TWENTY-SIX

Well, thought Harry as he followed behind Snape's billowing robes as they stalked through the castle in heavy silence, at least I was caught by the one teacher who probably knew better than to interrupt the ritual, no matter how angry Snape clearly was.

They reached Snape's office sooner than Harry would have liked. A first year Slytherin had been hovering near the door. Harry remembered him as someone who always sucked up to Snape and in later years Draco. The boy took one look at Snape's face and fled. Harry rolled his eyes, though he aborted the movement when Snape turned.

'In.'

There was a heavy silence in which Harry was sure he was meant to be panicking and feeling all sorts of remorse. He wasn't.

His magic felt wonderful, it was still in a blissful sort of relaxed state and he just couldn't work up any sort of negative emotion.

'Explain.'

Harry frowned. 'Explain what, Sir?'

Snape shut his eyes with a look of someone who was on the edge of breaking. Harry just wasn't sure exactly what he wanted explained. What the ritual did? Why he did it? Why he thought he'd get away with it… actually, that did bring up the question of how Snape knew where to find him. Harry was broken out of his pondering when Snape let out a huff and sunk into his seat conjuring up a glass of what Harry suspected to be alcohol. Harry raised one eyebrow.

'I have already seen far too much of you today.'

Well, perhaps that explained how Snape knew where he was. Clearly his older self would be getting them both in trouble. Harry was rather vexed with himself.

'You are not going to become the next Dark Lord simply because you are in Slytherin, Potter.'

Harry wondered if Snape meant that he could get past Slytherin's influence, or if Harry being in Slytherin didn't make him evil. Either way Harry had been under no such delusions.

'Okay.'

Snape let out a small noise that was almost a growl, but refrained. Harry suddenly realised that despite being spitting mad, Snape was submitting to him again. It had worn off gradually since Harry had accidentally stuck Snape to the wall and Harry had rather assumed Snape had gotten over it. Clearly not. Curious.

'I may have said that Neutral-Dark magic may slip past the system, but it is still Dark. Beyond being illegal that sort of magic leaves marks on your soul that do not wash out.'

Harry was finding this conversation beyond confusing.

'That ritual wasn't Dark magic, if that is what has you concerned, Sir. It is-'

'All rituals are Dark magic.' Snape interrupted with another half-growl.

Harry sighed. 'All rituals are considered dark by the ministry. They are not all Dark.'

'You are speaking of fields again.' Snape sighed with some exasperation.

'Yes.' Harry said warily, taking a guess, having no real idea what Snape meant.

Snape's face went blank, there was a long pause in which Harry tried to decide if his legilimency skills were up to reading Snape's surface thoughts without him noticing. Eventually Snape spoke, and again threw Harry off.

'Why do you hate Lupin?'

Harry frowned. 'I have nothing against Professor Lupin. Why?'

'You are aware he is a werewolf.'

Harry immediately bristled. If Snape was planning on letting that slip to the students earlier than in the original timeline Harry would kill him.

'So?!'

Snape moved back the tiniest of amounts. It was subtle, but again a sign that he saw Harry as the dominant. After a moment Snape scowled, almost mirroring Harry's face.

'You took my side, yet you barely talk to him. He was in cahoots with your father's gang, yet you don't blame him.'

Harry's scowl melted to a more contemplative look before he caught himself and blanked his face. Side? Tea with Remus again, perhaps?

'You think Remus knows that my parents are alive.' Harry had been leaning towards that as well, if a little in denial.

'As if Potter would leave him behind.'

'He left Sirius to Azkaban.'

'Impossible! I don't believe it. Potter and Black were practically fused at the hip! Betraying them to the Dark Lord could be the only reason for such a break.'

When assuming Sirius was the Secret Keeper, Harry supposed that did make a fair amount of sense. Unfortunately that attitude just made him want to growl, no matter how fair.

'And Pettigrew?'

'Was always the most disconnected in that group. Aside from hating the ground they all walked on, I would feel pity for him alone.'

'Pity. Slytherin's don't ever want, nor cherish pity.'

Snape scowled. 'He was still an infernal Marauder.' He spat out the name.

Harry shook his head, rather lost as to how they had got on to this topic. Though while they were here-

'Do you know why Arthur Weasley believed that Fudge didn't want me to know about Black?'

It was Snape's turn to look confused, though the emotional state appeared fleeting before disappearing behind the mask.

'I believe Lucius Malfoy pulled some strings.'

'Why?' Harry winced internally. He wasn't being very sly.

Snape hesitated, and Harry assumed he wasn't going to get the whole story.

'He didn't believe you would want the Light world to know that you were so involved.'

Harry frowned. So Lucius thought him fully Dark. Well, that was probably Draco's doing. Harry had taken advantage of a Dark Aura a few times. It didn't explain why a man of Voldemort's inner circle was jumping about to help The-Boy-Who-Lived. Slytherin or not, Harry was still seen as part of the enemy camp. Perhaps Narcissa? It bore some thought.

'Which brings me back to todays little immoral activity.'

Harry snorted mentally. Hardly what he would consider immoral. Perhaps illegal.

'I will not be taking house points, nor giving you a detention for this.'

Harry had been in the process of being shocked until the last two words.

'For this?'

'Precisely. I am glad that despite many possible consequences at least your mental capabilities haven't suffered overly.'

Wow. That was almost a compliment, coming from Snape.

'Not,' Snape continued, 'As you have ascertained, that you shall be getting away without repercussions.'

He paused. Harry could only put it down to dramatic effect and wanted to sigh loudly or roll his eyes.

'Six feet on the legal ramifications participating in a ritual can result in.'

Harry opened his mouth to argue.

'-Another,' Snape interrupted, 'six feet on what personal injuries you could have received. Do you have any idea how utterly foolish your actions today were?!'

'The worst that has happened from this ritual is that a wizard can be cut off from his family magics, rather than becoming more connected to them.'

'And the offence against the Ministry Law? Two years! Two Years, in Azkaban. This infernal connection you seem to possess with your damned to hell Godfather does not give you the inbuilt ability to follow in his footsteps. You would not escape Azkaban so easily, let alone the other consequences of being in the position of needing to do so.'

To be fair, that was only for an of-age wizard. Though Harry had to agree on the last point, and made a mental note to start working on becoming an Animagus again. The plan had been pushed to the wayside with so many other things on his plate. He could see Snape's overall point, too. Doing the ritual in the forest had been foolish. Anyone could have found him. Harry winced. Ah, he probably owed Snape a favour. Bugger. In future all rituals would have to be performed in the Chamber of Secrets unless he could convince Xeno to let him use their stone circle again.

Harry blamed his disregard for the law against rituals almost purely on Luna's doorstep. His Luna that was. She had been passionate about how stupid that Ministry ruling was. Even more so than some of her more obscure creature theories. Harry suspected that was what she and Daphne were working on in the Department of Mysteries. Luna and Harry had managed to find a way around quite a few of the Unspeakable Vows, but not all of them.

'When are the essays due?' Harry finally settled on asking. Snape seemed to deflate in front of him. Harry suspected Snape could guess rather accurately on Harry's thought process (Next time I will make sure not to get caught).

His next statement confirmed this.

'Wednesday evening. Should I catch you again, I will have no choice but to assign detention.' Ah. Which would go on Harry's permanent record.

'Thank you, Sir.' Harry was rather grateful that it hadn't this time.

Snape gave Harry a long unreadable look before his mask fell into a scowl.

'Get out. Merlin knows if I see you again today it shall be too soon.'

Harry followed this advice rather promptly.

Harry turned back the maximum amount his Time-turner would allow, taking him from almost 2, to just before 8 in the morning. To his amusement, the first person he saw after collecting Theo and Blaise, was Snape.

It took a great amount of effort not to crack up laughing when Snape did a double take upon entering the Great Hall and passing Harry at the Table. Assumably he had just come from Luna and younger Harry by the castle doors.

'Good Morning Sir.'

'Potter.' Ah, that was more like the old Snape-vitriol. Harry's name was practically spat at him.

Daphne and Tracey had been giggling between themselves, something about Tracey's dress, however they looked up and their eyes followed Snape's stalk to the teacher's table.

'That was more Snarl than greeting. How on earth have you managed to be on his bad side already? It's only eight in the morning, Potter!' Daphne teased.

Harry quirked his lip. 'Charisma.'

Both Tracey and Theo snorted, though Theo had unfortunately been drinking, so slipped into a coughing fit.

Breakfast proved far more enjoyable now he could eat more than apples. Marcus and his friend Brent came along and attempted to tease Harry over not having a date for the day, though they were slightly undermined by their own sabotage of each other's points.

There was one final disturbance to Harry's breakfast when Luna came in looking slightly frazzled and wearing what appeared to be a brown sculpture on her head. It turned out that she had charmed Apep sticky then applied the forest floor.

.:We came to a compromise after a small chase:. Apep informed Harry from Luna's hair.

Harry looked at Luna with a frown and a barely hidden amused smile. 'Should I even ask?'

.:She promised you'd fix it if I let her wear me like crown:.

Harry snorted.

'Making promises for me, Luna?'

'Potter-…' Marcus trailed off unsurely, but Brent picked up the slack.

'I don't mean to alarm you Potter, but I think her- …headdress?, is alive.'

'Yes.' Harry said mildly. He started to loose the battle against laughter when Apep slithered off Luna's head, sticks still attached, and further down the table three second year girls screamed.

'My reputation is never going to survive this, is it?' Harry sighed loudly, earning several stifled laughs.

Luna just stole a piece of toast and skipped back out of the hall.

Apep was divested of any extra attachments with a simple finite incantatum just in time for the food to disappear. Harry was rather impressed with how many twigs there were. between his younger self leaving them alone and when they came in to the hall could only have been an hour at most.

Nine O'Clock seemed to arrive far quicker the second time and there was a sort of excited buzzing throughout the third years especially.

Harry walked with Marcus and Brent to the entrance way, but they split off to join the rest of the Quidditch team and some upper-year girls. Harry was amused to see Rhea Pax giving her boyfriend Alex a set down for wearing something she obviously didn't approve of.

Filch, the caretaker, was standing checking off names against a long list, peering suspiciously into every face, and making sure that no one was sneaking out who shouldn't be going.

'Not staying here, Weasley?' shouted Draco from further back in line next to Crabbe and Goyle. 'I would have thought you'd be to scared of passing the Dementors?'

Ron flushed, but ignored him. Seamus could be seen whispering something fiercely, and it looked like Hermione was talking to Ron again. She, Dean and Neville had clearly drawn the group into a different topic and worked it so Ron soon had his back to Draco.

Harry handed over his permission form with surprisingly little fuss. He'd sort of been expecting Dumbledore or one of the other teachers to swoop in at the last minute. Theo stuck his head out the window of a carriage towards the front of the line and waved Harry down.

'You may not want to lower yourself to spending the day with our lowly selves,' Theo teased, 'but you'll be hard pressed to find a carriage to yourself.'

Harry snorted, but took the offered hand up.

Inside the carriage was Theo and Blaise, Daphne, Tracey, Lillian and Millicent, and surprisingly Padma.'

'Hello Patil.' Harry said, a little surprised.

Beside him Theo shifted slightly. Harry glanced at him to find Theo rather red. Harry grinned.

'Ah, maybe I will spend the entire day with you after all.'

'What?! No! Um, I mean-' Theo spluttered.

Harry laughed, then winked at Padma. 'You took pity on him, huh?'

She sniffed, but there was a bit of a gleam in her eye. 'Something like that.'

As the carriage started moving Lillian started up a conversation with Padma about how the Ravenclaws were liking the wind in their tower, which digressed into a not so subtle attempt by the Slytherin girls to find out where the Ravenclaw common room was.

'I can't tell you, otherwise we'll be inundated with Snakes trying to get out of the cold dungeons.' Padma insisted.

'Only if you told us the password too.' Theo pointed out.

'The Ravenclaws don't have a password, they have to answer a riddle.' Harry offered.

'Oh, I'd never get in.' Millicent groaned. Padma was giving Harry a solid glare.

'Yes, well that's why you're not in Ravenclaw. How exactly do you know that, Potter?'

Harry grinned. 'I've been in all the common rooms except Hufflepuff. I have no desire at all to get covered in cider if I guess the wrong barrel or code.'

'What!?'

'Even Gryffindor?'

'But you clearly know where it is.'

Harry laughed at the barrage of responses and winked. 'Don't worry, I won't let you Ravens be inundated with too many snakes.'

That conversation slipped into Harry admitting the riddle that he had been asked, and a long debate about the origins of a phoenix. They continued in this vein right up until the Hogwarts gates, but the debate settled down into whispers, and then to an eerie silence as they passed the dementors. The window of the carriage had fogged over completely.

Harry almost immediately pulled out a large block of chocolate he'd brought from his stash and shared it around.

'You're a bit of a defence prodigy too then?' Padma asked.

Harry just shrugged, but Lillian didn't seem to want to let it go.

'You should have seen him on the train,' She started enthusiastically.

For a second Harry was worried that he was about to get outed as a parselmouth.

'-He made us move around so those less effected were closer, and just told the dementor to leave. It did.'

'Wait! The Dementor actually entered your compartment?' Padma demanded, sounding feint. 'It just passed by most of them.'

Harry had been wondering about that. Looks like they had been told to seek him out… or at least been told he was Sirius' target. A bit unlikely that it had happened in both timelines otherwise.

'And it was his worst fear- well… the boggart started as a Dementor.'

Around the carriage the Slytherins all shuddered.

'Boggarts are horrible.' Padma said with passion.

The conversation shifted to discussing what fears the Ravenclaws had had, though Harry sat back and out of it. He was assessing Lillian. It was unlike a Slytherin to offer up open praise of another Slytherin. Especially in public, or outside of the house. Not unless they want something. Though, Harry frowned and glanced at Lillian who was now describing her mutant-creature Boggart, he didn't think Lillian had been making a political play. It was very odd. More so because the rest of the group seemed to just accept it, the girls even nodding along. Harry was aware that Blaise and Theo were one hundred percent on his side, and Daphne mostly so. He was a little unsure on that front because she had such a good mask (more and more like her fames ice queen mask from his original timeline by the day). Tracey had always gone where Daphne went. But Lillian and Millicent were further out. Neither of them were particularly political, but not neutral either. It was a bit of a shock to think they had quietly shifted so far to him without his notice.

Harry took the rest of the trip to think about all the other not-quite-neutrals, and where they had fallen the last time Draco had attempted the lounge. He was startled to realise he had quite the majority.

'Are you coming?'

Harry looked up to find only himself and Blaise left in the carriage. He had been lost in thought.

'Yeah.'

Harry climbed down. They were some of the first to arrive, and were standing with the carriages as if unsure as where to start.

'Where are you headed?' Harry asked Blaise.

'Lillian and Millie want to start in Dervish and Banges, though Daphne and Tracey are heading to Rilland's and I think I'll head with them.'

'The dress-robe shop?'

'Yes.' Blaise said defiantly. Harry snorted internally. Blaise had it bad, Rilland's Robes was almost entirely female fashion statements. To be fair, Blaise did have an excellent taste in robes and would probably be quite useful as a third opinion. Especially as the girls hadn't grown out of their frilly ribbon stage. Harry just didn't think it sounded like much fun.

'Right. Well you enjoy yourself. I take it Theo is headed to Puddifoot's?'

'Already gone. Poor sod.'

Harry laughed.

'I'm headed to the post office. I'll walk with you.'

'You're not interested in meeting at the Three Broomsticks later?'

Harry shook his head. 'No. I'm just posting some letters, dropping in to the Apothacathary to cancel an order and then heading back to the castle.'

Blaise looked startled. 'Nothing else at all?'

Harry smiled lightly. 'Nope.'

Much like the upper years who didn't have dates and had stayed at the castle, Hogsmeade had lost a lot of it's charm for Harry. It was great if you had someone to meet up with, or when avoiding exam pressure, but he could get most of what he wanted by owl order. Plus, what with all the extra security, he wouldn't be able to sneak off somewhere to apparate elsewhere. That was the only other thing he could think of wanting to do, really. The Three Broomsticks would be okay, and butter beer was nice, but if Harry was going to go drinking he'd prefer a Firewhisky, or a Hags Breath (sounds disgusting, tastes delicious), neither of which he would be served as a thirteen-year-old Harry Potter. Perhaps he'd try Aberforth next Hogsmeade weekend… or he'd have to get his hands on some ageing potion by the holidays.

'Your funeral then.' Blaise shrugged. 'After lunch I'm going to talk the girls into exploring, maybe even the Shrieking Shack.'

'Tracey didn't seem very keen on the train.' said Harry.

Blaise winced.

'Good luck.' Harry laughed

Rilland's Formal Robes was down a tiny side alley, so Harry waved them off and hurried along to the post office. One thing Hogsmeade did do better than Diagon, or really any of the shopping districts, was post. They had just over two hundred and fifty owls for hire. They all roosted inside sitting on shelves and were colour coded depending on speed, weight and type of delivery. They even had four particularly nasty owls that were especially for delivering howlers.

Harry selected a large international owl for his letter to Flamell. He had accepted graciously with a Post Script suggesting that it might be better if no one were aware Harry was going until he went. Harry would just have to talk Snape around to not sharing who was or wasn't on the staying-for-Christmas list.

He also selected two regular speed owls for local letters. One to Daphne's uncle (a simple follow up thank-you with subtle requests for personally thanking Daphne's Aunt and declaring his surprise at a Quidditch player being so approachable), and one to Grace Weitts, seeing as he was planning to leave Hogwarts for Christmas he may as well take her on that trip to muggle London.

Posting the letters didn't take too long, and stopping in at the Apocathary took even less time. It was a pokey little one room affair with few ingredients of poor quality. It did however have connections to the lesser evil areas of Knockturn, and Harry could cancel his request for tongues there. A notice-me-not on his scar and a dodgy glamour took care of any links between Harris Noir and Harry Potter, both easily cancelled. Harry hadn't been entirely honest about only doing those two errands. But then, the less people knew about who was supplying Peeves so well, the better. Harry pulled out the list and slipped into Zonko's. He was startled to notice Theo and Padma giggling in one corner at some trick quills (Harry wasn't sure which of them got the points for not spending the entire day in the dreaded tea shop), but they seemed well enough distracted and most of Peeves list was toward the more destructive and gooey side. Zonko's probably took the longest, but it was still less than half an hour after he arrived that Harry headed back towards the castle. This time Harry was pleased to be alone in the carriage and could just cast a half-patronus; just a slight shield from the effects without having Prongs prancing around causing panic.

Harry wasn't the only one back early. He turned to find another carriage pulling in behind his leaving one. A little bit curious Harry patted the Thestral leading it, as an excuse to linger.

'You do realise how creepy that looks. Right?'

Harry looked up to find Neville and a pale looking Ron climbing out. 'Not really. I, after all, can see what I'm petting.'

'Ah.' Neville looked a bit sorry to have said anything.

Harry frowned at them. 'You're back early.'

'Don't-'

'Ron feinted again.'

'-Tell Potter.' Ron gained back some of his colour in embarrassment, but he still didn't look great. Harry could sympathise. He reached into his pocket, and trusting Ron's keeping ability, tossed him the rest of the block of chocolate only drawling 'Catch, Weasley' after he'd thrown it.

Ron gave the chocolate a wary look. 'Chocolate.'

Harry shrugged and started to head into the castle. If it were him, he'd hate to have someone stand around and gawp… or start making fun of him like-

'Oh, and you shouldn't let Malfoy get to you.' Harry yelled over his shoulder. 'They only effect you because you've had nasty stuff happen. Malfoy thinks they're easy because he's a pampered little prince.'

Once out of sight Harry pulled out the Map then headed up to the third floor, where Peeves could be found sprinkling sneezing powder along the open rafters. Harry cast a repelling charm around his face before sneaking up on the poltergeist.

'PEEVSIE!' Harry yelled, from two inches behind Peeves head. Peeves shot up into the air well into the roof and possibly out some of the fourth floor. He floated back down clutching at his heart with a false-horrified look and an evil glint in his eye.

'Potter you rotter!'

Harry smirked, holding up the large paper bag full of goodies. Peeves dropped the act fast.

'Ah. Business transaction then? Only fair to start with a bit of startlement.'

Harry rolled his eyes, holding the bag out of reach. 'Nothing on me. Tame at best on my immediate friends. Leave the firsties be. Warnings about-' Harry waved vaguely to the rafters '-un-targeted attacks and tricks.'

Peeves sulked, but spat on his hand and held it out. Harry winced, but spat on his own and they shook. His hand came away slightly green from ectoplasm.

'Pleasure doing dealings with you Mr. Rotter.'

'Get lost then.' Harry said with a grin. Peeves saluted him, gave him a raspberry, then shot off down the hall.

'Interesting companions you have there, hmm Harry?'

This time Harry nearly jumped through the roof. Then he turned very slowly, coming face to face with an amused looking Remus. Clearly, from his casual stance, he had been there for a while. Harry could only assume Peeves hadn't been worried by an old trouble maker. Ah.

Harry switched to a smirk. 'Says you, huh Moony.'

As soon as the words were out his mouth he regretted them. Harry had meant it in terms of trouble making, but it had obviously reminded Remus of Sirius. Mentally Harry winced. He decided he'd be better off just leaving, he turned around and came face-to-face with Filch, who had obviously just come from seeing off the last of the late Hogsmeade visitors.

'What are you doing?' Filch snarled suspiciously.

Harry could practically feel Remus laughing from behind him. 'Nothing,' said Harry after realising Remus was going to stay silent.

'Nothing!' spat Filch, his jowls quivering unpleasantly. 'A likely story! Sneaking around on your own — why aren't you in Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your nasty little friends?'

Harry shrugged.

'Well, get back to your common room where you belong!' snapped Filch, stalking past them down the hall.

Harry turned and gave Remus a shrewd look.

'Do you have some sort of patented Filch-repellent. He can not have seen you at all, to have a conversation like that.'

Remus suddenly looked far too innocent. 'I have no idea what you're talking about.'

'I'm suuure.' Harry grumbled. But he turned and walked along-side Remus, judging from their direction, they were heading for his office.

'So you decided not to go after all? I suppose it was rather amusing watching us all insist.'

There was nothing in his tone, but Harry suspected Remus was a bit hurt. He hadn't decided whether or not he cared yet.

'I've been, actually. I had an international letter to send, and some purchases for er-…'

'Supplies for a friend?'

'Perhaps.' Harry grinned.

They stopped outside Remus' door.

'Well, you're back safe, which is the main thing.' He looked at Harry in such a way that made Harry feel like an errant teen for real, before gesturing in. 'Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a Grindylow for our next lesson.'

'You probably could have asked the mer-people in the lake. They are always rounding some up.'

The sickly green creature with sharp little horns had its face pressed against the glass, pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers.

'Really?' said Remus, surveying the Grindylow thoughtfully. 'Oh well. This one has been bothering an old lady's Snaws. So at least it is of some use.' Remus tapped the glass lightly and the Grindylow tried to grab at him through the glass. 'We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle.'

The Grindylow bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle of weeds in a corner.

'Cup of tea?' Remus said, looking around for his kettle. 'I was just thinking of making one.'

'All right,' said Harry less awkwardly than in the original timeline.

Remus tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout.

'Sit down,' said Remus, taking the lid off a dusty tin. 'I've only got teabags, I'm afraid.'

'That's fine.'

There was a moment of silence as Remus settled in behind his desk.

'What's a Snaw?' Harry eventually asked. Remus smiled.

'I had to ask too. Apparently some sort of Swan that lives on the wrong side of the water.'

'Like a reflection?'

'Mmmm. I suspect that she'd been doing some illegal breeding, but the Department seems aware of her.' Remus shrugged lightly.

Harry snorted, then fell silent again. It was a comfortable silence, though Harry felt a little guilty. Things could possibly be made a lot easier if Harry told Remus about Sirius' innocence. The problem was that Harry just didn't know which side Remus fell on. He had hardly been around, for all those years. But then, perhaps he really did just mope for a decade. It just seemed a little weird. Certainly suspicious timing emerging when he did.

Something of Harry's turbulent thoughts must have shown on his face, because Remus said, 'Anything worrying you, Harry?'

'No,' Harry lied. He drank a bit of tea and watched the Grindylow brandishing a fist at him. They were echoing Harry's old timeline again. But had those questions been about seeing how Harry was? Or seeing how much Harry knew?

Harry's eyes drifted across the room to the wardrobe that had held the Boggart. He wondered where it was being kept. They made for good money, if caught in a properly warded case. Harry made a mental note to put aside some time to search the RoR.

'Yours was one of the more curious reactions.'

Harry looked at Remus confused, before realising that he had followed Harry's line of sight.

'The Dementors do scare me.' Harry frowned. 'Is it usual for a Boggart to switch like that?'

'Is that what it was. How wonderful.' Remus smiled to himself before shaking his head. 'Sorry, but to fear fear itself.'

Harry snorted.

'Very sensible, yes. Though to be honest it's more about having my soul sucked out.'

'Ah.' Remus sounded rather amused. 'No, to answer your question, it isn't very common. I take it you knew about Boggarts?'

'You could say that, yes.' You taught me well.

'Well, then I suspect that it registered first not your biggest fear, rather what you expected to fear.'

'Passive legilimency.'

Remus nodded a little warily. 'Where did you read about Boggarts?'

'In the Malfoy library.' Harry lied. He had read about that and many other gruesome facts on Boggarts in a book he'd bought down Knockturn. But Dissecting Your Fears wasn't exactly Light-friendly. Best let him blame someone he already considered a bad influence.

'Hmm, well, I think that in fact you are not as afraid of Dementors as you think you are. Assuming one can contradict the mind-over-matter approach.'

That was actually a logical solution, something he hadn't thought possible. It wasn't that he wasn't afraid of Dementors, it was just he'd spent a fair chunk of time learning to cast a Patronus wandless (almost purely because a jerk higher up in the Auror corps told him he couldn't do it). Dementors were still scary, but he knew he could face them.

'Who was the man?'

'What?' Harry looked up from his thoughts.

'Your new boggart. Who was he, and why did you-'

Harry let out a small laugh before he could stop it.

'Voldemort is incredibly powerful, you would agree?'

'Yes.' Remus said carefully. 'But-'

'But,' Harry agreed, 'does terrible things with that power. But imagine, for a minute, an entirely rational Voldemort. One who chose to control politically, no doubt with nasty stuff on the side. Versed in the Dark arts, not lost in them. Someone like Lucius Malfoy, only with Power to back up his money.'

'Ah.' Remus shuddered a little.

'Tom Riddle,' Harry said, '-was an incredibly scary individual. Turning that into Voldemort makes him seem a little silly.'

Remus looked at Harry for a long time. Harry let him, just taking another slow sip of tea.

'You know you are partly a joy to teach, and partly a nightmare.'

Harry quirked one eyebrow.

'You set off the most interesting thought strands… though I do wish you had done so without depositing a Dark Lord in my classroom. Professor Sprout tells me her Hufflepuffs are still traumatised.'

Harry snorted. 'Apparently, according to my friends, it was just a political manoeuvre.'

'Was it?'

Harry found it very hard not to like Remus. 'No. But I've claimed it anyway.'

'Definitely Slytherin then.' Remus nodded. 'Had you-'

He was interrupted by a knock on the door.

'Come in,' called Remus.

The door opened, and in came Snape. He was carrying a goblet, which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Harry, his black eyes narrowing. Harry could have laughed.

'Ah, Severus,' said Remus, smiling. 'Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?'

Snape set down the smoking goblet, his eyes wandering between Harry and Remus.

'I was just showing Harry my Grindylow,' said Remus pleasantly, pointing at the tank.

'Fascinating,' said Snape, without looking at it. 'You should drink that directly, Lupin.'

'Yes, Yes, I will,' said Remus.

'I made an entire cauldronful,' Snape continued. 'If you need more.'

'I should probably have some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus.'

'Not at all,' said Snape, but Harry pounced on him before he could back out of the room.

Deciding to throw some caution to the wind, Harry conjured a chair (seventh year material) behind Snape charming it to scoop him into it, then passed him a cup of tea.

'We were just discussing Boggarts.' Harry said, a gleam in his eye.

There was a startled moment when both Snape and Remus looked like matching deer in headlights, then Snape broke it with a hiss of 'Potter-' in a low tone that sounded deadly.

Remus looked far more alarmed than Harry thought was necessary, and intervened with a slightly high pitched 'Harry's Boggart started as a Dementor, then switched.' clearly trying to get them back on slightly less dangerous ground.

'Then it turned into a rational Voldemort as minister for magic. Perhaps you've an opinion?' Harry said, feeling spontaneously mischievous and having no such similar compulsion.

'The Dark Lord as-' Snape broke of, giving Harry a shrewd look. 'It turned into this?'

Oops. Looks like that turn of phrase made Snape think that was what Harry did to make the dementor not scary. Oh well.

'Yes. Sugar, Sir?' Harry offered, gesturing the tea. He then turned to Lupin 'You know that will only taste worse and worse the longer it's been since being taken from the cauldron.'

'Wolfsbane?!' Snape demanded.

Remus, who had been considering the goblet with curiosity looked up at that. 'Secret huh?' He prompted lightly. Harry had to applaud him on the easy-going attitude. It was better than a lot of Slytherin masks, really.

'Potter clearly knew. I was referring to the brewing knowledge.'

Harry winced. He suspected the potion he brewed in place of the exam last monday had been an OWL level potion, but he couldn't remember what it was called at the time, and had forgotten to look it up. So far Snape hadn't said anything else about the advanced knowledge, and Harry had been meaning to keep it that way.

'I look up the occasional obscure interest.' Harry defended.

'In your spare time?' Snape growled.

'Oh, I'd forgotten you had the time-turner.' Remus added, again trying to draw Snape's attention away. Harry wondered idly if he was just used to getting between Potter-Snape arguments and diffusing them before they could explode.

'Yes, and I half think the brat doesn't need one at all. Clearly he still has so much spare time that he can look up Honour Level Mastery potions.'

Harry shrugged. 'I'm a bit bored.'

Snape broke off from glaring, but had that same suspicious look again.

'You're bored doing every course that Hogwarts has on offer?' Remus demanded.

'Pomfrey is teaching him on Fridays.' Snape added.

Harry scowled. Getting them together was meant to set them of at each other in amusing ways, not gang up on him.

'Your mother was very clever, I suppose.' Remus said, though he looked a bit doubtful.

Harry sulked.

That comment seemed to have snapped Snape out of it at least, for now he was giving Remus the calculating look. Harry sat up a little straighter.

'If you are in need of extra reading material, Harry, you can always ask me.' Remus added, seemingly unaware that Snape had switched focus. He was probably thinking of the Malfoy Library.

'Thanks, I might take you up on that.' Harry said, a little amused again.

'Slytherin gives you many opportunities that I'm sure other houses don't, but you don't need to take advantage of all of them.' Remus said, definitely unaware of Snape. Or rather, trying to sound cryptic, probably to avoid Snape knowing what Harry had been studying.

Oh. Oh. Harry just got the conversational shift from Snape earlier… or rather, later.

'Thank you Sir.'

'Potter.' Snape bit out suddenly. 'Seeing as you have decided not to go to Hogsmead anyway, you can-'

'He already went.' Remus added. Harry was beginning to wonder if perhaps Remus was aware, but was choosing to look oblivious. It was an excellent tactic, if so.

Snape was developing a tic.

'My office, now.' He said, standing and obviously expecting Harry to follow.

'Now, now Severus. Harry and I were just having a very interesting debate. Perhaps he could find you at a later time.'

'Now, Potter.'

'Really, I insist.'

Merlin, Harry groaned internally, that escalated quickly.

'Thanks for the tea, Professor, but I better head with Professor Snape.' Harry spoke loudly over the continued back and forth.

There was a stunned moment where Remus looked like he'd lost a sure bet, and Snape looked part smug, and part startled. Harry rolled his eyes and headed out the door.

'Your potion results.' Harry was handed back his notated instructions. He glanced at the first page and had to hold in a sigh. He'd been told the basic ingredients and actions, but had to figure out the correct proportions and directions. Snape had gone through and crossed out some sections, but he had also circled any correct sections with questions for an essay on each part he'd got wrong. Harry sighed, clearly there was a few feet worth on just the first page.

'Thank you, Sir.'

Snape inclined his head the tiniest fraction.

'Was there-'

'Lupin was warning you against Slytherin.' Snape sneered. 'A little too tardy for any beneficial score. Useless.'

'Warning me against the Malfoy Library.' Harry corrected. Snape's shoulders relaxed a smidgeon.

'Lucius let you in?' He asked, sounding surprised.

'Narcissa, actually.' Harry shrugged. 'I suspect that it's due to my Grandmother. Dorea Black.'

'The Black's.' Snape sneered the name. Harry was a little surprised; granted Snape hated Sirius, but he thought he had got on well with Regulus when he was alive, and Narcissa and Andromeda (before she eloped with Ted). The less said about Bellatrix the better.

'I'll take any advantage my blood will let me, while I still can.'

Snape frowned. 'What, you think Potter will disown you?'

Harry gritted his teeth. 'I've half a mind to disown myself.'

'You could probably claim the Black name. I believe Narcissa petitioned to adopt you back when the Dark Lord fell.'

That was news to Harry. 'I suppose Lucius' body art put a halt to that.' Harry's eyes flicked to Snape's left sleeve. He wondered what life would have been like, brought up with Draco. Gods, he'd probably be some snooty brat with far too much opinion of himself. He could only shudder as he imagined a dark-haired Draco with the Boy-Who-Lived title. From one extreme to the other.

'Yes, Bellatrix LeStrange put in a petition at the same time. Not three days later she was arrested for the Longbottom fiasco, so the Black name was rather discounted.

Harry sneered as he thought of the third Black sister. Snape seemed to be thinking along the same lines.

'I'm not sure as to Andromeda's reasoning behind not petitioning, though Narcissa mentioned that she was sure Andromeda would have a good reason.'

'You've spoken about this?'

'Recently.' Snape nodded. 'She said you had an odd reaction to the mention of her middle sister, so it came up.'

Harry had forgotten about that. He could feel a sneer falling unbidden to his face now. He almost would have preferred Bellatrix.

Snape watched Harry in silence for a moment, before moving suddenly, startling Harry by erecting strong privacy wards. Harry switched to magical sight, but he could only recognise the magic of a muffliato before he lost hold and slipped back. His scowl increased. He really needed to set aside more time to practice that.

'Are you a Dark wizard?'

Harry looked sideways at Snape from where he'd been studying the magical ward. Well that was blunt.

'No.'

Snape's mask twitched, but remained impassive. Harry suspected it was a voluntary action.

'I would hardly admit to it, if I were.' So why ask? was the unstated question.

Snape huffed. 'You gave yourself away by controlling the mark.'

Harry shifted to be facing Snape fully. Gave myself away as What?

'No.' Harry looked at Snape carefully for a moment, then sort of half-mentally shrugged, half-actually did. To his continual surprise, Snape was one of the few people he trusted almost fully.

Harry held out both hands, palm up. In his left, he pooled his magic under his skin, making it as Light as it could go. In his left he did the same, but after a moment where he glared at it and both hands fluctuated, it switched to Dark. Slowly, Harry concentrated more and more, almost slipping into a mediative state, he could bring it to almost fully Dark. This was far harder than switching fully one way or the other. That, after three years of being poked and prodded by the Department of Mysteries, came as naturally as breathing. Holding both however-

A sharp gasp broke Harry's attention, and he lost grip on both. A set of glass vials that were sitting on Snape's desk shattered as Harry's magic lashed out suddenly. Harry clenched his eyes shut and concentrated on pulling the magic back. Eventually he sat panting in the chair. He was rather amused to find that Snape had reached out and had both his hands only millimetres above Harry's open palms.

Harry dropped his hands away with a small smile. It always amused him (in a mildly horrified way) how out of it that would make him. He hadn't even been aware Snape had moved so much closer.

'I'm not Dark. But I could be.' Harry said lightly.

Especially now he had returned to the past, and had both his original magic, and his younger self's growing magic. Dark magic, truly Dark Arts, made those with Dark inclined Aura's sing with power.

Again, the Department of Mysteries had a lot to account for on that front. Harry could understand how people got addicted to Dark magic, especially powerful people. It was harder to say no to, certainly. But then, so was the truly Light magic. It was just that most of that was considered useless now. Probably because it had been marked as dark by the ministry, and so only those with illegal libraries (the Dark families) had access to it. It didn't make their magic sing.

Hell, the ritual Harry had done earlier only felt so good because Harry could let his Aura shift naturally to the same frequency between Light and Dark.

'You aren't Lord Voldemort.'

Harry's head snapped up to focus on Snape.

'Repeat that.' Harry had barked out the command before he could think, though Snape seemed inclined to obey.

'The Dark Lord. You aren't possessed by him, or controlled. You-' Snape broke off with a strangled laugh.

'No. Where on earth did you get an idea like that?'

Harry had thought of the answer almost immediately upon finishing asking the question. He could have laughed.

'Lucius Malfoy.' They answered in unison. Finally Harry could understand why the slippery man had been so damn helpful.

Harry snorted. He couldn't help it. 'Gods, He's going to be furious with him when He comes back.'

'Who?' Snape demanded.

But Harry had just derailed his own thoughts. What did he mean when He comes back? Harry had half of his Horcrux. He wasn't going to let him come back… was he?

'WHO!?' Snape yelled, Harry realised he had completely zoned him out.

He quirked a smile, and with some effort, shoved the cyclone of contradictory thoughts down for later examination when he was in private.

'You know who.'

Snape didn't seem to find it even the slightest bit amusing.

'Potter there is a lot of difference between dabbling in dark magical tomes, and serving a Dark Lord.'

'There is that dark and Dark again, assumably different to light and Light?'

Snape frowned. 'It is possible to classify all magic in two parts.'

'Dark magic is sacrificial, while Light magic draws on the earths natural stores.' Harry nodded.

'No.' Snape glared. 'That is dividing into fields of magic. You can classify magic as either being Neutral or Aggressive.'

Harry leaned forward. Clearly he should startle Snape with impossible magic more often, if he was finally going to get some answers.

'This is why McGonagall can teach Dark magic all day, and yet have an almost neutral Aura?' Harry asked.

'You can feel other Aura's as well?!' Snape asked, then shook his head with a mumbled 'Of course. Why should I have have expected some reasonable normality.'

'dark magic, as opposed to Dark magic-' Harry nodded when Snape paused to see if he was following, '-is Neutral magic. It doesn't affect the Aura because it draws on both the sacrificial nature, often through physical effort, as well as ambient magic.'

'But not all to the same degree?'

'Of course not.' Harry could practically hear the 'Imbecile' added silently on the end, but Snape seemed to be holding back on all insults. Harry probably wouldn't have cared less at this stage, as long as he kept explaining.

'So that is the reason we transfigure a match into a needle in first year, but have to wait until seventh year to transfigure a goat into a desk.'

'There are components of complexity, but that is the generalised rationale.'

'And why there are still openly Dark families that the ministry can't arrest?'

'It is a lot harder for the ministry to detect Neutral-Dark magic, yes.'

'So- what? Because it is grey magic it doesn't affect their Aura?'

'It is not Grey magic.' Snape snapped. 'It is neither Light, nor Dark. Or in essence; both.'

Harry scowled. 'This is like conjuring and falling into non-being, isn't it.'

'You brought up Transfiguration.'

Harry frowned.

'So is Voldemort the Dark Lord? or is he the… Aggressive- Lord?'

'He was the Dark Lord.'

Harry suddenly focused in on Snape, catching his gaze and holding it.

'Is.'

Snape paled just a fraction, but otherwise showed no sign.

'And Dumbledore is the Light Lord.' Harry thought aloud.

'Ye-es.' Snape answered. Harry looked up sharply.

'He isn't?'

Snape frowned. 'It is a bit complicated.'

'Because of Grindelwald?'

'What? No.' Snape sneered. 'Because he doesn't act like a Lord.'

Harry frowned. That didn't explain who took over whom in this whole one-lord-at-a-time business.

'Can someone who is a Light wizard, become a Dark Lord?'

'You planning on killing one of them off?' Snape seemed to ask in a nonchalant way, but Harry wasn't fooled.

'Not-'

'Do not outright lie to me Potter.' Snape snarled.

Harry frowned, but let it rest. Slytherins and their politics. Mentally Harry was rolling his eyes. As long as he didn't have to bow down to either of them, and if they would just stop using him as the rope in tug-of-war, he would quite possibly be content to let them be. Perhaps not the insane killings, but otherwise…

'So a Light wizard could still perform Dark magic?'

'No, a Light wizard can perform dark magic, but will struggle with Dark magic.'

'And if it isn't effecting our Aura, then it is Neutral magic?'

'Yes.'

Well at least that explained why no one realised until after the war that Harry was both Light and Dark. From what he could gather every time he had done Aggressive magic it had either been Light, or he was surrounded by Dark creatures (Dementors) and people naively assumed that the creatures give of a Dark or Light magic that rubbed off.

'And I suppose this is why enchanting, or warding and other specialty fields aren't taught until after school?'

'Surprisingly perceptive of you Potter. Yes. Nearly all of the Neutral magic's are taught in schools, while the spectrum specific Arts are taught as masteries. Since 1907 when they banned open testing a lot of the Arts have been lost, as they can no longer be taught until after schooling. Most people don't even realise that they are dependant on natural affinity.'

Harry winced. To be fair, the affinity test was particularly nasty and invasive and Harry didn't really think young children should be submitted to it.

'It'd be nice if they'd explain that though.' Harry grumbled, 'Instead we are just left to assume that enchanting or wand-crafting is controlled by the pureblood market.'

'Ah. Wand-crafting is Grey magic.'

'Which is what? Magic based off…' Harry trailed off, as all of a sudden he had felt a sort of magical pulse. Snape had been sitting back in his chair with his arms crossed, but sat up slowly.

It took Harry a minute to figure out what he was feeling, but as he started to slip into the same state as earlier, his magic humming, he realised that time-travel could possibly be considered messing with a ritual. A terrible idea.

'You are glowing Potter.'

Harry glanced down at his skin. He was, in fact, glowing slightly. It was less obvious when he moved, but the feint golden light was definitely there.

'Ah.'

'A side effect of a ritual.' Snape hissed. 'A blood ritual.'

Harry kept his mask blank and strengthened his occlumency shields. Not that Snape had tried anything against those in quite some time.

'Curious.' Harry offered. Snape glowered.

'You can tell me where your other self is-' He hissed again, 'Or, I can do what I rightly should, and inform the Headmaster that there is illegal magic coming from one of my students.'

Harry winced. Oh well, it wasn't like he didn't already know that it was Snape that found him. He'd already pretty much resigned himself to the fact that it was his own self that got him in trouble. If he'd known he would glow like this he would have spent the afternoon down in the Chamber. Then again, it was probably worth it for all the information. Snape seemed to be in a particularly chatty mood. Compared to his usual grumpy self, anyway.

'There is a set of standing stones in the forbidden forest.'

'Where?'

Harry sighed. 'I'll take you.'

Snape snarled. 'And risk a paradox. You may not give any value to your own life, but it is our universe.'

Harry snorted. 'If I were going to blow up the universe it would already have happened… which of course means it couldn't have happened in the first place, or I wouldn't be here.'

'Enough!' Snape was already resigned to it, and had begun stalking out of the room. With a wave of his wand he vanished the shattered vials from Harry's experiment and slammed open the door. 'Elucidate on your own time. Affinity I have patience for. Unresolvable time paradoxes are irrelevant.'

Which put Snape firmly on one side of the argument anyway, though Harry wisely chose against commenting on this. They passed the toadie first year as they left Snape's office, but all the boy got was a 'Not now, Baranex!' snarled at him on the way past.

So that was his name! Harry thought as he rushed to catch up with Snape.

Thankfully, once outside the castle, they stalked to his younger self in silence. Harry could only assume the other option would have been a tirade of insults, so he didn't mind. Eventually they reached the last fork in the forest path before the stones, and Harry spoke.

'Down there another few minutes or so. Sir-…' Harry hesitated.

'Spit it out, Potter!'

Harry shrugged. 'I best warn you that I'm naked.'

Snape pinched the bridge of his nose with a distinctly pained look.

'I am astounded that I didn't murder you.' Snape deadpanned.

'No sir. Just two four-foot essays.'

Snape gave him a shrewd look. 'Nice try, Potter. Six feet in the very least.'

'Perhaps, Sir.' Harry half-smiled, half-winced. 'I'll leave you to it.'

Harry made himself scarce before Snape could respond. He was perhaps over confident, but had it on good authority (his own) that Snape wasn't as mad as he seemed. Otherwise his younger self would have been somewhere in the dungeons living up something more along the lines of Filch's choice-punishment.

It was curious though, and bore some investigation. Snape seemed to be in a good mood in general. There were bouts of foul temper, sure, but then he would slip back and happily explain magical theory. Without the information being dispersed between the usual insults too. Interesting.