Hey everyone,
This is the first chapter of another HP-MLP story that has been in my mind for quite some time now and while this will have really lengthy chapters at first, do I not really know what will happen to the chapters once I get past the core reason I wanted to write this story in the first place. Still, regardless of the dark title, I want to say one thing.
This WILL be fun,
Venquine1990
PS. If you want to see more chapters, VOTE THE POLL!
Chaos and Death
Chapter 01
Discord, Death and Fate
9th of June 1998
Ministry for Magic
Harry Potter's OV
"Excuse me, Lord Potter, but this is an official Wizengamot Meeting." Kingsley Shacklebolt, the man that works for the Order of the Phoenix and who has taken on the role of Deputy Minister for Magic until official elections can be held tells me as I guide my friends, their families and the Heads of House inside and I say:
"But – we were invited." And I show him the roll of parchment that arrived earlier this morning and that told me to take all of House Weasley – or what was left after Fred's death at the Final Battle – Hermione, Luna, Neville and Augusta Longbottom and Andromeda Tonks here as Professors Sprout, Flitwick, Slughorn and McGonagall.
"But – that doesn't make sense. This is an official meeting. Your ceremony isn't until next Saturday." A woman who sits at Kingsley's right says and then a powerful, omnipresent voice that, for some strange reason feels oddly familiar to something deep inside me says: "Perhaps I can clear up all of this confusion."
And the being that appears in front of us all has me draw my wand instantly. The head of a goat with two very different horns – one an antler the other blue colored and bend backwards – who has the body of a snake, but then with brown fur and who has a dragon's tail with a tuft at the end and both different front and hind legs.
The front legs are actually a claw like that of an eagle and the paw of a feline, while the legs are divided between a dragon's leg and the hoof of a goat or a horse. And to top it all off does the being have yellow eyes with red pupils, one wing shaped like that of a bat and one made of blue feathers that are the color of the sky.
The being looks at me and says: "Oh there is no need for that, Harry. Here, just read this." And while I wonder how this beast knows me – other than my fame – does he snap his fingers and actually make a book appear in front of me. But because of everything that happened in the last year, do I not touch or grab the book.
Instead of that do I run my wand over it, casting every detection spell I have learned this past year and while the results leave a strangely familiar pleasant feeling behind, do I still send the being a cautious glance before taking the book from where his magic seems to keep it afloat. Yet the title of the page seems to explain it all.
"The Potter Guardian Summoning ritual. A guardian of immense, indiscernible power that ranges to levels no sane or insane witch or wizard can ever imagine. Able to bend the very fabric of time to his will. To be summoned if the Potter line believes the future of their line in either danger or – at the worst – mortal peril.
Preferred method of summoning: set up a bowl of black and white checkered gems – the checkered pattern being indiscernible and chaotic if possible – and summon a cloud of cotton candy that drips chocolate milk. Please note that Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfigurations does not apply to either cotton candy or chocolate milk.
Non-preferred method (only to be used in case of line being in mortal peril – Sacrifice life while mentally proving that a certain law or form of magic makes no sense and focusing on the desire to see said line protected. Please note that this form of summoning comes with a severe set of limitations to the guardian."
By now I look up and the being shrugs as he says: "Not my fault some idiot decided to close off the mines that produce those very gems shortly before the last millennium change. I know they would have preferred that method, but – alas." And I nod, knowing he means my parents and the fact that they died to save me.
"So wait, you've been with Harry this entire time? Why haven't you done anything then?" Ron asks and I know he means saving Fred's life more than anything else. The being sighs and says: "The Potters got forced to put laws and limitations onto me as the years progressed. Read rule #173. Yeah, I've been around that long."
And while I am amazed that my family has existed long enough to create almost 200 rules that they were apparently forced to put onto this being, do I look through the book for a few seconds. And when I read the rule he means, do I actually curse, shocking those behind me and I read: "Get a load of this." And I angrily read.
Rule #173: If the time a Potter spends in his youth is in the Muggle world more than the Magical one, the Guardian is to keep himself invisible and only use enough of his magic to keep the Potter as healthy as his Muggle guardians desire. The same applies if summers between Hogwarts years are more Muggle than Magical."
"But that doesn't make sense. Harry only spend two weeks of his summer at the Muggles before his Sixth. So why haven't you been doing anything since then?" Hermione asks and the being answers: "I'll explain that in a bit. Read Rule #180 now. It is connected to my explanation." At which I nod, search it out and read.
"Rule #180. This rule is in favor of ill fate and can be considered a sister rule to Rule #173. However, this rule can only be applied under specific circumstances. If the guardian is, over the course of five years or longer, forced to be invisible, only an act similar to the act of summoning can break Rule #173.
If so the guardian is allowed to do whatever it pleases to improve any and every aspect of the Potter's life, as long as this stays in respect of the Potter's desires and preferences." Yet this only further confuses me and I say: "But, if that's true, then – shouldn't you have been able to turn visible after the Graveyard?"
But the being shakes his head and says: "Sacrificial Death is a very, very fickle thing. You weren't on Cedric's mind at all when he was questioning that little rat. Therefore, his death was an unfortunate and unnecessary one – in his honor, I mean, not otherwise – but not a sacrificial one. Sirius' death on the other hand –."
The being says and Hermione shrieks: "That's right. Sirius was only at the Ministry to see Harry safe. He was all Sirius thought about! Surely –.""Yes, his death did count. In fact." The being interrupts her, only to snap his clawed fingers again and this time he causes for a rift in the air to appear, which leads into a strange looking living room.
And to my utter shock and amazement, do I actually see him sitting there. Sirius, looking healthier than I have ever seen him, sitting on a chair that is made of nothing but clouds and apparently not bothered by it as he reads some kind of book. The man looks up and his grey-blue eyes lock with mine instantly, causing them to shine.
"I see it's finally time then. Took long enough." The man says and instantly I ask: "What is he talking about?" And because I read a little bit of the other rules as well, do I know I can order the being in front of me around if I must. The being smiles and says: "Just that we have both been waiting for this for some time now."
"Why?" I ask, not able to grasp onto any of this as the facts just don't add up and then a voice that actually takes all the happiness I felt over seeing Sirius alive – or what looks to be alive – away with only the sound of the first word says: "Because I knew having Discord change things for you then would not lead to good results."
And a being I was actually expecting to meet after getting struck by the Killing Curse appears next to the being – which I now realize is called Discord. The apparition is everything I ever expected death to be like and yet, for reasons I can't quite understand, I can only recognize him as something I would envision Death to be like.
"That's weird, why can't I get a clear vision, a clear description of the guy?" I think to myself, only to get shocked and terrified as the being seems to read my mind and says: "When you have spent your time as an immortal being as long as I have, you gather so many forms over the years, your body becomes incomplete.
I am no more a being than I am a belief. Therefore, I no longer have a clear definition of being, only a form of power that gives me a physical form. One that can represent whatever each individual thinks of when they think of my being and my purpose in this plane of existence. It is a curse that all immortals deal with – or most of them."
Here the being looks at Discord and says: "Not my fault this is what most people think of when they think of Chaos." Yet Death seems undisturbed and says: "There is something you should know, Harry Potter. Ever since your ancestor gained my respect, your family has suffered from a terrible curse, as well as a wondrous blessing."
This makes me want to reach inside my pocket for my Invisibility Cloak – which I only this year found out was a legendary item – but I refrain myself and the apparition says: "If ever a Potter is loved by Fate, he is hated by me. If ever a Potter earns my respect or favor, Fate will do what it can to make that Potter miserable."
And instantly I get why my whole life has been what it was. The prophesy, Pettigrew betraying my parents, my youth at the Dursleys, the crazy and perilous adventures at Hogwarts, how hard it was to trek through England in a tent and even all that I lost in that one Final Battle only a week ago. Finally it all makes sense.
"You favor me, don't you?" I ask and Death nods as he says: "Unfortunately, Fate seems to have taken an even greater dislike of you than she has done with any of your other ancestors that proved their worth. Which is why your emotions are so much stronger when it comes to terrible events and why danger follows you everywhere.
I have been able to keep you safe from the worst of harm for most of your years, if it were up to Fate, you would have died by Dursley's hand at your second birthday, but I had to force you to watch all those deaths, it was the only way to execute a plan I knew could break her hold over you and your future at long last.
Which is why, when Discord managed to capture Sirius into his own realm after he fell through my doorway, I told him I wouldn't accept Bella for Sirius. I wanted to, but Fate had already told me what she would do if I let that happen. So instead, I instigated a different plan and made a reluctant deal with Discord here."
Yet by now I am only confused about one last thing and I ask: "Sorry to interrupt, but – doorway?" And the being actually sighs as Discord smirks and says: "Exactly 832 years ago now, in 1166, there was this horrible illness that was spreading all over America. However, Death here thought it would mean the end of all humanity.
And so, he planted the Veil here in England – don't ask, I still don't get that – and had an acolyte of his put a special little spell on it. The more humanity kept dying – the longer the space between the Veil and his realm would keep growing. Well, take the last 800 and then some years, all of its wars and well –."
And here Discord snaps his fingers, causing for a line of mystical looking energy to appear before it thickens and starts to expand in length, yet while it turns itself on its axis as it does so and while it passes through me after a while, do I still keep my sight and do I look shocked as I see the magical hallway extend all throughout the room.
"That's about a quarter or so of the hallway right now." Discord says and all our mouths drop before Discord makes the hallway disappear and says: "So naturally, an ethereal hallway like that, which exists outside of your plane of existence, doesn't have much choice other than to link itself to other dimensions over time.
And mine was no exception, as you can see." At this Discord motions for the doorway through which I can see Sirius wave at us, apparently perfectly fine with all this before Discord says: "And before you say anything, one bad teacher does not represent a thousand years of existence and facts recorded by more worthy authors now, does it?"
And I see him looking at Hermione, who had looked cross with the notion of other worlds and dimensions, yet seems to relent to this knowledge before Death sighs and says: "We need to hurry. I know you can't sense it, Harry, Discord, but that ethereal bitch has already struck. She's already left her mark on all this."
This shocks me and then an ethereal voice that actually frightens me enough I wish to seek shelter with Death snarls: "You bet your ethereal being, you undead bastard." And a being that looks just as ethereal, powerful and more menacing than anything I have ever seen appears opposite of where Death and Discord stand.
"You had no right to do this, Fate. If I have a plan for my respected Potter, you are to respect me and leave it be." Death says, but Fate snarls back: "Screw the rules. You're breaking your own as we speak." But Death actually glares at her and asks: "Who was it that invented the phrase, a Life for a Life? I believe that was me."
And with this do the two start glaring at each other and while I know that most people around me are terrified of what Death must be looking like to them, do I feel more scared of Fate instead and then I gulp, gather my Gryffindor courage and ask: "So um, how – how did things chance?" And I cringe as Fate glares at me.
"I may not be able to stop you from getting all the happiness that undead beast wants you to have, but considering how much he respects you, letting you into his realm is the least he can do. Otherwise, you will never see your parents – or him – again." And to my utter horror, does she actually motion for Sirius as she says this.
The man himself whitens and says: "Hey, I have Divine protection." Yet the fact that Fate scoffs at this makes both of us whiten and I think: "I can't lose him. Not again. Not ever again." And while Death growls: "I will never allow him entrance to my realm." Does Fate smirk, actually looking even scarier and says:
"Only better. Then he can dwell in the in-between and out of that dumb brat's reach for all eternity." Yet before she can actually follow in Discord's footsteps and snap her fingers, do I shout: "WAIT!" And the being glares at me, obviously furious that I would dare to interrupt her, but I have thought up a plan and so I ask:
"How about a deal?" And while the entire room is now as silent as the being that stands opposite of Fate, does the being scoff and ask: "You think you can make a deal with me?" And I move over to her, reaching into my inner pocket and sending a quick, beseeching look at Discord as I pull a long, silvery fabric out of my pocket.
The being seems to get what I want and snaps his fingers, causing for me to feel to other objects land in my first as I pull out my old and trusted invisibility cloak. I put the other two in my other hand, one being a wand made of elder wood and the other being a small, simple rock with strange carvings and hold them all up as I say:
"These three – for my parents and Sirius." And Death seems to look shocked, Discord apparently has trouble holding back some kind of emotion and Ron and Hermione, who know what the items are and what they mean to me, gasp in astonishment as the Deity looks from the items to me and then scoffs: "You're joking."
Yet I look at her impatiently and ask: "Do we have a deal or not?" Causing for her to glare at me again before she snarks: "Fine, but they are not to come back until the plan has been fully completed." And while I don't know what this plan entails exactly, do I just hide my glee behind a look and nod of acceptance at the being.
The deity then snaps her fingers and I feel her magic practically burning me, yet I hold back on a hiss of pain as the magic causes for the items to vanish from my grasp and Fate sneers: "Stupid boy." Before she vanishes. I then look at Discord, who smirks and voices my exact thoughts as he mutters: "Incompetent Deity."
And everyone looks at him as Death smirks and says: "She obviously hates Harry so much, she doesn't even realize she just fell right into his trap. She thinks she took him something valuable, but she failed to realize that Harry would sacrifice those and other objects to anyone with the power to give him what he really wants."
At which I smirk at the two and then ask the question I am sure is on everyone's mind: "So, what is this plan you three keep talking about?" And instantly every eye is on the two deities in the room and Death smirks as he says: "Like I said, I created the saying A Life for a Life, so I could make a rule for my realm out of it.
And that is exactly what will happen right here in this hall and why the ceiling of this room has been changed. Or has no one here noticed that yet." Yet because my attention has been on things happening at the ground, did I indeed not notice that the ceiling had been changed from the last time I had gone here, little under a year ago.
We all look up and I notice that the circular vaulted ceiling with flowers at the base of every panel has been replaced for a stone and concrete made plate that covers the entire ceiling, yet for some reason does the ceiling look to be much closer to us all and then I spot it. a strange ring, made of metal, in the very center of the ceiling.
"What – what is up there?" A witch in the audience asks and Discord smirks as he answers: "Five thousand six hundred witches and wizards that have, at one point in time, actively supported that murderous monster you have tried to stop and destroy throughout the last two wars, ready and awaiting their sentence."
This shocks us all and Hermione asks: "How did you get them all in there?" To which Discord snickers: "Chaos magic, how else?" At which I send Hermione a look that says: "I don't think you should question this." And the girl nods before Kingsley asks: "But – what do they have to do with Death and his rule?"
And the being in question waves his hand over the floor, causing for a circular portal made of deadly smoke to appear out of the ground and he says: "This portal leads two ways. Either to my realm or a closed off section of Discord's dimension. And that is where these men and women will be send upon their sentence."
And as he says this, do I realize what is actually going on here as I gasp: "And – and for – for every condemned soul that – that gets sentenced – you – you – you –." And the two beings nod as Discord says: "We will bring back one of the five thousand five hundred and fifty souls lost to their and his terrible schemes and acts."
And shock, amazement and disbelief rings through both me and the entire hall, but then a witch at the back asks: "But wouldn't that leave 50 souls stuck up there?" And Death shrugs as he says: "Those will probably either be deadly enough to deserve death or have enough troublesome characters to require some redemption practice."
"Which is why there is also a portal to my Dimension. You see, here's how things are going to go. One by one, my magic will allow those Follow-Losers – as I like to call them – down here where I will state their absolute worst crimes. You of the Wizengamot then vote if they deserve either the Death or the Redemption sentence.
I send them to either one and if they get send to the latter, they will go through trials that will make them see the error of their ways and teach them how to ensure they never make these mistakes again. However, if afterwards they return here and then go in the wrong again –." And here Discord turns to Death, who growls:
"It means a one way trip to my realm." Shocking and scaring many of those in the room before Molly Weasley asks: "Is that really fair?"' And yet Death turns to her and states: "I am not Dumbledore. I give mortals one chance at redemption, no more. I will not let them believe they can walk all over me by getting infinite chances."
And while the woman is obviously scared, does she nod to prove that she understands where Death comes from before the being turns to Discord and says: "I've made sure to adept Fate's little rule a little. Those two will still be in the last five, but there will be two who will be after them, two who deserve their ire."
And while I wonder who this is, does Discord seem to know as he nods and says: "Thanks for your help and for not giving into me back then. I got things from here." And Death nods before he leaves, actually causing for a little bit of light to return to the already darkened room and causing some people to gasp and sigh in relief.
Discord then turns to Kingsley and snaps his fingers, causing for two small boards to appear just behind the Deputy Minister on both of his sides and Discord says: "Those boards will tally how many votes each sentence gets and whether or not it will be in the favor of Death or Redemption. Now, is everyone ready?"
And while a couple of witches and wizards share looks with each other that prove they still have trouble believing all that they just saw, do I see the Minister himself nod at the being of Chaos and Discord smirks at this as he says: "Then let the trials begin." And as he snaps his fingers, do I prepare myself for this great new adventure.
You're going to love it.
So what do you think of this first episode? I know it's not as long as you probably expected, but I intend to make the future chapters a whole lot longer. After all, I might not cover all 5600 criminals, but I do intend to cover as many as possible. Also yes, the severity of their crimes is why this is an M-Rated story.
Next chapter; Death decides to have the trials start off strong and bring out someone who has been causing nothing but horrible trouble and pain and who is a thorn in the existence of many honorable and caring people. Also, the first returned is a complete stranger to Harry, but also a victim of this no-good witch.
Hope you're excited,
Venquine1990
PS. If you enjoyed this preview over Dragons And Morals, let me know by voting the poll.
