BACK TO BLACK
Hello all!
disclaimer: No...I do not own any of the characters from Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling is a genius!)
author's note: Admittedly, I've had to change a few things to better suit the story I'd like to tell.
I have made Severus Snape and Bellatrix LeStrange the same age, meaning they would have been in the same grade. The year that the Longbottoms were tortured has also been changed from 1981 to 1980. Severus was also never in love with Lily. I chose to model the orphanage in this after the one in the movie, Wool's Orphanage. In this story, it has not been torn down and still stands as an active orphanage. I have also changed the way legilimency is used, just slightly to better suit my character.
Also, DH never happened, obviously, and some events of POA, HBP and OOTP as well. I hope you will all allow for the departures from the original lore that I have taken here. I realize it may not be very faithful to the books, but hey… that's why this is fanfiction- right?
The majority of this story is set in the golden trio's last year, but there will be many flashbacks to the Marauder years… and many delightful cameos along the way!
Also, please note, the chapters will get longer as the story progresses, as will the maturity of the younger characters.
Sit back and enjoy my take on the complexity of the Bella/Snape relationship…
*laughs wickedly *
-boots-
"I wept not, so to stone within I grew." – Dante Alighieri
NOVEMBER – 1980
"Don't do this, Bella"
"Shut your mouth!" Bellatrix LeStrange flung her wand at the wizard, with a sneer of disgust.
"You don't have to do this" Severus Snape's eyes were unwavering and cold – never betraying the horrors he had seen and the torment he had suffered.
"You know I must," she said barely above a harsh whisper.
"Please!" Alice Longbottom screamed and began to stand up.
"Back down on the floor, you filthy bitch"
"Please… I beg of you…I need to see my baby… please!" The badly beaten woman tried desperately to stand to her feet when something seemed to catch her attention as she stared up at the crazed witch.
"Please- I need to get to my baby…I know you understand…"
Bellatrix kicked her and stomped down on her right shoulder, dislocating it instantly. For a brief moment, a flicker of sympathy passed over the witch's chiseled face, but it was quickly replaced once more by revulsion.
"Crucio!"
Alice Longbottom screamed as if her heart were on fire. She ripped at her chest, tearing her own bruised flesh to ribbons. Frank Longbottom was extremely weak, but he managed to crawl to his wife's side. He gripped onto her to keep her from harming herself but she continued to writhe wildly in his arms.
"Why are you doing this? Please…" Frank pleaded.
"All you have to do is tell me what I wish to know Frankie…" There was an oddly playful cadence to her voice, but it was altogether menacing when combined with her heavy lidded eyes and wickedly smiling mouth.
"Tell me where he is," She screamed violently and pointed her wand at him again.
Frank chanced a look at Snape and Bellatrix followed his gaze.
"Severus… please… help us"
The dark witch's eyes widened and she lowered her wand slightly.
"You're a coward" Her voice was eerily quiet.
"Bellatrix…" Severus never once looked at Frank, "It appears they are telling the truth… I see no reason to continue with this… line of questioning… we both know it's beneath you"
For a moment, Frank looked relieved and inhaled deeply, wrapping his arms once more around his now shivering wife.
"I suppose you're right Snape…I suppose we don't really need them after all... Avada-"
"Bella- stop" Severus never raised his voice or flinched.
"Then perhaps you would like to finish them off?"
He said nothing; just stared at her- searching for some evidence of the girl he had known before. Bellatrix narrowed her eyes and twirled swiftly on her heel.
"Crucio!"
The curse ripped through Frank and Alice rapidly, absorbing their very souls in agony. Bellatrix cackled maniacally and placed a hand on her hip as she admired her spell work.
"Why are you doing this?"
The witch spun on her heel again and stalked over to Severus. As she approached him, he noticed her gait was slightly slower than usual. "I like to hurt people" She was within an inch of his face now and her scent enveloped him… smoke and long dead leaves… "Are you gonna go running off to your precious Dumbledore now then?" she pouted playfully.
"This isn't a game Bella… people are dead… you'll be sent to Azkaban for what you've done… or worse"
Bellatrix lowered her gaze and swallowed back a nervous laugh. "As if anything could be any worse than the imprisonment I feel by the very blood in my veins" she mumbled and crossed her arms.
Severus furrowed his brow. She confused and scared him in moments like this- he never knew what to say.
"Bella… I know you think I can't…You... you don't need to stay with him… I will always take care of you… I will-"
Bellatrix lunged at his mouth, crashing her lips against his roughly.
Severus had never been very good at expressing himself. "Let me love you…"
She placed a finger over his lips to silence him, tracing the spot where her own lips had been just moments before.
"Petrificus Totalus" She said dryly before lowering herself over his rigid body. "Love's just another excuse to get hurt, Severus… remember that well"
Those were the last words Bellatrix LeStrange would say to Severus Snape for many a year. And that was also the last time that Severus would allow himself to feel anything… ever again.