Disclaimer and warnings in the first chapter.

Chapter 3: Feelings with a Mind of Their Own

To Severus the surrounding was completely different from what he knew from the Occlumenary lessons. It felt empty and seemed to be as well. It seemed that he was standing middle of street but there was only one house. A house that seemed too perfect, as if it came off of one of those muggle magazines. One would think it was just an average house but when he saw the number "4" boldly printed on the front, he had a nagging feeling that this was Privet Drive. Why the boy chose this place was beyond him.

A coma state mind was different from the normal one, though.

There was nothing or no one here. Or so Snape thought.

"Sir?" a small voiced asked hesitantly behind him.

Snape quickly spun around and right before his eyes was a younger version of Harry Potter.

He seemed the age of maybe 6 or 7, hard to tell, but the child was definitely younger than the one that first entered Hogwarts all those years ago. He seemed about 105 cm (3' 5") and wearing a light tan jumper that was not only too big but seemed more as a rag along with jeans for trousers. The hair was messy with his bangs shagging over his fringe, hiding that same cursed scar. The hair would also seem it was browner and wavier than the current Potter. Glasses were still circled but had scotch tape holding the middle. Also the cheekbones of this child were much softer, even accounting for puberty. Making him seem as an exact replica of James Potter, more so than the Severus ever seeing Harry as.

"Who-o are you?" stumbled the young boy.

"Severus Snape"

That answer seem to be the key; after a moment of shock the boy flung himself to the man's waist, grasping him as if he was a lifeline. Breathing in deeply as to inhale and memorize his scent. Then he gasped "daddy".

With the combination of receiving a hug from his young son and that word, Snape stumbled to keep his knees from caving in. He did not know how to respond. Hesitantly he put his hand the child's shoulder. This made the boy look up at him. Emerald eyes sparkling with hope, happiness and…love.

Severus would admit he never seen Harry's eyes look like this before. It would almost seem as the student's eyes were dimmed down compared to his younger derision's eyes.

Now in front of him was his son with less time missing. But Snape knew this was just in the mind, time has passed and there was no way to get back. Severus must work to save the current Harry.

"You are Harry Potter?"

The boy just nodded.

"You know who I am?" asked Severus.

"Yes, I got mum's letter and I knew I would meet you. I knew it. No matter what the others said" smiled Harry with a hint of smugness.

"The others?"

At this Harry's eyes slightly lowered. "The older me-s".

Snape's brain sparked with hope, "Is there a 15 year-old you here?"

"Yes, but he doesn't like to be bothered. I don't know where he is at."

"Would someone else know?" inquired Severus.

"I don't know…" The child slowly backed away from the professor so now there was a large gap between the two "you are only for him, aren't you?"

Snape knew he had to answer the gently as possible as the boy might be the answer to how to get Potter back to reality. "He needs help. He is in a coma state and he needs to come back to reality, I am here to help him to do so." Rejection immediately showed on the boy's face. So Snape continued, "But if I am not mistaken, you two are one of the same. So if I am here for him, then I am here for you."

It was not a lie, just omission. However, Snape could not kid with himself but he was not a Slytherin's Head of House for nothing. Harry though seemed to accept it as he suddenly was happy again.

"Okie-dookie, let's find the others."

Harry held out his hand, and Severus uncertainly grasped it. Not sure what to do the next, the child led him to the house. As they stood next to the door, Harry looked up at the professor and said "Shh, be quiet. We don't want to Uncle Vernon to hear us."

Before he could even ask why he is hiding from his own uncle, the boy knocked and the door open by only a crack but another version of Potter peeped out of the opening.

This one seem older, probably 11 as he was wearing Hogwarts uniform. However the pristine clothing was now rumpled. There were holes and tears on the vest, shirt and trousers. His Gryffindor tie hanged loosely off his neck. Also blood mixed with dirt stains were scampered around the clothes. His face was not better off. There were a series of cuts and bruises painting the face.

And again, these Potters seemed able to cut Severus off before he could say a word.

"Harry! What are you doing here?" asked the 11 year old, glaring at the young child. Not even acknowledging Snape.

"It is about daddy-"

"What did I tell you about that man? He does not care. I will try but don't have your hopes us. I told you he hates us. We are spoiled and arrogant" interrupted the older Harry.

"But-"

Yet the child could never finish his sentence as a loud "BOY!" rocked the house. Both Harrys eyes widen at the noise. The old Harry grasp the child by the shoulder and quickly dragging him, and also unknowingly Snape, through the hall. He stopped in front of the cupboard, yanked the door open. Without a word, the young boy went inside, pulling Severus' hand along. Once inside, Hogwarts Harry whispered urgently "You know the drill. We will talk later" and shut the door, his footsteps could be heard as it went to the back of the house, leaving the pair alone in the dark.

"What is going on?" asked Severus, anger seeping through his tone as he was ignored by a Potter then dragged into a cupboard of all places, making him uncomfortably crouching on the floor.

"SHHH!" ordered the younger Harry.

"You better tell me what we are doing here and why the other Harry ignored me," demanded Snape but a slight quieter tone.

"He didn't ignore you," whisper the boy "He can't see you."

The professor raised his eyebrow at this in a way that obviously said "Explain."

"This Harry is almost 12, meaning he just came back from Hogwarts. Also meaning he met you. therefore he doesn't believe in you so he can't see you."

Oh. Dawning of comprehension hit Snape. It was crazy but in a way it made sense. This was Potter's mind and Severus entered as Harry's father, and only the younger Harry still believed there was a chance of a father within this man. But soon as Harry entered Hogwarts and met his so-called "father", all hope seemed to be gone.

"That does not explain, though, the state of that Potter and why we are in here."

"I think you will have your answer" replied Harry as light footsteps came closer to their hiding place.

The door suddenly opened, revealing that almost 12 year old Harry but just in even a worst state as a deep bruise began to form on his face. His eyes also seemed older and more tired if that was possible.

Quickly he gestured them, or to his knowledge, just Harry to follow him. He led them upstairs to the last door in the hall. One full of locks and seemed to have been slammed open many times as the hinges were unstable. They were ushered inside.

Older Harry pulled up the simple wooden chair with an uneven leg while young Harry sat on the bed. Severus feeling out of place just stood near the young Harry knowing that only he could see the professor.

"What are you doing here?" sighed older Harry.

"Never mind that," Snape was going to protest at that statement but the young Harry gave him a look and just continued, "Are you okay?"

"I'll live. That is what we do" ended with a dark, emotionless chuckle by the 11 year old.

"I can re-bandage your back" offered the boy.

"If…if you don't mind." At that Potter stood up and carefully took off his Hogwarts uniform, leaving him in only trousers. The site made Severus wanted to puke.

Wraps that had some old blood-stains were around the kid's chest. With a perfected skill the injured child unraveled the wraps showing his rib bones. But the bones were off.

They were not only easily counted but was sticking out in an odd angel.

Damn. Nearly half the ribs were either broken or bruised.

The young Harry ignore the undressing and kneeled to the floor where he open a loosen floorboard and brought out some more already used wraps. Then he stood up and began to re-wrap the older version of himself with a skill no child should have. It reminded Severus of himself.

"He was never this bad for me," mumbled younger Harry as he continued his task at hand. The 'he' being unnamed, but there was no need. Even Severus figured it out.

"Times have change. The situation has change. I have changed. But despite this and everything else, Hogwarts is worth it all" replied the 11 year old.

Severus still said nothing. He felt as if he was intrusion to a moment of a moment of comfort between these two, despite only half the party knew about him.

"Even with dad?" asked the boy as he stole a glance to the direction of the said man.

At these words, the injured Boy-Who-Lived collapsed on the desk chair as his torso was done being re-bandaged. He waved his hands for the younger boy stand in front of him. They were almost leveled with the younger one only slightly taller.

Soon as they were face to face, Harry looked right into his younger version and firmly stated "He is not the man I, we, hoped for. We knew he would not be Mr. Perfect but our dreams of actually having a family must end. What is the point of hope? It only a sedative to help ease the pain, but it will wear down eventually. Causing the pain to be ten times stronger." There was a slight pause from a speech that had knowledge and sadness beyond the years of a 1st year. "I promise to continue to try but I want you to give up on the idea of Severus Snape ever becoming our father."

That last statement set Severus off. He went to grasp the older Harry and explain, no ask forgiveness for his actions. As he tried to cup the boy's cheek, his hand just went through the face. It was like he was a ghost.

His chance to help this Harry was gone as that time had already passed.

The 8 year old just looked sad at his father's failed attempt knowing it was all because of a hope that is lost.

Harry mistaken the sorrow in the child's eyes for the words he said, so he gently lifted the chin up as in the gesture "keep your head up".

Snape was at lost to do. He wanted to stay and convince this boy that his father did lo-want to be there for him. But the logical part of his mind realized the effort would be frivolous as this was all in the mind and the real Harry was dying every second.

The professor gave a slight inclination of his head to the door, signaling they must leave. The young Harry gave a small nod in agreement.

"Where is the oldest of us?" asked the young one.

"Hiding as usual. Reliving his past. That is the point we are here after all. All of us."

"How come though? Isn't he supposed to be dead with Se Vita Privare potion going wrong?"

"My guess from what I read from mum's books is that since it was a year ago it went wrong but since it was still brew correctly the result wasn't as horrible as it could be. Why all these questions?"

"If it is too late you to believe in our father, than I will try to convince him," he replied full of conviction.

'And that statement was actually the truth, for both of us', mused Snape.

"Good luck," chuckled the older Harry. "You'll need it. But you will probably also have to visit the others if you want to see him, but I might be wrong. His mind is unstable, who knows what will happen."

The young boy gave a quick hug to the 1st year. "Bye-bye, Harry."

"Goodbye Harry" Was said as if a long rehearsed joke that brought a faint smile to both people.

Once Harry and Snape left the room, the door behind them slammed shut. The noise echoing off the walls and left the pair alone in a deserted hall.

But they did not enter the Durselys' hallway.

Instead it was a plain hospital-white hallway. Going on forever to both their right and left sides. There was a black door with a silver doorknob every 5 feet on the wall.

Severus turned towards his son as the boy again hugged him.

"I am sorry he does believe in you, daddy, but I do," said Harry.

And like before, Snape's throat tightened at that word. But it was in a way that made feel he could not swallow all the happy emotions coursing through his mind.

"It is my fault, child. Not yours."

"Maybe we will have luck with the others," replied his son with hope.

"Others?"

"The other older me-s. That is what Harry saying back there. Your Harry is reliving his past causing all of us to be at his forefront of his mind. And that gives us this hallway with all the doors."

"So these doors are to different ages of himself or I guess yourself?"

"More or less. It is about his feelings throughout his life."

"Are you normally here, Harry?"

"Me yes. I am the 'guardian' of his, our hope. Another reason why you can see me and I can go with you to see the other Harrys. The Harry you met earlier, no. This hall is normally bare all the doors are locked and the lights are dimmed so almost only the darkness you see. Especially lately."

"Why lately?" asked the Potions Master.

"I don't know. This is after all his mind. We might be the same person but we don't think the same."

"Wait, are you…are you real?"

The boy let a small giggle out at this question. Severus let it slide. It was a childishly worded if you think about it.

"You know better than anyone that the mind is a complicated place. I am merely a perception of what Harry was like at my age; 8. I know everything the most current Harry knows but I feel the Harry as he was at 8. That is why I am the 'guardian' of hope. I am the one who has the most of it."

"Why at your age specifically?"

"Because I just read mum's letter. I have hope for the future with a family. A future with you."

"The others don't?"

"Time causes one to lose faith. Especially after going to Hogwarts." The boy gave a pointed glare at his father during the last sentence.

"I am sorry, my s-son."

The 8 year-old persona came back, "I know daddy. I still love you."

"And, I…I you."

The boy's face lit with joy even though Severus stumbled over his words. Never had he such hard time speaking and finding the words.

"Where do you suggest we go next, Harry?"

"I don't know. These doors have no rhyme or reason to me as they constantly change to suit whatever is needed. Your Harry can be in any of these doors or none at all. Like what the other Harry said: his mind is unstable."

"So are we suggesting we pick a random door and hope it is the right one?" said Severus skeptically.

"Yes," answered sincerely by Harry. "Just feel a door that "calls" to you. It will feel right."

The professor raised his eyebrows at this.

"I know it sounds crazy," continued his son, "But is this what you thought Harry Potter's mind to be like?"

"If you asked me that three days ago I would have answered it would be an empty pit. A lot has changed since then. If accepting Harry Potter is my son since then, I am open to almost anything."

"Alright then. Let's go!" cheered Harry.

However Severus was still frightened of what to come. Not because he is in Harry's mind but how Harry's mind will take him and what he will learn about his son.

Although, it has to be done if he ever wants a relationship with his son, yet alone keep him alive.

But still, if this is what only one year with meeting Snape caused, how do the older Harrys feel?

Harry went to grab his father's hand but in a way to show that Severus needed to direct them. Severus hesitantly began to walk down the endless hallway. Pausing every few minutes and just stood in front of the door. Harry would look up to his dad's face but Severus just gave a little shake of the head and continued on.

After a few occurrences of this, Severus stopped in front of another door but this time didn't shake is his head. He just stood there.

"This one, daddy?"

"Not sure…it feels different from the rest."

"How so?"

"I am not sure how to explain it but all I know is that whatever is behind this door is no Harry just doing homework."

"Should we go in then?"

"Should? I don't know. Must? Yes; we have to start somewhere."

Severus unknowingly took a deep breath then open the door.

Thanks for the reviews: Yamatta (thanks!), xHP-Addictx (I think shows I am writing more. Not sure if I want to include all of HBP and DH but some parts I will ;D), wooftmnt (I hope those were tears because the fic was good! Haha), chuminie (he was an a** but hopefully isn't now and hope for you to see why about the potion and legilimens), meggySky (I'll keep that in mind for next, thanks for the advice and review!), Ivanova (thanks for keeping up with it means a lot to me) GalynSolo (thank you), St0keTheFurryWall (hope this is one of your favorites!), Elfwyn (hope this is a different twist from others), Zireael07 (that blank one was for the anonymous reviewer who left no name, :P and well our Harry is "little" depress, but he isn't dead…yet ;D)