Errrr…..soooo, the winning thing got postponed. Apparently I have issues when it comes to doing things that I say I will. But then I have priorities that come before writing a silly story such as this. So do forgive me for never following through on getting chapters out in a timely fashion and all that.

Chapter Eight:

As Harry had predicted the day had gone by slowly. It was barely the end of charms and it felt like he should be getting ready for Astronomy. Damn it all, and he still couldn't look Severus in the eyes. The older boy had seem him bawling his eyes out over some simple teasing. He vaguely heard Flitwick begin speaking again and looked up from his desk.

"And finally what you've all been waiting for. I do hope you studied last years materials well, because today we will be casting the Patronus Charm." He smiled and climbed onto his stack of books. "We'll start on the left side of the room and move to the right." He looked at Harry. "Mr. Cameron. You may be exempt if you wish. I have no records of you being taught the Patronus at your home."

"It's fine sir. The Patronus is a spell I can cast with no qualms." He glanced at his friend and immediately let his gaze fall back to the desk.

"Ian…" Severus said ever so quietly. "Don't treat me, or yourself, like this."

"How can I look you in the eye when you saw me like that." Harry peeked through his lashes.

"I'm more worried about how I can look you in the eye…We're friends right? You said so at dinner last night. So how about we pretend it didn't happen if that will make you feel better." Severus leaned down and gave the small teen a smile that lit up his world even though no one else could see it.

Harry smiled and blushed prettily. "Alright. I'll try."

James looked at Severus and Harry and scowled. Those two poof's would pay. Thanks to them, and Remus, he had gotten a months detention with Filch! Thankfully the incident hadn't spread around the school, he wouldn't want people thinking he was a poof too! After all. He was a Potter! And Potters were men among men! He caught Harry glance over at him and froze. Those green eyes however roared to life with anger and pure energy that James never seen. He smirked non-the-less and stood after Sirius cast the Patronus, managing to cast a blob of silver out of his want before it dissipated. He would prove that he was the most powerful in the class, as he had always been. He would beat Ian Cameron in magical power if nothing else!

James quickly picked a happy memory and flicked his wand, nearly yelling the incantation. "Expecto Patronum!" Silver mist poured from his wand, filling the room and swirling together to begin taking on an animal like form. It disappeared moments later. James was still satisfied though. He knew that the patronus was nearly an auror level spell, so certainly he'd done the best, though Lily did almost match him. No matter that, she wasn't on his level of magic anyhow. She was a muggleborn after all.

"Sir, may I go last." Harry said raising his hand. "I'd like to observe a bit more before I try…It's been a while."

"Of course Mr. Cameron." Flitwick nodded and grinned. "If I may be so bold, when were you taught the Patronus? It's not often a student comes to class knowing of it prior unless their parents were aurors…"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"What's wrong Cameron? You scared?" James Potter jeered at the small boy. "You're not even big enough to even think about having enough magic!" He crossed his arms and smirked. "Not that it matters, only highly trained aurors can cast a lasting Patronus. And that's only a few minutes long."

Harry rolled his eyes. He had always been told that his father was smart and essentially a good man. What a lie that had been. The few times they had met James Potter had done nothing but be an asshole in one way or another. Even going as far as to cause Harry to have an episode. Thank goodness Remus had shown up followed by Severus. All in all, James was an idiot and Harry wasn't going to take it being directed at him without reason. 'I'll turn him into the fool. No matter what the cost.' He thought smirking. "A bit cocky aren't we. And by the way, very few fully trained aurors can cast a full Patronus. Corporal Patronus' require an almost infinite amount of magic and your happiest possible memory." Harry crossed his arms and narrowed his green eyes at his father. "That's usually the reason why people can't cast them though. They live such gifted lives there isn't much that make them truly happy."

"Very good Mr. Cameron! You are absolutely correct, I award ten points to Slytherin." Flitwick nodded with appreciation. "We must continue though, please continue with Mr. Parkinson." He nodded towards a short stubby boy lacking a chin.

"Expecto Patronum!" The boy said in a nasally voice. A small sparkle poured delicately from his wand, but nothing more happened.

"Alright. Next person…Think of your very happiest memory and then cast."

The next person to stand was either a Crabbe or a Goyle, due to similar features it was almost impossible to tell. Which ever it was the result was nearly the same, though the boy did manage to make his mist last a few moments longer. All in all, that was how the rest of the class went until finally Severus was asked by the professor to try.

Severus looked at Harry as if to ask his approval. Harry of course smiled slightly at the taller lad and nodded slightly. Shit. What would he think of? He had no happy moments before Ian. Though, most of their time spent together was happy. What would he choose? His thoughts immediately went to the incident in the halls. He had caused the mess, but, in that same moment he had felt the despair of causing his only friend pain, he had been overjoyed that Ian had only responded to him, and cried on his shoulder. That was the memory he would use. "Expecto Patronum!" Silver mist shot from Severus wand and quickly began taking a shape that slightly resembled a deer or something of the sort. Much like the others, it dissipated after a few moments, not quite reaching full corporal. But it was damn close.

"That was great." Harry said. "You almost had it!"

Severus could feel the heat reaching for his face and steeled himself for a moment. This 'blushing' thing was becoming a bad habit. He was glad of Ian's approval however and offered a small grin and a 'thanks'.

"Alright Mr. Cameron. Your turn." Flitwick was grinning from ear to ear in a way that could have easily split his face in two. He was obviously excited to see what Harry could do with his Patronus, or at least get as far as Severus had. It would be a record if he could, Two corporals, full or not, in one class, that would be magnificent!

Harry stood and thought for a moment. What was his best memory? He used to know it, but now, it seemed like a moment from another life. Something that didn't count anymore. He did have an idea what it was though. With a smile and a flick of his wand he muttered out the verbal part of the spell and smiled when his stag Patronus dove out of his wand with grace. A full corporal stood before the class shaking its head with what looked like annoyance at some moments and amusement in the next.

"Well done! Mr. Cameron! Well done indeed! I award twenty more points to Slytherin!" Flitwick clapped his small hands together with excitement. He watched Harry swish his wand to dismiss the creature and continued grinning. "Are you sure you don't want to share where you learned this spell?"

Harry nodded briefly and looked away from the professor, not realizing it as his eyes drifted to Remus Lupin and softened. "A family friend taught me." Harry jumped as a small buzzing sound started signaling the change in classes. Vaguely Harry found himself wondering why this wasn't around in his time, but it didn't matter. He slid his things in to his bag and tossed it over his shoulder. Next up was Herbology.

The trek to the greenhouses was a lot less stressful than the one to Potions and Charms had been what with those two classes being with Gryffindor and all. Thankfully he had Herbology with the Ravenclaw's. They mostly stuck to themselves and such but they posed no problems and were even nice to him when they did speak. It was good to be unknown.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Harry sighed and rested his head on his hand. It was dinner time and the Hall was bustling with life. What was going to go wrong now? He focused his eyes on Severus who was glaring at him as if trying to force him to eat with his mind and smirked. "It's not working you know…That glare is not intimidating."

The older lads fixed stare darkened incredibly. "Eat. You didn't eat breakfast. You hardly touched your lunch now you're just staring at a plate full of food as if it's the most repulsive thing you've ever seen! You're going to get sick!"

Harry sighed. It was true, he hadn't eaten all day, and quite honestly he was starving, but he was so worried that something would interrupt his meal again. He looked towards his plate and frowned. "I'm only eating for you!" He said and picked up his fork not missing the triumphant look he was receiving. He went straight for the vegetables and fruit.

Severus was irritated by this, but at least Ian was eating. He wouldn't push it to night. "So." He said carefully. "Other than embarrassing Potter in charms, have you anything planned to get back at him?"

Harry leaned his head down a little and cast a glance at the head table. Dumbledore was watching him intently. No doubt listening somehow. "Of course not." He said in an innocent voice. "Why would I do something like that. I'm not James, I don't torture others for my own amusement." Well, it was true that he didn't torture people for his own amusement. But torturing his father for the pain he'd put him through so far seemed like a wonderful idea. Harry smirked a little but covered it with a little cough.

Severus caught the false innocence and raises his eyebrow. "….Alright…." He leaned across the table. "Are you really okay?"

"I'm fine now. Maybe a little shaken up still. But, I'm not going to let them do that again. They won't go that far again." Harry whispered, his voice taking on a wickedness that made Severus draw back slightly. "We'll talk about it later." Maybe. He would tell Severus about his at home life, not in great detail, but he would open up. The future Severus had seemed to know what was going on. So, maybe he had told him, then when the potions master had found him he'd put together that Harry had been his friend. His eyes widened fractionally. But that would also mean that the man had known Harry would go back into the past. 'that rules out him knowing that I'm in his past.' The man had never indicated that Harry was going to accidentally time travel.

"You okay?" Severus asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just off in my own world." Harry smiled gently.

"Hey, Cameron!" Sirius called as he strode over to the Slytherin table earning many glares. "James says he doesn't appreciate you showing him up in class. You too Snape. Don't do it again or you'll be in a world of pain."

Harry looked at the tall lad with an innocent look. "Hello, Sirius. Don't think about putting that potion in my cup or you'll be very sorry. I don't like foul play. And what you did this morning, well, that was the foulest I've seen yet. To torment an abused child in such a way. You know what it's like, why would you wish that on someone else?" The Black heirs face flushed red. "Anger won't solve your problems my friend."

"YOU ARE NOT MY FRIEND SHUT UP!" Sirius yelled, storming angrily away from the table.

Harry looked to Severus with a smile. "I win."

Severus rolled his eyes stabbed at a piece of chicken. "You're going to get us killed by them you know."

"Nooo, if I was going to get us killed I'd go and invite James on a date or something." Harry hid his disgust. 'that is wrong on so many levels.' There was an awkward silence. "Soooo…how about them Gryffindors?"

Severus face formed a slightly disgusted look. "What about them? They're cocky, arrogant, and generally stupid."

"We aren't all stupid!" Lily said, catching the two's attention. She saw the questioning looks and sighed. "You're curious why I'm over here?" Harry nodded while Severus glared. "Remus told me what happened. He wanted to apologize for his friends behavior. And I wanted to tell you if you ever need anything I'll be there for you."

"I appreciate that, honestly." Harry said. "But honestly, I don't know you well enough to confide in you. If you would give Lupin my regards though it would be appreciated. I cannot, however, accept his apology when he had nothing to do with what happened." It killed him to say that.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Lily frowned and began to walk away. "My offer still stands." and then she was out of ear shot.

Severus was still frowning as he finished his supper and waited patiently for his friend to finish his. Harry, the two times he'd met Lily Evans, had acted oddly almost nostalgically. Was this somehow tied to his past? "Are we going to go to the library?" he asked to get his mind off of matters.

"Yeah, we need to run down to our rooms though and grab some parchment for notes." Harry scooped his fruit into a spoon and took a massive bite.

Severus was shocked at the size of the bite. He'd never seen him have more than a nibble. He didn't have time to ponder though, Harry was already standing and heading towards the door.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Dumbledore sat in his spot at number 12 looking older than he had in ages. The order was growing restless. Harry had been missing for weeks now, and no one other than Severus and the Weasley twins had seen hide nor hair of him. He laced his aged hands and rested his head against them. Where could Harry have disappeared to? Severus said that he'd seen the boy is Diagon Alley, and the Weasley Twins said he'd visited them. After that though, it was as if he no longer existed.

Kingsley sat off to Dumbledore's left sipping a cup of tea. "I can almost bet death eaters had something to do with it." he grumbled. "if they had somehow heard that Harry Potter had been kicked out of his house the first place they would check would be Diagon Alley…I suppose anyhow."

"Yes, well…if that is the case then we shall be needing Severus help on this one. He will certainly know whether or not Harry has been taken. Have any of you heard from him since he reported seeing the boy in Diagon Alley?" Dumbledore looked around at the order members.

"Actually," Remus chimed in. "I saw him with a lad in the Alley a few days ago. They were leaving the jewelers. Seemed quite excited he did." The werewolf smiled.

"Ahh. Perhaps Severus has been keeping something from us." Albus' eyes twinkled with mischief. "I do hope we are invited to the wedding." The order grumbled slightly at the idea of going to anything Snape invited them to. "Now, then. Back to the matter at hand. What shall be done about Harry? The world does not need to know he has gone missing. Especially not his friends. They will spread it like wild fire."

"May I make a suggestion?"

"My Remus, you are vocal this evening. I suppose with the son of your best friend missing though you would be. What do you have in mind?"

Remus resisted the urge to wince at the headmasters comment. "I would suggest that we leak that Harry has been removed from school to do training and will return for his exams. By then we should have found him right?"

"I believe that with a small bit of planning that may work…We could use another student or muggle…one of no importance to have 'Potter sighting' around London. A bit of well placed polyjuice potion could ensure that we are not found out…"

"Agreed…" The order resounded.

"Dismissed." Dumbledore said waving his hand nonchalantly.

Remus stood with the rest of the members and slowly left the kitchen of number 12 Grimwald Place.

0o0o0o0o0

"If it weren't for appearance sake, I could stay down here all day." Harry said with a sigh as he flipped through the pages of a dark arts book.

"Agreed." Severus said looking through the book he'd taken days ago. "This is…much more detailed than the school library." He flipped to a page and held it up for Harry to see. "There are actual examples here and not just theories."

"What's that one for?" The small lad looked back down at his book.

"That one was a spell for a temporary Horcrux. It's very interesting…Are you listening?"

"Yeah, yeah, Horcrux. Splits your soul apart giving you a form of immortality." He looked up. Severus face was shocked. "I read about it… before I came here…Anyhow we probably should go up stairs to the actual library…We have a charms paper due."

Severus looked at his friend strangely. He was aware that the lad had already finished his assignment. The fact that those that had over heard them talking about the library meant that they would need to go up there anyhow, however, so Dumbledore, the old bat, didn't go suspicious if he sent someone looking for them….He really needed to confront Ian about that subject changing thing that he did. It was getting annoying.

0o0o0o0

Meh, it was okay…. If anyone spots any inconsistencies tell me so I can fix it.