Title: Past, Present, Future

Summary: The past will come back, the present will change them, now what will the future hold?

Disclaimer: I do not own them, sad but true

A/N: Yes this is an AU fic. Reviews are welcome, flames are shared with friends for amusement.

Chapter 7

Harry and Ron had run for what seemed like an hour. They had taken what they thought was a short cut, and now they were standing in the middle of the darkest alley either had ever seen.

"Where are we Ron?" Harry asked.

"I've never seen this part of Hogsmeade before. Maybe if we keep going we will get out of here."

Nodding his head, Harry choked back the lump in his throat and walked on. Everywhere there were very seedy looking witches and wizards. Most shrank back into the doorway when they saw the two boys coming, but one wizard stepped out into their path.

"Well, what do we have here? Two little wizards off on an adventure perhaps?"

"Please, sir, we seem to be lost or have taken a wrong turn. Can you direct us back to Hogwarts?" Harry stammered out.

"Hogwarts. So we have us two first-years here. My, they seem to get smaller with each passing year."

"We are not first years. We are, ummm, fourth-years," Ron said, trying to make himself seem taller.

"Well, fourth-years, you say? Then you should really enjoy what I am about to show you," the man said, dragging Ron and Harry by the back of their robes and over to a cage.

Inside the cage was something with red eyes glaring back at them. It looked evil, and it hissed as they peered in. "This here is my pet. See, I wanted a cat, but not an ordinary one, so I fixed this one to make him unique," the man said, pulling it from the cage.

In his arms was what was once a cat, but now it had dragon claws on the end of its feet and a spiked tail. The only part that looked like a cat was the face -- the one that was bearing its teeth at both boys now. "Come, why don't you get to know him a little better?" the man chuckled and set the cat down.

At once the cat jumped at Harry, and he toppled down to the ground. The cat swung its tail around and clipped him on the side of the head, making a gash that started pouring blood.

Ron tried to help Harry up, but the cat attached itself to his leg, burrowing its claws in deep. Flinging it off, Ron pulled his wand from his robes. He went to hex the cat, but his wand was flying in the air away from him, and he was sailing backwards.

Harry got to his feet shakily and headed to where Ron sat rubbing his backside when the creature lunged for his back, claws out. It sank them in and began slicing up his back, reopening the old wounds Harry still had.

Ron grabbed the cat off Harry and threw it. The cat hit the wall and slumped down. Putting out his hand he offered Harry help getting up. Harry's vision was woozy, and now he was seeing two Rons. The wizard was angry and was approaching them wand drawn.

"How dare you harm my cat. I guess they do not teach you manners up at Hogwarts anymore, so I shall!" Taking Harry and Ron by their hair, he flung them both down. Both boys hit the ground, and neither had the energy to get back up. The man drew his wand again, and both boys sat there waiting to be killed, but something stopped the man, and his face turned ashen.

"What was it you were saying about manners, Alexander? I see you have taken it upon yourself to harm two of my students. How unfortunate for you," Snape said, leering at the man while holding him at wand point. Severus went over to where Harry and Ron sat and looked down at the two of them bleeding. This enraged him even further, and when he stood his gaze went to the man now cowering behind him. "So out having a little fun with two twelve-year old boys. Couldn't you find any old ladies to abuse?

"Why should you care who I harm? It is not as if you are some innocent soul yourself, Severus," the man said as he saw his pet wake and stalk towards the Potions' master.

"I take great displeasure when someone sees fit to harm my son and his friend, Alexander. This should result in your death, or at the very least a lifetime in Azkaban."

"Your son? You have no son!" Alexander snorted.

"Do not pretend to know anything about me, and if you wish to remain breathing I would leave now."

Alexander scoffed at Snape and, as he passed Ron, raised his foot to kick him again. Severus wasted no time sending the man crashing into the brick wall beside him.

"I told you not to defy me, Alexander, and if you ever touch my son again you will meet death." Rounding on Harry and Ron, he scooped both up in his arms and headed away from the gawking bystanders. His reputation preceded him, and everyone jumped out of his way.

Harry and Ron were both appalled at being carried out like babies, but they didn't feel up to walking, nor did they wish to be left in the alley. Both saw the cat coming towards them, teeth bared and claws extended, and tried to warn Severus. Their words had not even escaped their mouths when Severus stopped and turned around. Wand in hand he yelled an incantation, and Ron and Harry saw the cat creature blow up, pieces of fur floating down to the ground. Severus' face was stern, but he did not miss the words of the Weasley boy.

"That was wicked evil, but so cool." With a smile neither of the boys saw, he turned, heading out of Knockturn Alley and back towards Hogwarts.