Disclaimer: No, I don't own Harry Potter or intend to make any money from this.

AN: Thank you for the reviews. I appreciate you all sticking with me on this especially after the last chapter. I'm sorry to say that there will be no real action in this one as we move Harry in a new direction. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 10

Harry stepped through the veil and into a swirling vortex of color. Although he found the trip just as nauseating as the other forms of magical travel, this version was at least much less rough and bumpy. In what seemed like a very short time, Harry was stepping out of the vortex and onto a stone platform. The room he entered was warmly lit and left him feeling relaxed despite the fact that he was entering the unknown. It was then he noticed the kindly looking middle aged man rising from a comfortable chair and smiling at him.

"I have waited a long time to make your acquaintance Harry James Potter."

"You seem to have me at a disadvantage as I don't know who you are." Harry thought of ejecting the elder wand but it refused to slide into his hand.

The man smiled "You won't need your wand Harry. I mean you no harm and I am known by many names but the one I call my own is Azrael."

"Well Azrael, can you answer how I came to be here?"

He chuckled "Yes I can, I made it happen. I thought it best to get you away from your world for a while so that you could heal and maybe even learn a few things from several of my old friends. If that were not enough reason, then the task you have ahead of you and the challenges you face would be enough to warrant my intervention."

Harry warily asked "Maybe you could tell me more about yourself and where I am."

"Ah, it is so nice to see your mother shining through." He waved his hand and another chair appeared. As Harry started towards the chair, Azrael noticed the withering curse moving up his neck and the sleeping elf in Harry's arms. "Hmm…that won't do."

Azrael grabbed Harry's hand and a soft glow began to appear around them both. Within a few minutes, the blackened skin was changing back into healthy looking flesh and all trace of the curse was receding. "Well that was a nasty curse, I take it was a parting gift by Tom?"

Harry nodded and then Azrael focused on Dobby. "What have we here?"

Harry held Dobby tightly. "This is Dobby. He's one of my truest friends and I wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for him."

"How so?"

"He has protected me, kept me sane, held me when I cried, and healed me. I owe him everything."

"It's rare to hear a wizard say that about a house elf. I also sense there is more to the story."

"Yes Sir there is, there was a piece of Tom's soul in me and he removed it at the cost of his own magical core. We are forever bound to each other as he cannot live without me and I wouldn't want to live without my friend."

"May I hold him and see if I can help?"

Harry backed away in protection of Dobby. "I'm sorry sir but I don't trust anybody with his safety."

"I won't hurt him. He is family after all."

Harry looked confused "What do you mean?"

Azrael chuckled "He has bound himself to you so is part of your family. I am family to you as well and would never hurt a member of my family. I can tell you still don't trust me yet so (He waved his hand and a cot appeared beside the chair he conjured.) place him on that bed and I will see to healing him."

Harry did so but watched closely. Azrael knelt beside Dobby and placed his hands on Dobby's chest. As he closed his eyes, a soft glow surrounded Dobby that grew brighter the longer he did this. After fifteen minutes, Azrael shakily stood and made his way to his chair. Once he sat, he gestured to Harry to do the same. Harry nodded and then complied but never took his eyes off Dobby.

Azrael took a deep breath and then said "I haven't done that in a long time. It takes a lot out of you."

"Just what did you do?"

"I returned him that which he gave up for one of his family. His act of pure love and devotion to you earned a reward that I was more than happy to grant. I just haven't used those powers in a long time."

"Just who are you?"

Azrael chuckled "That may take a bit longer to explain."

Harry scoffed "It seems as if we have the time."

"Yes, I think we do. Where would you like me to start?"

"The beginning would be nice."

Azrael chuckled again. "My you do want the long version. Okay, let me ask, how well do you know the Bible?"

"I am familiar with it and know some of the stories."

"Are you aware of the story of the Fallen Angels?"

"Somewhat. A group of angels descended from Heaven and began to take wives. It was said that the offspring from these unions produced, for lack of a better word, titans."

"A fair summary. The truth is the children were giants and all manner of not so pleasant creatures. Many of whom the Creator did not manage to completely wipe out as these Fallen Angels returned and spirited their children away before the Great Flood destroyed almost every living creature on Earth. Once the population began to reestablish itself, the Fallen Angels returned with some of their children and began once again to expand their own population."

"The Creator recognized that to attempt to wipe out the population again would be futile so he called upon some of his most faithful to create families of our own only this time, the children would be human and would possess a new genetic trait passed on to them by their sires. These children would go on to become the ancestors of the great magical families. Their mission in life would be to stand against evil and darkness."

"If that is true, where did the dark magical families come from?"

"Ah good question, over time even the lightest of magicals became corrupted by darkness and exposure to the darker children of the Fallen Angels. The truth is that dark magic has always been easier with faster results and they allowed their human greed to control them."

"Am I to assume that I am from your line?"

Azrael smiled "Yes you are."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "Then if I am descended from the light, how can I be grey?"

Azrael smiled broadly. "That is another good question and one that your mother asked as well. The lines that sprang from me have always fought against the darkness but they usually did it in a more practical way. You see I am an oddity amongst the other angels even though I obediently serve the Creator. I was tested and proven to be incorruptible and therefore was given a special position and special powers to go along with it."

"And that is?"

"I am the Angel of Death."

"Then how is it that you appear normal to me and not some skeletal figure? And how did you touch us without causing our deaths or are we dead?"

"Ah, that's easy. My bloodline see me as who I truly am not the 'Grim Reaper' of legend. However, someone not in my family will definitely see the reaper. As far as the other, as I said earlier, no one of my bloodline need fear my touch or me."

"So, am I to assume that I have a special connection with death?"

Azrael laughed "Yes, you are the last of my lines. You alone have a substantial connection to me."

"Then the stories of the Deathly Hallows are true? By uniting then, I become the Master of Death?"

Azrael chuckled again. "In a manner of speaking. If you think it will control me then you are wrong for no man will ever have the power to control me as I only serve the Creator. The Hallows were three magical artifacts I gave to my children to help them in their fight against the darkness. The Master of Death title would actually refer to the reuniting of the three objects by one man of Peverell blood as only a member of my bloodline can truly command them. If you look at it in a different way, by uniting them you would become the Lord or Master of House Peverell. Before taking the name Peverell, my house was known as the house of death so you would be the Lord or Master of the House of Death. Sadly, over time my family lines have finally succumbed to the battle against the darkness until only one member was left. So where you are concerned, the Hallows act as a family signet ring that says you are the only living Lord of the family."

"I don't understand."

"And that is why you are here. You will learn to control the Hallows and use them to help you reestablish our family. Somewhere along the line, you will learn of your titles and how to use them. It will be up to you, Harry James Potter, to continue my bloodline. I know the rumors about the Hallows but that is mainly man's arrogance speaking. No one, not even me has power over death. Yes, man can kill each other but true death only occurs when the Creator judges it so."

"The other grey families, aren't they descended from you?"

"No, many of those families became disillusioned with the light side's righteous view and saw many of the light doing some of the same things the dark was doing but in the name of purifying the world. While the dark will use anyone they can, the light's overzealousness at not trusting anyone with the same ideals as them has led to their isolation and loss of the ability to be effective in the fight against the darkness. If you get anything from our conversation Harry, it's that the light is just as untrustworthy as the dark. They have tried to remain so pure that the darkness has been allowed to gain more ground than should be possible. It will be up to you to reunite the grey families and fight both sides if you want your world to get better. From what I have seen, you are well on your way to doing this and with a little more training, you will be able to accomplish this. You made an excellent choice in the future Lady Potter and it is a good start but may not be enough."

Harry looked at him dumbfounded and asked "What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is it is time to begin your true education." He stood and motioned for Harry to follow him.

"What about Dobby?"

"Let him rest and heal for now. He will rejoin you soon."

Harry stepped over to Dobby and placed his hand on Dobby's forehead. He whispered "Get better my friend. I feel I will need you soon."

**LC**

Cedric Diggory had been awake for a few days and being held in St. Mungos while the healers made sure he was completely healed. It took several days before the healers would allow visitors who were not his family or girlfriend. After a knock at his door, Megan got up to answer and found Amelia Bones along with Connie Hammer standing in the hallway.

"May we come in?"

She gave them a hopeful nod and opened the door wider to allow them entrance. Amelia smiled and said "It's good to see you both looking so well. We were informed that they were releasing you tomorrow and wanted to catch you before you got away."

Amos stood and said "May I ask what this is about?"

"Lord Diggory, we are only here to continue our investigation into the events which occurred that night. Cedric is certainly in no trouble."

Megan quietly asked "Is there any word on Harry?"

"I'm afraid not Miss Jones. The Veil has always been seen as a one way portal but the Head Unspeakable thinks that with the way it acted that night that it may no longer be the case. We don't have any proof to back this theory but are very hopeful this will turn out well in the end. I wish there was something more I could tell you to ease the pain you're in but sadly I have nothing to offer."

Daphne moved over and put her arms around Megan and began whispering in her ear to try and comfort her as tears began to once again fall from Megan's dark brown eyes.

Amelia turned back to Cedric and asked "Would it be possible for you to tell us what happened in the graveyard? We have a lot of blanks that still need filling in."

Cedric said "I don't know how much I could tell you but the Death Eaters attacked after Harry sent Fleur back. We traded curses for a while and I managed to get a lucky shot in and hit one in the face with an acid curse."

Connie said "We've had no report of anyone being treated for that. Do you know who it was?"

"At the time we were fighting for our lives and I was using anything I could think of to keep them away from us until Dobby came back. Everyone had on masks until I hit that Death Eater. I saw Lucius Malfoy's face staring back at me after he took off his mask after the curse burnt through part of it. It also ate away part of his hood and some of his hair. There should be no disguising the results as it won't grow back for a while."

Connie said "I should say not. That is a potentially dark curse Mr. Diggory."

"Ma'am, Harry and I were being attacked and were fighting for our lives. I did what I had to do to keep us alive and would do it again if faced with the same thing."

Amelia responded "I'm glad you did Cedric. The alternative is not acceptable and you were in a life and death situation. I would have done the same thing. Now is there anything else you can remember?"

"They herded us into a trapped position and then we heard a hissing voice say to kill me and that they only needed Harry. All of a sudden, there were AK's flying at us and I stepped in front of Harry to protect him. I knew I was going to die but Harry brought up a granite wall in front of us that kind of shielded us from the curse. You know, AK's are pretty damn destructive because that's where all the stone came from. That's the last thing I remember before waking up here."

"Are you sure you saw Lucius Malfoy?"

"Ma'am, I would know that sneering pompous git anywhere. It was definitely Lucy as Harry calls him."

Amelia chuckled "Thank you Cedric, if you think of anything else, have your father contact us. I'm glad to see you doing better. I know a lot of people will be happy to hear this news."

Amos said "Amy, you do realize that by attacking my son, Lucius has earned the enmity of all our houses. When Mr. Potter returns, I'm sure he will agree with this."

Amelia asked "You expect Mr. Potter to return?"

"I expect nothing less. We just have to be patient."

She looked him in the eyes and said "I hope you are right."

**LC**

Harry felt that he had been in the company of the Peverell Brothers of legend for what must have been a year. The time was spent learning of the Hallows and their powers. It had been explained to him that the Hallows were created so that each branch would have an advantage in the fight against the darkness. The problem came about when they fell victim to their human faults which caused them to be unworthy of the objects. Antioch's boasting of the wand saw him killed and the wand disappearing into history. With him dying without heirs, the wand was lost to the family until it was recovered by a Potter many years later. While powerful in any wizards' hand, its true power was released when in the possession of the bloodline it was intended for.

Harry and Antioch talked of the visions Harry had seen and Antioch shared his shame as he was forced to watch the horrible things caused by the wand. It was Antioch's hope that Harry's strength of will and strong character would be enough to overcome the lure of power the wand offered. It was one of the fail safes put into the wand that while it could do horrible things, its true power would not be felt but by someone worthy and of their blood.

Antioch taught how the wand was created for the defense of others and never for personal gain or glory. Antioch went against everything he was taught and walked about boasting of the unbeatable wand until he was killed in his sleep. Harry learned that the wand was the secret behind the Potter's incredible wards because its power was being used to protect others therefore fulfilling the true purpose of the wand. This didn't mean that the wand could not be used in battle just like any other wand but it wouldn't truly be at its most effective strength unless the heart of the holder was in the right place.

Cadmus then began teaching of the stone and all that it could do along with its true purpose. Yes, it was created as a bridge between life and death but it was intended for the holder to meditate while holding the stone so that he could commune with family who had passed on and ask for guidance and advice. When he corrupted its purpose by dragging his wife back from the dead and subjecting her to the torment of existing on this plane, he was driven insane and caused his line to be cursed. His line ended with the Gaunts and throughout history, everything his descendents desired would be lost to them. Wealth, power, and nobility would be forever denied them and their lives would always end tragically but even through it all, they would forever maintain their arrogance and superior attitudes. At the end of his lessons with Cadmus, he told Harry that he was glad that he defeated Tom and the stone finally passed to his bloodline. It was his greatest shame that his children and ancestors were punished for his mistakes.

The last session was with Ignotus and it was there that Harry learned the most about the Peverells or at least his branch of the family. Ignotus had two sons, the oldest inherited the cloak when it was Ignotus' time to embrace death and the tradition has been followed ever since. As the story of the Hallows became famous, the Peverell family faded away and the Potter family appeared and rose to prominence. The second son chose a different name and went on to earn his own place in the legends of the magical world. Harry was taught of the cloak and its abilities and once he was through with those lessons, all three Peverell brothers rejoined him to finish his training. It mostly consisted of family secrets along with the ways of the ancient lords of the magical realm.

In the end, Harry learned that the cloak, wand, and stone were once part of a staff that was carried by Azrael. The stone was the focusing crystal and the cloak was formed from the essence derived from the heartstring and hairs of the thestral who gave of itself to create the staff. When they were split apart, they became the objects known as the Hallows. These objects plus their blood also gave the Peverell family a strong connection to creatures that are misunderstood and associated with death.

On the last day of his time with the three brothers, he was pulled into a hug by each of them and charged with rebuilding the family and bringing the name of Peverell back into prominence. He was also warned to learn from their mistakes and to not give in to his pride and arrogance or he would suffer the same fate as his ancestors.

**LC**

At the end of the second week that Harry had been missing, the incident with Harry going through the Veil was finally announced in the Prophet and those that had betrayed him realized that they would never have the opportunity to repair the damage they had done to their relationship with Harry. Every parent of a child at Hogwarts was disappointed the actions of their children this year and were uneasy at what the loss of the last member of the Potter family could mean to their lives. In Crawley, the Granger family was having yet another discussion about Hermione's behavior.

After some research, she learned that as a muggleborn, she could not leave Hogwarts until after she had taken her OWLs and was resigned to the fact that she would have to attend another year there or risk having her magic bound and her family being obliviated of all traces and knowledge of the magical world. The Granger parents didn't see this as such a bad thing as they blamed the magical world for the corruption of their daughter. Out of everyone they had ever heard about, Harry Potter was the only honorable one amongst her friends and she had even managed to screw that up.

There was also another option that passed through Martin Granger's mind. His disgust at her behavior was so great that he even considered handing Hermione enough money to complete her education and washing his hands of her. That thought was quickly dismissed as even with him being so disgusted with Hermione's choices, he still loved her and wanted the best for her.

After a lot of thought and many discussions, Hermione made a magical vow to act in the way she was raised and never betray her honor again. She secretly hoped for the chance to fix things with Harry but felt in her heart that she didn't deserve it and that she couldn't blame Harry for his reaction. All she could do at this point was be there to support him in whatever capacity he allowed and that was only if he returned from behind the Veil. She knew her friend and had faith that he would return. How could he not when he had always managed doing the impossible ever since she met him. Her parents finally relented on the condition that she somehow made her peace with Harry if he returned and after next year, the topic of leaving Hogwarts would be revisited.

**LC**

Sirius Black was not having an easy time of things either. After his confrontation with Albus, he had set about to unite the Black family but only met resistance. Narcissa refused to answer his owls and when she finally did; her note was less than receptive as she simply wrote:

'There is no Lord Black at present and if you would do the world a favor by hurrying up and passing on, maybe the issue of Lordship could be settled once and for all.'

Sirius was taken aback by her words and since Bella was in Azkaban, he approached Andromeda. Andromeda was a kind woman but had been raised a Black and wouldn't put up with a lot of crap. She sat and listened to Sirius' offer to bring her back into the family and then heard his plans for trying to take Dumbledore down. Her husband and daughter were also in the room and after a quick glance at both of them, they braced for what was coming next.

Andromeda said in the coldest voice possible. "Sirius, you may be the Lord Black but I don't see the advantage in rejoining that family at the current time. As far as your feud with Dumbledore, no one in my family will be a part of it and I have forbidden Nymphadora from joining either you or that old goat."

"But Andi…"

"But nothing Siri. From what I understand, Dumbledore screwed with not only Harry's life but is more than likely the cause behind Jamie and Lil's death. You gave up Harry to Hagrid too easily and then got thrown in to Azkaban and if I were to guess, Albus had a part in that too. Then what do you do when you get out? You seek out your godson but have to be rescued by him. Not only that but you ignore everything you were ever taught and allowed yourself to be placed under Albus' thumb. Ever since Jamie died, did you ever think of your responsibility to Harry? What did it cost you Siri?"

Sirius muttered "Everything"

"You are right Siri. It was your godson who managed to get you exonerated even if you don't deserve it. You are too weak to be Lord Black. You allowed someone to control you and then allowed that same person to destroy your relationship with your godson. You remember him don't you? The same boy that you swore an oath to protect above all others? No Sirius Black, with the way you have protected Harry, there is no way I want any of my family under the protection of the current Lord Black. Your kind of protection sees lives ruined."

Sirius sat there in silence for a few minutes before Andromeda once again spoke. "Harry going through the veil was a horrible thing. It not only ended the Potter line but it effectively killed the Blacks as well. The Black family will now be forever known as oath breakers for the way we failed at our charge to protect the Potter heir. I'm glad I am no longer a Black so you can go have your little pissing contest with Albus somewhere else as long as you leave my family out of it."

"I could command it."

Nymphadora snorted "Cousin Sirius, you can't even command a house elf. Dumbledore isolated Harry and then I heard that you and Remus abandoned him after he pleaded to you for help. I only wish I had known as I would have offered my help to him. Unless Harry Potter steps out of that Veil, I would rather align myself with the ministry than the two other options available. Now leave my Mum be. We don't want any part of your plans. "

Sirius got up and apparated out of the house without another word. He appeared back in Grimmauld Place and went straight to the bar and pulled out a bottle of firewhiskey. He sat there in silence as he drank and was only joined by Remus after he had cracked open a second bottle and was well on his way to oblivion.

Remus sat back and watched as his friend kept demolishing shots of firewhiskey as he nursed his own drink. It seemed as if Sirius was having an internal monologue and that things did not go so well in his meeting with Andromeda today. Sirius took him by surprise when he said "I've got to make it up to him. This is my fault."

He was further surprised when Sirius stood and grabbed the bottle of firewhiskey before apparating away. Remus was used to Sirius' theatrics and didn't really think much of it as he thought Sirius just had another hair brained scheme.

The next few minutes passed as a blur to Sirius as he appeared at the apparation point in the Ministry. As drunk as he was, his feet still guided him into elevators and down corridors until he came to a non-descript door. Once through the door, he found himself in a spinning room that eventually stopped with a glowing door that led to what looked like a dark theater. Sirius walked down the stairs and stood in front of an archway which had mists swirling around inside of it.

An Unspeakable came into the chamber only to hear Sirius alternately crying and screaming Harry's name. The last he saw of Sirius Black was when he jumped through the veil while yelling out "I won't leave you alone in there Harry."

**LC**

The second training session for Harry was starting before he knew it even though it seemed like he had already been here for more than a year. The morning after he was finished with the Peverell brothers, Ignotus led him to a field. In the middle of the field was someone Harry recognized immediately. As Ignotus introduced them, he said "Harry, I would like you to meet another of your ancestors. While my eldest son took up the cloak and the name Potter, my other son chose a different path and chose the name Godric Gryffindor. You will spend the next little while learning all he has to teach you. It will serve you well in the times ahead."

Harry respectfully replied "As you wish Grandfather."

Godric spoke "I have watched you for that last few years and I think you are worthy of being my heir but whether or not you earn the title will depend on our time together. I had no children of my own so my legacy passed back into my father's bloodline. In our time together, I intend to teach you to be the warrior that is inside you so that you may continue our families' mission against the darkness. Don't let my father fool you as he was a fierce warrior who stood up to fight in times of need just as I did. Our only difference was he went back to a peaceful life of a pot maker and I chose to teach. Part of my legacy is the ability to pass on knowledge and skills while the other part is laying down the quill and taking up the sword."

Harry said "I would be honored to learn anything you are willing to teach me."

Godric wasted no time and began teaching Harry at once as he had so much to learn in Godric's opinion. The next year would be hard for Harry as Godric not only challenged his mind but his body. By the end of his time there, Harry grew to six feet tall and his body filled out quite a bit. The muscles he built up were due to a combination of Poppy's potions, the magic of the place they were in, as well as constantly sparring and dueling with Godric. The heavy swords they used gave his arms and chest a lot of definition and the marches and runs Godric led him on gave his legs more strength and muscle as well. Harry found it funny that their 'hikes' were used like a classroom where Harry was tested and taught as much as Godric could throw at him.

As they were talking one day, Harry said "You know, the reputation we have been taught of you in my time only portrays you as the warrior. Never would I have guessed that you were this nerdy."

Godric snorted "Oh, the warrior/scholar image is too shameful for you? I'll have you know that I was Rowena's equal in the intelligence department. I'll also have you know that Salazar may have thought himself cunning but I maneuvered that man wherever I wanted him to be. Helga was a different matter and you could not find a more loving and caring person in the world but she could be vicious when she needed to be. Hence another secret you need to take away from this conversation. Always let them underestimate you unless you are on the field of battle."

"I have done that for years."

"I have watched you young one and know this to be true but you have to admit you did slack off quite a bit with that weasel. I know your mental abilities were partially blocked but you should have tried harder and you should never relied on anyone else to do your research and dirty work."

"Yes Uncle, I have since corrected that and intend to do better in the future."

Godric nodded and turned the conversation in another direction. He knew his charge had learned from his mistakes and would do much better in the future.

By the time he was done with Godric, he knew his role as the Gryffindor heir and was quite well versed in battle techniques. On their last day together, Godric gave him specific instructions as to how to handle matters at Hogwarts as that was where Godric's true power was. Harry grinned as he thought about what he was going to do on the day he returned to the castle.

**LC**

Sirius' drunken trip through the Veil was reported in the prophet as merely the act of a coward who could not face up to the shame of his choices in life. As soon as the Malfoy's heard of it, they made a trip to Gringotts in order for Draco to claim the Black Lordship. They were immediately uneasy as it was reported to them that Ragnok was handling this matter and they would have to take the matter up with him. Lucius pushed the matter and was soon sitting in front of the Goblin leader demanding that Draco be given his rightful inheritance.

The snarling and sneering by the pureblood wizard just managed to infuriate the Goblin leader more than he already was with the whole matter of the Potter heir being undecided. Goblin magic told him that Harry was still alive and he already knew from his dealings with Sirius that Harry was the legitimate heir to House Black. When he informed the Malfoys of this, they claimed it was impossible and demanded that Draco be tested.

Ragnok growled out "There is only one true test of the Lordship of the House of Black. You place the signet ring on your hand and if you survive, you are Lord Black."

Draco asked "And if you aren't the Lord Black?"

Ragnok gave a feral grin "At the worst, the test will kill you. As best you become a squib. Do you still want to try it?"

Ragnok could see that Draco was obviously scared but Lucius had dollar signs and power flashing around in his head. Narcissa had the presence of mind to say "Lucius, perhaps it would be best to wait until the will has been read. If it falls to Draco then we will know then."

She turned to Ragnok and asked "Director Ragnok, has the date for the reading of Lord Black's will been set?"

"Not as yet Mrs. Malfoy, there are some matters that must be cleared up before that can happen. You will be notified as soon as we have set a date as I know for a fact that you are mentioned in it."

That statement seemed to appease them for the moment and the three haughty wizards finally left the bank. Ragnok was nervous as all signs pointed to Harry becoming the Lord Black as well. If he could not repair the damage to their business relationship, things would become bleak for their nation. If all that wasn't enough, a long dormant vault in the deepest and oldest section of Gringotts was showing the signs of becoming active once again after millennia in dormancy. Ragnok thought that it was no mere coincidence that the Peverell vault was reacting this way during the time that Harry Potter was behind the Veil.

**LC**

Megan was not doing very well in dealing with the disappearance of Harry. She could still feel the bond but it was different as it couldn't seem to find its match and seemed to be always searching. Luna's words helped but even with her comfort, Megan remained in a depressed state. Once Cedric was released from St. Mungos, he and Megan spent a lot of time together commiserating with each other as he felt guilty over Harry being gone and could not shake the thought that he did not do everything he could to help Harry.

A month passed since Harry disappeared and Daphne and Cho were constant companions to the two of them ever since they came home. They were even pushing Megan in her studies so that she could take her OWLs but without Harry, her heart just wasn't in it anymore. Daphne even used the tactic of saying Harry would be disappointed in her when he returned for not following the plan but it had the opposite effect she intended and Megan dissolved into tears once again. Daphne did the only thing she could and hugged her closer. Daphne felt for the girl but at the same time, was glad that it wasn't her that Harry bonded with. Daphne always thought that Megan was one of the strongest people she knew and to have the 'Ice Queen's' respect was really saying something. It was this respect she had for Megan that allowed her to permit herself to take that first step with Harry. Daphne missed Harry just as much as the other two did but to see Megan broken and beaten was something she never expected. She quietly prayed every night that Harry would once again pull off a miracle and return to them as she didn't know if Megan would survive the loss of someone so close this time.

**LC**

Azrael came and picked up Harry after his time with Godric. As they were walking away, he said "It looks as if your time with Godric has been good for you."

"I feel better and stronger than I have ever felt in my life. I just hope Megan likes the new me if she hasn't moved on already. I have been gone for a long time."

Azrael chuckled "No child, she still waits for you. You have done well with the brothers and Godric and they have had nothing but praise for you. I think you'll enjoy your last group of tutors more than you did the others."

"I'll look forward to it then. I've really enjoyed my time here so far."

They continued to walk and chat until they came upon a large manor. Azrael led him through the front doors and called out. "Hello the house. I brought you company."

They heard a person walking until a screech of 'Harry' was screamed out and a red headed blur attacked and pulled him into a hug.

"Mum?"

"Oh baby, I have been waiting for this moment for so long."

As they continued the embrace, they heard a "What's going on?" before both were wrapped in a pair of strong arms.

Harry gurgled out "Dad?"

James laughed and said "You said it the same way before…well you know."

They laughed and Harry saw an older couple standing close by. As soon as James noticed, he said "Harry, I'd like you to meet my mother and father. Charlus and Dorea Potter."

The two stepped forward and pulled him into an embrace. Dorea said "My how you have grown. The last time I held you was before you went into hiding."

Azrael smiled upon his family and started to walk away before he said "Oh, I almost forgot." He held out his hand and motioned to someone in a cloak who moved towards the group. "I thought you would want to be reunited after all the time you have been apart."

The cloaked figure stepped forward and removed his cloak to reveal a beautiful elf with glowing green eyes and long black hair. Harry looked at him for a minute before his eyes grew wide and said "Dobby?"

Dobby smiled and ran to embrace his friend. As they hugged Harry asked "What happened to you?"

"Grandfather healed me. He was able to make me better and restore my core. As I was bound to you, I somehow became a cross between a Potter and an elf."

Lily stepped forward and said "You were always a Potter Dobby. Thank you for taking care of my son."

Dobby bowed "It was my pleasure Mistress Lily."

"It's just Lily. You're family and have been for a long time."

Harry looked him over and asked Azrael. "You look like a high elf. Is that what you did?"

"Yes and no. I remade him into a high elf but not all the damage could be reversed as well as he didn't have a core for me to work with so he is a cross between both. He is no longer dependent on a bond and he looks like a high elf in everything but his height."

Harry asked "So have you spent your whole time healing?"

"No Mast…sorry…old habits…Grandfather took me to the elfin lands and I trained with them while you were training. I plan to return there while you are here and then rejoin you when it is time to return."

"Grandfather, you said earlier that Megan was still waiting for me. I've been here for years so how can that be?"

Lily came forward and pulled him into a hug. "Time doesn't really have a lot of meaning here. You may feel like you have been gone for a long time but back there it has been a month at the most. Your Megan has not forgotten you and to prove it, I'll even teach you how to visit her in her dreams."

Harry released a breath "That's great Mum. I was worried that I needed to get back but at the same time, I didn't want to cut our time short. I've wanted this for a long time."

**LC**

Harry spent the next year getting to know his family. The fact that they took a lot of outings and made his instruction fun just made the time even more special. Other than learning what he needed to know about being a Lord and all the family businesses, he was also instructed in just how to deal with the Goblins.

As they were talking one night about his studies and interests, Harry mentioned his interest in runes and curse breaking. Charlus and Lily perked up and soon a discussion was being held about how to teach him all they knew. James and Dorea rolled their eyes at this as it seemed to be Charlus and Lily's favorite subject as they had endured hours of talking on the matter.

Harry said "Megan's super smart and Poppy says she's a lot like Mum and Grandmum and told me to never let her go."

James chuckled "Does she go ballistic and make everyone run for cover?"

Harry nodded his head as he saw Lily and Dorea both glaring at James. Harry said "We were planning on studying for our OWLs in runes once school was out so that we could leave Hogwarts but I guess I messed up those plans. I guess I'm going to get yelled at when I get back."

James laughed "Just snog the heck out of her when you first see her. It always works for me."

Charlus muttered "Me too."

It became a full out effort by Charlus and Lily to teach him to the point where Harry could step into the true family business. He found it funny that it was going to be his Mum who designed the warding while James just did the casting but couldn't think of a better way to spend your life than with the one you loved.

One day Harry asked "Mum, if you and dad were so good at warding and stuff, why did you ever go under Dumbledore's protection? I mean, I read your letter but surely you could have done a better job of it."

Lily smiled "There is not a day that we don't regret it and grieve for what it has cost all of us. The only choice we have is to move on and make the best of it now. It helps us to know that you no longer trust that man and won't allow his influence on your life anymore."

In the end, Harry stayed an extra year behind the Veil to learn as much as he could and by then, Charlus guaranteed he could take his Masteries in warding, runes, arithmancy, and curse breaking. Following along that would be the normal masteries in other fields which he was already prepared for with his time spent with his other ancestors.

**LC**

Lily came to him one night and led him out on the grounds of the manor. She sat in the lotus position and invited him to do the same. As he took his place in front of her, she held out her hands which he took. "I'm going to lead you through a sleep visitation. I know you are anxious to see Megan but I think this will help you both with the separation."

"I think I'd like that. What do I do?"

"You need to sink deep into a meditative trance and then focus on the bond you share. When you feel the connection, follow it until you find her. It's that easy."

Harry snorted. "How come every time you say something is easy, I end up looking like a first year all over again?"

Lily smiled "That's because your Mum is the most brilliant witch ever. I thought you'd learned that already."

Harry snorted "Yeah, she's modest too."

They quieted down and Harry went into his trance. As soon as he sunk into it, he focused on his connection to Megan and began following along beside it. As he walked, it wasn't long before his path disappeared into a mist.

Megan was asleep and as usual, she was dreaming of Harry. Her usual dreams were more like nightmares where she saw Harry but before she could get to him, he was forcefully pulled away from her and no amount of running would allow her to catch up. Sleep offered her no comfort as even her dreams gave no relief from the pain that was her separation from Harry.

The dream she was currently having was nowhere near the norm and she found herself sitting in a white mist. She heard footsteps and as she stood, the mist parted as a cloaked figure walked towards her. As soon as she came into view, the figure came to a dead stop and stood there staring at her.

She asked "Who are you?"

She heard the cloaked figure chuckle before he reached up and pulled the hood from over his head to reveal two glowing emerald eyes that were shining with love towards her. She couldn't believe her eyes and was running at him without even thinking. They met in an embrace and a passionate kiss that seemed to go on forever.

"How? Is this real?"

Harry said "As real as it can be for now."

"Is this all in my head?"

Harry smiled "Yes, No, I really don't know."

"Huh?"

He sat down and pulled her into his lap. "The way Mum explained it to me was I am using our bond to speak to you in your dreams."

"Your Mum? Are you dead?"

"That's where it gets complicated. Yes, Harry James Potter is dead. There can be no other result from passing through the Veil. However, I am here and am still alive sort of or should I say that I will be again soon."

"You're not making any sense, if Harry James Potter is dead, then if you come back, who will you be?"

"I will still be me but I have changed a lot. Harry died when he went through that Veil and when I step back through, I will be reborn as Harrison James with a different surname. It's kind of hard to explain but I am amongst my family right now. The sire of my family took me to another place through the arch that has allowed me to learn and train with my ancestors. I finally got to meet my parents and grandparents."

"Harry, you are not making any sense but then again this is a dream so nothing makes sense anyway. Will you tell me what is going on?"

"I don't know if you would believe me if I did."

"Merlin Harry, I'm talking to you in a dream and you're pulling a Dumbledore and speaking in circles. How do I even know this is real?"

He softly replied "Close your eyes and reach out to the bond we share."

She did and a few minutes later she smiled. He asked "Do you feel me?"

"Yes, its closer than it has been. Oh Harry, it really is you! Now, will you tell me what is going on?"

"I can't tell you most of it yet as it is considered a family secret. I'm sorry but until you officially become a member of my family, it will have to stay that way. Now, what do you know of the night I disappeared?"

"All anyone knows is that you fought with Voldemort in the graveyard and as you were trying to leave, he hit you with a curse. The next time you were seen was when you stepped through the Veil."

"Hmm, okay. Yes I fought him and as I was leaving, my magic was pulling me towards something I knew I needed. He hit me with a powerful withering curse as I popped away and it sent me off course and straight to the Veil. The curse was killing me quickly and if I was dying then it meant there was no hope for Dobby. I heard voices on the other side of the Veil calling my name and saying to step through and they would help me. I didn't think I had anything to lose so I did and that's where we have been ever since. If I had known what the arch was, I would have sent you a message so you wouldn't worry but I had no idea at the time. Meanwhile, I met the sire of my family and he cured both of us and we trained. How long have I been gone?"

She looked at him with wide eyes before saying "I don't know, maybe five weeks."

"Wow that is so cool. What has been five weeks for you have been probably five years for me and I've missed you so much. I've been with my family the whole time and I now have a pretty good grasp of what my position is and how to act on it."

She gave him a sad look and said "That's good I guess."

"Why do you say it like that?"

She looked up at him with a tear running down her cheek. "You won't need me anymore now that you know what to do."

Harry laughed at her and then realized it was a mistake by the look on her face. He pulled her tighter into the hug and said "You couldn't be further from the truth. I love you Megan and only want to spend the rest of my life with you. I promise you that I will always need you."

"Oh great, you say that again now that you're dead. Even if you weren't, we're only fifteen."

He grinned "I'm not dead. I'm just not completely alive right now. I'm sure I'll get better."

She snorted. "We're too young."

"So!"

"So? How can you be so sure it's me you want? You haven't dated anyone else. For that matter, how do I know that I will still want to be with you in a few years?"

Harry gave her a sad smile. "The way my Mum explained it, the only way I'm able to be here with you is because we are life mates. The 'Potter' bond only allows us to recognize our mates early but doesn't require us to act on it right away. I thought you felt the same for me as I did for you but I guess I was wrong. I'll set you free of the bond and will look elsewhere. Maybe Luna or Daphne will be interested or maybe I'll just stay where I am. It's not as if my not coming back would change the world."

She started crying again. "You know, I used to never cry until I met you and here lately, all I've done is cry over you."

"I have that effect on girls I guess."

She giggled and then wiped her eyes. They sat there in silence for a minute before she got up from his lap and then sat back down straddling him and looking him straight in the eyes. "Your not coming back would change my world. I'm sorry Harry. I love you and I don't want you to break the bond. I'm just scared at how much I feel for you and also of making that kind of commitment at our age."

"I'm not too young to know that I love you. I also know that as soon as I take my titles, I will only have a year to marry or else they will be stripped from me by family law. I would suggest you think about it and make your decision soon. I can feel my magic pulling me back so my time here is short. I should be finished in about a week and then I will return but I won't make it public for a while as I have some things to do and need the freedom to do them."

He hugged her and gave her a kiss on the cheek before he disappeared into the mist. As soon as he was gone, the ache returned in her heart. It was that moment that she could see through her fear and insecurities and realized she wanted nothing more than to be the Lady Potter or whatever his new last name was despite their ages.

The next morning, Megan awoke to find Luna sitting on her bed staring at her. "So how was Harry?"

Megan looked at her cousin for a minute before saying "He wants me to marry him."

"So are you going to do it or do Daphne and I get a shot at him?"

Luna's answer was being hit with a pillow.

**LC**

Dorea became Harry's political teacher as she handled that aspect of their lives so that Charlus could play with his wards. It was then that he learned of Sirius' fate and that he would be taking over House Black as well.

"What does that mean?"

Dorea smirked and said "It means that you will have to have one wife for House Potter and one wife for House Black or you can just absorb House Black into House Potter and let the family end."

"Wait a minute, I thought you guys said that House Potter was going to die out and House Peverell would be reborn? Not only that, I can't have two wives Grandmum. I love Megan and I wouldn't want to hurt her. Besides, wouldn't Draco be able to make a claim on the title?"

"Technically House Potter and House Peverell are one and the same. Draco could but as you have a stronger claim, you would be considered the primary heir. Sirius came from the primary line and claimed you as his heir. I also came from the primary line and so you have a direct claim through me. Narcissa is from the secondary line and does not have as good a claim no matter what they think."

"If I absorbed the Black family would that mean I had to accept them into my family?"

Dorea smiled sweetly and shook her head. "I would advise you to take the title and…"

Harry sat quietly for a minute before asking "So what happened with Sirius?"

"What do you mean dear?"

"When he showed up, what happened?"

She looked sadly at him for a second before replying "I'm sorry baby but he just didn't show up. Azrael dragged him in front of us before taking him on to be judged. It was obvious he already realized his mistakes but as your father told him, it was way too late for sorry. In the end, everyone told him how disappointed they were in him and how he would never be welcome in our family's presence again. Azrael said he wasn't sentenced to hell but I can't help but think that's what he got anyway as he would never be accepted by us again and that what he had done was unforgivable."

Harry quietly said "I'm glad I wasn't here to deal with him. His betrayal was just as painful as Hermione's."

She walked over and pulled him into a hug. "Yes, your mother thought that not knowing your fate would see justice served in his case and it would torment him for eternity."

**LC**

On the last day, Azrael and Dobby came back to the manor and joined the family as they were trying to avoid the pain of saying goodbye to each other. As they sat around and talked, it was obvious that the family had grown quite close over the last few years and they were all thankful for the opportunity they had been given to make the connection with each other that had been denied them.

Azrael led Harry and Dobby back to the chamber they had arrived in. Harry looked closely at it and noticed this one was round.

"Why is this one different from the other one?"

Azrael chuckled "Well, it really doesn't matter as it can take any form I choose. I've used mirrors, doors, haunted arches and just about anything else you can imagine but I got this idea when I was in the non-magical world one night. My charge was in a movie theatre and watching something called Stargate. The movie used a device that looked like this to move people from one world to the other and I liked the idea so my arch took on this appearance. To be quite honest, I thought the effect of walking through the wall of water to be extraordinary."

"Great Grandfather, my generation would say that it was cool. From what Meg told me, it freaked everyone out and they had no clue as to what was going on. I guess if they had spent some time embracing the non-magical world instead of saying it was beneath them, they might have figured out from your clue that it was a transportation device. Anyway, it doesn't matter as it will work in our favor."

Azrael gave him some final instructions and then stepped over and placed his finger on Harry's temple. Harry closed his eyes for a minute and when he opened them, Azrael said "That should help you along with your task. You need to send Tom Riddle to me a piece at a time until all you have left is Tom himself. Once you have sent tom himself, I expect nothing less than for Albus Dumbledore to find his way to me. We have all given you the tools you require to do it and then take your place in the world."

"Yes Sir and I know my first stop."

"Good, use it as it was intended. I'm sure everyone would be happy if you checked in with them regularly. So Harrison James Peverell, it is my hope that I don't see you for a very long time but if you ever need me, all you have to do is call my name."

Harry pulled him into a hug and said "Thank you."

With a wave of his hand, Azrael had once again activated the arch. Harry turned to Dobby and asked "You ready for this?"

After a nod from Dobby, they stepped into the wall of water for their journey back to the mortal plane.