A Sliver of Space
A vicious spell was cast upon all the humans of earth, rendering them infertile, and soon to die, along with their beautiful and fragile world. In a desperate attempt at salvation, DNA is collected and stored.
One among them is Severus Snape. His life was dark and desolate. Reborn, he has a chance at a new life; a chance at redemption, in the new colonies; in space. Only his future may be one darker and more alone than the life he even had before.
The stars were so far away, yet if he spaced out, the darkness of outer-space in the galaxy gave one the illusion you could touch the stars if you sailed far enough. There was some truth to that, but if one were to actually touch the stars, it wouldn't be that soft twinkle in the distance. You'd get incinerated.
Not a terrible way to go out. It was better than being enslaved by an alien pirate ship. Such thoughts he came up with when left alone to his thoughts.
He let air out through his nose, the best he could in his round helmet. His hair was sweaty on his neck. The temperature was a bit too high in his suit. Or maybe it was nerves.
He tugged on the cord attached to his suit and drifted. Bounced off the shining metal of his space craft. He climbed to the top, he feet clanking on the craft.
Suckers were there. If they stayed they'd eat through the metal. The opaque little blobs that bounced through space as if silvery fireflies on a dark night.
He kicked them off with his foot. They detached at drifted. He pushed them away with his hands. "Off with you!" He said, and the sound of his voice made them swim away.
He bounced back down and opened the airtight door, getting sucked back into his ship. He took off the hot and heavy suit, and sighed, brushing back his ravenly black hair.
Dobby 2 was in front of the navigation screen when he came in. He turned around with a gleeful expression.
"Sir, the ruby planet is up ahead!" Snape nodded quietly, smiling. "Excellent," He said, sitting in the pilot's seat.
It was just as it's name was; a planet of pure ruby, expensive at it was rare. Pirates condensed their riches into these great planets and put them in orbit around remote stars, so that no one would find their looted retirement.
None were elusive enough for Dobby 2's navigation however. "Good work, brother." Snape said. He patted the little elf on the shoulders. Dobby 2's eyes leaked water with happiness.
Snape strapped himself in and they sped for the planet. He punched several buttons and part of the ship opened up. They went southwards to the planet and Zzap!
They had teleported the gem planet back to headquarters, yet again set for life. They already owned several estates. Dobby 2 even had a trophy wife at home, Pearlina.
They had to travel like this though, because it was basically death for humans to teleport themselves. It made a copy of them, eliminating the first.
Snape often thought about this thinking how much easier teleporting would make his life. He himself wa sa copy; a clone, of the original Snape, now on his 20th year of life since his birth in a test-tube. Unlike Dobby 2 tho, he didn't want to be referred to as a clone. It was a common thing. To want the 2 on the end of your name was more on the unusual side.
He didn't want to die though, and that is what would happen. So he opted for the long journeys of many months in the isolation of space.
Before he became a looter for the Human Empire, who used the money to fund their colonization projects across the galaxy, he'd grown up in a special school connected to the lab.
The person who headed the project, and had created them was Dr. Harmz. A man in his late sixties, grey hair frizzy and sticking everywhere. He loved wearing Hawaiian shirts underneath his white lab coat, and even more oddly, ugg boots.
He'd grown up in the school beside many of the student's from his past life, which was strange. But that was his life from before, or more so, a different person. He'd rather be a different person this time.
Others however, even as clones, clung to their old identities.
Harry Potter for one. He'd had the most difficult time of anyone else. Had searched for his love from the past till he found her.
They'd done classes both academic, technical, and military. Unfortunately, being clones, they were all squibs. They had no magical powers.
Snape made it a point to stay away from potions and chemistry. He wanted to be different from before. So he sought out a degree in geography and got his license to become a pilot for the military.
Dobby had been in his geography classes, and they had become fast friends.
"Alright, Dobby 2's now happy it's vacation time." Dobby 2 sighed happily. Snape smiled and nodded.
"Yes, let's go to our Victorian estate and rest. My back is killing me." Snape stretched his arms in the air.
"Actually," Dobby 2 said. "I think it's time to see my wife." Snape nodded.
They stood in their freshly planted field, the earth damp with a wonderful smell. A 20-year-old Harry leaned against his rusty shovel and smiled. He stroked Ginny's beautiful red hair with a loving expression. She giggled with her cheeks pink in a lovely blush. "What?"
"I'm just happy," he said. She touched his palm on her hair, intertwining his fingers tenderly with hers.
"So am I," She agreed softly. She kissed him before picking up their metal bucket and fished out more water from the pump with it.
"Who knew one day we'd finally have a farm of our own." Harry said dreamily. Ginny started to carry the bucket back, it creak and sloshing with her wistfully careless movements. "I always knew we would. We worked towards this, remember?"
"Yes," Harry agreed, following her with the heavy pile of farm tools. "Far away from the military, under this brilliant blue sky, the forests around us. We should live the rest of our lives here."
"Proven it stays the same." Her voice was distant with the past. Harry nodded solemnly. "With the past destroyed, we have no choice but to create a new future. There will always be loss."
Ginny set the bucket down and hugged him. "I need to tell you something. Something about the future.
"What?" Harry asked. She leaned up with a nervous smile and whispered in his ear. "I'm pregnant."
Harry gawked, black hair flicking across his forehead with the wind. "W-whoa!"
"I had intended to wait till we were at least settled in here well. Give it two years at least, but accidents happen." Ginny tucked her hair behind her ear.
"A wonderful accident!" Harry gushed. They embraced again. The happiest couple in their new colony; In a once barren place now revived with the seeds and life of Earth. The planet of Wishshine.
Dobby 2 twiddled his thumbs nervously in his navigator's seat. Snape frowned beside him. "I'm sure she'll be more than happy to see you," He tried to reassure Dobby 2. Dobby 2 nodded.
"It's just, Pearlina keeps pushing a child on Dobby 2. Dobby 2 isn't ready." Snape patted his shoulder. "In due time you will. We're still 20, but it was your fault for marrying an older woman."
Dobby 2 put his face in his hands. "But she's a trophy wife," There was an edge to his voice. He hadn't been able to resist her charms, regretfully.
"Indeed," Snape agreed with a nod of his head, the bridge of his hooknose shining and bent in the moonlight.
They opened the door and got out of their spaceship with their bags at the base. Malfoy came to greet them in his military uniform. "Welcome back from your mission, Snape, Dobby 2! His former student was well into his forties, having been cloned years before him. It put years on his age as well, the man now wiser and kinder than he had been in his past life.
Snape forced a smile. He couldn't help disliking him, even if the man had changed, as he had. "Thank you very much General!" Malfoy chuckled. "Wine for you both, saviors again!"
They went into the space center and sat at a table in the food court. They ordered pizza with their wine. Snape dug in immediately, grunting with joy at the taste. First time he'd had real food in months. They dined, said their hellos to their fellow work-mates, and took a train to traveled to Dobby 2's Greek style estate.
Snape slept on the journey while Dobby 2 peered out the window.
When the train finally arrived, they carried their bags off the train and walked into town down the road fro about a mile, then they arrived.
Dobby 2's estate was huge, with a huge flowery garden in front.
Pearlina was there out front, trimming the roses with a pair of shears too big for her. She was in a wide, floppy pink hat and a purple summer dress with frills at the bottom. She wore pink heels. She had been waiting for their arrival. Emotion swelled up in Dobby 2's heart.
She pivoted on her heels with a light gasp when she saw them. "Dobby 2, baby!" She ran forward with too much ease for heels and threw her arms around him. He returned the hug with strength, chuckling.
"Oh, there's so much I have to tell you!" She piped, bouncing excitedly.
"Dobby 2 cant wait!" Dobby 2 said with enthusiasm.
Suddenly, they heard a loud explosion. They were all thrown back far. Pearlina was flung into the roses with a squeak. Dobby 2 freed her from the thorns, and then pulled her out. Cuts bled down her shoulders. They all turned their faces.
"The west village!" Pearlina shouted. They all started running towards it, Pearlina staggering. They ran down the road up the hill. The village was in shambles when they arrived, panting.
"Rosa!" Pearlina wailed, sobbing to her knees. It was now but burning pile of rubble and flesh, gnarled corpses everywhere throughout. Pearlina was beside herself with grief. Rosa had been her best friend.
Dobby 2 knelt down and held her. Snape searched around. How he wished he had his wand at this point. He stalked the area with the skill of a death eater, skills from before strangely returning to him with memory he'd tried to avoid. His face sank into an expression of darkness, eyes even heavier, like dry bone. He had a taster in his pocket though. That would have to settle for now.
He saw movement in the shadows of the forest. A cloak. He darted after it, and his athletic training served him well. He caught up to the figure quickly. A man. An old one with frizzled blonde hair and age spots.
The old man pivoted around and... Snape dodged something out of reflex. A shout and then a flash of light. He gasped, not registering; not believing what had appeared in front of his eyes. But it had been so familiar.
He lunged for the man with his taser, shoving the device into the man's gut. He then knocked him out with his elbow, grabbing his wand from his now limp grip. He held the precious tool within his trembling hand. Sweat poured down his back.
It couldn't be, but it had been.
The man had cast The Killing Curse!