I'm going to start off with an apology. In Chapter 6 I stated I had no intention of doing the whole week. But I had so many ideas that I have ended up doing just that. I hope it hasn't seemed crammed. This is basically the first Fanfic 'story' I've done, the others were one-shots and I've really enjoyed it
A topic I chat about a lot amongst my friends and to my missus is the entity known as Death. I'm curious as to what are your guy's opinions on it? Do you believe in Death as an entity? Do you believe you just become worm food and there's no afterlife? Do you believe in reincarnation? I'm aware its dangerously close to being a religious discussion so please be careful and mindful of others' opinions. Personally, I've always believed in an entity but I've always felt like it's the most lonely and thankless job you could have.
My missus gave me her idea on who of Death is so that's who I've gone with. I wonder how many of you will recognise the description
Thank you all for your reviews. As I write this, I'm on 99 which is incredible to me as this was just an idea that I had one day on the way to work. Thank you all so much
The Hallows
Albus sat up in his chair as he contemplated just where the ring and wand had gone. Harry! He was the only one who could unite the Hallows due to him owning the cloak. Standing up he called Fawkes to him. The phoenix appeared on his shoulder, sending Minerva a patronus that he would be unavailable for the foreseeable future he looked at Fawkes and came to a decision. "Take me to Nurmengard Fawkes" with a flash he appeared in front of the large Bavarian castle. Making his way to the locked door he contemplated just how he was going to get through without the Elder Wand, deciding he didn't have time to debate on a plan he just blasted the door repeatedly until he broke his own wards. Striding through to the main room he saw Gellert sitting down at the table, a cloak on the back of his chair as if he'd been expecting Albus to turn up
"So Albus" Gellert began "it looks like all your plans have gone up in smoke. The Potter boy has activated the Hallows, eh? How?"
"I do not know Gellert" Albus said sitting down heavily "didn't I send you the stone? How did it get back into my drawer in my office?"
"You did" Gellert replied "but the next day when I went to study it some more, I found it had disappeared. As no one can enter here I assumed it had made its way back to its owner, you." looking at Albus he saw that he was now less one arm "I can also see how you lost control of the wand. How?"
"Harry saw something that made him truly angry" Albus said "in his rage he nearly killed a fellow student of his and I had to intercede. My spell started the duel which resulted in Harry unlocking his Magical Maturity and his rage was terrible. He didn't even know who he was duelling when myself, my deputy and my charms master tried to subdue him. He beat us all. Had I been trying to subdue him fully I would likely have beaten him or maybe I wouldn't have. Either way the end result was Harry walked away from the three on one duel without a scratch on him. My Charms master, who is a nine-time duelling champion ended up being taken out first. I then followed after he had used a dark cutting curse on me, my reactions are not what they once were it seems, even the elder wand couldn't stop him and my deputy was about to be blasted through the Great Hall doors before his best friend sneaked up on him and stunned him. When I next awoke I was without an arm and the loyalty of the wand.
Harry didn't want the wand and left it in my care. Today though we were both rather foolish. Harry asked me to disarm him so that I would regain control of the wand and its power die with me, as per the original plan. The wand refused to be disarmed. The stone was on the table when a medical emergency happened and, in his haste, he picked up the stone and pocketed it. The wand was in my possession, or so I had thought as I used it before leaving him to deal with a personal matter. Half an hour later I am at Hogwarts dealing with the medical emergency when I hear the Death Tolls. Racing up to my office I find they have gone missing. They could only be with Harry as he refuses to let the Cloak out of his sight."
Gellert had listened to the tale with great interest. Harry, like himself and Albus it seemed was a man of great destiny. To be the one to unite the Hallows cemented his opinion on that. He had long since given up on the idea that it would be him. He never saw any point in obtaining the cloak, he could batter down wards rather than sneak through them and the stone would be just a means to gaining an army. They were just part of the set to him. The Wand was the one he had wanted, gaining it proved to him that it was the most coveted and most useful of the three artefacts. He had done such remarkable magical miracles with it, but it had betrayed him when he fought Albus. It let itself be overpowered. Perhaps it sensed Gellert's reluctance to properly fight Albus, perhaps it sensed Albus was slightly more powerful. Either way his spell failed, when it had never done so before and Albus beat him. He had won the wand and then was imprisoned here, in his own prison.
Being alone often gives one time to reflect on one's life. Being alone for nearly fifty years had given him ample time to realise what his own destiny truly was. He was born to bring a Hallow back into the world from where it had been hidden. Despite all the amazing magic he had done it was this he was most proud of. He was an absolute bastard. He had ordered the butchering of millions of people in his zeal for conquest. He was reviled by millions of people worldwide still to this day. But in his own arrogance he didn't care about that. He was a part of history. And now here was the culmination of all he had done. The Hallows had been united. He had no designs on being the master of Death. He was far too old for that now. But he desired to see the results of their unification, just to see if his own speculations were correct
"Where are they now? Where is Harry now?" Gellert asked leaning forward looking serious
"Godrics Hollow" Albus replied causing Gellert to let out a great laugh
"Absolutely amazing!" Gellert exclaimed. Seeing Albus' questioning face, he continued "the river that Death was said to have faced the three brothers is now a tiny stream on the outskirts of Godrics Hollow. The Deathly Hallows were given to the brothers in Godrics Hollow. The three brothers were born and laid to rest in Godrics Hollow. They have now been united after eight hundred years in Godrics Hollow. I knew when I first visited the place that it held historical significance, other than being named after a founder of Hogwarts. There is no such thing as coincidence Albus, you know this. Fate has played a part in this. I was born to bring a Hallow out from its hiding place, I was destined to lose it to you just as you were born to wield one and lose it to Harry. And now they have finally been reunited in the hands of the humblest descendent of the humblest brother Albus in the very place they were created. This is not luck, it is fate. We heard the Death Tolls Albus. We must go there and see them united"
Albus had been silent throughout Gellert's' speech. He knew he was right. He knew Harry was a plaything of Fate. He was prophecy-bound, now it seemed like he was Death-bound as well. Hearing the last part though concerned him. If anyone saw Albus walking down the road with a Dark Lord it would be the end as he knew it. He was very persuasive, and could explain many things away. But he wouldn't be able to explain that.
"I have no desire to steal the Hallows if that's what you're thinking Albus" Gellert interrupted his musings "I was not destined to unite them, that much has been made clear to me over the last fifty years. They are not mine to wield"
"I was more concerned about your appearance actually" Albus said "you are still very much recognisable. Your aunt still lives there Gellert"
"Auntie Bathilda is still alive?" Gellert asked stunned "I would quite like to see her again. And you're forgetting that glamour charms exist Albus"
"Very well then" Albus said standing up and casting a glamour on Gellert. Calling Athena and Fawkes to them Albus said "Godrics Hollow cemetery please"
With that they flashed away. Arriving at the cemetery they were amazed by what they saw. A huge golden ward had sprung up surrounding the cemetery itself, outside it were people from all over the country marvelling at the scene. Using magic to push their way forwards Albus and Gellert made their way to the front where they were met by a frantic Minister and several reporters
Seeing him the Minister rushed forward "Albus, thank Merlin you are here. This golden ward has appeared from nowhere. Do you have any idea what's causing it?" silence reigned as they waited for Albus to answer
"I do yes" he replied as he pushed past the reporters and stopped with Gellert at the gates. Looking at him he said "Death walks amongst us". Immediately hushed whispers broke out. Death?
Gellert took over "This ward is an ancient failsafe created many years ago by three very powerful wizards who were gifted three very powerful artefacts. These artefacts were created by Death itself. Many of you know what I am talking about, some are likely thinking I'm senile but as you can see, they have at last been united by a single wizard. I do not care whether or not you believe me. The evidence is right here. All we can do now is wait and see"
"Who is the one that has united them?" Rufus asked "what are these artefacts and why didn't we know about this as a possibility beforehand Dumbledore? This is going to be a nightmare when it comes to obliviating the muggles! Even they can see it!"
"No one has ever united them before Rufus" Albus said "wizards throughout history have claimed to hold one, sometimes two but no one has ever held all three. You may know them as the Deathly Hallows. And it is Harry Potter who has united them" with that silence reigned as they all turned to look at the golden ward.
Riddle Manor
Bursting into the main chamber Peter Pettigrew knew he was likely risking his life by doing so unannounced but this was important. His master needed to know as soon as possible. Seeing Voldemort, Bellatrix, Draco and Snape in there he blurted out
"My Lord! The wireless! Potter!" was all he was able to get out before being hit by the Cruciatus curse.
"You better have a really good reason Pettigrew for bursting in here unannounced!" came a cold reply "Speak!"
"My Lord, Potter is on the wireless" came the reply as he struggled to talk "Something has happened at Godrics Hollow. Something about Death and Hallows"
Voldemort immediately stood up and swept from the room, the others following him as he entered a door off to the side. Switching on the wireless he was immediately informed of what Wormtail was blathering on about
"If you have just joined us this is a special news bulletin. We are here at Godrics Hollow where a mysterious Golden ward appeared around an hour ago surrounding the Godrics Hollow Cemetery. Albus Dumbledore and an unnamed wizard joined us not long after to explain what it was. According to the mysterious wizard Harry Potter has united the Deathly Hallows, said to be three artefacts of unimaginable power created by Death itself nearly a millennia ago. Why Potter has united them remains unclear but the ward around the cemetery is fairly impregnable, no one can go within five feet of the gates without being thrown back. The ministry has placed its own wards around Godrics Hollow to repel the muggles, who can also see the ward. We are all waiting here to see and talk to Harry Potter when he comes out from inside the ward. Hopefully, despite Albus Dumbledore saying 'Death walks amongst us' it proves to be a lie and this is nothing more than a prank gone wrong"
Shutting off the wireless Voldemort had heard enough. Making his way back to his seat he mused. So, Potter was in possession of the wand he was seeking? That made it easier than hunting across the globe for it. His research had hit a dead end with Gregorovich. He had been making plans to hunt him down but there was now no need to do so given it had been brought virtually into his lap. The question remained however just how Potter had come across it. He wasn't worried about the duel he was going to have to have with Potter, he knew he was far superior and far more talented than him. Like Albus, he knew that there was no such thing as an unbeatable wand. The fact it had changed hands in duels proved how idiotic historians could be. He was so close now to world domination. Killing Potter and taking possession of the Elder wand would make him invincible, having horcruxes would a nice back-up
"My lord" came the whining voice of Draco "what do you plan to do?"
Leaning forward he got into Draco's fearful face, grabbed it and said quietly "if you ever have the impertinence to ask a question like that again I will kill you, do you understand me young Draco" receiving frantic nods he sat back and continued "it seems that Potter has played into my hands here, I can achieve several of my goals in one fell swoop. I can eliminate Albus and Potter at the same time. Albus said 'Death walks amongst us', did he? Well let's give Death a welcome party, shall we? Godrics Hollow calls us" turning to Bella he said "you will not cast a spell until I do, do you understand? I do not need you being wand happy to mess up my plans. Come. We have a God to greet" with that he stood up and walked them all to the apparition point, Snape quickly grabbed Draco and left just after his master and Bellatrix. This should be enlightening he thought as he popped away
Dee's House
White. Lots of white. That was the first thing Harry thought when he came to. Judging from the very hard ground he was lying on he was in the middle of a street it seemed. There was literally nothing around, absolutely nothing in sight as far as he could see. Wondering just where he was, he tried to get up but his limbs didn't seem to want to work. He felt like an upturned turtle with his head flopping from side to side. His limbs felt like they weighed a ton! Eventually he managed to turn himself over onto his front. This wasn't much of improvement he mused as he pushed himself onto all fours. After what felt like half an hour he managed to get into standing position and looked around. Doing so he fell back onto his backside as a house appeared from nowhere. Where the hell had that house come from, he wondered? Being magical he was used to items appearing from nothing. But a house? Was it under wards that had been lifted? It was very strange.
The house looked very strange. It was a two-story house that had a mock-Tudor front, with ivy crawling all over the façade, four black windows and a black door. Nothing about it made it look special to Harry, but as he had nothing better to do, and it was the only thing nearby he struggled back to his feet and made his way to the door. Knocking several times, he received no answer. Deciding to open it he made his way inside. He didn't seem to have his wands wherever here was so he warily made his way through the house, checking the rooms as he went. Nothing on the ground floor stood out to him, it was a basic house it seemed. Deciding to check upstairs he made his way up the stairs where he heard a noise at the end of the hallway where a door was slightly ajar. Checking the rooms on the way as he made his way to the open door to make sure nothing could jump him from behind, he eventually made it to the room.
Opening the door, he found a girl sat on a couch, avidly watching a TV eating a bucket of what looked like popcorn, her knee up on the couch with her other leg folded underneath her. She was dressed from head to toe in black, black jeans and a black tank top. She was very pale, had midnight black hair that was up in a ponytail at the moment, violet eyes and pink lips, wearing what looked like a silver necklace. Under her right eye was a strange looking tattoo that he was sure he'd seen before but couldn't place it. If he swung that way, he mused he'd consider her fairly attractive. Turning to him her eyes widened as she shouted "Harry! There you are! Come in. Sit down here! This is my favourite part coming up" as she patted the couch next to her and turned back to the TV. How very strange Harry thought, she was clearly a lunatic. Unsure of what else to do he warily sat down next to her and looked at the TV and gasped in shock. It was them! Sat as they were right now at the side of each other watching a TV
"I've seen this so many times" the girl said conversationally still eating popcorn "but I've never managed to see what happens next. I hope it is as good as I hope it will be. Maybe this will be the day I get to see! How exciting is that? Do you want some popcorn?" she asked offering him the bucket. Seeing he was transfixed onto the screen she poked him in the face bringing him out of his shocked state. "Are you OK?" she asked bringing her head closer to him making him back his head away "You look a little pale Harry. You should get some more sun!" nodding decisively she turned back to the screen and resumed eating
"Erm, yeah" Harry began very confused "Erm, who are you?"
"You can call me Dee. Oh" she exclaimed loudly standing up shocking him "wait there a minute. I'll be right back" with that she raced out of the room leaving Harry wondering just what the hell was going on. He could hear the girl making various noises as she seemed to be opening various doors downstairs "don't move Harry" he heard faintly. He didn't dare he thought very concernedly. A minute later she came skipping back into the room with a massive bowl full of ice cream and sat down heavily at the side of him. "I got you a spoon too" she said as she began to eat and watch the TV again. Warily Harry picked up the spoon and joined in. It was quite nice actually he decided. And if it hadn't been for the strange situation he had found himself in, he may have enjoyed it more. "That was a very nice thing you did for Mr Fortescue" she said casually licking her spoon "he was such a nice man. He didn't deserve to die like that. But he was glad he was found and laid to rest at the Hollow. He said it seemed apt given his life's work. I was glad you found him in the end"
He had finally gone round the bend he decided. This girl was acting like she had been there with them at Malfoy manor. Just what the hell was going on here "Again" Harry said "who are you?"
"You know who I am Harry, I've already told you" Dee said giggling getting more ice cream "we've met before, quite a few times actually" she said thoughtfully "the last time wasn't so fun though. Having said that neither was the first time. You were very young at the time" she said as she picked up a remote and changed the channel "look at you! You were so cute back then" Harry looked at the screen and gasped. It was what seemed like a video of him as a toddler playing with his mum and dad "you were such a funny little baby. Did you know your first act of magic was levitating your godfather into your crib while he was in his Grim form so you could sleep?" she asked as she changed the channel again this time showing a much younger looking Sirius watching baby Harry fly around a room on a broom "I remember when I first met you. You didn't even flinch when I appeared into your room" she said pressing the remote again this time showing his mother standing in front of his crib protecting him from Voldemort "look, there I am" she said casually pointing with her spoon. Indeed, just off to the side was the same girl looking on with casual interest "Tom was such a disappointment. He could have been great you know" she finished shaking her head
"I'm sorry but I still don't know who you are" Harry said still transfixed on the image of his mother "and where I am"
"I've told you, silly" Dee said smiling at him "My name is Dee and you are in my house. My room to be exact"
Beginning to lose his patience he asked irritably "And who are you Dee and why am I in your room?"
Smacking him on the head with her spoon she said before getting more ice cream "Don't be rude Harry. You're in my room because you did something no one has done in over eight hundred years" she said flicking the channel again. This time it showed a news reporter standing in front of a cemetery, surrounded by hundreds of people. A huge Golden dome was behind her in the background
"Hey!" Harry said pointing at the screen "That's Godrics Hollow Cemetery. I was just there before I woke up here. The last thing I remember was burying Mr Fortescue just behind my parents' graves. Then I put my hand in my pocket and then I'm here" looking thoughtful he continued "I'm sure something happened after that but I can't think what. Was I attacked?"
"No, you weren't attacked Harry. You accidentally activated my failsafe when you did something no wizard has ever done before" seeing his confused face she said "oh, you are so adorable when you have your confused face on. Come on Harry, think"
After a minute of coming up with nothing Death turned the volume up on the TV and they listened to the reporter. The Hallows! Turning to her Harry exclaimed "You're Death? As in THE Death?"
Rolling her eyes, she dug in to her ice cream again and said "I've already told you that Harry, you really need to listen. And don't sound so surprised! I did tell you that we've met many times before. Oh poo," she said looking up with a sad frown on her face putting her lip out "we've run out of ice cream"
"But you look nothing like Death!" Harry exclaimed "How can you be death?"
"Oh, and I suppose you know what Death looks like do you?" she said tartly "what, were you expecting a big hooded skeleton with a scythe?"
"Well yeah" came the confused reply "I kind of did"
"I'm sorry you're disappointed Harry" she said turning back to the TV "you've made me sad now"
"Er, I'm sorry?" Harry said questioningly looking at her. He had always been useless when dealing with other people's emotions
"Apology accepted" she said cheerfully "Oh look, there's Tom again. He really should do something about that face of his though. He used to be so dreamy" Harry turned to the screen to see Voldemort and Bellatrix facing off with Albus and an unknown wizard by his side. They seemed to be arguing with each other
"Dreamy?" Harry said incredulously "the words Voldemort and Dreamy do not go together. Why is he always looking for a fight? Is this live?"
"Yes, Dreamy" Dee said as if outraged he was anything but "do you think that is a natural look? No nose and looks like an overgrown snake? That is a result of all the rituals he has done. In his desperation to avoid seeing me he has destroyed his humanity. I'm ever so disappointed in him. It's sad that that is what can happen to a person that's never been told they're loved" standing up she went to a cabinet and pulled out a jar. It looked like the same kind of substance a memory would have before you placed it into a pensieve. Shaking it the jar let out an angry faint shout "But, thanks to you Harry he will soon be whole again and we can work on that attitude problem he has" she said cheerfully. At that moment a wisp came flying into the room and went through the jar to join the rest of the substance "Oh it seems the last but one sliver of him has joined us. He'll soon be in my keeping Harry" turning to the screen Harry watched as Bellatrix apparated away with the remains of a big snake. It seemed the unknown wizard had killed it. Tom seeing this angrily apparated away too leaving destruction behind him. Luckily no one seemed to have died this time but Albus was battered and bruised clutching his side while various people were barricaded behind various things
"It's nearly done" Harry said faintly "Voldemort is mortal again"
Giving a noncommittal shrug Dee placed the jar back into the cabinet and sat back down next to him "Our time here is almost up Harry. Like the mundane proverb, you may ask me three questions. So, make them count"
Thinking heavily Harry ran through the various questions he wanted to ask. There were so many, much more than three. Should he ask Dee about his parents? Should he ask about the possibility of an afterlife? The Hallows? After several minutes he had decided on his three questions
"What's the true story behind the Deathly Hallows? I've read various accounts over the last week and most of them are pure guesswork" Harry asked
"Oh, it's likely much more boring than you believe actually Harry" Dee said looking at him "the story of the three brothers is partly true. I did meet them near a river, I did create for them the Hallows and they do what the tale said they do. However, I didn't create them because I was angry at them for not dying in the river. I am Death, and if I so wanted, I could have claimed their souls without them even being aware of me doing so. They had dreams of creating artefacts that would help them defend Godrics Hollow from muggle and magical invaders, they simply wanted to be left in peace to build up a town and not have their people be subjected to the religious witch burnings that were happening up and down the country or the pillaging of their young women from the then current headmaster of Hogwarts.
I felt their plans were laudable and I was bored so I helped them out. The wand was originally created so that Antioch would have the strength necessary to place wards around the village, the stone was created so that Cadmus who was the town judge would be able to speak to people that had been unjustly killed so that they could find out the true killer's identity and the cloak was created for Ignotus to steal back the Peverell family heirlooms from Hogwarts that one of Salazars descendants had taken when he had stolen Cadmus' daughter during a raid. Do not forget the times back then Harry. Women were items to be stolen or won.
I was in a particularly irritated mood that day when I created them and I accidentally put more power into them than I had planned. My brother Dream had been an arse and done something nearly unforgivable and my head wasn't where it needed to be. In my anger I placed a bit of myself in them. The wand took on my anger and vengeance, the stone took on my melancholic side and my own sadness and the cloak took on my desire to just disappear for a while. Antioch used the wand to have vengeance on someone who he felt had slighted him and was killed after drunkenly bragging about the wand, Cadmus killed himself after losing the original love of his life despite him marrying again and using the stone incorrectly. It was only decades later when Ignotus died that I realised what I had done. And they had disappeared from my sight in that short space of time"
Wow Harry thought. The true story was fairly mundane nodding he asked his next question "what has happened to them? I had planned on giving you them back in all honesty. I hadn't yet come up with a way of doing so but I had a few ideas. I was hoping Albus' idea would work and that the power would die with him. No mortal should have the power over life and death"
"I have taken them back Harry, I plan to reintegrate them into myself very soon. I'm in no hurry to do so as they're perfectly safe here. Albus' idea wouldn't have worked either. They were created by me and so are an extension of me. And as I cannot die neither can they. I have been waiting for a long time for a single witch or wizard to unite them so I could reclaim them but up until now the most anyone has had was two. Final question Harry before I have to send you back so better make it a good one"
Looking at her Harry wondered which one he should ask, gazing around the room he was struck by how bare it was. Was this really her room? It didn't look like a happy place to sleep. Nodding to himself he asked the final question
"Are you happy doing your job? Is there anything I can do for you? I know that was two questions but they are linked. For years I've had various conversations about what I would imagine the entity known as Death would be, what they would look like and how they would act. You have shattered all those perceptions. Your job seems like the loneliest and the most thankless job of all. It is also likely the most necessary job of all too. I feel a strange sort of sadness when I see you and I want to help in any way I can, IF I can" Harrys' monologue was stopped short as a black missile launched itself at him. Being used to this with Hermione he reflexively opened his arms and accepted the hug. It was very strange. Dee was likely the second person he had let hug him in his life that he could remember. Hearing sobs he grew a bit concerned so he patted her on the head and back awkwardly and said "there, there". The sobs turned into laughter as she pulled back from him
"I knew I had made the right choice in you Harry" Dee said "when I first met you, I knew you would be special. I hoped that I would be right, and every-time I saw you after that day that hope grew. You're correct. It is a thankless task doing what I do. And it is incredibly lonely at times. But I keep myself happy by talking to the various souls I help, listening to their life stories. It keeps me sane. And Ninety-nine percent of the time they are happy stories that significantly outweigh the one-percent and it makes what I do worth it. So, because you have made me happy with that question, I will give you a gift. It will come to you not long after you wake up" standing up Dee asked him to follow her to the door just as they got there, she gave him another awkward hug. Just as he was about to leave, she said "Oh and Harry?" turning to face her he looked at her questioningly. Putting a finger on his scar she said "Boop" and he disappeared leaving behind Dee with a silver strand dangling from her finger. Holding it up she walked back to her room and went to the cabinet where the jar was. Placing the strand inside she held it up to the light and smiled. It was very nearly whole again. Sitting back down on the couch she got herself into a comfy position, pulled the popcorn back onto her lap and switched the channel again. Yes, she mused to herself, the next part had been better than she could ever have imagined