Step Back in Time. Part Two.
"Dad!"
The spell Harry had been working on shattered as his son's call broke through his concentration. He sighed as he carefully channelled the magic into the ground. Ry skittered into his office then pulled to a stop suddenly. Harry still had his wand raised and he was sure that he would be having 'that talk' with his son again.
"Oops," Ry said sheepishly. "Sorry, Dad."
Harry sighed and lowered his wand.
"What is it, Ry?" Harry asked and the boy held up a piece of paper.
"Sirius just sent me a letter. He wants me to come to his house for a couple of weeks before I start school." Ry said in a rush. "Hermione and Ron are going to be there as well!"
Harry frowned, reading through the letter until he reached the bit at the bottom.
'The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at Number twelve, Grimmauld place, London.
You are welcome to come as well Sun.
Yours,
Sirius Black'
"Please?" Ry pleaded with big eyes.
"Very well," Harry conceded. "But I will be dropping you off and making it very clear to Black that he will be responsible for you and no flying cars, understand?"
"When will you drop that?" Ry sulked.
"When you learn your lesson about running into things without thinking," Harry replied with a wink. "So probably for a long time."
"Dad!" Ry whined.
"Go pack your bag," Harry said with a smile.
"Thanks, Dad," Ry cried, giving Harry a quick hug before dashing back out of the room.
Harry picked up his phone and dialled a familiar number
"Yes?" Severus answered on the fourth ring.
"So, Order of the Phoenix?" Harry asked with a smirk.
Harry was amused to hear silence on the other end of the phone.
xXx
Harry pulled Ry's backpack further up onto his shoulder as they got off the bus and headed down the street towards number 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry watched Ry carefully at the same time as keeping an eye out on the streets and his mind open to any magic around him. London wasn't as safe now as it had been six months ago.
"Ron said that there has been lots of people coming and going from the house," Ry commented as looked over his shoulder at his father.
"I spoke to Severus and he said that the Order of the Phoenix was some group that was formed a long time ago to work against Dark Lords," Harry added quietly.
"Really?" Ry pipped up, slowing down to walk beside his father on the busy street.
"He said he couldn't tell me anymore than that," Harry replied.
"Formed to fight against Voldemort?"
Harry winced at the use of the man's name but for a very different reason than most people. He would have to sit his son down and explain again why the man's name should not be spoken.
"Before this Dark Lord," Harry replied.
Ry stopped and Harry had to give him a soft push to keep him going.
"You mean there have been more?" Ry asked.
"Of course," Harry scoffed with a laugh. "I think I need to get you a history book."
Ry groaned, "You sound like Hermione; 'In Hogwarts a history…'"
"Hey." Harry cried and swatted Ry's shoulder. "Remember that you are in some of those history books."
Ry ducked his head and muttered, "Don't remind me!"
Harry laughed and stopped out the front of number ten and fourteen as the muggles flowed around them. Harry and Ry moved closer to the divide of the two houses and Harry looked the spell work over as Ry glanced around with a frown.
"Where is it?" Ry asked.
Harry laughed and stepped closer, until he stood on the front step of number twelve. He looked back at his son and could see the boy trying to focus on where he stood. He was sure that Ry knew he was there but couldn't see him. He let him try to work it out before taking pity.
"Focus on the number twelve." Harry suggested with a smirk.
Suddenly Ry's eyes got large and he quickly stepped up next to his father as another house appeared in front of him. Ry was used to Harry's type of warding not this kind of magic. Harry added it to the list of items that he needed to teach him.
"Wow," Ry whispered then went to step back down to the street but Harry grabbed his arm.
"We can look at this kind of magic at a later time," Harry muttered in answer and Ry gave him a grin.
Harry knocked on the door loudly and waited, he could hear yelling and a bang behind the door until it was pulled open sharply. A kindly red headed woman answered the door looking harassed, her hair having escaped the bun at the back of her head and had curled around her face. She still gave them a huge grin.
"Ry, Blake!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed and grabbed both Potters in a big hug as she pulled them into the house. "So good to see you both!"
"Nice to see you again, Molly." Harry replied, as Ry just stood slack jawed in the entrance. "Are you getting enough rest?"
"I'm fine, my dear." Molly huffed and patted his shoulder.
Harry looked the woman over in concern. She looked thinner and stressed but her smile still touched her eyes as she smiled at him.
"I'm sorry, Ry but dinner is going to be a bit late tonight." Molly continued. "Why don't you run upstairs and see Ron and Hermione?"
Ry nodded and went to run off.
"Ry!" Harry called after him, holding out the boy's backpack.
Ry grinned sheepishly, dashed back and grabbed his bag before running out of the room.
"Blake, follow me." Molly offered with a smile. "Severus is already here."
Harry grinned and walked with Molly down the hall.
"MORE BLOOD TRAITORS!"
Harry looked down his nose at the portrait of Mrs Black.
"Ignore her," Molly whispered as she moved passed the portrait.
"YOU WILL GET YOURS!" Mrs Black yelled. "THE DARK LORD WILL KILL YOU ALL!"
Harry stopped in front of the portrait and pulled his dark wand.
"YOU JUST TRY IT BOY! FILTHY HALF BLOOD!"
"Just ignore her, Blake," Molly tried again.
Harry grinned and held his dark wand up with his fingertips at either end of it. Mrs Black's eyes widened slightly as she looked at the wand. Harry slowly moved the wand to place the tip of it on the frame. Harry let his dark magic run across the wand and into the frame. The woman yelped and fled leaving the frame empty.
Molly gasped beside him. "What did you do?"
"Just a little dark magic," Harry replied, replacing his wand. "She'll be back but it should give us some peace for a while."
"But dark magic?" Molly gasped.
Harry turned to Molly in surprise then remembered what people were like in this time and just grinned.
"No harm done, Molly." Harry said softly. "How about a cup of tea?"
That had the woman bustling off towards the kitchen and Harry smiled after her fondly. He moved through into the dining area to see Severus sitting at the table. The man looked him over as he entered the room and Harry gave him a grin.
"Severus," Harry greeted, taking a seat next to the man. "Fancy meeting you here?"
"Blake," Severus nodded, looking around at the other people in the room.
Remus Lupin nodded in greeting as he spoke to a small woman with pink hair in the corner of the room while a man dressed in a pile of rags slept in the other corner. Moody glared at him, his magical eye focused on him and Harry gave him a wink. Moody's expression twisted up in distaste as his real eye glared at him. He was sure that he'd felt his use of dark magic as Harry glanced at the other people in the room.
"So what's with all the people?" Harry asked as Molly placed a tea tray down and he gave her a smile.
"The Headmaster has called a meeting," Severus remarked mildly.
"Meeting?"
"Of the Order of the Phoenix," Severus cleared up.
"Don't tell the boy that!" Moody growled as he moved over. "He's not a member!"
Severus glared at the older man.
"If he is here. He is trusted." Severus sneered silkily.
"Bah," Moody cried, thumping his cane on the floor. "He is a Dark Wizard!"
Harry sat back in his seat, it had been a long time since he'd been called that as a slur. Severus stood from his seat as Remus and Tonks focused on the drama, the werewolf moving closer.
"He's here at my invitation, Alastor." Dumbledore said calmly as he moved into the room with Sirius Black on his heels.
"He is dark and will betray us!" Moody hissed, his magical eye focused completely on Harry.
Harry stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving the ex-Auror.
"I can see when I'm not wanted." Harry said blandly.
"No," Sirius stated, holding out a hand to stop him. "This is my house. You are welcome here, even if I don't like you."
"Thanks," Harry replied dryly. "That's very encouraging."
"Hey, I let Snape in here." Sirius remarked, with a glare at the other man.
"Gentlemen," Albus called calmly. "We are all working towards the same goal here."
"And what is that goal, Albus?" Harry asked as he stood up straight with his cane at his side.
"To remove Voldemort," Albus stated blandly.
Harry and Severus flinched at the name.
"See!" Moody cried. "Can't even bare to hear the man's name!"
Harry sneered at Moody but said nothing more for a couple of minutes. He could feel the tension in the room.
"I'll be leaving now," Harry stated.
"You won't stay for the meeting, Blake?" Albus questioned.
Harry looked the Headmaster in the eye.
"No." Harry replied flatly.
"See!" Moody grumbled. "He can't be trusted!"
Even Severus was eyeing him off which made Harry stand up straighter as he looked Albus in the eye.
"I have been tortured for information before," Harry intoned softly, silencing the room. "I'm not inclined to repeat the experience."
Harry left the room to silence, his hand shaking slightly. It wasn't until he reached the front door that Severus caught up to him. The other man grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop.
"Blake?" Severus asked softly.
Harry turned back but wouldn't look at the other man. Severus's hand grabbed his shoulder and Harry turned his head to look the man in the eye.
"Are you okay?" Severus asked as he released him.
"Yes," Harry replied stepping back, giving himself some space.
"The Headmaster apologises for Moody," Severus stated softly.
"It's not him," Harry muttered with a sigh. "I've been called many things over the years. I just can't do this again."
Severus pulled his robe together, folded his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at him. Harry sighed and looked away, unable to look into the man's dark eyes. This was a part of his life that he'd buried and he felt that now that Voldemort was back. That it was pulling up images of a war that he'd fought a long time ago. A time that he had tried to bury deep in his memory and yet now was forced to uncover.
"I was held for months," Harry whispered, taking of the torture he'd suffered. "They knew I had information that they wanted. The information was about a mission that was being held two weeks after I was taken. I knew that the group I was protecting didn't know I had been taken. If I broke they would have all be killed…"
Harry didn't know his hand was shaking until Severus grabbed it.
"I can't go through that again," Harry whispered. "I don't think I would be able to…"
"Did you break?" Severus asked softly, black eyes filled with concern.
"No," Harry replied, remembering the pain and the screaming that never stopped. "By the time they got to me I was half dead."
Severus's hand clenched around his own.
"They were amazed I recovered as well as I did," Harry said softly, voice wavering slightly. "I was retried from active duty six months later, best thing that ever happened."
"Is that when you moved into curse breaking?" Severus asked, his voice flowing over him.
Harry nodded sharply.
"I don't mind helping against the Dark Lord," Harry commented, after a couple of minutes of silence. "But I don't want to be part of any planning."
"I'll pass that on to the Headmaster," Severus replied.
Suddenly Severus pulled Harry into a hug. Harry fell into his arms and took in the comfort the other man was offering without complaint. Unsure at the move but he would take it.
"I have no doubt that I will be pulled into this war," Harry whispered into Severus's shoulder. "Harry Potter being my son and all that."
"We'll keep him safe," Severus muttered, pulling back from the man.
"Thank you."
Harry gave him a thin smile.
"That's all we can do." Harry stated. "I would never fully be trusted being a Dark Wizard anyway."
"Try being a former Death Eater," Severus uttered and they shared a smirk.
Suddenly Harry laughed dryly and grinned at the younger man.
"What a couple we make."
xXx
Severus looked at the peeling paint of the wooden door long after Blake had left. He could still see Blake's hollow green eyes, looking through him, as he remembered the torture that he'd endured. He had never thought of the man as broken but at that moment he had considered it. He had seen the scaring but that was nothing compared to listening to the man talk about it.
"Did Blake leave?"
Severus looked over his shoulder to see the Headmaster looking at him calmly.
"Yes," Severus replied softly, feeling slightly hollow.
"Is he okay?" Albus asked moving closer.
"I think so," Severus replied. "He won't be joining us. He said he would help but won't be part of any planning."
"That man is older than he says he is," Albus remarked.
"What do you mean?"
"What he can do with his magic. That is only something you learn from many years of study," Albus replied. "I believe he may be older than me, Severus."
"What?" Severus asked shocked. "But he only looks to be in his late forties."
Albus smiled and gave Severus a wink.
"Looks can be deceiving, my boy." Albus said softly "I have yet to find the man's birth certificate or what he was doing before he arrived in England to claim Mr Potter."
"He mentioned living in Germany and working in France."
"Yes, I have found contracts that he's had in those countries and many more but they don't date back far, but that might just be a filing problem." Albus admitted with a chuckle. "I would have liked for him to have joined the Order. His skills would have been very useful."
Severus shook his head. "I don't think he will."
"In that case, his assistance will be greatly received."
With that the two men moved back towards where everyone else was waiting.
xXx
"Blake Sun," Harry answered the phone on the third ring.
"Blake!" Bill's voice floated down the phone line. "How are you?"
"Very well and you?" Harry asked as he poured hot water into the mug of coffee.
"Yeah, very well." Bill answered, "I have a favour to ask?"
"What's that?"
"We found a trunk that we can't open," Bill explained. "I was wondering if you have any time to look it over?"
"For Gringotts?"
"Yeah, they said that they are happy with the standard fee as long as it's opened before the end of the day." Bill laughed, "And when I say happy…"
"Oh yes, I bet they are happy with that." Harry remarked in amusement. "Are you in London?"
"Yeah, are you able to look at it?"
"No problems," Harry replied. "Give me an hour?"
"Prefect, see you then!"
xXx
Harry stepped off the bus with a sigh. The sneering jeers of the teenage boys, that he'd so wanted to hex, still ringing in his ears. He put that behind him as he moved towards the Leaky Cauldron and through into Diagon Alley. The shopping area was busier than normal due to school starting up soon and Harry was glad that they did owl ordering for the school supplies now.
He took his time as he made his way up the stairs of the Gringotts building and into the main part of the bank. The goblin on the door looked him over before sneering at him. Harry quirked his lips and the goblin's expression changed to amusement.
"Grinhook is waiting for you in room four," The goblin stated, then nodded at the next wizard to enter the bank.
Harry moved passed the creature and behind the counter. A couple of wizards and witches looked over to him in interest but he ignored them as he made his way further into the bank. A couple of goblins looked him over but they were familiar with him by now. He made his way to room four and knocked on the wooden door.
"Enter."
Harry entered the room to find Bill and Grinhook waiting for him.
"Blake, welcome." Bill cried as he stepped forward to pull him into a hug. "You're looking well."
"As are you," Harry replied, giving the other man a grin. "I think you should take your mother out to lunch though."
Bill gave him a look which Harry just gave him a wink in reply.
"About time you got here, Sun." Grinhook snapped.
"Nice to see you again, Grinhook." Harry greeted with a smile. "You have something good for me?"
"The Weasley says he can't open it," Grinhook grumbled with a smirk in Bill's direction. "Standard pricing, Sun."
Harry looked down his nose at the goblin and raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so. I think I will see what's in this trunk first before I set a price." Harry stated.
"No deal!"
"In that case," Harry announced as he turned towards the door. "I'll be off then, plenty of shopping to do."
"Stop."
Harry let his hand rest on the doorknob without turning it.
"Very well," The goblin stated from behind him. "Once the trunk is open, we'll work out a price."
"Fee or the trunk," Harry countered as he turned back.
"No, fee only."
"In that case, if the contents are worth more than my standard fee then we'll work out the difference."
The goblin sneered before he held out a clawed hand. "Deal."
Harry took the creature's hand in his and they shook. Harry looked up to see Bill smirking at him.
"The Weasley will show you the trunk," Grinhook stated. "Call me when it's open…before the end of business today, Sun."
"Of course," Harry replied.
Bill laughed softly once they were out of the room.
"You know how to deal with them!" Bill laughed.
"Only way to do business." Harry said with a smirk. "Veelas are worse."
Bill's eyes got glassy at the word veela and Harry's smirk widened.
"I bet." Bill said with a stupid grin on his face.
The two men moved down to room twelve where a large leather trunk sat in the middle of the room with a protection circle around it. It was made from smooth black leather with silver trim and no lock Harry could see. He looked it over with interest, feeling the time magic around it.
"Lost and Found?" Harry asked as they moved into the room.
"How could you tell?" Bill asked.
'Lost and found' was the name they gave items that fell out of nowhere, sometimes through cracks in time or they just appeared on streets or other places. They were held by Gringotts and reported to the Ministry, if no one claimed them or if the Ministry didn't want them. They were handed over to Gringotts to process.
"Has that feel about it," Harry replied. "I would say a time crack. Nothing dark about it, how come you couldn't open it?"
"It rebounds anything we throw at it." Bill commented with a shrug.
"I don't see a rebounding spell on it." Harry remarked with a frown.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Harry agreed.
He stepped into the circle and pulled the charm up behind him. He looked closely at the trunk but couldn't see anything that would attack him. There no darkness clinging to it and only a wisp of time magic. He pulled out his cherry wand and placed it on the lid of the box.
"Revelare," Harry whispered, only using a small amount of magic.
The box took the magic into the leather which spread out across the box running over the edges and making the trim glow light blue as the spell worked into it. It was just a standard leather box, made about twenty years ago, right here in London by a very good maker. He gently ran his magic along the seam and let it leak into the small gap.
His magic found the lock and he gently nudged his magic along the latch, pushing on it slightly. With a soft click a keyhole appeared on the front of the box. Harry pulled a silver key from his pocket and placed his wand against it.
"Fingunt," Harry softly muttered.
The silver key in his hand slowly moulded to the shape that Harry wanted. He waited while the key worked out its shape and when he knew it was ready he stopped the spell. He reached forward and placed the key into the lock and turned. He opened the lid of the box and looked into it. Glass vials of potion ingredients glinted up at him. Harry broke the protection charm behind him as Bill moved closer.
Harry turned to the other man with a grin. Bill looked him and the trunk over with an odd look in his eyes.
"Tell Grinhook, that the trunk is open and I'll take it as payment." Harry told him in amusement.
"Really?" The man asked in surprise.
"Yep, I know someone that will find a use for it."
xXx
"Dad!"
Harry braced himself as Ry ran into his arms. He laughed and ruffled the boy's hair. He was almost as tall as him now and Harry was sure that given a couple of more years he would be a good head taller. He was still skinny but it was a good kind of skinny not the showing your ribs kind that Harry had been at his age.
"You made it!" Ry cried, stepping back.
"Of course," Harry scoffed. "I had to see my son off on the train, even if I will be seeing you at the feast tonight."
"I had so much fun at Sirius's house, but it was so creepy!" Ry said in a rush. "And there was a portrait of his mother that kept screaming at us and then Mrs Weasley was yelling back at her saying that you would be back to curse her!"
Harry laughed as the words tumbled out of the boy's mouth as they walked towards the train. Harry nodded over at the Weasley family and ignored the glare he got from Lucius Malfoy.
"Oh, there's Hermione!" Ry cried, looking over at his brown-haired friend. "I'll see you at the feast Dad."
"Off you go." Harry encouraged as he gave his son a pat on the shoulder before he dashed off towards Hermione.
"So, Mr Sun."
Harry turned to see Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy standing behind him. Both sets of pale eyes looking him over.
"Mr and Mrs Malfoy," Harry greeted with a smile. "How can I help you?"
"My son wishes to continue the extra lessons you are offering." Lucius stated blandly, his own silver and black cane at his side.
"I'm happy to hear that," Harry said with a smile. "He's a very talented boy. He puts a lot of work into his spell and charm work."
"He's a Malfoy before anything else, Sun." Lucius hissed, shaking his cane at him. "Remember that!"
Lucius turned on his heel with Narcissa giving Harry one last look before turning to follow her husband. Harry looked after the two blondes, slightly confused.
"Okay," Harry said slowly to no one. "That was odd."
xXx
Harry snuck into the Great hall as the sorting hat started its song and took his place at the Head Table next to Severus. Dumbledore and a couple of other teachers smiled or nodded at him. They were used to the way Harry would arrive in the hall by now. The woman in pink next to Dumbledore gave him a frown but Harry turned away and leaned in towards Severus.
"I left a trunk in your rooms," Harry whispered.
Severus raised an eyebrow in question.
"I got it from Gringotts-" Harry answered the silent question.
"Hem, hem."
Harry ignored Umbridge.
"-You'll like what's in it but I want the trunk when you're done-"
"Hem, hem."
"-The key is sitting on top of it." Harry finished, sitting back in his seat as he focused back on the sorting.
"Hem, hem."
Harry turned to the short woman in pink.
"Can I help you? Because I'm trying to watch the sorting." Harry questioned sweetly.
Severus snorted next to him as Umbridge looked down her nose at him.
"You are late," The woman stated. "According to the founders all teachers must be seated before the start of the sorting."
"Oh, it's a good thing that I'm not a teacher then," Harry replied and looked back at the sorting as Severus snorted. "Now I'm trying to watch the sorting."
"Hem, hem."
"Yes?" Harry asked.
"If you are not a teacher, you are not permitted to sit at the Head Table." The woman stated.
"Blake is here under contract, Dolores." Dumbledore explained, with a smile.
Umbridge snorted and put her nose up in the air. Harry could see what was coming.
"No problems," Harry replied as he stood up. "I'll go sit with my son then. I'm sure I can embarrass him enough that he'll disown me by the end of the feast."
Severus snorted loudly as Harry walked down the middle of the hall. His cane clipping against the stones with his steps, while the sorting was happening. He plonked himself down between Hermione and Lavender Brown and smiled back at Umbridge.
"If you are done, Mr Sun?" Professor McGonagall called from the front of the hall, where she had been calling out first year students' names from the scroll in her hand.
"Yes, Professor." Harry called back to the snickers of a few students. "Carry on."
Harry turned to the Gryffindors around him.
"Comfy seats these." Harry said with a grin. "Could do with a little more padding though."
Ry's head hit the table with a thump, his face red in embarrassment as Harry looked around at the students. He winked up at Umbridge as Severus smirked at him.
xXx
"You are going to pay for that stunt," Severus smirked as they walked out of the Great Hall together, Ry having fled as soon as the feast was over.
"I have no doubt," Harry grinned. "In fact, I'm looking forward to it. She can't remove me from this school, while I have a contract in place."
"She could go to the Ministry," Severus stated.
Harry smirked this time, making Severus shiver.
"She can try but the contract is with the Ministry as well," Harry explained
Severus stopped in the hallway with students flowing around them. Harry stopped and looked back at the man with a smirk.
"How did you manage that?" Severus asked.
Harry just grinned and held his arms out to his sides.
"I'm Blake Sun." Harry replied with a smirk and a few students giggled.
Severus just laughed and they moved off as the students around them just stared after Snape. Harry stepped forward when they reached Severus's rooms and opened the door with a flourish. He flung his arm inward to show the other man the black and silver trunk.
"Ta da," Harry announced.
"Really?" Severus asked dryly.
"Now," Harry stated as he limped towards the trunk. "I haven't looked through the contents too closely, but there are no nasties on the trunk itself…"
Harry opened the lid and let Severus peer inside, his dark eyes lighting up.
"I think there might be some books at the bottom of the trunk," Harry explained, stepping back. "And I'm not sure if they had any nasties inside the trunk, but there is no dark magic about the thing, so should be okay. It was a 'Lost and Found'-"
"Lost and Found?" Severus cut in.
"Oh, ah." Harry stumbled over his words. "Sorry, a 'Lost and found' is an object that is found and they have no idea where it came from. This one is from a time gap."
"Time gap?"
"Ah," Harry stuttered as he rubbed his neck. "I haven't explained time rips and gaps before?"
Severus straightened up as he pulled his robe tight around his form. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at the shorter man. Harry smirked at the 'professor' stance.
"Oops," Harry smiled, feeling a bit like Ry at that moment. "Really?"
Severus raised an eyebrow in answer. Harry ran a hand over his short hair.
"I'm not a very good teacher," Harry said with a laugh. "Am I?"
"Evidently," Severus replied blandly. "Care to explain, Mr Sun?"
Harry rubbed his hand over his hair one more time with a lopsided grin.
"So, Mr Snape." Harry said as he slipped into teaching mode. "Time gaps or rips are made when two times touch where either a large magic explosion has disrupted the natural time flow or when a decision was made that split time. There are many other theories about how time rips or gaps are made. A 'Lost and Found' item can also be found when a wizard casts a spell to dismiss an object and it falls through a gap.
"When an object is found and is handed into the Ministry, it is held for a period of time and if the Ministry doesn't want it, it gets sent to Gringotts. Gringotts when they can't open said object calls in a handsome dark-haired man to break the charms on the trunk to find out what's inside." Harry finished with a grin.
"So, how did you come to get it then?" Severus asked dryly, with a smirk.
"Ha, ha." Harry replied as he rolled his eyes. "I gave them an option of a fee or the trunk. I took the trunk since they have no need for potion ingredients. Bill Weasley found the whole thing quite amusing."
"Smart boy that one," Severus muttered. "For a Weasley."
"Fred and George aren't too bad either," Harry added. "Won't have them in my classes but they do have the intelligence to get in."
"Lucky you," Severus remarked dryly. "I've lost count of the amount of cauldrons I've lost to those two."
"More than Neville Longbottom?"
Severus just shivered in answer, making Harry bark a laugh.
"So," Harry stated, turning back to the trunk. "This trunk is from a time gap, I would say maybe twenty years or so in the future."
Severus looked at the trunk in renewed interest. "How can you tell?"
Harry grinned. "I could explain but I think that's a lesson for next time, Mr Snape."
xXx
Harry and Severus were walking back towards Harry's rooms after having dinner in Hogsmeade when it happened. Luck being on Harry's side for a change, the hallway was deserted. Ry, however, wasn't as lucky as he was in the middle of the Gryffindor common room.
Harry stopped in the middle of the hallway and frowned.
"Blake?" Severus asked, turning back to him.
"Something isn't right," Harry muttered as he tried to work out what that wrongness was.
That's when the pain hit him.
"Blake!"
Harry dropped to his knees as his cane skittering across the floor. He landed hard on the stones of the hallway. Pain coursing across his whole body as he tried to focus his mind on where it was coming from. He could feel Severus's hands on his shoulders but the pain was building. He found himself flat on his back as he located the link to Ry, Voldemort was attacking Ry through the curse scar and the connection he had with the boy.
Harry cried out as the pain spiked across his head and he lost the link for a second. His mind greyed out and he went limp, tremors running down his spine.
"Blake!"
Harry started as Severus gave him a hard shake and groaned as the pain came rushing back. He had to follow the link. He pulled his mind together as much as he could.
"Ry," Harry gasped, his eyesight tinged in red.
"What's going on?" Severus asked.
"Follow link," Harry muttered, he wasn't sure he was making sense as he cast his mind out.
The pain increased as he followed the link towards Ry through the bracelet and he was sure he was screaming. He found the boy's mind and cut the link between the Dark Lord and Ry while temporary attaching it to himself. His mind screamed as he took the cursed link and he almost lost himself for a second but Severus grip on his shoulder pulled him back. He focused his mind on the link with Voldemort, pinning it down in the back of his mind then grinned.
"Avada Kedavra," Harry hissed, the green spell sped across the link.
Before Voldemort could pull back his own attack, Harry's spell hit the man and the link broke harshly. Harry went completely limp.
"Blake!"
"Dad!"
Harry just laid there as he tried to breath. His body trembling from the pain curse. He slowly opened his eyes, he could just make out Severus seated next to him with his hand on his shoulder. Ry knelt beside the Professor as he held Harry's ahnd. He blinked a couple of times to try to get the blood out of his eyes and noticed the blood on Ry's forehead from the curse scar.
"Dad," Ry whispered. "Are you okay?"
"Been better," Harry muttered and closed his eyes again.
He drifted slightly after that, he remembered hearing Dumbledore and being lifted and the pain, before a floating sensation overcame him. The next time he was aware, he was lying on his bed with Ry curled up on the other side of the bed and Severus sitting in a chair next to him asleep. Harry reached over and grabbed his hand and the man started awake.
"Blake?" Severus asked, gripping his hand back. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Harry croaked, his throat raw.
"Do you want some water?" Severus asked, going to stand.
Harry tightened his grip on his hand, stopping the younger man.
"All good," Harry whispered. "Did I hear the Headmaster?"
"Yes," Severus said blandly. "You said the killing curse."
Harry frowned.
"You don't remember?" Severus asked, leaning forward.
"Yes, but didn't realise I said it out loud," Harry replied.
Severus leaned back in his chair, relieved.
"The Headmaster spoke to Mr Potter after we moved you to your rooms." Severus explained. "He said that the Dark Lord tried to take him over and that he felt you in his mind before the Dark Lord and you were gone?"
Harry nodded tiredly.
"Yes, he attacked Ry through the link that they have through the curse scar," Harry whispered. "I used my link, through the bracelet I gave him, to break the link with the Dark Lord."
Harry closed his eyes in remembered the pain. Severus squeezed his hand making him open his eyes again.
"I grabbed the link," Harry continued, fatigue pulling at him. "He won't be trying that again for a long time."
"Did you break the link completely?" Severus asked softly as he glanced over at Ry on the other side of the bed.
"No," Harry replied, hoarsely. "Only Ry or the Dark Lord can break that link. He will have to start on mind magic though."
"Will you teach him?" Severus asked.
"I can't," Harry admitted. "I never learnt Occlumency."
"What!" Severus squeaked, then quickly looked over at Ry but he was still asleep. "But you have barriers!"
Harry nodded slowly and whispered, "Not Occlumency. Different magic."
Severus sat forward in his seat and looked Harry directly in the eyes. Harry just looked back, his eyes half closed. Harry knew what the man was looking for.
"Too long to explain," Harry whispered. "You know Occlumency?"
"Yes," Severus replied. "I'm not teaching the boy."
Harry nodded, eyes starting to close.
"Chicken," He muttered.
Severus's grip tightened on his hand.
"Smart," Severus replied.
Harry rumbled a laugh as his eyes closed completely as he fell back asleep.
xXx
Severus looked down at their joined hands and the dark-haired man on the bed.
"Could you teach me?"
Severus looked up at another pair of green eyes of the boy-who-lived and sneered.
"Please?" Potter added, as he pulled himself into a sitting position next to his father.
Severus sighed, "That would not be a good idea, Mr Potter."
The boy looked up at him with pleading green eyes, so much like Blake's and Lily Potter's eyes.
"I don't want Dad to be hurt again," Ry said softly. "I couldn't keep him out."
"And you think I could teach you to stop the Dark Lord from accessing your mind?" Severus sneered, looking down his nose at the boy.
Ry lifted his chin, very much like James Potter used to do.
"Dad said that it would help." Ry stated.
'So, the boy had been listening to them,' Severus thought, he also wasn't surprised.
"Eavesdropping Potter?" Snape drawled with a smirk.
That chin came up again with a stubborn tilt and Severus sighed.
"I will teach you but only if you listen to me and do just as I ask," Severus offered with a sneer. "You will work hard on it."
"Yes, sir." Ry stated with force, before looking down at his father. "For Dad."
Severus's eyes softened when he looked back down at Blake. He could still see a bit of blood in his hair and reached forward with his other hand to touch it.
"I'll head back to my dorm room so he can sleep," Ry said softly, before sliding from the bed. "Thank you for letting me stay here until he woke up, Professor."
Severus nodded to the boy, he'd grown up a lot in such a short time but he was still very much James Potter's son. Even if he could see Blake and Lily in the boy.
Ry shut the door to Blake's room softly as he left and Severus looked back down at the man in the bed and their linked hands. He could see the soft scars on his hand and the man's arm as he ran his thumb over the slightly rough skin. The man was still very much a mystery but he knew from the few contacts that he still had that the man hadn't been in England during the first war as he had claimed. He also hadn't started to work within the country until after he took over custody of Harry Potter. Even if Blake had said as much, the spy in him still wanted to confirm that was the case.
He also knew that the man had a lot of money behind him and the file of properties to his name in the Ministry was a long one. Most of them were brought after he came to the UK but there were a few that he was in trust with due to them being Potter properties that Ry would inherent once he turned seventeen. He was interested in what other properties that he owned overseas but hadn't been able to find out. He also knew that the man spoke or at least read up to six languages and seem to have a talent at picking up new languages easily.
He did still disappear for a week to a few weeks at a time but he always let Severus knew where he was headed and would answer his phone or at least call him back when he could. Owls were a bit more hit and miss, which was odd, but at least the phone seem to work well enough. Blake didn't speak about his work, only that it was for the goblins or the Ministry, here or overseas. The Headmaster knew more since he had Blake's file from the Ministry but even he said that parts of that file were censored.
Blake mumbled in his sleep and turned towards Severus the blanket slipping down his shoulder showing more of the scaring. Severus was sure that they were whip marks but wasn't completely sure. Severus reached up and pulled the blanket up to cover the man before with a sigh he picked up his book and went back to his reading.
xXx
Harry appeared at the gates of Hogwarts with a sigh as he hitched his backpack up on his shoulder before moving towards the castle in the distance. He'd been working in Germany for the last two weeks and was happy to be back at the castle. He almost had a happy skip in his step as he limped towards the main doors. It was the middle of the day and most of the classes should still be on so the grounds were quiet but he could see a class down at the greenhouses.
He moved into the entrance hall and stopped. The wall in front of him had been covered in posters from floor to ceiling. He stepped up to the wall and looked it over.
'Umbridge has been busy,' Harry thought as he read through the posters.
He conjured up a stool and took a seat as he read through each one. Students started to leave their classes and moved around him, used to his ways by now.
"Dad?"
Harry looked over as Ron, Ry and Hermione walked over to him.
"Hey," Harry replied. "Interesting wall you have here."
Ron snorted.
"You could say that," The red head muttered.
"When did you get back?" Ry asked.
Harry picked up his bag to show Ry.
"Just now," Harry replied. "Thought I would catch up with the news."
Harry pointed at the wall.
"How was Germany, sir?" Hermione asked quietly, still a little unsure around him. "I went there two years ago with my parents for a holiday."
"Very busy, I'll have to get use to speaking English again after two weeks of just German." Harry remarked with a smile.
"Hem, hem."
The three students started and looked over to their right where Professor Umbridge stood in all her pink glory.
"Mr Sun," Umbridge stated, coming closer.
Harry looked up at the woman from his stool.
"Professor Umbridge, how nice to see you." Harry said with a smile, ignoring the snort from the two boys beside him. "How can I help you?"
"Are you back here to teach?" The woman asked, looking down her nose.
"There are a couple of students I want to catch up with but I won't be starting classes for a couple of days," Harry answered. "Nice of you to ask."
"Hem, hem." The woman replied, clearing her throat. "When you have your first class, I will be sitting in to evaluate your teaching."
"You know," Harry said slowly. "I had a nice chat with Minister Fudge the other day. You know him, yes? Minister of Magic?"
"Oh yes," Umbridge replied with a grin that showed off her very pointed teeth.
"Well I brought up my contract with him," Harry continued. "And about my contract with the Department of Mysteries. You know about that right?"
"Yes," The woman stated, looking sourer by the minute. "I have read your file, Mr Sun."
"Well the Minister was very happy with some work I did down in the Department and he gave me this," Harry announced and held out a parchment.
The woman took it with the tips of her fingers like it would bite. She unrolled it and started reading, her face getting paler by the minute to the amusement of the students watching. Harry winked at Ry before focusing back on Umbridge.
"Hem, hem," Umbridge coughed and passed the parchment back. "Um, everything looks to be in order then."
The woman turned on her heels and marched from the room with students scattering before her.
"Wow," Ron gasped. "That was brilliant!"
Harry laughed and held the parchment out to Hermione. The girl took it in her hands and unrolled it.
'To whom it may concern,
Mr Blake Sun is exempt from any High Inquisitors Degrees or examinations. Due to a contract with the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Section 34, paragraph 5 of the Laws of Magical Britain.
Yours Sincerely,
Minister Cornelius Fudge
Minister of magic.'
"How did you get this, sir?" Hermione asked, passing it to Ry.
Harry smirked with a glint in his eyes.
"The Department had a little bit of a problem with Fire Throwing Slugs." Harry commented mildly as he held his fingers an inch apart. "Just a little problem."
Ry laughed. "You didn't?"
Harry grinned wider.
"Release Fire Throwing Slugs into the Department?" Harry said innocently. "No, of course not. The head of the department wouldn't have been pleased with that."
Ry laughed harder and didn't stop even when Severus plucked the letter out of the boy's hand. Hermione looked horrified, while Ron grinned along with Ry.
"I believed that lunch is being served," Severus said smoothly and tapped the parchment to Ry's head.
Ry snorted and threw a 'bye' over his shoulder at his father as they moved into the Great Hall.
"Fire Throwing Slugs?" Severus smirked, looking down at the letter.
"Nasty buggers," Harry agreed. "They breed so quick and are sneaky bastards!"
Harry got to his feet and dismissed the stool that he'd been sitting on.
"It's great to be back home," Harry admitted as he took the letter back from Severus. "Miss me?"
"Yes," Severus replied. "I've missed your dry wit."
Harry barked a laugh and bumped his shoulder against the taller man's shoulder.
"Looks like I've missed the action around here?"
Severus just smirked at him.
Harry silently cast a silencing charm around the two of them and Severus raised an eyebrow in question.
"So the Dark Lord has been moving around Germany," Harry said quietly, all humour leaving him. "Not that it's getting him anywhere. The Germans have had their hands full with a man called Graham Simpson an exile from the States making waves. He's been causing all sorts of trouble over there. Let's just say that the public relations with the States and Germany are more strained then normal."
"Why are you telling me this?" Severus drawled.
"What?" Harry exclaimed with a grin. "You think I would walk all the way up to the Headmaster's office?"
Harry held up his cane with a smirk.
"I'm a cripple remember? I can't make it up all those stairs." Harry commented with a smirk.
Severus just smirked back and had to admit to himself that he'd missed the man.
"Now," Harry continued. "Do you want the rest of my report?"
"You know you could just call the Headmaster," Severus remarked. "You have a phone and he has a phone."
Harry leaned close to the other man and flicked his eyes over to a couple of students.
"But then I wouldn't be able to start rumours around the school about having a close conversation with the most feared teacher in all of Hogwarts." Harry remarked with a wink. "Without being cursed, that is."
Severus grabbed the other man's shirt and pulled him flush with his body, their faces inches away from each other. Harry just grinned up at him and gave him another wink as the students gasped.
"Yeah," Harry announced with a grin. "That would work to."
Severus pushed the man away with a huff as Harry stood back with his cane held before him in a double grip.
"Why Professor Snape, what will the students say?" Harry squeaked with a smirk.
Severus looked down his nose at Harry, his dark eyes glinting in the lights of the hallway.
"The dunder heads can think what they want," Severus snapped.
Harry chuckled and fell into step with Severus as they moved towards Harry's rooms. The silencing charm breaking as they moved through it. Harry held his door open for Severus when they reached his rooms and the younger man slipped passed him. Harry shut the door behind them and moved towards the kitchen.
"You're older than you look," Severus drawled.
"What?" Harry yelped and twisted around in surprise.
His cane slipping slightly on the floor as he dropped his bag to the floor. He looked up at the taller man with wide eyes.
"How old are you?" Severus questioned.
"Why do you ask?" Harry countered.
"Albus mentioned that you are older than you look," Severus explained.
Harry went still, all humour gone as he stared back at Severus. The man stood straight with his dark hair framing his pale face. His dark eyes bore into Harry's green ones. Harry was at a cross roads as Severus watched him carefully.
"The Headmaster would be correct," Harry said slowly.
"Your style of magic is very different to everyone else," Severus continued.
"Correct," Harry agreed with a nod.
"You have contracts with Ministries all over the world and with different kinds of creatures."
"Where are you going with this Severus?" Harry asked softly.
"Who are you?"
"Blake Sun." Harry replied evenly with a smile.
Severus stepped forward until there was no space between them. Harry had to tilt his head back slightly to look the man in the eyes. Severus reached up a hand and cupped the other man's cheek and Harry froze. He hadn't been this close to another person in a long time. Not since after he stepped through that rip in time.
"Very old," Harry replied softly. "Too old it feels like."
Severus looked down into Harry's eyes as he brought his other hand up to cup both sides of his face.
"Severus," Harry warned.
The two men froze like that for a second before Severus closed the gap between them. Their lips touched in a light kiss before Harry pulled back. He looked away from Severus but didn't move from in front of the taller man.
"Sorry," Harry whispered.
Severus just pulled the man close in a hug. Harry tensed before wrapping his arms around Severus.
"What happened?" Severus whispered.
"When?" Harry asked.
"To stop you from being close to someone?"
Harry stepped back slightly to look the man in the eye.
"I was cursed," Harry said slowly.
Harry moved to the lounge with Severus following him. They took a seat next to each other, their legs slightly touching. Harry removed his dark wand and a ring from his finger, that Severus had never noticed before. He placed both items on the coffee table before them. Severus reached out and picked up the ring in his hand. It was black with a red stone in the middle with a triangle around the stone and a circle around the triangle.
"When I was young," Harry explained. "I picked up three artefacts, these things were never meant to meet but they did. I didn't realise anything was wrong and went on with my life. Got married and had children."
Severus raised an eyebrow at that as he placed the ring back on the table next to the man's dark wand.
"It wasn't until I looked around and noticed that everyone else was old and I wasn't that it dawned on me that something was wrong," Harry continued. "I was a bit thick back then. My children grew up and had children, then they had children and I was burying my wife and I stayed the same.
"Everything changed around me, I went from being dad, to grandad, to great grandad, then to a friend of the family." Harry recounted sadly, he could still feel the stab of hurt in his heart when he'd heard that.
Severus laid his hand on his knee, bringing him out of his memories.
"What happened then?" Severus whispered.
"I had to leave," Harry replied. "I couldn't look at my family, when all they saw was a family friend. I floated for a while, until the goblins contacted me."
"Harry Potter?" Severus asked.
"Yes," Harry agreed. "I picked him up off the doorstep of his Aunt's house. When I looked down at him all the images of my children just ran through my mind. I just couldn't leave the boy there."
They fell into silence for a while.
"Are you a Potter?" Severus asked and Harry snorted and looked at Severus in amusement.
"Oh yes!" Harry smirked. "Very much a Potter. The goblins wouldn't have been able to contact me if I wasn't. My name isn't Blake Sun, but it is a name I have gone by for a very, very long time."
"And here I was hoping you weren't a Potter," Severus replied dryly.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Harry remarked with a grin. "If you want to start a relationship with me Severus, you will have to be patient."
"You mean I haven't been already?" Severus drawled with a smirk.
Harry barked a laugh and looked the other man over as Severus placed a hand on his knee. They worked so well together and as Harry looked at Severus he could pick up the slight signs that he hadn't noticed before. He gave him a soft smile.
"I can be a bit thick sometimes," Harry commented. "Never seemed to grow out of that."
Severus just ran his hand up and down his leg a couple of times.
"I think I can work with that," Severus said silkily and Harry felt a shiver run down his back.
"And being a Potter?" Harry questioned with a wink.
"I already deal with one Potter," Severus muttered. "I'm building up a tolerance for them."
"Well, in that case." Harry retorted with a smirk. "You should know what you're getting yourself into then."
"Ha!" Severus barked. "Not with you, Blake."
Harry just gave him a grin in answer.