ANNOUNCEMENT: since there hadn't been any feedback on this fic, I decide to make this chapter as the final upload. If you want to read its continuation, do leave a review here or just head to AO3. I get that fics were written for fun, but it certainly would be nice for the hard works to be appreciated and such.

bye y'all


Lily Evans pondered on what her life had become.

Ever since she befriended the outcast James Potter, their schooling in Hogwarts was quite unbearable. Many students still gave Potter a stink eye or hexing the bespectacled young man for fun and she too got attacked by mere association. More often than not, they got soaking wet by the end of the day and the professors frowned in distaste at their soppy sight. Even her once esteemed professor, the Potions Master Horace Slughorn hadn't sent her any invitation to his Slug Club parties.

The world outside the magical school wasn't any different. There would be news about missing people but the disappearance rose to an alarming rate during the holidays, especially after the students returned home for vacation.

When she finished her seventh year, she Apparated to her family house in Cokeworth only to come face-to-face with her older sister, Petunia Evans.

"T- Tuney?" she asked. Glancing inside the house, Lily saw it was dim and stripped bare of any recognizable belongings. Near the door was a few boxes and Lily began to feel something was wrong. "W… What's going on?"

Petunia pursed her lips, "Don't bother, they're gone."

"Gone…? You mean-?!" Lily's eyes widened in realization and anguish. "You could have told me! They're my parents too!"

"And pray tell, why should we – I – trust those freaks to treat them?! I bet cancer isn't even a thing in that freakish world!" Petunia then gave her a look of disgust. "You're free to stay here, of course. I'm moving out with Vernon to Surrey."

"Vernon…?" Lily blinked in confusion.

Her sister laughed shrilly, "Oh, how can I forget to tell you? But you're not here for like half of the year and I have better things to do than tending on someone absent."

Lily stared down to the doorstep with green eyes glistening with tears. Was it worth to be a witch, being away with her family for long periods of time? She thought she finally belonged somewhere, that her magical powers could be used for good but…

A loud honk startled her and she saw a man exiting a white car parked in front of the Evans house. He was quite stocky with a brown bushy mustache and his clothes were clean and well-kept.

"Was that all?" he asked rather gruffly, pointing to the boxes to which Petunia nodded. Then his gaze fell onto Lily. "Your sister?"

Petunia narrowed her eyes. "She's a freak, Vernon. She can live by herself."

"How old are you?"

Lily gulped; Vernon seemed more reasonable than her sister yet she didn't want to risk getting on his bad side. "I… I'm eighteen."

The man snorted, "Yes, you're an adult alright." He turned to Petunia, "Come on love, let's leave this place." He helped taking the boxes and loaded them into the white car.

When the couple entered the vehicle and Vernon started the engine, Lily wanted to call out how she was not ready to be left behind, hoping that Petunia would make second thoughts regarding their familial relationship and that she could help with housekeeping their new home. The wizarding world was getting dangerous to live in due to the increasing attacks made by the group called Death Eaters. What if she too got caught by them?

But it never happened.

The car zoomed away without an afterthought for her, and Lily sobbed before collecting herself and went to the Leaky Cauldron.

Upon arriving, she saw James Potter nursing a bottle of Butterbeer at a table near the brick wall leading to Diagon Alley.

"Hey," he greeted. His dark hair was unkempt as usual and his clothes were shabby, a far cry from their first meeting nearly eight years ago. "Something happen, Lils?"

At that, Lily's eyes filled with tears again and she embraced him, wanting a familiar presence to comfort her. Their relationship had blossomed into a romance during their seventh year and she held onto the hope that it would last long.

It was hard work, of course. James had confessed his wrongdoings to her and she nearly backed away at the extent of his bullying onto other students – especially her ex-best friend, Severus Snape – but she steeled herself. She had promised to protect the weak and surely, surely Snape had joined those Death Eaters, right? That group… that attacked the innocent while boasting to restore the wizarding world to its glory, it reeked of contradicting evidences.

And Lily lamented on everything that happened, all because she refused Snape's apology years ago.

"I got words from the barman," James whispered, "he said Dumbledore's recruiting people to fight against those Death Eaters and Voldemort. I want to join them."

"Join…? But your parents…"

"My parents threw me out, Lils. And… and they gave the Potter family wealth to Snape in their will. They were sick and well, I had proven that I'm not a good heir. Guess they do hold a grudge on me for dishonoring the family." James tucked part of her red hair behind her ear with a weak smile. "If fighting for the greater good would make a better world, so be it. Will you come with me?"

Lily looked into his hazel eyes. She too had nothing to lose and so much to atone. Petunia would live her best life with Vernon in Surrey without knowing of her sacrifice and that was alright.

"Let's go."

She would bound to encounter Snape if her instincts were true, and would save him from Lord Voldemort's clutches.


Lucius Malfoy narrowed his grey eyes at the newcomers of the Death Eaters.

It was one of the meetings where the ever-rising Dark Lord would Mark those who wished to be in his ranks, and this session had familiar faces such as Evan Rosier, Michael Avery, Alaric Mulciber and William Wilkes joining the group. However, there was someone that Lucius didn't find among the attendees.

Severus Snape.

When he first told the Dark Lord about the Potions prodigy, he had expected the powerful man to take the boy under his wings right away. But there was no sight of the sullen yet determined young man. Even asking young Avery bore no results of Snape's current whereabouts.

Instead, there was a new member who was only known as 'Silver' and as expected, everything about the figure was in such color. There was a silver snake often coiled languidly around their arms or near their feet, they had a customized silver mask rather than the usual white Death Eater mask and wore a silver cloak. The mysterious person often stood by the Dark Lord's throne in Malfoy Manor's ballroom, barely spoke a word to anyone.

After Lord Voldemort finished the Marking ceremony and the Death Eaters formed a circle surrounding the man, Lucius held his gaze onto the powerful wizard.

"I believe you all are prepared for the raid against Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix," the Dark Lord began with a sneer and the Death Eaters laughed. Ever since they launched an attack nearly a month ago, they had been on a roll. What's not to be made fun of? Dumbledore and his pitiful army barely stood a chance against them with their numbers increasing as days passed.

"Now, now; I know they are laughing matters to us but never underestimate our enemy. You will be led by Bellatrix Lestrange and young Silver here. Unless of course, anyone wants to volunteer themselves as leaders for this raid?"

Lucius turned to a figure on Lord Voldemort's right, whose fingers flexed around her wand in eagerness to do what was ordered. Meanwhile, Silver remained standing on the Dark Lord's left and the slender pale serpent had slithered to the circle, with Lucius could see some of the Death Eaters barely concealed their fright whenever it raised its head toward them.

When no one answered the Dark Lord's query, the man went on, "I expect great success from this."

All the Death Eaters bowed their heads, "Yes, my Lord."

They then left to the designed place and split into two groups, with Lucius joining Silver who led them to the nearby forest. As much as Lucius wanted to cast doubt to the mysterious person, Silver did the assigned job well and they had had three victories ever since the masked figure unofficially became part of the Death Eaters. He wondered if Silver was specifically hired by the Dark Lord to speed up their conquest within wizarding Britain.

Bellatrix's team began to cause ruckus around the Muggle neighborhood and within ten minutes, a group of Aurors and Order members appeared and started casting spells to the Death Eaters and helping the Muggles.

Silver gave them a signal and set up the anti-Apparation wards while the rest of the group went to assist their comrades. The Aurors and Order members were predictably taken aback by their sudden appearance and tried to escape much to no avail. Screams and shouts of those fallen filled the air but the Death Eaters didn't kill those who were left behind and caught, subjecting them to various ailments instead.

Lucius caught the sight of Silver advancing toward the escaping people and inflicting the Cruciatus Curse at them. The silvery figure glided by as if they was a ghost under the moonlight and mimicking the symbol of Salazar Slytherin and Lord Voldemort, earning the fearsome (yet predictable) nickname.

The Silver Serpent.

After most of the opposition were felled, they brought their captives to Malfoy Manor.

"Some of them managed to escape, my Lord," Lucius informed to the Dark Lord but the man only waved his hand in dismissal.

"Bring them to the dungeons, I will deal with them."

While Narcissa embraced him in her sleep, Lucius had a niggling thought in his mind. He didn't know what Lord Voldemort would do and had done to their hostages, but he did know one thing for sure: no one ever saw them again.

And yet, he was curious. It was part of a Slytherin's nature after all. He knew the Dark Lord had immense magical powers that only be rivaled to Albus Dumbledore's, however he wished to be the only witness to such demonstration at those unfortunate people who dared to defy the great Lord Voldemort. That he was among the trusted ones within the Death Eaters.

So, Lucius crept to the library and nearly cursed when the mahogany doors creaked open for him to spy into the room. It was dark inside but he didn't want to risk Lord Voldemort's wrath by entering the library.

"You did good work," a cold voice echoed across the place and Lucius almost fell forward in surprise. It was… so jarring to hear the Dark Lord's fondness. Even his sister-in-law, Bellatrix Black-Lestrange wasn't praised as much despite being a formidable fighter among them.

"Why you wish to keep the mask? Don't you want people to fear the real you, instead of a masked anonymous persona?"

Was the Dark Lord talking to Silver? This could be his chance to know who the mysterious figure was!

"Not now?" Lord Voldemort then chortled. "…Yes, I can see your point. Alter-egos, they create such a mystery, hadn't they? But enough with the small talk, I have longed to be with you all night."

Lucius turned beet red at the implication of the Dark Lord's words and returned to his and Narcissa's room, wondering if the Silver Serpent's identity was worthy to know of.


Lord Voldemort had a spring in his steps as he walked toward the cottage nearby a forest. Entering the place, he saw Cadmus curling on the couch and picked the silver snake up before going to the basement.

He watched as the numerous rats cowered in their cages when he strode past them, red eyes glinting in mirth and delight at their different features. Most of them were dark grey or black, others were reddish brown and a surprising few were light-furred. Their eyes too had various colors and had a human look in them.

The Dark Lord smirked at their terror after Cadmus flicked his tongue out before knocking on the door and went in without much gusto, smiling to the young man hunching at the workstation.

Severus Prince.

"Still working on potions?" he spoke as he stood beside Severus, glancing at the bubbling potions in cauldrons.

"Being a Potions Master isn't a one-time position," Severus said, "The art of old magic through creation of potions is dying and I wish to preserve it. Not to mention the Death Eaters would need them too."

Lord Voldemort chuckled; Severus was days away from earning his title and he gave the young man a quick peck on the temple of Severus' head, briefly carding his fingers through the man's raven hair. Scanning the room around, he saw a stack of books and took one, red eyes shone in interest at the anointed notes. "Are you going to publish these?" he asked.

"Just for the Slytherins."

The Dark Lord smiled; he did want those in Slytherin had the best education and authority when they won the war soon. Putting the tome at the shelf, he approached the workstation to see what his favorite worked on.

"Gutting up rats again, Severus?" he queried with raised eyebrows at the twitching black-furred, blue-eyed rodent that bled on the desk. Its tail flicked subconsciously, eyes glazed with tears and its chest rose and fell rapidly, waiting for the sweet embrace of death.

The young man only smiled wryly to which he returned the gesture just as enthusiastic with a knowing look in their eyes before Severus gave the rat's body to Cadmus, who swallowed its meal heartily.

After all, there was always demands of rat spleens and brains for potions.