Time And Time Again

1975, Summer

As always, once the small group of 5th Years reached the Great Hall, their stomachs were rumbling loudly.

"Gallopin' Gargoyles," Sirius grumbled, "We have to wait for the Sorting to be over before we can eat. That'll be forever."

"I could eat a hippogriff, right about now," Remus added.

"Whose decision was it, " a quiet, feminine voice said, "to make bets on how high the Chocolate Frogs could jump? It's your own fault every Frog jumped out the window."

Swiftly, so fast that you got dizzy just watching it, Lily turned to face James, who had been making silly faces behind her back. "I saw that James Charles Potter!"

"That was the point." he replied.

Just as Lily was opening her mouth for a retort, Professor McGonagall marched to the center of the Hall with a stool and the old, battered Sorting Hat.

A hush fell over the crowd and when every eye was stuck on the hat, it's wide brim opened up and it began to sing

Once upon a time

a thousand years ago or more

when witchcraft was a crime

came some great wizards four

who changed history's course.

They combined all their powers

And opened the Hogwarts' doors

on Scotland's greatest bowers.

Red Gryffindor, who valued strength of mind.

Blue Ravenclaw, who treasured the scholastic.

Green Slytherin, who wanted the sly and vulpine.

Yellow Hufflepuff revered those who kept hard at it.

But how to pick who was whose?

The Founders were wise, the Founders were smart

They knew it was me to use

And so the great Sorting tradition did start

Just stick me on your head

And I'll tell you what's what

And though the Founders are dead

They'll trust what says my gut

The Hat's wide mouth closed again and the Hall burst into applause. McGonagall walked to the stool then pulled a long scroll out of her cloak. "When I call your name, please place the Sorting Hat on your head. When the Hat has given you a House, please remember to remove the Hat before joining your Housemates."

Sirius snickered as McGonagall said this-his favorite part of the Sorting was watching the 1st Years wander off with the Hat. Last year, "Newman, Randy" had walked away with the Hat still on his head. Professor McGonagall chased him around the Hall for 10 minutes before he had realized why.

"Appel, Maria!"

A brown haired girl left the line of 1st Years and approached the hat.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Maria Appel took off the hat and walked to the Gryffindor table, grinning the whole way.

"Good way to start off the Ceremony." Remus said.

"Boorstein, Joseph!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Or not." Sirius replied.

"Collins, Donna!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Cunningham, Elizabeth!"

"That's my little sister!" A 4th Year Gryffindor named Eric said proudly. "Everybody cross your fingers!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Alright!" Eric punched at the air with his fist. Elisabeth skipped over to the table and sat down next to her brother.

"Congratulations," Lily said to her.

"Thanks."

"Yeah, congrats! Welcome to Gryffindor." Sirius said.

Elisabeth blushed and turned away, mumbling a "thank-you."

Lily frowned at Sirius for embarrassing the girl, while Remus and Peter ducked under the table to hide their laughter.

Sirius' grin turned to a wide white-toothed smile. "I can't help it if I'm irresistible to the ladies."

Lily harrumphed, "I bet you can't even spell 'irresistible.'"

James just shook his head amusedly.

After "Zinzi, Alison" had made her way to the Ravenclaw table, Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts. I realize most of you are quite hungry, so I'll be brief. Try the codfish, it's stupendous." With that, the headmaster sat down and food began appearing on the golden plates.

The Marauders (and Lily) didn't say much after this, as they were too busy eating and avoiding being hit by the mashed potato bombs being launched across the room by the Slytherins.

Afterwards, Lily and James led the 1st Year Gryffindors to the Tower for bed while Sirius, Peter and Remus snuck outside to quickly check on the plants they had started growing during the last year.

When the Marauders were finally gathered in the privacy of their room. Sirius said the thing that had been on all of their minds.

"Lily sure looks nice, doesn't she?"

James threw a pillow at him, which he easily ducked, but Peter and Remus agreed with Sirius.

"She does, doesn't she?" Remus said quietly, looking at James out of the corner of his eyes.

"Very nice." Peter put in.

"What do you think James?" Sirius asked, a smirk on his face.

"You're an idiot. That's what I think." And James closed the curtains around his bed, with a little more force than he meant, then promptly went to sleep.

**************

1995, Summer

*I'm an idiot* Harry thought as he and the rest of the students walked into the Great Hall. His stomach was churning nastily from all the candy and sweets he'd eaten on the Hogwarts Express.

Ron groaned loudly. Obviously he felt the same way.

"Really. What did you think was going to happen?" Hermione said. "Honestly. One would think that two 15 year olds would know not to eat so much."

Ron opened his mouth to make a retort, but a loud burp came out instead. "I don't think I can eat anything else. I don't want to see another Chocolate Frog for the rest of my life."

Harry nodded vigorously, but that only made his stomach feel worse. *Maybe if I don't think about it, it will go away* So, he started scanning the Professor's table at the head of the Hall, hoping to catch a glimpse of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Every year since Harry had arrived at Hogwarts they had had a different Dark Arts teacher. People were beginning to think that the position was cursed, so no one seemed anxious to take up the post.

There was Professor Sinistra, who taught Astronomy, at the far end of the table. Next to her was Professor Flitwick, who taught Charms. Flitwick was a short, cheerful man and one of Harry's favorite professors. In Harry's 1st Year, Flitwick had toppled off his desk in surprise when he'd realized that Harry Potter was in his classroom.

Next to Flitwick was Hagrid, the grounds-keeper. Hagrid also taught Care of Magical Creatures, one of Harry's favorite classes. Harry had always felt a special bond with Hagrid, as he was the one to tell Harry that he was a wizard.

On Hagrid's left side was Professor McGonagall, who taught Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall was Head of Gryffindor House, but she showed no favorites: she was mean to everyone. Hermione said that McGonagall was just a big softy, but Harry had never seen evidence of that.

Professor Dumbledore sat at the center of the table, beaming merrily at all the students. Next to Professor Dumbledore sat.... no one.

"Where's Snape?" Harry asked aloud.

Hermione and Ron swiveled in their seats to gaze up at the Head Table. Ron immediately began grinning madly.

"Maybe he got canned!" he said gleefully.

"But Snape's a Potions Master." Hermione replied. "It would be very hard for Professor Dumbledore to find another teacher who could match Snape's skill."

"What?" Ron said, shocked. "You haven't become *taken* with Snape, have you?"

Hermione looked horrified. "Of course not!. I'm just pointing out how improbable it would be for Snape to have been fired. I hate him as much as you do." Hermione ended this with a little nod, to emphasize her point.

"So what happened to him?" Ron asked.

*What did Professor Dumbledore say to Snape at the end of last term?* Harry thought. He remembered the headmaster telling Sirius to stay with Professor Lupin, a friend of his parents and the old Defense teacher. But what did he say to Snape? *Oh, yeah!*

"I think he might be spying for Professor Dumbledore on Vol- You-Know- Who."

Hermione looked at him, "What makes you think that?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Remember what Professor Dumbledore said to him last term... 'You know what I must ask you to do.. If you are ready...'"

"I remember that." Ron said. "Snape got really pale after that. I reckon you're right."

"So, who's going to replace him?"

As if on cue, Professor Dumbledore stood up.

Harry realized that he and his friends had been talking so long that they had missed the entire Sorting Ceremony. He was a little disappointed; Harry had only managed to see two Sortings during the past four years, including his own.

"Before we dine, I would like to introduce two new additions to the staff. As some of you may have noticed, Professor Snape, the Potions teacher, is absent. Over his tenure here, Professor Snape has collected a large amount of vacation time. He is currently on sabbatical in the south of France. Taking his place as the Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House is Professor Nicholas Wohlgenannt. Professor Wohlgenannt is joining us from the Stonehenge Institute of Magical Studies where he taught Potions and researched Alchemy. I'm sure you'll find him a more than adequate replacement."

Two spaces from Dumbledore's chair, a short, dark man leaned over his seat. Many of the students gasped at the sight of him. Over the left side of Professor Wohlgenannt's face, a large red birthmark covered the area from his cheek to above his eyebrows. His hand were disfigured and covered in pock marks. A dark red scar showed beneath Professor Wohlgenannt's collar and continued under his robes. Suddenly Harry realized that the professor wasn't actually leaning over, but had a hunch-back that left him in a permanent stooping position. A few sympathetic Hufflepuffs clapped for the man, but most of the students, even the Slytherins, stayed quiet.

Professor Dumbledore continued smiling serenely at the students, as if hadn't noticed the less than enthusiastic welcome Professor Wohlgenannt had received.

"Once again, the Defense Against Dark Arts post is vacant. Professor Julia Leek has kindly offered to fill in. Professor Leek has spent the last 3 years in the Alps hunting Yetis for research on her new book. She will, unfortunately, only be with us for the year before she must continue with her work."

At the end of the staff table, Professor Leek stood up. Harry thought his heart had just stopped. She was beautiful. She had long blonde hair that cascaded down her shoulders, a delicate, slightly up- turned nose and possibly the highest cheekbones Harry had ever seen. The applause for Professor Leek was probably more than any other new teacher had ever gotten before.

Professor Dumbledore waited until the applause, hoots, hollers, whistles and catcalls quieted down before he continued.

"Now that that is all done. Dig in!" Immediately the golden goblets and plates were filled with food.

"Just our luck, " Seamus Finnigan, another 5th Year Gryffindor said, while shoveling mashed potatoes into his mouth. "Just when we think we've gotten rid of the worst teacher in Hogwarts history, we get stuck with someone even worse."

Hermione tutted him. "How do you know Professor Whirl... Whale... the new professor is going to be bad?"

"Come on, 'Mione. " Ron replied. "He's a Slytherin! And *look* at him. With that face he's got to be bitter."

"I never thought I'd say this, " Neville chimed in. "But... I miss Professor Snape."

Heads all around the Gryffindor table nodded in agreement.

"I can't wait for Defense, though." Dean Thomas added, looking up at the staff table. "Professor Leek is gorgeous."

Heads around the Gryffindor table nodded in agreement but most abruptly stopped when their girlfriends glared at them.

Finally, the feast ended. The students sang the Hogwarts song (Harry chose the tune from the Chimney Sweep song).

Harry and Ron joined Hermione as she led the 1st Year Gryffindors to the Tower. Seamus had been made Prefect also and was at the portrait of the Fat Lady to give out the new password ("Sugar Quills").

In the Common Room, Harry and Ron left Hermione and made their way up to the 5th Year's dormitory. It was the same room as last year, but now it had a shiny sign that said "5th Year Boys."

Harry quickly got into his four-poster but left the curtains partially open. Grinning, he asked the question that'd been running through his head all night. "'Mione sure looks good, doesn't she Ron?"

A thump followed by a yelp came from Ron's bed, making Harry believe that Ron had hit his head on the top of the bed.

"What... what makes you say that?" Ron practically squeaked.

Harry caught Dean's eye and saw him grin. "Oh, I don't know, Ron." Dean said. "Nice tan, nice hair, nice face, nice legs and nice pair of...."

"Hey! That's Hermione you're talking about!" Ron said.

"...I was gonna say 'eyes.'"

Neville snorted.

"Hermione's not..." Ron sputtered. "Hermione's.... She's... GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF THE GUTTER!" He finally shouted, causing boys in the hall to look in to see who was causing such a racket.

Ron jerked the curtains around his bed closed, but Harry could still hear him mumbling to himself "She's Hermione for crying out loud! What the bloody hell is wrong with them?"

Seamus gave Harry a thumbs up before closing his curtains and the rest of the boys followed suit.

*This year's gonna be fun* Harry thought just before he fell asleep.

****************

1975, Fall

Lily looked right, left, then right again, before she crossed the busy street. It was the first Hogsmeade visit of the school year and Lily was Christmas shopping already. She was just looking for James' gift, although. In recent years, Lily had found that finding a present for him had become steadily harder. In 1st and 2nd Years, she'd simply gotten him something about Quidditch. But in both 3rd and 4th Years, Lily had spent so much time searching for a gift for James that she ended up buying him something at the last minute.

*Funny, though,* Lily thought, *I wonder why I don't have this problem with any of my other friends?*

She stopped at the usual places you'd look for a gift for a 15-year- old boy: Honeydukes and Zonko's. But nothing seemed to fit. James had so many admirable qualities that she wanted to get something that would match his personality perfectly.

Pausing halfway down the *Quidditch and Related Subjects* aisle in a bookstore, Lily picked up "Marauding with the Magpies" about James' favorite team, the Montrose Magpies.

She thumbed through the pages, skimming the lines and trying to remember if James had ever mentioned the book when something attracted her attention. She turned her head, looking up from the book, and there was James.

*But, no, he can't be James.* Lily thought. *He looks so... vulnerable.*

The boy could have been James' double, except for that haunting look in his green eyes. And he was staring at her, but when he realized that Lily was staring back, he blushed, turned away and walked outside, quickly blending into the throng.

"James?" Lily asked a few moments after the boy left. "Was that you?"

"Who're you talking to, pretty lady?" A familiar voice came from behind her.

"Sirius! Hello!" Before Lily stood Sirius, but, strangely enough, he was alone.

"Why are you all alone? Where's Peter, Remus and James?"

"Detention, hospital wing and none of your business." He glibly answered.

Lily was immediately suspicious. "What are you boys planning?"

Sirius grinned evilly and twirled an imaginary mustache around his finger.

"Really, " she sighed, "James is a prefect now and if he gets caught breaking any rules, it could ruin his chances to be Head Boy."

"Relax, Lily, He's just Christmas shopping for you..., but I'm not supposed to tell you that." Sirius grinned again.

Lily and Sirius spent the rest of the day wandering in and out of stores, perusing the shelves and buying things. At least, Lily bought things, Sirius just made dirty comments about everything. (She hadn't known you could do *that* with a Sugar Quill.)

Lily had forgotten all about the strange boy in the bookstore, until later that night in the girls' dormitory.

*He wasn't James* she thought *but he sure looked like him.*

Lily turned over in her bed, then fluffed her pillows a bit.

*It was probably just a coincidence.... Just some guy with a passing resemblance to James.... the light was dim in that store.... (she yawned)... couldn't hardly see his face.... just... (she yawned again).... coincidence...*

Lily closed her eyes and fell asleep.

*******************

1995, Fall

Sometimes, Harry was amazed at how easily he felt at home at Hogwarts. At Privet Drive, during the summers since his 1st Year, for weeks he'd often wake up in the mornings, wondering if he'd finished charting the Southern sky for Astronomy, before he remembered that he didn't have Astronomy classes during the summer. But at Hogwarts, he never remembered that he'd forgotten to take out the trash, only to then remember that he *didn't* have to take out the trash.

The weeks since the Welcoming Feast blurred together, until finally October arrived. The first Quidditch match of the season (Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff) had come and gone (Ravenclaw won). With Oliver Wood gone, the keeper position was open and Ron won it with almost no competition. Harry had to admit that he was surprised at how good Ron was-they'd played together at the Burrow plenty of times, but Ron usually spent most of those games cracking jokes about everybody being *up* and having something long and hard between their legs.

Angelina Johnson had been made captain and, personally, Harry thought that there was no one better for the job. While she wasn't as.... energetic.... about practice as Oliver had been, she did work the team hard. Even Fred and George were afraid to joke off during practices- although, that may have been because Fred and Angelina were dating and she had him on a *very* short leash.

Quidditch practice had ended a little while ago. While Harry had been anxious to get to the kitchens for something to eat, Ron wanted to spend some time working on the Starfish and Stick ploy.

As Harry walked through the courtyard, thinking about how many times Ron would fall off his broom before deciding to come in, he noticed a movement in the corner of his eye. Just a brief flash of..... something. He checked to see if anyone was watching, then quietly moved into the shadows, squinting his eyes in the direction that he'd notice the.... something... in.

Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the dim light, and Harry realized that he was watching someone trying to sneak into Hogwarts. The person was wearing a long black cloak and was moving very slowly, as if to make any noise coming from them seem to be part of the normal night sounds.

Was it Voldemort? Harry immediately thought. But, no, it couldn't be, because Professor Dumbledore had said that the wards around the school kept him out.

Maybe it's Sirius! was Harry's next conclusion. But, no, Sirius had promised Harry that he'd stay away from Hogwarts until he was acquitted and freed.

Then, Harry noticed a second figure. This person was dressed head to toe in black as well. *They must be meeting.*

*Oh no!* He thought, *that means there's a spy in Hogwarts!*

He was tempted to run into the castle and find a teacher, to tell them what was going on. But what if they didn't believe him? What if he couldn't find anyone? The spy would get away.

So Harry stealthily moved closer to the two people, keeping them in his sights.

The clouds overhead cleared and the second man's face appeared. It was Dumbledore!

But that doesn't make any sense, Harry said to himself. Dumbledore can't be the spy.

Harry was now close enough that he could hear what they were saying.

"Do you think that he suspects you?" Dumbledore was asking.

"No. The story I gave him was believable enough. But that is not why I asked to speak with you." The first man's voice was silky smooth but cold as ice. Harry recognized it immediately: Snape!

So that's what Professor Dumbledore meant at the end of the last term. "Severus, you know what you must do.....If you are prepared..."

Snape had been spying on Voldemort for Dumbledore.

"The Dark Lord has plans," Snape said. "He wants to... he intends to..." Snape hesitated, as if he knew what he would say next wouldn't go over well with the headmaster. "He plans to kill James and Lily Potter."

*What?* Harry thought. *My parents are already dead.*

Apparently, Professor Dumbledore had the same thoughts because he asked Snape to clarify what he meant.

"The... Dark Lord... plans to kill James and Lily before they would have attended Hogwarts. He's researched numerous methods of time-travel, and...."

*"And" what?* Harry thought to himself.

"'And' what?" Albus Dumbledore asked Severus.

Professor Snape grimaced, as if the words he was going to say tasted bitter. "And... I believe he may succeed."

Harry jumped a few feet in the air at this. *What?*

When Harry's feet hit the ground, they barely made any noise, but Professor Dumbledore's head whipped around almost instantly.

"Did you hear that?"

"What, sir?"

Dumbledore stared intently at a spot only a few feet from where Harry was standing. Finally, he gave up and said "Must be my imagination. Nonetheless, perhaps it would be wise if we moved to a more secure location."

He then turned and walked out of the courtyard, toward the greenhouses, with Severus Snape quietly following.

Harry waited a few minutes to be sure that they were gone, then he headed into the castle. *I hope Ron finished practicing, I need to talk to him and Hermione.*

* * * * * *

Unfortunately, Ron hadn't finished his practice by the time Harry got to the Common Room. Harry didn't want to explain what he had overheard twice, so he waited for Ron with Hermione.

"Will you kindly, please stop fidgeting, Harry? It's driving me insane." Hermione asked for the 3rd time.

Before Harry could mumble an apology, the back of the Fat Lady's portrait swung open and Ron walked into the Common Room. He had dirt on his face and hands, but was smiling broadly.

"I did it!" he said, making his way over to Harry and Hermione, then sitting on a sofa across from Hermione. "Finally got it right!"

His eyes landed on Harry and suddenly the grin fell and was replaced by a look of concern. "Harry, what happened?"

Quickly, Harry told Ron and Hermione what he had heard Professor Dumbledore and Snape discussing. Hermione gasped quietly, then began chewing her lip, concentrating.

"So, what are we going to do?" Ron asked no one in particular. "I mean, we can't just let him off your parents." Ron's eyebrows furrowed momentarily, then he said, "Again."

Harry nodded. He should have known Ron and Hermione would want to help.

"Maybe we can use a Time Turner.... but, no, we'd have to find one because 'Mione doesn't have one anymore."

Hermione shook her head as he spoke. "We'd never be able to get one. Professor McGonagall told me it takes months to fill out all the application forms. She'd been working the whole summer before 3rd year for me."

"Well, we can't wait months." Harry said, "maybe there's a potion or a charm or something..."

"Well, " Ron replied, "I guess it's back to the Library, then. I'd been hoping I could stay away from that place this year, but, oh, well."

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Thank you to kiki, mystril, PezMaster, Ilana, Morgana Malfoy, klopez, white_rider, EmilyLaughed, Pottercrazy1, IcdBabiGurl, Ronnieboy89, Americas_sunshine, and sunshine13. You guys are my new best friends. :)