Lys had initially planned to have a conversation with Severus Snape, to ask whether the use of the Killing Curse was an inevitable step for Death Eaters or a voluntary declaration of loyalty. However, she stumbled upon news that caught her off guard yet somehow felt inevitable.
Lily Evans was going to marry James Potter, and the ceremony was set to take place on the night of the full moon.
Snape, utterly dejected, had no interest in hearing anything Lys had to say. He slumped into the sofa, his whole demeanor steeped in despair.
It shouldn't have been him. "Why him?" Why Potter?
The dim candlelight in the room only deepened the oppressive atmosphere, perfectly complementing Snape's expression. Knowing this wasn't the right time but unable to bear the gloom, Lys waved her wand, brightening the flames and lighting the extinguished fireplace.
She took a moment to tidy up the scattered debris, books, and papers littering the floor.
Noticing the bookshelf wobbling slightly—likely from when she had pinned Snape down to force a potion on him last time—Lys cast a quick Transfiguration Charm. Though still crooked, the bookshelf now stood sturdily in place.
Her gaze swept over the dilapidated house. The kitchen, she noted, contained nothing but potatoes. What exactly had Snape gained from being Voldemort's... uh, trusted aide?
Shaking her head, she reminded herself to stop letting her mind wander. After all, she hadn't mastered Occlumency.
After taking in her surroundings, Lys realized she had no idea what to do next. Deciding it was best to leave quietly, she moved toward the door. Snape was melodramatic and petty; while she'd seen more awkward situations, avoiding unnecessary conflict seemed the wiser choice.
Just as she was about to leave, Snape muttered a question, "She knew. She knew, but why would she still choose him?"
Lys hesitated, then decided not to respond. Quickening her pace toward the door, she was stopped by a faint sob.
After a moment of deliberation, Lys decided to offer some words of comfort.
"Severus, do you love her?" she asked. His response was a slightly bewildered look.
That made things easier. If even he didn't know, it would be simpler to guide him.
"Lily is your best friend. I believe you truly wish for her to have a happy and carefree life," Lys said, seizing the opportunity to steer the conversation.
"Potter loves her and listens to her. You don't have to worry that the person she marries will mistreat her or look down on her because of her bloodline. The Potter family, after all, only severed ties with Muggles after the Muggle Protection Act."
Lys had seen in memories how Snape's father, in drunken rages, would curse "monsters" while hitting his mother.
"Moreover, though I hate to admit it, Potter is fairly capable. He's aligned with Dumbledore's faction, which advocates for Muggle-borns. In these troubled times, he can protect her."
Snape knew all too well how many people had lost their dignity and lives under Voldemort's ideology.
"Besides, Severus, you never apologized, did you?" This statement hit Snape like a physical blow. His back slumped, and he buried his face in his hands, supported by his knees.
He had never apologized, not even now.
"Severus, Lily has found the best she could hope for. Can't you be happy for her, just a little?"
The best? Potter?
Lys seemed to know what Snape was thinking. "The Potters are wealthy, with a deep family heritage but not too many rules. If I remember correctly, they are the last line of the Peverell bloodline. Potter is also a bit of an idiot; he'll do whatever Evans says. For someone of Evans' background, this is the best marriage she could achieve in the wizarding world."
Lys carefully avoided speculating on Lily's true feelings. Whether Lily didn't love Potter and was using the marriage to protect herself, or whether she had fallen for him, neither would be good for Snape to hear.
Seeing Snape bury his face in his hands without further reaction, Lys knew it was time to leave. If she stayed longer and Snape started asking more questions, she wouldn't be able to come up with more excuses.
"Severus, learn to accept what has already happened. If you can't, at least try to understand her. I have to go now; I have my own headaches to deal with."
Lys spoke ambiguously, fearing that Snape might lose control and crash the wedding. That would completely ruin their childhood friendship.
At this moment, Snape couldn't heed any advice. He still couldn't accept that Lily had chosen to be with someone who had caused him so much harm and humiliation during their school years.
"Stalys, what did you want to ask earlier when you came?"
Glancing at Snape, whose eyes were still slightly red but now vacant, Lys knew he had suppressed his emotions. She simply asked the question she had originally come for.
"Is it inevitable for every Death Eater?" she asked.
"Yes, every one of them. The Dark Lord only trusts those who can't turn back." Seeing Lys' involuntary flinch, Snape added:
"But not everyone gets the honor of having the Dark Lord watch. He's very busy. Only those he values receive this... privilege."
Privilege? What kind of privilege was that? To Lys, it was merely not bad news.
Nodding, Lys couldn't resist asking as she stepped out of Snape's house, "Are you going to the wedding?" She didn't even wait for Snape to react before Apparating to Malfoy Manor.
Ah, if I'm going to be troubled, everyone else might as well be too.
Lucius, looking at the documents in his hand, leaned his head on his hand as he listened to Lys' question about whether Death Eaters' identities were confidential.
"Yes, to this day, I know of only a handful of confirmed identities," he replied.
"Then why does everyone seem to know I've been put on the list?" Lys' expression darkened.
"Not everyone knows. What makes you think that information I obtain is accessible to just anyone?" Lucius set down his documents, visibly annoyed.
"Your name is associated with the Malfoys, so naturally, I pay closer attention to certain information. Besides, to some extent, the Dark Lord has clearly loosened restrictions on the younger generation. After all, your names are submitted by the major families, so it's inevitable that some whispers will spread."
"Then how can the person who submitted my name be so sure I'd find out and accept the mark? Wouldn't they be at fault if I acted out of line?"
"That's exactly what they want! Because of your background and surname, and your association with the Malfoys..."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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