AN: This story will have the same overall plot points but will have a different outcome. This first chapter will be the set up to the story as well as the first major difference. I am aware that the first thing that will be changed has been explained by J.K.R. but as I don't own the rights to Harry Potter, I am changing it. I am unsure of pairings at the moment and I am open to reasonable suggestions. I have always liked Ginny, Hermione, or Daphne. I'll be honest I've been looking for some of the rarer ones lately. If you would like to add your suggestion feel free.

After fighting the man who killed most of his family and friends a young man lays in a large room with 5 red and gold four poster beds. This young man was mourning the loss of many of his friends and family. At the moment, he was thinking about all the people that he had cared for and lost.

Mom…

Dad…

Fred…

Sirius…

Lupin…

Tonks…

Moody…

Lavender…

Dumbledore…

Colin...

He also couldnt stop thinking about how Percy had abandonded his family for all that time.

Harry fell asleep thinking about the list of names that he had been thinking about his last thought had been that he would do anything to prevent some if not all of these deaths.

A figure cloaked in black smiled as he thought about the wish that the young man had made. This young man has done more for this world than most people would even consider doing. I will allow him to choose his path from here.

Harry was dreaming about both the good and bad memories he had with his friends and family. His dreams shifted and he was looking at a figure in black.

While Harry was wondering what had happened the figure spoke.

"You were asleep and I pulled you from the dream that you were having so I could talk to you."

Harry looked at the cloaked figure in surprise. "Did you just answer the question that I was thinking about."

The figure nodded. "I can see and hear just about everything and I am sometimes allowed to influence the events that are happening in your world. It has only happened one other time in your recorded history several hundred years ago. The last time I handed out my gifts hoping that the people would use them to make great changes in the world. However, two of them took my gifts and used them for their own benefit."

Harry looked at the figure in surprise and a little fear quickly figuring out who was standing in front of him.

"You're Death? Does this mean that I too am dead?" Harry asked in a fearful but amazed tone. He wondered if there were other people that he could talk to like his parents or Sirius.

"No, my young friend. You united my three gifts and are now able to speak to me from time to time. Most of your kind believes that uniting my wand, cloak, and stone would make you the Master of Death. That is ridiculous and quite frankly, stupid. I am a being that lives forever and cannot be controlled. Uniting the three items grants you the ability to speak to me and if I approve to bring about changes."

Harry was thinking about all of this and thinking about how he can never have a normal life. Why can't anything in my life be normal.

"I am aware of what you were thinking about before you fell asleep and will allow you to do one of two things. You can only choose one. However, I will tell you that both paths will allow you to change and make this world a different and better place. Your first choice is for you to go to Gringotts tomorrow morning and speak to leader of the goblins, Ragnok. He will inform you of many things and bestow on you your rights as Lord of House Potter. You will be heavily fined for your actions in stealing Hufflepuff's Cup, but if done correctly you will likely survive and could have the chance to make changes in this world. Your second option will be to travel to one of two points in the past. You can make changes but there are several things that you cannot change. If you do this you can save all of the people who you cared about and many more. The first of the two points was in the Chamber of Secrets where you would have died if not for Dumbledore's phoenix and the second point is in the graveyard when Voldemort used your blood to create a new body. I will also warn you that both points will be during a fight. If you choose the chamber you will arrive while Fawkes is healing you and if you choose the graveyard it will be as Voldemort appears. I will tell you two more things and then leave and let you choose. I will give you two gifts no matter what you choose and will take back the wand, stone, and cloak when you inform me to. Think about which path you would like and once you decide you will wake up."

Harry watched death walk away and decided.

Harry's vision became extremely blurry and he was in a great deal of pain when he appeared in his past self.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM YOU STUPID BIRD." Riddle yelled as he cast a spell at Fawkes but it was too late. Fawkes had done what he was attempting to do and had flown away from Harry.

"I forgot about phoenix tears. It doesn't matter he only saved you from your painful death. I will still kill you. AVADA-

Riddle was unable to finish the spell due to being unable to hold his wand any longer. A white light appeared on Riddle's chest as he dropped his wand and he screamed before disappearing.

Harry immediately fell back in exhaustion.

"Harry, Harry, are you ok? I'm so sorry, please don't die." A young girl's voice said. He felt a hand in his and a hand shaking his shoulder. He moaned as a young redhead appeared in his vision as he opened his eyes.

"It's okay, Ginny. Everything is going to be okay."

Ginny started crying. "It's all my fault. I hurt all of those people, I almost died, and now your hurt. I've wanted to come here since Bill came and now I'm going to be expelled." Harry knew how much Ginny wanted to make her own path different from the rest of her family.

Harry looked Ginny in the eyes and told her everything is going to be okay. "Voldemort was controlling you. He is gone and Fawkes healed me. There is nothing to worry about anymore. Lets go find your brother and get out of here."

Ginny shook her head. "Your forehead is still bleeding and it is really bad."

My forehead wasn't injured why is it bleeding. Harry reached his hand up to his scar and touched it. When he looked at his finger it was covered in a black substance. This must be one of the gifts that death was speaking about. He got rid of the horcrux in my head. I'll have to come up with something to tell everyone when they ask about all of the black ooze.

"Its ok, Ginny. I feel fine. I will have it healed later."

Harry helped Ginny to her feet and allowed her to lean up against him for support. The two of them slowly walked back toward the cave in and saw that Ron was able to clear enough of the cave in for them to get through. Once on the other side of the cave in the two joined Ron and Lockhart and looked up at the Pipes wondering how they were going to get out of the chamber.

The last time Fawkes carried us out but he disappeared after he brought me the fang. I cant believe that Tom would get all of this filth on his robes. Maybe Fawkes will come if I call him. I know from the future that he can carry immensely heavy loads and he can flash someone to another place. "Fawkes, can you help us"

As he projected his thoughts a flash of fire appeared and Ginny and Ron looked up in shock.

Harry looked at them and smiled. "Fawkes is here to help us. Fawkes can you help us get out of here and back to Dumbledore."

Fawkes nodded and held his tail out for Harry to grab. Harry held his hand out to Ron, who grabbed Ginny's hand as she grabbed Lockhart's hand. Harry felt himself getting warmer and then the five disappeared in a flash of fire.

While the kids were in the chamber three people were in Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was looking at the two people in front of him with a look of extreme sadness in his eyes as he watch the woman in front of him mourning the loss of here only daughter while her husband held her as she cried.

The three jumped as there was a flash of fire.

Before Harry, Ginny, Ron, and a dumbstruck Lockhart could take in their surroundings the three kids were unable to move as someone had run into them and was practically hugging the life out of them.

"GINNY, your ok. You saved her. You saved her. How can we ever repay you? A crying Molly Weasley was unable to stop hugging the three until Mr. Weasley had walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Molly, dear let them breathe."

She nodded and backed up from them. "We will forever be in your debt, Harry. You are always welcome in our home."

"Thanks Mrs. Weasley." Harry smiled at her gratefully.

"Harry, my boy, this is amazing how did you save her and why do you have a sword."

Harry quickly explained what happened starting from when he and Ron found out that Ginny had been taken into the chamber. After listening to what happened Dumbledore looked at the Weasley's and told them to take their daughter to the hospital wing.

Harry and Dumbledore were about to start talking again when the door slammed open and Lucius Malfoy walked in with a very familiar elf following him.

Malfoy looked as if he had left his home in a hurry as his hair was not as well kept as it had been the last two times Harry had seen it. He also watched as Dobby followed his master with a rag and a bottle in his hand.

"You have returned, Dumbledore. I thought we removed you from the school." Lucius angrily spat.

"You did, but the funniest thing happened this evening. I got several owls asking for me to return and attempt to help when a young girl almost died today."

Harry looked at Mr. Malfoy angrily. Last time I asked for Dumbledore to give me the diary and I followed Lucius to confront him about the diary. This time I am going to do it in front of Dumbledore. While the two were talking and their attention was on each other Harry grabbed the diary and wandlessly conjured a sock to put in the diary. He then walked up to Malfoy and shoved the book into his hands.

Harry looked at Dobby and winked before he confronted Malfoy. "All of this is your fault. You used the distraction of the fight in Diagon Alley to pass this Diary along to Ginny Weasley. This diary then possessed her and allowed for her to open the Chamber of Secrets. Voldemort used Ginny to attack the Muggleborns and then convinced her to write a message on the wall saying that she was going to die in the chamber to lure me there and kill me."

Lucius threw the diary as he scowled at Harry and laughed. "What proof do you have."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he said, "He may not have any proof, Lucius, but you would be wise to make sure that none of Voldemort's belongings show up in this castle or I will make sure that you are brought before the Wizengamot and charged.

Lucius turned and with a call for Dobby he started to leave. When Dobby did not follow he turned and saw the elf holding the diary in one hand and a sock in the other.

Dobby grinned and said in a shaky voice. "Master handed me a sock. Dobby is free. Master be leaving now.

He looked at Harry and started to draw his wand before remembering Dumbledore would be a witness if he did anything. Lucius left knowing that it would be stupid to attack the boy in front of Dumbledore. As Lucius left he vowed that he would get revenge on the boy.

Harry looked at Dobby and thought I will not let him die this time and I will not live like I did the last time. Somehow I need to ask him to bond to me without Dumbledore knowing. Harry was brought out of his contemplation by Dumbledore telling Harry and Dobby that they could leave.

The two walked out of the office and started to talk as soon as they were away from the stairs leading to Dumbledore's office.

"Thank you, Harry Potter sir, Thank you. You have freed me from bad master." Dobby gratefully said.

"You're welcome Dobby. I know that house elves need to be bonded to someone or they will slowly lose their power and die. How would you like to become my house elf, Dobby?"

"Dobby would like nothing more than to be Harry Potter's house elf." Dobby shook in anxiety and hopefulness. Dobby realized that his greatest wish might soon be a reality.

With that Harry and Dobby walked to the room of requirement (Harry had asked for a comfortable roomwhere he and Dobby could talk).

"As you most likely know, Dobby, I have never bonded to an elf and do not know anyone who has one. How do we proceed with the bonding?"

"The great Harry Potter and I must both prick their palm and produce blood, then we must grasp the other person's bleeding hand while you ask if i am willing to serve your house. Once I vow to do so we are bonded." Dobby said excitedly.

They both cut their palms and grasped the others hand and Harry started the vow.

"Dobby, do you vow to be a house elf for the Potter Family? Will you consent to be not a servant but a part of my family? Will you promise to never punish yourself for anything that you feel you have done wrong?

Dobby's eyes widened as Harry created the terms and couldnt believe what he was hearing.

"I will. Harry Potter sir." Harry could feel his magic change as Dobby accepted his magic.

"Dobby knew Harry Potter was a great wizard but he never believed he would be consider a part of Harry Potter's family.

Harry could tell that the power that he had had changed Dobby's appearance and stature. I wonder what else will change with Dobby now that he is my house elf.

With that Harry told Dobby to stay out of sight for the time being and he would call for him as soon as he got to the Dursleys.

Edited on 9/26/24