Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hope that 2018 will be a more successful year of writing, although I admit that I have been a little distracted by other fanfic ideas.

Sorry (once again *sigh*) for the long wait. But I really hope that you enjoy this chapter.

DISCLAIMER: HP BELONGS TO J.K. ROWLING

Chapter 10 Abundance of Guilt

Severus Snape was not having a good day and this bloody headache of his was more stubborn than Miss Potter on a save-the-world mission.

After everyone left, he had stayed back to listen to Dumbledore's strictly confidential plan of how he, with his position as a double agent – of course he would have to do the hard work in covering up other people's stupidity – would need to respond to Voldemort's questioning. Which was:

Tell him everything.

Ridiculous isn't it.

But Dumbledore was among those who understood that no matter what plans the Dark Lord was scheming, the events in the past must have occurred for the present to be the way it is now. Dumbledore knew that Tom Marvolo Riddle was intelligent enough to grasp that fact, and the glory seeking dark lord wouldn't want such an anti-climactic end by simply killing off his hit list number one's father before he even became a father.

'After everything, Voldemort will make a public display of it should he ever get the chance of harming Miss Potter again. So it will be of little harm to let him know that this is just a temporary situation.'

That was what Dumbledore said, but there was also a time when Dumbledore said that he would keep Lily safe.

Then again, why did Severus care for the life and well-being of James Potter? This one could've came from an alternative universe – he read several papers published by well-known mages studying the topic – and his demise would therefore cause no harm whatsoever to the Miss Potter they know. And even if he wasn't, he'll live (long enough to fulfill his fate in this timeline at least).

With that thought, he was just about to apparate to Malfoy Manor with his report until a shimmering doe patronus leaped towards him and Dumbledore who was just behind him. Seeing the graceful vision froze him on the spot, it would appear that Potter inherited more from Lily than he gave her credit for. Even though he knew that her patronus was the same as her mother's, it was still a shock each time.

'Professor please come to the library now. James is- I don't know what happened b-but I think he's been cursed.' With that alarming and very lacking message, the doe disappeared.

His headache was now beating a steady staccato.

'Well Severus, since it is a library owned by the Black family, I suspect that some type of dark magic has a hand in this.' He might as well have told Severus that his skills and expertise were needed, but no, the old man had to speak in riddles.

He had some interesting potions waiting for him to get back to… And a dark lord to report to… But if it was serious dark magic then no one would know better than Severus.

'Let's go.'

After half an hourglass' worth of time was wasted spent with the youngsters in the library. Severus was on the verge of strangling the living daylights out of the young but still infuriating Sirius Black.

What James Potter encountered was indeed dark magic, and of course you can count on the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black to hide such a nasty little bugger in a seemingly harmless library book.

It was already difficult enough to maintain his chant as he tried to decipher the DNA of the curse and therefore find the remedy to give everyone their peace of mind – and save James Potter's life – but that was getting difficult with the non-stop background noise

'Will he be okay?' He'll be fine Miss Potter

'You're not hurting him are you?' Not telling you, Idiot Junior

'Worry not, Professor Snape has a great range of expertise in this area.'

'That's why I'm worried.' Clearly not worried enough to forewarn your friend before this mess started

'I thought we already cleared the house of all dangerous objects.' Indeed Miss Potter, this would not be the first time you were negligent with a given task.

They kept talking in circles while Severus was, in fact, getting nowhere himself. Frowning, he recast the diagnosis spell for a third time and the same conversation replayed itself twice more by the time his results again failed to tell him the information he sought.

He checked the pulse. Steady, and the boy still appeared healthy, that is quite lucky for a dark curse. Dumbledore had placed James into a bewitched sleep to make it easier for Severus. But nothing would make it easy for Severus to so kindly rescue the boy that would steal Lily away. Looking at that face, the similarities between the two Potters struck him again, but the slight differences were also more obvious now that he received such a pleasant reminder.

Standing up and biting back a groan as his knees unglued themselves from a kneeling position –fitness really wasn't high on his priorities these day, he directed his attention to his waiting audience.

'Headmaster, I have triedmy best, but-'

'HOLLY ARE YOU HURT?'

Sirius Black, the one of their time, came storming in with Lupin close on his heels. He relaxed for a brief moment when he saw his goddaughter safe and sound next to Dumbledore, but when he saw James Potter's still body, and Severus standing over it like a vulture about to gobble up its prey, the rage of old times resurfaced.

Luckily for Severus, he was not the one with a brain that had been rotting away in Azkaban for 12 years. Sirius was stupefied before he could even fully unsheathe his wand.

Luckily for the Mongrel, Lupin had his back - literally.

With an amused twinkle totally inappropriate for their current situation, Dumbledore asked 'Severus, was that really necessary?'

'Apologies, my reflexes took over.'

'Understandable, you are living in stressed times.' Thanks to you old man.

'Now, we were just getting to the problem here. Ah, Remus why don't you put Sirius on that rather comfortable-looking armchair there, we can explain everything to him later and you might as well chime in to this.'

Waiting patiently for Lupin to complete his task, he continued 'As I was saying before, I have tried all the diagnosis spells I know for dark magic-'

'Dark magic!?'

'Silence Lupin.' Merlin help him, this was more disruptive than his first year defence class with the rebellious Gryffindors. 'Not only is it dark magic, but it's of a form so complex that not even I can identify the root of it.'

'And therefore you are unable to identity a remedy.'

'Exactly. However, I do suspect this to be a type of family magic, so perhaps…' a glance at the passed out Sirius Black, he would be helpful with this, Severus almost regretted using such a powerful stupefy.

Dumbledore understood, thanked the potions master and sent him on his way with the promise of contacting him on any further developments. It was time for the light wizards to do some research into dark magic. The idea was so amusing Severus almost wished he had the time to stay back and watch but he had an appointment with the Dark Lord.

Meanwhile, Remus took it upon himself as a former teacher to reprimand the trouble maker.

'That was very stupid.'

'Yeah.'

'You could've been hurt.'

'Sorry…'

'No point apologising, what's done is done. What we need now is a way to sort out this bloody mess.' Remus ran a hand through his hair –or what was left of it these days. He was here scolding the poor boy while his best friend was lying comatose a few feet away from them.

He was merely sleeping, but it could turn into an eternal sleep at any moment. Except they knew it wouldn't, yet that knowledge offered little comfort.

'Look, just try to get some rest. Albus and Severus are more than capable of fixing this blasted matter.'

The boy didn't appear assured but nodded anyway. Dumbledore coaxed him to take a calming draught before they had two patients to look after and levitated James' alive but not-that-alive body up the stairs to their room. Sirius slowly followed, although the potion was taking its effects on him, his storm-grey eyes were as sharp as ever and watching his friend for any change in condition. The poor kid was clearly blaming himself.

Remus shook his head at his retreating back. Guilt won't help. The Sirius he knew spent 12 years wasting away in Azkaban, feeding on guilt. But he got out when he found a sense of purpose, and that is what they would need to find a cure for this dark magic shit.

Not long after Severus, Dumbledore also left leaving them with strict instructions about keeping James' condition under the most secret of secrets. It wouldn't do to ruffle the feathers of the order even further.

Then their long search begun.

And sweet Merlin, was it going to be a long search.

Upon a simple charm cast by Remus to single out the books in the library relating to family magic, half of the library lit up like the Christmas tree still standing upstairs.

And the library was no simple shed even if it looked like one. First impressions can be deceiving indeed. Remus estimated that it was at least half the size of house itself, given that it was in the basement.

It was useless, and endless, and many other adjectives which Holly was too frustrated to think about. They had been flipping through numerous books for hours, her fingers were coated with dust and her throat was irritated by her continuous sneezing. Her vision wasn't much better off, with the dust fog adding a thin layer to the lenses she relied on to see the world. And of course, instead of being the talented witch she is and using a simple spell –the ministry wouldn't be able to detect her illegal use of magic with all the wards - she decided to use her fingers. When that only made it worse, she tried to wipe it on her top, same results.

So, with dust-coated fingers, dust-coated glasses and very likely also a dust-coated throat. She finally voiced her annoyance.

'Remus I-I'm- AH-CHOO!'

'Bless you.'

'Thank you.' Her nose still tickled. The dusty atmosphere reminded her of the days she spent in the cupboard under the stairs when Dudley decided to stomp up and down to create a dust storm in her little safe heaven and prison. But the glaringly obvious difference now was the space.

'Anyway, I haven't found anything that works. Like, I've found a lot of stuff, but things just don't end up matching with James' symptoms.'

'Neither have I, this is going to take a while.'

Trying unsuccessfully once again to clean her glasses, she asked 'What's Sirius doing?'

'Which one?'

'Sirius Sirius. Oh well, what about both?'

'Sirius the Younger is sitting vigil by James' bedside while the Older has been going through other collections of family spells and trying to cast something that has an effect.'

'Any luck?'

She watched him shake his head and felt her own shoulders sag under the weight of exhaustion and disappointment.

'How long will this go on for?' she wondered hopelessly to herself.

Many miles away, another tense answer seeking session was occurring, and Severus could only curse the idiots as each second that passed raised his chance of death.

'That is all, My Lord.' Severus finished, and bowed his head in deference with a silent sigh of relief that his voice didn't tremble.

'Time-travel…'

Severus hesitantly lifted his head a notch.

'Dark magic…'

Bony fingers tapped on the marble table, the sound it made emphasised by the ambiance of anxious anticipation from those of the prestigious inner circle. Snake-like eyes looked straight at Severus, a stare that made him quickly check his shields like a little boy trying to wipe the chocolate he shouldn't have eaten off his face.

'Severus.' His voice was soft, silent, and reflective. Not angry and harsh. But Severus remembered that soft and silent could promise a much more painful death.

'Yes My Lord?'

'How long have these people been in our time?'

Severus cursed Dumbledore now, he didn't actually say how long they had been here for, or how long they would stay. Actually, he was partly to blame as his fury couldn't let Dumbledore speak another word once he heard 'James Potter and Sirius Black… 20 years ago… travelled through time.'

'My Lord!' This would be the first time in history Severus found himself grateful to hear Bella's shriek. 'Perhaps this would be a good chance to exterminate our enemies, to kill those two bloodtraitors now, would mean that the Potter girl won't even be-'

'Silence.' He only whispered, but to Bellatrix it was the same as a condemnation from the Gods. Severus thought as he observed her whimper and shrink into her seat. The bloodthirsty confidence she displayed only seconds ago had been completely slashed away by their Lord's reproval.

Bony fingers continued to tap.

'Anything else to say, Severus?'

'No, My Lord. I have reported to you everything that was relayed to the order.' More than that even, the order still had no knowledge about the curse.

'Very well.'

The tapping stopped, and so did Severus' heart for a split second, not that he'd let anyone know.

'How long has it been going on for now?'

'Three days I believe.'

'It's madness, utter madness this whole business.' Molly Weasley proclaimed and uttered a little expletive as the bowl of stew she was levitating spilled a little. 'If she came to the burrow, none of this would have happened.'

'What? The time-travelling or the curse?'

'All of it!' slamming her hands on the table caused it to spill even more. She quickly spelled the mess away, again. 'Well, I suppose the time-travellers would've come wherever they went, but James –the poor boy- wouldn't have been anywhere near that blasted book if they came to the burrow, like they were supposed to.' Molly fumed, and finished setting the table for dinner.

Remus could only watch as the matron clucked disapprovingly at the kitchen utensils 'stir a bit quicker, before we all starve to death.' He knew that Molly saw Holly as one of her own, and Holly herself, an orphan girl who only had those sorry excuses of relatives to call family, reciprocated the feeling. But then Sirius came into the picture, desperate to piece together his life, and Holly, hungry for those with knowledge – personal knowledge – about her parents, clung to each other like leeches to bleeding flesh.

Sirius made Holly his heir, his confidante, the centre of his decaying world. Holly saw him as the father figure she would never have, and Remus regretted that he had been so distant from her in her third year. At that time, it was also guilt which kept him away. If he could eat guilt, he would've died from gluttony by now.

'I always knew something like this would happen sooner or later. That man is not fit to be a parent, Merlin knows he's been in Azkaban for-' she stopped suddenly when a chair crashed to the floor, and was met by Remus' blazing gold eyes.

'I admit that Sirius is a fool, an idiot, and a trouble-making moron. Hell, for years I thought that he had real shit stuck in his brain from some childhood prank with his cousins.' Merlin knows Bellatrix has stepped up her game since then. Remus took a steadying breath and tried to calm the beast raging within him. 'But he is trying his best, and you better fucking not bring up Azkaban again as a way of justifying his lack of good sense.' Molly had the urge to step back as Remus advanced towards her, but the matron held her ground and stared back, although less convincingly.

'That is very high and mighty of you, since you never once protested for his innocence.'

Molly saw the hurt creep into his irises, and felt a stab of remorse for bringing up the painful past. And she opened her mouth to apologize, yet was once again stopped when she saw another pair of eyes behind Remus.

Storm-grey eyes stared sorrowfully, but still defiantly at her. 'Came for the stew, but clearly there's more beef out of it than in.' he stormed away, and Molly heard porcelain crash.

In case anyone is unfamiliar with slang, beef also means argument. Puns and sarcasm seem to be my inspiration as I write this.

Thank you for reading, please leave a review! :)