Avada Kedavra
The words rang in her ears. It was followed by an eerie silence. Even her attackers remained still. No, not James, he couldn't have been hit. There was no way. Funny, happy, quidditch obsessed James. He couldn't be. He was always so full of life. He was always making her laugh. He was always the one to leap to her defense, even at the price of detentions with McGonagall and fights with Malfoy. Her knees gave way under her. She felt herself hit the ground. No spells were cast at her, none needed to be. She choked back a sob. He just couldn't be dead. She couldn't look. She couldn't force herself to look. To see James… no she just couldn't. That was when she heard the scream. It was her mother. Her panic returned. No, her parents, Petunia. She had to get them out of here, and then, then she could come back for James. She forced herself up and cast her shield. She forced herself away from her attackers. She ran in the direction of the scream.
The words escaped her when she saw what was in front of her. There was James, clear as day. He was on the ground, but he was moving, he was alive. His glasses were skewed but he was otherwise fine. She let a small laugh escape her lips. That was until she saw the look on his face. He was ghastly pale, paler than Lily had ever seen him. She had expected his usual lop-sided grin, letting her know he was ok, but his mouth was slightly agape. His eyes were not facing her. They were turned to the crumpled heap in front of him. Her wide smile faded from her face. She could see the blonde hair, and heard her mother's cries. She knew if she could see the heap's eyes, she would see bright green eyes. She could not process what she was seeing. It wasn't possible. She felt herself sink to the floor. She felt someone pull her back kicking and screaming. She saw them. Those murderers, racing out of her house, her home. She screamed. She couldn't break away from the arms holding her back. Through her tearful eyes, she saw him, James. He was up and he was running after them. James, her James. She heard more screaming, but still could not break away. Maybe James had gotten them. Maybe they were all dead.
SectumSempra
She then heard a scream that chilled her to her core. It was James, her James. She thrashed violently. She needed to get to him. She couldn't lose him.
"Lily!" Her sister yelled. She had fallen backwards when Lily had thrown her off. Lily reached for her wand that she had discarded, when Petunia had trapped her, several feet away. She forced herself back onto unsteady feet. She staggered to what had once been her door, several feet away. That was when she felt a hand on her wrist
"No, don't go out there! you'll be killed!" Petunia shrieked
"Since when do you care what happens to me?" Lily snapped. Petunia let go. Lily stared at her sister for only a moment before racing outside. She had to get to James.
"No!" She screamed into the night. They were diaperating. She sent a curse flying at the one without a mask. She could not tell if it hit him. She saw the one standing over James. He was still here. And James was on the ground in front of him. Oh god, the blood. James was surrounded by a pool of it. It was coming from the cuts on him. She was sure of it. They had shredded his muggle clothes, almost as though they had been slashed with a sword. Under each tear was a deep cut. They were all filled with blood. The one standing over him was in a daze. He was staring at her through the slits in his mask. The wicked mask. It was adorned with a pattern looking like a crown. She shrieked every curse she could think of at him. He stumbled back. He fell to the ground. Dear Merlin, she wanted to kill him. She wanted to see the light leave his eyes. She sent an unmasking spell at him. The wretched mask flew off of his face, she stopped in her tracks. Dark, beady eyes and greasy hair stared back at her, a look of stunned silence fell over him. She dropped her wand to her side, panting. She couldn't do it.
Severus Snape held his new mask in front of him. The dark lord was passing them out personally, almost like a right of passage, one that he had achieved. The thing was metal, with silver decorating it. His mask had the look of a crown decorating the space above his eyes. It was fit for a prince, a voice in the back of his mind said, a voice that was not his own. Bile filled his throat when he realized who it was. He forced it down as Bellatrix Leestrrange explained the plan to him for the millionth time. Regulus was stationed next to him. He was shaking slightly. Severus sneered at him. The boy tried to compose himself. He had clearly failed spectacularly. Severus rolled his eyes. The boy would have to grow some backbone or at least be able to fake it. While he would never admit it, he was feeling it too. He was even when apperating to the Evans residence, a place he had given them. He was when he saw Lily standing there. She was rushing at them, her long red hair was coated with dust. Her green eyes were lit with fury. She was going to stop him and the unwelcome invaders or die trying. He forced down the vomit in his throat. He had to do this.
Bellatrix was at his side. Lily had her shield up. He tried to force his wand at her, but found himself freezing. Regulus turned to him. Bellatrix raised her wand at Lily.
"Crucio" she yelled. The spell hit someone behind Lily. Lestrange, he realized. Now, Potter was facing Malfoy alone. Snape watched as Malfoy's wand flew out of his hand. Shit. Snape ran at Potter, he heard Bellatrix yell behind him. He did not care. He raised his wand. He sneered under his mouth. He would rather Potter be able to see his face, but he did not care. He sent Potter's wand flying out of his hand. This was something he could do. He could get rid of his old bully once and for all.
Avada Kedavra
The green light flew at Potter. He covered his head. But it didn't matter. The spell never hit him. Severus watched to his horror as another man fell to the ground in Potter's place. Potter's eyes were closed. He opened them and ran his hands over himself. He then gave out a slight laugh. Potter stared up at him, a triumphant look on his face. When Serevus did not raise his want again, Potter looked around in confusion. That was when he saw the crumpled heap of a man. The color drained from Potter's face and his grin faded. His eyes did not move away from the body in front of him.
He heard the screams. First Mrs. Evans and then Lily herself. It was an ear piercing sound. One that shook him to his very core. He could not move. He couldn't force himself to move. Malfoy grabbed him and dragged him back. He suddenly found his ability to move. He ran with Lucius. Up the hill and to the meeting spot. The man standing there was the only one without a mask. He glanced down at them, a spasm of annoyance on his face.
"You are back sooner than I expected" he said
"Regulus got hit with something. He started vomiting" Bellatrix said, shrinking away. The dark lord stepped forward. Severus cringed as hard sound filled the void. Regulus' eyes were watering. He did not let out a cry of pain. A large red mark was spreading over his face
"There was no spell," The Dark Lord said. Regulus gulped and nodded
"Sirius wasn't there" Regulus whispered
"Good, you failed less than I thought" the Dark Lord said, Regulus lowered his head in shame.
"You!" A voice yelled from behind them. The Dark Lord turned to face the source of the noise. Potter was sending a barash of curses at him. The dark lord easily deflected them. Potter seemed to be unable to quit. The dark Lord raised his arm again. No! this was his.
SectumSempra
The spell hit it's mark. Potter began to choke for a moment before collapsing in the spot. Blood began to seep through the cuts in his clothes. His eyes closed. Snape turned to the dark lord. There was some admiration in his eyes. Severus did not bother to bury the pride in his chest.
"No!" She screamed into the night. Snape saw her. Her long red hair flowed in the wind. Her green eyes sparkled wildly. She stood over the hills like an ancient goddess, forgotten to time. She sent spells flying at them. His companions disappeared with a pop, he heard a curse as someone was hit. He found himself standing alone. She sent more spells flying at him. He was sent to the ground. She unmasked him. She looked him in the eyes and lowered her wand.
She ran to his side. Potter's side. Bile returned to his throat. He should disapparate, leave, but he couldn't
Ekipsey
She cast through tears. "Ekipsey! Ekipsey!" She choked down sobs. Severus knew that her spells would not do anything. But that did not seem to matter to Lily. "Petunia!" She shrieked. The other girl and their mother came running. They both stopped when they saw him. Memories began to flood back to all the times they had taken him when his father had beaten him. Something got caught in his throat.
"Severus help me!" She cried. "I can't heal him" he did not move
"He saved your life, you useless bastard!" She yelled. Severus gritted his teeth. Lily was right.
"Vulnera Sanentur"
Voldemort landed in the foyer of his family manor. He gripped his shoulder where the girl had hit him. It ached. He would have to make sure there was no damage later. He pulled his hand away as the others arrived. He saw his dark gloves flecked with red. That was not good. The others were staring. Regulus was over in the corner, shaking. Malfoy was at his side, as far from Voldemort as possible. Bellatrix appeared with Rabastan and Rodolphus. Severus was still missing.
"I'm sorry my lord, I should have-" Bellatrix said weakly. He threw a hand up, silencing his most loyal follower.
"You should have, what Bellatrix? Go back in time to fix your mistakes?" She fell to her knees
"I'm sorry I failed my Lord" she said
"Get up Bellatrix. I will speak to you separately" she nodded, hanging her head. With a final pop, Severus arrived. Bellatrix turned to face him, along with Regulus and Lucius "where were you?" Bellatrix hissed
"I got hit," Severus snape "I had to undo the mudblood's curse first"
"Did you get him?" Regulus asked weakly
"Of course he got him you twat" Rabastion said
"Is he dead?" Lucius asked. Severus paused
"He is as good as" It was a good lie on Severus's part.
"Severus Snape, step forward," Voldemort said. The chatter died away instantly. A small smile tugged at Voldemort's mouth. "You have succeeded in your mission of cutting your moral constraints. You killed a muggle man, correct?"
"Yes sir" Severus said
"Give me your left arm, Severus," Severus followed the instructions given. Voldemort took his wand and pressed it into Severus's arm. A collection of blood red lines spread through Severus's arm. They sprang out of his wand like snakes climbing up Severus's arm. Severus gritted his teeth as the pain set in. Voldemort watched his reaction. Severus could take the pain of his mark. The lines formed into a snake protruding through a skull. His mark, inspired by the power of Slytherin, burned itself into Severus's arm. He pulled away his wand.
"You may stand with your brothers and sisters, Severus." Severus nodded and stood besides Bellatrix and Rodolphus. "Regulus, Lucius, you have both failed me for a second and third time. Am I correct?"
"Yes sir" they both mumbled
"Step forward, Lucius." Voldemort said. Lucius did as he was told. "You led Dumbledore to us, failed my wand test and failed to kill James Potter"
"Yes, my lord," Lucius said. He raised his wand. Red light exploded from the tip of it. Lucius's screams filled the foyer. Voldemort dropped the spell after only a couple of seconds.
"Pathetic" He said. He turned to leave the group. He returned to his office. His followers would not disturb him, unless he requested their presence. He turned to his book shelf. His shoulder still burned where the girl's spell hit him. That should not be possible. He pulled down one book in particular. He turned to one of the pages he had marked. The mark was missing but he found the page none the less.
Sanguis Praesidium. He read. The spell was supposed to work. He had followed each and every direction. He should have been protected from all harm. It had not been a difficult spell. It only required the blood of one. It was a simple task to send Bellatrix to find a mudblood for the job. He reread the spell. He knew he had not made a mistake. His spell could not have failed. But then, how would the girl be able to harm him? He heard a light knocking on the door
"You may enter Bellatrix" he said
"My lord, I failed you"
"Enough, Bellatrix. You will no longer be leading any missions involving Regulus Black."
"My lord-"
"You care too deeply for him. It is not surprising. He is your cousin. However, he needs to learn, without you there to protect him." Voldemort said
"I'm sorry." Bellatrix whispered
"I called you in for another reason Bellatrix."
"Yes my lord?"
"Severus did not kill the girl"
"He killed the muggle trying to kill Potter"
"I am aware, Bellatrix. The girl, the mudblood, he will no longer be tasked with killing her."
"I will take care of it, my lord"
"No Bellatrix. I have made an error. I underestimated the mudblood. She has more magic that I originally considered. I fear she may have a magic I do not know. I want to understand how that is possible."
"I don't believe I understand my lord,"
"As of now, I want the mudblood alive"