Chapter 102 : Master of Death
[Author note : Hey, guys ! New chapter, not really about our squib but about Harry. Tell me what you think about it in a comment. Also, don't hesitate to leave a review or stones !
If you're interested in showing your support for my stories, check out my Patréon page (e instead of é). Search for Cathbel on their website.
Marvel : the Author is progressing as well (still not sure about this name…). And, in the future, I'm thinking of (maybe) add another story to post 3 chapters a week like before… or maybe I'll stay like this.
Anyways… have a good read !]
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The Master of Death was finally discovering and experimenting with his Hallows. For years now, he fought with his trusted first wand made with holly and phoenix feather. It served him well, and unlike the elder wand, he felt like… it was a close friend. Almost a sibling really. And for a man starving for connection and family, well that was more important than firepower !
So, although he kept the elder wand, it was safely tucked in his wand holster, on his non-dominant arm. If ever he was disarmed or found himself away from his wand, he'd still have this back up wand…
And that's precisely what happened one Monday morning. Feeling rested from a week end spent with his girlfriend seeing the sights of the south of France, Harry had been feeling happy. Relaxed. Probably too happy and relaxed…
He hadn't seen the wannabe dark wizard's ambush before the Expelliarmus hit him square between the shoulder blades. And since he was holding the holly wand at the time, it flew right out of his hand and clattered against the wall of a nearby house, and then the ground.
While the masked man was bragging how he got the drop on THE 'Great Harry Potter', monologuing about how that made him the next Dark Lord, especially once he killed the former Boy-Who-Lived, Harry simply benefited from a moment of carelessness from the man and drew the elder wand, paying him back two-fold. First with his own disarming charm, and then with a stunning one.
So, he won back the holly wand's allegiance, but his use of the elder wand after so long had awakened something in him. A desire to use it. Especially when he recalled Ned's words after the Battle of Hogwarts, as well as his friend's own thoughts on the world.
Not for the first time, he felt that the world was becoming more and more chaotic. Not dangerous exactly… At least, not like his Hogwarts' years had been. Not dangerous to him, anyway. He lived most of his teenage years on a razor's edge, almost a step away from certain death, with enemies at every corner ready to end him. So, Ron and Ned's prediction of an impending crisis didn't really faze him all that much. On the other hand, it seemed to echo in some of the witches and wizards in Britain, as more and more were joining this or that group with more or less extremist ideas and tendencies. Some of them were just meant to make people more aware of the growing threats, some called for a modernization of the society and some acted, often violently, either against muggles or the government forces.
Being a young and famous auror, Harry was impacted of course by the rise in criminality and violence. But he felt it was more tiring than truly dangerous. Maybe his definition of danger was skewed…
Anyways, after this event, Harry started experimenting with the Deathly Hallows. Soon, he noticed that… they had changed. Or at least, their functions and powers did. For the Elder wand, it was pretty straight forward. Her power was off the charts and he barely needed any wand movement when casting a spell. As for the incantation, it was superfluous. Perhaps to add a little more power… Even without that though, it was still at least two or three times more powerful than his holly wand.
His family's invisible cloak also had better effect. For one, he didn't need to cover himself with it to benefit from its invisibility. As he grew, hiding under it had been a chore and a half, since it often didn't cover his feet. Now, all he had to do was wear it, and he would disappear into thin air. After a few experiments, he also found that it kind of transformed him into a ghost-like existence. He could fly or hover over the ground, pass through walls and it even amplified his apparition.
The third and last Hallow, the resurrection stone… still didn't really resurrect anyone. But while the ghosts were reluctant to stay in the land of the living prior, now they were always happy to help. Almost too happy. They shared their knowledge freely and candidly. The only drawback would be that it was kind of hard to stop them from talking. So he often simply dismissed them. Another power of the stone was to summon what he called wraith. Vengeful spirits similar to dementors, without the hopelessness and coldness they usually exuded. Still, they could attack people (not that he tried, but he was pretty sure of it)… He still didn't know if their 'attack' had any effect however.
Harry returned to the Potter manor he was renovating, which he shared with his girlfriend, Ginny. As he was putting the cloak and stone away, Ginny saw him and raised an eyebrow.
« Is this what I think it is ? »
Being Ron's sister, as well as his best and girlfriend, she was aware of the Deathly Hallows. She also knew about the whole 'master of death' thing. Thankfully, she wasn't thirsting for powers. In fact, if he were to doubt someone, it'd be his best friend Ron. At least, the Ron from Hogwarts. Insecure, envious, jealous. This Ron probably might have been able to steal the hallows from him. Not that they'd be any good in his hands…
« If you think they are legendary artifacts rumored to be created by Death itself, then yes… »
« Why are they out ? I thought you said they were too dangerous for any one man to possess. »
Harry tousled his hair while he looked for an answer. It was true after all : he had said that. The fact was that he didn't trust himself with such power. He was a man, flawed and prone to emotional outburst. Possessing such power meant that he might use it in the heat of the moment and come to regret it. However, ever since he used the elder wand a few days ago, it was like they called out to him.
He was drawn to them, wanted to use them, discover their abilities… And with everything else going on…
« I… Although what I said is true, I'm… I'm afraid. »
« Afraid ? »
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Harry realized it was true. He was indeed afraid. Afraid to lose the peace he had struggled for so long to find. Afraid to lose Ginny, his friends, his home. Afraid the world would descend yet again in another war.
So, that's what he told Ginny. She looked at him in silence, not saying anything as he poured his heart and thoughts out. It was true that Harry wasn't afraid for himself. However, the people around him ? It was another matter.
He smiled wryly when he thought of how he wanted to protect the people he loved and how it was exactly how Hermione had said : he had a 'saving people thing'…
« So… You decided to use the power of the Hallows to what ? Help in your job ? »
Harry shook his head.
« No ! People can't know about the Hallows. Except for the cloak who stayed in my family for centuries, the other have left a path of death and destruction every time they surfaced on the face of world. People can't know or… they'll try and take them. »
Ginny nodded. She knew the stories. The elder wand in particular went from hand to hand, often leaving its former owner dead by the hand of the new one. In fact, the only owner still alive was Gellert Grindelwald. Even Dumbledore was dead, now…
« Then, what is your plan ? »
Harry didn't know. If he were to use the Hallows, he would have to do so hidden. Neither his colleagues nor his enemies could know that he possessed and used them. Or rather, they couldn't know that it was he, Harry James Potter, who was using them.
He shook his head. He couldn't believe he was even contemplating such an idea. Was he influenced by the medias always speaking about a new one popping out every now and then ? Even in their country, they had their own nowadays…
Finally he sighed and shrugged.
« I'm not sure. I have an idea but… I'm simply not sure. »
« What is it, then ? Come on ! Don't leave me hanging ! »
Harry sat on his bed and drew his girlfriend to sit by his side. Holding her hand in his own, he looked at their entwined fingers and asked with uncertainty :
« What would you say if I became a vigilante ? »