Chapter Text
“ I will be going to the Potter’s tonight.”
Severus’s ears rang with echo of the Dark Lord’s words as he apparated onto the muggle street in Berkshire. Cracks sounded off like gunshots behind him as ten other Death Eaters appeared at his side, all of them--including himself--masked. He wanted to lash out at them, snap and snarl like a caged animal, especially when Wilkes patted him on the shoulder with an air of arrogance. Instead, he shoved the other’s hand off of his shoulder and curled his lip in disgust. The dread in his heart only increased as Rosier stuck to his side like a bur as the rest split off into groups or pairs, bombarding holes into the walls of the muggle homesteads around them.
“You must prove your loyalty, Severus. I will spare the mudblood but do not think you will go unwatched tonight.”
Guilt and a sharp knife of ice stabbed at his lungs as Severus forced himself to take one step after another into a house behind Rosier. This evening had turned into a nightmare the minute he’d stepped into the Death Eater meeting to see that cowardly bastard of a rat shuddering and groveling at the Dark Lord’s feet, a Dark Mark upon his arm as he spilled every single secret he’d ever been trusted with. It had taken everything in Severus to not lash out and kill the rat where he stood. He was a spy for Merlin’s sake! He couldn’t risk his position like that, as much as he wished to. Pettigrew would be dead by the end of the night if he had anything to say about it though. He’d signed his death warrant the moment he’d betrayed Lily and James.
The urge to disapparate and warn Lily, or even bloody Potter, was growing stronger by the minute. Severus wanted to flee into the night, scream, flick his wand, anything! But he couldn’t. He had to stay put and play the manipulated puppet.
He bit down harshly on his tongue, the acrid taste of iron flooding his mouth as Rosier gestured for him to go down the hall. Severus could hear screaming come from down the street. Someone, likely Tolov, was having fun with a muggle woman--as was his usual modus operandi. He shook the thought away and crept silently towards one of the bedrooms, ignoring as another sharp scream joined the first and the smell of smoke wafted into the house. A door behind him slammed open, followed by a gleeful “ Crucio !” and cries as the victims started to thrash.
Nauseated, with his limbs twitching in remembered experience--the Dark Lord was never kind, and he knew Severus was toed the line enough to make an example of him--he pressed forward. He couldn’t help them. No one could. The muggles had been slated for destruction the moment they’d been born in the same world as someone like Lord Voldemort. There was a soft squeak to his left that had his head snapping up from the floor.
A little girl with bright red hair stared back at him like he was a monster. If it wasn’t for her blue eyes, Severus would have found himself staring at another gentle child who had looked at an abused boy and decided to be friends. His heart clenched painfully at the thought. The little girl started to tear up and cry as her father’s howling ripped down the hallway and she scuttled back, the bottom of her pajamas wet as she peed herself fleeing back into her room. Severus watched vacantly, mind numb, as the little girl stood protectively between him and a much smaller child--no more than two--with curly blonde hair. She was frightened but still hoping to protect her sister.
Severus didn’t even realize the house had fallen silent once more until Rosier was pressed up against his back. “I see you’ve found some new friends, Snape. Let’s play with them and see how loud they can scream.”
“Go away!” the older girl shrieked, a book flinging itself at Severus’s face, causing him to stumble back at the attack.
She had magic.
“A little mudblood? Now things are interesting,” he could hear the grin in Rosier’s voice as the man launched himself into the room, wand already at the ready. “ Cru- ”
Something in Severus snapped.
“ Sectumsempra, ” he hissed, wand flicking out with barely a twitch of his wrist. He watched as the magic sliced through the mask on Rosier’s face, exposing the open shock on it to the rest of the room as blood streamed across and between his eyes.
Rosier was dead before he hit the floor, a second slash across his jugular.
Heart and mind racing, Severus turned to the two small children. “Hide and don’t come out until you hear the police,” he instructed them, the words harsh and commanding. He didn’t bother to wait to see if they listened, already rushing out of the house--passing the now still bodies of the girls’ parents--and into the burning street. Bodies littered the street, some mutilated beyond recognition while others lay as still as if they were sleeping. The acrid smell of smoke had built up, at least two of the houses completely burned down while another three smoldered on.
A little more of Severus broke, the brittle pieces falling to join the massacre around him.
Damn Dumbledore’s orders. He’d already blown his cover, he wasn’t going to let any more children become orphans tonight.
“Nice of you to join us, Snape!” Wilkes laughed, casually strolling out of one house, mask covered in blood, “Has Rosier decided to let you off the leash and join in on the-”
A flash of green light had Wilkes falling like the sack of rocks. There was an outraged cry from the five other death eaters that had emerged from nearby houses at his words, and soon a barrage of various lights, most of them green, came hurtling towards Severus. With the dangerous grace he’d become so proud of, the potion’s master whirled into action, counterspells and curses flying off of his tongue.
Four left.
Two joined the throng only to die a few seconds later with a clever Bombarda .
Sectumsempra cut down another three.
The last two died as he lit their robes on fire and trapped the remnants of a house on them, leaving them to suffocate in the flames.
Severus’s breathing was heavy and his face covered in sweat as he reached up to his mask and tore it away, throwing it at the nearest body with a resounding thud. He ignored the burning of tears along his cheeks as he stumbled forward, nursing a cut across his side and the bursts of pain that came from Stoor’s Cruciatus ricocheting along his nerves. Soot mixed with the tears gave him a much more disheveled look than he’d ever admit, but he didn’t care.
He had to get to the Potters.
Lily was in trouble.
He had to save her.
Forcing himself to summon the last dregs of his energy, he apparated, the world twisting and turning in a sickening manner around him.
Merlin, don’t let him splinch.
He’d be worse than useless if he was missing a limb or-
The world snapped into focus.
Severus sunk to his knees as soon as he registered the sight in front of him.
A baby’s cry echoed in the night, and all Severus could do was stare at the destroyed remnants of the Potter’s cottage.
He was too late.
His scream joined the countless others across England that night as he shattered.