Hear ye, hear ye, Ladies, Gentlemen, and all other kinds of mother fuckers. This is the newly edited and grammatically corrected first chapter of Death's Power. Please let it be known this fiction is rated M for Mature, meaning there will be sex, death, and a whole fucking ton of cursing. Enjoy.

§ Parseltongue §

Thoughts

'mental communication'

I own only my original characters. Harry Potter and his world are the properties of J.K. Rowling.

Chapter One: The Killing Curse

"Avada Kedavra!" The pale, serpent-like form of Tom Riddle faded from view. Darkness was all that Harry had left. He screamed at the top of his lungs, flailed hopelessly, and cursed his lack of skill. He had one job! Tom had only Nagini tying him to the mortal world, but Harry had failed to kill the beast and make Riddle once again human.

"Are you really going to flail about like a toddler throwing a tantrum? I know I'm unending but you should at least have a sense of urgency," a drawling voice nearly pierced his mind. Where there was darkness, suddenly a room came into view. Hard marble floors, Walnut book shelves covered each wall from top to bottom, and a huge mahogany desk with matching mahogany chairs sat in the middle of the room. The shelves were full of books that looked to be anywhere from the first ever published to something printed yesterday. Hermione would absolutely gush at the sight before him, well, aside from the skeletal figure sitting on the other side of the desk. "I see you've had enough of the surroundings and finally see me," the skeletal man made a wave of his hand offering Harry a seat. "Please, sit. We have much to talk about." Harry took his seat and studied the man before him.

He was tall, sallow, and his suit was so black it seemed to suck the light out of his surroundings. His eyes were the palest blue he'd ever seen, long skeletal hands folded over one another on top of the desk. "Twelve times. You and I have met twelve times and every single time you insist on aiming your focus where it shouldn't be," the man's gaze narrowed, "my image is an old one boy. I did give up the hooded robe nearly three thousand years ago yet you protozoa swear up and down I take you with a scythe and billow of my robes."

"W-wait, you're death? The grim reaper?" All was lost if he truly was sitting across from the grim reaper. No running, no fighting, and bargaining would probably not sit right with him. The last wizards that bargained with him received items that inadvertently led to their demise, all except for Ignotus.

"You are correct, attempting to strike a deal with me will not end the way it did for your ancestor Ignotus. If you would stop bloody worrying about how to get out of this place I could tell you we're meeting to discuss how you will finally deliver Tom Fucking Riddle to me!" The last five words were a snarl and with his rage the room shook while a scythe appeared on the desk in front of the reaper. It was all bone and silver, the instrument of death had a strange sort of aura that penetrated his mind and soul without touching him. Regaining his composure, the reaper waved his hand quickly over the scythe and it vanished from sight. Harry felt safe for a moment before the man began to speak again. "You are to receive personal training here from a wizard that to this day has not been beaten, save by me." Death smirked, showing yellowed teeth. "When that is done I will review your magical knowledge and skills and then offer you a style of training no wizard has ever used. Riddle will die of a heart attack when he sees your new skills." The reaper leaned forward and flicked Harry's head and there was darkness again.

Time passed differently here. It had to. Years of learning and his body did not age. Harry could feel his magical power growing, though. He had reached the level of skill that he could fling high powered spells for what felt like days on end. Death had given him over to Merlin of all wizards for training! In the years he'd been working with Merlin he still barely managed to hit the ancient bastard once every hundred spells he flung at him. The benefit of training in what the reaper called "The Ether" was that he only felt pain even with the unforgivable curses. Merlin had hit him dead in the face during their first lesson with the killing curse and all Harry felt was a hard punching sensation and he nearly blacked out. Today was strange, though, Merlin was casting almost only curses meant to dismember him. Harry had to erect both magical and transfigured shields. The cutting curses broke through the transfigured barriers but not the magical ones. He fired a single overpowered bone breaking curse at Merlin's head and it caught him unaware, twisting his head a full 360 and causing the ancient man to fall to the floor. Immediately he appeared. Today his suit was obsidian in color with a brilliant red tie and white shirt beneath, scythe firmly in his grasp. The reaper turned and swung the fell weapon in Merlin's direction and the man Harry had finally beaten simply faded into nothingness. Death turned back to Harry, vanishing his scythe and conjuring a pair of swords. He offered one to him.

"Today we begin training with a weapon Riddle will never be able to understand, the sword." The reaper swung his sword at Harry with reckless abandon. The only thing that kept him from being split at the shoulder was his raw magic he had learned could augment his body's defenses. "Bad wizard!" Death only poked Harry's chest but the force of an automobile wreck threw him back. "When you fight me you will not augment your physical body until you have delivered a single wound that would be mortal to any of your fellow parasites. Now ready yourself!" The reaper lunged forward with his blade and Harry rolled out of the way.

The whole business with Merlin was the easy part of this ordeal! Blades crossed and curses rose into the ether as Harry learned the art of the sword from Death. "I'm so very old that I cannot remember my birth, boy!" His blade slashed Harry's collarbone, "the art of the sword is my own invention and those who practice it pay homage to me. You are now my disciple and you will learn how to hold a fraction of my power within your hands." The training went on for what seemed like decades.

Harry was back in the room he had playfully dubbed the death cave. It felt like it had been a century training under the grim reaper. What seemed like minutes ago he had stricken him with a thrust to the heart and, much to the reaper's surprise, forced his blade to shatter inside the reaper's body. Darkness had engulfed him for a moment and then he was back where it had all begun. Across the desk sat a very pleased grim reaper. "Finally, a wizard that can wield a blade with skill. Tom Riddle will truly fear you if you have to display this skill before you take him on." Death waved his right hand and heavy silver shackles appeared on Harry's wrists. They were covered in runes and not only weighed his hands down, but it felt like his own essence was weighed down.

"What do these do?" Harry followed up quickly, "they make me feel like I did when I first got here. So weak and incapable." He tried to build up his magic like he had been doing during his training only to feel much less power than he was used to coming to the surface.

"I see you've noticed that your magical power is back to where it was when we met this last time." Grim, as Harry had begun referring to him in his head, smiled and continued. "These shackles have limited your magical power to five percent of your maximum strength. You are in complete control of these shackles but you can only release up to twenty percent of your full power before they shatter and release your full power. They are able to limit you to as little as half of one percent of your power and are set using your voice. Go ahead, set it to one percent. The words you're looking for are 'limiting seal to one percent'." Grim looked absolutely through Harry as he adjusted his limiter. Harry now felt about as powerful magically as he had at the end of his first year of schooling. He looked expectantly at the reaper as if to ask 'what now?'

"Now that you are prepared for it, I will be sending your mind and soul back to your body the day before Lucius Malfoy left Riddle's horcrux with Miss Weasley. If at all possible do not let her touch it and destroy it as soon as you are able. The basilisk must be destroyed as well, I will have no creature killing so efficiently in a place where the future learns. Death is inevitable but many of the children in that school including you could be slain by the basilisk quite easily." Grim scratched his hairless chin, "Also please keep the limiter on at least until the Triwizard Tournament begins. Your maximum magical power will be more than double what it is now by then if you keep them on. Needless to say at double your current maximum power you could effectively shield yourself from dragon's fire or blow a hole in one with an overpowered piercing spell. I would like to see you cut through the colony of mermen with a sword, though. I may have to come watch those events." Harry beamed at Grim while he thought of ways to kill the bloody basilisk without looking into its eyes. "Also, don't call me Grim. If you must give me a name please call me Joe." Sighing and rising from his desk, "well it's time to send you back. Remember to destroy those horcruxes as fast as possible and crush Riddle when he comes back at the end of your fourth year. I'm rooting for you, kid." Joe leaned forward and flicked Harry's head once again. He fell into darkness.

For the first time in what felt like a century Harry awoke to the sound of snoring. Not just any snoring mind you, but the resounding snores of his best friend Ron Weasley. Laying in the darkness of his ginger friend's room, Harry wondered just how he would take the diary without Ginny or any other Weasley noticing. Perhaps he could fake a fainting spell and hide it down his shirt before he comes back up. First thing's first, though, during his training Harry had the body of a nearly eighteen-year-old and now he was in his twelve-year-old body. How much physical skill would he have to build up to be back to normal? What about agility? Oh god, I have to deal with Dobby sending that bludger after me! Should I just carry my wand and blow it out of the air? Will that disqualify my team? Deep in thought Harry didn't notice missus Weasley enter the violent orange room.

"Boys! It's time to get up. We need all the time we can get to finish all our shopping in Diagon Alley." Miss Weasley seemed even more tired than usual today. More tired than Harry remembered at least.

"Mum, it doesn't take an adult to floo to the leaky cauldron or enter the alley. Harry and I could show up at lunch to get our books." At the end of Ron's whining, his mother threw a misplaced shoe at him. The Weasley matriarch didn't even need to speak to break Ron from his sleepy stupor. With his battle experience, Harry could feel that it wasn't just her motherly presence that had always affected the family, but it was her own magical power filling the area she was in. In Ron's little room under the attic, her power could be felt in every inch of the room. On reflex alone, from his time with Merlin and Joe, Harry forced out his limited magical power to lessen the pressure on him. Molly Weasley could feel Harry's magical power surround him, waking her to the fact that she had unconsciously forced her own power to permeate the room. Withdrawing her magical presence she simply told Ron and Harry that breakfast was in five minutes and they had better be there.

As Mrs. Weasley left the room Harry bolted up and began dressing, noting that his magical power was maybe a quarter of hers when he was limited to one percent. If she was as powerful as the average magical adult, including purebloods, at ten percent power Harry could decimate death eaters in his sleep. Finally pulling on his trainers, Harry turned to the once again sleeping Ron. He decided to see just how well he could now manage the magic he poured into a spell by casting a body levitating spell on Ron's foot. His oldest friend was nearly flung from his bed and into the air seemingly dangled by his foot. Harry winced and cut off his magic flowing into the spell, causing Ron to fall immediately on his shoulder. "Bloody hell, mate! Why in the name of Merlin did you decide to do that? I didn't even hear an incantation." The shock and anger were apparent in his best friend's face. The surprise on Harry's face must have been apparent as Ron began to laugh uncontrollably. "Harry...your...face...oh Merlin...was that an accidental spell?" Ron was gasping for breath. Apparently, Harry's surprise was more entertaining that Ron's anger at his drop. He quickly pulled on his muggle clothes and rushed down the stairs to get as much food as he could.

This was concerning. His magical power was far too refined for a boy fresh out of his first year of Hogwarts. Molly Weasley nearly sprinted to her room she shared with Arthur and began to furiously write a letter to Dumbledore.

Albus,

This morning when I was scolding the boys for being late risers I accidentally filled Ron's room with my magical aura. The moment I did it Harry released his own and it felt so...dense that I nearly fainted. It was both more powerful than what you'd expect a first year to possess as well as more refined and efficient. My aura was stronger but his was nearly perfect for defending from most magical and physical damage. I don't understand how he has this kind of power. Could it be something to do with the Quirrel incident last June?

Best of health,

Molly

The Weasley matriarch quickly found Hermes and sent him to Dumbledore at once. Hopefully, nothing is wrong with Harry. Albus mentioned something about You-Know-Who's shade attacking Harry after Quirrell was killed. If somehow Harry was completely fine then his magical power will be able to protect her precious Ginerva. She had been absolutely dogging Ron, Percy, and the twins for information on the Boy-Who-Lived. His interests, habits, grades, even his strong friendship with Ron and Hermione were considered extremely important to Ginny. She even worried that because Harry had a female friend, he wouldn't want to be with her eventually. Becoming the wife of Harry Potter has been Ginny's dream since she knew who he was, even more so since she had seen him in person. Molly would give absolutely anything to see Harry truly become her son and marriage to her only daughter was the most efficient way to achieve this goal.

Shaking her head and Heading to the kitchen, Molly mused on just when Harry and Ginny would begin to see each other and eventually marry. She'd love to have a grandchild, though not from her daughter for at least 7 years. Fred and George were in the kitchen practically inhaling bacon sandwiches, grinning all the while at the mess they had made of Percy's prefect badge. It now read "Plonker" in bright gold. After harshly demanding the twins return his badge to its original state and consciously filling the kitchen with her magical aura the twins acquiesced. She quickly restrained herself and began fussing over the boys and her silent daughter. When Harry and Ron made it down five minutes later, the whole family, plus her dark haired adoptee, was together and packing away as much food as possible to sustain them for the day of shopping.

Flooing to Diagon Alley this time was much easier and didn't end in a foray into Knockturn Alley. Harry and the Weasleys arrived through the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace, covered in soot and ash, at 9:27 a.m. The breakfast crowd in the bar had not dissipated as they walked out into the courtyard to tap on the three bricks that gave entry to the Alley. It was a beautiful sight. Harry remembered how empty the alley had felt when he, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook had returned to steal Helga Hufflepuff's enchanted cup, as it was one of Riddle's horcruxes. The alley they had seen then was destitute, all the old kindly shops had been replaced by shops more inclined to the darker of the two alleys due to Riddle's little band of fools running every shop that didn't support them out of business. Now that Joe had sent him back all the good old businesses were still running merrily. Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor was there just as he remembered and the kindly man was beaming at all to pass his place of business.

"Looks like we'll need mostly books Harry." The ginger boy groaned, he loathed books and reading.

"Shouldn't we try and find Hermione first?" Harry thought it best to remind Ron of their friend's presence in the alley today with her parents.

"That should be quite hard as we spotted you coming out of the floo in the Leaky Cauldron. Hello Harry," The bushy brunette nearly tackled him and applied a bone breaking hug. After maintaining her death grip on Harry for about a minute, she turned to Ron and merely nodded before turning back to the Boy-Who-Lived. "We were enjoying a leisurely breakfast before heading to get the new books, there are so many to get this year. The new defense professor must be planning for us to have a thorough grounding in theory, but I hope we still get plenty of practical experience as well." The look in her eye told Harry that his friend had been eagerly looking forward to the chance to acquire more knowledge by prying it from every book she could. Were he a book his only fear would be Hermione Granger, with water coming in a distant second.

"I think I'm looking forward to who out new professor will be more than the reading," Ron began before Harry elbowed him in the ribs.

"I wouldn't be so hopeful Ron, based on the books it's someone obsessed with this Lockhart bloke. Probably a witch that idolizes him based on his fictions." Harry drew back as he was slapped multiple times on the arm by the bushy haired bookworm.

"Harry. James. Potter. Lockhart's. Books. Are. Not. Fiction!" Each slap added emphasis to her words. Harry should have known better than to besmirch books near Hermione Jean Granger. Don't ever forget that speaking ill of the written word ends in slaps with my best friend. Harry looked at her with an expression of sorrow and hurt. His message seemed to get through to her because her face softened considerably. "Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, These are my parents, Daniel and Emma Granger." Harry finally noticed the couple behind Hermione. They were quite kind looking, her father was tall and his hair was graying. He wore horn-rimmed glasses and a black suit with a pale blue shirt and no tie. The woman could only be Hermione's mother. Her bushy hair and hazel eyes were definitely traits passed to her daughter. Emma hugged Harry much like her daughter had just done while Daniel simply shook both boy's hands beaming the whole time.

"We've heard so much about you boys, especially your kindness Harry." Harry blushed brilliantly at receiving that bit of praise from an adult. It didn't go unnoticed by both of the adults before them. "Hermione tells me you braved a three-headed dog armed only with a flute and your wand only two months ago. I don't know what possessed you children but you should have never entered a room with a creature more than twice your size." She looked kind, yet severe the whole time she spoke of their run in with Fluffy. Harry could only look down at his feet as his conditioning from dealing with the Dursleys kicked in. The hundred-year-old mind in a twelve-year-old body could not seem to overpower his muscle memory. Emma looked at Harry curiously before sharing the look with her husband who was equally confused by the boy's demeanor. Before they could ask what was wrong a slightly balding red haired man approached them while practically bouncing at the chance to meet some muggles.

"You must be Hermione's parents. I'm Arthur Weasley, nice to meet you both." Harry was safe from scrutiny now, Mr. Weasley would occupy the Grangers for the rest of the day until Flourish and Blotts and his altercation with Malfoy. Harry grabbed Ron and Hermione and gestured towards Gringotts.

"But Harry I haven't got an account there," she began.

"You can take some from my vault 'Mione. It's a trust vault that gets replenished by the main family vault every January. Ron can get his school funds for this year from my vault as well." Harry asserted himself over the repeated protests of his best friends as they made their way to the goblin ran bank.

"Mate, I can't take your gold. Mum would kill me and you for taking and offering." Ron seemed to be hosting a mental battle between his want for new school supplies and his fear of what his mother would say about accepting charity. "Oh, fine. But when she goes mental I'm telling her it was your fault it happened." A smile appeared on his freckled face before he asked, "D' you think you'd be able to buy a nimbus 2000 with the amount of gold in your trust vault?"

"No mate, I don't have enough gold in my trust for that and school supplies for the three of us," he smiled before adding, "I could buy you both a set of gold scales for potions quite easily." The trio had arrived at the bottom of the white marble stairs to the massive bank. The bronze set of doors and the silver set were almost a blur and Ron was now rushing to get his hands on a little bit of gold, even if it was charity. Harry knew that dealing with the Goblins today would work out well for him in the future as he planned on opening a few businesses and buying a little bit of land near Hogsmeade village. The business went by quickly and the trio grabbed a sack full of galleons, sickles, and knuts.

Everything was going exactly as it had the last time through. Flourish and Blotts was so filled with witches hoping for his signature as if the man could sit for more than five minutes without signing something. Harry being drug to the front and embarrassed with the bastard trying to elevate his own fame went the same. Even the fight between Lucius and Arthur went the same ending in the pale prat slipping Riddle's diary into Ginny's second-hand cauldron. As Harry dumped his full set of Lockhart's books into her cauldron he slipped the diary out and hid it in his oversized sweatshirt. Success! He had his first horcrux and was going to take it to the chamber of secrets shortly after getting to Hogwarts and deal with it there. Thinking on it, he would need to grab Ravenclaw's diadem from the room of requirement as well. Then it hit him. He could use the room of requirement to physically build his body up so he could be stronger than he was when training with Merlin and Joe. Now how will I kill the basilisk? The sword of Gryffindor won't present itself to him this time as there won't be any petrifications or Ginny being drawn into the chamber. Would it listen to him since he was a parselmouth? Or would it attack him as he opened its home? Finally deciding that he would train in the room of requirement until just after Halloween then kill the basilisk, take its fangs, and destroy the two horcruxes in his possession. The remainder of the trip in the alley was quite boring and once they had returned to the Burrow Harry hid the diary away in the very bottom of his school trunk, under even his first year's course books.

The rest of his time at the Burrow went by in a flash. In the blink of an eye, it was 9 a.m. on the first of September. The house was full of the sounds of eight people rushing about making sure things were packed away and in Mr. Weasley's enchanted car. After many false starts, they were on their way to King's Cross station, arriving with just ten minutes before the Hogwarts Express was scheduled to leave. The seven flame-haired people and single raven haired boy rushed to the barrier of platforms nine and ten. Not interested in listening to the order that would have Ron and he passing through the barrier last Harry just made a break for it and apparently surprised Dobby because he made it through the barrier unmolested.

Once on the other side Harry looked around and spotted a face he'd seen not too long before being sent back. His hair was still entirely platinum blonde instead of the blonde and gray mixture when he had given the trio information on the deathly hallows, but otherwise, Xenophilius Lovegood looked exactly the same. The little dreamy eyed girl beside him with radish earrings was looking around stunned at the hustle of the platform. This was the youngest Harry had ever seen his friend Luna. She was an adorable blonde with pale blue eyes, blue eyes that were staring directly at him! Oh, this is going to be good. No one would believe that I met the grim reaper except for Luna and maybe her father. Making a point to look like he accidentally ran into the blonde, Harry fiddled with Hedwig's cage while slowly moving towards her. Her help in finding Ravenclaw's lost diadem had brought the wizarding world one step closer to being free of Tom Riddle. She had also revealed during their time at shell cottage that she had been mercilessly picked on by other members of her house. Fury boiled up in him at the thought of her having to suffer in silence again. He would make sure that never happened this time around.

"Hello, Harry Potter," her dreamy voice was slightly higher than he remembered it. Xenophilius did an exaggerated double-take before staring blatantly at his curse scar. Thinking it would be best to surprise her he quickly began thinking of small things about her.

"Hi Luna Lovegood," The dreamy eyes widened slightly as she realized he knew her already.

"How is it that you know me, Harry? We've never met," she looked him over studiously while twirling a finger through her blonde locks. Was he a seer and had seen a vision of her from the future?

"I've stayed with the Weasleys for the last month and they mentioned that the Lovegood home was not far from the Burrow. They also mentioned you were a blonde with golden curls, a habit of wearing radishes as earrings, and that you'd be starting Hogwarts this year." Harry's logical points would save him from explaining in front of Xeno hopefully. Luna stared at him for a few moments before replying.

"I suppose that makes sense. I haven't played with Ginny or Ron in about 2 years. I think Ron finds me unsettling and weird because I do not love quidditch as he does. Also, he did not enjoy speaking about crumple horned snorkacks or nargles," she finished thoughtfully. Something about Harry's answer bothered her greatly. His eyes were such a bright green that she felt like she was staring into a vibrant forest. A heat burned in her core as she maintained eye contact with the boy-who-lived. What was going on with this boy? She was unable to remain aloof around him and shared more than she normally would.

"Well, I'd love to hear about Snorkacks and Nargles sometime if you're not busy. Are you riding in a compartment with anyone yet? I think Ron, Hermione and I could do with another friend in ours." Harry finished. The best way to keep Luna from being picked on was to hope that she'd be sorted into Gryffindor like him. Her courage was undeniable since she had followed him into the department of mysteries back in his fifth year. Her intelligence was also incalculable. She had bested even Hermione who had always had a very linear thought process with her own non-linear one.

"Are you sure they will agree to have me in the same compartment? Ron has always worn his heart on his sleeve and had very little tact. He will most likely not find being in my company fun." Luna's grin was a little malicious, much like the twins when they were about to see a new invention go through testing. "I'd love to join you in the train compartment Harry," this time her smile was so warm Harry could feel the heat coming off her.

"Brilliant, let me help you with your trunk," grabbing her trunk he began to drag it towards the Express. The remaining Weasleys arrived around him and they boarded the train to the most beautiful place Harry had ever been. After situating their respective luggage, the group began to chat animatedly. Even Ginny joined the trio along with Luna. The two incoming firsties rekindled their old friendship in minutes and Ron seemed uncomfortable the entire trip. Hermione kept shooting Harry furtive and questioning glances as she got to know the surprisingly intelligent yet weird blonde. The trip was going quite well until Draco Malfoy, a sallow platinum blonde Slytherin appeared with his two brutish bookends.

"Adding more blood traitors to your group of scum Potter?" The pale boy sneered. Crabbe and Goyle began cracking their knuckles as Draco started again. "Another Weasel and this freak bring you up to five wastes of magic. At the very least you're letting proper wizards know who can be trusted and who can't." The smug little bastard was grinning like a king impressing his power on paupers. This was also something else Harry would not allow this time around. Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy were all sons of death eaters and would be death eaters in four to five years anyway so it would be best to show them what power he truly had. Standing up between the soon to be death eaters and his friends, Harry began focusing his magic in his fists and arms as he had when he was training with Joe.

"Your fathers should hear about this at your earliest convenience boys," Harry smirked as he flicked Draco's forehead, knocking the pale child out in the manner Joe had favored with him. The big brutes made to draw their wands but the boy-who-lived was faster than them and landed a single punch each to their enormous jaws, sending them toppling into the corridor like their leader. Drawing his wand while laughing, Harry cast a silent banishing charm on all three unconscious boys to send them back to where the Slytherin compartments were. Closing the door and turning back to his flabbergasted friends, he grinned like a Cheshire cat before retaking his seat.

"What in the bloody hell was that Harry?! There's no way you could take out those massive gargoyles with one hit each. That flick on Malfoy though, bloody brilliant!" Ron was absolutely amazed at his best friend's strength.

"Just something I learned while I was at the Dursleys this summer. If I focus my magic into my fists I can break stones with my punches." Harry stood and focused his magic into his head as he removed his glasses. "Ron, try punching my face now that I've focused my aura on making it sturdier."

"Uh, what if I hurt you mate?" Ron began to stutter, "I-it wouldn't be right if I were to gain a r-reputation for hurting you now." He was staring pointedly at his feet to hide a blush from the other occupants of the compartment.

"Mate, I've tested this with my punch happy cousin already." Smiling though he could only see an orange blur in front of him, "the man-sized pig nearly broke his hand the first time he tried to hit me and my aunt broke a cast iron pan trying to punish me for hurting ickle diddykins." Harry's grin was so broad that you could count all his teeth, not unlike a certain fraud about to start teaching as the DADA professor.

"It's your funeral mate," Ron wound up and swung hard at his best friend's face, only to come away with a smarting hand, eliciting a laugh from Harry. "Fuck, Harry what kind of magical aura do you have? Is your magic made of metal?"

"Ronald Weasley! Language!" Hermione and Ginny reprimanded the lanky redhead for his use of profanity. Luna could not contain herself and began howling with laughter at the two motherly girls.

"Why don't I teach you guys how I did it this coming weekend?" Harry suggested to the group. "We could all benefit from having increased physical resistance to pain. I haven't tested it yet but maybe if I focus my aura on my whole body I could block spells entirely without having to occupy my wand." He turned to Hermione and Ginny, "Girls, would you do the honor of sending a few weak spells at me," his face screwed up in concentration before becoming passive again. "Now would be fine."

"Stupefy!"

"Bombarda!" The spells hit him dead on before fizzling into nothingness. No damage was caused to him at all and Ginny was the first to exclaim, "You're teaching me that so Fred and George can't summon my things away from me again." This was the first time in this timeline that the youngest Weasley had addressed him. His mouth hung open a little before he collected himself and nodded to the ginger girl.

The rest of the ride to Hogwarts the four entertained themselves by hurling spell after spell at Harry, only a single spell got past his magical defense. Luna's warming charm was nothing painful but the young girl had accidentally overpowered it, causing Harry to strip down to just his jeans and trainers. If Ron turned red when embarrassed, Ginny became scarlet. Matching the young girl both Hermione and Luna blushed at the sudden lack of clothing on the famous wizard. After he had dispelled the warming charm Harry decided to change into his school robes. the others followed suit while he and Ron waited out in the corridor to protect the girls' modesty.

Albus, the leader of the light, was hurriedly checking all the silver whirring ward and health monitors pertaining to young Harry Potter. All of the devices were reading the same as they had since the boy had left Privet Drive with the Weasleys. The specific magical power monitoring charm was reading Harry's power at the same as it had been at since the end of last year when Quirrel and Voldemort's shade had been overpowered by the extraordinary boy. Once the welcoming feast commenced he would be able to gauge how refined Harry Potter's magical aura has become. If Molly was correct, the contact with Voldemort may have increased Harry's power and control in a massive way. It couldn't be allowed if so.

The boy needed to remain weaker than average if he was to fall to Tom and make him mortal once again. Only then could Albus sweep in and kill the dark lord as he had done to his old friend Grindelwald. This time, he could change the wizarding world of Britain in a way that no other dark wizards would rise. He would run for Minister of Magic and force through laws that would limit the powers of all witches and wizards in Britain. The half blood and muggleborn wizards were much more magically powerful than their pureblood counterparts now more than ever. If they weren't limited soon all of the old money in this world would have no inheritors as most purebloods loved to attack more powerful muggleborns. This would be unacceptable as the goblins of Gringotts would then possess all of the gold lost to human hands.

All magicals must be limited. Albus had done his part to make sure that the education of young wizards and witches was severely lacking compared to fifty years ago when Riddle gained the knowledge and skill to rule as the dark lord Voldemort. It was now the time to limit the rest of magical Britain. First, he would need to find out if the boy had gained any magical potency or refinement, then he would limit the boy and obliviate him. It was a wise idea to bring Molly into the planning phase of his work. She would be useful later on when Harry began to lust after girls and her daughter would hang on to the boy with every ounce of her being. Maybe she'd even have a new Potter heir in her before Harry fulfilled his life's purpose. That was the only good that could come of his connection to Voldemort.

It all hung on one boy. Harry must be a weak and meek boy. His friends must be in short supply and he must be willing to die for the good of this world. He can't be allowed to see the darkness the world truly has outside of his horrid aunt and uncle's home. He hoped that hiring the simpleton Lockhart would make him absolutely hate the limelight his fame could be a gateway to. Speaking of Lockhart, he was due to arrive shortly before the students and he would prove useful in keeping the boy from gaining the ability to hold his own against Tom.

The train rumbled to a stop as darkness had fallen properly. Emerging from the express, Harry, Ron, and Hermione began to head for the carriages. The towering figure of Hagrid was overseeing the first years and bellowing "Firs' years foller me. Firs' years" after all the new students. A loud "'Arry, how was yer ride?" came when the half-giant spotted him. Reaching the area where the carriages picked up students in Hogsmeade Harry noticed that his past experience stuck with him. The thestrals were very much visible to him just as he knew they'd be visible to Luna. Approaching them this time he knew to avoid bringing up that he saw them, happy that his strange new friend wouldn't be able to bring the creatures up until next year's carriage ride.

Settling into one of the first carriages they came to, the trio departed Hogsmeade for their beloved Hogwarts. The ride was fairly short and highly uneventful, Ron and Hermione had an argument over how the carriages were propelled and the fourth member of their carriage, Dean Thomas, did not find any of that interesting, instead opting to spend time asking Harry how he had taken down Malfoy. Not wanting to share his skills with anyone but his closest friends yet, Harry deflected by pointing out that the greasy gits had nothing powerful other than numbers. Luckily before the black boy could inquire further, the carriage ground to a stop. Harry made a point of being the first to exit. Once he had escaped the narrow confines of the school carriage he waited a few moments to allow his best friends time to fall in line behind him before setting off for the doors to the entrance hall.

Standing firm and stoic just inside the entrance hall was one of Harry's favorite teachers, the Transfiguration Mistress Minerva McGonagall, her thin lips drawing back into a smile seeing the young children who would one day run the wizarding world of Britain. These kids would be wonderful contributors to the world, with a few exceptions. She could clearly see a few of her favorite troublemakers making their way to the front of the group entering the hall. Harry, Hermione, and Ron all looked to have grown a bit. Harry had most definitely grown more than she had thought he would, seeing as last year he appeared underfed and magically weak for a boy of eleven. The young lion had reached the height of five feet and had begun to gain weight which was excellent. Even his passive magical aura felt much stronger and more refined than it had at the leaving feast. Minerva felt a very feline purr in her mind looking at the budding wizard, apparently, her cat side had taken a motherly affection for the young man.

"Go on you lot, into the great hall and prepare for the sorting." The transfiguration mistress was eagerly looking forward to starting a new year of molding young minds into productive members of society. Hopefully, a future minister of magic was walking past her right now. Just looking at Potter, though, if anyone as a child could scream auror it was him. How he managed to defeat Quirrell and the shade of You-Know-Who last year was just an inkling of how truly strong his aptitude for defense against the dark arts would become. These musings passed through her mind often when she thought of both Harry and young Hermione, the youngest and easily the brightest witch of her age. This young lady had Ministry of Magic written all over her if not minister itself.

The crowd passed into the hall and broke up amongst the house tables. Seeing that most of the students were sat Minerva returned to the entrance hall to await the first years. Hagrid must be lazily taking his time with the boats. The half-giant was so very attached to any bit of magic he was allowed to utilize that he spent ages on it. The upper year students had at first been downright rebellious when he had been appointed to the task of escorting the first years on the boats but over the twenty years, she only knew of a few children that would whine about the delay of dinner. The youngest Mr. Weasley was definitely one of these children.

Finally, Hagrid arrived with a clutch of little eleven-year-old witches and wizards. "All righ' Professor McGonagall," the half-giant began in his boisterous voice. "The firs' years all ready fer the sorting."

"Thank you Hagrid," she leveled a stern yet warm look at the groundskeeper. "Please go on ahead and join the staff table with the others." The massive man headed in with surprising haste, intent on getting a seat near professor Dumbledore no doubt. Turning on the first year students Minerva began directing them to the antechamber to await the sorting. "Don't be startled by the house ghosts, they often enjoy surprising the younger students," almost immediately the fours ghosts passed through a hall behind them in deep conversation.

"Peeves deserves a second chance my good man," a friendly, and silvery, looking monk debated with an equally silver man who seemed to be from the twelfth century.

"Yes, my dear friar, but Peeves has had many chances and he squanders them all with pranks. Oh, would you look at this, a new batch of first-year students," the apparition from the thirteenth century began, "I hope to see a good few of you sorted into my old house, fortune rewards the brave after all." With that the two passed through the wall on the opposite side from whence they came. While many of the children were stunned by this pair the rest were absolutely horrified by the second pair of ghosts that entered with the first two.

The first was a pale woman with deep silvery hair and dressed in the fashion of nearly a full millennia in the past. Marring her dress was a deeper silver stain that could only have been blood. The second was a man, sallow and dressed as if from the same era, and instead of having his robes simply marred with a small amount of silvery blood they were nearly coated in it. Neither ghost spoke a single word as they passed through the room, a healthy space between them.

Finally, Minerva got the word from Filius and began to usher the children into the great hall in a single file line. The sorting hat began its song and almost all the first years were gaping with disbelief at the talking piece of clothing. All the upper year students seemed to relish this surprise greatly.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron all grabbed seats that would give them a good view of both the sorting and head table. Up at the head table, the ancient warlock was trying his level best to get Harry's attention and meet his gaze. No doubt the old man wanted to use his passive form of legilimency on the young again Boy-Who-Lived for some reason or another. His experience after learning occlumency in his previous life's fifth year had taught him that both professors Snape and Dumbledore had been reading him since his very first year at Hogwarts. It was well worth the full month of thoroughly reinforcing his occlumency barriers at the Burrow. Hopefully, that bulking up would keep them both out of his head and keep them from obliviating him to the knowledge of a foolish first year.

The sorting hat sang a similar tune to the one from Harry's sorting. It was all about the founders, their traits, and how the hat had begun to be used. The hat had a full year of nothing to do yet it had sung the same song more than once. From what he had heard that never happened, though last time around he never witnessed this year's sorting. As Colin Creevey became a Gryffindor, Harry tried to subtly work his magic in the all too familiar way Merlin had trained him to for near impossible to track communication. Reaching out more with his mind than his magic, Harry impressed feelings of courage and loyalty into young Luna's mind. When the hat was placed on her head Harry felt his consciousness blur for a second. He could now see two different vantage points of the great hall. One was from his seat, and the other was from under the sorting hat. Immediately Harry felt two other presences from under the hat with him.

'Who dares attempt to interfere with the sorting of a young witch?' The presence was old, powerful, and furious at him for being in another person's mind. 'You should not be in miss Lovegood's mind mister Potter, nor should you have a mind that is nearly eighteen years old in the body of a twelve-year-old,' the sorting hat's mind was attempting to push him out.

'Harry?' Luna's mind was unlike Merlin or Joe's. Instead of a collection of feelings, emotions, and experiences, her mind was like a maelstrom. At the center of the storm, he felt an overwhelming loyalty, intelligence, and a focus that couldn't be shaken. 'How are you in my mind?' Questions whirled around her mind.

'This is going to come as a shock so please don't show your emotions to the rest of the students,' Harry began hearing mental harrumphs from both parties before continuing. 'At close to the age of eighteen I died fighting lord Voldemort, Tom Riddle to you oh wise sorting hat.' The hat seemed to hum at this while Luna just pondered how he was alive. 'After my death, I met the grim reaper, who prefers to be called Joe. He offered to send me back to this point in history after he and Merlin trained me to be what I should have been. The training felt like it took centuries but I learned so much that my power and skills dwarf Dumbledore's own power. I also know from my previous life that you were sorted into Ravenclaw and they all bullied you mercilessly until we met in my fifth year at Hogwarts. This is why I'm present in your mind, to change how you're sorted and to protect you from your bullies by being around you always.' As Harry finished he felt a fourth presence enter their mental discussion.

'Believe this young man Godric my friend,' Joe's cool voice began.

Godric?! As in the founder Godric Gryffindor? Harry had never thought of the hat as a person more than an enchanted artifact.

'You should also heed his words, miss Lovegood, with his power he could help you live a long, happy life.' Joe's presence was just as Harry remembered, overwhelmingly ancient and powerful. He was one of the oldest beings in the universe and instantly he knew that Luna would believe him without question from now on.

'Are you the grim reaper Harry was talking about?' Luna queried immediately. Wonder showing in her mind before even receiving an answer.

'Call me Joe, and yes I am the grim reaper. Older than almost all of creation and the one that taught young mister Potter how to wield a sword against any who would attempt to harm him or his friends.' At the mention of this Luna's mind practically radiated hope and longing.

'Yes, he means I'd raise hell if anyone tried to harm you now. You are my friend and there's nothing you can do about it.' If Luna's mind had radiated hope before at Harry's addition to Joe's statement she nearly burst from happiness.

Joe's presence battered the mind of the boy-who-lived. 'Let the adults talk now boy,' he visibly flinched across the great hall before returning his attention to the group of four minds together. 'I agree with mister Potter that this young one should be sorted into your old house Godric. She's plenty brave and steadfast. I'm unsure how she managed to end up in Rowena's house before.' Joe left off as if it were a question to the sorting hat.

'I am unable to say what it is that had her sorted into Ravenclaw before, master reaper. I sense a great intelligence in her and the determination to attain more and more knowledge. Since we've wasted far too much time you'll be seeing her in GRYFFINDOR!' The last word was shouted to the whole great hall as Harry returned to being of one mind.

Luna's face lit up from the second the hat was removed. She nearly sprinted over to the spot near the front of the now applauding table where Harry and his friends were seated.

"May I sit with you, Harry?" Luna's usual dreamy voice had a more pronounced note of care in it. Without waiting for a response the blonde squeezed in between Harry and Hermione. "That was the most terrifying thing I've ever gone through in my life. How did you all cope with that experience without a heart attack?"

A chuckle escaped Harry's lips. "There was the three-headed ruddy big dog the three of us nearly died getting past at the end of the last term." He began counting on his fingers, "Also a giant transfigured chess set and a flock of murderous flying keys. There was also the troll and the logic puzzle with potions that could have easily poisoned us," Harry finished with a smile at Luna's gaping mouth surprise.

"Did I make the worst possible choice in friends on the express?" Her smirk was all Harry needed to see to know she was joking.

"I don't know, Malfoy and his trolls wouldn't mind a new pureblood. Then again, where did all their pure blood get them with me?" The emerald eyes that met her blue were full of humor instead of the fury anyone else might have had.

"I think even with the danger I'd prefer being with you three," as young Ginny Weasley squeezed in across from Harry, "four I suppose now." The smile the blonde flashed at all four of them was so warm Harry swore he could feel the heat from it. After the young redhead had been sorted professor McGonagall had taken the hat and stool away. Well, that's two changes for the better this time around.

The aged form of professor Dumbledore rose and approached the podium in front of the head table as the transfiguration mistress left. Harry felt the wizard's aura pulse slightly as he cast a wandless sonorus charm on himself. Wandless magic, not the best I've seen but then again there's no telling if wandless battle magic has been practiced by anyone apart from me in centuries. Albus began, "Good evening old friends and new faces. I'll be short with this year's announcements so we can get our feast underway. New students and a few older students," the headmaster's eyes darted to the Weasley twins briefly, "should know that the Forbidden Forest on the grounds is just that, forbidden. Many of you will notice that there is a new face among the staff. Gilderoy Lockhart has graciously accepted the offer to become the new professor of defense against the dark arts." At this utterance, the blonde wizard in royal blue robes rose and bowed for a moment before flashing a smile so white Harry could see its gleam from twenty feet away. "Now that the formalities are out of the way, I believe it's time we feast." Dumbledore waved his hand and food appeared on the gilded platters and bowls at all the house tables.

Then din of all the students serving themselves only grew louder as first it was the clatter of utensils on plates and platters but soon after it gave way to students swapping stories of their holiday time away from the castle. Luna asked mainly questions about Hermione living with muggles and about a band from America called Kiss. The bushy haired witch seemed to enjoy talking to their new friend about muggle entertainment and when Harry inquired about this band, as Luna and Hermione called it, he was met with promises of a magical recording the blonde had brought with her for entertainment. Not long after Harry finished his second helping of treacle tart all the remaining food vanished and Dumbledore stood once more. "Now that we're all fed and watered we should all get a good night's rest, lessons begin tomorrow."

The sound of scraping as the student body rose was briefly punctured by the sounds of prefects yelling, "First years, follow me to the dorms." Percy seemed to feed on the attention of the first years as Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed Ginny and Luna up to Gryffindor tower. Once they reached the common room the boys headed immediately for the dorms. As soon as Ron reached his bed he fell on it and began snoring. Chuckling at his friend's ability to fall into a sleeping state so completely in a mere moment Harry quickly changed into pajamas and got into his four poster bed, drawing the curtains closed. The other three boys entered the dorm room quite quickly and had no rush about them getting ready for bed. Soon Ron's snores were joined by Neville's, then Dean's, and finally Seamus'.

Now that all his friends had sunk into sleep Harry sat up and began to work on his occlumency exercises. Clearing his mind and organizing his most useful thoughts for defense and trapping would be invaders like Snape and Dumbledore. One particular memory would be perfect for the bearded headmaster. The memory itself was from when he was nine and his uncle Vernon had nearly killed him for getting better marks than Dudley had in school. If anything would make Dumbledore feel terrible for marooning him with his mother's family it would be that memory.

After completing the necessary occlumency upkeep, Harry began preparing to go to sleep. It was difficult as there were four snoring Gryffindors but after about an hour of trying he managed to drift off into the realm of sleep.