~Thanks for all the nice reviews, guys! To answer the most prominent query, I haven't forgotten about fifth year. This is just something I've had written for a while and hadn't bothered to post, until I decided that it deserves credit too. Chapter two: Silas is at Hogwarts – but everything's different! What's going on? ~ From Age to Age the Same

Chapter 2 – Hogwarts

~Time smashed into a million pieces…~

Silas landed with a bump on the floor of a large chamber. He stood up and brushed himself off.

"Dad?" he asked tentatively. There was no answer.

All he could see was his father's face, the blood covering his clothes over his chest, his expression of surprise…

"Where are you?"

Suddenly, he knew where he was. This was the Entrance Hall at Hogwarts!

He'd been here last year when his father had brought him to see Dumbledore after his magic overflow problem, to make sure it was sorted. He'd got his wand the same day.

Remembering his wand, Silas picked up both it and his father's wand where they had fallen on the floor.

He pocketed his dad's, but held his own before him. That made him feel slightly better.

"Dad?" he asked again, a little louder. "Anyone?"

The sound echoed and reverberated around the huge room and up the marble staircase.

Dumbledore. Dumbledore would help. Besides, his mother and James would be there, wouldn't they? Yes, they had taken the Portkey to Hogwarts.

That's where he had to go – Dumbledore's office. Maybe his father had found his way there.

The only problem was, as Silas soon realised, was that it was a very long, complicated route. He got lost in the first five minutes and wandered aimlessly for the next ten.

There was also something very strange going on, he thought. When he'd left the house, it'd only just past midnight.

Now, however, the midday sun was shining through the windows and he could hear murmured voices coming from behind the classroom doors.

He wondered briefly whether he should ask someone, and had just had time to realise that it was a little odd for Hogwarts to be teaching in the middle of August when a bell rang, so loudly that he yelled and slammed his hands over his ears.

At this sound, doors suddenly burst open all up and sown the corridor and black robed students piled out, slinging bags over their shoulders and talking loudly.

Silas flattened himself against a stone wall and watched them all pass helplessly, until at last, someone noticed him.

"You lost?"

Silas looked up. A boy much taller than he was was smiling down at him.

He was dressed in black like all the others, but he had a large silvery badge with the letter 'P' on it pinned to his chest.

"Yes," Silas said quickly. "I'm looking for Professor Dumbledore."

"No problem," said the older boy. "Follow me."

The boy led him up countless staircases and through several hidden doors behind tapestries. Silas did his best to remember the way in case this ever happened again before he came to Hogwarts.

Finally they reached an ugly looking gargoyle. The boy swore quietly. "I've forgotten the password," he said.

"Oh," said Silas.

Just then, three other students turned the corner, talking seriously amongst themselves.

One was a tall, red haired boy with a long nose, and there was a pretty girl with brown hair like a bush. The third was a short, skinny black haired boy with glasses. He looked weirdly familiar.

As a matter of fact, Silas was sure he'd seen them all before – though he couldn't say from where…

The three stopped talking when they saw Silas and the older boy.

"What are you three doing?" said the boy with the silver badge.

"We were going to see Professor Dumbledore," the brown haired girl told him.

Silas' guide suddenly looked relieved. "I don't suppose you'd take this kid with you?" he asked. "He's lost and I've got Potions revision."

The red-headed boy winced sympathetically. "We'll take him. Good luck."

The boy with the badge grinned and strode off.

"How'd you get lost?" the girl asked.

Silas shrugged. He was still watching the boy with glasses, who turned to the gargoyle waiting patiently in the corridor and said, "Mars Bar."

The gargoyle jumped aside as Silas giggled.

"How old are you?" asked the girl, ever persistent, as they stepped onto the moving staircase.

She seemed to be just trying to have a friendly conversation, however, so Silas answered.

"I'm ten," he said.

"Where are your parents?"

Silas looked away, the memory of that morning flooding back.

"Well… my Mum ought to be upstairs with Professor Dumbledore and my baby brother. My Dad…" he shrugged sadly.

The black haired boy looked back at him sympathetically. "My Dad's dead too," he said.

"He's not dead!" said Silas, refusing to believe it could possibly have come to that horrifying reality. "I just don't know where he is!" Tears were flowing helplessly down his cheeks now, and the other three looked decidedly uncomfortable.

"What's your name?" asked the other boy unhelpfully.

Silas glared at him. "Silas," he hissed.

All three of them jumped, very nearly falling down the staircase.

"You just… you…" said the redhead. Silas didn't know why they were all looking so scared. His hand tightened about his father's wand in his pocket as he wiped his eyes resolutely.

"We're here," said the boy with glasses, his eyes wild. They had reached the door. The boy knocked. "Professor Dumbledore? It's Harry."   

If Silas had been in a normal state of mind, he would have realised that Harry was a very common name and could belong to anyone.

As it was, he stopped crying abruptly and said, "Are you making fun of me?" just as a voice from behind the door said, "Harry? Come in."

~You know I do this on purpose, don't you? : -P

Thanks for all the great reviews!

Eponine

VLBVLB

Thom Verdace

Rowlingfan 1

A Huge Fan

Angel Baby

Naomi Silverwolf

Keebler-elmo

Wingweaver

Citcat299 ~