Chapter 2

Desmond's eyes blinked open, and the early morning light trickled through the curtains, casting a dim, silvery glow across the room.

For a moment, he just lay there, processing the tangled mess of memories and emotions now lodged in his head. The merging of his own thoughts with those of young Severus Snape felt overwhelming, like trying to cram two different lives into one mind.

But Desmond, being who he was, didn't allow himself to panic for long.

As he sat up, he rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of everything.
He had always been a logical thinker, someone who could compartmentalize his emotions, but it was still a struggle to reconcile the pain and anger of Severus's life with his own memories of a relatively normal, mundane existence.

Still, if there was one thing he had now, it was perspective. He could see Severus's life not just from the inside, but with the clarity of an outsider.

"Alright, new plan," he muttered, slipping out of bed. "I'm going to use every advantage I have to make this life better. For both of us."

The more he thought about it, the more he realized that Severus had been a victim of his circumstances, trapped between the abuse at home and the torment at school, with no real support system.

It was no wonder he'd gravitated towards the Dark Arts—when the world felt out of control, the promise of power could be intoxicating. But Desmond wasn't Severus.

He didn't carry the same bitterness and insecurities that had led Snape down that dark path. He had a chance to do things differently, and damn it, he was going to take it.

"First things first, though," Desmond said, looking at his reflection in the mirror. "I need to get stronger. Smart and cunning will only get you so far when you're surrounded by people who can blast you to pieces with a flick of a wand."

He decided right then and there: he'd study magic, but not just the Dark Arts. He'd learn everything.

Potions, charms, transfiguration, hexes, dueling—if it was magic, he'd master it. And if that meant hitting the library for hours on end, so be it. After all, he was Severus Snape now, and Snape was nothing if not determined when it came to his studies.

But it wasn't just about power. Desmond had something that Severus didn't—knowledge of the future.

He knew what was coming: the rise of Voldemort, the Death Eaters, the wars, the deaths. And he also knew how it would end for Severus if he didn't change things.

Desmond clenched his fists, feeling a surge of resolve. He wasn't going to let that happen. Not to himself, and not to the people he could save.

"Alright, so let's make a list," he said, grabbing a quill and parchment from the desk.

"Step one: Avoid joining the Death Eaters. That should be easy if I just... don't do it.

Step two: Make allies, but not the kind who'll stab me in the back the first chance they get.

Step three: Learn as much as possible about everything—spells, potions, magical creatures, everything. Step four: Try not to die."

The last one earned a dark chuckle from him, but it was true.

Surviving Hogwarts was going to be a lot harder now that he was aware of all the dangers lurking beneath its enchanted surface.

But he had something no one else did—meta-knowledge of this world and its events. That gave him a fighting chance.

Then there was the issue of Lily. Desmond felt a pang of guilt and sadness whenever he thought about her.

From what he remembered of Severus's life, she had been the brightest spot, the one person who had made him feel like he wasn't completely alone.

Losing her friendship had been a devastating blow, one that had driven Severus further into isolation. But Desmond wasn't going to chase after her. Not like that.

He didn't have the same obsessive attachment that Severus had, and frankly, he thought it was better to move on. If she wanted to be friends, fine, but he wasn't going to grovel at her feet.

He had his own life to fix, and he wasn't going to waste it pining after someone who had chosen to walk away.

Still, he'd have to be careful. Potter and his gang were bullies, but they weren't stupid. They'd pick up on any change in Severus's behavior, and that could make things worse.

Desmond made a mental note to stay under the radar, at least for now. Blend in, keep quiet, and learn as much as he could.

With a sigh, he set the quill down and stretched, feeling a little more energized after getting his thoughts out.

It was time to face the day, and there was no point in delaying it any further. He grabbed his wand, feeling the cool wood against his palm, and headed for the door.

As he walked through the Slytherin common room, a few early risers glanced up at him, but he paid them no mind.

He had bigger things to worry about than the usual sneers and snide comments. He was already planning his next steps, thinking of how he could get his hands on advanced spellbooks, how to make subtle changes to the timeline without drawing too much attention, and how to avoid the pitfalls that had snared Severus the first time around.

Desmond stepped out into the hallway, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Watch out, world," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "There's a new Snape in town, and I'm not going to be your pawn."

As he made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast, the last vestiges of doubt melted away.

He had a plan, and for the first time since waking up in this strange, twisted version of Hogwarts, he felt like he could actually make it work. Sure, it was going to be tough, but that had never stopped him before.

And who knew? Maybe by the end of it all, he really would write that book. "How to Become the Greatest Wizard (Includes Common Sense)." It had a nice ring to it.