Harry made his way up to his rooms late that night. It had been a busy day and he would be happy to see a shower and his bed. Spying Severus Snape seated outside his office door was not what he was expecting. The boy had a book in his hands and was intent on reading but Harry knew better. His approach had been noted.

"What do you want?" Harry demanded and Severus jumped. "It's past curfew, Mr Snape."

"Oh," Severus exclaimed and jumped to his feet. "I wasn't sure if we had a lesson tonight."

"No," Harry said shortly.

"But it's been a week," Severus tried. "You said to come and see you tonight."

Harry rubbed forehead as he felt a headache coming on.

"We'll have to reschedule," Harry stated as he brushed past the boy.

"I'll be here over Christmas break," Severus said as he followed him. "Can we continue the lessons during break?"

Harry stopped in the hallway as he felt his heart clench on the fact that he would miss Christmas at the Burrow. Even after all these years, he was still a part of the Weasley family. He wouldn't see his friends and family while he was stuck in a time that wasn't his. May never see them again, in fact. He wouldn't even be born for another few years. He faced his parents each day as strangers and it was wearing on him.

"Sir?"

Harry mentally shook himself and turned on the teenager. He looked up at Severus before him and took in the sight. There was a hopeful look in the teen's eyes that he was trying hard to hide.

"Fine," Harry snapped and turned to the door to his rooms. "Follow me and close the door."

Harry slammed the door open and stalked into the room. He shrugged out of his jacket and threw it over his lounge. He pulled his wand as he turned and faced the teen. Severus stood nervously in the middle of the room.

"You have read the book?" Harry questioned.

"Yes, sir." Severus answered, but he was looking unsure.

"Do you understand it?"

Severus hesitated, "yes, sir."

"Legilimens," Harry intoned as he pointed his wand.

Images assaulted his mind in a jumble and Harry cancelled the spell. Severus had dropped to his knees with his hands braced on the floor. Harry cursed, he'd put too much magic into the spell.

"Damn," Harry muttered and grabbed the boy's arm.

He helped pull the teen to his feet then over to his lounge. He pushed and Severus fell back with a grunt. He looked down at him while Severus rubbed his forehead and temple and Harry knew how he felt.

"Apologises," Harry offered. "I may have put too much magic into that spell. Let me find you some chocolate."

"Chocolate?" Severus questioned as Harry searched around. "How does clearing your mind prepare you for that spell?"

"The aim is to have nothing for the spell to latch onto," Harry replied as he searched his cupboard. "There are many schools of thought of how to achieve that. Many believe that a clear mind allows the spell to have nothing to grasp but I find that can be counterproductive. Here."

Harry held out the chocolate bar as he held his own. Severus took it in his hand as Harry sprawled out in the space next to him and waved his hand at the fire which sprung to life.

"Sometimes," Harry continued. "It's better for the person to believe that the spell was successful than that it failed. Letting the person see what you want them to while hiding the truth below the surface. Don't be fooled into thinking that you will have the forewarning of a pronounced spell."

"What do you mean?" Severus asked.

"A true master of Legilimency will not cast the spell," Harry answered as he sunk further back in the lounge while Severus ate the chocolate. "To protect your mind, you will have to master Occlumency until it is second nature to you. Something instinctive."

"How do I do that?"

"First," Harry said. "You have to train your mind to repeal the spell in its spoken form. Get a taste of it, you could say."

They fell into silence while Harry consumed the chocolate bar in his hand. He could feel Severus's eyes on him but he just stared into the fire before him. He didn't want to look too closely at the images that he'd gleamed from Severus's mind. He had enough dark thoughts in his own mind.

"Have you been placed under the Imperius curse?" Harry asked into the silence.

"No, sir." Severus said softly. "Have you?"

"Yes," Harry said. "Many times, in fact."

Severus shivered next to him and Harry glanced over at him.

"Just what do you want?" Harry asked suddenly.

"I don't know," Severus answered and Harry could hear the truth. "I'm not sure."

"You are intelligent and know how to apply that knowledge to many subjects," Harry commented easily as he toed off his shoes. "From what I've heard. Your skills in potions have placed you above many in this school and you tell me you don't know what you're going to do with your life?"

Severus shrugged his shoulder and it was the most dismissive answer that Harry had ever gotten from him. He looked at the young man and got the feeling that Severus believed that his life wasn't his choosing. That it was already mapped out for him.

"Shall we try again?" Harry offered.

"Yes, sir." Severus agreed and stood from the lounge.

Harry pushed himself up with soft groan and pulled his wand. He looked into Severus's eyes as he cast the spell. He took it gently this time but was still flooded with images. This time, Harry grabbed a hold of one of them. It was Severus's first day at school. He could feel Severus fighting back against him as the memory played out. Harry cut off the spell when the hat called out Severus's house.

Severus stood before him with blazing black eyes, some of his limp hair had escaped the band holding it back and fell around his face, casting it into shadows. His breathing was ragged but he was still on his feet.

"Centre yourself," Harry commanded. "I could feel you fighting back. Again, legilimens."

Images flashed and Harry picked one at random and wished he hadn't. Tobias Snape stood tall before the trembling child of eight as Severus tried to crawl away from his father. The smell of alcohol was strong on the air.

"No!" Severus yelled and Harry let the spell go.

Severus was on his knees before him, wide eyed and pale. Harry lowered his wand and placed it away. He held his hand out towards Severus and the boy shrunk back at the move before a stubborn light came into his eyes. The teen shot to his feet and glared down at Harry. There was a fire in his eyes that drew you in as Harry let his hand fall to his side. He knew that kind of defence.

"Do you want me to do something about that?" Harry asked.

"No," Severus spat.

"Very well," Harry conceded. "I believe that will do for today. See me tomorrow after dinner."

"Yes, sir."

"My office next time," Harry added.

"Yes, sir."

"Good night, Severus."

"Good night, Professor."

Harry nodded and Severus turned on his heels and hurried from the room. Harry looked down at the rug under his feet and sighed. Dumbledore had been correct all those long years ago. Severus and him were very much alike but not in the way that he would have like.

xXx

"Try to throw the spell before I grab a memory," Harry advised.

Severus nodded as sweat trailed down the side of his face. They were two weeks into training and Christmas was fast approaching since the other students had left yesterday. He focused back on Severus and was happy to have one distraction.

"Legilimens," Harry whispered.

He slid past the defences that Severus tried to construct and reached out for a memory. Lily Evans face came into view and Harry paused. This was not the first time that Harry had pulled her image forward but this time was different.

"You can be just as vile as him!" Lily yelled with fire in her eyes. "You play his immature game and you lose Severus!"

Severus fought back against him but Harry held onto the memory in interest.

"I do not lose," Severus retorted, hotly. "He sent me after a werewolf, Lily. He tried to kill me!"

Severus fought harder and Harry had to push hard to hold the image.

"He came to save you!" Lily shouted. "He had nothing to do with that!"

"Lupin is a werewolf and the Headmaster does nothing," Severus tried. "The others encourage him to run wild at night. What would happen if it was another student that was out there?"

Severus gave him a shove and Harry let the spell go. He grabbed the table beside him as his head pounded. Severus was on his knees with his hands braced on the floor.

"Fuck," Harry swore and Severus's head snapped up. "Remus Lupin."

"I told the Headmaster," Severus said in a rush. "He made me swear that I wouldn't tell anyone and he would let it slid that I had been brewing some dark potions."

Harry chuckled at that as he held the desk beside him with a white knuckled grip. His other hand came up and pinched the bridge of his nose as memories that weren't his own danced in his mind. Those images just crowded around with his own of fights against werewolves and the full moon. He squeezed his eyes shut and he tried to reorganise his mind.

"Sir?"

Harry flinched back when Severus placed a hand on his shoulder and the teen snatched his hand back.

"It's okay," Harry said. "This just complicates matters."

"I swore I wouldn't say," Severus said in a rush. "You can't say anything."

"Why not?" Harry demanded.

"I gave my word," Severus yelped.

Harry opened his mouth then closed it. There was something in those dark eyes. Something deeper than he'd ever seen before.

"That will do tonight," Harry announced. "You are improving, dismissed."

Severus nodded slowly and collected his bag. He gave him one more glance over his shoulder before disappearing out the door. Harry slowly collapsed in his chair and stared at his desk.

"Fuck," Harry whispered under his breath. "What do I do now?"

xXx

Harry had to force himself to walk into the Great Hall on Christmas day. He took in the decorations and was sure that Albus Dumbledore wore more sparkles and colours then what hung up around the Hall. He hadn't drunk enough to deal with this.

"Harry," Albus called as he stood. "Welcome to the feast."

"Does it come with whiskey?" Harry asked and two third year Slytherins snickered.

"We have brandy snaps," Albus said with a sparkle in his eyes.

"Brilliant," Harry replied with sarcasm.

Besides Albus, the two third years and Severus. There were five other students. Harry took the empty seat beside Severus at the end of the table. The boy gave him a smile and Harry returned it.

"Merry Christmas everyone," Albus cried as he retook his seat. "Now that everyone is here; we can eat."

The table filled with food and Harry took note of the fact that the brandy snaps ended up in front of him. Harry filled up his cup before slipping a flask from his pocket and topped the cup up. Severus snorted from beside him and Harry gave him a lopsided grin.

"What is that Professor Swift?" Albus called down to him.

"Cold medicine," Harry replied easily. "Anyone else have a sniffle?"

The two third years snickered again and Harry gave them a wink. Harry slipped the flask away as he filled his plate. This was his first Christmas in this time and away from his friends and family. Harry just focused on the plate before him and the burn of the alcohol in his stomach. He finished his meal quickly and stood.

"Leaving so soon, Harry?" Albus questioned.

"Yes," Harry said flatly.

"I'm sure that the house elves could supply more bandy snaps for you."

"Or I could drink the liquor before it's converted into a sweet," Harry snapped back and Albus pulled back in his seat as the students went silent. "Apologises, I am not fit company today. I shall leave you to celebrate without me darkening the mood."

Harry nodded to the Headmaster and the students before leaving the hall. He could feel the despair and loss keenly, even if he'd been in this time for almost a year. It still hurt that he would most likely never see his family and friends again. A scuff on the stones had him pausing and he glanced over his shoulder. He stopped and turned to face Severus Snape further down the hallway. The teen straightened up and headed for him as if he hadn't been stalking him.

"Mr Snape," Harry greeted. "I have a bottle of whiskey waiting for me so make this quick."

Severus hesitated before giving him an even stare.

"What are you planning to do with Lupin?" Severus blurted out.

"That would be entirely up to me, Mr Snape." Harry retorted.

"The Headmaster will know that you got the information from me!" Severus exclaimed.

Harry turned on his heels until Severus grabbed his arm and pulled him up short. Harry held himself back from lashing out as he glared up at the teen before him. Severus let him go like he'd been burned and took a quick step back. There was fear in those black eyes and Harry sighed.

"It seems to have slipped your mind that I work for the Ministry of Magic, Severus." Harry stated. "I am bound to act on this information."

"But what-"

"Your deal with the Headmaster is void," Harry cut over the boy's words. "I will act as I see fit in regards to this matter."

"What about me?" Severus whispered and looked down at the floor.

Harry sighed and reached out and placed his hand on Severus's shoulder and the teen's eyes shot up. He locked eyes with the Slytherin steadily.

"I will be taking that into consideration," Harry told him. "Now I have a bottle calling my name."

"Why do you hate Christmas?" Severus questioned.

"It's not really Christmas," Harry retorted. "It's this damn time!"

Severus stepped back sharply and Harry let his hand drop. He sighed and knew that this conversation was getting away from him.

"Good night, Severus." Harry offered and summoned up a smile.

"Good night, Professor."

Harry nodded sharply and turned on his heels. He wasn't sure that the single bottle of alcohol was going to be enough to drown the feelings running through him or the haunting images in his mind. He would have to face up to the reality that the time that he came from was now lost and that there was no going back.