Disclaimer - I do not own the characters in this story only the plot.

Title - Thank You Lord Voldemort

Chapter 3 – Turning Time

Severus Snape, had he been holding anything, would have dropped it. The shock was evident on his face as he thought, 'That was him. That was the curse.'

After Harry Potter disappeared the hall erupted in screaming, wailing, crying, and shouting. Severus stood shocked for a few moments before he regained his bearings. Voldemort and his goons left the hall as quickly as they had entered, vowing to return one day to take over the school.

Severus quickly strode over to the headmaster, who had apparently not figured out what happened if the wetness in his eyes was anything to go by.

"Albus, give me your time-turner."

The headmaster raised his head to meet the black pits that were the potions master's eyes. "You can't change what has already happened my boy. We all saw him disappear. We will just have to move on."

Severus glared, he didn't have time to argue with the distraught man. "I already used the time turner. That's how Harry got that potion he drank. I didn't realize it at first. But doesn't that spell and potion combination seem familiar?"

The headmasters eyes lit up and he quickly removed the time turner that he always kept with him from his neck and handed it to the potions master. "You know the rules Severus. See you when you're finished."

With that, Severus ran from the room and down to the dungeons where he turned the time turner four times because it would take three hours just to brew the potion.

If anyone had been looking they would have seen the potions master disappear.

Four Hours Earlier

Severus appeared in his personal potions lab. He knew he wouldn't be disturbed as his other self was teaching a class and then would be walking around the lake.

He went digging through his various potions notes and he found the recipe quickly as he had always kept it close, knowing it was the most important potion he would ever make.

The cutting of the ingredients was quick and precise. His stirring was swift and sure as he counted the exact stirs in his head. When he knew it was stable he resorted to pacing about the room as the potion simmered.

'I can't believe it really is him. This is going to be the longest year of my life.'

As the minutes ticked down the potions master stood by the cauldron as the time to add the final ingredient approached. He removed the fire from the cauldron and placed a cooling charm on it before stirring in the last ingredient. He filled two flasks with the potion. (In case one breaks.)

He wasn't sure of Harry's schedule but he didn't need to dwell on it long as he passed the boy apparently heading towards the great hall. He grabbed Harry and pulled him into an empty classroom.

"What the …. " Harry muttered as he was yanked into the classroom.

"Be quiet Potter. This is important."

Harry followed the professor's orders and leaned against a desk waiting for further instructions.

"You can't say anything to anyone about what I'm going to tell you. Not even your insufferable Gryffindor friends." He waited for Harry to nod. "Lord Voldemort is going to attack you in about thirty minutes in the great hall. I know this because I'm using a time turner. You have to trust me Potter."

He pulled one of the flasks from his robe. "Just before you and Voldemort duel you need to drink this potion. It is the most important thing you will ever do. If you don't drink this you will die. I know what curse he is going to use and this will protect you."

He watched as the boy nodded slowly and took the potion, hiding it in his robes. Potter quickly left the classroom to meet up with his friends, too shocked to say anything else.

Severus swept out of the classroom and stalked back down to his office to hide for the next hour until it was all over.

'This is indeed going to be the longest year of my life.'

He muttered under his breath.

After about thirty minutes he felt the wards go down and waited for a little while longer before heading back up to the great hall that was sure to be filled with sobbing students and teachers. He just needed to wait for his other self to disappear.