Crossing Bridges

By Tien Riu

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters belong to J.K. Rowlings.  Plot (what little there is of it) and depiction of characters are mine.  WARNING: The future of this piece of fiction contains slash/yaoi/shonen ai/homosexual relationships. 

Description: [AU] Remus Lupin is sent back in time on a desperate mission to kill Lord Voldemort.  From a present where he is the last Marauder, Remus finds himself once more eleven and attending Hogwarts for the first time.

For an explanation of the story, refer to first chapter. 

Author's Note: Apologies for the lag in update, the original chapter written for this Act was rewritten eight times before I felt it was ready for publication. 

Any comments and criticisms would be greatly appreciated.  If not – enjoy the ride.

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Act IV: The Gryffindor

      Once upon a time, there had been a young boy who had been just that little bit – different.  Once a month – when the moon was full – that young boy transformed into a ravaging monster unable to control itself as it hunted for human flesh.  Yet, despite this (rather pertinent) fact, the young boy remained optimistic, eager to learn and generally cheerful.

    Remus had known this fact.  After all, he had been that young boy.  Living the fact again however, was something else completely.  Living in the mind of that young boy was like trying to be somebody else.  He understood what the boy was going through, and he knew what the boy faced, he could relate.  But he couldn't be the boy – and being the boy.  .  .  Being Remus Lupin, age eleven -

    He had forgotten however how much brighter and filled with potential the world had seemed at that age.  He had forgotten what it was like to have not just dreams (everybody had dreams after all) but to have so little restrictions on what you wanted to dream of.  The boy thought he could do anything – be any one, learn everything and still have time afterwards to play and grow and be. 

    This was not how it was supposed to be.  The boy should have ceased to exist as anything more than a part of his consciousness the moment Remus took over his body.  But he hadn't – and now, Remus found himself possessing a dark corner in that young boy's mind.  He was able to take over at will certainly, but the young boy remained – well, alive was the best description.  Alive – and aware. 

    It felt like murder.  No – it felt worse than murder because once Remus had completed the mission, it wouldn't be his life that was over, it would be the life of the young boy.  The young boy who still thought the world was fair and worried about making friends.  The young boy who still thought that the Bill of Comparative Humanity would be passed – and that a cure for werewolves would be discovered soon. 

    The young boy who should have had seven years to continue being deluded.

*

      That year, the first year Gryffindor and Ravenclaw students shared three classes: Transfigurations, Charms and Flying.  There was, of course, the three meals and the occasional accidental meeting in libraries and corridors, but other than that, the two houses did not interact.

    Thus (though he didn't know that it was for this reason), Remus spent his first week at Hogwarts in relative peace.  Professor McGonagall had spoken to Professor Dumbledore and he had been given extra homework researching Transfiguration theory.  It was interesting though hard but with the voice's help, Remus was enjoying himself.  Well mostly – with the extra work from Professor McGonnogal, he hadn't had much time to talk to any of the other students.

    It was Friday, dinner was in two hours and the library was almost deserted.  The voice was quiet in the back of his head which was fine with Remus since he wanted to understand the concepts behind 'alohomora' by himself.

    :Finally.:  and that was all the warning Remus had as the voice suddenly took over.  Remus found himself standing up and walking towards another table where Severus Snape was studying behind a stack of books almost as tall as he was.  Most of them were Potions text though Remus recognised a copy of 'Hogwarts: a History'.

    The Ravenclaw didn't look up as Remus sat down (nearly dislodging the towering books).

   "What do you want, Lupin?"  Severus demanded absently as he returned to his reading.

:How did he know it was me? Can he smell me? I read somewhere that animals use scents to distinguish between people – can Severus Snape do it too? Mother said that the Snape family had strange blood up the family tree and -:

The voice didn't answer, instead Remus found himself saying: "You."  

There was a startled pause; Remus watched as Severus' looked up, an expression of shock and disgust on his face, "What?"

   "I need you to make me a potion."  The voice continued through Remus' mouth.

One thin eyebrow arched up and Severus pushed back from the table, folding ink-stained fingers over the book as he glared at Remus, "And why should I help a Gryffindor with his potions' homework?"  he sneered.

   "Because it isn't homework and if you can brew it correctly you'll have all the fame and glory you can bottle."  The voice said calmly and Remus found himself leaning forward as he whispered: "Perhaps – even enough to prove that you should have been a Slytherin."

Severus stared at Remus in silence as if considering options then: "What potion? Polyjuice? Sleeping death? New-Wings?"

   "Wolvesbane."  The voice said and touched Remus' wand first to his forehead than to a blank sheet of parchment lying on the table, "Inscribo."

    "Hey!"  Severus growled, "Use your own bloody parchment –"  and stopped and started reading the letters that were appearing on the parchment.

:What's the wolvesbane potion? Has it something to do with wolves? Werewolves? What does it do? Why do you want Severus to brew it?:  Remus asked.

The voice was silent, instead watching the spread of black ink across the parchment.

   "This is –"  Severus looked up, black eyes wide, " – this is more complicated than anything I've ever seen.  Where did you get this?"  he sounded awed (Remus was a little surprised, Severus Snape was what James Potter described as 'an uppity snob'; Sirius Black said that Severus knew more hexes and curses than the Defence professor).

   "You'll find out after you've brewed it."  The voice said through Remus, "Do we have a deal, Snape?"  and Remus' hand was held out over the table.

Severus was silent, eyes narrowed in thought before he nodded decisively and shook Remus' hand, "Yes."

   "You have to start brewing now."  The voice said, and Remus stood up, "The ingredients can only be found in the Forbidden Forest." 

   "Wait – you never said anything about the Forbidden –"

   "If we leave now, we can be back before dinner."  The voice continued.

   "What?"  Severus was standing now as well, looking shocked, "You mean go into the Forbidden Forest now –"

   "Yes."

:But the Forest is forbidden! Professor Dumbledore said we needed permission from all our guardians before we went in -!:  Remus thought frantically, :What happens if we're caught?:

   "You're crazy."  Severus said, tossing his hair back and sneering down his large nose, "Absolutely crazy if you think I'm following you into the Forbidden Forest."  But he looked down at the parchment on the table.

   "If you brew this potion correctly, the potions masters will be lining up to offer you apprenticeships."  The voice said.

Severus gathered his robes around him, "Who are you?"  he demanded in a quiet, low voice, "Nobody knows that.  Nobody."
   "Will you come with me to the Forbidden Forest?"  the voice asked (Remus was beginning to realise the voice was very good at not answering questions).

Severus was silent then nodded sharply, "Yes."

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A/N: Review? Please? If only to point out plot holes? Or out-of-characterisation? Or if not tell me how much you loved it