Chapter 1 - Death and Rebirth
I knew I was reaching the end of my life, the signs were all there. I was becoming slow, moving became harder and I had an ominous gut feeling that pushed me to prepare a proper will. I had no qualms about dying. 80 years old, single, and successful enough that I retired at 50. I was an elected politician by the time I turn 25. Not a corrupt one mind you! I'm an orphan, at first, it was an uphill battle, but by becoming a politician and personally climbing the damn hill I decided that we should just get rid of it. And so explains my journey to become a politician of the people!
When I succeeded it was the greatest day of my life. I loved that feeling of happiness so much so that I decided to dedicate my life to helping others through the law.
My many accomplishments include stabilizing gerrymandering and abolishing abortion restrictions. I advocated for equal pay for both genders and ending police brutality based on racist stereotypes.
While on my deathbed I remembered all my work and all my failures too. I wasn't able to fall in love because I dedicated my life to work. I regret not having a family, because laying here alone in my last moments is pretty sad.
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I died. Yep, you may be asking how I know this. Well, I'm standing in space, the stars all around me are bright and beautiful, this is quite a welcoming sight.
"Hello, Xerxes Star (Zer-sees). Welcome to limbo." A calm voice spoke out, interrupting the silence.
I turned around quickly and standing a few feet in front of me was a middle-aged man in a suit. His white hair and white suit made him look like an angel.
"My name is Zeke, I am in charge of your afterlife."
"It's nice to meet you, sir." He smiled at my polite response.
"You've lived a very noble life, Xerxes. I was very proud of your accomplishments. So I have decided to use my power to reward you." His statements shocked me and my expression revealed my surprise, so he continued to explain. "My power is called, Hero, it allows me to give you a chance to live your life to the fullest, so when you once again pass you'll have no regrets as you did in this life."
"No regrets? That sounds too good to be true sir." I was doubtful, this was an amazing offer but I was worried about any consequences.
The man seemed to understand my concern because he began to explain further, "You would have three free wishes to make about your next life, any further wishes would cost you depending on what you ask for the price may be high or low. You would enter a world of adventure and be required to be a hero, as my power is aptly named."
"I enter a world and have to be a hero, which I don't mind at all because I would be saving people again. I get three free wishes but any more would have to cost me. Is that all sir?" My manners seemed to amuse him because he smiled a bit more every time I said, sir. It's a habit though from growing up as an orphan.
"Yes. That covers it all. Would you like to spin this wheel to see which world you enter?" A wheel with multiple symbols appeared to the side of the man. A trident, a golden gauntlet, a black bat, a kunai, a straw hat, and a lightning bolt. The wheel spun automatically and kept spinning until it slowed to a stop and landed on the lightning bolt.
"Congratulations Xerxes, you've been given the Harry Potter world!"
Huh. You mean that world with the mass murderer and the extremely bigoted society…
"Shit." The only thing that came out of my mouth.
"It may not seem like a great world, but the battles only truly last two years and the hero requirements don't ask you to stay with Harry Potter and his friends the whole time, you can simply fight at the Battle of Hogwarts, as long as people acknowledge you as a hero than that fulfills the requirements!"
"Yes but this world has an extremely racist government, it's corrupt and horrible!"
"Yes, but wouldn't you like to change it for the better?" His question caught my interest and I was no longer thinking of all the negative side effects of this world, I was no focused on the changes I could make as a politician in this world.
"You bring up a valuable point sir. Where would be my starting point sir? Who would be my family?" He started contemplating the options and didn't answer me right away.
A minute went by and he looked at me. His expression was one of concern but a determined glint in his eye stopped me from being too worried. "You might not agree with me young man but I believe being born as the son of Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange would be advantageous for you."
At the mention of those two names, my eyebrows disappeared because they raised so high in shock. Before I exploded I thought about this 'advantage' he talked about.
I would be a pureblood.
The only heir to the Lestrange fortune.
I would have close ties to the dark faction.
A better political starting place.
More property than I would know what to do with.
And a grandfather that would die before Harry Potter reached Hogwarts age.
Okay, sure those are pretty good advantages. But what about the disadvantages.
My crazy parents.
Pretty sure I would be inbred. Just thinking this made me cringe.
The Longbottoms could officially declare a blood feud with the Lestranges since I would be their son, although this is only a possibility.
The golden trio and anyone 'Light' would be automatically wary of me.
Oh, and Dumbledore might watch me like a hawk.
"I hate to say it, but this might be a good idea."
"Yes, I thought hard about this. Another advantage which could bring you closer to the golden trio is that the Hufflepuff Cup is in the Lestrange vault." He just casually points out my biggest advantage!
"Alright, you've convinced me! Now we need to decide what year I'd be born. I'd like to become close to the Weasleys so I'd have a hand in the Order of the Phoenix when they get started up again. So May 3rd, 1978. A month younger than the Weasley twins." I was pretty excited about meeting them, they definitely were my favorite characters.
"Yes, an excellent choice. Now you may choose your natural magic ability and then we'll get on to wishes."
"Natural magic ability?"
"Yes. Like Metamorphmagus, or Seer, or natural Animagus, naturally wandless, or natural legilimens or occlumens, or parseltongue, or veela charm. You wouldn't have any issue inheriting any of these because they're in your bloodline."
I was absolutely shocked at this point. "I'll have to choose metamorphmagus sir."
"Yes, wise choice young man. Now onto wishes. You get three free ones, and any more after that has a price. If I can I will let you know what the price is but if I cannot that means the price is pretty high."
"I understand sir. For my first wish, I would like to be a natural Occlumens. My second wish is to have natural wandless magic. My third wish is to have the sight, as in the choices I make that change the timeline, I would like to see the outcome of those different choices sir."
"Impressive, very impressive. I like the way you think young man, you seem to be preparing to survive, but make sure you have a little fun here and there. Will that be all you man or would you like to take a risk." He looked worried for me, but I needed this next wish to build up power outside of the Lestrange fortune.
"For a fourth wish, I would like a book, one that only I can read, that details what businesses do well in the future. And the best places to invest money and the best times to sell any shares." My heart was beating fast at this point, to hear what the price would be. But I was determined to have this, I would not only survive but I would thrive in this world.
"Interesting, yes the price is not so high that I cannot see it, but high enough that I worry." he took out a book from his suit pocket and flipped to a page near the end. He read for a short while and then put the book away. "The price is an alcoholic grandfather. While your new grandfather already partakes in alcohol every once in a while, he has no control of his emotions during these times. He will drink alcohol almost every other day and my advice to you is that you do your best to stay out of his way, or he'll sober up and come to deeply regret hurting you."
"Ah… so he's abusive," I said blankly. Abusive. Damnit.
I continued, "Well he doesn't live long anyway, when Harry Potter gets to Hogwarts he'll have just died that summer. I'm safe for the rest of my life."
"Yes, this is a common price to pay. I hope that all the wishes you have Xerxes because that's already a heavy price."
I wished that was all I wanted but this last wish was something I didn't think I could survive in the political circle without. "I have one last wish." I declared confidently but was already reaching dangerous levels of anxiety.
"One more? Alright, let's hear it." He responded.
"As the last wish I would like my words to be extremely convincing, those that hear my lies are compelled to think them as nothing but the truth, and those I'm trying to convince will then see my words as the only real option." This would surely have a damning price but the rewards would be greater, I was already trying to convince myself.
"Hmm the price for this wish," he took out his book and flipped to the pages at the end once again, "It seems the price is high enough that I cannot see it."
"Ugh, okay, I've accepted this possibility. What's an adventure without a little mystery!" I wasn't going to dread this, I still had time to prepare.
"Now that we've settled that, it's time to send you on your way." He smiled warmly at me, reassuring me through his expression that all would be fine.
"Thank you for this opportunity, sir." I bowed deeply to him as a show of absolute respect.
"No, thank you for helping the people and educating your life to the powerless. I'll see you again Xerxes, and then you can truly have no regrets. Goodbye, good luck young man!"
The stars around us were moving quickly in a circle and all at once they shot towards me and my vision was enveloped in bright white light, Zeke's smile the last thing I saw before I fell unconscious.
An odd dream came to me a while ago so I was inspired to write this. This time I'll try to finish the story, thanks for reading.