Again, just a little longer to hopefully compensate for a late post. But I have to say that vacation is a really good thing. Then again, it could be proving to be a curse. I had figured out many scenarios that would be great for the story… but sadly I don't know if I'll have enough time to write it all before the book comes out…

The Mist Isn't Always Your Friend…

He just had to punish himself didn't he? Just had to watch his drastic mistake be played over and over. Just had to torment himself over constantly as if it would bring back the past and fix it. Just had to punish himself for his mistake.

Severus Snape just kneeled in the middle of his dark classroom reviewing everything he just saw, shifting through the facts. He had thrown all his emotions out the window and acted ridiculous, without thinking of the logic behind everything. All his pain coming from living with his parents had dissipated once he had found his beautiful flower, his Lily. She was a beacon of light through the darkness of his caring parents had thrown him into. They didn't care for his safety. They threw him to the snake and didn't' even look back. But Lily chased that away. Lily saved him when no one else would even go near him.

But how did he repay her?

"Uh… Professor?" The shadows shifted as a silvery mist as the male child's voice penetrated his mind's shields. A bright light lifted his soul out of the depressing gloom he self imposed. A heavenly sign of hope. But it brought him to another depressing place. The numerous potions holding his valuable animal parts loomed over him as if watching his ever move. The drawn blinds refusing any light through the magical windows the previous Potions Master created. The only light came from the sparkling glow of the Pensieve. That dreaded Pensieve. It was best just to return to the misty shadows.

He just wanted to see his love again as if that would bring her back. To cheat Death out of the beautiful Lily. And a piece of her had returned to him but in the worst way possible. Harry James Potter became his worst nightmare. Lily's eyes glared at him through James' face, that traitorous face. How many times had he seen that face looking so innocent while it was plain that he wasn't even close? Just to haunt him, just to kill him, just to drive him over the edge?

And even right now, the eyes gazed down at him from the mist he returned to, gazing at him in the most concerned way. It reminded him of the many times he saw it when returning to her from a Death Eater's meeting. It always made him feel as if everything would be all right no matter how injured he was as if she knew everything but what had happened to cause the problem. She would make everything work as good as new. He just had to tell her he was okay for she couldn't tell if there was emotional turmoil. Yet she couldn't ask as she had no mouth, just those amazing eyes.

"Everything is okay, my dear," he reassured, reaching up to bring the eyes closer to him. Anything just to bring her closer to him, just for a little longer before he was forced into the eternal torment he forced himself into. A place he would sell his soul just to get rid of, if he still owned it. Maybe his deal with Voldemort really was one of the demon lords as many believe him to be. "Just stay with me a bit…" the eyes looked down at him awkwardly as they were pulled down by the invisible hair. Severus stroked those locks, the ones he had gotten so used to. But something was different with it… This hair was cut short other than the long flowing tendrils he had loved for so long. It was an imposter!

He opened his eyes and only saw the emerald green ones, filled with uncertainty and trying to flee. He banished the distorting fog from around them and would have fallen down if he wasn't already sitting.

He had Harry Potter in his arms, restraining him by his hair, bringing the boy's face close to his own. It looked like the boy had gone into a frozen state of terror, not moving even an inch though his eyes begged to do otherwise. If anyone, much less a student, were to walk in the door at that precise moment, there would be much explaining to do. Or maybe a memory charm or two. Explaining would just cause more awkward questions to come.

And what was he going to say to Potter? Or is he to call him Snape in his mind now? Was he to explain to him that he really thought Harry was his wife, the mother of his only child? Who just happened to be Harry himself? He would be accused of being under some sort of influence, but given the circumstances, who would blame him?

"Professor?" Harry asked once finally breaking out of his stupor, "would you mind letting go of me?"

"Once you get off," he automatically retorted. It was true… During Severus' wacky spell, he had lied down on his back, pulling Harry with him. Another thing which would cause him more problems when confronted by anyone else. They would accuse him of being much worst than crazy. He would get fired as a pedophile shouldn't be so close to children. Arguing that Harry was really his son would just throw them into hysterics, ordering his immediate incarceration or something of the like.

"I can't, sir, until you let go…"

He let go, finally, seeing that the statement was indeed true. Harry scattered like an ant on a broken trail, moving as far as he physically could. "What just happened?" he demanded once the Potions Master got up.

"A better question would be why you were in here in the first place, Mr. Potter." Oh, he hated calling him that, especially since he knew the truth about his parentage. It seemed almost criminal to continue calling him that. But wouldn't it be better to keep the boy in the safe environment the Dursleys provided? Telling him the truth would just be putting him in more trouble as he still had Death Eater meetings. Why take the risk? In the end, he would probably be rejected. Who would want the greasy git of a Potion's Master as a father? Talk about needing therapy for the rest of your life.

"I was here for my detention."

"Ah yes, your detention. Just another one to add to the list, now isn't it? You think you're so brave to tread in the snake's lair? To be able to disturb our sanctuary but not have to suffer the consequences? Well let's make sure that doesn't happen. You might be a celebrity but you should know to look elsewhere to find special treatment." He didn't even know if he was talking about the intrusion during class or just now. Snake's lair, indeed. How did he come up with that? Or better yet, why? Was hi trying to run Harry off or something?

"You told me to be here, professor, or else I wouldn't dream of coming down to the dungeons. Why would I?"

"Don't act all innocent with me, Potter. I know you prance around the school like you own the place." Oh, dear, where am I going with this? "Just like your father," or maybe not, "strutting around without a care to the real world or the people in it. He and his little mongrel friends only cared for themselves. It seems as that mentality passed onto you… taking advantaged of a teacher when it is obvious they are under magical strain to the point they are hallucinating. A normal person would call another professor to help the person in need. And what do you do? Nothing. Just taking care of yourself and enjoying the suffering of those around you. Get out!"

"I'll have you know, Professor, that I tried to help you. Not to be a hero, but because I honestly felt that you needed someone there! And I hate seeing people suffer! You think I enjoyed finding out that my father was a bastard to others? I didn't speak to Sirius for who knows how long because of what happened to in the Pensieve."

And at that, he stormed out of the room.

Well maybe there is some hope…

I have to say, I feel a bit unloved… Not only did I get fewer reviews than usual in this story, but a one-shot I had just posted only got one review… and that came from my sister… Maybe this was why my post was so late, I don't know. Hopefully the next one will come sooner.