Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters are owned by J.K. Rowling. I do not own anything.
A/n: This story starts after GoF. We'll see where it goes after that.
Walking with Death
Prologue
Harry Potter looked around and all he could see was an endless gray. If he wasn't standing upright he would have thought that he was floating. It was an eerie feeling though. He had never experienced anything like this and he was magical. Everywhere it was grey. Well... except one place.
In the middle of nowhere there was a man in grey coveralls laying stones on a cylindrical wall. To Harry it seemed like he was building something and when he came near, he was humming a famous muggle tune, which, at the moment, Harry forgot the title.
"Excuse me," Harry called out warily trying to find his wand on his person. How could he had been so careless to forget about it. Since Cedric had been killed he was cautious as hell. He didn't know a lot of spells but it pays to be paranoid. Constant Vigilance and all that.
"Welcome to my nightmare," the man sang as he laid another stone. "I think you're gonna like it. I think you'll feel, you belong."
"I have nightmares worse than this," Harry said out loud making the man look up and smile at him.
"The song wasn't for you," he said. "It's for the fool who enters uninvited." the man, Harry found out, was his age. His hair was as black as his and his eyes were even darker than black. He had a serene face but his smile contained more amusement than anyone he had seen. And that included his Godfather and the twins. Quite a remarkable feat.
"Where are we?" Harry asked. The teen stopped in his work and motioned him inside the walls.
"There is nothing to fear," he said, feeling his reluctance. "This is the safest place for you at this time. As a matter of fact, you could help me get these walls up." Harry just looked at him oddly before entering the walls. As he did, he felt the safest he had in years, which, in the course of things wasn't saying much.
"As to where you are, you'll figure it out," the teen said. "These walls are to protect you from outside interference and probing. And when we're finished with this you are to be able to organize your mind and in the process have much control of your emotions and thoughts."
"How is that possible?" Harry asked as he suddenly found himself wearing the same coveralls as the teen.
"It's called Occulemency by your people," the teen said. "It is to guard the mind from intruders searching for information. A Legimens, if you'd prefer. You're secret is safe when these walls are complete and the defenses are erected." Harry blinked at that. The teen's explanation was logical and had no hint of patronization. He believed what he said and was truthful to Harry. And this made the teen into his good books. But a phrase kept nagging him. 'to guard the mind'?
"We're in my mind?" Harry asked as he looked at the bleakness of the place. He never thought that his mind was this empty.
"Yes," the teen said. "I took the liberty of boxing the contents of your mind," he pointed to the boxes that were stacked in the middle of the walls. "Didn't look at it, if that's what you're worried about. Just stacked them like that. Though caught a glimpse of some very interesting... ideas."
"Ideas?" Harry frowned. He didn't want anyone looking through his thoughts. He wouldn't even tell his best friends about his life from before Hogwarts. He didn't want their pity.
"Concern and pity are different," the teen said as he began working again. "They look the same but evidently different. And yes, Ideas. Like a certain witch you're beginning to fancy and not in a brotherly way."
"Those are private," Harry growled as he glared at the teen. "And who are you anyway?"
"The name's Sam," he held out his hand and Harry shook it. "And for the moment, I'll be rooming with you in here."
"Back up. Rooming?" Harry asked. "What the hell is going on?"
"Okay. In a nutshell. We're in your mind, I'm building a defense so that you're protected from outside influence. Your deflection of the Imperius curse was the first indicator that you have control of your mind. You only need training. Okay, what else... Cobra Commander used a ritual to gain his body, however, the same ritual can also be used to summon a regent of the otherworld, with a few additions. The sacrifice is a soul, which has been already accepted. There comes the dilemma."
"Dilemma?" Harry asked. "Cobra Commander?" the teen smiled and he saw Harry trying to fight one.
"It fits, right?" Sam said. "The dilemma is that you have two souls in you. And the soul that was taken was from the person who performed the ritual."
"Wait! I have Voldermort's soul in me!" it all fits. The pain in his scar. The visions. He couldn't stand it. He didn't feel clean.
"No," Sam said calmly. "You had a piece of Voldermort's soul in you. A fragment. We took that as payment for the summoning. You are now Dark Lord free."
"Do you expect me to fall for this?" Harry asked but deep inside, he was buying it and getting his money's worth.
"I can't hide anything from you here, Harry," Sam smiled. "And you can't hide anything from me. I just choose not to peak onto your mind. I'd like to be your friend, at least be with an amicable working relationship. After we defeat the Dark Tosser we'll part ways."
"Again," Harry sighed as he tried to piece the information that Sam was giving. "And not just the snippets."
"It would be easier if you had Hermione with you," Sam said, looking at him intently. "And we need to get to her before the Weasleys do."
"Why?" this was insane. Sam made no sense at all. It was like he was expecting him to follow his logic.
"Love potions," he simply said. Harry frowned at him. Was he accusing the Weasleys of potioning them? "No, just their mother. Ron maybe daft but will accept anything his mother told him and Ginny doesn't need any encouragement to get you in her arms."
"You are seriously pissing me off," Harry's eyes turned deadly but Sam simply sighed and looked at him earnestly.
"Hermoine or Ginny?" Sam suddenly asked.
"Hermione," Harry said automatically and was surprised as he did. Her name just popped in there and there wasn't time to think. And now, thinking about it shouldn't he be saying Ginny? He felt something for her last term but he couldn't explore his feelings since everything that happened. But if he was trying to figure out his feelings for Ginny, then why did he saw Hermione's name?
"In your mind you will feel the effects of any potions and magic that has been foisted upon you. Since I cleaned up around here, you'd feel those persuasions less and when this wall is completed no one would have any influence in your mind. And when the defenses are up, no one would break into your memories," Sam smiled. Harry took a deep breath and expelled it in one huff.
"I need to know," Harry said. Sam just gave him a sympathetic smile and motioned to the wall.
"Here's the deal. We need to get the walls up at least, then get Hermione and explain it to her without sounding Bedlam. And yes, I do sound like I'm crackers." At this, Harry just laughed.
"What are you, anyway? Please, before I join you in insanity?"
"Okay," Sam smirked. "I am a regent of the otherworld. That ritual Riddle invoked mirrors a ritual of vengeance. The homunculus that he uses for himself was supposed to be the container of a demon that was supposed to inhabit during his rampage. The ritual also includes the poison of a Basilisk and the tear of a Phoenix. Which you have in your blood. The ritual also requires the soul of the summoner and the death of the persons he took the blood and the bones from. As you can see, you're still alive. Instead, I was sent to inhabit you and take the piece of Riddle in you as a down payment. And here's where it gets interesting.
"Since the ritual failed all bets are off. I'm to gather all of the pieces of his soul and rid this world of Tom Marvolo Riddle. In any way possible."
"What does that mean for me?" Harry was surprised. Now he knew why Hermione was needed, he could come up with anything to counter that and Hermione could since she was more well read than he was.
"Some of the girls up there like you," Sam smiled. "They kinda convinced me to help you."
"Convinced?" Harry asked. How could anyone convince Sam. He didn't know if he was an Angel or a demon.
"I have a weakness for beautiful women," Sam groaned. "Especially since those women are my friends. Be careful, Harry Potter of beautiful women and puppy dog pouts. Though... with your love interest she would just glare you until you give in."
"Hermione is just a friend," Harry said and when he saw Sam's triumphant gaze he realized what he just said.
"Never said it was Hermione," Sam laughed but then suddenly turned serious. "Hope she wouldn't be jealous."
"Why?" Harry was beginning to see what kind of person Sam was. He was all what he claimed and if had gotten thoughtful that meant that it was something important that he was about to mention.
"Well... let's just say that she's not the only important person in your life," Sam simply said. It was too much. Did he just say that there would be more that one woman in his life? It sounded like it.
"Bloody Hell," Harry whispered. "I will not..." he suddenly found himself unable to speak. He was moving his mouth but nothing coming out of it.
"And you should think before you open your mouth," Sam said severely as he laid another stone. "You had gotten enough trouble with it. You need lessons in etiquette of the wizarding world. Especially you're the Heir of a Most Ancient and Noble house... you have no idea, do you?" Sam regarded him curiously. "Of course. You were raised by the Dursleys and have no idea who you really are. And no one seemed to stop and explain. a few things about you. And that's why you need those people in your life. They compliment something you lack. And, forgive me, you lack a great deal."
"This sounds like a badly written fanfiction," Harry said as he once again had the use of his voice. Sam simply stared at Harry for a while and shrugged. He didn't even argue.
"Anyway," Sam resumed, seemingly uncomfortable with Harry's last statement. "Tell me, without Hermione would you have survived at all since the beginning of Hogwarts?" Harry shook his head. In truth, ever since they had became closer since the troll incident, he always deferred to her judgment, even though there were times that they were at odds.
"She is your conscience and your anchor. You love her too much to be angry at her for a long time and always listen to her advise even though she sounds like she's full of it. As much as you need her she also needs you. You two anchor each other to the world that seems to be against you. You see, she would be utterly lost without you. You, Harry James Potter, are the only hope she has to live life to the fullest. Did you know about her life before Hogwarts?" Harry ashamedly shook his head. All he knew that she had a lonely childhood, her parents loved her but she had nearly no friends at all. "I would suggest getting to know her more and her to get to know more of you. You hide from the pain of your past not realizing it hinders your growth magically, emotionally and mentally."
"You mean that if I talk about my feelings that I would be stronger?" Harry asked in disbelief. If someone had put it that way before he would have opened up long ago.
"That and by removing the limiter on your core," Sam said. "I did that before you came here. And that's why you're here in your mind with me. If you were awake when I did that you would probably be insane right about now."
"I think I'm already crazy," Harry sighed but frowned as he realized what Sam had said. "My core was limited?"
"Bound," Sam explained. "It prevents accidental magic from happening. It's done usually to little magicals until they are old enough to control their magic."
"If it was bound then how could I..."
"How could you do the things you do if your core was bound? Curious isn't it. Imagine doing those now it's unbounded. And get this, Dumbledore was the one you bound your core. Ever wondered why your magic seems out of flux and you need to try harder to make things work?" Harry thought about it. He was really struggling in complex spells and with work he mastered it. Patronus in his third year, which he found out that most adults couldn't conjure, and the Accio summoning spell that would have been taught to him until his later years. And the weird stuff he accidentally had done when he was a child. If his core was bound then, what would he be if it was unbound.
"What does this mean?" Harry asked.
"It means that you're damned more powerful than you thought you were," Sam said. "And it means that someone is trying to control you." Control? But who would control... Harry frowned at the implications. It was beginning to be clear but still, he trusted the man. Would he go far enough to control him just to defeat Voldermort?
"I see that you're beginning to get it," Sam smiled sadly. He knew that Harry had a caring soul and he knew that he trusted a few. Thinking of all the things he had been through, it sort of made sense. The first year the Philosopher's stone was brought to Hogwarts to protect it from Voldermort. It three children could defeat the defenses what more could one of the strongest wizard there was? Second year, the Headmaster knew about the chamber opening before, why hadn't he done anything about it especially when the students were being hurt.
Third year, it would be illogical for the Headmaster not to defend his Godfather with so little evidence. He was the only person strong enough to cast the Fidellius charm on Godric's Hollow and he must know who the secret keeper was. Then why didn't he defend Sirius?
And who would forget the debacle of the Tri-Wizard Championship? Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose, fighting a migraine that was threatening to emerge. The question was why hadn't he thought of it before?
"Compulsion charms, potions, Jedi Mind Tricks," Sam said as he began moving furniture. "Frankly, I'm surprised that he hasn't tried to get a girl pregnant by you and steal the Potter Fortunes. He's been dipping into your trust account ever since you've been attending Hogwarts."
"Pregnant?" Harry looked at Sam only to find a fully erected tower. It looked like the Gryffindor common room only with less gold and red. "Potter Fortunes?"
"The Potters are one of the most influential and wealthy families in Magical Brittain," Sam explained as he hung a picture of Hermione and Harry on a wall. "You two look cute together. Where was I? Ah yes, I was wondering why your family had lived in Godric's Hollow since Potter Manor had enough runes to dispel all creatures of ill intent. And the wards, trust me, even Death had a hard time entering. The only way the Death could get in uninterrupted is if someone actually... well, died. It was amusing to see him compose a letter just to ask if he could visit your manor."
"Why would Death visit?" Harry asked. He still couldn't make heads or tails about this.
"All would be revealed, in time," Sam said and immediately frowned. "Damn, now I sound like those tight arses in Time Management."
"Time Manage..."
"The Angels of Time," Sam sighed. "No sense of humor, that lot. Since we creatures are immune to the effects of time, we kinda try to get one over them. Still, being able to determine possibilities in time would make one Strict or Crazy. Which reminds me, we need to get to the Rookery after we're done training and talk to your Hermione."
"I won't try to understand," Harry said as he gave up. With everything happening it was too much to take. "Wait a moment. You said try to get one over the Angels of Time. Did you mean that you have traveled back in time?" If that was true, then maybe he could save Cedric and prevent Voldemort's resurrection.
"Harry James Potter, there are things that cannot be changed in the course of time. Events that have a big impact on the lives of many and the flow of human history. We cannot stop Voldemort from cursing your parents and cursing you thus removing him from the mortal plane. And also we could not stop his resurrection for this also must come to pass." Harry's saddened look as Sam explained this was his heart wretch. "Know this. If you return into time there are certain things that could not be changed."
"Is it really that hopeless?" Harry asked but Sam smacked him on the head with a rolled parchment.
"There is always hope," he said. "you've just have to think about it."
"Can I go back in time?" Harry asked. Sam looked thoughtful and into the Boy-who-lived's green orbs. It was like he was judging the young man if he would be worthy.
"You cannot stop Voldermort's resurrection and you cannot expose Crouch Jr. until the end of the tasks. Oh, damn," Sam frowned and nearly growled. "During the World Cup you need to save a couple of people. By going back in time some events would change. Could you handle that?"
Harry blinked as he paced around the room. Was he willing to risk somethings so that Cedric would be save? By his explanation, he would be risking other people's lives if he did.
"There is a plus if you go back," Sam said breaking Harry's train of thought. "You could take Hermione to the ball." Harry just stared at the man. "And court her."
"What kind of ethereal being are you?" Harry had to ask. Sam, however, didn't answer him directly and smiled enigmatically.
"Who knows." Harry simply shook his head and sighed.
"I'm still unconvinced that you're telling the truth," he admitted to the obsidian eyed young man.
"I know, I know," Sam waved him off. "You don't believe in blind faith and all that. The evidence that you need to make sure I'm not nutters is for you to go back in time before the World Cup. However, Harry Potter, Voldermort must rise again or the consequences shall be dire. Do not take that warning lightly."
"I won't," Harry promised. "Just out of curiosity..."
"Instead of your blood being used it would be the blood of someone else," Sam said gravely. At that tone of voice Harry knew that it was bad. If he was not the sacrifice then someone else would be. And knowing the Dark Lord he would target his friends just to spite him.
"65% chance that Hermione would be captured and her blood is used," Sam said seeming knowing what Harry was thinking of. "Believe me, Harry, Your sanity and heart will shatter when that does happens." Unsure if what he was saying it was true, Harry simply nodded.
"What would it entail for me to go back in time?" he asked. He must be sure, he may muck it up and things may be worse that it already was.
"As it is, we could only go back exactly one year. No more. You have to live your fourth year one again and bear the humiliation at the betrayal of Ronald Weasley and the rest of the school. If all things go according to plan, before Halloween you would have four friends to stand by you and not think that you are a cheat. Probably five."
"Five?" Harry asked in disbelief. "Where were these five before?"
"Well, obviously, one is Hermione. The others did not know you and could not form an opinion for themselves. But since you would be befriending them, they would see that you're not the attention seeking prat that you've been labeled with," Sam said, getting excited that Harry was coming to a decision. Why was he getting excited? Was there something that he wasn't telling him?
"Well... you'll see," Sam said, answering Harry's unasked question. Harry weighed in his options, he could go back in time and save Cedric or he could continue on and live his remaining life with Sam as his companion until Tom Marvolo riddle was vanquished. He knew messing with time was bad, he knew that on his third year, but there was one thing that made him reconsider.
"She was very beautiful in that dress," Sam smiled knowingly at him. "Play your cards right, that article that Rita Skeeter wrote wouldn't be such a bold faced lie." Harry remembered the scathing remarks and the howlers that Hermione got because of her article. At least this time, he would do something about it.
"Have you decided?" Sam asked. Harry took a deep breath and expelled it all at once.
He had decided.
A/n: No flames. Constructive criticisms are welcomed. Please review, it would help to get my writing to improve.
