Dreams In Time

Chapter 16: THE TRINITY OF THE INCORRUPTIBLE

Potions Master Severus Alexander Snape sat in his private potions lab. He had come in to work on the only thing that could even start to bring him comfort – his potions research, but, three blasted cauldrons and a stinging burn later, he had admitted defeat – for now - and sat on the small cot in the corner to think about the one thing he really did not want to think about. He let out a long shaking breath and leaned back against the wall, pulling his knees up to his chest. How he missed the dratted boy! The sparkling green eyes, the permanently tousled hair, the impish smile; just thinking about his love made his stomach tremble uncontrollably and his heart tighten almost painfully. He draped his arms over his legs and let his head drop to touch his forehead on knees. He thought about the calendar, calendars really, that he kept. There was one in his desk drawer in the classroom, one on his desk in his office, one on the desk in his sitting room, and one on the small table on his side of the bed. Each one was marked off every day with due diligence. Each one, at first, counting the days until his Harry left him; now, he was counting the days until his Harry came back. Each day that held an ‘x’ signified one day closer, to either pure ecstasy or a fate worse than ten hells. He was so lost in his thoughts that he did not hear the person approaching until a voice rang out.

“Is there anything I can do to help you, cousin?” Severus should have known that Lucius would come as soon as he could. He looked up to see his best friend standing before him, face pinched in sadness. Severus put his feet down and slid over to make room for the blonde man. “I don’t think there is anything that can be done at this point, Luci. I just have to wait.” Severus turned his head to hide the tears threatening to form.

Lucius sighed. “And after the wait - when he returns, what will happen then?”

Severus didn’t move. He couldn’t. Silent tears slid down his cheeks, leaving shiny trails in their wake. “I will have to accept whatever decision he makes.”

“Severus, you can’t believe he would choose anything – anyone – else? I remember the two of you. There is no decision for him to make now. He chose long ago.”

Sev wiped his face and looked at his cousin. He forced a small smile, barely more than a twitch of the corners of his mouth, “I would love to be able to believe that. I really would. But, look at me. Think of how I’ve acted, to him and to his friends. Do you honestly think he could want me after all of that? Do you think I would even have a chance?”

Lucius slung his arm over his cousin’s shoulders and pulled him close, enfolding the dark haired man in a firm hug. He slid his hand over the dark covered shoulders in a soothing gesture and whispered softly, “Yes. Yes, I do.”

***************

Harry sat up slowly as his mother asked him about their family line. “No, Mum, I can’t remember anyone ever saying anything about our family. Just that Aunt Petunia thought I was fr… abnormal.” He frowned at his almost slip of the tongue.

Lily frowned also. She knew what Petunia thought of magic, and she also knew that it was because her dear big sister was jealous, and Petunia’s new husband was worse, if possible. She scooted back on the sofa and brought her legs up to sit cross-legged facing Harry. “Well, it seems, in our family, that Petunia is the freak,” she ground out the word, “not us. We are not Muggles, at least not on my Mum’s side. Mother’s family comes from a very old magical line, all females until your birth. Each one of us has the abilities of the founder of our line, Vala. She was somewhat of a seer, but was extremely talented in transfiguration and charms. Defense against the Dark Arts grew out of those two subjects. I gather you do well in those?”

Harry nodded. “But I am pants at divination. I just make up things, usually how I am going to die some horrific death, and Trelawney is hap…” The words got caught in his throat. He remembered a teacher. “Trelawney! I remember the Divination professor.”

Lily smiled. She had a feeling that all it would take was a little prodding and her son would have all of his memories back. Nodding, she continued, “But you have dreams, right? Vala’s father was a Great Seer and a High Mage. We, as part of his line, should have inherited more than the dream-seeing part of the powers. I don’t know exactly, but it seems like there is a block of some sort on our line. Anyway, the dreams I had of you let me recognize you now. I think your dreams let you recognize your soulmate. In return, he recognized you, to a point, more so if he has an ancestor with the gift of prophecy. So…”

Harry finished for her, a wide smile dividing his face, “So, Severus recognizes me on some higher plane. That’s the reason we were, are, so attracted to each other and the reason he called out, er, knew my real name?”

Lily laughed, folding her hands in her lap. “Yes. Just like your father and I. There was no fighting the pull to each other. It was, and is, like we have known each other for all of our lives. James and I are just so…at home with each other. It sounds silly, but it’s like it was meant to be.”

“So, how do I convince Sev of that? I mean, he’s not likely to believe all of this, is he? I know I wouldn’t, if I were in his place.”

Lily chuckled again. “You are so right, my Harry. Severus is suspicious, but that is his nature. He doesn’t trust easily. That is one thing that led me to believe that you two are soulmates. After all, you have only been here a few days, and he has gotten quite attached to you.” She held her hand up and shook her head when Harry started to argue, “Now, don’t deny it. I see it in his eyes when he looks at you. And, I see it in yours when I mention him. You two are destined to be.”

Harry took several minutes to take it all in. Lily waited patiently; she knew it was a lot to deal with. “Alright,” Harry finally conceded. “So how do I tell all of this to Severus?”

“I do not believe there is any need.”
***************

A special edition of the Daily Prophet was sent out that night. On the front page, it announced, “The Master is New Minister of Magic!” The story proclaimed how the Ministry building had been overtaken by ‘Unus Orbis Ordinatio’, a group whose leader was only known as ‘The Master’. During the Ministry’s capture, seven were killed and another eleven were severly wounded. There were several others that were unaccounted for at press time. Wards had been placed on the building so that only those loyal to the Master would be able to enter, and those not loyal would be, as quoted directly from the Master, “dealt with as fits the situation”.

***************

Madam Pomfrey smiled as she crept past the forbidden forest to the entrance of the school. Everything had gone better than she imagined. Her smile turned into a cold sneer of contempt: Frank Longbottom’s bastard daughter would have her glory. She was the one that was supposed to defeat Riddle! She was a child born as the seventh month dies; her father had thrice denied the Dark Lord. Her father would have married her mother if it had not been for Alice. It was because of that bitch of a tramp that he had left her with her squib mother, to live in poverty. It was because of Alice that he spent the last sixteen years in St. Mungo’s. That was the reason she became a medi-witch, after all. All that experimentation, all those that she had killed for her research; all of it was for naught. She shook off thoughts of her poor father as she began to climb the stairs that would take her to her rooms.

She reflected as she wound through the corridors of the ancient castle. It mattered little to her that she was born before the prophecy. Potter stole her destiny! She slipped her red cloak and black mask from her bag to the hidden drawer in her wardrobe. Yes, she would regain her fame, one way or another.

***************

Severus sat at the edge of the tapestry, trying to gather his concentration. Lily was Alexander’s mother? And she thought he and Alexander – no, Harry – were soulmates? He took a deep breath, afraid to stop listening long enough to comprehend what he had already heard. He did not want to miss anything else. He listened intently to the conversation between the mother and son. At last, he heard silence. He quickly went over all the facts in his mind. ‘1. Alexander and Harry are one and the same. 2. Lily, and obviously, James are his parents. 3. Harry was from the future.’ He took a deep breath. ‘4. He and Harry had a connection. He had known Harry’s real name, had felt the attraction, the pull; they were soulmates. 5. Did he care?’ Severus made up his mind, rather quickly to be truthful, and got to his feet. He had just taken a step when he heard Harry ask, “Alright, so how do I tell all of this to Severus?”

**************

Minerva tapped her quill impatiently on the blotter on her desk. She did not know what to do with the information she had come across. She did not know if Albus was even aware of this. She had been with the man for more than thirty years; both of them thought of Severus as their son, and Harry also. He could not have kept something like this from her. She knew the old fool. He might play games with everyone’s minds all hours of the day, but when it was bedtime, all of his secrets tumbled out. Something flickered in her memory. She stood up, walked to the center of the room and called loudly, “Fawkes, get your feathered rear in here. Now!”

A circle of flames appeared in the corner, dissipating to show Fawkes sitting serenely on top of the chair. Minerva marched over to the mythical bird, wagging her finger at him the whole time, “I need to understand, and I need it now. What is going on?” The bird tittered softly as it flew over to land on her outstretched arm. Craning his neck, he let one teardrop fall on her face. As the tear fell, his song changed and Minerva’s eyes widened in knowledge.

***************

Saturday morning came too quickly for Draco Malfoy. He had been with Granger and Weasley for a good part of the night going over their plans. Draco would join the Master, and keep tabs on what was happening. Now, he just needed to find a way in. He got dressed and began the trek up to the Great Hall for breakfast. He knew had to act fast. The Master had already taken over the Ministry, although it was more peaceful than it could have been. He was coming upon an adjoining hallway when he saw a hint of red hair. Slowing down, he drew his wand and moved to place his back to the wall. They might have called a truce, but he was still a Slytherin for a reason. Just as he got close enough to see into the corridor, a hand shot out and grabbed him, pulling him into the darkness.

“Shhh.” It was Granger’s voice. “We have information.” Draco schooled his features into a mask of calmness, even though his heart was racing like mad and he felt like he had just been chased by a hundred bludgers. “Well, what is it?”

“Dad fire-called me this morning. He wanted to know if I had ever seen this.” Ron held out the coin Arthur had taken from his second son’s belongings earlier that morning. “I think this might be a way to the Master.”

Draco took the coin. He turned it over carefully, looking at all the markings etched into the metal. He had never seen such symbols before. He could feel the latent magic resting in the object, waiting to be unleashed. He closed his hand over the coin and smiled at his cohorts. “You know, Weasley, I think you may just be right, for once.”

***************

“I do not believe there is any need.” Lily and Harry gaped in utter consternation as they heard the silky voice. They looked up to see Severus standing in the hallway, a bemused expression on his usually stoic face. Harry looked back at his mother, then back at Severus. He tried to talk, but found he was unable to form the words. Lily was not doing any better.

Severus could not believe he had just done that. What had possessed him to just barge into the conversation like that? Although, he had to admit, it was quite agreeable to see those two sitting there with their mouths hanging open and their eyes as big as galleons. He carefully stepped closer to the sofa the two were occupying, his hands folded in front of his body and his face schooled in an equally careful air of hushed enjoyment. “Miss Evans, if you would excuse us? I believe I have something to discuss with your …,” he inclined his head toward Harry, “son.”

Lily lowered her head in what could have been a nod of agreement as she quickly gathered her things. She gave Harry a quick peck on the top of his unruly hair, and scurrying around Severus, fled the scene as fast as she could. Harry might be her flesh and blood, but she did not believe she was needed for this conversation. Severus turned to watch her until she faded from site.

Harry watched his mother in merry disbelief. If it wasn’t for the fact that Severus was standing right in front of them, and had, in fact, heard everything, he would have laughed at the way she grabbed everything and practically ran away from them. When he could no longer see her, he turned his gaze toward Sev. Severus was still facing the direction Lily had taken. As Severus slowly turned to face him, Harry felt his stomach drop. What would he say? What would he do? He raised his eyes to Sev’s face.

Severus took his time watching Lily leave, and then turning to face Harry. He did not know what to say to the young man. When he finally looked down at him, he could see Harry. Not the fake blue eyes and long, light brown hair, but the young man from the memories; from his dreams. Mesmerizing green eyes, a mouth just ripe for kissing, the dark unruly hair, and that lightning bolt scar called out to him. He did the first thing he could that crossed his mind – he dropped to his knees, gathered the young man in his arms and proceeded to kiss him until neither of them knew where one person stopped and the other started.

Finally, the need for breath got the better of them. Severus cupped Harry’s cheek and ran his thumb over the soft, kiss-swollen lips. He leaned forward and pressed a gentle, chaste kiss on them, then whispered, “I am afraid that we have to go. Exams will be starting soon, and I have a staff meeting tonight. I want to talk about this, about us. Will you wait up for me?”

Harry smiled as he pulled the man back down and claimed his lips again.

***************

It was three o’clock in the morning when Severus finally made it to his and Harry’s rooms. He was dead tired. He had skipped lunch in order to try to grade some of the exams, hoping that it would free up time after dinner to talk to the young man, but things did not work out the way he planned. It took longer to grade the tests than he thought, mainly because he had to try to decipher the children’s scrawls and scratches. He barely made it in time to grab a bite for dinner, and had to rush right back out for the staff meeting.

After four hours of Albus nattering on and on about lemon drops and house relations, they were finally released, on the condition that all exam grades up until that day had to be turned in before they retired for the night. Severus was seething by the time he made it back to his small office. The remaining exams appeared to be dripping blood by the time he was finished grading and placing his remarks on the papers. He knew that he had been harsher than he should have, but, to his mind, it was the exams or Harry that would bear the brunt of his anger. He did want to vent his foul temper on that delicious boy waiting for him.

Speaking of delicious boy, said boy was currently asleep on his sofa. Sev let a small smile touch his face. He went into the lavatory and washed his face and hands, spelled his teeth and body clean and transfigured some towels into pillows and blankets. He went back into the sitting room and spelled Harry’s clothes into a pair of sleep pants. ‘Harry must be really tired, he thought, ‘he didn’t even stir.’ He widened the sofa, large enough to fit Hagrid, at least, and stripped down to his boxers. He slid onto the couch next to Harry and covered them both with a blanket. He put his arm around the young man and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

*************
James was up bright and early on Saturday morning. The Headmaster had arranged for him to visit Gringotts that morning, and he did not want to be late. He had it all planned. Tomorrow night, he would take Lily out to the rose garden and ask her to be his wife. He whistled a merry tune as he passed Remus’s empty bed. He came to Sirius’s bed and out of playful spite, pointed his wand at the pair entwined within and cast a quiet Aguamenti charm. He laughed and ran as the couple howled with outrage at being awakened by the cold water.

He kept his good mood all the way to Diagon Alley and Gringotts. Ragnok saw him to his vault, where he collected the rings without problem. As they were leaving, Ragnok informed him that his vault manager would like to see him. James immediately thought he was in trouble, after all, he hadn’t really told his parents that he was going to get the rings. Well, they knew, but he had not told them when he was going to get them.

He was shown into a small office filled with large books and stacks of parchments. He immediately saw Griphook, his parent’s vault manager. “Mr. Griphook, uh, you wanted to see me?”

Griphook stood up and gestured a pointy finger at the chair. “Have a seat, Mr. Potter.” James sat down in the uncomfortable chair. “I see that you have retrieved your grandparents’ bonding rings. I have been instructed to release your trust vault to you when you do so. All we need now is to have your signature to complete the transaction.”

James sighed in relief. “Yes, of course. Where do I need to sign?”

Griphook handed him the papers and indicated the appropriate places. Once signed, he gathered the papers up and placed them in a large book on the shelf near his desk.

James started to get up, “If there is nothing else, I’ll just be on my way.”

Griphook interrupted, “One more moment, Mr. Potter. If I may ask, how is young Mr. Potter doing? Oh, I believe he is still going by Harrison, right?”

James fell back into the seat. “What? I…I…I don’t understand.” Griphook growled in disappointment. “Alexander Harrison.” James shook his head, “The new kid in Slytherin? What’s he got to do with anything? Why did you call him ‘the young Mr. Potter’?”

“Alexander Harrison is here, by accident of course, from the future. His real name is Harry James Potter. He is your son.”

Griphook growled again as James passed out on the floor. He picked the man up off the floor and placed him in the chair, spelling the chair to hold him in place. He eyed the young man closely, grimacing grimly, “Interesting spell you have there, Mr. Potter.”

****************

Remus paced in the Headmaster’s office as he waited for Severus to join them. It was finally Sunday, and they were going to find out about Sirius. Each moment that passed saw his anger and agitation increase exponentially. After what seemed like hours to the werewolf, Severus finally walked in. Remus quickly forgot his aggravation at the Potions Master when he saw the circles under the man’s eyes and his haggard appearance. Albus ushered the pair over to the fireplace. “I have arranged for us to floo directly into Griphook’s office. Just call out, ‘Hereditary Vaults Office, Gringotts Bank’.”

The three men made it into Griphook’s small office with no hindrances. The goblin invited them all to sit and summoned tea and biscuits for them all. As soon as they were settled, he began his explanation. “I have called all three of you here because each of you has a true reason to want Mr. Black returned from the veil. Mr. Lupin, for you, it is because you love him and he is your mate. Headmaster, for you, it is because you are genuinely fond of Mr. Black, and think of him as a member of your family. And Professor Snape, yours is the purest reason of all. You want to retrieve Mr. Black because of your love for another; to make the person happy. That, gentlemen, make your motives incorruptible.

****************

Unus = One
Orbis = world
Ordinatio = government
Aguamenti = water charm, causes water to spray out of the tip of the caster’s wand.


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Author's Note: I am making Frank Longbottom much older than James and Lily - Poppy was born when he was about 17 or 18. Alice is probably only 5 or 6 years older than the Potters.

I know, I know, I'm playing with ages, etc... but this is AU. And, since it's an alternate universe, I can make it any way I want. So, in the past, Poppy is early 20's - probably just getting started. In Harry's time, she's in her 40's to 50's.