A/N: Hi guys! So I have been reading Harry Potter fics pretty heavily for almost a year now, and I figured I would try my hand at one of my own. This is a story that has been bouncing around in my head for a few months now, and I figured I should put fingers to keyboard and share it with you.


Harry Potter moved as silently as possible through the Forbidden Forest. Even though he was giving himself up, The Boy-Who-Lived was not interested in being killed by an overzealous Death Eater. He could feel the presence of his fallen family behind him, shielding him from the cold of the forest, and the monstrous Dementors within and above it.

Harry wasn't truly afraid for himself anymore. He was just concerned about the people within Hogwarts, and was desperately hoping that they would end this tonight, before too many more lives were lost. He had rapidly begun to accept his new reality after seeing Snape's memories in the Pensieve. Truth be told, he was tired of fighting. He was tired of continuing to sacrifice and watch the people he cared about die, seemingly for nothing. Maybe this would be the final nail in Voldemort's coffin, and this nightmare could come to an end.

Harry thought he was done for as he stepped on a twig near a couple of Death Eaters, who, at least he assumed, were standing guard near Voldemort's camp waiting for him to show up.

With a deep sigh, Harry removed the invisibility cloak and placed it in his enchanted pocket, and stepped into the clearing where Voldemort awaited him. In the center of a semi-circle, the man himself, if he could truly be considered a man, stood, cradling the Elder Wand as if he was holding a precious, newborn child. Under different circumstances, Harry thought that that thought might have been amusing. Harry could see the brief flicker of surprise in Voldemort's malevolent red eyes, before turning into a look of triumph.

"The Boy-Who-Lived." Voldemort said softly. "Come to meet his end before us. I must admit, you have fought quite valiantly. Although in the end, we all knew it was for not. It is a shame that you let so many die in your stead." Voldemort taunted.

'Just get on with it. Why must you always make speeches every time we meet? I have people waiting for me. ' Harry thought, resigned, although he was careful to keep his expression neutral. Harry was mildly surprised with himself that he could think anything flippant at a time like this.

"Nothing to say, Harry Potter?" Voldemort asked. After a pause, he continued. "Very well then." Voldemort took a step toward Harry, wand raised. He was careful not to move, there was no need to spook the other Death Eaters within the clearing. He could see the eager anticipation written on their faces, and the look of pure triumph upon Voldemort's.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort shouted.

Harry knew no more.


Harry slowly opened his eyes. Everything was blurry at first, but things slowly came into focus. He could tell that he was on his back, staring up at a black vaulted ceiling. Looking to his left and right Harry could see walls made with what appeared to be black marble. Looking down at himself, he could see that he was dressed in a solid black Polo shirt, and dark black jeans, with black trainers. Death must be a fan of black.

He slowly rose up. His eyes widened in surprise.

Sitting before him was a man on a throne made of the same black marble as the rest of what he realized was a grand throne room. The man had long snow white hair that came to mid- chest. He looked a lot like what Hermione would describe as an Elf from The Lord of The Rings, with his angular features and youthful appearance. There was, however, nothing youthful about his deep violet eyes, which seemed to be truly ancient and possessed an intelligence and wisdom far beyond himself or anyone he could think of. He wore simple but elegant black robes, and there was a large, black scythe leaning against his throne. At his feet, was a large, black dog, which was having his ear scratched slowly by the man.

"You, you're Death, aren't you." Harry said. It was a statement, not a question.

"Indeed, I am, Harry Potter. Welcome to the land of the dead." Death spoke softly, in his surprisingly deep voice. It seemed to echo in the large throne room. With a wave of his hand, a smaller version of his throne appeared underneath Harry. "We have much to discuss, young Harry."

That confused Harry. He was dead, or at least he assumed he was. Wasn't this supposed to be the part where he went on to meet his family?

"That… is an option." Death said. It took Harry a moment to realize that Death has read his thoughts.

"An option? I have actually have a choice?" Harry asked, surprised.

"Indeed you do. Although I would hope that you will be willing to listen to me before you make such a choice. After all, such a choice is permanent." Death said.

"But why do I get a say in the matter? Don't you usually send people on to their fates?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"Normally. However I think we both can agree that your circumstances are anything but normal."

The horcrux. That must be what this is about.

"Not just the Horcrux." Death said, again looking in on Harry's thoughts.

That was going to get annoying.

Death merely chuckled softly, and continued. "You are the first to unite all three of my artifacts. That warrants…. special conditions."

"Artifacts? You mean the Deathly Hallows?" Harry asked. At Death's nod, he continued. "But wait. Does that make me The Master of Death like in the story?"

A loud, rumbling laugh erupted from Death. It sent chills up Harry's spine. "No boy, none shall ever master me, much as many would like too. You are merely a Companion, a Champion of Death. MY champion." Death corrected.

'Why is it always me?' Harry thought with an internal sigh.

"It is not as bad as you may believe, Champion." Death said. "You shall find that the title comes with quite an advantage over all others."

"Such as?" Harry questioned.

A smile appeared on Death's face. Harry had a feeling they had just arrived at the topic Death had been driving at the entire time. "Choices." Death said simply. "You see, I have always been tasked to maintain a semblance of balance between good and evil, law and chaos. How I do it has also always been up to me. If you are willing, I would do so, with you." Death stated.

"Me? What can I do? I'm already dead. I've done everything I can do. Haven't I?" Harry countered.

"You shall find that death for you is not quite final, at least, not this time." Death said. "The way I see it, you have three choices."

"And they are?" Harry asked. He was stunned. He could actually do more than he already had?

"Option one, you may continue on as all others before you have, onto, as Albus Dumbledore was so fond of saying, 'the next great adventure.' You would go on to the realm of your forefathers, where I suspect those who you have lost shall be waiting for you." Death stated calmly.

That idea certainly held great appeal to Harry. To finally have his family…

"Option two is that I send you back to your time, exactly how you were when you fell. No time has passed since Voldemort killed you. The Horcrux and your status as Champion of Death are more than enough for me to send you back as is." Death explained.

"But what good would that do? My… body, is surrounded by Death Eaters and Voldemort. I appear alive, and they off me for good this time." Harry countered.

"You would have to appear dead until the proper time. You would, I think, be able to defeat Voldemort and live the rest of your life as you were intended too." Death said.

Harry wasn't so sure he wanted to go back to things as they were. So many lives had been lost. There wasn't really anything for him out there left. "And the third?" Harry asked. What possibly could Death offer as a third choice?

"Third, and I will admit that this is the course of action I am most approving of, is that I send you back in time." Death stated.

Harry was surprised. He could go back? Perhaps save some of the people whose lives were lost to an insane megalomaniac? Sirius, Remus, Tonks, he could get them all back? Sign him up.

"Further, Harry." Death said, again picking up his thoughts. "Much further than a couple years, if I have my way. I would see you several decades in the past. Perhaps in the later 1970's?" Death offered. Judging by the look on Harry's face, Death was fairly confident he had him.

It didn't take Harry long to form the connections. "I could save my parents?" Harry asked stunned. "But why? You already have their souls, along with countless others that died in these wars."

Death nodded in agreement. "I do. However, how many children weren't born to these souls? How many bloodlines have ended to this madman who dares defy me? Thousands of souls have been robbed from me! The muggles, as you call them, have a saying, that 'you must spend money to get money.' So too does this principle apply to me. Besides, souls of the unborn are only a small part of why I would do this. Remember that I told you that it is my job to maintain a relative balance between good and evil, law and chaos?" Death asked.

Harry rubbed a hand across his chin. To go back and save everyone he cared about, and to save many innocents. His "Saving people thing" was screaming at him. Moments ago he had little to no desire to continue on. Now, he felt his resolve return stronger than ever.

"How would this work?" Harry asked.

"I would send you back to your parents 7th year of Hogwarts, given your age, and seeing as you never completed your own 7th year. You would also go as you are: Harry James Potter, 17 year old son of James Potter and Lily Evans from the future, with all of your memories intact. You would attend your seventh year; get to know the family you never had, as they would get to know you, while you hunt down Voldemort's horcruxes and train to face the man himself and his band of followers." Death explained.

"That's it?" Harry asked humorously. Death gave a small smile in response. Harry took a moment to mull it over. It was a hell of an opportunity. One that many would give anything and everything for, himself included. "What is the price for this? I know that there must be one, even with your reasoning. And if I do this, won't I be obliterating one of the fundamental rules of time travel? I would be changing many things, and most people would know about it." Harry inquired.

"There are several. The laws that I am bound to; yes I am bound to laws just like every other being." Death said, seeing the confused look on Harry's face. "There are certain conditions I must ask. I would have you collect all of my Deathly Hallows and give them back to me. Man has proven that they cannot handle such objects responsibly. Don't worry about how, you will know what to do once you possess them. With this sort of magic of sending you back, I am afraid that I must take a third of your life expectancy. Don't worry." Death said upon seeing Harry's widened eyes at hearing about his life force. "You were slated to live to around 150 years old. You will still live to around 100, given you succeed and aren't killed some other way." Death reassured. "Defeating Voldemort and the Death Eaters is a requirement, naturally. Failing to do so would have dire consequences for you, so don't do that. As for your wizarding time travel laws, they would not apply, for the timeline that you were a part of would no longer exist. You would become a permanent part of the time you go back too, and work your way from there normally."

Harry took a moment to think; he would be the same age as his parents. He also mourned the fact that he would never be friends with Hermione and Ron again, at least not in the same way he was. After all, he would be an adult. However, there was too much to gain to pass this up. Once again, sacrifices must be made.

"One other thing. Why would you want to do this? This would tip the balance greatly toward the good and lawful side of the scale. I thought you had to maintain a balance." Harry asked.

A small smile appeared on Deaths face. "True. However, darkness has had its turn for some time. I think the light shall have its moment. Besides, there is always some dark force on the horizon waiting for its moment to descend upon humanity. It is the way of things."

Harry was convinced. He had to do this. "Okay. I'll do it. Anything else I should know?"

Death nodded. "Yes. You are the Champion of Death, but keep that to yourself if at all possible, but I suppose if you must, tell the most trustworthy of individuals. Keep it private knowledge only. You are officially a time traveler. Keep in mind that things will not be exactly the same. Everyone is basically getting a second chance, although they are ignorant of that fact and will have no knowledge of the future as you will. Although choices up to the point of your arrival will be the same as the past, people will not make the same choices as they did the first time around for here on out. You will be a big part of those changes as well, so you would do well to prepare for it. In that light, be mindful of what you tell people. Use your knowledge of future events to your advantage. Save who you can, even those who do not strike you at first as in need of help. Don't forget to live while you are there. You have a mission true, but that shouldn't be your focus to the exclusion of all else. Train, fight, win, and see yourself to a happy, prosperous life as you have always deserved." Death said.

"Brilliant! When do we begin?" Harry asked.

A smirk crossed Deaths face. "Now. Good luck!" He stated. With a wave of his hand, the small throne that Harry was sitting on disappeared, and a large portal appeared behind him. Harry could just make out the Great Hall of Hogwarts within the portal. Without any prompting, Harry felt himself flying backwards, and through the portal.


A/N: First chapter down! I know that time travel has been used quite a bit, but with what I have planned I think it will be original enough.

Alright so far? I would love to hear your thoughts. I plan on having Harry fall in love with someone in the Marauder Era. After all, it is now his time period too. I had originally thought of Narcissa, but then I thought of my plan for Harry to have children, and it gave me the thought of Draco being Harry's kid... gross lol. I know, he wouldn't look like the Draco we know, but once the image was there, I was like "Nope. Nope not going there." As a result, I figured that I shouldn't interfere in established canon parings and use someone who didn't survive, such as Mary MacDonald, Marlene Mckinnon or Dorcas Meadows. Perhaps even an OC. What do you guys think?

I should have another chapter or two up in the next few days, and then you can pretty well expect an update or two a week, provided that College and work don't totally kick my ass lol. I am pretty excited about this fic however, and I have an outline of where I want this to go. Once again, I would love to hear what you think about this so far and I am always open to suggestions and ideas. Until next time!