Chapter One – Preface – When death comes calling.
What seemingly felt like an age to Harry James Potter it could only have been moment's ago for Harry for as all he knew he had been on his deathbed, at Potter Manor his blasted body had finally began the rapid decline of age over the last couple of years and had finally started fading away, his body barely ticking along at the tail end of his soon to be one hundred and fifty-six years of age. If Harry could have recalled back, he could even recall the very moment his heart beat its last beat, and he closed his eyes for the last time and he welcomed Death's embrace into himself, and to venture onto the greatest adventure of all creation to who all life is finally has claimed everyone and everything big or small for all eternity, until Death's final grasp welcomed him.
Old, weak and grey after living a long fulfilling life, Harry Potter takes his very last breath and fades and awakens back up as his one hundred and fifty-six years self after a Brilliant flash of white light in front of a version of Hogwarts that took this breath away again but for a different reason, whilst Harry had thought that Hogwarts was one off the greatest wonders of magical Britain if not one of them in the world it was breathe-taking this blew it out of the water in it elegance and beauty, it was so pure and here stood a Pearly white version of the castle and it grounds with cloud around the grounds and the vast towers of Hogwarts and it even had a version of the Black Lake on the grounds instead of it dark depths the water was absolutely clear with towered above the real deal. Harry thought to himself this is what Death's Realm must have looked like in fact it was the British Department of Death of Magical England, Scotland and Ireland, then he noticed the masses of people like him and others in white garbs he was in such awe at the structure that he had not noticed them before there were thousands of them if not more.
So, walking across the vast Courtyard and then into the majestic Entrance Hall of this heavenly version of Hogwarts, up the wide Grand Staircase within the castle with its nearly transparent walls and ceilings into the great hall, Harry did know why he was heading in this direction it was instinctually the right action at the right time.
Upon entering the Great Hall, Harry lined up and then when it was his turn at one of the many desks within the hall. He clearly stated his full name, age, and all relevant information he thought would be needed. He was in a vast hall with its workers suddenly stopped in shock, the teller said "So you're late this time although incomplete cycle of Destiny we all had bet you'd sort it out eventually as everything had be placed before you. We will need a higher power for this intervention, pay attention! Do you realize this is because you did not complete your destiny when and were the fates foretold and until completion.
In place of Gargoyles there was the vast door a very ancient door it was like a black oak that looked average to all the other doors behind him in this large castle and lastly a large fancy looking door right in front of him however was a skeletal man and that there was door was blocked by a desk and this sharply dressed man or should I say skeleton must be Death.
The man sitting behind a desk had slicked flamed icy blue hair and cold icy flamed eyes. Although he wore what looked like a fancy black suit was a holed and fraided at the edges black robe with a golden scythe in the corner of what would normally have been the Headmasters office. In front of him was a name plate that simply read 'Death' Harry thought back to a few Terry Pratchett Discworld Series novels he read whilst in Little Whinging where Death is not invisible; however, most people's brains refuse to acknowledge him for who he is, unless he insists. Under normal circumstances, only those of a magical disposition (e.g., witches and wizards), children, and cats can see him, or allow themselves to see him. Due to his eternal nature, Death can ignore such things as walls and magic spells; he exists throughout all time, so things lasting merely centuries are not as real as he is and Harry chuckled to himself. The man was eyeing Harry with a stern expression that reminded him of Professor McGonagall's tone when she was annoyed or disappointed with one of her students. Death's hollow, peculiar voice since he is a skeleton, he has no vocal cords to speak with, and therefore his words enter a person's head with no involvement from the ears "Again Mr. Potter? And Late to the Party to Boot" the man said in an annoyed voice, "This make seven times you've kicked the bucket before you were supposed to although this time you made it to one hundred and fifty-six years old, without fulling your destiny."
Harry blinked at that comment, "Seven?" He asked confused as far as I know this is the first, but he knew this was the first time he had died it had to be he'd never remembered any instances of death apart from this one, and what did he mean dead before he was supposed to be?' Harry thought.
"Yes, Seven, you Heard correctly Harry James Potter." The man opened a rather bulky folder, "Your first death was at a young when your idiot relatives refused to feed you. You died of starvation, and we had to intercede on your behalf until you were after to sort yourself out food or relent and feed you properly. The second was at the age of seven when one of your severe bouts of accidental magic sent your uncle in to a rage and he beat you after your magic burst blew out all the windows on Privet Drive. You died of internal bleeding. Your third death was during your first year when Quirrell cursed yourself and the broom you were thrown from it first flying lesson. You broke every bone in your body including your neck and multiple organ failure. 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 on the Hogwarts Express. 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 were willing walked into the embrace of death without fulfilling your Destiny" He glared at Harry.
Harry blinked hearing all this, "If I died so many times how ever did, I get to be one hundred and fifty-five years old 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, "She should be along momentarily.
Harry heard some rushing footsteps and soon the door behind Death opened and a hefty, albeit handsome woman dressed in white jumper and white slacks walked in.
"Harry!" she said as she walked around the desk and hugged a very confused Harry. The woman had white hair and blue eyes. Her figure reminded a young goddess, and her hugs fulfilled his heart with love.
"Dear, don't crush the boy he doesn't even remember you." Death told him.
Fate pulled away and glared at her 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 her 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 Dumbledore not meddled, Harry would have been raised in the loving home of Sirius or even Minerva."
As you do not listen to me I will appoint my granddaughter to assist you in your endeavours and destiny, a Miss Susan Sto Helit, she also referred herself to go as Susan Death, as I say she is my granddaughter of Death, one of Death's Grim Reapers, and has a number of his abilities. Being both human and supernatural, Susan Sto-Helit is frequently and so-called reluctantly forced away from her attempts at "normal" life to do battle with malign supernatural forces or to take on her grandfather's job in his absence. I, Death tends to rely on her in my battles against the Auditors of Reality of this plane or others, and others particularly in situations where I have no power or influence upon the land of living with divine intervention or persuasion to into an action, cause, or destiny.
OH! So, the Discworld Series is Real? Said Harry. Yes said Susan Sto-Helit. A muggleborn wizard called Terry Pratchett received our help like you will be getting and wrote the about the wizarding world and death and myself but on a different plane to appease the Purebloods.
Anyway, we are getting side tracked said Susan Sto-Helit.
Susan Sto-Helit said to Harry that things will change whilst some will not, you will keep all your current knowledge and current magic and levels and abilities although you know some of the key players you must appear as if you do not know them and never reveal what you know that has progressed before and in this meeting, as we do not want to answer any awkward questions to the Highers above us.
I will meet with you a key point where I believe you should change something to suit your destiny or others to avoid the outcome like before and after the intricacies of the plans are discussed I will send you back.
Sometime later at Four Privet Drive a nearly six-year-old boy was sitting in the cupboard under the stairs in pitch black. There was a sudden flash and a reincarnated Harry looked around and thought to himself OH SHIT! Not this Shithole again and Harry thought how he could change his fortunes.
It had been almost nearly five years since the defeat of the tyrant Lord Voldemort, one of the most powerful dark wizards in history, and since that time, the wizarding world had happily regressed back into complacency and stagnation, from a wartime footing to a peacetime footing, the year was twenty-twenty three.
A Plan formed in Harry's mind of what he was going to do. Fawkes the phoenix had watched this typical slide into backwardness with sadness. Once, the wizards and witches of this great nation had been at the forefront of magic research and theory. One thousand years ago the four founders of Hogwarts had delved deeply into the mysteries of magic and had made numerous advances in multiple branches of study. Sadly, the wizarding world had entered into its long decline soon after the founders had died. Since the passing of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy in 1692 had accelerated the process by cementing the bigoted pureblood belief that all muggle knowledge was inferior even though the muggle is more advanced than witches or wizards would believe possible.
The founders would have been extremely disappointed with how wizard society had turned out. Even Salazar Slytherin, who had championed the belief that only pureblood witches and wizards should be allowed to attend Hogwarts, would have been disgusted at the illogical actions of his followers and descendants-one of his core beliefs had been that advances in magic should be made using whatever methods and knowledge were available.
Godric Gryffindor had drawn Fawkes towards him with his defence of the weak and innocent from dark magic users and creatures. It had been a glorious time for Fawkes as he assisted his friend by first smiting evil wherever it could be found and later with founding Hogwarts to teach young wizards and witches the responsible way to use their magic. Fawkes had bonding with like-minded wizards and witches down through the centuries. He had aided them in battle, inspired them in the pursuit of magic, and dispersed wisdom gained over his long life.
He had done what he could over the years to stem the decline and his current companion of five decades Albus Dumbledore was a wizard who could have matched Godric in power and intellect. He had bonded with Dumbledore to help him fight against Lord Grindelwald and his followers during the Second World War. Fawkes had never regretted that action but in the past ten years the headmaster had acted in terms of what was easy instead of what was right.
Fawkes had disagreed with Dumbledore about placing young Harry Potter with his muggle relatives. Harry might be protected behind blood wards, but his magic and body could not possibly grow strong in such a poisonous environment. Both physical and magical observation of Harry over the years had proven him correct. The poor child lived the life of a house elf under the care of his relatives. Thankfully, Harry's unconscious use of magic healed that majority of physical damage inflicted upon him. But the mental abuse was another mater. Harry had to endure being called a "freak," listen to his parents being called drunks, and being called a cheater if his academic work was superior to his cousin's.
Given these conditions, Fawkes wondered why Dumbledore hadn't intervened. But the stubborn old wizard had judged the blood protections at the Dursleys to be of utmost importance, more important even than Harry's wellbeing. A part of Fawkes agreed that Harry was better off miserable then dead, but he was sure Dumbledore could have produced a better solution. Fawkes also didn't like the fact that Harry would rely heavily on Dumbledore to guide him through the confusing world of magic when he arrived at Hogwarts.
Thankfully, someone else had noticed Harry's plight and had finally decided to act. Dumbledore would never suspect that his loyal deputy, Professor McGonagall would act without consulting him. But Fawkes was glad that the formidable witch had finally lost confidence in her mentor, at least on matters concerning Harry. He had watched in admiration as she had drawn up a plan and obtained the required magical items needed to train the boy.
With a sense of anticipation Fawkes pierced reality in an explosion of fire to appear on the roof of Ollivander's wand shop. Professor McGonagall was a strong and talented witch, but Harry would need all the help he could get, and Fawkes would be happy to give it and when Mr Ollivander closed up shop he then flamed into Ollivander's Shop and was absorbed into the Holly and Phoenix feather wand.