What Can You Do?

Disclaimer: Please review and I only own the OC.

Again, thank you to Darkangelfirekitsune for being my beta and putting up with me ^-^

If there are any A/N in this chapter they will be marked with a * and the meaning behind it will be at the bottom of the chapter.

***There are going to be straight, gay, and lesbian pairings in this story***

***Don't like. Don't read***

Chapter 17

"What you are asking of us is a suicidal mission," said a female from one of the chairs around the table.

"We know the risk, and that we are asking a lot, but we also know what the consequences are if we don't cast these spells. Without them, everyone within the walls is a potential threat. All it takes is someone dying, to have the mortuus here. That is why we are asking for volunteers. No one will be forced to help, but protecting the children should be our top concern," Minerva said sitting with Severus and Poppy next to her. The rest of the staff and adults, that we're able to make it to Hogwarts safely, filled up the rest of the seats.

"If we set foot outside the wards, we are signing our death certificates. So why are you asking us, when you have staff that can complete this task?" the female from earlier asked.

"Because as you said earlier, there are risks, and as I said, we will not force anyone to put their lives in danger. As I said when we first opened the doors, that this is no longer just a school. That all decisions will not solely be made by one individual. We will work together because no one person will have complete power. The only thing that the staff and I have a final say over, is the safety of the children whose parent(s) or guardian(s) did not make it here. So, Mrs. Gibbon is there any other questions that I may answer?" Minerva asked looking her in the eyes.

"No, but I can think of a few 'people' that should go," she said looking at Remus, before turning her stare back to Minerva.

"If there are no more questions or comments, then we are done for today. Everyone take a few days to think it over, but the sooner the wards go up the safer we all are. Goodnight," Minerva said nodding her head, signaling that the meeting was over. Standing up, some of the adults headed towards the doors, while others lingered around the Great Hall, talking amongst themselves. Standing up from her seat, Minerva saw that Remus was heading her way. Getting ready to talk with him, she was stopped when Mrs. Gibbon appeared right in front of her.

"Can I have a word with you in private?" she asked while glaring over her shoulder at Remus. Letting out a sigh, Minerva also looked at Remus who was trying and failing, at hiding his laughter.

"I'll talk with you later Headmistress," Remus said with a smile on his face. Nodding at both of the women he then turned and walked away. Once Remus had left the Great Hall, Minerva looked around and saw that she and Mrs. Gibbon were the last two there. Looking at her, Minerva could tell that this conversation was going to give her an even bigger headache. Taking in a deep breath she slowly let it out and said, "Yes. What can I help you with?"

"I just want to bring up a solution to our problem," Mrs. Gibbon said looking Minerva straight in the eyes. Nodding her head to show that she was listening, she waited to hear what else came out of Mrs. Gibbon's mouth.

"I know you know of Mr. Lupins 'condition'," she said sneering it out.

"And I know how we can 'fix' it and put these wards up. If he somehow gets 'locked out' well it kills two birds with one stone. No one is at fault and it can't be blamed on anyone. A simple accident," she said with such glee. Horrified by what was just said, Minerva looked up at the ceiling, unable to look her in the eyes.

"Mrs. Gibbon, as I said the first day and will continue to say, Hogwarts is open to everyone in this time of need. Yes Mr. Lupin's 'condition', as you say, is one we all know of. We have taken measures to ensure that he, along with everyone else remains safe. Now what you are suggesting is horrible and will not be brought up again. I know your views on anyone that is not clean, but please understand if I have to put up with bigots being in my school, well then you can put up with Mr. Lupin," Minerva said turning and leaving Mrs. Gibbon speechless.

Walking through the doorway, Minerva started to turn right to head towards her chambers when a hand grabbed her arm. Turning around lightning fast she pulled out her wand when her gaze landed on Mrs. Gibbon, she lowered it but kept it ready.

"Now listen here. I am Violet Gibbon and I will not be ignored. When this whole thing blows over you will want to be on my good side. If not, then you will no longer work here. Now you will do as I say and have that filthy beast locked out. It is bad enough that I have to be stuck here living the way I do, with other unclean people, but I will not live in a place with a filthy disgusting beast. While you're at it, throw the offspring out also," she sneered.

"I already told you…" Minerva started to say before she was interrupted.

"Is there and issue here Headmistress," Severus said walking down the hallway. He took in the situation before setting his gaze on Mrs. Gibbon. Trying to make herself look taller, she straightened out her spine, but it didn't help with her only being 4'11".

"Yes, there is a problem, Severus," Mrs. Gibbon said in a sickly-sweet tone.

"As you know, there is a bit of a filth problem at this school, and I was just kindly letting the Headmistress know that it needs to be taken care of. Wouldn't you agree?" she said with the same fake smile still on her face.

"I believe I understand what you mean Mrs. Gibbon. Let me talk with the Headmistress and we can see what can be done." Turning to Minerva he continued, "If you would not mind following me, there are some things we need to discuss and during this time we can figure out how to get Mrs. Gibbon's and her son home safely." Holding in her laughter, Minerva smiled politely at Mrs. Gibbon before walking away with Severus, leaving her standing in the hallway in fury.

"Thank you," she said letting the laughter slip into her tone, once they were far enough away.

"You're welcome. I might not like the mutt or his son, but during this time beggars can't be choosers."

"Of course. There is no other reason at all," Minerva said now laughing outright. Glaring at her, Severus' cheeks were dusted with pink, confirming the claim.

"Come. We have a lot to talk about," he said walking faster down the corridor. Trailing behind him Minerva continued to laugh.

~~~Few Days Later~~~

"Do you really have to go?" asked a boy about 12-year-olds, with bright blue hair.

"Yes. I know you're scared but I am the only one that can lead them safely through the passageway. Draco and Neville will be with me. Just stay with Hermione and Ron until I get back," Remus said pulling Teddy into a hug. Kissing the top of his head, he let him go and lightly pushed him into Hermione's arms.

"You can play with Artie, Rose, and Hugo until he gets back," she said. Looking up at her, Teddy nodded his head ok before looking back at his father.

"Please be safe," Teddy said with misty eyes.

"Always*," Remus responded with a loving smile. Walking to the statue of the hump-backed witch, he took out his wand and tapped it against it while saying dissendium. This caused the hump to move in enough that a person could walk behind.

"Careful, the steps are steep," he said before disappearing. Holding his wand up he cast lumos, illuminating the passageway. Walking down the steps, as soon as he hit even ground, he walked far enough away that the others had enough room to stand. Once he counted five pairs of eyes looking at him, he took in a deep breath.

"To reopen the passageway into Hogwarts you just need to stand right below it. I don't know if this will also work with the dead so please be careful. Now, this passageway leads into Honeydukes' cellar, but it does branch off into dead ends. So, follow me. Also, since we don't know if the store is empty, we need to be as quiet as possible. Once we start the wards the pairs will be Jeremy and Neville. Leo, with Stephine, and Draco with me. Decide amongst yourself who will start first, but once you start to feel tired switch with your lookout. I know we want the wards up as soon as possible but draining your core, puts us all at risk. Slow and steady. Does anyone have any questions?"

"What do you want us to do if we find survivors?" Stephine asked.

"Cast quid enim mali est. If the spell shows symptoms of a fever and a wound, separate them. Once it's safe, Poppy will give everyone a check over, but they will be first. Be safe," Remus said getting nods from the others. Turning he started to walk down the passageway. The further they walked the lower the ceiling got until they were having to crouch down just to continue. It would not have been too bad if they were shorter, but with all of them being over 5'7", it was a pain in the back*. Coming to a dead-end, Remus pointed above him.

Walking over to stand next to him, Neville pulled his wand out, nodding his head that he was ready. Putting his hands on the loose stone, Remus pushed it up enough that Neville could see if the coast was clear. Getting a nod, he pushed it to the side so everyone could get out. Once done, they push the stone back into place and slowly started to make their way throughout the building, staying on alert for any sign of movement.

Once it was cleared, they stepped outside and ward it so only they could enter. Taking in their surroundings they started to walk towards Hogwarts. On the way up they started to split off into their pairs; going to predetermined points. Once they reach the edge of the wards protecting Hogwarts, they started casting cave mori, right away. Slowly, circling Hogwarts in a clockwise formation. About mid-day Remus sent out his patronus, telling everyone to take a break.

"With the way we are going we should be done right before nightfall," Draco said sitting down.

"Hopefully, there is enough time to check for any survivors," Draco continued while looking to the village on his left.

"Looks that way," Remus said sitting down next to him. Pulling a bag out from his pocket, he enlarged it and pulled out a sandwich. "Anyone you are hoping for?" he asked.

"Astoria and Scorpius. A part of me hopes that they are at home and safe, but another part of me hopes that they are here."

"Not your parents?"

"Yes and no. I love them, and I know that they love me to a point, but we have not talked since Scorpius's birth. They did not agree with the way that Astoria and I want to raise him." Looking back at Remus he saw the soft smile on his face and gave one back.

"I want Scorpius to know his cousins. I don't want him to be like I was as a kid. An arrogant self-centered brat that ran to his father over every little thing. I want him to be able to stand on his own two feet, but also that he can come to me for anything. I want to be the dad to him that my father was never to me." Nodding his head in understanding, Remus just sat there eating the sandwiches that the house-elves had packed from them. Reaching into the bag he pulled out and handed one to Draco, who gave him thanks before starting to eat.

"I understand. I want to raise Teddy differently than my family raised me. I was loved up until I was attacked and left cursed. My father could not look me in the eyes after. I was no longer his son and he made sure I never forgot it. That I was not loved and that no one would ever love me. When I went to Hogwarts it was a breath of fresh air. I made friends and when they found out and did not shun me, I felt like for once in my life my father was wrong. So, when he kicked me out after I graduated from Hogwarts, and ended up living with Sirius, I was happy. I was living with the man I had a crush on. I knew it was pointless, he was too much of a womanizer to ever settle down, but I was happy."

"Then Voldemort attacked," Draco said.

"Yea. Then Voldemort attacked. I thought there goes my chance at a normal happy life. Everything my father told me was true. That I was a monster and that I would never have a happy life. That it was impossible for anyone to love me. Well, that was until a magenta hair woman barged into my life and would not leave until she got her way," he said a sad smile on his face. Nodding his head in understanding, Draco looked at the trees right in front of him.

"As I said, my parents are unhappy that we are raising Scorpius not to believe that anyone that is not a pureblood is below him. We have had a lot of fights over this but looking back on what hate has done to us, done to me, I can't live that way anymore."

"Has nothing to do with the crush you had on my godson," Remus said with a smirk on his face. Letting out a laugh, Draco shook his head. Looking out the side of his eye he laughed again before looking forward.

"Well, it does seem that Harry does not tell you everything."

"What do you mean?"

"We were not as oblivious as we let everyone believe. We have never been able to explain it, but we have always just been pulled towards the other, to the point we ended up losing or virginities together," Draco said laughing again at the expression on Remus's face.

"I always thought he would have bragged about it, but it seems what he said was true," Draco said getting up. Dusting himself off he turned to look at Hogwarts before looking at Remus.

"He is a private person. Especially when it comes to his love life," Remus said getting up. Keeping his back towards Hogwarts he pulled his wand out and continued to look at the Forbidden Forest. Taking in a deep breath Draco started back up with casting the spell.

Continuing, they slowly started to make their way into the forest, hoping that nothing bad would happen.

~~~~~~~~Slytherin~~~~~~~~

A/N-Also if anyone has any questions about the story please ask.
1. Sue me. (FYI, I have nothing.)

2. Yea short people for the win.

~~~~~~~~Ravenclaw~~~~~~~~

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