Prophecy Child

‘Marius – thank you for coming. I know this is not our usual schedule, but I have a pressing question. I need to know the meaning of a couple of signs.’

Marius nodded for him to continue.

Sirius paused. ‘Do you think you could use a Pensieve?’

‘Yes. I may not be able to access my magic like you can, but magical items and potions still work as normal for squibs.’

‘Interesting. Come with me, we’re going to Tom’s study. The others are waiting.’

Lucius, Barty and Severus were indeed waiting, but Tom ended up being the last to arrive.

‘Apologies, I was setting Harry up in the sitting room with Carrick. This conversation will be… something. It will be something.’ Tom sighed, rubbing at his eyes.

‘Last night, Tom and I were both woken up in the middle of the night, and found Harry heading outside. Tom has prepared a memory for you all to watch. We could explain things, but I think it will be far more entertaining to watch your reactions when you see what happened!’ Sirius grinned.

Tom snorted, making the others glance at him in surprise. ‘Prepare yourselves – and remember that we are all currently here and intact.’

With that cryptic comment, Tom leaned forward and stuck his head in the Pensieve. Sirius grinned, eyes a little wild, as he watched each person enter the memory, before joining them last.

‘Is that a werewolf?!’

‘Silver arrows, I’d wager. Cruel but effective.’

‘Holy shit, it could swallow Harry whole and have room for dessert!’

‘Why are his eyes glowing?’

‘His scar too.’

‘Forget that – he’s patting a werewolf like a fucking puppy!’

‘What was that? A symbol? A rune?’

‘Oh – it’s changing back. Makes sense, I suppose.’

‘He looks so young…’

‘Where is he taking the arrows?’

‘An offering to the faeries? Water sprites? Something definitely grabbed them.’

‘That looks like a ritual cleansing of some sort…’

‘Oh shit -there’s a whole pack?!’

‘More fucking patting!’

‘They just let you leave? They didn’t follow you at all?’

The memory drifted and warped for a moment, then they watched as Harry signed something.

Marius’ eyes widened. ‘Oh. That’s… unexpected.’

The group blinked as they left the Pensieve, before all looking to Marius. ‘What was he signing? Some sort of explanation?’

Marius nodded slowly. He signed along as he explained. ‘He said, ‘Father Death. Show me where to go. Show me what to do. Draw the symbol, soul go to Father Death’.’

Nobody knew what to say to that.

It was silent for a long time, before the sound of feet came pattering down the hallway.

‘Dad! I make picture! For you! Look!’ Harry signed excitedly, holding up a piece of parchment.

Tom opened his arms, scooping Harry into his lap. ‘Wow, that’s an excellent… picture!’ he faltered. Lucius hid his snort behind a cough, making Tom glare at him.

Carrick came in a moment later. ‘Do you like Harry’s drawing of your house, Tom?’ he asked pointedly.

‘Yes! Yes, of course – here’s a door, and a window. Very well done, Harry.’

Harry wiggled in his lap, cheeks red and smile shy and pleased. ‘More talking?’

‘Yes, we’re still talking. We’re talking about you actually, Harry. About last night.’ Marius replied. ‘Do you remember what happened?’

Harry nodded, leaning back against Tom and curling up. ‘Sad –‘ He hesitated. ‘What word big moon dog man?’

Marius fought down a smile. ‘Werewolf.’

Harry copied him carefully. ‘Sad werewolf hurts, Father Death say go help. Go walking. Dad and Paddy come too. Go find werewolf. Werewolf go to Father Death. More werewolf. Sad. Give cuddle to family. Go home.’

Marius nodded, then looked around. ‘Good time for a little sign lesson.’ He declared, before repeating Harry’s words, adding in a few little corrections as he went.

‘Paddy?’ Sirius asked hoarsely. Harry looked over shyly, nodding. ‘Dog. Paddy.’

Sirius gave him a watery smile. ‘I didn’t think you’d remember that. You were so young.’

Harry slid from Tom’s lap and went to sit with Sirius. He needed a hug too.

Lucius spoke up next. ‘Before we begin discussing that very interesting statement, can I ask – what did Harry say when he asked the sign for werewolf? I have helped him a few times to learn new words, and his descriptions are often… entertaining.’

Marius couldn’t quite hold back his smile this time. ‘Big moon dog man.’

Sirius let out a bark of laughter. ‘An excellent description, pup!’ he laughed, giving Harry a little squeeze.

‘Last week he asked me about a house elf – he said ‘little green boy, big fish eyes.’

Sirius let out another bark of laughter. ‘Another good one!’

Tom was worried Harry might feel embarrassed, but he was smiling shyly, unconcerned.

‘Back to the main topic – a little boy raised by muggles somehow knows how to perform a Death rite?’ Severus said, before things could devolve further.

‘Not just a Death rite – some strange sort of forgotten Death rite. I’ve never seen one that looks quite like what Harry does. I watched him do a ritual cleanse after the previous one, and it was exactly the same as this time.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Lucius.

‘He performed the Death, then washed himself –head, heart and feet. And hands, between each one. The Black family have a similar ritual cleanse, but it’s… it’s different, more complex – flashy, almost. Harry’s motions were simple, but heavier on symbolism.’ Sirius replied.

‘Several questions.’ Tom said flatly. ‘He performed the death?’

Marius nodded. ‘Death rites are traditionally to prepare a soul to depart. It looked like Harry’s rite actually made the soul depart. Had he not, the soul would have lingered. Died, still, but more slowly, dragging out its suffering.’

Tom straightened. ‘He did the same to a house elf last time – he drew that symbol, and the elf died immediately. You’re saying Harry ki-‘ Tom cut himself off abruptly, eyes darting to Harry.

‘No, Harry is only hastening what is already coming.’ Sirius said firmly, arms wrapped around Harry.

Tom breathed slowly. ‘Alright. What does the symbolism of the cleansing mean?’

‘Head, heart and feet. The mind, the soul, the body. Loads of old rites and rituals followed that, but more modern ones have moved away from it. Lots of stuff about compass directions now, more focus on the magic of the world that is also inside us. In the Old Ways, it was the magic inside us that is also in the world. Neither is wrong or makes any difference in magical power or anything – just a different philosophy. Washing hands between each movement is interesting too. For a Death rite, I suppose it’s probably some sort of acknowledgement of the potential for hygiene issues – dealing with dead bodies. It’s only a guess though, probably an old book somewhere that could actually explain it.’

‘What about Father Death?’ Severus said suddenly. ‘I’ve heard Lord Death before, although rarely. Father Death, I have not heard before.’

Sirius and Marius looked at each other, expressions heavy.

‘What? What is it?’ Severus asked insistently.

‘That is a question for Harry, if he is willing to answer it?’ Marius said gently.

Harry curled a little tighter in Sirius’ arms, then pulled away, sitting up straighter. ‘Father Death see me. Father Death bring me back to bad people. Wrong time. Father Death say wait here. Say help.’

‘Help with what, Harry?’ Marius prompted, holding a hand up before anyone could speak.

‘Help souls go Father Death. Help souls happy. No more sad. No more hurt. Happy. Wrong time me Father Death. Wait here, happy now.’ Harry finished with a shy smile, looking around the room, then landing on Tom. He wiggled out of Sirius’ lap and darted back to Tom, climbing into his open arms.

‘Harry-‘ Marius cleared his throat. ‘Harry, you met Father Death?’

Harry nodded. Choked gasps echoed around the room.

‘He told you it wasn’t time yet for you to stay with him, so he brought you back and told you to wait?’

Harry nodded again.

‘And you waited, and you helped other souls to find happiness, like Father Death asked you to do?’

Harry nodded.

‘And now that you’ve waited, you’re happy?’

Harry nodded, leaning back to look up at Tom. ‘Now dad.’ He looked around the room. ‘Now good uncles. Now food. Now bed. Now more words. Happy. Help souls and stay dad and happy.’

Marius’ eyes glistened as he nodded, not trusting his voice for a moment. ‘That is wonderful, Harry,’ he said, voice tight and rough. ‘I am very glad you are here, and that you are happy now.’

Tom wrapped his arms tight around the little boy, his own throat far too tight to speak. He buried his face in Harry’s hair, breathing in the scent. Clean and soapy, with a hint of the woods from the night before clinging to him still.

Harry had died.

His- this little boy had died and been brought back to life by Death himself.

Tom squeezed even tighter, then suddenly let go when Harry squirmed. He mentally berated himself – too tight, he’d scared the boy!

But Harry twisted himself around and reached up to wrap his skinny arms around Tom’s neck, and Tom held him close again, tears prickling at his eyes.

A whisper, so soft he wasn’t entirely sure he didn’t imagine it, brushed over his ear.

‘Daddy.’