Author's Note: I want to dedicate this chapter to lunersheza. Thank you for adding my story to your community! :)

Chapter 3: A Decision Made

Harry sat there in thought for a few minutes. He still couldn't believe it.

Gabriel wanted him as a vessel?!

He couldn't even stand up to his dumb, overweight cousin!

And, Gabriel wanted him?!

There was nothing special about him! He was a fre—

"Don't even think that," Gabriel scolded him with a soft hiss. "Your soul is beautiful. It's one of the purest I've ever seen, and you've been through Hell. Trust me, I would know. Been there, done that. Got the T-Shirt."

Harry started at the angel's vehement words. No one has ever said anything like that to him; made it sound like he mattered.

"You do matter, kiddo," Gabriel cooed soothingly. "I may have trouble with the Old Man, but he made you for a reason, exactly the way you are. You're Harry Potter, and you're special."

tears started leaking from the young boy's eyes in thick streams. Soon, Harry had to take off his glasses as he broke down sobbing.

While Gabriel was startled at this development, he quickly began soothing the child, stroking the boy's soul with his Grace layering the kid in comforting warmth.

Once Harry gained control of himself, Gabriel gently removed his Grace and Harry whined at the loss of the comforting gesture and the warmth that the angel's Grace naturally gives off. Gabriel chuckled with mirth at the young boy's clinginess and the raven haired child pouted cutely.

"Feeling better, kiddo," Gabriel asked with a gentle smirk, and Harry nodded. "Good. Now, don't feel like you have to give an answer right away."

"But, it'll take longer for you to help, won't it," Harry asked downheartedly.

"Sadly," Gabriel said with a sigh.

"What's being a vessel like," Harry asked, and Gabriel sighed.

"Depends really," Gabriel said, forcibly aloof. "It was once described as being chained to the Sun."

Harry winced at the mental image that the description provoked, and Gabriel used his Grace to ruffle the kid's hair. Harry giggled at the angel's gesture.

"However, it is possible for an angel to ride backseat so to speak," Gabriel said flippantly. "It's not really done, but it's possible."

"Why don't angels take dead people as vessels," Harry asked curiously, and Gabriel flinched violently—his wings twitching sporadically.

"It's just not done," Gabriel said seriously in a hard tone, making Harry wince and whimper in fear.

Gabriel sighed and regained himself. He ruffled the boy's hair again in a soothing manner as an apology. Harry grinned shyly at this, hoping that this meant that the angel forgave him for angering him.

"Sorry, kiddo," Gabriel said gently, much to the ravenette's surprise. "That's just a big no no for angels. The only time we inhabit a dead person is they're already dying or if their soul naturally fades away with time and is sent to Heaven. I had my last vessel, who was already dying—by the way, for centuries."

Harry nodded in understanding.

"What would you do if I became your vessel," Harry asked in childlike seriousness.

"Wow, you're really considering this, aren'tcha," Gabriel said with a low whistle. "Well, first I need to heal a little."

"Heal," Harry asked with wide eyed concern for who he hoped was a new friend, warming the angel's heart.

Dang it, they barely knew each other for half an hour and the kid was already worried about him. And, it wasn't because the kid just wanted his help. The kid was too nice.

"Yeah, my brother Lucy and I got into a deadly tango," Gabriel reluctantly admitted. "Luckily, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. But, I might be more injured than I first thought, so I want a chance to regain my Grace. 'Sides that, I'll probably do my old Trickster gig. Maybe check up on a couple knuckle heads that I know. They're always good for a good laughs."

Harry bit his lip and squirmed a bit as he sat in deep thought.

"What will this mean for me," the kid asked, apprehensively.

"Honestly, kid, I don't like taking child vessels," the angel admitted. "They have too much life left to live. If you agree, I'll try to find another vessel as soon as I can so you can live your life. We can even set up some ground rules. You've been through too much for me to rip away the rest of your life."

Harry smiled, happy to hear the angel seemed to care about him. But, then he frowned.

"Would I ever see you again," the emerald eyed boy asked shyly.

Gabriel blink in shock. They were talking about him taking over his body and the kid goes and decides to be worried about him running off like a scorned lover? What the Hell! Just who was this kid and what did those animals do to him?!

"Well, I would've though you'd want to get rid of me after being stuck with me for so long," Gabriel joked, and Harry immediately looked dejected so the trickster started to backtrack as fast as he could. "But, I can still pop up for a visit now and then if ya want!"

The sad puppy dog look immediately banished and the kid was back to beaming at him.

Jeez, this kid.

His puppy dog look should be illegal.

"I think I made my decision," Harry said, his chest puffed out and shoulders back to prove just how serious he was.

"Oh," Gabriel asked curious; his Grace twisted in a mix of despondence and hopefulness. "Already?"

Harry hummed in agreement.

"Whatcha decide, kiddo," the trickster wings twitching in his anxiousness.

"Yes," the raven haired boy said, green eyes shinning like emeralds with the weight of his choice.

Harry may only be eight, but he was a smart kid. He knew what this might mean. However, he believed anything was better than staying with the Dursley's. Plus, Gabriel said he'd try to find another vessel soon. And, this way, he wouldn't be alone.

Gabriel felt that if he could gasp in his true form, he'd be gasping. In any case, his wings were fluttering in his surprise. He never actually thought the kid would go for it.

"You sure, kiddo," Gabriel asked, needing the clarification. "Being a vessel's not always a pleasant ride..."

Gabriel didn't actually want to talk the kid out of it. He needed a vessel. However, he was starting to like the kid.

"I'm sure," the kid said, and his soul was radiating his determination, but hen his face fell.

"Hey now, kiddo," Gabriel said worriedly. "What's wrong? You don't have to do it if you don't want to!"

"It's not that," Harry said with a sad sniffle. "Uncle Vernon just said that I was locked in here for a week with no food. I don't want you to be locked in here for a week!"

Gabriel chuckled and Harry pouted.

"Kiddo, I'm an archangel," he said teasingly. "A little thing like a locked door won't stop me if I wanna leave. Plus, angels don't need to eat. Some actually prefer not to eat because our taste buds are different."

"Really," Harry asked, and his shinny eyes full of unshed tears tugged on the trickster's heartstrings.

"Really," Gabriel promised.

"Then, yes," Harry said, his little body once again filled with unnatural determination.

"Alright," Gabriel said, his voice echoing as his Grace flared up around the young boy. "You're gonna want to close your eyes, kiddo. It's gonna get really bright in here."

Harry nodded his head at the warning, trusting the angel as he remembered what Gabriel said about an angel's true form. He quickly shut his eyes and closed them as hard as he could, covering them with his hands for extra protection.

Gabriel grinned as he saw the kid following his directions and his quick thinking. He then spread his wings and allowed himself to come into the psychical realm as he washed his Grace through the young boy, folding himself as he went so that he would fit into the much smaller form.

The whole house shook with the force of his Grace, causing the people inside to panic. A blinding white light filled the small cupboard, and Harry could even see the light from behind his eyelids. Power seemed to thrum around him and through him. He felt a blinding heat that filled him up, yet never actually burned him. It was actually...comforting.

In the background, he could hear his uncle yelling, and Dudley crying. However, at the moment he couldn't actually care. He was too filled with peace; for the first time in his life.

This went on for what seemed like forever, but was really only for a few moments. As soon as it started, it ended. And, Harry could feel Gabriel's presence in his mind.

The light that was once pouring out from under the cupboard door, that had luckily went unnoticed, went out and all was once again still.