If I die young

There was nothing Harry wanted more than a nice long nap- where he preferably never woke up.

He was so used to the pain.

It wasn’t fair. All he ever wanted was someone to care, and he could never even get that. He craved someone to swoop in and erase all his memories- all of them. Because every single one of his memories were painful. He didn’t think he’d ever had an authentic happy memory until he discovered he was magic. 

He makes up the good memories in his head you see. Thinks up scenarios where his mother is alive and laughing…where his father is grinning and proud of him. All the thoughts flickering behind the glassy sheen of his eyes are simply wishes. Wishing for a good story to erase the bad. Wishing for this to be nothing but a nightmare- a long dream he could wake up from and find himself in a loving embrace. 

People can tell he’s in pain. Harry thinks it's obvious to tell who is happy from those who simply wish to never wake up again. He can see the difference in their eyes….in the slope of their smile and the creases in their cheeks. No one seems to see his pain though. Even if his agony is clear to anyone who would just look closer. But perhaps they just don’t want to look, they don’t want to see. They think it's best to leave his scars alone. They’ve no time to deal with his hurt, his emotions. No one thinks Harry is worth sticking around for. No one thinks he is worth healing, worth simply living a normal life. 

His pain is a series of books with chapters deep and terrible and pages tearful and jaw breaking. 

Harry just doesn’t see the point in living anymore. He’s in too much pain. He feels too much and is numb most of the other time. It's too much for him to handle. He’s not even twelve. Harry didn’t think eleven year olds were supposed to flinch at sudden moves or horde food to eat. Children weren’t supposed to have only two friends that they trusted with everything except for their scars. Children weren’t supposed to only have three pairs of clothing that were too big to fit them. Harry wasn’t supposed to throw up from eating a normal meal because his stomach was so used to starving that actual food was an anomaly.

Harry was supposed to be loved. 

And he never felt that way- not once. 

So Harry was hoping …. wishing …. pleading with the higher powers to just let him rest. He was tired. He wanted his mum. He wanted his dad. 

He wanted to die. 

The basilisk would do a good job with that at least. He slayed the pretty snake with eyes as gold as flames and he felt his heart ache when the sword tore through the majestic being. She had been controlled by Tom Riddle, just like he had been controlled his entire life; by his aunt and uncle, cousin, the teachers here, the headmaster… basically anyone who called him the boy-who-lived seeked to control him in one shape or another. 

He’d always understood the concept of manipulation. He’d been raised to recognize the signs in his aunt and cousin. It was either learn or be controlled like a mindless puppet. His uncle never bothered with the intricacies that accompanied being mindful- he preferred to use his fists on things that bothered him…. things like him.

So Harry couldn’t help but smile a little as the venom seeped through his veins. It scorched through his arm and the venom seemed to boil his blood. He fell back on the moist chamber’s floors to sink into blissful darkness. 

This was the first time pain had ever been so comforting. 

“Shall we wake the child?” 

“Let him rest… it seems like he needs it,” 

“You know…. breaking the news to him now or later is going to end up with the same heartbreak,” 

Someone sighs and Harry thinks their voice sounds really sad, “Let him rest for now. At least for now his soul isn’t distressed.”

Harry thought that was an accurate description of how he felt but he didn’t want to tell anyone that. The nice lady sounded too sad on his behalf and he didn’t like that. But he couldn’t really hear anything properly anymore. He felt like he was floating in a nice, warm cloud that was giving him hugs from all sides. The feeling was one he would’ve associated with a mother’s comfort…. but Harry didn’t know what that felt like.

It was so warm… so kind… so happy. Harry couldn’t help but drift off. It was the first time he could just let himself relax.

It felt like an eternity before his eyes flicker open and all he sees is an endless abyss of white. Like he was staring into a fresh piece of parchment paper. There were people around him. He couldn’t exactly understand how he could tell that though.

“Hello, Harry darling,” A woman says from behind him and he turns slightly, eyes still blurry with sleep. Even with his foggy eyes he could tell there were seven figures standing in front of him.

Blinking the sleep away, Harry rubs his eyes with the back of his hands. He stares at the seven faces in front of him with increasing curiosity. “Hello…” He whispers staring up at them, eyes wide.

There were three women and three men and another person who appeared to be gender neutral. Each one of them was more ethereal than the rest.

“Oh wow. You’re all so pretty,” Harry blurts out before realising what he said and blushing a bright red.

Someone bursts out into twinkling laughter making the rest of them chuckle, their eyes growing kinder. 

“Well thank you Harry darling. That was a very nice compliment,” The one who laughed first beams at him. She looked like she enjoyed long walks in the dark among the flowers and birds. Harry would describe her being akin to that muggle princess Snow White in her persona. She had white hair that flowed behind her like a cape and it sparkled in the light with every move she made. Her eyes were wide and violet. It was a deep purple that reminded Harry of an amethyst. Her skin was even paler than the foggy white environment they were in right now and it sort of made her glow in contrast. She wore a fluffy dress that looked like cotton candy but blue and a pretty flower crown graced the top of her head. It wasn’t a normal flower crown though. It had so many different types of flowers in it, Harry could hardly keep count and it was flowed sideways on her head with glittering vines keeping everything together.

“I’m sorry for the way you came to us, young one… You’re one of our favourite souls Harry.” She says strolling towards him hands outstretched to delicately help him to his feet. Every movement she made was accompanied with a shimmer in the air around her.

It was like every move she made was magic.

Harry’s eyes widen at the thought and her smile turns to a full blown grin, “Indeed youngling. I am Lady Magic.” 

Harry was certain he was dreaming. But that wasn’t really possible because he’s almost ninety-nine percent sure he had died.

“It’s interesting how you're only ninety nine percent sure,” A woman muses. She was closer than Harry thought she’d be, but he didn’t scare away from her. She had this allure. She felt safe to him. If good vibes were a person, he’d believe this woman to be it. “Why is that, child?” She muses. Harry thought her voice was deeper than normal for a woman. She had a smooth, raspy tone like she smoked a lot of cigarettes without any of the illness and disease that accompanied it. Her skin was the colour of the night sky and the contrast against the off-white background made her all the more otherworldly to Harry. She had no pupils Harry could see. Her scleras were as dark as her skin, an all encompassing black, that were outlined in the brightest gold. Where Lady Magic exuded all the gentleness in the world- this woman was all grace, poise and power.

Not that Lady Magic didn’t look powerful.. she just looked more like a sunflower while this other woman looked like a rose with thorns.

“Pffft Dea (pronounced Dia), he called you thorny.” A man to her side guffaws. His face appeared to house an almost permanent smirk. His eyes were almond slits in the bluest of blue. It was like a teal sort of aquamarine that glowed eerily whenever he turned his head. His eyes seemed to have little black creases in them and when Harry looked closer, Harry blinked. He realized the creases represented the hours on a clock.

His pupils were split into two and they acted like the hands of a clock. Harry had never seen such detailed eyes before and it took a second for him to look away from the man who draped himself on literal air to appear like a Greek god from those tales Harry could recall.

“Tim, keep your unsavoury comments to yourself please. No one likes a spy,” Lady Magic huffs before gently grabbing Harry’s hand and pulling him over to the rest of her colleagues. “That annoying fellow over there is Lord Time or Tim as we all like to call him.” Magic points at the man with clocks in his eyes. His answering grin was menacing but his eyes soften upon Harry’s clearly distressed form.

“Nice to meet you little baby,” Time smiles at the eleven year old, who glares at him for the nickname. “What you aren’t a baby?” The deity snickers sitting up and leaning down to meet Harry’s eyes.

“I’m not though,” Harry pouts, making Time laugh. He ruffles the boy’s hair with a wide grin.

“I’m centuries old little one, you’re a baby to me.”

 Harry thought that might be an overestimation but he couldn’t help but agree with the deity at the comparison.

“Did I die?” Harry asks Time whose happy expression fades into something a tad more melancholy. Harry looks up at Lady Magic when Lord Time wouldn’t answer him.

She looked so saddened it caused a lump to form in his throat. “Oh,” He murmurs, looking down at his toes. He was barefoot here and he thinks that helped with his access to his magic. His magic had never felt more alive. And it didn’t hurt as much to feel and access.

“No you’re not dead youngling,” The alluring woman from before sighs, and she crosses her arms looking really upset. “Another second though and you might’ve been,” She grouses before strolling over to lightly flick his forehead.

“What were you thinking fighting a fully grown basilisk?” She snaps, “You’re shorter than a stalk of wheat. A blow of wind and whooosh- you’re dead.” She deadpans, starting to mutter curses under her breath all the while making Harry’s eyes grow wider and wider. It wasn’t just her eyes that were outlined in gold- it was her entire body… filled with cracks and it seemed to be filled up with the purest of gold. It made her look very pretty. As if she had been torn apart and then put back together oh so delicately, making her come out a hundred times more beautiful.

“I was thinking that a basilisk was trying to kill me and I should try to survive,” Harry points out. But that just made the woman much angrier if her ranting volume was any indication. “Why do you feel so safe?” Harry points out, not able to keep his curiosity in any longer.

The woman freezes and then grins widely, her anger forgotten for the moment.

“Damn it! I wanted him to be mine,” Time grumbles, crossing his arms with a loud pout.

“Harry is from the Peverell line. Of course he’s my champion,” The woman snarls at him.

“I’m yours?” Harry asks, confused and Lady Magic sighs, her violet eyes warm as she ran a hand through Harry’s hair. The way he pressed into her hand seeking the brief affection made her chest stutter.

“That is Lady Death, Harry. She is a deity of the Peverell line which is the family line you come from. You feel safe with her because she is responsible for your happiness and safety.”

“Only someone messed with my people and one of the children under my protection ended up on a whole other realm unprotected,” Death was fuming, even if Harry couldn’t tell by the coldness of her eyes, he could tell by the menacing tone of her voice and the clenching of her fists.

“Dea, love that is why we are here. To correct the injustice done to our champions,” A man beside Death muses, eyes trained on Harry like lasers. He seemed to be analysing him from head to toe. “Hello Harry Potter, I am Lord Life. It is a pleasure to meet the champion of my beloved.” This man looked like Death’s complete opposite. Where Death’s skin was the darkest black with cracks of gold, this man had skin of gold only made to be alive by the slivers of black that spread across his body. Harry thought they were very complementary. There was always a bit of life in death and a bit of death in life. Life wore a crown of ivory green that he braided into his luscious blonde locks of hair. His eyes were glowing gold and they creased at the sides in a lovely smile. Life smiled at Harry gently and Harry couldn’t help but blush deeply remembering that these people -deities- could read minds.

“Not your beloved,” Death grumbles, rolling her eyes at Lord Life.

“Lee literally shut up. Dea hasn’t returned any of your affections in any of the years you’ve been created. It’s not happening.” Said a person who Harry thought was very extravagantly dressed. It was almost too busy and too chaotic. Harry had no idea what to look at. They looked half rock-star, half Greek god, mixed with random elements that didn’t seem to belong on a body. Harry’s eyes look from the necklace of fangs to the red apples on the leggings they wore. They dressed in the longest heels that were blood red. They also wore a dangerous smirk, one that sent alarm bells blazing in Harry’s mind. 

A woman beside them smacks them sideways, “Hey stop intimidating the baby!” She snarls, aggressive. She had bright pink hair with a purple bead in the middle of her forehead, where her third eye was. The bindi flowed with more magic than the rest of her. Her bangs were thick and choppy, flowing sideways very prettily and she had her hair in a complicated half-up, half-down do. She wore a large bronze headpiece with little pink moons scattered all over it. Her eyes were kind of a strange mixture of silver, purple and pink. 

“Ow!!” They demand, red eyes flaring in annoyance, “I’m not! It’s not my fault I dress so fabulously,” They pout and the woman rolls her eyes. Harry looks around, smiling a little when everyone seems to do the same. 

“That’s Leige Chaos and Lady Fate,” Lord Time muses and points to someone in the corner, “Last one you haven’t met is Lord Harmony over there.” Lord Harmony crosses his arms at the attention, fluttering closer to Chaos’ side in a strange attempt for protection? Against Harry? Harry wasn’t scary though?!

Harmony stares at them with wide honey brown eyes, his chin hooked over Chaos’ shoulder. His hair was the same colour as his eyes…a warm honey colour and it was curly and fluttery around his entire head. He wore very colour neutral tones and kept biting his lip nervously.

Chaos places a comforting hand on Harmony’s head, absentmindedly, using the other hand to make angry gestures at Fate who they were still arguing with.

“You’re not scary silly. Harm just doesn’t like attention all that much. He doesn’t like strangers,” Time drawls, having a bunch of grapes appear out of nowhere and starting to munch on them.

“Someone kill me,” Death scowls, disgusted. “You’re all terrible at keeping on topic,” She strolls towards Magic who was comfortingly stroking the back of Harry’s hand to calm him down.

“Can I have my child back now?” Death scowls at Magic who smiles serenely at her. “You’re disgustingly beautiful.” Death hisses. 

“Thank you Dea,” Lady Magic muses kindly with a happy smile, watching as Death picks Harry up and props him on her hip. Harry gazes around with wide eyes, confused and slightly terrified but he still felt safe with his deity and burrowed his face into her shoulder to disappear. “Be careful with Harry love, he’s delicate right now,”

“Magi (pronounced Maggie) stop flirting with Dea. She’s supposed to be mine.” Life scowls at the two, gold eyes slanted downwards and mouth prompted into a big pout.

“So I did die technically?” Harry whispers to Death who instantly softens, a hand going up to card through Harry’s hair gently.

“You didn’t die yet. We all pitched in to stop your death enough to give us time to heal you. You can’t die just yet Harry.”

Harry drooped, lip quivering. Of course he couldn’t even die to get away from people’s expectations. Even in death people expected him to defeat Voldemort.

“You shouldn’t try killing yourself on purpose Harry.” Harmony says softly. “Your life is precious.” Harry thought Harmony sounded like he was talking from experience and Harry just wanted to cry a bit for his pain and Harmony’s pain and the pain Chaos and the rest of the deities were feeling right now. And why could he tell what they were feeling? That was not normal.

“No one expects you to defeat that stupid soulless being young one.” Time looked furious but he was also munching on his grapes rather angrily so Harry thought he looked quite funny. 

“You don’t?” Harry’s head peeks out from Death’s protection. He was holding onto the deity like a limpet; arms and legs wound tightly around her. Death didn’t seem to mind though. She was preening with pride.

“Of course not!” Lady Magic seethes, “Whoever expects a child to defeat let alone kill another man is preposterous and needs to get their head checked! Not to mention said man being Tom Riddle, my own champion,” Lady Magic hisses in displeasure.

“It took us years too many to finally find the realm that child was taken to,” Chaos mutters, “And the poor kid went insane and split his soul,” 

Lady Magic looked devastated. “Tom was supposed to have been mine,” She explains at Harry’s confused look. “Like how Dea is yours and you are Dea’s.” Magic explains softly.

“Our champions are the most important people in the world to us. They stabilize our overwhelming power and help us exist to keep the realms safe.”  Death says further, a tender expression on her face as she gazes at Harry.

“I don’t think I’m supposed to be your champion though. I’m just Harry. Nothing special,” Harry murmurs, looking down.

“And I love just Harry so so much!” Death tickled his stomach, making him laugh in surprise. 

“Stop showing him off Dee,” Time hisses, pouting through a mouthful of grapes.

Death looks hysterically affronted, “I am not. You’re just jealous.”

“Champions can’t be just anyone, Harry. The fact that you feel safest with Death herself says something about your soul.” Fate muses, her multicoloured eyes laughing at her colleagues.

“Can I stay with you forever then?” Harry asks in a small voice, big green eyes staring up at Death who looked about seconds from dying. The cause of death being Harry’s cuteness.

“Of course you can!” She exclaims, immediately.

“He can’t actually. Harry isn’t really dead yet,” Lord Life muses, flicking golden locks away from his face in exasperation.

Death glares at him, “Yes he can. Harry, darling you can stay with me forever!” Death grins, making Harry beam up at her.

“It doesn’t actually work like that,” Chaos snorts, eyeing the two in amusement. Harmony hums, head still tucked in Chaos’ neck. 

“As long as they’re happy I think it’s okay,” 

Chaos sighs, looking at their lover with affection, “Sure let’s plunge all of reality into a wormhole. As long as there is happiness it should be fine.” They were obviously being sarcastic but Harmony and Harry both grin at them and the amount of innocence between them was too much for their heart to handle. “Whatever, do whatever you want.” They scowl, looking away, hands gripping at Lord Harmony’s clothes to pull him closer.

“How about Harry tries to live in Nevarah for a bit. He meets his family and his soulmates-“

“Not until he’s twenty-one he’s not!” Time interrupts in an outrage. Fate blinked and decided that arguing wasn’t in her best interests at the moment. Not when Time was holding up his special clock threateningly. She had no desire to relive the last thousand years of her life thankyouverymuch. 

“-And if he hates it he can always come back to us,” Fate offers another option since everyone here seemed keen on the end of the world apparently.

“Tom must be rescued.” Magic demands, almost shaking in her anger.

“Magi, that's a given. No one is going to leave your champion alone and hurting like he is,” Harmony says quietly. His voice was soft and smooth. It was also much lower than expected due to his delicate features.

Harry panicked at their words, hands clutching at Death frantically. Death was the only safe person he knew. And she cared about him, which no one had ever done before. Death seemed to love him and Harry didn’t know what love felt like before now. He didn’t want to leave her at all. 

Death’s eyes kept widening in horror and the second Harry’s lower lip began to quiver and his eyes grew wet with unshed tears, she blew up.

“I will never leave you Harry!” She was panicking, trying to stop the tears because if Harry cried then so would she and she could not cry in front of her stupid colleagues. She refused.

“Even if you’re across the world, if you call my name I’ll be there in seconds. We have a bond now. You’ll always be able to check up on me and I, you as well.” Death says gently, ignoring Life’s snickering at her expense.

“You promise?” Harry sniffles, shoving his face back into Death’s shoulder. Death gives him the softest smile.

“I promise youngling,”

Death stares down at the exhausted child in her arms and sits slowly beside Time, who was watching the pair of them concerned.

“You need time to let the bond settle. You can’t send him back alone, especially with him this young. It would actually kill the kid this time.” Time muses and Death shoots him a warning glance. 

“Yes because a basilisk and a possessed maniac weren’t enough,” Life grumbles, peering down at the sleeping boy. No wonder the boy was so tired. A Champion bond between a being and a deity took a lot out of a pair. Even now he could tell Death was using more of her magic reserves to ease the strain on her young charge. It didn’t help that Harry was still so young. He hadn’t even come into his inheritance yet, but Life could tell by the look on Lady Fate’s face that his inheritance wasn’t too far off. Harry might’ve already become a full dragel just due to the stress of his previous battle. If they hadn’t interfered Harry might’ve actually passed on. 

It would’ve been too late.

“Shut up Lee,” Death scowls at him and Life sighs, rolling his eyes.

“You know I’m right Dea. Fae is obviously going to play things in a way that suits her best possible future.” The Lord defends and everyone turns to Fate with accusing eyes.

She scowls at them, using a finger to twirl at her pink hair incessantly. “It’s not like I do it on purpose okay? I see all and everything so I must guide them on a path that serves humanity,” Fate demands, but then she looks sheepish and admits, “But yes, his inheritance should appear when we send him back.”

Death scowls at her, eyes almost pulsing with her anger. “He’s only eleven!” She demands, “I refuse. It’s too dangerous. He should learn to be a kid. Not to mention he’s a submissive dragel. He’ll be propositioned by people just for his status. Harry won’t have the time to grow into himself as he should.” 

Fate purses her lips, eyes understanding, “Harry will be protected. If not by you then us and if not us then his family and bonded. No one will take advantage of him again. When you share with him your powers, he’ll be even more safe.” 

Harmony moves slightly peering up over Death’s head to check up on Harry. “He looks stable for now.” Harmony says quietly, “His magic isn’t fluctuating too badly. It amazing considering how much magic is needed for a champion bond,” 

Chaos hums slightly, moving to pull Harmony into their arms. They stare at the tiny slip of a boy and sigh, “Argh I want a champion too. It’s not fair how Dea gets a cute one,” Chaos pouts.

“Harry is a baby,” Time rolls his eyes, “He’s never been cared for, poor kid.” Time’s eyes were hard as he sat up to run a gentle hand through the child’s hair. 

“And Magi’s Champion is a maniac who split his soul,” Life snorts.

Magic flings her hand sideways and Life’s golden hair catches on fire, “You don’t get to talk about my champion when it’s half your fault the boy split his soul!” She snarls, violet eyes going a dark purple in her anger. “I lost my champion for years because of our mistake. We-” She chokes up, “We made him live alone for years. His incomplete bond to me must’ve been so painful.” Magic’s hands were clenched

Life looked like he wanted to pay her back for the flames but thought better of it seeing Magic so distressed.

“Tom and Harry deserved much better than we were able to give them. Which is why we are going to set things straight.” Fate looked determined. None of the deities were able to get champions themselves until the previous champion had been accepted in and bonded. What happened with Tom and him splitting his soul had expedited the process. Reality deemed the boy dead and the next champion had been decided. When in actuality, Tom had been suffering all this time.

They had been looking in the wrong realm this entire time. Only when Harry had been at death’s door had Death finally been able to find her champion and save him in time. Magic discovered Tom through Death finally finding Harry.

“So it’s decided then?” Chaos asks, wanting to get the show on the road already.

“You’ll need to get the Evansons,” Magic points out to Death who sticks her tongue out at the trouble. 

“I only just got Harry though,” She grumbles, “I don’t want to share.”

Magic asks for patience in her head as she manages not to cuss out her friend. “You won’t be with Harry twenty-four seven though. And he’s but a boy. He’ll need protection from them. And what better protection than his maternal grandparents.”

Death frowns, “They’re also the parents that gave birth to that dreadful Petunia.” She points out, eyes turning to Fate who shrugs.

“There’s always one rotten apple you know.” 

Death still didn’t look happy about the whole thing. She wasn’t comfortable leaving Harry in the hands of the Evansons even if they were one of the families who served her.

“What about Ryker’s Bane?” Harmony asks timidly and everyone pauses. Magic wanted to cringe at how much work that was going to take but the idea had merits.

“They always wanted a child,” Death muses and Time sighs.

“Only problem is the entire circle is dead- you remember that right Dea? Being Lady Death and all.” 

Death grimaces at that, “I guess I could give back a couple souls,” She shudders and glares when Time snorts.

“That couldn't have been said more convincingly even if you tried. And Harm, do you want more work!?” 

“I want everyone to be happy,” Harmony frowns, honest and Time tsks unable to be mean to the Lord of Harmony for too long. He wasn’t heartless, okay?

“You’re telling me you believe Dea won’t give up a couple souls for her champion?” Life scoffs and points at the two who were hugging so tightly, Life was scared for little Harry. “She’d do anything to make him happy. It doesn’t help that Harry is so young. The protective instincts are intensified.” 

The deities all stare at one another before they all turn to at Time. Time groans loudly. “You’re going to make me go back to save them?!” Time demands, throwing down his arms in annoyance. “Do you know how much god damn magic that will take?! I’ll be out for a whole week. A WEEK!” 

Fate points at Harry and Time turns to stare at the boy before pursing his lips and glaring. “You dare use his cuteness against me?” He whispers in anger and that just causes Death to cackle loudly.

“You’re going to do it aren’t you?” Fate sighs, her eyes already glowing a slight pink-purple as she gazed into the future. Fate sends them all a terrifying glare before stomping around angrily.

“We just give you a shit ton more work don’t we?” Chaos snickers and Fate hisses like a snake.

“It’s not funny!” She demands, “It’s weeks of trying to see things straight. Dea, do you know how many people are just not going to die because of that circle’s bleeding heart. I’m not even going to talk about the people who aren’t supposed to die that actually do,” She snaps in Life’s direction who cringes.

Death’s amused laughter instantly dies out, “Well shit,”

Time cackles to the side, “Guess we’re all working overtime,” He snickers, looking highly pleased.

“Could someone kick him please,” Magic starts to ask and then grins when Chaos does the honours. “Thanks Cay,” Magic beams evilly at a disgruntled Time.

“ Anytime Magi, anytime.” The Leige drawls.

Aiden was hallucinating. He had to be. Because there was the smallest slip of a child completely asleep on Lady Death’s throne. The kid was buried into one of his lady’s three ancient relics and Aiden had never been more confused in his life. The kid was a submissive Dragel already in his inheritance, which was concerning in and of itself. Peach and silver scales covered the kid’s face and his wings were tiny, wrapping him in a protective cocoon.

Melacor appeared beside him, slipping inside with the early morning shadows. The young hellhound gave a short bow when Aiden’s red eyes swept over him.

“Do you know who that child is?” Aiden asks, making Melacor turn with a confused gaze to the throne, only to do a double take. Aiden sighs, “Guess not,” 

“Wouldn’t our Lady know?” Melacor asks him, tone a tad cautious. The hellhound stood at sharp attention but his ruby red eyes remained trained on the youngling, curious.

“Yes I would assume so given the child is sleeping on her chair,” Aiden grumbles and then almost has a heart attack when said Lady appears in a bundle of shadows and soul magic.

“Aiden…. Melacor,” She greets them cooly, before turning to look at the child. If Aiden was less civilized and proper his eyes would’ve bulged from their sockets considering Lady Death -lover of all things pain and destruction- was actually smiling .

“Harry is my champion. I have finally found him and he will forever be safe here,” She snaps, as if any one of them would ever harm a youngling. Aiden would rather kill himself than harm an innocent child. Not to mention Death always had a soft spot for children. Especially children who died young. She always tended to their souls much more and was soft in a way only Death could be.

“A champion?” Melacor breathes in shock. “You’ve found him at last,” The hellhound almost shook in his excitement. All of Death’s court knew how long their Lady longed for a champion of her own. And how long she searched with Lady Magic for her missing champion. Only Lady Fate currently had an active champion and hers’ was the actual Fae Queen.

“Yes. I would like a healer to come and check on him immediately. His home life was not the most pleasant.” Death looked furious at that, her eyes growing darker if that was even possible. She smiles at their obvious fury and nods at her hellhound’s unspoken question.

“There shall be a hunt right after I bring back Ryker’s Bane.” Death grumbles and Aiden actually does have a heart attack right then and there.

“What?!” He exclaims, “You’re bringing back the entire circle?” He hisses in disbelief and Death wrinkles her nose regally.

“Well Death’s court is no place for a baby Aiden. You know this. Harry’s mentor is Maurice Elswood and that poor submissive is in no state to care for my child right now. Harry needs stability and I will give him that.” Death declares and she was actually considering this. Her tone had a finality to it that was making Aiden’s blood pressure rise.

Melacor seemed to be feeling the same because his head was looking between their Lady and Aiden as if Aiden could put an end to this insanity.

“Does the child not have any living relatives?” Aiden asks hesitantly, still unsure about how safe it was having the boy use the most powerful invisibility cloak in the universe as a blanket.

“He’s an Evanson and a Peverell.” Death scowls, “One of the Peverells escaped Nevarah and is the reason why my champion suffered so much before I could find him,” Death snarls and Aiden was sure when she had time she would question the dead Peverells’ souls intensively.

Melacor was almost too afraid to ask, “And the Evansons? They’re one of your families my Lady.” 

Death sat on the arm of her throne, a soft hand carding through her champion’s hair. She looked disgruntled as she answered. “I’m aware but Briar’s daughter is the one who Harry lived with before. She’s the reason he looks like a five year old instead of eleven.” 

They could only stare in silence, rage and disbelief clouding their vision.

“Why don’t you just bring back the parents? Instead of the entire Ryker’s Bane circle?” Aiden muses and Death’s eyes gleam for a second before she purses her lips. 

“Harry is staying in Nevarah. He’s never going back to earth. He needs roots in Nevarah so Maurice Elswood is a must. The man needs to be sane enough to help my Harry so if bringing back his circle is what I must do then so be it,” Death grumbles but her mind was going back and forth with the idea of bringing back her champion’s parents. Harry did deserve parents she supposed. And what better protectors for her heart and soul then the mother and father who sacrificed everything to protect their son.

Fate would probably ruin all of her plans for the next century if she brought back Harry's parents without consulting her. Though all her fellow deities seemed weak to Harry’s puppy dog eyes so she could technically just sick Harry on the deity to distract her. That would definitely work. Harry’s cuteness was undefeatable.

Aiden didn’t know what was making his Lady look so smug but he wanted nothing to do with it.

But with his luck, it wasn’t going to really work out like he hoped. 

Magic kind of wanted to kick Death’s ass right now. She was years in the past, had not rested in days and she still didn’t have her champion safe and sound. To do so, her job was to collect the five soul containers her champion had created and bring them all together in the present timeline. It was the only way Death would be able to join the pieces together into one soul and then Life could do his thing and bring Tom back to her. 

She was going through Tom’s life, trying to figure out what had went so wrong. She wanted to help him. If he desired power, she’d give it to him. If he wanted to rule, she’d grant that wish too. But slaughtering her children for a gift she gave them was crossing the line.

And Tom should’ve understood that just by the latent potential bond that should’ve been between them.

Which meant Tom didn’t feel the bond. And that was only possible if somehow their bond had been blocked or sealed away which shouldn’t have been even possible.

She watches, her heart heavy, as a fifteen year old Tom Riddle mutilates his soul for the first time. 

His face contorts to one of absolute agony and a tortured wail rips from him…. one that cuts straight through her. 

His fingers tremble as his exhausted figure laid, thrown on the chamber floor. Two snakes were very obviously concerned, their hissing growing in intensity all the more the boy remained silent. His silence was intertwined with self loathing and an agony so sharp it tore through the air around him.

His eyes were unseeing, staring up at the ceiling. His hands shook as they wrapped around the dairy he deemed important enough to house half of his soul. Tom held the book so tightly, his fingers went stark white. His teeth begun to chatter, “So…cold,” He slurs and Magic couldn’t help her sob as she falls to her knees beside her boy.

“It’s always cold. I’m…so…cold.” Tom murmurs and Magic’s whole body shook as she tried to hug him close. He couldn’t see her, couldn’t hear her nor feel her. He didn’t know he wasn’t alone. He’d never be alone again if Lady Magic had her way.

“I don’t like the cold,” Tom chokes out, holding his dairy in a death grip. He seemed to be conversing with the snakes if their sad silence was any indication.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Magic kept repeating, her own soul tugging at her to heal and protect the boy like she was meant to.

Tom sits up slowly, Magic moving with him, her grip on the boy painful. Her eyes drunk in his features with desperation.

“Guess I’m going to be cold forever then,” He murmurs and Magic sobbed harder. 

Time blinked into existence and his heart sank at the scene in front of him. He knew Magic would find this difficult but he didn’t know how guilty she felt. It wasn’t her fault she was blocked from reaching her champion if her thoughts were any indication. 

“Magi, come on love. This is the past. Let these experiences remain memories.” Time whispers gently over her loud choked wails.

“Tim, he’s cold, Tom shouldn’t be cold ever again. Please I need to keep him warm,” Magic sobbed, arms wrapping tightly around the broken child, who kept shivering.

Time winced and moved gently to unravel her grip on the boy. “We’ll make sure he’s never cold again, love,” He whispers, hand running through her hair as she sobbed for her child.

Deities never got the chance to procreate so their champions were their version of their children. Their champion’s souls were so in tune with their deities’ that they would only feel peace by being with the other. If the bond never took, it was said to be agonizing. No wonder Tom went insane as a human. 

“You need to take the soul piece,” Time says gently and Magic swallows heavily before her shaky hands move to grab the dairy. Time instantly replaces the dairy with a convincing fake.

“Make sure it will always keep him warm,” Magic rasps, clutching the real soul piece to her like it was the most precious thing in the world to her. And to Magic- it was.

Time smiles at her and leads her back to the portal, a calming hand on her back. “As long as the dairy is near him, Tom Riddle will never be affected by the cold.” 

“Thank you,” Magic tells him, her voice fragile and frail.

“You’d do it for me Magi,” Time tells her gently. And the two of them leave this time period, both slightly numb.

Chaos was not very happy. Harmony and them were in charge of making sure Ryker’s Bane didn’t actually die when they were supposed to. That meant saving the lives of up to twenty beings. That didn’t even include all of the children they would be rescuing as well.

The traitor had to go as well of course. The one who caused all the death in the first place.

Life was on standby to the side. He was to make sure their souls actually stayed where they were supposed to and not take a trip down to Death’s realm

Chaos wouldn’t really do anything without their lover asking and Harmony was dead set on giving little Harry a happier life. Chaos suspected it had something to do with Harmony’s past. Harmony saw something in Harry that he was able to connect to on a spiritual level. Chaos suspected that if Death didn’t have dibs on Harry herself, Harry would’ve bonded to their lover. Harmony would’ve loved that baby more than life itself. They could tell because Harmony already adored the kid.

Chaos watches silently and raises a brow at the slight stiffening of the circle’s Alpha. At least one of those idiots had good instincts if he could sense immortals around.

“Ryuusen Hino,” Harmony says in a whisper, his honey coloured eyes trained on the Alpha in interest. “He’s a Shadow type. Never met a Shadow elemental that sensitive though.” 

Chaos kisses their teeth as an answer, “He’s powerful I guess. Would be more powerful if he actually saved his circle.” Chaos drawls and flinches when Harmony smacks them with a scowl.

“The Alpha and ACE were the last to die. Hino took out a good chunk of the Torvak to save his submissive and circle.” Harmony looked sad, staring at the man in admiration.

Chaos blinks slightly and then shrugs. They could appreciate a noble heart when they saw one. “Well that’s not going to happen anyways.”   

Harmony watched as the circle worked through one of their many training camps. This whole situation would’ve been an actual disaster. Chaos remembered the amount of paperwork this event had given them. It was almost satisfying that they were working to prevent this massacre. 

Chaos was one of the deities that didn’t preach neutrality and so they could say with certainty that they despised the Torvak. They found them hypocritical and selfish with no morals whatsoever. So they were rather happy to have the chance to kill some of the ones who deemed it okay to murder children.

Anyone who called other beings ingredients and revelled in their brainwashed bullshit had to be put down in Chaos’ opinion.

The Torvak had used the children the circle was training to force the circle into compliance and then killed them off, one by one.

Ryker’s Bane was a military circle- one of the best if not the best. Harry would be safest with them. Plus Death would now have a vested interest in their survival so the circle would most definitely prosper for centuries to come. The circle consisted of powerful, seasoned veterans. The Dragels were mostly Shadow if Chaos was remembering correctly. They had been one of Death’s favourites due to their precise logic and ruthless efficiency.

Chaos and Harmony decide to simply roam around, protective spells weaving around the camp. Chaos pretended not to notice Harmony weaving protective runes over the heads of the kids. They were young Gheyos; all stubborn pride and lanky limbs. Ryker’s Bane usually beat the pride out of the baby Gheyos and because of their camps, Gheyos of high calibre were always made as a result.

Chaos scented the creatures and their nose wrinkled in disgust. “Ugh I hate Torvak,” They scowl and Harmony gives them an unimpressed look.

“You’re not supposed to have favourites,” He deadpans and Chaos shrugs, wrapping an arm around their lover to pull him closer to them.

“You can’t tell me you are neutral about this whole thing. It’s an ambush. It’s not a fair fight and the Torvak will always do anything to win even if it means breaking morality. Forty hunters against a circle protecting a bunch of children. Ryker’s Bane never stood a chance,” Chaos drawls, eyebrows furrowed in disgust. 

Harmony watches their partner, understanding their plight. Their crimson eyes were enraged and Harmony places a gentle hand behind their head, offering as much comfort as he could. The situation wasn’t ideal given Chaos’ background. Chaos, unlike their name deciphered, wasn’t one for dishonour in duels- as it was one of the reasons behind Chaos’ turn into an immortal. One did not become an immortal without hardship and it usually left prominent scars behind.

It took but minutes for the Torvak to surround the circle, and the Dragels were surrounded. The children were staring up at their guardians in horror, eyes wide with shock at the ambush.

Chaos could depict the stress and fear on their faces despite their attempt at masking. The adults swallowed their panic to expand the safe zone of the children. Maurice Elswood moved to bring out his cursed blade but the Torvak tsked. 

“Think of the children,” The male Torvak drawls, a sinister smile on their face. “You surrender and the children will be spared.” They muse, checking their nails as if the whole concept of slaughtering a whole circle of Dragels was nothing to them.

Maurice was staring at his Alpha, almost resigned heartbreak on his face. They would agree to almost anything to save the children. Anyone would do the same. Chaos could spot some of the kids refusing, begging their guardians to refuse and fight- that they would help.

But the adults would never place so many children in such peril. Their instincts would never allow it.

Chaos could almost see it. The potential future this event would have brought when the Torvak broke their promise and Ryder’s Bane was too late to fight back. How the submissive would have been caught and forced to watch the death of every single one of his circle members. How Maurice went feral, went crazy- Mad Maury he would have been called. The submissive ended up killing everyone and eating half their corpses. And in the end the poor Dragel couldn’t even kill himself due to an incomplete mentorship bond with Harry.

“It won’t happen this time,” Harmony whispers to his lover who exhales heavily, memories of their own death fresh in their mind.

All eyes turned to them as the two deities made themselves known to all. It made sense the Dragels would recognize who they were and understand the consequence of their appearance immediately upon seeing them. Hence the way they all sunk in respectful and horrified bows.

“The runes you’ve used are pathetic,” Harmony mutters, destroying the runic field around them with a sway of his hand. It appeared to be akin to someone swatting an annoying fly. The runes were meant to disguise the whole plight. It was how they got away with the whole thing in the first timeline.

The Torvak still at the rippling wave of magic.

“You see we aren’t allowed to let these people die. Death would be very cross with us. And that is never fun.” Chaos strolls over, flicking their cape dramatically over their shoulder to stand in front of the circle and the kids. Harmony was moving around the circle to take note of the number of Torvak surrounding them. The kids were shaking from fear. At least the Dragels had better instincts than the Torvak.

When their lover halts at the side, eyes glaring at the Torvak, Life appears out of nowhere, stretching.

The Lord halts at the edge placing the three in a protective triangle around all the Dragels. “Might as well join in on the fun,” Life grumbles, looking very put out.

“Oh my gosh, we are all going to die,” One of the kids hisses in horror, eyes blown out in fear.

The circle’s head Pareya glares at the kid, shushing him with his wings out in protective fury.

“I think we are all getting bored of this aren’t we darling?” Chaos asks their soulmate who raises a brow at them unimpressed.

“You aren’t taking this on alone. I haven’t fought in a century. My runes need victims,” Harmony says serenely and if Chaos was a lesser deity they’d be scared shitless. Especially when the runes Harmony casted were floating around him, circling threateningly. Harmony needed but a single thought to fling the runes at anyone. It was his preferred mode of combat.

Chaos snorts at their lover, because damn their partner was adorable. “We’re on a whole other level than you.” Chaos snaps their fingers and the entire front of the terrain blows up, sending the Torvak scattering back. “I’m saying this for your own good you know, just give up.” They snarl.

Life sighs, a hand to his forehead in agitation when his colleague just decides - as usual- that blowing things up, including everyone here in the vicinity, was the best plan moving forward. Life flicks a lazy finger sideways and a protective shield springs up around the Dragels just before everything delves into fire and smoke.

“I swear , you’re become more brawn than brain every day,” Life hisses at Chaos who cackles maddeningly. “How can you even tolerate them is my question,” Life demands at Harmony who was lazily flicking runes (more like bombs) in the direction of all the Torvak in his vicinity.

Each rune was imbued with so much magical prowess, Life was getting concerned. There would be craters the size of meteors come next morning.

“I hate being on clean up crew.” He hisses, waving a hand angrily when one of the enemies has the intelligent idea of attacking him. The line of Torvak in the vicinity of his arm, drop dead instantly, their souls severed from their bodies. “Oh,” Life deadpans and then stares with dead eyes at the stunned Pareya who had guarded the idiot child, “Oops,”

‘Oops?!’ The redhead mouths in befuddled terror.

“The line between life and death is thinner than one might expect,” Life quotes and his eye twitches in anger at Chaos’ next words.

“STOP QUOTING BULLSHIT YOU OLD GEEZER!” 

Life inhales heavily, “Excuse me for a second,”

Harmony sighs when the two of them start to argue, sending a pained smile at the flabbergasted Dragels. “Sorry about them. They don’t really get along.” 

“Why are you here?” The Alpha rasps, staring at the immortals fighting with half awe, half alarm.

Harmony hums, their eyes glowing slightly. “You would have all been slaughtered here tonight except for your submissive,” He says slowly and doesn’t react to the round of enraged growls that sound as a result. It was an expected result at hearing about one’s submissive being in danger. Maurice was pale and his hands clutch at his closest bonded, his green eyes cloudy. Scales of peach and silver fluttered around his face and his claws were poised to fight, his hands on his legendary blade tight. Harmony could tell that the blade was attempting to come out but the submissive was shoving it down.

Harmony leans down, eyes glowing as he gazes down into Maurice’s eyes. “Your host will not be harmed, so calm down,” The deity orders the sword and the submissive instantly relaxes without the extra pressure from the blade. He steps back into the confines of his Alpha’s arms, the Hino Alpha holding his submissive tightly.

“I would’ve asked for Charum Mortus.” Maurice says it as a statement- a known fact. He wasn’t asking. The Dragels around the submissive all stiffen, the horror prominent around them. The circle’s instincts were fighting against protecting the children and going to comfort their distressed Submissive.

Harmony doesn’t deem a reply necessary, “You would have gone feral, taking five months to coax you back into a Halfling form and from there, another year and a half before you could even speak again. Your magic was also bound,” Harmony thought it was important for the circle to know, so something like this never happened again.

Because it would be unacceptable for this to occur when Harry ultimately began to live with them.

“Why did you help us then?” The Alpha demands, eyeing him warily. Before Harmony could speak, Chaos was at his side, staring at them all with dead eyes. They didn’t like it when people talked to Harmony in harsh tones.

“There is a baby in our possession, thirty years from now he will be Maurice Elswood’s student. The boy is Death’s chosen champion and we need him to remain safe. Your circle is the closest relation to him and the safest.” Chaos explains, causing all eyes to turn on the befuddled Submissive.

“HARRY WHAT THE HELL?” Life’s startled shriek caused Harmony and Chaos both to flinch, before all three deities were scrambling to grab the tiny slip of a baby who was strolling around with Death’s own invisibility coat, emerald green eyes wide.

“Harry, how are you even here?” Chaos hisses, watching Life heave the child onto his hip, Harry’s head coming to rest on the Lord’s shoulder.

“I woke up here,” Harry shrugs and points at Maurice. “He’s mine.” Harry points out and everyone is silent.

There was a Beta who seemed like he was struggling not to laugh and a Mage who looked like he wanted nothing more than to go home.

“Of course you did,” Chaos scowls, “Death is going to go insane,” 

“Uh hello youngling,” Ryuusen murmurs when his submissive slams an elbow to his side to speak on his behalf. 

The child slides down Lord Life’s side and trots over, his body half invisible, with the invisibility cloak clutched in one hand. “You’re mine and you’re sad,” Harry looked ready to cry and he wraps his tiny arms around the submissive’s legs. His tiny wings wrap around Maurice as well and the older man looked seconds from bursting into tears.

It seemed the bond was too strong between the mentor and student and the elder submissive kneels to wrap the boy in a hug, pulling him up.

Harry gazes into Maurice’s eyes and Maurice felt like his soul was being exposed to the child. The handsome man whose soul called out to Harry’s had a well-tanned face with high, sloping cheekbones and delicate features. Dark wavy curls fell into really pretty and soft grey-green eyes that felt too kind for Harry to look into.

“I’m yours too,” Harry nods with certainty and then falls asleep on Maurice’s shoulder almost instantly.

The Beta actually bursts out laughing then. It was laughter that ranged on hysterical and everyone in his circle stares at him.

“C’mon only Maury would have something like this happen to him. It’s funny,” Llevan Prylson snickers.

“He’s my student?” Maurice sounded a bit choked up and his grip on the sleeping boy grew tighter. His circle was military and they never had the chance to ever try for kids, especially due to events like the one that had just occurred. So it was understandable that Maurice had instantly gotten attached to the little baby who claimed him.

Life sighs deeply and moves to pluck the child from his arms. Maurice moved back and hisses, arms protective over the child.

“Not for thirty more years he isn’t,” Life points out to the submissive, who’d moved behind his Alpha and ACE.

“Harry will die if he stays here Maurice,” Harmony says softly, making the circle of Gheyos flinch. Even the kids in training, who had been straining to catch a glimpse of the new dragel submissive stiffen at the news.

“How he even got here is the other question,” Chaos grumbles.

“It was the incomplete champion bond and incomplete mentor bond causing a feedback loop I presume,” Death’s voice sounded thunderous as she stalked towards them, eyes intent on the precious bundle in Maurice Elswood’s hands. Everyone mortal in the clearing froze in absolute fear.

“Dea, what a lovely surprise. Your only job was to keep the child safe, you know.” Life gives her a stink eye and Death scowls.

“I was dealing with those wayward Torvak souls you threw at me out of nowhere,” She thunders, making the Lord smirk in humour.

“I’ll be taking that tiny minx,” Death points at Harry who was snoring softly due to magical exhaustion. That boy was falling asleep on anything and anyone he seemed safe.

“But-” Maurice looked ready to cry and his Alpha looked pained, trying to soothe away his submissive’s pain.

Death softened slightly, recognizing the instant connection between two souls who just connected.

“You will see him again Mr. Elswood,” Her tone was neutral but Maurice could see the underlinings of understanding in her features.

“In thirty years apparently,” The submissive pouts and Death actually smiles before Harry was instantaneously teleported into her own arms, the invisibility cloak keeping him nice and warm.

“My happiest regards for your safety Ryker’s Bane. May your circle continue to prosper. You always were my favourites,” Death sends them a soft look and then she was gone- taking Harry and leaving all the chaos for well Chaos to handle. Because Life was not dealing with any more shit today. 

Aiden had been taking care of Death’s champion for one second and then the next the boy was gone. He had disappeared out of nowhere and Aiden was not going to be the one to inform his Lady of that fact.

He enjoyed the life of the living thankyouverymuch.

Before he could succumb to a fully blown panic attack, Death reappeared with a sleeping child in her arms and a satisfied smirk on her lips.

“My Lady….?” Aiden drawls in concern, eyes on the boy in disbelief.

“Do not worry yourself Aiden. Just a time travel mishap,” Death waves his worries away and Aiden definitely needed a nap and a vacation.

Melacor walks in, two souls weaving in and out of his hands. It had taken him a whole month in Elysium to find the two Potters. Time ran differently there. Elysium was the place of paradise for the heroic and the virtuous souls. Those who had either died a hero's death or led a virtuous life would forever live in peace in Elysium.

“My Lady,” Melacor states and blinks seeing Aiden so stiff and Death carrying an exhausted Harry.

“Ah yes, Melacor, did you bring me the souls?”  Death muses and Melacor holds them up like one would a deadly snake.

“They agreed to be brought back, both were practically agreeing before I even had to list the stipulations,” He explains and Death gave him an unimpressed look.

“I would hope so,” She grumbles, “I’m going through all this trouble already,” Her frown instantly disappears when Harry shifts in her arms. A more disbelieving and gentle expression graces her features.

Melacor would’ve smiled if it wouldn’t have gained him a couple hours wrangling souls in purgatory as a result.

“Everything is ready now,” Death grins and the two hellhounds feel shivers crawl up the back of their spines. Death was not a kind mistress but she was always fair. It was the first time the hellhounds were witnessing her bend her version of fair for anyone other than her fellow deities. 

The people who ever dared to hurt Harry Potter were going to pay.

There was just a much bigger play at move here as all the deities were aware. They would all be doing their utmost to make sure their world remained in one piece and their champions stayed happy and healthy.