Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any way, shape, or form, nor am I making any money from this story. I do, however, own the plot and any characters that appear in the story that are not apart of the original series.

A Different Reality

By Constellations

-In Which Someone Is Found-

Finally alone in the seclusion of his chambers, Severus let out a sigh and sank into his forest green armchair. Thoughts of all the 'what ifs' surrounding Harry's disappearing swirled inside his head as he stared blanking into the roaring fire. Conjuring an old bottle of red wine, he poured himself a glass and raised it to his lips, ready to drown away his sorrows when suddenly…

"You really shouldn't drink that you know… you and alcohol never have mixed well…plus it's bad for your liver." drawled a voice from out of the shadows.

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There was a brief moment of silence before the sound of shattering glass filled the chambers. Ignoring the now broken glass of wine, (which happened to be seeping into the carpet) a very surprised and slightly annoyed (he never did like being interrupted, no matter whom it was) Severus turned to face the far corner of the room.

"You could reveal yourself you know… it's always nice to be able to visually see who you're speaking to."

"Hmm… you're right I could, but it's so much fun being invisible instead," countered the voice.

Severus rolled his eyes, "What are you doing here?"

Indignantly the voice replied, "Can't I just come to chat?"

"You never come 'just to chat' as you put it, there's always a motive. What's the real reason?" asked Severus.

The figure slowly melted away from the shadows, revealing its form, and conjured a black chair opposite of Snape. Death smiled for a moment, then grew serious.

"True. The reason for my visit pertains to a certain letter I sent to you around a month ago…"

Severus interrupted, "But I haven't received any owls for months."

Slightly annoyed, Death retorted, "Stop interrupting. I didn't send it by owl anyway; I hate those blasted things… I never have understood why you wizards use them when there are plenty of perfectly good 'sending' spells."

"I'm not going to get into that discussion with you again."

Death smirked, "You just don't want to lose again."

In order to avoid an argument, Severus diverted the subject back to the letter. "Why is the letter so important? And if it's as important as you're implying by visiting me on the matter, why did you take so long to come?"

Death hesitated for a moment, thinking of what to say, before responding, "I sent the letter to you after a revelation I had. But everything will make a lot more sense if I just start at the very beginning. Everything began several months ago on Halloween. That night I was breaking in one of my new trainees and showing him some of the 'ropes' so to speak. At the last house of the night, I came across a rather brave red-headed lady who pleaded with me to save her baby. So I did. Early the next morning, at the start of my vacation, I discovered the boy I had rescued along the side of the road. Eventually I decided to take him home, which is why I have been rather busy."

Here Death paused and took the time to study Severus' face, searching to see if he had caught on yet (Not that he doubted the boy's intelligence mind you, but Severus could be rather dense sometimes). But though he looked to be in deep thought, it was obvious that the pieces of the puzzle hadn't connected yet.

Continuing on he added, "A little over a month ago I finally realized who exactly the red head was. I had heard quite a great deal about her from you of course, but strangely I had never seen a picture of her, which is why it took me such a long time to place her. "

Severus looked up suddenly and Death could almost see the pieces fall into place. "Lily," he whispered.

The man took a long pause. "Harry has been with you then," he stated.

Death nodded slightly, "He has. Aria has had her hands full taking care of a little one again; she would never admit it though. You know what she's like."

A grin spread across Severus' face, "She's been loving every minute of it I'm sure."

"Of course." A long lull of silence fell over the pair before the immortal hesitantly asked, "You're not interested in taking in the boy are you?"

Shocked at the question, Severus looked questionably at Death and arched his eyebrow. "I've thought about that possibility for a great deal actually. However, with me starting full time as the Potions Professor, I truthfully wouldn't have the time. And though I am his godfather, I do not believe I would be the right person to raise him. Why do you ask?"

"I want to adopt Harry," Death answered, "I grown very fond of him these last few months you see, but I wanted to make sure you did not mind. You are his guardian after all since his parents are dead and that Black fellow is locked up in the wizarding prison of yours."

Stunned, Snape took a minute to fully register what he heard before chuckling. "I've never hear you sound so sincere before."

Death shot him a glare.

Unfazed (he'd been subjected to Death's glare too many times for it to affect him anymore), Severus smiled, "You have been like a second father to me, and I can think of no one better to raise Harry."

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