Harry Potter and The Ancient One
Chapter One: Starting Over
Magic: The Fifth Player
The Game of Five
A New Player
Resetting.
"Dumbledore!"
There were yells; one of the Death Eaters ran for it, scrabbling like a monkey up the stone steps opposite. Dumbledore's spell pulled him back as easily and effortlessly as though he had hooked him with an invisible line-
Only one couple were still battling, apparently unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: He was laughing at her. "Come on, you can do better than that!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room. The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest. The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock.
Harry released Neville, though he was unaware of doing so. He was jumping down the steps again, pulling out his wand, as Dumbledore turned to the dais too. It seemed to take Sirius as age to fall. His body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backward through the ragged veil hanging from the arch. . . . And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather's wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and-
Time stopped. Everything seemed to freeze at once. Everything but Harry. He turned in circle looking around The Chamber of Death in slight fear as he continued to walk down the steps and up the stone dais.
'You know, I don't know how I feel about them naming this chamber after me.' Death whispered conspiratorially to Time, who was straddling the veil, from his position on the floor. Harry whipped around, his back having been to the veil, trying to locate the voice. Expecting just the owner of the voice, he stumbled backwards several steps, when instead of one person there was five. Harry realized the one on the floor had spoken.
He was sitting cross legged leaning back against the arch of the veil. From his spot on the floor Harry couldn't tell his height, but he could see everything else from his ghost white skin, that was covered in tattoos all of them black and looked to be names, they were disappearing, moving, reappearing, and rearranging. To his hair that was pitch black and he guessed it was shoulder length but, was unsure as it was tied at the nape of his neck with an equally pitch black silk ribbon. His features reminded him strongly of a healthy Sirius, but his eyes were pure obsidian reminding him of Snape. He wore an all black suit with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows.
Time propped one of his legs up on the top of the arch and folded his arms over his knee. Sneering down at Death he retorted. 'Honestly Death! Could you be anymore inconsiderate? The boy just lost his godfather, have a heart.' Death shot him a withering glare followed by a look that clearly said; "I don't have a heart." Time just rolled his eyes and looked to see how Harry was handling things.
Harry's eyes traveled from the man that was, apparently, named Death. To the man that sat on the arch. Frankly, Harry thought he looked weird, his skin had a blueish tint to it, that was as far as he could see, covered in tattoos that were nothing but different numbers and one on his cheek seemed to be counting down. If he didn't know any better Harry would swear he was a Malfoy. From the features, to the platinum blonde hair, to the ice blue eyes. He screamed a Malfoy.
Add to that his expensive looking silk suit, the pants were black and his feet were bare. The shirt was white with a black vest buttoned up over it, his sleeves were also rolled up to his elbows. The most interesting thing Harry noticed was the time turner that hung around the mans neck, he remembered Hermione's chain being longer, were as this mans was much shorter. A throat was cleared, causing Harry to whip around to find another man.
This one was standing in the doorway that was halfway up the wall between the floor and the ceiling. This man reminded him of Remus, minus the scars. His hair was golden brown, that was also shoulder length and tied with a white ribbon at he nape of his neck, his eyes were pure gold, with no pupils. Surprisingly enough, this mans skin was pitch black, he too had the moving names tattooed all over his body only in white, it contrasted drastically with his pure white silk suit, that was the same as the man named Death, the only difference being that one was black the other white. That and the man in white had his sleeves down and his jacket unbuttoned.
'That's enough you two.' The man said in a deep rich voice like honey. 'Death, stop antagonizing Time. We're here for a reason, yo-.' Life cut himself off. A strange look on his face. 'Fate, what are you doing?' Harry's head snapped to the left. Not ten to fifteen feet away was another man. He was standing next to Remus, about to poke him and had paused with his hand half way to Remus' cheek. He glanced up at Life looking slightly guilty, before his eyes stared to dart around looking for help from his fellow companions.
Harry cocked his head to the side, this man reminded him of a male version of Luna. His eyes were a pale silvery and his hair a dirty blonde, that seamed to defy gravity much like Harry's hair. The difference was the mans skin, which was golden, his tattoos were the constellations in the same pale silver as his eyes. He too was barefoot, his pants were white skinny jeans and his shirt was an emerald green button up that was tucked in with a matching white vest buttoned up over top. The man quickly stood up, cleared his throat and glanced around.
'Sorry.' He said, sounding embarrassed. 'I was just-. I mean he looks alot like you Life. I was just,,, just checking. Thats all.' The mans cheeks had a slightly pink hue to them. The others were laughing.
'That's enough.' Someone said and this time the voice was female. Harry spun around to see a girl with eyes that were slit like a snakes or dragons, there color was violet with a ring of emerald green around her pupils and flecked with silver. Her hair was silver and went all the way to her waist. Her caramel colored skin was covered in an intricate design tattoo, that was inked in the same violet color as her eyes.
She was wearing a dress that stopped just above her knees, it was an emerald green that was covered in black lace. There was a black silk sash bellow her chest. On her feet were emerald green ballet flats with black stitching, the silk ties wrapped all the way around her legs and up to tie in a bow just bellow her knees. 'I believe you all remember the reason on why we're here?' Or do I need to remind you?' She asked the men, making eye contact with each before turning to Harry. 'Ignore them. I'm still working on house training them.' Harry laughed despite himself and the strange situation that he seemed to once again land himself in.
Harry turned back to Sirius, time had stopped with him halfway through the ragged veil. His body still gracefully arched just waiting for time to restart so he could finish falling. He wanted so badly to walk to Sirius' body and pull him back from the veil so that he would never fall. 'You can't to that you know.' The man named Death said, actually managing to look sad and regretful as he said this to Harry.
"Do what?" Harry asked, really hoping the man couldn't read his mind. The last thing he need was for a man that was supposedly Death, to find out that Harry thought he was weird. And surprisingly enough not scary at all. Death shook his head and let out a low chuckle.
'You know what.' He replied with a small sad, slightly amused, smile. 'And no I can't read your mind. ...Unless you want me to of course.'
'Death.' Life said in warning. 'Leave the poor boy alone.' With that he jump down from the door way and walked over to the dais. Stopping to knock Fates hand away from Remus as he walked by. 'You see, hard as it maybe to believe, we're here to help.' By now he had reached the dais and was leaning against the other side of the arch way so that they were flanking it, one seated the other standing.
'Let start with the introductions. I see you've already met the boys.' The girl said gesturing to the men in general. Harry nodded his head. 'Good. Let me give you names to go with their strange faces.' Harry laughed as the others yelled out indignantly. 'Quite boys. Incase you haven't noticed the one sitting on the ground is Death. The one leaning on the arch is Life. Thats Time, sitting up there on the arch. And the on-. Will you stop that!'
'I'm sorry!' Fate quickly said as he jerked away from Remus and folded his hands behind his back. 'I can't help it the likeness is so uncanny.' Life shook his head, walked over to Fate and drug him over to stand by the arch with him. 'And that is Fate. Don't worry about him you get used to it. And my name is Magic.' Harry gaped at the girl- no Magic. He wanted to thing her insane but with everything that was happening, he wasn't to sure. His eyes darted around, he wasn't to sure what he was looking for, but he didn't find it. The men were waving and nodding their heads. God! They we're serious. They we're incarnates! Harry's head began to hurt with all the impossibilities. But they we're myths! Legends!
"Why are you here then? What do you want with me?" He asked, almost fearing the answer. Magic just smiled at him as she sat down, patting the spot in front of her.
'Come join me, we have a lot to talk about. Despite what you may think we don't actually have all the time in the world. That and we have several others to see tonight.'
Harry only hesitated for a moment before sighing, crossing the dais he sat down in front of Magic. Her back was to the others, so Harry was facing all of them.
'We have come to inform you that... you Harry Potter have been given the chance to start over.'
"I'm sorry, what?!" Harry yelled, more then asked. Did this mean he could save Sirius, Cedric, stop the diary? His mind was swirling with possibilities warn Mr. Weasley before he got hurt, maybe even stop wormtail. He could free Sirius!
'Slow down child somethings cannot be changed. There are some events that are set in stone. Unchangeable.' Fate said. Harry's heart stopped for a minute. So... so does this mean I can't change anything? Maybe they just mean he could change the small things but, not the big things. Like, the stone, the diary, Voldemort coming back, ...Cedric and Sirius... dying.
...I...can't...save Sirius?...
'You have to understand this, everyday and year before now, you've already done all that. There's not much about it you can change.' Time smiled sadly and shook his head.
"Then why am I going back if nothing can be changed?" Harry asked, with desperation.
'Your going back so that you can, change the outcome if you will.' Life paused a moment and Death cut in. 'Because right know, the way things are going sure it will end but at the cost of many lives. Life glared at Death. 'Thank you, Death. You can alter the little things, Harry. So that you can change the outcome, make it better.' Life's smile widened as he put emphasis on better.
"Okay. So... so when... or where are you sending me back to? How does this work?" Harry began to fidget. He didn't understand how this worked. If he would go back as old as he is now, would he keep his memories, did become his younger self? Magic decided to take pity on him.
'Relax, Harry.' She said with a smile as she stood and offered her hand to him. He took it and she began to walk him back to were he was when time had first stopped. 'We've dicided to send you to the day you get your first Hogwarts letter. You'll have your memories, but you will be in your eleven year old body.'
"Oh... Well that's okay. I was kinda worried about how that would work. I have a question, can I change my house?"
'Of course, Harry. Don't worry so much. You'll know what can't change, because no matter what you do it'll still happen.' Time said as he and Magic stopped half way up the stairs, the other incarnates all sat on the edge of the stone dais.
"...Okay... that's actually not very comforting... at all." Harry whispered, causing Magic to laugh.
'No, I don't suppose it is. There will be others Harry. If yo-.'
"What do mean there will be others?!" Harry yelped. Fate chuckled as he jumped down from the dais. 'Don't worry so much. They wont know that you've started over, apart from you there will be six others that start over. The old coot, the mutt, the little dragon, the Seer, the bat, and the chameleon.'
"I don't kn-. Oh. How did I-." Harry cocked his head to the side, they called them names that defined them. It was weird at first he didn't know who they were, but as he thought about it, it was kinda obvious. The Incarnates chuckled.
'Ya. Sorry names mean nothing to us. But I have a gift for you before time restarts...
I, The Incarnate of Life, gift to you, Hadrian James Potter, that which you would have freely given.' Harry looked at Life like he was insane. Squinting through a sudden headache.
"What are y-" His words were cut off as a scream ripped it's way up his throat. The Incarnates all flinched back as his cries echoed of the walls of The Chamber of Death. Harry grabbed his head, falling to his knees. To say his head hurt wasn't enough, it was like the Cruciatus Curse was being cast on him but, instead of his whole body it was only centered on his head. It seemed to be centered on his scar, making ten times worse then it would be. He brought his hands to his forehead to claw at his scar in order to stop the pain, dull it, anything.
As the pain started to ebb away he could feel something thick and stick flowing down his face. Reaching up, he pulled his fingers away to see that they were covered in a black gooey substance. He wiped his fingers on the ground, trying to get the goo off. Well muttering 'ewe' and 'I rather not know why that's in my head'. Harry shakily stood to, through a Snape worthy, glare at Life. Who stumbled back several steps.
'Now, Harry. Lets not do anything hasty now.' He chuckled nervously.
"Ya. Says the man who ju-." Harry was cut off as Time joined them. The number on his cheek had almost run out, and one on his hand was beginning to glow.
'That's enough.' He stated, brooking no room for argument. 'We need to leave soon, we're running out of time.' Harry bit his cheek trying to stifle his laughter. He now this was serious and important. But he couldn't help it hearing Time say they we're running out of time was hilarious. A loud thwack, echoed throughout the chamber. Clearly Death wasn't so fortunate in hiding his laughter. Here Magic stepped in.
'Times right. You don't have to tell the others Harry. They know time has been reset.' She clarified when seeing his questioning look. 'You and the others can tell anyone you wish that you're...from the future, if you will. Harry nodded his head in understanding. 'They wont know Harry, who you or the others are. Just that, aside from them, there are six others that were sent back and remember. You are the only one who knows who the others are. You can tell them if you wish or keep it to yourself.'
Harry nodded is head again looking at each one of the incarnates, smiling. He liked them. Being around them felt like home. Finally coming to Death he stopped. Death was playing with something, he couldn't tell what but it was a gray almost black with crimson flecks swirling through it.
'Death, will you stop that!' Fate yelled, as he also smacked Death on the back of his head. 'You now you can't keep it, right? It has to go back.' Death stumbled forward several steps, dropping the small, gray and crimson orb, in the process. It bobbed in place for several moments before flying over to Life.
"What exactly is it?" Harry asked Life, as he reached out a hand to pock it. Life quickly moved the small orb.
'I wouldn't do that. It's a piece of The Creatures soul were going to but it back together. ...Huh. If we do that we have to call him something else.' Life looked thoughtful as he tried to thing of something to call him. Harry was confused. He new who The Creature was of course, he just didn't understand why they didn't use the peoples names. What did he mean it was Voldemorts soul! Why was it in his head?! After several seconds of silence he voiced his thoughts aloud. Death was the one to answer his question. Well, you see the names you have aren't really you're names there just what the other humans decide to call you. Each person is born with a... True name? Yes, true name is what is called that or your soul name.' Harry looked thoughtful for a moment then nodded his head in understanding, Death continued. 'It's the true name or soul name that we use to address the humans. Or any thing on earth really.'
" Oh. I understand, so whats my true name or soul name?" Harry asked. The incarnates looked at each other and shifted nervously. Though they were glad he had forgot about his other questions.
'Well, you see Harry you have to find that out for yourself. Your not aloud to tell people their soul names.' Magic tried to explain to Harry. 'We ca-' Time cut Magic of looking slightly panicked.
'Right! Thats enough explaining we really need to leave. Like now!'
'Oh. Yes, sorry. Harry there's one last thing you need to understand, before we go.' Harry cocked his head to the side, sending a questioning look at Magic. 'When we leave and time restarts, you wont remember this. You'-.
"What you mean I wont remember?" Harry yelled over Magic's explanation. "What's the point of restarting time and telling me all this, then?"
'Are you done? Can I finish?' Magic asked, Harry's cheeks tinged pink in embarrassment, and ducked his head sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, muttering 'sorry'. 'Now as I was saying. You'll restart at the moment time stopped, not remembering this conversation undtill the school year ends. There are others we have to tell still and they can only betold at certain times.' Harry shifted from foot to foot nervously, glancing at the others.
"So... So I have to watch Sirius die? I have to wait till the leaving feast for time to restart. But I'll remember when time does start over right?" He asked.
'Yes. But, time will restart well your on the train ride aback to kings crossing. And you will return to the moment you pick up your Hogwarts letter. Do you understand? Or do we need to repeat something?' Harry shook his head and smiled at The Incarnates.
"No. I understand. Thank you, for giving me a second chance I mean. I used to think I was Fates whipping boy." He said with a nervous chuckle and a small smile at Fate.
'Oh, Gosh no Harry. Sorry about everything really. All this is Karmas falt we're just trying to fix it.'
"Oh. Okay... Wait! What?"
'Never mind that. It's time for us to leave. It was nice to meet you Harry. I hope next time we meet again its under better circumstances.' Time walked towards Harry. He set his hand on his collarbone, whispering a few words that Harry couldn't understand. There was a burning sensation were Times hand was before everything flashed light gray. He was running again. Why was he running? Yelling. Why? ...Sirius? NO!
...Disappeared behind the the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind and then fell back into place. Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrange's triumphant scream, but knew it meant nothing- Sirius had only just fallen through the archway, he would reappear from the other side any second. . . .
But Sirius did not reappear.
"SIRIUS!" Harry yelled, "SIRIUS!"
He had reached the floor, his breath coming in searing gasps. Sirius must be just behind the curtain, he, Harry, would pull him back out again. . . . But as he reached the ground and sprinted towards the dais, Lupin grabbed Harry around the chest, holding him back.
"There's nothing you can do, Harry-"
"Get him, save him, he's only just gone through!"
"It's too late, Haryy-"
"We can still reach him-"
Harry struggled hard and viciously, but Lupin would not let go. . . .
"There's nothing you can do, Harry . . . nothing. . . . He's gone."
"He can't come back, Harry," said Lupin, his voice breaking as he struggled to contain Harry. "He can't come back, because he's d-"
"Harry - no!" cried Lupin, but Harry had already ripped his arm from Lupin's slackened grip.
"SHE KILLED SIRIUS!" bellowed Harry. "SHE KILLED HIM - I'LL KILL HER!"
And he was off, scrambling up the stone benches; people were shouting behind him but he did not care. The hem of Bellatrix's robes whipped out of sight ahead and they were back in the room where the brains were swimming . . .
She aimed a curse over her shoulder. Slipping and sliding, he ran on towards the door; he leapt over Luna, who was groaning on the floor, past Ginny, who said, "Harry - what - ?", past Ron, who giggled feebly, and Hermione, who was still unconscious. He wrenched open the door into the circular black hall and saw Bellatrix disappearing through a door on the other side of the room; beyond her was the corridor leading back to the lifts.
He ran, but she had slammed the door behind her and the walls were already rotating. Once more, he was surrounded by streaks of blue light from the whirling candelabra.
"Where's the exit?" he shouted desperately, as the wall rumbled to a halt again. "Where's the way out?"
The room seemed to have been waiting for him to ask. The door right behind him flew open and the corridor towards the lifts stretched ahead of him, torch-lit and empty. He ran . . .
He could hear a lift clattering ahead; he sprinted up the passageway, swung around the corner and slammed his fist on to the button to call a second lift. It jangled and banged lower and lower; the grilles slid open and Harry dashed inside, now hammering the button marked 'Atrium'. The doors slid shut and he was rising . . .
He forced his way out of the lift before the grilles were fully open and looked around. Bellatrix was almost at the telephone lift at the other end of the hall, but she looked back as he sprinted towards her and aimed another spell at him. He dodged behind the Fountain of Magical Brethren: the spell zoomed past him and hit the wrought-gold gates at the other end of the Atrium so that they rang like bells. There were no more footsteps. She had stopped running. He crouched behind the statues, listening.
"Come out, come out, little Harry!" she called in her mock baby voice, which echoed off the polished wooden floors. "What did you come after me for, then? I thought you were here to avenge my dear cousin!"
"I am!" shouted Harry, and a score of ghostly Harry's seemed to chorus I am! I am! I am! all around the room.
"Aaaaaah . . . did you love him, little baby Potter?"
Hatred rose in Harry such as he had never known before; he flung himself out from behind the fountain and bellowed, "Crucio!"
Harry looked through the window. There was a cool line of pale green along the horizon: Dawn was approaching. The silence and the stillness, broken only by the occasional grunt of snuffle of a sleeping portrait, was unbearable to him. If his surroundings coulds have reflected the feelings inside him, the pictures would have been screaming in pain.
He walked around the quiet, beautiful office, breathing quickly, trying not to think. But he had to think. . . . There was no escape. . . . It was his fault Sirius had died; it was all his fault. It was unbearable, he would not think about it, he could not stand it . . . there was a terrible hollowness inside him he did not want to feel or examine, a dark hole where Sirius had been, where Sirius had vanished; he did not want to have to be alone with that great, silent space, he could not stand it - '