Severus Snape had survived werewolves, vampires, and manic dark art zealots and had never felt the grip of fear before. He had never felt the chill that runs up and down the spine and then settles somewhere in the pit of his stomach like a cold snake, waiting for it's chance to strike and paralyze you and leave you to die.
Never had he felt fear until he saw the green light that was shot into the sky above the simple home that he had spent two years of his life in with a wife, child he held in trust for the man he sworn to protect and loved like a brother.
The green light above his home scared him and filled him with the emotion he had never felt till now. The green light in the shape of a skull and snake, the symbol he had seen before and studied for the past two years. He had fought against the skull and snake that was now branded above his house and against his heart.
"No." Severus whispered. He pulled together the last shreds of strength and ran towards his house.
"Alex, don't go in there." Someone said, pulling him back. "Don't go in there, Severus."
He looked in the direction of the voice but paid no attention to the voice. He was too consumed with feelings of betrayal, shock and pain. Pain beyond words flooded his entire being and he didn't when he screamed. "My wife!" He broke free, running towards the house. "My wife, Dahlia! Dahlia! Dora!" Two people he didn't recognize tackled him. "Let me go! Billy!"
His mind was taking tally: seven Aurors, and four Hit Wizards. "Where on earth where the damn med wizards?" The Witches were already performing memory charms on the Muggle neighbors. His mind was spinning out of control. "Dora!"
He turned his head and saw Jude helping another person pulled out a body on the stretcher. The arm was hanging limply off, it was that hand of Billy Moore, his partner. Following, could have only been the body of Dahlia Wyvern Snape, his wife. He closed his eyes and screamed. He closed his eyes.
And when he opened them, he was in the doorway to Dora's bedroom. He made out the image of a sleeping child in the bed. Relief and joy flooded him. They had spared her. They had spared Dora. It was only a second later, the grim truth occurred to him. Dora wasn't breathing…
Severus sat on the bed and pulled the girl into his arms.
"We arrived too late."
"Quiet, Jude." He whispered. "You'll wake her."
"Severus…"
"Shh...we mustn't wake her. It takes forever to get her to sleep. She's afraid, you see. She's terrified of the dark."
"Why don't you bring her outside, Alex, remember? She was supposed to spend the night at my house. Bring her outside."
"She's asleep."
"Take her outside."
Severus walked outside the building that had been his home for the most innocent and joyful of his life. He was walking outside, carrying what at the time was the best thing in his life. Dora looked like she was sleeping. The person who had killed her had been cruelly merciful. Dora had been killed by one cut to the neck, from left to right. Jack the Ripper had killed her and walking outside of the home for the last time, Severus knew who was the Ripper.
Jacqueline was waiting for him. He met her eyes, still clutching the child in his arms. Sydney walked towards him and took the child from him. Van Ness' eyes were watering. Sydney was clutching the girl and kissed Dora's forehead. They all had loved her.
Or had they? Severus looked at Sydney and then to Jude and wondered which one had betrayed Billy to the Death Eaters.
And Severus felt, for the first time, the mind clearing power of pure rage.
He was suddenly overcome by a deep-seated hatred for them both, for the Aurors all. He hated them more then he had ever had hated anyone. He hated them all. He hated the entire world and the filth and corruption of this entire magical world that he had sworn to protect. He had lived his entire life as the child of a legacy. He had been invulnerable his entire life and never felt what it was to live. He had sworn his life to the people who betrayed his family, who betrayed Dora.
And Severus swore to Dora that she would not die in vain. He would ensure that the people who had let her die would pay. The pure blood that had ran through Dora's veins would be preserved, would be protected.
He would make sure every pure blood child would live in a world free from traitors like the Aurors and anyone, anyone, who tried to stop him would make sure Dora was not alone in the afterlife.
He walked towards Jacqueline and kissed her. "Give me Daniel and give me the traitor."
She watched him. "And what do we get in return?"
"You get me. I am the Son of the Morning and I will ascend to the heavens and take the throne from the powers that be. I will make my throne where the ashes of the Ministry of Magic once stood. I will be the most high. One day, I will a king but for now I will be god."
She looked at him and nodded. "It's a deal, Morning Star."