AN: See I told you they get longer. Hope you enjoy this.

Chapter 3

The Headmaster paled as he took in the sight of his child potions master.

"Is it?"

"It's his signature alright Albus."

"So, it's definitely Severus?"

"Yes, Headmaster." All three of them turned to the shape on the bed as it moaned to get up. Madame Pomfrey quickly put a restraining hand on his shoulder. The child Snape glared at her, although unlike with his adult self, the matron of the hospital wing laughed. This merely made him glare harder. "Oh no young man, you are going to stay there while I fix these and try and get you back to how you should be." The small form of Snape quickly summoned a piece of parchment along with quill and ink. He speedily wrote his instructions to the mediwitch, the residual smile immediately fell from her face. She passed the paper to Dumbledore whose mouth fell agape. He spoke softly in the boy's ear, Snape shrugged in response but then focused his eyes on one spot in the centre of the room, a burning light settled itself around Snape, once this light faded Snape appeared older but nowhere near his adult self.

Harry poked his head around Dumbledore, "Well at least he can study as a student if Madame Pomfrey can't get him fixed soon." Snape's glare was shifted to Potter, but still it didn't have the desired effect.

"Actually, Harry that's not such a bad idea. Severus? Could you age yourself to fourteen; it would make things that much easier?" Snape nodded at the Headmaster. The burning light reappeared and again a slightly older Snape sat on the bed.

"Which house will I be put in sir?"

"You'll be sorted with the first years. You can be a transfer from Blackfriars's Academy."

"Really? But they have an awful reputation."

"You'll still be a Snape; it won't seem odd at all that you're a genius and transferring." Snape crossed his arms over his chest but at this age he seemed to be sulking.

"I hate this."

"Think of this as your second chance."

"I do not need one Headmaster." The young Snape could easily see the mischievous gleam in the Headmasters eyes. "What are you planning now?"

"You'll need a new name of course. I can't very well keep calling you Severus, now can I?" Snape opened his mouth to speak was interrupted by Potter.

"What about Alan?" Snape and Dumbledore both looked at Harry oddly.

"What, Potter?"

"For a name? Alan Snape?"

"A Snape? You know Potter, I rather like that."

"Did you just agree with me?"

"I believe I just did."

"Isn't your voice a bit high? And why are you suddenly talking more?"

"Well technically I am fourteen so my voice would be high; and I did have a broken jaw when I first got here so talking hurt." Snape was looking at the floor rather than the two adults and older teenager in the room as such he could not see the gaping horror on their faces. Pomfrey was the first to recover from the shock.

"Why did you never come to me?"

"Like that would have worked?"

"Muggles are better at that sort of thing." Harry mumbled hoping that the others would not hear him. He was wrong.

"Just so you know Potter, I never went to a muggle school."

"But the basics?"

"There was a good library near us, I went there a lot." Snape shrugged as if this sort of behaviour was normal.

"What about your parents?" Potter could see Dumbledore wincing and hear Snape snorting, clearly parents were a sore subject.

"Father lost his job when I was twelve, he was an abusive drunkard. What do you think?"

"Right. And your mother?"

"Eileen Prince, Slytherin."

"Anything else?"

"You need to know more?" Snape growled out his arms folded across his chest. Potter turned to a strangely quiet Dumbledore, there was no need to say more.