Severus felt nothing but trepidation as he paced the floor. He knew that the night would drag on and on until he got news of the Dark Lord's wrath or mercy. Lily would either live or die, and all of it was in the Dark Lord's hands.
The Dark Lord had seemed amused when Severus got on his hands and knees, begging with everything he had to show Lily mercy.
“Do you not want mercy for anyone besides your little Mudblood?” The Dark Lord had asked with a smirk.
“No,” Severus had denied.
Now, the Dark Lord was off invading the hideout in Godric's Hollow. He was surely going to kill James and his spawn. Lily, though, was up in the air, still.
Severus could do nothing but wait and pace and regret his choices. He regretted ever thinking that Slytherin was a good house. He regretted straying into and finding interest in the Dark Arts. He regretted that he broke his strong friendship with Lily over Potter and his disgusting excuse of friends.
The Dark Mark on his arm suddenly gave a painful flare unlike any other.
Severus immediately rolled up his left sleeve, only to pause upon seeing just how faint the Mark became. The man suddenly felt ill, and he quickly Apparated to the safehouse in Godric's Hollow. He just about fell to his knees as he saw the house destroyed and burning brightly. He quickly pulled himself together, praying that he'd be able to find Lily alive. He scrambled inside of the house, and he felt his insides churn upon seeing that Potter laid dead at the bottom of the stairs.
Potter stared back through glassy eyes, the corpse silently accusing him of being a heartless murderer.
Severus swallowed thickly. He hated Potter, even asked anything that would listen that the Pureblood would die.
Potter, a father who had much to look forward to, still didn't deserve death for trying to protect his wife and young child.
Severus averted his eyes and moved on. He carefully climbed the stairs that seemed ready to collapse at any moment. He looked in the first room, only to find it to be a bathroom. He quickly walked down the hall, and he noticed that a door had been blown off its casing. He entered, and he couldn't help but notice the splash of red on the floor. The man scrambled over, and he realized that his world had fallen apart.
Lily was undoubtedly dead.
Severus sobbed quietly as he fell to his knees. He cradled Lily close to his chest, and the tears simply wouldn't stop falling. As he held Lily’s slowly cooking body, his body trembled with his sorrow.
The sudden noise of a whimper was followed by a small cry of pain.
Severus snapped his head around, ready to fight tooth and nail against whatever bastard dared to desecrate the moment.
The mere infant that the Dark Lord had gone off to kill was staring back at him.
Severus felt rage fill him as he glared with contempt at the child that looked so much like James.
The infant gave another small cry as he reached out toward his mother. His eyes were filled with tears, and many more had stained his face. There was a scar that ran from his hairline over his eyebrow and across his left eye. This child with the ugly lightning scar would undoubtedly be seen as the one who saved the Wizarding World.
Severus gently set Lily down and stood up. Pulling his wand from his sleeve, Severus approached the mere infant. Malice swirled around his mind as he glared at the baby. He stepped carefully closer and pointed his wand at the child.
The child stared back, suddenly quite quiet. Then, the baby reached both arms up toward Severus.
Severus hesitated then, staring down at the infant who had just watched at least one of his parents die.
The boy made a simple noise of distress.
Severus snapped like a twig under the desperation the child held. He pocketed his wand, and he gently picked up the infant that had the same eyes as Lily. Regret and hesitation swirled around his eyes as he stared down at the kid.
The kid clutched his robes tightly.
Severus knew that he had to put the child back in the crib. He knew that he should have just left and waited until everything blew over. He knew that Lily wouldn't want him to be anywhere near her child. Regardless of those facts, he held the baby – Harry – close.
Harry snuggled in close.
Severus took in a deep breath through his nose before deciding that he needed to keep Harry safe, no matter the cost.
Lily had obviously sacrificed herself for her child, and she surely wanted Harry to flourish.
If Dumbledore had gotten his hands on Harry first, it would surely cause Harry to live a life of hardship.
Severus resolved that such couldn't – wouldn't – happen. As Severus set out from the safehouse, he held Harry tightly to his chest. He would keep Harry safe, even if he had to sacrifice everything he knew and everything he held dear.