[HP Comprehensive UK and US] Platinum Stark

When facing his goddaughter, Snape's face, which was cold in front of outsiders, would always unconsciously become a little gentle.

At this moment, in the Potions Office, it was no exception.

Alicia sat awkwardly opposite Snape, waiting for overwhelming rebukes and lessons.

Lucius and Narcissa were both a few years older than Snape, but that didn't mean that the latter had no chance to learn about their past. As far as Snape knew, Lucius had a good business sense when he was in his second year and knew how to win people's hearts. Narcissa was no exception. At that time, Narcissa Black had one of the best reputations in the pure-blood circle.

And what about him? What was he doing when he was twelve?

"When I was your age, I was aware of the existence of dark magic and tried to get closer to it." After a long silence, Snape's deep voice sounded. He still had no expression on his face, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking. "At that time, no one was unaware of the name of the Dark Lord - especially within Slytherin. Most people, led by the pure-blood families, were proud to serve the Dark Lord."

"Your father and mother, your classmates' father and mother, and even one generation before that are the same. The Dark Lord's power comes directly from Slytherin."

Alicia looked at her godfather in astonishment, not knowing why he told her all these things. Snape saw the girl's expression, but did not stop to explain. He continued to speak in that calm voice.

"That kind of power is really fascinating, isn't it? So fascinating that it has led so many people to walk down a wrong, dark path, doing things they didn't want to do, and paying a heavy price. Remedies are useless, begging is useless, and making amends is... useless."

The figure of the red-haired woman appeared before his eyes, and he skillfully used the brain-blocking technique, just like countless dark nights before.

Alicia seemed to understand something.

She didn't know whether Dumbledore could see her struggle, but her godfather must have seen it clearly.

"Xia, you are more sober than most people. You are the first to understand that opportunities are accompanied by irreparable dangers, so you are sitting here at this moment. But there is no way back here..."

It was because Alicia knew the cruelty and terror of the Dark Lord that she chose to surrender to Dumbledore in exchange for the so-called retreat.

He didn't know what the Dark Lord had done, but he could guess roughly. Alicia was not a person who didn't know what to do. She probably made this choice out of helplessness.

His lover's son was pushed to the position of savior by Dumbledore, and he was the sinner.

His only goddaughter was pushed into a dilemma by the Dark Lord, and he was a loser who could not stand up and protect his goddaughter behind him.

How ironic.

Under the table where Alicia couldn't see, there were several deep nail marks on Snape's palms.

He frowned slightly in pain, closed his eyes slightly, and looked at the girl in front of him again: "Alicia..."

No one can change the chess game, not him, not Lucius, not even Dumbledore. Alicia has been forced onto the chessboard and become one of the chess pieces. If she wants to leave the game, she will only be crushed to pieces.

No one is the chess player, even Dumbledore is just the commander among the chess pieces.

"I can't be completely honest with my father. He must have cast a spell similar to a verbal spell on me." Alicia's voice was a little hoarse, and her gray-blue eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, making it difficult to see clearly. "Severus... help me."

Help me.

It is both helping and saving.

Unlike the flamboyant and straightforward Gryffindor, Slytherin conversations do not usually need to be too straightforward; their unwritten rule is to get to the point.

The blonde girl in front of him lowered her eyes, making it difficult to see the complex emotions in her eyes - guilt towards Snape, exhaustion of her position and a determination that no one could understand were intertwined. In the cellar, the girl completed an important transformation in her life.

From the moment she became his goddaughter, their fates had been bound together.

Snape stared at the girl in front of him and said word by word: "I will."

I will.