Chapter 158: A Two-Year Promise
Chapter 158: A Two-Year Promise
"Cough, cough, cough."
Snape choked on the drink he had taken too quickly.
He didn't seem to drink much, and Sherlock had never seen him touch a single glass of wine, even at any feast or faculty gathering at Hogwarts, not even fruit wine.
This glass of whiskey went down his throat, immediately bringing an abnormal flush to his pale face.
Sherlock, on the other hand, sipped the drink slowly, taking small, measured sips.
Snape needed the alcohol to numb himself, while Sherlock had to remain clear-headed.
"I deserve it", Snape said, his voice low and strained as he sniffed.
"Someone as intelligent as her would naturally know I wasn't worth forgiving. Later events proved she was right. I became that man's follower right after graduation, branded with the Dark Mark, and became one of his most loyal believers."
Sherlock remained silent, knowing that what Snape needed now was not someone to converse with, but a listener.
Snape picked up the bottle, his hand trembling as he poured more whiskey into his glass, spilling a good amount onto the table.
"She was right; she should have seen through me long ago. In our fourth year, I tried to drag her down with me, to make her become like me. I wasn't content with my own fall; I wanted to pull her into that abyss with me."
"When Lily and Potter got married, I hated him, and I even hated her a little. She knew what Black and his friends did to me at school. I resented her for not being magnanimous, for not cherishing our past relationship, for choosing such a scoundrel over me, even if it wasn't me she wanted."
"While under that man's command, I told them I had long forgotten about Lily, that there were many women better than her in the world. But in truth, I was always thinking about how to capture Potter, to torture him a thousand times over with the methods he used on me. Lily, being so kind, would surely plead for his life. If she spoke up, I could magnanimously let him go."
After two glasses of strong whiskey, Snape was already drunk. The alcohol numbed his nerves but intensified the emotions he had long kept hidden. His face contorted in a way he had never shown at Hogwarts, and tears streamed down his cheeks as he clutched his head and wept.
"Because... because I still love her! I can't forget her. I love her."
Sherlock watched Snape, recalling his first encounter with him when he arrived at Hogwarts, and the movie commentaries from his past life. He had never judged whether Snape was good or bad.
Now, he might understand a bit more.
If Lily had never existed, or if she hadn't died, Snape would have been a complete villain.
He had mixed with students who favored pure-blood theories from the moment he entered Slytherin. By fourth year, he was already studying dark magic and maintaining contact with Lucius Malfoy, who became a Death Eater after graduation.
Lily saw through him, and the word "Mudblood" was the final straw that made her give up on Snape. She knew that if she continued with someone like him, there would be no good outcome.
Snape indeed fell further into darkness. After graduation, he immediately joined the Death Eaters, received the Dark Mark, and became one of Voldemort's most loyal followers, entering the inner circle within a year.
To be quickly accepted into such an organization and to be trusted by a terrorist like Voldemort, one could imagine what he had done during his time as a Death Eater.
If things had continued this way, Snape might have become someone like Lucius Malfoy, perhaps even more loyal to Voldemort than Malfoy.
But humans are complex, and the Chosen One prophecy, along with Lily's death, became a crucial turning point in Snape's life.
His love for Lily never changed, but Sherlock still couldn't understand why, even after turning to Dumbledore and becoming a professor at Hogwarts, Snape treated Lily's son so harshly.
Was it really just because Harry was James's son?
Was it really just because he was a Gryffindor?
Looking at the drunk Snape, Sherlock tried to get some answers.
"If you loved her so much, why were you so harsh on Harry? Just because he's James's son?"
Snape, still clutching the bottle, buried his face in his elbows and said through sobs.
"Dumbledore and I had an agreement. He said that man had only lost his power and would surely return. When he comes back, Harry will be his primary target. I had to act like I hated Harry, so that when he returns, I could continue to gain his trust and remain undercover at his side."
"He is Lily's child. I don't want him to be in danger. Lily died for him. So I must protect him. I can't let Lily be disappointed in me again."
His voice grew increasingly low until he finally stopped speaking, slumping onto the table and falling asleep.
Snape had a very low tolerance for alcohol. After just two glasses, he was completely out of it.
Sherlock listened to his story in silence, sipping his own drink. He now understood why Snape was so harsh towards Harry. Dumbledore was fully aware of the situation and didn't interfere.
It turned out they had already made plans. When Voldemort returned, Snape would infiltrate the Death Eaters as a high-ranking spy to gather intelligence for Dumbledore's side.
Sherlock's gaze was complex as he looked at the sleeping Snape. Snape's actions were complicated, but his motives were pure.
In the end, he sighed deeply, called the bar owner over, and together they carried Snape to a guest room on the second floor.
Sherlock stayed downstairs for a while, deep in thought, as if planning something. It was nearly three in the morning when he finally went to his room to rest.
The next day, around ten in the morning, Snape descended from the second floor of the bar. Sherlock was sitting by the window, eating a piece of bread.
"Would you like some? I can order you a hot cup of milk too; you drank quite a bit last night."
Snape sat across from him, and Sherlock ordered a breakfast for him as well.
"What did I say to you last night?"
Snape's face grew as dark and numb as it was at Hogwarts, his eyes hollow, like an emotionless shell.
Sherlock said calmly, "You just talked about some things from your past. Nothing more. Eat something first."
They ate breakfast in silence, neither one initiating conversation.
After they finished, Sherlock looked at Snape seriously and asked, "So, what are you thinking now?"
Snape gazed deeply out the window at the large chimney belching black smoke into the sky. He spoke softly, "She won't forgive me, but I have to save her."
Sherlock, as if expecting this response, didn't seem surprised. He simply asked, "And then what? Do you have a plan? How do you intend to save her? What method will you use?"
Snape fell silent. Their meeting last night had proven that Lily wouldn't believe a word he said or listen to anything he did.
He could force her to leave, but then what? What would he do next?
To keep her by his side, give her a love potion?
Snape couldn't bear to do such a despicable thing. He loved Lily as a person, not just her body. If he had such thoughts, he could have acted on them during their time at Hogwarts.
But if not that, what else could he do?
Defeat Voldemort in this world?
That would ensure Lily's safety, but if Voldemort were so easy to defeat, would he still be called the Dark Lord of the Wizarding World?
Sherlock saw the confusion in Snape's eyes, knowing he had no clear plan for saving Lily. He tapped his knuckles on the table, drawing Snape's attention.
"Can I help you?"
Snape stared at Sherlock.
"What do you mean?"
"Let's make a simple agreement", Sherlock said, looking directly at Snape. "It's 1977 now, and the prophecy about the Chosen One will appear in three years. I need two years. If we don't find a way to return to the correct timeline within two years, I'll do everything in my power to change history and save Lily."
Snape looked at the Pendant Box still hanging around Sherlock's neck, knowing it was the cause of their time travel.
"Time can only be reversed; there has never been a way to travel to the future."
Sherlock glanced out the window at the gray, oppressive city.
"I know the chances of going back are extremely low, almost zero. But some things are worth trying. Just like you know the chances of bringing Lily back to life are almost zero, but you still want to try, right?"
Snape fell silent, deep in thought, considering Sherlock's words and unsure what else he could do besides agreeing.
Sherlock didn't push him, just quietly watching the gloomy sky, waiting for Snape's response.
After a long moment, Snape finally spoke.
"What do you plan to do in these two years?"
Sherlock knew this was essentially a yes. He stood up from his chair.
"I don't have any other plans for now, but we should find a place to settle down first."
(End of Chapter)
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