The Lord of the Eclipse

by Ace reaper

Magic is eldritch and grand in nature but men who fancy themselves its master have dulled its true majesty. Soon a conflict will come that will require one who can be a true practitioner of magic. A boy of prophecy, who exists on the precipice of life and death, who wields magic like no other. It is he who will en devour on this grand venture and arise to the mantle of the Eclipse

14. Chapter 14 Parting

Disclaimer Harry Potter and all its characters belong to J.K. Rowling

Chapter 14 – Parting

The night was quiet as Harry, now bearing the title of Herald held Roselyn's incorporeal form close to his somewhat coherent frame. He was a maelstrom of madness and savagery internally but made sure that his conceptual suit of fake humanity was wound tightly over just enough of his form that he could both hold Roselyn and not terrify her into a catatonic state. It was a fine line and resulted in a strange internal itch that niggled at the back of Harry's mind, but he ignored it with ease by focusing on his dear friend's soul.

"Harry, oh Harry!" Roselyn exclaimed as ethereal tears of crystal blue mist cascaded down her face while she nuzzled into the side of the now much taller boy, she was so elated that she cared not for the fact that he was now easily as tall as her. The only thing that mattered was that he was back and that she would have a chance to beg for his forgiveness. "Harry, I am so sorry Harry I tried, I swear I trie-"

"Roselyn… you do not ever need to apologise to me," Harry spoke plainly as his hand muffled her protests, his form rising off of her shoulder so that his emerald, green gaze burned powerfully before her. His face was angular and looked almost too symmetrical, and his eyes were two small but dense flames flickering in his head illuminating all his features and casting dancing shadows. Her own eyes now devoid of their old chocolate brown had to look away as the light his gaze gave off was too bright for her. He looked so different, but she was positive that this was still her little witch boy, but she simply had to apologise after all… she let him down.

"Harry… you died because of me." She sobbed her voice coming out choked and harsh as her hands cupped his angular face, the flesh smoothing under her hands oddly enough taking an appearance more akin to the one she remembered.

"That's just it though Roselyn I didn't. They came for me, they only attacked you because you tried to protect me, so in the end Roselyn it's my fault, that you died." Harry whispered his teeth sharpening and his flesh bubbling for a second before he took a breath and calmed himself. The bones on his fingers becoming visible as his skin and muscle peeled back. "So please, Roselyn… forgive me, I will do anything, I just- I need you to know how sorry I am," Harry explained while his eyes dimmed, and his lips trembled.

Roselyn was shocked, she couldn't believe the foolishness this boy was displaying, the mere fact that he thought himself responsible for her death was unacceptable and she promised herself there and then that this ended now. "Harry!" She barked his whole frame jumping as his burning gaze whipped up to lock onto her snarling features, righteous rage giving her spectral face predatory features. "Don't you dare say that… you are the child, I am the adult, I protect you! not the other way around." She snarled her eyes once again emitting mist like tears despite their hardness.

"Roselyn-"

"No! Say it, say it right now young man! This was not your fault." She cut him off resting her forehead roughly against his, her penetrating gaze cutting into his burning orbs as she held him close even as she felt his skull… squirm, beneath her forehead.

"… It wasn't my fault." Harry announced softly his face graced by a soft smile that bloomed against his stony features, "I missed you, Roselyn."

"I missed you too," She replied gently pressing her lips to his forehead as she felt her grief waver ever so slightly at his smile.

"… Do you know how long I was gone for Roselyn?" Harry asked softly as he rubbed her back in a gentle manner with one arm and held her fingers to his cheek with the other.

"Oh, umm… I think it's been maybe a few minutes Harry… I appeared here after the fire under you died… it was still smouldering when I…. showed up?" Roselyn asked her voice unsure, her mind still somewhat troubled by how exactly the whole being dead thing worked.

"Sounds right… I can still see all the curses I spat into the air like swirling pitch… Some of yours too." Harry smiled as he raised a hand and plucked a swirling mass of pure hatred out of the air and stroked it like a baby bird even as it made their air smell of sulphur and his flesh bubble. "To think you would fill your heart with such hate for me, a boy you had only met recently," Harry marvelled showing the bubbling malevolence to Roselyn her eyes wide as she bore witness to her curses given form. "Why… why did you care so much for me Roselyn?" Harry enquired in a baffled manner, he was grateful for her friendship and the care she had shown him but that did not make it any less confusing to him.

"… Because I'm selfish Harry… because I saw you as my chance for redemption and I couldn't let that pass by," Roselyn mumbled joining Harry in patting the malevolent bubble of churning hatred that broiled in Harry's palm. Oddly enough it caused no affliction to Roselyn but rather seemed to flicker like a candle flame beneath her gentle ministrations.

"Oh, whatever could someone as kind as you have done that required them to seek redemption Roselyn?" Harry questioned with humour as he tossed Roselyn's congealed hate back into the swirling mass of ethereal curses that floated around the clearing, tainting the area with their wrath.

Roselyn shifted so she was no longer kneeling, instead, she sat and gestured Harry to join her, eager to not lose that physical connection she gained from touching him. The connection that proved he as here, that she could maybe for a bit longer hold onto the illusion that she did not fail again. Harry of course readily acquiesced to her, and he laid his head gently on her lap his hair like writhing shadows pooling over her legs and his most prominent facial scar, his foreheads rune scar, shimmered slightly as it was the only form, he dared display of his crown.

Roselyn was quick to begin running her hands through Harry's hair, the formless shadows clinging to her hands and gracing her with the most alien sensation of peace but despite the absurdity of it, she enjoyed the feeling all the same. "Nothing, I did nothing Harry and that is why I needed redemption."

"I see… you don't need to explain it to me Roselyn, but I think you did more than enough to earn it… you died for me," Harry whispered his own hands catching hers for a moment drawing her focus to his sincere gaze, hoping that his burning gaze did not inhibit her from seeing the truth behind it.

"Thank you, Harry, but that's not the case… if you don't mind, I would like to talk about it, if you don't mind listening of course?" Roselyn explained politely asking Harry for permission to continue, which she received in a smile and a soft nod.

"I had just finished school… I wasn't sure what I wanted to do but I found a job working as a receptionist, but I still lived at home with my mother. One day a family moved next door, they were a man, a woman, and a little girl by the name of Esther… she was precious, she called me pretty and asked if I wanted to play with her." Roselyn told her story while she did her fingers ran through the sea of shadows that made up Harry's hair. Roselyn's eyes starred off into the past and Harry laid there and listened closely.

"She was right you know… you are pretty Roselyn," Harry informed her in a very matter of fact tone, his cheeky smirk being all too apparent when she looked down.

"Thank you, little witch boy, but don't interrupt my story." She scolded him jokily poking his nose and eliciting a chuckle from Harry who simply replied with a gestured for her to continue her tale.

"… At first, everything seemed fine with them you know, they were just the new neighbours and honestly, I only ever really interacted with Esther and her mum as they played outside the building and would oftentimes greet me. Things changed when about two months after they moved in, I stayed home from work for a week because I was sick, and I began to… hear things." Roselyn paused in her retelling as emotions swelled within her, her fingers stilling in their motions and tears threatened to pool out of her eyes once more. Harry snapped her out of it by pressing his bony fingers to her cheek and she, in turn, graced him with a fond smile her fingers resuming their work.

"Esther's father lost his job, and it seems that the family was having a lot of financial difficulties to the point Esther's mum had to also get a job… that's where I came in. I was asked to watch over her a lot, and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to, I adored that little angel." Roselyn's voice took on a musical quality even as tears began to gloss down her face as past trauma and fond memories battled it out. Harry kept silent even when the tears splashed his face, all too aware that she needed to talk, her ghostly form relaxing as she continued.

"It wasn't all at once, but I noticed more… loud discussions occurring from their house, eventually they turned into outright arguments and bellowing. Slowly it evolved into the sound of things breaking and soon the only voice yelling was Esther's dad… I should have done something… my mother said it was none of our business but… God, I should have done something." Roselyn choked her frame shaking and her body went from ethereal and glowing to shadowy and smoky, but Harry let her speak even as he commanded his magic to cocoon them in a feeling of comfort.

"It came to a peak when one night I was coming back from work and I could hear the yelling from the staircase, there was screaming this time… it was Esther. I dropped my things and barrelled up the stairs… their door was broken in and Esther was screaming for help while her dad was roaring at her to shut up." Roselyn paused and for a second Harry saw her shape warp into one more akin to her corpse with scars and wounds on her body, but her eyes blazed like Harrys, filled with hate and wrath in equal measure. Harry said nothing of course he only reached a hand back to rub the hand she had entangled in his hair. She returned to her original shape and graced Harry with another grateful smile with her eyes still shedding tears but in much heavier quantity.

"He had assaulted her mother… she was on the floor and wasn't moving, Esther was clinging to her screaming for help… even with the door open no one came, except me. I barged in and saw her dad pacing with his hands clutching at his hair as he panicked, I wasted no time in telling Esther to go to my apartment with my mum, but she was too scared to move. I don't remember what her father said but it ended with him lunging at me… I smashed a telephone over his head." Roselyn paused and let herself just gaze into the distance, submerged in her memories no doubt.

"I scooped Esther up and was going to make a run for it, but the bastard tripped me and sent me sprawling… Esther ran off to the stairs I tried to follow, kicked the bloody bastard in the face but he had a knife…" The tears were coming thick and fast her body racked with sobs as she relived what Harry as sure was her hell. She moved her arm to her side and Harry watched as she lifted her cardigan to show her bare hip which was marred by a horrendous scar. It looked like someone had earnestly tried to gut her, to say it made Harry's insides churn would be a grisly understatement as once again Harry's magic lashed out and brutally carved into a tree.

"He stabbed me and ran after her, I tried to go after him! I crawled out to the hallway, it hurt so much but I had to do something! Right?! But no, I just watched as he picked her up and she struggled in his grasp… he dropped her… the cruel bastard dropped her down the damn stairs. I watched her die! I just watched… and he ran."

She was bawling her eyes out at this point and Harry seeing she was done with speaking moved with unnatural grace to engulf her once more in a crushing hug. He held her, tight her legs sprawled over his own hastily constructed ones, her face pressed into his shoulder while Harry distracted himself from his writhing hate by focusing entirely on comforting his friend. Harry didn't know how long he held her but by the time she was finished Harry was sure that his shoulder would have been soaked were she still in possession of a body.

"Roselyn… I'm so sorry you had to see that." Harry comforted her his voice melodic as he tried his best to communicate to her his sincerest sympathies.

"I failed, I let her down… I should have saved her, should have intervened earlier but… I did nothing." She gazed up and Harry didn't know how but he felt his form shift once more his own eyes being replaced with his old human eyes while his body shrunk until he was but a quarter of Roselyn's size. "I let you down to… I failed you as well and now… your also dead as well," She hissed painfully her voice scratchy as grief threatened to overcome her again.

"Roselyn, don't you see, you did try! You did your best to save Esther and she knew that… Plus you tried to save me too." Harry rebuked standing up, so his childish form was eye level with her.

"But I DIDN'T!" She screamed her arms quickly pulling Harry to her as she became smoky again her tears poured from her face like a tap, and she clutched Harry with unnatural strength. Luckily despite his childish appearance, Harry was still very much the Herald in human form and therefore her embrace caused him no discomfort.

"… Roselyn, look at me," Harry instructed her gently his arms slowly pulling apart her tight embrace and raising her head to look at him. His own eyes were watery but still, no tears fell… his stubbornness holding them at bay resolutely. He let a small smile show as a plan formulated in his head and with slow cautious movement Harry reached down and picked up a rock off the ground. He gently guided Roselyn to hold out her hand with her palm facing up, then Harry gently deposited the rock in her hand… only for it to fall straight through her grasp and land on the ground once more.

At once Roselyn's entire form went still, her eyes stop producing an unnatural number of mist-like tears and her eyes locked onto the rock with startling intensity. Harry gently cupped her face with his small child hands and moved her head up to look at him, grateful that for some reason he once more had human eyes with which to express emotions.

"Harry… how?" Roselyn gasped her voice trembling on the border of returning to her previous consuming grief but amazement staving it off only for the moment.

"… I died… but I got better," Harry explained with a shrug, taking his hands away from her face, using them to wave through her still outstretched hand, his now much more human-like form passing through hers with ease.

"You did your best Roselyn… and I'm still here and I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that I don't blame you, I am so grateful to you Roselyn, you are my first friend and you tried so hard to save me." Harry let his child-like form warp again until he once again stood upright, easily a match for her height, and with arms more akin to his true nature he lifted her from the ground and up onto her own feet. With blazing eyes Harry mimicked her earlier actions and leaned in to press his forehead against hers, his own eyes dim but hovering just before her own now see-through pair.

"You did your best Roselyn, while you may have not rescued me from Vernon." Harry had to clear his throat after speaking that man's name as he felt a fresh curse build in his chest and did not wish to accidentally summon one directly in Roselyn's face. "You did show me that someone, at least someone, cared about me… for that Roselyn, I will always be grateful." Harry thanked her planting his lips on her forehead, imitating her earlier actions hoping this would show her that she was not to blame.

Roselyn did not respond but Harry watched as slowly, gently her form shifted until she too was a lot more physical, no more was she a misty see-through apparition but now she appeared just as Harry remembered her, sans horrific wounds. She pulled away slightly so that she could face him and graced Harry with a smile that he was sure would always appear in his most joyful dreams. She spoke no words, but she did caress his face and her eyes looked so peaceful that for a moment Harry was sure that everything was right with the world.

"Little witch boy… when did you grow so big?" Roselyn asked her voice still shaky from her last bout of emotion.

"I didn't have a choice in the matter… I met these… siblings, who showed me things, taught me things… they asked for my help, and I said yes." Harry explained taking a step back that was more like forcing his body to move through space as it pushed against his frame that was in-between states.

"What do they want you to do?" Roselyn asked concern lacing her voice as she worried for Harry, a fact that warmed Harry even now.

"They lost their fourth sibling, they asked me to come to find them," Harry explained squeezing her hands as he comforted her his burning gaze akin to two warm hearths.

"Oh, do you know where they are?"

"In a way, it's kind of complicated but I can handle it," Harry reassured her.

"Oh well umm-"

The silence of the clearing that had previously been only broken by their speaking was suddenly ruptured asunder as hellish snarls and the sound of grim howls filled the night sky. In an instant, Harry had Roselyn at his back and one arm outstretched, his choir sung of danger, of threats, of coming death. Harry let his magic charge his own body, he kept a tight reign over it to retain his almost human-like appearance, but his outstretched arm became engulfed in a 'Rend' Command that bubbled ominously.

They came slinking from the darkness that was a little too deep to be normal, faces covered with hoods and cowls, masks, and some with skulls. Their bodies were wildly different, some covered in heavy cloaks and robes, others appeared like horrific beasts or chimera that gnashed thick bony fangs. Some had wings… glorious gothic things, others had multiple pairs more akin to bats, some even possessed colossal things that Harry knew represented power and age. But to Harry they were small, to the Herald they were little more than wretched scavengers and Harry would make sure they were aware of this.

"Roselyn close your eyes and cover your ears," Harry ordered as his voice warped gaining an echo as slowly, he let the volume of his choir build small traces of their symphony bleeding into reality the noise immediately halting the approaching hoard. A few of the larger ones, the older ones Harry realised, strode forward but did so with more caution, a few even drawing weapons it was when Harry saw the eighth scythe that he realised what they were. It seems that Roselyn's soul had been here too long and the creatures that feed on death were hungry for such a scrumptious morsel. Harry glanced back to see Roselyn had followed his instructions completely, her face tightly scrunched up and her hands pressed firmly against her ears.

Seeing she would be safe from his presence, or at least more protected from its destructive nature, Harry let his tightly bound control relax and once more the clearing became host to the Herald. The space around Harry warped, his form becoming stuck somewhere between a beautiful nightmare and a horrific spectacle as his human flesh flaked away to reveal his true nature. In the blink of an eye, Harry reforged his body so that it had arms, both coated in magic that bubbled ominously, his head looked like a human skull devoid of mouth or nose from the top of his skull rose a crown of upcurved horns that encircled his head and upon his brow rested a halo of starlight the circled ominously. His eyes were baleful Veridian flames that promised wrath yet unleashed, his neck was stretched ominously enough that it was very noticeable. His body was concealed by a swirling storm of shadows and folding space as the Herald did not need a body at this moment.

The hungering reapers now halted, hissing, and snarling warningly as the Herald stood tall its hands humming ominously as his magic matched him in his ferocity, his choir sung of pain and slaughter matching his eagerness.

"One chance… leave," the Herald hissed out its voice a wavering screech that made some of the smaller deaths clutch their ears in pain. A lot of the smaller ones scampered off, Harry watching their body's scuttle, hobble, and sprint back into that deep darkness. Sadly a few did not leave, and the Herald felt a snarl build as he watched a pack of three pull heavy-looking scythes from their back, the blades making a heavy thud as they impacted the ground. The Herald would not be intimidated though, especially not by some pathetic scavengers too stupid to understand when they were outmatched.

"Rend!" With a flurry of movement, the Herald launched its arms forward projecting his magic out in the form of his favoured Command. The magic soared through the air letting out a violent screeching noise that promised untold pain, pain that these pathetic scavengers did not fear. The Herald felt cruel satisfaction as the spell splattered two of the reapers and caused the third of the scythe-wielding trio to become disarmed, literally. It fell to the dirt screeching and writhing even as its compatriots began to disperse into ash that blew away in an impossible breeze. The Herald immediately rose its arms up and charge two new Commands eager for the next assault but was almost disappointed to witness that all the other scavengers were now outside of the clearing.

The Herald turned around eager to see if any would dare to chance his wrath again, he was disappointed to see that all of them were either sitting patiently outside of the clearing or lurking in the shadows considering their chances. Herald fired a Push Command at one four-legged one that dared to step back into the clearing and was promptly flung into a tree where it impacted heavily only to disperse into ash like the others.

"Harry? Harry I – I feel something." Roselyn warned warily her eyes still tightly screwed shut and her hands had not moved from their positions but still, she shivered in her crouched position. Harry closed his eyes and let his magic surge out to feel these numerous scavengers and Roselyn was right… something far more dangerous was coming. It did not charge out of the darkness, it did not come with bellowing howls or snarling hunger, rather it walked with steps purposefully soft. Each step carried with it the crunching of leaves and the rustling of the trees, a subtle message of an imminent arrival, a promise of attendance.

The being stalked out of the darkness and Harry felt peace wash over him as they entered the clearing he had before just defended so viciously. They strode forward beautiful and prominent, they towered over Harry even as the Herald he could not match their height… not yet at least. They looked feminine with long legs and wide hips, they bore a narrow waist and a prominent chest. Their face and neck were obscured by a shawl fabricated from the night itself that allowed Harry to only see the outlines of a soft face, upon her head, rested a colossal crow skull primed with three black feathers belonging to the same bird. From her back though as evidence of her grandeur, she possessed a cape of intertwined bones that extended as far back as Harry could see, a record of her service and monument to their calibre.

The Herald coiled his magic around him and Roselyn and flared it in what was essentially the equivalent of showing his fangs to this gorgeous but threatening creature. They slowed in their approach, taking only three more steps until they were roughly in the centre of the clearing where they then lowered themselves until they kneeled on the floor. The being put both arms on her legs and lowered her head gently to Harry, the shawl that concealed her glistening gently. Harry not desiring to be antagonistic without reason to such a dangerous creature reigned in his magic and bowed at the waist, but never let his head descend past his shoulders. The other entity, who was so much more than a mere scavenger of death, seemed pleased at Harry's response and slowly she held an arm out so that it was just before him palm facing upwards and fingers asking for his hand.

Harry let his magic tightly coil around Roselyn fuelled by his very powerful desire to protect her, he approached this beautiful entity and took their hand gently in his own. At once with a connection made through the touching of their hands, Harry felt her open herself to him in greetings and welcomed him back.

"Greetings chosen of They Who Watch, it is with humble joy and stringent hope that this one greets you here this day messenger, voice yet spoke, Herald." Their voice was as enchanting as their visage, the sound of beautiful midnight breezes and the sound of soft rain in autumn battering the trees afflicted by the fall. Harry let his choir sing freely their voices a stringent ring of harmonic synergy that complimented the beautiful entity's voice so well.

"I thank you sincerely for your lovely welcome, by what name may I call you that would do you justice?" Harry asked politely stepping closer to the kneeling entity his long neck granting him enough height to be proximal to where their collar bone would be.

"This one has been known by many names, names stolen, names gifted, names earned… to this one, names hold little consequence, we are but death, the promise kept. This one is but the keeper of the cycle and shepherd of the wayward souls… this one is the calm, the placid, the harmonious and the tranquil." The entity lowered her head down until she was eye level with Harry, and he knew that behind that veil was the encompassing void of death. That black consuming place that devoured you wholly to the terrifying unknown. He had travelled through them once to get to alien worlds condemned by a lost god… he would not traverse them again for some time. But Harry knew that it was not he that this being was here for.

"You are the serene death, not like those other little wretches… you are old and beautiful, a gift to the weary and ready, a promise of rest for those who have struggled… You have come to take from me my only friend," Harry stated with frustration not eager to see his dear friend taken.

"Yes."

"I see… then I shall ask, you who is the serene death, the peaceful death, would you grant me a boon?" Harry asked his voice taking a commanding tone as his choir sung of possibility and his magic loosened its grip on Roselyn who still kept her eyes and ears covered.

"For you dear Herald this one would grant many things." The being invoked lightly their other arm reaching up to trace along with the crown of starlight that rested on his brow. Harry felt tender care he remembered only ever feeling from Roselyn before. This is truly a terrifying entity, Harry thought to himself as that soothing calm washed over him.

"Let me help you grant her the peaceful rest she so rightly deserves, let me grant her the passage you offer her so that she may know just some of what she has blessed me with," Harry, the Herald of the Apocalypse let his head bow for this, he let his head dip knowing that this entity would not misconstrue his words, nor invoke his wrath.

"But of course, oh loving harbinger… I am the serenity that all should be offered, and patience is something I have long since mastered. Go to this soul that has touched you so and lead her unto her path knowing I will guide her to where she must now trek." With slow conscious movements, they leaned down to press their still veiled head against the Heralds ever so lightly and ushered him back to Roselyn. Harry strode back to his friend, his sight scouring the clearing where all those that hungered for Roselyn now sat patiently, warry of the fact that Harry was not afraid to discipline them. With the same focus, he expended before, Harry let his form shrink until he was almost human once more, concealing the terror of the Herald in the concept of his fake humanity.

He slowly grazed her hands, pulling on them lightly, she was quick to flinch away, smart girl, harry thought realising she was being careful. Harry then let himself lean forward until his head met hers once more his own hands lightly cupping her own which still covered her ears. Slowly he felt her tense but still, she did not open her eyes, so Harry decided it was time to try something else. Lightly Harry pressed his lips to her forehead and only then did he feel her hands move away from her ears.

She let out a wavery breath, "Harry?"

Harry was quick to respond, "Yes, it's me, Roselyn I'm here."

"Can I open my eyes?" She asked her face still scrunched up but her hands now resting on his own.

"Yes… there is someone I would like you to meet." Harry informed her as he rose to his own feet pulling her up from her crouched position.

"Who-"

Roselyn's question was quickly cut off by her words becoming trapped in her own throat as she finally laid eyes on the entity who was still kneeling patiently waiting for Harry to escort Roselyn over to her. The only evidence they showed that they realised they were being stared at was the tilting of their head in a very bird-like manner.

"That is who I wished to introduce you to," Harry whispered teasingly.

Roselyn gulped, "Who-w-w What are they?"

"… Someone who wants to help you," Harry answered her as he ushered her across the clearing his magic once again returning to its dormancy. Harry kept a tight reign over his emotions, he didn't want to lose his dearest friend, but he knew… somehow, he knew this was for the best.

Roselyn took small steps as she approached the rather tall feminine figure, but Harry was all too happy to accommodate her in that regard and merely matched her pace as she strode forward. When they finally arrived, Roselyn was utterly speechless as the beautiful being once again held a handout for Harry to grasp.

"Roselyn this is… hmmm well I suppose you can refer to them as Serenity," Harry introduced the reaper to his closest friend who only managed a throaty gulp in response, words still lost to her.

"An apt name, greetings to you cherished of the Herald it is a pleasure to meet one whom he cares for so dearly," Serenity greeted in response going so far as to tilt her head forward in respect.

"… I-I Ummm," Harry lightly patted her back encouraging her to press on and overcome her newfound difficulty with speaking. "Oh! Umm, Hello I am Roselyn Reid," She hastily introduced herself before performing what Harry is pretty sure was supposed to be a curtsy.

"Your last name is Reid?" Harry inquired with a raised brow humoured by learning something new about his friend.

"What? Oh, I suppose I never told you, yes my last name is Reid," Roselyn confirmed.

Harry smiled, "I like it."

"It is a fine name indeed," Serenity added her voice a soothing whisper.

"Oh, umm thank you," Roselyn blushed an adorable pink that spread from her cheeks to her ears. Harry was happy to enjoy this peaceful moment but a slinking shadow just outside the clearing reminded him of the job at hand and was quick to make the smile on his face one of a more sombre nature.

Harry used his free hand to lightly hold his dearest friends before he spoke cautiously, "Roselyn… Serenity is here to guide you," Harry informed her gently.

"Guide me? Guide me where?" Roselyn asked befuddlement apparent on her face.

"To what comes next young one," Serenity chimed in helpfully.

Roselyn's confusion was still very much apparent, "I… I'm sorry but I don't understand what you mean? what comes next?" She turned to find Harry but once more his form had returned to that of his old childish self rather than the tall warped one, and his eyes had the glistening trace of tears yet shed.

"What we mean is that it's time for you to move on Roselyn… it's time for you to rest," Harry explained with a morose smile.

"What! But Harry I want to stay with you!" Roselyn shouted in defiance quick to crouch down and embrace him, Harry tightened his grip on Serenity but let his other arm hold Roselyn just as securely. I didn't know this would be so damn hard, he thought as he felt the irritation in his eyes grow.

Harry swallowed and blinked heavily before he responded, "Of course you do… you are such a strange, wonderful person Roselyn," Harry informed her letting a wet laugh escape his chest that was an obvious attempt to distract from the pain he was feeling. "But you can't… I can't do what I have to and protect you at the same time Roselyn… and trust me you might want to stick around now but dead that go against the flow of nature often suffer far more than its worth."

"How do you know?" Roselyn sobbed defiantly her eyes starting to water as her form began to flicker back to her more ghostly nature.

"He knows because the Herald had to endure much as an undead to come back as what he is now." Serenity chimed in her voice a neutral hum that did much to disarm the rampant emotions building Roselyn.

"What?" Roselyn voiced her confusion this time accompanied by worry as she gazed at Harry confusion apparent as her eyes darted around his childlike form.

"… It's not pleasant Roselyn, you are somehow both numb and aching… I bet you've felt it… the ground beneath your feet feels oddly distant and off-putting, while noises are harder to hear, almost muffled and distorted." Harry questioned his eyes locking hers in place with a piercing stare as he let his words sink in.

"I-… maybe," she uttered softly.

"It will get worse, you'll fall apart, disassociate and worse the nature of the world itself will be tugging at you, encouraging you to move on and at the same time trying to correct your presence. Trust me it is an exhausting tiring existence that will drive you to the brink and then you have to remember you are dead Roselyn, none of the pleasures of life will ever grace you again as long as you remain." Harry warned her, painting a picture of a fate worse than death. Suffering after death.

"But what about you?" Roselyn hiccupped.

"… I'll be ok, besides it'll be nice to know that when I'm done with my work, I can join you… will you save me a spot, Roselyn?" Harry asked his eyes glistening with unshed tears but his smile earnest and wide.

She sniffed heavily and her tears continued to trace down her face, but she graced Harry with a small heartfelt smile and gave a reply that made Harry's heart sore. "I can do that for you… my little witch boy."

"Come Roselyn Reid, you have earned your rest after such a long struggle." Serenity exclaimed opening her arms wide, an invitation for Roselyn to embrace her and make her choice.

Roselyn hugged herself as nerves were quick to halt her movement, but Harry was there for her and offered to hold her hand. Roselyn graced him with a grateful smile before she grabbed his hand tightly and together, they strode forward. Harry walked with her right up to Serenity's body where he stopped but did not let go. Roselyn paused to look at Harry and let a fresh wave of tears spill from her warm brown orbs. She pulled him into a tight hug his head pressed firmly against her centre, and he stayed like that, he didn't know for how long but deep down he knew it wasn't long enough. When she let go, he looked up to see the watery orbs and was met with a small smile that baffled him, but he returned one of his own as he was not sure if he could afford not to smile for her.

"Harry… my little witch boy, you are going to become something wonderful… I just know it." She whispered to him, her voice was wavery, but it carried an inordinate amount of affection and care that made Harry's eyes widen and his chest constrict. She once more graced his forehead with a kiss before reaching out to touch the body of Serenity.

Surprised Roselyn breathed out, "It's warm." She turned to Harry and slowly her grip on his hand loosened, she let herself walk further into Serenity's form and further into the warm, peaceful embrace it offered. With a halt, she turned back only her torso and head remaining outside now, her hand clutching Harry being all that tethered her to the mortal world.

"Harry… my body, could you please take it to my roommate she-… she will know what to do with it," Roselyn asked with a heavy voice.

"Of course… don't worry Roselyn I'll take care of everything… don't you worry. I'll get your body to your roommate and then… then I'll make sure justice is dealt." For a second Harry was worried the wrath that no doubt showed in his eyes would have ruined the moment, but Roselyn merely nodded.

"Don't let them get away with this Harry, make them pay." With tears in her eyes and sorrow saturating her words Roselyn still made sure that her hate for her killers was apparent and Harry was grateful for it. The clearing was silent now with neither of them talking, they both knew what came next but neither of them wanted to be the one to let go, Harry swallowed heavily realising that he had to do this for Roselyn, he had to be the one to let go so she didn't have to.

"Roselyn-"

"Harry-"

They both spoke at the same time and Harry felt a warmth encircle his heart as she let loose a bubbly laugh that tapered off to a soft whimper hidden by a smile. "Sorry you go first," Harry offered.

Roselyn nodded and took a steadying breath, "Harry I may have only known you for a short time, but I want you to know that without a shadow of a doubt you are one of the most wonderful people I have ever met… I love you my little witch boy so please… please be safe ok!" Roselyn cried out her face a strange disparity of utter sorrow and shining love.

Harry was stunned by her admission but all too quickly a smile more radiant and expressive than any other he had ever conjured grew on his face only matched by the sudden blurry heaviness in his eyes. "… I love you to Roselyn… you were- Are! You are my best friend!" Harry exclaimed his throat strangely constrictive and his nose suddenly feeling oddly runny.

"Look at that, I guess I got to watch you grow up a little… I'm glad. Goodbye Harry and don't you worry, you were my best friend too." Roselyn gently comforted him as her hand loosened further until all that connected them was two meagre fingers that hooker together. Harry rubbed his eyes and sniffled lightly before he stared Roselyn right in the eye and uttered his last words to the first friend he ever made.

"Goodbye, Roselyn."

With that, they separated, and Roselyn was pulled peacefully into Serenity's embrace, the beautiful reaper bringing her arms down and with them two colossal raven wings that concealed her body entirely. Harry at this point was not sure how much longer he could hold back the volatile emotions that ran rampant within him, but he was sure he could hold them at bay long enough to do what needed to be done.

Harry gazed up to the veil that covered Serenity's face and with a sorrowful smile uttered, "take care of her."

"I will, beloved harbinger... so long Herald of the end." With her peace spoken Serenity flapped her colossal wings and disappeared, she did not fly away but rather vanished into the wind itself her towering frame gone. The sound of her exit was blanketed by the sudden onset of heavy rain crashing down upon the clearing.

"Of course… I get it now." Harry mumbled to himself as slowly his fake humanity collapsed, his true form rearing up in all its glory but with one noticeable difference. Upon the bleached skull devoid of all facial features save eye sockets in which sat the burning globes of fire that illuminated the world to the Herald, two black tracks of fluid streamed down his alien visage. The streams of black cascaded down until they reached the edge of the Heralds face where they tapered off and fell to the soil with a heavy hiss that was audible even with the heavy thumping of the pelting rain.

"So that's what you meant… I'm glad I could cry in front of you, Roselyn." Harry sobbed heavily as he collapsed to his newly formed knees. Slowly his body stitched itself together, a torso of grey flesh with pitch-black ribs jutting out like a deranged exoskeleton. His abdomen was shrunken taking the appearance of a starved and withered gut that belonged to a desiccated corpse. His legs were long and digitigrade, his feet were sharp pointed things that should have been impossible to walk on, but the Herald had no issue with them. He kneeled in that rain and his pained cries were matched to the rumble of creeping thunder and the sorrowful wails of his choir. When Harry finally felt well enough to get off the ground his tears had formed an acidic puddle of black that even now hissed with each drop of rain that impacted it.

Harry now in a body that the Herald could operate in without the irritating need for the fake humanity that constricted him before, got to work. Looking around the clearing with a crucial eye Harry first settled on his corpse dangling from the tree and let his grief give way to an emotion he was far more comfortable dealing with at the moment.

His tremendous amount of unyielding rage.

"Rend," Harry barked, his Command quick to obliterate the rope and send his corpse plummeting into the ash and burnt sticks that made up the fire pit that had cooked him. Should give me a proper burial, Harry thought to himself as an afterthought. "Push," Harry intoned again the second Command shoving a heap of wet soil and earth to completely cover Harry's body in its entirety. Here's hoping that my corpse can stay buried but honestly, Harry thought looking up and seeing that the clearing was still full of numerous curses uttered by him and Roselyn in the throes of their violent death. I bet those would make pretty much anything feel unwelcome here.

A crack of thunder brought Harry out of his thoughts and back to the clearing where he glanced over to a far more important matter that needed to be handled. With trepidation, Harry strode across the clearing to the body of his dearly departed friend. Her body was quickly becoming drenched, but the rain was doing a good job of washing a lot of the blood and filth off her frame. Harry kneeled in the sopping mud and lifted her frame into his now much longer arms, her body weighed approximately nothing to the strength of the Herald.

"Roommate… how do I find her though?" Harry thought out loud unsure how to go about getting Roselyn's body to this person whom he had never met before.

As Harry stood there in the rain trying to concoct a plan an unusual noise broke him from his thoughts and brought his attention to a reaper, a small one, that had remained behind after Serenity's departure. It took a form akin to a dog, but it was too stubby… like a baby hippopotamus actually, with its stout form and barrel-like body. The scavenger was sitting there at the edge of the clearing pawing at a tree noisily while staring right at him. Looking at the canid-like head gave Harry the inspiration he needed to formulate his plan.

"Oi!" Harry shouted across the clearing, the death eating dog thing stopping its noisy pawing to face Harry before sitting at attention. "How would you like a meal?" Harry asked the stout little beast, which was quick to reply with a strange snort/bark hybrid noise that sounded painful to replicate. Quickly the creature waddled across the clearing with a startling level of grace that defied its shape entirely. It sat roughly a meter away from Harry interested in this meal that he was offering.

Harry with obvious caution kneeled before the creature, keeping Roselyn's body close to his chest of course, and posed his next question. "Do you think you could find where this lady lived? If you find it for me and take me there, I promise, you will get to eat a whole bunch of death before the sun rises."

The dog/hippo thing snorted before snuffling the air in front of Roselyn's body, one beady red eye never leaving Harry, nor did it come into contact with her body, obvious self-preservation instincts at work. Its sniffing concluded the creature to a step back before letting out a cacophony of coughing like noise that echoed out even in the rainy night. Harry was perturbed by the strange actions of the scavenger until suddenly all around the clearing different creatures responded, bipedal, quadruped, insectoid, arachnid… a menagerie of scavengers chimed up letting out their boundless noises that echoed in the stormy night. Harry realising there was an opportunity here was quick to raise his voice over the cacophony of calls.

"All right here is the deal, you all help me find where Roselyn lived and then you can all follow me for the night to where I promise you there will be death!" Harry bellowed his voice far louder than the combined volume of all the scavengers. The cacophony of noise died down and one by one they disappeared into the darkness going to seek Roselyn's former residence.

Harry looked down at the brutalised face of his dear friend and felt his fury broil violently within him, thoughts of revenge pooling in his mind. "… Don't worry Roselyn, I'll get you home and then… then the world will have a vivid example of Why. You. Do Not. Fuck With Me!" Harry howled into the dark of the night his hands slick with the blood of his only friend and his baleful rage accompanied by his choir chanting of desolation and ruin and the hungering hollers of those that feed on death itself.

A.N.

So, I will be honest I wanted to get straight to writing the horrific punishments I have planned for Harry's murderers but I want to give my first ever OC a nice little send-off and by the time I was done my writing had got away from me so the brutality will have to come next chapter. Many apologies, I will endeavour to ensure that the next chapter is a wonderful smorgasbord of revenge killing.

Now I have to first give a firm thank you to an individual kind enough to PM me with some spelling errors I missed in the previous chapter. So, to the kind individual who alerted me to the whole altar/alter thing thank you very much.

Now as to the Reviews I have to first give a belated shout out to the ever-enjoyable war-gerbil 777 as I must have missed their review before, but it was definitely one I enjoyed because honestly, that's what I'm going for with the Unborn and also love knowing someone else has seen some of Alan Rickman being the sassy voice of god.

And to my first ever guest reviewer I thank you very much for the compliment and I hope you continue to enjoy it going forward.

Well, the next chapter should (assuming I don't get attacked by a plot bunny) be a lot of gruesome vengeance so stick around for that and I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter. Until next time my lovely readers.