From the author: This story is a tangent in the multiverse based entirely upon the constants of circumstance and coincidence.
AN from SonofLuffy: I didn't write this, my friend J.R. Tancredo did but he does not have a fanfiction account. I only did minor editing and proof-reading.
Disclaimer: Anything you may recognize in this story is not owned by us.
Prelude: Tearful Goodbyes
The door was blown open. The inside of the house was in shambles. Going upstairs, a man lay dead in the hall. Severus Snape began to sweat, "Potter? Potter!" Severus shook the corpse, hoping for a sign of life; one that he already knew could not be there. He frantically raced down the hallway, screaming "Lily!? Lily!? Please be ok! Please…" as he entered the room, there she lay. Directly between a crib and a mark on the floor, that looked as though someone had burned to ash. Severus fell to the floor, holding Lily's broken body in his arms, he sobbed uncontrollably. His mind could not even fathom what had happened here. It was all wrong. All wrong. All wrong.
Hours later, he emerged the house, holding a young boy in his arms. "You darling little, miserable brat… You are all that is left of her…" and he vanished in a swirl of black smoke.
Professor Albus Dumbledore walked back into his office. He was a wizened old man. Tall and fragile looking, he emanated a fiercely dominant aura of command, that shown through his eyes over his half-moon spectacles. His hair was grey under a tall standing cap, reaching his beard that stretched to his waist. Severus was standing by the font in the cabinet, gazing longingly into some long lost memory. He stood a little over average height, almost sickly thin, and pallid as though very little blood ran through him. His appearance was bereaved, and he looked, in Dumbledore's opinion, like he might cough blood and expire at the slightest provocation.
As the memory faded, Severus looked up, to see Dumbledore having freshly entered, and his mind swirled in a mixture of hatred and despair! "You said you would protect her! You said you could keep them-"Dumbledore raised his hand to silence Snape, interjecting,
"James and Lily put their trust in the wrong man. Not unlike yourself. The Order was distracted, and we were caught off guard. Tom was…smarter. He was more brilliant than any of us had even thought. Most of the magical-born children born in July were targeted by death eaters last night, we were lucky to save as many as we did; and it is a testament to Lily's strength that her son not only survived, but destroyed Riddle's body altogether! And yet, now he will need your help."
Severus spun around to hide the look of disgust on his face. He began to pace about as he retorted, "Why? The Dark Lord is gone, he cannot possibly need protection!"
He was about to return to tears when Albus nodded, "The Dark Lord will return, Severus. And when he does, the boy will need every defense we can give him." And before Severus could retort, he added "He has her eyes, Severus."
Memories flashed through Severus' mind as he allowed himself an ever-so-subtle smile, and in an instant it was gone. "No one can ever know."
Almost shocked, Dumbledore replied, "That I should conceal the best of you, Severus? If that is your condition, then so be it."
And with that, Severus stormed out of the office.
-end-of-chapter-
Thanks for reading the prologue! Chapters 1 through 7 are posted as well. Be sure to read them. There will be more to come after that as well. :D Please leave your questions, comments, concerns, etc. in the review box below. Thank you again.