Meeting with Death and Rebirth
Chapter 1: Meeting with Death and Rebirth
John White had always thought death would be quiet, an empty void where all sensations stopped. But as his vision faded to black, replaced by the shrill sound of car horns and the violent screech of metal against metal, he was proven wrong. There was no peace, no painless transition. Instead, there was a sharp pull, like someone had yanked him out of his body and thrust him into a cold, dark abyss.
John blinked. He was no longer on the rainy street where the truck had barreled into him. Instead, he stood in a vast, endless void, where the boundaries of space seemed to stretch beyond comprehension. In front of him, a figure stood cloaked in black, radiating an aura so cold that John instinctively wrapped his arms around himself.
“You’re early,” the figure said. Its voice was deep, resonant, and filled with a weight that spoke of centuries of existence.
John furrowed his brows. "Early? What... where am I?"
The figure chuckled darkly, but there was no humor in it. "You died before your time, John White."
John blinked again. Death. He was dead. "Wait, wait, wait. I’m not supposed to be dead yet! I’m only twenty-six! I just got my degree! This isn't right."
The figure—Death, John realized—nodded slightly, almost as if acknowledging the cosmic injustice. "Indeed. But fate has a way of balancing itself. Your life was cut short, but I am here to offer you a choice. You see, when someone dies before their time, there are... opportunities."
John's heartbeat—or what felt like a heartbeat—quickened. "Opportunities? Like, I get to come back to life?"
Death tilted its head, seeming almost amused. "Not exactly. You will not return to your old life, but I offer you the chance of *rebirth*."
Rebirth. The word rang in John's ears, a mix of dread and curiosity. "What does that mean?"
"To live again in a different time, a different world. A second chance. But," Death raised a bony finger, "this is no ordinary rebirth. You will be sent to a world quite unlike your own. A world of magic, danger, and war. A world where fate itself has written a story."
John’s mind spun. Magic? War? Was he dreaming? Had he hit his head? But something in Death’s cold gaze told him this was real. "Where... where exactly are you sending me?"
Death smiled, though it was more a flash of teeth beneath the hood. "A world you are familiar with. You will be reborn as Alex McKinnon-Black, the son of Marlene McKinnon and Sirius Black, in the year 1979. Your life will intersect with the very story you know from your world’s fiction. The *Harry Potter* world, as you call it."
John’s mouth fell open. “Harry Potter? You're telling me I'm going to be in the *Harry Potter* universe? You’ve got to be kidding.”
Death's smile remained. "There are no jokes here, mortal. But there is a condition. You will retain the memories of your previous life, but your fate will be intertwined with that of the world. Change too much, and you risk consequences you cannot imagine. However, you are not bound to the same destiny as Alex McKinnon-Black was. You will have the power to shape events, though you must be careful. A war is coming, and the Dark Lord will rise again."
John's head was spinning. He had read all the books, seen the movies. Voldemort, Death Eaters, the prophecy about Harry. He knew how things were supposed to play out. But now he was being thrust into that world—into the body of Sirius Black’s son? And Sirius didn’t even know he had a son!
“So... what’s the catch?” John asked cautiously. “This feels like there has to be a catch.”
Death's smile faded. "The world you enter is at the brink of war. The life you are born into will be one of hardship. All of your mother’s family—except your mother and father—will die in a Death Eater attack, forcing Marlene McKinnon to flee with you and raise you far from the wizarding world’s troubles. In America, under the watchful eyes of MACUSA."
John swallowed hard. He wasn’t a hero. He wasn’t a fighter. He was a nerd. A computer engineer, for crying out loud! How was he supposed to deal with dark wizards and prophecies?
"Wait," he said, suddenly panicking, "I can't fight Voldemort. I know the story, but I’m no hero. I don’t even know how to duel! I just... fix code."
Death regarded him silently for a moment. "You will have time. Time to learn, time to prepare. But know this: the Dark Lord’s rise is inevitable. You cannot stop the war from coming, but you may yet influence its outcome. Remember, your role is not to alter the prophecy, but to aid in its fulfillment. Harry Potter must defeat Voldemort. That is non-negotiable."
John’s mind raced. Could he really do this? Did he even have a choice?
“I suppose saying no isn’t an option?”
Death shook its head. “It is not. But I will give you one gift to help you in this new life. A single boon to aid you in your journey. Choose wisely.”
John thought hard. A gift? What could help him the most in a world of magic and danger? After a moment, he looked up, determination flooding through him. "Knowledge. I want knowledge. Of magic, of dueling, of fighting. I want to know how to survive in this world."
Death smiled again, this time with a glint of approval. "A wise choice. Very well, John White. You shall have the knowledge you seek. Now, go. Live again as Alex McKinnon-Black, and prepare for the trials ahead. The fate of the wizarding world may depend on your actions."
Before John could respond, the darkness engulfed him once more, and the void around him collapsed.
***
When John awoke, he wasn’t John anymore. He was Alex. His body was smaller, younger—just a baby. He could hear the soft humming of a woman nearby. Marlene McKinnon. His mother.
And so it began.