A Time Of Venom

Okay, wow. That was an amazing reaction to my first chapter. Thank you so much.

*Squeee right back at you Thanks to those that reviewed.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"Has he said anything yet?"

Lily sighed and glanced at her boyfriend who still hadn't moved. "No, nothing yet."

She was honestly beginning to get a bit worried; had he even gone this long without speaking before? She sighed again and thought back on the past hour.

Just as the boy had whispered dad, Dumbledore seemed to realise a child, covered in blood and Merlin knows what else considering the smell of him, had just collapsed on the floor. He hurried over to James and bent to pluck the boy from his arms but James turned his body slightly, using it as a shield.

There was an expression on his face, one that was rarely seen; a sort of feral anger. It looked out of place on the usually jovial Head Boy. Dumbledore hesitated slightly before bending down again to try and pick the boy up, this time much more slowly; like one would with a wild animal.

James threw his head up as though he were trying to head butt the wizened old wizard and snorted.

While Dumbledore just stared at him in confusion, clearly questioning whether he had chosen a crazy Head Boy, Sirius leapt to his feet. He shared worried glances with Peter and Remus. They both recognised the noise James had made. The noise Prongs would make on their moonlight adventures.

Lily didn't know what all the looks between the others were about but they looked guilty. Merlin help them if they had pranked James and somehow caused this. He could hurt someone. He had already tried to head butt the most powerful wizard in England. For Merlin's sake, that was probably more risky to his own life; he was going to get himself injured! She turned slowly in her seat, letting her face turn an angry red before she let out a growl and pounced on one confused Sirius Black.

"Ow! What the hell Lily?!" Sirius raised his arms trying to fend of the enraged Head Girl.

"WHAT. DID. YOU. DO?" With every word she aimed another kick or punch at Sirius. Sirius just spluttered helplessly, unwilling to fight back against his best friend's girlfriend.

"James! Help!" Sirius hurdled the Gryffindor table before leaping onto the Hufflepuff table kicking food and drinks over as he galloped down it. The surrounding Hufflepuffs yelped and ducked away as food sailed towards them. Professor McGonagall strode forwards determined to put an end to the craziness when a plate full of mash potato was kicked her way. "JAMESSSS! Why do you always date the crazy ones?!"

"PARDON?" Lily's shriek of anger seemed to wake James from his stupor. He shook his head as though he could suddenly see clearly again. He watched in befuddlement as his best friend reached the end of the Hufflepuff table before realising his head of house, Professor McGonagall, was standing there, mash potato clumped on her hat.

She raised one unimpressed eyebrow and Sirius took a second to marvel at how she could still look so severe with potato sliding sluggishly down her face.

"SIRIUS!"

Sirius whimpered as Lily caught up with him. He was surrounded. He had nowhere to run. Well, he would go down fighting, like all the greats.

"You'll never take me alive!" Sirius proclaimed dramatically before shifting in to what he thought was an excellent fighting stance.

"What is he doing?" Peter asked in amazement.

"Actually I think this is my fault." Remus smiled slightly, looking sheepish. "I lent him some James Bond movies over the summer. I thought he might enjoy them."

Peter let out an amused snort.

"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore bellowed.

Quiet swept through the room immediately and every student that could sank down on to a bench. Several winced as they sat on something squishy but didn't dare move again.

"You will all go to your Common Rooms to clean up and eat dinner. Prefects show the First years where to go." He paused turning to address his deputy Head and the chief trouble maker as the other students filed out. "Professor McGonagall I will let you come up with a suitable punishment for Mr Black."

As a small vindictive smile passed over McGonagall's face Dumbledore merely raised a stern eyebrow.

"Try not to be too harsh, it is the first day."

McGonagall nodded primly and beckoned Sirius after her.

Finally it was just James and the boy left. Dumbledore turned sharply. "Mr Potter. You will give me the boy right now. He needs medical attention." His tone left no room for arguments.

James nodded meekly. He loosened his hold on the boy unwillingly as Dumbledore scooped him up.

"Go join the others in the Common Room." Dumbledore strode off, determined to get the boy to Madam Pomfrey.

"Wait. Wait Professor, could I – could I come with you?" James sounded nothing like his usual confident self and Dumbledore observed him over his half-moon spectacles.

"No. No I don't think that would be best." He turned and was gone in a sweep of his plum cloak.

James had traipsed slowly to the Common Room where he had taken up a brooding stance in front of the fire. He hadn't moved since.

Lily turned her head to watch Remus and Peter try to coax some conversation out of him. Sirius hadn't returned yet. Presumably he was cleaning the Great Hall, without magic if she knew McGonagall. She wished for the first time that her Head of House wasn't so strict. If Sirius were here then James would have to talk to them; no one could stand up to his relentless badgering for long.

ATOV-ATOV-ATOV

Dumbledore observed the boy sleeping before him. With all the grime washed off he would swear he was staring at a young James Potter. But then he would remember the eyes. The vivid green eyes that expressed emotions without them having to be spoken. He had only ever seen eyes like that on one other person. But it couldn't be, could it?

Harry shifted sleepily. He was so warm and snug. He would have dozed off again if Dumbledore hadn't gently tapped his arm.

Harry smiled, if Dumbledore was there then everything must have been ok. He had had the strangest dream. Maybe it was simply a reaction to the Basilisk venom, a hallucination of what he wanted most. Strange it would try to kill him nicely.

Suddenly he remembered Ron and Ginny and shot forward in the bed causing Madam Pomfrey to cry out in alarm and try to push him back against the pillows.

"Sir! Sir, did you find Ron? And Ginny? Is she ok? How did you get us out? Was It Fawkes?"

Dumbledore blinked at the rapid questions, filing away the information he got from them for later.

"My boy, do slow down. I'm not as young as I use to be." Dumbledore smiled at him in a grandfatherly manner.

Harry just stared back incredulously; couldn't he see how important this was? Were they ok?! It was such a simple question and Dumbledore stalling was making him fear the worst.

Dumbledore merely continued smiling, oblivious of the irritated glares being sent his way. "Why don't you start from the beginning, Mr …?"

Harry frowned. "Sir you know who I am."

Dumbledore kept his smile in place. "I'm afraid I don't. You came charging into the Great Hall in the middle of my welcoming speech and collapsed."

Harry mouthed the words in astonishment. "You mean, that actually happened?"

"Indeed it did."

Harry did a fair impression of a fish as he tried to find the right words to convey what he was thinking. "But…but it can't have. I saw my dad. I swear I saw my dad. But he was all young and alive."

Dumbledore noticed the way he said the word alive almost reverently as though it were something he was not use to his dad being.

"Perhaps if you could tell me what year it is." Dumbledore pushed his fingertips together and observed the expressions that flitted over the boy's face.

"1993."

"Ah. Well there we have it." Dumbledore could have jumped for joy, he loved a good mystery but he loved it even better when he solved them. "You see, it is actually 1977."

"But that's not possible!" Harry paused suddenly realising he didn't know if it was possible or not. "Is it?"

"I've never heard of anyone traveling as far back as you but yes it is indeed possible." Dumbledore smiled slightly at the dumbstruck look on the boy's face. "Perhaps now would be a good time to tell me your name."

"Harry. Harry Potter."

"I figured you must be a Potter. Well, it's very nice to meet you Harry."

Harry smiled brightly before something seemed to dawn on him. "So I did see my dad."

"I take it your father is James Potter, our current Head Boy."

"Yes, yes that's him." Harry couldn't stop his eyes from shining as he thought about him.

"And with eyes like those I don't suppose the lucky lady is Lily Evans by any chance."

"Yeah. Wait. Is she here too?"

"Yes, she is our Head Girl." Dumbledore could almost see the eagerness in the boy to leap up and go and find them. "But before you can even think about seeing them we need to work out how you got here Harry, so we can send you home."

"Yes, Yes but before all of that, I must work out what is wrong with my patient. So if you'll step aside Headmaster." Madam Pomfrey hurried up to the bed with a large needle in hand. She didn't even look fazed by the fact her patient was from the future.

Harry eyed the needle apprehensively. Madam Pomfrey noticed and clicked her teeth.

"No need to worry Mr Potter. I just need an extract of the poison in your system."

"Can't you get it using magic?" Harry asked hopefully; he really didn't like the look of that needle.

Dumbledore gave him an amused smile as Madam Pomfrey huffed. "She tried. It seems the poison is resistant to magic."

Harry watched as she expertly turned his arm so she could see the green veins surrounding his scar. She smiled at him reassuringly.

"This will only hurt a little."

Harry closed his eyes preparing for the pain but instead he heard Madam Pomfrey curse under her breath.

He opened his eyes in confusion to see that the needle had bent. His skin hadn't even been dented. He almost grinned but he could see the irritation in her eyes and decided it would be best for his continued health if he didn't. Especially when she was holding pointy things.

"Mr Potter, perhaps if you would be so kind as to tell us what exactly bit you we could save our dear Madam Pomfrey a lot of trouble." Dumbledore looked at him expectantly.

"Oh, it was a Basilisk." Harry tried to pass it off as casually as he could.

"But that's not possible! You should be dead!" Madam Pomfrey sank into a chair eyeing him with amazement.

Harry fought a smirk as he muttered. "I've heard that before."

Dumbledore stepped forward, his forehead wrinkled in thought. "I thought Basilisk venom killed instantly."

"It does! That's the point. Even Pheonix tears wouldn't work fast enough to save him."

"So how am I alive?" Harry asked hesitantly.

"I don't know!" Madam Pomfrey began to pace with irritation. "Those blasted phoenix tears are messing with my diagnostic spells. All I can tell is that there is something else. Something that is keeping you alive. It's why you lasted so long and gave Fawkes enough time to save you."

Harry frowned unsure of what it could be. And sure that, for the moment, he was probably better off not knowing.

"So the green in his arm, that is Basilisk venom?" Dumbledore tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I've never heard of it being impenetrable before."

"That's because it's not. Must be to do with the phoenix tears…" Madam Pomfrey trailed off thoughtfully. She gasped. "Of course! Oh how could I miss it? OH I am getting slow."

They watched as she ran to her desk and shuffled through some papers. She pulled some out in triumph before reading through them, her eyes skipping across the page.

"I knew it!" She beamed at them. "Time turners. The sand in time turners is actually ground up Basilisk fang. It has long been suspected that it is actually the venom that gives us the ability to time travel. Using the fangs meant we could only travel back a week at most but the venom is the real power. It's why you're here Mr Potter. In fact I would wager that as soon as it is all out of your system you will return to your time."

"That's great news! I can go home." Harry felt relieved but couldn't help the slither of disappointment at not being able to spend some time with his parents.

"Once it is out of your system, yes, but Merlin knows how long that will take. I certainly can't extract it so we will just have to let you naturally get rid of it." Madam Pomfrey nodded absently as she began jotting down all she knew on Basilisk venom.

Harry opened his mouth, questions brimming in his mind when Dumbledore interrupted. "Tomorrow, Harry. Now you should rest and recover. You will certainly need to after battling a Basilisk." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as Madam Pomfrey's head snapped up; she had been so distracted with the problem at hand that she hadn't thought of a twelve year old battling a Basilisk.

Dumbledore smiled as he left the room to Madam Pomfrey beginning her lecture.

"Of all the foolish things to do! Are there not adults in this future of yours, hmm? You could have told someone..."

As he rounded the corner he grinned. Tomorrow was looking good. He was going to enjoy solving the puzzle that was Harry Potter.

Wow okay I got a bit carried away; it wasn't supposed to be this long. Hope you enjoyed it. Just for the record I probably won't update this fast again but I shall do my best to.

Also see if you can guess why James was acting a bit like a crazy person. I dropped some hints so you might have an idea.