AN: I still don't own Harry Potter. Neither do I own the Horsemen. All I own is this idea.


"You understand what's happened of course?"

"Undeniably. Our siblings have decided to change the future we were told to keep"

"Will you help me stop them?"

"No."
"No?"

"No. I will not help you tip the balance any more than it already has."

"Even if helping me restores the balance?"

"You are a powerhouse sister easily able to match both of them in a fight. If I joined in then the balance would shift greatly."

"And what if I told you that our dear brother has chosen his champion?"

"The Riddle boy?"

"Man now. Or whatever he has become"

"The same Riddle that has evaded you for years?"

"Yes. I am certain he chose Riddle just to spite me."

"He would."

"Indeed. Will you help?"

"My answer has not changed sister. But I will promise you that I will not join them either. I shall remain neutral."

"Neutrality only lasts for so long before you must act. When that happens who will you join?"
"You already know the answer to that."

"I suppose I do. Goodbye brother."

"Good Luck Sister."


He was floating.

Why was he floating?

Beneath him there was fire and destruction. Hundreds screaming in pain and agony while one voice laughed a manic laugh.

Turning to the right he saw a man clad in crimson armour laughing over the bodies of his friends while a woman wearing white stood next to him smirked at the dead.

Hermione, Ron, Remus, Sirius. All of them dead and mangled almost beyond recognition. The woman looked straight at him and laughed.

"Do you wish for this to happen?" A soothing voice came from beside him.

Turning again he saw a pale young woman looking down sadly at the destruction.

"He told you too late. By trying to save you he has accelerated future events. We cannot sit by any longer." A hard voice came from his right. Looking he saw a man clad in black and looking inhumanly thin.

"You must take your place..."

"Or let this world burn..."

And as one they said "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

Harry Potter woke up with a start.

Ever since Dumbledore had told him of the prophecy Harry had been having strange dreams that he couldn't quite remember. The only thing he could remember of the dreams was the prophecy being told to him by two voices.

Reaching for his glasses, Harry climbed out of his bed and could instantly tell something was wrong.

Damn it! If he Vernon had allowed him his wand, He'd be able to find out what was wrong almost immediately but since he didn't he would have to settle for looking around.

Hedwig's cage was undisturbed so it wasn't that.

Something at the corner of his eye however caught his attention. Turning around quickly he came face to face with a pale young woman sitting atop his desk, legs crossed with a calm smile on her face.

She looked familiar and looking at her he felt some sense of peace and serenity, almost like he wanted to lie down and sleep forever.

"Hello Harry Potter," The woman began. She had a cool voice, not emotionless but not overly emotional either. "I have wanted to meet you for the longest time. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Death."

Harry blinked.

Harry blinked again.

"You're Death." Harry said slowly.

"Yes, I am." Death replied.

"And you've wanted to meet me." Harry stated.

"For the longest time, yes." Death said with a smile.

"Does this mean I'm about to die?" Harry asked and for a moment Death looked surprised before replying with another question.

"Where on earth did you get that notion from?"

"Well," Harry began, "I've been doing things that I should have died from for years and I thought you were just late collecting."

It was Death's turn to blink now.

"Well," She began as she took out a small white notebook and flicked through it "It's most certainly not your time and actually, I didn't realize that you had avoided me that many times. A basilisk when you were twelve! Dear lord that's lucky. I knew a soul th-"

"So why are you here if you're not going to kill me?" Harry interrupted curiously, as much as he would have loved to hear stories about deaths, Harry wanted to know why Death was in his bedroom.

"I need your help." Death replied with a shrug.

"You need my help." Harry repeated slowly.

"Yes." Death said

"With what?" Harry asked.

"Stopping my Brother and Sister from killing everyone."

"Um, not trying to sound stupid but who is your brother?"

Sighing Death hopped off the desk and walked towards Harry. "My brother is War and my sister is Pestilence."

"Wait, Everyone you've said is part of the four horsemen right?" With Death's nod Harry continued "What about Famine? Is he involved with this too?"

"Famine is currently neutral to what's going on. He doesn't want to tip the scales too badly lest something happens." Death replied. "He doesn't understand that the balance has already been tipped. Unless he helps War will gain more souls as will Pestilence."

"Wait what?" Harry asked, confused. "How do souls have anything to do with this?"

"I don't have time to explain the whole thing now but in short the more souls we gain, the more power we have. War gets souls from the dead in battle, Famine from starvation or deaths relating to it, Pestilence from illness and I take those that are left. Usually there's a balance to this." Death said as she walked around Harry.

"Wait backtrack a moment, so why do you need my help then if there's a balance?" Harry asked as he turned, keeping Death in view.

Death sighed and gracefully sat on the broken chair in front of the desk, "Was a balance Harry," Death said. For some reason when Death said his name, Harry felt a cold tingle down his spine. "Albus Dumbledore told you the prophecy too late. He was supposed to tell you when you hit thirteen and start training you to defeat Tom Riddle so when you faced him in the graveyard, with some help from myself, he would die permanently. As it is now, I am forbidden by the powers that be to interfere any more than I have."

"So what's changed now then? Now that Dumbledore told me the prophecy late?" Harry asked.

"War happened." Death spat out angrily. "My brother saw a chance for more power and grabbed it by the horns. Now the second wizarding war has broken out he will get more souls than usual tipping the balance of things. Pestilence teaming up with him makes it probable that she will release inferi and disease increasing War's strength."

"So how does this affect me?" Harry said questioningly.

"War has chosen his champion. Tom Riddle. I want you as my champion. Without your help War and Tom Riddle cannot be defeated."

"What does being your champion mean? I'm not being someone's pawn" Harry said angrily.

Laughing at his reaction, Death smiled and answered "First of all you will not be a pawn. You will be more of a, ah what's the word, subordinate? That seems like such an ugly word though. Hmm perhaps soldier? No that's wrong. In any rate you will not be a pawn. More the Queen. A powerful piece that if taken is a mighty blow to the player."

"Is that what you see yourself as if I accept?" Harry asked angrily "A player playing with my life? Nothing more than a toy?"

"Do not talk about things you do not understand Harrison James Potter." Death said coldly "I do not see myself as the player in this game. It was the best analogy I could come up with at the time and you know that."

Looking defiantly at the woman, Harry said "Fine I apologise. but you still haven't told me what would happen if I accepted."

"If you accept and Magic agrees with both of our decisions, you will gain an increase in magical powers including perfect occlumency and legilimency to keep the secret and the ability to read and write any language as long as you have heard and listened to that language. You will also get powers that are befitting of my Champion as well as equipment that will assist."

Perking up at that last piece of information Harry smiled and said "Like speaking to the dead?" If he could speak to Sirius and his parents then that would be the clincher for the deal.

Suddenly looking sad Death softly replied "I'm afraid not. The dead are not supposed to come to the realm of the living."
"Oh." Harry said feeling downcast and looked to the floor.

"But this is a special occasion so with your permission I can call your parents, Sirius Black and Cedric Diggory to speak with you for five minutes." Harry's head suddenly snapped upwards but before he could say anything Death continued "However if I do this then for you I must warn you that you will be unable to speak with them again until you yourself die."

Smiling Harry quickly agreed. After all, he hadn't expect to speak to these people until he died anyway.

Stepping back Death rose her hands and said "James Potter. Lilly Evans. Sirius Black. Cedric Diggory. I command you to appear in the land of the living. You are needed."

As soon as Death finished speaking four balls of light appeared from her hands and flew to just above the ground when they began to take a more human shape. Seconds later the four of them were in front of Harry looking just like they did when they died and smiling at him.

"Oh Harry, my brave baby boy." Lily said as she opened her arms for a hug, one that Harry jumped into with open arms.

"Don't hog him so much Lils" James smiled "Hello Harry"

"Dad..." Harry said as he hugged his father.

"I'll pass on the hug if that's alright Harry" Said a younger voice. Turning to his right Harry saw a smiling Cedric, still wearing his Triwizard outfit.

"Cedric I'm so sorry. I should never-" Harry began before Cedric cut him off

"It wasn't your fault Harry. It was Riddle's fault. Plus it's not so bad being dead."

Hearing a barking laugh from behind him Harry turned around and saw Sirus smiling at him "Hello Pup. I have a bone to pick with you. Why in the name of Merlin are you beating yourself up for my death?"

Swallowing the lump in his throat Harry replied "Because if I hadn't gone to the DOM that night-"
"Then Voldemort would have found a way to get the prophecy without you more than likely killing everyone in the way and causing more deaths." Sirius finished. "You may not want to hear it but it's a good thing I was the only fatality on our side that night. But I don't think that Death wants us to talk about that right now." Sirius said looking at Death.

"No Harry, we're here to talk about your choice." James said looking slightly sad. "By no means do I think it's good decision but it may be the best one you have to beat Voldemort." Cedric said shrugging "And truth be told the power boost may help you somewhat."

"Harry" Lily began biting her bottom lip slightly "I would much rather you don't do this but I understand how important it is. I just want to make sure you know whatever happens your father and I are extremely proud of you."
"Hey what about me?!" Sirius exclaimed while James nodded at his wife's sentiment.

Sighing Lily said "Sirius is proud too. But whatever happens just remember we love you and are proud."

Smiling James stated "I think you should do it Harry." quickly seeing his wife's bewildered face James elaborated "Death is giving you a very good deal here. Killing Voldemort and being Death's Champion? I would go for it."

"I agree with Prongs." Sirius said as Lily muttered something that sounded like 'big surprise'. "You'll need the power boost to deal with both of War and Pestilence's cham-" Sirius said before he was cut off by a loud cough from Death. "Ah, Tmi I suppose there" Sirius said to Death who just nodded in agreement. Sighing Sirius continued "Either way I would take the deal. I think out time here is nearly done?"

Smiling sadly Death nodded and said "Unfortunately yes. I will give you enough time to say goodbye and any last messages you want to give."
Cedric was the first and said "Make sure you don't beat yourself up for my death anymore eh Harry? And don't blame Cho for the way she acted last year. Remember she was dating me at the time." Smiling a melancholy smile Cedric stepped back and Sirius stepped forward engulfing his godson in a hug.

"Keep safe alright Pup? And make sure you kick Voldies ass for me!" Sirius said as James walked forward and took over hugging Harry.
"Harry... Your mother and I have watched you grow up and believe me when we say we couldn't be any prouder of what you've done so far. There's so much more I want to say but I'll leave it at this. Check the Potter Family vault as soon as you can for a small black book with the Potter family spells in. I think that will help."

"Thanks Dad, I will" Harry said as James ended the hug

Smiling as he stepped back Lily walked up to Harry and grabbed him in one of the tightest hugs he had ever been given "Harry... Your Father pretty much said it all so all I can add is Make sure you eat well, keep exercising and practising your magic. Call Dobby once in a while too. He misses you even if he shows it in a slightly strange way. And remember we love you"

"I love you too mum and I'll make sure to call Dobby"

Stepping back to James' open arms Lily smiled at her son while Death rose her hands and said "You have done what you were called for. Return to the dead."

Harry could just make out Lily mouthing 'Love you Harry and Good Luck." before she became particles of light that quickly dispersed.

"So Harry, have you made your mind up now?" Death asked kindly.

Swallowing the lump in his throat Harry thought about his family and Cedric before answering "Yes. I agree to be your champion."

At those words a beam of white light flew out from Harry's chest and connected with two beams of light that flew out of Deaths back.

"Magic has agreed with our decision but now for the difficult part."

"The difficult part?" Harry asked looking at the beam of light that was coming out of his chest.

"Yes. Getting your new powers." Death replied "Sorry but this will hurt."
"What will hu-" was all that Harry was able to say before he felt a huge amount of pain in his chest causing him to double over. All of a sudden he felt a stabbing pain in his head and all he thought before he collapsed was 'I just made a deal with Death."


AN: It is currently 2am when I am writing/uploading this. This story has been sitting on my laptop since January and I never got past the first 800 words. At about midnight I had a breakthrough with this story and rushed to my laptop to finish it. What you have just read is the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Horsemen's War. I will update this one whenever I can but it will probably be even less frequent than Heir Of GG as that one is the one I'm most concentrated on.

As always please Review, Favourite, Follow and if you're feeling especially kind share it if you liked it! If you didn't tell me why you didn't otherwise I won't get any better :)

Thanks for taking the time to read this and see you next time I update!