Second chance a new choice

Attack on Hogsmead

Restless, Severus waited in the quiet darkness of the dormitory for sleep. The nightmares from his old life came seldomly now – though he definitely still had them, but each of the past three nights, they barred him from getting any sleep.

The worst nightmare was always that girl... the one person he'd ever killed in cold blood. In the past, every detail was crisp and clear and lingered long after he woke. But now... those details had faded. The only one that still hung on was the pleading in that girl's terrified face.

Why am I not relieved? That horror has plagued me since I was young the first time. Why should it escape me now? Severus rolled over with a weary sigh and closed his eyes. He focused on the surrounding darkness.

Anger – rage! Fury at such incompetence raced into him.

What sort of idiots are serving me?!

At Severus' feet cowered the idiot, Malfoy. His task was so simple. Yet he failed! "Face me, Lucius."

Malfoy's terror-stricken gray eyes obeyed. He shook. His light blond hair hung in dirty strands around his pointed face.

"You disappointed me," said Severus in a dangerous tone. "And I don't like being disappointed. The task was simple, was it not? Yet you couldn't manage. He'd have been ours already. What happened?"

"Master." Lucius groveled. "I would never disappoint you! I don't know what happened, but I swear, if you'd have asked only a year ago, he'd have said yes without hesitation! He still might. He's not foolish, and he knows what he wants."

"You're pathetic, Lucius!" Severus snapped. "Pathetic! You must learn!" Severus raised his wand. "CRUCIO!"

Lucius screamed and writhed on the floor – to Severus' amusement.

But I don't like the Cruciatus. It's beneath me to use such a vulgar curse. I don't even use it in nightmares. These aren't my thoughts! Not my mind! Must get out!

Severus gasped and shot upright in bed. Was I... inside Voldemort's head? How?

He searched for hidden magic. There! It pulsed under the bed. He leaned over and retrieved the small diary. Dark magic drenched it beyond anything Severus was used to.

"Open it," the book whispered. "You know you want to. I see into your soul. We're alike. So alike."

Severus shut his eyes and shut out the book with Occlumency. Wait. What is that? A strand of magic – no, four, hidden behind the book's whispers, led in different directions – connections to places – to items the Horcrux desired to merge with. If I wasn't as good at Occlumency, I'd never have noticed these over the book's overwhelming personality.

The strongest of the four strands drew Severus. Must lead to the object closest. Judging by the strength of the strand, it could be very close.

Severus donned a robe and then let the book pull him, out of the Slytherin dormitory and toward the southern end of the castle.

Since it was the middle of the night during Christmas vacation, he hoped no one was out looking for stray students. Hopefully this works the way I think it does. He gripped the book as it directed him toward the other soul pieces. I have to be sure. I must find those other Horcruxes!

The diary led Severus to a door he'd never noticed. He pushed it open cautiously. Its quiet squeal filled the corridor.

The room beyond was a mess. Filled with all sorts of useless trash covered in thick layers of dust, the centuries-old dumping ground smelled of must and old garbage.