Chapter 21: The Dark Side Of The Moon
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{"If I go crazy then will you still call me superman...if I'm alive and well will you be there holding my hand...I'll keep you by my side with my superhuman...my Kryptonite..."} Kryptonite, 3 Doors Down
The Snape Residence, North America, Muggle World...(October 31st, 1981)
The smashing of glass and toppling of furniture had been enough to startle a sleeping three year old Regulus Snape. He climbed out of bed, a feat not easy for just any three year old given his intellect and magical powers it was simple enough. He had been dressed in his dinosaur pajamas and his tiny feet had been bare as he peeked around the corner of the hall in time to see his father amid a destroyed sitting room. Toppled furniture had been everywhere as Severus Snape, devoid of his trademark black frock coat had been draped in his unpressed long sleeve white shirt and ebony trousers.
Standing in the center of the ransacked room had been the boy's mother, tense and visibly pale with tears streaming down her supple cheeks as she seemed to have aged quite a bit as the haunting reality she had just been exposed to was laid out before her.
Severus Snape, no longer the viral young wizard with the promise of a future unimpeded before him had looked more pale than he had in all the years of his existence. His lengthy raven hair hung limp at his shoulders and his sallow pale face had seemed to take on 100 years of misery as he kneeled before his shaken wife.
Regulus had been confused as he watched his parents seemingly clinging to each other in the darkness as if it had been for dear life.
"She's dead because of me." said Severus in an emotionless tone.
Elaine ran her fingers through her grief-stricken husband's lank raven hair and pulled him closer. He leaned against her resting his head on her belly, a belly that had been barren since the birth of their sons...leaving only one alive in the wake of everything between them.
"I'm sorry." said Severus almost absently. "I'm so sorry."
"Severus." said Elaine still stroking his head with affection.
"They're all dead because of me." he admitted pulling away from her.
Their eyes met, obsidian and light brown. The serious tone of their mutual moods after a great many confessions from the sorrowful young raven haired wizard aged terribly in the span of one night.
"I was the one that sent the fire spell at your vehicle." said Snape not daring to lose her gaze. "It was my turn to participate in the hunt...I made the crash possible that enable the others to capture you and your friends."
Elaine didn't want to hear anymore. She placed a finger on his pale lips. Despite all the pain he caused her, he had been the one to save her life, he had been the one she had given herself to...he had been the father of her two sons, one deceased and the other alive and well.
"They'll be coming for me." said Severus in a hopeless tone. "As well they should...Azkaban is what I deserve...given all that I've done."
"No." said Elaine suddenly terrified. "Severus that place is monstrous."
"Can you think of a more fitting place for me?" he asked.
"You don't deserve that." said Elaine meaningfully. "You are young you are entitled to make some mistakes...it's not as if anyone has taught you any better...they have no right to judge you no one has the right..."
"It is the law of the wizarding world." explained Severus despite the sorrow in his tone. "I'll do my best to ensure you and Regulus have all you need to survive without me..."
"NO!" shouted Elaine finding herself angry. "I won't accept this Severus...you belong here with your family...they can't arrest you if..."
"The wizarding world isn't bound by countries, Love." replied Severus seeming to accept his fate. "I am a citizen of the wizarding world and as such I am subject to their laws and the consequences of breaking them."
Hearing this Elaine dropped to her knees and embraced her husband fully as more tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I've failed you." he said holding her.
"No." said Elaine holding onto him as if for dear life. "You could never fail me Severus...you are the only person in this world whom has never failed me...I know life wasn't easy for you and it's still challenging but you still have me...and we have our son...no matter what happens."
"A price must be paid." said Severus.
Elaine touched his face making him focus on her and only her despite his guilt.
"Not tonight." she said softly. "Please...Severus...you've been through enough."
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The Snape Residence, North America...
Severus Snape looked over his sleeping wife as the first lights of dawn appeared over the horizon. He knew he didn't deserve neither her love nor her kindness but he granted her final request and took her to bed before departing for the wizarding world. He gave her one final kiss before he left the room and ventured to see his only surviving son.
Regulus had been asleep in his own bed. The young raven haired wizard sighed noting the innocence on the face of the sleeping boy. He knew he'd protect that innocence by any means necessary given that his own had long since been gone.
He dared not touch Regulus, noting the blood on his hands due to his actions for fear of said acts resulting in something befalling the boy as it had his brother.
"Sleep little Prince." he said softly as a single tear streamed down his sallow pale cheek. "For you are a far better man than me."
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The Forbidden Forest, Wizarding World...
The first blow stung. It caused his knees to buckle but he didn't fight it as the next magical projection landed in his stomach like a power packed punch and he finally collapsed onto the cold hard ground. The scent of rain and fresh earth had been abundant in terms of etching a final memory for his last night of freedom as the Aurors set upon him. They had been searching for the death eater Severus Snape and they found him.
The enraged eyes of Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody had took in the sight of the weak and unworthy young punk whom had seen better days even while attending Hogwarts.
The death of The Potter family had enraged the wizarding world as well as cemented them in memory for all eternity as Heroes of the wizarding world for their part in the downfall of the despot Voldemort.
Severus Snape had been a named death eater brought in for questioning.
"I've got you now boy." said Mad-Eye in a gruff tone.
For good measure he punched the already ailing young wizard in the stomach causing him to double over in agony.
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Azkaban Prison, Wizarding World...
Beaten to the point of spitting blood and seeing double Severus Snape had been thrown unceremoniously into a rather small gray cell. He collapsed onto the cold stone floor and had not moved since he landed even as his blood began to pool around him.
He knew it was no less than what he deserved but his mind went back to Elaine and their son. He couldn't help but think of the boy whom would grow into a man without him. Part of him believed had been best, possibly the distance would keep them save and Regulus could be better than he was. The other part of him knew all too well the rage that burned inside of him would undoubtedly be passed on to his only son.
He feared the darkness getting control of Regulus as it had him for most of his life and it gave him pause.
After just two days within the confines of Azkaban Prison, Severus Snape found himself set free. In his confusion he had not noted the appearance of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. It appeared that the old fossil had gotten him released into his custody and relocated to Hogwarts Castle, where he was to teach Potions Class at the age of 21 following Horace Slughorn's retirement and departure from the school. His responsibilities included that he would be Head of Slytherin House.
The twist of fate had been something of a marvel as he thought back to his final conversation with Regulus Black about him becoming a Professor.
It had been a year of earning his freedom and adjusting to life as a Professor given his young age not to mention the teaching of students that had attended while he had not respecting him. He quickly erased all doubts of his capabilities and assumed full control of Slytherin with ease.
Dumbledore kept him on a short leash at the time and he was not permitted to leave the school.
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The Snape Residence, North America...
Regulus had been three years old when his father was carted off to Azkaban. His mother had gotten pregnant during the final encounter with her husband before his sentencing. Due to the secrecy of their relationship, she had no way to contact him or to know that he yet survived his trials in the wizarding world.
The stress and the constant worry resulted in her suffering a miscarriage alone despite the company of her clueless son. In the absence of her husband, Elaine weathered the storm of her subsequent losses and focused on raising her living son Regulus as Severus would have wanted.
There were nights when Elaine would burst into tears when she believed Regulus had been out of earshot or asleep. She missed her husband terribly and while she felt sorry for The Potters the loss of the man that meant so much to her was substantial.
The separation was punishment for the entire family and cruel in all aspects.
A young Regulus Snape had been fatherless for close to three years without a word or a visit from the now infamous Potions Professor. The separation had taken it's toll on the younger Snape as he began to act out in school not at all understanding why his father left and didn't come back.
Unbeknownst to the boy, his father 's life had been just as empty without him and his mother.