A Second Soul

Chapter 1~in which~ We Find a Very Confused Harry Potter

More than likely, you already know about the boy who lived, the boy with the lightening-bolt scar, but, just in case-

Harry James Potter was the son of Lilly (Evans) Potter and James Potter. They died protecting him and the magic of their love stayed with him until his 17th year when he was killed by an evil wizard who was more than a little whack. This love protected him (to an extent) and was believed to be a part of him, but in a way, it wasn't, and,in a way, it was.
~*~
Harry looked up feeling rather unlike Harry, but also exactly like him. He saw himself about 20 yards away from where he was (currently hidden behind a line of trees), looking somewhat, well, dead. Narcissa Malfoy was leaning over him whispering something to his body and Harry felt it quite odd that he was dead. Mostly because he didn't feel dead but also partially because the him he was staring at flicked his eyes and breathlessly replied to Draco's mother without indicating his survival to the crowd of dark wizards at his back.

As Voldemort led all of the Wizards from the forest, with Hagrid carrying his dead body(that, most confusingly, appeared not so dead), Harry began to think that maybe this wasn't such a normal occurrence. Struggling to gain his footing, he looked down at himself to see a naked, wandless body. More and more he was feeling that he had just gotten super wasted on fire whiskey and was nakedly hallucinating in the middle of the darkforest. After walking a short time in, at least what he believed to be, the direction of the castle, Harry stepped on something sharp and, jumping back in surprise, yelped in a rather unbecoming manner for a naked person traipsing through a magical forest alone.

Reaching for the offending object, recognition flickered across his consciousness. Turning the stone 3 times in his hand, he watched his loved ones, once again, reveal themselves. It was just like before he went to face his death only this time, Dumbledore was there with his mystical smile hidden beneath the trademark snowy beard.

"Harry" Said Sirius, "You do look rather confused. Don't tell me old Voldy finally got to you? You're gonna cost me a bet if you don't pull yourself together son. Now come on, look alive, you only died a little. "

 Harry stared blankly at his godfather somewhat affronted at the casual way in which he was treating Harry's current predicament. While it must be fun for him, being dead and all, Harry wasn't dead, but he should be. Not for the first time in his short life, Voldemort had somehow managed to fuck up what really should have been the relatively simple task of killing Harry or even just keeping him dead.

"Harry, my dear boy," Twinkling, intelligent eyes met Harry's emerald gaze "You have done so well. I don't believe any of us could be more proud. I'm assuming you most likely want some answers but you should walk while I explain-the sooner you get to the castle, the sooner you can get some clothes to cover up that shivering body."

It was at this point Harry realized how many of his most precious loved ones were watching him as he strode around butt naked and he began to blush rather furiously.

They all followed him as he began his rather cold journey back towards the castle. "So, Harry, as you know, Tom hit you with the killing curse, but instead of killing you, it killed the piece of him that resided in you. With that piece of him removed, your magic felt there was no more need for your mother's love to protect you and it... Fragmented your soul."

Harry stopped walking to stare at the past headmaster in horror, opening his mouth, yet unable to communicate his thoughts.

"Harry, it's alright" the old wizard quickly put in "Calm down, dear boy. You're not a horcrux. It's more like.... When your parents died for you, a part of their souls attached to yours to protect you. Now that you don't need that protection, your magic is rejecting it because there was too much soul. You've been living with what amounts to two souls, slowly collecting the pieces of those who departed this world protecting you, and now you're two different souls in two different bodies. You are Harry Potter, but only partially."

"So... There's another me walking around... That's more me than I am... And he's going to save the world? And I'm... What am I going to do?"

"Whatever you want, dear boy. I'd say you've earned it."

"But not here, Harry." Said the beautiful auburn haired witch. "You can't do it in this world where a part of your soul is walking around as another person. You need to go somewhere else. A different time, in a different place. There are dimensions that are almost exact copies of ours. There is only one I know how to access- traveling there would be like throwing you back to our world before you were born. If you go there, there will still eventually be a Harry, but his soul will differ from yours. I'm afraid that it's possible you might still have some trials ahead of you. If you do not change the course of history, it will repeat itself. You need to go there, sweetheart. You need to go and you need to live and be happy. And remember that, no matter what, I will always love you."

"Honestly Lilly, the boy is walking proof that you love him."

"Shut it James. I can tell my son that I love him if I want to."

"Right, Lil. Sorry Harry. I love you too."

Harry said goodbye to all of them then dropped the stone, knowing he couldn't take it with him. Finally reaching Hogwarts, he snuck into the castle through a gaping hole, tripped down a flight of stairs, and landed in the dungeons. Hearing students walking toward where he sat, very naked, and very existing-where-he-shouldn't-be, he slipped into the potions room (which was conveniently right behind where his naked ass had landed).

Seeing a protective robe (for potion mixing), he slid into the heavy material, it had to be better than nothing. Reaching into the pocket, he found a small wand which seemed to have no attachment to any witch or wizard, more than likely it was for students who didn't have their own wand to use during potions. If only Ron had had access to one of these second year. Ron. He'd never see either of his best friends again. Flicking the wand the way his mother had indicated, he disappeared from the world he had always known.

~*~

Harry awoke to someone prodding him in the side with a stick.
Wait, not a stick, a wand.
Harry jumped up, the small, unfamiliar potions wand strangled by his grip.
"Expelliarmus"
Lucius's wand flew from his hand, snapping with a harsh crack against the castle wall.
"What's your problem? Do you always go around snapping people's wands? Is that the etiquette you were taught growing up?"

Harry stared blankly at the boy, still rather dazed and more than slightly confused, as well as anxious. How was he standing in front of a 17 year old Lucius Malfoy?

"What are you even doing down here? You're not a Slytherin, otherwise you wouldn't act in such an unbecoming manner."

"I'm...I...I need to see the headmaster."

"And you expect me to lead the way?" Lucius inquired with an unattractive sneer.

"No thanks, Malfoy. I know where I'm going."

Glaring, Lucius asked, "How do you know my name?"

Harry ignored him, running to the headmaster's office.

"My father will hear about this!!" The faint voice echoed behind him.

~*~

After attempting to explain his situation, it seemed Dumbledore was less than surprised (Of course, even in a different dimension, the man would know everything.), they agreed upon a story.He was to take his seventh year classes, seeing as he missed them searching  for horcruxes and hiding from deatheaters anyway, and to change his name. It was on him to pick a name and think up a backstory and on Dumbledore to document him legally- the only ones to know his true identity being Dumbledore, the case workers, and anyone Harry deemed worthy to tell.