Eileen Snape wished she had taken back her words to her estranged son.
Her husband, Tobias was snoring in the living room after spending the night in the pub and she was in her room, gripping tightly her family's pendant that Severus had sent her.
Wouldn't it be great, to simply leave her somber life and return to her ancestral home? She knew it only took a push of the Prince coat of arms to activate the Portkey, and was conflicted whether to press it or not.
Despite her harsh life in the Muggle world, she still couldn't help but to be mesmerized and impressed that non-magical people had compensated their lack of power by creating numerous things to make their life easier with only their creative minds and hands. She was taken by the fact that every hard work felt well earned instead to depend on a swish of a wand.
And Tobias… he was kind too, not judging her powers before their son came along. How she wished she could tell him there was nothing to be afraid of, but his fear turned into agitation and…
She shook her head; no, she would prove her son wrong! That she still could live well even without a wand! She was a Prince, and she would be damned if she ever backed down from a challenge.
Still, Eileen wore the obsidian pendant; it being invisible to others' eyes and with a resolute glint in her onyx eyes, she went downstairs to prepare dinner.
Petunia Evans never thought a day spent in the British Library would bring in so many changes in her life.
It was mid-August, and she and her boyfriend, Vernon Dursley went there to complete their college works and upon entering the building, they were astounded to see it was quite packed with people. Did everyone collectively agree to study there on all days they could've done so?
With a exasperated roll of her eyes, she mumbled, "Vern, can you find a seat for us? I will get the books."
Vernon, a stocky-built brown-haired man only smiled weakly, "Of course, Tuney." He then left and Petunia went to the bookshelves to pick up the tomes related to their courses. By the time she finished, she saw Vernon waving at her from a table with two other men and smiled as she headed there.
Only for her grasp on the books to loosen upon seeing who was one of them.
"Snape!" she involuntarily hissed, catching the three men's attention. The aforementioned boy only raised his eyebrow and Petunia wondered if the gesture was genuine or not before warily taking her seat next to Vernon. There were a few opened books scattered across the table and she pursed her lips. Did they really use all of them? "What are you doing here?"
He blinked at her with an apologetic chuckle, "Oh, Petunia. Hello." He then glanced at the stocky-built man across the table and continued, "Your friend?"
Petunia had to do a double take right there. Since when did Severus Snape be so cordial to others? She still remembered their limited exchanges during their childhood years, kept spewing insults and accusations to one another. Now, though? There was no malice in his onyx eyes, only a mild surprise.
"Uh… h- he's my boyfriend," she found her voice after an awkward silence, "Vernon Dursley." Why was she telling him this? Did they even count as acquaintances?
Once again, Snape blinked and properly greeted Vernon, "Severus Snape, nice to meet you. This is Marvolo Riddle." He introduced the pale man beside him, who simply nodded politely. Petunia couldn't help but to wonder how someone could have such alabaster skin. Was it common for wizards to look so ghostly? "As for your question, I work here; you can ask Mrs. Davis if you don't believe." He then pointed to the elderly woman behind the counter near the entrance.
Vernon stared at Snape with a curious frown after they shook hands. "You're Lily's… freak friend, right?"
Much to Petunia's surprise, Snape's face went sour as he grumbled, "Was. And yes, I'm what you call a freak but actually a wizard."
She and Vernon shared a look. "And just what a wizard like you doing here, Snape?"
"I want to learn about metals."
"Metals!" she barked out haughtily, "Don't make me laugh! What will you lot do with that?"
Snape only folded his arms and leant into his seat, "An armor of sorts. Vernon's been very helpful with describing what kind will be suitable for my project."
That caught her attention. "…Wait, you're serious?"
His answer was merely a raised eyebrow.
Petunia blinked. "Uh, well… Though, Vernon; can you talk with Riddle about the metals? I'm taking Snape."
Vernon frowned but heeded her words, scooting his seat closer to Marvolo Riddle and continued their discussion. Petunia then steeple her fingers nervously before speaking, "I'm not sure if you remember this, but there's a time you've bought some groceries only for it to disappear."
Snape remained silent.
"Well, it's Lily and those four boys who did it."
He snorted, "Thank you for telling, but I've known it. And frankly said, Petunia; I was blind of her actions for the past seven years."
"So… you really aren't friends with her anymore?" she couldn't contain her astonishment. When Snape nodded, she really thought the end of the world was near. People didn't just change in a quick pace!
"You know, Petunia," he went on, "I actually want to apologize for calling you names and well, I was wrong."
She frowned curiously. "What are you feeling wrong about?"
"That you're just a Muggle."
Petunia felt she wouldn't like the direction their conversation was heading, yet she was intrigued by what he would tell her.
"You actually have magic in your blood."
She blinked, trying to take in what he had said before snarling at him, "You're lying to me!" Despite coming to terms that she wasn't magical like her younger sister, she still wished that she could join Lily and Snape to Hogwarts. The letter she received from Dumbledore many years ago still stung her heart.
"I wish I was, but no," Snape gave her a weak smile.
Her face went pale as she turned aside to see Vernon and Riddle were facing them; her boyfriend had his mouth agape while Riddle seemed mildly interested. "What makes you say that?" she hissed.
"Because of my family's history," the raven-haired boy answered. "I recently had an ability that turned out to be from my Squib grandmother many generations ago."
Oh, how Petunia wished she and Vernon had gone somewhere else. "You're saying, that… Lily's magic was from someone else in the family?" she asked in utter disbelief, to which Snape nodded. "And that… I have magic too?"
Snape hummed. "It certainly exists in your veins, but I guess it may have to take the right person to activate it."
Then it dawned on her. "My kids, and their descendants… will they have it too?"
Again, the boy from her childhood years nodded.
Petunia gulped in utmost horror; she really belonged to those freaks after all?! Dreadfully, she glanced to her boyfriend to gauge his reaction.
Would Vernon leave her?
But his words caught her by surprise, "Petunia, we've talked about this. You're still my beautiful flower, no matter you're magic or not. If Snape here is correct, we can just ask him for help. Right?" he turned to Snape with a grimace.
"As long as you can tell us more about metals, sure," Snape said good-naturedly.
Petunia and Vernon shared a look. "…Deal."
And before she knew it, a strange friendship was born.
Severus spent most of August between doing his summer job in the British Library, discussing more about the Hogwarts basilisk's armor with Marvolo in the cottage behind the library (sometimes Vernon Dursley and Petunia Evans would come along), and after buying all the necessary items for his final school year, went to Corvin Adrick's wand shop in Knockturn Alley.
"So, ye really wanna learn 'bout wands?" the old man asked on a week before term began.
Severus only shrugged, "Never hurts to know more things. I wonder… if there were legends about them."
Adrick quirked his eyebrow at him. "Well, there's the Elder Wand but heard it got lost somewhere," he started, "supposed to be the most powerful wand in existence. Many had killed and died for it, but honestly it's stupid what people would do for power."
At this, Severus could barely mask his terrified gulp. Could the wand he won from Albus Dumbledore over seven months ago be the legendary item?
"…I don't suppose you would know someone that has seven wands, then? Hypothetically of course," he queried.
"Seven wands?!" Adrick exclaimed with raised eyebrows, and already he regretted asking such questions. "Blimey, why would people have that many things? I knew you had like five; did they serve ye well?"
"Like I said, it's just a thought, Mr. Adrick," Severus frowned to hide his discomfort, "and yes, the wands work great. I couldn't thank you enough for them."
The wizened wandmaker stroked his bearded chin. "I know nothing 'bout a guy wielding seven wands, but I'd say that man gotta be so versatile with magic," he groused, "Though, I'd be careful if I were ye: Fate has a thing with strange folks and all that."
Returning home to Prince Manor, Severus already dreaded on what he could face in the future.
He really needed to check whether his suspicions were correct or not.
Taking out the strange wand and James Potter's Invisibility Cloak from the secret vault in the mansion's third floor, Severus then went to his room and carefully examined the two items, along with the ring Lord Voldemort had given him back in end-July. He frowned upon noticing the wand's hilt and the carvings on the ring's black gemstone had the same symbol: a triangle, a circle and a line.
What about Potter's Cloak?
He quickly looked over the magical cloth and found the emblem at the edge of its seams. Could the three items come from the same family? Who had created them? And just what he could do with the items?
Severus glanced at the tall mirror placed in his room. Blinking, he then stood in front of the looking glass and as if transfixed by his own reflection, began draping the Invisibility Cloak over himself, putting on the ring with the Resurrection Stone and held the supposed Elder Wand in his hand. Staring at his image, Severus couldn't help but to fantasize himself as a great powerful wizard.
How he wished he was born as Severus Prince instead of Severus Snape. Though ultimately, even he admitted that his original name would make a perfect façade to others, that he was just a regular wizard in the community.
The best place to hide oneself is in the public, after all.
"I've been waiting for you," a voice suddenly spoke, bringing Severus out of his trance and he spun around to see who it was. His eyes widened in utmost fear and awe at the figure opposite him.
It had a skeletal form and was shrouded with black robes that were slightly tattered at the seams. Two bright red lights were the only other things he could make out amongst the darkness surrounded the phantom.
Severus could only blink, paralyzed at where he stood. "W- Who… Who are you?!" he asked.
The spectral figure's red eyes twinkled and it slowly approached him, with its cold voice echoed across the room as it said:
"I am… Death."
It was the early morning of 1st September, and Lord Voldemort was contently observing Severus Prince fixed up his school robes and put on the Head Boy badge in front of the mirror. The cottage behind the British Library ended up being their regular meeting place, and at the moment the American snake they had brought home, Nagini was coiling loosely around his arm while he gently caressed her body with the other hand.
The beautiful serpent's injuries had healed up nicely, all thanks to Severus' potent potions and wondrous healing spell. He wondered just what role he would put the boy in his Death Eaters' ranks after he graduated. He would very much want to place Severus in the Inner Circle right away, but he also knew it would cause suspicions among the purebloods.
He would have a year to think about it.
"I'm going," Severus said and the Dark Lord looked up before smiling wistfully at the boy opposite him; what a fine young man Severus Prince would be, his aquiline features looked divine under the sunlight. The Head Boy badge was especially a delightful sight.
He grinned and pulled his supposed heir into an embrace, "Make Salazar Slytherin proud."
Severus simply rolled his eyes in amusement and patted Nagini for the last time before Disapparating to King's Cross Station with a crack.
Lord Voldemort then sighed; he would need to continue Severus' project of making armor for his ancestor's basilisk alone for now. "Come, Nagini," he adjusted the snake in his hand before leaving to Malfoy Manor.