Destiny Part One

A profound feeling of destiny filled Harry in a way the Final Battle never did, but then Harry supposed The Final Battle had never been his destiny, not really it had been Draco's. The harsh wind seemed to bellow right through him but he did not shiver as he made his way from Hermione and Ron's house and down the road, he could begin at any moment... He could apparate just outside the school grounds; he could bring back Draco tonight!

But one thing kept nagging at him at the back of his mind....

...Wrong.

Hermione had told him Draco could come back wrong. Harry personally couldn't see how this could be so, he was going back to stop Draco from dying, he'd wouldn't be bring Draco per say, he would prevent Draco 's death, leaving him otherwise completely unchanged. Yet, Harry knew he wasn't nor ever would be an expert on Magic, but he knew someone who was.... Someone who had been irritaingly expert on anything, who had never missed an opportunity to show just how inept and stupid he thought Harry was.... Yes, Severus Snape had been an most irksome enemy, but this past year, before than even Harry reflected, ever since he had been told that Snape was trapped in the dark and yet had had the personal courage to leave Voldermort with Lucius, with no real promise of being accepted, had awakened a bitter respect in Harry, and he had found he'd never been able to look upon the older man with the same contempt as before. Now Snape was just about the only company he could stand.

His dark sardonic, sarcastic humour delighted Harry in ways it never had before. It had a strange beauty to it, he found himself admiring the sharp, downright mercyless wit that Snape issued, his cynical out-look on life made no perfect sense, Harry suspected it was all part of the darker, more bitter person he was now.

Dumbledore he knew had plenty of information to offer, afterall the Time Turner that hung from his neck came indirectly from the man himself! Yet Dumbledore could manipulate as well as any Slytherin, and in fact Harry had considered seriously one more than one occassion that despite common belief that had been the house from which Dumbledore had come from. The end of it was, as knowledgable as the man was Harry couldn't trust that Dumbledore won't try and manipulate him out of the idea or even call the Ministry on him... No Harry could turn to one person only – Severus Snape.

*****

Severus Snape kissed his lover tenderly, his breath rasping from the hot, passionate sex he had with by far his favourite lover. He broke away softly, his black eyes though clearly tired, seemed to burn with intensity...

"You have yet to disappoint."

Severus drawled, his voice was smooth like velvet; the woman beside him raised a dark eyebrow.

"Why Severus, you rather sound as if you expect me to."

Severus smirked, his eyes filled with mirth.

"Never my love..."

He pulled his long fingers through her dark curls, and still basking in the afterglow, drew her in for another kiss.....

"Well Sev, I guess this is your version of seduction."

The almost feline grace and calm that had fallen over Severus came to an abrupt end, and he shot up into a sitting position, ignoring his lover's high-pitchted startled screams.

"Potter!"

Severus snarled, Harry smirked and looked mock-offended.

"Really Sev, I thought we'd moved past such hositlities"

Severus' lover was still making startled noises. As she began desperately wrapping Severus' emerald velvet bedsheets around her, Harry rolled his eyes.

"Oh dont worry luv, you're really not my type-"

Harry glanced at Severus's livid face.

"I prefer my lovers a little more rugged around the edges, and little more-"

Harry smirked at Severus...

"Fiesty-"

"-GET OUT POTTER!"

Harry laughed openly, getting a delightful thrill from getting to Severus, but before leaving he did allow himself one lingering glance. Harry had to admit, with Severus' flawless chest glistening slightly in the soft candlelight, if offered, Harry wouldn't say no.

*****

Harry had just passed from Severus' bedroom double doors into the private room, poured himself a glass of fine red wine from Severus' most upkept collection, when a disgruntled Severus joined him.

"To what do I owe this pleasure? I trust this isn't a social call"

Harry smirked, his eyes rolling appreciatively over Severus' naked chest, not hidden in the slightest by the unbuttoned, completely transparent black shirt, Severus had thrown on his back in obvious haste, coupled with leather trousers that hugged every inch of his body. The reason for Severus' attire Harry knew was simple, Snape Manor had several living rooms and bathrooms, a potions lab and a personal library – both of which Harry had not been privy to - and finally two bedrooms ,one where he kept his clothes and personal belongings, and another purely for seduction. Hence the clothes he had used to entice were the only clothes avaliable; and short of walking naked or wrapped in a bedsheet past Harry into his other bedroom, thats what he'd been forced to wear, but this knowledge did nothing to stop Harry from teasing him nevertheless –

"Planning a round two are we Sev?"

Severus' face contorted into a disgusted scowl.

"Do obstaine from speaking such vulgur in my home."

"I had no idea my sexual preferences offended you-"

"It is not the prefernce but you that offends me."

Harry looked at Severus mock-hurt, and came face to face with the taller man.

"Sev you wound me! I thought there was something between us! You look so hot and-"

Harry leaned in closer, his lips twitching into a smirk.

"-God damn sexy in leather!"

"Harry, what's this really about?"

All traces of humour had vanished from Severus' dry voice, a tease he could take, hell! Harry actually making a real pass at him! But this was different, Harry's eyes were more calcualting than he had ever seen them, the Gyffindor was plotting.

"Oh truly Sev, you look postively irrestiable tonight..."

Harry purred looking Severus up and down obviously hungerily.

"But as you say this isn't a social call."

And just like that all the playfulness left Harry, and Severus felt a tension so heavy descend in the room he could almost feel it weighing him down.

"I need you're assistance-"

"By assistance you mean help."

Harry frowned at him.

"You're not my Professor now Sev."

"Severus! No I'm not and you are not my student, but let's not allude ourselves to what you're actually asking, it's not weak to ask help from a friend Harry."

Harry laughed.

"How uncharacteristic of you Severus."

"Harry it is late, unless the matter is deemed serious –"

"It is."

Severus sighed, and then noticed Harry's used glass.

"Help yourself."

Severus muttered, Harry smirked,

"I knew you'd be so accomodating, such an honourable host."

Severus let that slip by and poured himself a glass, before motioning to his leather sofas.

"Jokes and banter aside, let's discuss the matter, Harry."

Harry nodded and settled onto the sofa directly infront of Severus, his black, penetrating gaze seemed to pierce him.

"There's no one else I can turn to Sev, I need your help"

"I'm listening..."

"I paid Hermione and Ron a ... visit tonight..."

"Go on"

"They had something I wanted, something I needed-"

"Harry-"

"-I'm getting to it! Christ! Severus! Taking the lead much?"

"It's 3 am Harry"

"I wouldn't come if it wasn't important, Sev I took Hermione's time turner- SEV WAIT!"

As soon as Harry had said time turner, Severus knew exactly where this was going and he was in no mood to deal with it. Doubtless Harry didn't really know what such a proposition would truly require, hell! He probably thought he could just use the time turner – idiot!

"Petrificus Totalus-"

Harry abruptly cast in desperation, Severus didn't stand a chance, and he felt the spell hit him in the small of his back, his arms and legs snapped together and he fell ridiciously flat on his face; muttering an obscenity, Harry rushed over and gently turned Severus onto his back, those black eyes that immediately bore into his were incensed.

"I'm sorry Severus but I can't let you walk away from this... Now I need your help; I need to know that i'm not hurting Draco by bringing him back, I need to know what I'm doing."

Harry appealingly looked at the other man.

"I'm desperate Severus, and at the moment you're one of the few people who still mean something to me, so I don't want to hurt you... but I will if I have to."

Harry spoke looking Severus in the eyes continually, they glittered in even greater rage, and Harry sighed deeply.

"I'm going to release the spell now"

Harry told Severus calmly, but first he pointed his wand at the double doors that led into Severus' bedroom.

"After I secure our privacy."

Harry promptly locked all doors in the room, and sound-proofed the room; Severus also came to the uneasy realisation that he was unarmed; afterall Harry had become some what of a good friend, and particularly at 3am in the morning what use did a wand have in pleasant company? HA! If Severus could move he'd have gnashed his teeth.

"Finite Incantatem!"

Harry whispered. Harry offered Severus a hand up, but Severus aggressively swatted his hand away, and pulling himself onto his feet, drew to his full superior hight and shot Harry a filthy look.

"I do not appreciate being held hostage in my own Manor, Potter!"

"Please don't fall back into the past Sev!"

"Why? Isn't that what you plan on doing?"

"For good Severus-"

"-Snape to you! Holding me prisioner! Threatening me with violence! We can hardly remain on a first name basis!"

Harry's eyes flashed warningly.

"I'm trying my best here Severus but you push me too far, I don't want to hurt you but Draco means more to me than your mere hatred... I need him."

Severus looked at Harry tired and worn out, as if all his angry energy had deserted him.

"Harry, do you have any idea what you're asking of me? Do you truly?"

Harry's puzzled look was answer enough.

"I am merely requesting information Severus."

"No you're not, at least you won't be..."

"Really? Well since you seem to know me so well let's put your deduction to the test! But i'm pretty sure all I want form you is information, it's not like i'm asking for blood here!"

Severus snorted his eyes bitter.

"Oh but you are."

Harry shook his head.

"I don't understand?"

"No, I don't suppose you don't... If I'm going to held here against my will, may I at least discuss this on the sofa, some of us are far from nocturnal."

Harry shrugged.

"It's your home Sev."

"And yet you seem in charge of the proceedings..."

For some reason this snarky comment brought about a deep fondness for his Ex Potions Master, even in desperate situations, one it seeme could always count on Severus' sharp humour and tongue.

"Harry, it has been a year and more since-"

"Draco died; yeah I know that funnily enough... So what?"

A spike of annoyance flashed through Severus' eyes.

"The time scale is wholly different to when you saved that Hippogriff and Black."

Severus snarled out the name black with the deepest loathing, and Harry tried to remain unaffected.

"So a few hours, a year I don't get your point Severus"

"A few hours, a day even is perfectly suited to the time turner, you merely do whatever it is you feel you must and simply wait the rest out till you're back where you started-"

"How stupid do you think I am? I know this already, i've already used the bloodly thing! I don't see what the problem is or the need for your blood!"

Aggravated now, Severus' eyes flashed in very reconsiable malicious way.

"Really?" Severus sneered, "You see no difficulty whatsoever? Tell me what do you intend to do with the other Harry? The whole time continum will be completely and irretrievably altered."

"The other Harry?-"

"The Harry of the past, he will still be present, which brings us to the major difficulty, Veelas are bound to one mate, correct?"

"Yeah, point?"

"The 'point' being suppose the bond recognises you and you're past self separately? Suppose the bond feels Draco has somehow bound himself to two mates? Draco's confusion at both of your presences notwithstanding – the bond could and will likely see such an arrangement as a direct violation to the needs and conditions within a Mate and Veela bond; your mere presence could kill him! And not only that, you could result in Draco failing his destiny and allowing the Darklord to rise!"

"His name is Voldermort, Severus, there's nothing lordly about him and I have no intention of letting the bastard live."

Severus shook his head.

"You don't have to have such an intention, the fact remains that if you use the time turner you will run the risk of that occurance and I cannnot condone that, not to mention I rather revel in existing thank you very much."

Harry took Severus' warm hands and squeezed them kindly, but firmly.

"I won't let you die, what ever it takes-"

"What if that's exactly what it takes?"

Harry froze.

"What if it takes my death? You still want to go ahead?"