The Story of the Marauders

Two: Severus

SEVERUS

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Lily Potter's soft red hair brushed against Severus' cheek, a sour reminder of what Severus ruined. He was lost in his own mind, the high-pitched cries of the one year old child unheard in his ears. He looked so much like James. Severus couldn't stand to look at him.

"Why didn't you take the offer, Lily?" Severus cried, leaning his forehead on hers. Lily's body was heavy in his arms, even when barely lifted from the floor. Severus collapsed on the ground, noticing the glint of a charm on Lily's necklace. He supported Lily's head with one hand and used the other to unhook the necklace, wrapping it tightly in his fist. He squeezed his eyes closed, hoping that doing so would erase everything that had happened.

"'Allo? James...Lily?" A raspy voice called out. Severus' head snapped up and through blurry vision he looked at the baby Harry Potter. He sat crying still, showing the emotions Severus was too scared to show himself. Severus gently placed Lily's head back to the floor, dashing silently out of the room with his cloak billowing behind him. He passed James' body with a ghost of a glance, only to look back fully when the necklace fell from his fingers.

"Harry?" The same deep voice called out again and loud footsteps made their way up the sidewalk to the Potter's front door. Severus fought with himself. Risk getting caught and pick up the only remaining thing of Lily's, or leave while he could? Severus took the latter. The necklace lay near James' body, the simple gold heart glittering still in the dim lighting. Severus was lucky enough to make it out of the back door of the house before the oaf Hagrid entered the house to see the crushing thing that was Lily, dead on the floor of the nursery.

Severus doubled on himself outside the Potter's home, his back pressed against the siding. He stayed for the arrival of a motorbike, loud cries, and an argument. He stayed until he was left with only silence, letting sobs escape him, despite his significant attempts to stop them.

~~~~~

"Bellatrix Lestrange, one of You-Know-Who's must trusted followers, was arrested last night along with husband Rodolphus, and accomplices Barty Crouch Jr. and Rabastan Lestrange for the use of the Cruciatus curse on Alice and Frank Longbottom. Current state unknown, but the first Healer on scene, Oren Daelynn, at St. Mungo's hospital states: 'We're trying everything thing we can to bring the Longbottom's back to reasonable health.' Nothing more was shared on the matter. The location on the couple's only son not shared for safety reasons. The Death Eaters have been sentenced to life in Azkaban Prison.'

Severus roughly folded the Daily Prophet copy and threw it in his fireplace, the glaring face of Barty Crouch Jr. on trial fading to black as the flames overtook the page.

"Foolish idiots," He muttered to himself. An owl fluttered in his window. Severus let the barn owl in quickly, seeing as though Muggle residents would be curious, only to cause trouble for him. A yellow envelope was securely held in the bird's beak. It patiently waited for Severus to take it. The owl looked at him like he expected something from Severus but he turned away from it, using a single finger to rip the stamped envelope open in a single swipe.

'Severus Snape,

I have a request for you. I have no sympathies for what your choices brought to you, but since you've proven helpful to the Order in the final weeks of the war, I'm offering a second chance. Against my better judgment, I trust you, and my request is for you to teach at Hogwarts. The school will provide you with opportunities to redeem yourself. Shall we meet in the Three Broom Sticks, on say, Saturday? Please send your reply as soon as possible.