Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of Harry Potter.

Chapter 24

Baby Dark Lord

Neville just sat there, silent for several minutes as he contemplated what I had just told him. The truth. Something everyone else refused him. Eventually, looking up and into my dark eyes he then said nothing I will ever forget, "I don't want to be a martyr, Professor Snape."

I didn't want that either, but at this point, I did not see another way around it. The Boy-Who-Lived will give his life to save thousands, his name will live forever in the minds and hearts of wizards and witches for generations to come. It was inevitable, however, "Just because you have had to destroy the other vessels containing the Horcrux doesn't mean you have to be destroyed as well. You are living being, the locket and diary certainly weren't." I tried to reassure him though deep down I knew the possibility was slim to none that he would survive.

He just shook his head, glanced back into the tent where Potter was napping. "Don't let James know. He'll just try to stop it from happening."

I nodded as I stood from the fallen log I had been sitting on. Neville ran his hand across the handle of the sword of Gryffindor. "Thank you, for bringing this."

"You are quite welcome."

Without another word he then stood, and made his way back into the tent.

XXX

Several months had passed since I had told Neville he had to die to get rid of the Dark Lord once and for all. I had not heard from him since. I would check the two-way mirror periodically but all I ever saw was black which means he most likely had it packed away. I did hear that Gringotts had been broken into, the details were sketchy but the Dark Lord was very angry. I assume Neville was able to get the Horcrux that was once Hufflepuff's cup from inside Bellatrixs' vault, but as he is not using the mirror to communicate with me I couldn't say for sure one way or the other. How they got in is beyond me, but I do know they left the bank by blowing a hole in the roof while riding on a dragon.

A very Gryffindor style tactic for sure, though effective I suppose.

XXX

It was close to midnight early May when I felt my mark burn. I woke Lily just long enough to tell her I had to go. She told me to be careful, as she always did, and I left. Upon entering Malfoy manor I was immediately taken upstairs by a house-elf. In the hall outside of the same room, I was taken to where Bellatrix almost lost her child, stood the Dark Lord.

His blood-red eyes turned to me and for the first time as far as I could remember they looked...dare I say it, joyful.

"Severus, good. A few hours ago Bella gave birth to my son. He appears to be healthy and of good weight."

"Congratulations."

"Yes, well, we have chosen a name and I wish you to help me with the naming bond."

I have to admit I was a bit taken aback by the request. Naming bonds are not uncommon in pureblood circles, and are usually done within hours of birth; however, the individual chosen to assist in the bonding becomes, in essence, the child's godparent.

"Is Bellatrix okay with me assisting?" The woman hated me and as far as I know, still thinks me a traitor. That's probably the only thing her addled mind is able to see clearly.

"She suggested Narcissa, but when I reminded her that you saved our son and her life she shut up pretty quickly after that. Not that she would dare question me.

I had a hard time not laughing at the irony of the whole situation. I'm trying my hardest to get this psycho's reign of terror to come to an end and he's naming me his child's godfather. It was a ridiculously insane situation.

"I would be honored by my Lord," I replied though in truth the idea of having to raise the love child of a madwoman and the darkest wizard known to wizardkind was not exactly heartwarming. In truth, the idea scared the shit out of me. At the moment, however, I didn't have a choice but to agree.

As I walked into the room, Bellatrix lay on the bed, looking quite like she had given birth very recently. Her hair was done up, probably with a spell, but she looked utterly exhausted. The baby, who was dressed in traditional clothing for the ceremony, rested in his mother's arms. She immediately looked up and glared at me.

I smirked in return.

"Bella, do try and behave." The Dark Lord told her. Then with an annoyed sigh, he added, "With everything he has done for us I do not understand how you can still have doubts."

In response, she simply looked away from me.

"Good, now let's get started shall we."

Twenty-five minutes later I was officially bonded as guardian to Corvus Salazar Guant-Black. In the process of bonding, I had to hold the child, look at him, and recite an oath. He looked very much like his father though his eyes were a cloudy blue, so I was assuming they would be grey-blue like his mothers. What was odd was that when it was over I actually felt proud of what I had done. Not of his psychotic parents but as if becoming his guardian was the right thing to do. Only the future knew what held for how much of an influence I would be in his life but for some reason, I really did want to be a part of it.

A/N: Hello all, baby dark lord Voldemort is here. No, it's not a girl some of you thought it would be as that was what they had in cannon. Sorry to disappoint you. Up next the final battle. Stay tuned to see who will live and who will die.