Encounters of the Future Sort

The Toad

James

Hospital Wing

April 1st, 1996

Married. James ran a hand through his already messy hair in absolute awe. Evans pulls a prank on me, and we're married? Is she barmy?

He had broken free of the infirmary and stopped for a moment outside the stone statue of the unicorn in the hallway, mulling over these new revelations. Antsy at the prospect of confronting her, he shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind.

Right, onwards.

Starting towards the fifth floor, James intended to find how Sirius, Remus, and Peter were fairing. He figured they must have escaped Peeves and his unbridled behavior by now, but thought he'd check anyway. He was just rounding the entrance of the Library when—

"Harry Potter!"

A plethora of pink caught the corner of his eye. He turned—and wished he hadn't. A short, squat woman in a frilly pink cardigan was staring him down, somewhat akeen to a toad eyeing a fly.

"Hello Mr. Potter," the toad began in a sugary sweet voice. This startled James, for he had rather expected a croak. "Feeling ill, are we?"

James stared blankly at her for a moment, dazed. And slightly horrified. He had nothing against pink, but this was just superfluous.

"Er—do I know you?" he finally managed, choosing to disregard that yet another person had confused his first name. He had skipped lunch and was feeling rather short at the moment.

The toad raised her eyebrows disapprovingly. "Excuse me?"

"I said," James began slow and condescendingly, "do I know you?" Perhaps he was speaking in Gobbledegook, no one seemed to understand a word he'd said all afternoon.

A nasty smile crept slowly upon the toads face as she waved her finger back and forth rather childishly. "Now, now…we mustn't loose that temper of yours. Apparently we haven't had enough detentions to allow the message to completely sink in. Another weeks worth will do just fine, I think…"

James was dumbstruck and rather furious. He was never above accepting warranted punishments; they were simply a badge pride for his oppositionally defiant nature. He was usually a bit more charmingly evasive when under authoritative scrutiny—although he had never seen this woman before. And he was quite sure, given her…gaudy appearance, he would recall it quite vividly.

"Look, I haven't the faintest idea who you are, and I don't really care." James cocked an eyebrow. "Now if you don't mind—"

The smile slipped off the toad's face as quickly as it had come. "Mr. Potter, come with me." She ordered in a now bitterly sharp tone, like the outer layer of sugar had been sucked from a lemon drop. "Let's refresh your memory, shall we? It's such a shame—oh, hello Severus."

Her eye's fixed on a gaunt, bat-like man who was watching them from outside the enterance to the library. He was carrying three large books and looked about in his mid-thirties. The man hesitated a split second, then stiffly approached.

"Headmistress," Severus nodded cordially.

Headmistress? James puzzled internally, but kept his mouth shut. Dumbledore was certainly Headmaster of Hogwarts, everyone knew that.

The toad woman smiled a sickeningly sweet smile. "I trust you are taking care of that little problem we discussed, Severus?" She smoothed her pink cardigan and removed a tiny piece of lint, making eye contact with Severus as she flicked it away.

"Yes…Headmistress." Severus nodded tonelessly. He had a strangely familiar, gaunt face with a rather large hooked nose that he held so high, it nearly turned upwards as he peered down upon James.

He looked almost like…but, no. That was impossible.

Severus' eyes locked on his in a way that made James horribly self-conscious. He ran a hand through his raven hair anxiously, causing it to stick up at all angles. Severus' eyes flicked to his forehead, widened, and his body tensed, causing the thick top book to slip from his arms and onto the floor.

James bent over to help retrieve it, as did this strangely familiar, gaunt man. Their eyes met very closely towards the ground. As they both made to stand, James watched Severus' mouth purse as though he had mortally offended him.

"Here," James held out the aged leather-bound book. Severus just stared at him in a terribly strange way that made James wonder if they did know each other after all.

"Are you all right, Severus?" The toad leaned in, eyebrows knitting with faux concern.

Severus quickly snatched the book from James. "Mr. Potter. Headmistress." He nodded shortly and took off down the corridor, dark robes billowing behind him.

James watched him go, his mind struggling to wrap around an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. This day was becoming more and more strange. The cauldron exploding, the photo album, the fact that everyone seemed to think his name was Harry? And even odder still, this uncomfortably familiar, bat-like man named Severus…of all things. What if Hermione and Ginny hadn't been pranking him at all? What if—

"Now then," the toad laced her stubby fingers together, interrupting these intrusive thoughts. "Follow me." She turned on her bright pink heel and *clicked* down the corridor.

James had no intention of following her. Just as he began to turn in the opposite direction, she stopped and shouted over her shoulder, "Mr. Potter! You will spend the remaining evenings of your school career in my office if you do not follow me!"

That idea did not appeal much to James. He didn't know precisely what was going on, but obviously this woman held some sort of authority he wasn't aware of. So, reluctantly, he followed after her.

2/2/24 Notes:

This chapter was a bit more serious—next one we get into some fun shenanigans with certain red headed twins...and also back to the rest of the Marauders with Harry's POV. This is SO FUN TO WRITE. I'm absolutely loving it. Hope you are too, leave me your thoughts :)