"Avada Kedavra." That was the last thing Harry James Potter heard as green light hit him before his vision became blurry is whole world was engulfed in black.
When his vision cleared, Harry looked around curiously.
His surroundings were different. This was definitely not the forbidden forest. He was somewhere where the place was full of white light, and he could hear a train hooting in the distance. That was when it hit him.
Kings Cross.
He was at King's Cross train station.
But why? Why did he end up here? Wasn't he supposed to be somewhere where the dead people should be?
"Hello Mr Potter." An unfamiliar voice came from behind Harry.
Harry spun around to see a tall elegant man dressed perfectly in expensive looking robes.
"I am Death."
"Uhh." Harry was at a loss for words.
"Now, Mr Potter. Do you know where we are?"
"Um, King's Cross?"
"Yes Mr Potter." Death's lips curved into a smile. "And do you know why we are here?"
"Uhh, because Voldemort killed me? And I died?"
Death smiled even wider. "You have not died yet Mr Potter. You are where we call the in between. The barrier between life and death."
Harry gaped at Death.
"Why?" Harry finally managed to ask.
"Because you, are the master of death. Mr Potter." Death said.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You are the master of death. You have mastered all three hallows. The invisibility cloak, the resurrection stone and the elder wand."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "The elder wand?" He said incredulously.
"Yes. The elder wand too. When you overpowered Draco Malfoy at Malfoy Manor."
Harry stared at Death. "Malfoy is the master of the elder wand?"
"Was." Death corrected. "You are now. And also the Master of Death."
"That doesn't explain why I am here."
"Because you are the Master of Death."
Harry cocked a brow. "I gathered that. But how does being Master of death get me here?"
"Patience Mr Potter." Death's blue eyes showed amusement. "I was getting to that."
"Now, you see. When you were hit with the killing curse, your spirit was transported here to meet me."
Harry frowned, but said nothing.
"As Master of Death you have two choices. One, to go back to the present. Two, be reborn as someone else."
At the second choice, Harry blinked.
"Reborn?"
"Yes. Also, You will keep your memories of your previous life, which means this life, with you."
"I will?"
"Indeed."
Harry swallowed. "Who will I be reborn as?"
Death smirked. "That, is a secret."
In spite of himself, Harry pouted.
"Nuh uh Mr Potter, don't pout." Death said. "So, what is your answer?"
Harry contemplated his choices. If he went back to the battle, the chances that they'd win wasn't that high was it? Nagini wasn't killed yet. And the death toll was high. He had already lost so many family and friends.
Being reborn. That was tempting. A fresh new start at life. Where he could tread more carefully and make less mistakes.
With a small smile, Harry made up his mind.
Looking up at death, Harry gave a firm nod, his emerald green eyes blazing.
"I choose to be reborn."
HPHPHPHP
31st July 1964
Harry shut his eyes tightly his new eyes as he let out a small cry.
The cry sounded like a baby's. Harry figured he'd been reborn as a baby. He was currently being carried in a pair of warm arms.
"Congratulations Mr and Mrs Potter, it's a boy." Harry heard a nurse's voice say.
Potter? Harry froze.
Harry opened his eyes to look into a pair of warm brown eyes.
"Not green." Was his first thought. It wasn't Lily Evans then.
The woman smiled down at Harry. "Why, isn't he cute." She cooed at Harry, who gurgled happily. He had to keep up an act after all.
"Indeed my dear Euphemia." Harry's eyes darted to the man who was speaking. His eyes were hazel, and his hair was jet black.
"Yes. We shall name him Hadrian Alex Potter then." The woman, whom Harry supposed was his new mother, smiled brightly. "Our son, and little brother of James Henry Potter."
Harry let out loud cried, as he cursed Death inwardly.
Of all people to be reborn as, it had to be as a little brother of the father and as the son of his grandparents in his previous life. And now he had to get used to being called Hadrian.
Why was his luck always so horrible?
HPHPHPHP
Later that night, Hadrian lay in his baby crib in Potter Manor and pretended to sleep.
He had not met his brother yet. Harry was relieved.
So he had been reborn as another Potter big deal.
This was good actually. Now that Hadrian thought about it. Voldemort would not be too interested in him. No dark lord chasing his back. That was actually something Harry looked forward to. He didn't want to deal with Voldemort as the boy who lived, and didn't like the fame that came with it,
He could help change events and prevent deaths from happening.
He could go to Hogwarts again in eleven years. Harry counted. The marauders would be in their third year then. He could see Sirius and Remus, and Peter, who Harry hated. He could study with them. He could be with the father he never knew in his previous life. He could also see Lily Evans, his mother. He'd be able to get to know them better.
For now though, he would have to act as a baby. Harry hated it. He didn't want to act dumb, but knew he had no choice. It was going to be hard having to remember to speak in broken sentences with grammatical errors.
A sound from near his crib caused Hadrian's eyes to snap open.
A pair of short hands were holding on to the bars of the crib and a pair of hazel eyes looked through the bars.
Hadrian blinked, before taking in the messy black hair and eyes, and also the short body that the hands were attached to, before groaning inwardly.
He was looking at the three year old version of James Potter.