U-turn

Prologue

By DR asia and red moon sclera

Summary: Put a 10-year-old Severus and a 16-year-old Harry together and see what happens! Post-war

Disclaimer: Only playing around with the characters of Harry Potter. We'll return them unharmed, I hope.

Feedback: Practically dying for it. No flames, but constructive criticisms are welcomed.

Archive: At the moment, just the FFN. Anywhere else, let us know.

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*Above Fred & George's joke shop*

It's done. It's finally done. After weeks of research, they finally have something to prove the sweat and blood they have given in.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Fred, or maybe it was George said to his twin.

They stood in their special laboratory, admiring the products they had made that morning.

They had found the muggle storybook a month ago. Out of curiosity, they read the book, trying to see what's the difference from their wizard books. Boy, were they glad that they have found it. It had contained the wildest dreams they could ever imagine.

There were two things that would be good for their joke shop and they decided to bring it to life.

It was hard at first, as the book did not give any ingredients and whatnot. But they have managed, creating their own.

Ding, the doorbell went as a customer walked in.

In their hurry to go downstairs, they graded hold of the things and left it on the nearest shelf in their shop leading to their rooms.

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*Snape's private room*

Knock.

He gazed up at the clock in his study room. 10:45pm. Potter was late. Again. It's just in the boy's blood to make others wait for him.

The door then opened and in stepped Harry busily pulling off his invisible cloak.

"Sorry I'm late. I have to fence off Ron's questions before he let me go."

"Well…what did you say to him?"

"That I couldn't sleep. As usual. And that I'm going for a walk." Harry had made himself comfortable by sitting on the other chair in Snape's study room. "Anyway, what are we supposed to do tonight?"

"Albus thinks that we should talk about your sleeping problems. Talk, he said. As if talking can solve everything." He gestured at the drink in front of Harry. "Drink that, it clams your nerves. I still don't see why he's making us do all these. If he thinks that forcing two poor souls twice a week to 'talk' is going to help them. He's wrong."

"Don't think about it that way, Severus." Harry used this name while they were alone. "At least we know that we can talk to each other when there's something bothering us. Don't tell me that you prefer your lonely nights to this." He drank the potion and sighed contently as a soothing sensation began its work on his tired body.

Getting potions that actually taste good and refreshing was definitely a plus too, Harry thought as he looked around the room that had surprisingly became his sanctuary for the past half a year.

He shut his eyes and leaned his head against the soft cushion of the chair, breathing in the mint flavour covering the strong spicy smell of potions, and recalled how they ended up here.

 ~ ~ Flashback ~ ~

Voldemort had decided to launch a surprise attack at Harry's house during the summer. Everything went according to plan except that Harry and the Dursleys were on a trip to visit their grandparents. Imagine the shock when they saw their home ransacked and blood smeared on their walls, promising the horror if they were found. The family of cowards fled straight away, leaving Harry to himself. Harry had immediately rushed to Hogwarts after sending a letter via Hedwig to Professor Dumbledore.

At Hogwarts, Harry had undergone intensive training, preparing to face the Dark Lord when the time comes. Of all the teachers that summer, Snape and him had bonded together quite well. Mostly because Harry had discovered that his teacher was really a spy for them.

During the war, when they were working together, they discovered that they both had similar family backgrounds, parents died when young, abusive relatives, etc. They began to confide in each other.

It was in the beginning of Harry's sixth year when Albus found them comparing lives. The old wizard's eyes twinkled as he suggested that they should talk to each other more often to help ease the trauma of having an abusive childhood. Hence, the 'talking' sessions were born.

Not that they had did much talking. Harry usually just does his homework while Snape marked his students' essays. Occasionally, they would swap stories when they feel like talking, which was getting increasingly often as they grew more and more comfortable with each other's presences.

~ ~ End Flashback ~ ~

Harry opened his eyes and found Snape hovering above him. "Ack!" Harry went and fell out of the chair. "Are you trying to scare me? I could have a heart attack!"

"You are too young to have a heart attack. I was just wondering if you had fallen asleep. I don't want to carry you all the way to the Gryffindor dorms."

"Just don't do that, alright?" he looked at the time. It was close to midnight. "I better go. Must have dozed off much longer than I intended." Harry stood up, dusted off his robes and reached for his cloak.

"Before you go, take one of these if you have problems sleeping tonight." Snape handed him a bottle.

"Thanks." Harry took it and smiled. He put on his cloak and said, "Good night." even though Snape could not see him anymore, opened the door and was gone in a second.

"Good night." Snape was left staring at the closed door. Sighing, he went to his own bedroom.

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As Ron lay in his four-poster bed, he stared blankly into the still air in front of him. Still as he was, but in his mind, complicated thoughts appeared and disappeared continuously, causing his sleepiness to fade.

He turned around abruptly, and found Harry's bed empty. Again. However, it seemed to trigger off thoughts not concerning Harry at all. Never mind that Harry was not talking much to him, Ron thought about Hermione.

 He took out his book featuring his favourite Quidditch team – Chudley Cannons, and flipped automatically until a photo of him and Hermione fell out. Ron smiled. Colin had taken the picture accidentally when Hermione and he knocked into each other outside the Transfiguration classroom. Inside the picture, Ron and Hermione were busily collecting their books and she waved gladly to the real Ron, followed by him in the picture making faces at him.

How sweet, Ron thought bitterly as he remembered her date at the Yule Ball in their fourth year. Viktor Krum, the ever perfect gentleman. Hermione had started dating Viktor soon after and seem oblivious to his feelings to her. It was torture for Ron to hear Hermione gushing about her wonderful relationship almost every day.

One day you'll love me the way I loved you.

One day you'll think the way I thought of you.

One day you'll cry for me the way I've cried for you.

One day you'll want me, but I can't have you.

By the time Harry's footsteps entered the room, Ron was already asleep, the photo wet with tears grabbed lightly but firmly in his hands.

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Like to comment on something? Leave us a review or email asia at DR_asia88@hotmail.com or red moon sclera at blackapplepie@hotmail.com

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DR asia: Hi people! It's the first time we are writing a HP chapter fic together, so please guide us along. Remember, reviews mean a lot to us. Oh, and I would like to thank our friend, Jeness for giving us ideas. You rock, girl! Hope you like this idea that we have thought up! And if we have accidentally 'copied' some other writer's idea, do let us know.

Red moon sclera: Enough of my pal's long-winded speech. Just wondering about the poem I've got for Ron… some comments please! If the response is ok, then I'll continue writing more of the poems, well, maybe not that mushy! A million thanks!

DR asia: And 1 Feb is red moon sclera's birthday! Happy birthday, pal!

Red moon sclera: ::blushes:: I thank you, my friend… ::teary eyes::  Remember to R&R!