It had been a trap, and he had led them straight into it.
Sirius was fine, not tortured, or dead, which meant that when the Death Eaters strolled into the room Harry knew it was all his fault. He had brought his friends, those few who had stuck by him through thick and thin, into an unwinnable situation.
Battle had broken out over that stupid sphere, a running battle where they were separated and he had ended up in the 'Death Chamber', fighting against several Death Eaters and simply trying to make it out alive and keep his friends safe as well.
Then his godfather had arrived, and Harry had allowed himself to hope. They fought side by side, pushing back Voldemort's forces until he saw it. From the corner of his eye, he watched the psychotic Witch point her wand. He saw the colored light streaking towards the only family he had left and acted without thought.
Harry Potter pushed the man out of the way, and was struck instead, the impact throwing him back through the mysterious Veil which had served as the backdrop for their battle.
Then all the boy-who-lived knew was silence.
****
The boy awoke on the hard ground, body sore and head dizzy as he sat up to collect his bearings. There were sounds nearby, the sounds of people walking and excited conversations but nothing he recognized. Had they won? Were these new individuals Auror reinforcements?
Harry opened his eyes, and immediately regretted it due to both the slight nausea and intensity of the light around him. He certainly wasn't in the ministry anymore, or at least not in the chamber he had previously been fighting in.
Was Sirius alright? What about his friends?
These thoughts drove him forward, and he blindly reached out to find a nearby wall, using it to slowly climb to his feet all the while ignoring the aches in his limbs. As he slowly moved forward towards the sounds, and his eyes began to adapt to the brightness, he took in several very important details.
First, if he had to take a guess, he was somewhere near Diagon Alley. Next, and far stranger, was that he felt shorter and smaller than during the battle. Perhaps because of the spell that had impacted him. And finally, he did not seem to have his wand, or any other objects of value save for his glasses and clothes.
He reached the populated area seconds later, "What in the…" Harry froze the moment he heard his own voice. It was higher than he remembered, not as worn or scratchy. It felt different. A nearby window showed his reflection as being younger, much younger, and a certain scar missing from his forehead.
It was then that something else caught his eye, a nearby edition of the Prophet. It was strange enough to not have something negative about him or Dumbledore on the front page, but even more alarming was the date.
August 1, 1991
He stared and stared, as if trying to will the truth away because it wasn't possible… right? He had time-traveled before, but that was by hours not years.
But he was young again, the difference in size, his voice, how lively everything was, it all made sense. Then, as if to throw more fuel on the already raging fire of confusion threatening to consume him, he heard it.
"James, hurry up. We came to get the girls their school supplies."
The former teen turned, then forgot to breathe. A redheaded woman smiling at her happily grinning husband.
James and Lily Potter, he knew it even before the man confirmed her first name a moment later. He had seen them in the Mirror of Erised, seen them in the picture album given to him by Hagrid, seen them in his dreams.
Harry hadn't time traveled, he had traveled to an entirely different world.
But it wasn't just them, they had children, two daughters who looked like they might be his own age. They were alive, happy, all because he wasn't there. For a moment, one that he would regret and hate himself for, he was full of jealousy and spite.
Why did he lose everything when they had perfectly normal lives? Where was the justice? Why shouldn't they suffer? But the thoughts were squashed a moment later when he thought of his friends. He had never wished ill will upon Ron for having a large family, or Hermione for having parents.
Harry slipped back into the abandoned alley he had awoken in, slid down the wall, and pulled his knees up to his chest in misery.
****
He heard it before he saw the bird, and looked up from between his arms, which had been used to curl even smaller. It was a brown owl, staring back at him with a letter in its claw. A second after being noticed the creature extended its leg, waving the object as if to say, 'I have something for you'.
"Go away" he muttered, not in the mood to deal with whatever it had for him.
The response was a more agitated 'hoot' and a more insistent motion. Yet still, it was ignored by the boy at least until another voice entered the alley. "I believe you underestimate the persistence of an owl. I have many times tried to get out of receiving unwanted mail in such a manner, but the consequences involve find said letters in rather inconvenient places later."
As if to accentuate the woman's words, the owl hooted once more, this time with agitation laced through the sound. Harry sighed, before blindly reaching out and having the paper pushed into his hand, then he looked up towards the stranger.
Any surprise at the tear blurred image was quickly forgotten by the eccentric appearance of the older individual. Long flowing robes that seemed to sparkle in the light, a gentle smile, her hair was just passed shoulder length and while mostly silver still had darker roots and streaks of black throughout.
She looked down at him, curiosity in her eyes but nothing else. "Hello there, my name is Augustina Dumbledore, and I believe that letter is an invitation to Hogwarts, the school I preside over as Headmistress."
Harry stared for a moment, unsure as to whether he should laugh or cry. He opted for a bit of both, earning a concerned frown from the woman.
"I think we should continue this conversation somewhere more comfortable hm? Perhaps get you something to eat as well. There is a lovely diner just around the corner, my treat."
The boy allowed himself to be helped to his feet then followed the woman.