Severus quickly adapted to life at Hogwarts, though sometimes he still couldn't shake his habit of barging into the Potions professor's office as soon as class ended.
This usually resulted in Professor Slughorn only being able to chuckle and helplessly shoo away this cold, gloomy little bat, mostly because Severus possessed an absolute genius for potion-making.
A muggle-born witch named Lily Evans was his equal in talent, or perhaps just slightly behind him.
Of course, the only things that never changed were probably the obnoxious dunderhead Potter and that wretched dog who was always stirring up trouble.
Severus had always detested Gryffindor, and he especially despised James and Sirius from that house.
However, Gryffindor had far more students in Severus's year than Slytherin did, and most of the Slytherins chose to stand by and watch. As a result, even though Severus always fought viciously and fiercely, he still lost frequently.
Severus truly wished he could use Sectumsempra.
Perhaps because they were on different paths, Severus felt as though a chasm separated him from Lily—someone who remained naive, innocent, and stubbornly clung to a belief in the true goodness and beauty of the world.
He was a Death Eater of many years, a Hogwarts Potions professor for over a decade, head of Slytherin House, and a double agent for several years.
Sunk deep in the mire, his view of the world had long since diverged too sharply from Lily's. Perhaps... in this lifetime, he would be better off keeping his distance from her.
Severus realized this by his second year. Around that time, Lucius invited Severus to attend a Death Eater recruitment party.
"Half-bloods can join the Death Eaters?"
Severus frowned slightly; this differed from what he had previously encountered.
For the past two years, Severus had devoted himself entirely to brewing and selling potions, sneaking into Hogsmeade and slipping down to Knockturn Alley to peddle his brews, leaving him no time to care about Death Eater affairs.
As far as Severus was concerned, keeping Lily safe was enough, and as for Potter, the sooner the boy dropped dead, the better.
"Of course they can, Severus. Those graduates bearing temporary Death Eater marks on their arms will all become temporary Death Eater laborers at the recruitment gala."
Just as Severus frowned, he heard Lucius say, "The Lord funds their upbringing from childhood, so serving fifteen years of labor is completely reasonable. Besides, they only handle simple, light, and unimportant tasks like managing shops, bookkeeping, balancing ledgers, and rescue operations."
Severus's heart skipped a beat. "Did he... specifically mention anyone?"
Lucius shook his head. "How could that be? The Lord has always been rational and calm. Mention someone specifically? Impossible."
Severus relaxed slightly, though not entirely.
He had no idea what Voldemort was up to, especially when he calculated that in just a few years, the Dark Lord would be creating his fourth Horcrux.
If possible, he really ought to drag Regulus back—that fool had far too much knotgrass stuffed inside his head.
"So, are you going?" Lucius invited him, mainly because their Lord had specifically ordered that Severus not be told about this and had warned Lucius's father.
His father had drilled it into him repeatedly that Severus must remain completely in the dark. Honestly, Severus was truly pathetic; heaven only knew what he had done to catch the Lord's eye for several years running.
Severus was completely oblivious to all this. On several occasions when visiting Borgin and Burkes, he had actually run into the Dark Lord.
In fact, he had already made up his mind to re-enter the ranks of the Death Eaters, because the initial Lord Voldemort had been quite decent—personally teaching him potion-making, sparing no expense to cultivate him, and helping him grow into a Potions Master.
And after beginning to truly understand Lord Voldemort, Severus increasingly felt that this man was not the Lord Voldemort of his past life; this figure was mysterious, powerful, wise, and by no means cruel.
At this exact time in his previous life, Lord Voldemort had already been frantically slaughtering muggle-borns and half-blood wizards, but now...?
Severus couldn't deny that he was drawn to him once more; only this time, he would still choose to become a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, all for Lily's sake.
Yet by the start of their third year, Severus and Lily were already drifting further and further apart, as if an impassable chasm of decades lay between them. Protecting Lily had become an obsession, but he could no longer find it in himself to love her.
He wasn't worthy.
A few months later, Borgin told him, "I have already recommended you. As for when you will catch the Dark Lord's eye, that depends entirely on your own fate."
Severus maintained a blank expression, though inwardly he drilled himself relentlessly in Occlumency.
In his fifth year, Eileen's condition was remarkably good, and Tobias even had a steady job. These sweeping improvements made Severus feel as though he were living in a dream.
One day, Severus received a notice from Lucius.
"The Lord intends to summon you during the Christmas recruitment banquet! You have no idea how hard I had to work to recommend you in!"
Lucius rattled off in his usual elegant tone, "You should know, Borgin also recommended a Potions Master—heaven only knows who he is, half-blood or muggle-born. I managed to push you through against all odds, so don't mess this up, Severus!"
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, the Lord is very kind."
Severus knew full well that that other identity was also him, and he only hoped Lord Voldemort wouldn't find out.
......
A semester passed quickly, and Severus inexplicably found himself looking forward to this year's Christmas banquet. Once the holidays were over and he returned to Hogwarts, he would be fifteen.
Stepping off the Hogwarts Express, Severus could clearly see Lucius bursting with barely contained excitement.
He was still as flamboyant and arrogant as in his past life, quite unlike the Lucius of the future who underwent a rapid metamorphosis under the crushing pressure of his father's death and the Dark Lord's sudden personality shift.
Severus learned that the Christmas recruitment banquet was an event of great importance among the Death Eaters; although the Dark Lord would not be attending, a vast number of Death Eaters would gather there.
Seizing this opportunity, Severus purchased a portable camera. As long as he managed to photograph those covert Death Eaters who posed a severe hidden threat, he would secure more evidence.
On the day of the recruitment banquet, Lucius personally came to Hogsmeade as his sponsor to pick up Severus.
"This outfit looks decent." Lucius nodded as he looked over Severus's sweeping black robes. Though a bit gloomy, it was still far better than that fool Lockhart, who had nearly incurred the Dark Lord's wrath.
That strutting peacock had managed to annoy the vast majority of the Death Eaters, triggering in them a conditioned aversion to flashy, ornate clothing.
Lord Voldemort had barely allowed him to stay only because he was a master of Obliviation, and even so, he had been dispatched far away.
...It was truly a nightmare.
Severus nodded and followed Lucius inside.
Instead of entering the main hall for the banquet, however, Lucius led Severus straight up to the second floor.
Standing before the study door, Lucius turned to Severus and said, "Go on in. The Lord is waiting for you."
He smiled at Severus. Severus knew Lucius was doing quite well right now; by this timeline, it should have been the first year after Abraxas's death, but in this life, Abraxas was still alive.
Severus nodded and knocked on the door.
Under Lucius's expectant gaze, he heard a familiar voice ring out.
"Come in."
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The haughty Dark Lord sat upon the sofa in the study. Severus walked forward a few paces and then slowly lowered himself to one knee.
Severus raised his gaze to Lord Voldemort, his obsidian eyes locking onto the Dark Lord's smiling, slit-like crimson pupils with a hint of bewilderment.
Lord Voldemort sat with his legs crossed, lounging lazily on the sofa as he looked down at his double agent.
"Is playing the double agent fun, Severus?"
In an instant, Severus's pupils contracted as he plunged into an icy abyss.