Severus has always loved Catherine.. they had shared almost everything, for there was a secret he never revieled for her own good.
He was not the kind of a person who would simply let go of all his ethics and beliefs and join forces with the dark lord.
Indeed he wasn't exactly the cheerful, friendly type but he wasn't a murderer either..

A man's spirit can be broken in many ways(AN1)..ways much easier than force or spells and much more effective; one of which was love.. This is a fact That voldemort was very aware of..

Severus remembered very clearly the first time when the Dark Lord sent for him, he was still gathering his death eaters,
choosing only those whom he knew deserved to join him in his quest for power, those who were famous for their skill and vast knowlage of magic and spells, ones such as Severus Snape..

When they first met.. the dark lord promised him with riches beyond his imagination.. with power and achievement of all his dreams.. but he refused as he knew more than this.. he was no fool and he knew what the Dark Lord was up to; he would use him to do as he wishes then leaves him to face the dementors of Azkaban that of course, if he doesn't kill him a most painful death. But Voldemort wouldn't give in so simply. Snape was worth alot.. it would be foolish to let him slip away from his grasp to join forces with the ministry or the order, so he used another method to convince Snape

He knew Catherine Snape has just given birth to their first child, a girl.. he didn't even need ligilamency to know what the most precious thing Snape had and feared to lose was; for what would a father's worst fear be more than a tragic loss of his beloved daughter?

"I understand, Snape, that you refuse to join me, eh?" asked he,

"Yes, I do" replied Snape who was shaking with fear from inside but trying, and succeding, to keep his body and voice steady.. "I'm afraid I cannot accept your..generous..offer".

"Oh yes, you will indeed be afraid..BELLA!" he called his loyal deatheater, "Please bring our little, surprise to Mr Snape.."

The woman who was standing there bowed to her master then went along to obey his order.Snape was now worried,
he was sure it was not a pleasant surprise.. there are never any from him. Then he heard a small voice.. a baby's voice..

"Selene?"he turned around, surprised at the sight of his little daughter toddling towards him.
Now his heart was about to explode in his chest, what was she doing here? Where is Catherine?Is she...?

Before he could complete his thoughts, a green flash went right beside him, hitting his daughter's small figure just before she could reach him, and she fell.
He looked at her body in shock, fear, angst.. he hasn't absorbed what has just happened yet.. has he really just lost his only child?

He ran to her, collected her body from the floor, trying to wake her up.. she couldn't be dead.. She's still too young to die.
Behind him Voldemort was laughing a cold, loud, highly amused laugh...

"See now Severus?" said he, "This is what happens to those who reject my invitations but do not worry.. She is not Your daughter"

"What..?" whispered Snape,

He looked back at the still figure between his arms.. it was slowly fading away into thin air, he couldn't hold back his surprise.. is she really gone? was all he could think of.
Voldemort laughed at his reaction even more loudly..

"I thought you were smarter than this, Severus.." said he, sarcastingly "Can you not recognize a Shafter?"

A shafter? Ofcourse! How has he been so stupid? Shafters always change into the one thing that one loves above all and in his case, it transformed into his daughter.. Selene. He let go of a breath he didn't even know he was holding back.. it wasn't his little princess.. But suddenly another thought struck him, what if?
"What if it was not a shafter?" Completed the dark lord, "What if it was really your daughter..Selene, I believe?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean"The dark lord suddenly became even more fearful, "Join my army now, Severus or your precious Selene would be food to werewolves!"

This was more than enough for him to re-think a thousand times, it was his daughter's life at risk.. he couldn't simply let her die.. It was no more a matter of discussion.. he knew exactly what to do..

"You win.." replied Snape before kneeling to the floor, "..master"

To be continued
Ok.. so what do you think? I hope you liked that chapter.. waiting for your reviews (AN1) I don't own that phrase.. quote it from Maximillion Pegasus in Yu-gi-oh! Episode 27: Creator vs. Champion part1,
He said "A man's spirit can be broken in much easier ways"