Chapter Text
"The boy who lived... come to die." Voldemort says as Harry stands yards across from The Dark Lord. Everything felt like it was going to fast in Harry's opinion. One moment, he's defending Hogwarts with all his friends and supporters.
Next thing he knew, he's holding a dying Snape and learning the truth about what Dumbledore wanted from him. Harry Potter... is a horcrux.
Never did the Boy Who Lived think he would willing walk to his death, just because Dumbledore command so. Harry use to have full faith in Dumbledore, but that fifth year at Hogwarts truly rattled the teen. Harry needed Dumbledore that fifth year, and Dumbledore had abandon him. Harry felt a heavy bitterness but respect for Dumbledore.
Besides, Harry knew that it just had to be done. He had to die for the greater good. After all, Harry has done crazier things.
"What's a little trip to the afterlife. I'll finally see my parents and Sirius." Harry thinks as the present catches up to him. "Well Potter, any final words?" Voldemort comments as his followers giggle and taunt.
Harry thought over his life in that moment, all his accomplishments. Everything good in his life flashes before his eyes. The day Hagrid told him that he's a wizard. The first time he flew a broom. Meeting Ron and Hermione. Casting a Patronus.
Then all his failures take root, consuming his vision with Sirius Dying. Being blamed for entering the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Seeing Cedric die by Wormtail. He felt it all yet the only thing Harry could get out is " I rather die a man than live life as a monster."
Voldemort's temper immediately flares up and he spits out " Avada Kedavra."
Then all Harry knew is darkness.
The afterlife, Harry finds, is just Kings Cross. Which was not at all what Harry expected death to be like. It's just him in white clothes, which he has no idea how or when he changed. "Does the Afterlife include outfit changes?" Harry thinks with a chuckle.
Everything felt so bizarre. Harry Potter.... he's dead. He's at this strange place with no idea what to do next. He hears a train pull into the station, blaring it horn. The doors of the train slide open, inviting Harry to come aboard. "Do I ride the train to my parents?" Harry softly mumbles as he steps closer to the open doors.
"Surprisingly Yes, hopping on this train does lead to the Great Beyond. But, that's a decision for later." A voice says with a playful chuckle.
Harry absolutely does not squeaks as he whirls around to face who spoke. Harry was expecting his family and maybe the pearly gates, not a model. Harry's eyes takes the stranger in. He's a abnormally tall man, towering over Harry's small form. He's muscled and wearing black dusty robes that show the man's figure. His eyes are impossibly bright blue, truly unnatural and all knowing. His raven hair is long and braided on each side of the his face. A sharp nose and a wicked smile covers his face.
" Sorry Master, didn't mean to scare you. But, you're just so easy to scare."
Harry processes the man's words for a minute and shakes off the teasing. Harry focuses more on the Master part and mumbles "I'm not your Master. Who are you?" The man smiles sadly, like a parent trying to teach a particularly troubled child. Not like Harry knew what that's like.... Dead Parents and All.
"Master... I think you know who I am." The air around the man changes. The light hearted aura vanishes, replaced with a overwhelming power that makes Harry's knees buckle. Decay fills the air as the station seems a bit colder. Harry instantly knows who this man is.
"Death." Harry mumbles softly. Not realizing he spoke at all. "Yes My Chosen One, I am Death. I go by many names, like you do." Death steps closer to Harry and lightly grabs his chin. Making Harry's striking green eyes look into Death's bright blue ones.
"The Boy Who Lived. The Undesirable number one. The chosen one." Death lightly taps his finger on Harry's cheek with each title. "Master of Death." Harry yanks himself away from Death's grasp and quickly spits out, " How... How is this possible?" Death lets out another sigh, Harry is tired of hearing the man sigh like that. "You became my master the moment all three hollows touch your hands. I have chosen you to be my master. I will accept no one else."
"But...But... Voldemort has the elder wand!" Harry says with slight panic. "Master, only when someone has all three of my hollows and I have accepted them as my master will they truly become the Master of Death. My hollows can be scattered across the world, and I still will only answer to you. My chosen one." Death says softly, like Harry was a frighten animal. "What does this all mean then?! Do I have to be the Master of Death for all eternity? Will I ever get to see my parents?" Harry questions as his heart picks up. All Harry wants is to see his parents and Sirius. He wanted to see everyone who fallen in the battle like Lupin and Tonks.
"Master, I have chosen you to be mine and I am yours for all time. I will not keep you from your loved ones. If you wish it, then I will grant it." Death lightly puts his hands on Harry's shoulders " But... I have something more incredible to offer than the great beyond. You have the opportunity to change everything." Death grip tighten on Harry's shoulder, almost drawing blood.
"What do you mean?" Harry feels a sense of danger and excitement coming from Death. He doesn't know if he should be worried. Only slightly wincing at the pressure on his shoulders. "You, my dear little Master, can go back." Death says like its the most simple thing in the world. "Do...Do you mean go back to being alive?" Harry thinks of his friends and how they need him. He truly wants to see his family, but the wizarding world needed him.
"Yes Master, but I'm thinking bigger." Death lets go off Harry's shoulder and reaches into his robes. He pulls out a tiny time turner with pitch black sand.
"This Time turner would send you to the 1940s. Exactly 1942, the year Tom Riddle goes to Hogwarts as a fifth year student. The same school year he opens the chamber of secrets and makes his first horcrux." Death slips the time turner over Harry's head and continues "You can go back in time and save everyone. You can change everything."
"So, you want me to go back in time and what? Change Voldemort for the better? Kill him?" Harry thinks aloud as he considers Death's proposition. Death smiles softly. "Yes, I want you to go back in time and stop Tom Riddle from ever becoming Voldemort. I want you to strike justice however you see fit. I would be with you every step of the way."
Death once again reaches into his robes and pulls out the invisibility cloak. Death places the cloak into Harry's shaking hands.
"In the end, it is your choice master. Do you want to go back to the present and defeat Tom Riddle now? Do you want to go to the great beyond with your family? Or... Do you want to change the future and see where it takes you?"
Harry truly thinks it over. He could leave now and defeat Voldemort in the present. Saving his friends, but Lupin and everyone who died in the battle would still be dead. He thought about his parents and how much he missed them. Wanting to know them beyond the stories he's been told. But, Harry felt that would be the easy way out. Harry didn't want to face his parents, knowing he could of done more. It seems to him that their is only one option that would truly save everyone.
"Alright Death, you win. Send me back." Harry says with a growl. Harry know he's making the choice for everyone, but it doesn't mean he has to be happy about it. Death smile turns wicked as He grabs onto the time turner. "Wise choice Master. I'll be sending you right before the start of fifth year. If you need me, you only need to call."
Before Harry could ask anymore questions, Harry's eyes grew heavy and all he knew is darkness.