Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me.

A/N: So, hi everyone! For those of you reading Of Sacrifices and Love, I know you are anxiously waiting for Harry to come into that. I've been hitting a blockade on it, and so while Harry waking up will be the next chapter, I need to split my focus in order to get anything done. I always concentrate better when I have to divide my focus (I think entirely too much sometimes). So here's a new one, I hope you guys enjoy. You may sense a theme if you've read my other fic.

Quoted from the books

Summarized/Paraphrased from books

Chapter 1- Can someone please tell me the definition of normal?

In Dumbledore's office, after final battle, with Ron and Hermione:

'He directed his words at Dumbledore, however, and chose them with enormous care. Exhausted and bleary-eyed though he was, he must make one last effort, seeking one last piece of advice.

"The thing that was hidden in the Snitch," he began, "I dropped it in the forest. I don't know exactly where, but I'm not going to go looking for it again. Do you agree?"

"My dear boy, I do," said Dumbledore, while his fellow pictures looked confused and curious. "A wise and courageous decision, but no less than I would have expected of you. Does anyone else know where it fell?"

"No one," said Harry, and Dumbledore nodded his satisfaction.

"I'm going to keep Ignotus's present though," said Harry, and Dumbledore beamed.

"But of course, Harry, it is yours forever, until you pass it on!"

"And then there's this."

Harry held up the Elder Wand, and Ron and Hermione looked at it with a reverence that, even in his befuddled and sleep-deprived state, Harry did not like to see.

"I don't want it," said Harry.

"What?" said Ron loudly. "Are you mental?"

"I know it's powerful," said Harry wearily. "But I was happier with mine. So…"

He rummaged in the pouch hung around his neck, and pulled out the two halves of holly still connected by the finest thread of phoenix feather. Hermione had said that they could not be repaired, that the damage was too severe. All he knew was that if this did not work, nothing would.

He laid the broken wand upon the headmaster's des, touched it with the very tip of the Elder Wand, and said, "Reparo."

As his wand resealed, red sparks flew out of its end. Harry knew that he had succeeded. He picked up the holly and phoenix wand and felt a sudden warmth in his fingers, as through wand and hand were rejoicing at their reunion.

"I'm putting the Elder Wand," he told Dumbledore, who was watching him with enormous affection and admirations, "back where it came from. It can stay there. If I die a natural death like Ignotus, its power will be broken, won't it? The previous master will never have been defeated. That'll be the end of it."

Dumbledore nodded. They smiled at each other.

"Are you sure?" said Ron. There was the faintest trace of longing in his voice as he looked at the Elder Wand.

"I think Harry's right," said Hermione quietly.

"That wand's more trouble than it's worth," said Harry. "And quite honestly," he turned away from the painted portraits, thinking now only of the four-poster bed lying waiting for him in Gryffindor Tower, and wondering whether Kreacher might bring him a sandwhich there, "I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."'

Ron and Hermione simply snorted at this, both knowing just how true that statement was. They both turn to follow Harry out and back to Gryffindor Tower. Just as all three reach the door of the office, a loud boom sounds behind them, causing all three to instantly spin around, wands pointing towards where the sound came from. However, what shocks them all, is the fact that nothing exploded, but instead standing there are two people, if the word 'person' could be used to describe them at all. Both had indescribable amounts of power coming off of them, and although they looked perfectly human, there was a sense of longevity to them, some inborn knowledge upon meeting them that these two beings had seen all that has been, and probably all that ever will be.

The figure on the right, whose power gave off warmth and comfort, while simultaneously leaving a heavy weight, looked no more than 20. A young man, with wavy black hair and deep blue eyes stood before them, looking around the office interestedly, before looking to the three confused war heroes (because, whether they like it or not, that is exactly what they have become) and giving them all a cheeky smile. This caused the figure next to him to snort inelegantly, surprising the three tried teens. This figure was definitely a man, although he looked to simply be in his early thirties, dressed in immaculate black, the man managed to leave a dark air around himself without scaring any of them. His hair was a neatly combed black, and his eyes a disturbing, yet somehow comforting, shade of black. This mysterious figure was the first one to speak. "Merlin, you know what we are here to do. Don't terrorize them."

This only caused the young man to pout "But Than, I never get to talk to anyone anymore. Let me have my moment of fun!" he whined in response.

A pointed glare was directed towards him, causing him to sigh and snap his fingers, making the exhausted trio wonder exactly how they were now sitting on the most comfortable, yet gaudily patterned couch they had ever been on. Harry simply had a resigned look on his face, as if he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Ron simply looked flummoxed, as if he was trying to figure out the situation but his brain simply wasn't working fast enough. Hermione sighed. While she was feeling the same way as the other two, someone had to address the situation. Injecting a bit of steel into her voice, she began to speak "Excuse me. I may not know who you are, or why you are here but you will tell us. The battle just ended and none of us have had any rest, so if you wish to not be hexed please inform us as to what you are doing here, how you even got in here, and why exactly we should trust you in the next 60 seconds."

This only caused 'Merlin' to grin. "Ooo, I like you Hermione Granger. I mean, I always have, but that was just fantastic!"

Hermione simply glared in response, causing 'Merlin' to clear his throat and begin to speak. "Well you see, we haven't properly introduced ourselves. I'm Merlin, and that," he jabbed his thumb in the direction of his companion, "Is Than, better known as Thanatos, but really we are just Magic and Death." He ended this cheerily, as if it was common to be introduced to supposed incarnations of Magic itself and Death every day. By this point Harry simply had his head in his hands and was mumbling "Why me?" over and over again. Ron still looked confused, but was patting Harry on the back in an attempt to comfort him. Hermione just seemed very skeptical, proving so when she began to speak again.

"That's impossible. While it's been rumored that upon Merlin's death he became an incarnation of Magic, Death has never been seen. Plus why on earth would you both be here now? Why not before? What exactly do you want?"

Surprisingly, it was neither 'Merlin' or 'Thanatos' that replied to her, but Harry. "Hermione face it. Nothing weird has happened since we entered this office, and we all know I could never just have a normal life. Magic and Death are standing right in front of us, all we need to know is what they want from us." Harry finished this last part with a glare at the two beings, causing both to shift unsteadily and look rather sheepish.

"Well," 'Merlin' began, "I know we've both screwed you over, but we actually couldn't really do anything before now. We were always meant to get involved but, the thing is, until two things happened we couldn't"

"What made you get involved now then? Why not before the battle? Or before the war?" Ron said, obviously thinking about Fred, and all the other's lost.

Death was the one to answer, "I won't sugarcoat things. Merlin was hurting because of the Horcruxes, all of them, and until someone united my Hallows, I couldn't get involved in the mortal world. I would have helped after the Hallows were united, but Fate decreed that we both had to intervene at the same time. The only reason we didn't help with the last part of the battle was because it was set in stone at that time. You would have always defeated Voldemort at that point. We needed to see what you would decide to do with the Hallows after that to know what we should do."

Harry simply sighed before speaking again, "So what exactly does this all mean? Do you need something from us? How exactly can you help?"

It was Merlin who answered this time, a serious expression on his face that seemed to age him before their eyes. "We both owe you a debt Harry. Those abominations were hurting Magic for a very long time, stopping me from fully functioning, from saving those who needed to be saved."

"As for myself," Thanatos begins, "You are the true master of my Hallows. I was not allowed to perform my proper duties until they were re-united again. There are many who died that I could not save because my presence was not solidified in the mortal world."

Feeling too tired to be overwhelmed, Harry simply says "So now what? You both owe me a debt, but the war is over and there is nothing I can think that you could give me."

Merlin and Thanatos glance at each other, before Thanatos waves a hand at Merlin, encouraging him to speak.

"We could give you that which you saw in the mirror, Harry."

Harry's head snaps up, tiredness leaving him as adrenaline, and although he tries to squash it, hope, floods through him. "How? That's impossible."

"Well," Thanatos begins, "Now that my Hallows have been re-united, and Magic is no longer damaged, we are both able to intervene. Do not forget who I am, young Harry. With a physical presence in this world I can do what you have long desired."

Merlin picks up where Thanatos leaves off, "What Than is trying to say is, for each Horcrux destroyed, and for uniting the Hallows, you can pick someone to bring back. You could also choose immortality for uniting the Hallows, but neither Than nor I believe that is what you would wish."

Harry looks to be in shock, and Hermione almost has steam pouring out of her ears for how fast her brain must be trying to process everything. Ron chooses to speak up, hoping to clarify what he just heard. "You mean he could choose eight people to bring back from the dead, right? That is what we are talking about."

Both entities nod at him. Having caught that movement, Harry's head snaps up. "If I know, that is, if I already know who I would choose, can I say now?"

Again, both nod in agreement. Harry opens his mouth, but hesitancy crosses his face. Hermione reaches over and grabs his hand, before making him look into her eyes as she says "Harry, I know you feel guilty and as if this was your fault. It wasn't. You lost more to this war than anyone else. Allow yourself to be selfish for once in your life."

Taking a deep breath, Harry nods before speaking. "I want to bring back my parents, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Fred, Cedric, and… Regulus."

Death and Magic smile, as if they had already known exactly who he would choose. Merlin and Thanatos look at each other, before closing their eyes and waving their hands in sync with each other. A moment later, the same booming noise is heard, before eight people appear before their eyes.

"We'll be in touch Harry!" says Merlin, smiling happily once again. Thanatos simply rolls his eyes at this before nodding in agreement, and disappearing into thin air with Merlin.

Harry nods blankly, absently noting that both Ron and Hermone's eyes are wide and mouths open at the people in front of him. Turning his head ever so slightly, he gazes at those in front of him. Quickly feeling shocked at this, it isn't until four voices say "Harry?" at the same time, that he realizes this is actually real. About five seconds after this sets in, the said young man's eyes roll up into the back of his head, before he falls onto the ground.

This manages to snap Ron and Hermione out of their own shock, both rushing forward to help him, along with quite a few of the eight. Unbeknownst to the two still conscious of the trio, a newly revived Fred Weasley and Remus Lupin stop them all, knowing that it would only make things worse if they did not let Ron and Hermione help their friend.

Hermione and Ron share a look, before both rolling their eyes and picking Harry up. "Honestly, I know the blokes been through a lot, but passing out now?"

Hermione simply sighs, before addressing Ron "I'm actually not that surprised. We haven't sleep since before we broke into Gringotts, and it's not as if we've been able to rest before that. I think I am more surprised he actually lasted this long."

"Yah, well, when you put it that way, I suppose you've got a point."

"BROKE INTO GRINGOTTS?" echoed around the room a moment later, from everyone but Fred, Remus, and Tonks.

"Erm," starts Ron. "I suppose we should explain that later. Not until Harry's awake though… it's kind of a long story, and most of it is his to tell."

None of the returnees look altogether pleased by this, but they know they can't help it. Lily and James are both clutching one another, looking at their now grown son. Sirius looks as if he is barely restraining himself from rushing at his godson. Remus has a death grip on Dora, looking as if he will never let her go. Fred alternates from looking concernedly at Harry from his place beside Remus, to the office door, thoughts about George written across his face. Cedric is a little ways removed from the group, standing slightly behind Remus and Fred, the only two he knows, and gazing with concern and confusion at the scene in front of him. Regulus stands apart from the group, not allowing the confusion he feels to show on his face, but every once in a while allowing a slight look of longing to pass his face when he looks towards his brother.

After a few moments of silence, a *pop* is heard, as Kreacher appears before them. The old elf is holding four potions bottles. After shoving two potions down Harry's throat whilst mumbling under his breath, he turns to Ron and Hermione and hands them each a bottle "Master Harry's friends must take that. Pepper-Up potion so they don't collapse because Master Harry and his friends are too stubborn to receive medical treatment."

Ron and Hermione both shrug sheepishly, before downing the potions. Steam escapes both of their ears, and they visibly perk up. Kreacher nods in satisfaction, before going over to Harry. With a snap of his fingers, Harry is awake, barely able to get his bearings before Kreacher starts talking again. "Master Harry must rest. Master has been through a great deal, and Kreacher will not patch him up if he keeps being an idiot. Kreacher will get sandwiches, and inform the horde of red-heads they be's needed. Master must sit and not do anything stupid before Kreacher gets back."

"Sorry Kreacher, I won't, erm, do anything stupid until you get back."

The elf looks at Harry suspiciously, before nodding in satisfaction and popping out. After he does, Harry rubs his hand over his face, before stopping halfway through at seeing who is in front of him.

"Oh crap."