Harry knew he would not walk out of the clearing alive. It was alright though, as long as the others would be safe. He would die for them.
And die he did.
Harry opened his eyes looking around, it was a strange place to him. The walls were bright white, sitting up he took a few deep breaths. Standing slowly he looked himself over, no injuries. None of the cuts and scratches he had received from the first half of the battle.
Deciding not to dwell on it he looked around again. "King's Cross Station. Except cleaner."
"Indeed it is, Harry" He turned around to see a woman with long red hair and green eyes. "It's alright my little one. I am as real as you are." Without hesitation he ran into the woman's arms.
"Mum." For what felt like the first time in his whole life Harry cried into her shoulder.
"I am here my little one." She held onto him tightly letting him cry. After what felt like a few minutes he pulled away. "My my, you do look like your father."
"Spitting image, if I do say so myself." Harry turned to see James Potter, his father, standing there tall and proud. "Shame though, his hair is as untamed as mine was as a boy." Harry launched himself at his father clinging to him, in that moment he was a scared and confused child. "It's alright Harry, everything is going to be alright."
"How?" He pulled away looking at them both. There were a million things he wanted to tell them. "I died, right?"
"Yes, you did, but we have been expecting you." Lily took his hand gently. "Know this above all else. We are proud of you. Everything you have done, and in this case, everything you will do."
"What do you mean?" Harry looked at them perplexed. "How could you be expecting me?"
"Come with us Harry." Lily lead him over to a glowing door. It has not been there when he opened his eyes. "It will be explained soon my little one." She hugged him tightly one more time. "I will see you again before this is all over. I promise."
"Off you go Prongslette." Harry looked over at his father. "I know you hated being called that. But I had to do it at least once." Ruffs up his hair. "Off you go, remember to listen to everything they say. There is only one chance Harry. Take to heart what they say to you." Harry hugged then both before opening the door.
"So, I will take Luna." Oracle sat on the same white marble throne she had in their first meeting. "that girl has potential to take my place someday, if I ever decide to return to the Void realm." The other three looked at her startled by her words. "Do not fear, I plan on staying around for a lot longer my friends."
"I have decided to use a connection I have had for centuries. The Sorting Hat created by Godric." Time laughed. "At least that way we will have a direct line to Harry if we need to." No one could argue the truth behind her idea.
"Well, I have decided on Minerva McGonagall." Time pulled a book from his pocket. "its designed to glow when its time. I plan on having it placed in therestricted section of the hogwarts library. Fate, i will need your help to get her down there." Fate nods pondering for the briefst moments how to do it. "Now, this book contains harry's first 11 years. As well as a copy of lily and james's will. It should give her the push she needs to look into his situation."
"Death dear, you have not picked someone." Oracle sat there looking at him. Stangely she was back to an aged form. "Are you having trouble deciding?"
"No, I have a list of those who would suit my needs. The most promising connection is so controled it is almost cruel." The other three Endless looked at him. For Death to call something cruel was rare."
"Lets discuss it with the boy when he comes in." Fate said putting her hand over Death's. Oracle and Time shared a look. Was something brewing between the two of them? It would require more observation.
"He is in the unending corridore." Time finally spoke hating to break up their moment. "I thought it would be best because we were still talking."
"It was a wise choice." Death stood walking to the far side of the room. Time glanced over at Fate, she nods as she stands walking over to talk with Death.
"Teasing material for later old friend?" Oracle looked over at them. It was a fitting match in her mind. One decided a person's destiny, the other decides when a soul has reached its limit.
"Of course not, after so much darkness it is only right to cling to someone." Time looked at the two Endless. "Besides, even Endless are subject to the old saying."
"Which one is that?" Oracle looked at him in wonder.
"Opposits attract." They both chuckled for a moment before a door appeared. "Its showtime, lets get this right. For all of their sakes." Time nodded to Fate and Death and the four vanished from sight.
Harry felt like he has been walking for hours, or was it days? Either way, he knew he could not stop. At the other end of the seemingly unending treck were answers, at least he hoped so. Finally a door appeared. After a few lessons with hermione and an untranslated "Tales of Beetle the Bard" he knew enough about runes to translate the carving on the door.
When the world says give up
Hope whispers
Try one more time.
Something in Harry's heart told him to take the words to heart. Reaching out to the gold door knob he took a deep breath. It's now or never. Ignoring his fears and sorrow he opened the door. A bright white light flooded around him. When the light faded off he stood in a large room. Looking around he saw shelves loaded with books all aroung him. Looking up the shelves continued higher and higher. "Hermione would have a field day in here."
"Indeed she would. Sadly no mortal has ever read a single page." Fate appeared standing behind her throne. Harry wondered why he had not noticed the table and thrones before. Battle ready the first thing he went for was his wand, only to find it was gone. Finally he looked at her. Surrounded by a golden light he could hardly see her. The figure before him seemed to laugh as the light faded away. What was left behind had to be one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. In the flickering of the light seeming to come from everywhere around them her hair glowed. She was not as blond as Luna, but it was close. Her choice of clothes had Harry at a loss.
Fate stood there in what Harry thought was a priestess outfit from Japan. Harry could briefly remember learning about it in muggle school. The red trousers and white top were tradition. "Well, what do you think?" She spun around slowly letting him see the whole outfit.
"It, um." Harry found himself at a loss for words. Fate started laughing.
"You really dont know how to talk to girls. Do you?" Harry shook his head sighing.
"Its alright young one, you will find your courage soon enough." They both turned to see an older man appear standing by the far side of the room. With his long beard and purple robes he sort of reminded Harry of Headmaster Dumbledore. But this man was older, the passing of ages was heavy in his eyes. "No need to leave the boy in suspense," the woman walked up to him looking him over a bit.
"My name is Fate, I decide a persons destiny. My aging friend here is known as the Time Keeper, I believe in the living world he is known as Father Time." Harry nods seeming to have lost all memory of how to speak.
"Come now lad," Time takes his seat on the massive hourglass. "There is much to discuss. Fate dear, where have Oracle and Death gone to now?" Fate shrugged.
"I have sent them to gather something for the child." Harry looked around trying to pinpoint the voice, it seemed to come from everywhere. "Do not try to seek me little one. Unlike my children I have no physical form. I am the very essence of Life and Magic."
"Cultures all over the living world have had various names for Him." Fate explained. "We however cal him Father." Fate lead him over to a gold and silver throne. "Sit and relax while we await the others."
"No need to wait for me." A tall cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows. Harry paniced at first fearing the figure was a dementor. Fate walked over slapping his arm.
"It's not right to scare the boy Death." Death nods slowly taking a black branch from his cloak setting it on the table. "I-Is that a-" Death nods.
"Forgive me Harry Potter, my name is Death. For a short time you had everything you needed to evade me for centuries." It took Harry a moment before he realized what Death had meant.
"The Hollows?" Death chuckled. Another figure arrived in the form of a young woman. With each step the woman took her age seemed to go in reverse.
"Hello Harry Potter. You may address me as Oracle." Death, Fate, and Oracle sat on their respective thrones. Finally Harry sat down as well.
"Do not be afraid little one. We are going to give you a gift. Each of my children has something for you." The voice spoke softly. Harry looked at each of them. "Perhaps first you should know why you have been brought to this place."
"As always Father makes a point." Death turns to Harry. "On May 2nd you died at the hands of Tom Riddle. This was not meant to happen. Your destiny was corrupted. In order to prevent all life and magic from disappearing we have decided to send you back to live your life again. You will keep your memories and your knowledge."
"You see Harry, when you died the hope of the world died with you. Voldemort took over the entire world, magical and muggle. Darkness and despair spread like wildfire, until it wiped out all life and magic." Fate heaved a heavy sigh. "Without life and magic we Endless will cease to exist."
"I see, and you believe sending me back will prevent the destruction of the entire world?" Harry was bewildered at what he had just heard.
"Yes, in a sense that is what we believe. However, we will not be sending you back unprepared as it were." Oracle finally spoke. "Each of us will not only give you a gift in this room, but in the living world as well. We have each chosen someone, or something, to help you. I have chosen Luna Lovegood. Her ability to see magic fits well with what I need to help you."
"I have chosen the Sorting Hat." Fate smiled when Harry looked at her in shock. "We have been connected since the beginning then Godric made him. He will also serve as a bridge between us should you need advice or such."
"I had always wondered how the hat knew which house a person belonged in." Harry chuckled a little. Death looked at Harry then to the others.
"I have decided to pick another who had his destiny corrupted. Severus Snape." He held up a hand when Harry went to speak. "I am not finished, this choice did not come easy for me. He will be a great help to you once I have spoken to him after our meeting here is concluded." Harry agonized over it silently for a moment before coming to the agreement that Death made a valid point.
"Minerva McGonagall is my choice. As your destined Head of House she will be able to meet with you freely. She was also very close to your parents." Harry thought back to his life at Hogwarts and all the things she had done for them. "However, in order for her to be of help to you there is a set of things that must be done first." Harry nods paying close attention, he wished for a moment that he had a way to write it all down. A muggle notbook and a pen appeared infront of him.
"Thank you." Harry said smiling.
"Your welcome. All you had to do was ask." Harry quickly wrote down everything they had talked about so far.
"Now, we have decided to send you back to your 11th Birthday. That, we believe, is the best place for you to start your journey again. This will give you a chance to avoid at least some of the corruption to your destiny." Time said faintly as he watched Harry taking notes. "Do not worry about your book after you leave here. You will find it at the book store in Diagon Alley. It will be visable only by you." Harry looked up at him, the thought of it had slipped his mind.
"Thank you." He made a few more notes before flipping the page writing down things he wanted to change.
"We have compiled a list of people you can trust." Death reached over with his scythe using it to tap the next blank page. A list of names appeared.
Hermione Granger
Luna Lovegood
Neville Longbottom
Severus Snape
Aberforth Dumbledore
Sirius Black
Minerva McGonagall
Pansy Parkinson
Daphne Greengrass
Malfoy Family
Remus Lupin
Susan Bones
Amelia Bones
Augusta Longbottom
Blaise Zabini
Tracey Davis
Tonks Family
Fred and George Weasley
Harry looked over the list nodding at a few of the names. Others name him a bit nervous. "Harry, the thing you need to know about the Malfoy family is that when Lucius was a young his father used family magic for force him to take the Dark Mark. Once he had taken the mark there was no getting out of it. It is one of the reasons we are sending you back so far."
"I understand, I think. I will do what i can to help." Harry made a quick note in the book before looking at them again. "Why is the rest of the Weasley family on here? Or Professor Dumbledore?" The four Endless looked tense.
"You see Harry, you simply can not trust them." Harry seemed deep in thought.
"I have no reason not to believe you. But I would like an explination." Death nods, rather surprised at his simple acceptance.
"That is understandable Harry. It is unfortunate that his manipulation went as far as it did. Perhaps Time should be the one to explain it." Death said seeming to pick at his scythe nervously.
"Fine. Harry, when the Prophecy was told Severus Snape only heard part of it. Albus Dumbledore heard the entire thing, keep in mind that at the time they were deep into the war. He put all of his faith into what was said that afternoon. It seemed to take over his focus." Time took a deep breath. "It did not help matters that he is completly obsessed with his own legacy he will do anything to claim a spot with the greatest wizards the world has ever known."
"I can see how that could foul his thinking. It does not explain why I should not trust him." Harry looked up at them. "For once I would like the whole truth."
"Thats exactly it Harry." Fate looked at the young man. "He knew Sirius was your godfather, he was a witness to the magical binding. He also knew that Peter was the Secret Keeper." She stands pacing around slowly. "In your parents Wills it stated that if anything happened to them there was a list of people for you to go live with. It also stated that under no circumstance were you to be given to your Aunt and Uncle. The old fool was a signed witness for that as well." Death stood to take Fate aside to calm down.
"Harry," Oracle spoke as her form regained some of its aged look. "He did that so you would grow up without magic. So when you were brought to Hogwarts you would see him as your Savior, a hero of sorts. Did you not wonder why Hagrid went to get you that night? While I admit he is a man after my own heart when it comes to large animals, but he does not fit in well in the muggle world." Harry nods a bit remembering the reactions they had gotten. "That man can not keep a secret even if you paid him. Why would Dumbledore send him to get the stone with you present? Why did he never tell you how to get onto the platform? Dumbledore's orders no doubt. Hagrid owes Dumbledore more than he wants to ever admit."
"The Chamber of Secrets. I remember that." Harry said softly to himself. It now made sense why his name was not on the list. "Now that you mention it. How did he not know about Riddle in the back of Professor Quirrll's head. The fact he was a known Death Eater should have given him some sort of warning." Harry stands moving from the table pacing around like Fate had done. "The dark artifacts wards around Hogwarts should have gone off when Ginny brought the diary."
"Now you're thinking lad. Now, keep going with second year." Time smiled as Harry kept pacing. Death and Fate moved back to the table watching them.
"The Basilisk, how could he not know? How could any of them not know? Dumbledore was there 50 years ago when the chamber was opened." He banged his fist on the throne. "Alright, I have made up my mind. I do not trust him, at all."
"Good lad. The Weasley family, aside from a select few members are not to be trusted. In another time and place Molly would be a wonderful potions mistress. But she clings to the old tradition stating that a woman's place is in the home raising the family. She brews the loyalty potions keyed to Dumbledore that Ron fed to you for years. When Ginny came into the picture she was brewing the love potions that Ginny fed to you. Ron was feeding poor Hermione love potions as well. Her poor husband is so addicted to them now that flushing them from his system could kill him. The twins however would never betray you. Percy would have been a Slytherin if it wasn't for his red hair." Oracle laughed for a brief moment before she continued. "Ron and Ginny stand to get the most from you. Ron gets the prestige of being your best friend. While Ginny gets your money. The girl has been brainwashed since she was born believing she would be your wife someday. Ron has always been jealous of you. It is a sad fact he has the one thing you wished for all of your life."
"A family. Mother, Father, and siblings." Harry said as he flopped back down onto the golden throne. "Bloody hell. I trusted them so much."
"It's going to be alright now Harry. We can fix it." Fate walked over and hugged the young man tightly. "I promise, they wont have a chance to hurt you like this again." Harry, shaking with anger relaxed into the first hug that he could remember, aside from meeting his parents when he had woken up from dying, that was not out of pity or smothering. It was a good feeling.
"Now Harry, as we said before, we have decided to send you back to your birthday, just before Hagrid enters the shack." Time ripped a paper from the muggle notebook. The paper glowed for a moment. When he handed it back to Harry it has a bunch of lettering. Fate stepped away returning to her throne. "This will be in your pocket when you wake up Harry. Be very careful not to let anyone else see it. While Hagrid is searching for your key in his pockets take it out and read it word for word. This will be the start of changing things." Harry nods, deciding against reading it now he folds it up putting it down in his pocket. "Good lad. Now, each one of us has a gift for you."
"My gift," Fate seemed to perk up. "My gift is Occlumency. The ability to shield your mind. You will have to build you own defenses, but you will have the knowledge to do so." Harry smiled knowing he would need to have the skill in order to keep the meeting a secret. "You will also be able to teach others to shield their minds as well."
"My gift is knowledge. This gift comes in two parts. The first part is an affinity for language, written or spoken. If you hear it spoken once you will know it fluently. The second part is more complex. You will be able to read a book in seconds and retain the information." Oracle smiled seeing Harry write everything down in his book.
"Harry Potter, I had a hard time deciding what your gift would be. After meeting with your Father however I came to only one choice. I am giving you an animagus form. You already have two other forms, which you have yet to discover. You will have access to this form after some meditation. It is a Shadow Wolf (1)." Harry's vibrant green eyes widen, he has always wanted to attempt the ability but never seemed to have the time.
"Harry," Time heaved a sigh. "My gift had a single rule. You can not use it to catch the snitch. Do it once and I will take the gift away from you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly." Harry wondered what the gift could be to have placed such a rule.
"I am giving you the ability to slow time. You will need to train with it in order to use it properly, but I have faith you will do well." The others looked at Time, they were completely shocked by his gift to the boy. No one had ever been given such control over the passage of time.
"I too have a gift for you little one." Harry sat up straight and tall. "Before you is a branch from the Yew tree. It is also known as the Tree of Death. From its core I created Death himself. Fate, Oracle, and Time. Pull a single hair and lay it on the branch." The three did as their Father bid pulling a hair from their head laying it on top of the branch. The branch absorbed each hair before it burst into black flames. When the flames finally died down a black wand was left behind. "Little one. This wand is my gift to you. It is my hope you will use it as a secondary. This wand will be passed to either your first born, or the one you name as your heir. When you have claimed your Lordship it will be at Potter Manor waiting for you. The wand will only work for you until the day my son claims your soul. Then it will answer to the one you name fit for it. Like any wand it requires proper care. Its power is infantile at the moment. You will train with it as you train yourself." Harry looked at the wand in total excitement.
"T-Thank you." Fate stood again hugging him once again. This time Harry put his arms around her. When she pulled away he spoke. "I will not let you, any of you, down. I must ask one thing however. If for some reason I need a boot in my arse, do not hesitate." Oracle giggled before it turned into a full laugh.
"Oh, I knew I liked this one. Of course Harry. I think I speak for all of us when I say, you did amazing things on with only half truths and lies. I think we can look forward to spectacular things with the knowledge you now have." Oracle stood walking over to him hugging him. "Remember this little one. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is in fact a sign of strength. You do not have to do this alone. Not this time."
"My children, go on now, let the boy have time with his parents. Harry, when you are ready step through this mirror to return to your 11 year old body" A large ornate mirror appeared on a blank wall. One by one the Endless faded away. Fate was the last.
"Good luck." She whispered as she finally faded away. Behind him the door he had come through opened. Lily threw herself at her son.
"Mum, please." Lily looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"My little boy. I never wanted to drag you into a war." He nods in understanding. "I have something I need you to tell my sister before you leave with Hagrid. Tell her that Brice Lawson was a wizard. And he loved her up until he died." Harry simply nods unsure of what it meant, but it seemed to be important.
"Harry," Lily let go of him letting him face his father. "I can not imagine what your feeling right now. There is something I need to tell you before you go back. Tell those two uncles of yours to find themselves proper wives, the Marauders legacy can not be just you my son." Harry smiles nodding. "Now, do you have any questions?"
"Is there anything in your Will I should know now?" Lily and James shared a look of unease. "I take that as a yes."
"You will learn about them in time Harry." James held up his hand to silence his son. "Remember that everything we did was to prepare you for your Lordship. Do not forget that."
"I love you both, and I will never forget you." Harry was trying not to cry, this was what he had wanted more than anything in the world. To be with his parents simply talking.
"We know Harry. You should go now." Lily said looking at the mirror. "Oh, and before I forget. Tell Severus I forgive him. I forgave him a long time ago. There is a letter in my trunk that I was going to give him before graduation. Would you give it to him dear?"
"Of course mum. I promise." He hugged them both before looking around the room one more time. "I still say Hermione would have a field day in here." Stepping up to the mirror he looked back at his parents before stepping through the mirror. Ready or not, here I come.
Okay, well. This chapter is finally finished.
Shadow wolf animagus form came from Animagus Mishap! By The Dark Dragen
So, how did I do? Don't forget to review!
