Sands of Time

Hermione scolded them soundly when they returned the book to her. But Harry could see she was pleased to have it back, and she transfigured its cover into something totally different so that she could carry it around with impunity. He had expected Professor McGonnagal to question them about the disappearance of the book, but she never mentioned it. After a few tense weeks, even Hermione admitted that she didn't think anyone was going to come looking for it.

Something about the situation bothered Harry, which was how he found himself standing outside Mr. Filch's office one evening. He stared at the door and told himself that he was crazy to do this, but his body didn't seem to be listening. He knocked on the door and waited. He knew he wasn't Filch's favourite person, but surely the man couldn't refuse such a reasonable request? He just hoped that Mrs. Norris didn't claw his skin off the moment he stepped in the room.

The door was opened by the grizzled caretaker who frowned terribly at him. "What do you want?" asked Filch gruffly. His cat, Mrs. Norris, meowed at his feet. Harry gave them a nervous look.

"I'd like to see the list of restricted books, Mr. Filch," he said. A strange glint appeared in Filch's eyes.

"You want to see the list?" he asked in an incredulous tone. Harry nodded.

"Yes, Sir." Filch shook his head in wonder and ushered him into the office. The caretaker mumbled to himself as he searched through one of the drawers on the desk, before handing Harry a very long role of parchment. Harry grimaced when he saw how thick it was.

"Can I take this with me?" he asked, though he didn't expect to get permission.

"No!" said Filch sharply. "But you can read it in here." He gestured towards one of the rickety chairs he kept for students to use while he wrote up their detentions. Harry hesitantly took a seat, hoping that the chair didn't collapse on him. He unrolled the parchment and started reading.

Nearly an hour later, he looked up from the role and blinked his eyes to clear them. He had been amused to find one of Gilderoy Lockhart's books on the list (pencilled in a suspiciously Weasley looking handwriting), but there had been no sign of what he was looking for. Foundation: A New Look At the Founder's Four was not on the list.

Harry stood up and handed the list back to Mr. Filch who had been filling out detention forms and sending furtive glances Harry's way. "Thank you, Mr. Filch. I'll be sure to keep away from those," he added on an impulse.

"See that you do," said Filch. He looked very happy, and Harry made a vow to himself to avoid the books on that list, or at least the Lockhart one. He wandered slowly back to the Common Room, trying to make sense of everything in his mind, but his thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of Dumbledore.

The Headmaster didn't seem to notice him as he wandered past to climb up a little used staircase at the end of the corridor. Harry didn't even pause to think before he quietly followed him up the stairs.

He employed all his skills at following someone, gleaned from four long years at Hogwarts. It would have been easier with the invisibility cloak, but he thought he did a good job without it. Dumbledore certainly didn't notice anything. The Headmaster continued to wander the corridors at a slow pace, humming to himself. Harry began to wonder if following him was worthwhile.

Suddenly, Dumbledore stopped in the middle of the corridor he had just turned into. Harry froze near the corner he had been about to turn and watched the Headmaster out of the corner of his eye. Dumbledore chuckled to himself, then turned back the way he had come. Harry ran for his life down the corridor and entered the first room he could find.

It was dark, but Harry was more interested in peering out a crack in the door to see Dumbledore.

"See anything interesting?" said a voice in his ear. Harry froze and nearly jumped when a few torches in the room lit up. Snape was standing right next to him with an angry look on his face. Harry blinked at him in surprise. What was Snape doing in a disused classroom in one of the more abandoned parts of Hogwarts? The wizard ignored him, and gazed out the same crack Harry had been using. Harry could see the shadow as Dumbledore passed by the room. Snape nodded to himself, then turned to Harry.

"What are you doing watching the Headmaster, Potter?" Snape was practically spitting at him. Harry glared back at him. Snape had been watching the Headmaster as well. That was the only explanation for him catching him. He wanted to shoot Snape's question right back at him, well minus the Potter part, but talking back to Snape was suicide.

"I wasn't watching him. I forgot a book in class and I went to fetch it," he said. Snape sneered at him.

"Last time I checked Potter-," He made a gesture to encompass the classroom they were in. "You don't take Muggle Studies." Harry frowned inwardly and looked around the room. Now that he looked, the room was full of muggle artefacts. Something that looked suspiciously like a disassembled computer was taking up most of the desk space, while light bulbs littered the ceiling making a forest of hanging bulbs.

"I must have walked into the wrong classroom," he muttered. It was partially true at least. He certainly hadn't intended to come in here. Snape smiled in triumph.

"Detention, Potter, tomorrow night and twenty points from Gryffindor," he said. Harry grimaced but didn't protest. Snape could easily double that or make him do detention all week. Harry opened the door to go, but stopped when a thought occurred to him.

Maybe he should ask Snape about Snape's own spying on Dumbledore? The worst the wizard could do was take away more points, or give him another detention. He might not even do that. If Snape took too many points, or gave too many detentions, Harry was sure the professor would have to explain himself to Dumbledore, something Snape would not want to do. Harry let the door swing closed again, and saw that Snape was watching him impatiently.

"You forget your non-existent textbook again, Potter?" he sneered. Harry shook his head.

"Professor Snape?" he said.

"Yes?" said Snape in a dangerous tone. Harry took a deep breath.

"Do you think the Headmaster has been acting oddly?" he said in a rush, then watched Snape carefully. For the briefest of moments, Harry thought Snape was going to answer 'yes', but then Snape drew himself up with dignity and replied in his most sarcastic tone.

"The Headmaster is under a lot of stress for some reason. No doubt it's due to that flock of crows that has started roosting on the North tower. It certainly couldn't be Voldemort that's bothering him. Dismissed, Potter and ten points from Gryffindor." Harry left the room and walked slowly down the corridor, unconsciously heading towards Gryffindor tower. His thoughts were confused again.

Was it just him, or had Snape been too sarcastic?