"Dumbledore's last plan went wrong, Harry Potter!"

"Yeah, it did," said Harry. "You're right. But before you try to kill me, I'd advise you to think about what you've done. . . . Think, and try for some remorse, Riddle. . . ."

"What is this?"

Of all the things that Harry had said to him, beyond any revelation or taunt, nothing had shocked Voldemort like this. Harry saw his pupils contract to thin slits, saw the skin around his eyes whiten.

"It's your one last chance," said Harry, "it's all you've got left. . . . I've seen what you'll be otherwise. . . . Be a man . . . try . . . Try for some remorse. . . ." Harry hoped, thinking of the small disfigured babe he had held at King's Cross, hoped for some small piece of his enemy to be at peace.

"You dare—?" said Voldemort again.

Voldemort's chest rose and fell rapidly, and Harry could feel the curse coming, feel it building inside the wand pointed at his face. It was fascinating, how he felt magic a lot more intimately now, how he could feel the magic of the wand, its allegiance towards him.

"The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy. But now you're too late," said Harry. "You've missed your chance. I got there first. I overpowered Draco weeks ago. I took this wand from him."

Harry twitched the hawthorn wand, and he felt the eyes of everyone in the Hall upon it.

"So it all comes down to this, doesn't it?" whispered Harry. "Does the wand in your hand know its last master was Disarmed? Because if it does . . . I am the true master of the Elder Wand."

Walking up to the Headmaster's office with Ron and Hermione, Harry dipped into his senses once more. He felt Ron's grief, put aside to support his friends, Hermione's relief at the war being over, and her worries about them both. He felt the magic of the castle, battered but triumphant, like the castle itself knew that it had succeeded. Away from the fight, he wondered how he could have ever missed all this magic.

Coming up to the gargoyle, he could see its magic, how it connected to the enchantments in the office, how it observed its surroundings. He could feel it's attention on him, and decided to speak up. "Can we go up?" He asked, letting his magic flow over, conveying his intentions. He felt the enchantments take it in, reading it, and then, the gargoyle stepped aside, letting them through.

Hermione noticed, asking, "You didn't give a password."

Harry just shrugs. "I felt it's magic". They climbed the stairs, reaching the Headmaster's office, to find it open. They entered, seeing Dumbledore's portrait beaming at them, eyes twinkling merrily. "The thing that was hidden in the Snitch," Harry began, "I dropped it in the forest. I don't know exactly where, but I'm not going to go looking for it again."

Dumbledore said, "My dear boy, that is entirely up to you. A wise and courageous decision, but no less than I would have expected of you. Does anyone else know where it fell?"

"No one", said Harry. "I'm going to leave your wand with you." Ron starts, saying "but Harry, are you crazy? That wand, just imagine what you could do with it."

Hermione nods, "I think you should leave it, it's far more trouble than it's worth."

Harry says "I only ever needed the one wand", pulling out his faithful phoenix wand, barely hanging by a thread. He places the tip of the Elder wand against it, saying "If this can't do it, nothing will. Reparo."

The phoenix feather glowed, twisting together, and then the wand merged back into one whole, letting off a red spark. Harry picked it up, hesitant. He felt the warmth again, as if for the first time, letting off a shower of red sparks, and he knew he was whole again.

A few hours later, Harry, his friends, Professor Mcgonagall and Kingsley trudged down to Dumbledore's tomb. Reaching the tomb, they saw how Voldemort broke the tomb. Professor Mcgonagall gasps, and pulls out her wand, tries to repair it, but fails. Harry takes out the Elder Wand, drawing their attention. He repairs the tomb, leaving the lid open. Placing it in Dumbledore's hands, he steps back.

Kingsley asks, one last time, "Do you really want to give it up? It could be a great help, keeping order, at least until we catch the worst of the death eaters."

"It'll be a slippery slope." Harry says. "Everybody already knows I have the wand. If they see proof, it'll just bring more attention."

Harry raises his phoenix feather wand, lifting the lid and putting it back in place. Turning to Mcgonagall, he asks, "Professor, can you place some protections? Something to deter people from taking the wand."

Mcgonagall nods, saying "Of course, Mr Potter. It'll be an honour." Kingsley interjects, "People will still look to you, seeking that wand. Too many people have heard about it. We need something to distract them."

Mcgonagall shakes his head, saying "There's very few people who would willingly give up something like this. They'll just think he's keeping it with himself. No one would look here."

Mcgonagall says, "We can only hope that it would be enough. What do you plan to do now, Mr Potter?" looking at Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"I'm just tired right now, Professor. I'll be going to Andromeda's, to let her know about … about what happened. I want to be there for her, for Teddy"

Apparating by himself out on the street, Harry takes a breath. Thinking back on Remus' words, of trying to make a better world, he finds it hollow. He'd rather have some loving parents to look after him. 'Then again, anything would be better than growing up with the Dursleys', Harry thought.

'I'm delaying', Harry thought, standing at the doorstep of the house, one where he knew a mother was waiting, impatiently, for her daughter, hoping for the best. He could see the lights in the kitchen through the frosted glass, could even see a faint silhouette, 'But what am I supposed to say? How can I tell someone that their entire family is gone?'

In the end, the decision was taken away from him, as there was movement behind the door before it was opened. And there was Andromeda, looking at him, and then searching behind, as if Tonks was just hiding behind him. He could see it, when she realised it. Her eyes widened, she gasped quietly, "No". He could feel her fear rising as she looked at him. "I'm sorry, they didn't make it." Harry said, and with that, Andromeda heaved a sob, shuddering. Harry took her in his arms, "I'm so sorry" he said, as she broke down, weeping in sorrow. All he could do was repeat "It'll be okay" while he held her, giving her the support she needed.

Harry stepped into the house, taking her with him. He guided her to the couch, arms wrapped around her shoulder. "Why did she have to go? That foolish child" she choked out, voice hoarse, "She should have stayed." Harry held her, thinking of what he could say, anything to help Andromeda out.

Harry said, feeling empty inside, "She was brave, she wanted a better future for –"

"She was an idiot. A fool. What good is a better future if she isn't here for it?" Andromeda cut him off, glaring up at him, eyes red and puffy, tears slowly sliding down. Sniffling, nose clogged, "Everything would have been fine, if only she had just stayed." she looked angry, but he could feel the vast grief under her anger, he could almost taste it in her magic. "I should never have let her go"

Harry just held her tighter, saying "I'm right here Miss Tonks, I'll be here, for you, Teddy, everything", trying to reassure her, as much as possible. Her magic was rolling around in her grief, lashing out, while he tried to calm it. "I'll be here" he said, while rocking her back and forth, as she grieved.

A few minutes later, they jerked as they heard Teddy start crying out. Andromeda pulled out of the hug, and rushed to Teddy, as Harry followed after. Picking Teddy up, she rocked him until he settled down. Harry was just looking at Teddy, fascinated. Picking up on it, Andromeda offered, "You want to hold him, Harry?" Harry replied "I'm not … I don't know how to – "

"Put one hand behind his head and the other supporting his back" Andromeda said while handing Teddy over to Harry. Harry, feeling more nervous here than he was fighting at Hogwarts, was just holding onto his godson. He took a deep breath as Teddy opened his eyes, looking up at him. Teddy's eyes were initially the warm brown eyes of his grandmother, until they locked eyes, and his eyes changed to be a mirror of Harry's own. He said, "He's like Tonks. Hello Teddy, I'm Harry. Your godfather."

Andromeda looked on as Harry looked adoringly at her grandson, playing with him. She realises then that Harry will be a good godfather for Teddy, despite having just become an adult. After a while, she asked, "Have you eaten anything?" and Harry looked at her and paused. Shaking his head, he said, "I'm fine. I'll get something later." "Nonsense. I'll heat up something. Eat and get some rest." Harry thought about refusing, but nodded, "Alright, Thanks Mrs Tonks."

Waking up, Harry feels around looking for his glasses, until with a start, he realises that he is waking up in an unfamiliar place. He sits up, looking around, until he realises that he's at the Tonks' house, and he remembers everything that happened, Voldemort's death, him repairing his wand, Dumbledore's tomb, and coming to see Andromeda and Teddy. He takes a few deep breaths, just going over everything that happened. He reaches into his pocket for his wand, and he pauses, feeling the knobby surface of the wand.

Pulling it out, he sees the Elder Wand, back in his possession. Looking around, he sees his glasses and his actual wand at his bedside. Putting on his glasses, he just stares at the Elder wand, he was sure that they'd put the wand back in Dumbledore's tomb. Feeling a chill run down his spine, he looks around in his pocket, and feels a rough stone. Sighing with resignation, with the Stone in his pocket, the Wand in his hand and the Cloak in his moke-skin pouch, he knows there is a connection between the three and there is some truth to the story about the Master of Death.

Hearing Teddy cry out, he puts the Hallows away, and goes to check on him. Meeting Andromeda rocking Teddy gently. He said, "Mrs Tonks, I need to go back to Hogwarts now. There are some people I have to meet" Andromeda, her eyes red, looking as if she hasn't slept, "That's okay. Will you be coming back soon?" Harry nods, "I'll be back in the evening, if that's fine with you. Do you need anything?" Andromeda shakes her head, saying "We'll be fine. Just take care of yourself." With a nod to Andromeda, Harry rushes out of the house, apparating back to Hogsmeade, and uses the Honeydukes hidden passage to get to Hogwarts.

Using the Marauder's Map, Harry finds Hermione near the lake. Hermione is sitting with her back to the tree, looking out to the lake, towards Dumbledore's tomb. Walking up to her, he says, "Hermione, something's happened. I need to talk to you" Hermione looks up, a little worried and asks "What's wrong Harry?" "Not now, somewhere private." Harry says. Hermione nods, and starts setting up spells to ward people off, and Harry joins her. Finishing up, Harry explains about the Deathly Hallows ending up on him by themselves when he woke up in the morning.

"How's that possible? We saw you place the wand in Dumbledore's tomb" Hermione exclaims. Harry runs his hand through his hair, saying "I don't know Hermione. It might be something like the sword. It came back from Gringotts to the Hat when Neville needed it."

Shaking her head, Hermione disagrees, "That was because of the enchantment placed on both the Sword and the Hat together. You didn't have any enchantments placed on you. Did you try leaving them some other place?" Harry shrugs,"I don't know about that. But the Stone and the Wand were in 2 separate places, and they came back together. I don't think it's about the place."

Hermione, thinking about the consequences, says "You can't let anyone know about this. We'll have to hide the wand. People know about the wand, and they'll be looking for it. They'll already suspect you of having the wand, but now we need to hide it even more carefully." Harry sighs, "We can do that. But how did it come back to me?" Hermione replies, "I don't know Harry. But we'll figure it out."

"Are you sure you want to go ahead with this, Harry?" Hermione asks standing in the ritual room in the basement of Grimmauld Place, "It just feels too rushed. We don't know about the side effects of this ritual, or anyone who has gone through with it."

Harry says, "It'll be fine Hermione, we've read all there is to read on this, and this is just to explore my own magic. What could go wrong?"

Hermione crosses her arms, saying "The last time we used magic without thinking it through, I was stuck as a cat. And that was a potion used by a lot of people."

He smiles reassuringly, "You're worrying too much. There'll always be something we haven't accounted for. We've taken all the precautions we can. And I don't want to be stuck here for longer than necessary." Harry thinks about the past 7 months, waking up with the Hallows, going to Hermione, figuring out that there is a magical connection between the Hallows and him. He started being able to sense where the Hallows currently are, even with his eyes closed. The connection between the Hallows and Harry was clearly getting stronger, so they decided to look into the connection between Harry's magic and the Hallows.

As time passed, he also realised that his sensitivity to magic has been increasing. They had a suspicion it was due to the Hallows, but there were no books about magical connections between objects and people, at least nothing which could explain this. They had also researched the Hallows, looking for something which could explain his situation, but every reference were just fairy tales like Beedle the Bard, and nothing serious.

So they ended up with this, a ritual to explore his own magic. 'It's a start,' Harry thought, setting himself up, preparing for it. Studying magic when not worrying about Dark Lords, Harry found he enjoyed finding out new ways to work his magic. Especially as his senses got better, he could feel how his magic interacted and changed for different spells. He just wished that this studiousness didn't come because of being stuck here.

He knew, going forward after leaving the wand in the tomb, that there'll be people looking for the wand, but he'd underestimated just how many people would be there. 'And how dangerous' Harry grimaced, thinking about the wizard selling trinkets, who suddenly jumped at him looking to win the Elder Wand's favour. 'If only I could show that I don't have the damn wand.' Harry thought grumpily.

Harry steps up to the ritual circle, clad in white linen grown and harvested without magic, and does one final check. Eyes from a Hawk to represent sight, Nose from a Wolf to represent Smell, Ears from a Lynx to represent Hearing, Tongues from a Snake to represent Taste and Skin from a Manatee to represent Touch.

Hermione steps up next to him, looking at the circle with him. "What if we missed something?" Harry says, "We have 1 item for each of the 5 major senses. We have the runes which turn each of the 5 senses inward letting me look, see, taste, smell and hear my magic and the runes to limit the senses and make them focus only on my magic within the circle's central area. We have included safeties to stop the ritual and to stop if it exceeds a certain time limit. Even with all we've done, in terms of magic, this is the most measured/cautious we've been. All that's left is to start."

With that, Harry looks at Hermione, smiles, and steps into the centre of the ritual circle. He lies down, focusing on his magic, and slows his breath. Then, he lets it flow out, through the ritual chalk which guides his magic through each of the items, through the runes which impart meaning, and through the final object which limits him to the magic before coming back surrounding him until it reaches back to him, and then, he's in a different space.

All around him he sees a swirling whorl of colour, changing and shifting and merging with different sections in a chaotic display which still manages to steal his breath away. He hears wind chimes, hears a violin and a piano and an entire orchestra harmoniously playing. He tastes an entire buffet of dishes and smells and it's all so overwhelming. He realises now why the book warned about this ritual. About how one can get lost in this. He knows it with a deep certainty, that what he's feeling right now is his magic. All of it. Every magic that he's cast, that was cast upon him and left traces, every magical object that he's interacted with, all of it is remembered by his magic.

He knows he can get lost in it, but closes his eyes centering himself, focusing on his reason to do this. The Hallows. Taking a deep breath, he feels for his magic. He sifts through the various colours, feeling them on his fingers like different fabrics, each with a little difference which makes sense, but he just can't put it in words. Some of this magic feels like the enchantments he would put up around their tent, some feels dark, heavy and twisted, knowing it was cast by Voldemort, and then he stops.

Opening his eyes, he sees a warm red fabric, he hears a soft hum, like it's part of a lullaby, and knows that this is all that's left of his mother's magic, her protection. Closing his eyes, he lets go of the magic knowing he has limited time and keeps looking until he finds something else. This time, it feels mischievous, with a hint of protectiveness hidden under. Opening his eyes, he sees a subtle glow, knowing that this is his Invisibility Cloak. He examines it, looking at its magic and how it interacts with his own. He can feel the way the Cloak's magic hides him from sight, and how it does so much more. How wearing it protects him, how the magic interacts with his surroundings in subtle ways to ensure he doesn't die and he realises that there might be some truth to the stories. And if one aspect of the story is true, then…

He looks deeper still, and finds the connection between the Cloak and the other Hallows. Looking at the stone, he can see the stone as a dark veil connecting his magic to a seemingly endless network. He knows it's not magic, but something else. It's constantly taking some of his magic and pushing it through to the network. Upon looking at it some more, he realises that the network is his soul, hidden underneath his magic. He can see how the Stone is taking his magic into his soul and then pushing it outside, and he feels instinctively that this is the reason why his magic sensitivity is increasing. He can see parts of his soul absorbing some of his magic to reinforce itself.

Finally, he turns to the Elder Wand, and reaches out with his senses. He sees it as a dark shadowy fabric which takes in his magic, taking the intention and refining it, somehow creating a purer intention, and sending it ahead. He realises that it's taking in and refining the intent behind the spell, connecting the intention to a higher concept, making the spells more powerful and impactful. No wonder it was known as the most powerful wand.

Looking at all 3 Hallows, he realises that they are connecting to his soul. The Cloak, which stayed with him the longest, has formed the strongest connection. The Stone which he had used in the forest comes next, having already started the connection and it seemed to steadily get stronger. The Wand, on the other hand, is not as strong, which stuck him as odd. Given the fact that he became the master of the Elder Wand before connecting with the stone, it should have a stronger connection than the Stone.

Looking closer, he sees that there's something obstructing the Elder Wand from strengthening the bond. With a shock, he realises that it's his own wand. His Holly and Phoenix feather wand. He felt the deeper meaning behind wandlore. His wand's protective nature led it to take in his magic and push away external influences. How it is pushing away the influence of the Elder Wand, and how the Elder Wand is in turn pushing his wand away.

Confused about why his wand is pushing against the Elder Wand, he connects with his wand, letting its intentions flow into him. He sees what the Elder Wand is doing, how its influence is slowly changing his very nature, making him more isolated. He wonders if this is why Dumbledore who spent so long with this wand became so secretive. Coming back out, he knows he must make a choice. To choose between his faithful Holly and Phoenix feather wand, or go with the Elder Wand. In the end, he knows there's no choice there at all.

Deepening the connection with his wand even more, he pushes his magic through it, empowering his wand and letting him push back against the Elder Wand. But the Elder Wand doesn't take this lying down, it knows what's happening, and it strikes back. He feels it try to anchor on to his soul, refusing to leave. He could feel his senses returning, the ritual's failsafe activating, but he pushed more of his magic in his wand, knowing and trusting that it would keep him safe. 'Finish it' he thinks, knowing that his wand will have his back.

As he opens his eyes, he sees Hermione, eyes wide, frantically looking around asking, "What happened?". Then suddenly, he feels a burst of success from his wand before feeling excruciating pain, stronger than the Cruciatus. He sees Fawkes flaming in and landing in front of him, and the last thing he sees are Fawkes eyes, brimming with tears and he blacks out.