Reliving the Past, Present, and Future

Chapter 38

Snape killed Dumbledore Snape killed Dumbledore Snape-

"Focus," said Teddy fiercely. "Now's not the time to -"

"SNAPE KILLED -"

"I bloody told him too!"

Harry inhaled sharply. That - that can't be right. He was just trying to distract him, there's no way -

"It was planned, Harry! Dumbledore knew! I don't have time to explain but if you're going to be yelling like mad, I'm leaving you at Hogwarts."

C'mon Harry, get with it, thought Teddy impatiently. This was why he didn't want Harry there.

Among other reasons.

He'd snuck up to the Astronomy Tower despite explicitly telling Harry to organize Dumbledore's Army for the attack on Malfoy Manor. This was a younger and much more stubborn Harry who sided more with his heart than his mind. In the future he'd be more well-rounded, but this had been an oversight on Teddy's part.

Was the time-travel sickness messing with his strategy? Terrible timing, really. He just needed a little bit longer...

Harry's jaw clenched, hands shaking in grief, confusion, and anger.

Teddy waited another minute for Harry's trembling to lessen, feigning patience.

"Remember the plan?"

Harry gave Teddy a dark look.

Of course he did.

"Grab my arm, hang tight."

Harry did and they were gone.

***

He sipped at his firewhiskey, raising his goblet in camaraderie whenever someone glanced where he was leaning against the wall in the dining hall.

Death Eaters were celebrating all around them, drinking with mirth that the only hope for the Light was now dead.

Draco may have looked calm but there was a tinge of fear and trepidation. He couldn't stop looking over at Snape who now sat on the Dark Lord's right hand side, talking quietly to one another with their drinks untouched.

Snape had been simultaneously punished and rewarded for killing Dumbledore. Tortured and then promoted. Even if the Dark Lord freed his Father from Azkaban and came home, his seniority and influence would be worthless.

This hadn't been part of Teddy's plan, had it? He said to trust Snape... but watching his professor and God-father murder Dumbledore had him choked with panic. Would Snape reveal everything? The time travel, the memories, Draco's betrayel...

Child, if you don't get a grip, we're dead.

Snape's voice swirled so coldly into his head, it could be nothing other than real. He was confused and scared, but he did as told because that's what he did best wasn't it?

Draco aggressively pushed everything into a box that made him vulnerable and vanished it.

***

"You know this will be for nothing if You-Know-Who attacks the castle," panted Slughorn who'd been running around the bloody castle for the past hour assuring all his Slytherins were in their dormitories before warding the dungeons.

"But we can slow him down!" squeaked Flitwick, earning appreciative looks from McGonagall and Sprout.

"If you wish to join the Slytherins in their common room, I'd rather you be gone than a detriment," said McGonagall sharply.