Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the idea of Harry Potter or any of the money making forms of it.

AN: For those of you who did not lose faith in me and know that I always do things for a reason, here is the next part, which will answer several (though not all) of the questions you are probably wanting to know the answers to. Ah, and as always, thanks so much for the reviews, helped in getting me to write faster :)


- - - Book 2 — Part 17: The Realm of the Dead

Harry felt warm and safe, and when he opened his eyes he was standing in a mist of pure white.

"Harry…"

The voice was far away, behind him? He looked around, but saw no one in the white mist.

Where am I? he asked himself.

He looked down at himself, finding clean unblemished robes and no wounds.

"I'm dead?" he whispered.

"No, not exactly," he heard a voice behind him. It almost sounded familiar.

He saw a figure in the distance.

"Come, Harry. There are people waiting for you," the man said gently.

Harry went forward, and the closer he got to him, the more the fog cleared, until he found himself in a clearing, and upon looking around, he realized it was a lightly treed valley of some kind.

The sky, or rather skies, was layered, the beauty of it unrivaled by all the things of earth. The only thing he could compare it to was a sunrise, only this looked like seven of them, overlapping and weaving over one another. It was purely awesome.

Looking forward again, his eyes suddenly came to rest on a number of people, but the only people he was able to recognize were…his parents.

The man he had seen earlier was nowhere in sight however.

His jaw dropped slightly, his eyes understandably watering a little.

James and Lily, and those with them, smiled.

Lily opened her arms.

"Come here," she said softly.

Harry went to her, taking the few steps until her arms wrapped around him, allowing him to fully fall into her embrace….

Harry breathed in her sweet sent of (could he believe it?) lilies, memorizing her soft touch and the feel of her arms around him—the first motherly hug he could remember.

Soon after, he felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder.

Pulling back, he found his dad smiling down at him.

"Hello, son," he said, giving a hug soon after.

Harry couldn't believe it. He was with his parents! Death wasn't bad at all.

As if they knew what he was thinking, they each gave him a soft smile.

"We have a lot to tell you, Harry, before you go back," Lily said.

"Go back?" Harry asked.

"Yes, you are not yet bound here. You are meant to go back, to be given a chance to continue living," James said.

"A chance?" Harry asked.

"Let us explain everything to you, in order," Lily said, leading them forward into a lush region of grass and away from the others who were now also shifting away to give them privacy.

They sat down, Harry idly wondering if this would count as a picnic.

"You are not truly dead, Harry, but let me explain before you start asking questions," Lily said.

"Okay," Harry said.

"We've been watching you, and know you know about the Horcruxes, and that you have destroyed all of the horcruxes Riddle presently has made; however, there is one that has just recently been destroyed you don't know about. Harry, this will be hard to hear, but you must know, for it is one of the main reasons why you will be able to go back. You were a horcrux. Voldemort had unintentionally given you a piece of his soul that night."

Harry's eyes widened in horror as realization dawned on him.

"The memories…" he whispered.

"Yes, but there is more we must tell you," she said.

"Harry, the bond that was made when the Blood Ward and Beacon Charm fell and joined did something to both your and Draco's magic cores, but it had a seriously profound affect on yours, particularly in reference to the horcrux. Now, remember your notes during the summer, your brilliant pipe analogy?" James asked proudly.

Harry nodded.

"Remember how you stated how everyone's magic is dependent on 'shape', 'flow', and 'temperature'? Well, when the ward and charm joined, creating a link between you and Draco, the bond separated those three kinds of things in the horcrux, separating Voldemort's powers, memories, and soul. Harry, when you go back, you will still have Voldemort's powers and memories, but you will no longer be carrying his soul. You are no longer a horcrux. Because of this, your scar will no longer warn you if he is close, but it also won't link you to how he is feeling either, like in your first year, which I think should be counted as a blessing," James explained. "Also, because of the horcrux, it acted as a 'buffer' for you here, because it 'went on', allowing you to be able to go back."

"So, in a way, Voldemort saved me?" Harry asked, partly disgusted yet amused with the irony.

"I suppose in a way, but the bond is what truly did. Normally, it would depend on a different set of circumstances to allow you to return, but because of your bond with Draco, it allows a path, of sorts, for you to go back on," James said.

"You know about life debts, don't you?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, a little," he said.

Hermione had done some reading on it and had explained it to them some when they were looking into bonds.

"Well, there is a polar opposite to that," she said.

"What, like a death debt?" Harry asked, confused now.

"No, more like a Survivor's Payment," James said.

"Let us explain," Lily said. "Let's say there are two people, and one tries and fails to kill the other, a person who had no ill feelings or intentions towards the one who had tried to kill him. Well, the survivor now has a tie to the attempted murderer, but not in the way you think. Because he had survived the assault, his magic has now 'tagged' the one who wishes him harm. Muggles sort of have something like this, which they classify under a 'sixth sense' though theirs is normally broad, allowing a person to 'sense danger' more easily after they have survived a near death experience, which we have as well, but the 'payment' is a bit different. The Survivor's Payment focuses on an individual, sensing possible harm coming from them, providing the survivor a better chance/opportunity to survive another attack."

"Oh," Harry said, unable to stop himself from thinking, didn't help you two much though…

"Now, this does not mean the attacker can't end up harming the survivor or worse. But I am sure you already realized that," James said softly.

Harry nodded.

"The Payment gives a 'gut feeling', sudden impulses to do or not to do something, so don't ignore them…. like I had," James continued quietly.

Harry looked up at that.

"James, stop. There was nothing you could have done, and it doesn't matter now anyway. What done is done, and certain things are just meant to be," Lily said sternly, before looking back to Harry. "Now, there is still more to tell you, and we are running out of time, so listen. When you return," she sighed. "There is no guarantee you will be able to stay, all it will be is a chance because of the condition your body and magic will be in, but promise us you will try."

"I will, but, what can I expect?" Harry asked.

"Basilisk venom has magic laced within it, which is part of the reason why it is so deadly—it doesn't only affect you physically, but magically as well. It goes to your magical core. However, there is the addition of the phoenix tears to also consider. They are actually a blessing and a curse in this. They will repair the damage the venom has done to your body, but they will complicate matters in your core," Lily said sadly.

"What your mother is saying, is that the magic in the venom and the tears are not meant to coexist, but once they have entered your core, they have to remain because within the core they can't cancel each other out, and removing them would mean completely removing your magic, which would end up killing you," James continued, since Lily had been unable to.

"So-so what's going to happen to me?" Harry asked.

"We can't really be certain, but there will have to be something done to integrate them within your core, to make them accept each other and stop fighting. This will not be able to be repaired or done overnight, this is going to be a long and hard process, and I'm afraid you will not be able to use your wand until it is over. Your magic will be in chaos, and wielding a wand in that state, particularly one that has a phoenix feather as its core, is definitely a bad idea."

"How long?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, at least several weeks, if not longer, and that's assuming a solution is found and you do not return here," James said. "We are being honest with you, Harry, you are going to be very sick and very weak for an unknown amount of time, both physically and magically, if this works."

Harry nodded a little, part of him hating himself as he wondered why he should even try to go back.

"Voldemort is going to return. Once Riddle makes it to the Death Eaters who are waiting for him with the other part of himself, they will finish the process," Lily said, as if knowing what Harry was thinking.

"You mean, Voldemort will have a body again?" Harry asked. "But I destroyed the diary!"

"Yes, you did; but Barty and the other Death Eaters did something to the diary, preventing whatever the diary produced from being linked to it in the way it had originally been. Originally, young Riddle would have disappeared/crossed over the moment you destroyed the diary, but the Death Eaters made it more powerful, and you will see what I mean when you learn about Susan Bones. They enabled the diary, and when I say the diary, I mean Riddle, to absorb magic at a faster rate so that his return would occur quicker," James said. "They also made Riddle be able to keep the energy he had gained for a longer amount of time, in case things didn't go the way they planned, which they didn't, thanks to you. However, the magic he drained from Susan is a part of him now, and though some will continue to drain off until he has a body, he is sadly not in danger of becoming seriously weak because he had also drained Lockhart in the process of possessing him."

"Will Susan be okay?" Harry asked.

"Only time will really tell," James admitted sadly. "Riddle took a great deal of her magic, but she fought hard, and that is actually the only reason why she is still alive."

"We should have realized something was wrong, or seen the diary with her or something," Harry muttered.

"Riddle knew what he was doing, Harry; don't forget you and your friends are still only kids, though quite mature. He is an evil being with the cunning and drive that makes all other Slytherins seem like pushovers in comparison. You stopped the ceremony, Harry, which will buy the Light some time. Don't be so hard on yourself," Lily said.

"It's hard not to be," Harry mumbled.

"I know," Lily said, before moving to stand. "Well, there are some people you need to meet before you go back," she said.

Harry and James got up, quickly following Lily.

Harry stopped as his eyes came to rest on two people, two people he had seen a great deal of in the memories.

"Mr. Potter," Lucius Malfoy stated in a kind of soft whisper.

Harry didn't know how to respond, so he just stood there.

"It is understandable that you are surprised in seeing my wife and myself, and there is little I can truly say to explain why I am here, only that I am," he stated, making no move to offer his hand.

Lucius looked to his wife.

"We understand you have a limited amount of time, so we will make this quick," she said, before Lucius continued.

"Draco made the right choice, and we are proud he did. The sins of the Father will not rest upon the son," he stated. "Let him know this."

"I will, sir," Harry managed, deciding this was probably the weirdest conversation he had ever had with someone.

Lucius and Narcissa then turned and walked away, Lily and James now leading Harry elsewhere.

"Young Mr. Potter," an extremely old man greeted, taking Harry's hand before James could even try to say any introductions. "I am Filis George Fudge."

"Hello sir, um," Harry said, a little overwhelmed.

Filis was a little taller than Harry, balding slightly, and had this aura that reminded Harry of Mad-Eye Moody.

"If you are wondering if I desire you to send a message, you are correct, but more of a message to be given if it is needed or if you have the opportunity. My grandson, Cornelius, I admit, is a simpleton who can be easily coerced into possibly anything; however, I wish you to remind him who he has descended from, so he might be able to think for himself and make the right decision. Tell him he has the opportunity to bring the Fudge name into an age of respect and honor, instead of cowardice. Remind him I did not ignore or hide from Lord Iarlaith, and I expect him to respond to 'You-Know-Who' with the same conviction I had with Iarlaith. Oh, and you can tell him I said Voldemort's dashed nickname sarcastically. That whole thing is a great mound of Hippogriff dung and just as disgraceful….

"Well, now that you have listened to an old man's rant, I bid thee farewell, Harry Potter, and I expect to see you again when you look as old as me and not before, understood?" he asked, shaking his old finger at Harry.

"I'll try, sir," Harry said, going into a position of attention.

"Good lad."

Filis gave a nod, and then walked away, disappearing as he did so.

"Mr. Potter?" a voice asked.

Harry turned with his parents, finding two men who looked like twins, but upon closer examination, one was slightly taller than the other, and Harry knew he had seen them before in the memories, however briefly.

"Yes?" Harry asked, not annoyed but wondering when he had turned into a messenger, of sorts.

"We are Fabian and Gideon Prewett, and simply wish Molly, our little sister, and her husband to know we are exceedingly proud of how they are raising their family. Their work will be made evident in their children's actions soon," Fabian said.

"Do tell Molly that protectiveness is understandable and warranted, though, but that over-protectiveness can be dangerous and a hindrance. Children are meant to grow up, and in certain situations, grow up sooner than we would like, just like we did, but it is just the way it is," Gideon said.

"I don't know when you will find an opportunity to speak with Molly, just keep this message in the back of your mind, Harry," Fabian said.

"I will. Is there anything else?" Harry asked.

"Tell our nephews and niece we expect them to pound in some Death Eaters," Gideon said.

"'Kay," Harry said, smiling.

"Oh, and nice going with the Death Eater through the wall during the summer, Harry," Fabian said. "It was rather funny, watching it from here."

"Thanks," Harry said.

"Until you see us again, Harry," Gideon said. "Continue what you've been doing."

Harry nodded, watching the brothers turn and walk away before disappearing as Filis Fudge had.

Soon after, Harry found himself in front of a family of three.

The father was a tall, thin, blue-eyed man, with slightly graying auburn colored hair and a full beard. The wife had equally graying blond hair with pale blue eyes. Between them was a girl who, if Harry had to guess, was about fifteen.

"Harry, meet Percival, Kendra, and Ariana Dumbledore," Lily said, standing aside, introducing the father and mother first.

Harry gaped, he couldn't help it.

Ariana smiled a little.

"You all are… Professor Dumbledore's family?" Harry asked, lifting up his previously hanging chin.

"We are, and it is very nice to meet you, young man," Kendra said, extending a hand.

Harry took it, only for his hand to be taken by Percival soon after.

"Well, Mr. Potter," Percival said, patting his daughter's shoulder slightly. "Someone wishes to have you send a message."

Ariana met Harry's eyes, and Harry minutely gathered she was a little different as she took his hand, stepping away from her parents.

"And Mr. Potter?" Percival asked, before they moved too far from them.

"Yes, sir?"

"Know the Missus and I fully support her message."

"Yes, sir."

Harry looked to his parents, wondering what this was all about, but they just nodded him on. Not knowing what else to do, he let himself be led a distance away with Ariana before she stopped and looked at him.

"You want to send a message?" he asked.

She nodded, before moving closer to him and whispering in his ear.

Harry listened, her words quiet but strong, and he quickly devoted her words to memory, for as he continued to listen, he knew this was important.

"I will," he answered her. "I promise you, even if things don't work out well, he'll be told."

She smiled, giving him a hug before running back to her parents, his own parents coming to his side now.

"Ready, Harry?" James asked. "It's time for you to go back now."

Harry nodded.

With some last hugs and a dozen kisses, James and Lily guided him to the edge of the clearing, where light seemed to mesh with the valley itself.

Harry stopped and faced his parents.

"Is…is there, I don't know, anything else? You know, before I go?" Harry asked.

"Actually, Harry, there is," Lily said.

She looked over at James who nodded.

"Like the others who have given you messages to give to others, I don't know if or when you will get a chance to deliver this, but if you do… tell Severus I forgave him," Lily said.

Harry nodded, looking to his dad to see if he had anything to say.

"Hm… just tell—and I say this with the deepest respect—Snivellus," James began, causing Lily to elbow him. "Ow!"

James, rubbing his side, suddenly became solemn after a moment, though.

"Okay, enough teasing. Tell Snape… his debt has been paid in full, and thanks…for looking after you," James finished softly.

"I will, dad," Harry said, before turning away from them a little, and towards the white mist.

"We'll be watching, Harry," James said. "You've made us very proud."

"We love you, Harry," Lily said, having already told him that just moments before. "Now go back, and live."

Harry took a calming breath before moving forward, and after one final glance back, he took the last step into the light, the brush of the fog on his skin and the sound of a soft hush of mysterious power quickly overtaking him….

He was going back….

- - -

He felt himself being carried, felt the soft and powerful rhythm of tread that he had felt before.

Dumbledore.

Dumbledore was carrying him?

As his mind took in that fact, he quickly felt how weak and sick he was, and he suddenly felt like he was forgetting to do something.

He was too tired to open his eyes, but seeing the darkness behind his eyelids, he felt something growing within him. Numbly, he realized that had to be his core, and now that he was back, the tears and venom were fighting, but as he continued to focus on it, he realized that it was more than that. His magic was pulsing, almost like a deep low drum, but each pulse was getting stronger, and the gap of time was growing between each.

He now began feeling his arm and shoulder beginning to tingle—the tears were slowly healing his wounds.

Dumbledore suddenly stopped, causing Harry to remember what he had been forgetting to do.

Breathe.

- - -

Next Part: Tears and Venom