Cards on the table

"Creak-"

The silver knife and fork scraped against the plate with a grating sound. The person sitting across from Anna jerked his head up and gripped his utensils tightly, his eyes suddenly becoming utterly vacant.

Clearly, he had used Occlumency, his greatest specialty, to force his emotions under control.

"Please don't be nervous, Professor Snape. You're only eight now, and your magic hasn't stabilized yet. Using Occlumency too much will drain your magic faster and could very well cause a magical outburst.

Besides, I'm not very good at Legilimency, so you don't need to be too wary of me. After all, our experiences are very similar.

You see, by laying my cards on the table, I've also given you something to use against me, haven't I?

Neither North nor your mother is here right now. I think this is the perfect time for us to talk."

Anna showed no sign of panic. She even picked up the ice cream dessert beside her and took a spoonful, a faint, blissful smile appearing on her face.

The ice cream wasn't very sweet and contained an assortment of fruit. It was refreshing and cut through the richness of the meal. She savored it spoonful by spoonful as she waited for his reply.

"Who are you?"

He didn't deny it. Since she had stated the truth, any denial would only make him look more suspicious. Even so, he didn't drop his Occlumency.

"Me?

In this life, I'm Anna Grindelwald. That's a fact no one can change.

As for before, I'm sorry, but a binding contract prevents me from revealing any specific information to you.

What I can tell you, though, is that before I became Anna Grindelwald, I died in the future, several decades from now."

In other words, she came from the future.

"Heh, so you're not just eight years old. I should have realized that sooner.

Even if you are the first Dark Lord's daughter, you couldn't possibly have such mature thoughts and behavior.

Does the man in Nurmengard know about this? Don't tell me you've been pretending to be a little girl in front of him with the soul of a seventy- or eighty-year-old!"

Professor Snape put down his knife and fork, gradually returning to his usual mocking tone.

"I have to say, Professor, it's rather rude of you to say something like that to a lady.

Unfortunately, death took me before I reached adulthood in my previous life. So whether before or now, I really am a little girl."

Wizards came of age at seventeen, and in her previous life, when she had been an ordinary person, she had died before her eighteenth birthday. There was nothing wrong with saying she had been a minor.

Her future self had died before reaching adulthood...

Realizing this, Snape opened his mouth, unable to say anything more sarcastic.

"I've shown you my sincerity. So, Professor Snape, could you tell me exactly when you were reborn?"

Seeing his silent expression, Anna slowly put down her spoon, her expression growing somewhat grave.

"Could it have been after Voldemort killed you in the Shrieking Shack...?"

She had suspected as much, but Anna was unwilling to imagine that outcome.

"It seems you know a great deal about the Second Wizarding War."

Snape frowned. Even now, remembering the feeling of the blood slowly draining from his body sent a chill through him.

"Yes. After what happened at the Shrieking Shack, Harry Potter defeated Voldemort and ultimately won the Second Wizarding War. Voldemort and his Horcruxes disappeared forever.

Some people sacrificed their lives, but Harry Potter survived. The ending I know is that all was well for more than a decade afterward."

"Is that so..."

All was well.

Just as everyone had hoped.

Then, since the curtain had already fallen on the ending, why hadn't he been allowed to enjoy the peace of death? Why had he returned to this world instead?

Everything on the dining table was cleared away, and Anna rose.

"I think we can continue our conversation somewhere else, Mr. Snape."

After she explained the ending from the book in her previous life, the atmosphere between them had eased considerably.

They crossed the meeting hall and went out through another door of the manor, where a huge greenhouse stood before them.

Some areas inside were planted with ordinary or rare herbs, but most held an abundance of beautiful flowers and plants. Thanks to the House-elves' attentive care, the entire greenhouse was full of life.

There was a cleared space in the greenhouse with a round table and several chairs. Luxurious, soft fabric had been made into a tablecloth and chair cushions, making it look very comfortable.

As soon as the two sat down, two steaming cups of black tea appeared on the table.

"So, what else do you want to discuss with me?"

Snape asked. Sunlight, a rare sight in the United Kingdom lately, passed through the greenhouse's translucent glass, making it warm and bright.

"This world is different from the previous one, especially because of my existence. You've noticed that too.

Although the problem of Voldemort and the Death Eaters is difficult to resolve, that isn't the main issue.

The world will undergo enormous changes in the future. Neither the wizarding world nor the Muggle World will escape this great upheaval of fate.

But I don't know exactly when it will happen. For that reason, I need a great deal of strength, and naturally that includes yours.

Of course, you can set your own terms for the deal. I can guarantee the safety of the Prince family, and that includes protecting Lily."

Damn it! Just how much does she know?!

Professor Snape's expression twisted somewhat, especially when she mentioned Lily's name.

Don't tell me that idiot Potter made the whole thing known to everyone after the war!

Noticing the professor's reaction, Anna immediately understood what he was thinking, and the corners of her lips curved up slightly.

"Ahem, as for Lily, I know roughly what happened to almost everyone in the original world. It has to do with one of my abilities.

I can see some things on another line of fate, the one where you lived your previous life, Professor.

But I believe all those tragedies can be prevented. It's just that relying on your strength alone would be asking too much. Wouldn't you agree, Professor?"

She had told a small lie. It wasn't important.

Speaking of Lily's death, Anna couldn't help thinking of the Chosen One's birth.

The course of fate began when Voldemort personally marked out his own mortal enemy. That was the beginning of every story, and the starting point of everyone's fate in Harry Potter's world.

The starting point of fate...

A flash of inspiration crossed her mind, but it quickly vanished.

Anna instinctively felt that flash of inspiration was important, but when she tried to grasp it again, she couldn't find it.

"If you can guarantee what you say, instead of being unable to protect anything like that old bee, then I can consider your proposal."

Suppressing his excess emotions, Snape thought it over seriously for a while. Finally, when the tea before him was no longer steaming, he gave his answer.

"Then sign a contract with me, Professor."