"Are you going to have him expelled?" Lily asked, fearful of what the answer might be.
"If my conversation with Mr. Snape goes well, I might not even bring the matter up with Professor Dumbledore," Harry said.
"I'll go then," Lily said, sounding slightly comforted. She stood up and prepared to retreat from Harry's office.
"There's one last thing I would have you understand," Harry said quietly, looking at his mother soberly. "James Potter did not participate in the events of tonight with the intent of specifically cornering or bullying Mr. Snape."
Lily shook her head, wiping her eyes with a damp tissue. "I'm sorry professor, but I have a hard time believing that."
"Lily, Sirius's father asked Sirius to keep an eye on Bellatrix to make sure she isn't hurt by certain Slytherins." Harry explained. "James Potter was kind enough to volunteer to help out. It hasn't been all fun and games. Tonight, James inserted himself into a dangerous situation to protect Bellatrix's sister. Give James half the chances you give to Severus, and I think you'll find James to be a somewhat admirable person."
"I'll think about it," Lily sniffed before departing, closing the door behind her.
Harry sighed remorsefully and waved his wand, muttering some spells to lock the door. He then paced back and forth behind his desk, considering his options, before finally approaching the still unconscious, levitated form of Severus Snape. He pointed his wand at Snape and uttered the spell to wake him up. "Enervate!"
Snape awoke with a start and jerked his head around urgently, looking back and forth as he tried to ascertain where he was and what happened.
"Yeah, you got caught," Harry said, moving into Snape's line of sight. "Congratulations." With a swift movement, Harry grabbed Snape's arm and pushed up his sleeve. Seeing nothing but pale skin, Harry did the same with the other arm. Saying nothing about his observation, Harry took hold of his wand and cancelled the spell that had been levitating Snape. The teenage Snape dropped to the floor in a heap while Harry walked to his desk and sat down.
How ironic, Harry thought, glancing around the office that might very well still be Snape's in the not-so-distant future. The shoe is now on the other foot .
Snape gathered his wits and stood up. "I must insist that you tell me what is going on, Professor."
Harry arched his eyebrow smoothly, feeling very dramatic. Suddenly remembering the chicken in the drawer and not wanting it to start making a racket that would spoil the moment, Harry discreetly used his wand to cast a silencing charm on the drawer while directing his gaze at Snape. Once Harry reckoned that enough time had passed, he spoke. "Perhaps you could tell me what you were doing in the forest tonight-with Narcissa Black."
"That's none of your business, Professor," Snape retorted.
"Those who caught you overheard your conversation with Narcissa," Harry said. "I know that Lucius Malfoy arranged with you to make sure Narcissa Black could meet with him and leave the castle tonight."
"I have nothing to say," Snape sneered.
Harry resisted the urge to reach across the desk and slap Snape's face-hard. Harry cast his mind about for information that might help him in the conversation. He reviewed everything Bellatrix had told him about the conversation with Narcissa and everything he had known about Snape in the future. There had to be something that would get under Snape's skin.
"They'll never really accept you, you know," Harry said casually, seemingly turning his attention away from Snape and focusing on the wall to the side of the desk. "You're only a half-blood."
Snape's eyes betrayed his fury, though he remained silent.
"Your potions might be valuable one day, or perhaps you'll hold positions of trust and be cognizant to valuable information. Or maybe you'll be a good duelist, well-versed in the dark arts. It doesn't matter, though. Once you've given the dark lord what he wants, he'll cast you aside. You'll be killed or left to rot in Azkaban-probably killed, though." Harry shot Snape a sidelong glance. Snape had not reacted to anything Harry had said.
Harry smiled. "You aren't surprised that I've mentioned a dark lord. The implication is that you already know he exists. That information, combined with the facts of what you attempted to do this evening, could get you sent to Azkaban for the rest of your life, Mr. Snape. Narcissa's father is, after all, the Minister of Magic."
Snape glared at Harry but remained silent.
Harry resisted the urge to stand up and start yelling at Snape, maybe punching him a few times. That wouldn't get him anywhere-not with Snape. A thought occurred to Harry, a thought he reckoned might work, though he felt slightly guilty for even considering the possibility.
"You do realize, Severus, what it is that a dark lord stands for and does, don't you? They tend to be very violent and brutal. This particular dark lord had a hatred for those who are not purebloods. He will want to kill or imprison anyone witch or wizard who isn't a pureblood. You know, ironically, he doesn't really care about all the pureblood nonsense-that's just the cause he uses to get people behind him, though he does hate Muggles. I'll admit that. But anyway, Lily Evans isn't a pureblood. I reckon she'd be one of his targets eventually. He'd probably kill her… after raping her a few times. How do you like that?"
"She'd be under my protection," Snape snarled.
"Your protection?" Harry said. He laughed. "Didn't I just tell you how expendable you are? Nope, you'd have to sacrifice her for the cause. He'd even make you do the deed-at least as far as killing her."
"I don't believe you," Snape hissed.
"What would Lily think?" Harry asked, going on without a care for Snape's defiance. "She was just in here, you know, pleading for me to have mercy on you. She's convinced that you're a martyr-teased and bullied. I'll admit you've had it rough, but let's be honest, that isn't an excuse. Maybe I should call her back down. I can explain to her all about Lucius Malfoy and the dark lord. I'll tell her what the dark lord thinks of mudbloods like her. I'll explain that you're going to join up with the dark lord and go around ravaging and killing muggle families. I'll even tell her-"
"Leave her out of it!" Snape snarled. He drew his wand and went to cast a spell at Harry.
Because he had been assuming that Bellatrix and the Marauders would have not left Snape's wand on his person, Harry had not been prepared for Snape to attack him. However, Harry had become very quick with his wand-especially in the months since arriving in the past. He himself drew his wand and cast a banishing charm, smashing Snape, who promptly dropped his wand, into the wall near the office door. "I'll tell you what," Harry said, rising from behind his desk and feeling like he'd achieved the desired effect. "If you stay away from the dark lord and his followers, I'll not tell Lily all about what you seriously considered doing. I also won't tell Professor Dumbledore about your actions, both helping to kidnap Narcissa Black and just now attacking me." Harry was now standing over Snape and looking down at him. Do we have a bargain?"
"I guess," Snape said.
"Yes, you don't really have any choice, do you?" Harry said, opening the door to his office. "Now get out of my office. I'll be watching you very carefully. If I discover you outside of the castle for a purpose not related to a class or class assignment, you may as well pack your bags for Azkaban."
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