Chapter Text
“Harry, we found the target”, Ron barged into Harry’s office.
“Tell the others to gather at the apparition point", Harry said, grabbing his coat as he stood up from his desk.
“Yeah, sure”, Ron nodded.
Harry turned around as he heard footsteps. “All here?” he asked, looking around.
“All here”, Susan Bones replied.
“Let’s go", Harry said as the group of Aurors apparated away.
As the group disapparates, they quickly go into hiding.
“The Forbidden Forest?” Harry whispered.
“Yeah, and they’ve just been standing there all day. It’s like they’re waiting for something", Ron said.
“Or someone,” Katie Bell added.
Harry stared at the hooded figure standing idly. “I’m going in", he said.
“Mate, you can’t be reckless like that. That person has been appearing at every crime scene for the past year. They could be some mastermind or something", Ron argued.
“It’ll be fine, and hey, if I get hurt, I’ll have an excuse to see my husband", Harry grinned, wiggling his eyebrows.
“You and your blond-loving ass. Alright, but if I see any suspicious movements, we’re charging in", Ron replied, rolling his eyes.
“Gotcha", Harry said as he left his hiding spot behind some trees and started walking toward the hooded figure.
As Harry closed in, the hooded figure began to speak in an airy-like voice. “Don’t you remember this place?”
Harry stood still, he turned to Ron and signalled him to stay down. “What do you mean?” Harry asked.
“This place—it’s where it all began. And, where it ended”, the figure continued.
“All I know is this is the Forbidden Forest and that you’re under arrest", Harry said slowly as he approached the figure.
“Oh, I forgot just how much tweaking you’ve gotten. Your memory’s become so dull.”
Harry stood there dumbfounded. “This is the place where you died.”
Harry shook at the revelation. ‘The place where I… died?’
“You must have been so focused on saving everyone that you didn’t take a moment to look at your surroundings”, the hooded figure began to turn. “Well, that doesn't matter, as you’re going to do this all over again.” The figure looked straight at Harry.
“Who are you? What do you mean?” Harry asked warily.
“Oh my, me?” The wind blew back the hood, revealing a figure with long golden hair scattered by the breeze, bright white eyes, pale skin, colourful markings on her face and arms that blinded Harry.
“Greetings, Harry James Potter. I’m the being you’ve been cursing your whole life: Fate.”
The brightness of the figure in front of him forced Harry to shield his eyes. “Fate?” he stammered, lost for words.
“I believe you have a lot of questions, but I’m just here to tell you that your life did not play out as it was supposed to. I’m going to send you back to before your life was altered by someone I did not account for.”
“Send me back? I’ve worked my whole life to achieve the happiness I have today! I’ve felt so much grief and anger that I do not want to remember. And you’re telling me to redo all of that!?” Harry's rage began to boil.
“Hm, figured you wouldn’t want to go back. Your happiness now is the only thing that Fate got right—and that’s only because the person who put you in this mess is already dead.” Fate smirked.
“Whatever you say, I am not going to do what you want. I’m done being controlled, I’m now writing my own fate!” Harry shouted angrily. He didn’t understand why he was so furious, after all, this person could just be a fake—couldn’t they?
“Well too bad, I knew you couldn’t be negotiated with", Fate sighed. “Guess we have to do it your way.” She shrugs as black smoke emerges beside her.
“I told you he’s stubborn”, another hooded figure emerged, taller than Fate.
“Yeah, yeah, suit yourself. I’m going back, you handle this.” Fate pulled her hood back up and disappeared in a flash of light.
“Who are you now?” Harry snarled at the remaining figure.
“Hey, kid. You know me better than you know her. So, I’m going to give you a little heads-up: if you don’t want to comply nicely, then I’ll have to make you by force", the hooded figure said ominously.
“And how would you do that?” Harry smirked defiantly.
The hooded figure stood silently before removing their hood to reveal a skull mask.
“Oh, wouldn’t you like to know?” The figure smirked before transforming into black smoke and flew past Harry.
At first confused, Harry soon realized in horror what was happening.
“Harry! What direction did they go? And also—there are two of them!?” Ron rushed out of his hiding spot and ran toward Harry.
“That direction! He’s going to Saint Mungo's! Draco!”
“Harry, wait!” Ron shouted as Harry apparated away toward Saint Mungo's.
When Harry disapparated at Saint Mungo's, chaos erupted around him—Death Eaters roamed freely, killing everyone in sight. Hooded figures wielding scythes added to the mayhem, those who attempted to fight them off fell victim with a single swipe of their weapons.
Harry rushed toward Draco’s office, praying to any God that would hear him for his safety.
“Draco!” he called out upon seeing Draco's office door broken open by force. Inside, Draco was fighting off multiple Death Eaters.
“Die traitor!” they shouted at him.
“Draco!” Harry joined in the fight alongside Draco.
“Took you long enough", Draco smirked while deflecting an incoming Diffindo spell.
“I’m just glad you're alright", Harry sighed as he cast Expelliarmus at a Death Eater.
“Of course! What do you take me for?” Draco replied smugly.
They seemed to be gaining ground until Harry noticed the hooded figure standing in the corner of the room with their arms folded against the wall.
“YOU!” Harry shouted angrily at them.
Distracted by his outburst, a stray green light shot toward him unexpectedly.
“HARRY!” Draco shouted as he lunged forward to pull Harry out of harm's way, shielding him with his own body instead.
Harry stared in horror as Draco’s limp body slumped against him.
“No no no no!” He shook Draco’s body desperately. “Wake up Draco! Wake up!”
Hooded figures rushed into the room and began killing off the remaining Death Eaters without mercy.
Kneeling in despair amid the chaos with Draco’s cold body cradled in his arms, Harry glared at the figure still standing in the corner of the room.
“This… this is your doing!” he spat accusingly at them.
“Me?” The figure approached slowly with a mocking smile on their face. “Oh, no, it’s just a little something called…” They squatted down in front of him. “Fate.”
Harry trembled with rage as the figure continued mocking him. “You like my grim reapers? Quite reliable, eh?”
“Who are you?”
“Me? You should know by now—why we’ve already met.”
“Already met?”
“Yes, nice to meet you again, old friend.” Death stood up tall, looking down at Harry. "I’m Death."
Harry shuddered at the name.
“This is the only way I could think of making you do what needs to be done. Now I'm going to send both of you back in time—to redo how fate was supposed to play out.”
“Oh, that's just cheating!” Harry laughs in disbelief. “You know I'd follow him anywhere he goes.”
“Indeed, you know you can't hide from Death,” Death grinned wider now. “Now count to three—and let’s get this started.” A Grim Reaper loomed ominously behind Harry.
Harry looked at Draco one last time and gave him a small smile: “It’s you and me against the world", Harry hugged Draco’s body.
And Harry’s vision turns to black.