And the conclusion. Thank you to everyone for reading and taking the time to leave reviews!

Well, this feels sadly familiar, thought Harry. Again, he was now trapped in his own home, face down with a supernatural being taunting him while Bob watched. At least he's not threatening to unzip my skin like a coat.

"Here's a question," said the trickster, conversationally. "What could you do, Bainbridge, if I decided I was going to snap Dresden's neck right now? Or maybe I should make that a rhetorical question. We both know you couldn't do a thing."

"I am as eternal as you are," Bob replied. "I will be freed one day and if you harm him, I can promise I will find you." His voice was steady, though there was a distinct tinge of brutality in the tone that had been absent the day a skinwalker had posed the same question. It made Harry feel conflictingly protected and slightly frightened by the ghost.

The trickster only laughed. "Atta boy, Bainbridge!" he cheered. "I knew you were still in there somewhere. Lucky for all of us, I don't intend to kill your human keeper. He's much more interesting alive than dead."

"Great, thanks," said Harry, dryly. His face was beginning to get sore from being pressed down on.

"Although bouncing you off your own walls sounds incredibly tempting right now. But I want you alert to hear my proposition to you."

The wizard half groaned and laughed. "You've got to be joking. Not interested."

"Don't you even want to hear my offer?"

"No."

"Oh, come on."

"Your deals tend to end with a pile of dead bodies. I'll pass," replied the wizard, coldly.

"You know Harry, being a bleeding heart for justice is very nice and romantic for the movies, but in real life, it'll just drag you down," the trickster advised. "You'd be better suited looking out for yourself."

"What, like you?"

"You can't say it hasn't given me results. Which brings me to my proposition," said the trickster. "How would you like to know what's in store for you?" The trickster smiled at Harry's silence. "Yeah, I couldn't resist taking a look at your pending futures either."

"No thanks. I'll stick to finding out the old fashioned way," Harry answered.

"Don't be too sure. You see, unlike Ancient Mai, you do have a few options. And trust me, your results differ quite a bit depending on what you do." The trickster flicked his hand and Harry found himself landing painfully on his back, staring up at him. "I was wrong to underestimate you, Dresden. You actually have a potential to become something quite extraordinary. Who knew?"

"I think you and I have different ideas as to what's extraordinary," said Harry.

"Trust me, it beats some of the other alternatives you have. Which I can tell you all about for a price."

"Oh, here it comes."

"It's nothing too taxing for you," assured the trickster. "You don't even have to sing. All you need do is grant me an invitation to enter your uncle's house, now rightfully yours."

The wizard frowned. He hadn't been expecting that. "Why?" he asked, suspiciously.

The trickster shrugged. "A lot happened there. It holds a lot of very old magic, which I wouldn't mind seeing. But said old magic prevents me free access, unlike this poorly defended hovel of yours. So, how about it? A look at your future for what's pretty much a trip to a museum for me? I promise not to take anything."

"You really think I'm stupid enough to make a deal like that with you."

The trickster sighed. "No, I had a feeling you'd be all noble and stupid about it." He stood up. "But I'll tell you what? I'll leave the offer on the table. Just in case."

"Don't hold your breath."

"I wouldn't be hasty if I were you," the trickster warned. "After all, you might, at some point in the possible futures, find yourself in a situation where you may be desperate enough to want to know what path to take." He glanced over at Bob, giving the ghost what looked like a knowing smile. "After all, there are others whose destinies are tied to yours. You may want to be cautious for their sakes if not yours."

"Harry, just stop talking to him," ordered Bob. "He has rejected your offer. Now leave," he addressed the trickster.

"Give it some thought," said the trickster. "Be seeing you, then."

And then he vanished.

THE END