In a house in Godric's Hollow, England, Lily lay in a rocking chair, heavily pregnant. Snape watched over her carefully, occasionally bringing her cut fruit. The coldness on his face was gone, replaced only by love.
As the midday sun shone into the garden, Lily yawned.
"Tired? Go back and rest for a while," Snape said.
Lily nodded. "Okay. What do you want to eat tonight? Harry's coming back—I'll prepare it in advance."
Lily's body stiffened slightly, but she quickly recovered. She smiled. "Anything is fine. Whatever you like. I'm going to take a nap."
Snape nodded. Lily turned and left for her afternoon nap.
After she was gone, Snape's brow furrowed. His entire attention had been on Lily, and he'd noticed that momentary stiffness. Something was amiss.
He checked the time. The Hogwarts Express had arrived on time; Harry should have been home long ago, even taking the Knight Bus. Lily's reaction confirmed his suspicion.
Snape decided to go to Hogwarts to check. He immediately tried to Apparate.
But nothing happened. His body remained in the same spot. With Snape's power, Apparition shouldn't fail. There was only one possibility: this area was sealed. He couldn't use Apparition.
Snape's expression darkened. He hadn't considered someone targeting him. After all, the wizarding world now—while perhaps lacking Erwin's direct authority—should have no one daring to harm him. There were no known enemies left.
But suddenly, he froze. There was an enemy. A guess formed in his mind. Could it be the enemy Erwin had been guarding against?
He hurriedly ran out of the manor. Behind him, by the second-floor window, Lily watched, sighing. She'd tried to keep it from Snape as Erwin had asked, but he was too clever. She could do nothing about it.
Snape rushed out in a panic, not understanding why Erwin was keeping him in the dark. Looking back, over the past year, everyone else had been acting strangely. They were all hiding something.
Yet his mind had been entirely focused on Lily, especially after her pregnancy six months ago. He'd neglected these other matters—something that never normally happened. He'd lost his usual keen senses.
Just as Snape stepped out of the manor, several men in black robes appeared, bearing the Cavendish family insignia tattooed on their chests.
"Professor Snape, halt."
Snape frowned. "Did Erwin send you?"
"Yes. By the master's order, you cannot leave the manor for the time being."
"Why did such an order? Get out of the way, I'm leaving," Snape said.
The men blocked his path. "I'm sorry, Professor. The master's orders are absolute."
"What happened?" Snape demanded.
One of them stepped forward. "Here is a letter the master left for you. He said if you insisted on leaving, you should read this."
He handed over a wax-sealed envelope.
Snape took it and tore it open. He recognized the handwriting instantly—it was Erwin's.
"My dear Godfather, it seems my men couldn't stop you after all! I'm sorry for keeping this from you this time, and the professors are too, but I think you won't blame us! Of course, even if you do, it's too late. After today, everyone might die—possibly including me.
But you can live, Godfather. Lily is pregnant, and you have your own child now. You have the backup plan I left behind. I never lie to you. I kept it from you partly to keep you from danger, and partly to preserve the plan! Perhaps, after everything is over, you will be my only hope for turning the tables. So, even for my sake, don't come. Wait in Godric's Hollow until everything settles down.
Oh, and my dear Godfather, don't forget to give Lily a proper wedding later. If there's an opportunity, I'd be happy to attend!"
—Erwin.
Snape's fist clenched involuntarily, the letter slowly crumpling beneath his knuckles.
The Cavendish family members bowed deeply. "Professor Snape, our Master said that if you wish to leave after reading this, we will not stop you. You may leave as you see fit!"
With that, they dispersed, melting back into the shadows. They weren't simply there to guard him; they were there to give him a choice.
Snape stood motionless for a long time. Finally, he turned and returned to the manor.
He chose to believe Erwin once more. Erwin had called him a backup plan. Although he didn't know what Erwin had in store—or even if Erwin was telling the truth—he dared not gamble.
If Erwin was truthful and Snape truly was the linchpin, leaving rashly would render Erwin's strategy useless.
He had to live.
Upstairs, Lily saw Snape return, a smile blooming on her face as he entered the room.
"You're back!" she said.
Snape nodded, his expression heavy. "Lily… you knew all along?"
Lily sighed softly. "Yes. Rather, everyone knew except you. But Erwin forbade us from telling you. He wanted to protect you."
Snape sat on the sofa, looking defeated. "But I'm his godfather."
Lily sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I know. But Harry went too. If I could, I would have been by Harry's side, fighting with him. Even if it meant dying before him. But I can't. This is the path Harry chose—the path the entire wizarding world shares."
Snape stiffened. "Harry went as well?"
Lily nodded. "Everyone went. All the fourth-years and above from Hogwarts. Almost the entire wizarding world has been mobilized."
"Godric's Hollow is so quiet today," Snape realized aloud. "That explains it."
"That boy, Erwin," Lily said, her voice full of awe, "is the most brilliant person I've ever met. Not just his strength, but his cunning is unparalleled. I believe he's made the best arrangements, which is why I sent Harry to this battle."
Snape looked at Lily, the words of the letter burning in his mind. He didn't dare tell her that many might die on this mission—that it was possible no one would return.
He could do nothing but stay by her side, praying Erwin would secure the final victory.
Snape wrapped an arm around Lily's shoulder, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield in China, Erwin received the report from the Cavendish family members and breathed a genuine sigh of relief.
He had truly been afraid Snape would come; if he had, Erwin would have had no choice but to burn his bridges.
Beside him, Bowen Liu's soul was growing increasingly dim. His soul power was nearing its end, a reaction Erwin had anticipated when the old man left the Kunlun Shrine.
Under the shrine's influence, Bowen Liu had preserved his soul just long enough to witness the outcome—though it seemed even that was a pipe dream now.
Bowen Liu gave Erwin a deep, inscrutable look. He couldn't fathom what Erwin was planning, but as Erwin had said, they had initially used him as a pawn. Now, they would have to bear the backlash of a pawn far more complex than they had imagined.
Bowen Liu's soul slowly dissipated. Erwin and Emperor Zheng Qin showed no reaction; they glanced at each other, then ignored the fading spirit entirely.
Today's protagonist was not him.
The battle between Erwin and Emperor Zheng Qin had never ceased. Both appeared to be standing still, but in reality, their auras—and the dragon forms behind them—were constantly clashing.
Yet they were remarkably coordinated, neither using their full strength. Only they knew the reason why.
On the battlefield, smoke filled the air. Shouts, screams, and the clang of metal on metal resounded endlessly.
The Kunlun Sect Leader and Basil Bai had already exchanged thousands of blows. The Sect Leader's breathing had grown ragged, while Basil Bai's eyes glowed red as he stared at his opponent.
"Not bad. Compared to the Qi Refiners of the past, you seem weaker, but your actual combat strength is surprisingly strong!" Basil Bai remarked.
The Kunlun Sect Leader adjusted his breathing. "Thank you for your praise, General Basil Bai. I am unworthy. But General, with a mortal body, to have honed your physique to this level is something I have never seen before."
Basil Bai flicked his longsword. "Your strength is impressive, but your defeat was inevitable. Look at your men; they don't possess your fortitude. How long can you hold out against the onslaught of my elite warriors?"
The Kunlun Sect Leader surveyed his surroundings. His disciples looked exhausted, their magical reserves severely depleted. While the Qin side wasn't faring much better—countless lives had been lost—the balance was tipping.
Just then, Basil Bai's expression shifted. "Let me add fuel to the fire," he said, "hastening your demise!"
The Kunlun Sect Leader froze. Did Basil Bai have a trump card?
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— MrGrim