You guys are the ace of spades! Thank you all so much for the amazing reviews. I felt that since I spent the best part of six years believing that Snape was evil and now that I have been proved wrong….I better rectify it before my best friend fries me! Lol. Okay well let's check out what happens next. :)
"Okay Harry now stay focused. You can do this. Are you ready?" Remus asked cautiously.
Harry inhaled deeply, stared at Remus defiantly out on the patio and nodded.
Alright….legitimise." Remus exclaimed as Harry did his best to penetrate Remusentry into his mind.
He didn't fight sufficiently however, Remus saw him receiving his Hogwarts letter with great excitement and then he was thrown off course. Remus stepped back and smiled satisfactorily at Harry who reciprocated.
"Well done Harry. That is a lot better than last time." He patted him on the shoulder. Harry looked despondent as he said…."Ya but you still saw something Remus. I am never going to get this."
"Yes you will Harry. You just have to keep practicing. Practice makes perfect."
"Snape was fairly peeved today though when I saw into his mind….."
"You did what? Harry….that is brilliant!" Remus exclaimed jovially as Harry stared at him perplexed.
"Excuse me? Remus….why is that brilliant?" Harry asked sitting on the bench.
"Well….you managed to catch him off guard. We all get caught off guard sometimes Harry….. And you being able to break through Snapes mind like that just proves how fast you are at learning the skill. Don't be too hard on yourself alright?" He placed his hand on Harry's shoulder as he stared down at him. Harry smiled blandly as he whispered… "Okay" Remus smiled before saying….
"Why don't you head to bed? You have another big day tomorrow."
"Don't remind me….."
"It will be alright Harry. You did well today. Keep it up."
"Ya….thanks Remus."
Anytime. Goodnight Harry."
"Goodnight Moony." They both shared a small smile before heading in their own direction.
Remus and Harry walked silently in the direction of Snapes office the next morning. Harry had his head bowed trying to remember everything that Remus had taught him the previous evening. Remus smiling down at Harry, knowing what he was thinking but also wondering what he saw yesterday. As they reached the dungeons the door was thrown open and there stood Snape looking fierce at them both.
"Potter! You are late. Get in." He stepped aside for Harry to enter. Harry just glazed at him before smiling quickly at Remus and entering the room. Snape inhaled Remusfigure for a moment before speaking….
"Well….Lupin. Did you receive your timetable for this academic year yet?"
"No. I was actually going to head up to Albus now while you are teaching Harry. Kill two birds with one stone…."
"Yes. Well…..Potter is waiting."
Remus smirked at Snape before saying….
"Oh come now Severus. Do you really expect me to believe that you care about that?"
"I have other things to do today Lupin. So I had best get this out of the way." He slammed the door shut on Remusface. Remus chuckled to himself, shook his head and headed to Dumbledore.
Snape swept up to the top of the room where Harry stood waiting, examining his wand. Snape stared at him before clicking his fingers to get his attention. Harry looked up suddenly.
"Wake up Potter. You are going to need to fully concentrate today if we are going to commence the lesson at all."
"I am sorry sir. Sir, Can I ask you something?"
"So long as you make it quick Potter. We have a lot of work to do."
"Well….its just that yesterday when I broke into your mind I saw how you were speaking to my mother on the Hogwarts Express. I was wondering…..why?"
"What do you mean "why?" He asked irritably.
"Well….you were a Slytherin and my mom was….muggle born….."
"I wasn't a Slytherin when we first met on the train Potter and believe me that if I had known she was a mud blood I would never have spoken to her…."
"LEGITIMISE!" Harry screamed angrily. Once again he managed to catch Snape off guard. He knew there was more to it than this and this was the only way to find out. However, what he saw he did not expect.
He saw his mother a little older than she had been on the train. She was holding hands with James out in the court yard. She looked so happy. They both did; laughing and joking. Then he saw Snape standing in the castle door way. Lucius Malfoy came along and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around. They were talking very quietly. Then he heard Lucius say something like….
"Oh please don't tell me you are still pining for that filthy mud blood. The dark lord will not like this Severus."
"I am not pining for anyone Lucius." Snape said firmly.
"Well good. At least you have your priorities right." Then he walked away, taking one last look at Snape. Snape sighed. "If things were different Lily….I would be the one there and not Potter. For nobody could love you the way that I do…." Harry was thrown on to his back.
Snape glared down at him before shouting….
"HOW DARE YOU DO THAT POTTER! YOU HAD NO RIGHT…..I AM THE TEACHER HERE…."
"Sir I am so sorry but I had to know…."
"YOU HAD TO KNOW WHAT?"
"I had to know if you….why you were so nice to my mom that day on the train….."
"You couldn't leave just well enough alone. Just like your father…..so insistent on being right and trying everything in your power to make everybody feel small and miserable. Yes, I admit I did love your mother and part me probably still does. I could have given her the life she deserved. Potter…..he doesn't love her the way that I do." He went and sat down at his desk. Harry helped himself up off the floor and stood opposite Snape as he asked……
"So…..why do you hate me so much? From the very first day you have done nothing but make my life a misery. You always try and give me detention whenever you can; you triumph over lowering Gryffindor in points, you say you loved my mother….maybe you still do. Why punish me? Its not my fault that she chose my dad over you. Did you ever tell her?"
Snape studied him for a few moments. He didn't understand what was happening. This was Harry Potter he was talking to. The son of his arch rival but also of his first love. Nevertheless he continued.
"When I first saw you I was immediately reminded of what your father put me through at school. However, when I saw your eyes for the first time, I saw Lily. You resemble your father a lot more than you resemble Lily. That is why we can never be…..friends, Potter."
"I don't expect us to be friends, Professor. All I want is for you to stop punishing me for what my dad did to you at school. That was before my time. I was hoping now…..that maybe now that truth is all out….maybe we could start afresh. Can we call it a truce? Start from the beginning? See me as Harry Potter and not as a mini James Potter? You always give preferential treatment to the Slytherins so how about cutting Gryffindors some slack now sir?"
"Are you trying to black mail me Potter? Because believe me….you don't want to do that."
"I promise to keep your secret if you start to treat me more fairly in school."
"I am not going to stand here while some half breed dictates to me. The deal is off Potter. You can go and find somebody else to teach you occlumency!"
"But sir….Professor Dumbledore wants you….."
" I will deal with him in my own time. You can get out Potter. NOW!"
Harry rolled his eyes and left, glancing once more back at Snape who still stayed seated at his desk, studying his wand.
Later that evening Harry sat down on the patio steps, leading out to the garden as he stared up at the sky for answers but receiving none. James saw him from the kitchen window. He quickly came out of the house, stood a few feet behind him as he gently asked….
"Are you okay Harry? You seem a little lost." Harry started as he turned around and faced his father. He quirked a small smile as he nodded. "I'm just thinking." He returned his gaze to the stars. James frowned a little as he approached Harry and softly placed himself down next to him. He clasped his hands together and said after a few moments silence…
"So what is on your mind champ?"
"Its fine dad…."
"No come on tell me. I would like to know. What is it? Is it school? Quiddtich? Hermione?"
"Hermione? Dad what has she got to with anything?" He asked aghast.
"Alright take it easy Harry. I just thought that maybe you and her…." He twisted his hand from side to side with a slight smirk.
"Dad we are just friends."
"Well that is the best way to start out a relationship Harry. Friendship is the key to any successful relationship…."
"Dad would you stop harping on about Hermione!" Harry jumped up and clambered down the two extra steps into the garden. As he did he bent forwards and touched his forehead as he screamed in pain. James immediately jumped up and rushed over to his son. Harry now was lying down on the grass, rolling around in agony. James gently shook him, calling his name as he did.
"Harry….Harry come on now. Fight him Harry. Fight him son. You can do it……"
Sirius and Remus rushed out upon hearing the commotion. Remus ran down the steps to where James and Harry were as Sirius jumped them. They both knelt down on either side; Remus next to James on the left and Sirius on the right. Lily, Shari and Tonks stood on the patio feeling helpless.
"I can help….I am an auror after all!" Tonks pleaded with them.
"No Tonks you stay here with us. Whatever the matter is I am sure that the boys can resolve it. Oh Lils come here." Shari said as she threw an arm around her.
"Harry….Harry….Why isn't he responding?" Sirius asked frantically.
"Because he has gone into Voldemorts mind Sirius!" Remus replied anxiously.
"So what are we going to do? Let him kill him? Remus he has never become this involved before…."
"Yes James I realise that. Voldemort must somehow be able to control him or drag him….Harry can you hear me? Harry if you can hear me I need you to get out! Harry….Harry?"
"Remus mate this isn't helping…."
"Well what do you suggest then Sirius?"
"Well how the hell should I know? You are supposed to be trained at occlumency. Can't you do something?"
"I am trying….."
"Well calling him isn't bloody well working Remus! There must be something else…."
"This is the first approach Sirius. We first establish how deeply affected he is…."
"I reckon is fairly affected Remus mate."
"He seems fairly incoherent Remus so please…..help my boy." James pleaded with tears threatening. Remus looked at him with a sense of compassion for his oldest friend. With one last look at Sirius frustrated eyes and James saddened face, Remus stood up, pointed his wand at Harry's chest as he shouted…..
"REVERTO" Immediately Harry's chest jolted. After a few seconds his eyes flew open as he sat up coughing. James and Sirius helped him up with an arm each.
"Harry….are you alright?" James asked anxiously. He nodded massaging his throat.
Sirius conjured him a glass of water. After Harry knocked it back he muttered a "thanks."
"So….what happened? What did you see Harry?" James asked impatiently.
"I don't know what happened. One minute I was talking to you, the next I was keeling over in pain and then it all went black for a few minutes. All that I could hear was this rasping voice. Then I was in this large sitting room with Malfoy and Voldemort of some form…..some hexed me crucio. I guess….I guess that's why I was rolling around….."
"Damn it! So you managed to get in through old Voldies mind again then?"
"Ya Sirius but…."
"No buts Harry. It's obvious that Snivelus is teaching you nothing fundamental."
"Sirius…."
"No Remus. James don't you agree?" James frowned in anxiety towards the darkness. He then asked….
"What exactly has Snape being teaching you Harry?"
"How to block my mind to Voldemort."
"And what a fine job he has done!" Sirius exclaimed standing up and pacing aggressively.
"Sirius calm down will ya?" Remus soothed looking from him to James to Harry who were now both standing.
"No Remus I won't calm down! He is supposed to be teaching the kid to block his mind not bloody well make a bigger gap between them. If you weren't hear…..I dread to think what could have happened."
Sirius continued his pacing as Harry spoke up.
"Actually I have a confession to make you guys. The other day when he was having a go at me for not doing it properly….I saw into his mind and well he didn't like what I saw so….ever since then he hasn't really been teaching me a whole lot. But that's my fault." Harry quickly added seeing all three ready to attack.
"HARRY! HARRY! Oh thank god you are alright darling." Lily exclaimed running towards her son and wrapping him in her arms. Tonks and Shari gave the boys the thumbs up as they looked up at them. After Lily had suffocated her son enough for one night and escorted him up to the house, Sirius turned to his two friends and asked in a voice barely above a whisper so their wives wouldn't hear…..
"So…..what are we gona do about ole Snivelus boys?"
"Well Sirius…..I do believe its time we paid our old school friend a very unsociable visit first thing in the morning." James replied with an evil grin which Sirius reciprocated. Remus just rolled his eyes as he headed up to the patio to his wife leaving Sirius and James to consort their revenge scheme…..again.
Well what did ya think? Hope you enjoyed it! There is of course a lot more to come!! I have a question which is completely off the topic but it would be cool to get your opinion. What do you think of inter racial couples? Do you think it's wrong to mix race or culture? Do you think it doesn't matter once the two people concerned are happy? Or do you just not care? Let me know please and I promise to explain why ASAP! XO