Death's Avenger Prologue In Transit

When Harry Potter awoke, he was once again slightly confused and couldn't help wondering whether or not it would be for the final time that night. The last thing he remembered was catching the Elder Wand, and Voldemort's shrivelled corpse hitting the ground. Given the amount of magical energy their final duel had called up, it was not inconceivable he'd been thrown back and knocked out; but surely then he'd be revived with a simple Enervate while still in the entrance hall, and not lying on a bed. A rather comfortable bed at that.

Keeping his eyes closed to maintain the illusion of unconsciousness in case of unfriendly watchers, Harry pondered whether his friends were letting him sleep (possible); the remaining Death-Eaters had seized him (less likely); or some other faction had intervened. With the lack of vision, he was reduced to having to try to take in the sounds of his surrounding to hazard whether or not he was in immediate danger. All he could hear was the sound of his own breathing; beyond that, nothing. Just unnatural silence.

When he realised listening would not provide enough information, he slowly cracked open an eye.

The first thing he did was suppress a wince as he was assaulted by the bright light of the room he was in. Blinking rapidly, he gradually became accustomed and finally took in his surroundings. Initially he registered a lack of colour in the room; everything was white, from the floor to the ceiling, even in rumpled bed sheets he lay on. The only light came from a single source in the ceiling - no windows, just artificial light. Harry tried to digest where exactly he was – a hospital of some sort? It was implied in the setting of the room, with the sterile smell all healing environments seemed to have. He slowly sat up, pressing his back against the wall to support himself, deep in thought.

So, a hospital was the where; now to figure out the how. He noticed for the first time the plain white nightwear he was clad in. Combined with the electric light, it confirmed hospital – muggle hospital at that. Why he would be in one of these, considering the vast disdain most wizard felt at the mere suggestion of muggle medicine, he had no idea.

'What the hell am I going to do?' Harry knew the first thing he had to do was find out exactly where he was and how to contact the Order. At that moment he realised he didn't have the one possession he most needed – a wand; not the Elder Wand, not Draco's hawthorn, not even his sadly broken holly. Sighing with defeat, Harry swung his legs out of bed, rising to his feet, stumbling a little before making his way over to the door. Quickly pressing his ear to the cold metal door, he once again tried to make out any sounds outside, the locked door making it feel like a cell.

At last he heard the very faint sound of footsteps, along with a squeaking of wheels reminiscent of the Hogwarts Express food trolley. Panic filled his chest as he made a mad dash back to the small bed in the corner, lying down and shutting his eyes. The sounds became louder until he could tell the person (whoever it was) had stopped right outside the door. The jingling of keys acted as warning before the door was flung open. There was a slight pause before the person entered, trolley seemingly forgotten, footsteps coming closer and closer.

Harry fought to stay as still as possible, fear and panic making him want to escape, and mastering it.

"Harry Potter…" Harry resisted the shiver creeping down his back at the sound of his name, made into a mysterious whisper, and did not respond. "I know you aren't asleep, Harry. Sit up so I can speak to you." The female voice (accent unidentifiable) sounded slightly frustrated at his lack of immediate acknowledgement.

Slowly, fear making him a little shaky, he sat up, eyes opening to view the nurse before him.

The nurse's uniform was not like the scrubs Harry had seen on TV at the Dursleys', but an old-fashioned white dress that reached her knees, showing off a perfect hourglass figure. Her hair was a cascade of rich mahogany curls highlighting ivory skin. Her cheeks were accented by one small freckle, her lips the colour of fresh blood on snow. But her eyes were most striking; pure black, from lid to lid. Not human.

She was mystery and seduction in female form.

"Who are you?" Harry asked, finally finding his voice, shifting slightly under the watchful stare.

"You could say I'm a close friend, Harry. We have known each other for a long time, maybe not in the sense most know each other, but I touched you at a young age. Let's just say that leaves an impression." As she spoke, her lips curled into a not-terribly-reassuring smile.

"You never answered; who are you?" His fear slowly turned to frustration as the woman's smile became condescending. "Where am I? What is this place? Please, I need to leave, I need to find my friends!" He found himself shouting, internally pleading for her to give him his answers.

"Who I am can wait. All you need to know right now is that you can consider yourself safe," she stated, taking a few steps towards him, dark eyes staring hungrily at his form.

"I haven't got time for this! My friends could still be in danger. Help me get out, please!" No way all the Death-Eaters would give up easily.

"You don't have to worry about your friends, Harry. They're gone." There was no change in her tone, as though the loss of all Harry loved most was no different to the weather.

Denial was the first emotion, followed by utter disbelief. Ron and Hermione couldn't be dead. This had to be some sort of ploy. He sprang forwards, trying to escape.

But before he managed two steps, he was thrown back onto the bed, pinned by an invisible force.

"Now that wasn't very nice, Harry. Here we were, having a nice conversation, and you ruin it by running." She carded her fingers through his hair, ignoring his heated glare when he couldn't squirm away. "Don't be angry, Harry. No-one survived the war. Well, no one was alive for the war." Harry stared uncomprehending as the nurse sat on the edge of the bed, watching. "You see, this is a different world. There's no Voldemort, no Death-Eaters. But nor is there Dumbledore, or Ron, or Hermione. The world you knew no longer exists."

Harry didn't understand at all what she was talking about. How can they not exist?

"I can tell you're confused, but you don't have to accept it yet. You just need to know. The rules of life and death were bent too much. My sister Order put her foot down. The others agreed. Brother Time helped me stall. I was able to rescue you before the entity Galactus destroyed your world. You were the only one I could retrieve. Can you think why that is?"

It was almost more than he could take. Trying to stave off the near insanity from being told what he'd lost, he focused on the question. What could have saved him this time? No get-out-of-death-free blood protection this time... "The Deathly Hallows," he breathed at last.

"Yes, the Hallows. Well done, Harry." Her praise sounded almost genuine. "The Wand, Stone, and Cloak. You mastered all three, and sealed your ownership when you took the wand. These items are the cause of your survival and presence in this world."

She rose, and returned dragging the trolley. On top were the items they'd been discussing. "This is a different world, Harry, with different rules, different residents. These saved you, allowed me to act, but if the others knew, they'd destroy you. There's so much to explain, but there's no time. I have to keep these out of anyone else's hands." She shook her head and laughed. "I should resent your very existence, but I can't help myself…"

She placed the Wand, Stone and Cloak on his chest, and pushed them into it. Pain spread throughout, and Harry slipped into unconsciousness, only just catching the last word.

"…Master."

AN: This prologue was largely written by Kyle-ZZ. From hereon in, it'll be my own work.

I hope you like it. Chapter 1 will be in a few weeks.

People who haven't read my works before: I update every Monday, and have just increased to three chapters. I mostly work on my Batman stuff, and have added a new rotation of a number of my other works.

Regular readers of my stuff: Also this week, Flashback and Black and Red. Next week, LBV, Flashback and the first chapter of a Harry Potter/Rise of teh Guardians fic: The Rise of Harry Potter.

Please review, first-timers and experienced readers.

Katara