Que Sera Sera

Chapter Eleven

Harry was heading towards the huge marble staircase in the Entrance Hall for dinner a month later when he spotted two students leaving Dumbledore's office. Taking a few more steps towards them, he noticed that they were a girl and a guy, the girl in Gryffindor colours and the guy wearing Slytherin's green and silver.

Thinking it was Malfoy and Hermione after one of their catch-up sessions with Dumbledore, he bounded up to them, but stopped abruptly when he noticed the guy had black hair that fell to the lobes of his ears in quite a strange style, but one that suited him nonetheless. The girl's auburn hair, which was elaborately braided, glistened in the dim candlelight.

They were walking towards the staircase laughing and joking. Standing at the end of the corridor that he was in and hiding behind a gargoyle, Harry had a perfect spot to watch them and could hear them clearly.

"Geez, Dumbledore's asking more and more questions everyday, isn't he?" Exclaimed the guy, his voice thick, but slightly alarming as if he was prepared to pull a student from behind a statue, just as Harry was, at any moment.

"He always does, you idiot," teased the girl, her laughter melodious and joyful. Her smile lit up her face and his and in moments, they were both laughing together.

Harry saw the guys face clearly, his deep brown eyes glinting with pride as he looked at the girl, his slightly hooked nose enhancing his look. He did appear quite charming and confident, judging by the way that he held himself, showing off his silver 'Head Boy' badge for the entire world to see.

The girl's brilliant emerald eyes sparkled every time she spoke and her full pink lips were permanently curved in a sweet smile. Her face was both delicate, but endearing and her physique was athletic, but not overly so.

The pair reminded Harry of Penelope Clearwater and Percy Weasley, ex-Hogwarts students. Just as Harry had seen those two looking at each other time and time again, the two at the head of the stairs were watching each other with loving gazes. They were a couple.

"So what are James and Sirius up to this week?" the boy asked.

No wonder Harry didn't recognise them, they weren't current students, but students from Lily's time.

"No idea Sev, they wouldn't tell the Head Girl their plans, that would just be stupid," the girl answered, who Harry presumed to be Lily, his mother.

The name 'Sev' rang alarms in Harry's head. Surely this handsome young man could not be his evil Potions master Severus Snape- the young man had a hooked nose, but it wasn't crooked; Snape's looked as though he'd been hit with a bludger in his younger days. It had to be him, but he was never Head Boy, or was he?

"Did I ever say they were smart?" Sev asked, chuckling.

Lily joined him and took his hand in hers, stepping towards him.

"No, you never did, but they're in my house and they're Remus' best friends. Treat them with some respect, James did save your life after all."

"I know, I know," he whispered, cupping his face in his hand. "I'll try to be nice to them ,but if they do anything like that again-"

"I'll kill them," interrupted Lily, smiling.

"I love it when you talk like that," smiled Sev, brushing his fingers over her hair and moving his facing closer to hers.

Harry had to look away, he just could not watch his Potions master and his mother kiss. It was just not on, and it was something he just couldn't fathom.

Turning his head, Harry noticed he wasn't the only one watching. Three figures had just entered the Hall from outside and had seen Lily and Sev together. Two of them were positively fuming, the other was whispering to them.

The trio bounded up the stairs, straight up to the couple who were still embracing.

Slapping Sev on the shoulder, the tall black-haired guy who seemed most angry turned him towards him.

"Snape," he hissed, "I thought I warned you."

Harry had heard that voice before, it belonged to-

" Potter," snarled Sev, sounding just like Harry recalled him in every Potions class.

"He warned you Snape," teased the taller dark-haired boy, standing behind James.

"Sirius," yelled Lily, "what do you want?"

"I want to tell this snake to stay away from our girls," James replied, eyeing Sev through his steel-rimmed glasses with raw hatred.

The third guy, a slightly shorter sandy-haired boy, stood back and shrugged when Lily looked at him.

It was Remus, Harry just knew.

"Gryffindors are so much above you, Slytherin," sneered Sirius, grabbing Sev and pushing him into the stair railing.

Sev winced with pain and Lily rushed towards him, but was stopped by James.

"Lily," he cried, "I've been looking all over for you."

"Why?" She asked, eyeing the taller boy with hate. "Why do you have to do this?"

"I have to protect you, it's my responsibility," James whispered.

Stay away from her Snape," threatened James, grasping Sev's throat and lifting him from the ground.

"No, James don't," Lily screamed, running towards James with her fists flailing, but was stopped by Sirius who pinned her arms behind her back.

"Understand Slytherin? Go near her again and you will be dead," James hissed, dropping Sev to the ground.

"What do you care?" Retaliated Sev, slowly standing, clutching his arm, which he had fallen on.

"This girl is more important to me than the world," James replied.

"You mean?" Sev's eyes were wide with shock.

"That's right buddy, you've been having it on with Potter's girl," Sirius laughed evilly.

"I am not his-" Lily was silenced by Sirius' hand on her mouth. Kicking him in the shins, Sirius started to crumple, but still kept a firm grip on her.

"All this time Lily," Sev whispered, her eyes filling with the realisation of Sirius' words. "And to think I trusted you, but all this time."

Sev's eyes filled with hate and narrowed towards the group of Gryffindors, Lily included.

"Have her Potter, you deserve her. I hope you have a happy life, Potter and Evans together forever."

He spat on the ground after his last remark, the same one that Harry had heard twenty years later.

"Glad to know we're on the same terms," James said, eyeing the Slytherin, "and just to make sure that you don't get any more ideas."

There was a loud crack as James' fist connected with Sev's nose, sending his head flying backwards, smashing into the stair railing.

Lily wriggled out of Sirius' grip and ran to Remus, who was still standing on the side.

Holding each other they whispered a few words that Harry could not hear before James and Sirius prised her off and each took one of her arms, dragging her towards the passage that Harry was hiding in.

"Why James? This time I'm going to Dumbledore. I swear it," Lily hissed, "you have no right to do whatever you what at this school, there's such a thing as rules and it's my role to enforce them."

"Look Lily," muttered James as they neared Harry, "one day, you'll thank me, you have no idea what that guy's capable of. He's pure evil, I tell you."

"Pure evil," Sirius repeated.

"Don't you dare tell me what's evil and what's not. As far as I'm concerned, he was ten times the man either of you will ever be. Who cares what side he joins in the battle outside, he'll prove himself in the end, I just know it. Chances are, the two of you will rot in Azkaban," she murmured, a steel edge to her voice.

James and Sirius fell silent and continued to drag her to the common room.

Harry watched the near his gargoyle and he was certain that he saw Lily look right at him, mouthing the words 'help me'.

He waited until they were out of sight before he crept out of his hiding place, but he had forgotten about the other guy, Remus.

"Hey you, over there," he called from the head of the stairs.

Harry turned and faced him.

"Yeah you, can you give me a hand here."

"Yeah, alright," Harry stammered and walked towards the guy, clutching a very bloody Sev.

"I'm Remus," said the guy, his sandy hair falling over his chocolate brown eyes. His fine fingers were having trouble keeping Sev up, "and you're?"

"I'm Harry," he answered, reluctant to say his last name. He was interacting with them, but he didn't dare run. This guy was in trouble, and his nose was bent out of shape and bleeding profusely.

Taking the other side of Sev, Harry and Remus dawdled awkwardly to the hospital wing, where Harry and Remus put Sev in the care of Madam Pomfrey.

"Poor bloke," muttered Remus, "didn't even know what hit him till it was too late."

"What happened?" Asked Harry, trying not to reveal that he'd seen the entire scene.

"I shouldn't say anything, it could get my friends into a lot of trouble, but you're a Gryffindor," he said, looking at Harry's robes, "you won't rat on them. James and Sirius don't like Lily's relationship with Sev and they've been trying to destroy it for ages now, but tonight they've really exceeded their usual standards."

"Standards?"

"Yeah, they're nice people, but they've never physically hurt anyone until now, I think."

Harry knew this wasn't true as they were the reason that Lily was in the hospital wing over Christmas.

"And I can't believe it was Sev, if people find out what really happened, which they will, James and Sirius will have all hell to pay. Sev's quite a popular guy, even though he is a Slytherin. One of the nicest one's I've ever met. I just hope that this doesn't destroy him."

"Why don't James and Sirius like the relationship?"

"I don't know Harry, I don't know, but I can think, and I'd say that James is jealous of Sev. I mean, he's never had the same reputation, even though he's Quidditch captain, seeker and top of the class, he just doesn't have the popularity that Sev does. But that could be due to his behaviour, both he and Sirius are from very rich families and exploit it whenever they can."

"Oh," answered Harry, nodding his head. James sounded a lot like Malfoy, Harry couldn't imagine liking him much either.

"Yeah, and James likes Lily, but it will never happen," stated Remus, chuckling at the thought, "they're just from two different worlds, and it's impossible."

"Not as impossible as you think," smirked Harry, already knowing their future.

"What do you mean?" Asked Remus suspiciously, "what do you know Harry?"

"I know... things," he replied, careful no to let any important information slip. "I've got to go Remus. See ya."

"Wait," cried Remus, halting Harry in his steps, "we'll see each other again."

"For sure," Harry answered, "some time or another."