Chapter 21 -Déjà vu
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The Twins were happily inventing and selling to the few who ventured out into Diagon alley. Even with Deatheaters around every corner they were making a profit even if the bulk of it was through mail orders. With all the fear and gloom it was a nice break to prank yourself or just enjoy a laugh every so often. Seeing pairs of Aurors patrolling did little to lift the mood in Diagon Alley. After a short walk we were at the steps of Gringotts when our or my luck struck again. The first sign of trouble was the loud sound of Gringotts main doors sealing themselves.
The sound of the doors sealing was followed by dozens of 'pops' as we turned around we saw that the Deatheaters had sealed off any escape by normal means and were already fighting with the Auror patrols up and down the street. Voldemort stepped forward to deliver his long-winded speech on how he was going to kill me in the most horrendous way without mercy. "Is that your girlfriend Harry? The girl who Big Mac wants so badly for insulting him in so private a way? I think we will have some fun with her thus showing he lost to me again, there is no escape this time.
In the middle of his "I am the greatest" I transformed, grabbed Lora and 'flamed' before he threw a curse at us. I immediately felt that something was wrong as the 'flaming' had turned fuzzy and I could hear Voldemort's insane laughter. I just had time to think that everything was out of focus before my conciseness went black.
/Scene Break/
"Hello Harry, back for another tour? I see you brought your lovely wife. How are you Lora?" Xeno had a huge grin on his face as he greeted us as if I was expected. Lora and I were attempting to sit up as we had found ourselves laid out on a cloud as if it was a floating bed.
"So are we dead, again?" I asked as I sat up on the edge of the cloud, "Or is this a real dream?"
"Hardly, Oh your friend Riddle intended you to die with his new death shield he erected over you two but we had requested your presents just before you hit his shield. It seems the higher-ups and the old girls have decided they are not happy with something and have called a few people together for a chat."
"Let me guess, Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos are upset again?" Lora asked as she also sat up on the edge of the cloud.
"Precisely, they have even called in Thanatos so this is quite serious." Xeno sighed.
"Who's Thanatos?" Lora asked.
"Death" I stated.
"Well let's get started." Xeno seemed to float down to a materializing stone floor. I just went with the flow and stepped down onto the floor. When Lora joined me the cloud disappeared.
Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos were as I remembered them. They were not happy as they did their spinning and snipping as there seemed to be a glitch somewhere or some when. I did recognize a few curse words in many different languages being used. They only grumbled in English that Xeno would explain how eternity would end if certain things were not changed by order of the head man. The little voice in the back of my head again asked if I was really in an asylum and all this was no more than a hallucination.
Xeno escorted us to a room where we sat at a table where drinks and food appeared like at Hogwarts. We were not overly hungry because about then Thanatos entered the room. I had another stupid thought that flash across my brain about that time. I wondered if he, Death, had a love life or friends.
"Harry good to see you again, has Xeno explained what has been happening?"
"Err"
"No Thanatos I have just started, I though you might like to put in a point or two as I explained." Xeno smiled which helped my stomack a bit. Regardless how handsome Thanatos was and how nice he acted there was still the thought that he was still Death. Fear of death and the unknown is something that part of me still feared.
"Yes, we best get on with it already." Thanatos did not seem happy.
"Yes, well, Tiresias made a prediction." Xeno started.
"Is he still a she or has he made up his mind what he is?" Death asked.
"Presented it as a female, thinks it carries more weight that way." Xeno smirked.
"Well I for one don't have the ability to pick up that many souls over that short a period of time. I was chatting with upstairs and they are in panic mode themselves. All this coördination had better pay off."
"Err" Was my contribution to my total confusion.
"Yes Harry, you have a question?" Xeno smiled.
"The 'fates' said that eternity would end, that doesn't make any sense eternity is forever."
"Yes to the crux of the matter. Harry…when you first came here you were a weak child who had no will to be yourself. The time line showed that you followed the "greater good" and seldom asked why you spent your seventh year chasing Horcruxes. You let people tell you where to go and what to do. You let Dumbledore lead you around by the nose and never got emancipated. When you came back you hid from everyone and died living a lonely life. The country fell apart anyway without you to lead it the end you died lonely and unhappy. This last time the old girls changed all that in your future and here you are still not capable of defeating Voldemort and leading your country. This time it's your age as you still have not had time to train and get the experience as before. Tiresias prediction states that between Big Mac and Voldemort the entire world ends with you dead. The old girls have been weaving like hell to change that flaw in the timelines that they previously weave. This is where Thanatos comes in to the picture."
My first reaction was to ask them why I had to fix their misstates. I knew I had no chance of winning. "To tell you the truth I don't see a future. I want a future with Lora but that can never happen with Voldemort running around. So why don't you just let me pass on to the next great adventure and find somebody that can do the job. I don't want to return as some eleven year old to get the training so I might have a chance. I'm dead and I think I would like to stay that way."
"I'm with Harry." Lora added.
"Ah, but you are not dead… in a few minutes you will return to where you were safe and sound. I will let Thanatos explain." Xeno turned and left the room.
"Now listen close, according to the old girls you two have a long life in front of you if you do a couple of things. This is not a suggestion; if you fail to comply I will make sure you two have a front row seat for the fire and brimstone shows. Now when you return ask your house elves about a golden locket with the letter S on in and when you get to Hogwarts ask the Room of Requirements about Ravenclaw's Diadem. Now you take those two Horicuxes and…"
Whether the realm that Harry and Lora were in was solid or just a passing mist the entire realm heard the yell, "ARE YOU CRAZY!"
/Scene Break/
Harry and Lora now found themselves falling from a great height over Diagon Alley.
I did an instant panic but finally realized that they were finished talking to us so I transformed, grabbed Lora and 'flamed' to Grimmauld place. We landed on the bed and we both started talking at once. Lea slithered away hurling obscenities while little Tiger strutted away with her tail in the air, growling the whole way. It appeared my familiars were not happy about the last trip. I was still wondered why the Goddess of Mania was not present at our meetings with Thanatos. The idea was insane and we were crazy to be talked into doing it. A not too serious discussion started, "You know that this is just this side of suicide." Lora was shaking her head.
I tried to lighted the mood that was likely to become overwhelming, "Well look at the light side. They have now not only doubled my fun but have added a bonus game." Somehow I think they didn't think I was doing a good job.
"Git" Lora whispered, "But don't you dare get yourself killed without me." She pressed her lips to mine.
Getting a short break for air I lamely continued "Should we order separate coffins or would you prefer joining me in a double?"
"Doof, how can I keep a straight face at the funeral knowing what people will be accusing us of by going on the big sleep in the same coffin. Can you imagine what the headstone would read like; they aren't even married but sleeping together for eternity." Lora giggled.
Want to fix that now or just before they close the lid?"
Harry James Potter are you asking me to marry you?
"Yes I believe I just did. But you could live in sin with me in the coffin it is your choice.
"I believe I will accept your gracious offer only if you let me pick out the coffins color scheme.
My mind was having other thought beside the light banter. Lora was also probably putting up a front as I was for her. My thoughts were depressing me as I was again being manipulated and threatened. Like the Dursleys, then Dumbledore, now Thanatos and his crowd were doing the same thing. Vernon did it through brute force, Dumbledore through manipulation and Thanatos with fear. All I could do was keep moving forward and hope that someday I would...and that was the problem...I knew what they wanted me to do but what did I want?
/Scene Break/
The house at Grimmauld Place had a number of people who found the actions of two of their fellow resident's extremely odd. For a week Harry and Lora were seen rushing thru breakfast and racing into the library where no one else could enter. Questions bounced off them as if the questions were never asked. Suddenly the duo started to disappear from the house which set off Molly Weasley and not long after McGonagall entered to find out where the duo were going. Getting no answer the Order of the Phoenix under McGonagall's leadership was called in to ensure Harry was protected. A few days after that many were surprised at the arrival of Hedwig and a pile of envelopes.
/Scene Break/
Breakfast was in the dinning room of Grimmauld place and usually ended up with everyone there at some point. At that point Hedwig made an appearance to deliver the pile of envelopes to Molly who handed out the envelopes to whom they were addressed. She then sat and opened her envelope and was one of the first to make a comment.
The envelopes contained the wedding invitations announcing the forth coming marriage of Harry Potter and Lora Jones in one week's time.
"What is this, this is absurd. You two are way too young to be married. You're still in school for Merlin's sake. I forbid it."
Molly was looking to continue but Ginny burst into tears and fled the room. Molly followed immediately after her daughter.
"Utter rubbish, your both Nutters" was Ron's kind words. He had spent most of the summer in his room playing chess with himself.
"This is a prank right, you can't be serious?" Hermione asked while Susan was trying to cover a snicker.
I could not have asked for better timing as Professor McGonagall rushed in through the 'floe' dragging Madam Pomfrey. McGonagall was demanding a pregnancy test which got the girls in the room taking a sharp inhale of breath with their hand over the mouths. Minutes later Luna rushed in dragging a reluctant Neville.
Madam Pomfrey started it off, "Harry I have obtained you know what from where you should know."
"Doesn't you know who, knows who, he should know what we all know?" Luna beamed while not knowing that there were two separate things being talked about. At least we thought that was the case.
Hermione started screaming, "What doesn't he know and would someone tell me what you know that I don't know!"
"You know Hermione you are making no sense, of course you don't know." Lora chuckled, "This time only Harry and I know."
"Augggh" growled Hermione. All that was missing was steam coming from her ears.
"Lora and I will pick you know what up this afternoon. Are you sure you got his confirmation that it was willing given?"
"I know my job Mr. Potter." Huffed Madam Pomfrey. "I will finish my part when you show this afternoon. I further remind you that I highly disapprove of this whole idea."
"What are you up to Mr. Potter? Are you planning to put us all in danger or just yourself?" McGonagall was presenting her stern face while awaiting an answer.
I gave her my best puppy face and said, "The Nargal's made me do it as they are confused who's is who and want some more dirty linens."
"Harry are you serious? You know who will fight over his Nargals? Luna gasped.
"Does anyone want anymore eggs from the platter?" Ron made a contribution to the discussion after he had already dumped the eggs on his plate.
/Scene Break/
The frenzy of wedding dresses, colors and styles overcame the female population of Grimmauld Place. Lockjaw had found an ICW approved wizard to perform the wedding and was arranging protection. I selected Neville as best man and Luna got the counter place, Maid of Honor. This of course didn't sit well with several people. The wedding day raced into view, so did September 1st and the Hogwarts Express. There was only one more person to convince to join us on our Honeymoon and that was Snape.