The-Boy-From-The-Future
Disclaimer: I do not and never will own Harry Potter or other associated characters and ideas.
Summary: Harry has started his Sixth Year at Hogwarts, but is trying to forget everything that happened in the previous year through continuous work. He's still expected to defeat Voldemort, while studying for his NEWTs and as a result, has morphed into a workaholic, particularly when it comes to Potions.
But life at Hogwarts is turned upside down when a boy with messy, jet-black hair pops up unannounced in the middle of the Gryffindor Common Room, wearing a Slytherin crest.
Chapter 2
"Professor?" asked James as he walked beside Professor Snape.
"Yes?" replied the professor shortly.
"Can we go through my background story again, please?"
Snape looked down at the boy with an unreadable expression, and then nodded.
James frowned, then cleared his face, speaking in a casual tone. "I was home-schooled by my parents, who were both purebloods, by the way. My father was from the Continent and my mother your distant relation on your mother's side. My father worked freelance as a security consultant and my mother 'did something with Herbology and Potions'."
Earlier in the hospital wing, Professors Dumbledore and Snape had concocted an elaborate history for James. In order to provide some veneer of authenticity and a reason for James to attend Hogwarts, it had been decided that James' mother would be a cousin of Professor Snape.
Snape nodded when James paused for confirmation.
"Unfortunately, they were killed at the Death Eater raid on the French Ministry of Magic and as you are now my closest relative, I was sent to stay with you at Hogwarts, thus killing two birds with one stone as I can attend lessons here," finished James with a triumphant grin.
Snape shot an unimpressed glance at the boy and carried on walking. Surprisingly, James did not retaliate and instead ignored his professor's moodiness.
Three corridors away from the beginning of the dungeons, Snape stopped walking and turned to James who promptly halted.
"Po- Schwarz, it is imperative that you behave in a more, shall we say, desolate manner. Someone who has just lost their parents and home does not grin in that idiotic manner," snapped Snape.
"It could just be a way of hiding my grief, sir," replied James easily. "Don't worry, I know how to behave. You forget that I actually am a Slytherin; I know how it works in this House. And just to let you know, I also know what makes you tick. After all, you've been my Head of House for almost six years," said James airily before he strode ahead.
"Schwarz," thundered Snape, causing James to freeze.
After a moment's hesitation, James turned around and hung his head in a suitably apologetic manner. Snape just sniffed at his new charge's theatrics and swept past him, leading him into the dungeons.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Professor!" cried Hermione, quickly standing up from where she'd been sitting next to Ron. Professor McGonagall had just stepped into the Common Room, which had been effectively sealed shut by Professor Flitwick after James was taken to the hospital wing.
Professor McGonagall pinched her already thin lips and paused before she spoke. Her Gryffindors sat waiting for her; some had adopted a look of practiced nonchalance, others looked eager. Flicking her eyes briefly to Harry, she noted that he looked thoughtful.
"I am afraid that the explanation for the earlier events will have to wait until Professor Dumbledore arrives," she said. "However, to reassure you, the boy you saw is in perfect health and has been seen by Madam Pomfrey," she continued when she saw Harry flash a worried look at Ron.
"But Professor, he was acting really oddly, asking for people in Gryffindor that none of us know," persisted Hermione. Before Professor McGonagall could reply, Ron added, "Yeah, if there's anywhere he should be, it's St Mungo's. He thought Malfoy was in Gryffindor."
Once again, Professor McGonagall was interrupted, but this time, by the Common Room door opening. Turning around with a frown, she instantly relaxed when she saw Professor Dumbledore enter, but tensed up again when she saw the four hooded figures following behind him.
"Albus," she said, "Is this really necessary?"
The Headmaster smiled apologetically at his deputy and gestured to the figures behind him. "Minerva, I'd like you to meet some acquaintances of mine, Delta, Gamma, Pi and Upsilon, from the Ministry." Then, to the Gryffindors, he said, "What you witnessed earlier today was the result of a magical accident. It has since been corrected. But unfortunately, it is in your best interests to remain in the dark about the incident."
With a sudden clarity, Hermione realised what Dumbledore was saying. Harry followed not too long after that and soon several other students, both older and younger, were muttering amongst themselves.
"Professor," Harry spoke up nervously. "Is this really necessary?" he said, echoing McGonagall's earlier reservations.
The Headmaster turned to him and said gravely, "I'm afraid it is, Harry. It would be too dangerous for any of you to remember the boy you saw."
With that, he signalled to the four hooded figures, and then stepped back behind them, gently pulling Professor McGonagall with him. Two, who wore brown robes underneath their navy cloaks, raised their wands and brought them down in a slashing motion, incanting the spell silently. The other two, who wore deep burgundy and black, also incanting silently, wove their wands in an intricate pattern followed by a quick, short, flick upwards.
The moment they flicked their wands, a bright white light flashed from the four that encompassed the entire area in front of them. A moment later, the students were frozen in place with slightly glazed looks. The four turned to face Professor Dumbledore who then proceeded to perform some complex spell-work of his own, before he turned back to the four.
"Thank you, gentlemen. It has been a pleasure working with you." They nodded sharply. "And the students regain their mobility and new memories immediately after the Common Room door closes, am I correct?"
One of the burgundy clad men said in a low voice, "Yes Headmaster. Now, if we may?" he said, indicating towards the door.
"Oh, yes, indeed," said Dumbledore, allowing his guests, and then Professor McGonagall to leave before following them.
The portrait slammed shut, and as one, the Gryffindors were animated.
"Blimey," said Ron. "Imagine Snape's nephew managing to accidentally Portkey into Gryffindor Common Room." He broke off with a guffaw. "How could Dumbledore make such a mistake?"
"You heard him Ron, he mixed up the co-ordinates. Despite what everyone says, Professor Dumbledore is only human," said Hermione wearily.
Harry grinned slightly at his two friends, who were now bickering quietly, but as he turned to retrieve his Potions text, he couldn't quite help feeling that there was something missing.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"This is the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room," said Professor Snape, stopping at a stretch of bare, stone wall. "A password is required to gain entry, which changes every week. Do not forget it," he said sharply, turning to look at James.
"Yes, Professor," said James in a very polite voice. Professor Snape looked at him suspiciously before turning back to the wall.
"Ophiucus," he said, and the entrance opened to reveal the low, long dungeon that had been James' home for the past five years. Professor Snape stepped in before James and looked around before he made his way to some carved chairs in front of the fireplace. James followed silently until they reached the group of students who sat in a huddle, poring over a slim, leather-bound book.
"Draco," said Professor Snape to a boy with white-blond hair. The boy looked up to acknowledge his Head of House. James gaped. It was and yet it wasn't his Gryffindor friend Solly Malfoy. The hair was undoubtedly the same, but something was slightly different; it was like comparing himself with his own father –
"Schwarz," came Professor Snape's voice, bringing James rudely out of his thoughts; he'd missed most of Professor Snape's introduction. Flicking his eyes over the others, he could see that they were trying to hide their sniggers.
"Yes sir?" replied James.
"These are some of the Sixth Year Slytherins," said the professor. "They will help you adjust to the school. Your belongings should be up in your dormitory; if they are not, come to me. I will be in my office." James nodded in assent.
"Draco." Draco Malfoy snapped to attention. "Show Schwarz the way to my office if he needs me."
"Yes sir," said Draco.
"Good," said Professor Snape, giving them all a curt nod and sweeping out of the Common Room.
Once Professor Snape had left, the Slytherin Sixth Years turned to examine their new housemate. With a sly grin, Draco said, "You didn't look like you were paying attention to Professor Snape's introduction, so we'd better repeat it. I'm Draco Malfoy, nice to meet you."
James nodded with a sheepish smile and then turned to the others. The dark boy who sat next to Draco was Blaise Zabini and the dark-haired girl with what James thought of as a peculiar pug-like face was Pansy Parkinson. The other girl sitting with them was Daphne Greengrass and the hulking boy in the corner was Vincent Crabbe.
Once they were all introduced, the others started to pummel him with questions. Where did he come from? Who were his parents? What school did he go to before and why was he attending Hogwarts in his Sixth Year in the middle of the term?
When James told them that his parents had been killed in the raid at the French Ministry of Magic last month, the group fell absolutely silent. It was Pansy who broke the awkward silence.
"We're terribly sorry, James," to which James just shrugged.
"Don't be. It wasn't your fault. You weren't there."
Again, a heavy silence hung around the group.
"Look, I'd rather not talk about my parents," said James, hoping to dispel the uncomfortable atmosphere. "Erm…do any of you play Quidditch?" he asked, swiftly changing the subject and knowing full well that Draco Malfoy was the Seeker for Slytherin House. Fortunately for James, they dropped the topic of his background and soon, a lively discussion on Quidditch tactics was taking place.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Breakfast at the Great Hall was as usual, noisy and filled with the lovely smells of food. Looking around, James could see that nothing had changed, apart from the doors that led into the Hall, as they had been destroyed by one of Voldemort's more ambitious attacks.
However, the inside was unchanged; the enchanted ceiling showing a greyish blue sky with a light swirl of cloud. Banners that proclaimed the different Houses hung on the stone walls and the long tables sparkled with the golden plates and goblets. The other Slytherins took James' intense gaze for the usual awed look that everyone had on their first glimpse of the Hall and didn't say anything, instead directing him over to the Slytherin table.
James was a quick eater and after eating some scrambled eggs and toast and sipping at chilled pumpkin juice, he noticed that the others still hadn't finished yet. He delved into his brand new book-bag and fished out his Transfiguration text and was just about to open it when Professor Snape made his way to the table.
"Schwarz, this is you timetable. Do take a look now, so you may ask for help finding the classrooms. I do not want complaints of lateness, new student or not."
Before James could reply, Snape had left.
Blaise looked over and laughed. "What did you do to him? He's not usually that abrupt with our house."
James looked over at the retreating back of the professor and shrugged. "Maybe it's because I'm messing up the general order of things, you know, arriving in my Sixth Year, late in the term? I get the idea that Professor Snape doesn't like his order disrupted."
"Yeah, maybe," said Blaise. "What's your first lesson today?"
James looked at the timetable. "Oh. Potions. Great, more Professor Snape," he said in a slightly weary voice.
Draco, who was sitting on James' right, laughed. "It's not so bad. He generally leaves us Slytherins to our own devices; it's only the other houses he picks on. Although," he said thoughtfully, "He does seem a bit…irritated by you."
Again, James shrugged, knowing that Professor Snape only behaved the way he did because James was a Potter. It had taken James a good three years before the professor had even acknowledged James' superior skill in Potions, and another year after that to get over the apparent ignominy of having a Potter in his house. James wasn't too bothered; he'd just make the best of a bad situation.
Having finally finished their breakfasts, Blaise, Draco and Pansy made their way back into the dungeons for Potions with James, who trailed behind them in order to not appear too knowledgeable of the route.