The Boy Who Lived Twice ([info]chosenonepart2) wrote,
@ 2007-07-31 01:33:00
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Closed RP: The Truth is Out There
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Teddy Lupin, Albus Potter
Summary: Harry and Snape meet Teddy and Al, and discover that it's all Teddy's fault.
Status: Complete


Harry saw a large figure emerge from between the trees in the distance, and for a moment cold fear made his stomach clench. Had Voldemort come back to finish the job?

But no. It was Firenze, carrying a young man on his back. Harry narrowed his eyes, but even as Firenze came closer, he didn't recognize the stranger's face, though there was something oddly familiar about him.

Before he could help himself, Harry elbowed Snape in the side to alert him of the centaur and his companion. Bizarre a thought it was, but Snape was his only ally in this whole mess. Snape at least was warm and alive, and the same couldn't be said for his mum.

Harry stepped outside, not caring if Snape followed him or not, and made a feeble attempt to close his dressing gown. But the cords were ripped, thanks to Snape and his bloody temper, and Harry soon gave up and raised his wand instead.

"Firenze," he said by way of greeting once Firenze halted before him. He aimed his wand at the stranger. "Who's that?"

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[info]teddy_r
2007-07-30 11:46 pm UTC (link)
"A friend," Firenze said gravely. "More or less. He means you no harm and I expect it is best he tell his story himself." The Centaur's eyes flicked to Snape with some amount of conflict, as if he knew: you are wrong. But all he said was, "Voldemort has fled north out of the forest."

Teddy, meanwhile, was staring at Harry. There was... no doubt that it was him, but seeing him so young was completely disconcerting. Not to mention that standing beside him was Severus Snape, whom Teddy had seen but once in a portrait. And he should, by all accounts, be dead.

Teddy carefully climbed off of Firenze, and waited for a second until he felt Al on the ground beside him, still under the invisibility cloak.

"Thank you, Firenze," he said respecfully.

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[info]princeofthedead
2007-07-31 12:27 am UTC (link)
Gritting his teeth at Potter's utter gall, Severus stormed after him. He was still simmering over Potter's utter stupidity at blowing his cover. That Severus had been dead at the time made no difference; Gryffindors simply could not be trusted with secrets.

He eyed the newcomers with distaste. Firenze's news stung; by all rights Severus should be chasing after the Dark Lord, working himself back into his good graces, ferreting out whatever mad plan had woken the dead. Now, thanks to Potter, they would have no way of discovering what had happened.

"You," Severus snapped at the young man, who seemed somewhat slow-witted. "If you have something to say, speak quickly." He fingered his wand, itching for a target he could vent on.

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[info]teddy_r
2007-07-31 12:37 am UTC (link)
Teddy watched Firenze go, and suddenly wished he'd thought more carefully about what to say. He'd known intellectually that he was probably going to run into a younger Harry, but it was still so strange...

When Snape snapped at him, Teddy merely took a breath and fixed his attention on Harry. "I - I'm sorry," he stammered. "I think I may have... done something. There was this - this blast of magical energy, you never said the Stone worked that way..."

And on top of it all, it was so overwhelming to just see Harry alive that it was all Teddy could do to stop himself from rushing over and hugging him. He could only imagine how confused Al must be. Teddy just hoped he could stand staying put a little while longer. Just in case.

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[info]chosenonepart2
2007-07-31 12:45 am UTC (link)
Harry blinked. Once, twice, and then he took a step towards the stranger and all but pushed his wand right into the man's face.

"Who the hell are you, and what exactly is this stone you're talking about?"

He got a sinking feeling in his stomach. Stone. Stone. Oh hell, it couldn't possibly be that stone. But this man claimed Harry had told him...something?

Gritting his teeth, Harry thrust his wand at the stranger again. "I am this close to losing my patience, and when that happens I will hex your bollocks off, so you'd best start talking right now."

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[info]princeofthedead
2007-07-31 12:58 am UTC (link)
Severus blinked at Potter. Somewhere along the way the snot-nosed brat had turned into a proper wizard. He was still a complete dunderhead, of course, but at least he could act the part now.

Fortunately the tiny smidge of esteem was easily crushed. Severus folded his arms over his chest. "Come now, Potter, don't harrass the poor young man. Wouldn't you rather tell him the Order's deepest secrets? The location of headquarters, perhaps?" He turned to the young man, and said in a stage whisper, "I wouldn't confide anything you don't wish to see splashed across tomorrow's front page to him. Bit of a blabbermouth, our Harry Potter."

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[info]teddy_r
2007-07-31 01:10 am UTC (link)
Teddy was still a bit taken aback by being nearly attacked by Harry - his godfather, of all people! - when Snape stepped in. Teddy frowned and couldn't stop himself from saying to Harry, "This is the man you held in such esteem?"

Then he shook his head. "I - I'm sorry. Harry, please, put the wand down. Look." His wand was in his back pocket, so he held up his hands, one still red and blistered. "I'm unarmed. And I think you know what stone I'm talking about. You told me about it. Only, you haven't yet. I mean..." He pulled the melted Time Turner out from the chain around his neck. "I'm from the future."

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[info]chosenonepart2
2007-07-31 01:23 am UTC (link)
Hating himself for it, especially after Snape's ill-concealed taunts, Harry glanced at Snape for guidance.

From the future?

That was new. As if his day hadn't already been a complete and utter disaster so far, now they were met with a stranger who claimed to have come back from the future.

But he mentioned the stone, and that nagged at Harry and kept him from bursting out in laughter at the sheer ridiculousness of the whole situation.

"You still haven't given me a name," Harry said, and he didn't lower his wand one bit. "I'd like a name, and then I'd like to hear, in detail, what you know of that stone and what you did with it."

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[info]princeofthedead
2007-07-31 02:19 am UTC (link)
"The future?" Severus laughed. "What insanity will befall us next? Merlin on a unicorn? Just hex him and bring him back to the castle for interrogation, Potter," Severus said. That, at least, was something he could do, assuming the Ministry hadn't raided his stores of Veritaserum. He kept a loose grip on his wand in case Potter lost control of the situation, but for now he was content to see just how far Potter had come in a year. "He's obviously lying as you'd never stoop to holding a Slytherin in 'esteem'."

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[info]teddy_r
2007-07-31 02:50 am UTC (link)
Teddy felt his temper rising a bit, which was perhaps preferable to shame or guilt. "My name is Teddy Lupin," he snapped, "and you're my godfather. And you were a bloody good one too, current circumstances excluded." And he didn't do it on purpose, honestly, but sometimes when he was emotional he had trouble controlling his appearance, and his hair turned jet black, about the color of Snape's. The color that had always made his grandmum tut her tongue and say how he reminded her of her side of the family.

He took a deep breath. "I have much to tell you, but I would rather not do so with a wand in my face. I'm certainly not going to fight you. Especially since if I remember correctly I've had a year more of Auror training at this point than you have. And well, speaking of Slytherins, there's also the matter of..."

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[info]as_potter
2007-07-31 02:56 am UTC (link)
Al couldn't take it anymore. Not with his father so angry and so young and Severus Snape right there, close enough to touch. He pulled the cloak off, his hair mussed and unruly, looking so much like Harry it was uncanny.

"Stop! Stop fighting! Please!" he cried, launching himself at his father and grabbing the young man in a monsterously tight embrace. The green and silver scarf hung around his neck and waved a bit in the morning breeze.

"Dad, it's not Teddy's fault. He was trying to help! He's sad, just like the rest of us. We all miss you so much!" he said, his young voice high and tight with emotion.

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[info]chosenonepart2
2007-07-31 03:03 am UTC (link)
Teddy Lupin? Nah, Harry had seen a picture of Teddy Lupin just the day before; he was a healthy baby, not a young man. But before Harry could voice his disbelief or hex the stranger silly, a new person appeared out of nowhere. A small person who looked just like him when he'd been younger.

And this little Harry, this small boy wearing his face and of all things, a Slytherin scarf, threw himself at Harry in a violent hug.

And Harry could do nothing but stand there, his fingers slowly losing their grip on his wand; it fell to the grass and Harry didn't even realize he'd dropped it.

Dad?

The boy called him dad?

Harry had faced a Basilisk and Dementors and Lord Voldemort himself, and yet never before in his life had he felt as helpless as he did now. And that was what made him do the unthinkable, something he'd never done before.

He looked at Snape with pleading eyes.

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[info]princeofthedead
2007-07-31 03:27 am UTC (link)
"Apparently Merlin on a unicorn was too much to hope for," Severus muttered as yet another oddity materialised. "Now it's raining Potters."

Potter -- his Potter, if such a phrase could be used without making him ill -- turned to Severus, and any potential respect Potter might have possbly been on his way to earning fell to the ground with the brat's wand.

"You imbecile," Severus said, almost kindly. He flicked his wand at the newest urchin, disarming him with a silent expelliarmus, and almost as an afterthought summoned the absurdly named "Teddy's" wand as well. "Pathetic, Potter. Disarmed by a child who has yet to grow into his school robes."

Severus pocketed the wands and cupped his elbow in one hand. "What would you have done if that child had been a Bellatrix Lestrange under polyjuice?" he asked in his best schoolroom voice. "Well? Pick up your wand!" he roared when Potter didn't move. "How you survived a year without a keeper is beyond mortal comprehension."

With that, Severus began flicking spells at the two purported timetravellers, searching for whatever potions or charms they'd used to disguise themselves.

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[info]teddy_r
2007-07-31 03:38 am UTC (link)
Teddy's eyes widened when he saw Al emerge from under the cloak and rush Harry. He should have known better than to try to make him stare there, he imagined this was all just too much to take.

When Snape "disarmed" him, Teddy made no move to retrieve his wand, merely scowled at the older man, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He felt obligated to show some amount of respect to someone he'd been brought up to view as a hero and a martyr, but he'd said he wasn't going to fight, there was really no need to force his wand out of his bloody pocket.

Even more annoyed by the way Snape was scolding Harry, Teddy reached forward and gently grabbed Al's arm, pulling him off of Harry. "Let him go, Al," he said softly. "There's a lot we need to talk about."

Then to Snape, he added, "You're wasting your time. I am Theodore Remus Lupin, and this is Albus Severus Potter. I'm very sorry that we're here, and I'm well aware that I've buggered up royally somehow, but we're not going to work out exactly what's going on until you stop blasting spells at me and let me talk!"

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[info]as_potter
2007-07-31 03:44 am UTC (link)
Al looked up at the man and before he could stop his tongue, words tumbled free. "Polyjuice potion takes weeks to make and if I was Bellatrix I'd have picked someone he truted, not himself from years ago," he said in a snappish and important tone. He'd gotten high marks in Potions, he always did have a flair for the art of it.

Teddy's arm pulling at him didn't stop the stream of explanations. He looked from his father to Snape and when he looked at the taller, older man, it was as if he was seeing a living legend. His whole life he'd only known tales that painted him in the best light. A hero devoted to the side of right, so much so he got inside with the enemy and did despicable things.

He vaguely heard the introduction and smiled proudly. "I'm named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was the bravest man dad ever knew. Dumbledore...and you. You--you're...you're my hero."

His eyes went liquid behind his glasses and just as he'd done to his father, he wrenched out of Teddy's grasp and was hugging Snape with all his might.

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[info]chosenonepart2
2007-07-31 03:54 am UTC (link)
Harry was sure he'd missed half of what Snape and the young man had been saying, and it wasn't until the young boy with his face was pulled away from him that he managed to properly listen to people's voices again.

This was Teddy Lupin, Remus' son from the future? As ridiculous as it sounded, it somehow made sense to Harry. He wasn't sure why he'd changed his mind, only that after the boy had hugged him, his instincts told him these people were telling the truth.

And he had good instincts, he knew that much.

So this was Teddy Lupin, and that boy was... Harry's son? That young boy, who was now proclaiming some sort of hero-worship towards Snape before throwing himself at Snape in a fierce hug, that was his son?

Harry reached down quickly to pick up his wand, fumbled with his dressing gown a bit (it wouldn't do for his son to see him in his y-fronts, after all) but this attempt proved as futile as the previous ones, and then he looked at Teddy.

And he frowned. "Wait? Did you say Albus Severus Potter?"

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[info]princeofthedead
2007-07-31 04:26 am UTC (link)
Severus took an involuntary step back as the urchin attached itself to him like someone had cast a permanent sticking charm. "Let go at once," he snapped, but the child showed no sign of obeying, babbling about heroes in a way that made Severus distinctly uncomfortable. "Off. Down. Release. Heel."

Despite himself he cast Potter a helpless look remarkably similar to the one Potter had just cast him, but Potter, it appeared, actually believed the mad tale. He was frowning at Teddy and repeating the most ridiculous name Severus had ever heard.

"I don't know what you hope to accomplish by this," Severus said coldly to Teddy while attempting to pry the child's fingers from his robe, "but you have been severely misinformed by whomever sent you. Potter would sooner name his child after the Dark Lord than me." He gave another tug. "Not to mention the fact that Potter was considerably dimmer at that age -- still is, in fact. Not even Granger's genes could overcome that level of idiocy, and I doubt she'd be dull enough to breed with--."

Dear Merlin, the urchin was snuffling, and quite likely leaving snot on Severus's robes. "Release me this instant!"

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[info]teddy_r
2007-07-31 04:35 am UTC (link)
"Yes," Teddy sighed. "Albus Severus." He ran a hand through his hair. "I - I shouldn't even be telling you any of this, but I think I've already done something to change the future anyway, oh bloody hell..." It was starting to sink in, just how badly he'd screwed up. "But as you can see, the time turner's broken and we've no way to get back. Please, can we just sit somewhere and I can tell you the whole story?"

He reached out and pulled Al gently off of Snape, and put a hand protectively on the boy's shoulder.

For some reason he hated admitting weakness to the two of them, but said, "Look. The blast knocked me unconscious and the stone burned the sod out of my hand and I'd do anything for some whisky, but water would do. And none of this is Al's fault, he shouldn't even be here. Is there someone who can look after him while we talk? Is Ginny here?" Then he hesitated. "No... no, she'd still be quite young, maybe it's best that... Arthur and Molly perhaps?" He was trying to think of someone that would make Al feel comfortable.

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[info]as_potter
2007-07-31 04:41 am UTC (link)
"Mum's here?" Al brightened, looking at Teddy. His dad didn't look right, and Snape wasn't like the pictures, but Teddy...Teddy was the same. "And Gram? Everyone's still alive here?"

He only had a child's grasp of death, never having been in any danger and only having been surrounded by love and family. Al had livd in a good world--a peaceful world.

And if he understood, it was gone.

"I don't want to leave you, Teddy," he pleaded. "Not for mum or anyone. Please take me," he said, repeating his earlier plea. It lost some power as he followed it with a wide yawn.

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[info]chosenonepart2
2007-07-31 04:52 am UTC (link)
Harry's cheeks flushed the moment he realized who Al's mother was, but that embarrassment only lasted for a few short moments. That was how long it took for things to fall into place.

Sure, Snape may claim he was dim-witted all he wanted, but in reality, Harry wasn't stupid, and the moment Teddy said he changed something, everything suddenly made sense to him.

And with that sense came anger...pure, undiluted anger, the likes of which he perhaps had never experienced before.

"YOU CHANGED THINGS?" he bellowed at Teddy, suddenly uncaring his own fucking son was standing there, looking frightened. "IS THAT WHY I RAN INTO FUCKING VOLDEMORT NOT HALF AN HOUR AGO, AFTER HE DIED YESTERDAY?"

Inhaling a deep, ragged breath, Harry took a step closer to Teddy, and another step, and another, until his body was pressed against Teddy's, and Harry's hands found their way to the collar of Teddy's jacket. He started shaking the man, harder and harder.

"IS THAT WHY HE," and he gave a jerk of his head towards Snape, "IS WALKING AND TALKING WHILE I WATCHED HIM BLEED TO DEATH YESTERDAY? IS THAT WHY MY MOTHER, WHO'S BEEN DEAD FOR SIXTEEN YEARS, PAID US A NICE LITTLE VISIT JUST NOW?"

Harry's hands slipped from the collar of Teddy's jacket and gripped around Teddy's neck. "DID ALL THIS SUDDENLY HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU MESSED WITH THE RESURRECTION STONE?"

He wanted to shout more, he wanted to shout until Teddy fucking Lupin stopped struggling in his grip, but hands yanked him back, away from the source of all their fucking misery.

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[info]princeofthedead
2007-07-31 05:24 am UTC (link)
Teddy's absurd tale abruptly seemed less absurd when coupled with the other odd occurances and seen as an effect of Ptolemy's first law of time travel.

Chagrined that Potter had made the connection before he did, Severus caught Potter before he could murder his future godson and further muddle the time stream. It was for that reason alone that he twisted Potter's arms behind his back; Severus would have much preferred to join Potter in strangling Lupin's spawn.

"Congratulations, Lupin," Severus said over Potter's half-hearted struggles. "You've just caused the universe to divide in order to protect itself from a paradox that would destroy time and space and magic as we know it. Be still," he hissed, giving Potter a shake. He studied Lupin, seeing the resemblance now and not liking it one bit. The only thing worse would be if Black's illegimate spawn arrived -- and with the way Severus's morning was going, he wouldn't rule out the possibility.

"Presumably I remain dead in the original timeline," Severus muttered, glancing at the urchin. "I suppose the only universe in which Potter and I could get along is a universe where one of us is dead.

"Now, Potter, if you're quite done, explain to me what a children's fable has to do with the Dark Lord's return." Not to mention Severus's own.

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[info]teddy_r
2007-07-31 05:36 am UTC (link)
Teddy couldn't have been more surprised when Harry suddenly attacked him, but he didn't struggle at all, only managing to gasp out, "Not - in front of - Al - "

When Snape pulled Harry off of him, Teddy was torn between relief and being completely crushed. He'd never seen Harry angry like that, not ever. Sure, he'd seen his temper flare up occasionally, but it was always stupid things - keeping James and Al from fighting, hearing that Teddy lost 100 house points for sneaking out with Victoire. But nothing like this.

"It wasn't suppose to happen like this," Teddy said quietly, sounding beaten down. "I... I wasn't even going to use the Stone here, wasn't going to do anything in the past that could mess up anything, I just wanted to mark where the Stone was so that I could find it in the future. You - you told me that it only brought ghost-like visions! You said it didn't bring anyone back to life! I wasn't trying to fuck with life and death, Harry, I swear, I just... I needed to talk to you. You were dead, you were all dead, and I didn't know what to do..."

Teddy was on the verge of tears but trying very hard not to show it. His hand was still gripping tightly onto Al's shoulder.

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[info]as_potter
2007-07-31 06:00 am UTC (link)
Al had never seen his father like that, either. He was shaking beneath Teddy's hand, tears slipping down his cheeks again. He wasn't crying and would have protested that fact to the end. He was just...leaking.

The little boy looked from Harry to Snape to Teddy and back. So many angry voices, so many angry faces. Al squeezed his eyes shut, the last of the fat tears falling, and he put his back against Teddy's legs.

"STOP YELLING AT HIM!" Al screamed, tired and scared and confused, and entirely his father's son. "You're DEAD! You're ALL DEAD! Teddy's trying his BEST! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, DAD! EVERYONE IS DEAD!"

Al was red, eyes still closed, his voice breaking as he grew hoarse. How could they know? How could either of them know? So many people, dead on a flash. There were so few survivors at the Ministry. Teddy, James, Lily and himself were all that were left from their family.

Teddy was all the family he had and Al would protect him to the death, that much was clear.

As a Potter, he had learned well how important family was. He'd learned the lesson as a Weasley as well. Harry may be his father, but that was some day in a future that may or may not exist. Teddy was his family now and always.

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[info]chosenonepart2
2007-07-31 10:33 am UTC (link)
Harry's anger deflated somewhat by Teddy's explanation, and by the time his own son started yelling at him it was gone completely and he was filled with an overwhelming sense of something that felt very much life grief.

So he had defeated Voldemort after all. They had won. And now, somehow, his godson from the future had buggered it all up by using the Resurrection Stone.

He had nothing to say to Teddy at that moment, afraid his anger might flare up again if he tried, and he felt too ashamed towards Al for having lost it like that, so instead he turned to Snape.

"The Deathly Hallows, they're real. The Elder Wand, the Invisibility Cloak, and the Resurrection Stone. Dumbledore knew they were real, and so did Grindelwald, who actually got his hands on the Elder wand. That's how it came into Dumbledore's possession, and that's why Voldemort killed you. He thought you were the master of the Elder wand because you'd killed Dumbledore.

"I'm the master of the Elder wand now, and I own that Invisibility Cloak, and until yesterday, I also had the Resurrection Stone, but I left it on an unmarked spot in the forest. It's far too tempting a thing, and far too dangerous."

He finally looked at Teddy and Al. "If you ever tell anyone about this, about the Deathly Hallows, you will have to deal with me, understood? Voldemort doesn't know about the cloak and the stone, he only knew about the Elder Wand, and I'd like to keep it that way."

Inhaling a deep breath, desperately trying to keep his temper in check and trying to figure out what to do at the same time, Harry glanced at Snape again. Snape was his ally, after all. He had to remember that.

"We need to tell the Order that Voldemort's back," he said, and briefly looked at Teddy. "Where is the stone?" he asked, holding out his hand. When no immediate answer followed, his control slipped for a second. "WHERE IS THE STONE?"

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[info]princeofthedead
2007-07-31 12:40 pm UTC (link)
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. The headache he'd begun the day with had intensified to a single sharp point behind his left eye. Severus was contemplating christening it Potter, after its father.

"There is a muggle saying, Potter: Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead." Severus let Potter go and, with a disgusted snort, threw the pair of time-travelling fools their wands.

So. Beedle the Bard's tale of the Deathly Hallows had a grain of truth. Potter had possessed all three and foolishly left one lying on the forest floor. At least two of the Hallows worked as the fable said they did. The Dark Lord did not know of them, but now two strangers of unknown character did -- one of them a child with no defense against legilimency and the other as much an impulsive fool as any of the Marauders.

And by the expression on Lupin's face, the Resurrection Stone was not waiting in his pocket to be meekly handed over. Severus caught Potter by the (now rather tattered) collar, just in case. "You had best tell us the extent of the damage you caused, Lupin, so I can decide whether or not to let your godfather murder you."

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[info]teddy_r
2007-07-31 12:49 pm UTC (link)
Since neither Snape nor Harry seemed keen on letting Teddy sit down, or letting them find Al a place to sleep, Teddy just wearily told the tail end of his story. "I found the stone. I picked it up. I looked at it. I wasn't even trying to use the bloody thing. And all of a sudden there was this massive blast of magic coming from it. It knocked me down, I think I passed out. And when I came to..." He wasn't quite meeting Harry's eyes. "I saw Voldemort. The Centaurs chased him away. And after that, no stone. I can only assume he took it."

He looked down briefly at Al. "Let them yell if they want. It's not undeserved."

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[info]as_potter
2007-07-31 06:34 pm UTC (link)
But Al didn't want to let them yell. He didn't want to be here anymore at all. He didn't care about Deathly Hallows or any of that. He just wanted to get away from this man who looked like his father and the other one who scared him and filled him with awe at the same time.

"V-v-vvv...he took it. I saw him. He took it and was going to k-kill Teddy, but the centaurs came. He...he used the k-killing curse and he didn't look human. You said, but you never said how awful he looked!" he cried,accusing Harry for leaving out important bits that he couldn't possibly have even known about yet.

He felt his wand slip back into place and he took a step forward as he brandished it. Sadly, his wand work had lagged behind his Potions, but like any first year, he knew just enough to be dangerous. Mostly to himelf.

"I'm not going to let you kill either of us!" he said with more strength and conviction than he felt. Al didn't know the meaning of 'back down'...that was another family trait.

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[info]chosenonepart2
2007-07-31 07:37 pm UTC (link)
Voldemort took the Resurrection Stone!.

When that realization sank in, Harry's knees wobbled dangerously, and if it hadn't been for Snape's hand still gripping his collar he might have fallen on his arse. As it was, Harry stayed upright and the only result was a loud ripping sound as more of his dressing gown was destroyed.

Harry found his balance and was then faced with his son. Aiming a wand at him. And being very brave and very stupid, taking on two adults of which one was a Death Eater and the other one the defeater of Voldemort. For a brief moment Harry wondered if this was how Snape usually saw him, like Harry now saw his son.

"Put that wand down," Harry said, annoyed and proud all at the same time. The kid had bollocks. He just needed a brain, too. "No one is going to murder anyone anytime soon."

He glanced over his shoulder at Snape. "You can release me now," he said, pulling slightly against Snape's grip. "And we need to alert the Order. Can you contact Kingsley and McGonagall, and maybe..." Harry trailed off. He had wanted to say Remus, but Remus was dead.

Harry squared his shoulders, inhaled a deep breath, and looked Teddy in the eye. "And you two are coming with me."

And then, for a moment, Harry glanced at Snape again and felt oddly reluctant to part ways with him. During this insane morning, Snape had been his only ally, if you didn't count his not-quite-alive mother. For the first time ever, Harry felt that he and Snape had really been on the same side, and that made it strange to dismiss him.

Snape had come back from the dead. But would he stay that way? Or would he walk inside the castle and just drop dead again when Voldemort messed with the Stone?

And why did Harry care?

He wasn't sure, and that annoyed him to no end.

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[info]princeofthedead
2007-07-31 08:30 pm UTC (link)
I can only assume he took it.

As very little else could possibly go wrong, Severus attempted to look on the bright side of the current disaster. All he could come up with was that he would no longer have to smile while enduring the Dark Lord's mercurial moods and thank the bastard for every cruciatus curse.

Then again, that also meant Severus's primary use to the Order had ended.

Right. No bright side. Justified in his pessimism once again...

"What in Merlin's name has your head of house been teaching you?" Severus snapped as the urchin brandished his wand at them. It was enough to make him wonder if the Slytherin scarf was an affectation, some symbol of pre-adolescent rebellion. "Never directly confront those more powerful than yourself. There are other ways to get what you need."

Severus let the elder Potter go, and sniffed at the orders the brat dished out. "Certainly, my lord. I'm happy to be your messenger boy now that my career in espionage is over." He gave Potter a look that said it would be a very long time before he heard the last of that particular blunder.

But pride aside, the Order did need to be notified, and the extent of the damage caused by the Resurrection Stone assessed. Lily Evans, the Dark Lord, and Severus himself... the selection of walking dead was too random. Why Lily and not James?

Dreading what he would find at the castle, Severus stalked off without another word, leaving Potter with the aggravating relations he so justly deserved.

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[info]teddy_r
2007-07-31 08:56 pm UTC (link)
"Al, put your wand down," Teddy said, sighing. "And try not to think of him as your father."

And to Harry, he squared his shoulders a little and added, "And I'll come with you because I want to, not because you're in any position to give me orders. I know you've just been through a lot, but so have I, and I would appreciate it if you could tone down superiority just a little so we can carry on a civil conversation." He paused, then added, "And in the meantime, I'd appreciate your finding somewhere for Al to sleep. He has no part in this." He lowered his voice and added to Al, "I appreciate your trying to protect me, but Snape was right. You have to be more careful. Use your wits."

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[info]as_potter
2007-07-31 09:35 pm UTC (link)
His wand lowered incrementally and Al glared at Harry. Try not to think of him as...that was impossible. Al loved his father! His father adored him! Not even death could change that!

A thousand protests screamed inside him, a hundred excuses, and one snappish insult for Snape...Professor Slughorn was a brilliant Head of Slytherin! If any of them had truly been paying attention to his other hand instead of his face, wand, and voice, they'd have noticed Al was making ready with the Cloak.

Of course there were better ways to get what he needed.

With a quick motion that may have come from his Seeker heritage, but more likely came from having to escape from his bigger cousins and brother, Al tucked away his wand and disapeared beneath the cloak. He ducked behind Teddy and grabbed hold of his trousers again, but remained silent.

Even as they walked off to the Gryffindor tower, he stayed silent and hidden, wondering for a moment if he'd have to live out the rest of his life in a time he didn't belong under a cloak that kept him concealed from the world like some wicked, dirty secret.

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