Chapter 1

"Impossible," The man, Severus, Harry remembered him now, pushed past Dumbledore. He kneeled in front of Harry, held his chin up, and swept aside his messy bangs. Severus's eyes widened as Harry, now seeing the other more clearly as well, uttered "It really is you,"

"We cremated Harry yesterday Albus!" Black growled. "Just what are you pulling here?!"

"We need him, Sirius. The prophecy. He will end Voldemort for us for good,"

"The hell are you jabbering about?!" Harry shot back, as weak as he was with those damn magic-dampening chains, the venom in his voice could be felt.

"You're the one that stuck me in this hellhole Albus-too-many-names-Dumbledore without a trial! What makes you think I would lift a finger to help you?!"

"Because Harry, it's for the greater good," Dumbledore announced.

"Fuck your greater good!" Harry spat back, eyes still squinting, trying to disconcern the hazy blob that was the Headmaster.

"Severus please step back. I will need to undo the chains keeping Harry here to the wall so we can bring him back to Hogwarts."

Severus blinked, still shaken up about everything from the last few minutes. "Albus you can't be serious right? Please tell me you didn't imprison someone without a trial."

"It wouldn't be the first time though," Harry shot back, his voice already raspy from overuse. He then looked over to Sirius and said "You of all people should know,"

The slap was unexpected. Harry blinked as his cheek stung, Severus blinked at Black's sudden outburst and Dumbledore just sighed. "We do not have time for this Sirius. Now help your godson towards the apparition point so we can get him to the hospital wing."

"That thing isn't my godson. My godson died!" Sirius yelled before storming away. The normally stoic Severus felt a pang of guilt and whispered "I'm sorry," as the Headmaster undid the chains at the wall but left them on Harry's wrists and neck.

"Not your fault," Harry whispered as he was helped to his feet. He hissed in pain as his limbs buckled, unused to being well... used... in all those years. He nearly pitched forward but Severus caught him. Dumbledore was approaching the duo as well but Harry shot him a glare that would have made a troll piss itself and growled "Not you, you old coot," The Headmaster wisely stilled as in the small cell a gust of magic whipped about furiously even with Harry still having the magic dampening chains on.

"Severus, please take him to the apparition point," Dumbledore muttered. "I will check on Sirius,"

"You..." Severus uttered but the Headmaster had already stepped out, leaving the duo alone.

"Not your typical Saturday night right?" Harry asked with some mirth in his voice.

"It's Wednesday Potter," the dour man replied.

"What year is it?"

"1995," Severus answered.

"So I've been stuck here for nearly three decades. Just peachy,"

"You don't look a day over 20," Severus remarked suspiciously.

"I'll take that as a compliment, considering that I haven't moisturized," Harry replied though it was a bit slower as exhaustion crept over him. From where he was leaning on Snape he muttered "Could you....?"

Snape perplexed at first hadn't expected this Potter to just start clinging to him like a koala. The Potion master grunted but managed to pick the boy... no young man up, princess style, and carried him down the cold corridors. "Albus Dumbledore what did you get me into now?" Severus growled as Harry snuggled against his chest. This was definitely not the Potter he knew.

When Harry next awoke he was on a very comfortable bed with a very soft pillow. He couldn't remember the last time he felt something so soft but the voices near his bed roused him from his slumber. It had been decades since he'd seen both ladies but both Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall were talking in not-so-hushed whispers at the foot of his bed.

"Minerva you need to calm down!" Poppy hissed.

"Calm down?! I mourned for Mr. Potter and now Albus brings in this young man, claiming he is the same Mr. Potter but from another reality?! How can I calm down?!"

"Calm your tartan woman! I am as confused as you are! Nothing makes sense anymore," Poppy snapped. "I just... the past few days...."

"I know Poppy," Minerva stated. "Albus has a lot to answer for,"

Harry snorted at this which caught the attention of the two witches. 'As if the Headmaster would explain anything.' Harry thought.

"Mr. Potter, lie back down," Poppy ordered. "You are in no state to be moving yet, especially with your magic still bound,"

Harry knew better than to anger the matron. After the war, she had all but stuck him to a bed so that he could heal his core. "What happened?" he asked as things were still fuzzy for him. He remembered Snape, Dumbledore, and Sirius but nothing after he'd left the cell.

"Magical exhaustion. Quite frankly it's a wonder you're even alive Mr. Potter," Poppy muttered while Professor Mcgonagall just stared at him with an unknown expression. "I have implored the headmaster to remove these barbaric cuffs so you can fully heal but he has refused."

Harry snorted. Of course, the headmaster refused. Wouldn't do to have Harry running around at full power until he could control him. Though he voiced none of his thoughts but instead asked "So what happened to this reality's Harry?"

"Our Mr. Potter..." Minerva began. "Had a nasty fall on the stairs at headquarters. It was... fatal,"

'That's it?' Harry thought. 'No Deatheaters or dear 'ole Voldy.'

"The headmaster wishes to speak with you later Mr. Potter and Professor Snape will be by with your potions later in the evening." Minerva relayed. "It is good to see you, but awkward as well,"

"Same professor," Harry replied as indeed it was decades since he'd seen his professors. "You can tell the good headmaster to go choke on a Lemondrop for me and I would love to see Professor Snape again later," the gears in Harry's head were turning, already plotting ways to escape but as weak as he was he'd need help.

Professor McGonagall was shocked. No student was ever delighted to see Severus Snape and she nearly cracked a smile when Harry spoke of the headmaster. She would need to give the man a piece of her mind as well, especially after what Severus had relayed to her and Poppy.

Even with the banter Harry soon started feeling drowsy from the potions the matron was shoving down his throat to combat his lack of magic. Before long he was dozing off again.