Part seven:
Severus seemed to have gotten over the little episode in Dumbledore's office; well at least he had managed to hide it. Wouldn't do any good for a 'servant of the dark lord' to be upset by the dark mark. He stalked down the corridor with a predatory lilt to his walk, he was searching for Potter. 'Typical when I don't want to see that pitiful excuse for a wizard he is everywhere I look and when I actually need to talk to him I can't find him anywhere.' Severus grumbled to himself. He looked at his watch realising that he should be at Quiditch practice, 'well Lucius can just go fuck himself' Lucius was the captain of the Quiditch team, isn't it amazing what money can do. 'I'll just tell him I was talking to Dumbledore, perfectly true and the fool would never suspect the real reason I was there, I'll tell him it was about Potter or something' He mused as he made his way to the Slytherin common room.
Inside he spotted Lucius 'the fucker he is not even at practice himself' Severus thought bitterly. He was about to confront his 'friend' when the sight of who Lucius was talking to stole his breath away. It was the same person that Severus saw in the mirror every morning, himself.
He hid round the corner and muttered a temporary appearance altering spell, it only worked for a couple of minutes but that was all he needed. Severus slunk back into the common room
"Severus I need to talk to you now." He told the person that wore his face.
Harry looked at the guy who had just called him, well Severus actually, he looked kind of familiar but he couldn't remember having ever seen him before. To say Harry was panicked was an understatement they hadn't thought about the possibility of people talking to them while they were disguised.
They had finished the potion that afternoon, Harry had found one of Severus' hairs on his robe when he got hack to the dorm, well he assumed it was Severus' as it was to long to be his own.
Harry nodded at the guy and followed him out of the door, not knowing what else to do.
Once out of site Severus pushed Harry hard against the wall.
"Who are you?" He snarled as his feature melted back to usual. Harry felt positively sick as he watched Severus, this was defiantly not good. But Harry couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of Severus pressed up against him. If he had been any less stubborn he would have probably been of the mentality 'fuck consequences and me while you are at it.' But Harry couldn't let himself think something like that, for a surprising large number of reasons, not the least of which being he was caught red handed in the Slytherin common room.
"Uh" Harry squeaked unable to think up anything that would get him out of this situation.
"Ok then if you won't tell me I'll jut have to take matters into my own hands." Severus said reaching for his wand.
"Don't do that." Harry rushed.
"And why not?" he said with a lazy smile on his features. Harry tried to think up a story that would get him away from Severus without ending up permanently disfigured and he came up black, so he settled for the truth.
"Because." He looked into Severus's eyes, and whispered. "I know you don't really want to hurt me, or anyone for that matter. I know that you didn't want to become a Death Eater." Severus stumbled back as if Harry had hit him. Mouth open in shock, he could deny what Harry was saying as he had no idea of who he was and trying to convince anyone other than a death eater that you were one of them would be suicide. But he couldn't let anyone know that he was playing Voldemort. Severus sank to his knees sure that something very very bad was going to happen. Harry crouched down beside him.
"I know what Dumbledore asked you to do."
"How?" was all he managed to gasp out? What had Harry gotten himself into, he was tempted to tell him the whole truth, 'what is wrong with me? Why do I want to trust Snape of all people?' Harry glanced at the young man kneeling beside him, he wore none or the worries that Harry remembered from the Snape in his time period, he was just a 16 year old like Harry himself asked to bear a burden that was to much for even a grown wizard to carry, so much about Severus mirrored his own situation. Harry had never asked to be the Wizarding Worlds saviour, just as Severus never asked to be a spy. Never before had Harry realised how lucky he actually was at least people were on the most part grateful for him, for what he stood for, Severus had no such luck he was despised for what he pretended to be, people distrusted him, never loved him because they thought of him as a Death Eater.
"I will tell you who I am but you must come with me to someplace private." He saw mistrust flair in Severus' eyes, "please trust me. I. I trust you." Those words Harry never thought himself say about Severus just spilled out. Severus looked at the person wearing his face, feeling a need to trust him even though he didn't know who he was. So he nodded his headed consenting to go someplace private with this stranger.
"We can go up to my room," Severus said his tone flat.
"You have your own room?" Harry asked before he could stop himself. Severus gave him a strange look and he nodded.
"Carry on down this corridor I will direct you from there." Severus said regaining his cool exterior once more, making sure to send the impostor ahead as there was no way in hell he would turn his back on anyone, something that being in Voldemort's company very quickly teaches you. Now it was Harry's turn to just nod.
They passed the door to common room remembering the Si was still in there. As they passed the door Harry called to Si.
"Lucius there is something I need to take care of," He said mimicking Severus's cold voice, 'I will meet you in the great hall at dinner." Si nodded, knowingly thinking Harry was going to do something to the Slytherin's, which was technically true but if Si knew what Harry was doing he would probably throw a fit. Severus glared at Harry, realising that the Lucius was also an impostor, 'two impostors. We are supposed to be the sly ones and there have been two non Slytherin's lurking about our Halls. We are defiantly loosing our touch.'
"Go up these stairs," Severus's cold voice rang out and stop by the third door on the left."
"Sure."
They stood together outside of the door, Harry was painfully aware that the Polyjuice was about to wear of, that he was about to be left deep in Slytherin territory. Severus tapped the door with his wand and gestured for Harry to go inside.
Harry looked around the room, it wasn't very large but at least he didn't have to share. It was decorated in, shock horror, Grifindor colours. He stood there jaw dropped, 'what was the potions monster doing with Grifindor colours, he hates anything even remotely Grifindor related.' Severus saw the look that Harry was giving the room and flushed slightly. But he pretended that he didn't care and got straight to giving Harry the third degree.
"So who are you?" He asked in a cold voice as he sat on the bed.
"Well" Harry said unsure of exactly how to break the news to him. He looked at his watch only one more minute till the Polyjuice wore off. "Ok I am not who I appear to be.
"Well that's obvious. Because I am me so I know that 'you' defiantly are 'not'."
"What I mean is" Harry was having a real hard time trying to find the right words. So he decided to just come out and say it. "I am Harry Potter, James Potter's son."
"What!" Severus yelled, he had to have misheard; James was nowhere old enough to have a son that age. Harry winced at Severus' tone.
"Shh," He hissed, "I know what you are thinking and I am here because my father and I switched time periods, so he is a few years in the future with all my friends and I am here with all of his." The Polyjuice chose that moment to wear of. Harry's own features melted into view. Severus stood up very quickly as if he could not believe his eyes. He glared at Harry, he had thought something weird was going on but this was just slightly to weird. "You have to believe me." Harry almost pleaded " don't want any grudge you have against my father to stop us from being friends, after all," Harry gave a small smile, "I am the only person that knows who you really are, and" Harry Shrugged his shoulders "you're the only one who knows who I am."
Severus glared at Harry for a moment or two as if deciding what he should about this person who claimed to be from the future. The pleading tone of Harry's voice was something he had never heard in James' so he was inclined to believe him on those grounds alone but he was Severus Snape after all so he could be THAT trusting. But something inside him was creaming out to trust this person, someone who knew exactly who he was and didn't hate him for it.
"No, this isn't true. You are playing a prank on me. I don't know how you found out about my assignment but I will 'never' trust a Grifindor."
"Severus, I swear I am telling you the truth. Ask Dumbledore. He knows the truth. And as for you hating Grifindor why is your room in our colours!" Harry's voice getting louder and louder with each word. Severus snarled at him refusing to answer. He lowered his voice. "Come to Dumbledore with me. He will sort this out." Not caring to remember the fact that he would have to explain what he was doing in the Slytherin halls.
"OK Potter. We will go to Dumbledore. Where you will probably be expelled for being in our Halls along with Black, I know that is was him pretending be Lucius." Severus said each word a chip of ice. "Potter, you and Black are always together" Severus Smirked "one would think something is going on."
"My father is not homosexual, if that is what you are implying." Harry said in a cold voice to equal Snape's, ominously leaving out any references to his own sexuality. "Well let's go to Dumbledore."
Severus seemed to have gotten over the little episode in Dumbledore's office; well at least he had managed to hide it. Wouldn't do any good for a 'servant of the dark lord' to be upset by the dark mark. He stalked down the corridor with a predatory lilt to his walk, he was searching for Potter. 'Typical when I don't want to see that pitiful excuse for a wizard he is everywhere I look and when I actually need to talk to him I can't find him anywhere.' Severus grumbled to himself. He looked at his watch realising that he should be at Quiditch practice, 'well Lucius can just go fuck himself' Lucius was the captain of the Quiditch team, isn't it amazing what money can do. 'I'll just tell him I was talking to Dumbledore, perfectly true and the fool would never suspect the real reason I was there, I'll tell him it was about Potter or something' He mused as he made his way to the Slytherin common room.
Inside he spotted Lucius 'the fucker he is not even at practice himself' Severus thought bitterly. He was about to confront his 'friend' when the sight of who Lucius was talking to stole his breath away. It was the same person that Severus saw in the mirror every morning, himself.
He hid round the corner and muttered a temporary appearance altering spell, it only worked for a couple of minutes but that was all he needed. Severus slunk back into the common room
"Severus I need to talk to you now." He told the person that wore his face.
Harry looked at the guy who had just called him, well Severus actually, he looked kind of familiar but he couldn't remember having ever seen him before. To say Harry was panicked was an understatement they hadn't thought about the possibility of people talking to them while they were disguised.
They had finished the potion that afternoon, Harry had found one of Severus' hairs on his robe when he got hack to the dorm, well he assumed it was Severus' as it was to long to be his own.
Harry nodded at the guy and followed him out of the door, not knowing what else to do.
Once out of site Severus pushed Harry hard against the wall.
"Who are you?" He snarled as his feature melted back to usual. Harry felt positively sick as he watched Severus, this was defiantly not good. But Harry couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of Severus pressed up against him. If he had been any less stubborn he would have probably been of the mentality 'fuck consequences and me while you are at it.' But Harry couldn't let himself think something like that, for a surprising large number of reasons, not the least of which being he was caught red handed in the Slytherin common room.
"Uh" Harry squeaked unable to think up anything that would get him out of this situation.
"Ok then if you won't tell me I'll jut have to take matters into my own hands." Severus said reaching for his wand.
"Don't do that." Harry rushed.
"And why not?" he said with a lazy smile on his features. Harry tried to think up a story that would get him away from Severus without ending up permanently disfigured and he came up black, so he settled for the truth.
"Because." He looked into Severus's eyes, and whispered. "I know you don't really want to hurt me, or anyone for that matter. I know that you didn't want to become a Death Eater." Severus stumbled back as if Harry had hit him. Mouth open in shock, he could deny what Harry was saying as he had no idea of who he was and trying to convince anyone other than a death eater that you were one of them would be suicide. But he couldn't let anyone know that he was playing Voldemort. Severus sank to his knees sure that something very very bad was going to happen. Harry crouched down beside him.
"I know what Dumbledore asked you to do."
"How?" was all he managed to gasp out? What had Harry gotten himself into, he was tempted to tell him the whole truth, 'what is wrong with me? Why do I want to trust Snape of all people?' Harry glanced at the young man kneeling beside him, he wore none or the worries that Harry remembered from the Snape in his time period, he was just a 16 year old like Harry himself asked to bear a burden that was to much for even a grown wizard to carry, so much about Severus mirrored his own situation. Harry had never asked to be the Wizarding Worlds saviour, just as Severus never asked to be a spy. Never before had Harry realised how lucky he actually was at least people were on the most part grateful for him, for what he stood for, Severus had no such luck he was despised for what he pretended to be, people distrusted him, never loved him because they thought of him as a Death Eater.
"I will tell you who I am but you must come with me to someplace private." He saw mistrust flair in Severus' eyes, "please trust me. I. I trust you." Those words Harry never thought himself say about Severus just spilled out. Severus looked at the person wearing his face, feeling a need to trust him even though he didn't know who he was. So he nodded his headed consenting to go someplace private with this stranger.
"We can go up to my room," Severus said his tone flat.
"You have your own room?" Harry asked before he could stop himself. Severus gave him a strange look and he nodded.
"Carry on down this corridor I will direct you from there." Severus said regaining his cool exterior once more, making sure to send the impostor ahead as there was no way in hell he would turn his back on anyone, something that being in Voldemort's company very quickly teaches you. Now it was Harry's turn to just nod.
They passed the door to common room remembering the Si was still in there. As they passed the door Harry called to Si.
"Lucius there is something I need to take care of," He said mimicking Severus's cold voice, 'I will meet you in the great hall at dinner." Si nodded, knowingly thinking Harry was going to do something to the Slytherin's, which was technically true but if Si knew what Harry was doing he would probably throw a fit. Severus glared at Harry, realising that the Lucius was also an impostor, 'two impostors. We are supposed to be the sly ones and there have been two non Slytherin's lurking about our Halls. We are defiantly loosing our touch.'
"Go up these stairs," Severus's cold voice rang out and stop by the third door on the left."
"Sure."
They stood together outside of the door, Harry was painfully aware that the Polyjuice was about to wear of, that he was about to be left deep in Slytherin territory. Severus tapped the door with his wand and gestured for Harry to go inside.
Harry looked around the room, it wasn't very large but at least he didn't have to share. It was decorated in, shock horror, Grifindor colours. He stood there jaw dropped, 'what was the potions monster doing with Grifindor colours, he hates anything even remotely Grifindor related.' Severus saw the look that Harry was giving the room and flushed slightly. But he pretended that he didn't care and got straight to giving Harry the third degree.
"So who are you?" He asked in a cold voice as he sat on the bed.
"Well" Harry said unsure of exactly how to break the news to him. He looked at his watch only one more minute till the Polyjuice wore off. "Ok I am not who I appear to be.
"Well that's obvious. Because I am me so I know that 'you' defiantly are 'not'."
"What I mean is" Harry was having a real hard time trying to find the right words. So he decided to just come out and say it. "I am Harry Potter, James Potter's son."
"What!" Severus yelled, he had to have misheard; James was nowhere old enough to have a son that age. Harry winced at Severus' tone.
"Shh," He hissed, "I know what you are thinking and I am here because my father and I switched time periods, so he is a few years in the future with all my friends and I am here with all of his." The Polyjuice chose that moment to wear of. Harry's own features melted into view. Severus stood up very quickly as if he could not believe his eyes. He glared at Harry, he had thought something weird was going on but this was just slightly to weird. "You have to believe me." Harry almost pleaded " don't want any grudge you have against my father to stop us from being friends, after all," Harry gave a small smile, "I am the only person that knows who you really are, and" Harry Shrugged his shoulders "you're the only one who knows who I am."
Severus glared at Harry for a moment or two as if deciding what he should about this person who claimed to be from the future. The pleading tone of Harry's voice was something he had never heard in James' so he was inclined to believe him on those grounds alone but he was Severus Snape after all so he could be THAT trusting. But something inside him was creaming out to trust this person, someone who knew exactly who he was and didn't hate him for it.
"No, this isn't true. You are playing a prank on me. I don't know how you found out about my assignment but I will 'never' trust a Grifindor."
"Severus, I swear I am telling you the truth. Ask Dumbledore. He knows the truth. And as for you hating Grifindor why is your room in our colours!" Harry's voice getting louder and louder with each word. Severus snarled at him refusing to answer. He lowered his voice. "Come to Dumbledore with me. He will sort this out." Not caring to remember the fact that he would have to explain what he was doing in the Slytherin halls.
"OK Potter. We will go to Dumbledore. Where you will probably be expelled for being in our Halls along with Black, I know that is was him pretending be Lucius." Severus said each word a chip of ice. "Potter, you and Black are always together" Severus Smirked "one would think something is going on."
"My father is not homosexual, if that is what you are implying." Harry said in a cold voice to equal Snape's, ominously leaving out any references to his own sexuality. "Well let's go to Dumbledore."