~DOING A NUMBER 2~

c-h-a-p-t-e-r f-o-u-r

Summary: He really shouldn't have been so surprised. He was a Noah after all; reincarnation was inevitable…Just not a hundred years later into the future, with a letter addressed to his exact location…In a public bathroom. Set in Marauders' Era.

Author's note: Wow it's the author with commitment issues-I'm back. For how long? Who knows. To be honest I wrote this on a whim, because I had time. Hope it's good though-not edited.

- September 2, 1971 Age 11, Whereabouts: Slytherin Common Room -

Severus Snape

The Slytherin common room, Severus notes, is cold. There's a certain chill that permeates the room located down in the dungeons of Hogwarts. The atmosphere is almost unforgivingly cold despite the green flame situated against the wall not too far off from his figure-but nothing was as cold as the expressions of those already there; eyeing the first years with uncaring, and judgemental scrutiny.

Severus feels a shiver roll down his spine.

It's when he's at his own bed, curtains drawn, and once again lost in his own mind, that he recalls a certain albino friend. That despite being exposed to magic since childhood, there was nothing more odd than Allen Walker who seemed to be able to hear even the faintest of sounds.

("Did you hear that?" Lavender eyes flitting across the landscape.

"No-?"

"Oh...Don't worry I must have been imagining things." He'd laughed it off, but Snape would follow his trail of vision, which seemed to be locked on a small butterfly as if that had been the source of the alleged noise.)

Of course, it did not change his perception of the other; he was still the (disgustingly, Severus adds) kind individual whose smiles were as radiant as the sun itself-but it fascinated him. It piqued slight interest within himself, a person who'd read and read about magic itself, countless scrolls and books, yet none could define how such abilities to that degree could be natural? There were no spells, no charms-nothing involved.

There was also nothing in the books that could explain how old those lavender orbs seemed to reflect.

To him, Allen was an oddity, from the day Lily and him had found the other by their usual spot to this very moment-he was different.

(He recalls the knowing, patient smiles fitted on a pale face.)

And he thinks, he doesn't mind.

- September 3, 1971 Age 11, Whereabouts: Potions Room -

Allen Walker

Potions, Allen figured, was not his forte.

With aggressive sweat, shaky hands, and an erratic heartbeat-

BOOM!

He winces.

Beside him is his Hufflepuff partner who looks just as shocked as he is, and Allen does his best to give his most apologetic look. Luckily, the other dismisses his apology with a concerned smile-however, he hadn't been left unscathed as his hands were littered with sweltering boils.

Allen exasperatedly sighs.

He's sat at the infirmary, and he almost marvels at how uncanny it appeared to be with Black Order's own. At the edge of one of the lined beds, eyes drift towards a few other students mostly hidden away by white curtains.

"Potion for boils, Mr. Walker?" Attention back towards the nurse, Allen sheepishly grins in slight embarrassment.

The woman huffs at him; disapproving of his carelessness.

He watches as the red disappears, the soreness becoming nothing but a fleeting memory-his head snaps back up to the other before him with awed eyes (to which she chuckles).

"Thank you, Madam…?"

"Pomfrey," she finishes, "do be careful next time, will you?"

Allen grins, "no promises."

A loud bang of the infirmary doors signal the arrival of another student, who walks in with a pained expression and tattered robes. There's a sigh to his right and a quiet mutter of 'it's only the third day', before Madam Pomfrey is by the other student's side with quick, swift steps.

He huffs a small laugh.

- September 3, 1971 Age 11, Whereabouts: Training Grounds -

Allen Walker

Flying felt surreal to him. Of course, their first lesson had only allowed them to stay stationary close to the ground, but it still was very reminiscent of his time in the air. Of when he'd leap across rooftops to rooftops-and for a split moment he thinks: 'Lenalee would've loved this.'

The class is shared with Ravenclaws who'd intermingled with the rest of the Hufflepuffs, chatting animatedly with each other. Allen smiles at his peers from the air, and he gives a wave to others on the ground who looked his way.

His gaze follows the sky, small birds in the distance flying by, and he feels a light breeze run through his white locks-and he thinks about how he'd love to soar through the endless blue one day.

- September 4, 1971 Age 11, Whereabouts: Courtyard -

Allen Walker

It's the weekend and Allen is relieved. He's lounging on the grass, using Severus' (unwilling) lap as a pillow, as the three of them relish a day of no classes and no responsibility.

"Potions has got to be my favourite class so far-" Lily chattering away to the two, Severus listening intently, and Allen almost dozes off.

The ambient sounds of the outside are precious to him; surreal, dream-like. The rustling of leaves, and the soft tweets of birds-the occasional footsteps of passing students, and the accompanying indistinguishable chatter-were like a melody lulling him into a deep sleep.

'Snivellus' was not a melody.

Lavender eyes snap open, acutely blinded by light temporarily, he sits up and his vision adjusts to reveal two familiar faces. A mop of brown hair and black hair, dark eyes for both, and most importantly, the smug and taunting faces have never appeared more punchable.

'Merlin give me strength.'

"Look who crawled out of the snake's den-"

"-Poor, little Snivellus."

Lily was unamused.

"Could you both go away? Don't you have better things to do?" She snaps.

"Better things? I'm helping you out. Snakes like Snivellus should stay in their den."

Allen was not awake enough for this.

"If you don't hurry up and run along, the only one crawling here is going to be you crying for your mother." Eyes turn to his now standing figure.

Eyes glinting mischievously, the black-haired male speaks up, "Walker, you're even tinier than Snivellus, what are you going to d-"

Sirius yelps.

- September 4, 1971 Age 11, Whereabouts: McGonagall's Office -

Allen Walker

"Detention for both of you, monday night at my office."

Sirius jumps first to protest, "Detention?! It was his fault! He assaulted me-"

"Wow, I never knew that was in your vocabulary-"

"-I swear I will-"

"-What? Get beat up again?"

Yelling ensues.

Saturdays were not breaks for professors, but they were the closest thing to one throughout a usually busy week. McGonagall had just finished preparing lessons and marking student work, and was just headed for a quick stroll under the sun. That is, until-

"Professor! There are two students fighting at the courtyard!"

Merlin, help her.

- September 6, 1971 Age 11, Whereabouts: Charms (Classroom 2E) -

Allen Walker

Charms had been the last class of the day and he leaves the class feeling good, having successfully casted a lumos charm; the bright light illuminating from the tip of his wand, had certainly highlighted the gleeful look on his professor's face.

So when he's out of the class, and on his way back to his common room, he's certainly not expecting one of his housemates (to which he couldn't recall their name) to remind him of his detention.

"Walker? Don't you have detention with Professor McGonagall?"

"Eh?"

He's no longer in a good mood.

- September 6, 1971 Age 11, Whereabouts: Library -

Allen Walker

The first thing Allen does is send a dry look back towards a scowling Sirius, and vehemently rolls his eyes at the other's immaturity. The professor had situated their detention in the library where they would help Irma Pince sort the books without magic.

"Now, I expect all these books to be put back in their correct place," she gestures to a mountain of books and Allen briefly wonders if they had just took all these down from the shelves right beforehand on purpose.

"No magic-Go."

There's an absolutely exasperated groan to his left, and Allen promptly ignores it, choosing to get started.

Winogrand's Wondrous Water Plants by Selina Sapworthy

Time passes, with the continuous aggravating noises of complaint from Sirius-yet are still nowhere near complete with their sorting.

Another groan.

"Black," Allen punctuates, "you should be grateful."

Sirius gives him an appalled look.

"This is the closest thing to expanding that limited vocabulary of yours."

"You fucking-"

"SILENCE!"

The two flinch at the loud voice of Pince extensively heightened by the vast space of the library. Instead, Sirius settles for an accusing glare and an annoyed scoff. For a moment they are quiet.

"Why do you even care?" Allen sends the other a confused look, "about Snivellus?"

"Severus." Allen corrects, bitterly.

"Whatever." He rolls his eyes, but decides to humour him.

"Why shouldn't I? He's my friend."

Sirius almost laughs. "Some kind friend you have there."

"Oh, bugger off-He's nice."

A disbelieving expression makes its way on the black-haired boy's face; eyes wide, mouth agape, and eyebrows askew.

"Didn't seem like it at all."

"That's because you're a dick."

"Do you want to get hexed-"

"-Can you shut your trap?"

There's a silence between the two as they cautiously turn their heads to look over their shoulders, checking warily for the librarian-who had, fortunately, not heard a thing and remained immersed in the thick, leather-bound book held tightly in her hands.

"I don't even get why you're so mean to him, he insulted Gryffindor like once."

Sirius purses his lips, as if frustrated at the other's lack of understanding.

"Don't you get it?" He asks, impatience dripping from his voice.

"Get what? Verbal abuse? No."

Sirius makes a disgusted noise, "he's a Slytherin-They're all slimy bastards."

There's a dull ache forming in his head. "You're so ignorant."

"You're stupid."

"You're small-minded."

"You're-"

Another violent 'shush!' radiates throughout the large room and the two grumble in response.

"I hate you."

"Well, the feeling's mutual."

Apart from the occasional protest from Sirius, the rest of the detention is silent. Allen is exhausted, and silently prays that the librarian won't do a thorough check of their sorting-he doesn't have enough faith in the other to actually do the task correctly.
Without a word, lavender eyes fall on the other tucking books away into their respective shelf with more strength than necessary.

Briefly, he wonders if they'd ever see eye to eye-if Allen could put an end to his bigoted thoughts.

As if feeling the stare, Sirius turns and ebony orbs stare back.

"What're you looking at, shorty?"

Allen retracts his former thoughts.

Author's note: It'd be really great to see more crossovers but during the Marauder's era. (mostly because I really want that AU but I can't do justice to it). :cc Is this fandom even alive? I don't even know anymore, its been so long. This is another short chapter, but, oh well, I hope it suffices. I just wanted to self-indulge in some good ol banter. :cccc