webnovel

IN ANOTHER LIFE (HP)

Severus Snape finds himself rising from his near deathbed into the past, as a female 10 year old version of himself in another parallel world, where secondary genders exist.

NobleVillainess · Book&Literature
Not enough ratings
36 Chs
avataravatar

Chapter 2 - Traits

The world felt both familiar and alien to Serena as she opened her eyes. It only lasted for an hour before the fever had finally subsided, leaving only the pounding in her head as a reminder of its existence. 

She found herself in a state of profound introspection. It was as if the remnants of her past life as Severus and her current existence as a female omega had intertwined, merging into a new amalgamation of emotions, desires, and reactions. Serena doesn't know how to feel about it. Not yet anyways. The innocence of Serena and the guilty crimes of Severus. The naïveté and the dark experiences, the beauty and the ugly, all mixed together. One body, two personas combined. It's no use overthinking, she'll get through it when she reorganizes her Occlumency wards. Hopefully.

She was lying in a small, quaint room that was both hers and not hers. The walls were a deep fading gray, the bed was thin and broken from the frames, and the window overlooked a view that was distinctly Spinner's End. It was her room, but not the one she remembered. It was somewhat neater and cleaner, with a few extra old, worn out toys displayed on a small wooden desk, in the corner of the room. The combination of two personas within Serena was a curious blend as she still felt an attachment towards the toys while fully being aware that she or he - as Severus, was not at all interested in tattered dolls.

She's Serena Snape now, a female Omega version of her former self, Severus Snape. Her reflection in the mirror was a paradox. Snow White was the first thing that came into her mind. She saw red cherry lips, bigger sable onyx eyes, snowy white smooth skin, the same sharp features, but softened with a feminine touch, framed by long, silken locks of black hair with bangs, and a small button nose. Serena was clearly an adorable little girl. She was still a bit malnourished but less than when she was a boy. Eileen, in this world, did her best at feeding Serena as fully as she could, only so her appearance wouldn't get affected by the lack of food. The change was jarring, but it was still her. 

She sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers tracing the soft sheets, lost in her thoughts. Lily. She's alive. A lot of people who she knew to be dead were alive. But sweet Lily was once her only true friend. In this world, she was still Serena's friend, and for that Serena was grateful. Their bond was deep, deeper than people had ever understood. They had mistaken Serena's affection for Lily as romantic love, but it wasn't. It was a connection between two souls who had found solace in each other's company, and nothing more. And here, Lily was a Beta, a different dynamic but the same bond. Serena was relieved to know that she's already friends with Lily, and has yet used that terrible slur against her. That's one aspect she didn't have to worry about. Facing Lily as a child is definitely not the way she wanted to see her again. But she wasn't going to complain, she missed her too much. And this time, she won't mess it up. 

On the other hand, understanding the secondary genders was a complex task. According to her mother, the wizarding world has 20% Alphas, 70% Betas, and 10% Omegas. Last to Eileen's knowledge, only 25 omegas were currently in Great Britain, which was already saying a lot. As an Omega, Serena was faced with a reality that had never existed for her before. The heat cycles, the physical and emotional turmoil they would bring... she shuddered at the thought. The idea of the submission, the dependency, it was terrifying. She had always prided herself on her independence, her self-sufficiency. But now, it seemed, Serena would have to find a way to maintain it in a world that was designed to take it away from her.

And then there were The Marauders. The tormentors of Serena's past life. Would they be the same in this one? Would the change in her gender make any difference to them? The thought of reliving the bullying was a bitter pill to swallow. Would they see her as just another classmate? Serena couldn't predict their actions, but she could control her own. Serena's hatred towards them had mostly diminished due to her experiences with Harry and both wars, draining her emotionally exhausted as Severus. It seems the best course of action is to avoid their attention, keep herself off their radar and establish relationships with classmates from a different house. She couldn't afford to let them distract her from her bigger mission - preventing the rise of Voldemort.

Serena was considering the Horcruxes, the anchors of Voldemort's twisted immortality. In her previous life, She had only known of their existence too late, when Harry and his friends were already on the path to destroy them. This time, however, Serena had the advantage of foresight.

As she ran through the list of Horcruxes in her mind, she realized that most of them already existed. There was the Diary, which she knew Lucius Malfoy would have. The Ring, hidden at the old Gaunt shack. The Slytherin Locket will be in the possession of a House-Elf named Kreacher a decade from now. The Hufflepuff Cup, likely ending up with Bellatrix Lestrange. And finally, the Ravenclaw Diadem, hidden in the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts.

Serena's plan was to gather them all first, then destroy them in one go. It was risky, yes, but it would also prevent Voldemort from realizing that his Horcruxes were being destroyed until it was too late. She couldn't afford to let him know that his immortality was being threatened. It had to be a swift, decisive strike.

As Serena pondered over this, she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Harry, Hermione, and even Ron. They had done an incredible job, given the circumstances. Harry's strength and resilience, Hermione's intelligence and resourcefulness, Ron's bravery and sheer dumb luck. In the end, did they win? Did they perhaps… lose? 

It doesn't seem to matter now. 

Could she do it alone? She was smart, yes, and determined, but was it enough?

Serena's thoughts were interrupted by her mother's voice, calling her down for dinner. A jolt of reality and a gasp from her own mouth pulled Serena out of her thoughts and back into the present. She stood up, smoothing out her robes. Scratch that. Dress. Merlin, she had a lot to think about, a lot to plan. But for now, she had to play the part of Serena Snape, the 10-year-old girl who was just trying to navigate her way through a strange, new world.

Would she tell Dumbledore? She wasn't sure yet. There were risks in revealing too much, risks she wasn't sure she could afford to take. But for now, she had a plan, and that was a start. She would gather the Horcruxes, destroy them, and rid the world of Voldemort once and for all. It was a daunting task, but it was one she was willing to undertake. After all, she is Serena Snape, and she was not one to back down from a challenge.

~~~

The months had passed in a blur. Each day Serena devoted herself to her tasks, each moment a step closer to her goal. Facing the dead once again and seeing them in person made Serena a bit dazed and lost for a few days, but she wasn't about to admit that aloud for anybody. She felt complicated feelings while interacting with her mother once again but it was at least doable. Her father on the other hand was another story. It felt as if someone had grabbed her heart and started squeezing it, rendering her unable to breathe. So she did what she used to do. Serena did everything to avoid and hid from Tobias Snape. So far it worked like magic. 

As for Lily, he was having clandestine play date meetings with her, stealing precious moments away from her dull and dreary life. And if anyone saw her hug the living daylights out of Lily and cried like a girl… well. She is now currently a little girl, so who would've known better? 

One thing that Serena noticed was a surprising change at her muggle school. Unlike in the wizarding world with its secondary genders, muggles didn't have such distinctions. However, Serena realized that her transformation still had an impact. The girls gave her jealous looks, influenced by her appearance and perhaps even her natural scent. The boys stared, occasionally teasing her. Feeling isolated and casted out, the old Serena kept her distance, and doing the same now was more than fine with the current Serena.

She was planning, always planning, for the hunt of the Horcruxes. Serena was keeping herself hidden from her father's drunken tirades, a constant reminder of her previous life's hardships. And she was secretly practicing spell casting, her mother's wand, a stolen prize, a tool of liberation.

On the day of Serena's 11th birthday, the inevitable finally arrived. A magnificent eagle owl swooped down from the sky, its talons clutching a single parchment. It was her letter, her invitation to Hogwarts, the symbol of the beginning of a new chapter. Serena's father, upon learning about the magical school, went into one of his drunken rages. She hid in her room, her heart aching as she heard the sounds of violence from below. Her mother bore the brunt of his anger, a sacrifice she was all too familiar with making. Not yet. She couldn't save them yet. Not when she's still getting used to her new body and magical core.

When the house had fallen silent and the storm had passed, Serena's mother came to her. Eileen's face was a mask of pain, but her eyes held a spark of determination. She handed Serena her old school trunk, filled to the brim with faded, worn-out books and supplies. There was a promise in her eyes, a promise to get Serena her own wand before she left for Hogwarts. Back in the life of Severus, Eileen didn't give her son hand-me-downs, it was all used and second hand cheap clothing from Diagon Alley. It was only his wand that was painstakingly brought new, and for that Severus was thankful enough. Now, Serena had old hand-me-downs but the difference was clear, it had high quality patterns with magical protection wards woven into the fabric. She was glad that at least this time she wouldn't be picked on or cast out by her own housemates. But that was honestly the least of her worries.

The subsequent months were a blend of monotony and anticipation. Serena continued her planning, her research, but try as she might, there was not much to go on without any research supplies but her own memories. Except learning more about Omegas and their magical traits. Her mother, Eileen, was very enthusiastic to explain more into detail about the subject. Serena learned four important points from Elieen's arduously long informative article. 

1. Scent Manipulation: Omegas in this world possess the ability to emit pheromones and control their scent. They can project alluring or calming scents to attract or pacify others, influencing the emotions and behaviors of those around them. This ability is often used in social interactions and romantic pursuits.

2. Healing Touch: Omegas have a natural inclination for healing magic, particularly concerning the well-being of themselves and others. They possess the ability to channel restorative energies through touch, accelerating the healing process of wounds, injuries, and even certain illnesses. This compassionate and nurturing aspect of their magic is highly valued.

3. Early Manifestations: Omegas often exhibit their magical abilities from a young age, although the nature and extent of these abilities may vary. Certain traits, such as enhanced sensory perception or empathic connections, may manifest early on, even before formal magical education begins. These early experiences serve as hints of their unique magical potential.

4. Mentorship and Guidance: Omegas often seek guidance from experienced individuals who are well-versed in omega magic. These mentors, who may be omega elders, teachers, or other knowledgeable figures, provide personalized instruction and support. They help omegas explore and master their abilities, offering insights, techniques, and advice based on their own experiences.

Knowing this, the specific magical abilities of omegas can vary based on individual talent, training, and heritage. Additionally, these abilities may also be influenced by cultural beliefs, magical traditions, and the overall magical system of the parallel world. Serena was glad to know she wasn't completely without the advantages of becoming an omega. She can work with this. It will come in handy in the future. She'll worry about heat cycles and suppressants when the time comes knocking on her face. Hopefully never. 

Serena spent the rest of her free time as she could with Lily, cherishing their friendship, their shared connection. She evaded her father, a ghost in her own home, and she listened to her mother's lessons, her wishes, and followed her beautification spells. Serena begrudgingly admitted internally that she struggled with her new gender identity. Being a bloody female is high maintenance. Having gotten used to being a male for thirty plus years then suddenly finding herself in a female body was the most stressful experience that had ever happened to her. Even more than being a double spy in two wars. It took Serena three months to get used to her new body. And whenever she had a moment to spare, she practiced her magic, both wand and wandless, preparing herself for the battles to come.

Serena's short re-lived childhood was far from ordinary, far from carefree. But it was hers, and it was shaping her into the person she needed to be. She was Serena Snape, a little girl with a daunting mission, a lifetime of knowledge, and a burning desire to make things right. And she was ready to face whatever life had in store for her.