Nyssa Night stood there, hooded, starring down at her master’s cloak. At all that was left of her Lord. ’Damn you Severus Snape!’ Nyssa’s rage was unmasked. Her features were so frightening that a basilisk would cower in fear. Slowly she turned and glared down at Lily Snape/Potter’s body.

‘How could I have been so blind?!’ Nyssa, in a fit of rage, sent a curse at a rocking chair, smashing it too bits. ’It all makes sense now! Severus, old clever Severus, married the mudblood. Got her pregnant and then sent her into hiding. James Potter, still madly in love with the bitch, became her protector. And then he betrays my Lord by turning spy for Dumbledore!’

A baby’s cry broke Nyssa’s thoughts.

“What?” Nyssa approaches the baby still wrapped up in a blanket. “So, you are the one who destroyed my master?” Nyssa sneered. “Lord Voldemort will return. But you won’t.” Nyssa aimed her wand at the boy. It was then she really saw him. Small, black haired, emerald green eyes. And a lightning bolt scar. The mark left by her Lord and Master. The most powerful wizard in the world. “You must be powerful to have survived a killing curse, especially one cast by Lord Voldemort.” She murmured to herself.

Little Harry just stared at Nyssa.

A plan formed in Nyssa’s mind. The ultimate revenge was in her grasp. Severus Snape would lose his wife and his son. Voldemort would get an ally or he could kill the brat if he so chose to instead. But one way or another; Nyssa would be highly honored. And she, Nyssa Night, would find Lord Voldemort. And return him to power!

Gently, Nyssa lifted Harry into her arms. “Take one last look, Harry Potter Snape. For this is last time you will ever see that face again and not hate it.” Glaring down at Lily.

Nyssa Night then abruptly disappeared into the night with Harry James Potter Snape in her arms.

***

“No.” Severus Snape fell to his knees and held his lost wife in his arms. This wasn’t supposed to happen! You were supposed to be safe.

Tears fell down Severus’ cheeks unchecked. Lily. His beloved Lily was gone. And Harry? No one knew where he was. Dumbledore had tried to tell him that he too was gone…but Severus had to believe his son, his little Harry, was alive.

And someday, Severus vowed. Someday he’d find his son! Someday he’d have at least one small part of his family back. He had too!

Shakily Severus got to his feet. Though all evidence said his son was dead. Severus…he couldn’t describe it. But somehow he knew his son was alive. And he would not rest until he found him!

***

Nyssa Night stood in the boy’s bedroom watching him as he silently cried in his sleep.

Her plan was in motion. The world thought Harry Potter Snape had died along with his mudblood mother and blood traitor fake father. And Severus Snape was slowly turning cold and bitter. It was perfect!

No one knew where Nyssa’s safe house was. Here she could quietly raise and train the boy to fit her plan. Harry Potter Snape was now dead. Alex Night now was born. And he’d become a loyal Death Eater and would represent the houses of Night and Snape with honor.

Harry cried out and awoke.

Nyssa lifted him into her arms. “You will become a great Death Eater. And you will serve the Dark Lord with high honor.” Suddenly Nyssa sang.

"Hush, child.The darkness will rise from the deep. And carry you down into sleep. Child, the darkness will rise from the deep. And carry you down into sleep

Guileless son,I'll shape your belief. And you'll always know that your father's a thief. And you won't understand the cause of your grief. But you'll always follow the voices beneath"

The wind whispered a chorus.

Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty, loyalty,                                                                 Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty only to me

"Guileless son, Your spirit will hate her. The flower who married my brother the traitor. And you will expose his puppet behaviour. For you are the proof of how he betrayed us"

Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty, loyalty,                                                                 Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty only to me

"Hush, child. The darkness will rise from the deep. And carry you down into sleep. Child, the darkness will rise from the deep. And carry you down into sleep

Guileless son, Each day you grow older. Each moment I'm watching my vengeance unfold. For the child of their body, the flesh of their soul. Will die in returning the birthright he stole"

Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty, loyalty,                                                                  Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty only to me

"Hush, child. The darkness will rise from the deep. And carry you down into sleep. Child, the darkness will rise from the deep. And carry you down into sleep"

Little Harry was now sound asleep. Nyssa placed him back in the crib. "Sleep well child. For tomorrow your training begins."

Nyssa exited the room leaving Alex Night, formerly known as Harry Potter Snape, to his last peaceful sleep he'd have for years to come.

Alex stood beside his Master while children entered the train to go to Hogwarts. Today was the day all of his training would be tested.

"Remember, Dumbledore is your enemy. No matter how powerful he seems." Nyssa said, never taking her eyes off of the train.

"Yes ma'am." Alex said obidently.

"And one more thing." Nyssa did look at him now. "For years I have called you Alex, however as you know, that is not your birth name."

Alex remained silent. His master never allowed him to be disrepectfull. He had learned that early in his childhood.

"Dumbledore is a powerful Occlumens. If your shield so much as wavers, he can discover your true identity. That simply cannot happen. Clear."

Alex nodded. Nyssa had beaten the fact that his true identity must remain a secret, even to him, long ago.

Nyssa stared intently at her apprentice. "I'll expect you to be in Slytherin."

"Yes, master." Alex really wanted to leave now.

Nyssa nodded. It was time. "Go. And do not fail."

Alex bowed slightly to Nyssa and then headed toward the train. Grateful to be away from the woman who was the closest thing he'd ever had to a mother.

***

Dumbledore was rereading the first year student list when Severus Snape entered the room.

"You wished to see me headmaster."

"Yes Severus. There are two matters I wish to speak to you about." Dumbledore stood. "Professor Quirell has returned this year. And he seems a bit...off."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "This concerns me why, headmaster?"

"I would like you to keep an eye on him for me."

Snape nodded. "And the second matter you wished to speak to me about?"

Dumbledore lifted the student list and read aloud. "Alex Night. Does that name sound familiar?"

Snape glared. "My sister didn't have a child. Her husband died thirteen years ago. And,"

"How do you know she didn't have a child? Have you spoken with her since Voldemort's disappearance?"

"No, but,"

"Well then, that settles matters. It is of no matter though; I took the liberty of looking into young Mr. Night's past and discovered very little. But what I did find out though was that you sister, infact, apprenticed him. And he is most likely not her child."

"Apprenticed?" Snape shook his head. "Albus, Nyssa hated children. She had no desire to mother one or apprentice one."

"Well, we'll simple have to ask Mr. Night about his background. But I would like you to watch him. Something about him didn't seem right to me."

"You've already met the boy?"

"Yes. I had to hand deliver his letter, so we met at the leaky cauldron. He gave off a powerful aura. There is little doubt in my mind that young Alex Night will become a powerful wizard."

Snape glared. "If your crazy theory that my sister raised this boy is true, then he will without a doubt become a dark wizard."

"Perhaps. Then again..." Dumbldore looked out his window. "But do keep an eye on him and Quirell as well."

***

Alex opened his eyes when a girl shyly opened the door. "I'm sorry, may I sit here? Everywhere else is full."

For a moment Alex wanted to say no. Its what Nyssa would have wanted him to do. But a part of him wondered what it would be like to have a friend.

"Sure." Alex said qiuetly.

Smiling the girl sat down. "I'm Stevie Jones."

"Alex Night."

Stevie shook his hand. "I'm so exited about going to Hogwarts. I wonder what house I'll be in?"

"What house were your parents in?" Alex asked, for it was common knowledge that most people got sorted into the house their parents, or at least one of their parents were in.

Stevie looked nervous now. "I'm, I'm a muggleborn." Stevie hunched up her shoulders as if she expected Alex to hurt her or say something cruel.

And truth be told; Nyssa would have had Alex calling her a mudblood or hexing her by now. But Alex didn't want to. He'd never agreed with his master on the topic of muggles and muggleborns. And so far, he liked Stevie Jones. She seemed nice.

"I don't know what I am?" Alex said.

At Stevie's questioning look Alex continued. "My parents abandoned me when I was small. I don't even know my real name. My...mentor, was the one who told me about magic."

"Mentor? You mean your like a student?"

"Yeah. All of my life I've studdied magic." Alex didn't care that he was revealing secrets. He felt something about Stevie. And somehow he knew she would protect his secrets.

Stevie must have sensed something too. Because she stood and sat down beside Alex and started telling him all about her life. How her mother died because her abusive Father had been angry. About how she was now living with her kind grandparents. Everything.

Alex just hoped someday he could tell Stevie all of his secrets.

As the journey continued Stevie and Alex got close and it was easy to tell that they'd be great friends. It was when they seemed to notice this a comotion was heard outside their compartment.

Three sixth year Gryffindors were bullying a first year boy with white blonde hair.

Alex felt something inside him break.

"Leave him alone!" Alex stomped over to them and helped the boy up. Whom was blushing pink.

"This has nothing to do with you kid." One boy said darkly while glarring at the blonde boy.

"Leave him alone. Or are you really as much of a coward as you all look?" The boys looked outraged. Alex continued. "Not only are you sixth years, but you also out number him. That seems pretty cowardly to me."

"Yeah?" another boy snapped. "We out number you too. How do you plan to stop us from messing with you too?"

"Well," Stevie stepped up beside Alex. "Now we're even."

The six young wizards stared at one and other.

The sixth years raised their wands, Alex raised his hands and silently thought. "Locomotor Mortis!"

Instantly the three older students stiffened and fell to the ground.

"Have a good day." Alex took the blonde boy's hand and led him back to Stevie and his compartment.

"Are you ok?" Stevie asked.

"Yeah." The boy stared at Alex and Stevie with distrust in his eyes.

"I'm Alex Night. This is my friend Stevie Jones."

The boy ran a hand through his blonde hair and said easily. "I'm Draco Malfoy."

Alex raised an eyebrow. There was something about this boy too. Not as storng as Stevie's feeling was. But this boy, Draco. He had a...something about him too. Thinking, what the hell? Alex said for the second time that day and for the second time in his life. "Want to be friends?"

Draco starred at Alex's hand. Then at Stevie. Slowly, uncertainly, Draco smiled and took the extended hand and said. "Alright."

At that moment Alex, Stevie, and Draco felt whole.

This was going to be a friendship like no other.