Severus' head hurt, he wanted to rip his eyes out of his head and his throat was on fire, his back pained as he lay on the cold damp floor of the Shrieking Shack.  He had used his last muscle movements to give Harry Potter his memories... memories that would explain his actions; a final reconciliation on Severus' part.  He hoped it got him into heaven.

Severus cursed as his muscles froze up.  That blasted snake Nagini, he hoped she suffered painfully, he hoped that Harry would use some curse on the snake that would make her suffer.  If the snake's poison didn't have him paralysed, he'd smirk. He knew however that Harry Potter was the Gryffindor Golden Boy Poster Child, he would not make the snake suffer, hell Severus was sure Harry would try as much as possible not to make Voldemort suffer. Voldemort who had killed Harry's parents, Voldemort who had tried to destroy all of the non-magical world and part of the magical world, Voldemort Harry's archenemy. No Harry was too good a person, to innocent, to sweet, too much of a blasted brat to check to see if Severus was really dead.

He groaned this was his final punishment, to lie on the ground, suffering the indignity of being laid out like some slab of meat.  Severus was thankful that they were not in the muggle world where autopsies would be done. It was his worst nightmare, being picked apart like some potions ingredient.  He inwardly smirked, he started thinking of the potions ingredients that could be harvested from his body; his heart was good, his brain was top notch, his hair - a waste of time and his liver was shot... oh God.  Severus laughed in his mind, he was going to go mad long before the poison finally claimed him.

Wait that was not him laughing, someone was in the Shrieking Shack.

"Well well look what we have here, Tom really does not know how to pick up after himself" a male voice said.  Severus inwardly frowned; he did not know that voice.

"Now Gill, that is not respectful, Severus was a good friend." 

Okay that voice was familiar but where did he know it from. Severus was sure he heard this second man before.

"Don't get too sentimental Al. You know he has to die" the first voice said.

Okay so they are not friendly.

"We need him for a little while longer check him" the second voice ‘Al' said.

He felt the magic pass over him. The magical signature was strange. Severus definitely did not know this man.

"He is alive, weak but alive. The snake's poison is coursing through him, paralysing him. I am not getting much brain activity... he is most likely unconscious" Gill reported.

"Knowing Severus as I do, he probably is in some sort of occlumens state trying to slow down the poison until Harry returns" Al said. 

Severus snorted, so much he knows; he had already surrendered to Death, why would he prolong it.

Al continued "He always was a loyal follower. Maybe I will keep him". 

Severus concentrated that voice, it was younger, stronger but it sounded like... no it can't be... he was dead. Wait that's it I am already dead and this is purgatory.

"You will not, I forbid it, we have waited too long for this. I have no need for the greasy haired bastard. He'd turn on us the same way he turned on Tom" Gill said angrily.

"You know I never really trusted him but he had his uses. The Prince Estate was quite useful; those millions are what kept us going for the last fifteen years and I know you will love the manor. I have it all prepared for you" Al said.

If he could have moved Severus' eyes would have shown his surprise. What the...  wait what Prince Estate? Grandfather disowned me, there is no Prince Estate not any more... is there?

"Besides I think we could use him as barter against Harry. The boy is too well trained he will sacrifice his own power to save others. Severus gave him memories of his innocence. The boy will want to set him free. The boy will give up the Hallows to save him" Al said.

There was a minute of silence and Gill said "Okay save him but if you are wrong, he dies."

Severus mind reeled; Harry Potter... Harry Potter was the Master of the Deathly Hallows, whoever this is wants the Hallows. He felt a hot liquid burning into his neck, he felt it coursing through his body. Whoever this is was healing him; but what was the liquid? Severus thought ... phoenix tears, it is the only thing that could move so fast through my body and heal me so quickly.

While the phoenix tears was being poured Gill spoke "I thought that Voldemort and Harry had to kill each other?"

"No, Harry will kill Tom... he could have killed him at eleven if I had allowed it. I made sure and kept his magic suppressed until everything was set.  The prophecy was a fake or part of it was. Harry always had the ability to kill Tom."

"You know you never explained why I had to wait another six years in Nurmengard" Gill stated.

Nurmengard, okay I know that name... come on Sev use that brain of yours... Nurmengard, Gill, Al... you could do this.

"Because Harry Potter is now an adult; listen, even though I got control of the Potter and Black fortune it was never really mine, just like the Prince fortune. Tom also has been named the beneficiary of many of his followers' estate; I know Lestrange and McNair have named him as getting everything.  If they die which I am sure they will tonight, Tom gets their estate. Tom has no will and no children which means when Harry kills Tom, Harry gets everything. Harry has to name me his heir, just like Severus."

Severus mind reeled, Nurmengard, Gill, Al... Gillert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore... but they are dead...

The phoenix tears had now healed Severus and he slowly opened his eyes... he saw the two... they were younger much younger.  They looked 18 like the photo in Rita Skeeter's tell all book about the deceased Headmaster and Head of the Wizengamot. They should both be close to 100 years old... no they should be dead... he attended Albus' funeral (in secret), hell he cried at the funeral. 

"Ah Severus welcome back... good to see you my boy.  I know this may seem confusing and no you are not dead, you see Gillert and I both faked our deaths. Gillert was supposed to remain quietly in Germany however Voldemort found him and well we had to take steps and then I well... Albus Dumbledore had to go out with a bang didn't he" the man Severus had often thought of as a father laughed.

Severus looked at the twinkling blue eyes of the man who he had respected and admired. He opened his mouth and tried to speak. His throat was still raw "How?"

Dumbledore looked excited as if he was waiting to tell the story. "How? Simple...  Tom killed a polyjuiced house-elf thinking it was Gillert and me... well my death was even more spectacular... you see... and this was truly amazing. The philosopher's stone makes not only the elixir of life. It makes a special potion which banishes death... I discovered it a few years back, it essentially is a mixture of the elixir of life with dragon's blood. Dragons live hundreds of years so it in essence strengthens and prolongs life. I tested it first on little Harry and made sure that Voldemort was able to get him... it was all a test... Tom Riddle really was a powerful wizard so his killing curse would be possibly as strong as it could get. By testing it on Harry a powerful but underdeveloped babe, I was able to see all the side effects and such. It really is a fantastic potion. It still protects him even after almost sixteen years.  So I just made sure and took it before we left that night... otherwise your killing curse would have really killed me, it was just so brilliant.  Anyway in essence I was dead... for a few seconds and then the rest was easy."

"Young?" Severus whispered.

"Another brilliant potion from the stone... you know poor Nicholas really was twit, he never really used the stone to its fullest and when he did realise he locked it in that mirror. It took a lot for me to steal that mirror. Nicholas warded it against me but he never expected me to use Harry to get it."

Gillert smiled "Another brilliant plan."

"Yes it was wasn't it. Anyway I was able to create a youth formula, based on the formula you created for me, to save my hand which by the way worked marvellously, it not only restored my hand but made it look young again.  I kept a glamour on my hand and stored away the potion when you brought it for me.  So your formula mixed with the elixir of life made this beauty" Albus said taking out a potion's vial from his pocket, it had a purple liquid. "With it Gill and I have been restored to our prime... what use is it to live forever looking like an old hag... no we would be young and beautiful and immortal. We already have all the documents which show that we are the grandsons of our former selves."

"Harry?"

"Oh don't worry I am not going to kill Harry no... He is much too valuable. I need him alive... with Tom gone; he is going to be the only parselmouth alive.  I have all of the Slytherin books from the Chamber. I need to translate them, I need him. However he is going to be too much trouble as he is, so we are going to de-age him to a baby and raise him as our son. Of course this formula is slightly different from what we took. With this one he would not remember a thing" Albus said shaking the purple liquid again.

Whatever Severus was about to say went out of his head, he was hit with what felt like 100 cruciatus at once.  The pain in his arm... his heart... his core.  He passed out but not before he heard Albus laugh "Harry has done it, Voldemort is dead."

-----

It was late at night. The battle won. The dead were being taken care of and Harry Potter stood at the window in the seventh year boy's dormitory at Hogwarts. He had not attended school that year, spending his time on the road hunting for Voldemort's horcruxes.  He sighed as he watched Dean, Seamus and Neville sleep. He couldn't sleep, even the dreamless sleeping potion Madam Pomfrey had given him... even that had not worked. What was wrong with him?

Maybe some hot cocoa would work.  He grabbed one of Neville's robes (he had offered Harry earlier) and instinctively took up his invisibility cloak and his wand... the two wands.  After a year on the run, it was now habit to walk with his cloak and wand everywhere.

As he walked down to the kitchen, he looked at the Elder Wand, it was his now, he had won it, it now answered to him.  Harry had used it to repair his Holly and Phoenix wand but he never intended on using it again. He was going to lock it in Dumbledore's tomb with him... he would never duel anyone with it. He would never surrender its power to anyone. He would hide it away and after he died hopefully of old age, the power of the Elder Wand would fade and the power of the Hallows would be no more.

Harry heard the noise in the Great Hall. He put on his cloak and walked passed. The Hall was filled with Aurors, Unspeakables and Order of the Phoenix members.  Harry wanted to avoid all of them.  He was nearing the kitchen when he heard two unmistakable voices; that of his two best friends, Ron and Hermione.  He was about to go to them when he saw a familiar looking blond hair man approaching. Harry knew he had seen the man before but could not remember where. As a defensive move, Harry moved to the shadows even though he was under the invisibility cloak.

The blond hair man spoke. "What is taking you so long? Albus is getting impatient, Severus has tried to escape twice."

Had they been closer they would have heard Harry gasp.

"Madam Pomfrey gave Harry a dreamless sleeping potion" Ron said.

"What! You were supposed to bring him back to the Shrieking Shack. How the hell are we supposed to get back the wand and cloak now? He is weak and vulnerable now, tomorrow he would be rested and so would half the damn Auror Corps and the Order" the man said. 

Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, after everything he had been through he was not surprised... actually Hermione surprised him.

Ron offered an explanation. "We tried to bring him but my mom stopped me, my brother died and she wanted me close and well Harry went on his own and you know Madam Pomfrey."

"I don't want excuses" the man shouted.

"Listen Grindelwald the sleeping potion lasts eight hours which gives us about six remaining.  Tell Professor Dumbledore we will bring Harry to the shack in the morning after breakfast around ten. He doesn't suspect us.  He will go in blindly. You could defeat him then" Hermione said in her usual bossy tone.

Grindelwald slapped Hermione hard. "Don't presume to give me orders child... you have until eight in the morning or you will never see a galleon of the money or a book from the library we promised" he said and he walked off.

Hermione scoffed "Who does he think he is..."

"He is a Dark Lord Hermione."

"Yes fifty years ago, now he is an old washed up wizard who used a potion to look young. Don't worry about it Ron, I have a backup.  I took Harry's vault key from your mother.  We will empty the vault in the morning after we deliver Harry. I also instructed Kreacher months ago to pack the Black and Potter Libraries in a special trunk, told him Harry wanted it. If those two backstab us, we will be secure.  Come on lets go to our room."  Hermione pulled Ron towards the stairs.

"No we will have to use another room, Ginny is in that room with McCormic" Ron said.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, why couldn't the girl get her own secret room?" Hermione said as she stopped and moved in the next direction.

"We have been away for a year, she has been using it a lot" Ron said with a laugh as Hermione pulled him away.

Harry stood in the alcove for more than ten minutes before he could breathe properly.  He had been betrayed by those he trusted and loved.  Then with a deep breath, he knew what he had to do. He called Kreacher.

The elf popped in. Kreacher had been damaged in the battle but looked like he would survive. "Master Harry called for Kreacher?" Kreacher said softly looking around.

Harry removed his cloak and Kreacher looked at him. Harry spoke softly "Hermione told you to pack a trunk of things for me?"

"Yes, the libraries of the Black and Potters Estates, Kreacher put it in a vault trunk."

"Vault trunk?"

"It is like an ordinary trunk on outside but is the size and protection of a Gringotts vault inside. Old Master Orion had one."

"I need it... did she or Ron or anyone else ask you to keep anything?"

"Mrs Weessy ask Kreacher to hide Lady Black jewels for Miss Ginny says she is next Lady Black and it could not be lost to he-who-must-not-be-named-and-is-now-dead. Master Snape gives Kreacher potions to keep if Master Harry or his friends were injured and needed it."

Harry sighed he was really wrong about Snape; the man had cared and protected him as a father would more than any of the other men in his life, though Harry didn't know it until today. He looked at Kreacher "Could you put the jewels in the trunk too and any other jewels or valuables that I own that you could get?"

"I will be no more than twenty minutes Master Harry."

"Kreacher, I don't want you to be seen or want you to tell anyone what you are doing."

"Yes Master Harry."

Harry sat in the alcove and made his plans. He saw Kingsley and a few Aurors looking for him. He remained hidden as he really did not know who to trust. Twenty minutes later when Kreacher returned, he gave Harry a trunk, the size of his school trunk but it was like a large room on the inside.  The house-elf told him that he had set the password that Miss Hermione said he wanted.

"Kreacher I want to change the password now" Harry said and with Kreacher's help he changed the password and set it in parseltongue. He was the only one alive who could speak the snake language so he knew no one else could open it.  He then shrunk the chest and put it in his pocket.

"I need your help to get out of here without anyone knowing" Harry said.

Kreacher nodded and holding Harry's hand the house-elf took him to the destination Harry wanted.

...........

Gringotts was open (though it was two-thirty in the morning); Harry saw two customers he was sure were vampires, everyone minded their own business however. Harry went to the goblin at the desk and asked to speak to the manager in charge.  Ten minutes later an old goblin came out, he had on purple robes and an odd smile.

"Good morning Lord Potter Black, I am Ragnog, Head of Gringotts. Our records have shown the closing of the Tom Riddle vaults a few hours ago, as well as those of many of his followers. We thank you Lord Potter Black and we at Gringotts are in your debt."

"Yeah well I want to call that debt, can we speak in private?"

Harry was shown to a private room and for the next ten minutes spoke to the Goblin about his plan and why.   Ragnog further spoke to Harry about all his holdings.  Harry was furious to realise he owned five houses and had millions of galleons.

"You are aware that you now own all of the Lestrange, Mc Nair, Nott and several other vaults as well as Riddle's. As you defeated him all of those Estates are now yours."

"Does Riddle's vault have anything light in it?" Harry said with a laugh.

"Yes a few books by Slytherin and Gryffindor."

"Okay I want those put into this vault trunk." Harry said taking out the trunk and enlargened it. "I want another vault trunk and I want you to put all the gold from my Potter and Black vaults in it."

The goblin snapped his fingers and another goblin appeared and was sent to do as Harry commanded.

"Okay the Lestrange vault goes to Andromeda Tonks and her grandson Teddy. The McNair vaults to the half giant Hagrid and the Nott vaults go to the rightful heir Theodore Nott and I don't know if you could ensure that it is known that he is innocent. I want you to sign over my shares of Weasleys Wizarding Wonders to Fred and when he is ready, give him the Potter townhouse in London.  All other vaults I want to go to the goblins."

The goblin gasped "There is almost 100 million galleons in the other vaults."

"Listen, most of that is blood money and I don't want it.  I would give it to the house-elves but they would rather die.  The centaurs have no need of it and the only other person I would give it to is Snape and I know he wouldn't take it.  The Ministry... I don't want them to have it.  So I give it to you... I have had enough. I want to go far away, possibly Hawaii or New Zealand and retire on a beach. Anyway I need your help and this way if things go wrong you could say I hired you all."

At four in the morning, Harry had on battle robes and had two trunks of things deep in his pocket.  He had a shrunken folder with documents for him, Neville, Luna, the Malfoys, Snape and Minerva to start all over. He hoped they would come with him.  He was ready, his first stop; saving Snape. He looked around and saw Ragnog and about fifty heavily armed goblins soldiers standing behind him.

Ragnog gave him the round disk that was obviously a portkey. Harry nodded, they were ready. Ragnog chanted and in a flash they were gone. They landed at the Hogwarts front gate. The sight that greeted them was one of nightmares. Hogwarts was burning.

"Oh holy Odin this is not possible" Ragnog said.

Harry screamed and ran forward.  His screams where heard by a small group.

"Ahh there you are Potter" The blond haired man that Harry knew was Grindelwald. "Glad you joined the party."

Harry looked at the man standing next to the blond. The hair was red and not white and he had no beard or glasses but Harry recognised Dumbledore.

"Why?" Harry asked the man he had loved as a Grandfather.

"Because I am Hogwarts. I changed the way the school was run. I made it more efficient. Do you know that blasted Minister Scrigmore asked for me to be fired? Me! Albus Dumbledore. Well I showed them. The Dumbledore family name would stand for all time. Don't worry Harry, I will rebuild Hogwarts but the houses will be Dumbledore, Grindelwald, Weasley and if you want Potter."

"You're mad!" Harry shouted.

Grindelwald laughed "Like a hatter but he is oh so brilliant. Now Harry Potter, you have something I want and it so happens I have something you want.

Filch brought out Ginny and Ron, they were both tied up. Ginny screamed for Harry to save them.

"Kill them for all I care, they mean nothing to me" Harry said coldly.

Ginny screamed "How could you say that, you are my soul mate."

"And McCormic what is he?" Harry said coldly. He turned to Ron "And where is your girlfriend Hermione, has she gone to empty out the rest of my vault?"

Grindelwald laughed "I told you Al, the boy is smarter than you think..."

Dumbledore smiled and snapped his finger and Hermione came out with a beaten and bloody Snape.  "You may feel nothing for the Weasleys but I know you care about him. He saved your life... many times and you know you owe him a life debt. You will not be able to watch him be killed. Give us what we want and we will free Severus and your life debt would be paid."

Harry said nothing but glared at Dumbledore.

"Now it is simple, I want your cloak and I want back my wand" Grindelwald said. "Yes my wand. I gave it to Albus, he never won it. It was all part of the plan you see..."

Harry knew he could depend on the bad guy to rant a bit. He was giving the goblins time to circle the group. Grindelwald had ranted about a minute when Harry shouted "Now". The goblins attacked. Filch was the first to go.

There was much fighting. Despite Hermione's assertion, Grindelwald was a fierce dueller and Dumbledore was now in his prime, with all the knowledge of an old master. Dumbledore was fiercer than when Harry had seen him battle Voldemort in his fifth year. 

Harry battled intensely but he was tired. He screamed in his mind that there should be a rule about fighting more than one war per day.

Severus had been freed by a few goblins and was fighting wandlessly but there was only so much he could do, even with the phoenix tears he had lost a lot of blood.  However while they were all fighting Severus told Harry what he had overheard.  He figured he was going to die soon, so he wanted Harry to know.  He looked around over half of the goblins were dead (Grindelwald) or stunned (Dumbledore).

Severus knew they needed help... he knew they could not count on any cavalry saving them but in their current state neither he nor Harry would last long, unless....

"Potter use the Elder Wand, we need the additional magic" Severus shouted.

"No, I am not going to use it. If I use it and lose, the wand would go into the hands of the wrong person."

Harry heard Ron snicker about fame and power going to the wrong sort and wasted on the likes of Harry.

Severus sneered "You have no bloody choice, without it we may lose Harry."

"Then I will lose."

"Bloody idiotic Gryffindor... Wait Potter summon the ring. Grindelwald has it; they picked it up after you dropped it. You are its master accio it. You don‘t have to use it just summon it."

Grindelwald put up a barrier and when Harry summoned the ring the barrier prevented it.  Harry thought of Severus' words and shouted "I Harry Potter Master of the Hallows, command the Ring of Resurrection to me."

The ring flew from Grindelwald into Harry's hand and he put it on and immediately a strong wind blew and a dementor like figure appeared.  Every one stopped fighting and it was if they were frozen.  Only Harry was unaffected. The goblins whimpered at the sight of Death and they all lowered their eyes not wanting to look at it.  Ron started screaming hysterically, the figure moved his hand and Ron went silent.

"Harry Potter you have summoned me?"

"These two?" Harry said pointing to Dumbledore and Grindelwald.

"I cannot touch. They have taken a strong potion which prevents me from taking them. In one hundred and fifty years I could once more but they have enough hidden for many servings" the dark creepy figure replied. "I cannot take you as you too have the potion in your veins, you also have the Hallows at your command."

Harry shook his head "Listen I do not want the Hallows. My plan was to put the Elder Wand in Albus' tomb. Which I now realise is empty and when I die their power would end."

"Do you not know the power you now hold? The power of the Hallows, if you wish it you could now be immortal?" Death asked.

"Yes I do, all too well. I have no problem with dying as I have seen too much of your work. If I had a wish it would be to save everyone from the schemes and horrors of those two. I realise now they were the ones behind everything, even Voldemort may have been manipulated by them... I wish I could save them all, I wish I could save Hogwarts" Harry said looked at the burning castle.

Death looked at Harry and smiled "Your proposal is acceptable. In exchange for the Hallows, I will send you back in time and give you the chance to save them all.  You would be outside of time, which means even if your parents do not meet and Harry Potter is not born, you will still exist. This time will cease to exist and everything erased. You may choose to leave the world as it is or remove these two and leave it to its own destiny or you may even become a Dark Lord, I will not interfere.  Just remember everyone is responsible for his or her own actions."

Harry thought about it and turned to Ragnog said "I thank you for your aid and know that I consider you an equal."

Ragnog lowered his eyes "You truly are a great wizard". Then with Death's permission (Death released him from the bonds holding everyone), he took off his ring and gave it to Harry. "Whatever time you go to, present this to the Gringotts goblins and ask for sanctuary. It will tell them that you are a friend of the goblin nation."

"Thank you."

Harry looked at Severus, the man's face was stoic but Harry saw the fear in the eyes.

Severus cleared his throat "I am sorry Harry for everything. I want you to know that Lily would have been very proud of you."

Harry nodded and looked at Death "I accept but on one condition."

"What is that condition?"

"That I take someone back with me, someone who could be my conscious of a sort, to stop me from becoming a Dark Lord."

Death nodded "I will grant that condition.  So who do you chose?"

Immediately Hermione and Ginny started shouting at Harry to take them.

Harry looked at Snape "Will you be willing to come back with me sir... I need your help."

Severus looked at him wearily and said "I have already fought two wars and I do not know if I have the strength to fight another but... I made a vow to Lily to protect you and see you safe, I will come."  

Death released him.

Severus stood up and then looked at Death "I don't suppose I will have time for a shower and to change my clothes?"

Death chuckled and waved his hand and Severus robes changed to brand new emerald green and he looked refreshed, all his injuries had healed and even his hair looked silky and soft and not greasy.

Severus looked like he was about to say thank you but noticed his robes were green and gave Death a glare.

"Only I am allowed to be in black all the time" Death said with a chuckle and everyone, even Dumbledore laughed.

Death looked at them seriously "Are you ready?"

Harry and Severus nodded.  As Death waved his hand and a portal opened, they heard Grindelwald screaming and saw him fighting Death's hold.  Severus instinctive grabbed Harry's hand and ran towards the portal and the two fell together into an abyss.  As the overhead opening closed they heard Grindelwald's screams end.