Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the Characters.
A/N: So, since I was mean and kept jumping back and forth between characters last chapter, this one is completely Harry's P.O.V.
Snape arrived back about forty five minutes later. Harry let ou a sigh of relief when he saw he was alone.
"You look like you half expected me to come back with the Dark Lord." Snape stated as he closed the door.
"Well, in my world, no one knows whose side you're on." Harry replied.
"I can assure you, in any worls, I'm against the Dark Lord." Snape responded.
"Really?! Is that why you killed Dumbledore?!" Harry questioned callously.
"Draco killed Dumbledore!"
"Not where I come from."
"We're not here to debate my position in your world. As far as this one goes, most of these girls are still alive because of me. So if that doesn't prove my loyalty then go find some one else to help you!"
"I'm sorry!" Harry yelled. Everything in this mess up world was finally getting to him. "I've been thrown into a world where everything I've ever known has changed. My best friend and the love of my life are both sadistic bastards. The best two women in my life are being passed around like whores and treated like dogs. The closest thing I have to a family is mostly dead. And I'm pretty sure it's all my fault. So forgive me if I need time to process the differences!"
When he finished he saw Snape, for the first time in the six and a half years he had known the man, was smiling. It was a sad smile but a smile all the same.
"You remind me of your mother when you get angry." Snape said.
He used such a loving tone that Harry wanted to question the relationship Snape had with his mother, but before he could, Snape said,
"Put your cloak on. We need to get off the grounds before we can apparate."
Harry nodded and threw the cloak over his head. They walked for a half hour in silence. Finally, Snape threw his arm out to stop Harry.
"You know how to apparate, right?" Snape asked.
"Yes." Harry replied.
"We're going to apparate to Hogsmeade, then walk to the castle gates. I want you to keep the cloakon until we get to Longbottom, then reveal yourself and make him believe you."
"Won't he be asleep?" Harry asked.
"He's barely slept since Miss Weasley's kidnapping. He has me keep him in good stock of alertness potions. Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"On three. One. Two. Three."
Harry turned and into the horrible sensation that was apparating. The next thing he knew, he was standing in the streets of Hogsmeade, or rather what was left of it. He stared around at the debris of the houses and shops there, on the deserted path. There were no words to describe how he felt just standing there knowing it was all his fault. He was so caught up in his own thoughts, it took him a moment to realize Snape was moving. He ran to catch up. They walked still in silence, down the path to Hogwarts. When they approached the gates, a voice rang out of nowhere,
"Password?"
"Lemon drop." Snape said.
Harry silently chuckled at the way they chose to remember Dumbledore as the gates opened. The two entered and Harry watched as Snape took on the spells the wards produced.
When they reached the door, Snape tapped it with his wand four times and knocke eight times and the door opened. Two boys about Harry's age stood in the doorway. As the boys approached Snape, Harry recognized them as Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.
"Snape." Seamus said, "Tell us you have good news?"
"Possibly, but I need to see Longbottom before I can be sure." Snape stated.
"He's not seeing anyone right now." Dean responded.
"Tell him, I could possibly save Miss Weasley. Hell, we could possibly save them all, if he'll listen to me." Snape replied sharply.
"Alright." Dean said and ran in the direction of Gryffindor Tower.
"So then it;s great news." Seamus said a smiling spreading accross his face.
"Pontentially." Snape answered. "But don't get your hopes up. I'm not sure if I'm right. If I'm wrong, we're still screwed."
"Then we'll pray you're right." Seamus stated his smile faltering. "Come one. No point standing around here. We'll head up just in case."
Snape and Harry, still under the cloak, followed Seamus. Harry prayed, all the way up, that Neville would see tem and believe Harry. They met Dean half way to Gryffindor Tower.
"He says he'll see you, but it better be good." Dean panted. It appeared he had run all the way
"Don't worry, it is." Snape replied.
The walked the rest of the way to the potrait of the Fat Lady, who asked for the password.
"Flibbertigibbet." Seamus said.
The potrait swung open Snape climbed through followed by a still cloaked Harry. Dean and Seamus returned to the Entrance Hall.
Harry was thankful, his common room, at least, hadn't changed. Harry looked around and he saw a boy his age, whom he didn't recognize, sitting in an armchair staring into the fire. Although Harry didn't recognize him, he felt a sense of familiarity.
"Longbottom?" Snape said trying to get they boy's attention.
Harry was in utter disbelief. There was no way this boy could be Neville. The Neville, Harry knew, was short and round. This boy was tall and lean. His doubts were erased when the boy replied to Snape.
"Please tell me you bring more than false hope." Neville had a pleading look in his eyes.
"Potentially." Snape replie.
Harry could tell he was trying to keep the hope up but not get Neville over excited.
"I had planned on keeping Miss Weasley all night." Snape continued.
"Why?" Neville asked suddenly alarmed. "Is she alright?"
"She's fine." Snape replied calmly. "The Dark Lord took her last night. She always needs a whole night to recover from him."
"Well then why aren't you still with her?" Neville replied through gritted teeth.
Harry was stunned how fast he could go from one emotion to another with the drop of a hand.
"Because she asked for my help and, if you'll listen, you'll find that I can help her best from here."
"I'm listening." Neville stated crossing his arms.
Snape sat on the couch but Harry remained standing not wanting to reveal himself to early.
"Miss Weasley came with a companion tonight. One who had an interesting story." Snape began. "I brought him with me, actually. I'd like you to listen to what he has to say. Potter, reveal yourself."
Harry pulled the cloak off his head.
"Potter? You don't mean...do you?" Neville asked highly confused. Snape nodded. "But how?"
"It's actually a long story." Harry replied. "Let me start by telling you that I'm from a different world. A better world. One where I'm the boy who lived."
"And why exactly should I believe or trust you?" Neville questioned.
"Because Ginny does." Harry replied.
Prove it."
"I arrived last night and in the time I've spent with her, she told me many intimate deatails of her life in this world. She even told about the promise you made her after Fred died." Harry stated.
"Would you care to elaborate?"
"Of course. You promised her that you would do anything in your power to make sure Ron survived until the war ended. You told her that you couldn't bear to see her lose the last bit of family she had, good or evil." Harry explained and he noticed Neville eyes were full of tears. "Now do you believe me?"
Neville simply nodded.
"But how did you get here?" he asked.
"I'm not sure. Which is why we're here. We need to get ot Dumbledore's office and figure it out."
"I'll take you there but the gargoyle hasn't let anyone in since Dumbledore was killed."
Neville started to maove toward the portrait hole as Snape said,
"Knowing Dumbledore, the gargoyle will let us in this time."
"What makes you say that?" Neville asked.
"Becasue he was a very omniscient man and would've anticipated this." Harry replied before Snape could.
"Exactly. He would've put wards on his office door to keep the thing we need safe." Snape added. "He knew Harry Pottercould save us, as long as he had that crucial piece."
"Can someone explain this to me?" Neville asked looking very perplexed.
"Sorry." Harry said.
He broke into the story of the silver instrument, the conversation that preceded it, and how he accidentally smashed it and ended up here. By the time he was finished, they had reached Dumbledore's office
"So what you're saying is that if we had that thingy then we could go back to your world? A better world?" Neville asked.
"If I am correct in my assumption." Snape answered. "And by the way, Potter, if I'm right, you weren't the only one who caused this."
"What do you mean?" Harry inquired.
"Later." Snape replied, "First we need to get in there. What's the password, Longbottom?"
"Cockroach Cluster." Neville replied.
"Go on, Potter." Snape nodded to Harry, who stepped in front of the gargoyle.
"Cockroach Cluster." He bellowed and just like normal the gargoyle sprang aside revealing the moving staircse.
Harry could tell Neville was beside himself with shock as three stepped onto the staircase . Once they reached the door, Harry reached out to open it, expecting it to be locked. To his surprise it opened with a hassle.
As he stepped in and looked around, he noticed not a thing had changed and he walked directly to to Dumbledore's table of silver instruments. He knew exactly which one it was, because it was the only spherical one in the bunch. He picked it up and handed it to Snape.
"Are you positive this is the one?" Snape questioned examining the instrument closely.
"Yes." Harry replied praying it was what Snape thought it was.
"Exactly what I thought. These are genie tears." Snape explained holding the glass ball up to the light. "You see the blue liquid swishing around."
Harry and Neville nodded.
"What do they do?" Harry asked.
"Isn't it obvious? They grant wishes." Snape replied.
"But this isn't what any of us wanted." Harry stated.
"In some way or another it is." Snape began to explain. "Miss Granger wished not to be friends with you or Mr. Weasley. Mr. Weasley said he envied the Death Eaters. Mr. Malfoy wished his mother was still alive. And you wanted Longbottom to be the boy who lived."
"But this isn't the way we wanted things to be." Harry said.
"Which is why the tears reacted. You all had something to learn from your wishes." Snape explained.
"So how do we get back?" Harry asked.
"All your lessons have to be learned." Snape replied.
"But they don't even remember making the wishes! How are they supposed to learn from them?" Harry yelled.
"You have to make them see it." Snape said, "You've got to make them want to go back. But, first, you have to want to go back."
"Of couse, I want to go back!" Harry yelled. "Do you think I like seeing my friends like this?!"
"Okay, I get it." Snape stated.
"The hardest part will be convincing Ron and Draco."
"Actually, I don't think so. The Dark Lord has been pushing their buttons for a couple years know. I mean with killing Weasley's family and keeping Katherine Malfoy as a slave."
"How is she by the way?" Neville asked.
Harry had completely forgotten he was there.
"Lucius killed her last night." Snape answered somberly.
"Who's Katherine Malfoy?" Harry asked utterly perplexed.
"Katherine is, or was Draco's older sister." Neville replied.
"Draco doesn't have a sister." Harry stated.
"Maybe not in your world but circumstances changed." Snape explained, "There was probably something in your world that prevented the birth of the older Malfoy child."
"Okay but if she's a Malfoy then why would Voldemort want her dead?" Harry asked.
"She was a Gryffindor, a blood traitor, and she killed many of their men." Neville responded.
"Enoguh with the history lesson." Snape cut in. "The point is, they won't need that much of a push to switch. Now, I'll tell you what the hardest part is gonna be. It's gonna be getting Miss Granger here without the Dark Lord finding out."
"Why can't we just use it there?" Harry asked.
"Because it has to be done in the same place. Everyone has to be standing like they were when the tears got activated. Or it won't work." Snape answered.
"So how do you propose we get her her?" Harry asked.
"Easy." Neville answered before Snape had a chance. "Distract him by giving him something he wants more than any one muggle born witch."
Harry knew what it was Neville was thinking. Having had experience with that kind of thinking himself.
"No, Neville," He said. "I can't let ask you to do that."
"You don't have to.." Neville stated. "If it saves Ginny and this pitiful world, I'll do it in a heartbeat."
"And what if it doesn't work?" Harry asked .
"It's a chance I'm willing to take." Neville replied.
"But..."
"Look Potter, I don't know how to be a coward, so please don't ask me to be."
"You're a good man, Neville Longbottom. Don't ever let anyone tell you any different." Harry stated and embraced Neville.
