashes of light as she examined the wounds and closed them without uttering a word. The hand holding her wand was shining brightly with blue light. A dizzying sensation overtook her as her magic flowed into the body in front of her.

Fred gasped, his eyes widened, and he sat up suddenly before falling again, weakened. Ron sighed, a mixture of relief and emotion, and Percy shed tears, the two brothers hugging Fred tightly.

"I thought you..." Ron cried, holding his brother. "For a moment..."

Cassi, still dizzy from the intensity of the healing, was surprised when Percy jumped on her, embracing her warmly and lifting her off the ground, repeatedly saying "thank you."

Weakness overcame her, and she felt as if she had donated part of her own magic.

She remembered Madam Pomfrey's explanation from years ago. Healers really channeled magical energy, which is why they usually work in groups — it's safer that way.
Harry helped her stay on her feet when she almost fell, concerned about her condition.
Draco emerged from the shadows and knelt down, also concerned.

"Cassi, that's enough. You can't fight like this," he pleaded, distressed.

"No... No... I have to protect the Chosen One," Cassi tried to get up, but her vision blurred for a moment. It took a few seconds for her vision to readjust.

"What are you saying?" Harry asked, confused by her statement.

"My prophecy, you airhead," Cassiopeia replied, almost in a whisper. "My role is to ensure your victory. And something else about being a leader of nations, but it doesn't matter now."

Harry gasped in shock before smiling at her and taking her hand. But then a wave of spells passed over their heads, and everyone threw themselves to the ground.

Fred was still very weak, he needed to rest.
"Let's get him out of here," Cassi requested, helping Percy on the other side as they carried Fred down the corridor.

Draco looked scared, and Goyle disappeared into the corridors.

"Stay close, Ferret, you're without a wand," Cassiopeia worriedly requested.

Ron positioned himself between Hermione and Draco and seemed to have taken on a bodyguard role, as he watched everything around them, shielding Draco from approaching spells.

They entered an empty room and sat Fred down.

"You stay here!" Cassi instructed, seating him in a chair and checking his forehead.

"I'll take care of him while you go," Draco offered, taking Fred's wand and standing protectively in front of the door.

"Are you sure, Malfoy?" Ron asked, seeming emotional about the help to his family.

"Yes, go, quickly!" Draco yelled, and they hurriedly left.

Percy sprinted off, shouting with anger at a wizard who was chasing some Ravenclaw students. "DON'T CHASE LITTLE CHILDREN!" he yelled in pursuit.

"Let's fight!" Ron urged.

"No, we have to find the snake. Only we can stop this," Hermione reminded him.

"Harry, focus. Try to get into his mind, look for Nagini," Cassiopeia gently requested, touching his shoulder.

It felt like minutes passed. With a gasp, Harry opened his eyes.

"He's in the Shrieking Shack. The snake is with him, it's somehow magically protected. And he just sent Lucius Malfoy to fetch Snape."

"Voldemort is sitting in the Shrieking Shack?!" Hermione exclaimed, outraged. "He's not... he's not even fighting?"

"He thinks he doesn't need to fight. Thinks I'll come looking for him."

"But why?"

"He knows I want the Horcruxes... he's keeping Nagini close to him... obviously, I'll have to go after him to get to that thing..."

"Right," Ron said, straightening his shoulders.

"So, you can't go, if that's what he wants, what he's waiting for. You stay here and look after Hermione, and I'll go get..."

Harry interrupted him.

"You two stay here. I'll use the Invisibility Cloak and come back as soon as..."

"No," Cassi disagreed. "Don't you dare!"

"Don't even think about it," Ron said firmly.
Before anyone could respond, the tapestry at the top of the stairs they were on was torn.

"POTTER!"

Two masked Death Eaters stood there, but before they could finish raising their wands, Hermione ordered, "Glisseo!"

The steps beneath their feet flattened, forming a slope down which she, Cassi, Harry, and Ron slid, unable to control their speed. They slid so high that the Stunning Spells from the Death Eaters passed well above their heads. The wizards crashed through the tapestry that concealed them and tumbled onto the opposite wall.

"Stupefy!" Cassiopeia cried, pointing her wand at the tapestry, and they heard two loud and sickening thuds as the tapestry turned into stone and the pursuing Death Eaters collapsed upon impact, unmasked.

"Back!" Ron shouted, and the four of them flattened themselves against a door just as a thunderous herd of cabinets galloped past, herded by a speedy Minerva.

She apparently didn't notice them; her hair had come undone, and there was a cut on her face. As she turned the corner, they heard her order, "ATTACK!"

My godmother is amazing, Cassi thought, filled with pride.

"Harry, put on the cloak," Hermione said. "Don't worry about us..."

He, however, threw the cloak over the four of them; Cassi was astonished, as everyone's feet were exposed.

"No, protect yourselves. There isn't enough room for all of us," she panted, pushing them. "I'll follow behind."

Harry tried to protest but fell silent when he saw her gaze.

They descended the next staircase and encountered a corridor full of fighters. The portraits on either side were full of figures shouting advice and encouragement, while Death Eaters, both masked and unmasked, dueled with students and professors.

Dean had acquired a wand and was face-to-face with Amycus; Parvati was facing Travers.

Peeves was flying overhead, throwing dung bombs at the Death Eaters, while shouting, "Evil invaders at Hogwarts! Only I should cause chaos around here!"

Cassiopeia raised her wand and began firing spells at the Death Eaters. If the flashes of light beside her were any indication, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were attacking as well.

The brilliance traveled down the corridor, and she knew they were leaving the entrance hall.
Students were running all over the school, defending themselves while helping fallen and injured classmates.

Hagrid seemed badly hurt in a corner against the wall, but there was no way to get past to help.

When they reached the gates, things were even worse. Many people were down and injured. A wave of Dementors was approaching them, and a large group raised their wands at the same time, sending their Patronuses with all their might.

It was an incredibly powerful wave of light. A large portion of Dumbledore's Army was there with wands raised.

Harry pulled out the Invisibility Cloak and looked at all of them. He seemed lost in thought, but Cassi grabbed his wrist, reminding him about the Shrieking Shack.

"The Whomping Willow! Now!"

Everyone had to wait, as they had to run, they had to get to the snake and Voldemort, because it was the only way to end this.

They ran swiftly, ignoring the jets of light flying through the darkness around them, the sound of the lake breaking like the sea, and the creaks of the Forbidden Forest, even though it was a calm night; through the gardens that seemed to have rebelled themselves.

Cassi ran faster than she had ever run in her life, and it was her who first saw the great tree, the Whomping Willow that guarded the secret within its roots with branches that cut like whips.

Breathing heavily, Harry almost stumbled over her.

Circling the Whomping Willow's thrashing branches, examining its thick trunk in the darkness, trying to locate the unique knot in the old tree's bark that would freeze it in place.

Ron and Hermione caught up, so out of breath they could hardly speak.

"How... how do we get in?" Ron gasped.

"Could... see the place... if only we had... Crookshanks..."

"Crookshanks?" Hermione exclaimed, doubled over, clutching her chest. "Are you a wizard or not?"

"Well, you've got an Animagus," Cassi joked before transforming into a fox and darting into the hole beneath the tree. The Whomping Willow abruptly stopped, and she followed the tunnel. Her friends following closely behind.

They moved in silence. Cassi reverted to her human form with her wand raised, eyes fixed on the flickering light of her wand tip. Eventually, the tunnel began to slope upwards, and ahead, she saw a crack of light.

"The cloak, Harry," Hermione whispered. "Put on the cloak!"

Harry pulled the cloak over his shoulders, and they all murmured "Nox," extinguishing the wand's light and continuing to crawl as quietly as possible. All their senses were on edge, waiting every second to be discovered, to hear the cold, clear voice, to see a flash of green light.

Then, they heard voices coming from the room directly ahead, muffled because the tunnel's end was blocked by what looked like an old crate.

There was a small crack in the wall where they peered through.

The room was dimly lit, but they could see Nagini, coiling and twisting as if under water, protected within her enchanted sphere of stars, floating unsupported in the air. They could see the edge of a table and a pale hand with long fingers playing with a wand.

Then Snape spoke, and Cassi was relieved to see the professor was alright: the wizard was just inches from where he was hiding.

"My Lord, the resistance is collapsing..."

"And it's doing so without your help," Voldemort retorted, his voice clear and sharp.

"Even as a competent wizard, Severus, I doubt you'll make much difference now. We're almost there... almost." He turned and walked away.

"Lucius tried to make me retreat. Worried about his brat. Fool."

"Let me search for the boy. Let me bring Potter. I know I can find him, my Lord. Please," Snape moved in front of the crack, and they all shuffled back slightly.

"I have a problem, Snape," Voldemort said softly.

"My Lord?"

Voldemort raised the Elder Wand, holding it with the delicacy and precision of a conductor's baton.

"Why doesn't it work for me, Severus?"

Oh no... Because the wand belongs to the wizard who kills its previous owner.

Snape...

But something is wrong

"My Lord... let me go to the boy..."

"You have been a loyal and faithful servant, and I regret what must happen. The Elder Wand cannot truly serve me, Severus, because I am not its true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its previous owner. You killed Albus Dumbledore. As long as you live, Severus, the Elder Wand cannot truly be mine."

"My Lord... My Lord!" Snape protested, raising the wand.

"It cannot be any other way," Voldemort replied. "I must master the wand, Severus. I master the wand, and I master Potter at last."
And Voldemort slashed the air with the Elder Wand. It didn't affect Snape, who, for a split second, seemed to think his execution had been temporarily suspended, but then Voldemort's intention became clear. The cage around the snake spun in the air, and before Snape could do more than let out a single cry, it engulfed him, head and shoulders, and Voldemort began speaking in Parseltongue.

"Kill."

A terrible scream echoed. Cassi saw Snape's face lose what little color remained, grow pale, and his black eyes widen as the snake's fangs sank into his neck. He hadn't managed to repel the enchanted cage in time, and his knees buckled as he fell to the ground.

"I'm sorry," Voldemort said coldly.

The Dark Lord turned to leave, devoid of any sadness or remorse. It was time to leave the house and assume command, with the wand that would now obey him perfectly. He pointed it at the starry cage containing the snake, and it rose, moving away from Snape, who lay motionless on the ground, blood spurting from the wounds on his neck. Voldemort left the room imperiously, not even glancing back, and the massive snake floated alongside him in its protective sphere.

Cassi waited a few seconds before rushing to the professor.

She pulled out a kit from her pocket.
Come on, come on, come on. Desperately searching for the antidote to Nagini's venom, she tried to stem the flow of blood from Snape's neck.

Snape was in tears as he looked at Harry.

"Get the, get the," he pleaded, pointing to his face.

Cassi grabbed an empty vial to collect it. Her hand was bloody as her other hand finally found it.

"Do not you dare die, Professor. Don't you dare!" She shouted at him, her own tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Look at me, Harry," Snape asked softly.

No, no, no.

Cassi held his face and forced the antidote into his mouth.

He trembled in agony but swallowed. She raised her wand, trying to close the wound on his neck as she remembered seeing Andy do on her shoulder.

It didn't look great, but it would have to do. Then she used what she had seen Draco do.

"Professor..." Harry murmured, kneeling and holding his hand.

"Go to the Pensieve," Snape whispered weakly.

"Go."

Cassi turned to her friend. "Go ahead. I'll take care of him, I'll follow you later," she practically pushed him and handed him the vial with the tears.

Harry snapped out of his stupor and followed Ron and Hermione anxiously.

"You've always been my favorite student," Snape whispered with a weak smile. "The most talented."

She tearfully returned the smile.

"You're my favorite teacher. But now, shut up and don't strain yourself," she ordered, searching for something to cover the wound.