Author: Walmer92.

Disclaimer: what's mine is mine, what's hers is hers. In other words, whatever you see in this that comes from one of J.K. Row;ings book is hers, and the rest is mine. That good enough for ya?

Chapter 4. Who's Harry?

James was sitting in Professor Dumbledore's office. He was tapping his foot anxiously against the foot of his chair. He was determinedly looking anywhere but at Hermione, who was gazing at him with an expression that could only be described as awe. This, along with the excited mutterings of the portraits on the walls, made him incredibly nervous. The former heads of the school were looking down at him with undisguised disbelief. Although when he had first entered the room it seemed as though nothing could get them to stop talking, a stern reprimand from a rather military seeming witch about the seriousness of the situation had kept them quiet. Despite the fact that their chattering made him uneasy, he was now certain that he preferred it to the silence that oppressed the room. He wanted desperately to do anything to break the tension, but at the same time was equally determined not to talk to Hermione, who looked as though she was dieing to ask him a dozen questions, and was barely holding them back.

Although James normally enjoyed being the centre of attention, he was completely freaked out by the whole situation, and was not up to an interrogation. Instead, he decided to talk to the witch who had made the others shut up. She obviously had some idea of what was going on, which was more than he could say for himself. He stood up, ignoring Hermione's questioning look, and went over to talk to the portrait. The name plate underneath proclaimed her to be Charis Pappas. He had recently studied a period shortly after the Founder's time in History of Magic. Surprised that he actually remembered a word of Binn's lesson, he recalled that she had been the third Head of Hogwarts. Her Father had been the last High Priest of the ancient Greek God's, while her mother had been the High Priestess of Aphrodite. Her mother had trained her to follow in her footsteps, but Charis had instead become the Priestess of Athena, and had led an army of female soldiers against all magical threats to the world. She had been injured when saving Hogwarts from a herd of dragons, and had taken up the position of Headmistress, as the old headmaster had died in the attack. He was in the portrait next to hers, pretending to sleep, and occasionally sneaking a curious glance at James.

'Excuse me,' James began politely, remembering that for all her good deeds, she had a temper on her, 'I was just wondering if-'

'No.' she snapped sharply, and turned her back on him.

'What?'

'I said no. I know exactly what you're going to ask, and the answer's no.'

'But-'

'Didn't you hear me boy? I said no! It's Dumbledore's job to explain all this to you, and I wish him luck. Goodness knows he's going to need it. I refuse to make the situation worse by saying something I shouldn't!'

'But-'

'NO!'

'I just-'

'Go and sit down and stop bothering me.'

'Wanted to know-'

At that moment the door opened to reveal Professor Dumbledore. James was dimly aware that there were people behind him, but his full attention was on the Headmaster.

'No offence, Professor,' he yelled 'but what the HELL is going on!'

Dumbledore motioned for the people accompanying him to stay put, and closed the door behind him. He moved over to his desk, and sat down behind it. He then pulled a small plastic bag out of his pocket and offered it to James, who was now panting slightly.

'Sherbet Lemon?' the headmaster inquired politely. James looked at him incredulously. Dumbledore smiled. 'I thought not, but, as I was planning on having one myself, etiquette does dictate that I offer my guests the same refreshment as that of which I am about to partake. On that note,' he continued as he turned his twinkling eye on Hermione, 'perhaps you would care for one Miss Granger.' Hermione, who, although she would never ever admit it to anyone, had a slight weakness for the muggle sweets that she had grown up with, and reached out to take one from the proffered bag. Besides this, sucking on the sugary sweet calmed her a little. Although her situation was possibly not quite as bad as that of James, she was certainly not her usual self. As Hermione sat back in her chair, Dumbledore once more turned his attention to James.

'Now, Mr Potter, back to your predicament. I will explain everything to you with almost no further delay, but first I might suggest that you sit down before hearing this.' James shook his head mutely, impatient to hear what the he had to say. 'No? Very well. in short, James, because of the actions of your son, you have been brought 25 years into the future.' there was a loud thump as James tried to defy the laws of Physics by sitting down on his chair - six feet away. Apparently unaware of his miscalculation, he stared up at Dumbledore, his mouth hanging wide open. Dumbledore chuckled. 'Well, I did warn you, you know. Bur I must say; that look is very reminiscent of the one you gave the last time you were in my office. The last time from your perspective of course. From mine you have been in my office many times since.' James blushed at the memory, but his embarrassment was short lived as he the full realisation of what Dumbledore had said hit him. 'Professor,' he said weakly, picking himself up from the floor. 'Professor, please tell me you're joking.'

'I'm afraid not Mr Potter. Fortunately for you, you yourself informed of the spell which will send you back. Or that is to say you will, upon your arrival. That's the problem with time travel you know. It's so hard to figure what is in ones past and ones future when comparing your own time line with that of a chronotraveller.' James gaped at him, but Dumbledore merely smiled, and then turned to Hermione. 'Now, Miss Granger to allay your own fears, Harry is quite all right. However I'm afraid that he'll have to remain in the past for some time.'

'You mean - he won't be able to come back?'

'Not for the time being, no. He was sent back to do something. The Veil, you see, Miss Granger, is in fact a conscious entity. It would have taken Sirius permanently had it been his time, and it would not have let him go if, as in this case, it was not. It seems that some higher power has intervened, and sent Harry back to do what needs to be done. I wish I could say as to whether I knew if he had completed his task, but when he left, it was uncertain as whether he or the what he had to take back would return to this time. We shall find in a few days though, so not to worry. Now, the task in hand is to return Mr Potter to his own time,' he gestured toward James.

'But first, I believe you may need proof to truly believe what has happened to you. You yourself will tell me as such in a short amount of time-or 25 years depending on your point of view. What Harry will try to do will depend almost entirely on your belief of him. I have called up one of my colleagues, who are waiting outside the door. I believe his presence will be enough to convince you that you truly have come to the future.' James was still staring at the Professor, his mouth wide open. He was convinced that whatever was happening had to be some strange illusion charm, cooked up by Sirius. But the appearance of the person who now came through Dumbledore's door was enough to completely turn him around.

'Snivellus!' Professor Snape turned an icy glare toward James. 'Potter, you may think that saving your godfather has given you an even higher standing in the eyes of the headmaster, but rest assured that it will not save you from my anger. I have no liking for Black, and his continued presence in this world is hardly something I rejoice over. Furthermore, should I ever hear another syllable pass your lips in reference to your time in my memory, I can promise that not only will you live to regret it, you will wish you hadn't.'

James looked confused, but employed his usual tactic when around Snape and laughed in his face. Inside, his mind was in turmoil. This was Severus Snape-but nothing like the one he knew. This man was older, scarier and (James hadn't thought this was possible) even more greasy. Still laughing, this time slightly hysterically, he backed up, and sank down into his chair. 'My God,' he whispered to himself, the last traces of his arrogant persona gone. 'My God it's true; I've come forward in time.' His mind was teeming with questions, but one stuck out to him more than any other. He lifted his head. 'You said I'd come forward and someone had gone back. Who is he? Who's Harry?'

Hey, i'm sorry i took so long to add another chapter, but i've been so busy at school i barely had time to write two words a night. i'm starting to get nightmares about being chased by large animated letters spelling out 'G.C.S.E.' ugh! (shudders) anyway, thankyou so much to every one who reviewed. you really helped me get this chapter finished, so i hope you enjoy it. and thanx for all the tips. please review again, n i promise i'll update quicker next time. honest!