Author's Note: Thanks to my beta nyota malfoy for the support these last few chapters xx

Severus

After years of living the same nightmare over and over again, Severus believed himself immune to bad news. So when he got Dumbledore's owl, he apparated to the obscure location in only mild curiosity.

Maybe he just wanted an update of the school. No that wasn't correct. The old man barely cared for its affairs or its students.

Or only one of them. Yes, probably an update on the 'Potter Hunt'.

Malfoy eventually revealed Potter's whereabouts. Severus believed his vow to protect Jame's spawn was covered, there couldn't be a safer place than in the clutches of his blond acquaintance. The boy might be happier, away from him.

Severus was appalled to learn of the old man's plan for the boy. It twisted his ashen insides.

He would never be one to distinguish right and wrong, he'd made plenty of mistakes in his youth, but Severus was certain the ex-headmaster was in the wrong.

Raising the boy for slaughter? Horcruxes? Deathly Hallows?

He saw a flash of Lily's emerald eyes wide in fear, crying for help as her son's magical guardian cut open his heart.

It was too real and Severus vowed to take action.

Thus, he became a triple agent: working for Dumbledore, for Tom Riddle -as it turned out his name was- and lastly: Kingsley, Lily's son, the ministry and everyone else. In the increasingly grey world, Severus was learning what it meant to be his own man. He was practically bonded to serve Dumbledore and his lord. But none held him to the Malfoys or his new fr-acquaintance, Shackelbolt.

He realized he'd never wished for a side to win as much as he did currently. Severus didn't even care if he made it to the end. He simply knew the first two, could, in no circumstances become victors.

So he spilled and spilled. Energy, heart and soul. What little was left.

Whilst Kingsley delivered.

Riddle's inner circles houses, properties, vaults in Gringotts were searched. Potter was finally discovered. The head auror made a startling revelation, one where Lucius became more of an enigma. If he held Potter, why hadn't he declared him to the ministry or to his lord? For the life of him, Kingsley couldn't figure the angle. Did he care for the boy or was he waiting to use him as a bargaining chip?

Either way, Potter was "rescued" and placed with his god-father in Grimmauld Place under hiding. It was decided he would remain hidden for the rest of the investigation.

Horcruxes were found, Hufflepuffs cup, in the Black Vault and Slytherin's necklace with the Black house-elf. It was another surprise to learn Sirius Black was alive and free.

Snape found his existence didn't bother him much anymore.

Of-course Dumbledore did not remain stationary, he re-booted his phoney order of the phoenix, to rescue Potter because. Because an untrained boy of fifteen stood a better chance against a highly skilled dark wizard than a team of powerful agents, witches and wizards. He "helped" them break in Grimmauld Place, ancestral Black home, to whisk Potter away.

Severus would admit to a small bout of pleasure at their planned manipulations. Dumbledore was stripped of his titles and in their discussions Potter learned of another location, the Gaunt shack. That was the first time Kingsley and him went out publicly for a pint.

Stranger things had never happened.

By January they faced another break-through. Black's healer revealed Potter held a horcrux inside him. He had remembered Dumbledore's theory, but much of the old man's ramblings became white noise. His months-long search of Hogwarts proved fruitful. He found Ravenclaw's tiara in the room of hidden things.

At another late night office meet, Kingsley laughed about the jumpy DOM staff. Turned on by operating on the boy-who-lived, meeting Black the wrongfully imprisoned fugitive, who also happened to be seeing Bones. Severus did not know how to respond. A bubbling sensation overcame him, and for the first time in years, he laughed his heart out.

He wouldn't realize it now, his life had finally amalgamated in a purpose. He was no longer in a permanent state of depression, odd how it took another war to bring him back.

Alas, Riddle didn't remain stationary either. His attacks became more targeted. He murdered Granger's parents as a bait to lure out Potter. The boy would rather be lured into Patel's cunt. Potter's cousin, Aunt and Uncle were ravaged. The Weasleys too were attacked, Arthur and Fred Weasley perished whilst his twin brother George lost his ear at the hands of Yaxley and Grey-wolf. It was worrisome that Riddle had gathered typically dark creatures. Dementors and werewolves, centaurs and giants. The ministry's focus was shifted to fighting the rogue creatures.

Exactly like Riddle planned, entire villages were decimated. Muggle bodies were charred, the smell of burned flesh filled the airs like a death omen.

Some would call him foolish, some would say brave. Severus took a stance against The Dark Lord.

In the moments before his end, his life flashed before him. He imagined feeling pain or anger or hurt. The same he'd carried for the last two decades. Instead his flashes were bright and warm. Filled with his discovery of magic, his feelings for Lily and friendship with Kingsley.

Maybe death would bring him the peace/ happiness his life couldn't.