Going Back to Change the Future

"I can't believe that this is the best idea you could come up with."

"At least I had an idea, Potter. I don't see you dishing out any," Severus spat at Harry as each crouched near Grimmauld Place, waiting for Sirius to leave the house.

"We've been sitting here for two days. Do you honestly think he will come out any time in the century?"

"Patience, Potter least you blow our cover."

"It's not like were actually hiding. Where crouched in the middle of the park in a bush, seems more like a peeping tom."

"A peeping what," Snape asked with his eyebrow arched.

"…A peeping tom, muggle expression."

"Refrain from using those, if you please."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"My legs are starting to hurt. How can you crouch like this and be alright with it. My legs are killing me."

"It's called stealth Potter, do find some.

Harry's retort was cut off when the front door to Grimmauld place opened and out stepped Sirius Black.

"Finally," Harry whispered and watches as Sirius walked to an apperation point and disappeared.

"Come on, there is no telling how long we have before the mutt comes back."

Harry was going to say that Sirius was not a mutt but decided that talking to Kreacher was more important. Snape excited the bush first. He looked around to make sure the coast was absolutely clear before rising to his feet and beckoning to Harry. Harry walked from the bush standing tall, though he did have twigs poking out of his hair. Severus snorted and shook his head, leading the way to the front of Grimmauld Place.

"You don't suppose that he has traps up do you?"

"No, Black is not that smart."

Harry bit back a retort.

"Come on, let's get this over with," he said instead.

Harry and Severus walked up to the door. Harry tested it to find it locked, he looked to Snape and Severus raised an eyebrow at him questioningly.

"It's locked."

"So open it."

"How the bloody hell am I supposed to do that?"

"You are a wizard aren't you? Use your wand you daft boy."

Harry turned crimson and pulled out his wand he pointed it at the lock and whispered,

"Alohomora…"

The lock clicked and Harry twisted the door handle. It gave way without a struggle and both men stepped into the house. Harry was tense as he remember the figure of Dumbledore, ghastly and pale rushing toward him and his friends only to relax a minute later when he remembered that Severus stated that Black Manor was not an order hideout. Snape shut the door as softly as he could behind him and both made their deeper way into the manor. Harry had an idea of where Kreacher was, but he wasn't sure how the evil old house elf would react. Taking a shaky breath, Harry led Severus to where the old elf resided. When he came to the kitchen and spotted and empty ratty bed with no house elf on it, Harry swore.

"He must be tending to the house. Bugger, the way he works we will never find him."

"Well we have come this far, I suggest we split up and look for him."

Harry made a protest of how it was not a good idea to split up in unfamiliar territory but Severus, whose patience was worn thin, snapped:

"Do you want to find the thing or not?"

Harry mumbled profanities under his breath but gave a short curt nod and walked in the opposite direction Severus pointed. Severus sighed and shook his head, going in the direction he pointed. Harry reached the landing of the stairs and braised himself for the screech of Walburga Black's portrait. The screech didn't come immediately when Harry hit the middle of the stairs so he relaxed and ascended, only to nearly jump out his skin when the screech cut through the air. Harry pulled out his wand and aimed it at the spot the portrait hung in his time only to freeze when the portrait of a male held his gaze.

"Petrificus Totalus."

The spell came out of nowhere and hit Harry right in the back. The man in the portrait gave a cackle. Harry cursed himself for letting his guard down. He was swearing so much he ran out of profanities, as he berated himself over and over. When the creaking of stairs caught his attention, Harry stopped berating himself and focused on the voice that was sneering at him.

"Wow isn't this a surprise, a thief trying to steal from the Noble House of Black. Tsk, tsk, and I though people were smart. "

A woman's face came into focus over him and smiled evilly at him.

"…and who might you be? You are far too young to be breaking and entering. Oh," she laughed as if someone told some great joke, "But you can't answer me can you. You are frozen, yes?"

Harry recognized the woman immediately. She was Sirius' mother, the screeching woman in the portrait in his time. Damn, he had forgotten to ask if she was alive. He damned himself again and wondered if Snape high tailed it out of the house.

"What oh what should I do with you," Walburga Black cackled as she aimed her wand at Harry, "I shall not call the Aurors, they are dunderheads in their own right, and the ministry is just as well. Shall I torture him, or shall I kill him Orion dear."

"You could always break his nimble fingers, love; the nerve of him touching our things with his filthy hands," the portrait, Orion Black, said in a deep sinister voice.

"Break his fingers, excellent dear excellent, than he shall think twice about having come here."

Harry would have gulped had he not been petrified. He was never happier to hear Snape's voice then he was in the moment Walburga stooped down and flicked her wand at him.

"Stupify!"

The red jet of light soared through the air and hit Walburga in the side. She crumpled to the floor without as much as a streak. Severus ran over to Harry.

"…Stupid boy that is why I warned you to use stealth; Finite…!"

Harry joints and muscles unlocked and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Come, idiot child and find that insufferable elf."

They didn't have to look far. Kreacher was standing at the top of the stairs. He gave a cry of outrage when he saw his mistress lying in an unconscious heap at the bottom of the stairs. He took one look at Severus and sneered.

"Filthy half-blood…"

He never got to finish his sentence as Petrificus Totalus was aimed his way. Not expecting it the elf took the spell to the chest and went down without a fight. Harry walked over to the old elf and crouched down near him.

"Kreacher, I am here for that locket Regulus gave you. I know how to destroy it. I need you to tell me where it is, alright? F…"

"…Incarcerous."

Thick ropes shot out of Severus' wand and entangled the house elf binding his hands to his sides' palms down.

"Idiot child, how dumb do you take a house elf to be? The moment you would have released him you would have been dead. It's no wonder you failed to defeat the dark lord; Finite."

"You filthy half-blood; you shall get nothing from Kreacher! Mistress! Mistress…!"

Severus flicked his wrist and a stinging jinx hit Kreacher. The house elf whimpered but did not stop shouting for his Mistress.

"Kreacher, that locket you hold is dark and dangerous, Regulus asked you to destroy it didn't he? But you tried and tried and you couldn't. I know how to destroy it, you must give it to me or your master's death would have been for nothing."

Severus raised a curious eyebrow and wondered how if harry was right. The house elf stopped its screeching and stared at Harry for a moment. Harry wasn't sure what the house elf would say or do so he sat back on his legs and waited. Kreacher seemed to be contemplating the truth in Harry's words before he started to fidget. Neither Snape nor Harry noticed him work one arm free and reacted when the ropes fell to his lips. Kreacher snapped his figures and the locket fell into his hands. Harry froze and stared, hoping that the elf would just hand it over but Kreacher took one look at his unconscious mistress and darted away from the stairs. Both Harry and Severus swore and gave chase.

"I take it that item is what we have come here for?"

"Yes, it's the locket. It's a Horcrux and if Kreacher opens it now I have no way of destroying it."

"What so why did you tell that bloody elf that you knew how to destroy the bloody thing."

Harry would have laughed if the situation was not dire.

"I do know how to destroy it. I just haven't got anything on me at the moment to destroy it."

Both raced after the house elf, Kreacher stopped at a dead end. Harry was going to gloat before he remembered the Kreacher was an elf. He pulled out his wand and cried…

"Stupify!"

Kreacher dogged the spell, but must have forgotten about Severus because the Stupify spell hit him. He, like his mistress, crumpled to the ground. The locket flew in the air and landed at Harry's feet. He picked it with a sigh of relief. His relief was short lived when a cry of…

"Mother," sounded from the stair.

Harry cursed. Can you apperate in here?"

"I will try. Where is it you want to meet?"

Harry blushed.

"I was hoping that I could side long with you."

"You can't apperate on your own?"

Harry shook his head.

"Isn't that typical of a Potter too arrogant to learn something simple…"

"Excuse me for never having time. Is it arrogant to fight for my life instead of learning something simple as apperation, or…? "

Footsteps rapidly approaching them cut Harry off and the panic returned.

"Hold onto my arm!"

"Where are we going," Harry asked as he grabbed onto Severus arm.

"To my home," Severus replied just before he apperated.

Severus and Harry appeared in the alley near Spinner's End. Harry stumbled and shot Severus a glare for good measure, just in case he decided he wanted to comment on it. Severus paid Harry no attention instead choosing to walk up to his house. Harry trudged quietly along, taking in the sight of the house on Spinner's End. It was a small home, but it seemed to suit the potions professor. Severus walked through and then adjusted the wards so that harry could get through. Once that was done he made his way inside, Harry on his heel. Severus reached his living room and sank into a sofa with a soft sigh. Harry eyed him but said nothing as he sank into a chair of his own. He was glad that he got the locket before Fletcher could think of ransacking the house. A sigh of relief at how swiftly it had gone left Harry mouth. He didn't think that Mrs. Black would still be alive but he was glad that he got what he wanted without any casualties, and he was glad that Sirius didn't catch him.

"Potter, now that we have acquired the locket what is next?"

"Well, we still have 5 more Horcruxes to find. We already have Slytherin's locket, now we need Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, The Diary of Tom Riddle, Ravenclaw's Diadem, Hufflepuff's Cup, and Nagini."

A slender eyebrow rose and Severus waited, but when no Harry said nothing else he voice his concern.

"And where are these Items located?"

"I think that Tom Riddle's diary might be in Malfoy Manor; Ravenclaw's Diadem is at Hogwarts; Hufflepuff's cup is in the Lestrange volt at Gringotts; Gaunt's Ring is someplace called Gaunt Shack, and I am sure you know where Nagini is."

"Yes, I am well aware where that creature is."

"Voldemort has already destroyed one, but I have a fear that it still exists in this time."

"Really, and what unfortunate object might be so unfortunate to be tainted by the Dark Lord?"

Harry heaved an exasperated sigh before he got to his feet and walked to a near-by window.

"I am that unfortunate object."

Snape started, but said nothing as he watched the young man touch the pane of his window.

"When I was little, I was hit with the curse after my mom tried to protect me. He love protected me; it was the ultimate sacrifice. I wish she hadn't done that. I wish she would have let me die…"

Harry trailed off and Severus still stayed quiet.

"I wish she had let Voldemort kill me, and them I hate myself for trying to take the easy way out. All those people who would have been dead or enslaved because I wasn't around to help them… Then again enslavement would be better; at least they would be alive."

Harry took a deep breath and shattered the tense atmosphere. He turned to Severus his eyes cold and distant.

"Can I use your shower, I feel like I haven't bathed in days."

"That is because you have not. The washroom is on the second floor third door to your right, and do tidy after yourself."

Harry nodded, stopping a wise remark as he headed out. When he was gone Severus slumped in his chair and thought for a moment. From what the boy was saying, it sounded as if he thought he was some sort of tool, to be used as others saw fit, but from spending months with the boy; Severus knew there was much more to Harry than that. Maybe he could show the young man that there was much more to him than met the eye. After all, Harry was attractive, he was known to show some intelligence on occasion, and he had the brightest smile you could ever see when he actually smiled that is. Severus didn't realize until now that Harry did not smile much, but Severus couldn't really blame him. He was sure that had he thought he killed everyone he loved because he wasn't skilled enough he would not smile either, not that he did that anyway. Yes, Harry would be a challenge because of the emotional trauma he has been through, but Severus liked a challenge. He also liked Potter's… no Harry's company, and he would try to be less snarky for the young man. With that resolution in mind, Severus stood and walked from the room. He too had been out scouring that necklace and he wanted a shower as well.

Severus was sleeping peacefully when a loud cry ripped him from his dreamless sleep. He shot up in his bed, wand drawn. He was disoriented for a moment trying to figure out where he was when another shrill cry sounded from outside his bedroom. It took a few more minutes for him to realize that what he heard was Harry and when he came to that realization he shot to his feet and raced through his bedroom door. A whimper was heard instead of the shill cry of moments ago and Severus wondered if someone had somehow gotten through the wards. He crept slowly toward the living room, where Harry laid on the couch. When he approached, he found nothing amidst, just a young man tossing and turning in his sleep muttering…

"No, Professor, Don't drink the potion, let me, sir; let me, please! Hermione move! No! Hermione… Ron…"

A scream of agony interrupted his pleading and Severus stared at the young man in complete and utter shock. He had no idea who Hermione or Ron were; he didn't even have a clue as to what 'Professor' Harry could have possibly been talking about. All he knew was that the young man before him was in agony and he acted before he could thing about it. He reached over and shook the boy. At first nothing happened so Severus shook harder only to go completely stiff and Harry sprung up from the couch. Harry had managed to get behind him and his wand was just under Severus' neck like a knife ready to taste blood. Severus dared not breathe, though the human body can rarely help it and so he took a shaky breath: one he would never admit even to polite company, and said…

"Potter," his words were cut off as Harry tightened his hold on Severus.

"Harry," Severus said in a gentler tone, "Wake up it is I, Severus."

Again Harry tightened his hold so much Severus was wheezing for breath. Severus managed a shallow breath before leaning back into Harry in a bold move. Harry stiffened, and then reality came rushing back for him and his surrounding were beginning to clear. He no longer saw Draco Malfoy holding the headmaster at wand point, instead what he saw had him jumping back a few feet and releasing his hold on nearly suffocating Severus. When Harry stepped back, Severus slumped a bit onto the back of the couch and wheezing and shuddering as his lungs took in much needed air.

"P-Professor; What… Where…?"

"You have not nor ever will call me professor, Potter," Severus spat though his voice was still raspy.

"Well, that sure isn't true," Harry mumbled under his breath.

He cautiously walked over to Severus and laid his hand on his back. Severus stiffened a bit before he relaxed and took one last shuddering breath and composed himself.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes Potter, I am perfectly fine. I shall want to know how you managed to get behind me and have me in a choke hold before I had a chance to open my eyes. I never knew blinking could be so deadly."

Harry seemed confused for a moment before the reality of what he did seemed to hit him and he stared at Severus with wide eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, Severus. I didn't mean to frighten you."

Severus noted the slight tremble in his body before she stopped in abruptly and glare at Harry.

"I was not scared, Potter, merely startled, now, answer my question."

Harry sighed, "It was something you taught me or will teach me. Dumbledore had us training together for a long while before everyone…"

Severus eyed the boy, noting that his fists were clenched since he had realized what he had been doing, and Severus wondered when he had realized that in the first place.

"Do you always have nightmares, Potter?"

Harry locked his emerald orbs with Severus' onyx eyes wide.

"How did you know that? I always put a silencing spell around myself at night so that I don't…"

He cut himself off when he realized that he had been too tired yesterday to put up the spell.

"I'm sorry I woke you, you can go back to bed. I'm sorry that I attacked you too."

"POTTER…!"

Harry jumped a bit, but looked Severus straight in the eye.

"I have had nightmares every night since I got here. "

"Why didn't you tell me, I have a few vials of Dreamless Sleep handy...?"

"I don't like to take potions to go to sleep. I attract trouble most of the time and I would hate to be attacked in my sleep."

"I think you are paranoid, Potter. No one in this time knows who you are so you have nothing to fear."

"It's a habit, one you taught me with a promise that I would never let it go… Never let my guard down."

Surprised eyebrows shot up, and stared in awe. That was indeed a habit he had picked up upon becoming a death eater.

"I've grown used to it, though I guess sometimes it gets the better of me and I wind up in a state in which I attack people, though this is the first time it has happened; that I am aware of anyway."

Severus shook his head at his future self's stupidity. Why would he teach anyone to be as sullen as he is?

"Really Severus you can go back to bed. I can handle it, and I won't be going back to sleep. There is no need for both of us to stay awake all night."

Severus seemed to contemplate for a moment before deciding that this would be the perfect opportunity to start showing Harry that there was more to him than met the eye. He sat on the armchair before gesturing for Harry to sit on the couch. Harry gave him a strange look, but took the seat anyway. He sighed as the softness cushioned his tense muscles and made him relax a bit. He couldn't get past the fact that this Severus seemed to like him, well more than his future-self did and that in it-self had meaning to Harry. It was quiet for a long while before Harry finally asked.

"Hey, Severus can I ask you something… personal?"

"Ask and I will judge whether or not I wish to answer. "

"Why does my mom hate you so much?"

Severus stiffened, but sighed.

"It is because she is upset that I took the Dark Mark, She is upset that I joined in the killings of many for the Dark Lord's cause, because at the time that is what I believed: that it was for a good cause, and she is mad at me because I called her something I should not have, something dirty: vile."

"…A mudblood?"

Severus' head shot up in surprise.

"I know that you called her that, I just wanted to hear it from your mouth," Harry said honestly.

Severus nodded, "Yes I called her a mudblood."

"…But why?"

"…Because I was ordered too; by my father. He was angry that I befriended Lily, so he ordered me to destroy my friendship in any way possible. He made me write a letter; telling her that I didn't want to be friends anymore, and when that didn't work he told me that I had better call her a mudblood: the best way to get rid of dirty blood, he had said."

"You never wanted your friendship to end, did you?"

Severus shook his head in the negative, and then he stood abruptly.

"Well, now that I see you have calmed a bit, I shall retire. We are going for the diary tomorrow aren't we?"

Harry nodded.

"Then I shall see you in the morning, Harry, get some sleep as well, or I will force a Dreamless Sleep down our throat."

Harry gave a dry chuckle and Severus turned on his heal to walk upstairs.

"Goodnight Severus," Harry said quietly but loud enough for Snape to hear.

"Goodnight," Severus muttered as he disappeared behind the wall dividing the living room from the stairs.

Harry lay back on the couch; sure that Severus was likely to follow through on his threat. He was so sure that he would not fall asleep, that he never knew it when his eyes fluttered shut and he had a restful sleep: with no nightmare plaguing him.

To be continued

AN: Well another chapter here and gone. I hope you all enjoyed it. I am celebrating an awesome grade on my English, though I'd be happy if they taught a language class. You know, one that shows how to emphasize things to make it fit with the character: like Hagrid and his thick British accent. (I'm pretty sure that was what language arts were for, but since I never once had that class… Anyway, I hope you all review, and since I am out for the semester I shall try to update quicker. Please look forward to the venture in Malfoy Manor, and I'm sorry if some of the facts are not consistent, I make some of it up as I go. Could you look over the Horcruxes though? I think they are the correct ones but I'm not sure, and I've been through so many sights each telling me something different. No biggy though, I can work with what I have. ^_^ Don't forget to review. :D