Death's Life Debt

by keeperoliver

Harry saw something that led him to finish his quest on his own. He was still able to continue his saving lives abilities. Mrs. Rowling still owns all that is Harry Potter and it's characters. Harry/multi pairing.

1. Chapter 1

Death's Life Debt Keeperoliver Chapter 1

Aberforth took a big risk covering for the three who were hidden in his basement. The price on Harry's head looked very interesting to those with a less than honest history. If the three had been seen entering the bar, no one would be able to protect Aberforth from Voldemort. It was just luck that none were outside to witness it. Many of the residents of Hogsmeade were being held captive in their own homes due to their own fear.

In the basement Harry, Hermione and Ron were sitting down trying to gain some strength after their long run after leaving the Dragon. With all the entries into Hogwarts being guarded or collapsed, they did not know how they would get in. They were soon joined by Aberforth who went off on them. "What the Bloody hell were you three thinking waltzing down the middle of the street just looking for trouble. Don't you know there is a price on your heads. Then you have the gall to bring me into the mix, as if I needed your help getting into trouble."

Harry looked up and said, "We are here on a mission for your brother."

"Right, one of them 'I will tell you just enough for you to get yourself killed' sort of missions. Albus was good at those."

"He told us everything we needed to know. Albus was a great man."

"Bullocks. He was my brother and no one knew him better than me. I suppose he told you that in order for you to defeat the Dark Lord, there were several things you had to do first. Sort of like Dorothy Gale in the wizard of oz. And naturally you believed him because he was your headmaster. Potter, I thought you were smarter than that. Even if you aren't, then your girlfriend there must be. No one ever got very much from Albus. He spread out his knowledge to several people, making them promise not to divulge the information to anyone else. How dense were the people that followed that idiot. He played games with the people that followed him and they paid for it with their lives."

"Please, we have to get to the Castle. There is something there we need to find, then we have to leave before Tom finds us."

"Who's Tom?" Aberforth asked.

"You don't know? You were his brother and he didn't tell you?" Hermione questioned.

"Didn't tell me what? What is it you are looking for?"

"Harry, I think he is telling us the truth. Should we tell him what we know?"

"How do we know he is who he says he is? He could be a death eater like Barty Jr, in disguise. We can't take that chance. If he was the Professors brother, then he should know who Tom is."

"Do you mean the bar keep at the Leaky Cauldron?"

"Harry?"

"No, Hermione, we can't. It could mean our life. If you are who you say you are, then you should know what Albus wished for every Christmas?"

"You have been talking to Dobby, haven't you. He wishes for the same things. Socks, thick wooly socks. How is the little bugger?"

Harry lowered his head when he answered. "He's dead. He died saving my life."

"Too bad. I liked the little one. A little over active, but a good one. I'm going to miss him."

Harry hit on an idea with that, "Dobby gave his life so that I could continue this mission. If you don't help, Then all he did was for nothing."

"Oh, you're Al's lackey alright. Play the same games he did. They always worked for him. Now they are working for you. But to let you know, even though he was my brother, I will curse him even in his grave. He was the one that killed our sister. Maybe not directly, and maybe he did. But no matter what, he brought the fight to her and she died an innocent bystander. For that, I will never forgive him." He walked over the the portrait of a young girl and whispered something, and she ran down the path to disappear soon after. "You might as well get comfortable as this may take awhile."

Thirty minutes later she returned and nodded to Aberforth, and soon after that the portrait swung open to reveal a bruised but smiling Neville Longbottom.

Harry looked at Neville and wanted to cry, he looked so bad. Neville saw this and replied, "It's not as bad as it looks Harry. Mostly superficial. Nothing broken except maybe a rib or two. Now come on as everyone is waiting to see you."

"Everyone as in who Neville? You didn't tell anyone we were here did you?"

"Of course I told them. This is what we have been waiting for. You to lead us against those bastards. For a whole year we have waited. We were beginning to lose hope."

They entered the tunnel behind the portrait and walked the path as Neville explained everything that went on for the past year. By the time they reached the door, Harry and the others found out about the Carrows, Luna, Dean, Ginny and the DA. How Luna and Dean had been captured, and Ginny leaving because of it. How the Carrows had tortured the students for training purposes of the young Death Eaters. How Neville, Ginny and Luna reformed the DA to fight them and protect the students.

Once they entered the Room, the cheer they got was so loud they had to cover their ears. They were hugged, kissed, patted on their backs and welcomed back. Asking when it was all going to happen. When they would get to fight. This was when Harry learned that Neville had called for the others to join the fight. The rest of the DA that were home and the Order Members who were given the coins just for this moment.

Harry had to go sit down as everything was beginning to get to him. All the days without sleep or food. The deaths he and Hermione had seen. The torture they themselves received. It was all beginning to take it's toll. He sat and was soon left alone. He took this chance to pull his cloak out and covered himself with it. He did not wish to be disturbed. But sleep was never going to happen, as soon people began entering the room through the secret entrance. First to make it through was Luna and Dean. Even though they had just been rescued, they were ready to stand and fight. Then more began to come through. The Weasleys including Bill. Remus and Tonks And then Ginny walked through, and Harry went to get up and greet her when she ran across the room and into the arms of Colin Creevy. Once in his arms, she gave him a kiss that Harry was receiving more than a year ago. It was too much for Harry to take, and he decided it was time for him to leave and search for the last Horcrux before Naginy.

Still wearing his cloak, he walked along the walls to avoid bumping into anyone and had to wait for the door to open so that he could sneak out. After ten minutes, the door opened and Seamus walked in. Harry made his escape, but not unnoticed. Luna with her uncanny abilities saw the blur he made as he moved, and she followed him far enough back not to be heard. She could feel the sorrow coming from the shrouded figure ahead of her, but was afraid to approach him. She had to find out what he was up to and try to help in any way she could.

For some reason they were headed for the Ravenclaw Dorm. It was then that Harry made his first sound as the ghost of Lady Ravenclaw exited the dorm. "Madam Ravenclaw, can I take a minute of you time please. It is very important."

"I am sorry, but I am in a rush."

"Please, this will only take a moment, and it could save many lives."

"I don't know anything that could possibly save any lives. Now please, leave me alone."

"It concerns your mother's lost Diadem." Harry shouted out as she began to leave. She turned and went back to him.

"I don't know anything about it. Why can't you people leave me alone. It will not give you the brilliance of my mother. Besides it has been lost all these years even I can't remember where it is."

"Please Madam. Has anyone asked you about this in the last 50 or 60 years?"

"Leave me alone." She once again started to leave when another voice began, "Rowena. Please talk to Harry. He is really trying to help us, and if there is something you know, you should tell him."

She turned to see the only person she trusted in the entire school. Luna Lovegood. "I can't child. It hurts too much."

"What hurts too much Rowena? Tell us please."

Rowena turned back to Harry. "One other asked me about the Diadem in the time frame you gave me. A young student here at school. I can't remember his name, if that is your next question."

"There is no need. His name was Tom Riddle. I was afraid this would be your answer."

"Now I remember, yes that was his name. He was such a nice boy."

"He is not so nice now, as he has become the Dark Lord, and he has used the Diadem to protect his life."

"No, that's not possible as it was lost centuries ago. So long ago even I could not find it."

"Well. I'm afraid he did find it."

Rowena was so upset she took off without another word. It wasn't necessary as Harry found out all he needed to know. He turned back to Luna, "Thank you Luna. Without your help I may not have got to her. How did you know where I was?"

"I followed you from the Headquarters. I saw you leave when Seamus walked in. Why did you leave in such a hurry and not tell anyone you were leaving though."

"I'd rather not talk about it Luna. I was wondering if you could help me though. I have something I have to do, then I need to get into the RoR. I was hoping you could empty the room in say 20 minutes. Once it was empty, it has to stay empty. I can only get in if it is."

"Is twenty minutes enough for you? I could wait another ten minutes if you think it is needed?"

"No, that should be plenty. And Luna, thanks for being my friend. For helping me out in the past. You don't know what it means to me." Harry pulled her into a hug which he held for as long as he could.

While she was held she told him, "Harry you have done so much for me, including saving my life, that I may never be able to repay you. And I think I know why you left so fast from the room. I saw Ginny run to Colin. They became close just after Christmas. Ginny had given up hope of ever hearing from you, Hermione or Ron. I'm sorry Harry."

"Don't be, Luna. I brought it on myself. It was what I wanted her to do. Now, please excuse me as I need to go retrieve something before I get into the RoR." and Harry ran off for the lower floors. Luna went back up to the seventh floor and waited for the twenty minutes.

Inside the room, everyone began to wonder what happened to Harry. He could not be found anywhere. Hermione and Ron began to walk the walls sweeping their arms trying to find him. She knew he was wearing the Cloak. He always did when he didn't wish to be found. Why he didn't want to be found she didn't know. Soon, everyone in the room was doing the same thing looking for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Somehow he got out of the room and was walking the halls of the school, taking a chance the Carrows or Snape may find him.

Sooner than Luna was expecting, the RoR began to empty. She watched as the people left and formed a line across the hall and began their sweeping motion with their arms looking for Harry. Luna joined them thinking she could persuade them to stay away from the RoR, should Harry return.

Harry had entered the COS and went to the remains of the Basilisk and removed two of the fangs that were left. He then headed back up to the seventh floor to get into the RoR. He got to the fifth floor when he saw what the DA was doing, and knew they were looking for him. The stair ways were blocked so that he could not get by them. He saw that one of the people blocking the stairs was Luna. He went to her and tapped her shoulder. She felt him as he went under her arm that was on the wall. She did not give him away, and he thanked her as he left by tapping her shoulder once again.

He got back to the RoR and called for the desired room. He entered it, but did not know where to begin. There were five rows once he entered and they all went on forever. He decided to start on the right and begin there. Three hours later, Harry was beginning to get discouraged. He used the spell that Hermione taught him to detect dark magic, but so far nothing. Yeas he found some minor objects, but not what he was looking for.

He finally made it to the center row and began his search once again, He used the spell once again and felt a trace of dark magic near the back of the row. He followed the trace and it got stronger the further back he went. And then he found it, where he last saw it. Where he last put it. On the bust of an unknown wizard. Unlike last time however, when he reached for it this time, it protected itself by throwing Harry across the lane and into the pile of discarded objects. He used his protego to keep from getting injured from the falling items. He got back up and went back to the bust. Rather than go back to the Diadem, he just hit the bust and sent it to the floor where the Diadem became dislodged from the bust. Harry then took the fang and stabbed it before it tried to defend itself again. A loud scream was heard from the Diadem and a dark cloud left it as it was destroyed. The cloud soon dissipated and the task was done.

Harry left the RoR and began his trip back down to the main floor. He was soon greeted by the sound of battle and he went to a window and saw that the final battle had begun. He raced down the stairs and soon saw first hand the fighting. It was Fred and Percy fighting Pious Thickness. He heard Percy tell the wizard that he was officially retired from the Ministry and that it was effective immediately. Then Harry looked out a window and saw a giant swing his club at the wall where the three were fighting and and sent a protego to protect Fred and Percy. Unfortunately it did not protect Pious. Fred and Percy never did see who saved them, but they called thanks to whoever it was, and they ran down to help the rest.

Harry followed them down the stairs and was soon doing it again as he saw Fenrir trying to bite Lavender. He stopped this by creating a silver dagger from a piece of wood and threw it at the werewolf and it hit him in the neck. He died before biting Lavender. She cried at what had just happened, knowing she was saved by someone she never saw.

Next was Remus and Tonks. They were fighting Bella and her husband and brother in law. Bella somehow got through Tonks defense and hit her with a stunner. She was about to send the killing curse at her, but Harry hit her with an expelliarmus and she lost her wand and went sailing across the room into a fight between Molly and and other deatheater. She crashed into the death eater and took him out. Then Molly took care of her with a spell no one ever heard of before. What it did to Bella was not a pretty sight.

Remus and Tonks were able to take care of Rudolphus and Rebastion now that the biggest threat was gone.

It was then when the fighting was stopped by Voldemort himself. {Defenders of the school, you have fought well and I praise you for that. I will now give you one hour to gather your dead before I will once again begin my assault. However, if you hand Harry potter over to me, I will call off my army and we will leave you to care for your injured and deceased. One hour. Harry Potter, If you wish to save your friends you will give yourself up to me. You will find me in the dark forest where the spiders were. One hour Harry. One hour.}

Harry left the castle and walked across the field to the forest. Before he could get there he found Colin Creevy hurt and bleeding. He once again used a spell Hermione taught him to stop the bleeding and mend the wound. It was just a temporary fix and he will need attention, but it should be enough to save his life. He continued his walk to the forest and found the trail he and Ron used second year.

Back at the school, Everyone was gathered and sharing their war stories. Colin had been found by Neville and brought in for Poppy to care for. He then went and listened to the stories each of them were telling. About how each of them were saved by an unknown benefactor. Hermione stopped it all with a shout. "Are you all fools. Don't you know who saved you? Who do you know that can walk around unseen?"

Fred answered, "Of course, it was Harry under his cloak. Where is the little guy, I wish to hug him in a Weasley hug unlike any he has ever seen."

No one answered him and then Ginny came from Poppy's healing center and asked them all what was going on. She was told of Harry's heroics and that no one could find him now.

Luna approached her and asked, "Ginny, do you still love Harry?"

Ginny looked at her and said, "No, Luna, I don't. I love Colin now. Well maybe I still feel something for Harry, but Love may be too strong of a word."

"Ginny, He did all of this because of you. He saw you kiss Colin in the RoR. He left soon after and asked me to do something for him. You all did it for me."

Hernione looked up at this. "Luna, did he find what he was looking for?"

"I don't know Hermione. He said he had to go somewhere else before he went back to the RoR."

"Ron we need to go to the RoR and see if he found it." They left and returned five minutes later. "He did. He found what he was looking for. Now there is just one more remaining."

Remus looked at her hard, "Hermione, what was he looking for? It is done so there is no harm in telling us."

"We have been looking for Horcruxes for the whole year. Tom made six of them, and if I am not wrong, maybe a seventh that I'm afraid to mention. I think Harry feels it as well."

"So where would he be now?"

Tears were streaming down Hermione's face, "I imagine he is facing Tom right now. If Nagini is near, he will try to kill her before facing Tom."

Harry was facing Tom at that exact moment. He was hiding the fang in his sleeve should he get close enough to Nagini to strike her with it. He had to if he wanted to be rid of Tom. He didn't think it would ever happen, but when one of Tom's members walked into camp holding the head of an Order member, Tom roared with rage. "I gave them one hour to rest and gather their dead. You dishonored my word. For that you will die. Nagini kill him."

Nagini moved faster than the man holding the head. She struck him with her fangs, and was about to strike again when she felt something hit her in her head. She looked up at her master before she fell to the ground dead. Tom went to her and saw the fang sticking out from the back of her head. He looked back at Harry. "You. You did this. You know my secret. For this you will die. AVADA KADAVRA!"

Back in the school everyone looked up when Luna shouted, "HARRY,NO! Harry's dead. Tom Killed him."

At that time, Ginny collapsed to the ground.

Harry found himself lying on the ground, naked. He didn't think anything of it though as he was quite comfortable. That was until he was joined by someone else. He heard heavy breathing behind him and found a naked Ginny lying there. He went to her and tried to help her up. She slapped his hand away, "I don't need anyone's help. She looked up and saw it was Harry, Sorry Harry, didn't know it was you. Um, Harry, why are you naked?"

"I guess for the same reason you are."

She looked down and screamed, "Turn around Harry. You can't see me like this."

"Afraid I already have Gin. Sorry." he did not take his eyes off of her.

"Well, quit staring and find me something to wear." As soon as she said it both here and Harry were covered by white robes. "Where did they come from?"

"I don't know Gin? I'm as lost as you are."

"Where are we?"

"I don't know for sure about you, but I think I'm dead and this is Heaven. Did you die back there as well?"

"No, I was standing talking to Luna when everything went blank and the next thing I know you're staring at me while I'm laying there naked."

"Sorry about that again. But if you didn't die, why are you here?"

There was a moan coming from some benches not far from where they were and Harry walked over to them and looked under it to see the figure of the Form of Tom just before he became Voldemort during his fourth year. "Don't look Gin, It's not a pretty picture."

"Who is it?"

"Voldemort before he became the figure we know now. Come on. Let's see if we can find someone who knows what is going on."

They heard someone from a short distance away, "There is no need to look Harry, I am here. I see you brought Ginny with you. Good."

"Professor Dumbledore?"

"Yes Harry. Sorry to be meeting you this way, but I had to talk to you and Ginny before you went back. Or if you wish, to go forward."

"If I'm dead, how can I go back? And why is Ginny here if she didn't die?"

"Because she is a part of this. You two are together are you not?"

"No sir."

"Ginny you're not with Harry?"

"No sir, I'm with Colin Creevy. Why does that matter?"

"I'm sorry Ginny, you must go back."

"Good. Come on Harry, let's go." but Harry didn't move while Ginny saw the two figures begin to fade. "Harry?" and she looked up into the face of Luna Lovegood. "Where's Harry, Luna?"

"He's dead Ginny. He died just now."

"He can't be dead, I just left him and Professor Dumbledore."

Ron looked at everyone and said, "She must have hit her head when she fell. She's imagining things."

Hermione and Fred both took her arms and stood her up. "Ginny, you were only out for about twenty or thirty seconds."

"But I was with Harry and Dumbledore not two minutes ago. Harry saw me naked. We saw Voldemort in his form before he became what we know him as."

Fred looked to George, "We're not in Kansas any more Toto. We must be in Oz. We have all kinds of wizards to take the part of the Great and Powerful. Moony where are you? You got a role to fill."

"Shut it you two." Molly called out. "Now Ginny dear, you must have hit your head like Ronald said. It was impossible to have seen them and see all the things you did in such a short period of time. I'm sorry dear."

"But I did see Harry and the Professor. I did. I did."

It was that moment that they heard Tom's voice once more.

{Defenders of the castle, all is lost to you as your savior is dead. He died like the coward he was, running away to save his own life. Lay down your wands and we will accept your surrender without further deaths. Decline, and you will all die. If you look outside, you will see that what I say is the truth.}

The defenders went to the main entrance and watched as Hagrid led the Death Eaters carrying the body of Harry Potter. It was true, Harry was dead.