Chapter 1: When Death Called

"It was over... It was over." The words repeated endlessly in his mind. Even if it had taken his last breath, it was done. Harry stared at t

"It was done... It was done." The words kept coming back to him over and over. It was done, even if it had cost him his last breath. Harry looked at the bodies of the Lestrange brothers. They had gotten away from the Battle of Hogwarts, regrouped, and come back even more dangerous. They had killed the entire Weasley family in one blow.

Harry and Hermione promised to kill them from then on. A new war broke out. It took five years for it to end, and the wizarding world in Britain was in ruins. The Ministry had fallen apart, and its once-golden halls were now silent and burned stone. There was nothing left of Diagon Alley but rubble and ash. The shops that used to be busy were now empty shells. The Leaky Cauldron had burned down, and the huge doors of Gringotts were melted and bent.

The Forbidden Forest had grown so big that it had taken over what was left of Hogsmeade. Magical creatures that had been cursed and killed by dark spells could move around freely. Dementors swarmed without restraint, their numbers grew, and they brought darkness even during the day. Hogwarts was no longer a place to learn; it was a battlefield covered in blood, broken stone, and fire. The towers had fallen down, and the Great Hall had split in half. There were only ghosts left, floating around in grief.

There was no part of their world that wasn't affected. St. Mungo's had been attacked and turned into a graveyard. The Burrow had burned down to its foundations, which was the last safe place Harry ever lived. 

Luna was lost in the chaos of the Department of Mysteries. Twenty Aurors were guarding the Ministry gates when Kingsley Shacklebolt died. There was a lot of stone and fire on top of Hagrid's hut. Someone broke the Sword of Gryffindor in half. The Elder Wand was gone. It might have been destroyed or buried with one of its owners in the chaos.

Harry and Hermione had put down another goblin rebellion at Gringotts with brutal efficiency. The goblins joined forces with evil powers, thinking it was their only chance to be free in the chaos. Their uprising was strong but short-lived. It ended with their leaders being killed and their vaults being sealed.

The wizarding world came to an end. As magical war spread to the non-magical world, Muggles left cities. Magic that wasn't controlled had destroyed whole neighborhoods. Electricity and magic fought, blowing up the infrastructure. Trains went off the tracks, buildings fell down, and whole cities turned into magical storms. The Statute of Secrecy was no longer important because there were no secrets left to keep; only survival.

Harry had seen it all fall apart. He had buried friends with shaking hands and fought enemies with eyes that were too dry to cry. There had been no peace or rest. The only promise was to kill the Lestranges, no matter what. And now that the payment had been made.

Harry turned to the only person he had left: Hermione, his love and soulmate. She sat next to him with her head resting on his shoulder, and they both watched the sun rise over the Black Lake for the last time. The lake even looked tired, with its water blackened by ash and magic.

Harry whispered, "I love you, Hermione."

She said, "I love you, Harry."

That was the last time they closed their eyes together.

Their bodies would be buried next to Dumbledore, who was a defender of the light.

...

Harry and Hermione woke up in a round room that looked like Dumbledore's office. A hooded figure sat behind a desk, dressed in black.

"Welcome, Master." The figure looked at Harry and said, "I am Death."

"What do you mean?" I can't be the Death Master. Harry said, "That's just a story."

"Only a story? Do you think you and Hermione made it through the last five years by accident? Harry, it was the Hallows. You used them, whether you knew it or not.

Harry started to understand how close they had come to dying many times.

Death went on, "Yes, and for the first time in hundreds of years, the Hallows have been brought together and used together." That means you're my partner. I cannot alter how the universe works day to day, but you can. You will help me stop thousands of people from dying and find those who have escaped me.

Harry muttered, "I guess I don't have a choice." "But why is Hermione here? Not that I'm complaining."

"Because she is your true love. She follows you wherever you go. Death said, "Not even I can separate soulmates."

Harry looked at Hermione, his voice full of guilt. "I'm sorry, Hermione." I know you really wanted to see your parents again.

"Harry James Potter!" I will kill you myself if you ever say that again. Hermione snapped, "I'm going too if you're going." Harry slumped back in his seat, and even Death looked a little worried.

"Besides," she said in a softer voice, "who else will keep you grounded?"

Harry smiled. "Hey."

Hermione looked at Death. "So, where do we go?"

Death smiled a little. "Please understand that this wasn't my idea. Most people who bring the Hallows together do it for their own benefit and are punished by serving me. I'd send you on vacation if I could. But this world needs you. More than a thousand people will die if you don't do something. I'll show you.

A huge Pensieve appeared, much bigger than Dumbledore's. Death put his hand on its surface.

"Please send me Universe 325."

Colors mixed together until they made a picture that scared them. London was a dead place. There were no Muggles left. They watched as a different Harry led an army of Death Eaters, Dementors, and other dark creatures against Hogwarts, the Ministry, and even Parliament.

He looked like a different person. More tall. Chilly. His eyes shone like emerald coals. His robes had a twisted version of the Deathly Hallows symbol on them. His face showed no mercy, only rage and authority. His followers were quiet, well-behaved, and scary. He sent out waves of controlled violence that were full of magic.

Hermione gasped. "What happened to you in that world, Harry?"

Death answered in a serious way. "Snape did what you couldn't do. He made Voldemort let Lily Potter go. "One choice changed everything."

Death showed them that Voldemort killed James, shocked Lily, and pointed his wand at baby Harry. Snape acted quickly. He erased Lily's memory, made her think she had an affair, and changed things so that Sirius was blamed. Voldemort's curse bounced back and killed him, and Harry disappeared.

Death said, "Snape took Lily." "He got married to her. Everyone thought he was a war hero who loved a Muggle-born.

Harry and Hermione didn't say anything.

"Your counterpart came to Remus's house. Remus, who was still recovering from the full moon, found him and hid him in a secret Potter property. Harry found Hermione, an orphan who had survived a car crash by accident, on his third birthday. The two were always together. They learned magic on their own after Remus died when they were nine, and they got very strong. Then, one day, Harry learned the truth. His mother was still alive and married to the man who killed his father. She wouldn't let him confront her when he tried. She had been forgotten. Harry turned dark after being rejected and heartbroken.

Hermione pressed her lips together, her heart breaking at the thought of the child she used to be, living alone in a world that had gone crazy. "She didn't have anyone," she said softly.

Death said, "Their magic got darker because it came from anger and sadness." "And in that world, magic responds to pain."

"So in that world, Snape isn't at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked.

Death shook his head. "No, Snape was never accused of being a Death Eater." There was never any doubt about him. People thought Neville was the Boy Who Lived.

"Wait—Neville?" Harry said.

"Yes." The Lestranges attacked his family on the same night that Voldemort attacked the Potters. Neville got a scar that looked like a lightning bolt.

Hermione let out a sigh. "So the wrong person was called the savior, Snape is still teaching, and Harry turned evil." Anything else?

Death said, "Yes." "When you go into that world, you'll become the bodies of your counterparts. You will feel their memories and feelings. Emotion is what makes magic happen, and it can't be separated from the body.

Harry and Hermione nodded. As they got ready for their next trip, the room started to fade.
 

Review suggestions

INDEX NEXT