The research had made a breakthrough—

But it had also hit a wall.

Snape looked increasingly exhausted.

Developing a cure for lycanthropy was far from easy. The concepts ofbeastialityandhumanitywere toosubjective. No matter how much he adjusted the formula, the effects remained the same as their earliest findings.

And that wasn't the only thing giving him a headache.

Voldemort was not an easy man to deal with. He wassharp.

Especially now that he actually had afunctioning brain—though Harry often joked that Voldemort's intellect was onlyslightlybetter than Crookshanks'.

Truth be told—

Voldemortwasas troublesome as Crookshanks.

Cunning, insidious, and unpredictable.

He constantly tested those around him—

Sometimes in ways so subtle that even Snape failed to notice untilafterthe fact, breaking into a cold sweat upon realization.

Fortunately, he had always been critical of both Potter and Dumbledore, never showing a hint of weakness.

But it meant he had to stay on constant high alert—

Not just around Voldemort, but around Bellatrix and the rest as well.

Then came the final day of the Christmas holiday.

The very last day of the year.

It was alsoTom Riddle'sbirthday.

Malfoy Manor had been completely redecorated, adorned with lanterns and festive decorations.

Snape arrived and found himself momentarily stunned by the transformed courtyard—the newly planted shrubs, the Death Eaters bustling about, setting up the finishing touches.

Was this...

Abirthday celebration?

Snape vividly remembered Voldemort's birthday.

But the idea wasabsurd.

Voldemortdespisedthe nameTom Riddle. He wouldn't even acknowledge his birth name—why would he ever acknowledge thedateassociated with it?

At least, ever since Snape had joined the Death Eaters, Voldemort hadnevercelebrated a birthday.

Of course—

It was possible that the Dark Lord, fresh out of Hogwartsthree years prior, still had such trivial indulgences.

Snape pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The Dark Lord was clad in a brand-new robe.

His severed right hand had been replaced—

With a new arm, gleaming like liquid mercury.

"My dear Severus, you've finally arrived."

Voldemort approached, spreading his arms, embracing Snape.

"Tonight, you are one of themain characters."

Main character?

That was akeyphrase.

Snape kept his expression neutral, pulling back from the embrace and bowing.

"My Lord, yourgraceis thehonorof all your servants."

"But..."

He lifted his head slightly, feigning confusion.

"What have I done to deserve the privilege of being amain characterbefore you?"

Voldemort seemed pleased with his attitude.

"No, my dear Severus—allof my dear friends may become themain charactersof the evening. You are no exception."

"As forwhy..."

"You shall soon see."

"Go freshen up. Tonight is a nightworth remembering."

Voldemort's voice carried an underlying meaning as his gaze lingered on Snape's perpetually greasy hair.

Snape kept his face blank as he walked toward the washroom.

Once, he had believedPotterwas the mostinsufferableperson alive.

Now, the Dark Lord hadtiedhim for that position.

What is it with these people?

Why are they all obsessed with making me wash my hair?

Is washing hair supposed to be fun? Long hair is a nightmare to clean.

By the time Snape returned—now lookingslightlymore formal, his hair at least free of grease—the decorations in the grand hall had been fully completed.

Voldemort beckoned him over.

"My dear Severus, come—tonight, youshallstand by my side."

Snape nodded and stepped forward.

And then—

The doors to the hallburstopen.

A man stormed in, his expression cold and resolute, brandishing his wand.

"Dark Lord! And youfilthyDeath Eaters—yourreign ends tonight! Surrenderimmediately!"

Pius Thicknesse.

His goat-like beard glistened under the candlelight, radiating an air of unwavering righteousness.

Snape's instincts kicked in.

Heimmediatelydrew his wand and pointed it at the intruder, eyes sharp and ruthless.

Damn it.

What was happening?

Had the Ministry discovered the Death Eaters' location?

And they actedwithoutinforming the Order?

Without Dumbledore—without Potter—there wasno waythe Ministry's ragtag bunch of halfwits could handle the Death Eaters.

Forget about the Dark Lord.

Forget abouthimself.

EvenBellatrix and Barty Jr.alone could wipe out the entire Ministry.

"Severus, no need to be so tense."

Just as Snape hesitated between usingSectumsempraorCruciatusto deal with the intruder—

Voldemort waved his hand dismissively, his tone lighthearted.

"Lower your wand."

Snape hesitated—

But obeyed, lowering his wand.

At that moment—

Therighteousaura surrounding Thicknesse vanished.

He hunched his shoulders, stepped forward, and addressed Voldemort in a tone dripping withsycophantic devotion:

"My Lord, how was myperformance?"

"You certainlylookedthe part of a Ministry official."

Voldemort clapped his hands,praisinghim.

Snape's eyesnarrowedin shock.

Voldemort caught the reaction. With a casual wave, heclarified—

"Severus, you seemsurprised."

Snape nodded. "Dumbledoretrustshim."

"I never suspected he was—"

"Was he always one of ours?"

Voldemort shook his head. "Always?"

"No, no—he is anewfriend. Hewasour enemy, but my dear godson—who isquitetalented—convinced him tosee the light."

Thicknesse puffed out his chest, half exasperated, half proud.

"It is ourLord'sgift that made meMinister," he admitted.

"This is a position I havealwaysdesired butneverobtained. Now, myeverythingbelongs toourLord."

Snapeunderstoodnow.

Thicknesse hadnotjoined willingly.

He hadboarded a sinking shipand now had no way off.

Voldemort smiled, taking Snape's and Thicknesse's hands, leading them to the center of the hall.

"Now, ourtwomain characters are here."

He released them, taking a few steps forward before turning back.

"Severus Snape."

He spoke Snape's name.

Snape knelt before him.

"I recognize your loyalty, and I acknowledge your service."

Voldemort placed a hand on his head.

"Few remained devoted after myfall. My dear godson was one—youwere another."

"And for that, you lost anarm."

"So—I shallrestoreit."

"A Potions Mastercannothave only one hand."

With a wave of his wand, liquid silver surged forth—

In the center of the hall, it coalesced into amassiveDark Mark.

"Youlostyour honor—so I shall grant you aneven greaterone."

As the words fell—

The serpent slithered forth from the skull—

Andbitinto the stump of Snape's left arm.

Snape's face paled, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.

Slowly—

The mercury formedbone, thenveins, thenmuscle, thenskin.

Minutes passed—

And Snape had anewarm, identical to Voldemort's.

Bellatrix looked at him withundisguisedenvy.

"Severus."

Voldemort withdrew his hand from Snape's head.

"You areexceptional. Iexpectyou to become one of my greatest assets—alongside my dear godson."

"This is myhonor, mypurpose," Snape responded.

Voldemort's lips curled into a smile. His gaze shifted—

"Pius Thicknesse."

The Minister knelt.

Voldemort placed a hand on his head.

"Let us giveHogwartsasurprise."

Voldemort's fingers rested lightly on Thicknesse's head.

"I understand," he said softly, "that you may harbor some grievances. My godson's method ofconvincingyou to become a Death Eater may not have been the most...honorable."

"N-No, my great—" Thicknesse stammered, alarmed.

Voldemort silenced him with a mere tap of his fingertip.

"Let me finish," he said smoothly.

"But I will make yourealize—being a Death Eater isan honor. Becoming Minister of Magic is merely thebeginningof your rewards."

"Britain alone isnot enoughto satisfy me."

"But..."

"In Britain, I still havetwogreatest obstacles—Potter and Dumbledore."

"Pius," Voldemort continued, his tone almostgentle, "I require yourassistance."

He paused deliberately.

"Your position is...unique. Meanwhile, Potter and Dumbledorecontrolthe public perception of the British wizarding world."

"Me—thegreatLord Voldemort—and all of you, myloyalDeath Eaters—we are slandered by them."

"Theybrandusas evil, even thoughwefight for thetruefuture of wizardkind."

Voldemort let out a soft sigh.

"So, much as Iloatheit, Pius... I cannot grant you the Dark Mark."

Thicknesse did not react.

He showed no emotion.

But inside, he quietly exhaled in relief.

"However, Pius—yourdutyis heavier than most."

Voldemort's voice grew lighter, filled with amusement.

"Let us prepare a littlesurprisefor Hogwarts."

"The Ministry is supposed to standagainstthe Death Eaters, yes?"

"Then let itfullyassume that role."

"In order to protect thebelovedSavior of the wizarding world, the Ministrymusttake control oversomeaspects of Hogwarts."

"And as forBlack..."

Voldemort smirked.

"TheBlack family hasalwaysbeen my allies. My most devoted followers."

"Pius, I trust you understand what I mean?"

"Of course," Thicknesse nodded quickly, bowing even lower. "My Lord, I willofficiallyissue awarrantfor thattraitorousDeath Eater,Sirius Black!"

Voldemort nodded approvingly.

"Good.Verygood."

Snape held his breath.

Now heunderstood.

Why Voldemort was soconfidentin him.

Why the Dark Lord spoke of these matters so openly in front of him.

He hadcalculatedeverything.

Dumbledore's weakness was theMinistry.

Order. Authority.

The old man wouldn't care whether Snape was a traitor or not—because in the end, itwouldn't matter.

This wasn'tDeath Eatersmaking these moves—

It wasthe Ministry.

And as for Thicknesse—Snape was theonlyone who knew he was truly a Death Eater.

But without the Dark Mark—what proof was there?

Damn it.

He suddenly feltfrustrated.

Once again,everythingwould fall onto Potter's shoulders.

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com