CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:

GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST

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When the end of April came around the flowers started blooming by the Black Lake, and the sun rose earlier every morning, but only one thing was on everyone's mind: It was the O.W.L'S. They were getting constantly reminded of it. One student, Hannah Abbott had also had to take a sleeping draught, because she had gotten so stressed and fainted.

Dawn had studied so hard for these exams. Despite some people's believe, she did care about doing well.

The only exam she was worried about was Defence Against the Dark Arts. Considering Umbridge was her Professor, she was screwed. However she knew she was going to at least pass because of the lessons. Lily did also give her a bit of notes on difficult potions.

And the worst thing of all was that Umbridge has replaced Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts. It happened afternoon during the defence lesson, she had found out from Harry that Dumbledore had left the castle after almost getting taking in by the Ministry, who believed he was plotting against them.

Since then he had been missing, and Umbridge was in charge of Hogwarts.

Hogwarts was not like how it used to be. Breakfast and Dinner was rushed because no one wanted to be anywhere Umbridge was. The common room was full most days, and people even started spending days in the Library it had gotten so bad.

The only thing that kept her happy right now was Fletcher. Quite literally, his personality and presence was so strong, it distracted her from all the problems in Hogwarts.

Right now, she was on her way to her lessons with Snape.

Dawn practised Occulemency every night and admittedly she understood what clearing her mind meant now. She became better at blocking Snape from her mind, and even slightly more advanced than Harry. This wasn't good however because he needed it more than she did.

She strolls past the dungeon and is greeted with Harry. The minute he spots her he comes over. He had a look on his face which made her narrow her eyes.

"What are you up to?"

"I need a favour." he replies, and she nods. "There's a memory in Snape's office, on the third shelf, he has it hidden away for some private reason. I know it has something to do with him. With Voldemort."

"Think, or know?"

"Think, but it's Snape." Harry corrected. "Please, he won't be down for another ten minutes. Fletcher is distracting him for me."

Her eyes lit up at the mention of him. "Alright, fine. Give me a signal when he's coming."

She enters Snape's office, and quickly shuts the door. She goes over towards the third shelf and does indeed find the memory he was talking about. It was the same one he took out from his mind on the first day they started Occulemencly.

She sighed, and glanced back to the door. The things she did for this boy.

She took out the memory with her wand and raised it to her head, and closed her eyes.

Dawn found herself standing outside the Black Lake. It had been sunny outside but she couldn't feel it. She was hurdled by several students all surrounding what appeared to be a fight. When she made her way to the front, her eyes widened at the sight.

A younger Snape had been hanging by his legs dangling on a tree. The rest of the students were laughing. He was choking on what looked like bubbles.

She heard a familiar loud laugh.

When she turned she is greeted by James. Except he was much younger. His hair was still the same, messy and unkept. He looked like Harry, or Harry looked like him.

His wand was extended and he was the one who was halting Snape into the air.

Sirius was beside him. He looked like he barely aged. He laughed loudly, and even had tears coming out of his face. He didn't seem to notice the several girls who were gawking at him and James.

"Alright Evans?" James greets, and his voice was deep, as if trying to make it that way.

"You think you're funny?" a new voice bellowed. Her eyes widened when Lily was there. She appeared furious. "But you're just arrogant, bullying toe-rag, Potter. Leave him alone."

"I will if you'll go out with me, Evans." James grinned. "Go out with me and I'll never lay a hand on old Snivelly again."

"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid."

"Bad luck Prongs." Sirius mentions, he patted James shoulder.

"Put him down now!" Lily screamed, pulling out her own wand and pointing it at Potter.

James only seemed to enjoy it more.

He put his wand down. "You're lucky Evans is here, this time."

"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!" Snape bellowed.

Dawn's eyes widened. Mudblood. She hadn't ever heard anyone say that in a long time. The word made everyone quiet. James eyes widened, and Sirius' narrowed.

"Fine. I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus." Lily said coldly.

"Apologise to Evans right now!" James demanded.

"I don't want you to make him apologise! You're just as bad as he is."

An immense look of offence spread across James' face. "What? I would never call you a you-know what..."

"Messing your hair up because you think it looks so cool to look like you've just gotten off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can? I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat-head on it. You make me sick."

Dawn watched as Lily turned on her feet and left him.

James watched her go and clenched his jaw whilst doing so. His eyes landed on the ground for a few seconds, but returned back up to Snape. This time they narrowed.

She never did find out what happened after that, for she was torn out of his memories when she lands against the ground. Dawn didn't show her pain but she had landed back on her elbow. She could hear a crack emit from it.

Snape stands in front of her. "Having fun...are we?"

Thanks for the signal Harry, she thinks.

"I-I didn't know-" she starts. "I wouldn't have looked if I knew-"

"You will not tell anyone about this." Snape warns, "or I might let it slip who you you really are. Our lessons are now finished. Leave my office."

She didn't hesitate to gather her things and leave his room. She had now felt incredibly rude for prying into that memory. It wasn't about the Ministry, it was about James, and how he had done something like that.

Of course, she had known about the rivalry between James and Snape.

Except she didn't know about the hexing, and embarrassment he caused him. That sort of thing stays with someone forever. It didn't mean Snape was some sort of angel, but that was wrong.

She made her way back to the common room and when she walked through the portrait, she was greeted by Harry and Fletcher.

"What are you doing back so soon?" Fletcher asked, sitting up.

"Snape caught me before I had a chance to say anything. I tried to warn you but he shoved me out of the way." he explained. "I came back up here."

She strolled to them both, and didn't reply for a few moments. She sat down beside Fletcher, and he could sense something was wrong because he wrapped an arm around her.

"Did he do something-"

"Not him. He didn't do anything." she says quietly, looking to Harry. "The memory wasn't anything about the Ministry. It was from his time in Hogwarts. It was him and dad."

"Dad?" Harry repeated. "Why would he hide a memory of dad?"

"Because Dad was horrible. He was hexing him. He was making Snape's mouth full of soap, and he was hanging him by his legs." Dawn explains, her nose crinkling in disgust. "It was horrendous. I felt..I feel bad for him. It was so wrong. I-I couldn't believe it. Snape was choking on the soap and everything."

Harry didn't seem to understand this. "Are you sure you saw it right?"

She gave him a look. "Yes, I'm sure. After it Snape called Lily....the word."

"What word?" Fletcher questioned. "Oh you mean a...mudblood?"

"Yeah, I'm not surprised about that because I know what he's liked he's a horrible person, but Dad? He was so different-"

Harry sent her a look. "He said that about my mum, and you're defending Snape?"

She looked at him. "I never said I'm defending him, I'm saying that-"

"Well, you're clearly taking his side-"

"Maybe if you let me actually speak then you'll know what I'm trying to say."

"How about we all let one another speak, and we can all have some calm words-" Fletcher started, but there was none of that.

"Stay out of it!" the two of them shouted at the same time. Before Harry could speak, Dawn started. "What I'm trying to say is that before he called your mum that word, Dad was hexing him for no reason. He was being a bully-"

"A bully?" Harry scoffed. "I find that word a little strong."

"You didn't see it, Harry!" she yelled back.

Harry rolled his eyes at her. "You're just saying that because you want any chance to spit on dad for anything he does."

"Even if she has, she has a fair point though, mate." Fletcher says, when Harry raised his voice. "You're dad hasn't exactly been the best, has he?"

"You weren't saying that when you stayed with us all during Christmas."

Dawn was quick to go, "Watch yourself, Harry. And what do you mean I'm trying to spit on dad every chance I get?"

"Not just dad, my mum too. You were horrible to her for months!" Harry bellowed.

"She wouldn't give me the space I needed. She was trying to act like my mum!" Dawn yelled back, even louder. "I don't have to bond with her Harry! She's not my mother. I don't see how this has anything to do with what talking about either."

"Do you know what is was like for my mum to have to find out that dad had another child?" Harry questioned, causing her to go quiet. "She couldn't have any more children, Dawn, and then you came along and all she wanted to do was make your feel comfortable, and you completely ignored her-"

Something in her snapped when he said this, and next thing she had been screaming with him in anger she didn't know she had. "You don't think I knew that? You don't think I knew she was trying? I was to busy trying to get over the fact my mum was killed. She was murdered right in front of me! And every time I looked at your mum, all I could think about was the fact mine was dead."

Harry's mouth opened to retort (and she knew by his expression it was going to be something bad) but he didn't get a chance to reply.

She folded her arms over her stomach. "Get out, oh and next time you want to find out something to do it yourself because I won't be doing it for you."

He rolled his eyes at her, and she did so back at him. He left the room looking equally as angry as she did.

The second he left, tears flooded down her face. Not because of the argument, but because of her mum. She hadn't thought about her mum's death in months, and the second she spoke about it, it brought back all the feelings from before. The sadness, the anger, the guilt.

"Come here."

She didn't need to turn, because a set of arms wrapped around her body hugging her closely. She turned around facing Fletcher chest, as she cried. She wrapped her arms around his torso, and rested her head on his chest. When she pulled away, he pressed a kiss on her forehead.

"Ignore him, he's just stupid." he says, shaking his head. "He doesn't know what you went though, he'll never know."

She nods. "It's not him. It's just my mum. I miss her."

"She's be so proud of the person you became, alright? Don't let him get you down." she nodded again, and pulled away from him. "I think I know something that will make you feel better."

"What is it?"

"Quidditch."

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Dawn had to talk with James. She couldn't even sleep until she did so. She spent the entire day playing Quidditch with Fletcher, and she would admit, it did take her mind off him for a little while.

However not long enough. Which is exactly why she sent him an owl earlier that day asking him to use the fireplace at Grimmauld for nine that night. He had gotten back to her a few hours later, seemingly happy about this.

She wanted to know why. She had to know why.

She knew there was rivalry between the both of them, and of course she wanted to side with her father. Except after seeing what she saw today, she just couldn't find a reasonable explanation.

Plus, she was incredibly pissed off with Harry, but she pushed that to the back of her mind.

She sits in front of the fire and clearly says. "Grimmauld place."

The coal blocks start to move, for a few moments before James' face appears.

"Little stag!" he greets cheerfully, leaning forward to see her. "I was so happy when I heard you wanted to talk. What's up? Is everything alright?"

"Hi Dad." she greeted, bringing an instant smile to his face. "If you're busy we could do it another time-"

"Now is perfect." James responded, with a nod. He could sense her hesitation. "You can tell me, alright? What's troubling you?"

"Snape," she said, practically stuttering out the name. "When I was doing the Occulemency lesson with him, I saw one of his memories. I didn't mean to look, but it was a bad memory. It was one with you, and him. Remus and Sirius were there to."

His smile vanished in a second. "Er what memory was it?"

"It was the day he called Lily a-" she brought her voice low. "mudblood."

She saw this face harden, and he nods. "Yeah."

"Yeah?" her nose crinkled. He appeared confused by her reaction. "What do you mean yeah?"

Suddenly it then clicked into his mind what else had happened that day. Part of him had pushed back what he had done to Snape, and only remembered the part of him defending Lily.

"You're talking about me hexing Snape, aren't you?"

"Yeah. I saw the entire thing."

James mouth opens but suddenly two more heads popped into the fire. It took her a few moments to realise it was Sirius and Remus.

"Hiya Dawn." Sirius says cheerfully.

She sends a nod in his direction - since he was Fletcher's father she found herself less inclined to be as friendly around him.

Fletcher refused to talk about him and she didn't push him at all to, because she knew about how sensitive he was when it came to it. She knew how he felt.

She saw James say something lowly to the both of them, and she knew he had told them what they were talking about.

"Lots of people are stupid when they're fifteen, Dawn." Remus told her softly. "James here, he grew out of it. He was a prat when he was younger. I know what you saw was probably not very nice."

"Unlike Snape." Sirius adds. "Your father is a good man. He always had been, he was stupid when he was that age, he made a mistake."

"I know, I know it was a mistake. And I know Snape is also the worst of them all, because he is still a prat, but....it just wasn't nice to see, how you used to be."

Remus and Sirius exchange looks, before disappearing. Once they were gone, James forced a smile at her.

"You're disappointed. I can tell." he pointed out, and all she could is give a small nod. "I'm sorry. I knew that would catch upon me one day. I was an idiot, I was so stupid. What I did to Snape was wrong. I apologised for it as much as I could but I know that doesn't make a difference. I was horrible to him."

"Why did you do it?"

He didn't hesitate to answer. "I was jealous. Jealous of his relationship with Lily. The fact he could talk to her without worrying that she would tell him to go away, that they were always together, it annoyed me and it shouldn't have."

Dawn nodded, and glanced away. At least now she understood it.

"I should get going, I'll see you soon." Dawn gave him a small smile. "Bye dad."

He said goodbye back, although he did lack the forced enthusiasm she did. She stood up, and left the fireplace.

Dawn sighed. Next the she saw him, which was two weeks from now at the Black Benefit Bodacious event, was going to be very awkward.

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Anyone else surprised I actually find the motivation to update?