Chp 1
Harriet Potter was only a babe when Voldemort murdered her parents and aimed his wand at her. Harriet's mother's sacrifice shielded her from the curse but it left a piece of the dark wizard's soul behind. Harriet spent from the age of 15months until just before her eleventh birthday with her abusive relatives. Her Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and cousin Dudley would treat her like a slave, like a house-elf. She spent the next six years fighting for her life while she attended a school for magical children. It all came down to this, a final confrontation with Tom Riddle, a.k.a. Voldemort. He demanded she come to the Forbidden Forest and face him. If she did this he would spare her friends and their families.
Harriet looked around the Great Hall, seeing all the injured and dead laid out. She could see so many familiar faces. Faces of people she grew to know and love over the last six years. Hermione Granger, her best friend, sat at the feet of Remus Lupin and Tonks. The couple left behind a newborn son, Edward Teddy Lupin. Harriet was the infant's Godmother.
Ron was crying over the death of his brother Percy. Percy had pushed Fred out from under a falling wall, but it crushed him. Fred's leg was shattered from the crashing wall. Percy had just rejoined his family after realizing he was in the wrong. Fighting beside his brother, Fred against two masked Death Eaters when Percy saw the wall starting to fall above Fred. Percy jumped and pushed Fred over as the wall came crashing down. Percy's last action saved Fred's life. The Weasleys' lost one of their children.
Voldemort sent a message to Harriet, 'Face me and I will let your friends live.' She knew he was lying. She also knew he cannot be killed unless she died first. Voldemort had to be the one to kill her, so the soul shard contained behind the lightning bolt scar on her forehead can be destroyed. There is no other way. Harriet looked around the Great Hall one last time before walking into the Forbidden Forest.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort cursed loudly across the forest clearing. Harriet Potter stood in front of the horde of Death Eaters and their master. The sickly green light flowed from Voldemort's wand towards the young girl. She closed her eyes and braced for death. When the curse struck Harriet in the chest, she collapsed, unmoving. However, so did Voldemort. The Killing Curse being cast for the second time at the same person by the same wizard caused the caster to also fall.
"The Dark Lord has fallen." One of the Death Eaters called out. The horde of them apparated before they could be captured. Bellatrix LeStrange, her husband Rodolphus, and his brother Rabastan, Thorfinn Rowle, Walden McNair, Corban Yaxley, and Fenrir Greyback as well as lower-ranking Death Eaters escaped. Several vowing revenge on the wizarding world. Hagrid was still standing there in chains. He slowly moved closer to the little girl he came to care for. Hagrid knelt down and carefully picked her up, and carried her back towards the castle all the while sobbing loudly. The body of the Dark Lord is long forgotten.
A crowd had gathered outside of the Great Hall doors. They were waiting for any sign of the battle to begin again. It was Seamus Finnegan that first saw Hagrid making his way across the stone bridge. "What's he carrying?" He asked. It was when Hagrid got closer they were able to recognize the deep red hair of one Harriet or "Harry" Potter. "NO!" "Harry!" Multiple screams and cries could be heard from the crowd when they realized Hagrid was carrying Harriet.
Hagrid was close enough to tell everyone what happened. As he was explaining what happened, a few professors, Aurors, and students went into the Forbidden Forest to retrieve the Dark Lord's body. It's not that they didn't trust Hagrid, but they needed to make sure Voldemort was dead. His body was found and it had already started to decompose. One of the Aurors put his body in stasis so it wouldn't decompose any further. The body was levitated and taken back to the castle.
All the While
As Hagrid picked up Harriet's body, her spirit was on another plane. The all-white room resembled King's Cross Station with an exact replica of the Hogwarts Express. Harriet stood on the platform staring at the train debating if she should get on. Harry knew she was dead but unsure why she was here and not moving on. A familiar voice interrupted her internal monologue, "It is because you have a choice to make." "Professor Dumbledore?" Harry watched the deceased Headmaster walk towards her.
"What choice?" The Headmaster smiled with that twinkle in his eye, "To move on to the Afterlife, or carry on." Harriet was confused, "Sir, I don't understand?" "To put simply, Harry, you are not done living." Dumbledore stood in front of the girl. "If I choose to go back, it will be to live my life away from the fighting. I will not be used as the Wizarding World's poster girl anymore. I'm done." Harriet stated. "And that is your choice. You can choose to get on the train and move on or go back to the land of the living." Dumbledore pointed to the train and then behind Harry in the direction of the exit.
Harriet had one more question for the late Headmaster, "Professor? The Deathly Hallows?" "Ah yes, my dear girl, you had acquired all three pieces." The Headmaster said what Harriet already knew. "It means, you are the Master of Death. You were wearing the Cloak of Invisibility, used the Ressurection Stone, and you won the Elder Wand from its previous owner. You employed the use of all three directly and indirectly when you allowed Lord Voldemort to kill you. The true master must accept he would die, and when you, Harriet went to your death willingly while directly and indirectly possessing the Hallows, you became the Master of Death, because death never defeated you."
Harriet thought over what was said, "So, I defeated Death? Is that why I have been given a choice? I could either stay dead or go back?" The Headmaster smiled, "Exactly." Dumbledore didn't want to tell her it meant as long as she possessed all three of the Deathly Hallows, Harriet cannot die. Harriet had hidden the Ressurection Stone, and Invisibility Cloak in her Dragon-hide pouch attached to her side with a sticking charm which only she can remove. It had the same charms on it that Hermione used on her beaded bag.
Looking over the Hogwarts Express, knowing if she took that choice, she will not know what will happen to her friends, to her godson, or anyone else for that matter. She turns to the exit. If she goes back, it is unknown what will happen next. But at least she will be there. Harriet gazed at the train one last time before stepping through the arch leading to the exit.
Returned
There was no sudden inhale, no sitting up fast enough to cause whiplash, Harriet just blinked open her eyes and looked up. She couldn't help but smile though when Ron and Hermione jumped back from sobbing over her. Hermione was the first to catch her breath, "Harry?" Hermione inched a little closer to Harriet. "Hey 'Mione," Harry managed to say before she was suffocating on a mass of brown curls. Hermione is sobbing while squeezing Harriet in a bear hug. "How...How are you alive mate?" Ron asked. "It's a long story. What happened?" Harry patted Hermione on the back as she cried. Hermione calmed down enough to pull herself together, she and Ron told Harriet what Hagrid had seen and told them.
Harriet's body was laid on the quieter side of the Great Hall. She was placed away from the others, away from the dead and the living alike. So, it's no wonder it took longer for more people to realize Harry is alive. It was George that pointed it out to his family, "Mum." Molly turned towards one of her sons, "What is it, George?" He didn't say anything, just pointed to the girl Hermione and Ron were talking to. The family of redheads was stunned silent, only for the silence to be broken by Ginny, "Harry!" She had gotten up from where she was kneeling next to Percy and ran across the Great Hall. Ginny literally fell onto Harriet with an "Oof." Harriet hugged her friend, "It's ok Ginny, I'm here." It took several minutes before Ginny let Harry move. Between Ron and Hermione, they were able to support Harry as she walked over to the rest of the Weasley family. She was embraced by everyone, then Harriet said her goodbyes to Percy Weasley.
Harry's return was broadcasted as nothing short of a miracle. Only Hermione, Ron, and Harriet knew the truth. They knew it was because of the Deathly Hallows, something Harry didn't want anyone to know about. The Deathly Hallows are to remain a legend, nothing more than a children's story.
Funerals and Running
Over the next few months, several things have happened. Over fifty funerals of the fallen from the Battle of Hogwarts. The Golden Trio attended most of them. It seemed they lived in their black attire, only changing long enough to bathe and sleep. Percy's funeral only had direct family and a few friends in attendance. It was a small affair, with the family gathering at the Burrow afterward.
Remus and Tonk Lupin's joint funeral hurt Harriet the most. Remus was the last of the Mauraders, the close friend group of her father's. Tonks had been a great listener for Harry and Hermione when it came to needing someone to talk to. They both will be sorely missed. The couple had left behind an infant son, who is being cared for by his grandmother, Andromeda Tonks.
The dirt had barely settled on her daughter's grave before Andromeda was attacked by a rogue Death Eater. She had been in Diagon Alley shopping for her grandson when the masked Death Eater attacked the alley. He or she was not particularly aiming for Andromeda, she was just caught in the crossfire of spells. She was found shielding a crying Teddy from the attack.
Edward "Teddy" Lupin was delivered to the only person he had left, Harriet Potter. It was then she decided to leave England. The newly elected Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shaclebolt, had expected Harry to help chase down all of the escaped Death Eaters. Harriet stood up for herself and said, "I'm done fighting your war. I have lost too much, too many people to this war that should not have been placed on my shoulders. This is your mess to clean up." She left a stunned Ministry in her wake, book the first flight out of London, took her godson, and left.
That flight took the two of them out of Europe and to the States. It was a long flight. Harriet Potter is exhausted, filthy, and ready to collapse on a bed. But she has Teddy to think about. The infant was tired and hungry from traveling all day. They traveled the Muggle way. By airplane, then taxi. When Harriet Potter landed at San Francisco International Airport, she asked where can someone go if they wanted to vanish? The service desk lady looked at Harriet and Teddy in concern before stating Santa Carla. "Are you alright?" The lady asked. "Yes, just trying to get away from an abusive ex." Harriet didn't like lying but it was the best she could come up with.
The exhausted witch grabbed her one suitcase, which was only for show, and hailed a cab. "Santa Carla, please," Harry told the driver. The driver looked back at the girl, "Are you sure, miss? Santa Carla is known as the 'Murder Capital of the World.'" Harriet was trying to get Teddy situated for the car ride, "I'm sure." The driver reluctantly drove Harry and Teddy to Santa Carla.
An hour and a half, and a hundred dollars later, they have arrived. The cab had pulled up to the local bus station, which is the most central location in Santa Carla. Everything is within walking distance from there. There was a map of the beach town outside of the station. Harry found she was not that far away from a grocery store, and a bed and breakfast.
Being late afternoon, the area was quite busy. Harry had walked to the nearest store, went inside the restroom, and transfigured her empty suitcase into a baby stroller. All of their belongings and money were in her Dragon-hide bag. The walk was much easier now. Teddy was fast asleep a few minutes later.
The shopping didn't take too long. Harriet was getting a lot of looks of disgust, or pity. She paid them no mind. She was used to it at this point. What she wasn't accustomed to was those looks being sent Teddy's way. Harry bought what she needed for Teddy that she didn't already have in her bag and some snacks for herself. Then headed for the B&B. It was a nice, two-story house that was converted into a B&B. She paid for a week's stay. Hoping to use that time to get used to the time change, and find a place to live.
Santa Carla seems like an okay place for someone to start a fresh life, away from their past.