A/N:  Nothing much to say, just that I think it was seventh year Sev was attacked but I'm not sure (I can't get to my books) so if its not can someone please tell me?  Thankies!

Chapter four:  Drowning Sorrows

    Severus threw his cloak over the back of one of the seats and sat down, spelling the fire into life.  Harry sat down nervously on the other sofa, warming his hands by the fire rubbing them together getting blood flowing to them.

    "So, are you going to explain to me why you know who I am?"

    "I'm sorry Pro…Severus, but I can't tell you much more than I'm a time traveller from the future."  Harry laughed again, sounded like something from a Star Trek episode.

    "That's impossible.  The only time device is a Time turner and that can only send you back for a couple of hours."  Harry thought for a groggy minute and decided that explaining this couldn't hurt much.

    "Not so impossible.  There is a device in my time that can send you back to any date and time in history for as long as you like.  The only catch is that if you got to the past for an hour, you are missing from your own time for that hour.  It keeps your sense of time in order.  There is the whole don't mess with the past because you don't know what will happen deal as well.  So I can't tell you.  I could end up messing up my time line completely."

    "How do I know this isn't some kind of trick by Potter and Black's lot?  You look an awful lot like Potter when I think about it."  Harry didn't like that.  He had grown his hair out for the specific reason of not living in his fathers shadow, absolutely every one said he looked like his father.  He didn't want to, he wanted to look like Harry.

    "I'm not James Potter."  Harry said dryly.

    "Are you wearing makeup?"  Snape burst out suddenly after scrutinising Harrys face.

    "No!"  Said Harry automatically but after a disbelieving look, he decided to tell the truth.  "Yes, concealer.  I have a scar that I'm not all that fond of."

    "Right," Severus threw him a look that clearly stated 'pretty boy' in a mocking tone.  Harry really wished he were really, really drunk.  Then an idea hit him.  If he could get Severus drunk maybe he would get so wiped he would forget what happened next morning.

    "So, why did you look so down when I first saw you?"  Nothing like a depressing story to make people want to drown their sorrows.

    "Why are you asking?  I should be asking the questions."

    "But I can't answer them, so you might as well answer mine."  Severus narrowed his eyes.  He didn't like this.

    "Look."  Harry said, "I could quite easily have told the world you were a Death Eater by now, or just hexed the living daylights out of you and left, however I am sitting here.  So why not relax, its half way through November of my seventh year at school in my time frame.  If you're still pissed of with me by the time I get back you can punish me then.  OK?"  Harry didn't want to have to give a date and tell him how far into the future he had come from.

    "Very well, it seems I am at a disadvantage.  I'll tell you what ever you want to know."

    "You don't have to tell me anything."  Harry was starting to feel slightly guilty, he was for all intensive purposes black mailing a teacher, sort of.  If Harry told anyone that Severus was a Death Eater in this time, he would be killed, therefore Snape really would do anything to stay on Harrys good side, at least until he could find another way out of it.  If he killed Harry, he would not find out anything about the future, and he would have a hell of a time covering it up.

    "Fine.  You want to know why I was, as I was when you found me?" 

    "Yeah."

    "Black decided to play a little trick on me, and I played right into his hands."  Harry pitted his godfather; the hatred in Snapes voice was absolute.  That could prove very dangerous for Sirius.

    But what the hell has Siri done?  He had never told Harry about a prank that had really gotten Snape that worked up.  Except for the time Siri had tried to kill Snape.  Tonight must have been that night. . . Ah. . .

    "The Shrieking Shack?"  Harry asked softly.

    "Yes, how do you know?"

    "Because I've been told about it.  Are you OK?"

    "I'm fine now."

    "What happened?"  Harry felt a glint of triumph through his pity as Severus walked over to a drinks cabinet and removed a bottle of Maraschino (a liqueur made from cherries) and pour out two glasses.

    Severus handed him one and he tried it, it had a bitter, almondy flavour and was surprisingly nice, and strong too.

    "Lupin, do you know what he is?"

    "Yes, a werewolf."

    "Yes, well after I was lead down there by Black he attacked me, Potter pulled me out though.  Now, not only do I have some extra scars, but I life debt to another wizard.  After I got out of the shack I made my way here, I've got a good stock of healing potions among other things, took some, and then went to the club to relax for a little bit.  End of story."

    "Did he hurt you badly?"  Harry felt a sudden rush of anger towards Sirius.  He had seen just how sad Snape had looked, lonely and broken that was no way for any one to be.

    "No, it is Potter that hurt me the most any way.  I have a life debt to him.  The bastard who has made my life hell for the last seven years, I am expected to die for him if needs be."

    Severus swallowed his drink but Harry left his un-touched.  The Gryffindor reached out and rested a hand on his young Professor-to-bes' shoulder in an effort to comfort him. 

    What had made Snape so cold in the future?  Severus in this time seemed fully capable for having his feelings hurt, but the Snape Harry knew was as cold as ice and completely emotionless. 

~*~*~Tbc~*~*~