Author's Note: Hello everyone! I am back and updating this story again before others, oh well. Harry Potter has kind of been a recent obsession and I went on this whole rewrite of another story...
But otherwise please enjoy the latest chapter.
~Start of Chapter 4~
Max awoke with a blaring headache. She felt around trying to figure out what was going on, and where she was. Turning to her side she noted she was laying on a bed, it was clearly morning, and she was laying next to someone. It had to be Severus, she figured, and so she looked around even more confused.
This wasn't his apartment...so this must be...
"Severus..." She whispered as everything came back. She noticed his black hair at first and breathed a sigh of relief but...they weren't in the Museum anymore...
Peering at his face she noted, while he looked like Severus, he couldn't be. He had longer black hair, small wrinkles and worry lines, a longer tired looking face and...
He looked like Severus Snape...
Oh dear...Max gasped out as she realized this wasn't her childhood friend but in fact Severus Snape, THE Severus Snape, oh god, her Severus and this Severus could easily have been twins or...
Father and son...
As she was internally freaking out Severus had awoken with the same confusion and headache. Sitting up he looked over and saw Max and breathed out in relief as he touched her shoulder.
"Are you ok Max?" His velvety voice was deeper than he remembered, and raspy from sleep. Max turned with wide eyes and gaped at him. "What's wrong?"
"I..you...my name, you know my name..." She gasped as she scampered back until she fell off the bed in a heap.
"Of course I do Max..." Severus trailed off as he looked down at himself noting his old bed clothes and...
His faded dark mark.
"Shit..." His hand clamped over his forearm with a swear.
"What is going on." She seemed to miss the reason for his actions, instead looking around the room wide eyed and scared.
"Max it's...me...Severus..." He responded lamely. His arm shuffled a touch behind his back, the shame burning starkly in his pale skin.
"Well, duh, you're Severus Snape." With blinking eyes Max regarded him as if he had hurt his head, shuffling backwards wary from where she sat on the floor.
"I am...both...actually."
"..." Max slowly pulled herself to her feet as she stared at him. What he had told her hadn't made it any clearer.
"I'm sorry, you're what?" She deadpanned.
"Both Severus Snape and the Severus you went to school with."
In that moment Severus Snape was actually afraid of the outcome.
"WHAT!?"
~Break~
After twenty minutes of dodging her half hearted hits as she screamed at him, she had finally sat down and just gaped.
"So you...came back...to life...as a baby...and then went to school with me, yet never told me, even though I said all that embarrassing stuff about you being my hero and favorite and oh god, oh god I kissed Severus Snape, oh god..." Max paled as she hid her head under his pillow.
"Thank you Max, because every man wants that reaction after kissing someone." With an arched dark eyebrow and sarcastic frown, Severus let out a sigh.
"No not like that!" She hissed as she pulled her head out to glare at him, "I mean it's just...embarrassing ok? You are so much older, and smarter, and better, and a hero, and you- Oh god you die!" She cried as she suddenly latched herself to his form.
"Max please stop blubbering." His arms hung awkwardly in the air above her shoulders, unused to how small she seemed against his aged form and loose fit clothes.
"No, you die alone and hated it's not fair!" She whispered into his shirt.
"Max this is unbecoming." An awkward pat landed on her head, smoothing her hair down.
"No, you are my BEST FRIEND, I'm sad you die, so shut up and let me hug you..."
"Good lord..." He sighed out as he untangled her arms from his form, "Clearly we went back in time, if I am in my body that means the others would be in theirs, and of course, you aren't born yet, wonderful..." Standing he moved towards his clothing intent on getting ready for the day.
"What do we do now?" She blinked as her eyes followed his movements.
"Find out when we are." Severus wrenched his drawers open pulling out some undergarments and socks, before moving towards his wardrobe to collect a dress shirt and black slacks.
"...I am best friends with THE Severus Snape, oh man this is so cool," She scampered out of his room, "I am in HIS house, oh so cool I am so snooping around bye!" with that she closed his bedroom door and he could hear her excited footsteps echo against the cheap wooden floors.
Heaving out a heavy sigh Severus truly regretted ever talking to her first year.
~Break~
He eventually found her curled up in his armchair reading a potions book, smiling to himself he walked over and plucked the book from her fingertips.
"We need to find out when this is and what they are up to, if I am right, they are trying to change the outcome of the war, we need to speak with Dumbledore and make sure Potter is ok."
"Oh my gosh! I get to meet Dumbledore, how cool is this!? Man this is so surreal! I also get to see THE ORIGINAL Hogwarts! Oh no, oh wait, is this when you had to play double agent
?" Her eyes kept darting to his face and back to the floor as she rambled on.
"...We need to work on your skills of deception because if you go around doing that, we are going to end up in a lot of trouble."
"Gees sorry, never took you as such a Debbie Downer..."
Severus gave her an exasperated look as he turned on his heel and walked out.
"I love your wooshy robes!"
~Break~
"You are staying here and that's final." Severus commanded as he held his front door shut.
"Uhh I don't think so, you don't even know what year this is and either way we are in this together!"
"I don't know when this is Max, this could be the year I am playing Death Eater, this could be the year I have to find Harry Potter's parents dead, this could be the year nothing happens at all, and your presence could interfere, so until I get back you are to stay here." He held her arm in a tight grip and stared into her eyes unblinking.
With a small blush Max moved back and mumbled her response before going to sit in his armchair, grabbing the once abandoned potions text.
~Break~
Once Severus had reached outside his wards he apparated to Hogwarts once he had ascertained that it was only a week till the new school year.
Striding at his usual brisk pace, he entered Dumbledore's office to find him petting Fawkes fondly without bothering to turn.
"Headmaster..."
"Why Severus, to what do I owe the pleasure?" He turned on his heel and regarded him with warmth.
"I have something important I need to disclose to you."
"I see, seems serious, please sit." Dumbledore's usual smile had been replaced with a look of concentration.
~Break~
After explaining his situation Severus learned it was right before Harry's fourth year. He also advised Dumbledore of the Death Eaters who had come back along with him and Max.
"I think it is best you do not disclose the events that will come to pass, I also agree we need to make sure that those Death Eaters do not use their knowledge to change things either." Clasping his hands on his desk, Dumbledore peered from over his spectacles, a frown marring his features.
"And what about Max?"
"Ahh yes, your female companion...sadly we can't do much about her being here, and since we should keep what is going on between as few people as possible, we need to make her an alias here so she can help you." Getting up Dumbledore wandered to one of his various shelves and pulled out a small wooden box.
"I don't want her in any danger, especially the dangerous events I will have to participate in later." Frowning Severus watched Dumbledore in apprehension.
"My boy, I am sad to say you can't protect her from that, she is already entangled in your life, and the Death Eaters who came back know this, it would be best to keep her in the loop and give her time to acclimate to her newly found situation." Shifting through some papers, Dumbledore pulled out some blank identification forms, placing them on his desk he closed the small wooden box and placed it back upon its shelf.
"And pray tell what would you have me do! You have no idea the horrors that await her." He was frowning now, his finger twitched as he tried to keep himself composed.
Dumbledore's mouth turned up in a small grin as he stopped shuffling with the papers and gave him an amused look.
"Well, she must be very special then to have you so...unravelled before me Severus, much has clearly changed and while I am impressed and very happy for you, you are going to have to reel it all back in and make sure you can keep composed, Voldemort isn't going to be forgiving and you cannot be soft when it comes to these matters."
"She does not have me unravelled." Severus spat as his cold mask slid back into place.
"Oh but my boy, she truly does, your anger is positively radiating, it would be incredibly amusing if it weren't for the situation we find ourselves in, now, is it possible you can bring the lovely lady in so we can get started with damage control?"
Irritated Severus turned and swept out of the Headmaster's office in a flurry of robes.
Severus knew Dumbledore was right, Max had opened him up and it was dangerous, he would have to train her in the few years he had, he had to get them both ready for the war.
The war he was obligated to fight for, not once, but twice.
And this time he had to juggle his duties to two women.
Great. Just great.
~Break~
"So I get to meet THE Dumbledore?" Max's eyes were wide as she walked alongside Severus as he lead her through the school gates.
"Try to contain yourself please, this is serious, don't make a fool out of yourself and by proxy, me." Severus held his head high as he lead her to the school, his usual cold facade well in place.
"Gees you sure are grumpy..." She muttered as she resolved to give him the cold shoulder.
"Your childish antics will not be tolerated anymore Max, this is serious, very serious, so try for once to be an adult."
She frowned, more than a little angry, but complied all the same.
~Break~
Standing awkwardly Max had come to the decision she really didn't belong, she didn't belong in Severus's life, she didn't belong in this time, and she didn't belong in the grace of such an important person as Dumbledore.
Perhaps it would be better if she just found somewhere to hide away...
"Hello Max, Severus has told me much about you, I must thank you for watching over him while we could not." His smile was warm and welcoming she couldn't help but be drawn in, letting go of the arm she was rubbing in anxiety she shook his hand. The smell of peppermint overtook her senses and she blinked.
"Are you eating scotch mints?" She knew that it was probably really stupid sounding of her to ask, but bless Dumbledore he smiled at her anyways.
"Why yes my dear, you have quite a nose to detect that, would you like one?" He moved towards his desk and held out a small candy tray littered with tiny white mint candies.
"Oh yes thank you." She plucked one from the candy tray and popped in her mouth with a satisfied 'yum'. She didn't have to look at Severus to know he was frowning at her.
"Would you like one Severus?" Dumbledore's eyes held a warning in them and Max found herself very very confused.
"No thank you headmaster." He declined, his velvety voice showing no hint of the man she grew up with.
Bowing her head Max felt a chill up her spine.
She felt incredibly alone, she had no one but Severus in this world and it was more than apparent she was little more than an unwanted distraction.
"Now my dear, Severus tells me you have come from the future and have yet to be born, so, as such, we need to ensure you an identity so we do not come upon any problems in the near future. Now, I have some forms here for you, please fill out the appropriate information, such as your birthday, height, weight, and your name. Because of how young you are it would be hard pressed to create you a fully graduated identity that would be working at Hogwarts, so instead we will have you enroll here as a transfer student in fourth year so you can help watch over Harry."
No freakin way, he was so not saying she looked like she was fourteen. No, at most she looked sixteen. Right?
Fuck, who was she kidding, she totally did look fourteen. She was short, lithe, small breasted, and thin waisted. However, she had modest hips which usually evened it out.
But in the schools robes, and her youthful appearance, she could easily pass for fourteen. Damn it, he was right this was easier in so many ways.
Moving forward Max did as she was asked. Dumbledore talked her through the parts where she needed to lie, such as birth year, last name, and her years of education before Hogwarts.
"Alright, now, all I need you to do is look into this part here where your picture should go and smile." She did as he asked and within seconds her smiling picture was waving at her.
"Oh wow..."
"Yes, hard to come by, but fake documents will take your information and picture placing it in as if it were real, now, we just need to conjure up some school records and I think we will be done, then, I will take the paperwork and get one of my friends in the ministry to set up your file, your identification shall be here within the week." Dumbledore smiled as he quizzed her on her schooling while writing her up some proper records.
"Last thing, you are a Muggleborn correct?" Severus froze at this moment.
"Yes." She responded, her eyes flickering towards Severus briefly.
"I think it best we play you off as half Muggle considered the nature of this particular war." twinkling eyes held hers and she gulped, this was his subtle way of telling her how serious of a situation she was in.
"Of course Headmaster..."
"Please, call me Albus." He eased her, his voice full of warmth.
"Ok...Albus..." she smiled weakly and shifted, stealing a glance at Severus who looked upon this whole situation apathetically.
"Now remember, you are Maxine Suthers, distantly related Sutherland's from Ireland, your family moved to Canada many generations ago and changed their last name, you are nothing prominent, your mother married a young Muggle man and they lived in the city together and had you, they worked in basic jobs, your mother working as a Secretary in a small legal office, and your father worked in construction, they died when you were thirteen due to a car accident and as such you became a ward of Hogwarts to finish your education. You will stay here during the school year, and during the summer you will say you stayed in England with a squib family who fosters you." Max nodded at Dumbledore's explanation and whispered it to herself to remember it all.
"Well, I think it is best if you both head home, get Maxine some proper clothing, on Hogwarts of course, so she can be ready for the school year."
"Headmaster, she has no reason to be at Hogwarts..." Severus began finally speaking.
"She is much too young to have attended here without someone noticing she isn't familiar, and younger still to be foreign and know any of us. This way she can hide her affiliation with you while giving you access to talk with her. Since she was in Gryffindor this will give her the perfect opportunity to watch over Harry."
With a terse nod Severus grabbed Max's arm and escorted her out of the office. His shoulders were square and stiff, and he refused to meet her gaze.
Max turned and caught Albus's gaze one last time, he winked at her right before the door closed.
~Break~
Arriving back home, Severus went straight into his basement leaving her to stand awkwardly at the threshold of his house. They hadn't discussed how he felt about Dumbledore's plan to have her as a student, but it had clearly upset Severus.
Holding down her bubbling sadness, she went into the kitchen and sat down.
He was so different, it explained so much but...it was like they didn't know each other anymore, they were nothing, she was nothing, just a hinderance, an annoyance...
Her heart ached and she took a shuddering breath to quell the crying that wanted to burst forth from her. She felt the weight of everything crash into her at once, she had nothing now. No friends, no family, and now, no Severus.
Feeling the tears prickle she clenched her fist, her nails biting into the skin of her palm. Another shuddering breath and she stood deciding she wasn't going to be some sad little girl crying in Severus Snape's kitchen.
Grabbing her cloak she opened his front door and raced out deciding crying on a walk in front of strangers was much more desirable.
She refused to let him see her cry.
~Break~
Severus felt sick, everything was falling apart, he was now accountable for Max and if she died because of him...
No, he couldn't let himself go there, he had work to do, he needed to make sure he was ready...he had to prepare Max, prepare for the war, watch over Harry, play double agent, catch the Death Eaters trying to change the future, and die. Yeah, this would be easy...
He decided now would be a good time to prep Lupin's Wolfsbane potions now so he could focus on Max's training.
~Break~
Max found herself wandering a lovely park when it started to rain, and hard.
"Bloody Britain..." She cursed as she ran towards a tree to wait out the heavy pour.
Taking a seat at the base of the large tree she let her head fall back against the trunk with a thump.
"Gosh I am just so pathetic right now, what am I going to do? I am not even a little prepared for a war...I am just going to cause him problems..." Eyes shut tightly she took deep breaths trying to figure out what she was going to do.
"I can't do anything, he is going to die, and I am going to be a huge liability...even if he is acting like a jerk..." Grumbling she crossed her arms trying to suppress a shiver. She had her wand, but she didn't want to warm herself, she didn't want to go back either...she just wanted to sit in the rain and think.
~Break~
It had been a few hours and Severus realized he hadn't heard a peep from Max at all, usually she would be all over him complaining.
Ascending up the stairs he looked around his main floor to see no trace of her. Moving upstairs he started to feel panic spurt from his chest. He turned the knob of the last room and opened it to find no trace she was ever here.
Cursing he rushed down the stairs and out the door, stupid foolish witch!
~Break~
He was wandering around the town for twenty minutes before he realized where she would have gone, back in fifth year she admitted whenever she was upset she went to the nearest park to think. She had said that no matter where you are in the world, there is always a park you can go to.
He apparated quickly and with a crack he stalked through the park. He slowed slightly as he took in her form, wet from the rain, leaning against the tree upon a branch. Her short hair sticking to her face in odd angles. Her hair looked dark against her pale skin from the dampness of the rain.
He was suddenly reminded of Lily and he felt his chest crack.
But Max was nothing like Lily, even at nineteen, Max was so starkly different from it all, it almost seemed as if she didn't belong in this world.
Being raised a Muggle in the 2000's caused her influences to be much different from the wizarding world in her time, much less now. She had taken to more muggle aesthetics, having tattoos and piercings; most of which were in her ears. She was going to have to remove them now as fourteen was much too young to be pierced like she was without parental consent, which was doubtful she'd have gotten. She had to appear as young as her peers after all.
She also had her navel pierced. Something she argued against losing. She stubbornly commented she was going to keep some of them, including that one, refusing to allow every bit of Max Hunt to disappear. She a argued that 'who was REALLY going to see her naval?' Severus disagreed, but in the end it was her body. The thought struck Severus as odd and he realized just how much she had influenced him throughout the years.
She had a tattoo of serpent on her back, she said it was an Oroboros and also a symbol for the norse god loki.
The second tattoo she had she declined to tell him, alluding to it being somewhere private; Severus had stopped thinking about her tattoos after that.
He never understood her style, the way she wanted to dye her hair dark purple or light pink, or the strangeness of all her Muggle fashion decisions, but she always held it in such a way he felt himself gaping at her uncharacteristic beauty.
She was so very different from Lily.
And yet, here she was, sitting in their special spot; hiding from him no doubt.
~Break~
Max had ended up climbing the tree a bit and was sitting on a lower branch watching the rain hit against the grass with a soft pitter patter. She heard a crack and didn't even bother to turn and look, deciding she enjoyed the serenity she had found within her thoughts.
"Max!" Severus shouted as he stalked forward, face red with anger. She turned and regarded him, realizing she had never ever seen him this angry before.
"Get down now." His voice was quiet, but she could feel the volumes of anger it spoke. Not tempting fate she dropped down in front of him offering him a sheepish smile.
He grabbed her wrist roughly and turned apparating them without warning. Max's head was spinning and as he turned to drag her she stumble and collapsed against the dilapidated fence surrounding his home, hanging for dear life.
He tugged feeling no ounce of sympathy and she relented, suddenly timid as a mouse, and allowed him to drag her dizzy form into his house. The door closed hard and she winced as Severus said nothing and lead her into the kitchen. He sat her down and cast a drying and warming spell on her before crossing his arms and regarding her with cold calculation.
"What were you doing."
"I went out of a walk." Max's lips pursed out as she shifted her gaze towards the bottom of the fridge.
"You shouldn't be going out alone." He sneered, moving closer and pressing his hands against either side of her form against the table.
"The war has not started yet, I have my wand. I am perfectly capable of taking a walk!" She spat back, raising her chin in defiance as she stared into his eyes. His breath flitted across her skin in small bursts, he was barely containing his rage.
"You have no right leaving without telling me, you don't know anything of the world you are in right now, stop being so foolish and wandering about like you own the place! I can't always be here to protect you or fix your problems, you need to grow up now and start taking this all seriously!" He all but shouted. Pushing away from her he turned from her taking in deep breaths to calm his mood.
"I'm sorry..." she whispered, head bowed, "I don't feel welcome, you barely acknowledge me now, and I know I am a burden, I don't know how to fight, not really, and now you are just this fantastic wizard, this amazing man, and I feel like the Severus I know was gone, I just feel so alone I have no one here..." She sniffled as she held down her head in shame.
Closing his eyes Severus took a moment for himself, how could he have completely ignored the situation she was in?
Moving towards her he held his arms out and she lifted her head, her murky green eyes holding his for a second before she moved into his embraced crying silently.
"Shh shh...it's ok." He pet her hair softly and was reminded on his promise to himself to which he had already broken.
"I just feel so stupid...I can't help it, it's hardly your fault." Eyes shut tight she tried to get ahold of her shuddering breaths.
"You aren't stupid, it's going to be ok, but you are going to need to work with me on this, I can't be emotional or unguarded in this time, I can't show you the same fondness or friendship as that would be suicide for us both." He felt her nod against his chest and he sighed deeply.
"I am still the same Severus you knew, that has not changed."
"I know..." She whispered into his robes.
"Come now, I think it's time for bed." He ushered her out of the kitchen and she complied.
"Can you help me not be useless?" She asked looking up at him. Without looking down Severus responded.
"I am a teacher Miss Hunt, it was always my intention to teach you how to defend yourself."
~Break~
Max awoke to find herself tucked in his bed wearing a shirt of his. She declined him transfiguring it to suit her, feeling comfort in his clothing as is. Despite the changes, he still smelled like Severus.
She found the spot he slept in vacant. He was resistant at first, feeling it inappropriate to share a bed with her, but she reminded him they had shared a bed many times and that there was nothing wrong or inappropriate about it as it was late, transfiguring up the guest room could wait for the morning.
Getting out of bed she went downstairs to find him sitting with a cup of coffee dressed in black slacks and a white dress shirt once again, reading the Daily Prophet.
"Morning." She smiled as she wandered into the kitchen and got herself a cup of coffee as well. Severus turned to greet her but stopped, he frowned as her underwear clad bottom appeared in his view as she reached for a mug.
"It is well into the afternoon, think you could handle putting on pants?" He sneered coming off a lot more harmless than he intended.
"You know I don't wear pants unless I have too, this isn't the first time so chill." She sat down beside him taking a sip of her coffee. With a groan of satisfaction she rested against the back of the chair and smiled.
"You need to get dressed, we are leaving within the hour to go to Diagon Alley to get you proper clothing." His eyes were once again looking at the paper that had just been delivered, ignoring her childlike actions completely.
"Whee yay boring wizards clothes..."
"We will also go get you casual clothing as well." He rolled her eyes at her whinging as she snorted.
"Gosh the fashion in this decade is horrendous for Muggles too..." She whine some more, as she hopped onto the counter and sat.
"The counter is not for sitting Ms. Suthers." Severus reprimanded. He wasn't sure where her complaints were coming from, the clothing style of muggles in the future was still just as flashy and skimpy to him.
"Oo going to punish me if I disobey?" She winked as she let out a slight cackle. Severus rolled his eyes once more and stood up.
"Please get dressed, we are leaving in twenty minutes." As he left the kitchen he heard her choked whine at the idea of pants.
~Break~
Severus was stalking through the crowd with precision as he wandered to one of the more popular clothing stores in Diagon Alley. Slinking between people to get through the crowd, he ended up having to wait a few moments for Max to appear behind him, apologising to a witch she had accidentally run into.
"Boo..." Max whined in response to the dresses and robes displayed at the store front.
"Stop acting like a child," was his curt response as he pulled her forward and into the store, "This is one of the more popular stores, many young witches shop here." Severus was ignoring her annoyed scowl as he walked into the store uncaring if she was following or not.
"Goody goody gum drops...boring dresses and robes bleh!" She blanched as she opened the door with a sharp tug.
What met her eyes were rows upon rows of velvet, silk, gorgeous semi-precious stones and embroidery work that made her inner eye salivate.
"Oh my god..." She gasped as she tore past Severus almost knocking him into a rack of hats.
"I see she has hardly changed since we were kids..."
~Break~
Max was currently in the dressing rooms trying on an assortment of purple and silver robes and dresses. Admiring herself in the mirror she spun around giggling, feeling much like a princess.
Severus was idly leaning against the outer walls of the dressing room area feeling rather out of place. His eyes wandered around collecting in his surroundings and everyone who entered the store.
With a small sigh he straightened and looked towards the dressing room entrances hoping Max would finish already so they could leave.
"Severus!" A surprised gasp came from his left. Snapping his head back around his eyes landed on the prim angled face of Narcissa Malfoy. She was wearing her usual black dress as she let go of a lavish green gown she had been admiring.
With a nod he turned fully towards her, "Good afternoon Mrs. Malfoy."
"I told you, you are a friend of the family, Narcissa is just fine," she let out a bashful laugh as she swatted her hand at him before looking towards the entrance to the dressing rooms, "As nice as it is running into you, what are you doing here in a woman's clothing store? Are you here with a woman perhaps?"
Severus stiffened at her scandalous expression, feeling very uncomfortable at the hidden meaning she was trying to convey. As he opened his mouth to respond, Max started calling his name as she skipped out of the changing rooms, arms full of clothing.
"Severus, I am ready to leave I think," she chirped as she skipped over to him. She stopped just short of standing in front of him and turned to look at Narcissa with a confused look, "Err umm...hi?"
Narcissa on the other hand was lighting up with amusement as she took in the young appearance of Max and Severus's much older and annoyed one.
"Well well well..." she gasped tapping her chin with a perfectly painted nail.
"Narcissa, this is Maxine Suthers, Miss Suthers this is Mrs. Malfoy." Severus introduced hoping to diminish as much damage as he could.
"Nice to meet you." Max tried to smile past her embarrassed expression and arms full of clothing.
"Nice to meet you too Miss Suthers, what is your relation to Severus here?" Narcissa placed her hand against her chin as she gave Max a thoughtful expression.
Max went to open her mouth when Severus interrupted.
"She is a new transfer student at Hogwarts. Dumbledore has taken it upon himself to have me settle her in as she is from out of country." He gave a cool and irate look towards Max.
"Oh but Severus...she called you by your name, that is hardly something a student would do."
"That is because she is not accustomed to the formalities we use here, she keeps imposing on using first names so informally." His cool voice caused Max to wither in embarrassment.
"Yes well, you know how foreigners can be..." Narcissa waved off not looking entirely convinced but very much bored with the conversation already.
Severus gave a small nod before excusing himself and Max as they paid for her clothes.
"Gees...it's not even that long ago and I feel like I am thousands of years off from this time." She whispered, face downcast.
Severus did not respond but did however cast her a small look.
~Break~
"You really need to work on your manners." Severus chastised as they entered his small home.
"I said I was sorry ok!?" Grumbling Max threw her bag down onto his small couch before stomping off in a huff up the stairs. Severus went to follow feeling very angry at how little respect she was showing him but stopped with a heavy breath.
She was dealing with a lot and doing her best, he needed to remember that, when she was upset she got, as she put it, bitchy.
Deciding to let her cool down he wandered off to his study to prepare his lessons.
~Break~
It was long into the evening when Max had finally decided to stop hiding away in anger and make her way down the old stairs. She had showered and changed into a pair of black sweatpants and a matching plain black tank top.
As she descended the stairs she smelled the faint smell of cooking and tilted her head in confusion.
It wasn't rare Severus cooked, but considering all that had occurred, she had figured he'd have set up a guest room and went to sulk in his potions lab. She wasn't expecting the decidedly domestic approach he was taking.
Entering into the kitchen she saw him finishing cutting up some vegetables as he dumped them into the steaming pot on the stove.
"Stew?" She inquired taking a seat at his small kitchen table as he turned his head to regard her.
"Yes, with dumplings." He confirmed, turning back to the pot and stirring it to prevent it from boiling over.
"My favourite!" She chirped.
"I am aware." His curt response caused her to frown.
"Can you explain to me why you are so terse with me while making my favourite food?" She grumbled as she glared up at him through her lashes.
"Because while you have upset me, you are still my guest and friend." He explained as he lowered the heat and placed the lid over the pot.
"Come, we need to get started on teaching you Occlumency as I will be tasked with teaching Potter in two years, as well as playing double agent, and won't be able to teach you anything at that time." He explained as he circled around the table flicking his wand at the cooking stew. She assumed he was using a spell to prevent it from boiling over and felt her insides clench in jealousy. He could use non-verbal magic. She had a long ways to go.
Shit, he was right, she had to grow up.
"Yeah, ok." She nodded as she followed him towards his lab downstairs.
~Break~
They had spent about an hour going over the basics of Occlumency and he had her practice emptying her mind first in preparation through meditation.
However it was proving harder than she had thought. Severus was working on a batch of Wolfsbane potions as she was trying to ignore him completely and focus on her task. Decidedly harder than she had first assumed.
"Alright, stand up." Severus finally broke through her twentieth attempt to keep her mind blank. Opening an eye she regarded him suspiciously before standing before him.
"What now Professor?" She grinned as he frowned in annoyance towards her.
"I am going to attempt to enter your mind, keep it clear of emotions and thoughts and try to keep me from entering." He raised his wands towards her and she swallowed thickly.
"Legilimens." Severus spoke with certainty and for a second Max thought this wouldn't be so bad.
That was until the pain started, it spread from between her eyes and rocked her to her core and is spread out through her head in tendrils.
Startled she completely forgot about blanking her mind and she was ripped from where she stood as flashes of meeting Severus on the train first year slipped through her mind's eyes.
As quickly as it came, it ended. Severus lowered his wand, his lips set in a grime line.
"Again, focus this time." He chastised as he raised his wand again.
"I didn't know it would hurt THAT BAD." She grumbled as she held her head and gave him an irate look.
"The Dark Lord won't be as kind so I suggest you let me do my job and teach you." She nodded at his explanation slowly as she breathed deeply and locked eyes with him.
"Ok, yeah, I can handle this." She gave him a determined look and he penetrated her mind again.
This time however, she lasted a mere second before he broke through and he couldn't help but feel a profound proudness at the second girl he grew up with.
~Break~
It had been about a week since she had started her Occlumency training and had hit a roadblock keeping Severus from her mind for more than five seconds. It was trying and she always ended up with a pounding headache. Severus wasn't being the least bit gentle, attempting to push her into adapting to her situation as quickly as possible.
Feeling defeated she had started to get sloppy so Severus switched their attention towards dueling which she was having a better time learning. She had managed to learn enough defensive magic to hold Severus off for a few minutes when he pushed her to her limits. Sadly, her offensive was lacking and it was starting to cause tensions between them.
At least she was always quick on her feet and fairly bright. She had been able to throw him off a few times stalling her inevitable defeat.
The school year was approaching and they only had a week until she had to be at the train to Hogwarts. A week to learn how to defend herself and Harry if need be. Severus was starting to become uncharacteristically anxious.
"I'm sorry, my head's just not in the game today." She sighed as she took a seat on the ground. Severus shifted awkwardly as he placed his wand back up his sleeve with a practiced ease.
"What's on your mind?" He asked coming to stand beside her.
"I'm not sure how to act, I mean you're my best friend but now also my professor, and I'm scared they won't believe I'm a fourth year."
"Don't worry, they will. For one thing, I'm pretty sure I was the only reason you passed potions." His lips tilted into a grin ever so slightly.
"Shut up I would have passed on my own just fine!" She glared in a huff.
"Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape chastised as he watched Max's jaw drop.
"Ten points from Slytherin for your cheek!" She responded airily, letting out a giggle as she bounded to her feet.
"Ok, again!" She ordered taking stance opposite to him. With a grin he let out a nonverbal spell causing Max to shriek as she barely enacted a barrier without a verbal command. It was her third successful try at casting nonverbally. Just as Severus expected she was picking it up fast at the pace they were going.
"We are not done yet, the duel is not over." Severus ground out as he send a stunner her way almost catching her in the shoulder as she barely dodge. Her wand went out and a shot of blue light shot out towards him hitting his own protego.
She was a quick study if nothing else.
~Break~
Twas the night before she would have to be on the train to Hogwarts and she was looking through her class schedule with a sick feeling in her stomach. She would be taking a matching course load to Harry Potter to ensure she could not only watch over him, but also befriend him. Her cover had her wanting to become an Auror as well thus the same course load was necessary.
She felt uncomfortable, despite her training with Severus she was nowhere where she needed to be. Severus was going to end up giving her detention all year long when he could to supplement her practicing while they were at school. No one would notice as she was Gryffindor and he was the head of Slytherin, but it didn't mean she looked forward to studies during the day and now night.
"You need to be careful this year." Severus had uttered. He explained that no matter what she needed to steer clear of the DADA instructor Mad-Eye Moody. Back in their time the real Mad-Eye Moody was dead, but in this time he was still alive and being held captive by a Death Eater known as Barty Crouch Jr. He was shifty, unpredictable, and dangerous.
With a nod she smiled towards him from her spot at the table across from him.
"I know I know, we've gone over this a hundred times. I will be careful and I will make sure to help him through the Triwizard Tournament." She grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"I know you think the Triwizard Tournament is cool, but it isn't. After this year things are going to become very dangerous, so please listen to me." He was brushing the pads of his fingers against the bridge of his weary nose and she instantly felt guilty, she was getting to go have fun with Harry Potter in school and he was signed back up to being a Death Eater at the end of this year.
"Don't I always?" She breathed out catching his eyes. She hoped it conveyed what she wanted to get across.
"Yes, well, you can never be too careful."
~End Chapter 4~
Reviews:
the-lights-there: Thank you! I am so glad you liked the chapter. You know, the original draft glossed over a lot of their time in school, but I am really glad I went back and added more. :)
Author's End Note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and as always, read, review, favourite, and follow!
