Reptilia28's "Don't Fear the Reaper" Challenge
*) Harry is killed at 17 during the fight with Voldemort. He's sent to his Death's office (explained later) and finds out that this isn't the first time that this has happened.
*) Harry's Death (who can have a human name) is mad at his arrival. Apparently, people dying before their time is a black mark on the various Deaths' records, and Harry is getting perilously close to getting this particular one fired.
*) When Harry asks what was supposed to have happened, Death goes off on a rant saying how he was supposed to have killed Voldemort, found his soulmate ("Some Granger girl…") and lived to be a centennial age. But since Harry keeps getting into life-threatening situations for one reason or another, he keeps dying before that happens. Harry is surprised about the soul mate part.
*) Death gives Harry a paper to sign that allows him to retain his memories (the previous times, he wasn't given this option for some reason). Harry is deposited to a previous time of the writer's choosing.
*) Eventually, Harry gets it right. He kills Voldemort, gets the girl, and lives to a ripe old age of whatever. And Death doesn't get fired.
REQUIREMENTS:
*) Harry must have died at least three times before this one
*) The memory keeping contract must be included
*) Death must refer to Hermione as "some Granger girl" when Harry's soul mate turns up in his rant
*) Obviously, must be H/Hr
*) Have fun
OPTIONAL:
*) Dumbledore's manipulations can be a factor in Harry's premature demises
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters.
I've decided to make this a H/HR/LL fic. It'll follow the requirements, and I plan to have a lot of fun with it. I'm mostly using the book universe, but I already know some of the movie parts are ingrained in my brain.
AN: I know Canon Ravenclaws are considered Eagles, but Ravens are smarter so I made an executive decision.
Welcome to Reaper's Choice.
Harry found himself sitting in a white room. The walls were white, the floor was white, even his… robe… was white.
'Robe? What am I doing wearing a robe? Last I remember I was wearing a pair of jeans and a jumper,' Harry thought to himself.
"Harry. James. Potter." Came a voice. It was masculine in sound and clearly exasperated.
Harry quickly reached for his wand only to find it wasn't there. Anxiety began to set in.
"Who's there!?" Harry yelled, sounding more confident than he felt.
"Calm yourself, Harry. This is complete and utter bullshit. I told you last time I didn't wanna see you again until you fixed it!"
"I'm… sorry?" Harry replied now unsure of himself, his anxiety was quickly being replaced with confusion.
"Sorry my blessed ass," came the quick response.
"Now that I'm sure you won't be reacting like violent caveman, I'm going to open the door," the voice stated.
Soon one of the walls revealed a door frame that wasn't there a moment ago. Harry squinted at it, going to push his glasses up his nose only to find that he wasn't wearing any and could see perfectly fine.
The anxiety he felt returned and started to roll in his stomach. Taking a deep breath gathering his courage he stepped out of the room. The other side revealed itself to be a hallway.
"This way," said the man, Harry barely got a glance, but saw that he was very tall and had brown hair.
Without waiting, he started to walk away from Harry, obviously heading to a destination Harry was clearly supposed to follow.
Not knowing what else to do, Harry did just that.
The man opened another door, this one thankfully had hinges and held it open for Harry.
"Be seated," he said.
Harry walked by him and sat down in the chair in front of the desk. The green eyed wizard took the time to look around the new room.
The room was covered wall to wall with books and cabinets. The wall to his right however also had a black door with a gold doorknob. The bookcases were black, as were the cabinets, although they had silver handles. The books were in various colors, but mostly black and shades of gray. On some of the shelves were hourglasses, some bigger than others, some had sand falling faster than others.
On the black desk in front of him, there were a few doodads that were silver, a pencil holder that held official looking pens of different types. Some looked to be ballpoint where others were clearly fountain pens. There was a large paper pad on the desk that took up much of the space, written were words he couldn't read and didn't understand. On top of the large pad was a big black book, and three hourglasses with frozen sand. One was silver, one was gold, and the last was a pale green.
Overall it was very professional, if a bit intimidating.
The door behind him was slammed shut. Harry turned and looked behind him. The door was black with a silver frame. On each side of the door were shelves that housed plants and sun catchers that were surprisingly lit despite there being no sun. There were also sky plants hanging from the ceiling above said shelves. It was very… comforting in a way. It gave the office life; which Harry was about to find out was ironic.
"Harry James Potter," the man said with such exasperation it was almost painful.
He made his way to the other side of the desk, his desk. Harry was finally able to look at the man. He was tall, about 6'8", his skin was a medium tan, his eyes were a light blue, contrasting with his dark brown hair, and had a weird tattoo under his left eye that reminded Harry of some of the few Egyptian things he was able to look at. He also had a long, well groomed, beard that ended just above his collarbone.
"Before I get started, I know you've forgotten your previous times here, but I have not. So, I am going to introduce myself again. I am your reaper, my name is Caius. Once you leave here, I am your death angel. This is your 8th unauthorized death. One more death and I'm out. I worked very hard to get to this position. I'm not about to lose my job because of your dumb luck and poor decisions. You will hold all questions until I'm finished talking. You will be silenced until I've decided you can talk."
With that Caius seated himself and opened the book in front of him. Harry opened his mouth to ask a question, but came to realize he literally couldn't talk. Caius chose to ignore this and continued.
"You've done a lot right but also a lot wrong. Your destiny is to kill your Dark Wizard the self-proclaimed Voldemort," he snorted, "Tom Marvolo Riddle and his pompous ass. Drag wizarding Britain into the 21st century, kicking and screaming if you have to, and live to at least 122. I'm going to look through your book to see why in all the layers of hell you are here again."
Caius then opened the large book in front of him and was quiet for a bit, turning a few pages before speaking again.
"I see here most of it wasn't your fault, of which I will give you a pass… Albus Percival Dumbledore, who is not one of mine, has been taking too many liberties with your person. As has your 'friend' Ronald Bilius Weasley. My advice is: lose him. The rest of that family has been pretty fair to you, although Ginevra Molly Weasley needs a mind healer. A therapist wouldn't be out of place either. Also Albus Dumbledore's fault. Poppy June Pomfrey is many things, many good things, but a mind healer she is not. Although I know she has the good sense to recommend them, most patients decline, which also is not her fault."
Caius turned the page, obviously reading what had happened this past lifetime.
"Albus Dumbledore seems to be taking many liberties with his students. While not exactly under your destiny per view, should be something you help along with. Rather, that will be a project for your soulmate, well mates, some Granger Luna girl…"
He grumbled under his breath as he rubbed a spot on the page in front of him, "There's a smudge of dirt here…"
"Hermione Jean Granger and Luna Ophelia Lovegood," he scanned through the book more although his eyes narrowed as though he was thinking heavily or trying to remember something, "I will be bringing them in later as they also have unauthorized deaths. Their reapers are speaking with them now." Harry watched confused at his actions.
Then Caius removed a smaller book from the pages, and did so again. He flipped through the books at a leisurely pace.
Harry furrowed his brows in serious consternation, desperate to ask questions. Soulmates!? Sure they were both pretty but to spend a lifetime with them? Hermione was… Hermione; he always expected her to be in his life but not like that. Luna was just… well Luna. Ginny was more his type.
"Luna Lovegood is on her 3rd and…," he moved to the other book "Hermione Granger is surprisingly on her 4th. Hermione Granger's deaths are mostly… outside forces."
Caius looked at him and decided to answer a question before it became a question.
"I remember one of your previous deaths you asked about Ginevra Weasley being your soulmate. She's not. With her not receiving help from a mind healer she's a bit… obsessive, concerning you. She spoke to the horcrux about her infatuation with you, and the horcrux of course spoke back. With the compulsion to write in it, she wrote about you the most. The dark magic in that horcrux started to break apart her mind after extensive exposure. Not her fault, the compulsion was much too strong for an eleven year old to overcome. The maliciousness in it was so sleek an adult would be hard pressed to overcome it. While she was close to death she prayed for Merlin, Albus Dumbledore, and you to save her. You did. Piecing her mind back together… she used you as the glue, so to speak. With proper treatment she should have been happy with her soulmate Neville Francis Longbottom. If not you may have to take her as a consort…"
Caius returned his attention back to the books in front of him.
"Anyways, as I said Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood's unauthorized deaths have been mostly due to outside forces. Hermione Granger has been maliciously tortured and murdered three times, with one suicide. Luna Lovegood's deaths are mostly due to excessive bullying, ending in manslaughter. Ironically one of them was also a suicide."
Harry was stricken at that. It felt as though he had been punched in the gut and his throat constricted. His Hermione… and Luna. Two girls who he would least suspect to do such a thing. Hermione was so… strong. Luna was strong in a gentle way, like nothing could bad could affect her. What could make them want to… what made them do it? He didn't expect to feel so strongly about that. It was… extremely disconcerting.
Caius went back to flipping through the bigger book. He looked up at Harry to gauge his expression. Harry was always one of his most expressive, even when he was a child. He didn't like to think about that unauthorized death…
Granted he didn't like any child's death. That's why he wasn't given those cases, but occasionally had to deal with unauthorized deaths of his clients during their childhoods.
"Neither of them remember it exactly, but to prevent it from happening again we give them a mental nudge. They receive visions of it, and sometimes it… helps them, in a morbid way. A morbid fantasy or daydream, whatever term you'd like to use. You'll be surprised to know that they're both pretty morbid girls with a dark sense of humor. We figure it's better to allow them the mental escape than for them to do so physically. We can't stop them from hurting themselves from time to time, but, we nudge them enough to keep them from killing themselves. They both also have a very vicious side to them, only because of the scars on their souls due to their previous deaths."
At this Harry moved his robes around trying to see if he had any scars before looking back up at Caius.
"None of their deaths are your fault. Mentally and somewhat emotionally Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood are… damaged. As are you. I'll let them tell you about it. I will tell you to bite your tongue though. You can be there for them, stand up for them from time to time, but don't lash out at them. Don't yell at them for handling their problems the way they do. Yelling will solve nothing and most likely exasperate the problem. I will personally make an Earthly visit and hurt you if you do," he finished with a glare.
Harry thought facing Voldemort would help him be able to stand up to any evil. The glare with promise in Caius' eyes made Voldemort look like a playground bully. So he nodded instead. Caius was satisfied and nodded to himself.
"Let's see…" he mumbled to himself reading the bigger book again.
"You really should have befriended Luna during her first year, your second year. I don't think I want to send you back that far though… definitely after the second dragon incident… or maybe after your first encounter with a dementor… One of your deaths was during that stupid tournament, but only involving the dragon. Had a close call with that sphinx though. Luckily, they're smarter than you are" he muttered the last bit, "Cedric Peregrine Diggory has an either-or authorized death in that tournament. Either he is murdered, or he helps you escape and you both live, or you don't grab the portkey and he does. It doesn't matter. Should he live he also suffers under Dolores Jane Umbridge's reign, but after all is said and done he has a relatively quiet life."
Caius looked back up at Harry.
"This was an issue last time we told you'd be sent back and you threw a hissy fit. You don't have a choice; you will be going back. You have a destiny to complete and many things to do, not just involving that puffed up pompous ass Tom Riddle. Don't try to save everyone, you'll end up with a lot of stress and heartache that you don't need…" he said drifting off.
"You can ask questions now," Caius said.
"I thought Dumbledore had more than one middle name? How is he taking liberties? How can I have two soulmates? How is Ron taking liberties? Isn't Hermione his soulmate? What do you mean by Hermione and Luna handling their problems 'the way they do'? Why don't I remember you or any of this?" Harry asked quickly, afraid that he would be silenced again soon.
"Albus is a pretty jumped up wizard who likes to feel important. We only use birth given or earned names here. In cases like Albus Dumbledore, we use his birth given name. In cases of someone else overcoming their life obstacles, such as being born a John and overcoming their obstacles, becoming a Susan, we'll call them Susan."
Harry made a face but nodded. He didn't think Dumbledore could be so… vain.
"How he is taking liberties is… extensive. He included Ronald Weasley, so some of your friend's liberties are being guided. Or rather misguided. An example would be Albus having your Gringotts' key and taking what he feels he needs. Another is by giving your friend a few galleons here and there to keep other people from being your friend and making you out to be an ass, basically. Like how he was your first year, accepting a duel on your behalf, he hasn't changed much since then."
Harry made another face and looked down knowing Caius was right. Ron hadn't really matured in all the years that he knew him. The only thing that really changed was he started noticing girls.
"Ginevra and Ronald pretty much tag teamed Hermione Granger breaking her down. She was still yours, but both of them were convincing her she wasn't good enough for you. Ronald was always yelling at her and arguing with her, and not once have you ever really taken her side. Your silence spoke a lot more than your actions. With you not saying anything you were basically agreeing with him even though you were trying to stay out of it. So you agreeing with him all the time made her think that things that pissed him off also pissed you off but you were too nice to say so."
Harry felt his stomach roll knowing he had done more damage than good staying out of their fights. He never wanted Hermione to feel like he agreed with Ron when it came to her being herself. Everything Ron basically yelled at her about was Hermione just being Hermione. The only thing he actually mentioned he had no problem with was her going with Viktor to the Yule ball…
"Didn't help that Ginevra dated around to catch your eye. It was at Hermione's suggestion to just be herself, hoping that it would get her to let go of the obvious obsession she has with you. It was her dating your fellow year mates that made it so you saw more of her than you would have if she had dated her year mates. It just pushed home that Ginevra was much more desirable than Hermione as no one really asked her out. Aside from Viktor Ivan Krum she didn't date any other guys. Viktor Krum pursued her and she was so flattered and happy that someone noticed that she was a girl she agreed. She did end up dating Luna Lovegood in secret though. She would have found happiness without you, but you absolutely should never have been with Ginevra."
That shocked Harry. He never knew Hermione dated anyone other than Viktor and it irked him in a way when Caius said the last part about her happiness, he didn't know why...
"The ladies each handle their problems differently. Luna is an escapist, so to speak. She will find an escape somehow to survive, but still be there physically. The old phrase 'The lights are on but nobody is home', is as close as I can describe it in a way that you'll understand. Hermione physically mutilates herself. She is what is known as a 'cutter'. Don't look for her scars, don't yell at her about them or anything of the like. Hermione is a strong woman but even she can only take so much. With her home life it was a stress relief from an early age. It's not atypical, or rare, just uncommon. With time and help she will overcome it. Both ladies also have dissociative disorders. Meaning from time to time they…"
Caius furrowed his eyebrows thinking of an easy way to describe it to Harry. Both girls he knew would be able to understand being more intellectual than his problem client.
"They have episodes of being detached from their body so to speak. Like everything is a dream. Often times things will feel surreal to them. Their perception of other people can be… distorted. Stress involving certain things, different triggers for them both, will overwhelm them."
"So… Hermione freaking out about school work and tests?" Harry asked.
"That is one of her triggers. She grounds herself by reading. The library is quite literally a safe haven," Caius admitted, "But there's also something… darker that makes it important to her."
The way the reaper finished that admittance made Harry extremely uncomfortable.
"Their inability to connect with others is another. Hermione though has significant childhood trauma that doesn't help. That isn't to say Luna does not. Her mother's death affected her deeply. Hermione literally has no idea how to connect to other people unless they connect with her first. She isn't afraid to tell people no though. She can tell peers no from here to kingdom come. Authority figures, teachers really, are a hurdle for her because of said trauma. Your war has somewhat tempered it though. I would let her tell you herself when she's ready."
Harry furrowed his eyebrows together extremely confused and concerned. All those years he knew Hermione he never even thought something was wrong with her. He just thought she trusted adults too much. He was too wrapped up in himself to even notice his best friend was dealing, coping, with things that he could have been helping with.
"Luna struggles to connect with people who aren't friends, or befriends her. Usually when she is on those expeditions with her father, she makes like-minded acquaintances. Crypto-magizoology is a huge part of her life, so meeting with other naturalists, of which are extremely hard to come by in wizarding Britain," he stressed, "she's ostracized and often feels very alone.
"You don't remember this because you've been sent back without your memories. You agreed and sometimes signed papers."
"Signed papers?"
"When you were old enough, I would read you the basics of the contract that you need to acknowledge to be sent back. Each of them basically saying you know you have a destiny to fulfill and will do so to the best of your abilities. It also acknowledges that you've had an unauthorized death and have been informed of such. The only one you hadn't been able to sign was…" Caius sighed, "I hate children unauthorized deaths. They're some of the worst, in my opinion. Thankfully I was able to send you back with the promise from others that it wouldn't happen again."
Harry could only nod at that.
"What about the horcrux in my forehead?" Harry asked.
"That is surprisingly an easy-ish fix. Go to the healers at Gringotts. I say easy-ish because it's not going to be a walk in the park, and it's going hurt. You will be laid up, completely safe, for three days. Two if you have Hermione and Luna with you for the ritual. It isn't often they have to deal with horcruxes in living things, but they're able to remove them from the host and kill them."
Harry felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.
"I recommend leaving it until your fifth year though. I know you've come to look up to Arthur Septimus Weasley as a father figure and it's through the horcrux you're able to save him. Once that incident has taken place though, go to Gringotts. You already know where the other ones are, and you already know you won't be able to learn or see anything else, dumbass. After that incident you should have insisted on seeing a healer. One that wasn't under obligations to listen to Albus's orders... or able to be swayed by his compulsion spells at least. Doesn't happen often, but when it involves your health reports, he does it. Poppy has informed him multiple times about your abuse and malnutrition, as she is supposed to as he is your official magical guardian, and with a little compulsion charm he's able to convince her to stop worrying because he's already having it taken care of and to ignore it."
The young wizard blushed but agreed, now knowing it was stupid to have thought he'd be able to spy on Voldemort. It cost him his godfather and he wouldn't let it happen again.
"Anything else?" Caius asked, now calm.
Harry looked down at his knees and tried to wrack his brain for anything else. However with everything else going on in his head he looked at Caius and shook his head.
"Alright. Now I'm going to have Hermione Jean Granger and Luna Ophelia Lovegood come in. Before I do, I am going to remind you, do not lash out at them. You will not raise your voice to them in my room. You will not become frustrated with them. You are not entitled to know everything. Among other things while it might hurt that they know things you don't, it doesn't mean you can't trust them. So I don't want to hear any of that rubbish. They have always been at your side since you've allowed them to become your friends. Not once have they left you. They have always believed you and supported you." Caius said, "Except for that one time you were lying to Hermione Granger, she could tell by the way that you were lying. However she left it alone after a while," he tacked on.
Harry bit his tongue knowing Caius was right. Out of everyone Hermione and Luna were the two who always stood by him. Even when the whole school was against him, those two were firm. He never heard a cross word from Luna before they were friends either. They didn't know he was beat daily until Hogwarts, and he was fairly open about how the Dursleys treated him, but not completely. The messy haired wizard nodded at his reaper.
The side door open and Hermione and Luna walked in.
Unlike his white robes theirs looked more like Greek togas. Both walked in with their heads held high and seated themselves into a loveseat that had appeared next to him on his right.
He looked closely. Hermione was still a bit gaunt from their time on the run, but she was much cleaner and her hair was curly instead of bushy. He had to do a double take though as he noticed her hair was black instead of brown and her eyes were brighter, the color of fresh honey. Luna looked as though she gained a bit more weight, looking healthier, since the last time he saw her. Both had a weird look in their eye that he couldn't place. However, both smiled at him gently.
Harry smiled back, even though he was slightly upset knowing that they were only here because they were dead too.
Harry looked at them a bit more, knowing Caius said their souls were scarred. Looking at their arms Harry saw big marks that were slightly red, but smooth on their arms. They looked a bit like healed burn marks.
"Hermione Jean Granger, Luna Ophelia Lovegood, I take it you've been informed of everything and brought up to speed."
Both witches nodded and reached out to grab each other's hands.
"I've been given knowledge of wizarding customs, some laws that will work in our favor, and everything to do with high society social norms. I was told that I would have more information about the laws if I accepted a ring and that I had a natural disposition for politicking. We also signed papers that will allow us to keep our memories of this past time around," Hermione said, "I was also instructed to ask for a blood test at Gringotts. Luna has been given the same in case her father missed any or was somehow misinformed."
"It's been explained to me that because it's oral tradition some things were left out, and after my mum died she wasn't able to complete my tutoring. Mummy always told me you have to know all the rules before you can decide which ones you want to break" Luna announced, "Apparently Daddy got a few of the cultures mixed up. That and it was the only way she would agree to let me sign the paper…"
"Dull and with emotional detachment, yes?" he inquired.
"Yes. Good enough that we won't suffer from PTSD, night terrors related to the war, or high hair trigger responses to being surprised and the like, but enough that we'll remember how to fight." Hermione answered.
Caius nodded in understanding.
"For Harry James Potter's sake, you've been made aware and accepted your soulmates?"
"With our entire beings," Luna answered.
"Wait what?" Harry asked.
"What, you thought it would only be about you?" Caius asked.
"No. No, no, no," he plowed on, "All of you are each other's soulmates. As they are each other's soulmates as much as they are yours," he continued as though Harry had answered.
In turn Harry blushed.
"I didn't know they were…witch's witches," Harry mumbled.
"We're switch witches," Luna said as though Harry were talking to them instead of about them.
"I think that's the wrong term, but close enough," Hermione murmured.
"Um, how did you guys die?" Harry asked, cringing when he realized his mistake.
"I was given to Death Eater as a reward and I was killed," Hermione answered, refusing to go into detail.
"Oh."
"I was killed by Ronald, he wasn't very happy when I told him if you lived he still wouldn't have a chance with Hermione." Luna replied.
Harry had a slight snarl on his face, "The only way he'd get with Hermione is with potions. Who else thought they had a chance? Malfoy?"
There was a tense moment of silence. Hermione refused to look him in the face while Luna pursed her lips.
"Oh…" Harry said, making the connection.
"Way to go, Potter. You're with your future wives and you've already made things awkward," Caius snarked in a way that reminded him of his Potions Professor.
"I'm sorry!" Harry shouted.
"I-it's okay, Harry. It wasn't actually Draco Malfoy who killed me. He was actually relieved I was given to him, but his father accused him of harboring love for me and refused to let me sully his bloodline. Even though I was given to him, he was… kind and gentle, almost loving. He tried to protect me, but his mum pulled him out of the way," she looked at him, "He was so… heartbroken, I felt so bad…"
Harry was stunned.
Then Caius cleared his throat getting their attention, "Draco Lucius Malfoy was actually who you were going to end up with if these two rejected you. You are compatible. His soulmate wasn't born yet. He respects you and has had a crush on you for some time. To prevent people from finding out and to get closer to you he decided to bully you. He wanted to be close to you, but also wanted you alive. He knew his father would kill you if he ever found out, as you now know
"Draco Malfoy has never raised his hand or wand in your direction, the teeth spell wasn't meant for you and it hurt him that his magic hurt you at all. His great dislike for Harry Potter was actually jealousy and anger. He was allowed to be close to you in public and didn't stand up for you. He actually doesn't think Ronald Weasley or Harry Potter are good enough for you. The first he was completely right about."
Harry seemed to struggle with this information while Hermione seemed to think about it and nodded in understanding. Luna squeezed the brunette's hand also understanding.
"Reaper Caius, have you decided when we're going back?" Hermione asked, "Reaper Yui said that it was up to you."
"After the first dementor incident. Literally. You'll be able to help Sirius and I know you'll be able to handle the time turner this time. Due to his time in Azkaban he's gone sterile and will be naming Harry Potter his heir again. With your wonderful memory I'm sure most of it you'll be able to handle the work. Harry Potter here might even be able to change classes so as not to waste his education. I also figure you girls might enjoy the Yule ball."
Hermione and Luna looked at each other and nodded before looking to Harry see what his reaction was.
Harry had pursed his lips obviously unhappy with this.
"It's not as though you liked Divination. I'm sure you could pick another class and actually enjoy it," Hermione reminded him, "and it's not as though Viktor and I will be dating this go around"
"Besides you haven't even asked us to be your girlfriends," Luna threw in.
Hermione nodded.
"We've already asked each other out, or rather… Luna asked me out." She blushed and smiled shyly. It was an expression Harry wasn't sure he'd ever seen on Hermione.
"We're going to be more open once we go back. We won't hide it this time around. Once we kiss our bond will be sealed," Hermione informed him with a smile, "Although I think I can use the broom fiasco as a cover of how I got to know her."
"Bond?" Harry asked.
"Ah! The one thing I forgot. Sorry, that is my fault ladies," Caius acknowledged.
"As they are your soulmates, and you are going back with all of your memories intact, the MOD, Ministry of Death, have decided to invoke a special bond for you lot. While before it would have been nice and a much happier relationship should you have gotten with one of them or vice versa, this makes it so you have to be together, which the ladies have been informed it is not forced and they have agreed to this quite happily. They've also already signed their papers. You can go back without the bond, but the bond invokes a few protections. Natural occlumency, natural neutralizing agents in their magic to avoid being controlled or poisoned either through magic or potion. Meaning that they won't be affected by compulsion spells and the like. They will be aware if someone is trying to use the Imperius curse on them, but with the natural occlumency and neutralizing agents in their magic it won't work, but they will hear what the caster is trying to force them to do. Same with strong compulsion spells."
"It's nice to have friends, but I think it'll be better to be with my soulmates. Much happier in the end," Luna put in.
"It's basically guaranteed happiness and love with the protection of free will," Hermione said, smiling before looking at Luna with love clearly in her eyes.
"Besides, how many other people know for a fact that they're with the ones meant for them. It takes the stress out of dating. I don't have to worry about fidelity, and I know for certain that we're compatible. I don't have to worry about looking for a spark or worrying about passion, I know I have it. I know you, Harry, but now I get to be with you. You and Luna both."
It was then that Harry could identify the look. They were both afraid he would reject them! Hermione knowing him, he acknowledged it would have been a very real possibility that he would have turned them away if he didn't know what he knew now. He would have said he couldn't be with them because it was too dangerous or probably throw a fit about being controlled even in death… but learning about one of their deaths, it hurt him so much knowing how awful they must have felt to go through with it. That and he was a horrible friend to Hermione.
How could he not? How could he turn them away? It was essentially a match made in Heaven or the afterlife or whatever.
"Hermione, Luna, would you be my girlfriends? Eventually my wives?" he looked at Caius through the corner of his eye who nodded, "I know you're my soulmates, but I would be happy to be part of that bond with you too," he finished with a large blush.
Hermione slowly let a large grin bloom, one that was mirrored on Luna's face.
"Yes," they echoed.
Harry grinned, knowing he got something right.
Caius wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he was glad that his client Harry James Potter made one of the best decisions in his existence.
"Um, I have another question for you girls," Harry said, looking at their feet.
'Mostly Hermione' he thought to himself.
Both were looking at the wizard with concern.
"Yes?" Hermione asked with some trepidation.
"Why didn't you tell us about well… whatever it is that made you do" he struggled around the word not wanting to say it, "that."
Hermione turned to face Luna even though her eyes never left his face.
"What would 'that' be, Harry?" she asked quietly.
"Hurt yourself," he bit the inside of his lip before he whispered, "kill yourself."
"My home life is… difficult," she chewed on her lip trying to think about how to word it, "Your relatives were horrible people. Mine are… they make your family look like they care," she said after a moment's thought, "I found out my dad isn't even my real father. My reaper wouldn't tell me either even though she said the Ministry of Death is aware. It's one of the things I have to find out for myself."
"How are the Dursleys horrible people? My room was the cupboard under the stairs for 11 years. I was treated like a house-elf and forced to do all the chores and yardwork." Harry asked with a bitterness in his voice that made Hermione frown. He completely ignored the fact about her dad wasn't even her birth father.
"You had poor living conditions, but you knew what was expected of you. They were nothing but blunt about how they felt, right?" Hermione inquired.
Harry nodded begrudgingly. He knew where he stood with the Dursleys as soon as he hit first grade. They made sure to tell him what they felt and thought concerning him. They made sure to tell him he was different; he was a freak and freaks had different rules from normal people.
"I did not. The rules were always changed. I may have had parents, but they are nothing like Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. My mother is distant, she's never loved me, never told me she loves me, and has pointed out repeatedly that she didn't want me. She only kept me because of my father and eventually my step-father, her husband, who I call father. Father is… complicated. He lavishes my mother with gifts, pays for the practice, let's her work her dream job in exchange for holiday sex and a home cooked breakfast and dinner. That's why she's stayed. That and she didn't have to do any housework aside from cooking. I had to do that, when I wasn't at home they hired help. Of course I had to pay for that too…"
Harry wasn't sure how to feel about that. When people talk about his mother they always tell him how proud of him she would be. If he ever found out his mum never wanted him, he would be crushed. He didn't understand where she was going with her story though.
- Trigger Warning -
"I'm not going to give you too many details but, my mother knows. Knew? Knows? She's numb to it. Honestly, she thinks I deserve it for being born… so she doesn't care. My father or rather step-father…" she steadied her breath, "Father has a disturbing way of... showing he cares. Although care isn't the right word," she laughed humorlessly, "He… he knows… he knows what the neighbors and my old classmates have done. He tried to say it was for the best… We've lived next to them practically my whole life... I've been molested since I was 4 and... it got worse when I got older. When my accidental magic started to become more noticeable. They knew I was different. More than the different they were already dealing with.
"Before I started primary school they needed someone to watch me while they worked. Being autistic I was a handful. I'm considered high functioning, so it was missed until I was 10. They just thought I was smart for the longest time. When I started school, my father made sure to tell me it was a family secret, it was just a game, and it stayed in the house."
The messy haired wizard looked at Hermione mildly shocked. He didn't know she was autistic, he just agreed with Ron "Brilliant but scary". Thinking back on it he could see a few hints of it. She was rigid in her belief of books. It took her a long time to realize books didn't have everything. She liked to schedule out everything and got extremely upset whenever she had to deviate from her personal schedule. He was sure there were others, but those stood out to him the most.
"To keep people from being suspicious I had decent clothes and all my school materials were new. They played the perfect doting parents in public. I had a room, it was standard size, my mum got to decorate it. The walls were covered in wallpaper, green with cabbage roses. I only had it so people could see that we were a normal family when we had company. Much like your relatives, but I was their daughter. So it wasn't like they could hide me.
"My parents expected a lot of me, and let the neighbors know. Like I said, I was always decently intelligent, but I wasn't socially well rounded and being social was part of my grade. When I came home with my first B, a 70, he started beating me. Always in places that my clothes covered of course. He said anything less than Outstanding, less than a 90, I would be punished similarly. My parents also gave the neighbors permission to punish me however they felt was best."
Harry's eyes dilated hearing this, his insides were cold. It was fine with him, it was fine with him, it was fine with him, not Hermione!
"He checked all my homework, quiz, and test grades. Any time my grades dipped lower than a 90, even an 89, he would do what he said. Eventually he started to include my extra-curricular grades… The rules were different. Anything less than a 90 and… well I was punished.
"I never had an interest in physical education," she got a faraway look in her eyes as she stared at the floor, "I never failed, but I was never the best either… I quickly learned a majority of the grades were class participation. Participation only counted if you were called on. I made sure that I participated. Their words, their decisions, affected my home life more than they knew. Of course, you know that alienated most of my classmates. It made the bullying worse, more physical. Before it was just stuff about my hair and teeth, being a freak with no friends…"
Harry now understood her faith or whatever when it came to authority. It wasn't all adults, he knew she never cared for Umbridge, but when it came to Snape or other professors, she was firm with her respect and tried to instill that into him and Ron. They controlled her grades. They controlled her punishments.
"Second grade, I came home with my first C, a 64 on my report card… for the first time my father beat me with the poker stick. The neighbor raped me for the first time," she looked at him quickly before looking away, "Don't worry it was just anal."
She took a shallow breath.
"After that I worked harder."
She crossed her ankles and looked at her feet, "Then the rules changed again. I still had to have the best grades, but I also had to start competing in things such as a spelling bee. The first one I lost, I was 8. The neighbors were invited of course. My father cracked a few of my ribs. The neighbor let his son molest me and then… well something happened that was a one time thing," she mumbled and hugged herself, "He put me in dance class and boxing when I was 6. Dancing would make it easier for me to walk even if I was in pain and boxing would explain bruises and broken ribs."
Harry could barely breathe. He never knew. When her boggart was Professor McGonagall telling her that she failed everyone laughed as she ran out of the room. Everyone knew she was the smartest and just thought she was afraid of failing. He didn't know failing grades had a consequence like that. For him it was the opposite. But he'd take a simple beating over that.
"I had to be the best or else. He and the neighbors made sure I had a lot of awards and trophies that my parents could put up in their dental practice. Apparently having a kid is good for business. Having a smart one is better. My mother noticed that with more evidence of my existence in their office they had more clients. More clients meant more money.
"Clients started to ask, jokingly, if they really had a daughter named Hermione. They had all of my awards but they didn't have any pictures. After that we started to take holiday so they had pictures, good pictures of a happy family, for their office. France, Italy, America, the Netherlands. Our first set of pictures, I didn't smile good enough. I wasn't comfortable and like most children I forced it and it looked as fake as it was. All of them were clearly forced. They weren't pictures of the 'happy family' they wanted. I eventually learned how to fake it and make it look real. However, they complained to the neighbors and I was beat before the neighbor punished me. He made my body betray me, I felt dirtier than ever. After that they saw an improvement in my outside behavior. It was also when I first started to cut.
"Then the rules changed again," she growled the last part even as her eyes started to take on a lifeless look, "I hit puberty. He and his son molested me more often, teasing me about finally becoming a woman. Thankfully I was finally good enough that he didn't have an excuse to rape me again. I cut more. My magic healed my cuts fast, most of the time they wouldn't even scar. I didn't know it was wrong until Madame Pomfrey gave us that lecture on bodily changes first year and how we should wait until we were of consensual age to do anything with another person. In the wizarding world that's 15. In the muggle world, it's 16."
She took a calming breath knowing she was going to go off on a tangent even as she held herself tighter.
"When I got my Hogwarts' letter I was so excited I cried. I could go to a boarding school. I didn't know if I was really a witch or not, but I had an invitation to leave for a valid reason. I would only have to see them two months of the year, if that, less if I had friends. Thankfully it was Professor McGonagall and she managed to convince them that it was important. I go or I accidentally kill everyone around me because I don't know how to keep my magic in check. She also managed to tell them that they could tell friends and family that I was accepted into a Private school for the Gifted, invitation only. Of course, he, my neighbor, made the threat that if I had less than satisfactory grades he would find out. My parents weren't afraid to tell the neighbors if I'd done something wrong so I would learn my lesson twice over. After I started Hogwarts though I barely saw the neighbors. Maybe one or two weekends a summer. My parents wanted to get in as much Holiday time with me, more tournaments and dance competitions, updated pictures for their practice, then I would go to the Burrow or Grimmauld Place."
"My mother didn't care even when I went to her about things, she would tell me to talk to my father, that I was making up stories, or that I was asking for it. My father would tell me it was just a game or that I should be happy that I was getting that kind of attention at all."
Hermione took another breath and sneered at her feet, it was comparable to Snape's, the master of sneers.
"They made sure I ate and had everything I needed to be physically healthy. To avoid suspicion of course. They bought me books once a month. Like I said they made me take music, boxing, and dancing classes, mostly for the recitals and competitions. They made sure I always had a valid library card, talked to the principals when the bullying got out of hand, although it was mostly Father. He didn't like unauthorized people having a go at me and hated it when I got into fights... So I grew up dirty. That's why being called a mudblood never bothered me. I already knew that I was dirty, it just had nothing to do with my blood status. They got me Crookshanks as an early birthday present when I mentioned everyone had a familiar at school and I was being made fun on for it. They didn't want me to stand out. I'm just glad they never got wind of betrothal contracts, although… that might help me this time…."
Harry furrowed his brows not sure what was happening. He couldn't understand why Hermione was sticking up for her family at the end of all that, at least that's how it sounded to him. They knew and did nothing! They encouraged it! At least the Dursleys encourage corporal punishment because he was a freak. Granted they went overboard, but he knew from his own primary school that other kids got their own beatings. He knew from their complaining to their friends that some of their older family members let the same things happen to them that the Dursleys did when Marge would come over with her dumb dogs.
He never knew anything like that was happening. It explained what she said in first year, "We could get killed or worse, expelled." What she went through and what she had done in one life, death was a better option than being expelled and having to go home to that.
"I occasionally feel dirty and scrub extra hard in the shower. When I cut… When I feel trapped in my body I can't escape, I just… can't help it. Then there are times when my body burns and I know that cutting will relieve it. I was told…. Why I killed myself the last time. I actually got into an argument with Yui…
"It was actually another Hogwarts student. He forced himself on me the night of the Yule Ball. He apparently slipped something in one of my drinks under the pretense of being concerned after Ronald made me cry. I could handle things like that happening at home, but not at Hogwarts. It also happened to be my first time like that and he just… he stole my first time. The one physically intimate thing I was allowed to keep, the one thing I was allowed to have to give away to someone that mattered to me.
"I was so out of it he managed to bring me, drag me really, to an empty classroom next to the Slytherin common room. I remember he collected galleons from each person who wanted a go at me. Drugging me every so often so I wouldn't fight. I was aware enough though… I figured I'd be able to ignore it and fight through it. Apparently Malfoy found out and got Snape to stop it. Then I found out, somehow, I was pregnant. With the contraception potions we have to take it shouldn't have been possible. But whatever he gave me counteracted it. Madame Pomfrey had to tell Professor McGonagall, who told my parents…
"She left, giving us some privacy to talk about things… Instead my mother blamed me and called me a whore. My father took me to the guestroom… I was gagged and he put tape over that to silence my screams. He branded horrible words, things like 'whore' and 'useless', on my body. Then he used the same poker he beat me with to… to rape me. He beat me with it too of course," she shrugged, "At some point I was so out of it I know he finished when I stopped screaming. I'm sure I miscarried at some point. He spit on me and told me to clean myself up. Then my mother came in and told me she never wanted to see my face again. I had a choice of an orphanage or a brothel and had to let her know the next morning. That was the final straw… When we go back, I'll forget the why again, it was in my contract. It's better that way."
-Trigger End-
Harry felt a cold rage fill him even as he nodded. Mr. and Mrs. Granger, those neighbors, whoever those students were, Lucius Malfoy. They would pay. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He noticed she didn't mention anything about the bullying or the neighbor's name. She also didn't go into details as to what she did.
"Luna? I heard you had an incident too," Harry said instead.
"I couldn't get into the tower one night. I was able to get in the next day, all of my personal belongings were stolen or ripped up. My picture of my mum, my favorite picture of her, the most recent one I had of her before she died, was ripped up and scattered on my bed. Some parts were burned… her face was burned. I was heartbroken and cried. I used it to comfort myself when things got too bad. Daddy wasn't writing me back and I was worried he died too.
"I couldn't get back into the tower that night again and it was cold. I couldn't even wish for the picture of my mum, it was beyond repair. No one wanted to be my friend, Ginny pretended she didn't even know me, everyone called me loony, I had nothing from home anymore, and I kept getting locked out of the tower. Hogwarts is very cold. I had Ravenclaws telling me that Slytherin's monster would go after loons next. I hung myself in the Great Hall over Ravenclaw table. Before I jumped I made sure I used a diffindo on my jugular so I could bleed out quickly incase my neck didn't snap. I practiced until I got it right. Thankfully I got it right and my neck snapped."
Harry felt green at how she said it so matter of fact.
"Those things will never happen again. You'll be with me from now on. I'll find a way to make it stop. Hermione… If I ever do anything to upset you or make you feel dirty please tell me immediately and I will stop," he was practically begging them.
Hermione chewed on her lip.
"You've never made me feel that way Harry. You, Luna, and even Draco. Even during the war, you always made me feel safe when it came to things like that," she admitted, "That's why you're the first person besides my grandparents I ever hugged willingly…"
Harry nodded, noting that she called him Draco instead of Malfoy, and then turned to the blonde witch, "Luna if you ever get locked out go to the Room of Requirements if you can't find us."
She nodded.
"With that in mind you, Harry Potter, should probably take advantage of the tournament and get yourself emancipated as soon as possible. Do so through Gringotts. Once the bonds are sealed, as those are not common, you will be considered legally and magically betrothed. You will receive notice from Gringotts. As a legally emancipated minor you will be able to marry your betrotheds with or without parental consent. That is only because a bond invokes ancient magic that no one can contend with. It's written in their oldest laws and one of their most respected and traditional customs. Do so before the Second Task and worry about a wedding later," Caius said.
He was surprised Hermione told Harry as much as she did, but was proud of her for saying so. Caius was also proud of Harry for holding his tongue and telling her to let him know if he ever cause any of those feelings to pop up. It was actually very mature of him.
"I'm going to send you lot back immediately after the dementor leaves the train compartment going towards Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Caius said.
"Thank you, Reaper Caius," Hermione said with a smile.
The grim reaper smiled and nodded happily at the young witch. Harry Potter would never know, but Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood were once his clients and he cared for them a great deal. After their suicides he decided it would be best to give them to a different death angel since he was growing too attached to them. It was important that no death angel grow too attached to a client. That was why he refused to take on child cases. Hermione and Luna though… it was hard to send them back. It had to be done and he almost couldn't do it. He would be sure Harry fucking Potter took good care of them though.
AN: First off I haven't abandoned my other fics, I just needed something that would allow me to step back to prevent burn out and this challenge is something I highly encourage other writers to try!
AN 2: I went and did some light research on the UK's grading system. Sorry for any confusion those of you in America. Frankly I think it's a better grading system considering student's stress levels (which by the way are 1950s asylum level), but that might just be me.
Those who skipped the triggers, the important parts: Hermione's mother hates her, she's autistic, she was bullied by classmates, beat, molested, and raped for bad grades (anything less than a 90) by neighbors and step-father. She was put in music, dance, and boxing classes. Dance and boxing to cover up abuse.