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.
Any comments and criticisms would be greatly appreciated. If not – enjoy the ride.
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Epilogue
Severus woke up with muddled memories of an indeterminable amount of time spent staring at the ceiling of the girl's bathroom broken by Moaning Myrtle laughing her head off before darting away to – he assumed – tell somebody. When I get my hands on Lupin –
With a gasp, he jerked upright; The potion notes -!
"Ah, Mr Snape. I see you have awakened." A soft voice remarked.
He was in a narrow bed surrounded by pale, faded white curtains that left just enough room for one stool bearing the Headmaster.
"Where am I?" Severus asked, though he already knew: there was nowhere else at Hogwarts that smelled so strongly of feverfew and mint after all.
"The Infirmary of course, my boy." Professor Dumbledore said and then waited.
After a while, Severus asked into the expectant silence: "What happened? Where did Lupin go?" though mostly he wanted to know what had happened to the Wolvesbane Potion and the precious notes for making it.
Professor Dumbledore looked at him searchingly then said: "I was hoping you would know, Mr Snape."
Severus stared. What time is it? The torches were lit, casting shadows against the faded curtains around the bed – but that might mean anything. What did Lupin do with the potion before he left? He wondered if the Gryffindor had thrown the entire lot down the sink and flinched inwardly (All that work -!).
"Remus Lupin left Hogswart - just before sunset. Moaning Myrtle informed me of your – state – an hour later. She informed me that the last person you were with in her bathroom was Remus." Professor Dumbledore said softly.
"Is he – still missing, sir?" Severus asked finally as the silence stretched.
Professor Dumbledore looked at him for several long moments before standing, "You should rest, Mr Snape." Professor Dumbledore said, standing, "The after-effects of a prolonged 'stupefy' can be quite a shock to the young." He parted the curtains and walked away, leaving Severus alternatively smarting over being treated like a baby ('Young' my arse!) and the fact that while the Headmaster had obviously gotten whatever he wanted, Severus still didn't know what had happened.
*
Albus took a seat behind his desk; on the walls, previous headmasters of Hogwarts watched in subdued interest, "What can you tell me?" he asked.
The Sorting Hat, faded and more than a little battered, wiggled on the head of the boy sitting before him before a slit appeared in the worn fabric, "Interesting – very interesting." It said, "Albus – an introduction is in order, I believe. You will be pleased to meet, I am sure, Remus Lupin – aged thirty-seven."
"And where," Albus said after a short pause, "Is Remus Lupin, age 11 and four months?"
The boy pushed the hat half off his head and stared at the headmaster from a face pale and as worn as the Sorting Hat looked, "Asleep, Albus. It was the best I could do."
"Indeed." Albus said, "Then perhaps we have some time for you to explain to me how you came to be here, how you – alone of all other werewolves – have managed to gain control of your mind during the full moon and why you chose to attack Tom Riddle."
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Author's Note: I know most of you expected something completely different – I just didn't realise until I started receiving reviews after Act IV. I am sorry about how different this story must have turned out for most of you. If it helps in any way, if I were to write a sequel to "Crossing Bridges", this is what it would contain:
Remus laughed as Severus glared at him, robes and hair dripping wet, "Well it's almost tradition now isn't it?" he said.
"If I find out how you bribe Moaning Myrtle to do this Lupin -!" Severus snarled and added in a half mutter, "And how you manage to stay dry –"
"It's a talent." Remus said easily, "How's the potion going?" he added, staring into the bubbling cauldron, "Is it ready yet?"
"Don't you know?" Severus asked, staring at him with curiously blank black eyes.
Remus ducked his head, "You know that wasn't really me." He muttered, "And it's a secret - that's what Professor Dumbledore said remember – we're not supposed to mention it ever again –"
Severus stared for a while longer, then tapped his wand against the side of the cauldron, "It's done now." He said quietly, "Should be enough to last you till after summer vacation." He added.
Remus grinned, "Fantastic! Here – where's that special bottle you had sent up from home? Don't lie – I know you want to show your Gram a sample, I heard you telling Sandra Bones in Flying. Is it true Potions Master Spelde agreed to take you on as his apprentice as soon as you finished at Hogwarts?"
Severus stared at the Gryffindor, drawing his blue hemmed robes around himself as he glared down. Remus, undaunted after long practise, simply stared back till Severus said, somewhat smugly, "He said he'd take me even if I failed my OWLs."