Turning Time (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

The Hate Potion, pt. 1

“Hey, traitor!”

“Mudblood lover.” 

“Freak.” 

“You’re not gonna make it long after Hogwarts, you know that, don’t you, Faralyn?” 

Harry wouldn’t let Raven go anywhere without someone else accompanying her. Severus refused to do so, but he was never with the Slytherins when she was targeted.

Raven, Remus, and Harry were walking through the corridor on Saturday when the attacks escalated. A Slytherin hit Harry in the back with a Full Body-Bind Curse and snatched his wand. Remus took the offender out with the same spell and they ran into an empty classroom.

Remus wouldn’t let her out until twenty minutes after, when he thought it’d be safe. It took that long for a passerby to unfreeze Harry. 

By the last few days before the holidays, seeing Severus outside of class was a rare occasion. Which is why Severus was surprised when Lily asked at breakfast, “Have you guys packed yet?”

“I’m almost ready,” Harry replied. Severus nodded in agreement, a harmless lie. He was sure his involvement in the Dark Arts would’ve exempted him from Christmas at Lily’s.

“Cool.” Lily turned to Raven, who ran up to them as she tied her long hair into a ponytail. Raven was happier than Harry had ever seen her, especially now that she was more resistant to verbal attacks from the Slytherins. She smiled more, laughed more, and was closer to the Lily, who had a positive effect on her. Still, there were times when Raven’d fall into a state of listlessness, brought on by seeing one her former Slytherin friends or sometimes (in Harry’s view) for no reason at all. 

The train ride to King’s Cross was brief. The train had been decorated with holly, everlasting icicles, and tinsel. In some compartments, tiny snowflakes drifted down from the ceiling, vanishing if they touched the ground without landing on a student.

Sirius and Peter were staying at Hogwarts. The full moon had just passed, so Remus felt comfortable going home for Christmas. Otherwise, he endangered himself and his parents. 

When the train pulled up to King’s Cross, it was Severus who was by far the most nervous. He smoothed down his wrinkled shirt front, trying to look presentable. Lily fussed at his state and charmed his shirt so it looked freshly ironed. 

Mr. and Mrs. Evans met the group at the station, then drove them on a long and awkward car ride home. 

Petunia greeted them at the door, wearing a plaid, neatly-ironed dress. Her expression soured as Severus and Raven walked past. 

“Well, this is it,” Mrs. Evans said, looking over them warmly. 

Harry realized both he and Severus had stayed overnight at Lily’s house without their parents knowing, and he once more had the feeling that he was intruding. 

“So, this is the kitchen.” Mrs. Evans walked them through the living room. “Breakfast is at nine, I’ll make the rounds if someone’s not up.”

“We waited to decorate the tree!” Petunia beamed at Harry. 

“Right, that’ll be before dinner tomorrow.” Mrs. Evans guided them downstairs to the basement. There was one mattress in the back of the room, a sleeping bag and blankets set up on the floor next to it. 

“This is where you two will sleep,” she said to the boys. She lead them back to the main floor, then upstairs. 

When they entered Lily’s bedroom, Harry noticed Severus shift uncomfortably.