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Masters and Memories

December, 1988, Wizengamot, Ministry of Magic, London

They arrived for the trial in the Wizengamot chambers disguised as nondescript individuals. They had taken an aging potion, the potion in Tom's notes actually as it was long lasting.

They arrived early, as the public gallery gets full if you don't get in early. There were some reporters in the benches below them.

The benches below the reporters were reserved for the seats of members of house of Commons, along with the order of Merlin recipients, then next - the seats for house of Lords, then the ministry representatives and lastly there was the empty podium in the bottom. The seat of Chief Warlock was on the other side with the ministry officials level.

The trial was going to be impromptu. Unlike what's usually done, with a tribunal being set up for a trial and then it being carried out in a court room. They were going to present the cases in the ongoing session of Wizengamot citing the absence of trials last time as their reason to get it over with, with everyone present.

The session started and Amelia Bones presented the proposition of the trials. The members of both houses protested the abruptness of it, but the proposal was seconded by Fudge and it got through with a marginal difference after the votes.

The trial started and three people brought in before Sirius, received a life sentence in Azkaban. One prisoner received 10 years only, and 5 of them were reduced as he was in Azkaban for last 5 years.

When Sirius was brought in people had raised their voices, protesting he didn't need a trial as everyone knew of his crimes. Madame Bones shut them up with a bang and then told them, everyone deserves a trial as that's how the judicial system worked and not just by 'hearsay'.

Dumbledore had watched it all blank faced, though he hadn't looked at Sirius in contempt like others.

The trial started then and Madame Bones gave him veritaserum. After he had told his side of the story, the court was in uproar. Some were in disbelief about his story. Some dismayed at the injustice happened, while others didn't believed it and accusing him of telling lies about dead men.

Madame Bones again shut them up, then provided the evidence they had gathered for his defence. His wand had been broken and the witnesses had said Pettigrew had shouted Sirius betrayed the Potters but other things didn't add up.

Witnesses were called up. Fudge was one of them and had told them Sirius had said it was his fault, after the aurors restrained him, but wasn't sure if have could have been saying it because of regret like he says or in joy and admittance like they thought.

The aurors were questioned why they didn't kept his wand as evidence rather than breaking it. Their excuse was that it was for safety, if he was able to get away from the bonds he wouldn't have his wand.

The reason for him not getting a trial was that he was lost in the system like others. Sure of his crimes nobody thought it important.

Bumblebee was asked about his knowledge of the secret keeper.

"So they could have changed them without your knowledge?" Bones asked.

"They had faith in me and I'm sure would have told me about it, but yes they could have changed the secret keepers without my knowledge." He had replied.

While most people looked convinced some still were looking skeptical. If they had voted now Sirius would have been acquitted by a slight difference in votes. But Bones then ordered Pettigrew to be brought in.

People were stumped on seeing the dead man alive. He was given veritaserum as well and told them all what happened. It corroborated with Sirius's account. Now people were outraged at him and shouted at him, angry with him. After they were settled down, Bones showed them Pettigrew's wand, which was checked for last spells done and it showed a bombarda, along with killing curses fired at Sirius.

Finally his sleeve was cut and the dark mark on his arm was shown. He pleaded with them that he was scared for his life and therefore told Voldemort the Potter's secret but Bones countered that he was providing information long before that to the death eaters as was suspected of Sirius.

When they got around with voting, Sirius was acquitted, cleared of all charges and Pettigrew was given life sentence in Azkaban. Sirius was compensated for his undeserved stay in Azkaban for the last seven years and sent to St Mungo's to get healed after this long exposure to the dementors.

Harry and Anna, went back home after the trial was over, remaining undiscovered.

They would meet with Sirius later. He would be in a bad shape for a while. They hoped though that they get to see him before the holidays are over.

Harry had wanted to go meet him for Christmas but Cato told him that Bumblebee and others would be around then, so it was better if they visited him later.

-x-

25th-26th Dec' 1988, Potter Manor

Christmas eve and the Christmas day, Harry and Anna spent in the Potter manor. They exchanged gifts with the elves. Giving the elves some music to make their life more fun. And they had followed last years theme, gifting each other another set of knives. They were a set of twelve blue kunai throwing knives and this time Anna gave Harry a set of book and mirror. She had the other part of the set and told him they could communicate with each other through it, when he goes with Sirius.

"But you said he was nice so he would take you in as well right?"

"Just because someone's nice, they don't go around adopting orphans into their homes or becoming their guardians. He had just been acquitted, he still hadn't even met you. You both should have some time together. He could be my guardian later. We first need to get you under his protection."

Harry had pouted at her but cheered up when she distracted him by showing the spells on the gifts he was given. The book had a variation of protean charm, which would allow for the writing to appear in the other book and the pages were unlimited. While the mirror was spelled unbreakable and if you call the other's name they would see each others faces and can talk face to face.

She had said she wanted to make it like a smartphone, a modern technology which hadn't been developed yet, but couldn't work out the features. Though she was trying to make the magical version of the computer as well.

He had given her another gift of a scarf, he had found in a clothes shop, it was charmed to give the wearer a comfortable feeling of warmth whenever they traveled out. It was deep blue in color and had intricate floral design on it.

"You have a good fashion sense Harry-kun. Other girls would be jealous of it."

"I don't have fashion sense. I just thought you would like it so I bought it." Harry shrugged.

"Are you saying my fashion sense isn't good?" She asked scowling.

"Well you do wear eccentric clothes." Harry defended himself.

"There's nothing wrong with wearing big clothes. It feels comfortable." She protested.

"Anna the t-shirt you are wearing is a boy's and it is so large on you." He argued.

"Yes. But its just feels better than the short ones they had for girls. Girls don't get any nice clothes. All the shirts and t-shirts are for boys. And I don't only wear this, I like wearing dresses as well." She pouted.

Harry had just conceded defeat at that. Then they had an excellent meal made by the elves and spent the day playing in the snow outside the manor.

-x-

31st Dec' 1988, Gringotts

"You are going to do what?!" Harry exclaimed.

They were in the ritual chamber deep inside Gringotts, different one than the ones they did rituals in before. The day when they would perform the ritual to bring Tom back had arrived. It was New Year's Eve.

"Hakuna Matata, Harry-kun. It won't be dangerous at all. It would just provide a boost to the ritual."

"We are already doing it today to provide a boost to it. You don't have to do this Anna."

"It isn't dangerous Harry-kun. And I could talk to him anytime I want, you know."

Anna was going to ask Death to help to put Tom's soul together. So she would be participating in the ritual.

"But..." Harry was scared for her. They hadn't participated in the rituals before just watched from sidelines. Now he was worried for her. The rituals are risky things. They need everything to be proper to be successful or they-

"-could hurt you if something goes wrong."

"Nothing will go wrong. You just stay with Bloodaxe, alright. Don't interfere with all that happens. We need to get you more knowledgeable about rituals. They aren't dangerous if done right. And we are doing everything right, okay? Don't worry."

The goblins had arranged everything, the horcruxes, the body made of magic and various ingredients added together. It would get shaped, as the soul fragments after forming a whole soul would be breathed into it, like a life. They were going to summon Tom at the last stage as they don't want him to do anything to stop the ritual. Anna was then going to call Death to work his magic, in a manner of speaking.

Soul magic is very dangerous, they need Death's permission to do anything related to it. The goblins were going to call a necromancer to summon him, but when Anna said she would participate and call for Death, they let her participate. They knew, had realized she was different somehow and therefore hadn't questioned her knowledge yet.

Death gave life to souls, so his approval was needed for the ritual to be complete.

They started the ritual at the witching hour or devil's hour people call it on the morning of 31st.

The Dursleys were gone to celebrate the new years eve to London for last few days of the holiday. It worked perfectly for them as they were able to live in the Potter manor. And were able to come to Gringotts and stay there for the whole day the ritual would take to complete.

The goblins took turns sitting in the rituals, but Anna remained for the whole ritual. Harry had slept from where he watched the ritual in the ante chamber sometime during dawn and had eaten some food provided by the goblins in the day.

They had to perform a cleansing ritual on all horcruxes, and would also need to be performed on Tom's spirit, then they had to wove together the soul fragments from the horcruxes.

Finally after 13 hours as twilight neared they summoned Voldemort. He put up a fierce fight and they were only able to drag him there with tremendous efforts. After his spirit had traveled to the chamber in a panic and beyond angry, and restrained in the ritual circle, they started the next rituals, cleansing the spirit, preparing him for the last ritual.

At her cue Anna called for Death, cutting her palm with the sacrificial dagger, offering him her life essence, blood.

Voldemort was frightened on seeing her actions, redoubling his efforts to get away but without success.

And Death finally arrived.

"You took your time." Anna scowled.

"I came when I wanted to." Death replied back haughty.

"But you came quickly whenever I called you before." She argued.

"I have some reputation to maintain young mistress." Death said chiding her. He had frozen the time so they could talk freely.

"Some reputation! I don't understand, why he would fear you so much?" Anna asked indicating towards Voldemort's frozen form showing a frightened look on his face.

"He had a hard life. But that shouldn't be enough to push someone towards insanity. Or maybe it is." Anna said.

"He was told to fear his life after death since childhood. Saying he would burn in hell to a child, mortals!" Death shook his head.

"So he did. He feared me. Some children are told that they were better of dead. So they die welcoming me with open arms." He added.

Anna nodded her head, remembering the experience from her lives.

"How are you doing young mistress? Brain working alright?" Death asked then teasingly.

"Yeah. Its alright. Could you give Harry the better brain like me and also his memories back?" She asked.

"I was going to give him the memories." Death said indicating Tom. "The growth of his new body could help him get adjusted with the memories. But the other master..." Death went silent contemplating Harry.

"Oh so he's also a master. I'm getting all the help I could, huh? And you approve of my decision to help him too, I guess eh? Good to know." Anna said conversationally.

"Oh? Ah. Yes. He's a master too. And I approve your decision to help him. About the young master, maybe it could be done. He's almost at the age you were when I gave you the memories. Though you were different than him."

"I could ask him, if he wants the memories. And are you sure it won't hurt them like it did me, when you first tried it?" Anna asked.

"I had perfected it Annabelle. Hakuna Matata. They won't be hurt. Ask young master if he wants the memories, then summon me if he does." Death said.

"Hey, I was just asking. It still gives me shudders remembering that time. Ah." Anna said, faking a shudder.

"I had apologized for it once. I'm not going to do it again." Death said with a pout folding his hands defensively.

"Aw. You got upset. I apologize, Mrutyu. I was just kidding. So you wanted to talk about anything else. Or you could unfreeze them." Anna said turning serious.

"How's the progress of the task going?" Death asked.

"Its going alright. I mean I got two of your masters to help me. Or did you do something?" Anna asked with a raised brow.

"I don't interfere with mortals you know Annabelle." Death said sternly.

"Only with Time." Anna muttered.

"What was that?" Death asked.

"Nothing." Anna answered sheepishly.

"That's what I thought. So continue on your path. You are doing well and you still have plenty of time. And as I always say, enjoy your life first." Death said wryly.

"So you won't mind if I reverse engineered the philosopher's stone or turn into a vampire or something?" Anna asked cheekily.

"You know I don't care about it all. But remember stay away from messing with your soul." He said sternly.

Anna nodded back seriously.

"And you had to focus on the task too. Though I'm hoping you would be successful this time." He said to her expectedly.

"Yeah. I'm hoping I would be successful too. I suck at the leadership roles though. How I'm going to lead them both..." She trailed off sighing.

"You will do fine. And you don't suck. You aren't my first master, just because." Death said encouraging her.

She smiled back at him then gestured to the others.

He nodded.

But said one last thing, "They would remember their lives from before, after this life as well. Just like you. So you are gaining them for eternity, remember that. And you may be able to identify the lives you were together before as well." He said mischievously.

"Such a horror." Anna said smirking back.

Death unfroze the rest then and then turned towards Tom.

"You would do better to behave properly from now on or you could lose your title. You are on thin ice already. No more of such transgressions. I'm watching you. Remember my last." Death said gravely to him.

Tom's expression had turned from horrified and frightened to shocked and surprised. He watched him back astonished and confused.

That was expected, as he wouldn't have imagined Death in this form and he probably doesn't understand what he is talking about.

Death was in the form of a handsome man, ageless and with the face of an angel. Now a days he liked to go around in the form imagined by the people of how the Greek Gods looked. Like the Greek God of Death. Or maybe Adonis personified. Though he was wearing a long, dark blue almost black robe with his hood on, mixing styles.

He turned towards Anna and indicated her to complete the ritual. She nodded and infused magic in her hand to get ready to wove the soul back. She wouldn't do it herself, Death would of course guide her. The soul fragments all appeared from the horcruxes and surrounded the spirit form in the middle of ritual circle.

Everyone else watched astonished as Death and Anna worked together to wove the soul seamlessly together. There was a web formed in the ritual circle and they seem to be weaving it to make a fabric blanketing a core in the middle of it.

While the souls are created and recreated by the free energies, they are only joining back a soul together, teared apart by the transgressions of Tom. Anna couldn't have done it herself and neither the goblins. They would have needed the necromancer for this task. To ask for Death's approval and help. Though he would have probably send one of his workers for him.

After the soul was woven, Death breathed it in the body made for it, the soul started to shape the body with Anna providing the magical energy for it to do so.

After watching the body complete its shape and Tom taking a breath, he tilted his head to Anna who had bowed to him on seeing him ready to leave. The goblins all bowed too, still in awe and then he was gone as he came, with the wind.

Anna let out her breath and sat down on her butt, tired from the long ritual and also because of her magical depletion.

The goblins had been shocked for a few moments after Death was gone, but then got to work, covering Tom with a sheet, collecting the articles for the ritual, the horcruxes together. Clearing the ritual chamber.

Anna was led to the ante chamber along with Tom, levitating him behind her. She was assaulted by a body on entering it.

"Are you alright? You must be tired right? Sorry. Come on, let's get you something to eat. You didn't had anything for so long. That was just...wow. Was he really Death? I mean Death, Death?" Harry asked, he was excited like the child he was.

Anna had doubts about asking him about the memories, he would lose this child-like enthusiasm after that. Or maybe hopefully not. She looked towards Tom who was sleeping. He looked peaceful now, but it would probably change soon when he starts to get the memories.

"Yes. I'm alright. And tired. Hungry too. And yes he was Death." She said to Harry who was leading her to another chamber which had beds like in a infirmary, it probably was an infirmary.

She laid down on a bed and Harry sat beside her on a chair.

"He was...Does he always look like that? And what did he said to Tom, about losing his title?" Harry asked.

Anna looked around and seeing that they were alone, asked Harry to cast a muffliato on them and told him about the talk she had with Death.

"And he looks like that now because he took that form. Of a Greek God. He could take the form of a soul reaper or Shinigami, the god of death, any form he wants." She added.

"So he's a master too. And had received his memory. And I could get it too. With my brain modified." Harry said blankly. Earlier enthusiasm gone.

He sat in contemplative silence after that.

"We both didn't had the choice Harry. So choose wisely. Don't take the decision in a rush. Think it through. Though you are only 8 you are very mature for your age. So consider everything before you decide. If you have any questions ask me or Tom too now, I guess. You don't have to decide soon. We could summon him to ask for it, if you decide to have your memories back. There is plenty of time. You could even ask later in your life. When you're older. There's no rush. Okay?"

Harry just nodded back at her.

Tom had started to thrash in his sleep now.

"No. No. Oh, God!" He was muttering. But nothing could be done for him. He would just live through his lives in a fast forward. Understanding everything, storing everything away. Experiencing everything.

Harry watched him thrash and looked at her, she just shrugged back, shaking her head to indicate nothing could be done. He got a contemplative look on his face, then moved between their beds, sitting on the chair between them and then moved his fingers through his hair, on his scalp. Trying to calm him down. And he did. A little.

Anna raised a brow at him, so he said, "I like it when you do it to me." He shrugged.

"I would like it to when someone does it for me too." She replied with a smile, hinting. He just did an aborted eye roll. She chuckled at his expression.

-x-

1st Jan' 1989, Potter Manor – Gringotts

The next day Harry woke up and went to check on Anna. They had come back to the manor last night after the healer, Bloodtooth had checked her and told her she was okay. And left Tom in the care of the goblins.

Anna wasn't in her room, so he looked out the windows and saw her running around the quidditch pitch. He just shook his head at her stubbornness and got ready for the day.

She came in the kitchen for breakfast, showered and dressed to go back to Gringotts. He asked her about her health. And she told him she was alright.

He started then, "I was thinking Onēchan. I have decided to get my memories as well."

Anna stopped mid bite. She chewed the food in her mouth, swallowed it then remained silent for a while just looking at him, then exploded.

"Explain. I mean I told you there's no hurry. Why would you decide it now? In only one day. Are you saying it because you want to be on equal footing with me and Tom. I don't understand. What?!" She finished with, at his exasperated look.

"If you would let me explain. I mean you asked it and then started to rant yourself. You shouldn't assume, when you do you make an ass of-"

"You and me. Sorry, Harry-kun. Just...okay. You talk. I will listen." Anna said sheepishly, indicating him to continue.

"Thanks. And yes that is one of the reasons. He was already older than us. Living physically for nearly 70 years in this time period. You were mentally older than us both, with your experience and memories. And now he got his memories back as well. So he's on equal footing with you. But I'm left behind. So yes that is one of the reasons. I want to be on equal footing with you both. Then there's the knowledge I could get, the experience of so many years. And also I will change when I will receive all the memories. I won't be the same right?"

At Anna's nod and the comment, 'you will definitely change', he continued, "So I want the memories now. It would be better that no one realizes the change later in my life. And we could have known so much if I had my memories before now. Also if you think I should have a carefree childhood and all, then that ship has sailed long ago. I'm getting any fun in my life at all now because of you. You came in my life and had changed it for better. I don't mind the various adventures we go on. I love them. I guess I was just born for that. I did all that in my last life too, right?"

"I just have this feeling of loss whenever I think about it all. My lives before and all. Maybe its just my imagination, maybe not. But I think I should do it now. No, I know I should do it now. I had thought about this when you had first told me I'm Death's master like you. But you had said I didn't have a compatible brain, and I had thought at the time what if I did have one? It had been on my mind even then. I won't give you all the reasons, but just know that I haven't taken this decision lightly. I didn't sleep last night. I had decided I want this, when you had asked me about it in the infirmary actually. But I debated all night if it was right decision, if I was being impulsive -as you say I'm- then how should I tell you. You would surely start sprouting reasons why I shouldn't do this - it isn't a decision to be taken lightly, your life will change forever, you may regret knowing things, you wouldn't be able to work with Tom, with you and etc., etc." He took a breath.

"But this isn't impulsive. I want my memories. It would be better if I had them from the start. I...my personality will change when I get them. And with it our interactions. You won't be able to treat me like a child anymore." He said jokingly.

Then continued, "Tom would be added in our dynamic and that's already going to change everything. So maybe we should have the changes together. You may think that it would be better, if we have changes one at a time. Get ourselves used to the change. But may be it would be better to have it all happen at once and then we could all find a common ground together. Or we would have to do it all over again with me. And I thought we aren't going to be able to meet with Sirius this holiday, so if he meets me after the change in me occurs then he wouldn't be confused by it. I'm pretty sure I'm not a great actor, even with the memories. I may not be able to fool him that everything was fine and dandy, when it isn't." He finished.

After thinking through everything he had said Anna started,

"You are an alright actor Harry-kun, don't worry." She said cheekily.

Harry just rolled his eyes and gestured for her to go on.

So she turned serious and said, "You didn't even asked about how I felt after I had received the memories. So you want to know about it or just go into it blind?"

At Harry's gesture to go on, Anna remained silent thinking about everything. Finally with a frown on her face she started, "I guess its hard to describe. When Death had first tried it with me, I had died as soon as I was born. From all the information overload, I guess. Later he tried again, in another life, when I was around 9 or 10 years old. I was going to a boarding school in few months, so nobody realized the change in my behavior. They thought I was acting odd but attributed it to my going to the school. And I, I was thinking I had gone mad. But no, I had talk with Death when I has been first made his master you see. Every master has it. You must have had it and will remember it when you get your memories. So I remembered the talk and thought it was true. I was still somewhat skeptical but lived my life in peace. Isolating myself to get myself used to the memories first. And after I died I met Death. He told me again how everything worked. About the souls and all. I was the first. And even after he chose other people, you all, I didn't knew about you and was lonely but still tried to make the most of my lives. Finally when I thought I would ask Death I want to spend some time in Elysium, heaven, whatever else its called, he told me about the task. I tried to do it but wasn't successful, obviously." She took a breath.

"But I was telling you about my reaction after receiving the memories, not about the task. As I said I isolated myself in that life. You can understand the memories and have all your experiences stored properly when you get it first. So you don't have to assimilate or think on them or anything but they were overwhelming for me. Even if it feels like it was all part of everything you had lived until then, like a part of your life. It was still overwhelming. I didn't had anyone with me. But you have me now. So you could come and talk to me alright? You aren't alone. I don't think Death should have sprung it on you and Tom like this. With his task we - well you both could back out, Death won't mind if you do. It is my task. Don't worry. But still he shouldn't have sprung it now. Maybe... I don't know. Maybe it was good. It surely would help with his task. But you won't get much time to come to terms with it all. You have me, so don't hesitate to come to me with anything. And just remember whatever you remember about your lives before, this is your life now. So don't get caught up in them. We learn from them and not get lost in them, alright? I would support you in your decision, whatever it is. So do you really want to do this?" She asked.

Harry had remained silent and ate his meal as she talked, taking in everything she said. Now Anna ate her while he thought about it all.

"Yes." He finally said after her meal was over.

"I still want to do this. As you said I have you now. And I would feel like it was a part of my life until now?" He asked.

She nodded at that.

"So it would be manageable, maybe. I still have two years till Hogwarts. So I could work it out in that time. You would be there for me. To keep me going. And I'm not leaving the task for you to do alone. You are stuck with me. Forever. Eternity, right?" Harry asked raising his brows.

Anna nodded back, smiling at him.

"I will try not to change much. But its obviously not in my hands." Harry added.

"You will be the same in the core. Don't worry. Come on then let's go. We will check on Tom and then I will summon Death in the ritual chamber again." She replied.

"Why in the ritual chamber?" Harry asked.

"So it is all contained inside. Powerful people like Bumblebee may know something is happening if we do it outside." Anna replied.

"I guess I won't have to explain much to you later, after you gain your memories." She added.

Harry just shrugged.

"Maybe. Or maybe not." He said.

They arrived to Gringotts by using the floo. They were led to the infirmary and found Tom sitting on the bed in silence. Looking lost in thoughts. Staring at the wall opposite his bed.

Anna was debating whether they should disturb him or not, when he turned around towards them. Since they had his attention, they moved towards him. And sat on the bed besides his. He watched them come near in silence.

"Harry Potter, I guess." He said to Harry, when they reached him, then turned to Anna and asked, "And you are?"

His tone didn't showed any contempt or anything. It was neutral.

Anna replied, "Anna Summers. Pleasure to meet you."

"Is it?" He asked, looking back towards the wall.

Anna raised her brows and looked at Harry, who shrugged back.

"Well. We are going to summon Death again today. So if you want to come...I mean you are welcome, to join us. If you want to join us." Anna said looking at him inquisitive.

He just nodded his head in reply, so they stood up and waited for him to do. He was unsteady on his feet first but got the hang of it and indicated them to lead the way.

Anna asked them to move towards the chamber and that she will find Bloodaxe and follow them. They walked to the chamber in silence. Harry indicating the turns to Tom, as they walked. After they reached it, they stood in silence waiting for Anna.

"Why are you summoning him again today?" Tom asked looking curiously towards Harry.

They all looked so different but still so similar.

Tom had midnight black hair but they sat on his head in elegant waves. He had an aristocratic face, with sharp cheek bones, aquiline nose and thin lips. No baby fat on his face. He looked handsome enough.

Harry too was handsome. Didn't had much baby fat on his face either. As it was he had his cheeks filled a little with good diet the last year. His cheek bones weren't sharp like Tom. But still prominent. He also had an aquiline nose. And his lips were full. He had black hair too. But his were messy if he kept them short though settled much better with them grown long. Presently they brushed his shoulders.

Anna also had black hair, but had dark brown streaks in it. Of course longer than both boys. It fell in light waves around her shoulders when she left them open. Her face still had a little baby fat on it. Her nose was short. And lips not proportionate, with the upper slightly larger than lower. She had chubby cheeks, though not by much. And she looked cute.

Their eyes, Tom had dark blue eyes, Harry had ocean green eyes and Anna had dark brown eyes which looked more black than brown.

"We are going to summon Death again today to ask -" Harry was answering Tom when Anna appeared with Bloodaxe.

"There you are. Ready for it then?" She asked looking at them both. They both nodded their heads and Bloodaxe led them all inside.

"You are sure you want to do it Harry?" Anna asked one last time as they were left inside by Bloodaxe, he would observe them from outside.

Harry just nodded his head. So Anna nodded back and brought out the sacrificial dagger she had used before. She stepped up to the ritual circle and cut her palm, letting her blood flow.

She closed her eyes to call on Death. Tom and Harry just watched her in silence standing back.

"Hello young masters, Annabelle. Didn't get a chance to greet you yesterday, you were busy berating me for 'being late'." Death said as he arrived.

"I wasn't berating you. Just asking why you were late." Anna protested in a mutter.

"Anyways. Mrutyu, Harry wanted to gain his memories as well. But I should probably introduce you first. Though there's no real need." She again finished in a mutter.

"Mrutyu, Harry Potter. Tom Riddle Jr. Or have you chosen another name yet? We can't- Sorry. First things first. Memories and Brain. That is brain and then memories."

"Shut up Annabelle. You talk to much. Jabbering on and on with your mouth." Deaths said.

Anna shut up with a pout and folded her arms. Then she went to a corner to watch the events, smiling encouraging at Harry.

"Now she won't talk to me for a while. Stubborn girl." Death muttered.

"So young master, you want your memories back." He stated.

Harry nodded back.

"No need to be shy or nervous. Come on lay down in the ritual circle." He said, acting like a doctor.

"Are you always like this?" Tom asked, who had remained silent until then.

"No. If you are asking about me being so talkative, then no. I'm like this to keep up with her jabbering personality." Death replied back pleasantly, indicating Anna.

She just stuck her tongue at him.

"Very mature." Death replied.

"And if you are asking if I always look like this, then no again. I don't always look like this. I can change my form." He continued.

Tom just nodded his head.

Death had been weaving the webs formed over Harry, like he had done the night before, as he talked. He concentrated on the web now and finally was done sometime later. Anna had provided the magical energy to Harry to help in the process. Assisting Death wherever necessary.

"He will sleep for a few hours. Getting used to the memories. Now if there is nothing else..." Death said after he had changed the brain and transferred all the memories.

Both Anna and Tom shook their heads. Anna bowed again and Tom followed her lead.

"I'll see you later then. Take care, young masters. Sayonara."

Death left them then.

Tom turned to Anna, "Did you called him Mrutyu?"

"Ya. Death. Mrutyu. Same thing right?" She replied.

"Its Sanskrit right?" He asked.

"Yes. So do you decide a new name for yourself?"

She had levitated Harry and was moving him towards the infirmary slowly as Tom walked along her side.

"No."

"You didn't ask Death anything or talked with him? I thought..."

"I...I just wanted to see him. See if it all was real. Everything seems so unbelievable. He gave me a chance even after everything I did. I wouldn't have given myself a chance." He replied shaking his head.

"Not after I broke his one important rule. My soul..." He shuddered. And took a deep breath letting it out.

"I didn't thanked you for your help earlier. You don't understand how grateful I'm to you. If you hadn't helped me, I would... probably have gone to hell, lost my title, no redemption for me anytime soon." He said wryly.

But then turned serious and said, "But seriously, Thank You. You have my immense gratitude. I'm… forever indebted to you. My soul... Now that I have it all back together I realize how stupid, idiotic, horrific, appalling... Just insane it was. God! How could I have done that?!" He shook his head.

"Well Mort said you had been told since your childhood that you need to fear death. We run from what we fear. Though you could have chosen another method. You took it to extreme. We could turn into vampires or something next time. And you don't need to thank me. I didn't helped you because I'm altruistic." She added the last part drily.

"I don't fear him now. But I do fear ever getting my soul torn up like that again. And I'm still grateful to you. Even if you didn't do it being considerate or compassionate about me. You still helped me. So I'm in your debt." Tom said bowing his head to her.

"Well it won't happen again. You are sufficiently scared from doing it ever again. Since you will always remember your lives from now. Welcome to my world." Anna said gesturing grandly.

Tom just gave a small smile back.

"But have you really- you know what, I shouldn't ask that. Too personal." Anna said waving her hand.

She looked towards Harry who was sleeping peacefully still. And wondered when the thrashing would start.

"What? You can ask what you want, Anna? Can I call you Anna? He called you Annabelle, but you said..."

"Yes. You can call me Anna. My name is Annabelle Summers. Annabelle's too long. Mort just doesn't like to use shortened names. 'Your name is your identity, you should use it proudly.' But its damn long. So call me Anna. That's why I told you it was Anna Summers earlier. Okay I'm talking too much. Sorry you were saying?"

"I was saying that you could ask what you want. I just reserve the right to answer."

"Fair enough. So I was gonna ask, and this is highly personal so if you don't want to answer I would of course understand."

At his nod she continued, "What happened last time? I mean you have lived this life before and died before. So did you go to hell? What happened to your soul then? I'm just...you don't have to answer if you don't want alright?" She finished reassuring him again.

He heaved a breath at her question, remaining silent, contemplating it. She let him be.

He finally started.

"I was...after he killed me finally -I should be thankful for him for that actually." He said indicating towards Harry.

"I was like a rabid dog by then, insanely sane, gone beyond any help." He said shaking his head.

"After he killed me I was brought before Death. He said, 'Remember my last' at the ritual to me. He was talking about that time. He had put my soul together then as well and I had realized the horror of what I had done. That feeling was horrible. He said I had a chance of redemption if I showed true remorse for what I have done. And then had send me to hell. I feel like I had lived an eternity in there."

He was silent remembering his memories. Then continued,

"There had been others who had done this you know, before me, after me. I'm extremely lucky that I was able to get redemption, atonement. And had a great deal of gratitude to Death for giving me a chance. This life I did it again but the time wasn't changed until you were born. So I had to live the horror again. I wished I could have changed it but I didn't had my memories and did the same thing like I did last time. Though I can see now, I had the feeling of...Deja vu, I think people call it. Whenever I was going to do it, tear my soul, I would get this feeling. Its hard to describe. Like I shouldn't do it, but I of course thought, it was a natural reaction, being scared about such magic, though I had never been before. But I continued and got lost. But now, here I am. As Death said I am on thin ice, but still have that chance."

"I think me being a master of Death already, helped me keep my sanity intact a little after I had done it the first time. Like Death was trying to make me change my mind. Though he doesn't of course interfere with mortals. But I carried on, moving forward on my chosen path and only my deeds in the lives before that one, saved me, salvaged me, gave me a chance of redemption, I think." He finished.

Anna remained silent after he was done. Moving her fingers through Harry's hair as he thrashed.

"It definitely feels like an eternity in there." Anna said at last looking at him with a sad smile.

At his astonished look she continued,

"Death selected the masters according to his own reasons. I don't know them. But I do know we were all perfectly horrible humans in some of our lives. I don't know about him, but I had been in the same boat as you." She said indicating to Harry then looking at him.

Tom remained silent at her revelation.

"And here I was thinking, I must be the only one with such a 'history'." He finally said with a sigh.

They shared smirks.

"Were you the one who did it last night? To me?" He asked indicating towards her hand in Harry's hair.

"Nope. I got the idea from him. He said he liked it when I did it to him. So he did it for you. And I'm doing it for him again." She heaved a sigh looking at Harry.

"So he's a master too. And you are worried he will change?" Tom said, on seeing her expression.

"Yes. He's a master too. And will change. Don't know how he would feel when learns about me being in hell." Anna said.

"He must have done something like us too right? I mean everyone's Gray."

"Yes. He must have." Anna said with a shrug.

"But he looks so innocent. Can't think of what he could have done." She added.

They sat in silence then.

Bloodtooth came to check on Harry and Tom and told them both were alright. They had told her what had happened so she could check them accordingly. She then ordered them meals to eat.

"We aren't a restaurant. Next time you would do better to get something to eat from outside." She had said to them mock haughty. Or maybe it wasn't mock. It was hard to tell with the goblins.

Harry slept the day away and at night only woke up enough to eat a small meal then was gone back to sleep. Anna decided to bunk with them both in the infirmary. She asked Bloodtooth for permission and then went to the manor to inform the elves, so they wouldn't worry.

Tom and she didn't talked much again as Tom was still in a state of detachment from his memories.

-x-

A/N: Thanks For Reading. Please Do Review, Fav and Follow. Bye, Novarkek.