HAPPY EASTER

[a/n]Thought I'd retired my Lone Traveler 1shots, but a change in Snape's life occurred to me. Lone Traveler character credit to Dunuleos.

Harry Does Different CCCLXXXV

Lone Traveler VIII

"Wonder when I landed myself this time." Harry Potter had been jumping around through time for at least a couple years, probably more, so he was no longer surprised at it. He'd noted a few rules. Such as he always landed near some event of importance. Sometimes he would do something he knew would be a major change in history, at others he would just impact a single person. He looked around "Well., let's see, Black Lake, the Quidditch Pitch. Nobody immediately about. I'll go thataway."

A group of students were running through over the rolling hills. They were a bit old for tag, but the group was certainly enjoying themselves. At least four were. They were chasing a fifth student, all occasionally casting hexes and jinxes at him. Some distance behind, hardly able to keep up was a girl shouting protests.

"Damn you Potter! You and your gang!" the fleeing target was occasionally firing back, though ineffectually as he couldn't really aim well.

The four shouted gleefully when the runner tripped, whether from spell or just a misstep didn't matter. "Get him James!" three shouted as one.

"Petrificus! Mobilcorpus!" the leader fired triumphantly. He deftly waved his wand declaring "Got ya now, Snivilus!"

The portly teen suggested "How about we feed him to Remus again?"

"We'll do nothing of the sort Peter!" declared the not quite grown werewolf "No one deserves that. And if I actually did, I would be Dementor bait!"

Harry was a little too far away to get involved but he could see everything.

"I know! James! Let's hang him in a tree!" suggested the third.

The leader nodded "Not bad Sirius. But a little bit better would be upside down." He first stuck his victim's feet together then guided the body into the branches, then canceled all his spells "You went over the line Snivilus. So why don't you just hang out there and think about what you did?"

"Fuck you Potter!" the hanging boy cursed his enemy and thrashed. His wand dropped from his pocket as he fumbled with it.

The redhead witch finally caught up with the battling wizards "JAMES POTTER! YOU LET HIM DOWN IMMEDIATELY!"

"Aww why Evans?" complained James petulantly "You saw what happened to Alice."

She rolled her eyes, yanked the wand from his hand and tossed it. Then ran to her friend "I'm so sorry Sev. I know you didn't mean that prank the way it came out. She's already out of hos- -"

"Get your hands off me you filthy little Mudblood!" Severus was so angry he could barely see straight.

In that instant, Lily Evans' entire outlook changed. In the very act of assisting him from the tree, she slapped the hanging Slytherin ringingly across the face. "Fine! You can just stay up there! SNIVILUS!" she sneered. Then, knowing the exactly worst thing she could do, strutted to his hated enemy, seized his head and crashed their lips together.

"Go to Hogsmeade with me, Lils." He unconsciously used the pet name he'd long thought of her by.

The other three Marauders cheered the newly minted couple.

Severus completely forgot his humiliation and sobbed "Lily! I'm so sorry! Please come back!" He was left hanging there with his wand in the grass, out of reach.

"You look like you could use a little help." Harry's tone had a hint of amusement, but also one of sympathy. After all THIS Snape had done nothing to him.

The young Slytherin thrashed some more and growled "Come to gloat Potter?! Well bugger off! I'd rather hang!"

"Potter? Yes. James? No. Fortunately for you I am too old to be offended by angry words. Diffindo!" his spell hit the branches from which the victim hung, slicing them to pieces. Harry did not yield to the temptation to simply let him land on his head "Molliare!"

An immaterial, but still effective mattress shimmered below the falling boy, who still landed with a thump. With excellent situational awareness, the freed teen rolled, snatched up his wand and stood. Not quite pointing his wand at him rescuer he demanded "Why did you help me?"

"It cost me nothing." The stranger shot back, unaffectedly and added "It's not polite to almost point your wand at someone who helped you. And I've identified myself. You are?"

Straightened from his defensive crouch, he lowered his wand and introduced himself warily "Severus Snape. Slytherin. Fifth Year."

"And as you noticed, I am a Potter. Your …err… friend and I must look more alike than I've been told." The reply was accurate if evasive "First name's Alan."

Severus emitted a disgusted snort "Right, then. Alan. You saved me, so I guess I owe you. What do you want?"

"You mean like a cauldron full of Galleons? Or eternal servitude perhaps?" the sarcasm sounded almost amused "Nothing at all. Well except you listen to me while I walk you back to the castle …Make sure you don't trip over your own feet again."

Severus gave the older wizard an incredulous look then decided he liked the excuse, but had a suspicious nature "Exactly WHY did you help me?"

"Well, without my telling my full life story, my cousin was a bullying git when I was younger. Little me was his favorite target. While I generally think kids should settle their problems on their own, a one to one problem is fair. Five to one? Not so much. Though, I am quite perceptive, I doubt it's that simple, is it Severus?" Harry wondered how much the man he knew was shaped by this incident.

The teen locked eyes with his benefactor for an instant then recoiled slightly "You're a Legilimens!"

"True." Acknowledged Harry without any heat "But I can hardly get all my answers in a few seconds. Take for example, the girl. She seemed the worst of the bunch."

Severus looked horrified "Lily! She would never!"

"Now, my young friend, here's something else about me. I'm a Seer." Harry chuckled at the disbelieving expression he received "Well, not in the famous Trelawney sense. More in the cause and effect sense. Consider the cause … boy you hate kisses girl you love …Oh don't look so surprised …Legilimens, remember? Effect, you become very angry."

To this, Severus gave a rude gesture "Yes, a Seer would be needed at this point."

"Didn't know wizards knew that one." Harry's reaction was nowhere near what was hoped for "That's just the first effect. Slughorn may have an overgrown ego, but he does recognize talent. And you might someday brew up a cure for a rainy day. That kind of talent makes you a valuable commodity. And your bitterness would make you an easy recruit for the country's dork lard."

The Slytherin gave what almost sounded like a giggle, additionally he was immensely pleased to have his Potions skills so praised. He ruthlessly suppressed any more emotion and spoke "As you began that I thought you a Death Eater. That is obviously not the case. What, exactly, is your agenda?"

"I have no real concern what you do regarding your redheaded friend." The Lone Traveler had to hide his amazement at seeing the younger version of his Professor laugh "But being a Death Eater is a rather poor career choice. No retirement, no sick leave or vacation time. Sign up with the Unspeakables or brew for St. Mungo's. At least they won't apply the Cruciatus for being a few minutes late. And, if you think about it, you really have no place with a group that yells about Pureblood supremacy."

"You make valid points, Alan." The still quite bitter teen acknowledged "But Potter's been nasty to me since First Year. To lose Lily to that prick!"

Harry couldn't help laughing "Hahaha! Language Mr. Snape! Five points from Slytherin. Regardless. I make no judgments on the past. Only what I actually saw today. If you feel you owe Red an apology, give it. She will either accept, or not. Either way, don't let it affect your choices. Me? I've seen Voldemort in action. Is he powerful? Yes. But he doesn't care any more about his slaves than he does the people fighting them. And he'll certainly never share the power he gets with them. On that note, I think I will take my leave."

"You've given me a lot to think about." Severus looked thoughtful "You're alright …for a Potter… certainly better than that git you so resemble. I would not object to talking to you again."

The Lone Traveler knew his task here was complete "My Sight does not extend to when that might happen, or even if it will. Goodbye Severus." He offered a hand, which was shaken.

Severus watched as his acquaintance departed. When the slightly older wizard vanished it didn't shock him. Other than that he noted 'Didn't look like normal apparition.' He headed back to the castle.