Time Again

Lady Starlight so kiss my ass

Chapter Ten.

Laughing, Harry ducked around James and snagged the seat beside Hermione and some random third year. Sirius pouted and slouched into a seat between James and Remus. "I cannot believe you'd think that," he whined and Harry laughed.

"What I can't believe is that you are trying to deny it." Harry grinned happily at the young man. Conversation stilled as they started eating and it wasn't until Lily groaned that Harry felt the eyes drilling into his back. Turning in his seat he heard James ask Lily what was wrong. He didn't hear her answer however because sitting at the Slytherin table was one person he never wanted to see again.

As their eyes meet across the Great Hall chills ran up Harry's spine and he knew without a doubt that he was staring at Terrance O'Conner. The young man in question sat at the Slytherin table; smirk on his face, and hatred in his eyes, along with something else that disappeared the moment Harry caught his gaze. Harry's hand slipped on his drink but he couldn't look away until Sirius filled his vision, blocking the Slytherin.

"You don't look so good, Harry, what happened?" Concern filled his vibrant blue eyes and Harry had to blink a few times to bring everything into focus.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing…" Harry picked up his fork and tried to join the chatter, but his eyes drifted back to the Slytherin table. "You know, I think I forgot something in the dorm." Harry stood up and Remus cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Oh, really? And what would that be?" He asked with more amusement then suspicion.

"I'm not sure, yet… I'm going to go find out." Harry left the table and headed for the doors. Hermione frowned. Grabbing her bag she moved to stand up and go after him. Lily's hand on her arm stopped her. "What is it?"

"Nothing," the redhead said. "I just think the boys should go and talk to him." Hermione opened her mouth to argue when she glanced at Sirius and James, both of whom were smiling. "You always get to console or interrogate Harry… and you're probably the only person to have ever done it. But sometimes, just to shake things up, you should let other people. You might get a different reaction."

Hermione smiled, shaking her head. "Fine… I'm just not used to handing over Harry. We've been together for so long that…"

"Don't worry," James smiled charmingly. "We're not going to break him."

"So you say," Remus muttered. "I better come along to make sure you keep your word."

"Uh, mates? We'd better go," Sirius muttered darkly, his eyes trailing the figure leaving the Great Hall.

James and Remus turned and swore. Harry had already left, but the second Wizard leaving left a bad taste in their mouths. He looked around and winked, blowing them a kiss before leaving the Hall.

James, Sirius and Remus jumped out of their seats, grabbed at their bags and raced off. Hermione was left rooted to her seat. Her face was unnaturally pale and her skin glistening with sweat. How was it possible, after all these months, that he still struck fear into her?

"Oh, God," she moaned and buried her head.

Peter glanced at her, uninterested, and frowned at her lack of color. "Hermione?" he asked, and when she raised her eyes the pain was so clear and loud that he had to take a step back. Squeaking softly he shifted back to her side and frowned. "Hermione, are you all right? You look really pale…" Peter glanced to Lily and saw that she was glancing between Lily and the doorway.

"What did he do to you?" Lily asked, her voice soft. Hermione's head flew up and she stared at Lily before jumping out of her seat.

"I'm… I'm… I'm going to go to class. There's really no reason to be sitting here." Hermione fled, leaving Peter and Lily staring after her.

"Pete?" Lily said, still staring after the girl.

"Yeah?"

"Don't say anything." Lily turned her emerald eyes on him and Peter felt his insides squeeze together. She had Harry's eyes, and Peter could barely stand staring into his eyes.

"Of course not." Though he couldn't help wondering what exactly he was missing.

OoOoO

Harry spun himself out of the school, seeking some form of privacy for the confrontation he knew to be coming. Dropping his bag down by a big willow tree he turned to face Terrance.

"Somehow," The Boy-Who-Lived said, "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Why?" Terrance asked. "I'm the one that belongs here. You're the trespasser."

"Is that so? You failed to mention that before." The two young men stared at each other.

"I'm mentioning it now. Connor Terrance McNeill, not so pleased to meet you." Terrance tilted his head, studying Harry with a cocky smirk on his face and curiosity burning in his gaze. "How did you get here?" he finally asked.

"I could ask you the same thing," Harry commented. He continued to watch Terrance, and neither young man gave away any hints that he didn't want to give.

Bored with the staring contest Terrance finally spoke again. "Oh, but you see, I know how I got here, and there," he grinned. "But I'd love to know how you and pretty little Mione ended up in this wonderful year." Terrance cast a baffled look at Harry and his look turned into a smirk at Harry's clenched fist. "She's certainly grown up in the last few months, hasn't she?"

Harry bit back a groan knowing that Terrance wanted to provoke him. Instead he remained silent and opened his mind. Keeping his eyes open he visualized Terrance and let the Slytherin fill the white space of his mind. This was a hell of a lot more dangerous than conversing with Hermione. Not only was he risking destroying Terrance's mind, but if Voldemort was visiting Terrance when Harry entered the Death Eater's mind, then the Dark Lord would sense Harry's presence as well. Terrance stopped speaking, raising his head to glare into Harry's emerald eyes.

"If that didn't work before, what makes you think it will work now, you cocky little shit?"

Which was true. For some reason that neither Harry nor Dumbledore could explain, Harry had never been able to enter the Slytherin's mind. Which was strange considering Harry could almost force his way into Dumbledore's thoughts. Anyone else was a piece of cake. Except Terrance.

"Figured it was worth a shot," Harry grinned wickedly. "It's a lot more fun then pouring truth serum down your throat."

"And yet, you've never been able to do that either." Terrance smiled as he stared at Harry, taunting. "You look good Har, for someone who doesn't actually exist yet."

"You look remarkable for someone who spent the last eight months in Azkaban."

As Terrance laughed, Remus, James and Sirius ran to a stop, barely three feet away. And they stared at Harry and Terrance in disbelief.

"You don't know? You honest to Merlin, don't know?" Harry's blood chilled at the delight in Terrance's eyes.

'Don't ask Harry, don't do it, don't give him that kind of power…' However his mouth betrayed him as the question was out of his mouth before he could stop it. "What happened?"

Terrance laughed again, disbelief and amusement written on his face. "Your world's in chaos, Harry. They don't know what to do with themselves. Everyone has spent the last three months searching for you. They're entirely too devoted to finding you. And Hermione, if they can pull it off."

"That doesn't explain how you got out of Azkaban," Harry growled. Thoughts of home, of Sirius and Remus and the Order flooded his mind.

"Harry, the Order, and your own Whisper, haven't been focusing on anything else since you vanished. The Aurors have been searching night and day. So little things like guarding the Death Eaters in Azkaban get pushed down on the list of priorities."

"There is no one guarding Azkaban?"

Harry's voice echoed over the empty lawn and Hermione, who was running up, froze in motion. "No," she whispered before running again. She pushed past Sirius, James and Remus; only sparing them a glance. "The Death Eaters haven't escaped, have they?" She asked as she stepped between the two Wizards.

Terrance grinned at her, his eyes roaming obviously and he smirked. Hermione tugged her skirt down, trying to cover more skin. Harry snagged her arm and pulled her behind him. "Answer the fucking question, Terrance."

Terrance started laughing, giggling wildly. "No, no, it's all good. All the Eaters are still in Azkaban. I snuck out during one of the guard shift changes. Knocked Shacks and Dora out, but you don't need to worry, there're fine. Lucky I'm not interested in them, huh? My only interest is, well…" The lecherous grin spread over his face as he watched Hermione, who was still standing behind Harry.

"Terrance," Harry growled; his voice hard as stone. "Run." But Terrance grinned again.

"No problem, I'll just run along then. Need to talk to the boss, after all. I'm sure he'll be curious as to what I discovered. And I know he'll love to hear all about the "Boy-Who-Lived" and his pretty sideki-" Terrance bit off his sentence with a sharp yelp.

He looked down at the burning on his left arm and the vise-like fingers that squeezed around his wrist. Breath escaped in a gasp, pain filtered across his face. And hatred. Hatred burned there as he raised his head and stared once again into Harry's emerald eyes.

"You son of a-" he gasps out as the pain spreads from his arm to his stomach and down. Burning his insides and bringing him to his knees. He wrenched his arm free as the pain blinded him.

"Don't you dare mention Hermione to him. If you know what's good for you Terrance, you won't have seen anything useful where I come from."

"Or what? Remember Harry, I actually know you. Unlike everyone here."

"Then you should know I'm not above my own personal brand of torture. If I get word that you've said anything, and I mean anything, you can rest assured that I will be chanting Death Eater in all the right ears. I might not be from around here, I might not have the same power here, but even I know the chain of command."

Terrance stood up, and walked back to the school. In the clichéd way of life, he turned back to glare at Harry. "You're not getting home, Potter," before disappearing into the school.

"Hell," Harry groaned. "Fuck…" turning around he saw the Marauders for the first time and swore darkly and profusely. Some of his curses even the three Marauders wouldn't have thought of.

James looked at him hopelessly, shrugging. Remus looked contemplative, and if Harry knew the Werewolf, he was putting together the information. Sirius on the other hand, he looked confused. And worse then that, he almost looked…hurt.

"Where are you actually from?" Sirius demanded staring eye to eye with Harry. The time-traveler winced and glanced away.

It was Remus' voice that actually answered the question, with one of his own. "It's not 'where' at all, is it? It's a matter of when. When did you come from? And how did you get here?"

"You sound like you already have the answers, Remus," Hermione whispered.

"Why don't we take this inside, mates?" James whispered. "I think we can afford to miss first class, after all."

"Guess we don't have much of a choice, do we?" Hermione asked, and no one knew if she was talking about missing class or the inevitable conversation.

OoOoO

They had snuck back into the boys' dorm. The Marauders each sat on their own beds, while Harry and Hermione sat on Harry's. Nothing had been said. Even James hadn't bothered with small talk. Sitting there staring at each other, Harry wished someone would just say something to clear up the silence. Unfortunately for Harry, things have a tendency to go to Hell, even when he gets what he wants.

It was Sirius who spoke first.

"It's not a coincidence that you look like James, is it?" He asked and the two stared at each other, one guilty and the other imploring.

"No, it's really not," Harry admitted.

"How? How are you related to him?" Sirius asked next and from the look James gave him Harry knew he had picked up on it himself. Sirius already knew the answer, and he really didn't want it to be the truth.

"You already know that, Sirius," Harry whispered and Remus cut in.

"How far in the future are you from?" he asked. "I mean, you're our age, so it can't be too far, can it? I always figured James would have kids right out of school so…"

Harry barely heard the rest of Remus' sentence because the moment the wolf said 'kids' Sirius had reacted. Sharply, distressedly. When he had caught Sirius' gaze again all he saw was the guilt. With his insides clenching Harry tore his gaze away and looked at Hermione instead, who looked as upset as Harry felt. Her arms slid around him and her head rested on his shoulder.

"Be strong, Harry. It will work out for you." She whispered in his head and Harry sighed before answering.

"Twenty years," he forced the truth out, hating himself for putting the depressed glaze into Sirius' eyes.

OoOoO

The questions had been simple really. The Marauders hadn't pushed when Harry told them he couldn't answer certain questions. They had solemnly agreed that it stayed between the five of them. Though Remus was curious as to why Harry was not willing to tell Peter, let alone Lily.

Harry had replied that Lily would probably freak the heck out. She might adore Harry, and there was no question that she did, but finding out that he was her son could ruin the future. Then he had avoided the topic of Peter. Because while Harry hated the rat that had betrayed the Potters, or would in the future anyway, he was uncertain where this particular Wormtail's loyalties lied.

Then came the questions about Terrance.

"How do you know him?" James asked. "He belongs here. We've gone to school with him since first year."

"He showed up in our time last year. Just out of the blue. He was sorted into Slytherin." Harry paused, shaking his head. "No one really questioned it. We were all so busy. So Terrance O'Connor entered into Hogwarts life. He adjusted quickly, though put into perspective, there wasn't much to adjust to."

"He befriended Ron," Hermione murmured as she thought back. "He must have known."

"Yeah, he befriended Ron, and Ginny, almost as soon as he arrived." Harry turned his gaze to Hermione, no longer pretending not to stare at the mixture of emotions on Sirius' face.

"We didn't question it. We were so damned busy we didn't question it." Hermione squeezed her eyes shut as her hands clenched into fists. "Worse then that, Harry, he knows what happened that Halloween."

Harry froze. His body stopped moving, his eyes no longer shifted. Sirius couldn't see the breath come out of his mouth. If it was at all possible, Sirius would have suspected that Harry turned into a statue on the spot, but there were no wands out and no one had said the words. Worry was etched into the young man's eyes and Sirius watched as Hermione squeezed her eyes shut before trying to gain the frozen boy's attention.

"He knows what happened, but he doesn't know why or how. There is no way Terrance can change Halloween too extremely. He wouldn't anyway…" Harry sighed deeply. "Terrance is going to try and hold Halloween over my head. A threat of sorts. Naturally, we can't let it bear fruit, but until that becomes an issue, he's not going to tell the Snake King about it." Harry closed his mouth and his eyes.

"Why," Sirius' voice broke his reflection. "Why do I have the feeling your life is more involved with Voldemort's than ours has been?"

"Because you worry too much?" Harry answered back with a careful smile on his face, and Sirius scowled at him, a smile flirting at the edges of his lips.

"Were you ever taught to become Animagi?" James asked and Sirius and Remus both scowled at him. "What?" He defended. "I know you both were wondering the same thing!"

Harry and Hermione exchanged a look, remembering how after Sirius had returned, he had set about driving everyone crazy as he searched for the Marauders' books on becoming Animagi. He was extremely insistent that Hermione and Harry learn… Molly refused to let her children do something so illegal, not to mention dangerous.

"Yeah, we were taught, we just don't have much practice with it." Hermione answered honestly. James beamed at them.

"Great, you can come with us then next time!" The older Potter's smile was contagious and Harry found himself smiling in return even as he shook his head in denial.

"The full moon is a Marauder thing. I think Peter would be more then a little suspicious if we suddenly showed up."

"But you need to practice!" James insisted. "It's the only way to get better!"

"James," Hermione spoke. "We'll practice changing but leave the full moon to the Marauders. It's best that way."

James scowled and cursed under his breath. Hermione chucked softly to herself while Remus watched her with intrigued eyes. Hermione glanced up at him, and smiled through her blush. She turned her head almost immediately and spotted the staring match that was going on with Sirius and Harry.

Hermione shifted so her head rested on his shoulder and smirked to herself. "Just go over there and fuck him senseless," she thought at her best friend and the young man gapped at her.

"HERMIONE!" he shouted, horrified, and the Marauders jumped from their respective beds as the girl in question laughed wildly.

"You know you want to, Harrykins." She teased silently and batted her lashes at him.

"That may be, but I don't need to hear it coming from you!"

Hermione's laughter resounded anew as she hopped off the bed and strolled to the door. "We've already missed first class, but we should get to second, you know?" Remus hurried to follow her and James trailed behind. He glanced at his son and his best friend before offering them both a smile and walking out.

"Well, that wasn't obvious or anything…" Harry snickered and all of the sudden Sirius was there, standing in front of him, hands on either side of Harry.

"What happened on Halloween?" And that was the last thing Harry expected to hear from Sirius. As he stared into the older boy's eyes he could almost see that Sirius was as confused by his question as Harry was.

"Nothing that you ever want to know," Harry replied starkly and evasively.

One of Sirius' hands left the bedspread, ghosting up Harry's back and into his hair, tugging to raise the young man's face. They stared at each other, eye to eye, for what felt like eternity before Sirius' head dipped and his breath was hot against Harry's ear. "I can accept that you've got your secrets…" he whispered harshly. Harry felt his eyes fall as Sirius lips drifted over his cheek. "But don't ever lie to me."

Sirius strolled away, scooping up his bag as he did so, leaving Harry sitting on his bed with heavy breath, glazed eyes and a racing heart.

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