I think this story is truly the ultimate test to my patience, believe me, I never thought I have this kind of patience, yet, I'll be writing over 50 chapters - maybe over 100 - and it will be worth it! If JK can do it, so can I!
*blinks* Well, enjoy a new chapter while I continue writing as usual~
Empty. He knew the headmaster never leaves so early…of course, that was probably until he arrived here. Just how would he reach the old man? He groaned as transformed into a screaming horribly. His fingers clenched tightly onto his hair and this was not helping his case!
"Javier?" The old man's voice was obviously known.
The savior sighed, glad that he wasn't going through the same thing alone! He saw the man at the desk, pondering how he did that without making the apparition's noise, and how he knew he was here. Something had told him that Hogwarts' castle got its own magic and he wouldn't think of it otherwise.
"Albus, I have a problem and I don't know what to do." He gulped.
Albus shifted his head, uncertain what he was trying to claim, "I'm afraid I don't understand…"
Javier handed the sheet in such disgust, "Read it." He gulped, rather to burn it into another set of fire and become nothing but ash and dust.
The headmaster accepted it and read the paper carefully. His lips grew into a frown and it was not a good thing. While a letter was simple and short, it was rather alarming to find out something unusual to come to this point.
"I take it muggle's prison isn't secured as ours?"
Javier scoffed, "You think? Just this letter and Severus is already petrified to go home!" His fingers flew to unruly hair and nearly yanked it out.
Albus stroke his beard, "I doubt he knows how to find the boy. If he does, you must allow the boy to make a decision. You are not technically legal since you are from the future and the Ministry would not take that kindly to this."
The savior stood right where he was. His heart raced too much to handle all at once to believe this old man. Someone he knew and grew up with from the time he came here was nothing like he expected now. He scoffed and shook his head.
"So, it's up to Severus to decide? He needs us to decide for him! He couldn't even decide what to say!" His hand tossed in the air, "Bloody hell!"
The headmaster stood there with wide eyes as his blue eyes did not dare to twinkle as they usually do. Albus was witnessing for the first time to see what kind of a time traveler he was. This was truly Harry, not a bright young man, but someone who experienced enough to suffer that no one could ever compare.
"Severus can make the decision, Harry, you simply have to allow it." The calming effect did not help the savior's worries at all.
Javier glared, "He's just a child!" His teeth gritted, "He got no clue what to do! Gah! You aren't helping," He snatched the letter back and rushed out of the office.
The old man stood and unable to handle what he dealt with. He pondered about the young man's emotions on the matter and couldn't put much into the factor since he hasn't grasped everything that would be happening. If anything, he trusted Harry to do this and alone, he could not do much. The blue eyes twinkled briefly, but died down for now.
The professor stormed through the hallways and several students were avoiding him as if he was fire roaming through dangerously.
"KIN!" The witch shouted, not far from the other side of the hallway.
Javier jerked his head and saw the head of the house Gryffindor coming his way. She was noticing his obvious behavior and somehow, he needed someone to help his situation. She did seem to protect the boy without a doubt on the first day and Javier knew who she was.
"What," He seethed.
She frowned, "I can sense your magic a bit too strong, which is scaring our students. Tone it down," She demanded.
His eyes narrowed, "Not after the old fool just did," He figured he could slid around.
Minerva placed her hand on his upper arm, "Or I will be forced to suppress your magic for the entire day."
The defense professor took a deep breath and buried deep his strong emotions for the time being. He gave her the sheet as he did for Albus and the witch did not waste her time to react.
"Where is the boy?"
"To his dormitory to get ready to go on the express and meet me at the platform," He spoke through his teeth.
The look in her pale green eyes engrossed on the revenge to the point that there was no way she could be…innocent as she seems. Her face spoke a side that Javier did not wish to find out, yet, his Slytherin side had found this rather promising to his needs. It sets him a better control of himself once more. Yet, his Gryffindor side had to question about anything he knew about the house's standard or personality wise. For now, he's Javier and he dealt with what he needed to do.
Minerva grinned, too much glimmering in her eyes that sent the evil to death already, "There is a way to handle it."
The emerald eyes narrowed and observed her closely, "What do you want in return?" He knew how to be a Slytherin without trying, probably growing up with Draco and Severus had acted too well to be known without backing down.
The witch's magic glowed briefly, "Weekly visit over the summer."
Javier kept quiet and thought through it before he could truly considered it. He softly hummed and understood her true intention, despite that she would not truly admit it.
"Severus does not find out," Javier held his breath, "I advise not lying to him."
The witch blinked, "Now you warned me?"
The Slytherin professor tilted his head, "Did I miss something?"
"He caught on quickly with my lies, but it's worked out." Minerva brushed it off, hoping she wouldn't have to put up with this brief lies.
Javier nodded slowly and began to wonder who the bloody hell she was. He did not know for certain, but he went along with it.
"Of course. Gryffindors. Fine. What are we to do if he shows up?" He mentally gulped.
Professor McGonagall smiled, "Leave all that to me."
Somehow, the Slytherin professor decided to trust her and gathered the note back. He tucked it into his robe's pocket and rushed off elsewhere. He knew Severus had little time to talk to him since the express would be leaving without half an hour. There were few last minutes students running, mostly third years or fourth years. Somehow, Javier felt better that he knows something would work out for the best. He hoped Severus' father wouldn't dare…he couldn't handle to repeat the beginning again.
Severus needs him. An echoing mantra formed in the savior's head as time went by.
…
Javier hung in the crowds as any parents and families should be. There were people chatting along comfortably and accepting the welcome home. It seemed only nine months ago, Senior Malfoy was talking to him and how Lucius fell for him from the start. The day he gave the boy a hug to ensure that he truly cares. The day where Lily's parents were a nervous wreck to send her off to Hogwarts.
The express train wasn't much to wait for as they were seen about half a mile away. Everyone was eagerly to see the students off board and joined home for the summer holidays. The memories flew through in his thoughts with each time for his first year to his very last. There was so much he went through, but so much he would not take back.
Javier closed his eyes for two seconds and opened them up as he saw the train presented itself. The students were racing off and rejoined their family they have longed for. The joy that school was over and the long vacation was worth it to sought through. It was magic.
The time traveler spotted the little werewolf and he winked. Javier nodded and watched him greet his parents. Then, he saw James and Sirius playing some game to toss back and forth as Peter begged them to give it back to him. Oh, that was better to put Javier's mood in. He knew that traitor deserved it the most, even though he was only a child. Next year, he had to work a little harder on them and a little evil, if he must. For now, he got summer to fulfill and that was Severus.
The crowd was huge and difficult to demerge from them. He kept his sight everywhere, knowing the charm was still there, and he knew too well. He should have known and shouldn't have expected less. His hand settled on the boy's shoulder.
"You mustn't be afraid, Severus. I'm here for you," Javier grinned, "Besides, I can't be embarrassing to be seen in public, am I?"
The young Snape dismissed his spell and shook his head. Javier hugged him to welcome him, even though they have seen each other during the entire school year. To the boy, it was enough to accept. Although, in his very mind, he wondered if he would wound up seeing his…no, he couldn't think of such thing. Javier could see that Severus struggled to forget, but the man-who-lived knew better than that.
"Let's go home," He gulped.
"Professor Kin, wait up!" He heard the soft voice.
Javier turned and saw the red hair, "Ah, Lily, do you need a way home?"
Lily stopped running and smiled as gentle she could be, "Would you please? Mum and dad aren't able to make it on time since they are getting out of work now and getting here would be an hour." She sheepishly smiled.
If anything, Javier found himself content enough to see the side of his mother. While he would never see her again once he returns to his timeline, but he would know exactly what she was like.
"Sure. Do both of you have your things?"
They nodded and they followed his lead. They ran through the wall magically without fear and breathed. It was an adventure that reminded a beginning to its end for the year.
"Severus!" A grouchy tone was not much of an inviting sound.
The boy froze and his onyx eyes drew to the man that he feared. The hand rested on the young Slytherin to ensure his safety and the time traveler eyed the father. The father has a round belly, unhealthy dark blond hair, and dark brown eyes that filled cold and cruel within him. Javier noticed the nose was thinner than the future Severus' nose would have been, but crooked perfectly. He sneered at the young boy for not moving so much.
A loud hiss caught the three of their attention and jerked to the ground. A black and small cat was preparing to prance an attack. The guardian recognized the cat from the start and he chose not to question the situation. The father growled and waved at the cat, but did not run off from him. She whipped her claw out at him, warning him that she has her defense prepared, and did not like his behavior.
"Get out of here you bloody cat!" The man screamed, while the crowd noticed briefly and hurried out the way.
"You are not my father anymore," The boy declared.
Tobias glared at him, "Watch your mouth or it will kill you."
"No."
Javier stared at his Slytherin. He was seeing a 12 year old boy standing up to his own father.
"You better not have called him father either!"
Severus scoffed, "Pathetic. I learned spells that can teach me to defend myself and if I went home with you, I have my ways around you." His lips twitched as his hands curled into a tight fist.
His teeth gritted, "I am your father, boy-" The cat hissed louder, "-Shut the hell up, you bloody cat!" His head snapped at her.
Lily was hiding behind the guardian for her own safety and watched everything. She knew exactly the kind of man he was and she knew what he was capable of. Severus did not dare to sugarcoat it from day one. She hasn't seen the side of him like this before.
Tobias snatched the boy's arm and pulled him along. Javier's grip was not enough and failed. The feline clawed the man's hands, but he wouldn't release his son. The Slytherin jerked away, but failed. There was the horrible night growing stronger as if it was repeating, to see his mother dying in front of him, and how much he begged. Mum protected him, but he was supposed to protect her and failed.
The father dragged him out and heard Javier demanding the murderer to let Severus go, but the voice seemed to fade away as further they went. Why was this happening? The thought of being attack reminded him the fear he hated. Any say had hardly allowed such happy freedom. Now, he was losing all of that…just the same as his mum.
The heart was pounding, petrified to think he would never see Javier, or live another day.
"No…" He whispered, "No." Slowly louder, yet shaky, "NO." Something had occurred to him, "Evanescunt!" Severus snapped, no longer feeling the warm and large body by him.
His eyes opened and saw his guardian in full of surprised. He did not understand…
Javier rushed to him and hugged him tightly to the point he was never to let the boy go.
"What…happened?" The Slytherin asked, did not recall a thing.
The savior smiled, "Your magic sent him away, of course."
Lily joined and gave a smile, "Yeah, that's quite brave, Sev," Her emerald eyes glistened with delight.
The pale skin formed a delicate pinkish tone, yet, brought the beautiful color in the boy. His head buried onto his guardian's chest and accepted the hug more willingly. Lily joined in the hug and forgotten what was happening. To him, he truly felt safe more than he could have had imagined.
Javier did not wish to stop hugging, but to cope with a possibility to lose Severus like this was not good. The boy was safe, unharmed, and in his arms…that's all it had truly mattered.
Home. That's where Javier knew best. He apparated them straight to Lily's home with her parents arriving from work. They were happy to see her and welcomed her home. For once, heading home was the only thing he could considered and it would be with the boy. He knew Severus was finally growing up like a normal boy.
The first thing the time traveler did was hug him on the sofa and refused to let him go. Severus felt the same, but smothered with so much 'attention' and 'love'. He knew better than that, yet, the Slytherin pondered if he did the right thing.
"Javier," His voice felt weak, but enough to show courage somewhere.
He hummed, "Yes?"
The onyx eyes looked at him, "He choked her…" He gulped, "Until she was blue."
A story on his mother's death was being confused, but the fear inside of the dark iris had spoken something else. Javier's hand settled on the boy's head and sighed to show his care.
"You don't have to say it," A small smile, "I…am proud of you for being the strongest and handling it well to this point, believe me, I am." His fingers slipped through the dark hair and brushed it back out of his face.
The water tears fell and that spoke enough to tell Javier on how he felt. It was almost a year ago they met, but much has changed. Severus had grown rather tall, catching up to his height, and being himself almost. The boy was growing up so fast that Harry wished he could keep him young and protected forever, but he knew what would become of them.
Severus curled into his arms and closed his eyes at ease. His head rested on the man's chest and hearing the heart beats.
"She died to save me, she knew I was still accidentally losing control of my magic around him…she knew." It felt like he was okay, he was safe.
Javier hummed and listened, even though he told him that he didn't have to say it, but he wasn't going to stop him. It was a way to open up and he respected Severus. If anything, it brought them both together and much closer. A day where Tobias attempted to 'take him', but they fought in a way they could. Javier saw and heard the spell, a powerful one that was not easy for a first year, not even a fourth year could have had accomplish so easily. It would have taken years, but somehow, this boy was stronger than he realized.
The emerald eyes dripped to close as they both fell asleep on the sofa for the first night back home.
A knut for thoughts?