Author's Note: Hello again everyone and welcome to chapter nine. I had a lot of fun writing this one and I hope you all enjoy it as well. Now I've seen a could of comments about Harry/Hermione. While yes, I agree they should have been a couple in cannon. They will not be in my story. I feel like this chapter will officially give away Harry love interest so please enjoy. -places a plate of tacos on the table.- As always this is JK's world and I'm just playing in it. -bites into taco.- on with the show.
"Speech"
~Parseltongue/foreign language~
"Thoughts."
Chapter 9: The Price of a Champion.
*Harry's point of view. *
"You okay there Hermione?" Harry asked her with a slight grin on his lips. Everyone else was in shock at the fact that Hermione had just spoken Parseltongue. Harry was more interested in why she had done so, even though he was pretty sure he knew what the reason was.
"No, I am not! And you bloody well know why!"Hermione exclaimed in English. Then she turned her attention back to her hip. ~If you don't stop this, I'm going to put you in time out you bloody pervert!~Hermione speaking in parseltongue again caused everyone to gasp as well as take a step back. Zeus was being his usual perverted self when it came to the women he snuggled with. At least that's how it was for Hermione. While she loved Zeus, she hated how he would constantly try to slither into her pants or worse her knickers.
"Language Hermione." Harry chuckled as he walked over to her. ~You're in trouble again Zeus.~ Harry heard several more gasps from behind him and rolled his eyes. Harry turned around and found everyone staring at him. "Really people? You just saw me claim the Heirship to the Slytherin line. You can't be the Heir or the Lord of the Slytherin line if you aren't a Parselmouth. Just a perk for beating the previous Heir as an infant." Harry grinned as they all stared at him.
"Harry, do you mind?" Hermione pleaded. Harry turned around and smiled.
~Hermione just order him out.~ Harry spoke to Hermione in parseltongue and she slowly tilted her head at him.
"Harry how can I order him out. I'm not a parselmouth."Harry had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing as he turned to the others.
"Who wants to tell her?" Harry asked and Narcissa stepped forward.
"Miss Granger I know this may be hard to accept but as an honorary member of the Slytherin family, you are granted their most sought after gift. You could quite possibly be the first-ever muggleborn Parselmouth." Hermione just stared at Narcissa like she had six heads. Eventually, Hermione slowly looked at her waist and with a look of extreme concentration on her face she spoke.
~Zeus please come out of my pants.~ Hermione said, and Harry watched as her eyes widened in shock as she finally heard the difference. Slowly Zeus slithered out of Hermione's pant leg. Harry held out his hand and Zeus slithered his way around his arm.
"Hey Hermione, is that a snake in your pants or are you just happy to see us?" Sirius laughed at his own joke and a few other chuckled but most were too entranced by Zeus.
"Miss Granger, what in Merlin's name is that?" Madam Bones asked and Dora decided to answer for her.
"That's one of Harry's new familiars. It's a thunder serpent and don't worry I made sure he registered it. Both this one and his other one have both been registered at the ministry through the owl registry. He still has to go in to show them to the magical creature department sometime next week."
Madam Bones just stared at Dora as Susan asked, "What other one?"
~Come on out Hestia.~ Harry said, and Hestia slithered out of Hermione's shirt sleeve and wrapped around her arm.
~Master can I come back to you now? While your friend is nice, I prefer being with you.~ Hestia asked, and Harry smiled as he held out his hand for her. She quickly slithered back on to his other arm. While Zeus seemed to be fond of snuggling with witches. Hestia only ever wanted to be on Harry's arm. While she accepted Hermione because Harry considered her his sister, she would always prefer to be on Harry's arm.
~What are you talking about she's loads of fun to cuddle with.~ Harry rolled his eyes before he glared at Zeus.
~Be that as it may Zeus you broke the rules so no cuddling for a week.~ Harry scolded, and Zeus looked down in shame.
~Does it after to be a week? I mean it was only his second offense won't just a day or two be better?~ Harry just raised his eyebrow at Hermione as she blushed.
"Okay if you guys are going to be making each other blush than can you do it in English please?" Dora asked and Harry chuckled as he looked at Dora and then with a grin he turned back to Hermione.
~You know the main reason I made you a member of this line was so you could use this language. Now we can talk privately and make Dora think we're talking about her behind her back.~ Hermione covered her mouth as she tried not to laugh.
"Hey, I don't know what you just said but I know it was about me." Harry smiled innocently at Dora's outburst.
"Nymphadora you know I would never talk about you behind your back like that." Harry chuckled and Dora narrowed her eyes at him as she reached for her wand.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, young lady." Everyone looked at Sharptooth who spoke. "I'm sure you're not planning anything lethal but while in Gringotts you are in goblin territory. Which means as long has Mr. Potter bares that tattoo, he is a member of this nation." Dora's whole body turned white as she held up her hands in surrender. Sirius and Remus busted out laughing as Andromeda hit Dora upside the head.
"Please excuse my daughter account manager Sharptooth. I assure you she meant no hostility towards your nation. She was merely having fun with her cousin and forgot where she was." Andromeda said with a formal curtsey. Sharptooth grunted as he went back to looking over the documents.
After Harry explained more about his familiars to everyone the two of them slithered under his shirt sleeves. Harry then took a deep breath and then walked to stand in front of the door.
"Okay, I have a request for all of the ladies in the room that I'm sure I am going to regret." Everyone just stared at him as Harry took another deep breath.
"Oh, look Harry's gonna ask all of us on a date," Dora said with a grin and a wink. Harry rolled his eyes at her as Sirius laughed.
"Actually, I was going to say that since no one ever noticed that my clothes are horrible…" Hermione raised her hand interrupting him. Harry chuckled at her as he pointed to her.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Everyone chuckled at Harry's impersonation of a professor.
"Harry, you don't like that style?" Hermione asked and Harry just gaped at her in shock as did everyone else.
"Style? You think this is a style?" Harry asked not quite sure he'd heard her correctly. Hermione blushed slightly as she nodded her head.
"Yeah, it's a muggle style called the grunge look. When I first saw your clothes and your constant wearing them. I just assumed. I'm sorry Harry." Harry laughed as he shook his head.
"Well, that explains a lot." Harry sighed as he took a deep breath. "No, I don't like this 'Style'. These are the only clothes my relatives allowed me to wear aside from my school uniform." These words were met with looks of shock and growls. "Yeah but like I said, don't worry. Sharptooth and I are already taking care of them." Harry nodded to the goblin with a fanged grin before turning back to everyone else. "Anyway, I was hoping to get volunteers from some of you lovely ladies to help me pick out a new wardrobe. I've never been shopping for clothes before so…"
"I VOLUNTEER!" Nearly every woman in the room shouted at once. Harry jumped back at the shouts before rolling his eyes at the same time Hermione did despite her hand also being up.
"Now hold on a minute there are some rules," Harry said quickly and all the women sighed making Harry grin. "Now, now none of that. The only rules are you have to get both a Wizard's wardrobe and a Muggle wardrobe. I am open to the style but I'm partial to something like a combination of Dora's and Draco's style." Everyone turned and looked at the two of them for a moment. Dora was using her usual punk style robes while Draco had on his usual upper-class robes. After they all seemed to take this in, they turned back to Harry. "The only other condition I have is that I also need workout clothes. Also, as a bonus, anyone who helps me gets two free outfits on me." Every guy in the room just stared at him with wide eyes.
"Deadman." Ted coughed as every woman in the room started to grin viciously.
-Scene Break-
Less than an hour later Harry was standing in a Wizard clothing store trying on more than a hundred different styles of robes. He was glad he asked Sharptooth for a custom Gringotts money bag that would produce the gold needed on command. He sent Remus to the exchange counter to get pounds for the muggle stores they would go to. For the first few minutes he tried to give his opinion but after being ignored several times he gave up and let them get on with it. Sirius (in Padfoot form,) and Remus were sitting outside the shop relaxing on a bench in the sun. Ted had made an excuse of needing to do some errands left saying he would meet up with them later. Draco was sitting in a chair inside the store trying to keep out of sight in case his father decided to visit the alley.
"Harry if you don't mind me asking, why did you do this? I mean I'm sure Lupin, our Lord, or even I could help you do this, and we would have been done by now. Why are you subjecting yourself to this?" Draco asked him with a confused expression on his face. Harry sighed as he adjusted the outfit he was wearing.
"Draco have you ever done something that you felt you needed to be punished for, but knew that if you explained it to anyone, they wouldn't punish you?" Harry gave Draco a minute to think about it as he took off his current outfit off.
"Maybe I mean most of what I've done deserves punishment as you well know. However, I think I understand because I feel like if I fully explained my situation most probably let it go with a simple apology. Despite my believing I deserve to be hexed for the things I've done." Draco sighed and Harry gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Yeah well, I've done quite a few things I feel I should be punished for and I know no one would actually do it. So, I decided to give myself the worst punishment in the world, short of getting a rub down by the two gorilla's you usually have with you." Both Harry and Draco shuddered at that.
"Please the less said about those two the better. Thank Merlin I can finally ditch those two idiots Lucius paid to keep an eye on me." Draco shuddered again.
"Yeah, I don't blame you for that. Anyway, while this doesn't quite make up for what I've done, it does help a little bit." Draco stared at him for a few minutes in silence as Harry was forced to try more things on.
"What did you do that makes you feel you need to be punished if you don't mind me asking that is?" Draco asked and Harry sighed as more clothes were added to the pile.
"That would be a very long story and not one I can tell. Let's just say I made a lot of mistakes that lead to a lot of bad things happening. I plan to fix as many of them as I can but in the meantime, I felt a little punishment was in order. Plus, I needed the clothes anyway." The two of them chuckled as the clothes continued to pile up. While Harry knew a lot of what happened wasn't his fault this was more about him wanting to punish himself for letting Ginny get the better of him. He was skilled enough that she never should have gotten the drop on him the way she did, wife or no wife.
After another hour, Harry was walking out of the Wizards clothes store with more than a dozen bags shrunken down and in his pocket. After Aunt Minnie transfigured everyone's robes into something muggle appropriate. Harry was then quickly dragged out into muggle London where he was dragged into the closest department store. Two hours later Harry walked out, weighed down by a dozen bags while Draco carried the other dozen. All of the women were carrying their own bags with their new outfits in it. Dora walked up and leaned on Harry's shoulder.
"Harry I just wanna say this has been the best day. If you ever need another wardrobe, please feel free to floo call me." Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head before he grinned.
"Actually, our next target is Remus since he's in a serious need of a makeover." Remus paled as all the women in the group looked him up and down with vicious grins. "But according to him, he'll only let you all help if he gets to pick out lingerie for all of you." Harry watched as all the other ladies narrowed their eyes at Remus. Dora, however, was looking at him with an eyebrow raised in curiosity. Remus was waving his hands in a panic.
"W-what?! I-I n-never said any s-such t-thing." Remus backed himself into the wall of the store as the ladies circled him.
"Mr. Lupin while I can understand your attraction to women please remember that some of the women here are far too young for you." Aunt Minnie scolded with a pointed nod at Hermione and Susan. "I do hope you were not having such fantasies while you were teaching last year." She continued and Harry had never seen Remus turned into such a pale stuttering mess before. It was taking all he could do not bust a gut laughing at him. Sirius, in Padfoot form, was rolling on the ground with obvious laughter.
"Mr. Lupin I am sorry to disappoint you but even if you and I were the same age I wouldn't be interested. I'm afraid you are just not my type." Hermione said as she looked away attempting to look sorrowful, but Harry saw the slight smirk on her lips. Remus, however, seemed like someone had hit him with a full-body bind. Harry watched as Dora moved in close to him and Harry couldn't help but feel like he was watching a predator going in for the kill.
"You know Remus if it's a schoolgirl your looking for…" Harry watched as Dora's features got younger as she shrunk slightly. "All you had to do was ask…and I might even have my old Hogwarts uniform as long as you don't mind Hufflepuffs." Harry watched as Remus's eyes went so wide Harry was sure they might pop out of his head. Eventually, someone chuckled and that started the laughter from everyone in the group.
"Mischief Managed," Harry announce and Remus glared at him but there was a slight smirk to his glare. "Although I think Dora might have been serious about her offer," Harry said with a chuckle. "Which wouldn't surprise me since she seems like the type who would be a furry." Harry knew he had taken his joke one step too far when he sensed several attacks coming at once. The only one that got through was Hermione's who smacked him upside the head. Harry laughed as he rubbed the back of his head while mentally scolding his lack of control of his fourteen-year-old body.
"You know I think I almost miss your brooding," Hermione said still wearing her smirk that made Harry laughed
"Sorry Hermione, but I left that Harry back with the Dursley's."
"Mr. Potter while this day has been quite a lot of fun, I suggest we pick up your new wand and then we can get you to Potter Manor. I don't know about you but I'm excited to see it again." Aunt Minnie said with a soft smile and Harry nodded. Aunt Minnie was the biggest shock of everyone hear. She took to the clothes challenge as a cat took to catnip. She was more enthusiastic than anyone else but thankfully she didn't torture him the way Dora did. She had dragged him straight to the lingerie section for one of her new outfits. Thankfully, Aunt Minnie yelled at her and saved him from that. Playful flirting with Dora was one thing but as far as Harry was concerned Dora was Remus's wife and that was that. While Harry wasn't exactly sure they were perfect for each other. Harry had loved his godson Teddy and he wanted to make sure the little tyke still got a chance. Even if Remus failed as a father Harry would always make sure the boy had a father figure in his life.
"You needed a new wand, Harry?" Remus asked and Harry explained about his wand as they walked back to Diagon Alley. As they walked into Ollivander's they were assaulted by shouting.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS WAND!" Everyone froze in shock as Mr. Olivander turned around and glared at Harry. "Mr. Potter would you kindly explain why I can neither remember making your wand nor can I pick it up since I finished it?" Harry just stared at the man.
"Erm…I…uh…What?" Harry sputtered.
"Never mind! Clearly, this was wand was a miscalculated mistake. We shall find you one amongst my many fine wands." Mr. Olivander started to move towards his shelves when all of a sudden everything froze. Harry couldn't move but before he could start to panic, he heard a voice in his ear that sent a wave of peace through him.
"It's okay Harry I've frozen time so I could explain to you about this wand." Harry watched as Beatrice came into his line of sight. If he could have smiled, he would have. "I'd unfreeze you for this, but it has to be this way. You can't appear to have moved and the others can't see this." She smiled as she ran her fingers along the length of the wand on the table. The wand was about eleven inches in length and it looked as if the wood had been turned into a liquid to swirl it like ice cream. One of the woods was a medium brown color while the other was black. There were runes carved all down each color of the polished wood. Harry couldn't tell what language it was but given that Beatrice made it, for all he knew it was the first language ever written. At the handle end of the wand rested an emerald that was an effigy to Harry's eyes. Harry wished he could comment on how amazing it looked but he was still frozen.
"Harry there is something I need to explain to you. The last wand I made was the elder wand and it was flawed. Everyone assumes that it's perfect and unbeatable but that is a misconception. The elder wand was designed to one day become a perfect wand. It has the power to analyze every owner it has and will add their skill to its memory. When it is passed on to a new owner that memory becomes instinct and when needed it injects it into its new owner. Basically, if you don't know the Aguamenti spell but you're in the middle of a fire with the elder wand and a previous owner knew the spell. Instinct would take over and you'd cast it without knowing the spell." Harry was shocked to hear this. This explained a lot since he'd always wondered how an owner of the wand could ever be beaten in a fair duel like how Dumbledore beat Grindelwald.
"When I made that wand, I explained it to Antioch Peverell, but the fool didn't listen. Unlike the story, I didn't want them to die at first. They were masters of their crafts so much so that it caught my interest. Antioch was a master wandmaker and duelist, but when he heard unbeatable it went right to his head. The wand has traveled from thief to thief for centuries until Grindelwald and now Dumbledore. Those two are really the only ones aside from Antioch to add anything worthwhile to the wand." Beatrice stared down at the wand on the table like she was lost in thought. Harry wished he could say something to comfort the sad expression on her face.
Eventually, she sighed and looked at Harry again. "Harry, I have made this wand, but it is nothing like the elder wand. This is a champion's wand…my champion's wand to be precise." She walked towards Harry and placed a gentle hand on his cheek. "You who have done more for me than anyone I have ever met. For that, I offer you a choice." She removed her hand from his cheek and took a few steps back as she held her arms out. "In this shop, there are at least half a dozen wands that might let you wield them. They will be just as good as when your holly wand worked for you. This wand, however, was made for you." She motioned to the wand on the table. "It will never allow another to wield it even if you are disarmed. It will be the only perfectly loyal wand in existence, but it comes with a price." Harry would have rolled his eyes if he could have. "If you take this wand you except the title of Death's Champion. As my champion, you would act as my sword in this world to deal with individuals like Tom Marvolo Riddle and even Nicolas Flamel. People who break the rules of life and death. You would also be responsible for destroying things like the Philosophers stone and Horcrux's." As Harry listened, he really didn't see what the big deal was. Harry would happily hunt down anyone who made a Horcrux. And as for the Flamels, everyone has to die sometime, and Harry was sure they had lived long enough.
"I can see you don't think that this is any big deal Harry, but this responsibility continues even after you leave this world." That got Harry's attention alright. "After you pass on you would be required to return to this world and deal with said problems as they arise. How you return I would leave up to you for the most part, but we would work together to do so. You would always have to do this no matter how many times it happens."
Harry's first instinct was to say "No." How could anyone be expected to accept a job that would carry over into the afterlife? Hadn't he done enough for this bloody world? Harry wanted to get angry at Beatrice but the tear rolling down her cheek brought his anger to a crashing halt.
"I know offering this to you isn't fair after everything I've done. However, despite everything I've done you called me your friend." She smiled sadly at him. "You even called me your best friend and I just wanted us to be able to continue that. Usually, once you pass on, you're gone from my realms and I can never see you again. Only in rare cases can you be called back and believe me when I say those are really rare. Despite what you've experienced." She chuckled sadly at that. Beatrice slowly walked towards Harry until she was face to face with him. "I know you won't choose my wand, Harry. I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you considering me as your best friend. I always wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for me by offering you something I've never offered anyone before. Anyone who would be my champion would be my very best friend until the end of my life." Harry watched as Beatrice leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for listening and being my friend. I will continue to help you until you set things right and then I won't bother you again till we meet again at Kings cross and you can tell me the story of your life." Harry was blinded by the smile Beatrice gave him and then he blinked, and she was gone.
Even though things were moving again Harry hadn't moved. He wasn't even sure if he was breathing. As he thought about what Beatrice had said to him. He knew people were talking around him and moving but he couldn't hear them. He just stared at the wand on the table that everyone else had forgotten. Beatrice had made this wand just for him because he was her friend. The worst part about this was she didn't even believe he would take it.
"Mr. Potter are you there." Harry turned to look at Mr. Olivander who appeared to have trying to get his attention for the last few minutes.
"I'm sorry what?"
"Give this wand a try. It's thirteen inches holly with a unicorn hair." Harry felt like he was on autopilot as he started to reach for the wand, but he stopped just before he did. He stared at the wand in Mr. Olivander's hand and he just couldn't bring himself to grab it. He turned his attention back to the wand Beatrice made. "Mr. Potter are you alright?" Mr. Olivander, as well as everyone else, was staring at Harry. Harry just stared into Mr. Olivander's silver eyes hoping for some kind of wisdom. Eventually, Harry felt a smile start to form on his lips. Despite everything, Beatrice accused herself of doing to him, in reality, those were his choices. Like when he first heard the prophecy after Sirius's death he could have run. He could have hidden and said screw everyone else. Hell, there were still times even now where he wanted to do just that. His loyalty to the people he loved was the only reason he was still standing and fighting.
"Heh, looks like the sorting hat was wrong," Harry said confusing everyone as he walked around Mr. Olivander to the wand on the table. The wand made by someone he considered his very best friend. Harry didn't know why but for some reason he just knew she'd always been there for him. Always watching him and motivating him to move forward no matter how painful or hard it got. Who was he to turn his back on a friend like that? A friend who was so happy to have one that she made him a gift she'd never made for anyone else. What's more, she didn't even expect him to actually accept it. She just wanted to show how much she valued his friendship.
"Mr. Potter that wand is a mistake it cannot even be lifted. Please try this holly wand I'm sure it will accept you." Harry had a feeling the old wandmaker was right, but that wand meant nothing to him. The wand on the table was made by his best friend.
"Sorry, Mr. Olivander. I'm sure that wand would be a great fit but it's just not me." Harry was a Gryffindor and they charged ahead. But more than that Harry was loyal to the people in his life who mattered. Beatrice had become one of those people and what kind of friend would he be if he let her spend the rest of her existence alone. "If nothing else maybe we can have some laughs together," Harry said as he reached out and touched the wand on the table.
The moment his fingers touched the wand everything went dark. Harry started to panic but then he saw something move. Harry couldn't tell what it was, but it slowly started to crawl. Harry watched this undefinable creature move around and slowly grow. Eventually, the strange creature curled into a ball and Harry was blinded by a bright flash of light. Then Harry watched as stars and planets burst into existence like someone had pressed fast forward on the VCR. Eventually, Harry found himself standing on a planet he thought might have been earth but he wasn't sure. Wherever it was this place was wild and overgrown. Harry then watched as another creature crawled out of the overgrown brush. Harry had never seen a creature like it. It was small and crawled on four legs. Its body was covered with scales. It looked like someone mixed a salmon with an iguana. As it started to walk out into the open, one of the overgrown plants snatched it and began to devour it.
Harry felt horrible for the little critter but before he could turn away, he found himself on a meadow with flowers of all shapes and sizes. It was beautiful and so peaceful. Then he saw a little girl laying in the flowers. Instinct told him this was Beatrice, but she was so little maybe only a few years old judging by her looks. She was only wearing a sparkly purple dress as she slowly got up. She looked like she had just woken up from a long nap. Then he saw her turn and smile at something that seemed to be behind him. Harry turned around and saw the same creature he'd seen in the forest running towards him. Harry panicked for a second but then the creature ran right through his legs and over to Beatrice. She picked it up and cradled it like it was her own baby. Harry heard her speaking softly to it and it would chitter and make noise back at her. They went on for what felt like hours before she put the creature down. When she did a large tree appeared and Beatrice smiled as she spoke encouragingly to the creature. The creature slowly crawled up the tree and into a hole and then it vanished along with the tree. Beatrice was waving goodbye to it as it did with tears running down her cheeks.
At that moment Harry realized what he was seeing. It was the very first time Beatrice had said hello to a dying soul and then helped it move on to the other side. Everything seemed like someone had pressed fast forward again and Harry watched as time after time souls came to see Beatrice. She greeted all of them like they were new friends. Some souls would cry, others would scream, some would even attack Beatrice. But eventually, they all accepted what was happening and moved on. As things continued Harry watched as Beatrice slowly grew into the woman he knew. Things slowed down again as he was standing in King cross station. At first, Harry thought this was for him but then he saw something that broke his heart. Harry watched as a snowy white owl flew down and landed on Beatrice's arm. Harry felt the tears as he watched to two of them talk. It broke his heart when he heard what Beatrice said to her.
"I know you want to wait here for him, but you have to move on to join the rest of his family. They'll take care of you while you all wait for him." Harry watched as Hedwig squawked at Beatrice and puffed herself up in anger. "Yes, yes I know you are more than capable to take care of yourself but…"
"Let me try." Harry turned and saw his mother walking towards Beatrice and Hedwig. When she reached them, she started petting Hedwig who had started to depuff. "I want to start by saying thank you little one. I know you have watched out for my son and taken very good care of him." Harry wanted to feel a little annoyed at that but just couldn't. He knew Hedwig kept him sane more than anyone else he knew during those years and a part of him broke when she was hit with the killing curse. Harry continued to watch as his mom eventually convinced Hedwig to move on and wait for Harry there.
When she did everything went back into fast forward again. Harry watched as soul after soul came and went but at some point, he noticed something. Despite her smile, it was very clear that Beatrice felt alone, and she was tired. Beatrice was born to do this job and she did it amazingly well. Helga Hufflepuff had nothing on Beatrice as far as Harry was concerned.
Harry continued to watch until things started to slow down again. They were standing in a wasteland crossroad and Harry was sure he'd never seen Beatrice as sad as she was right at this moment. When the person they were waiting for appeared it was a very old man who looked more tired than Harry had ever felt in his life. All the man had on was a pair of very old and worn slacks.
"Hello, old friend. We finally get to meet." The old man said, and Beatrice smiled as gently pulled the old man into a hug. The old man proceeded to tell her all about his life. Harry barely heard the words because he couldn't take his eyes off Beatrice. Her tears never stopped as she nodded along with the old man's story. While Harry wasn't paying attention to him, Beatrice seemed to hear every word like it was the most amazing story she'd ever heard. Which Harry found incredible considering all the stories he had just watched her listen to. But the most amazing thing to him was that in this moment of sadness, he'd never seen Beatrice so happy before.
"Are you ready?" She asked and the old man hesitated.
"Will you come with me. I don't want to go alone." Beatrice smiled as she nodded. Which shocked Harry since he'd seen others ask this question but she always told them no.
"Yes. This one time I get to go with." Harry watched as the old man smiled and together the two of them walk through a door. As the door shut Harry found himself staring out in what he assumed was space since he was looking at a sun. As he looked around, he saw no stars just one sun and one planet. Harry could see the planet slowly moving towards the sun. The planet was extremely smaller than the sun and when they collided, there was an explosion and then slowly everything went dark.
Harry started to panic again but then he blinked, and he was back in Mr. Olivander's shop. He was still standing there as if only a second or two just passed.
"There you see it can't be lifted." Mr. Olivander's voice registered and Harry's whole being felt like it had been rewritten. He had just seen the birth of the universe and then he watched it die, all in the course of a few seconds. He watched as Beatrice was there for all of those people.
"Harry, why are you crying?" Harry registered Hermione's words before he felt the tears. Harry looked down at the wand and it finally hit it what he would be doing if he took this choice. If he did, he would have to be there with Beatrice, only leaving to deal with those who would defy the laws of death. Apart of him wanted to pull his hand away and run but then he remembered Beatrice's face at the end. She was so happy, happier than he'd ever seen anyone in either of his lifetimes. Harry knew this was because she finally got to move on herself.
"No, it was more than that." Harry thought as the tears continued to fall. Beatrice was happy that she'd gotten to experience all of that. Every soul, every story, it all mattered to her and it brought her so much happiness. In spite of how lonely she'd been, she was happy that she'd done her job. Yet he also knew that she had been sad that it was over.
Harry continued to stare at the wand, and he found himself wondering if he could do it. Could he turn away from a friend and leave her to face that loneliness? Slowly and without his control, a smile slowly appeared on his face.
"No one that amazing should have to be that lonely." As the words left his mouth at barely a whisper, Harry pulled the wand into his hand. He watched as the runes on it lit up and the gem began to glow. The runes started to appear and climb up his arm. They continued to climb until they made their way to his chest. Just above his heart, Harry felt them leaving Beatrice's mark on him. Harry knew he had a new tattoo of a raven and a scythe on his chest right over his heart. Harry held the wand tight and lifted it above his head. As he did, he felt his magic building within him like a volcano about to erupt. When he brought it back down the tip exploded with purple flames and green stars with such force that everyone in the store was knocked off their feet. It didn't stop there either it blew out the windows and all the wands were blasted off their shelves. Harry stood in the center of it like the eye of a hurricane. Harry just stood there looking at his wand with a goofy grin on his face. He'd never felt this way with any wand he'd ever held. Not even the elder wand compared to how much this wand felt like it was a part of him. Like his right arm had been missing a chunk of it all these years and it was finally complete.
-Scene break-
*Beatrice's point of view*
-Harry's Kings cross station-
Beatrice walked back into the station where Lily Potter was sitting watching the screens.
"So which wand selected him," Beatrice asked as she walked past Lily doing her best not to look at the screen.
"Yours."
"That's nice." Beatrice continued walking and then abruptly stopped. "Wait! What did you say?"
"Harry chose yours or at least he's touched it. I'm not sure what's happening." Beatrice rushed back to the screen and she watched as Harry stood there with his hand on the wand she made. Beatrice watched as Olivander and Hermione tried to talk to him. "What's happening?" Lilly asked and before Beatrice could respond, Harry spoke.
"No one that amazing should have to be that lonely." Beatrice's eyes widened and her scythe slipped from her grasp. Lily had to leap out of the way as it fell to the floor.
"Hey watch it! You do know what happens if you cut someone with that thing right?" Beatrice heard Lily speak but the words just didn't register. She continued to watch as her wand gave Harry her mark. Then she watched as he unleashed all that power with a single sweep of their wand. She couldn't call it her wand anymore because while she made it herself it was now his. He'd claimed her wand and chosen to be her champion. He would be with her from now on until the end of time. As an eternal friend who would help her deal with those who broke her laws so she would never need a prophecy or a chosen one ever again. He was her chosen one from now until the end. Beatrice's legs gave out and she collapsed to her knees.
"He…chose…me." Beatrice had never felt so happy before in her existence. Someone had chosen her over the great beyond and all of their family. "But why? Why would he choose me over everyone he cares about?"
"What are you talking about?" Lily asked and Beatrice was about to answer but someone beat her to it.
"She's talking about how she just broke the laws and gave a mortal soul the right to be her champion. He will now have to live in either this realm or the mortal realm until she dies." Beatrice spun around as her eyes widened in shock at the woman standing behind Lily. The woman had golden hair and the face of an angel with piercing sapphire eyes that radiated power. She was holding a book and wearing red and gold robes. As she sighed at Beatrice her golden angel wings flexed from behind her. Lily stumbled away from this new woman.
"Who are you and how did you get to my son's weigh station?" Lily asked as Beatrice lowered her head.
"Hello, Mother," Beatrice said and she didn't need to see Lily to know she just fell backward in shock.
"MOTHER!" Lily's shout echoed all around Harry's weigh station. Beatrice's mother ignored Lily as she walked around the bench and stood in front of her daughter.
"My angel of death would you care to explain your actions?" Beatrice's mother turned to look at Lily who paled and backed away slightly. "Also why is the boy's mother still allowed to be here? She passed on ages ago, yet you still allow her to come here?"
"I don't allow her to come here, mother. For some reason, after she died, and her son turned eleven she has been able to come here whenever she wants. I've tried to investigate why but for some reason I am unable to stop her from coming here." Beatrice looked up and saw her mother open her book. After several minutes of silent reading, she seemed to have found what she was looking for.
"Here's the problem. When she died, she had just placed her son in his crib and was charging the protection wards on the crib. She continued to do this until the one known as Tom Riddle hit her with the killing curse. Just before it hit her, she willed her life into the runes which created the defense it did allowing her son to survive. The only reason he even got the scar was due to the power of the killing curse that was thrown at it. Anything else no matter what it was would have simply rebounded. The killing curse also seems to have forced the protection of the runes to be permanently etched invisibly on her son's body and soul. It also seems that because Tom Riddle attacked while it was settling, the protections recognized him as a permanent enemy. Which explains why he couldn't touch Harry." Beatrice's mother closed her book and stared at Lily. "She can come here because a part of her, mainly her magic, is still in the mortal world attached to her son." Beatrice turned to look at Lily.
"Well, that explains a lot. I wonder if I can remove it so I can finally get to watch all the juicy stuff you make us turn off?" Beatrice said with a perverted grin that made Lily glare at her.
"What I am more concerned with is what you have done daughter." Beatrice immediately lowered her head again at her mother's harsh tone.
"Umm excuse me but what has she done to my son?" Lily asked and Beatrice had to admire the woman's bravery in the face of her mother, the Angel of Fate. Not that Lily knew who she was talking to but still. Beatrice glanced up and saw her mother raise an eyebrow at Lily.
"Well seeing as we can't get rid of you without sending Harry Potter on to the afterlife, I suppose I should tell you." Beatrice returned her attention to the ground when her mother looked back at her. "My daughter has invoked an ancient rite that her sisters are capable of doing but she was forbidden from doing."
"You have sisters?" Lily asked and Beatrice just glared at the floor.
"Why of course she does. The angels of life, time, luck, war, joy, sorrow, the list is nearly endless really. And I am their mother The Angel of Fate." Beatrice hated the prided she heard in her mother voice as she spoke about her sisters. It wasn't so much that she hated her sisters, but they had it easy compared to her and the jobs they had to do. Her mother always seemed prouder of them no matter what they did or how hard she worked. "Death you were told when I made you that you can never have a champion. Now that he has accepted it, it cannot be undone. He will be forced to remain here in the realm of weigh stations until you are able to pass on. How could you have made such a mistake?" Beatrice felt very small as her mother scolded her.
"He called me his best friend. I wanted to show him how much that meant to me. I explained to him exactly what it meant and that I didn't even plan for him to accept. It was just supposed to be a show of gratitude. I also figured that even if he was going to be stupid enough to attempt to take it that you would intervene." Beatrice looked up at her mother. "Why didn't you?" Her mother glared at her causing Beatrice to swallow loudly.
"Trust me I tried. The moment he touched the wand I sent him a vision of what would happen if he accepted it. I showed him the birth of the universe and then he watched what you have done and will do for the rest of your existence. Right up until the day when you passed on yourself." Beatrice's eyes widened in shock. Harry witnessed her whole life and found out firsthand what he was in store for him. Unable to stop herself she turned and looked at the screen.
"But…why?" Beatrice asked and the next thing she knew she'd been lifted off the ground by her collar. Her mother had a hold of her, and anger radiated off her in waves. It felt like the whole realm was shaking at her anger. Lily was backing away in absolute terror.
"THAT IS THE QUESTION I WANT ANSWERED. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE BOY HAS DONE OR SAID TO YOU. YOU WERE FORBIDDEN FROM EVER HAVING A CHAMPION AND YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHY!" Her mother threw her to the ground. "THAT BOY HAS THE POWER TO LIVE AND DIE NOW AS MUCH AS HE WANTS. HE CAN MAKE HIMSELF BE REBORN INTO THE UNIVERSE WHENEVER HE WANTS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE. YOU HAVE QUITE LITERALLY CREATED THE HUMAN EQUIVALENT OF A PHOENIX!" Her mother roared in anger at her.
"Mother I'm sure…"
"You are sure of nothing, you foolish little girl." Her mother might not have yelled but her tone felt like a whip had struck her. Beatrice flinched as she continued to stare at the floor where her mother threw her.
"Umm can't we just contact her sister of time to have her go back and stop it?" Lily asked and Beatrice braced for the response she knew was coming.
"If we could do that, I would have done it." Beatrice's mother spat at Lily. "The champion's created by my daughters can never be undone once done. Otherwise, they could all go to Time and have her undo it. Which would give her too much power over her sisters. No, once the champion's mark has been given it never goes away. I should have seen this coming when you placed your mark in the Potter family crest." Beatrice looked up at her mother.
"I put that there before he called me his best friend. I felt after everything he'd done for me and with his resurrection his family deserved it. When I did that, I never planned to make a champion's contract. It would only have meant something to him, but it still would have meant something. Especially if he ever chose to tell the tales." Her mother glared at her and made her feel like she was just an infant.
"Do you expect me to believe that you just decided to break the laws I put in place because he said you were his best friend?" Beatrice stared at her mother in silence. She just didn't know what to say. "Is this some kind of teenage rebellion?" Beatrice shook her head. "Then tell me why you have doomed yourself to this realm for all eternity?" Beatrice just stared at her mother with her mouth hanging open. "Do not tell me that you are so simple that you do not realize what could happen. Harry James Potter is now and forever a link to this realm and the mortal realm for you. As long as he chooses to stay here so shall you. Remember when I made you daughter. You can not move on to the afterlife until the end of existence and all souls have moved on. If Harry becomes resentful towards you, he could decide to stay here." Beatrice couldn't help the look of horror that appeared on her face.
"He…he would never…" Beatrice started to say but her mother cut her off with a snort.
"Oh, please daughter do not be naive. Right now, at this moment sure he may never do that. But what about in a hundred years? Or what about in a thousand years? What about when one of you disagrees with the other. Or what about when he sees what it really means to be DEATH! Having to watch children and innocents come here? How you stop him from trying to reincarnate himself to save people?" Beatrice had no answers and couldn't help but feel like her whole world collapsed beneath her.
"Teach him," Lily said very quietly but Beatrice and her mother both looked at her.
"Well I mean Death already talks to him on occasions. Why not just have her teach him what it means to be her champion. I know you both laid out the gist of the responsibility and consequences of it but you neither of you went into detail. Why not make Harry give up a few hours every week at school for however long it takes to get what he has to do?" Lily explained and to Beatrice's immense shock her mother seemed to be considering this.
"The idea does have merit. As his mother do you believe he can be taught. I would ask my daughter but despite how much she has watched him she clearly has a blind eye for your boy." Beatrice again felt like she'd just been whipped by her mother's tone.
"Yes. I believe Harry can learn what it means to be the Champion of Death. I'd bet my life on it but…"
"No!" Beatrice tried but it was too late. Her mother had snapped her fingers.
"Consider it a bet then. If Harry doesn't learn and turns into the universes greatest mistake. I shall claim your life." Fate decreed and Lily just blinked at her in confusion.
"But I'm already…"
"Lily you idiot. Everyone has two lives, the one in the mortal realm and their AFTERLIFE!" Beatrice shouted the last word as realization hit Lily like a truck. "If I fail to teach Harry how to properly be my champion or Harry chooses to purposely screw it up. My mother will claim your afterlife. You will be given an eternal damnation. Basically, what I'm going to do to Tom Riddle will be done to you!" Lily turned so pale even her hair looked like it lost some color. After a few moments, Lily took a deep breath and turned to the Angel of Fate.
"I stand by what I said. My son will not only prove you wrong he will be the greatest champion you've ever seen."
"Oh, please your son is a mortal. While I fully admit mortals are great in their own right. They could never handle the responsibilities of…"
"Being trapped in a fourteen-year old's body while having the mind and memories of when he was over thirty?" Lily smiled as Fate stared at her.
"Again accept this challenge. You know that this bet will last until the day the two of them are supposed to move on to the other side correct?" Lily nodded and walked up to Fate.
"I believe in my son and his ability to make you his bitch!" Beatrice just stared at Lily in horror. Fate, however, laughed and held her hand out to Lily who grabbed it and shook. A glow appeared over the two of them.
"This actually works out perfectly. I needed a way to punish my daughter anyway." This statement confused Beatrice. She greatly enjoyed visiting Harry so she wasn't sure how teaching him a few hours every week while at school would be a punishment. At least she didn't until her mother turned to her with a very stern expression. "Death you have broken the laws I sent down when you were born and now you must be punished." Fate waved her hand at her and instantly Beatrice felt like she was being ripped in two. The pain was unbearable and when it finally stopped, she collapsed to the floor panting heavily.
When she was finally able to open her eyes, she looked up and there was another her standing there. Beatrice blinked at the copy of herself and then looked at her own form. She was now wearing a simple purple shirt and matching skirt. When she stood up, she noticed she was slightly shorter than her copy. When she turned to her mother the grin on her mother's face terrified her.
"What have you done mother?" Beatrice questioned her voice full of terror. Her mother made a mirror appear and there she stood no longer looking like herself but a teenage version of it. Her hair was still white, but the ends looked like she dipped them in purple coloring. Her eyes were still violent but the thing that really horrified her was she could no longer feel her Angelic powers. Beatrice turned to her mother in horror.
"You wanted a friend and now you shall have them. You are now a mortal for the most part. You will attend Hogwarts as a student whose parents wanted her homeschooled for the first three years. Your name is Beatrice Marie Ravencrest and this will be your first year at Hogwarts as a fourth year. You will live out this mortal life until your friend dies. Know that if you purposely kill him or arrange for his death. I shall arrange for you to be put in one of those mortal mental hospitals or in a coma where you will remain alive for as long as possible." Beatrice didn't think this was all that bad. She'd always wanted friends, and this actually sounded like fun. Her mother must have noticed the smile on her face. "Aren't you forgetting something Death?" Beatrice turned to the copy her mother made.
"No. You've already made a copy to do my job. I'm guessing you'll allow me some access to my powers in order to teach Harry properly." The smile her mother gave her didn't give her a happy feeling.
"What about all the souls who have stories for you?" Beatrice just blinked at her mother. "You think I'm going to let you hear them from your copy? Oh no dear daughter, you've broken the laws and now you will lose century at the minimum of the stories you love so much. In addition to that this copy will be nothing more than a cold heartless version of you that will only do the bare minimum to get people to move on." Beatrice felt her heart rip in two as she rushed to her mother and grabbed the front of her robe.
"NO! MOTHER PLEASE YOU CAN'T!" Beatrice yelled and her mother slapped her across the face. Beatrice fell back stunned as the tears started to fall.
"You think I want to do this?" Fate growled at Beatrice. "You forced this on me with your idiot choices. Now be gone from my sight you have a mortal life to live!" Fate snapped her fingers and Beatrice fell through a hole in the floor. When the falling stopped, she landed in a bed. It took her a moment to realize that this was her new room in the mortal world of her mortal parent's house. As Beatrice looked around, she felt the tears start to fall.
"This is all my fault! I'm so sorry!" She cried as she thought of all the stories and people she couldn't be there to greet when their time came.
Author's Note: -cleans up taco mess.- As always, I greatly look forward to your reviews. However, please note that I have no wish to argue over anyone's religious or scientific views on how the universe begins and ends. I just quite literally went "How do I want this to be worded." And that's what came out. So please don't take it personally or try to tell me what's the correct answer. I'm here to write fantasy and that's what I'm doing. That being said I hope you all have enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to seeing everyone next time on Death's Champion.
Fanfic Recommendations: 'Running and Hiding' by RiverWriter. Since I noticed I have had so many Harry/Hermione people comment on this I've decided to throw up a couple of my favorites starting with this one. Hermione runs from her feelings about Harry, not that he knows that's why she left. She ends up all the way across the pond in America. A few years later after the letters slow to a drizzle. Harry gets an opportunity to go visit and feelings end up all over the place lol.
Second Recommendation: 'Adorable Violence' by Cloud Zen. This is one of the most amazing stories. It's a Harry/Hermione story but it's more of a large collection of one-shots about a Hermione that is kind of like Bellatrix at her worse multiplied by about a billion. She's truly terrifying and it amazing the length's she will go just to spend time with her Harry. Heaven help whoever ruins Harry time because Hell's closed its doors in fear of Harry's adorable, yet terrifying, girlfriend.
Third recommendation: 'Harry Potter and the Last Chance' by LeQuin. This is a really good time travel one with Harry/Hermione. It was a very well written and believable story that I've read at least three times. He also has a bonus portion for this called 'Harry Potter and the Last Chance: Deleted Scenes' which has bunch of other people perspectives for the story. My personal favorites were Hermione's moms and Dumbledore's.