Mirrorverse

~~Mirrorverse~~

~~Chapter Two: I'm A What...?~~

'This is all your fault you know!'

'My fault? How in the name of Godric, did you come up with that stupid idea?'

'Because it just is, that's why. Of all the idiotic ideas you had to give me - '

'I gave you? Don't blame me for some bee that got under your bonnet, uh uh. Besides, I wasn't the one looking through things that had no relevance!'

'It had every relevance you git! Might I remind you of what you are?'

'Even so, you should know better than to mess with things of that nature. Especially when - ' the second person who was speaking, or rather yelling, began to say when a sudden 'thud' behind him caused him to stop his words midstream. Turning round quickly he focused his gaze at the large lump of clothing that had appeared on the floor, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. 'Who's there?'

'What is it?' the first person asked as he turned towards the pile of clothes himself.

'I don't know but it's moving, so it's alive at any rate. Where'd it come from?' the second person asked then slowly stepped towards the semi-moving pile of cloth.

The first person snorted then glared at the second person, anger still burning brightly in his eyes. 'Right, like we're supposed to know that?' he said in a surly voice. 'This is just not happening...and I still blame you,' he muttered, glaring darkly at the other person.

'Oh stop acting like a child won't you? Honestly,' the second person bit back irritated.

'Oh that's rich considering we are children, in case you hadn't noticed?' the first person replied mockingly.

'Yes I had noticed that fact. And we're teenagers, not children thank you much,' the second person said back in a cranky voice, then his attention was redrawn back to the pile of clothing on the floor that was not only moving now but groaning as well. Stepping in for a closer look he then gasped at what, or rather who, he was seeing now. 'I don't believe it...what are you two doing here?' he said now in a surprised voice.

Harry groaned again softly then opened his eyes, positive he knew the voices speaking, yet somehow unsure at the same time. Blinking at who he was looking at he gasped in surprise himself, for it just couldn't be the person who's voice he'd attached to a moment ago...could it? Deciding that he was under some spell or something, and the person wasn't really there, he turned to the person he now saw instead. That person at least he recognised as familiar, and he hoped the person was all right. 'Draco? All right there?' he said now in a soft voice.

'I will be once you get off of me, Harry!' Draco responded with a groan himself, grateful when Harry quickly shifted off of him. Sitting up he rubbed his eyes and sighed, then opened them and focused on Harry worriedly. 'All right?' he asked quietly.

Harry nodded. 'Yeah, think so. What happened?' he asked now, still ignoring the person who was watching them both now.

Draco suddenly realised though they were being watched and turned to face the other person, his eyes narrowing in suspicion himself. 'Who are you?' he asked.

The person looking at them then smiled, and shook his head, chuckling a little before focusing his attention back to Harry. 'You don't recognize me, Harry?' he asked.

'Oh stop being a git. Of course he probably doesn't recognize you, you moron, he's never seen you this way!' the other person mumbled and walked over to the others. As soon as he stepped into the torchlight however he heard a gasp from Harry and Draco, and he realised now they did indeed recognize him at least, if not both of them.

'P-Professor Snape? Professor...Lupin...Remus? Is that you?' Harry asked now still in a bit of shock, finally recognising them both.

Remus laughed and nodded, then shot Severus a glare for his attitude. 'Afraid so, Harry, I think it's us anyway. Well I know I'm me at least,' he said nodding his head.

'Someone want to tell us what the hell is going on here?' Draco said eyeing Remus and Severus coolly. 'Why are you both...er...young?'

'Why are you and Potter acting civil?' Severus shot back huffily and crossed his arms over his chest.

'Hey, I asked first!' Draco said glaring at the younger Severus. 'Answer our questions and we'll answer yours.'

Severus was about to snidely reply to that statement when Remus intervened. 'That seems fair enough. As to your question, Draco, we haven't a clue yet why we are young again. Now it's your turn for Severus's question,' he said with a grin.

Harry rolled his eyes. 'This isn't twenty questions you know,' he said petulantly and saw the blank look on Draco and Severus's faces at that. 'A Muggle game where you ask...oh never mind. Just tell us what's going on here won't you?'

Remus shrugged his shoulders then looked over at Severus, who was clearly trying not to say anything at all, if not ignore everyone else now. 'We honestly don't know what is going on here, Harry. All we have managed to figure out is that Severus and I are teenagers again, and we're still in the library, but...well...' he said hesitantly.

'Well what?' Harry asked curiously and looked round himself. Indeed they were in the library, but something wasn't right about this place, that much he could tell. For one it was way too dark, and the rest he couldn't quite put his finger on yet.

'Harry, Draco...this place...this library...isn't our library,' Remus said softly.

'That...makes no sense. What do you mean it's not 'our' library?' Draco demanded.

'What he means is simple, Malfoy, if you bothered to pay attention,' Severus said haughtily, stepping back into the conversation. 'This library is not the library in which all four of us were in just a little while ago, nor is it even the same library that was at the school during the time Lupin and I were younger. In point of fact, we are not even in a 'restricted' section at all, since there apparently is no such place in this library,' he said now pointing to where a gate should have been, but clearly wasn't.

'What were you two doing in the restricted area anyway?' Remus asked curiously now.

Harry and Draco flushed a moment before trying to answer that. 'Err...that is...umm...we were...I mean...' Harry stammered and looked at Draco for support.

'We were studying,' Draco said cutting in.

'Studying? Right, like I believe that for a second,' Severus huffed and turned to glare at Harry. 'Trying to improve those lacking grades are we, Potter?' he sneered.

'Oh stuff it, Severus. Harry's marks are just fine,' Remus said impatiently, shooting Severus another glare. Turning back to the boys now he said, 'Why were you in the restricted section though?'

'We heard you looking for Professor Snape, then we heard a scream so we went to check,' Harry said now, still bristling over Severus's comment. The only class Harry really needed to 'improve' in would have been potions, and the only reason for that was Snape's hatred of him prevented him from getting higher marks. He may not have been Head Boy like Draco, but he still had very high marks in every other class.

Severus started at the comment he made then peered at Draco, a knowing expression on his face. 'You touched the book, didn't you,' he said accusingly.

Draco paled that then glanced at Harry, shaking his head nervously. 'N-no...I...I didn't err...exactly...touch it, Professor. More like it um...err...it touched...me,' he said.

Severus groaned and shook his head, stepping closer to Draco. 'How could you let it touch you, you fool!' he said, his black eyes blazing angrily.

'He didn't touch it, not deliberately anyway. I picked up the book and then I tripped on the flagstone...and ended up crashing into him. Next thing we know there's some voices and a strange white light, and then we woke up here...wherever here is. And what's the big deal about that stupid book? Why can't Draco touch it but you two could?' Harry said back just as angrily.

Draco flinched, Severus just seemed to find something other than Draco to stare at, namely the floor, and Remus just looked between them both, suspicion in his mind. 'It's not the Veela blood...is it, Draco,' he said quietly now, and gave Draco an understanding look.

'Veela blood?' Harry repeated dumbly, and turned to Draco curiously. 'What's he mean, Dray?'

'Dray?' Severus said now with a raised eyebrow.

Harry muttered and Draco just groaned, slapping himself on the forehead. 'You're just not going to let up are you, Professor,' he said with a sigh and glanced at Harry.

Harry looked back at him a bit worriedly. 'You sure?' he asked quietly.

Draco nodded slowly. 'Seems we better tell them, since Merlin knows where we are and what's going on. We may need their help, rather not give them a heart attack later eh?' he said with a grin now.

Harry chuckled and nodded, then turned back to his professors. He felt more than saw Draco move closer to him and he took Draco's hand in his own for strength, he figured he'd need it. He grinned then at seeing the surprise on both Remus and Severus's face, and he knew he was going to really shock these two people no question there. 'I guess you could say we're not 'enemies' anymore. In fact, we've been secretly 'dating' since the beginning of summer over a year ago, and more in love with each other every day, even though we have to pretend still we hate each other,' he said, blushing slightly.

'IN LOVE?' Remus and Severus said in shock, both practically at the same time. 'How did that happen?' Severus growled.

'Since obviously 'love' is something you've never been in, Professor,' Draco drawled, 'I guess we'll have to explain it. We were enemies, something happened that changed that, which no I won't tell you what it was, but it because of it we fell in love. It was as simple as that, so get used to it and live with it,' he smirked.

Harry looked sheepish at what Draco had said and focused his gaze on Remus. 'I would have told you, Professor, but only a few people were allowed to know. Sirius doesn't even know about this, not that he tells me things these days apparently either,' he muttered now.

'If it's any consolation, Harry, he didn't tell me about his wedding until afterwards either. Seems his 'secret' was well kept till the last moment. Is Draco the reason you weren't at the Burrow this summer I take it?' Remus asked.

Harry nodded and blushed, then gazed deeply at Draco for a moment before turning back to his teacher. 'We were on a three week cruise actually at the time I was supposed to go to Ron's house.'

'Alone?' Severus said almost horrified.

Harry laughed at his teachers tone of voice, then shook his head. 'Sadly no, Mrs. Figg was with us the whole time. Don't worry, we changed our appearances just enough to get noticed by using a Glamour Charm that she applied to us daily, and using 'Muggle beauty aides' I managed to hide my scar whilst on the trip. I also fixed my eyesight this summer, the glasses are really more for 'show' now, not real, just glass pieces. Don't worry though, not a single person knew who we were, we were registered as 'Harry Jameson' and 'Drake Malloy'. Two ordinary Muggle school chums on a Muggle cruise with my 'grandmum'...Mrs. Bella Jameson,' he said with a grin.

'That was still damn risky, Harry! Did Dumbledore know about your trip?' Remus said going into his 'parent' mode as he sometimes did with Harry.

Harry nodded. 'Of course, who do you think suggested the trip?' he laughed. 'As well as he's the one who sent Mrs. Figg with us. Everything was his idea actually, he said we could both use the break away, and he even got Mrs. Malfoy to get Draco's dad to go to Russia and leave Draco 'behind' for three weeks. Was a perfect ploy and well worth it,' he said glancing lovingly at Draco again.

'So that's how mum convinced father to go on their trip!' Draco said laughing. 'I wondered why he gave in so easily. Yup, it was a well worth cruise too, an not just for the 'cabin capabilities,' he said grinning broadly. 'We went all over the Mediterranean. Egypt, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Tangier...it was heaven,' Draco said sighing happily.

'That it was,' Harry said softly and squeezed Draco's hand gently. 'What did he mean though, Dray? What this about Veela blood?' he asked curiously now.

Draco groaned and shot Severus and Remus a dark glance then sighed deeply. 'I guess I should have told you from the start, Harry, but I was afraid to,' he said quietly, more fear in his voice then he would have liked.

'Draco, nothing you tell me is going to make me hate you now you silly git,' he said pulling Draco close to him. 'I love you for you, nothing else matters,' Harry said firmly.

'Even...even if you knew I wasn't...all...human?' Draco asked worriedly.

'Professor Lupin's not all human, you don't see me hating him do you?' Harry grinned.

'Hey, I'm mostly human...for the most part,' Remus said with a huff, though his tone of voice wasn't really angry, more amused.

'Err...yeah, I mean of course you are, Professor,' Harry blushed, 'honestly, Dray, whatever it is, you can tell me.'

'Well...' Draco said and glanced at Severus who only shrugged at him and gave him a look that clearly meant 'it's-up-to-you'. 'All right, I do have some veela blood in me, Harry...on my father's side. My grandmum was a veela actually.'

'That's what bugging you, Dray? Just because you have veela blood - ' he began but Draco cut him off.

'Not exactly just veela blood, Harry,' he said quietly.

'Err...there's more?' Harry asked curious now.

Draco sighed and nodded, tensing up because he knew this was going to be very hard to say. It was something very, very few people knew about his family, Severus being one of them only because of circumstances and his connection to the Malfoy family. 'Veela blood isn't considered cursed blood, not enough anyway to have caused a reaction to the book.'

Harry remembered how Draco refused to touch the book back at their library now, and he did wonder why that was. 'So...what is it then? Why couldn't you touch it?' he asked puzzled.

'It's because...because my grandmum on my mother's side...was a Naga. It's that blood that's cursed, and it's the whole bloody reason how I got my name too,' he muttered.

'I don't get it, what's a Naga?' Harry asked curiously.

'Don't you teach anything in that class of yours, Lupin? Naga's aren't up to standard these days or what?' Severus said mockingly at Remus now.

'Sod off, Severus, I haven't started on Naga's yet is all, that's covered next term. And at least I know the difference in that Kappa's are found in Japan and not Mongolia!' Remus said with a smirk.

'Oh for the love of...you...whatever!' Severus said throwing his hands in the air, and saying a few choice oaths under his breath. 'Annoying prat!' he muttered.

'I heard that you large nosed git! Who's talking about being an annoying prat eh? You were the one always on our case at school!' Remus said haughtily.

'I wasn't the one who nearly got expelled for shagging Black in the greenhouse!' Severus bit back.

'You shouldn't talk you greasy haired, annoying, pain the arse excuse of a Potion Master! At least we were more discreet about it all the other times, unlike some people I could name!' Remus said angrily.

'HOLD IT!' Harry yelled out, his face pale and almost sickly. 'You shagged my godfather at school?' he said looking at Severus now in shock.

'Err...' Severus said coughing slightly, actually blushing at that comment. 'I don't believe it's any of your business, Mr. Potter, who I 'shagged' when I was at school,' he grumbled.

'He certainly did,' Remus said before Severus even finished his words, which only earned him a glare from Severus. 'Those two were 'dating' for a couple of months before Sirius decided to 'move on' again like he usually did,' he said with a scowl.

'Six months, Lupin, not a 'few' thank you,' Severus said almost grinning like the cat that ate the canary. 'And if I remember correctly, he left you...for me,' he said now all too smug.

Remus growled at him, his eyes turning nearly yellow in remembrance. 'Don't. Remind. Me. Severus,' he said angrily, making a move towards Severus menacingly.

'Will the both of you just quit it?' Harry said turning nearly green now. 'I really don't want to hear about Sirius's sex life! Especially if it involves the both of you!'

Remus growled again at Severus who was still smug looking, but calmed down again, and turned back to Harry and Draco. 'Yes, well, of course you wouldn't. Not that it matters anyway now since he's married. Let's hope though he's learned a few lessons in what that word means,' he muttered more under his breath then outloud. He then turned to look at Draco curiously and said, 'So you're part Naga eh? Interesting combination there...veela and Naga blood. That would explain why you couldn't touch the book though.'

'What is a Naga exactly? And what's it got to do with that book?' Harry asked now, looking still a bit green round the gills so to speak as really rampant thoughts of his godfather and his potion's master, as well as Remus, were running through his mind now to his dismay.

'I'll explain it, since it's me we're talking about,' Draco said softly, and turned back to Harry. 'Naga's are dragon demons...of sorts. Their upper half is human, their lower half is a serpent. Naga women can marry humans and reproduce though, don't ask me how I really don't want to go into that. They live mainly in the seas in the underworlds where they rule as semi-divine beings. They can shape change at will from serpent to human, and you don't want to anger one as they can flood any river they so choose. Though some people differ on what they really are capable of, nearly everyone agrees that Naga's are highly magical, and scholars of wisdom and knowledge. My grandmother was Indian, and she was a Hindu priestess in the underworld, but when she met my grandfather who was on holiday there, she fell in love and came to England to be with him. She's all right really, unlike my veela grandmother who hates me with a passion, though grandmama Chydna does tend to hiss at me more than not,' he said with a nervous chuckle.

'Whoa...so...that's why you're blood's cursed because you're part demon? You don't turn into a serpent or anything do you?' Harry asked.

Draco blushed and nodded his head slowly. 'Err...well...I can if I want to, though unless I'm round my grandmum and grandfather I never do, she insists on it though when mum and I visit. I'm not a Parseltongue though, I can only talk to other Naga's in our own language, Naga-Krita, but with you being a Parseltongue you could probably understand me when I speak it, since it's a serpent language and all,' he said.

'That's...kind of cool actually,' Harry said grinning. 'So that's how you got named Draco then?' Harry asked.

Draco nodded and groaned. 'Yeah, that was my grandmum's idea, thought it would be 'cute', sheesh. Father wanted me to be called something a little less dramatic he said, but I never knew what it was he'd have called me,' Draco said shrugging.

'Darius,' Severus said from his spot in the corner.

'What?' Draco said puzzled.

Severus came back over and looked at Draco oddly. 'He was going to call you Darius. Your grandmother however, a most impressive woman I might add, quelled that name in a hurry right there and then. Lucius never had a chance to refuse the name Draco, though you should be lucky it wasn't Draconia,' he snorted.

'Eww...that's a girls name!' Draco said shuddering.

'As tiny as you were whilst Narcissa was pregnant with you, everyone thought you were a girl,' Severus said with a chuckle, something that made Harry, Draco and even Remus stare at him for. 'What?' he said as he saw them staring.

'I do believe that was a chuckle from you, Severus Snape. Perhaps there is hope for you yet,' Remus said with a slight smirk.

Severus dismissed that with a wave of his hand. 'I am known to 'chuckle' from time to time, Lupin. I'm not always a sour git,' he said.

'Could have fooled me,' Harry muttered innocently.

'If I could take house points at the moment, Mr. Potter, that would have earned you at least twenty,' Severus said huffily, though he sounded more amused than angry.

'Well since you can't I guess that's just too bad for you eh? Which brings us to the issue of why you can't, Severus,' Remus said looking round again now at where they were. 'We still haven't figured out exactly what is going on here, and I'm not even going into the fact that you and I are...dare I even want to say this...teenagers...again,' Remus said shuddering.

'You just had to remind me of that didn't you, Lupin,' Severus said with a deep sigh. 'As if being a teenager the first time wasn't bad enough...' he grumbled.

'Yeah, why are you two young again?' Draco asked curiously.

'Could it have something to do with that book? And I still don't get it, what is that book anyway?' Harry asked.

'The Y Llyfrau Y Gan Melltigedig, 'The Book Of The Cursed', not exactly your normal 'dark arts' guide that's for sure,' Draco said again, though that didn't clear up matters at all.

'Basically, Harry, anyone with 'cursed' blood should avoid it, as it tends to become...er...'unstable' persay. For someone like Draco who was 'born' with cursed blood, they can't even touch the book without serious issues arising,' Remus said thoughtfully, his gaze now on Severus.

'You mean like ending up somewhere they don't belong?' Harry queried.

'Something like that, though there's never been a documents case of something like this happening, far as I know,' Remus said distractedly, then turned to face Severus full on. 'For people like me who were not born with cursed blood, and yes, werewolves 'cursed' creatures, we can touch the book as long as we don't read from it, a mistake I erringly made. So...tell me what your excuse is, Severus?'

'M-my excuse?' Severus stammered then, his gaze settling on Remus a bit fearfully. 'Not a clue what you're talking about, Lupin,' he muttered.

'I can understand why I am here, since I stupidly read the words on the page that it was open to at the time without thinking, and now why Draco is here. Obviously it dragged Harry along with Draco when the book touched him. So why are you here, Severus?' Remus said stepping closer to him and looking him deep in the eye. Severus then turned and looked back at him and Remus saw something in those eyes that made him back up quickly, and he landed on the floor with thud. 'Ah...now I understand, that does make sense,' he said quietly and looked up at Severus knowingly.

'You know nothing, Lupin!' Severus snarled and turned away quickly, avoiding the look Remus was giving him.

'When?' Remus said quietly, standing back up and walking back over to Severus, putting his hand gently on Severus's arm. 'When did it happen, Severus?

'In my f-first-year,' he said in a quiet voice himself.

'First-year? That long ago? How?' Remus asked startled now.

Severus sighed and turned back round, looking Remus in the eyes. 'I made the mistake of being in the wrong place at the wrong time you could say. A late night stroll because I couldn't sleep was my downfall, Lupin.'

'I see. So we've more in common than I thought after all you and I, Severus Snape,' Remus ask softly, noting that Severus had not shaken his hand off yet oddly enough.

'They caught the one who did it a few weeks later, but they let him go. Yet another betrayal to add to an ever growing pile, they should have killed him and been done with it,' Severus said thickly.

'Would it have made it easier on you if they had? You still would have been the same either way,' Remus said.

'It would have been justice, Lupin! Justice that I never seem to get! First that had to happen, then...then...' he began to say, but for some reason he couldn't finish his words.

'Just like you thought Sirius got away with what happened back then? Is that it?' Remus said quietly.

Severus scowled darkly and shook his head. 'I didn't care about that, I know Black suffered for what happened that day. That wasn't the injustice of it, Lupin, not at all. Did you really think I didn't know what you were? Everyone else in the school minus your 'friends' may have been blind...but I wasn't. I picked up what you were instantly after what happened to me. I knew about the willow, the tunnel, where you and your friends went...I knew about it all.'

'Then...then why did you come there that night? Why did you risk yourself like that?' Remus asked puzzled.

Severus gave Remus a strange look, a deep sigh coming from his very being. 'Because I wanted to die that night, Lupin. I wanted you to kill me, alright? After over five years of living like I was, I couldn't take it anymore. Black just gave me the opportunity I was waiting for is all, the easy way out. I followed your little group for years, not because of Quidditch, hell no like I cared for that, but because of you. To find just one moment in the day when I could get you alone...and ask...beg you even...to kill me at the next full moon. Black just made it all too easy,' he said.

Remus didn't know what to respond to that, but he did tighten his grip on Severus's arm, noticing again oddly enough, that Severus said nothing nor did anything to move his hand. 'I wouldn't have...I couldn't have...done that, Severus. Not to you...not to anyone...' he said in a pained voice, paling a bit.

'I know that now, Lupin, but back then I wanted to die, I didn't care about the consequences either. I hated Potter for saving me, I was more angry about that than anything else. Living was the injustice, Lupin, not what happened. I was angry at you though for letting me live, for not killing me, which is why...' he trailed off, his gaze turning the floor nervously.

'Which was why you seduced Sirius away from me? Because you hated me that much for letting you live?' Remus asked thoughtfully.

'I didn't hate you, I was angry yes, but I didn't hate you. I used Black, I admit that now, I used him so that you would hate him, see him for what he was. You think he was faithful to me?' Severus snorted. 'Hardly, any more than he was to you, Lupin. I wanted him to hurt, to pay for hurting me and giving me the opportunity then backing out on me by telling Potter at the last minute. For making me miserable because of it...for finding out the fucking truth of what I am!'

'I don't understand, if he knew...why has he never said anything? And of course I knew Sirius was cheating on me, and you, and yes, I did hate him for that, but that was Sirius, nothing anyone could do about it. He was nothing more than a romancer back then to woman or men; he had no preference as long they could shag. Love 'em and leave 'em was his motto, and he did that oh so well didn't he,' Remus snorted himself.

'Yes, he was good at, and he hurt us both in the process, Lupin. I wanted him to pay...and I did didn't I. I left him first, told him that I was only using him to get the 'experience' and he was no longer worth my time and efforts. How he hated me after that, oh yes he hated me. The perfect revenge though wasn't it, someone finally got under his skin,' Severus said with another chuckle.

Remus looked at Severus a moment then shook his head and laughed. 'You were born to be a Slytherin, Severus Snape. I forgave him though for how he left me like that, my dismay though. He never trusted me after that, still doesn't but I suppose in a way I still don't trust him either. We're friends, far as it will ever go, though I have to say he has mellowed the past few years since leaving Azkaban,' he said thoughtfully.

'Mellowed isn't what I'd say, Lupin. Gone a bit daft maybe, but if anyone can keep him in line it'll be - ' Severus began to say but was cut off quickly.

'Hey! What are you doing in here?' an angry voice called out now, and the four people in the room turned in shock. 'Ohhh...you're in for it now, Harry, you're going to be in a bunch of trouble if James and Sirius find out you've been hanging round them again!'

'W-what?' Harry said still dazed by the conversation he had been pointedly keeping out of with Severus and Remus, but more so by this new person.

The new person walked in the room, his eyes raking over Severus, Remus and Draco with nothing short of pure hatred. 'You three just love to get pegged down by us don't you. You like punishment or what?' he sneered. 'How many times we gotta tell you, stay away from Harry!' the boy said angrily and pulled Harry up roughly by the arm. 'Come on, Harry, before you're found here with them. Why you insist on hanging round with Gryffindork rubbish like this is beyond me. Honestly, you'd think you liked those stupid Gryffindorks or something!' the boy said heatedly as he quickly walked out of the room with Harry in tow, not before throwing another hate-filled glance back at the other three.

Remus, Severus and Draco watched them leave, mixed expressions on their faces. 'That...was...odd,' Draco said.

'That...was Peter Pettigrew?' Remus said in shock.

'Apparently so. Did...you happen to notice anything else odd, Lupin?' Severus asked now, and looked down at the robe he was wearing, more specifically at the badge on it.

'No, what?' Remus asked, still staring at the doorway like he'd seen a ghost.

'I don't believe it, our badges!' Draco said looking down at his own robe after he noticed Severus look at his.

Remus did look down but it didn't register to him. 'What about them?' he asked puzzled.

'Maybe because you were a Gryffindor it's not registering yet, Lupin. Look at my badge...' Severus said slowly and held his out for Remus too look at.

Remus did look, and looked again, staring now. Then turning to Draco he looked at his badge and stared yet again. Turning back to Severus he said in an unsteady voice, 'Is this a joke?'

'I dare say, it's not. Pettigrew and Potter had on badges too, opposite of these,' Severus said slowly.

'Oh holy hell, what in the name of Godric have we gotten ourselves into?' Remus said with a groan.

'I don't know, but - ' Severus began, but again was cut off.

'There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you three! Figures you'd be here though, no one ever would think of using this place anymore eh? Ugg, the dust in here, how do you stand it!' another voice said cutting in now and sneezing as he walked into the room. 'Anyway, you better get back to the tower quick, it's almost curfew you know. You don't want to be caught by Filch again do you, remember the last time you three got caught? Now come on, we've still got Jigger's Potions assignment to do and we really need your help, Severus. I can't flunk anything this year!' the new boy whinged and then headed back towards the doorway. 'Well?'

'Err...we'll be umm...right there...' Remus said staring at the boy like he'd seen another ghost.

'All right, but don't say I didn't warn you!' he said sneezing again. 'I really hope you weren't up here with that pure-blood again,' he said making a face, 'honestly, what do you see in that snake? Err...no offense Draco, I didn't mean your kind you know, you're cool and all. Pure-bloods though, give me a break!' he said making another face and then walked out of the library in a huff.

Remus, Severus and Draco turned to each other, questions forming in all their eyes. 'That was...Frank Longbottom...wasn't it, Lupin?' Severus asked quietly now.

Remus nodded, his expression now thoughtful. 'Yeah, and he's a kid...er...teenager too. Which means...' he said looking at Severus now dazed.

'Black, Potter Sr. and everyone we went to school with...are all here...and all teenagers. So how is it they knew Potter Jr. and Malfoy then?' Severus said equally thoughtful.

'They do seem to know us, obviously they didn't mistake Harry for his father like usual. And apparently...they know what I am,' Draco said groaning.

'This is getting odder and odder I have to say. From the sounds of it though, things are definitely going to get stranger as the night goes on. The way Frank was talking...the way he said 'pure-blood' was about as bad as saying...err...' Remus said trailing off and looking at Severus.

'Mudblood,' Severus said quietly, finishing out the sentence. 'Yes, I noticed that too. And the way Pettigrew was talking, it was clear that 'pure-bloods' are something we are not in this world, or not to the degree we think we are,' he said.

'This makes no sense,' Draco said with a sigh.

'No, it doesn't, but I have a feeling if we don't leave soon, we're in for a heck of a lot more than a few detentions for being out past curfew. Back in our day Filch wasn't just nasty, but downright vengeful,' Remus said with a shudder. 'Come on, let's go. Maybe we'll get some answers along the way.'

'You're...you're not expecting us to go there are you?' Severus said sharply.

Remus rolled his eyes and tapped the badge on Severus's chest. 'Apparently, Severus, you already are there as you put it. Now do you want to get caught by Filch or what? Let's go!' he said heading towards the door, not even checking if the others were following him.

Severus looked at Draco who looked back with a shrug. 'Come on Malfoy, let's go too, he's right much as I hate to admit it. Filch, detestable as he is in our world, could be far worse here. Although he was pretty bad during my stay as a student grant you that, and I don't relish having to spend another evening cleaning out the boy's loo again,' he said with a shiver.

'Remind me to ask you about that one day, Professor,' Draco said with a grin, then headed towards the door. 'Are we really...Gryffindors?'

'For the moment it seems so, Draco. And for safety sake, you better call me 'Severus', not that I condone that mind you, but since we're the same age it would look rather odd if you called me 'professor',' he said heading to the door himself now.

'Does that mean I'll have to called Lupin, Remus? And you'll have to as well?' he said with a sly grin.

Severus muttered then shook his head slowly. 'Not a word on that issue if you don't mind.'

Draco turned and looked at his professor for a moment, seeing something apparently he'd missed before. 'You like him...don't you,' he said matter-of-factly.

'What in the name of Sly-Merlin do you mean by that?' Severus said stopping shortly with a scowl.

Draco laughed and shook his head at Severus, a knowing look in his eyes. 'Alright, I won't press it now, but I will say that you two remind me a heck of a lot of Harry and I, that's all. Before we became lovers even, and what led up to it...think about it,' he said with a knowing grin, then headed out the door before Severus could respond.

'You're seeing far too much for your own good, Draco Malfoy...' he whispered under his breath, glad Draco wasn't there to see the fear in his eyes, or the admittance. Putting back on a scowl on his face he too headed out the door towards his 'dorm', wondering again what exactly they had gotten themselves into. Not to mention how the heck they were going to get home...or if they would ever get home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~