Fate's Ripple
Chapter 6; The Immutable
Ghostly Realm
"Yes, Death?" Death asked with a smirk.
Harry actually growled at the cocky git but Death seemed unfazed by any irritation in Harry's expression. "What the hell just happened to me?"
"I think you garnered the interest of Christopher Halliwell." Death told him bluntly. "And since I don't fear your wrath I'd have to say that you've developed quite the crush on him."
"You're an irritating old man." Harry told him bluntly.
"But I'm an old man that speaks the truth." Death told him. "I told you when you first became an Angel of Death that you'd have to face up to all the parts of life that a normal mortal goes through. Your involvement with Christopher Halliwell is part of destiny. It was not clear to even the Angels of Destiny why it was needed but it is required all the same."
"So I have no choice in the matter?" Harry asked.
"After all this time as Death and you still ask that question." Death chuckled. "We all appear to have a choice in everything but yet we all choose the way it must run out anyway."
Harry gritted his teeth. "I don't think Chris is going to see it that way."
"He made the choice to kiss you." Death told him.
"You were watching?" Harry asked.
"I learnt of it across the Pull." Death assured him. "Come now, we can't do anything about your growing feelings but we do have work to do. The time is near where the Ripple of Fate will near the edge of her determination. And your presence is required when Christopher Halliwell meets Our Whisperer."
"What are you going to do?" Harry asked.
"Listen to the distortions and see if I can find out what the Deviant is planning next." Death told him. "Speak to the Charmed Ones and warn them that things are about to pick up again."
"No short list then." Harry surmised.
"It never is." Death vanished from the Ghostly plain and Harry took one last look around the deserted bedroom of Christopher Halliwell before transporting himself through time and space to the next place he was needed.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
He reappeared silently and invisibly in the middle of a street during the repeat of the same day he'd already lived through. It was technically the morning before he'd talked to Chris but that didn't matter to him.
He looked across the street and felt the Pull attract him to a man in his mid forties lying on the ground between two paramedics. This was the way to die, with people trying to save you. Harry looked to his side at the man in the simple white robe and smiled.
"What's happening?" The man frowned.
"Hello Frank." Harry greeted without answering.
"Am I dead." Frank stared at his body in awe.
"Yes."
"I have a strange feeling that I've done this before." Frank told him. "Those two there?" He pointed off to the watching crowd just as the paramedic declared him dead. Harry looked over and saw Tru standing with Jack, the Echo.
"You told them to save Nadine Casola." Harry told him calmly. "They have the power to relive days to correct small mistakes."
"Can they save her?" Frank asked.
"Tru will." Harry smiled at him. "You wanted to stay to save Nadine and by telling Tru you have done just that."
"Will you make sure?" Frank asked, unconcerned by his own fate."
"That's my job." Harry told him. "Come, you have another place to be now." Harry took the man's hand in his own and an instant later they were in an empty street standing before the vortex. Harry walked through it with Frank and let his presence at his side smooth over the transition before he returned to the mortal world.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Later that day
Harry watched quietly as Tru and Jack ran across the front lawn of the house where Nadine was trying to kill herself. He knew that this would be where Tru found out the difference between them. She'd discovered Jack's identity as another like herself on the first time this day had played out but she was about to discover that his purpose was completely different to her own.
"We're too late." Jack told her simply.
"I have to see for myself." Tru told him. Jack grabbed her arm as she tried to run passed him.
"Why are you being like this?" Jack asked though Harry doubted he was genuinely curious.
"I'm trying to do my job!" Tru told him as she tried to break away from him.
"So am I." Jack told her. That was the cinch of it to Harry. He was on neither of their sides as long as they were doing what they should be but he was more on Tru's side in the fact that he was here to protect her from Jack since he had been twisted in his own views of this fight between Ripple and Echo. He'd been manipulated by Tru's father and while his actions wouldn't normally be construed as evil the Echo was always seen that way. He was here to make Tru see that the Echo was as vital to the grand scheme of things as she was.
"You don't want to save her!" Tru realised in shock. "You want her to die! So help me god, if you don't let go of me!"
"Tru!" Jack tried to get her attention. "Tru, would you just listen to me! Nadine Casola is supposed to die. Why should you change that?"
"Because somebody asked me to!" Tru snapped trying to break away again. "Because I can!"
Jack readjusted his position to block her attempts at escape once more before arguing back. "That's not good enough. You have no idea what you're doing! If you save someone who shouldn't be here then they'll be consequences!"
"You think I'm messing up some Grand Plan?" Tru almost seemed to mock him. "Maybe I am the plan? If somebody needs my help then I'm not going to just stand by and watch!"
"Then I'm not going to stop you." Jack suddenly acquiesced and took a step to the side to let her go. Tru ran passed him and around the building. "This time."
Harry watched him as Tru ran off before deciding that he was too much of a risk. The Ripple and Echo were both out of Destiny's control when it came to their decisions. It was the only way that they could work and it concerned Harry that Jack might decide to do something extreme to win his side of the argument. Harry plunged the area into shade as if the sun had just been blotted out and Jack looked up at the still brightly burning sun in shock.
"You think you're the plan?" Harry asked harshly in his ear still invisible. Jack shot around.
"Who's there?" Jack gasped as he felt extreme cold fill every part of his body.
"You can't touch her or you'll face my wrath." Harry warned and this time let his body flicker into a visible image of a cloaked man. He forewent using his magic to give himself a scythe viewing that as a bit cliché, for now that is.
"Who are you?" Jack fell back onto the ground in shock staring at where Harry's image had flashed.
"I am forever." Harry told him in a whisper from his ear. "I am always, you are but a moment in its passing. Don't ever try to defy me."
Harry didn't bother to see if he'd react to that one. He'd let Jack stew on it for a while happy in the knowledge that Jack was fearful of repercussions. It may not last forever but it was a good enough scare for the time being. Harry transported himself around the building to Tru and looked down gently at the dying Nadine barely conscious in a patio chair.
He reached out to the pull and knew that Nadine wouldn't need his help in passing on to the beyond. Tru had done her job and protected the Grand Design as far as this went but her real battle was about to begin and it was vital that she won so that she could be there for Harrison when it was time for his own role to come into play.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Mount Everest
Harry decided to stand guard over the world for the rest of what remained of the day. He couldn't use the day, a repeat one, to speak to the Charmed Ones since even now he was telling Chris to take Melinda Gordon as a charge. He listened to all the death in the world and the few out of those that Death was required to respond to. He could have stood there indefinitely on vigil over the mortals but it wasn't necessary this time. Just as Death was taking a soul from China into the beyond Harry felt the magic that he had started to hate with his entire being.
He traced the feeling of an upcoming death all the way to England and knew through the Pull that it wasn't meant to be. Harry's world flashed white as the Angels of Destiny tore him into their realm. "Stop them!" She told him. "She can not be permitted to die even if another must fall in her stead!"
Harry transported himself back to the normal realm and arrived in Diagon Alley completely undetected. He felt the Pull straining to give him information even as Destiny was being rewritten to compensate for what was happening. The being, for he couldn't really be called a Mortal anymore, was rippling with power and he stank of the Deviant. The Wizard raised a crackling wand and a blast of magic struck the front doors of Gringotts Bank and blew them inwards.
"Stop this!" Harry shouted without becoming visible to the Deviant's Wizard or the mortal Wizards trying to stop him. "None are meant to die here."
"I care little for that!" The Wizard spat without taking his eyes off of the Wizards before him. "My Master is all knowing, he knows what must be done to save this planet. With every death and soul collected he becomes more powerful until he is able to escape from his prison and then nothing will be able to stop him."
Silence smothered the battle field and Harry crossed it in an instant to stand behind the Deviant's Wizard. "But what will become of you when that happens? Do you really think he will have a place at his side for a simple Wizard like you?"
"I will be his second in command!" The Wizard demanded.
"Nigel Haer, you are doomed for eternity and you know it." Harry hissed.
Nigel growled and a surge of magic welled up from him and flung itself towards the Wizards but particularly Hermione Weasley. Harry knew it was the Deviant that had sent the spell using Nigel as a conduit but Harry couldn't let it strike. He transported himself across the battle and became visible to them. He sent the magic of Eternal Death back at the spell but it only slowed it down. The spell struck him in the chest but instead of vanishing like he expected it too he felt his chest scream in pain as all of his ribs were shattered. Harry felt his eyes blur even as he cried out in pain.
The Deviant had become powerful enough to hurt even Death but to everyone there it was just the ghost of Harry Potter being maimed. Harry forced himself up knowing that he couldn't die just from a spell like this. Only the Deviant himself had ever killed Death. Nigel didn't look so good either. Blood was pouring from his nose, mouth, ears and eyes as the toll of channelling such powerful magic through his mortal body tore him apart.
"Harry!" Hermione cried as she shouldered passed the other Wizards and threw herself at Harry. Harry shifted out of this dimension slightly even though it strained his powers and her hands flitted straight through him.
He felt another up welling of magic and Nigel's victorious smirk turned into one of horror. "No, Master! You'll kill me!" Nigel cried as he sagged to his knees though that wouldn't stop the strike.
Harry drew himself up but could feel everything in the Pull telling him that he couldn't jump in front of another one of those blasts. Somebody else would have to die to protect Hermione. A lot of things happened in the next few seconds and Harry took them all in. The Deviant's blast struck out at Hermione even as a cloud of orbs erupted across the battle field as the Charmed Ones appeared along with Wyatt and Chris Halliwell. Two people died then. The Deviant's Wizard was utterly obliterated, both body and soul and Ron Weasley died as he dived in front of his wife to sacrifice himself to save her.
"Death!" Harry called out weakly as he clutched his maimed chest but Death was already standing at his side amidst the chaos around them.
"I'll deal with his soul." Death told him quietly. "Go to the Angels."
"Your hurt!" Piper Halliwell was staring at him in shock.
Harry drew himself up to face them all and knew he was in a horrid state by their shocked faces. "Now you understand the power we face." He told them quietly before vanishing from the mortal realm.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Grandview
Harry watched invisibly as Andrea dolefully wandered about the shop. It was closed for the morning and a sign on the door said that because of Andrea's death Melinda was busy. Chris had already shown once but seeing it was closed and left, probably choosing to come back later.
Harry sat himself in one of the chairs and Andrea tried to lift a small teddy bear from the counter. "I'm going to miss this." She muttered to herself.
"People always miss the strangest things." Harry told her simply suddenly appearing where he sat. Andrea turned slowly to stare at him without the fright and fear she would have if she was still alive. "But you won't once you're there."
"Is it really like Melinda describes it?" Andrea asked.
"The Beyond?" Harry asked and received a nod. "Melinda is among the living, she cannot fully comprehend the Beyond. To her it is everything she has dreamed it would be. For the dead it is more than they could ever dream about."
Andrea watched him suspiciously. "I told Melinda I'd cross over and I can see the light and everything but I don't want to leave her all alone."
"You're amongst the dead now, Andrea." Harry told her. "The concerns of the living aren't for you to worry about."
"You're supposed to be Death right?" Andrea narrowed her eyes.
"Supposedly." Harry chuckled.
"Then you're supposed to know when everyone is supposed to die?" Andrea asked.
Harry, knowing where this was going, interrupted her next question. "It isn't in Melinda's destiny to die now. And she won't die before an Heir is born to carry on her legacy."
"That sounds so cold." Andrea told him bluntly. Harry smiled at her without reacting and she sighed out. "It was you that scared Melinda and I last week wasn't it. Did you know I was going to die?"
"It was your destiny." Harry told her simply.
"Why?" Andrea asked.
"I'm sorry, Andrea, but the Grand Design is far too complicated for a mortal to understand. Every person's life is affected by every other living thing on the planet. To change the Grand Design, even through simple knowledge of it's actions can have disastrous effects on every living thing on this planet." Harry told her simply.
"Will Melinda be ok, now that I'm gone?" Andrea asked worriedly.
"She'll be fine." Harry told her simply as he stood. "We've sent somebody to guard her for the time being."
"Will I be able to watch her?" Andrea paused. "And my brother?"
"For as long as you want." Harry held out his hand and Andrea took it.
"Could you tell her I crossed over and tell her I love her?" Andrea asked. "Could you ask Jim to watch out for her in my place?"
"Don't worry, Andrea." Harry smiled as he slipped them smoothly into the Ghostly Plain. "I'll tell her."
"And tell her I'll watch over her?" Andrea asked just as the Vortex burst into existence. Harry just smiled at her before they walked through the Vortex together.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Grandview - that evening
He'd collected three souls between taking Andrea to the beyond and returning to Grandview. He was meant to have talked to the Charmed Ones to warn them that they expected the Deviant to step up his attacks but with what had happened in Diagon Alley he saw little point in that now. He fully expected to be summoned at some point.
Melinda was leaning on the counter in her shop looking rather miserable as she stared out of the window at the repair crews replacing windows after the airplane crash rather than working on her paperwork. Harry adjusted his image so he appeared wearing the normal black clothing of Death before becoming visible to her. "Hey, my Whisperer." He spoke quietly and she snapped her head to the side to look after him where he sat in one of the antique chairs.
"Hi." She said after a few moments of silence as she tried to find something to say. "Andrea's gone."
"I know. I took her to the Beyond." Harry told her simply.
"I didn't think you'd have to." She frowned. "Are you always there when I help somebody crossover?"
"No." Harry shook his head. "We help people crossover or force them. When you convince somebody to go willingly you smooth their passing and make our role pointless."
"Then why did you take Andrea?"
"For two reasons. She lingered because she was scared for you being on your own without her." Harry told her quietly. "And secondly as a favour to you. So that you would know that she was safely with her parents on the other side. I think lately she's managed to prove to a little boy that she was never really blind."
Melinda looked surprised and confused at the last comment before evidently remembering the small boy ghost she'd helped crossover that she'd left with Andrea even though Andrea hadn't been able to see or hear him. Melinda had told the boy, who hadn't known he was dead, that Andrea was blind and that's why she never looked directly at him.
"Will she be happy?"
"I'd imagine so." Harry shrugged. "She told me to tell you that she loves you and asked me to tell Jim to look after you in her place."
"Jim will like that." Melinda commented. "Though maybe I should pass that along. You spooked him rather a lot when you patted him on the head. Even seeing you after the crash didn't help calm him down that much."
Harry laughed properly for the first time in months or even years and Melinda smiled at him. "What's it like? Being Death."
Harry smiled gently at her. "Death is everything. It is a hard concept to understand and a harder one to describe to another."
"Why are you here?" Melinda asked after a moment.
"You remember I told you about sending somebody to protect you?" Harry asked and received a nod. "He should be arriving soon and I thought I'd come and watch."
"Watch what?" She frowned.
Harry grinned. "Just keep an open mind."
"What? Is he some strange creature of something?" She asked trying to make a joke.
"I'm sure he'd appreciate that." Harry glanced to the side and Melinda followed his gaze to the door just as a rather scruffy looking Chris Halliwell opened the front door and walked in. When she looked back at the chair he was invisible again. Neither could see him but he hadn't moved from his relaxed position with one foot up on the other knee.
"Hi, can I help you?" Melinda asked neutrally. Obviously this five foot ten, twenty-two year old with messy brown hair and stubble wasn't what she was expecting. The baggy jeans and loose jacket probably didn't help much. She probably thought he was just a customer. Harry found himself smiling and smothered the expression with a neutral one as soon as he realised it was thanks to seeing Chris again.
"Yeah, I'm looking for Melinda Gordon. Is that you?"
"Uh…yeah. What can I do for you?" Melinda was obviously not going to just come out and ask if he was her protection.
"A friend suggested I come and talk to you." Chris evidently decided to be just as vague in case he was mistaken. Harry rolled his eyes and reached out to the radio flipping it on to the same English tune though without the screaming in the background. Melinda almost automatically shut it off but as she did two dolls leaning on the radio turned to look at her and then at Chris. Both jumped back and Melinda chuckled nervously. "Do things like that normally happen around here?" Chris continued with a raised eyebrow.
"Only when I'm having a bad day." Melinda rolled her eyes and slapped the heads of the dolls lightly with her hand. Harry couldn't resist but make them both look down at their laps.
"Chris Halliwell." Chris introduced himself and reached out with a hand to shake hers. She accepted it with a smile. "A friend told me you were expecting me."
"A rather sarcastic friend called Harry by any chance?" Melinda asked.
"I think somebody mentioned that was his name." Chris frowned trying to remember and Harry wasn't even sure if Chris knew about his name even if Harry had told him about being a Wizard the other day.
"Or the Angel of Death?" Melinda said going out on a limb.
"Ah, so you know more than I thought." Chris sighed with relief. "He told me to tell you everything I thought relevant but I wasn't sure how much you already knew."
"I know he's an Angel of Death and that I work for him by helping Ghosts deal with unfinished business before crossing over." Melinda told him.
"Sounds interesting." Chris chuckled before smiling. "Witch and part time protector at your service."
"Witch!?" Melinda looked rather shocked.
"You talk to ghosts and seem to have made an impression on the Angel of Death but you're shocked about meeting a Witch?" Chris asked in amusement.
"You mean, magic is real?" Melinda asked.
"Sure, why not?" Chris shrugged. "I suppose when you grow up in a family of Witches its hard to understand how shocking the concept can be."
"He warned me you were coming." Melinda muttered irritated. "But he could have at least warned me about the Witch thing."
"Is he here?" Chris asked. "I can see him at times but only when he wants us to."
"I was talking to him until you came through the door and I'm guessing from the puppet show he is still here." Melinda eyed the two puppets again and Harry stood up to take his leave. He moved to Chris' side and paused feeling an almost painful urge to kiss him but he restrained himself and sent a soft wind through the room even with all the windows closed.
"Look after her, Chris. Tell her about earlier so she understands." Harry whispered without becoming invisible. He didn't want to tempt fate.
"Are you ok?" Chris asked concerned.
"It's not strong enough to kill me…yet." Harry didn't know why he was honest enough to add the last part but some part of him wanted somebody to worry about him. Harry gave in partly to his desires and reached out to brush his hand across the back of Chris' hand before disappearing in a way that left no doubt he had left as the air stilled back to its natural movements.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
The next day
Harry walked into the café visible to all, but just one among the many other mortals that walked through the city. He found his target easily enough just by following the Pull. He knew that Harrison was to die today but his name wasn't on Harry's list. The name on the list was another in Tru's life. They'd reached the final battle between Ripple and Echo and a life had to be lost so that Harry could settle things once and for all.
Harry didn't have money for a cup of coffee but that didn't bother the man behind the counter who happily served him a cup before going about his other tasks and armed with a cup of coffee Harry sat himself down on the opposite side of the table from Harrison.
"You again?" Harrison asked rather impertinently.
"Huh?" Harry decided to play dumb. "Did you not want me to sit here?"
"Not really." Harrison told him.
"Ah, things with your sister got you confused?" Harry asked. "Or is it just me?"
"Both." Harrison grumbled. "Who the hell are you and what do you want with my sister?"
"I want to protect your sister from Jack." Harry told him bluntly.
"What do you know about Jack?" Harrison narrowed his eyes. "We noticed you appeared around the same time."
"Actually I was here a lot longer than Jack." Harry pointed out. "But lets go with me knowing that Jack is like you sister."
"So you want to protect her from him?" Harrison asked.
"And I want to protect Jack from her." Harry shrugged.
"What!?" Harrison tensed.
"Calm down, Harrison." Harry told him simply. "It's your sister at risk so I'm protecting her but if it was Jack at risk then I'd be protecting him."
"But Jack's evil. He's killing people." Harrison spat.
"People who were supposed to die." Harry told him.
"You sound like him." Harrison glared.
"Don't glare at me, Harrison." Harry shook his head. "Just because Tru believes she has to save everyone doesn't mean she actually should. Jack is right in that part."
"But Jack wants to kill them all!" Harrison was still glaring.
"But he won't manage it and if he does the day will simply repeat." Harry shrugged. "I'm going to tell you something again since you don't remember it from the last time. Your sister works for a higher power and it's them that controls whether she should succeed or not."
"Who does she work for?" Harrison asked.
"I'm not going to tell you that again."
"You told me the last time?" Harrison frowned. "Wait! The last time? When Davies died? You killed him!"
"No I didn't." Harry told him bluntly. "I might have set things in motion but he's still alive isn't he?"
Harry leaned back on his chair as Harrison continued to glare at him. "What are you?" Harrison finally asked.
"I didn't really handle it that well the last time." Harry told him. "Perhaps I should let you learn some other things first."
"I'm not sure I like you." Harrison pointed out.
Harry laughed properly once again taking Harrison by surprise. "And you went and told Tru that we were friends then first time we met."
"That's before you started doing strange things." Harrison pointed out. Harry leaned in and grinned at him.
"We all do strange things, Harrison. Even you."
"I'm normal actually." Harrison defended. "You have me confused with my sister."
"No, you're not." Harry told him "Your sister might be talented but she has no real power of her own. You on the other hand are actually more powerful than most other mortals. You just can't use that power."
"What is it?" Harrison didn't sound too convinced.
"It was nice talking to you again, Harrison." Harry stood up leaving half his cup of coffee on the table. "I'll see you tomorrow…or today really."
"You mean today will repeat?" Harrison asked but Harry had already slipped into the crowd and vanished.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
That evening
Harry transported himself to Harrison, his presence wasn't really necessary since this would repeat but he found himself wanting to be there for the man. He didn't kid himself with pretending that he and Harrison were friends but he also knew what their destiny was. Whereas his attraction to Chris had been a surprise it was already part of his destiny for Harrison to fall for Harry and Harry knew it would be reciprocated. For the time being though he was content to just watch the man and offer what help was needed.
Harrison was walking out of a house in the suburbs of the city. He'd gone to collect a boy he looked out for when he'd been caught shoplifting and given him a lift home. A man appeared at the end of the drive and before Harrison could realise what was happening he had a gun out and fired. Harrison gasped as he fell backwards onto the ground.
"I wouldn't stick around if I were you." Harry said simply in the man's ear letting his magic go to work. The man ran for it. Harry stayed with Harrison as the paramedics arrived but then transported himself to where Tru was. He stood on the second floor balcony and knew he looked every part the Angel of Death in front of the stained glass windows when Tru looked up during her wedding speech a few minutes later. She paused briefly as she saw him and recognised him and Harry figured that Harrison had told her about their conversation that morning.
She glanced down as Davis ran into the room and when she looked back up Harry was gone again. He reappeared in the hospital at Harrison's side for a moment and realised he wasn't alone. He glanced to the side half expecting to see Harrison though that shouldn't happen since Harrison wasn't meant to die. Instead of Harrison the ghostly image of Chris stood at his side.
Harry frowned at him before the Pull told him what was happening. Chris was watching this through his own eyes but that would only happen if Chris and Harrison were Soulmates. Even if Soulmates hadn't met they witnessed each others deaths. "Harry?"
"Chris."
"Is this a vision?" Chris asked.
"One of the present. Just watch." Harry vanished leaving Chris to watch his Soulmate feeling rather confused. Harry knew that he and Harrison had a future together and that he was attracted to Chris but this exclusion pained him more than he'd like to admit. There was nothing stronger than Soulmates and nothing could get between them, not even Death.
Harry left the room and appeared next to a man that he'd only seen once, ten years ago. Richard Davies, the man who had ordered the death of his own wife. He looked resigned but Harry knew he'd need to point something out to him to keep him out of this fight. He stepped out of the shadows in front of the man and suddenly they were alone in the previously busy hallway. The man went white as a sheet as he saw Harry.
"You….you can't be!" Richard gasped. "It's not possible."
"Death is inevitable. Nothing is impossible." Harry told him with a cold face. "You are aware that your son is about to die and you come to…gloat?"
"I came to make sure that Tru doesn't interfere." Richard told him.
"You!?" Harry mocked. "Who are you to decide who is meant to interfere? Only I, here, know who is supposed to die and who is not."
"He will be dead within half an hour and if Tru isn't there then the day won't repeat." Richard told him.
"Don't try to lecture me, mortal!" Harry snapped and took a step forwards suddenly towering over the man. "I am Death, I take their souls. You work for me. Harrison will not die here tonight and I'll warn you this once. I stood aside and let you murder your wife before saving your daughter but this time I will kill your protégée before I let him kill Tru."
"Tru isn't important enough for Death to be allowed to interfere." Richard told him pompously.
Harry glared and Richard recoiled. "It isn't Tru that must survive. It is Harrison and to do his part Tru must be there to help him through it. Do not get involved or I will banish you to hell."
"You can't do that!" Richard argued. Flames shot up all around them.
"Don't tempt me!" Harry smacked out with a hand and Richard found himself hitting the wall in the mortal realm thoroughly scared.
Tru was already in the hall though nobody had noticed the little scene. Harry walked over to her and watched her argue with a recently arrived Jack as Richard left to find the doctors.
Harry returned to find Chris still watching the fight for Harrison's life. "It's strange." Harry spoke quietly. "I remember standing watching doctors fight over my own body as I stood beside Death."
"Why am I here?" Chris asked, "That's not my body, how can I be dead?"
"You're not dead. Soulmates witness the death of their bonded." Harry told him.
"Soulmate? I've never even met him." Chris told him.
"I know but that means very little. You will soon."
"But he's dying." Chris pointed out.
"He isn't supposed to." Harry told him.
"You mean this is the Deviant's work?" Chris asked.
"No." Harry shook his head. "Harrison's sister works for Destiny to set things back into order when they are messed up. Harrison wasn't supposed to die so the day will reset with only her to know anything happened."
"So I won't remember this?" Chris asked.
"Yes, you will." Harry told him. "And Harrison will remember these moments because of it."
"I don't understand." Chris told him.
"Do you remember I told you that there were two people in this fight that couldn't defend themselves?"
"Melinda?" Chris nodded to show he remembered.
"And Harrison and his sister." Harry told them. "We have gone to great lengths to ensure that the Deviant cannot sense them for if he managed to kill Harrison we would stand no chance."
"What's so special about him?" Chris asked.
"If I tell you that then he will know and I can't afford that." Harry told him. "He will know of you when he awakens and know of this conversation. I would suggest one of your family comes to talk to him."
"I'll pass that along." Chris nodded at him before reaching out with a hand and grabbing Harry's own. Harry smiled at him but let go to walk to Harrison's side just as he flatlined. Tru ran into the room and the doctors tried to stop her.
"Talk to me! Talk to me Harrison!" She sobbed as she clutched at his chest. Harrison didn't move but Harry knew that he would. "You promised, Harrison. You always said that you'd ask. I'm right here, Har! Just ask me!"
She broke down completely and stroked at his hair just as Richard walked into the room with unerring calm. Harry looked up at him and became visible to him. Richard paled but spoke anyway. "Tru, sweatheart. Come on."
Tru looked to her father and was about to follow her out when Harry placed a hand on her shoulder. She felt it but didn't see him even if her father could. "Stay with him, Tru. Just a little longer."
"Tru…" Harrison gasped out but only Harry, Chris and Tru heard him. "You can't let him win."
Chris was released from the vision a moment before Harry was yanked out into the Ghostly Plain. Harry sighed in relief even though he had known it would be ok before he transported himself back into the mortal realm to where Tru was waking up with a gasp. "A little longer, Tru and you'll finally understand everything."
Tru heard the words and gasped out in relief as her best friend's voice spoke on the answering machine in perfect repetition of the hell of a day she had just been through.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Harry followed Tru to Harrison and felt relieved to see Harrison alive and well even though he knew he would be. She leapt on her little brother with great zeal and sobbed into his shoulder as he stared at her in shock.
"This is a repeat again isn't it?" Harrison asked. Tru nodded into his shoulder. "And I died didn't I?"
Tru actually looked up at him in surprise. "How did you know that?"
"I think I remember it." Harrison admitted. "I had this weird dream last night that seems too vivid."
"Maybe it was just a dream." Tru wondered with a bit of hope there.
"But why would I have it now of all days if I just died." Harrison looked thoughtful.
"Tell me about it." Tru prompted. "How do you think you died?"
"It looked like I was shot." Harrison told her. "Was I?"
She nodded. "I don't know how. Davis came to get me from the wedding and we went straight to the hospital. Still, that's not enough to assume it was right. Do you remember anything else?"
"Dad was there." Harrison glared out across the grass of the park he'd met his sister in. "He was asking you to leave the room with him."
"That's right. It was just before you asked me." Tru looked happy for the first time remembering that she had a chance to change this.
"I told you I would!" Harrison grinned at her. "I told you not to let him win."
"That's right." Tru looked convinced finally. "But why do you remember it? Were you hovering over your body or something?"
"Funny." Harrison rolled his eyes at her attempt at humour but let it slide since she had just seen him die. "I think Harry was there and he was talking to me, but I don't think it was me. I was somebody called Chris."
"Chris?" Tru frowned. "What did Harry and 'Chris' talk about?"
Harrison frowned and sat down on a bench with an explosive sigh. "I'll tell you what I remember but it seems so strange."
"Just tell me what you remember." Tru nodded. "Maybe we can finally work out who this Harry person is."
"Was he there?" Harrison asked.
"I think I saw him watching the wedding but then Davis walked in and I lost him." Tru told him. "I didn't see him at the hospital."
"He was there at the beginning and he greeted me as Chris and I asked if it was a vision and he told me it was one of the present and told me to watch and then I was alone just staring down at me and the doctors. I moved around the room a bit but it was like I was looking through somebody else's eyes." Harrison paused to collect his thoughts. "Harry came back and said he could remember watching doctors working to try to save him."
"Trying to save him?"
"I don't think I was shocked to hear that." Harrison put in wondering how somebody could so calmly talk about being killed. "Chris asked if he was dead since the body on the table wasn't himself."
"Which means it really was somebody else." Tru put in thoughtfully.
"Right." Harrison nodded. "I remember the next part really well. Harry said Chris was there because he and I were Soulmates and Soulmates always witness the death of the other. Chris said he'd never seen me before but Harry said that didn't matter and that we'd meet soon."
"So Harry seems to have known you were going to start another day." Tru pointed out. "That reminds me of all the times he's commented on it before."
"Exactly." Harrison nodded. "Chris pointed out I was about to die and Harry said I wasn't supposed to but then it got confusing. Chris said something about it being the Deviant's work or something like that but Harry said no and then said that you work for Destiny to set things back in order when they are messed up and that I wasn't supposed to die so the day will reset with only you to know anything happened."
"That's a different way of hearing it put but it does seem to match what Davis is always saying." Tru nodded.
"I have a strange feeling he's told me that before. Something about you working for him or something like that." Harrison frowned as if trying to recall some long forgotten memory. "Anyway, after that Harry told Chris that he would remember the vision and because he would, I would."
"Ok, so that kind of explains how you remember it but it doesn't explain who this Chris is." Tru stewed for a moment. "Or who Harry is."
"Ok, well then it got really weird. Harry asked Chris if he remembered two people that couldn't defend themselves 'in this fight'. Supposedly one of them is called Melinda and the others are you and me."
"What fight?" Tru asked.
"I have no idea." Harrison shook his head to clear it. "He said something like, 'We've taken great length to keep them hidden from the Deviant.'"
"We?" Tru asked.
"Yeah and I think the Deviant has something to do with this fight they were talking about." Harrison paused for a moment and turned square to look at Tru. "I can understand why you're special but not me. Chris asked but Harry refused to tell him because through Chris I'd learn it and he didn't want that to happen."
"Nor do I." Tru shook her head. "This is all new to me."
"The last thing I remember is Chris promising to get one of his family to come talk to me about it."
"Well, maybe we can get some answers out of them." Tru put in trying to be positive. "At least we can see if they know who this Harry is and if he's a danger to us."
"I really want to talk to this Chris." Harrison put in. "I mean…Soulmates?"
"The idea that two people are joined for eternity by their souls and complete each other." Tru lectured.
"I know what a Soulmate is." Harrison rolled his eyes and made Harry laugh. "But, come on, I've only ever liked one guy that way."
"I thought you'd forgotten about guys." Tru didn't seem shocked at this revelation and Harry figured she'd already know.
"I tried to after Spencer." Harrison frowned. "And lately I haven't even been attracted to anyone."
Harry reached out to the Pull but it didn't hand him any information on Spencer so the man probably wasn't dead. Tru seemed annoyed to hear about him and that didn't bode well. "Well, I really haven't got a clue what is happening." Tru shook her head just like her brother had. "I think I heard Harry's voice just before and after the rewind. He said that in a little while I'd understand everything. He sounded so calm and I was so upset I can't even be sure that's what I heard."
Harry thought this was the best time to leave but he had to bolster their belief that Harry really was different. He spoke up without becoming visible. "Harrison, Tru, just a little longer." They both looked around them since there was no definite direction to his voice but Harry left regardless. He had two souls to collect before coming back to ensure Harrison's survival and he'd have to go speak to Chris at some point since the man would probably be just as confused as Harrison about everything.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Halliwell Manor
Harry didn't have to wait long to be summoned to Chris and he wasn't surprised that he had to transport himself from the Ghostly Plain to reality but it did prove before he arrived that Chris had summoned him by himself. None of the Charmed Ones or their family members had the power to summon somebody from the Ghostly Plain when acting alone so he appeared invisibly in the centre of the summoning circle that Chris had created around the ground.
Harry took the chance to study Chris. He had witnessed the dream at the end of the day when Harrison had died so as repeating days went it was a day and a half since Harrison had been killed but only a night had passed since Chris had received the dream. He obviously hadn't slept well that night and didn't seem to have even changed for sleep since he was wearing the same clothes as he had appeared in during the vision. He was pale and strained looking and was obviously feeling rather defeated as the spell seemingly failed.
"Come on!" Chris grumbled to himself. "I know I don't have the power but we can't all be Wyatt."
"Even your brother doesn't have the power to summon me from the Ghostly Plain." Harry spoke up after moving out of the circle. It wouldn't restrain him for long if Chris activated it but the Charmed Ones always took the precaution of summoning straight into a Crystal Cage. He appeared a few feet to Chris' right as he spoke and Chris shot around to look at him. "I felt your summons and came myself. You need answers."
"Do you have them?" Chris almost seemed to want to narrow his eyes at Harry and Harry was glad he didn't.
"I do but you have know that I can't tell you how you are supposed to accept having a Soulmate." Harry told him bluntly.
"So, I do have a Soulmate?" Chris asked. Harry nodded before turning and walking to the window. He passed the Book of Shadows on his way but didn't try to have a look at it. His knowledge of magic was instinctual and his powers were a sheer force of immutable magic, he had no need of spells and charms. If he wanted something to happen and he had the power to do it then it was done, though if the thing wasn't necessary to protect the Grand Design then it wouldn't happen. "And he's alive?"
"He was never shot." Harry told him. "You saw him ask his sister to stop him and from that moment she went back in time and changed events to save him."
"So everything's ok?" Chris asked seemingly rather relieved at the news.
"There is a man there who's ultimate goal is to stop her from saving those souls who die when they shouldn't. He allowed her to save Harrison without a fight but he tricked a man called Luc to fall into the same situation." Harry told him.
"Shouldn't that be against the Grand Design?" Chris asked.
"It was his destiny to die then. It was no surprise to me." Harry shook his head as he spoke.
"That's a rather cold way to look at it." Chris told him.
"I make no excuses for what I am, Chris." Harry told him though he found he wanted Chris to understand that. "I see people die every day. In a week I take a dozen souls into the Beyond. One means very little more than another."
"So you don't feel upset by any of them?" Chris asked.
"You remember when the Deviant attacked and wounded me?" Harry asked. Chris nodded looking concerned. "The man that dived in front of the second spell was my best friend before I died. It upset me to see him die because of my other friend's pain at losing her husband and the pain of her children from losing their father but he isn't completely gone. He watches over them for the Grand Design, you could say he protects them."
Chris winced but nodded. "Who was the man that died instead of Harrison? Luc?"
"The man that Tru loved." Harry spoke quietly.
"Why was that needed?" Chris asked rather harshly.
"If he hadn't of died then Tru wouldn't be able to see beyond her own feelings when the real battle begins." Harry sighed. "She has to see that sometimes we have to sacrifice one thing for the other. Your own mother went through the same thing when your father was taken from her so that she could win the battle against the two sisters a few years after you were born."
"But wasn't my father already dead in the first place?" Chris asked.
"A person's destiny doesn't end with death. It is just a change from physical to metaphysical." Harry told him patiently. "Your father's destiny really began after he died."
"Being a Whitelighter?" Chris frowned unsure whether he understood.
"No, being a Whitelighter was only a means to have him meet your mother." Harry prompted.
"But the Elder's didn't all agree to them getting married." Chris pointed out.
"Yet in the end they did." Harry grinned. "I was but a child at the time but Death stepped in to prevent them from forbidding it. They weren't allowed to know the reason for our intervention but they had to submit and permit it."
"So Wyatt would be born?" Chris asked looking resigned.
Harry sighed and closed the gap between them. He lifted a hand and traced Chris' cheek bone with his thumb. "No, Chris. To protect Harrison."
"What?" Chris frowned at him but didn't try to move away from Harry's hand as it settled on the side of his neck.
"At all times there is a single mortal with no magical powers that holds a certain…ability. Most of them live their lives without ever using it or knowing of it but a protector is always there with them. In this case a Soulmate." Harry told him patiently.
"You're talking about Harrison?" Chris asked. "And I'm his protector?"
"The Angel's of Destiny go to immense lengths to protect each of them as they live and die and we take the same lengths to place their protectors." Harry lectured calmly. "The purpose of allowing Leo and Piper to fall in love was not just to create Wyatt as King of Magic but also so that you would be born so that you could in turn protect Harrison."
"That sounds complicated." Chris pointed out.
"It makes sense to me but I can see that it would confuse you." Harry smiled gently. "The more confusing part is that it was always my destiny to watch over Harrison in a slightly different way that the Angel of Death always has before."
"What's that mean?"
"Already I feel the need to protect him and soon that will become love." Harry said without any attempt to hide the words from himself. He shook his head and looked at Chris. "I tell you this because you have to understand that you have a choice."
"How do I have a choice if it's destiny for us to both love the same person?"
"Destiny has led us both to love him and this attraction between us will only make it work better but this Destiny was placed into motion without the Deviant's intervention. I will have to take a more powerful role in Harrison's life and so will you but with these changes comes a choice. You can turn around now and never meet Harrison and thereby prevent the Soulmate bond from forming or you can embrace it and bring all the powers into play."
"Is that supposed to make it easier?" Chris grumbled.
"No, but it does mean that you can love him or not by choice." Harry told him. "But if you meet him then you will be formalising the bond and you will have to protect him from then on."
"What about you?" Chris asked looking at Harry in concern.
Harry smiled at him gently once again. "You may accept me as Death but Harrison may not and before this is over I will have shown him my true potential. If he learns to love me then I will be there for him but if he doesn't then it won't aversely effect the Grand Design."
"So what is his power?" Chris asked after a moment.
"We may soon see." Harry told him cryptically.
"You said that Harrison would see that vision." Chris pointed out. "Does he know he's my Soulmate?"
"He does and he seems to have accepted it for the time being." Harry told him. "He will want answers from us both before this is over and I intend to deal with his sister in two days at Luc's funeral. It will be at two on Saturday afternoon. He doesn't know what you look like so if you decide you wish to meet him then go to the Hevater Cemetery."
"Will you be there?" Chris asked.
"I will." Harry nodded before stepping back into the circle to transport himself away. "If you are nervous then talk to your family. You don't have to come alone."
"Wait!" Chris stepped up to him before he could disappear. "Truthfully. Are you worried that I'll bond with Harrison and forget about you?"
"Truthfully? I supposed so." Harry told him after a moments hesitation.
Chris grinned at him and quickly locked him into a gently kiss. "Please don't. We'll work it out somehow."
Harry shared a small smile with the man before vanishing back to the Ghostly Plain. He had quite a few Souls to ferry in the next few days.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
A few days later
Harry stood in respectful silence at the head of the coffin beside the Minister as he spoke his last words to the deceased. He was, of course, invisible but Chris was clearly noticeable where he stood amongst the onlookers wearing a respectfully black ensemble and while he hadn't known Luc he understood the loss that the people there were feeling.
Harry shared a sad little smile around the crowd though they couldn't see him. Luc was no longer here since Harry had taken him to the Beyond as soon as he was dead but the ceremony gave the living their much needed closure. As the Minister gave his final farewells and condolences to Luc's parents Harry walked down the side of the coffin and passed Tru who was silently crying above the coffin. Harrison came to stand at her side but Harry walked up to Chris and gently brushed his hands against the other man's arm.
Chris flinched violently but at Harry's quiet greeting he calmed down. "That's him isn't it?" Chris nodded his head at Harrison.
"That's him." Harry whispered. Chris slowly walked up to the coffin and stopped at the end while Harrison and then Tru were standing off to the right. Harry followed Chris silently and placed his hand on the man's back to remind him he was there.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Chris spoke quietly and both Tru and Harrison looked up at him.
"Thank you." Tru nodded and placed a hand on the top of the coffin. "Did you know him?"
"No." Chris shook his head. "Actually I'm here to see the two of you."
"The two of us?" Harrison frowned and looked at Chris properly. "Hang on, do I know you?"
Chris winced and looked at Harrison in sorrow. "I've met you once but you weren't conscious. According to a friend of mine you witnessed a conversation between myself and him." Chris paused as if getting up the courage before he offered his hand to Harrison. "My name is Chris."
"Chris?" Tru's eyebrows shot up in surprise even as Harrison, who had been about to shake Chris' hand, backed up slightly. Chris dropped his hand and looked rather put out by the treatment.
"You were…" Harrison frowned. "In my dream?"
"I had a vision of you dying. Harry said you'd see it too." Chris winced. "I'm sorry for that by the way."
"I don't remember it first hand." Harrison pointed out rather bluntly. Chris crossed his arms over his chest defensively. "So what are you doing here?"
Chris actually flinched that time. "Harry suggested I come and meet you. So we can both make choices."
"You think you can just come here and everything will be perfect?" Harrison glared at Chris and Harry soothed the man with a gently touch to the back. "And who the hell is Harry!?"
"He said you'd met." Chris frowned.
"We've met." Tru interrupted before her brother could get violent. "But he's been rather vague with answers."
"He's always that way. He understands more about everything." Chris sighed. "Trust me, it's just as irritating for me as for you."
Harry flicked him on the back before backing away. Jack had just arrived and Tru had seen him lingering under a tree nearby. "Excuse me for a while." Tru told Chris with a warning in her eyes not to try to escape before she turned to her brother. "Be nice, Har."
Harry leaned in to Chris' ear to whisper uncaring that Chris' tilt of the head to hear better was seen and recognised by Harrison. "I'm going with them but I'll be back once this is dealt with."
"What are you going to do?"
"Finish this fight once and for all." Harry spoke loud enough for Harrison to hear but when Harrison turned on him Chris reached out to restrain him and accidentally brushed his hand against Harrison's wrist. Harry felt the magic of their Soulmate bond come into being and knew they wouldn't remember him for quite some time. Chances are they'd still be standing looking at each other for an hour or more.
Harry found Tru and Jack arguing in the middle of the Graveyard and knew that he'd missed the beginning of the argument by how worked up Tru was. "How can you think it's your right to mess with Destiny?" Jack glared at her.
"What if I'm supposed to save them? How can you know it's not destiny?" Tru retorted just as logically.
"You think Destiny can't clear up it's own mess." He glared back. "What makes you think it needs us to do it?"
"I have to believe that." Tru told him bluntly. "Too much happiness comes from what I do for it to be wrong. Don't you feel guilty for those you've helped to kill?"
"No, because that's what needs to be done." Jack shook his head.
"What does that make you?" Tru asked.
"It makes me the right hand of Destiny." Jack commented with a smirk.
"Don't be an idiot!" Tru told him.
"You have to be stopped." Jack told her. "Your father warned me this would happen. You can't be allowed to keep saving people that should die. You don't know anything!"
"My father?"
"He trained me and told me about you saving people when you shouldn't. You don't understand Destiny at all and you risk everything so you can have the moral high ground." Jack spat.
"So you think you understand everything?" Tru demanded.
"I know more than you!" Jack retorted angrily.
"In that case you should understand what I am." Harry spoke quietly and instantly everything froze. The world just seemed to stop moving. The air stilled unnaturally, the warmth of the sun turned into nothing and both mortals felt a shiver run up their spines as they turned to face him. He was surrounded in shadows as he walked between two gravestones topped with scythe wielding Grim Reapers. He eyed the one on his left as he walked passed it. "Interesting representation of me I must admit."
"Harry?" Tru frowned. "Where did you come from?"
"I'm everywhere and everything that can die, Tru." Harry told her as he continued to approach. They both backed up slightly and Harry knew he was emitting two images, his black clothed normal self and a super imposed image of a hooded being with a scythe just like the two standing behind him. "I'm come to stop this once and for all."
"Stop what?" Jack snarled.
Harry lashed out though it was in image only. His super imposed image towered above them both and they fell backwards. "Echo, you've overstepped your objective in the worst possible way. It is not your place to decide to kill the Ripple of Fate."
"What are you talking about?" Tru asked.
"You are the Ripple of Fate, my dear Tru. You work for destiny by correcting the course of events where they slide out of place." Harry told her.
"That can't be true!" Jack interrupted. Harry tiredly looked over at him where he had paled. "You're lying! People are supposed to die."
"Some of them are, yes." Harry nodded. "But not all of those that ask for help should be ignored. Some ask rightfully but others are too attached to this world and ask when they shouldn't. You are both gifted to repeat days to set things straight."
"We can't both be right!" Jack snapped.
Harry's superimposed image vanished and the world seemed to speed back up to its normal levels once again. "Who are you to decide what is right or not?" Harry asked. "You are but a mere mortal. Nothing compared to the powers on this earth."
"And who are you?" Jack narrowed his eyes.
Harry was in front of him in a second towering over him with his superimposed image of the Grim Reaper. "Perhaps you should answer that yourself?" Harry snarled before shifting all three of them into the Ghostly Plain. The Graveyard went unnaturally still and silent once again and the colours dulled to greys and whites. Tru started violently and backed into one of the Gravestones.
"You're the Grim Reaper?" Tru asked.
"Otherwise known as the Angel of Death." Harry nodded at her calmly before lifting his arms up to the sides. The Vortex opened up behind him in an explosion of power as he forced it open without a Soul to pass on. "I give you a choice here and now. Beyond that is the Afterlife. You both work to repair destiny. Choose now whether you will settle your differences and work together or I will take both of your Souls to the Beyond."
Before either could respond Harry was gone and they were thrown back onto the grass in the real world. Jack stared at Tru in horror bordering on regret before he scrambled to his feet and ran. Tru rolled over slowly and stood, shaking like a leaf as she made her way back to Luc's coffin. She was confused, scared and disappointed that in some cases she was doomed to fail those that asked for help.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
End chapter