I am very sorry that the promised Christmas chapter did not arrive during Christmas time, but I was totally thrown into the relaxation of the holidays. In other words, I've been lazy and lacking motivation, but I did get the rare moment where I got the idea and finally produced this chapter.
If you are still reading this story: thank you so much!
Furthermore, a huge thank you to everyone who reviewed, favourited, and followed this story. Each of those notification emails give me a bit of motivation and puts a big smile on my face. So I end up grinning like a fool.
and now, on with the chapter!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling does, but I sure wish I do.
Chapter 6:To forgive and forget
When greeting the heir of a major house, it is vital to ensure that...
"Oh uh, hi Holly." Holly stopped reading and looked up to see what appeared to be James Potter, a nervous James Potter. He was currently the perfect epitome of a deer caught in the headlights. "I thought I might come down to the library to take a look, but you're here, so I'll go."
"No! Stay, there's plenty of room." No time better than now to have some father-daughter bonding time right? She was 15 years too late and him four years too early, but no one's complaining.
"If that's fine with you." James scanned the room quickly sat himself on a chair besides a painting depicting what appeared to be a group of young witches in the late 19th century. Their backs were facing him and the painting produced no sound but by the looks of it they were having fun. They were portrayed dancing in a circle under the bright sunshine, enjoying the cloudless skies and spring flowers. James almost began to feel envious of those girls as they enjoyed eternal happiness while he suffered.
Holly watched his actions with a critical gaze, and shared the same feelings as her gaze landed on the painting. "How happy they must be, to be able to idle around forever, never having to worry about anything."
"How boring it must be you mean? I guess it would be nice for a day, but forever? I'll rather drink one of Padfoot's potions." Holly giggled. "You think that's funny? Well you're lucky since you're not his partner in potions." Holly could imagine how disastrous that would've been, and her giggles became full blown laughter. James liked the sound of her laughs, and so he kept talking. "Although I'm not always his partner, and we take turns partnering Moony. I need potions to be an auror." A selfish thought struck him. "Do I become an auror?"
Holly stopped laughing and wondered about the father whom she knew so little about from personal experience, and thought of all the stories Sirius told her over the summer. "Yes, I think you do. The ministry was running short of aurors at the time,with Voldemort and his minions putting at least 10 out of work each week. Eventually Mad-Eye Moody told those old sods that if they wanted to keep their heads then they better start increasing the aurors, fast. So they hired anyone that could hold a decent duel, those who could hold it against Moody for at least a minute were permanently hired."
"I was able to duel Moody for a full minute!?"
"Uh I don't know. Apparently you were hired after you faced off Voldemort and came out alive." The first time he defied him.
"Still impressive, and what about Sirius?"
"Hired after beating the Lestranges, three on one. Although they were a little reluctant since he was a Black." Damned Ministry bigots.
James couldn't keep the grin off his face, Sirius and him would become heroes in the future, despite the tragic fate that awaited them. His life was great. Short, but great. He had to go find Padfoot and apologise, he really was a prick to him earlier.
"Thanks Prongslette!" With that, he ran off and prepared to grovel.
'Prongslette.' The word echoed throughout her mind, digging up long forgotten memories. Holly wondered if her father had also given her that nickname when she was a baby. Not many memories from her infanthood survived, if any. The only clear memory she had was the night on which she became an orphan, thanks to the dementors.
Sirius never called her Prongslette. Although he did call her Bambi a few times after he re-watched the muggle movie. (The first time was with the rest of his partners in crime and Lily, who found James' transformation most amusing.) When she asked him for a marauder nickname he only smirked and told her that she must earn it herself by becoming an animagus. Remus had rolled his eyes and talked to some portrait (who did not give a shit and pretended to be asleep throughout the entire conversation) about all the additional danger that would entail.
With that thought, she sent a silent prayer to the higher powers praying for peace for the next few moments so she could finish the chapter, only to have Padfoot come in and ruin her good mood very soon.
Severus Snape was overseeing the brewing of his potions when the floo lit up in his fireplace, he ignored it.
"Severus, I require your immediate presence in my office." Snape rolled his eyes, the potion was currently in a volatile state and needed constant surveillance. Dumbledore could wait, if it was really so urgent he could have sent a patronus or flooed in himself.
He carefully transferred the contents in the simmering cauldron to a flask with steady hands. If spilt an explosion could occur. He suddenly remembered his classes with Longbottom, who could transform the safest potions into dangerous hazards. Was that idiot boy incapable of reading? He did the exact opposite of almost every instruction given, and on the odd day when he did survive potions without an incident, all credit had to be given to Granger.
Severus huffed and thought with reluctant gratitude that the boy was at least a better student in Defence than potions. No doubt thanks to Potter and her little anti-Umbridge group.
Potter.
With the dangerous potion safely contained, Severus allowed his thoughts to wonder as he made his way through the dungeons and up to the Headmaster's office.
The girl was no doubt having a lively time with her Gryffindor dog-father and wolf-uncle. Not to mention the nauseating clan of Weasleys. He sneered as he thought about the youngest Weasley son, who despised him and was despised by Snape in return. He had thought that Ronald Weasley would have his eyes set on the-girl-who-lived, but apparently not. If the gossip he overheard from Minerva and Pomona was true, Ronald was wasting himself with Brown, which apparently left Granger in great despair. Who would've thought that such an intelligent girl like Hermione Granger would fall for that dunderhead.
Lily did
Severus stopped his thoughts right there, cleared his mind and threw up his occlumency shields.
"Polyjuice potion?" Dumbledore asked him to come all this way just to request some polyjuice potion? What was the old man up to now?
"Yes Severus, I require a two batches of Polyjuice potion, if you'll please," replied Dumbledore with his ever present twinkle.
"Will I know why?" He had just finished brewing a new batch in the morning, and would rather not part with such a fresh and dangerous potion so soon without good reason.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and linked his hands under his chin, keeping a steady gaze, he said "Perhaps, it all depends on your cooperation."
Severus sat back and scowled, he hated playing these games. "I'll have them prepared for you by lunchtime."
"Thank you Severus, I knew I could count on you." Snape got up and already had his hand on the doorknob when Dumbledore spoke again. "Also, I must ask you to stay away from the headquarters for a while, no surprise visits."
Snape paused "Now why would I want to do that" and the door banged shut behind him.
Dumbledore sighed, a surprise visit was no doubt on the potion master's mind now that he mentioned it. He just hoped it would be after lunch so the time travellers will have time to take the potion.
Grimmauld Place was an old house, and some parts of the house had sharp corners which only allowed one person to get through at a time. A fact which James and Padfoot soon learnt (and relearnt) when they remade their acquaintance with the floor in less than 24 hours.
"Ouch ouch ouch, my head." James rubbed his head, which didn't help his hair much.
"Fuck your head, if you ruined my face, your head will be the last thing you worry about." Cried Padfoot as he clutched at his nose.
"Oh bloody hell… Let me see…. Hey, nothing's broken you drama queen."
"You better hope not. Head all good?" Padfoot was only a little worried, he came to apologize, better start being nice.
"Yeah, just needed a little rub. You ok?" James wasn't worried at all, but he should be more sensitive to Padfoot's feelings in this place.
"All good." Silence filled the air. "So, we good?"
James felt relieved, this was easier than he expected. "When weren't we?" he put his arm around Padfoot's shoulders, and the action was returned.
Padfoot wondered if he would be shown the same mercy from James and his future self when he takes a kiss from Holly.
The potions master handed the vials over to Dumbledore with great reluctance and suspicion.
Dumbledore saw his sour face and tried to lighten the mood "What's the matter, don't you trust me?"
"I trust you." He should've stopped there, maybe that would've prevented the headache that hit him for the next few days. "I would trust you enough to turn my back on you in a fight, I still trust you even after you failed me. However, I have good reason to not fully trust you when you suddenly ask me for some polyjuice potion without an explanation." The rant caught Severus unaware "forgive me headmaster, it's just been really stressful lately." He finished warily.
"No Severus it is I who should ask for your forgiveness, I have placed a heavy burden upon your young shoulders for too long, perhaps it will be lifted soon, we'll see." After a moment's hesitation, he continued. "I will also confide to you the reason for my request, am I forgiven?"
Snape's dark eyes glittered with curiosity "You do not need forgiveness, you have done nothing wrong."
"I'm very pleased to hear that. Well then, I'll talk to you after I return."
Snape uttered a farewell, looked at the vials, told the Headmaster to "use them well" and returned to his potions.
The Headmaster had arrived at Grimmauld place just in time to see the merry group finishing up their lunch and managed to take the last treacle tart, much to his favourite student's displeasure. As he wiped his hands he reached into his robes and pulled out two flasks and handed them to Remus." I have already done you the favour of finding hair from two muggle boys for the potions." He turned to the two young men stuffing their faces with desert. "Just remember to take it before you go and keep taking it at regular intervals, I recommend 40 or 50 minutes."
"Thank you Albus, I hope it wasn't too difficult?"
"Oh no trouble at all. Severus was quite happy to help-"
"Happy my ass" from Sirius.
"And it's also a great honour for me to invite two very special time travellers." He smiled at the boys.
After swallowing the second last treacle tart, James replied, "thank you Sir, we appreciate it." he looked forward to spending Christmas with his future daughter.
"Yeah, I'm so happy I won't even mind drinking Polyjuice." Padfoot was happy for another reason, he schemed to be stuck under a Mistletoe with Holly and share a kiss with her.
"You're very welcome boys. Ah, and before I forget, you might want to keep the potion close to you, in case a member of the order drops in."
"Will do, don't worry Albus."
With one last reassuring smile, Dumbledore apparated.
"Well, now that's sorted." Everyone turned to look at Padfoot, who had the aura of one completely at ease. "Take some polyjuice and play the prank of the decade on old Snivellus, what do you think Prongs?"
"Padfoot…"
"He won't even have a clue, we'll be Dumbledore's honoured guests."
"We'll be going as muggle boys."
"Don't be stupid antler-head, muggles can't see Hogwarts. We'll obviously need a cover as some distant relative. Right?" Remus gave the young prankster a confirming nod. "See, piece of cake. It'll be legendary!"
"I like the way I think." Sirius laughed into his cup of pumpkin juice.
"That's a terrible idea." Everyone had been so amused with the idea of pranking Snape that they didn't realise Holly was silent throughout the entire conversation, until now. "How cruel, to use his own potions against him." Holly raised her head and her guardians were startled to see watery eyes.
Padfoot, not realising the thin ice he was on, kept his stupid mouth talking. "Come on Holly, it's just stinky Slytherin Snape. Don't tell me he washes his hair now. Besides, why care so much for him? I bet he's so- Hey where're you going?" At last, he noticed her changed mood.
"Back to my room." And she left without another word.
"Well, that was weird." Padfoot remarked nonchalantly.
"Shut up you idiot." Emphasised with a kick to the shin from his best friend.
"Ouch! Why are you mad at me again?"
"You made her cry."
"I did?" Padfoot blinked innocently. "How?"
Remus decided to help. "Holly has a… strange relationship with Severus."
"Relationship?" repeated Sirius with suspicion and his past self with disgust.
"Oh get your mind out of the gutter Sirius, I meant a teacher-student relationship. Every teacher is fond of Holly except for Severus, no doubt because of..." James felt all eyes fall on him and shifted uncomfortably. "Anyway, they managed to work past their differences last year when she had to learn occlumency, under the surprisingly successful tutelage of Professor Snape." Sirius rolled his eyes at 'successful', remembering all the nights she complained to him through the enchanted mirror about her terrible occlumency lessons. "After the ministry incident, they haven't really been at each other's throats as usual, and since Holly is so strong in defence, it is very difficult for Snape to criticise her in her best class."
"No doubt thanks to you teaching her in third year." Sirius told a slightly blushing Remus.
"Thank you Sirius. Now, as I was saying. Since Snape finds difficulty in criticising her non-existent mistakes, he relishes in challenging her skills."
"Nasty git." Padfoot couldn't believe she tried to defend that horrible man.
"Actually, Holly enjoys the challenge."
"She does?"
"Yes, she knows the burden that's been placed on her and knows that she must have as much experience as possible in Defence Against the Dark Arts before facing Voldemort, and who better to teach her than the man who has experience with the Dark Arts and Voldemort himself"
Everyone fell silent at the reminder of the danger that Holly was destined to face.
"Thanks for clearing that up, but I still don't see why I made her cry." Sirius and Remus shared a look. "What?" Padfoot could feel secrets everywhere.
"Let's just say, she accidentally viewed one of Snape's less favourable memories in a pensieve..."
"She saw him wetting his bed and now she feels sorry for him?" James and Sirius both choked back a laugh when they saw the stern look Remus was giving them.
"Where her father and his friends are portrayed in a very unkind way." Still clueless. "She saw what you two did to him that day in fifth year, after OWLS."
James' eyes widened with understanding, and regret.
"Oh that." Padfoot looked down, slightly contrite. "We're not always like that, it was only because of what he called Evans. Surely Holly understands."
"We can only hope." Sirius added dryly.
"Now, about tomorrow…" Everyone listened attentively to Remus as he outlined the plan for their Christmas trip to Hogwarts.
James and Padfoot listened carefully to each word. They were both very eager to see what the beloved castle would be like 20 years into the future, although they didn't expect many changes. The difference in staff would be the most obvious, but Dumbledore was still there, and so was McGonagall, and apparently the same applied to Slughorn. They looked forward to playing pranks with Peeves on Filch's cat. Would it be a different cat? Probably not. They definitely had to see the chamber of secrets-
Oh Regulus would be so jealous Padfoot thought silently with much glee.
-and the room of requirement. James decided Lily would be very impressed with that room. Perhaps it could turn into her bedroom from home, and ease her homesickness. Maybe that act of kindness will finally persuade her to go out on a date with him.
There would of course, be lots of mistletoe hanging here and there, out of sight. Many of which Padfoot planned to find (if now throw up a few himself) and lure Holly under. Quite a few of his Christmas dates had started in that fashion.
Yes, it was a good plan.
-Eat
-Explore
-Prank Snape and Filch's cat
-Explore a bit more
-Kiss Holly
Perfect!
Now only to find a way to make sure Sirius doesn't find out.
TBC
Thank you for reading! :D
Snape has finally joined the story. Whether you love or hate him, it was unavoidable.
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