Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything profitable in general.
Chapter 2.
May 2nd, 9:30.
Harry fell on his bed, exhausted from explaining everything to Ron, Hermione, Kingsley, McGonagall, the Order and the DA. They'd a right to know he figured. Before he could call Kreacher to ask for a sandwich or 10, sleep claimed him.
Harry opened his eyes and noticed the same white vastness he saw Tom hit him with the Avada Kedavra. However, he wasn't at King's Cross and to his immense relief he noticed this time he had some clean clothes on. If he had to describe the room he'd say he was in the Room of Requirement, just like it was during DA practice.
'Hello…. Harry Potter,' A raspy voice said from behind him.
Honed reflexes from Quidditch practice and living in the wild for 9 months made him spin on his feet, wand at the ready and a Stupefy ready to blast whoever snuck up behind him—
Only to see Albus Dumbledore standing there, looking amused. He wore his signature purple robes and the twinkle was present in his eyes again. His companion however, Harry assumed he was the one who greeted him, was donned in all black.
Surprisingly, he looked exactly like Ron described Death to look like in the tale of the Three Brothers from Beedle the Bard. Hollow eyes, grey skin, black robes which could be used to scare people to death if he flailed his arms a bit, the same fabric as his Invisibility Cloak hung over those black robes but did nothing to conceal him and he was leaning on a large Elder staff.
Knowing nothing intelligent to say, Harry said the first thing that popped up in his mind.
'Am I dead?'
Dumbledore's smile grew even more, and he let out a mirthful chuckle. Death also grinned, 'No actually. I am Death.' At that, Dumbledore's chuckle turned into a booming laugh, and even Harry had to smile at the terrible joke.
'Nice to meet you. Nice to see you as well, professor.'
'Same to you my boy. This is a far happier occasion than the last time. I know my portrait congratulated you, but let me say congratulations in person as well. You exceeded every expectation I had, and even then some my boy.' Dumbledore said with a proud smile on his face. Death nodded in agreement, and Dumbledore eyed him for a moment before continuing,
'However, there are some things we need to discuss. I know my portrait advised you to place the Elder Wand in my tomb, and to hide the Resurrection Stone, but I would like to voice my, sorry our opinion about doing that when you wake up.'
Harry nodded, seeing Death in his dream already gave him some suspicion what this meeting was about and this just confirmed it. Despite Snape's insistence, Harry wasn't lacking in the brains' compartment, just the ability to write long essays and the fact that trouble followed him everywhere during his school years made him a just above average student.
Death spread his arms, 'It has been a couple of centuries since the Hallows, My Hallows, have been united. To scatter them carelessly after a power struggle of this magnitude would be –
'Ill-advised' Dumbledore interjected helpfully. Death looked annoyed at him.
'I was going for terrible, wasteful, dreadful, horrible, appalling not to mention STUPID,' Death roared in Dumbledore's face, his raspy voice getting louder every word that spilled from his ghostly lips. Harry watched the by-play with wide eyes.
"Never thought I'd see the day a Deity lost his cool in front of me," he thought. Dumbledore and Death turned to him, Dumbledore amused and Death looking calculated. Then it occurred to him, because this was his dream, his figment of imagination, they could hear his thoughts.
'Only when you advocate them as loudly as you did my boy,' Dumbledore said, still smiling. How he could be this amused stumped Harry. Then, Death just walked towards Harry and continued to scrutinize him. Harry absentmindedly wondered how he could be this interesting for such an all-powerful being.
'You've been told I can hear your thoughts 4 seconds ago and yet you still ask such stupid questions,' Death whispered. 'You united the Hallows, making you my Master. Yet here we are, your mentor and I, having to convince you to keep one of the most powerful magical items in the world, instead of discarding them like some BROKEN SNEAKOSCOPE.' Death was getting agitated, but Harry firmly stood his ground and glared back.
'Well, it's not that I went looking for them did I? The Cloak's a family heirloom, the Stone a gift from Dumbledore and the Wand I didn't even know I possessed until I faced down Tom.'
Death silently watched Harry, no longer agitated, but more curious. After a while, he said 'You really aren't scared of me, are you?'
Harry shook his head.
'Why not?'
Harry stared in the hollow eyes of Death, contemplating his answer. After thinking for a while, and a glance at Dumbledore, he smiled. 'Because, for the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.'
Death's lips turned slightly upwards, nodding as if he agreed. He turned to Dumbledore, 'You taught him well.' Dumbledore shook his head, 'No, if anything, he is a very remarkable student, if a little bit reckless every once in a while.'
Harry's shocked 'Hey!' was ignored, as Death nodded his head. He turned to Harry, 'Fine, here's the deal. Keep the Hallows, discard the Hallows, you're still Master of Death. It will just make your life harder if you face the challenges ahead without them.'
Dumbledore cleared his throat, 'As much as I'd like to dispute his words, he's right Harry. You will face hardships, because your character doesn't allow you to ignore the pleas of the innocent.' Seeing Harry's slightly hurt look, he quickly added, 'Mind, that is not a flaw, but rather one of your greatest strengths.'
Harry stayed pensive for a moment, frowning as he mulled things over. His life wouldn't be easy after Voldemort after all. So much for having a quiet, normal life. Inwardly, he snorted. He knew that was an impossible dream, reporters, rabid fans and vengeful enemies would see to that.
'Someone once told me that the time would come when I needed to choose between what was right and what was easy.' Smiling about his decision, 'His advice never let me astray, why would I ignore him now?'
A tear ran down Dumbledore's cheek, and in a choked voice, 'Thank you my boy. I'm very touched.' Like last time Dumbledore told him that, Harry thought it better to give the man he saw as his grandfather a moment to collect himself. Apparently, Death agreed as he started talking.
'Of course, keeping the Hallows won't be only hardships and sorrow. We,' He gestured to himself and Dumbledore, 'will train you in magic you can't even fathom right now. Foolish wand movements won't matter anymore, incantations will become a waste of breath and magical principles will be thrown in the trash by the things you will accomplish.'
Harry was forcefully reminded of his first Potions' class and grinned. "This could actually be fun."
Dumbledore had regained his composure and took over again, 'Harry, the training will be most effective if we start right away, because your body is recovering from the ordeals you faced the last 9 months, and let's not forget that your body is yours wholly again for the first time in almost 17 years. Your magic isn't preserving a Horcrux, so after you wake up you'll be considerably stronger.'
Harry nodded, ready to start, when Dumbledore dropped his last bombshell.
'I estimate you will need at least a month and at the most 5. There is quite a lot we want to teach you, and it'll be tough. You will also be missing out on some things in the real world, for example the funerals that will be held in a couple of days and your friends will panic for a while because they will be unable to wake or move you. It is my hope however, that my portrait will reassure them or else Madame Pomfrey will.'
When he noticed Harry's alarmed expression, he quickly tried to alleviate his feelings, 'With the Resurrection Stone you can personally meet all those that fell after they've been buried. I know for a fact that none blame you, and will be able to give you some advice when you need it. However, they cannot release your loneliness or give you the family you always desired. You'll have to do something about that yourself, or with the help from your friends.' He said in a knowing voice.
Harry nodded again, 'Alright, so what do you propose we do first?'
Death grinned, 'Every Master of Death has been an Animagus. Not because it was necessary, but because he could. It would be a shame if you broke that tradition,' Death winked, 'or at least that's what your father and godfather said.'
Harry's eyes went wide, it had been his dream to honor his father and godfather by becoming an Animagus. 'When do we start? Do I get to choose which animal I become?' He said excited. Already, adrenaline was pumping through his body, anticipating flight, running through a forest on four legs, swimming at high speed in the Dark Lake. He grimaced, 'It's not going to be some stupid bug or an octopus or something?'
Death laughed, and even Dumbledore smiled. 'No Master Harry, you'll find your form to be fitting for your title. It will be a magical creature. The Master of Death cannot be claimed by me, as I am your servant, and there are many mysteries surrounding its powers still. You will be able to travel instantly, and it's not stopped by Anti-Apparation Wards.'
Dumbstruck, Harry exclaimed, 'I'm going to be Phoenix Animagus?'
A feral grin appeared on Death's face, 'No, but I think you'll enjoy this form just as much.'
Dumbledore took over the lecture and Harry's shocked face slowly morphed into concentration, and within moments he was practicing magic he never thought he was capable of.
That's all for now. I do hope you enjoyed the story so far. Let me know what you think! For those reviewing, I'd like to respond to your messages, so if possible please login or enable PM's. I'd like to thank whoever is following/favorite this little story so far. Until next time!
