Turning Time (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Room of Requirement, pt. 1

“Good morning, class. My name is Professor Lastoel. Some of you may have heard that Professor Ilen was killed over the holidays…” 

The students, especially those who hadn’t known, flinched at the bluntness of his tone. 

“…So I’ll be starting where she left off. If I call on you, please tell me your name.” He strode to the chalkboard and wrote “Boggarts.” Then he called on a student to explain what a boggart was. 

Harry glanced at Remus. It was in Harry’s third year that they learned about boggarts in a way that would eventually teach Harry’s class to overcome their fears. 

“It so happens that I was provided with a boggart to use today for a demonstration. I’ll need a volunteer…” Lastoel scanned the room, then gestured at Severus, who hadn’t raised his hand. 

“Severus Snape, sir.” 

“Mr. Snape, if you’ll come up here…okay, now, I’m going to release a boggart, and you’ll follow my instruc—” 

“I can’t, Professor.” Severus’ face had turned pale. 

“Oh, come now, don’t be afraid. It’s really quite simple—” 

Severus shook his head. 

Lastoel, his authority threatened, became cold. “By failing to cooperate you are undermining the hours upon hours Professor Ilen spent educating you. Now please, or I’ll be forced to take points from your house.” 

Severus looked between the Professor and the cabinet that contained the boggart. Then he turned and hurried out of the room. 

“Five points from Gryffindor. Honestly, you’d think this is a class of first years—” 

Harry cut him off. “Professor, did you consider that he’s seen his boggart before? What if it became the thing that killed his mum, or had turned into his father’s corpse? How does it make us children to not want to see that?” 

It was an extreme example, but effective; Professor Lastoel faltered. “Well, he could’ve said—” 

“Can I go to see if he’s alright?” 

Lastoel was taken aback. “Right, sure. Of course.” 

Lily stood. “May I go, too, Professor?” 

Lastoel waved them on. “Fine. But that’s all.” At this, Raven reluctantly lowered her hand. Lastoel checked his pocket watch. “You have five minutes.” 

“Thank you.” Lily glanced at Harry, then the two of them left the room. Before exiting, they heard Lastoel say over the sarcastic cries of concern from James and Sirius, “Now. Who thinks their greatest fear is something trivial? Like spiders, perhaps…” 

Lily and Harry found Severus sitting a ways down the corridor, his hands pressed over his head.

Lily quickened her pace and knelt at his side. Harry approached more slowly. Unlike Lily, he knew what was wrong. 

Severus shook uncontrollably and his breathing was staggered. His eyes seemed glazed over, fixed on something they couldn’t see. 

“I’m here for you, Sev. I’m not going anywhere.” Lily put her arm around Severus and rested her head on his shoulder.

Severus’ head lifted slightly. Still shaking, he reached into his cloak with a stiff hand and pulled out a vial. After he struggled to get it open, Lily uncorked it and handed it back, brow furrowed. 

Severus tipped the contents of the vial into his mouth. He swallowed, coughing a bit. After a moment, he wiped his eyes and stood. He began to walk back to class, stumbling at first, then continuing on.