Harry sat in his comfy chair by the fire, his mind on the recent war. The terror he felt and the expectation of not getting past it. Ginny was gone unable to understand why he was so intent on looking at the negative side of things when he had something good in his life that had the potential to make him happy.
If he was being fair he could not blame her. If the tables were turned he would have left as well. It had been nearly three years and all of that time she tried, she really did. Taking care of him, making sure he ate putting aside her own depression. It was clearly exhausting but she never got anything in return. Harry just continued to look as if he was living on a seperate plane of existence from the rest of the world.
As he sat there his eyes closed and missed three items he had thought he got rid of appear as if he called them, on his lap and disappear inside his body. Meanwhile his body was becoming transparent before complelty disappearing.
Harry next opened his eyes, bright sunlight seeping through his eyelids. He coud feel he was lying on the ground. The sight of the clear blue sky confirmed that he was outside. He sat confusion warring inside him. He was in an alley way behind Gringotts. He stood up wondering how on earth he got there. Confusion warred inside him at the fact that the ground was much closer than he could remember it being. In a panic he conjured a mirror to find a four year old face staring back at him.
He fell down on his bottom in shock at the sight but did notice however when he stood up again that there were differences to the way he looked when he was four before. His hair was slightly longer reaching his shoulders, less messy neither did he have a fringe. His lightning bolt scar was not there and his hair was more red than black. He stood up again and said to himself "I should really not be surprised."
Something shimmered beside him and Harry turned around to find a very tall someone wearing a black robe holding a scythe standing in front of him. He did not feel any fear of the being he saw he had already facedd death and died once he was not afraid of it happening again.
He loooked at Harry and said "Do you remember what I told you when you requested to come here?"
Harry knew he was talking about a world where his parents were because he was all of a sudden bombareded with his counterpart's memories. His life started out okay he was loved and happy for the first two years of his life until the attack by Voldemort. He watched as his counterpart lost consciousness after seeing green and then waking up to his parents talking about how his brother destroyed the dark lord and protecting his little brother Harry the squib.
Harry's life changed from then on. His family kept him home under the assumption of protecting him. He was no longer allowed to leave the house or communicate with other magical people. His home became his prison, his parents slowly distanced themselves away from him in the assumption that it would help in his transition. It was his mother who made the decidion to send him to the muggle world. She explained that they could not keep him indoors forever and it was unfair for him to never interact with other people because of their fears.
It was then decided he was going to be sent to Lily's sister. Harry had not even been asked if he wanted to go. He woke up in a strange house with girrafe like woman shrieking at him to get up so she could show him how to clean. That was the beginning of Harry's nightmare. A nightmare that ended that morning when he ran away from the Dursleys to the London streets where he was hit by a car.
Death merged Harry with his counterpart, something made easier because they were the same soul. Harry felt saddened by the fact that his family, the people he had come for had given him up because he had no magic. Little Harry's memories showed them not even interacting with him in the end.
"What do you wish to do Hadrain?" Death asked
"I want to learn everything I can and make something out of my life. If I cannot have my family then I will make my own."
Death gave Harry his full attention and said "You do have family, if you will have me. You are the closest thing to a son I will ever have. Know that no matter what you will always come first."
Harry had tears in his eyes at that. He moved and wrapped his little arms around Death in a hug making him feel shocked. This was the first time anyone had ever hugged him. Everyone was too afraid of him to even attempt it. He liked it. He hugged Harry wrapping his wings around him then said "It is up to you what you do now."
Harry smiled and said "Can I call you dad?"
Surprise flickered in Death's eyes and he replied "Yes, I would like that."
A tiny shrunk trunk appeared in Death's hand and as Harry pulled away he placed the trunk in Harry's hand and said "This is some of your inheritence from your old world. The rest is in gringotts here under your new name Hadrian Peverell. You will not need to worry about money here it would defeat the purpose of this little venture. For you to have a life and make your own choices and find happiness."
Harry looked up at Death and said "The age I am at right now will make it impossible for me to be independant. It is most likely that I will end up locked up in some orphanage somewhere in the muggle word and if I am found by the wizards I will probably be send me to the Potters who will send me back to the Dursleys."
He stopped to breath for a second before saying "Can't I stay with you till I'm old enough to be emancipated?"
Death looked surprised at that. He had not even considered the possibility of raising Harry himself. He had assumed he would not want to. "Is that what you really want?"
Harry nodded and said "Is that okay? I mean you never said it was an option and I..."
Death cut in "Yes, I guess I just assumed you would not even consider it."
He waved his hand over Harry and said "You will need these." Large black as night wings identical to Death's except in size grew out of Harry's back. Harry smiled at least until he tipped over and fell backwards. Death chuckled as he helped Harry back to his feet and said "Sorry, the wings do weigh a bit you will need to readjust your balance till you are used to them."
With that they both disappeared reappearing outside a large palace. It was clar they were underground there was fire and brimstone all around the sight fascinated Harry. Harry was held in Death's arms as they flew past the palace gates. Three old crones with wrinkled leathery skin hovered around. Death said to him "Those are furies. They can be very cruel do not give them reason to harm you. "
They approached the palace doors and the biggest dogs Harry had ever seen came out. They had large razor sharp teeth and their bodies were nothing but muscle. Death explained "Those are helhounds. They will not harm you unless they ordered to. You will be training to fight with those to begin with before we move on to bigger monsters." As they entered the palace which seemed to have been designed to bring out maximum depression Death said "This is not my home, it is the home of the god of death Hades. I have to introduce you to him as you will be residing in his realm. Unless he speaks to you do not speak, he can hold a grudge forever. I don't want you spending the rest of eternity looking over your shoulder for him. He can be very vindictive."
Harry just nodded as Death continued to explain things to him. They finaly came to what Harry could see was a throne room. Hades was in the throne, dressed like a rocker in leather. He was talking to a beautiful woman sitting beside him. Both looked up as they approached. Death gave a small bow with his head. Harry just watched as the woman stood up walked up to them and said "What do we have here? Oh Thanatos he is so cute. Can I hold him?"
Harry inwardly raised an eyebrow. His new dad had neglected to tell him his name and he had not even thought to ask. Thanatos looked at Harry as he said "If he wants you to. He is smarter than your average four year old you can ask him."
She smiled and said "Hello little one, I'm Persephone. Would you mind if I carried you?"
Harry returned her gaze and figured if it was okay with Thanatos then he did not see why not. He was actually liking the attention. He never got any in either life that he could really rememeber enough for him to say he knew what it was like. So he nodded his head giving his consent.
Persephone reached out and took him from Thanatos. Who smiled approvingly at Harry. Apparently he had one something right. Even Hades who always looked like he was angry all the time had a neutral look on his face. Thanatos knew that if Persephone was happy Hades became tolerable.
While Persephone and Harry chatted to each other Thanatos was telling Hades who Harry was to him. He explained Harry was his champion whom he adopted as his son. He told him he was going to train Harry himself until he was old enough to return to the human world.
Hades had a thoughtful look on his face and said "Very well. He may stay but I want him to come visit, it seems my wife has taken to him."
Both of them looked at Persephone who was back in her throne with Harry on her lap. She was cojuring images for him as she told him something. He looked memerised at that. A cute smile on his face as he listened. Soon enough he fell asleep. Thanatos had a worried look on his face when he saw Persephone did not really want to let go of Harry. She ran her fingers through his hair while he slept then kissed his head before getting up handing him over. she looked at Thanatos and said "He has been abused."
Even Hades looked up at that and she explained "I do not need to see into his mind to know this. He craves affection and at the same time cringes when he is touched."
A tear fell from her eyes and Thanatos replied "Yes he was abused by those he called family. It was why I did not hesitate to bring him here with me. I will not have him unhappy or passed around like an unwaned parcel. He is my son now and I will make sure he is safe."
"That is a very passionate speech coming from you Thanatos. I have never heard you speak so about anyone or anything. He will be safe here."
Thanatos was surprised to see those words came from Hades. It was true, he never bothered with emotions before, but then again he had never had a son before.
Persephone asked "Are you going to let him go to camp half blood?"
Thaantos shook his head "No, he does not need to he is not a half blood. I can teach him all he needs to know myself."
Hades then said "Thanatos, are you sure it is wise to be so attached to the child he is mortal. There is a reason we keep away from our own children. Can you imagine the grief we would go through everytime we lose a child?"
"I cannot give him up. Mortal or not. He has the choice to become immortal, he has already proven more than his worth for it. Including sacrificing his own life to rid the world of an evil hell bent on destroying it. He is is more than a hero he is a saviour."
Thanatos conjured a memory basin and placed the memories of what he knew of Harry's life, his chat with the fates about Harry. Even they agreed that he deserved a reward for everything he had gone through saving the world. They agreed to give him a second chance.
After watching the memories Hades surprised Thanatos by placing a blessing on Harry. He looked up and said "He lost a lot more than you realise when that piece of soul attached itself to him and when it was removed. He will no longer keep searching for something he already has. A family with you. He is complete now. I have no idea what powers he will inherit from me but judging from the way his luck seems to make him do the most surprising things I will look forward to it."
Thanatos carried a sleeping Harry after his chat with Hades and Persephone. He took Harry to his palace which was also in the underworld only this time in Elysium. It was the most beautiful place where all the dead who were good people in their lives ended up. Harry would be happy there. He would be safe and able to grow up in a place where he was accepted. A lot of the dead there would not refuse to teach him what they knew. Hopefully this beginning would give Harry the start he needed to have the confidence in himself to live again not just survive.
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An eight year old Harry ran through Hades' palace. He could not wait to show his uncle Hades that he had finally mastered raising the dead and he had figured out how to do it without passing out anymore. Hades and Persephone had taken over Harry's training when Thanatos was called to the human world a lot more now. Appparently there was some kind of war going on. Harry did not pay much attention to it. He was safe and happy in his new home. His faithful hellhound a three headed dog born from his uncle's Ceberus, Iggy, named after Ignatious Peverell his ancestor who was tutoring him in family magics in Elysium, followed behind him. He was still a puppy but he was as big as a small car.
As he burst into the throne room he noticed his uncle was not alone. there as a boy, a girl, a young woman and a sayter in the throne room. Harry stood by the double doors watching the scene unfold no one had noticed him yet. Hades looked furious and Harry knew it was about his missing helmet and most likely the large lithning bolt in the hand of the boy yelling at Hades. He saw the kids who looked to be about eleven or twelve years old smash something by their feet before they disappeared with the woman leaving the sayter behind.
He cautiously left the room. He knew better than to walk into a room when his uncle was enraged. He was confident his uncle would not actually hurt him but it was jus better to let him cool down before approaching him. Harry took Iggy to his assigned room in the palace and decided to wait there for his uncle to calm down. He figured now would not be the best time to ask him if he can join him the next time he went to Olympus for the solstice.
surprisingly his uncle came to his room and knocked "Harry!"
Harry sat up on his bed where he had lain thinking and said "Come in uncle."
Hades walked in and said "I hope I did not frighten you in there. I saw you arrive. I was just worried you would get caught up in the whole mess."
Harry smiled and said "Don't worry uncle. You aunt Peresphone and dad have taught me well. I would have been able to protect myself."
"Now you must have come here for a reason, you looked like you were running despite me telling you not to run in the house."
Harry blushed at the rebuke and replied "I'm sorry, I was excited. I finally mustered summoning and I didn't paass out or anything."
Hades smed knowing what it meant to the child. He had been trying for the better part of the year. Even Hades had been ready to give up thinking it was one of the powers that were just out of his reach. But the boy was too stubborn and kept trying and now it looked like it was taking fruition.
"I am very proud of you Harry. I know how hard you were working on it."
He really was proud of Harry. He caught on quick and never gave up even when he failed. He just said every failure is learning curve, next time I know what not to do. He had fast become an expert swordsman only held back by his size and strength. Hades may have gone behind Thanatos's back and offered a favour with one of the other minor gods to give Harry strength and speed. It would not show immeadiatly but over time as he grew.
Harry was learning from heroes of the past how to fight with weapons and without them. His current tutors were Archillies and Orion son of Poseidon. They all like Hary and found they enjoyed teaching him.
In the beginning Harry was just there to keep his wife entertained. She was happy everytime Harry came over to visit them. Even more so when Thanatos had to leave him at the palace because he was going to be gone a while. Hades actually grew fond of Harry and gave gave him his first pet as a brithday present. Thanatos was disgruntled because he had had the same idea. He was forced to think of something else.
It was not until he began to spend time with Harry teaching him how to control his powers that he had actually grown to love the little guy. Perephone was different now in the way she was even with him. She was no longer angry all the time and they actually talked to each other now. His marriage had never been better.
They both left for the practice room where Harry showed him his new talent and they began another one just as the furies returned with Hades's helm of darkness in their clutches explaining that it was not the Jackson kid but Ares who took it from the actual thief hoping to incite war across the realms.
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Harry was now ten years old. Thanatos told him he was trained enough to protect himself if he wanted to go above ground. harry was excited about that. He no longer looked like a carbon copy of James Potter. Hades' blessing had given him an almost inhuman look. like the children of the gods had. He was five feet tall with an athletic body from all his training. His hair was shoulder length and still as black as the night contrasting against his pale, smooth almost white skin with no sign of any blemish on it.
His eyes were still green like before but they turned completley black when he was angry and thy shone with power when he used his powers. He knew he could no longer categorise himself as a wizard anymore. He was so much more than that. His wings spread out making him look bigger than he really was. He went to see Hades as soon as Thanatos told him he was allowed to visit above ground.
"Uncle Hades!"
Hades looked up to see Harry walking into the dinig room where was just finished having breakfast with his wife. She had already left the room by then. "Hello my little munchkin what are you up to today? I know you have no training."
Harry smiled and replied "Dad said I could go above ground now. I was just wondering if I could come with you when you go to the summer solstice this year?"
Hades had known Harry wanted to ask and he had no problem with that. He said "Very well. But your dad must agree to it and if he says yes I must caution you my brothers may not take too kindly to you because you are connected to me. Poseidon may give you the benefit of doubt but Zeus not so much."
Harry's eyes brightened despite the cautioning. I'll ask him now. Thanks uncle Hades."
He hugged the deity who was now used to the child's affectionate nature. then ran off to find Thanatos.
Thanatos agreed but insisted on going as well. He knew Hades could protect Harry but it would put him in an awkward situation with his brothers should Harry give in to his passionate nature and piss off Zeus who had a short fuse. The one thing he learned about Harry was that he hated bullying and of he thought someone was being a bully well, lets just say there were a few pissed off ghosts and minor deities that did not see eye to eye with the child.
Luckily they were all too afraid of Thanatos, Hades and especially Persephone's wrath if they tried to do anything to him. It aso helped he had his own Ceberus who never left his side to protect him from the bigger creatures who would harm him. Harry invented a spell to block music from Iggy. He did not want anyone having any kind of advantage on his familiar who was now as big as a bus and did not seem to have finished growing just yet. Luckily Iggy could shrink himself to a managable size even Harry could pick him up.
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When they arrived on Olympus Harry noted that the palace in the sky was similar to the one his uncle Hades lived in only much lighter. He frowned at that. He had been hoping for something out of this world from the king of the gods. Despite his protests Thanatos insisted on carrying him. He was being overprotective. More so than usual. Harry wondered how he would cope if Harry decided to stay above ground for a length of time. He decided to worry about that later as they walked through a set of huge doors into a hall that looked like it as set up for giants.
Harry watched as his uncle grew to what he called his giant size and took seat. Thanatos went and stood by the heath where a young woman with red hair and a kind smile that Harry found himself returning was attending the heath. She moved a bit to allow Thanatos room to sit next to her and watch as the procedings began.
She spoke to Thanatos "You do not usually attend these meetings Thanatos what brings you here?"
Harry was not surprised to hear that, His dad hated being crowded and avoided places where gatherings took place because of it. When he paused too long Harry answered for him "I wanted to come so he said he would bring me."
Her attention moved to Harry and she said "Oh and who might you be child?"
Harry looked at Thanatos who noddded telling him it was okay "I'm Harry. This is my dad."
The meeting had stopped and they were listening to Harry chat to Hestia. As soon as he mentioned Thanatos being his dad a pin could be heard dropping it was so quiet. Harry's eyes widened and he hid his face in Thanatos' shoulder. Hestia laughed a tinkling laugh making Harry look up "Oh child, you did nothing wrong. There is no need to be to be afraid. We just had no idea of your existence that is all."
She gestured on the space next to her and said "Come sit by the heath child."
Harry was about to wriggle down when Thanatos' hand gripped a little tighter. He did not want to release him. Harry looked at his dad and whispered "I'll be okay dad."
Knowin he was making a scene Thanatos let him down and he sat next to Hestia. She smiled at them both and began idle chatter. The meeting caried on and the tense atmosphere disappeared. Harry did not even notice the passing of time. He was listening to the stories Hestia was etertaining him with. His wings ruffled with excitement every now and then as he laughed at one thing or another.
He felt his dad tense up and he looked up to see one of the gods had come over to them. Hestia smiled and Harry relaxed as she said "Poseidon, brother what brings you here?"
Poseidon stood there for a moment before saying "Thanatos, the boy, how is it possible? He is my legacy, I can sense the sea in him."
Zeus was on the other side of Poseidon and said "...and mine too. Although there are several genarations between us."
Thanatos knew there was no point in denying it. He had wrongly assumed that the generations in between them and Harry woud have thinned the blood and power but it seemed it was stronger than even he knew so he replied "That is because his mother was the legacy of both of you."
Harry's eyes widened. Thanatos had not told him that? He was mollified when he said "I had his family tree done a few days ago when he started to exhibit signs of having powers from the sea and air. At first I assumed he was somehow an elemental but it did not make sense. If he was going to develop new powers they would have to be connected to death somehow and since they were not I decided to check his mother's background. It was completed today. You are both on it."
Harry now understood the clinginess potrayed by Thanatos. He was probably afraid they would try to make a claim on him. He understood he was no ordinary child even by demi gods standards.
Hades approached as well and stood by Harry. Harry took comfort in the older god's presence. It was familiar. Posiedon looked at Hades and said "Did you know?"
Hades shook his head and said "No I did not. This is the first I am hearing of this. He looked at Thanatos and said "Is this why you wanted to come?"
"I did not think his blood would be that strong. Especially as he has my powers as well."
Zeus spoke up "Well he has to come and live here in Olympus now..."Poseidon cut him off "Why should you be the one to make a claim on him?"
Thanatos cut in before Zeus could answer "He is my son he will stay with me."
The room felt almost suffocating with the power exhuding from the gods who were now confronting each other. Harry curled up on Hestia's lap and whimpered. That sound had Thanatos spin round pick him up and wrap him in his wings the way he always did when he was afraid. He then said "I think he has had enough excitement for now."
He then disappeared from Olympus taking Harry home all the while thinking he had been stupid to expose Harry to them like that. It was a little too late to take it back now. He was surprised to find when he arrived home the fates waiting for him there.
"No, we had a deal. you have no control over him anymore."
They shook their heads and replied "That was before you merged him with his counterpart. besides we are not here to take control of him we are to tell you that things are a bit more complicated than you realise. Hades blessed Harry before he could sense that he was also his legacy. He now just assumes that what he feels from Harry is his blessing. The Harry of this world is the legacy of the big three. Your Harry is the legacy of the primordial Eros through his mother and Chaos through his father. It was that blood that saved him from the kiling curse when his parents were killed. when he was born the blood was much stronger in him than in his parents. It is getting more powerful now as he gets older. He will be a power to be reckoned with."
Thanatos sat down at that and they were not done yet "We wish to make you a proposition. You know that you will have to bind most of his power for a very long time while he learns to control it that is if he learns to control it. He has powers coming from different deities and primordials. Meaning he will be vulnerable during that time if the power does not eventually control him making him like the mad titan Thanos or worse."
Thanatos felt fear for the first time in his existance. He knew the fates did not lie. Harry really was in danger from the powers he inherited. He asked in a tight voice "What do you have in mind?"
"We propose making him the paladin of magic, all the power he will inherit including what he already has from you Zeus, Poseidon and Hades will be merged together no longer risking him going mad from the different powers."
Thanatos shook his head "Harry will never agree to lead anyone."
They nodded and said "He will not have to, he will still be able to live his life the way he wants to and you will still be able to be a part of his life. he will just have to do it in the magical world where the magical races are."
"That will expose him to their prejudice and his human parents."
The Fates smiled and replied "Harry is more than capable of taking care of himself. He will also find love there, friends and the life he was meant to have had. Even you know he is not meant to be growing up in the world of the dead. He is still alive. How is he meant to learn and evolve if he lives his life in the past?"
Thanatos sat down Harry still in his arms in a stasis form unable to hear the conversation. "What does it mean for him?"
They seemed to know what he was asking because they replied "His mere presence will empower the magical creatures give them hope that it is possible for them to be seen as equals. That the prejudice against them can be fought and won against. They will love him and no magical creature will harm him intentionally."
One of the Fates stepped forward and said "Thanatos, the only other options are to watch him deteriorate as he gets older and descend into madness until some hero comes along and kills him. Or force his soul to fade with the power."
Thanatos nodded and replied "Very well but could you wait until I have talked to him about it?"
They nodded and said "You have until tomorrow. His eleventh birthday is a week from then. His powers will mature when he turns eleven we need to have made the changes by then."
The Fates disappeared and Harry came out of stasis. "Dad did I make them them angry? I'm sorry I didn't mean to."
Thanatos hugged and replied "No Harry it was not your fault. They all seemed to think they had some claim on you."
Harry looked up and asked "Do they?"
"Well they are your great grandparents with a few greats in between. If you did not have me then yes they would have a claim through blood."
"They are not going to fight over this are they?"
"They are always fighting over one thing or another. But I think they will calm down eventually. Now there is something I need to talk to you about. I have had a visit from the Fates."
Harry sat up at that and said "I thought you said they no longer have anything to do with me."
Thanatos replied "They were not here to try to take back control of your life. They came to warn me about something and offer an alternative."
He stopped for a second before continuing "...to save you."
Harry slumped down in Thanatos' arms and said "I'm never going to have happiness without something taking it away no matter what I do am I? "
Thanatos then explained about Harry's connection to the primordials and and his counterpart that he was merged with's connection to the big three.
"Then unmerge us."
Thanatos replied "That is not possible and even if we did find a way you will both die. It will be basically ripping your soul in half."
Harry cried as Thanatos told him the Fates' suggestion. "Harry listened and then said "So I have to go back to the wizarding world then? I don't actually have a choice."
"Harry, you will not be alone this time. I will live above ground with you."
That made Harry smile for the first time since they left Olympus and say "Dad you can't stand humans. I don't think it will be good for my reputation if they started dropping like flies around me. It won't help either if someone accidentally touches your wings and gets his or her soul sucked out. Can you imagine the chaos?"
Thanatos smiled and said "I actually have been thinking about it for a while now. I knew you would want to go above ground eventually. As great as Elysium is it is for someone who has left life behind. I spoke to Lord Hades and he agreed to have another death god take over my duties for a while so I can go up with you. Believe it or not he was not too happy either at letting you leave the underworld on your own."