A/N. *cough cough* Alright. Ahem. Let's set the scene.
Voldemort is triumphant. Kingsley, the would-be Minister, is in Azkaban. Harry stayed dead when he faced Voldemort. Everyone is dead that is supposed to be dead with the exception of Fred and Amelia Bones and a few very specific Death Eaters. The Wizarding world is on their knees before Voldemort and his right hand man, his spokesperson and new Minister, Mr. Snow. There are rumors that Voldemort is weak, but nothing is confirmed as he hasn't been seen since he won the Battle at Hogwarts. Lucius Malfoy never truly defected and is still on Voldemort's side – after all, he's going to side with whoever's winning, it's in his nature.
Yes, this is very AU. But I also plan it to be a trilogy.
YES, I realize that "Mr. Snow" is similar (the same) as the Hunger Game's trilogy, but I wrote a novel a year before the Hunger Games with the villain by that name – so obviously Ms. Collins doesn't have superiority on that name, haha. I honestly don't care very much about that.
…~oOo~…
Prologue: In Which a Hero Dies
The Shrieking Shack is dim and musty. Breathing in means filling your lungs with dust.
Draco is pale and grimy. He's panting and panicking, pressing his hands into his godfather's throat.
Severus Snape is bloody and dying. But after a few potions, he's bought himself mere minutes with the only boy who'd ever been anything like a son to him.
"You…must run," Snape rasped, his voice gurgling.
Draco was shaking his head, tears welling up in his grey eyes. "No. Mother and Father are already running. I'm not leaving without you. Vol- Voldemort won. I can't leave you here at his mercy."
"I am dead…anyway…" Severus took a painful breath. The potion was stitching up the gaping wounds, but the venom was moving rapidly through his veins. He had only a few more moments. "Does… Riddle know…you've defected?"
Slowly, Draco shook his head. "He was busy giving his victory speech and executing a few Muggle-borns when we started running."
Severus closed his eyes for a moment. What horrors… everything he'd worked against…
"Draco…" he said, weakly gripping the young man's wrist, streaking his milk pale skin with red. "Will you… fight this fight? With… with the Light, instead of against it?"
It took only a second for Draco to nod. His godfather was dying. Severus gave his life for the cause, the least Draco could do was not let his death be in vain.
"They will use you," Severus warned grimly, his raspy voice dropping. "They will use you… the same way they used me."
Draco sniffled, hating to see the strongest man he knew so broken. "I can… I can do that. I can be used."
"Find a beacon…" Severus told him sagely. "Something…someone…to dedicate your fight to. It's the only way… to survive. If you have something to hold on to… above all else…you'll always have reason to keep fighting." Then Severus gave a violent shudder.
"Professor?" Draco asked, panic making the pitch of his voice raise. "Severus?" he blurted as his mentor began shaking even harder.
"I'll…be…with my own beacon…now…" Severus forced through his teeth, gripping Draco's arm a little harder.
As Severus released his last breath, Draco could have sworn he heard the word, "Lily".
…~oOo~…
~ So Long And Thanks For All The Fish ~