Made Decisions

The rest of the ride to castle was done in silence, after Lupin came back and explained what the creature was they sat back and thought about it all. Hermione was at Erik's side trying to get him to at least to stop looking like he was alone.

While Lupin was out and sending a message to the school, Draco decided to walk by and taunt Harry and Erik about what was heard that Harry fainted, Erik didn't turn his head as he didn't want to, the blonde boy continued to talk the Professor made his presence known by clearing his throat. Draco turned and stared at the man before he snickered.

"Is there a problem?"

"Uh… no professor there isn't a problem" With that Draco left with his friends in tow clearly mocking Lupin about his state of shabbiness. Once it was quiet, they arrived at the school in a matter of a couple of hours. Lupin took his leave earlier as he had to be at the dinner before the students. The four made it out of the train in their uniforms the only difference was the vest that Erik was wearing a buttoned vest while the rest of the school was wearing wool pullovers. Due to his chest injuries that where still healing Erik was allowed to wear the buttoned vests.

"Mr. Destler, come with me…" It was the potions master, having turned on a heel his clock bellowed out behind as Erik shook his head and limped off to catch up with his Uncle while the rest of his friends started for the castle. Erik and Severus got into a more personal staff carriage, once seated the older man spoke again.

"How was the trip Erik?"

"It was alright, Dementors showed up about 3-4 hours from the school. We where lucky that Remus was there. If not I don't know Harry and I would of made it out in one piece. Harry was the worst saw his mother's death and James' as well." Erik looked out the carriage window and watched the rain come down against the window.

"I'm thankful that Professor Lupin was there… but…"

"Severus leave it, you shouldn't care that man is a werewolf… I don't anyways it's just the past leave it there. It took four years to beat it out of you in my time, I'm planning to do it in less then a month." With that comment Severus sneered and looked at Erik. Erik turned his head and grinned a little before his face fell serious and he watched as they continued their climb up the to the castle.

Arriving at the castle Erik and Severus where met by Professor Lupin and the Headmaster. After a brief talk the headmaster turned towards Erik and spoke to him about instructions of resorting and what would be said about his appearance. It would be the truth in a way, but there would be no mention of his different time lines, or any other accidents. After that Dumbledore pulled out a case and handed it to Erik.

"My boy, instead of a song by the choir, would you like to play for us?"

"It would be an honor, sir" Taking the case from the Headmaster Erik opened it and saw a violin, looking up at the man he saw a twinkle in the eyes that seemed to shine, for as long as Erik knew the older teacher there was usually something to be said about his ability to know everything. Professor Lupin stood by and only spoke up when Severus turned his attention to the werewolf.

"You helped Harry?"

"Your really his father?"

Both looked at each other before Severus nodded keeping his perpetual sneer on his face while Lupin's eyes shone amber-like gold.

"Would you two stop it? Please both of you shake hands, deal with it after the dinner, now if you don't mind I have to go before I'm late… Headmaster, Professors…" Leaving Erik walked into the castle when he realized that he wasn't fully changed into his uniform, quickly looking around he transfigured his shirt and tie into student's garbs minus the pull over vest that this time line had to wear. Taking a pain relieving potion he set his cane against a wall and looked at the violin in his case; dark stained wood, gothic carvings. Smiling he picked it up and held it, doing a quick check he found that it was in tune. Moving to the Great Hall doors Erik listened as the first years where sorted. Soon the headmaster addressed Erik about entertainment along with a final sorting. Looking around Erik whispered an incantation before he brought his rosined bow to the strings and pulled the first notes out of the song he played during Hallowe'en his second year.

Moving slowly down the center of the tables Erik had to stop a few times to get through a difficult section of the piece but he continued on till the song was done and he stood by the sorting hat. The hall was quiet after the music was complete, a trance was what Erik put them all into; it ended when he lowered the violin and bowed. The great hall erupted in applause but was soon silent again as the Headmaster came up and urged Erik to the stool.

Sitting down Erik closed his eyes as the sorting hat was placed on his head. Soon he was pulled into the hat listening to what it had to say.

"Ahhh you again, if I remember correctly you where sorted 7 years ago young Destler. And I stand by what I said too, there is not reason for you to be here, but as I can tell you are not as you seem" Erik turned around and looked to the hat that was no longer sitting on his head.

"But… then if you know then you know what happened?" Erik looked around and saw that the staff and student body was still and their gaze was on the hat.

"I have no information on what happened, Seeing as you are not a seventh year then I suggest you take back your old title of Gryffindor. Don't look scared this is all in your head." Erik was sucked back into reality as he heard a call.

"GRYIFFINDOR!" The hat shouted. A great roar from the Gryffindor table was heard amongst the applause of each of the other houses, the hat was removed and Dumbledore had that damn twinkle still, he was letting on that he knew more then what was known even to him.

Moving to the Gryffindor tables stiffly as his leg started to hurt again he sad beside Hermione as Dumbledore stood up in front of the student masses again giving out very minor notes including a welcome to Erik and very odd words.

"Spark, Newts, Gobs and Bark" Erik raised an eyebrow and looked on as did the rest of the school before food appeared. As Erik was eating when a large form was hovering over him and his light, when he turned and looked over his shoulder to see who was standing and hovering over him it was Snape, the older man held out Erik's cane while keeping his back to the Slytherin table.

"Impressive Mr. Destler… surely you can do the same thing when it comes to school work…" Under his breath for only Harry and Erik to hear he muttered a soft 'well done Erik' and turned on his heel to go back up and sit at the staff table but not before throwing a dark glare at Professor Lupin. Erik looked to Harry and both grinned knowing that Snape was someone that didn't like his appearance to change in the public.

Once Snape was seated again Erik and Harry raised their goblets, a mug in Erik's case to all at the staff table, but the grins where meant for Snape and Lupin who had to seated next to each other pretending that Snape hated the man and that Lupin was oblivious. But the two teachers caught the grins and offered nods keeping the emotion in the eyes.

After the formal notes that the school would be playing hosts to the Dementors in protecting the students against Sirius Black a notorious mass murderer, soon they where sent to their houses. Erik told the golden three he would meet up with them later, he needed to see someone first. The violin that he had was placed in his case as Hermione took it promising she would care for it. Limping off towards the dungeons Erik was called from behind by someone.

"Ey Destler… how's the leg?"

"Not in the mood Malfoy, you would think that you would of learned your lesson the first time around."

"You really do think you're a big man don't you?"

"Oh I know I'm a big man, bigger then you as comes with not being as blond as a pigs ass" Erik was about to leave when he was cornered by Malfoy and his cronies. Holding up his hands in a mock surrender as Erik looked on, Crabbe and Goyle where huge guys in terms of their girth; pigs on legs came to mind but it was cut short as Erik saw a spell fly out of no where getting him in the chest. He wasn't able to breath after he landed on his back, he was soon kicked hard in places, and his already healing leg was getting a beating, laying on the ground Erik was about to call out and use Incendio when Severus suddenly showed up and not too pleased.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING MR. MALFOY!?" Draco and his two guards stopped kicking the downed Erik to see their head of house fly up on them with his robes bellowing out behind him.

"Sir.."

"Don't sir me, 500 points away for attacking another student… all three of you in your common rooms, if I find your in your dorms in bed I will drag you out and I will expel you where you stand, and I don't care who your father's are." The three boys took off on a run while Snape watched them leave before bending down and rolling Erik onto his back gently and helping him relax a bit before pulling him up and half carrying Erik to his private chambers, once they reached inside Severus kicked the door shut helping Erik settle on the couch before going to get potions along with some salves. Once Severus was back he helped Erik with taking his shirt off before rubbing salve over the bruises that started to develop.

"Erik… what did you do to set Malfoy off?"

"I don't know I was just on my way to see you… ok that's a lie… Malfoy was harassing me about my leg, so I said something about what I did before and him doing something with a pig's ass." Severus looked at Erik and rose and eyebrow holding out a few potions. Erik took them and pulled his shirt on carefully to avoid aggravating his ribs that where cracked and his leg that was damaged.

"I think that you should keep from Malfoy till your leg is fully healed along with the rest of you, I don't want you to get any more injured, you should know that, how many times have I told you over the course of the summer?"

"Yes I know… Scouts honor that I won't try anything else stupid again…" He held up a hand like a promise.

"Good now off you go, you should be fully healed by the end of next week, remember sleep you have classes tomorrow.."

"Yeah, yeah..."

"Hang on I'm going to walk you back, just for the sake of appearances call it curfew break…" Erik rolled his eyes as pulled his vest on and tucked his shirt it, Severus cleaned up and plastered on his dirtiest sneer and lead Erik out of his rooms and out of the dungeons. He was pushed a couple of times to the amusement of the one person in the shadows watching. Once they made it up to the Gryffindor tower Severus stopped Erik and handed the boy his cane and something else.

"These belonged to your mother and father… I thought you might want it" Pulling something out of his robes Severus took Erik's hand a little roughly and dropped something into his palm before closing Erik's hand around it. "My sister left me this in her will… take care of it and don't make me regret giving it to you…" Severus said with a smirk, he turned on his heel and left Erik standing in front of the portrait of the fat lady to go and deal with his own students. Opening his hand Erik saw the wedding rings of his parents on a chain that held a pendent, looking at the pendent he opened it to find that it was a locket holding the pictures of his mum and dad. Smiling he closed it and looked at the rings reading the engravings.

For Eternity Helen & Samuel Destler

Closing his hand around the items he looked to the portrait, "Rakdos Draco" The fat lady nodded and swung open soon Erik was inside and saw Harry and the other two, Hermione got up and ran over hugging Erik tightly, when he let out a groan she pulled back and looked at Erik carefully.

"What happened?"

"Yeah mate… you took off after dinner and have been away for a while"

"I was caught up… in uhhh an altercation…"

"Erik…" Hermione glared at Erik, Harry knew why Erik was away, Ron was up beside Hermione wanting to know. Erik rubbed his side and looked around as his jaw was trying to work on speaking.

"Malfoy cornered me with his two lumps of crap and beat the shit out of me… Professor Snape saw what was happening threatened them, now he's gone to deal with them… what?" Ron looked at Erik like he was mad or something.

"Snape… that greasy git isn't going to do anything about his house, he rarely docks points off if at all. Not to mention that he only got you out because your where injured before school. I mean come on, I saw the way he was at Harry's birthday. He wasn't too happy at all"

"Ron!" Hermione hissed at the boy at her side before looking at Erik with a gentle smile. "Ron doesn't understand some things when it hits him in the face. I'm glad you got helped and I'm sure your uncle was very caring, don't you think Harry?" Harry finally was shocked at being brought into the conversation about his father.

"Uhhh yeah… I mean Snape isn't a cold-hearted bastard you know Ron… besides…. He's…" Harry shut up finally realizing that he was about to tell his two best friends that Snape was his father. Erik looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow much like Snape's.

"You didn't tell them yet?"

"No…."

"Tell them… or I will" With a sigh Harry looked at his two best friends.

"Ron… Hermione. Please don't get mad or anything but I have something that I have to tell you" Hermione had a slight thinking frown on her face as she nodded, Ron was the typical spill it out wanting to know pose.

"Snape's my father…"

"WHAT!?!" Ron yelled, Erik came up and cuffed him in the back of the head, he didn't want anyone waking up and coming down to hear this or else it would spread like wild fire.

"Harry, are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure… After Snape pulled me from the Dursley's there was a letter that was received, it was from my mum. She explained everything and I am indeed Professor Snape's son." Harry looked to the floor with a reddened face. Ron was still trying to understand everything when Hermione posed her next question.

"Then why do you look like James Potter?"

"My mom was a very strong witch when it came to Charms, she charmed me to look exactly like James with hints with her in me. It's too strong and even permanent, Severus is going to try and find a way to reverse it."

Hermione nodded and looked to Erik who had moved away carefully and stood by the fireplace. Erik rubbed his chest a little as Ron and Hermione took it all in.

"If you want, I can get help you out Harry unless you want to continue looking like the way you do."

"Thanks Hermione, if you want you can look around I don't mind."

With that discussion finished the four continued talking, but soon they looked at Erik when he mentioned the time.

"You guys, it's 12:30… We should turn in as it's late and we have classes tomorrow…"

"Yeah… ok night Erik, Harry, Hermione" Ron yawned and got off the couch followed by Harry who waved and mutter night. Erik looked to Hermione and smiled before he was hugged, he returned it and soft said good night watching Hermione head up the stairs to the girl's dorm. Looking around he looked at rings and locket before limping his way up stairs. Changing into black pajama bottoms he climbed into bed, leaning his cane against his night table he shut his lights off, closed his bed curtains and passed out. It was the first night that he didn't have nightmares. And for that he was very thankful.