A/N: This isn't going to be a long story, if we reach 10 chapters it will be a miracle.

This a bit of an AU, where the Death Eaters divide, but the happenings in DH remains the same, only no Lucius or Draco in the Manor when Harry arrives.

Chapter 1: It was his fault

"Please, Severus."

Severus cast the spell, the blinding flash of green light hitting the aged headmaster in the chest. A gasp, and it was over.

Dumbledore had fallen. No one ever thought it possible, yet there he lay, his body broken, his body withered and old. The hero, the Merlin of sorts of the modern time, the thought-to-be immortal father of the Order of the Phoenix. Dead.

Draco looked on in terror. This meant punishment. This meant torture.

It meant... death.

He didn't want to return. He couldn't. He was too afraid. So... so afraid of what would happen. He would see his father's disdain and his mother's broken heart.

Severus Snape, his confidante, brother, best friend and father figure all rolled into one, had betrayed him. He'd nailed the nail in Draco's coffin. And he didn't even know it.

When Draco'd seized the Astronomy Tower, he'd known he would fail. Only proved when his aunt Bellatrix had been the one to disarm Dumbledore, being too hasty. They had no idea where Potter was.

Snape seized his godson by the arm, dragging him to the gates of Hogwarts and, in extension, to the depths of hell, for heaven had no place for a coward and traitor like him.

Throw the tunnel of breath-stealing darkness, in his home and immediately faced with the noseless tyrant.

"Was I not merciless enough?" The Dark Lord demanded, his voice even, but a blind man could feel the danger his soft tone held, "Did I not give you enough time, Draco?"

Draco said nothing. He had nothing to say. He knew he would meet his end this night. The tyrant was simply toying with him, much like his aunt enjoyed to do.

"My lord," Snape spoke up, causing Draco to wince, "we did as you said, I killed him,"

"I know, Severus, and you have served me well. Draco, however, is another matter. He has not done as I said, he has not obeyed me, therefor he shall be punished." Voldemort explained. Draco wanted to huff; Severus was no pre-schooler in need of an in-depht explanation. It was all rather obvious.

Draco looked up to Severus, his eyes pleading with him to remain quiet.

It was a trap-trap. Draco didn't kill Dumbledore, that's why he's going to die. I'd Snape hadn't been the one to kill Dumbledore, he'd have been the one to die.

Draco had known Severus would do it for him, that way Severus had been spared. Because Draco knew Severus. He knew his secrets, of Lily and Potter, he knew his wishes, to help and protect Potter... And Severus had so much more to offer the world than Draco ever did. Severus would disagree, of course, but Draco knew Severus was the better man between them.

It was like lightning: the Dark Lord's curse, he was pulled out of the way roughly, the curse missed him by several inches.

"You're a fool!"

The voice wasn't cold and high, it wasn't low and drawled... It was the voice of a teenaged boy, angry and tired and with nothing more to lose.

The room was shocked into silence. One could hear a pin drop and it would ring loudly in one's ears too.

"You can kill me, you can take my life, but we both know you're just a stupid little boy afraid of darkness and how exceptionally ordinary you are!" Draco yelled. He figured he was dying anyways, he might as well do one stupid thing. Like telling Lord Voldemort exactly what was on his mind and what he thought of him, "You're a glorified snake with no personality to call your own! You're jealous of Potter because he has friends and family and love! Whereas you have no love! You have no family! No life!"

"Draco!" Lucius entered the room, silencing his son. Draco shot a glare at his father.

"Why should I? The bastard just tried to kill me! And I will not remain a stoic simpleton while he thrashes his little stick around!"

The Dark Lord had had enough. He yelled the killing curse again, but Severus drew his godson away and sent his own curse.

Voldemort apparated and appeared again beside Snape, who plunged his silver potions dagger into the gut of the Dark Lord.

"Severus..." The Dark Lord was shocked at the betrayal.

"Stay away from my godson," Snape said icely, his black eyes fixed upon his master with a glare, seizing the Dark Lord and holding him fast, one arm under his chin and the other acroos his chest.

"You're still such a fool, Severus... Love, bah, what a worthless thing!" He said through gritted teeth, straining against Snape's grip. Voldemort had no physical powers to call his own and was easily overpowered by the potions master.

Lucius was in front of Voldemort quickly, "What do you know about love? Was it Minerva McGonagall's rejection that stole all the love you ever had?"

Voldemort seethed, lurging forward, scratching Lucius' porcelain-like skin. Lucius swore loudly.

Voldemort broke loose. The pain meant nothing to him, he was above pain. In a haze he disapparated, appearing behind Draco and casting the Killing Curse from right behind him.

Lucius watched in shock as his son fell down, the young blonde, dead, and expression of terror forever etched onto his face. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't do anything, he was frozen in place, his heart broken into thousands of little pieces.

The one great thing he ever accomplished was raising Draco. And now... Now he was gone... No! It couldn't be! He couldn't be gone! No! No! No! No...

Snape was equally shocked, but he had his wits about him. If they didn't move, they'd be next.

He reached for his godson and for his friend, disapparating before Voldemort's wand could turn on him.

They appeared on a hilltop.

"Lucius..." Severus began, but Lucius couldn't hear anymore. He glanced down at his son, and he couldn't help but blame himself.

It was his fault.

. . .

A/N: So, what did you think? This fic'll be centred around these three characters, namely Snape, Draco and Lucius.