Chapter 1: A Promise Kept

Darkness had fallen outside in what seemed a great rush. To the people of the small village the darkness was no surprise. Things had been changing a lot. It was almost believed that a dark force had been changing the weather. Many people were used to taking refuge in the comfort and quiet of their homes to escape from whatever evil was brewing in the world and whether you were muggle or magical you knew there was something very wrong in the world.
Severus Snape paced by the windows in his sitting room as the darkness increased, choking out the light. The mark on his arm throbbed and there was a whistling in his ears. He knew something was happening on both side of the battle. He had been privy to intelligence from brother side but his heart was good and his mind was elsewhere on this night.
A memory that he was trying to suppress kept coming to him. He felt young and inexperienced and he began doubting his own powers because no matter how hard he tried this memory crept back to him and tormented him.
He closed his eyes and concentrated very hard, trying to push the memory back but it was burning into his mind as if someone else were controlling it. Something was very wrong and he could not let his mind wonder. He concentrated and built a wall.

***

Suddenly there came a violent knocking on the door; startling Severus away from his journaling. He cautiously palmed his wand and walked slowly through corridor and into the vestibule. The knocking came again as he drew nearer to the door. Looking out his peep hole he recognized the witch on his door step and pulled the door open angrily.
“Lily what on earth are you doing here?” he hissed as she pushed her way into the house, “you know it is too dangerous for you now.”
“Where have you been Severus,” Lily demanded as she planted her feet, spun around and looked him straight in the eyes, “I will not hear any more lies from you. Where have you been?”
“I have been here,” Severus answered truthfully.
“Why?” She asked her eyes burning with rage.
“Because Dumbledore has asked me to keep my distance from you,” Snape answered.
“Why?” She was trembling now.
“Because your whereabouts has to be kept a secret from Voldemort, that is why you have a secret keeper,” Snape said watching her with immense pain in his heart, “I wouldn’t have found you even if I wanted to.”
“Do you trust him?” Lily asked he voice harsh and demanding.
“Black,” Snape asked.
“No, Pettigrew,” Lily answered.
“No,” Snape said as he turned away, “but then again I don’t trust much of James’ judgement and I never had.”
“I don’t want to fight with you about James any more Severus,” Lily said her voice softening.
“As long as you and I live and breath we will fight about James, and you know that Lily,” Severus said as he leaned against the wall in the vestibule where they were still standing.
“And you know that I will not be alive much longer,” Lily whispered tears welling in her eyes.
“We have taken every precaution to protect you,” Snape sighed, “but you keep breaking the rules. I half expected you to have Harry with you.”
“I should have brought him,” Lily said, “he would be safer with you. I don’t like the way Peter looks at him.”
“I don’t trust that sniveling, sorry excuse for a wizard one bit, and everyone knows that,” Snape said, “I would have rather have seen Black as the secret keeper, he would never betray James. They are two peas in a pod those two, so I don’t understand why they have changed their minds.”
“I don’t either,” Lily said as tears began to roll down her face, “and I know it is for nothing Severus. I am to die, it is written in the stars. Voldemort will find me and my son. But you already knew that,” she added and shot him a vicious look.
Snape lowered his eyes to the ground.
“Did you just see everything you wanted to?” she hissed at him.
“Lily, I’m sorry,” Snape said his voice sounding small and insignificant.
“Sorry about what, the invasion of my privacy or the questions I am about to ask you,” Lily asked angrily.
“I can’t help you anymore. Voldemort will be suspicious. I can’t risk that,” Snape said pleadingly.
“I don’t want you to help me Severus, you can’t help me anymore. I know I have to die, but you have to promise me you will take care of Harry. Protect him Severus, give him a home, raise him,” she demanded.
“Lily I can’t raise a child,” Snape gasped.
“Promise me you will,” Lily screamed, “you are the only one I trust in all this!”
“Lily no, I can’t,” Snape said throwing his hands up, “it’s impossibly. He’s not my child.”
“The Potter’s are dead and my relatives are muggles and hate what we are. You are the only person that can possibly protect and raise my son. I would never trust anyone else,” she sobbed, “please Severus, I am begging you,” she pleaded and fell to her knees, grasping at the hems of his robes, she whelped at his feel.
“Lily, I can’t,” Snape said once more, “you know Harry isn’t going to survive either.”
Lily looked up at him. All of the life had left her face. It was as white as the marble floor tiles, “do you really believe my baby is going to die?” she asked nearly inaudibly.
“He’s marked for death,” Snape said as he sank to his knees and took her into his arms.
“My baby,” she sobbed into his should, “you have to protect my baby.” She said her tear stained green eyes looked up into his and broke his heart all over again.
Severus sighed as her head fell and rested on his shoulder. Her entire body shook. She cried and cried until she couldn’t cry anymore and even then she still continued to sake and Severus began to rocker her in his arms as they sat in the middle of the vestibule floor.
She was no longer the strong brilliant witch he had known and loved for so long. She was a frightened, young, mother with a child not a year old and a terrible truth that lived in her heart.
“If Harry should somehow survive, I will protect him,” Severus said.
“Will you swear to it?” Lily asked weakly.
“Yes, you know I would do anything for you,” He said and the promise was binding.

***

“Severus you promised!” the words erupted like a shriek out of the darkness. He sat bolt upright in his chair and for a moment did not know where he was. It was dark, the street lamps were shining in through his sitting room window and the screaming voice of Lily Potter rang in his ears as he eyes tried to focus in the darkness that surrounded him.
Snape stood up and, shaken down to his bones, he tried to walk around to regain his balance and put him into a calm, collected mind frame but the scream was echoing and he knew something terrible had happened and then he realized that something was wrong. He frantically rolled up his sleeve and the mark of the Dark Lord began to fade. It was still there, visible, but only just and the feeling of it moving, calling, and killing was gone. What could it mean?
Suddenly there was a quiet knock at the door and Snape rushed to answer it. There, standing in the street was Hagrid, the Hogwarts game keeper, with a bundle in his arms.
“What are you doing here?” Snape asked as he opened the door and stepped out into the chill of the night.
“Dumbledore will be here soon. Here take this,” Hagrid said as he sniffled and wiped at his eyes as he tried to hide the tears and the sorrow on his voice.
“What is this?” Snape asked but as the bundle was shoved into his arms he felt it move.
Pulling away the covering he heard the soft cry of a baby and recognized the eyes at once.
“I can’t take him,” He said pushing the child back to Hagrid.
“You have to, you promised,” Hagrid said and turned to the shadowy street and left.
Snape stood for a moment with the baby in his arms before he turned and went into the house. He knew that the Potters had to be dead and that he would now have to raise the child of his arch enemy and the woman he had loved since he was a child. His whole world had changed in an instant and the dark persona he had created for himself would have to change. He had to raise this child and he would not be able to keep it a secret.