(A/n: I am planning on maybe two or three chapters of interactions between the first master and Harry, The first master and Death, and possibly small snippets of the daily tasks of the Master of Death, depending on the feedback received. Enjoy!)
I was not surprised that it was a boy who sat in front of me. He could be no older than twenty, with hair darker than night and eyes as green as the grass around us. A thought crossed my mind. I did not think we were that different, he and I.
"Where are we?" He asked, moving his arm in a sweeping gesture to the tall tree and flowery fields around us.
"Well, it doesn't have a name," I told him, smiling gently and running my hand through the grass I sat in, "But it is awfully beautiful isn't it?" He nodded once, staring out across the natural expanse.
"Is it magic?" He asked, reaching out to touch the ancient tree, and I knew he could feel the buzz and hear the hum that danced around us.
"You could call it magic, If you wanted," I said, letting the buzz move through me, "But what you feel, hear, sense; it is life."
"This place, I continued, "is filled with it. New things always growing, blooming flowers, sprouting plants, birds hatching. Brimming with life and breathe." I laughed slightly, "Some would think it odd that a master of Death finds solace here."
"You are the Master of Death?" He asked, turning as if to survey me closer, eyes dragging across my form.
"For now." I stated simply, watching him.
"You want to pass the title on to me." It wasn't a question but a quiet, resigned statement.
I frowned slightly, not taking my eyes off of him even as he let his eyes turn back to the tree, running his fingers across the rough bark. "Only if you want it."
He laughed once without humor and sat next to the tree, running his hands through his already messy hair. I plucked a flower from the ground.
"Your name is Harry, right?" He didn't look surprised that I knew his name, but I offered explanation anyways, "Death spoke to me of you, watched over you for very long time." He looked up, but did not respond to me. "It is a very long existence, Harry Potter, to be a child of death. To be a Master of Death is so much longer."
I focused on the life moving through the flower, buzzing and dancing in my palm. Gently, I took his hand and uncurled his fingers, placing the white flower in his palm. He exhaled, staring wide eyed down at the small plant in his hand.
"It's wonderful, isn't it?" I asked him, "To feel the life surround you?"
"It's...Different." he admitted, the flower still laying in his palm. I nodded in understanding. "Do you always feel this? The...life?"
"Yes," I answered truthfully, "and there are times when it is the worst thing I have ever felt and others when it is the only thing that makes me feel whole once more."
He seemed to contemplate this. "You said I only need to take the title if I want it?" He asked, and I stared at the white petals that lay against his dark, calloused palm.
"Death is many things, but unreasonable is not one of them. They will not force anyone to take the title, for it is such a large one."
"You accepted."
"Indeed." I could feel tears pricking behind my eyes, "I was killed very young. I did not have a life, I escaped one prison only to be greeted by those with no compassion. I had been surrounded by death for most years of my life, and so when I greeted death I did so unafraid." Harry stared at me with something akin to sympathy.
"Death is compassionate, Harry, with no current master, and Hallows far separated from one another, They offered me the title. Told me what I would do, what would happen. Death was lonely, and so was I. Death has been nothing but kind to me, even as their master, Death has always been my friend."
"You seem very brave to me." he said, dropping the flower to place a hand on my shoulder.
"That is a very big statement from a man like you Harry Potter." I smiled as much as I could manage.
"A master of Death cannot be killed. You will never die of natural causes or otherwise. You can travel between worlds, the realms of death and this realm, the realm of life, and you can stay in either for as long as you like, but you will never die."
"If I accept the title, what happens to you?"
"I have a choice." I told him, a gentle breeze blew the flower away from us, and I allowed my gaze to follow it. "I can choose to live as I have been, I can keep the ability to travel from realm to realm and offer you guidance or support if you so need it, still unable to be killed."
"Or?"
I was silent for a moment.
"Or I can choose to die. To live permanently in the realm of death for the rest of my existence. This gives up every right I had as Master of Death, and prevents me from ever being offered the title again."
He watched me quietly, lost in his own thoughts. For once I wished I knew what the boy in front of me was thinking of.
"Can I ask?"
"I would choose to help you. If you accepted the title, I would help you in your duties."
He pondered this for a long while, staring up at the blue sky that was slowly dimming with sunset. I was silent as the colors of the sky melted into one another, time passing as it always would.
"Were there others? Before you?"
"A few. They chose to die. There have been others that have been given the offer of the title, and each one refused me at the moment. So for now, it is only me."
"You are alone?" The surprise and sadness was evident in his voice and face, and I shook my head quickly.
"I do not believe I am ever truly alone. I can visit those who reside in the realm of death, and I can visit those in realm of the living. I also have Death. When I became lost in my past memories, Death guided me to a safe place and comforted me, listened to me until I was well again. Death made sure that I was never overwhelmed. Death, above all else has been and will always be a good friend to me."
"I am glad that you haven't been alone, then." Harry said, frowning just slightly, "I know what it's like, being alone."
I nodded my head. I didn't want to press him to tell me things I was already mostly aware of, though his opening up was a good sign. "It's not always favorable."
"When do I choose?"
"You have seven years to make a choice. If you have not decided by then you will be offered the title again at the time of your death, whenever that comes to pass."
"And I can choose now?"
I let surprise creep onto my face. "You could yes. I did not take you for someone who makes quick decisions on things so important."
"Well, I've had one hell of a life, haven't I? I've got to make decisions quick."
"Are you sure it's what you want?" I asked, I had an idea of what he was going to choose, but I had never encountered any one who choose so quickly.
"I don't think I can have a family after the war," He muttered, "It's been a few years, but I'm still on edge, I'm still watching for battles, I'm ready to run at a moment's notice. Romantic relationships, domestic life, I don't think I'm cut out for that. I don't think I ever have been."
I frowned at his statement. "Can I make you a deal, Harry Potter?"
"What sort of deal?" he asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"You take at least one year. I will visit you as many times as you like, answer the questions I am allowed to. If that year passes and you are still certain of your choice, I will let you answer."
He was silent for many minuets, chewing on his bottom lip. I looked out across the field and at the sky that was darkening around us. The life humming around us was growing louder, and I watched an owl fly overhead.
"Deal." He said, "One year. And I get to ask questions. But," he said carefully, "you never told me your name."
"Oh," I felt my face flush deeply as I realized he was right. "I change it from time to time, So if I meet the descendants of someone I once knew I can blame it on family resemblance." I muttered to him, "But I suppose my given name will do if I believe we are to grow as close as I Think. If you need me, call for Idona. I will come to you as soon as possible."
He smiled. "Alright then Idona, I'll see you rather soon."
"I have no doubt of that, Harry Potter."