Three O'clock in the Morning

Three O'clock in the Morning

In the real dark night of the soul, it is always three o'clock in the morning. - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Melons

Men and melons are hard to know. - Benjamin Franklin

Severus Snape rose gracefully, like a panther, from behind his desk to greet Harry Potter and Sirius Black. "Harry," he said with a smile and, "Mr. Black," with a sneer.

Sirius could almost pretend he was back at home when he saw the sneer. He could almost imagine that he was back to his old rivalry and that Harry was being tortured once more in Potions - but, this time, Sirius could save him. Almost. Sirius could taste the comfort, it was that close. But as soon as he saw more than the sneer, that hope was crushed. Yes, Snape wore black - black trousers with a lovely sea foam cardigan. Yes, they were at Hogwarts - in a nicely appointed office decorated with motivational posters and painted a cheery yellow. Yes, Snape sneered at him - but kept a warm and forgiving, almost fatherly, smile for Harry. Yes, Snape had greasy hair - pulled back in a ponytail with a gold and enamel clip. No, this could never be the Hogwarts Sirius knew.

"Would you sit down?" Snape asked, motioning to the two identical padded chairs that sat in front of his desk.

Harry and Sirius sat down, silently. Harry shot Sirius a quiet, confused look. Sirius supposed that he was not acting as the Sirius of "this" world did. Screw that. From he had heard, Sirius did not like his counterpart in the least.

"Mr. Black," Snape began, startling Sirius. He had never been 'Mr. Black' to Snape, always Black, Gryffindor scum, or, more recently, 'that mangy mutt.' "I assume that you are aware of the incidents of last Friday?"

"That Harry tried to run away from school? Yes. He told me that he had been having trouble with his classmates." He would be damned if let this Snape hurt Harry like the one in his world had.

Snape blinked, as if taken aback by Sirius' comments. "Of course," he hurried on. "Do you have any comments on this so far?"

"I spoke with Harry this morning about the consequences of such a plan and I plan to speak with him later on other topics, once I have all the information."

Harry eyed his stepfather nervously, but he did not say anything.

Snape turned his obsidian eyes from Sirius to Harry. "Would you like to tell us why you tried to leave the school, Harry?"

"It's like I told Sirius this morning, sir. I don't have any friends - and it's hard to be at school and not have anyone like you."

"Harry, you needn't call me 'sir' unless your stepfather wishes you to do so. This is not a military institution. I am quite sure that you do have some friends at this school."

Sirius tensed at Snape's familiar sarcasm. He refrained from saying anything, though. This Snape seemed to like Harry and Sirius would keep it that way if he could.

Harry blushed at his counselor's comment. "Of course, I do, sir. But Draco - he's gone until the end of term. The other boys were mocking me."

Snape sighed. "What did I tell you about the term 'sir,' Harry? And I know what its like to be picked on by other students," the greasy-haired man shot a look at Sirius before continuing, "And that is no reason to run away from school."

Sirius merely looked at the counselor and tapped the side of his nose to let the man know that Sirius remembered him trying to run away from school more than once. Or, 'his' Snape did. Sirius shuddered and tried to banish that particular thought.

"Yes, Dr. Snape."

"Good, Harry. We will talk more at length later. I believe Professor Malfoy is waiting for you and your stepfather. Why don't you go on ahead while I have a conversation with him?"

Harry nodded with a smile bespeaking familiarity and left.

Snape sighed again. This Snape seemed to sigh almost as much as the other Snape sneered. "Mr. Black, we meet again."

"Dr. Snape."

"I know you do not care for young Harry and you believe him to be a willfully evil individual bent on wrecking havoc upon the world at large, but, please, please, do not lay all the blame at his feet this time. Do you remember the pranks you and your friends would play on me back in our school days? That is nothing compared to what the Weasley twins did to Harry last week."

Sirius stared Snape square in his obsidian eyes. "I will do anything in my power to help Harry. I do not care what it is: Harry is worth it. If there is anything I can do, tell me. I do not pretend to understand why Harry is doing this, but it needs to stop."

Snape just blinked at his old classmate.

"Is there anything I can do?" Sirius asked again.

"Are you feeling ill, Mr. Black?"

"No. Now, what can I do for Harry?"

Snape scrutinized Sirius for a moment, measuring his school-day enemy with his eyes. "There are many things you can do, Mr. Black, but I have my doubts that you would actually do any of them."

Sirius felt his old anger bubbling beneath the surface. He would control himself now, though, for Harry's sake. He had learned his lessons the hard way, being cooped up in his mother's house for nearly a year. "I do not believe we see eye to eye on that particular comment. I will do everything I can for Harry."

"You want to help Harry, Mr. Black? Indeed, this is quite the turn of events. If you are sincere in your desire, then I have one piece of advice for you."

"What?"

"Stay as far away from your stepson as you can."

"Excuse me?" Sirius' voice was dangerously low. Unconsciously, his right hand was straying to his wand, which he had brought with him in his coat pocket.

"Stay away from Harry. It is the best thing you can do for the boy."

Sirius clutched his wand with a death grip, silently telling himself not to use magic. "No, Snape, it isn't. I will not stay away from Harry. He needs someone to trust right now - something he has never had before. I'm going to be that someone. Good day," Sirius replied shortly. It took all of his self-restraint not to curse Snape into oblivion. He was so focused on finding Harry that he did not notice the flabbergasted look on Dr. Snape's face when he left the office.

"Sirius?" Harry asked nervously when he saw his stepfather in the hall.

Sirius wrapped his arm protectively around Harry's shoulder. Stay away from Harry, indeed! "Yeah?"

"Did you fight with Dr. Snape again?"

"Again? Do I fight with Snape a lot here?"

"Err. Yeah. And he's Dr. Snape," Harry said, emphasizing the Doctor part. "You two never liked each other. He's only trying to protect me, you know. He's really nice. He teaches my Chemistry class in addition to being my counselor."

"You mean, you actually like the grease ball?"

Harry froze. "Have you been lying this whole time, Sirius? Is this some big joke?"

"Oh, Circe, Harry, no. This isn't a joke. It's just - where I come from, Snape and I have had a rivalry since the day we met. Where I come from, he takes great delight in torturing you. It's something of a surprise to see the two of you acting like this, ok?"

Harry did not look convinced. "Ok."

"Why don't we go see Lucius Malfoy, eh? If traitorous Snape can be like that, I can't imagine what Malfoy looks like!"

Harry flinched at his godfather's description of his beloved Chemistry professor, but led Sirius to Malfoy's classroom. Social Justice had been an elective class and was considered more than easy, but most of the students loved their teacher. Sure, the man was more than a bit odd, but he was nicer in Social Justice than he was when he taught them Level One and Two English. Harry prayed that Sirius would not start another argument with Lucius about his appearance.

"Harry Potter! You're here early. I assumed that Severus would keep you later."

"He and I had something of an altercation," Sirius said softly. Harry did not like the slightly manic glint in his eyes.

Lucius, of course, did not seem to notice. "Of course, you did, cousin. Why don't both of you join me in your office?"

Harry need not have worried about the manic glint in Sirius' eyes. The Lucius Malfoy of Sirius' world might have, though. It was all Sirius could do not to burst into peals of laughter when he saw Lucius. Sirius had seen the man many times in his world - at Hogwarts during their school days, at Grimmauld Place when he was courting Narcissa, at his and Narcissa's wedding, in the paper as Deatheater - but never like this. The man was obviously still as vain as ever. His hair still hung to his shoulders with a silver sheen but was held back with a suede band. He wore a loose cotton, button-down plaid shirt with a pair of obscenely tight jeans. His neck bore two necklaces, but the only other piece of jewelry he wore was a simple wedding ring. Sirius snorted. This was so funny - even in his Marauder days he had never thought of this: Lucius Malfoy, the gay lumberjack.

"Sirius?" Lucius asked questioningly. "Is there something wrong with my office or would you take a seat?"

Sirius gave the man a lopsided grin. "The silver and green is killing me."

Lucius gave him an odd look, but, for the most part, ignored the comment. Lucius had become quite skilled in ignoring Sirius Black.

"You wanted to see us, sir?" Harry asked.

"Yes. I am aware that you tried to leave school the other day, Harry."

Harry only blushed and mumbled something unintelligible.

"Harry, Harry, Harry." Lucius began to talk to Harry, but Sirius ignored him. He was reminded of the stories he had heard of Lockhart from the Trio when they had all stayed at Grimmauld Place.

Sirius began musing on his old memories of the Golden Trio, so like the Marauders and yet so different. They did not have the recklessness and humor that the Marauders had had. Every time the Trio went and did something stupid, they did it for the greater good - to rid the world of a snake-faced megalomaniac, to save their best friend, to save an innocent, or to protect a loved one. The Marauders had done stupid things for fun, becoming Animagi being an exception. To them, life had been one big adventure - not one long, unending battle. A battle he had only fought as an adult, a little voice in the back of his head whispered.

He shuddered and wondered just how long the battle with Voldemort had been going on. Would the outcome have been different if the Marauders had turned their gifts to the greater good rather than the torture of a few choice enemies? Would Peter have stayed with the Light? Would James and Lily still be alive? Would Harry have had the chance at a normal life? Would he have been able to avoid Azkaban? Sirius sighed. This thinking was not going to get him anywhere. What he really needed was a way to find a way back home.

"Sirius Black!" Lucius yelled, looking slightly worried.

Sirius looked up at Narcissa's husband. "What?"

"You were dazed for while there and didn't respond to our questions," Lucius quietly explained. "Are you okay? Lily called Narcissa last night saying you were gone. Bella said she saw you heavy in your cups earlier. Are you two having problems?"

"Me and Lily?" Sirius sure hoped they were not having problems, not with Lily's temper. "I don't think so. I'm just having an off day."

"Mum and Sirius are just fine," Harry said quickly.

"Harry," Lucius responded in a warning tone. "We're all family here, and we all know that nothing said in this room leaves this room."

Sirius stared at the sorry excuse for a professor. Was family loyalty more important than Harry's emotional welfare? What a Malfoy, what a Black thing to say! "Lily and I are fine," he growled in a low voice.

Lucius seemed to realize he was treading on dangerous grounds. "Sorry, Sirius, just trying to help. You know Narcissa and I are always here for you, right?"

"Of course, you are."

"Good."

Then there was a knock on the door and Sirius heard someone step inside the small office.

"Severus," Lucius greeted as he rose from his chair.

Snape nodded. "I would like to have a few words with Misters Black and Potter."

Lucius smiled. "Of course, old friend. They were just leaving now."

Sirius and Harry left their respective chairs, nodded their good-byes to the Social Justice professor, and left the office with Snape.

As soon as they were alone in the hall and out of earshot of anyone else, Snape spun around with the same grace he had had in Sirius' world. If he had been wearing robes, they would have billowed.

"Just what do you think you are doing, Sirius Black?" the black eyed man hissed.