Tempus
Chapter 1
"I found something!"
Three figures quickly faced Hermione who had her curls tied up so high and bangs pinned out of her face. She looked much older compared to a year ago but she was pretty, nonetheless. Harry got to her first and rushed a hug in thankfulness. She gave out a tired smile in return.
"It's a really old spell, I think no one uses it anymore due to the invention of the Time-Turner, but it's also dangerous, complicated too."
"How does it work?" Ron asked and Harry nodded.
"Ingressos Tempus," Hermione whispered as she read. "is the spell and it allows the individual to react his entrance of a place or the situation he wishes to go. It's close to Apparition except it involves time, concerning the past and present. The future is not part of Ingressos Tempus because the future constantly changes while as the past is definite to molding the present. However, once the individual changes any bit or the slightest detail of the past, the present he returns to would be guaranteed to be different, minor or not."
"You can't do anything then! You would only go back to relive the past in the same way as before." Ginny remarked and Harry nodded.
"Yet a sacrifice can be made." Hermione then added.
"This is Dark Magic isn't it?" Ron pointed out and Hermione looked at him wearily.
"Yes." Harry replied for her and urged her to continue.
"If the individual sheds blood-"
"Blood, Hermione? Bloody hell, this isn't right." Ron groaned and Harry silently grabbed his shoulders. Hermione continued.
"If the individual sheds blood each night in his destination, he may act without altering the future. This act has to be done every midnight not a minute early, not a minute late."
"How much blood?" Harry asked.
"…it varies."
"Why blood? Why not hair, or something?"
"I don't think any of that sort would be pleasant, Ron."
"Because," Ginny spoke calmly. "time affects us most by physicality, age. Blood is the only adequate sacrifice for time to compensate the possible changes any event that could alter us in the present."
"Brilliant." Harry let out a small smile and it was then the rest followed bitter-sweetly.
"Well?" Harry again cued Hermione to continue.
"Depending on your gender, height and weight- you must let out blood till you reach a point of weakness."
"Till you faint, you mean?"
"It says here: bloodletting was a common practice in attempting to hallucinate and purge the possible diseases that may come with age. Like I mentioned, this is a very old spell."
"Will it work?"
"Well, here's the catch."
"There's more?"
"The magic behind bloodletting will cumulate to a loss of memory. The individual in the past will have no remembrance of the experience, hence, the present will remain unchanged. However, whoever the individual may affect in the events of the past will carry on the knowledge as trauma."
"Trauma?"
"They will never be able to confront it, because you will have forgotten everything and it is to their sanity whether to accept you as indeed the individual from the future or the individual of the past."
"Bloody confusing, Hermione."
"I think I found a loophole." She suddenly confessed and Harry's eyes lit up to face her.
"Nothing about the blood, Ron, the blood is a sacrifice, there's nothing we can do about it. The memory however, if we can find a way to mark ourselves that our deed is done, even if we can't recover the memory once we come back from the spell we'll be able to know Harry came back safely."
"Tattoos…" Harry whispered and Hermione nodded.
"The bloody hell is a teh-too?"
"It's like the Dark Mark." Ginny opened her eyes wide at Hermione but kept quiet.
"But it can be anything symbolic. We ink ourselves as a memorial, remembrance."
"So when I return, I'll have the tattoo to remind me that my job was done."
"Exactly."
"Got your wand, Harry?" He nodded, firmly grabbing Ginny's hand with his own.
"I don't know how this will work but," Harry noticed Hermione reaching for her bag.
"No, Hermione." Was the first thing he could say without getting angry.
"You don't know anything about this spell Harry. At least I read about it. You need me for the bloodletting too- You can't make me stay here."
"Got your wand, Hermione?" Ron entered, holding out his own wand.
"What? Ron, you can't be serious-"
"I know I haven't read anything but I thought I should, for moral support. And don't get me wrong Harry, I want to. I want to be fifteen again."
Harry sighed out loud then hurriedly turned to face Ginny.
"I know. I already talked to Hermione. I need to stay here so when you return I can help you remember."
"Thank you." Harry whispered and in the corner of his eye noticed Hermione dragging Ron out of their room.
"Do you remember, Harry?"
"Yes. It's Snape's class, oh bloody hell."
"What? What is it Harry?"
"If we're fifteen- that's our fifth year!"
"Yeah, when we started D.A. and-"
"Oh no," Hermione gasped and Harry rubbed his temples.
"What? What- just spit it out will you?" Ron yelled.
"Umbridge."
"Aw, bloody hell."
"Then how about the year after?"
"We'll go for the first term. It'll be quick. I can't have Ginny wait long nor can we relive that hell hole. And we'll be back before Dumbledore-" Harry swallowed but Ron and Hermione understood.
"Yes, we will."
"On the count of three, ready?"
The boys nodded and Ginny counted off.
"One, two, three-"
"Ingressos Tempus!"
Harry never felt such a headache before. He never enjoyed apparating before but this was far from it. Trouble breathing was one thing but the heart burn was another. He was simultaneously lightheaded as if intoxicated of poison or chlorine.
It was then a figure approached him, slowly gliding like a familiar shadow. Harry swallowed and closed his eyes to reopen them to focus on the silhouette so familiar yet distant.
"Ten points from Gryffindor Weasely, Granger," It was him. It was Severus Snape. "and Potter for an obvious disturbance planned beforehand. If you three need to a place to be dramatic, get out." Familiar voices around him began to snicker and Harry couldn't acknowledge what he was currently feeling. Currently, instead of reminiscing and there he was- standing in his detestable expression of broken and misunderstood feelings. Harry did not notice himself rising from his seat.
"I know." He whispered. "I know everything."
"You better be talking about nonverbal spells Potter, before you lose yourself another ten points from Gryffindor."
"Lily," he spoke again but slower this time. It stung to voice out his mother's name. "was she nice to you? That was the least she could have done- or, or did she hurt you like James?"
Everything was silent. Including Snape, who no different from the usual, revealed an inscrutable face. It was then a familiar voice reached out to bring Harry into the world of the Past.
"Harry, please," she called out. "please, sit down."
He followed suit as he allowed himself to be tugged down from his robe and gave a slight look towards Hermione who looked so nervous she might as well be sweating.
"Detention, Potter," Snape finally opened his mouth, rubbing his temples as he spoke. "And fifty points from Gryffindor for explicit nonsense, insolent manners, ludicrous show of behavior and," his low voice came to a sudden halt and his dark eyes narrowed toward one particular student. "downright foolishness."
Snape turned around and students began to find composure to at least pretend to be occupied, scribbling notes on papers and flipping through pages absentmindedly.
Without much noise the lecture continued for half an hour or so and finally Snape dismissed the students after the expected long list of assignments due the next day.
"Potter," Harry felt his heart stop as he looked onto both Ron and Hermione to leave. "a word." Snape finished and with that Harry turned to face the professor behind him. Before Harry could open his mouth to speak Snape quickly began to spit once the door slammed shut after Ron.
"I expect you to be in front of my office door promptly after your last meal every night starting tonight. Is that understood?" His voice was venomous but Harry did not budge.
"An audible answer Potter, before I make your conditions worse."
Harry opened his mouth but no words came out. He was afraid if he put in strength tears would come pouring rather than words- and it was too early to offer Severus the quote on quote trauma the spell may manifest.
"How dare you test me Potter-"
"Yes, Professor. Starting tonight." He swallowed his words but made some kind of noise to satisfy Snape. Harry couldn't look up properly to face him.
"Leave."
Harry immediately ran for the doors and rushed to Ron and Hermione who both wore grieving faces. Ron put his arm on his shoulder and whispered, "It's alright Harry. Take your time."
"So what's the plan?" Ron stuffed his face with more mashed potatoes as Hermione gaped.
"I can't say I'm not surprised that food still goes down your throat in a situation like this."
"I'm nervous! I have to eat-"
"Let him be, Hermione. You and I both know Ron loved Hogwarts' food after his mother's." Harry insisted and with that served more gravy onto Ron's dish.
"Go on Harry." Hermione ignored as she rolled her eyes.
"I don't have a plan. Snape's detentions are usually tedious work and we don't talk for three or so hours."
"You can't waste an opportunity like this-"
"But wouldn't it be too obvious, too suspicious for me to suddenly be all too kindly?"
"I think you already ruined that side of the plan, mate." Ron replied after gulping his pumpkin juice.
"I agree Harry. You'll have to start bloodletting tonight and we can't waste a day, blood or anything more to Snape's suspicions!"
"Truth be told I think Snape will figure it out."
"What?"
"He's not dumb, we know that much. He managed to fool pretty much every great wizards of our time. He had a plan, he stuck to it and he always had to think two, three steps ahead. He's bound to know you're the Harry from-"
"Shhh." Hermione whispered as she poured more juice into Ron's cup. "Although I agree with Ron, Harry. Snape will figure it out, I'm sure of it. It'll be one other thing he carries in that hidden mind of his. I don't think trauma is that big of a deal to worry about- It's Snape!"
"I see your point, but it's also that-"
The dinner plates were starting to change to desserts and Ron smiled brightly.
"He's like a starving bum, isn't he?"
A voice so annoying poked into their conversation. Harry realized it was Crabbe attempting to crack a joke but obviously failing. Draco Malfoy looked strangely apathetic.
"Shut up Crabbe before I kick you- and that would be very dangerous since your body is rounder than rolling cheese."
Ron retorted and Harry couldn't help but reveal a genuine laugh. Hermione followed relieved.
"You redhead-"
"Shut up Crabbe. Let's go." Malfoy suddenly ordered and Crabbe swallowed his curses to walk away. It was then Harry suddenly realized something and stood from his table to grab Malfoy's shoulder.
"I need to talk to you."
"Don't touch me Potter-"
"Not now. But I need you to wait for me until my detention ends." Draco looked appalled at Harry's sincerity, a side of him Harry has never seen before even in the years after. This old spell was beginning mean something to Harry. He reeled in a little closer to the blond boy just so Crabbe and Goyle could not hear when Draco was vulnerable. "Tell Moaning Myrtle to step aside around 10 o' clock. I'll see you there."
Harry let go of Draco's shoulder just as fast as he had touched it and gave a stern look towards Crabbe and Goyle to dismiss them. Draco sneered as he walked by but did not say anything in return.
"Why Draco? Why not Dumbledore, why not Lupin, Tonks- Fred!" Ron shouted angrily under his breath. Hermione looked puzzled as well, expecting an answer from Harry.
"Because he's the one soul worse than dead." Harry finally whispered.
Author's Note: Out of character much? I sure don't hope so. I wanted Harry to seem a bit remorseful. As an avid reader I felt like Severus never really received the adequate emotions from Harry even after he witnessed all of Severus' memories. So truth be told you're going to see a lot of the sad, moping Harry more than the brave Gryffindor. Both Hermione and Ron are brilliant characters and they of course joined Harry's time travel because they can, obviously. But more importantly they help stabilize the plot I created and Ron's comic relief barely makes this story a little more appealing. Hope the whole spell doesn't freak you out, it's all made up of course! Enough said, I hope you enjoyed and read to find out what happens next between our beloved Draco and Harry. Thank you!