Carry On

By: Teenlaunch

Disclaimer: I wouldn't be writing if I owned it.

a/n: I'm extremely sorry about not getting this chapter out sooner. I would have gotten it out earlier (like a week), but I live in good old Kentucky and for all of you following the news, we've had a huge ice storm here. I am lucky and still have power. However, our wireless was knocked out until just this morning. So, here is the next chapter. Chapter 23 is finished and I'm working on the next. Please remember to drop by my poll. I now have summaries in my profile. Please read and then vote. Thanks.

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The Marauders were astonished that they hadn't been given detention. They waited for three days, but it didn't come. After that long James and Sirius were able to laugh about it, even teasing Harry when they felt brave. Remus just smiled and nodded when that happened. But when they pulled out Harry's journal and notebook again he found it hard to hold his tongue. Knowing it would probably be best, he just sighed and gathered in with them. They couldn't know he was angry.

James laid the books in the middle of his bed and flipped open the journal first. "So, who's reading?"

Remus grumbled. "You're the only one that can hold it, Prongs."

"Correction!" Sirius shouted gleefully. He was in an extremely perky mood, unfortunately for Remus. "Only Prongs can open it! Anyone can hold it. Observe." Sirius picked up the book and started reading, "'What a wonderful start to a new year. The Marauders, well, technically, Sirius, James, and Peter, decided to spike my drink. You can imagine the outcome. I ended up having a hallucination, an all-too-real hallucination, of the Dursleys. I think the only reason I didn't react with magic after I fought off the effects of the potion was because Aunt Marge doesn't know, and it scared me to death. Seeing the Dursleys at Hogwarts in 1977 is kinda creepy. But there was a plus side. ---' He scratched something out there…looks like 'Lupin'." Everyone glanced at Remus.

"Anyway, 'Century attacked Sirius and threatened to neuter him if he tries something like that again. I have to admit the reactions were hilarious. Apparently, no one knew he had such a temper. I doubt anyone will try to cross him again. But he made a slip-up, and I don't think the Marauders caught it. After I got him to his office, I blew up and, well, I'm lucky Hogwarts is still standing. Ugh, Sirius is awake. He's tromping around outside the bathroom. I guess I should get up, not that I haven't been awake since one.'"

Sirius sat the book down. "Neuter me! Who does he think he is?"

James rolled his eyes and flipped open the sketchbook. He turned it to a random page and stared. "Bloody-"

"Prongs!" Remus snapped, automatically falling into the role of disciplinarian.

"What? Look!" James thrust the book into Remus' lap. The boys crowded around.

"Oh, get away!" Remus batted them away and took out his wand. He tapped the picture and it was projected into the middle of the room. The boys stared at it.

The picture was of the Marauders. They were in their dorm, on what appeared to be James and Sirius' beds. And they were in the middle of a pillow fight. Sirius and James were standing on one bed, duking it out. Both were in the middle of a sideswipe. Remus was leaning back near the end of the bed, clutching his pillow to his chest and holding his hand (and bandaged wrist) over his head to block any stray blows. Peter was standing beside the bed, half lunging at Remus with his pillow caught in mid-swing. Feathers from the pillows were raining down between the four friends. The Marauders were all laughing and smiling.

Written below it was 'Smile though your heart is aching'. Remus stood and walked up to the picture. "Look at how much detail he put in. The bandage on my wrist, the paw prints on Sirius' boxers, the shadows in the room. And see how much care he put in this. How soft everything is." Remus pointed excitedly, tracing different contours of the picture. Sirius flipped the page savagely and stopped. Remus backpedaled so quick that he tripped over Peter's trunk and sat down on it hard.

The new picture was dark with hardly any color at all. Harry was on the extreme right. He was bent almost double, his body obviously straining against something. His head however was erect and his face was set in a snarl. Harry's wand was clasped in his hand. Around him were dozens of gravestones, and a large group of laughing Death Eaters. But across from Harry, on the extreme left of the picture, was a tall, sinister man who had slits for eyes and nostrils. He had to be the most repulsive thing they had seen. The man's wand was pointed at Harry, angled toward the ground. He was laughing. The Marauders could almost hear it, despite never having met him. Peter squeaked loudly and gripped James' bedpost to stop his shaking.

Only two things had color in the entire picture: Harry's eyes and a single spot of yellow in the background. Harry's green eyes blazed against the ashen background and, a few feet away, a boy who was lying on the ground wore a canary yellow shirt. Remus gulped.

"Wh-what is that? The yellow thing?" James asked.

Sirius gasped. "It's a body."

Remus pointed at Harry. "Look at Harry's body, so strained and angry, furious."

"Who is that man across from him?" Sirius asked quietly.

"It's…it's V-Vol-Vol-" Peter gasped, hyperventilating.

"That's Times's master then!" James exclaimed. "He's so infatuated with him that he drew him."

"This must be his initiation or something." Sirius murmured. "I bet he had to kill that guy, the one in the background. Hey, what's that in the corner?"

Remus was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't bother to state his opinion. He simply continued to stare as they talked.

James got up and walked nearer to the picture. "'The Third Task, February 1995. Never again.' What the heck is with his mixing up dates? I mean, that definitely can't be right."

Sirius shrugged. "I dunno. But you said he wrote 'Never again'. It really seems like he disobeyed."

"Wonder what he did."

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"I don't know, Sirius." James groaned.

"You have to have some input here! I mean, the guy draws depressing pictures! There's something wrong with him." Sirius exclaimed.

"You mean besides the fact that he's a Death Eater?" Peter asked as he drew his cloak closer to his body.

They were outside, walking through the snow. The Marauders had made copies of both drawings and put them away, planning to do the same to any others they found when they looked again. Two days later and Remus was sick of the other Marauders, a feeling he had rarely felt in his seven years of knowing them. He had tried to put the pictures out of his mind. Harry hadn't wanted to tell him anything more than he knew already and he intended to leave it at that, no matter how curious he was. Sirius still held to the belief that Harry was being punished. Remus was finding their conversations on the matter hard to ignore.

Sirius' incessant rambling didn't help either. "True, Peter, true!"

"He's so perfect in front of the teachers. Perfect Times and his exceptional work. He makes me look like a fool in front of Lily!" James exclaimed.

"You don't need any help there," Remus muttered.

"And when you get him in private he's secretive and temperamental!" James continued, not having heard Remus' comment.

Sirius laughed. "And don't forget quiet, scared of his own shadow, self-centered, conceited-"

"SHUT UP!" Remus yelled, stopping and turning around so quickly that the others ran into him. They stared, scuttling backwards a few yards.

"Remus, what-" Sirius began but stopped when Remus roared, sending Peter scurrying behind James.

"Just shut up and listen to me for a moment, Sirius! Have you ever stopped to think that maybe, possibly, by some strange chance, you've jumped to conclusions? NO! You act on impulse! Yes, he's secretive! Yes, it's very suspicious! Yes, he drew a picture with a dead man in it! Yes, it's bugging me! Alright? Are you picking on him simply because he doesn't want the entire school knowing about his personal life?"

Sirius blinked and said, "Y-you're defending him!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are, Moony! You've been casually hinting that we should stop 'being mean' to him! You want us to forget he's a Death Eater!"

Remus took a deep breath. "I want you to think your position over. And if you won't relent, fine. I will not stop you when you prank him or tease him, but, I will not help you in those respects. I refuse to do so when he has given me no reason to torment him."

The others continued to stare at him. James frowned. "I think I understand, Moony. You like to think things through. I can respect that. I just ask for two things in return for our forgetting this entire outburst." Remus stiffened. "One, don't start hanging around him. Two, don't turn us in."

Remus nodded. "Have I ever?" He sighed, the tension flowing out of his face. "I'm sorry guys, I just…I think you're going too far when you have such shaky evidence."

"That's the reason we prank, Remus. To get answers."

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"Potter! Potter! Damn it, boy, why don't you answer? Harry Potter, can you hear me?"

Harry opened his eyes and blinked. He stood up quickly. He was inside a small room, one he had never seen before. At least he thought it was a room. There was only a small square of light projected on the floor from a hole some feet above the ground. Not liking the fact that he couldn't see, Harry created an acid green flame in his hand. He'd been practicing every night and had already mastered the element of fire, his other abilities proving to be much harder to control and not nearly as interesting to Harry.

The flame cast the room in a pale green glow, one that didn't quite reach the walls, but now he could tell he wasn't in a room. No. He was in a dungeon cell.

"Potter." Harry whirled around, holding his flaming hand in front of his face. His light fell on a man who was standing against the wall, shackled to it. His body had the look of a man who was being fed just enough to keep him alive, something Harry knew too much about. His head rested on his chest and he was slumped against the stone behind him. Rats, mice, and insects swarmed on the wall and at his feet. His clothes were filthy and tattered. The man slowly looked up, his eyes unfocused. Harry felt his stomach turn when he recognized him.

It was Snape. His face and arms had numerous lacerations, and beneath them were scars from previous injuries. "Potter, I…I don't know if you can…see me or even hear me. If you can and are trying to respond…know that I can't hear or see you."

Snape's voice, usually so sharp and commanding was wavering slightly, cracking every few words. His breath came in short gasps as he talked, his voice lacking the usual malice. "Potter, I have-have to tell you…I know you won't believe me and-and so be-so be it." He coughed. "Even if-if I'm wasting my breath…I have to tell someone, even if the only one listening is God…Potter, you must hate me for-for what I did."

"You filthy git! I trusted you!" Harry swung his fist at him. It sank through Snape's face and Harry pulled back in shock.

Snape continued as though nothing had happened. "I'm using the last of my strength to contact you…through Legilimency." Harry smiled then, remembering that he could now perform Legilimency as well, which meant he could tell if Snape was telling the truth. He carefully set up his own walls and delved slowly into Snape's mind as he continued. "Luckily it doesn't take much-much energy to find you…So, here's my excuse. I'll make-make it short…I killed Albus because of two unbreakable vows."

Harry frowned. He'd read about unbreakable vows, but it had never been clear to him what they were. Snape coughed again. "Since you never have been one for extracurricular reading, I will explain…An Unbreakable Vow is made between two living entities with a third as a witness…After the vow is begun, it can not be broken…The first vow I took was from Narcissa Malfoy…I promised that I would carry out Draco's orders if he could not…I planned to talk him out of it, and break the vow…I would have died as a result…then I told Albus, and he immediately refused to let me go through with my plan…So he forced me to make another vow with him, with Fawkes as the witness…It was a dirty trick. He invoked the right of the life debt I owed him…but he knew it wouldn't dissuade me. He was right…I still planned to break the vows…I would have been the only one to die…"

Snape paused and for a few minutes all Harry could hear was his ragged breathing. "When I was standing in front of him that night…I thought I could still break them. I planned on killing everyone but Albus and Draco…they would have been able to get away, but I-the agony on Albus' face…so much pain…I could tell that he was dying…

"He told me before he left with you, that he wouldn't survive the night, even if I did break my vow…I realized that he was telling me the truth…there was nothing that could have saved him, Potter…the look in his eyes told me that. When he spoke to me, I thought-I knew I couldn't do it, but then he used legilimency…His last words to me were, 'Tell Harry that I am proud of him, that I am sorry it must end this way, and I thank him for helping me tonight. I can die content, knowing he will take my place…" Snape trailed off. Harry knew that the man was keeping a bit more to himself and that there must have been a reason to keep it from him so he didn't push.

Harry had never seen the man cry, but tears were shining in his eyes, the man still fighting to keep his composure. Harry felt his heart clench when he realized that Snape hadn't been lying to him. The man had nothing to lose. "I'm so sorry, Potter. You have no idea how sorry." Snape smiled ruefully. "I am not nearly as cold-hearted as you would like to believe…but Albus…he would have died anyway. I wanted to-to end it so he would be out of his misery. No more worries. No more war…No more pain. I hope you can forgive me, Potter. And if not, I hope you know Albus died happy, truly happy." A sudden change came over Snape. His face resumed a solemn businesslike look.

"When I arrived here, the Dark Lord locked Draco and me in separate cells. We had both disobeyed…He tried Legilimency. He broke Draco easily enough. It took him three days. My shields fell about a week ago…He had suspected all along. He has been drugging me so I can not reestablish my occlumency shields. After the Dark Lord found what he wanted from me, he left us to the other Death Eaters. You can see how well that turned out…Draco is in similar condition. His father has been the one torturing him…Potter, there can only be two reasons why we are not dead. He either intends to torture us to a slow death or he is planning on using us for something…You'll notice I have a tempus inflecto…he brought us to the past for a reason…he might be planning to get to you. Don't try to contact me. He'll find you right away…Just worry about yourself and Lupin. Goodbye, Potter. I hope if we meet again it is on good terms."

The door was flung open and a red beam of light struck Snape in the chest. He let out an ear-shattering scream and the image dissolved.

Harry's eyes flew open and he sat up in bed so quickly that his head spun. He grabbed his glasses and glanced around furtively. The Marauders were up and staring at him. They were all sitting in their beds, except Remus. He was in mid-step, his foot still off the floor. Ignoring them, Harry got out of bed and ran to the window seat, intending to relax so he could think. He sat down and stared out into the dark. He could see the top of the astronomy tower from the window.

In his mind he could see the green flash and Dumbledore's body falling gracefully from the battlements. And Snape's sneering face taunting him while they dueled. There was a tap on the window. Harry opened it and a large black owl dropped a letter in his lap before it flew off. Harry checked it quickly for spellwork and then opened it cautiously. He used the moonlight to read the short note.

'Harry Potter, by now you should know that we are here. I request a meeting, to repay my life debt. I know the way back to your time. Give me a chance, Harry.'

There was a simple paw print as the signature. Harry felt his entire body begin to shake in rage. How dare that rat send him this? Did he know about Snape's message, or did he remember feeling Harry inside his mind when he was spying on Lupin? The paper suddenly went up in flame, his favorite trick now, and fell to the floor still smoldering. Harry's heavy breathing was the only sound in the room. He marched out the door and could be heard descending the stairs. The portrait swung open and banged shut. The Marauders looked at each other and then the ashes on the floor. What had happened to make him so angry?

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Harry sighed as he looked at the kitten he was supposed to be turning into a quill. It stared up at him, blinking innocently. McGonagall stopped beside his desk. "Mr. Times, why are you not working?"

Harry glared up at her and changed the kitten into a quill and back. McGonagall nodded slowly and walked away. Someone sat down beside him and he looked up. It was Lily.

"Hey," she said quietly.

"Hi," Harry whispered. He hadn't spent a lot of time with his mother yet. Now that his father seemed to hate him, this could be his chance.

Lily smiled encouragingly at him. "How are you doing, what with the Marauders abandoning you to fend for yourself?"

Harry shrugged. "Alright." He glanced back and saw James and Sirius glaring at him. Remus even had his eyes narrowed. Harry turned back around. "Well, they haven't been bothering me yet. I'll live with it."

Lily sighed. "They're impossible. So high and mighty. I can't stand them." She looked around and her gaze fell on James.

Harry smirked as he saw her eyes light up. "Seems like someone has a little crush."

Lily whipped around so fast that her hair hit him in the face. "I-You're just like them!"

She went to get up but Harry grabbed her hand, startled at the sudden change. He felt as though someone had sent a jolt of electricity through his body. Fireworks erupted in his stomach. A hundred emotions soared through him just by touching his mother's hand after being deprived for so long.

Harry just stared up at her. "I-I…Lily…"

"Harry, are you alright?"

Harry gulped and had just let go of her hand when he was yanked into the air by his leg. Harry groaned. He was going to hex Snape for ever inventing that spell. James was beneath him, scowling. "I'd stay away from Lily if I were you, Times."

Harry's shirt fell down over his eyes. He hastily pushed it back up amid a round of chuckling. Harry crossed his arms and stared at James. "Was I out of line?"

"Yes, very much so." Remus cleared his throat. James glanced at him then McGonagall and let Harry drop to the floor. Harry landed hard on his back.

"Harry!" Lily knelt beside him but he was already sitting up. Harry looked around and saw that McGonagall was already yelling at his father. He stood and walked up to her. She stopped talking when he put a hand on her arm. Everyone stared at him then their professor, who had stepped to the side. She had never stood down for anyone.

Harry and James glared at each other. "You know, Potter, I thought you were a really good guy once. But, you know what they say, don't you?" James just continued to glare, locking his jaw. "Set someone on a pedestal and they will fall." Harry ran a hand nervously through his hair. Remus frowned when he noticed that Harry also smoothed his bangs down over his forehead, seemingly as an afterthought. "I won't lie to you. Your pedestal was very tall, Potter, and it has fallen, hard. It takes a lot to fall, to become lower in my mind than you were, but you have succeeded." Harry clapped his hands mockingly. "Well done."

Harry looked over at Remus. "I have learned that it's best to let someone build their own pedestal. And I'll tell you now, a small handful of people are at a very high level. Three of them are in this room, and two others have a lot of ground to make up before they regain their places."

James' face was slack. He was about to retort when the bell rang. Harry grabbed his things and walked out of the silent room, leaving behind his confused father.

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He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passes away.

Revelation 21:4