“Harry what!” Severus exclaimed, exasperated. “Tom, do you think this is the right time to joke?” He threw his uncle a menacing glance that would have scared any student to death.

Tom sighed. “You know that I went after Dumbledore when he went to kill Lily and James. When Dumbledore tried to kill Lily, I managed to put a spell on her at the same time, so that she wouldn’t be dead but instead would be in a second reality like in a coma. Her body is still at the house, however she is invisible and charmed. I don’t know if she’ll be her real age or still as young as she was then. We just have to make her visible and give her a potion including Harry’s blood, saying an incantation at the same time. I didn’t tell you before because I was sure it had to be the blood of an at least eleven-year-old Harry, so that the magical level would be strong enough. But as we now know that he has the magic of his older self, we should be able to manage with his blood, and he’ll also be able to cast the spell.”

Severus threw his uncle a horrified look. “Did I hear you correctly that Lily is alive?” he enquired, in a dangerously calm voice.

“Yes, Severus. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t tell you before. First, I was too ill, and then I didn’t have a chance to speak to Harry. He never would have done anything you or I suggested. And when he finally got to know us he was too young. But as soon as he is recovered completely, we can try to pull this through. Maybe you could brew already the potion in the meantime?”

“The potion?” Severus hissed. He was too excited and upset to think properly. “Which potion are you talking about?”

Tom laughed. “The ‘Revimundi Potion’ of course. I’m sure the recipe must be in ‘Moste Potente Potions’.”

Severus wasn’t seen for the next few hours.

-----

In the meantime, Harry had woken up, listened to Uncle Tom for a few minutes, let Poppy check on him, drank a few potions, saw that his father wasn’t around, and fell back to sleep. When he woke up the next time, Minerva and Hermione were sitting with him. “Where’s Daddy?” he croaked huskily, glancing at the two women.

“Your Daddy is busy today brewing a potion,” Minerva told him, watching surprised as Harry started to cry silently. “Harry, sit up and eat your breakfast, and I’m sure your Daddy will come soon,” Minerva tried to distract the boy but to no avail. Harry shook his head and continued to sob.

“Shall I go and ask your Daddy when he’ll be able to take a break?” Hermione asked, worriedly, receiving a grateful nod from the child.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong, Harry?” Minerva asked softly, amazed by the fact that the child’s behaviour still was according to his age in spite of having the memories of a sixteen-year-old and acting so grown-up for his age sometimes. “Are you feeling worse? Shall I ask Aunt Poppy to come and check on you?”

“No, ‘m fine,” Harry sobbed and whispered, “I had a strange dream that Uncle Tom told Daddy we could bring my Mummy back, and I now want my Mummy.”

“Oh, Harry, sweetie,” Minerva said flabbergasted. She sat down on the edge of Harry’s bed and carefully stroked his flushed face.

-----

Severus was completely engrossed in his potion and his thoughts about Lily and oblivious to the rest of the world. He jumped in surprise, nearly losing his potion when he heard a knock at the door of his private lab. He groaned and grudgingly waved his wand towards the door, which opened, revealing Hermione. He let out a relieved sigh. They had worked together for such a long time when they were searching for the antidote to cure Harry before, that he was used to her company in his lab and didn’t mind her entering his private room.

“I hope this is of utter importance,” he growled nevertheless. “I have a most important potion to brew.”

“I’d like to take over for a moment if you don’t mind, provided you believe that I’ll be able to do so,” Hermione said softly, ignoring her colleague’s menacing grimace.

“Wait two minutes,” he answered before he carefully added the next ingredient and proceeded to stir the potion five times counter-clockwise and then eighteen and a half turns clockwise. Now the potion had to simmer for five minutes, so he sat back and turned to his young colleague. Severus pointed to the book. “Here, read this potion recipe carefully. And when you are sure you’re able to continue from this point onwards…” He pointed to a spot shortly above the end of the recipe, “…then you can take over. However, let me tell you that this potion is of utmost importance to Harry and I, and if you manage to fail, I’m going to use your limbs as potions ingredients.”

Hermione let out a short snort. She was already used to the professor’s threats. “I will do my best, Severus. But I think Harry needs you. Normally, he is so very reasonable considering his age, but when he is ill he really behaves according to his age. Anyway, he is crying for his daddy.”

Severus gave her a shocked glance. “Is he really crying?”

“Yes,” Hermione answered and proceeded to read the recipe. Two minutes later, she turned to Severus, making sure she had understood the next few steps correctly.

“All right,” Severus confirmed. There were only a few steps to do until the potion had to simmer again for ten minutes. He would make sure to be back by then. “I’ll try to be back by this stage,” he told her, pointing to the book, and received a comforting nod from Hermione.

“Don’t worry; I’ll continue if you’re not back,” she replied softly.

Severus hurried over to Harry and sat down on the edge of his son’s bed, which Minerva had vacated immediately when Severus entered the room. Harry put his head on his father’s lap and told him about the dream that had upset him so much.

“You know, Harry, that wasn’t a dream,” Severus told him. “Uncle Tom told Daddy that we can try to save your Mummy, and that’s why I’m brewing this potion instead of keeping you company. Hermione has taken over for a few minutes but as this potion is very important, I’d like to return to my lab and finish the potion myself. It will take another…” – he thought for a moment – “…two hours I suppose.”

‘But how…’ Harry’s mind was turning quickly. “Daddy,” he asked, disbelief showing clearly in his eyes, “One cannot bring people back from death, right?”

“Yes, of course, you’re completely right, Harry, but…” Severus tried to explain the obviously impossible.

“And Mummy is dead, right?” Harry asked quickly, dreading the confirmation.

“That’s what I’ve thought for so many years, but obviously Uncle Tom used some extremely rare magic when he was trying to save your Mummy. Uncle Tom said it requires us to give her a potion, and you have to put a spell on your mother to save her. However, I don’t know if it will really work to bring her back. We can only make every effort to do so. But please don’t get your hopes up too much.”

“All right, Daddy,” Harry concluded, looking straight into the onyx eyes in front of him. “Um… when can we go and save Mummy then? Today?”

“I don’t think so, Harry. We have to ask Poppy when you’ll be well enough as it is you who has to do the important spell. And she won’t let you go if your fever is too high. If I were you, Harry,” he threw a glance at the untouched plate with Harry’s breakfast, “I’d eat my breakfast and would make sure to get well as quickly as possible.” He placed a kiss on his son’s forehead and carefully stood up, motioning Minerva to take his place.

“Is this really true?” Minerva asked Severus on his way out of the room, her eyes shining with excitement.

Severus quickly filled her in on what Tom had told him during the night before he hurried back to his lab, where Hermione had just started with the next step. Seeing that the Potions Master was back, she stepped to the side and began to prepare the next ingredients. Together, they managed to finish the potion in one and a half hours. “Thank you, Hermione,” Severus acknowledged his younger colleague’s help and quickly told her what the potion was for.

Hermione’s reaction was similar to Minerva’s. She knew better than anybody else how much Harry had always longed to have a mother. She followed Severus over into Harry’s room where he quickly added three drops of Harry’s blood into the still warm potion.

As soon as Harry’s blood was mixed into the potion, Severus bottled it and put it into his robe pocket. Then he walked over to the fireplace and called Poppy in order to know when she thought Harry would be well enough to travel to Godric’s Hollow. Sensing that this could be a longer talk, Poppy asked Severus to step back and Floo-ed over as she wanted to check on Harry anyway. Severus told her the whole story before he asked for her opinion when Harry would be able to come with him.

Poppy waved her wand over Harry and sighed. “There is no way that you can go today or even tomorrow. You’ll have to wait a few days. I’m sorry, but I’m sure you don’t want to exchange your son’s life for that of his mother, right?”

Severus gave her a horrified look and replied, “Of course not, Poppy. We will go when you tell me that Harry is well enough.”

Harry didn’t take this decision so well, however. During the next days, he cried a lot, refused to eat, and didn’t speak to anyone if not absolutely necessary. The people around him couldn’t believe it as Harry normally was so reasonable and well behaved.

Harry couldn’t help being very upset. He knew he had every reason to be happy because now as he had the memories of his former childhood, he was aware of how blissful he was this time, having such a loving huge family. But he was feeling awful and wanted his Mummy. He was sure that she could make him better immediately. Therefore, he just couldn’t understand why Poppy and Daddy wouldn’t let him go. Daddy could easily Apparate him there and back, and he would very much be able to do one single spell, thank you very much!

This attitude of course didn’t help to improve his condition at all, and Poppy told him in a very strict tone, “Harry, I’m sorry, but I really don’t know what to do with you. If you keep on worsening your condition, I will have to send you to St. Mungos.” Seeing his shocked expression, she continued, “If you want to help your Mummy fast, you have to see that you get well soon, which means that you have to stop crying, and you must eat your meals and do what you are told.”

With this, Harry’s behaviour changed immediately, and he was finally back to the well-behaved child they all admired so much. But he still had to wait for a few days until he could try to see if his Uncle Tom was right.

-----

On the same day, Minerva received an urgent owl from the Ministry. The trial against Professor Dumbledore had been brought forward and would take place in three days’ time. Minerva, Severus, Remus, Poppy, Tom, and Harry were asked to attend as witnesses.

Harry wasn’t yet fully recovered but as he was one of the main witnesses and his condition had at least improved a lot, Poppy allowed him to go. When Harry used the opportunity to ask if they could go to Godric’s Hollow on the way back, she threw him a stern glance and stated, “Ask me when the trial is over. I can’t answer that question now.”

They Floo-ed directly from the Headmaster’s office to the Ministry. The trial took place in a large courtroom and was even open to the public. As soon as Harry entered the courtroom, Fawkes appeared in a flash and made himself comfortable on Harry’s shoulder.

The judge greeted everyone and opened the trial, “Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is accused of attacking the child Harry Snape four times during the last three years, two of which were definitely attempted murder. He is also accused of killing James and Lily Potter and badly wounding Tom Riddle nearly eighteen years ago.

As Harry was the most important witness, he was called up immediately. When he was asked for his name and birthday, everyone who didn’t already know who he was, gasped. When someone requested they should give Harry Veritaserum, Poppy spoke up.

“As his godmother and his Healer, I have to reject this request. My godson is only seven years old and is just recovering from pneumonia, taking very strong potions for such a little boy. Because of that I fear that Veritaserum could do a grave damage to his system. However, I am willing to take Veritaserum and confirm his statement as I am the person to whom he was brought after the attacks.”

The judge accepted this, and Poppy had to explain everything she knew about the first attack, while Harry only had to confirm what Poppy said and had to clarify additional details. Additionally, he could only describe how he had met Professor Dumbledore in Hogsmeade, who urged him to board the boat although he had just been on his way up to the castle together with his friends. Moreover, he told the judge how he had felt urged to jump into the water by an invisible force although he didn’t really want to jump. Then Severus, Tom, Minerva, and Remus were asked if they had anything to add, and Severus stood up.

“I only want to add that I used Legilimency on my son in order to know what really happened and to be sure that it was Professor Dumbledore who had put my son under the Imperius Charm. That memory is the first in the Pensieve here.” He went to where the judge was seated and handed over the Pensieve.

“Thank you, Professor Snape,” the judge said. “We will be sure to watch all the memories in the Pensieve immediately after our questioning. Now to the second incident. Healer Pomfrey please.”

The questioning lasted until lunchtime when the judge announced a break of an hour. As most of the participants seemed to head for the Ministry’s canteen, Tom suggested they go to a nearby Muggle restaurant for lunch, and so the group left the Ministry. During the last hour, Harry had been asleep on Minerva’s lap. Now, Severus picked up the child and put him onto his shoulders, so that the still sleepy Harry didn’t have to walk. Noticing that Poppy unobtrusively waved her wand in Harry’s direction, Severus asked, “Is he all right, or shall we ask the judge if it’s really necessary for him to be here in the afternoon?”

“He can stay on our laps and sleep. If he’s needed, we’ll wake him up,” Poppy answered.

While Dumbledore was questioned, Harry was peacefully asleep on his father’s lap, his belly full of pizza and potions. As Dumbledore was questioned under Veritaserum, it soon became clear that he obviously was off his rocker. Finally, after another break of thirty minutes, the judge announced the verdict.

“Guilty on all counts but insanity! This means a lifetime sentence to Azkaban. However, he will be granted a stay in the warded section of St. Mungos until a possible recovery.”

With this, a huge commotion started in the courtroom, and the spot where the Hogwarts teachers sat was swamped with reporters in a blink. Fortunately, the Minister arrived at the same time and motioned everyone outside for a press conference. “May I ask you to join me for the press conference, please?” he addressed the teachers.

-----

Severus and his colleagues conferred for a few seconds and agreed to join the press conference but only for a few minutes. Finally, Minerva told the Minister, “Each of us will answer exactly one question. After that we have to head back to Hogwarts as we have a sick child with us and need to get back to the school.”

The Minister greeted the reporters and said, “At the beginning, the Hogwarts teachers are willing to answer one question each. Afterwards you will have to be content with my colleague and me.”

Only now, Harry noticed Mr. Weasley, whom he knew from the memories of his older self, standing behind the Minister. From Severus’ shoulders he waved his hand to the man, who smiled back at the child. Soon, the reporters began to ask questions.

“Who will be the next Headmaster of Hogwarts?”

Severus spoke up. “Of course we have to discuss this with the Minister and with the Board. However, the teachers have so far chosen Professor McGonagall as new Headmistress.”

Minerva couldn’t help blushing at the tremendous applause, which even increased when the reporters saw little Harry clapping his hands as well.

“What is the reason for Mr. Potter’s de-aging and why has his name changed to Harry Snape?”

Poppy answered this time. “The de-aging was a Potions accident. Harry was de-aged to a baby. At that time, Dumbledore finally saw fit to reveal to Professor Snape that Harry was in fact his son.” Hearing a loud gasp, she explained, “Professor Snape was together with Lily Evans until a few weeks before she was married to James Potter. As Professor Snape knew that Harry had a terrible childhood, he decided to let the boy grow up again instead of giving him an aging potion.”

“Did nobody notice that the Headmaster was losing it? How could he become so insane in a few weeks?”

Tom proceeded to answer this question. “I always had the impression that he was crazy. I believe it had already started twenty years ago when he began to do evil things, blaming me for them.”

“You accused Dumbledore of killing James Potter. Didn’t he kill Lily Potter too?”

Minerva threw Severus a helpless glance before she replied. “I’m sorry but I don’t know anything contrary.”

“I’d like to ask Harry something,” Rita Skeeter said. “Are you glad that Professor Dumbledore isn’t at Hogwarts anymore? And do you remember everything of your former childhood?”

“Yes,” Harry replied in his high, childish voice. “I was very afraid of him. Fawkes always tried to help me, but once Prowfessor Dumby made him burn and become a baby when he tried to save me.” He glanced at the phoenix on his shoulder and softly stroked his familiar’s head feathers while he replied to the second question. “I remember that you’ve always written many lies about me and that you’re a beetle Animagus.”

-----

Accompanied by a huge gasp coming from the journalists due to Harry’s last sentence, the Hogwarts group left the press conference and returned to the area within the Ministry from where they could Floo home. Severus glanced at the huge clock on the wall. It was still half past four, so they had two hours left until dinner.

“All right, now, Harry, can you come down now?” Severus asked his son and carefully put him onto the floor. Then he leaned over to Poppy. “Poppy, do you think we could take Harry to Godric’s Hollow?” he whispered, hoping that his son wasn’t listening so that he wouldn’t get his hopes up.

The Healer quickly waved her wand over her godson before she asked, “Harry, do you feel well enough to try the spell for your Mummy?”

“Yes!” Harry squealed happily. “When are we going there? Now?”

“Yes, Harry. But, don’t get up your hopes too much. The possibility that this won’t work is much higher than the chance that it will,” Severus replied and turned to Minerva. “Tom and I will take Harry…”

“No,” Minerva interrupted him sternly. “We will all go together. At least, I will join you.”

Poppy nodded and said, “I’m going too.”

#Tell them that I can flash you there. They all have to grip my tail feathers, little one,# Fawkes told Harry, who happily translated for the others.

Two minutes later, the group stood in front of a half destroyed house, in which they had all spent many happy hours until eighteen years ago.