It was August 2nd, 1985. It had been a nice sunny day for Harry. It seemed so long ago, yet he remembered perfectly, when he finished viewing the memories a dying Severus Snape gave him that prompted him to go into the Forbidden Forest to sacrifice himself so Voldemort would be able to die. He saw Voldemort cast the killing curse at him and soon himself in the cross roads of life. After a chat with Dumbledore who was there waiting for him, Harry was left unsure as if he wanted to go back when given the choice.
During the battle he saw Remus, Tonks, most of the Weasleys, Hermione, Hagrid, not mention several other people he knew get killed or laying on the ground dead. He spent 10 years of his life feeling he was worthless and no one cared about him. After learning he was a wizard, for the first time he had friends. Now nearly all his friends were dead.
He weighed the pros and cons of going back to the living. If went back, if he killed Voldemort, he'll be surrounded by Death Eaters wanting revenge and would probably die a most painful death since he wouldn't have any anchors left. If he went to go join those who have already died, Neville knew what to do and Voldemort will still die. Ultimately he decided to go join the dead leaving Dumbledore looking a little disappointed.
As him and Dumbledore boarded the "train", Harry suddenly felt someone grab him and before he knew it he was once again in the white nothingness, this time with none other then his former potions and 6th year Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher...
"POTTER! I DIDN'T RISK LIFE AND LIMB ONLY FOR YOU TO DIE LIKE SOME SACRIFICIAL LAMB!" Snape ranted.
"What is there for me to go back to? Nothing but death and suffering!" Harry shouted back. "Just about every one I know is dead!"
"I lost the only person I ever considered a friend but I lived on because I knew she wanted me to. There were times during that first year after your mother died that I could bare with being the reason she was dead. More than once the meddlesome old codger had Poppy put me on suicide watch that year. If I could live with what I did, you can live on and find some purpose!" Snape shouted back.
"If Voldemort's henchmen don't kill me first! And even then, what is there for me to do? Hide from people who want my autograph, shake my hand, want to see my scar, and ask me questions? I don't want that! I just want peace and quite and for people to see me for being me and not some super hero! I have no one other then Ginny and maybe Neville that see me that way!" Harry yelled.
"What about your relatives? They aren't dead." Snape replied trying to get Harry to see reason.
"For 16 years they hated me and I would jump at every opportunity to get away from them! Contrary to what most people think, I never wanted the kind of life I had! Living 10 years as my relatives house elf being called freak and worthless not to mention being locked up in cupboard ever night and every time I did magic. Never being told the truth only to find out I'm famous for something I hardly even remember and having to decide who are my real friends and people who only like my fame! Not mention people going around saying untrue things about me!" Harry shouted back, just wanting to get it over with and die. "Now just let me die in peace!"
Harry tried to run but Snape grabbed him again and looked at him.
"I much as I currently don't want to do this, I'm afraid I have no choice." Snape companied before punching Harry. Harry then found himself laying on the floor of the white nothingness looking up with a slight headache. He tried to get up but found himself stuck and unable to move as if someone put the full body bind hex on him. Much to his annoyance Snape was in his field of view.
"Alright. While you were unconscious, I've managed to negotiate with the Fates' for us to go back in time and create yet another alternate timeline. If you must know, the timeline we knew will continue to exist and everyone in it will go about their lives and hopefully Longbottom will be able to do the thing you are supposed to do before even more people die. I will arrive in that new timeline earlier then you, at time before you were born. I promise that I will make sure the Dark Lord will not leave you an orphan in the new timeline. I will not kill Lord since that is your duty. You will make the most of being a child again. You will fallow my lead and I will you assist in defeating the Dark Lord with raising as few suspicions as possible. The Fates' hinted may not be the only time travelers. I do not know who may join us but as long as they aren't Dumbledore, the Dark Lord, or a Death Eater I'm OK with it." Snape explained, a lot calmer then he was earlier. With that, Harry found himself in a dark, warm place that felt very comfortable.
Harry didn't want to leave but at least he learned why almost every baby he saw on television was born screaming. First they pushed and squeezed out of a nice warm and cozy place and brought into the world that is freezing cold in comparison. It took him a few minutes to realize he was being born again. At first he thought it was punishment for kicking to often to see if his parents were still there. It didn't quite surprise him to find out Snape went back before he was even conceived and married his mum.
Harry looked back at the past five years. He was disappointed he wouldn't get to know his original father James Potter as well as he hoped. He was outraged to find out James had taken Sirius' place in the new timeline but understood it was something that couldn't be helped as Pettigrew is no where to be found. He was happy that Sirius was his uncle and not Vernon. He did find it odd though that he still had a cousin that was his age named Dudley but at least Dudley Black wasn't a spoiled brat/bully like Dudley Dursley was. Harry figured that it was because Sirius wanted to keep peace in the family. After all, both of Harry's mother's parents didn't get killed by Death Eaters this time around.
Harry felt grateful that Snape stopped him from moving on to the next great adventure. Snape eventually became Severus (though he never said it out loud to avoid suspicion) and eventually dad. He also had a younger brother named Evan and two twin sisters named Rose and Violet. It was a dream come true to have a family that loved him. Not only was his extended family (Sirius, Petunia, his two cousins, his mother's parents, and his dad's mother) lived in the same town and with in walking distance of each other, but he was able to make friends. To his surprise, Justin Finch-Fletchley lived nearby as well. Him, Dudely, and Justin formed what Sirius had jokingly referred to as the "Marauders: The Next Generation".
It was now evening and Harry getting ready for bed when he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." Harry answered. It was his dad Severus.
"Harry, I wanted to wait until everyone was asleep rather then tell you during dinner. I didn't want to risk Evan repeating anything. I don't know how much of your other father's family you know of but have you heard of Charlus Potter?" Severus asked.
"I saw his name on the Black Family tree but that's about it. How is he related to me?" Harry asked.
"He's your other father's father. Anyways Harry, he suspects something. He's an unspeakable and his field of research is time travel and alternate realities. His research occasionally has him work with people studying prophecy and other forms of divination. He's learned of the prophecy and has come to the conclusion that someone has made me live a different life resulting in you being a Snape rather than a Potter," Snape tried to explain.
"Huh?" Harry asked confused.
"Don't ask me how he figured out that I'm the one that the changes started with but he says you are the prophesied person who will defeat Dark Lord. He also knows that 1/3 of your genes come from your other father and left everything of his to you."
"What? Why?" Harry still confused as to how Charlus Potter figured it out.
"He died yesterday in a freak accident that another unspeakable caused. He figured all this out years ago but kept it secret. He left instructions to deliver a letter explaining everything to us when he died if the Prophecy hadn't been fulfilled."
"Did he say if he told anyone else?" Harry asked, hoping to keep the time travel as much of a secrete as possible.
"He said he did talk about history being altered with a certain headmaster but said he didn't give Dumbledore any specifics other then it will effect the war against the Dark Lord," Severus sighed.
"Does this mean you can teach me Occlumency?" Harry asked, not looking forward to a yes answer.
"Five years old is far too young for any mind magic, even if your soul is technically 23 years old. The damage to your brain from me testing your barriers should they not be adequate would leave you much like how Longbottoms were after the LeStranges and Crouch Jr. were through with them in the old timeline. It should be safe to start teaching you when you are ten," Severus replied much to Harry's relief. "Now I'll let you get some sleep. Learning to relax is key to emptying your mind."
With that Severus left the room and Harry go into bed. Harry soon drifted off to sleep and started dreaming about being in some woods. It wasn't a dark and creepy woods like the Forbidden Forest was but very peaceful with rays of light shining through the tree taps making a mess of sun shine on the ground. Harry couldn't help but feel happy. So happy, he decided to climb a tree and see how high up he can get. Almost like magic, a tree that looked perfect for climbing appeared in front of him and Harry started climbing. He got up to about 3 or 4 meters off the ground and decided to rest where one of the branches connected to the trunk.
He was sitting up in the tree for a few moments when he realized he wasn't alone in this forest. There were foot steps from something approaching him. Harry wished that some leaves would hide him but still allow him to see what it is that is in this forest. Suddenly the branch he was on grew some smaller branches with a bunch of leaves on them. As quietly as possible, he waited to see who it was. It was a little red haired girl that looked strangely familiar to him in a white sun dress and she spotted him.