Disclaimer: The amazing world of Magic and the characters belongs to J.K. Rowling
2 May 1998
A red-gold glow burst suddenly across the enchanted sky above as the sun appeared over the sill of the nearest window, and the light hit both of their faces at the same time so that Voldemort's was a flaming blur; Nature itself indicating that the time had come.
Harry heard the high voice shriek "Avada Kedavra" as he simultaneously yelled "Expelliarmus", as he pointed Draco's wand. There was a bang like a cannon blast, and golden flames erupted between them at the dead center of the circle they had been treading, marking the point where the spells collided.*
One would think that time itself stopped by the frozen figures of every living being, staring wide eyes as the two leaders battled for dominance.
It was the true prove of Voldemort's power that even with the Elder Wand's reluctance to harm its master, the green light slowly but steadily pushed the scarlet one.
Harry felt his feet slowly buckled under the assault. The strain from his stunt in Gringotts until his all night battle started to swamped his body as he forced his drained magical core to milked more magic, his Invisibility Cloak slipped further down, revealing more than his upper body.
Admist the still figures, a black shape slipped almost unnoticed. Skin as pale as corpse with the scent of death looming and blood still dripping from a big wound from his neck, Cedar and Unicorn tail hair wand gripped thightly with a determined expression.
The newcomer halted a few metres from the middle of the circle, unconciously forming a perfect triangle. As he saw Harry struggle, the wand pointed steadily to his enemy, ignoring gasp of surprises from the spectators, and whispered with his damaged throat one firm word
"Sectumsempra"
The result was spontan. The golden flames burned brighter that blinded every eyes, A dome made of pure light expanded and engulfed the three wizards as a sound like huge explosion shook the whole castle and sent the fighters to dove for cover.
When the light finally dimmed, there were no sign of any of the wizards. It's like they had vanished without trace.
10 June 1935
A young man on his twentieth knocked the door of a dingy building with name plate Wool Orphanage. His black and somewhat greasy hair parted like curtain as he bent down to address the little girl who opened the door.
"May I speak to the matron?"
The little girl gave a smile "Do you want to bring one of us home?" She asked excitedly, led him to the matron's Office.
The young man didn't answer. He just patted the girl's head before entered the small office.
A middle aged woman was busy scribbling on a book. She raised her head when he entered, and hastily put her book away, stood and offered him her hand.
"Good morning sir, my name is Mrs. Cole and I am the head matron here. What can I do for you?"
The man took the offered hand "Good morning Mrs. Cole. My name is Severus Snape and I would like to adopt a child"
Mrs. Cole raised an eyebrow "Adopt? No offence Mr. Snape, but you look very young. Raising children is a serious and big responsibility"
Severus muttered under his breath and the matron's eyes glazed over.
"My pleasure, sir. All the children are in the playroom, the room on the end of left corridor"
"Thank you, ma'am. Do you mind if I meet them?"
"No, not at all"
With brisk pace, Severus located the pointed room. He opened the wooden door with barely noise. There were circa fifteen children between age five to preteen either playing tag or with blocks and other toys. however, his gaze fell to an eight years old boy who sat alone in the corner, head bend, thick book on his hands without the care of the world.
Sensing the gaze, the boy lifted his eyes. The dark midnight blue eyes widened slightly when met Severus' onyx before back to impassive and the owner shifted his eyes back to his book.
Smirking inwardly, Severus made his way to the boy, paid no mind of the other children who by now pausing in their activities.
His target assumed a rigid, wary stance as the former Potion Professor got closer. However, his face remained unfazed, only Severus's super keen eyes detected the death grip the child had on his book.
Severus cleared his throat awkwardly as he took a seat on the chair near him "I assume from your reaction that you remember?"
"Yes" The single syllable was uttered in barely above whisper without even a glance.
Severus released breath that he didn't realize was holding "Thank Merlin"
"What are you doing here? Better yet, in this time?" the child, the kiddie version of Lord Voldemort asked with almost perfectly controlled voice.
His conversation partner shrugged "Who knows. One moment I was blinded by bright light and the next, I woke in St Mungo"
"That doesn't answer my first question"
"Ah yes. I thought since you were already born in this time, I would at least see a familiar face. Though the fact that you remembered did make me wondering..." he trailed off as the seemingly young child abandoned his book with a look crossed between fury and horror.
"That little menace!" The spat was bordering hiss, his magic -which was much more than his first time at age eight but still only drop of water in ocean compared to his adult self, much to his disgust- swirling dangerously.
Severus merely seemed amused "Given your condition, I don't think it's the proper word"
Whatever Voldemort was going to say was left unknown as an older boy, maybe twelve years old, and a younger one who looked a bit younger than Voldemort apparent age with similar face with the older one choose the moment to approach the two.
The older threw the future Dark Lord a quick dirty look which he completely ignored then smiled wide at Severus "Do you come to adopt?"
Feeling, rather than seeing, the interesting look from the faux child, Severus cleared his throat "It was my intention, yes"
The younger boy beamed "My name is Robert, and this is my older brother, Richard. Come play with us and our friends"
"Yeah" Richard added "You don't need to speak with him then" the word was spoken with disdain that unperturbed the object.
Severus blinked "What's wrong?" blame his high curiosity that he need to ask, ignoring the angry hiss from the boy in question.
Mistaking the question for an encouragement, Robert animatedly launched into explanation.
"Mrs. Cole said he is a devil rein- uh, reincaranat and that he kill his mother right after he is born, you know. And strange things often happened around him, he is now sleeping alone cause Paul doesn't want to sleep with him anymore. Oh, Paul is there, playing blocks with Anna, Rosemary, Jack, and Marie" He pointed a group of ten year old who indeed been busy building castle.
Richard nodded "Yeah. He is trouble, all right. No one will want him. He was adopted once before, when I was little but the adult brought him back right on. Said he was real nightmare. He will kill you if you go alone with him"
Severus was genuinely surprised by the tale. Sure, he was live in muggle neighborhood and no stranger to the prejudiced from the muggle, but it never even crossed his mind that the Dark Lord had face the same fate as well. It's no wonder he grew up bitter if he lived in this kind of environment for seventeen years.
"Well, at least he got the last part right" an amused low drawl snapped Severus from his musing
Severus threw the kiddie Dark Lord a look and shifted his attention to the real children "Forgive me, but I would like to chat with him for a bit more and I don't want to hold you boys from your fun"
The boys looked glum and left reluctantly, but before giving the wizard a scathing glare that promised retribution.
"Yes, you did already try didn't you? Too bad it didn't work"
His former master growled once more, but likely realized the difference of their power right now as he settled back to leaned against the wall.
They lapsed into silence until the matron came. She scanned the room before seemingly got a heart attack when discovered with whom Severus sat.
Severus chuckled in amusement "Even in a child body you still can terrified people?"
"You heard what the brat said" he shrugged
"Yes. Right on spot, hmm"
"Mr. Snape" Mrs. Cole made a beeline toward the two wizards "I see that you already meet Tom" Severus didn't miss the furious low growl from the kiddie Dark Lord at the word "I apologize if he offended you. Tom, don't bother this fine mister won't you?"
If look could kill, surely the matron would already drop dead five time over from Tom's glare. Severus stood up quickly, before the apparent child really killed the woman.
"Not to worry, Mrs. Cole. I'm actually enjoy talking to... Tom. In fact, I have made up my mind and would like to adopt him"
He cheered inside when two identical surprised gasps accompanied by a thud of a fallen book met his ears. He could not see Tom, but he did see Mrs. Cole frozen with comical expression.
"Madam?"
"Are... are you sure, Mr. Snape? Tom is an unusual boy who required special attention and difficulty in behavior"
"I do aware. Do not worry Mrs. Cole, just signed out the adoption paper and you will not see him again. Now if you could sort the paperwork? I would like to accompany Tom packed"
Hearing the promise to never see Tom again, Mrs. Cole practically flew out the room much to the time-travelers' amusement.
Severus raised an expectant eyebrow at the now standing eight years old and noted that even at young age, he towered his peers.
"What game do you play, Severus?"
"What? Can't I just wish to aid my Lord? Of course if you prefer to stay here..."
Tom crossed his arm "Do not attempt to lie, my double crosser spy. The Potter brat had told your sob story to the entire great hall" his tone was deceptively calm and soft and Severus suddenly glad he was in an advantage in magical core as well as stamina.
Severus groaned "That little wench... Well since the cat is out the bag already. Yes, I betrayed you and still wish you dead. But believe it or not, I have no intention to stay in time and place I didn't even know anything about and you are the only one I can turned to. That and you hear what they said, keep your enemy closer and all that"
"I see" Tom still used the deceptive tone "However, you have to accept, Severus that sometimes you don't get what you want" despite look much younger, Tom somehow made it look like an adult scolding a kid.
"You have appearance of a child even if mentally you're old. What can you do by yourself, especially in Muggle world?"
Tom snorted softly and gave Severus appraising look "You look barely out of teenager yourself. How old are you physically, sixteen, seventeen?"
"Eighteen actually. Graduated from Durmstrang this spring with highest grade in potion, inherited a Snape Manor, and got some vault in Gringotts from my mother side whoever she was supposed to, at least according to the goblins"
"I thought your father was muggle?"
"He was. The manor, while isolated was clearly belong to muggle" Severus rubbed his eyes tiredly "What's important is that who or whatever sent us back in time provided me with money and foolproof identity"
"Good for you. Alas, it has nothing to do with me" Tom responded somewhat flippantly, though Severus' keen ears detected a bitter undertone.
Severus swallow back a sigh "Look, I know we're enemies and all that. But I do admit that I need you this time, and in return I will offer you a place to freely use magic. The manor, while not as grand as Malfoy Manor, will be more than enough that we won't see each other unless necessary"
The icy blue eyes narrowed "You admit that you want to kill me, Severus"
"A truce then? I will swear an oath that I won't harm you unless in self-defense or duels, maybe, as long as you were a minor" Severus stuck his hand
Weighing the plus and minus, Tom shook the hand briefly "Do the Oath right outside this place"
Half an hour later, Severus tucked his wand back to his back pocket and offering his arm to his new ward, not that he would admit it out loud. The newly adopted, even if just for formalities, took the arm and with a loud crack, they disappeared.
Life for the two time-travelers was quite normal for about a week. They both had been resided in same house before, even with different circumstances, and know what to do to avoid conflict. Tom had, albeit begrudgingly, given Severus permission to call him by his hated first name after the Potion Prodigy, he hadn't had a chance to get a mastery this time around, had pointed out that he couldn't call his ward by 'my Lord' even if he wanted to, which he didn't.
Severus had taken Tom to shop on his second day at the manor and the faux child had helped him adapted to the more rigid and out-to-date custom in 1935. Both usually spent breakfast and dinner together with a copy of Daily Prophet and Evening Prophet respectively and discussing whatever news draw their interest, careful to keep their conversation light-hearted. The young adult had to admit that his master was apparently saner than he could ever remember, he chalked it as a side effect of having a whole soul. And even if Severus found his housemate an interesting conversationalist, he was wary for he remembered Dumbledore once said that Tom had an ability to charm peoples and trapped them without them notice.
Yes, Severus mused as they engaged in lively discussion about the rising of Grindelwald, this Dark Lord was far more dangerous than before.
The morning of 20 June came as normal. They met in the dining room and the house elves laid out the breakfast and the newspaper as always. Midway through the breakfast, however, a barn owl flew from the window, landing in front of Severus.
Both wizards exchanged confused glance. So far, both time travelers spent their days mostly inside the manor except when they go shopping and one time to St Mungo for a checkup for Tom. Severus definitely hadn't make any acquaintances or doing something that required correspondence as he felt he still in cultural shock.
Slowly, he pulled out his wand, checked both the letter and the owl for harmful curse, ignoring the offended hoot from the bird. When the result came negative, he freed the messenger it's burden and watched as the owl immediately took off.
Tom was abandoning his food either and now closely observed his former spy with an alert stance. And almost flew his seat when Severus suddenly choked.
"What is that, Severus?" he asked as calmly as he could.
Severus didn't answer, merely handed him the parchment.
The first thing Tom noticed was the St. Mungo logos. He furrowed his eyebrow, for it was too long since his medical checkup and they should have been got the message if there's something wrong with him.
His confused expression quickly disappeared as he scanned the formal letter and zeroed on one sentence
"As Mr. Evans closest living relative, we ask Mr. Snape to come to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries to sort out the paperwork and his living arrangement"
A quick check provided Tom with Mr. Evans information. His full name was Harry James Evans with birthday date 31. July 1927.
He peered over Severus who had his head on his hands, looking miserable "Is it too much to wish that I can free from the boy?" he complained "I swear, whatever mess with us had really sick sense of humor"
"According to the brat, you have been protecting him for the last seven years." Tom pointed out dryly.
Severus leveled a halfhearted glare "Just because I protect him doesn't mean I have to like him. Especially when he gone around risking his neck whenever possible" but he accioe'd his robe and stalking to the fireplace, snatching the Daily Prophet on his way.
Harry Potter was getting frustrated. His whole body was ached and he could do nothing more than opening his eyes. Initially he had thought that he died in the battle along with Voldemort, the last thing he knew was a white light joined his and Voldemort curse and a silhouette of his old Potion professor which he deemed a dying man's hallucination for the man had already dead. So it's understandably frustrating that he came around in a magical ancient looking hospital. St Mungo, the Healer had informed him, but the hospital looked very different than when he visited Mr. Weasley two years ago, at least as far as he knew.
Nobody seemed to recognize him either which was although a relief is also alarming. His second shock came as the Healer insisting on calling him Mr. Evans, tried to convince him it's his real name and told him they had already sent a word to his relative.
Harry had snorted at that. There was no way the Dursleys will came to get him.
The Healer had left him alone for what seemed like hours, assuring him that he would feel better in no time. The way he spoke like to a five years old greatly irked Harry as it reminded him of Umbridge. Absentmindedly he wondered what happened to the Toad, he just hoped she got a trial and locked up somewhere.
He was indeed feeling stronger by the time his door creaked open again. He had managed to speak but his voice sounded high pitched and weird. The annoying Healer was back, however a young man with black robes accompanied him his time.
"... seem confused. We still don't know what happened with his parents" he heard the Healer explained and wondered under what rock did he live. Everyone knows his parents had been dead long time ago.
The stranger nodded his head and Harry got a feeling he was somewhat familiar. His first impression was he was young, maybe one or two years older than Harry, with shoulder length black hair that fell like curtain. He was not tall, yet radiated power. He waved a hand to dismiss the Healer and turn around to fully face Harry and Harry felt his breath hitched at the familiar, hooked nosed face.
"Snape?" he croaked incredulously. The Potion Master looked far younger than he remembered, in fact his age looked closer than he was in the memory.
"Mr. Potter" his former Professor acknowledge in his usual soft voice.
Despite having mixed feeling for that man, Harry couldn't help the relief that he felt at hearing the familiar name. "What... happened?" he managed to wheezed out before reducing to a coughing fit.
Snape waited for him to settled back down before sat down himself in the visitor chair. He then drew his wand and cast a 'Mufflianto'
"What I will inform you, Mr. Potter, is neither joke nor lies. It does seem impossible but it's the truth and I want you to listen without interrupting until I finished explained"
Harry gulped but nodded.
"We got thrown back in time as the aftermath of the last battle along with the Dark Lord. The day today is 20. June 1935. I woke up in 5. May 1935 with new identity as Severus Snape, alumnus from Durmstrang. Who- or Whatever threw us back in time decided that as we haven't been born in this time, we got new identities. Your name is Harry James Evans, my guess is that you got your mother's last name because Potter is a well known wizarding name and it will rise questions if a boy with surname Potter suddenly appeared. Your birthday date is 31. July 1927, you are currently eight years old and apparently I am your last living relative"
Harry's expression changing so fast with every sentences, starting with bewildered which quickly morphed into disbelief, brief amusement, and ending with pure horror.
"I assure you, Mr. Potter" Snape added smoothly "That I am as pleased as you with this recent development"
Harry coughed to clear his throat "What now, then?" he was secretly happy that he managed a whole sentence without his throat felt like dying.
Snape sighed and studying a medical chart that Harry only realized he was holding "According to the Healer, physically you only need to stay overnight for your throat to fully healed. However, since apparently you had panic attack and unresponsive, the Healer suspected there were a damage on your brain."
Harry glared at Snape at that. Everyone will be as bad as he was if they suddenly thrown back in time in a child body.
His most hated professor seemed to guess his thought, or using legilimency as his lip curled upward "We just had to convice the Healer that you were just traumatized. It would not be suspicious for a child to be scared if they woke alone in an unfamiliar place, after all. If the Healer ask what happened, said that you couldn't remember what happened to your parents and it hurt when you tried. I don't have any time or idea as to our apparent blood ties so if asked just tell him you don't know we were related but often visit your house. Any question?"
"Yeah. What do you plan to do to me, professor?"
"Right now, you were physically an eight years old. You still need a guardian and I do believe it would spare us some trouble if we stick together. Officially I will be your guardian, but I will treat you like an eighteen years old instead of eight. And I'm not your professor anymore. As loathe as I am, it will be beneficial to the cover story if you call me uncle Severus in public and simply Severus in privat"
"Riight" Harry nodded hesitantly. He was obviously unhappy with the suggestion but didn't have any other idea either.
Suddenly, he remembered something from Professor - no, Severus' explanation.
"Wait, you said Voldemort got thrown back in time as well?"
"Yes Mr. Potter. As he was technically already existed, he simply woke as his past self. And to warn you, he resided with me as well."
"He what?!" Somehow Harry managed to half shout despite his damaged throat which earned him another coughing fit.
Severus conjured him a glass of water and handed it, fully expecting the outburst "Tom is, like you, physically eight years old. His magic, control, and stamina -while better than average children- still no match to me and we both know that. He is the only one among us who actually know about custom in these time"
"I.. guess" Harry conceded sourly "Is it even safe for me to live with him? He definitely will try to kill as soon as possible"
"I'll had you two make an oath not to harm each other or orders anything to do it. That way, he won't get the advantage of being parselmouth. Which remind me, do you still possess the ability now that you are not a Horcrux?"
Harry shrugged "Never had the chance to test it out. I guess not" he felt a little sad. Despite parselmouth being attributed to dark wizards, Harry did like the ability anyway. "But, do you think he will abide? From our encounters, he seemed irrational"
"Good question, Mr. Potter. I have to admit that I myself was surprised by his sanity. I suspect, that the Horcrux robbed him his mind and now that his soul whole again, he regained all his wit and intelligent. It make things both easier and far more difficult as he is cunning and a very accomplished actor. Just bear in mind that you can't completely trust what coming from his mouth"
"Yes, sir" his new ward answered glumly.
Severus stood "Then, I will leave you to rest. I will come back tomorrow to pick you. try not to overload your brain and use the time to recuperate"
The elder sighed as he close the door behind him. How on earth did he, the dungeon bat, had gained not one, but two wards in under two weeks was something he couldn't fanthom. Especially considering one was his former master turned enemy whom he spied on and one was the son of his school rival and woman he felt in love with, who he had sworn to protect. Not to mention that they were archenemies. He would be lucky if the manor still standing by the next week.
Severus had insisted that Harry took the floo with him ("It will seem irresponsible of me to let an eight years old travel in floo alone.") so they crowded in the fireplace together while his new guardian -and didn't it left a sour taste in his mouth?- threw the floo powder and called out their destination.
Despite being held, Harry still managed to stumble when landed and end up on all four, coughing from the ash. A pale hand, too small to be Severus', appeared in silent offer for help. Harry looked up and couldn't stop the gasp as he came eyes to eyes with aristocrating young face of Tom Marvolo Riddle.
TBC
*Taken from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author's note: So, I came up with another Idea. For those who wait my other story, Alexander Damian Slytherin, please be a little more patient. I currently have minor writer's block on that one, I had the outline already planned out but had a bt difficulty to play it out.