Chapter 14: Thank You

Simon swallowed as he saw the younger version of his new body prance towards his bedside. The boy looked so alive.

*"I know what you are thinking. No, I am not alive. Zeren made sure of that."*

"You mean you actually died when Zeren tried out magical martial arts moves on you?"

*"I did. And that was what was supposed to originally happen. Until you came."*

Simon tried to process what little Simon was saying. He had contemplated what happened to Simon in canon. But these past seven years it was a lot simpler to imagine Simon Li was never a canon character. That Simon had been placed into a completely alternate timeline from the original Harry Potter series with brand new characters. But the hard truth was there was a Simon Li. Just too irrelevant to the story and gone too soon.

*"Thank you, Simon. I am glad you came. Things are better this way."*

"You really think so? Don't you want to be…alive?"

*"I mean, who doesn't? But during these seven years in limbo, waiting for you to come…I've seen things. How things could have been if you did not come. There was no way I could have been saved. And my family is a lot better off with a Simon Li that lived."*

Simon tried to find words but did not know how to reply to all this. Little Simon took this as a silent affirmation that he may continue.

*"You know from the books that Sue goes to Hogwarts. Well in the original world, she would have gone not because she now had lots of British friends, but because Jane and the Yang Clan's relationship could never be mended after my death. There was no question of Sue or any Lis ever attending the Academy when a member of the Board of Governors there brushed off the 'accident' that killed Simon…and it would be a while until mum and dad could even behave somewhat like the fun parents they are with you right now."*

*"And Sue…would have been very different. It is never easy growing up in a family haunted by the death of an older sibling. Especially one that happened so suddenly. When your father tears up because you remind him of something your brother did. When your mother tries to hide it but can never ever be fully happy again…"*

Little Simon caressed Simon's face and a quick flash of images of this original version of Sue, Jane and Dirk coursed through Simon's mind.

*"Now that we have spoken, and you know you will do good here, it is my time to go and leave you with an empty mindscape to use,"* Little Simon said, removing his hands from the face of the older boy.

"Where are you going?" Simon finally had the strength to utter these words.

*"Where you came from. As you should know, death is a new adventure,"* Little Simon replied walking to the door of this hospital ward, *"I'll keep an eye on your parents for you. I trust you to keep an eye on mine and Sue."*

"I will…but why did I need to come and why do you need to go?"

Little Simon paused and briefly turned back, *"Because life and death work in mysterious ways. They will explain when the time is right."*

"Who do you mean by *they*-"

But Little Simon was gone. And Simon was alone in a completely empty hospital room.

----

Mr and Mrs Li stared at their newborn son. It had been seven years. But they felt like they were ready to be parents again.

"Simon would have loved to have a younger brother."

"You are sure he would not have loved a younger sister?"

"I don't know why I have the odd feeling he would bicker a lot with a younger sister."

"Either way, I am sure Simon would have been a great older sibling."

---

"Okay, I know you found out about the frogs last night because Raze tossed one through my window but you should realise I was trying to make it seem like there was a frog infestation in the manor's pond so there is an explanation for what happened to Zer…"

Sue was cut-off mid-sentence when her brother suddenly pulled her into a tight hug. She was certain he came into her room to fight her for what she did with the frogs last night. Like, she did not plan for a frog to get into his room but she also did not stop the frog from getting in either when she could have.

"Thank you."

"Okay, you are being very weird…"

*"So, we are cool with the little monster now? Because she helped you crack occlumency?"* Raze remarked while curled on Simon's wrist.

*"That's part of it but I also definitely prefer a confident and happy little monster over what could have happened."*