A beautiful night is what it would be in Godric Hollow, if not for the terror that had occurred at the Potters hidden home. Lily Evans Potter lays dead on the floor in front of her son's crib, James by the Front of the estate. Hidden is what it should’ve been. They trusted Peter Pettigrew, but in betrayal, their secret keeper told. Told the one they were hoping he wouldn't. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Is he truly to blame though? What the potters don’t know is that Severus Snape could be to blame. He shared the prophecy, all that was left was for one whom they called a friend to rat them out.
Harry cries as he stands in his crib, just one year old. He cries and cries for attention desperately, not understanding the tragedy in front of him. He cries for hours until he feels himself getting grabbed out from his crib and rocked gently. Though he doesn’t know who it is, he still feels comfort and care. Regulus.
That can’t be. Wasn’t he dead?
Regulus rocks Harry gently, soothing him in his crying state, despite the fact that Regulus himself was crying. How could this have happened? He faked his death to avoid helping the Dark Lord, made his brother basically hate him, he sacrificed his friendships just to have someone trusted by them to betray. Why would Peter do such a thing to James? They were friends since a young age and James never treated him wrong. How could he? Regulus grew up having to bear Sirius hating him because of his house. He had to grow up with his horrible parents and their abuse. He had to grow up knowing that whoever he found himself drawn to would never like him back. Lily is who he chose because no one wants a Slytherin Death Eater to be in a relationship with. Even with those burdens, Regulus would never have betrayed the Potters.
Regulus is pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of twigs snapping. His guard returns as he reaches for his wand, holding Harry steady in his arms still. It’s Severus. He seems alarmed, not having expected this.
“It’s just me.” Severus mumbles. It's obvious to Regulus that Severus had been crying. After knowing each other for years and going through the process of hate to love to whatever it is they are now, Regulus had only seen Severus cry a few times, and vice versa. Severus had wanted to arrive early to protect Lily, but he can tell that he was too late.
“Leave. This is- This wasn’t supposed to happen. Lily and James are dead.” Regulus retorts, not lowering his wand from its pont at the other man.
Severus walks closer knowing that Regulus’ wand is nothing but a false threat. “Come on. It’s not all my fault. You act as if you weren’t loyal to ‘You know who’ before the incident-”
“And James was the one to convince me it was wrong. You told him the prophecy and the rat shared the secret. Neither of you are good people.” Regulus interrupts, disturbing the previously calm baby in his arms. He returns his attention to Harry, not bothering to pay anymore attention to Snape as he lowers his wand.
“Do you think I'm not upset about this?” Severus asks, his own words bitter on his tongue. He walks closer. “Lily is dead. The woman I loved all of my life is dead.”
“I don't want to talk about dead loved ones right now. Not in their home.” Regulus walks over to Lily's dead body, holding a moment of silence as he wipes his eyes before walking out of the room to do the same with James.
Severus can't help but follow, letting Regulus pay his respects. He knows Regulus is right. He knows that he shouldn't talk about someone in the presence of them and their spouses dead bodies. He walks over to Regulus, placing his hand on the shorter man's shoulder- a silent support.
“Why? Why did this happen?” Regulus mumbles, tears once again falling despite the fact that he tried to stop them. He turns to look at Severus.
“Some things must happen. We signed up to live for The Dark Lord, consequences are bound to occur.”
“I faked my death in hope that it would help. I've been living as if I don't exist. I've lived decently with the knowledge that everyone I love is okay, but I get the news that the person that helped me and my brother so much is dead? This shouldn't have happened, Severus.”
They both turn their heads to the door when they hear voices from outside- presumably Dumbledore who must’ve heard the news by now. They both rush to the nursery room, not wanting to be caught. Regulus places Harry down in his crib carefully, however, he still manages to startle the boy, making him start to cry. He tries to soothe him as best as possible but Severus tells him not to as the main door opens. Reluctantly, he walks away, looking towards the open window that he entered through before returning into his animagus form angelically. He jumps through the window leaving. Severus follows, leaving through the window and closing it from the outside.