Okay, I am so sorry that this chapter took so long. But I'm working on something original I want to eventually publish and my beta reader disappeared again. And though several of you asked to be my beta reader, when I sent the chapter out, no one, but Kenji, answered me back. So Kenji, thanks a lot and the rest of you, forget it. I'll stick with one beta reader.
IF you're part of my list, you'll recognise the second teaser I gave you.
And to refresh memories, here's a recap of the last chapter:
"Excellent, Lily, James. Welcome to this world. And I'd like to introduce to you Harry James Potter, Gryffindor Fifth Year, Seeker on the Quidditch team, Captain if my assessments of the Gryffindor Quidditch team are correct and Prefect, though he of course does not know it yet. And, I almost forgot. The Boy who Lived, a name as recognition for his defeat of Lord Voldemort at the age of one year." Said by Albus Dumbledore.
***
Chapter 4: Restlessness
***
"He went against Lord Voldemort? In person? As a baby? Professor, you have to be kidding. I mean, he's still alive. And then he defeated him?" James said incredulously, looking at the fifteen year-old boy lying in the chair.
Lily nodded. "James is right, Professor. Where we come from, Harry defeated Voldemort, but got killed himself…I d-don't re-really remember that night, Professor, I-I must ha-have hi-hit my head t-too hard." She tried to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall. She had had almost fourteen years to get over that night, but it was still fresh in her mind. And it always caused her to break down, to the point of her friends and other acquaintances just 'omitting' that particular piece of history in her presence. Even the name 'Harry' hadn't been uttered in so long; it had turned into something that was just unsaid. But explaining the events opened the old wounds, old wounds that hadn't even been properly healed… She tried to pull herself together. "But I can assure you that Harry did die, I saw the body myself, saw Voldemort cast the cur-curse…" It didn't work. And Dumbledore watched as James Potter instantly caught his wife who had collapsed into his arms, wiping her tears away.
"Lily is right, professor. I figured that our worlds must be different, but how different I did not know. When I saw Harry, I figured that Voldemort didn't exist here, or at least he hadn't come and attacked us. But now I know the truth…I understand perfectly how Lily's feeling." James set Lily in the armchair next to Harry's. "When we found out, it was awful. I'm not going to lie and say everything was fine between us. The first five years were awful…we even separated for a bit. We had had enough people badgering us about marrying at eighteen and having a child at nineteen, especially during the war. And after Harry died…well, everything just piled up on us. We were twenty-and even at twenty-five, things weren't going well. And then Lil was also a few months pregnant that night, she miscarried. It was a deep blow for us, you must understand, Professor. I don't really think this is a good time to talk about this…could we wait until tomorrow?" He felt he should have said more, he wanted to say more. But holding Lily in his arms was his proof that the subject should be closed, for the time being at least.
He glanced at his old Professor for allowance. He knew it was silly to call Professor Dumbledore 'Professor', but he could never really break the habit. Albus Dumbledore was such a great figure, it seemed so strange and even a bit demeaning to call him 'Albus' like he had as a child, even though the old Headmaster had bade him many times to do so.
Albus Dumbledore studied James and Lily Potter carefully. He knew they must have gone through a lot and he also knew that midnight was not a very good time to talk about it. "Lily, James. I am sorry, but you two both know we must talk of this sometime. However, I also believe that a bit of sleep will do us all good. Come, I'll call a House Elf and they shall take you both to a guest suite. I can also place Harry in the same suite with you, or give him his own separate room. It is up for you to decide."
"With-with us, Professor. Please, I don't know how long we'll be here and I don't know anything about this world's Lily and James, but I'd like to be able to be near him, at least for just a night. It'd make me feel a lot better…knowing what he's become." Lily dried her eyes and shakily stood. James kept an arm on her shoulder.
"Professor, please, may we go now?" Dumbledore nodded, calling a House Elf, who lead them out of the office, down the stairs, to the left, up another stairwell, to the right, through a secret passage, to the left, straight ahead, to a picture of a family seated on a blanket in the middle of a sunny field.
"Family," the House Elf nodded at them, "the password is family. There is two bedrooms, a parlour, a kitchen, a dining room and a study. Professor Dumbledore says that I is to help you get settled and is to get you food. Professor Dumbledore says that the nice Potters is to stay here until I is to get you. There are other teachers in Hogwarts and they is not to see you. I is called Biddy." She led them through the Suite, showing Lily and James the bedrooms and bathroom. James was still carrying Harry, who was far lighter than James would have wished.
"Thank you, Biddy. If a cup of tea wouldn't be trouble, I'd-" Lily almost jumped as a tea set with hot steaming tea and assorted sweets appeared. "And a sleeping potion, one for me and Harry as well-" Two bottled of potion appeared, cutting her off.
"Professor Dumbledore is said to give you sleeping potion. He wishes Harry Potter to stay asleep until he can explain to him what is happening." Biddy bowed. "I is going, if the nice Potters don't need anything else."
James nodded. "No, Biddy, we're fine. You're welcome to go." Biddy nodded and then disappeared. He turned to Lily. "Lils? How about bed?"
***
"Not Harry, anything but Harry! Please, I'll do anything! Just don't kill my son, please!" She wrapped her arms around Harry protectively, turning her back to the Dark Lord. "You can't, you can't kill my son! Please, have mercy!"
"Do you really think I care? Move aside, girl!"
"Not Harry! Not Harry! Please-I'll do anything-"
"Stand aside-stand aside, girl-" Voldemort, his wand trained on her. There was nowhere to go, nothing to do. Even reaching her wand would not help her; there was no counter for the Killing Curse…except love. She could…she could sacrifice herself, to save her son…
"Please, kill me instead-"
"Out of the way, stupid Mudblood, out of the way-"
"Never, just kill me, but don't kill my son-"
"If you won't move, then I'll have to move you-"
"No! Not Harry! Not Harry! Please, don't kill him! Not him!"
"Imperio! Leave the child, just walk away and you'll be fine."
She wanted to leave Harry there, to walk away and find James. Everything was so peaceful there and she really should- and suddenly a picture jumped before her eyes, a picture that had taken place just a few hours earlier, when she and James had put Harry to bed. The feelings that had surrounded her then-feelings of family, togetherness, comfort, love, they all made her remember where she was, what was happening, what was at stake. Her own son's life. And opening her mouth, she broke the curse. "I-I won't! I won't go away!"
"If that's the way you want it, then, die!"
"No! Please! James! Mother! I-in amor mortuus sum! Sacrificio me, Harry vive!" The words tumbled out of her mouth, summoned from the far recesses of her mind, when, spending the summer before her fourth year at James', the book had seemingly come to her, falling open to that one particular spell…
"Nothing will help you know, Mudblood. You're dead! Avada Ked-"
"NO! AHH!" She screamed, hitting tones she had never hit before, tones she doubted were even humanly possible, as a pair of strong arms suddenly held her down. "'Let me go! Let me go! Kill me instead! Please, just don't kill-"
"Lily!" A voice shouted in her ear, suddenly becoming quieter. "Lily, you're all right. It's James. We're in Hogwarts. You'll be fine." She opened her eyes, staring into James's brown ones. He was on top of her, to stop her thrashing and his eyes looked almost naked without his glasses, no matter how many times she had seen him with out. She stared into his eyes, watching the brown with speckles of blue darken as he closed them and shook his head. "Are you all right?"
She nodded, though it wasn't necessarily true. How could one be fine, reliving such a terrible past in dreams? "I'll-I'll be fine. Just give me a moment." She climbed out of bed, pulling on the dressing gown that awaited her. She and James were a bit surprised but pleased to find the Suite had all the necessities, including nightclothes in it. Though James didn't need any, as he was already wearing his pyjamas.
James sat up, groaning. "Where are you going? And should I call Biddy again? Do you want some Dreamless Sleep?" He watched her exit the room. She was so beautiful, her dark red hair, gleaming in the moonlight, which shone from the small window, her skin pale. And she was so kind too. He hated to think that they had almost separated for good…even though it had seemed like a good idea at the time.
"I can't have Dreamless Sleep, James, I had it two days ago. And don't bother disturbing Biddy. I just want a bit of water and then-"
"And then you want to check on Harry. All right, Lil. Good night." He stared into the darkness as she left the room. He knew how much it pained her to see Harry again and though he could understand a bit, he had to admit he was thrilled. He had his son again, a son he hadn't seen in almost fourteen years, a son who played Seeker and was a Prefect. He wondered who Harry's friends were, if he played pranks, if he had James' tendency to leave homework assignments to the last minute and still receive good marks on them.
James sighed and shook his head. He wasn't really an awake person at three in the morning and he wanted to go back to sleep. He laid back down, knowing that tomorrow morning they would get some answers as to what had happened and he fell asleep content.
***
Lily Potter on the other hand, was not content. She was worried. The way Harry had attacked she and James, how he had screamed that they were Death Eaters, how he lived with Petunia and her family, it all made no sense.
She had imagined Harry, if he had lived, to be a bright, happy child full of love and understanding. A child who could live a life of peace and fulfilment. A child who could play pranks like his father, but had enough sense not to want to receive detentions, like his mother. A well-rounded child who was loved and never knew anything else. Then she glanced down at the child lying in the bed.
His raven flyaway hair fell in his eyes as he slept. He curled up, one hand clutching his pillow, the other his knees. As she and James had undressed him, she was shocked to find how thin he was, not to mention the scars that racked his body. There were also multiple bruises and she made a note to ask Dumbledore about it.
And the lightening-bolt scar. That was the most prominent scar and the eldest. It resembled a curse scar, but it would have to have been a very powerful and most likely dangerous and Dark curse. The mark was deep, still open, like a ridge, still a bright red against the pale skin of his forehead. But she knew it was old, she could read its magic. And as far as she knew, no extremely powerful, dangerous Dark curses left such a mark on their victims. There were certain curses, like Avada Kedavra, where the victims were never left alive, so there could never be a mention of a curse scar, as curse scars were only left on live victims.
Lily sighed and smoothed the bangs out of Harry's face. She wondered about his life, what had happened to his Lily and James…and what had made him so hostile. Even in a world where Voldemort reigned, he still should have recognised his parents. A person and their Alternate Universal Counterpart, abbreviated by AUC, always looked the same. Of course, clothes and things like haircut and style would be different, but genetically they were the same. It was next to impossible to tell an AUC from the real person apart. She had always been a bit of a reader and being an Auror and a very active person in the fight against Lord Voldemort meant that all knowledge was needed, even if at times it seemed useless.
Which brought up another question. Where were her and James's AUCs? They should have felt the new presences, both James and Lily being very powerful wizards. But there had been no letter, appearance or well, anything. Lily frowned in thought, began to bite her under lip and then stopped, remembering that that had been a habit it had taken her years to break and she didn't want to start again.
She sighed, pulled the covers up on Harry and left the room to go get a cup of tea. Harry was sound asleep, he shouldn't wake until ten a.m. at the earliest and James was also in bed. At three in the morning, the world was silent and peaceful, but Lily didn't mind at all. As far as she was concerned, it was a wonderful time to reflect upon things.
And since she was often up at three in the morning, she used the time to be alone, have a cup of tea and read a bit. She had already spotted the bookcase and was eyeing the books in it. Hopefully there would be some she hadn't read yet.
***
James was bored. Very bored. After sleeping for a few hours after Lily left, he woke up and found that he couldn't go back to sleep again. And James was not a morning person. He figured he had inherited it from his uncle. His Uncle always hated getting up early, though when he was awake, he was just as alert as anyone could be.
He yawned, stretched and got out of bed. He was dead tired; apparently travelling through universes was more strenuous than originally thought. And it didn't help he had just gotten over a frog throat.
Fumbling his way to the kitchen, he managed to make himself a cup of tea, checked on Lily who was asleep in an armchair next to Harry's bed with a book on her lap and a cup of tea beside her. He debated on waking her. On one hand, she hadn't gotten a lot of sleep lately. On the other hand, he didn't feel like being alone in an unknown world.
With a mother and uncle that were Aurors, it wasn't very surprising to most people when he became one himself. The quick reflexes, brains and power level helped a lot when battling Death Eaters. But growing up in a family of Aurors also had its drawbacks. For one, James could never really be comfortable in a foreign environment until he had explored it fully. And though Hogwarts wasn't necessarily foreign, having spent seven years there and visiting countless times after that made Hogwarts one of the most familiar buildings to him, this wasn't Hogwarts. Or at least, it wasn't his Hogwarts.
This Hogwarts made him feel odd, as if he didn't belong. And there was also a conflicting sense of magic he could feel. He wasn't sure what to think. It was as if he was standing in the ocean, and it was when the tides were changing. Like when the water flowed one direction, pushing him out into it and then suddenly a giant wave came and the water began to sweep him in onto the beach, in other direction and no matter what he did, he could not free himself of the pull. To say it was uncomfortable would be an understatement.
Deciding he had to explore, he found a pair of dark blue men's wizarding robes in the armoire and pulled it over his head. There was also a pair of trainers in the armoire and he put them on as well. He didn't bother brushing his hair; there was no reason to. His hair always turned back to its messy self after a few minutes. And after writing a note for Lily, he climbed out the portrait hole. Let's see what Professors are up at six-thirty in the morning, shall we? Smirking, he explored the hallways.
***
As far as Severus Snape was concerned, the entire world could explode as long as it left him alone with his potions and a few textbooks of magical nature for reading. He was surprised that Voldemort hadn't summoned him yet, but seeing as he received a letter from Lucius Malfoy voicing the same question in his thoughts, he knew that it wasn't because Voldemort believed he was a traitor.
And other than his worries on that particular subject, Severus was quite content with his summer. He had, after many tries, completed a Wolfsbane potion that didn't taste half as bad as the former. Of course, Severus wasn't exactly sure if it worked, only a werewolf could tell him that, but he was pleased with his accomplishments. There was also the fact that no students were in Hogwarts over the summer and perhaps the fact that Fred and George Weasley were graduating that year. And of course, the fact that Potter wasn't there.
Spending the time in his rooms, he had taken it for granted that people would leave him alone. Unfortunately, he was wrong.
Minerva had come to him quite often to complain. Fulbright Flitwick was currently taking part in a Charms Seminar in Greece, Serena Sinistra was visiting a relative, Rubeus Hagrid was off with the giants and the other Professors, while most of them were present, did not spend a lot of time with Minerva McGonagall. Not that Severus did, either.
Though Minerva had taught Severus Transfigurations and was one of the least annoying Professors, she could be such a Gryffindor at times. But Minerva was intelligent and could participate in a decent conversation so Severus didn't really mind her presence.
But when Minerva kept on showing up outside his office with complaints of "Arabella keeps treating me like a cat", "I certainly don't belong to Albus!", "Harry's sent another letter!", "I burped up a hairball!", "A First Year actually refused to come!", "Sybil's predicting that someone lost will be found again" and other various complaints, Severus was glad that Minerva wasn't there that morning.
He had had another dream. A dream of his childhood, his eighth birthday with his cousin Raian. Raian had always been his favourite cousin. She was his age and didn't mind that he didn't like doing things that the other children did, but was content to sit and brew potions while he read. She never bothered him, was always quiet and was a powerful witch. But she had been a girl. A crime that could not be undone, a crime that brought shame upon her family. And not only that, she had been illegitimate. The fact that Alura Snape had had 'relations' with a man with whom she was not married with, had caused a great stir in the family then. Though Severus himself hadn't been born yet, the event was still talked about years later. Raian was the ever-lasting and evident proof that the family had something to hide.
Her father was unknown to Severus, though the family knew. She had ice-blue eyes and at his eight birthday was wearing robes that matched her eyes. Her dark curly hair was pulled back and she looked older than her eight years. And she had done something almost unspeakable that night, something that Severus hadn't understood for years.
She had asked a question. It was a simple question, but a question so full of meaning that it had caused her a Cruciatus Curse as punishment. The scene of an eight year-old screaming and twitching on the floor was forever imprinted in his memory and what had followed that night had been worse. Raian had never been in good favour with the family and when she opened the gates, all the resentment and anger came flowing out.
Severus shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts of his cousin. Raian had changed then. And by the time they got to Hogwarts, she was completely different, a girl bent on seeing the dark nature of things, never caring. The young child had been broken.
Severus knew that he had to clear his mind and for once he decided to eat breakfast in the Great Hall. At six thirty in the morning, he knew that no one would be up, except for perhaps the Headmaster, but the Headmaster left him alone when need be. Unfortunately, Severus wasn't aware that there were three other people that had joined the Hogwarts staff in the Castle last night…
***
Lily opened her eyes, blinking. The book on Modern Magical History she had been reading was all review for her. Apparently the two worlds did not differ that much until the Voldemort Era. Actually, she might have said that this world's history was even more familiar to her than her own world's. She placed the book on Harry's bedside table as she stretched, and then picked it back up again as well as her teacup, kissed Harry lightly on the forehead and left the room. It was early, she realised as she looked at her watch. It read six forty-five a.m., or, on the wizarding side, 'it's too early, but you can't go to sleep because James is missing'. She sighed. She should have known James would do something like that.
James had given her the watch as a birthday present for her eighteenth birthday. It had belonged to his mother, but after his mother's death he had inherited it. It was a magical watch which showed muggle and wizarding time with its own personality. A skill, which, at times, could be annoying. At least the watch was accurate. It was early, but she couldn't go to sleep while James was away. Dumbledore's warning was still in her mind and she wondered why he had even bothered to make it, for it was obvious James would ignore it and go exploring anyway.
She sighed and made herself another cup of tea. She decided to wait on breakfast, she'd rather eat with James and Harry, though it occurred to her from Harry's display last night, breakfast would be less than pleasurable. That is, until the whole thing was explained. She knew Harry would be more accepting if he wasn't surprised. And she couldn't blame him either. She turned back to her book. She was on the last chapter, 'The Fall of Lord Voldemort', which happened to be the chapter she had been waiting for.
She sat back and began to read, knowing this held the key to why Harry had reacted in such a way, why Harry was alive and what had happened to her and James's AUCs. And then the book fell through her hands along with the teacup, which shattered on the floor. Voldemort had attacked. She had completed the same spell, the spell to sacrifice her life for Harry's. And in this world, the spell had worked.
The In Amor Ipse Sacfricio Charm had worked. Voldemort had taken her life, which had saved Harry's. But the In Amor spell did not cause the curse to backfire on its caster. That at least had been true in her world. Voldemort had also been defeated, but Harry had lived. It had been a wish of hers for years. Why did I survive, but not Harry?
And yet, here was a world where her wish had come true. She had perished, with James, and Harry had lived. He had been revered as the saviour, which he was. The new Messiah, one might say. And then a feeling of anger came over her. Sirius, well, from what she had read, Sirius was still considered a desperate criminal. Twelve years in Azkaban, for a crime he did not commit. In their world, Sirius had been sent to Azkaban, but had stayed there less than a week, since she and James had woken up and were able to tell the story of the Secret Keeper. She wondered if Harry knew that Sirius was innocent.
And as she thought of it, she realised why Harry was staying with her sister and brother-in-law. He had stayed there since he was fifteen months old. Petunia had never really been cruel, she had been unpleasant, selfish and snobby, but she wasn't cruel. Unfortunately, Vernon was. She remembered the first time she and Vernon met.
She had just turned fifteen and Petunia, who was twenty and in college learning how to be a teacher, brought home her current boy friend. Petunia liked Vernon because he made money, he had a nice house and he knew how to suck up to people, including Andrea and Daniel Evans. Therefore Andrea had approved hesitantly and Daniel, though he still was a bit suspicious gave his acknowledgment of Vernon as a suitor for Petunia.
Vernon was cruel. He also had the manners of a pig when he knew no one was around. He was generally unpleasant, hateful, spiteful and selfish. Vernon did not care about a thing unless it allowed him personal gain. He treated Lily well in the presence of her parents and then, as soon as Andrea had left to bring tea and Daniel went to his study to bring out a book, he had turned around and made insulting comments to her.
He had also, when Lily had brought James home for a visit once, insulted James. James had brought a book with, which he had at home and was not found in the Hogwarts Library. Lily had wanted to read it and James offered to bring it to her. Vernon, on finding out that James was just as freaky as Lily, had almost hurt James seriously when attempting to play Football with Lily's male relatives. Since it was during a game, which James had never played before, it was seen as an accident, though Lily and James had known it wasn't.
Vernon was a cruel person who was abusive and Lily made sure she kept in close contact with her elder sister to keep an eye out on her. Petunia would never admit that she was being abused, but if Lily prodded enough, she might give a hint. And that is what Lily hoped for. Vernon belonged behind bars.
Lily paled at the thought of her son being abused by those people. The scars and bruises covering his body were proof. She had to get Harry away from him. Petunia was all right, for the most part. She might treat the boy badly, making him work like a servant, she had tried it enough with Lily, but physical abuse was not something she'd do. Of course, that still meant that Petunia could have caused Harry emotional abuse. Lily certainly knew enough about emotional abuse. If Petunia had married the right man, her deposition would have improved immensely and her treatment of Harry as well.
As Lily bent down to pick up the dropped book and shattered cup, the meaning of the situation hit her. James and she were dead in this world. No wonder they had not felt any AUCs. And because she and James were dead, it would explain everyone's reactions. That was the reason why she and James were to stay in their Suite, otherwise they'd certainly run into someone who would either curse them to kingdom come, or, cause someone to have a heart attack, neither of which was a pleasant experience for either party.
She didn't bother changing her clothes as she rushed out of the room. James, the Marauder who knew practically all of the secret passageways and hideouts in Hogwarts was loose, thought to be dead and ready to scare the wits out of anyone who came across him. I pray to God Severus doesn't teach in this world…
***
The paths of the two wizards wandering the Castle at six thirty in the morning were bound to meet and meet they did. Severus entered the Great Hall, made his way to the High Table and sat down as food appeared on the table. He made a conscious effort to concentrate on his food, he knew he had to eat something, though the food didn't look very appetizing.
He picked up the Potions Quarterly that lied by his place. The House Elves always collected the teachers' mail before the students' arrived, so it was awaiting them by their place at the High Table. Usually Severus would have dived into Potions Quarterly, but he realised he had no wish to read it at the moment. He really didn't want to do anything, when a side door to the Great Hall opened.
It was a man who appeared, with dark messy hair and wearing dark blue robes. He looked around, for some reason missed Severus and walked through the Hall. And as he walked by, Severus almost dropped his tea. It was Harry Potter. Of course, the boy had grown a lot, but it had to be Potter. He also looked older, but then again it was early morning and Severus's mind wasn't on Harry Potter, nor did he want it to be. And, there was no mistaking that infernal black bird-nest hair and glasses, or that self-centred gait. It had to be Potter. But what the hell was Potter doing at Hogwarts? Better give him a detention and get it over with.
"Potter!" The boy turned around and instantly scowled, which was then replaced by a grin. Oh God, Potter's becoming more like his father everyday… The smirk Potter wore was exactly like the grin James Potter wore when he was about to play a prank. Hopefully Harry Potter hadn't begun to play pranks like his father. Potter got into enough trouble as it was, without deliberately trying to do so. Another thing was that Harry Potter did, in some ways, take after Lily Potter more, a fact that Severus was thankful for.
"Oh hi, Snape! What're you doing up so early?" Potter's grin grew. "Never knew you were a morning person, Sevie." Severus turned red. How dare Potter strut around the castle calling him 'Sevie'. He was as worse as his father was.
"Potter! That's Professor Snape, you insolent boy. Consider a detention with me for a week as soon as school starts and fifty points from Gryffindor! You're just like your father was, Potter, strutting around the school, believing rules were below him. And he also lacked the respect for his elders and betters like you do!" Severus did not need Potter this morning.
Potter eyed Severus carefully. "You okay, Sevie, oh, excuse me, I mean Professor Snape?" He sneered the 'Professor'. "I must admit, I didn't even think you were to stupid enough to try to take points from Gryffindor when I'm not even a member of that house anymore." He shook his head. "And you can't give me detentions either."
"What the hell are you talking about, Potter? You are a Fifth Year who believes rules and respect is below him. I, as a teacher of this school, must punish you for your insolence. And do not preach me about how it is summer." Severus seriously was wishing the Dark Lord would just fly in and get rid of Potter at the moment. He was getting a splitting headache and he did not wish to deal with Potter.
And then, to Severus' surprise, Potter burst out laughing. "You- you think- think I'm- you think I'm Harry?" Severus stared at the boy. Was he losing his mind?
"What is wrong with you, Potter? That's another week detentions. Really, Potter, you remind me so much of your father, just as reckless as-" And Snape was surprised to have Potter standing in front of his face, shaking in fury.
"How dare you insult my father, Snape. That's really beneath you. And how can you insult my father, when even you don't know who he was? The name of my father died with my mother, Snape, and I don't want to hear a word against it. Secondly, Snape, you can not take points off any House for me, nor give me detention. I haven't been enrolled in Hogwarts since I graduated in nineteen seventy-nine." And Severus almost chocked as he lifted his head up to stare into the dark eyes of James Potter. James Potter really looks familiar to someone when he glares like that… was Severus' last coherent thought as he fainted.
***
It's getting steadily darker. Next chapter you'll get Harry and his reaction, as well as Snape's reaction. I'll try not to take so long next time.
BTW, should I continue? Because I know this is going be AU tomorrow…and I don't know if you want me to scrap this, or not. I have a feeling it's going to be a lot different from the 5th book…
-Myra 6/20/03