Disclaimer: this story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 11 Surprises All Around
Harry frantically searched in his trunk for the misplaced essay he needed. He'd worked a whole week on it to get it ready for the last special Potions lesson and now he couldn't find it. He shifted aside his new cloak, a Christmas present from Theo, and his new Quidditch book, Draco's present to him. Still no essay though, and Draco was calling for him now. Then he found it, underneath the still-wrapped Invisibility Cloak. When he'd awoken on Christmas morning, he'd managed to hide it from the other boys. He'd decided to keep the cloak a secret from everyone this time around. He now knew that any advantage, no matter how small, could save lives and also that secrets were only kept if no one else knew about it. With a relieved shout of joy at finding the essay, he joined Draco and together they hurried to the Potions classroom.
After the lesson, Harry and Draco thanked Snape for spending his free time teaching them. Snape surprised them by saying it was his pleasure and actually meaning it, as far as Harry could determine.
"There's nothing more pleasant than teaching those with potential," Snape said. "Moreover, you two have shown great dedication to these lessons. As such, I will allow you both to choose one potion that I will teach you to make this weekend."
Harry and Draco grinned at each other. Harry felt a bit glowy with the unusual praise from his Head of House.
"However," Snape said, glowering at them. "If you use the potion against me, your Housemates, or in my class, I'll have you in so many detentions you'll be in them until your N.E.W.T.s. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," both boys chorused.
"Now, Draco, any ideas on which potion you'd like to make?" Snape asked.
Draco thought for a moment then smirked mischievously. Harry wondered what he had in mind.
"I'd like to make a Color-Changing Potion, please," Draco said.
Harry grinned. He saw the potential for pranking with that potion and also knew, from Snape's warning, that if they didn't get caught using it, the professor wouldn't report them. Snape agreed to Draco's choice, then asked Harry what he wanted to make. Harry's first thought was that he'd like to learn how to make Wolfsbane. He was on the verge of asking if he could learn that when he realized that it would take far longer than just this one weekend to learn it. It wouldn't be fair to ask Snape for that and he probably wouldn't even get to make it even if he did ask. Thinking over the long list of potions that he'd seen used in the war, unwittingly the image of an emaciated Sirius after he'd escaped rose in his mind.
"I'd like to learn how to make a nutrient potion," Harry said quietly.
Snape looked at him with an indecipherable look. Harry fought the urge to squirm.
"A good choice," Snape said slowly.
Harry sighed in relief. For a moment there, he'd thought Snape would say no.
"But not what you were going to ask," Snape continued, one of his eyebrows raised.
Draco looked curiously at him, while Harry mentally groaned. Trust the man to pick up on that. He bit his lip and looked at the ground.
"Harry?" Snape's voice came.
Harry sighed. The man sounded concerned, so he knew he wouldn't get out of answering.
"I was going to ask if you'd teach me how to make Wolfsbane," Harry said, giving in to the inevitable. "But that takes way longer than just this weekend, so it's not fair to ask."
Harry looked up after saying that, expecting to see Snape mad. After all, the man had already given up all of his afternoons this holiday, except for Christmas day. Harry figured he really had no business asking his professor to give up even more of his time. However, instead of a mad Snape, he saw a smiling Snape.
"You're right," the man said. "It would take longer than a weekend. In fact, I'd estimate it would take two, maybe three years before you could make a passable Wolfsbane Potion. That is, if you followed twice-weekly lessons with me. However, if you are willing to make that commitment, I am willing to teach you."
Harry gasped in surprise. Had the man really just said he'd teach him how to make Wolfsbane?
"Uh, yes, please, sir!" Harry stammered, happy beyond words.
"Good, then I suggest I see you tomorrow to brew your potion," Snape nodded towards Draco, "and I'll see you on Sunday for your nutrient potion and we'll discuss your Wolfsbane lessons then."
Harry happily agreed to this, overjoyed that he'd learn how to make Wolfsbane and get to learn how to make a nutrient potion. How he'd ever thought Severus Snape was selfish he'd never understand.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
When Harry left the potions classroom on Sunday afternoon he was ambushed by Draco, Theo, and a recently returned Hermione.
"Finally, I thought you'd never be done!" Draco said excitedly. "Now we can exchange presents."
Harry grinned, welcomed Hermione back, then followed the other three to the abandoned classroom where Draco and he had held Hermione's surprise birthday party. The four of them had turned it into a den, with liberal transfigurations work by Hermione and himself mainly. It was the only place they could get together comfortably. In the library they could only study or face Pince's wrath, and both common rooms were out for obvious reasons. When they got there Draco produced his own present as well as Harry's. While they boys had exchanged presents at Christmas, Hermione had said she wanted to give them her presents in person, so they'd decided to exchange presents when she was back from her parents.
"Me first," Draco exclaimed, virtually shoving his present at Hermione.
Carefully, Hermione unwrapped the package. Inside was a book on dragons. Hermione thanked Draco, who grinned and said he'd thought it appropriate. Hermione handed Draco his present and he eagerly opened it. Harry burst out in laughter as he saw the ballpoint pens in all colors of the rainbow.
"What's this?" Draco asked curiously.
"Well, you did say you wanted something Muggle that was better than its magical equivalent," Hermione said. "And a ballpoint pen is infinitely better than a quill and ink."
Hermione showed Draco how to use it and both he and Theo were amazed by the pens. Draco even conceded out loud that the pens were better than quills. Hermione was delighted by the reception of her gift. Theo was up next and he handed his present over with a grin. Upon opening it turned out to be another book. Hermione was so ecstatic about it that she almost forgot to give Theo his book. Theo was just as excited about his gift, which was a rather thick book about Muggle history. Finally, it was Harry's turn. He handed Hermione an unwrapped box. She opened it and looked up confused when she found nothing inside. Harry smiled and looked at his watch.
"Just a minute, please," he said.
Hermione looked even more confused now, while Theo and Draco had big grins on their faces. They knew what was about to happen, seeing as that they'd helped Harry set it up. Suddenly, a loud meow was heard and Hermione looked in amazement at the box, which now contained a tiny orange cat with a face that looked like it had been smashed into a wall.
"His name's Crookshanks," Harry said to Hermione, who was cuddling the creature. "he's half cat, half Kneazle. I've got his stuff here." Harry pointed at the sack next to the couch.
"Oh Harry, he's wonderful," Hermione gushed.
She cuddled Crookshanks some more, then carefully put him back in the box. She gave Harry his present and went right back to cuddling the kitten, while keeping an eye on Harry. He carefully unwrapped his present and pulled out a book.
"Ghandi?" Harry asked Hermione.
"It's inspirational things he said," Hermione said. "I'll bet you'll like it. He was just as much about equality as you are."
Harry blushed and thanked her. Soon after, they went to their own common rooms to put their gifts away so they could go to dinner.
HPHPHPHPHP
On Monday morning Harry walked into the Great Hall for breakfast with Draco and Theo. Out of habit, he let his eyes slide through the Hall. When he got to the Head Table, he gasped in surprise.
"What?" Draco asked.
"It's Remus," Harry said. "There, next to Professor Sprout."
Theo and Draco turned to look at the Head Table too. Remus chose that moment to look in their direction and smiled. Harry grinned back, happy to actually see Remus, but at the same time wondering what he was doing at Hogwarts.
"May I have your attention please," Dumbledore said, standing in front of his seat.
The normal noise of the Great Hall died away as everyone turned their attention to the Headmaster.
"I'm saddened to tell you all that Professor Quirrell unexpectedly passed away during the Christmas holidays," Dumbledore said.
Harry felt his insides freeze. There could only be one explanation for Quirrell's demise: Voldemort's spirit must have left him. The only question now was, did Voldemort have the Stone or not? With great effort, Harry pushed his concerns away and turned his attention back to Dumbledore.
"Therefore, I'd like for you all to meet your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin."
Harry gasped in delighted surprise and enthusiastically joined the clapping of the rest of the students.
"Wow, this is great!" Draco said. "No more Quirrell."
"Yeah," Theo said. "And now you can talk to Remus in person, Harry."
Harry nodded absently, still grinning from ear to ear, staring entranced at Remus. The man had been one of the few constants in his life after Sirius died, and when he fell a year before Harry had gone back in time, it had almost crippled him to the point of contemplating suicide. To have the man back in his life by writing to him had felt like a dream come true after Ron's harsh rejection of Harry's friendship. But this, having the man actually here, filled a hole in Harry's heart he didn't even know he had.
The rest of the day saw Harry walking around in high spirits. However, when classes for the day were over, Harry could no longer suppress his worries about Quirrell and the Stone. As it was, he wasn't at all surprised to have the age-old familiar nightmare about Voldemort murdering his parents that night. Snape took him from the dorms for a private conversation, which helped Harry get back to sleep but didn't do anything to calm Harry's worries. He knew he'd severely compromised the time-line when he got sorted into Slytherin and had decided to fix things sooner than planned. Now though, he worried he might have made things worse instead of better. He didn't think he could take not knowing what had happened, so he went to see his Head of House after classes that Tuesday.
"Mr. Potter," Snape said after Harry had taken a seat. "What can I help you with?"
"I was just wondering if the thing on the third floor is still safe, sir," Harry said.
"What are you talking about, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked harshly.
Harry flinched. Perhaps it hadn't been such a good idea to ask about this, despite his concerns.
"Hagrid picked up a package when he took me to Diagon Alley," Harry said, thinking quickly about the things he could know this time around. "And the next day the paper said that someone tried to break into that vault the same day we were there. And then the third floor is off limits, so I figured whatever they tried to steal is now here."
"Even if it was, Mr. Potter," Snape said, calmer now though still sounding stern. "It is neither your responsibility nor your concern."
"But Quirrell," Harry exclaimed, then quickly clamped his mouth shut.
"What about Professor Quirrell?" Snape demanded, intent now.
Harry knew he'd made a big mistake by coming here and an even bigger one by mentioning Quirrell. He just hoped he'd be able to talk his way out of it without making Snape suspicious. Sometimes the man really was too perceptive for Harry's liking.
"He was there, that day. I met him in the Leaky Cauldron. And he made my scar hurt if I was around him," Harry said. "Now that he's dead, it's a bit… you know, too coincidental."
"He made your scar hurt?" Snape asked. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders. He'd never even thought about telling anyone, because nothing could be done. Snape sighed.
"If your scar ever hurts, tell me immediately, understood?"
"Yes, sir," Harry answered.
"Good. Then if there's nothing else?" Snape asked, a clear dismissal.
Harry shook his head and made his way to the door.
"And Mr. Potter," Snape said just as Harry reached the doorway. "You can rest assured that everything is where it belongs."
Harry breathed a mental sigh of relief, and with a soft thank you to Snape he left the man's office.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPH
Harry nervously approached the door that led to Remus' quarters. At least, if he'd followed directions correctly it would be. It would be the first time Harry would really talk to Remus face- to-face, besides the brief conversation after Defense class where they'd arranged to meet this afternoon. Harry knocked and within no time he was ushered in and seated on the couch with a goblet of pumpkin juice in front of him. The conversation started a bit hesitantly, Remus asking about Christmas and Harry answering. After that a slightly uncomfortable silence fell and Harry nervously plucked his robes. He wanted to tell Remus so much, wanted to really talk to the man again, but he was also really conscious of the fact that for Remus this was only the first time they'd come face-to-face in a non-classroom setting.
"I've got something for you," Remus said, filling the silence.
The man stood and walked into what Harry assumed was the bedroom. Within no time he was back with a familiar looking album in his hands. Harry's eyes widened as he recognized the photo album Hagrid had given him at the end of his first year. Remus sat down next to him and gave him the album. Harry opened it to see the achingly familiar pictures on the first page. He felt tears burning in his eyes and confusion welled up inside him. How come Remus gave him the album Hagrid had made?
"I started making it when you turned eleven. I knew you were going to come back to the Wizarding World and I doubted Petunia had a lot of pictures of your parents," Remus said softly as Harry paged through the album. "I'd thought of having Hagrid give it to you, but then you wrote and I realized I could give it to you myself."
Harry carefully stroked the wedding picture of his parents. It had been Remus all along, Remus who had given him one of the most prized possessions he'd ever owned and the man had never said a word.
"Thank you," Harry said softly.
"Shall I tell you about the pictures?" Remus asked.
Harry nodded his consent and together they went over each picture, Remus telling stories and Harry listening avidly. Some of the stories he'd heard before, but most of them were new. And then, miraculously, the opening Harry had been waiting for came as Remus identified Sirius Black on one of the photographs of his parent's wedding.
"Professor Snape said Sirius turned Dark," Harry commented.
"Yes, he did. His betrayal hurt a lot, nobody saw it coming," Remus said sadly.
"How did my parents react? They seem close," Harry asked, knowing full well that his parents had never known anything about Sirius' alleged change of alliance.
Remus heaved a sigh, but did tell Harry the official version of events, about Sirius' betrayal that led to his parents dead. Harry schooled his features into the appropriate face of outrage and then one of sadness.
"Did he ever say why he did it?" Harry asked, after Remus had fallen silent.
"I'm sure they asked him in his trial, but I didn't attend," Remus said. "I was too busy trying to get custody of you."
Harry smiled, but filled that information away for future use. The two of them switched to lighter subjects and after a few hours, Harry said his goodbyes after promising to visit again next Friday.
After dinner that evening, Harry was playing exploding Snap with Theo and Draco, when he turned the conversation to Sirius Black's betrayal. Both boys were suitably horrified by the betrayal.
"Is there any way to know what he said during the trial?" Harry asked. "Remus said he might've given a reason for what he did during questioning."
"I can ask my Dad to find you the trial transcripts," Draco offered.
"That'd be great, thanks," Harry said.
Privately, Harry wondered if Lucius Malfoy would actually help him or if he'd try to cover up the fact that there were no transcripts because there hadn't been a trial. However, it was worth a try and if he had to he'd go after the non-existent transcripts himself. That should shake things up. He'd probably have to go to the press, couching his desire for a trial in terms of getting answers from the man who killed his parents by betraying them. Public opinion was something Harry had learnt to be a very powerful tool, and for now at least, the public loved The-Boy-Who-Lived. As long as he acted as they expected, he'd get their support for a trial for Sirius. As much as he'd like to tell everyone Sirius was innocent, fifth year had taught him that such an action would not work. Not even mentioning the fact that he wasn't supposed to know Sirius was innocent.
"Hey Harry, it's your turn," Theo said, nudging Harry.
Harry refocused on the game and spent the rest of the evening playing and laughing with his friends. When they got ready for bed, Harry asked Draco if he could write to his father the next day.
"Yeah, I will," Draco assured him.
"Thanks," Harry said.
Draco merely nodded and wished him goodnight. That night Harry dreamed of a free Sirius, happy and laughing; and of himself, living with his godfather.
