In a very different place, in a very different time, a very different Harry Potter was frowning down at his timetable. Where he was supposed to have Divination with Ron and Neville, he'd somehow wound up in Ancient Runes. He'd been so hungry he hadn't spared the schedule a glance and by now most of the other students were headed toward their first classes. Harry spotted Professor McGonagall on her way out of the Great Hall.
"Professor, excuse me, Professor." Harry nearly tripped over his own feet as he rushed to catch up with his head of house.
"Er, sorry professor, but there's been a mistake," Harry thrust his timetable out. "I'm not supposed to be in Ancient Runes."
"Ah yes, Potter." The professor sniffed and adjusted her spectacles, "You'll have to speak to the headmaster if you wish a change in schedule. I do believe, however, it was altered at your mother's request."
"But that doesn't make any sense Professor. I can't start a subject in my seventh year. It isn't as though I could ever pass a NEWT Ancient Runes, is it?"
McGonagall peered rather severely at the boy over her spectacles. "As I said Mr. Potter, you really must take the matter up with the headmaster and your mother. Now, if you insist on arguing with me I do believe you'll be late for advanced potions."
Harry grimaced, quickly stuffing his timetable back into his bag and hurried out of the hall. Professor Potter was not one to be kept waiting.
Though Harry had resolved to speak to his mum about the unfair change in schedule after potions, he'd been too caught up mocking Draco Malfoy with Ron and Neville to remember. The Slytherin had practically fled from the dungeons rather than face the Griffyndors. Triumphant laughter followed his retreating form as the three boys headed back toward the common room for a free period.
"And did you see his face after his cauldron exploded? He was about to cry!" Ron was nearly doubled over as he leaned on Harry.
"The prat must have jumped ten feet!" Neville was wiping tears out of his eyes, "Can't wait until Defense Against the Dark Arts! Ten gallons says he'll won't be able to get a single spell off, even with Snape's help." The trio devolved into a fit of laughter as they made their way down the corridor.
The three boys had been fast friends since childhood, all delighting in their Griffyndor ties. Harry had done his best to initiate the shyer Neville and the less-than-subtle Ron in the glorious tradition of Marauder pranking. Weasley was happy to lend the expertise of his twin brothers to their pranks. For his part, Neville had added an organic touch to the mix; Bouncing Bulbs and even Mimbulus Mimbletonia had been known to make contact with unsuspecting Slytherins. By the end of their first year, the trio were known throughout Hogwarts. By the end of their fourth year they had officially been inducted into Filch's List of Famous Idiots, as the caretaker liked to call them.
The trio were confident they would leave their beloved school as legends.
"There is something particularly detestable about watching your eldest son breeze through my classroom with such ease." Severus Snape smirked at his oldest friend as he sat down for lunch.
"Oh, I don't know." Lily Potter answered airily as she buttered a piece of bread, "He seems to keep you on your toes at least. Merlin knows you need it. Correct me if I'm wrong but did you, or did you not, need the help of a certain potions mistress to treat that mysterious outbreak of hellebore punch contamination in your common room last night."
Severus flashed her a good-natured smirk as he reached for his goblet. His eyes were firmly planted on the boy in question, who was even now cracking some ill-humored joke, if the dimwitted Weasley boy guffawing with his food-filled mouth was any indication, Snape thought.
"Well, I doubt I'll be able to bring him to proper justice, even if he does deserve it." Severus sighed. "But I want you to know I've indicated to the headmaster it would be my greatest pleasure to personally oversee the large number of detentions Harry will surly garner."
Lily laughed. "Of course Sev. But seriously, how's Sylvia shaping up?"
Severus gave his old friend a genuine smile. "She's coming along better than expected. I should think she'll do quite well in her Defense OWL."
"That's a relief. If she had half the talent for Defense she has for Herbology I'd be looking at another Auror in the family." Lily eyes wandered to her daughter at the Hufflepuff table.
"James would be ever so pleased, I'm sure." Severus commented dryly.
Lily snickered. Her husband and her best mate had never exactly got on. Their relationship had settled over the years, eventually falling into a pattern of mutual dislike, with only the tinniest hint of open hostility. Well, Lily reflected, perhaps more than a tiny bit of open hostility.
The potions mistress turned her attention to her notes. "I've got third years the second period this afternoon. I was thinking about mixing it up a bit. Think I should start them on the Shrinking Solution? It's not too dull, I hope?"
"I'm sure it will be fine. In fact, as they're with me next, perhaps I should make them practice Engorgio on one another. I could leave a few for you to fix? It would certainly provide more motivation to brew correctly."
This time Lily outright laughed. "I think I can manage to get the kids excited without threats of oversized body parts. But thank you for your concern."
"Anytime." Severus deadpanned as he sipped his tea. "Let no one doubt the depth of my commitment to educating our nation's most promising young minds."
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?" The professors' conversation was cut off by a sudden scream from the Gryffindor table. A rather bushy head of hair had not only been bewitched into standing up stick straight but had suddenly become bright purple.
"One would think the Granger girl would have learned to get along with her housemates after all this time." Snape cooly noted as Lily rose and began to make her way to the table. "But I suppose it's only natural. You lot always were a hard-headed bunch."
Lily's green eyes flashed back at him. "Bugger off Sev."
Severus Snape allowed himself a small smirk as he raised his teacup. It was shaping up to be another exhausting year.
