Chapter 1: Death and a second chance
The surface was in sight but Helen hadn't any strength left, both Ron and the little French girl were weighting her down when the transformation of her gills began, suddenly Helen hadn't enough air to breathe anymore, desperate she tried to reach again for the surface but as she slowly sank everything around her went black. The last thing that she would see alive was how the rest air in her lungs escaped her mouth and the pretty bubbles rose to the black lake surface.
The next thing Helen was aware of was rows after rows of black clothed students and other wizards and witches she had never seen before. The headmaster in front with an absolute devastated gaze, the Weasley matriarch crying into her husband's neck, Ron, Fred, George and Ginny with red eyes and pale faces, a crying and exhausted looking Hermione holding onto Ron. Turning around she recognized a sullen Snape alongside a pale McGonagall and a sobbing Hagrid. Beside them the other Triwizard champions stood, Krum looked sullen, Cedric absolutely devastated while Fleur was crying silently while clenching her younger sibling to her body. Following the rows down she recognized the whole Gryffindor house, alongside the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, even the Slytherins were there. Most of them chalk white and with wide eyes. Helen's eyes finally found Malfoy in the second row of the Slytherins, he looked like he had cried, his face pale and lonely looking. Crabbe and Goyle who were flanking him made him look even more pathetic. Strange she had the urge to hug him and tell him everything was going to be alright, their fights and quarrels didn't seem to be important anymore. To be honest nothing seemed urgent or important anymore.
Helen couldn't understand what Dumbledore was saying, but it some way she didn't have to. On the raised platform in front of the masses was black mahogany casket with her name on it.
She was dead.
To be honest death was a strange feeling, Helen had expected something different, she wasn't like the ghosts around her, nobody could see her and nobody had asked her if she wanted to stay or go on.
So she followed her friends around, she felt slightly sorry for them and slightly guilty, they were crying because she was dead but to be honest she didn't mind death, it was peaceful if not a bit boring.
Helen realized after a few rounds around the castle that she felt drawn to three different people, Ginny, the little girl that she now knew under the name Gabrielle and strangely enough Snape.
Two days into her death Helen found her ability to affect things, she could move them more less precise. After practicing some time she decided to approach Snape. Interesting enough he was one that was affected the most by her death. He didn't show it but in his rooms he let his mask slip, sadness and grieve were intermixed with bouts of anger and destruction. But yes Severus Snape, the man that had made Potions torture for her took her death badly, very badly. So when he was alone again in his rooms and trying to drink himself into a stupor with a full whiskey bottle she took said bottle away. Snape was in a flash on his feet and casting several detection spells but came up with nothing. He was totally uneasy and had no idea how to proceed with his whiskey bottle floating in the air and nobody near. When the bottle sat down gently on his well stocked house bar and he was pushed back into his chair, a sheet of paper floated from his writing desk to the small coffee table beside the sofa.
You shouldn't do this to yourself Professor.
"Who or what are you?" Snape snarled into thin air.
Really? Professor I'm a little bit disappointed, after all it is my death you are so choked up about.
"Potter?" he asked incredulous before his face turned angry " Why are you here? And what the hell are you, you are not a ghost, if you were I could detected you!" Snape bit out.
I'm not sure why, I came back to awareness during my funeral and about what I am… I have no idea. Nearly Headless Nick told me once that he was asked if he wanted to stay or go on, but I never was. I just am. Maybe something is holding me here,… it's strange I feel drawn to you and I have no idea why. Because really I want to move on. Death is kind of boring!
"Holding you here? That's impossible, that's wait… Potter are you aware that through your father I owe you a life debt? And what do you mean with boring?"
Huh life debt? What's that? And what does this have to do with anything?
"A life debt emerges when somebody is rescued from a life treating situation and it's not their occupation." The clipped voice of the Potion Master ran through his quarters.
So wait. Like with Ginny? Because I have the urge to visit her like I do you and Gabrielle as well!
Now Snape looked incredulous and then groaned "You have three open life debts? Oh for Merlin's sake Potter, why is that you even in death are the source of my headache!" while massaging his temples. "The number three is magical, as you should well know, so it IS possible that your essence is bound to this plane of existence. Try to release the Life Debts it may help you to move on."
Okay… oh it's working! I don't feel drawn to you anymore.
Somehow with the next inhale Snape seemed to breath in a lot easier than before, his shoulders relaxed as if a big weight fell from them.
Professor, I know you didn't like me while I was alive and even in death I seem to annoy you, but still I want to thank you for looking out for me, especially during my first year here. So thanks and please don't beat yourself up anymore. I'm content; this whole death thing isn't so bad. I wish you the best for the rest of your life. Please enjoy it. H. L. Potter
Snape swallowed as he felt a soft breeze moving on his left side. That Merlin damned girl. As least he was now sure that he wouldn't be haunted by Potter into eternity. His eyes suspiciously moist he entangled his robes and sat down to finally finish the essays of the second year dunderheads. He had after all better things to do than brood over a stupid Gryffindor.
With now a way to leave this world Helen made her way out of the castle, she had two men to visit before either of them could do something foolish.
After her tear filled goodbye with Sirius and Remus, who she had advised to flee across the pond to live the rest of their lives on one of the isles and enjoy it to the fullest. The two lovers were now seriously contemplating her advice.
Good deed done, she found Ginny in the Gryffindor common room close to midnight. After releasing her from her life debt, she through a last glance at Ron and Hermione, she couldn't say goodbye to them in person, they would just persuade her to stay and that she really didn't want.
She slowly made a last round through Hogwarts, it would be her last time wandering through the castle that had been her home for 4 years before she made her way to the Beauxbatons carriage.
On her way outside she stumbled over on Draco Malfoy, alone with tear tracks down his cheeks. Helen felt another tuck in her heart. She couldn't explain it, but all the time she spent in the Wizarding world she had always felt drawn to the Malfoy, even if it was in anger. Now that she could look unbiased back on her life, she had to admit that she had a serious crush on the blonde Slytherin. Even with the bad blood between them, he had always looked kind of cute to her and his taunts always brought the worst out of her.
So she did that what she thought best, she gave him a hug. Malfoy nearly jumped out of his skin at the strange contact. Not really physical but not cold like the ghosts of Hogwarts. After she was sure she had his attention, she filched paper and a quill of him and wrote.
Malfoy what has you in such a mood that you are crying alone at the Black Lake? Don't tell me you miss me?
"Who are you?... Wait, P-Potter?" the frightened Slytherin whispered "Are you a ghost?".
Nah, I had to release a few life debts before I can move on. So wanna tell me why you are crying?
Slightly embarrassed Draco tried to hide his tears with his sleeves. "So, so you are going and not coming back, you are really dead?" he jumped again when he felt the contact with Helen again, she had put her arms around him. "I, I know this comes too late but I'm sorry, you know, for all the things I threw at you, I didn't mean even half of them, but you are so easily to rile up!".
Yeah. I will finally meet my parents again. Don't be sad Draco, I feel content, and don't feel guilty, to be honest I gave as good as I got. And now that we are being honest and all that rot I have to tell you, I really had a crush on you since the moment we met at Madame Malkins. You were just so adorable, even when stuck up.
A shaky sob came from Malfoy before he laughs quietly "Merlin, why couldn't I have known that in the beginning, I think,… thought you were cute too and I hated it when you rejected my offer in first year." Another sob escaped him.
Oh Draco come on, no more crying. Laugh. Live. You are 15 years old, you have your whole life in front of you. I forgive you for all the childish things you have done to me in the last 4 years. The only thing I want from you is that you don't forget me. I wish you the best.
H. L. Potter
"I won't, I promise." With that he slowly stood up, clenching the piece of paper with the last contact of Helen to his body. He would keep her memory safe. Determined he wandered up to the castle.
Choked up Helen made her way finally to the carriage where young Gabrielle slept. With a quick thought she felt the bond between them fade, just like with the others. A short time nothing happened and then she was suddenly not at Hogwarts anymore. The best way to describe it would be Limbo. It was a grey mass, but it felt peaceful and calm around here.
Then she suddenly stood in front of two beings, she couldn't look at them straight but by the feeling they gave of they were very strong and important.
To be honest Helen couldn't really remember what they asked her, or even what she answered but after half an age they seem to come to a decision. They decided that she would get a second chance, somewhere where she wasn't weighted down by a prophecy.
The next feeling was that of coldness as she opened her mouth to shout out surprised, the shout came out like a wail, a babies wail to be exact.