Chapter 1

Desmond's eyes fluttered open, and he groaned as a dull ache pounded in his head, like a hangover after a wild night out—only without any of the fun memories to go with it.

For a moment, he thought he'd wake up back in his old, familiar world, with his cramped apartment, messy desk, and that annoying alarm clock that barely worked. But no, he was still here, still in the alien comfort of the Slytherin dormitory, and still staring at a ceiling that was far too medieval and ornate for his taste.

Pushing himself up, Desmond's (or rather, Severus's) limbs felt heavy, awkward, like he was learning how to move for the first time.

He glanced around the room, taking in the dark green curtains, silver accents, and the general ambiance that screamed "pure-blood pride."
It was almost exactly how he had imagined it from the books, but now that he was actually here, the feeling was surreal.

It was strange being in a room like this, with everything immaculately placed—books lined up neatly on the shelves, cauldrons polished and stacked in a corner, and a few potion bottles glowing faintly with unknown concoctions.
For someone who had never seen anything magical in his life, it was both thrilling and terrifying.

"What the hell is going on?" he whispered, his voice hoarse. It was weird to hear the smooth, nasally tone of young Severus Snape instead of his own voice.
He hadn't even had time to properly freak out before he'd passed out earlier, but now the reality of it all hit him like a ton of bricks. This wasn't just a vivid, elaborate dream—this was real, and he was actually stuck in the body of Severus Snape.
The Severus Snape, before he became the sneering, sarcastic Potions Master everyone loved to hate.

Desmond stumbled out of bed and walked over to the mirror, studying the reflection staring back at him.
The boy had lanky, black hair that fell awkwardly around his face, slightly greasy but not as bad as he remembered from the movies.
His skin was pale, and his eyes were dark, sharp, and intelligent, though there was a shadow of insecurity behind them, as if he was always expecting the worst.

"Okay, don't panic," he said to himself, trying to keep his voice steady. "Just... figure out what's happening.
You can't possibly be stuck here forever, right?" But deep down, he had no idea how he'd ended up here or how he was going to get out.
And if this was some kind of bizarre joke, it wasn't funny.

He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind. If he really was in Severus Snape's body, then this was the 1970s, and he was at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
That meant he was surrounded by all the characters he'd read about and admired... or despised.

And he was now one of them.

"Alright, think, Desmond," he muttered, pacing the room. "What do you remember about Snape at this age? He's still a student... fifth year, I think? Sixth year? He hasn't gone full Death Eater yet. He's still... oh crap."

He paused as it hit him. "He's still in love with Lily."

The realization brought a strange mix of emotions. It was like being slapped with nostalgia, pain, and dread all at once.

Severus's love for Lily was tragic, one of the most bittersweet parts of the story, and now he was living it.

He felt a pang of sympathy for the real Severus, the boy who had grown up in a harsh, loveless home and only found solace in a single friendship that eventually shattered.

Desmond shook his head, trying to push those thoughts away. "No, this is insane. I don't know why I'm here, but I need to play it cool. First things first—figure out the basics. Where am I in the timeline? What's happening right now?"

His stomach growled, and he realized he hadn't eaten since... well, since whenever he'd been in his own body.

"Alright, maybe I can think clearer once I get some food," he said, grabbing the Slytherin robes off the chair and slipping them on. They were heavier than he expected, the fabric thick and warm. As he fastened the silver and green tie around his neck, he glanced back at the mirror.

"Well, Severus," he said, flashing a dry, half-smile at his reflection, "guess we're in this together. Let's see if I can avoid screwing up your life more than it already is."