Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.

All of a sudden, Harry was fully awake. "Death?" he asked, incredulously. "Am I going to die now?"

Death made a sound that resembled a snort. "Now, as the Master of Death, you can't die at all. Still, it's only a title. You're not my boss, mind you. I will grant you some privileges, but there are still rules to follow."

"And what might these be?" Harry was now interested in the what he found was an incredulously strange conversation.

"Today, you saved Marvolo Gaunt's life. He should have come to be mine. Therefore, I need some compensation. You must name another person, whose life I can take instead."

Harry stared at the figure in front of him in shock. "Please take one of the Death Eaters who are in Azkaban. Lucius Malfoy, for example. They've killed many people and deserve your wrath."

Death nodded in understanding. "You misunderstand that. He served me many times, which for me was a good thing. Nevertheless, I understand your point of view, and this time, I shall agree. If you have any other wish for a person to die or not to die, please inform me at any time. You can simply summon me to you by calling my name."

"My family please. My parents and siblings."

"Granted, but as they are four people, these four will be your wishes for the next four years. Only after four years, you'll be able to tell me more names of people whom you do not wish to die."

"That's fine with me," Harry replied, pensively. "Please wait a moment." his thoughts went haywire. "By taking the Elder Wand from Dumbledore, I've wronged him badly."

Death let out a scoff. "Did you take his wand, because you knew that it was the Elder Wand and you wished to have it?"

Harry shook his head. "I should have known, but I didn't even think about such a thing."

"Then you haven't wronged him at all."

"Nevertheless, please hear me out. I believe that he is dying due to the curse he's under. Could you perhaps give him some more time? Perhaps the two and a half years I need to finish Hogwarts and take over as headmaster, considering that I'm the owner?"

"What do I get out of this deal?"

"You'll get him in two and half years' time. If I healed him, it might take a much longer time."

Death nodded. "We have a deal. I'm going to have to get used to unfortunate deals anyway, considering that my master is a natural healer. I'll see you."

With that, he vanished as suddenly and quietly as he had appeared earlier, and for a moment, Harry wondered if Death had really been there or if he had simply imagined the whole thing due to all the talks about the Deathly Hallows and Master of Death.

Only two days later, when the Daily Prophet screamed that Lucius Malfoy had been found dead in his cell in Azkaban, did he believe that his mind had not simply played a prank on him.

Harry decided to only tell his parents and perhaps Marvolo about Death's visit. 'No one else has to know that I'm the owner of all three Hallows and the Master of Death. Let people believe that the three Hallows were only a myth.'

HP

When he told Marvolo about the visit, a sudden thought crossed his mind. 'You told me that you'd have a ritual to take all the Horcruxes back into your body on Samhain. Why did I get the ring back so soon?'

Marvolo chuckled though the link. 'I decided to do the ritual on Equinox and save Samhain for the ritual to take the Horcrux from you. It might be safer for you to do it separately.'

'Oh, I see. Thank you for being so considerate.'

'You're welcome, my friend and congratulations for being the Master of Death.'

HP

"So, what exactly are the advantages of being Master of Death?" Severus quirked an eyebrow.

"Isn't it advantage enough that he can't die? That alone is advantage enough." Regina beat Harry to a response, sounding very happy.

Severus nodded. "That's out of the question. I was just wondering if there was more to it."

"I am not really sure. He told me that there were certain rules."

"Such as?"

"For example, he said that because I saved Marvolo's life, I had to tell him some other person, whom he could take in exchange." Harry let out a deep sigh. "I told him to take one of the Death Eaters."

"That's why Lucius Malfoy died so suddenly. Harry," Severus gave him a sharp look. "It's not your fault. He brought it upon himself. Do not ever think that it's your fault that he's dead now."

"Your father is right." Regina carefully leaned over Lucy and pulled him close, causing Harry to gratefully lean into the embrace.

"He also promised me to let the four of you live," Harry mumbled in a barely audible voice, causing his parents to smile.

"Thank you, son."

HP

Harry was extremely disappointed, when Minerva told him that she had invited BABA to play during the Halloween feast this year.

"I won't be able to participate, as I am involved in a ritual at Lord Gaunt's place tomorrow evening," he informed her.

"I already told you that I will be absent tomorrow as well. It's the same event." Severus cast his colleague a sharp look. 'Harry, I believe that you can tell Minerva what is going to happen.'

Harry cleared his throat and pointed at his scar. "Somehow, when Voldemort attacked my parents, he unintentionally made a Horcrux, which is a part of his soul that's behind my scar." Ignoring the old witch's gasp, he continued, "He has already taken back all the other Horcruxes into his body apart from the ones within Nagini and me, and he wants to do that on Samhain."

Minerva stared at him in apparent shock, pressing a hand in front of her mouth.

"We trust that you do not inform Albus about this." Severus cast her a sharp look.

"Of course not. Will Harry be all right?"

Harry nodded. "I will. Marvolo wouldn't do anything to endanger me. He even invited Unspeakables Felina and Whisker to join us tomorrow night. It's just sad that I can't hear BABA tonight, let alone play with them."

"I'll ask them if they can come again for the Yule Ball," Minerva promised, smiling.

HP

Unfortunately, missing BABA's concert would turn out to be a minor problem. While Marvolo managed to extract the Horcruxes both from Nagini and Harry and add them back to his soul, Harry ended up in a coma, and Nagini's condition was critical as well.

When Harry's mind returned to consciousness, it was completely dark around him. From the magic surrounding him, he realised that he found himself in his own bed at home with Lucy very close by, probably cuddled against his stomach. 'Why can't I see?' he thought in shock, memories from his first years at Hogwarts coming to mind.

'Harry, you need to wake up,' a soft voice penetrated his mind. 'Tomorrow is Christmas, and you don't want to miss BABA's concert again.'

'Luna?' Harry thought back, wondering when Luna had managed telepathy. 'Christmas?' 'The last thing I knew was Samhain,' he thought to himself.

'Yes Harry, you've been in a coma ever since Marvolo took the Horcrux out, and your father was so kind and taught me telepathy, because he said that you might be able to receive thoughts, before you'd be able to hear spoken words.'

'That's great,' Harry thought back, feeling confused. 'What can I do to wake up? I feel awake, but I can't move, hear or see.'

'Sorry, Harry, I don't know. Let me get your father for you.'

'Thanks.'

'Harry. How generous that you've decided to grace the world of the living on time for Christmas.'

'Dad,' Harry thought back, indignantly. 'Can you rather tell me what I can do to properly wake up?'

'I am not sure, but can you try to focus on your healing magic and try to heal yourself?'

'Oh, all right, I'll try. Thanks, Dad.'

tbc...

Thank you so very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter.