Author's Note: Hello to everyone. First of all thank you very much for taking time and reading this fic. Also, thanks to everyone who have left kudos and bookmarked the story. It means a lot. Here is the next chapter for you awesome guys. I hope you all enjoy it! Happy reading!

I don't own Harry Potter; it solely belongs to J.K. Rowling!


Harriet opened her eyes to find herself in an unknown, yet strikingly familiar train station. The white colour, too blinding, seemed to stretch in all directions; as far as the eyes could see. She observed her surroundings as she moved, everything looking eerily like the heaven version of Kings Cross Station. What was this place? Was this Heaven or Hell? All her thoughts stopped swirling in her head as Harriet's gaze landed on the most dangerous person she'd seen in her life.

The person was tall about 7 or 8 foot, wearing black robes; so black it seemed to suck the whole universe within him. A scythe was held in his left hand by long fingers. His skin was pale and jet-black eyes; eyes that seemed to witness eternity crumble down to shreds. The person looked at her with a kind smile adorning his contrasting features and Harriet was sure not many people would have seen him smile.

"Hello, Harriet Potter! I'm Death your faithful servant and you're my new Mistress."

Her eyes widened like saucers as Harriet's mind tried to get a gist of the whole situation.

"WHAT? You're Death! And I'm your Mistress, but...but how? Am I dead or alive? Where are we?"

"For your first two questions, yes I'm Death and you are now my mistress. As for your third question, you are neither alive nor dead. It can be your choice what you want to be."

"I..I don't understand."

"You Harriet Potter have the choice to return to the mortal plane once again or cross the veil of death and meet your loved ones on the other side."

"I have a choice? Why?"

"Because you acquired the three hallows during your lifetime and became my mistress. And for this reason, I'm bound to serve you until someone else acquires them- all three together."

"The Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone and the Elder Wand." She remembered them and was talking to herself.

"I had the first two, I know but I never had the Elder Wand. How can it be mine when it was with Voldemort?"

"Rather interesting and impressive question mistress." Death praised as they seated themselves in front of what looked like a cafeteria. He conjured some tea and snacks, pouring a cup for each. Without hesitation Harriet reached for some biscuits; the war had exhausted her quite a lot.

"The Elder Wand had its allegiance tied to Dumbledore but at the Astronomy Tower, it was Draco Malfoy who unarmed the old headmaster. At that moment Draco Malfoy overpowered Dumbledore and won the Elder Wand."

"And then I unarmed him at Malfoy Manor." Harriet said while Death nodded in agreement, "Yes my mistress and now we're here!"

"You said I can go back, right; back to the mortal world?"

"Yes, you can go back to your own time or the time before that." Death informed her still that smile on his face; it was a smile that usually parents gave to their curious children.

"I can go back in the past too?" Harriet asked with wide eyes as various possibilities and scenarios started running in her head.

"Yes."

"So, do you mean I have a chance to change what happens in my present; a chance to stop the war?" She asked in a very determined voice.

"Yes. You can go back in the past and stop the war by killing Tom Riddle when he was a child. Or you can go back in the past and try to change the events which ultimately led to this destruction." Death informed her casually.

"I don't want to kill him." She said hurriedly. "I can never have that power over anyone, let alone a defenceless child." At her answer Death smiled.

"Yes, but if you give me permission, I would like to give you some advice." Death asked humbly.

"Please go on." She replied politely.

"Time isn't a one-dimensional entity and it flows in every other direction. To play with it just doesn't open many opportunities but lots of troubles too. If I were you, I would go back to the time and change track before the original prophecy was made; a change that could stop this war. Understand this mistress it's not your responsibility to save everyone's life. It never was." Death finished. He words spoken were obviously very well thought and came from experience.

"Meaning I shouldn't go back to Tom's childhood and try to befriend him or change his heart or something like that?" Harriet asked with furrowed brows.

"Tom Riddle is a complicated person, Mistress. His childhood wasn't exactly normal. I daresay his childhood was much like yours, so even if you try to befriend him or change him during his Hogwarts years, I'm not absolutely sure his character would change."

"I'm getting confused Death. What do you suggest we do then?"

"I mean to say that if he is given a push at the peak of his power, he may listen. You'll have to lure him to listen to you because as much as I loathe admitting, that man has done a pretty good job at avoiding me. When he is at the highest point of power, he'll do anything to assure that his kingdom doesn't fall apart. I think here you'll have a greater chance." Death explained calmly.

"Meaning time travel back to the past when he was already leading the war to be won?"

"Yes."

"And what year is that?"

"The time when your parents were at Hogwarts." Death informed her in a careful voice.

Of course, Harriet could just tell him her final decision and Death would have to follow her command. But what he said was also true. And if Harriet went back to the 1930s, there was a chance that Tom Riddle to find another way to immortality which could lead to the same bloodshed or maybe worse. So the best plan was to steer him when he already made his Horcruxes because he will do something to protect them rather than killing others; of this Harriet was sure.
She also thought of meeting her parents and how could she save them and others, if not all. It was worth a shot.

"How are my parents?" She rarely asked anything about her parents but right now seemed to be an important time to ask about their well-being.

"They are all very well, Mistress and constantly worry about you. Lily Potter has been one of the kindest and wisest souls I have had the pleasure to meet though your father and godfather still have their playful jabs intact. They love you as much as you love them." Death gave Harriet a moment to collect herself.

"If I fail in this task, then?" She asked.

"Then we can go to back to 1930s or cross the veil, as you wish. Do remember Mistress, you are not bound to save anyone."

"Maybe I am, maybe I am not. But knowing that Voldemort is still out there slaughtering people for no purpose makes me already feel responsible because unfortunately I am the only one who knows him inside out and I know how his mind works." Harriet said exasperatedly. Death observed the woman sitting in front of him. He had seen the life she had struggled with, the humans who used her, the pain she went through yet how bravely she faced everything that wasn't her problem in the first place; Death had chosen his mistress well.

"Okay! This seems to be a shortcut but I'm willing to try."

"Very well Mistress. I will always be a command away in case you need any help." Death replied in a very formal voice. "Also, Mistress, be wary of Dumbledore. The man has eyes and ears everywhere in Hogwarts."

"I will. My identity?" Harriet asked.

"I don't think your identity will be a problem in your task." Death informed her with a smile that held a secret only he understood.

"I'm ready. Please tell my parents and godfathers that I love them." Harriet spoke with sincerity in her eyes.

"I will gladly pass on your message, Mistress. Good luck in your adventures." He was about to leave when Harriet shouted,

"Death, wait! Last question. Am I still his Horcrux?"

"Yes, you are, because you didn't really get killed, did you?"

With those parting words, the too blinding white light dimmed as Harriet opened her eyes to find herself in a muggle alley.