Finally Official?
"Finally! Took them a damn long while!"
Harry woke up to a triumphant yelling. He heard a sleepy grunt behind him, before turning to find a drowsy-looking Sirius gazing at him though heavy lidded eyes.
"James!" Remus laughed. "Give it a rest!"
Harry turned again, confused. "Wha –"
"Morning, Harry!" James appeared enthusiastically in front of Harry, a wicked grin on his face. "I see you two are now finally official."
"Huh?"
"Oh, come on, don't try to hide it, Harry. We know you two have been lusting after each other for ages."
"Go away… prat…" Sirius mumbled groggily.
"Sure, wouldn't want to ruin your romantic moments, now would I?"
Harry decided to ignore him and, yawning, began to slide out of bed. That was before an arm wound itself around his waist and dragged him back in again. This caused James to go into hysterics. Remus just looked at Harry amusedly from over the laughing boy's shoulder.
"You ought to wake him up, you know," he said, "since you're the only one he listens to."
Harry nodded and sighed. Getting Sirius up in the morning was hell.
An hour and a half later, Harry sat at breakfast with a very grumpy Sirius at his side.
"What does it take a guy to get some sleep around here?" Sirius complained.
"It depends on what kind of guy you're suggesting, Sirius," Remus said matter-of-factly.
"Well, how many goddamn kinds of guys are there?"
It was James who answered this one. "Three," he said simply.
"Oh? And how'd you figure that out?"
"Well, first there's you, Sirius –"
"Why me?" Sirius demanded.
"Because you are almost on the brink of insanity, you care more than anything about your damn hair –"
"I do not!"
"Oh please, you use three different shampoos on it every two days – you have a schedule for God's sake! – and then you put countless amounts of sprays, waxes, and creams all over it."
"It's called style, James! Something you obviously haven't encountered yet!"
"Yeah, a four-hour-long-to-do style that lasts a day, and anyway, that's you. The next person is Harry because he's mad enough to date you –"
"We're not dating!" Harry exclaimed.
"Sure, whatever you say, and then there're normal people, like me and Remus here."
"Flattered, James," Remus announced.
Sirius huffed. "What is this? Pick on Sirius day? First you drag me out of bed at the earliest hour of the day, then you make me sit here and listen to you insult me, and then I hear that Harry doesn't even want to date me!"
"Who would, Black?" Snape appeared behind Harry, who was laughing uncontrollably at Sirius' antics.
James immediately had his wand out, and Harry stopped laughing.
"Piss off, Snivellus," James snarled.
"What do you want, Snape?" Harry asked calmly.
"I am to inform Harry James that McGonagall would like to see him after his first class," Snape mused. "I take it that that is you?" he said, obviously referring to Harry.
"It is," Harry replied, wondering what McGonagall could possibly need to see him for.
"Now that you're done with your informing, Snape, why don't you take a nice little trip to the shower?" James taunted. Sirius snickered, while Remus looked down, evidently not wanting to be a part of it. Peter found this annoyingly (to Harry) hysterical.
Snape scowled. "Are you always this pathetic, Potter, or are you just practicing?" he retorted and sauntered away without awaiting an answer.
"You'll pay for that, you slimy git," James snapped, before standing up and raising his wand –
"Don't!" Harry exclaimed. "There's no point, you'll just get into trouble!"
"He's got a point, Prongs."
James sneered, but reluctantly sat down again. "Fine," he said, "but that's the last time I let him get away with his disgusting sliminess."
Sirius chuckled. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "Wash his hair for him?"
"Yuck," Harry said in disgust.
"Snape with clean hair?" Remus mused. "I can't imagine it."
They laughed, and made their way to the first lesson.
"Hey, Harry," Sirius said suddenly through Care of Magical Creatures. "Hogsmeade weekend coming up." He grinned.
"Sorry, Sirius," Harry replied cheerfully. "I'm going with James instead."
"What?" Sirius spluttered, looking aghast.
Harry inwardly snickered, whilst attempting to keep a straight as possible face. "Yep, I've decided to choose James over you. Sorry, Sirius."
Sirius eyed him suspiciously, before making his way over to James, who was attempting to calm an irritated Blast-Ended Screwt. Harry grinned and watched as Sirius whispered something to James, who looked directly at Harry in surprise, before grinning himself. Harry burst out laughing as Sirius crossed his arms angrily.
Sirius glared at him playfully. "March 28th, Pick on Sirius Day," he muttered.
"Oh, come on, you know I'm going with you."
Sirius looked at him doubtfully. "Promise?" he asked hopefully.
Harry laughed at him. "I promise," he said softly.
Sirius grinned at him again.
Harry just shook his head amusedly, and began to make his way back to the castle as the lesson ended.
"What have we got now?" he inquired Remus once they were inside.
"DADA," Remus responded as he rummaged though his bag for something. "Then double Potions with the Slytherins after lunch."
"Fun," Harry confessed with a sigh.
"Yep. Hey wait, where are Sirius and James?"
Harry shrugged. "I thought they were following."
"Oh, no," Remus muttered. "Where is it?"
"What?" Harry asked.
"Damn, I think I left my DADA book in the library. I'll see you at class later!" And with that he hurried away.
Harry sighed, and then realized he was standing alone on the first floor. The lesson was about to start in five minutes, and he had four floors to climb. He began to hurry round the corner when he met a crash.
"Watch where you are going, Potter!"
Cursing, Harry massaged the bump on his head. "I'm not Potter," he muttered irritably.
"Well – are you not meant to be with McGonagall, James? I happen to remember informing you of that at breakfast."
"Oh, crap!" Harry said as he remembered. "Do you know where she is?" he questioned Snape hurriedly.
"I believe she is her office, now if you don't mind, I'd rather not waste my time fooling around with pathetic Gryffindors."
"Yeah," Harry agreed absently, before running as fast as he could to McGonagall's office.
Bursting into the room, Harry gasped out, "Sorry, I'm late, Professor."
The professor raised an eyebrow questionably. "Late for what, Mr. James?" McGonagall asked him, looking slightly annoyed.
"Erm, didn't you want to see me?"
"I'm afraid not, Mr. James. Is there a problem?"
"Er – no, it's just… Snape told me you wanted to see me."
"Snape? I assure you, if I had wanted to see you, I would have come and got you myself. Now, I think it is time you made your way to your lesson, Mr. James."
"Yes, Professor," Harry uttered confusedly. Wandering along the corridor, he wondered why Snape would do a prank as lame as that, even when he hardly new Harry in this time. Probably because I hang around with the marauders, Harry thought.
"Ah, so our little plan worked after all," cackled the high-pitched tone of a seventeen-year-old Bellatrix Lestrange.
Harry stopped dead. In front of him stood not only Bellatrix, but the boy Harry had encountered before who he found to be Dolohov, Avery and finally Narcissa, who hung giggling on an another boy's arm.
"It's time you pay for that little incident a few days ago, James," Dolohov smirked.
Harry's eyes narrowed. He didn't have time to muddle around with idiot Death Eaters. "What are you going to do?" he answered. "Hex me? Throw a Cruciatus my way? If that's so, would you mind getting on with it please? I don't have time to mess around with Death Eaters-to-be."
Immediately Narcissa's giggling came to a halt, as she stared at him wide eyed.
Avery took a step forward, eyes narrowed, watching him intently. 'What do you know about Cruciatus, James," he spat. It wasn't a question.
"Well," Harry mused, knowing he would win this one. "I've been under it, if that's what you mean, Avery."
"Liar," the angry teenager snapped. "You don't know a thing about torture, James, so I suggest you keep out of it."
"Why ask me then, if you won't believe the truth?" Harry snapped back. "Just because you joined sides with Voldemort, Avery – Look! You can't even hear the name without cowering away! It doesn't mean you can go around threatening students with forbidden curses. You're all idiots, you know that? He manipulates you onto his side, you think it's cool, that's unless you were tortured into serving him, and then you scare the hell out of other people because you're afraid that if you don't, Voldemort will do you in." He took a deep breath, realizing that he was rambling. "Why am I even talking about this anyway? It's not as if I care if you get done in for not being faithful pets."
By this time they were all looking at him wide-eyed, even Dolohov, who looked utterly shocked.
But he quickly consumed his cool, even mask. 'How do you know all this, James?'
"He killed my parents in front of me, Dolohov. I just figured it would be worth while knowing what he's about." And with that, Harry turned around and headed for his lesson.
Sighing, Harry decided there was no point in going to DADA since the lesson was almost finished, so he made his way up to the common room. Suddenly he stopped, the thought came to him, Snape. Scowling, Harry realized that Snape must have set him up. And just when Harry had been kind enough to think of giving the greasy git a chance.
He had just leant against a cold, stone wall a corridor away from the portrait of the Fat Lady, when said greasy git walked up to him. Immediately Harry whipped out his wand. "You set me up, Snivellus," he said with a snarl.
The dark Slytherin scowled. "I had no choice, James," he retorted. "They would have hexed me had I not done it for them."
"So why'd you do it? Why didn't you just get hexed? What have I ever done to you?"
"Exactly, James, what have you ever done to me? Nothing, so I didn't see any point in being hexed for a pointless Gryffindor."
Harry scowled at him. "You're a selfish bastard," he argued. "No wonder no one likes you. What do you want, anyway?'
Snape narrowed his eyes. "You don't know half of it, James," he uttered snidely. "I am here because when you rudely ran into me, something of mine went missing and I can only assume you have it."
"I don't have anything of yours, Snape, and even if I did, you wouldn't be getting it back for what you just did."
"Harry!' someone shouted, before Sirius sped round the corner breathlessly. The minute he saw Snape, his eyes narrowed and wand was out. "What are you doing here, Snivelly? The Slytherin Common room is in the dungeons, from what I can remember."
"Before you rudely interrupted, Black, I was about to retrieve what is mine from your pet here."
Harry scowled. "Shut up, Snape. I told you I don't have anything of yours."
"Piss off, you greasy git," Sirius said darkly.
"No, not until I get it back."
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about, Snape!" Harry exclaimed. "Go to McGonagall if you're so worried about it."
"No, give it back, James! You know exactly what I am talking about!"
Suddenly it clicked. Harry groaned as he remembered. Just as he had ran from Snape to get to McGonagall, he picked up a strange, decayed-looking book from the floor and hurried off again. Harry slid a hand into his robe pocket, and felt the old pages. Wondering why it was so important, Harry decided to keep it for a while. It would serve Snape right for setting him up like that.
"Right, Snape," Sirius said angrily. "If you don't beat it on the count of three, I'll hex you into next week."
"I'm scared, Black," Snape sneered.
"One…" Sirius began threateningly.
"James…" Snape ground out.
"Two…"
"Go away, Snape," Harry said shortly.
"Three! Right, Snape, you asked for it…"
"Sirius, no – wait!" Harry said, annoyed now. Snape didn't deserve to be hexed for wanting something of his own back.
Sirius scowled, annoyed. "Why are you always sticking up for him, Harry? He's just a greasy git."
Sirius was right; Harry had always been sticking up for Snape. More than a few times he had prevented James or Sirius cursing the Slytherin.
Sighing, Harry said, "I just don't think hexing him is a good idea."
"Then what is? How are we meant to get rid of him then?"
"Stop it, Sirius."
"Stop what?"
Harry gave him annoyed look, before turning to Snape. "Leave," he said quietly.
"no," the Slytherin shot back.
"Leave," Harry said darkly. "now."
"Fine, but tomorrow I'm going straight to McGonagall – we'll see how she takes this."
"Boohoo, Snape," Sirius drawled. "Go on then, go crying to McGonagall. See if we care."
"Don't worry, Black. I'm sure you'll end up caring when you are in a month long detention."
"Just go, Snape," Harry said tiredly.
"Stop ordering me about, you soiled little Mudblood –"
"Petrificus Totalus!" Sirius yelled, causing Snape to keel over backwards.
"Sirius!" Harry cried, and rushed over to Snape.
"He called you a –a –"
"He called me a Mudblood, so what? It's not as if I haven't been called one before, Sirius."
"What's going on?" James demanded as he appeared from around the corner.
"Harry's upset because I hexed Snivellus for calling him a Mudblood," Sirius fumed.
"What?" James exclaimed. "How can you –"
"Look," Harry said, angry now, "maybe if you didn't treat him like crap all the time he wouldn't be like that! Why can't you just leave him alone for once?"
"Us?" Sirius exclaimed, as Remus walked through the portrait hole to almost trip over Snape's body. 'It's HIM who follows US around! In fact," he said suddenly, "it's you he's following!"
"What?"
"Yuck," James said. "Greasy, slimy Snivellus has a crush on Harry? That's sick."
"Shut up," Harry said.
"But you know it's true though, don't you?" Sirius taunted. "He's always staring at you when he thinks we're not looking. It's disgusting."
"Shut up! What's your problem, Sirius? I thought you had finished going through the 'complete selfish bastard' phase!"
All three of the Marauders gaped at him.
"And you," Harry said angrily, turning to James. 'You're a selfish, arrogant git, no wonder Lily won't go out with you!"
James looked at him wide eyed, before pulling out his wand. "You'll pay for that, Harry!"
"What are you going to do, James?" Harry mocked. "Hex me into next week? Go on then!" He put his wand back in his pocket and stood with his arms out.
James scowled, along with Sirius, but did nothing.
"What's going on down here?" Demanded the shrill voice of McGonagall, who strode down the corridor towards them. She took in the two pointed wands at Harry, the unmoving body of Snape, and Remus Lupin who stood waiting for something to happen.
"Right, you three –- four, in my office, now."
After she took the hex off a sneering Snape, they followed her down to her office. As they entered, she conjured up several chairs in front of her desk and uttered a sharp, "Sit."
Immediately, Sirius and James began to ramble at the same time until she put her hand up to silence them.
Harry just sat with his arms folded and Snape refused to look at any of them.
"Mr. James," McGonagall said, causing the other three to scowl. "Would you care to elaborate on this?"
So Harry told her what had happened, fairly. In the end, Sirius, James nor Snape could complain.
"Do we all agree on this?" McGonagall asked pointedly. The four of them nodded.
She looked at them intensely for a minute, before saying, "That will be ten points each from Gryffindor and from Slytherin, and a week worth of detentions."
"A week!" Sirius exclaimed. "But we hardly did anything!"
McGonagall looked at him sternly, and said, "You know what you did, Mr. Black, and now you have to pay the consequences. In my office, seven o' clock, tomorrow, please. You are dismissed."
Sirius and James rushed out of the office and along the corridor, muttering together, while Harry sighed and left to go to the library.
As Harry made his way down there, he realized he was being followed, before turning around to find Snape behind him. Sighing again, he said, "What do you want, Snape?"
"I want back my diary, James," was the simple answer. No sneering, no scowling.
Harry looked at him carefully, before thinking, diary? Eyes widening in realization, he pulled out the small, forgotten book in his pocket. "Is this what you mean?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes," Snape hissed, and snatched it back.
Harry shrugged. "You could've just said, y'know."
"What do you think they would do when they find out I have a diary, James?" Snape sneered this time.
"What if I happen to tell them?" Harry asked, annoyed again.
"I know you won't, not yet, as they do not want to talk to you right now and, by the time they do, I'll have it safe and hidden where prying Gryffindors cannot find it."
"Whatever," Harry said. He couldn't be bothered to argue with Snape any more, it just seemed so… old.
He began to turn, before –
"James."
"Yes?" Harry voiced tiredly.
"Why did you do that?" Snape looked at him intently, whilst taking a step forward.
"Do what?" Harry asked, bemused.
"Why do you always stop Potter and Black from hexing me?" Snape asked suspiciously.
"Is that a bad thing?" Harry said. "Would you rather I stop?"
'No…' Snape hesitated.
"Well, then. I'll see you in detention."
"Where are you going?"
"To the library."
"What for?" Snape began to follow him again as he made his way there.
"Does it matter?"
Snape didn't answer. "You haven't answered my question," he said as they arrived there.
"Maybe I don't want to,' Harry said absently, before slumping in one of the chairs tiredly. Snape sat opposite to him.
"I want to know."
Harry sat up and stared at him. "Maybe I just don't like seeing people taunted at for doing nothing. Why do they do it to you the most anyway?"
Snape looked at him strangely before answering. "Because they do not like me," he said simply.
"There's got to be a reason," Harry said.
"Why has there got to be? They do not like me, therefore they hex me."
Harry sighed. "That's sad," he said.
"It is," Snape replied.
Harry folded his arms on the table and rested his chin on them, looking up at Snape. "Well," he said. "Now that you're done with your questioning…" he trailed off.
Snape watched him for a minute, before saying a quietly thanking him and slipping away.
Harry sat there in shock. Snape had thanked him? Snape had thanked him! He laughed bemusedly to himself. What was the world coming to?
That night, Harry slept the minute his head touched the pillows. What he didn't know, was that he was being watched.
"Harry?" Sirius murmured, as he quietly sat on the edge to Harry's bed. Sirius gazed longingly at the sleeping green eyed boy. He cursed inwardly for his stupid, stupid behavior earlier that day. Why did he always have to mess things up? Sighing, he reached out towards Harry – before snatching his hand back as the boy rolled over while sleepily murmuring to himself. Sirius smiled fondly. Carefully, he leant down, ghosting his fingers over those lips… green eyes. Beautiful green eyes, and he was staring into them. "Harry?" he murmured.
"Sirius?" was the sleepy answer. "What –"
"Harry, I – I'm sorry, I really am, about today –"
"Ssh," Harry said quietly, before closing his eyes again. "It's all right, Sirius. It doesn't matter."
"No, Harry, it does matter, I was being a complete prat – In fact, I'm still a complete prat-"
"No, Sirius."
"Yes –"
"Sirius, listen to me," Harry said, sitting up. "You are not a complete prat, you're the most wonderful person I've ever met. You can just be a bit… thoughtless, sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Sirius said incredulously.
"Yes, sometimes," Harry replied sternly. "Now, go to sleep before I hex you into next week."
Sirius smiled at him, relieved. "You don't mind if I stay…" he began, before being pulled down into the bed next to Harry. Smiling, he said a quick "thanks" and fell straight asleep.
Harry smiled fondly and wound his arms around his godfather's neck.
Forgiving Sirius was so easy.
The next morning, Harry woke up feeling a lot better. Sirius lay beside him with an arm wrapped around Harry's waist.
"Harry…" he murmured in his sleep, forcing Harry to grin.
"Come on, Sirius… wake up…" Harry said, without the intention of getting up for at least another half hour.
"Hmm," Sirius grunted before pulling Harry even closer to him.
Harry heard Remus yawn from the other side of the room, and wondered if Remus would talk to him after what had happened the day before.
"Wha' day is it?" Remus asked drowsily no one in particular.
"Thursday," Harry muttered. Double Potions, he thought sourly.
"Not Friday?" Remus asked irritably.
Harry snorted. "We wish."
A moment later, Remus asked suddenly, "Harry?"
"Yeah?" Harry said, pushing himself up a bit, so that he could see Remus from over Sirius.
"What did you mean when you said you thought Sirius had finished going through the 'complete selfish bastard' phase?"
Harry winced. He hadn't meant to say it that harshly, but he had been too angry to care at the time. He sighed, and said, "I didn't mean to say that, I was just really mad. I guess I exaggerated a bit." He shrugged.
"A bit?" Remus answered incredulously. "The minute we arrived back at the dorm Sirius was pacing up and down trying to figure out what you meant. When he finally got it he became really, well – depressed, I guess, and wouldn't talk to anyone."
Harry winced again. It was that bad? "I know," he said tiredly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, looking down at Sirius and brushing a stray jet-black lock of hair out of his godfather's face.
"S' ok," Sirius mumbled sleepily without opening his eyes. Harry smiled.
"Are you two together now?" he heard Remus ask curiously. "Can I ask?"
"I don't know," Harry said with a sigh. He loved Sirius, he really did. But like that? Harry scratched his head in confusion; he knew it wasn't right, but…
"Don't be silly, Harry, of course we're together," Sirius said matter-of-factly, being more awake now.
"If you say so, Sirius," Harry said bemusedly.
"I do," Sirius answered simply.
Harry shook his head in amusement, before lying back down again. Sirius still had a hold of him, and he had no intention of moving.
The day passed by slowly, and as they made their way down to double potions in the afternoon, Harry began to get worried. James was completely ignoring him, refusing to even sit with him, which meant Sirius and Remus were torn between sitting next to Harry or sitting next to James. In the end, they took it in turns to sit next to each of the Potter's in different lessons and at mealtimes. Harry found this pretty stupid and told them just to go and sit with James, Harry really didn't mind, but they refused.
As they entered the Potions classroom, Professor Stevens was putting students into pairs. If it weren't for the different looks and surnames, Harry would have thought Professor Stevens was Snape's father or some other close relative. The adult Snape in Harry's time and Professor Stevens acted almost exactly the same, and Harry found himself disliking the professor the minute he had met him. The despicable (in the whole classes' opinion) man was enjoying himself by adding up the irate Slytherins with the peeved Gryffindors. The only difference between Stevens and Snape was that Professor Stevens did not tend to favor any of the houses, as he disliked all students in general.
"Right, you – Potter, with Nott, right now!"
"But, sir –"
"Enough! Ten points for talking back, Potter! You, Black! You're with Zabini and you –" He looked at Harry and searched for someone to pair him with. "Ah!" he said delightedly. "You, James! Pair with Snape."
James smirked spitefully, whilst Sirius scowled and narrowed his eyes, glaring at Snape threateningly.
Harry sighed at the Marauders antics, and went to sit down next to Snape, who had a totally blank expression on his face.
As Professor Stevens began with the instructions, Harry asked Snape pointlessly, "Why do you always have to wear a mask?"
"What do you mean?" Snape asked, looking at him strangely.
"You never reveal any expression," Harry explained, "It's like you're afraid of showing an emotion, or something."
Snape gave him another odd look, before answering curtly, "I don't have any idea as to what you mean, James."
Harry sighed. "Whatever," he said. He watched as Snape began to add ingredients to the potion since the professor had finished explaining.
"How do you do that?" he asked blandly.
"Do what?"
"Make a potion without even knowing what to do."
Snape raised an eyebrow at him. "What makes you think I do not know what to do?" he said with a smirk.
Harry shook his head confusedly.
Snape sighed. "Brewing potions is not that difficult, James." He suddenly looked at Harry irritably. "I'd rather not call you James, as it reminds me of Potter over there," he said, glancing for a second in James's direction.
Harry shrugged. "Call me Harry, then," he said simply.
"Fine."
Harry gave the dark haired Slytherin another confused look. "I still don't get how you –"
"Look, Ja – Harry," Snape said, annoyed. "Would you rather I gave you private Potions lessons after school, because from what I have seen, you are hopeless at it."
Harry gave him a sidelong look. "I don't think Sirius would like that," he said quietly. "Or James," he added.
"I was joking, Harry."
"I thought Slytherins didn't joke?"
"Then you thought incorrectly."
Harry looked at him carefully, before saying, "You are very strange."
"So are you," was the simple answer.
Harry shrugged. "Fair enough," he said.
"Yes."
Harry looked at the now perfectly done potion. He then looked up to find Snape watching him. "How did you do that so fast?" Harry asked, bewildered. The rest of the class were only halfway through making theirs.
Snape smirked at him, but didn't answer. Just then, a shadow loomed over their desk, and Harry looked up to find Stevens leaning over them looking slightly irritated.
"Cheating, James?" he said shrewdly.
Harry looked at him confusedly. "Er – no," he said.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for lying, James."
Harry shrugged and turned away, not bothering to argue, for once.
"He did not cheat, Professor," Harry heard, and turned back to find Snape looking intently at his Professor.
Snape was sticking up for him?
Stevens looked suspiciously down at Snape, the only student he considered decent when it came to potions. "Fine," he said, "but next time, I won't let you off so easy. Have your points back, James." With that he wandered off to loom over some other poor victim.
Harry looked suspiciously at Snape. "Why did you do that?" he asked.
Snape gave him a blank look. "Do what?" he said.
"You know what."
Snape sighed irritably. "It is sometimes called, 'doing a favor', Harry," he said sarcastically.
Harry raised his hands in mock defeat. "All right, all right," he said, wincing slightly. "No need for the sarcasm though."
Snape looked at him strangely again, and with that, the lesson ended.
Harry sighed as he met Sirius at the door to the classroom.
"So, how was your lesson with Snivellus?" Sirius asked.
"Will you stop calling him that?" Harry said irritably. "It was fine."
It was Sirius' turn to sigh this time. "Okay, fine," he said. "Come on, detention."
Harry groaned; he had forgotten about that.
"Yeah, I know," Sirius said. "Bad day."
"Yeah," Harry agreed. They arrived at McGonagall's office, to find Snape had silently followed them. Sirius scowled, but said nothing when he received a look from Harry.
"Where's James?" Harry asked him as Sirius knocked.
"Dunno, maybe he forgot."
"Come in." They heard. McGonagall stood as they entered the classroom.
"Right," she began. "Potter, Black – where's Potter?"
"Here, Professor!" James gasped as he ran into the room.
McGonagall sent him a disapproving look, before continuing. "Potter, Black, you will be serving detention with Professor Stevens, tonight, as I cannot find time to do it myself." She put a hand up at their protests. "And you two," she said, directing her stare at Harry and Snape, "will be clearing out one of the old, unused classrooms for the first years to use. But first, I'd like a word, Harry. The rest of you may go."
As the other three left the classroom, McGonagall said, "Mr. James."
"Yes, Professor?"
"I am afraid I have some bad news. After plenty of research we have found nothing that will enforce you to return to the future." She sighed tiredly and gave him a pitied look, before continuing. "Although we are still seeking information from the Ministry –"
"The Ministry?" Harry exclaimed.
"Yes, Mr. James, the Ministry. We have had to inform specialists in the Department of Mysteries of what has happened and they are doing all they can to find you a solution to getting back. This is a very serious issue, as it is dangerous for wizards from the future to interfere with the past. But I can assure you, they are not willing to give up so soon." Another tired sigh and a pitied look.
Harry heaved a sigh, before muttering more to himself, "So, basically I'm stuck here forever."
"You obviously have not been listening," McGonagall said irritably.
"Sorry, Professor." Harry said tiredly. "I was listening."
"Very well, you may now attend your detention, Mr. James."
Harry muttered a "thanks" before trudging to the classroom he was supposed to be cleaning out. Why was it always him? It just happened to be he, Harry, who received the infamous scar. It just happened to be he, Harry, whom others were attempting to kill. It just happened to be he, Harry, who Malfoy managed to send back in time.
Harry suppressed a sigh as he finally arrived at the old classroom to find Snape sitting there waiting for him.
"Haven't you started?" Harry asked.
"Would that be fair?" Snape sneered.
Harry shrugged, confused at Snape's suddenly spiteful behavior. Deciding to ignore Snape, he glanced around at the room. The only thing he could properly see was dust. Everywhere, piles and piles of books and parchment covered in dust. Sighing, he started to cast cleaning spells around the room. Snape gave him a strange look before doing the same. The night went by slowly, and it was only when Harry began to sort through the different books on the shelves, did he notice it. Aged, covered in dust and ripped slightly at the edges, Tom Marvolo Riddle's diary sat amongst the old History of Magic books.
Wide eyed, and wondering how it got there, Harry slowly picked it up.
"What's that?" Snape asked curiously, wandering over to Harry.
"Nothing," Harry said quickly, before hastily stuffing the diary into his bag.
Snape scowled at him. "Stealing, James?" he asked menacingly.
Harry frowned at him. "What's gotten into you all of a sudden?" he asked angrily. "One minute you're nice, the next you start throwing insults my way."
Snape narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. Harry sighed and was about to continue with the room when McGonagall swept in. She looked intently around the room before saying, "Your detention is over. I suggest you hurry back to your dorms before anyone wonders what you are doing still in the corridors. You will carry on with this room at seven o' clock every day for the rest of the week. I will know if you choose not to attend it. Goodnight." And with that she stalked away.
Harry was about to leave the classroom when Snape grabbed his arm with a hurried, "Wait!"
"What?" Harry snapped. He was too tired to bicker with Snape at ten o' clock when he could be sound asleep in the dorm.
Snape flinched slightly at his snap, before resuming his usual posture. "I was just wondering," he said curtly, "if you and Black are together." He said disgustedly, emphasizing the last word to make sure Harry knew exactly what he meant.
"Yes," Harry answered suspiciously. "Why?"
"I just wondered whether it was true you were stealing Potter's girlfriend or not," Snape said snidely, before sweeping out of the classroom.
"Whatever," Harry muttered as he made his way back to the Gryffindor common room.
One thing was bothering him though.
Did Snape really have a crush on him?