A/N: Hello, people!

I don't own Harry Potter.

I have no beta.

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CHECK ME OUT ON TUMBLR. HELLY-WATERMELONSMELLINFELLON. I FOLLOW BACK.

Hari would allow herself to be killed, if only to protect everyone. The Resurrection Stone weighed heavily in her hand as she walked. She slipped it into her pocket, unable to part with the vision of her family surrounding her. They were her strength and were the reason she was able to walk to her death with her head held high.

The warm, white dress she'd requested from the odd place was soft against her skin. It brushed her toes, its long, belled sleeves almost the same length. The high collar reminded her of the dress Cho wore to the Yule Ball back in her fourth year.

It was nice.

Dumbledore had departed already, dissipating into the white mist around them, leaving her sitting on a long bench, considering the train before her.

He said the train would take her 'on'. Where exactly would that 'on' go though? Did she have control over where it went?

"Of course you do."

Hari flinched at the sudden booming voice echoing around her. It wasn't masculine but not exactly feminine. Yet it held power and resonated deep within her, making her entire skeleton shake. A cold shiver worked down her back and she looked around, coming face to jaw with a creature of unknown origin.

It was skeletal, garbed in a black cloak much like a Dementor would be, but there was no inhuman chill accompanying this creature. It didn't have eyes, simply two dark spaces, void of all life or energy.

Without having to be told, she knew who this was.

"Death."

The spinal column, connected to the skull, dipped in an unnatural wave.

"You have been touched by Death three times in yet have been saved by Life. No creature has ever managed such a feat."

"Three times?"

Death gave another creepy nod. "My curse hit you when you were made an orphan. The Phoenix took you from my grasp in your Chamber. You have just walked into my arms, but this time as more than you were the former times."

"I-I don't under-"

"You were merely a mortal with extreme luck, before. This time you fulfilled the right of your bloodline and managed to collect three artifacts that elevated your existence."

Three artifacts… no.

"I only had two."

If a skeleton could smile, she was sure Death was grinning.

"Not true. Dumbledore won the wand, young Malfoy disarmed him. Who disarmed Malfoy?"

"But the stone wasn't mine."

"No, the stone belonged to Riddle, but he defiled it. I made certain that should the original possessors of my powers abuse them, the items would change ownership to the nearest Peverell relation. As you and Riddle are the only two left, he forfeited ownership to you.

And that makes you Master of Death. You collected the Hallows, but not out of greed. Not even out of convenience. One was your birthright, another was your right by conquest, and the last was yours by forfeit. You walked to your end willingly and accepted it. That is what makes you my Master.

As Master of Death, you have abilities that others will never possess. What you do with them is solely based on you."

Hari, still sitting on the bench, looked toward the train that was easily sitting, waiting for her to make a decision.

So she'd become the Master of Death somehow. More like Mistress but… really. She didn't want it, didn't need it, and yet it happened. The world had a funny way of going about fucking her life over.

"So, what should I do?"

Death took the space beside her and hummed… without vocal cords she realized. How was Death talking at all?

"You could go forward in time, back in time, to the present, to the Afterlife, it all depends on what you want."

Her head snapped around, "'Back in time'?"

"Indeed. Where you wish to go is where the train will take you."

"And what kind of control would I have while there?"

"As the Master, I'm sorry, Mistress of Death, you can choose when you will die and when others die. You can stop me from collecting the souls of the deceased and force them to return to their temples, where they will reanimate themselves. You can make use of my knowledge at any moment. And as I am Death and you are my Mistress, you have the power to give me orders and I would have to follow them."

That right there… was suspicious.

"Why would you allow someone any kind of control over you?"

"I never actually thought someone would manage to be so selfless and self-sacrificing that they'd become my Master or Mistress. Though since it's you, I don't feel so foolish."

"And you would just let a kid like me order you around?"

"You never really got to be a child, though."

True. Her childhood was full of hardship and bullying and no friends.

"I wish I could have."

"Why not do so?" suggested Death, gesturing to the train.

She could be a child? "Do you mean like time travel and age reversal?"

"Yes. You choose when to go, where you'd like to be, how old you would be, magical skill, memory. Anything, and it will be done."

Hari shifted, giving Death all of her attention. "But would it really be a childhood if I know everything already?"

"That depends on what you wish to remember and how your memories would return to you."

She could finally have a life free of the Dursleys! "But wouldn't I erase my future existence if I were to time travel to the past? If I mess up one thing, my parents might not be born."

"I am Death."

"Yeah."

"I am the only constant being in existence."

"Yeah?"

"I can do anything."

"So, you'd give me new parents? Would I look different? Can I still look the same but be less emaciated?"

"You can be what you want, Mistress."

"What about the magical world? If I go to the past, would Tom still become a Dark Lord bent on destroying everything?"

"That also depends on how you'd treat him if you went to him. He never had friends, remember that. Had he had someone who cared, perhaps he'd have been different. He was an orphan just like you. And you have to realize that he never knew his mother took advantage of his father."

"Huh?"

"He did not know that Merope forced Tom Sr. into a relationship. Love Potions are an abomination because they take one's will away from them. I believe your former Head of House one referred to them as 'Rape Juice'. Had Tom Sr. been magical, Merope could have been charged with Line Theft, among other things."

She'd never considered that before. And Tom… never knew.

No wonder he was so messed up in the head.

"But Dumbledore said that being born under forced love means that Tom can't comprehend love or feel it."

Death was simply a skeleton wrapped in darkness, but she swore she was getting a look of utter disbelief. She could even feel it around them. Him questioning her sanity.

"You place faith in the words of the man who led you to your death without telling you?" Death scoffed. "Dumbledore is not always right. He merely guessed. Dumbledore is simply a man and his understanding of the world is miniscule compared to mine. Tom Riddle is repellant to love. It is a curse. A curse that no one has ever been able to break. In order to break it, he must first genuinely care about someone other than himself. The person he cares for must then return his feelings. From there, Tom will be able to evolve emotionally."

Hari considered it all. "Would he still become a Dark Lord?"

"Heh. You mortals and your ridiculous classifications of magic. Dumbledore was your Light Lord but he let you grow up to be murdered. He left you with horrible humans all for the 'greater good'. He abandoned you when you needed a firm guide. Tell me, are you so certain that he's that good of a person. Some of his decisions have resulted in horrible things and ruined many lives."

"But-"

"Not everything is in black and white, Mistress. You condemn Tom Riddle for his chosen path and the magic he wields but you had no issue in using his favorite curse on a man, not even five hours ago, all because he spat at your former Head of House. You also used another Unforgivable repeatedly over the last few months and have used various forms of Dark Magic to aid your cause. Tell me, are you a bad person?"

"I-I guess not. I don't think so."

"Dark Lord and Light Lord are simply titles to those to reign highest over specific branches of magic. That's it. Their actions are what define them and I'm not sorry to say that Dumbledore is in no way, better than Riddle."

They sat in silence for a few moments, until Hari finally asked. "Do you think I could prevent Tom from becoming a mass murderer?"

"You have an infinite amount of chances to try should you ever fail."

That worked.

"I'd like to go to Tom's childhood, where both of us are ten. We'll get to know each other before Hogwarts. I want to remember the treatment I received at my relatives, though maybe changed a little to fit the time period. I'd like my full memory to come to me in dream form and maybe certain things at Hogwarts will jog it further. I'd prefer it if I could use my magic like Tom can. Wandless and nonverbal had seemed to be his strength. Am I still a Parselmouth?"

"Yes. Your core adapted to the ability during a time where it was still maturing, allowing you to retain it once the Horcrux was destroyed."

"I'd like that too. I don't want to be naive. I want to understand the harsh reality of the world. The world is at war after all and I don't want to be one of the children who take smiles and lies at face value. I'd like it if my more Slytherin qualities were sharper. Had I embraced them earlier, things would have been so much easier so I figure using them early on will save me trouble."

"Is that all?"

"I should… get my memories completely before my fifteenth birthday. And while I don't care about blood status, being Muggleborn will not help me at all. I'd also like to have memories of the parents you choose for me, using magic around me so I can lie to Tom as an excuse for why I know things I shouldn't. And if you could, maybe guide me from doing stupid things, even if you have to pretend to be my conscience?"

Death stood, rattling a little under its cloak.

"When you are ready, you may board the train."

Hari allowed herself a moment to think. If she got on the train, she'd not see her friends for a really long time. Possibly never. But this wasn't just about her feelings. This would be better for everyone if Tom didn't end up being a mass murdering psychopath.

Haru had walked to her death knowing in her heart that she'd never see her friends again. And while she had a chance to go back and finish everything, the loss was already too great to bear. But maybe she could prevent a good number of those losses if she went back and helped Tom.

And Death did say she had an infinite amount of chances if she ever made a mistake.

Resolved, Hari stood and stepped toward the train. Once she stepped through the door, she glanced back, seeing the eyeless, skeletal face staring at her.

"I'll will be with you, Harlinas Salacia Selwyn."

The door closed before she could enquire on the name she'd been given and the train was moving. But unlike the Hogwarts Express, which always built up its speed, the train shot right off, pulling her off her feet. She crashed to the floor of the corridor as bright whiteness bled through the windows. While they weren't visibly passing anything, the train was moving so fast and jerking about so roughly, she could gain any bearing.

And then suddenly, white was all she saw.

Tom Riddle knew something was different the moment he entered the mess hall that morning. The children, usually such droll things not worthy of his time, were whispering excitedly. He heard snippets and immediately found himself uninterested. A new child had come to the orphanage.

Children came often, what with the beginnings of war on the horizon and people mysteriously disappearing, it wasn't a shock.

Tom was annoyed that the children were already fighting over who would be her friend first. Some of the older boys were sniggering at their tables and talking about 'stealing a kiss' from the girl.

Tom's nose wrinkled in disgust. Who'd want to press their lips to any of these little brats? He still didn't fully understand what adults liked about kissing. It was like an infestation of each other and the thought disgusted him almost as much as the children in the orphanage did.

The doors to the mess hall opened suddenly and Mrs. Cole - a vile woman that despised Tom fiercely - walked in, glaring at all of them, though her eyes did linger on Tom for a few seconds longer than anyone else.

"We have a new arrival. She is not new to the life of an orphan, but her guardians were recently attacked by the Nazis and she is now alone. Do your best to make her feel welcomed and no funny business," she ordered, aiming that last bit at Tom of course.

The older woman stepped aside and in walked a young girl about Tom's age. Murmurings began instantly and Tom took in her appearance almost greedily. She was different, it was easy to notice. Much like Tom, she had a level of attractiveness that the other children didn't have. Something about her drew attention and kept it, much like with Tom.

She had waist length, black hair that possessed just the slightest wave toward the very end where the tips curled upward. Unlike most of the girls in the orphanage who had their hair pulled back in respective styles and fringes, this girl's was flowing freely and no hair obstructed her face. Her face was shaped nicely, though with obvious baby fat around the cheeks. Not too much though. She was thin and pale and the contrast her skin made with her hair was… nice in a way.

But the most memorable thing about her… were her eyes. Tom had never seen a shade of green like that before. When he looked away, the color still lingered in his point of view and did not go away until he blinked a few times. But no one else was looking away, he noticed.

The girl gave a small curtsy, though no expression flitted across her face. She turned and thanked the Head Matron in a soft voice that for all intents and purposes, was charming. A glance around showed that indeed, everyone but Tom was charmed. He wondered what it was about her that made them all so… vacuous.

Sure she was pretty… much better than any of the goldfish in the orphanage, but he didn't see how that mattered at all.

Or maybe it was the prettiness of her face that made people look like fools. A slight innocence about her that called for attention perhaps?

He sat at his own table, pondering this new development.

She bore some watching.

Harlinas secluded herself from the other children. They weren't magical and would never understand her. She just had to wait until her Hogwarts letter arrived. She wouldn't be able to do anything until then. It was better that way.

But the children were nosy and picky and they wanted to touch her all the time. She was tempted to use Wish Magic to play some harmless practical jokes on them, but decided against it. It wouldn't be smart. Strange things happening when a new child joins their orphanage… they'd obviously think it was her and she knew that Muggles were a superstitious lot.

It was summertime, allowing her to get acquainted with the area without stress of Muggle schooling. She hated Muggle schools. So boring. Every girl expected to act a certain way and be dainty little creatures always in need of a man's aid.

The last class she took had advised young girls to not try to jump over puddles but to wait patiently for a proper young man to lay down his jacket.

Harlinas obviously did not see the point. He received a dirty jacket for no reason at all because she could seriously just walk around the puddle. Why did she have to wait at all? It was a waste of time and more important things could be done.

Having spoken to all of the children at least once, she concluded that she didn't like any of them. Not even the one she dreamed about, though he was much more tolerable than the others.

Tom Riddle. Her dreams told her that he was important to her, for some reason. Dreams meant a lot in magic. She never got to learn what, but she wasn't going to ignore them, especially since she dreamed about him before meeting him.

He was arrogant to an extent and believed himself to be better than everyone. From what she saw, before she came along, he was. However just because it was truth did not mean he needed to act like such a prat. It was very rude and the contemptuous sneer he sent her way when he saw her conversing lightly with Billy Stubbs, was enough to put her off to him.

Though she had learned that everyone hated him and he was friendless. They called him a 'freak' much like her former guardians had called her, simply for being better than them. So she could understand his dislike to a point, but that didn't mean he had to be a git about it.

Harlinas had decided to no longer associate with Billy though because the chubby little boy was too much like Dudley and she did not like bullies. Also, he landed himself on her list of Most Annoying when he allowed himself to be coerced by the older boys into stealing a kiss from her.

First of all, she did not want to be kissed, that was for grown ups. Second, he was annoying and had no business putting his hands on her anywhere. Third, 'stealing a kiss' was a violation of privacy and half the time was non-consensual. She did not approve and immediately set to showing him how. A slap on the face and a stomp on the foot and away she went, leaving the boy bent over, clutching his face and foot.

Harlinas frowned at the dull brown color of her standard dress. How she'd love to turn it green. But these were Muggles and she wouldn't be able to Confound them into believing anything she wanted. Wish Magic didn't work like that.

She stood, gathering her book and setting off for the orphanage where it should be around supper time. She crossed the yard and rounded the corner, only to come face to back with someone. Luckily, she managed to stop before colliding with them, but what she saw made her gape.

The boy - definitely a boy because girls weren't allowed to wear the grey uniform for boys - was holding a small serpent in his hand and was speaking to it. In Parseltongue!

§Tom, you have company,§ hissed the serpent.

Tom whirled around, looking worried. But Harlinas wasn't looking at him though. She was staring at the snake in his hand that he was attempting to hide. She reached out, stopping him from hiding it and ignoring the flinch when she made physical contact with his skin.

She smiled brightly, removing the serpent from his hand gently and cradled it to her chest. §Hello, lovely,§ she greeted.

Both Tom and the snake reared back slightly, though the snake was much more excited. §You Speak!§

§Yes, I do.§

She then looked to Tom, seeing him in a new light. "That's why I dreamed about you. You're like me."

"What?" he sneered, already glaring at her.

"We're magic."

And so changed their relationship.

A/N: First is done!

-Check this fic out on AO3, the cover is posted over there.

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CHECK ME OUT ON TUMBLR. HELLY-WATERMELONSMELLINFELLON. I FOLLOW BACK.