A Long Lost Past

"Did it work?" Percy examined the wrapped body of 27-year-old Harry.

Molly kept her eyes fixed on Harry's body, waiting for the younger Harry to voice his presences, but he was silent.

Luna and Neville took their wands and swirled them around, causing the wraps around Harry to be released. The once new robes now looked wet and used. The potion from their trial gave off a musty smell, and worse on the fabric the robes were made out of. Luna covered her nose.

Harry rolled over and lay on his side, as if he was sleeping peacefully and just trying to get comfortable. It was just a few seconds later that Harry's eyes opened wide with a quick start. He sat up quickly and hit his head on the light fixture over the kitchen table. "What in bloody…" he looked around at the people he thought he knew. He looked down at his own hands, which were much larger and rougher than his own. His eyes went from Tonks to Charlie to Luna to Molly to Neville and finally they landed on Remus Lupin. He recognized the place, he knew it was Grimmauld Place. "Where am I? How did I get here, and why are my hands so…?"

Molly handed him the note that Harry had written before the 17 year old was taken from his life.

Dear Harry,

I'm sure you will find this all a bit confusing. I did as well. There is a past that I have half lived. A past that I would like to fix for the both of us, and for the wizarding world. Most of this past will hopefully be kept from you. I don't want you to know the hell that I have lived. When this is all done, we should go to our rightful places and you will live the life I always wanted to. I'm so sorry for taking part of your life from you. Hopefully living in my world for however long it takes will help you to understand why I had to do this. I realize that possibly having to take your last year of school is not fair. Remus Lupin has assured me that he will help continue your education while I'm gone. Right now your present affects my future as well, so please be careful. We do not want to be stuck like this. Please listen to the others they will help you. Ask them questions, hear their stories, but keep in mind that they will change. Good Luck, and Thank you.

Harry Potter

Harry scrunched up his face as he read the note. He could tell that it was his own handwriting, even though it had changed over the years. He looked around at the others and felt like throwing a teenage fit. However, he knew that it wouldn't get him anywhere here. Although these people were familiar they were not the same people that he knew…in the past. His head started to swim at how confusing the whole situation was getting. "So…he's in my body…and I'm in his?" he asked simply.

Neville nodded his head, "That's right, mate."

"Harry. I'm going to tell you of your past. A future that you will not have to live," Remus started to explain to him.

Harry raised his eyebrows. It was odd how that statement made no sense, but yet he understood it.

"After your 7th year at Hogwarts, Voldemort returned to full power. Defeating but not killing you, entrapping Dumbledore in the school, teaching dark magic, and required a pureblood status in every wizard in the wizarding world. The rest were killed. Muggles who were aware of the wizarding world were killed. Many died in the wake. Before he accomplished these things many of our friends and family had died at his hand or that of his supporters. Hermione, Ron, Arthur, Minerva, and Severus are among a few. Dark magic is the only magic left that doesn't have to hide. This is almost the exact opposite of where you came from, where dark magic had to hide. We spent 10 years just looking for Harry. I cannot reveal any more to you. Harry didn't want you to know everything he had to live through," Lupin gave Harry a glimpse into the future he would have had to live.

Harry frowned and a tear formed in his eye, "So I wasn't successful? All this hype about me, and the prophecy, and it didn't help one bloody bit?" His voice rose a little bit and he looked at them with helpless eyes.

"It will Harry. That's what we are here for now. That's why you are here. But you can't do anything stupid while you are here. You must keep a very low profile. Voldemort or any of the other wizards will kill you if you are even spotted. It's part of his sick little joke," Molly told him. "You must stay here."

Harry wanted to argue, but knew that he didn't really have any good arguments. He didn't know anything about this world, barley enough to trust those in front of him…but how could he possibly not trust his friends and his own handwriting? "Okay…" he answered, looking at them. "I'd…I'd really like some water, if that's okay…"

Molly waved her wand and handed the water the Harry, "There you are, dear. We've all got a bit of work to do, if you'll excuse us. Your room is the same that you and Ron share-" she told him, an obvious bit of sadness as she mentioned Ron.

Harry walked up to his room, trying to wrap his mind around everything. Being 17 was hard enough without being trapped in a man's body…his own… Harry shook his head and closed the door, and made his way to the bed next to the wall. He plopped down, thinking about what was going on this very moment in the past. He'd probably be in this very room with Ron and Hermione…