Chapter Text
“I am Death, and I make all people equal.”(1)
Perhaps, it could have been written off as foolish optimism. Or could be attributed to the fact that he had never expected to be alive this long. Either way, it seemed that the reverence that shrouded his name would never disappear as he had once hoped.
The exuberant praises and the watery filled gratitude did not help with the fact that every time he closed his eyes he was haunted by ghosts of those they had lost, their blood smearing the first place he ever called home.
Yet that wasn’t the only thing that haunted him, no the emerald eyed man looked tiredly at the three items on the nightstand next to him. The wand that he had broken into two and thrown down in the watery depth hoping that no one would ever be caught under its deadly curse. There was the stone that he left in the forest and the neatly folded cloak that he could never discard even if he gathered enough willpower to do so.
He remembered the voice, it had not been what he had expected, its voice could not be described but it had not frightened him. No, he was more frightened by his ability to hear it more than anything else.
He had heard Death the moment he snapped the Elder wand, it had spoken with mirth in his voice. It had told him that he could not shed what he has become, that no one could escape death.
Not even Harry James Potter-Black, the Master of Death, while he would not succumb to death he would always be touched by it.
Harry closed his eyes and stayed in bed, it had been harder to leave the sanctuary of his room as the days passed. Too many people were trying to shove him where they believed he wished to go, even those close to him tried to make decisions for him.
He was smothered and drowning in expectations of those around him.
Harry groaned as he remembered the shock that rippled in those he told he had no longer wished to be an Auror. They had believed he was sick or perhaps still recovering from the battle. Ron had told him that the urge would come around again and to not take too long in joining him in training. Even though if he wished he would be excused from training, since he had survived Mad Eye Moody’s training. Ron wasn’t aware that they were asking him to train the new trainees, Harry knew Ron would not take the information well.
Harry knew it was not what he wanted; since there was a chance he would come across the Death Eaters that had fled. He was tired of conflict and the possibility of someone finding out that he could not die. Death had been insistent that he would follow Harry no matter what occupation he picked.
Death had marked him as his master, since there was the Deathly Hallows symbol on his skin where his heart steadily beat underneath.
Harry knew he could tell no one, especially about Death’s voice that would echo in his head. He had remembered Ron’s comment in his second year about hearing voices that no one else could, not being seen in good light even in the wizarding world.
There was a knock on the bedroom door and shortly after Andromeda entered. “Is everything alright Andromeda?”
“Teddy and I are fine, you on the other hand is what I am worrying about. I am not your mother Harry, but we are family even if distantly. It is okay if you don’t want to do anything at the moment, you are still young. You have time. Might be selfish of me, but I am glad you aren’t following your father’s footsteps in trying to become in Auror.”
She saw as Harry looked at her in confusion, “I would support whatever you wished to be Harry, but aurors live a dangerous life and I hope you can be here for Teddy. I see how you treat Teddy, and you make a good father.”
“I am his godfather.”
Andromeda smiled sadly, “I know. Teddy’s father is Remus, but that babe will see you as his father and that isn’t something they would begrudge you.”
Harry nodded but it still didn’t feel like something he would grow used to, “what do you think I should become Andromeda?”
There was a small silence before she spoke, “I know that the Potters were known for their potion making, a few here and there were healers.”
Healers…It was an occupation he hadn’t thought about. A profession that was known to fight against the very thing he had run towards to...death.
He thought of Poppy…. she was someone who for a living had always been there when Harry found himself with a broken bone or in need or urgent care; someone whose profession pulled people from the arms of death against all odds at least in most cases.
“I need to go see Poppy; I want to be a Healer.” Andromeda only nodded in understanding with a small smile upon her lips and Harry took that as his signal to apparate away.
“Poppy!”
The older woman jumped slightly but relaxed when she saw who was shouting her name, “Harry, you gave me a fright! I hope you didn’t seek me because you got yourself hurt, you just barely survived a battle with a dark lord.” Harry sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck eliciting a grin from Poppy, “what can I do for you Harry?”
“What does it take to become a healer?”
Madam Pomfrey could only wonder what was running through the mind of the young boy before her, the last time she had talked to Minerva, her friend had boasted on the fact that Harry was going to become a fantastic Auror. Yet she saw it in his eyes, she recognized those eyes she after all had seen them in a mirror once when she was younger. The eyes filled with determination and grief of losing someone, and this boy had lost too many for someone so young. His life was run and filled with ghosts, some he would never escape. “Well Harry, it is perhaps if not more difficult than becoming an Auror. You have to be completely certain this is the path you want to take, and I will tell you from experience it isn’t an easy one.”
“Sometimes we must choose between what is right and what is easy.”
Tears welled up at the corner of Pomfrey’s eyes for she knew those words hung over the boy’s head unfairly throughout most of his life. “You will be my apprentice, Potter. How much you progress is entirely on your dedication, and I will not tolerate any slacking even if you are a hero. You will have yourself tested for any family abilities that could interfere with this profession.”
“Do you mean I have to go to Gringotts?”
Pomfrey nodded, “mend bridges, Potter. I know you do not have the best relationship with the goblins at the moment, but they are the best at what they do. Come to me when you are through and bring your results with you.”
Harry found himself reluctantly in front of Gringotts bank; he saw the guard watched him with distrust as he entered the bank. All movement stopped immediately, “I came to make amends for the damage I caused during the time of war and to request your services.” A goblin stepped forward, “you are brave to come here, but then again you were brave enough or foolish enough to walk to your death. If you try anything, it will be your last time you see the insides of any goblin bank.”
“First we will talk about the amends you will make to the Goblin Nation.” Harry knew this was coming but it did not matter.
“I have Gryffindor’s sword with me.”
The goblin’s eyes gleamed, “that is a start.” Harry handed over the sword, “I will pay for damages.”
“That will take half of the Potter vault.” Harry knew it was more of a statement from the goblin than anything, “I presumed. Now if we could do the blood tests.” The goblin grunted and barked out orders for the two others that were in the room. “You will drink this potion, which will cause unbearable pain. Then you will spill blood upon these parchments that will give you everything you need to know.”
It felt worse than promised as Harry doubled over in pain and just barely managed not to scream out; he had become too used to pain and hardly anything could make him scream in agony anymore. Even through the blood boiling in his veins he heard the voice, ‘ Even when you run away, I will still be beside you. I also bestow upon you a gift for the pain you are about to go through, Little Master. ’
The goblins seemed to be more skittish as he left the bank it seems word spreads fast, but Harry had enjoyed the shock on Ragnock’s face when he saw the parchment and understood the power that the wizard before him held. Goblins like every magical creature were not foolish enough to try to escape death’s grasp but they could only imagine the power of a being that held power over it.
It was a small comfort to Harry since the papers that confirmed one thing: Snape was right; Dumbledore had raised him like a pig for slaughter.
“Potter you look pale, did something bad happen?” Harry handed the parchments to Pomfrey, “O Harry! How wonderful! You are a natural healer! But why do you look like……” Pomfrey soon gave him a calming draught and took one herself, “I’m sorry Harry. If I would have known…”
“I know Madam Pomfrey; perhaps it would be best if we kept the details of these papers between us. The last thing everyone needs is this .” Pomfrey hugged the boy as he cried into her side and she couldn’t help but feel anger for the childhood that was stolen from him by someone they had both blindly trusted.
Perhaps one day Harry could find someone who could heal him, Poppy could only hope.