Tempus

Chapter 3

"Awful. Just awful. You knew you were going to start bloodletting and you still let yourself be wounded." Hermione scolded as she flipped the pages of her spell book angrily.

"He took my wand Hermione, I couldn't-"

"Oh shut it Harry, as if you don't know any defense charms."

"It's not encouraging to know that you can't block a couple of spells mate." Ron concluded and with that the trio remained silent for a minute or two when Hermione stopped flipping.

"I need your wrist." Hermione spoke and Harry quickly lifted his sleeve.

"I'm scared Hermione and I don't need your brooding to make it any worse." Harry confessed as she rolled her eyes.

"The potion Ron."

Quickly Ron grabbed a vial and handed it to Harry. Harry mouthed the words 'what's this?' to Ron's direction and Ron shrugged.

"Down the throat Ron!" Hermione ordered and Ron took the vial back, opened it aggressively and shoved the liquid in Harry's mouth.

Harry gulped what tasted like burnt earwax flavored jellybeans and grape juice and looked at both Ron and Hermione as if molested.

"What the bloody hell-"

"It's so you won't feel a thing." Hermione then smiled and Harry scoffed.

"Now, look the other way Harry I don't want you staring." Harry followed her orders as Ron stood by Hermione to assist her. "But I want you to tell me when you start feeling oozy, okay?" Harry nodded as he felt a trustful squeeze over his shoulder by Ron.

Slowly then, and as Hermione had mentioned Harry had not felt a thing, Harry heard liquid filling up a black bowl. Hermione's soft hands were folding his arms occasionally to allow the blood the flow and when Harry managed to peek at Ron the boy had a hand over his mouth as he watched the bowl grow heavy.

Harry closed his eyes and whispered a sorry to his friends and instantly he knew Hermione was guilty for snapping at him earlier.

"Does it hurt Harry?" She sounded a bit teary and with that Harry smiled.

"Not one bit." He replied back and again Ron gave him a nice pat on the back.

Harry leaned back in his chair and rested his head against the corner when very slowly a churning feeling began to crawl into his stomach. He lightly groaned, but didn't mean to and Hermione was slightly whimpering.

"It's alright. He's doing fine, Hermione." Ron told her and with that both Hermione and Harry knew it was going to be okay.

After two and a half of the heavy bowls Harry confessed he was lightheaded, sick and weary Hermione cleaned him up and hugged him tightly.

Ron ruffled his hair and whispered a good job as they parted to go to sleep in their dormitories.

"If you need anything, let me know." Ron assured Harry and Harry promised to speak up as he thanked Ron before getting into his bed.

At night Harry knew the bloodletting wasn't as simple because his head felt so heavy, as it has never been before, and Harry couldn't even lift himself to change his posture. As if another body was sitting on his stomach Harry could not move at all in his bed as he wearily attempted to catch some sleep.

The next morning however Harry felt normal and when he told Ron he was feeling better, he carried on the day. In truth Harry did feel a lot better but his right hand wrist felt as if to burn, much like his scar on his forehead. But not wanting his friends to worry needlessly, Harry acted as if he bore no particular pain.

By lunch time the trio nearly finished their sentences as they attempted to share a conversation.

"Is it just-" Ron started.

"No, me too." Hermione finished.

"So you guys too feel like-" Harry tried.

"It's all happened before." Ron agreed.

"It's almost like living in a dream-" Harry started again.

"Déjà vu." Hermione added.

"Yeah." Harry nodded.

"Yeah." Hermione followed.

"Yeap." And Ron finished.

They quietly ate their lunch meals and silently without trying to catch anyone's attention Harry looked around for Draco Malfoy. He tried to locate the boy all throughout the day but certainly failed everywhere he went. Harry was too unsure to make of what happened between them last night and continued to keep things low-profile. When he understood, he will be able to share. Ron and Hermione could wait for him, he was sure.

Besides, trying to fit in to the past was harder than he thought.

It was only two or so years apart but it also made the biggest difference in the world.

"Maybe we're just being paranoid." Hermione confessed and Harry put down his cup.

"What?" He replied once he managed to gulp down his juice.

"Maybe we're trying too hard Harry. I'm sure we don't have to act this out. We can just live it as long as we're still in character- which can't be too challenging, I mean, we're the same people as we were two years ago, aren't we?"

"We are the same people, but I can't help but think we're sort of different." Harry mumbled as Ron continued to eat.

"Well, mentally we are. I'm not too sure about him however," Hermione pointed with her eyes and Ron attempted to protest but small pieces of bread shot out of his mouth instead. "but they don't know that. We're just thinking too much. Let's just act as we normally do, Harry, I'm sure it'll be fine. You just worry about what you're here for. If you need some covering up to do, we'll help you." Hermione reassured and Harry smiled.

"Of course!" Ron finally chimed in as he hit Harry's cup with his own.

"Can't believe I'm back here writing papers.." Ronald sighed as he dug through his pockets for his quill.

"And where did your enthusiasm go?" Hermione managed to giggle as she looked towards Harry's direction to realize he too was sharing the same frustration.

"I figured I wouldn't have to do these-" Ron paused to dodge Hermione's glare. "But McGonagall said detention for anyone who doesn't bring in an essay tomorrow! I hate bloody detentions!"

"You wrote them before, Ron! It'll take you half an hour to write them again-"

"You're telling me, Hermione, that you remember every paper you've written word by word." Ron shot accusingly and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I can't possibly remember word by word, but the core of it, yes!"

"I can't tell if that's wicked or just plain crazy. Harry?"

"Don't bring me into it!"

Ron laughed and Hermione almost kicked the red haired boy as he lazily lay down on the couch.

"Bloody hell Harry it's time for you to go see Snape!" Ron remarked and Harry shot up quickly packing his things. Yet as Harry moved his hands quickly, the burning sensation in his wrist deepened and Harry unintentionally dropped his things to the floor.

"Oh, never mind that! Go!" Hermione urged and Harry shouted thanks as he ran out to the corridors.

Once Harry arrived he found the heavy door shut and without hesitation and the fear of being further late he knocked as heavily as he could.

"Enter." A baritone voice crawled through the door as Harry tried to find composure. He opened the door to see Professor Snape smothered in his main desk in between textbooks and papers.

"I'm sorry sir I was writing my paper and I lost track of time-"

"Are you lying to me, Potter?"

"No sir. I really was-"

"Do you enjoy my punishments?" Snape spoke without ever looking up from his paperwork.

"…" Harry stood without knowing what to say. Clearly, he didn't enjoy being stuck in a dim room where hardly any air is ventilated and the closest thing to a noise is Snape's chair squeaking every now and then. But was Harry allowed to say such things?

"Do you?" Snape's voice rose ever so slightly yet Harry almost shuddered.

"Sir, I-I don't know how to answer that." He hesitated realizing that again a storm of emotions were crawling up to him. Fear, guilt and pain, the darkest of them all were brewing in Harry's mind as he looked onto his Professor.

"What were you doing with Malfoy last night?"

Harry slightly gasped as Snape's head finally shot up, revealing a set of dark, brooding eyes.

"Sir?" Harry replied reflexively.

"I asked, what were you doing in the boy's bathroom during an untimely hour with Draco Malfoy?"

"We just happened to have met, we shared a conversation-" Harry barely finished his sentences.

"About what?"

"Sir?"

"What can you two possibly be talking about during such an hour in such a suspicious room, alone?"

"Sir, I believe what we talk about is none of your concern." Harry bluntly stated and mentally longed to cover his mouth.

"It is my concern, Potter!" Snape suddenly hit his table and got from his seat to stand. Harry without thought flinched as Snape stormed closer.

"For who?" Harry again spoke without much thought. "For Draco, or for me?" He whispered then and Snape was already so close.

"Ever so delusional," Snape spoke slowly, pausing after every word. "Is fame getting to that thick head of yours, Potter? Has your encounter with the Dark Lord make you feel braver? Heroic?"

Harry closed his eyes and breathed in. He chose not to reply.

"Don't make me laugh, Potter. Malfoy has been missing all throughout the day. It only makes sense that you were involved in this."

"I do not know where he is."

"Of course you don't." Snape spoke bitterly. "You don't know anything." And with that Snape turned his back, ordered Harry to continue from last night and returned to his paperwork.

It was an immeasurable pain to allow what he was feeling right at the very moment. Every time he looked into Snape's eyes Harry saw nothing but misunderstood emotions, but it was so hard to manage the hatred he had always felt towards the man which resulted in guilt and despair within himself.

Surrounded by his own faults and accusations Harry was lost in his own mind. At the same time he couldn't help but wonder where Draco had gone and if his words meant anything at all. Simultaneously doubt began to crawl up as he thought of Snape and his relationship. Everything was so complicated. Harry felt all so disoriented.

"Ah-" Harry let out a pained groan without much thought as he handled the glass flasks with his hands. He mended his wrist and realized it was hurting worse than before. Harry carefully lifted his long sleeve to take a look and quietly gaped to know a brutal scar appeared. A diagonal line followed his thickest vein down his wrist, and though he felt such burn Harry couldn't help but to wince at the thought of Hermione having to cut open such wound. Poor Hermione.

The scar was still fresh by looking at the colors of light pink and red along his pale wrist. He sighed and tried his hardest to ignore the burning sensation that came from the very hand he was using.

It didn't take long for Snape to notice the small alterations in Harry's movements. Occasionally the boy looked as if he had hardly the strength to lift an empty tube with his right hand. After an hour or so, Snape took a break from his tedious work to check up on Harry to realize the student was finishing up faster than he had expected. Often the boy would mend his wrist as if to put even pressure on it and without hesitation Snape reached for the same wrist.

Surprised, Harry tried to pull back but Snape tightened the physical contact.

"Sir!" Harry almost yelped, trying again to pull back. Snape then noticed the wince in the bright, green eyes.

"Curious, Potter, what is the matter with you?" Snape almost seemed to tease, rotating his grasp for Harry to feel the burn like never before.

"Let me go!" Harry shouted then, out of his instinct to pull away from the pain.

Snape moved quickly, reaching for Harry's sleeve, pulling it up to reveal the wounded flesh.

"What is this, Potter?" Snape bore a disgusted look on his face and Harry took the initiative to finally pull away from his grasp.

"You've grown a horrible habit of prying into my life haven't you?" Harry snapped and again a wave of guilt came flushing in. At times of trouble, however, Harry usually heard Hermione's voice giving him advice. Harry just had to be himself before Snape gets even more suspicious.

"You tell me what the hell is going on Potter before I-" Snape grabbed Harry's collar and reeled in the face ever so closely.

"You can't and you won't. Just look at me." Harry spoke and he looked intently into Snape's eyes, a feeling of everything came rushing in.

For a second Harry thought Snape would hit him. But instead he had dropped his arms down and let Harry loose, turning away from the boy.

"Get out."

Harry rushed out.

As he ran he was so sure, so undoubtedly sure Severus Snape was never who he thought he was.

Author's Note: I apologize for the late update, you know, school does take a hold of me. I just felt like lot of the whole re-living-the-hogwarts-experience is a filler story so I tried not to throw it in there. I really hope Snape's not out of character...and just where might Draco be? Well, hope you enjoyed and please review! Thank you so much.