Chapter VI: The End of the Week and A Battle That Might Have Been

Severus Snape walked into the Headmaster's office, they had enjoyed several conversations of an intellectual nature. However, this would not be one of those times. Albus Dumbledore sat before his fireplace, a look of contemplation obscuring his usual act of naivete.

Severus sat in the chair he always sat in whenever it was just him and the Headmaster, though he would never be seated in front of anyone else unless they happened to be a student. Allowing himself to drift into his own thoughts, he thought of how many of the staff thought of him as a loose cannon, though he simply played his part and only let his guard down when he was around the headmaster.

"So his name is Evans now," the Headmaster said softly. Severus only nodded. He had thought the boy was James for a split second when he walked in, he had the same swagger as his father.

"Why did he said his name was Harry Evans, not Potter," his mentors eyes narrowed, "what has happened to change things this dramatically?" Albus relaxed his guard a fraction as he allowed his confusion to show.

"I don't know Albus, it's almost as if he were pushing away his legacy as the boy-who-lived, to simply became a boy." Severus ran his hand through his hair, unsure know how to react to the boy. If he was know as Harry Potter, he could treat the boy with disgust to cover his memories of the man he resembled, and the eyes the girl who had tried to save him.

Now, how could he face the boy? The nightmares that had been burned into his mind, courtesy of his former master, had reinforced his natural hatred of James Potter, to whom he still owed a life debt too. He felt as if he would never be free of this particular albatross from his neck, but he now could perhaps free himself of it.

Albus Dumbledore, heralded as one of the greatest wizards of the age, sat in silence as his potions master sat lost in his own thoughts. They had always started off each year that he'd been teaching this way, in a way it was a catharsis for the both them. This was the only time they let their masks down, which was always on plain display to all who knew them.

His mind was caught up in trying to understand what had changed, when did his carefully laid plans fall apart? He had known of the divorce of Petunia and Vernon Dursley, even that she had gone back to Evans, but not why Harry was identifying with the name Evans. Unless she had adopted him, that could explain a great deal, including why a Harry Evans sent a message agreeing to come to Hogwarts.

When they hadn't received a message from Harry Potter, Albus had simply slipped one in. He assumed that Harry would be coming, but not that he wouldn't acknowledge his birth name.

Shaking himself, he turned to the younger man with a smile, "yet another year, more minds to guide towards fulfillment."

Severus's eyes betrayed him, as they always did with the headmaster. "Many of those who have children have them starting now." It wasn't necessary to say who they were discussing, it had been a conversation that happened more than once.

"All the more reason to try and guide them out of the dangerous waters they have been abandoned in." Albus looked at him carefully, "you will not turn from the path of penance, no matter that it tears you up to watch the ones that refused to be saved."

Severus bowed his head, both in acknowledgement and guilt, "it's the only way I can make up for all the pain I inflicted." Having said this, Severus stood, gathering his robes around him as if they were chains attaching him to his burdens.

With a nod, they both took back up their guises, that of a naive Headmaster and an evil Potions Master.

He heard Neville stirring the Saturday after their first week of classes. It had been uneventful week for Harry, mostly. After taking the time to actually view his memories last night, he was glad that he hadn't seen them earlier.

Many things, namely the people who were enemies in the past, were slightly different. While there was still antagonism between himself and Malfoy, it was much less of a personal vendetta and more general grief about being a Gryffindor.

The oddest thing was Snape. Sure he was a bloody git, but it seemed as if he were unsettled about how to treat Harry. The few classes that they had, Harry was routinely called to answer questions, some of which he wouldn't have had any ability to answer if he hadn't read ahead in the books provided.

Joining Hermione and Neville as they walked down to breakfast, his thoughts drifted to much more pleasant classes. He remembered that Flitwick had paused after calling his name, his face taking on a look of remembrance, before continuing. McGonagall was better, but Harry still saw the slight pause as she read his name.

He realized that Evans was his birth mother's maiden name, but the odd looks he got from various members of the teaching staff set him slightly on edge. It was ridiculous how some of their professors would give him looks that bordered of sympathy mixed with confusion.

Sitting with Hermione to his side and Neville across from him, the three of them started eating and discussed their plans for the day. Hermione wanted to study, which was fine, but Harry and Neville, though Harry was the more vocal, wanted to enjoy the sunshine and not be cooped up inside. They compromised by collecting books for Hermione to read, while Harry showed Neville how to play football.

There was another thing that he noticed that was different, in the other memories he was constantly down playing his abilities to fit in. Now he was free to be himself. Another thing that he realized, much to his chagrin, was that he and Ron Weasley were best friends. While he had nothing against Ron, the boy could be a loud mouth. It didn't help that he tended to speak without engaging his higher brain functions.

Collecting a few books for when it got hotter, Harry walked with Hermione and Neville down to a tree beside the lake. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a boy that looked like him with three others. He would have studied it longer, but Neville caught his attention and when he looked back it was gone.

Most of the morning was spent enjoying the air and the sunshine. Hermione didn't get much reading done, as she laughed at the two of them. Eventually Harry and Neville joined Hermione in the shade to get a small bit of rest before lunch.

As Harry laid back with his eyes closed and enjoyed the heat from the sun, He pictured a woman with red hair sitting next to a man that he knew, but couldn't place. The image was disjointed, as if it were being seen second hand. He felt irritation that he knew was not his own, and a sense of restraining what was inside from doing what he really wanted to do.

Harry heard someone calling his name, but it sounded far away. "Harry," said the distant voice, "no please, … Harry…" the voice drifted away as his mind rushed to being awake.

He sat up abruptly, his scar itching fiercely. Hermione and Neville looked startled as he cast around for the voice. 'What were they talking about,' Harry thought to himself. Realizing that they were giving him odd looks, he said "sorry, I just had a really odd dream."

The Three of them passed Professor Quirrell as they went towards the great hall. As they sat down to eat, they were joined by a couple of other members of their year, Parvati and Lavender, who seemed to be trying to flirt with Harry.

Harry noticed that Hermione was about to get up and leave, as she had finished her food, but he grabbed her arm to keep her from leaving. He had noticed an odd look as she glanced at him, but didn't feel that here was the place to discuss it.

Smiling brightly, "well, it's been a pleasure talking to you," he said to the girls. "Hermione, I was wondering if you could help me with some questions I had about what Professor Flitwick taught us," he gave her a slightly pleading look.

She nodded, "sure Harry, no problem." She watched as Harry gave a signal for Neville to wait as they stood up. After a few steps, Neville stood up and slowly began to follow them. As soon as they were out of line of sight, Hermione asked, "what was that all about Harry?"

Harry gave her an apologetic look, "it was the only way I could leave without them following me." He looked at the ground, "it's not the first time that various girls have tried to flirt with me, they're just the only ones who have done it in front of you."

Harry smiled slightly, "this is the first time I have been able to get away with out hiding in places they wouldn't look."

Hermione turned her eyes down and controlled her expression, "so I'm just an excuse to get away, is that it?" She wasn't sure why she said that, but she felt it was something that should be said.

Harry's head snapped up, fast enough to look painful, shock and hurt written on his face, "Hermione, I would never," she placed a hand on his shoulder and he quieted instantly.

"I know Harry. I just wanted it said so you knew how others might view it." She didn't say how good it felt that he wouldn't take her for granted. She trusted him completely, but she wasn't going to say that.

Neville joined them shortly after and they went down by the lake to read and be outside. Hermione was glad that she had them as friends, but she wasn't comfortable when it came to others. She had seen them whispering, though it was mostly girls that did that. She knew that she was different for being so smart, add in the facts that she was friends with two boys her age and she was a little to different to most girls. After all, she wasn't worried about looking good and impressing a boy, or talking about makeup and hair products.

She kept her eyes on her book, fighting keep the feeling of being slighted by the other girls from showing on her face. She held the locket that Harry had given her, it was something that she valued highly because it was given in friendship, which she had lacked until she met Harry.

She watched her two friends practice a charm from farther ahead in the books, the levitation charm, and as she watched she noticed that Harry seemed to have a natural talent for teaching. He was patiently instructing showing Neville how to perform the charm until he finally got it right.

The next few hours were spent enjoying the last of the summer heat. As Harry walked in with Hermione and Neville, he saw Lavender and Parvati throw a dirty look at Hermione as they passed, which confused him.

As soon they returned to the common room, Ron immediately walked up and challenged Harry to a game of chess. Harry agreed and walked over to the set all ready set up. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Hermione had got out her book of grade one spells, apparently intent on trying to master a few harder spells by the end of the weekend.

She wasn't sure how long she had just been sitting there, just staring at the words in front of her. She kept thinking about how a lot of the girls had commented on Harry, mostly that they thought he was really attractive. She hadn't wanted to listen, he was her closest friend and the only one she trusted to tell her secrets to. She didn't want to listen to them talk about him like a side of meat.

She glanced at Harry, thoughts of what others were saying running through her head. A part of her felt sorry for him, she knew that her dorm mates wouldn't take no for an answer unless he was off the market, and then they would stew in their jealousy.

Hermione saw a few of the girls whisper to each other and point at him, after all not many people in the wizard world tended to work out, and Harry worked out a lot with Remus. She kept her head down, it wasn't her place to judge who was good enough for Harry, she had no claims on him after all.

Hermione watched as Harry beat Ron, something that was apparently hard to do, and was congratulated by the people that had been beaten by Ron. Harry stayed for a minute, his face looked as if he were just tolerating the praise, before joining her on the couch as he picked up her copy of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi and began reading.

A few of her dorm mates looked as if they wanted to talk to him. She also noticed him shift slightly towards her, but kept his eyes on the book. They sat reading until they left them alone. Hermione noticed that Harry relaxed, but didn't say anything.

Harry noticed Hermione fiddling with her locket and placed a hand on her shoulder. He knew that she only did it when she was nervous or upset. She glanced at him and smiled. He remembered that the other versions of him had always cared deeply for Hermione, even the dark one. He had watched as he'd struggled not to lose control and begged her to stop him.

Grief seemed to be a constant theme in his life, because he could rarely be happy without something bad happening. They sat reading until everyone had left to go to bed. Harry helped her with her books to the stairs, as he couldn't walk on them without them turning into a slide. He bid her goodnight and waited until she had gone into her dorm. He slowly walked up the stairs to his own, dark thoughts clouding his mind.

He got out his pensieve and closed his curtains. After ensuring his privacy, he delved into the memories, watching the final battles that had been fought. It was interesting that both seemed to happen in the same time frame, as everyone else looked similar to their counter part, give or take a few scars.

Harry watched as the dark him went toe to toe with Voldemort. The battle shook the surrounding area, and everyone stopped and watched in awe at the fight. Eventually his dark self won, but at the end something unexpected happened. The energies tied to Voldemort when he finally expired snapped towards him.

The result was that he was overwhelmed by the malevolent aura of Voldemort. He watched as the dark him begged Hermione to stop him, that he couldn't hold him back.

"Please," he whispered, "I can't hold his mind back, we're to similar now."

"You have to Harry," Hermione said as she stroked his hair out of his face. "You can't leave me now."

He reached up and caressed the side of her face, "I'm sorry, I wasted so much time. Time I could have been with you." A look of longing fell on his face, "I have come so far, yet now I wish I could be on a beach anywhere with you for just a few more hours." He chuckled, "I have gained power beyond measure, yet all I want is more time with you."

He had a spasm, and struggled to hold back the encroaching darkness, "please love, don't let him take control."

Tears fell down her face as she kissed him, "I love you." He nodded and closed his eyes. The memory faded and Harry was now sitting on his bed.

What had happened, at first he was watching then it was as if he were living it. This was one of the roads he could have taken, losing to complete darkness. Forcing Hermione to kill him.

He shook his head, trying to clear himself from the memories that he hadn't lived. Putting up the pensieve, he came to a decision. No matter what it took, he would not put her in that position.

He would find a third option.

A/n: 2787. (mutters curses at a game called Home World) sorry for the delay. For those wondering why Harry refused to admit he was Potter/ had to wait until the end, he never heard his name. I ordiginally had it as he would go when Evans was called, which would attract the attention of the teachers, which it did any ways, but decided that I liked this better.