Hello everyone, a new story for you all to hopefully enjoy and I know it's been done probably about a billion times by now but this is a response to the Reptillia28 Don't fear the reaper challenge, with a few extras added in to hopefully spice things up for everyone. If you've read my stories before you'll know that I don't really think much of Ron as a character so he'll be present for a few spots here and there but don't expect to see him more than that and I'll try to keep myself from bashing too much. With that out of the way I don't own Harry Potter, any characters, settings or pretty much anything else you recognize don't belong to me. I hope you all enjoy the story.

Opening his eyes, Harry could see nothing but white light surrounding him in all directions. He couldn't see more than a few feet in front of him; the thick silvery mist shrouded anything beyond it. Looking down at his clothes, Harry smiled at the Hogwarts student robe covering his body, the grey dress pants still every bit as uncomfortable as he remembered back in his first year, the matching grey sweater with the gold and scarlet trim at the neckline still making him feel like there was something choking him. Running his hands over the black outer robe his smile turned to a frown. The material was completely different from what his robes were normally made of. However his examination of his clothes was cut short as echoing footsteps caught his attention and made him look around again. Noticing a person walking toward him from the silver mist, his instincts took over; Harry reached for his wand, ready to cast a swift disarming charm and protego – only to find it missing from its usual pocket on the inside of his outer robe. Starting to panic as he frantically searched for his wand, Harry jumped as the person spoke, grabbing his attention – he was sure that the figure had been further away from him.

"It's not there, Harry."

Looking at the person in front of him now rather than at his plain white surroundings, Harry did his best to take in every detail, looking for any sign of danger or threat. Unable to identify if the person was male or female Harry keeps his eyes on its arms, crossed in front of its stomach providing easy access to a weapon, hands covered by the sleeves of the white robe it was wearing, hood pulled up to obscure its face. He was even unable to use the voice of the other person to at least identify their gender, as it sounded both muffled yet crystal clear at the same time. He was so worried about spotting any sign of danger that when the person spoke again Harry jumped in surprise once more.

"You have nothing to fear young Harry. I am here to help you. A guide so to speak."

Frowning at the person in front of him, Harry finally decided to respond.

"It's hard to trust someone who goes to such great effort to hide who they are."

A laugh that sounded like it was coming from the void itself was the only response Harry got for a few moments. The figure shook its head and finally moved, making Harry tense up, ready to run if it came to it. The figure's hands looked strong yet capable of moving with grace and speed, long thin fingers gripped the hood and slowly pulled it back to reveal a woman's face, her skin pale, a stark contrast to the deep black hair pulled back into a loose braid that ran down into the back of her robe. Her eyes caught most of his attention though, if they could be called eyes. Two black pools where her eyes should be, drawing him into their endless depths and making him want to turn and run at the same time. Noting that even at his height of 5'7" he had at least 3 inches on her made him smirk internally.

"Is that better Harry? Do you recognize me now?"

There was no response as Harry simply stood there in shock, memories flooding through him, her words like a trigger that broke the seal on his memories. He groaned as he realized that while he hadn't continued to make the same mistakes, he had made new ones that had the same results, his death well before it should have happened. Shaking his head, Harry looks back up at the woman and gives her an apologetic smile.

"I failed again, I'm sorry Athalia. I promise I'm not trying to get you fired."

His comment about not trying to get her fired made her laugh. Athalia shook her head and folded her arms over her chest, looking up at Harry. Sighing internally she taps a finger against her arm; this was his fifth death under her alone. There were 2 others that had been assigned to him, but with 9 deaths under each of them, it was decided that the case would be given to her. Remembering their conversation from his last visit Athalia smiled, things were going to get more interesting for him.

"Okay, I really don't like that smile. It means nothing good for me when you smile like that."

"Oh really Harry? I was just thinking of putting you through a round of training with Zarcon. You remember him right?"

Harry's face went pale as the name rang every warning bell he had and even some he didn't know he had. A shudder ran down his spine. This was a threat used often by Athalia during his visits and after his curiosity got the better of him, he asked why it was so bad to be trained by Zarcon. The only response Harry got was a window opening up to show a man sitting in the corner of an empty room, his grey eyes blank as he muttered softly to himself, pushing further away from the imagined snakes and spiders crawling on him. Athalia said that the man was the latest student of Zarcon, who had just been removed from an assignment to rid him of fear after 10 years of enduring said assignment. Harry never wanted to meet someone less.

"No! I'm sorry, please don't. I don't think the guy you showed me recovered yet has he?"

With a grin that was far more predatory then it should be Athalia just shook her head. She had shown Harry that man on his first visit and they were still trying to get him to speak to other people.

"Then you'll appreciate this suggestion more. We'll have to get you to sign a few forms but given all the trouble we've had with you I don't think we'll have any trouble getting this approved."

Snapping her fingers a simple oak desk appeared with two matching chairs on either side. A single folder was sitting on the desktop, already open as Athalia sat at the desk, motioning for Harry to join her. After Harry joined her, Athalia separated a few sheets and looked them over before speaking.

"Now, all joking aside Harry, with all the trouble you're having it's clear that in order for you to succeed you're going to need some help. These forms will authorize me to allow you to keep your memories, knowledge and magical abilities in tact when you return to life this time, as well as a few other benefits. We'll also be sending you back to one of your previous death points instead of sending you back to your birth. We have also pulled a few more strings and as a result I'm allowed to tell you a few more details in regards to what you need to get done down there."

Nodding grimly Harry sighed, running a hand over his face as he thought about all the failures he'd had. Suddenly he looked at Athalia and knew he had to ask this time.

"Athalia, while we're waiting for this to be approved would it be okay to see my parents?"

Athalia stopped writing instantly as her head shot up to look at Harry. Leaning back in her chair Athalia considered his question; it would take a few moments for the paperwork to be approved and they would have more than enough time to allow Harry a visit with his parents. Sighing softly Athalia smiled at Harry.

"You never ask for anything small do you Harry? It shouldn't be a problem though. We'll have a bit of time while we wait for these forms to be given the okay. We'll have to go over a few things first but it shouldn't be an issue, so let's get through this as quick as we can."

Smiling gratefully at Athalia, Harry nodded and leaned forward eager to get through the forms so he could finally see his parents, a tear forming in his bright green eyes, threatening to fall as he tried keep his mind from thinking of all the things he's missed doing with the two of them. Distracting himself as much as he could, he snorted a little. "I can't believe death involves so much paperwork. There's all us mortals thinking you just…die." To his horror, his uncontrollable laughter didn't help the tears forming. Luckily for him once Athalia got done signing things she kept his mind completely occupied.

"Alright Harry, I've already explained some of this but we need to go a little more in depth as to what you need to get done and what you'll need. First thing, since you've never been allowed to know before now, you have 2 soul mates Harry, meeting and establishing the bond with both of them as early as you can is essential to giving you the best chance you'll have to succeed. I'm only allowed to tell you about one right now but I will be able to tell you when you're about to meet your second who she is."

Stopping to look at Harry, Athalia had to bite her bottom lip to stop herself from laughing at the expression on Harry's face, all of the slight agitation she had been feeling long gone through their teasing. Shuffling through papers Athalia grumbled about her own disorganization as she tried find the paper she needed.

"Once I find the right paper I'll be able to tell you her full name, I glanced at this before, some Granger girl I think..."

Anything else that would've been said was cut off as Athalia's words finally cut through the haze of shock that had settled in Harry's mind after finding out he had not one but two soul mates. He'd remembered reading that one was rare enough but two was unheard-of.

"Hermione! You're telling me that I've been best friends with one of my soul mates and I never even noticed?"

Athalia's only response at first was to raise an eyebrow before smirking softly, glad that he wasn't able hear the hysterical laughter in her head.

'If this is how he reacts to this I won't be able to stop myself from laughing out loud, if only he knew that this is just the tip of the iceberg.'

Shaking her head Athalia sighed again to compose herself as she looked at her still stunned client.

"If that shocked you Harry, get ready because once I tell you why you didn't notice you're going to faint."

Watching him closely, Athalia saw what little colour Harry got back drain from his face at her words and smiled at his gesture, telling her to get on with it.

"We've been watching you this last run through Harry, quite closely. What we've found made us look through your other past lives. What we found shocked even us. The reason you haven't been able the initiate your bond with Hermione, is because of a certain few people putting potions in your food and drinks. Before I tell you who, you need to know that this behaviour is because of only a few. Molly was getting Ron to put potions in your drinks to keep you and Hermione apart; she was set on you and Hermione marrying into her family. Her methods leave something to be desired but her intentions were not malicious Harry. Molly wanted you to be happy, thinking you would be happiest with her children, unfortunately her efforts are a large part of the reasons why you've failed."

Leaning back in her chair once again, Athalia decided to wait before continuing. The look of shock on Harry's face was immense. She doubted anything she could've said would've been heard let alone understood by him at this point. It was several minutes later when Harry swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded for her to continue.

"I can't imagine how hard this is but I want you to remember one thing Harry, Molly was not trying to harm you, she wouldn't even have attempted to do this if it wasn't for Ron. When he saw you and Hermione getting close, he couldn't stand it. He'd wanted Hermione for himself but in true Ron Weasley fashion, thought it should be handed to him. We're not sure why, but Ron is more of a pureblood bigot than the Malfoys are, he just hides it a little better in most cases."

Giving Harry another few moments to digest these latest facts thrown at him that turned everything he knew on its head, Athalia started digging for a few more papers in the stack sitting in the folder. Pulling them out when she finally found them, Athalia quickly shuffled through them to check and make sure she had some of the details right before putting them aside.

"Now, we need to move on to your school work. There's a reason why you haven't been doing that well in classes, when you arrived at the Dursley's Dumbledore placed a binding on your magical core that had two purposes. The first was to strengthen it; this binding was meant to limit your magical reserves while simultaneously increasing your core capacity by using the ambient magic from the wards he placed around house to augment your core. The second was to keep the amount of accidental magic to a minimum. Unfortunately because he didn't know about the Horcruxes Riddle made until your second year and didn't suspect you were one until your sixth, he couldn't have known that the part of Riddle's soul in your scar would interfere with not only the binding but the wards as well. The binding should've dissipated by the time you got your letter for Hogwarts, but because of the interference, it's still active. The plus side is you're immensely powerful, much more than either Dumbledore or Riddle, once you're able to use those reserves that is. The downside is, that's what has been affecting your body so negatively. Your eyesight shouldn't be even half as bad as it currently is and your body should be easily able to recover from the malnutrition and scarring from your relatives. Speaking of your relatives, the connection between the wards and your binding and thus the Horcrux and your binding is also why you were treated as you were. Your relatives don't hate you Harry, the Horcrux was using its connection to the wards to make her, your uncle and cousin hate you."

Athalia watched as Harry's eyes widened at this revelation. He wasn't hated by his relatives – this was a new perspective completely. With all the research he had done on Horcruxes Harry never knew that the one in his scar was affecting his life in so many ways. Looking up at Athalia, Harry nodded and after a few seconds he spoke, already dreading her answer.

"What can be done to fix this Athalia? Is there a way we can remove it and change how I've been treated?"

"That's a bit of a difficult question to answer Harry, first we need to decide when you'll be going back. There's a few moments that are perfect for us send you back to, but regardless of when we send you back we have to send you back with the Horcrux intact, it can be removed but you'll need to see the Goblins and get their help. You can get their help removing the Horcruxes from all of the items without destroying them as well. Unfortunately, Harry, the effects of the Horcrux will be only weakened for your relatives, they'll need medical attention to fully recover from the effects but they'll be more willing to do so once the Horcrux isn't effecting them."

Nodding to Athalia and running a hand through his hair, Harry took a few seconds to think about some things before asking his next question.

"What are my options for when I return?"

Once again reaching for her file, Athalia opened it and pulled 3 papers out if it and looked them over, noting the dates and laying them next to the folder.

"You have 3 options Harry, all on your birthday, before your first, third, and fourth years. The only reason why we can do these three days is you've died on all three while I've been your death. These are your best options, the other two will be too late to make the changes you need to."

Crossing his arms over his stomach, Harry leaned back in his chair, considering his options and what he wanted to change about this run-through. Resting his closed fist against his chin Harry was so focused on when to go back, he didn't see Athalia's smirk. Half proud that she was able help guide Harry to be the person he is now and half glad that her surprise for Harry had arrived. Harry continued deliberating for another few minutes, before looking up at Athalia.

"I think third year would be best, I can write Professor McGonagall and change my subjects around, I won't be taking Divination this time around. It's time for me to take Ancient Runes and Arithmancy this time. I'm sure my mom would be very happy to hear me say that."

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear that you're taking your studies more seriously."

Harry's eyes widened and he stood slowly at hearing a third voice in the room with them, that voice had haunted and sustained him in some of the toughest moments in his many lives. Turning with tears threatening to fall from his eyes, Harry was finally able to see why people said he had his mother's eyes, it was almost disconcerting to see eyes that matched his own exactly staring back at him and Harry couldn't help noticing the tears in her eyes as well. Deep crimson hair flowed down her back, and Harry failed to prevent a wide smile spreading over his face as he saw his father's arms wrapped around her, even in death they were inseparable. Looking over his father Harry had to admit, aside from his eyes he was a carbon copy of his father - their hair was even identical in its messiness. Finally able to pull himself together, Harry walked forward and for the first time in his memory, hugged both of his parents tightly, tears finally spilling from his eyes as his forehead rested against his mother's shoulder. He felt his father's arms wrap around both him and his mother and his smile widened impossibly as he felt the warmth that was the love from his parents. He knew that this time he would succeed, not just for himself, not just for Hermione and not just for the rest of the magical Britain, but for his parents as well. He would make them proud.

Failure was no longer an option for him.