Potter's Twin Sister

*1*

The night air hung heavy with the scent of rain and fear. A storm was brewing, not just in the sky but in the hearts of the inhabitants of Godric's Hollow. James Potter, a whirlwind of laughter and charm, lay sprawled on the floor, his emerald eyes forever locked in a silent scream. Lily, her beauty forever etched in his mind, was a crumpled figure, her blood staining the floor crimson. Voldemort, a specter of pure malice, stood triumphant, his serpentine face contorted in a grotesque grin.

But amidst the chaos, a silent figure observed the carnage. Severus Snape, his heart a tempest of conflicting emotions, moved with a swiftness that belied his usually deliberate nature. He darted into the Potter's nursery, his eyes searching. In the crib, a tiny infant lay sleeping, oblivious to the horror unfolding in the next room. Evangeline, Harry's twin, was still too young to understand the danger, her face a mask of peaceful innocence.

Snape's mind raced. He had to get her out, away from the darkness that had descended upon Godric's Hollow. He had a choice, a decision that would forever shape the course of his life. He could stay and fight, join the resistance against Voldemort, or he could flee, saving Evangeline from the wrath of the Dark Lord.

The weight of the decision crushed him. His heart ached for Lily, his love, his soulmate. The promise he had made, the pledge he had sworn, echoed in his ears. He could not protect her, could not shield her from the darkness that had consumed their world. But he could save Evangeline.

He knew, deep in his soul, that Voldemort was a monster driven by a twisted hunger for power. He knew the dark magic that Voldemort wielded was a force that could extinguish even the most brilliant light. He knew he had to make a choice.

Lily was gone. That was a truth he could no longer deny. Her life, her love, her light, had been snuffed out by Voldemort's evil. But Evangeline, his Lily's other half, was still alive. He could not lose her too.

He glanced back at the crib, his heart pounding against his ribs. He could hear the whispers of the wind, the rumble of the storm, the echoes of his tormented soul. Time seemed to warp and distort, stretching the moments into an eternity. The decision, once a distant possibility, now loomed before him like a spectral beast. He could not live with the guilt of letting her fall into the clutches of Voldemort. He had to protect her.

He picked Evangeline up, her tiny body surprisingly heavy in his arms. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open, but she was too drowsy to protest. He cradled her close, the warmth of her tiny hand against his cheek a beacon of solace amid the storm.

With a final glance at the shattered remains of the Potter's home, he disappeared into the swirling storm. He fled into the night, his heart a heavyweight in his chest, his soul burdened by the knowledge of what he had witnessed. The storm raged around him, mirroring the tempest raging within him. Yet, amid the chaos, there was a sliver of hope, a flicker of determination that he would not fail Evangeline, just as he had failed Lily.

He ran, faster than he had ever run before, carrying Evangeline in his arms, a precious burden of love and responsibility. The world blurred into a kaleidoscope of gray and black as he navigated the deserted streets of Godric's Hollow. The wind howled around him, its icy breath biting at his face, but he pressed on, driven by the desperate need to keep Evangeline safe.

He knew he couldn't stay in Godric's Hollow, not with Voldemort lurking in the shadows. He needed to find a haven, a place where Evangeline could grow up, protected from the darkness that threatened to engulf the world.

His gaze fell upon a sprawling manor, its imposing silhouette etched against the stormy sky. The Malfoy Manor. It was a place of wealth and influence, a place where Voldemort had his supporters. But it was also a place where Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius's wife, resided.