AUTHOR'S NOTES: When I first started writing this as a crossover, I knew that after meeting Harry, Gibbs wouldn't view him as a kid, but as Dumbledore does: a young man capable with dealing with bad situations.

Add to that the idea of Gibbs confronting Snape and this chapter came rather quickly.

As for my glimpses into Gibbs' past, all I have to say is 'Thank God for repeats!'.

Chapter 12


Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny and as Harry entered the Great Hall, he noticed that Gibbs was already at the Gryffindor table with a pot of coffee. "I take it you're not a fan of tea, then?" Harry asked as he joined the senior agent.

"Without coffee, life as we know it wouldn't exist," Gibbs replied, eying Harry. "Didn't figure you for the early rising type."

"Couldn't go back to sleep," Harry shrugged. "So… What made you work for NCIS?"

"I was a marine," Gibbs replied. "And… years ago… I lost my wife and daughter."

"My parents died when I was just over a year old," Harry said, looking at the table. "Dad… he died to try and give my mum time to escape, but… Voldemort killed him… and her… Then he tried to kill me."

"But he didn't," Gibbs said, taking another sip of coffee. Harry shook his head and as he did so, Gibbs noticed the lightning shaped scar. "Tell me about your parents," Gibbs said, gently.

Harry gave a short laugh. "I look like my dad but… I have my mum's eyes. Sirius—my godfather—says he sees more of my mum in me than my dad."

"No siblings?" Gibbs asked, curiously.

Harry shrugged. "This summer, the people who moved across the street from the Dursleys—The Thortons—they adopted me after… well, after my uncle hit me with his car. They have a daughter, Rae."

Gibbs smiled. "There's nothing more important than family, Harry."

"When I first started at Hogwarts," Harry went on. "My friend, Ron Weasley… his mother practically made me part of the family. I don't know what I would have done without her."

Topping off his coffee mug, Gibbs asked, "What were you saying the other day about Snape?"

Harry sighed. "Snape hates all the students, except the ones from his own house, Slytherin." Seeing that Gibbs was starting to get confused, Harry smiled and said, "When Hogwarts was first built, the four founders—Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin—each selected the students who had characteristics that they admired. Now, they use the Sorting Hat. It… reads your mind and tells you which house you'd be best suited for. The Slytherins are traditionally cunning, devious… and more often than not… sinister."

"What about the other founders?" Gibbs asked, interested.

Harry found it a tad surprising that Gibbs wanted to hear about Hogwarts, but he went on. "Hufflepuff generally valued friendships… hard work… loyalty… Ravenclaw wanted students of high intelligence."

"And Gryffindor?"

Harry grinned. "Gryffindor valued bravery, courage… and heart." There was something that Harry had never told anyone and sitting with Gibbs, he felt that this man would understand. "But… when I was sorted my first year… The Sorting Hat said that I'd do well in Slytherin."

Gibbs considered this for a moment before replying. "Sometimes doing the right thing… being brave… means using methods and ideas that might be frowned upon. Right doesn't always mean good. Sometimes the wrong thing is done for the right reason. Doesn't make you evil. And sometimes people do the wrong thing because that's how they're raised."

"I know," Harry said, nodding.

"On the other hand," Gibbs added, "Sometimes people turn an unsavory background into something positive."

"How?" Harry asked.

"Ziva David was raised to be an assassin," Gibbs explained. "Later on, she came to work at NCIS and she's been a valuable member of the team."

Harry thought about this and asked, "You don't trust Snape, do you?"

"I've learned to trust my gut," Gibbs replied.

"So have I," Harry said. "Dumbledore says that he has his reasons for trusting Snape, but… I know I'm right. There's something… not right about Snape… And this year…"

When Harry trailed off, Gibbs' internal radar went off. "What about this year?"

Harry shook his head and shrugged. "It's nothing…"

"Never assume it's nothing until you're sure," Gibbs said.

Harry sighed. "This… competition… The TriWizard Tournament… It hasn't been done for almost 100 years," Harry said. "Now someone just randomly decides to resurrect it? I mean, it could be a coincidence, but—" Seeing the look on Gibbs' face, he said, "If it's not a coincidence…"

Gibbs was silent for a moment then topped off his mug one more time and stood up, heading for the door, stopping as he was about to leave the room. "You coming?" Gibbs asked, looking at Harry.

Harry was surprised but he joined Gibbs and the two headed for the dungeons. "If you don't minding me asking, sir… Why are you bringing me along?"

"Because I want your insight," Gibbs replied. "You know Snape… you know what he's like… Besides… if things get out of hand…"

Harry hoped it wouldn't go that far but he still followed Gibbs to Snape's quarters, watching as he knocked on the door.

When the door opened, Harry wheeled behind Gibbs, not wanting to catch the bulk of Snape's wrath.

"What are you doing here?" Snape said, icily.

"Need to ask you some questions," Gibbs said, not fazed at all by Snape's glares.

Snape looked around Gibbs and saw Harry who was looking a bit afraid. Without saying a word, Snape stood aside and let both of them into the room. "Make this brief."

"Not big on conversation, are ya?" Gibbs said, looking around the hardly furnished room. "Why does Dumbledore trust you?"

Harry had seen Snape get angry… get defensive… but when Gibbs asked the question Snape seemed to withdraw… Not from Gibbs' stares… but from Harry's…

Gibbs noticed this and said, "How long did you date Harry's mother?"

Harry's jaw dropped and he looked at Snape in disbelief. "What?"

Snape looked away. "It was years ago…" he muttered, quickly. "We were children…"

But Harry's mind was running through everything he knew about Snape and his parents and something popped up. "Peter Pettigrew wasn't the only traitor," Harry said, with sudden realization. "He… He sent Voldemort—"

"Do not speak his name!" Snape spat, pure rage and hatred in his voice.

"Pettigrew betrayed Mum and Dad's location, but…" Harry's gaze fixed on Snape. "You know why Voldemort was after them… and me… Don't you?"

Snape started to walk away but Harry wheeled forward. "I spend 13 years getting beaten, starved, abused and neglected!" Harry shouted. "My uncle hit me with his car and paralyzed me! If you had anything to do with this I want to know! NOW!"

Snape's mind was spinning scenarios but finally, he sighed. "There was a prophecy… one which was negated by the Dark Lord's untimely demise… I passed news of that prophecy under the agreement that Lily would be spared."

"So Harry's mother would live… and Harry's father?" Gibbs asked, reading the potions master's voice and body language. "You didn't care about him. Harry told me that the two of you hate each other. And I can guess why." Looking at Harry who was reeling from this new information, Gibbs went on. "You wanted Harry's father to die."

"I wanted to be with Lily," Snape said in his defense. "James… He was always in the way! I would never do anything to hurt her!"

Harry wheeled around and left quickly, not stopping until he was in the Entrance Hall. There were tears in his eyes and he just wanted to scream… throw something…

"Harry…"

Harry didn't reply when he heard Gibbs calling his name.

"I shouldn't have brought you along," Gibbs said, sadly. "I'm sorry."

Harry shook his head. "I just…" Still fighting tears, Harry looked away.

"Years ago… I was in a coma after an explosion during a case," Gibbs said, his voice calm. "When I woke up… I didn't remember the past 15 years… I thought it was just months after Shannon and Kelly, my wife and daughter, died… when I heard about 9/11… It made me sick thinking about all that." Gibbs went to sit on the staircase and he waited until Harry came closer. "Soon after, I watched a frigate blow up… I quit… I left and enjoyed being away from it all… breathing the free air…" Looking at Harry, he said, "But I got pulled back in. You can't run from that kind of pain, Harry. And if you try to bury it… you'll end up like me."

"I always… I wanted to know why Snape hated me… Why my parents died…" Harry said, tears falling from his eyes. "Now… I wish I didn't know…"

"Yeah…" Gibbs said, quietly. "I know how you feel…"