First Times, Second Chances

Chapter Nine: So Long, So Long

How the girls could turn to ghosts before your eyes
And the very dreams that led to them are keeping them from dying
And how the grace with which she walked into your life
And stay with you in your steps , pace with you a while
For so long, so long
so long so long

But just as summer's hold is fleeting
I was here but now I'm gone

- So Long, So Long by Dashboard Confessional

The dumpster rattled under the onslaught of hexes and curses. Meri and James had taken refuge behind the large metal trash bin not really knowing where to go. They were on the outskirts of London itself so their choices were extremely limited: go further into the city where there was an abundance of muggles or retreat away from the city and lead them all to Godric's Hollow.

"Any other ideas, Prongs?"

"Well, I actually think we're in a great position."

"Trapped in an alley?"

James nodded and flashed her a wide grin. "The cavalry is here."

Meri heard the scuffle and shouts increase so she peeked over the twisted metal to see that James was right. Peter, Sirius and Lupin were flinging counter curses left and right. Then she saw the fourth man. "Oh Merlin!"

"What?"

"They brought Harry!"

"They can't be that daft!"

"Apparently they are."

James launched himself from behind the dumpster with Meri right at his heels. From a quick head count the numbers were no longer in the Death Eaters favor. Meri grabbed the wrist of the closest Death Eater and shoved his arm towards one of his own allies. The curse that was intended for her knocked another Death Eater back against the brick wall. If the curse didn't knock him out, striking the wall certainly did the trick. Meri looked back to the Death Eater she had grabbed and the recognition shocked her. Without a second thought, she slammed her mental shields up and forced the anger she felt out of her mind.

"Snape," she spat.

"Meri," he replied with his usual draw.

She twisted his wrist and easily spun him around, aiming his body towards the wall. However, she failed to think of the small fact that he was stronger than her and at the last minute used the momentum to send her into the wall. She felt the wet ground connect with her knees and she desperately tried to blink back the stars that had popped out in front of her eyes. By the time she pointed her wand back to Snape, he was knocked back and skidded down the alley. Meri looked up to see Harry standing over her, wand outstretched. He looked down at her with an uneasy look.

"Tell me he's not our side."

"Definitely not on our side," she confirmed. He helped her to her feet and they saw two Death Eater's remained. Meri grabbed her nephew and shoved him behind her. She lifted her free hand, palm outward and Harry watched with fascination as her patronus erupted forth from her hand and charged the two remaining Death Eaters. It was just enough a distraction for the other three to drive off the Death Eaters.

"Thanks guys," Meri said with a nod, before holding a hand to her head.

"You alright?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, just fine. I'm using a healing charm."

"What do we do with Snape down there?" Sirius asked.

James stared at the limp body for a long time and Harry was afraid he was about to see them all drop down to the level of the Death Eaters. But after a few moments, James stowed his wand. "Leave him there. Let him wake up in an alley for once."

Harry followed suite and stowed his wand as well and gathered around with the others. Peter acted as a look out to make sure no muggles stumbled upon the curse ridden alleyway. Sirius and Remus seemed to have completely forgotten their previous argument as they stood on either side of Meri. A hand landed on Harry's shoulder and he looked up to see his father staring down at him.

"You did very well," he seemed to swallow convulsively before finishing, "son."

Harry felt a swell of pride in his chest and tried, to no avail, to hide his pleased smile. "Thanks…Dad."

Meri laughed. "Thank goodness that worked," she pulled out a chain with a time turner attached to it. "I really didn't want to try this thing out yet. I'm not sure I even fixed it correctly."

"Is that mine or yours?" Harry asked.

"It's mine."

Harry saw a brief movement out of the corner of his eye and turned around to see what it was. Snape had awakened and was standing, wand aimed directly at Meri. There was no warning, no incantation that he could hear but he recognized the green light that issued forth from the wand. He didn't have time to think, just react. He leaned with all of his weight against his Aunt's slight frame in an effort to push them both out of the way but she resisted as best she could. Harry chanced a look at the spell and all he saw was green.

Meri felt like she had been run over by a hippogriff. Groaning, she pushed herself off the ground and tried to figure out what happened. She was no longer in the alleyway with James and the others. Instead, she was out in the open on a bright and sunny day with grass underneath her. She looked around and found Harry laying unmoving on the ground next to her.

"Harry!" She leaned over him and placed her fingers on his neck. His pulse pushed against her fingertips with a great amount of strength. Breathing a sigh of relief, she pulled her wand and slowly stood up from a row of bushes they had landed behind. The sight that met her eyes was so shocking it took her breath away. She was staring at the rubble of James and Lily's home in Godric's Hollow. Death Eaters, from the looks of them were climbing across the stone and mortar, searching for someone or something.

"Come out, come out, Potter!" a shrill voice echoed across the street to Meri's ears. Judging from the chills that ran down her back, it was most likely Bellatrix Lestrange's voice. She glanced down at Harry by her side, who was still unconscious. This must have been when he was sent into the other time. Armed with that knowledge, she watched the event play out before her eyes. If she stopped them before Harry disappeared…well, that would just complicate things immensely.

When Bellatrix sent out the killing curse, she watched as it hit Harry and he just disappeared. Meri took advantage of the momentary shock of the Death Eaters and Harry's friends and jumped from the bushes. Sprinting across the small yard, she aimed her wand at the two teenagers who remained and shouted "Protego!" A silvery shield shot out in front them and the Death Eaters took a few seconds to register her presence. Bellatrix was the first to recover her ability of speech.

"Meriam Potter!" She let out a cackle. "Where have you been hiding?"

Meri knew she shouldn't use this spell but the anger for the woman standing in front of her was overwhelming. "Sectumsempra!"

A large gash appeared across Bellatrix's chest and she fell back in a scream of pain. The other two Death Eaters seemed to stop any assault they were going to try. Meri held her wand steady though she was shaking inside. She hated using dark magic even if the victim deserved it.

"Go back to you Master. Take her with you," Meri flicked her wand over to the writhing Bellatrix. "Tell him what happened. I'm sure he'll be very interested in knowing I've returned."

They looked at each other and then quickly did as she said, much to Meri's relief. When they left, the shield she had conjured dropped from the two teenagers. Meri approached them cautiously as the girl held out her wand in case she ended up being an enemy. Meri slipped her wand in her back pocket and held up her hands in a "surrender" sign.

"You must be Harry's friends."

"Who are you?" the girl asked.

"Wait! Don't!" a shout came from behind Meri and before she had time to turn around, Harry had flung himself between her and the wand. "She's a friend! Trust me!"

The girl's wand slowly lowered. "Are you alright, Harry?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Who's that then, mate?" the red-headed boy asked.

Harry looked back at Meri and gave her a shaky grin. "She's my aunt. My father's sister, Meri. These are my friends, Ron and Hermione."

"I didn't know your father had a sister," Hermione said.

"I didn't either," Harry exclaimed.

"It's a very interesting story," Meri broke in, "one that should most likely should be told somewhere other than here."

"She's right." Harry agreed and looked over at Ron. "The Burrow?"

Ron nodded. "That would be the best place I think."

"Do you know-"

"Yes," Meri answered. "I'm very familiar with the Weasley homestead."

"Right then," Harry nodded and closed his eyes, picturing the cozy house in his mind before apparating.

Snape was sitting in the threadbare arm chair in his childhood home at Spinner's End. He was trying to read but he hadn't turned a page in over an hour. Having Wormtail as a houseguest was less than relaxing, especially when he had so much on his mind that needed to be processed.

Dumbledore, his greatest ally and possibly the only person who saw potential in a man like Snape, was dead. Not just dead, though, but by Snape's own hand. He knew he had an unbreakable vow with Narcissa to ensure Draco's safety from the hands of Voldermort as well as giving his word to Dumbledore to commit the act itself. He tried telling himself that he did what he was told. He followed orders and succeeded. But it left him shaken and even more despondent.

True, Voldermort had praised Snape immensely but that wasn't the praise he wanted or craved. No, he longed to go back to Hogwarts, back to the only home he ever knew. At least the other teachers treated him as an equal and he had a routine. Here, all he did was wait for the next order from the Dark Lord himself and babysit Pettigrew. Even in broad daylight in this house, when Pettigrew was not moving around and the house silent, he could still hear his father's voice bounce off the walls, nothing more that series of curse words and abusive speech.

He often wondered if he should have struck a deal himself with Dumbledore-I'll kill you if you'll kill me. But no, Dumbledore, always looking to the future wanted Snape to live. The late Headmaster was not a cruel man and surely he did not want to condemn Snape to a life filled with guilt and deception? Surely it couldn't just be to continue as a double agent? No one from the Order is going to listen him now. No, death seemed very inviting right now.

And in that split second, Snape thought his wish had been granted. A searing pain ripped through his skull and he found himself gasping on the floor. He was dimly aware of Pettigrew picking him up and putting him back in the arm chair, whimpering and simpering the entire time. Snape ground his teeth together.

"Go away."

Pettigrew retreated hesitantly, but at last left the room. Snape dropped his head into his hands and squeezed as hard as he could to keep it from flying apart. The pain was lessening but the a steady throbbing was still remaining. He wasn't sure what exactly had brought this on but he needed the quiet to concentrate. Steadying his breathing, he dropped some of his mental shields and skimmed the surface of the minds he could reach.

Pettigrew was more startled then concerned at the scream Snape supposedly had emitted. Voldermort was content at the moment. Bellatrix was in a severe amount of pain and being carried back to the Dark Lord and Snape thought he had found the source of the headache but a second check proved he was wrong. He tried to reach out further and finally his mind brushed someone else's whose was strangely familiar.

"Sev? Is that you?" she immediately whispered in his mind.

He tried to silence the gasp before it was released but had a sinking feeling he failed. It couldn't be. She had been gone for almost sixteen years now. He had given her up as dead since he could no longer find her mind in the midst of so many others. Unnerved and frightened by the familiar voice in his head, Severus closed his mind up tightly, allowing no access whatsoever. He would keep it that way till the day he died now. She was just one more reminder of the many he had failed. He tried to pick up the book and read again but all he could focus on was the name of the person who had reached him just moments before.

Meri Potter was back from wherever she had disappeared to and he hated the way it shook him to the core.