Chapter one

"If we don't hurry we'll be late for our next class, and we still need to make sure there's enough food in there ready for the four of us."

"I know Padfoot, let's just get down to the kitchens while we have a chance," James smiled but slipped the cloak over himself and Sirius. They had the map opened; they would glance at it occasionally as they made their way to the kitchens. James and Sirius both smiled at the house elves as they kept bringing more and more food, even drinks, once the bag was full James had to stop them, but he did smile and thank them for everything.

James and Sirius made their way into the tunnel to the shrieking shack, they put the bag of food in one of the rooms, cast a cooling charm and a preservation charm on the bag then checked to make sure that anything broken was repaired ready for Moony to use again.

"He never likes to talk about how it feels, how do you think it feels to transform into a wolf?"

"I think a lot like our transformation Sirius, he morphs into a werewolf, we morph into Prongs and Padfoot. But you know, I'm actually glad Wormtail has detention and won't be with us tonight, all he does is whine and scurry into one of the other rooms. I get Moony can be frightening but once Padfoot and Prongs is with him he calms down."

"I can't believe he ended up in Gryffindor when he doesn't have a lick of courage. Anyway, we've finished in here, let's get back before someone notices we're gone. If we end up in detention you won't get to see that gorgeous red head."

"I told Lily I want to spend a couple of hours with her before dark. You know, I have a feeling she knows why we disappear every full month. But she does like Remus, so she knows it's not his fault."

"I'm just glad she's not talking to that greasy git anymore. Is it me or does this tunnel feel like it's getting smaller," Sirius rubbed his arm that had bumped against the wall.

"It's you or us, we're still growing Padfoot so try to stay in the centre and you won't keep scraping up your arms," James smirked but when he turned back he heard something smash, "What was that?"

"I don't know, my arm hit something," Sirius and James looked around but as they were in a dark unlit tunnel they could not see anything, they only felt a slight dizziness, "Must have been an old glass with a potion in it or something, let's not worry about it now Prongs."

"Okay, try to keep your arms from bumping anything else," James turned and continued through the tunnel. He reached a hand out and found the knot, the tree's branches stopped moving instantly, "Come on, under the cloak," James stood with his back to the castle as he held the cloak up for Sirius who stepped out from the tunnel, James dropped the cloak then both boys turned.

"What the fuck," Sirius shouted.

"What's going on, why does the castle look destroyed? Oh, I wonder if it's the muggle charms, they see a wrecked castle, maybe those spells are affecting us."

"Maybe, but why would we, two wizards see an illusion meant for muggles? It doesn't make sense James."

"No, unless something has happened to the charms, their working backwards or something. Let's just get inside and see if that looks wrecked or the same."

James and Sirius walked slowly so the cloak wouldn't slip, they got to the side of the castle and stopped again. They stood staring at all the people moving about, not students in uniforms, but a lot of adults they didn't recognise. There were teenagers there but none were in their uniforms and every single one of them looked tired and hurt, they all had some type of injury.

"Who are those people, what's going on?" James whispered.

"I have no idea Prongs, but Hagrid is there, he looks hurt as well. But does he look older to you?"

"Yeah, he does but look what's behind him, a giant who seems to be helping him. I don't recognise anyone else, do you?"

"No, no one looks familiar. What do you want to do James?"

"Let's just sit here for a while and watch, maybe whatever you broke is making us hallucinate, we'll see if it wears off," James and Sirius crept to the front of the castle, sat down leaning against the wall but made sure the cloak was still covering them.

"Hey, isn't that Sprout?" Sirius pointed.

"Looks like her but she's a lot older, maybe it's her mother or someone else related to her."

James and Sirius kept scanning the crowds of people trying to see anyone that looked familiar, but also wondering why the couple of people they did know looked older but also hurt. It seems everyone was sporting some type of injury, but they had no idea why.

Their eyes landed on a young man limping heavily, he moved slowly and they could tell this man was in a lot of pain. Apart from limping, one hand was pressed against his shoulder and he was moving very slowly.

"What the fuck," Sirius said, "It can't be."

"It looks like Snivellus, but again his older. Let's just stay quiet and listen, try and find out what the hell is going on."

'Harry,' Severus called as he hurried towards the raven haired young man, 'Here, you are supposed to use your walking stick.'

'Sorry, I forgot, shouldn't you be resting Severus, you did almost die?'

'I'm fine after a few potions from Poppy. You're the one that actually died, so you should have stayed in the hospital.'

'I can't stay in there every minute, I need some fresh air. But I can't keep seeing all those injured people. Do you realise what would have happened if I didn't find you in time, I wouldn't have known and he'd be still here, killing, killing everyone.'

'I know, you've already told me and I told you that I tried to find you over the last couple of months. The only time I did was when I sent you the sword. But Harry, he's dead, you killed him, the war is over.'

'The war is over, but so are the lives of a lot of people.'

'Yes, we lost many people during the fight, but think logically, look how many supporters he had then look at how many died. Really, we came out of this better than we should have, you and I never believed we'd survive, but we did,' Severus saw Harry sway a little and conjured a chair, 'Sit your stubborn arse down Potter.'

James and Sirius both gasped loudly, "potter, it can't be, I have no one in the family that age, just my parents. My second cousin, Alastair is close but he has blond hair, not black and he doesn't live in this country," James whispered but peered closely at the man who was talking to Snape.

"I wish I could see him better."

"Yes, so do I, but let's listen again."

Severus helped Harry slowly lower himself to the chair, 'Poppy is not going to be happy with you.'

'She's never happy with me, why do you think she assigned me the Potter bed, no one else is allowed in that bed but me. No, I've spent way too much time in that room and now it's filled to capacity.'

'Have you eaten today?'

'I had some breakfast, Kreacher brought me some before I came out here,' Harry stared up at the castle, 'Will this place ever be back the way it was Severus?'

'In time, a long time, but it will. Minerva is organising all the documentation first, they cannot repair Hogwarts until every bit has been photographed and documented. The battle of Hogwarts will be in dozens of books, not to mention you.'

'I'm in enough books now. Do you know I've never read them, not one?'

'Why would you not want to read them?'

'Do you think any kid wants to read that, I know I didn't. If there was something I really needed to know Hermione would tell me, she's read them all.'

'Of course she has, is there anything she hasn't read?'

Harry chuckled, 'Probably not, but that's Hermione.'

'Is it true about her and Weasley?'

'Yeah, they finally admitted how they felt, then snogged right in the middle of all the fighting. I'm standing there waiting, finally I just said can't you hold it we're fighting a war here you know.'

Severus and Harry chuckled, 'I could imagine, but those two have been dancing around their feelings for years. What about you, I did overhear Miss Weasley asking about you?'

'I told her I was gay so we couldn't be together. She actually took that news better than I thought, I expected to be hexed. Do you know what she said?'

'No, so tell me.'

'She said that she always dreamt of marrying the-boy-who-lived, now the man that survived wants to shag arse and not her, so she'll have to find another hero. With Ginny, I know she wasn't saying that to upset me, she was trying to make me smile, she always tried to make me smile. I just hope whoever she does put her feelings to know that not only will her six brothers been watching out for her but so will I. If I have to use my name as the saviour of the wizarding world to protect her and her family, I will.'

'Oh Harry, it won't matter who needs protecting, you will stand up and do it, just like you have been doing for years. That is your mother you know, she used to stand up for everyone, including me, over your father. I used to like seeing that.'

'Severus,' Harry scowled but noticed his old potions teacher was trying to cheer him up, so he smiled before he relaxed back into the chair and stared back up at the castle with his thoughts on hoping it will be back the way it should be.