Disclaimer - Nope, not mine.

Thank You Lord Voldemort

Chapter 17 - Calm Before the Storm

Still in 1997

Draco Malfoy was just putting the finishing touches on his gelled back hair. Potions was his first class of the day so he gathered the appropriate books. Unfortunately his bottle of ink rolled to the floor and under his bed.

He scowled as he kneeled down to fetch the bottle. He just hoped that the house elves kept it clean enough under here. He felt around and his fingers closed around the bottle. As he retrieved it he noticed something written on the foot of his bed.

Severus Snape does not look good with red hair

Alex

Draco, being a Slytherin himself, knows that a Slytherin wouldn't have written that there without a reason. He was now determined to use this information for his own pleasure.

He entered the potion classroom and took his seat.

The whole class gasped when Professor Snape entered. Instead of his usual greasy black hair lying limp along his face it was shiny and silky looking. As he stormed in his hair billowed behind him much like his robes. He quickly quieted the class with a glare. He didn't change his teaching tactics any either, taking fifty points from Gryffindor by the end of class.

As they finished class for the day Professor Snape told them what to read for homework.

"Class dismissed." He scowled as he saw Draco Malfoy waiting behind. Needing to keep his cover often led to him talking with the children of death eaters in a pleasant way. He despised having to do so. Draco Malfoy was no exception.

"What can I do for you Draco?"

"Sir, when did you have red hair?"

Severus honestly couldn't remember the incident and told Draco that he had never had red hair.

"But, Alex said that you don't look good with red hair."

'Alex. Dammit Alex I should have known you wouldn't let that prank end. Twenty years later it comes back to haunt me. Insufferable brat.'

"Ah yes Draco, I remember now. It was a prank in my seventh year. A Gryffindor gave me red hair."

"Who is Alex?"

Severus stood up, pacing. 'If Draco asks his father about Alex he will surely tell him about all of the times the Dark lord cursed the name Alex.' So he said what he had to.

"Alex was a friend of mine in school. But he turned down the dark lord and was a muggle-loving fool so we stopped speaking to each other."

Draco pondered this and excused himself. 'Let's see if Father remembers Alex.'

Back in 1977

Alex's heart leapt into his throat as a snowy owl approached him when the mail arrived. It took him a moment to realize that it wasn't Hedwig. Alex removed the letter from the owl and gave him a piece of bacon.

Across the hall Sirius, who was facing the Slytherin table tapped James on the shoulder. "Isn't that your mother's owl?"

James immediately looked up to see Alex feeding the owl bacon. "I .. Yes, it is."

James and Sirius stormed over to the Slytherin table and James snatched the letter from Alex.

Mister Campione,

I'm sorry but I cannot help you with your question. I don't know much about Norwegian Ridgebacks. May I suggest a friend in Romania?

Mrs. Lucille Potter

James chuckled. "You're asking my mother for advice on dragons? How did you even know that she works with magical creatures?"

Alex just glared and grabbed his letter. He blinked in surprise as the amount of writing quadrupled when he touched it. He quickly pocketed the letter to read later.

Severus watched the exchange with concern. 'Who would be writing Alex that James knows?'

"Who's that from anyway?" Severus asked in a whisper.

Alex smiled. "Potters mum. She's helping me with some research."

Severs scowled and pushed his other questions away for now.

That evening as Severus was doing more potions research, Alex pulled out the letter.

Dear Alex,

I can't say how incredible it was to meet you. I'm wondering by your eye color if James finally gets the girl he's been pining over. You probably shouldn't tell me though. While you don't look exactly like James, his father has a brother with longer hair and you and he are remarkably similar. I'm surprised James hasn't figured it out already. He always has been too blinded by house prejudices. I must say that those prejudices stem from his Uncle David who is Gryffindor to the core and often taunts James about beating Slytherin. I try to discourage him as much as I can.

I know you can't tell me much about your life so why don't you think up some questions to write me about. I'd be happy to answer them. This letter is charmed so that only you can read it.

Be Safe,

Grandma (I always wanted to be called that.)

Alex put the letter in his trunk and wrote a reply basically asking various questions about his heritage. He went to the owlery and sent it off.

Over the next couple of months he continued to correspond with his grandmother and it proved extremely fascinating. He learned all sorts of things about his extended family. Come to find out, a great great aunt of his married Nicholas Dumbledore. The headmaster was actually a cousin of his.

As May rolled around there wasn't much time for anything. All of the teachers were drowning the students in homework to prepare them for the NEWTs. He and Severus still found time to date though. Every Hogsmead weekend they would spend all day together, shopping and dining. The little blue potion stayed in his nightstand. He knew that he would never leave of his own accord.

Quidditch practice also took up much of their time as the last match of the season, Gryffindor - Slytherin was approaching.

The last week of May was NEWT week and all of the seventh years were stressed out. They weren't only stressed about the NEWTs but also about what they'd do after school. Severus and Alex decided to rent an apartment together for a little while. It wasn't much but it was near the potions master Severus had been apprenticed to. Alex had no clue about what he should do. He just applied for a job at a quidditch store in the town they would be living in. It wasn't much but it would pay his half of the rent.

Naturally Alex felt he did well in his charms and DADA NEWTs. He also figured that he did well in potions. How could he not when he was studying with Severus? The man just knew way too much about potions. Severus figured he did well also. Alex had helped him with some of the charms he had problems with so his practical for that NEWT was flawless.

They still had almost a month of school left but it was laid back. Many of the things they were learning was extra material that the teachers wanted to go over but wasn't covered on the NEWTs. The Quidditch match was in a few days so they still had practice to go to.

On Saturday, June 3 Alex and Severus were relaxing by the lake after a grueling practice. They thought the captain was crazy. Gryffindor would have to win by alot to get the quidditch cup. And since Alex was sure to catch the snitch...

The boys were startled when a colorful blur flew towards them. The phoenix landed on the ground in front of them and dropped a piece of parchment. Alex picked it up.

Misters Campione and Snape,

Please report to my office when you finish reading this.

Headmaster Dumbledore

The pair looked at each other before quickly heading back into the castle.

"Thank you for your timely arrival. Please have a seat. Your not going to like what I say but it is for the best." He paused briefly. "Alexander, it's time for you to go home."

Both boys were in shock. Alex's face turned from pale to blue to red in seconds. "What do you mean I have to go home? How did you even..." Alex looked over to Severus who silently shook his head.

"Alex, it is something that must happen. You cannot stay here forever. If you stay any longer it will only make it worse. I should never have let you stay this long. When I was informed that Severus had finished his research on this potion I wanted to call you straight away but your professors suggested that I let you stay till you take your NEWTs."

Alex, who's face was still red with rage, approached the headmaster. "I'm not going back. I belong here."

"No Alex, you don't. You can do this peacefully or not. You must go back. If you don't go back it could cause a paradox. You certainly must leave before you risk seeing yourself and you might once you go out into the world when school is out."

"But I haven't been born yet."

"Well you would have to leave by then. It will be much harder then though. You should do it now. You will do it now. It is my responsibility to make sure that my students don't do anything to harm themselves and that's what would happen."

Alex knew that he couldn't out debate the headmaster so he lowered his head in defeat. "Can we at least have another week?"

"I will give you one more night. Tomorrow morning I must send you back."

That night Severus and Alex went to the room of requirement. They both walked past it three times wishing for what they needed, a perfect room for their last night together. When the entered Severus pulled Alex to the bed and started kissing him right away. At first Alex responded to the kiss but before they could get too far he pushed him away slightly.

"We need to talk first. I'm worried about going back."

Severus pushed a stray lock of hair behind Alex's ear. "Just find me, my future self. I will be waiting for you."

"I don't expect you to wait for me Severus. It will be a long time before you see me again."

"I don't care how long it is I will wait for you."

"No Severus, I won't let you. I want you to live a happy fulfilled life. With no one else in your life you'll become ... Just don't, don't wait for me. I don't want to cause you so much pain."

"Alex, I can't imagine being with anyone but you. I love you. Even if my future self is involved with someone, which he won't be, he will still be there for you."

"Thank you Severus. Can you promise me one thing?" Severus nodded. "When you figure out who I really am, don't freak out."

Severus smiled. "I wouldn't freak out. It doesn't matter what your real name is. To me you will always be Alex. Whatever past we had in the future is behind us. When you get back we will start anew. I just hope you will still want me. I doubt I'll be as strikingly handsome as I am now."

Alex smiled weakly and drew Severus into a kiss. "Remember, I already know what you look like in the future and I still will want you. As long as you don't color your hair red, that is. You know, I could just run away with you now. I've already taken my NEWTs so we could go far away."

Severus thought about it briefly. "You can't Alex and you know that. Dumbledore would find you. He knows best. You should go back. At least you'll get to see your friends again. I'm sure they miss you."

The two Slytherins stared at each other for a moment before meeting in a desperate kiss. Both of their bodies immediately responded. Their lovemaking had never been like this before. So heated and desperate. Harry knew he would be a bit sore the next day but he didn't care. They stayed up most of the night talking and cuddling in between experimenting with the other's body. Severus took an hour just to memorize Alex's body with his eyes and hands. He never wanted to forget this perfect body combined with a strong will. He knew that he'd never meet anyone like Alex ever again and that he would wait for his lover to come back to him. He didn't care if it was fifty years.