Reunion: The Line, the Circle

And the Triangle

BANG

Harry awoke with a jerk, his heart and head pounding with equal intensity that the wizard, for a few long moments, sat back, pushing away the pain. He took a breath, trying to come his breath, trying to wean the adrenaline coursing through his veins. It didn't work too well, another bang, loud and ferocious made itself known, a hiss and golden red light following soon after.

The wizard jumped up, aware for a millisecond that he was on a bed and minimally dressed, before he was looking outside the window. A giant snake, easily twice the height of the house, hissed between pain and anger, glaring at a young, dark-skinned witch before striking and hitting a solid column of air; around them vampires were darting back forth at speeds Harry should have found hard to follow, partaking in swift battles. Harry caught sight of Lexi, dodging a punch then simultaneously take down three vampires; Damon too fought three vampires with each, eyes festered with veins and fangs bared. Elena and Caroline worked in tandem, dodging and striking.

Bree stood, hands outstretched, and two vampires kneeling in front of her, looking in excruciating pain, their skin drying up with each second. Harry saw a vampire approach her from behind, but before the wizard even thought of acting, the vampire slumped on the ground, blood pooling the ground.

No time to think, the wizard mentally told himself. Only to act. He didn't know how it had happened, but he knew what it was. The attack had begun. They were trying to break out Niklaus.

Harry walked to his cupboard and with rushed motions put on his armour. Done, he turned on the spot what hit heavy air. Anti-Apparition Jinx had been put around the property, the wizard thought as he rushed out of his room and gaped as he looked into missing half of his house. A vampire caught sight of him from below, snarled and jumped: Harry's arm moved with honed fluidity, a curse flying out and hurling the vampire back, slamming him into the ground. He didn't move.

The wizard quickly ran down the hall, descending the stairs and ducking to the ground as someone was thrown through a wall and landed into the stairs. A vampire ran in, running face-first into a blue curse that snapped her neck. Harry viciously slashed his wand as he saw two vampires approach, lopping off their heads with a Severing Curse.

He turned to the vampire who was getting to her feet. Caroline Forbes.

"You're awake," she said with a hopeful smile.

Harry nodded. "Has Sirius made an appearance yet?" he asked; his wand moves, conjuring a giant dog, a wolf, a doe, and a giant snake—nowhere near that of the snake outside—and let them lose to join the battle outside.

"He did," she said. "But he disappeared after he made that fire."

Harry looked outside, Bonnie was still keeping the giant snake in place but the wizard could see the strain, she was sweating and her nose was starting to bleed. The wizard took a deep breath and looked at Caroline.

"I'll take care of the fire," he said. "Go to Bree and tell her to find Sirius and restrain him."

Caroline nodded and took off.

Harry walked outside, catching a glimpse of Tyler stabbing a vampire with one of Connor's stakes before quickly turning to another. One jumped him, but Harry despatched as curse that moved rapidly through the air and struck the vampire before he could strike the hybrid. The wizard saw a smirk from the hybrid before he took off, finding another vampire to take care off.

They were winning, even with the fiery snake still trying to attack Bonnie, though the intruders had numbers they didn't have experience, they couldn't fight. Harry guessed that they were still need, probably Compelled as well. Another slash of the wand and heads flew from their bodies, splattering the wizard with vampire blood; Harry neared the snake and pointed his wand and took control.

It screamed of furry and hunger, the magic of the fire straining the wizard's mind, compelling him to let it go free, to let it devour all who stood in its way. Harry thrust his hand forward and the snake recoiled, looking away from Bonnie and instead looking at Harry, flicking its tongue out and attacking. The wizard flicked his wand, batting the beast back; he swiped and the snake recoiled as though it had been slapped.

Harry felt rising fury in his head. How dare he? the fire screamed. How dare he think he can control me! As quick as lightning the snake shifted into a dragon, opening its large and long-teethed mouth to blow out a large plume fire. Harry thrust he wand forward, catching the fire and with a few swipes banished it from existence. The dragon screeched, spreading its wings and taking to the sky.

"Cobra!" the wizard screamed, his voice magnified by a spell he hadn't cast with his wand. Five spells simultaneously left his wand, all five hitting the dragon which was rising higher into the air much to its dismay.

The Cobra came to a halt in front of the wizard, he jumped in. "Follow it," it started into the air, Harry standing on a seat and shooting spell after spell aiming for the dragon's wings. Higher and higher they went, Harry following and thanking Merlin that he was used to high altitudes. The dragon all of a sudden tucked in its wings and turned, barrelling down, the Cobra rolled out of the way, swiftly turning and following on the downward path.

Harry continued shooting curses into the dragon, the blasted created twisting minutely and dodging the curses completely. Closer and closet the ground came and Harry's hear clenched as he saw beyond the dragon: his house, his friends. If the dragon hit, then the world would go into Apocalypse proportional wars.

"Arresto Momentum!"

The spell colourless and invisible moved through the air and hit, stopping the dragon in it track. Harry quickly fired another curse but it was met by a plume of fire. The Cobra dodge with such intensity that Harry was almost thrown off. The wizard regained his balance and grasped his wand with both hand, jabbing it at the dragon and getting a firm hold on it again. It tried flying away, but viciously pulled it came, causing the fire to screech wildly as it tried to force its hungry will on the wizard.

Harry started moving his wand in a circular motion. The dragon scream, thrashing and writhing as it begun constricting, it wings being pulled in, legs and neck soon following. Harry's arms started cramping up, but he continued in the motion, pushing the fire in a ball the size of a soccer ball. The wizard thrust his wand forward and a spell shot out, hitting the ball and sucking the fire in with one slurp before spitting out a cloud of acrid black smoke.

Harry began panting heavily, wiping a sheet of sweat on his forehead; his body felt heavy, but his core wasn't for some reason. Harry looked below and broke into a grin as he saw that they hadn't lost anyone, but that grin disappeared as he spotted a yellow humming bird flying into the house.

"Get me to the house," Harry told the Cobra and the car began descending, skidding to a stop in front of the house.

"You just fought a dragon," Elena Gilbert was saying but Harry had already broken into a run and heading towards the basement. He felt something and jumped to the side, Elena and Tyler behind him caught by the curse and sent hurtling back.

Harry quickly got to his feet and felt the magic lining the invisible witch. "Everbero," the spell barrelled towards whoever it was and moved with such speed that even a vampire would have trouble dodging it; it hit, but it ricocheted around the room. Harry felt a pulse coming towards him and quickly conjured a shield before doing something he hadn't thought he would ever do.

"Avada Kedavra." There was a flash of green light and Harry heard a body slump.

He rushed to the metal door leading to the basements and blew it apart, the metal shards catching those who had stood behind it, hitting on in the neck and the other in the stomach. Harry flicked his wand and sent the flying out of the basement.

"Incendios Grata!" he screamed sending fire into the basement.

"Aguamenti," he heard and there was a bang, the water evaporated and the fire was quenched. The wizard jumped to the side as he saw as spell headed his way and when it passed, blindly shot three spells below.

Harry tried the fire again, only this time casting it nonverbally; it didn't work. The fire met an equal stream of water and the two cancelled each other out.

Merlin, the wizard thought. Irritated. He didn't know how, but he was sure they would have Niklaus out in a matter of time.

Immensus Serpensortia

The snake hit the floor and large as an anaconda and slithered rapidly below, Harry followed behind it, sticking to side of the walls. The hissed in pain and disappeared, but Harry continued forward, until he heard a roar. It happened quickly, hand grasped his shirt and hurled him out. He hit something, he wasn't sure what, but when he rolled to his feet a smoking Niklaus stood before him, eyes golden and wolf fangs bared.

The man roared and charged for Harry, he was hit by three shots and for a moment Harry felt relieved, that was until Niklaus turned his furious gaze to Connor. The man moved far faster than normal vampires and was instantly at Connor's side, the Hunter made to shoot but the Original wrenched the gun from his hand throwing it at Harry. The wizard's shield activated and broke, but the gun had ricocheted.

"Sectumsempra," Harry screamed, his wand slashing but the spell rebounded of a shield. Harry watched in horror as the Niklaus bit into the hunter's neck and started draining him before quickly snapping his neck.

Harry's world stood still and anger boiled in the wizard, bubbling as he turned to Sirius who had the Elder Wand in hand and a weary expression on him.

"Crucio," two spells shot out and both missed, Sirius having jumped to the side. Niklaus turned, but Tyler was quickly on him, stabbing the still steaming Original in the heart; Cruciatus curse flew from Harry's wand heading in quick succession to Sirius who kept weaving out of their ways; with each spell the room became a brighter red as Harry's anger got stronger.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!"

The smells met with a cannon-like bang, sparks showering the room; Niklaus somehow got the upper hand, throwing Tyler and Caroline—Harry hadn't seen her arrive—to the floor, catching the male and breaking his spine. Harry brought up his wand and conjured a shield, the curse hit, its force so much so that Harry felt like a club had smashed across his face. Harry stumbled back, slashing his wand as he did; the wizard caught someone from the groan but he didn't know who.

Harry shook his head, shaking off the pain. He jumped to the side and was missed by a red curse, he didn't have time to reach the ground as he was thrown back. The landing was softer than he expected.

"Are you okay?" it was Elena Gilbert and the woman set her down.

They both ducked as purple case whizzed over their heads. "Where's Bonnie?" Harry asked, he shot a curse at Sirius who jumped to the side beside a bloodied Gregory. A body hurtled towards Harry and Elena, Lexi and the woman's neck looked to be at an odd angle. Elena's shield activated and the body bounced again the shield.

Niklaus charged but a bullet to do knew broke his momentum causing the Original to tumble forward; Harry flicked his wand and the vampire was caught by an invisible rope and held in the air upside down. Harry felt a pulse and Niklaus dropped, Harry glared at Gregory who was gradually growing paler.

"Everbero," Harry said before Niklaus could get up, the spell, taking the man clear of the ground. "Find Bonnie. We need her power," said Harry and Elena took off.

Niklaus' skin was red as he got to his feet, glaring at the wizard and preparing to pounce. Caroline was in one corner, not dead but her legs broken; Tyler slumped on the floor and Lexi wasn't moving; and Gregory and Sirius were hunched behind a fallen sofa, the wizard trying to heal the cursed witch.

"I will bring you pain the like you have never before felt, wizard," Niklaus said his voice low and anger.

Harry's hand closed tightly around his wand. "Come at me, Abomination," Harry said, remembering every detail he could of the man's father.

Niklaus roared and charged. Harry's wand moved and pointed in front of him, spell shot out, following the hybrid with each dodge and doing very well because Niklaus wasn't able to move forward. The man soon turn tired especially as he started smouldering, he ran to Gregory and Sirius, grabbed the fallen witch and took off, dodging spells as went.

He screamed as he got into sunlight and took off towards the forest; the moment he stepped in the forest came alive. Branches moving and stabbing the Original, swiping Gregory off his arms. Niklaus didn't stop running though; Harry soon last track of the man, but his eyes fell on the bird trying to make a break for it.

"Stupefy," the bird dodged and ducked, but the wizard wasn't alone. Bonnie appeared out of nowhere, Elena beside her; the woman brought up her hand and the bird hit the ground, turning into Sirius.

"No," said Sirius, his voice panicked. "This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't supposed to happen." The man pointed his wand around in blind panic. Damon appeared from the forest, his brother on his shoulder and he looked pissed.

"Break the curse on my brother," the man said his voice calm but dangerous, "and I won't kill you painfully."

"Where's Bree, Sirius?" Harry asked. He hadn't seen her and with not feeling Lexi die, Harry was at a loss. The wizard feared what might have been done to her.

"She's in the basement," said Sirius keeping all of them within his eye view. "I don't know if you've realised it yet, but I still have two witches in my employ."

Harry didn't move, though he couldn't help but feel a lump rise up his throat. He had to take care of Sirius first. Harry didn't like what the man was though. Such magic, though the wizard had no idea how the magic of summoning back Lexi and Bree had caused such an occurrence, was not supposed to be in the world. Harry was sure Sirius' death, Sirius' destruction, would make sure Dark Magic to this equivalent would never be seen again in this universe.

"If you're hoping I go running of to save her, that won't happen," said Harry. "I hope you understand that I have to kill you."

"You know what Remus and I are then," said Sirius.

Harry nodded. "Most of all I think I've figured it out about Remus." Harry tapped his head. "It's a good thing I'm used to crazy," the wizard said.

Sirius swallowed. "You can't kill me, Harry," said Sirius taking a step back.

"I know," said the wizard. "But outside parties aren't. You'll be killed when I have the wand."

Sirius took a deep breath and his expression grew hard, he got into a duelling stance. "I think you forget that this is the Elder Wand," the wizard said, the tip of the very wand.

Harry smirked. "I haven't a good duel in two centuries," he said getting into a similar stance. "Bonnie, I need you and your friends to take care of the witches who have Bree." Harry caught a nod and the three started edging away slowly.

"Crucio!" shouted Sirius just as Harry screamed, "Everbero!"

The spells met mid-air and broke apart. Harry was faster in his wand work, sending three stunners that Sirius side-stepped. The blond swiped his wand and Harry only had a moment to dodge the brilliant purple curse.

"Incendios Grata!"

"Aguamenti!"

Fire and water met with hollow thud, spreading a thick fog that covered the entire yard in an instance; Harry flourished his wand, transfiguring the mist into a giant snake.

"Oppugno."

The snake hissed and struck, but before it could hit and spelled slammed into it, breaking the snake apart into a dozen birds that shot at Harry; the wizard swiped his wand and the birds fell against the ground with such force that they disintegrated.

"Colour me impressed," the wizard commented; he side-stepped a purple spell and retaliated in kind. Sirius quickly conjured a shield and the spell rebounded off him. "You're good in Transfigurations."

"No thanks to you," said Sirius. Purple and orange met and broke apart as though they were fireworks. Three spells shot from Sirius' wand in rapid fire, Harry returning in kind with counter-curse after counter-curse. Sirius flourished and Harry moved his wand in a tight circle conjuring a shield that looked almost akin to a mirror; Sirius' spell, a dangerous purple jet of flame, slammed against the shield causing it to ripple. It bounced back and the spell, looking much larger, returned to its master.

Sirius conjured a shield, but it wasn't strong enough. Spell and shield met and the shield gave way. Sirius was knocked clear off his feet, spun three times, and hit the ground with such force that it should have killed him.

"Expelliarmus." The spell hit but nothing happened, instead Sirius jumped to his feet, smirking even through the weary look Harry could see in his eyes.

"It won't be that easy," said Sirius before he returned with vigour, a crazed glint in his eyes; Harry jumped to the side and a purple spell missed him by the barest inches. He quickly got to his feet but it was to another wand. The wizard moved with honed reflexes, countering the curse before it could hit him; their spells met and rebounded. All the air left Harry's lungs and a feeling as though he had been punched in the stomach emanated. He coughed as he hit the ground, aware that another spell was coming for him. Harry rolled out of it way just in time and found his feet.

"Quasso Arcus," Harry shouted and the spell, white in colour, missed its mark completely. Harry didn't wait, the spell was followed by three others that Sirius had no choice but to conjure a shield.

"Pyrus Impactus," said Sirius, but the spell didn't have time to leave as a white spell hit the man in the shoulder and spun him in the air. Sirius jumped to his feet, but pain was laced in his eyes. "Attero. Casso. Corrumpo. Diruo."

"Speculum." The bright mirror shield appeared and caught the spell. It rippled and rippled even more as it caught the second spell, with the third it shattered and Harry no time to dodge the last spell. It struck. Pain coursed through Harry from his chest, a deep gash had formed itself and blood was rushing out in waves.

"You're cocky, Harry," said Sirius with a little in the ways of a smirk. "I think you forget that this is the Elder Wand."

Harry tapped himself with his wand, the wound starting to slowly knit together, the pain not fading as it did. "And I think," said Harry wincing a little. "You forget who I am. Incendios Grata!"

"Aguamenti!"

Harry flourished his wand before fire and water could meet. The fire jumped, quickly turning into a dog and leaping to the side. Harry followed, dodging the torrent of water headed his way. The dog growl and Harry heard a scream, then a yelp. Harry slashed his wand as though carrying a sword. A rip appeared in Sirius' clothes but the spell went no further.

"Fuck," Harry muttered. He shot another spell, then another, quickly putting Sirius on the defensive and give the wizard no time at all to react. Sirius with the aid of the Elder Wand was far stronger, his spells more powerful and his prowess would be doubly so. But Harry had something Sirius didn't have, prowess and instinct.

A spell collided with Sirius and the wizard stumbled back. Sirius flourished his wand, conjuring a fiery rope that he sent at Harry. The wizard smirked, in the brief moment before the rope curled around him, he worked his wand in a complicated pattern.

"You shouldn't have use fire."

Harry brought down his wand and the fire roared louder, breaking apart into birds that took to the sky. Sirius looked up, fear shining in his eyes and he took a few steps back.

"Protego Maxima!" Sirius screamed and there appeared a semi-dome shield over him. The first bird hit and exploded in a fiery mess; Harry's wand was already working: more birds formed. Three hit the shield and exploded: more birds formed. Six more hit and twelve more came into life. The shield started wavering, cracking and hissing. Sirius' brow was laden with sweat, his hair thin and bedraggled and he looked like he would give out any second. The shield shattered and the flock descended, smacking again his clothes before the first hurt him.

"Aufero!"

A jet of dark blue fire hit Sirius and with a scream from the blond, the wand viciously left his hand, flew through the air and into Harry's already expectant hand.

A prickle rose through Harry's arm and his sight changed; the veil to the Other Side stripped itself and around him Harry became aware of the sight around him. The many dead, vampires, witches and hybrids standing around and watching. Harry should have felt happy that he was again the Master of Death, but as he looked into the faces of the hybrids who had died for him, he couldn't help but feel regret at calling them in.

"Harry," it was Connor and the man wasn't looking at Harry, but instead his sight was set behind him. Harry turned and in the distance he could see Gregory edging slowly into the forest. Trying to run.

The Elder Wand and the stone wand changed hands; he pointed it first at Sirius—the man's body seized, his arms coming at his side and his legs sticking together—then at the sky, a spell shot out. Harry turned on the spot and appeared in front of Gregory.

"Going somewhere?" Harry asked his wand pointed out. Blood lined his chest, he looked pale and his eyes showed his fatigue; his hand rose. "I wouldn't try casting any spells," said Harry. "It would take me a millionth of a second to kill you."

"I can be of use to you," the man said, pain lacing his voice.

"You can," said Harry. "Stupefy."

Night had fallen. Harry lay on his back enjoying the splendour of not moving. He felt tired, his body worn from his duel with Sirius and his core feeling only slightly better. Connor stood leaning on a windowsill, Bree standing beside him; Lexi sat next to Stefan, the Ripper sat stiffly, his eyes showing clearly that he was brooding, the man's brother stood not so far from him, looking he better than he had when Stefan had still been under the Imperius Curse. Elena, Caroline, Bonnie, Tyler, Jeremy and Matt were all standing waiting in a subdued quiet.

"Okay," Harry finally said. "How did we get here?" The last thing he remembered was his experiment with Bree then a flood of memories.

"Whatever you and Bree were doing blew up the house," said Connor. Harry noticed that more people that should have been were looking at him when the man spoke: Harry, Jeremy, Bree and Stefan, though Lexi wasn't, "knocked you and changed a lot."

Harry looked at Lexi as dawning hit. "You're alive?" he asked looking at Lexi.

She nodded. "The explosion."

"But then why isn't Bree alive?"

"I think we panicked," said Bree. "The spell moved outwards. It didn't recoil."

"And the idiot that is me broke the circle keeping all that power in," Harry said with a sigh. He let out a long breath, wincing as he disturbed his wound. "Okay, so Lexi is alive…that explains things. Please tell me there weren't any other ghosts hanging around when all that power spread out. I shudder to think who it might have brought back to life."

Lexi and Bree shrugged, so did Connor. "We had more pressing matters to deal with," said Bree.

"Like what?" asked Harry.

Stefan's teeth clenched and his hands closed into fists. "I escaped," he said, his voice low and angry. His head dropped, ashamed. "I found a ghost, a witch that had been keeping watch for Sirius and told it you were down."

"You can see ghosts?" Harry asked, surprised written across his features.

"The spell affected all of us," said Lexi. "Me, Stefan, Connor and Galen."

Speaking of which… "Where is he?" Harry asked, dread starting to stir at the pit of his stomach.

"He took off," said Connor. "We haven't heard word in two days."

"It's been two days?" There were nods. "I was really out of it wasn't I?"

"You had us worried," said Bree. "But we guessed the chances of an attack would come when word got out that you had been blown up, so we got together and defended the house. They attacked pretty quickly."

"Your wards broke under that fire," said Bonnie. "What was it?"

"Cursed Fire," said Harry. "It can kill anything."

"Even Originals?" asked Damon.

"I would hazard and say yes," the wizard said.

"Then why didn't you just use it on Klaus?" asked Tyler.

"You saw me fight it right?" the wizard asked. "That sort of magic has a mind of its own. Hungry and destructive. It took everything in me to take its attention away from Bonnie and even then it escaped me." Harry shook his head. "Magic of that scale is something reserved for the bleakest situations."

"Klaus has escaped," said Elena. "You know he'll want revenge, right. What are we going to do about him?"

"You will do nothing," said Harry. "I freed Rebekah from the whole daggered situation. The Mikaelson are a family, and Elijah is their head. I will ask him that he keeps Niklaus from coming to Mystic Falls again."

Damon snorted. "What makes you think Klaus will listen?" he asked.

"I'm sure he will," said Harry. "I've seen Niklaus' character and I know he cares for his siblings. Not to mention Niklaus will owe me when I remove the Hunter's curse." Harry's eyes flickered towards Jeremy, the potential didn't miss it.

"What?" he asked.

"I'll tell you when I've made the deal," said Harry. "But first we need to work with the fallout. Many will have seen the dragon flying over the town. Bonnie, do you think you would be able to project a spell through the entire town?"

"I—I've never tried it before," said Harry. The wizard took out his stone wand, the Elder Wand was tucked safely in his holster. "Use this to draw power." He stood and handed the wand over. "The spell is Obliviate. Focus on removing the entirety of today."

"Won't that have a negative effect on everyone?" asked Bonnie.

"You underestimate the Muggle mind," said Harry. "They have a knack for dismissing the supernatural."

Bonnie nodded then closed her eyes, clasping the wand with both hands; power rose and Harry shivered. The addictive power of Expression spread through the house, outside and continued further than the range Harry's sense encompassed.

"Obliviate." She let out a tired breath. "I think it worked."

Harry gave a nod. "I'm of the same mind," said the wizard. "Now that that's done. I think I should sleep for a week or so."

"What about Sirius?" asked Lexi. "What will you do to him?"

"Bree and I will work on a counter spell that will put Sirius back in my mind given I can't kill him."

"And the witches?" asked Matt.

"I'll change the younger ones' memories, done well enough they won't suspect anything of the past months. Gregory…I don't know yet. But I fear letting him go and him returning to Niklaus."

"I don't get why you're so scare of the guy," said Jeremy. "He didn't even fight."

"But he broke the binding around Klaus' prison in a few short minutes. He's a threat," said Bonnie. Harry nodded in full agreement.

"What do we do now?" asked Caroline. "After all this?"

"Go about our normal lives," said Lexi. "But this time, perhaps without trying to kill each other every week." Harry shrugged and looked particularly at the Salvatore brothers; Stefan kept his head down and Damon only scowled. "I'll take that as a mutual yes," said Lexi with a sigh.

"Okay," said Harry, "now that we're done here." Harry stood. "If all would follow my stand, I think when I fall asleep all my transfigurations will disappear." Harry's couch disappeared and Lexi and Stefan only had a moment to stand before theirs did the same.

"You have to tell me how you do that," said Bonnie.

Harry smiled. "Visualisation, enforcing the will unto the world. Basic magic if you've been taught from the age of eleven."

"Is that how you make those animals?" asked Caroline and Harry nodded.

"I'm going upstairs." There was a tug at his navel and the rush of wind and the wizard found himself standing in front of his bed. He should have questioned it, should have thought it over, but the wizard was tired. He fell forward and let the darkness envelope him.

"Expecto Patronum."

Prongs appeared, rushed around Harry and then trotted off. Harry concentrated and felt a tug at his navel, the world rushed past him a rope that had tied around him pulling him forward. He appeared, his wand poised and he was a bit disappointed that a fight wasn't waiting for him on the other side. There was a certain rush to having adrenaline rushing through his veins.

Elijah, at least Harry assumed it was: the man was dark-haired, his eyebrows set in a scowl; he sat straight-backed and looking without wavering at a piece of parchment. The man looked up when Harry shifted.

"Who are you?" he asked. He sounded inquisitive, without an ounce of threat.

"I first want your word that you won't attack me when I tell it to you," said the wizard. Elijah looked at him with a critical eye, taking him in.

"Harry Potter," he said and Harry nodded, his hand closing tighter around his wand. "I admit I wasn't expecting you."

"I came to make a deal," said Harry. Elijah's eyebrows peeked. "Your brother killed a friend of mine. A hunter friend of mine," Harry added when the words had something but the slightest change in expression from Elijah.

"The Hunter's curse," said Elijah. "You have a way to break it?" Harry nodded. "What do you want?"

"Niklaus doesn't return to Mystic Fall," said Harry.

"Mystic Falls is where we were born."

Harry shrugged. "I call it home now," said Harry, "and it's been proven that Niklaus and I can't live in the same place."

Elijah thought on it for a small while, then, "My sister tells me you released her when she was daggered. She likes you," Harry couldn't help grinning at that, "and I find I don't hate you either." Elijah gave a nod. "I'll keep Niklaus out of Mystic Falls when you break the Hunter's Curse."

"Consider it broken," said Harry. The wizard prepared to disappear.

"Wait, Mr Potter." Elijah reached in his inner chest pocket and took out a ring. Harry thought he must have been too antsy because he missed the call of the stone. "I give you this, however, I will expect three favours."

Harry nodded. "But I won't do anything that goes against my morals," the wizard said.

"I respect that." He tossed the ring and Harry caught it, putting it on. The Master of Death smirked as he felt new power, a greater power come over him. In that moment Harry felt he could go toe-to-toe with an Original and tell the tale. "How will I contact you?"

"Call anyone in Mystic Falls, they will be able to contact me," said Harry. He concentrated and disappeared.

"Drink this will mean you're going back to the Other Side, you understand that right?" Harry asked, in his hand was a small vial with an ember liquid.

Bree nodded. "It's fine," said Bree. "You're right, about the magic that keeps them together. It's deplorable, and anyway I've decided to take a trip around the Other Side, find out what's been happening on the Other Side."

"Is Connor going with you?"

The witch smiled a little. "Yeah. He says he wants to meet my ancestors."

Harry's nose scrunched. "Not a vacation I would take if it were me," said Harry. "I'm guessing the compulsion to kill Silas is gone." Bree nodded.

"He likes being a ghost. Thinks teleporting is cool."

"I don't think it's healthy for him to be thinking lightly of his death like this," the wizard.

Bree sobered and nodded. "It's something we'll deal with," she said. "I'm hoping I can get him to open up during our trip."

Harry nodded and took a large breath in. "Down the hatch."

"Why do I have the strong feeling that you're leaving too?" asked Harry as he looked at Lexi. There was something about her, the almost guilty aura that emanated from her.

"I need to find Lee," she said.

Harry nodded grimly and reached into his pocket, pulling out his keys—he hadn't had time to charm another compass—and handed them over.

"I'll be taking some time off from everything myself," said Harry. "Focus on enchanting my brooms again, Merlin knows I haven't made any headway in that."

"What about breaking the veil, the Cure?"

"Too much hassle," said the wizard. "I think I'm getting too old for this much excitement. I'll just keep an eye out for the last group that will die." Lexi's brow rose, and she didn't need to speak for Harry to get the question: 'Didn't we just kill a whole lot of vampires?' "I doubt that blood made any difference," said Harry. "Location is specific when it comes to rituals. A particular geometric shape has to be abided by."

Lexi nodded. "I'll miss you, Harry."

"Me too."

The house was barren, chunks missing and a whole lot of ghosts Harry didn't feel like talking to wandering on the yard. The wizard took a long breath, thought of the person he would most like to spent time with right now and appeared in front of a door.

He knocked and after a few moments the door was opened. "A good day to you," he said with a smile and his greeting was returned. "Is your mother in?"

A few moments spent waiting and she answered the call.

"I was wondering," the wizard said after a few moment's conversation. "Would you like to go to dinner some time?"