George and Harry waited until Bill distracted Molly and Arthur into leaving the room and head for dinner before Harry pounced with the last question, "Why were you trying to kill George?"
"That wasn't me." She claimed.
"Did you think of stopping them?" George growled.
"I did try." She stated, "Percy said you were begging to die and be with Fred. Besides he hadn't done anything yet."
"He poisoned me." George argued.
"No he didn't." she hissed, "He was trying to find a way for you to finish yourself off. He was looking into several fast acting poisons but he promised I could try to talk you out of it before he gave it to you."
"What about altering my will?" George really wanted to believe her but wasn't sure.
"He said your will was if you died it all went to Fred and if Fred died it all went to you. He had you change it so the family would get the shop in case you died." She shrugged, "He didn't want to see it get taken over by the ministry because you had no proper heir."
"Did you see it?" George asked.
"No Percy handled it all." She shrugged it off.
"Sometimes Ginny, you are really stupid." George said, "Our wills named Mum and Dad if anything happened to the both of us. Percy had me change it to be just the three of you. I was too out of it to understand what he was doing. Luckily the Goblins realized this and didn't ever put the new will into effect."
"George I didn't know." She tried to grab his arm but he pulled away.
"Come on Harry let's get you to dinner." George turned away from her hurt look.
Bill returned to the room after Harry and George left. He found a tearful Ginny being held by Dean, "Now you know."
"I'm sorry." She sighed, "Would you take us home. I don't think I feel up to eating anything."
"That's probably a good idea." Bill agreed pulling out Harry's port key, "Remember not to say anything to Ron and Hermione and don't let them see your hand."
"I'm going to take her home with me." Dean said, "I think Ron and Hermione are bad for her."
"I'll agree to that." Bill said, "Don't speak of this to anyone at all this is Harry's personal business and no one else needs to know."
"Ok." Dean agreed easily.
"Tell him I'm sorry." Ginny gave Bill a hug, "I'm glad he had you and George on his side."
"We'll let everyone else whose supporting him know about your point of view." Bill said, "I'm happy knowing you were against them killing George."
"I don't think they wanted to kill him really." Ginny sighed, "Percy looked very pained when he talked about. Gaining the shop if he should die was just greed I'd say. I would guess that they think the twins owe them for all the pranks they've played over the years. I assume they added me so I would have to stay silent or convict myself."
"Gin, I want to believe you I really do." Bill sighed, "But after everything it's rather hard. If push comes to shove between the three of you I won't hesitate to give all three of you veritaserum to get the truth."
She nodded but didn't reply as she reached out to touch the portkey with Dean. Bill returned not long after and went back into the dining room. After a few questions from Molly about Ginny they settled in to eat. At breakfast the next morning a letter was waiting for Harry at his place. He read it and grimaced at the end.
"Bad news?" George asked although everyone at the table was looking at him.
"Not really." He sighed, "Minerva says she's resealing Dumbledore's tomb if I want to return his wand."
"It's kind of an interesting wand do you want to keep it?" George asked, "Knowing that it was his and all."
"I'm less concerned about it being his than what it is." Harry stated.
"What do you mean, what it is?" Charlie asked, "It's a wand."
"Not just any wand and Ron and Hermione know it." Harry hadn't thought about this subject yet, "It's one of the Deathly Hallows."
"Harry that's just a fairy tale." Molly shook her head, "Surely you don't think…"
Harry interrupted her by standing and pulling out his cloak. He threw it on and tiptoed across to the other side of the room.
Bill grinned and pulled his wand, "Accio invisibility cloak."
When nothing happened George grinned, "That cloak never fails unless Harry isn't being careful."
Harry pulled it off as he stood beside Molly, "I have the wand and the stone."
"You are the Master of Death?" Charlie raised an eyebrow at him.
"I really don't know if that really means anything." Harry returned to his seat.
"Harry the stone…" George looked excited.
"I don't have it." Harry said standing, "I dropped it in the forest before going to meet Tom. If I could I'd let you use it but only for a moment just to say goodbye. It's too tempting to just keep using it. I'm going to go get the wand and take it back."
Harry climbed the stairs and went to his room. He had hidden the wand in the closet drawer that would lock. It wasn't that he didn't trust anyone but it was just safer for them. He pulled open the drawer after unlocking it and picked up the wand, it was the only thing in the drawer. As he started to push the drawer closed a glimmer of something inside made him stop. Inside laying where the wand had been was the stone. Without thinking Harry reached in and picked it up. Next thing he knew Kreacher was at his side and he was on the floor again.
"What happened?" he asked as Bill stood in the doorway staring at him.
"Ummm, I think I should ask you the same question." he stated.
"Master Harry is you alright?" Kreacher was acting rather odd by petting his head.
"I'm not sure. Why did… How did…" Harry was a bid disoriented.
"We heard an explosion." Bill interrupted his flailing.
"Really?" Harry sat up with Kreachers help, "I was just getting Dumbledore's wand to return to the tomb." He was silent for a moment, "Wait, the stone, it was in the drawer. I dropped it in the forest but it appeared in the drawer. I had the wand in one hand and picked it up with the other."
"Where are they?" he asked.
"Is everything ok?" Harry heard Charlie approach.
"Stay back." Bill warned holding a hand up at his brother, "If this is more seals coming off it could be dangerous."
"Then you better step back and let me watch over him." Charlie stated and looked in despite Bill trying to block him, "What the…"
"What's wrong?" Harry looked at the two brothers. The newest arrival looked a bit freaked out.
"You've changed." Bill said, "Look at your arm."
"What?" Harry looked down and saw his arm covered in black fur, "What is going on?"
"You said you had the wand and picked up the stone. Where's the cloak?" Bill asked.
"Here." Harry patted his stomach then stopped and pulled his shirt up, "It's gone."
"Do you see the wand or stone?" he asked.
Harry searched around, "I don't see them."
"Master they are here." Kreacher touched Harry's chest.
Harry pulled off his shirt to reveal the same hair that was on is arms covering his torso, "They aren't here."
"I think he means you absorbed them." Bill took a deep breath, "It's something curse breakers look for. Magic that sits on an object waiting for the right person to touch it then wham they get it. Usually it's something that hurts them."
"This doesn't exactly hurt but I don't think I can leave the house without a long sleeved shirt." Harry sighed and tried to stand but he didn't have his balance and almost fell over
"It's more than that Harry." Bill said, "Try using your wings to give you balance."
"My wings?" Harry gripped the cabinet beside him harder, "Please tell me that's and inside Weasley joke that I don't get."
Bill conjured a mirror right in front of Harry, "Not a joke.
Harry couldn't talk. He had a cat face and he was covered in black hair, except the very faint white lightning bolt on his forehead. A slight flex of his fingers unsheathed claws in his hands. He had black bat like wings protruding from his back. And finally he had legs that were decidedly canine.
"Turn around." Charlie grinned a bit.
A dog like tail swung into view, "What the… what am I?"
"Don't know yet." Bill said, "I've not seen anything like you."
"I'm calling him a cogat." Charlie snickered, "Cat, dog and bat."
"Funny." Harry deadpanned covering his face in his hands wishing he could just turn invisible to avoid the teasing.
"Harry where did you go?" Bill asked in alarm.
"I'm still right here, I haven't moved why?" he looked up from his hands.
"I can't see you." he said, "You just faded from view."
Harry thought the word visible rather hard and after a few second a gasp of relief announced he had returned. Then he decided to try and picture himself as he normally looked and soon a second gasp made him look and he found his normal reflection looking back at him.
"That was really weird." Harry sighed, "Did I get everything?"
"Yes back to the normal you." Charlie said, "Can you go back to that animal?"
He tried for several minutes while Bill went down to tell everyone he was ok. The rest of the present Weasleys followed Bill back up to see him. Harry was still standing in front of the conjured mirror with his eyes closed in concentration. Bill explained what had happened and what they found and what Harry was trying to do now.
"No luck." Charlie then suggested, "Try just that cat thing."
After a few seconds a humanoid cat type creature was standing in front of the group, complete with wicked claws and a feline tail. Charlie was the first to understand what he was looking at.
"A Night Stalker." His eyes were wide with a bit of fright, "I studied those in NEWT level COMC. They are known as bringers of death. But that is just like saying a grim is an omen of death. They don't really bring it but I think the book said you can only see one if you've killed someone. They're thought to be extinct or myth, also like the Grim."
"Go for the dog." Bill suggested.
He was successful and soon a grim stood in the place of the cat creature. Harry had dropped to a four legged stance. He looked so much like Sirius' dog form he choked up. Luckily they couldn't tell since he had the features of a dog.
"What was the last one then a bat?" Fleur asked.
Harry concentrated but nothing happened. He shifted back to his human form and said, "What else besides a bat has wings like that."
"A thestral." Molly suggested, "It's also related to death things like the Grim and Night Stalker."
After a few seconds a thestral replaced Harry. After a quick glance in the mirror he returned to normal, "Any other creatures associated with death."
"Not quite like them." George answered as the group moved down stairs, "So I guess we know what being the master of death means now."
"Most likely that's only part of what he can do now." Arthur sighed, "I would suggest trying wandless magic. You've absorbed a wand you may be able to. Try lighting your wand while it's on the table."
"I could do that before so I don't think that's a valid test." Harry sat the wand down and began to think of another spell.
"You could?" Arthur asked, "Well, I never saw you do that."
"Fifth year, when the dementors attacked Dudley made me drop my wand. I called out lumos in desperation and the tip lit." He pointed to his wand as it lit up with his words.
"What's in your pocket Bill?" Molly asked eyeing him.
"Nothing but my wand." he pulled it out and the tip was glowing.
The rest of them pulled their wands and all of them were lit. Harry looked shocked and said, "Ok no more spells said in normal conversation."
"Say nox and see if they'll turn off." Arthur suggested a few seconds later the wands were all turned off, "Incredible."
"Show them how you can turn invisible." Charlie suggested with a grin.
Harry did and then got up and moved the other side of the room before making himself visible again, "That works well."
All heads snapped to his new position by Bill before he moved back to his previous seat. They talked and tested him for a while before George got an idea.
"Only one thing left to try." he said, "Call back a spirit."
"George." Molly said in shock.
"No Mum he's right." Bill waved her off, "That is the only thing we haven't tried."
Harry thought for a moment, "You want me to try for Fred?"
"Please." George nodded.
Harry closed his eyes and concentrated. When he opened them one of the twins was in the chair and the other was sitting on the arm. Harry couldn't remember where George had sat but suspected the chair.
"You are sitting on the seat of the chair aren't you George?" he asked.
"Yes." the twin said from the seat.
"He's at your right elbow then." Harry said, "Hi Fred."
"Hiya Harry." Fred grinned, "You need to not make a habit of this, it will drive you insane."
"I know." he replied.
"You know what?" Molly asked.
"He reminded me not to make a habit out of calling spirits or it will drive me insane." Harry said, "Can you hear them Fred?"
"Yes, ask away." he replied with a grin.
"He can hear you so I'll only translate his answers." Harry said.
"How are you feeling?" Molly asked.
"Transparent." he chuckled and Harry began to interpret.
"And you complained when I said saint like." George grumbled.
"Take it easy Georgy I wasn't expected to be called right at this moment." he replied.
"You can't stay?" he asked.
"Nope I can't. Uncles Fabian and Gideon are helping me with a prank war against James, Sirius and Remus. They'll be upset if I lose this round for them." Fred smiled.
"My brothers?" Molly asked in awe.
"Sure enough." Fred said.
"Should I join you?" George asked in all seriousness.
"Eventually but not for a hundred years or so." Fred shrugged but only Harry could see it, "When you get here we can start a three way battle. I won't let them know our really good stuff."
"Do you see many people you know?" Bill asked.
"Yes but funnily enough I've not ran across Dumbledore." he scratched his head, "Wonder why."
"Maybe he's held up paying penance." Charlie suggested, "Or he's in the other half for his crimes."
"What crimes?" he asked then shook his head, "Never mind they'll tell me if I need to know."
"I miss you Freddy, how can I carry on without you?" George leaned his head on the arm of his chair, which looked weird to Harry as his head was through Fred's leg.
"You'll be fine. We still have a list of things for you to start working on. You always were the brains behind the doing it. I was mostly the idea man and now you've got Harry for that." he grinned, "Especially now with all the master of death stuff. He'll have plenty of fun things happening to him for ideas to come from."
"Yeah for me." Harry said after he translated. He then yawned hugely.
"OK guys I have to wrap this up before Harry passes out from overwork." Fred explained, "This is really taxing him."
"You are happy there?" George asked on last question.
"I am hilariously happy. But I don't want any of you to come and play until your time is up." Fred stated harshly, "Live well and make our sacrifices worth something. Good bye all."
"Bye Fred." Harry said and then left the room for the family to grieve. He went to his bed and slept for fourteen hours straight.
Madam Pomfrey was again standing over him when he woke up, "What did I tell you about doing things without me here?"
"Believe me, if I would have known anything was going to happen I wouldn't have touched it." Harry waved her off, "I had touched it several times before without something that weird happening. I had no reason to expect it to be different this time."
"Well you've magically exhausted yourself again." she sighed, "I won't confine you to bed but please do me a favor and don't do anything using magic any time soon."
"I'll do my best." he agreed.
"That doesn't leave me feeling very confident." she said as she swept from the room.
Harry was back to being helped any time he moved. He was also back to having George in the bathroom laughing at him while he tried to shower, it was rather unnerving. Charlie had been absent for a day or so and when he returned he carried a book with him.
"I've found it." he claimed as he joined them for lunch.
"Do I want to know what you found?" George snickered.
"Night Stalkers, there isn't any detail in the normal creature books." Charlie opened the book he had, "This one is Romanian. But basically it says that Night Stalkers while thought to be either mythical or extinct are neither. It is not an animagus form either but a gift bestowed on those touched by death. The most recent incarnation known was more than four hundred years ago. A man was thought to be dead and either survived it or came back. Within months he had gained the form and began using it to find others who were not supposed to die. He managed to stop seventeen more deaths by the hand of the man that tried to kill him. After the killer was stopped the man never took the form again. It is unknown if he couldn't or just didn't."