NOTES TO READERS 2:
1. Sorry if this chapter is slow, but trust me, there will be plenty of Lily and Snape moments coming up!
2. And I just remembered that apparating makes a noise – I’m used to the movie take on it where there’s rarely any sound made when the person does it.
3. ENJOY!
Chapter Two: The Magic Quill
Harry decided this was a good time to add his name to the list. There was no need in following Snape home, and besides, he needed to get this over with. He could go back in time to eleven years পূর্বে and add his name. That would make today, August 4th, his birthday.
He apparated to Hogsmeade, which was cloaked in darkness. Lights illuminated the রাস্তা he was on, and a few of the store windows were lit, but those were the only signs of life. He went to noon earlier that day, so he wouldn’t need magic to see. Now a few people were out and about in the town, but that shouldn’t be a problem since he was underneath his invisibility cloak.
Harry pulled out the Marauder’s Map and unfolded it. He would need it – obviously - to locate the quill and make sure no one spotted him. After checking the map several times over, he saw only Filch and Hagrid on the Hogwarts grounds, with no signs of a quill. Harry hadn’t been expecting to see it on the map, but it would’ve helped him out.
At least he had some idea of where it could be. He remembered Hermione saying something a while পূর্বে like, “…yes, and the Deputy Head of Hogwarts sends out the letters to the students recorded in the book. It’s all in Hogwarts, a History; I’m surprised আপনি didn’t know…” This meant Professor McGonagall dealt with the quill and the book… so it could possibly in her room. At least Harry had something to work with.
He could enter the school through the Shrieking Shack – the easiest way, since if he tried to get in through Honeydukes he would most likely set off some sort of alarm. After a short ways of walking, Harry reached the fence that blocked off the area surrounding the broken-down house. It was strange being here at this time of year, when there was no one around. It was peaceful, but kind of eerie. He paused, studying the spot where he had scared away Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle in his third year.
He smiled sadly on his childish rivalry with Draco. He had been very narrow-minded in hating him – there were worse people, and Draco was just অভিনয় as he was raised. In the end, he had helped Harry, a sign he was headed in a better direction. Sadly, just like Snape, there could’ve been a way to help him if he had seen the situation differently. And, also like Snape, he suspected him for every single bad thing that happened at school.
He was sure Malfoy had had the Dark Mark removed, but he would always be notorious for being a Death Eater. Lucius Malfoy had already been sent to Azkaban, but his son and wife are still due for a trial. Harry didn’t tell anyone this, but he hoped Draco was declared innocent. He didn’t voice this opinion mainly because the whole Weasley family hates the Malfoys. Hermione and Ginny may be a little আরো sympathetic towards Draco, but they don’t always act like it. As soon as the father’s sentence was announced in the paper, they all were cheering and discussing the things they hated most about him. This he didn’t mind, but eventually they got to the topic of Draco.
Ron recalled when they first met him. “I hated him from the time I first laid eyes on him. So he barges into our compartment, অভিনয় all high and mighty. He insultes us, our magical abilities, tells us we have dirt on our noses…” He smirked at Hermione. “Oh whoops, wrong person, sorry, honey.” He laughed as Hermione let out a gasp of defiance and hit him with a pillow, pretending to be outraged. It was one of those throw-an-insult-then-kiss moments they now often shared. “Ahem,” Arthur Weasley coughed, and the two seemed to suddenly remember that there were other people around them.
Ron’s ears turned red and he edged away from Hermione. “Er…well, as I was saying…Oh! Right, Draco. He always had a problem with us. I can’t count how many times I wanted to hurt that kid. When Hermione punched him in the face… Wow. That was bloody brilliant.” He gave Hermione a lopsided smile and she returned it, looking pleased. “And there was this one time, in Care of Magical Creatures…”
Harry chose to zone out for the highly exaggerated retellings of the boy’s actions. What Ron ব্যক্ত after a while made him snap back to attention. “…But what I still don’t get is why Harry bothered to save his life. All he’d been was trouble, what’d he do to deserve it?”
“Because, Ron, he was going to die,” ব্যক্ত Harry through gritted teeth. Everyone jumped in surprise – he had hardly spoken that whole night. “So many people had already হারিয়ে গেছে their lives. Why would we let that happen to someone when we knew we could prevent it?” His voice rose in anger and Ron flinched.
“Whoa, mate, are আপনি okay-”
“Yeah, just fine, thank আপনি for asking.” And, painfully aware that everyone was staring at him, he left the room.
The topic of Death Eaters remained at the ডিনার table, since there are twenty অথবা so death eaters that were not killed অথবা captured. Sightings are announced all across the globe, and everyone knows who is out there, who they should look out for.
All attempts to re-start the war have been stopped দ্বারা the Ministry, and that is happening less and less as time goes on. The Ministry is already a lot stronger, with tons of new, আরো skilled people working there. Kingsley was now the অভিনয় Minister for Magic, on his way to hold a permanent position. He’s working to raise awareness of the war, about Tom Riddle’s rise to power and the followers that he gained over time. Still, a lot of people think that Voldemort going to return, despite what anyone, even the Ministry, says. Without knowing about the Horcruxes, they are convinced that “He-who-must-not-be-named” is unable to die.
Harry reached the shack and climbed up the few creaky steps that led to the door. He tried opening it, but it wouldn’t budge. He guessed that it just didn’t work, because when he tried unlocking it, it still didn’t yield. He used a spell that busted it open with a loud BANG! He jumped at the sound and his ears started ringing. For a moment he stood still, looking out for anyone who might be coming to see what the noise was. There was no sign of movement from the cabins around him.
Harry entered without the fear he had in his third year, when he didn’t know that it was Lupin who made people to believe it was haunted. When he was following a huge black dog that had taken his best friend here at night into a place everyone feared to go into. So now he could see it as what it really was – just a broken-down, abandoned house. The inside was dull brown, worn from the elements, and rotting. Nothing frightening here.
Though, even if he had gotten over his fearful emotions towards the shack, he now felt the bitterness of loss. Sirius, his dad, Lupin, and Severus were all linked to this place. Sirius…the strongest connection he had had to his father. His godfather, the man who could’ve raised him when James wasn’t able to himself. Would seeing him in only a couple days (of his time) give him peace অথবা just make him mourn over his death? Should he save Sirius, too? Would that just make things worse? Would he even be able to?
Harry buried his sorrow deep inside him, where it couldn’t hurt him anymore. He didn’t want to feel the pain anymore. Every time ignored his emotions, it just increased the pressure building inside him. One day, the pressure was going to be too great. All the sadness he had been feeling was going to overcome him all at once, and who knows what that would do to him.
Being here, it brought back memories he was trying to ignore. How was it going to feel if he went back to school? He’d just be casually walking দ্বারা and – oh! – That’s where I battled Voldemort. Hey! That’s where I saw Fred’s dead body!
Harry took a steadying breath and crawled through the tunnel. He emerged below the Whomping Willow, which was noticeably smaller than he remembered. It started, almost drowsily, moving its strong branches towards him. Harry quickly prodded the knot at the base of বৃক্ষ and the swinging ceased.
It was easy passing through the grounds underneath his cloak. Only Filch and Hagrid should be here now, since it was just under a মাস before school started. With a quick check of his map, Harry saw he was right: Hagrid was in his hut and Filch was walking towards the front of the school.
It seemed as if everything was going his way – he slipped through the front doors unnoticed as Filch struggled past with a load of cleaning supplies. He was intercepted দ্বারা nothing unusual on his way to McGonagall’s room, and there were no advanced enchantments protecting her door. Though, why should there be – আরো important things have been guarded দ্বারা a simple Colloportus charm.
Professor McGonagall’s room still was set up for class, appearing to be missing only a few things here and there. The setup was hardly different from what he was used to, twenty years in the future from now. The desks were still in neat rows, and much of the equipment was the same.
It didn’t take him long to spot the quill right on her desk. Well, at least he thought it was the quill - it was hard to tell since it was just plain white and showed no sign of being unique in any way. He believed it to be the magical one because it sat পরবর্তি to a large, old looking book that hopefully contained the names of newly-born witches and wizards.
The book was about four inches thick, bound in a soft red material. Thick, yellowing pages were sandwiched between the front and cover, unevenly placed. If one wasn’t specifically looking for it, the book would just blend in with the others nearby. Harry strode to the ডেস্ক and opened the book, wand at the ready in case he needed it. His hand did not burn অথবা erupt with boils as he open the cover, thankfully.
The first page was from the 1600’s, so they either just started the system then অথবা have different volumes. Names appeared in rows starting with the persons surname, then first name, their তারিখ of birth, and current address.
As he was looking through it, the quill suddenly lifted into the air.
Harry doubled back, expecting an attack, but the quill wasn’t activating to hurt him. The pages of the book magically flipped to about three-quarters of the way through where the names were dated at 1959 অথবা 1960. The quill floated to one of the addresses, crossed it out, and it vanished. The quill wrote a new address, the book flipped shut, and it returned to its inkwell.
He opened to the page the quill had been on, where the last name (Tempah, Lauren) was recorded. Harry levitated the quill out of the inkwell, but didn’t know what he should do next. If he took the quill and wrote something, it would be in his own handwriting and wouldn’t blend in at all. Harry tried whispering his information to the quill. Nothing happened. He tried tapping it with his wand, but still nothing. Was there a spell he could use that would activate it? অথবা maybe… he peered at the page again. Could he somehow… take the handwriting of the book, then copy it over as necessary to form his own name? Harry had caught Dudley do it আরো than once on his computer for a research assignment.
If Muggles could do it, why shouldn’t he be able to? He didn’t know any spell of the sort, but it was sure to be in the library. Harry decided it would be best to look, so closed the book, returned the quill, and left the room. He closed and locked it, making sure he covered all of his tracks.
He really hoped there would be something on the subject. As he walked past the familiar staircases, he planned out what sections of the লাইব্রেরি he should look under. He decided to check Writing, Hogwarts, as well as any places he could find ways to enchant objects.
It was strange how the school was almost exactly the same as when Harry attended. The only difference may be fewer portraits (which was hardly noticeable) and maybe less dust.
Under his invisibility cloak, the portraits couldn’t see him, but they could hear his footfalls. One of them yelled out, “Who’s there?” Harry swore and quickly cast a spell to cover the sound of his footfalls. He was relieved, a মিনিট later, to reach the library. Much to his luck (which was probably running out দ্বারা now) it was easily accessible like Professor McGonagall’s. It was also set up exactly like as he remembered, so he knew exactly where the different sections were. He kept the Marauders map open in his hand as he grabbed বই off shelves, stacking them on the nearest table. After Harry was satisfied with his collection, he sat down and began searching.
He had no luck on the first few – Choosing the right quill: Everything আপনি need to know about quills (Obviously not everything, he thought) and Alohomora: Unlocking the Secrets of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Much to his surprise, he found something that would help him in a book called Forging Fonts: Fool Foes for Fun. There was a part that explained how to imitate a print. আপনি tap your wand on the page আপনি desire, say, “Teslerium,”[/] then tap your wand on your quill. Then, আপনি can write in the same handwriting that was on the page. Harry wrote this down on a spare piece of parchment and closed the book, allowing himself to grin at his achievement.
He quickly glanced at his watch (which he now wore on his wrist at all times) and realized he had spent a good two hours since his arrival at Hogsmeade. It should be only another ঘন্টা অথবা so, as long as nothing went wrong.
Harry put back the বই and went back to Professor McGonagall’s room. He encountered neither Filch nor Hagrid on his way there, and both were nowhere near him.
He performed the new spell effortlessly, and the quill worked perfectly. His name blended in with the others, and it seemed unlikely that anyone would ever suspect it.
Harry’s journey back to Hogsmeade was quick – he was filled with a new confidence at his success, and wouldn’t let anything stand in his way. He travelled back in time, then apparated away. Harry went to the প্রথমপাতা where he had recorded his current address. Sure enough, when he went inside, a crisp yellowish envelope was waiting for him. In পান্না green print it read:
Mr. Jacob Walker
509 Loyola Drive
Shropshire, England
He opened it, delighted that it had worked. It was the standard letter, there was nothing that suggested they were suspicious of him. Harry couldn’t help grinning hugely at the good news; it was one less thing he had to worry about. Sure, there were other things he’d have to sort out eventually, but for now he could be satisfied that he accomplished something. Now it was like this was his official home.
He was just at the peak of his relief and excitement when he noticed a সেকেন্ড envelope, which had been half hidden underneath the doormat. He tried to convince himself that it wasn’t what he thought it was, that it was just normal Muggle mail. But he couldn’t control the sinking feeling of what it might contain. He picked up the envelope, labeled just as the first was. His suspicions were confirmed as he began পাঠ করা the neat print:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Walker,
Because আপনি have not been home, and your whereabouts are unknown, a witch/wizard could not contact আপনি to discuss your son’s future. We will attempt returning on 15th August. If আপনি are still not home, we will leave a book explaining the wizarding world to you. It can only be opened দ্বারা someone of magical ability to ensure its secrecy. We would dispatch a wizard to find আপনি personally, but we are very backed up with other business.
Harry considered this. What did “other business” mean? Dealing with the rise of Voldemort? Other Muggle-borns? Did they suspect him? It wouldn’t surprise him if they did – they couldn’t find him! This must be a first: they could find the Dursleys when they were in the middle of nowhere…so wouldn’t they know something was up? The only good news from this was he could get away without having to bewitch a couple into thinking they’re his parents – he’d simply avoid the house on the 15th, and be done.
Harry skimmed the rest of the letter, which held nothing of importance. He stood, considering the situation. Although being an orphan would ideally be a lot easier than pretending to belong to a family, he would never be able to apparate ahead in time during the summer without someone noticing he was gone. Harry was already committing to at least an entire school year, maybe more, to change the past. Imagine if he spent আরো than that, and came প্রথমপাতা as an old man to the present. He at least owed a few years of his life to help people – it was paying back for all of those people he had endangered. But that didn’t mean he had to stay longer than necessary.
He had to save time in the summer to make up for the age he’d gain during school. That meant being in a দিন at three hours tops, অথবা preferably not at all. Hopefully, he could spread himself out for two days his time over the পরবর্তি month. Harry would only spend time becoming Snape's friend, not stalking him and Lily.
He dug into his bag and pulled out a sandwich, eating it quickly. He wiped his hands and got ready before he set off to eleven A.M the পরবর্তি day.
Harry made sure the house showed no sign that anyone had been here, then left.
+++
It was already becoming a rhythmic thing – meet Snape right after he hung out with Lily, use a different way to get a bit closer to knowing the seemingly unreachable boy.
This time, he brought the acceptance letter from Hogwarts. He left the envelope at প্রথমপাতা so Snape wouldn’t know where he lived.
As Snape was heading home, he saw Jacob running towards him, madly waving something in his hand. “I got it! I got the acceptance letter!” At first the boy was surprised, both to see Jacob again and that he was right about the boy being a wizard. As he got closer, Harry could see smugness replace shock in his impenetrable black eyes.
Harry handed him the pieces of parchment, then bent down, hands on his knees. As he pretended to catch his breath, Snape looked over the letter. He didn’t seem to quite know what to say, so he waited awkwardly for Harry to recover. It didn’t take much longer, and the hyper, supposed eleven-year-old was back to his old self. He had to admit, so far he was being pretty annoying, so he decided to step back a little.
“I’m excited to go to Diagon Alley! Although…my parents are ending up to not like the whole magic thing,” Harry said, his tone suggesting he felt guilty for this. At least the statement seemed to get a reaction from Snape. He was clearly proud of being a wizard, so this seemed to frustrate him.
“Who do they think they are?” He stuck his chin out in indignation. “I bet আপনি they’re just…” he trailed off, searching for the proper word.
“Jealous?” Harry finished. “I don’t think so. They think it’s odd, to be like I am. Abnormal. I can still go, but I can tell they wish I was the way I used to be.”
He diverted their conversation from pitying his life to “learning” about Snape. “At least…well, you’re parents are proud that you’re a wizard, right?” Snape’s face darkened and he looked away. “My dad isn’t. He’s a Muggle.” He paused, cleary ashamed of this fact, so Harry asked, “Do আপনি not like Muggles?” Snape looked at him. “I don’t like my father,” he replied simply, and didn’t explain further.
They started walking in silence as Snape continued home. Harry tried picking up where they left off. “My parents don’t want to take me to Diagon Alley.” He let the statement hang in the air. Another awkward silence ensued. Snape finally found something to say in response.
“My mum is just giving me money, she’s not shopping with me…they don’t really, I mean…” Snape trailed off, once again self-conscious of his family. Harry studied his blank face, then gave a sad smile and looked forward. “It’ll get better, আপনি know. Even if আপনি have a rotten family, আপনি have someone who cares about আপনি a lot, right?” That was how he, personally, got through living with the Dursleys.
Without meaning to, Snape replied (even though it was a rhetorical question), “Lily.” After he ব্যক্ত it, he looked shocked that he had revealed this to his new acquaintance, as though it was a big secret. In a way, it was, because Lily never knew… অথবা did she?
“You’re lucky, then. To have her. Make sure it lasts.” he ব্যক্ত gently. Snape looked away, hiding a smile, the genuine kind that only Lily knew.
“So…she’s she a witch, too?”
“Yeah,” he answered, হারিয়ে গেছে in thought. They ব্যক্ত nothing আরো until they reached Snape’s house.
He sighed at the state of his home. “Well…here it is…” he ব্যক্ত uncomfortably, and started towards the house.
“Okay, I’ll see আপনি around then.” Harry waved goodbye and continued walking. As he disappeared from the view of the house, he pulled out a stopwatch. It had the current তারিখ and time on it, plus, in the center, a timer that he now started. When it got to 16 hours, he’d rest.
He jumped twenty-three and a half hours ahead in time. It was like clockwork, Lily and Severus. They always parted around the same time, leaving Harry to meet up with Snape.
They were getting closer, দিন দ্বারা day. After 5 hours of Harry’s time, he and Snape spent about forty-five মিনিট each দিন walking around. And দ্বারা the 13th of August, as Harry could feel himself wearing down, Snape asked:
“Would আপনি want a ride to – to Diagon Alley? I think my mum would be fine with it. I mean, we’d travel দ্বারা Floo powder, but…” Snape didn’t meet Harry’s eyes.
Harry was taken aback দ্বারা his offer. It was the first direct sign of kindness shown from Snape to him, not Lily. He was so surprised that it took him a while to respond. “Oh. Oh! Yes, that would be very… very nice,” he managed, clearing his throat. “I don’t know how else I would get there, honestly,” he lied.
Snape blushed at his sincerity. “It’s no big deal…” he ব্যক্ত modestly. Harry smiled. The sky was clear, the sun hot but not pressing, and there was a slight breeze. Two squirrels crossed their path, chasing each other up a tree. It was nice just enjoying the weather.
“I hope we’re in the same house,” Harry said, and even though he knew that Severus wanted to be in Slytherin, Jacob didn’t. It was an innocent wish, but one that could end up being controversial. Snape had told him all about Hogwarts, while Harry pretended to be surprised and asked প্রশ্ন at all the right times. He had described the traits needed to be placed in a different house, subtly biased against Gryffindor. He had failed to mention, however, his desire to be in Slytherin.
“Yeah,” Snape agreed half-heartedly.
Harry decided to ignore his unenthusiastic, we-don’t-need-to-continue-the-subject tone. “I honestly don’t know where I’d get placed. Maybe Hufflepuff. But… I think I’d know where you’d be put. Even though I don’t know আপনি well.”
If he didn’t have Snape’s full attention before, he definitely had it now. “What one?” he asked eagerly.
“Gryffindor,” Harry replied simply, and immediately disappointment shaded Snape’s face.
“What? Why? Do I come off as stupid to you?”
“That’s not- Of course not. That’s not what makes Gryffindor.” Harry gathered his opinions, planning out what would be best to convince him.
“It’s not for… arrogant, thick-headed, big-muscled brutes. It’s for the wise, brave, and good-hearted. আপনি don’t need to be a hero অথবা a show-off with a high ego to be in it. Which house did আপনি have in mind?” That familiar superior look crossed Snape’s face.
“Slytherin,” he replied smugly.
Harry looked on him in shock. “You’re joking, right? আপনি don’t seem the type for Slytherin.”
Snape narrowed his eyes at him. “And why not? How would আপনি know? You’re a Mud- a Muggle-…you don’t know enough about it to understand.”
Oops. He forgot about how much he’s supposed to know. “I know enough. Let me just tell আপনি this.” Severus sighed and looked away in exasperation.
“If আপনি want to lose that kind friend of yours, Lily, I think, then go ahead and be happy with Slytherin. But you’re better than that. People go bad in that house. আপনি don’t need that to happen to you. You’re kind, caring – and you’re going to be a great wizard.” Harry turned, then added, “Just think about that.” And with that, he ran away from the blank-faced boy.
Harry felt a little bad for snapping at the boy, but he hoped that it gave him something to think about. Maybe he would eventually want to be Gryffindor. He just had to convince him.
Harry’s watch read 10 hours so far, and he was getting tired. Since the time he had woken up from Lily’s house it had probably been 16 hours, and it was exhausting to be constantly moving and apparating. He went to his new house, looked through the bedrooms, and chose the আরো comfortable and spacious of the two. He went ahead to nightfall to make it আরো comfortable, then settled into the bed. It took him a while to fall asleep, distracted দ্বারা everything that had been happening. Eventually, he slipped into the dream world.
Harry dreamt about nothing relating to what had been happening over the past few days. Funny, how that can work. Dreams are often about that subject that’s been at the back of your mind without আপনি realizing it. He dreamt of Quidditch. He hadn’t ridden a ঝাড়ু in months, so it was only a matter of time before his mind compensated for it. The dream was kind of vague. The most memorable part of it was him flying with a few যেভাবে খুশী people, with blurry faces that wouldn’t fully focus.
Harry basked in the familiar swooping sensation, the lightness that was exaggerated দ্বারা the dream.
When he awoke, he couldn’t remember the dream, but ached with the desire to fly. He was tempted to grab his broom, camouflage himself, take off… But he couldn’t waste time doing that sort of thing. There would be a chance for that in his first বছর of school. Suddenly, his হৃদয় plummeted. He had to blend in. Even being above average at flying, whether অথবা not he was ever got on the Quidditch team, would make him stand out.
Dispirited, Harry dragged himself out of বিছানা and put on his glasses, which he had shaped differently from his classic circular pair. He gathered all of his things, making sure there was absolutely no sign that he had been there recently. He was going to the 16th of August, the দিন after his প্রথমপাতা would be visited.
After fiddling with the device, Harry appeared two days ahead of time. Sure enough, when he went to the front room, there was what appeared to be a book bound in Manila paper. He grinned and picked up the package. He ripped it open to reveal a good-sized midnight-blue book that read, [i]Everything আপনি Need to Know about the Wizarding World. Harry flipped through it, grinning, then went back to the bedroom to put it away.
He splashed his face with water, dressed, and ate, trying to refresh himself so he could concentrate on apparating. When he was ready, he disappeared under his ছদ্মবেশ and was gone with a faint popping noise. Harry reappeared দ্বারা Lily and Snape’s meeting place. Luckily, the sound he made when apparating was never loud enough to be heard over the sounds of the forest.
He was a bit early to meet Snape, so he took the opportunity to walk a few hundred feet away. This way, he’d look less like he knew about Snape’s meetings with Lily. Harry took his ছদ্মবেশ and wand and put them behind a বৃক্ষ where they were unlikely to be seen.
Soon enough, he saw the boy heading in his direction, walking alongside the river. He looked kind of sad, and his hair looked droopier than usual. He seemed to perk up slightly when he saw Harry, however.
When they reached each other, Severus greeted him first. “Hello.”
“Hi… Listen, I’m sorry about what I ব্যক্ত earlier.”
“It’s fine. But... I still want to be in Slytherin, আপনি know.”
Harry tried to hide his disappointment. Even after what he ব্যক্ত to Snape, he wanted to be in Slytherin? Did he want to ruin his life?
“Whatever rumors there are about the house…” Yeah. Rumors. Sure. Harry thought glumly. “…it doesn’t mean that it’ll affect me. And, I can choose whatever house I want.” He didn’t make any promises, like, “Don’t worry, I won’t get into the Dark Arts, and I promise not to screw my life up.” What he did say was: “Maybe it won’t even matter, maybe I won’t get to choose.”
Harry decided to tell Snape what he knew about the sorting. “I read… in a book… that আপনি can choose. Well, kind of. They take what আপনি want into account.”
“So I’m guaranteed to be in Slytherin?” Snape asked eagerly. Harry made a small sound of impatience, which he tried to cover with a cough. The sharp-minded boy noticed, unfortunately.
“I don’t get it. Why do আপনি want me to be in Gryffindor so badly?”
Harry sighed. “Because,” he ব্যক্ত childishly.
“Because why?”
“Can we just talk about something else?” Harry decided to drop it.
Snape frowned. “Fine…”
“Well…” Harry frowned. “What দিন would আপনি be going to Diagon Alley?” Probably not the best time to ask of he could come with him, when they were still kind of tense, but at least it was something other than the house issue.
“August 31st.” Snape kicked a dandelion that had turned white. Little seeds flew into the air, floating around like little parachutes.
“Isn’t that cutting it a bit close?”
“Nah, my mum’ll leave me and then pick me up later. I think she’ll take me to Platform nine-and-three-quarters, too. ”
“Hm. I don’t know what my parents are going to do. What’s that Floo Powder আপনি mentioned before?”
Snape briefly described it for Harry. Then he looked somewhat guilty. “I know…before…I had asked if আপনি wanted to come with me. Since your parents didn’t want to take you…”
Harry’s eyes lit up at his indirect offer. “Really? আপনি still would let me come with you?” Ah… I really should be an actor… he thought, feeling his head swell with confidence.
“Sure. And… I’m not sure how well you’d manage on your own, anyways,” he added smugly. Wow. Two egos inflating within two sentences. Snape clearly jumped on any opportunity to act superior, since he probably didn’t have the chance often enough. It was weird to see such a boy, who was so poorly taken care of, act this…arrogant.
Then Harry felt guilty. He shouldn’t judge Snape just because of that. He’ll have to deal with the Mauraders, who would প্রদর্শনী up in a dictionary under the word arrogant.
“Yeah, good point,” Harry forced himself to agree. Snape took it as an honest compliment. As sharp as he was, he wasn’t good at পাঠ করা human emotion, অথবা portraying it, for that matter. Sadly, Lily was probably his only friend before Hogwarts, so he had very little social skills.
After ten minutes, Snape had reverted to what Harry was used to – withdrawn, letting Harry control the conversation. He gave his input when necessary, and very rarely when it wasn’t. An example:
“So. Who’s this Lily person?” Harry asked innocently.
It was almost like cartoon, the way the heat rose in Snape’s face. It was weird to see such a pale boy flush with embarrassment.
“Uh… Well…W-what do আপনি mean? Nothing, Nobody.” His face reddened even আরো when he saw Harry was looking at him with his eyebrows raised and a grin on his face, like he saw right through his claims.
“She’s my friend, okay? Drop it!” Severus snapped defensively. Harry put up his hands.
“Whoa, calm down, I was just asking.”
Thankfully, they had just reached his house.
“Tomorrow, same time?” Harry asked, trying not laugh at Snape’s ridiculous face.
“Yeah,” the boy ব্যক্ত stiffly, and ran up the path to the front door.
+++
The পরবর্তি days flew by. Of course, they weren’t really days, just hours leading up to the 30th . In total, it was only a দিন in Harry’s time. It was strange being with just one person for all that time, and it wore him out pretty quickly. Imagine having to walk and talk for 15 hours straight (Of course, he stopped to eat and go to the bathroom, but still). It wasn’t long before he became very short with the boy. Now it was Snape who weakly controlled the conversation, not Harry. He was so relieved on the last দিন before he went to sleep, he was much আরো energetic than usual. Severus interpreted this as excitement for Diagon Alley and Hogwarts.
“Yes, yes, do আপনি know what animal you’re going to get?” Harry asked, looking longingly ahead for a sign that they were approaching Snape’s house.
“An owl, probably.”
“Yeah, me too. I’ve never seen one in real life.”
“I’ve seen plenty, but I don’t know what kind I’d want.”
“A white one would be really cool.” Harry ignored the stab in stomach as he remembered Hedwig. Really? He still had to be sad over his owl? Was nothing sacred?
“I guess.”
“I could see আপনি having a black one, if they exist.” Harry glanced at Snape’s familiar dark ensemble.
“Yeah. That’d be cool.” He had an empty look in his eyes.
"You okay?” Harry knew that expression from when Snape was a teacher.
“It’s just… I don’t think… I can buy an owl.” Snape looked at the ground. He obviously meant he couldn’t afford one, which wasn’t surprising considering the state of his প্রথমপাতা and wardrobe.
“I could buy আপনি one. When’s your birthday?”
Snape was shocked at the offer. “No, why would আপনি do that? And my birthday is January 9th…”
“Then an early বড়দিন gift.” This was pretty bold, considering they weren’t even good বন্ধু yet, and who knows whether they’d still be even acquaintances দ্বারা then.
Snape glowed with happiness. “You’d do that?” Harry doubted he’d ever gotten such a nice gift.
“’Course. Just know…you owe me.” He felt a jolt as he remembered what Ginny had ব্যক্ত to him a few days ago. Owing. Such a complicated, broken concept. He was in debt of so many people, and it seemed he would never, in his lifetime, be able to pay them back. People died for him. Had helped him so much on his quest. What could he do in return? Just buy them owls? Yeah, right.
Snape just grinned, walking with a spring in his step (as much of a spring as the boy could have, he wasn’t really the type for skipping, অথবা anything of the sort) for the rest of the way. Harry trudged along moodily, longing to be home.
Being reunited with his বিছানা was the best thing to happen to Harry in a while. Sleep was such a beautiful thing, he marveled, pulling the covers over him. He drifted off to sleep, ignoring the thoughts that always seemed to be pressing him.
পরবর্তি CHAPTER: Harry goes to Diagon Alley with Snape. Sorry, every story needs a shopping spree/montage. Even the romance ones, where so far the two main characters are both guys.
1. Sorry if this chapter is slow, but trust me, there will be plenty of Lily and Snape moments coming up!
2. And I just remembered that apparating makes a noise – I’m used to the movie take on it where there’s rarely any sound made when the person does it.
3. ENJOY!
Chapter Two: The Magic Quill
Harry decided this was a good time to add his name to the list. There was no need in following Snape home, and besides, he needed to get this over with. He could go back in time to eleven years পূর্বে and add his name. That would make today, August 4th, his birthday.
He apparated to Hogsmeade, which was cloaked in darkness. Lights illuminated the রাস্তা he was on, and a few of the store windows were lit, but those were the only signs of life. He went to noon earlier that day, so he wouldn’t need magic to see. Now a few people were out and about in the town, but that shouldn’t be a problem since he was underneath his invisibility cloak.
Harry pulled out the Marauder’s Map and unfolded it. He would need it – obviously - to locate the quill and make sure no one spotted him. After checking the map several times over, he saw only Filch and Hagrid on the Hogwarts grounds, with no signs of a quill. Harry hadn’t been expecting to see it on the map, but it would’ve helped him out.
At least he had some idea of where it could be. He remembered Hermione saying something a while পূর্বে like, “…yes, and the Deputy Head of Hogwarts sends out the letters to the students recorded in the book. It’s all in Hogwarts, a History; I’m surprised আপনি didn’t know…” This meant Professor McGonagall dealt with the quill and the book… so it could possibly in her room. At least Harry had something to work with.
He could enter the school through the Shrieking Shack – the easiest way, since if he tried to get in through Honeydukes he would most likely set off some sort of alarm. After a short ways of walking, Harry reached the fence that blocked off the area surrounding the broken-down house. It was strange being here at this time of year, when there was no one around. It was peaceful, but kind of eerie. He paused, studying the spot where he had scared away Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle in his third year.
He smiled sadly on his childish rivalry with Draco. He had been very narrow-minded in hating him – there were worse people, and Draco was just অভিনয় as he was raised. In the end, he had helped Harry, a sign he was headed in a better direction. Sadly, just like Snape, there could’ve been a way to help him if he had seen the situation differently. And, also like Snape, he suspected him for every single bad thing that happened at school.
He was sure Malfoy had had the Dark Mark removed, but he would always be notorious for being a Death Eater. Lucius Malfoy had already been sent to Azkaban, but his son and wife are still due for a trial. Harry didn’t tell anyone this, but he hoped Draco was declared innocent. He didn’t voice this opinion mainly because the whole Weasley family hates the Malfoys. Hermione and Ginny may be a little আরো sympathetic towards Draco, but they don’t always act like it. As soon as the father’s sentence was announced in the paper, they all were cheering and discussing the things they hated most about him. This he didn’t mind, but eventually they got to the topic of Draco.
Ron recalled when they first met him. “I hated him from the time I first laid eyes on him. So he barges into our compartment, অভিনয় all high and mighty. He insultes us, our magical abilities, tells us we have dirt on our noses…” He smirked at Hermione. “Oh whoops, wrong person, sorry, honey.” He laughed as Hermione let out a gasp of defiance and hit him with a pillow, pretending to be outraged. It was one of those throw-an-insult-then-kiss moments they now often shared. “Ahem,” Arthur Weasley coughed, and the two seemed to suddenly remember that there were other people around them.
Ron’s ears turned red and he edged away from Hermione. “Er…well, as I was saying…Oh! Right, Draco. He always had a problem with us. I can’t count how many times I wanted to hurt that kid. When Hermione punched him in the face… Wow. That was bloody brilliant.” He gave Hermione a lopsided smile and she returned it, looking pleased. “And there was this one time, in Care of Magical Creatures…”
Harry chose to zone out for the highly exaggerated retellings of the boy’s actions. What Ron ব্যক্ত after a while made him snap back to attention. “…But what I still don’t get is why Harry bothered to save his life. All he’d been was trouble, what’d he do to deserve it?”
“Because, Ron, he was going to die,” ব্যক্ত Harry through gritted teeth. Everyone jumped in surprise – he had hardly spoken that whole night. “So many people had already হারিয়ে গেছে their lives. Why would we let that happen to someone when we knew we could prevent it?” His voice rose in anger and Ron flinched.
“Whoa, mate, are আপনি okay-”
“Yeah, just fine, thank আপনি for asking.” And, painfully aware that everyone was staring at him, he left the room.
The topic of Death Eaters remained at the ডিনার table, since there are twenty অথবা so death eaters that were not killed অথবা captured. Sightings are announced all across the globe, and everyone knows who is out there, who they should look out for.
All attempts to re-start the war have been stopped দ্বারা the Ministry, and that is happening less and less as time goes on. The Ministry is already a lot stronger, with tons of new, আরো skilled people working there. Kingsley was now the অভিনয় Minister for Magic, on his way to hold a permanent position. He’s working to raise awareness of the war, about Tom Riddle’s rise to power and the followers that he gained over time. Still, a lot of people think that Voldemort going to return, despite what anyone, even the Ministry, says. Without knowing about the Horcruxes, they are convinced that “He-who-must-not-be-named” is unable to die.
Harry reached the shack and climbed up the few creaky steps that led to the door. He tried opening it, but it wouldn’t budge. He guessed that it just didn’t work, because when he tried unlocking it, it still didn’t yield. He used a spell that busted it open with a loud BANG! He jumped at the sound and his ears started ringing. For a moment he stood still, looking out for anyone who might be coming to see what the noise was. There was no sign of movement from the cabins around him.
Harry entered without the fear he had in his third year, when he didn’t know that it was Lupin who made people to believe it was haunted. When he was following a huge black dog that had taken his best friend here at night into a place everyone feared to go into. So now he could see it as what it really was – just a broken-down, abandoned house. The inside was dull brown, worn from the elements, and rotting. Nothing frightening here.
Though, even if he had gotten over his fearful emotions towards the shack, he now felt the bitterness of loss. Sirius, his dad, Lupin, and Severus were all linked to this place. Sirius…the strongest connection he had had to his father. His godfather, the man who could’ve raised him when James wasn’t able to himself. Would seeing him in only a couple days (of his time) give him peace অথবা just make him mourn over his death? Should he save Sirius, too? Would that just make things worse? Would he even be able to?
Harry buried his sorrow deep inside him, where it couldn’t hurt him anymore. He didn’t want to feel the pain anymore. Every time ignored his emotions, it just increased the pressure building inside him. One day, the pressure was going to be too great. All the sadness he had been feeling was going to overcome him all at once, and who knows what that would do to him.
Being here, it brought back memories he was trying to ignore. How was it going to feel if he went back to school? He’d just be casually walking দ্বারা and – oh! – That’s where I battled Voldemort. Hey! That’s where I saw Fred’s dead body!
Harry took a steadying breath and crawled through the tunnel. He emerged below the Whomping Willow, which was noticeably smaller than he remembered. It started, almost drowsily, moving its strong branches towards him. Harry quickly prodded the knot at the base of বৃক্ষ and the swinging ceased.
It was easy passing through the grounds underneath his cloak. Only Filch and Hagrid should be here now, since it was just under a মাস before school started. With a quick check of his map, Harry saw he was right: Hagrid was in his hut and Filch was walking towards the front of the school.
It seemed as if everything was going his way – he slipped through the front doors unnoticed as Filch struggled past with a load of cleaning supplies. He was intercepted দ্বারা nothing unusual on his way to McGonagall’s room, and there were no advanced enchantments protecting her door. Though, why should there be – আরো important things have been guarded দ্বারা a simple Colloportus charm.
Professor McGonagall’s room still was set up for class, appearing to be missing only a few things here and there. The setup was hardly different from what he was used to, twenty years in the future from now. The desks were still in neat rows, and much of the equipment was the same.
It didn’t take him long to spot the quill right on her desk. Well, at least he thought it was the quill - it was hard to tell since it was just plain white and showed no sign of being unique in any way. He believed it to be the magical one because it sat পরবর্তি to a large, old looking book that hopefully contained the names of newly-born witches and wizards.
The book was about four inches thick, bound in a soft red material. Thick, yellowing pages were sandwiched between the front and cover, unevenly placed. If one wasn’t specifically looking for it, the book would just blend in with the others nearby. Harry strode to the ডেস্ক and opened the book, wand at the ready in case he needed it. His hand did not burn অথবা erupt with boils as he open the cover, thankfully.
The first page was from the 1600’s, so they either just started the system then অথবা have different volumes. Names appeared in rows starting with the persons surname, then first name, their তারিখ of birth, and current address.
As he was looking through it, the quill suddenly lifted into the air.
Harry doubled back, expecting an attack, but the quill wasn’t activating to hurt him. The pages of the book magically flipped to about three-quarters of the way through where the names were dated at 1959 অথবা 1960. The quill floated to one of the addresses, crossed it out, and it vanished. The quill wrote a new address, the book flipped shut, and it returned to its inkwell.
He opened to the page the quill had been on, where the last name (Tempah, Lauren) was recorded. Harry levitated the quill out of the inkwell, but didn’t know what he should do next. If he took the quill and wrote something, it would be in his own handwriting and wouldn’t blend in at all. Harry tried whispering his information to the quill. Nothing happened. He tried tapping it with his wand, but still nothing. Was there a spell he could use that would activate it? অথবা maybe… he peered at the page again. Could he somehow… take the handwriting of the book, then copy it over as necessary to form his own name? Harry had caught Dudley do it আরো than once on his computer for a research assignment.
If Muggles could do it, why shouldn’t he be able to? He didn’t know any spell of the sort, but it was sure to be in the library. Harry decided it would be best to look, so closed the book, returned the quill, and left the room. He closed and locked it, making sure he covered all of his tracks.
He really hoped there would be something on the subject. As he walked past the familiar staircases, he planned out what sections of the লাইব্রেরি he should look under. He decided to check Writing, Hogwarts, as well as any places he could find ways to enchant objects.
It was strange how the school was almost exactly the same as when Harry attended. The only difference may be fewer portraits (which was hardly noticeable) and maybe less dust.
Under his invisibility cloak, the portraits couldn’t see him, but they could hear his footfalls. One of them yelled out, “Who’s there?” Harry swore and quickly cast a spell to cover the sound of his footfalls. He was relieved, a মিনিট later, to reach the library. Much to his luck (which was probably running out দ্বারা now) it was easily accessible like Professor McGonagall’s. It was also set up exactly like as he remembered, so he knew exactly where the different sections were. He kept the Marauders map open in his hand as he grabbed বই off shelves, stacking them on the nearest table. After Harry was satisfied with his collection, he sat down and began searching.
He had no luck on the first few – Choosing the right quill: Everything আপনি need to know about quills (Obviously not everything, he thought) and Alohomora: Unlocking the Secrets of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Much to his surprise, he found something that would help him in a book called Forging Fonts: Fool Foes for Fun. There was a part that explained how to imitate a print. আপনি tap your wand on the page আপনি desire, say, “Teslerium,”[/] then tap your wand on your quill. Then, আপনি can write in the same handwriting that was on the page. Harry wrote this down on a spare piece of parchment and closed the book, allowing himself to grin at his achievement.
He quickly glanced at his watch (which he now wore on his wrist at all times) and realized he had spent a good two hours since his arrival at Hogsmeade. It should be only another ঘন্টা অথবা so, as long as nothing went wrong.
Harry put back the বই and went back to Professor McGonagall’s room. He encountered neither Filch nor Hagrid on his way there, and both were nowhere near him.
He performed the new spell effortlessly, and the quill worked perfectly. His name blended in with the others, and it seemed unlikely that anyone would ever suspect it.
Harry’s journey back to Hogsmeade was quick – he was filled with a new confidence at his success, and wouldn’t let anything stand in his way. He travelled back in time, then apparated away. Harry went to the প্রথমপাতা where he had recorded his current address. Sure enough, when he went inside, a crisp yellowish envelope was waiting for him. In পান্না green print it read:
Mr. Jacob Walker
509 Loyola Drive
Shropshire, England
He opened it, delighted that it had worked. It was the standard letter, there was nothing that suggested they were suspicious of him. Harry couldn’t help grinning hugely at the good news; it was one less thing he had to worry about. Sure, there were other things he’d have to sort out eventually, but for now he could be satisfied that he accomplished something. Now it was like this was his official home.
He was just at the peak of his relief and excitement when he noticed a সেকেন্ড envelope, which had been half hidden underneath the doormat. He tried to convince himself that it wasn’t what he thought it was, that it was just normal Muggle mail. But he couldn’t control the sinking feeling of what it might contain. He picked up the envelope, labeled just as the first was. His suspicions were confirmed as he began পাঠ করা the neat print:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Walker,
Because আপনি have not been home, and your whereabouts are unknown, a witch/wizard could not contact আপনি to discuss your son’s future. We will attempt returning on 15th August. If আপনি are still not home, we will leave a book explaining the wizarding world to you. It can only be opened দ্বারা someone of magical ability to ensure its secrecy. We would dispatch a wizard to find আপনি personally, but we are very backed up with other business.
Harry considered this. What did “other business” mean? Dealing with the rise of Voldemort? Other Muggle-borns? Did they suspect him? It wouldn’t surprise him if they did – they couldn’t find him! This must be a first: they could find the Dursleys when they were in the middle of nowhere…so wouldn’t they know something was up? The only good news from this was he could get away without having to bewitch a couple into thinking they’re his parents – he’d simply avoid the house on the 15th, and be done.
Harry skimmed the rest of the letter, which held nothing of importance. He stood, considering the situation. Although being an orphan would ideally be a lot easier than pretending to belong to a family, he would never be able to apparate ahead in time during the summer without someone noticing he was gone. Harry was already committing to at least an entire school year, maybe more, to change the past. Imagine if he spent আরো than that, and came প্রথমপাতা as an old man to the present. He at least owed a few years of his life to help people – it was paying back for all of those people he had endangered. But that didn’t mean he had to stay longer than necessary.
He had to save time in the summer to make up for the age he’d gain during school. That meant being in a দিন at three hours tops, অথবা preferably not at all. Hopefully, he could spread himself out for two days his time over the পরবর্তি month. Harry would only spend time becoming Snape's friend, not stalking him and Lily.
He dug into his bag and pulled out a sandwich, eating it quickly. He wiped his hands and got ready before he set off to eleven A.M the পরবর্তি day.
Harry made sure the house showed no sign that anyone had been here, then left.
+++
It was already becoming a rhythmic thing – meet Snape right after he hung out with Lily, use a different way to get a bit closer to knowing the seemingly unreachable boy.
This time, he brought the acceptance letter from Hogwarts. He left the envelope at প্রথমপাতা so Snape wouldn’t know where he lived.
As Snape was heading home, he saw Jacob running towards him, madly waving something in his hand. “I got it! I got the acceptance letter!” At first the boy was surprised, both to see Jacob again and that he was right about the boy being a wizard. As he got closer, Harry could see smugness replace shock in his impenetrable black eyes.
Harry handed him the pieces of parchment, then bent down, hands on his knees. As he pretended to catch his breath, Snape looked over the letter. He didn’t seem to quite know what to say, so he waited awkwardly for Harry to recover. It didn’t take much longer, and the hyper, supposed eleven-year-old was back to his old self. He had to admit, so far he was being pretty annoying, so he decided to step back a little.
“I’m excited to go to Diagon Alley! Although…my parents are ending up to not like the whole magic thing,” Harry said, his tone suggesting he felt guilty for this. At least the statement seemed to get a reaction from Snape. He was clearly proud of being a wizard, so this seemed to frustrate him.
“Who do they think they are?” He stuck his chin out in indignation. “I bet আপনি they’re just…” he trailed off, searching for the proper word.
“Jealous?” Harry finished. “I don’t think so. They think it’s odd, to be like I am. Abnormal. I can still go, but I can tell they wish I was the way I used to be.”
He diverted their conversation from pitying his life to “learning” about Snape. “At least…well, you’re parents are proud that you’re a wizard, right?” Snape’s face darkened and he looked away. “My dad isn’t. He’s a Muggle.” He paused, cleary ashamed of this fact, so Harry asked, “Do আপনি not like Muggles?” Snape looked at him. “I don’t like my father,” he replied simply, and didn’t explain further.
They started walking in silence as Snape continued home. Harry tried picking up where they left off. “My parents don’t want to take me to Diagon Alley.” He let the statement hang in the air. Another awkward silence ensued. Snape finally found something to say in response.
“My mum is just giving me money, she’s not shopping with me…they don’t really, I mean…” Snape trailed off, once again self-conscious of his family. Harry studied his blank face, then gave a sad smile and looked forward. “It’ll get better, আপনি know. Even if আপনি have a rotten family, আপনি have someone who cares about আপনি a lot, right?” That was how he, personally, got through living with the Dursleys.
Without meaning to, Snape replied (even though it was a rhetorical question), “Lily.” After he ব্যক্ত it, he looked shocked that he had revealed this to his new acquaintance, as though it was a big secret. In a way, it was, because Lily never knew… অথবা did she?
“You’re lucky, then. To have her. Make sure it lasts.” he ব্যক্ত gently. Snape looked away, hiding a smile, the genuine kind that only Lily knew.
“So…she’s she a witch, too?”
“Yeah,” he answered, হারিয়ে গেছে in thought. They ব্যক্ত nothing আরো until they reached Snape’s house.
He sighed at the state of his home. “Well…here it is…” he ব্যক্ত uncomfortably, and started towards the house.
“Okay, I’ll see আপনি around then.” Harry waved goodbye and continued walking. As he disappeared from the view of the house, he pulled out a stopwatch. It had the current তারিখ and time on it, plus, in the center, a timer that he now started. When it got to 16 hours, he’d rest.
He jumped twenty-three and a half hours ahead in time. It was like clockwork, Lily and Severus. They always parted around the same time, leaving Harry to meet up with Snape.
They were getting closer, দিন দ্বারা day. After 5 hours of Harry’s time, he and Snape spent about forty-five মিনিট each দিন walking around. And দ্বারা the 13th of August, as Harry could feel himself wearing down, Snape asked:
“Would আপনি want a ride to – to Diagon Alley? I think my mum would be fine with it. I mean, we’d travel দ্বারা Floo powder, but…” Snape didn’t meet Harry’s eyes.
Harry was taken aback দ্বারা his offer. It was the first direct sign of kindness shown from Snape to him, not Lily. He was so surprised that it took him a while to respond. “Oh. Oh! Yes, that would be very… very nice,” he managed, clearing his throat. “I don’t know how else I would get there, honestly,” he lied.
Snape blushed at his sincerity. “It’s no big deal…” he ব্যক্ত modestly. Harry smiled. The sky was clear, the sun hot but not pressing, and there was a slight breeze. Two squirrels crossed their path, chasing each other up a tree. It was nice just enjoying the weather.
“I hope we’re in the same house,” Harry said, and even though he knew that Severus wanted to be in Slytherin, Jacob didn’t. It was an innocent wish, but one that could end up being controversial. Snape had told him all about Hogwarts, while Harry pretended to be surprised and asked প্রশ্ন at all the right times. He had described the traits needed to be placed in a different house, subtly biased against Gryffindor. He had failed to mention, however, his desire to be in Slytherin.
“Yeah,” Snape agreed half-heartedly.
Harry decided to ignore his unenthusiastic, we-don’t-need-to-continue-the-subject tone. “I honestly don’t know where I’d get placed. Maybe Hufflepuff. But… I think I’d know where you’d be put. Even though I don’t know আপনি well.”
If he didn’t have Snape’s full attention before, he definitely had it now. “What one?” he asked eagerly.
“Gryffindor,” Harry replied simply, and immediately disappointment shaded Snape’s face.
“What? Why? Do I come off as stupid to you?”
“That’s not- Of course not. That’s not what makes Gryffindor.” Harry gathered his opinions, planning out what would be best to convince him.
“It’s not for… arrogant, thick-headed, big-muscled brutes. It’s for the wise, brave, and good-hearted. আপনি don’t need to be a hero অথবা a show-off with a high ego to be in it. Which house did আপনি have in mind?” That familiar superior look crossed Snape’s face.
“Slytherin,” he replied smugly.
Harry looked on him in shock. “You’re joking, right? আপনি don’t seem the type for Slytherin.”
Snape narrowed his eyes at him. “And why not? How would আপনি know? You’re a Mud- a Muggle-…you don’t know enough about it to understand.”
Oops. He forgot about how much he’s supposed to know. “I know enough. Let me just tell আপনি this.” Severus sighed and looked away in exasperation.
“If আপনি want to lose that kind friend of yours, Lily, I think, then go ahead and be happy with Slytherin. But you’re better than that. People go bad in that house. আপনি don’t need that to happen to you. You’re kind, caring – and you’re going to be a great wizard.” Harry turned, then added, “Just think about that.” And with that, he ran away from the blank-faced boy.
Harry felt a little bad for snapping at the boy, but he hoped that it gave him something to think about. Maybe he would eventually want to be Gryffindor. He just had to convince him.
Harry’s watch read 10 hours so far, and he was getting tired. Since the time he had woken up from Lily’s house it had probably been 16 hours, and it was exhausting to be constantly moving and apparating. He went to his new house, looked through the bedrooms, and chose the আরো comfortable and spacious of the two. He went ahead to nightfall to make it আরো comfortable, then settled into the bed. It took him a while to fall asleep, distracted দ্বারা everything that had been happening. Eventually, he slipped into the dream world.
Harry dreamt about nothing relating to what had been happening over the past few days. Funny, how that can work. Dreams are often about that subject that’s been at the back of your mind without আপনি realizing it. He dreamt of Quidditch. He hadn’t ridden a ঝাড়ু in months, so it was only a matter of time before his mind compensated for it. The dream was kind of vague. The most memorable part of it was him flying with a few যেভাবে খুশী people, with blurry faces that wouldn’t fully focus.
Harry basked in the familiar swooping sensation, the lightness that was exaggerated দ্বারা the dream.
When he awoke, he couldn’t remember the dream, but ached with the desire to fly. He was tempted to grab his broom, camouflage himself, take off… But he couldn’t waste time doing that sort of thing. There would be a chance for that in his first বছর of school. Suddenly, his হৃদয় plummeted. He had to blend in. Even being above average at flying, whether অথবা not he was ever got on the Quidditch team, would make him stand out.
Dispirited, Harry dragged himself out of বিছানা and put on his glasses, which he had shaped differently from his classic circular pair. He gathered all of his things, making sure there was absolutely no sign that he had been there recently. He was going to the 16th of August, the দিন after his প্রথমপাতা would be visited.
After fiddling with the device, Harry appeared two days ahead of time. Sure enough, when he went to the front room, there was what appeared to be a book bound in Manila paper. He grinned and picked up the package. He ripped it open to reveal a good-sized midnight-blue book that read, [i]Everything আপনি Need to Know about the Wizarding World. Harry flipped through it, grinning, then went back to the bedroom to put it away.
He splashed his face with water, dressed, and ate, trying to refresh himself so he could concentrate on apparating. When he was ready, he disappeared under his ছদ্মবেশ and was gone with a faint popping noise. Harry reappeared দ্বারা Lily and Snape’s meeting place. Luckily, the sound he made when apparating was never loud enough to be heard over the sounds of the forest.
He was a bit early to meet Snape, so he took the opportunity to walk a few hundred feet away. This way, he’d look less like he knew about Snape’s meetings with Lily. Harry took his ছদ্মবেশ and wand and put them behind a বৃক্ষ where they were unlikely to be seen.
Soon enough, he saw the boy heading in his direction, walking alongside the river. He looked kind of sad, and his hair looked droopier than usual. He seemed to perk up slightly when he saw Harry, however.
When they reached each other, Severus greeted him first. “Hello.”
“Hi… Listen, I’m sorry about what I ব্যক্ত earlier.”
“It’s fine. But... I still want to be in Slytherin, আপনি know.”
Harry tried to hide his disappointment. Even after what he ব্যক্ত to Snape, he wanted to be in Slytherin? Did he want to ruin his life?
“Whatever rumors there are about the house…” Yeah. Rumors. Sure. Harry thought glumly. “…it doesn’t mean that it’ll affect me. And, I can choose whatever house I want.” He didn’t make any promises, like, “Don’t worry, I won’t get into the Dark Arts, and I promise not to screw my life up.” What he did say was: “Maybe it won’t even matter, maybe I won’t get to choose.”
Harry decided to tell Snape what he knew about the sorting. “I read… in a book… that আপনি can choose. Well, kind of. They take what আপনি want into account.”
“So I’m guaranteed to be in Slytherin?” Snape asked eagerly. Harry made a small sound of impatience, which he tried to cover with a cough. The sharp-minded boy noticed, unfortunately.
“I don’t get it. Why do আপনি want me to be in Gryffindor so badly?”
Harry sighed. “Because,” he ব্যক্ত childishly.
“Because why?”
“Can we just talk about something else?” Harry decided to drop it.
Snape frowned. “Fine…”
“Well…” Harry frowned. “What দিন would আপনি be going to Diagon Alley?” Probably not the best time to ask of he could come with him, when they were still kind of tense, but at least it was something other than the house issue.
“August 31st.” Snape kicked a dandelion that had turned white. Little seeds flew into the air, floating around like little parachutes.
“Isn’t that cutting it a bit close?”
“Nah, my mum’ll leave me and then pick me up later. I think she’ll take me to Platform nine-and-three-quarters, too. ”
“Hm. I don’t know what my parents are going to do. What’s that Floo Powder আপনি mentioned before?”
Snape briefly described it for Harry. Then he looked somewhat guilty. “I know…before…I had asked if আপনি wanted to come with me. Since your parents didn’t want to take you…”
Harry’s eyes lit up at his indirect offer. “Really? আপনি still would let me come with you?” Ah… I really should be an actor… he thought, feeling his head swell with confidence.
“Sure. And… I’m not sure how well you’d manage on your own, anyways,” he added smugly. Wow. Two egos inflating within two sentences. Snape clearly jumped on any opportunity to act superior, since he probably didn’t have the chance often enough. It was weird to see such a boy, who was so poorly taken care of, act this…arrogant.
Then Harry felt guilty. He shouldn’t judge Snape just because of that. He’ll have to deal with the Mauraders, who would প্রদর্শনী up in a dictionary under the word arrogant.
“Yeah, good point,” Harry forced himself to agree. Snape took it as an honest compliment. As sharp as he was, he wasn’t good at পাঠ করা human emotion, অথবা portraying it, for that matter. Sadly, Lily was probably his only friend before Hogwarts, so he had very little social skills.
After ten minutes, Snape had reverted to what Harry was used to – withdrawn, letting Harry control the conversation. He gave his input when necessary, and very rarely when it wasn’t. An example:
“So. Who’s this Lily person?” Harry asked innocently.
It was almost like cartoon, the way the heat rose in Snape’s face. It was weird to see such a pale boy flush with embarrassment.
“Uh… Well…W-what do আপনি mean? Nothing, Nobody.” His face reddened even আরো when he saw Harry was looking at him with his eyebrows raised and a grin on his face, like he saw right through his claims.
“She’s my friend, okay? Drop it!” Severus snapped defensively. Harry put up his hands.
“Whoa, calm down, I was just asking.”
Thankfully, they had just reached his house.
“Tomorrow, same time?” Harry asked, trying not laugh at Snape’s ridiculous face.
“Yeah,” the boy ব্যক্ত stiffly, and ran up the path to the front door.
+++
The পরবর্তি days flew by. Of course, they weren’t really days, just hours leading up to the 30th . In total, it was only a দিন in Harry’s time. It was strange being with just one person for all that time, and it wore him out pretty quickly. Imagine having to walk and talk for 15 hours straight (Of course, he stopped to eat and go to the bathroom, but still). It wasn’t long before he became very short with the boy. Now it was Snape who weakly controlled the conversation, not Harry. He was so relieved on the last দিন before he went to sleep, he was much আরো energetic than usual. Severus interpreted this as excitement for Diagon Alley and Hogwarts.
“Yes, yes, do আপনি know what animal you’re going to get?” Harry asked, looking longingly ahead for a sign that they were approaching Snape’s house.
“An owl, probably.”
“Yeah, me too. I’ve never seen one in real life.”
“I’ve seen plenty, but I don’t know what kind I’d want.”
“A white one would be really cool.” Harry ignored the stab in stomach as he remembered Hedwig. Really? He still had to be sad over his owl? Was nothing sacred?
“I guess.”
“I could see আপনি having a black one, if they exist.” Harry glanced at Snape’s familiar dark ensemble.
“Yeah. That’d be cool.” He had an empty look in his eyes.
"You okay?” Harry knew that expression from when Snape was a teacher.
“It’s just… I don’t think… I can buy an owl.” Snape looked at the ground. He obviously meant he couldn’t afford one, which wasn’t surprising considering the state of his প্রথমপাতা and wardrobe.
“I could buy আপনি one. When’s your birthday?”
Snape was shocked at the offer. “No, why would আপনি do that? And my birthday is January 9th…”
“Then an early বড়দিন gift.” This was pretty bold, considering they weren’t even good বন্ধু yet, and who knows whether they’d still be even acquaintances দ্বারা then.
Snape glowed with happiness. “You’d do that?” Harry doubted he’d ever gotten such a nice gift.
“’Course. Just know…you owe me.” He felt a jolt as he remembered what Ginny had ব্যক্ত to him a few days ago. Owing. Such a complicated, broken concept. He was in debt of so many people, and it seemed he would never, in his lifetime, be able to pay them back. People died for him. Had helped him so much on his quest. What could he do in return? Just buy them owls? Yeah, right.
Snape just grinned, walking with a spring in his step (as much of a spring as the boy could have, he wasn’t really the type for skipping, অথবা anything of the sort) for the rest of the way. Harry trudged along moodily, longing to be home.
Being reunited with his বিছানা was the best thing to happen to Harry in a while. Sleep was such a beautiful thing, he marveled, pulling the covers over him. He drifted off to sleep, ignoring the thoughts that always seemed to be pressing him.
পরবর্তি CHAPTER: Harry goes to Diagon Alley with Snape. Sorry, every story needs a shopping spree/montage. Even the romance ones, where so far the two main characters are both guys.