Second chance a new choice

In Noctum

Carry my soul into the night
May the stars light my way.
I glory in the sight
As darkness takes the day.

Ferte in noctem animam meam
Illustre stellae viam meam
Aspectu illo glorior
Dum capit nox diem.

Cantate vitae canticum
Sine dolore acate
Dicite eis quos amabam
Me nunquam obliturum

Sing a song, a song of life
Lived without regret
Tell the ones, the ones I loved
I never will forget,

Never will forget...

Severus Snape wandered the grounds of Hogwarts, the only place he'd ever called home. Chill air surrounded him as color washed from his vision.

Why am I not happy? I should be.

Empty, numbing cold seeped through him from without and within.

Alone...

"Kill," the snake-like voice bit the air. "Kill the mudbloods! Kill them—kill them all!"

"Yes, my lord," said Severus. He raised his wand, and a void replaced emotion.

A dark-haired girl, nameless, almond-shaped eyes covered by oval glasses, faced him. Her small nose did nothing to hide the plea for mercy in her chocolate eyes. Mudblood—disgusting pig! Same as Father.

"She is better off dead. Kill her."

"Avada Kedavra," he uttered the curse, but guilt didn't grip him, or regret, or sadness. A green flash masked the scene as the girl's body crumpled, but her face burned in his mind.

"Kill the mudblood!" commanded the snakeish voice.

Severus faced the next victim. He froze as red hair swayed with each cold gust and emerald eyes gazed on him with sorrow.

His grip failed and time slowed as the wand fell. "No, not her!"

"Kill her. Kill! It's easy. T w o words—that's it. The mudblood is better off dead."

"No, my lord!" His voice trembled. "Have mercy. Have mercy, my lord, please!"

"Severus." The crisp, old voice drew him, and blue eyes covered in half-moon spectacles pierced him. Dumbledore. Why am I afraid?

"You must do it. You must kill me," Dumbledore said.

Here again. The tower. Wind—so cold—tore through Severus. Emotion returned and horror bit like ice, colder than the wind. "No!" Confusion and fright took him. "I don't want to do this anymore. You can't make me!"

Dumbledore regarded him sadly and stood at the ledge. Those blue eyes pleaded. "Severus... Please."

My wand is back? He raised it but trembled as he pointed the wand at Dumbledore and fought off terror. " Avada Kedavra. "

An emerald flash.

Red hair framed a woman's face as she fell from the tower.

Severus lunged for her. "No!" His reach fell short. "LILY!"

Her body twisted, crashed, and empty green eyes stared at him.