A/N: i am sorry to the people who were reading this before i changed it. i went through several different scenarios in my head to see how i could get it where i wanted it to be, and well, none of them really fit. so i am re-writing this. once again, i apologize to those who were reading this before i re-wrote it.
Harry Potter hurried down the dungeon stairways to the Potions classroom, his first class of the first day. Joy. He had just started his seventh year. He ran into the classroom and took his usual seat up front just a moment before Snape banged the door open as per usual. Harry didn't jump; he was too used to the sound.
"You will be brewing the Wolfsbane Potion," Snape snarled. "One of the most difficult potions in existence. Depending on how well you do, this will tell me whether you are serious about your Potion NEWT or not. The recipe's on the board - " Snape flicked his wand and it appeared. " - Begin!"
Harry had just started brewing the extremely difficult potion when suddenly, there was a flash of bright white light and a high, keening noise. Harry disappeared from that time.
"It is him," Snape whispered in awe. Thankfully, no-one seemed to notice. Then he invisibly shook himself and barked, "Miss Granger! Please inform the headmaster that someone has just been 'dropped in'. he'll know what I mean."
Hermione nodded her head and took off running.
Harry, meanwhile, was dropping into someone else's cauldron - 20 years in the past. Harry heard several screams, and saw a young Severus Snape. Holy crap. I'm in the past, was his last thought before blacking out.
Severus Snape, the person who's cauldron had just been tipped, was the only one splashed with the potion (besides Harry). Painful boils sprouted where the potion touched his skin. "What the bloody hell just happened?"
Slughorn looked around the room. "Mr. Snape, if you could please escort our, er, visitor, to the hospital wing, seeing as you need to visit yourself."
Severus nodded and levitated Harry to the hospital wing.
Madame Pomfrey bustled over. "Oh my stars! What happened?"
"He fell into my cauldron. I got splashed," Severus said shortly, wincing.
Pomfrey quickly gave Severus a Boil Cure potion and started working on Harry. Severus sneaked off, seeing an opportunity to get out of there before the overprotective medi-witch told him to stay there.
Harry slowly woke. He groaned, he had a pounding headache. He rubbed his temples, and it receded somewhat. He felt his glasses shoved on his face, so he opened his eyes and saw a very angry Albus Dumbledore sitting beside his bed. He groaned again.
"What is your name? Who are you? Where are you from?" Dumbledore fired off rapidly.
Harry quickly thought, still rubbing his head. He sighed, "My name is Max, Maximum Ride." He had heard of some Muggles talking this book series called "Maximum Ride" by James Patterson, and had liked the name. "What year is this?"
Dumbledore was so taken aback by the question, he immediately answered, "1977."
Again, thinking quickly, Harry said, "Well, there you go. I am from the past."
"It seems as though you 'dropped in' one of my students cauldrons," Dumbledore smiled.
"Yes, because I can't tell weather I've fallen or not," Harry said sarcastically. "I realized that. Anyway, I should probably get Sorted. we don't know how long I'm going to be here, so I might as well get comfortable."
"Right you are Mr. Ride. As soon as Madame Pomfrey lets you out, we will Sort you," Dumbledore agreed. He left, leaving Harry to fall back asleep.
This time, when Harry woke, Madame Pomfrey was performing diagnostic charms on him. She sighed, and said, "Well Mr. Ride, it appears you are free to go. Lucky for you, it's almost breakfast time, so just go to the Great Hall. Dumbledore will be waiting for you so you may be Sorted."
Harry grinned. "Thank you. Er, where are my clothes? I don't fancy the idea of going out in a hospital gown."
Madame Pomfrey pointed to his feet. Harry saw his clothes all folded up there. "Oh. Thanks again." Pomfrey nodded and went into her office. Harry quickly dressed and dashed down into the Great Hall. He saw Dumbledore standing there with the Sorting Hat on the stool beside him.
"Ah, Mr. Ride. When everyone gets here for breakfast, I shall introduce you and you'll be Sorted. I'll place the Hat on your head, and when it shouts out your house - Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin - I'll direct you to the correct table."
Right then the bell rang for breakfast, and about 300 students all poured in and settled at their House tables. They looked bewildered at Dumbledore and Harry, before shutting up as Dumbledore clapped his hands.
"Now then students, it seems that the young man who 'dropped in' our seventh year's potions lesson is, in fact, from the past. None of us know how or why, but as you all should know, sometimes magic does things to us for the better. His name is Maximum Ride. I will Sort him, as we don't know how long he could possibly be here." Dumbledore gestured for Harry to have a seat and placed the Hat on his head. Harry awaited anxiously for the Hat to speak.
"I have been awaken to Sort a 7th year?" the Hat griped.
"Yeah," Harry thought.
"Intriguing mind you have, Mr. Po- excuse me, Mr. Ride. You are a time-traveler?""No, I'm an exchange student from Zimbabwe."
"Yeesh! No need for sarcasm. So, will you accept what my future self suggested for you the first time then?" "Yes."
Harry walked over to the table, quite satisfied, and sat next to Severus. "So, what's your name?"
"I'm Severus Snape," Severus replied.
"Maximum Ride, as you heard," Harry said, and shook Severus' hand. "I guess I'll be rooming with you?"
"Yes."
"Do you like potions?"
"Are you kidding? It's my favorite class!" Severus had excitement on his face, the only emotion besides hate that Harry had ever seen on him.
"Good. Mine too. Potions are epic!"
"Epic?" Severus raised an eyebrow.
"Means awesome, but it's shorter. Popular word in my time."
"Ah."
A/N: as my first AN said at the top, i am re-writing this - hopefully for the better. From now on, Harry will be called Max.