Disclaimer: No. I'm telling you. They aren't mine. Hand on heart do I promise ye this.

WARNING: Much blah blah blah. And reckless listening to Muggle music. And chocolate cake. Oh, and I've probably taken liberties with the release date of Animals. I know it was in 1977 but I don't know how early. But it fits in too nicely to leave out.

ooOOoo

Chapter 21: Severus' Hobbies

Some things never change: Dumbledore and sherbet lemons, for example. But Harry didn't want a sherbet lemon. Severus looked at the bag like the headmaster was offering him poison.

The Marauders, as Harry thought of them, took one each with a cultivated easy familiarity Harry could see was designed to discomfit him and Severus. Snape, sitting there with his arms folded and a scowl on his face, looked like he believed that they were going to get off with another sherbet lemon while he had to scrub out cauldrons.

"Now, perhaps you could tell me what happened," Dumbledore said. His blue eyes weren't twinkling for once. Harry wondered if he could see what was going on in front of him and, if so, if he would do anything about it. "Mr Lupin?"

"He he-aa-aa-aa-exed me," said James. The spell hadn't been completely removed. He reddened with fury and Snape smirked.

"I got there and James was down on the ground," said Remus. "I didn't see any spells cast."

"I've already offered to have my wand tested," said Harry quietly. "I think you should test them, sir, and then you'll see that I cast a shielding spell and deflected the spell back on him." He nodded at his father, unable to look at him without something twisting in his gut. "In fact, I think it would be very informative for you to look at my wand."

He met Dumbledore's blue eyes steadily.

After a long moment, Dumbledore held out one gnarled, aged hand and took Harry's wand. He held it in silence. Then he looked at Harry. Really looked: it was the same feeling Harry had when he had his invisibility cloak on; that Dumbledore could see right through his disguise.

Then the headmaster turned his attention back to his wand and waved his own wand over it. "Ah," he said at last. "Protego. Mr Potter, would you allow me to see your wand?"

James, reddening further, said there was probably no need.

"I see," said Dumbledore, looking saddened. "You may go. But not Mr Snape or you, Mr…?"

"Lovegood," Harry supplied. There was a snigger from Peter. Harry very carefully did not set him on fire.

"Mr Lovegood. Yes. My memory should be better than it is, really it should."

"So he's meant to be here?" Remus said. The other three Marauders looked displeased.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "Mr Lovegood is here on a research project from a smaller private school. I should have informed you prefects, yes," he continued airily. "I apologise for my neglect." He turned to Harry "I would like to see you in private for a moment, Mr Lovegood."

"Of course."

The Marauders filed out, all but Remus shooting poisonous glares at Harry and Snape, who ignored them. Dumbledore had Severus wait in the office while he took Harry into a room off to the side.

Dumbledore re-seated himself behind a much older, more battered desk than the one in the main office. He was still holding Harry's wand.

"Phoenix tail-feather core. From my very own phoenix." He waved at Fawkes, who regarded Harry sleepily from his perch. "There are only two wands with a core like this, and I'm quite sure you're not Tom Riddle. Now, perhaps you tell me who you are?"

Harry inclined his head politely. "It would be easier to explain if you took the glamour off me," he suggested.

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. But he waved his wand at Harry. It took him two attempts – Snape had more ability with Charms than Harry had ever given him credit for or Severus had admitted to.

Harry felt the moment when the charm lifted: it was like bubbles fizzing over his face.

Dumbledore had gone very still.

"I'm from the future," Harry said. "Severus doesn't know that. I told him I came from another dimension."

"And he believed you?"

"I gave a convincing argument, I guess. And I couldn't tell him the truth – he hates my father. And I didn't want to give him information about the future and then have to wipe his memory. Or I didn't. I've told him too much by accident, I think. He thinks it's an alternate future, but I've still said too much."

"Time travel is not something to be undertaken lightly, Mr… Potter."

Harry tilted his head in affirmation of the name. "Harry Potter, yes. As for time travel, it's not something I've done before. Well, only once, and that was with your assistance and it was nothing of this magnitude. And I don't want to tell you anything about my reasons because that will give you information you're not entitled to. All I can tell you is that my reasons are strong ones."

"I should hope they aren't frivolous."

Dumbledore had no twinkle in his blue eyes. He watched Harry as if Harry were the new, dynamic Dark Lord who was rising in the world now. Well, Harry couldn't help that. He supposed after seeing his father and his betrayer, and knowing he couldn't do anything to change the fate of his parents, he might be justified in looking a little grim.

After a long, drawn-out wait and a sigh almost as long, Dumbledore said, "What is it that you want from us, Mr Harry Potter? More specifically, what do you want from me?"

"I want to find an artefact. The spell that was cast was meant to take me to where I could obtain it. Here. Also I have been given indications that Severus Snape is the one who is the key to finding it. I would like you to allow him and me leave to wander around Hogwarts to find it. And…" Harry shifted uncomfortably on his seat, "I may need you to modify Severus' memories when I've gone. Just… let him remember me as someone who looks a little different. I don't want him to forget Harry Lovegood."

"I see."

Harry doubted it. He didn't understand why, but at some deep level it was important to Harry that Severus remember him as Harry instead of some glory-seeking Gryffindor celebrity.

Dumbledore flicked Harry's wand towards one of the small silver devices that seemed to fill his working spaces; this one was moving like many of its fellows but its movement was jerky, one of the spidery arms under the bobbing mini pot-lid pointing towards Harry and then whipping around nearly thirty degrees. It was almost hypnotic.

"How many years in the future?" Dumbledore asked softly.

Harry was still trying to work out the movements of the arms. Every time he thought he had the pattern worked out, it shifted. "Huh? Oh, twenty-one years."

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes. It would appear so. Well, Mr Potter – Lovegood, that is; what do you need?"

Harry blinked and looked up from the shiny instrument. "I… I need time. Ironically enough. I need to find what I'm looking for. I only have five days. Four now. I was sick after I got here two nights ago and wasted a day. And I need access to the different parts of Hogwarts when I want."

"No food or shelter?" Dumbledore asked wryly.

Harry shook his head with a small smile. "Severus has been looking after me. I think the house elves have been giving a little extra help, too."

"Ah. Hogwarts remembers its own. I've heard the stones can remember forward in time as well as backward."

"I didn't know they could remember at all," Harry said, surprised. "But, when … someone … died not long ago – well, in my memory, anyway – it seemed like the castle mourned him." But he didn't want to think about that – it was too eerie. Like watching someone walking along the edge of a cliff and knowing that it was going to crumble right there under their feet. He wished he could ask for Dumbledore's help finding the sickle, but he knew that conversation would probably involve the phrase "you aren't allowed to look for the Golden Sickle, Harry". "I'd rather not give away too much – I know it's important not to involve people from the past like this. It's bad enough I've involved Severus."

"So you know a little about his future?"

"I know a lot about his future. And my parents'. And… too many people I've seen here."

They sat in silence for a time, Harry staring down at his knuckles which were going yellow. "Hmm. Well, perhaps a guide in this time would be helpful. I think it may not be tactful to have your father attend to you…?"

Harry's lips thinned against the bile roiling in his stomach. "No. I'd rather not. It's a bit too confusing seeing him like this," he added as tactfully as he could. The new word he'd learned from Severus probably wouldn't be good to say in front of the headmaster. "Does he usually get away with hexing people in the library?" he blurted out, still horrified by the lack of discipline.

Dumbledore smiled fondly. "Oh, I don't think it's quite as bad as you might think. He's part of a high-spirited crowd. But I've put measures in place to curb their enthusiasm for playing tricks on other students."

"Making Remus a prefect, you mean?" Harry shook his head. "Sorry. I'm not here to interfere with history. But…"

"It's hard?" Dumbledore's face softened with compassion.

"Yes. There's so much to change."

Dumbledore hesitated over his reply. "And so much that could be worse for the changing. Don't think that making one thing better will make everything better. It may be quite the opposite."

Harry nodded, privately disagreeing. It sounded like a cowardly argument, but that was hardly something he could say to Albus Dumbledore.

"Very well, Mr Potter. Or Lovegood, should I say? Can you put the glamour back on yourself?"

"No. Severus made it for me."

"I hadn't realised he had that much aptitude for Charms. But then when young Mr Snape wants something he can be very determined. Let's call him in."

Luckily Severus was able to re-establish the charm. His dark eyes were unreadable as he watched Dumbledore.

"Now, Mr Snape. I believe hiding a traveller like Mr Lovegood is against Hogwarts regulations."

"Could you tell me where it says that in the rules, Headmaster?" His tone dripped cold politeness.

Dumbledore shifted in his seat as if his patience with the Slytherin was limited. "Visitors must be registered with administration when they arrive. That's on the first page of the student booklet."

"I apologise, then. It's been a long time since I read the booklet. I suppose you've forgotten that Black burned it along with one of my notebooks on my first day here."

"Ah. Yes." With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore summoned a small paperback book from a shelf behind him. "Here. Allow me to replace it."

Severus inclined his head a fraction. "I shall tell Black I have another copy."

Albus winced. "If you would only be a little nicer, Severus, I'm sure you'd make friends with them. Remus is trying, after all."

Severus' face had gone rigid. "I shall give your idea thought, sir."

"Well. If there's nothing else you wish to discuss…?" He paused. Harry and Severus stared down at the desk. "As you wish. Please remember that should you need any help my office is always open."

Severus nodded, not looking at him. Harry met his eyes and said, "Thank you, sir. Uh, may I have a pass? I'd like some bit of paper to wave under the noses of the people who are, well, nosy."

Dumbledore smiled. "Of course." He pulled a piece of parchment from a pigeonhole behind the desk. "'I, Albus Dumbledore, give Harry Lovegood access to all areas of Hogwarts that Hogwarts students are allowed into, including the Restricted Section of the library.' That includes the Hall for meals," he added, winking one blue eye. "There. I've also added that any students who impede your research will have House points docked, and Severus Snape is assisting you with your work. Do you have a place to stay? I hadn't heard of any extra students in the Slytherin dormitory?"

There was a small snort from Severus that sounded like who'd notice? which Albus tactfully ignored.

Harry managed a small smile. "I'm fine. Thank you, sir."

Dumbledore scribbled something else on the paper. "There – that should keep you safe from Argus." He handed the paper to Harry, who skimmed through it. "You realise I'm entrusting you with a great deal?"

Harry folded the paper and slipped it into a pocket. "I'm someone you can trust with a great deal."

"I certainly hope so. Take good care of him, Mr Snape."

Severus nodded. "Have I not done so this far?"

"It would seem you have." Dumbledore stood and ushered them out of his office.

On the way down the moving staircase, Harry asked Severus, "Well? Back to the library?"

"Why not? Hopefully we can get some work done without those oafs bothering us. Huh. 'Be nicer'." There was a slight flush in his cheeks and a malicious glitter in his eyes. "While I'm at it, why don't I just put back my head and say 'Here's my throat'? Speak of the devils…"

The gargoyle had moved aside to reveal the four Marauders.

"Snivellus. How much detention did you get today?" James asked.

Severus smiled coldly. "None. Now get out of our way. You're impeding our research."

James shoved him back against the wall. "I'm about to impede your overgrown excuse for a nose with my fist, and – and what are you grinning about?"

Because Severus was smiling. Harry didn't understand either, but kept his hand on his wand.

"Show him the pass, Harry."

"Pass?" said Remus, who was standing back as if unsure how to distance himself from what his friends were doing.

Harry pulled it out of his pocket. When he unfolded it, there was a new line of red ink along the bottom. It read:

minus 10 Points, Gryffindor

"Want to make it twenty?" Severus grinned evilly.

James stared at the paper. His mouth firmed into a thin line of displeasure. Harry knew he had a similar expression sometimes – he could only hope he looked less sulky with it.

"What is it?" Pettigrew asked.

"Shut up. Let's go."

Sirius shot them one last death-glare before he followed James, who was stalking off down the corridor, Peter trotting in his wake. Remus opened his mouth to say something and shut it again. He looked a little embarrassed. "Snape…"

"Save it. I think there's someone down that way waiting for you to bully. Wouldn't want your friends to start without you, would you?"

Remus' mouth snapped shut. He glared at them and marched off down the corridor, growling over his shoulder, "Later, Snivellus."

"So that was dear little Remus being 'nice'." Severus sneered as he rubbed his hands together. "That was fun. Come on. Let's see how many people want to impede our research."

"You're enjoying this way too much."

"I am, aren't I? I think I've just found a new hobby."

"Taking points? You could be on to something."

"Bugger the Death Eaters – let's eat some points."

ooOOoo

They took quite a few points that day. Severus wasn't popular and it wasn't just the Gryffindors who liked to harass him. He was having much too much fun doing it, too. Word quickly spread that he and Harry were doing legitimate, Dumbledore-endorsed research, and people were quick to get out of their way rather than be seen 'impeding their research'. Harry and Severus couldn't take points for the dirty looks they got (and Harry was quick to shoot dirty looks back – he'd had enough of people pre-judging him), but both of them could cope with a few scowls. Still, Harry had the suspicion he'd have liked to take more points than he did.

Oh well, give him time.

Otherwise it was a reasonably impediment-free day. The main trouble was that they still had no idea where they should be looking.

They dragged a small mountain of books back to the little room where Harry settled down for a nap while Severus went to scrounge some food.

ooOOoo

Harry sat up, his ears straining to make sense of the darkness.

"It's me."

"Severus?"

Snape's voice was acid but lacked the familiar malice: "Well, it could be another 'me,' but my ego might have trouble accepting that." There was a muffled grunt as Severus slid down the wall onto the nest of blankets next to Harry. "Hungry?"

"Starving." Harry's mouth was watering just from the question.

Phosphorescence bloomed softly in the crumbling stone room as Snape took the lid off a jar.

"How'd you do that?"

Snape smirked. "Special potion I've been working on." His grin became a little embarrassed. "It was meant to be something for erasing mistakes when you're writing, but it glows in the dark instead. You have to add club moss to it, but if you get it right you can time it. This should last about three hours," he finished proudly.

"Cool. Now, didn't you say something about food?"

"No, but funny you should ask…" He dug around in his battered old satchel. "Sandwiches… some cold chicken… you're not vegetarian, are you? Well, I guess I would have noticed by now. Um… apples and – oh good, they're not squashed – strawberries for dessert if you eat all your vegetables."

"What vegetables?" Harry laughed. No-one other than Severus had ever told him to eat all his vegetables, not even as a joke.

"Roast potatoes – not so hot any more, but you can reheat them if you know a good heating spell – oh, don't try saying 'Thermus' over an egg. It explodes."

"And you know this how?"

"Guess. You know the old saying 'he ended up with egg on his face'?"

"I think I can see where this story is going. How did you get all the food?"

Severus shrugged. "House elves."

"I wouldn't have thought they'd give food to a student at this time of night, especially one who's meant to be in his dormitory."

Severus shrugged his bony shoulders again and peered into his satchel, avoiding Harry's eyes. "I tell them that I'm going to be out of my dorm regardless, so if they trust me not to go into the Forest and sleep there then I, well, I won't."

"And if they stop you sleeping here?"

Dark eyes gleamed. "Then I'll sleep in the Forest."

"What's so bad with the dormitory?" Harry asked, taking a big bite of a ham and chutney sandwich.

Severus appeared even more interested in the bag. "Let's see… Hey, I didn't ask for pickle!" He pulled out a jar. "If you like gherkins it's your lucky day, Lovegood."

Okay, so some questions still weren't going to be answered. "Any chocolate cake?"

Snape looked up and grinned. Even after getting to know him better, it was still a surprising expression to see on him. Triangular and a little wary. "What? Strawberries aren't enough, Mr Fussy?" He pulled out a little cardboard box and tapped it with his wand.

"Oops!" The box had grown to two feet across and Severus had to drop his wand to hold it. "Open the lid."

Harry did. "Merlin – whose birthday is it?" he laughed. The cake was a fantastic example of culinary architecture gone insane in three layers sandwiching cream and cherries with flying buttresses of chocolate, and it smelled as good as it looked.

Severus looked as pleasedly surprised as Harry felt. "A very happy un-birthday to you."

"And you. Does that make you the Mad Hatter and me the March Hare?" replied Harry with a chuckle. A Snape who quoted Muggle literature took some getting used to, too.

"I rather think you're Alice. A butch version. I'll be the Mad Hatter if you like, though. I don't know if you get Disney where you're from, but they made a movie – think wizarding photos grand scale – and the Mad Hatter was particularly trippy. I don't do the giggling, though. Be warned."

"I consider myself dutifully warned. And, yes, I've seen the movie on telly. I sort of identified with the Dormouse in that bit. Kept stuffed away out of sight in case he said something embarrassing… Let's not go there. A very happy un-birthday to you, Severus." Harry picked up one of the glasses of dark maroon liquid which had poured itself from the bottle Severus had taken from the wooden box in the corner. It smelt like berries and mingled extremely well with the warm chocolate aroma of the cake. "Cheers."

"Cheers, Alice. Dormouse. Whatever. Here's to white rabbits."

"To white rabbits."

Two crystal glasses clinked in the quiet night.

Harry sipped and nearly choked. "Severus… isn't this…? This is Ribena!"

"I know. How do you know?"

"That's a Muggle drink! What is this box of yours – some sort of Magical Muggle Tour?"

Severus grinned at him. "I get my sister to send me bottles of concentrate. Don't you like it?"

"I do – I just haven't had it since I left my aunt's home – she's a Muggle. My cousin always hogged the lot. I've never seen it at Hogwarts. Everyone drinks pumpkin juice at my Hogwarts."

"It's the same here. Come down to breakfast with me tomorrow now that you're allowed, and you'll find out. If anyone found out I was bringing Muggle things in they'd… well, treat me pretty much the same, but probably spike my Ribena with just enough poison to put me off my Dangerous Muggle Leanings without killing me too much."

"Argh."

"Exactly. Speaking of dangerous Muggle leanings, do you want to try listening to some of their music?"

Harry sat up. The name 'Pink Floyd' had been nagging at him. "Yeah. What have you got?"

"Latest Pink Floyd album and one of their earlier ones. I bought one called Wish You Were Here last summer and liked it. My sister sent me one called Animals. It's good, especially if you like George Orwell."

"That was the book you had in there?" Harry pointed with a piece of chocolate cake at the box. A few crumbs fell. "I don't see why you were so upset over it."

"Um, hello? Illegal Muggle goods? School would tell my parents? Slytherin House would make my life a living hell?"

"Uh. I guess. But I wouldn't have told anyone, even if you hadn't made me promise not to."

"Yes, and I'm a happy smiling trusting person who goes spilling all his secrets to strangers." Severus dragged over the trunk, which growled until he gave it a whack with the flat of his hand. "Hush, you. I guess you pretty much know everything that's in there now," he added to Harry. "No Golden Sickle, I'm afraid."

"We'll check out those tunnels tomorrow," Harry said absently, thinking briefly about the chapter he'd been reading about Helga Hufflepuff. There was a lot concerning Hogwarts there, too. Something about tunnels and badgers. He smoothed the legs of his pyjamas. Merlin knew where Severus had found them – he'd muttered something about house elves. They smelt a little musty and had stripes running down them. They made him look like an escapee from a lunatic asylum. "In the meantime, are you finally going to open up that box of yours?"

Severus shrugged. "It's pretty anti-climactic now that you know it's just where I store all my Muggle contraband."

"Life is full of these disappointments."

"Isn't it, though?" He slid over to the box and opened the lid. "I'll teach you a really cool spell… providing you promise not to tell the Ministry or anyone connected with it where you learned it."

"I promise – providing it isn't harmful."

A snort. "It's not. It's just that it can be seen as misuse of Muggle artefacts."

"Well, let's see it, then."

Severus pulled out one of the records. Harry had a quick look at the picture on the cover – it was a big, solid factory-type building with lots of chimneys. And, for some reason, a flying pig. "Hey – I've seen that place. That's outside London, I think. It's a power plant."

"Really? I wondered where it was. What's a power plant? It looks like it's the complete opposite of anything that's been grown."

"Not that kind of plant. Plant as in… actually I don't know why they call it a plant. And is that a flying pig?"

"Yes. Now…" Severus pulled out the broad black circle from its sleeve and carefully balanced it on one finger. He took out his wand. "Now. Watch. Discus leviosa. Fusus canto." He tapped the record gently with his wand and, as it began to spin, took his finger away.

There was the sound of a guitar being strummed gently and a little sadly.

"Brilliant." He'd have to teach it to Mr Weasley.

"Wait until you've heard the record. I hear not that many people get it. But seeing as you're a George Orwell fan…" Severus trailed off, raising his eyebrows.

ooOOoo

Harry wouldn't have got it. But with Severus explaining it to him and the lyric sheet for him to read, he lay back with his chocolate cake and really listened to the music and he got it. He really got it.

He had Severus play it again. Louder. And then he had Severus play one of the songs, Dogs, at maximum volume until the stones vibrated. As Filch never came to investigate, Severus must have put a hell of a solid silencing charm on the room.

He'd never heard anything like this music. It was bleak and it was nihilistic and it spoke of the darkness he'd seen in people around him without ever having had it put into word before. Animals spoke to him from a deep, dark level that had nothing to do with fluffy bunnies and everything to do with the monsters that hid in the subconscious mind.

"Let's play it again."

A groan from Severus who had a blanket pulled over his head. "No."

"Please."

"Ngh. All right." A hand stuck out from under the blanket and waved a wand. The music started again.

ooOOoo

It stopped.

"Again?"

"No.

"Please?"

"No."

Silence. Then:

"What does he mean by 'dragged down by the stone'? That can't be a literal going-out-drowning-dogs thing. Muggles have laws against cruelty."

There was a long, drawn-out sigh. Severus' head emerged from under the blanket. Shadowed eyes glared at Harry. "Of course not. It's metaphorical. It means that all the hatred directed towards you through your life from the misuse of power eventually makes you so corrupted and paranoid that there's no-one left you can trust. And sooner or later people will turn on you, and all the 'bad blood' that you generated by treating people like crap turns into a social weight that you can't escape, dragging you down and drowning you. Metaphysically." He disappeared back under the blanket.

"Metaphysically."

"Metaphysically. Now will you let me get some non-metaphysical sleep?"

"Just one more time. I want to sort out this whole 'bad blood' metaphor. I think it's got a lot of relevance for the people where I come from."

"For Merlin's sake, I'm starting to hate Muggle music! And if you play that bloody song one more time I'll give you a non-metaphysical demonstration of bad blood. If I let you read Animal Farm instead, will you let me go to sleep?"

"Maybe." Harry grinned to himself. Snape had given him enough grief over the years that he felt it was justifiable to give him some annoyance that was legitimate. Plus it was fun.

The book nearly hit him in the head. "Now shut up. That's the last time I let you eat chocolate this late."

"Sorry, Mum."

"Shut up."

ooOOoo