Hello! This is the third chapter of Harry Potter and the Portkey of Ages (although I'm sure you knew that). Please enjoy…

Disclaimer: If I was getting money from this don't you think I'd update more!

Obviously there has to be a slash warning here, or someone might freak out later and say that it was wrong of me to deceive them. So please listen: this fic WILL be slash…eventually…

"Please take out your textbooks and turn to page six hundred forty-seven." Professor McGonagall said. Harry hoped that they would finally do something challenging. They had been going over everything from past years for the first few weeks and then more recently they were learning how to transfigure each other, which Harry and Hermione had learned last year in training.

"Today we will be learning how to transfigure other humans into inanimate objects. Which I must warn you is more difficult than changing them into animals. Obviously, turning something from a living thing to a non-living thing could have ghastly affects if done incorrectly." She lectured. Harry was desperately trying to listen, but he had already leaned all of this. 'Please, just give us our assignment.'

"Get into pairs-with people you usually wouldn't work with-and practice transfiguring your classmates into the objects mentioned in your books. Only those." She said sharply, watching them move around to start working.

"Um, hello, Neville. Do you want to work together?" Harry asked. 'At least now I can have something challenging to do.' Harry thought lightly.

"Sure, Harry!" Neville replied happily. As Neville was choosing something to try to turn Harry into, Harry noticed that Ron and Draco Malfoy were (albeit against their will) working together. Hermione was paired up with Lavender.

"So, what would you like to be turned into, Neville?" Harry asked after a while.

"Um, well, whatever you think is the best, I s'pose." Neville said nervously.

"Alright." Harry eventually decided on transfiguring Neville into a clock and then proceeded to help the other boy understand how to work the spell properly. Harry was successfully changed into a cloak by the end of the hour. Professor McGonagall was just about to dismiss them, but was instead making an announcement.

"Class, quiet yourselves. I have a homework assignment that I hope you will all find exciting and challenging." Hearing this, Harry began to pay close attention. "Over the next six weeks, you will be individually transfiguring something of your own choosing. But, it must be something that no wizard or witch has documented transfiguring ever before. You may decide on something simple, or you may try something complex. I must warn you though, anything that has magical abilities on its own, could quite possibly create unwanted effects. Think about what you would want to work on over this next week. You will have our next class for research, but I suggest you start brainstorming now." And with that, she dismissed the class. Harry followed silently behind Hermione and Ron as they chatted about the project. 'Well, it seems I've gotten my wish.' Harry thought blissfully.

"So, what are you thinking about transfiguring for McGonagall's class?" Ron asked Harry through his sausage the day before they were expected to start the assignment.

"Well, er, I hadn't thought much about it yet." Harry lied. In truth he had gone to the library many times to look up fantastic objects that he could actually be challenged by. Although, so far, he hadn't had any luck at all but was planning on going back later that evening while Hermione helped Ron study for Charms.

"Yeah, I can't think of a single thing to work on. I've been trying to come up with something simple enough; I just hope she won't drop my grade for that." Ron said desperately. Harry knew that Hermione had become more firm about Ron's grades, which Harry couldn't really blame her for. 'He can't expect to keep her around if he still thinks like a first year.' Harry thought.

"Hey you two." Hermione greeted them. "Sorry I'm late, but I was researching for Professor McGonagall's class. Have either of you done anything yet?" she asked accusingly.

"Well, if you were here on time, you'd know that Harry and I have been discussing it with much anticipation." Ron said smartly. Harry laughed as soon as he saw the look of smug satisfaction on Ron's face.

"What, mate, didn't I say that right?" Ron asked while his face and ears turned a bright shade of crimson.

"Yeah, you did, it's just that the look on your face when you said it was hilarious!" Harry said through his laughter.

"Well," Hermione cut in briskly, "if you two are done making prats of yourselves, can we get back to the topic of our projects?" Harry calmed down instantly when he heard Hermione's infamous "Let's get down to business" tone.

"Oh, chill out, 'Mione."

"Whatever. I have to go do research for said homework. I'll see both of you later." But Harry was lying again. He was really off to the dungeons to find Professor Snape. Since Lupin had taken over Potions class (which Harry found extremely disturbing that Snape would let Lupin teach his classes) Harry had seen little of the Potions Master. As Harry glided through the stone passageways, he noticed that no one was around. Checking around the next corner, Harry pulled out his Marauder's Map. 'Good, he's in his study.' Pulling his muscular legs closer and closer to Snape's rooms, Harry grew excited. 'It'll be good to see him again.'

Breathing heavily, Harry stood in front of a picture of a man that he had never seen before. 'What's going on? There was never a picture here before.' He thought almost angrily. He raised his small fist to the door and knocked loudly three times. Finally, there was an answer. Snape didn't push the door heavily as usual, but instead, gently pressed it open wide enough to stick his head out. He frowned. Harry knew that he must have come at a bad time, mostly because of the glossy look of Snape's eyes.

"Hello, sir." Harry said. Snape just look at him with a frown. "Er, I'm not disturbing you, am I?" He tried tentatively.

"What do you want, Potter?" He said in a long, saddened drawl with a look of anguish.

"Well, sir, I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Obviously I must be if I have the energy to talk to such an annoying brat as you." Snape spat.

"Right. Well, er, do you think I could talk to you about some things?" Harry asked as politely as he could.

"Not now, Potter. I'm busy. Unlike you, I have things to accomplish."

"So you're saying I've never accomplished anything?" Harry asked, obviously disappointed.

"That's not what-just get out of here, will you?" Snape said, exasperated.

"Oh, sure, I'll just go off and never do anything worth anyone's time-for the rest of my life!" Harry yelled madly.

"Oh, just shut your mouth and get in!" He snapped and opened the door wide enough to allow Harry entry. He looked around the hall to make sure no one saw him. "What do you want, just say it and get out."

"Sir, I just wanted to make sure you're alright, like I said." Harry said exasperatedly.

"What do you mean? I'm not in the hospital, am I?" Snape retorted mockingly.

"Obviously not, sir-look, I just wanted to talk, alright?" Sighing, Harry stared blankly at the floor. He heard Snape grunt in reply, but didn't know what he wanted. When his Professor made to move into the next room, Harry decided he should probably follow. Leaving the door open a crack, Harry stood nervously in the dark, depressing room. 'Wow,' Harry thought, scanning the study for anything unusual. 'This room is full, but it feels empty.' Harry's eye caught a small picture frame facing his Professor on the desk. He moved forward, hoping to catch a glance at who the photo was of.

"Would you like something? Tea or perhaps a snack?" Professor Snape asked in a kind voice. Harry just stared at his professor, frowning in confusion. "What?" Snape asked in a less friendly manner.

"Oh, sorry, sir, I was just thinking about what I wanted to ask you." Harry lied again. "But, er, I don't need anything, sir." He knew any chance he took trying to see the picture would be seen by Snape and then questioned. 'No, I'll have to distract him first.'

"Well then, what is it that you so desperately needed to discuss with me, Mr. Potter? Another madman on the loose perhaps?" Snape sneered slightly.

"No, sir." Snape then looked at the photograph Harry had been wondering about. 'This is my chance.' Harry thought excitedly. "Er, I didn't know you liked to take photos, sir." Harry stated as though he had just noticed the frame.

"I did not take this photograph, Mr. Potter. This was given to me a long time ago, by a dear friend." Snape's eyes suddenly became colder and he clenched his jaw as tightly as possible.

"Would I know this friend, sir?" Harry inquired innocently.

"No. No one knows him-he's a figment of my bloody imagination." He said the last word with such distaste that Harry wondered if he was insane.

"Then how would you have a picture from him?" Harry asked smartly. Snape's glare was turned to Harry; he could practically feel the hate radiating from the Potions master's eyes.

"Why don't you stop snooping in other people's business, Mr. Potter?" His jaw was still clenched tightly, but he wasn't glaring so much now as he was frowning. Harry knew he had hit something deep in his Professor. 'Perhaps his feelings?' Harry mused.

"Sorry, sir, it's just that when you said something that didn't make sense, I had to wonder if there was a deeper meaning." Harry replied honestly. Snape glared at Harry suspiciously for a few moments, but must have seen that Harry was telling the truth and let it go.

"Fine, but we should get back to discussing why you came here in the first place," Snape said. 'Even though I can bet that they are related.' He thought irritably.

"Right. I was wondering if you would be taking over your classes soon. It feels wrong to have Professor Lupin teaching us Potions." 'Or anything at all.' Harry added mentally. Since Harry had thought more about Marauders' youth, he realized that the only one who seemed to be truly good deep down was his father. 'I mean, Sirius was just going to let Snape die, Pettigrew is a back-stabbing little bugger and Professor Lupin always lets horrible things happen to people.' He would reason with himself. 'Even in the final battle, he almost let me die. He didn't even care about my life-he's a bloody coward! Snape, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore and the rest of the Weasley's were there for me, hell, even Draco Malfoy stepped in the way to stop his father from hitting me with the Cruciatus Curse! But that bastard wouldn't have saved anyone until he thought we had the clear advantage!' Harry was growing more and more upset just thinking about the day that he defeated Voldemort. Snape could feel the anger rushing to the surface, realizing that calming the boy down was all he could try to save himself, Snape answered Harry's question as best as he could manage.

"I…don't know if that would be possible." Harry stared deep into his Professor's dark, mysterious orbs. Snape was obviously uncomfortable; he kept moving in his seat. "I suppose I should reclaim my classroom, but it won't be for at least another few weeks."

"But sir! That's past Halloween! We need you back now!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, but I cannot and will not teach you or any other students. My decision is final; now excuse yourself from my rooms."

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Hey there! Sorry to end it there, but all chapters must end. PLEASE review! I don't even care if you hated it and feel like ripping my head off, just REVIEW! Thank you!