Disclaimer: If it was mine, I wouldn't be posting it on a fan-fiction site. I'm just playing with Jo's work along with my own imagination.
Death and Fate's Twisted Sense of Humor
by Ginnycrusher
Prologue One : The Pearly Gates
Harry James Potter, age one hundred and seventy-five, retired Head Auror, former Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Head of Gryffindor House and the longest reigning Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, had just died in his sleep while laying in his bed within Hogwarts Castle. Harry's eyes opened, his emerald green gaze taking in the cloudy landscape. His feet standing on a cloudy path with a pearly gold gate not to far in the distance. Two figures standing on either side of the gate watching him as he slowly walked toward them. Harry muttered under his breath as he stood in front of the two people, "Not King's Cross this time..."
The black cloaked figure who's face was shroud in darkness spoke, "No, not King's Cross this time, Harry James Potter, Master of the Deathly Hallows. You stand before the Gates of Heaven." The man said in a voice that sent a shiver down Harry's spine.
Harry stood there dumbfounded for a moment, taking in the information. Which was long enough for the other figure, who was clad in white cloth with long blonde hair that reached all the way to the floor and crystal blue eyes, to say something herself. "So, Harry James Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived, The Chosen One, Defeater of Lord Voldemort, Champion of the Light... Do you think yourself worthy to pass through these gates? Do you hold your destiny fulfilled?"
Harry blinked and said, "I don't believe I am suppose to place judgment on myself. But either way... I think it is time for the next great adventure."
The man in black gave a hearty laugh, "Ah, Dumbledore's man through and through... even in... death." he said with what sounded like a smirk on his lips.
The woman spoke up again, "Unfortunately... Harry Potter, you can't pass through these gates." She held up a hand when she saw Harry ready to speak. "Although, that isn't because of anything... sinister, you may have done in your life. But, namely because I hold your destiny unfulfilled, granted you fulfilled it in the universe you were living in..." she trailed off there as she saw Harry shaking his head.
"Wait a minute... are you saying that you're sending me back? So, I'll have to do it all over again... Every trial, every task, every failure, every stupid and rash action? And who are you two anyway that you get to make such a decision?"
The lady looked at the man and back at Harry, "Mister Potter, whatever we say you are going to have to take at face value."
The man spoke up once again at that point, "For I am... Death. And my beautiful companion is... Fate."
Harry's jaw fell open at that statement. He took a moment to compose himself before looking back up sheepishly. "Great... I just pissed off two higher powers... I'm quite buggered now."
Death and Fate shared a laugh at Harry's expense. "No, Mister Harry Potter, no offense taken. However, you still have a destiny to fulfill in a parallel universe as my beautiful companion says. Just like Albus Dumbledore must defeat Gellert Grindelwald, you must defeat Tom Riddle otherwise known as Lord Voldemort... or die trying." Death finished.
"There is a good side in this though," Fate started. "you have a fraternal twin sister in said universe." She paused allowing that to sink into Harry's rather thick head. "The catch or twist, Harry, is that in this parallel universe you are born... a girl."
"A girl?" Harry asked shocked. "You can't bloody be serious!"
Fate's crystal blue eyes twinkled in amusement, "No, I'm not Sirius, but I am serious. Sorry, I couldn't resist." she finished with a giggle.
Harry just stared blankly at her before Death started speaking again. "Yes, your name, Master Potter, will be or is going to be, Harriet Lillian Potter. Your fraternal twin sister is named, Victoria Rosemary Potter. I trust you will do everything in your power to keep your sister safe."
"Ten years at the Dursley's again... I don't know if I'll be able to handle it. But, maybe Dudley's gang won't be so bad this time, or at least Aunt Petunia might be civil." Harry said with a tiny bit of hope in his voice.
"I wouldn't hope for it, Potter, but stranger things have happened. Though, remember you have a sister to watch over and be with you at Privet Drive this time around." Fate said gently.
Harry's emerald green eyes blazed with a fire alight behind them. "I, Harry James Potter, swear on my blood and magic, in the presence of the deities known as Death and Fate, that if it be within my power and strength to do... no harm will come upon, Victoria Rosemary Potter from the Dursley Family while within Number Four Privet Drive."
Fate and Death shared a glance and they both nodded. "Harry, you made that oath here. It will carry on into the next universe. I trust you know that." Death said while staring at him.
"Your sister will appear to look like Lily Potter... eventually, so don't be too shocked when that day comes. Anyway, your knowledge and most of your memories will stay with you to help in the coming battles with Tom Riddle. Oh, and do listen to your sister when she goes into her trance-like state, she's a Seer." Fate said with a smile playing at her lips.
Before Harry could respond there was a bright flash of light and Harry knew no more.
Prologue Two: Saint Mungo's
"James Harold Potter, I'm going to kill you!" yelled the redhead woman laying on the hospital bed.
James paled a little and smiled weakly. "Come on, Lils, you'll do fine. You can kill me later."
Lily Rose Potter nee Evans glared half-heartedly at her husband. "I know this..." she whispered.
Healer Andromeda Tonks cleared her throat as the young couple shared a kiss. "You need to push now, Lily." she said as she cleaned her hands with a quick spell. Lily nodded at Andromeda and shared a look with James. Soon the room was filled with her screams again as she cussed out her husband James for putting her in Saint Mungo's in the first place: "I'll never let you touch me again!" and "I'm going to castrate you after this!" echoed throughout the halls of the Wizarding Hospital.
Two hours later, Lily Potter was relaxing slightly with one of her new born daughters in her arms. A tiny tuff of black hair and her same green eyes stared back at Lily. She smiled and said, "Harriet Lillian Potter... what do you think James?"
James looked up from the bundle of pink blanket in his arms. "Sounds alright, Harriette or Harrietta is a bit too congested isn't it." he said with a little smirk. "How about... Victoria Rosemary Potter for this fiery little one?" motioning to the one in his arms with his head. Lily smiled at him, "It's perfect, James." she paused and turned to the Healer. "Oh, Andromeda, you can let those in the hall in now. I'm sure they're restless out there with no news." Healer Tonks nodded and stepped outside into the hall and came back in with two of the Marauders and one of Lily's best girl friends. Sirius had a grip on Andromeda's arm as the four of them all walked into the room.
"Sirius! I really must protest this is a time for family not outsiders even if they happen to be a Healer." Andromeda said in an exasperated tone.
"Andromeda, really your my favorite cousin... besides with you here the ratio is equal." Sirius finished with a dog-like grin.
"Humor him, Andromeda, besides with you here it gives me another intelligent lady to talk with instead of these two gits." Remus added with a cheeky grin of his own.
Elizabeth Minerva Black nee McGonagall rolled her eyes at the Marauders antics. "Sorry I wasn't here earlier Lily, I was in with Alice and Frank. She gave birth before the turn of the new day to a baby boy, Neville Francis Longbottom. Alice told me she's naming you Neville's godmother."
Lily smiled at Elizabeth, "Glad you made it either way, Elizabeth, I'll talk to Alice about being Neville's godmother when I'm able. Anyway, James and I want you to be Harriet and Victoria's godmother. Will you Elizabeth?"
James smirked slightly, "Yeah, how about it, Trinity, going to be our daughters godmother?"
Elizabeth blinked and smiled, "I would be honored, Tiger Lily and Prongs to be your daughters godmother."
Padfoot grinned at his wife and met James's eyes, "So, I'm godfather to the girls right?"
"Who said that it would be you, Padfoot?" James grinned at him as Sirius's face fell. "Oh come on Padfoot I'm just kidding of course you're their godfather. And Moony don't give me that look you're their surrogate uncle."
Padfoot and Moony smirked at each other and did a little dance in the room.
Prologue Three: The Prophecy
Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk in the Headmaster's Office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry looking over scattered pieces of parchment. One such piece of parchment was the Register for Hogwarts and three new names had just been etched in by the quill. One male, two female, all three born at the end of July: Neville Francis Longbottom, Harriet Lillian Potter and Victoria Rosemary Potter. Dumbledore sighed and grabbed the bridge of his nose. So it's the Potters that the prophecy was referring to then. I have to tell them then, but just how much? Albus got up making his decision and strode to the fireplace grabbing some Floo Powder and throwing it in yelling, "Saint Mungo's" and disappeared in a roar of green flames.
Albus walked the halls of the Maternity Ward in St. Mungo's leading to the room number he had been told by the receptionist at the front desk. Dumbledore stopped outside the room and knocked on the door to have it opened by a stern faced Healer Tonks. "Professor Dumbledore, sir." she said in shock.
"Please, Andromeda, it has been several years since last you were a student and only a few years since giving Defense Against the Dark Arts a decent Professor for a year. Albus will do just fine. May I impose upon the Potters for a few minutes?" he said with his usual grandfatherly smile.
Andromeda looked back into the room and opened the door for him and closed it once he was inside the room.
Dumbledore looked around then room then cast a few powerful secrecy and privacy spells at the doorway and around the room. Dumbledore sighed and looked at the six of them in turn, "You're all members of the Order of the Phoenix. You all know what's at stake if Lord Voldemort takes over." Albus paused for the shivers before continuing. "What I say here tonight... doesn't leave this room." the Professor looked over his half-moon spectacles at them all. "There's a prophecy... it was given at the start of last school term by the replacement of Professor Vablatsky the Hogwarts Divination professor."
"A prophecy, Headmaster? Is it in the Hall of Prophecy?" Lily asked going into full Unspeakable mode. The Marauders, Elizabeth and Andromeda stared at her for a moment.
"Yes, actually it is, but it was told in my presence you see, Lily, and it concerns your family, my dear." Dumbledore said gravely.
"Concerns us, Professor? What does it have to do with Lily and I, as well as the girls?" James said confused.
"Your daughters, James and Lily, are two of three babies that this prophecy could be speaking of," Albus sighed.
"What is this prophecy then, Professor?" Lily asked.
Dumbledore sighed again and recited, "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 her as his equal, but she shall have power and knowledge the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... And they, the Chosen Twins, Fate's Heroines, shall arise as the seventh month dies... One with hair of fire, the wit of her ancestors , and the gift of the Inner Eye... the other with hair of darkness, the bravery of her bloodline, and knowledge of a century to come... The Mistress of the Deathly Hallows will be reborn as the seventh month dies, her twin sister by her side with Death's Blessing... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."
Silence reigned in the hospital room. Andromeda and Remus had calculating looks on their faces. Elizabeth and Sirius had shared a look and then looked towards the two newborns with determination. James was pacing and muttering to himself under his breath while Lily looked close to tears. Lily's head snapped back up with an angry glint in her eyes, "That's horrible." Lily eyed her former Professor, "Who's the third child, Headmaster?"
"Neville Longbottom, but as he's a boy the prophecy couldn't be talking about him." Dumbledore said looking grave. "I'm sorry Lily, James. Voldemort's Death Eaters know of a small part of the prophecy that will be enough for them and him to go after you tenfold. In light of this I have to suggest that you both go into hiding with your daughters under the Fidelius Charm. I'll be the Secret-Keeper if you'll allow me."
James and Lily looked at each other communicating as couples sometimes do silently. "No thank you, Professor, we'll use Sirius. He wouldn't say a word even if captured." James said with a small grin.
Prologue Four: That Fateful Halloween
The loud roar of a motorcycle pierced the silent night around Godric's Hollow. The flying motorbike touched down and skidded to a stop outside a cottage with a sickly green skull and a snake coming out of its mouth floating above the building. The handsome man leaped off the bike, while flicking his wrist and grabbing his wand in one fluid move and brandishing it like a sword. A fire was alight in his gray eyes as he stared at the cottage in borderline disbelief. No! The Fidelius Charm was obviously broken, the front door blown off its hinges, buried half inside the wall just inside, and a room on the second floor looked like an explosion blew it apart. James and Lily, ..Vicky, ..Harry!
He was about to step up to the picket fence when he heard the roar of another engine in the distance. An all black corvette spun around the corner at the other end of the street, driving like it was the end of the world, and roared all the way up to the same cottage before slamming on its brakes tires squealing. His wand was trained on the front windshield where a woman with auburn color hair was glaring back at him with blue eyes full of rage and sorrow. The driver side door flew open like it had been kicked and the woman stepped out gracefully, her own wand trained on him.
"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you right now, Black?" she growled in a no nonsense tone.
"Pettigrew," he spat. "he was Keeper... not me. It was a bluff... if I really was..." He motioned at the cottage with his free hand. "This wouldn't have happened... and I'd probably be dead at the moment, McGonagall."
Elizabeth's eyes widen but she didn't lower her wand. "First time you tried to kiss me.. where were we?"
"Fourth year... one-eyed witch passageway... coming back from Hogsmeade when it wasn't one of those weekends." he said with a bit of a smile tugging at his lips. Sirius's eyes narrowed slightly, "Hogsmeade, seventh year... what did you do when all bloody hell broke loose?"
"That was a battle, Padfoot. The Death Eaters caught us completely by surprise that day. Only a handful of Aurors in Hogsmeade, pretty much every student from third to seventh year, probably every Inner Circle Death Eater and most of their offspring and then some of their usual massive force of mediocre Death Eaters that could outmatch most of the students. I used my prefect status to rally some of the upper class students... I ended up fighting my way to Alice and Frank who were part of the Hogsmeade garrison. Until I heard Lily's scream... she was under the Cruciatus when I got to her. I saw red... turned my wand on the one that had his wand trained on her and blasted him into the nearest building. It was later that I found out that I had killed him..." Elizabeth glanced up at Sirius as she sighed.
Sirius had his wand slightly close to his side and shook his head and said, "So, Lieutenant..." He paused looking at the cottage, "how we doing this one?"
"As close to by the book as possible, ... and a bit of Constant Vigilance!" Elizabeth said with a hard edge to her voice. "Locate any of the Potter's still inside... hopefully alive. Take in anyone else to Auror Headquarters at the Ministry, Senior Auror." she finished as she walked through the gate and towards the house.
"Right.. I got your back, Trinity." he said softly as they got to the doorway.
"Thanks, Padfoot..." she said dryly just before stepping inside.
They walked into what looked like a war zone. There was blood splatter on the door. First blood to Prongs. A mangled transfigured Great Dane lay on the floor near the entryway half its face blown away human flesh in its jaws. Elizabeth could almost hear Sirius cringe when he saw the dog. The floor had been blown apart in some spots from spell fire. What was left of the carpet was obviously drenched in blood. Holes in the mantle piece from missed spells and the walls painted dark red. Hastily transfigured and turned over tables blown apart that had been used as cover at one point. Elizabeth's breath stopped when she saw a lone hand holding onto a wand in a death grip a foot away from a collapsed bookshelf. Then she saw it another hand, almost covered by books from the bookshelf, a single gold band on the ring finger. Padfoot and Trinity started levitating some of the books away and when they saw James Potter's face: they almost wished that they hadn't. James's hair was scalped off, one eye burned away, half his glasses melted to his face the other half missing and his nose charred black.
Sirius threw up what little dinner he had in his stomach as he fell to his knees. Elizabeth turned away a hand to her mouth, trying to steady her breathing and stomach, and looked up to see the scorched black kitchen door in front of her. I wonder why that's like that, could it be... "Sirius, when you collect yourself... help me with this door will you." she said as she waved her wand over the kitchen door. "It's warded... I'm going to need another wand here."
It took a couple minutes before Sirius had stopped dry-heaving and picked himself off the floor to walk over to Elizabeth at the kitchen door. Elizabeth had a bit of sweat on her brow from taking down a few of the wards on the doorway. Padfoot was half admiring half staring at her working when she said, "You just going to stand there, Padfoot, or are you going to help me? You know one of the girls could be in the kitchen... alone and scared." Together the two of them worked through several more before getting to the last ward. The two Aurors paled when they realized what the type of ward James had used to seal the kitchen off. Blood ward... really now, Prongs.
"Prongs knew what was at stake the moment the door was blown in. Do you think he had the time to ward it during whoever it was he was dueling, Trinity?" Sirius said quietly.
"I don't know, Padfoot. Maybe... but that's a bit of a stretch. Anyway this won't come down without some..." she trailed off and looked at the collapsed bookshelf. Elizabeth stood and walked back over to where James lay, pulled out a little vial and muttered a spell at his scalp, making some of the excess blood go into the vial. She looked up at Sirius who was as pale as a sheet and gave a grim look saying, "I know, Padfoot... but it's the only thing to bring it down with." Trinity walked back over to the kitchen door and tipped the vial onto the door, it flashed red then went back to its blackened state. She moved to one side of the door while Sirius moved to the other side and held up a hand counting to three. The door flew open with a spell, they both had wands raised looking into the room, all manner of spells on the tip of their tongues but the only person in the room was in a baby carrier on the kitchen table.
The red haired baby girl looked up at the two as they came up to the table and squealed out, "Eli! Siri!" Brilliant, Prongs old chap. You managed to keep at least one of the Potter girls alive. The husband and wife looked at each other and grinned slightly then took in little Victoria Rosemary Potter's appearance. She looked fine accept for the little crescent moon mark on her forehead. "What do you think that is, Trinity?" Sirius asked.
"I'm not totally sure, Padfoot, but Lily was an Unspeakable perhaps its a result of one of her protective spells." she answered softly. "Oh, it's alright, Vicky love, your godmother will take care of you." she said with a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, as she picked Victoria up out of the carrier and settled her on her hip, an Abraxan stuffed animal still clutched in the little girls grip. "Time for the upstairs, Padfoot, you got point this time." she ordered.
Sirius made his way out of the kitchen with Elizabeth not far behind him with Victoria on her hip and glanced at the collapsed bookshelf before going up the stairway. The hallway was an absolute mess; the wood flooring broken in places, holes from spell fire in the walls, and some picture frames had fallen of the walls and broke. Padfoot held up a hand as he caught sight of an unusually pale body laying outside of the nursery room. Sirius cast the Full Body-Bind Curse and the Stupefying Charm at the body before walking up to it and rolling it over. A pale bald man with black robes had burns in numerous places, a few charmed arrows in his torso, a nasty bite from a dog in one of his legs, cuts, bruises and lacerations from some type of weapon, most likely the dagger stuck in his hip and what looked like part of a stag's antler imbedded in his shoulder. Bravo James and Lily. "Oh sweet Merlin! Trinity, it's Voldemort! James and Lily managed to..." he trailed off as he saw inside the nursery.
Lily Potter lay on the floor inside the nursery facing him, just in front of the crib. Her legs at odd angles like she had jumped in front of the crib. Her long dark red hair arrayed around her almost beautifully. A bit of blood was visible on her full lips a precursor to the Cruciatus Curse. Her almond shaped, brilliantly green eyes gazing at him vacantly but with a somewhat peaceful look on her face. Oh Prongslette... that's taking maternal instincts to an extreme, Lily.
And that's when Sirius eyes fell on the crib in the room. He tensed as he stared at it. Did that fucker kill little Harriet too? His eyes closed as he took a step around one side of Lily. No guts Padfoot? Open your eyes and look down already! His head dropped to look down in the crib and he opened his gray eyes and saw twinkling emerald green looking up at him. "Siri!" the little brunette girl exclaimed. Harriet Lillian Potter was alive and well.. except for where her forehead was bleeding. Sirius slowly leaned in and wiped the blood away to catch the first glimpse of a jagged cut in the shape of lightning bolt. Padfoot idly traced a finger along it gently and Harry squirmed slightly. How did she manage to survive? He shook the thought away for the moment and looked outside at the full moon through where a wall should've been standing. Sirius reached into the crib and pulled Harry to his chest, grabbing one of her blankets as he pulled her out of the crib.
Sirius aimed his wand at a shelf with stuff animals on it and promptly destroyed the rat one and summoned the rest to him, along with a pair of tiny broomsticks and a mini quaffle. He conjured a small bag and threw some of the girls's clothes in for them to be changed into, as well as tossing in a few pictures. After that he left the nursery room with Harriet on his hip in her hand was a large black dog stuffed animal. The two Aurors worked their way back to the front door to go back outside. As they stepped out Sirius was met with a wand to his nose.
"Bloody hell, Mad-Eye!" Sirius could hear Elizabeth scream. Alastor Moody was obviously enacting some constant vigilance like usual. Moody growled out, "What was the first thing I taught you, Black?"
"Constant Vigilance, Commander Moody!" Padfoot answered. "But, it's a bit hard with a little girl in your arms." he finished dryly. "It's McGonagall, Commander, I already confirmed." Sirius continued.
Moody's wand lowered as he looked down at little Harriet. "How did she survive, Black?"
"I'm not sure, Moody. I'd rather Headmaster Dumbledore put in his theories before me at any rate." he said with a shrug. "Fair enough," Moody said gruffly. "Report, Black." he barked.
Sirius sighed and passed Harriet off to Elizabeth and handed her the bag. "Go home with the girls, Trinity, or better yet go to Hogwarts. If you were dismissed that is..." he said quickly before turning to Mad-Eye. "I'm keyed into the wards around the cottage, so I knew something was wrong. I got here as fast as could but was too late. Lieutenant McGonagall got here not long after me. We had a bit of a stand off to confirm identities then went inside. It was like stepping onto a battlefield, Moody... Not long after entering we found James under a collapsed bookshelf." Padfoot took a few breaths to calm himself. "He put up a good fight, before, meeting his end and he somehow warded the kitchen to keep Victoria out of harm. The last ward to take down was a blood ward. Inside the kitchen we found Victoria Potter safe as could be but with a crescent moon mark on her forehead. After getting Victoria out of the kitchen we both went upstairs, the hallway up there was almost as bad as the living room. Voldemort is laying dead outside the nursery room, it looks like he was blown out by a spell. Lily had to have been put under the Cruciatus a number of times before probably jumping in front of the Killing Curse meant for Harriet." Sirius lowered his head for a moment. "What doesn't add up is how Harry got that lightning bolt shaped cut on her forehead and how after all the damage done to Voldemort, he would suddenly just drop dead. Anyway, Alastor, if that's all I'd like to spend some time with my son and goddaughters."
Moody stared at him for a moment, "Get out of here, Black. Take your leave and get that motorcycle out of here as well." he finished with a grim look. A few minutes later the roar of a motorbike could be heard as if flew in the direction of Scotland.
"Harriet and Victoria Potter proclaimed the Girls-Who-Lived when attack on the Potters cottage in Godric's Hollow by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named left their parents, Master Auror James Potter and Unspeakable Lily Potter, dead by the Dark Lord's wand. In a shocking turn of events, You-Know-Who was also killed in the very same cottage when the Dark Lord turned his wand on the Potter twins..." - excerpt from: Daily Prophet, Morning Edition, November 1st, 1981, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Killed by Rita Skeeter
"Peter Pettigrew murdered along with twelve Muggles by Senior Auror Sirius Black. Muggle eyewitnesses say that Pettigrew had cornered Black before sobbing and yelled out 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' Not long after that outburst Black blew Pettigrew away with a spell that went straight down to the sewers in the middle of the street and killed twelves Muggles in the process as well as Pettigrew..." - excerpt from: Daily Prophet, Special Afternoon Edition, November 1st, 1981, Sirius Black Shows True Colors by Rita Skeeter