Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

The Meeting of a Lifetime

By Ancient Midnight

Chapter Nine

2011/11/27

Obviously, Snape wasn't going to help. Harry actually felt a little stupid for thinking he would. Being the greasy git of the dungeons it was unlikely if not impossible for Snape to do anything but scorn and snap at him for asking.

Harry couldn't help feeling like he should be more excited about a women who looked like his mom returning to life. But even Harry in what little time he had seen her, knew that this woman was not his mom, and couldn't be. It seemed like it would be an insult to Lily Potter for him to pretend she was. Even though calling a twin of his mom Lily was a little weird even in his head.

Luckily, Harry bumped into Hermoine before seeing anyone else. Ever the understanding one, Hermoine took him by the arm to the furthest reaches of the library, and hexed anyone who came near. Despite bouncing around and the wide grin that told Harry she desperately wanted to grill him for information, she never actually asked a single question.

While Harry sat and thought to himself, Hermoine was quickly once again lost in the pages of research. Not even a returned-to-life parent could keep her from reading up on one of her favourite topics. It was a dependable comfort for Harry. If Ron were here he'd want to go practice quidditch, then he'd blush and mutter about being happy that Lily was back and for a maximum of five minutes (with encouragement from both friends) stay focused on how Harry felt and what was happening.

Neither friend would put more dramatics into this than need be. Luckily for Harry they could distract themselves purposefully or not and Harry would have time to sort things out in his head first.

Reaching a lull in her reading, Hermione glanced up, "You alright?"

"Fine, just thinking," Harry sat back. "She's not really my mom, you know?"

"No?" Hermoine fished a book mark out of her textbook.

"No, I can tell. I don't even know my mom and I can tell," Harry told her.

Hermoine fidgeted for a moment. "You know that she is staying with Professor Snape, right?"

Harry couldn't remember if someone had told him that. It sounded right, Lily certainly liked Snape after all. "He's being a jerk."

"Really? I hear that Professor McGonagal has it in for him lately. She cut back the funding for his personal potions research."

"How did you know that?" It amazed Harry the things Hermoine knew that no one else did.

"His library paid for by the school was moved to the potions section down there. Madam Pomphrey needs people to help her put them all away. Professor Snape knew exactly what books to study from. There are even text books for potion mastery, copies of ancient books on runes, books on herbology," Hermoine's eyes twinkled as she described the treasures that had been opened to the public.

"Well, Why aren't we helping her? You might find a good book there," Harry snickered at Hermoine's guilty glance at her table. Grabbing her arm, Harry dragged her back to the librarian's desk to help her sort out the new books.

Sure enough, Harry found two books that were interesting enough to read before bed.

Lily hadn't asked Severus any questions about her other life in this reality. She had asked a thousand questions about his personal life, a hundred questions on his family and friends, and about a million on his research. So it came as a great surprise when she suddenly asked about her children in this reality.

"James always wanted a lot of kids, he has his own little clan where I come from. How many children did I have with him?"

Severus didn't want to think about it, but one look at Lily told him she wasn't going to drop it. "Only one. Harry Potter, The-boy-who-lived. He's a second year now."

"hmmm, so you told me before that Lily sacrificed herself?"

"And James died the same night," Severus felt the need to repeat this.

"Why didn't Rose end up killing the Dark lord? You died the same way as she did."

"I have no idea," Severus took a glance at his watch, "We are going to be late for classes, are you sure you want to cover astrology?"

"Yes, and I noticed that the second years aren't taking charms or potions today, they were switched with the fourth years. How strange," Lily fixed him with a glare.

"Yes strange."

McGonagal couldn't return to her duties fast enough for the second year Gryffindors. Classes had switched and now they had the tonight free, but four assignments due after lunch. They should have only had three. Helping a group of grouchy second years rush their homework was not on the favourite's list of any of the other years. Even Hermoine was frustrated with the lot of them and it was funny to watch.

The entire house of Ravenclaw were very agitated; their books all became due and had to be returned (usually Flitwick could talk the librarian into giving them more time), and on top of that their headboy had just announced that he was not returning to school. Everyone was giving anyone with a blue tie a large amount of personal space. Even so much as looking at them seemed to be setting them off.

Of course with both opposing head of houses away, Snape was rumoured to have two candidates for the headmaster to look at.

And to think it was only Monday.

Classes in the morning were terrible, Binns put the whole class to sleep in record time. Despite being Monday morning, even Hermoine lost the gleam in her eye. Not able to completely fall asleep, the class had zoned out in boredom and even those taking notes couldn't focus on the ghosts unusually slow drawl about the Goblin economy struggle during the Dwarven population decline. It had about to become an emergency worthy of drastic second year measures. they were saved when Harry was sure that Binns had said the declination had something to do with house elves, that he heard the professor say 'house elves rebellion of. . . " but Hermoine was just as sure that the ghost had NOT said that. Their written debate back and forth made the class more bearable afterwards.

Hermoine used her books while Harry used broken pieces of Professor Binn's Lecture.

Harry was just telling Hermoine about how that one class was the worst class in the history of Hogwarts when they entered Defense.

"This class will make everything worth it Hermoine, you'll see!" Harry for once had to drag his friend to their seats. Even Lockheart couldn't ruin this class with all of his enthusiasm.

Gilderoy Lockheart made himself a spectacular entrance, with lights and fancy tricks.

"No no no, forget about your homework, I understand that you thought you would have lunchtime to look it over," He gave a sympathetic nod of his head, while his students grinned at one another. "You may hand it in next class. And that is all the homework you will recieve today."

For a moment, Lockheart was loved by the entire class. He pranced around the room and with a magnificent wave of his wand gave them each a pop quiz.

"I hate to be a strictly mean teacher, but it is imperative that I know how each of you-" he paused to gleam his teeth at his students, "stand in your knowledge of the subject. "

Question one:

How many times has Gilderoy Lockheart won 'best smile of the year' award?

0

1

2

Harry had been wrong, this was the worste class he had ever watched.

"Severus, I want to see Harry. I want to at least ask a few questions," Lily paced in front of him with a brandy in her hand.

"Well, ask away, I can tell you," Severus told her.

"You don't even know him. and the last time he saw me I was screaming my had off like a lunatic. That is enough to scar anyone."

"He is quite fine, I spoke to him yesterday."

Lily turned to him, "I want to talk to him. If only to make sure I haven't scarred the boy."

Severus didn't say anything as Lily left their apartments. He finished his drink and wondered if once again, Potter was going to get the girl.

Harry couldn't stop talking to the fourth years that told him Lily was teaching charms. Most of what they were saying now was just being repeated fro what they had told Harry earlier, but the fourth years didn't mind. Every once in a while one of them would mention a detail they had forgotten and that would set everyone off again.

"She has this kind of hard voice that she uses to get your attention, and she really knew her stuff. She was talking about charms and she even knew most of our names already. She said she had met most of us before," The boy told him. The other kids nodded, glad to be able to tell Harry about the woman.

"She was a little strict and she didn't care if we could do the spell, so long as we did everything correctly for the spell. She said intent could be drawn on in it's own time."

"Wow, sounds like a female Flitwick!" Harry said. He was happy to hear a little of what he knew of his mom to be true; she was good at charms.

"Yeah, maybe she'll stay on as like a supply teacher or something."

"That would be great," they all agreed.

"Well thanks," Harry said.

"Oh, no problem." "Anytime."

Harry laughed as he headed back to Hermoine at her mountain of books. Ron had sent a letter for them and harry hadn't read it yet.

"Good news?"

"He's coming back next week, and he sends his best," Hermoine grinned at him before turning back to her book.

"Harry," Lee Jordan called, "Your mom would like to see you. She's outside the portrait."

"Oh, what a surprise," Hermoine said.

Harry nearly knocked over his chair as he made his way to the portrait. swinging it open, Harry saw her conversing with one of the portraits down the hall. Hearing the Fat Lady call out, Lily turned to them.

"Harry," she said giving him a nervous smile.

"Lily, I was hoping-err," Harry had nothing to say actually. But he did have about a million questions.

Lily came closer, spreading her arms for a hug, "I wanted to see you now that I have the chance."

Harry gave her a hug while he was still trying to work on getting his voice to work.

"How is school work? Are you having any trouble?" Lily pulled out of the hug and took two steps back. Maybe he didn't hug her right.

"It's not too bad, I did most of my homework this weekend actually. I have a friend who helps me. She makes sure I do it on time," Harry was excited to share.

"Ahh, so you had a good day?" Lily smiled.

"Yeah. We were running around scrambling to get it done. We got bonus marks anyways for having the surprise homework done. And no homework."

"Good good," Lily told him. "Who do you live with during the summer?"

"Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon," Harry wondered if maybe she wanted him to go somewhere else.

"She must spoil you rotten," Lily told him.

"Not really," Harry said but Lily looked like she didn't believe him, "So what's your favourite colour?"

Idiot idiot idiot

Lily laughed, "I've traveled through realities and time for you to ask that one question?"

Harry blushed feeling stupid. Lily took his arm, patting it a few times.

"No no, relax. Let's see. Um, well, until I started Hogwarts, my favourite colour was lavender. Then red, and during my final years at Hogwarts I was partial to blue because of my favourite sweater. After school I still liked blue, but after my daughter-well I think colours just lost their magic for me," Lily paused thinking, "I think if I have to pick now, it would probably be Orange. A new colour for a new life."

Harry was a little stunned. Not so much because of the information (His mom probably favoured the colour blue), but also because of the brief smell he caught when Lily had come closer to pat his arm.

Severus went around the corner to the Gryffindor common rooms. He could hear Lily's gentle voice and Potter's grating answer. It had only taken a few moments for Snape to decide that if he had to share Lily with Potter, he would.

One brat was not worth giving up Her. She was too important, and if she wanted to be around Potter, then she would be. Snape would hand her those forms tonight if that was what she wanted.

But seeing them together stopped Snape short. Lily was asking questions and Potter was so polite and intelligent when he ansewred. He was obviously completely focused on her.

Snape was about to enter when he saw the child start to get embarrassed, but Lily was handling it.

Lily was describing her favourite colour and Potter was just listening. He looked as entranced by his mother as Snape was. He had never seen how much Potter looked like his mother before he saw them together.

For a moment, Snape forgot that this Lily was from a different reality. If Lily had stepped aside and they had both lived and Lily had forgiven him this could have been Snape's family.

Harry felt more than a little insulted, taking a glance around them he noticed Snape a little ways off. He was watching the two of them with a familiar mean look. The same look usually came right before Harry was served with detention or got in deep trouble.

He wanted to tell Lily what he knew, but he wanted information more. And maybe, Lily would want to take him away from the Dursley's.

Lily thought he was nervous, so she continued,"My favourite food has always been doused in honey, which is also my favourite condiment. I like deer, having been saved by a stag in my sixth year, that is a story for another time Harry. I like to wear only my favourite perfume, made by my husband. My favourite flower is a water Lily. Anything else?"

"Why did you come tonight? You've been back days," Harry asked.

"Well, I was busy and sorting things out," She took a moment to think. Harry watched as she made a triangle with her hands in the air. She did it twice now so thoughtlessly he wondered how long she had that habit. "I wanted to come to you when I was ready and of sound mind to do so." Lily had to lean against the wall and Harry was reminded that she wasn't his mother.

"Oh, I understand," Harry smiled at her, completely unsure of what to do. "I should get going, and look, Snape's here."

Lily turned her head but Harry didn't understand the look she gave Snape.

"It's 'Professor Snape' Potter, go on." Snape didn't sound as angry as he usually did, but Harry took no chance as he ran all the way back in his dormitory.

"Sword in Stone," he muttered. He could just hear them laughing as the door shut behind him.

"Was that really necessary?" Lily laughed as she spoke.

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