Some time after the New Year's Day of 1981, Willow Springs found herself — or rather, Lily Evans — and her old friend, Severus Snape, improving in a way that even she couldn't ignore.

After that, the chances of them meeting for a variety of reasons – even just by chance – suddenly seemed to increase a lot. Maybe it's because the two of them had said all the bad things at Christmas, and when they met again, the conversation was much better.

The two of them tacitly regarded everything that happened at Christmas as if it didn't exist, and never mentioned it, and on this premise, even Willow Spring had to admit that in a calm atmosphere, even as a fake Lily, she could find something to talk about with Snape.

By spring, she even had the illusion that Snape's affection for her—or rather, friendship?—— had somehow risen a lot.

Snape seems to have begun to work on how to improve the venom/potion. He spends his days at home in Spider Tail Alley, as if he rarely goes out, and his whereabouts are uncertain.

Willow Springs runs around in the Order of the Phoenix under two different identities, fighting hard against the Death Eaters as both a member of the Order of the Phoenix and an Auror.

However, she had never actually met Snape in the opposing faction during a mission or battle. For her, this may be the only good news in the increasingly dark and heavy atmosphere of the wizarding world.

As her friendship with Snape grew, he softened his attitude towards her a little. Sometimes he would appear by the river, as if he had been in childhood, accustomed to staying there to relax or think, and when she happened to be there and meet him, he would have a few words with her—more gentlely, lately, and he had even magnanimously allowed her to join him in his walk by the river, and the two of us walked together for a while.

At dusk on this day, the weather was clear. Willow Springs met Snape again by the river. At that time, he was walking slowly along the water's edge, with his head down, as if he was thinking about something.

Liu Quan greeted him, and unsurprisingly, he did not refuse her move to walk beside him.

He seemed to be preoccupied with this day, and had no intention of starting a conversation with her immediately. So they walked in silence for a long time, until they reached the hillside where the young Snape and Lily had met.

They stopped at the bottom of the hill and looked up at the tree at the top of the hill that was big enough for a child to hide, who was Snape.

Snape: "......"

Liu Quan was keenly aware that his mood seemed to have deteriorated.

She wanted to say something, but for a moment she felt that it was wrong to say anything in such a place.

In the end, it was Snape who spoke first.

Surprisingly, he didn't mention his previous memories of being here with Lily.

"Recently...... Are you okay. ”

Today's conversation actually began with this very normal greeting, and Liu Quan felt a deep surprise.

Of course, she wouldn't be stupid enough to ask Snape, "Don't you have any other feelings standing here?"

“…… Very good. She replied with a smile, paused, and took the initiative to expand the topic a little.

"Frank and Alice brought their son the other day...... Oh, that's a cute baby. I think he's going to grow up to be a great guy in the future......" she said tentatively, observing Snape's expression without a trace.

Maybe it's a little excessive, but what she brings up is true.

Willow Spring couldn't describe the feeling he felt when he saw little Neville Lombard for the first time. She picked him up a little awkwardly, and watched the little baby with round black hair and round face laughing at herself—he didn't look at all like the young hero who would pull out the Sword of Gryffindor and kill the Great Serpent of Nagini.

He was also quite different from his peers, Harry Potter.

A young couple who raise their own little babies have two couples in the Order of the Phoenix. Of course, Willow Springs had also met little Harry - as a Gryffindor classmate and a companion of the Order of the Phoenix, she had met Harry several times as Lily Evans, from Harry's birthday party to several private gatherings of friends at the Potter family.

Unlike little Neville, however, Harry's eyes were large and bright, always spinning on his bones, and he seemed more sensitive and intelligent to things in the outside world—but the two of them were just as cute and indescribably cute, and when she held them in her arms, it made people feel a sense of healing warmth.

She really felt the urge to warn James, and the Longbottoms, to watch out for the mystery man, and for the Death Eaters—but she couldn't.

Before she can save the world, she must first ensure that it will not be directly destroyed by her momentary mistakes or weakness – even if the consequences of doing so will be painful for everyone.

Snape looked at the towering tree at the top of the slope, and his voice seemed a little hoarse.

“…… You've seen Potter's son, too. ”

Liu Quan's heart suddenly chuckled for some reason, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Yes. She said in a normal tone, with a little briskness.

"Harry, that's lovely. I really want to hug him more...... And he seems to like me a lot. The first time we met, I just wanted to kiss him on the cheek, and he almost washed my face with saliva—"

“…… Now, Potter is married. Snape abruptly and brutally interrupted her description of Harry Jr.

Liu Quan: "...... Yes. What's wrong?"

"Compared to the arrogant, rude, arrogant and rude guy back then, he doesn't know if he has grown now. Snape commented with a hint of meanness.

Liu Quan laughed, shook his head and sighed.

"It's a lot better than it was then, right? maybe...... Seems a little more reliable?" she replied, simulating Snape's harsh tone that was pretending to be objective but in fact full of subjective emotions, and half-jokingly replied.

"I really didn't expect him to be such a person now. After getting married, I'm finally steady...... This is a good change for him. I remembered that when I was at Hogwarts, he used to travel at night, get into trouble everywhere, and do no less labor and service, so how could others trust him with important tasks-"

So, you're trying to say that having a good and normal marriage, or at least making such commitments and obligations, is going to help people move in a good direction. Snape summed it up dryly for her.

Liu Quan: "??Looks like that—"

"So, it's necessary for normal people to enter into such 'commitments and obligations,' isn't it?" said Snape, continuing to draw a simple and crude conclusion.

Liu Quan: "...... Of course. At least that's what I think. But, Severus, it's rare that you'll think the same way......"

"Of course I do. Snape replied dryly. Strangely, as he said this, his eyes stayed on the big tree at the top of the slope the whole time.

"Of course, I'm curious about this kind of dramatic change, which is like drinking a polyjuice decoction and becoming a different person...... Promise. ”

This person, speaking more and more incomprehensible and more ooc, is he planning to talk to himself about philosophy? Liu Quan was puzzled.

“…… So?" she tilted her head slightly, her hands behind her back, and a slightly confused smile on her face.

“…… So, I came to the conclusion that this kind of commitment, when concluded, helps to give others the impression that you are very reliable. Snape replied stiffly. His gaze was fixed on the big tree at the top of the slope, as if he were staring at the hiding place where he wanted to escape reality in his childhood, and he could gain infinite power from it.

Willow Springs: ???

Snape took a deep breath.

"As you know, I'm applying for a teaching position at Hogwarts. His voice was an octave lower, sounding like the music of a double bass, and it resonated vaguely in his chest.

"Although I have some confidence in that...... However, it would be better if it could give Professor Dumbledore and the others an impression of stability and reliability. Anything that will help achieve this...... I'm not shy about trying. ”

Liu Quan felt as if he understood what he was about to say. But for a while, it seemed like I didn't understand anything.

…… Because this speculation is so incredible. It was as crazy, chaotic, and unbelievable as she was seeing the Dark Lord dancing in front of her right now!

Liu Quan tilted his head slightly as if he couldn't believe it.

This knee-jerk movement immediately stunned Snape for a moment. But some inner determination - or something else - encouraged him to continue saying the kind of words that made one suspect that he was completely ooc.

"So I need to be calm and reliable at Hogwarts, and have completely shaken off the bad track record of being framed by Potter and his other arrogant friends as a student. As if he had made up his mind, he spoke in one breath, each syllable speaking rapidly, without the ups and downs of his intonation, and the words that made one wonder if he had broken down were like flowing water.

“…… And given that Potter, Black, and their two other gloomy and strange friends are all of you Gryffindor, I think it's your responsibility – and necessity – to help me undo the effects of these horrible events on me. ”

Willow Springs, he thought, probably didn't know that once he himself was dominated by negative emotions such as nervousness or anger in front of people he thought harmless, he would become extraordinarily talkative—probably subconsciously thinking that he could use this to disguise his true emotions and pretend to be extremely powerful?

"In other words, I ask you to cooperate as another party to the commitment, before Professor Dumbledore and the school. ”

Liu Quan: !?

It had to take her a moment to extract the real point of what he wanted to say from the gloomy young man's rare tirade.

Then, her eyes widened in disbelief. The body also seemed to be struck by lightning, and instantly subconsciously stiffened.

"Out of the presence of Professor Dumbledore?" she stammered in a rare way, and the deep-seated reverence for the great White Wizard subconsciously came out, making her feel a pang of weakness.

“…… Appear in front of them...... What to do?"

Snape finally turned around and glared fiercely. His gloomy knife scraped angrily at her face.

“…… Prove that I am the best person to hold the position of Hogwarts!" he said with a hint of impatience and impatience, "and for that I need the cooperation of a lady......"

Liu Quan felt that his brain, which seemed to have been hit hard by shock and disbelief, was finally slowly getting back to work.

I was about to ask, "But why me?", but regained some of her sanity and reasoning skills, and slowly returned, just in time to stop herself before she could ask this stupid question.

She was silent for a moment. There was already some warmth in the spring breeze blowing between them, blowing over the hillsides and green fields, and the rustling of branches and grass made a rustling sound.

Then, without warning, she suddenly raised her head and turned her face to meet his gaze. Unlike his gloomy complexion, the corners of her lips curled slightly, revealing a gentle smile.

"So you're here to ask for my consent, aren't you?"

She asked bluntly.

Snape snorted and turned his face to the other side in hatred, as if he were uncomfortable to see her triumphant.

“…… Yes. His deep, silky voice, after a suspicious pause, replied in the affirmative.

…… It's still OOC, Professor. But why is that, you can't say such things without any reason, or rather, without any external influence, can you?

With a sigh in her heart, Liu Quan decided that she could find this answer for herself later.

"Good. ”

She replied crisply.

Hearing the affirmative answer, Snape's figure suddenly froze.

"As long as it is good for you, I am willing to help you accomplish it. She said.