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. The timeline is midway through Harry's first year.

Chapter 21

Harry awoke to Ron nudging him hard. Rolling over and groaning, Harry reached for his glasses. "Hurry up, Harry, or we are going to be late for Potions class and, father or not, I do not think Snape will be happy about it.

Harry sat up quickly and found out that was a mistake, as his head felt like someone had used it for a Quidditch practice. When he let out a small whimper Ron leaned over him. "You alright, Harry? Do you need me to get someone?"

"No, I'm fine. I just need a minute or two. Maybe I am just hungry or something."

"We don't have time to go down to the Great Hall and eat. We have about ten minutes to get to class."

"Why didn't you say so? Dad is going to be pissed, I mean Professor Snape." Grabbing his shoes and snatching his books from his trunk, Harry followed Ron out of the dorm and the portrait door.

Ron didn't seem to be bothered as much by running down the three flights of stairs, but Harry was winded. When they rounded the corner, he stopped to catch his breath. The whole world seemed to spin for a second.

Ron came to stand beside him. "Harry, you look pale as a ghost. Are you sure you are alright?"

"Yeah, I am sure, just not used to running so soon after waking up. Come on, we are really going to be late now."

Ron nodded his head and both started running until they reached the Potions classroom. Flinging open the door, both boys ran in and stopped on the way to their seats. The whole classroom had turned around and were now staring at them.

"So nice of you to join us, Potter, Weasley. Would you care to explain why you are late to my class?"

"No, sir," came the echoes from them both.

"Very well, you shall both stay after class," Severus said, turning back to finish writing something on the board. As soon as his back was turned Harry laid his head down in his hands. The room would not stop spinning, and he felt queasy. If only he'd had time to eat this morning maybe he would not feel so bad.

Severus turned around and when he realized no one was looking, he stared straight at Harry. Anyone else would have thought he was glaring at the boy, but Severus was concerned that he had let Harry come back to soon. "You have the ingredients on the board. You have exactly until the end of class to prepare your potion, begin now!"

Hermione sent a sympathetic look to Harry when he was paired with Neville. Harry however got Neville to go up and retrieve the ingredients, and when he got back, set them to boil in his cauldron. He did not notice Malfoy walking by or that he had a handful of something and was about to put it in his cauldron. Harry didn't look up until he heard his father's voice. "Mr. Malfoy, you wouldn't be thinking of messing with another student's potion, would you?" he said, as he pushed Draco back over to his seat.

"No, sir, of course not," Draco said, placing a smile on his face.

"I didn't think so. Now if everyone will get back to work, I would like to see at least one of you brew this correctly."

Class seemed to go on forever, but finally Severus cleared his throat. "Stop what you are doing and place your potion is a vial. Class dismissed once have done so."

Harry poured the contents of his potion in a vial and packed up his bag to leave. He was almost to the door when he heard Severus speak up. "Potter, Weasley, I believe I told you both to stay after class." Harry walked back inside, past a snickering Draco.

When the whole class had filed out, Severus shut the door and placed a silencing charm on it before turning to face the pair. As soon as he did his face softened. "Are you two feeling unwell?"

"I'm fine, honest, sir," Ron piped up.

Severus stared at him and reached over to feel his head. "Harry, What about you? Do you feel alright?"

He got his answer when Harry tried to stand and wobbled. Severus caught him and placed him back in his chair.

"I think I just overdid it a little, and I didn't have time to really eat this morning."

With a long drawn out sigh Severus called for a house elf. Within seconds, Dobby appeared. "What can Dobby do for Master Snape?" the house elf said hopping up and down.

"I would like you to go and bring back a sandwich and some juice for these two."

Dobby was gone in a pop, and Severus turned back to both boys. You both know the dangers of me showing you favouritism. I expect that you both take better care of yourselves in the future." Before he said anything else Dobby popped back in with the food and juice, and Severus handed them to both boys. "Perhaps I misjudged your readiness to return to school Harry. I could send you back home for a few more days, or you could stay in the hospital wing with Pomfrey."

Harry choked on his sandwich and had to be patted on the back. "No, that is alright. I will watch what I am doing and take time to eat."

Severus looked at him and grew silent. As Ron and Harry finished up their sandwiches and drank the last of their juice, he spoke again. "Harry, I love you and only want what is best for you. If you do not feel any better in a couple days, I want you to come to me." Turning to Ron he raised his eyebrows. "That would go for you as well, Mr. Weasley, but something tells me you will abide by what I have said lest I inform your mother you are still sick."

Ron's face turned two shades paler. "That woman actually sat holding me like I was a baby. She insisted that I be rocked to sleep, and she wouldn't let me out of bed for a week. I will not miss another meal."

Severus tried to cover the snort that came out, but failed. "I can see your mother doing just that. She is a bit overprotective."

Harry, feeling better, smiled, "She isn't the only overprotective one."

Severus whipped his head around. "You would do well to remember that. I could ask Molly about this thing she does of rocking someone to sleep."

"No," Harry said, backing away. "I will be just fine, Dad, honest. I have to get to Transfiguration class now."

Severus smiled and came over to hug Harry, and he patted Ron firmly on the back. "Are you both ready? If I know the students in my house, Mr. Malfoy is standing outside this room somewhere waiting for you to exit."

Harry and Ron both put on their best scowls. Before Severus opened the door, Harry stopped him. "Dad, thanks for everything. I, umm, love you," Harry said, blushing having admitted it in front of Ron.

Severus gathered him up in a hug, "And I love you, Harry. Now come on, you are both late enough as it is." Placing a sneer on his face to send any student packing for the train, he flung open the door. "Potter, you and Weasley better think twice before you come to my class so ill prepared. The next time you are late you will be serving detention with me for a week." Severus then slammed the door shut.

Severus placed his ear to the door and sure enough he heard the drawl of that pompous-ass Malfoy and his idiotic friends. Severus opened the door just a crack and saw Harry getting more and more angry, but what surprised him was that the Weasley boy already had his wand drawn. "That boy should have been in Slytherin," he remarked to himself. "He is always wanting to hex someone."

Draco turned on Ron. "So, going to hex me, Weasel, right here in front of Professor Snape's room? Are you bloody bonkers?"

Ron raised his wand, but Malfoy had Goyle grab him. "Now I think I shall turn Potter here into a small rodent and then see if that cat of Filches wishes a snack."

Before Malfoy could move, he began shrieking and running around in circles holding his tail, his lovely cat tail. Immediately Harry and Ron took off in the opposite direction, and Severus closed the door, a smile dancing across his face.

When Harry and Ron made it to the Transfiguration classroom door, they stopped to catch their breath. "That was bloody brilliant, mate." Ron said, still chuckling.

"It wasn't me, Ron," Harry said, looking puzzled. Then a thought hit him. "Severus must have done it."

Ron's eyes bulged. "Your dad did that to a member of his own house? Remind me to be grateful he no longer has a grudge against me."

Finally, a couple minutes later, both boys walked in and were met by a stern glare from Professor McGonagall. "You should have detention, but as it is Ms. Granger informed me where you were. I trust Professor Snape has resolved your being late again."

"Yes, Professor McGonagall. It won't happen again."

"See that is doesn't. Now you can ask Ms. Granger to catch you up on what you have missed."

Harry and Ron hovered near an inquisitive Hermione and told her what had happened. They all had to stifle a laugh when Goyle came in twenty minutes later carrying a message that Malfoy would be missing class due to an unforeseen accident.

Harry felt much better now, and he knew his father was there if he needed him for anything. Dipping his quill in his ink, he began to write down the long set of notes Hermione had taken with a smile planted on his face.