Chapter Summary: Friends meet on the Hogwarts Express!

Interlude: The Crup and the Spy

Severus Snape stormed into his dingy home on Spinners End, slamming the front door behind him hard enough to rattle the windows. He had just returned from a pre-term staff meeting at Hogwarts, typically a useless meeting every summer that could have been completed by owl post. But this year's was particularly vexing.

Harry bloody Potter. As if he wasn't already sickeningly aware the boy would be old enough to attend this year. This staff meeting had been all about the brat and how to manage his undeserved celebrity. Measures had been put in place to keep reporters out. House elves had been employed to discreetly check messages from unknown owls and remove messages from strangers. Extra security measures had even been put in place on the Hogwarts Express.

Severus growled and pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. It was a damned lot of work for one child to attend the school. He stomped through the house to the kitchen and looked out the back window. A dilapidated playground full of fond yet melancholy memories was off in that direction, though out of sight. He leaned his forehead against the window and sighed, staring into the distance. As obnoxious as they were, he actually privately agreed with all of the security measures. His job – his raison d'être – was to protect the boy.

"I'll try, Lily," he muttered morosely. He tapped his forehead against the glass. "No, I'll do. Just don't ask me to like it," he amended.

A subtle shift in the atmosphere caught his attention and he straightened, standing stiffly next to the window and looking suspiciously around the room. A split second later there was a flash of light and a Patronus came bounding into the room. A deep crease settled between his brows as he examined the silvery animal – a Crup. He didn't recognize it but only members of the Order of the Phoenix knew how to send a Patronus with a message, which this clearly was. Who the blazes…

"Snape! Er, Professor Snape, sorry!" an unfamiliar voice exclaimed from the dog's mouth. He sounded like a child. Curious. Severus crouched down to examine the Crup more closely. Very few adult wizards could cast a Patronus. How curious to see one from a child – and even more curious that it was coming to him.

"Time travel accident! I'm stuck as an eleven-year-old. I think Harry is, too. I'm not sure – I'll find out on the first." What the devil?!

"Anyway, You-Know-Who will be hiding out at Hogwarts this year and Harry's pants at Occlumency. We're gonna need your help. We both know things that'll be horrible for him to find out. Bollocks! Mum's looking at me funny. Gotta go!"

The Crup wagged its forked tail and gamboled about the room. Severus stood, perplexed, and very deep in thought. The Crup pounced on his foot then disappeared.

Time travel accident? Stuck as eleven-year-olds? Harry? If, and it was a massive if, Harry Potter (for what other 'Harry' could it possibly be?) had traveled in time with an accomplice, there should be two of each of them. But de-aged? Unheard of. It seemed the boy was implying they had taken over their younger bodies. How?!

And the Dark Lord "hiding out" at the school had frightening implications as well. The tight line that Severus was prepared to walk with Potter at the school had just narrowed to a knife's edge.

He turned to look out the window again and thumped his head against the glass.

"Harry." Thump. "Sodding." Thump. "Potter." Thump. "…and Friend." Thump-thump.

Chapter 8: Bubbles and Sparks

The moment they entered an empty train compartment, Harry slid the door closed and whirled on Ron. "You're here!" he yelped, incredulously.

Ron nodded and grinned, "Yep."

"…HOW?!"

"Sit down, mate, before you have a stroke," Ron gestured to a seat. Harry sat and stared at his best friend, absolutely gobsmacked.

Ron casually sat across from him and flicked his wand, "Muffliato." Harry furrowed his brows and Ron tilted his head slightly to his right, indicating a covered cage.

Pettigrew.

Harry's chin jutted out and his hand clenched around his wand as he forcefully controlled his anger.

"I know, mate. I've been repeating a vow twice a day not to kill the little bastard. But I reckon we ought to be smart about it."

He nodded stiffly.

"Anyway, you wanted to know how I got here. I grabbed hold of your ankle as you were falling through the veil. Remember that weird hourglass you found just before?"

"Yes…"

"Well, I sort of accidentally threw it at you while I was trying to catch you. It broke and the stones inside of it started glowing. Looked like a weird, fragmented killing curse, honestly. I've come to the official conclusion that it was a special Harry Potter Time Turner of Destiny or some such rot."

Harry snorted. "That's a terrible name. But also, why the hell did you grab my ankle while I was falling through the veil?!"

Ron spread his hands and shrugged. "I'm loyal as a Hufflepuff, Harry. What else was I gonna do?" He narrowed his eyes and glared at Harry. "Wait, are you saying you wouldn't have tried to catch me if I was the one falling through it?"

"No! Of course I would've! It's just I'm…"

"You're what? Harry Potter?" Ron crossed his arms and glared at him.

"No! Well, yes, I am, but no!"

"Oh, I see how it is. Only Harry Potter can be stupidly brave or bravely stupid."

"That is not what I meant, and you know it!"

Ron glared at him a moment longer then suddenly cast a nonverbal stinging hex at Harry's leg.

"OUCH!"

Ron smirked and stowed his wand up his sleeve.

Harry sighed in defeat. "Ron, of course I would've taken a swan-dive through the veil if you had fallen first. And I am eternally grateful that you came with me. We are equally stupidly brave and bravely stupid." He widened his eyes owlishly and blinked at his friend.

Ron nodded regally. "I know. Now that we've gotten that out of the way…"

Harry snorted.

"…we've got some things to sort out."

"Wormtail."

"Yes, and You-Know-Who, and Snape, and Horcruxes, and Deathly Hallows. Speaking of which, I'm right lucky you're the Master of Death, so thanks for that."

Harry blinked. "What?"

"You fell through the Veil of Death. Of Death, Harry. And you didn't die."

"Neither did you…"

"Because I was holding onto you like a lunatic."

"I…but I don't…didn't…have the Hallows anymore…"

"Yeah, about that. I've been thinking. What if you've always been the Master of Death? And only you could unite the Hallows?"

Harry scratched his chin thoughtfully for a moment then felt disconcerted at the lack of stubble. "So, you're saying my mum didn't have to die?"

"Wait, what?"

"If I was always the Master of Death, then the killing curse wouldn't have killed me. My mum didn't have to sacrifice herself for me."

"Harry, I have no freaking clue. Could be, which would suck. But could also be that maybe you and Neville were equal candidates to be Master of Death and that was the moment that settled it. I'm a Seer not a god of fate."

"You're a Seer?"

"Yeah, didn't I tell you? I can see things in crystal balls now. How weird is that? I saw ol' Snape the other day. Granted he makes for a rather disturbing first vision." Ron pulled a crystal ball out of his bag and tossed it back and forth between his hands.

Harry stared at him incredulously. "You're a Seer."

"Yep. Gonna give Trelawney a run for her money."

"And you saw Snape?"

"Sure did. Which reminds me, I gave him a heads up that we're incoming."

"You told SNAPE?"

Ron rolled his eyes and tucked the crystal ball under his arm like a Quaffle. "Harry, you're the one who's been trying to convince me that Snape was just a poor, misunderstood, sweet and fluffy loveable hero."

Harry squawked. "I never said that!"

Ron placed his hand dramatically to his forehead and pitched his voice to a mocking falsetto, "Oh, Ron, I feel so bad for hating Snape all these years. He saved my life so many times."

"Shut up!" Harry kicked Ron's leg. "That is not at all what I said." Ron snickered.

"In all seriousness, mate," he said, "I heard him in the veil. He said to find him."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I heard him, too. But I can't believe you've already told him. Please tell me you didn't send a letter with all the details of everything."

"I'm not an idiot, you know. I sent a Patronus. Kind of by accident, I admit." Then Ron told Harry the story of purchasing his wand.

Harry leaned forward and held his head in his hands. "Snape hates me," he groaned.

"He sure does," Ron said, cheerfully. "What with you looking like your dad and all. I dunno, mate, maybe if you play up your eyes, he'll go easier on you, seeing as he loves your mum."

Harry scrunched his nose up in consternation. He pulled off his glasses and looked at Ron. "What do you think?"

"Fresh as a pickled toad."

Harry burst out in laughter. "I'm so glad you're here, Ron," he chuckled.

Though his face was blurry, Harry could see Ron was grinning at him. "I know. You'd be a sullen, brooding mess without me."

Harry rolled his eyes. "The only problem with this," he gestured to his face, "is that I can't see anything. I'm blind as a bat."

"Harry, Harry, Harry," Ron said, patronizingly. "You're a wizard, you plonker."

"Oi!" he complained as Ron snatched his glasses out of his hand and tapped them with his wand, Disillusioning them. He held his hand out and Harry felt the air around his fingers until he came into contact with the glasses and turned them the right way around by feel. He put them on his face and the world came back into focus again.

"Brilliant!"

"I am, aren't I?"

There was a clattering outside their compartment and the door slid open to reveal a smiling dimpled woman with black hair and pink cheeks. Ron hastily flicked his wand to remove the Muffliato spell. Harry tilted his head curiously at the woman, she looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place her.

"Anything off the cart, dears?"

He purchased some Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Frogs, and Licorice Wands to split between the two of them. As the smiling woman closed their door and clattered her cart on to the next compartment, Harry looked quizzically to Ron. "She look familiar to you?"

Ron nodded, biting into a Licorice Wand while recasting Muffliato. "I think she's in the Order. Can't remember her name, though…I think it starts with an H?"

"Hestia Jones!" Harry smacked his forehead. "She and Diggle got my relatives out of the house just before the blood wards disappeared!"

"What is she doing here selling candy?"

Harry shook his head, baffled. He saw the moment that Ron's confusion melted into understanding, though his friend tried to hide his expression.

"What?" Harry asked plaintively.

"You're not going to like it," Ron warned.

"Tell me." Harry crossed his arms and stared at him.

Ron sighed and bit off a piece of licorice, speaking around it. "She's probably here to keep an eye on you. Make sure You-Know-Who doesn't come crawling out of a baggage rack and try to murder you or something."

Harry bristled.

Ron swallowed and gestured toward Harry with a half-eaten wand, "In their defense, Harry. You're eleven and don't know any magic."

"Eurgh!" Harry groaned, annoyed. "This is going to be so annoying."

"No kidding. I've been absolutely smothered at home by my mum…" he trailed off with an apologetic grimace. "Er, sorry mate. This is the part where Hermione pokes me and tells me I'm being insensitive."

Harry waved off the apology. After all, he knew Mrs. Weasley and her tendency to smother. But Ron brought up another point they needed to consider. "I wish Hermione was here," he said. "I'm pretty sure we'll screw everything up without her."

"Frankly, we're doomed."

"Thanks to you, we've got Snape, now."

Ron shuddered.

"Well," Harry said decisively. "We can still bring Hermione on board. I'm pretty sure even eleven-year-old Hermione is smarter than the both of us."

Ron frowned thoughtfully and nodded. "I reckon you're right about that."

They were interrupted by a polite knock on the door. Harry reached over and slid it open as Ron, once again, removed the Muffliato charm. A very young, anxious, and miserable Neville Longbottom entered apologetically.

"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"

Harry shook his head, "No, sorry." He struggled to find something else to say, to invite Neville to stay with them. He had valued his housemate's friendship and was impressed with his courage over the years.

Neville wailed. "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"

Ron came to the rescue. "Sit down, mate," he gestured to the seat next to Harry. Neville sat, scrubbing at his face in an effort to keep the tears at bay. "How close are you to your toad? Is he a familiar or a pet?" he asked. Harry cocked his head, curiously. He had never heard wizards distinguish between the two.

Neville sniffled, "I dunno. He belonged to my Great Uncle Algie before I got my Hogwarts letter. I think he's supposed to be my familiar, but…"

Ron smiled kindly and filled in where Neville had trailed off, "…but he's more likely bonded to Great Uncle Algie, eh?"

Neville nodded miserably.

"I'll bet your toad is a bit narky that he's been handed off without a by-your-leave," Ron suggested.

"I suppose so," Neville agreed, beginning to calm down.

"Do you want a toad for a familiar?" Ron asked.

Neville hunched his shoulders and looked ashamed. "Not particularly," he confessed. Harry suspected Neville was worried his Gran or his Great Uncle Algie was going to jump out at him and scold him. "I had actually kind of wanted a cat," he whispered. Harry and Ron exchanged a glance – neither had known that about Neville, though they both knew their friend had been relieved when Trevor eventually escaped to the Black Lake at some point in their later years at Hogwarts.

Ron's mouth curved into a mischievous half-smile, "What if your toad enjoys life at Hogwarts, finds a lady toad, and settles down to raise a whole lot of tadpoles? Would your Great Uncle Algie begrudge him that?"

A tiny smile cracked on Neville's face. "I s'pose not," he said.

"Tell you what," Ron said, "I'll consult my crystal ball about your toad. I'm a Seer, you know."

"Really? I've never met a Seer before," Neville said, intrigued.

Ron stuck out his hand. "Ron Weasley, now you have. What's your toad's name, mate? Come to think of it, what's your name?"

"Neville. I mean, I'm Neville Longbottom. My toad's name is Trevor." He blushed.

"Neville and Trevor…Neville and Trevor…" Ron repeated, mumbling to himself. Harry watched, fascinated, as Ron closed his eyes while holding the crystal ball on his lap. He sat very still for a minute, during which he and Neville exchanged curious glances and shrugged to each other. Suddenly, to Harry's surprise, the ball began to glow. Ron's eyes snapped open and he looked into the ball with intense concentration that Harry recognized from playing chess with each other.

He and Neville leaned forward in tandem, peering into the ball. They both gasped in wonder as they saw a miniature Trevor hop gleefully into the Black Lake near the vegetable patches outside the greenhouses.

Ron looked up, "There you go, mate. Trevor wants to live his best toad life in the Lake. No sense denying him. It'll probably frustrate the both of you until then."

"Wow," Neville said, leaning back thoughtfully.

Harry stared at his best friend, nonplussed. "Ron, you really are a Seer…"

Ron grinned and tossed the ball in the air and caught it. "Told ya!"

This changes EVERYTHING, Harry thought wildly, disorganized implications flashing through his mind. Before he could fully harness a thought, the compartment door slid open again and a very young, eager, bossy Hermione Granger entered. Ron fumbled and caught the crystal ball just before it smashed into the floor.

"Has anyone seen a t- oh! Neville! Did you find him?"

Neville shook his head, "No, but I'm not worried about him anymore." He gestured to the crystal ball.

"Oh, are you doing magic?" she asked Ron. "Let's see it, then."

Ron gaped stupidly at her, opening and closing his mouth, "I…I…"

Stifling a snicker, Harry came to his rescue. "He just did, actually. Come, have a seat." He gestured to the seat next to Ron. Ron shot him a panicked look, half-glare, half-grateful. Harry grinned cheerfully. "Seems to take a lot of concentration for him to do it, though, so he might not be up for it again so soon."

"Oh," Hermione looked disappointed.

Ron cleared his throat as he tucked the crystal ball away. "I can do this, though," he said, brandishing his wand. Harry gave him a warning look, unsure what his friend was about to do, but he needn't have worried. Bubbles of various colors billowed out of his wand, floating lazily around the compartment.

"Oh!" Hermione breathed, clapping her hands excitedly. "Well done! What charm is it?"

"You know," Ron said thoughtfully, "I don't rightly know. It's just something my mum used to do when we were little. Pop one."

They each reached forward and poked a bubble. Harry popped a purple bubble that was floating in front of his nose. It burst in a shower of purple sparks. He looked up to see golden sparks in front of Hermione and blue sparks in front of Neville. Ron was smiling wistfully at the bubbles, prodding them along with his wand.

"I've tried a few simple spells, myself," Hermione said, "and they've all worked for me. But I've always had to use the incantation. How did you do it without even knowing what words to use?"

Ron shrugged, "I don't know if it works for everything, but this is a pretty simple one. You just visualize the bubbles and they'll come."

Hermione immediately pulled her wand out clumsily. A lifetime of being on the receiving end of unfriendly wands had Harry diving to the side as her wand pointed in his direction. Hermione looked startled then embarrassed. "Oh, sorry. I didn't realize," she muttered, laying the wand in her lap.

"It's alright," Harry assured her. "Just be careful where you point it. Your wand is like a loaded weapon," he said, offering a muggle analogy.

"Oh dear," she fretted.

To Harry's horror, her eyes began to glisten with unshed tears. "Hey, it's okay," he said, reaching forward and taking her hand, giving it a friendly squeeze. A green bubble floated between them, and Harry dutifully popped it, releasing a shower of green sparks. Hermione smiled with a sniffle. He prodded at her wand. "Here, try it," he encouraged.

Hermione picked up her wand and carefully aimed it toward the ceiling before squeezing her eyes shut in concentration. Slowly, colored bubbles began to emerge from her wand. Ron whooped while Neville clapped. "You did it!" Harry exclaimed.

Hermione managed to look both pleased and worried at the same time. "What's wrong?" Ron asked, solicitously.

"I'm going to be so far behind everyone," she whispered, self-consciously.

Harry scoffed, completely by accident. It was a gut reaction, and Hermione looked up, offended. Ron kicked Harry's shin.

"Sorry," Harry said. "It's just, I have a hard time believing that you'll be behind anyone," he said.

"Nobody in my family's magic at all," she explained. "It was ever such a surprise when I got my letter…" she trailed off, uncertainly, then continued in a rush. "And so many witches and wizards grow up already knowing magic and using it every day, even for simple things like this," she gestured to the bubbles, causing them to bob and spin around her. "I don't know these things and I don't know proper wand etiquette and –"

"Hermione!" Harry interrupted her, belatedly realizing she hadn't introduced herself yet and hoping she didn't notice. She startled and looked at him. "That's what we're going to school for. To learn these things! You aren't expected to know them coming in. Hogwarts gets muggle-borns all the time. My mum was even one and she turned out to be brilliant at charms and potions, apparently." He shrugged. "You saw an unknown charm once and copied it, getting it right on your first try. There's no way you'll be behind the class. That's insanely talented."

"You really think so?" she asked.

"Absolutely." Both Ron and Neville nodded in agreement.

Hermione furrowed her brow in thought. "Your mother was muggle-born?" she asked. Harry nodded. "What was it like for her? Did she have to work really hard to catch up?"

Harry smiled sadly. "I don't really know. She died during the last wizarding war," he said. "My dad, too."

Hermione and Neville's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no! I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked," she apologized.

Harry waved his hand dismissively. "You didn't know. Besides, it was years ago." Neville looked miserable and Harry placed a hand on his arm, squeezing gently. "I'm proud of my parents. They fought against a dark wizard. They're part of the reason we're able to be here, now, going to Hogwarts." He gave Neville a meaningful look.

Neville nodded and misery faded to thoughtfulness then gratitude. Hermione looked curiously at Neville but seemed to decide it wasn't the time to ask him questions. She batted at a bubble that passed by her ear, setting off a shower of red sparks.

"This really is a lovely charm," she said to Ron. "I'm Hermione, by the way. Hermione Granger."

"Ron Weasley," he answered, shaking her hand formally.

She spun her gaze over to Harry who obliged. "Harry Potter."

"Are you really?" she asked. Harry sighed. Even Neville was looking at him with wide eyes. "Well, that makes sense, actually, from what you said. I read about you, you know. You're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

Ron's shoulders shook with silent laughter and Harry kicked him in the shin. Ron just fluttered a hand in negligent apology as he turned his face toward the window to regain his composure.

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It was really strange having Hermione and Neville – but especially Hermione – looking at him like he was a celebrity. "Yes, well." Harry didn't quite know what to say.

"Haven't you read them?" Hermione asked. "I'd have found out everything I could if it was me."

"Erm…well, I grew up with muggles, actually, so no. But it's not exactly my favorite thing to remember, either." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I still have nightmares about it on occasion, actually."

"Oh! I wouldn't have thought…I mean, it was so long ago, and you were just a baby…"

Harry grimaced. To his great surprise, Neville spoke up.

"I know what you mean. I have nightmares sometimes, too," he said glumly. Hermione opened her mouth and closed it again, looking from Neville to Harry in confusion.

Ron leaned forward and touched Neville's arm. "Is it alright if I tell her?" he asked.

Neville hesitated, then nodded. "I…yes. I am proud of them, like Harry said." Ron patted his arm. Harry smiled and bumped his shoulder in encouragement.

"When you read about Harry," Ron addressed Hermione, "did any of the books mention Frank and Alice Longbottom?"

Hermione's eyes flicked back and forth behind closed lids as she thought. "Yes…yes, in Modern Magical History…" her eyes continued to flicker as if she was reading. "Oh…oh dear." She opened her eyes and looked at Neville with sympathy. "They were your parents?"

Neville nodded. "They're still alive…they're just…not…themselves anymore. I…I was there when it happened," he croaked.

"Here, mate," Ron offered Neville a bottle of pumpkin juice from his bag.

Neville gratefully took a sip and continued, "I remember their screams," he whispered. "And her voice…" he shuddered.

Harry and Ron exchanged a knowing look. They'd run afoul of Bellatrix Lestrange, themselves, and knew from experience how terrible she was. Ron glanced at Hermione and shuddered. Harry shuddered in sympathy, remembering when Bellatrix had tortured Hermione at Malfoy Manor. They'd both had their fair share of nightmares, hearing Hermione screaming under the Cruciatus Curse.

Harry shoulder-bumped Neville. "Right cheery lot, we are," he joked. Neville snorted. "But seriously, Neville. Whatever house we're in, if you have a nightmare and want to talk about it, I'll listen," he offered.

Neville looked at him, startled. "Erm…that…that would be great, Harry. Same to you. I'll listen if you ever want to talk." He looked doubtful that Harry would want to talk to him.

Harry smiled. "You may regret that, you know!" he said with a laugh. Neville returned his smile tentatively.

The ride to Hogwarts passed with the four "new" friends slowly getting (re)acquainted with one another, giggling, and conjuring more colored bubbles until their compartment was bursting with them. Occasionally one would exit the compartment for a moment, letting a small swarm of bubbles escape down the corridor to the amusement of the other passengers, some of whom grew up seeing the same charm. So it was that children from the end of the train, representing all four houses, exited in Hogsmeade with levity and laughter, conjuring the silly bubbles and popping them in showers of sparks.

Harry smiled to himself. This is what he hoped to preserve.

A/N: Happy Halloween! Thank you to everyone who has been reviewing. I'm terrible about replying, but you should know that I consider ever review like a wonderful treat! Sooo...Trick or Treat!
FYI: We're creeping up on the chapters I'm still working on...Eek! Things will have to slow down soon because I can't keep up!