Chapter one

In a dark room of a Black house a burst of fire not seen in half a decade illuminated the form of a broken man, his head lay on the desk that was cluttered with newspapers and unopened mail. His hand still clutching a mostly empty glass, and a completely empty bottle sat nearby. Harry Potter had fulfilled the prophecy but at the cost of everything and everyone he held dear. In the last three years, the burrow had been attacked, all that remained of his adopted family was ash, they had attacked during the birthday dinner of the lone twin that had survived the battle of Hogwarts. There was no way to know exactly what happened, fiendfyre didn't leave any evidence. The ministry had held a day of mourning in honor of the lost family, but that had done nothing to fill the gaping hole in Harry's life. Hermione's parents were killed in the same manner two months into her seventh year, she hadn't survived the battle of Crawley cemetery.

Between all that had happened, and all that was lost in the war and the years since, he could have endured, he could have lived if could be a part of his godson's life. After the second failed attempt Harry had signed the Black fortunes and properties to Andromeda Tonks with the exception of Grimmold place with the understanding that she would take Teddy far away and not tell anyone, even himself, where they were, for the safety of the only family he had left.

It had all been for nothing, if anything, the power vacuum left by killed or captured death eaters ignited a violent war for control of the magical underworld that spilled innocent blood in the streets of hogsmeade and diagon alley. The neutral party had come forward to take control of the government, they held the status quo from before the war, ensuring their own power and placating both sides with empty words and useless gestures.

Unheard to the restlessly sleeping wizard, a trill of sorrow and somehow hope faded as the flames left the room completely intact but now unoccupied.

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Harry Potter woke slowly, he was used to waking in pain, both physical and mental. With a deep sigh he cracked his eyes as he lifted his head. Perched on the corner of the desk watching was a Phoenix he knew looking at him with unblinking eyes, as the dark haired teen slowly tried to piece together what was going on. Harry felt as if he were being judged, he hadn't seen or heard from Fawkes since Dumbledore's funeral. Before Harry could gather his wits to ask a question, the Phoenix burst into flames, leaving no sign that he had ever been there.

Without conscious thought he whipped out his wand and scanned the room after several quick spells, satisfied he was alone, he flicked his holly and Phoenix feather wand back to its place in his wrist holster. Dragging himself to his feet he made his way to the insuite for his morning routine, he didn't scream. Knuckles strained to the breaking point, gripped the edge of the sink counter as he stared at his reflection, he was younger, he stared into his eyes reflection, they showed his true age still. He was younger but not as he had been, like he had de-aged from his older self not regressed to his younger self. His first thought was it was some sort of sick joke of fate, but that didn't seem to be the case. If it was fate he would have woken surrounded by death eaters without his wand. That's just how his luck went. The presence of the Phoenix, one of only two completely pure magical animals, gave him some reassurance. Not enough to lower his guard. Abandoning his morning plan he drew his wand once more and began a more thorough inspection of the Black house.

Upon opening the bedroom door he found himself blocked by a snarling house elf. Kreature had died in the battle of Hogwarts, how was he here now, with no sign of recognizing him, and wearing a locket that did not belong to master Regulus. He attacked, viciously going for Harry's throat, screaming about thieves and mudbloods and foaming at the mouth. Harry acted on reflex and cast, the cutting curse slicing cleanly through the rabid elf. He had never lost his edge after the war, he was hunted by every wizard who wanted to test themselves, and hounded by the press, not a life to live long had he gone soft. He had learned at the end of fifth year to defend himself with deadly force as his first reflex.

Harry leaned in to stare at the locket around the neck of the top half of the elf's body. He knew this locket, Ron had destroyed it. How was it here?

Harry jumped back when Kreature's hands clawed at his legs. Harry was curious but not enough to not take action, he recalled the hatred he felt for the elf upon learning his part in the plot to lure him to the department of mysteries, and how the outcome of that plan was the death of his godfather, Sirius Black. He channeled his hatred and cast, green light bathed the body of Kreature and he stilled for the final time. Shifting his attention back to the locket the remembered how Umbridge had worn it proudly, and how it affected Ron the worst, he remembered how it hurt Hermione when it made Ron leave them again, he hissed and cast in the same breath, a dark shadow absorbed his spell and blew away like smoke in the wind.

His exploration of the house held no surprises, at least nothing they hadn't found while planning to raid the ministry or during the summer after his fourth year. With nothing but questions he prepared to go out and get answers. He had about sixty pounds in bills and fifteen gallons in his pocket, he planned to get breakfast and a muggle paper as his first step. He raided the small chest of gallons behind a set of books in the master study and apparated to a quiet alley near a cafe he knew of in the London underground. On his way to the cafe he purchased the morning paper. He ordered a tea and sat down to read. The first thing he noticed was the date, summer after third year. He had spent most of that summer as a slave or prisoner. Only for the last weeks was he allowed to go to the burrow. He needed to visit diagon alley.

A/N I know it's been done but a line of dialog popped into my head and started writing a story so I went with it. Let me know what you think.