Sacred is the Windswept Time

Six: Mishap in Care of Magical Creatures

A week had passed since the night of the meeting with the marauders, and Harry was brooding. He'd been in a dark mood ever since that night, and Lucius and Severus were wary around him, unwilling to test how his mood would swing. Harry for the most part had been unusually quiet, even for him. Of course Lucius and Severus were curious about Harry's outbursts in regards to the Gryffindors, and both of them knew that Harry was hiding something, but whatever it was, he wasn't ready to share it just yet.

Lucius was still sulky over having been slammed into a wall for calling Lily a mudblood, but that action on Harry's part had caused some changes in the often-snobbish boy. Lucius had taken the time to reflect on himself, and much to his horror had realized just how close to his father he was becoming. With that in mind he determined to change, not enough to give McGonagall an apoplexy, but just enough to maintain his reputation and keep him separate from his father.

Severus, was by the far, the one that had changed the least, although he was most curious about Remus' sudden distance whenever they met. Severus was also noticing how Remus was growing more nervous with each passing day, and was avoiding touching Severus, and that of course made the Slytherin frustrated and annoyed.

The marauders of course thought that the newest Slytherin in the fold was madder than the average hatter, and was hiding something. Having come to those conclusions, they were determined to find out what lay hidden inside Harry Granger. And so it was on Friday, that things began to shift in a darker direction.

The pull of the moon was growing heavy on Remus as the full moon was the very next night, and he'd had to tell Severus that he couldn't meet him. Then of course there was Care of Magical Creatures...

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Harry sighed as he took another bite from his toast and washed it down with a few sips of orange juice from his goblet. He then turned the page of the potions text he was reading, and made a quick addition to his notes concerning "The Sleeping Draught of Prophetic Dreams". He was still no closer to finding a way back to his own time, but he could brew the potion successfully with his eyes closed at that point.

"Bloody hell, you're always stuck in a potions book. You're almost as bad as Sev, Harry. Do you want to be a Potions Master as well?" Lucius asked.

Green eyes looked up startled at the question, and he nearly spit up some of his orange juice, before quickly composing himself. "Me, a Potions Master? That's a good one. I hate the subject, but something happened in my last Potions class at my old school, and I have to find out how and why. It's really important that I find out," Harry replied.

"Well, why not ask me?" Severus cut in from Harry's right.

Harry took a deep breath. "It's not that simple. Look, this is just something that I have to do on my own... I wish Hermione were here. She always liked hitting the books. And Ron, he'd have me on the Quidditch pitch so fast because Hermione would do all the research."

"There you go, talking about those friends again," Lucius said with a shake of his head. "Honestly, this Hermione sounds like a Ravenclaw, and Ron, he would probably be a Gryffindor."

"Hermione isn't all books and cleverness. She's as bossy as they come. Believe me, she'd be a Gryffindor," Harry said with a whimsy smile.

"Sure you don't fancy girls?" Severus asked slyly.

Harry snorted. "No. It's not like that at all. Hermione has Blaise, and Ron has Lavender."

"And who did you have after Blaise dropped you? Now he sounds like a Slytherin," Lucius said.

"Yeah, he is. And after him there was no one," Harry replied.

"Right. You poor unfortunate git. We'll just have to find you a good shag. Is there anyone in particular that you're interested in, and please keep in mind that while I am your friend, I am wholly off limits," Lucius said.

Harry shook his head and then sighed as he realized it was time for first period. "We'll talk more about this later. Right now we need to get to Care of Magical Creatures before we're late."

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Remus rolled his honey colored eyes as he noticed Sirius rubbing his black eye once again, although it had faded considerably over the last week.

"You know, this is what happens when you throw your temper around without so much as a second thought," Remus said.

Sirius' eyes widened as he turned to his friend, an incredulous expression on his face. "You would take up for that Slytherin? You've seen his animal form. He's a dark wizard, and look at his friends! Snivellus and Malfoy! There's no good in the prat, and not only did he hit me, but remember what he did to Peter? He was in the infirmary for two bloody days!"

"And he saved James," Remus countered. "You can't forget that he saved James."

"Oy, is he on about Granger again?" James said as he caught up to them, leaving Lily to chat with a few girls.

"Something just isn't right about him. I'm telling you, he's got dark wizard all over him, and he's obviously mental. What was that he was saying about us owing him and me in Azkaban? Please, and he hasn't known any of us long enough to look up to us!" Sirius snapped.

James sighed. "He's odd, I'll admit, but he knows so much about us, and so far he's kept quiet. I think we can trust him."

Remus quickly agreed with James, and then began to slow down his pace, leaving James and Sirius to go on with their argument while he sought after Severus to tell him that he couldn't meet with him for the next couple of nights.

He spotted Severus, as well as Malfoy and Granger, and sighed as he paused and wondered why he would submit himself to the scrutiny of Malfoy, just so he could talk to Severus. The three Slytherins were soon upon him and then Remus fell into step with them, sidling up to Severus.

"Subtlety is truly lost on you Gryffindors," Lucius said as he turned to look at Remus.

Remus swallowed thickly and then said, "Sev...Snape, I..."

"We already know about him and you. There aren't too many secrets kept between us," Lucius said.

Remus' eyes widened. "You told them?" he asked Severus.

Severus shook his head. "Granger."

"Oh," Remus said and then glanced at Harry, before taking a deep breath, and added. "I can't meet with you for a couple of nights. I have a project to work on and I just can't."

"You're always ahead in your schoolwork," Severus hissed, and then he saw something in Remus' eyes. "You're lying to me. Just tell me the bloody truth. You've been distant ever since that night in the Potions classroom. What the hell is wrong?"

"It's not you, Severus, I swear. I just, I can't tell you, and I don't want to hurt you. Please trust me," Remus pleaded and his cheeks grew warm at having admitted something so personal in front of Harry Granger and Lucius Malfoy.

"Sev, let him have this secret. Trust me, he adores you. He'll tell you when he's ready, but not yet," Harry said, and then gave Remus a small smile. "Just don't keep the secret much longer, Moony."

Remus' golden eyes widened as he looked at the boy that looked so much like James Potter, and smiled shyly. "Thanks. I don't know why you're keeping our secrets, but I'm grateful that you are."

Remus then began to jog off toward James and Sirius who had been watching the exchange between their friend and the Slytherins for some time. However before James or Sirius could question their friend on what he'd been doing talking to Slytherins, class began.

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"Good day to you all," said Professor Grubblyplank as she looked at her class of Slytherins and Gryffindors, wondering what on earth she had done to deserve such a lot.

Sighing she gave a little whistle and a strange looking creature of magenta coloring came out from the edges of the Forbidden forest, scampering up to the professor. It had feet like a rabbit, and when it came to a stop by the professor everyone got a good look at it. Its tail was long and fluffy, reminding Harry strongly of Hermione's ginger cat Crookshanks. It stood on it's back legs, it's arms somewhat long, but it had hands, similar to monkeys and not so far off from humans, its fingers were long. Its face resembled that of a fox, with a long narrow snout, but instead of pointed ears, the creature's ears were rather large and round. All in all, it was odd looking, but kind of cute. And Harry recognized it immediately for what it was, a Kerfloffle.

Harry looked from the strange little creature, no larger than a small dog, and then to Remus. He wondered if Remus even knew the danger he was in because of this creature. The Kerfloffle was usually a gentle creature, but became wholly hostile when around a werewolf, what was worse was that the little creature's bite was highly venomous, usually resulting in death for a werewolf.

Professor Grubblyplank was lecturing on the little creature, talking about how it was used to hunt down rogue werewolves, when suddenly its little nose went into the air and its head slowly swiveled toward Remus. Its tail went bushy, and something changed about the little thing. It didn't look friendly or gentle as its bright golden eyes locked on Remus. Remus' eyes had widened and then the creature was running at a very fast speed toward the quiet Gryffindor.

Harry didn't have time to think as he shifted into his animagus form and launched himself at the little creature. Opening his mouth, his jaws unhinging as he caught it in his mouth, the little thing struggling in his mouth, trying to escape so it could get to Remus. The Slytherins and Gryffindors were shocked, most of the girls screaming, Lily of course was just watching with wide eyes. Harry the large python was lashing around as the little creature began to bite him, but still he refused to open his mouth.

Finally it was James that came to his senses and realized that the creature had been going for Remus. He gave Sirius a smack on the arm and then the two boys grabbed a very shaken Remus and dragged him back to the castle. Once Remus was a safe distance away, Harry spit the Kerfloffle out of his mouth and it went rolling and tumbling a few feet across the ground as Harry shifted back into his human form and promptly collapsed into unconsciousness, as it had bitten him countless times before he'd spit it out.

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A groan escaped his lips as his eyes slowly fluttered open, and a blurry face framed with platinum blond hair came into his line of vision. Harry sucked in a deep breath of air, and reached out blindly for his glasses before they were placed in his hand. Harry blinked owlishly, before a strange expression stretched across his face. His brow furrowed and then he spat, "Malfoy? What are you doing here? Where are Hermione and Ron? You hex them too? Come to cart me off to your father's master?"

"What are you talking about, Harry?" Lucius asked and shot a questioning glance toward Severus, before Harry's arms came around Lucius, the dark haired boy's hands tangling in his platinum hair, before he was jerked down into a heated kissed, the dark haired boy's tongue sweeping across his lips, before stunned, Lucius opened his mouth and Harry's tongue dipped inside his mouth, trying to coax the boy into kissing him back. Lucius was frozen in shock, and finally Harry pulled back, a confused expression on his face. "Draco, the last time you were the one that kissed me. Funny, you taste different."

"Draco? Who the bloody hell is Draco, and why in the hell did you molest my lips with your savage mouth?!" Lucius growled.

Harry's eyes widened as his memories came flooding back, and then he sat up and scooted back toward the head of the bed, drawing his knees up, his arms wrapped around his legs, as he let his forehead fall forward on his knees. "Oh my God, I just kissed Lucius bloody Malfoy."

Slowly Harry lifted his head and looked around the room, noticing Severus, a still stunned Lucius, and also three Gryffindors, James, Sirius, and Remus. Harry looked at the three Gryffindors, and closing his eyes sighed, before he turned to Severus and Lucius and said, "Lucius, one day I'll explain that to you. For now, just know that I never meant for that to happen. Could you two leave us? I have some things to discuss with the Gryffindor trio here. And don't listen in or I won't hesitate to obliviate your memories. As it is, I may just have to obliviate mine."

"You were the one trying to snog me senseless!" Lucius snapped, and then he stormed out of the infirmary, with Severus rolling his eyes and taking off after the irate Malfoy.

Harry then beckoned the three marauders closer to his bedside before he asked for James' wand and cast a sound barrier around the three of them so that no one else could hear what they were discussing. James' eyes widened at the fact that Harry could use his wand. Harry simply shrugged and looked at the three of them. Remus was looking at him carefully, trying to figure him out, while James' gaze was simply full of curiosity. Sirius was looking decidedly ill at having witnessed someone snogging a Malfoy.

It was Remus that spoke first.

"Why did you do it? Why did you expose what you are to...save me?"

Harry smiled at the boy and then said, "Just returning the favor. There was a time when you would have done the same for me. Besides, you'll be needed in the time to come, believe me, you're important, all of you are important."

"Why do you talk like you know us? You've only been here for a few weeks," James pointed out.

"I know you three better than almost anyone here. I guess I know Snape pretty well too, and I finally understand him now. Just leave off him, okay. Remus adores him, and I won't let your stupid pranks turn him toward darkness. Not when I know what it would cost him. To be honest the only real surprise I've faced is dealing with Lucius. I never would have thought he was human. He's actually not so bad," Harry said with a shrug.

"Who the bloody hell are you? How do you know us?" Sirius growled and drew nearer to the bed, anger evident on his face and in his voice, but Harry didn't even flinch.

Harry shook his head. "I'm someone you'll meet again in a couple of years. I know you because from that point onward you, all of you shape my life, you and a madman turn me into what I become. You shape my fate, and you give me a destiny that will more than likely kill me."

"Are you some kind of seer?" Sirius asked, his voice dripping with disbelief and disdain.

"No, but I know more about what is to come than anyone else here," Harry growled back. "You never forget what you live through!"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "And just what have you lived through?"

"A war that is building just now. I was a year old when my parents were killed by Lord Voldemort. I never knew I was a wizard until I was eleven and started attending school here. I had a horrible childhood with muggles that always called me a freak or worse because of things I couldn't explain. And once I was at school I had fame heaped on me because of my scar, the little lightening bolt on my forehead. I wasn't a hero! My mother jumped in front of me to shield me from the killing curse. When it was cast on me it was rebounded onto the wizard that cast it. There has been an attempt on my life ever since my first year of school, and in my fourth year the Dark Lord was resurrected because of my blood, and his most 'loyal' follower's sacrifice. I lost everyone that was important to me, even before I ever got to know them.

"I once had a tie to my parents, he was a great man, but he only taught Defense Against the Dark Arts for a year because after that he thought he was danger to the students, because of what he was. I also had a godfather, a wonderful man that escaped a wizarding prison after twelve years of being imprisoned. We were almost a family, but a rat ruined it for us. He was almost free, and then a couple of years later he died too. I've lost so much in a war that I'm forced to fight in. I'm known as a wizard messiah because of a stupid divination teacher who predicts that I will die almost everyday of class that she teaches me. Gods is Trelawney a fraud. One prophecy and she remains a teacher at this bloody school with a ten year!"

Sirius snorted. "Lord Voldemort? Isn't he that bloke leading those Death Eaters? He's not all that organized. The aurors are bound to catch him sooner or later. I really don't see what all of the fuss is about."

"Sirius!" Remus hissed, and then the soft-spoken boy looked at Harry with wide golden eyes and asked, "Harry, where do you come from? Who are you really?"

Harry sighed as he dug into his pockets and took out an old piece of parchment. He handed the parchment to Remus and closed his eyes as he said, "You know what this is. When you're up in James' room activate it, and look for me. I'll still be in the infirmary. The map won't lie."

Harry then held out his hand for James' wand again, and with a swish and flick, the sound barrier around them fell. He then gave the wand back to his father, and turned away from the three Gryffindors. The three boys took that as their cue to leave the strange boy.

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James locked and warded the door to his private room. He was glad that being Head Boy had its benefits although he hardly ever stayed in the room, as he'd grown so used to sharing a dorm with Sirius, Remus, and Peter. James turned to look at his friends and then spoke the obvious question.

"Where did he get our map? And why does it look so old?"

Remus shrugged before he tapped it with his wand and said, "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good."

Remus looked at the map that suddenly appeared on the parchment and his breath caught in his throat.

"Bloody hell," Sirius bit out in shock and then James came over to see what they were looking at and his hazel eyes widened behind his glasses.

The name of the student in the infirmary was not Harry Granger, but Harry James Potter. Remus looked up from the map, giving it a tap with his wand to deactivate it and looked at his two friends.

"I think I know where Harry comes from," he said softly. "He's from the future. That's how he knows us. It has to be. He's a Potter, that explains why he looks so much like you James. He's probably your kid brother or something. You know someone that hasn't been born yet."

James swallowed thickly and shook his head before he looked up from the now blank piece of parchment. "He's not my brother. He couldn't be. Neither of my parents have green eyes. You've seen him. He has Lily's eyes. He's not my brother...he's my son. Oh Merlin, I died for him and Lily, and she died for him. We left him alone in the world. Gods, I'm a monster. How could I die and leave them behind? Look at what he's become because of me."

"It's not your fault James. You're only seventeen. You died so he could live. He said as much," Remus said gently as he put his hand over his friend's hand and gave it a squeeze. "He is the way he is because he survived. That's what you died for."

Sirius looked up at his two friends and shook his head. "This isn't true. It can't be. It's some kind of Slytherin trick. Look, this can't be our map. Ours is locked in Filch's office."

"Look at how old it is! It must be at least twenty years old. It could very well be our map!" Remus snapped.

"Then," James said and looked from his two friends, a solemn light shining in his once carefree eyes. "That means that I have at best, three to four years left to live, before Voldemort kills me and Lily. I don't want her to die. I have to tell her I can't see her anymore."

"No," Remus said, and his golden eyes locked with James. "If you didn't see her anymore then Harry would never be born. He's obviously needed in the future. You just have to let things run their course. Just continue to see Lily and see how it goes. Forget what you know, and for Merlin's sake don't tell her or anyone. No one can know about this. We aren't even sure of how much his being here has already altered what is to come."

Sirius looked incredulously at his two friends. "Have the pair of you gone round the bend? You're going to believe a Slytherin? You've seen his animagus form. He's a dark wizard! He can't be trusted!"

"He's saved our lives so far! And how do you explain how he knows so much about us?" James snapped as he glared at his best friend, hazel eyes locking with blue.

Sirius looked toward the floor a blush rising to his cheeks, as he realized that he couldn't come up with any other explanation, but then a light flickered in his eyes. The full moon was tomorrow, and he could at least take care of part of the problem. Harry seemed entirely too attached to his little friends, and Remus was obviously being corrupted by the Slytherin's influence. Maybe there was a way to warn Harry away and give Snivellus a good scare...