Disclaimer: This chapter was NOT written by me. Also, this story is based on characters and situations created by J.K. Rowling. No money is being made off this nor is copyright infringement intended.
To all readers in America: Happy Thanksgiving!
Chapter Nine - Snape's Biggest Mistake
There he sat, staring at the cup of black liquid that was in front of him on the wooden table. Sighing he picked up the cup and took a sip. The face he made afterward was something akin to tasting something that just didn't agree with him. As it was, last night's escapade was still fresh in his head and was plaguing him with worry and uneasiness. Putting a hand through his 'bed head' hair, James thought, 'I hope her parents will let her see me.'
A rustling from the living room snapped James out of his pensiveness and brought his attention to the kitchen doorway. Soon the shuffling got louder and when James saw a hand groping around for the wall he smiled in the knowledge that is father was up and about.
"Morning dad!" James said cheerfully while a devious grin crept onto his face.
His bunny slippers on backwards, his hair sticking out in a manner that defied gravity, and his eyes shut tight, Harold Potter answered his son with a grunt and a halfway garbled word, "Coffee."
Holding back his laughter, James never got tired of seeing his father like this. It was funny to James, because that was the exact same routine he uses when trying to wake up. Shaking his head he finally said, "Behind you and to your right. Just follow the smell."
"Smell. Right." said Harold while spinning around quickly stumbling his way to the coffee pot. James waited patiently as his father poured himself a rather large cup of coffee and then sat down across from him.
After the first few sips his fathers eyes began to open up slowly and that's when he asked, "So son, how did it go?" Looking back at his cup James took a rather long pull the set down the cup in front of his dad while trying to find the words that would describe the night that he had. "That bad?" deduced Harold, when his son wouldn't answer his question.
"No," James said quickly, but then quickly slumped his shoulders, "I got lost and I was late."
Smiling at his son Harold said, "At least you got there, right? Being late is better than not showing up at all. At least that's what I think." Taking another sip and watching his son smile a bit Harold couldn't help but feel proud.
"I guess you're right," James said while sitting back in his chair and looking at the ceiling.
"How was her family?" Harold asked James while magically summoning a croissant and heating up before slathering butter over it.
"They were...interesting, to say the least," James commented, smiling at the memories of his talk with Lily's father about Muggle sports, and her mother's constant grilling of him and his family, "I think her father liked me."
"And the mother?"
"Well," James said in apprehension, "she was a bit stiff until I gave her mum's cake."
"I told you it would work!" called a voice from the hallway, as Mrs. Potter turned the corner and smiled brightly, "Good morning."
Both James and his father grunted their greetings and then went back to sipping at their cups, while Mrs. Potter could only shake her head in amusement while playfully swiping at her husband's arm, "Honestly, you two!"
Soon, Mrs. Potter was cooking breakfast for them all when a knock at the front door sounded through the house. "That would be Sirius," said James as he picked himself off his seat and walked to the front door still in his sleepy daze.
James' mom called from the kitchen saying, "Tell Sirius that breakfast is almost ready, then go wash up."
Rolling his eyes James replied, "Yes, mother." Grabbing the door handle James swung open the door, screamed, and then quickly slammed the door shut. 'What the bloody hell is she doing here!' thought James in a panic while grabbing his nightshirt and looking at himself in the hallway mirror.
"James?" called Lily's voice from the other side of the door. "Is something wrong?" she asked with a bit of amusement lacing her words, "By the way...I love your pajamas."
Feeling mortified at the thought of a girl seeing him in his sleeping clothes, let alone that girl being Lily Evans, James ran towards his room while quickly stopping by the kitchen and telling his parents, "Lilyisoutsidecansomeoneletherin? Thanks."
Furrowing his brows in confusion and turning his attention to his wife Harold asked, "What was that?"
"Our son," said Mrs. Potter in a calm manner as a knock at the door came again, "Can you get the door, love? I think Lily is waiting outside."
"Lily? Who's that..." Harold said in a sleepy daze then as the realization was slow to hit him, when it did he nodded his head while replying to himself, "No wonder he took off so fast." Picking himself off the chair with a slight grunt Mr. Potter shuffled his way to the door and opened it.
Lily stood at the door giggling to herself as Mr. Potter made eye contact and said, "You saw his pajamas." All that Lily could do was nod her head, while Mr. Potter stood itching behind his ear and said, "Well, come in. I can't have you sitting out here till he returns, cause he might not, mind you."
Following Mr. Potter, Lily enter the familiar home and it cozy settings, and that's when she heard the shout from up stair. "What are you doing here!" yelled James sounding upset and elated.
"Well, I just thought that I should also get to know your parents!" Lily shouted back.
"We planned that! This...this wasn't planned!" James said, as all manner of sounds emanated from the ceiling.
"Well..." Lily said trying to come up with a valid excuse for her intrusion into his house, "I was coming anyway and I just thought that I would come an hour earlier."
"A likely story!" yelled James while Lily cracked a smile.
Coming out of the kitchen in her robes Mrs. Potter yelled upstairs while she held he wand in hand, "James! Stop that yelling and come down to breakfast!" Mrs. Potter then seemed to have a thought and said, "While your at it, wash your hands."
Lily watched as Mrs. Potter turned around and smiled saying, "Lily dear? Can you help me set the table?" Nodding her head and setting the table with Mrs. Potter, Lily never noticed that James had come down and was eyeing her with suspicion.
Sitting down to eat they all had an excellent meal and conversation as Mr. Potter began to tell his stories. However, Lily remembered a story that James had mentioned that sparked a bit of curiosity in her, and taking the opportunity she asked Mr. Potter, "Mr. Potter? What about the story of Merlin's last heir."
James and his mother both groaned as Mr. Potters eyes lit up like sparkling diamonds. Sticking his nose into the air, Mr. Potter said with an air about him, "Pay no attention to these ungrateful critics, my dear. It seems that they've become accustomed to quality storytelling and now are unappreciative of my talents."
"More like a punishment," James muttered under his breath.
"So, as the story goes...Our ancestor, a wise and learned man by the name of Liam, happened to get caught in a terrible storm while trying to cross a foreign land. Spotting a run down castle in the distance, Liam decided to take his chances sleeping there for the night."
"Problem was, the castle was already inhabited by a mighty and powerful witch. Who when she found out about the intruder, summoned him by forcing him to apparate to her."
"Is that even possible?" asked Lily astounded by the story.
Mr. Potter was about to answer her question when James nudged him and shook his head. Clearing his throat and continuing he said, "In her presence Liam noticed that the witch was very sick and looked to be standing at death's door, but what made Liam even more concerned was the look in the woman's eyes. The spark of life had fled and she was merely living life as a shell of a person. The woman asked Liam why he was trespassing on her property, and in that moment Liam decided on something that he felt was right. Liam answered her by saying that he was there to help her get better. The witch scoffed and then laughed, but never turned him away. She told him that he was welcome to try where none had succeeded."
James' head was now on the table and Mrs. Potter was cleaning the dishes, Mr. Potter then leaned in and quietly said, "So Liam applied himself to cleaning up the castle and helping the witch. And years passed as he and she became great friends...some say more than friends. Then one day Liam went out to the garden to find the witch sitting peacefully among the flowers. When she saw him she told him that this would be her last sunset. Liam felt sad because he knew that her predictions always came true, and so he sat next to her. Before she passed into the next great adventure, the witch professed her love for Liam and told him that she was a descendant of Merlin the great."
"Smiling gently at her Liam told her that he didn't care who her ancestors were, but rather he cared for who she was. And that is when the witch told Liam that she wanted to give him a part of her. Cutting her palm and then cutting his, they joined hands as they both performed an ancient ritual that exchanged blood, and made it so that Liam could always carry a piece of the witch who he had come to love. Sadly, the witches prediction came true and that night she passed, taking a bit of Liam with her."
Sitting back Mr. Potter looked a bit sad, and even Mrs. Potter dabbed her eye while having her back turned to the table. James lifted his head and looked at Lily, who had a single tear trickle down her pale cheek.
"Well," said Mr. Potter jumping up to his feet, "I better get dressed. Got work to do, you know?" Walking up the stairs whistling a little tune, he left the others to think about what he said.
"We should be going, Lily," James stated while picking up his fathers and Lily's plate then placed them in the sink. Lily looked up still thinking about the story and nodded her head absentmindedly.
After they both were given a goodbye and a lunch from his mum, James walked with Lily towards the Nook. James, however, noticed that Lily's wasn't too focused as she had tripped several times. After the last time, James asked, "What's wrong?"
"Huh?" Lily asked in confusion.
"Was it the story?"
Tightening her lip and furrowing her brows in concentration Lily finally said, "Yes. I just keep thinking that I've heard that story somewhere before."
"Yeah," James said with a disarming smile, "I've told you about it before."
"No, no, no, before that. I think I've heard that story when I was growing up as a Muggle." Lily said in frustration, "But I can't seem to remember it!"
James came over and place a hand on her shoulder while saying, "No worries, it will come to you, eventually."
Sighing and releasing a lot of the tension that was building up, Lily smiled, "Yeah, I guess your right."
"Guess?!" James said as he raised his eyebrows high and looked surprised, "No, no, no, no! I'm 'always' right. Say it with me now."
Letting out a very small giggle, Lily said immediately after it, "Only in your mind, Potter!"
The two smiled at each other as they walked through the forest, and finally made it to the Nook. However, that's when they heard shouting from the top of the Nook along with barking and the welcoming sound of something breaking.
James, eye went wide as her heard the familiar bark of Sirius echoing down from the, and looked up to see Lily ahead of him. "Lily wait!" James yelled out as he began to follow her, but was nowhere near being close to catching her.
'This is not good,' James thought as he saw her reaching the door. It then hit him out of the blue, 'Remus' hearing!' James cupped his hands and bellowed out as loud as he could, "Remus, watch out! Lily's coming in!"
Wondering why he would need to warn Remus, Lily heard even more commotion and shouting stiring up inside. As she swung open the door to the Nook, she saw Remus hold a great black, shaggy bear of a dog around its neck While Peter slumped into a chair, looking to be exhausted.
Panting and out of breath James entered the Nook, only to see Remus sitting on the couch while Peter seemed to be passed out from exhaustion and Lily scratching the big dog in front of him behind the ear.
"Where did you find him?" asked Lily while giving the dog a pat on the side.
"Uh..." Said James while trying to think of a plausible answer.
"He's Sirius' pet," said Remus while smirking down at the dog. If Lily could have only seen the dogs face, she would have saw it rolling it's eyes in humiliation. "He's sick, and asked me to take care of him."
"So what was the commotion that we heard?" asked Lily while she thought, 'I could have sworn that I heard Sirius' voice.'
Finally finding his voice Peter said, "I accidentally stepped on the mangy mutts foot and it chased me all around the house!" The dog growled and then barked once at Peter, who stuck his tongue out at it.
Lily got up from the ground and walked over to the love seat where she was joined by the shaggy dog, "Well, all of that is in the past now, shall we start reading from the book? Or should we wait until tomorrow, when Sirius feels better?"
"We'll read now." James replied, as he glared at the dog in his seat. Sensing that James was not in the mood for fun, the dog jumped off the seat and padded over to the couch where Remus was sitting and flopped down with a small whine.
"Would you like some cheese with that?" Remus softly asked the canine and was greeted with a growl. Remus chuckled lightly and said, "I'll take that as a 'no'."
As everyone situated themselves in their spots James grabbed the book from the table and asked, "Who was the last to read it?" Slowly Remus raised his hand, and winced at the thought of reading again.
James smiled and threw the book at Peter, who barely managed to catch it, while saying, "You're up Pete, make me proud!" Peter grumbled his dissatisfaction as he opened the book and began to read.
Chapter Eight, The Potions Master
The dog barked loudly as James and Remus both said to each other, "Snape."
"There, look,"
"Where?"
"Next to the tall kid with the red hair."
"Wearing the glasses?"
"Did you see his face?"
"Did you see his scar?"
"Did you see those shoes?" James carried on.
"Did you see his bellybutton?" Remus laughed along.
"Did you see what happen to Remus and James when I hexed them?" asked Lily holding her wand out.
"No sense of humor in that one," James said with a smile as Remus nodded in approval.
Whispers followed Harry from the moment he left his dormitory the next day. People lining up outside classrooms stood on tiptoe to get a look at him, or doubled back to pass him in the corridors again, staring. Harry wished they wouldn't, because he was trying to concentrate on finding his was to classes.
"That's right," Peter said remembering how had it was for him to make it to class, "I forgot all about that!"
"Peter, you'd forget your head if wasn't attached to you body," James said in jest, as the dog barked in approval. Peter sneered at the dog, while lifting the book to read from it again.
There were a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that led somewhere different on Friday; some with a vanishing step half way up that you had to remember to jump.
"Yeah," Remus said rubbing his knee, "I definitely know about that one in particular."
"You missed it?" asked Lily.
"Sure did," Remus replied, wincing at the memory of the incident. "I was too caught up in OWLS and I forgot about the step and slammed my knee on the lower step." Lily winced at Remus' recounting of the event.
Then there were doors that wouldn't open unless you asked politely, or tickled them in exactly the right place, and doors that weren't really doors at all, but solid walls just pretending.
"I really dislike those doors. I mean, what's their purpose anyway?" Peter asked and was answered with a bark. "Shut it, you." Peter told the shaggy dog while frowning and imagining what it had said to him.
"I think that they are there to keep the students on their toes and for protection," said Remus sitting back and watching Peter.
"I guess," Peter conceded, while opening the book and clearing his throat.
It was also very hard to remember where anything was, because it all seemed to move around a lot. The people in the portraits kept going to visit each other, and Harry was sure the coats of armor could walk.
The ghosts didn't help, either. It was always a nasty shock when one of them glided suddenly through a door you were trying to open. Nearly headless Nick was always happy to point new Gryffindors in the right direction, but peeves the Poltergeist was worth two locked doors and a trick staircase if you met him when you were late for class. He would drop wastepaper baskets on your head, pull rugs from under your feet, pelt you with bits of chalk, or sneak up behind you, invisible, grab your nose, and screech, "GOT YOUr CONK!"
"If I ever get the chance," Remus said wistfully, "I'm going to find a spell that'll make Peeves shake in his shoes!"
"I'll be here if you need any help," said James while turning his head and looking at Peter. The shaggy dog bark once and licked Remus face while wagging it's tail.
Realizing that he was the last to speak and that he was on the spot, Peter responded with, "I'll be here, but what I can help with is beyond me."
"Stop putting yourself down Peter. You can help with many things," Remus said trying to make Peter feel better.
Smiling at his friends, Peter continued the book, "Even worse than Peeves,..."
was the caretaker, Argus Filch. Harry and Ron managed to get on the wrong side of him on their very first morning.
"That's my boy!" said James, positively beaming with pride.
"That's definitely not a good thing, James!" Lily scolded him, feeling that Harry didn't need encouragement from his hooligan of a father.
Filch found them trying to force their way through a door that unluckily turned out to be the entrance to the out-of-bound corridor on the third floor.
"Ha!" laughed Remus while shaking his head, "He's subconsciously causing mischief and bending to his curiosity." James shook his head vigorously and smiled at Lily, who at the moment had her head in her hand and was saying something that sounded like 'pointless'.
He wouldn't believe they were lost, was sure they were trying to break into it on purpose, and was threatening to lock them in the dungeons when they were rescued by Professor Quirrell, who was passing.
Filch owned a cat
The shaggy dog started to growl as Remus patted him on the head and said, "Calm down Padfoot, there really is no cat." At the mention of the name the dog twisted its head and blinked at Remus, while Remus whispered softly, "You've gotta have a name, right..."
"Remus?" called Lily's voice from across the way, "His name is Padfoot?"
"Yes. We all gave him that name." Remus replied, while Padfoot still looked at him with surprise.
Seeing that Lily was thinking a little too hard, Peter said, "Are we through or would you like to talk some more?" Snapping out of her thoughts, Lily blushed in embarrassment and shook her head. Peter then pick up where he left off reading the sentence that he had already read.
called Mrs. Norris, a scrawny, dust-colored creature with bulging, lamplike eyes just like Filch's. She patrolled the corridors alone. Break a rule in front of her, put just one toe out of line, and she'd whisk off for filch, who'd appear, wheezing, two seconds later. Filch knew the secret passageways of the school better than anyone (except perhaps the Weasley twins)
Imitating a buzzer, James said in his show host impression, "I'm so sorry but that's a wrong answer. The question was 'who know the most about the secret passages in Hogwarts?', and the answer is...Remus help me out here.
Giving James a lopsided smile Remus said after sighing, "The Marauders."
"Yes, that absolutely positively...," James then noticed that Lily seemed to be hanging on every word that they were saying and it stuck him that he was giving her too much information, "...uh...wrong! You're wrong, what's with you! The answer is Albus Dumbledore!"
Remus looked confused when followed James slight head movement and saw that Lily was looking at both of them with open suspicion. "What are you two playing at?" asked Lily when they sat down. She noticed that Peter had the book raise and opened, so as to cover his face, but his legs wobbled back and forth in a clearly nervous fashion.
"Shall we continue," called Peter's voice, a bit shaky, from behind the book.
and could pop up as suddenly as any of the ghosts. The students all hated him, and it was the dearest ambition of many to give Mrs. Norris a good kick.
And then once you had managed to find them, there were the classes themselves. There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words.
They had to study the night skies through their telescopes every Wednesday at midnight and learn the names of different stars and the movements of the planets. Three times a week they went out to the greenhouse behind the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called professor Sprout, where they learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for.
Easily the most boring class was History of Magic,
"Unless you do a report on Kung-fu action movies!" James smirked while Remus barely contained his snickers.
which was the only one taught by a ghost. Professor Binns had been very old indeed when he had fallen in front of the staff room fire and got up next morning to teach, leaving his body behind him. Binns droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates, and got Emeric the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up.
Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. At the start of their first class he took the roll call, and when he reached Harry's name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight
Professor McGonagall was again different. Harry had been quite right to think she wasn't a teacher to cross. Strict and clever,
"With a Stunner to match!" James interjected.
"Shhhh!" Lily said, "I want to hear what's going on!"
she gave them a talking-to the moment they sat down in her first class.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," she said. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."
"That's what you wanted to hear? She always says that!" James told Lily as Peter took a breath to read on. Lily wanted to reply, but didn't want to interrupt so instead she settled for a nasty glare.
Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. They were all very impressed and couldn't wait to get started, but soon realized they weren't going to be changing the furniture in to animals for a long time. After taking a lot of complicated notes, they were each given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle. By the end of the lesson, only Hermione Granger had made any difference to her match; Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione a rare smile.
"She must be a dark wizard." James said seriously
"And how do you figure that?" asked Lily in an unbelieving tone of voice.
James turned to face her and said with a straight face, "Because McGonagall can't smile...I think she removed the muscles that make you smile when she was a kid...if she ever was a kid, that is."
Lily rolled her eyes, while Remus and Peter both snickered in the background, and she said, "And you know this..."
"I just do, okay!" James said while the corner of his mouth quirked up.
"James?" Lily said calmly.
"Yes?"
"Stop interrupting the story!" Lily said while motioning Peter to continue.
The class everyone had really been looking forward to was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Quirrell's lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke. His classroom smelled strongly of garlic, which everyone said was to ward off a vampire he's met in Romania and was afraid would be coming back to get him one of these days. His turban, he told them, had been given to him by an African prince as a thank-you for getting rid of a troublesome zombie, but they weren't sure they believed this story. For one thing, when Seamus Finnigan asked eagerly to hear how Quirrell had fought off the zombie, Quirrell went pink and started talking about the weather; for another, they had noticed that a funny smell hung around the turban, and the Weasley twins insisted that it was stuffed full of garlic as well, so Quirrell was protected wherever he went.
"I don't know," Lily spoke her thoughts out loud, "seems kinda weird to me."
"Me too," Remus said supporting Lily's comment while Padfoot picked his ears up and looked at James.
"He does seem a bit off center. However, we to have had our share of strange teachers in the past. And most of them turned out to be alright," said James while looking at Lily.
Slowly nodding her head, as if she was having a hard time agreeing, Lily conceded to James logic and said, "Peter, if you would?" Peter smile and continued on where he had left off.
Harry was very relieved to find out that he wasn't miles behind everyone else.
James and Lily both let out snorts of amusement as the smile and shook their head from side to side.
Lots of people had come from Muggle families and, like him, hadn't had any idea that they were witches and wizards. There was so much to learn that even people like Ron didn't have much of a head start.
Friday was an important day for Harry and Ron. They finally managed to find their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast without getting lost once.
"What have we got today?" Harry asked Ron as he poured sugar on his porridge.
Padfoot let out a whine as the thought of food made his stomach grumble. Taking pity on him, Remus got up and said, "Keep reading, I'm going to get some food for the mutt here." Wagging his tail so fast it looked to be a blur, Padfoot barked once and made a mad dash for the kitchen.
"Smart dog." Lily noted
"Nah," James replied, "just trained well." Lily nodded her head while watching the two of them leave to go to the kitchen.
"Double Potions with the Slytherins," said Ron.
James closed his eyes and sighed while saying, "Of all the sodding double classes my son has to have, it would have to be potions with that grease stain of a Professor that he would have to take!"
"Calm down, James. It isn't that bad, I'm sure Snape is a decent Professor." The look James gave Lily after she was done speaking was one that would be use when addressing a lunatic.
"Yeah? Well, we'll see just how 'decent' Snape will be to ourson!" James told Lily while sitting back on the couch and placing his feet on the table.
"Snape's Head of Slytherin House. They say he always favors them — We'll be able to see if it's true."
"He probably is," Remus said while bringing in a plate full of finger food, Padfoot was slowly walking behind him and had a look of being extremely full.
"Not you too, Remus!" cried out Lily in exasperation, "I would think you would give him the benefit of the doubt."
"I've known him for too long to think that he will change," Remus said in a cold voice that made Lily shiver slightly.
"Continuing on!" Peter shouted at James behest. Lily could only stared at Remus, while patting Padfoot on the head and scratching him behind the ear, as she though about why these boys all had such hatred for Snape.
"Wish McGonagall favored us," said Harry. Professor McGonagall was head of Gryffindor House, but it hadn't stopped her from giving them a huge pile of homework the day before.
Just then the mail arrived. Harry had gotten used to this by now, but it had given him a bit of a shock on the first morning, when about a hundred owls had suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during breakfast, circling the tables until they saw their owners, and dropping letters and packages onto their laps.
Hedwig hadn't brought Harry anything so far. She sometimes flew in to nibble his ear and have a bit of toast before going off to sleep in the owlery with the other school owls. This morning, however, she fluttered down between the marmalade and the sugar bowl and dropped a note onto Harry's plate. Harry tore it open at once. It said, in very untidy scrawl:
Dear Harry,
I know you get Friday afternoons off, so would you like to come and have a cup of tea with me around three? I want to hear all about your first week. Send us an answer back with Hedwig.
Hagrid
James smiled a sad smile as he listen to Peter. He was angry and frustrated at his sons predicament, but at the same time he was happy that Harry had someone to look over him and take an interest in what he did.
Lily also had a sad smile as she wonder what was going through her supposed son's head when he got his letter. She then hoped, in her heart, that he would receive more letter and not just from adult acquaintances.
Harry borrowed Ron's quill, scribbled Yes, please, see you later on the back of the note, and sent Hedwig off again.
It was lucky that Harry had tea with Hagrid to look forward to, because the Potions lesson turned out to be the worst thing that had happened to him so far.
Padfoot growled, while James' face quick changed to mimicked what he thought was going to happen. Peter looked at the book then at James face, and then at the book again and said, "Uh, R, Remus I think it's your turn to read!"
Quickly shoving the book into Remus' hands and scampering away, Peter curled up in his chair and watched. "Coward," Remus said calmly, making Peter flinch. However, he opened the book to where Peter had marked it and began reading again.
At the start-of-term banquet, Harry had gotten the idea that Professor Snape disliked him. By the end of the first potion lesson, he knew he'd been wrong. Snape didn't dislike Harry — he hatedhim.
James shot out of his seat eyes ablaze with anger, and not even Lily's gentle words could keep him from pacing around the room. Remus continued on, wondering in an almost sick fascination as to what was going to happen next.
Potion lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main castle, and would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals floating in the glass jars all around the walls.
Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the roll call, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name.
"Ah, yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter.
"Don't you even speak my son's name you slimy gutter trash!" James said in a cold fury, while making Remus stop and judge if it was wise to continue. Padfoot was now snarling as well and his hackles were raised in anger, while standing on all fours next to James.
"James calm..." Lily was about to say but a glare from James told her to 'back off' and she wasn't about to contest this one. Remus continued when James asked him to do so, and deep down he knew that this was going to end badly.
Our new — celebrity."
Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered behind their hands. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.
"Or...Dark Wizards!" James spat out, as his anger became a palpable and tangent feeling in the room.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word — like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort.
"That's not a gift," Peter squeaked softly, not knowing what would happen and testing the waters, "it's intimidation, and at least McGonagall doesn't make it seem like that."
"As there is little foolish wand-waving here,
"Cause you couldn't handle a spell if they stuck it up your..."
"Hem, hem!" Remus interrupted James before he could finish that sentence, while looking at Lily. Lily's face was clearly upset, but as to 'what she was upset about' Remus couldn't tell.
many of you will hardy believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with it shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses...
On the rare occasion that Sirius wasn't around, Remus often found himself acting in his friends stead. So naturally with Sirius unable to respond to the painfully obvious comment that needed to be made, Remus found himself saying, "If you ask me, I think he's been sniffing those shimmering fumes and staring into that simmering cauldron for too long."
James stopping his pacing, was currently looking at Remus with an unreadable expression plastered on his face. The from out of the blue he chuckled softly and seemed to lose some of the tension in his body while he took a seat. However, the look in James eyes didn't fade, and in fact it looked to gotten even stronger.
Remus continued with the book, while he gazed at James out of the corner of his eye.
I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death —
"Can you teach them how to shut you up?" Peter said softly from his chair.
If you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
More silence followed this little speech. Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't a dunderhead.
"Potter!" said Snape suddenly.
Remus reenaction of the book made James' eyes widen a bit as he leaned forward in his seat. He looked like a cat that was ready to pounce on an mouse. Remus then noticed that Lily seemed to be very upset, as the corners of her mouth turned decidedly downward and her eyes flashed in unbelief.
"He's a teacher," Remus heard her whisper, "He isn't suppose to call his students dunderheads...what is Dumbledore thinking!?"
Quickly scanning the next lines of the book Remus decided to make a tactical retreat to another seat, 'just in case'. Clearing his throat and reading on, Remus waited for the events — that were bound to happen — to unfold.
"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"That bloody arse! He knows Harry doesn't know these questions!" James said furiously
Powdered root of what to an infusion of what? Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; Hermione's hand had shot into the air.
"I don't know, sir" said Harry.
Snape's lips curled into a sneer.
"That's funny," said James angrily as he stood up again, "I like to see him sneer at me! Especially, after I rip those lips off his face!"
Remus, who once thought that Lily was going to balance everything out, now had doubts as he saw Lily frown deepen and her stare became and angry glare while she said, "What in Merlin's named does he think he's doing!"
"He's embarrassing him, Lils! That's what that greasy wanker is doing!" James explained
Padfoot had come to stand next to Remus and was whining as he saw who worked up James was getting. "Think we should take cover?" Remus asked Padfoot. Nodding once and barking in response to the question, Padfoot scooted himself under the chair Remus sat in and watched.
"Coward," Remus chuckled as he read on.
"Tut, tut — fame clearly isn't everything."
He ignored Hermione's hand.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry didn't have the faintest idea what a bezoar was. He tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter.
"I don't know, sir."
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"
Harry forced himself to keep looking straight into those cold eyes. He had looked through his books at the Dursleys', but did Snape expect him to remember everything in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
James was besides himself with outrage and anger, 'Damn prat!' James thought, 'He's only saying those things because he knows Harry doesn't have any parents to complain to. Damn it! I can believe I'm letting my son down and he isn't even born!'
'What does he think he's accomplishing by embarrassing Harry?' thought Lily while staring at the floor. 'This is too much, even for me to let pass!'
Snape was still ignoring Hermione's quivering hand.
"What is the difference, Potter between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
At this, Hermione stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling.
"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"
James did a double take and almost fell over the table, as he smiled and said in excited tones, "Good one, Harry! It's nice to see that you're not just going to take this laying down!" Padfoot barked from underneath Remus chair and even Peter squeaked out a positive reply or two.
A few people laughed; Harry caught Seamus' eye, and Seamus winked. Snape, however, was not pleased.
"Sit down," he snapped at Hermione. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also gose by the name of aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"
There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."
"Laugh it up now you great sodding..." said James stopping himself before he spiraled out of control. "That's it!" James announced, "that prat is getting his! Consequences be damned!"
Looking up at James, Lily said in a voice that exuded calmness, "But he hasn't done anything yet. Try and remember, that is the future!"
Expression his befuddlement James said, "Are you telling me that you don't feel anything about how he's treating Harry?"
"No," Lily answered, "I feel something. Its just...I don't think 'settling the score' will improve the situation."
"Okay," James agreed, "I guess you right about that it might not make the situation better. However, it'll make me feel a whole lot better!" Padfoot barked, Peter averted his eyes and Remus nodded slightly, and Lily found that no matter what she said they were going to do what they wanted to do.
Seeing that the moment was passing Remus quick began to read again, "Things..."
didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, who he seemed to like.
"Probably because their both greasy berks!" Peter said with a bit of anger.
He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Neville had some how managed to melt Seamus' cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.
"Ouch," said Remus, while wincing at the mental picture that presented itself in his head. James and Peter reacting were the same.
"Poor, Neville," said Lily while she rubbed her arms subconsciously.
"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"
"Yes," Peter said sarcastically, "that's making this whole situation just so much better!"
Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose.
"Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus. Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been working next to Neville.
"You — Potter — why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."
Chuckling darkly James said as he pulled his wand out, "He's just digging himself a deeper hole...that's all." Peter shuddered when he heard James say that, and even Padfoot nudged Remus and whined in a worried tone. Remus, not knowing what to say or do in this situation, just continued by reading where he left off in the book.
This was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Ron kicked him behind their cauldron.
"Don't push it," he muttered, "I've heard Snape can turn very nasty."
As they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour later, Harry's mind was racing and his spirits were low. He'd lost two points for Gryffindor in his very first week — whydid Snape hate him so much?
"He doesn't hate you, Harry." James said in an almost inaudible tone of voice while thinking, 'He probably thinks he's getting back at me, or something like that...too bad I'm not there to explain it to you.'
"Cheer up," said Ron, "Snape's always taking point off Fred and George. Can I come and meet Hagrid with you?"
James was still angrily mumbling to himself, and never heard what Remus was saying. Seeing this, Peter walked over to Remus and nudged him while saying, "Don't you think that James is taking this just a little too seriously?"
Remus just shrugged his shoulders while looking down at Padfoot. "What he needs is a friend who makes light of everything," Remus said while looking down at Padfoot. Padfoot whined softly then snapped his head up quickly and if a dog could have a devious facial expression, than Padfoot's expression would be it.
James sat across from Lily sulking as he saw Padfoot traipse across the room while keeping his eyes on James. Furrowing his brow James wondered, 'What is he up to?'
Jumping up on the love seat with Lily, Padfoot wagged his tail and kneeled down licking her face ever so gently while causing her to giggle slightly. Turning to face her four-legged companion she smiled and scratched him behind his ear, while saying, "Your just a big teddy bear, aren't you?"
James saw Padfoot's eyes flicker to him briefly, then they went back to Lily as he laid his head on her lap and seemed to smile. Remus wanted to laugh, as be finally figured out Padfoot's plan. The reaction was almost instantaneous, as James leaned forward with a 'look' in his eye. He watched as Padfoot began to nuzzle his head further up Lily's torso.
"Lily?" James asked in a higher that normal voice, "I don't think you want to have Padfoot that close to you. He has fleas you know."
"It's alright, James," Lily said not really paying him any attention.
Wagging his tail, Padfoot took this time to wag his eyebrow at James while moving his head closer to Lily chest. Of course, this cause two specific reaction in James. The first of these reaction was that James began to shake his head from side to side while glaring at Padfoot in such a way as to convey the thought, 'Don't you dare!' And the second of the reaction that was very obvious was that James' vice like grip on his wand, causing his knuckles to turn white.
Padfoot seemed to be enjoying himself as he stuck his great doggy tongue out at James and moved his head even closer towards his goal. James was sputtering at the mouth at about this moment and a twitch had developed in his right eye as he saw a 'soon-to-be-dead' dog and best friend pawing his-"Ahhhhhhh! Get away from her you little...!" James screamed as he got up and rushed to grab Padfoot.
However, Padfoot had been expecting this and leaped out of James reach while barking at him. "Bark at me will you!" James snapped at Padfoot, while Remus and Peter both saw what Lily couldn't. The look in James' eye was that of jealousy, plain and simple.
The door swung open violently as Padfoot raced outside and down the stairs with James in tow, casting all manner of hexes while babbling, "You pervy mutt! I know what you were up to! Get back here, and take you medicine like a man!" Padfoot barked and made a bee line for the trees as James followed him.
When James made his move Lily was shocked at first, but it was after the fact that she stood up quickly and ran to the window. She noticed Peter and Remus were both chuckling softly as they stood at the other window, but did pay no attention to that as shouting erupted from below.
Watching James and Padfoot was like viewing a comedy as Padfoot ran into a bush, closely followed by James. Then he would appear out of another bush, while James came from the opposite bush and threw a curse at him. Padfoot would the scurry back to the bushes and James would follow as the kept appearing and disappearing from random bushes. "James, don't you dare hurt him!" Lily called out as James made a grab for Padfoot, but missed by inches.
Unable to take it any more, Remus and Peter went back to sitting dawn and laughing. Lily, unable to understand their casualness in this situation asked, "What are you doing? Padfoot may get hurt, aren't you worried?"
"Not really," said Peter downing the rest of his drink, as a verbal curse floated up from the forest floor.
"Everything will be fine," assured Remus with a knowing smile. Lily, giving them a skeptical look, walked back to the window.
On the forest floor was James, huffing and puffing, and completely worn out. Padfoot then appeared from underneath some thick foliage and strode up to him. He barked once and licked his face while James looked extremely putout. "Cocky bastard, I give you this one." James said regrettably while smiling, "Thanks."
Lily watched for a little longer while, then satisfied that nothing was going to happen she walked over to the love seat and sat down. Soon both Padfoot, who had more energy than before, and James came in and sat down. James performed a Scouring Charm to remove all the grime and sweat on him as he sat next to Lily and looked at the floor.
"What was all that about?" asked Lily while one of her eye brows were raised in curiosity
Sending a 'look' Remus and Peter's way, James said, "Would you believe that he owed me money?"
Lily rolled her eye and looked away, while Remus grabbed the book off the table an began to read again. Padfoot cam along side him and Remus patted his head while whispering, "Nicely done, old boy. Nicely done."
At five to three they left the castle and made their way across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door.
When they knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "Back, Fang — back."
Hagrid's big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open.
"Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang."
He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound.
There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.
"Make yerselves at home," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears.
Padfoot let out a bark as he wagged his tail, while Lily chuckled softly and said to him, "No, Padfoot. You not nearly as scary a Fang sounds, but you definitely cuter that he is!" Padfoot looked at Lily, and then at James who was holding on to his mirth due to the fact that Lily had called him 'cute'.
Laying on the floor, Padfoot gave Remus a looked that seemed to say, 'I get no respect.' Remus could only turn his hand upwards and shrug his shoulders, while he began to read the next sentence.
Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked.
"This is Ron," Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes onto a plate.
"Another Weasley, eh?" said Hagrid, glancing at Ron's freckles. "I sent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest."
"Wow," Peter commented, "those twins might give us a run for our money!"
"Nah," James said with a smirk, "they'd never beat us in an all-out pranking war."
The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins that almost broke their teeth, but Harry and Ron pretended to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid all about their first lessons. Fang rested his head on Harry's knee and drooled all over his robes.
Padfoot whined a bit, then settled down and let out a sigh of discontent as he imagined himself playing with Harry.
Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call Filch "that old git."
"So are we!" said James who laughed along with Remus and Peter. Lily only smiled while shaking her head from side to side.
"An' as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I'd like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. D'yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can't get rid of her — Filch puts her up to it."
Harry told Hagrid about Snape's lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told Harry not to worry about it, that Snape liked hardly any of the students
"But he seemed to really hateme."
"Yeah!" said James with a little anger seeping into his voice. However, a quick and light slap to the back of the head from Lily made James blink and turn towards her, "Did you just hit me?"
"Yes," Lily said truthfully while looking at Remus, "Now let's continue."
James was stunned. He looked at Remus and said, "She just hit me." Remus tilted his head and raised his eyebrows in a perplexed gesture, while looking from where he left off.
"Rubbish!" said Hagrid. "Why should he?"
Yet Harry couldn't help thinking that Hagrid didn't quite meet his eyes when he said that.
"He's not tell Harry something!" said Peter, excited by the enticement of mystery.
"Sit down, Sherlock Holmes." said James in a stern voice while gesturing Remus to continue.
"How's yer brother Charlie?" Hagrid asked Ron. "I like him a lot — great with animals."
"Look! He changed the subject!" yelled Peter.
"Peter!" said the three, while Padfoot growled.
"Sorry," Peter said after James threatened to cast a silencing spell on him.
Harry wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose. While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie's work with dragons, Harry picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under the tea cozy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet
Gringotts Break-In Latest
Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown.
James stiffened at the mention of Dark wizards and witches, and he shushed everyone in the nook up as he asked Remus to continue.
Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.
"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep you noses out if you know what's good for you," said Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.
Harry remembered Ron telling him on the train that someone had tried to rob Gringotts, but Ron hadn't mentioned the date.
"Hagrid!" said Harry, "that Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!"
Now it was Lily's turn to stiffen, as the realization of what this meant hit her like a sledgehammer to the gut. "Hagrid...the package," Lily said in confusion, "Maybe they wanted the package Hagrid took?"
"It's possible," said Remus, "let's finish the chapter and see if it says anything else."
There was no doubt about it, Hagrid definitely didn't meet Harry's eyes this time. He grunted and offered him another rock cake. Harry read the story again. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. Hagrid had emptied vault seven hundred and thirteen, if you could call it emptying, taking out that grubby little package. Had that been what the thieves were looking for?
As Harry and Ron walked back to the castle for dinner, their pockets weighed down with rock cakes they'd been too polite to refuse, Harry thought that none of the lessons he'd had so far had given him as much to think about as tea with Hagrid. Had Hagrid collected that package just in time? Where was it now? And did Hagrid know something about Snape that he didn't want to tell Harry?
"Yep, the old Potter curiosity is peeking it's head out!" Remus said with a wide smile while closing the book and placing it on the table top. Padfoot added his agreement as he barked once, then started to pant.
Peter was quietly thinking to himself about the mystery that was given to them in the book, while Lily was staring out of the window with a bit of worry etched in to her face. Sitting up, Lily then raised her eyebrows in surprises as she remembered something, "What time is it?"
"Uh...half past two." said Remus looking at the watch on his wrist.
"That was a pretty short chapter," commented James while getting comfortable in the love seat.
"Yeah, I hope the next one is a little longer," Peter retorted as he sniffed loudly while rubbing his nose.
"I've got to go," Lily said suddenly gathering her belongings in a rush, "I promised mum I'd be back before dinner." James seeing that she was in a hurry helped her with her belongings to the fireplace. Remus and Peter both stayed back and began to strain their hearing to catch what James and Lily might talk about.
Rubbing the back of his head James asked, "Tomorrow then?"
"Sure," Lily said with a smile that quickly turned to a frown, "Please don't do anything that will hurt Snape. He's a kid just like us, James."
James face became a bit stony at the mention of Snape's name and he said in a clipped manner, "I don't do anything to him that he wouldn't do to us."
Lily sighed while turning her gaze to the floorboards and said, "Just because he doesn't have any scruples, doesn't mean that you should sink to his level." James was about to retort, but Lily held up her hand and said, "That's all I wanted to say. The rest is up to you." After Lily flooed away, James walked back into the front room and sat on the couch while Padfoot strolled up to him whining.
"She's gone, it's safe."
Fur melted into cloth as the dog shifted into a more human like shape. "Bloody hell!" yelled Sirius as he laid back on the floor and stretched his limbs, "I thought she'd never leave!"
"Serves you right for chasing me around," Peter said in a small voice.
Sirius gave Peter a wicked grin while he said darkly, "I'm not finished with you." Gulping audible, Peter shrank in his chair and did say anything else.
"So," asked Remus, "What about Snape?"
James placed his head in his hand and said slowly, "Give me some time. I need to think this through."
"What's there to think through?" asked Sirius, "I say we go over there and hang him from the ceiling by his toenails." James just shook his head and Sirius finally gave up and laid back enjoying not being a dog anymore.
"Adherium Durus," James said lazily while pointing at Sirius on the ground.
"Hey!" Sirius yelled, as he found that his whole body was stuck to the ground, "What's going on?"
James came close to Sirius and said very softly, "Do you think I would forget your transgressions as a dog, Sirius?" Remus laughed while Peter now look on in excitement.
"James, mate...I only did it for you," Sirius said trying not to laugh, because deep down he found this extremely funny.
"Sure you did. That's why I'm just going to let you sit there for a little while, as I make myself a great big lunch and eat it in front of you," James said as he got up and walked to the kitchen.
"James you bloody wanker, you better not!" threatened Sirius, "Or I'll make sure to remove rule two!" Sirius began to look around and when he found Remus and Peter he pleaded with them both to release him.
However, both of them told Sirius in so many words that they didn't want to cross James, as James walked into the room holding a plate of food and a nice cold drink. "Nooooooo!" screamed Sirius as James smiled and performed the counter curse.
"Gotcha!" James laughed while Peter and Remus both began to chuckle. However, Sirius was no longer in their midst as he seemed to disappear into the kitchen grumbling something along the lines of "hungry" and "who needs enemies".
She had been listening to the boy next to her for several hour now, and still she couldn't believe what she heard. However, she could deny it either. The way Harry had described her as a first year was almost too perfect, not to mention the fact that he knew things about her that she thought no one knew.
"Are you alright?" asked Harry while looking around the little hut that he remembered coming to whenever he needed to find 'peace of mind'.
"No," Hermione truthful said while looking down at the half eaten pencil in her hand, "How is it that you know so much about me?"
"I told you," said Harry flicking a spider away from him, "we were best friends before half of our first year was done."
Silence was all that greeted Harry, and as he looked over to Hermione he saw that fresh tears were staining her face with wet tracks that lead down her cheeks. Feeling sorry for telling her about a life she wouldn't know Harry asked, "So do you know where Ron is?"
"Ron?" asked a confused Hermione, "Oh, Ron...you mean Ronald Weasley?" Harry nodded his head and then saw something that disturbed him. Hermione looked away and ran her fingers through her hair while darting her eyes back and forth in thought.
"What's wrong?"
"Harry," said Hermione in a sad voice, "the Weasley family were all killed by Deatheaters, because of their love of Muggles."
"Even Ginny!?" asked Harry with a wild look in his eye.
"All of them," Hermione responded softly.
"What about my other friends? Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, where are they?" Harry pondered out loud.
"The Longbottom's were all killed in the last war." Hermione said, feeling a knot in her throat as Harry's look of loss only deepened. "As for Luna...I've never even heard of her."
Harry seemed to realize at that moment just how things had gotten so bad, "So you never helped Neville look for his toad on the train first year, did you?"
Casting her eyes downward Hermione said, "Everyone thought I was too bossy and snobby. So I...I shut myself in a cabin and kept to myself. Why?"
"That's how you met me and Ron...you were looking for Neville's toad," Harry said with a sad smile at the fading memory.
Getting up and dusting himself off Harry helped Hermione off the ground. Together they walked back to the castle talking about the differences in the time lines. "Hold on," said Hermione in shock, "did you just say that Sirius Black was your godfather in the other time line?"
"Yeah, so?"
"So?So? Sirius Black is Voldemort's right hand. In fact, his whole family was big supporters of Voldemort in the first war, and they only survived because of their wealth and power," Hermione told Harry in even tones.
Head spinning from the ridiculousness of it all, Harry spun around on her and said angrily, "Well if he's not my Godfather then who is?" As if on cue, Harry heard a very familiar voice calling him by his first name. And in that moment, he instantly regretted asking that question of Hermione, because when he turned towards that voice he saw something that made him close his eyes and wish that 'he would just disappear'.
Coming down the path with his black cloak billowing in the nighttime breeze — hook nose, sallow skin and all — was Severus Snape calling out, "Harry! Harry, are you alright?"
Eyes wide with shock, Harry did what anyone would do when faced with a day like this — he fainted dead away.
As Snape levitated Harry's body up to the hospital wing of the castle, Hermione noticed that a small object had slipped out of Harry's pocket and was lying on the ground. Glowing pale blue and emitting a tiny pulse of light, Hermione's eye widened as she recognized the Divinus. Quickly scooping up the object, she ran after the two adults and tagged along while following closely behind.
That's when she felt it, a tiny vibration came from the pocket of her coat and when she reached in and drew out the Divinus she noted that it had flared to life and was sending out a bright blue light. Not knowing what to do, Hermione thought, 'I hope this isn't bad. Please wake up soon, Harry.'
The night sky sparkled overhead like a shimmering blanket of lights, while the shadows below covered everything in a silent stillness. However, some of the shadows lurking in the darkness had plans of their own. Quickly, and silent as the grave, four shadows stalked through the streets of the small wizarding community known as Harkinson's End. Coming to the end of the street the four shadows flittered quickly across the starlit road only to once again be covered in the by the all concealing shadows of the alley.
If anyone in the neighborhood had taken the time, they would have heard a faint hummed tune that had been carried by the wind. "Daaa dum, daaaa dum, dum dum dum dum dum!"
"Cut it out," said one of the voices in a harsh tone, "they'll hear us."
"We're two blocks down, Pete. No one can hear anything," replied another voice.
However, the two never finished their conversation as the person in the front took off down the street and stopped just outside a large and open wrought iron fence. Gesturing for them to follow, after he made sure everything was alright, the other three quickly moved to where he was. Opening his bag, he pulled out a fine piece of cloth with all sorts of embroidery on it. Turning it inside-out he covered them all and had them follow him pass the fence and on to the grounds of a very expensive looking house.
"This is going to be so great!" said one of the voices in a excited fervor.
"Calm down, Sirius," said a voice that unmistakably belonged to Remus Lupin.
Walking up to the first window that they saw the boys saw three people sitting at a table eating dinner. The older man, who sat at the head of the table, had wide shoulders and a broad face with well defined features. Great large black bags hung under the mans eyes and his mouth seemed to be stuck in a permanent sneer. On his head, loosely clumped together, was shoulder length greasy black hair and went well with his thin mustache and tapered goatee.
"Now we know who he takes hair tips from," joked Sirius as Remus both elbowed him and shushed him at the same time.
Sitting across from the man in a stunning evening gown was a radiant woman who's hooked nose only seemed to bring out even more of her beautiful smile as she talked to both of the men sitting at the table. Her alabaster skin and dark brown hair complemented her looks and even made Sirius wonder if that really was Snape's mom.
When the four boy gazes finally fell on the last person at the table they all became very quiet. Sitting stiffly in his chair while playing with his food was a young man with greasy hair, pale skin and, in the boys opinion, a abnormally large nose. They all watched as he seemed to be sulking about something.
"Hurry," said the voice of the boy in front, "before they finish." Rushing around the edge of the house the boys soon found another window.
"Isn't this convenient," said Peter while looking in the room. Looking in the young men saw that the room was completely bare except for the amount of jarred, pickled, packaged and dried potion ingredients that littered the room's shelves.
"Hey, James," said Sirius in a whisper, "One guess to who sleeps here."
"Snivillus," James said in a cold manner as he opened the bad and brought out several tools and items. "Ominoculars?" asked James, "Where are the bloody ominoculars!"
"I've got them," Peter said softly while handing what looked like brass binoculars to James.
"Here," said James while pulling off the invisibility cloak and handing Sirius a bunch of magical fireworks. Sirius could only chuckle at the knowledge of where these fireworks were going to end up. Pulling his wand out, James cast an Opening Charm on the window. When the window opened, the young men all began to carry out their plan.
It would have succeeded too, had it not been for the interruption that happened as James began to climb through the window. Hearing foot steps walking to the door James promptly jumped out of the window while Remus cast a Closing Charm on the window.
Quickly scrambling for the safety of the invisibility cloak, James watched in mild annoyance as Snape opened his door then slammed it close. "Stupid idiot!" James and the other heard Snape yell to himself.
"Idiot, am I?" came the cold voice of Snape's father from the door to the room.
"Father!" Snape's voice cracked slightly in surprise, "I didn't hear you knock."
"Should I," asked the imposing man who towered over Snape by half a foot, "this is my house after all, is it not? Should I have to knock at my own door?"
"No, father," Snape said in a monotone voice that seemed to be more mechanical than sincere.
Locking the door behind him Snape's father began to glare malevolently at Snape while saying, "It seems to me that you have yet to understand who is the master of this house." Walking over to a jar on Snape's desk the man tipped it over and it crashed to the ground sending, difficult to find, Querken eggs scattering all over the floor, while Snape bit his lip in anger.
"You've made a fool of me in front of my wife for the last time, boy," said Snape's dad gripping his wand tightly. The young men all watched as the large man strode up to Snape with a sort of palpable evil intent.
It seemed like slow motion to James, Snape made a move for his wand on his desk as his father cast a powerful stunning spell. Immobilized and laying on the floor, Snape whimpered softly as the large man put down his wand and strode over to Snape. Reaching him the man gave him a swift kick to the ribs causing most of the air in Snape to exit in a painful grunt.
"You weak, pitiful, insignificant, speck of wasted flesh!" Snape's father spat in anger as he emphasized each word with either a kick or a punch.
James felt sick, dropping the ominoculars at the window base and walking back the way they came he seemed to be in a daze. As he passed the dinning room he saw Snape's mother crying as she knew what was happening only three rooms away.
Sirius walked next to James and didn't say a word. His face was unreadable, but James knew that he was have a hard time coping with what he saw. Peter looked like he wanted to throw up and Remus was besides himself with anger.
'I need time to think,' he told himself as he replayed what was happening to Snape in his head. Looking up at the sky James then said, "Sirius? Remus? Peter? Thank you for being my friends."
As if understanding what that meant the others all smiled and threw an arm around each other as they began they journey back to James' house.
Four shadows faded into the night only to leave four men standing in their wake. Darkness was too dark as they found that light was just right as the stars lead them home.
