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A/N: Thanks for the fav and follows. Thanks for reading.
Change of Plans and Change Again
Summer Holidays, 1989, Surrey - Marauders' Home - Potter Manor
"You take care Harry-chan. And come back to visit us soon." Anna said with a happy smile. She hugged Harry and stepped back. Letting Nick say farewell.
"Take care, Harry. And don't worry about us. Do come to visit though." Nick said, also hugging Harry in farewell.
His teammates from the football team had already given him a farewell party when they learned he was leaving Little Whinging to live with his godfather.
Sirius had come in the week before, two days after they first met to take Harry looking for houses and spending some time with him, after he was discharged.
They had found one in the countryside in southern England. And it was huge. With 2 storeys, but they were spread out and had many rooms. They had also gone to see Grimmauld Place, Anna had already asked Walburga Black and Kreacher to not tell Sirius about the events before, as he didn't knew about it yet.
Sirius had been surprised to see the place still clean though it was looking little dilapidated still. He didn't want to live there though, as Harry had predicted, so they had consulted a estate agent for the search.
It was going to be warded from the goblins soon. And made unplottable. Also other wards added mostly to manors were going to be added to it. Even though it was already very secure, with a ward book and other protections.
Bumblebee hadn't wanted for Harry to live away from the Dursleys but Sirius had been adamant. So he had also wanted to add to the wards.
Most of Harry's things in the room they had shifted to the Potter manor already and only some clothes and books remained there which were all in the bag in Sirius's hand.
"I'm going to miss you both very much. You take care, Onēchan. And you Nick. I will visit back soon and also take you to the home when we get settled." Harry smiled.
So here they were now, in front of the Dursley house. The Dursleys were inside, they hadn't said anything to Harry after he had told them he was leaving just Petunia asking about the protection on the place, which Bumblebee had assured them he had added new wards to keep them safe. And Vernon muttering 'good riddance'. Which Harry had ignored. But Anna had scowled and spelled him with a naughty spell. He would be helpless all month as if he had taken laxatives. A huge dose.
Sirius had scowled at the Dursleys attitude but hadn't said anything about it. He was happy to see the friends Harry talked so much about and had promised them that they would be able to see Harry soon and frequently.
They left then, Sirius apparating Harry along.
Harry grimaced as they appeared in the entry hall of their new home.
"I know I'm not perfect in apparition but you will get used to it soon." Sirius said seeing his grimace.
Harry just nodded back. The truth was he was used to stepping around the place so much that the normal apparition felt weird. The time Sirius had taken him to see the different houses, they had used portkeys which had also been irritating when he knew he could travel so easily.
They stepped inside the house then. It was an open place, with lots of sunshine entering the house.
The grounds were huge. With a forest in the back and also a stream flowing a little ways inside the forest. The view was scenic. They could make a made up quidditch pitch in the orchard near the edges of the forest just like the Weasleys had done.
The house had a basement with the laundry, a potions lab - that they were going to update, and wine cellar and few unused rooms.
The ground floor had kitchen and a den, also a drawing room which had a huge fireplace. There was a dining hall, attached to kitchen. There were also spare rooms which could be used as bedrooms or converted into study or library. And a common bathroom as well.
The upper floor had rooms like the spare ones on the ground floor and also could be used for various purposes.
They had bought some furniture and had converted two rooms on the upper floor into their bedrooms. They were going to do the other rooms in the house after they had completed arranging their bedrooms.
Sirius was thinking of getting a new house-elf so Harry was going to try and get Dobby for them.
"We have a lot of work to do Prongslet. So let's get to it." Sirius said smiling at Harry.
They set about arranging their rooms, one after the other, then moved to the kitchen. It was going to be mix of modern and old so that they could get things done by themselves when needed.
They spent the day arranging the furniture they bought around the house, Harry thinking it would have been done easily with his magic, but he can't use it as the wards hadn't been updated and he couldn't alter them himself as Sirius will realize they have been tampered with.
They had a nice lunch and dinner in a cafe in London, as they hadn't brought any groceries yet.
Sirius was going to take Harry to Leaky Cauldron but Harry had protested it saying he didn't wanted to be assaulted by the people there.
"So you had gone to Diagon Alley before?" Sirius asked.
"Yes. Me and Anna. Aunt Petunia had given us lift there. And we had kept our faces covered with hoods, so no one would recognize me. We had wandered around for a while but hadn't gone much again." Harry said.
"She had been real helpful to me. Getting my eyes checked, buying me clothes from her collected money. I had protested it but she had said I could pay her back later, since I was adamant, as I would get the money my parents left for me when I go to Hogwarts." He added with a smile.
"She had shown me Gringotts, but we didn't get in as we thought they probably wouldn't give money to us kids." He shrugged.
"Well I'm sure if you had gone they would have given you access to your trust vault. But didn't the Dursleys should have done all this?" Sirius muttered.
"They didn't care. So can I really get inside my vault now?" Harry asked excited.
"Yes. Though you don't need to as I can buy you anything you want. So don't worry about it." Sirius replied with a smile.
The days after the move were busy with organizing the house. The goblins had came to update the wards and so Harry was able to do magic freely though he still hid it from Sirius, but hopefully not for long. He wasn't going to tell Sirius everything but some crucial things.
Sirius had also talked to Harry about inviting Lupin to visit. Harry had asked him then why Lupin had never visited him before.
"I mean I can understand you being in prison, so you couldn't have been there but he could come to visit me sometimes, right?" Harry asked frowning.
"He... Its not my secret to tell. But you need to understand. So... He's a werewolf Harry." Sirius said cautiously.
"So?" Harry asked with a raised brow.
"I guess you don't have anything against them, huh?" Sirius said with a smile.
"They are people. As long as they are careful during full moon, I don't mind them." Harry replied.
"Well, the others do though. The wizards are scared of them and thus had put so many restrictions on them. And there's a stigma attached to them." Sirius said.
"But he couldn't have been restricted from contacting me though. Maybe he couldn't take me in but he never even came to see me." Harry said incredulous.
"No. I don't think he was. I guess he too was devastated by James and Lily's deaths and so drowned in his misery like me. I left you with Hagrid, mad with the thought of revenge and got myself imprisoned. While he too forgot about you and isolated himself. He's had a hard life kiddo. And I know it doesn't excuse his actions, but I think he deserves a second chance. But think about it Harry. I won't invite him if you don't want to." Sirius said sincerely.
"No Sirius, he is your friend. You can invite him. I just... I had thought I didn't had anyone before and there were people who could have... been there for me, I guess." Harry said looking down.
"I'm sorry, we disappointed you like that kiddo. But I'm here for you now and would stay here. I am not going to leave you again. I promise I would try to make up for my absence and be there for you always from now on." Sirius said solemn.
Harry just gave him a small smile back.
They hadn't talked about Lupin again but now Sirius was going to leave Harry to spend the day with his friends while he met Lupin.
After Sirius had gone leaving him in the orphanage they spent some time talking about how Harry was doing in the new home and then had gone to the clearing to get to Potter manor.
"Okay. What was all that about?" Harry asked as they arrived at the manor.
"Bumblebee had put some wards up in the orphanage. He did it secretly but we of course were watching when he had come to put them up in the middle of the night. It seems he doesn't trust us." Anna said with a pout which turned into a mischievous smile.
"I realized there were some. So you are hoodwinking Bumblebee into thinking you both are innocent kids." Harry said sarcastic at the end.
"Yep. He would realize if we tinkered with the wards. So we let them be and just pretend everything is fine and dandy." Nick smirked.
They then talked about all the things Nick and Anna had done.
"We were able to recover Regulus Black. I was thinking of making him a phantom if he wants to. Or we could let him live his life. Asking for small help in politics for freeing him." Anna said.
"He hasn't decided yet if he wants to come back as Regulus Black. Or just remain dead. The Black family tree shows him dead so it would be hard to convince people he's real. I hadn't thought of that before. Anna told me about it when we were giving him the choice. So its going to be hard if we want his political help, that is if he wants to go back." Nick added.
"And the family tree shows him dead even though he's alive 'cause?" Harry asked.
"'Cause he wasn't alive all this time. I mean he was but alive but in a suspended state. Very weak pulse and reduced functioning of the body to make it last longer. So almost dead. And the tree registered him as dead." Nick explained.
"So he's living here now?" Harry asked.
"We couldn't take him anywhere else. Though we had asked him to stay below the first floor and not go above it. And not to go inside the study and all."
"We need a place for the people we will free like him." Anna said thoughtfully.
"And did you checked out the security of Nurmengard?" Harry asked.
They had summoned Death in the week before Sirius came for Harry. They had gone to Gringotts in the middle of the night and used the chamber.
And he had confirmed Anna's suspicion about Grindelwald. He too was a master. He had given them permission to make him a new body and had agreed to give him his memories back.
So they had asked the goblins to get the preparations started for the rituals. They were going to need him to make a clone so the timing for everything needed to be exact. As the clone would need to be taken back to the prison and then they would start the next rituals.
The preparations would require time so they were going to do the rituals in winter holidays. Nobody knew his birthdate so they were going to do it on Yule.
"No we didn't. We are going to do it on the weekend." Nick replied.
"Maybe I would come. If I could get away." Harry sighed.
"So how's life with Sirius. And are you doing your exercises? And before I forget, you need to go and get the lenses replaced. Though you've still got time. After your birthday, but remember it. I will of course try to remind you again. But I may for-" Anna was jabbering.
"Yes, mom. I'll remember to get the lenses replaced. And I'm doing my exercises. As the wards had been updated I'm also doing the magical training. Hakuna Matata. I'm thinking of telling Sirius some things now. Like I can do wandless magic. Maybe even offer to teach him. See if he could do it?" Harry asked.
"You could say you had been practicing it since you were small." Anna added nodding.
"We should try to teach Regulus. I mean ask him if he wants to learn." Nick said casually.
He had heard him coming their way in the library and had looked at others and saw they realized it as well, as Anna brought down the silencing wards. And so he had started talking.
"Learn what?" Regulus asked as he came into view.
"Hello. We aren't introduced yet. I'm Harry Potter. You are living in my humble abode. And its nice to meet you." Harry said.
"The Harry Potter who defeated the Dark Lord. The boy who lived." Regulus asked raising a brow.
"The one and only." Harry said with a forced smile.
"You look like a Black." Regulus said curiously.
"Your brother, Sirius Black is my godfather and had blood adopted me. I guess, when you remove the glasses like my father and the messy hair you see the Black genes."
"Though of course your eyes-"
"Are my mum's. I know." Harry said with a smile.
"That they are. So you are with them or they are with you I guess. Since its your manor." Regulus said.
"We are all together. The manor is just a convenience. What have you thought about the proposal then?"
"I'm still undecided."
"Take your time. There's no rush. And you can stay here as long as you want." Harry said with a smile.
"I don't understand. Why are you doing all this?" Regulus asked.
"Doing what?" Harry asked.
"Saving the magical world. You are all just children, how could you be so powerful. And thinking about all this." Regulus asked awed.
The three had loosened the hold on some of their magic in the manor as the wards won't allow anyone outside to detect it. It wasn't even a fraction of their power. But they couldn't let it all out anyway as it would make the atmosphere unbearable for others. But they wanted to persuade Regulus so they thought it won't hurt show off a little.
Anna and Nick had told him the story they were going to use on others variedly to convince them of their good intentions.
The story was that they had been tasked to save the magical world -which was true- and they are recruiting people for it -also true. Of course they didn't tell him who gave them the task and how they knew what they knew.
Though they had told him they had learned he could be alive from the memories of Voldemort Harry had because of the horcrux. He already knew about them and thus was able to be convinced.
They even told him they had destroyed the two horcruxes. One with Kreacher and another one inside Harry.
So he obviously didn't know that Nick was Tom but they weren't going to tell anyone that anyway.
"We are children. But not really." Harry said smirking at Anna, who smirked back.
"Just know that what we are doing, we are doing seriously. This isn't a hoax. And we saved you not out of the goodness of our heart. But so you could help us in return." Anna said turning to Regulus.
He just nodded back.
"Don't listen to Anna, she just says that, but she's a softy. Cares very much about others." Harry teased.
"No, I don't." Anna said rolling her eyes.
"She does." Nick added mischievously.
"She could give you painless death when you are in excruciating pain and want to die." He continued acting mock intelligent, nodding his head seriously.
"That I could do." Anna also nodded seriously with him, then shrugged.
"Don't listen to them. They are just kidding. Got a really bad sense of humor." Harry said looking at them exasperated.
"But I was serious Harry-kun. I would do it." Anna said with a pout, then acting mock serious again.
"Yes, I know. But we don't want to scare him away, do we?" Harry said, now just getting in the act.
"You all would get along very nicely with my cousin, Bellatrix." Regulus said rolling his eyes.
He has watched them talk silently but couldn't stop a smile to form on his face.
"But even if you didn't do it for just the sake of helping me. I'm still grateful. Even though it feels weird to be back its better than the limbo I was in." Regulus said with a sigh.
"And I didn't thanked you Mr. Potter. So thank you as well. I'm indebted to you as well as them." He added.
"Call me Harry. And you are welcome. Also your earlier question about learning. We could do wandless magic and if you want we could teach you to do it."
"You could do wandless magic." Regulus stated, incredulous.
"Hey, we saved you from a lake filled with inferi, how do you think we did that?" Anna asked.
"With a wand. I mean I didn't think about it. How you saved me. But it would be the obvious answer." Regulus answered raising a brow.
"Well we could do it and we could try to teach you." Nick said.
"But it must be because you are all so powerful. I am proficient with a wand but I don't know if I would be able to do wandless. I had heard only powerful wizards could sometimes perform it?" Regulus asked dubious.
"Don't get your hopes down. We said we could try to teach you. It doesn't need a powerful wizard to do it. Just practice. You would have to start from first year spells. And before that you need to learn to feel your magic properly to use it as you wish." Anna said.
"Well. I will like to give it a try. It would certainly be exciting to learn." Regulus said.
"Yeah. Very exciting." Harry said sarcastic.
As Regulus looked on confused at his tone, Anna said excitedly, "We definitely need to get Bellatrix out. Maybe she could even come with us to Hogwarts, it would be exciting."
"Bellatrix? I don't know Anna. Maybe if we could bring her back from the insanity. I mean she was already mad because of the Black genes, no offense." Harry added looking at Regulus.
"None taken. You are a Black technically anyway." He replied.
"You are right. I am. So she was already mad but may have gone beyond our help now, living in Azkaban for so long." Harry finished.
"And even if we do bring back her sanity we still are not taking her to Hogwarts. It wouldn't be exciting, it would be catastrophic if she was there." Nick said sternly to Anna.
"You are no fun." She said with a pout but couldn't hold it and smiled at him.
"I was kidding. But the thought is hilarious. Bellatrix back in Hogwarts would be a rollercoaster ride." Anna said with a sigh.
"So you are all going to Hogwarts?" Regulus asked.
"Magical children go to Hogwarts at the age of 11, you know." Nick said.
"Or their parents could home school them or they could go to Durmstrang or Beauxbatons." Regulus replied.
"But we are orphans. We don't know about other schools and who would home school us?" Nick replied back with a mock sad face.
"May be I could adopt you. If you want. Though I would also need a new identity for that. I'm not going to go back as Regulus Black." Regulus said.
"You would seriously do that? Get a new identity and adopt us?" Anna asked the same time as Harry asked, "You don't you want to go back as Regulus?"
"No. I think it would be better if he remained dead. I had decided that already. I just don't know about your offer. I mean I'm not a great assassin material like you want your 'phantoms' to be. And the political work, I can't do that if I'm not Regulus Black. So..."
"And I would adopt you if I could... If I could help you that way. It isn't much work. You all already act like a grown up." He trailed off looking at them thinking.
"And my life won't be much affected by it. I mean I was in a limbo just a few days ago. It can't get worse than that." He added coming back from his thoughts.
"This is great." Anna said excited.
"We are getting a dad. Yay." She added happily. Raising a hand to high five Nick who just looked back at her with a raised brow. Then she pouted at him, producing fake tears, and he slapped her hand back with an eye roll.
"You are going to break hearts." Nick said teasing.
Now Anna rolled her eyes at him
"So we are really going to do this?" Harry asked.
"Its a great plan. We could introduce him as the grandson of Marius Black, a squib disowned by the Black family. Your grandmother's brother." She said indicating Harry.
"Maybe Sirius would take him back in." She added.
"And he could still go by the Black name cause even-" Nick continued but was interrupted by Regulus.
"Even if he was disowned he could use the name. Just won't get the status or any advantages of being a Black. And he is still here. So if you wouldn't talk like that it would be appreciated." He finished with a wry smile.
"Sorry. So this could work. We just need to change your family tree a little. Give you some permanent transfiguration, changing your features a little. Enough so that no one realizes you are Regulus." Anna said.
"Yeah. Maybe the eyes. You would look nice with blue eyes and maybe some change in the nose structure and cheekbones." Harry said observing him.
"If you change cheekbones he-you would lose some of the resemblance to the Black family." Nick said.
"Okay. So maybe not the cheekbones then. Jaw line?" He questioned back.
"Yeah. Though it should be proportionate to the whole face or he-you would lose your handsome features." Anna added.
"Yup. You got that right. Can't change them too much." Nick said.
Regulus just watched them discuss his face amused.
"And what about the name?" He asked.
"Hmm. We need a constellation right?" Anna asked.
"Yeah or a star. So..." Harry thought out loud.
"Arcturus. After your grandfather?" Nick asked.
"No. Something else. I had it in my name before." Regulus said.
"Well how about Leonid or Leonis or just Leo?" Nick asked after some thought.
They all looked at Regulus.
"Sounds good. I like it. So the full name could be Leo Perseus Black." Regulus said.
"Cool. We could call you Leo, as you are just 18-19? and it would be weird to call you dad." Anna said.
"I was 19 when I...died." Regulus shrugged.
"So its fixed. You would really help us do this?" Harry asked.
"No going back. Don't worry. Though I definitely won't do any dirty work for you." Regulus said.
"We wouldn't force you, if you don't want to. Though you would have to take a vow not to reveal anything about us to anyone. Before we let you lose." Anna said.
"That's fair. And you would teach me wandless magic and keep me updated with all your tasks. Which would affect me." He added on seeing there uncertain faces.
"Fair's fair. Alright no going back now." Harry said to him in a no-nonsense tone. He nodded back.
"And we also need to tell you then that you would have to take in one more kid along with them." He added.
"One more? And he would be like you all. Doing this task. Knowing things." Regulus asked.
"Yes. He would know things. And he would probably help in our task too. Definitely." Anna said.
"Who's he?" He asked.
"His half brother." Harry said indicating Nick.
"Okay, I guess. I one more kid." Regulus shrugged.
"Alright. So we need to ask the goblins for another new identity. And to ready the ritual for it. We could probably do it next week or so. But before that you need to get established. A new home, some investments trails to show you are well off." Anna said.
"You are sure about this right? You will have time till the ritual to change your mind. No turning back later. And we know Voldemort did... massively wrong things that's why you tried to do what you were doing. But we won't tolerate any back stabbing either. If you have any issues with our methods, argue. But don't snitch. We aren't the tortuous type but we would bend some rules to get the job done." Harry said.
"What he's trying to say is we are ruthless when we want. Especially to protect our own. And would kill people and torture some if we think its absolutely necessary. Though we don't believe in mindless torture and killing like Voldemort." Nick continued.
"So think about everything. Learn what's all happened while you were gone. About all that we told you. Ask anything you want. We reserve the right to refuse to answer anything we don't want to about us, of course. But we will, if we could. The ritual could be done anytime before the summer holidays ends. And we could give you some more time, if you need. So you know the plan, decide after thinking everything through." Anna finished.
"Wow. You all work well together." Regulus said with a smile.
"I got what you all said and would decide carefully. After thinking things through. And won't turn traitor." Regulus said solemn.
"We will see." Nick said with a raised brow.
"Fair's fair." Regulus repeated with a wry smile.
"Do you... I mean were you close to Sirius? Do you want him to know about your real identity?" Harry asked.
Regulus remained silent, thinking.
Then started, "We were close when we were young. Children. But he went to Gryffindor after he entered Hogwarts. And I went to Slytherin, when I entered. He had tried to be there for me but being in Slytherin and staying close to him was impossible."
"And he didn't tried hard enough to remain close. He was happy with his friends. And I was afraid of my housemates to really be close to him. So we grew apart." He continued with a sigh.
"When I tried to get in the role of heir he had abandoned to get away from our family. The responsibilities. He thought I had become just like our parents. Thinking Pure-bloods should rule over others. He never stops and thinks about others. Always thinking he knows best." He shook his head.
"And I was trying to change my parents minds. Father even was amiable to some of my ideas. Even if mother wasn't. And grandfather was at least open to listen to me."
"He tried to run away from the family. But showed some of their worst traits himself. Bullying others, 'evil Slytherins'." He scoffed.
"Having the reputation of a rich play boy, flair for dramatics." He smiled.
"Abandoning family. And he did that to his parents, brother, and even his godson, no his son." He scowled.
"I don't think I would forgive him anytime soon. So no, I don't want him to know about me." He said with finality.
"You are entitled to your thoughts. And I agree with you actually. With your thoughts. Sirius has a lot of growing up to do. But maybe this incarceration in Azkaban had matured him." Harry said.
"And I love him even with his faults. Though maybe you should keep a room for me in your house so I could get away from him if he ever acts difficult." He added smiling.
"Of course, Harry-kun. Its a done deal. Now who wants ice cream?" Anna said with a snap of her fingers.
Folksy appeared before them with a smile and raised a brow.
The elves definitely had come far from how they were before. Acting almost like humans. Wait, that got out wrong. They now behaved like they were well educated and civilized. They were humane already and now they were...savvy.
"Your elves put others to shame. And I mean about the wizards, they would be ashamed of themselves if they ever interacted with your elves. Treating their own like slaves." Regulus said with a shake of his head.
"Maybe we could ask Kreacher to come and work here he would also become refined like them. We treat them like maids and the 'butler' who look after us. Rather than unpaid workers. Like family." Anna said.
"I'm sure if your mom had stayed here for more time she would have done a better job than us." She added to Harry.
He gave sad smile back.
They ate the ice cream served and then Regulus left them to themselves. Retreating to his room.
"That went well." Anna said.
"Yes. It did. Now all we need to worry about is Grindelwald. He certainly didn't looked any good when I had gone to meet him, in my last life. And I'm sure he wasn't acting, so at least he won't put up a fight like me." Nick said.
"Should we explain things to him or just go for it? I mean ask if he wants his memories back or not. With Nick it was necessary to do it. With you, you didn't had a choice. But I had, so maybe he should have too." Harry said.
"But what if we freed him and he turns against us. It won't be much of a choice if we said, have your memories back or die or go back to the prison. We can't bring him in a new body without the insurance that he won't turn against us. That, we could only get if he has his memories back." Anna said.
"What? No trust in the word of people. Like you wouldn't have trusted me if I hadn't got my memories back?" Harry asked, frowning.
"Not like I do now. But I did trust you before, that's cause you were innocent then. As you grow up, get older if you didn't had the memories you would have questioned my every action. And trust can't form like that. I would have been irritated. Now you would at least listen to me if we argue. You know you were hot headed before. That hot headedness would have just increased with age. You won't have trust me and so I wouldn't have been able to trust you. Its a two way street." Anna said with a shrug.
Harry thought about what she said and nodded his head in agreement.
"And what guarantee do I have now that you both won't turn against me, you ask. Its that you are scared of the punishment Mort will give you if you double cross me. And also that I know you both have come to care for me like I do for you." She finished with a smile.
"That we do. I mean the punishment, you know. We are scared of the punishment. We don't really care about you. Do you?" Nick asked looking towards Harry.
"Yeah. I mean we do care about you... but no, not really." Harry shook his head and shrugged.
"Though he maybe he won't punish us if we do double cross you. Or turn traitor. I mean 'he' gave us our memories back and now we have to do all this work for him. And you aren't even succeeding in your task. You didn't seem to be his favorite anymore. Maybe we should usurp your authority and do everything ourselves." Nick said.
"Yeah. I mean he shouldn't punish us just because we turned our backs on you. We had done such things before. Turning on our words and all. He won't punish us if we did it for proper reason. I mean genuinely proper. Not like we thought we are right and all mighty, like Bumblebee. Maybe you aren't his favorite anymore, Anna. What with him giving us our memories. So it would probably be alright with him. Of course we could decide it after discussing it with him. 'We' could summon him as well now." Harry said.
"You both are just lying to me. I'm not gonna listen to you. You know what? I'm going away. Not gonna listen to you." Anna said putting her headphones on and stepping away with a mock pout, but their seems to be a genuine frown hidden as well.
She had watched them go back and forth with a mock scowl on her face, but it had seemed a little uncertain as well.
"We went too far, didn't we?" Harry said biting his lips. Then he put his head in his hands.
"Gods. I'm stupid, I shouldn't have said all those things. It probably was too convincing. I'm an idiot. I'm an idiot." Harry muttered.
"Don't blame yourself. I too didn't hold back. We shouldn't have said anything like that at all. I shouldn't have started it at all. If its anyone's fault its mine." Nick said worried.
"But we were just joking. Of course she would have realized that right?" Harry said hopefully. But then continued, "Or not. We were both at fault." He finished defeated.
"She's a girl, of course she won't think like that. You know how complicated girls are. We would have been angry at ourselves if we it happened to us or-" Nick started.
"We would go somewhere crying thinking all that was said was true or-" Harry continued.
"Probably think there was truth in it even if we were joking." Nick finished.
"We need to beg-" Harry started now.
"Or she would use your guilt to guilt trip you later." Death added casually.
Nick and Harry looked at him with surprise, but then turns towards each other.
"You are probably right-" Harry started.
"She would act all teary and crying her heart out and hiccupping-" Nick said.
"Then would make us beg for forgiveness-" Harry added.
"And finally would be persuaded with some promises-" Nick added.
"And would use the incident later to get something more." Harry finished.
"You do a good act of Gred and Forge." Anna said with a smile. Then added with a pout to Death,
"And you. They were all ready to come after me and 'beg for forgiveness' but you ruined it all." She said throwing her hands up.
"I couldn't let them be victimized by you." Death said shaking his head mock seriously.
"Victimize?! They were saying all things about betraying me and all. I'm still your favorite right?" She asked, uncertain.
"You remember the story of... it was a wolf or something?" Death said acting like he's trying to remember.
"The boy who cried wolf." Harry answered helpfully.
"That's the one." Death said nodding.
"Yeah. Alright, I got it. I'm totally fine. You all love me, I know." Anna said folding her arms and looking away.
"That we do. Now are we over that?" Death asked with raised brows.
"Yes. We are. Sorry guys. I knew you were kidding." Anna said with sheepish smile.
"We are sorry too." Harry said.
"For giving you the chance to get us like that." Nick added.
"Hey, stop it now. Come on." Anna said.
"We like it actually. Don't you, Harry?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, Nick I do. This is great. I can see-"
"Why Geed and Forge-"
"Love to talk like this." They finished together.
"Its going to cause me a headache. And should I start calling you Narry and Hick then. Or would it be Hickey." Anna said mischievously.
"You ruined it Anna." Nick said shaking his head.
"Annd we are alright. So what's the reason for your visit Mort?" Harry asked.
"What, can't I just visit without reason?" He asked innocently.
"Of course you can. So what's the non reason for your visit?" Harry asked.
"That question makes no sense." Death said with a raised brow.
"Yes it does. It means I'm asking you if you don't have a reason for your visit then…" He trailed off.
"Then what brings you here in his humble abode?" Nick picked up, indicating Harry with his thumb.
"Would you like to have some fun with us? Anna likes dancing or we could play other games." He continued.
"That was lame." Death replied unimpressed.
"You are probably right." Nick shrugged.
"Mrutyu, if you would tell us what you are here for?" Anna asked raising her brows.
"Come on, let's take a stroll Annabelle. You both will know about it too. But I have to talk to her first." Death said.
Harry and Nick watch them disappear with a step, Death leading Anna along.
"What was that about do you think?" Harry asked Nick.
He just shrugged back with a frown.
-x-
Death and Anna came back after a while and Anna really looked upset now. But she smiled at them when she saw them.
Death beckoned them both towards the small conference table in the library and after they settled around it, he started,
"There's going to be some change of plans. I wasn't going to tell you all about it this early as I thought there was still some time, but it seems the 'time' I thought we had, is not going to be enough."
"What are you talking about? What change of plans? Don't talk in puzzles." Harry said.
Death started,
"Well you know how we are living in a universe. And Earth is part of the milky way galaxy of this universe. Like that there are various galaxies in this universe. And there are various universes."
"There are various universes?" Nick asked incredulous.
"Yes. There are. The universe we all are in is under my responsibility. We don't have any living beings on other planets except Earth because I kept it that way. Or you would all destroy each other invading the others." Death said with an eye roll.
"So like in our universe, there are living beings on the planets of other universes. Some of them are sentient, some aren't."
"Each one of this universes are looked over by beings like me. My counterparts. And others like Fate, Destiny, and Luck to give a few examples. Now we all had co-existed peacefully until now. Mostly. There were few who had tried to invade other universes. But they of course never came close to succeeding ever."
"There was a close call last time with us and we had to use some 'defensive measures' to protect ourselves. Now, there is still time for it to be serious, but there is a threat on the horizon."
"What defensive measures and are you saying someone's trying to invade us or something?" Harry asked.
"Yes. One of my 'counterparts' is trying to invade our universe, particularly the Earth. He is using his creations, like you are mine, for this task. He had tried it last time and we had been able to avoid it and set him back for long time. But now he's trying again."
"But invade it for what? To rule over us? Usurp your position?" Nick asked.
"No. Not to rule over you. Definitely not to rule over you." Death said.
"The earth has been destroyed two times before. First time it occurred due to humans destroying it, and tremendous energy was released from it. He saw that and he wanted to harness the energy. So he tried to do that the next time. And he was successful, partially. Hence the close call."
"The energy released from the earth is used by me to create it again. So if he steals it, the souls which exist now in this universe all would be destroyed. And we don't want that. Last time he was able to corrupt the humans early and cause their own destruction. But due to the 'protective measure' we have taken we were able to stop him from stealing the energy."
"Now he's gonna try again. He had already started corrupting some muggles. The magicals have some more defences against the 'parasite' he uses. So he hadn't been able to corrupt them, much."
"How does he corrupt the people? What does the parasite do?"
"The beings he have, they can control your mind by getting attached to it. They are like parasites, sucking your life force and controlling your actions. I would have been glad if it was the case with Dumbledore, but it isn't. But it certainly was the reason for your madness." He said to Nick.
"That's why you are getting the second chance and I have been lax with you."
"So last time around this time on earth, he had corrupted most humans and was able to destroy the earth. But due to the 'protective measure', we were able to protect the energy from the destruction from getting stolen. Now we may need to do that again and so there comes the change of plans."
"What is this protective measure and what changes in plans?" Harry asked exasperated.
"If a spirit soul is sacrificed, the sacrifice could be used to create a protective dome which will contain the energy released on destruction of the earth and which then I could use to create it again."
"The change of plans will occur because the spirit soul would be Annabelle. She has the most power required for the sacrifice to be effective." He finally finished.
"So let me get this straight. There are many universes, ruled over by beings like you-"
"I wouldn't say ruled over. I mean I leave you to live your life as you want. I can't help it that others are so power hungry." Death interrupted.
"Who create the living beings like us," Harry continued ignoring him, "And one of the rulers is trying to cause earth's destruction to steal the energy to..." He trailed off looking at Death questioningly,
So Death added, "He's not as powerful as me or some others. So he can't create the world like we can, with matter and energy and souls. His beings are as I said 'parasites'. They don't have form or matter, they are like shadows. Hard to recognize in any human. Only some would be able to realize somethings wrong. Like Annabelle and you all, my masters. Though you could teach it to the spirit souls and others. He wants that energy to become more powerful."
"Earth was destroyed last time, after he was corrupted by such a 'parasite' along with others. And now he isn't?" Harry asked indicating Nick.
"He was. We destroyed it when we performed the rituals and gave you memories, made you and him immune to it then. Just like Annabelle is and the 4th and 5th masters will be made."
"And now you want to sacrifice Anna to prevent the energy from being stolen. But the earth isn't destroyed yet, so why now?" Nick asked confused.
"No. Last time we had been too late to do anything else other than sacrifice the soul as a last resort, as the earth was getting destroyed, to contain the energy. I was able to create it again and he was weakened as he had used most of his power to influence the souls. Now he had got his power back and rather than doing it as last resort I think it would be better to create a dome early so that he won't be able to influence anyone at all. No access, no interference." He finished again.
"But can't you just make everyone immune like you did us?" Harry asked confused.
"We can't give everyone there memories back. As not all would be able to take it. You are spirit souls and masters. So you had been able to take it. There are other spirit souls who aren't my masters but I keep watch over them, they have the capacity to become masters. But aren't mature yet, not old enough."
"Who did you sacrificed last time? What happened to them?" Nick asked.
Death looked at Anna, who had been staring at the outside the window, slouched back in her seat all this time, and said, "His name was Seth. He was the first master along with Annabelle. They had shared the title. But he didn't held the title for long. He offered to sacrifice himself. His soul was reborn again but he don't remember his last lives as the soul was recreated, born like a new one."
"Seth, like the one in the orphanage in London?" Harry asked looking towards Anna.
"That's the one. As I said he was reborn but doesn't remember his last lives from that time, from before the sacrifice. And wouldn't remember them either, even if I make him a master again as that is the price for it. Clean slate. Though he would remember the lives after." Death said.
"You mean Anna would forget all this as well?" Harry asked.
"Yes. She could be a master again later, like Seth could be now. He's still a spirit soul and she is too. But will forget all the knowledge and experience and memories and horrors of her lives."
"But are you sure he won't be able to interfere after the sacrifice? Won't he just come again or wait for the protective dome to get ineffective. Or find some weakness in it." Nick asked, getting out of his confusion about Seth.
"No. I'm not sure if he would be able to interfere or not. He will wait for the dome to fall. We have very few options but Annabelle wants to do this. We need to take some immediate measures in the near future. And then think of a way to fight him."
"What are the other options?"
"The masters could sacrifice or lend a fraction of their powers together to create the dome, we could sacrifice some spirit souls together but they won't have any knowledge about it. And it would be underhanded like Dumbledore does."
"We could sacrifice some of our powers. We don't mind." Harry said looking towards Nick.
"But it could be ineffective just like my sacrifice could be. If I was the only one involved you could work out a way to fight him. We don't need to make everyone weak if we could only lose one." Anna said.
"But it will be only a fraction Annabelle. And they would only need to 'lend' their power. Like I'm trying to convince you. You only need to find all the masters. And we have still got time. You have 5 years still. We don't need to do this now." Death said.
"Or you could tell us who the 5th master is and then we could all lend our powers as you said." Harry said.
"How long have you known this Anna? You didn't tell us anything about all this." Nick said looking hurt.
"It wasn't something she could tell you. Only I could give the knowledge about it to others. And I can't tell you about the master if you don't ask." Death said looking towards Anna.
"Well I don't know who the 5th master could be." Anna said frustrated.
"You are dumb." Death replied deadpan.
"Anyway maybe those two would realize it after you go to Hogwarts." Death said indicating Nick and Harry.
"But we haven't decided yet that we are not just going along sacrificing me." Anna protested.
"But why would you want to lose your memories when we have a perfectly acceptable solution here?" Harry exclaimed.
"My memories are a small price to pay, rather than risking the power of all masters together." Anna replied patiently.
"No, it isn't. You still mourn the loss of Seth's memories and we would too mourn your memories." Nick said.
"We haven't been together long enough for you to feel like that." Anna said blankly, looking away.
"Well you weren't together long enough with Seth to justify how you feel." Death shot back.
"He was special. I mean he said he won't leave me alone even if he forgot about me. And look he didn't." Anna said rolling her eyes. And looking away again, as a tear escaped.
"Yeah. We get it you cry baby. He was 'special'. Like you are idiot. Its because he's a spirit soul. They are very likable." Death said.
"Why do you think I made them my masters?" He added.
Anna just pouted back.
"You still love me more. I'm your favorite, right?" She asked still pouting.
"Well, you are, but that doesn't mean I'm going to listen to you and your plan of your great sacrifice." He replied.
"You didn't had the spirit souls before Anna and Seth and now us?" Harry asked confused.
"I did. But they were all recreated at one time or another, early in their life. I didn't get the chance to actually observe them and decide. Like you all. You are the longest ones to remain." Death replied.
"Anna you are not sacrificing yourself needlessly. We would find the 5th master and then all lend our power, however we do that, to form the dome. But what about the progress he would make until then?" Nick asked Death.
"He won't make much. As I said the threat isn't serious yet. But it would get serious soon. We have got time."
"But how are we, just 5 masters, are going to fight him?" Nick asked next.
"Well it won't be just you. You could start training the spirit souls to help you fight his parasites and I would help you and guide you to fight him."
"And why can't you fight him yourself? I mean you are the one who created us and he's your counterpart." Harry said.
"It isn't my duty but yours to fight. I could only guide you and lend you help in anyway I can. I can't interfere much."
"And he is my counterpart, but not really. You see he was master like you all once, in that universe. And he was able to usurp his 'ruler', my counterpart. Though I don't want any of you all to get the wrong idea in your head, so I should tell you it was against laws that govern the universes and we had left him be only because their previous ruler was abusing his powers. He had been a good ruler at first but his greed consumed him."
"But how could he become the ruler? I mean you beings are different than us, aren't you?" Harry asked.
"It was an exception and we are now seeing that it wasn't a right decision. Though I have told them he wasn't reliable. As if anybody would listen to me." He muttered.
"So he's like us but with more powers than us and less powers than you?" Harry asked.
"Yes. That's about it. Though I believe that you all together could defeat him." Death replied.
"But the living beings you said aren't like us? Then how did he usurp the power and become the ruler and why are the others helping him? I guess he was one of them before, right? Is that why?" Nick asked.
"The living beings there don't have form like you do. But they have their own powers. Their own abilities. They don't have matter so they could fight in any environment and anyway they want. That's why they could influence you like they did. And they are helping him because they want forms and the world like we have."
"And they think the humans don't care about it, so they should get it. I had tried to make them understand that you are like you are because you have been made that way. You can't be perfect. There needs to be a balance. Fights and battles and wars are as necessary as periods of peace to help you evolve. If you were perfect then there would be no purpose in your lives."
"So they think we don't deserve our forms and souls, what about them?" Harry asked.
"What about them?" Death said.
"Well they aren't perfect little angels, trying to steal from others." Harry exclaimed.
"They think they are justified in their actions like most people do when they are doing things like this. 'We are only ruling over them cause we want to guide them properly. Lead them to golden age. For the greater good of the world. They need our guidance.' You see the resemblance. Of course they just want to destroy you all to get the energy form the destruction thinking 'you don't use it properly and they need it', so..."
Everyone was silent after that.
"Alright then, this change of plans were going to be that we lead the fight while she sacrifices herself to form the dome?" Harry questioned.
"Yes. We had thought that he won't be coming back after us for a long, quite a long time, but I suspect he's getting help. From some other universe. I'm not sure about it though. And hence I can't confront anyone. If the other is a being like me I could take him in front of the council."
"The one after us isn't like me, that's why I couldn't interfere much. But I could help if there is someone like me interfering."
"Now. As I said we didn't think this would happen again so soon, that's why Annabelle's task was to save the majs and thus earth's destruction. Then you could have prepared for the next threat. Now as the threat was near Annabelle had suggested she would sacrifice herself and give you some time to prepare."
"I, of course, wasn't happy with the idea like I wasn't the last time with Seth. But I hadn't been able to do anything then so I decided to put it before you so you could decide together, unlike last time again."
"What do you mean unlike last time?"
"You don't think I wanted him to sacrifice himself? We could have used our powers together to do something but they both conspired it secretly." Anna said scowling.
"My hands were tied. You see he was the master together with Anna but he had, we could say, an edge over her as he was-" Death said.
"a male at the time, this is an example of-" Anna interrupted.
"It was because he was better than you and was selfless, unlike you." Death continued.
"I never said I was selfless. But it doesn't mean he had to be better than me. Just because he was selfless. It doesn't lead you anywhere being like that." Anna said angrily.
"You are just jealous cause that does make him better than you." Deaths said.
"No. It doesn't. He was selfish too-"
"Well I agree with Anna, being selfless doesn't lead you anywhere." Nick interrupted.
"Well it could have saved you from destroying your soul." Death shot back.
"Excuse me?" Nick asked confused.
"If I had been ready to sacrifice myself then you all could have been protected last time but I was selfish then and refused. And Seth later learned about it and sacrificed himself." Anna said frowning.
"Which only saved the energy from getting stolen, it didn't provide full proof protection, did it?" Anna asked snidely to Death.
"You just liked him because he was ready to do what I won't. It wasn't because he was selfless. He was selfish. He didn't want to remember the horrors he lived. He didn't think about me. And now when I was ready to sacrifice myself so that I won't have to remember him and them for doing this to them you won't let me do it. You don't preach things like that. You don't believe in being selfless." She added.
"No, I don't. You are right. I do liked him more because... well he didn't fight me at every step, like you do. But I too didn't wanted him to go through with it though." Death said with a sigh.
"'Won't have to remember him and them for doing this to them', what are you talking about? You helped us both." Nick said.
"But I wouldn't have needed to help you if I had sacrificed myself last time." Anna said looking down.
"Well as you said, being selfless leads you nowhere. I agreed with you remember. Are you sure it would have been enough? Cause I lived that life two times and if you had been successful I shouldn't have needed to live it second time. So from where I stand it wouldn't have helped much anyway. I would have still lived it this time and won't even have the experience of the last time to avoid doing the mistakes again " Nick said.
"Well I think we should just forget about the past and move on. Now, since that plan, with Anna sacrificing and all, has changed, what should we do next?" Harry asked.
"You should start training the majs to use their magic like you all do, just like you were planning and the spirit souls, you would recognize them on seeing them, to fight with you."
"And you need to find the 5th master. Anna get your game together and ask me about 'him' soon." Death tried to hint to Anna.
Anna just looked on, confused and suspicious.
"I think you are getting it. Work it out soon. You are all so idiotic when it comes to this topic, I don't understand why I put up with you." He said exasperated.
"And you need to start recognizing the corrupted ones. And we would form the protective dome, as I said in 5 years. You will all reach half maturity at that time, which would help immensely. I will keep watch on the corrupted and try to help you where I can." He finished with reassurance.
They all nodded their heads and then he was gone with the wind leaving a whisper of farewell behind.
"Wow. My heads gonna explode." Harry said in the silence.
The other two just sighed back.
-x-
They had gone back to the orphanage without discussing anything, deciding to think on all they had learned that day. Sirius came to get Harry soon and he tried to act normal but Sirius definitely noticed that there was something wrong.
On reaching their home he asked him what was wrong and Harry said that he just missed his friends. So Sirius let it go saying he could take him to meet them again soon.
Harry was thinking if he should talk to Sirius about the magic but then decided to do it later when his head was more clear.
-x-
A/N: Thanks again for reading. Please Fav, Follow and Review. See ya, Novarkek.