Meanwhile, after Erwin had departed Snape's office, a shadow detached itself from the Cavendish family contingent.
"By any means necessary," Erwin instructed, his voice low and cold. "I want Lily Evans to be with my godfather. I want them to have a child together. I don't care about the methodology, I only want results."
The Cavendish operative nodded curtly. "Understood, Master. I will handle it."
"Excellent. Proceed."
The shadow vanished without a trace. Erwin glanced back at the closed office door, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. He felt conflicted about orchestrating someone else's life so completely, but he had no alternative. Snape needed something to anchor him—a legacy, a future. Only then could he be kept from the final battle, a conflict Erwin wasn't entirely confident he could survive. Snape was not merely his godfather; he was the first person, besides the Cavendish family, to show Erwin genuine kindness without ulterior motives after his parents' death. Snape was also Erwin's contingency plan. Absolutely nothing could be permitted to happen to him.
Inside the office, Snape sat distracted while Lily and Harry Potter conversed.
"What is it, Severus?" Lily asked, puzzled by his distant expression.
"Nothing," Snape murmured, though his gaze remained unfocused. "Erwin's behavior is simply... unusual. He isn't acting like himself."
Harry nodded vigorously. "He's right. Mr. Erwin usually only threatens me when I've actually done something wrong. But this time? It felt like he genuinely wanted to eliminate me."
Lily frowned deeply. "And you don't resent him for that?"
Harry shook his head emphatically. "If it weren't for Mr. Erwin, Mum, I'd be dead. Without him, I never would have survived Hogwarts. He's my savior. He never threatens anyone without valid reason. I believe there's something else happening."
Lily looked at her son, bewildered. It seemed absurd to defend someone who was openly threatening your life. Yet, the absolute conviction in Harry's voice was undeniable. It sparked deep curiosity in her. She had witnessed the respect the students demonstrated toward Erwin on the Quidditch pitch, and now even her son was completely devoted.
She began questioning Harry extensively about his years at Hogwarts, about everything Erwin had done. As she listened to stories of the dangers they had faced and how Erwin had navigated them through, Lily was genuinely astonished. Her son's life at what should be the safest magical school in the world had been far more chaotic than she could have imagined.
Following the conclusion of term, the Hogwarts students returned to the castle for their final feast before departing for the holidays. Erwin delegated the responsibility of hosting the Slytherin honors ceremony to Charlotte and, without explanation, Apparated directly to America.
He had received an urgent plea for assistance from Rivers. Something had gone catastrophically wrong.
Upon arriving at the Cavendish family residence, Erwin found Old Tom waiting for him.
"Master," Tom bowed quickly.
"Where is Rivers?" Erwin demanded.
"In the rear medical wing, sir. He's receiving treatment."
"How severe is it?"
"Stable condition. We have a specialized healer on staff. It won't cause permanent disability, but full recovery will require time."
Erwin nodded curtly. "Take me to him."
As they approached the infirmary, Erwin could hear Rivers shouting from within.
"Damn it! The Demos family! Those bastards deceived me! If the Master discovers this, he's going to kill me!"
Erwin pushed the door open. "You're correct. I really should administer a lesson."
Rivers froze mid-sentence, scrambling to stand. He dropped to one knee, head bowed. "Master! I apologize profoundly. It was my error. I walked directly into the Demos family's trap."
"Report," Erwin said, his voice devoid of warmth. "Who injured you? Did Nott Demos intervene personally?"
"No, Master." Rivers shook his head. "It was his son. Durette Demos. Nott didn't even reveal himself."
Erwin frowned. "Durette? His capabilities are negligible. How could he defeat you?"
"No, Master, you're mistaken." Rivers looked up, his expression grim. "He's powerful. Far more than you'd anticipate. I'd estimate his skill rivals the Cavendish family heir."
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I've just launched Hogwarts: I, Tom Riddle, Am a Good Teacher! I've put extra care into the writing and consistency for this one, and I think you're going to love the vibe.
If you enjoyed my previous work, come check out the first few chapters and tell me: Would you survive a class with Professor Riddle? Don't forget to drop those Power Stones to help us rank!
— MrGrim