He exited from the ugly statute of a door, tightly gripping this brand-new special gift in his hands. He was so scared that something might happen to the device, he was trembling slightly out of excitement... He felt as though it might fall any moment or someone would snatch it from his very hands. His cheeks were flushed with excitement. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so throughly thrilled for anything. Since Lily left, the dark chapter of his life had begun, and that day, during the summer when he was only twenty-one, everything had ended. He was no longer at the beginning of the darkness; he was deep inside it, drowning. Memories flooded to his mind. But no, it wasn't the time for that now. The adolescent students, with the adrenaline pumping their veins were running around. Even though they change their routes when they see him, it wasn't impossible for one of them to see him in such a vulnerable state. He had made up his mind to erase the future, hell the consequences. He put 'the gift' in the pocket of his black robe and placed his hand on it. Everything was under control.

"Professor Snape?"

He turned cautiously. It was McGonagall. Oh no, his eyes weren't teary, were they?

"Professor McGonagall?"

He quickly turned his back and wiped his eyes. He hoped she couldn't tell. He kept his face as expressionless as usual and his voice was indifferent. Besides, even if McGonagall saw him crying his eyes out, she would probably decide it was a hallucination.

"If you have a moment, I want to talk about Draco Malfoy."

He didn't have a moment. He had an idea of what would be said about Draco Malfoy. Five minutes ago, he would have been quite eager to talk to Minerva. But now, he had neither the time nor the interest. His mind was in the distant past. Perhaps neither Harry nor Draco mattered anymore. Everything depended on what was in his filthy inner pocket right now. Nevertheless:

"Of course, Professor, let's talk. If you want, we can go to my office..."

"My office is closer, Severus, if you don't mind."

He agreed. Now, they were sitting face to face in Professor Minerva McGonagall's office. Severus had refused all offers of any kind of drink and was waiting to hear what she had to say. Minerva had asked him out of politeness anyway, and he had no intention of pressing the issue by accepting any drink. She began to speak...

"So, I'm sure you've noticed, Severus. I know it's your responsibility under your own house, but I think you've been too tolerant. I have to point it out. He's becoming increasingly audacious, and he started answering back..."

At another time, he would have responded harshly to such insults directed at his favorite student from his own house. But now, it was unnecessary. Really...

"Of course, Minerva," he said almost with a smile. "I'll talk to the boy."

And left her behind, staring in shock with her mouth wide open, definitely was waiting him to reciprocate.

In a stone room filled with jars of disgusting sticky things and a few floating candles, nothing illuminated except for a few candles, he was sitting in his chair, taking deep breaths. It was a great achievement not to attract attention on his way here. His heart was pounding wildly. His eyes sparkled. He had managed to keep himself from pracing around while making the few hundred meters from McGonagall's office to his own dungeons! Now he was sitting here, looking at that wonderful thing on his desk. He was eager to use it. But first, he had to find his heart's normal rhythm. Once he started time traveling to the past, there would be no going back, or forward, for that matter. This was not like a Time-Turner; it meant erasing the future. Everything that had happened! He was not about to return to the past; he was about to start from the past. From scratch, to everything. He was trembling as he reached for the device, but then there was a polite knock on the door. Damn!

It was Harry Potter. Who else could it be? He always appeared where he wasn't needed, and then he ended up causing trouble. He pries into everything, acting stupidly, and in trouble and blames Severus for the consequences! Like he is the responsible one for his misfortunes! And everybody else was, ah so understanding of him. He even blamed Severus, for Black's death! Like the old fool did not die because of Potter's stupidness but Snape's actions, or in this case non-actions. Because Severus Snape sure did nothing. But not according to Potter Jr. Oh, he was not talking to his face but it was impossible not to understand his thoughts, especially for a legilimens at his level against specially against to a mental blockhead of Potter's level. 'If you hadn't provoked him, he wouldn't have rushed to the Ministry. If you hadn't called him a coward, he would be sitting at home, safe.' Hah! Foolish, ah so foolish boy! Didn't he know Black at all? Black, of all people, would know Potter's life is in danger and will sit at home, with or without Snape's teasing. It was impossible and his death had nothing to do with Severus and he did not feel any single remorse about his misfortune. Condolences Mister Black. May you not rest in Peace! And why would he should treat Black nicer than he did, ha? Would Black treat him differently if he was in Black's shoes. Oh, of course he would! He would comfort him and send him flowers indeed. Maybe kiss and hug too. Or maybe it was him who people expect to behave nicely to the others without getting anything in return. Oh, how much he hate everyone, the hell everyone. Who cares? Who really? If Severus Snape did something, it must be bad, the rest was just details, sign: the world. So, what if Potter didn't understand the essence of the matter, did not even try to close his mind a single bit, didn't listen to anyone, and instead of coming to Snape for advice or even waited a little bit and think about stuff. It was only logical that he directly flew to the Ministry, causing trouble for everyone with a few of his equally talentless friends of his. Should we blame Potter? No! Come on! Snape was to blame. After all, he had stopped giving him Occlumency lessons. What if the angelic Harry Potter stirred up trouble at the first opportunity and looked at everything he shouldn't? Snape was responsible. It was always because of him. Even the Dark Lord's resurgence was his fault. Snape was giving Dark Lord a boost when no one was looking. Huh!

Narrowing his eyes, Harry looked at the potion master who was scrutinizing him with a deep hatred and appeared quite uncomfortable but hadn't uttered a word yet. He didn't know what to say. Snape had definitely noticed him - why else would he fix his damned eyes on him? Shouldn't he say something? Harry decided to assume that Snape hadn't seen him and, to get his attention, he cleared his throat in an Umbridge-like manner:

"Ahem, ahem."

The man was apparently waiting for him to cough:

"Yes?" he spat. "What is it?"

"Well, sir. Detention?"

Snape narrowed his eyes even further. Of course, detention! Potter was constantly getting into trouble, and naturally, he was in detention every day. Why was he acting surprised?

"Take a seat, Potter," he said with his full share of hatred and settled back into his chair. He no longer had the patience to wait. He couldn't wait for Potter's detention. He picked up the device. The boy had raised his eyebrows and was looking at it. It was obvious he was trying to establish a connection between the punishment and Snape's special item. Snape couldn't help but smile.

"Sit down and stop talking, Potter! I have work to do." And he began examining the device.

What work you have Snape? Are you planning to sit in front of me for hours and made me watch your unpleasant face? Well, that's truly horrifying. I'd prefer the Cruciatus Curse, I think.

"Of course. We can try the Cruciatus Curse if you want," Snape whispered, quite amused, as he continued to fiddle with the strange device. Harry turned complete red. He had forgotten that Snape could read his mind. Provoking Professor Severus Snape before detention was as harmless as saying "Hey, Voldi, let's play some exploding snap!" to Voldemort himself. Whatever punishment he would receive, he would give something even worse now. Perhaps he would make him scrub the Slytherin toilets in front of everyone...

"Scrub the Slytherin toilets? Hmm, that's an interesting idea. We can give it a try, why not? Since you seem eager..."

Harry blushed even more. He opened his mouth to give a sarcastic reply, but he never got to say that sentence. Professor Severus Snape had taken hold of the yellowish crimson device, closed his eyes, and muttered something. Then, everything went black, everything...