Disclaimer: still not mine.

ooOOoo

Chapter 29: Sketches and Edges

The next day the school was abuzz with the gossip: there had been a screaming match in the Gryffindor dormitory. Lily Evans, the Mudbl– er, the Muggleborn girl, had told James Potter in no uncertain terms that: 1. He wasn't her boyfriend; 2. Anyone who stole her wand and used it to hex other people wasn't fit to lick the dirt off her shoes, and 3. He was a complete and utter – (people weren't sure about the word she used).

She'd blacked his eye.

Then, before he could go to Madam Pomfrey, she Transfigured him into a pincushion.

Rumour went on to say that she'd slipped him into the box of pincushions McGonagall was going to use today for the first years.

"You know, for a Gryff she's not so bad," Severus admitted, slathering raspberry jam on a slice of toast, gesturing with his butterknife at the Gryffindor table where Lily was sitting with her friends. To their relief, Harry's magic levels had recovered enough to change the Slytherin badger back into a Slytherin boy before breakfast. And patch up those bruised ribs from Sirius' kick. He cast the occasional glance at Sirius, sitting with Peter, just to check that his future godfather wasn't about to do anything nasty. "Want to come to classes with me this morning? It's History of Magic and Charms, though. Binns is about as interesting as slime mould – no, actually, slime moulds – particularly the plasmodium ones – myxogastrids, I believe – are utterly fascinating in a quiet way –"

"Only you would think slime mould is interesting," Bellatrix interrupted.

"It's what he uses to style his hair," smirked LeStrange.

Severus continued smoothly, "– and they've got even more personal charisma than LeStrange and his slapper girl-friend. But Flitwick is okay. Sometimes I even learn something useful in the class."

Harry noted the way Rosier glared Bellatrix and her boyfriend into silence, but didn't think Severus had. Interesting. "I think I'll stay in the library, thanks. I thought I'd look for something on edge-creatures. Plus it should be nice and quiet and not get anyone killed," he added in a low voice.

"Bonus." Severus smirked and pulled out his notebook and pencil, ignoring the tuts of annoyance from his housemates for having something so Mugglish, and wrote down a few references. He tore out the paper. "Here. Try these."

"Ta."

By lunchtime Harry had some interesting leads on horses to ask Severus about and memory charms (which he most certainly would not ask Severus about), and James Potter was back for the meal. Apparently Sirius had managed to find and un-transfigure him and his black eye. But not before the first years' class.

One eye still swollen shut, James sat down very, very carefully on the hard wooden seat. He, Sirius and Peter sent the occasional glare at Harry and Severus (which may have had something to do with the way Severus couldn't stop sniggering every time he looked at James). Remus seemed unaware of tensions, but mainly, Harry guessed, because he was stressed about the full moon tonight. Rumour also mentioned in passing that he'd temporarily lost his wand yesterday – Sirius had found it, luckily, but for some reason instead of Remus being grateful they'd had a falling out over it. Lily ignored everyone except for the two girls she was chatting quietly with. Harry noticed she kept a discreet eye on Remus, though, and made sure he ate a proper lunch, even slipping a chicken leg onto his plate when his attention was somewhere else.

Oh, hell, Harry thought. So there would still be a Severus Snape, but now with the way his mum was treating his dad it looked like there wouldn't be a Harry Potter.

Maybe there would be a Harry Lupin.

Harry cheered up a little at the thought, although there was still that teeny tiny hurdle of Not Upsetting the Temporal Universe to overcome.

As the Marauders walked behind him, Harry tried to give the appearance of not paying any attention, when in fact all the hairs down the back of his neck prickled with adrenaline. He didn't like the way Sirius had been trying to plot something with James and Peter – although for some reason James had seemed less than keen. So Sirius finished out the meal with his head bent close to Peter's.

Remus didn't seem in the least bit upset about being excluded.

Harry couldn't help feeling just the least little bit sorry for him. But not much. Maybe it was time Remus started considering how much friendship with people like Sirius and James was worth in terms of conscience.

Severus had two free periods that afternoon, which he spent in the library with Harry, working on an Arithmancy and a DADA essay, Harry giving him some help with the latter. It seemed that some of the defensive charms Severus had to learn were based in one of the Goblin Rebellions – something Harry had researched in Charms in his own time, and so he knew where the best books were. He was just coming back with an armful of them when he saw Sirius standing over Severus' desk, speaking softly.

Severus looked like he was restraining an impulse to commit murder – Harry had first seen that look in the Shrieking Shack – but when they saw Harry, Sirius broke off and nodded at Severus. "Think about it," he said, and left, shouldering Harry aside as he went past. "Lost your badger, Squit?" he sneered.

Harry ignored him.

"Think about what?" Harry said, dumping the books on the desk and rubbing his shoulder. Sirius had at least four inches and a stone of muscle on him.

"Oh, he wanted to express his eternal respect for me and my talents," Severus replied airily. "So unoriginal of him. No, he's just trying to trick me into another trap. Again. Not very original, either. Now, what did you find?"

Reluctantly, Harry opened the more promising of the books. But there was something nagging at him – and he suspected it was Severus' inability to convince him that Severus wasn't going to fall into this trap of Sirius'. He had a very, very bad idea of what was going to happen.

ooOOoo

Severus opened his notebook to jot down a couple of spells. Harry goggled at a picture he glimpsed. "Hey – let me see!"

Severus shrugged and flicked back to the page. "Do you like it? History was boring – fancy that – so I drew this."

"That's amazing."

"It's meant to be your Simon. I drew him from your description."

"Yeah, but… it's spot on."

"A black thoroughbred? How hard is that?" Severus looked shifty and proud, a not surprising combination on a Slytherin.

Harry studied the picture. It wasn't just Simon's look – and Severus had that down to a T – it was Simon's attitude. The horse was standing with its head up just a fraction, and the ears tilted at that exact angle Simon used when he'd just been shown something new. But maybe all horses looked that sceptical. It wasn't like Harry had that much experience with them. "Can I keep it?"

"Sure. I can always draw another one."

Harry tore out the page carefully and tucked it into the pocket with his wand. "Thanks. What other animals can you draw?"

"Well, not squirrels, it would seem." Severus managed a lopsided smile at himself.

Harry folded his hands on the table. "I think that place made sure you had to draw a badger. It was you barking at the wall that made it open and close. It's probably keyed in to the sound of a badger. I guess they're edge creatures, too. Hmm. You said dogs are edge creatures…?"

"Yes. Dogs represent loyalty."

"I knew that."

"Did you know they represent faith?"

"No." Harry's mouth twitched as he tried to imagine Sirius in a monk's robes. No – Sirius would never have a tonsure, not after the fuss he'd kicked up after Remus had suggested he might have the beginnings of a bald spot.

"They look to us as we look to gods. Or God. Or Goddess. Or Cthulhu – whatever your religion is."

"Oh," Harry said, not knowing what religion Cthulhu represented and not wanting to look ignorant of wizarding traditions by asking. "What about wolves?"

"Representative of wild magic. Possibly in its evil form, but usually that's only believed by the more credulous. Also fidelity. Faithfulness to the family."

"That sounds nice." And it might explain a lot about Remus. "Rats?"

"Rats are edge creatures, too. They – hmm, let me think… oh yes. They stand for path-finding. Problem solving. Intelligence. But not – and this is significant – not wisdom."

"Ah. What about a stag."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Oh. In pre-classical magic stags – mature male deer – are about power and deepest wisdom. They're the most magical of all… well, apart from pigs." His frown verged on a sneer as Harry grinned. "Pigs are intensely important in Celtic myth, Lovegood. Don't tell me that didn't give you a clue?"

"I don't know anything about Celtic myth, sorry, Severus," Harry replied good-naturedly. "So what do horses represent?"

There was that odd gleam which brought a semblance of life to those black eyes again as Severus explained in his softest voice, "Horses… Thanks to them our nations have risen and fallen. They bring war. They bring food and medicine. They represent freedom. They've carried us and our messages of betrayal and despair or hope and victory for thousands of years, now. But longer than that and most importantly of all, they've carried our dreams."

There wasn't anything Harry felt he could add to that. And the sudden twisting in his chest as he thought of Simon was almost painful.

"Are you all right?"

"Fine. Just… just a little homesick, I guess."

Severus nodded hesitantly. Harry had the impression he'd never experienced homesickness. Harry never had until he'd come to Hogwarts… and had to leave for the summer holidays. It was sad Severus couldn't view Hogwarts the same way. "What do you miss most about it?"

Harry considered. At last he said, "Everything. Everything. Except Filch and that apology of a cat."

Severus smiled.

"I…" Harry began, and paused. But it needed to be said. What was that thing about Gryffindor bravery again? "I wish you could come back with me."

Severus stopped smiling. "But I can't, can I."

"No," Harry whispered. Looking into Severus' eyes was like meeting Snape for the first time all over again; they were hollow tunnels into darkness which a person could fall down and find only despair at the end. "You have to stay here. I'm sorry."

Severus nodded. "Because there was no Harry Lovegood here, but there was a Severus Snape in your dimension. Even if he is supposed to be dead. And there can't be two. If I ever met myself it would be like meeting yourself in another time – and all the theorists say that's a really bad thing."

"I guess so."

It was a good excuse. Providing Severus didn't argue that if Harry's Snape was dead there was nothing stopping this Severus from returning with Harry.

ooOOoo

They studied quietly until dinner, when they ate quickly in the Hall before returning to their spot in the library. They weren't there long until a young Ravenclaw boy sidled over and said, "Hey, Potter's looking for you."

Harry looked up.

"Sorry?"

"Potter. He's asking where you are."

"Well then tell him I'm in the Forest. Or at the top of Astronomy Tower. Yes. Tell him Astronomy Tower."

The Ravenclaw smiled. "I'd like to, but he'd probably take it out on me after. Just thought I'd warn you, 's all."

Severus flicked back a greasy lock of hair and scowled. "So how come you're interceding all of a sudden?"

"Do you mean getting between him and whatever? Well, 'cos he made my sister cry last week. And he's got a swollen head that's just aching for a pin."

Harry still wondered why he was capable of being hurt. He wanted to yell at the Ravenclaw for saying his father had a swollen head. But he knew it was true. He forced a smile. "You don't think Evans made sure he had enough pins today?"

The boy grinned and Severus smirked. "I don't think he can ever have too many pins." The Ravenclaw looked around nervously. "Better not be seen talking to you." And he vanished behind one of the shelves.

Harry and Severus had a quick discussion, the result being a conclusion that they wanted a peaceful evening so they could get some solid work put in on edge creatures and maybe go to Hogsmeade tomorrow if they had time (which would be impossible if fighting with Potter earned them a detention). Harry was curious to see how much the town had changed. James Potter didn't have any place in that. They gathered up their books and left.

Occasionally as they passed someone in the corridors they'd hear a murmured, "Potter's looking for you. Where shall I tell him you are? Astronomy Tower? Sure."

Why had everyone told Harry how popular his father had been at school? It seemed like just about everyone not from Gryffindor (and one or two of the younger students from Gryffindor) wanted to help Harry and Severus avoid him. It wasn't as if Severus was popular – quite the opposite, and in fact it was Harry people wanted to warn – it was that the students were sick of putting up with James. And it seemed to Harry that they were a little embarrassed of how he, the visiting student, had been treated. The students appeared to be eager for him to have a better impression of Hogwarts than he'd first been given.

Hoggy, warty Hogwarts.

Harry's home. And the home for many others.

So why did his father seem popular?

Because other students were afraid to talk about how much they disliked him?

Harry was starting to think so. It was like school with Dudley Dursley all over again.

In the dark corridor near the storeroom, he couldn't stop himself from asking, "Severus?"

"Mm?" Severus was walking quickly and quietly, swishing his wand so that their footprints disappeared into the dust behind them.

"Y'know how I look like m– James Potter?" He'd nearly said my father.

"I don't hold it against you, if that's what you're asking."

Harry thought of his first Potions lesson. And every other Potions lesson. And every other meeting with Snape. "No – that's not it. Do… do I ever seem like Potter? In any way?"

Severus paused, a scathing reply poised on his lips. Something in Harry's expression must have warned him, because the black, pitiless eyes took on an expression that, in anyone else and with a good dose of imagination, Harry might have called pity. "You're very different," Severus said. "Well, maybe you tend to rush into things without thinking which makes me wonder why the Sorting Hat in your universe put you in Ravenclaw, but you don't have his surety that the rest of the world should bow down and kiss your holy arse. He's arrogant and, unlike some other people I could name – do you have any Malfoys in your universe? – he doesn't carry it off with much style. And he thinks that because I'm ugly and have no people skills whereas he's handsome and can be charming when he wants to be, that he's justified in whatever he does to me. And then can wriggle his way out of any consequences by smiling at the people in charge. But you – remember in the library when you hexed him? You talked directly to Dumbledore. You took responsibility. And in Potions you stayed with me instead of running. Only you and Evan Rosier did that – and Evan's one of the few people I know who doesn't shirk from his duties. Better than me in that respect, actually," he muttered. They had reached the door to the storeroom; Severus tapped it with his wand and it creaked open just enough for them to slide through before it shut itself behind them. After re-setting the privacy wards, Severus continued with a snigger, "He ran so fast he nearly made a sonic boom."

"He did go to get Dumbledore…" There was that picking at a scab again.

Severus sneered. "Yes. Hooray for him. But did he stop and check if everyone was out of the room? Did he stay and help us put out the fires?"

Harry sighed and settled down on a pile of blankets. There was a bottle of butterbeer left over from last night in the picnic basket. Harry popped the cork and poured out two cups. "I guess I just want to know that there is something good about someone who looks like me."

Severus cocked his head, hands on hips as he stared down at Harry, looking puzzled, as if trying to work out what was the real issue. Not something Harry wanted him to understand… "Something good… Well, he does well in some classes. Better than me in Transfiguration, if I have to admit it. And he's a good Quidditch player. Loads better than me, although I don't really know if it's from more practice – unpopular people don't get on Quidditch teams, you know. Or if they do, a sudden excess of Bludgers tends to make them realise they're not welcome." Severus' face twisted as if he'd just been munching on pickled limes. "But he is good – good reflexes for catching Snitches and Quaffles."

"Those things don't make a person worthy," Harry said slowly, wondering if anyone would be able to say anything better of him than that he was good at Quidditch and did well in some of his classes, too.

Not meeting his eyes, Severus slid down the wall and settled in a gangly pile of limbs on his blanket next to the box. He took the cup of butterbeer Harry offered and sipped at it. "No. But then, what does? What does it take to prove yourself as a worthy person? Maybe an Order of Merlin…" He shrugged one bony shoulder. "I don't know. Slytherin is meant to be the House for the ambitious. But Gryffindor is where the glory-hounds go."

Harry frowned. "What are your ambitions?"

Severus sniffed, twitching his nose in disgust. Probably not at the butterbeer – Harry thought it tasted fine. "To get out of here. And go and live in Australia."

"I thought you wanted to go to America?"

"America… Australia… they both start with 'A' and they're both a hell of a long way away from here. One of them doesn't have kangaroos. Outside of that, who cares? So – do you want to go over those charms for taking edge-creatures through barriers, or mistletoe applications?"

Harry considered the options. And the abrupt change of subject. "Actually, could you do me a really massive favour?"

"Does it involve lending you money? Because neither a borrower nor a lender should you ever be. Or something along those lines."

Harry bit down on a grin. "Worse. I need you to face the wrath of Madam Pince and write in a library book."

Severus gave him a genuine look of horror.

"No, really," Harry said. "I just need you to make some notes on the use of mistletoe in potions for breaking barriers that use three oak trees as anchors. Oh, and harvesting mistletoe. And anything else you might think is relevant."

"Oh. Is that all. Would you like me to sign my name so Pince knows whom to eviscerate?"

"No, no. Nothing so fancy. Just whatever you think might be useful." Harry decided it might be best not to be too specific: it was hard to know how much juggling he was allowed with time, and if he'd already affected things so that he would be Harry Lupin, that was far too much meddling for one trip through time.

"And how is it supposed to benefit you, pray? Will you take the book with you? Because dimensional travel did such good for your possessions." He waved a hand at the remains of Harry's pack, abandoned in the corner since Harry had arrived.

"I want to try moving specific information from this dimension into mine," Harry said, which was a truth. Just not the truth.

"What's in it for me? Other than a public flogging when Pince finds out?"

"She won't find out. And you'll get… a warm glow of satisfaction. How's that?"

Severus sniffed disdainfully. "Nothing compared to a box of chocolate frogs."

"Well, if we get down to Hogsmeade tomorrow – it is a Hogsmeade day, isn't it? – then I've got some money." The money had survived intact. Gold seemed to take well to time-travel, which boded well for getting the sickle back. "I'll get you two boxes. Deal?"

Severus' ebony eyes narrowed, weighing up chocolate frogs over Pince's fury. "Done," he agreed grudgingly. "Which book?"

Silently, Harry passed him the thin potions text Severus had given him to read on his first full day here. He watched as Severus scribbled notes, not interrupting, feeling the weight of history in fresh ink which would fade from black to blue-grey by the time Draco's Mendeleev gloves found the book again. It wasn't the most comfortable of feelings.

The room was silent apart from the brisk scritch of quill on paper interspersed with pauses when Severus had to stop and remember what he'd learned. "There," sighed Severus at last, snapping the book closed in one hand which didn't have the stains from potions ingredients on the fingers quite so strongly as it would in the future. He ran a critical look over Harry. "You look tired. And tomorrow's your last day, isn't it? Do you want to get a nap in while I take some books back to the library? I have something I want to investigate…" There was an odd snap to the way he closed his mouth, as if trying to stop himself from adding something.

Harry hoped Severus wasn't going to ask about coming with him. At first the idea had been amusing. Now, especially after last night's dream, images from which re-emerged at odd moments, there was nothing humorous about it. "You're just going to the library?"

"I won't be long, I expect."

"Okay. I have a few ideas I wanted to bounce off you, but I could use a nap first, I think. But Severus…"

Severus, already standing with a few books tucked under his arm, hesitated by the door. "Yes?"

"I don't know what Sirius was trying to do, but don't trust him. He won't hesitate to harm you." Harry held the flat black eyes, trying to impress on Severus how vital this was. Saying anything more could give away Remus' secret, and Harry, who was feeling just a tinge of guilt over the way he'd flat-out told Remus dangerous werewolves should be put down – not sent to Azkaban, but put down like animals – Harry had had it sitting in the back of his mind, comparing notes with his conscience. Being cruel was a James trait, not a Harry trait. And revealing Remus as a werewolf would be the cruellest thing Harry could do to him.

James Potter mightn't think twice about hurting someone that deeply, but Harry knew who he was: he was Harry.

That was important to remember. And, while he was currently annoyed with Remus, part of him still cared for the person who had been his favourite teacher in third year… and had proven over subsequent years that he loved Harry like Harry was his nephew by blood.

"I know that. And I don't trust him. Don't worry about me – I'm just going to find a bit more information for you. Best if you have everything you can know before you go back."

Harry looked up at Severus, wondering if anyone else had ever seen this earnest, whole-hearted person. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

Severus smiled, a little shyly. "Anything for a friend."

It warmed Harry more than the butterbeer. "Thanks, friend. And watch yourself out there."

He yawned and snuggled down in the blanket. It didn't take long for him to nod off.

ooOOoo

When he woke the sun was down and Severus still wasn't back. Anxious now, Harry stood up on the box, ignoring its growl at being used as a footstool, to see which stars were up.

The moon was up: a beautiful big moon, round and yellow as a cheese and swimming in clouds far above the tops of the trees of the Forbidden Forest.

And, with a chill in his gut, Harry knew where Severus had gone. He swung his cloak over his shoulders, picked up his wand and crept out of the room.

ooOOoo

There was a nip in the late-spring air. Harry's breath was the faintest mist in the moonlight as he stood up on the top of the slope overlooking the Whomping Willow. The branches drifted slowly in the night, as if they'd been surprised by something. Or someone. Harry could guess who.

He looked up at the moon. What time was it? The moon wasn't at its zenith yet, and Harry judged it wasn't yet eleven. A watch would have been useful.

It had been a mistake looking at the moon: Harry had to take off his glasses and press his hands over his eyes for a minute to get them accustomed to the dark again.

That done, he looked around carefully until he saw what he was looking for.

Over in the shadows of a gazebo overlooking the tree was a tall, slender figure. The shoulders were too broad for it to be Severus, unfortunately.

Well, Harry had been expecting this. Expecting, yes; hoping for, absolutely not. With a sigh, he tapped his face with his wand and whispered the counter-charm. It took three goes before he was sure it was completely removed, and then he took his glasses off and changed the shape of the frames just slightly, as well as altering them so that they gleamed like pale metal instead of black plastic.

He put them back on and gave his hair a good ruffle just to make sure. Hopefully it was back to being black. He wished he'd brought a mirror. Well, never mind. Harry threw a pebble less hard than he would have liked, and hit the figure on its shoulder.

As the figure jumped, Harry hissed, "Padfoot."

Sirius Black peered into the darkness. "Who's there?"

Harry stepped out into the light of the full moon. "Me."

"Prongs? What are you doing out here?"

"Trying to stop Moony from becoming a murderer. Or maybe it's you who's the murderer."

Sirius curled his lip uncertainly. "What's wrong with you, Prongs?"

"Did you send Snape into the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack?"

Sirius shrugged. "Eh. He'll get the fright he's been deserving for years. Teach him to go sneaking 'round after his betters."

Harry's fingers tightened around his wand.

"So you showed him the trick with the knot and sent him in to see Remus. Who just happens to be a werewolf. And if he manages to bite Snape Snape'll become a werewolf too."

Sirius smirked. "That'd teach him. Imagine what would happen if everyone knew he was a werewolf."

"No – imagine what would happen if everyone knew Remus was a werewolf."

"Dumbledore would keep it quiet. Honestly, James, what's wrong with you tonight? Did Evans tell you to naff off again?"

If she had that much sense she would have, thought Harry, his blood reaching simmering point. "I think you're overestimating the headmaster's influence. And how do you think Remus would feel knowing he's damned someone to the same hell he goes through every month? That's if he doesn't kill Snape outright, of course. In that case Remus won't have to worry about anything, because the Ministry will have him put down."

Sirius sniffed. "It won't come to that." There was a flash in the darkness as he grinned.

It was plain he wasn't going to see sense and Harry didn't have time to argue. He was used to Sirius being a little irrational at times (and especially over Snape), but had always put it down to twelve years in Azkaban. Now he wondered just how balanced Sirius had been when he went in, because it seemed like Azkaban would teach him to act rather than just react.

"Go and get Pomfrey. And Dumbledore," Harry snarled, hurrying down the slope with his cloak flying out behind him. As he passed Sirius the taller boy grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Hey – you're not James," Sirius growled. "You've got a curse scar and green eyes… Squit!"

Harry silently cursed Sirius' excellent night vision. He'd underestimated it. "No, I'm not James. And the big difference between us isn't my scar or my eyes – or my nose, which is a little smaller – it's that I've got a brain between my ears, whereas he's got gym socks."

Sirius sneered. "Think you've got a fancy disguise? Well – here's one for you…"

"What? Are you going to turn into a big, black dog? That's old news, Paddy."

Sirius' jaw dropped. "Well, disguise this!" He drew his wand.

Harry beat him to it with a fist. He thought he heard the crunch of broken cartilage as his knuckles smashed into Sirius' face.

"Worst come-back line ever," Harry snapped. "Honestly, Sirius. I never thought I'd say this, but I think Azkaban might just do you good," he added softly, then stopped in horror, hoping Sirius hadn't heard. There were going to be too many people for Dumbledore to Obliviate if he didn't keep his temper.

"Argh!" Sirius was down on the ground, hands cupping his nose, which was pouring blood through his fingers and down his chin. It didn't seem likely he'd noticed anything Harry had said. His wand was next to him.

Harry picked it up. "Get up," he said coldly. "Go and get Pomfrey and Dumbledore. I'm taking your wand with me and I'll snap it if you've not come to me before I get to the end of the tunnel."

Sirius glared up at him balefully.

"I've wasted enough time with you. Now get moving or I'll snap it anyway – but if Moony's got to Severus before I do I'll do more with this wand than break it. Understand?"

Sirius nodded, still glaring.

"So why are you still here? Go."

Harry hurried off down the hill again. When he got to the bottom he looked up. Sirius had gone. Harry could only hope he'd gone to get help. He sighed and found a long stick near the base of the Whomping Willow. Possibly it had been dropped there by Snape, although it would make more sense for Severus to take a stick in with him just in case.

But when Harry poked the tree and tried to take the stick into the tunnel he found out that some things are incredibly awkward when you try to go spelunking with them, and a long stick is one of them.

He crawled into the hole.

"Severus? Severus?"

Harry paused, stretching his ears into the still darkness.

Nothing.

Hell and damnation. This was meant to have been done by James Potter. That was history, which already he'd meddled with too much. Maybe he should sit and wait for James to come and save the day and leave Severus forever embittered?

Harry considered it for all of half a second before he realised this ugly feeling inside him was shame.

History could go jump in the lake and do something biological with the squid.

"Lumos," Harry snapped, and ran down the tunnel, his wand illuminating the way with cool blue light.

ooOOoo