Peter was trembling still, it seemed like the whole ordeal was a tad difficult for him, not that Severus's own heart was not doing crazy things, about to leap out of his rib cage, nope, not at all.

When Madam Pomfery went to get another one of her potions from a locked closet, Severus took the chance , he petted Peter's shoulder briefly, knowing it was still not the time to step further, like taking his hand or calling him by his name or so, it was too much for a Slytherin to handle.

"You were great Pettigrew, I am proud of you! And I bet your house will like that 50 points you got really much"

Pettigrew blushed and smiled shyly, but his eyes had a kind of glowing things that made Severus heart hurt, did nobody tell him that? For children who ere used to this, praise ,they would thank him and sit straight like they were minister for magic or sth. Not blush!

(He thought if Petter had a crush on him, but as he knew he did not swing that way, the point was moot)

Severus was leaving the wing when out of thin air, Charity came a hug him.

"I am do so sorry! I had no idea he had a big mouth on him! I would never ever ever want you to be in the harm way! Remus is just a bad memory, I promise! You are my best best friend!"

As Severus, forcibly made her loose her hands a bit, because seriously she was suffocating him, he put two and two together.

Seemingly Charity, as charitable and soft hearted as she was, had found a charity case for herself when he was not around. The case being Lupin, he had made her trust him, only to betray her later.

Severus could bitterly remember that before the werewolf happened at sixth year, he and Lupin were paired up during Runes. They mostly got along together and as much as it shamed Severus to admit, he had been warming up to him.

Severus knew at times, Lupin was a cowerd and opiniated basterd, but he also had some brains on him. And in Lily's absence, he needed some friendly scientific banter, which was not possible what with those roommate of his.

Lupin had used his vulnerability.

Now he had done it again.

Severus wanted to go and strangle the guy, but he needed Charity safe, and he knew well enough that at this age, most teens , when being told not to do, rebeled against it.

So this time, he hugged Charity, he was loath to admit that he was getting accustomed to hugs, and let her cry her heart out.

Subtlety would do.

Lupin would not ever know what hit him.

Finally Severus found himself alone. He had to go all the was to seventh floor to room of requirements, but it was worth it.

He really had to know if he had gone bonkers for a moment, hearing strange voices.

He put Emerald on the nearby pillow, he sat cross-legged and waited.

And waited.

When five minutes passed, he thought that maybe the bludger had hit him harder than he thought.

Hewas about to turn away to leave the room when suddenly

"Boo!

Severus had a near heart attack, but apparently Emerald was having a good time mocking him

" Ooh your face! Mahhha mahhhaaa

Her laugh was a tad crazy, like that movie witch of the west or...

Ow!

She bit him!

Emerald now was not laughing, but glaring daggers(as much as a ugly duckling turned baby phonix was able to)

"I did not nearly unmade myself, almost turning back time and some serious time pardon making for you to say such bullshit about me!

Severus could only stare with his mouth open.

" and shut that guy, there is no fly for you to catch here you silly child"

Severus shut his mouth.

"Good, now listen because I wanted it to be nearly two weeks earlier than now, but you had to go and make yourself unavailable did you not!

And no Mister do not protest!

Then she muttered under her breath, the brat even doesn't know Persian!

"So where was I? Okay, I brought you kinda back so..

Severus eyes widened "so I was not ...

"I said silent! Zal was loads better than this brat!at least he waited for my wisdom!

Severus was confused, zol?

"No, Zal you stupid kid, and no I am not ganna tell you about him.

Things you need to know is that you are not back in time at all, it is only some parts of his, your older self memory , that I could bring back and get away with it. And as you sat like chicken on that filthy floor, bleeding to death while holding a bottle of ant venin, I found you.

Severus was , if possible, more confused. He kinda wanted to die?

"Yes and no, so I had to find you sooner, you had so much ahead of you, so many potions you had to invent, so many good changes you , and only you , were to bring, but no!

You had to die on that filthy floor, drowning in your blood and self Pitt."

Severus scratche his head.

"Let me get it straight, I am me? But just with Memories of my older me? And I guess you, phonixes find people who want to suicide and give them another chance? So you took whatever memories you could and ...

Emerald rolled her beautiful eyes.

"We don't find everyone who commits suicide, only those who are too important to die, and not all your memo, many of them were either too damaged , or too deep as you were a master occlumece. Yes you are you, and the things you have done in this time, is you too. Time is not linear you know?

Severus overwhelmed, feeling it was too much for him, took a pillow from somewhere

"I am ganna pretend this conversation did not happened. I am ganna sleep and when I ganna wake up it will all go away. Fucking talking phonixes is way above my threshold "

Suffice to say , it did not go away when he woke up.

An hour later, Severus was sitting on a leather armchair, munching on a ginger biscuit the room offered him.

"So basically, the future I have in my mind, is not set on stone? No happened at all?"

Emerald inclined her head, then snatched a biscuit of his plate.

"Yep, and that is not the future at all, since you so kindly got it in your hand and went to Hufflepuff. But...

Severus muttered, of course there is ALWAYS a but

"There are set points, in time, like you and Lily friendship, or you and Potter Riverland. You can not change it, and before you ask, no, I will not put myself in danger of poking the wrong dragon in the eye to tell you of these points. Higher ups are always dandy and in a foul mood."

Severus sighed. How he was to change anything not knowing what was what!

Emerald, hearing his thoughts answered

" you won't know, and that s the beauty of it! Some facts you know from memories are real, some not. But it is always your choices that make the future. You know, even stones shatter if you hammer them enough."

So basically, Severus was fucked up. Memories could be right, wrong or both. And he had no one but himself and a crazy not yet bird to guide him fan-fucking-tastic!

Emerald nudged his hand.

"Not alone, bach-cheh"

Ummm, what?

بچه!

Ehhh?

Kid, youngster, brat, child, ...

Alright Em, don't brag about your knowledge of other languages! You had a million years...

Emerald dutifully nibbled his thumb.

Ouch!

"You attacked know better than to refer to a lady's age bach-cheh!"

Severus had chosen an empty classroom on third floor. There were enough tables to sit on, with no one to interupt.

Gedion and Fabian thought it was about a big prank on Holloween ( it was too, Severus was going to make all his friends dress as werewolves, if he was asked he could always say that werewolves lived in groups of 7 to 10, Merlin, Lupin's face would be precious!)

Charity thought she was about to be reprimanded in front of everyone, as she was responsible for putting both Severus and Emerald in the harms way.

Frank and Amelia thought it was about the eternal friendship and what they could do for each other.

And Marlene, frankly Severus had no idea at all, it could vary from their next history class they wanted to discuss about artimancy and potions, to whether Severus would allow Emerald to befriend Fawkes...

(Even awkward questions on whether he thought that Dumbledore could, or could not date anyone still)

It was nothing of sorts.

Severus was about to do something about the Tonks problem.

No.

All of them, All Seven of them were to do something to solve the matter.

He smiled. Not alone indeed.