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Chapter Fifty-Eight
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As the first rays of the sun broke over the horizon, Harry felt himself stir - his eyes still stubbornly closed despite the fact that his mind was groggily awake. Merlin knows how he could even be awake this early… Maybe it was the fact that he had left his glasses on the night before and they were currently digging into the side of his face uncomfortably.
All that Harry really knew was that he still wanted to be asleep, as the utter exhaustion he felt screamed at him to his very core. Especially since he was so comfortable that he didn't want to move.
But that was when he felt it… the feeling of fingers running through his hair.
Harry's eyes snapped open in alarm, not used to having someone there when he woke up in the mornings. The sight in front of him furthered his shock as his mind fought to catch up with his memory.
His head was lying on Ginny's chest, which was naked… As was evident by the bare breast the was right in front of his gaze.
An amused giggle broke his rapid thoughts, and Harry felt the movement of her laughter from where his head still lay on her chest.
"You should see your face," Ginny laughed quietly as she continued to run her fingers through his hair lazily.
Harry abruptly lifted himself up, his gaze snapping up to her face before wandering back down to her chest, then back up to her face.
"Merlin… I thought that last night was just a dream!" Harry said, still in a complete state of shock at the pleasant sight of Ginny Weasley half naked in his bed. She looked bloody amazing in the dim, morning light. Her red hair was messily splayed across his white pillow, tangles were caught in her red locks from the many times he had run his hands through it last night… And her skin looked so smooth… Her nipples so pink.
He couldn't believe that he had used Ginny's breasts as a pillow, last night… But he would be lying if he didn't admit that he had slept pretty comfortably...
Ginny smirked when she had noticed his eyes roaming her body, though he really did try to keep his gaze on her face. "You dreamt about me, hmm?"
Harry could only nod as the shock slowly wore off and a wide grin overtook his face. "Yeah, but dream Ginny's got nothing on real Ginny…"
He emphasized his point by reaching down a hand to cup her left breast, squeezing it in the palm of his hand. "Merlin, you're so gorgeous…"
Ginny moaned softly as his thumb and forefinger then proceeded to pinch at her nipple. The pleasurable abuse that he administered to it caused her rosy tips to harden to peaks. The sound that she made caused Harry grin wider. He quickly learned that he loved the sound of Ginny Weasley's moans. He only wished that they were in a place where she could moan as loudly as they both wanted her to without fear of being discovered…
"Gin?" Harry suddenly asked, a warmth in his voice as he leaned down to start kissing the length of her exposed neck.
"Hmm?" Ginny hummed, though it sounded like a half moan. Harry smirked against her skin.
"I just wanted to-"
A sudden knock on his door froze the pair of them.
Harry jumped to action, throwing his thick, downy comforter over Ginny as he tried to settle himself in to make it look as though he were alone in bed.
"C-Come in," Harry stuttered, as he inwardly cursed at how guilty his voice sounded.
The door opened and his dad popped his head in.
James grinned widely as he spotted Harry awake and propped up in bed against the headboard.
"Happy Christmas, Harry!" His dad exclaimed. "We were hoping you were awake, everyone is just too excited to open presents to wait for those who want to sleep in."
Harry smiled slightly at his dad, his hand up and rubbing nervously at the back of his neck. "S-Sounds great, dad. I'll be down in a bit…"
James nodded excitedly before he paused for a brief moment, looking beyond Harry, before saying, "Hello, Ginny."
Harry froze. His eyes widened as he felt all of the blood drain from his face.
About fifteen seconds passed with no one saying anything, before…
"H-Hi, Mr. Potter…" Ginny's timid voice called out from underneath Harry's blanket.
James smirked widely in satisfaction. "That's what I thought."
Harry grabbed a pillow and chucked it at his dad's laughing face. His dad ducked before it was able to make purchase.
"How did you know?!" Harry demanded.
James continued to laugh outrageously before he shrugged. "I didn't! It was only a guess."
Harry groaned and let his head fall back on his pillow, his arm came up and covered his face from embarrassment.
"Make sure you're both downstairs in about fifteen minutes, otherwise your mum might come looking for both of you." James warned.
And with one last smirk, he popped his head back out and closed the door.
Ginny whipped the comforter off of her face and gave him a wide look. "Please don't tell me that your dad hates me, now…"
Harry shook his head. "No… if anyone were to catch us, we should be glad that it was my dad…"
Ginny bit her lip and worried it with her teeth. "So, you don't think that he will say anything?"
Rolling his eyes in exasperation by the turn of events, Harry sighed. "He'll probably tell Padfoot. Maybe Moony, too. But I don't think that he'll tell anyone else. If anything, we'll just have to endure some subtle teasing."
Ginny sighed in relief. "I can handle teasing if your mum and dad don't tell my parents anything." Ginny shuddered. "Remember what my mum said in the howler about my 'flower'?"
Harry shuddered as well, not able to properly think about the wrath of Mrs. Weasley if she ever found out what Harry has done with her only daughter…
…
They were quick to get out of bed after that. Ginny had snuck out of Harry's room to return to the room she was supposed to have slept in. She was going to stay in her pajamas but she needed to grab her robe and make sure her hair didn't look like Harry's hands had run through it.
Which was a similar problem that Harry had to deal with…
His hair looked so erratic that Harry had to wet a comb to run through his hair.
It only helped minimally.
When Harry had finally made it down the stairs to the living room, Ginny was already there. She was sitting next to the twins with a gap on her other side that was between her and Ron. Which Harry knew was meant for him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hedwig perched on a mantle by the Christmas tree. He would have to be sure to give her some treats later.
Harry took his place and quickly realised that he was the last one to arrive.
Sirius smirked at him from across the circle. "Rough night, Harry?"
Harry glared at him.
"Right then," His dad mercifully interjected before anyone could question the exchange between Harry and his Godfather. "Who wants to pass out all of the presents?"
The twins, Ron, Harry, and Ginny all volunteered as they sifted through the load of presents underneath the tree. They passed them out to everyone and it wasn't long before every person had a small pile in front of them.
When they were done getting sorted, Ron and the twins quickly dove into their presents, tearing apart the paper before they even had a chance to really see who the presents had been from.
Harry could only chuckle as Mrs. Weasley scolded them for their rudeness and made sure that they checked to see who the gifts were from.
Harry settled back into his seat next to Ginny and grabbed the first present in front of him.
It was from Hermione.
And by the feel and weight of the gift, he already knew that it was a book of some sort.
Opening it up, his suspicions were confirmed.
'Advanced Defense Spells Through the Ages' by Nordwalk Dickle.
Harry grinned in interest after he read the title before he opened the cover to sift through some of the pages. There were a number of spells he hadn't even heard of. He would have to make sure to write Hermione to thank her.
The next present was from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Harry opened it up and grinned at the familiar sight of his annual Christmas gift of his green, knitted sweater with a giant 'H' on the front.
Harry looked up at the couple who were practically his second parents. "Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley."
They both looked up and grinned kindly at him before Mrs. Weasley responded with a wave of her hand, "Oh, Harry, you're family. It was nothing."
Harry's eyes pricked with emotion and he had to look away. It still felt surreal to be considered family to anyone after all of these years…
He distracted himself by grabbing another present. It was from Ron. He gave him a box of Chocolate Frogs and a Broom Servicing Kit.
From the twins, he got a suspicious looking blue potion that had no label. He was afraid to even touch it.
The next present was from Remus. It was a scarf that was charmed to be warm when it was worn. Harry thought that it would be perfect to wear during Quidditch games.
When he got to his Godfather's gift, there was a note on top…
'Please be discreet while opening.'
Harry looked questioningly up at his Godfather. Their eyes locked and Sirius' eyes twinkled with mischief.
A little wary now, Harry looked around to make sure no one else was paying attention before he unwrapped a book.
'How to Become an Animagus' by Leopold Gilvus.
Harry's mouth gaped as he looked up from the book to his Godfather. Sirius smiled wide before he winked at Harry.
Harry could only grin back before he put the book behind him, hiding it underneath the book Hermione had gotten him. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley may not approve of him becoming an illegal animagus. So, he could understand why Sirius wanted him to keep it secret.
He couldn't wait to look at it later.
After that, there were a bunch of presents from his parents. More than Harry expected.
They got him a jar full of purple powder that would help him fall asleep without waking up drowsy. A messenger bag that was bottomless and magically made all items put inside weightless. Tickets for the match to the Holyhead Harpies in the spring, which Harry proudly showed to an excited Ginny. Some expensive dragon-hide boots that had Ron looking on in awe. And a brand new charcoal gray cloak.
Harry beamed at all of the gifts that his parents have given him and got up from his seat before running forward to give them both a hug.
"Thanks," Harry said as he held them both tight.
They embraced him back in their group hug before they pulled away. His mum looked misty-eyed.
James cleared his throat. "There's actually one more gift we'd like to give you, Harry."
Harry's eyes widened. "There's more? You've already given me so much."
His mum only grinned as James reached into his robe's pocket before he pulled it out, handing a gold item over to him. Harry took it, carefully, before he lifted it up to inspect it.
Harry looked up. "A pocket watch?"
James and Lily looked at each other with a grin.
"It's not just any pocket watch, sweetheart," His mum answered as she looked back over at him. "It's a Potter family heirloom."
Harry's eyes widened as he looked back down at the item in his hands, turning it over until he spotted the Potter family crest engraved on the back.
"It's been in the family for over a hundred years," His dad went on to explain as he reached over and took Lily's hand in his own. "It's also magical."
Harry looked up at that, questions in his eyes.
James grinned at him and reached forward so that the pocket watch was clutched tight within Harry's hand. "When you clutch it in your hand like this and you think about a specific person you truly care about, it will give you a feeling of whether that person is safe or not."
Harry's eyes widened in amazement before he decided to try it. He clutched it tight, closed his eyes and thought of Ginny… before he was overcome with the feeling that she was safe and happy.
Harry opened his eyes and looked back at Ginny, who was laughing at the twins.
He grinned and turned back to his parents before stepping forward to hug them both again. "Thanks, I love it."
His mum kissed the side of Harry's head. "And we love you, Harry."
Eyes pricking with emotion, Harry pulled back and smiled warmly at them before stepping away and going back to his seat next to Ginny and Ron.
He had his own gift for Ginny in his robe pocket that he had to give to her.
He sat down next to her, noticing that she was done with unwrapping the pile of presents in front of her and was animatedly talking with the twins about some of the gifts they all got. Harry reached forward to grab her hand.
Ginny stopped mid-sentence and turned to face him with a grin. Harry returned her smile and lifted her hand so that her palm faced upright before he reached into his pocket and placed the small gift into her open hand. "Happy Christmas, Gin."
Ginny closed her hand around the present and brought it closer to her so that she could unwrap it.
He felt his nerves spike as he watched her unwrap it. A sheen of sweat started to form at the base of his neck.
Ginny tore away one end of the paper, before she poured to contents into her open hand.
Out came a beautiful brooch necklace. It was another Potter family heirloom that had been passed down for generations. It had been left for Harry in his vault and he had found it in there two years earlier.
It was also a silent way for Harry to tell her that he loved her.
But Ginny didn't need to know that part just yet.
"Oh, Harry…" Ginny breathed, as she started at the necklace in her hand. Her voice was filled with emotion. But it was still difficult for Harry to tell what exactly she was thinking.
"It's a Potter family heirloom," Harry explained.
Ginny's eyes snapped to his, her gaze wide. "Harry, there is no way that I can accept this."
Harry's eyes softened and he leaned forward to kiss her cheek softly. When he pulled back, he smiled at her warmly. "I want you to have it."
Then he reached forward to grab the necklace from her hands before he got up onto his knees behind her. He pulled her hair out of the way and onto her shoulder before he wrapped the necklace around her neck. He fastened the clasp at the end before letting it fall gracefully against her collarbone.
Harry shuffled back down to his seat before he appraised her with his gaze. "It looks beautiful on you."
And it really did. The gold of the necklace was in stunning contrast to her red hair.
But one look at Ginny's expression told Harry that she was overwhelmed by the gift, and Harry couldn't help but wonder if he gave her too much too soon.
"Well, now I feel guilty," She finally said, as she fiddled with the chain around her neck.
Harry frowned slightly, confused. "Why do you feel guilty?"
Ginny sighed as she reached behind her for a wrapped present that she placed in her lap. She sighed again as she eyed the present before she handed it over to him. "About the present that I got you…"
Harry reached up and grabbed the gift from her. It was in the shape of a box.
He slowly unwrapped the gift while he watched Ginny fidget out of the corner of his eye, wondering at what about the gift made her feel so guilty.
When all of the paper was gone, Harry lifted the box.
It was a dark, greyish-blue sweater.
Harry lifted it out of the box and marveled at how soft the fabric felt. It was obviously made from quality, expensive material. And Harry knew right then that Ginny had to have spent a lot of her savings on this sweater for him...
"When I bought it," Ginny started to explain, "I thought that you would like to have more clothes that actually fit you, rather than all those hand-me-downs that you got. Of course, this was before you came home and your parents already gave you a closet full of new clothes, so-"
Harry cut her off as he leaned forward to give her a short, but sweet, kiss. "Gin, I love it."
"You do?" Ginny asked, uncertain.
Harry nodded and held the sweater up to his torso. "Yeah, I think I'll wear it on our next date to Hogsmeade. Gotta look nice so that my girlfriend still has interest in me and doesn't suddenly find me unattractive."
Ginny threw her head back and laughed her infectious laugh. "Harry, you could wear a paper bag and have hair as greasy as Snape's, and I would still find you attractive. But it's still a nice thought that you want to look nice for me."
Harry opened his mouth to respond with a witty remark, but was interrupted by a beeping alarm coming from the kitchen.
His mum and Mrs. Weasley perked up. "That will be breakfast!"
The twins and Ron shot up out of their seats at the news that food was ready and ran for the door right behind Lily and Mrs. Weasley.
Harry and Ginny laughed as Harry stood and offered his hand to Ginny to help her stand. She took it and he pulled her up. They walked hand in hand to the dining room where everyone was eagerly waiting to fill their plates…
As they sat down at the table together, Harry looked around at the cheerful faces of the people he loved and couldn't help but think that this was the happiest he has ever been.
….
The Weasley's left later that night, much to Harry's disappointment.
He felt that he had finally opened a new door in his relationship with Ginny and he was looking forward to exploring more.
He loved sleeping in the same bed as her.
He loved waking up and finding her there with him.
He loved her body and the feeling of her bare skin flush against his.
Overall, he just loved her.
And it was hard to spend time apart from her when they had only just explored new territory the night before.
It was difficult to say goodbye as they stood by the fireplace. Ginny had been waiting for her turn at the Floo, deliberately letting everyone else in her family go before her.
"It'll only be a week…" Ginny half-heartedly tried to reassure him. "Come January 2nd, we'll be back on the Hogwarts Express and we'll see each other every day."
Harry grumbed. "I know… I'll just miss you, is all."
Ginny smiled up at him at that, before looking around to make sure that her parents were gone before she leaned up to press her lips against his.
The kiss lingered but was pretty tame compared to the kisses they've shared when they were alone.
They heard wolf-whistles coming from Sirius, which had Remus laughing.
Ginny pulled back at the noise and Harry had to resist flashing a rude hand gesture at his Godfather for the interruption.
"I'll miss you, too." She said, before his dad returned and escorted her through the Floo.
As soon as she disappeared through the green flames, Harry let out a sigh. Only seven more days before he could see her again.
He wondered if he could somehow convince her to find a private compartment on the train where they could snog and Harry could explore her breasts again…
Harry rolled his eyes at himself with a small smile. Merlin, he was becoming obsessed with her tits… not that he really blamed himself. They were really something.
He shook himself of the thought, before he had a chance to get turned on by the turn his mind had taken. Instead he turned to Sirius and Remus.
"So, what do we do now?" Harry asked them.
Remus shook his head tiredly. "The full moon is tomorrow, so I have to rest. Padfoot and Prongs will be joining me tomorrow night."
Harry found his interest piqued. "Really?"
Padfoot nodded eagerly. "This will be the second time we've gone out with him since returning from the dead. It's been just like old times…"
Harry grinned at them before running across the room to get the book that Sirius had given him. He grabbed it and turned to face his Godfather. "You think that I can join you, someday?"
Sirius looked excited but also regretful. "It takes a long time to become an animagus. It's definitely a process, for sure. But I think you should definitely try starting it now. It will give you something to go over with your parents, Remus and me to get your mind off of Miss. Weasley."
Harry rolled his eyes before saying, "I think that I'm up to the challenge."
The green flames from the fireplace roared to life just then and his dad stepped through.
"Dad," Harry called as he held up the book for his father to see, "What animagus form do you think I will be?"
His dad came closer, took one look at the book, before her perked up in excitement. "A stag, most definitely!"
….
Harry fell into bed hours later. He had a Mandrake leaf magically glued to the bottom of his tongue - as was part of the process to becoming an animagi.
His dad had been in the middle of explaining that he had to keep the Mandrake leaf in his mouth for an entire month until the next full moon, when his mum had walked in and overheard the conversation.
She hadn't exloded at his father like Harry would have thought. But she did seem concerned at the idea of Harry becoming an illegal animagi.
"Don't you think that he's too young…?" His mum asked, worry in her voice as well as her face.
His dad waved off her concern. "Lily Flower, Harry can do this. In fact, it will help him in the war when the time comes. He'll be able to hide in plain sight since people won't know about him being an animagi."
The pride and assurance that his dad had in him made Harry feel as though he could do anything. His mum had relented after that and even gave her own tips on what she had read on the subject.
He didn't deserve them.
But now, he was exhausted. For obvious reasons, he didn't get very much sleep the night before - though he wouldn't trade the experience for the hours of lost sleep. In fact, if Ginny were here, he would gladly give up more hours of rest in favour of spending time exploring with her…
Harry smiled at the thought, wondering if Ginny was sitting in her own bed at the Burrow, thinking about him, too.
And it was with thoughts of Ginny touching herself to fantasies of him, where Harry found himself falling giving in to his exhaustion…
…..
It was dark.
Cold.
So cold…
Harry had never felt so cold.
He shivered, tucking his knees in toward his body to try and keep any semblance of warmth within him.
He was still half asleep, but the cold kept him partially awake so that he was teetering on the thin line between sleeplessness and unconsciousness.
His subconscious screamed at him to open his eyes. Warned him that the cold meant that there was danger near.
But Harry's eyes were so heavy… so tired. Until finally, he fell. Into the abyss. Into a nightmare that was just as cold as his body currently was.
Harry was now falling into a black pit, the wind whipped at him from the resulting fall, causing his shivering to increase tenfold. The bottom of the pit seemed to be nonexistent because it felt as though Harry had been falling for years.
And yet, Harry couldn't scream. He had lost the ability to even speak. Instead, he suffered in complete silence - the only sound coming from the wind that whipped against his body as he continued to fall.
'Please,' Harry thought desperately, not even daring to hope that anyone could hear his pleading thoughts. 'Please, someone, help me!'
A large, dark hand made of thorns shot out and plucked him out of the air, stopping his fall. The thorns cut into his sides from where it wrapped around him. His cry of pain could not be heard.
Harry struggled against the hold, desperate for freedom and warmth - but they felt like a distant memory now.
"You have dug your own grave, Harry Potter…" A hiss of a voice echoed all around him, sounding as cold as he felt.
The hand of thorns let him go and he fell a short distance before he landed on cold, hard dirt.
Somehow, he automatically knew without anyone having to tell him, that this dirt belonged in a graveyard. The very earth that he was laying on was the soil that covered the coffins of the deceased.
He was quiet. Still. Hoping upon hope that this nightmare would somehow end.
A hand punched out from beneath the dirt, rotting flesh poorly concealing the grime coated bone. Harry jumped back in absolute terror, his mouth open in a silent scream.
He tried to get away. But he was too slow. The hand grabbed his ankle at the last possible moment and started to drag his body backward, pulling him into the ground that lay beneath the headstone.
Harry dug his fingers into the soil, trying to postpone the inevitable. Desperately clawing his way to hopeless freedom.
But his efforts were fruitless. Only his head was above the earth now and as he looked up, his last look at the headstone, and it read:
Here Lies Harry James Potter.
The corpse dragged him under.
….
Harry gasped as he shot up in his bed, his hands up clawing at his face to try and remove the nonexistent dirt. His lungs contracting as he heaved in mouthfuls of air.
After a moment of finding nothing on his face, Harry let out a shuddering breath. "I-It was just a dream…"
"You have dug your own grave, Harry Potter," A voice broke the quiet of his dark, silent room.
Harry froze. It wasn't just any voice… It was the voice from his dream, sounding as cold and dead as it did in his head.
He whipped his head around, trying to find the source… but the voice echoed so he had no way of telling where the voice originated from…
Until his eyes caught it - on a dark, shadowed corner on the far end of his room.
There was someone - something standing there.
Without breaking his gaze from the threat, Harry reached for his wand that he knew was on his bedside table… only to feel nothing but the smooth wood finish of the tabletop.
Harry's eyes widened in panic now, knowing that he had no plausible way of defending himself.
It was as this daunting realization struck him when the figure stepped forward, out of the cornered shadow.
Fear froze him, originating at the pit of his chest that clutched tight at his throat.
It… It was the creature! The one that he saw in Hogsmeade when on his date with Ginny!
It was just as hideous and horrifying as he had remembered it. The tattered cloak it wore poorly concealed all the rotting flesh and bone that lay beneath. It's eyes were black… hallow… dead looking. The only resembling thing that he could compare it to were the Dementors. But even they weren't as horrific to look at as the thing that stood in front of him.
"You have stolen from me, Harry Potter," The creature hissed in that same echoing voice that resounded and caused his eardrums to throb.
Harry balked at the accusation, his face drained of all the colour that had previously resided in his flushed cheeks. "St-Stole? I-I've never stolen anything."
"Lies…" The voice hissed as the creature sulked forward in a very disjointed sort of walk. Coming closer to him, Harry could hear what could only be described as the rattling of bones hitting together.
Gathering all of the courage that he was capable of, Harry tried to hold himself firm. "What are you talking about? I don't even know who or what you are!"
The creature stopped at the foot of his bed before it was suddenly right beside him, a hand of bone was already clutching Harry's wrist and Harry watched in horror as his hand started to dissolve until it was a putrid green of rotted flesh.
"I am Death."
Harry cried out and snatched his hand away, holding his arm to his chest.
The moment his wrist was out of Death's grasp, his skin started to repair itself until his hand was back to normal.
He couldn't move. He was frozen to the spot. Staring in horror at the one thing no man has ever really been able to escape…
"Death…" Harry breathed, the realization dawning on him.
"You have cheated me, Harry Potter," Death responded to the acknowledgement, "And what has been taken, must be replaced..."
The air in his lungs was suddenly sucked out of him as he realized what Death was referring to… "Merlin, no…"
"Merlin cannot help you, Harry Potter," Death responded, his bony hand reached out and traced along the skin of his exposed ankle, the flesh started to rot at the very touch. "I have warned you for many nights of what will come to pass, giving you the chance to return what you have stolen. But my warnings you did not heed."
It took a moment for Harry to understand. Warnings? He was never given any-
His thoughts cut off as the sudden realization came to him. "The nightmares… They all came from you?"
All those nights, watching the people that he loved die in horrific and painful ways… He had been right in thinking that something was causing them. He had even thought that Voldemort was sending him visions again through their linked connection.
But it hadn't been Voldemort at all. It had been something far, far worse.
"Yessss… Warnings, as a gesture of kindness to your ancestor, Ignotus Peverell," Death hissed before it wrapped it's grip around Harry's ankle. Harry could only watch in muted horror as his foot rotted away.
But it didn't extend beyond that. It didn't go up his leg or move on to claim the rest of his body. And after a moment, Death dropped the grip that it had on Harry's ankle, seeming to not be able to keep it up for much longer.
As soon as Death had let go, the skin of his foot restored itself to normal and Harry immediately tucked his feet as close to his body as possible.
Death looked at him, it's gaze emotionless.
"I cannot kill the living." Death explained, even though Harry hadn't asked. But the realization that his life was not actually on the line gave Harry a tremendous amount of relief. "But I can claim back what has already been mine."
Harry's eyes widened at the clear indication Death was referring to. It was clear in it's raspy, hissing voice. Harry had broken the rules by bringing them back, and now, Death has come to collect.
"No!" Harry cried out, no longer caring about his own fear for himself. "You can't take them!"
He was going to fight against this - this creature - this beast if it even considered getting close to his family. He would die to protect them! He couldn't lose them - not again!
"You have no choice in the matter," Death stated, emotionless. "I have been cheated out of three souls. The three souls must be repaid."
Harry couldn't believe that this was happening. He finally had a family. Parents that loved him and wanted to keep him, always. A Godfather that loved him just as much as his own parents did. They had all three died for him. And he had finally found a way to return the life to them as repayment for their sacrifices.
But the creature in front of him - Death - wanted to take all of that away from him.
It seemed that everything good was always taken from Harry eventually. It has happened all of his life.
But no.
Not this time.
He wouldn't allow it.
"A trade!" Harry blurted out, before the idea even fully formed in his mind. But he was desperate enough now to do just about anything to keep his family alive. Rational thinking and desperation didn't go hand in hand.
"A trade?" Death asked, seeming to be rather intrigued by the prospect. And deep within Harry's desperation sparked hope from the slightest sign of that intrigue. "Which three souls would you give in exchange for your family?"
Thinking quickly without considering the repercussions first, Harry shook his head. "Not three souls. Just one."
Death scoffed and actually looked offended. "You think that you can cheat me out of three souls for one?"
Harry swallowed the bile in the back of his throat thickly, before he nodded firmly.
"I will deliver you the soul of Tom Riddle. In exchange for the souls of James Potter, Lily Potter, and Sirius Black. If you think that I have cheated death, Tom Riddle has cheated death many times over with his Horcruxes."
The room was silent, the air still. Harry remained frozen, waiting on bated breath as he stared Death right in the eye. Pleading with his gaze for Death to take the deal. He was desperate enough not to care that if the deal was struck, then Harry would have to see through the darkest deed any person would have to do…
He would have to kill.
But for his family, Harry knew that he would be strong enough to do it. It only made it easier that the man he would have to kill was Voldemort - who had committed more atrocities that Harry could even count.
Who had caused his parents to die in the first place...
Though actually killing Voldemort wouldn't be all that easy, either. Harry would have to find and destroy all of the Horcruxes, first.
Suddenly, Death's grip was on his wrist once again. Severe pain burned at Harry's skin from the touch which had Harry crying out in agony. A great gust of wind blew through the room and a blackish fog filled the confined space.
Crows flew out from within the fog, their obnoxious caws piercing Harry's eardrums.
"You have until your Eighteenth birthday to deliver me Tom Riddle's soul," Death's voice resounded as the fog started to overcome it. "If it has not been delivered by that time, I will come to collect the souls of James Potter, Lily Potter, and Sirius Black before the witching hour has passed that night."
Death let go of it's grip on Harry's wrist just as the black fog completely overcame it. As soon as the fog had engulfed Death, it started to dissipate, the crows flapping all over the room flew straight into the dark fog, their cawing disappearing as soon as they were submerged within it.
Then, the wind stopped just as the fog vanished, taking Death with it.
Harry was left in an empty room. With an empty silence.
Was it all a dream?
Harry whipped his head over to his nightstand table and there his wand sat, sitting undisturbed since he had previously put it there.
Had it even been real?
But then his eyes caught it, out of the corner of his eye…
Harry looked down to his wrist, the very one that Death had in it's very clutches. And there was a new scar there that hadn't been there before…
The outline of the scar had Harry sucking in his breath.
The deal had been struck, the time limitation has already started to count down…
Because the shape of the scar...
It was of an hourglass.
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A/N: Hello, everyone! Make sure you tell me what you think! I love reading your reviews and they motivate me to write faster! :)
Thanks again for all of your support!
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