The Bonding

A prequel prompted by the bond challenge on SIYE. The longer story will follow.

Chapter 1: Meddling Ancestors

"Avada Kedavra" said a high pitched voice, and a sickly green light lanced out striking the old Muggle caretaker. Harry Potter was aware of his body jerking as he tried to wake from what felt like a nightmare; instead, he found himself floating in a white mist. A moment was all the sensation lasted before his feet were on what seemed to be solid ground.

He glimpsed the area around him, and saw a large field. Off to one side was a clear pool of water; it was fed by a crystal stream that was flowing through the field. Nearby was a stone shelf, which was an inviting place to sit while he considered what to do. "Now what am I doing here, and how did I get here?" he muttered to himself.

"That is because I brought you here; we need to discuss some things in order to prepare you for your upcoming year at school, Harry." The voice was kind and gentle, what he had once heard a grandmother sound like when she was talking to her grandchildren. But it was a surprise, and he jerked around reaching for his wand as he did.

His hand closed on empty air, and when he looked around, he realized he did not have his wand with him. "Where...?"

"You will not need your wand. And could not use it here even if you had it." A benevolent looking older woman stood only a few feet from him. She had a tender air about her, and said while pointing to the place where he had been sitting, "May I join you?"

Harry noticed she had a cane, and was hobbling slightly. "I will not harm you, I am merely going to answer some of your questions, and give you some information you will need to know for the upcoming year."

"How... do I know that I can trust you?" He asked cautiously. "Especially after what I just saw and heard before arriving here."

"I can give you a thousand reasons why you should, and you will likely think of a thousand reasons not to for each one I give you." She responded. "So how about we do this. I will give you the information. Answer any questions about it that I can. And then you decide for yourself whether to believe me or not."

He looked around for a moment as he thought through his answer and then said, "Okay, but can you start by telling me your name, and how you know mine?"

"Of course," she replied. "I am known by many names, and have been called many things throughout my existence. In life I was known as Andella Gryffindor. Godric was my great-grandson. I was just one of many children sired by Myrddin Ambrosias. I am the oldest of a set of triplets. All of whom were very powerful witches. You are descended either directly or indirectly from all three of us, as well as at least four of my other siblings."

"But that would mean..." Harry began.

But was cut off by the old woman saying, "... That you are a descendant of Merlin... along with approximately eighty to ninety percent of the magical societies around the world, as well as more than sixty percent of the Muggle population of Great Britain." She laughed softly for a moment before saying, "Father never met a woman he didn't like. Or at least try to sleep with. The old grouch made your godfather look like a celibate monk." She cackled at this.

Her laughter didn't last for long however before she sobered and continued, "Now, as I was saying, Harry you will soon meet a young woman who will be very important to your future."

"Wh... who is she?"

"If I told you her name, it would spoil the surprise. Kids these days, they have no sense of drama." She said while shaking her head. "Some of your ancestors have decided to offer you a gift, and you want to know what is in the package before you unwrap it. Now when your eyes make contact with her. You will find your selves irresistibly drawn together."

"Well, when will I meet her?"

"The two of you will meet before school starts. Now you need to understand that you already know this young woman, but at the same time, you don't really know her. When the full truth comes out, there will be people wanting to control your future who will be very unhappy; however, she is the person you are destined to marry anyway. Fate has simply decided to change a few rules of her chess match and introduce the king of this match to his queen earlier than originally planned You will need to take care of a great many things after your mind and body discover what your heart, soul, and magic already know." She raised her eyebrows as the next question became obvious.

Harry was sporting a serious blush as he asked, "Is she pretty?"

Andella offered a chuckle, and replied, "Almost fifteen hundred years, and teenage boys still worry about the same things. Harry, I promise that you will find her beautiful, no matter anyone else's opinion of her appearance." She sat for a moment without saying any more before saying, "You will need to remember that between the two of you, there are no problems that cannot be solved by a simple kiss."

"Why a kiss?" He questioned.

"Now even with your limited background of growing up in this forsaken place, you are intelligent enough to figure that one out on your own." She shook her head as she laughed at his frightened look.

Taking a deep breath, Andella approached the last thing she would speak with Harry about this visit, "Harry," she had sobered in her manner, indicating this was something very important. "You need to pay close attention in class this year, because you will be facing the self-styled 'Lord Voldemort' during the upcoming school year."

"Not surprising, but when will I have to face him?"

"Well when do you usually face him?" she answered his question with one of her own.

"It seems to always be the end of the school year." Harry said without pause.

"Well this year will be no different. One last thing, you have a letter from your parents in your vault. You will need to go and retrieve it. It is charmed to only become visible to you and only you on your fourteenth birthday. And so that only you can touch it. Seems your parents were not as trusting of certain people as some would have you believe. Now you need to awaken, and I can tell you no more at this time. Write the letters you plan to write and be ready for the coming week. I will return to tell more when you meet your young lady. Until then, fair thee well."

As Harry is about to awaken, he asks one more question, "You said you were known by many names, what is the one you are best known by?"

"As I told you, I am known as Andella Gryffindor, but most people today simply call me Death. Now awaken my young heir..." Harry wakes with the memory of that discussion as if it were only a dream.

In the Morning Lands:

Death smiled as she walked a cobble stone path. She considered her chosen heir. He was a handsome young man, and would be much loved by all who truly got to know him. She approached a fountain in the little park and saw a little girl of about six or seven years of age sitting there. A soft chuckle escaped her as she spoke, "Well little sister, I have told him what you wished me to. Now Fate, you have never made an exception of not interfering in the past. Why now?"

"Let's just say, I am tired of the old man stealing all of Harry's gifts, and I will enjoy watching him try to steal this one." Fate giggled, and stood. "Now, to set the final part of this plan in motion." Her smile changed to a mischievous grin and she faded from sight.