Ever the Same

Chapter Eight: War Flashbacks

Blood Magick was one of the most obscure forms of magic, only encapsulated by that of the magic of pure and unbridled love. The Ministry of Magic would never admit that they were running extensive tests on both forms of magic, but the unspeakables worked tirelessly to understand them.

At the core, blood magic tied a witch or wizard to every other person that shared their blood. This was, Regulus could only assume, why purebloods were so obsessive when it came to whom they married and had children with. 

The answer was in front of him now, glaring up at him from one of the most ancient books on blood magic that existed. It would take a lot out of him, but it was already decided that his sacrifice was his own fault for not destroying the time turner. 

So Regulus Black, an hour before his classroom was set to be filled with first years, attached a needle to the bend of his arm and began to drain his own blood.

***

Lily often considered herself just as capable of investigation as any auror or muggle cop. She was a lawyer, she knew, but searching for answers came so naturally that she couldn't help herself.

Which is how she found herself in a small muggle cafe in Campo Grande, Brazil, sunglasses and headscarf obscuring her identity. 

She had heard, through whispers and past clients, that many of the past death eaters had fled to Brazil after the war was done. Working with Gregory Goyle Sr. was one of the most unsavory things she had ever done, promising to keep him out of Azkaban for the illegal importation of Kappas in exchange for information regarding the whereabouts of one Severus Snape.

She was convinced it would never work. But surprisingly, there was a short amount of magical lawyers willing to take on an already convicted Death Eater. He agreed, begrudgingly, and gave her the address to the cafe she now sat in.

She didn't bother mentioning any of this to James, of course. Best not to involve any marauder when Severus was concerned. She had dropped a note on Xander's desk that morning, telling him that she would be gone for the next two nights for business.

But it had been three hours of pretending to sip on her cup of tea (which was not as good as back home, thank you very much) and she hadn't seen him. 

He had turned at the last moment, breaking away from the Death Eaters and fighting alongside Lily. But she couldn't help but continue to feel the betrayal of their years together before that. 

Both directly and indirectly, Severus had a hand in the deaths of multiple of her friends. 

The second best time to do the right thing is now, her father used to always say. It's never too late.

And was it? Was there a time where it was too late to choose to do the right thing?

Lily was lost in her thoughts, wondering how differently the future would have been shaped if Severus had decided to switch sides, until she felt the jab of a wooden wand in the side of her neck.

"Why are you here?"

It had been years since she had heard the voice, but it was too distinct to forget.

"To see you, Severus. What other reason is there?"

"I can hear the disdain in your voice, Evans. Why are you truly here? Because it's not for me."

There was hate in Severus's words, and this came as no surprise to Lily. But what was surprising was the utter despair that the end of his sentence held.