Voldemort was dead.
Killed by a baby’s Killing Curse.
If word of it ever got out, not a single wizard in the world would believe it.
Charlie knew, however, that this wasn’t Voldemort’s true end.
Given enough time, he would certainly return.
Assuming history hadn’t strayed too far from its original course…
Fortunately, Voldemort had underestimated him.
Combined with Charlie’s perfectly timed sneak attack, everything had gone smoothly.
Otherwise, who knew what other complications might have arisen?
Charlie lowered the wand.
By now, he had already returned to his human infant form.
His younger brother Harry finally seemed to understand what had happened.
He cried even harder.
Struggling, he crawled toward Lily’s body.
His sobs echoed throughout the room.
Charlie looked at the scene before him.
Helplessness filled his heart.
Then, using the last remnants of his magic, he cast the Soul Preservation Spell he had previously comprehended.
Instantly…
His consciousness seemed to enter an ethereal realm.
Everything around him became calm and crystal clear.
Faintly…
Charlie sensed the presence of his parents.
A tiny strand of light emerged from each of them.
The two streams merged into invisible rays and flew directly into Charlie’s body.
It worked.
Charlie silently breathed a sigh of relief.
He could tell the spell had succeeded.
As for those fragments of his parents’ souls…
He would wait until he grew stronger before seeing if there was any way to restore them.
For now…
This was the best he could do.
Harry continued crying.
Then he looked up at Charlie.
Charlie’s expression remained calm.
On the face of an infant…
It looked strangely out of place.
Oddly enough…
This time Harry wasn’t afraid to meet Charlie’s eyes.
He simply looked at him quietly.
Then he lay back down.
Perhaps he was exhausted from crying.
Or perhaps…
Some instinct deep within him had sensed the sorrow of losing their parents.
Charlie closed his eyes and entered meditation.
Slowly recovering his magical power.
This crisis…
Was finally over.
He had survived.
And he had preserved fragments of his parents’ souls.
I’m exhausted.
At an age when he should have been doing nothing more than acting cute…
He had shouldered burdens no infant ever should.
…
Time quietly passed.
Harry had cried himself to sleep.
Charlie sat nearby with his eyes gently closed.
Suddenly…
The front door burst open.
A man dressed in black hurried inside.
Charlie slowly opened his eyes.
The moment he sensed the newcomer’s magical signature, he knew exactly who it was.
Severus Snape.
His mother Lily’s “good friend.” “My Lily…
my Lily…” “I’m sorry…” “I’m so sorry…” “It’s all my fault!” Snape suddenly collapsed to his knees.
His face was filled with grief.
The blow had shattered him.
He lifted Lily’s lifeless body into his arms.
Then broke down completely.
“I came too late…” “I came too late…” “Why…” “Why did this happen?” “You promised me…” “You promised you would spare her.” “You promised you would protect her.” “So why…” “Why did it end like this?!” Just as I thought…
Charlie sighed inwardly.
Snape was still hopelessly devoted to Lily.
But if not for the constant betrayals and shifting loyalties among their side…
James and Lily might never have met such a tragic end.
“Damn it!” “Damn it!” “Why did this happen?!” “Where’s Voldemort?” “Come out!” “You hurt Lily!” “I’ll make you pay!” “Come out!” He’s completely lost it…
Charlie shook his head.
Uncle Snape…
Shouldn’t you be figuring out what to do with me and my unlucky little brother instead of losing your mind?
Suddenly…
Snape’s expression turned cold.
His gaze slowly settled on Harry lying beside Lily.
Looking into Harry’s eyes…
Eyes identical to Lily’s.
Yet set in a face that looked remarkably like James’s.
“It’s you…” “If it weren’t for you…” “Lily wouldn’t have died.” “She’d still be alive…” “It’s all because of you…” “You…” Snape’s voice grew darker.
His face became increasingly grim.
Hearing those words, Charlie fixed his own gaze on Snape.
His chubby little hand quietly reached for the wand.
Seriously?
Come on, Uncle Snape…
You’re taking this way too far.
You’ve completely lost yourself.
Don’t take your anger out on my little brother.
If you’ve got a problem, take it out on me…
…Actually, never mind.
So you’re really going to blame everything on Harry.
Snape grabbed Harry by his clothes.
Then lifted him into the air.
“Waaah!” Harry burst into frightened tears.
Snape’s gloomy, emotionless face was genuinely terrifying.
Snape quietly murmured an incantation.
He seemed completely consumed by madness.
Driven insane by love?
Charlie couldn’t sit still any longer.
He immediately grabbed the wand.
A pure blast of magical power shot out.
It slammed directly into Snape.
The impact forced Snape back several steps.
Harry slipped from his grasp.
He landed hard on the floor.
The fall hurt.
His crying immediately became even louder.
“Who?” The sudden attack seemed to snap Snape back to reality.
The crazed look gradually disappeared from his face.
He stared blankly at his own hands.
Regret flooded his heart.
What…
was I doing just now?
Why was I venting my anger on a baby?
I was the one who arrived too late.
I was the one who failed to protect Lily.
And yet…
I blamed her child.
Lily’s child.
A child with Lily’s very eyes.
Thinking of that…
Snape was overwhelmed with remorse.
Then he suddenly remembered something.
His eyes immediately turned toward Charlie.
That cold gaze seemed intent on seeing straight through him.
Charlie’s chubby little face twitched.
After considerable effort, he managed to squeeze out what he hoped was a friendly smile.
Unfortunately…
It didn’t seem particularly friendly from Snape’s perspective.
Instead…
It looked as though one of Lily’s sons was mocking him.
It was him.
He was the one who attacked me with magic.
Had Snape not witnessed it himself…
He would never have believed anyone who told him such a story.
A baby…
Had picked up a wand.
Attacked him.
And possessed enough magical power to knock him backward.
Still…
Without that attack…
He might never have regained his senses.
He had nearly committed an unforgivable mistake.
Lily’s child…
Was far from ordinary.
With that thought in mind…
Snape slowly walked toward Charlie.