Authors Note: Hey guys!!! This is my reply to a challenge made by Reptilia28 (Or something like that). The challenge was to make a HarryXHermione story with numerous requirements. Though IDK if i managed to meet them all correctly. But I'm having fun writing the story so with out further ado...enjoy, A Gift From Death!
Chapter 1: The After Life
The last thing Harry Potter remembered was taking Voldemort's Killing curse in the Forbidden Forest. What is baffling him now was that he is now sitting in a plush arm chair in a large room with four doors. One door to his left was completely black with a silver door handle while the one right next to it was a pristinely white door with a golden handle. Then there was the plain average door behind him and lastly a large fancy looking door right in front of him however that door was blocked by a desk and a sharply dressed man.
The man sitting behind a desk had pitch black, slicked back hair and cold black eyes. He wore a fancy black suit with a golden tie. In front of him was a name plate that simply read 'Death'. The man was eyeing Harry with a stern expression that reminded him of Professor McGonagall's. "Again Mr. Potter?" the man said in an annoyed voice, "This make seven times you've kicked the bucket before you were supposed to."
Harry blinked at that comment, "Seven?" He asked confused as far as he knew this was the first time he had died, 'And what did he mean dead before he was supposed to be?' Harry thought.
"Yes, Seven." The man opened a rather bulky folder, "Your first death was at the age of two when your idiot relatives refused to feed you. You died of starvation. The second was at the age of six when one of your bouts of accidental magic sent your uncle in to a rage and he beat you. You died of internal bleeding. Your third death was during your first year when Quirrell cursed your broom and you were thrown from it. You broke every bone in your body including your neck. The fourth was in your second year when you accidently looked directly into the basilisk's eyes. The fifth was in your third year when a dementor gave you the Kiss while on your way to Hogwarts. The sixth was during your fourth year when the Horntail whacked you with its spiked tail puncturing your lung and heart you were dead in seconds and lastly today…You willing walked into the forest and took Riddle's curse without a fight." He glared at Harry.
Harry blinked hearing all this, "If I died so many times how did I get to seventeen and why don't I remember these deaths?"
"Because we sent you back and erased your memory of each event. Then we subtly pushed you to a different choice so you wouldn't die again." Death said.
"We?" Harry asked.
"Yes 'We' my partner Fate and I." he said, "He should be along momentarily.
Harry heard some rushing foot steps and soon the door behind Death opened and a hefty, albeit handsome man dressed in a blue jumper and brown slacks walked in.
"Harry!" he said as he walked around the desk and hugged a very confused Harry. The man had light brown hair and blue eyes. His figure reminded Harry of Mrs. Weasley as did his hugs.
"Dear, don't crush the boy he doesn't even remember you." Death told him.
Fate pulled away and glared at his partner, "Oh hush."
Death looks to Harry, "My partner took a fancy to you the first time you came here you ended up here for four earth days before I convinced him you had to go back."
Fate pouted, "Of course I didn't want him to go back to those people he shouldn't have been with them in the first place!" He said, "Had that Dumbledork man not meddled, Harry would have been raised in the loving home of Sirius or even Minerva."
Harry blinked again, "Come again?" he asked.
Death sighed, "You were never supposed to end up at your aunt and uncles house Harry, but thanks to the meddling of one Albus Dumbledore you did."
"Exactly according to your parents Wills there was a whole bevy of guardians for you to stay with starting with Sirius Black and ending with Severus Snape."
"Wills?" Harry asked, "What Wills?"
"Precisely child," Fate said, "You were never told of these Wills when they should have been read on your eleventh birthday." He had a grumpy expression.
Harry had a furious look on his face. 'Why would Dumbledore do this?' he thought.
Death continued, "Due to this you ended up dying multiple times before you were supposed to." He said lifting a slip of paper in front of him, "Which is in your bed at the ripe old age of one hundred eighty-six beside your wife and soulmate…some Granger girl."
Harry head snapped in Death's direction at that last part, "Excuse me? Did you say Granger? Not Weasley?"
"Ugh! Another of Dumbledork's plots!" Fate snarled, "How dare he interfere with my work. Ooooo when he came through here I gave him a good beating before Death threw him through there." He points to the black door.
"And where does that go?" Harry asked.
Death smirked, "Lets just say that's the place Mr. Riddle will be going when he sits in your seat."
"Yes, Yes now back to my ranting." Fate griped, "Due to Dumbledore's desire to keep you under his thumb he not only placed you in an improper home but also potioned you to not only be loyal to him and that Weasley boy, but also dosed you and your soulmate so you wouldn't fall for each other…he made you feel attracted to Miss Ginevra Weasley and your soulmate attracted to Ronald Weasley." Fate was clenching his fist, "I still want to punch him some more for meddling with my design."
Harry looked to Fate, "Does Ginny know about this?"
"Heavens no!" Fate screeched, "The girl was well on her way at getting over her little crush on you until her mother and Dumbledore dosed you so she caught your attention. Now your friend Ronald…Well lets just say he's no friend of yours. Not only did he allow you to be potioned he himself potioned your soulmate to make her like him."
Harry's face was that a cold fury. He wanted to beat Ron Weasley's face in. "Well what do I do now? You're sending me back aren't but how can I fix all this? I won't remember it and even if I did I won't be able to convince anyone else to believe me."
Fate and Death looked at each other both had solemn expressions. Then Fate's eyes widened, "Okay how bout this?!" he says excitedly, "We send you back even further. Before all the love potioning started, I'd say around…the end of your third year." His smiles grows, "Yes this will give you a chance to right a few other wrongs such as Sirius's death, Fred Weasley too, and poor Remus and Tonks none of whom were supposed to die, Dobby included."
"They weren't." Harry asked a look of hopefulness in his eyes.
"Of course not dear boy. They were to be your staunchest allies each of them should have lived to a ripe old age , but thanks to Dumbledork's meddling they all died before their time. Unfortunately because they were not the subject of a prophecy we could not send them back as we have done with you."
Death was smirking, "I love watching you work." He had his head leaning against his arm as he looked at his partner lovingly.
Fate blushed a bit, "Hush you." He waves a hand at the dark haired man. He turns back to Harry, "Now you need a little more help planning…more help than I can provide…" he was tapping his index finger to his cheek as he thought deeply. Suddenly his face lit up and he snapped his finger turning to his lover, "Bring the Potters and Black here immediately."
Death sighed, "Yes dear." He said as he stood up and walked over to the white door. He opened the door and stuck his head in. He made a motioning gesture before saying, "Come here you three."
Seconds later Harry watched as his parents and Godfather walked through the door. His mother saw him and her eyes widened, "Harry?!" she exclaimed as she rushed over and hugged her boy tighter than he had ever been hugged.
James and Sirius rushed over as well and wrapped the young Potter in a fierce group bear hug, "I can't breathe." Harry rasped out.
They all pulled away and his mother looked at him her face saddened, "Oh Harry I'm so sorry we never would have told you to go into that forest had it not been for that stone."
"What do mean?" Harry asked.
"She's talking about the curse on the Resurrection Stone." Death spoke up, "Yes, I did indeed gift the Peverell boys with those artifacts but not because I wanted to kill and collect them. They were outstanding men who fully completed the destiny Fate made for them. So I let them choose a reward. The oldest chose the wand however because he didn't want anyone to be its true rightful owner aside from himself he cursed it so anyone who wielded it would attract power hungry fiends."
"That's not the story I heard but I'll take your word over an old fable…you're The Death after all." Harry said.
Death smirked, "The Stone however," he sighs, "I gave the second brother explicit instructions on how it should be used. Only for brief visits with the dead not long durations. But he didn't listen and kept his former fiancé bound to the place were she didn't belong then drove himself mad at her anguish. Afterwards the stone ended up in the Gaunt family and their dark magic along with Riddle's vile soul corrupted its true purpose. Any spirit who was summoned with it would compel the summoner to kill themselves."
Harry gawked, "Did Dumbledore know this?" he asked.
Death shook his head, "I doubt it. He probably believed the fairy tale and assumed your loved ones would simply support you in the choice he wanted you to make." Harry was even angrier now, "Worry not, this time after you go back the moment you touch that stone the dark magic and the Horcrux will be destroyed this way you'll be able to speak to your parents without them trying to persuade you into dying, but remember, keep it your meetings brief boy!" he warned.
Harry nodded quickly he then turned back to his parents and god father, "They're sending me back but to the end of my third year this time." He looks to Sirius, "We'll catch Pettigrew this time."
"No Harry." Sirius shook his head, "Peter has to escape it Fate's design Peter is needed to get Voldemort back on his feet."
"But you need to be free!" Harry complained.
"I agree." James spoke up, "But Sirius is right…however there is another way to ensure Sirius' freedom." He looks to Lily who smiled.
"Harry you must get our Wills opened." She tells her son.
"Your Wills?" Harry asked, "But why? How?"
"The Wills explicitly state that Sirius is your godfather by Godfather Ritual…which means he could never betray you, not without sacrificing his life."
Harry looked to his godfather, "Why didn't you bring this up last time?" He asks.
"Fairly certain Albus obliviated the memory. After I died I remembered it and let me tell you if Death didn't keep us behind that door when Albus got here…I would have straggled the git!" Sirius moved his hands in a strangulating poses.
"Strangle?" Lily said, "I'd like to volunteer to be his personal torturer once in a while." She says with a wicked grin.
Death smirks, "Maybe I'll arrange that, though after today his soul will leave this place and return to earth but he'll be back…around the same time as before actually."
Lily smiles a bit then turns back to Harry, "Harry I need you to do me a favor ok."
Harry looks to her, "Of course anything…"
"I need you to help Severus." She tells him. James sighs but doesn't speak. Sirius remains quiet as well however he had a slight blush on his face. "You've seen his memories and know the truth, that he's been trying to help you secretly this whole time."
Harry looked down, "Yea I know." He then looked up at his father giving him a stern look, "Speaking of, did you have to be such a complete ass to him back in school. Yea you had a crush on mom but come on."
James frowned a bit, "Hey he was just as rough on us as we were on him…though I will admit I went too far a few times." He said.
Harry simply shakes his head at this then turns back to Death and Fate, "Okay so I'm keeping my memories this time but, who do I get to tell about all this?" he asks.
"Normally?" Death says, "I'd say no one, however due to your unusual circumstances I will allow you to tell four people I advise they be your soulmate Miss Granger,"
"Oh I like that girl, " Lily said smiling.
Death continued, "Your Godfather Sirius, Remus Lupin, and Severus Snape. These four knowing the whole story will be your best bet at finally reaching your destiny."
Harry nods then turns back to his parents, he sighs, "I wish I could bring you with me." He says sadly.
They hug him close, Fate watches this frowning, "I'm sorry dear I know its cruel but it was their destiny to die while saving you…" He looks down, "You must hate me for that."
Harry pulled away from his parents, "No…I don't. I get it I guess…It sucks, but if they hadn't died protecting me I wouldn't have lived past two years old…" He smiles at Fate, "So no I don't hate you."
Fate smiled and walked over hugging Harry fiercely again. He pulls away and cups Harry's face into his hands, "Now I better not see you again until your one hundred and eighty-six you understand me young man."
Harry smiles and nods, "Yes sir. I'll do my best."
Death stands, "Alright now the particulars are out of the way. Harry you must sign this." He slides a paper across the desk, "This contract states you will be returning to June 4th, 1994. This will give you two days to plan ahead before you meet Sirius and Pettigrew. It also states you will be retaining all your previous memories from your last life, and you are allowed to tell ONLY four people the truth no more no less. Breaking this contract will result in your death…again."
"What about the people I tell?" Harry asks, "If they tell someone do I die?"
"Yes, I recommend getting Unbreakable Vows from each of them." Death said as he is getting glares from his partner, "Don't look at me like that there has to be some penalty otherwise others will expect the same treatment."
His lover scoffs at him as Harry walks up to the table, "Alright fine I get the message no more than four." He picks up the pen and signs the paper, "There." He says.
"Alright I'll give you a moment to bid your parents goodbye then you're off."
Harry hugs his parents hard when they pulled away his mother says, "Harry I have a message for Severus…let him use his Legilimens so he can hear me say it himself."
"Yea I have something to say to him too." James says.
They each give Harry their message then Harry turns to Sirius, "I'll see you soon Padfoot." Harry hugs him, "You better stick around this time."
Sirius smiles, "I'll do my best…Now I have a message for my younger self…Tell him to tell Severus the truth and to stop being a big chicken." Harry tilted his head confused, "He'll understand. Now go on…" he prods Harry towards Death and Fate.
Harry watches as his parents go back through the white door bidding him farewell while Sirius remains in the room since his soul was about to return to earth. Death and Fate lead Harry through the larger door that had been behind Death's desk and they walk him down a long hallway. They stop in front of what looked like the Veil Sirius had fallen into during his fifth year. Fate and Death place their hands on the arch way and the mist within shimmers from grey to golden.
"One last thing Harry." Death says, "Since you are the last remaining Peverell the Deathly Hallows are, by all accounts, your birth right…I recommend you summon the other two to you the at your earliest oppritunity but be careful not to do so too quickly it might alert Dumbledork. Start with the stone…wait a while on the Elder wand though." Harry nods, "Oh and about the Horcrux in your scar I'm giving you one last gift, when you pass through this gate and into your past self's body the Horcrux on your younger self will immediately be destroyed so no need to worry about taking care of it."
"That'll make it a little easier." Harry replies.
"I like you Harry truly, but as my partner stated I do not want to see you back here until the appropriate time is that clear?" Death said looking at him again sternly.
"Yes sir." Harry nods.
"Jolly good," Death pats Harry's shoulder as Fate hugs the boy one last time.
"Be smart and be wise Harry." Fate tells him before letting go.
"Now off with you." Death says pushing Harry through the shimmering mist.
Harry felt as if his body was evaporating as he seemed to be falling. It didn't hurt but the next thing he knew he hit the ground hard. He quickly sat up and looked around. He soon realized he was in the Gryffindor third years dorm. A smile crept across his face, "All right…" he whispers to himself, "Lets change the past."
Up Next: Now 13 years old again Harry starts preparing for his meeting with godfather and enlists help from and old friend.