What I said in the last chapter...so on and so forth-D

This Could be the Last Time: Part 2

Snape turned to face the rest of the room, no one moved, no one made a sound. "I don't want anything you could offer me. Where am I?"

"Where you are is no matter of consequence. It's who you are with that is important. It is the security that I can offer you that should concern you most."

Snape knew that whatever this was, it was bad. He knew about the uprising of pureblood wizards. The fear they instilled was slowly beginning to make headlines. Snape didn't say a word.

"Times are changing, Severus Snape. Our world, constantly polluted by the blood of outsiders. They abuse us. They make us weak. But ours is a line of power. A line of prestige. It is time to reclaim the world we have lost to these – others."

"You're talking about an ethnic cleansing of all non-pure blood wizards."

"In so many words, I am talking about regaining our control over the entire wizarding world, regaining our rightful place as leaders."

"That's genocide."

"You've been living amongst the muggles too long, Severus. You're father would agree with me."

"My father is dead."

"You're father was a good man."

"My father was terrible man. Obsessive, abusive, he was mad with greed -" "Yes, he was, like I said – a good man. He knew what it meant to be powerful and required respect. Everywhere he went people bowed to him."

"Everywhere he went people feared him."

"Are you not a father yourself now, Severus?"

He didn't answer. For years Snape emulated his father. He was amazed by his stature, his wealth. He believed his father when he spoke of the mudbloods that haunted the Wizarding Society. But Snape was not like his father. While he tried to hate, to belittle, he couldn't. He knew something was wrong. After his disownment, Snape swore to himself he would never become the man father ever was.

The shrouded man returned to the subject at hand.

"I can only assume your silence means 'yes.' In fact, I know it does. Little William has a fever does he? Well there's only one decent cure for that, though I must tell you. It's never a good idea to leave the window open when a child is trying to sleep."

Snape blinked, his face stone cold, they lead him there. They were at his home. "It would be a shame if anything happened to that darling family of yours. Wouldn't you agree, Severus?"

"What do you want?"

The figure stepped closer.

"What I need is a Potions Master. Someone to keep the troops healthy, someone to make sure the dead stay dead." "No." "I thought you'd say that. It's quite unfortunate – Kill them both." The figure whipped his wand into the air and immediately all the figures in the room began to disapparate one by one.

"Where are they going? Kill who? Stop!" The dark figure turned his shrouded face towards Snape. "I think you know who I'm talking about, all of those brains must have come with just a little bit of common sense." Snape's cold eyes turned wide. "I'll make this very simple for you, boy. You serve me, and they live. You tell them nothing and they live. You're wife and son are almost pure blood wizards, they have nothing to fear." The robed figure leaned in and hissed, "I have a habit of making concessions when my own family is involved. That is unless, of course, "Dah dah," makes the wrong decision. You tell them nothing of tonight, you serve me and I let them live."

"How can I trust you?"

"Your father trusted me, which should be enough; after all, I let you and your mother live."

Snape turned away. Family? Almost pureblood? Snape sank deep into his memory; he had heard that voice before. It can't be. Maylin, he knew, must have been a pureblood wizard, she was placed into Slytherin, or was she? Either way he knew the figure could not be trusted. He tried to call out to her, warn her, but her mind was blocked, she must have been sleeping. "You cannot reach Maylin through your little mind tricks in here, Severus. You cannot disapparate, or even hold a wand until you have been properly ordained."

"Ordained?"

"Until you wear the mark of the believer, you are all but powerless. You must make your decision now, I will not be able to hold the troops back for long."

Snape's mind raced, his heart sank. Join with evil and your family will live.

"Tick-tock, Severus, time is running out." The shrouded man waved his wand in circular pattern through the air. A mirror like portal appeared. Through the portal he could see his home. The shrouded figures moved slowly, wands drawn, inside his home. "You're protection spells were nothing to keep us out, we are too powerful, I am too powerful." Frozen with fear. Through the portal he heard Maylin scream.

Snape fell on his knees. "I'll do it, just – Please! No!"

The figure turned to Snape. "I'm sorry Severus, what did you say? There was a woman screaming, it was so loud-"

"You bastard, brand me, I don't care, just make them stop!" Within seconds he was desperate. His son cried.

Snape leapt toward the man and pulled him to the floor. He struck him hard through the cloth. "Order them back!" The man's hood fell from his face.

The weathered face of Tom Riddle smiled. "I am Lord Voldemort and you like your father will bow to me." Snape looked up at the portal, they were pulling Maylin from the house, she was still alive.

Snape removed his fists from the man and bowed by his side. A stinging pain paralyzed his arm, it smelled of smoke and blood.

"Fine then, Severus, go to your family. I regret to you the loss of your son, but I think that will be a pleasant reminder of just who exactly is in charge here."

Snape stepped back. "My son?" "Yes, your son. It seems my Death Eaters got a little carried away. But at least it appears your wife is still alive."

Snape turned cold. His eyes, hands, legs, heart, everything turned cold. As he stared into the portal the body of his son lay lifeless on the grass. He looked like a sleeping angel - tiny hands; a Big Bird blanket.

Maylin lay near him. She wasn't moving. Snape whirled at Voldemort. "Let me out of this place."

"And do what? Save her?"

"You promised she would live!"

"And she will."

From his robes Voldemort pulled out a small green bag.

"A half a cup of water mixed with this and she will live. But quickly now, you only have but a few moments. It's too late for William, but you can always make more children."

Snape left the last comment and seethed.

"How do I know this won't kill her?"

"Because Severus, your father made it, for just this occasion."

"Remember our little deal. Keep your mouth shut and I'll keep her alive. Think about it, I'm sure you'll figure why."

Voldemort laughed and with a wave of his wand Snape was home. Standing in the kitchen, holding the bag, he grabbed the water and ran outdoors.

Police Officers tried to detain him. He ran toward his wife and fell by her side.

The men in uniform backed away.

"She's gone, Sir." Snape ignored their drabble he fed her the potion and within only a second she began to breathe. Snape kissed her lightly on the forehead and moved toward his son. Overwhelmed, tired, and empty, Severus Snape fell into the grass and cried. From the corner of a memory Maylin stood and watched. She walked slowly to the fading memory and looked into the distant crying eyes of the man before her. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Her hands melted into the face of the memory. She looked down at her son. She glanced down at herself. She knew what was coming. She didn't need to see any more.

She closed her eyes for only a moment and for a brief second thought the memory had faded. When she looked around however she was sitting at the bar in Knockturn Alley. The lowest of the low shared drinks and stories about things that would make the average person crumble with disgust. She looked over the crowd and picked out at least one person she had already killed.

Holden Chase sat at the bar, next to his old friend Severus Snape. It couldn't have been but a few hours after later in the memory. Holden looked pleased. Severus looked like Hell. He was also drunker then she had ever seen him in his life.

"Why Holden? What the fuck, Holden? What happened to Existential Slytherin? Why the Evil Ra Ra Ra Slytherin? I'm a Beer o'clock Slytherin – I'm a not supposed to be here, Slytherin!"

Holden put an arm around his old friend's shoulder. Severus sat upright and pushed him away. "Fuck you! Get the f-fuck off me." Severus laid his head on the bar. His wedding ring held loosely between his fingers.

Holden rose up from the seat next to him. He bent down and whispered in his ear. "Sometimes we are forced to make decisions that we don't like. Welcome to the tribe. Just think in just a short while we'll be the only ones left. At least you had a choice, most don't. McKagan left, he was the only smart one out of the group, but not to worry, we'll find him and who knows maybe we can all get back together, have bit of party – all the old gang." Holden dropped his empty glass on the table. "You think on that, Sev. I'll see you, mate." Holden upped and left as another figure stood entered the scene.

James Potter walked uncomfortably up to the bar and put a hand on Severus's back. Snape jumped from his seat bleary eyed and confused at the sight of the man next to him. James's expression surprised the voyeur in the corner. He looked, above all things concerned.

"If you want-a kill me, you should aim here," Severus slurred pointing haphazardly at his chest. James sat next to him ordered what ever Snape was having and chimed in. "Severus," he voice was low. "What the hell happened?"

"You're not gonna kill me?"

"No."

"Then leave me the fuck alone."

"Sev, you don't look good, man. I think -"

"You think? You think what? You think I want to be here? You think you...you're gonna help the situation? You think I give a fuck what you think?" Severus slammed his empty glass on the bar and lit a cigarette.

He rested his head in his hands and spoke.

"Is May-? Where's Ma-?"

"She's with us," James replied.

Severus nodded. He braced him self on the bar and sat up right for a moment. He looked at James with a baffled expression that almost made James laugh.

"Why are you here?"

"We were worried about you, we know you too well to know that this isn't you anymore."

Severus nodded amused. "Right, right, you know me." He took a drag. "Then tell me, why do I have this?" Snape put his cigarette in his mouth and pulled up his sleeve to reveal the Dark mark branded on his forearm.

James sat horrified and shook his head.

"You tell me, Severus." Snape inhaled hard and laughed. "I can't! That's the point! Fucking brilliant!"

James cut into Snape's hysterics. "Look, if you need a place to stay."

Snape eyes met his and the laughter stopped.

"If I need a place to stay? James, where the fuck are you gonna go? Do you know where that mark came from?"

"From the Dark Lord He Who-"

"That right from the Dark Lord Vol-de-mort. No where you go will be safe. He's gonna kill you all. All the mudbloods and halfbreeds. You name them, they're already dead. You gotta take Lily and Harry and May, Gods please take May, and get out of the fucking country! He doesn't give a shit who you are. You're dead."

"Severus you're hysterical!"

"I'm hysterical? You're not listening! I'm telling you!"

"Keep your voice down!"

Severus looked across the room all eyes focused on him. He raised his glass. "I'm drunk!" he cried and the crowd acknowledged with a cheer and relinquished their stare.

Severus sat back on the barstool and lowered his head. James tried to speak but Snape cut him off with a wave of his hand. He raised his head and spoke as clearly as he could.

"Listen to me, James." Severus pulled out another smoke. "I'm not fucking around and I haven't yet totally lost my mind. I didn't want what happened to happen, but you have to believe me. The Dark Lord is coming. And he's going to destroy everything. Get out of the country if you want you're family to live. Take May with you, or at least make her leave. Something's going to happen to her if she doesn't leave. She can't come back."

"Severus."

"Don't 'Severus' me, listen...you saved my life once and I hated you for it so I'm returning the favor. Hate me if you want but listen to me. Going into hiding won't be enough. His people are everywhere and they're biding their time. You're one their list James, your wife isn't a pure blood, you're son is only half. He will find you and he will kill you."

"You're drunk Severus."

"No shit? Really? Yes, I'm drunk. But please keep in mind that my son is dead. My son – is dead. You want Harry to be next then stay where you are. But William is dead."

James shook his head. "This is insane."

"James, if you're not going to listen to me, then you need to go away. Your arrogance will kill you. You should at least be there with your family to defend them as they die."

Again the memory faded, and Maylin watched as James dropped his money on the bar and left. He never left the country, he told Maylin that maybe she should get a way for a while, but he never left, neither did Lily. And while Harry had managed to live, in the end, Severus was right and James and Lily were dead.