Author's note: First of all I would like to clarify that English is not my main language, in fact it is the third language I learned, so if you notice mistakes in my writing please let me know.

Synopsis of the challenge:

Harry dies at 17 during the fight with Voldemort. He is sent to Death's office (explained later) and discovers that this is not the first time this has happened.

Harry's Death (who may have a human name) is furious at his arrival. Apparently, dying early is a black mark on the records of the various Deaths, and Harry is dangerously close to having this particular one dismissed.

When Harry asks what was supposed to have happened, Death retaliates by saying that he was supposed to kill Voldemort, find his soul mate ("What a Granger girl...!") and live to be a hundred. But as Harry gets caught up in life-threatening situations for one reason or another, he keeps dying before that happens. Harry is surprised by the soulmate thing.

Death gives Harry a piece of paper to sign that allows him to keep his memories (on previous occasions, for some reason, he was not given this option). Harry is deposited in an earlier time chosen by the writer.

In the end, Harry gets it right. He kills Voldemort, takes the girl and lives to a ripe old age. And Death doesn't get fired.

REQUIREMENTS:

Harry must have died at least three times before this one.

The memory retention contract should be included.

Death must refer to Hermione as "some Granger girl" when Harry's soul mate appears in his speech.

) Obviously, it must be H/Hr.

) Have fun OPTIONAL:

Dumbledore's manipulations may be a factor in Harry's untimely deaths.

Synopsis of the story:

Harry died in the confrontation with Nagini at Bathilda Bagshot's house in Godric's Hollow. He arrives at a place called the soul review department, where he meets the reaper, who is

upset about Harry's deaths, in the end they decide together that Harry has one last chance but before he leaves he will have a short period of time where he will learn as much as he can from a person of his choice, the surprise was for the reaper when Harry Potter summoned the dark lord Gellert Grindelwald to instruct him. (it doesn't matter if Gellert is dead or alive by that point in the original story, it's a fanfic I will use events or information from the books, as well as the movies, if needed, but in general the story will go on its own)

Chapter 1

Hello... again?

He felt tired, his body was heavy and he was disoriented, opening his eyes he thought everything was white, but only for a moment as his eyes adjusted to the light of what appeared to be a lamp hanging above him.

He sat up as he tried without much effort to remember the last thing he saw before he lost consciousness, he didn't quite remember the events but what he remembered clearly was the person who was with him in that event, suddenly the idea hit him and he stood up quickly looking for the person he remembered.

"Hermione!"

Harry shouted when he realised he wasn't with him, Harry, was alarmed but tried to think first and analyse the situation, first his surroundings, he was in what appeared to be some sort of office in a room that could easily be described as luxurious but old, say Victorian era, there was a large wooden desk in front of him that had a window further to the back where you could only see light, to his right was a large sofa, two smaller armchairs all leather and a coffee table between them.

Before he could begin to investigate further, a door at the back of the desk opened and in stepped what appeared to be a man wearing a smart black suit, rectangular glasses, a close but short beard, but what caught Harry's attention was that he had fox ears on his head.

"Let's see what your file says," said the fox man as he read a folder he was carrying without looking up. "Mmm, name Harry...POTTER!" he shouted at the end, raising his face and looking Harry in the face for the first time (?).

"What the fuck are you doing here? You were supposed to get it right this time?! How the hell did you fuck up again!?"

He began to ask not-so-politely as he sat down in the armchair behind the wooden desk.

Harry was not one to keep quiet when he was shouted at to his face in what he felt was an unjustified manner.

"That's my line, who do you think you are to start shouting at someone just by looking at them, how do you know who I am, where the hell I am and how the fuck did I get here?"

"How did you get here, you say? It's easy, you died... again!"

Harry certainly didn't expect that answer although in a way it didn't surprise him either, he suddenly began to remember everything that happened before, he was with Hermione after finding her parents' grave in Godric's Hollow when bathilda bagshot took them to her hut, and that's where it all came crashing down, he remembered following her upstairs, separating himself from Hermione so that he would discover that she was actually nagini and end up attacking, he remembered the pain of the horcrux on his neck as he struggled with the snake, Hermione's arms around him as he felt the tug of the apparition not before he saw Voldemort arrive, and suddenly he didn't remember any more.

"So, dying after nagini bit me, right? Hermione survived? Is she okay?"

Harry asked dejectedly as he resigned himself to the idea, seeing the change in Harry's mood the fox man let out a sigh as he leaned back in his chair and had one hand on his forehead.

"All right, let's do this one last time," said the fox as he sat up straighter and offered Harry a chair that appeared out of nowhere, sitting down in the chair Harry looked up to look at the fox fellow more calmly.

"For now, call me Tett, I am the reaper, or more precisely one of the many representatives of the royal reaper, we are in the department of soul revision."

"Soul revision?" asked Harry, "yes soul revision, let's say we check what your soul did in life, the actions you took and their consequences, that sort of thing.

"So that's where they decide whether you go to heaven or hell," said Harry as he relaxed a little.

"Basically," Tett replied and before he could continue Harry interrupted him. "Okay I get this, I died, I'm in the afterlife and now it's up to you to decide where I go but what did you mean by 'again' and if I may ask again do you know what happened to Hermione?"

At that Tett let out a sigh before the corners of his mouth lifted into a slight smile at Harry, "That's certainly what you're most concerned about, isn't it," he said looking at Harry, suddenly confused by the way he phrased that term.

"You see Harry we have a problem, for a start this isn't your first time here, in fact it's your 5th time here and I'm really getting tired of this," he continued, raising his voice slightly."

"In the world, everyone has a target arrival date for this place, without exception, because of that arriving earlier is almost as problematic for me as arriving later, you are my assigned case and your constant premature deaths are only causing problems," he took the documents he was carrying and began to read them, "So let's see, according to your file you are supposed to kill Voldemort as an initial part of your destiny, and together with your soul mate that Granger girl will have a bright future, make advances in the magical world and you will not die until you are almost 200 years old," he said.

Tett sighed, closing the folder with the documents and taking off his glasses, "Do you see the problem now?"

Harry certainly saw a problem with everything he said, something he definitely wanted an answer to and he wanted it yesterday "Hermione is my soulmate!? But then why did she seem to like Ron until before he left? Why was I dating Ginny before the hunt and what is that supposed to mean in reality soul mates?"

Tett was not discouraged and once again a smile appeared on his face, "Certainly that would be your first question as you have been doing it since you got here, typical of soul mates to always think of each other," once again he became serious as he looked Harry in the eye as he knew the following information would not go down well with him.

"I will answer your questions in the order you asked them, to begin with, yes, Hermione Granger is your soul mate," sighing once more and thinking that this day is making him spend years of Death? In sighs Tett continued. "The reason both you and your girl pursued other people as romantic interests is the same to both of your questions and quite simple really, love potions."

Harry froze for a moment before looking seriously at Tett waiting for him to continue, Tett himself thinking that he didn't know if it was good or bad that he didn't say anything until now continued to report the truth.

"I'll be honest I don't know how involved your children were, both Ron and Ginny Weasley, it's not my file, what I do know is that their mother Molly Weasley filled both you and your girl with potions because she thought it would be perfect to have you both as her children's partners, that woman is crazy, she gave her husband potions herself when they started dating and just because her husband already had feelings for her she thought it was actually okay to do that, then when she decided she wanted you in her family but you showed no signs of looking for her children she drugged you with love potions since Christmas of your fifth year and every chance she got, that woman is crazy and thinks it's okay to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals of "a happy family".

Harry's eyes had been closed since he said Molly's name, his fists were clenched and he seemed to be clenching them so tightly that it looked like blood would start coming out of his palms at any moment but still he said nothing, he waited a few seconds while he pondered Molly's actions, Hermione's actions since then, and his actions and suddenly he thought of something which he soon expressed by opening his eyes and looking at Tet.

"It certainly makes sense, both Hermione and I didn't act like ourselves in our 6th year, I had just been told a prophecy and lost the last family I had left and suddenly I just wanted Ginny for a girlfriend. I don't know about Ginny, but I'm pretty sure that several of my feelings and if I'm correct Hermione's changed shortly after Ronald left us, whether this is because he stopped giving us potions or the shock of the betrayal is something I don't know but it certainly gives me food for thought."

Tett nodded without being able to affirm or deny anything as that was certainly information he did not possess.

"Your last question, it's actually quite simple, basically you are two beings meant to be together, one soul split into two beings, the perfect match for each other etc. There are so many descriptions but the point is, if the other neither is ever complete, now soul-bound couples are considered married in the magical world, but although the bond begins with a kiss, it doesn't really end until you complete your love.

Harry blushed at the meaning of that last statement but asked to be sure, "Does it mean that if at some point Hermione and I had kissed we would have started our bond and we would know it, but we wouldn't be married until we made good on 'it'?" Tett arched an eyebrow at that, "That's what they call it these days youth eh?" snorting in amusement at Harry's difficulty Tett decided to let it go and continue.

"Now Harry, the thing here is that I can't allow you to be here until you've fulfilled everything on your destiny sheet, so just like the other times I'll send you back to a point in time so you can try one more time.

Having a feeling Harry interrupted, "Why do I feel there is a 'but'?" Tet smiled in amusement once again at this, it was nice to talk to this Harry more than the others he had to deal with, you can tell he had to grow up a lot in the middle of the war and although sad it is something that may have been necessary and would help him accomplish his mission.

"Of course there's a "but""This is the last chance I can give you, if you screw up again both

you and I will be screwed, so to make it right we're going to do a bit of cheating, this time I'll let you come back with your memories intact, and we'll remove the piece of Tom Riddle's soul you have in your scar," before he could continue Harry stood up angrily, "My scar is a horcrux!?" and suddenly a truth hit him like a truck and as he stood frozen by the epiphany he gawked into nothingness as he recited - and neither of us will live if the other survives... meaning that he had to die so that Voldemort could be defeated?

-Actually, no," Tet replied easily, leaving Harry surprised. "There were several other ways to deal with the horcrux in your scar, the reason you got where you did was because of the bloody old man Dumbledore's plans and manipulations," he held up his hand, stopping the complaint Harry was about to spout, and continued. "I don't want to hear your defence of the old man, he had a plan and he was willing to do whatever it took to carry it out, even if it meant using his own life or death as a simple tool, do you really think he'd let himself be killed by Snape if it wasn't necessary," this last statement left Harry's mouth agape. "Nope, I'm not saying he's necessarily evil, I don't know that for sure, I just know that he certainly wasn't as light as they claimed and that he's a person who thinks only he knows what's best.

Finishing his monologue there was a moment of silence where Harry again closed his eyes and thought about all the things he had experienced since he entered Hogwarts but he didn't have much time for it, he let out a sigh and left it for later, he indicated to Tet to continue.

"So, moving on, you keep your memories until now because it will be your, our last chance, and lastly I will give you one more advantage, or help, we can call a person from beyond to help you, let's say we don't have much time for a full training, actually we have about 1 week

here before you leave, but we could help you make plans or give you a little training, and just like the year where you will return is your decision, the person you choose is your decision." Putting on his glasses, Tett stared at him and waited.

Harry was thinking, previously Harry would have asked his parents to help him but being only one person he couldn't choose who he wanted to see and it wouldn't be fair to the other person, then a name came to his mind a person that Voldemort was looking for in the last visions he had, for some strange reason he thought he knew the name of that person and even stranger he thought it would be the person who could help him.

Harry Potter was tired, tired of having to be the saviour of a racist society that could turn him from a hero into a villain because of words written in black ink and published in some stupid newspaper, tired of having to fight defensive battles and losing because he had no power from the start, knowledge, nor the cruelty of his enemies, but most of all he was sick of being trampled on by the world, from the time he was left on the Dursley's doorstep to the time he ended up running for his life in a forest with Hermione by his side he was simply trampled on by the world. And he was sick of it, so when the name came to his mind he didn't hesitate to say it.

"Gellert Ginderwald"

There was silence, Tett stared at Harry with no expression on his face.

"Are you sure you want to mentor the greatest dark wizard who ever lived?"

"What better way to prepare to face a dark wizard and a manipulative elder than another dark wizard who has already faced said manipulative elder?"

Tet smiled slightly before letting out a sigh as a door suddenly appeared behind Harry, two knocks were heard before the door opened.

Entering at a slow but steady pace, his forehead held high with no sign of slouching, nothing more than walking as if he owned the room, a tall man entered, his hair was white with a rather peculiar style and a moustache to go with it, in his hand he held a wand, he surveyed the entire room with a slow glance and sniffed through his nose slowly as if to find a specific scent or as if to treasure the moment.

"It feels good to be in a tidier place after a while, I must say it's a surprise to be back here again."

Where he glanced at the two other people in the room besides him, he simply walked over to the armchairs on the left side of the room and sat down in the centre of the largest sofa, stretching out his arms and resting his feet on the coffee table as he continued to relax.

"I suppose there's a reason you called me back here Tett and I suppose Mr. Potter has something to do with it, by the way it's a pleasure to meet you at last, Harry Potter the famous boy who lived," commented Harry with no airs of admiration but no signs of contempt either.

"Actually, it's simple Gellert, it's not my decision it's Harry's, you see he needs knowledge and a bit of training and I told him he could ask for guidance from one person."

"And you decided to choose me," interrupts Gellert. "What a stretcher, but I suspect it's not just knowledge you want from me, no, you called me for a more personal reason, and from what I can see you already have half the mindset necessary for what I think you're looking for," Gellert then stared at Harry as he didn't look away and met his gaze.

"You are exhausted, but above all you are fed up with everything, with the world and how you are treated by it, you are tired of giving and now you want to receive, or more precisely you want to take what you deserve, you are at the edge of the cliff boy and who better than me to help you not only jump but to dive into the great waters of the abyss without getting lost in the process."

Harry was surprised and yet not surprised that he could figure it out so easily, Tett probably didn't even know what Harry was thinking but it was as if this man in front of him knew exactly what Harry was thinking, he only remembered one other person who gave him a similar feeling and the old man was long dead.

Standing up and walking towards Harry slowly rounding the middle table he continued his monologue. "Mr. Potter even in the afterlife we still know the things that happen in the realm of the living, so I can get an idea of what you want and I can certainly help you but unfortunately we don't have enough time to mold you as I would like and I'm sure you don't want me to bother you either, no, you want my knowledge, my power, and you want it for your own purposes not to be some sort of Grindelwald 2.

Finally arriving in front of Harry he stopped and looked him in the eye before his gaze fell on Tett who had also stood up with a frown on his face.

"How much time do we have, Tett?"

"One week is the maximum I can give them before sending it back."

"So I offer you this boy, we will have Tett transfer all my magical knowledge into your mind, everything I know about magic no matter what kind of magic it is will be in your head, it's not like you can use it the next day, no you will certainly have to train on your own to be able to use the knowledge I will give you, and in the week we have, I will tell you all about me, why I did what I did and how I came to almost conquer all of Europe, and I will tell you how you can achieve your goals or at least the attitude you will need to have to stop being trampled by the world."

Harry thought about it, it was more than he was looking for really, he just wanted Grindelwald to teach him how he became the leader he was, how he made people follow him and how he became such a great and feared dark lord but without losing the humanity that Voldemort had lost, what Grindelwald was offering him, was that and more, with the advantage that Harry would still have the freedom to handle what he learned as he wanted to, he had no intention of becoming a dark wizard and he said so.

"But I'm tired of letting

everyone else decide what to do with my life and I'm going to do what I want to do now whether anyone likes it or not."

Gellert smiled and then looked at Tett who only let out a sigh before speaking.

"It was my idea so I can't complain, I just hope you know what you're doing, Harry transferring his knowledge is easy, it's just a couple of moves in your file and a signature, but before that I'd like you to think about when you'll have to come back."

To that question Harry responded with another that he needed to know before deciding.

"Can you tell me about my previous deaths?"

Tett smacked his forehead without much force. "Right, I forgot to tell you that, you see your first death was when you were a kid, your uncle hit you harder than he thought he would and you fell down the stairs, your second death was in second year, your confrontation with the basilisk wasn't so lucky the first time, your third death was in fourth year when you faced that dragon it set you on fire completely, your fourth death was in your fifth year you followed Sirius through the veil and got here and finally your current death in Godric's Hollow thanks to Voldemort and nagini, by the way Hermione is heartbroken as he buries you but she is alive, for now"

That last bit left Harry both relieved and anxious at the same time, but he thought that if he was going to go back anyway there was not much he could do about the future that was about to change, so after some thought he decided when to return.

"I think third year is my safe bet, although there is danger it's the only year where no one is really trying to kill me, Sirius was innocent and knowing that I can relax and use that year for training among other things, Dementors are no longer a problem at this point and if I do well I can free Sirius this time."

Then Gellert let out a short laugh before looking at Harry.

"I knew you were smart inside, look at you, they take the manipulations away from you and throw you in a forest and you can think on your own, although you lacked more reasons you came to the best conclusion but if I may begin by imparting my wisdom on why besides what you mention that is the best year to return."

Gellert then sat down in a chair next to Harry indicating that he should sit down as well, and with the three of them seated again and a little calmer he continued.

"You see Mr. Potter, Voldemort though mad is a prodigy of magic, even I am not sure I would win a duel against him, of course if we are talking in terms of total reach, including our followers or army whatever you want to call it, then I would have no doubt that I would beat him, but in the end you will have to face him, is that clear?"

Harry nodded waiting for him to continue as he was sure there would be more.

"You Mr. Potter are the one destined to stop him but not just because of the power of love that Dumbledore is so fond of boasting about while he was alive, although it is a part of your

power you too were a prodigy who is destined to reach his level or surpass him it is entirely up to you, the difference is that while Tom Riddle spent his time getting stronger and more powerful even in his time at Hogwarts you on the other hand wasted your time and wasted your talent, The Patronus you cast in third year is something so powerful that not many wizards are able to replicate at its best, and at the time you were only 13, at 14 you faced Voldemort in a clash of spells that connected and while the twin wands certainly helped you you would still need enough magical power to withstand Voldemort's spell and even turn it back enough to summon the remains of your parents in that graveyard."

Harry certainly regretted having wasted his youth on nonsense that wouldn't help him, even though by then Voldemort had already attacked him twice.

"So the main idea, the third year is so to speak your safest year and the year in which people will wonder the least about your changes, because you will certainly be totally different from what people remember about you from the second year."

Seeing the doubt on Harry's face, Gellert decided to explain in detail.

"You've faced a basilisk, one of the most dangerous creatures in the realm of the living, you lost your best friend and though they don't know it yet your soul mate for a while, you saw the corruption of the ministry taking away your first friend only for the public to see the minister waving his hands, and recently they had been informed that a mass murderer escaped you from the most dangerous prison of all only to hunt you down."

Then something clicked in Harry's mind and he commented. "I mean any change in personality, motivation, or power people would think it was justified, even those closest to me who would be the first to notice my change could not argue since certainly everything that happened in a short time could have marked me, right?"

At Harry's conclusion, Gellert smiled, "See how you've got it in you Mr. Potter?" Harry smiled a little at what he thought sounded like a compliment.

"Exactly, it is the perfect year for you, you can not only change your studies, your motivations, but because you already know that Sirius is not looking for you to kill you, you can dedicate that year to train, to improve the power you already had that year to make the Patronus, to be able to control the knowledge I will give you, let's say that if the knowledge will close the age gap between you and Voldemort, the rest will depend on you, and you will still have time to look for allies and create plans."

Then Tett added something that seemed important to him and with which Harry agreed wholeheartedly.

"You will also have time to devote to your soul mate and even have a slightly quieter year as a student who has found his or her motivation."

Then Harry stood up and looked at the two men sitting in front of him, he felt refreshed and felt the tension that had been pressing down on him for months slowly fade away so with a crooked smile and a look that would have made any marauder proud he asked them.

"When we started?"