warning: gruesome child death (implied) - don't get mad at me if you still want to read this, there's always the back button
also same rule applied: no reviews, no more updates
It had passed midnight, and Lucius Malfoy waited for the Dark Lord's return in Malfoy Manor's dining room, blue eyes trailed after the long brown snake that slithered across the place. He wondered how the snake continued to be fixated at some of the ornaments even after making its rounds for the umpteenth time since the Dark Lord brought it to the mansion.
The mahogany doors swung open and three people came in, taking off their white masks and Lucius blinked upon realizing they were the Lestranges.
"Where's the Dark Lord?" Rodolphus asked.
Lucius gestured for them to sit, "He went out with Snape." His gaze fell onto something squirming in Rabastan's arms. "Should I know what that is?"
"Not until the Dark Lord comes-" Bellatrix said before the doors were opened once again and Lord Voldemort entered alongside Severus Snape who carried a satchel.
"How did it go?" The Dark Lord grinned at the Lestranges before his red eyes fell onto the figure swaddled in cloth and he turned pale. "What's the meaning of this? Didn't I tell you to dispose of them?!"
Bellatrix bowed her head, "Y- Yes you do, my Lord but if what Snape told me-" she glanced at the dour man, "-was correct, then you should do the honors for it."
Lord Voldemort's red eyes flickered at Snape who only raised his eyebrows and he stared back at the fussing child. "I suppose you do have a point, Bellatrix," he spoke with narrowed eyes and took out his powerful wand. "Gather the rest to the ballroom. You all will see how pathetic and desperate Dumbledore was to have this boy as their final hope." He hissed and the brown snake rose before following him to the ballroom.
"Severus?" Lucius asked in puzzlement while Bellatrix gave the man a glare.
"You will know soon," was all he got before Snape headed to the ballroom. Sighing, Lucius shared a look with the Lestranges and pressed his Dark Mark.
About thirty minutes later, all the known Death Eaters formed a circle inside the ballroom with the Dark Lord, Severus Snape and the whimpering baby at the throne. The brown snake glided past them, its forked tongue tasted the air before its gaze fixed onto the child.
"Welcome, my friends," Lord Voldemort spoke. "The Hallows' Eve has blessed us with the successful murders of the Longbottoms and the acquisition of their son Neville, all thanks to the Lestranges."
A ripple of murmurs rang across the ballroom before the Dark Lord continued, "Severus, if you may."
Snape took out a glowing crystal orb from his satchel before placing it on the long table near the throne and everyone there gazed upon it in anticipation and curiosity. Lucius was reminded of the man asking him about getting a job in the Ministry of Magic over a year ago and this must be it.
"Recite the prophecy to us, Severus," Lord Voldemort ordered.
Snape bowed and uttered out, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who had thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not… The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
"You will return the prophecy as soon as possible, Severus," Lord Voldemort said to which Snape bowed his head once again. "No doubt after this night is over, Dumbledore and his goons will try to get their hands on this."
"I doubt they can touch it directly, my Lord," Augustus Rookwood chimed in, "lest they face the unimaginable magic from the deities and never be the same again."
Lucius realized Rookwood furrow his brows when Snape said the prophecy and decided he need to know more of it before shifting his gaze to the Dark Lord who smiled, "Thank you, Rookwood. Now what to do with this boy? I can't kill him for the possibility of him gaining an unknown power."
Everyone shared glances on what to inflict onto the Longbottom boy who began to cry after being left without any warmth for so long. The Cruciatus Curse was a favorite but wouldn't that be inhumane to cast onto a child?
"Have your snake kill him, my Lord," Bellatrix spoke with glinting grey eyes. "She looks hungry." As expected, the brown serpent continued to gaze upon the baby, looming over him.
"Interesting idea; unless of course, some of us here are squeamish?" Lord Voldemort sneered.
Most of the Death Eaters laughed but Lucius tried his hardest to look stoic. It would not do well to be afraid as an important member of the Dark Lord's Inner Circle. And yet that boy looked about the same age as his son, Draco. They could be in the same school year soon. He then shook his head, knowing that a puny boy's survival wouldn't matter to the Dark Lord's new reign that loomed closer to victory.
Apparently, Snape knew of his turmoil when he said, "I think Narcissa calls for you, Lucius."
"Yes, tend to your wife and child, Lucius; make the Malfoy family live well as your ancestors had."
Lucius mumbled his graces to the Dark Lord and left the ballroom just as the Dark Lord called for his brown snake, Nagini. He supposed he owe Snape a favor now.
Petunia Evans-Dursley's effort of hiding her dismay at her sister's sudden visit was abysmal to say the least.
It was nearly noon of 1st November and Vernon had gone to work, making her the only one who could tend to her guest. Lily's previously vibrant visage and red hair was now disheveled and unkempt, hands clasped tightly and green eyes wide in horror and grief.
Petunia sighed and looked again at the headline of the magical newspaper Lily had brought over that talked of a family murder case but that was not her focus. Instead, she turned to the next page and her thin face went deathly white.
"I…" she started but her voice caught in the throat. How was she supposed to comfort the sister she spent nearly half of her life hating? "I- I'm sorry for your loss." Yes, Petunia still disliked Lily but losing a child was hard on a mother. She couldn't imagine what would happen if she lost Dudley, who was sleeping in his nursery room upstairs.
But Lily remained in her stupor and Petunia was ready to make her tea when someone knocked on the front door. Frowning, she went to see who it was and blinked at Severus Snape.
"Hello," he greeted with a small smile. "I hope you aren't busy because I…" His eyes fell onto Lily who had looked up and he hissed, "…I see you have a guest right now, Petunia. Sorry for interrupting."
Petunia was stunned by his sudden change of demeanor. "No, wait!" she said before going after him.
"Why is she there?" he asked.
"Her son… you've seen Harry, yes?" When Severus remained silent, she continued, "Well… he died. Choked on his milk after he slept. It's on the newspaper; haven't you read it?"
"The Daily Prophet isn't always a trustworthy source of news," Severus waved his hand carelessly. "What's the cause?"
"That man gave him a sleeping potion. A sleeping potion, to a baby!"
Severus blinked, "You mean James Potter?"
Petunia nodded before letting out a sigh, "You're… You used to be close to her. She could have some reminiscences of your memories together."
Severus shook his head with a grimace. "Not anymore, Petunia. She left me when I needed her the most. And Potter… he humiliated me and stripped me in front of everyone."
"But Lily said you called her a bad name-"
"I did. I knew it's bad to call her that but what else I got to do? No one bothered to help me back then. Even she just stood by, smiling at my poverty-stricken greying clothes. I didn't believe it either at first but the Pensieve – a stone basin that can project your memories as if on a television – never lies. And if you must know, she almost killed my soon-to-be wife."
"No!" Petunia gasped. "No… it can't be!"
"Trust me Petunia, she's not in her right mind. You said it yourself Potter fed his baby a sleeping potion after feeding. That showed they are careless, willing to be only at ease and have fun in their life. They don't understand the struggles of living like you and I do."
Petunia gazed into Severus' black eyes, reminding of the time where her own parents doted on Lily more than her. Of how every magical act the redhead did gain their attention better than her achievements. When Petunia got good grades for her O-levels, Lily was showered with cakes and gifts for her O.W.Ls. She was utmost glad that Vernon did not cast her away.
"Y- You're coming with me," she said adamantly. "If… if what you told me was true, that she really tried to kill your girlfriend... I will break my relationship with her."
Severus blinked but nevertheless, he followed her into the house and Petunia noted how Lily jumped in her seat out of surprise. "T- Tuney?" the redhead began.
"Is it true that you try to kill Snape's friend?"
Petunia watched as gradual realization dawned in her sister's face. "I- What does it have to do with me?"
"Just say it!"
Lily gulped; green eyes flickered between her and Severus. "I mean… I thought she's-"
"She's what, Lily," Severus bared his teeth. "You think Francesca wouldn't tell me? Remember back then in Diagon Alley? I can call you out right there, but I prefer your own sister see how far you've fallen."
"Get out," Petunia growled. When Lily turned to her, she went on, "Leave, before I call the cops."
"Please, Petunia; I'm your-"
"I have no sister. You brought this upon yourself." Petunia shoved her outside and slammed the door. After Severus locked it, she fell into his embrace, crying, "Did… Did I do the right thing, Severus?"
"Some people change for the worse, Petunia. I should have realized it a lot sooner too, but better now than never."
She nodded and heaved into the napkin Severus gave her. "I… Why are you here in the first place?"
Petunia got her answer when Severus blushed and handed her a silver card, to which she smiled knowingly.
On Tuesday, 2nd November, Severus went to the Ministry of Magic for his work, holding his satchel carefully as he appeared from the Floo fireplace and had his wands checked.
When he arrived at the Department of Mysteries in the ninth floor, he frowned upon seeing someone with a cane standing near the entrance to the Hall of Prophecy especially as the person's strange new blue prosthetic eye whizzed about in its socket before fixing on him.
"Moody," Severus said, hiding his discomfort. Was the blue eye a new creation? How did it work? Do items hidden in bags and suitcases can be seen?
The gnarly wizard grunted with a grimace, "Snape."
"You're out of the hospital." Severus looked down to see one of Moody's feet was replaced with a brass one, reminded of how his friends told him of the Auror's injuries. "Don't you suppose you need a seat?"
"Bah, I can stand much longer than you do. And frankly it's not your business."
Severus narrowed his eyes, "It is my business to know why you are here instead of in your office."
"I'm on the Minister's orders. Now get in there and do your job." Moody shoved him into the Hall of Prophecy and Severus snarled before holding the strap of his satchel tightly, thanking the Princes' house-elves from the bottom of his heart for sewing the basilisk's snakeskin onto the bag. If the paranoid Auror had known of the content inside the satchel… he shuddered upon thinking of Azkaban.
The working hours went by without any further incident, but Severus kept his eyes onto Moody who wandered along the shelves whilst checking the registry book that contained the names of those mentioned in other prophecies. He inwardly chuckled at the 'Unfulfilled' status of the prophecy regarding Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort.
"What if someone were to touch one of these?" Moody's voice broke his trance.
Severus quirked an eyebrow at the man, "If you fancy invoking the unimaginable magic from the deities, be my guest. And don't blame me on it." He ought to thank Augustus Rookwood for the information.
The Auror's blue eye whizzed wildly in its socket and Moody huffed before leaving the place when the clock chimed at noon, his brass foot clanked as he walked.
Severus sighed. Should he continue to work in the Ministry? The deed was done and if Albus Dumbledore had connected the dots, the old wizard would suspect Francesca Zabini for overhearing part of the prophecy and her relationship with him. She might be in danger soon, and Severus needed to warn her as quickly as possible. He hoped the glass bracelet would protect her when the time comes, willing to sacrifice part of his soul for her.
Not to mention his upcoming project to remove the Fiendfyre within his spirit. He would need an extended break to heal again and re-learn his magical prowess. Perhaps a week was enough to plan his 'resignation'.
Before Severus left for the day, he took out the crystal orb from his satchel and placed it at its original shelf, retrieving the decoy to destroy it elsewhere.
Albus Dumbledore was utterly distraught.
The idea that the ultimate savior of the wizarding world, Harry Sirius Potter had died due to his parent's negligence was completely unthinkable. The Longbottoms' loss too was a blow to the Order of the Phoenix and it confirmed his suspicions that Lord Voldemort had the Rogue Prince by his side now.
Feeling as old as his age, he took his Pensieve and a glass vial filled with a silver strand, in which he put the item into the stone basin and watched as Minerva McGonagall's face appeared on its surface, saying, "I'm not sure, but there was a ruckus outside the room and when I checked to look, your brother was fighting with Miss Francesca Zabini over thinking she was eavesdropping the whole thing."
Albus blinked at the mention of Francesca Zabini. If he remembered well, the woman was now working at Hogwarts as the Potions Professor, not to mention she was close to Severus Snape who worked in the Ministry's Department of Mysteries.
Could it be…?
Albus shuddered in utmost horror; how could he miss it? The Rogue Prince's identity was just a ruse! He should have known something was amiss when Snape changed his profession about two weeks after the prophecy was first said by Sybil Trelawney over a year ago.
Using his wand, he casted his phoenix Patronus and narrowed his ice blue eyes, ready to stop Lord Voldemort's dark reign over wizarding Britain.
'Minerva, bring me Francesca Zabini," he said before sending it to Hogwarts' Headmistress.
He would deal with Severus Snape personally and regain the ownership of the powerful Elder Wand.