A TASK FOR SEVERUS SNAPE

I will not begin with my days a young boy-we will get to that later if I have the time. I do not how much time I have so let me start with the event that changed me and my life irrevocably-a day I want you to understand. This is the story of the Boy Who Lived.

The power of the Dark Lord was rising. We had fought many battles with the Ministry of Magic and their lot. It had been a long, attritional war but the tide was turning-we killed or injured more than we lost and everyday we had new followers. You could sense the fear on the other side- a sense of hopelessness and recklessness creeping in as it does when people realise they are cornered. The Dark Lord on the other hand and his followers marched on with relentless purpose and discipline; a gradual filling of a reservoir drop by drop, knowing a point would come when the dam would not hold and the resulting flood would destroy all in its wake. In this strategy lay the genius of the Dark Lord. He held our ever increasing forces on a tight leash, avoided large confrontations and instead executed small guerrilla style raids on the Ministry and Muggles. We always took more than we lost and most importantly we inspired FEAR-no-one new where we would strike next. FEAR is a wonderful emotion in conflict-it paralyzes the enemy, reduces their capabilities and in many cases prompts people to change sides. Our last barrier was now the Order of the Phoenix; a small secret group of witches and wizards led by Dumbledore; they were the only ones that had the wizarding skills and cunning to match and beat us at our own game.

I was the Dark Lord's most trusted lieutenant. I had served him well-I was the only one he would really talk to and discuss his plans with. He had enough soldiers and assassins to carry out his orders. Take Belliatrix-not a sane brain in her body but at the Dark Lord's bidding she had killed more than a hundred wizards, witches and muggles already. I have always marvelled at the Dark Lord's ability to collect, control and hone weapons like Belliatrix-without the Dark Lord the Belliatrice's of the world would have either been killed or in Azkaban soon enough. Under him, they become a potent, unstoppable, unpredictable weapon with one sole purpose; eradicate Muggles and bring the Dark Lord to power.

Belliatrix always disliked me. She was jealous of my relationship with the Dark Lord. She was like a child left out of a discussion with adults. He always brushed her aside saying, "Bella, go amuse yourself. Severus and I have something important to discuss." She bowed and would leave but I could sense the hate and anger directed at me. It didn't help that all I ever had for her was a sneer and a comment like, "Well Belliatrix, how many unsuspecting Muggle children did you kill today?" Yes, it was childish of me but for the first time in my life somebody that mattered made me feel more important than the rest. The Dark Lord was arguably the greatest wizard of all time and I, battered and abused Severus "Snivellus" Snape, his closest advisor. I would show them all-Potter, Black, ever last one of them what a mistake they had made.

"Severus," he smiled, "Our victory is at hand. The days of the Order are numbered. We fill find them soon and destroy them." "My Lord, what about Albus Dumbledore?" I sensed the anger rising, the eyes reddened and he hissed, "Dumbledore is nothing but a weak, old fool hiding behind the magic of young witches and wizards. Without them he is nothing, nothing but an empty old man! I will destroy the Order and leave him alone-lets see what he can do then." I was taken aback and sensed I had touched a sore spot about Dumbledore. I think we both knew that Dumbledore was the last wizard alive that could challenge the Dark Lord. However, I decided to say nothing more on the subject-I had seen men killed for less by the Dark Lord. Instead, I asked, "How may I assist my Lord?" He gave me a strange, measuring look-it made by blood run cold. "I want you to find and kill James Potter." The words were spoken softly but deliberately with the speaker's venom rich and posionous in each syllable.

I could not speak. He had never asked me to murder somebody before. Sure, I had fought duels in a battle but this was calculated murder and, and..It was JAMES POTTER- a man I had hated for a long time BUT was married to the woman I loved. You might say this was the perfect solution-kill James and get Lily back. Well even assuming I could do it, I knew Lily-she was loyal to the end; she would break if James died and if she knew it was me I would never be forgiven…

"Severus. You are very quiet. Will you do as I command or perhaps you are too weak for this? Perhaps Belliatrix…" The unspoken thought was louder than his words-I had an image of Belliatrix laughing madly torturing, destroying James, then Lily without a second thought. I could not let that happen-well I didn't give a damn about James but beautiful, gentle Lily..NO! "My Lord, forgive me. My mind wanders. I will do as you command." The intense eyes stared at me not blinking, probing deep as if searching for something hidden. Then, with a cold smile he said,"Yes, yes. I thought you may say that. I know of your, shall we say, attachment to Lily Evans. I care nothing for her-she is irrelevant, a filthy Muggle but she matters not. Kill James and she is yours."

I needed time. I could not kill a man in cold blood even if it was arrogant James Potter whom I hated more than anything in my life. I was not sure what I would do but if I refused...Belliatrix would show no mercy and Lily would have no chance. So I said the only thing I could say, "My Lord. It will be done. I will find James-he and the rest of the Order are hard to trace but I have an idea where Black may be-if we get Black we have James."

"Well Severus. In that case you had better go. Do not fail me." With that he left. I gathered myself-I had already shown too much in front of the Dark Lord. What was I to do? I was loyal to him. I admired his skill, vision, resolve and that he had taken me in, given me a purpose when the rest of the world including the like of Potter, Black made a laughing stock of me. And yet, I could not kill in cold blood. I wanted Lily back but not like this. Mayhap I had somebody I could talk to. No, no point in feeling self-pity; I was alone.

"I heard the mighty Snivellus has something important to do for the Dark Lord. My, my aren't we the chosen one," came the mocking tone of Belliatrix. Then her tone changed, flat and hard,"I don't trust you Snape. I am watching and if you betray us…" She didn't complete her sentence but her meaning was clear and she stroked her wand lovingly- a messenger of hundred or more deaths-a few more would mean nothing. I sneered and spoke very softly but clearly "Belliatrix, if you ever cross my path, I will destroy you." I saw her eyes widen in surprise; I had never been so direct before. Without another word, I turned around and left. I had to find Black first and then see what lay ahead.

NEXT: THE BOY WHO LIVED