Chapter 9 - Research and First Year End Term

The grand Hogwarts library had become a sanctuary for Serena Snape. The musty scent of old parchment, the whispers of knowledge waiting to be discovered, and the comfort of solitude were all things she craved. Even as she was Severus, the library was a place that couldn't be breached by his old tormentors. It was a place where she could be herself without the pretense of being someone else.

Tonight was no different. Except for one thing. The seat across from her at the long wooden table was not empty. It was occupied by Lucius Malfoy. The third-year student with icy blue eyes and such elegance that it could rival the beauty of a Veela. His long, pale blonde hair perfectly arranged, catching the light from the floating candles above them.

"Serena," he drawled, breaking the comfortable silence between them. "You have been working too hard."

"Knowledge is power, Lucius." Serena replied, not lifting her gaze from her parchment but her lips curled into a slight smirk. She remembered saying those words, she remembered being on the receiving end of those words, in another life.

Lucius chuckled lightly, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "Indeed it is. But even the most powerful need rest."

Serena finally looked up from her parchment, meeting his gaze. There was a sense of understanding there, a quiet acknowledgement of who they were. Both Omegas, both hiding their true selves beneath a facade of strength and indifference. 

She sighed and stretched, her small frame appearing even smaller in the cavernous library. "Perhaps you're right."

Before she could gather her things, Lucius stood and rounded the table, offering a hand to her. "Allow me to escort you, Serena."

His offer was genuine, a sign of the friendship that had developed over the past few months. Serena smiled, a soft, genuine smile, and accepted his hand, allowing him to help her pack her things into her bag. 

As they exited the library, the corridors of Hogwarts seemed quieter, more peaceful. They walked in silence, the only sound echoing through the hallways was their synchronized footsteps. Serena knew that Lucius was different. Not the man she remembered from her past life, but a boy who was just trying to navigate the world, just like her.

~~~

Serena sat in the Slytherin common room, her gaze fixed on the flickering flames in the fireplace. Her mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts of the Marauders. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. They were just children, really, enjoying their first year at Hogwarts.

But to Serena, they were a reminder of her past life, of the pain and heartache she had endured.

She had noticed that James was gradually paying less attention to her. His focus had shifted to his friends, to the pranks they pulled on the students and professors.

Serena wasn't surprised. She remembered how the Marauders had been in her past life, how they had reveled in their mischief and mayhem.

Sometimes, she found it hard to reconcile the image of the Marauders as they were now with the image of them in her past life.

They were still so young, so innocent. They had yet to experience the horrors of war, the loss of loved ones. They were still full of life, full of laughter.

But Serena was burdened with the knowledge of the future, with the weight of her past. She knew what was to come, what these children would face. And it pained her, filled her with a sense of dread and helplessness.

She wasn't complaining, though. In fact, she was relieved that James was paying less attention to her. She didn't need his attention, his attempts to get closer to her.

She had enough on her plate as it was.

Though sometimes, James would pop out of nowhere like a house elf and try his luck once again. But Serena would always shut him down. 

Her main concern was Peter Pettigrew. She knew what he would become, what he would do. She needed to keep an eye on him, to prevent him from betraying his friends. But how? How could she change the future without revealing her secret?

She sighed, leaning back in her chair. It was a lot to think about, a lot to process. But she was Serena Snape. She was strong, determined, and intelligent. She would find a way. She had to.

But for now, Serena had other concerns. The summer break was approaching, and she had much to prepare. For now, she would enjoy these small moments of peace, these moments of friendship with Lucius, and the comfort of being herself, even if it was only for a little while.

~~~

As the stone walls of the castle echoed with the chatter of students and the scuffling of feet, Serena and Lucius found themselves in a quiet corner of the Hogwarts grounds. The lush greenery of the Forbidden Forest served as their backdrop, the occasional bird call providing a soothing soundtrack. Lucius was teaching Serena a unique aspect of their secondary gender - Omegan magic. 

"Focus, Serena," Lucius said, his voice calm yet stern. "The Healing Touch is not just about magic. It's about the intention, the desire to heal. It's about empathy."

He demonstrated, his hand glowing with a soft, warm light. Serena watched, fascinated, as he placed it on a small, injured bird. The creature seemed to lean into his touch, its tiny body relaxing as the light enveloped it. In a matter of seconds, its wing was healed, and it chirped happily before flying away. 

Looking at Lucius with newfound respect, she attempted to replicate the spell, her hand glowing faintly. Lucius watched her, a small smile on his face. 

During their sessions, Serena had come to know this new Lucius better. He was different from the man she remembered, the man who had been so adamant about blood purity and lineage. This Lucius was more open-minded, more accepting. He spoke of his love for Muggle inventions and stories, how they fascinated him with their ingenuity and creativity. 

She remembered asking him about it, about how the others in Slytherin might feel about his views. Lucius had simply shrugged, his icy blue eyes losing none of their intensity. 

"I don't associate with people who believe in such archaic notions," he had said. "I believe in equality. I believe in treating everyone fairly, regardless of their blood status. Though, I don't openly announce that to the whole student body like some Gryffindors." 

He spoke of how he took the half-bloods and Muggle-borns who were sorted into Slytherin under his wing, protecting them from the prejudice they faced within their own house. Despite disapproval from some members of Slytherin, he remained unwavering. He was a Malfoy, after all. The heir to an influential family. They couldn't afford to offend him.

Lucius leaned back against the stone wall, his icy blue eyes reflecting the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. "The most troublesome person in Slytherin, Bellatrix, is graduating this year," he said, a hint of relief in his voice. "She's been a thorn in my side for too long."

Serena nodded, her mind flashing back to her past life. She remembered Bellatrix's wild, unhinged laughter, the way her eyes gleamed with madness. She remembered the terror she had instilled in her victims, the pleasure she took in their suffering. 

"I can imagine," Serena said, her voice soft. "She was...is...a handful."

Lucius chuckled, a rare sound that made Serena's heart flutter. "That's one way to put it," he said. "But with her gone, things should be easier. I can focus on helping the younger ones, the ones who need guidance."

He paused, his gaze distant. "Andromeda, the eldest of the Black sisters, is on my side," he continued. "She was disowned last year for eloping with a Muggle boy from Hufflepuff. I supported her, secretly, away from our parents' knowledge."

Serena's eyes widened. "Andromeda? She eloped with a Muggle?" She pretended to be surprised.

Lucius nodded. "She did. She's happier now, living away from the toxic environment of the Black family."

She said, her voice sincere, "Hogwarts needs more people like you."

Lucius looked at her, surprise flickering in his eyes. Then, he smiled, a genuine, warm smile that made Serena's heart skip a beat.

"Thank you, Serena," he said. "That means a lot to me."

~~~

Serena sat in the dimly lit corner of the Hogwarts library, surrounded by towering shelves filled with ancient, dusty books. The Restricted Section was quiet, the only sound being the soft rustling of pages and the occasional hoot from a distant owl. She was engrossed in a thick, leather-bound book titled 'The Serpent Tongue: A Comprehensive Study of Parseltongue'.

Her fingers traced the intricate illustrations of snakes, her eyes scanning the foreign script. She had found a few books on the subject, but this one was by far the most detailed. It had pronunciation guides, common phrases, even a brief history of the language. Serena was determined to master it, to use it to her advantage. 

She also had a stack of books on Basilisks, their fangs, and the venom they produced. She knew the venom was incredibly potent, capable of killing almost instantly. But it also had other uses, especially in potion-making. She made notes, her quill scratching against the parchment, her mind already formulating plans.

Her goal was clear: she would enter the Chamber of Secrets in her second year, and she would deal with the Basilisk. She would protect the students and prevent the tragedy that she knew was coming. She would preserve and use the venomous fang to destroy Voldemort's hocruxes. But she also knew the risks. She was a great duelist, yes, but she was in a new body, a child's body. She was weaker, slower. She needed to prepare, to train.

She thought about Harry Potter, about how he had managed to kill the Basilisk with the help of Fawkes and the Sword of Gryffindor. But she knew she couldn't rely on the sword. It wouldn't appear for her, not when she was a Slytherin at heart. 

She sighed, closing the book. She needed a backup plan, something to fall back on if her initial plan failed. She thought about the rooster, about how its crow was fatal to the Basilisk. But what if that didn't work? What if she couldn't get to the rooster in time?

She shook her head, pushing the doubts away. She couldn't afford to second-guess herself. She needed to be confident, to be sure. She would practice her dueling, her spells. She would train, get stronger. And she would find a way to deal with the Basilisk, one way or another.

She didn't want to involve Dumbledore, not yet. She wanted to handle this on her own, to prove to herself that she could do it. 

With renewed determination, Serena opened another book, her eyes scanning the pages of a thick, ancient book titled 'The Omegan Legacy: A Study of Notable Omegas in Wizarding History'. She was engrossed in the stories of the famous omegas who had made significant contributions to the wizarding world. 

First, there was Morgana Blackthorn, a renowned omega witch who had revolutionized the field of fertility and healing magic. Serena was fascinated by Morgana's dedication to her craft, her relentless pursuit of knowledge. She made a mental note to look up more of Morgana's work, to learn from her expertise.

Next was Orion Rosier, an omega wizard who had mastered the art of scent manipulation and magical bonding. Serena was intrigued by his ability to wield persuasive and alluring scents, to use them as a tool in diplomacy and negotiation. She wondered if she could learn to do the same, to use her scent to her advantage.

Then there was Aurora Hawthorne, an omega witch with a unique talent for sensory perception and divination. Serena was in awe of Aurora's heightened senses, her ability to perceive and interpret subtle magical energies. She wished she could meet Aurora, to learn from her, to understand how she honed her senses to such a degree.

Finally, there was Seraphina Riversong, an omega enchantress known for her expertise in fertility magic and the creation of powerful magical artifacts. Serena was captivated by Seraphina's creations, by the way she harnessed the essence of omega magic.

She wanted to learn how to do the same, to create her own magical artifacts.

She closed the book, her mind buzzing with ideas. She had a lot to learn, a lot to explore. She had her potions, yes, but she was excited, eager to delve deeper into the world of Omegan magic.

~~~

The Great Hall buzzed with the excited chatter of students, their conversations echoing off the high, enchanted ceiling, which reflected the clear blue sky outside. At the end of the year feast, the air was thick with anticipation, not just for the announcement of the House Cup winner, which was Hufflepuffs, to the surprise of many, but also for the recognition of the year's top students.

Serena Snape, a small figure with long, silky black hair, sat at the Slytherin table, her expression a carefully crafted mask of indifference. Despite her cool exterior, her heart thumped with a secret pride.

'Outstandings' in every class—except for that dreadful business on a broomstick. Flying was a class she could happily forget, if not for the fact that James Potter, irritatingly enough, had been the one to help her scrape an 'Acceptable'.

She remembered being praised and scrutinized about it.

"Wow! I knew you were the best!," Lily beamed, her green eyes sparkling with genuine happiness for her friend.

Evelyn nodded in agreement, her freckled face alight with admiration. "Those grades are incredible! Urgh, us peasants can't even compete." Making the red haired girl snort into her hand.

Serena tried to maintain her usual stoicism, but the corners of her mouth twitched up ever so slightly. "It's just studying," she said in her typically understated manner. I graduated and was even a Professor. Of course it goes without saying. It'd be simply embarrassing if I didn't rank first despite my advantage as a regressor. 

When James Potter somehow got the news, his hazel gaze held a mixture of awe and stars. His admiration for Serena only grew with each of her accomplishments.

Serena could sometimes feel his stare, and it irked her. There was something about James Potter's gaze that was different from the others. It wasn't just the starry-eyed look of an idiot admiring her intelligence; it was as if he saw something in her that others didn't, something he couldn't quite put into words.

The older Slytherins, now regarded her with a calculating interest and would whisper among themselves. They saw potential in her, a future ally in their carefully orchestrated plans. Serena was aware of the political games of her House, and she knew she'd have to navigate them carefully. She understood the intricacies of Slytherin ambition all too well.

…

As the feast continued, Serena allowed herself a moment of contentment, not for the praise or for the academic accolades, but for surviving her first year at Hogwarts once again, this time as Serena Snape. And for all her denials and her resistance, she couldn't shake the feeling that her second journey through Hogwarts might just be as unpredictable and challenging as her first.